bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Language barriers and qualitative nursing research: methodological considerations
Authors: Squires A. 
Published: August 2008

Aim:  This review of the literature synthesizes methodological recommendations for the use of translators and interpreters in cross‐language qualitative research.Background:  Cross‐language qualitative research involves the use of interpreters and translators to mediate a language barrier between researchers and participants. Qualitative nurse researchers successfully address language barriers between themselves and their participants when they systematically plan for how they will use interpreters and translators throughout the research process. Experienced qualitative researchers recognize that translators can generate qualitative data through translation processes and by participating in data analysis. Failure to address language barriers and the methodological challenges they present threatens the credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability of cross‐language qualitative nursing research. Through a synthesis of the cross‐language qualitative methods literature, this article reviews the basics of language competence, translator and interpreter qualifications, and roles for each kind of qualitative research approach. Methodological and ethical considerations are also provided.Conclusion:  By systematically addressing the methodological challenges cross‐language research presents, nurse researchers can produce better evidence for nursing practice and policy making when working across different language groups. Findings from qualitative studies will also accurately represent the experiences of the participants without concern that the meaning was lost in translation.
Learning through teaching: Peer‐mediated instruction in minimally invasive education
Authors: Dangwal Ritu , Kapur Preeti 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe current paper provides insight into the learning strategies adopted by children working at Minimally Invasive Education (MIE) Learning Stations. Previous research has clearly indicated the attainment of basic computer literacy by groups of young children in the age groups of 7–14 years. This learning takes place due to the emergence and development of group social processes, an aspect crucial for achieving basic computing skills. The paper describes the process of socially shared understanding and learning as being crucial to individual learning. It is to be noted that this approach of socially shared learning does not challenge the analysis of the individual level of processing; it maintains that individual learning is vital in any learning context, but insufficient to build the psychology of learning. MIE research is of the view that young children learn through interaction with others, particularly peers as it provides an important context for social and cognitive learning. For it is in this way that children make sense of their own experience and environment. Hence, schools are not the only privileged sites of learning.
The further development of CSIEC project driven by application and evaluation in English education
Authors: Jia Jiyou , Chen Weichao 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIn this paper, we present the comprehensive version of CSIEC (Computer Simulation in Educational Communication), an interactive web‐based human–computer dialogue system with natural language for English instruction, and its tentative application and evaluation in English education. First, we briefly introduce the motivation for this project, survey the related works and illustrate the system structure with flow diagram. Then we describe its pedagogical functions, especially free chatting and chatting on a given topic. We summarise the free Internet usage within 6 months and introduce its integration into English classrooms, as well as the formal evaluation results of the integration. The evaluation findings show that the chatting function has been improved and fully used by the users, and the application of the CSIEC system in English instruction can motivate the learners to use English and enhance their learning process. Lastly, we discuss the application‐driven approach of system development and draw some conclusions for future improvement.
Treatment of corticosteroid refractory optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis patients with intravenous immunoglobulin
Authors: Tselis A. , Perumal J. , Caon C. , Hreha S. , Ching W. , Din M. , Van Stavern G. , Khan O. 
Published: August 2008

Background:  Patients with severe visual loss because of optic neuritis refractory to high dose corticosteroids have limited therapeutic options. The use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been advocated in the past, but data are scarce. In this study, we use a protocol different from those used in other studies, with different timing and dosage.Methods:  Consecutive patients with corticosteroid‐refractive optic neuropathy were treated with IVIG and compared with control patients who received only corticosteroids in an open‐label, non‐randomized, controlled prospective study.Results:  Twenty‐three patients received treatment with IVIG and 24 matched patients who did not receive treatment with IVIG were followed as controls. All patients had visual acuity 20/400 or worse in the affected eye. There was significant improvement in the IVIG group with 18/23 (78%) subjects reaching near normal vision (20/30 or better), compared with the control group with only 3/24 (12.5%) responding similarly.Conclusions:  The use of IVIG, following corticosteroids, may be useful using the protocol described herein, with sustained pulsed dosing. A larger controlled trial is indicated to confirm these results.
Soil water repellency in an old and young pasture in relation to N application
Authors: Sonneveld M. P. W. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAgeing of pastures is likely to affect the degree of potential water repellency in the long term, whereas seasonal variation on a shorter term affects the actual repellency of soils. A 1‐year study on two pastures of different ages was conducted on a sandy soil to assess changes in the degree of potential and actual water repellency in relation to different levels of applied nitrogen (N). Sampling was carried out on four dates (April, June, August and October) to determine soil moisture content and both potential and actual water repellency at three depths (0–25, 25–50 and 50–75 cm). The relative number of potentially wettable samples for the young pasture (5 years) ranged from 64% (0–25 cm) to 96% (25–50 cm) to 100% (50–75 cm). For the old pasture (38 years) this ranged from 29 to 66 to 94%. The transition zone in which topsoil samples could be either wettable or water repellent ranged from 18 to 23% (v/v) for the young pasture compared with a range from 29 to 32% (v/v) for the old pasture. Thus, ageing pastures may result in both moving as well as decreasing transition zones over time. A positive relationship between increased inputs of fertilizer N, higher DM yields, lower soil water contents and higher degrees of water repellency was found for the old pasture for the August series. This suggests that seasonal variation in water repellency can be further re‐enforced through nutrient management.
Technical Efficiency among Peasant Farmers Participating in Natural Resource Management Programmes in Central America
Authors: Solís Daniel , Bravo‐Ureta Boris E. , Quiroga Ricardo E. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis study examines the extent to which technical efficiency (TE) is related to activities promoted by two natural resource management programmes recently completed in Central America. Data for a total of 639 farms operating in the hillsides of El Salvador and Honduras are used to estimate a household‐level input‐oriented stochastic distance frontier simultaneously with a TE effects model. The main finding of this study is that improvements in TE are financially beneficial to farm households while also contributing to environmental sustainability. The results also reveal a positive association between productivity and output diversification, and a positive relationship between TE and off‐farm income, human capital and agricultural extension.
Mechanical Properties of Magnetic Attachments for Removable Prostheses on Teeth and Implants
Authors: Boeckler Arne F. , Morton Dean , Ehring Carolin , Setz Juergen M. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract Purpose: Magnetic attachments on teeth and implants may be used to improve stability, support, and retention of removable prostheses. Various forms of magnetic attachments are available, divided according to the design, the mechanical properties of the attachments, and the clinical indication. Recently developed attachment systems are small and promise improved retentive capacity, while existing magnetic attachments continue to be technologically modified and improved. This investigation reviewed and compared maximum retentive forces and characteristic curves for magnetic attachments indicated for use as root anchors and on implants. Materials and Methods: Twenty‐four samarium‐cobalt (SmCo) and neodym‐iron‐boron (NeFeB) magnetic attachments (12 tooth‐ and 12 implant‐borne) were evaluated. Specimens were delivered by the manufacturers or fabricated according to their instructions. Five magnet pairs of each product and each combination were tested 10 times in a calibrated universal testing machine using a nonmagnetic test device (s = 40 mm, v = 20 mm/min). Results were recorded electronically and compared to manufacturers' details. Results: Maximum retentive forces for root keepers ranged from 1.4 to 6.6 N. Maximum retentive forces for magnetic attachments on implants ranged from 0.7 to 5.8 N. After a distance of 0.1 mm, a complete reversed distribution of the different systems became obvious. The retentive force provided by the manufacturer was achieved in one implant abutment, with retentive force (as compared to those provided by the manufacturers) for root keepers ranging between 42.5% and 92.9% and for implant abutments between 43.0% and 99.4%. Conclusion: There were differences between magnetic attachments for both the initial retentive capabilities and the characteristic curves. Recently introduced products provided relatively high initial retentive forces despite their small size. The measured retentive forces and the manufacturer's information differed in the majority of magnetic systems evaluated.
Permanent Endovenous Pediatric Pacing: Absence of Lead Failure—20 Years Follow‐Up Study
Authors: STOJANOV PETAR L. , SAVIC DRAGUTIN V. , ZIVKOVIC MIRJANA B. , CALOVIC ZARKO R. 
Published: August 2008

Background:

The aim of the study was to analyze endovenous pacing lead survival in pediatric population implanted by cephalic cut down, or by axillary vein puncture.
Methods:

All implantations were performed in total endotracheal anesthesia, by the same surgeon. Implantations of ventricular leads were performed by cephalic vein cut down or by external jugular vein preparation. In dual‐chamber pacing, atrial leads were implanted via cephalic vein (along with ventricular lead), by axillary vein puncture or via external jugular vein. All implanted leads were secured by resorbable suture.
Results:

Over the 20‐year follow‐up period, 105 children of 5.7 years average age (range 1 day–15 years) were implanted with a permanent endovenous pacing system for congenital or postsurgical complete atrioventricular block or sinus node disease. Within the group, 27 patients (25.7%) weighed less than 10 kg on implantation. A total of 121 endovenous leads were implanted. All ventricular leads were with a passive fixation mechanism, and most of them unipolar (87.6%) and steroid eluting (94.2%). Leads implanted in atrial position were 82% bipolar, predominantly with active fixation (94%), and all steroid eluting. The most frequently used mode of stimulation was VVIR (66.6%). No acute or chronic lead displacement, exit block, sensing problem, lead conductor fracture, insulation defect or infections were observed during the total follow‐up of 709 pacing years (average 6.9, range 0–20 years).
Conclusion:

Implantation of the endovenous leads by preparation of the cephalic or puncture of the axillary vein, with lead fixation by resorbable suture represents a method of choice.
Simple application of fibronectin–mimetic coating enhances osseointegration of titanium implants
Authors: Petrie Timothy A. , Reyes Catherine D. , Burns Kellie L. , García Andrés J. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIntegrin‐mediated cell adhesion to biomolecules adsorbed onto biomedical devices regulates device integration and performance. Because of the central role of integrin‐fibronectin (FN) interactions in osteoblastic function and bone formation, we evaluated the ability of FN‐inspired biomolecular coatings to promote osteoblastic differentiation and implant osseointegration. Notably, these biomolecular coatings relied on physical adsorption of FN‐based ligands onto biomedical‐grade titanium as a simple, clinically translatable strategy to functionalize medical implants. Surfaces coated with a recombinant fragment of FN spanning the central cell binding domain enhanced osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization in bone marrow stromal cell cultures and increased implant osseointegration in a rat cortical bone model compared to passively adsorbed arginine–glycine–aspartic acid peptides, serum proteins and full‐length FN. Differences in biological responses correlated with integrin binding specificity and signalling among surface coatings. This work validates a simple, clinically translatable, surface biofunctionalization strategy to enhance biomedical device integration.
Sea Turtle Nesting as a Process Influencing a Sandy Beach Ecosystem
Authors: Madden Derek , Ballestero Jorge , Calvo Carlos , Carlson Robert , Christians Elaine , Madden Erinn 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTSea turtle egg mortality, egg predation, and small organisms associated with turtle nests were studied at Playa Ostional, Costa Rica. Sites with concentrated sea turtle nesting were compared with solitary nesting sites as a function of place and time based on ANOVA, Akaike's Information Criterion, and Bayesian analyses. Results indicate that sea turtle egg mortality was significantly associated (P < 0.005) with flowing water that erodes or saturates nesting sites, and with overlapped nesting in which sea turtles disturb each other's nests. Sarcophagid and calliphorid fly larvae (Bayesian prior = 1.19; posterior = 2.27), fungi (prior = 1.14; posterior = 1.92), mites (prior = 0.51; posterior = 1.15), and several other types of small organisms increased in number after turtle egg laying (N= 303 nests; 34,451 turtle eggs). During peak sea turtle nesting periods, visitation to nesting sites by poachers and vertebrate predators was high, and relative number of nests disturbed by these predators was low (P < 0.02). In multimodel analysis, the three most parsimonious models were: (1) turtle egg mortality and distance from mean high tide; (2) turtle egg predation and distance from mean high tide; and (3) turtle egg mortality and nesting density, with Akaike weights of 0.224, 0.203, and 0.153 respectively. Intensive sea turtle nesting might result in upwelling and turnover of nesting debris and nest organisms, and may influence biotic community structure of sandy beach ecosystems.
Surface Green Function With Surface Stresses and Surface Elasticity
Using Stroh’s Formalism
Authors: Koguchi Hideo 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
In the present paper, surface Green functions in an anisotropic elastic half-domain subjected to a concentrated force and a line force are derived using Stroh’s formalism considering surface stress and surface elasticity. Formulation of the boundary condition based on Stroh’s formalism is presented and is used to derive the surface Green functions. The displacement field far from the surface is affected only slightly by the surface stress and elasticity. However, the stress field is influenced to a somewhat greater degree by the surface stress and elasticity. The influence of the mechanical properties of the surface on the distributions of displacement and stress near the surface is investigated for various values of surface elastic modulus and surface stress. The surface stress and surface elasticity affect the displacements and stresses, respectively, in different manners. Displacement fields in molecular dynamics are compared with those in the Green function, and it is shown that the results are in fair agreement.
CD4 Stabilization Tubes Provide Improved Accuracy of Absolute CD4 T-Cell Counts Compared to Standard K
3
EDTA Tubes in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Immunologic Monitoring in Resource-Poor Settings
Authors: Shott Joseph P. , Iga Boaz , Makumbi Fredrick , Luswata Charles , Kagulire Charles , Nammanda Josephine , Mills Lisa A. , Serwadda David , Quinn Thomas C. , Reynolds Steven J. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT
CD4 stabilization tubes have the ability to ensure internal quality control in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) monitoring laboratory by maintaining accurate absolute CD4 T-cell counts for up to 6 days. Here, we assessed this technology for its use in an HIV clinical monitoring laboratory in a resource-poor setting in rural Uganda.
Establishment of Murine Cytomegalovirus Latency In Vivo Is Associated with Changes in Histone Modifications and Recruitment of Transcriptional Repressors to the Major Immediate-Early Promoter
Authors: Liu Xue-feng , Yan Shixian , Abecassis Michael , Hummel Mary 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus with the ability to establish a lifelong latent infection. The mechanism by which this occurs is not well understood. Regulation of, for example, immediate-early (IE) gene expression is thought to be a critical control point in transcriptional control of the switch between latency and reactivation. Here, we present evidence that supports previous studies showing that the majority of genomes are quiescent with respect to gene expression. To study the possible role of epigenetic factors that may be involved in repression of
ie
gene expression in latency, we have analyzed changes in the patterns of modifications of histones bound to the major IE promoter (MIEP) in the kidneys of acutely and latently infected mice. Our studies show that, like herpes simplex virus, murine CMV genomes become relatively enriched in histones in latent infection. There are dramatic changes in modifications of histones associated with the MIEP when latency is established: H3 and H4 become hypoacetylated and H3 is hypomethylated at lysine 4, while H3 lysine 9 is hypermethylated in latently infected mice. These changes are accompanied by a relative loss of RNA polymerase and gain of heterochromatin protein 1γ and Yin-Yang 1 bound to the MIEP. Our studies suggest that, in the majority of cells, CMV establishes a true latent infection, defined as the lack of expression of genes associated with productive infection, and that this occurs through changes in histone modifications and recruitment of transcriptional silencing factors to the MIEP.
Delineation of isograds in siliceous dolomitic marbles along the Sharbot Lake – Frontenac terrane boundary of the Grenville Province, southeastern Ontario
Authors: Goodwin-Bell Jo-Anne S. 
Published: August 2008

This study presents details of the mineralogy and petrology of siliceous, dolomitic marbles of the Sharbot Lake domain along the Frontenac terrane boundary in the Grenville Province of southeastern Ontario. The location of four mineral isograds in the marble and the related univariant reactions were identified in the Almonte – Carleton Place area. Delineation of the isograds is based on detailed mapping, petrographic analysis of coexisting mineral assemblages, and a polybaric T–XCO2diagram calculated using thermobarometric data from associated gneissic rocks, where T is temperature and X is fluid composition. The T–X section is based on a field gradient of 32 °C/km. The isograds correspond to the first appearance of tremolite (5 dolomite + 8 quartz + H2O = tremolite + 3 calcite + 7 CO2), diopside (tremolite + 3 calcite + 2 quartz = 5 diopside + 3 CO2 + H2O), diopside + dolomite (tremolite + 3 calcite = dolomite + 4 diopside + H2O + CO2), and forsterite (diopside + 3 dolomite = 2 forsterite + 4 calcite + 5 CO2). Mineral assemblages above and below each isograd are described and relevant examples are shown. Results of this study are consistent with a mixed volatile fluid of a uniform composition during mid- to upper amphibolite-facies metamorphism.
The origin of the Variscan upper allochthons in the Ortegal Complex, northwestern Iberia: Sm–Nd isotopic constraints on the closure of the Rheic Ocean
Authors: Murphy J. Brendan , Gutiérrez-Alonso Gabriel 
Published: August 2008

Northwestern Iberia preserves a stack of allochthons in which the vestiges of a suture zone generated during the Variscan orogeny by the late Paleozoic collision between Laurussia and Gondwana are exposed. Lower allochthons contain Ordovician ophiolite (known as the Lower Ophiolite), and are structurally overlain by Devonian ophiolite (Upper Ophiolite), which are in turn structurally overlain by allochthons containing high-grade metamorphic rocks with continental affinities and Late Cambrian – Early Ordovician protolith ages (known as the Upper Units). Geochemical and Sm–Nd isotopic data from the Upper Ophiolite and the structurally overlying Upper Units exposed in the Ortegal Complex of Galicia show that these allochthons are derived from a variety of mantle and crustal sources and indicate that the suture zone juxtaposes a variety of oceanic assemblages. The general isotopic characteristics of each assemblage are similar to allochthons in other Variscan complexes in NW Iberia suggesting that the allochthons are each derived from a common source and may be regionally extensive. One of the bodies mapped within the Upper Ophiolite (Purrido amphibolite) is a composite body that, in addition to recently identified Mesoproterozoic mafic rocks, is characterized by a juvenile signature at ca. 395 Ma that was chemically modified from coeval intra-oceanic subduction. The very high ϵNdof this Late Devonian ophiolite is typical of several penecontemporaneous ophiolites within the Variscan orogen including the Lizard Complex (Britain) and the Massif Central (France), suggesting derivation from a regionally extensive anomalous mantle characterized by time-integrated depletion in Nd relative to Sm. Paleozoic mafic rocks in the Upper Units have ϵNdvalues typical of Paleozoic mafic rocks in Avalonia, which are thought to have been derived from subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) that was enriched at ca. 1.0 Ga. They exhibit elevated Th/Yb and Ce/Yb relative to Ta/Yb suggesting that their composition has been contaminated by subduction zone components, although the age of this contamination is unclear. Felsic rocks in the Upper Units were derived by melting of Mesoproterozoic or older (West African?) crust. These data, when combined with other geologic constraints, including the outboard position of the Upper Units relative to the ophiolite, support the hypothesis that the Upper Units collectively represent a crustal fragment that drifted from Gondwana during the formation of the Rheic Ocean, was transferred to Laurussia in Silurian or early Devonian times, and was subsequently thrust over the Gondwanan margin during the closure of the Rheic Ocean and the Variscan orogenesis.