bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive age as a criterion explaining senior tourists' motivations
Authors: González Ana M. , Rodríguez Carmen , Miranda Mauro R. , Cervantes Miguel
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain a broader knowledge of the concept of cognitive age and its use as a variable when segmenting the market of people aged over 55.

Design/methodology/approach

A proposal for measuring this variable was developed, the dimensions used being: actions, interests, feelings, health, thinking and expectations. A personal survey of 400 individuals aged over 55 who had been involved in some tourist travel in the last year was undertaken.

Findings

A principal component analysis resulted in the extraction of a single factor labeled “cognitive age”. The outcome of the cluster analysis undertaken was the establishment of two segments, i.e. active livers and stable passives. The technique of multiple correspondence analysis reflected differences both in motivations for tourism and in the behavior as tourists of the two segments.

Research limitations/implications

It should be pointed out that there were insufficient repetitions of the methodology to indicate reliably whether it is consistent and that difficulties were encountered in gathering information from the group investigated.

Practical implications

The results obtained permit it to be stated that cognitive age enriches knowledge about senior tourists; hence, it seems to be of interest to take it into consideration when establishing marketing strategies directed towards this group.

Originality/value

After its overview of the various methodologies relating to cognitive age, this investigation is one of the few applications of this criterion to segmentation of senior citizen tourists undertaking journeys of longer duration. Furthermore, it is the sole piece of research so far undertaken to investigate its usefulness in an individualized manner.
Consumer behavior in a religious event experience: an empirical assessment of value dimensionality among volunteers
Authors: Gallarza Martina G. , Arteaga Francisco , Floristán Elena , Gil Irene
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present volunteering in tourism events as a sort of spontaneous community participation that has far‐reaching consequences for destination management. It chooses the concept of value to explore volunteering experience in an international religious mega‐event, using Holbrook's value typology (efficiency, social value, play, spirituality).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors undertake this objective by means of testing psychometric properties of the four value scales, as well as providing a causal model of relationships among value dimensions and overall perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty or commitment to volunteering in a special event tested with MBPLS, a particular algorithm for the partial least squares methodology.

Findings

The results confirm the reliability and validity of the scales tested in a sample of 1,638 volunteers, collected via e‐mail from the database of a religious mega‐event held in Valencia in July 2006. They also confirm a relationship among overall perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty or commitment as a chain of behavioral constructs.

Research limitations/implications

One can find implications for the relevant weight of volunteers as peculiar stakeholders of mega‐events. For consumer behavior researchers, the chain of effects among value dimensions and behavioral constructs is once more relevant, although the findings are only related to volunteers at religious events.

Practical implications

For destination marketing managers, this study can throw light on the profile of volunteers for event marketing and how they behave in their own experience as relevant stakeholders in the organization of a mega‐event.

Originality/value

Very few works devote their interest to value dimensionality in a marketing event context, despite the richness of that sort of tourism experience. Perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty or commitment have been investigated among volunteers in sport or cultural mega‐events, but rarely in religious mega‐events.
Energy and GDP growth
Authors: Hannesson Rögnvaldur
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the growth in energy use and the growth of gross national product (GDP) 1950‐2004. How closely are the two related? Does this relationship vary in strength between rich and poor countries, between market economies and centrally planned economies, and between oil exporting and oil importing nations? Does its strength depend on the price of oil?

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses linear regression of the growth rate in energy use on the growth rate in GDP for 171 countries, GDP per capita, and the price of oil, run for all 171 countries and for subsets of rich, medium rich and poor countries, market economies versus centrally planned economies, and oil exporting versus oil importing countries.

Findings

There is a significant positive relationship between growth in energy use and growth in GDP for all countries taken together and for all subsets of countries, although not necessarily proportional. There is some indication that growth in energy use declines with GDP per capita, for any given growth in GDP. There is a significantly negative relationship between the price of oil and the growth in energy use for all countries taken together and for all subsets of countries, except for planned economies and for oil exporting countries.

Research limitations/implications

Given that most of the world's primary energy comes from fossil fuels, it is going to be very difficult to reconcile reductions in carbon dioxide emissions with continued economic growth, especially in poor and medium rich countries.

Originality/value

There are few if any studies which have considered the relationship between energy use and GDP growth for such a large sample of countries, stretching as far back as to 1950 for the countries for which data are available for such a long period.
The Irish wine market: a market segmentation study
Authors: Geraghty Sarah , Torres Ann M.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The Irish wine market has experienced unprecedented growth in the last 15 years; drivers of growth include increased affordability and accessibility of wine and improved branding. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Irish wine market may be meaningfully segmented for successful brand positioning.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a lifestyle segmentation approach by linking lifestyle values, product attributes and buying and consumption patterns. The primary research is descriptive in design, employing a self‐administered questionnaire to collect quantitative data on wine consumer behaviour. Efforts made to ensure a highly representative sample included choosing a large sample size, administering the questionnaire in a range of outlets, and gathering information from wine drinkers with wide ranging involvement levels.

Findings

The research identifies three clusters of wine consumers: casual wine buyer, value seeking wine buyer, and wine traditionalist. Together, the clusters provide an insight into consumers' behaviour. The high correlation of statistics from this research with those of The Wine Development Board suggests the data findings are representative of the population.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of adopting a behavioural basis in conducting the segmentation is the highly descriptive nature of the resulting data. Examining behaviours give an insight into how consumers act, but fails to take into account the underlying motivations and rationale for consumer actions. The use of more complex segmentation bases, such as value systems and lifestyles may yield a richer understanding of the Irish wine consumer.

Originality/value

The profiles provide wine marketers with an insight into Irish wine consumer behaviour. The demographic information and the buyer behaviour data provide marketers with points of access to their target market. Brand positioning can be improved by ensuring the brand communicates and emphasises the product attributes, which the targeted segments value the most when choosing wine.
History and management practice and thought: an autobiography
Authors: Chandler Alfred D.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

This piece is a republished autobiography of Alfred D. Chandler, Jr.

Design/methodology/approach

Chandler reflects on his life and career as a management historian.

Findings

Chandler reflects on his life and career, in particular how he came to write Strategy and Structure and its impact on him as a historian. He also discusses his life at Harvard Business School, the editing of the Roosevelt letters, and the writing of The Visible Hand.

Originality/value

This is excellent background material for the other papers in the issue, as well as a valuable personal insight into Chandler's own thinking.
From a family‐owned to a family‐controlled business
Authors: Nelly Trevinyo‐Rodríguez Rosa
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a meaningful, integrated, and re‐interpreted framework of Chandler's ideas regarding corporation's growth, offering an understandable conceptualization of how these insights are applicable to explain family firm's transitional stages – even when, in 1977, Chandler was not aware of it.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounding ideas on Chandler's insights regarding corporate firm's growth, and drawing on Gersick et al. family ownership evolutionary model, this paper develops an integrated framework of family‐controlled corporation's growth which allows family business researchers to reconcile with Chandler's perspectives, recognizing that his ideas contributed a lot to the family business literature.

Findings

Chandler's ideas regarding family firm's management are based on a narrow definition (and perspective) of family firm ownership. When allowing not only family‐owned firms, but also family‐controlled ones in his capitalism classification, his developmental stages make perfect sense when applied to family enterprises.

Originality/value

This paper intends to reinterpret Chandler's views on family firms, stating that the processes described for corporations are also applicable for family enterprises – when their definition becomes broader (including not only family‐owned, but also family‐controlled firms). The latter, bridges the gap between Chandler's envisioned historical evolution of corporations, and the development, professionalization and survival of family firms.
An ideological shift in Chandler's research assumptions
Authors: Novicevic Milorad M. , Humphreys John , Zhao Duan
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze Alfred Chandler's ideological shift from American exceptionalism to transnational history in research assumptions to identify significant corollaries for the study of management history.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the determinism‐indeterminism classifying framework proposed by Tucker, the paper classifies Chandler's works based on the extent to which they reflect Chandler's ideological commitment to exceptionalist versus transnational perspective.

Findings

The paper found that the year of 1980 was the turning point for Chandler's ideological shift from American exceptionalism to a more transnational comparative perspective.

Practical implications

The paper outlines the relevant implications of our findings for management history, calling for an emulation of Chandler's pursuit of comparative examinations of established concepts and management philosophy within the historical development of contemporary and past transnational firms and managers. It believes this holds great importance to furthering a historical perspective in relative management history, and global management, which, in turn, will further illuminate the history of American business and management as well.

Originality/value

The unique contribution of this paper is that it provides the first historical analysis of the ideological assumptions underpinning Chandler's works.
A standard agreement for vendor managed inventory
Authors: Zammori Francesco , Braglia Marcello , Frosolini Marco
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define the standard structure of a vendor managed inventory (VMI) agreement, which can be used as a guideline for the early definition of the agreement.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting from an industrial application of relevance, the information flow and the technical details, which are to be defined before the operation startup, are identified and discussed. These data are used as the key points for the definition of the basic frame of the agreement. A particular emphasis is given to the “Technical Specification” and the “Service Level Agreement” sections.

Findings

It is shown that a VMI agreement should be arranged into parts dealing with the generic and legal sides of the agreement, whereas the technical aspects and the relation‐specific topics should be addressed in the annexes. This increases the flexibility of the agreement in that, as the VMI relationship evolves over time, changes will affect only the annexes leaving the main body of the agreement unaltered.

Practical implications

The proposed agreement has a flexible structure and can be easily adopted by the personnel involved to correctly define and implement VMI in several industrial fields.

Originality/value

By approaching VMI from a practical point of view, this paper identifies the main issues that must be covered in the agreement to fit the needs of both parties and to assure benefits on both sides.
Variance and beta as perceived risk: questionable science
Authors: Olsen Robert A.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the origin of variance and beta as risk measures and to identify their shortcomings as perceived risk metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses seminal literature from economics, psychology, and neuroscience that have relevance to financial risk.

Findings

There is empirical evidence that investors are loss‐averse and affectively influenced. Variance and beta as conventionally calculated are flawed because they do not take into account the inherent indeterminacy of the investor's world.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates that perceived risk will be systematically mis‐measured and that risk premium/return anomalies will prevail until a more affective and multidimensional risk metric is utilized.

Originality/value

The value of the paper lies in its concise and clear identification of financial risk measurement issues and a suggested direction for remediation.
Developing entrepreneurship programmes for female members of the Irish traveller community
Authors: Cooney Thomas M.
Published: June 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the distinctive challenges faced by female travellers (Roma, Sinti and Gypsy) in starting their own business.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper details a pilot “start your own business” programme that was delivered in Ireland to 12 women from the traveller community.

Findings

Four distinct categories of entrepreneurship barriers faced by female travellers were recognised: self‐esteem, traveller identity, welfare trap and family responsibilities.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on just one programme and so no general conclusions can be drawn.

Practical implications

The paper identifies the successes and failures of the programme, plus it highlights the future steps that need to be taken to bring appropriate entrepreneurship support to traveller women who experience triple discrimination – discrimination as women, as travellers and as traveller women.

Originality/value

Very little is known about female travellers in terms of entrepreneurship activity and so this is a significant addition to a very small body of knowledge.
Glucocorticoid sensitivity of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease alveolar macrophages
Authors: Armstrong J , Sargent C , Singh D
Published: June 2009

It has been reported that alveolar macrophages from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) display glucocorticoid (Gc) resistance. The Gc sensitivity of inflammatory mediators released by COPD macrophages may vary. The objective of this study was to identify Gc-insensitive inflammatory mediators produced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated alveolar macrophages from COPD patients. LPS-stimulated alveolar macrophages from 15 COPD patients, nine smokers (S) and nine healthy non-smokers (HNS) were stimulated with LPS with or without dexamethasone (100 and 1000 nM). Luminex and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure 23 inflammatory mediators. After LPS stimulation there were lower levels of inflammatory mediators in COPD patients and S compared to HNS. There was no difference between groups for the effects of dexamethasone at either concentration (P > 0·05 for all comparisons). Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and growth-related oncogene (GRO)-α displayed the greatest sensitivity to dexamethasone in COPD patients, while IL-8, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were the least sensitive. COPD macrophages have a reduced response to LPS. Gc sensitivity was similar in COPD macrophages compared to controls. We identify some Gc-insensitive cytokines, including GM-CSF, G-CSF and IL-8, that may be involved in the progression of airway inflammation in COPD patients.
Sampling and analytical plus subsampling variance components for five soil indicators observed at regional scale
Authors: Rawlins B. G. , Scheib A. J. , Lark R. M. , Lister T. R.
Published: June 2009

When comparing soil baseline measurements with resampled values there are four main sources of error. These are: i) location (errors in relocating the sample site), ii) sampling errors (representing the site with a sample of material) iii) subsampling error (selecting material for analysis) and iv) analytical error (error in laboratory measurements). In general we cannot separate the subsampling and analytical sources of error (since we always analyse a different subsample of a specimen), so in this paper we combine these two sources into subsampling plus analytical error. More information is required on the relative magnitudes of location and sampling errors for the design of effective resampling strategies to monitor changes in soil indicators. Recently completed soil surveys of the UK with widely differing soils included a duplicate site and subsampling protocol to quantify ii), and the sum of iii) and iv) above. Sampling variances are estimated from measurements on duplicate samples — two samples collected on a support of side length 20 m separated by a short distance (21 m). Analytical and subsampling variances are estimated from analyses of two subsamples from each duplicate site. After accounting for variation caused by region, parent material class and land use, we undertook a nested analysis of data from 196 duplicate sites across three regions to estimate the relative magnitude of medium‐scale (between sites), sampling and subsampling plus analytical variance components, for five topsoil indicators: total metal concentrations of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn), soil pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. The variance components for each indicator diminish by about an order of magnitude from medium‐scale, to sampling, to analytical plus subsampling. Each of the three fixed effects (parent material, land use and region) were statistically significant for each of the five indicators. The most effective way to minimise the overall uncertainty of our observations at sample sites is to reduce the sampling variance.
Military geology and the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863
Authors: Doyle Peter
Published: June 2009

Gettysburg – the most costly of all battles of the American Civil War, and one of the most significant battles ever fought. Contested in rural Pennsylvania, the Battle of Gettysburg took place after a chance encounter by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia (General Robert E. Lee) with the Union Army of the Potomac (Major‐General George Meade). It was to prove the turning point in the war, the so‐called ‘high tide’ of the Confederacy, as after Gettysburg the fortunes of war turned in favour of the Union. Fought over three days in early July 1863, the battle continues to be analyzed and re‐analyzed from all perspectives. Significantly, it was the first battle to be re‐interpreted from the perspective of its geology, by Andrew Brown of the Pennsylvania State Survey in the early 1960s. It continues to fascinate geologists interested in the overall impact of geology and terrain in determining the outcome of battle. This article examines why Gettysburg has been so influential in shaping our understanding of geology in warfare.
When the Sun died over northern Europe: the unique geology of Denmark's inland islands
Authors: Brooks Kent
Published: June 2009

Most geologists asked to comment on the geology of Denmark would probably think of Cretaceous Chalk and Pleistocene glacial deposits. Today, many will perhaps be familiar with the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary clay at Stevns Klint, which has played a prominent role in the discussions regarding the mass extinction event at this time (the ever popular ‘end of the dinosaurs’). Few would perhaps think of volcanic or tectonic phenomena, although, in fact, outstanding localities for these processes are to be found here, documenting a time when dense volcanic ash clouds drifted over north‐west Europe.
A Wealden guide II: the Wessex Sub‐basin
Authors: Radley Jonathan D.
Published: June 2009

Part 1 of ‘A Wealden guide’ (Geology Today, 2006, v.22, n.3) provided an introduction to the non‐marine Early Cretaceous Wealden strata of southern England, and an account of the succession that outcrops within the Weald Sub‐basin. This second article focuses on the Wealden of the Wessex Sub‐basin, exposed on the Isle of Wight and Dorset coasts of southern and south‐west England.
A test of ecological and sexual selection hypotheses for geographical variation in coloration and morphology of golden‐crowned kinglets (Regulus satrapa)
Authors: Chui Celia K. S. , Doucet Stéphanie M.
Published: June 2009

Aim  To date, studies on geographical variation have extensively investigated Bergmann’s rule, yet Gloger’s rule remains infrequently tested, and climatic predictors of variation in carotenoid coloration have not yet been studied. In addition, hypotheses based on sexual selection, which predict that sexual dimorphism should vary with population density and climatic conditions, have received little attention. Our goals were to characterize geographical variation in the coloration and morphology of golden‐crowned kinglets, Regulus satrapa (Passeriformes, Regulidae), and to investigate possible ecological and sexual selection correlates of this variation.

Location  The entire species range of golden‐crowned kinglets, comprising North and Central America.

Methods  We collected data from 511 museum specimens, dating from 1847 to 2006, encompassing all five subspecies of golden‐crowned kinglets. We used reflectance spectrometry to quantify crown and mantle coloration, and measured wing‐chord and tarsus length to approximate body size. We obtained geographical and climatic data from online databases, and population density estimates from the literature.

Results  There were significant subspecific and gender differences in crown coloration and morphology: male kinglets were generally larger and more colourful. Our data revealed mixed support for Bergmann’s rule: tarsus length decreased with increasing latitude, while patterns of variation in wing‐chord and tarsus length showed conflicting results with temperature. Mantle coloration exhibited an opposite trend to that predicted by Gloger’s rule: upper parts became lighter with increasing relative humidity. Crown coloration was negatively correlated with actual evapotranspiration, suggesting that levels of primary productivity are not directly linked to carotenoid abundance. Sexual dimorphism and dichromatism generally increased with greater population density, lower latitudes and elevations, and warmer temperatures, supporting a previously observed pattern of variation in sexual dimorphism.

Main conclusions  Geographical variation in golden‐crowned kinglets yielded mixed support for Bergmann’s rule and contradicted Gloger’s rule, suggesting that other mechanisms may be operating. Allen’s rule is likely to be a stronger factor influencing tarsus length. Differences in the degree of sexual dimorphism and dichromatism in varying climatic conditions suggest that the intensity of sexual selection differs between habitats. Further studies on geographical variation in sexual dimorphism in various taxa may reveal a previously unrecognized ecogeographical rule.
Fragmentation and pre‐existing species turnover determine land‐snail assemblages of tropical rain forest
Authors: Raheem Dinarzarde C. , Naggs Fred , James Chimonides P. D. , Preece Richard C. , Eggleton Paul
Published: June 2009

Aim The main aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the effect of fragment age in relation to other patch‐ and landscape‐scale measures of forest fragmentation, and (2) to assess the relative importance of fragmentation, habitat degradation (i.e. degradation caused by selective logging and past shifting cultivation) and putative pre‐existing species turnover in structuring current land‐snail assemblages.

Location South‐western Sri Lanka.

Methods The land‐snail fauna was sampled using standardized belt transects. Fifty‐seven transects were sampled in 21 lowland rain forest fragments (c.1–33,000 ha). The spatial arrangement of fragments in the study area was explicitly considered in an effort to take into account the non‐random nature of fragmentation and degradation and the possibility that current species composition may reflect patterns of species turnover that existed prior to fragmentation. The data set of 57 land‐snail species and 28 environmental and spatial variables was analysed using canonical correspondence analysis and partial canonical correspondence analysis.

Results Fragment age, mean shape complexity (i.e. a landscape‐scale measure of shape complexity), altitude, and the spatial variablesx(longitude),y(latitude) andy2explained significant variation in land‐snail species composition. None of the three nominal variables quantifying habitat degradation was significantly correlated with variation in species composition. The independent effects of fragment age and mean shape complexity were similar. The combined effect of the spatial variables alone was larger than the independent effects of fragment age, mean shape complexity or altitude, but was of the same order of magnitude. The total variation explained by the spatial variables was comparable to the total non‐spatial variation accounted for by fragment age, mean shape complexity and altitude.

Main conclusions Fragment age was found to be one of only two key determinants (the other was shape complexity at the landscape scale) driving fragmentation‐related changes in community composition. The influence of pre‐fragmentation patterns of species turnover on assemblage structure can be stronger than the effects of fragmentation measures, such as age, and may override the effects of forest degradation. Thus, strong patterns of pre‐existing turnover may potentially confound interpretation of the effects of forest fragmentation and degradation.
Diversity, endemism and species turnover of millipedes within the south‐western Australian global biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Moir Melinda L. , Brennan Karl E. C. , Harvey Mark S.
Published: June 2009

Aim To examine how current and historical environmental gradients affect patterns of millipede (Diplopoda) endemism and species turnover in a global hotspot of floristic diversity, and to identify regions of high endemism and taxonomic distinctness for conservation management.

Location South‐western Australia.

Methods Museum database records of millipedes (subclasses Pentazonia and Helminthomorpha), supplemented with extensive fieldwork, were used to map species richness, species turnover (β‐diversity), weighted endemism, average taxonomic distinctness and variation in taxonomic distinctness in half‐degree grid squares (c.2500 km2). Generalized linear models were used to examine relationships between these parameters with rainfall (present day and historical), topography and human disturbance (clearing for agriculture and urbanization).

Results Millipede species richness, particularly within the order Spirostreptida, and millipede endemism were positively associated with large within‐cell differences in elevation (mountainous regions). Large variation in taxonomic distinctness (unevenness in the taxonomic tree) in higher‐rainfall areas was mainly due to speciation within the Spirostreptida genusAtelomastix. Hotspots of millipede endemism and taxonomic distinctness were identified within three categories of importance: primary (Stirling Range East, Cape Le Grand, Cape Arid, Walpole, Porongurups), secondary (Mount Manypeaks, Bremer Bay, Stirling Range West, Duke of Orleans Bay, Ravensthorpe, Albany, Busselton) and tertiary (Nornalup). A species turnover boundary was positively associated with rainfall, broadly located in the transition zone of 300–600 mm year−1.

Main conclusions The current lack of knowledge on the endemism of invertebrates hampers their incorporation into conservation planning. With this knowledge we can identify global biodiversity hotspots and, at a smaller scale, significant conservation areas within a region. Here we have shown that weighted endemism and taxonomic distinctness are useful tools in identifying centres of high endemism and speciation for millipedes within the south‐west Australian hotspot. Moreover, it is unlikely that either vertebrates or vascular plants will be useful surrogates for identifying significant areas for invertebrate conservation. While other workers have shown that vascular plants, mammals and frogs have different centres of endemism within south‐west Australia, our results show that centres of endemism for millipedes encompass all of these plus other areas.
Climate‐based models of spatial patterns of species richness in Egypt’s butterfly and mammal fauna
Authors: Newbold Tim , Gilbert Francis , Zalat Samy , El‐Gabbas Ahmed , Reader Tom
Published: June 2009

Aim  Identifying areas of high species richness is an important goal of conservation biogeography. In this study we compared alternative methods for generating climate‐based estimates of spatial patterns of butterfly and mammal species richness.

Location  Egypt.

Methods  Data on the occurrence of butterflies and mammals in Egypt were taken from an electronic database compiled from museum records and the literature. Using Maxent, species distribution models were built with these data and with variables describing climate and habitat. Species richness predictions were made by summing distribution models for individual species and by modelling observed species richness directly using the same environmental variables.

Results  Estimates of species richness from both methods correlated positively with each other and with observed species richness. Protected areas had higher species richness (both predicted and actual) than unprotected areas.

Main conclusions  Our results suggest that climate‐based models of species richness could provide a rapid method for selecting potential areas for protection and thus have important implications for biodiversity conservation.
Learning strategies of public health nursing students: conquering operational space
Authors: Hjälmhult Esther
Published: June 2009

Aim.  To develop understanding of how public health nursing students learn in clinical practice and explore the main concern for the students and how they acted to resolve this main concern.

Background.  How professionals perform their work directly affects individuals, but knowledge is lacking in understanding how learning is connected to clinical practice in public health nursing and in other professions.

Design.  Grounded theory.

Method.  Grounded theory was used in gathering and analysing data from 55 interviews and 108 weekly reports. The participants were 21 registered nurses who were public health nursing students.

Results.  The grounded theory of conquering operational space explains how the students work to resolve their main concern. A social process with three identified phases, positioning, involving and integrating, was generated from analysing the data. Their subcategories and dimensions are related to the student role, relations with a supervisor, student activity and the consequences of each phase. Public health nursing students had to work towards gaining independence, often working against ‘the system’ and managing the tension by taking a risk. Many of them lost, changed and expanded their professional identity during practical placements.

Conclusion.  Public health nursing students’ learning processes in clinical training is complex and dynamic and the theory of ‘Conquering operational space’ can assist supervisors in further developing their role in relation to guiding students in practice. Relationships are one key to opening or closing access to situations of learning and directly affect the students’ achievement of mastering.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings are pertinent to supervisors and educators as they prepare students for practice. Good relationships are elementary and supervisors can support students in conquering the field by letting students obtain operational space and gain independence. This may create a dialectical process that drives learning forward.
Identifying the core components of cultural competence: findings from a Delphi study
Authors: Jirwe Maria , Gerrish Kate , Keeney Sinead , Emami Azita
Published: June 2009

Aim.  To identify the core components of cultural competence from a Swedish perspective.

Background.  The cultural diversity of Swedish society raises challenges for nursing practice. Nurses need to be culturally competent, i.e. demonstrate the effective application of knowledge, skills and attitudes to practice safely and effectively in a multicultural society. Existing frameworks of cultural competence reflect the socio‐cultural, historical and political context they were developed in. To date, there has been no research examining cultural competence within a Swedish context.

Design.  A Delphi survey.

Methods.  A purposeful sample of 24 experts (eight nurses, eight researchers and eight lecturers) knowledgeable in multicultural issues was recruited. Interviews were undertaken to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes that formed the components of cultural competence. Content analysis yielded statements which were developed into a questionnaire. Respondents scored questionnaire items in terms of perceived importance. Statements which reached consensus were removed from questionnaires used in subsequent rounds. Three rounds of questionnaires were distributed during 2006.

Results.  A total of 118 out of 137 components reached a consensus level of 75%. The components were categorised into five areas, cultural sensitivity, cultural understanding, cultural encounters, understanding of health, ill‐health and healthcare and social and cultural contexts with 17 associated subcategories.

Conclusions.  There are some similarities between the issues raised in the current study and existing frameworks of cultural competence from the USA and the UK. However, Swedish experts placed less emphasis on ethnohistory and on developing skills to challenge discrimination and racism.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study identified the core components of cultural competence important to nurses practising within a multicultural society such as Sweden. Acquisition of the knowledge, skills and attitudes identified should enable nurses to meet the needs of patients from different cultural backgrounds. The components of cultural competence can form the basis of nursing curricula.
Empowerment from the perspective of next of kin in intensive care
Authors: Wåhlin Ingrid , Ek Anna‐Christina , Idvall Ewa
Published: June 2009

Aims and objectives.  To describe next of kin empowerment in an intensive care situation.

Background.  Next of kin is important in reducing intensive care patients’ fear and anxiety. However, admission to an intensive care unit is often recognised as an extremely stressful event, causing next of kin to experience shock, fear, anxiety and vulnerability. More knowledge is needed about how next of kin in intensive care can be empowered.

Design.  The study was conducted using a phenomenological method.

Methods.  Ten interviews were conducted with intensive care patients’ next of kin.

Findings.  Perceptions of both a genuine will and a capacity to help and relieve were found to be essential for next of kin’s experiences of empowerment in an intensive care situation. All informants were empowered by a caring atmosphere where they received continuous, straightforward and honest information that left room for hope and in which closeness to the patient was facilitated and medical care was perceived as the best possible. Some of the informants were also strengthened by support from other family members and/or by being involved in caring for the patient.

Conclusions.  Next of kin empowerment was found to be associated with being met with human warmth and sensitivity. This emphasises the importance of discussing attitudes and behaviours as well as surveillance and treatment when trying to improve the care of next of kin in intensive care unit and when working with staff development.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Knowledge of how to empower next of kin in an intensive care situation allows caring staff to support these persons in a more sensitive and appropriate way. Findings underline the importance of creating caring relations with patients’ next of kin.
Hospice family caregivers’ quality of life
Authors: Tang Woung‐Ru
Published: June 2009

Aims and objectives. To study quality of life (QOL) and its important correlates among family caregivers of terminally ill patients receiving in‐home hospice care.

Background. Caregiver QOL has been identified as a core outcome variable in studies of dying patients and their families, but few studies have assessed QOL among caregivers of patients with terminal illness, particularly those in hospice care.

Design. For this cross‐sectional correlational study, 60 caregivers were recruited from two local in‐home hospice programmes in the Midwestern United States.

Methods. Self‐report data were provided by caregivers using the Caregiver Quality of Life Index – Cancer, Spiritual Well‐Being Scale, American Pain Society Patient Outcomes Questionnaire, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Rating and Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey to measure their QOL, spirituality, health status and social support.

Results. Caregivers’ educational status, physical health status, spirituality and qualitative and quantitative social support, as a set, explained 42% of the variance in their QOL. Caregivers with higher education, better physical health status, greater spirituality and more qualitative and quantitative social support, had a significantly better QOL.

Conclusions. QOL for this sample of hospice caregivers was significantly predicted only by physical health status and spirituality, likely because of collinearity among the independent variables. Additional research is needed to explore the factors that sustain or promote caregivers’ QOL over time.

Relevance to clinical practice. In the delivery of hospice services, the family caregiver is both a vital member of the health care team and a recipient of care. Health care providers should therefore pay more attention to the health status and spirituality of major caregivers, thus helping them maintain and improve their QOL.
Genetic heterogeneity of betanodaviruses in juvenile production trials of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel)
Authors: Sugaya T , Mori K , Nishioka T , Masuma S , Oka M , Mushiake K , Okinaka Y , Nakai T
Published: June 2009

Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis (Temminck & Schlegel), is one of the most important commercially exploited fish species in the world, and juvenile production techniques have been developed for its culture and stock enhancement in Japan. However, recent juvenile production has often failed because of the occurrence of viral nervous necrosis caused by betanodaviruses. In this study, we examined the genetic variability of betanodaviruses detected in the diseased juveniles to understand the transmission of the disease in a tuna hatchery. A total of 94 nucleotide sequences of betanodavirus (partial sequence of the coat protein gene, RNA2) were obtained from fish samples by reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification and 13 haplotypes were recognized among the sequences. The haplotype distributions in the viral populations from the diseased juveniles were related to the broodstocks from which the juveniles originated, suggesting that vertical transmission had occurred in the hatchery. The statistical parsimony network of viral haplotypes suggests that the nucleotide substitutions among the samples were accumulated in a recent population growth.
The secret to 6S: regulating RNA polymerase by ribo‐sequestration
Authors: Decker Kimberly B. , Hinton Deborah M.
Published: June 2009

Regulating transcription under different conditions is vital to all organisms. As Escherichia coli shifts from exponential to stationary growth, regulation of transcription is achieved in large part by the tight binding of 6S RNA to Eσ70, RNA polymerase with the σ70 specificity subunit. Ribo‐sequestration of Eσ70 by 6S RNA serves to downregulate σ70‐dependent transcription, which is needed for exponential growth. This facilitates transcription from promoters dependent on stationary phase sigma, σs. Previous work has suggested that the 6S RNA binding to Eσ70 simply mimics the Eσ70/promoter interaction. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Klocko and Wassarman demonstrate that many of the contacts between residues within σ70 region 4 and 6S RNA are distinct from those between region 4 and promoter DNA. Several residues that interact with 6S RNA are ones previously known to interact with protein activators of Eσ70. Their work adds 6S RNA to the growing list of factors that can regulate Eσ70 by interacting with region 4.
Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria in a young Nigerian female
Authors: Yusuf S. M. , Mijinyawa M. S. , Maiyaki M. B. , Mohammed A. Z.
Published: June 2009

Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria (DUH) is a clinically heterogeneous disorder that shows generalized mottled pigmentation. It occurs most commonly in Japanese persons, with sporadic reports from South Africa, India, and Iraq. Histopathology reveals a variable degree of pigmentary incontinence. Although the precise etiology of this disorder is not yet known, the clinicopathological findings implicate an inherent abnormality of melanosomes or melanin processing. We describe a case in a young Nigerian girl.
Squamous cell carcinoma complicating epidermolysis bullosa in a 6‐year‐old girl
Authors: Shivaswamy Kanakapura Nanjundaswamy , Sumathy Tharayil Kunneth , Shyamprasad Arakali Lakshminarayana , Ranganathan Chandrasekharan
Published: June 2009

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare form of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) that presents with generalized blistering since birth. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy seen in RDEB, starting from second decade onwards. We report a case of SCC complicating RDEB in a 6‐year‐old girl.
Bcl‐2 and CD10 expression in the differential diagnosis of trichoblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma with follicular differentiation
Authors: Córdoba Alicia , Guerrero David , Larrinaga Begoña , Iglesias Maria Eugenia , Arrechea Maria Asunción , Yanguas Juan Ignacio
Published: June 2009

Background  Both trichoblastoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin are characterized morphologically by the proliferation of basaloid cells; however, BCCs are clinically associated with a more aggressive behavior. An accurate diagnosis of these lesions is essential for effective, timely treatment and appropriate therapeutic decisions.

Methods  This study includes 40 lesions. Bcl‐2 and CD10 immunohistochemistry were performed in all cases and the patterns of expression were analyzed.

Results  Bcl‐2 is useful for the detection of BCC with diffuse expression in nests of basaloid cells, but cannot distinguish between BCC with follicular differentiation and trichoblastoma, as both lesions show the same pattern with positive and negative areas. Conversely, CD10 expression can distinguish between trichoblastomas with peritumoral stromal staining and BCCs with epithelial staining. If both stromal and epithelial areas are stained, these cases are classified as BCC with follicular differentiation.

Conclusions  CD10 is useful for distinguishing between BCC with widespread follicular differentiation and trichoblastomas.
Clinicopathologic challenge
Authors: Kulkarni Rajan P. , Sacoolidge John C. , Chiu Melvin W.
Published: June 2009

What is your diagnosis?
Parents’ attitudes when purchasing products for children with nut allergy: A UK perspective
Authors: Noimark L. , Gardner J. , Warner J. O.
Published: June 2009

Food avoidance remains the main strategy in prevention of anaphylaxis in children with acute food allergies. To achieve this aim, product labelling needs to be clear and accurate and parents educated on optimal avoidance measures. Food product labelling although improved often still remains ambiguous. The aim of this study was to understand and quantify the attitudes of parents of children with nut allergy towards labels informing that the product could contain nuts. An anonymous questionnaire was filled out by parents of children with nut allergy attending a tertiary paediatric allergy clinic to assess response to differing descriptive labelling of foods containing nuts. In 184 questionnaire responses, 80% of parents would not purchase a product labelled ‘not suitable for nut allergy sufferers’ or ‘may contain nuts’. However, other labels including ‘this product does not contain any nuts but is made in a factory that uses nuts’, ‘cannot guarantee is nut free’ and ‘may contain traces of nuts’ were avoided by only around 50% of parents. Previous allergic reaction to nut products had no bearing on outcome. Additionally, large numbers of parents did not read labels for the presence of nuts in non‐food products. A large number of patients with nut allergy continue risk‐taking by either ignoring warning labels on foods or assuming that there is a gradation of risk depending on the wording of label warnings. Further tightening of labelling legislation and improved education would help to decrease the risk of anaphylaxis.