Flinders University

About: Flinders University is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 12033 authors who have published 32831 publications receiving 973172 citations. The organization is also known as: Flinders University of South Australia.

A move to more systematic and transparent approaches in qualitative evidence synthesis: update on a review of published papers

Abstract: In 2007, the journal Qualitative Research published a review on qualitative evidence syntheses conducted between 1988 and 2004. It reported on the lack of explicit detail regarding methods for searching, appraisal and synthesis, and a lack of emerging consensus on these issues. We present an update of this review for the period 2005–8. Not only has the amount of published qualitative evidence syntheses doubled, but authors have also become more transparent about their searching and critical appraisal procedures. Nevertheless, for the synthesis component of the qualitative reviews, a black box remains between what people claim to use as a synthesis approach and what is actually done in practice. A detailed evaluation of how well authors master their chosen approach could provide important information for developers of particular methods, who seem to succeed in playing the game according to the rules. Clear methodological instructions need to be developed to assist others in applying these synthesis methods.

Preference for place of care and place of death in palliative care: are these different questions?:

Abstract: Place of death is at times suggested as an outcome for palliative care services. This study aimed to describe longitudinal preferences for place of care and place of death over time for patients and their caregivers. Longitudinal paired data of patient/caregiver dyads from a prospective unblinded cluster randomised control trial were used. Patients and caregivers were separately asked by the palliative care nurse their preference at that time for place of care and place of death. Longitudinal changes over time for both questions were mapped; patterns of agreement (patient and caregiver; and preference for place of death when last asked and actual placed of death) were analysed with kappa statistics. Seventy-one patient/caregiver dyads were analysed. In longitudinal preferences, preferences for both the place of care (asked a mean of >6 times) and place of death (asked a mean of >4 times) changed for patients (28% and 30% respectively) and caregivers (31% and 30%, respectively). In agreement between patients and caregivers, agreement between preference of place of care and preferred place of death when asked contemporaneously for patients and caregivers was low [56% (kappa 0.33) and 36% (kappa 0.35) respectively]. In preference versus actual place of death, preferences were met for 37.5% of participants for home death; 62.5% for hospital; 76.9% for hospice and 63.6% for aged care facility. This study suggests that there are two conversations: preference for current place of care and preference for care at the time of death. Place of care is not a euphemism for place of death; and further research is needed to delineate these. Patient and caregiver preferences may not change simultaneously. Implications of any mismatch between actual events and preferences need to be explored.

Optimizing Surfactant Concentrations for Dispersion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solution

Abstract: The sonication−centrifugation technique is commonly used for dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in aqueous surfactant solutions However, the methodologies and materials used for this purpose are widely varied, and few dispersive agents have been studied systematically This work describes a systematic study into the ability of some well-known (and some less common) surfactants and polymers to disperse SWCNTs fabricated by two different techniques UV−vis−NIR absorbance spectra of their supernatant solutions showed that the smaller ionic surfactants were generally more effective dispersants, with larger polymer and surfactant molecules exhibiting a reduced performance for ensembles of carbon nanotubes of smaller average diameter Optimal surfactant concentrations were established for dispersions of carbon nanotubes produced by the electric arc method in aqueous solutions of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, sodium deoxycholate, Triton X-405, Brij S-100, Pluronic F-127, and polyvinylpyrrolid

Insider perspectives on developing Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia

Abstract: IN JULY 2009, THE COUNCIL of Australian Governments approved for immediate implementation, ‘Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia’ (EYLF), Australia's first ...

Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid cloning and expression of a human liver uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase glucuronidating carboxylic acid-containing drugs.

Abstract: A cDNA clone, designated UGT2B7 variant, encoding a 529-amino acid human liver microsomal uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) was isolated from a lambda gt11 human liver cDNA library. UGT2B7 variant synthesized in COS-7 cells was screened for activity toward a range of clinically used drugs and other xenobiotics. The expressed enzyme glucuronidated several carboxylic acid-containing nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents including, in order of relative substrate activity, naproxen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, fenoprofen, tiaprofenic acid, benoxprofen, zomepirac, diflunisal and indomethacin. Additionally, the stereoselectivity of ketoprofen, naproxen (S/R ratio approximately unity) and ibuprofen (S/R ratio 1.62) glucuronidation by the UGT2B7 variant was shown to differ. Two other carboxylic acid-containing drugs (clofibric acid and valproic acid) and a limited range of drugs containing an alcohol or phenolic functional group were also glucoronidated by expressed UGT2B7 variant. The deduced amino sequence of UGT2B7 variant was shown to differ only in one amino acid (tyrosine for histidine at position 268) from a previously published uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA, UGT2B7. Like the previously reported enzyme, this variant efficiently glucuronidated hyodeoxycholic acid, estriol, 4-hydroxyestrone and 2-hydroxyestriol. It is, therefore, apparent that UGT2B7 variant has the capacity to glucuronidate with a degree of specificity both endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. Preferred substrates for UGT2B7 variant include xenobiotic carboxylic acids, polyhydroxylated estrogens and hyodeoxycholic acid.