bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dialysis in public and private hospitals in Queensland
Authors: Gray N. A. , Dent H. , McDonald S. P.
Published: April 2012

Background:  Clinical outcomes for patients treated in public and private hospitals may be different.

Aim:  The aim of the study was to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving dialysis at public and private hospitals in Queensland.

Methods:  Incident adult dialysis patients in Queensland registered with the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry between 1999 and 2009 were classified by dialysis modality at either a public or private hospital. Outcomes were dialysis patient characteristics and survival.

Results:  Three thousand, three hundred and ten patients commenced dialysis in public hospitals, 1939 haemodialysis (HD) and 1371 peritoneal dialysis (PD). Seven hundred and ninety‐three patients commenced dialysis in private hospitals, 757 HD and 36 PD. Compared with public HD, private HD patients were older, had more coronary artery disease and less diabetes, and were more likely to live in an urban area. Public HD patients were more likely to be obese and referred late to a nephrologist. Nearly all indigenous patients were managed in public hospitals. Private patients were more likely to have an arteriovenous fistula or graft at first HD (P < 0.001) but not after excluding late referrals (P = 0.09). Public hospitals provided longer HD sessions and more HD hours per week for all age groups except 75+ years. Compared with public hospital HD, patient survival adjusted for multiple variables was comparable for private hospital HD (hazard ratio 1.20 (95% confidence interval 0.98–1.46, P = 0.07)) but worse for public PD (hazard ratio 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.05–1.24, P = 0.002)).

Conclusion:  Private HD patients are older and less likely to be diabetic than public patients. Patient survival is worse for public PD than public HD.
Habits, action sequences and reinforcement learning
Authors: Dezfouli Amir , Balleine Bernard W.
Published: April 2012

It is now widely accepted that instrumental actions can be either goal‐directed or habitual; whereas the former are rapidly acquired and regulated by their outcome, the latter are reflexive, elicited by antecedent stimuli rather than their consequences. Model‐based reinforcement learning (RL) provides an elegant description of goal‐directed action. Through exposure to states, actions and rewards, the agent rapidly constructs a model of the world and can choose an appropriate action based on quite abstract changes in environmental and evaluative demands. This model is powerful but has a problem explaining the development of habitual actions. To account for habits, theorists have argued that another action controller is required, called model‐free RL, that does not form a model of the world but rather caches action values within states allowing a state to select an action based on its reward history rather than its consequences. Nevertheless, there are persistent problems with important predictions from the model; most notably the failure of model‐free RL correctly to predict the insensitivity of habitual actions to changes in the action–reward contingency. Here, we suggest that introducing model‐free RL in instrumental conditioning is unnecessary, and demonstrate that reconceptualizing habits as action sequences allows model‐based RL to be applied to both goal‐directed and habitual actions in a manner consistent with what real animals do. This approach has significant implications for the way habits are currently investigated and generates new experimental predictions.
CT evaluation for ‘quiescent’ herniation following closure of diverting loop ileostomy
Authors: Saeed Z. M. , Lloyd‐Evans J. , Reid T. D. , Williams R. , Robinson M. , Williams G. L. , Stephenson B. M.
Published: April 2012

Aim  The prevalence of abdominal wall herniation at the site of a previous temporary stoma is uncertain. This cohort study investigated the frequency of radiological abnormalities at the site of a closed diverting loop ileostomy.

Method  All patients in whom an ileostomy was raised and later closed during a 5‐year period formed the study group. When colorectal cancer surveillance computed tomography (CT) was undertaken the images were scrutinized and graded as to defined anatomical abnormalities.

Results  One hundred and seventy‐nine patients had an ileostomy, of which 92 were diverting. Fifty‐nine (64%) were closed at various intervals (median time to closure 6 (2–22) months and 43 underwent a surveillance CT at 1–3 (median 2) years. At 1 year an abnormality (atrophy or defect) at the site of closure was seen in 16 (37%) CT scans. These were more frequent with increasing duration of follow‐up. One asymptomatic hernia was detected at 2 years but there was no deterioration in the abdominal wall at 3 years when compared with that at 2 years.

Conclusion  Abnormalities in the abdominal wall at the site of a closed diverting ileostomy are common but true herniation is unusual. The routine use of prophylactic mesh at ileostomy closure may be unnecessary.
Chongqing: Beyond the latecomer advantage 重庆：超越后发优势
Authors: Cai 蔡建明 Jianming , Yang 杨振山 Zhenshan , Webster Douglas , Song 宋涛 Tao , Gulbrandson Andrew
Published: April 2012

The spectacular growth of Chinese cities since the 1980s is often theorised as reflecting the advantages of latecomer development (ALD). ALD has been more effective in cosmopolitan, globally accessible coastal cities than outer cities. As leading cities, like Shanghai, close the development gap, the potential for ‘easy’ ALD growth falls off rapidly. Because institution building is more difficult than firm‐based growth, ALD strategies may generate rapid short‐term economic growth but not sustainable development. Accordingly, Chongqing municipality, with a population of 33 million, in West China, is pursuing a beyond latecomer advantage model. This is characterised by: (i) reducing poverty and rural‐urban disparity through accelerated urbanisation, rural‐urban integration and emphasising human resource development; (ii) upgrading the value added of Chongqing's economy through targeting of FDI and incentives to local start‐ups; (iii) endogenous development, reducing risks from external shocks; (iv) Hukou reform; (v) establishing a land use conversion certificate market to rationalise land use; (vi) emphasis on morality to address crime/corruption; (vii) recognition of the importance of amenity in attracting investment and talent; and (viii) establishing a longer developmental time perspective. This paper explores this Chongqing model in detail.

中国自20世纪80年代以来所取得的辉煌经济增长，在很大程度上是基于其引进外资和利用后发优势来实现的。而后发优势的推进，在国际化大都市和那些拥有全球通达性的沿海城市会更为有效。作为先锋性城市，如上海等，随着与全球城市发展的差距日益缩小，“易于”实现后发优势的潜力就会迅速消失，这是因为制度建设要比以企业为基础的经济增长更难推进，因此后发优势或许能带来快速的短期经济增长，但并不能带来当然的可持续发展。有鉴于此，重庆市，这座拥有3300万人口的中国西部城市，正在寻找一条“超越后发优势”的发展道路。这一模式目前正在成长中，表现出如下特征：（1）通过加快城市化进程、城乡融合发展和强调人力资本开发，减少贫困和城乡差别；（2）通过引进外资和刺激本地企业创业，提升重庆市的经济附加值；（3）通过内生性发展，减少外部动荡所引起的风险；（4）通过农村集体土地资产的创新性盘活，有效地进行户籍改革；（5）通过建立土地市场的流转证制度，优化城乡土地的利用效率；（6）通过强调道德建设和反腐倡廉以及强有力的打击犯罪，提升全体市民的向心力和士气；（7）通过强调环境质量在吸引投资和人才方面的重要作用，加快外向型和宜居型城市的发展步伐；（8）通过建立公务员服务质量评价体系，倡导长期发展观，以推进经济社会发展的持续平衡性。
Are ‘Machiavellian’ Chinese children well‐adapted in the peer group? The relationship between resource acquisition strategies and social functioning and status
Authors: Chen Bin‐Bin , Chang Lei
Published: April 2012

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between resource acquisition strategies, social functioning and social status in Chinese children. A sample of nearly 500 Chinese children in elementary schools in Shanghai, China, participated in this study. The authors divided the sample into five resource acquisition strategies; based on self‐reported use of coercive and pro‐social strategies of resource control, they were ‘bistrategic controllers’ (Machiavellians), ‘coercive controllers’, ‘pro‐social controllers’, ‘non‐controllers’, or ‘typicals’. The results revealed that bistrategic controllers were the most effective in resource control, followed by pro‐social and coercive controllers: non‐controllers were the least effective. It also indicated that bistrategic and coercive controllers exhibited poor social functioning and low peer status; in contrast, ‘typical’ controllers emerged as possessing positive social functioning and high peer status. In addition, non‐controllers were not at risk with regard to social competence. The results indicate specific cultural ‘meanings’ of different resource acquisition strategies in Chinese children.
COMPETITIVENESS AND STABILITY OF COLLUSIVE BEHAVIOR
Authors: Matsumura Toshihiro , Matsushima Noriaki
Published: April 2012

We investigate the relationship between the degree of competition and the stability of collusive behaviour, by introducing the element of relative performance in the objective functions of the firms. We show that an increase in the degree of competition destabilizes the collusion. This relation differs starkly in the standard symmetric Cournot and Bertrand duopoly models, with the former being more unstable than the latter.
From Farming to Development: Urban Coalitions in Pune, India
Authors: SAMI NEHA
Published: April 2012

In an increasingly global India, an agricultural community in Pune, Maharashtra was faced with losing farmland to urbanization and devised an unusual solution. Pooling their land together, these farmers leveraged their social and political networks to take advantage of the changing economic climate in Pune and built a mixed‐use township on their 400 acres of farmland. They formed alliances with other stakeholders, both internally within the agricultural community and externally at the city and state levels. This case study highlights the significance of ad‐hoc coalitions in the power and politics of urban processes in an Indian city. These coalitions have emerged as a result of a political power and leadership vacuum in Indian cities in the face of the changing focus and priorities of national and regional governments as well as a growing gap in urban service provision.

Dans une Inde toujours plus mondialisée, une communauté agricole de Pune (Maharashtra) confrontée à la perte de terres cultivées au profit de l'urbanisation a mis au point une solution originale. Réunissant leurs terres, les agriculteurs ont mobilisé leurs réseaux sociaux et politiques pour tirer parti du nouveau climat économique de Pune, créant une commune plurifonctionnelle sur les 160 hectares de leurs terres arables. Ils ont formé des alliances avec d'autres parties prenantes, à la fois au sein de la communauté agricole et aux niveaux de la ville et de l'État. Cette étude de cas souligne l'importance des coalitions ponctuelles dans les structures de pouvoir et les politiques des processus urbains en Inde. Dans les villes indiennes, ces coalitions sont nées d'une vacance du pouvoir politique et des responsables face à l'évolution des centres d'intérêt et des priorités des gouvernements national et régionaux, ainsi que des insuffisances croissantes dans la fourniture des services urbains.
Are we reaching them yet? Service access patterns among attendees at the headspace youth mental health initiative
Authors: Patulny Roger , Muir Kristy , Powell Abigail , Flaxman Saul , Oprea Ioana
Published: April 2012

Background

Australian young people have a high prevalence of mental health problems but low rates of service use. This article examines whether the Australian National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, has helped redress this through providing youth‐specific services.

Method

The article compares headspace service use demographics with population data from the Australian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing from 2007.

Results

Headspace has improved access relative to the population, particularly among males and socially and economically excluded young people.

Conclusions

Despite overall successes, certain ethnic and age groups appear under‐represented and in need of more careful targeting by youth mental health services.
Critical care nurses' perspectives on elder abuse
Authors: Daly Jeanette M , Schmeidel Klein Amy N , Jogerst Gerald J
Published: April 2012

Aims: To explore through interviews of critical care nurses their perspectives on elder abuse to achieve a better understanding of the problems of reporting and generate ideas for improving the process.

Background: In 44 states and the District of Columbia health care providers are required by law to report elder abuse but the patient, patient's family and health care providers all have barriers to reporting allegations of elder abuse. Design: This study design is qualitative.

Method: Through a mailed survey, critical care nurses were invited to participate in a taped in‐depth qualitative interview.

Results: Ten nurses were interviewed. A thematic analysis was used to describe the following core themes: types of elder abuse, suspicions of elder abuse, reporting of elder abuse, barriers to reporting elder abuse, legislation and improvement in practice.

Conclusions: Critical care nurses are aware of elder abuse and somewhat systematically evaluate for abuse at admission to their unit. They recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and are suspicious when it is warranted. They are aware of why an older person does not want to report abuse and take this into consideration when soliciting information. Facts, values and experience influence personally defining abuse, suspicion and dependence for each individual health care professional.

Relevance to clinical practice: Critical care unit protocols and/or policies and procedure for reporting elder abuse are needed in critical care settings and are warranted for providing quality of care.
The Antinomies of Conservative Thought
Authors: Femia Joseph V.
Published: April 2012

Modern conservatism is the product of a gradual merger between traditional holism and liberal individualism. As a result, what we now call conservative thought embodies a number of contradictory values and principles. Even individual conservatives find it hard to be consistent, with some, for example, proclaiming their reverence both for national traditions and for universal moral truths. The books reviewed in this article illustrate the remarkable diversity of conservative ideology, though the article concludes by arguing that the familiar distinction between ‘left’ and ‘right’ remains valid.
HierarchicalBayesian Spatiotemporal Analysis of Childhood Cancer Trends
Authors: Torabi Mahmoud , Rosychuk Rhonda J.
Published: April 2012

In this article, generalized additive mixed models are constructed for the analysis of geographical and temporal variability of cancer ratios. In this class of models, spatially correlated random effects and temporal components are adopted. Spatio‐temporal models that use intrinsic conditionally autoregressive smoothing across the spatial dimension andB‐spline smoothing over the temporal dimension are considered. We study the patterns of incidence ratios over time and identify areas with consistently high ratio estimates as areas for further investigation. A hierarchicalBayesian approach usingMarkov chainMonteCarlo techniques is employed for the analysis of the childhood cancer diagnoses in the province ofAlberta,Canada during 1995–2004. We also evaluate the sensitivity of such analyses to prior assumptions in thePoisson context.

En este artículo los autores construyen modelos aditivos generalizados mixtos (generalized additive mixed models) con el fin de analizar la variabilidad geográfica y temporal en las tasas de incidencia de cáncer. Este tipo de modelos emplean efectos aleatorios correlacionados espacialmente y componentes temporales. Los modelos espacio‐temporales emplean un suavizado condicional intrínseco autorregresivo (conditionally autoregressive smoothing) a través de la dimensión espacial y un suavizado de tipoB‐splinesobre la dimensión temporal. Los autores examinan los patrones de las tasas de incidencia a través del tiempo e identifican las áreas con valores consistentemente altos con el fin de sugerir áreas de investigación para el futuro. El estudio utiliza un enfoque jerárquico bayesiano (hierarchical bayesian) que usa una cadena de Markov Monte Carlo para evaluar los diagnósticos de cáncer infantil en la provincia de Alberta, Canadá durante el periodo 1995–2004. Asimismo, también se evalúa la sensibilidad de este tipo de análisis con respecto a los supuestos a‐priori, en el contexto de los modelos tipo Poisson.

本文提出了广义可加和混合模型进行癌症比率的地理和时间变化分析。在这类模型中引入了空间相关的随机效应和时间组分。时空模型在空间维度上采用本征自回归条件平滑，而在时间维度上则使用了B样条平滑。本文研究了疾病发生率模式，并识别出一直具有高比率估计的地区作为进一步调查区。在1995–2004年加拿大亚伯达省儿童癌症的诊断中，采用了基于马尔科夫链‐蒙特卡罗模型的分层贝叶斯方法，并且在泊松先验假设条件下评估了该类分析的敏感性。
Inequality in Human Resources for Health: Measurement Issues
Authors: Speybroeck Niko , Paraje Guillermo , Prasad Amit , Goovaerts Pierre , Ebener Steeve , Evans David B.
Published: April 2012

This article discusses options to allow comparative analysis of inequalities in the distribution of health workers (HWs) across and within countries using a single summary measure of the distribution. Income inequality generally is measured across individuals, but inequalities in the dispersion of HWs must use geographical areas or population groupings as units of analysis. The article first shows how this change of observational unit creates a resolution problem for various inequality indices and then tests how sensitive a simple ratio measure of the distribution of HWs is to changes in resolution. This ratio of inequality is illustrated first with the global distribution of HWs and then with its distributions within Indonesia. The resolution problem is not solved through this new approach, and indicators of inequalities of access to HWs or health services more generally appear not to be comparable across countries. Investigating geographical inequalities over time in one setting is possible but only if the units of analysis remain the same over time.

Este artículo examina las opciones para realizar un análisis comparativo de las desigualdades en la distribución de los trabajadores de salud (health workers‐HW) a través y al interior de los países que utilizan una sola medida‐resumen para dicha distribución. Por lo general la desigualdad de ingresos se mide entre individuos, pero las desigualdades en la dispersión de HW se miden utilizando las áreas geográficas o grupos de población como unidades de análisis. El artículo presente examina cómo el cambio de la unidad de observación crea un problema de resolución espacial para varios índices de desigualdad. Luego, los autores evalúan la sensibilidad a cambios en la resolución sobre una tasa sencilla de la distribución de HWs. La tasa de desigualdad propuesta por los autores es ilustrada primero por medio de la distribución global de HWs y luego vía sus distribuciones dentro de Indonesia. Los autores concluyen que el problema de resolución no llega a ser resulto por el nuevo enfoque propuesto, y que en términos generales, los indicadores de las desigualdades de acceso a HWs o servicios de salud parecen no ser comparables entre países. La investigación de las desigualdades geográficas a través del tiempo en un mismo contexto geográfico es posible pero sólo si las unidades de análisis se mantienen constantes.

本文通过对单一变量分布的测量，对比分析了国家之间和国家内部卫生工作者（HWs）分布上的不均衡。一般通过测量个体间的不均衡分析收入不均衡问题，但卫生工作者（HWs）散布的不均衡性则需将地理区域或人口聚落作为分析单元。本文首先说明如何通过改变观测单元构建多种不均衡指数形成解决问题的方法，并通过一个简单的卫生工作者（HWs）分布比率模型测定分辨率变化的敏感性。将不均衡比率模型先后应用于全球HWs和印尼国内HWs的地理分布分析。这一新方法并未解决分辨率问题，同时不同国家间HWs或卫生服务间接近度的不均衡性指标并不具有可比性。只有分析单元大小随时间保持不变的前提下，通过长时段调查来分析地理分布的不均衡问题才是可行的。
Comparison of Squatting Stress Echocardiography and Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for the Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Chandraratna P. Anthony N. , Kuznetsov Vadim A. , Mohar Dilbahar S. , Sidarous Peter F. , Scheutz Joseph , Krinochkin Dmitry V. , Pak Yulia A. , Mohar Prabhsimran , Arawgoda Udeni
Published: April 2012

Background: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is commonly used for the diagnosis for coronary artery disease (CAD). We previously demonstrated that squatting induces wall motion abnormalities (WMA) in areas subtended by stenotic coronary arteries. Objective: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that dobutamine and squatting stress echocardiography are equally useful for the diagnosis of CAD. Methods: We studied 39 patients who were scheduled to have coronary angiography for the evaluation of chest pain. Each patient had squatting stress echocardiography followed by DSE. For squatting stress echocardiography the echocardiogram in standard views was recorded in the standing position. The procedure was repeated during squatting for 2 minutes. Dobutamine echocardiography was performed using standard protocol. The squatting and dobutamine stress echocardiograms were interpreted by an observer blinded to the results of coronary angiography. Results: During squatting, new or worsening WMA developed in 20 patients. Six patients developed WMA in the left anterior descending artery territory, three in circumflex territory, three in the right coronary artery territory, and eight in multiple coronary territories. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of squatting echocardiography for diagnosis of CAD were 95%, 94%, and 94%, respectively. For DSE, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of CAD were 85%, 94%, and 90%, respectively. There was no significant difference between squatting and dobutamine stress echocardiography for the diagnosis of CAD (P = 0.702). Conclusion: These data indicate that squatting and dobutamine echocardiography are equally useful in the diagnosis of CAD. In selected patients, squatting echocardiography may be used in place of dobutamine echocardiography for the diagnosis of CAD. (Echocardiography 2012;29:695–699)
Discordant Impairment of Multidirectional Myocardial Deformation in Rats with Doxorubicin Induced Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kim Yong‐Hyun , Kim Mina , Park Seong‐Mi , Kim Seong Hwan , Lim Sang Yup , Ahn Jeong‐Cheon , Song Woo‐Hyuk , Shim Wan‐Joo
Published: April 2012

Background: In doxorubicin‐induced cardiomyopathy (DIC), the sequence of decrease in multidirectional myocardial deformation has not been clearly elucidated. Objectives: We investigated the sequence of myocardial deformations in rat DIC, using two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). Methods: Twenty rats were treated with doxorubicin (1.25 mg/kg × 16 times, intraperitoneal) for 4 weeks and compared with nine control rats. Myocardial strain analysis with 2DSTE, as well as conventional echocardiography, was obtained. Results: Compared with baseline, longitudinal strain/strain rate (LS/LSr) decreased at week 2 (−15.7 ± 1.5 to −14.1 ± 1.4%, P = 0.01 for LS; −4.4 ± 0.7 to −3.9 ± 0.5 per second, P = 0.009 for LSr). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and circumferential strain (CS) decreased at week 4 (80.3 ± 3.2 to 78.1 ± 3.3%, P = 0.031 for LVEF; −18.6 ± 1.9 to −15.0 ± 3.4%, P = 0.019 for CS). Circumferential strain rate (CSr) decreased at week 6 (−5.5 ± 0.8 to −4.6 ± 1.0 per second, P = 0.008). Radial strain/strain rate (RS/RSr) decreased at week 8 (54.8 ± 9.4 to 43.7 ± 10.6%, P = 0.005 for RS; 8.0 ± 1.1 to 7.0 ± 1.1 per second, P = 0.005 for RSr), while there was no significant change in LS/LSr, LVEF, CS/CSr, or RS/RSr in the control group. LVEF had the highest correlation with LS (r =−0.607, P = 0.000) and the lowest correlation with RSr (r = 0.357, P = 0.000). Conclusions: In DIC of rat hearts, LS/LSr decreased first, and then LVEF, CS, CSr, RS/RSr subsequently decreased. LS/LSr is considered to be a more sensitive predictor than LVEF in progressive rat DIC, and RS/RSr was preserved until the last stage. (Echocardiography 2012;29:720‐728)
Influence of periosteal coverage on the osteointegration and stability of dental implant distractors
Authors: Yin Xuelai , Zhang Chenping , Hze‐Khoong Eugene Poh , Shen Shunkun , Xu Liqun
Published: April 2012

Objectives

Dental implant distractors (DID) are an efficacious means of simultaneously augmenting the vertical bony height together with the installation of dental implants. Little is known about their biomechanical properties and osteointegration ability in the free fibula flap, where the periosteum is invariably damaged during the multiple osteotomies required for contouring purposes.

Materials and methods

Twenty‐four DID devices inserted into the tibias of 12 goats were evenly divided into three groups – whole periosteum (WP), half periosteum (HP), no periosteum (NP). Following 10 days of distraction and a 12 week consolidation period, the animals were euthanized to retrieve all 12 tibias. The bone‐implant bonded percentage (BIBP) and removal torques (RTQ) of each fixture were determined and statistically compared across the various groups.

Results

A slight decrease in both BIBP and RTQ values was observed across the WP, HP, and NP groups, respectively, with statistically significant differences in the BIBP for the WP and NP groups only.

Conclusion

We conclude that although an intact periosteum is ideal for the osteointegration of the DID fixture, adequate stability can still be achieved due to the sufficient anchorage accorded by the base screws in the apical cortex.
Are comparisons of species distribution models biased? Are they biologically meaningful?
Authors: Godsoe William
Published: April 2012

A major problem in ecology is to understand how environmental requirements change over space and time. To this end, numerous authors have attempted to use comparisons of species’ distributions as a surrogate for comparisons of environmental requirements. Unfortunately, it is currently unclear when comparisons of species’ distributions produce reliable inferences about changes in environmental requirements. To address this problem, I develop an analytic model that identifies the conditions under which a comparison of species’ distribution models can serve as surrogate for a comparison of environmental requirements. This work demonstrates that 1) comparisons of species’ distributions typically produce biased comparisons of environmental requirements, 2) assuming distribution models are fit appropriately, it is possible to compare environmental requirements of distinct taxa, 3) there are multiple biologically relevant questions we can address using comparisons of distribution models, with each question corresponding to a distinct measure of the difference between distribution models. By developing an analytic model for comparisons of species’ distributions this work helps to clarify and remedy poorly understood sources of error associated with existing methods.
Intrinsic determinants of a population trend in timing of breeding in the wandering albatross
Authors: Lewis Sue , Nussey Daniel H. , Wood Andrew G. , Croxall John P. , Phillips Richard A.
Published: April 2012

Numerous studies of wild animal species have documented that population level responses to environmental change are underpinned by individual level phenotypic plasticity. However, where the relationship between an individual trait and a climate variable occurs when both show a trend over time, phenotypic plasticity may be confounded by ageing. We investigated between and within individual change in laying date in the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans, a long‐lived species experiencing a dramatic decline in population size. Laying date has advanced over the last three decades. A mean‐centering analysis demonstrated that this pattern was driven by within‐individual changes as opposed to appearance or disappearance of phenotypes. Furthermore, a lack of between individual effect suggested the change resulted from ageing as opposed to phenotypic plasticity. Females varied significantly in rate of advance, such that those with low past reproductive rates exhibited a negative temporal trend in laying date, whereas birds with moderate to high past reproductive performance showed little change. The population trend was therefore driven by a subset with low past breeding success. An analysis of effects of timing of breeding on breeding success revealed stabilizing selection for relative laying date. Furthermore, current breeding success was positively related to past success rate, which suggests that there may be indirect selection against plasticity in this population. Our results show that population trends can arise from individual level change unrelated to prevailing environmental conditions, thus demonstrating the importance of longitudinal analyses in the interpretation of climate change effects.
Impaired mouse mammary gland growth and development is mediated by melatonin and its MT1 G protein‐coupled receptor via repression of ERα, Akt1, and Stat5
Authors: Xiang Shulin , Mao Lulu , Yuan Lin , Duplessis Tamika , Jones Frank , Hoyle Gary W. , Frasch Tripp , Dauchy Robert , Blask David E. , Chakravarty Geetika , Hill Steven M.
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  To determine whether melatonin, via its MT1 G protein‐coupled receptor, impacts mouse mammary gland development, we generated a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)‐MT1‐Flag‐mammary gland over‐expressing (MT1‐mOE) transgenic mouse. Increased expression of the MT1‐Flag transgene was observed in the mammary glands of pubescent MT1‐mOE transgenic female mice, with further significant increases during pregnancy and lactation. Mammary gland whole mounts from MT1‐mOE mice showed significant reductions in ductal growth, ductal branching, and terminal end bud formation. Elevated MT1 receptor expression in pregnant and lactating female MT1‐mOE mice was associated with reduced lobulo‐alveolar development, inhibition of mammary epithelial cell proliferation, and significant reductions in body weights of suckling pups. Elevated MT1 expression in pregnant and lactating MT1‐mOE mice correlated with reduced mammary gland expression of Akt1, phospho‐Stat5, Wnt4, estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptors A and B, and milk proteins β‐casein and whey acidic protein. Estrogen‐ and progesterone‐stimulated mammary gland development was repressed by elevated MT1 receptor expression and exogenous melatonin administration. These studies demonstrate that the MT1 melatonin receptor and its ligand melatonin play an important regulatory role in mammary gland development and lactation in mice through both growth suppression and alteration of developmental paradigms.
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor and visceral angio‐oedema
Authors: Chuah Hun Sheng , O'Donnell Daniel
Published: April 2012

Abdominal pain can be a challenging presenting complaint with a broad differential diagnosis. Medication side‐effect must always be considered. Visceral angio‐oedema secondary to angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor use can cause abdominal pain. The association of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor and visceral angio‐oedema is not well recognized partly because the onset of angio‐oedema might be delayed for months or years after commencement of an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor. The epidemiology of angio‐oedema is now changing in parallel with the increasing use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors. We present a case of visceral angio‐oedema secondary to perindopril. This diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion because if not recognized early patients undergo extensive and expensive negative evaluation.
Senior Streaming Assessment Further Evaluation after Triage zone: A novel model of care encompassing various emergency department throughput measures
Authors: Shetty Amith , Gunja Naren , Byth Karen , Vukasovic Matthew
Published: April 2012

Objective: Access block (AB) and hospital overcrowding adversely affect ED functionality. ED throughput measures have been described in the literature with positive impacts on key performance indicators (KPIs) – time to first seen, did‐not‐wait rates, off‐stretcher times for ambulances and ED length of stay figures. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of a new model of care, the Senior Streaming Assessment Further Evaluation after Triage (SAFE‐T) zone concept on ED performance indicators and statistical outcomes.

Methods: We implemented a model of care at our tertiary hospital ED amalgamating multiple ED throughput interventions. These interventions included dynamic transition waiting room concept, early senior ED physician assessment and decision‐making, early streaming, acute‐care bed quarantining and ED short stay and observation units. The principal intervention was the SAFE‐T zone. End‐point data were compared for similar periods (77 days) of 2010 and 2011 with and without the new model of care.

Results: In total, 11 408 and 11 845 patients were included in the study periods pre‐ and post‐intervention, respectively. Time to physician KPI improved from 72.5% to 84.1%. Did‐not‐wait rates dropped from 10.7% to 9.6% (P= 0.02) and off‐stretcher times for ambulances KPI improved from 74.5% to 79.5% (P < 0.001). ED length of stay dropped most significantly for Australasian Triage Scale categories 3 and 4 (14.3% and 11.8%, P‐values <0.001). These results were achieved despite worsened AB and hospital bed‐occupancy rates during the intervention period (+3.9% and +6.7%).

Conclusions: The SAFE‐T zone model of care involving multiple ED throughput measures achieved improvements in ED performance despite AB and hospital overcrowding.
Do High‐technology Exports Cause More Technology Spillover in China?
Authors: Bao Qun , Sun Puyang , Su Li
Published: April 2012

The volume of China's high‐technology exports has grown sharply since the implementation of its export promotion strategy “Revitalizing Trade through Science and Technology” in 1999. This paper investigates whether technology spillover effects are greater for high‐technology exports than for primary manufactured goods exports. We present a generalized multi‐sector spillover model to identify both between‐spillover effects from exports towards non‐exporters and within‐spillover effects among export sectors. Using panel data for 31 provinces in China over the period from 1998 to 2005, we find that although high‐technology export sectors have higher productivity compared with other sectors, this productivity advantage does not lead to technology spillover to both domestic sectors and other export sectors, and export technology spillover mainly derives from traditional export sectors rather than high‐technology export sectors. As such findings can be largely attributed to the fact that China's high‐technology exports depend significantly on processing trade by foreign‐invested firms, policy implications are discussed in relation to how to best promote the role of China's high‐technology exports during economic expansion.
Does Foreign Direct Investment Affect the Growth of Local Firms? The Case of China's Electrical and Electronics Industry
Authors: Kimura Koichiro
Published: April 2012

Does foreign direct investment (FDI) into developing countries affect the growth of local firms in host countries? Using a dataset of 38 sectors in China's electrical and electronics industry, in this paper, we analyze whether FDI has a positive effect on local firms, with technology spillovers, added value and increasing total factor productivity, or a negative, market stealing, effect. Estimating the relationship between growth of local firms and investment of foreign firms, our results show that FDI is likely to have a negative impact on the growth of local firms in sectors with large disparities in technology and less experience in business. Therefore, local firms lacking in technology need to find markets with no competition from foreign firms or determine strategies to compensate technology disparities.
Who Benefits in an Insider Negotiated Block Trade?
Authors: Chang Saeyoung , Mayers David
Published: April 2012

We examine insider negotiated block trades to investigate whether new active blockholders with special expertise create shareholder value. In contrast to existing studies, we find no reliable overall evidence of permanent stock price increases, operating changes, or improved net of industry profitability associated with these major control changes. Top executive turnover is extensive, but appears largely attributable to the block sellers’ actions, not the imposition of discipline by the block buyer. Results suggest initial shareholder gains anticipate takeovers, not improvements in profitability. When a takeover is not forthcoming, the gain disappears.
Posterior Glenohumeral Joint Capsule Contracture
Authors: Dashottar Amitabh , Borstad John
Published: April 2012

Glenohumeral joint posterior capsule contracture may cause shoulder pain by altering normal joint mechanics. Contracture is commonly noted in throwing athletes but can also be present in nonthrowers. The cause of contracture in throwing athletes is assumed to be a response to the high amount of repetitive tensile force placed on the tissue, whereas the mechanism of contracture in nonthrowers is unknown. It is likely that mechanical and cellular processes interact to increase the stiffness and decrease the compliance of the capsule, although the exact processes that cause a contracture have not been confirmed. Cadaver models have been used to study the effect of posterior capsule contracture on joint mechanics and demonstrate alterations in range of motion and in humeral head kinematics. Imaging has been used to assess posterior capsule contracture, although standard techniques and quantification methods are lacking. Clinically, contracture manifests as a reduction in glenohumeral internal rotation and/or cross body adduction range of motion. Stretching and manual techniques are used to improve range of motion and often decrease symptoms in painful shoulders.
Study of Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) Using the Health Improvement Network Database
Authors: Titchener Andrew G. , Tambe Amol A. , Fakis Apostolos , Smith Chris J. P. , Clark David I. , Hubbard Richard B.
Published: April 2012

Background

Lateral epicondylitis has been studied mainly in work related and occupational groups, however little is known about the incidence or demographic associations in the general population. We have undertaken a large study using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database to examine the epidemiology of lateral epicondylitis in the UK general population.

Methods

Diagnoses of lateral epicondylitis between 1987 and 2006 were used to calculate the incidence stratified by age, gender, deprivation score, UK health authority, and year. The age standardised rates for lateral epicondylitis in the UK were calculated with reference to the European Standard Population.

Results

The incidence rate of lateral epicondylitis was 2.45 per 1000 person-years. This was more common in males than females (males 2.63, females 2.55 per 1000 person-years, p < 0.001). After direct standardization, the age adjusted rates were 2.38 for males and 2.43 for females. The highest incidence rate of 7.35 per 1000 person-years was found in the age group 45-50 years. Regional distribution of the incidence rates showed a fairly even spread across 13 UK Health Authorities with the exception of London where incidence rates were significantly lower (1.75 per 1000 person-years, p < 0.001). Social deprivation was assessed using the Townsend score. The least deprived areas of the population had the highest incidence rates (2.86 per 1000 person years).

Conclusions

Our study represents the largest general population study of lateral epicondylitis reported to date. The results obtained provide the clinician with a better understanding of the epidemiology of lateral epicondylitis in the community.
Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of High Dose Short Duration Enrofloxacin Treatment Regimen for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs
Authors: Westropp J.L. , Sykes J.E. , Irom S. , Daniels J.B. , Smith A. , Keil D. , Settje T. , Wang Y. , Chew D.J.
Published: April 2012

Background

Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in dogs usually are treated with antimicrobial drugs for 10–14 days. Shorter duration antimicrobial regimens have been evaluated in human patients.

Hypothesis

A high dose short duration (HDSD) enrofloxacin protocol administered to dogs with uncomplicatedUTIwill not be inferior to a 14‐day treatment regimen with amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid.

Animals

Client‐owned adult, otherwise healthy dogs with aerobic bacterial urine culture yielding ≥103 CFU/mL of bacteria after cystocentesis.

Methods

Prospective, multicenter, controlled, randomized blinded clinical trial. Enrolled dogs were randomized to group 1 (enrofloxacin 18–20 mg/kgPOq24h for 3 days) or group 2 (amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid 13.75–25 mg/kgPOq12h for 14 days). Urine cultures were obtained at days 0, 10, and 21. Microbiologic and clinical cure rates were evaluated 7 days after antimicrobial treatment was discontinued. Lower urinary tract signs and adverse events also were recorded.

Results

There were 35 dogs in group 1 and 33 in group 2. The microbiologic cure rate was 77.1 and 81.2% for groups 1 and 2, respectively. The clinical cure rate was 88.6 and 87.9% for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Cure rates between groups did not differ according to the selected margin of noninferiority.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

HDSDenrofloxacin treatment was not inferior to a conventional amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid protocol for the treatment of uncomplicated bacterialUTIin dogs. Further research is warranted to determine if this protocol will positively impact owner compliance and decrease the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS: THE EFFECT OF CHANGING MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOR
Authors: GONG PEICHEN , LÖFGREN KARL‐GUSTAF , ROSVALL OLA
Published: April 2012

Abstract The paper assesses the welfare effects of biotechnological progress, as exemplified by tree improvements, using a partial equilibrium model. Timber demand is assumed to be stochastic and the distributions of its coefficients known. The coefficients of a log‐linear supply function are determined by maximizing the expected present value of the total surplus of timber production, both in the presence and in the absence of genetically improved regeneration materials. The supply functions are then used to estimate the expected present values of the total surplus in different cases through simulation. These estimates enable us to assess the direct effect and the effect of changing harvest behavior on the expected present value of the total surplus. The main results of the study are (i) the presence of genetically improved regeneration materials has significant impacts on the aggregate timber supply function; (ii) the application of genetically improved regeneration materials leads to a significant increase in the expected present value of the total surplus; and (iii) a considerable proportion of the welfare gain results from the change in harvest behavior. A conclusion we draw from this study is that ignoring the influences of technological and policy changes on behavior can lead to significantly biased welfare estimates. We view the model as a potential approach to conducting counterfactual policy comparisons in economics without forward‐looking data.
Interpreting Shared and Contested Histories: The Broken Links Exhibition
Authors: Ballantyne Roy , Packer Jan , Bond Nigel
Published: April 2012

Abstract   The exhibition Broken Links: Stolen Generations in Queensland focused on the history and impacts of the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their biological parents in Queensland, Australia between 1869 and 1969. This exhibition is discussed as a case study of “hot interpretation” (Ballantyne and Uzzell 1993), which incorporates emotion into the design of interpretive experiences in order to provoke cognitive and behavioral responses. Visitors’ responses to the exhibition are explored and issues regarding the use of “hot interpretation” techniques are discussed. Five principles are derived for the application of hot interpretive techniques in the context of shared and contested histories, with the aim of encouraging visitors to see their own history from a different perspective.
A Review of Bird-Inspired Flapping Wing Miniature Air Vehicle Designs
Authors: Gerdes John W. , Gupta Satyandra K. , Wilkerson Stephen A.
Published: April 2012

Physical and aerodynamic characteristics of a bird in flight offer benefits over typical propeller or rotor driven miniature air vehicle (MAV) locomotion designs in certain applications. A number of research groups and companies have developed flapping wing vehicles that attempt to harness these benefits. The purpose of this paper is to report different types of flapping wing miniature air vehicle designs and compare their salient characteristics. This paper is focused on mechanical design aspects of mechanisms and wings. The discussion presented will be limited to miniature-sized flapping wing air vehicles, defined as 10 to 100 g total weight. The discussion will be focused primarily on designs which have performed at least one successful test flight. This paper provides representative designs in each category, rather than providing a comprehensive listing of all existing designs. This paper will familiarize a newcomer to the field with existing designs and their distinguishing features. By studying existing designs, future designers will be able to adopt features from other successful designs. This paper also summarizes the design challenges associated with the further advancement of the field and deploying flapping wing vehicles in practice.
Relative Acceleration
in Spatial Mechanisms
Authors: Fischer Ian S.
Published: April 2012

A scheme applicable to automatic computation of the joint relative accelerations, the derivatives of joint speeds with respect to time, has been developed in the dual-number representation of the kinematics of spatial mechanisms. The equations which have been developed can be set up automatically by computer for any closed-loop mechanism of binary links. While the RCCC mechanism is given as an example, the scheme can be adapted for mechanisms with prismatic as well as revolute and cylindrical joints and can be readily further developed to consider other types of joints.
Dynamic Deflection of a Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Under Ballistic Impact Loading
Authors: Pentaras Demetris , Elishakoff Isaac
Published: April 2012

The dynamic deflections of geometrically different single-walled carbon nanotubes are determined under various high-velocity impacts and for different positions at which ballistic impact is applied. Elastic beam model is applied to study the dynamic deflection of single-walled carbon nanotubes for two cases of boundary conditions, namely to clamped–clamped and clamped-free single-walled carbon nanotubes. Moreover, we examine the relationship between the single-walled carbon nanotube radius, the relative position at which the ballistic impact takes place, the speed of the object (e.g., bullet) that strikes the nanotube, and the deflection of the nanotube for a specific bullet size and shape as was used by recent study in the literature.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Smart Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)-Based Hydrogel Networks
Authors: Valipour Fereshteh , Esmhosseini Majid , Nejati Kamelia , Kianfar Hasan , Pasdaran Ardalan , Davaran Soodabeh
Published: April 2012

In recent study, we report the synthesis and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles embedded in smart poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based hydrogel networks. A series of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-methacrylic acid-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [P(NIPAAm-MAA-HEM)] with various cross-linking ratio have been obtained by cross-linking free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), methacrylic acid (MAA), and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEM) in the presence of triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) as cross-linker. Highly stable and uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles have been obtained with hydrogel networks via in situ reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as reducing agent. The formation of silver nanoparticles has been confirmed with ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results demonstrated that employed hydrogels have regulated the silver nanoparticles size to 50–150 nm. The preliminary antibacterial activity performed to these hydrogel–silver nanocomposites.