bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Standards‐based data interoperability in the climate sciences
Authors: Woolf Andrew , Cramer Ray , Gutierrez Marta , Dam Kerstin Kleese van , Kondapalli Siva , Latham Susan , Lawrence Bryan , Lowry Roy , O'Neill Kevin 
Published: April 2005

AbstractEmerging developments in geographic information systems and distributed computing offer a roadmap towards an unprecedented spatial data infrastructure in the climate sciences. Key to this are the standards developments for digital geographic information being led by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) technical committee on geographic information/geomatics (TC211) and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). These, coupled with the evolution of standardised web services for applications on the internet by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), mean that opportunities for both new applications and increased interoperability exist. These are exemplified by the ability to construct ISO‐compliant data models that expose legacy data sources through OGC web services. This paper concentrates on the applicability of these standards to climate data by introducing some examples and outlining the challenges ahead. An abstract data model is developed, based on ISO standards, and applied to a range of climate data –both observational and modelled. An OGC Web Map Server interface is constructed for numerical weather prediction (NWP) data stored in legacy data files. A W3C web service for remotely accessing gridded climate data is illustrated. Challenges identified include the following: first, both the ISO and OGC specifications require extensions to support climate data. Secondly, OGC services need to fully comply with W3C web services, and support complex access control. Finally, to achieve real interoperability, broadly accepted community‐based semantic data models are required across the range of climate data types. These challenges are being actively pursued, and broad data interoperability for the climate sciences appears within reach. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society.
XRWIS: the use of geomatics to predict winter road surface temperatures in Poland
Authors: Thornes John E. , Cavan Gina , Chapman Lee 
Published: April 2005

AbstractA new method (XRWIS) to predict the minimum road surface temperature for the winter maintenance of roads, using geomatics, has been tested in Poland. A geographical database was constructed for a 200 km test route from Krakow to the Slovakian border. A GPS survey to measure sky‐view factor was carried out as part of the COST 719 project. A computer energy balance model ‘IceMiser’ was run retrospectively to predict road surface temperature every 20 minutes for every 20 m along the road using hourly weather data recorded at two adjacent climate stations: at low elevation in Krakow and at high elevation in Zakopane, in March 2003. A GIS was used to visualise the predicted road surface temperatures. The IceMiser model was verified by comparing the predicted road surface temperatures with measured road surface temperatures at a number of road weather outstations along the route. The results for four road weather outstations are discussed. The best results are for Libertow (264 m) and Myslenice (304 m) close to Krakow, whereas the results for Skawa (518 m) and Piatkowa Gora (649 m) at high elevation are not as good, probably due to their distance from the Zakopane climate station. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society.
Surgical uterine devascularization for placenta accreta: immediate and long‐term follow‐up
Authors: Verspyck Eric , Resch Benoit , Sergent Fabrice , Marpeau Loïc 
Published: April 2005

Background.  To report immediate and long‐term outcome in patients with surgical  uterine devascularization for placenta accreta.Methods.  Six patients with placenta accreta were treated conservatively during a cesarean section by a bilateral uterine and ovarian surgical devascularization procedure. Menstrual flow, imaging monitoring and further pregnancy were retrospectively reported.Results.  Blood transfusion was necessary in five cases and a hysterectomy was performed in one patient with placenta previa accreta. All patients resumed menstruation without oral contraception but one of them reported temporary clinical symptoms of estrogen insufficiency. A chronic placental retention occurred in three patients with incomplete placenta removal. One patient with both bilateral uterine and ovarian arterial ligations had a subsequent pregnancy complicated by a recurrent placenta accreta that was subsequently treated conservatively.Conclusions.  Surgical uterine devascularization for placenta accreta may be useful for uterine conservation. However, reproductive capacity may be altered by placental chronic retention and further pregnancies may be complicated by recurrent placenta accreta.
Childbirth and parenthood education classes in Sweden. Women's opinion and possible outcomes
Authors: Fabian Helena M. , Rådestad Ingela J. , Waldenström Ulla 
Published: April 2005

Objective.  To investigate first‐time mothers' views about antenatal childbirth and parenthood education and their contact with other class participants after birth, and to compare participants and non‐participants with respect to the use of pain relief, experience of pain, mode of delivery, childbirth overall, duration of breastfeeding, and assessment of parental skills.Methods.  A national cohort of 1197 Swedish‐speaking women completed three questionnaires: during early pregnancy, 2 months, and 1 year after giving birth.Results.  Seventy‐four percent of first‐time mothers stated that antenatal education helped prepare them for childbirth, and 40% for early parenthood. One year after giving birth, 58% of the mothers had met with other class participants. These outcomes were associated with the number of class sessions. When controlling for the selection of women into participants and non‐participants, no statistical differences were found concerning memory of labor pain, mode of delivery, overall birth experience, duration of breastfeeding, and assessment of parental skills. However, participants had a higher rate of epidural analgesia. Mothers who were young, single, with low level of education, living in a small city, and smokers were less likely to find the classes helpful.Conclusion.  Participation in childbirth and parenthood education classes did not seem to affect first‐time mothers' experience of childbirth and assessment of parental skills, but expanded their social network of new parents. The higher epidural rate suggests that participation in classes made women more aware of pain relief techniques available, rather than improving their own coping with pain. More research should focus on current forms of antenatal education, with special focus on women of low socioeconomic status.
Survey of clinical practice: pre‐ and postoperative physiotherapy for pelvic surgery
Authors: Frawley Helena C. , Galea Mary P. , Phillips Bev A. 
Published: April 2005

Background.  The objective of this survey was to obtain information about current physiotherapy practice for patients undergoing pelvic surgery. The aims were to evaluate whether differences exist in service provision between women's health physiotherapists (WHPTs) and hospital physiotherapists (HPTs) and in the guidelines used by physiotherapists to direct their service delivery.Methods.  A questionnaire was posted to the members of the Victorian Continence and Women's Health Physiotherapy Group (n = 130) and physiotherapists working in metropolitan and rural hospitals (n = 90). The questionnaire comprised questions relating to the aspects of treatment, including how referrals are made, funding, interventions provided and how they are delivered, and use of outcome measures. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and Chi‐square analysis of differences between WHPTs and HPTs.Results.  The response rate was 75.9%. In 67% of cases, service delivery was initiated by surgeon request, and most commonly for gynecologic patients (85%). Individual consultations were used on 96% of occasions and 8% were group sessions. Content of physiotherapy treatment for in‐patients varied, with WHPTs significantly more likely to prescribe pelvic floor muscle exercises (P = 0.003), bowel advice (P = 0.001), avoidance of risk activities (P = 0.002), and awareness of postoperative symptoms (P = 0.001). Conversely, HPTs were significantly more likely to perform respiratory checks (P = 0.002) and mobilization (P = 0.001). Eighty‐seven percent of respondents regarded their service as suboptimal, citing the need for evidence to support the content and best timing of intervention.Conclusion.  Differences exist in physiotherapy treatment for pelvic surgery patients. Further research is required to establish whether, and which, elements of physiotherapy intervention are effective.
Quality of life assessment in laryngectomized individuals: do we need additions to standard questionnaires in specific clinical research projects?
Authors: Op de Coul B.M.R. , Ackerstaff A.H. , Van As C.J. , Van Den Hoogen F.J.A. , Meeuwis C.A. , Manni J.J. , Hilgers F.J.M. 
Published: April 2005

Objectives:  To assess, whether the EORTC questionnaires QLQ‐C30 and QLQ‐H&N35 give enough detailed information to study specific quality of life (QoL) related issues in laryngectomized individuals.Design:  Multicentre, prospective clinical trial; baseline measurement with EORTC questionnaires and an additional questionnaire, focusing on specific postlaryngectomy problems.Setting:  Head and Neck Department of one Comprehensive Cancer Center and three Academic Medical Hospitals in the Netherlands.Participants:  Eighty laryngectomized individuals, selected to participate in a prospective clinical trial on hands‐free tracheoesophageal speech.Main outcomes measures:  Comparison of QoL dimensions, as assessed with the standard EORTC questionnaires, with the information obtained with additional questions, aimed at discovering in more detail, e.g. voice and respiratory problems in laryngectomized individuals.Results:  Based on the EORTC QoL questionnaires a good overall and voice specific QoL‐level was found. However, the additional questionnaire showed that especially concerning voice and respiration more specific information was obtained. For example, despite an overall satisfaction with many aspects of the voice in more than three‐quarters of the patients, speaking in a noisy environment was reported by 63% of the patients as being a serious problem, and a significant relation could be established between pulmonary and voicing problems (r = 0.28, P < 0.05), something also undetectable with the EORTC questionnaires.Conclusions:  These findings underline the necessity to develop and use more specific additional questionnaires as an adjunct to the existing EORTC questionnaires, when studying specific symptoms in laryngectomized individuals, especially in order to detect intervention related changes over time.
A multivariate analysis of otological, surgical and patient‐related factors in determining success in myringoplasty
Authors: Onal K. , Uguz M.Z. , Kazikdas K.C. , Gursoy S.T. , Gokce H. 
Published: April 2005

Objectives:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of smoking and other prognostic factors on long‐term surgical outcome and hearing results in myringoplasty.Design:  Retrospective cohort.Setting:  Tertiary medical centre.Participants:  Eighty myringoplasty operations were analysed retrospectively from the charts of 74 patients who underwent myringoplasty between January 2000 and November 2002 at the First ENT Clinic of Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, using the chi‐squared test, Fisher's exact test, t‐test and multiple logistic regression statistical analysis.Main outcome measures:  The effects of prognostic factors and smoking on myringoplasty were investigated by variables noted from patients’ files such as smoking status, operation type, duration of dry period of the diseased ear, peroperative otorrhoea, status of the opposite ear, presence of perforation at admission, place of perforation, size of perforation, status of middle ear mucosa, presence of cholesteatoma and tympanosclerosis, ossicular status, previous and related surgery, experience of the surgeon, presence of anterior overhang, presence of valsalva manoeuvre, postoperative antiobiotic cover and income per day.Results:  The overall take rate of the myringoplasty graft was 71%. Based on the univariate analysis, smoking status of the patients (P = 0.008), status of the opposite ear (P = 0.01), size of perforation (P = 0.009) and the experience of the surgeon (P = 0.002) were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01) prognostic factors influencing the success rate of the operations. Multiple logistic regression analysis was subsequently carried out on these prognostic factors and yielded the following classification (95% CI): senior surgeon (OR = 14.3), non‐smoking patient (OR = 11.4), longer duration of dry period of the diseased ear (OR = 5.3), normal opposite ear (OR = 5.0) and small perforation (OR = 4.8).Conclusions:  A non‐smoking patient, a longer dry ear, a healthy opposite ear, a relatively smaller perforation and a senior surgeon were found to be significant prognostic factors positively influencing the success rate of myringoplasty.
Relative humidity of the external auditory canal in normal and abnormal ears, and its pathogenic effect
Authors: Gray R.F. , Sharma A. , Vowler S.L. 
Published: April 2005

Objective:  To find the relative humidity of the normal external ear canal and to demonstrate that the relative humidity of the external auditory canal was higher in abnormal ears, i.e. ears commonly associated with chronic discharge.Setting:  Secondary health care within the ENT departments of Addenbrooke's and Hinchingbrooke hospitals.Design:  A clinical observational study.Participants:  Volunteers seen in ENT outpatients. Inclusion criteria for the normal ear group, was a normal ear with no history of infection or previous ear disease. Inclusion criteria for abnormal ear group commonly associated with chronic discharge. Exclusion criteria were the presence of pus or infection within the ear canal.Method:  The relative humidity of the external ear canal was measured in normal and abnormal ears. Abnormal ears were grouped as those commonly associated with chronic discharge, mastoid cavities, tympanic perforations, recurrent otitis externa and hearing‐aided ears.Results:
The range of relative humidity of normal ears is 40–70%. The humidity in abnormal ears was found to be significantly higher than the humidity in normal ears (P < 0.0001).Conclusion:  The raised relative humidity in the external canal may explain the predisposition of certain abnormal ears to chronic discharge and infection. If the humidity of the canal could be brought down to a normal level, this could offer a new therapeutic treatment.
Soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck: a single‐centre experience
Authors: Lajer C.B. , Daugaard S. , Hansen H.S. , Kirkegaard J. , Holmgaard S. , Christensen M.E. 
Published: April 2005

Objective:  The aim of this study was to report our experience with malignant and borderline soft tissue tumours (STS) of the head and neck region in the period 1977–2000.Design:  Retrospective case study including new evaluation of histological specimens.Setting:  Tertiary centre, single centre.Participants:  Review of patient's records and new evaluation of pathological specimens were made for 66 patients. After evaluation only 36 patients (26 men and 10 women) still met present criteria for a STS in head and neck in adults.Results:  The original histological diagnosis was changed in 27 (41%) of the 66 patients with a primary diagnosis of sarcoma. After review the most common histological diagnoses were leiomyosarcoma (5) and rhabdomyosarcoma (5). Overall 5‐year survival rate was 60%. Overall 5‐year disease‐free survival rate was 44%. The study showed that both tumour grade and surgical margin had a statistically significant impact on survival. No relation was found between survival and tumour size or age.Conclusion:  The grave prognosis especially for high‐grade tumours emphasizes the need for improved treatment strategies. Furthermore, conclusions from older studies concerning prognosis may be obsolete as approximately 40% of tumours previously diagnosed as sarcomas may be invalid by present day standards.Keypoints• Tumour grade and surgical margins are the most significant impact factors upon survival of patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the head and neck.• Based upon our re‐review of histological specimens as much as 40% of tumours previously diagnosed in older studies as sarcomas of the head and neck may be faulty by present standards. Such studies may therefore be obsolete.• Improved treatment strategies on STS of the head and neck should focus on high‐grade tumours.
Communication with critically ill patients
Authors: Alasad Jafar , Ahmad Muayyad 
Published: April 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study that investigated the experiences of a group of critical care Jordanian nurses concerning verbal communication with critically ill patients.Background.  There is evidence that communication in critical care settings is not sufficiently implemented in practice. Inadequate nurse–patient communication results in increased levels of stress and anxiety. Verbal communication can help patients preserve their self‐identity and self‐esteem, which in turn will enhance their well‐being and optimism.Method.  The study was guided by the phenomenological hermeneutics of Heidegger. Data were generated in 2002 from in‐depth interviews and overt participant observation, and analysed qualitatively.Findings.  Unconscious patients received less verbal communication and interaction than verbally responsive patients.Conclusion.  Communication with sedated or unconscious patients in intensive care units should not be viewed as only an interactive process. Rather, it should be perceived as the means to give the information and support that such patients need.
Nurse follow‐up of patients with diabetes: randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wong Frances Kam Yuet , Mok Maisy Pik Hung , Chan Tony , Tsang Man Wo 
Published: April 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study comparing the outcomes of diabetic patients undergoing either early discharge or routine care.Background.  The hospital is not the best place to monitor the glycaemic control of patients with diabetes with no other morbidity or complications. It is an unnatural environment in which diet is planned and the activity level is low. The hospital is also an expensive place in which to treat patients.Methods.  This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the medical department of a regional hospital in Hong Kong. A total of 101 patients who needed glycaemic monitoring, but who were otherwise fit for discharge, were recruited. The control group continued to receive routine hospital care. The study group was discharged early and received a follow‐up programme which included a weekly or biweekly telephone call from a nurse.Findings.  When compared with the control group, the study group had a greater decrease in HbA1c at 24 weeks, although the statistical difference was marginal (7·6 vs. 8·1, P = 0·06), a higher blood monitoring adherence score at both 12 weeks (5·4 vs. 3·6, P < 0·001) and 24 weeks (5·3 vs. 3·5, P < 0·001), and a higher exercise adherence score at 12 weeks (5·3 vs. 3·4, P = 0·001) and 24 weeks (5·5 vs. 3·2, P < 0·001). The study group had a shorter hospital stay (2·2 vs. 5·9, P < 0·001), and the net savings were HK$11,888 per patient.Conclusion.  It is feasible to integrate treatment into the real life environments of patients with diabetes, and nurse‐led transitional care is a practical and cost‐effective model. Nurse follow‐up is effective in maintaining optimal glycaemic control and enhancing adherence to health behaviours. Management of glycaemic control is better done in the community than in the hospital.
Measuring postpartum stress
Authors: Hung Chich‐Hsiu 
Published: April 2005

Aims.  This paper reports a study whose purpose was to revalidate the Hung Postpartum Stress Scale by expanding and revising its contexts to reflect the social changes that have occurred in Taiwan over the last two decades.Background.  Existing measures of general stress, which have also been used to assess postpartum stress, fail to measure women's specific childbearing stressors during the postpartum period. The Hung Postpartum Stress Scale was initially developed 11 years ago by Hung and associates to measure stress in the early postpartum period as it occurred in the Taiwanese social milieu of the time. However, revalidation was needed because of rapid changes in the Taiwanese social system.Methods.  Employing a non‐experimental, quantitative research design and a proportional stratified quota sampling of hospitals by birth rate, the revised instrument was completed by 861 postpartum women selected from clinics and hospitals in Taiwan.Results.  An exploratory common factor analysis indicated the structure validity of three dimensions of postpartum stress: concerns about maternity role attainment, concerns about negative body changes, and concerns about lack of social support. With regard to generalizability of the factors across delivery type, education level, and income status subgroups within the population, high coefficients of congruence were shown. Moreover, the internal consistency reliabilities for the total Hung Postpartum Stress Scale and its three dimensions across the full sample and within pertinent sub‐samples showed that it is a reliable tool for measuring postpartum stress.Conclusions.  A series of analyses supported the validity and reliability of the revised Hung Postpartum Stress Scale. Additional research is recommended using confirmatory factor analysis to determine the stability of the factor structure identified in the present study.
Effects of rotating night shifts: literature review
Authors: Muecke Sandy 
Published: April 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a review examining the concept of sleep and its antithesis of fatigue, and considers the evidence on nurses’ ability to cope with the demands of continually changing hours of work, their safety, and the impact any manifestations of sleep disruption may have on the care of their patients. While many aspects of this paper may apply to nursing in general, special consideration is given to nurses in the critical care environment.Background.  Night duty rotations are common practice in nursing, and particularly in specialist units. It is essential that nurses working in these environments are able to maintain careful and astute observation of their vulnerable patients, and concern arises when they may be unable to do so. Research suggests that fatigue can negatively affect nurses’ health, quality of performance, safety and thus patient care, and that the effects of fatigue may be exacerbated for nurses over 40 years of age.Method.  The literature was examined for the 10‐year period up to December 2003. The databases searched were Ovid, Proquest, Blackwell Science, EBSCO Online, Australian Health Review and WebSPIRS, using the keywords of, shiftwork, rosters, intensive care, fatigue, sleep deprivation and sleep studies.Findings.  There is consensus amongst researchers on the adverse psychological and physiological effects of night rotations on nurses when compared with their permanent night duty peers, particularly for those over 40 years of age. Evidence also suggests that the effects of fatigue on nurse performance may negatively affect the quality of patient care.Conclusions.  The literature reinforces concerns about the adverse relationship between fatigue and performance in the workplace. Optimal standards for patient care may be difficult to achieve for more mature nurses, who may suffer from sleep deprivation and health problems associated with rotational night work and disrupted physiological rhythms.