bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accessing emergency rest centres in the UK – lessons learnt
Authors: Kipling Joe , Newton Rita , Ormerod Marcus 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine access for disabled people to emergency rest centres (ERCs) provision in the UK. ERCs are premises used for the temporary accommodation of evacuees during an emergency situation. They form an important part of emergency response, by providing a focal point for receiving people and providing food, shelter, information and support.Design/methodology/approachThree case studies of ERCs that were established in different local authority areas within the Yorkshire and Humber region in the UK, during a flooding event on 25 June 2007, were used to determine the level of accessibility and inclusion of disabled people at these centres.FindingsWhile uncovering many instances of good practise, the results from the research identified lessons to be learnt, in particular the main barriers to access were: facilities and elements that did not comprise part of the building's normal operation, such as the provision of bedding, medical assistance and effective communication; and facilities that would not normally be expected to be used to the extent, or duration, whilst the ERC was in operation, such as the adequate welfare facilities. The research found that the civil protection legislation within the UK contains limited guidance for those with responsibility for ERC provision, and little impetus for emergency planners to consider the needs of disabled people.Practical implicationsThe paper has broad implications for local authorities and national government representatives. It identifies a need for those with responsibility for emergency planning and response to strengthen their knowledge of disabled people, and to adopt a more holistic approach to the provision of emergency planning and response.Originality/valueThe study of access issues in ERC situations, as far as the authors are aware, has not been studied previously.
Swine flu in Buenos Aires: beyond the principle of resilience
Authors: Korstanje Maximiliano E. 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThroughout April/May of 2009 a new type of virus surfaced in Mexico and the USA, denominated H1N1 or swine flu, that has been immediately disseminated worldwide. Even though the mortality of this virus has been slow, comparing with other antecedents, the mass‐media articulated a troublesome discourse that put the world in tenterhooks waiting for the evolution of the symptoms. Emulating the mythical archetype of what we knew as Spanish flu, which affected more than 50 million people during 1918 and 1920, journalism triggered panic in the four corners of the world. Under such a context, the purpose of this paper is to explore the connection between the coverage of mass‐media and press of swine flu in Buenos Aires (Argentina), and how the principle of resilience in this conjuncture works.Design/methodology/approachIn order to understand this issue in an all‐encompassed manner, the author conducted ethnography in Buenos Aires during April to June of 2009 combining informal with formal interviews and analysis of contents extracted of press coverage. It is important to mention that the role of observer was hidden to capture vividly the social behaviour as long as a context of health emergency.FindingsThe findings of this research reveal that fear becomes an efficient instrument to keep the status quo in context of disasters. In addition, it is important to clarify that virtual disasters do not permit societies to learn of their tragedies and affects considerably their abilities for resilience.Research limitations/implicationsUnfortunately, there is no abundant literature to support the outcomes of the present paper in respect to swine flu. Beyond ethical boundaries of journalism, the point of discussion, here, seems to be whether news should be edited or transmitted in rough during a moment of uncertainty. As a whole, the debate is circumscribed to non‐edited news which can result in uncontrollable society response, while edited news jeopardizes the freedom of the press.Originality/valueThis paper provides an original point of view that contrasts the thesis of Baudrillard in respect to the spectacle of disaster. The panic disseminated by media blurs the boundaries between culprit and innocence presenting to the poorest sectors as the main concerns of society. That way, the earlier imbalances that allowed the disasters are replicated once again. In contrast with Baudrillard, this paper considers that Swine flu really took place and was something other than a show. An event like this, elaborated and commercialized is of course, aimed at reinforcing the legitimacy of privileged groups.
Reconstruction projects by using core housing method in Iran
Authors: Fayazi Mahmood 
Published: February 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare rural houses reconstructed by core housing method after the Manjil earthquake in 1990 and traditional housing. Also, other factors such as residential space needs of residents, the role of the used structure in building the core units and the role of climatic conditions in the expansion of residential units have been investigated.Design/methodology/approachSome rural houses which were reconstructed by using core housing method – 86 rural houses – in 20 different villages were investigated using quantity and quality method. Also, the rate of satisfaction of inhabitants with their reconstructed houses was evaluated.FindingsAlthough rural houses were reconstructed with inhabitants' participation and with use of local technology and materials, those houses had some characteristics contrary to traditional houses. Another problem was in the gradual expansion of spaces, which led to disharmonious and unbalanced growth and converted the houses into a complex and closed entity. It caused trouble in privacy and connections of family members and in the use of spaces.Originality/valueThe paper reports research generally done on rural houses which were reconstructed after the Manjil earthquake in 1990 and shows that this reconstruction experience was done by using core housing method. Also, how the core units were expanded was analyzed and advantages and disadvantages of this reconstruction experience were extracted. These results can be useful in planning and designing shelters for survivors of future disasters.
Performance of a third‐generation TSH‐receptor antibody in a UK clinic
Authors: Theodoraki A. , Jones G. , Parker J. , Woolman E. , Martin N. , Perera S. , Thomas M. , Bunn C. , Khoo B. , Bouloux P. M. , Vanderpump M. P. J. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryBackground  UK national guidelines recommend the measurement of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) in certain clinical scenarios. A commercial third‐generation TRAb autoantibody M22‐biotin ELISA assay was introduced in May 2008 in our centre.Objective  To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a TRAb assay in a retrospective and subsequently a prospective cohort in a UK centre.Design  A retrospective review of patients with thyroid disease followed by a prospective observational study in consecutive patients with newly found suppressed serum thyrotrophin (TSH).Patients and Measurements  Medical records of 200 consecutive patients with thyroid disorders who had TRAb measured since the introduction of the assay. In a prospective study 44 patients with newly identified hyperthyroidism (TSH < 0·02 mIU/l) had sera assayed for TRAb prior to their clinic appointment at which a final diagnosis was sought.Results  In the retrospective cohort, the manufacturer’s cut‐off point of TRAb ≥0·4 U/l resulted in a positive predictive value (PPV) of 95%, sensitivity 85%, specificity 94% and negative predictive value (NVP) 79% to diagnose Graves’ disease using defined criteria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined an optimal cut‐off point of TRAb ≥3·5 U/l with a 100% specificity to exclude patients without Graves’ disease at the cost though of a lower sensitivity (43%). In the prospective study, the sensitivity, PPV, specificity and NPV were all 96% using the ≥0·4 U/l cut‐off. When combining hyperthyroid patients from both cohorts the assay sensitivity and specificity at ≥0·4 U/l cut‐off were 95% and 92% respectively. A positive TRAb result increased the probability of Graves’ disease for a particular patient by 25–35% and only six (2·5%) patients had a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism of uncertain aetiology after TRAb testing.Conclusions  The assay studied specifically identifies patients with Graves’ disease. It is a reliable tool in the initial clinical assessment to determine the aetiology of hyperthyroidism and has the potential for cost‐savings.
Minimising preoperative anxiety with music for day surgery patients – a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Ni Cheng‐Hua , Tsai Wei‐Her , Lee Liang‐Ming , Kao Ching‐Chiu , Chen Yi‐Chung 
Published: February 2011

Aims and objectives.  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of musical intervention on preoperative anxiety and vital signs in patients undergoing day surgery.Background.  Studies and systematic meta‐analyses have shown inconclusive results of the efficacy of music in reducing preoperative anxiety. We designed a study to provide additional evidence for its use in preoperative nursing care.Design.  Randomised, controlled study.Method.  Patients (n = 183) aged 18–65 admitted to our outpatient surgery department were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (music delivered by earphones) or control group (no music) for 20 minutes before surgery. Anxiety, measured by the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, and vital signs were measured before and after the experimental protocol.Results.  A total of 172 patients (60 men and 112 women) with a mean age of 40·90 (SD 11·80) completed the study. The largest number (35·7%) was undergoing elective plastic surgery and 76·7% of the total reported previous experience with surgery. Even though there was only a low‐moderate level of anxiety at the beginning of the study, both groups showed reduced anxiety and improved vital signs compared with baseline values; however, the intervention group reported significantly lower anxiety [mean change: −5·83 (SD 0·75) vs. −1·72 (SD 0·65), p < 0·001] on the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory compared with the control group.Conclusions.  Patients undergoing day surgery may benefit significantly from musical intervention to reduce preoperative anxiety and improve physiological parameters.Relevance to clinical practice.  Finding multimodal approaches to ease discomfort and anxiety from unfamiliar unit surroundings and perceived risks of morbidity (e.g. disfigurement and long‐term sequelae) is necessary to reduce preoperative anxiety and subsequent physiological complications. This is especially true in the day surgery setting, where surgical admission times are often subject to change and patients may have to accommodate on short notice or too long a wait that may provoke anxiety. Our results provide additional evidence that musical intervention may be incorporated into routine nursing care for patients undergoing minor surgery.
Gene conversion results in the equalization of genome copies in the polyploid haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii
Authors: Lange Christian , Zerulla Karolin , Breuert Sebastian , Soppa Jörg 
Published: February 2011

Summary Haloferax volcanii is highly polyploid and contains about 20 copies of the major chromosome. A heterozygous strain was constructed that contained two different types of genomes: the leuB locus contained either the wild‐type leuB gene or a leuB:trpA gene introduced by gene replacement. As the trpA locus is devoid of the wild‐type trpA gene, growth in the absence of both amino acids is only possible when both types of genomes are simultaneously present, exemplifying gene redundancy and the potential to form heterozygous cells as one possible evolutionary advantage of polyploidy. The heterozygous strain was grown (i) in the presence of tryptophan, selecting for the presence of leuB, (ii) in the presence of leucine selecting for leuB:trpA and (iii) in the absence of selection. Both types of genomes were quantified with real‐time PCR. The first condition led to a complete loss of leuB:trpA‐containing genomes, while under the second condition leuB‐containing genomes were lost. Also in the absence of selection gene conversion led to a fast equalization of genomes and resulted in homozygous leuB‐containing cells. Gene conversion leading to genome equalization can explain the escape from ‘Muller's ratchet’ as well as the ease of mutant construction using polyploid haloarchaea.
Cell‐to‐cell transport via the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Barton Deborah A. , Cole Louise , Collings David A. , Liu Danny Y. T. , Smith Penelope M. C. , Day David A. , Overall Robyn L. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryPlasmodesmata are plasma membrane‐lined channels through which cytoplasmic molecules move from cell‐to‐cell in plants. Most plasmodesmata contain a desmotubule, a central tube of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), that connects the ER of adjacent cells. Here we demonstrate that molecules of up to 10.4 kDa in size can move between the ER lumen of neighbouring leaf trichome or epidermal cells via the desmotubule lumen. Fluorescent molecules of up to 10 kDa, microinjected into the ER of Nicotiana trichome cells, consistently moved into the ER and nuclei of neighbouring trichome cells. This movement occurred more rapidly than movement via the cytoplasmic pathway. A fluorescent 3‐kDa dextran microinjected into the ER of a basal trichome cell moved into the ER and nuclei of epidermal cells across a barrier to cytoplasmic movement. We constructed a 10.4‐kDa recombinant ER‐lumenal reporter protein (LRP) from a fragment of the endogenous ER‐lumenal binding protein AtBIP1. Following transient expression of the LRP in the ER of Tradescantia leaf epidermal cells, it often moved into the nuclear envelopes of neighbouring cells. However, green fluorescent protein targeted to the ER lumen (ER‐GFP) did not move from cell to cell. We propose that the ER lumen of plant cells is continuous with that of their neighbours, and allows movement of small ER‐lumenal molecules between cells.
Standardised versus actual white cell counts in estimating thick film parasitaemia in African children under five
Authors: Olliaro Piero , Djimdé Abdoulaye , Karema Corine , Mårtensson Andreas , Ndiaye Jean‐Louis , Sirima Sodiomon B. , Dorsey Grant , Zwang Julien 
Published: February 2011

SummaryIn patients with malaria, parasitaemia is usually estimated by assuming 8000 white cell counts (WCC) per microlitre of blood. In a sample of 3044 African children under 5 years of age with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, parasitaemia estimated using standardised WCC was compared to parasitaemia calculated based on each child’s own WCC. The two methods produced comparable results. However, WCC were >8000 in under‐fives with an inverse relationship with age, resulting in the standard approximation method significantly underestimating parasitaemia in the youngest age group and overestimating parasitaemia in the oldest age groups.
Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Bipolaris spicifera after heart transplantation
Authors: Rosow L. , Jiang J.X. , Deuel T. , Lechpammer M. , Zamani A.A. , Milner D.A. , Folkerth R. , Marty F.M. , Kesari S. 
Published: February 2011

L. Rosow, J.X. Jiang, T. Deuel, M. Lechpammer, A.A. Zamani, D.A. Milner, R. Folkerth, F.M. Marty, S. Kesari. Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Bipolaris spicifera after heart transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 419–423. All rights reservedAbstract: Phaeohyphomycosis is an increasingly recognized cause of brain abscess in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in a 55‐year‐old male heart transplant recipient caused by Bipolaris spicifera. We review the literature regarding the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of infections with dematiaceous fungi.
Variability and constraint in the mammalian vertebral column
Authors: ASHER R. J. , LIN K. H. , KARDJILOV N. , HAUTIER L. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractPatterns of vertebral variation across mammals have seldom been quantified, making it difficult to test hypotheses of covariation within the axial skeleton and mechanisms behind the high level of vertebral conservatism among mammals. We examined variation in vertebral counts within 42 species of mammals, representing monotremes, marsupials and major clades of placentals. These data show that xenarthrans and afrotherians have, on average, a high proportion of individuals with meristic deviations from species’ median series counts. Monotremes, xenarthrans, afrotherians and primates show relatively high variation in thoracolumbar vertebral count. Among the clades sampled in our dataset, rodents are the least variable, with several species not showing any deviations from median vertebral counts, or vertebral anomalies such as asymmetric ribs or transitional vertebrae. Most mammals show significant correlations between sacral position and length of the rib cage; only a few show a correlation between sacral position and number of sternebrae. The former result is consistent with the hypothesis that adult axial skeletal structures patterned by distinct mesodermal tissues are modular and covary; the latter is not. Variable levels of correlation among these structures may indicate that the boundaries of prim/abaxial mesodermal precursors of the axial skeleton are not uniform across species. We do not find evidence for a higher frequency of vertebral anomalies in our sample of embryos or neonates than in post‐natal individuals of any species, contrary to the hypothesis that stabilizing selection plays a major role in vertebral patterning.
Putative mutation of PKD1 gene responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in a Chinese family
Authors: Li Jing , Yu Chaowen , Tao Ye , Yang Yuan , Hu Zhangxue , Zhang Sizhong 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common and severe renal disease. Mutations of PKD1 and PKD2 genes are responsible for approximately 85% and 15% of ADPKD cases, respectively. In the present study, PKD1 and PKD2 genes were analyzed in a large Chinese family with ADPKD using denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography and DNA sequencing. A novel mutation, c.3623‐3624insGTGT in exon 15 of the PKD1 gene, was identified in all nine affected family members, but not in any unaffected consanguineous relatives or 100 unrelated controls. These findings suggest that the unique 4 bp insertion, c.3623‐3624insGTGT, in the PKD1 gene might be the pathogenic mutation responsible for the disease in this family.
Characterization of the urethral plate and the underlying tissue defined by expression of collagen subtypes and microarchitecture in hypospadias
Authors: Hayashi Yutaro , Mizuno Kentaro , Kojima Yoshiyuki , Moritoki Yoshinobu , Nishio Hidenori , Kato Toshiki , Kurokawa Satoshi , Kamisawa Hideyuki , Kohri Kenjiro 
Published: February 2011

Objectives:  In hypospadia patients, the urethral plate and the underlying tissue were previously thought to be the main cause of penile curvature and, because of this, they used to be excised to correct the curvature. Currently, they are preserved as they are not thought to cause penile curvature anymore. The aim of the present histology study was to elucidate the characteristic structure of the tissue beneath the urethral plate.Methods:  The experimental group consisted of 27 hypospadiac patients with moderately severe penile curvature, who underwent one‐stage urethroplasty after dividing the urethral plate. Excised tissues were observed under light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the presence of collagen subtypes I, III and IV was examined with immunohistochemical staining and western blotting.Results:  Light microscopy showed the existence of many massed and intertwined collagen fibers and vessels that resembled those of the cavernous sinus. TEM showed the existence of many collagen fibers, capillary vessels and other structures. Immunohistochemical staining showed collagen subtype I in the interfascicular space and collagen fibers were densely stained. Collagen subtype IV was found in the basement membrane of vessels, but collagen subtype III was not detected. The same results were obtained by western blotting.Conclusions:  The tissue beneath the urethral plate was considered to originate from the corpus spongiosum penis. The distribution of collagen subtypes suggests that the presence of the tissue might affect ventral penile curvature. Long‐term follow up is required after one‐stage hypospadias repair with preservation of the urethral plate and the underlying tissue.
A qualitative content analysis of nurse–patient communication in Iranian nursing
Authors: Fakhr‐Movahedi A. , Salsali M. , Negharandeh R. , Rahnavard Z. 
Published: February 2011

Fakhr‐Movahedi A., Salsali M., Negharandeh R. & Rahnavard Z. (2011) A qualitative content analysis of nurse–patient communication in Iranian nursing. International Nursing Review58, 171–180Background:  Communication is the source of patients' health promotion, and nurses cannot do their duties without communicating with patients. Nurses with good communication skills have a great role in alleviating the stressful identity of hospitalization for both patients and their families.Aim:  To explore cultural and contextual factors influencing nurse–patient communication according to lived experiences of Iranian nurses and patients.Methods:  The participants in this qualitative study consisted of eight bachelor's degree nurses and nine patients hospitalized in surgical and medical wards of a referral teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Data were gathered through unstructured and semi‐structured interviews as well as observations. The data were analysed using a content analysis approach.Findings:  The data analysis revealed the following theme that encompassed nurse–patient communication in Iranian nursing: ‘a patient‐centred attitude in the shadow of mechanistic structure’. This theme consisted of three categories: (1) communication as the essence of nursing care, (2) reactive communication and (3) difficulties of nurse–patient communication.Conclusion:  In spite of the nurses' and patients' belief in the importance of communication, in practice each party's role in communication leaves much to be desired. This is because of some structural and socio‐cultural factors that hinder effective communication. More attention should be paid by policy makers to remove factors that hinder the nurse–patient communication process.