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Biomedical subjects

M Goff

Publications and source records attributed to M Goff.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cultural competency and nursing care: an Australian perspective.

AIMS: To propose a process that will facilitate cultural competence in Australian nursing practice. BACKGROUND: Cultural diversity is a prominent feature of the Australian health system and is impacting significantly on nursing care quality. A fictitious, but typical clinical exemplar is profiled that identifies cultural insensitivity in care practices leading to poor quality outcomes for the health consumer and her family. Strategies are proposed that will reverse this practice and promote culturally competent nursing care and that locates overseas qualified nurses in this process. CONCLUSION: This paper contributes to nursing care quality internationally by articulating strategies to achieve cultural competence in practice. Nurses must pay attention to interpersonal relationships and develop respect for the health consumer's value systems and ways of being, in order to protect their rights and avoid the tendency to stereotype individuals from particular cultures. The expertise of qualified nurses from different cultures can greatly assist this process.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

The mitochondrial genome of the stramenopile alga Chrysodidymus synuroideus. Complete sequence, gene content and genome organization.

This is the first report of a complete mitochondrial genome sequence from a photosynthetic member of the stramenopiles, the chrysophyte alga Chrysodidymus synuroideus. The circular-mapping mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 34 119 bp contains 58 densely packed genes (all without introns) and five unique open reading frames (ORFs). Protein genes code for components of respiratory chain complexes, ATP synthase and the mitoribosome, as well as one product of unknown function, encoded in many other protist mtDNAs (YMF16). In addition to small and large subunit ribosomal RNAs, 23 tRNAs are mtDNA-encoded, permitting translation of all codons present in protein-coding genes except ACN (Thr) and CGN (Arg). The missing tRNAs are assumed to be imported from the cytosol. Comparison of the C.SYNUROIDEUS: mtDNA with that of other stramenopiles allowed us to draw conclusions about mitochondrial genome organization, expression and evolution. First, we provide evidence that mitochondrial ORFs code for highly derived, unrecognizable versions of ribosomal or respiratory genes otherwise 'missing' in a particular mtDNA. Secondly, the observed constraints in mitochondrial genome rearrangements suggest operon-based, co-ordinated expression of genes functioning in common biological processes. Finally, stramenopile mtDNAs reveal an unexpectedly low variability in genome size and gene complement, testifying to substantial differences in the tempo of mtDNA evolution between major eukaryotic lineages.

Algal Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Understanding the latent structure of job performance ratings.

This study quantified the effects of 5 factors postulated to influence performance ratings: the ratee's general level of performance, the ratee's performance on a specific dimension, the rater's idiosyncratic rating tendencies, the rater's organizational perspective, and random measurement error. Two large data sets, consisting of managers (n = 2,350 and n = 2,142) who received developmental ratings on 3 performance dimensions from 7 raters (2 bosses, 2 peers, 2 subordinates, and self) were used. Results indicated that idiosyncratic rater effects (62% and 53%) accounted for over half of the rating variance in both data sets. The combined effects of general and dimensional ratee performance (21% and 25%) were less than half the size of the idiosyncratic rater effects. Small perspective-related effects were found in boss and subordinate ratings but not in peer ratings. Average random error effects in the 2 data sets were 11% and 18%.

Bias↗
PubMed2000

Caring for a person with dementia in acute hospitals.

Nursing a person with dementia with an acute illness in a hospital setting is a great challenge. This requires negotiating complex interpersonal relationships, and balancing a multiplicity of tasks and roles within social, political and economic constraints. A concerted effort by health professionals and hospital administration to provide appropriate staff education, a multidisciplinary approach, liaison with family carers and access to experts in psychogeriatrics as well as suitable ward environment are positive steps to improving care for a very vulnerable group of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Hatchling sea turtles use surface waves to establish a magnetic compass direction

Hatchling sea turtles emerge from underground nests, crawl to the ocean, and swim away from the land. In shallow water near shore, hatchlings maintain offshore headings by swimming into oceanic waves; in deeper water, however, turtles appear to rely on different mechanisms to maintain their courses. To determine whether loggerhead hatchlings, Caretta caretta L., are able to transfer a course initiated on the basis of waves to a course maintained by a magnetic compass, we studied the orientation behaviour of turtles that had been exposed to waves for either 15 or 30 min before being tested in still water. Hatchlings that swam into waves for 15 min failed to continue swimming on similar courses when the waves were discontinued, but turtles that swam into waves for 30 min maintained similar mean headings after the waves stopped. Inverting the vertical component of the magnetic field during the test period reversed the direction of orientation of this latter group of turtles. Thus, hatchlings can transfer a heading induced by waves to a magnetic compass, and thereby continue to migrate away from land after contact with the coast is lost. Migratory orientation in turtles resembles that of birds in that both rely on multiple cues and an ability to transfer information between various cues and compasses at appropriate times during the journey.Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Anti-(human immunodeficiency virus) activity of polyoxotungstates and their inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase.

Heteropolyoxotungstates of the Keggin class containing different heteroatoms were tested for inhibition of two strains of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1); they exhibited varying antiviral activity. Compounds containing boron were inactive, only one of those containing phosphorus showed selective anti-viral activity, whereas all silicon-containing compounds exhibited significant anti-viral activity in C8166 cells infected with the IIIB strain. Their effectiveness was some 10-fold higher in JM cells with selectivity indices of about 2000. The silicotungstates were effective inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase, showing greater inhibition with RNA/DNA template primers than with DNA/DNA template.primer. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that they inhibit the enzyme by different mechanisms, as, of the four compounds examined, two competed with template.primer and two competed with deoxynucleoside triphosphate. Inhibition of DNA polymerase activity by these compounds was compared using polymerases from different sources, including human; although not necessarily most specific for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, they did not inhibit all DNA polymerases to a similar degree.

Antiviral Agents↗