bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating nursing documentation – research designs and methods: systematic review
Authors: Saranto Kaija , Kinnunen Ulla‐Mari 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTitle.  Evaluating nursing documentation – research designs and methods: systematic review.Aim.  This paper is a report of a review conducted to assess the research methods applied in the evaluation of nursing documentation.Data sources.  The material was drawn from three databases: CINAHL, PubMed and Cochrane using the keywords nursing documentation, nursing care plan, nursing record system, evaluation and assessment. The search was confined to relevant electronically‐retrievable studies published in the English language from 2000 to 2007. This yielded 41 studies, including two reviews.Methods.  Content analysis produced a classification into three themes: nursing documentation, patient‐centred documentation and standardized documentation. Each study was assessed according to its research design, methodology, sample size and focus of data collection. In addition, the studies categorized under the heading of standardized documentation were assessed in terms of their outcomes.Results.  Most of the studies (n = 19) focused on patient‐centred documentation. Most (n = 20) were retrospective studies and used data collected from patient records (n = 35). An audit instrument was used to assess nursing documentation in almost all the studies. Studies classified under the heading of standardized documentation showed more positive than negative effects with respect to quality, the nursing process and terminology use, knowledge level and acceptance of computer use in documentation.Conclusion.  The use of structured nursing terminology in electronic patient record systems will extend the scope of documentation research from assessing the quality of documentation to measuring patient outcomes. More data should also be collected from patients and family members when evaluating nursing documentation.
Bedside screening tests vs. videofluoroscopy or fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing to detect dysphagia in patients with neurological disorders: systematic review
Authors: Bours Gerrie J.J.W. , Speyer Renée , Lemmens Jessie , Limburg Martien , De Wit Rianne 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTitle. Bedside screening tests vs. videofluoroscopy or fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing to detect dysphagia in patients with neurological disorders: systematic review.Aim. This paper is a report of a systematic review conducted to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of bedside screening methods for detecting dysphagia in patients with neurological disorders.Background. Dyspaghia affects 22–65% of patients with neurological conditions. Although there is a large variety of bedside tests to detect dysphagia, it is unknown which have the best psychometric properties and are feasible for nurses to use.Data sources and review methods. An electronic database search was carried out using Medline (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL, and PsychLit, including all hits up to July 2008. The search terms were dysphagia, sensitivity, specificity, diagnosis, and screening. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed.Results. Thirty‐five out of 407 studies were included in the review. Eleven studies with sufficient methodological quality revealed that trial swallow tests using water had sensitivities between 27% and 85% and specificities between 63% and 88%. Trial swallow tests with different viscosities led to sensitivities ranging from 41% to 100% and specificities of 57% to 82%. Combining water tests with oxygen desaturation led to sensitivities between 73% and 98% and specificities between 63% and 76%. Single clinical features, such as abnormal gag, generally had low sensitivity and specificity.Conclusion. A water test combined with pulse oximetry using coughing, choking and voice alteration as endpoints is currently the best method to screen patients with neurological disorders for dysphagia. Further research is needed to establish the most effective standardized administration procedure for such a water test, and to assess the value of pulse oximetry, in addition to a trial swallow to detect silent aspiration.
Predictors of poststroke quality of life in older Chinese adults
Authors: Lee Angel Chu Kee , Tang Siu Wa , Tsoi Tak Hong , Fong Daniel Yee Tak , Yu Gabriel Ka Kui 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTitle.  Predictors of poststroke quality of life in older Chinese adults. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to identify the changes in poststroke quality of life and other clinical issues among older Chinese adults from 1 month to 6 months after stroke and the predictors of poststroke quality of life at 6 months.Background.  Stroke survivors are known to suffer from prolonged and multiple impairments leading to a compromised quality of life, but few studies report early predictors for quality of life among older Chinese adults after active rehabilitation has been undertaken during the first 6 months after stroke.Method.  A total of 214 patients with first‐ever ischaemic stroke were interviewed by a research nurse at 1 month and 188 patients were interviewed again 6 months after hospital admission for stroke. Assessment of quality of life was done using the Modified Rankin Scale for Quality of Life. Changes in and relationships between quality of life and variables in five domains were explored: bio‐anatomical, physical, emotional, cognitive, communicative and social support. The data were collected in 2004–2005.Results.  Quality of life among two‐thirds of participants was unchanged or lower when scores at 1 month and 6 months after stroke were compared. Length of hospital stay after admission for stroke and other 1‐month factors – level of worry over current health, cognitive and self‐care deficits – were identified as having independent effects on quality of life at 6 months.Conclusion.  Clinicians need to observe for early signs of mild cognitive impairments and emotional needs of stroke survivors, as well as to consider longer‐term interventions to enhance poststroke quality of life.
Representations of heart failure in Internet patient information
Authors: Strong Alison L. , Gilmour Jean A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTitle.  Representations of heart failure in Internet patient information. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study which examined representations of heart failure in Internet patient information.Background.  The Internet is a popular tool for sourcing health information and has been shown to benefit people with chronic conditions. Nurses as users and producers of Internet health information need to be critical of the information they provide and how this information is portrayed, to support patient knowledge development and decision‐making.Method.  A critical discourse analysis approach was used to examine representations of heart failure in a range of Internet texts. Data were collected from eight websites over 5 days in July 2006.Findings.  The two major discursive representations evident in the heart failure texts were labelled ‘living with heart failure’ and ‘biomedical’ discourses. While both discourses were evident in all of the Internet sites, most sites privileged the biomedical discourse. Absences from the Internet information included the visibility and role of nurses along with emotional and spiritual dimensions of heart failure.Conclusion.  Nurses should take individual needs into consideration and be able to critique websites before suggesting appropriate sites to patients. Nurses and consumers can enhance the quality of websites by becoming involved in their development to ensure that all factors that affect health are included, such as the emotional and spiritual aspects of living with heart failure and not just topics that are important within a biomedical view of health.
Standardized antibacterial honey (Medihoney™) with standard therapy in wound care: randomized clinical trial
Authors: Robson Val , Dodd Susanna , Thomas Stephen 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTitle. Standardized antibacterial honey (Medihoney™) with standard therapy in wound care: randomized clinical trial.Aim. This paper is a report of a study to compare a medical grade honey with conventional treatments on the healing rates of wounds healing by secondary intention.Background. There is an increasing body of evidence to support the use of honey to treat wounds, but there is a lack of robust randomized trials on which clinicians can base their clinical judgement.Method. A sample of 105 patients were involved in a single centre, open‐label randomized controlled trial in which patients received either a conventional wound dressing or honey. Data were collected between September 2004 and May 2007.Results. The median time to healing in the honey group was 100 days compared with 140 days in the control group. The healing rate at 12 weeks was equal to 46·2% in the honey group compared with 34·0% in the conventional group, and the difference in the healing rates (95% confidence interval, CI) at 12 weeks between the two groups was 12·2% (−13·6%, 37·9%). The unadjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) from a Cox regression was equal to 1·30 (0·77, 2·19),P = 0·321. When the treatment effect was adjusted for confounding factors (sex, wound type, age and wound area at start of treatment), the hazard ratio increased to 1·51 but was again not statistically significant.Conclusion. Wound area at start of treatment and sex are both highly statistically significant predictors of time to healing. These results support the proposition that there are clinical benefits from using honey in wound care, but further research is needed.
Patients’ and nurses’ perspectives on oxygen therapy: a qualitative study
Authors: Eastwood Glenn M. , O’Connell Bev , Gardner Anne , Considine Julie 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTitle.  Patients’ and nurses’ perspectives on oxygen therapy: a qualitative study. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to describe patients’ and nurses’ perspectives on oxygen therapy.Background.  Failure to correct significant hypoxaemia may result in cardiac arrest, need for mechanical ventilation or death. Nurses frequently make clinical decisions about the selection and management of low‐flow oxygen therapy devices. Better understanding of patients’ and nurses’ experiences of oxygen therapy could inform clinical decisions about oxygen administration using low‐flow devices.Methods.  Face‐to‐face interviews with a convenience sample of 37 adult patients (17 cardio‐thoracic: 20 medical surgical) and 25 intensive care unit nurses were conducted from February 2007 to September 2007. Interviews were audio‐taped, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Findings.  The patients identified three key factors that underpinned their compliance with oxygen therapy: (i) device comfort; (ii) ability to maintain activities of daily living; and (iii) therapeutic effect. The nurses identified factors, such as: (i) therapeutic effect, (ii) issues associated with compliance, (iii) strategies to optimize compliance, (iv) familiarity with device, (v) triggers for changing oxygen therapy devices, as being key to the effective management of oxygen therapy.Conclusion.  Differences between the patients’ and nurses’ perspective of oxygen therapy illustrate the variety of factors that impact on effective oxygen administration. Further research should seek to provide a further in‐depth understanding of the current oxygen administration practices of nurses and the patient factors that enhance or hinder effectiveness of oxygen therapy. Detailed information about nurse and patient factors that influence oxygen therapy will inform a sound evidence base for nurses’ oxygen administration decisions.
Effects of tree height on branch hydraulics, leaf structure and gas exchange in California redwoods
Authors: AMBROSE ANTHONY R. , SILLETT STEPHEN C. , DAWSON TODD E. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTWe examined changes in branch hydraulic, leaf structure and gas exchange properties in coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) trees of different sizes. Leaf‐specific hydraulic conductivity (kL) increased with height in S. sempervirens but not in S. giganteum, while xylem cavitation resistance increased with height in both species. Despite hydraulic adjustments, leaf mass per unit area (LMA) and leaf carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) increased, and maximum mass‐based stomatal conductance (gmass) and photosynthesis (Amass) decreased with height in both species. As a result, both Amass and gmass were negatively correlated with branch hydraulic properties in S. sempervirens and uncorrelated in S. giganteum. In addition, Amass and gmass were negatively correlated with LMA in both species, which we attributed to the effects of decreasing leaf internal CO2 conductance (gi). Species‐level differences in wood density, LMA and area‐based gas exchange capacity constrained other structural and physiological properties, with S. sempervirens exhibiting increased branch water transport efficiency and S. giganteum exhibiting increased leaf‐level water‐use efficiency with increasing height. Our results reveal different adaptive strategies for the two redwoods that help them compensate for constraints associated with growing taller, and reflect contrasting environmental conditions each species faces in its native habitat.
Stomatal responses to CO2 during a diel Crassulacean acid metabolism cycle in Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Kalanchoe pinnata
Authors: VON CAEMMERER SUSANNE , GRIFFITHS HOWARD 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTTo investigate the diurnal variation of stomatal sensitivity to CO2, stomatal response to a 30 min pulse of low CO2 was measured four times during a 24 h time‐course in two Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Kalanchoe pinnata, which vary in the degree of succulence, and hence, expression and commitment to CAM. In both species, stomata opened in response to a reduction in pCO2 in the dark and in the latter half of the light period, and thus in CAM species, chloroplast photosynthesis is not required for the stomatal response to low pCO2. Stomata did not respond to a decreased pCO2 in K. daigremontiana in the light when stomata were closed, even when the supply of internal CO2 was experimentally reduced. We conclude that stomatal closure during phase III is not solely mediated by high internal pCO2, and suggest that in CAM species the diurnal variability in the responsiveness of stomata to pCO2 could be explained by hypothesizing the existence of a single CO2 sensor which interacts with other signalling pathways. When not perturbed by low pCO2, CO2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance were correlated both in the light and in the dark in both species.
Colloidal suspensions of clay or titanium dioxide nanoparticles can inhibit leaf growth and transpiration via physical effects on root water transport
Authors: ASLI SARE , NEUMANN PETER M. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTA laboratory investigation was conducted to determine whether colloidal suspensions of inorganic nanoparticulate materials of natural or industrial origin in the external water supplied to the primary root of maize seedlings (Zea mays L.) could interfere with water transport and induce associated leaf responses. Water flow through excised roots was reduced, together with root hydraulic conductivity, within minutes of exposure to colloidal suspensions of naturally derived bentonite clay or industrially produced TiO2 nanoparticles. Similar nanoparticle additions to the hydroponic solution surrounding the primary root of intact seedlings rapidly inhibited leaf growth and transpiration. The reduced water availability caused by external nanoparticles and the associated leaf responses appeared to involve a rapid physical inhibition of apoplastic flow through nanosized root cell wall pores rather than toxic effects. Thus: (1) bentonite and TiO2 treatments also reduced the hydraulic conductivity of cell wall ghosts of killed roots left after hot alcohol disruption of the cell membranes; and (2) the average particle exclusion diameter of root cell wall pores was reduced from 6.6 to 3.0 nm by prior nanoparticle treatments. Irrigation of soil‐grown plants with nanoparticle suspensions had mostly insignificant inhibitory effects on long‐term shoot production, and a possible developmental adaptation is suggested.
Multi‐scale phenotyping of leaf expansion in response to environmental changes: the whole is more than the sum of parts
Authors: GRANIER CHRISTINE , TARDIEU FRANÇOIS 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTThe leaf is a multi‐scale dynamic unit that is determined by mechanisms at different organizational scales (cell, tissue, whole leaf and whole plant) and affected by both internal (genotype) and external (environmental) determinisms. The recent development of phenotyping platforms and imaging techniques provides new insights into the temporal and spatial patterns of leaf growth as affected by those determinisms. Conclusions about the overriding mechanisms often depend on the considered organizational scale and of time resolution which varies from minutes to several weeks. Analyses of leaf growth responses to environmental conditions have revealed robust emerging properties at whole plant or whole leaf scales. They have highlighted that the control of individual leaf expansion is more complex than merely the sum of cellular processes, and the control at the whole plant level is more complex than the sum of individual leaf expansions. However, in many cases, the integrated leaf‐growth variable can be simplified to a limited set of underlying variables to be measured for comparative analyses of leaf growth or modelling purposes.
Identification of an active LTR retrotransposon in rice
Authors: Picault Nathalie , Chaparro Christian , Piegu Benoit , Stenger Willfried , Formey Damien , Llauro Cristel , Descombin Julie , Sabot Francois , Lasserre Eric , Meynard Donaldo , Guiderdoni Emmanuel , Panaud Olivier 
Published: February 2009

SummaryTransposable elements are ubiquitous components of plant genomes. When active, these mobile elements can induce changes in the genome at both the structural and functional levels. Availability of the complete genome sequence for several model plant species provides the opportunity to study TEs in plants at an unprecedented scale. In the case of rice, annotation of the genomic sequence of the variety Nipponbare has revealed that TE‐related sequences form more than 25% of its genome. However, most of the elements found are inactive, either because of structural alterations or because they are the target of various silencing pathways. In this paper, we propose a new post‐genomic strategy aimed at identifying active TEs. Our approach relies on transcript profiling of TE‐related sequences using a tiling microarray. We applied it to a particular class of TEs, the LTR retrotransposons. A transcript profiling assay of rice calli led to identification of a new transpositionally active family, named Lullaby. We provide a complete structural description of this element. We also show that it has recently been active in planta in rice, and discuss its phylogenetic relationships with Tos17, the only other active LTR retrotransposon described so far in the species.
A Novel Burdock Fructooligosaccharide Induces Changes in the Production of Salicylates, Activates Defence Enzymes and Induces Systemic Acquired Resistance to Colletotrichum orbiculare in Cucumber Seedlings
Authors: Zhang Peng Ying , Wang Jin Chang , Liu Sheng Hao , Chen Kao Shan 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe ability of burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO), a type of linear fructooligosaccharide extracted and isolated from the roots of Arctium lappa, to induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR) was studied in cucumber seedlings. BFO strongly induced changes in salicylic acid (SA) and SA‐glucoside (SAG) in BFO‐treated leaves, and similar changes of SA and SAG were also found in untreated leaves of the same seedling. The level of SA in the first leaves sprayed with BFO (5.0 g/l) increased by 3.6 times after 24 h and then gradually declined from 48 to 96 h and finally decreased to a nadir at 120 h. The SAG level increased by 2.1 times at 24 h and then continued to increase to about 10.0 times as much as that in control from 96 to 120 h. The levels of SA in the untreated leaves of the same seedling only increased by 1.6–1.9 times during the period of 24–72 h followed by a decrease at 120 h, while SAG increased by 1.1 times at 24 h but steadily continued to increase to its maximum from 24 to 120 h. In summary, the patterns of expression of SA and SAG in the untreated leaf were similar to that of the treated leaf of the same seedling, while the pattern of expression of SAG was quite different from that of SA both in the treated and untreated leaves. Pretreatment with BFO reduced the lesions caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare by 56.8%. Additionally, the amount of lignin and the activities of some defensive enzymes including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenoloxidase and β‐1,3‐glucanase significantly increased in the first leaves pretreated with BFO and followed with C. orbiculare inoculation. These results demonstrate that BFO can enhance the contents of endogenous SA, the resistance against C. orbiculare, and the activities of defensive enzymes of cucumber seedlings.
The Effect of Potassium Nitrate on the Reduction of Phytophthora Stem Rot Disease of Soybeans, the Growth Rate and Zoospore Release of Phytophthora sojae
Authors: Sugimoto Takuma , Watanabe Kazhuhiko , Furiki Masanari , Walker David R. , Yoshida Shinya , Aino Masataka , Kanto Takeshi , Irie Kazumi 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe effects of potassium nitrate (KNO3) application on Phytophthora stem rot disease reduction of Glycine max (L.) Merr. cvs. Chusei‐Hikarikuro and Sachiyutaka, and mycelium growth and zoospore release of a Phytophthora sojae isolate were investigated under laboratory conditions. The application of 4–30 mm KNO3 prior to inoculation greatly reduced incidence of disease in the two soybean cultivars. Although a concentration of 20–30 mm KNO3 led to a slight decrease in the growth rate of the PJ‐H30 isolate on PDA medium, no significant relationship was observed between inhibition of the growth rate and disease reduction on application of 0.4–10 mm KNO3. Disease suppression recorded in laboratory experiments using pathogen mycelium was due to the response of plant tissues rather than a direct inhibition of pathogen hyphal growth by the application of KNO3. The extent of disease reduction was related to increased potassium concentration in plants of the two cultivars (except for some cases involving cv. Sachiyutaka), suggesting that differences existed between the two cultivars in terms of the effect of KNO3 application on disease suppression. Scanning electron microscopic observation with fresh samples indicated marked accumulation of potassium at the penetration‐stopping sites of P. sojae in the cortex layer of soybean plants treated with 30 mm KNO3, compared with the non‐treated control plants. The presence of 0.4–30 mm KNO3 decreased the release of zoospores. These results suggest the possibility of applying a solution containing 20–30 mm of KNO3 to decrease the incidence of disease in agricultural fields by the response of plant tissues to KNO3.