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Biomedical subjects

J R Rest

Publications and source records attributed to J R Rest.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Describing and testing a moderator of the moral judgment and action relationship.

The relationship between moral judgment development and action for Ss who differ in the degree to which justice-based moral judgments influence moral decision making was investigated. First, a method for quantifying Ss' use of justice-based moral judgments in moral decision making (the utilizer variable) is described. Second, 5 moral judgment and action studies are reanalyzed to assess the moderating effect of the utilizer variable information. Results indicate that the relationship between moral judgment scores and action intensifies as utilization increases. Moreover, the utilizer effect appears uniform across different age and educational levels and behavioral domains. These findings support the validity of the utilizer variable and are consistent with recent multiprocess models of moral action that suggest that moral judgements are a necessary, but insufficient, factor in the production of moral action.

Decision Making

Electron microscopy of cerebral malaria in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Plasmodium berghei.

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of hamster cerebral malaria show that haemorrhages occur following vessel necrosis in animals with low parasitaemias. There is no concurrent thrombosis nor packing of capillaries with parasitised erythrocytes. Small vessels contain numerous monocytes which have phagocytosed erythrocytes and smaller particles of similar electron density. The monocytes attach to and migrate through the endothelium but then remain in close proximity to the vessels. Irregular dense deposits are present in the basement membrane of some animals 14 days after infection. These may be immune complexes. The pathogenesis of cerebral malaria is discussed in relation to these findings.

Animals

The histological effects of copper and zinc on chick embryo skeletal tissues in organ culture.

1. The effects of copper and zinc on organ cultures of chick embryo cartilage and bone maintained in low-trace-metal, chemically defined media for up to 8 d were studied macroscopically, histologically and histochemically. Length and wet-weight measurement of explants were assessed statistically. 2. No effects were found with Cu concentrations of 0-5-1-5 mug/ml medium. Between concentrations of 5 and 40 mug Cu/ml medium, lengths and wet-weights of cartilage cultures decreased significantly (P less than 0-001) compared with controls. The decrease was directly proportional to increasing Cu concentration, and that of the length was greater with increasing period of culture (P less than 0-001). 3. With 5--20 mug Cu/ml medium cartilage and bone became yellow in colour, and chondrocytes were swollen, rounded and basophilic. They were detached from their lacunae and the quantity of matrix was reduced. Loss of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activity and disappearance of glycogen accompanied the degeneration. Osteogenesis ceased, cells failed to divide and mature, lost their enzymes and died. Cu did not accumulate in the bone matrix. 4. The direct toxic effects of Cu for cartilage and bone may underlie some of the skeletal changes in hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease). 5. As Zn concentrations were increased from 2-5 to 7-5 mug/ml medium, lengths and wet-weights of cartilaginous cultures were significantly increased (P less than 0-001). As Zn concentrations were further increased (from 10 to 40 mug/ml medium), lengths and wet-weights were significantly decreased (P less than 0-001). 6. Zn stimulated chondrocyte division and vacuolation of cytoplasm. With higher Zn concentrations toxic changes of granular basophilia, lacunar detachment and necrosis were seen. Differentiation and functioning of osteoblasts, osteoclasts and chondroclasts were stimulated by Zn. 7. Zn was found in bone matrix, osteoblasts, osteocytes and hypertrophied chondrocytes.

Animals

Challenging misperceptions about nurses' moral reasoning.

Discussions in the nursing literature about the usefulness of Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning for women and nurses, and assertions about the level of moral reasoning scores of nurses have been clouded by inaccuracies and misperceptions. In this article, theoretical and measurement issues related to moral reasoning are clarified and a critical review of the literature is provided about the moral reasoning of nursing students and nurses as measured by the Defining Issues Test (DIT). The review indicates the need for greater rigor in studies of moral reasoning among nurses and the need for accuracy in interpreting and reporting moral reasoning scores. The data show that the moral reasoning of nurses, like that of other groups, tends to increase with formal education. Nurses' scores are usually comparable to, and sometimes higher than, scores of their academic peers.

Ethics, Nursing