bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Population consequences of mutual attraction between settling and adult barnacles
Authors: Kent Adam , Hawkins Stephen J. , Doncaster C. Patrick 
Published: December 2004

Summary

Spatial patterns of recruitment were compared between populations of the rocky shore barnacles (Crustacea: Cirripedia) Semibalanus balanoides, an obligate cross‐fertilizer, and Chthamalus montagui, which can self‐fertilize. We tested the hypothesis that recruitment depends on a behaviourally mediated interaction at settlement between the effects of adult background density and adult spacing, which limit free space for settlement and mating opportunities, respectively. Recruitment to patches of cleared rock (10‐ or 30‐cm diameter) was compared between replicate shores with background densities of adult barnacles classed as low (≤20 per 25 cm2) and high (>4× low). Replicate patches were cleared of all barnacles surrounding a remnant cluster, comprising 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 32 adults.
For S. balanoides, settlement and subsequent recruitment over 5 months varied in direct proportion to remnant cluster size, except on the shore with the highest background density where recruitment was inversely proportional to cluster size. We interpret this inversion to indicate attraction to potential mates at low adult densities (positive density dependence, an Allee effect) switching to attraction to free space at high density (negative density dependence). The strengths and slopes of the regressions increased from shores with the lowest to the highest overall recruitment of barnacles, but retained significance over a five‐fold range in recruitment. Positive effects of cluster size on recruitment were consistent between consecutive years, despite considerable variation in recruitment densities. In contrast, recruitment of C. montagui was generally more weakly proportional to cluster size, except for a strong positive correlation at the shore with the highest recruitment.
Dispersion of recruits within treatment patches was accurately modelled by a computer simulation that allowed each barnacle to settle at random between fixed minimum and maximum distances from the nearest other settled barnacle. The model estimated threshold distances by maximum likelihood fit to observed recruitment into concentric annuli around the central adult cluster. Upper thresholds of separation corresponded to penis length for 65% of S. balanoides and 42% of C. montagui patches. Lower thresholds were ∼2× cyprid length for 75% of S. balanoides patches, but were larger than this for C. montagui patches.
On the relation between temporal variability and persistence time in animal populations
Authors: Inchausti Pablo , Halley John 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe relationship between temporal variability, spectral redness and population persistence for a large number of long‐term time series was investigated. Although both intuition and theory suggest that more variability in population abundance would mean greater probability of extinction, previous empirical support for this view has not been conclusive. Possible reasons are the shortage of long‐term data and the difficulties of adequately characterizing temporal variability, two issues that are explicitly addressed in this paper.We examined the relationship between population variability and quasi‐extinction time (measured as the time required to observe a 90% decline of population abundance) for a large set of data comprising 554 populations for 123 species that were censused for more than 30 years. Two aspects of temporal variability were considered in relation with the quasi‐extinction time: a baseline value (coefficient of variation over a fixed, 30‐year, time scale), and a measure of the rate of increase of the population variability over time (spectral exponent).The results show that the quasi‐extinction time was shorter for populations having higher temporal variability and redder dynamics. The relation between persistence time and population variability was compared for different taxa, trophic levels, habitat type (aquatic and terrestrial) and body sizes and compared with theoretical expectations.
Moving forward in a role as a researcher: the effect of a research method course on nurses' research activity
Authors: Adamsen Lis , Larsen Kristian , Bjerregaard Lene , Madsen Jan K. 
Published: December 2004

Summary• The aim of this study was to investigate whether a 1‐year research course in basic research methodology, designed for clinical nurses, had a positive effect on the nurses' own research activity and their commitment to research in general.• The research method applied was use of semistructured interviews. Seventy‐nine clinical nurses participated in the study. Students of the research course (n = 37), i.e. the study group, were compared with a group of clinical nurses who did not participate in the course (n = 42), i.e. the reference group.• A statistically significant difference was found in several variables between the two groups. Eighty‐nine per cent of the study group members were active in planning their own research projects compared with 35.7% in the reference group. The study group also showed a higher level of interest and commitment to research results of others and read English language articles. A total of 13.9% of the study group experienced being unable to find time during working hours to participate in research projects, while this was true for 50% of nurses in the reference group.• Experiences from the research course in basic methodology show that educational programmes designed for clinical nurses may facilitate and support their own research efforts as well as enhance their commitment to research in general. The course reinforced nurses' self‐confidence in research‐based practice. Clinical nurses require personal initiative, perseverance and competence in research methodology as well as sensitization towards a research culture in order to move away from the salaried work of a practitioner and into the role of a researcher.
Using patient stories to inspire quality improvement within the NHS Modernization Agency collaborative programmes
Authors: Wilcock Peter Michael , Stewart Brown Geraint Ceri , Bateson John , Carver Jonathon , Machin Sheelagh 
Published: December 2004

Summary• The importance of obtaining the opinions of service users has long been recognized and, traditionally, most contact has focused on measuring their satisfaction with the services they receive. However, there is little evidence that this has had much impact on improving care.• The Discovery Interview Process, a technique for listening to patients and carers and using their narratives to improve care, is discussed in this article. This approach has been used in the pilot phases of the UK Coronary Heart Disease Collaborative and Critical Care Collaborative.• These narratives develop understanding grounded in experience. Those delivering care can interpret the narratives using their own clinical and professional knowledge and experience to create better or new ways of meeting patients' and carers' needs. Using their own expert knowledge they can identify needs within the narratives, including those that patients and carers did not know they had.• The principal techniques for gathering these narratives are outlined, and ways of using such data to inform patient‐focused service improvements are discussed. Various locally sensitive methods for presenting the narratives to expert interprofessional teams are also described along with emerging experience of this feedback.• We consider the Discovery Interview technique for gathering patient and carer narratives to be a potentially powerful method for informing quality improvements, discovering what really matters to patients and their carers. This pragmatic approach could prove manageable within local quality improvement projects.
Leg ulcers: a review of their impact on daily life
Authors: Persoon Anke , Heinen Maud M. , Van Der Vleuten Carien J.M. , De Rooij Michette J. , Van De Kerkhof Peter C.M. , Van Achterberg Theo 
Published: December 2004

Background.  Current nursing care for leg ulcer patients often focuses on wound care and providing compression therapy. Nurses perceive leg ulcer patients as ‘under‐served’ with regard to problems patients experience in daily life. An overview of patient problems is a first and essential step in the development of comprehensive nursing care.Aims and objectives.  To gather information about the impact of leg ulcers on patient's daily life as described in quantitative and qualitative studies.Design.  Systematic literature review.Methods.  Medline and Cinahl databases were searched for venous leg ulcer studies, up to 2002; this was followed by the ‘snowball method’. Studies were selected in accordance with preset criteria.Results.  A total of 37 studies was included. All studies report that leg ulcers pose a threat to physical functioning. Furthermore, a negative impact on psychological functioning is reported and, to a lesser degree, on social functioning. Major limitations are pain and immobility, followed by sleep disturbance, lack of energy, limitations in work and leisure activities, worries and frustrations and a lack of self‐esteem. Patients have a significantly poorer quality of life compared with healthy people. Finally, patients report problems with regard to follow‐up treatment.Conclusions.  Having a leg ulcer has a major impact on a patient's life. There are indications of under‐treatment of pain.Relevance to clinical practice.  Keeping in mind that leg ulceration is notorious for its chronic character, the negative impact on patient's life implies that many patients suffer over longer periods of time. This emphasizes the need to focus on quality of life aspects in patient care. There is much to gain, especially concerning pain and mobility. The development of comprehensive care programmes is essential.
ICU nurses' knowledge of, and attitudes towards, the APACHE II scoring system
Authors: Chen Shiu‐Lien , Wei Ien‐Lan , Sang Yiing‐Yiing , Tang Fu‐In 
Published: December 2004

Aims and objectives.  This study was undertaken to determine whether intensive care unit nurses possess adequate knowledge to implement the Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system and to understand nurses’ attitudes towards this scoring system.Design.  A questionnaire, which contained 20 multiple‐choice questions to test knowledge of the scoring system and 27 statements with a five‐points Likert type scale to assess attitude, was developed by researchers for this study.Methods.  The participants consisted of 102 intensive care unit nurses working in adult, emergency, or coronary intensive care units in a large teaching hospital (Veterans General Hospital) in Taiwan, where the APACHE II scoring system is used routinely by nurses.Results.  On the knowledge section of the questionnaire, 76% of the questions were answered correctly. However, more than 50% of the nurses were uncertain about how to score a patient's chronic history status, only 44.1% of the nurses knew that APACHE II total scores range from 0 to 71, and only 37.3% understood that the value for bicarbonate in venous samples could replace the arterial pH value. The results of the attitude questionnaire revealed that nurses believed APACHE II was useful mainly for statistical purposes by the administration rather than for patient care, but acknowledged that the scores could provide a reference for more aggressive treatment.Conclusions.  The questionnaire answers indicated that greater knowledge concerning the APACHE II is needed.Relevance to clinical practice.  Information and training concerning the proper use and purpose of APACHE II needs to be provided, especially for those intensive care unit nurses using this evaluation tool to score patients’ conditions routinely.
Rheumatology: a study of patient satisfaction with follow‐up monitoring care
Authors: Arthur Valerie , Clifford Collette 
Published: December 2004

Background.  This paper reports the findings of a quantitative study to determine the satisfaction of rheumatology patients receiving follow‐up monitoring care within primary and secondary locations.Aims and objectives.  The aim of the study was to compare and contrast the satisfaction of patients with rheumatoid arthritis following two different routes of care. The objective was to explore the dimensions of care identified in an earlier qualitative study.Design.  A convenience sample of 80 participants was used; 40 from each care location.Methods.  Data were collected using the Leeds Satisfaction Questionnaire, which explores the dimensions of satisfaction previously identified as being important to this group of patients.Results.  The secondary care group showed significantly higher levels of satisfaction in respect of general satisfaction, provision of information and continuity of care and a significant difference in relation to empathy, technical ability and attitude to the patient.Conclusions.  While patients from both locations were satisfied with the care they received, those receiving specialist nursing care in the secondary location were more satisfied.Relevance to clinical practice.  Increased emphasis on care in the community and the evolution of nurse specialist roles indicate the need for further qualitative work to inform the future planning of care provision for rheumatology patients in this area.
Decision‐making during hospitalization: parents’ and children's involvement
Authors: Hallström Inger , Elander Gunnel 
Published: December 2004

Background.  Ethical duties of health professionals include the obligation to enhance their patients’ competence and ability to participate.Aims and objectives.  To explore what kind of decisions and how these decisions were made during a child's hospitalization.Design.  During a 9‐week period 24 children and their parents were followed during the course of events at the hospital. In total 135 hours of observations were made and analysed in two steps.Results.  In most of the situations one or both parents were present with the child. Most decisions were of a medical nature, and commonly decisions were made in consultation with those affected by the decision. Although one or more persons protested in 83 of the 218 described situations, decisions were seldom reconsidered.Conclusions.  The children and their parents were usually involved in the decision‐making process. Children and parents made few decisions themselves and even if they disagreed with the decision made, few decisions were reconsidered.Relevance to clinical practice.  Having a voice in decision‐making helps the child to develop a sense of himself as a person and gives the parents a feeling that they are part of a team giving their child optimal care during hospitalization. Promoting children's rights is one of the most important roles for the children's nurse.
Venous leg ulcer patients: a review of the literature on lifestyle and pain‐related interventions
Authors: Heinen Maud M. , Achterberg Theo van , Reimer Wilma Scholte op , Kerkhof Peter C.M. van de , Laat Erik de 
Published: December 2004

Background.  Having a leg ulcer has a major impact on daily life. Lifestyle is mentioned in most leg ulcer guidelines but mostly without much emphasis on the subject.Aims and objectives.  Evidence for the effect of nutrition, leg elevation and exercise on the healing of leg ulcers was reconsidered. Furthermore, the evidence for effective pain‐related interventions was investigated.Design.  Systematic literature review.Methods.  Medline, Cinahl, Psychinfo and Cochrane were searched for studies on pain related interventions, and the effectiveness of leg elevation, leg exercise and nutritional interventions in patients with venous leg ulceration.Results.  Some evidence was found to support a positive effect of leg exercises on the endurance and power of the calf muscle and on the haemodynamic status of the limb. There is also evidence for a positive effect of leg elevation during bed rest without compression. No hard evidence was found concerning the effect of enriched or altered nutrition on wound healing. However, there is some evidence of nutritional deficits in this patient group. The use of eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic cream is effective for reducing pain in wound debridement, but pain relief in daily life is insufficiently treated.Conclusion.  There is no real evidence of effectiveness of the investigated lifestyle interventions but there are indications that lifestyle interventions might contribute to healing or prevention of venous leg ulceration.Relevance to clinical practice.  Although there is no hard evidence, it can be expected that interventions such as nutritional monitoring, guided exercise and leg elevation will have a substantial impact on wound healing in patients with venous leg ulceration. The use of eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic cream can be advised for pain relief with wound debridement. The current lack of effective pain treatment with venous leg ulceration emphasizes the need for effective pain treatment.
The effect of music on preprocedure anxiety in Hong Kong Chinese day patients
Authors: Lee David , Henderson Amanda , Shum David 
Published: December 2004

Aims and objectives.  To identify the effect of music on preprocedure anxiety levels of Hong Kong Chinese patients undergoing day procedures in a local community based hospital.Design.  Pre and post‐test quasi experimental design with non‐random assignment.Method.  A total of 113 participants were assigned to the control group or intervention group depending on the day of their procedure. Participants’ anxiety levels were measured objectively by comparing their vital signs and subjectively by the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Scale. Participants’ physiological parameters (blood pressure, pulse and respiration) and State Trait Anxiety Scale were measured at two time periods. The control group undertook the usual relaxing activities provided in the waiting room compared with the intervention group who listened to music of their own choice in reclining chairs while waiting for the procedure.Results.  The physiological parameters for both the control and intervention groups dropped significantly during the waiting period, however, only the intervention group had a significant reduction in reported anxiety levels.Conclusions.  These results suggest that providing self‐selected music to day procedure patients in the preprocedure period assists in the reduction of physiological parameters and anxiety, yet, a relaxing environment can assist in the reduction of physiological parameters.Relevance to clinical practice.  The administration of self‐selected music to day procedure patients in the preprocedure period can be effective in the reduction of physiological parameters and anxiety.
Small bowel bacterial overgrowth and rice malabsorption in healthy and physically disabled older adults
Authors: Mitsui T. , Kagami H. , Kinomoto H. , Ito A. , Kondo T. , Shimaoka K. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim  To determine whether there are differences in small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) and rice digestion between healthy and disabled older adults and to estimate the influence of physical activity on these nutritional statuses.Method  Fifteen disabled adults who commute to a day‐care centre and 11 healthy older adults participated in this study. SBBO and rice absorption were judged using a breath hydrogen test. Physical activity was estimated using a pedometer.Results  The average number of steps taken per day by the disabled was 1056 ± 243, which was statistically lower than that of the healthy, 6904 ± 782 (P < 0.001). No SBBO‐positive subject was seen in the healthy group, whereas five (33.3%) of 15 disabled older adults were SBBO‐positive. After ingesting glucose solution, the ▵H2 of disabled subjects was higher than that of the healthy subjects (7.6 ± 2.7 versus 0.5 ± 0.3 p.p.m., P < 0.05). Rice malabsorption was seen in one (9.1%) of 11 in the healthy and two (14.3%) of 14 in the disabled groups, which was not statistically significant.Conclusions  Disabled older people who have a physically inactive lifestyle are at risk of SBBO, probably because of a reduction in their intestinal motility. SBBO has no influence on absorption of rice, and some older adults, independent of physical condition, can not absorb rice adequately.
Validation of a short questionnaire to qualitatively assess the intake of total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol
Authors: Rohrmann S. , Klein G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  To validate a self‐administered 20‐item short questionnaire (SQ) for classifying individuals according to their intake of total fat, saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), as well as cholesterol.Methods  The SQ was sent to a randomly selected subsample of 300 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) in Heidelberg. The SQ was sent back by 244 participants (52.5% women, 47.5% men). Intake of total fat, SFA, MUFA, PUFA, and cholesterol was calculated from a 148‐item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The intake was compared with the scores computed from the SQ.Results  Spearman's correlation coefficient between the intake estimated from the FFQ and the score from the SQ ranged from r = 0.29 (PUFA) to r = 0.56 (cholesterol). When the participants were assigned to quartiles of intake according to both methods 29–42% were classified into the same quartile, 1–7% of the participants were grossly misclassified.Conclusions  The SQ demonstrated a good validity with respect to SFA and cholesterol and an acceptable validity with respect to total fat and MUFA, while the results are less good for PUFA. The SQ can be used to classify persons according to their intake into categories of intake.
The dietitians challenge: the implementation of nutritional advice for people with diabetes*
Authors:   Nutrition Sub‐Committee of the Diabetes Care Advisory Committee of Diabetes UK
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe evidence base for current nutritional recommendations has been extensively reviewed on behalf of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 1998 and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2002. The nutrition Sub‐Committee of Diabetes UK is in general agreement with those recommendations. This paper provides consensus‐based recommendations that emphasize the practical implementation of nutritional advice for people with diabetes, and describe the provision of dietetic services required to provide the information. Important changes from previous Diabetes UK (previously British Diabetic Association Diabet. Med.9, 189) recommendations include greater flexibility in the proportions of energy derived from carbohydrate and monounsaturated fat, further liberalization in the consumption of sucrose, more active promotion of foods with a low glycaemic index, and greater emphasis on the provision of nutritional advice in the context of wider lifestyle changes, particularly physical activity. Monounsaturated fats are now promoted as the main source of dietary fat because of their lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation – and consequent lower atherogenic potential. Consumption of sucrose for patients who are not overweight can be increased up to 10% of daily energy derived from carbohydrate provided that this is eaten in the context of a healthy diet and distributed throughout the day. The role of the dietitian is outlined in facilitating lifestyle changes and evidence is presented for the effectiveness of advice provided by trained dietitians. The increasing evidence for the importance of good metabolic control and the growing requirement for measures to prevent Type 2 diabetes in an increasingly obese population will require major expansion of dietetic services if the standards in National Service Frameworks are to be successfully implemented at local level.