bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of human skin irritation patch test data within vitroskin irritation assays and animal data
Authors: Jírová Dagmar , Basketter David , Liebsch Manfred , Bendová Hana , Kejlová Kristina , Marriott Marie , Kandárová Helena
Published: January 2010

Background:Efforts to replace the rabbit skin irritation test have been underway for many years, encouraged by the EU Cosmetics Directive and REACH. Recently variousin vitrotests have been developed, evaluated and validated.

Objective:A key difficulty in confirming the validity ofin vitromethods is that animal data are scarce and of limited utility for prediction of human effects, which adversely impacts their acceptance. This study examines whetherin vivoorin vitrodata most accurately predicted human effects.

Methods:Using the 4‐hr human patch test (HPT) we examined a number of chemicals whose EU classification of skin irritancy is known to be borderline, or wherein vitromethods provided conflicting results.

Results:Of the 16 chemicals classified as irritants in the rabbit, only five substances were found to be significantly irritating to human skin. Concordance of the rabbit test with the 4‐hr HPT was only 56%, whereas concordance of human epidermis models with human data was 76% (EpiDerm) and 70% (EPISKIN).

Conclusions:The results confirm observations that rabbits overpredict skin effects in humans. Therefore, when validatingin vitromethods, all available information, including human data, should be taken into account before making conclusions about their predictive capacity.
Temporal trends of preservative allergy in Denmark (1985–2008)
Authors: Thyssen Jacob P. , Engkilde Kåre , Lundov Michael D. , Carlsen Berit C. , Menné Torkil , Johansen Jeanne D.
Published: January 2010

Background: Most cosmetics and industrial products contain preservatives. Preservative allergy is common and, historically, changing contact allergy epidemics caused by preservatives have been observed. In 1997, Alan Dillarstone predicted a stable development of preservative allergy following mandatory ingredient labelling on cosmetic products.

Objectives: To investigate the development in the prevalence of preservative allergy in Denmark over a 24‐year period (1985–2008) and to challenge the prediction made by Dillarstone.

Patients/Methods: A retrospective analysis of patch test data was performed (n = 18179). Comparisons were made using a χ2 test. Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations.

Results: The development of preservative allergy mirrored those of other European patch test centres. The development was not dependent on sex or age group. The prevalence was higher among women and those aged 41–60 years. Formaldehyde allergy was persistently prevalent over the study years. The overall prevalence of preservative allergy increased significantly (Ptrend = 0.001), mainly because of patch testing with additional preservatives in recent years.

Conclusions: Dillarstone's prediction was confirmed as the prevalence of contact allergy to individual preservatives remained relatively stable. However, the overall burden of preservative allergy seemed to increase. Introduction of new preservatives may add to the burden of contact allergy.
Melatonin protects periventricular white matter from damage due to hypoxia
Authors: Kaur C. , Sivakumar V. , Ling E. A.
Published: January 2010

Abstract:  This study investigated the potential of melatonin in ameliorating hypoxic damage to the periventricular white matter (PWM) in the neonatal brain. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the PWM of 1‐day‐old rats subjected to hypoxia for a period of 2 hr was examined. Vascular endothelial growth factor, NO and MDA concentration was increased whereas that of GSH was reduced after the hypoxic exposure. Additionally, degenerating axons, apoptotic and necrotic cells and vacuolation of capillary endothelial cells were observed in the PWM. The neighboring ependymal and choroid plexus cells also appeared to undergo structural alterations. Increased vascular permeability in the PWM of hypoxic rats was evidenced by the leakage of rhodamine isothiocyanate (RhIC) which was taken up by the amoeboid microglial cells. In vitro experiments showed increased apoptosis in OLN‐93 cells, an oligodendrocytic cell line, following hypoxic exposure. Hypoxic rats treated with melatonin showed reduced VEGF, NO and MDA concentrations, increased GSH content and reduced RhIC leakage in the PWM. The ultrastructure of axons, endothelial, ependymal and choroid plexus epithelial cells appeared relatively normal in the hypoxic animals treated with melatonin. The incidence of apoptotic OLN‐93 cells was also reduced with melatonin treatment. We suggest that the protective effects of melatonin on various parameters in the PWM of hypoxic neonatal brains were due to its antioxidant properties.
Development of SNP markers for individual identification and parentage test in a Japanese Black cattle population
Authors: HARA Kazuhiro , WATABE Hideki , SASAZAKI Shinji , MUKAI Fumio , MANNEN Hideyuki
Published: January 2010

This study describes the development of efficient single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for individual identification and parentage tests in a Japanese Black cattle population. An amplified fragment length polymorphism method was employed to detect informative candidate markers, and yielded 44 SNP markers from 220 primer combinations. 29 unlinked SNPs were finally selected as diagnostic markers. The allelic frequencies for each marker were estimated by using PCR‐RFLP in the Japanese Black population. Based on the frequency data, the estimated identity power of these markers was 2.73 × 10−12. Parentage exclusion probabilities, when both suspected parents' genotypes were known and when only one suspected parent was genotyped, were estimated as 0.96929 and 0.99693, respectively. This panel of SNP markers is theoretically sufficient for individual identification, and would also be a powerful tool for a parentage test in Japanese Black cattle. The markers could contribute to the management of the beef industry in Japan.
Feeding value of total mixed ration silage with spent mushroom substrate
Authors: XU Chuncheng , CAI Yimin , ZHANG Jianguo , MATSUYAMA Hiroki
Published: January 2010

Six wethers were used in a digestibility experiment arranged as replicated 3 × 3 Latin square to evaluate the nutritive value of total mixed ration (TMR) silages that were made from ensiling of TMR containing 0, 6.5 and 13.0% (dry matter basis) of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) for 45 days (treatments denoted as CSMS, LSMS and HSMS, respectively). The amount of SMS replaced the same amount of timothy hay in the respective TMR. All TMR were well preserved as indicated by their low pH, low ammonia‐N and high lactic acid contents. Increasing levels of SMS in the TMR silage quadratically reduced (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibility with the exception of ether extract. The difference of total digestible nutrients and digestible energy contents between LSMS and CSMS TMR silage were less than those between LSMS and HSMS. Increasing concentration of SMS in the ration tended to decrease content of total volatile fatty acids in rumen fluid but increased the ratio of acetate to propionate and pH. The study suggests that a SMS level of 6.5% in the diet DM can be recommended for silage based TMR.
Assessment of Aboveground Carbon in Primary and Selectively Harvested Tropical Forest in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Fox Julian C. , Yosi Cossey K. , Nimiago Patrick , Oavika Forova , Pokana Joe N. , Lavong Kunsey , Keenan Rodney J.
Published: January 2010

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has become the focus of climate change mitigation initiatives such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, but defensible estimates of forest carbon are lacking. Here we present a methodology for estimating aboveground forest carbon, and apply it to a large Permanent Sample Plot system maintained by Papua New Guinea Forest Research Institute. We report the first estimates of forest carbon in lowland tropical forest in PNG. Average aboveground carbon in stems >10 cm diam. for 115 selectively harvested 1‐ha plots in lowland tropical forest was 66.3±3.5 Mg C/ha (95% CI) while for 10 primary forest plots the average was 106.3±16.2 Mg C/ha. We applied ratios based on field observations, in‐country studies, and the literature to estimate unmeasured pools of aboveground carbon (stems <10 cm diam., fine litter and coarse woody debris). Total aboveground carbon was estimated at 90.2 and 120.8 Mg C/ha in selectively harvested and primary lowland forest, respectively. Our estimate for primary tropical forest is lower than biome averages for tropical equatorial forest, and we hypothesize that frequent disturbances from fire, frost, landslides, and agriculture are limiting carbon stock development. The methodology and estimates presented here will assist the PNG government in its preparedness for mitigation initiatives, are of interest to communities that are seeking to participate in voluntary carbon markets, and will encourage transparency and consistency in the estimation of forest carbon.
Age‐Dependent Radial Increases in Wood Specific Gravity of Tropical Pioneers in Costa Rica
Authors: Williamson G. Bruce , Wiemann Michael C.
Published: January 2010

Wood specific gravity is the single best descriptor of wood functional properties and tree life‐history traits, and it is the most important variable in estimating carbon stocks in forests. Tropical pioneer trees produce wood of increasing specific gravity across the trunk radius as they grow in stature. Here, we tested whether radial increases in wood specific gravity were dependent on a tree's diameter or its age by comparing trees of different diameters within cohorts. We cored trunks of four pioneer species in naturally regenerating, even‐aged stands in the lowland, wet forests of Costa Rica. For each core, specific gravity was determined for 1‐cm radial wood segments, pith to bark. Increases across the radius were evident in all four species studied, and in four different stands for one species. For any given species in a given stand, the rate of radial increase in specific gravity as a function of radial distance from the pith was greater in smaller diameter trees. As the trees in a stand represent a colonizing cohort, these results strongly suggest that the radial increases in specific gravity in lowland pioneers are associated with tree age, not with tree diameter. Furthermore, the specific gravity of the outermost wood was not associated with tree radius, further negating size dependence. One consequence of these results is that species‐specific biomass estimates for trees in secondary forests are likely to be confounded by age, as diameter alone may be a poor indicator of specific gravity in individual trees for pioneers of tropical wet forests.
Why is Abundance of Herbaceous Legumes Low in African Savanna? A Test with Two Model Species
Authors: Cech Patrick G. , Edwards Peter J. , Olde Venterink Harry
Published: January 2010

Although fire is frequent in African savanna ecosystems and may cause considerable loss of nitrogen (N), N2‐fixing herbaceous legumes—which could be expected to benefit from low N conditions—are usually not abundant. To investigate possible reasons for this scarcity, we conducted a pot experiment using two common plants of humid African savannas as model species, the legume Cassia mimosoides and the C4 grass Hyperthelia dissoluta. These species were grown at different levels of water, N and phosphorus (P), both in monoculture and in competition with each other. In the monocultures, yields were significantly increased by the combined addition of N and P in pots receiving high water supply. In pots with interspecific competition, the legume grew poorly unless P was added. Foliar δ15N values of legume plants grown in mixtures were considerably lower than those in monocultures, suggesting that rates of symbiotic N‐fixation were higher in the presence of the grass. Grass δ15N values, however, were also lower in mixtures, while N concentrations were higher, indicating a rapid transfer of N from the legume to the grass. We conclude that the main reason for the low abundance of C. mimosoides is not low P availability as such, but a greater ability of H. dissoluta to compete for soil N and P, and a much higher N‐use efficiency. If other C4 grasses have a similar competitive advantage, it could explain why herbaceous legumes are generally sparse in African savannas. We encourage others to test these findings using species from other types of savanna vegetation.
Dispersal of Desiccation‐Sensitive Seeds is not Coincident with High Rainfall in a Seasonal Tropical Forest in Australia
Authors: Hill James P. , Edwards Will
Published: January 2010

We tested the hypothesis that dispersal periods of recalcitrant seeded species were coincident with the wet season in a seasonal tropical forest in Australia. Unlike similar forests, we found no support for this pattern. Intensification of seasonal aridity may increase mortality in desiccation‐sensitive seeds.
Diversity of Interactions: A Metric for Studies of Biodiversity
Authors: Dyer Lee A. , Walla Thomas R. , Greeney Harold F. , Stireman III John O. , Hazen Rebecca F.
Published: January 2010

Multitrophic interactions play key roles in the origin and maintenance of species diversity, and the study of these interactions has contributed to important theoretical advances in ecology and evolutionary biology. Nevertheless, most biodiversity inventories focus on static species lists, and prominent theories of diversity still ignore trophic interactions. The lack of a simple interaction metric that is analogous to species richness is one reason why diversity of interactions is not examined as a response or predictor variable in diversity studies. Using plant–herbivore–enemy trophic chains as an example, we develop a simple metric of diversity in which richness, diversity indices (e.g., Simpson's 1/D), and rarefaction diversity are calculated with links as the basic unit rather than species. Interactions include all two‐link (herbivore–plant and enemy–herbivore) and three‐link (enemy–herbivore–plant) chains found in a study unit. This metric is different from other indices, such as traditional diversity measures, connectivity and interaction diversity in food‐web studies, and the diversity of interaction index in behavioral studies, and it is easier to compute. Using this approach to studying diversity provides novel insight into debates about neutrality and correlations between diversity, stability, productivity, and ecosystem services.
THEORETICAL APPROACH FOR THE CALCULATION OF RADIATION D10‐VALUE
Authors: MOREIRA R.G. , EKPANYASKUN N. , BRABY L.A.
Published: January 2010

In the design of the food irradiation process, the knowledge of the radiation resistance of the target organism in the specific food commodity is required. The D10‐value, the radiation dose needed to inactivate 90% of the microbial load in the food medium, is used to relate the amount of absorbed energy to the fractional population of the viable cells. Numerous experimental studies have been performed to determine the D10 values of several food borne microorganisms irradiated under various conditions. Nevertheless, accurate prediction of D10 value for a radiation treatment of a food product that has not been empirically examined can not be made due to insufficient understanding of the biological response to radiation exposure.

A theoretical model for the derivation of the D10‐value has been proposed in this study to mechanistically assess the DNA damage by energetic electrons. The step‐by‐step Monte‐Carlo simulation technique which employed the detailed histories of the ionizing particles and the radiolytic species was utilized. The impacts of the genomic sequence, the number of the genome equivalents, and the method of DNA double strand break determination were hypothetically investigated. The developed computational methodology as well as the results presented can be used as an analytical tool to evaluate the effect of ionizing radiation on the cell survival.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The presented methodology can be employed as an investigative technique complementary to other approaches to understand the physical, chemical and biological changes in food‐born pathogens exposed to e‐beam.
Measuring the Permeability of Open‐Framework Gravel
Authors: Ferreira James T. , Ritzi Robert W. , Dominic David F.
Published: January 2010

Open‐framework gravel has permeability, k, above the measurement range of most laboratory constant‐head permeameters because the head difference across the length of conventional permeameters is too small to be measured. Here we addressed the challenge of measuring the high k by using a 3 m long permeameter. The head difference over this length was of the order of 10−2 to 10−3 m, which we could measure to the nearest 10−5 m. We collected data over the range of linear, laminar flow to nonlinear, laminar flow to verify that k was measured using data collected within the Darcian regime. We measured k between 4000 and 100,000 Darcies among experiments using different sediments.
Raising the bar of care for older people in Ontario emergency departments
Authors: Flynn Doris Splinter , Jennings Jane , Moghabghab Rola , Nancekivell Tracy , Tsang Clara , Cleland Michelle , Shipman‐Vokner Karen
Published: January 2010

flynn d.s., jennings j., moghabghab r., nancekivell t., tsang c., cleland m. & shipman‐vokner k. (2010) Raising the bar of care for older people in Ontario emergency departments. International Journal of Older People Nursing 5, 219–226 doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2010.00209.x

Aim.  To describe the role of geriatric emergency management nurses as a catalyst for culture change in emergency department processes with the goal to improve care and outcomes of older people.

Background.  The changing context and literature has called for a culture change within emergency department care to integrate principles of older people care into care delivery. There is a paucity of reports describing how geriatric emergency care models bring about a broader change in culture within the entire emergency department.

Methods.  The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long‐term Care in Canada established a programme to place geriatric emergency management nurses into emergency departments with the goal to improve delivery of care through development of unique, site‐appropriate solutions.

Results.  Geriatric emergency management nurses incorporate capacity building into their role to develop and strengthen the skills, instincts, abilities, process and resources of the emergency department. Care processes focus on areas of staffing, mobilization, comfort, medication, hygiene, nutrition/hydration, cognition, environment, equipment and stimulation. Multi‐modal educational strategies and advocacy promote appropriate person‐centred care. Improved communication among care providers at key patient transition points remains a priority system‐level improvement.

Conclusion.  Geriatric emergency management nurses work collaboratively with the emergency department team to facilitate change in the way that emergency department care is provided to the older person experiencing health emergencies.

Implications for practice.  Known strategies that have been effective in improving outcomes for older people within the hospital and residential care setting can be generalized into emergency department care. Further research into the effectiveness of these strategies in this environment is recommended.
Pro‐environmental behavior
Authors: Turaga Rama Mohana R. , Howarth Richard B. , Borsuk Mark E.
Published: January 2010

The determinants of individual behaviors that provide shared environmental benefits are a longstanding theme in social science research. Alternative behavioral models yield markedly different predictions and policy recommendations. This paper reviews and compares the literatures from two disciplines that appear to be moving toward a degree of convergence. In social psychology, moral theories of pro‐environmental behavior have focused on the influence of personal moral norms while recognizing that external factors, such as costs and incentives, ultimately limit the strength of the norm‐behavior relationship. Rational choice models, such as the theory of planned behavior in social psychology and the theories of voluntary provision of public goods in economics, have sought to incorporate the effects of personal norms and to measure their importance in explaining behaviors, such as recycling and the demand for green products. This paper explores the relationship between these approaches and their implications for the theory and practice of ecological economics.
Public sector administration of ecological economics systems using mediated modeling
Authors: van den Belt Marjan , Kenyan Jennifer R. , Krueger Elizabeth , Maynard Alison , Roy Matthew Galen , Raphael Ian
Published: January 2010

In today's climate of government outsourcing and multiple stakeholder involvement in public sector management and service delivery, it is more important than ever to rethink and redesign the structure of how policy decisions are made, implemented, monitored, and adapted to new realities. The traditional command‐and‐control approach is now less effective because an increasing amount of responsibility to deliver public goods and services falls on networks of nongovernment agencies. Even though public administrators are seeking new decision‐making models in an increasingly more complex environment, the public sector currently only sparsely utilizes Mediated Modeling (MM). There is growing evidence, however, that by employing MM and similar tools, public interest networks can be better equipped to deal with their long‐term viability while maintaining the short‐term needs of their clients. However, it may require a shift in organizational culture within and between organizations to achieve the desired results. This paper explores the successes and barriers to implementing MM and similar tools in the public sector and offers insights into utilizing them through a review of case studies and interdisciplinary literature. We aim to raise a broader interest in MM and similar tools among public sector administrators at various administrative levels. We focus primarily, but not exclusively, on those cases operating at the interface of ecology and socio‐economic systems.
Connecting thermodynamics and economics
Authors: Glucina Mark David , Mayumi Kozo
Published: January 2010

Almost 40 years have passed since Georgescu‐Roegen's seminal work, The Entropy Law and the Economic Process. During this time there has been much debate on the relevance of thermodynamics to economics, and many attempts to build bridges between the two. There has also been much confusion as to what the laws of thermodynamics actually say. This article clearly explains heat, work, and the thermodynamic laws, the meaning of entropy, and the importance of kinetics as a barrier to thermodynamically favorable processes. The two most important misunderstandings in the literature, namely entropy as disorder, and entropy as a measure of information, are highlighted. Reviewing the literature shows that thermodynamics is most relevant for building a descriptive model, or preanalytic vision of economics, because it implies physical constraints on production and consumption. Similarly, it suggests that there may be serious flaws with neoclassical economic models, and in particular the primacy of sustained growth. However, thermodynamics does not seem to aid mathematical modeling in economics, nor does it provide normative insights. As an aid to energy policy, thermodynamics is useful for assessing the feasibility of technology options— those that have the potential to meet our goals, and should be counted as options, and those that should not. But it does not provide a prescription outside of this technical realm. Factors, such as environmental impact, cost, and social acceptability, will ultimately determine which technically feasible options are most desirable.
Valuing ecosystem services
Authors: Liu Shuang , Costanza Robert , Farber Stephen , Troy Austin
Published: January 2010

The concept of ecosystem services has shifted our paradigm of how nature matters to human societies. Instead of viewing the preservation of nature as something for which we have to sacrifice our well‐being, we now perceive the environment as natural capital, one of society's important assets. But ecosystem services are becoming increasingly scarce. In order to stop this trend, the challenge is to provoke society to acknowledge the value of natural capital. Ecosystem services valuation (ESV) is the method to tackle such a challenge. ESV is the process of assessing the contributions of ecosystem services to sustainable scale, fair distribution, and efficient allocation. It is a tool that (1) provides for comparisons of natural capital to physical and human capital in regard to their contributions to human welfare; (2) monitors the quantity and quality of natural capital over time with respect to its contribution to human welfare; and (3) provides for evaluation of projects that will affect natural capital stocks. This review covers: (1) what has been done in ESV research in the last 50 years; (2) how it has been used in ecosystem management; and (3) prospects for the future. Our survey of the literature has shown that over time, there has been movement toward a more transdisciplinary approach to ESV research which is more consistent with the nature of the problems being addressed. On the other hand, the contribution of ESV to ecosystem management has not been as significant as hoped nor as clearly defined. Conclusions drawn from the review are as follows: first, ESV researchers will have to transcend disciplinary boundaries and synthesize tools, skills, and methodologies from various disciplines; second, ESV research has to become more problem‐driven rather than tool‐driven because ultimately the success of ESV will be judged on how well it facilitates real‐world decision making and the conservation of natural capital.
Economic valuation of climate change adaptation in developing countries
Authors: Stage Jesper
Published: January 2010

This paper reviews the literature on the economics of climate change adaptation in developing countries, and identifies three key points for consideration in future studies. One key point is that all development policy should be formulated using forecasts from climate science as a baseline. When this is not done, there is risk that a false status quo without climate change is seen as an implicit baseline. Another key point is that authors must be clearer about their behavioral assumptions: Many studies either (problematically) assume profit maximization on the side of farm households, or do not specify behavioral assumptions at all. A third important point is that the allocation of rights is crucial for the results; if households have a right to maintain their current livelihoods, the costs of climate change in developing countries are considerably greater than traditional willingness‐to‐pay studies would indicate. Thus, costs and benefits of climate change adaptation cannot be analyzed using economic aspects only; climate science, behavioral science, and legal and moral aspects have crucial implications for the outcome of the analysis.
Biofuels and sustainability
Authors: Solomon Barry D.
Published: January 2010

Interest in liquid biofuels production and use has increased worldwide as part of government policies to address the growing scarcity and riskiness of petroleum use, and, at least in theory, to help mitigate adverse global climate change. The existing biofuels markets are dominated by U.S. ethanol production based on cornstarch, Brazilian ethanol production based on sugarcane, and European biodiesel production based on rapeseed oil. Other promising efforts have included programs to shift toward the production and use of biofuels based on residues and waste materials from the agricultural and forestry sectors, and perennial grasses, such as switchgrass and miscanthus—so‐called cellulosic ethanol. This article reviews these efforts and the recent literature in the context of ecological economics and sustainability science. Several common dimensions for sustainable biofuels are discussed: scale (resource assessment, land availability, and land use practices); efficiency (economic and energy); equity (geographic distribution of resources and the “food versus fuel” debate); socio‐economic issues; and environmental effects and emissions. Recent proposals have been made for the development of sustainable biofuels criteria, culminating in standards released in Sweden in 2008 and a draft report from the international Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels. These criteria hold promise for accelerating a shift away from unsustainable biofuels based on grain, such as corn, and toward possible sustainable feedstock and production practices that may be able to meet a variety of social, economic, and environmental sustainability criteria.
Year in review—EROI or energy return on (energy) invested
Authors: Murphy David J. , Hall Charles A. S.
Published: January 2010

There have been five foremost empirical efforts regarding energy return on investment (EROI) analysis over the past few years, including the topics of: (1) whether corn ethanol is a net energy yielder; (2) a summary of the state of EROI for most major fuel types; (3) alternative applications of EROI, such as energy return on water invested (EROWI); (4) the relation between EROI and the economy; and (5) an attempt to calculate the minimum EROI for a sustainable society. This paper offers a review of these five main areas of interest and provides a history of the development of EROI as well as a review of some of the various definitions of EROI and how they apply to EROI analyses. The paper concludes by listing numerous areas of improvement that are needed within EROI research.
Ecological economics and economic growtha
Authors: Victor Peter A.
Published: January 2010

Boulding's 1966 paper on the economics of spaceship Earth established the framework for ecological economics and an understanding of economic growth. In ecological economics, economies are conceptualized as open subsystems of the closed biosphere and are subject to biophysical laws and constraints. Economic growth measured as an increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) has generally been associated with increases in the use of energy and materials and the generation of wastes. Scale, composition, and technology are the proximate determinants of environmental impacts. They are often reduced to two: scale (GDP) and intensity (impact per unit GDP). New work described in this paper defines “green” growth as intensity that declines faster than scale increases. Similarly, “brown” growth occurs when intensity declines more slowly than increases in scale, and “black” growth happens when both scale and intensity increase. These concepts are then related to the environmental Kuznets curve, which can be understood as a transition from brown to green growth. Ecological economics provides a macroperspective on economic growth. It offers broad policy principles, and it challenges the primacy of economic growth as a policy objective, but many important questions remain.
Agent‐based modeling in ecological economics
Authors: Heckbert Scott , Baynes Tim , Reeson Andrew
Published: January 2010

Interconnected social and environmental systems are the domain of ecological economics, and models can be used to explore feedbacks and adaptations inherent in these systems. Agent‐based modeling (ABM) represents autonomous entities, each with dynamic behavior and heterogeneous characteristics. Agents interact with each other and their environment, resulting in emergent outcomes at the macroscale that can be used to quantitatively analyze complex systems. ABM is contributing to research questions in ecological economics in the areas of natural resource management and land‐use change, urban systems modeling, market dynamics, changes in consumer attitudes, innovation, and diffusion of technology and management practices, commons dilemmas and self‐governance, and psychological aspects to human decision making and behavior change. Frontiers for ABM research in ecological economics involve advancing the empirical calibration and validation of models through mixed methods, including surveys, interviews, participatory modeling, and, notably, experimental economics to test specific decision‐making hypotheses. Linking ABM with other modeling techniques at the level of emergent properties will further advance efforts to understand dynamics of social‐environmental systems.
Shared brain vulnerabilities open the way for nonsubstance addictions: Carving addiction at a new joint?
Authors: Frascella Joseph , Potenza Marc N. , Brown Lucy L. , Childress Anna Rose
Published: January 2010

For more than half a century, since the beginning of formal diagnostics, our psychiatric nosology has compartmentalized the compulsive pursuit of substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, heroin, nicotine) from nonsubstance (e.g., gambling, food, sex) rewards. Emerging brain, behavioral, and genetic findings challenge this diagnostic boundary, pointing to shared vulnerabilities underlying the pathological pursuit of substance and nonsubstance rewards. Working groups for the fifth revision of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM‐V), are thus considering whether the nosologic boundaries of addiction should be redrawn to include nonsubstance disorders, such as gambling. This review discusses how neurobiological data from problem gambling, obesity, and “normal” states of attachment (romantic infatuation, sexual attraction, maternal bonds) may help us in the task of carving addictions “at a new joint.” Diagnostic recarving may have a positive effect on addiction research, stimulating discovery of “crossover” pharmacotherapies with benefit for both substance and nonsubstance addictions.
Rapid Analysis of Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, and Maltose in Honeys from Different Geographic Regions using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Wang Jun , Kliks Michael M. , Jun Soojin , Jackson Mel , Li Qing X.
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT:  Quantitative analysis of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose in different geographic origin honey samples in the world using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics such as partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression was studied. The calibration series consisted of 45 standard mixtures, which were made up of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose. There were distinct peak variations of all sugar mixtures in the spectral “fingerprint” region between 1500 and 800 cm−1. The calibration model was successfully validated using 7 synthetic blend sets of sugars. The PLS 2nd‐derivative model showed the highest degree of prediction accuracy with a highest R2 value of 0.999. Along with the canonical variate analysis, the calibration model further validated by high‐performance liquid chromatography measurements for commercial honey samples demonstrates that FTIR can qualitatively and quantitatively determine the presence of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and maltose in multiple regional honey samples.
‘Programma2000’: a multi‐modal pilot programme on early intervention in psychosis underway in Italy since 1999
Authors: Meneghelli Anna , Cocchi Angelo , Preti Antonio
Published: January 2010

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe a service operating in Milan, Italy, that provides early intervention for young people aged 17–30 years at the onset and at high risk of psychosis.

Method: Following 2 years of preliminary study and organization, Programma2000 was launched in Milan in 1999. This programme was targeted at early detection and intervention in subjects at the onset of, at risk of, or showing ‘prodromal’ signs of psychosis. This paper contains data on the organization and activities of Programma2000.

Results: The service has been active since its launch and has received 378 referrals as of March 2009, 342 of which were thoroughly evaluated. At entry, patients undergo a detailed evaluation of their psychopathology, personal and social role functioning, and cognitive status, with repeated testing over time in order to multidimensionally assess outcome. Treatment involves cognitive–behavioural psychotherapy, structured and unstructured psychosocial interventions, and pharmacotherapy when deemed necessary. Treatment appears effective in reducing morbidity and improving social functioning.

Conclusion: A team dedicated to the early identification and treatment of young people with early psychosis is a feasible and sustainable extension of the traditional methods of care for people with mental disorders in Italy.
Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis of Treated Wastewater Use for Agriculture in Water Deficit Regions1
Authors: Al‐Juaidi Ahmed E. , Kaluarachchi Jagath J. , Kim Ungtae
Published: January 2010

Al‐Juaidi, Ahmed E., Jagath J. Kaluarachchi, and Ungtae Kim, 2010. Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis of Treated Wastewater Use for Agriculture in Water Deficit Regions. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(2):395‐411. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2009.00409.x

Abstract:  Coastal regions such as the Gaza Strip of Palestine with limited freshwater supply suffer significantly due to the rapid depletion of water levels, seawater intrusion, and increased water demands. In such regions, use of treated wastewater (TWW) is a viable option if public health issues are addressed. The goal of this paper is to address the use of TWW in agriculture while considering net benefit, economic efficiency of water use (EEWU), environmental goals, and public health risks. The proposed methodology considers public health risk assessment and multi‐criteria decision analysis to assess the beneficial use of TWW in agriculture. The methodology was demonstrated for the Gaza Strip. The health risk assessment suggests that increasing the elapsed time between irrigation and consumption and switching from surface to sprinkler and drip irrigation are practical measures to reduce public health risks. The optimization and decision analyses show that proper allocation of freshwater and TWW and distribution of land area by crop type can significantly increase the net benefit and EEWU. In most cases, net benefit increased by 44%, groundwater use reduced 29% while increasing the EEWU by threefold compared with the existing conditions. The multi‐criteria decision analysis with weighted goal programming can develop flexible management options that considers a given decision‐maker preference. When groundwater abstraction for agriculture reduced from 57 to 36 Mm3 as per decision analysis, the corresponding area below mean sea level decreased by 58% indicating significant aquifer recovery.
Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon1
Authors: House‐Peters Lily , Pratt Bethany , Chang Heejun
Published: January 2010

House‐Peters, Lily, Bethany Pratt, and Heejun Chang, 2010. Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):461‐472. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2009.00415.x

Abstract:  In the Portland metropolitan area, suburban growth in cities such as Hillsboro is projected to increase as people seek affordable housing near a burgeoning metropolis. The most significant determinants for increases in water demand are population growth, climate change, and the type of urban development that occurs. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of single family residential (SFR) water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon, at the census block scale. The following research questions are addressed: (1) What are the significant determinants of SFR water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon? (2) Is SFR water demand sensitive to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? (3) To what magnitude do particular census blocks react to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? Using ordinary least squares multiple regression and spatial regression methods, we found that base use, representing indoor water use, is dependent on household size and that seasonal use, representing external water use is dependent on both education level and the size of the property’s outdoor space. Spatial analysis techniques determined that although the water demand of the study area as a whole is not sensitive to drought conditions, certain individual census blocks do respond with a higher magnitude of water use. The most climate‐sensitive census blocks tend to contain newer and larger homes, and have higher property values and more affluent and well‐educated residents.
Changes in Patterns of Streamflow From Unregulated Watersheds in Idaho, Western Wyoming, and Northern Nevada1
Authors: Clark Gregory M.
Published: January 2010

Clark, Gregory M., 2010. Changes in Patterns of Streamflow From Unregulated Watersheds in Idaho, Western Wyoming, and Northern Nevada. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):486‐497. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2009.00416.x

Abstract:  Recent studies have identified a pattern of earlier spring runoff across much of North America. Earlier spring runoff potentially poses numerous problems, including increased risk of flooding and reduced summer water supply for irrigation, power generation, and migratory fish passage. To identify changing runoff patterns in Idaho streams, streamflow records were analyzed for 26 U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations in Idaho, western Wyoming, and northern Nevada, each with a minimum of 41 years of record. The 26 stations are located on 23 unregulated and relatively pristine streams that drain areas ranging from 28 to >35,000 km2. Four runoff parameters were trend tested at each station for both the period of historical record and from 1967 through 2007. Parameters tested were annual mean streamflow, annual minimum daily streamflow, and the dates of the 25th and 50th percentiles of the annual total streamflow. Results of a nonparametric Mann‐Kendall trend test revealed a trend toward lower annual mean and annual minimum streamflows at a majority of the stations, as well as a trend toward earlier snowmelt runoff. Significant downward trends over the period of historical record were most prevalent for the annual minimum streamflow (12 stations) and the 50th percentile of streamflow (11 stations). At most stations, trends were more pronounced during the period from 1967 through 2007. A regional Kendall test for water years 1967 through 2007 revealed significant regional trends in the percent change in the annual mean and annual minimum streamflows (0.67% less per year and 0.62% less per year, respectively), the 25th percentile of streamflow (12.3 days earlier), and the 50th percentile of streamflow (11.5 days earlier).
A Biomechanical Investigation of an Olecranon Nail in the Fixation of Olecranon Osteotomies
Authors: Pensy Raymond A. , Moatz Bradley W. , White Kacey L. , Forthman Christopher L.
Published: January 2010

Background

The goal of the current cadaver study was to compare two low-profile constructs for olecranon osteotomy repair: an intramedullary screw and tension band and a new olecranon nail.

Methods

Ten cadaveric elbow pairs were harvested. One of each pair was then randomly assigned to be tested either with a 6.5-mm intramedullary screw and tension band or with the olecranon nail. Using a testing apparatus to simulate an early postoperative motion protocol, the repairs were cyclically loaded. The maximal osteotomy gap observed during loading was recorded. A paired t-test was used for statistical anaylsis.

Results

The mean peak gap for the osteotomies repaired with the nail was 0.31 mm versus 0.75 mm for the screw. This difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.158).

Conclusion

The data obtained demonstrate the olecranon nail performs favourably when compared with an intramedullary screw, with the added benefit of offering a low profile, intramedullary construct.
Arthroscopic Removal of Paraglenoid Cyst Causing Quadrilateral Space Syndrome
Authors: Kosy Jonathan D. , White Andrew , Redfern Andrew C. , Kitson Jeffrey B.
Published: January 2010

We report a case of quadrilateral space syndrome caused by an inferior paraglenoid cyst. This cyst was removed arthroscopically, resulting in a complete resolution of symptoms and a successful return to work and sports.
Concurrent Responsiveness of Outcome Measures for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Shoulder Surgery in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Christie Anne , Garratt Andrew M. , Dagfinrud Hanne , Mowinckel Petter , Hagen Kåre Birger
Published: January 2010

Background

Concurrent evaluation of outcome measures is necessary to determine the most suitable measure(s) for a particular population. This property was evaluated in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing shoulder surgery.

Methods

Three patient-reported measures (the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score; the Oxford Score; and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index); three measures combining patient-reported and clinical outcomes (the Bostrom Shoulder Impairment Scale; the Constant Shoulder Score; and the Shoulder Function Assessment Scale); and one clinical measure (Range of Motion) were included. Responsiveness was expressed by the Standardized Response Mean (SRM).

Results

The study included 123 patients: 54 patients with shoulder arthroplasty (mean age 65.3 years) and 69 patients with non-arthroplasty (mean age 58.9 years). At 1 year, the Shoulder Function Assessment Scale was the most responsive measure in the arthroplasty group with SRM = 2.03 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.38 to 2.66] and Range of Motion (passive flexion) the least responsive measure with SRM = 0.54 (95% CI = 0.14 to 0.92). In the non-arthroplasty group, the Constant was the most responsive measure with SRM = 1.35 (95% CI = 0.87 to 1.83) and Range of Motion (passive flexion) the least responsive measure with SRM = 0.53 (95% CI = 0.16 to 0.90).

Conclusion

Measures comprising patient-reported outcomes were more responsive than clinical measures, and should be included when evaluating shoulder surgery in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Assessing Elbow Assessment, past, Present and Future
Authors: Nuttall David , Birch Ann , Trail Ian I. , Espag Marius P. , Clark David I. , Stanley John K.
Published: January 2010

The state of elbow assessment is reviewed using a timeline of past, present and future. Empirical evidence is provided supporting the conclusions made in recent years that patient self-assessed evaluation of elbow function is valid, consistent and reliable. This form of assessment is so robust that it does not appear to matter whether the scale is composed of four, five or seven categories or even a visual analogue scale per item. The raw scores are not linear but can be constructed as such using Rasch modelling. Items included in any one scale have been identified as being on a continuum of difficulty, and the continuum itself can be considered as a ‘ruler’ of difficulty. Finally, the health of the elbow cannot be summarized as just one domain. We suggest that health of the elbow be considered by an expert panel (BESS) where the concepts of pain, function and impairment are fitted to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework, so that a standardized assessment regime is available on a national basis.
The Glenoid Labrum
Authors: Smith Chris , Funk Lennard
Published: January 2010

The glenoid labrum is a critical structure within the gleno-humeral joint and commonly requires treatment by the shoulder surgeon. This review presents a concise summary of the embryology, anatomy, microscopy, biomechanical properties and clinical lesions involving the glenoid labrum. This knowledge will aid the clinician in understanding its function and pathology.