bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unique Resources of Corporate Venture Capitalists as a Key to Entry into Rigid Venture Capital Syndication Networks
Authors: Keil Thomas , Maula Markku V.J. , Wilson Cameron
Published: January 2010

We investigate how corporate venture capitalists (CVCs) can rapidly attain central positions in venture capital syndication networks. Using data of CVC investments by U.S. corporations between 1996 and 2005, we complement prior research, which suggests that centrally positioned VCs predominantly invest together with other centrally positioned VCs. While we find clear support for the social network theory arguments that prior central positions in syndication networks significantly explain future network positions of CVCs, we also find a negative interaction effect between past centrality and corporate resources. This finding implies that resources of CVCs can substitute for their lack of prior centrality and allow them to gain rapidly central positions in rigid VC syndication networks.
The Significance of Marijuana Use Among Alcohol‐using Adolescent Emergency Department Patients
Authors: Chun Thomas H. , Spirito Anthony , Hernández Lynn , Fairlie Anne M. , Sindelar‐Manning Holly , Eaton Cheryl A. , Lewander William J.
Published: January 2010

Objectives:  The objective was to determine if adolescents presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) for an alcohol‐related event requiring medical care differ in terms of substance use, behavioral and mental health problems, peer relationships, and parental monitoring based on their history of marijuana use.

Methods:  This was a cross‐sectional comparison of adolescents 13–17 years old, with evidence of recent alcohol use, presenting to a PED with a self‐reported history of marijuana use. Assessment tools included the Adolescent Drinking Inventory, Adolescent Drinking Questionnaire, Young Adult Drinking and Driving Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Behavioral Assessment System for Children, and Peer Substance Use and Tolerance of Substance Use Scale.

Results:  Compared to adolescents using alcohol only (AO), adolescents who use alcohol and marijuana (A+M) have higher rates of smoking (F = 23.62) and binge drinking (F = 11.56), consume more drinks per sitting (F = 9.03), have more externalizing behavior problems (F = 12.53), and report both greater peer tolerance of substance use (F = 12.99) and lower parental monitoring (F = 7.12).

Conclusions:  Adolescents who use A+M report greater substance use and more risk factors for substance abuse than AO‐using adolescents. Screening for a history of marijuana use may be important when treating adolescents presenting with an alcohol‐related event. A+M co‐use may identify a high‐risk population, which may have important implications for ED clinicians in the care of these patients, providing parental guidance, and planning follow‐up care.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:63–71 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Emergency Physicians’ Risk Attitudes in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients
Authors: McCausland Julie B. , Machi Mari S. , Yealy Donald M.
Published: January 2010

Objectives:  Despite the existence of various clinical prediction rules, no data exist defining what frequency of death or serious nonfatal outcomes comprises a realistic “low‐risk” group for clinicians. This exploratory study sought to identify emergency physicians’ (EPs) definition of low‐risk acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) emergency department (ED) patients.

Methods:  Surveys were mailed to full‐time physicians (n = 88) in a multihospital EP group in southwestern Pennsylvania between December 2004 and February 2005. Participation was voluntary, and each EP was asked to define low risk (low risk of all‐cause 30‐day death and low risk of either hospital death or other serious medical complications) and choose a risk threshold at which they might consider outpatient management for those with ADHF. A range of choices was offered (<0.5, <1, <2, <3, <4, and <5%), and demographic data were collected.

Results:  The response rate was 80%. Physicians defined low risk both for all‐cause 30‐day death and for hospital death or other serious complications, at <1% (38.8 and 40.3%, respectively). The decision threshold to consider outpatient therapy was <0.5% risk both for all‐cause 30‐day death (44.6%) and for hospital death or serious medical complications (44.4%).

Conclusions:  Emergency physicians in this exploratory study define low‐risk ADHF patients as having less than a 1% risk of 30‐day death or inpatient death or complications. They state a desire to have and use an ADHF clinical prediction rule that can identify low‐risk ADHF patients who have less than a 0.5% risk of 30‐day death or inpatient death or complications.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:108–110 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Does the Early Administration of Beta‐blockers Improve the In‐hospital Mortality Rate of Patients Admitted with Acute Coronary Syndrome?
Authors: Brandler Ethan , Paladino Lorenzo , Sinert Richard
Published: January 2010

Objectives:  Beta‐blockade is currently recommended in the early management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). This was a systematic review of the medical literature to determine if early beta‐blockade improves the outcome of patients with ACS.

Methods:  The authors searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for randomized controlled trials from 1965 through May 2009 using a search strategy derived from the following PICO formulation of our clinical question: Patients included adults (18+ years) with an acute or suspected myocardial infarction (MI) within 24 hours of onset of chest pain. Intervention included intravenous or oral beta‐blockers administered within 8 hours of presentation. The comparator included standard medical therapy with or without placebo versus early beta‐blocker administration. The outcome was the risk of in‐hospital death in the intervention groups versus the comparator groups. The methodologic quality of the studies was assessed. Qualitative methods were used to summarize the study results. In‐hospital mortality rates were compared using a forest plot of relative risk (RR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) between beta‐blockers and controls. Statistical analysis was done with Review Manager V5.0.

Results:  Eighteen articles (total N = 72,249) met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. For in‐hospital mortality, RR = 0.95 (95% CI, 0.90–1.01). In the largest of these studies (n = 45,852), a significantly higher rate (p < 0.0001) of cardiogenic shock was observed in the beta‐blocker (5.0%) versus control group (3.9%).

Conclusions:  This systematic review failed to demonstrate a convincing in‐hospital mortality benefit for using beta‐blockers early in the course of patients with an acute or suspected MI.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:1–10 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Diagnostic Accuracy of Emergency Doppler Echocardiography for Identification of Acute Left Ventricular Heart Failure in Patients with Acute Dyspnea: Comparison with Boston Criteria and N‐terminal Prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide
Authors: Nazerian Peiman , Vanni Simone , Zanobetti Maurizio , Polidori Gianluca , Pepe Giuseppe , Federico Roberto , Cangioli Elisabetta , Grifoni Stefano
Published: January 2010

Objectives:  Echocardiography is a fundamental tool in the diagnosis of acute left ventricular heart failure (aLVHF). However, a consultative exam is not routinely available in every emergency department (ED). The authors investigated the diagnostic performance of emergency Doppler echocardiography (EDecho) performed by emergency physicians (EPs) for the diagnosis of aLVHF in patients with acute dyspnea.

Methods:  A convenience sample of acute dyspneic patients was evaluated. For each patient, the Boston criteria score for heart failure was calculated, and N‐terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) and EDecho were contemporaneously performed. Four investigators, after a limited echocardiography course, performed EDechos and evaluated for a “restrictive” pattern on pulsed Doppler analysis of mitral inflow and reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction. The final diagnosis, established after reviewing all patient clinical data except NT‐proBNP and EDecho results, served as the criterion standard.

Results:  Among 145 patients, 64 (44%) were diagnosed with aLVHF. The median time needed to perform EDecho was 4 minutes. Pulsed Doppler analysis was feasible in 125 patients (84%). The restrictive pattern was more sensitive (82%) and specific (90%) than reduced LV ejection fraction and more specific than the Boston criteria and NT‐proBNP for the diagnosis of aLVHF. Considering noninterpretable values of the restrictive pattern and uncertain values (“gray areas”) of Boston criteria (4 < Boston criteria score < 7) and of NT‐proBNP (300 < NT‐proBNP < 2,200 pg/mL) as false results, the accuracy of the restrictive pattern in the overall population was 75%, compared with accuracy of 49% for both NT‐proBNP and Boston criteria.

Conclusions:  EDecho, particularly pulsed Doppler analysis of mitral inflow, is a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with acute dyspnea.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:18–26 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Child Abuse‐Related Homicides in New Mexico: A 6‐year Retrospective Review
Authors: Lee Carol K. , Lathrop Sarah L.
Published: January 2010

Abstract:  We retrospectively reviewed autopsy records at a statewide medical examiner’s office in order to identify and characterize deaths due to child abuse. In a 6‐year period in New Mexico, the medical examiner investigated 45 deaths determined to be child abuse‐related. Decedents were predominantly male (68.9%), Hispanic White (53.3%), and all were 5 years of age or younger, with a median age of 1 year. Head injuries were the most common cause of death (44.4%), followed by battered baby syndrome (15.6%). Relatives were involved as alleged perpetrators in 80% of the cases, with the father most often implicated (36.1% of cases), and 88.9% of child abuse injuries resulting in death occurred in the family’s residence. Toxicology was positive in 26.7% of cases, but only two cases had substances of abuse present. Information on risk factors such as prematurity, parental age, and history of abuse was also collected.
Correction to Tzidony and Ravreby (1992): A Statistical Approach to Drug Sampling: A Case Study
Authors: Stoel Reinoud D. , Bolck Annabel
Published: January 2010

Abstract:  In 1992, Tzidony and Ravreby presented a confidence interval for the total weight of a seizure of illicit drugs present in a population. Their approach has subsequently been applied by several researchers in the field. The formula on which their approach is based does, however, not fully take into account the proportion of drug units found in the sample. In this paper, a modification is presented that consistently uses the correct sample size in all terms of the confidence interval, based on the proportion of drug units found in the sample. The effective sample size is smaller than the original sample size, and this should consequently be accounted for in the estimation of the standard error and in the corresponding t‐distribution. The new confidence interval is again based on the assumption that the proportion of drug units in the population is known after sampling.
Association between use of asthma drugs and prevalence of demarcated opacities in permanent first molars in 6‐to‐8‐year‐old Danish children
Authors: Wogelius P. , Haubek D. , Nechifor A. , Nørgaard M. , Tvedebrink T. , Poulsen S.
Published: January 2010

Wogelius P, Haubek D, Nechifor A, Nørgaard M, Tvedebrink T, Poulsen S. Association between use of asthma drugs and prevalence of demarcated opacities in permanent first molars in 6‐to‐8‐year‐old Danish children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract –  Objectives:  Demarcated opacities in permanent first molars are common developmental tooth defects, characterized by areas with insufficient mineralization of the enamel. The defects present clinically as a continuum from creamy‐white demarcated opacities, yellowish‐brown demarcated opacities to macroscopic loss of tooth substance. The etiology is sparsely elucidated, but asthma drugs have been suspected to increase the prevalence. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of demarcated opacities in permanent first molars among 6‐to‐8‐year‐old children with prescriptions and without prescriptions for asthma drugs.

Methods:  In a cross‐sectional study in two Danish municipalities, all children aged 6–8 years (n = 891) were included. A total of 745 (83.6%) went through a dental examination during which demarcated opacities and tooth substance loss due to these were recorded. The analyses were restricted to 647 children in whom all four permanent first molars had erupted. Data on use of asthma drugs from birth until the time of the dental examination were obtained from a population‐based pharmaco‐epidemiological prescription database.

Results:  Among 47 children with prescriptions for both inhaled β2‐agonists and inhaled corticosteroids before the age of 3 years, 15 (31.9%) had demarcated opacities of any type, and six children (12.8%) had opacity‐related loss of tooth substance. Among 264 children with no prescriptions for either inhaled or oral asthma drugs from birth until the date of the dental examination, 96 (36.4%) had demarcated opacities of any type, and 13 (4.9%) had opacity‐related loss of tooth substance. The odds ratio (OR) of any demarcated opacity, and of opacity‐related loss of tooth substance in children with prescriptions for both inhaled β2‐agonists and inhaled corticosteroids before the age of 3 years was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.39–1.65), and 2.42 (95% CI: 0.70–7.43).

Conclusions:  Children with prescriptions for inhaled asthma drugs before the age of 3 years did not have an overall increased risk of demarcated opacities in first permanent molar but they seemed to have an increased risk of the severe demarcated opacities, i.e. opacities resulting in macroscopic loss of tooth substance, and possibly a need for restorative care.
Dental caries risk indicators among Australian Aboriginal young adults
Authors: Jamieson Lisa M. , Roberts‐Thomson KF , Sayers SM
Published: January 2010

Jamieson LM, Roberts‐Thomson KF, Sayers SM. Dental caries risk indicators among Australian Aboriginal young adults. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 213–221. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract –  Objectives:  To determine dental caries risk indicators among a birth cohort of Australian Aboriginal young adults (n = 442).

Methods:  Data were from the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study, a prospective longitudinal investigation of Aboriginal individuals born 1987–1990 at an Australian regional hospital. Models representing demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, dental service utilization and clinical oral health variables were tested using multivariate regression.

Results:  The percent DT > 0 was 72.9 (95% CI 68.7–77.1), mean DT was 4.19 (95% CI 3.8–4.6), percent DMFT > 0 was 77.4 (95% CI 73.5–81.3) and mean DMFT was 4.84 (95% CI 4.4–5.3). After controlling for other covariates, risk indicators for percent DT > 0 included soft drink consumption every day or a few times a week (PR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08–1.45), not consuming milk every day or a few times a week (PR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04–1.30) and sweet consumption every day or a few times a week (PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.33). Risk indicators for mean DT included sweet consumption every day or a few times a week (B = 1.14, 95% CI 0.27–2.02), nonownership of a toothbrush (B = 0.91, 95% CI 0.10–1.87) and presence of plaque (B = 2.46, 95% CI 0.96–3.96). Those with 4 +  occupants in their house the previous night had 1.2 times the prevalence of having DMFT > 0 than their counterparts with less household occupants (95% CI 1.01–1.49). Percent DMFT > 0 was also associated with consumption of soft drink every day or a few times a week (PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34) and consumption of sweets every day or a few times a week (PR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.37). Mean DMFT was higher among those who consumed sweets every day or a few times a week (B = 0.13, 95% CI 0.05–0.22) and who had dental anxiety (B = 0.10, 95% CI 0.01–0.19).

Conclusions:  In an Australian Aboriginal young adult cohort, risk indicators for dental caries included social determinants such as household size, dietary behaviours such as regular consumption of soft drink and sweets, dental behaviour such as nonownership of a toothbrush and dental anxiety.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Persistence of Paternal Antigens in the Maternal Body is Involved in Regulatory T‐Cell Expansion and Fetal‐Maternal Tolerance in Murine Pregnancy
Authors: Zenclussen Maria Laura , Thuere Catharina , Ahmad Nadja , Wafula Paul O. , Fest Stefan , Teles Ana , Leber Anne , Casalis Pablo A. , Bechmann Ingo , Priller Josef , Volk Hans‐Dieter , Zenclussen Ana Claudia
Published: January 2010

Citation Zenclussen ML, Thuere C, Ahmad N, Wafula PO, Fest S, Teles A, Leber A, Casalis PA, Bechmann I, Priller J, Volk H‐D, Zenclussen AC. The persistence of paternal antigens in the maternal body is involved in regulatory T‐cell expansion and fetal‐maternal tolerance in murine pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 200–208

Problem  Mammalian pregnancy is a state of immunological tolerance and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) contribute to its maintenance. Knowing that Treg act in an antigen‐specific way during pregnancy, we hypothesized that they are generated after maternal immune cells encounter paternal antigens.

Method of study  We mated wild type females with transgenic green fluorescent protein (GFP) males in an allogenic setting and killed them on different days of pregnancy.

Results  Presence of paternal and maternal MHC class II+ cells in vaginal lavage on day 0.5 of pregnancy was confirmed. Thus, antigen presentation may take place early during pregnancy in the periphery either by the direct or indirect pathways. Foxp3+ cells known to have regulatory activity could be detected on day 2 of pregnancy in lymph nodes and shortly after implantation at the fetal‐maternal interface.

Conclusion  Our data suggest that paternal antigens are processed early during pregnancy, which leads to the generation of Treg. The continuous release of placental antigens into the maternal circulation allows the maintenance of a Treg population which is specific for paternal antigens and mediates tolerance toward the semi‐allogeneic fetus until the time point of birth.
X‐ray crystallographic and NMR studies of pantothenate synthetase provide insights into the mechanism of homotropic inhibition by pantoate
Authors: Chakrabarti Kalyan Sundar , Thakur Krishan Gopal , Gopal B. , Sarma Siddhartha P.
Published: January 2010

The structural basis for the homotropic inhibition of pantothenate synthetase by the substrate pantoate was investigated by X‐ray crystallography and high‐resolution NMR spectroscopic methods. The tertiary structure of the dimeric N‐terminal domain of Escherichia coli pantothenate synthetase, determined by X‐ray crystallography to a resolution of 1.7 Å, showed a second molecule of pantoate bound in the ATP‐binding pocket. Pantoate binding to the ATP‐binding site induced large changes in structure, mainly for backbone and side chain atoms of residues in the ATP binding HXGH(34–37) motif. Sequence‐specific NMR resonance assignments and solution secondary structure of the dimeric N‐terminal domain, obtained using samples enriched in 2H, 13C, and 15N, indicated that the secondary structural elements were conserved in solution. Nitrogen‐15 edited two‐dimensional solution NMR chemical shift mapping experiments revealed that pantoate, at 10 mm, bound at these two independent sites. The solution NMR studies unambiguously demonstrated that ATP stoichiometrically displaced pantoate from the ATP‐binding site. All NMR and X‐ray studies were conducted at substrate concentrations used for enzymatic characterization of pantothenate synthetase from different sources [Jonczyk R & Genschel U (2006) J Biol Chem 281, 37435–37446]. As pantoate binding to its canonical site is structurally conserved, these results demonstrate that the observed homotropic effects of pantoate on pantothenate biosynthesis are caused by competitive binding of this substrate to the ATP‐binding site. The results presented here have implications for the design and development of potential antibacterial and herbicidal agents.

Structured digital abstract

MINT‐7301221: PS (uniprotkb:P31663) and PS (uniprotkb:P31663) bind (MI:0407) by x‐ray crystallography (MI:0114)

MINT‐7301241: PS (uniprotkb:P31663) and PS (uniprotkb:P31663) bind (MI:0407) by nuclear magnetic resonance (MI:0077)
The Effect of Systematic Medication Review in Elderly Patients Admitted to an Acute Ward of Internal Medicine
Authors: Lisby Marianne , Thomsen Anette , Nielsen Lars Peter , Lyhne Nina Munk , Breum‐Leer Charlotte , Fredberg Ulrich , Jørgensen Henny , Brock Birgitte
Published: January 2010

Abstract:  Elderly patients are vulnerable to medication errors and adverse drug events due to increased morbidity, polypharmacy and inappropriate interactions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether systematic medication review and counselling performed by a clinical pharmacist and clinical pharmacologist would reduce length of in‐hospital stay in elderly patients admitted to an acute ward of internal medicine. A randomized, controlled study of 100 patients aged 70 years or older was conducted in an acute ward of internal medicine in Denmark. Intervention arm: a clinical pharmacist conducted systematic medication reviews after an experienced medical physician had prescribed the patients’ medication. Information was collected from medical charts, interview with the patients and database registrations of drug purchase. Subsequently, medication histories were conferred with a clinical pharmacologist and advisory notes recommending medication changes were completed. Physicians were not obliged to comply with the recommendations. Control arm: medication was reviewed by usual routine in the ward. Primary end‐point was length of in‐hospital stay. In addition, readmissions, mortality, contact to primary healthcare and quality of life were measured at 3‐month follow‐up. In the intervention arm, the mean length of in‐hospital stay was 239.9 hr (95% CI: 190.2–289.6) and in the control arm: 238.6 hr (95% CI: 137.6–339.6), which was neither a statistical significant nor a clinically relevant difference. Moreover, no differences were observed for any of the secondary end‐points. Systematic medication review and medication counselling did not show any effect on in‐hospital length of stay in elderly patients when admitted to an acute ward of internal medicine.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ANATOMY/PHYSIOLOGY: Genetic and Environmental Influences on self-reported G-Spots in Women: A Twin Study
Authors: Burri Andrea Virginia , Cherkas Lynn , Spector Timothy D.
Published: January 2010

Introduction

There is an ongoing debate around the existence of the G-spot—an allegedly highly sensitive area on the anterior wall of the human vagina. The existence of the G-spot seems to be widely accepted among women, despite the failure of numerous behavioral, anatomical, and biochemical studies to prove its existence. Heritability has been demonstrated in all other genuine anatomical traits studied so far.

Aim

To investigate whether the self-reported G-spot has an underlying genetic basis.

Methods

1804 unselected female twins aged 22–83 completed a questionnaire that included questions about female sexuality and asked about the presence or absence of a G-spot. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variation in the reported existence of a G-spot was assessed using a variance components model fitting approach.

Main Outcome Measures

Genetic variance component analysis of self-reported G-spot.

Results

We found 56% of women reported having a G-spot. The prevalence decreased with age. Variance component analyses revealed that variation in G-spot reported frequency is almost entirely a result of individual experiences and random measurement error (>89%) with no detectable genetic influence. Correlations with associated general sexual behavior, relationship satisfaction, and attitudes toward sexuality suggest that the self-reported G-spot is to be a secondary pseudo-phenomenon.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the largest study investigating the prevalence of the G-spot and the first one to explore an underlying genetic basis. A possible explanation for the lack of heritability may be that women differ in their ability to detect their own (true) G-spots. However, we postulate that the reason for the lack of genetic variation—in contrast to other anatomical and physiological traits studied—is that there is no physiological or physical basis for the G-spot.
Job satisfaction of advanced practice nurses in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Faris Judith A. , Douglas Marilyn K. , Maples Deanna C. , Berg Laurie R. , Thrailkill Ann
Published: January 2010

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the level of job satisfaction and barriers to practice for advanced practice nurses (APNs) employed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Data sources: The Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Survey (MNPJSS) and an investigator‐developed questionnaire were completed by a self‐selected, convenience sample of 1,983 APNs who responded to an internal VHA email invitation (61% response rate) to participate in an anonymous on‐line survey.

Conclusions: Respondents reported being minimally satisfied with their job overall, most satisfied with their benefits and least satisfied with professional growth and intrapractice collegiality. They scored lower than their private sector peers for total job satisfaction and all subscales except benefits, as compared to samples of three smaller studies. Clinical nurse specialists reported greater job satisfaction then NPs. The most frequently cited barriers to practice were: too many non‐APN tasks, lack of administrative support, and inadequate time to do research.

Implications for practice: Strategies for improving professional growth and intra‐practice collegiality are needed. APNs' job satisfaction may be improved in these areas by mentoring of new APN graduates and administrative approval for participating in research. Additional administrative support is needed to decrease the amount of non‐APN tasks and clerical duties.
Implementation of cancer pain guidelines by acute care nurse practitioners using an audit and feedback strategy
Authors: Dulko Dorothy , Hertz Elisheva , Julien Jerelyn , Beck Susan , Mooney Kathi
Published: January 2010

Purpose: Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cancer pain, consistent integration of these principles into practice has not been achieved. The optimal method for implementing CPGs and the impact of guidelines on healthcare outcomes remain uncertain. This study evaluated the effect of an audit and feedback (A/F) intervention on nurse practitioner (NP) implementation of cancer pain CPGs and on hospitalized patients' self‐report of pain and satisfaction with pain relief.

Data sources: Eight NPs and two groups of 96 patients were the sources of data. Eligible patients in both groups completed the Brief Pain Inventory‐Short Form (BPI‐SF) within 24 h of admission and every 48 h until discharge. During A/F, NPs received weekly feedback on pain scores and guideline adherence.

Conclusions: Nurse practitioner adherence to CPGs increased during A/F. Pain intensity did not significantly differ between groups. Intervention group patients reported significantly less overall pain interference (p < .0001), interference with general activity (p = .0003), and sleep (p = .006). Satisfaction with pain relief increased from 68.4% to 95.1% during A/F (p < .0001).

Implications for practice: A/F is an effective strategy to promote CPG use. Improved functional status in the absence of decreased pain severity underscores the need to consider symptom clusters when studying pain.
A review of the influence of low ambient calcium concentrations on freshwater daphniids, gammarids, and crayfish
Authors: Cairns Allegra , Yan Norman
Published: January 2010

The widespread decline in aqueous calcium (Ca) is emerging as a newly recognised stressor in freshwater ecosystems in regions with historically high acid deposition, especially when coupled with multiple logging cycles. Currently, Ca and other base cations are being depleted in the soils of acid-sensitive watersheds of eastern North America and western Europe, resulting in falling Ca levels in streams and lakes. Freshwater crustaceans have high Ca demands due to their heavily calcified exoskeleton and regular moult cycle. Because they rely on Ca in the external environment for the majority of their Ca uptake, aquatic crustaceans are restricted to waters at or above the Ca concentration needed to satisfy their demands. The zoogeographic distributions along ambient Ca gradients, and Ca requirements and metabolism of three groups of freshwater crustaceans — daphniids, crayfish and gammarids — have been relatively well studied. Here we have four objectives: (1) We briefly review biological features of the above three taxa that relate to Ca metabolism. (2) We review the literature regarding minimum Ca thresholds permitting survival, Ca saturation points, and the individual and population scale costs of existence at suboptimal Ca concentrations. (3) Using Daphnia as an example, we explore the ecological consequences of falling environmental Ca concentrations. (4) We identify gaps and weaknesses in the literature that may inhibit the development of environmental risk assessments for Ca decline for these three crustacean groups. We conclude that crayfish are especially vulnerable to ongoing Ca decline, and that all three taxa are probably living under suboptimal conditions in areas of Ca decline, and are therefore likely under chronic metabolic stress.
Recovery of acid damaged zooplankton communities: measurement, extent, and limiting factors
Authors: Gray Derek K. , Arnott Shelley E.
Published: January 2010

Anthropogenic acidification has affected biota in thousands of lakes in eastern North America and Europe. To measure the degree and extent of biological recovery following pH recovery in acidified lakes, many studies have assessed changes occurring in acid-damaged zooplankton communities. In this review we synthesize studies of zooplankton recovery from regions severely affected by acidification. In doing so, we provide a critical overview of: (1) the design of studies used to detect recovery; (2) the status of communities in acidified regions; and (3) our current understanding of the factors that limit recovery. The design of most studies assessing zooplankton recovery fall into three categories based on their selection of data to be used for recovery benchmarks: (1) historical; (2) reference-lakes; and (3) temporal. Within these study designs, the most commonly used metrics include species richness, indicator species, and relative species abundances. Many studies have used species richness as the sole indicator of recovery; however, we argue that additional metrics should be considered in analyses to make conclusions more robust. Studies conducted in eastern North America and Northern Europe have demonstrated significant, though often incomplete, recovery of zooplankton communities in lakes that reach a pH > 6.0. Data collected in central Europe indicate little recovery in the heavily affected Bohemian Forest lakes, but complete recovery of species richness in the moderately acidified Tatra Mountain lakes. Factors limiting biological recovery, including slow chemical recovery, dispersal limitation, and community resistance, vary in importance among and within regions, suggesting that region- and lake-specific management approaches may be required.
Towards an integrated approach to modelling the risks and impacts of invasive forest species
Authors: Yemshanov Denys , McKenney Daniel W. , Pedlar John H. , Koch Frank H. , Cook David
Published: January 2010

In this paper we provide an overview of an integrated approach to modelling the risks and impacts associated with non-indigenous forest pest species. This is a broad and important topic given the scale of ecological and economic consequences associated with non-indigenous species in North America and elsewhere. Assessments of risks and impacts remain difficult due to complexities and interactions between the many factors driving invasions and outcomes. These processes occur across various spatial and temporal scales, and are often influenced and complicated by human activities. For each component of an ecological invasion (i.e., arrival, establishment, and spread), we review general approaches for modelling the phenomenon and identify data and knowledge gaps. With the greater availability of various spatial data and computational power we suggest the possibility of linking the models for each invasion component into a more integrated framework, thus allowing interactions and feedbacks between components to be better incorporated into risk modelling efforts. The approach is illustrated using examples from current work with Sirex noctilio Fabricius — a relatively new invasive wood wasp in eastern North America.
Expanding the “toolbox” for studying the biological responses of individual fish to hydropower infrastructure and operating strategies
Authors: Hasler Caleb T. , Pon Lucas B. , Roscoe David W. , Mossop Brent , Patterson David A. , Hinch Scott G. , Cooke Steven J.
Published: January 2010

To date, few studies have evaluated sub-organismal responses (e.g., physiological or energetic consequences) of individual fish to hydropower infrastructure (e.g., fishways, turbines) or operations (e.g., fluctuating flows, low flows). The field of “conservation physiology” (i.e., the use of physiological information to enhance conservation) is expanding rapidly and has great promise for hydropower research. However, there is a need to both expand the “toolbox” available to practitioners and to validate these tools for use in this context. This synthetic report details the behavioural, energetic, genomic, molecular, forensic, isotopic, and physiological tools available for studying sub-organismal responses of fish to hydropower infrastructure and operating procedures with a critical assessment of their benefits and limitations. Furthermore, this paper provides two case studies where behavioural, energetic, and physiological tools have been used in hydropower settings. Progressive and interdisciplinary approaches to hydropower research are needed to advance the science of sustainable river regulation and hydropower development. The expanded toolbox could be used by practitioners to assess fishway performance, migration delays, and fish responses to fluctuating flows through a more mechanistic approach than can be offered by only focusing on population metrics or indices of community structure. These tools are also relevant for the evaluation of other anthropogenic impacts such as water withdrawal for irrigation or drinking water, habitat alteration, and fisheries interactions.
Atrazine: its occurrence and treatment in water
Authors: Lazorko-Connon S. , Achari G.
Published: January 2010

A comprehensive review of atrazine including its use, properties, environmental fate, toxicological effects, occurrence in water, a summary of criteria for drinking water and the efficiency of various water treatment options for its removal was conducted. Atrazine is ubiquitous in surface water, groundwater, and precipitation, due to its widespread use for the control of broadleaf and grassy weeds mainly in corn crops. Atrazine is considered a priority substance by the USEPA, Agriculture Canada, and the European Commission. It causes developmental deformities and impacts behavior in frogs and fish. Atrazine has been implicated as a possible endocrine disrupting compound and has been associated with various cancers in humans such as stomach, prostate, breast, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Guidelines and standards governing maximum acceptable concentrations in fresh and marine waters are scarce and those for drinking water vary significantly between agencies. The effectiveness of tertiary water treatment technologies for the removal of atrazine demonstrates varying efficiencies. Variations in the quality of source water and the presence of natural organic matter present significant challenges for its removal.
Review of vadose zone soil solution sampling techniques
Authors: Fares Ali , Deb Sanjit K. , Fares Samira
Published: January 2010

Understanding the composition and fluxes of vadose zone soil water is extremely important to many environmental studies, and hence the monitoring of soil solution is of basic interest for different scientific and practical fields, including pedologic studies, water-use management, fate and transport of environmentally consequential pollutants, monitoring of disposal from mining and industries, nutrient management of agricultural and forest ecosystems, ecology, and environmental protection. Soil solution sampling techniques for effectively monitoring the quality and quantity of vadose zone soil pore water have been used to assess the persistence and transport of potential groundwater pollutants, assess the ecological and human health impact of such pollutants, and develope appropriate remediation strategies. However, there is still no consensus as to best techniques for soil solution collection at most field or laboratory soil conditions. The purpose of this review is to evaluate different laboratory and in-situ techniques of vadose zone soil solution sampling. This comprehensive review presents and discusses advantages and disadvantages of these techniques, problems and limitations of some of these techniques, proper installation, operation and pretreatment of samplers, interaction of pollutants with sampler materials, and proper selection of samplers under a wide range of potential pollutants measurements to provide a background and guidelines for the evaluation of recent developments.
Ground vegetation as an indicator of ecological integrity
Authors: LaPaix Richard , Freedman Bill , Patriquin David
Published: January 2010

Indicators are being sought for monitoring the ecological integrity of forests and other kinds of ecosystems. Biological measures are commonly used as indicators because of their inherent ecological importance and ability to provide insight into environmental change. Such measures are commonly based on data from sets of permanent plots in which the abundances of plant species are monitored. However, the data may be difficult to interpret, especially if corresponding information on natural and anthropogenic stressors is lacking. In this review, we examine general principles of indicator use and discuss the types of plot-based compositional measures obtained from vegetation that may be most relevant for monitoring ecological integrity. Our focus is on the ground vegetation of forested ecosystems, but the principles discussed are relevant to other vegetation types. Individual plant species, guilds, aliens, diversity indices, Ellenberg indicator values, the floristic quality assessment index, multivariate and multimetric indicators are examined, as well as concepts of threshold changes and the need for reference states. The usefulness of any given approach tends to be highly context specific. In particular, the value of using individual species as indicators is highly dependant on factors such as the character of the floristic community of interest and the types and intensities of anthropogenic stressors. Alien species are considered to be especially valuable indicators of changes in ecological integrity due to their established relationships with anthropogenic stressors, known historical state, relevance to all floristic communities, and ability to cause undesirable changes to biodiversity and ecological processes.
Changes in Canadian seabird populations and ecology since 1970 in relation to changes in oceanography and food webs
Authors: Gaston Anthony J. , Bertram Douglas F. , Boyne Andrew W. , Chardine John W. , Davoren Gail , Diamond Antony W. , Hedd April , Montevecchi William A. , Hipfner J. Mark , Lemon Moira J.F. , Mallory Mark L. , Rail Jean-François , Robertson Gregory J.
Published: January 2010

Systematic monitoring of seabird populations in Canada has been ongoing since the 1920s and the monitoring of diets and other biological indicators of ecosystem change started in the 1970s. Long-term monitoring of population parameters began in the 1980s. These studies originally were conducted mainly by the Canadian Wildlife Service, but subsequently have involved several universities and nongovernment organization groups. We review the results of this monitoring from the 1970s onwards for six oceanographic regions to assess population trends among Canadian seabirds and correlated trends in diets, phenology, and other breeding biology variables. Within regions, trends in most variables studied have been broadly congruent, but there was often variation among regions. In particular, seabird populations in the Pacific coast zone affected by the California Current upwelling system have shown generally negative trends since the 1980s, whereas trends for populations of the same species to the north of this zone have been mainly positive. Likewise, on the east coast, trends at Arctic colonies have been decoupled from those at colonies around Newfoundland and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, especially since the major cold water event of the early 1990s. Several long-term studies have shown an association between population events and diet and phenology changes. Diet and indicators of condition (chick growth, reproductive success) sometimes responded very rapidly to oceanic changes, making them excellent signals of ecosystem perturbations. The review highlights the effects of decadal-scale regime shifts on Canadian seabirds, confirms the value of long-term studies and supports the applicability of single-site observations to regional populations.
A Probabilistic Approach to the Prediction of Snow Loads
Authors: Isyumov N. , Davenport A. G.
Published: January 2010

The magnitudes of loads imposed by snow depend upon a number of climatological and meteorological variables and as a result exhibit marked variations geographically, due to local effects within a particular region, and with time. The snowload formation process, which depends both on the macro- and microclimates of such meteorological variables as the depth of the snowfall, the snowfall density, wind speed, air temperature etc., as well as, the size and geometry of particular roofs and the influence of their immediate environment, is discussed.A model of the snow load formation process based on a mass balance approach, which takes into account the deposition of snow by individual snowfalls and the depletion of the snow load by wind action and thermal effects, is introduced. The use of this approach requires the establishment of statistical descriptions of the various meteorological variables, as well as a knowledge of the physical process of snow accumulation and depletion for a particular roof. The statistical properties of some of the more important meteorological variables are discussed. Also presented are some model derived data of snow accumulation and depletion for particular roofs located in different terrain.It is shown that even relatively simple statistical descriptions of the relevant meteorological data and snow accumulation and depletion mechanisms can lead to realistic predictions of roof snow loads. Snow loads on a flat roof are generated by a digital simulation technique and compared with full scale observations. Annual extreme values of the simulated snow load process are presented and compared with currently specified design values. Comments are made regarding the practicability of this approach.
Response of Composite Slabs to Dynamic Loads
Authors: Abdel-Sayed G. , Temple M. C. , Madugula Murty K. S.
Published: January 2010

A testing program was conducted at the University of Windsor in order to examine the effect of dynamic (repeated) loading on the strength of composite slabs. The slab specimens were made of 18 gauge (1.21 mm) T30 Hi-Bond Steel sheets with a 6 in. (15.24 cm) nominal depth concrete slab. The width was 18 in. (0.457 m), and span 8 ft (2.44 m). The design and failure of the slabs was governed by bond. Several pull-out specimens were also tested.The following conclusions were reached:(1) Specimens subjected to low values of dynamic load up to 60% of the static bond failure load) for 2 million cycles do not show any reduction in failure load due to bond when tested statically. Since a factor of safety is always applied the load would not exceed 60% of the bond failure load. Therefore no reduction factor should be applied to the bond stresses for slabs when subjected to dynamic load.(2) The lower limit for dynamic bond failure is about 87% of the static failure load.(3) The ultimate collapse load for all slabs tested varied only about 10%. This load is considerably greater than the bond failure load.(4) The allowable bond stresses should be determined from beam tests and not from pull-out specimens.
Mass Transfer of Oxygen in Diffused Aeration Systems
Authors: Mavinic Donald S. , Bewtra Jatinder K.
Published: January 2010

Starting from the fundamental concepts of mass transfer of gases into liquid, a comprehensive mathematical equation, relating the mass oxygen-transfer rate to the various parameters in diffused aeration systems, is developed.The important variables involved are the liquid film coefficient, temperature, waste water characteristics, bubble size, diffuser submergence, airflow rate, and the contact time. The contact time between the air bubbles and the oxygen absorbing liquid can be varied by changing the operating conditions of the aeration system in terms of the direction of air and liquid movement. Investigations on four such combinations are presented.The influence of the above-mentioned variables, individually or in combination, on the mass oxygen-transfer rate and overall oxygen transfer coefficient are discussed. The presentation is supported with laboratory data collected from aeration studies over a period of 3 years. With proper understanding of the influence of operating parameters on mass transfer coefficients, it should be possible to modify the design and operation of aeration basins in order to obtain increased oxygen transfer.
Stiffening of Shear Walls
Authors: Chan Paul C. K. , Heidebrecht Arthur C.
Published: January 2010

In interacting shear wall and flat slab-column construction it is desirable to be able to evaluate the contribution of the columns to the stiffness of the lateral load resisting system. This paper presents a relatively simple method whereby this contribution can be determined, both in terms of the reduction in lateral displacement and the reduction in overturning moment in the shear walls. For the case of a continuous flat slab connection, the bending of the slab induces axial forces into the exterior columns, which therefore causes a portion of the moment to be carried by the columns. Axial forces can also be induced into the exterior columns by means of a very stiff top beam extending from the shear wall to the exterior columns. Design curves are presented for both types of stiffening so that the method can be applied easily by the designer. Comparisons of specific examples with results obtained by a more exact computer-oriented method show that the method gives reliable results.