bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterizing the availability of metals in contaminated soils. I. The solid phase: sequential extraction and isotopic dilution
Authors: Young S.D. , Zhang H. , Tye A.M. , Maxted A. , Thums C. , Thornton I.
Published: February 2006

Abstract. The two approaches most commonly applied to characterizing the chemical form and ‘reactivity’ of metals in the soil solid phase are sequential extraction procedures (SEPs) and isotopic dilution (ID). The development and limitations of both approaches are described and their application to contaminated soils discussed. It may be argued that ID offers a better means of discriminating between ‘reactive’ and ‘inert’ forms of metal. However, the literature on SEPs is considerably larger, providing greater scope for comparative analysis of new data. Although ID methods are subject to operational constraints, the procedural dependency of SEPs is probably much greater. Thus greater effort has been expended to standardize and verify methodologies for SEPs. However, despite achieving a level of ‘political ratification’ at the procedural level, the use of SEPs within risk assessments for planning or development purposes is currently almost absent. The future for ID methods in this context may lie in site‐specific risk assessments that include improved methods for the prediction of metal solubility and bioavailability.
Characterizing the availability of metals in contaminated soils. II
Authors: Zhang H. , Young S.D.
Published: February 2006

Abstract. Methods that can be used to determine the distribution of metal species in soil solution are critically reviewed and assessed. They are divided into two groups: those that can provide free ion activity, and those that measure labile species in solution. Ion selective electrodes have long been regarded as a promising technique, but there are practical problems in performing accurate measurements and only the Cu electrode has been used routinely. The Donnan membrane technique is capable of measuring the free ion activity of many metals, but adequate sensitivity can be a problem. Although resin competition methods are versatile, care must be exercised to avoid perturbing the solution excessively. Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) measures labile species, so the approximation involved in interpretation as simple inorganic species, from which free ion activities can be derived, should be recognized. Diffusive gradients in thin‐films also measures labile species, but it is applicable to a much wider range of metals than ASV. It requires larger volumes of solution, but it can be used directly on the whole soil where it also measures the metal that can be rapidly supplied to solution. Other techniques such as permeable liquid membranes have yet to be used for measurements on soil solution. All of these methods have strength and weaknesses, and measure different aspects of speciation. Knowledge of the availability of the metals to biota is likely to be best advanced by the critical use of one or more of these speciation methods with a thorough understanding of exactly what is being measured.
Biological tools for the assessment of contaminated land: applied soil ecotoxicology
Authors: Paton G.I. , Killham K. , Weitz H.J. , Semple K.T.
Published: February 2006

Abstract. Chemical analysis alone is inadequate for comprehensively assessing the impact of soil pollution on biota. The term bioavailability can only be applied in a context specific to a target biological receptor or a proven chemical surrogate. Integration of biological and chemical data can often yield significant advances in hazard assessment and act as a suitable baseline for making site‐specific risk assessments. Here, the value of biological techniques is discussed and their application described. The relative merit of test selection is considered and the new direction being developed in sublethal assessments. Currently, however, one of the major limitations is the seeming lack of flexibility of many assays in that they are either applicable to agricultural systems or industrial scenarios, but rarely to both. As a consequence, few assays have internationally adopted protocols. The introduction of new methods and the continued improvement and refinement of assays make this area of soil science dynamic and responsive.
“Save the Crabs, Then Eat 'Em”: A Culinary Approach to Saving the Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Landers Judy , Mitchell Peter , Smith Bill , Lehman Thomas , Conner Christopher
Published: February 2006

The Academy for Educational Development, a nonprofit organization specializing in social change communications, implemented a campaign to reduce nutrient pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay from the greater Washington D.C. area. Funded by the Chesapeake Bay Program, the primary campaign goal was to convince area residents not to fertilize their lawns in the spring, when fertilizer runoff is most damaging to the Bay, but to do so in the fall, if at all. For the 16% of residents who hire a lawn service, the goal was to convince them to hire a Bay-friendly partner lawn service. To overcome message fatigue from previous Bay-oriented campaigns and motivate this urban audience with a meaningful connection to the Bay, the campaign message was framed not as an environmental appeal, but as a way to ensure the continued availability of Chesapeake Bay seafood. Television, newspaper, and out-of home ads ran for a seven-week period during March and April 2005. In spite of a small budget, a post-intervention survey showed increased awareness of lawn care behaviors that contribute to Bay pollution, and decreased intent to fertilize in the spring.
Development of a Research Tool to Monitor Point of Sale Promotions
Authors: Devlin Elinor , Anderson Susan , Borland Ron , MacKintosh Anne Marie , Hastings Gerard
Published: February 2006

Social marketers are concerned both with the use of marketing to improve health, and in critically scrutinizing the impact of commercial marketing practices on health. This latter area is relatively underdeveloped. It requires the development of relevant and robust research tools. This article is concerned with developing an observation measure designed to explore the industry's response to tobacco marketing regulation in retail outlets. Given the restrictions on both direct and indirect forms of tobacco marketing in the UK, there has been scope for the tobacco industry to focus their marketing efforts in other areas, such as point of sale. A protocol has been developed to enable observation of any changes in the marketing tactics employed by the UK tobacco industry at the retailer level. This article describes the observation proforma designed to gauge activity, and provides guidance for administering such a measure on a longitudinal basis. The measure was generally reliable, and suggests that tobacco marketing at point of sale might be targeted towards lower socioeconomic status areas.
On monotonicity and boundedness properties of linear multistep methods
Authors: Hundsdorfer Willem , Ruuth Steven
Published: February 2006

In this paper an analysis is provided of nonlinear monotonicity and boundedness properties for linear multistep methods. Instead of strict monotonicity for arbitrary starting values we shall focus on generalized monotonicity or boundedness with Runge-Kutta starting procedures. This allows many multistep methods of practical interest to be included in the theory. In a related manner, we also consider contractivity and stability in arbitrary norms.
Approximating the number of integers without large prime factors
Authors: Suzuki Koji
Published: February 2006

Ψ
(
x
,
y
)

\Psi (x,y)

denotes the number of positive integers

≤
x

\leq x

and free of prime factors

>
y

>y

. Hildebrand and Tenenbaum gave a smooth approximation formula for

Ψ
(
x
,
y
)

\Psi (x,y)

in the range

(
log
⁡
x

)

1
+
ϵ

>
y
≤
x

(\log x)^{1+\epsilon }> y \leq x

, where

ϵ
\epsilon

is a fixed positive number

≤
1

/

2

\leq 1/2

. In this paper, by modifying their approximation formula, we provide a fast algorithm to approximate

Ψ
(
x
,
y
)

\Psi (x,y)

. The computational complexity of this algorithm is

O
(

(
log
⁡
x
)
(
log
⁡
y
)

)

O(\sqrt {(\log x)(\log y)})

. We give numerical results which show that this algorithm provides accurate estimates for

Ψ
(
x
,
y
)

\Psi (x,y)

and is faster than conventional methods such as algorithms exploiting Dickman’s function.
Structured preconditioners for nonsingular matrices of block two-by-two structures
Authors: Bai Zhong-Zhi
Published: February 2006

For the large sparse block two-by-two real nonsingular matrices, we establish a general framework of practical and efficient structured preconditioners through matrix transformation and matrix approximations. For the specific versions such as modified block Jacobi-type, modified block Gauss-Seidel-type, and modified block unsymmetric (symmetric) Gauss-Seidel-type preconditioners, we precisely describe their concrete expressions and deliberately analyze eigenvalue distributions and positive definiteness of the preconditioned matrices. Also, we show that when these structured preconditioners are employed to precondition the Krylov subspace methods such as GMRES and restarted GMRES, fast and effective iteration solvers can be obtained for the large sparse systems of linear equations with block two-by-two coefficient matrices. In particular, these structured preconditioners can lead to efficient and high-quality preconditioning matrices for some typical matrices from the real-world applications.
Computation of differential operators in wavelet coordinates
Authors: Gantumur Tsogtgerel , Stevenson Rob
Published: February 2006

In [Found. Comput. Math., 2 (2002), pp. 203–245], Cohen, Dahmen, and DeVore proposed an adaptive wavelet algorithm for solving general operator equations. Assuming that the operator defines a boundedly invertible mapping between a Hilbert space and its dual, and that a Riesz basis of wavelet type for this Hilbert space is available, the operator equation is transformed into an equivalent well-posed infinite matrix-vector system. This system is solved by an iterative method, where each application of the infinite stiffness matrix is replaced by an adaptive approximation. It was shown that if the errors of the best linear combinations from the wavelet basis with

N
N

terms are

O

(

N

−
s

)

\mathcal {O}(N^{-s})

for some

s
>
0

s>0

, which is determined by the Besov regularity of the solution and the order of the wavelet basis, then approximations yielded by the adaptive method with

N
N

terms also have errors of

O

(

N

−
s

)

\mathcal {O}(N^{-s})

. Moreover, their computation takes only

O

(
N
)

\mathcal {O}(N)

operations, provided

s
>

s
∗

s>s^*

, with

s
∗

s^*

being a measure of how well the infinite stiffness matrix with respect to the wavelet basis can be approximated by computable sparse matrices. Under appropriate conditions on the wavelet basis, for both differential and singular integral operators and for the relevant range of

s
s

, in [SIAM J. Math. Anal., 35(5) (2004), pp. 1110–1132] we showed that

s

∗

>
s

s^{\ast }>s

, assuming that each entry of the stiffness matrix is exactly available at unit cost. Generally these entries have to be approximated using numerical quadrature. In this paper, restricting ourselves to differential operators, we develop a numerical integration scheme that computes these entries giving an additional error that is consistent with the approximation error, whereas in each column the average computational cost per entry is

O

(
1
)

{\mathcal O}(1)

. As a consequence, we can conclude that the adaptive wavelet algorithm has optimal computational complexity.
Smooth macro-elements on Powell-Sabin-12 splits
Authors: Schumaker Larry , Sorokina Tatyana
Published: February 2006

Macro-elements of smoothness

C
r

C^r

are constructed on Powell- Sabin-

12
12

splits of a triangle for all

r
≥
0

r \ge 0

. These new elements complement those recently constructed on Powell-Sabin-

6
6

splits and can be used to construct convenient superspline spaces with stable local bases and full approximation power that can be applied to the solution of boundary-value problems and for interpolation of Hermite data.
Lamin A/C and emerin are critical for skeletal muscle satellite cell differentiation
Authors: Frock Richard L. , Kudlow Brian A. , Evans Angela M. , Jameson Samantha A. , Hauschka Stephen D. , Kennedy Brian K.
Published: February 2006

Mutations within LMNA, encoding A-type nuclear lamins, are associated with multiple tissue-specific diseases, including Emery-Dreifuss (EDMD2/3) and Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD1B). X-linked EDMD results from mutations in emerin, a lamin A-associated protein. The mechanisms through which these mutations cause muscular dystrophy are not understood. Here we show that most, but not all, cultured muscle cells from lamin A/C knockout mice exhibit impaired differentiation kinetics and reduced differentiation potential. Similarly, normal muscle cells that have been RNA interference (RNAi) down-regulated for either A-type lamins or emerin have impaired differentiation potentials. Replicative myoblasts lacking A-type lamins or emerin also have decreased levels of proteins important for muscle differentiation including pRB, MyoD, desmin, and M-cadherin; up-regulated Myf5; but no changes in Pax3, Pax7, MEF2C, MEF2D, c-met, and β-catenin. To determine whether impaired myogenesis is linked to reduced MyoD or desmin levels, these proteins were individually expressed in Lmna–/– myoblasts that were then induced to undergo myogenesis. Expression of either MyoD or, more surprisingly, desmin in Lmna–/– myoblasts resulted in increased differentiation potential. These studies indicate roles for A-type lamins and emerin in myogenic differentiation and also suggest that these effects are at least in part due to decreased endogenous levels of other critical myoblast proteins. The delayed differentiation kinetics and decreased differentiation potential of lamin A/C-deficient and emerin-deficient myoblasts may in part underlie the dystrophic phenotypes observed in patients with EDMD.
Genetic redundancy masks diverse functions of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN during C. elegans development
Authors: Suzuki Yo , Han Min
Published: February 2006

Genetic redundancy is associated with a large percentage of genes. We investigated PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) tumor suppressor gene functions that eluded single mutant analyses, using a Caenorhabditis elegans genome-wide screen. We show that at least 27 genes collaborate with the worm PTEN homolog daf-18 for various functions previously concealed by genetic redundancy, including embryogenesis, cuticle turnover, egg laying, and oocyte maturation. In one example, daf-18 appears to constitute a cell-autonomous germline signal that converges with a somatic gonad signal mediated by ceh-18 at a kinase inhibition. We provide evidence that daf-18 elicits some functions independent of the downstream gene daf-16.
Regulation of neuroblast competence: multiple temporal identity factors specify distinct neuronal fates within a single early competence window
Authors: Cleary Michael D. , Doe Chris Q.
Published: February 2006

Cellular competence is an essential but poorly understood aspect of development. Is competence a general property that affects multiple signaling pathways (e.g., chromatin state), or is competence specific for each signaling pathway (e.g., availability of cofactors)? Here we find that Drosophila neuroblast 7-1 (NB7-1) has a single early window of competence to respond to four different temporal identity genes (Hunchback, Krüppel, Pdm, and Castor); that each of these factors specifies distinct motor neuron identities within this competence window but not outside it; and that progressive restriction to respond to Hunchback and Krüppel occurs within this window. Our work raises the possibility that multiple competence windows may allow the same factors to generate different cell types within the same lineage.
CKI, there's more than one: casein kinase I family members in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling
Authors: Price Mary Ann
Published: February 2006

Multiple members of the casein kinase I family of serine/threonine protein kinases are involved in positive and negative roles in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling. Here I review these roles, including recent results on casein kinase I (CKI) phosphorylation and activation of LRP6, and CKI phosphorylation of Ci and mediation of Ci–Slimb/β–TrCP binding.
Polycomb group-dependent Cyclin A repression in Drosophila
Authors: Martinez Anne-Marie , Colomb Sophie , Déjardin Jérôme , Bantignies Frédéric , Cavalli Giacomo
Published: February 2006

Polycomb group (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) proteins are well known for their role in the maintenance of silent and active expression states of homeotic genes. However, PcG proteins may also be required for the control of cellular proliferation in vertebrates. In Drosophila, PcG factors act by associating with specific DNA regions termed PcG response elements (PREs). Here, we have investigated whether Drosophila cell cycle genes are directly regulated by PcG proteins through PREs. We have isolated a PRE that regulates Cyclin A (CycA) expression. This sequence is bound by the Polycomb (PC) and Polyhomeotic (PH) proteins of the PcG, and also by GAGA factor (GAF), a trxG protein that is usually found associated with PREs. This sequence causes PcG- and trxG-dependent variegation of the mini-white reporter gene in transgenic flies. The combination of FISH with PC immunostaining in embryonic cells shows that the endogenous CycA gene colocalizes with PC at foci of high PC concentration named PcG bodies. Finally, loss of function of the Pc gene and overexpression of Pc and ph trigger up-regulation and down-regulation, respectively, of CycA expression in embryos. These results demonstrate that CycA is directly regulated by PcG proteins, linking them to cell cycle control in vivo.
A global assembly of cotton ESTs
Authors: Udall Joshua A. , Swanson Jordan M. , Haller Karl , Rapp Ryan A. , Sparks Michael E. , Hatfield Jamie , Yu Yeisoo , Wu Yingru , Dowd Caitriona , Arpat Aladdin B. , Sickler Brad A. , Wilkins Thea A. , Guo Jin Ying , Chen Xiao Ya , Scheffler Jodi , Taliercio Earl , Turley Ricky , McFadden Helen , Payton Paxton , Klueva Natalya , Allen Randell , Zhang Deshui , Haigler Candace , Wilkerson Curtis , Suo Jinfeng , Schulze Stefan R. , Pierce Margaret L. , Essenberg Margaret , Kim HyeRan , Llewellyn Danny J. , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Kudrna David , Wing Rod , Paterson Andrew H. , Soderlund Cari , Wendel Jonathan F.
Published: February 2006

Approximately 185,000GossypiumEST sequences comprising >94,800,000 nucleotides were amassed from 30 cDNA libraries constructed from a variety of tissues and organs under a range of conditions, including drought stress and pathogen challenges. These libraries were derived from allopolyploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum; ATand DTgenomes) as well as its two diploid progenitors,Gossypium arboreum(A genome) andGossypium raimondii(D genome). ESTs were assembled using the Program for Assembling and Viewing ESTs (PAVE), resulting in 22,030 contigs and 29,077 singletons (51,107 unigenes). Further comparisons among the singletons and contigs led to recognition of 33,665 exemplar sequences that represent a nonredundant set of putativeGossypiumgenes containing partial or full-length coding regions and usually one or two UTRs. The assembly, along with their UniProt BLASTX hits, GO annotation, and Pfam analysis results, are freely accessible as a public resource for cotton genomics. Because ESTs from diploid and allotetraploidGossypiumwere combined in a single assembly, we were in many cases able to bioinformatically distinguish duplicated genes in allotetraploid cotton and assign them to either the A or D genome. The assembly and associated information provide a framework for future investigation of cotton functional and evolutionary genomics.
An exploration of the taken‐for‐granted world of the cancer nurse in relation to stress and the person with cancer
Authors: Hanson Elizabeth J.
Published: February 2006

This paper focuses upon an exploration into the world of the cancer nurse regarding stress and persons with cancer. It is proposed that the cancer nurse's world often is not emphasized or even acknowledged within clinical practice and, for the most part, remains ignored. It is argued that the cancer nurse's world is rich with meaning, and the knowledge, skills and values within this domain need to come to the fore. A phenomenological approach was adopted for the study, because of the inherent emphasis upon meaning and understanding within the cancer nurse's everyday practice. Methodological triangulation involved qualitative interviews with nursing staff on an acute oncology unit, observation of the nursing admission assessments of cancer patients and use of archival sources (nursing kardexes). Content analysis of the interview findings revealed that the common‐sense understandings of the cancer nurse were present in relation to stress and the person with cancer. Although these construals have not been adequately studied, the framework of common‐sense knowledge involves the informal views and the wealth of knowledge individuals have. Common‐sense construals are linked to the nurses' experience, both past and present, and derived from both professional practice and educational experiences. In practice, however, the nurses often failed to rely on this knowledge, apparently because of the mainstream influence of the medical model. The study led to the recommendation reported on in this paper that nurses must bring their common‐sense knowledge and values to the fore in order to provide holistic care of persons with cancer.
Gift Exchange Theory: a critique in relation to organ transplantation
Authors: Sque Magi , Payne Sheila A.
Published: February 2006

Organ transplantation is becoming more important as a viable method of treatment for certain severe medical conditions. It is a complex and demanding process for all involved. Nursing as a developing science must respond to cultural and economic changes. Therefore, a need exists to develop a body of empirically based knowledge to understand and support the process of organ transplantation. This paper will argue that as trading in organs is unacceptable to the moral standards of western society and outlawed in many countries, an alternative framework must be considered for understanding the mechanisms through which organs are donated and utilized. The donating and receiving of organs may be equated with gift‐giving, as there is no barter of commodities involved. Therefore, a useful framework to explore this phenomenon will be one that underpins the process of giving and receiving of gifts. Gift Exchange Theory will be evaluated and critically examined in relation to organ transplantation and the role of nurses in this process.
Risk taking and its influence on metabolic control: a study of adult clients with diabetes
Authors: Hunt Joseph Dayle , Patterson Barbara
Published: February 2006

Clients afflicted with diabetes are routinely faced with making decisions about insulin control, diet, exercise and skin care. The specific aims of this study were (a) to determine if clients with controlled blood sugar levels were more likely to have risk‐averse information processing styles and, (b) to determine the extent to which the differences in blood sugar levels were attributed to information processing styles, after controlling for knowledge of diabetes, participation in home monitoring, and age. A comparative design utilizing 86 insulin‐dependent male and female clients with diabetes was used. Findings indicated that there were no differences in risk scores between uncontrolled and controlled diabetics. Additionally, in this study there were no differences in control between clients who were knowledgeable and those who were not. This study has several implications for nursing practice. As taking risks may not be as dangerous to the diabetic client's wellbeing as many believe, there may be a need to consider this behaviour in developing the client's plan of care. Questions are also raised about the influence of knowledge on control.
Caring in nursing education: an analysis
Authors: Paterson Barbara , Crawford Marta
Published: February 2006

Caring has been cited by many authors as the core value of nurse educator‐student relationships. Others have discussed the need for caring to be translated and transmitted in the practices of nursing education. However, a clear conceptualization of what caring in nursing education is and how it is transmitted to students does not yet exist. The following is an exploration of the concept of caring in nursing education as it is revealed in nursing research and literature. The authors present a critical analysis of the definitions, objectives, attributes and constraints of caring in nursing education. What is currently known and perceived about caring in nursing education, as well as what is not known and what needs to be known, is highlighted. Imperatives for future research are identified.
Selecting clinical preceptors for basic baccalaureate nursing students: a critical issue in clinical teaching
Authors: Myrick Florence , Barrett Celeste
Published: February 2006

The concept of preceptorship in baccalaureate nursing education continues to be endorsed as a viable alternative clinical teaching strategy. However there remains a dearth of research to substantiate many of those benefits vis‐à‐vis preceptor, preceptee and ultimately the health care consumer. Moreover, there are minimal substantive data regarding the criteria which are required for the actual selection of the clinical preceptor. Not infrequently, preceptors are selected primarily for their availability during the clinical placement of students. As a result, baccalaureate nursing students are being preceptored by staff nurses with little or no preparation for assuming a role in which they are expected to promote the principles and ideology of baccalaureate nursing education. Is this fair to the preceptor, preceptee and the client? Can it be said that the nursing faculty, in promoting such a process, are in fact promoting the status quo?
Nursing research: on what basis?
Authors: Kiikkala Irma , Munnukka Terttu
Published: February 2006

In the past 150 years nursing science has developed into a discipline of its own which has integrated features of various stages of theory development. So far most nursing theories, originally borrowed from other disciplines, have been adapted and moulded to suit the nursing context. The theories developed after Nightingale, such as developmental, need‐oriented, interaction, system‐oriented and simultaneity theories have come about this way. They have depicted the areas of interest in nursing which has thus been defined as the domain of main concepts and their interconnections. The methodological characteristics of research in science are derived on the basis of ontological and epistemological principles. The domain of nursing science is assumed to be an integral whole which is not divided into parts even for the purpose of research. Scientific data are obtained from this undivided world by means of man's human signification. In research, this undivided world is approached from the phenomenological tradition of science: particular topics are thematized as something, while the other aspects of the phenomenon are excluded. The accumulating scientific data are integrated to form a holistic body of knowledge which helps in understanding the phenomena in greater depth and from different perspectives. The historical development of nursing science reveals problems and conflicts which are derived from the tradition of empirical science of the last few decades. Research solutions following the empiricist tradition offer only limited opportunities to focus on the central research objects of nursing. Therefore nursing research should proceed from the phenomenological basis and follow solutions made on the ontological level. Recognition of this solution helps in defining and clarifying nursing research.
The functions of space
Authors: McMahon Brendan
Published: February 2006

This paper describes a participant observation study carried out on a ward for elderly functionally ill people in a large psychiatric hospital in the Midlands, England. My initial interest was in observing the process of institutionalization, and attempts made to counter this process. As the project developed I became interested in four specific cultural domains: the use of space, particularly the ward office; the relationship between ward staff and ‘outsiders’ or ‘others’; the functions of staff handovers; and the characteristics of the physical setting. In my conclusions I describe the relationship between space and the use of space, and the structure of authority and communication on the ward and between the ward and the outside world. I also discuss the functions of handover in terms of the transfer of responsibility, and the psychological process which, it seems to me, underlines the split between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ others. I suggest the possibility that this line of research might be extended, and that a synthesy between sociological insight and group dynamic theory might offer a fruitful way forward.
Nursing and empowerment: concepts and strategies
Authors: Skelton Robert
Published: February 2006

This paper argues that although there has been an increasing use of the term ‘empowerment’ in the nursing literature, the word is sometimes employed uncritically and in inappropriate contexts. The origins of the expression in community development work are noted, in an effort to set the activity of empowerment in its political context and to discuss the implications of this for the relative power of health professionals and service users. A distinction is drawn between the meaning of the term at the individual and the community level and an outline strategy is discussed for nurses who may wish to think through what empowering patients or clients will entail.
Nursing and health promotion practice: the creation of victims and winners in a political context
Authors: Caraher Martin
Published: February 2006

Current political changes to the British National Health Service and the development of nursing as a profession contribute to the individualization of health. Such trends view the client as a victim of his or her behaviour and encourages a form of health promotion which focuses on the individual and ignores or decontextualizes social problems. Nursing needs to examine issues of power and control in health promotion encounters and not simply view health promotion as benign encounters. Health promotion practice needs to focus not on the development of skills as the central component but on the relationship between the nurse and the client. A simple shift in nursing from using communication skills to persuade, to using counselling skills does not evade the charge of victim blaming. Health promotion needs to place health and its influences within a context.
Ambulatory bio‐feedback for stress incontinence exercise regimes: a novel development of the perineometer
Authors: Jones Keith R.
Published: February 2006

Stress incontinence is a debilitating condition affecting a large proportion of the female population. Pelvic floor exercising with the aid of bio‐feedback is well established as an effective treatment regime. However, current monitoring devices are restrictive in the way they may be employed in community‐based therapy. A prototype unit is described, which is both compact and accurate and suitable for ambulatory monitoring of vaginal pressure. This device is suitable for self‐help domiciliary regimes and may also be used as an accurate yardstick to judge individual response to therapy. Conceptual changes in health‐care provision are leading to greater emphasis on community‐centred care for non‐acute conditions such as stress incontinence. Development of more appropriate scientific and technological support is likely to have a fundamental role in the success of such schemes.
Research‐based practice: some problems illustrated by the discussion of evidence concerning the use of a pressure‐relieving device in nursing and midwifery
Authors: Church Sarah , Lyne Patricia
Published: February 2006

This paper investigates the evidence presented in the literature Concerning the use of ring cushions in nursing and midwifery practice, as a case study of the relationship between research‐based knowledge and practice. It explains the origins of the claims that these aids cause pressure sores, urinary tract infection and expose postpartum mothers to the risk of thrombosis. It demonstrates that the empirical evidence on which these claims are based is very slight and that re‐interpretation of the evidence by successive authors has raised its status considerably. Practical steps to avoid this type of occurrence are suggested.
The attitudes of traditional and undergraduate nursing students towards nursing models: a comparative survey
Authors: McKenna Hugh P.
Published: February 2006

The underpinning of nursing curricula with nursing models and their inclusion as part of the curriculum has increased dramatically in the last 10 years within the United Kingdom. However there is a dearth of research not only into how nursing students in general view these frameworks, but also into how students from different courses compare in their perception of them. In this study a questionnaire on attitudes to models was distributed to 20 second‐year undergraduate (BSc Nursing) students and 20 third‐year ‘traditional’ (RGN) students. Findings indicate that although both groups have a positive attitude overall towards nursing models, the traditional nursing students had a more positive perception than their undergraduate counterparts. In the discussion section possible explanations are put forward as to why these differences in attitudes exist.
A journal club as a teaching and learning strategy in nurse teacher education
Authors: Sheehan John
Published: February 2006

An account of the operation of a journal club in a Postgraduate Certificate in Education course for teachers of nursing is reported here. The paper is based on three issues: the background to journal clubs, the process involved in the operation of the club concerned, and the expected outcomes. The origins of journal clubs and the reading habits of nurses are considered in the background section through a review of some of the relevant literature. The negotiation involved, the frequency of meetings and the ethos in which they were conducted are discussed in the section on the processes involved. In the final section, both the tangible and personal outcomes are discussed and the conclusion reached is that a journal club is a worthwhile educational activity.
Women with breast cancer: their quality of life following a course of radiation therapy
Authors: Graydon Jane E.
Published: February 2006

The study assessed the quality of life of 53 women who had a lumpectomy or other breast‐conserving surgery for breast cancer followed by radiation therapy. The women were interviewed a mean of 7 weeks after the course of radiation therapy regarding their functioning, emotional distress, and symptoms. Functioning was measured by the Sickness Impact Profile, emotional distress by the Profile of Mood States, and symptoms by the Symptom Distress Scale. Although the women were not experiencing many changes in their usual activities, were not distressed emotionally, and were experiencing very few symptoms, they were experiencing fatigue. Those who experienced the most fatigue had the most symptoms and the poorest level of functioning.
Patient education needs as reported by congestive heart failure patients and their nurses
Authors: Hagenhoff Beverly D. , Feutz Cindy , Conn Vicki S. , Sagehom Kelli K. , Moranville‐Hunziker MaryBeth
Published: February 2006

Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) need considerable education to enable them to provide effective self‐care for their chronic illness. No information has been published about the learning needs of this population. The purpose of this study was to examine hospitalized CHF patients and their nurses' perceptions regarding the importance and realism of typical patient education content. An instrument to assess learning needs was developed and piloted for use in this study. Thirty hospitalized patients and 26 nurses were surveyed. Both nurses and patients rated all information as important to learn and realistic to learn during the patients' hospitalizations. Patients and nurses agreed that medication information was the most important to learn. Generally, patients rated information as more important than nurses rated the same information areas. Suggested nursing interventions and future research endeavours are addressed.
Assessment of learning in the cross‐cultural domain: reflection leads to learning for the teacher
Authors: Sturch Elizabeth
Published: February 2006

The imposition of one set of cultural values on students from another culture is an ethical and practical concern for nurse educators. Theories of developmental psychology have been worked out mainly in the Western culture. Other cultures are studied, but measured against the Western framework, which is often uncritically accepted as ‘usual’. This paper explores the ways in which the use of reflective practice allowed a group of nurse educators to perceive a cultural bias to their evaluation and to develop a strategy which they believe is more just and culturally fair for the student. Their experience is presented as a paradigm case to illustrate both reflection‐in‐action and the reframing of a cultural perspective which had limited educational development for both the student and the teachers.
Understanding caring through arts and humanities: a medical/nursing humanities approach to promoting alternative experiences of thinking and learning
Authors: Darbyshire Philip
Published: February 2006

It is often claimed that nursing is both an art and a science, yet nursing education has been reluctant to accord arts and literature a prominent place within nursing curricula. While the discipline of medical humanities has been developing for around two decades, there has been no comparable movement within nursing. This paper describes the development, implementation and initial hermeneutic evaluation of a new course, ‘Understanding Caring Through Arts and Humanities’ which we believe to be unique in being a fully accredited unit which is offered within a BA (Honours) Health Studies Degree for nurses and other health care professionals.
Accidents and incidents involving patients in a mental health service
Authors: Fairlie Anne , Brown Richard
Published: February 2006

Healthcare givers, and their managers, have a duty to monitor the frequency and types of accidents and untoward incidents which occur to patients in their care. The purpose of this study was to systematically examine accidents and incidents (AIs) involving patients in a mental health service unit. Data were collected on all inpatient and day patient AIs over a 6‐month period (January to June 1991). The data were then analysed to identify: (a) the nature of AIs occurring in the unit; (b) the frequencies of the AIs, and (c) the times at which AIs occurred. In the wards for elderly patients, an increase of AIs was noted from 05.00 hours; after this time the frequency of AIs remained fairly constant until 20.00 hours when a decrease occurred. In the other wards, a rise in AIs could be seen from 07.00 hours and a fall occurred after 01.00 hours. However, within the time period of 07.00‐01.00 hours, further patterns were noted in the data for all AIs in the wards for non‐elderly patients, as well as for incidents involving aggression and self‐harm. Possible reasons for these findings are suggested, and recommendations made for the examination of some nursing practices with the unit.
The essential elements of a practitioners' nursing model: a survey of psychiatric nurse managers
Authors: McKenna Hugh P.
Published: February 2006

Most of the existing models of nursing have been formulated by academic theorists rather than practising nurses. According to the literature, the template used by these theorists is their perception of what the essential elements ‘nursing’, ‘health’, ‘person’ and ‘environment’ are: the so‐called ‘metaparadigm’ of professional nursing. However it is also generally accepted in the literature that all nurse practitioners have their own ‘personal model’ of nursing, invariably based upon the individual nurse's values and beliefs concerning the same elements! Within this study it was possible to enable 95 ward managers to make their views on the four elements explicit, thereby forming a basis for a practitioners' model of nursing.
Care of the critically ill patient: the impact of stress on the use of touch in intensive therapy units
Authors: Adomat Renee , Killingworth Anita
Published: February 2006

The literature suggests that stress is a major factor for nurses personally ‘disengaging’ from patients who are critically ill. This research aimed to investigate if nurses in a general intensive therapy unit (ITU) disengage from their patients by using touches that are mainly task orientated, rather than caring/social touches. This study sought to establish whether there was a relationship between categories of touch deployed by nurses and the individual characteristics of the nurses. The patient's prognosis (as perceived by the nurse) was also explored in relation to the touch types used. The nurses were observed and the observations were categorized with the use of an adapted taxonomy (Estabrooks 1989). This study also sought to identify potential stressors for nurses in ITU through a semi‐structured interview. The analysis of the observational data indicated that there was no significant relationship between touch type and a patient's prognosis. However, there was a significant relationship between caringlsocial touch and a nurse's length of service (rs=−0.54, P < 0.01). The interview data discovered that the stressors were related to the organizational pressures of the environment in which care was delivered, rather than the involvement of caring for critically ill patients. This apparent contradiction of the literature contributes a further dimension in considering the impact of management changes and organizational structures upon nurses' stress, which has further implications for the delivery of care in ITUs.
An investigation into primary nursing and its effect upon the nursing attitudes about and administration of prn night sedation
Authors: Duxbury Joy
Published: February 2006

This study aims to explore the administration of pm night sedation by qualified night nurses on primary nursing and team nursing wards using a quasi‐experimental design. The purpose of the study was to examine the attitudes of qualified nurses (n=20) about sleep problems in hospital and sleep medication and compare these attitudes with behaviour (the administration of pm night sedation) reporting any differences between wards using team and primary nursing philosophies of care. Ten nurses from team nursing wards and 10 nurses from primary nursing wards were interviewed about the amount of night sedation they had administered during one night shift. This was followed by a questionnaire aimed at examining their attitudes about sleep and night sedation using several visual analogue scales. Findings proved to be significant in that results confirmed that team nurses gave out almost three times as much pm night sedation as nurses on primary nursing wards and held attitudes that closely correlated with more of a ‘medical model’ approach such as an emphasis on the advantages of night sedation and the need for its continued use in the clinical area.
The 12‐hour shift: the views of nurse educators and students
Authors: Reid Norma , Robinson Gillian , Todd Chris
Published: February 2006

Interest in 12‐hour nursing shifts has been renewed in response to demands for improved cost‐effectiveness in the UK National Health Service. But the effects of the shift on nursing education are unclear. We report surveys of the attitudes of student nurses and nurse educators towards 12‐hour shifts. Learners are reasonably positive about 12‐hour shifts, but this preference is based on social rather than professional benefits. A reported effect of fatigue on home study is evident. Very negative views about the 12‐hour shift are held by the group of educators. Their criticisms appear to be primarily organizational, but they are unequivocal that learning is detrimentally affected. Thus, even if students appear to like this shift pattern, serious concerns are raised by these findings about the impact of the shift on nursing education.
Concept clarification in professional practice — dignity
Authors: Mains Elaine D.
Published: February 2006

Dignity is recognized as being important to maintain, but what is it, and is it the same for each person? The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of dignity, to clarify the concept in order to benefit clients, and to forward knowledge in nursing. The concept analysis was carried out by examining personal definitions of dignity contributed by students of DipHE Nursing courses, a literature review, and discussion with other professionals. The concept analysis contains a review of definitions, postulates critical attributes, offers case examples, and suggests related cases and antecedents. It is not intended to be conclusive, but to provide a catalyst for further thought and exploration.
Evaluation of nursing process documentation
Authors: Davis Bryn D. , Billings Jennifer R. , Ryland Richard K.
Published: February 2006

Following the introduction of a nursing process and associated documentation in one hospital, an attempt was made to evaluate the effectiveness of the documentation as a record of the nursing process. Two questionnaires were developed, based on previous research in this field, one for the assessment of the documentation, and the other to assess the attitudes and practices of the ward sisters regarding its implementation. The findings indicated that, generally, the assessment phase of the process was poorly documented and that many psychological and social problems were not addressed as well as others. The interventions were relevant but contained little detail. The evaluation section was fair but updating and re‐assessment where relevant were poor. Some sisters seemed to display a lack of understanding of the principles or the practice of the process, despite in‐service education. Lessons to be learnt from the exercise are suggested.
Research utilization in nursing practice — a pilot study
Authors: Anne Lacey E.
Published: February 2006

A low research base and inadequate research utilization are seen as obstacles to acquiring credible professional status for nursing. During recent years there has been some debate, both in Europe and in North America, about the extent to which nurses base their practice on research. This paper reviews recent empirical studles about research utilization, then goes on to describe a small pilot study carried out in the UK to attempt to measure research utilization among general nurses at F/G grade. A large‐scale, generalizable survey using sirmlar methods is proposed to build on the knowledge gained from the pilot study. Tentative findings are put forward that show a positive attitude towards research among British clinical nurses. Specialist nurse advisors and research‐based protocols are helpful to nurses in accessing research literature. The biggest deterrent to research utilization appears to be lack of perceived autonomy — some nurses feel unable to challenge medical colleagues and organizational managers and so fail to make use of research findings available to them. Significant differences are found between the two hospitals studied in the characteristics of their nursing staff, particularly in relation to their research awareness and degree of perceived autonomy.