bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Innocent or culpable? Meanings that emergency department nurses ascribe to individual acts of violence
Authors: Luck Lauretta , Jackson Debra , Usher Kim 
Published: April 2007

Aims and objectives. The purpose of the study was to explore the meaning(s) that emergency department nurses ascribe to acts of violence from patients, their family and friends and what impact these meaning(s) have upon how they respond to such acts.Background. Violence in the health sector is of international concern. In high acuity areas such as emergency departments, nurses have an increased risk of violence. The literature further suggests that violence towards nurses in emergency departments is under‐reported.Design and methods. This study was undertaken in 2005, at a regional Australian Emergency Department with 20 consenting registered nurses. Using an instrumental case study design, both qualitative and quantitative data were generated. Qualitative data were collected using participant observation, semi‐structured interviews, informal field interviews and researcher journaling. Quantitative data of violent events were generated using a structured observational guide. Textual data were analysed thematically and numeric data were analysed using frequency counts. Mixed methods and concurrent data analysis contributed to the rigour of this study.Findings. Emergency department nurses made judgments about the meaning of violent events according to three factors: (i) perceived personalization of the violence; (ii) presence of mitigating factors; and (iii) the reason for the presentation. The meanings that were ascribed to individual acts of violence informed the responses that nurses initiated.Conclusions. The findings show that violence towards emergency department nurses is interpreted in a more systematic and complex way than the current definitions of violence make possible. The meanings given to violence were contextually constructed and these ascribed meaning(s) and judgments informed the actions that the nurses took in response to both the act of violence and the agent of violence.Relevance to clinical practice. Understanding the meaning(s) of violence towards nurses contributes to the discussions surrounding why nurses under‐report violence. Further, these findings bring insights into how nurses can and do, handle violence in the workplace.
Participation of Icelandic nurses in smoking cessation counselling
Authors: Svavarsdóttir Margrét Hrönn , Hallgrímsdóttir Guðfinna 
Published: April 2007

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation and knowledge of Icelandic nurses in smoking cessation counselling and to find barriers to smoking interventions by nurses.Background.  Research has shown that clinical intervention as brief as three minutes can substantially increase smoking cessation success. Several studies have revealed that majority of nurses agree that smoking cessation counselling is within their duties. However, the percentage of nurses who report advising and/or counselling patients remains low.Design and methods.  An anonymous mail survey of all practicing nurses in Iceland was conducted in September 2004. A self‐administered questionnaire was used, consisting of 74 questions in six sections: asking about smoking behaviour, to advise, to assess/assist/arrange, children and passive smoking, other questions and demographic questions.Results.  Of 2453 questionnaires, 868 complete questionnaires were returned, giving a 36% response rate. While the majority of nurses ‘asked’ about smoking behaviour, a minority ‘advised’ or ‘assisted’ their clients with smoking cessation. However, if the clients had no smoking‐related symptoms, less than half of the nurses asked about smoking behaviour. Failure to ask and advise clients about the importance of smoking cessation and assisting with smoking cessation correlated (p < 0·001) with several factors, including: lack of time, insufficient knowledge or training and not considered as a part of daily duty. Nurses who smoked were less likely to advise against smoking (p < 0·05).Conclusions.  Nurses frequently neglect to counsel clients about smoking cessation. Common barriers to the delivery of smoking cessation interventions by nurses include insufficient education and training in smoking cessation therapy.Relevance to clinical practice.  The number of patients with tobacco‐related illnesses is increasing worldwide. Effective smoking cessation interventions by nurses have the enormous potential of reducing smoking prevalence and improve health.
From competence to capability: a study of nurse practitioners in clinical practice
Authors: Gardner Anne , Hase Stewart , Gardner Glenn , Dunn Sandra V. , Carryer Jenny 
Published: April 2007

Aims and objectives.  This research aimed to understand the level and scope of practice of the nurse practitioner in Australia and New Zealand further using a capability framework.Background.  The original study, from which the present paper was developed, sought to identify competency standards for the extended role of the nurse practitioner in Australia and New Zealand. In doing so the researchers became aware that while competencies described many of the characteristics of the nurse practitioner they did not manage to tell the whole story. In a search of the literature, the concept of capability appeared to provide a potentially useful construct to describe the attributes of the nurse practitioner that went beyond competence.Design.  A secondary analysis of data obtained from interviews with nurse practitioners working in Australia and New Zealand was undertaken. These data had previously been obtained in a study to identify nurse practitioner competencies. The analysis described in this paper investigated whether or not the components of capability would adequately explain the characteristics of the nurse practitioner.Methods.  Fifteen nurse practitioners were interviewed from Australia and New Zealand. A secondary (deductive) analysis of interview data using capability as a theoretical framework was conducted.Results.  The analysis showed that capability and its dimensions is a useful model for describing the advanced level attributes of nurse practitioners. Thus, nurse practitioners described elements of their practice that involved: using their competences in novel and complex situations as well as the familiar; being creative and innovative; knowing how to learn; having a high level of self‐efficacy; and working well in teams.Conclusions.  This study suggests that both competence and capability need to be considered in understanding the complex role of the nurse practitioner.Relevance to clinical practice.  The dimensions of capability need to be considered in the education and evaluation of nurse practitioners.
Quality of life concerns and end‐of‐life care preferences of aged persons in long‐term care facilities
Authors: Chan Helen YL , Pang Samantha MC 
Published: April 2007

Aims and objectives.  This study aimed at understanding quality of life (QOL) concerns and end‐of‐life care preferences of older people living in long‐term care facilities in Hong Kong.Background.  Previous studies about the QOL of residents in long‐term care facilities were often from a qualitative perspective, because it could yield an in‐depth description of the experience. Quantitative studies in this area were not only scarce, but also less specific in capturing the concerns of this vulnerable group. Their forethought about their care planning was also overlooked.Design and method.  We successfully interviewed 287 older residents from 10 long‐term care homes using the modified Quality‐of‐Life Concerns in the End of Life Questionnaire (QOLC‐E) in a cross‐sectional survey.Results.  The mean (SD) ages of the frail and non‐frail groups were 83·8 (6·74) and 82·35 (5·82) respectively. The majority of them were female and widowed. Existential distress, value of life and food‐related concerns were the least desirable QOL concerns in both groups. Considerable numbers were uncertain about their end‐of‐life care preferences and they preferred their physician to be their surrogate.Conclusion.  The older residents had similar QOL concerns as patients with terminal or advanced diseases. Most of the older residents welcomed discussion about death and dying but had not planned for their end‐of‐life care and had a high regard for their physicians’ authority.Relevance to clinical practice.  The results reveal the major QOL concerns among the older residents living in long‐term care facilities. This study, which is an initial step in profiling the older people's end‐of‐life care preferences, also shed light on how to formulate advance care planning in long‐term care facilities.
Co‐occurrence based assessment of habitat generalists and specialists: a new approach for the measurement of niche width
Authors: FRIDLEY JASON D. , VANDERMAST DAVID B. , KUPPINGER DANE M. , MANTHEY MICHAEL , PEET ROBERT K. 
Published: April 2007

Summary

Much ecological theory is based on the characterization of ecological habits of species as ‘generalist’ or ‘specialist’, but standard measures for placing species along a generalist‐specialist gradient do not exist.
We introduce a method for quantifying habitat specialization (i.e. relative niche widths) using species co‐occurrence data. Generalists should co‐occur with many species, whereas specialists should co‐occur with relatively few species, given equal plot occurrences. We quantify this concept using a generalist‐specialist metric (θ) derived from a beta diversity statistic.
We evaluate the ability of our generalist‐specialist metric to correctly rank species according to simulated (known) niche widths. Our technique is generally robust to a wide variety of niche distribution structures and sampling designs, but surveys strongly biased toward certain habitats can undermine the ability of θ to accurately describe niche widths for underrepresented species.
We apply our technique to three spatially nested surveys of the large woody flora (> 1 cm d.b.h.) of the south‐eastern USA. For each dataset we rank the generalist‐specialist tendencies of all species of non‐trivial occurrences, including 113 species across the Southeast, 71 species of southern Appalachian forests, and 44 species of the 6800‐ha Joyce Kilmer‐Slickrock Wilderness Area (NC and TN, USA).
Rankings of species’θ‐values were generally consistent among datasets of different spatial extent. Generalist species (e.g. Ilex opaca, Ulmus rubra, Morus rubra, Prunus serotina, Acer rubrum) were often those with large geographical ranges, particularly for θ‐values from the largest dataset, and overall were more likely to be bird‐dispersed, deciduous, and shade tolerant. South‐eastern specialist species (e.g. Taxodium spp., Abies fraseri, Quercus laevis, Pinus pungens, Pinus palustris) were those associated with stressful or unusual conditions, such as a long duration of flooding, high fire frequency, or extreme cold or dry climates.
Our study demonstrates that increasingly available, large‐survey datasets can contribute niche‐related species information in the absence of detailed environmental or habitat measurements. Applications include new assessments of relationships between species traits, ecological and environmental tolerances, and species packing in different assemblages.
Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography and mating compatibility reveal marked genetic structuring and speciation in the NE Atlantic bryozoan Celleporella hyalina
Authors: GÓMEZ AFRICA , HUGHES ROGER N. , WRIGHT PETER J. , CARVALHO GARY R. , LUNT DAVID H. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe marine bryozoan Celleporella hyalina is a species complex composed of many highly divergent and mostly allopatric genetic lineages that are reproductively isolated but share a remarkably similar morphology. One such lineage commonly encrusts macroalgae throughout the NE Atlantic coast. To explore the processes leading to geographical diversification, reproductive isolation and speciation in this taxon, we (i) investigated NE Atlantic C. hyalina mitochondrial DNA phylogeography, and (ii) used breeding trials between geographical isolates to ascertain reproductive isolation. We find that haplotype diversity is geographically variable and there is a strong population structure, with significant isolation by distance. NE Atlantic C. hyalina is structured into two main parapatric lineages that appear to have had independent Pleistocene histories. Range expansions have resulted in two contact zones in Spain and W Ireland. Lineage 1 is found from Ireland to Spain and has low haplotype diversity, with closely related haplotypes, suggesting a recent population expansion into the Irish Sea, S Ireland, S England and Spain. Lineage 2 is found from Iceland to Spain and has high haplotype diversity. Complete reproductive isolation was found between some geographical isolates representing both lineages, whereas it was incomplete or asymmetric between others, suggesting these latter phylogeographical groups probably represent incipient species. The phylogeographical distribution of NE Atlantic C. hyalina does not fall easily into a pattern of southern refugia, and we discuss likely differences between terrestrial and marine system responses to Pleistocene glacial cycles.
Stroke volume variation during hemorrhage and after fluid loading: impact of different tidal volumes
Authors: Renner J. , Cavus E. , Meybohm P. , Tonner P. , Steinfath M. , Scholz J. , Lutter G. , Bein B. 
Published: April 2007

Background:  Previous studies have shown that stroke volume variation (SVV) may be used to assess preload and fluid responsiveness. It is currently under debate, if SVV reliably displays changes in preload during ventilation with clinically used tidal volumes. This study was designed to evaluate whether the predictive value of SVV depends on the tidal volume applied particularly during acute changes of preload.Methods:  We studied 14 anesthetized pigs (35 ± 2 kg) during changing tidal volumes (5, 10 and 15 ml/kg) at normovolemia (BL), after removal of 500 cc of blood (Hypo) and after retransfusion plus additional 500 cc 6% hydroxyethyl starch (Hyper). SVV was recorded continuously, and global end‐diastolic volume (GEDV) was obtained by transpulmonary thermodilution at each experimental stage.Results:  GEDV changed significantly comparing the different experimental stages (P < 0.0001). During ventilation with 5 ml/kg, SVV did not change significantly at the different loading conditions. In contrast, during ventilation with both 10 and 15 ml/kg, SVV changed significantly comparing hemorrhage to fluid loading. However, at 15 ml/kg SVV was above the recommended value throughout the experiment.Conclusions:  In this animal model, SVV was not sensitive to acute changes in preload during ventilation with a tidal volume of 5 ml/kg. Moreover, ventilation with high tidal volume may suggest volume loading even after sufficient volume resuscitation.
Does the pre‐ischaemic administration of sevoflurane reduce myocardial stunning? A porcine experimental model
Authors: Aagaard S. , Larsen J. R. , Berg J. S. , Sloth E. , Hasenkam J. M. 
Published: April 2007

Background:  In a porcine model, the cardioprotective effect of sevoflurane was studied with regard to the preservation of myocardial contractility (myocardial stunning) after a myocardial ischaemic insult.Methods:  Twenty‐seven pigs were randomized to receive either a dual 4% sevoflurane inhalation period as a supplement to pentobarbital anaesthesia or pentobarbital anaesthesia only before a 15‐min ischaemic insult on the left anterior descending coronary artery. The ischaemic period was followed by 180 min of reperfusion. Myocardial contractility was assessed by myocardial sonomicrometry.Results:  A significant difference was found between the sevoflurane group and the control group at 5 min of reperfusion. However, subsequently, there was no overall difference between the two groups.Conclusion:  Sevoflurane administered as a pre‐ischaemic bolus does not provide long‐term improvement of the myocardial contractility. However, it can be speculated that sevoflurane may induce an early improvement in contractility.
Association of Fertility with Numbers of Antral Follicles within a Follicular Wave During the Oestrous Cycle in Beef Cattle
Authors: Starbuck‐Clemmer MJ , Hernandez‐Fonseca H , Ahmad N , Seidel G , Inskeep EK 
Published: April 2007

ContentsThe association between conception rate at first service and numbers of follicles developed during a follicular wave was examined in 102 suckled beef cows and 14 heifers. Follicular development was monitored using ultrasonography for either two (trial 1) or three (trial 2) consecutive oestrous cycles (pre‐breeding, breeding and post‐breeding equivalent). Animals were examined on alternate days from day 6 after first oestrus (day 0) until ovulation and from day 6 after insemination until next ovulation or day 24 of pregnancy and were observed for oestrus twice daily and inseminated artificially at either the second (trial 1) or third oestrus (trial 2). Cows were classified as having two or three waves of follicular development for each oestrous cycle. Numbers of follicles ≥4 mm per wave were determined, and based on the maximum diameter they attained, were classified as small (4–6 mm), medium (7–10 mm) or large (≥11 mm) follicles. Total numbers of follicles, and primarily numbers of small and medium follicles, were affected by trial and within trial by cow, oestrous cycle and follicular wave. Heifers had more small and total numbers of follicles, but fewer large follicles than cows in trial 1 (p < 0.05). The average number of antral follicles per wave in the breeding cycle or post‐breeding period did not affect conception rates, which averaged 84%. Repeatability of the total numbers of antral follicles between and among oestrous cycles and follicular waves ranged from 0.01 to 0.97. In conclusion, fertility was not affected by the numbers of antral follicles ≥4 mm in diameter in a single follicular wave.
Effects of Cryopreservation on Bull Spermatozoa Distribution in Morphometrically Distinct Subpopulations
Authors: Rubio‐Guillén J , González D , Garde JJ , Esteso MC , Fernández‐Santos MR , Rodríguez‐Gíl JE , Madrid‐Bury N , Quintero‐Moreno A 
Published: April 2007

ContentsAssisted sperm morphometry analysis (ASMA) was used in this study to determine the effects of cryopreservation on bull spermatozoa distribution in morphometrically distinct subpopulations. Ejaculates were collected from five bulls and were divided. One portion was diluted at 30°C in a skim milk–egg yolk medium, containing glycerol. A microscope slide was prepared from single extended sperm samples prior to freezing. The remainder of each sample was frozen in nitrogen vapours. After thawing, sperm smears were prepared as described above. All slides were air dried and stained with Hemacolor. The sperm‐head dimensions for a minimum of 200 sperm heads were analysed from each sample by means of the Sperm‐Class Analyser® (SCA), and the mean measurements recorded. Our results showed that applying the ASMA technology and multivariate cluster analyses, it was possible to determine that three separate subpopulations of spermatozoa with different morphometric characteristics coexist in bull ejaculates (large, average and small spermatozoa). The mean values of each sperm head dimension among the three subpopulations of spermatozoa were significantly different (p < 0.001). Besides, there were significant (p < 0.001) differences in the distribution of these three sperm subpopulations between fresh and thawed samples. Thus, the percentage of representation of the subpopulation that includes those spermatozoa whose dimensions are the biggest, decreased from 52.06% in extended fresh samples to 15.51% in the thawed ones. Contrarily, the percent of representation of the subpopulation containing the smallest spermatozoa, increased from 8.70% in extended fresh samples to 34.04% in the thawed ones. In conclusion, the present study confirms the heterogeneity of sperm head dimensions in bull semen, heterogeneity that vary through the cryopreservation procedure.
Effect of Progesterone and Oestradiol on Sperm–zona Binding and Acrosome Reaction in Bovine Spermatozoa after Thawing
Authors: Lukoseviciute K , Bizokas V , Zilinskas H , Januskauskas A 
Published: April 2007

ContentsThis study was conducted assess spermatozoa binding capacity to the oocyte in the presence of 0.1 or 0.5 μg/ml progesterone (P4) or a combination of 0.5 μg/ml P4 with 0.1 μg/ml oestradiol (OE). The number of oocyte‐bound spermatozoa in the presence of progesterone was significantly higher (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001) when compared with the control samples, that were incubated in the absence of P4. Spermatozoa binding to the zona pellucida (ZP) of the oocyte were concentration‐dependent – significantly higher numbers of spermatozoa were bound in the presence of 0.5 μg/ml P4, when compared with that of 0.1 μg/ml P4. Oestradiol at 0.1 μg/ml concentration used impaired the effect of progesterone‐mediated sperm–oocyte binding. The incidences of acrosome‐reacted (AR) spermatozoa bound to the ZP – following 0, 60, 120 and 180 min. incubation in the presence and absence of 1 μg/ml progesterone was also assessed. Only at 180 min of incubation a higher (p < 0.001) incidence of the AR‐spermatozoa was found in sperm–ZP complexes incubated in the presence or absence of progesterone, being 56.5 ± 11.1 and 43.2 ± 8.8 % respectively. In conclusion, progesterone enhances the sperm–ZP binding capacity. Progesterone affects the incidences of AR on zona‐bound spermatozoa only after prolonged co‐culture.
Exchanging dual‐lumen central venous catheters: How I do it
Authors: Chaitowitz I , Heng R , Bell KW 
Published: April 2007

SummaryThe management of a blocked long‐term central venous catheter has traditionally been removal and re‐siting, even when device failure is not associated with venous thrombosis or sepsis. It is not possible to ‘railroad’ a split dual‐lumen central venous catheter down a long tortuous s.c. tunnel. Our exchange technique was designed to salvage the tunnel and venous access site in a long‐term catheter that has had uncomplicated primary device failure. In this technique we divide the dual‐lumen catheter and secure the venous access site and the s.c. tunnel with separate peel‐away sheaths. The new catheter is then introduced in the conventional manner through the two peel‐away sheaths, which are then removed. The key advantage of the technique is that it preserves one of the few central venous access sites available. This article describes exchange of an internal jugular catheter, but the same technique is applicable to subclavian catheters.