SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Exploration”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 901 records · Page 50Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Agency and research team co-operation: an exploration of human territoriality.

The purpose of this paper is to alert researchers and agency staff to potential conflicts that may arise during research projects conducted in busy community-based agencies. Within a framework of human territoriality, key factors in avoiding such conflicts are explored. Territoriality is the defence against intruders of an area of land which is considered to be owned. For humans, something owned includes space, objects, ideas, privileges or rights. Key territoriality concepts explored in the paper are: the private domain, encompassing a privacy retreat and personal space; and the public arena which includes psychological space and action territory. Examples of violation of the types of territory are examined and suggestions for prevention of conflicts are provided.

Community Health Nursing↗

PubMed2005

Impersonal trust and professional authority: exploring the dynamics.

AIM: The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between impersonal trust, governmentality and professional activity through an analysis of professional discourse. BACKGROUND: This study emerged from an earlier paper that described a four-dimensional model based on Luhmann's definition of trust as "reducing complexity and managing expectations". Linking trust with the Foucauldian notion of governmentality develops this further. Governmentality raises the question of how professional authority is constituted through the practice of nurses and other health and welfare professionals. METHOD: Discourse analysis was used to explore the text from two genres--academic literature and interview material (n = 17)--in the context of community residential services for people with learning disabilities. Findings. The study provided evidence to support claims that trust is produced through impersonal systems. Trust is contested in a dynamic process where there are gains and losses. Professionals in organisations actively promote trust, often through systems of distrust. The study also built on the four-dimensional model of impersonal trust--trust, mistrust, abuse and hope--and re-conceptualized the trust-hope dimension. CONCLUSION: There are theoretical links between governmentality and trust. Similarly, in order to understand trust nurses need to understand the dynamic nature of the systems in which they operate. The proposition that trust could frustrate hope adds an element of controversy to the discussion of hope in the nursing literature.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2005

Explorative statistical analysis of planar point processes in microscopy.

Basic methods of explorative statistical analysis for stationary and isotropic planar point processes are briefly and informally reviewed. At the explorative level, planar point patterns may be characterized in terms of the intensity, the K-function and the pair correlation function. These second-order functions enable one to classify a given point process as completely random, clustering or repulsive. The repulsive behaviour may be quantified by an estimate of the hard-core distance. In the exploratory approach, the statistics are essentially free from model assumptions. Second-order spatial functions have been estimated to characterize genuine planar point processes in the macroscopic domain, for example in forestry, geography and epidemiology. For light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, two situations are distinguished, which may be summarized as the genuine planar case and the stereological case. In the genuine planar case, a direct interpretation of the results of spatial statistics is feasible. Here, monolayers in cell culture, intramembranous particles on freeze fracture specimens and amacrine cells of the retina are mentioned as examples. In the stereological case, point patterns are generated by sections through 3D structures. Here the observed point patterns may arise as the centres of sectional profiles of particles, or as centres of sectional profiles of spatial fibre processes. In both situations, exploratory spatial point process statistics allow a quantitative characterization of sectional images for the purposes of group comparisons and classification. Moreover, for spatial fibre processes it has recently been shown that the observed pair correlation function of the centres of the fibre profiles is an estimate of the reduced pair correlation function of the fibre process in 3D. Hence for fibre processes a stereological interpretation of point process statistics obtained from sections is an additional option.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed2007

Pilot exploration of the association between self-esteem and professional satisfaction in Hellenic hospital nurses.

AIM: To explore potential associations between nurses' self-esteem and professional satisfaction. BACKGROUND: Professional burnout and moderate job satisfaction have been reported consistently among nurses. However, potential associations of the above elements with personality characteristics have not been adequately addressed. METHODS: A random sample of 154 adult healthcare nurses completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Berger's Scale and the Index of Work Satisfaction. Associations and comparisons across different settings and background variables were explored. RESULTS: Moderate to positive levels of self-acceptance (mean Likert rating: 3.95 +/- 0.51) and acceptance-of-others (mean Likert rating: 3.7 +/- 0.43) and low to moderate levels of professional satisfaction (mean Likert rating: 3.69 +/- 0.63) were observed. Positive correlations were detected between professional satisfaction and self-esteem indices (r = 0.249-0.313, P < or = 0.008). A mediating effect of burnout was implied. CONCLUSIONS: A potential interaction between personality and professional attitudes of Hellenic Hospital nurses was observed. The present study is limited within the correlational frame. Further study is needed to investigate a potential causal relationship between self-esteem indices and professional satisfaction, in order to inform nursing retention and support policies.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Exploring prokaryotic diversity: there are other molecular worlds.

Prokaryotes are the major source of biological diversity on earth. This is not simply because of the large number of species present, or because of their diverse growth conditions and environmental niches populated by them, but because of the wealth of genes, metabolic pathways and molecular processes that are only found in prokaryotic cells. Therefore, Bacteria and Archaea (and their phages) cannot be considered any longer as miniaturized models of Eukaryotes, but as a genuine source of unique biological processes that are mediated by unique sets of genes and molecular devices. A true understanding of complex biological phenomena will require a deeper knowledge of this vast prokaryotic world. The second European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) conference on Molecular Microbiology entitled 'Exploring Prokaryotic Diversity' explored many aspects of this newly emerging interest in the prokaryotic world.

Archaea↗

PubMed2005

Exploring the potential of xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes as biocatalysts: evolving designer catalysts from polyfunctional cytochrome P450 enzymes.

1. Biological catalysts have the advantage of being able to catalyse chemical reactions with an often exquisite degree of regio- and stereospecificity in contrast with traditional methods of organic synthesis. 2. The cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in human drug metabolism are ideal starting materials for the development of designer biocatalysts by virtue of their catalytic versatility and extreme substrate diversity. Applications can be envisaged in fine chemical synthesis, such as in the pharmaceutical industry and bioremediation. 3. A variety of techniques of enzyme engineering are currently being applied to P450 enzymes to explore their catalytic potential. Although most studies to date have been performed with bacterial P450s, reports are now emerging of work with mammalian forms of the enzymes. 4. The present minireview will explore the rationale and general techniques for redesigning P450s, review the results obtained to date with xenobiotic-metabolising forms and discuss strategies to overcome some of the logistic problems limiting the full exploitation of these enzymes as industrial-scale biocatalysts.

Catalysis↗

PubMed1997

An exploration of the way in which the concept of patient advocacy is perceived by registered nurses working in an acute care hospital.

The purpose of this study was to provide a beginning exploration of the way in which registered general nurses perceived the concept of patient advocacy. A qualitative approach was taken using the techniques of the grounded theory method. A volunteer sample of eight registered nurses working in an adult acute care ward of a major metropolitan hospital were interviewed using an semi-structured format. Areas explored during the interviews included personal definitions of patient advocacy, elements of the advocate role, and the rationale for the nurse acting as patient advocate. Data analysis commenced during the data collection phase, where initial interviews were transcribed, coded and beginning categories were identified. The findings indicate that for the participants, advocacy is based on respect for the person, and acknowledgement of human rights. The quality of the relationship between the nurse and the patient appears to be the basis for the advocate role. Three initial categories emerged that describe the major elements of the participant's conceptualization of patient advocacy. These are, informing, supporting and representing.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

The nurse educator as teacher: exploring the construction of the 'reluctant instructor'.

This paper explores the discursive construction of the category of teacher identified as the 'reluctant instructor'. Data are drawn from my doctoral study, an ethnography of a school of nursing located in the higher education sector in which I was employed. This study explored the question: What shapes nurse educators and what do they, in turn, shape? Participants included nurse educators who taught a pre-registration programme. Data were gathered through interview and observations of classroom teaching. Analysis focused on the discursive constitution of participants' sense of being a nurse educator and on the implications of their ways of 'knowing and doing' for students. The analysis suggests that the dominant subject positions adopted by participants were those of 'academic' and 'victim'. They employed an ideal/real dichotomy to give a sense of coherence to the inconsistencies or contradications that they saw as structuring their daily activities. Being an academic entailed being an educator, specifically a facilitator, as being competent and having some degree of autonomy. However, participants saw the reality of their situation as markedly different from their ideal; as exhibiting traits of the 'outmoded', oppressive, hospital system of nurse training. Within this context most participants positioned themselves as a 'reluctant instructor'. The implications of their practices for the creation of the 'passive student' are suggested in the paper. In this analysis the nurse educator is viewed as implicated in the formation and maintenance of the context in which she or he is located. Such a view challenges the neutrality that is implicated in understandings of the nurse educator that inform nursing texts and that helped constitute participants' sense of self.

Faculty, Nursing↗

PubMed2006

Interdisciplinary researching: exploring the opportunities and risks of working together.

The aim of this paper is to explore the issues that present both opportunities and risks when working in an interdisciplinary research project. As the research context changes in the social reform environment, some scientists suggest it is time to forge new scientific working relationships, to open up the boundaries between disciplines. Interdisciplinary research is an alternative approach for nurses who might develop different ways of working with health researchers from other disciplines. The ideas in this paper come from a larger, grounded theory study on interdisciplinary teamwork. The changing research context, the meaning of interdisciplinary working, collaboration, and competence, integrating different disciplinary perspectives, interprofessional learning opportunities, and the relevance for nurses are explored in relation to interdisciplinary researching. Interdisciplinary researching is complex and potentially risky; however, it does offer nurses the opportunities for professional growth, development, and research work satisfaction. Many nurses are already well-trained researchers and might consider developing roles as interdisciplinary research project managers as well.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1988

The use of pre-operative scan prior to neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism.

A group of patients with diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) in Auckland between 1982 and 1986 is reviewed. Of the 119 patients, 55 had pre-operative scanning, 36 had no scanning prior to surgery and 29 were managed conservatively. Of the 52 patients who had pre-operative localization with ultrasound scanning, only 27 (52%) had their adenoma correctly predicted upon neck exploration. Of the 14 patients investigated with thallium-201 and technetium-99m (T1/Tc) subtraction scanning, 10 (71%) had their adenoma positively identified in the predicted locations, whereas the cause of the parathyroid pathology was correctly identified in 33 of the 36 patients (92%) who had surgery alone with no pre-operative scanning. In 11 patients both ultrasound and T1/Tc subtraction scanning were employed. In eight patients the results of the two scanning modalities agreed, and in seven of these eight patients the adenoma was correctly predicted (six single adenomas and one with double adenoma). In the three patients in whom the results of the two modalities differed, the T1/Tc subtraction scanning correctly predicted the site of the adenoma in two patients and in the third patient (with a small 223 mg adenoma) both modalities were incorrect. Of the six patients with histologically proven parathyroid hyperplasia, only three had pre-operative localization with ultrasound alone, and all three had incorrect predictions (one false positive for adenoma, and two false negative scans). Overall the results cast doubt over the usefulness of pre-operative scanning as a routine investigation prior to initial neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenoma↗

PubMed1994

Primary duct closure versus T-tube drainage following exploration of the common bile duct.

T-tube drainage of the common bile duct (CBD) following duct exploration has become standard surgical practice. This randomized prospective study has compared primary closure versus T-tube drainage of the CBD following exploration for calculous disease. Thirty-seven patients underwent primary closure and 26 underwent closure over T-tube. Both groups were comparable in terms of age, indications for surgery, associated illnesses, pre-operative bilirubin, amylase and white cell count. Forty-three per cent of operations were performed by a consultant in the primary closure group and 65% in the T-tube group. There was no significant difference in the duration of operation, incidence of wound infection, surgical or other complications following operation between the two groups. However, the postoperative stay was significantly prolonged in the T-tube group, to a median of 11 days, compared to 8 days in the primary closure group (P = 0.0001). This prolongation in stay was unrelated to whether admission was as an emergency or elective. T-tube drainage of the bile continued for a median of 7 days postoperative, whereas the bile drained via a wound drain in only 13 (35%) of the primary closure group, for a median of 5 days in these 13 patients. Long-term follow up was achieved in 48 patients, by a questionnaire sent at a median of 2.8 years following operation. Abdominal pains following recovery from the operation were experienced by 18% of the primary closure group and 20% of the T-tube group. No patient developed jaundice or pancreatitis, nor needed further biliary surgery following operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Laparoscopic exploration of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts and T-tube drainage.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has rapidly become the procedure of choice for the management of patients with gall-bladder stones. This contrasts with patients who have common bile duct and intrahepatic duct stones who still usually need an open operation. On the basis of experience of a number of LC by one surgeon and animal experiments, we have completed laparoscopic exploration of both intra- and extrahepatic ducts and T-tube drainage of 57 patients with intra- and extrahepatic bile duct calculi over 13 months during 1992-1993 with satisfactory results. The average operating time was 150 min, with a range of 100 to 220 min. Most patients were mobile and on oral fluids within 24 h postoperative. Average hospital stay was 4 days. Retained stones were found via T-tube cholangiography in four patients (7%) and for each patient these were removed by fibre-optic choledochoscope 2 weeks postoperatively. Laparoscopic exploration of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts is achievable by experienced surgeons and may be particularly helpful for patients who are not a good operative risk.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

The technique of endoscopic exploration for parathyroid adenoma of the neck.

BACKGROUND: The technical details of endoscopic exploration of parathyroid adenoma are described here, thereby drawing attention to the enormous potential of this new modality of minimal-access surgery. METHODS: Four patients with a parathyroid adenoma that was clearly demonstrated by pre-operative localization imaging techniques were subject to endoscopic exploration using one 11 mm and two 5 mm ports: a technique heretofore undescribed. RESULTS: An adenoma was successfully localized endoscopically in each case and was removed. The postoperative outcome proved most encouraging: no analgesics were required, the hypercalcaemia rapidly corrected and the patients were pleased with the smallness of scars. CONCLUSIONS: The described endoscopic approach is a viable and promising alternative to open surgery for parathyroid adenoma; further study would be fruitful.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1978

Idications for testicular biopsy or exploration in azoospermia.

Investigation of 311 azoospermic males has shown that the combination of estimation of testicular size and plasma FSH allows the spermatogenic function of the testes to be accurately assessed by non-invasive methods. Patients with small testes and grossly elevated levels of plasma FSH have absent, or grossly impaired spermatogenesis, and do not require surgical exploration. They should be advised with regard to adoption or artificial insemination. Patients with large testes (5 cm) or an FSH level which is not grossly elevated require operation and should undergo a surgical exploration and the possible correction of an obstructive lesion. A testicular biopsy is essential if no obstructive lesion is found as the histology of these patients may show a spermatogenic arrest.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1998

Exploring the possibility of sexual-behavioural primary prevention interventions for cervical cancer.

Consistent causal and risk factors for cervical cancer indicate that primary prevention may be beneficial for cervical cancer prevention. However, social or behavioural primary prevention strategies are seldom discussed in the prevention literature. This paper uses thematic analyses of interviews with key informants involved with cervical cancer prevention policy development in New Zealand to explore the possibility of sexual-behavioural primary prevention. While many informants perceived primary prevention to be important, others were cautiously accepting or opposed to it. Many concerns were raised that highlighting a preventable (sexually transmitted) causal factor might lead to blame and stigma around cervical cancer and reduce participation in cervical screening. Much of the support for primary prevention depended on it being conducted (indirectly) in the context of young people's sexual health education. Positions on primary prevention appeared to be informed by common presumptions about what happens in the 'real world' and the commonality of human papilloma virus in the general population. We contend that the possible health benefits from sexual-behavioural strategies for cervical cancer primary prevention need further exploration.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1973

Effects of chlorpromazine on exploration and habituation in the rat.

1. The effects of chlorpromazine, 2 and 4 mg/kg, on exploration were investigated under two independent influences-food deprivation and time of day.2. Rats had three 3-minute trials in a hole-board apparatus; hole-investigation (head-dips) and general motor activity were recorded.3. On trial 1 chlorpromazine reduced exploration to half the control level, but on trial 3 it had no effect on motor activity or head-dips.4. General activity habituated from trial 1 to 3 in all groups, but some of the drug groups did not show significant habituation of head-dips, due to the low level of responding on trial 1.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Sexuality after treatment for early prostate cancer: exploring the meanings of "erectile dysfunction".

OBJECTIVE: To explore perceptions of the impact of erectile dysfunction on men who had undergone definitive treatment for early nonmetastatic prostate cancer. DESIGN: Seven focus groups of men with early prostate cancer. The groups were semistructured to explore men's experiences and quality-of-life concerns associated with prostate cancer and its treatment. SETTING: A staff model health maintenance organization, and a Veterans Affairs medical center. PATIENTS: Forty-eight men who had been treated for early prostate cancer 12 to 24 months previously. RESULTS: Men confirmed the substantial effect of sexual dysfunction on the quality of their lives. Four domains of quality of life related to men's sexuality were identified: 1) the qualities of sexual intimacy; 2) everyday interactions with women; 3) sexual imagining and fantasy life; and 4) men's perceptions of their masculinity. Erectile problems were found to affect men in both their intimate and nonintimate lives, including how they saw themselves as sexual beings. CONCLUSIONS: Erectile dysfunction, the most common side effect of treatment for early prostate cancer, has far-reaching effects upon men's lives. Assessment of quality of life related to sexual dysfunction should address these broad impacts of erectile function on men's lives. Physicians should consider these effects when advising men regarding treatment options. Physicians caring for patients who have undergone treatment should address these psychosocial issues when counseling men with erectile dysfunction.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Use of principal component analysis and the GE-biplot for the graphical exploration of gene expression data.

This note is in response to Wouters et al. (2003, Biometrics 59, 1131-1139) who compared three methods for exploring gene expression data. Contrary to their summary that principal component analysis is not very informative, we show that it is possible to determine principal component analyses that are useful for exploratory analysis of microarray data. We also present another biplot representation, the GE-biplot (Gene Expression biplot), that is a useful method for exploring gene expression data with the major advantage of being able to aid interpretation of both the samples and the genes relative to each other.

Algorithms↗