bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of normal saline on endotracheal suctioning
Authors: Akgül Sevim , Akyolcu Neriman 
Published: March 2003

Summary•  This study was designed to determine the effects of saline solution administered prior to endotracheal suctioning by nurses working in intensive care on oxygenation, heart rate and long‐term pulmonary hygiene.•  The study was carried out on an experimental basis in the Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital in Turkey. A total of 20 patients were included, who were mechanically ventilated because of pulmonary or cardiovascular problems or trauma.•  Data were collected using a data form. Each patient was monitored for 5 minutes following suctioning with or without saline solution and findings of heart rate, SpO2, and blood gas measurements were recorded. Data were analysed using percentage calculations, the student's t‐test and the Friedman test.•  The study showed that most of the patients were between 60 and 69 years and were intubated because of respiratory insufficiency.•  Evaluation of blood gases following suctioning with or without saline solution showed partial decreases in pO2, pCO2, HCO3, and oxygen saturation (SaO2), which did not reach a significant level.•  No significant difference was found between pH levels recorded prior to and 5 minutes after suctioning without saline solution; however, the increase in pH following suctioning with saline solution was significant.•  Patients undergoing suctioning with saline solution exhibited significantly increased heart rates in the fourth and fifth minutes, whereas no increases were detected in these undergoing suctioning without saline solution. SpO2 values obtained by pulse oxymeter did not show significant differences.•  Saline solution administered with suctioning resulted in undesirable, although not significant, alterations in oxygen saturation and arterial blood gas levels.
Assessing student nurse clinical competency: will we ever get it right?
Authors: Dolan Gina 
Published: March 2003

Summary• In 1997, a revised system was introduced at the University of Glamorgan, Wales, to assess student nurse clinical competency. This was firstly as a result of concerns that the previous system was based on limited documentary evidence, and, secondly as the Welsh National Board for Nursing and Midwifery issued new competency statements.• This article reports an evaluative research study which aimed to determine whether the revised system was an effective measure of clinical competency.• A series of focus groups were conducted with students, tutors and clinical preceptors to discuss their experiences of using the revised system. A content analysis was conducted of all evidence written by students to support the achievement of clinical competency.• The findings of the focus groups indicated that each group had some initial problems with the assessment process. The main concern for all groups was lack of consistency and uncertainty in the assessment process. Although the introduction of written evidence to support clinical competency was welcomed, many felt that too much evidence was required.• Content analysis of competency documentation aimed to compare student evidence and to determine whether there were inconsistencies in the assessment process.• There were many variations in the evidence obtained from students, in particular the amount of evidence written by each student.• The findings clearly indicate that further revisions are necessary to ensure that the system is implemented in the most effective way.• The Fitness for Practice report (UKCC, 1999) has ensured that competency‐based assessment is here to stay in the UK. Evaluative research of this type is important to ensure that we adopt the most suitable approach to assessing clinical competency.
District nurses' experiences of providing care in residential care home settings
Authors: Goodman Claire , Woolley Rosemary , Knight Denise 
Published: March 2003

Summary• Little research describes the involvement and contribution of primary health care services in residential homes, despite policy and research concerns that older people in residential homes are a vulnerable population for whom care must be improved.• The aim of this research was to explore the actual and potential contribution of primary care nurses in residential homes for older people, particularly district nurses.• Five focus groups were held with district nurses in one county in England, to explore how participants represented their views, values and experiences of working in residential homes.• Our major finding was the importance of context in shaping the experience of district nursing involvement. General practitioner attachment determined the frequency of visiting homes and affected workload. District nurses had regular contact with residential homes for discrete nursing tasks, but appropriateness of referrals and input was not agreed.• The focus group discussions with district nurses revealed how problematic their work in residential homes was and a lack of consensus about their role. The data suggested that uncertainty about providing care in a setting that straddles the health and social care, public and private divide, and anxieties about managing their workload overshadowed their acknowledged concerns about the older people in residential care homes. Further research is needed to substantiate the findings, obtain residents' views and address issues of how to achieve integrated and equitable health and social care for this group.
Video home training as a method of supporting family life control
Authors: Häggman‐Laitila Arja , Pietilä Anna‐Maija , Friis Leila , Vehviläinen‐Julkunen Katri 
Published: March 2003

Summary• The purpose of this study was to describe video home training as a method of early support in problems of family life control.• Answers were sought to the following questions: how does a family counsellor use video home training to support families' own resources and family life control, and what are the uses and benefits of video home training from parents' perspective?• The data consisted of the videotaped counselling sessions and family service plans for five families, and were analysed using the general method of analysing photographs and video material developed by anthropologist‐photographers.• Video home training as a method in supporting family life control consisted of goal‐orientated reflection by parents on videotaped episodes of their everyday family life under the guidance of a family counsellor. The process of videotaping family life, in‐depth analysis of the videotapes, recognition of instances of successful interaction, and search for new alternatives gave participants a feeling that it would be possible for them to make their everyday life fluent and functional.• The findings show that video home training helped the families to gain better control over their family life.
Personal vs. non‐personal sources of information used in the purchase of men’s apparel
Authors: Kinley Tammy L. , Conrad Raig A. , Brown Gene 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThis study identifies and examines the relationship between several segmentation variables and the personal and promotional (non‐personal) cues used in the information‐gathering step of the purchase decision process. In the context of this study, personal cues refer to family members, coworkers and friends. Promotional or non‐personal cues refer to magazine advertisements, television advertisements, store displays and salespersons. Information regarding the use of personal and promotional cues was gathered from a national, random sample of 440 male consumers. The study found that adult male consumers report using promotional cues more frequently than personal information sources.
The effect of linear density of polyamide filaments on the comfort and performance of ladies hosiery
Authors: Byrne M.S. , Carty P. , Scriven K. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThis study used 49 female consumers, to investigate the effect of variation in the linear density of polyamide filaments used in the construction of ladies opaque tights, on a range of comfort and performance factors. Two sets of tights were used. Each set consisted of three types of tights manufactured from micro, semi‐micro and conventional filaments respectively. The first set incorporated Lycra in alternate courses while the second set incorporated Lycra in every course. The hosiery was assessed by means of a number of ranking and rating scales after having been worn and washed five times. The tights made from micro and semi‐micro filaments were generally much preferred to those made from conventionally thicker filaments. The differences between the perceptions of tights made from the micro and semi‐micro filaments were small, and there appears little to be gained by using the lowest linear density micro filaments. Consumers preferences with regard to overall comfort agreed closely with preferences emerging from initial handle assessments. The hypothesis is advanced that for clothing worn next to the skin handle assessments could obviate the need for more expensive, time consuming and lengthy wearer trials.
Altitudinal and seasonal variation of frost resistance of Fagus crenata and Betula ermanii along the Pacific slope of Mt. Fuji, Japan
Authors: Gansert DirK. , Backes Katharina , Kakubari Yoshitaka 
Published: March 2003

1 Frost resistance of Fagus crenata (Siebold’s beech) and Betula ermanii (Japanese mountain birch) was investigated with respect to the species’ altitudinal distribution on the Pacific slope of Mt. Fuji from 1996 to 1997. Flint’s Index of Injury, which is based on electrolyte leakage from freeze‐injured tissue, was used to assess frost hardiness of shoots produced in the previous growing season. 2
Fagus crenata is found on the lower slopes (700–1600 m a.s.l.). Mid‐ to late November hardening of shoots was enhanced, midwinter damage below −30 °C reduced and dehardening delayed nearer the upper limit. To here temperatures began to rise at least 3 weeks before dehardening began. Shade crown shoots were more susceptible to deep‐freeze damage than light crown shoots. If the ultimate upper distribution limit was determined by frost hardiness, F. crenata would be expected to occur up to 1800 m altitude. 3
Betula ermanii is found between 1600 m and 2800 m, and intensive hardening occurred at all altitudes during the second half of October. Frost hardiness increased considerably with altitude up to the forest limit, where frost acclimation preceded the temperature decline by 2 weeks. Once maximum frost resistance had been attained freezing to −47 °C failed to cause tissue injury. Dehardening began slightly later at the tree line, but the time–course was the same at all altitudes. Main and lateral shoots did not differ in frost hardiness. 4 Comparison of monthly air temperature minima over the past 66 years with the course of frost resistance showed that F. crenata and B. ermanii found on the Pacific slope of Mt. Fuji were unlikely to suffer damage by frost. 5 The observed uppermost distribution limit for B. ermanii at 2800 m altitude on Mt. Fuji is considered both with our observations and with previous hypotheses.
Species‐specific spatial pattern of below‐ground plant parts in a montane grassland community
Authors: Pecháčková Sylvie , During Heinjo J. , Rydlová Věra , Herben Tomáš 
Published: March 2003

1 We investigated the fine‐scale below‐ground distribution of plant parts in a mountain grassland. Roots and rhizomes were identified to the species level by tracking their connections to above‐ground parts. 2 Fine‐scale horizontal heterogeneity of total root and rhizome biomass at different depths was recorded at the same time in the same grassland. 3 Both pairwise and multivariate statistical analysis showed that in the 0–3 cm layer the frequencies of roots and rhizomes of individual plants were closely coupled to the occurrence of the same species immediately above‐ground. In contrast, in the 3–6 cm layer, these correlations peaked when root and rhizome frequencies were compared with plants above‐ground displaced by a horizontal distance of 2 cm. This confirms the predominantly inclined growth of both roots and rhizomes; while the inclined growth has been shown regularly by studying single plants, the current study shows its prevalence at the community level as well. 4 The similarity to the above‐ground patterns in the upper soil layer was due to the spatial constraints of plant presence above‐ground; in contrast, the spatial patterns in the 3–6 cm layer were independent of plant presence above‐ground. The role of root growth plasticity is discussed in this context. 5 Autocorrelation analysis of the root data revealed that there was a pronounced difference in the grain of horizontal spatial pattern between total root biomass and species‐specific root frequencies. All the species had rather loose root systems and clumps of one species rarely extended more than 0.5 cm. In contrast, there was significant long‐range clumping of root biomass up to 10 cm. The below‐ground heterogeneities in overall biomass and in species‐specific distributions were therefore probably determined by different environmental processes. 6 No such difference in clumping range between total biomass and species‐specific frequencies was observed in above‐ground parts. This was attributed to homogeneity of the above‐ground resource (light) compared with the inherently heterogeneous nature of the below‐ground resources, and the different nature of competition for these resources may account for differences in vegetation patterns above‐ and below‐ground.
Effects of the past and the present on species distribution: land‐use history and demography of wintergreen
Authors: Donohue Kathleen , Foster David R. , Motzkin Glenn 
Published: March 2003

Summary 1 Past land use can have long‐term effects on plant species’ distributional patterns if alterations in resources and environmental conditions have persistent effects on population demography (environmental change) and/or if plants are intrinsically limited in their colonization ability (historical factors). 2 We evaluated the role of environmental alteration vs. historical factors in controlling distributional patterns of Gaultheria procumbens, a woody, clonal understorey species with a pronounced restriction to areas that have never been ploughed, and near absence from adjoining areas that were ploughed in the 19th century. The demographic study was conducted in scrub oak and hardwood plant communities on an extensive sand plain, where it was possible to control for the effect of variation in environment prior to land use. 3 The observed demographic effects were contrary to the hypothesis that persistent environmental alteration depressed demographic performance and limited the distribution of G. procumbens. We observed no overall effect of land‐use history on stem density, stem recruitment or flower production. In fact, some aspects of performance were enhanced in previously ploughed areas. Populations in previously ploughed areas exhibited less stem mortality in scrub oak transitions, an increase in germination, seedling longevity and proportion of potentially reproductive stems in both plant communities, a trend for slower observed rates of population decline in both plant communities, and a higher projected rate of population growth in the scrub oak transitions. Thus, particularly in scrub oak communities, the lower abundance of G. procumbens in formerly ploughed than in unploughed areas contrasted with its performance. 4 The limited occurrence of G. procumbens in formerly farmed areas was explained instead by its slow intrinsic growth rate, coupled with limited seedling establishment. Lateral population extension occurred exclusively through vegetative growth, allowing a maximum expansion of 43 cm year−1. 5 We conclude that inherent limitations in the colonizing ability of some plant species may present a major obstacle in the restoration or recovery of plant communities on intensively disturbed sites, even in the absence of persistent environmental effects that depress population growth.
Canopy seed banks in Mediterranean pines of south‐eastern Spain: a comparison between Pinus halepensis Mill., P. pinaster Ait., P. nigra Arn. and P. pinea L.
Authors: Tapias Raúl , Gil Luis , Fuentes‐Utrilla Pablo , Pardos José A. 
Published: March 2003

Summary

Canopy seed banks were analysed in post‐fire stands of Pinus halepensis, P. pinaster, P. nigra, and P. pinea. We determined age when flowering begins, age of first cone bearing, presence of serotinous cones and cone‐opening temperatures.
By 15 years after the fire, P. halepensis had developed a large canopy seed bank (3–100 × 104 seeds ha−1). Fruiting started at 5 years of age. More than 86% of the cones were serotinous and had opening temperatures from 49.3 to 51.3 °C. Cones from adult trees opened at lower temperatures than those from young trees.
A 16‐year‐old P. pinaster stand had a smaller seed bank (12 000 viable seeds ha−1) and a lower percentage of serotinous cones (66.7%), with lower cone‐opening temperature (45.8 ± 0.8 °C) and later first fruiting (12 years) than any of our three P. halepensis populations.
Populations of P. nigra and P. pinea did not show any fire adaptations: flowering was insignificant even 15 years after fire, and none of the cones produced were serotinous.
Serotinous cones represent a fire‐survival strategy for P. halepensis and P. pinaster. Early flowering is also necessary for successful post‐fire colonization in species or populations where crown fires are frequent. Late flowering and non‐serotinous cones of P. nigra and P. pinea suggest that they may have evolved where ignition leads only to low intensity ground fires.
Multiple scale composition and spatial distribution patterns of the north‐eastern Minnesota presettlement forest
Authors: Friedman Steven K. , Reich Peter B. , Frelich Lee E. 
Published: March 2003

Summary

Bearing tree data were used to characterize the composition and spatial structure of the southern boreal presettlement forest in north‐eastern Minnesota, United States of America. Data collected during the General Land Office Survey (GLO) between 1853 and 1917, represents 35 324 samples (each with 1–4 trees) in a 3.2 million‐hectare landscape. Nine tree species contributed at least 1% to the overall composition. Individuals of white pine and red pine were larger than all other species and represented 9% of the tree population, while accounting for 27% of the standing basal area. Black spruce, paper birch and larch, the three most abundant species, collectively accounted for 51% of the population and 38% of the basal area.
Eight physiographic zones were characterized by differences in glacial histories, geological surfaces, soil complexes and topographic properties, and supported different compositional mixes of the nine important species.
Fifty‐six per cent of all four‐tree plots had three or four individuals of a single species. This level of conspecific aggregation is an order of magnitude greater than would be expected based on a random distribution of the same population of trees and species. Jack pine had the greatest plot‐scale aggregation, with 45% of all plots containing jack pine trees having three or four jack pine individuals. Jaccard association of similarity values of species co‐occurrence ranged from less than 0.05 to 0.24, indicating limited plot–scale interspecific associations.
Landscape spatial patterns of the species were measured at two spatial scales, 1–10 km and from 5 to 50 km. Conspecific autocorrelation patterns were positive while interspecific autocorrelation patterns tended to be either neutral or negative. Hence, plots dominated by any given species tended to spatially aggregate near other such plots, out to substantial distances.
Forest tree spatial patterns reflect complex fine to landscape‐scale relationships involving environmental factors, disturbance events and regeneration strategies. Management and long‐term conservation of forest landscapes should consider multiscale patterns in order to re‐establish forest structural properties eliminated following the disruption of natural disturbance processes.
Effects of disturbance on germination and seedling establishment in a coastal prairie grassland: a test of the competitive release hypothesis
Authors: Jutila Heli M. , Grace James B. 
Published: March 2003

Summary1 We evaluated the responses of native grassland sods to a variety of types of disturbance in order to assess hypotheses about the competitive effects of established vegetation on seed germination and seedling establishment. In particular, we consider whether germination is more responsive to the magnitude and duration of vegetation removal (competitive release) or to individual disturbance types (specific effects).2 Field‐collected sods of coastal tallgrass prairie were subjected to no manipulation, cutting with clippings left, cutting with clippings removed (hayed), burning, and complete destruction of established vegetation under greenhouse conditions. The emergence and fate of seedlings, as well as light penetration through the canopy, were followed for a period of 4.5 months.3 Total seedling emergence increased from cut to control, hayed, burned and plants‐removed treatments. Several periods of increased seedling emergence suggested responses to both light penetration and seasonal change.4 Species richness was lowest in cut sods and highest in sods that had plants removed or were burned. Rarefaction analysis showed that these differences were largely those expected from differences in seedling number, except for the cut treatment, which produced fewer species per seedling than other treatments.5 Indicator species analysis and ordination methods revealed that seedling community composition overlapped strongly across all treatments, although the area of ordination space did increase with increasing numbers of seedlings. 6 Overall, most of the effects of disturbance could be explained by cumulative light penetration to the soil surface, an indicator of total competitive release, although a few specific effects could be found (particularly for the cutting treatment). Thus, these results generally support the competitive release hypothesis.
Population dynamics of Zea diploperennis, an endangered perennial herb: effect of slash and burn practice
Authors: Sánchez‐Velásquez Lázaro R. , Ezcurra Exequiel , Martínez‐Ramos Miguel , Álvarez‐Buylla Elena , Lorente Rogelia 
Published: March 2003

Summary

Zea diploperennis is a wild relative of maize that is endemic to the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Because this species is a priority for conservation in the reserve, the effects on its populations of the most common types of anthropogenic disturbance – slash‐and‐burn, and slash without subsequent burning – were investigated in three populations for 5 years.
The patterns of establishment and mortality were similar in all populations studied. Numbers of ears and fruits produced were significantly higher when disturbances were applied.
Because permanence is the most important stage in contributing to λ, the results suggest that the first genets to become established have an advantage over newly recruited plants.
When the two disturbance types were applied, λ was close to 1 or > 1. After the first disturbance, λ increased by almost 100%. In almost all situations, with or without disturbance, the persistence loops of Z. diploperennis are the most important life history pathways in the relative contribution to λ. In general, when λ increases, sexual growth loops also increase in importance, and persistence loops decrease. Changes in λ are not related to changes in vegetative growth loops.
If populations of Z. diploperennis are not disturbed at least once every 5 years, then species will go locally extinct in the wild.