bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving glycaemic control self‐efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: randomised controlled trial
Authors: Shi Qifang , Ostwald Sharon K , Wang Shaopeng 
Published: January 2010

Aims and objectives.  To examine the effect of a hospital‐based clinic intervention on glycaemic control self‐efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).Background.  Self‐efficacy expectations are related to self‐management of diabetes and, in conjunction with environmental support, are better predictors of behaviour than are knowledge and skills. Enhancing self‐efficacy in patients with DM has been shown to have a positive effect on behavioural change and positively influence long‐term glycaemic control.Design.  A randomised controlled trial study consisting of two‐group pretest‐post‐test.Methods.  One hundred and fifty‐seven patients with type 2 DM were randomly divided into two groups: (1) the experimental group (77 patients) receiving one‐month hospital‐based clinic intervention and (2) the control group (80 patients) receiving usual care. Data collection instruments used in this study were Diabetes Management Self‐Efficacy Scale and Summary of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities Measure. Outcomes were determined by changes in glycaemic control self‐efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour of patients with type 2 DM.Results.  The findings revealed that the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement in glycaemic control self‐efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour immediately and four months after the intervention (F = 26·888, df = 1, 155, p < 0·05 and F = 18·619, df = 1, 155, p < 0·05, respectively).Conclusions.  One‐month hospital‐based clinic intervention could be useful in improving glycaemic control self‐efficacy and glycaemic control behaviour.Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses can learn and use the sources of self‐efficacy to enhance patients’ self‐efficacy on their glycaemic control in clinical care. The health education is most important in nursing care and should be considered while organising the hospital‐based clinic intervention.
Clinical profile of patients enroled in a cell therapy trial for severe coronary artery disease
Authors: Brandão Sara MG , Schettert Isolmar T , César Luiz AM , Krieger José E , De Oliveira Sérgio A , Stolf Noedir AG , Gowdak Luís HW 
Published: January 2010

Aims and objectives.  To compare the clinical profile of patients included in a clinical trial of autologous bone marrow cells as an adjunctive therapy to coronary artery bypass grafting with that of patients undergoing routine coronary artery bypass grafting.Background.  The therapeutic potential of autologous bone marrow cells has been explored in the treatment of severe coronary artery disease. There are few data regarding the clinical and socio‐economic profile of patients included in clinical trials using bone marrow cell.Design.  Case–control study.Method.  Sixty‐seven patients (61 SD 9) years, 82% men) with multivessel coronary artery disease were divided into two groups: patients in the bone marrow cell group (n = 34) underwent incomplete coronary artery bypass grafting + intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow cells (lymphomonocytic fraction −2·0 (SD 0·2 × 108) cells/patient) in the ischaemic, non‐revascularised myocardium, whereas patients in the coronary artery bypass grafting group (n = 33) underwent routine bypass surgery. Demographics, socio‐economic status, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected. Statistical analysis included the Fisher’s exact test (categorical variables) and the Student’s t‐test (continuous variables).Results.  There were no significant differences between groups regarding age, gender, BMI, heart rate, blood pressure and echo data. There was a greater prevalence of obesity (65 vs. 33%; OR = 3·7 [1·3–10·1]), of previous myocardial infarction (68 vs. 39%; OR = 3·2 [1·2–8·8]) and prior revascularisation procedures (59 vs. 24%; OR = 4·5 [1·6–12·7]) in the autologous bone marrow cells group and of smokers in the coronary artery bypass grafting group (51 vs. 23%; OR = 3·5 [1·2–10·4]).Conclusions.  Patients included in this clinical trial of autologous bone marrow cells for severe coronary artery disease presented a greater prevalence of myocardial revascularisation procedures, indicating a more severe clinical presentation of the disease. Fewer smokers in this group could be attributable to life style changes after previous cardiovascular events and/or interventions.Relevance to clinical practice.  The knowledge of the clinical profile of patients included in cell therapy trials may help researchers in the identification of patients that may be enroled in future clinical trials of this new therapeutic strategy.
Prospective study of postpartum depression in eastern Turkey prevalence, socio‐demographic and obstetric correlates, prenatal anxiety and early awareness
Authors: Kirpinar İsmet , Gözüm Sebahat , Pasinlioğlu Türkan 
Published: January 2010

Aims and objectives.  The study was undertaken to provide an estimate of the prevalence of postpartum depression and its correlates. Further, we sought to evaluate the predictive power of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale when administered at postpartum week one for symptoms of depression at postpartum week six.Background.  Postpartum depression is a major health issue for women worldwide with well‐documented negative health consequences for the mother and family. It is therefore important to evaluate prenatal detection of women at risk for developing postpartum depression.Design.  A prospective study.Methods.  The study involved 479 pregnant women in Erzurum, Turkey who were evaluated during the third trimester of pregnancy and at one and six weeks postpartum by community midwives. Questionnaires were used for data collection. Anxiety/social support scales were used for baseline evaluation, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was administered at one and six weeks postpartum.Results.  The prevalence of depressive symptoms according to the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale was 17·7% at first week and 14% at sixth week postpartum. The factors that were most predictive of postpartum depression were psychiatric history during pregnancy; prenatal anxiety; poor marital relationship in the first postpartum weeks; lack of health insurance and lack of contraceptive use. The correlation between symptoms of depression at one and six weeks in the postpartum period was significant.Conclusions.  The prevalence of postpartum depression and its correlates were similar to the results of Western studies. Early identification of potential risk factors may aid in recognition of and treatment for postpartum depression. The Edinburgh scale is a simple yet useful tool to use during the early postpartum period for evaluation of depressive symptoms.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study highlights the utility of screening for risk of postpartum depression during pregnancy and also during the early postpartum period.
Effects of nurse‐delivered home visits combined with telephone calls on medication adherence and quality of life in HIV‐infected heroin users in Hunan of China
Authors: Wang Honghong , Zhou Jun , Huang Ling , Li Xianhong , Fennie Kristopher P , Williams Ann B 
Published: January 2010

Aims and objectives.  This study aimed to examine the effects of nurse‐delivered home visits combined with telephone intervention on medication adherence, and quality of life in HIV‐infected heroin users.Background.  Drug use is consistently reported as a risk factor for medication non‐adherence in HIV‐infected people.Design.  An experimental, pretests and post‐tests, design was used: baseline and at eight months.Methods.  A sample of 116 participants was recruited from three antiretroviral treatment sites, and 98 participants completed the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups: 58 in the experimental group and 58 in the control group. The experimental group received nurse‐delivered home visits combined with telephone intervention over eight months, while the control group only received routine care. The questionnaire of Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA) Antiretroviral Medication Self‐Report was used to assess levels of adherence, while quality of life and depression were evaluated using Chinese versions of World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument – Abbreviated version (WHOQOL‐BREF) and Self‐rating Depression Scale, respectively. Data were obtained at baseline and eight months.Results.  At the end of eight months, participants in the experimental group were more likely to report taking 100% of pills (Fisher’s exact = 14·3, p = 0·0001) and taking pills on time (Fisher’s exact = 18·64, p = 0·0001) than those in the control group. There were significant effects of intervention in physical (F = 10·47, p = 0·002), psychological (F = 9·41, p = 0·003), social (F = 4·09, p = 0·046) and environmental (F = 4·80, p = 0·031) domains of WHOQOL and depression (F = 5·58, p = 0·02).Conclusions.  Home visits and telephone calls are effective in promoting adherence to antiretroviral treatment and in improving the participants’ quality of life and depressive symptoms in HIV‐infected heroin users.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is important for nurses to recognise the issues of non‐adherence to antiretroviral treatment in heroin users. Besides standard care, nurses should consider conducting home visits and telephone calls to ensure better health outcome of antiretroviral treatment in this population.
The effect of preoperative fasting on postoperative thirst, hunger and oral intake in paediatric ambulatory tonsillectomy
Authors: Klemetti Seija , Kinnunen Ilpo , Suominen Tarja , Antila Heikki , Vahlberg Tero , Grenman Reidar , Leino‐Kilpi Helena 
Published: January 2010

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this prospective study was to examine whether preoperative face‐to‐face counselling about a child’s fasting and active preoperative nutrition have an effect on thirst, hunger and postoperative oral intake in paediatric ambulatory tonsillectomy. Families, whose child was admitted for ambulatory tonsillectomy, participated in the study (n = 116; 58/58).Background.  Children undergoing tonsillectomy have difficulties in postoperative recovery and nutrition. However, former studies have shown that shorter preoperative fasting seems to promote postoperative well‐being and promote the child’s postoperative oral intake.Design.  A prospective, randomised intervention study.Methods.  The study groups were randomly allocated. The intervention group received the instructions through face‐to‐face counselling about the child’s active preoperative nutrition, the control group received the instructions according to the current practice. The postoperative thirst and hunger were scored during the first postoperative hour and at two, four, eight and 24 hours postoperatively. The first scoring was performed by the nurse on a 0–10 scale. The rest of the estimations were made by the children using a visual analogue scale (VAS), by the parents using a 0–10 scale.Results.  In the intervention group, the VAS scores in thirst and hunger were low during the first 24 postoperative hours, whereas in the control group, they increased towards the following morning when the children in the control group, according to the children and the parents, were thirstier (p = 0·051, 0·005, respectively) and significantly hungrier (p = 0·042, 0·005) than those in the intervention group.Conclusions.  Children’s perioperative fluid fasting can be decreased with preoperative nutritional face‐to‐face counselling. Children’s perioperative thirst and hunger can be relieved by the limited preoperative fasting.Relevance to clinical practice.  Clinical practice should take the child’s perioperative fasting into account in a more accurate way in preoperative counselling of the parents.
Establishment of the reliability and validity of the Stress Index for Children or Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome (SICATS)
Authors: Chao Kuo‐Yu , Wang Huei‐Shyong , Chang Hsueh‐Ling , Wang Yi‐Wen , See Lai‐Chu 
Published: January 2010

Aims.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the stress index for 10–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome.Background.  Tourette syndrome is a chronic tic disorder, which occurs in childhood. Children with Tourette syndrome exhibit sudden and unexpected voices or movements that may have influence on their daily activities and cause interaction barriers for children with Tourette syndrome. Therefore, a self‐report stress index is necessary for children with Tourette syndrome to quickly measure the stress they have.Design and methods.  Eight experts rated appropriateness, comprehensiveness and relevance of the questionnaire to establish content validity. A total of 116 paediatric patients filled out the stress index for 10‐–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome to evaluate its construct validity using exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency. Data from 90 pairs of paediatric patients and their caregivers were used to evaluate the inter‐rater reliability.Result.  The criterion validity index ranged from 80–98%. One item was deleted because of a small item‐to‐total correlation. Therefore, 26 items made up the final stress index for 10‐–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome. In exploratory factor analysis, four factors (unfairly treated, psychological, symptom control and future concern) were achieved and accounted for 52·3% of the total variance. Cronbach’s alphas of the stress index for 10‐–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome were 0·89. The inter‐rater reliability of stress Index for 10‐–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome (Pearson correlation coefficient between patients and their caregivers) was 0·56.Conclusion.  The stress Index for 10‐–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome is a self‐administered tool to assess the stress of children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome. Validity (content and construct) and reliability (internal consistency and inter‐rater reliability) of our Stress Index for 10‐–18‐years‐old Children or Adolescents with Tourette syndrome was acceptable.Relevance to clinical practice.  The Stress Index for Children or Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome appears to be an ideal instrument for evaluating the stress for children with Tourette syndrome in clinical setting and finding the direction in designing an appropriate intervention programme. We welcome other researchers to use stress index for 10–18‐years‐old children or adolescents with Tourette syndrome so that their findings can be compared using the same measurement.
Looking beyond learning: notes towards the critical study of educational technology
Authors: Selwyn N. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis paper makes a case for academic research and writing that looks beyond the learning potential of technology and, instead, seeks to develop social scientific accounts of the often compromised and constrained realities of education technology use ‘on the ground’. The paper discusses how this ‘critical’ approach differs from the ways that educational technology scholarship has tended to be pursued to date. These differences include viewing technology as being socially constructed and negotiated rather than imbued with pre‐determined characteristics; developing objective and realistic accounts of technology use in situ; and producing ‘context rich’ analyses of the social conflicts and politics that underpin the use of technology in educational settings. The paper concludes by encouraging academic researchers and writers to show greater interest in the issues of democracy and social justice that surround educational technology.
The second educational revolution: rethinking education in the age of technology
Authors: Collins A. , Halverson R. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis paper drew upon a recent book (Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology) to summarize a number of prospects and challenges arising from the appropriation of digital technology into learning and educational practice. Tensions between traditional models of schooling and the affordances of digital media were noted, while the promise of these technologies for shaping a new system of education was reviewed. It was argued that new technology brings radical opportunities but also significant challenges. The urgency of seeking a coherent model for the future of education in a technological age was stressed.
The evolution and redefining of ‘CAL’: a reflection on the interplay of theory and practice
Authors: Hartley R. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis article comments on how the core idea of the computer as an assistant to teaching and learning became reconfigured through changing technologies, pedagogies and educational cultures. Early influential researchers in computer assisted learning (CAL) made strong but differing links to theories and representations of learning, showing a relevance to pedagogy through innovative projects. Amid controversy, the educational potential of CAL became recognized and hardware–software developments stimulated the involvement of teachers in shaping applications and practices within contexts that favoured a constructivist student focus. Further advances in technology gave students greater autonomy in the style and management of learning, and enabled CAL to be redefined as a participative and collaborative enterprise. Institutions responded through supports and structures in ways that suited their wider educational policies. Technological developments (and controversies) continue to extend and reshape the applications of CAL, and this reflection points to the significance of the interplay between theory and practice in this evolving and redefining process.
What is Panthera palaeosinensis?
Authors: MAZÁK Ji H. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThe pantherine cat Panthera palaeosinensis from putative Plio‐Pleistocene deposits in North China is one of the oldest known species of Panthera, but its relationship to other Pantherinae is still debated. I compare the holotype skull of P. palaeosinensis with 508 skulls of extant and extinct pantherine cats and show that, when controlling for size, the skull morphology of P. palaeosinensis is most similar to that of the lion Panthera leo or leopard Panthera pardus. Results support the hypothesis that P. palaeosinensis represents a form closely related either to the early lion or leopard clade or to the ancestor of the genus Panthera and suggest an Asian origin for Panthera.
Biogeography of common dolphins (genus Delphinus) in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: TAVARES Maurício , MORENO Ignacio B. , SICILIANO Salvatore , RODRÍGUEZ Diego , De O. SANTOS Marcos C. , LAILSON‐BRITO Jr José , FABIÁN Marta E. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

The common dolphins (genus Delphinus) have one of most problematic taxonomies and complex distribution patterns of all cetaceans. Although the taxonomy and the distribution seem to have been clarified somewhat in the eastern North Pacific and Indo‐Pacific Oceans, many questions remain in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA). We review the biogeography of Delphinus in the SWA.
We reviewed data from strandings, incidental catches and sightings since 1922. Systematic surveys were conducted in five major areas. Twenty‐one natural history collections were examined, and 135 skulls were measured.
A total of 184 records of common dolphins were compiled. Delphinus apparently occurs in three stocks in the SWA: one located in northern Brazil and two from southeastern Brazil (∼22°S) to central Argentina (∼42°S). Two distinct patterns in habitat use were observed by depth: in southeastern Brazil, sightings were restricted to coastal waters with water depths ranging from 18m to 70m. On the other hand, in the area that extends from southern Brazil to Central Argentina (from 28°S to 42°S), sightings were recorded in deeper waters, ranging from 71m to 1435m, with the exception of occasional coastal sightings. The cranial analyses demonstrated that both short‐beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis and long‐beaked common dolphins Dephinus capensis occur in the SWA.
In the SWA, Delphinus seems to occur near areas of high productivity. One stock is associated with the productive waters discharged by the Amazon River and possibily with the coastal upwelling system off the coast of Venezuela, while the other stocks are associated with the Cabo Frio upwelling system and the Subtropical Convergence. Our results indicate that the current taxonomy does not adequately reflect the amount of variation within the genus in the world.
Utilization of variably spaced promoter‐like elements by the bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme during early elongation
Authors: Devi Pukhrambam Grihanjali , Campbell Elizabeth A. , Darst Seth A. , Nickels Bryce E. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryThe bacterial RNA polymeras holoenzyme consists of a catalytic core enzyme in complex with a σ factor that is required for promoter‐specific transcription initiation. During initiation, members of the σ70 family of σ factors contact two conserved promoter elements, the −10 and −35 elements, which are separated by ∼17 base pairs (bp). σ70 family members contain four flexibly linked domains. Two of these domains, σ2 and σ4, contain determinants for interactions with the promoter −10 and −35 elements respectively. σ2 and σ4 also contain core‐binding determinants. When bound to core the inter‐domain distance between σ2 and σ4 matches the distance between promoter elements separated by ∼17 bp. Prior work indicates that during early elongation the nascent RNA‐assisted displacement of σ4 from core can enable the holoenzyme to adopt a configuration in which σ2 and σ4 are bound to ‘promoter‐like’ DNA elements separated by a single base pair. Here we demonstrate that holoenzyme can also adopt configurations in which σ2 and σ4 are bound to ‘promoter‐like’ DNA elements separated by 0, 2 or 3 bp. Thus, our findings suggest that displacement of σ4 from core enables the RNA polymerase holoenzyme to adopt a broad range of ‘elongation‐specific’ configurations.
Reprogramming of anaerobic metabolism by the FnrS small RNA
Authors: Durand Sylvain , Storz Gisela 
Published: January 2010

SummarySmall RNAs (sRNAs) that act by base pairing with trans‐encoded mRNAs modulate metabolism in response to a variety of environmental stimuli. Here, we describe an Hfq‐binding sRNA (FnrS) whose expression is induced upon a shift from aerobic to anaerobic conditions and which acts to downregulate the levels of a variety of mRNAs encoding metabolic enzymes. Anaerobic induction in minimal medium depends strongly on FNR but is also affected by the ArcA and CRP transcription regulators. Whole genome expression analysis showed that the levels of at least 32 mRNAs are downregulated upon FnrS overexpression, 15 of which are predicted to base pair with FnrS by TargetRNA. The sRNA is highly conserved across its entire length in numerous Enterobacteria, and mutational analysis revealed that two separate regions of FnrS base pair with different sets of target mRNAs. The majority of the target genes were previously reported to be downregulated in an FNR‐dependent manner but lack recognizable FNR binding sites. We thus suggest that FnrS extends the FNR regulon and increases the efficiency of anaerobic metabolism by repressing the synthesis of enzymes that are not needed under these conditions.