bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information security and the Internet
Authors: Doddrell Gregory R.
Published: February 2005

Today, information technology is fundamental to the operation of most businesses, whether they are small companies or multinational corporations. In recent times, the implementation of local and wide area networks and the installation of computing equipment in office areas has brought information technology to nearly every working environment. The result is an increasing dependence on the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information stored and processed by these systems. As the trend shifts from “fortress” style central computer facilities to distributed systems located in generally less secure office environments, the risk of disruption increases, owing to lack of physical security, support services limitations and absence of site monitoring. The net result is higher business impact coupled with greater exposure. Identifies the elements that are at risk, discusses the issues businesses face when seeking to minimize exposures, suggests some practical solutions and describes some selected events that illustrate the hazards associated with having inadequate protection.
Field methods and computational techniques
Authors: Savini A.
Published: February 2005

Gives introductory remarks about chapter 1 of this group of 31 papers, from ISEF 1999 Proceedings, in the methodologies for field analysis, in the electromagnetic community. Observes that computer package implementation theory contributes to clarification. Discusses the areas covered by some of the papers ‐ such as artificial intelligence using fuzzy logic. Includes applications such as permanent magnets and looks at eddy current problems. States the finite element method is currently the most popular method used for field computation. Closes by pointing out the amalgam of topics.
Uncoupling strong predator–prey interactions in streams: the role of marginal macrophytes
Authors: Harrison Simon S. C. , Bradley David C. , Harris Iain T.
Published: February 2005

Predation refugia can facilitate the coexistence of predators and prey within an ecosystem by weakening trophic links between the two. The marginal macrophytes of shallow lakes are used facultatively by zooplankton to escape fish predation, leading to the stabilisation of lentic food webs. Little is known about such a role for the marginal macrophytes of lotic systems. In this paper, we examine whether the marginal macrophytes of chalk streams help buffer the interaction between the freshwater shrimp, Gammarus pulex and a benthic fish predator, Cottus gobio, both characteristically abundant in such systems.

Quantitative surveys were taken of Gammarus and bullheads in winter and summer in a southern English chalk stream. These indicated that Gammarus seasonally switched their habitat preference, from marginal macrophytes in summer, to midchannel habitats in winter. Bullheads exhibited an opposite trend, preferring midchannel habitats in summer and all habitats, particularly marginal macrophytes, in winter. Large Gammarus and precopula pairs were found almost exclusively in the margins in summer. This spatial separation between Gammarus and bullheads in summer, though not in winter, was reflected in bullhead diets, as determined by gut analysis.

In field manipulation experiments, bullhead presence was the strongest factor explaining the between‐habitat distribution of Gammarus in both summer and winter, indicating that the habitat shift of Gammarus was driven by the distribution of fish. Other abundant invertebrate taxa, including Asellus, mayflies and chironomids, exhibited little avoidance of habitat patches of high bullhead density.

We conclude that marginal macrophytes in chalk streams can potentially facilitate the coexistence of high densities of both Gammarus and bullheads by spatially separating predator and prey in summer. They may further allow large populations of Gammarus to persist in the presence of high bullhead density at stretch‐wide spatial scales, by reducing the predation by bullheads of large breeding and newly born individuals of Gammarus in summer.
Density‐dependent dispersal in the Glanville fritillary,Melitaea cinxia
Authors: Enfjäll Karin , Leimar Olof
Published: February 2005

Several factors might influence an organism's tendency or willingness to leave a given patch. One such factor is conspecific density, which may affect the per capita emigration rate. Some previous field studies on butterflies have reported positively density‐dependent dispersal (emigration increases with population density) whereas the opposite, negatively density‐dependent dispersal, has been found in other species. We investigated the effect of conspecific density on both the tendency to cross a patch boundary and within‐patch mobility inMelitaea cinxia, by experimentally manipulating density in large outdoor cages divided into two habitat patches, separated by a barrier of unsuitable habitat. In contrast to previous results forM. cinxia, we found that the butterflies moved away from a patch at higher rates in high conspecific density (positively density‐dependent emigration). The within‐patch mobility, measured as the distance travelled per time unit, was however unaffected by butterfly density. A possible explanation for the seeming discrepancy with previous results could be that we used higher butterfly densities. For species with fluctuating population dynamics, such asM. cinxia, dispersal activity both at low and at high local density will be important for population phenomena such as fluctuations in distributional range over good and bad years.
Effects of predation and habitat structure on the population dynamics of house mice in large outdoor enclosures
Authors: Arthur Anthony D. , Pech Roger P. , Dickman Chris R.
Published: February 2005

This paper examines the effect of different levels of protection from predation on feral house mice. Mice were contained in eight 50×50 m outdoor enclosures. Enclosures allowed access to a suite of freeliving vertebrate predators from the surrounding area, including feral foxes, feral cats and Australian raptors. A 10–15% cover of small, felled cypress pine trees was added in strips to low grassland to increase habitat complexity. Mice were not protected from predation when compared with low grassland pens, possibly because predators were able to focus their hunting activity in the strips. However, when felled trees were covered with wire netting, hence providing higher quality refuge, mouse populations achieved higher densities than in low grassland pens. A predator exclusion treatment was used to confirm the refuge effect was due to a reduction in the impact of predation. Survival rates under the different treatments were generally consistent with population level responses, with mice having lower survival in low grassland pens than in high refuge pens. This is the first study with mammals that confirms the importance of refuges from predators for prey populations.
Host specificity and geographic range in haematophagous ectoparasites
Authors: Krasnov Boris R. , Poulin Robert , Shenbrot Georgy I. , Mouillot David , Khokhlova Irina S.
Published: February 2005

A negative interspecific correlation between the degree of habitat specialization and the size of a species’ geographic range has been documented for several free living groups of organisms, providing support for the niche breadth hypothesis. In contrast, practically nothing is known about the geographic range sizes of parasitic organisms and their determinants. In the context of the niche breadth hypothesis, parasites represent ideal study systems, because of the well documented variation in host specificity among parasite species. Here, we investigated the relationship between host specificity (a measure of niche breadth) and geographic range size among flea species parasitic on small mammals, using data from seven distinct geographical regions. Two measures of host specificity were used: the number of host species used by a flea species, and a measure of the average taxonomic distance between the host species used by a flea; the latter index provides an evolutionary perspective on host specificity. After correcting for phylogenetic influences, and using either of our two measures of host specificity, the degree of host specificity of fleas was negatively correlated with the size of their geographic range in all seven regions studied here, with only one minor exception. Overall, these results provide strong support for the niche breadth hypothesis, although other explanations cannot be ruled out.
Predictability of plant species composition from environmental conditions is constrained by dispersal limitation
Authors: Ozinga Wim A. , Schaminée Joop H. J. , Bekker Renée M. , Bonn Susanne , Poschlod Peter , Tackenberg Oliver , Bakker Jan , Groenendael Jan M. van
Published: February 2005

Despite recent modelling approaches integrating the effects of niche‐based processes and dispersal‐based processes on local plant species composition, their relative importance is still not clear. We test whether the predictability of local species composition from environmental conditions is influenced by dispersal traits. We analyzed a large database with co‐occurrence data, using ordination techniques (DCA and CCA) to identify the major environmental determinants of species composition. The percentage of explained variance in occurrence was quantified for individual species with CCA. Effects of life‐history traits on the predictability of occurrence patterns were tested by means of regression analysis, using a generalized linear models approach. The results reveal close correlations between species composition and environmental conditions, implying that the predictability of the set of species that might occur in a given environmental setting (“habitat species pool”) is high. The habitat species pool, however, reflects the potential species composition, and not the actual local situation. At the level of individual species, a large proportion (>90%) of the variation in occurrence remained unexplained. Predictability of species occurrence patterns was increased by a greater capacity for long‐distance dispersal, greater adult longevity and the capacity to build a persistent seed bank. The results indicate that the predictability of species composition from environmental conditions is reduced by a few orders of magnitude by dispersal limitation and that poor dispersers are underrepresented.
Effects of decomposers and herbivores on plant performance and aboveground plant‐insect interactions
Authors: Poveda Katja , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Scheu Stefan , Tscharntke Teja
Published: February 2005

Most ecologists acknowledge that plants are subject to complex interactions between both below‐ and aboveground dwelling animals. However, these complex interactions are seldomly investigated simultaneously. In a factorial common garden experiment we tested single and combined effects of decomposers, root herbivores and leaf herbivores on the growth, flower visitation, and abundance of naturally colonizing aphids and parasitoids on wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis). We found that the individual presence of either root herbivores or decomposers resulted in increased aphid abundance, demonstrating that the same aboveground plant–insect interaction can be released by different belowground processes. Enhanced aphid densities caused higher numbers of parasitoids. Furthermore, decomposers increased plant growth and plant fitness (measured as the number of seeds produced), indicating that mustard may benefit from nutrients provided by decomposers, regardless whether plants are attacked by root herbivores or leaf herbivores, or both simultaneously. More flower visits were observed in plants attacked by root herbivores but without leaf herbivores than in plants with both herbivores, suggesting that root herbivory can modify flower attractivity to pollinators. Our results suggest that patterns in plant–insect interactions above the ground are not only affected by aboveground factors but also by a wealth of different belowground processes mediated by the plant.
Detecting the causes of population cycles by analysis of R‐functions: the spruce needle‐miner, Epinotia tedella, and its parasitoids in Danish spruce plantations
Authors: Münster‐Swendsen Mikael , Berryman Alan
Published: February 2005

Explaining the causes of regular multi annual oscillations (cycles) in animal populations has been a major problem for ecology, partly due to a lack of methodological rigor. In this paper we show how the analysis of R‐functions, the functional relationship between the per capita rate of change of a species and components of its environment, can be used to detect the causes of population cycles. Analysis of the R‐functions enables one to separate cycles due to negative feedback between species (endogenous causes) from those forced by one‐way effects (exogenous causes). We illustrate the approach by reference to the spruce needle‐miner inhabiting Danish spruce plantations, and conclude that population cycles in this insect are probably caused by interactions with two species of parasitic hymenoptera.
Allergic contact dermatitis from povidone‐iodine: a re‐evaluation study
Authors: Lachapelle Jean‐Marie
Published: February 2005

500 consecutive patients were patch tested with a 10% povidone‐iodine (PVP‐I) solution, diluted 10 times in water. Readings were made at 2 and 4 days. 14 of the 500 (2.8%) showed a positive test to PVP‐I. The 14 positive patients to PVP‐I were subjected to a repeated open application test (ROAT) with a PVP‐I solution, as is; 2 of the 14 were recorded as positive. It was concluded that only 2 of the 500 patients had true allergic contact dermatitis from PVP‐I (0.4%). This study emphasizes the need for more complete investigation, when testing with some allergens, when they share both irritant and allergenic properties, such as PVP‐I. The approach is important to rule out false‐positive patch test reactions and to assess true clinical relevance.
Repeated open application test with methyldibromo glutaronitrile, a multicentre study within the EECDRG
Authors: Gruvberger B. , Andersen K. E. , Brandão F. M. , Bruynzeel D. P. , Bruze M. , Frosch P. J. , Goossens A. , Lahti A. , Maibach H. I. , Menné T. , Orton D. , Seidenari S.
Published: February 2005

Contact allergy to and allergic contact dermatitis from methyldibromo glutaronitrile (MDBGN) have frequently been reported. This study was initiated to help determine the optimal patch test preparation for MDBGN. In 51 patients with a doubtful or a positive patch test reaction to at least 1 of 4 test preparations with MDBGN in petrolatum at 1.0% w/w, 0.5%, 0.3% and 0.1%, a repeated open application test (ROAT) with moisturizers with and without MDBGN at 0.03% w/w was performed on the upper arms for 2 weeks. 18 of the 51 (35.3%) patients developed a positive ROAT. In all patients, there was a positive ROAT only to the moisturizer with MDBGN (P < 0.001). A statistically significant association was also found between the patch test reactivity (PTRL) and the outcome of the ROAT (P < 0.001). If only considering those with a PTRL above 0.3%, thus with negative or doubtful test reactions to 0.1% and 0.3%, there were still statistically significantly more patients with a positive ROAT to the moisturizer with MDBGN than to the moisturizer without MDBGN. The study demonstrates that patch testing with MDBGN at 0.3% and 0.1% will miss clinically relevant patch test reactions to MDBGN.
Recommendation to include methyldibromo glutaronitrile in the European standard patch test series
Authors: Bruze Magnus , Goossens An , Gruvberger Birgitta
Published: February 2005

The preservative methyldibromo glutaronitrilc (MDBGN) is used non‐occupationally and occupationally. High contact allergy rates have been reported when tested in consecutive dermatitis patients as well as clinical cases with allergic contact dermatitis. Up till now there has been no agreement on which patch test preparation to use to trace contact allergy to MDBGN. From the year 2005 on, MDBGN at 0.5% w/w in petrolatum is recommended for the European standard patch test series. The choice of 0.5% is based on consideration of rates of contact allergy, doubtful and irritant reactions, as well as on information on clinical relevance represented by results of a repeated open application test, and patch test concentrations to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis from MDBGN in individual cases.
REDUCTION OF PATULIN IN APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATES DURING STORAGE
Authors: KOCA NURAY , EKŞİ AZIZ
Published: February 2005

In this study, the reduction of patulin content in apple juice concentrates during 6 months of storage at 22 and 30C was investigated. Results demonstrated that reduction in patulin content was dependent on the storage temperature and time. Patulin reductions after 1 month of storage at 22 and 30C were in the ranges of 45–64% and 66–86%, respectively. Levels of patulin were below detectable limits after 4 months of storage at 22 and 30C.
INACTIVATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 DURING THE STORAGE UNDER REFRIGERATION OF APPLE JUICE TREATED BY PULSED ELECTRIC FIELDS
Authors: GARCÍA DIEGO , HASSANI MOUNIR , MAÑAS PILAR , CONDÓN SANTIAGO , PAGÁN RAFAEL
Published: February 2005

The sensitivity of pulsed electric fields (PEF)‐treated E. coli O157:H7 cells to subsequent holding in apple juice has been evaluated. Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells in apple juice were resistant to PEF. A PEF treatment of 400 µs at any electrical field strength was not sufficient to inactivate one log10cycle of cells. However, PEF injured a large proportion of E. coli O157:H7 cells that became sensitive to a subsequent storage under refrigeration in apple juice. The total lethal effect of the combined process depended on the electrical field strength and storage time. The combination of a PEF treatment at 25 kV/cm for 400 µs and a subsequent storage of the apple juice under refrigeration for 48 h allowed five log10cycles of inactivation to be achieved. The combination of PEF and maintenance under refrigeration has been demonstrated to be an effective pasteurization method, by sufficiently reducing the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in apple juice in order to meet U.S. FDA recommendations.
Juvenile non‐hyaline fibromatosis: juvenile hyaline fibromatosis without prominent hyaline changes
Authors: Anadolu Rana Yavuzer , Oskay Tuǧba , Özsoy Nesrin , Erdem Cengizhan
Published: February 2005

Abstract:  Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare autosomal recessive disease of the connective tissue. It is characterized by papulonodular skin lesions, soft tissue masses, gingival hypertrophy, osteolytic bone lesions and flexion contractures of the large joints. Here, we report a 14‐year‐old girl with characteristic clinical features of JHF with early fatal outcome. Dermatopathologic examination of the early lesions however constantly lacked the so‐called hyalin changes in multiple skin biopsies.

According to our experience; dermatopathological features of this entitity is not often and always consists of classical hyalinisation. Only larger lesions with long duration should expected to be exhibiting those features. Therefore we suggest that; JHF may often present itself as Juvenil Non‐Hyaline Fibromatosis: JHF without prominent hyaline changes. And thus this fact should not change the actual diagnosis and prognostic implications.
Myoepithelioma of parotid gland presenting as infra‐auricular subcutaneous mass
Authors: Lee Mi‐Woo , Nam Soon‐Yuhl , Choi Hye‐Jin , Choi Jee‐Ho , Moon Kee‐Chan , Koh Jai‐Kyoung
Published: February 2005

Myoepithelioma is a rare but well‐characterized group of tumours, among which myoepithelioma of the salivary glands is the best known. We report two patients with myoepithelioma of parotid gland presenting as infra‐auricular subcutaneous mass. The lesions were clinically suspected to be epidermal cyst. The biopsies revealed that most of the tumour cells showed epithelioid features with oval or spindle eosinophilic cytoplasm. No ductal or syringomatous epithelial structures were observed. The tumour cells showed cytoplasmic immunoexpressions of vimentin, cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), S‐100 protein and smooth muscle actin (SMA). In one patient, a strong calponin positivity was observed. Maguetic resonance imaging (MRI) of both patients revealed exophytic, well‐defined, strongly enhancing mass in superficial lobe of parotid gland, confirming the parotid gland origin. Myoepithelioma of parotid gland can be presented as a slowly growing tumour of pre‐ or infra‐auricular area. In dermatologic department, it can be misdiagnosed as various dermal or subcutaneous tumours.
Current concepts for the prevention of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Bramlage P. , Pittrow D. , Kirch W.
Published: February 2005

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the annual incidence of VTE is 1 per 1000. The individual risk for venous thromboembolism may be substantially higher and is determined by expositional and dispositional factors.

Unfractionated heparin and warfarin have been the mainstays for the prevention of VTE until the early 1980s. Bleeding complications and side effects limited the use of these agents and subsequently low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) were introduced into clinical practice. These are most commonly used for the prophylaxis and treatment of VTE today.

In the last decade, the pace of development of further anticoagulants has accelerated with the introduction of new treatment regimens and new substances. In this context, novel drugs directed against clotting factor Xa (such as fondaparinux) and direct thrombin inhibitors (such as melagatran/ximelagatran) have been developed. Fondaparinux shows a favourable efficacy/safety profile and has been documented to be cost‐effective compared to enoxaparin in the US and the UK.
Rationale for the use of antifactor Xa in the treatment and prevention of venous and arterial thromboembolic events
Authors: Drouet L. , Bal dit Sollier C.
Published: February 2005

The design and synthesis of new antithrombotic agents have led to numerous recent clinical trials to investigate their efficacy and safety. Analysis of the data from these trials, especially when the results were not totally expected, has provided interesting information, allowing a better understanding of the pathophysiology of thrombosis in various clinical situations. The aim of the present manuscript is to present the hypotheses on thrombogenesis generated by some of these recent clinical trials, notably those investigating the antithrombotic efficacy of a new synthetic and selective factor Xa inhibitor, fondaparinux. The antithrombotic efficacy of fondaparinux was recently investigated in a number of trials in the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thrombotic disorders. In each case, the concept of the clinical efficacy of a selective factor Xa inhibitor has been proven. These trials have also clarified the implication and mode of action of factor Xa in these various types of thrombotic events. In the light of these trials, we discuss the clinical efficacy of such a selective factor Xa inhibitor, and other specific points such as the apparent lack of dose‐dependency of its antithrombotic effect.
Fondaparinux: an update on new study results
Authors: Bauersachs R. M.
Published: February 2005

Fondaparinux (Arixtra®) is the first selective factor Xa inhibitor approved for use in thromboprophylaxis after orthopaedic surgery. New recently completed trials have also demonstrated the potential of fondaparinux in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in other surgical and medical settings and in the treatment of established VTE. In the randomized double‐blind PEGASUS study in high‐risk abdominal surgery patients, fondaparinux reduced the incidence of VTE from 6·1% with dalteparin to 4·6% (odds ratio reduction = 25·8%, P = 0·14), without increasing the bleeding risk. In the randomized double‐blind ARTEMIS trial in acutely ill medical patients, fondaparinux reduced the incidence of VTE from 10·5% with placebo to 5·6% (odds ratio reduction = 49·5%, P = 0·029), without increasing the bleeding risk; there was no pulmonary embolism in the fondaparinux group compared with five, all fatal, in the placebo group (P = 0·029). In the two MATISSE trials, both the efficacy and safety of once daily fondaparinux were at least as good as enoxaparin in the treatment of deep‐vein thrombosis (MATISSE–DVT) and unfractionated heparin in the treatment of pulmonary embolism (MATISSE‐PE). In patients with coronary artery disease, promising results were obtained in phase II trials and large phase III trials are ongoing. In conclusion, fondaparinux may further improve and simplify the prevention and treatment of thrombosis in a large range of medical and surgical settings.
Uncertainty Monitoring and Metacognition by Animals
Authors: Smith J. David , Washburn David A.
Published: February 2005

Humans have the capacity to feel consciously uncertain and to know when they do not know. These feelings and responses ground the research literature on uncertainty monitoring and metacognition (i.e., cognition about cognition). It is a natural and important question whether nonhuman animals share this sophisticated cognitive capacity. We summarize current research that confirms animals' capacity for uncertainty monitoring. This research includes perception and memory paradigms and monkey, dolphin, and human participants. It contains some of the strongest existing performance similarities between humans and other animals. There is a strong isomorphism between the uncertainty-monitoring capacities of humans and animals. Indeed, the results show that animals have functional features of or parallels to human metacognition and human conscious cognition.
When Knowledge Is a Curse
Authors: Birch Susan A.J.
Published: February 2005

The ability to reason about mental states is critical for predicting and interpreting people's behavior and for communicating effectively. Yet both children and adults exhibit some remarkable limitations in reasoning about mental states. In this article, I outline some of the parallels between children's and adults' fallacies in reasoning about the mind and suggest that a fundamental bias in social cognition contributes to these limitations. This bias is the curse of knowledge—being biased by one's own knowledge when trying to appreciate a more naive perspective. I offer the curse of knowledge as a possible alternative to the popular claim that a qualitative conceptual change occurs in the development of mental-state reasoning and discuss the implications of this bias for social cognition.
Attachment Security, Compassion, and Altruism
Authors: Mikulincer Mario , Shaver Phillip R.
Published: February 2005

Theoretically, people who have the benefits of secure social attachments should find it easier to perceive and respond to other people's suffering, compared with those who have insecure attachments. This is because compassionate reactions are products of what has been called the caregiving behavioral system, the optimal functioning of which depends on its not being inhibited by attachment insecurity (the failure of the attachment behavioral system to attain its own goal, safety and security provided by a caring attachment figure). In a series of recent studies, we have found that compassionate feelings and values, as well as responsive, altruistic behaviors, are promoted by both dispositional and experimentally induced attachment security. These studies and the theoretical ideas that generated them provide guidelines for enhancing compassion and altruism in the real world.
Children of the Affluent
Authors: Luthar Suniya S. , Latendresse Shawn J.
Published: February 2005

Growing up in the culture of affluence can connote various psychosocial risks. Studies have shown that upper-class children can manifest elevated disturbance in several areas—such as substance use, anxiety, and depression—and that two sets of factors seem to be implicated, that is, excessive pressures to achieve and isolation from parents (both literal and emotional). Whereas stereotypically, affluent youth and poor youth are respectively thought of as being at “low risk” and “high risk,” comparative studies have revealed more similarities than differences in their adjustment patterns and socialization processes. In the years ahead, psychologists must correct the long-standing neglect of a group of youngsters treated, thus far, as not needing their attention. Family wealth does not automatically confer either wisdom in parenting or equanimity of spirit; whereas children rendered atypical by virtue of their parents' wealth are undoubtedly privileged in many respects, there is also, clearly, the potential for some nontrivial threats to their psychological well-being.
Informal and formal caregivers’ involvement in nursing home care activities: impact of integrated care
Authors: Paulus Aggie T.G. , Van Raak Arno , Keijzer Femke
Published: February 2005

Aims.  This paper reports a study to investigate the relationships between informal and formal care, changing relationships over time, impact of integrated care, and theoretical and methodological lessons that can be drawn from research on this topic.

Background.  The ratio of informal to formal care provided in nursing homes varies. In many countries the predominance of traditional, formal care is being challenged by the emergence of integrated care models in which formal and informal caregivers co‐operate and co‐ordinate their activities to deliver tailor‐made care. This move towards integrated care is likely to result in changes in the degree and nature of involvement of formal and informal caregivers in care activities. However, very little research has investigated this. Previous research is restricted to one point in time, as opposed to focussing on the changing relationships between formal and informal caregivers over time.

Methods.  The quasi‐experimental design encompassed a traditional care comparison setting and an experimental setting with an integrated care intervention. At three measurement points, one before the intervention in May/June 2000 and two at 6 and 14 months after the intervention, informal and formal caregivers recorded their care activities. Informal care relationships were determined by calculating contribution rates and informal/formal care ratios for 14 activities.

Results.  Integrated care did not bring about the expected major changes. There was a limited amount of substitution of formal care with informal care. There were limited changes in the extent of dual specialization, in which informal and formal caregivers perform separate activities. There was little supplementation of formal care with informal care. Furthermore, relationships changed over time, resulting in a complex pattern of linkages at the level of separate activities.

Conclusions.  Informal caregivers contribute to many activities. The impact of integrated care on the degree and nature of involvement, however, was moderate. A possible explanation is the contextual situation for nursing home care. These findings point to the need for further research into the (changing) relationship between formal and informal carers in residential care activities and the evolution of this relationship over time.
Paternal reactions to a child with epilepsy: uncertainty, coping strategies, and depression
Authors: Mu Pei‐Fan
Published: February 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study examining the stress that fathers experience when caring for a child with epilepsy.

Background.  A seizure, which is frightening and potentially damaging, creates uncertainty about its possible effects and threatens the integrity of family systems. In the Chinese social context, epilepsy is stereotyped ‘sudden craziness’ of people and affected family feel shamed by the diagnosis. When a child has epilepsy, the stereotype of epilepsy affects the family experience in terms of stress and their coping process. Few studies have focused on how a father with an ill child adapts to family stress.

Methods.  This study was based on the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment, and adaptation, and was designed to examine the relationships among fathers’ uncertainty, coping strategies, and depression. From three teaching hospitals in Taiwan, 210 fathers were recruited. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability and face validity of the Chinese language version of the Coping Health Inventory for Parents.

Findings.  Results showed that paternal uncertainty was negatively associated with the total Coping Health Inventory for Parents score for family coping patterns for factors I, II, and III. Uncertainty and coping strategies for factors II and III were indicators of paternal depression and accounted for 10·3% of the total variance.

Conclusions.  The results give insight into the unique family stress that fathers experience as a result of the interaction between the social context of a child with epilepsy and the family's coping patterns. They also suggest ways to improve family‐centred nursing interventions to help parents establish effective caring patterns to manage the family stress.
Staff perceptions of residents across the long‐term care landscape
Authors: Gaugler Joseph E.
Published: February 2005

Aims.  This paper reports a study to determine how facility‐, resident‐, family‐ and staff‐level indicators are empirically associated with staff members’ perceptions of residents in nursing homes (NHs), assisted living facilities (ASLs) and family care homes (FCHs).

Background.  While various efforts have described the ramifications of staff–resident interactions in nursing homes (NHs), few studies identify the factors that potentially influence staff members’ perceptions of residents in multiple long‐term care settings.

Methods.  The participants were 41 care staff located in five NHs, five ASLs, and 16 FCHs randomly selected in Kentucky, United States of America. Face‐to‐face and telephone interviews were conducted with care staff, residents in their care, family members of residents, and administrators of participating facilities. Telephone interviews measured staff perceptions of residents on two domains: cohesion (perceived feelings of closeness between staff and residents) and knowledge of residents’ personal lives and care needs.

Results.  Regression models found that staff who were married, reported more positive attitudes towards family members, and worked in smaller facilities reported greater staff–resident cohesion. In addition, staff who cared for a higher percentage of residents with learning difficulties indicated greater knowledge of residents.

Conclusion.  The findings emphasize the need to consider elements of staff–family relationships when considering staff perceptions of residents. They also imply that clinical interventions designed to enhance social relationships in NHs can be extended across the long‐term care landscape to influence the staff–resident–family triad positively.
Developing and validating a nursing website evaluation questionnaire
Authors: Tsai Sing‐Ling , Chai Sin‐Kuo
Published: February 2005

Aim.  The aim of this paper is to report on the development and validation of an evaluation questionnaire for nursing websites.

Background.  Increasing numbers of the general public and health care professionals are using the Internet to access health and health care‐related information. The quality of such websites, therefore, needs to be evaluated.

Methods.  A total of 24 websites in the United States and Taiwan, including websites in 13 leading schools and 11 hospitals, were selected as test websites. A total of 120 participants with Master's degrees in either nursing or mechanical engineering were invited to examine the 24 websites using a nursing website evaluation questionnaire. A 32‐item questionnaire was developed, covering overall impression, download and switch speed, accessibility and convenience, web page content, service function and compatibility with common browsers. Participants were requested to connect to the specific websites and browse the contents before filling in the questionnaire. The results were arranged into 12 different sequences and prepared on a CD using Macromedia Dreamweaver. Data were analysed using Cronbach's α, Guttman split‐half reliability and factor analysis.

Findings.  Internal consistency was good, with a Cronbach's α of 0·93 in Part I and a KR‐20 (Kuder Richardson) of 0·85 in Part II. Four factors given in Part I were identified as content truth, accessibility and convenience, speed and connection, and overall impression.

Conclusion.  The nursing website evaluation questionnaire had good construct validity and internal consistency.
Using a multidisciplinary classification in nursing: the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health
Authors: Van Achterberg Theo , Holleman Gerda , Heijnen‐Kaales Yvonne , Van der Brug Ype , Roodbol Gabriël , Stallinga Hillegonda A. , Hellema Fokje , Frederiks Carla M.A.
Published: February 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study to explore systematically the usefulness of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to nurses giving patient care.

Background.  The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health has a history of more than 20 years. Although this World Health Organization classification offers multidisciplinary use, nurses are not familiar with it.

Methods.  Applications of the International Classification for nursing practice were developed and evaluated in a multi‐centre project, composed of a series of 10 projects in a variety of settings. These applications were a variety of tools, such as assessment forms, care plans and transfer forms. The study used information from 653 patients, 469 nurses and 178 others (International Classification experts; other professionals with whom nurses communicate or discuss patient data).

Findings.  Large sections of the International Classification were used in the 10 projects, revealing a predominant focus on body functions (53% of all three‐digit codes and corresponding terms used). Although large sections of the Classification were useful in practice applications, some items were identified that could be added, improved or described with more detail. Positive remarks made by nurses referred to the scope of the International Classification, which encouraged assessing beyond a patient's functional impairments.

Conclusions.  The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health can be a useful tool in classifying and communicating aspects of patient functioning by nurses. A level of moderate detail within the Classification (three‐digit level) seems appropriate for most nursing purposes. Our results on items that could be added or improved can serve as input in future revisions of the Classification. Future use of the International Classification should be encouraged, because of its relevance to nursing and its potential for multidisciplinary use in patient care.
Calcinosis Circumscripta in the Dog: A Retrospective Pathological Study
Authors: Tafti A. K. , Hanna P. , Bourque A. C.
Published: February 2005

Calcinosis circumscripta is an uncommon syndrome of ectopic idiopathic, dystrophic, metastatic or iatrogenic mineralization characterized by deposition of calcium salts in soft tissues. This paper is a retrospective study of 77 canine cases. The age of dogs in the study varied from 4 months to 15 years and 55% were <1 year old, 74% <2 years old and 88% <4 years old. Several pure and mixed, typically large breed dogs were affected so that 28.6, 13 and 9% were German Shepherd, Rottweiler and Labrador Retriever respectively. The size of lesions varied from 2 mm to 13 cm in diameter but most lesions were between 0.5 cm and 3 cm in diameter. Lesions were solitary in 82% of the affected dogs, and occurred most commonly on the hind feet (50%) and tongue (23%). With multiple lesions there was no apparent body symmetry. Microscopically, most lesions were well‐defined single or multiple variably sized aggregates of amorphous to granular, lightly to darkly basophilic material with or without peripheral granulomatous reaction and surrounded by varying amounts of fibrous connective tissue. Additionally, three small nodular masses in the wall of the jejunum of a dog were diagnosed as calcinosis circumscripta. This is the first reported case of idiopathic intestinal calcinosis circumscripta in the dog.
Development and Psychometric Validation of the Veterinary Service Satisfaction Questionnaire (VSSQ)
Authors: Woodcock A. , Barleggs D.
Published: February 2005

In the absence of a widely available, psychometrically tested questionnaire for measuring satisfaction with UK veterinary services, the Veterinary Service Satisfaction Questionnaire (VSSQ) was developed. Items in the first draft were derived from a literature review, guidelines from professional bodies and interviews with pet owners and veterinarians. The questionnaire includes 72 satisfaction items, each with a five‐option response format. A total of 183 domestic pet owners from three small animal practices (60% response rate) completed it by mail. Pilot testing and postal completion rates indicate the acceptability and relevance of the VSSQ. Principal components analyses of respondent ratings suggested that the VSSQ can be scored as five scales: general services, staff communication, vet communication, death of pet and vet technical abilities. Six further items are scored separately. Descriptive statistics are provided for individual items and scales. Subgroup differences are explored according to owners’ demographic variables. The VSSQ demonstrates preliminary face and content validity, excellent internal consistency reliability in each of the five scales (Cronbach's alpha 0.93–0.97) and good construct validity: those who had recommended the practice to others had significantly higher scores. Scoring guidelines are provided for the VSSQ, which is now ready for use.
Studies of the Transition Cow Under a Pasture‐based Milk Production System: Metabolic Profiles
Authors: Cavestany D. , Blanc J. E. , Kulcsar M. , Uriarte G. , Chilibroste P. , Meikle A. , Febel H. , Ferraris A. , Krall E.
Published: February 2005

This study describes the effect of parity (multiparous versus primiparous) and body condition score (BCS) at calving (<3 or ≥3; scale 1–5) on variations of BCS, body weight (BW) and metabolic profiles in Holstein cows grazing on improved pastures. Forty‐two cows were studied (21 multiparous and 21 primiparous) from 2 months before to 3 months after calving. BCS, BW and milk production were measured every 2 weeks. Blood samples were taken every 2 weeks to determine total protein, albumin, urea, non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA),β‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Primiparous cows had lower BCS during the early postpartum (PP) period and produced less milk than multiparous. In primiparous cows NEFA concentrations were higher during the early postpartum period; BHB levels were similar in both categories during this period. Primiparous cows showed a more unbalanced metabolic profile than multiparous cows, reflecting that they are recovering from the loss of BCS after calving with less success.
Peritoneal Biphasic Mesothelioma in a Dog
Authors: Sato T. , Miyoshi T. , Shibuya H. , Fujikura J. , Koie H. , Miyazaki Y.
Published: February 2005

A 10‐year‐old German shepherd dog was presented with a severe abdominal distension. At necropsy, whitish and firm mass was observed in the mesentery with metastases in the pericardium and pleura. The intestinal serosa was thickened and stiff. Histologically, the tumours were composed of a biphasic population of cells, which reacted with cytokeratin, vimentin and Wilms’ tumour 1 protein antibody. Ultrastructural examination revealed numerous microvilli, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, numerous desmosomes and bundles of microfilament. The tumour was classified as biphasic mesothelioma of peritoneal origin.
Neospora caninumInfection Does Not Affect the Fertility of Dairy Cows in Herds with High Incidence ofNeospora‐associated Abortions
Authors: López‐Gatius F. , Santolaria P. , Almería S.
Published: February 2005

This present study, was designed to establish whetherNeospora caninuminfection affects the fertility of high‐producing dairy cows, and was based on yearly serological screening for neosporosis and on the confirmation ofN. caninuminfection in aborted foetuses. Assessment was made of 7518 artificial inseminations (AI) (applied to parous cows) performed in three herds. Of these inseminations, 2540 (33.8%) resulted in pregnancy; 34% of which corresponded to seronegative cows (2226 of 6556 AI performed in seronegative cows) and 32.6% to seropositive animals (314 of 962). Abortion occurred in 97 (30.1%) of the 314 pregnancies recorded in dams seropositive forN. caninum, while only 93 (4.2%) of the 2226 pregnancies in seronegative animals ended in abortion. Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant effects ofN. caninumantibody titre, days in milk and milk production at insemination on fertility. Factors found to affect fertility were herd, season of insemination, lactation and insemination number, semen‐providing bull and AI technician. Our results indicate thatN. caninuminfection does not affect the fertility of high‐producing dairy cows.
tax and rex Sequences of Bovine Leukaemia Virus from Globally Diverse Isolates: Rex Amino Acid Sequence more Variable than Tax
Authors: McGirr K. M. , Buehring G. C.
Published: February 2005

Bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) is an important agricultural problem with high costs to the dairy industry. Here, we examine the variation of the tax and rex genes of BLV. The tax and rex genes share 420 bases and have overlapping reading frames. The tax gene encodes a protein that functions as a transactivator of the BLV promoter, is required for viral replication, acts on cellular promoters, and is responsible for oncogenesis. The rex facilitates the export of viral mRNAs from the nucleus and regulates transcription. We have sequenced five new isolates of the tax/rex gene. We examined the five new and three previously published tax/rex DNA and predicted amino acid sequences of BLV isolates from cattle in representative regions worldwide. The highest variation among nucleic acid sequences for tax and rex was 7% and 5%, respectively; among predicted amino acid sequences for Tax and Rex, 9% and 11%, respectively. Significantly more nucleotide changes resulted in predicted amino acid changes in the rex gene than in the tax gene (P ≤ 0.0006). This variability is higher than previously reported for any region of the viral genome. This research may also have implications for the development of Tax‐based vaccines.
Prevalence of Anti‐Yersinia Outer Protein Antibodies in Goats in Lower Saxony
Authors: Nikolaou K. , Hensel A. , Bartling C. , Tomaso H. , Arnold T. , Rösler U. , Ganter M. , Petry T. , Neubauer H.
Published: February 2005

Little is known about the prevalence of caprine yersiniosis in Germany. Only few cases are reported every year. The intention of the survey was to provide representative data on the seroprevalence of anti‐Yersinia antibodies in goats in the German state of Lower Saxony. A commercially available Western blot kit was used to identify caprine and ovine anti‐Yersinia antibodies against five proteins [YopM, H, D, E and V‐antigen (V‐Ag)]. Of the 681 investigated goat sera, 449 (66%) had anti‐Yop/V‐Ag antibodies. Only two of 28 animal holdings housed sero‐negative goats. Boxplot analysis showed that the number of non‐reactive animals is correlated to the size of a herd and the fact of milk production, respectively. A tendency was observed that various management factors may influence the anti‐Yersinia antibody status. No statement was possible on the impact of keeping additional carrier animals such as pigs, cows or sheep on a farm or the type of husbandry on the seroprevalence of anti‐Yersinia antibodies. This study provides trend‐setting data for yersiniosis in goat‐holdings. The impact on consumer health, i.e. especially for risk groups‐like people allergic to cow milk and the impact on the profit of a farm will have to be elucidated in further studies.