bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in the seasonal patterns of energy storage and expenditure in a phocid seal
Authors: Beck Carrie A. , Bowen W. Don , Iverson Sara J. 
Published: December 2004

Summary

Sex differences in the timing and magnitude of energy expenditure for reproduction may result in sex‐specific seasonal patterns of energy storage and utilization, particularly among capital‐breeding species. We studied the seasonal patterns of energy storage in adult grey seals, Halichoerus grypus, a capital‐breeding, marine carnivore, to test the prediction that males and females differ in their seasonal pattern of energy storage and expenditure.
We measured body mass and composition in 135 (67 males, 68 females) adult grey seals at five key points throughout the annual cycle. Longitudinal changes in body composition were also measured in 73 individuals (35 males, 38 females) to examine individual variability.
There were significant sex differences in seasonal patterns of total body energy, with females exhibiting greater energy content (after accounting for body mass) throughout the year. Females gained body energy following both the spring moult and the breeding season, whereas males only gained body energy following an extended period of loss that included both breeding and moulting, a period of some 6 months.
Mass loss of females during the breeding season was similar in magnitude and composition to that gained during the 7‐month pre‐breeding foraging period. In contrast, mass loss of males during the breeding season was more similar to that gained during the last three months of the pre‐breeding foraging period.
Our results suggest that the balance of costs and benefits of storing body energy for reproduction differs between males and females. Females appear to be risk‐averse, committing themselves to, and preparing for, reproduction at a much earlier stage in the annual cycle compared to males. As a result, females accumulate body energy stores earlier and carry a higher level of insurance against environmental uncertainty leading up to the breeding season relative to males.
Variable performance of individuals: the role of population density and endogenously formed landscape heterogeneity
Authors: Pfister Catherine A. , Peacor Scott D. 
Published: December 2004

Summary

Individuals can show positive correlations in performance (e.g. growth and reproduction) through time beyond the effects of size or age. This ‘performance autocorrelation’ has been attributed previously to traits that differ among individuals or to extrinsic generators of environmental heterogeneity.
A model of mobile consumers on a dynamic resource showed that consumer foraging gave rise to resource heterogeneity that in turn generated autocorrelation in growth in consumers.
Resource heterogeneity and growth autocorrelation were most pronounced when consumers were poorer foragers, moving locally and with an imperfect ability to identify the highest resource cells.
The model predicted that lowered population density enhanced resource heterogeneity and the strength of growth autocorrelation.
Consistent with model predictions, an experiment with tidepool limpets demonstrated that autocorrelation in growth changed with population density, with individuals in lower density tidepools showing stronger temporal correlations in growth.
Our model and empirical results contrast with those of previous studies with plants, where dominance and suppression increases with increasing density.
Our results suggest that growth autocorrelation can occur without invoking size‐dependent advantages, intrinsic trait differences or extrinsic generators of environmental heterogeneity.
Differential species‐specific ectoparasitic mite intensities in two intimately coexisting sibling bat species: resource‐mediated host attractiveness or parasite specialization?
Authors: Christe Philippe , Giorgi Maud S. , Vogel Peter , Arlettaz Raphaël 
Published: December 2004

Summary

The mechanisms underlying host choice strategies by parasites remain poorly understood. We address two main questions: (i) do parasites prefer vulnerable or well‐fed hosts, and (ii) to what extent is a parasite species specialized towards a given host species?
To answer these questions, we investigated, both in the field and in the lab, a host–parasite system comprising one ectoparasitic mite (Spinturnix myoti) and its major hosts, two sibling species of bats (Myotis myotis and M. blythii), which coexist intimately in colonial nursery roosts. We exploited the close physical associations between host species in colonial roosts as well as naturally occurring annual variation in food abundance to investigate the relationships between parasite intensities and (i) host species and (ii) individual nutritional status.
Although horizontal transmission of parasites was facilitated by the intimate aggregation of bats within their colonial clusters, we found significant interspecific differences in degree of infestation throughout the 6 years of the study, with M. myotis always more heavily parasitized than M. blythii. This pattern was replicated in a laboratory experiment in which any species‐specific resistance induced by exploitation of different trophic niches in nature was removed.
Within both host species, S. myoti showed a clear preference for individuals with higher nutritional status. In years with high resource abundance, both bat hosts harboured more parasites than in low‐resource years, although the relative difference in parasite burden across species was maintained. This pattern of host choice was also replicated in the laboratory. When offered a choice, parasites always colonized better‐fed individuals.
These results show first that host specialization in our study system occurred. Second, immediate parasite choice clearly operated towards the selection of hosts in good nutritional state.
Evaluation of qualitative research
Authors: Horsburgh Dorothy 
Published: December 2004

Summary• It is necessary to subject published research to critical scrutiny, in order to evaluate the robustness of the findings.• The criteria used in evaluation require to be appropriate for the research paradigm, i.e. quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative conceptualizations of reliability and validity are unsuitable for evaluation of qualitative research as they were not devised for this purpose.• The use of quantitative criteria to evaluate qualitative research may create the impression that the latter is not academically rigorous.• Evaluation criteria which are specific to qualitative research require identification and application, in order to provide a formalized and rigorous approach to critical appraisal.• A formalized framework for evaluation will help to ensure that the contribution of qualitative studies, with specific reference to health services research, receives optimum recognition.• The work of a number of writers is used in this paper to examine the features which distinguish qualitative research and the following are discussed:• the need for researcher reflexivity;• the use of the ‘first person’ in academic work;• the context in which research takes place;• the selection of research participants;• the interpretation of participants' accounts;• the active acknowledgement of ‘lay’ knowledge;• researcher flexibility within the research process;• the generalizability of findings.• It is concluded that academically rigorous criteria, which are appropriate for evaluation of qualitative research, exist and are available for use by practitioners and researchers.
Do they practise what we teach? A survey of manual handling practice amongst student nurses
Authors: Swain Jane , Pufahl Eric , R. Williamson Graham 
Published: December 2004

Summary• Experience of training students of nursing in manual handling suggested that they did not practise the techniques they had been taught. A search of the literature revealed that there was indeed a theory‐practice gap.• The aim of the project was to answer three questions: do students know what they should be doing, do they do what they should be doing, and if not, why not.• A survey design was used, with questionnaires designed specifically for the study. Self report questionnaires were distributed to students of nursing (n = 148) on the adult branch in one higher education institution in England. One hundred and thirty‐nine completed questionnaires were returned.• Results showed that students' knowledge of whether particular techniques were ‘recommended’ was fair. They indicated however, that they were frequently unable to use recommended techniques in practice. The most frequent explanation given was the influence of other nurses. Results of this small study indicated that male students and younger students were more susceptible to socialization into poor ward practice than others. Other reasons for not using recommended techniques were unavailability of manual handling aids, lack of time and patient needs.• The complexity of relationships within the nursing team emerged, with students ever aware of the impression they were making with regard to their assessment of practice, and their need to be accepted as a member of the team. Changes to training are suggested, to help reduce the theory‐practice gap.
Older South Asian patient and carer perceptions of culturally sensitive care in a community hospital setting
Authors: Clegg Angie 
Published: December 2004

Summary• This study describes the application of grounded theory to establish older, south Asian patient and carer views of service delivery in the UK. The purpose of the study was to inform the development of culturally sensitive services by defining the concept of cultural sensitivity from a user/carer perspective.• The study took place in two community hospitals providing nurse‐led intermediate care to a culturally diverse inner city population. Fifty‐five per cent of the inner city population is of south Asian origin. Admissions to intermediate care, however, do not reflect the demography.• Recent reports commissioned by the Department of Health highlight the failure of the National Health Service in England to provide culturally sensitive services to black and Asian patients. The Department of Health is trying to redress this inequality providing policy guidance for improving access and cultural sensitivity in the British health care system. There is little existing empirical evidence, however, to clarify the concept of culturally sensitive care.• Patients and carers in this study described culturally appropriate care as that which respects individuality, creates mutual understanding, caters for spiritual need and maintains dignity. Older south Asian patients and their carers identified respect, understanding, spirituality and dignity as central to their conceptualization of cultural sensitivity. Their focus was on the nature of human relationships and their ability to interact in a positive way with staff.• The findings of this small piece of empirical research are limited by the sample size (four patients and three carers), but illustrate that cultural sensitivity, although complex, can be defined. This then provides a basis for developing appropriate care strategies.• One universal principle explicit in this research was that to be sensitive to culture staff must challenge their own assumptions and develop an understanding of the many layers of culture and subculture with which they are dealing. The starting point for any service is to understand the expectations of its users and to seek out and manage areas of conflict between organizational values and individuals' cultural requirements.
Unsatisfied basic needs of older patients in emergency care environments – obstacles to an active role in decision making
Authors: Nydén Kristoffer , Petersson Martin , Nyström Maria 
Published: December 2004

Summary• Little attention is paid in Emergency Care Units (ECUs) in Sweden to the special needs of older people.• The aim of this study was thus to analyse older people's basic needs in the emergency care environment.• The study was carried out with a life‐world interpretative approach, and the theoretical framework for interpretation was Abraham Maslow's theory of motivation and personality.• Seven informants aged between 65 and 88 years, with various experiences of being patients with urgent as well as non‐urgent health‐related problems, were interviewed about their experiences of ECU care.• Their basic needs at the lower levels of Maslow's hierarchy were well‐represented in the data. Higher needs, such as desire to know and understand, appeared to be totally neglected. Safety needs dominated the whole situation.• Our conclusion is that standards of care must be developed in Sweden to make older patients feel safer and more secure in ECUs. Furthermore, the principles of nursing care for older patients need to be defined in order to encourage them to take an active part in their own health process.
Developing user involvement in research
Authors: Maslin‐Prothero Sian 
Published: December 2004

Summary• User involvement is central to the UK government's modernization agenda for the National Health Service (NHS).• This paper represents work undertaken for the NHS National Cancer Research and Development Programme and NHS Executive Trent.• It includes reflection on the experience of user involvement in health care research drawing on current UK health policy documents and an examination of the factors affecting recruitment to breast cancer clinical trials, and contributes to the debate on recruitment to clinical trials.• Reference to UK policy documents is made throughout as well as real life experience of involving users in research.• It summarizes key issues that nurses and midwives must consider to ensure effective user participation in research and practice.
‘Relatives are a resource, but…’: Registered Nurses' views and experiences of relatives of residents in nursing homes
Authors: Hertzberg Annika , Ekman Sirkka‐Liisa , Axelsson Karin 
Published: December 2004

Summary• Registered Nurses (RNs) working in nursing homes in Sweden have obligations towards the residents' relatives, besides the care of residents. Relatives' involvement and satisfaction with the care partly depend on their contacts and communication with the staff.• This study aimed to explore and describe RNs' views and experiences of relatives of residents who live in nursing homes.• Open interviews were conducted with 19 RNs at three nursing homes. The verbatim‐transcribed interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis.• Relatives were seen as a resource (with some restrictions) and nice, although demanding. The RNs saw relatives as part of their work – a part that could be time‐consuming and had low priority.• Interviewees noticed a difference between young and old relatives, and between female and male relatives.• A large proportion of accounts could be related to issues about communication and interpersonal relationships with relatives.• Building a trusting relationship with relatives may result in them being involved in residents' care and thus giving the nurses time rather than consuming time.
Caregivers’ experiences of interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child
Authors: Maijala Hanna , Paavilainen Eija , Väisänen Leena , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi 
Published: December 2004

Background. On the basis of earlier research, caregivers’ actions when interacting with clients should be developed. However, nursing research has focused little attention on the interaction between caregivers and families expecting a fetally impaired child.Aim. The study aimed at generating a practical family nursing theory of caregivers’ interaction with families expecting a malformed child.Methods. A grounded theory study was undertaken at Tampere University Hospital in Finland in 1999–2000. Data consisted of semi‐structured interviews with 22 (n = 22) nurses and doctors. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method.Results. The interaction process starts when a caregiver informs the parents of the fetal impairment. The process is influenced by caregivers’ attitude towards issues related to the family's life situation. Caregivers’ views of their job, and of human coping and cultural attitudes towards these issues are also of importance. These factors account for their goals in the interaction, which, in turn, underlie their actions. When the caregiver's interpretation is that the family accepted the help provided, the outcome of the interaction is satisfaction with having been able to help. Correspondingly, in the case of an opposite interpretation, the caregiver experiences strain caused by inadequacy of the help he/she is providing. The core of interaction consists of two dimensions: gaining strength and losing strength in relation to impairment issues.Conclusions. Caregivers’ views of helpful interaction were consistent with earlier research on the subject, but the findings of this study showed that more attention should be focused on the family as a whole. Furthermore, caregivers rarely criticized their own actions, thus their interaction skills should be upgraded by focusing on systematic self‐assessment through training. Nursing research deepening our understanding of why interaction fails is warranted.Relevance to clinical practice. The study results can be used in the family nursing practice as tools in reinforcing the caregivers’ ability to helpful interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child. The results may enhance caregivers’ systematic self‐evaluation and conscious use of the self.
Meeting patient and relatives’ information needs upon transfer from an intensive care unit: the development and evaluation of an information booklet
Authors: Paul Fiona , Hendry Charles , Cabrelli Louise 
Published: December 2004

Background.  Transfer from the intensive care unit to a ward is associated with a significant degree of relocation stress for patients and relatives. This can be stressful for ward nurses due to the dependency levels of patients and the ensuing increased workload. Furthermore the patient may require care, not normally undertaken in that clinical area, e.g. tracheostomy care. Patients may forget the verbal information given to them at the time of transfer and often have limited or no memory of the intensive care unit experience. This can cause anxiety and compound the feelings of stress associated with transfer. Many patients suffer psychological and physiological problems after intensive care unit, which can affect their recovery and quality of life.Aims.  The aim of the study was to develop an evidence‐based information booklet for patients and relatives preparing for transfer from intensive care units.Design.  This collaborative study used an exploratory design with elements of the action research cycle. The study, conducted in three phases, involved identifying patients’ and relatives’ information needs around the time of transfer; designing and developing an information booklet; and the introduction and evaluation of the booklet into practice.Methods.  Semistructured interviews were used to elicit the views of patients and relatives regarding their information needs. Members of the multidisciplinary team were involved in identifying and reviewing booklet content.Results.  Evaluation identified positive outcomes relating to patients’ and relatives’ satisfaction with the information and enhanced communication with other wards and health care professionals. The study also highlighted the need for more staff education in relation to patients and relatives needs when transferring to a ward.Conclusions.  This study has demonstrated the value of providing patients and relatives with written information regarding transfer from intensive care units. Furthermore the study confirmed the feasibility and importance of including patients and relatives in the process of booklet development to ensure that their needs for information are being met.Relevance to clinical practice.  Providing written information as part of a structured discharge plan is recommended. It provides patients and relatives with a resource that they can refer to at any time and that enhances verbal communication. The purpose of this information is to inform and empower patients so that they are better prepared for the transfer and recovery period.
Environmental elements affecting the decision‐making process in nursing practice
Authors: Hedberg Berith , Larsson Ullabeth Sätterlund 
Published: December 2004

Background. In their practice nurses constantly make decisions in a dynamic context including complex situations. Besides affecting elements related to the decision‐maker and the task itself, the setting where the decision‐making process takes place are of decisive importance to the quality of the decision‐making outcome.Aim. The aim of this study was to explore environmental elements related to the decision‐making process in nursing practice.Methods. Six expert nurses, from three Swedish nursing settings, participated voluntarily in the study, which were designed of participated observations in everyday nursing practice. Permission to carry out the study was given by the clinics and an ethical committee. A content analysis was used to analyse the field notes where themes emerged which were found to be environmental elements affecting decision‐making process of nurses.Conclusions. The most striking theme, environmental elements, included the sub‐themes interruptions and the work procedures are presented in this report. The implications of environmental elements, are discussed from a perspective of nurses' competence, where the elements could be seen as a facilitator or as a hindrance to developing nursing competence. It were concluded that environmental elements have to be well considered before knowledge can be reached about decision‐making in practice.Relevance to clinical practice. Interpersonal and technological interruptions were features highlighted in the study, features which could jeopardize the decision‐making outcome. Therefore, it is of greatest importance that nurses learn to use decision‐making strategies to guarantee patient care security and patient care quality.
Nutritional management of rheumatoid arthritis: a review of the evidence
Authors: Rennie K. L. , Hughes J. , Lang R. , Jebb S. A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Poor nutrient status in RA patients has been reported and some drug therapies, such as nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to alleviate RA symptoms, may increase the requirement for some nutrients and reduce their absorption.This paper reviews the scientific evidence for the role of diet and nutrient supplementation in the management of RA, by alleviating symptoms, decreasing progression of the disease or by reducing the reliance on, or combating the side‐effects of, NSAIDs. Supplementation with long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) consistently demonstrates an improvement in symptoms and a reduction in NSAID usage. Evidence relating to other fatty acids, antioxidants, zinc, iron, folate, other B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D and fluoride are also considered. The present evidence suggests that RA patients should consume a balanced diet rich in long‐chain n‐3 PUFA and antioxidants. More randomized long‐term studies are needed to provide evidence for the benefits of specific nutritional supplementation and to determine optimum intake, particularly for n‐3 PUFA and antioxidants.