bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Visual Analysis of 2D Function Ensembles
Authors: Piringer H. , Pajer S. , Berger W. , Teichmann H.
Published: June 2012

In the development process of powertrain systems, 2D function ensembles frequently occur in the context of multi‐run simulations. An analysis has many facets, including distributions of extracted features, comparisons between ensemble members and target functions, and details‐on‐demand. The primary contribution of this paper is a design study of an interactive approach for a comparative visual analysis of 2D function ensembles. The design focuses on a tight integration of domain‐oriented and member‐oriented visualization techniques, and it seeks to preserve the mental model of 2D functions on multiple levels of detail. In this context, we propose a novel focus+context approach for visualizations relying on data‐driven placement which is based on labeling. We also extend work on feature‐preserving downsampling of 2D functions. Our design supports a comparison of 2D functions based on juxtaposition, overlay, and explicit differences. It also enables an analysis in terms of extracted scalar features and 1D aggregations. An evaluation illustrates a workflow in our application context. User feedback indicates a time saving of 70% for common tasks and a qualitative gain for the entire development process.
MarketAnalyzer: An Interactive Visual Analytics System for Analyzing Competitive Advantage Using Point of Sale Data
Authors: Ko S. , Maciejewski R. , Jang Y. , Ebert D. S.
Published: June 2012

Competitive intelligence is a systematic approach for gathering, analyzing, and managing information to make informed business decisions. Many companies use competitive intelligence to identify risks and opportunities within markets. Point of sale data that retailers share with vendors is of critical importance in developing competitive intelligence. However, existing tools do not easily enable the analysis of such large and complex data. therefore, new approaches are needed in order to facilitate better analysis and decision making. In this paper, we present MarketAnalyzer, an interactive visual analytics system designed to allow vendors to increase their competitive intelligence. MarketAnalyzer utilizes pixel‐based matrices to present sale data, trends, and market share growths of products of the entire market within a single display. These matrices are augmented by advanced underlying analytical methods to enable the quick evaluation of growth and risk within market sectors. Furthermore, our system enables the aggregation of point of sale data in geographical views that provide analysts with the ability to explore the impact of regional demographics and trends. Additionally, overview and detailed information is provided through a series of coordinated multiple views. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our system, we provide two use‐case scenarios as well as feedback from market analysts.
PORGY: A Visual Graph Rewriting Environment for Complex Systems
Authors: Pinaud B. , Melançon G. , Dubois J.
Published: June 2012

Graph rewriting systems (GRSs) operate on graphs by substituting local patterns according to a set of rewriting rules. The apparent simplicity of GRSs hides an incredible complexity and turns the study of these systems into an involved task requiring high‐level expertise. We designed PORGY, an interactive visual environment to fully support GRSs related tasks, exploiting a long historical tradition of GRSs with node‐link representations of graphs. PORGY enables rule‐based modeling and simulation steering through graphical representations and direct manipulation of all GRSs components. This paper contributes a design study and task taxonomy relevant to the interactive visualization of GRSs.
I‐SI: Scalable Architecture for Analyzing Latent Topical‐Level Information From Social Media Data
Authors: Wang X. , Dou W. , Ma Z. , Villalobos J. , Chen Y. , Kraft T. , Ribarsky W.
Published: June 2012

We present a general visual analytics architecture that is designed and implemented to effectively analyze unstructured social media data on a large scale. Pipelined on a high‐performance cluster configuration, MPI processing, and interactive visual analytics interfaces, our architecture, I‐SI, closely integrates data‐driven analytical methods and user‐centered visual analytics. It creates a coherent analysis environment for identifying event structures, geographical distributions, and key indicators of emerging events. This environment supports monitoring, analyzing, and responding to latent information extracted from social media. We have applied the I‐SI architecture to collect social media data, analyze the data on a large scale and uncover the latent social phenomena. To demonstrate the efficacy and applicability of I‐SI, we describe several social media use cases in multiple domains that were evaluated by experts. The use cases demonstrate that I‐SI can benefit a range of users by constructing meaningful event structures and identifying precursors to critical events within a rich, evolving set of topics.
Automating Transfer Function Design with Valley Cell‐Based Clustering of 2D Density Plots
Authors: Wang Yunhai , Zhang Jian , Lehmann Dirk J. , Theisel Holger , Chi Xuebin
Published: June 2012

Two‐dimensional transfer functions are an effective and well‐accepted tool in volume classification. The design of them mostly depends on the user's experience and thus remains a challenge. Therefore, we present an approach in this paper to automate the transfer function design based on 2D density plots. By exploiting their smoothness, we adopted the Morse theory to automatically decompose the feature space into a set of valley cells. We design a simplification process based on cell separability to eliminate cells which are mainly caused by noise in the original volume data. Boundary persistence is first introduced to measure the separability between adjacent cells and to suitably merge them. Afterward, a reasonable classification result is achieved where each cell represents a potential feature in the volume data. This classification procedure is automatic and facilitates an arbitrary number and shape of features in the feature space. The opacity of each feature is determined by its persistence and size. To further incorporate the user's prior knowledge, a hierarchical feature representation is created by successive merging of the cells. With this representation, the user is allowed to merge or split features of interest and set opacity and color freely. Experiments on various volumetric data sets demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of our approach in transfer function generation.
COVRA: A compression‐domain output‐sensitive volume rendering architecture based on a sparse representation of voxel blocks
Authors: Gobbetti Enrico , Iglesias Guitián José Antonio , Marton Fabio
Published: June 2012

We present a novel multiresolution compression‐domain GPU volume rendering architecture designed for interactive local and networked exploration of rectilinear scalar volumes on commodity platforms. In our approach, the volume is decomposed into a multiresolution hierarchy of bricks. Each brick is further subdivided into smaller blocks, which are compactly described by sparse linear combinations of prototype blocks stored in an overcomplete dictionary. The dictionary is learned, using limited computational and memory resources, by applying the K‐SVD algorithm to a re‐weighted non‐uniformly sampled subset of the input volume, harnessing the recently introduced method of coresets. The result is a scalable high quality coding scheme, which allows very large volumes to be compressed off‐line and then decompressed on‐demand during real‐time GPU‐accelerated rendering. Volumetric information can be maintained in compressed format through all the rendering pipeline. In order to efficiently support high quality filtering and shading, a specialized real‐time renderer closely coordinates decompression with rendering, combining at each frame images produced by raycasting selectively decompressed portions of the current view‐ and transfer‐function‐dependent working set. The quality and performance of our approach is demonstrated on massive static and time‐varying datasets.
Procedural Texture Synthesis for Zoom‐Independent Visualization of Multivariate Data
Authors: Khlebnikov R. , Kainz B. , Steinberger M. , Streit M. , Schmalstieg D.
Published: June 2012

Simultaneous visualization of multiple continuous data attributes in a single visualization is a task that is important for many application areas. Unsurprisingly, many methods have been proposed to solve this task. However, the behavior of such methods during the exploration stage, when the user tries to understand the data with panning and zooming, has not been given much attention.

In this paper, we propose a method that uses procedural texture synthesis to create zoom‐independent visualizations of three scalar data attributes. The method is based on random‐phase Gabor noise, whose frequency is adapted for the visualization of the first data attribute. We ensure that the resulting texture frequency lies in the range that is perceived well by the human visual system at any zoom level. To enhance the perception of this attribute, we also apply a specially constructed transfer function that is based on statistical properties of the noise. Additionally, the transfer function is constructed in a way that it does not introduce any aliasing to the texture. We map the second attribute to the texture orientation. The third attribute is color coded and combined with the texture by modifying the value component of the HSV color model. The necessary contrast needed for texture and color perception was determined in a user study. In addition, we conducted a second user study that shows significant advantages of our method over current methods with similar goals. We believe that our method is an important step towards creating methods that not only succeed in visualizing multiple data attributes, but also adapt to the behavior of the user during the data exploration stage.
Interactive Rendering of Materials and Biological Structures on Atomic and Nanoscopic Scale
Authors: Lindow N. , Baum D. , Hege H.‐C.
Published: June 2012

The properties of both inorganic and organic materials and the function of biological structures can often only be understood by analyzing them simultaneously on atomic and nanoscopic, if not mesoscopic, scale. Here, the problem arises to render millions to billions of atoms. We propose a method by which it is possible to interactively visualize atomic data, bridging five orders of magnitude in length scale. For this, we propose a simple yet efficient GPU rendering method that enables interactive visualization of biological structures consisting of up to several billions of atoms. To be able to load all atomic data onto the GPU, we exploit the fact that biological structures often consist of recurring molecular substructures. We also exploit that these objects typically are rendered opaquely, so that only a fraction of the atoms is visible. The method is demonstrated on both biological structures as well as atom probe tomography data of an inorganic specimen. We conclude with a discussion about when ‐during ascension from atomic to mesoscopic scale – level‐of‐detail representations become necessary.
Neurological opportunistic infections and neurological immune reconstitution syndrome: impact of one decade of highly active antiretroviral treatment in a tertiary hospital
Authors: Riveiro‐Barciela M , Falcó V , Burgos J , Curran A , Van den Eynde E , Navarro J , Villar del Saz S , Ocaña I , Ribera E , Crespo M , Pahissa A
Published: June 2012

Background

Despite the reported decrease in the incidence and mortality rates of central nervous system (CNS) infections after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), few studies have focused on the global incidence and the relationship of these diseases with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in the developed world.

Methods

A descriptive cohort study of all consecutive adult HIV‐infected patients with CNS opportunistic infections diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 in a tertiary hospital in Spain was carried out. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and microbiological data were recorded. Patients were followed up until death or loss to follow‐up or until 30 July 2011, when the study finished. The significance of differences in the incidence rate between early and late HAART periods was determined using the Mantel–Haenszel test. Survival distribution was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

A total of 110 cases of CNS infections were diagnosed. The incidence of CNS opportunistic infections decreased from 9 cases per 1000 HIV‐infected patients per year in the early HAART period to 3.8 in the late HAART period (P = 0.04). Overall, the estimated mean survival time was 58.8 months (95% confidence interval 47.1–70.6 months). Of the 110 patients, 18 (16.4%) met the criteria of IRIS, 10 (55.6%) were paradoxical and eight (44.4%) were unmasking. IRIS was not associated with a higher mortality rate.

Conclusions

The annual incidence of CNS infections decreased progressively during the period of study. The mortality rate associated with these diseases remains high despite HAART. The development of IRIS associated with neurological infections had no influence on prognosis.
Serum levels of anti‐type VII collagen antibodies detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita are correlated with the severity of skin lesions
Authors: Kim J.H. , Kim Y.H. , Kim S. , Noh E.B. , Kim S‐E. , Vorobyev A. , Schmidt E. , Zillikens D. , Kim S‐C.
Published: June 2012

Background  Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease characterized by circulating autoantibodies against type VII collagen. Detecting these autoantibodies is crucial for the diagnosis of this disease, and is also useful for measuring disease activity. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a quantitative method to measure anti‐type VII collagen antibody levels, is currently available to diagnose EBA.

Objective  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of ELISA with overall clinical severity.

Methods  Sera from patients with EBA (n = 30), bullous pemphigoid (n = 20), anti‐laminin γ1 pemphigoid (n = 9) and healthy donors (n = 24) were tested using ELISA, using the recombinant non‐collagenous 1 (NC1) and 2 (NC2) domains of type VII collagen. Relationships between clinical characteristics, indirect immunofluoroscence (IIF) titres and ELISA values were investigated.

Results  The sensitivity and specificity of the EBA ELISA were 96.7% and 98.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between ELISA results for classic and inflammatory types. The severity of skin involvement was positively correlated with both ELISA value (r = 0.87, P < 0.01) and IIF titre (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). Time sequence analysis in four patients with EBA showed that ELISA values reflect disease activity better than IIF titres.

Conclusions  Type VII collagen ELISA using the NC1 and NC2 domains is useful for diagnosing EBA and monitoring disease severity.
Transforming Growth Factor β1‐509C/T and +869T/C Polymorphisms on the Risk of Upper Digestive Tract Cancer: A Meta‐Analysis Based on 10,917 Participants
Authors: Zhang Cai‐Feng , Wang Zhong‐Wei , Hou Meng‐Xia , Li Kun , Zhou Xiang , Xia Yong‐Hua
Published: June 2012

The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between transforming growth factor β1‐509C/T (rs1800469) and +869T/C (rs1800470) polymorphisms and the risk of upper digestive tract cancer (UDT cancer) by using a meta‐analysis. We interrogated the databases of Medline, Embase and Wanfang (Chinese literature database) (latest update; December 15, 2011). Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess the strength of the associations. In total, 20 case‐control studies were included in this meta‐analysis. Overall, both TGF β1‐509C/T and +869T/C polymorphisms were not associated with risk of UDT cancer [‐509C/T: OR (95%CI) = 1.10 (0.99–1.22) for TT vs. C carries, Pheterogeneity= 0.10; +869T/C: OR (95%CI) = 1.04 (0.88–1.23) for CC vs. T carriers, Pheterogeneity= 0.02]. Subgroup analyses indicated that the ‐509T allele was associated with increased risk of UDT cancer in population‐based studies (OR = 1.16 (1.04–1.31), Pheterogeneity= 0.31 for TT vs. C carriers) and in small sample‐sized studies (OR = 1.45 (1.15–1.84), Pheterogeneity= 0.56 TT vs. C carriers). All subgroup analyses for the TGF β1+869T/C polymorphism indicated null association except for hepatocellular carcinoma. Interestingly, both the TGF β1‐509T allele and the +869C allele were associated with decreased risk of hepatocellular cancer based on limited original studies. This meta‐analysis indicated that TGF β1‐509C/T rather than +869T/C is a potential risk factor for UDT cancer.
Statistical Tests for Detecting Rare Variants Using Variance‐Stabilising Transformations
Authors: Wang Kai , Fingert John H.
Published: June 2012

Next generation sequencing holds great promise for detecting rare variants underlying complex human traits. Due to their extremely low allele frequencies, the normality approximation for a proportion no longer works well. The Fisher’s exact method appears to be suitable but it is conservative. We investigate the utility of various variance‐stabilising transformations in single marker association analysis on rare variants. Unlike a proportion itself, the variance of the transformed proportions no longer depends on the proportion, making application of such transformations to rare variant association analysis extremely appealing. Simulation studies demonstrate that tests based on such transformations are more powerful than the Fisher’s exact test while controlling for type I error rate. Based on theoretical considerations and results from simulation studies, we recommend the test based on the Anscombe transformation over tests with other transformations.
Fear of childbirth and duration of labour: a study of 2206 women with intended vaginal delivery
Authors: Adams SS , Eberhard‐Gran M , Eskild A
Published: June 2012

Please cite this paper as: Adams S, Eberhard‐Gran M, Eskild A. Fear of childbirth and duration of labour: a study of 2206 women with intended vaginal delivery. BJOG 2012;119:1238–1246.

Objective  To assess the association between fear of childbirth and duration of labour.

Design  A prospective study of women from 32 weeks of gestation through to delivery.

Setting  Akershus University Hospital, Norway.

Population  A total of 2206 pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy and intended vaginal delivery during the period 2008–10.

Methods  Fear of childbirth was assessed by the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W‐DEQ) version A at 32 weeks of gestation, and defined as a W‐DEQ sum score ≥ 85. Information on labour duration, use of epidural analgesia and mode of delivery was obtained from the maternal ward electronic birth records.

Main outcome measures   Labour duration in hours: from 3–4 cm cervical dilatation and three uterine contractions per 10 minutes lasting ≥1 minute, until delivery of the child.

Results  Fear of childbirth (W‐DEQ sum score ≥ 85) was present in 7.5% (165) of women. Labour duration was significantly longer in women with fear of childbirth compared with women with no such fear using a linear regression model (crude unstandardised coefficient 1.54; 95% confidence interval 0.87–2.22, corresponding to a difference of 1 hour and 32 minutes). After adjustment for parity, counselling for pregnancy concern, epidural analgesia, labour induction, labour augmentation, emergency caesarean delivery, instrumental vaginal delivery, offspring birthweight and maternal age, the difference attenuated, but remained statistically significant (adjusted unstandardised coefficient 0.78; 95% confidence interval 0.20–1.35, corresponding to a 47‐minute difference).

Conclusion  Duration of labour was longer in women with fear of childbirth than in women without fear of childbirth.
3,6′‐Dithiothalidomide, a new TNF‐α synthesis inhibitor, attenuates the effect of Aβ1–42intracerebroventricular injection on hippocampal neurogenesis and memory deficit
Authors: Russo Isabella , Caracciolo Luca , Tweedie David , Choi Sang‐Ho , Greig Nigel H. , Barlati Sergio , Bosetti Francesca
Published: June 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012)122, 1181–1192.

Evidence indicates altered neurogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases associated with inflammation, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Neuroinflammation and its propagation have a critical role in the degeneration of hippocampal neurons, cognitive impairment, and altered neurogenesis. Particularly, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α plays a central role in initiating and regulating the cytokine cascade during an inflammatory response and is up‐regulated in brain of AD patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of a novel thalidomide‐based TNF‐α lowering drug, 3,6′‐dithiothalidomide, on hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation, neurogenesis and, memory tasks after intracerebroventricular injection of β‐amyloid (Aß)1–42peptide. Seven days after Aβ1–42injection, a significant proliferation of hippocampal progenitor cells and memory impairment were evident. Four weeks after Aβ1–42peptide injection, elevated numbers of surviving 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine cells and newly formed neurons were detected. Treatment with 3,6′‐dithiothalidomide attenuated these Aβ1–42provoked effects. Our data indicate that although treatment with 3,6′‐dithiothalidomide in part attenuated the increase in hippocampal neurogenesis caused by Aβ1–42‐induced neuroinflammation, the drug prevented memory deficits associated with increased numbers of activated microglial cells and inflammatory response. Therefore, 3,6′‐dithiothalidomide treatment likely reduced neuronal tissue damage induced by neuroinflammation following Aβ1–42injection. Understanding the modulation of neurogenesis, and its relationship with memory function could open new therapeutic interventions for AD and other neurodegenerative disorders with an inflammatory component.
Spirituality and caring in old age and the significance of religion – a hermeneutical study from Norway
Authors: Rykkje Linda L. R. , Eriksson Katie , Raholm Maj‐Britt
Published: June 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 275–284

Spirituality and caring in old age and the significance of religion – a hermeneutical study from Norway

Spirituality is an important part of caring for the whole human being. However, there is lack of consensus about the concept parameter, and there is an ongoing discussion in nursing regarding the relation between religion and spirituality. Spirituality and religion is found to support health and well‐being in old age, and this article portrays how older Norwegians understand religion and religious support as part of spirituality and caring. The theoretical framework in this study is Eriksson’s caritative caring theory, and the research aim is to broaden the understanding of spirituality from a caring science perspective. The methodology is hermeneutical according to Gadamer. The study is based upon qualitative content analysis of 30 interviews with 17 participants above 74 years, six men and 11 women. The findings portray connectedness with a Higher power, including how Christianity has influenced upon the philosophy of life of the participants, wonders about the end of life/afterlife, and the meaning of religious symbols and rituals. The study also portrays how religious support may foster dignity, especially near the end of life, and experiences and opinions regarding support from nursing personnel. The study concludes that religiousness cannot be separated from spirituality, and that nurses should be able to provide spiritual care to a certain extent. Spiritual care including religious support according to patients’ desires may foster health and preserve human dignity.
Psychiatric disorders in an urban sample of preschool children
Authors: Gudmundsson Olafur O. , Magnusson Pall , Saemundsen Evald , Lauth Bertrand , Baldursson Gisli , Skarphedinsson Gudmundur , Fombonne Eric
Published: June 2012

Background

To increase limited epidemiological knowledge of early childhood psychopathology, a study of prevalence estimates and demographic correlates of psychiatric disorders was conducted in a sample of preschool children.

Methods

In a two‐stage study, parents of 339 children aged 4–6 years who came for a medical check‐up at three primary care centres in Reykjavik were invited to participate. First, the participants were screened with Brigance Screens and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parents and teachers. Subsequently, the children were tested with a short version of Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence – Revised and their parents were interviewed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Aged Children Present and Lifetime Version. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated and logistic regression was used to analyse the association between risk factors and psychiatric disorders.

Results

Of those invited to participate, 317 (93.5%) were included in the screening and of those, 131 received a full diagnostic assessment. The final study sample included 151 girls (47.6%) and 166 boys (52.4%) who represented 11.6% of the total birth cohort in Reykjavik. Weighted prevalence of DSM‐IV psychiatric disorders was 10.1% (95% CI 6.7–13.5%) and 57/317 or 18.0% (95% CI 13.8–22.2%), including elimination disorders. Anxiety disorders (5.7%) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (3.8%) were the most common disorders in this preschool sample. Poor physical health of parents and higher education was associated with DSM‐IV psychiatric disorders of the children. SDQ Total Difficulties score was associated with male gender and poor physical health of parents.

Conclusions

This study indicates that psychiatric disorders in preschool children are common and may be correlated with parental health factors.
Effect of feedback on ventilator care bundle compliance: before and after study
Authors: Lawrence Petra , Fulbrook Paul
Published: June 2012

Background: Care bundles cluster together several evidence‐based practices and, in the intensive care setting, the ventilator care bundle (VCB) has been applied widely.

Aim: To determine the effect of monthly feedback on VCB compliance.

Design: Before and after study: primary outcome measure VCB compliance.

Methods: Data were collected for 1 year from two metropolitan general intensive care units (ICU) on one randomly allocated day per week. Baseline data from adult ventilated patients were collected during the first 6 months (phase 1). During the second 6 months (phase 2), monthly compliance data were provided to each ICU regarding both ICUs' performance.

Results: Both ‘all or nothing’ compliance (when all four VCB elements were complied with) and overall compliance (the average compliance of the four elements) increased between the two phases. These increases were mostly small and statistically insignificant. Although both measures increased in ICU B, both fell in ICU A. ICU B's overall compliance increase was statistically significant (p = 0·005), but its ‘all or nothing’ compliance increase (19%), whilst arguably clinically significant, did not reach statistical significance. ICU B achieved increased compliance with all four VCB elements in phase 2, whereas ICU A achieved increases in two elements (deep vein thrombosis and gastric ulcer prophylaxis). Both ICUs achieved 100% compliance with gastric ulcer prophylaxis for all of phase 2. Head of bed elevation was the least complied with element in phase 1, and increased in ICU B only in phase 2.

Conclusions: Although the compliance rates with individual elements are encouraging, the results regarding the effect of feedback on VCB compliance were variable. The finding of relatively poor compliance with head of bed elevation is consistent with previous research.

Recommendations: Further research is needed to determine the effects of audit and feedback, and which strategies are most effective.
Status Assessment of New Zealand's Naturally Uncommon Ecosystems
Authors: HOLDAWAY ROBERT J. , WISER SUSAN K. , WILLIAMS PETER A.
Published: June 2012

Abstract:  Globally, ecosystems are under increasing anthropogenic pressure; thus, many are at risk of elimination. This situation has led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to propose a quantitative approach to ecosystem‐risk assessment. However, there is a need for their proposed criteria to be evaluated through practical examples spanning a diverse range of ecosystems and scales. We applied the IUCN's ecosystem red‐list criteria, which are based on changes in extent of ecosystems and reductions in ecosystem processes, to New Zealand's 72 naturally uncommon ecosystems. We aimed to test the applicability of the proposed criteria to ecosystems that are naturally uncommon (i.e., those that would naturally occur over a small area in the absence of human activity) and to provide information on the probability of ecosystem elimination so that conservation priorities might be set. We also tested the hypothesis that naturally uncommon ecosystems classified as threatened on the basis of IUCN Red List criteria contain more threatened plant species than those classified as nonthreatened. We identified 18 critically endangered, 17 endangered, and 10 vulnerable ecosystems. We estimated that naturally uncommon ecosystems contained 145 (85%) of mainland New Zealand's taxonomically distinct nationally critical, nationally endangered, and nationally vulnerable plant species, 66 (46%) of which were endemic to naturally uncommon ecosystems. We estimated there was a greater number of threatened plant species (per unit area) in critically endangered ecosystems than in ecosystems classified as nonthreatened. With their high levels of endemism and rapid and relatively well‐documented history of anthropogenic change, New Zealand's naturally uncommon ecosystems provide an excellent case‐study for the ongoing development of international criteria for threatened ecosystems. We suggest that interactions and synergies among decline in area, decline in function, and the scale of application of the criteria be used to improve the IUCN criteria for threatened ecosystems.
Possible Extinction Vortex for a Population of Iberian Lynx on the Verge of Extirpation
Authors: PALOMARES FRANCISCO , GODOY JOSÉ ANTONIO , LÓPEZ‐BAO JOSÉ VICENTE , RODRÍGUEZ ALEJANDRO , ROQUES SEVERINE , CASAS‐MARCE MIREIA , REVILLA ELOY , DELIBES MIGUEL
Published: June 2012

Abstract:  Theory suggests that demographic and genetic traits deteriorate (i.e., fitness and genetic diversity decrease) when populations become small, and that such deterioration could precipitate positive feedback loops called extinction vortices. We examined whether demographic attributes and genetic traits have changed over time in one of the 2 remaining small populations of the highly endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Doñana, Spain. From 1983 to 2008, we recorded nontraumatic mortality rates, litter size, offspring survival, age at territory acquisition, and sex ratio. We combined these demographic attributes with measures of inbreeding and genetic diversity at neutral loci (microsatellites) and genes subjected to selection (major histocompatibility complex). Data on demographic traits were obtained through capture and radio tracking, checking dens during breeding, track surveys, and camera trapping. For genetic analyses, we obtained blood or tissue samples from captured or necropsied individuals or from museum specimens. Over time a female‐biased sex ratio developed, age of territory acquisition decreased, mean litter size decreased, and rates of nontraumatic mortality increased, but there were no significant changes in overall mortality rates, standardized individual heterozygosity declined steadily, and allelic diversity of exon 2 of class II major histocompatibility complex DRB genes remained constant (2 allelic variants present in all individuals analyzed). Changes in sex ratio and age of territory acquisition may have resulted from demographic stochasticity, whereas changes in litter size and nontraumatic mortality may be related to observed increases in inbreeding. Concomitant deterioration of both demographic attributes and genetic traits is consistent with an extinction vortex. The co‐occurrence, with or without interaction, of demographic and genetic deterioration may explain the lack of success of conservation efforts with the Doñana population of Iberian lynx.
Dyadic Interaction: Greater than the Sum of its Parts?
Authors: Moore Ginger A. , Powers Christopher J. , Bass Anneliese J. , Cohn Jeffrey F. , Propper Cathi B. , Allen Nicholas B. , Lewinsohn Peter M.
Published: June 2012

The study of dyadic interaction plays a major role in infancy research. To advance conceptually informed measurement of dyadic interaction and integration across studies, we examined factor structure of individual parents' and infants' measures and dyadic measures from face‐to‐face interactions in two samples of 6‐month‐old infants and their parents: mothers from a demographically heterogeneous sample (N = 164), and mothers and fathers (N = 156) from a Caucasian middle‐class sample. Results suggested that a) individual and dyadic measures, and parents' and infants' behaviors contribute independent information, b) measures of both valence and process are needed, c) there are context‐general and context‐specific qualities, and d) structure of dyadic interaction is more similar among mother–infant dyads from independent samples than between mother–infant and father–infant dyads within the same sample. Future research should use multiple measures incorporating valence, temporal processes, contextual influences, and behaviors of individual partners along with dyadic measures to adequately assess the quality of dyadic interaction.
Biomechanical Comparison of 4.0‐mm Short‐Threaded Cannulated Screws and 4.0‐mm Short‐Threaded Cancellous Screws in a Canine Humeral Condylar Fracture Model
Authors: Rochereau Philippe , Diop Amadou , Maurel Nathalie , Bernarde Antoine
Published: June 2012

Objective

To compare biomechanical properties of a humeral condylar fracture model stabilized either with a 4.0‐mm short‐threaded cancellous screw (CCS) or with a 4.0‐mm short‐threaded cannulated screw (CNS).

Study design

In vitrobiomechanical study.

Sample Population

Bilateral cadaveric canine humeri (n = 20).

Methods

Fractures of the lateral portion of the humeral condyle were simulated by standardized osteotomies; 10 condyles were each stabilized withCCSand 10 withCNS. Axial compression load was applied to each specimen until failure and force‐displacement curves generated. Testing data for each construct were determined and compared using either a Student's paired t‐test (quantitative data) or a χ2test (qualitative data) with statistical significance set atP< .05.

Results

Yield load (elastic limit), ultimate load at failure, and displacements at loads corresponding to walk and trot were determined from each curve. Mean ±SDultimate load at failure was significantly higher (P= .01) forCCSconstructs (1261 ± 261 N) than forCNSconstructs (1078 ± 231 N). Yield loads were not significantly different (P= .10) between construct types, and exceeded all expected loads supported by the humeral condyle at walk. The risk of having a yield load below the expected physiologic load at trot was not statistically higher with aCNSconstruct compared with aCCSconstruct (P= .26).

Conclusion

Humeral condylar fracture repaired either by a 4.0‐mm cannulated screw or a 4.0‐mm cancellous screw have comparable stability in this condylar fracture model.
Complications and Owner Assessment of Canine Total Hip Replacement: A Multicenter Internet Based Survey
Authors: Forster Kate E. , Wills Andrew , Torrington Andrew M. , Moores Andy P. , Thomson David , Arthurs Gareth , Brown Gordon , Denny Hamish R. , Scott Harry W. , MacQueen Ian , Dunne James , Onyett Jeremy , Walker John D. , Prior John , Owen Martin R. , Burton Neil , Whitelock Richard , Girling Sarah , Morrison Shane , Gilbert Simon , Langley‐Hobbs Sorrel J. , Gemmill Toby J. , Innes John F.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To assess the variables associated with the complications of total hip replacement (THR) and report owner‐assessed outcomes, through surgeon‐based registration of cases via an online database, informed owner consent, and prospective outcomes assessment using a client‐administered clinical metrology instrument.

Study Design

Prospective case series

Animals

Dogs (n = 170)

Methods

Entries into the British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association‐Canine Hip Registry (BVOA‐CHR) between January 2010 and August 2011 were reviewed. Variables evaluated included dog age, body weight, breed, and indication forTHRand prosthesis. Associations between each variable and the incidence of complications were assessed using logistic regression. Additionally, an on‐line, owner‐administered outcomes assessment questionnaire (modified from the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire) was used to collect data from owners.

Results

One hundred and seventy cases met the inclusion criteria. Surgical indications included hip dysplasia and coxofemoral osteoarthritis (n = 150), Legg‐Calves‐Perthes disease (7), coxofemoral luxation (6), fracture (4), slipped capital physis (2), and femoral head and neck ostectomy revision (1). Surgical implants were from 4 systems. The incidence of surgeon‐reported complication was 9.4%. No significant association was identified between weight, age, sex, breed, indication for THR, surgical technique and prosthesis, and the incidence of complications. In 82% of the cases, owners described their satisfaction with the outcome ofTHRas “very good” and a total of 20% complication rate was reported. There was a statistically significant improvement in owner‐assessed questionnaire score before and afterTHR(P< .001).

Conclusions

TheBVOA‐CHRoffers a novel framework for the prospective studies onTHRand on a national/international scale. Initial complication rates from theBVOA‐CHRare similar to previous studies.
Alignment of Assessment Objectives with Instructional Objectives Using Revised Bloom's Taxonomy—The Case for Food Science and Technology Education
Authors: Jideani V. A. , Jideani I. A.
Published: June 2012

Abstract:  Nine food science and technology (FST) subjects were assessed for alignment between the learning outcomes and assessment using revised Bloom's taxonomy (RBT) of cognitive knowledge. Conjoint analysis was used to estimate the utilities of the levels of cognitive, knowledge, and the attribute importance (cognitive process and knowledge dimension) for learning outcomes and assessments. Lecturers for these subjects produced learning outcomes for ability of students to Understand (4.935) Procedural (3.316) as well as Apply (4.491) Conceptual (3.083) knowledge. Lecturers’ expected students’ to move beyond mere recall and recognition of knowledge to higher order cognitive knowledge of apply, analyze, evaluate, and create. However, the assessments tested students’ ability to Understand (4.791) Conceptual (4.168) as well as Remember (3.217) Procedural (0.581) knowledge resulting in a misaligned teaching and learning exercise. For all the subjects, emphasis was more (52.9% to 72.9%) on the cognitive dimension than on forms of knowledge in formulating the learning outcomes, whereas emphasis placed on the cognitive (33.3% to 62.5%) dimension and the knowledge (37.5% to 66.7%) forms in the questions differed from subject to subject. The cognitive weight in the assessment was more for Understand (1.781)/Remember (0.787) Conceptual (1.416) knowledge. RBT provides an assessment framework that can be used to assist instructors in going beyond factual knowledge and comprehension to include academic skills such as application, analysis, evaluation, and creation.
Nurse Staffing Levels Make a Difference on Patient Outcomes: A Multisite Study in Chinese Hospitals
Authors: Zhu Xiao‐wen , You Li‐ming , Zheng Jing , Liu Ke , Fang Jin‐bo , Hou Shu‐xiao , Lu Min‐min , Lv Ai‐li , Ma Wei‐guang , Wang Hong‐hong , Wu Zi‐jing , Zhang Li‐feng
Published: June 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes in hospitals in mainland China.

Methods: The study was conducted in 181 hospitals across all of the eight economic zones in mainland China using a four‐stage sampling design. Two instruments, the China Nurse Survey and the patient satisfaction measurement from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, were employed in data collection. In this article, 7,802 nurse surveys and 5,430 patient surveys from 600 medical and surgical units were analyzed.

Results: The adjusted joint effects of nurse staffing on patient outcomes from logistic regression analyses showed that more nursing staff per patient had statistically significant positive effects on all necessary nursing care, nurses’ reports of quality of care, their confidence on patients’ self‐care ability on discharge from the hospital, patient adverse events, as well as patients’ report of satisfaction. When the nurse‐to‐patient ratio (total number of nurses on all shifts on the unit divided by total number of patients who stay on the unit) increased to the 0.5–<0.6 category, most patient outcomes were significantly improved, considering hospital and patient factors and nurse skill mix in the logistic regression models.

Conclusions: The findings provide evidence on how inadequate nurse staffing might result in missed but needed nursing care and negative patient outcomes, while better staffing levels could be an effective strategy for improving patient outcomes.

Clinical Relevance: We recommend that the nurse‐to‐patient ratio on medical and surgical units in Chinese hospitals be increased to at least 0.5–0.6 so as to secure patient safety and the quality of health services.

Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2011; XX:X, XXX–XXX. ©2011 Sigma Theta Tau International.
The Walk in the Woods: A Step‐by‐Step Method for Facilitating Interest‐Based Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Authors: Marcus Leonard J. , Dorn Barry C. , McNulty Eric J.
Published: June 2012

In this article, we describe a method we have used successfully in both academic and professional settings to rapidly introduce novice negotiators to the principles and practice of interest‐based negotiation: “the walk in the woods.” The walk incorporates much of the principles of interest‐based negotiation: fostering self‐awareness, cultivating curiosity, and understanding the importance of world view. The walk's effectiveness is illustrated in this article using the case of the merger of two large, complex health‐care organizations.
Regulation of tristetraprolin expression by mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase‐1
Authors: Huotari Noora , Hömmö Tuija , Taimi Ville , Nieminen Riina , Moilanen Eeva , Korhonen Riku
Published: June 2012

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an acute phase protein, and its expression is rapidly up‐regulated by inflammatory signals, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines. TTP regulates gene expression by governing the mRNA stability of its target genes, which include cytokines and growth factors. MAP kinase phosphatase‐1 (MKP‐1) is a nuclear phosphatase that inhibits p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. This study investigated the role of MKP‐1 in TTP expression in A549 human lung epithelial cells, THP‐1 human macrophages, J774 mouse macrophages, and primary mouse macrophages. TTP and MKP‐1 expression was increased by cytokines or LPS. Silencing of MKP‐1 by siRNA enhanced TTP expression in response to LPS, and LPS‐induced TTP expression was increased in macrophages from MKP‐1 (−/−) mice as compared with that in macrophages from wild‐type animals. The inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB202190 reduced TTP expression. In conclusion, MKP‐1 suppressed TTP expression by inhibiting p38 MAPK pathway.
Vitamin C in plasma and leucocytes in relation to periodontitis
Authors: Kuzmanova Denica , Jansen Ineke D. C. , Schoenmaker Ton , Nazmi Kamran , Teeuw Wijnand J. , Bizzarro Sergio , Loos Bruno G. , van der Velden Ubele
Published: June 2012

Aim

To test the hypothesis that vitamin C concentrations in plasma, polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leucocytes (PMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are lower in periodontitis patients compared with healthy controls.

Methods

Twenty‐one untreated periodontal patients and 21 healthy controls matched for age, gender, race and smoking habits were selected. Dietary vitamin C intake was assessed by a self‐administered dietary record. Fasting blood samples were obtained and analysed for vitamin C concentrations in plasma, PMNs and PBMCs by means of high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results

Plasma vitamin C was lower in periodontitis patients compared with controls (8.3 and 11.3 mg/l, respectively, p = 0.03). Only in the control group a positive correlation was present between vitamin C intake and plasma values. No differences could be assessed between patients and controls regarding vitamin C dietary intake and levels in PMNs and PBMCs. In the patient group, pocket depth appeared to be negatively associated with the vitamin C concentration in PMNs.

Conclusion

Although the relationship between low plasma vitamin C levels and periodontitis is clear, the disease cannot be explained by insufficient vitamin C storage capacity of leucocytes; the question remains through which mechanism low plasma vitamin C levels are related to periodontitis.
Experimental analysis of risk factors for ulcerative dermatitis in mice
Authors: Neuhaus Brit , Niessen Carien M. , Mesaros Andrea , Withers Dominic J. , Krieg Thomas , Partridge Linda
Published: June 2012

Ulcerative dermatitis (UD) is a severe inflammatory skin disorder with an unknown aetiology. Recently, insulin receptor substrate 1 KO mice were shown to be fully resistant to UD. In this study, we showed that high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding significantly increased incidence of UD in wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, as did lithium‐mediated inhibition of GSK3‐β, which is a key negative regulator of IRS1. In contrast to WT mice, resistance to UD was fully preserved in HFD‐fed Irs1‐KO mice. Our results identify IRS1 as a key determinant of UD pathogenesis and establish a direct link between diet composition, obesity‐induced inflammation and chronic ulceration.
Association of brook trout andOncorhynchusspp. with large wood jams in a Lake Superior tributary in a northern old‐growth watershed
Authors: Morris Arthur E. L. , Williams Lance R. , Goebel P. Charles , Braig Eugene C.
Published: June 2012

Wood in streams functions as fish habitat, but relationships between fish abundance (or size) and large wood in streams are not consistent. One possible reason for variable relationships between fish and wood in streams is that the association of fish with wood habitat may depend on ecological context such as large‐scale geomorphology. We studied the relationship between salmonid assemblages and large wood jams (LWJ) in four settings that differed geomorphically at the scale of the stream corridor along a tributary toLakeSuperior in old‐growth conifer–hardwood forest in northernMichigan. The focal fish species of this study were brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), which were wild in the stream. Relocation efforts for coaster brook trout (an adfluvial life history variant of brook trout) were ongoing in the study stream. We measured fish abundance and length in pairs of pools of similar size and substrate, but varying in the presence ofLWJ; this allowed us to evaluate associations of fish simply with the presence ofLWJrather than with other channel or flow‐shaping functions ofLWJ. The length ofOncorhynchusspp. and young introduced brook trout was not strongly correlated withLWJpresence; however, the presence ofLWJin pools was positively correlated with larger wild brook trout. We also found that the correspondence ofLWJwith the abundance of salmonids appears to be moderated by the presence of alternative habitat in this relatively natural, old‐growth forest stream.