bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment and prevention of shivering in patients with severe cerebral injury. A pilot study
Authors: Sund‐Levander Märtha , Wahren Lis Karin
Published: March 2003

• Low body temperature is induced by surface cooling to reduce metabolic demands in patients with severe cerebral injury. Shivering, which increases energy expenditure, is a common effect of surface cooling.

• The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether increased gradient between the set point and peripheral temperature is related to shivering and whether modifying the loss of body heat during surface cooling decreases the frequency of shivering.

• Seven cerebrally injured patients at a neurosurgical ICU were studied. Shivering, surface cooling and the temperature gradient measured as the tympanic and the tip toe temperatures were registered every 30 min. Shivering was assessed at three levels: no shivering, mild shivering and severe shivering. In four patients the arms and legs were covered with a cotton cloth for part of the observation time to modify the rate of heat loss. The temperature measurements were repeated in each patient between 13 and 42 times.

• Four patients out of seven shivered. There was a significant association between increased temperature gradient and shivering (P < 0.01). Modifying the rate of heat loss decreased the temperature gradient (P < 0.001).

• By simultaneously measuring the tympanic and tip toe temperatures it may be possible to detect shivering earlier and decrease its frequency by modifying the loss of body heat during surface cooling.
Individualized care in a Finnish healthcare organization
Authors: Suhonen Riitta , Välimäki Maritta , Katajisto Jouko
Published: March 2003

• This paper reports the findings of a study exploring the provision of individualized care in a regional hospital in Finland.

• Individualized care was defined in terms of how patient individuality was taken into account and how patient participation in decision‐making was facilitated.

• The data were collected from hospitalized patients (n = 203) using a questionnaire specially developed for this study. The response rate was 89%.

• A strong support to facilitate patient participation in decision‐making was reported. Most shortcomings concerning the provision of individualized care related to consideration of the patient’s cultural background and the involvement of the patient’s family in the planning of care.

• Patients’ age and the type of ward were associated with the provision of individualized care: patients aged 65 or over were more satisfied than younger age groups with the way in which their personal life situation had been taken into account. Patients from the gynaecological ward thought, more than patients from the surgical ward, that their situation had been taken into account during hospitalization.
The design of written information for cardiac patients: a review of the literature
Authors: Walsh Dawn , Shaw David G.
Published: March 2003

• Written information is a form of communication that is being recognized by nurses as increasingly important, and a large amount of information is now being produced.

• Now that patient turnover is becoming more rapid and hospital stays shorter, thus leaving less time for face‐to‐face patient education, nurses are increasingly relying on the written word to supplement verbal information‐giving.

• It is vital that written materials, whatever their source, should be of the highest quality. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the case of post‐coronary patients.

• In view of the dearth of research‐based cardio‐specific literature, this review examines the broader literature and offers guidelines for nurses who wish to produce their own information.

• Format and presentation of written materials rather than content are the focus and the issues and conclusions are applicable to nurses working in fields other than cardiac nursing.
Collaboration in cancer nursing practice
Authors: Kearney Nora , Miller Morven , Sermeus Walter , Hoy Derek , Vanhaecht Kris
Published: March 2003

• Although nursing represents around half of Europe’s healthcare budgets, its impact is seldom evaluated. However, given the current era of cost‐containment, nursing must prove the value of its clinical effectiveness.

• Through European collaboration, the WISECARE project is working towards identifying the unique contribution of cancer nursing.

• This paper will explain the rationale and goals of the WISECARE project and demonstrate the collaborative processes involved within such a project.

• The latest results of the project will be presented to prove the value of collaboration in ensuring the development of European standards of nursing care.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for clients with schizophrenia: implications for mental health nursing practice
Authors: CHAN SALLY WAI‐CHI , LEUNG JESSIE KA‐YI
Published: March 2003

• This paper discusses the application of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in the treatment of clients with schizophrenia and the implications for mental health nursing practice.

• The literature shows that CBT has positive effects for clients in improving mental state and reducing relapse rate.

• Because of their direct client contact, mental health nurses are in the best position to assess, address and manage clients' psychotic symptoms and problems.

• A nursing care plan is used to illustrate how the principles of CBT could be incorporated into nursing care.

• Education and training are important to equip nurses with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement the therapy.

• Nurses have to take into account cultural issues related to the use of CBT.

• Culturally sensitive research needs to be conducted to assess the outcome of the therapy.
Health and social care futures in Ireland: the need for cross‐boundary work
Authors: MCILFATRICK SONIA , MCKENNA HUGH , GRAY ANN‐MARIE , HINDS MARY
Published: March 2003

• Fundamental changes are taking place in health and social care. The drivers for these changes include new discoveries, new treatments and globalization and the need to examine and consider cross‐boundary work.

• This paper will outline some of the issues generated from a research project that aimed to provide an all‐Ireland perspective on health and social care futures and to examine the implications of these trends both for nursing specifically and health and social care generally.

• Cross‐boundary working is important in relation to health and social care futures. This incorporates cross‐boundary working to include interprofessional, intraprofessional and interagency but also cross‐border working with the Republic of Ireland.

• There is a great potential for cross‐boundary work in nursing as we look towards the future. Nonetheless, it needs to be acknowledged that working across sectors, departments and even borders is not easy and barriers do exist.

• Some of the implications for nursing include the need to re‐examine nursing roles and span the boundaries of our profession with the increasing development of nurse‐led services. In addition nurses need to develop ways of `working together' strategically with others to achieve the public health agenda.
Social support and its relation to fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Koivula Meeri , Paunonen‐Ilmonen Marita , Tarkka Marja‐Terttu , Tarkka Matti , Laippala Pekka
Published: March 2003

• The purpose of this study was to ascertain social support resources available for patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the effect of social support on their fear and anxiety.

• A postal questionnaire was sent to 270 patients awaiting CABG in one hospital, 207 of whom responded. Norbeck's Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) was used. The quality of basic cardiac information (QBCI) and the social support wanted (WSS) by patients were measured with an instrument developed for this study. Fear was measured with the Bypass Grafting Fear Scale (BGFS) developed for this study. Anxiety was measured with Spielberger's State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results were analysed using frequency and percentage distributions, cross‐tabulation, non‐parametric tests and logistic regression.

• Heart patients' spouses provided the most emotional and tangible aid. Low emotional support from the social network was associated with high anxiety. Half the patients rated the quality of basic information as good or excellent. Those who perceived the quality of information to be excellent experienced mild fear. Those who displayed high fear wanted informational support from nurses more often than patients with lower fear.

• We conclude that the fear and anxiety of patients awaiting CABG are connected with their social support resources.
Collaborative information filtering in cooperative communities
Authors: Miyahara K. , Okamoto T.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Recently, large amounts of on‐line information broadcast from private persons/corporations are available via the Internet. In particular, there are large amounts of on‐line resources useful for learning which are currently underutilised due to the sheer volume of information available. The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to develop an information filtering system, which gathers, classifies, stores various kinds of information found on the Internet. The approach taken has been to create filters through the collaboration of members of a community. In this paper, a representation of personal interests and its acquisition method in the system are described.
The roles of gaze, gesture and gender in CSCL
Authors: Whitelock D. , Scanlon E.
Published: March 2003

Abstract This paper investigates the role of gaze and gesture when subjects are collaboratively solving physics problems with a computer. The results from the study indicate that females interacting together as pairs do use gaze significantly more than male pairs or those of mixed gender. There is evidence that gaze occurs during the planning stages of the problem solving activities and occurs more frequently by the speaker rather than the hearer during this phase. Mutual gazing occurs at this time too. The main finding is that differences in non‐verbal communication strategies with respect to gender grouping effect not only the strategies that progress the collaborative process but more importantly also those that influence the understanding of the problem space. These results suggest the quality of video linkage will play an important role in collaborative problem solving for distance learners.
An approach to learning mathematics through knowledge engineering
Authors: Kadijevich D.
Published: March 2003

This study deals with an AI approach to learning mathematics, which is realised through the development of expert system knowledge bases by using programming in logic and PROLOG. The paper presents this approach, and examines its theoretical values in the light of recent findings in computer science, mathematics education, didactics, psychology and philosophy. The examined values show evidence for the relevance of the approach to the computer‐assisted learning of mathematics.
A behavioural training system for planning judgement
Authors: Busby J. S. , Payne K. H.
Published: March 2003

A tutoring system has been developed to teach effective planning behaviours to practising engineers. The primary didactic strategy is to show concrete examples of effective and ineffective behaviours and require the learner to make inferences about what distinguishes them. This is intended both to provide clear prototypes for behaviours that learners can adopt, and convey the conceptual understanding that learners need in order to justify and adapt these behaviours. The evaluation of the system suggests a strong positive attitude among the learners (professional, graduate engineers) to both the mechanisms and content. Learners found the behavioural examples authentic and benefited from the analogies. But the inductive stages of learning, where the learners are required to make inferences about concrete descriptions of behaviour, were problematic for particular learners on particular behaviours. And the cognitive effort which learners were prepared to devote to induction varied considerably.
Using technology for the competitive delivery of education services
Authors: Hosie P. , Mazzarol T.
Published: March 2003

This paper considers the use of information technology as a source of competitive advantage for education service providers operating in international markets, with particular reference to Australia. It draws upon the findings of a survey of 315 education institutions in five countries engaged in the export of international education. The importance of effective use of information technology as a source of competitive advantage is highlighted. Current use of information technology within education institutions is examined and technologically mediated learning is proposed as a viable means of promoting, administering and delivering education services to international markets. In particular, the potential of the Internet to provide graduate business education is given close scrutiny. It is argued that a virtual university business faculty is economically viable in this context. Business schools are advised to invest in hardware and software applications to ensure the communications needs of their clients are met.
Teaching, learning and inquiry strategies using computer technology
Authors: Chen A‐Y. , Looi C‐K.
Published: March 2003

This paper reports a case study in a Singapore school where a group of ‘at risk’ secondary students were given a series of linked computer‐based business and consumer projects involving word processing, survey design and analysis, and presentation of results with computer graphics. There were clear benefits in terms of the group's motivation, behaviour and performance on tests, particularly in English. Both quantitative and qualitative data to support the findings are provided. The theoretical underpinnings of constructivism, collaborative inquiry and situated learning provide the conceptual framework for this case study.
Policies and practice in Denmark and Sweden
Authors: Storm Susanne
Published: March 2003

Abstract: Danish laws regulating banking and financial services organizations have no consumer protection provisions, although there is one law regulating a particular kind of payment instrument, the Payment Cards Act. However, general consumer protection law applies to banks and other financial services organizations, as well as other kinds of business. In particular, the Marketing Practices and Price Marking and Price Display Acts give responsibilities to the consumer ombudsman. This legal framework is complemented by guidelines issued – after consultation – by the consumer ombudsman, for example on conduct of business in bank advice, mortgage business and distance selling involving payment cards. The Danish system may be summarized as providing for standards of business behaviour laid down in general terms by law, backed by a supervisory authority with little power of coercion but playing an important role in influencing businesses to adopt high consumer protection standards and in negotiating solutions to problems as they emerge. The Swedish system is generally similar, but less advanced in the use of guidelines for the conduct of business. Both countries provide consumers who have unresolved complaints with easy access to alternative dispute resolution systems and the courts are rarely used to establish case law.
Policy implications
Authors: Mitchell Jeremy
Published: March 2003

Abstract: In the European Union, the framework of financial services legislation at EU level has been aimed primarily at forming a single market for banks, insurers and other financial services firms. Substantial progress has been made towards this objective. Also, the EU initiatives have stimulated a reappraisal of national regulatory systems. Most of this EU legislation (with the exception of the consumer credit directives) has not had consumer protection as one of its main aims, although it has been assumed that consumers will eventually benefit from a wide choice of financial services providers and from price competition. However, partly in response to consumer pressure, the European Commission is developing a set of initiatives more closely geared to protecting consumers’ interests. Within the context of the EU’s approach, there remain considerable variations in the approach to protecting consumers’ interests in different member states as a result of legal and cultural differences.
Consumer acceptance of quick‐cooking rice as food for use in a disaster
Authors: Azanza Maria Patricia , Basman Irenei Camila
Published: March 2003

The consumer acceptability of a Philippine cultivar quick‐cooking rice (QCR) as food for use in a disaster was studied. Test feeding in an evacuation centre involved random selection of 50 young adults and adult evacuees, rehydration of QCR and distribution of test rice samples for sensory evaluation test. The sensory evaluation results showed that more than 90% of the evacuee participants found the colour, texture, taste and overall qualities of the rehydrated QCR to be acceptable. Eighty per cent of the participants described the rehydrated rice to be adequately soft and neither undercooked nor overcooked. The test QCR samples were described by the community kitchen personnel of the evacuation centre as easy to prepare, requiring minimum cooking time and exhibiting homogeneity in doneness when cooked.
Temporal changes in income distribution among the states of America during the 1980s
Authors: Abdel‐Ghany Mohamed
Published: March 2003

Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to examine the effect of variations in selected factors on the change in interstate distribution of household income during the 1980s. The results indicate that the percentage change in the female labour force's participation as well as the state unemployment rate had statistically significant effects on the percentage increase change in the Gini measure of income inequality.
Use of and satisfaction with managed health care benefits: a comparison by gender
Authors: Kolodinsky Jane
Published: March 2003

Abstract: This study examines whether the use of and satisfaction with managed health care benefits differs for men and women. The findings indicate that there are significant differences in both use of and satisfaction with managed care. Further analysis shows income level is a mediating factor in how men and women fare in their experience with managed care with regard to access and cost of care. Although access to health care appears to be linked to both gender and income, problems with care received are linked to income level rather than gender.
Using home‐grown food is associated with higher nutrient intake in elderly people across Europe
Authors: Pearson J.M. , Schlettwein‐Gsell D. , De Groot C.P.G.M. , Van Staveren W.A.
Published: March 2003

Abstract: Using foods that have been grown, caught or raised at home (home‐grown) was a practice of approximately half of the participants in the Survey in Europe on Nutrition and the Elderly, a Concerted Action (SENECA). This was a study of elderly persons living in traditional towns throughout Europe. The focus of this further analysis of the SENECA baseline data was to determine whether significant differences exist between those who used home‐grown foods and those who did not. The study also sought to determine the impact of a series of sociodemographic measures on the use of home‐grown foods, self‐assessed quality of life and activity level, and levels of nutriture. The study found that using home‐grown food, even if only occasionally, had positive nutritional benefits. Intakes of energy, total fat, cholesterol, vitamin A, iron, water,and an overall diet adequacy measure were all higher for men or for both men and women who used home‐grown food than for those who did not. Men who used home‐grown foods had higher serum vitamin D levels, and women who used home‐grown foods had higher serum high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol levels than people who did not use those foods. LISREL analysis, a form of simultaneous factor analysis, using the SPSS statistical analysis program was used to determine the extent of relationships between 12 independent sociodemographic variables and five dependent variables. Higher iron intake and haemoglobin levels were related to the use of home‐grown foods. Using foods that are grown or raised at home positively affects nutrient intake of elderly people across Europe.
Polish and Belgian consumers' perception of environmentally friendly behaviour
Authors: Roozen Irene T. M. , De Pelsmacker Patrick
Published: March 2003

The aim of this study was to design a method for evaluating the importance that consumers place on the characteristics of environmentally friendly (EF) products and on consumer EF behaviour. Attitudes and opinions of consumers regarding the EF value of the different aspects of consumer behaviour – purchasing, using and disposing of goods – were measured. The perception of EF behaviour was analysed for Belgian and Polish consumers, a Western and an Eastern European country. The cultural, economic and political differences between Belgium and Poland may imply that their consideration of EF behaviour is different. The perception of consumers about buying, using and disposing of EF products does not necessarily indicate their own EF behaviour, but it gives an indication of what consumers think is EF behaviour. On the basis of the results, policy‐makers and industry can diagnose the consumers' perceived cost–benefit relationship of EF consumer behaviour. An evaluation of what consumers think is EF can be made for the two countries. Marketers, government and EF organizations can draw on our research results when developing EF products and/or advertising campaigns.
Correlates of apparel significance among older men and women
Authors: Chowdhary Usha
Published: March 2003

A total of 978 older men and women (over 65 years) were systematically identified from a list of registered voters and asked to participate in a study examining the correlates of apparel significance (extent to which apparel is considered important by an individual). A postal survey technique was used to collect the data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse and interpret the data. The condition number index was used to test for multicollinearity of data. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients, analysis of variance and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that apparel significance was positively related to self‐esteem, age perception, media usage, opinion leadership and social participation. Stepwise multiple regression results indicated that 65·3% of the variance was explained by media usage, opinion leadership and sex.
An Anglo‐Japanese study of young people and some domestic tasks related to food
Authors: Okuda Kazuko , Adams Jeff , Hackett Allan F.
Published: March 2003

Housework, in particular related to food preparation, has received little attention. Tasks are performed in line with gender stereotypes which are culturally specific and change with time. A comparison has been made between the domestic tasks and behaviours and attitudes related to food in young people in Japan and England. Gender stereotyping was apparent in both countries to a remarkable and fairly similar degree (very few children thought that men should have responsibility for tasks related to food) although many aspects were different; English children were more involved in preparing food and fewer Japanese children claimed to like cooking. Fewer Japanese boys (almost half) than English boys (14%) helped to clear up after meals. Almost all Japanese children ate sitting at a table compared with about 75% of English children for whom it was more common to have to be careful to keep their mouths closed when eating. Japanese culture however, does seem to be becoming more Westernized. Even ‘liberated women’ and ‘new age men’ may acquiesce to a degree of stereotyping in order to ensure that their children are ‘normal’. Curiously, the high media attention given to food and food preparation does not seem to be resulting in increased involvement in cooking by young people. This lack of involvement by young people in food preparation may have consequences for nutritional skills and so compromise health in later life.
Temporal and spatial variation in soil resources in a deciduous woodland
Authors: Farley R. A. , Fitter A. H.
Published: March 2003

1 Plants can respond to nutrient‐rich patches by proliferation of roots or by increased rates of ion uptake; such patches are therefore considered to be an important source of nutrients for plant growth. However, little is known about the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of nutrient concentration at scales that are applicable to the development of root systems of herbaceous perennial plants.

2 A woodland site in North Yorkshire (UK) was studied to measure the scale and extent of nutrient heterogeneity. Phosphate, nitrate, ammonium, pH and soil moisture were measured by destructive soil coring over a period of 2 years, and phosphate, nitrate and ammonium were also measured at a smaller scale using Rhizon Soil Solution Samplers.

3 Soil moisture was relatively constant at 0.6 g g–1fresh soil weight. Temporal variation was found in all other variables, but the timing of peaks in nutrient concentration was not predictable.

4 Soil coring showed differences in phosphate, ammonium and nitrate concentrations at a scale of over 2 m, which may be too large a scale to affect individual herbaceous perennial plants but might be important for trees. However, the soil solution sampling showed two‐ to fivefold differences in nitrate and ammonium at scales of 20 cm; the root systems of many herbaceous plants will spread over such distances.

5 Peaks in nutrient concentration that occurred in localized areas lasted no more than 4 weeks. Therefore if these nutrient‐rich patches are to be utilized by plants, their roots must respond rapidly.

6 The study showed that localized nutrient‐rich areas may form an important source of nutrients for plants in some natural habitats, especially when the general levels of nutrient availability are low. Hence the patchy nature of the soil should be considered in root foraging and population studies.
The effects of environmental heterogeneity on the performance of Glechoma hederacea: the interactions between patch contrast and patch scale
Authors: Wijesinghe Dushyantha K. , Hutchings Michael J.
Published: March 2003

1
 We report on an experimental investigation into the effects of contrast in patch quality and patch size upon the performance of the clonal herb Glechoma hederacea in nutritionally heterogeneous environments.

2  There were six treatments providing different degrees of patch contrast. These ranged from maximum contrast, in which patches consisted entirely of compost or sand, to homogeneity, in which all patches contained 50% of each. These were combined factorially with two patch size treatments. Overall, all treatments provided the same quantity of compost and sand, and the same area and volume of higher and lower quality patches.

3  Clones in the large‐patch environments produced significantly more root biomass in both rich‐ and poor‐ quality patches than the clones in the small‐patch environments. At both scales there was a decline in root biomass in the rich patches, accompanied by an increase in root biomass in the poor patches, as patch quality converged.

4  The proportion of the root biomass of clones that was located in nutrient‐rich patches was greatest at high contrast and declined gradually to become equal in all patches, as contrast between patches diminished to homogeneity. This effect was independent of patch scale. There was a close match between root placement and nutrient availability in different quality patches in all treatments except that with the highest contrast.

5  At both patch scales, root : shoot ratios of clone parts in rich patches rose (and those in poor patches declined) as patch contrast increased. This species is therefore capable of morphological specialization at a local level when clones grow in heterogeneous environments. These effects were also greater at the larger patch scale.

6  The effect of patch contrast on total clone yield was significantly modified by patch scale. At lower contrast, yield was similar at both scales, whereas at higher contrast, yield was significantly greater in the large‐patch treatment.

7
 Although G. hederacea can match its morphology to environmental heterogeneity in some habitats, it is less able to do so when patches are small‐scale and highly contrasting. These limitations cause considerable differences in the yield that can be achieved from a given quantity of resource provided in different configurations.
Tree architecture in relation to leaf dimensions and tree stature in temperate and tropical rain forests
Authors: King David A. , Maindonald John H.
Published: March 2003

1 The architecture and leaf dimensions (petiole length, blade length and blade width) of 403 tree species were studied at six sites ranging from lowland equatorial to temperate Australian rain forest. The branching patterns of understorey saplings and exposed canopy trees were classified as orthotropic (three‐dimensional arrangements of leaves about ascending twigs) or plagiotropic (leaves arranged in planes, usually along the sides of horizontal twigs).

2 Among understorey saplings, orthotropic species had larger leaves and longer petioles than plagiotropic species. Discriminant analysis showed that the two groups could be separated by petiole length and the ratio of blade width to length, with those orthotropic species having short petioles also tending to have narrow blades.

3 The petiole length distinguishing orthotropy from plagiotropy showed a linear decrease with increasing latitude, as small‐leaved short‐petioled orthotropic species were relatively abundant at the temperate Australian sites.

4 The likelihood of a species being plagiotropic was weakly related to its shade tolerance and not related to adult stature or abundance, i.e. understorey leaf display was more closely related to leaf dimensions than to life‐history attributes. This importance of leaf dimensions may reflect their influence on light interception and mechanical support requirements.

5 A smaller fraction of species was plagiotropic in the canopy than in the understorey, particularly in Australia, where many short‐petioled species shifted from plagiotropic to orthotropic on attaining the canopy.

6 This switch from plagiotropy to orthotropy appeared to be associated with excess light levels relative to photosynthetic capacity, slow branch extension rates and low illumination angles. Thus, leaf display is related to leaf dimensions in shaded saplings, but light and physiological factors may have a greater influence on canopy architecture.
A buried spruce forest provides evidence at the stand and landscape scale for the effects of environment on vegetation at the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary
Authors: Pregitzer Kurt S. , Reed David D. , Bornhorst Theodore J. , Foster David R. , Mroz Glenn D. , Mclachlan Jason S. , Laks Peter E. , Stokke Douglas D. , Martin Patrick E. , Brown Shannon E.
Published: March 2003

1 Due to a unique set of circumstances, we were able to excavate an entire spruce (Picea) forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA, which was buried in the early Holocene (9928 ± 133 uncalibrated 14C years bp). Trees ranged from < 5 cm to > 50 cm in diameter, and dominants were approximately 9 m tall. The stand was multi‐aged, with a maximum tree age of 145 years. Well‐preserved stem cross‐sections (n = 140) were recovered and the entire stand was mapped.

2 Stand reconstruction combined with pollen and sediment analysis revealed a pure spruce forest in the sandy lowlands surrounded by hills dominated by pine, oak and birch. These results are consistent with the idea that topography and substrate played an important role in determining forest composition during Holocene plant migrations.

3 Very rapid climate fluctuations were occurring 10 000 bp. The extensive spruce forests that once dominated much of interior North America were being replaced by subboreal and temperate conifer and hardwood species migrating northward. During this dynamic period in the Earth's history, patterns of plant community change are usually inferred from the study of pollen assemblages, and lack of detailed stand level information has prevented the direct comparison of the composition, age, structure and growth rates of Holocene forests with those that exist today.

4 Our findings that the age‐class distribution, size, spatial distribution of trees and radial growth rates of white spruce (Picea glauca) can be remarkably similar between the two time periods suggest that forest population and growth processes responsible for today's advancing tree‐lines appear to have been at work 10 000 years ago.
A test of community reassembly using the exotic communities of New Zealand roadsides in comparison to British roadsides
Authors: Wilson J. Bastow , Steel John B. , Dodd Mike E. , Anderson Barbara J. , Ullmann Isolde , Bannister Peter
Published: March 2003

1 Competing theories of community assembly are very difficult to test. Four main theories exist. The Stochastic theory sees species assembly as being random. The Humpty Dumpty/Alternative Stable States (ASS) theory suggests that a community may be unable to reassemble itself from its constituent species. The Deterministic theory suggests there will be convergence to one stable state. The Pre‐adaptation theory is similar to the Deterministic theory but emphasizes that many species fit the stable state because of characters acquired elsewhere.

2 The reassembly of a flora into new communities in a different country, or its assimilation as a major component of such communities, offers a means to test these theories. The invasion of British plant species into New Zealand, and their reassembly into roadside communities there, is a good example of such a natural experiment.

3 Plant communities of NZ roadsides were compared to the communities of the British National Vegetation Classification (NVC). British roadside communities were also compared to the NVC as a control. New Zealand roadside communities provided a fit to the NVC communities of only 54.7% on average. After excluding species that are not present in NZ, and therefore could not possibly reassemble, the fit increased to 61.1%. British roadsides gave a 65.8% fit. The NZ figures are similar to the fit obtained with random data (58.7%), indicating that the NZ communities bear little relation to the ones formed by the same species in Britain.

4 Similarity between roadside communities in NZ and Britain was low, forming two almost distinct sets of communities.

5 Some of the predictions of the Stochastic, Humpty Dumpty / ASS and Deterministic models are borne out, but others are not. It is concluded that British species have reassembled into communities in NZ most of which are new, i.e. distinct from those that occur in the native range of the species in Britain. The evidence points to a process of community assembly by pre‐adaptation.
Seed bank dynamics of Onopordum acanthium: emergence patterns and chemical attributes
Authors: Qaderi Mirwais M. , Cavers Paul B. , Bernards Mark A.
Published: March 2003

Cypselas (fruits) of Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) germinate unpredictably over a long period of time. We evaluated the effects of soil type, burial depth and collection date on the emergence patterns of two populations of O. acanthium, ESW and Quarry (Q).

From each of four separate collections made throughout 1996, five replicates of 200 cypselas each were placed on the surface or buried at depths of 3 or 15 cm in both sand and silt‐loam soils (i.e. field conditions) and emergence was recorded biweekly between August 1996 and September 1999.

Emergence was intermittent over the 3 years, with a higher total percentage from silt loam (17%) than from sand (9%), and from 3 cm depth (18%) compared with the surface (8%).

After 3 years, all remaining viable, split (germinated but not emerged), decayed and unfilled cypselas were retrieved. Total germination over the 3 years (emerged plus split) was up to 77% at 3 cm in silt loam but always less than 10% at 15 cm in both soils for both populations. Although a higher percentage of cypselas germinated under controlled conditions when retrieved from loam compared with sand (89% vs. 66%), a significant number from all treatments did not germinate until scarified.

Cypselas that ripened under the warmest temperature (collection 3) had the highest emergence in the year of collection (1996), while more of those that ripened under cooler temperatures (collections 1 and 4) emerged in later years (1998 and 1999). Both initial and later emergence patterns for both populations varied greatly with collection date. This may be the first time that seedling emergence from the seed bank for different collections has been monitored over several years.

We compared waxes, lignins and soluble phenolics in the coats of cypselas retrieved from soil (early germinators) with those that germinated only after scarification. More surface wax was found in dormant cypselas.

Understanding these complex germination/emergence patterns may help develop control policies for O. acanthium.
Plant response to solar ultraviolet‐B radiation in a southern South American Sphagnum peatland
Authors: Searles Peter S. , Flint Stephan D. , Díaz Susana B. , Rousseaux M. Cecilia , Ballaré Carlos L. , Caldwell Martyn M.
Published: March 2003

Plant growth and pigmentation of the moss Sphagnum magellanicum and the vascular plants Empetrum rubrum, Nothofagus antarctica and Tetroncium magellanicum were measured under near‐ambient (90% of ambient) and reduced (20%) ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation for three growing seasons in a Sphagnum peatland in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (55° S).

Reduction of solar UV‐B increased height growth but decreased volumetric density in S. magellanicum so that biomass production was not influenced during the 3 years. The morphology of vascular plants tended not to respond to UV‐B reduction.

A 10–20% decrease in UV‐B‐absorbing compounds occurred in T. magellanicum under solar UV‐B reduction. No effects were seen on chlorophyll or carotenoids in S. magellanicum, although, for UV‐B‐absorbing compounds, a significant interaction between UV‐B and year suggests some response to solar UV‐B reduction.

The climate‐related growth of the dwarf shrub E. rubrum was assessed retrospectively by correlating an 8‐year record of annual stem elongation with macroclimatic factors including solar UV‐B and visible radiation, precipitation and temperature.

No significant negative correlations were found between annual E. rubrum stem elongation and ambient solar UV‐B, the ratio of UV‐B : visible radiation, or the 305‐nm : 340‐nm irradiance ratio for an 8‐year record (1990–91 to 1997–98), nor was stem elongation affected by solar UV‐B reduction in our experimental field plots after 3 years.

The role of solar UV‐B radiation on plant growth in Sphagnum peatlands in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, is likely to depend on the severity of stratospheric ozone depletion over the next several decades. The increases in ambient solar UV‐B associated with ozone depletion over the last 20 years are less than the difference between our radiation treatments. Therefore, providing that the ozone layer substantially recovers by the middle of this century, only modest effects of increased solar UV‐B on plant growth may be expected.
Grazing effect on diversity of annual plant communities in a semi‐arid rangeland: interactions with small‐scale spatial and temporal variation in primary productivity
Authors: Osem Yagil , Perevolotsky Avi , Kigel Jaime
Published: March 2003

The interactive effect of grazing and small‐scale variation in primary productivity on the diversity of an annual plant community was studied in a semiarid Mediterranean rangeland in Israel over 4 years. The response of the community to protection from sheep grazing by fenced exclosures was compared in four neighbouring topographic sites (south‐ and north‐facing slopes, hilltop and wadi (dry stream) shoulders), differing in vegetation, physical characteristics and soil resources. The herbaceous annual vegetation was highly diverse, including 128 species. Average small‐scale species richness of annuals ranged between 5 and 16 species within a 20 × 20 cm quadrat, and was strongly affected by year and site.

Above‐ground potential productivity at peak season (i.e. in fenced subplots) was typical of semiarid ecosystems (10–200 g m−2), except on wadi shoulders (up to 700 g m−2), where it reached the range of subhumid grassland ecosystems. Grazing increased richness in the high productivity site (i.e. wadi), but did not affect, or reduced, it in the low productivity sites (south‐ and north‐facing slopes, hilltop). Under grazing, species richness was positively and linearly related to potential productivity along the whole range of productivity. Without grazing, this relationship was observed only at low productivity (< 200 g m−2).

The effect of grazing along the productivity gradient on different components of richness was analysed. At low productivity, number of abundant, common and rare species all tended to increase with productivity, both with and without grazing. Rare species increased three times compared with common and abundant species. At high productivity, only rare species continued to increase with productivity under grazing, while in the absence of grazing species number in the different abundance groups was not related to productivity.

In this semiarid Mediterranean rangeland, diversity of the annual plant community is determined by the interaction between grazing and small‐scale spatial and temporal variation in primary productivity, operating mainly on the less abundant species in the community.
Growth and mortality in high and low light: trends among 15 shade‐tolerant tropical rain forest tree species
Authors: Bloor Juliette M. G. , Grubb Peter J.
Published: March 2003

Past work on tropical rain forest tree seedlings has been dominated by contrasts between strongly light‐demanding and strongly shade‐tolerant species. We examined patterns of growth and mortality among shade‐tolerant tree seedlings in response to light, and investigated the morphological and physiological correlates of high seedling growth and survival rates across species.

Seedlings of 15 tree species from Australian tropical lowland forest were grown for up to 1 year in neutral‐density shadehouses at three light levels (10%, 0.8% and 0.2% full daylight). All species showed negligible mortality in the 10% and 0.8% shadehouses, but survival was significantly reduced in 0.2% daylight.

Seedling survival rate in 0.2% daylight showed no significant relationship with either the dry mass of seed reserves (embryo plus endosperm), or relative growth rates in dry mass (RGRM) in 0.8% and 10% light.

The RGRM values in 0.8% and 10% daylight were strongly positively correlated, and showed a strong negative correlation with the dry mass of seed reserves. Interspecific variation in low‐light RGRM was driven by unit leaf rate (rate of accumulation of dry mass per unit area of leaf), whereas interspecific variation in high‐light RGRM was most closely correlated with leaf area ratio (leaf area per total plant dry mass).

Variation in seedling characters in response to light may have important implications for the coexistence of shade‐tolerant tropical tree species.
Methodological challenges to prospective study of an innovation: interregional nursing care management of cardiovascular patients
Authors: Aadalen Sharon Price
Published: March 2003

This paper discusses the methodological challenges of conducting a interregional intersystem study in a highly competitive health care environment. Nurses from a three‐hospital rural health consortium and an urban tertiary medical centre collaborated in a two‐phase study (a) to describe current interregional cardiovascular health care process (phase I) and (b) to test an interregional nurse‐coordinated cardiovascular health care model (phase II). Phase I was a 1‐year exploratory descriptive retrospective study involving patient interviews and chart reviews. Findings from the phase I study suggested a pattern of patient health problems occurring weeks and months following successful tertiary centre interventions. Phase II was quasi‐experimental prospective study with 90 intervention subjects and 64 comparison group subjects who completed pencil and paper survey tools over a 12‐month period following discharge from the tertiary centre. Nurse and doctor providers completed a satisfaction survey twice, at an interval, 1 year. Concurrent data collection via telephone calls (comparison group) and a retrospective record review (intervention group) provided data on cost, resource use and system efficiency. Initial results of phase II are presented, together with tests of significance for hypotheses related to interregional nurse care management and patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, cost/system efficiency, and provider satisfaction. Methodological considerations and recommendations related to phases I and II of this interregional collaborative cardiovascular project are presented and discussed.
The role of audit in making do not resuscitate decisions
Authors: Hayes Suzanne , Stewart Kevin
Published: March 2003

Abstract: Audit has been proposed as a useful means of implementing and evaluating ‘Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)’ policies. This paper explores the background to the introduction of DNR policies and reviews published reports of their use in clinical practice. Problems with auditing and implementing DNR policies are highlighted.
RESEARCH LETTER: Pre‐hospital care in Valparaíso – an integrated emergency network within the San Antonio Regional Health Service in Chile
Authors: Fuentes R.G. , Espejo F.E. , Avila J.P. , Verdessi D.B. , Gonzalez J.C. , Azevedo A.C.
Published: March 2003

To the Editor: In 1993 Valparaíso San Antonio Health Service initiated an Organizational Development Programme that included all facilities, extending from the six major hospitals to the 26 primary care clinics of the region. The programme adopted Quality Management as its model, without discarding other concepts and methods of proven effectiveness (see Walton 1992; Al‐Asaf 1993; Ishikawa 1993). In 1994 the Health Service Council identified the emergency care system as a model in need of great improvement and considered the incorporation of pre‐hospital care as a top priority. The challenge was to implement a new system, affordable with a small budget, with greater satisfaction for staff and users, better coordinated and more responsive to local needs (see Ministère de la Santé 1992). Quality management techniques were used to adapt and develop a new model, essentially designed by local staff, based on the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and other relevant literature (Burnett & Grover 1996; Grijseels et al. 1996; Gwinnutt & Driscoll 1996; Hu & Kao 1996; Jabbour et al. 1996; Boyington 1995). A ‘network’ model rather than a centralized one was chosen and implemented at a very low direct cost, optimizing existing resources.