bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patient stories of living with a pressure ulcer
Authors: Hopkins Alison , Dealey Carol , Bale Sue , Defloor Tom , Worboys Fran 
Published: September 2006

Aim.  This paper reports the findings of a pilot study exploring the experience of older people living with pressure ulcers.Background.  Pressure ulcers are known to be a significant health burden, but little is known of the impact on the quality of life of the sufferer. They mainly affect older people, and this is a neglected group in previous studies of this topic.Methods.  A Heideggerian phenomenological approach was used and patients were recruited if they were over 65 years of age and had a grade 3 or 4 pressure ulcer that had been present for more than a month. Patients were recruited from multiple centres but the data were analysed centrally. The study took place in 2003–2004.Findings.  Analysis of the transcripts revealed three main themes, all with associated subthemes: pressure ulcers produce endless pain; pressure ulcers produce a restricted life; coping with a pressure ulcer. The endless pain theme had four subthemes: constant presence, keeping still, equipment pain and treatment pain. Some patients found that keeping still reduced their pain. Several patients also reported that pain was exacerbated by their pressure relieving equipment and at dressing change. There were three subthemes for the restricted life theme: impact on self, impact on others and consequences. Patients found that the pressure ulcer restricted their activities and had an impact on their families. In addition, for some, the restrictions delayed their rehabilitation. To cope with their pressure ulcers, patients developed ways of accepting their situation or comparing themselves with others.Conclusions.  Although a pilot, this study has produced a wealth of data that demonstrates the impact of pressure ulcers on people. While a larger study is required to obtain a European perspective, it is still reasonable to conclude that the issues of pain and restrictions should be considered in the development of pressure ulcer treatment and prevention guidelines.
The art of public health nursing: using confession technè in the sexual health domain
Authors: Holmes Dave , O'Byrne Patrick 
Published: September 2006

Aim.  This paper explores the sexual health interview from a critical perspective, and to demonstrate how the confession ritual involved in this interview is implicated in the construction of subjectivities (meaning identities) as well as in fostering self‐surveillance (self‐regulation).Background.  The concept of public health depends primarily on several surveillance tools that monitor both the incidence and prevalence rates of certain diseases. Within the subgroup of infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infections comprise a group that is closely monitored. As a result, surveillance techniques, including policing sexual practices, are part of the public health worker's mandate.Method.  Using a Foucauldian perspective, we demonstrate that confession is a political technology in the sexual health domain.Findings.  As one group of frontline workers in the field of sexual health, nurses are responsible for data collection through methods such as interviewing clients. Nurses play an integral role in the sexual health experience of clients as well as in the construction of the client's subjectivity. We strongly believe that a Foucauldian perspective could be useful in explaining certain current client behavioural trends (for example, an avoidance by at‐risk groups of interactions with nurses in sexual health clinics) being observed in sexual health clinics across the Western hemisphere.Conclusion.  Clinicians need to be aware of the confessional nature of their questions and provide requested services rather than impose services that they determine to be important and relevant. By appreciating that the sexual health interview is an invasive and embarrassing sexual confession, healthcare providers and policy‐makers may be better able to design and implement more user‐oriented, population‐sensitive sexual health services.
Nursing is different than medicine: ethical difficulties in the process of care in surgical units
Authors: Torjuul Kirsti , Sorlie Venke 
Published: September 2006

Aim. This paper describes a study of the kinds of ethical difficulties nurses face in the process of care in surgical units.Background. Nurses face ethically difficult situations in trying to find the most appropriate actions to take for patients. Differences of opinion with doctors about the treatment and care of patients and conflicts between nurses’ value systems and those in the organization where they are employed are described as sources of ethical difficulty. Nurses experience moral distress when institutional constraints restrict them from carrying out appropriate moral actions.Methods. Ten female nurses working in surgical units at one university hospital in Norway were interviewed as part of a comprehensive investigation into the narratives of nurses and doctors about being in ethically difficult situations. The transcribed interview texts were subjected to a phenomenological–hermeneutic interpretation. The study was conducted during 2004.Findings. The main ethically difficult care situations described by the nurses concerned being open and honest, trusting patients’ complaints, and creating limits to their involvement. Differences in opinion with doctors about the treatments, the absence of doctors in the unit and limited interest in holistic treatment and care resulted in nurses not receiving the medical orders they needed. A heavy workload, lack of time and staffing problems resulted in difficult ethical prioritizations and reduced standards of care. Shared rooms and beds in the corridors made it difficult to preserve patients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.Conclusion. Interventions and investments are needed to improve the work environment of nurses, especially modifying the job constraints of the work environment. The moral responsibility for upholding the quality of care in surgical services and hospital performance should be more equally distributed between nurses, doctors and hospital managers. Discussions and collaboration between and within healthcare disciplines and managers should be initiated to establish shared moral understanding of the standards of care in hospitals.
Spatial relationships between intensive land cover and residual plant species diversity in temperate farmed landscapes
Authors: SMART SIMON M. , MARRS ROBERT H. , LE DUC MIKE G. , THOMPSON KEN , BUNCE ROBERT G. H. , FIRBANK LES G. , ROSSALL MARTIN J. 
Published: September 2006

Summary

In temperate farmed landscapes conservation policies increasingly emphasize large‐scale reductions in land‐use intensity. Yet despite a managed reversion to more favourable abiotic conditions, depleted regional species pools may prevent the re‐assembly of target communities.
Using national‐scale survey data recorded across Great Britain in 1998, we investigated the extent to which grassland indicator plant species persisted on potential refuge habitats across a spatial gradient of intensive land cover in lowland 1‐km squares. These habitats comprised road verges, field boundaries, watercourse banks and small biotope fragments. Intensive land cover comprised built land, arable and improved grassland.
The rate of reduction in indicator species richness across the intensive land cover gradient was significantly lower in all potential refuge features than in surrounding fields and larger areas of habitat.
The best refuge locations were watercourse banks and small biotopes. In both cases, indicator species richness was higher than adjacent fields at the lowest intensive land cover and stayed higher as intensive land cover increased.
However, as intensive land cover increased, plant traits associated with higher nutrient availability were more prominently represented among indicator species.
Although richer assemblages of indicator species persisted on refuge features, population sizes are likely to be small, because of species–area effects, and also vulnerable to nutrient surpluses and reduced or inappropriate disturbance.
Synthesis and applications. Across the British lowlands, linear landscape features and small habitat fragments can provide limited safe havens for unimproved grassland plant species. However, the identity of refuge features and their species richness and composition are likely to vary with local conditions. Three activities are therefore paramount in assessing their role in larger scale extensification schemes: (i) development of rapid ways of assessing the plant diversity and distribution of refuge features in local areas; (ii) quantification of the risks posed to the viability of residual source populations through implementation of different options for incorporating them into extensification schemes; (iii) maximization of scheme performance by targeting landscapes with sufficient residual diversity to enable increases in population size of the target species in the medium term.
The effect of organic farming on butterfly diversity depends on landscape context
Authors: RUNDLÖF M. , SMITH H. G. 
Published: September 2006

Summary

The recent dramatic decline in farmland biodiversity is often attributed to agricultural intensification and structural changes in the agricultural landscape. One suggested farm practice seen to benefit biodiversity and reverse declines is organic farming. Because organic farming is viewed as a more sustainable form of agriculture it is currently subsidized by European agri‐environment schemes. However, the efficiency of agri‐environment schemes to preserve biodiversity has recently been questioned, partly because their uptake has been highest in extensively farmed more heterogeneous landscapes.
We investigated the effect of farming practice on butterfly species richness and abundance along cereal field headlands and margins on 12 matched pairs of organic and conventional farms in contrasting landscapes (homogeneous and heterogeneous landscape diversity).
Both organic farming and landscape heterogeneity significantly increased butterfly species richness and abundance. There was also a significant interaction between farming practice and landscape heterogeneity, because organic farming only significantly increased butterfly species richness and abundance in homogeneous rather than heterogeneous landscapes.
An analysis of the distribution of organic farming in Sweden in relation to productivity of the arable land (yield of spring barley, kg ha−1) indicated that the distribution of organic farms was skewed towards extensively farmed agricultural areas.
Synthesis and applications. The species richness and abundance of butterflies can be enhanced by actions aimed at both promoting organic farming and increasing landscape heterogeneity. However, the beneficial effect of organic farming was only evident in intensively farmed homogeneous landscapes. Currently, the majority of organic arable land in Sweden is located in heterogeneous landscapes where changing the type of farming practice adds little to the existing biodiversity. We therefore propose that the interaction between landscape heterogeneity and farming practice must be considered when promoting farmland biodiversity, for example in Europe by developing context‐based agri‐environment schemes to increase the amount of organic farming in intensively farmed landscapes. We also propose that in homogeneous agricultural landscapes, organic farming could be used as a more efficient tool to restore landscape heterogeneity if the creation of semi‐natural landscape elements was mandatory in the regulations associated with organic agri‐environment schemes.
Ecological patterns of plant diversity in a plantation forest managed by clearfelling
Authors: EYCOTT A. E. , WATKINSON A. R. , DOLMAN P. M. 
Published: September 2006

Summary

Commercial forests represent an important but often neglected biological resource. This study related the understorey plant species composition of a coniferous plantation forest managed by clearfelling to environmental factors (stand structure, soil pH and previous land use) and ecological patterns (abundance‐occupancy relationships, species dispersal and life history).
Plant species richness and composition were recorded in 326 managed stands of different ages, soil types and land‐use histories in a 185‐km2 lowland forest planted onto heath and arable land.
Stands replanted in the last 10 years had the greatest species richness, typically containing in the order of 18 plant species. Stands on soils of high pH had greater plant species richness, as did those on previously arable land.
Less than a quarter (23%) of all species persisted in the above‐ground vegetation throughout the growth cycle. The majority recolonized forest stands during the cycle, by physical dispersal or from the seed bank, largely after canopy opening in mature stands (26%) or after felling (47%). Annual species and species with plumed seeds were most abundant in early growth stages, while shrubs with berries were more abundant in mature stands.
We found a strong positive interspecific relationship between frequency of stand occupancy and mean abundance within occupied stands. For species not persisting above‐ground throughout the forestry cycle (i.e. patch colonizers), the slope of the abundance‐occupancy relationship was steeper for those with a long‐distance dispersal mechanism than for those lacking such a mechanism.
Synthesis and applications. Rotational clearfelling of plantations may be an appropriate form of forest and conservation management in forests planted on former open areas such as heaths, where the conservation interest is not in old‐growth species but in earlier successional species. Maximizing representation of young growth stages will help maximize plant diversity in such cases. These prescriptions contradict guidance for sustainable forestry; however, it is appropriate to vary guidelines according to land‐use history and species composition. Our findings confirm the importance of dispersal to species persistence within landscapes comprising successional patch networks.
Genetic structure and gene flow in wild beet populations: the potential influence of habitat on transgene spread and risk assessment
Authors: CURETON A. N. , NEWBURY H. J. , RAYBOULD A. F. , FORD‐LLOYD B. V. 
Published: September 2006

Summary

The consequences of the movement of transgenes from genetically modified (GM) crops into wild populations of plants continues to be of concern to ecologists and conservationists because of the possible threat posed to those populations in terms of their continued survival and because of the further knock‐on effects that might occur to habitats in which they occur.
We examined five UK sea beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima populations from each of two major habitat types, cliff top and drift line. We assessed population genetic parameters, genetic diversity, gene flow, population differentiation and isolation by distance, to enable determination of the likelihood and consequences of spread to wild populations of genes from cultivated sugar beet group Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris, which could in the future be transgenic.
Drift line populations were more diverse than cliff top populations and also showed greater levels of gene flow.
Isolation by distance was identified in both habitats, but the relationship between genetic and geographical distance was detectable over longer distances for drift line populations. However, clear indications of vicariance (the subdivision of a population into distinct taxa by the appearance of a geological barrier) between cliff and drift line populations were also evident, because of the restriction of gene flow between the two habitats occurring more in one direction than the other.
Synthesis and applications. The likelihood of transgene spread from crop to wild populations is habitat dependent and conservation management decisions could therefore vary from one population to another, for example water courses were found to facilitate seed dispersal. This should be taken into account when estimating isolation distances for GM beet, and when predicting transgene frequencies (exposure estimates) for environmental risk assessments of GM beet.
Mealtimes in hospital – who does what?
Authors: Xia Chenfan , McCutcheon Helen 
Published: September 2006

Aim.  This paper describes the findings of a descriptive study about what nurses do at mealtimes in relation to monitoring/assisting the eating practices of older patients in an acute care facility.Background.  The prevalence of under nutrition is known to be high in hospitalized older patients and insufficient dietary intake is regarded as a major cause. However, most of the research tends to concentrate on the nursing home setting. Little is known about the situation in acute care facilities.Methods.  Two medical wards participated in the study. Ward 1 had introduced a change of nurses’ meal break time and ward 2 continued with normal practice. Convenience sampling was used. Fifty nurses and 48 patients were observed at different mealtimes during two weeks. Four nurses and four patients who were observed were also interviewed. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.Results.  Kitchen staff delivered all meals and collected the majority of the meal trays. Older patients did not receive enough assistance during mealtimes. Interruptions happened frequently and social interaction was neglected. About one‐third of patients observed left more than two‐third of their meals.Conclusion.  Nutrition issues appeared to receive less priority in the ward than other nursing care activities and nurses’ assistance was generally insufficient and not provided in a timely manner.Relevance to clinical practice.  Findings highlight the deficiency in practice that should suggest to nurses that they examine their practice and put into place strategies to ensure older patients are properly/adequately hydrated and receive sufficient nutrient intake.
Dispersal, philopatry and intergroup relatedness: fine‐scale genetic structure in the white‐breasted thrasher,Ramphocinclus brachyurus
Authors: TEMPLE H. J. , HOFFMAN J. I. , AMOS W. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractDispersal is a fundamental process influencing evolution, social behaviour, and the long‐term persistence of populations. We use both observational and genetic data to investigate dispersal, kin‐clustering and intergroup relatedness in the white‐breasted thrasher,Ramphocinclus brachyurus, a cooperatively breeding bird that is globally endangered. Mark‐resighting data suggested sex‐biased dispersal, with females dispersing over greater distances while males remained philopatric. Accordingly, spatial autocorrelation analysis showed highly significant fine‐scale genetic structure among males, but not among females. This fine‐scale genetic structuring of the male population resulted in very high levels of relatedness between dominant males at neighbouring nests, similar to that seen within cooperative groups in many species where kin selection is cited as a cause of cooperation. By implication, between‐group as well as within‐group cooperation may be important, potentially creating a feedback loop in which short‐distance dispersal by males leads to the formation of male kin clusters that in turn facilitate nepotistic interactions and favour further local recruitment. The strength of spatial autocorrelation, as measured by the autocorrelation coefficient,r, was approximately two to three times greater than that reported in previous studies of animals. Relatively short dispersal distances by both males and females may have a negative impact on the white‐breasted thrasher's ability to colonize new areas, and may influence the long‐term persistence of isolated populations. This should be taken into account when designating protected areas or selecting sites for habitat restoration.
Demographic spatial genetic structure of the Neotropical tree, Jacaranda copaia
Authors: JONES F. A. , HUBBELL S. P. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe used genotypes from six microsatellite loci and demographic data from a large mapped forest plot to study changes in spatial genetic structure across demographic stages, from seed rain to seedlings, juveniles, and adult diameter classes in the Neotropical tree, Jacaranda copaia. In pairwise comparisons of genetic differentiation among demographic classes, only seedlings were significantly differentiated from the other diameter classes; FST values ranged from 0.006 to 0.009. Furthermore, only seedlings showed homozygote excess suggesting biparental inbreeding in the large diameter reproductive adults. We found very low levels of relatedness in the first distance class of trees, 1–26 cm diameter (Fij = 0.011). However, there was a 5‐ to 10‐fold rise in relatedness in the smallest distance class, from the smallest to the largest tree diameter classes (Fij = 0.110 for individuals > 56 cm diameter). A variety of non‐mutually exclusive mechanisms have been invoked perviously to explain such a pattern, including natural selection, history, or nonequilibrium population dynamics. The long‐term demographic data available for this species allow us to evaluate these mechanisms. Jacaranda is a fast‐growing, light‐demanding species with low recruitment rates and high mortality rates in the smaller diameter classes. It successfully regenerates only in large light gaps, which occur infrequently and stochastically in space and time. These factors contribute to the nonequilibrium population dynamics and observed low genetic structure in the small size classes. We conclude that the pattern of spatial genetic transitions in Jacaranda is consistent with overlapping related generations and strong but infrequent periods of high recruitment, followed by long periods of population decline.
The protein kinase genes MAP3K ɛ 1 and MAP3K ɛ 2 are required for pollen viability in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chaiwongsar Suraphon , Otegui Marisa S. , Jester Peter J. , Monson Sean S. , Krysan Patrick J. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryWe have used reverse‐genetic analysis to investigate the function of MAP3K ɛ 1 and MAP3K ɛ 2, a pair of closely related Arabidopsis thaliana genes that encode protein kinases. Plants homozygous for either map3k ɛ 1 or map3k ɛ 2 displayed no apparent mutant phenotype, whereas the double‐mutant combination caused pollen lethality. Transmission of the double‐mutant combination through the female gametophyte was normal. Tetrad analysis performed using the Arabidopsis quartet mutation demonstrated that the pollen‐lethal phenotype segregated at meiosis with the map3k ɛ 1;map3k ɛ 2 genotype. We used transmission electron microscopy to determine that double‐mutant pollen grains develop plasma membrane irregularities following pollen mitosis I. Analysis of the subcellular localization of a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP):MAP3Kɛ1 fusion protein using confocal microscopy and biochemical fractionation indicated that a substantial portion of the MAP3Kɛ1 present in Arabidopsis cells is localized to the plasma membrane. Taken together, our results suggest that MAP3Kɛ1 is required for the normal functioning of the plasma membrane in developing Arabidopsis pollen.