bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality indicators in postoperative pain management: a validation study
Authors: Idvall Ewa , Hamrin Elisabeth , Sjöström Björn , Unosson Mitra 
Published: March 2003

Quality indicators in postoperative pain management: a validation study In a previous study, strategic and clinical quality indicators were developed from a tentative model to assess high quality in postoperative pain management. The aim of the present study was to investigate the content validity of these 15 indicators. The indicators were compiled in a questionnaire, and two groups of nurses (n=210, n=321) scored each indicator on a 5‐point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) from three different standpoints: whether it was essential for achieving high quality, whether it was realistic to carry out, and whether it was possible for nurses to influence management. The respondents were also asked to choose the most crucial indicators for the quality of care. The results showed that both groups of nurses judged the 15 indicators to have content validity from all three standpoints. Both groups also found the same six indicators to be the most crucial. These indicators concerned detecting and acting on signs and symptoms, performing prescriptions, informing and educating, acting on behalf of patients, competence/knowledge, and attitudes. The validated indicators should be useful to consider when implementing a strategy for postoperative pain management and when planning to evaluate the quality of care.
Orientation towards living in an old age home: an instrument to predict use of an old age home
Authors: Haken Liesbeth M. , Steverink Nardi , Van Den Heuvel Wim J. A. , Lindenberg Siegwart M. 
Published: March 2003

Background:
This study presents an alternative assessment method for establishing the demand for an old age home among a community‐dwelling older population. The instrument, called ‘orientation towards admission into an old age home’, represents the intensity of the need for admission as expressed by older people themselves. Therefore it is indicative of the ‘subjective demand’. Methods: Using a longitudinal design (1993–98), the study tests whether a stronger orientation towards admission into an old age home leads to use of an old age home. This assessment method is compared with another method of assessing ‘subjective demand’, that is by those who have applied for and are waiting for admission. Additionally, the method is compared with an ‘objective’ indicator of demand, that is, the level of physical impairments and age of the elderly person. Results: Results show that the subjective demand as measured by the ‘orientation toward admission into an old age home’ is indeed related to actual use of an old age home. The subjective demand as measured by being on a waiting list is not significantly related to the use of an old age home. The level of physical impairments (the objective demand) and age are sometimes, but not always, significantly related to the use of an old age home. Conclusion: The instrument ‘orientation’ provides us with a valuable instrument in assessing ‘subjective demand’ for an old age home among community‐dwelling older people.
Danish research‐active clinical nurses overcome barriers in research utilization
Authors: Adamsen Lis , Larsen Kristian , Bjerregaard Lene , Madsen Jan K. 
Published: March 2003

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether there was a difference between clinical nurses who were research‐active, and clinical nurses who were nonresearch‐active in utilization of research. A further aim was to identify the most significant barriers faced by a group of Danish clinical nurses in their use of research.Background: Discrepancy between the improved quality of research results and the lack of implementing them was the starting point for a series of studies which showed the types of barriers clinical nurses found especially cumbersome when applying the research results of other researchers. This study investigates whether the clinical nurses' own engagement in research had any impact on their perception of research utilization.Methodology: The study had an exploratory and descriptive design. Seventy‐nine Danish clinical nurses participated and semi‐structured interviewing was used as the research method.Findings: There was a statistically significant difference between the research‐active and nonresearch‐active nurses on various variables. The study showed that, to a larger extent, research‐active nurses used evidence‐based knowledge and were generally more internationally orientated. Furthermore, two important barriers for research utilization were identified by all 79 clinical nurses included in the study, i.e. 90% of the nurses explained that the quantity of research results was overwhelming, and 75% of them found that they were unable to evaluate the quality of the research.Conclusions: Clinical nurses, who were research‐active themselves, experienced more success in overcoming some of the barriers, which existed in applying research to practice. The research potential found amongst clinical nurses in Denmark needed to be further supported through training and guidance in research methodology, establishing introductory stipends and part‐time research positions. By doing so, some of the barriers affecting research utilization and the so‐called theory–practice gap might be reduced. Further empirical studies, based on Giddens theory of sociological reflectivity, might see clinical nurses in a more serious light and simultaneously perceive them as producers of knowledge.
Characterization of 11 polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellites for forensic applications in California elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis)
Authors: Jones Kenneth C. , Levine Kenneth F. , Banks James D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractEleven polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci have been developed for forensic use in the protection of California elk. Based on a reference sample of elk taken from three races throughout California, the loci consist of 4–9 alleles (average 6.125). Probabilities of identity (Paetkau et al. 1995) range from 0.079 to 0.288, with an overall probability of identity of 1.3 × 10−9 (one in 7.8 × 108).
Microsatellite markers for the wasp Euodynerus foraminatus (Vespidae: Eumeninae)
Authors: Stahlhut Julie K. , Cowan David P. , Essani Karim , Shoemaker D. Dewayne , Barkman Todd J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe have identified five polymorphic microsatellite loci for the solitary wasp Euodynerus foraminatus, using a partial genomic library constructed from random amplified polymorphic DNA fragments. We detected between three and 13 alleles per locus in a sample of 30 female wasps collected in southwest Michigan, USA. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.2 to 0.73. These markers will be used in our ongoing studies of sex determination and naturally occurring inbreeding in this species.
Microsatellite markers for northern red oak (Fagaceae:Quercus rubra)
Authors: Aldrich Preston R. , Michler Charles H. , Sun Weilin , Romero‐Severson Jeanne 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe provide primer sequences for 14 (GA)nmicrosatellite loci developed from northern red oak, an important timber species. We screened loci using two sets of samples. A parent–offspring set included DNA from seven acorns collected from one mother tree along with maternal DNA, to determine that all progeny carried a maternal allele at each locus. The other set was comprised of 10 adult trees sampled from Indiana old‐growth forest, providing a measure of diversity revealed by each locus.
managedpop: a computer simulation to project allelic diversity in managed populations with overlapping generations
Authors: Birnbaum Kenneth , Benfey Philip N. , Peters Charles M. , Desalle Rob 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe present a Monte Carlo simulation, managedpop, to project the loss of allelic diversity in a population with overlapping generations supported (or invaded) by a prodigious subpopulation. Input parameters allow the user to account for complex life histories and critical management practices, such as the frequency at which supportive breeding stocks are replaced. The simulation could also be used to examine the threat of species or population level extinction via hybridization. managedpop merges theoretical formulations on the effective size of supported populations and of populations with overlapping generations using easily measured life history traits.
Characterization of microsatellite DNA markers in the white‐bearded manakin (Manacus manacus)
Authors: Piertney Stuart B. , Shorey Lisa , Höglund Jacob 
Published: March 2003

AbstractEight microsatellite DNA markers were isolated and characterized from white bearded manakin (Manacus manacus) using an enrichment cloning procedure. A large number of alleles (range 9–25), and high levels of observed heterozygosity (mean 0.67) were resolved in 236 individuals. No evidence for linkage disequilibrium or the presence of null alleles was found, indicating that these markers will be useful for examining genetic relatedness, parentage and population structure in manakins.
Highly polymorphic microsatellite markers developed for the social halictine bee Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) hemichalceum
Authors: Kukuk P. F. , Forbes S. H. , Zahorchack R. , Riddle A. , Pilgrim K. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Lasioglossum
(
Chilalictus
)
hemichalceum is a social halictine bee species for which we developed 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci in order to investigate detailed genetic structure of cooperating indvididuals. The loci are highly polymorphic with allele numbers ranging between eight and 22. A null allele was detected at one locus in the absence of pedigree information.
Sequence characterized amplified polymorphic markers for the pitch canker pathogen, Fusarium circinatum
Authors: Britz H. , Wingfield B. D. , Coutinho T. A. , Wingfield M. J. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Fusarium circinatum
is the causal agent of pitch canker disease of pines. This pathogen is thought to have originated in Central America and currently poses a serious threat to commercial pine plantations in many areas of the world. In this study, polymorphic molecular markers were developed for
F. circinatum
using the internal short sequence repeats‐polymerase chain reaction (ISSR‐PCR) technique. Nine sequence characterized amplified polymorphic markers were developed. Thirty‐two putative alleles were observed among 103
F. circinatum
isolates from different geographical areas using the nine polymorphic markers. These sequence characterized amplified polymorphic markers can be used as genetic tools in populations studies of
F. circinatum.
Sequence variation of intergenic mitochondrial DNA spacers (mtDNA‐IGS) of Phytophthora infestans (Oomycetes) and related species
Authors: Wattier R. A. M. , Gathercole L. L. , Assinder S. J. , Gliddon C. J. , Deahl K. L. , Shaw D. S. , Mills D. I. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe potato late‐blight disease is caused by the pseudofungus Phytophthora infestans (Oomycetes). This pathogen was of historical importance as it caused the Irish Potato Famine. There is currently a worldwide resurgence of the disease. Following worldwide migrations as well as being able to discriminate P. infestans from related species are key issues. We present sequence variation of five inter‐genic mitochondrial DNA spacers (mtDNA‐IGS) for P. infestans and four related taxa. Intra and inter‐taxon variation was observed showing potential for both molecular ecology and molecular systematic.
How do I know it's health promotion? A study of health promotion activities and awareness in student placements
Authors: Schickler Pam , James Trudi , Smith Pam 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBridging the gap between the theory and practice of health promotion on student placements is a challenge. Recent policy documents and the National Occupational Standards for professional activity have highlighted the need to provide training for health professionals in this area. This paper draws on a study to investigate students’, lecturers’ and clinical staff's understanding of the practice of, and education for, health promotion, and their perception of how clinical competence is achieved in this domain. Questionnaire findings revealed that students and newly qualified staff displayed a narrow perception of health promotion, despite a wider definition that now pervades theoretical teaching. Students benefited from health promotion sessions in the university and used much of this information to promote their own and their family's health. The use of more open and qualitative techniques (focus groups and semi‐structured interviews) and prompting through amplification of the term health promotion induced students to realize that they were in fact practising a wider definition. Findings indicate that students would welcome the opportunity to extend their health promotion practice. Furthermore, the data suggested that articulation by clinicians of their health promotion practice, together with discussion and reflection, would help students and staff embed knowledge into practice. Visible parts of health promotion, such as advice on smoking cessation, were easier to articulate and put into practice than were the less tangible aspects, such as tackling inequalities. Lack of time and poor staffing levels constrained the ability of supervisors and students to discuss and reflect on health promotion theory and practice. However, opportunities, especially in the community, were more frequently pinpointed as learning experiences compared with the acute sector. Use of the National Occupational Standards was seen as a way to develop curricula, while active mentoring was identified as a means of evaluating and enhancing health promotion activities in the clinical learning environment.
Shifts in tonic accommodation after near work are related to refractive errors in children
Authors: Gwiazda Jane , Bauer Joseph , Thorn Frank , Held Richard 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA link between changes in tonic accommodation (TA) produced by sustained near work and the development of adult‐onset myopia has been suggested in studies of young adults. Measures of TA before and after near work have been lacking in children of school age, which is the most susceptible period for the development and progression of juvenile‐onset myopia. In the present study accommodation was measured in 87 children, aged 7 to 16 years, before and after 15 minutes of video game playing. All children were refracted before testing and wore optical correction during measures of accommodation with a Canon R1 autorefractor. Most children showed initial values of TA (far focus minus dark focus) between 0.0 and 1.0D, with a mean of 0.68D. Grouped by refractive status, the myopic children initially showed 0.30D of TA, while the emmetropic children showed 0.75D and the hyperopic children showed 0.94D. After playing the video game, TA of the myopes increased by 1.15D, compared to smaller increases for the emmetropes (0.68D) and hyperopes (0.24D). Comparable values have been obtained from young adults. These results indicate that the smallest initial values of TA and the largest inward shifts in TA are found during the period of acquisition and progression of myopia, regardless of age.
A clinical trial of the SUN SK‐2000 computer‐assisted videokeratoscope
Authors: Dave Trusit N. , Fowler Colin W. , Elawad Mohammed E. A. , Dunne Mark C. M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA clinical trial was performed on 20 optometry students in order to evaluate the suitability of the SUN SK‐2000 (SUN contact lens company, Japan) computer‐assisted videokeratoscope for use in clinical practice. Suitability was assessed by observing three factors: the accuracy, repeatability and agreement for central mean corneal power (MCP) with a keratometer (Javal Schiotz). Measurements of eight peripheral points and the central radius of curvature were made on 20 optometry students and on an 8mm calibration surface using the SUN SK‐2000. The SUN SK‐2000 accurately determined the 8mm calibration surface (supplied by manufacturers) to be spherical (SD = ±0.013, P = 0.776). Careful alignment was found to be an important factor in determining the actual radius of the calibration sphere. Unfortunately, the system required measurements to be taken at a point which was not coincident with the line of sight. A simple improvement to this has been suggested. Readings were most repeatable for central corneal radii. Peripheral radii showed the most repeatability for the horizontal and inferior corneal radii. It has been suggested that the ocular adnexa may be a possible cause for the poor repeatability in the superior area of the cornea. The level of agreement between the Javal Schiotz keratometer and the SUN SK‐2000 in terms of mean refractive error (MRE) was not found to be sufficient for the two instruments to be interchangeable (P = 0.011). TheCo and C45 components of corneal astigmatism were found to have little association with the keratometer.
Responses to colour of neurones in area 7a of the inferior parietal lobule of the rhesus monkey
Authors: Blum Baruch 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA single‐unit study on area 7a of alert, fixating rhesus monkeys revealed responsiveness to primary colours comparable to white light responsiveness shown in other cells. Mostly decremented, some biphasic, and a small portion with incremented neuronal firing response were observed, following stimulation of cells by parafoveal receptive field, rectangular, approximately 20°× 20° red, green or blue‐violet light stimuli. The same cell showed no response to white light. Receptive fields of these colour‐sensitive cells, like those of white‐sensitive cells, were mostly contralateral, some ipsilateral and a few in both hemifields. Augmentation of responses following preconditioning electrical stimulation of lateroposteriorpulvinar targets was observed as with the white‐light sensitive cells. It is noteworthy that this monkey area 7a colour sensitivity is complementary to previously demonstrated white light sensitivity. The specific properties revealed by these cells suggest separate channels within area 7a for colour and for achromatic light, the colour sensitivity possibly relevant when chromaticity is of generalized import, and these may subserve the animal's orienting response to colour appearance in the near‐periphery visual field.
Temporal evolution of the corneal curvature in contact lens wearers
Authors: Velasco J. , Bermudez F. J. , Jimenez del Barco L. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIn the present work, we have measured the corneal radii in a group of 126 healthy subjects, studying the temporal evolution of these radii after adaptation to contact lenses of polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate with 55% hydration. We measured the horizontal and vertical radii before adaptation, as well as after 3, 6 and 9 months of wearing contact lenses. The decreases were not significant (P < 0.05) in the corneal radii of these subjects; maximum decreases were reached the day after wearing contact lenses, with subsequent recuperation, such that at 9 months the decreases, though persisting, were minimal.
Keratometric variation: the influence of a fluid layer
Authors: Cronje‐Dunn S. , Harris W. F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryVariation of keratometric measurements on an approximately spherical surface on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) button is compared to keratometric variation on the PMMA button after the application of an artificial tear solution. The variation is shown by means of scatter plots in a three‐dimensional space, as well as quantitatively in the form of variance‐covariance matrices. The wet button showed variances a factor of more than 1000 times that of the dry button. This suggests that the precorneal tear film could be an important, often‐overlooked contributing factor to keratometric variation in the case of the eye.
Is there a significant relationship between interocular acuity difference and the magnitude of anisometropic ametropia?
Authors: Cleary M. , Thompson C. M. , Winn B. 
Published: March 2003

Purpose: Previous research reveals no consensus on this question despite 30 years of effort. Earlier studies raise criticisms, particularly in terms of patient inclusion criteria and use of traditional acuity charts with non‐uniform increments. These issues have been addressed in this investigation.Methods: The samples were new untreated referrals to a hospital orthoptic department who were screened to exclude strabismus and ocular pathology. Corrected acuities were measured using Glasgow Acuity Cards 8–12 weeks after prescribing spectacles (1% cyclopentolate HCL cycloplegic refraction‐‐full prescription) but prior to any occlusion therapy. The dioptric differences in both the spherical equivalent (SER) and vector components of the two eyes were computed and each was compared with the interocular log MAR difference.Results: Linear regression analyses of the 96 subjects (mean age 5.6 ± 2.1 years) revealed a significant association between the degree of anisometropia and magnitude of log MAR acuity difference: r = 0.326, P = 0.0018 (SER); r = 0.354, P = 0.0004 (vector analysis). A similar relationship was found (r = 0.338, P = 0.005 (SER); r = 0.34, P = 0.005 (vector analysis) when 28 individuals with astigmatism of ≥2 DC were excluded.Conclusions: Our data support a significant relationship between degree of anisometropia and interocular log MAR difference. The correlation is greater using vector analysis.
The reliability of a computerised crossed‐cylinder aberroscope for measuring the optical aberrations of the human eye
Authors: Cox M. J. , Merino N. 
Published: March 2003

Purpose: To assess the reliability of a new computerised method of measuring the monochromatic aberrations on the human eye.Methods: A crossed‐cylinder aberroscope which has been modified to provide semi‐automated objective measurements of the wavefront aberration of the human eye was used to collect repeated measurements in a sample of ten normal subjects. For each subject one eye was chosen and ten images of the aberrations in that eye were collected. All the images were analysed once to measure the inter‐image variability. One image from each eye was measured ten times to measure the intra‐image variability. To assess the reliability we used a one‐way analysis of variance designed to measure changes in the two‐dimensional wavefront aberration function.Results: A significant difference existed between the wavefront aberration measured in each subject. That is, inter‐image and intra‐image errors in the repeated measurements were small enough to allow the different subjects to be discriminated from one another.Conclusions: The reliability is satisfactory under the conditions of multiple measurements of the same eye from different images (inter‐image reliability) and multiple measurement of the same image (intra‐image reliability).