bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional morphology of the gonoduct of the gastropod Bulla striata Bruguière, 1792 (Opisthobranchia: Cephalaspidea): evidence for a monaulic system
Authors: Malaquias Manuel António E. , Reid David G.
Published: May 2008

Reproductive systems are a major source of characters for systematics and phylogenetic inference in the Gastropoda and therefore knowledge of their morphology, homology and function is important. In the cephalaspidean genus Bulla the reproductive system is hermaphroditic and is divided into ovotestis, posterior gonoduct, anterior female glands and copulatory organs. Previous accounts failed to explain fully the organization and function of this complex system. We use a new approach based on fine dissection, gross serial cross‐sections and scanning electron microscopy to study the female glands of the European species Bulla striata. We provide a re‐description of the gonoduct and infer possible pathways of gametes and location of processes. Based on the absence of separate ducts or grooves for ova and spermatozoa, we conclude that Bulla is a monaulic cephalaspidean.
High surgical volume is associated with a lower rate of secondary therapy after radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer
Authors: Jeldres Claudio , Suardi Nazareno , Capitanio Umberto , Montorsi Francesco , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Perrotte Paul , Peloquin Francois , Pharand Daniel , Graefen Markus , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between surgical volume (SV), defined as the number of radical prostatectomies (RPs) within a calendar year, and the time to secondary therapy (ST) after RP, as this might represent an important determinant of cancer control.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 7937 men treated with RP by 130 urologists between 1989 and 2000. Radiotherapy or any form of hormonal manipulation represented ST. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses was used to evaluate the time to ST after RP.

RESULTS

SV was an independent (P = 0.02) predictor of ST‐free survival after RP, and the multivariable rate of ST sharply decreased with increasing SV.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ST is inversely proportional to SV of up to 24 RPs per year. A higher annual SV might be indicative of less restrictive use of RP in high‐risk patients who eventually require combined treatments.
Quantifying fishing effort: a synthesis of current methods and their applications
Authors: McCluskey Shannon M. , Lewison Rebecca L.
Published: May 2008

The need to accurately quantify fishing effort has increased in recent years as fisheries have expanded around the world and many fish stocks and non‐target species are threatened with collapse. Quantification methods vary greatly among fisheries, and to date there has not been a comprehensive review of these methods. Here we review existing approaches to quantify fishing effort in small‐scale, recreational, industrial, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fisheries. We present the strengths and limitations of existing methods, identifying the most robust methods and the critical knowledge gaps that must be addressed to improve our ability to quantify and map fishing effort. Although identifying the ‘best’ method ultimately depends on the intended application of the data, in general, quantification methods that are based on information on gear use and spatial distribution offer the best approaches to representing fishing effort on a broad scale. Integrating fisher’s knowledge and involving fishers in data collection and management decisions may be the most effective way to improve data quality and accessibility.
Is the audit services market competitive following Arthur Andersen's collapse?
Authors: Hamilton Jane , Li Yang , Stokes Donald
Published: May 2008

This study investigates whether audit markets remain competitive in the wake of Arthur Andersen's demise and merger with Ernst & Young to create the Big Four. We conduct the study estimating audit fee models using Australian audit market data from both 2000 and 2003 to determine whether there is any evidence of cartel pricing either before, or subsequent to, the merger. In both years, we find evidence of a Big N price premium when estimating an audit fee model across all clients, and when we estimate the model separately across large and small client market segments. This evidence is consistent with product differentiation by Big N auditors and competitive markets.
What skills and attributes does an accounting graduate need? Evidence from student perceptions and employer expectations
Authors: Kavanagh Marie H. , Drennan Lyndal
Published: May 2008

For some years there has been much debate between various stakeholders about the need for accounting graduates to develop a broader set of skills to be able to pursue a career in the accounting profession. This study uses mixed methods to examine perceptions and expectations of two major stakeholders: students and employers. Findings indicate that students are becoming aware of employers’ expectations in terms of communication, analytical, professional and teamwork skills. Although employers are still expecting a good understanding of basic accounting skills and strong analytical skills, they are also requiring ‘business awareness’ and knowledge in terms of the ‘real world’. Both students and employers report that many of the ‘essential’ non‐technical and professional skills and attributes are not being developed sufficiently in university accounting programmes.
Non‐audit fees, long‐term auditor–client relationships and earnings management
Authors: Cahan Steven , Emanuel David , Hay David , Wong Norman
Published: May 2008

We examine whether auditor independence is affected by the amount spent on non‐audit services. Faster growth in non‐audit fees and longer time periods over which non‐audit services are purchased might reduce the auditor's independence from that client. Our results do not provide any support for a relationship between non‐audit fee growth rates or the length of time of the non‐audit fee relationship with the client and discretionary accruals, our measure of earnings management. We do find some evidence that the interaction of the non‐audit fee time‐period measures and client importance is positive and significantly related to discretionary accruals.
Of Rights and Rhetoric: Discourses of Degradation and Exploitation in the Context of Sex Trafficking
Authors: Munro Vanessa E.
Published: May 2008

International condemnations of people trafficking (particularly of women and girls for prostitution) as a human rights violation have proliferated in recent times. The deployment of human rights in this context has been supported by those who seek to challenge narrow victim hierarchies, but these accounts fail to clearly articulate which particular aspects of the activity violate which particular rights, and how. This article examines the applicability of protections against slavery and inhuman/degrading treatment, arguing that, in the context of the diversity and complexity of contemporary people trafficking, their limitations become apparent. The final part considers the concept of exploitation as an alternative basis for grounding a human rights claim. It cautions that invoking this concept without further elaboration (particularly in relation to the relevance of harm and consent) may be counter‐productive, both in terms of theoretical clarity and practical implementation.
Whose Justice? Rethinking Transitional Justice from the Bottom Up
Authors: Lundy Patricia , McGovern Mark
Published: May 2008

This paper argues that transitional justice needs to adopt a participatory approach to achieve longer‐term sustainability, shifting away from the top‐down ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ approach to allow ‘voices from below’ to be heard and heeded. It critiques dominant interpretations of key transitional justice concepts, and links them to the difficulties of post‐conflict transitional justice in a range of violently divided societies. Popular participation and local agency, it is argued, is necessary to achieve ends identified in much transitional justice discourse, and to embed mechanisms for the creation of sustainable peace. A Northern Ireland initiative (the Ardoyne Commemoration Project) will be explored in‐depth, illustrating how a bottom‐up ‘truth‐telling’ process can make a significant contribution to transitional justice and casting doubt on the validity of the deference to legal dominance in current policy and practice. The paper recommends that knowledge available in development studies and participatory theory be applied more clearly in debates and approaches in transitional justice.
THE FALLACY OF THE PRINCIPLE OF PROCREATIVE BENEFICENCE
Authors: BENNETT REBECCA
Published: May 2008

The claim that we have a moral obligation, where a choice can be made, to bring to birth the ‘best’ child possible, has been highly controversial for a number of decades. More recently Savulescu has labelled this claim the Principle of Procreative Beneficence. It has been argued that this Principle is problematic in both its reasoning and its implications, most notably in that it places lower moral value on the disabled. Relentless criticism of this proposed moral obligation, however, has been unable, thus far, to discredit this Principle convincingly and as a result its influence shows no sign of abating. I will argue that while criticisms of the implications and detail of the reasoning behind it are well founded, they are unlikely to produce an argument that will ultimately discredit the obligation that the Principle of Procreative Beneficence represents. I believe that what is needed finally and convincingly to reveal the fallacy of this Principle is a critique of its ultimate theoretical foundation, the notion of impersonal harm. In this paper I argue that while the notion of impersonal harm is intuitively very appealing, its plausibility is based entirely on this intuitive appeal and not on sound moral reasoning. I show that there is another plausible explanation for our intuitive response and I believe that this, in conjunction with the other theoretical criticisms that I and others have levelled at this Principle, shows that the Principle of Procreative Beneficence should be rejected.
From e‐learning space to e‐learning place
Authors: Wahlstedt Ari , Pekkola Samuli , Niemelä Marketta
Published: May 2008

In this paper, it is argued that e‐learning environments are currently more like ‘buildings’, ie, learning spaces, rather than ‘schools’, ie, places for learning. The concepts originated from architecture and urban design, where they are used both to distinguish static spaces from inhabited places, and more importantly, as design objectives. The transformation from space to place is supported and enabled by social interactions between the (learning) community members. We argue that this distinction between the concepts explains some of the problems with current e‐learning systems and propose issues to consider when designing new systems. By acknowledging the importance and characteristics of a place, designers and researchers can justify the need and support for social interactions in learning space, consequently enabling social community building in e‐learning environments, and most importantly, supporting the development of a user‐friendly and motivating e‐learning place.
Out of class—out of mind? The use of a virtual learning environment to encourage student engagement in out of class activities
Authors: Leese Maggie
Published: May 2008

With increasing student numbers and a diverse student body, it is crucial to consider a range of methods to engage students in learning and teaching activities. This project was used to encourage 1st‐year undergraduate students to engage in out of class activities between taught sessions. The project used a virtual learning environment (VLE) known as Wolverhampton Online Learning Framework (WOLF) to encourage collaborative working within learning sets. The central aim was to investigate the potential to improve communication and mutual support between students and also to encourage students to make links between taught sessions. They were given weekly tasks that needed to be completed within their learning sets and they then posted the work in folders within WOLF by a set time. This allowed for timely feedback from the tutor and it facilitated sharing of resources across the sets. The final element involved students using their new knowledge to peer‐teach the whole group in short presentations at the beginning of the next taught session. Feedback was collected in three ways, including focus groups, module feedback forms and a short questionnaire about the use of the VLE. Overall, the students' feedback was positive and they commented on gaining a number of skills including, using technology, group working and presentations. In addition to this, the overall pass rate for the module was higher and the average student grade had also increased.
Exit Polling in a Cold Climate: The BBC–ITV Experience in Britain in 2005
Authors: Curtice John , Firth David
Published: May 2008

Conducting an exit poll to forecast the outcome of a national election in terms of both votes and seats is particularly difficult in Britain. No official information is available on how individual polling stations voted in the past, use of single-member plurality means that there is no consistent relationship between votes and seats, electors can choose to vote by post and most of those who vote in person do so late in the day. In addition, around one in every six intended exit poll respondents refuses to participate. Methods that were developed to overcome these problems, and their use in the successful 2005 British Broadcasting Corporation–Independent Television exit poll, are described and evaluated. The methodology included a panel design to allow the estimation of electoral change at local level, coherent multiple-regression modelling of multiparty electoral change to capture systematic patterns of variation, probabilistic prediction of constituency winners to account for uncertainty in projected constituency level shares, collection of information about the voting intentions of postal voters before polling day and access to interviewer guesses on the voting behaviour of refusals. The coverage and accuracy of the exit poll data are critically examined, the effect of key aspects of the statistical modelling of the data is assessed and some general lessons are drawn for the design and analysis of electoral exit polls.
Estimates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevalence and Proportion Diagnosed Based on Bayesian Multiparameter Synthesis of Surveillance Data
Authors: Goubar A. , Ades A. E. , De Angelis D. , McGarrigle C. A. , Mercer C. H. , Tookey P. A. , Fenton K. , Gill O. N.
Published: May 2008

Estimates of the number of prevalent human immunodeficiency virus infections are used in England and Wales to monitor development of the human immunodeficiency virus–acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic and for planning purposes. The population is split into risk groups, and estimates of risk group size and of risk group prevalence and diagnosis rates are combined to derive estimates of the number of undiagnosed infections and of the overall number of infected individuals. In traditional approaches, each risk group size, prevalence or diagnosis rate parameter must be informed by just one summary statistic. Yet a rich array of surveillance and other data is available, providing information on parameters and on functions of parameters, and raising the possibility of inconsistency between sources of evidence in some parts of the parameter space. We develop a Bayesian framework for synthesis of surveillance and other information, implemented through Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. The sources of data are found to be inconsistent under their accepted interpretation, but the inconsistencies can be resolved by introducing additional ‘bias adjustment’ parameters. The best-fitting model incorporates a hierarchical structure to spread information more evenly over the parameter space. We suggest that multiparameter evidence synthesis opens new avenues in epidemiology based on the coherent summary of available data, assessment of consistency and bias modelling.
Modelling Multivariate Volatilities via Conditionally Uncorrelated Components
Authors: Fan Jianqing , Wang Mingjin , Yao Qiwei
Published: May 2008

We propose to model multivariate volatility processes on the basis of the newly defined conditionally uncorrelated components (CUCs). This model represents a parsimonious representation for matrix-valued processes. It is flexible in the sense that each CUC may be fitted separately with any appropriate univariate volatility model. Computationally it splits one high dimensional optimization problem into several lower dimensional subproblems. Consistency for the estimated CUCs has been established. A bootstrap method is proposed for testing the existence of CUCs. The methodology proposed is illustrated with both simulated and real data sets.
Forskolin induction of late‐LTP and up‐regulation of 5′ TOP mRNAs translation via mTOR, ERK, and PI3K in hippocampal pyramidal cells
Authors: Gobert Delphine , Topolnik Lisa , Azzi Mounia , Huang Linda , Badeaux Frédérique , DesGroseillers Luc , Sossin Wayne S. , Lacaille Jean‐Claude
Published: May 2008

The late phase of long‐term potentiation (LTP) requires activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and synthesis of new proteins. mTOR regulates protein synthesis via phosphorylation of 4E‐binding proteins (4E‐BPs) and S6K, and via selective up‐regulation of 5′ terminal oligopyrimidine (5′ TOP) mRNAs that encode components of the translational machinery. In this study, we explored the regulation of 5′ TOP mRNAs during late‐LTP (L‐LTP). Synaptic plasticity was studied at Schaffer collateral – CA1 pyramidal cell synapses in rat organotypic hippocampal slices. Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, induced L‐LTP in organotypic slices that was mTOR‐dependent. To determine if 5′ TOP mRNAs are specifically up‐regulated during L‐LTP, we generated a 5′ TOP‐myr‐dYFP reporter to selectively monitor 5′ TOP translation. Confocal imaging experiments in cultured slices revealed an increase in somatic and dendritic fluorescence after forskolin treatment. This up‐regulation was dependent on an intact TOP sequence and was mTOR, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)‐dependent. Our findings indicate that forskolin induces L‐LTP in hippocampal neurons and up‐regulates 5′ TOP mRNAs translation via mTOR, suggesting that up‐regulation of the translational machinery is a candidate mechanism for the stabilization of LTP.
HIV‐1 viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 produces oxidative stress and regulates the functional expression of multidrug resistance protein‐1 (Mrp1) in glial cells
Authors: Ronaldson Patrick T. , Bendayan Reina
Published: May 2008

Brain human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV‐1) infection is associated with oxidative stress, which may lead to HIV‐1 encephalitis, a chronic neurodegenerative condition. In vitro, oxidative stress can be induced in glial cells by exposure to HIV‐1 envelope protein glycoprotein (gp120). Multidrug resistance proteins (Mrps) are known to efflux endogenous substrates (i.e. GSH and GSSG) involved in cellular defense against oxidative stress. Altered GSH/GSSG export may contribute to oxidative damage during HIV‐1 encephalitis. At present, it is unknown if gp120 exposure can alter the functional expression of Mrp isoforms. Heat‐shock protein 70, inducible nitric oxide synthase, intracellular GSSG, 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein fluorescence, and extracellular nitrite were increased in primary cultures of rat astrocytes triggered with gp120, suggesting an oxidative stress response. RT‐PCR and immunoblot analysis demonstrated increased Mrp1 mRNA (2.3‐fold) and protein (2.2‐fold), respectively, in gp120 treated astrocytes while Mrp4 mRNA or protein expression was not changed. Cellular retention of 2′,7′‐bis‐(2‐carboxyethyl)‐5‐(and‐6)‐carboxyfluorescein, an established Mrp substrate, was reduced (twofold) in gp120‐treated astrocytes, suggesting increased Mrp‐mediated transport. In addition, GSH and GSSG export were enhanced in gp120‐triggered cells. These data suggest that gp120 can up‐regulate Mrp1, but not Mrp4, functional expression in cultured astrocytes. Our observation of increased GSH/GSSG efflux in response to gp120 treatment implies that Mrp isoforms may be involved in regulating the oxidative stress response in glial cells.
Dietary composition specifies consumption, obesity, and lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Skorupa Danielle A. , Dervisefendic Azra , Zwiener Jessica , Pletcher Scott D.
Published: May 2008

The inability to properly balance energy intake and expenditure with nutrient supply forms the basis for some of today's most pressing health issues, including diabetes and obesity. Mechanisms of nutrient homeostasis may also lie at the root of dietary restriction, a manipulation whereby reduced nutrient availability extends lifespan and ameliorates age‐related deteriorations in many species. The traditional belief that the most important aspect of the diet is its energetic (i.e. caloric) content is currently under scrutiny. Hypotheses that focus on diet composition and highlight more subtle characteristics are beginning to emerge. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we asked whether diet composition alone, independent of its caloric content, was sufficient to impact behavior, physiology, and lifespan. We found that providing flies with a yeast‐rich diet produced lean, reproductively competent animals with reduced feeding rates. Excess dietary sugar, on the other hand, promoted obesity, which was magnified during aging. Addition of dietary yeast often limited or reversed the phenotypic changes associated with increased dietary sugar and vice versa, and dietary imbalance was associated with reduced lifespan. Our data reveal that diet composition, alone and in combination with overall caloric intake, modulates lifespan, consumption, and fat deposition in flies, and they provide a useful foundation for dissecting the underlying genetic mechanisms that link specific nutrients with important aspects of general health and longevity.
Using ‘the body’ as an ‘instrument of research’: kimch’i and pavlova
Authors: Longhurst Robyn , Ho Elsie , Johnston Lynda
Published: May 2008

Often researchers position themselves in relation to race, age and gender, but the body is less often discussed as an actual ‘instrument of research’. We aim to extend thinking on this point by reflecting on a project we conducted on migrant women and food in New Zealand. We present a vignette as an example of how we used our bodies as ‘instruments of research’ at a ‘shared lunch’ attended by new migrants from a range of different countries. At the lunch some combined on their plates spicy dishes such as kimch’i (fermented vegetables) and sweet dishes such as pavlova (a meringue dessert). For others this combination prompted feelings of disgust. We conclude that the body is a primary tool through which all interactions and emotions filter in accessing research subjects and their geographies.
Towards a heterogeneous environmental responsibility: sustainability and cycling fundamentalism
Authors: Cupples Julie , Ridley Elisabeth
Published: May 2008

This article explores the urban governmentalities that are emerging through the discursive constitution of cycling as a form of sustainable transport. It has two main aims. The first is to explore and critique the strategies and discourses used to promote cycling as a sustainable form of transport. We argue that cycling advocacy displays totalising tendencies which obscure social and cultural difference, ignore the embodied and affective dimensions of transport practices and fail in part to apprehend the heterogeneity of environmental responsibility. Our second aim is to tentatively suggest a more productive way of knowing and talking about cycling that might be constitutive of a less exclusionary affective ethical sensibility.
Micro‐level analysis of childhood obesity, diet, physical activity, residential socioeconomic and social capital variables: where are the obesogenic environments in Leeds?
Authors: Procter K L , Clarke G P , Ransley J K , Cade J
Published: May 2008

This paper describes global (whole of Leeds) and local (super output area) analyses of the relationship between childhood obesity and many ‘obesogenic environment’ variables, such as deprivation, urbanisation, access to local amenities, and perceived local safety, as well as dietary and physical activity behaviours. The analyses identify the covariates with the strongest relationships with obesity, and highlight variation in these relationships across Leeds, thus identifying ‘at‐risk’ populations. This paper seeks to demonstrate the importance of analysis at the micro‐level in order to provide health planners with additional information with which to tailor interventions and health policies to prevent childhood obesity.
Surveillance studies: an overview– by David Lyon
Authors: Klauser Francisco R
Published: May 2008

Statement The Editors do not necessarily agree with the statements contained in the book reviews, and neither they nor the RGS‐IBG assume responsibility for the reviewers’ assessments of the books that they evaluate.
REVIEWS
Authors: EDDY. J. W. M.
Published: May 2008

Book reviewed in this article:

World Resources and Industries. By Erich W. Zimmermann

William. James Ashley: A Life. By Anne Ashley.

The Economics of Imperfect Competition. By Joan Robinson.

Problems of Staple Production in Canada. By Harold A. Innis,

Australia's Government Bank. By L. C. Jauncey.

The Measurement of Price Changes: Retrospect and Prospect. By A. W. Flux, C.B., M.A.

Gold, Capitalism and Unemployment. By T. E. Gregory, D.Sc.

L'Heure de la France. By E. Bélime.

Les Doctrines Monetaires a L'zpreuve des Paits. By F. Herbette and others.

Wholesale Prices for 213 Years, 1702 to 1932. Part I. Wholesale Prices in the United States for 135 years, 1797 to 1932. By G. F. Warren and F. A. Pearson.

Wholesale Prices for 213 Years, 1702 to 1932. Part II. Wholesale Prices at New Pork City, 1720 to 1800.By Herman M. Stoker.

The Physicd Volume of Production in the United States. By G. F. Warren and F. A. Pearson.

Monopole und Besteuerung. By E. Doblin.

The Peopling of Australia (Further Studies). Pacific Relations Series No, 4.

The Foundation of Industrial Stability. By E. M. Daltroff.

Balances of Payments 1931 and 1932. League of Nations.

Industrial Relations in Great Britain. By Prof. J. H. Richardson, M.A., Ph.D.

Money, Gold, Silver and Paper. By Francis W. Hirst.

The Midas Delusion. By R. F. Irvine, M.A.

The Professions. A. M. Carr‐Saunders and P. A. Wilson

World Economic Survey, 1933‐33. League of Nations.

The Search for Confidence in 1932: The Second Series of Bulletins of the Unclaimed Wealth Utilization Committee of Geneva, Under the Chairmanship of A. H. Abbatti.

Money, Business and Prices. By John Philip Wernette, Ph.D.

The Tourist Movement. By F. W. Ogilvie.

Research in Marketing of Farm Products. John D. Black, Editor.

The Worker's Point of View. A Symposium. With a Preface by C. T. Cramp.

This Hmey Business. By Barnard Ellinger, C.B.E.

Australia as Producer and Trader, 1920–1932. By Nancy Windett.
Knowing But Not Doing: Selecting Priority Conservation Areas and the Research–Implementation Gap
Authors: KNIGHT ANDREW T. , COWLING RICHARD M. , ROUGET MATHIEU , BALMFORD ANDREW , LOMBARD AMANDA T. , CAMPBELL BRUCE M.
Published: May 2008

Abstract:  Conservation assessment is a rapidly evolving discipline whose stated goal is the design of networks of protected areas that represent and ensure the persistence of nature (i.e., species, habitats, and environmental processes) by separating priority areas from the activities that degrade or destroy them. Nevertheless, despite a burgeoning scientific literature that ever refines these techniques for allocating conservation resources, it is widely believed that conservation assessments are rarely translated into actions that actually conserve nature. We reviewed the conservation assessment literature in peer‐reviewed journals and conducted survey questionnaires of the authors of these studies. Two‐thirds of conservation assessments published in the peer‐reviewed scientific literature do not deliver conservation action, primarily because most researchers never plan for implementation. This research–implementation gap between conservation science and real‐world action is a genuine phenomenon and is a specific example of the “knowing–doing gap” that is widely recognized in management science. Given the woefully inadequate resources allocated for conservation, our findings raise questions over the utility of conservation assessment science, as currently practiced, to provide useful, pragmatic solutions to conservation planning problems. A reevaluation of the conceptual and operational basis of conservation planning research is urgently required. We recommend the following actions for beginning a process for bridging the research–implementation gap in conservation planning: (1) acknowledge the research–implementation gap is real, (2) source research questions from practitioners, (3) situate research within a broader conservation planning model, (4) expand the social dimension of conservation assessments, (5) support conservation plans with transdisciplinary social learning institutions, (6) reward academics for societal engagement and implementation, and (7) train students in skills for “doing” conservation.
A Two‐Part Measure of Degree of Invasion for Cross‐Community Comparisons
Authors: GUO QINFENG , SYMSTAD AMY
Published: May 2008

Abstract:  Invasibility is a critical feature of ecological communities, especially for management decisions. To date, invasibility has been measured in numerous ways. Although most researchers have used the richness (or number) of exotic species as a direct or indirect measure of community invasibility, others have used alternative measures such as the survival, density, or biomass of either a single or all exotic species. These different measures, even when obtained from the same communities, have produced inconsistent results and have made comparisons among communities difficult. Here, we propose a measure of the degree of invasion (DI) of a community as a surrogate for community invasibility. The measure is expressed as 2 independent components: exotic proportion of total species richness and exotic proportion of total species abundance (biomass or cover). By including richness and abundance, the measure reflects that the factors that control invasibility affect both of these components. Expressing exotic richness and abundance relative to the richness and abundance of all species in a community makes comparisons across communities of different sizes and resource availability possible and illustrates the importance of dominance of exotic species relative to natives, which is a primary management concern associated with exotic species.
Impacts of Roads, Hunting, and Habitat Alteration on Nocturnal Mammals in African Rainforests
Authors: LAURANCE WILLIAM F. , CROES BARBARA M. , GUISSOUEGOU NICAISE , BUIJ RALPH , DETHIER MARC , ALONSO ALFONSO
Published: May 2008

Abstract:  Nocturnal mammals are poorly studied in Central Africa, a region experiencing dramatic increases in logging, roads, and hunting activity. In the rainforests of southern Gabon, we used spotlighting surveys to estimate abundances of nocturnal mammal species and guilds at varying distances from forest roads and between hunted and unhunted treatments (comparing a 130‐km2 oil concession that was nearly free of hunting, with nearby areas outside the concession that had moderate hunting pressure). At each of 12 study sites that were evenly divided between hunted and unhunted areas, we established standardized 1‐km transects along road verges and at 50, 300, and 600 m from the road. We then repeatedly surveyed mammals at each site during 2006. Hunting had few apparent effects on this assemblage. Nevertheless, the species richness and often the abundance of nocturnal primates, smaller ungulates, and carnivores were significantly depressed within approximately 30 m of roads. Scansorial rodents increased in abundance in hunted forests, possibly in response to habitat changes caused by logging or nearby swidden farming. In multiple‐regression models many species and guilds were significantly influenced by forest‐canopy and understory cover, both of which are altered by logging and by certain abiotic variables. In general, nocturnal species, many of which are arboreal or relatively small in size (<10 kg), were less strongly influenced by hunting and more strongly affected by human‐induced changes in forest structure than were larger mammal species in our study area.
Determining Optimal Population Monitoring for Rare Butterflies
Authors: HADDAD NICK M. , HUDGENS BRIAN , DAMIANI CHRIS , GROSS KEVIN , KUEFLER DANIEL , POLLOCK KEN
Published: May 2008

Abstract: Determining population viability of rare insects depends on precise, unbiased estimates of population size and other demographic parameters. We used data on the endangered St. Francis' satyr butterfly (Neonympha mitchellii francisci) to evaluate 2 approaches (mark–recapture and transect counts) for population analysis of rare butterflies. Mark–recapture analysis provided by far the greatest amount of demographic information, including estimates (and standard errors) of population size, detection, survival, and recruitment probabilities. Mark–recapture analysis can also be used to estimate dispersal and temporal variation in rates, although we did not do this here. Models of seasonal flight phenologies derived from transect counts (Insect Count Analyzer) provided an index of population size and estimates of survival and statistical uncertainty. Pollard–Yates population indices derived from transect counts did not provide estimates of demographic parameters. This index may be highly biased if detection and survival probabilities vary spatially and temporally. In terms of statistical performance, mark–recapture and Pollard–Yates indices were least variable. Mark–recapture estimates were less likely to fail than Insect Count Analyzer, but mark–recapture estimates became less precise as sampling intensity decreased. In general, count‐based approaches are less costly and less likely to cause harm to rare insects than mark–recapture. The optimal monitoring approach must reconcile these trade‐offs. Thus, mark–recapture should be favored when demographic estimates are needed, when financial resources enable frequent sampling, and when marking does not harm the insect populations. The optimal sampling strategy may use 2 sampling methods together in 1 overall sampling plan: limited mark–recapture sampling to estimate survival and detection probabilities and frequent but less expensive transect counts.
Geochronology of high‐pressure mafic granulite dykes in SW Sweden: tracking the P–T–t path of metamorphism using Hf isotopes in zircon and baddeleyite
Authors: SÖDERLUND U. , HELLSTRÖM F. A. , KAMO S. L.
Published: May 2008

Although the U–Pb zircon chronometer has been widely used for dating metamorphism in moderate‐ to high‐grade rocks, it is generally difficult to link the U–Pb age of zircon to specific metamorphic reactions. In this study, the initial Hf isotopic composition of secondary zircon is compared with the evolution of Hf isotopic composition of the bulk sample, back‐projected from the measured value through time. This approach may enhance the interpretation of radiometric ages performed on metamorphic mineral assemblages. Here, U–Pb, Sm–Nd and Lu–Hf geochronology and thermobarometry have been integrated and applied to two metamorphosed diabase dykes in the Sveconorwegian orogen, SW Sweden. The dykes are located ∼5 km east of the NNE‐trending Göta Älv deformation zone in the Idefjorden terrane, and trend parallel to this zone. The Lunden dyke is recrystallized into a coronitic, granulite facies assemblage. U–Pb isotopic analyses of baddeleyite in this dyke indicate an emplacement age of c. 1300 Ma. Thermobarometric techniques applied to garnet and omphacitic clinopyroxene coronas indicate high‐pressure metamorphism at ∼15 kbar and ∼740 °C. The growth of polycrystalline zircon at the expense of baddeleyite occurred at 1046 ± 6 Ma. The identical Hf isotopic composition of polycrystalline zircon and baddeleyite shows that the baddeleyite‐to‐zircon transition took place before Hf equilibration among the other metamorphic minerals and, hence the c. 1046 Ma age of polycrystalline zircon sets an upper age limit of metamorphism of this sample. The Haregården dyke is recrystallized into a granoblastic transitional upper amphibolite to granulite facies assemblage. The estimated P–T conditions are ∼10 kbar and ∼700 °C. Analyses of small (∼30 μm), clear and round zircon in this sample yield a Concordia U–Pb age of 1026 ± 4 Ma, which is indistinguishable from the Lu‐Hf and Sm‐Nd mineral isochron ages of 1027 ± 9 and 1022 ± 34 Ma, respectively. This type of secondary zircon plots at the lower end of the Lu‐Hf isochron and indicates simultaneous growth with garnet at c. 1026 Ma, a time when Hf isotopic equilibrium among minerals must have been reached.
Timing of high‐pressure metamorphism and exhumation of the eclogite type‐locality (Kupplerbrunn–Prickler Halt, Saualpe, south‐eastern Austria): constraints from correlations of the Sm–Nd, Lu–Hf, U–Pb and Rb–Sr isotopic systems
Authors: THÖNI M. , MILLER C. , BLICHERT‐TOFT J. , WHITEHOUSE M. J. , KONZETT J. , ZANETTI A.
Published: May 2008

Sm–Nd, Lu–Hf, Rb–Sr and SIMS U–Pb data are presented for meta‐gabbroic eclogites from the eclogite type‐locality (Haüy, 1822) Kupplerbrunn–Prickler Halt and other areas of the Saualpe (SE Austria) and Pohorje Mountains (Slovenia). Mg‐rich eclogites derived from early gabbroic cumulates are kyanite‐ and zoisite rich, whereas eclogites with lower Mg contents contain clinozoisite ± kyanite. Calculated P–T conditions at the final stages of high‐pressure metamorphism are 2.2 ± 0.2 GPa at 630–740 °C.

Kyanite‐rich eclogites did not yield geologically meaningful Sm–Nd ages due to incomplete Nd isotope equilibration, whereas Sm–Nd multifraction garnet–omphacite regression for a low‐Mg eclogite from Kupplerbrunn yields an age of 91.1 ± 1.3 Ma. The Sm–Nd age of 94.1 ± 0.8 Ma obtained from the Fe‐rich core fraction of this garnet dates the initial stages of garnet growth. Zircon that also crystallized at eclogite facies conditions gives a weighted mean U–Pb SIMS age of 88.4 ± 8.1 Ma. Lu–Hf isotope analysis of a kyanite–eclogite from Kupplerbrunn yields 88.4 ± 4.7 Ma for the garnet–omphacite pair. Two low‐Mg eclogites from the Gertrusk locality of the Saualpe yield a multimineral Sm–Nd age of 90.6 ± 1.0 Ma. A low‐Mg eclogite from the Pohorje Mountains (70 km to the SE) gives a garnet–whole‐rock Lu–Hf age of 93.3 ± 2.8 Ma.

These new age data and published Sm–Nd ages of metasedimentary host rocks constrain the final stages of the eo‐Alpine high‐pressure event in the Saualpe–Pohorje part of the south‐easternmost Austroalpine nappe system suggesting that garnet growth in the high‐pressure assemblages started at c. 95–94 Ma and ceased at c. 90–88 Ma, probably at the final pressure peak. Zircon and amphibole crystallization was still possible during incipient isothermal decompression. Rapid exhumation of the high‐pressure rocks was induced by collision of the northern Apulian plate with parts of the Austroalpine microplate, following Jurassic closure of the Permo‐Triassic Meliata back‐arc basin.
Self‐Prescription Practices in Recent Latino Immigrants
Authors: Coffman Maren J. , Shobe Marcia A. , O'Connell Beth
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Objective: Self‐prescription involves the purchase and use of restricted medications without medical advice. Although common in Central and South American countries, little is known about this practice among Latino immigrants in the United States. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to explore how Latino immigrants obtain and use prescription medications without accessing the formal health care system.

Design: This exploratory descriptive study used focus groups to gain an understanding of the use of prescription medications without medical care.

Sample: Three focus group discussions were held with 19 adult Latino immigrants who were new residents in the United States, and did not have health insurance; most were undocumented.

Results: Analysis of the data revealed 4 major themes: (a) health care barriers, (b) cultural norms, (c) self‐care, and (d) self‐prescription.

Conclusions: The data indicate that this population experiences significant barriers to accessing health care, forcing them to seek treatment alternatives including the purchase and use of drugs manufactured in Mexico. There are many public health and safety concerns related to self‐prescription practices. Nurses need to be aware of the barriers to health care that lead to these potentially dangerous medication practices, and to recognize and understand self‐prescription.
The Precautionary Principle, Public Health, and Public Health Nursing
Authors: Chaudry Rosemary Valedes
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
The Precautionary Principle posits that, in the absence of certainty, the appropriate course of action is to err on the side of caution. The Principle has been applied to decision making and policy development related to environmental health issues both internationally and in the United States. The American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have issued policy statements that invoke the Precautionary Principle, and the Principle has been incorporated into statements that describe the practice of public health nursing. Nursing has always recognized the relationship of the environment with the health of humans—individuals, families, populations, and communities (ANA). The increasing attention to the Precautionary Principle comes at a time of redefinition of the field of public health, environmental public health, and the practice of public health nursing. Thus, it is crucial that practicing public health nurses understand the Precautionary Principle and its relevance to the practice of public health, public health nursing, and the current and future health individuals, families, populations, and communities.
Psychometric Properties of the Breastfeeding Self‐Efficacy Scale‐ Short Form in an Ethnically Diverse U.K. Sample
Authors: Gregory Anna , Penrose Kate , Morrison Claire , Dennis Cindy‐Lee , MacArthur Christine
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Objective: To psychometrically assess the Breastfeeding Self‐Efficacy Scale‐Short Form (BSES‐SF) among a multicultural U.K. sample and to examine the relationship between breastfeeding self‐efficacy and maternal demographic variables.

Design: A cohort study where breastfeeding women completed questionnaires in‐hospital and at 4 weeks postpartum.

Sample: 165 breastfeeding women at the maternity ward in Birmingham Women's Hospital inpatient department.

Measurements: BSES‐SF.

Results: The Cronbach's α co‐efficient was .90 and evidence for predictive validity was demonstrated through exclusively breastfeeding mothers at 4 weeks postpartum having significantly higher in‐hospital BSES‐SF scores (M=49.4, SD=12.9) than mothers who were partially breastfeeding (M=44.7, SD=9.5) or bottle‐feeding, M=42.4, SD=11.7; F(2)=1.62, p<.001. Caucasian mothers had significantly lower mean scores (M=44.4, SD=12.1) than those of other ethnicity, M=48.4, SD=12.9, t(163)=−2.06, p=.04.

Conclusions: This study builds upon previous research and provides additional evidence suggesting that the BSES‐SF has sound psychometric properties and can be utilized among diverse samples, including Southeast Asian mothers.
Favorable Response to Analgesics Does Not Predict a Benign Etiology of Headache
Authors: Pope Jennifer V. , Edlow Jonathan A.
Published: May 2008

Background.— Distinguishing between primary and secondary headaches (HAs) is essential for the safe and effective management of patients with HA. A favorable response to analgesics may be observed with both classes of HAs and therefore is not a good predictor of who needs further evaluation.

Objective.— To systematically review the data that a favorable response to analgesics including triptans should not be used to exclude a serious secondary cause of HA.

Design.— PubMed search of English‐language articles between 1980 and 2007 and reference lists of these articles. Two authors independently reviewed articles for study results and quality. Inclusion was based on 100% agreement between authors. We included articles that described secondary HAs as (1) having a favorable response to analgesics and/or (2) having a favorable response to sumatriptan. Of the 548 studies identified by our search strategy, 18 were included in our final analysis.

Results.— Seven of the 18 studies found that 46/103 patients (44%) described a significant or complete resolution of secondary HA from medications such as anti‐emetics and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Eleven of the 18 articles including 25/25 patients (100%) described a significant or complete resolution of secondary HA from sumatriptan, a serotonin 5HT agonist.

Conclusions.— A favorable response to analgesics including triptans should not be used to exclude a serious secondary cause of HA.
Hemicrania Continua–Like Headache With Leprosy: Casual or Causal Association?
Authors: Prakash Sanjay , Dholakia Saumil Y.
Published: May 2008

Hemicrania continua is a strictly unilateral, moderate to severe, continuous, indomethacin‐responsive primary headache disorder with ipsilateral autonomic cranial symptoms at the time of exacerbations. We describe a 30‐year‐old woman with a 4‐month history of indomethacin‐responsive hemicrania continua–like headache and one‐month history of mononeuritis multiplex due to leprosy. Indomethacin was successfully weaned off after completion of antileprotic therapy.
Toward an Epidemiology of Refractory Migraine: Current Knowledge and Issues for Future Research
Authors: Lipton Richard B. , Bigal Marcelo E.
Published: May 2008

The proposed definitions for refractory migraine (RM) and refractory chronic migraine (R‐CM) comprise 5 key components that must be operationalized for epidemiologic research. Persons with RM or R‐CM must meet the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria for migraine or chronic migraine. They must experience significant interference with function or quality of life due to headaches. This interference must be present despite adequate treatment in 3 domains: modification of triggers and lifestyle factors, acute medication, and preventive medicines. The epidemiologic data which address these 5 components will be reviewed herein though specifically designed studies will be required to fully explore RM and R‐CM. In addition, 2 “modifiers” of RM and R‐CM have been proposed; one addresses medication overuse and the other considers disability based on a Migraine Disability Assessment score of 11 or greater. The epidemiology of these modifiers is discussed.