bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Qualitative Comparison and Synthesis of Nursing Presence and Caring
Authors: Finfgeld‐Connett Deborah 
Published: August 2008

PURPOSE.  To better understand the concepts nursing presence and caring. METHOD.  Qualitative concept comparison and synthesis. FINDINGS.  There are substantive similarities and a notable lack of differences among the antecedents, attributes, and outcomes of nursing presence and caring. Presence and caring comprise an intentional therapeutic process that involves expert nursing practice and intimate interpersonal sensitivity. Outcomes of the process are improved mental and physical well‐being among recipients and improved mental well‐being among nurses. CONCLUSIONS.  Based on the preponderance of references to presence and caring in the nursing literature, it is inferred that they are important concepts, albeit substantively redundant. IMPLICATIONS.  To decrease confusion, nurses are urged to recognize the synonymous nature of presence and caring. Additional comparative studies are recommended to avoid redundant terminology and to promote clarity within the lexicon of nursing.
Modeling Interaction of Fluid and Salt in an Aquifer/Lagoon System
Authors: Fujinawa Katsuyuki , Iba Takahiro , Fujihara Yohichi , Watanabe Tsugihiro 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTo simulate the dynamic interaction between a saline lagoon and a ground water system, a numerical model for two‐dimensional, variable‐density, saturated‐unsaturated, and coupled flow and solute transport (saltwater intrusion by finite elements and characteristics [SIFEC]) was modified to allow the volume of water and mass of salt in the lagoon to vary with each time step. The modified SIFEC allows the stage of a lagoon to vary in accordance with a functional relation between the stage and water volume of the lagoon, and also allows the salt concentration of the lagoon to vary in accordance with the salt budget of the lagoon including chemical precipitation and dissolution of salt. The updated stage and salt concentration of the lagoon are in turn used as transient boundary conditions for the coupled flow and solute transport model. The utility of the modified model was demonstrated by applying it to the eastern Mediterranean coastal region of Turkey for assessing impacts of climate change on the subsurface environment under scenarios of sea level rise, increased evaporation, and decreased precipitation.
Robust Representation of Dry Cells in Single‐Layer MODFLOW Models
Authors: Painter Scott , Başağaoğlu Hakan , Liu Angang 
Published: August 2008

AbstractDewatered or “dry” grid cells in the USGS ground water modeling software MODFLOW may cause nonphysical artifacts, trigger convergence failures, or interfere with parameter estimation. These difficulties can be avoided in two dimensions by modifying the spatial differencing scheme and the iterative procedure used to resolve nonlinearities. Specifically, the spatial differencing scheme is modified to use the water level on the upstream side of a pair of adjacent cells to calculate the saturated thickness and hence intercell conductance for the pair. This makes it possible to explicitly constrain the water level in a cell to be at or above the cell bottom elevation without introducing nonphysical artifacts. Thus constrained, all initially active cells will remain active throughout the simulation. It was necessary to replace MODFLOW’s Picard iteration method with the Newton‐Raphson method to achieve convergence in demanding applications involving many dry cells. Tests using a MODFLOW variant based on the new method produced results nearly identical to conventional MODFLOW in situations where conventional MODFLOW converges. The new method is extremely robust and converged in scenarios where conventional MODFLOW failed to converge, such as when almost all cells dewatered. An example application to the Edwards Aquifer in south‐central Texas further demonstrates the utility of the new method.
An Assembly Model for Simulation of Large‐Scale Ground Water Flow and Transport
Authors: Huang Junqi , Christ John A. , Goltz Mark N. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractWhen managing large‐scale ground water contamination problems, it is often necessary to model flow and transport using finely discretized domains—for instance (1) to simulate flow and transport near a contamination source area or in the area where a remediation technology is being implemented; (2) to account for small‐scale heterogeneities; (3) to represent ground water–surface water interactions; or (4) some combination of these scenarios. A model with a large domain and fine‐grid resolution will need extensive computing resources. In this work, a domain decomposition–based assembly model implemented in a parallel computing environment is developed, which will allow efficient simulation of large‐scale ground water flow and transport problems using domain‐wide grid refinement. The method employs common ground water flow (MODFLOW) and transport (RT3D) simulators, enabling the solution of almost all commonly encountered ground water flow and transport problems. The basic approach partitions a large model domain into any number of subdomains. Parallel processors are used to solve the model equations within each subdomain. Schwarz iteration is applied to match the flow solution at the subdomain boundaries. For the transport model, an extended numerical array is implemented to permit the exchange of dispersive and advective flux information across subdomain boundaries. The model is verified using a conventional single‐domain model. Model simulations demonstrate that the proposed model operated in a parallel computing environment can result in considerable savings in computer run times (between 50% and 80%) compared with conventional modeling approaches and may be used to simulate grid discretizations that were formerly intractable.
Bone anchored hearing aids: a preliminary assessment of the impact on outpatients and cost when rehabilitating hearing in chronic suppurative otitis media
Authors: Watson G.J. , Silva S. , Lawless T. , Harling J.L. , Sheehan P.Z. 
Published: August 2008

Objectives:  To compare the difference in ENT and Audiology visits, treatments dispensed and potential savings pre‐ and post‐bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) insertion in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media exacerbated by behind the ear hearing aids.Design:  A retrospective pilot study.Setting:  District General Hospital.Participants:  All patients who had BAHA inserted from January 2001 to January 2006.Parameters:  Age, gender, number of visits per month, treatments per month dispensed from the ENT and Audiology Departments and direct and limited indirect medical costs pre‐ and post‐BAHA insertion.Results:  Twelve of 26 (46%) adult patients had BAHA inserted over the 5‐year period for CSOM. The male to female ratio was 1 : 3 with a median age of 61 (range 29–81). The number of visits and treatments dispensed per month in the ENT Department fell from a mean of 0.42–0.33 (P < 0.08) and 0.22–0.14 (P < 0.02) respectfully.When the difference in medical cost was taken into account BAHA offered a potential saving of £627.80 per patient.Conclusion:  Although the initial acquisition of surgical equipment and BAHA sound processors is expensive, there is a reduction in the number of treatments and visits required for patients with chronic suppurative otitis media after BAHA is inserted leading to a reduction in average costs.
An autonomous surgical robot for drilling a cochleostomy: preliminary porcine trial
Authors: Coulson C.J. , Taylor R.P. , Reid A.P. , Griffiths M.V. , Proops D.W. , Brett P.N. 
Published: August 2008

Objective:  To produce an autonomous drilling robot capable of performing a bony cochleostomy whilst minimising the damage to the underlying cochlear endosteum.Design:  In this laboratory based study, a robotic drill was designed to measure the changes in force and torque experienced by the tool point during the drilling process. This information is used to predict the point of breakthrough and stop the drill prior to damaging the underlying endosteal membrane.Setting:  Aston University.Participants:  Five porcine cochleas.Main outcomes measures:  An assessment was made of whether a successful bony cochleostomy was performed, the integrity of endosteal membrane was then assessed.Results:  The autonomous surgical robotic drill successfully performed a bony cochleostomy and stopped without damaging the endosteal membrane in all five cases.Conclusions:  The autonomous surgical robotic drill can perform a cochleostomy whilst minimising the trauma to the endosteal membrane. The system allows information about the state of the drilling process to be derived using force and torque data from the tool point. This information can be used to effectively predict drill breakthrough and implement a control strategy to minimise drill penetration beyond the far surface.
Relative importance of diagnostic delays in different head and neck cancers
Authors: Teppo H. , Alho O.‐P. 
Published: August 2008

Objectives: Clinical stage at the time of diagnosis is the most important determinant of prognosis in head and neck cancer. Previously, longer diagnostic delay has been shown to worsen prognosis in cancer of tongue, pharynx and larynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of patient and professional diagnostic delays in the prognosis of these head and neck cancers.Design: Population‐based retrospective cohort study.Setting: Oulu University Hospital (tertiary referral centre) district, Northern Finland.Participants: Population‐based cohort of 221 patients with tongue, pharyngeal or laryngeal cancer diagnosed in 1986–1996.Main outcome measures: Patient and professional diagnostic delays, overall survival.Results: Delays were significantly longer in laryngeal cancer. Moreover, longer diagnostic delays worsened survival markedly only in laryngeal cancer. Cut‐off points at which the delays showed significant adverse impact in prognosis of laryngeal cancer were ≥3 months in patient delay and ≥6 months in professional delay. If mirror laryngoscopy was not performed at the initial visit, professional delay in laryngeal cancer turned out to be significantly longer.Conclusions: Diagnostic delays are longer and have a more significant impact on survival in laryngeal cancer than in lingual or pharyngeal cancer. Thus, patients with symptoms suggestive of laryngeal process should always be examined properly at the initial visit in order to shorten the professional diagnostic delay in laryngeal cancer.
Re‐irradiation with concurrent chemotherapy in recurrent head and neck cancer: a decision analysis model based on a systematic review
Authors: Paleri V. , Kelly C.G. 
Published: August 2008

Objectives:  Local recurrence is the major cause of treatment failure in head and neck cancer patients after radiation or combined therapy. If surgically unresectable, management involves supportive care or chemotherapy with palliative intent. Recent studies have assessed the role of re‐irradiating these patients with concurrent chemotherapy (CTReRT) and have reported improved local control. The aim of this study was to perform a decision analysis model comparing quality adjusted life years (QALYs) between patients undergoing CTReRT and best supportive care for radio‐recurrent head and neck squamous cancer.Design:  Outcome data from recent reviews on the topic were used. A decision analysis model was generated. An expert panel arrived at a consensus to assign utility values for the various health state outcomes when CTReRT is administered for recurrent cancer, or in the setting of palliative care for these patients.Main outcome measures:  Quality adjusted life years from the decision analysis model.Results:  Patients who do not suffer a severe complication following CTReRT were assigned by the expert panel to have a utility value of 0.7, and those who suffered one, a utility value of 0.6. A value of 1.0 equates to perfect health and 0 to death. The utility value assigned in the setting of good palliation was 0.8, with 0.6 given when symptom control was less than optimal. The model showed superior QALYs for the CTReRT arm of approximately 5 weeks (20 weeks versus 15 weeks for palliation).Conclusions:  Re‐irradiation with concurrent chemotherapy is a modality to be considered in select patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. These results should help to better inform both patients and clinicians when considering this treatment.
Exploration of twin‐arginine translocation for expression and purification of correctly folded proteins in Escherichia coli
Authors: Fisher Adam C. , Kim Jae‐Young , Perez‐Rodriguez Ritsdeliz , Tullman‐Ercek Danielle , Fish Wallace R. , Henderson Lee A. , DeLisa Matthew P. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryHistorically, the general secretory (Sec) pathway of Gram‐negative bacteria has served as the primary route by which heterologous proteins are delivered to the periplasm in numerous expression and engineering applications. Here we have systematically examined the twin‐arginine translocation (Tat) pathway as an alternative, and possibly advantageous, secretion pathway for heterologous proteins. Overall, we found that: (i) export efficiency and periplasmic yield of a model substrate were affected by the composition of the Tat signal peptide, (ii) Tat substrates were correctly processed at their N‐termini upon reaching the periplasm and (iii) proteins fused to maltose‐binding protein (MBP) were reliably exported by the Tat system, but only when correctly folded; aberrantly folded MBP fusions were excluded by the Tat pathway's folding quality control feature. We also observed that Tat export yield was comparable to Sec for relatively small, well‐folded proteins, higher relative to Sec for proteins that required cytoplasmic folding, and lower relative to Sec for larger, soluble fusion proteins. Interestingly, the specific activity of material purified from the periplasm was higher for certain Tat substrates relative to their Sec counterparts, suggesting that Tat expression can give rise to relatively pure and highly active proteins in one step.
Hypersensitive response and acyl‐homoserine lactone production of the fire blight antagonists Erwinia tasmaniensis and Erwinia billingiae
Authors: Jakovljevic Vladimir , Jock Susanne , Du Zhiqiang , Geider Klaus 
Published: August 2008

SummaryFire blight caused by the Gram‐negative bacterium Erwinia amylovora can be controlled by antagonistic microorganisms. We characterized epiphytic bacteria isolated from healthy apple and pear trees in Australia, named Erwinia tasmaniensis, and the epiphytic bacterium Erwinia billingiae from England for physiological properties, interaction with plants and interference with growth of E. amylovora. They reduced symptom formation by the fire blight pathogen on immature pears and the colonization of apple flowers. In contrast to E. billingiae, E. tasmaniensis strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco leaves and synthesized levan in the presence of sucrose. With consensus primers deduced from lsc as well as hrpL, hrcC and hrcR of the hrp region of E. amylovora and of related bacteria, these genes were successfully amplified from E. tasmaniensis DNA and alignment of the encoded proteins to other Erwinia species supported a role for environmental fitness of the epiphytic bacterium. Unlike E. tasmaniensis, the epiphytic bacterium E. billingiae produced an acyl‐homoserine lactone for bacterial cell‐to‐cell communication. Their competition with the growth of E. amylovora may be involved in controlling fire blight.
Erythrophore cell response to food‐associated pathogenic bacteria: implications for detection
Authors: Hutchison Janine R. , Dukovcic Stephanie R. , Dierksen Karen P. , Carlyle Calvin A. , Caldwell Bruce A. , Trempy Janine E. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryCell‐based biosensors have been proposed for use as function‐based detectors of toxic agents. We report the use of Betta splendens chromatophore cells, specifically erythrophore cells, for detection of food‐associated pathogenic bacteria. Evaluation of erythrophore cell response, using Bacillus spp., has revealed that this response can distinguish pathogenic Bacillus cereus from a non‐pathogenic B. cereus ΔplcR deletion mutant and a non‐pathogenic Bacillus subtilis. Erythrophore cells were exposed to Salmonella enteritidis, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum. Each bacterial pathogen elicited a response from erythrophore cells that was distinguished from the corresponding bacterial growth medium, and this observed response was unique for each bacterial pathogen. These findings suggest that erythrophore cell response has potential for use as a biosensor in the detection and toxicity assessment for food‐associated pathogenic bacteria.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: current status
Authors: Berg S. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIntroduction:  Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent condition that covaries with cardiovascular complications and most likely with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus.Objective:  The present paper is a review of the current status of OSAS.Results:  Definitions and diagnostic criteria as well as known risk factors, prevalence, symptoms, covariance with other diseases and consequences as traffic accidents are described. OSAS is characterised by daytime sleepiness symptoms that range from mild to severe. Risk factors such as anatomical upper airway abnormalities, overweight, smoking, excessive alcohol intake and use of muscle relaxants are related to the development of sleep apnoea. Various diagnostic procedures and treatment modalities are considered. Overnight polysomnography is the reference standard for sleep apnoea recording. Treatment modalities include mechanical [continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances], surgical, pharmacological and ‘conservative’ lifestyle modifications. Finally, Nordic accrediation guidelines for sleep medicine clinics and sleep medicine specialists are described.Conclusion:  The diagnosis of OSAS should be performed with a polygraph, and the first‐line treatment of moderate to severe OSAS is CPAP. Lastly, compliance for this treatment should be optimised with regular clinical controls.Please cite this paper as: Berg S. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: current status. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2008; 2: 197–201.
A change of heart: the new infective endocarditis prophylaxis guidelines
Authors: Daly CG , Currie BJ , Jeyasingham MS , Moulds RFW , Smith JA , Strathmore NF , Street AC , Goss AN 
Published: August 2008

AbstractNew Australian guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis were published in July 2008. The guidelines were revised by a multidisciplinary group to reflect recent changes in international recommendations regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis. The reasons for the changes are explored in this review and the implications for dental practice are discussed.
How does pain affect jaw muscle activity? The Integrated Pain Adaptation Model
Authors: Peck CC , Murray GM , Gerzina TM 
Published: August 2008

AbstractPain and limitation of movement are two cardinal symptoms of temporomandibular disorders but it is unclear how one influences the other. The relationship between pain and movement is clinically significant but controversial with two major theories having been proposed: the Vicious Cycle Theory and the Pain Adaptation Model. The Vicious Cycle Theory proposes a vicious cycle between pain and muscle activity. This theory has little scientific basis but underpins many management strategies. The Pain Adaptation Model is more evidence‐based and proposes that pain causes changes in muscle activity to limit movement and protect the sensory‐motor system from further injury. The Pain Adaptation Model has many positive features but does not appear to explain the relation between pain and muscle activity in all situations. We propose that the relationship is influenced by the functional complexity of the sensory‐motor system and the multidimensional nature of pain. This new Integrated Pain Adaptation Model states that pain results in a new recruitment strategy of motor units that is influenced by the multidimensional (i.e., biological and psychosocial) components of the pain experience. This new recruitment strategy aims to minimize pain and maintain homeostasis. This model emphasizes the individual reaction to pain and suggests a tailored approach towards management.
Patient demand for smoking cessation advice in dentist offices after introduction of graphic health warnings in Australia
Authors: Afifah RM , Schwarz E 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackground: The effectiveness of smoking cessation intervention by dentists has not been conclusively established. This study aimed to investigate whether the inclusion of graphic health warning pictures (including mouth and throat cancer) as part of the Australian National Tobacco Campaign strategy would elicit measurably increased demand for smoking cessation advice in dental practices.Methods: A cross‐sectional survey of private dental practices in New South Wales, Australia. Separate questionnaires were answered by dentists and patients from their practice. Questions comprised smoking practices and attitudes toward smoking cessation activities in dental practice.Results: The majority of dentists (85.7 per cent; n = 29) and dental patients (92.4 per cent; n = 800) recalled seeing the graphic health warnings, with mouth and throat cancer the most commonly observed. Television was the main medium. Nineteen per cent of dental patients (n = 152) reported themselves as current smokers. Half of them were planning to quit within six months (49.7 per cent) and agreed that graphic health warnings made them more likely to quit (47.7 per cent). Dentists showed positive attitudes toward cessation activities but believed many patients lacked motivation to quit smoking; a perception that was seen to be the main barrier in offering smoking cessation advice. Forty per cent of smokers would try to quit if asked by their dentists, but only 28.4 per cent preferred a dentist for cessation advice. In general, dentists found no change in demand for smoking cessation advice since the launch of the National Tobacco Campaign in 2006.Conclusions: Health warning pictures seemed to increase the patients’ awareness and intention to quit smoking, however it did not appear to generate more demand for smoking cessation advice from their dentists. Dentists had low expectations about their patients’ motivation to stop smoking.