bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enacting local economic development – theoretical and methodological challenges
Authors: Johannisson Bengt 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe aim is to provide a conceptual framework that from a local perspective positions alternative ways to cope with the challenges of a globalising world.Design/methodology/approachThe notion of “organising context” is introduced as an ideal setting for business and community development processes as collective entrepreneurial efforts. A 3D model proposes means of structuring contemporary public discourses on local economic development. A bridging “virtual” logic is suggested that crafts and enacts localised entrepreneurial opportunities by bridging the territorial logic and the functional logic. The practices of these three rationales are illustrated by cases on community development in the Swedish rural setting.FindingsThe globalisation of the world offers challenges to every individual, organisation and location. These contests can either be considered as openings for development or as threats which trigger defensive measures and ultimately produce lock‐ins. Local leadership and entrepreneurship define the outcome of change efforts.Research limitations/implicationsReflections on the conceptualisation and the empirical lessons raise epistemological and ethical questions which trigger alternative methodologies for researching complex community‐development processes. Interactive approaches where researchers get hand‐on involved in ongoing events appear as appropriate.Practical implicationsThe need for interactive research when enacting community development calls for a coalition between local stakeholders and researchers. By bridging local and formalised knowledge needed competencies and legitimacy for change can be created.Originality/valueBy proposing and applying a vocabulary for diagnosing and evaluating the potential for local economic development both researchers and practitioners are invited to further knowledge creation.
Budgeting in New Zealand secondary schools in a changing devolved financial management environment
Authors: Tooley Stuart , Guthrie James 
Published: March 2007

PurposeChange in the New Zealand state education system during the 1980s brought about a transfer of responsibility for school financial management from the centre to the school level. The purpose of this paper is to report an investigation of how aspects of this devolved responsibility have been operationalised and managed in a secondary school setting.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study is based on four case studies.FindingsThe paper concludes that the expectations of an espoused economic‐rationalist approach to school‐based management have yet to fully permeate into the schools' way of “doing” devolved financial management. Accounting and management technologies have come to be used as a tool of rhetoric and have served a useful, political purpose, although not in the way intended by the reform architects.Originality/valueThis conclusion raises a question about the administrative reform and whether the consequential outcomes have yielded the espoused efficiency and educational quality gains.
Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting carcass and meat quality traits in Beijing ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)
Authors: Huang Y. , Haley C. S. , Wu F. , Hu S. , Hao J. , Wu C. , Li N. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryQuantitative trait loci (QTL) for carcass and meat quality traits were detected in a sample of 224 progeny from four males in line VI and 12 females in line V of Beijing ducks. These lines were selected for high body weight at 42 days of age (line VI) or high egg production at 360 days of age (line V). Traits were weights of the carcass, head, neck, shanks, wings, legs, thighs, breast, heart, liver, crop, gizzard, abdominal fat (AFW) and skin fat, as well as fat thickness in the tail, and pH value, shear force, drip loss (DL) (%) and cooking loss (CL) (%) of the breast. Using a half‐sib analysis with a multiple QTL model, linkage between the carcass and meat quality traits and 95 microsatellite markers was investigated. Eight genome‐wide significant QTL for weight of crop, skin fat, liver, neck, shanks, wings, DL were detected on linkage groups CAU4 and CAU6. One genome‐wide suggestive QTL and one chromosome‐wide significant QTL for weight of breast were found on CAU1 and CAU4 respectively. Fifteen chromosome‐wide suggestive QTL influencing weight of AFW, breast, crop, heart, carcass, thighs, liver, shanks, gizzard, fat thickness in tail, DL (%) and CL (%) were mapped on CAU2, CAU4, CAU5, CAU6, CAU7, CAU10 and CAU13. In addition, two linked QTL for weight of liver and DL (%) were located on CAU2 and CAU7 respectively. The detection of QTL in ducks is a step towards identification of genes influencing these traits and their use for genetic improvement in this species.
SHORT COMMUNICATION: Functional consequences of RNA interference targeting COMMD1 in a canine hepatic cell line in relation to copper toxicosis
Authors: Spee B. , Arends B. , Van Wees A. M. T. C. , Bode P. , Penning L. C. , Rothuizen J. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryA deletion in the copper metabolism (Murr1) domain containing 1 (COMMD1) gene is associated with hepatic copper toxicosis in dogs, yet evidence of copper retention in COMMD1‐depleted hepatic cells has not been shown. In a dog hepatic cell line, we analysed the copper metabolic functions after an 80% (mRNA and protein) COMMD1 reduction with COMMD1‐targeting siRNAs. Exposure to 64Cu resulted in a significant increase in copper retention in COMMD1‐depleted cells. COMMD1‐depleted cells were almost three times more sensitive to high extracellular copper concentrations. Copper‐mediated regulation of metallothionein gene expression was enhanced in COMMD1‐depleted cells. Based on the increased copper accumulation and enhanced cellular copper responses upon COMMD1 reduction, we conclude that COMMD1 has a major regulatory function for intracellular copper levels in hepatic cells.
Cyanobacterial chemical warfare affects zooplankton community composition
Authors: HANSSON LARS‐ANDERS , GUSTAFSSON SUSANNE , RENGEFORS KARIN , BOMARK LINA 
Published: March 2007

Summary1. Toxic algal blooms widely affect our use of water resources both with respect to drinking water and recreation. However, it is not only humans, but also organisms living in freshwater and marine ecosystems that may be affected by algal toxins.2. In order to assess if cyanobacterial toxins affect the composition of natural zooplankton communities, we quantified the temporal fluctuations in microcystin concentration and zooplankton community composition in six lakes.3. Microcystin concentrations generally showed a bimodal pattern with peaks in early summer and in autumn, and total zooplankton biomass was negatively correlated with microcystin concentrations. Separating the zooplankton assemblages into finer taxonomic groups revealed that high microcystin concentrations were negatively correlated with Daphnia and calanoid copepods, but positively correlated with small, relatively inefficient phytoplankton feeders, such as cyclopoid copepods, Bosmina and rotifers.4. In a complementary, mechanistic laboratory experiment using the natural phytoplankton communities from the six lakes, we showed that changes in in situ levels of microcystin were coupled with reduced adult size and diminished juvenile biomass in Daphnia.5. We argue that in eutrophic lakes, large unselective herbivores, such as Daphnia, are ‘sandwiched’ between high fish predation and toxic food (cyanobacteria). In combination, these two mechanisms may explain why the zooplankton community in eutrophic lakes generally comprise small forms (e.g. rotifers and Bosmina) and selective raptorial feeders, such as cyclopoid copepods, whereas large, unselective herbivores, such as Daphnia, are rare. Hence, this cyanobacterial chemical warfare against herbivores may add to our knowledge on population and community dynamics among zooplankton in eutrophic systems.
The relationship between personal traits and job satisfaction among Taiwanese community health volunteers
Authors: Lin Mei‐Chih , Li I‐chuan , Lin Kuan‐chia 
Published: March 2007

Aim.  The purpose of the study was to understand the relationship between job satisfaction and personal traits in health volunteers in one community in Taiwan.Background.  Among different kinds of community resources, the human resource is most essential for the process of developing healthy communities and cities. However, it is not easy to keep voluntary workers as part of health programmes even though they have been trained. Previous research has shown that to increase the job satisfaction of such a person, the volunteer needs to improve effectively his/her need to achieve. The need to achieve is an important part of a person's personal traits.Methods  A cross‐sectional survey design was used to interview 317 health volunteers in various community health centres in I‐lan county, northern Taiwan. The research instruments of this study included the ‘locus of control orientation scale’ for personality measurement, the ‘achievement orientation scale’ and the ‘job satisfaction scale’.Results.  Most of the sample volunteers were female with an average age of 49·55 years; the majority was married and living with their spouses. In terms of the volunteers’ personal traits, most of them are internal control orientation. The job satisfaction of the volunteers who took part in this research was extremely high. Significant variables correlating with job satisfaction in this study were gender, educational level, religious preference, participation in training, working to promote community health, the willingness to work, the frequency of participating in job training, and cooperation with other volunteer partners. The explainable variance for the prediction of job satisfaction from a combination of achievement orientation and the frequency of collaboration with other people was 9·1%.Relevance to clinical practice.  The results suggest that there is a need to strengthen cooperative relationships among volunteer by initiating well‐planned volunteer training programmes and growth groups with the aim of enhancing their interpersonal relationships.
Self‐administered acupressure reduces the symptoms that limit daily activities in bronchiectasis patients: pilot study findings
Authors: Maa Suh‐Hwa , Tsou Tsung‐Shan , Wang Kwua‐Yun , Wang Chun‐Hua , Lin Horng‐Chyuan , Huang Yi‐Hsiang 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives.  To examine and compare the effects of acupressure on the perceived health‐related quality of life of the participants with bronchiectasis.Background.  In an attempt to offer comfort, pain control and symptom management, nursing is becoming increasingly involved in offering complementary‐alternative medicine as part of its caring‐healing focus in comprehensive patient care. Acupressure is one such modality that is being increasingly used by both medical and nursing professionals. While acupressure has been reported to have beneficial effects in patients with respiratory disease, the benefits to bronchiectasis patients have remained uncertain.Design.  A randomized, partially blinded study consisting of three groups.Methods.  Thirty‐five out‐patients of both genders, aged 59·46 SD 11·52 years, who were suffering from bronchiectasis, were randomly split into one of three groups: standard care with supplemental acupressure for eight weeks (11 participants); standard care with supplemental sham acupressure for eight weeks (11 participants); and standard care alone (13 participants). Outcomes were determined by changes in daily sputum amounts, sputum self‐assessment, six‐minute walking distance, breathing difficulty (measured on the dyspnea visual analogue scale) and health‐related quality of life (measured by the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire).Results.  The sputum self‐assessment score improved over time for the sham acupressure participants (P = 0·03), when compared with the controls. For acupressure participants, the Saint George respiratory questionnaire activity component scores also improved over time, compared with controls (P = 0·01) after adjustment for covariates (treatment, time, age, sex and baseline values). Other variables did not differ between the standard care alone group and the other two groups.Conclusions.  Eight weeks of self‐administered acupressure could be useful in reducing the effects of bronchiectasis on a patient's daily activities.Relevance to clinical practice.  Acupressure may be regarded as a viable nursing intervention.
Nurses’ approaches towards sexuality of adolescent patients in Turkey
Authors: Rana Yiðit , Kanik Arzu , Özcan Ayse , Yuzer Selda 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this study is to determine the approaches regarding sexuality of nurses caring for adolescent patients in Turkey.Method.  The sample includes nurses caring for adolescent patients in hospitals located in major cities of Turkey. There were 571 responses from the 783 nurses who were given the questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of three sections. The instrument used in this study was developed by Wall‐Haas. Multiple analyses of variance in SPSS version 11.5 was used in the comparison of the scores obtained from the instrument.Results.  Approximately 69% of nurses stated that concerns about sexuality should be a routine component of nursing care; 70·5% of nurses stated that nursing interventions dealing with concerns about sexuality increases the patient's well being. About 70% stated that discussing sexual issues with children is the responsibility of their parents. Half of the nurses had difficulty in initiating a discussion about sexuality with their patients.Conclusion.  The findings in this study point out that the nurses’ approaches towards adolescent sexuality are rather conservative. They were not comfortable talking about issues of sexuality with adolescent patients. The nurses were aware of the importance of sexuality for an adolescent patient; however, they were not able to reflect this awareness in their practice.Relevance to clinical practice.  The aim of this study is to draw the nurses’ attention to adolescent sexuality and to review their attitudes towards sexuality. Hence, the nurses will be able to notice their difficulties related to sexual issues and cope with them. As a result, they will be able to give holistic care to their patients.
The Turkish version of the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale used on medical and surgical patients
Authors: Akin Semiha , Erdogan Semra 
Published: March 2007

Aim and objectives.  The aim of this study is to test the validity and reliability of the modified version of the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale on medical and surgical patients.Background.  Measuring patient satisfaction with nursing care is important in evaluating the extent to which patients’ needs are met and for determining the appropriate nursing care. In recent years there has been increasing interest in patient satisfaction with nursing care in Turkey, but there are no validated scales available to measure this.Design.  It is an evaluative study.Methods.  The data were collected using the Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale and by a demographic information questionnaire. After translinguistic study, the content validity of the scale was confirmed and tested on 200 patients who were recruited at Istanbul University Hospital on the day of discharge. Internal consistency of the scale was tested by Cronbach's alpha. Demographic variables related to the satisfaction scores were analysed using the Spearmen correlation, the Mann–Whitney U‐ and Kruskal–Wallis tests.Results.  The Turkish version of the Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale, with a total of 19 items, was determined to be suitable for measuring patient satisfaction with nursing care. Patients were generally satisfied with the nursing care received. The items with the most positive rating were respectively: the amount of freedom they were given on the ward, the amount of privacy they were given by nurses and how quickly nurses responded to their requests. The study found that female patients, older patients and those who had health insurance were the most satisfied.Conclusion.  The Turkish version of the Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale showed an adequate reliability and validity for its use on adult Turkish patients.Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses can use the Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale of Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales in evaluating and improving the nursing care in clinical practice.
Living with dying: a hermeneutic phenomenological study of the work of hospice nurses
Authors: Evans Marie Josephine , Hallett Christine E 
Published: March 2007

Aims. (i) Explore the meaning of comfort care for hospice nurses. (ii) Provide an understanding of how this work is pursued in the hospice setting. (iii) Examine the means by which hospice nurses provide comfort to hospice patients.Background. The concepts of ‘comfort’ and ‘comfort care’ have long been a subject for examination by nurse researchers. The paper provides an overview of selected, relevant literature in this area. The methods used by nurse researchers have almost always been qualitative, and have focused on the meaning of nursing care for dying patients, from both nurses’ and patients’ perspectives.Design and methods. The paper reports a hermeneutic phenomenological study of the work of 15 hospice nurses based in one hospice in the north of England. Sampling was purposive, and data were collected by means of semi‐structured interviews. A reflective diary was also kept. The interpretation of data was guided by phenomenological and hermeneutic methodology.Results. The nurses interviewed spoke openly about their experiences of working with hospice patients. They saw the relief of suffering through ‘comfort care’ as an important element of their work. The findings are presented under three thematic headings: ‘Comfort and relief’, ‘Peace and ease’ and ‘Spirituality and meaning’.Conclusion. Hermeneutic phenomenology is an important method for uncovering the complex realities of nursing work. The nurses’ perspectives on ‘comfort care’ they offer to patients were revealed by the data presented here, which were interpreted to offer a unique perspective on this type of nursing work.Relevance to clinical practice. These findings offer insights to nurses in both hospice and other settings; they give a number of perspectives on the nature of ‘comfort care’ and the meanings attached to it by experienced hospice nurses’.
Does the experimental design capture the effects of complementary therapy? A study using reflexology for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Gunnarsdottir Thora Jenny , Jonsdottir Helga 
Published: March 2007

Aim.  Our purpose was to pilot test whether reflexology may reduce anxiety in patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in Iceland.Background.  Nurses need to study the effects of complementary therapies in general and particularly those that may be beneficial to decrease patients’ anxiety. It has been assumed that reflexology lessens anxiety, but research is needed to substantiate such expectations.Design.  A pilot study using randomized design with experimental and control groups.Methods.  Nine patients were recruited and randomly assigned into groups with five patients assigned into an experimental group receiving reflexology for 30 minutes and four patients into control group which rested for 30 minutes. Anxiety and physiological variables were measured pre‐ and post‐reflexology sessions once a day over five days.Results.  The anxiety scores were lower for patients in the control group on all measures. Systolic blood pressure lowered significantly more in the control group than in the treatment group. No significant changes were observed for other variables. Patients’ comments and responses overwhelmingly suggested increased well‐being due to both experimental and control intervention.Conclusion.  This study showed little evidence to support reflexology as a mean of reducing anxiety in CABG patients. Several methodological problems were identified that need to be considered further.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is suggested that reflexology should be tailored to individual needs and research methods used that allow for capturing its holistic nature. Further scholarly work is warranted to explore several methodological issues in studying complementary therapies in a highly complex treatment situation.
Breast cancer awareness and practice of breast self examination among primary health care nurses: influencing factors and effects of an in‐service education
Authors: Soyer Meral Türk , Ciceklioglu Meltem , Ceber Esin 
Published: March 2007

Aim.  The purposes of this study were to identify the level of breast cancer and breast self examination practice knowledge of primary health nurses and the factors influencing breast cancer and breast self examination knowledge as well as to investigate the frequency of breast self examination practice of primary health nurses and influencing factors and to evaluate the effects of an in‐service training program about breast cancer and breast self examination practice for primary health nurses.Background.  An increased awareness among nurses about breast cancer prevention would most likely result in a higher number of better educated women about breast cancer and also motivate adherence to screening recommendations.Design and methods.  A pre‐test and post‐test design was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a Breast Cancer and Breast Self Examination Education Program for primary health nurses. The program was instructed to 192 of the 215 primary health nurses by two nurse trainers. Pre‐ and post‐tests made available a quantitative evaluation of the level of improvement in breast cancer and breast self‐examination knowledge.Results.  Mean of total breast cancer knowledge score of primary health nurses prior to the program was 58·51 SD 15·63 whereas, it increased to 75·96 SD 9·53, revealing a statistically significant escalation (p < 0·0001). A significant increase was detected in the number of primary health nurses practising breast self examination as a result of the significant improvement in the mean of self breast self examination practice knowledge score which rose evidently from 71·09 SD 19·31 to 85·02 SD 12·92 (p < 0·0001).Conclusion.  The in‐service education program improved the knowledge about breast cancer and practice of breast self examination in trained primary health nurses. The program model, which involved trained primary health nurse also represented an efficient use of the resources.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is important that primary health nurses have adequate breast cancer knowledge and practice of breast self examination to contribute effectively to primary health care. Findings of this study can be used to guide the planning efforts on continuous education of primary health nurses about breast cancer and breast self examination issues.