bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sponge–seaweed associations in species of Ptilophora (Gelidiaceae, Rhodophyta)
Authors: Tronchin Enrico , Samaai T. , Anderson R. J. , Bolton J. J.
Published: July 2006

Sponge–seaweed associations in the seaweed genus Ptilophora are poorly understood; therefore, 94 specimens, representing all 17 species of Ptilophora, were examined to detail this phenomenon. All but 2 Ptilophora species were shown to produce surface proliferations, with 13 species found to have sponge associations. Evidence for facultative sponge epiphytism was found with species–specific interactions being unlikely. Results show that surface proliferations are not induced by sponge epiphytes, as they often occur in the absence of sponge epiphytes, and vice versa. The significant number of proliferate thalli found with sponge epiphytes suggests that there is a likely relationship between the presence of surface proliferations and sponge infestation. Sponge epiphytes and Ptilophora species appeared structurally related in that the sponge probably exploits a niche habitat provided by the alga, for which surface proliferations might aid the sponge in bonding to the alga.
Group composition and reproductive success of cooperatively breeding white‐winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos) in urban and non‐urban habitat
Authors: BECK NADEENA R. , HEINSOHN ROBERT
Published: July 2006

Abstract:  White‐winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos, Corcoracidae) are a common, breeding resident in and around the city of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. We compared five measures of reproductive success between the urban and non‐urban populations of choughs to investigate the effect of urbanization on this cooperatively breeding species. Urban choughs initiated breeding earlier than their non‐urban counterparts and were more likely to suffer nest failures. However, there was no difference in the number of successful nests in a season or the number of fledglings produced per successful nesting attempt. A greater proportion of fledglings survived their first 12 months in the non‐urban habitat. We suggest that increased rates of nest predation and fledgling mortality in the urban environment may have a negative effect on reproductive success and remove any advantage that might be gained through a longer breeding season. Possible effects of urbanization on the social and genetic structure of white‐winged choughs are also discussed.
Habitat selection at multiple spatial scales by foraging Glossy Black‐cockatoos
Authors: CAMERON MATT , CUNNINGHAM ROSS B.
Published: July 2006

Abstract: Habitat selection among vertebrates entails decision making at a number of spatial scales. An understanding of factors influencing decisions at each of these scales is required for the effective management of wildlife populations. This study investigates the foraging ecology of a population of Glossy Black‐cockatoos in central New South Wales. We took advantage of the characteristic feeding sign produced by Glossy Black‐cockatoos to examine factors influencing habitat selection at multiple spatial scales. Birds preferred to forage at sites where food was abundant and avoided open sites where the predation risk may be greater. Their two food species,Allocasuarina diminutaandAllocasuarina gymnanthera, differed in profitability (kernel intake rate as measured by the ratio of seed weight to total seed and cone weight), as did trees within a species. Both species were utilized extensively, although foraging intensity was greater at sites where the more profitable species was present. In order to maximize their food intake, birds selected individual trees on the basis of cone abundance and profitability. Cones produced in the previous year were preferred.
Application and evaluation of classification trees for screening unwanted plants
Authors: CALEY PETER , KUHNERT PETRA M.
Published: July 2006

Abstract  Risk assessment systems for introduced species are being developed and applied globally, but methods for rigorously evaluating them are still in their infancy. We explore classification and regression tree models as an alternative to the current Australian Weed Risk Assessment system, and demonstrate how the performance of screening tests for unwanted alien species may be quantitatively compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The optimal classification tree model for predicting weediness included just four out of a possible 44 attributes of introduced plants examined, namely: (i) intentional human dispersal of propagules; (ii) evidence of naturalization beyond native range; (iii) evidence of being a weed elsewhere; and (iv) a high level of domestication. Intentional human dispersal of propagules in combination with evidence of naturalization beyond a plants native range led to the strongest prediction of weediness. A high level of domestication in combination with no evidence of naturalization mitigated the likelihood of an introduced plant becoming a weed resulting from intentional human dispersal of propagules. Unlikely intentional human dispersal of propagules combined with no evidence of being a weed elsewhere led to the lowest predicted probability of weediness. The failure to include intrinsic plant attributes in the model suggests that either these attributes are not useful general predictors of weediness, or data and analysis were inadequate to elucidate the underlying relationship(s). This concurs with the historical pessimism that we will ever be able to accurately predict invasive plants. Given the apparent importance of propagule pressure (the number of individuals of an species released), future attempts at evaluating screening model performance for identifying unwanted plants need to account for propagule pressure when collating and/or analysing datasets. The classification tree had a cross‐validated sensitivity of 93.6% and specificity of 36.7%. Based on the area under the ROC curve, the performance of the classification tree in correctly classifying plants as weeds or non‐weeds was slightly inferior (Area under ROC curve = 0.83 ± 0.021 (±SE)) to that of the current risk assessment system in use (Area under ROC curve = 0.89 ± 0.018 (±SE)), although requires many fewer questions to be answered.
Ecological contrasts across an Antarctic land–sea interface
Authors: WALLER CATHERINE L. , BARNES DAVID K. A. , CONVEY PETER
Published: July 2006

Abstract  We report the composition of terrestrial, intertidal and shallow sublittoral faunal communities at sites around Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula. We examined primary hypotheses that the marine environment will have considerably higher species richness, biomass and abundance than the terrestrial, and that both will be greater than that found in the intertidal. We also compared ages and sizes of individuals of selected marine taxa between intertidal and subtidal zones to test the hypothesis that animals in a more stressed environment (intertidal) would be smaller and shorter lived. Species richness of intertidal and subtidal communities was found to be similar, with considerable overlap in composition. However, terrestrial communities showed no overlap with the intertidal, differing from previous reports, particularly from further north on the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc. Faunal biomass was variable but highest in the sublittoral. While terrestrial communities were depauperate with low biomass they displayed the highest overall abundance, with a mean of over 3 × 105 individuals per square metre. No significant differences in ages of intertidal and subtidal individuals of the same species were found, with bryozoan colonies of up to 4 years of age being present in the intertidal. In contrast with expectation and the limited existing literature we conclude that, while the Antarctic intertidal zone is clearly a suboptimal and highly stressful habitat, its faunal community can be well established and relatively diverse, and is not limited to short‐term opportunists or waifs and strays.
Spawning site selection by feral cane toads (Bufo marinus) at an invasion front in tropical Australia
Authors: HAGMAN MATTIAS , SHINE RICHARD
Published: July 2006

Abstract Spawning sites are a critical and often scarce resource for aquatic‐breeding amphibians, including invasive species such as the cane toad (Bufo marinus). If toads select spawning sites based on habitat characteristics, we can potentially manipulate those characteristics to either enhance or reduce their suitability as breeding sites. We surveyed 25 spawning sites used by cane toads, and 25 adjacent unused sites, in an area of tropical Australia recently invaded by these feral anurans. Water chemistry (pH, conductivity, salinity, turbidity) was virtually identical between the two sets of waterbodies, but habitat characteristics were very different. Toads selectively oviposited in shallow pools with gradual rather than steep slopes, and with open (unvegetated) gradually sloping muddy banks. They avoided flowing water, and pools with steep surrounds. In these respects, cane toads broadly resemble previously studied toad species in other parts of the world, as well as conspecifics within their natural range in South America.
Are Household Production Decisions Cooperative? Evidence on Pastoral Migration and Milk Sales from Northern Kenya
Authors: McPeak John G. , Doss Cheryl R.
Published: July 2006

Market‐based development efforts frequently create opportunities to generate income from goods previously produced and consumed within the household. Production within the household is often characterized by a gender and age division of labor. Market development efforts to improve well‐being may lead to unanticipated outcomes if household production decisions are noncooperative. We develop and test models of household decision making to investigate intrahousehold decision making in a nomadic pastoral setting from Kenya. Our results suggest that household decisions are contested, with husbands using migration decisions to resist wives' ability to market milk.
Native American Obesity: An Economic Model of the “Thrifty Gene” Theory
Authors: Richards Timothy J. , Patterson Paul M.
Published: July 2006

Native American obesity is hypothesized to result from three potential causes: (1) a genetic predisposition, or the “thrifty gene,” (2) a rational addiction to nutrients, and (3) dietary adjustment costs. These hypotheses are tested using a two‐stage household production approach and scanner data from a panel of Native and non‐Native supermarkets. Nutrient intake for both groups is strongly influenced by adjustment costs. Native Americans tend to place higher implicit valuations on protein relative to fats and carbohydrates compared to non‐Natives. Consequently, reductions in real carbohydrate prices over time may be a cause of high incidence of Native American obesity.
Tournaments, Fairness, and Risk
Authors: Wu Steven , Roe Brian
Published: July 2006

We estimate willingness to pay (WTP) to operate under two types of contracts—tournaments (Ts) and fixed performance‐standard contracts (F). Our results are consistent with the notion that subjects having social preferences for fairness and care about risk. That is, when subjects experience greater inequity under tournaments relative to fixed performance contracts, or experience greater revenue risk under tournaments, the gap between WTP for fixed performance and tournament contracts increases, ceteris paribus. Our results provide an explanation for grower dissatisfaction with tournament compensation schemes independent of possible concerns regarding opportunistic behavior by integrators.
Mergers and Acquisitions and Productivity in the U.S. Meat Products Industries: Evidence from the Micro Data
Authors: Nguyen Sang V. , Ollinger Michael
Published: July 2006

This article investigates the motives for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the U.S. meat products industry from 1977 to 1992. Results show that acquired meat and poultry plants were very productive before mergers, and that all but the very largest meat slaughter and processing plants and all but the bottom 20% of the poultry slaughter and processing plants significantly improved their productivity growth in their postmerger periods. These results lead to the conclusion that synergies and related efficiencies are important motives for M&As.
No News Is Good News: Stochastic Parameters versus Media Coverage Indices in Demand Models after Food Scares
Authors: Mazzocchi Mario
Published: July 2006

We develop a stochastic parameter approach to model the time‐varying impacts of food scares on consumption, as an alternative to the inclusion of news coverage indices in the demand function. We empirically test the methodology on data from four food scares, the 1982 heptachlor milk contamination in Oahu, Hawaii and the bovine spongiform encephalopathy and two Escherichia coli scares on U.S. meat demand over the period 1993–9. Results show that the inclusion of time‐varying parameters in demand models enables the capturing of the impact of food safety information and provides better short‐term forecasts.
Factors Associated with Students' Academic Motivation in Agricultural Economics Classes
Authors: Siebert John , Litzenberg Kerry , Gallagher Richard , Wilson Christine , Dooley Frank , Wysocki Al
Published: July 2006

A study of undergraduates at Texas A&M University, Purdue University, and the University of Florida reveals that students viewing grades as a contributor to career success tend to be more academically motivated. Several measures of academic motivation are examined by means of general linear and also nonlinear models. Electronic entertainment, socializing, and time spent working are all negatively associated with academic motivation. Greater academic motivation exists among females. To the extent that additional work is needed for the support of increased tuition costs, students have the potential to be less academically motivated.
Innovation and the Post‐Original: On Moral Stances and Reproduction
Authors: Rehn Alf , Vachhani Sheena
Published: July 2006

This article represents an inquiry into the ontology of innovation, that is, the foundational issues of innovation and how we conceive of the nature of innovation and creativity. By juxtaposing the notions of novelty and copying, the article introduces the concept of ‘post‐originality’ as a way to understand how time and reproductive acts can be understood in relation to the innovative. Looking at how innovation and creativity are hailed as the highest forms of economic action, while copying and derivation have often been viewed as somewhat lesser forms, the article thus discusses how moralizations affect the way in which we view the economic. Specifically building on the works of German polymath Walter Benjamin and his theories of time, ruin and redemption, the article connects with the philosophy of history, and by way of three mini‐cases, presents three tentative modes of the post‐original (derivation, knock‐offs and remixes), showing how these can each in their own way raise interesting issues regarding the role of copying in creating the new. We end with a reflection on the notion of the event in innovation, inspired by the French philosopher Alain Badiou and his engagement with the truth of the event.
When Social Health Insurance Goes Wrong: Lessons from Argentina and Mexico
Authors: Lloyd‐Sherlock Peter
Published: July 2006

Social health insurance (SHI) has gained popularity in recent years as a health‐care funding mechanism for developing countries in Latin America and beyond. This is reflected in a number of high‐profile conferences sponsored by international agencies, and a profusion of externally funded reform projects. This article assesses the potential of SHI to provide a sound model of health‐care financing, drawing on the experiences of Argentina and Mexico. It uses four criteria to assess the performance of SHI: coverage, equity, effectiveness and sustainability. The article begins by outlining key principles of SHI and comparing it to other models of health‐care financing. It then gives a comparative overview of four SHI programmes in Argentina and Mexico, before analysing their performance in greater detail. The article finishes by extracting lessons from this comparative analysis, both for the countries studied and for global debates on SHI.
Physiological consequences of captive conditions in water voles (Arvicola terrestris)
Authors: Moorhouse T. P. , Gelling M. , McLaren G. W. , Mian R. , Macdonald D. W.
Published: July 2006

Re‐introductions of captive‐bred animals are increasingly common in wildlife conservation and it is important that they fulfil their potential. To foster this goal we examined variations in stress levels in a captive‐bred population of water voles Arvicola terrestris in response to housing conditions and radio‐collaring, using weight loss and leukocyte coping capacity (LCC) as measures of relative stress, to investigate the impacts of housing conditions, handling and radio‐collaring on this species. Thirty‐eight water voles (22 males and 16 females) were used in the investigation, 25 housed in outdoor enclosures and 13 in laboratory cages. During the 6‐week study, LCC, body weight and urine refractive index (URI, an indicator of hydration levels) were recorded once a week for each individual in weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6. After the first sample, radio‐collars were attached to 20 individuals (10 males and 10 females) taken from both housing types. Throughout the experiment laboratory‐cage housed voles weighed less, had lower LCC scores – indicating a reduced ability to combat infection – and had higher URIs than outdoor‐enclosure voles. This suggests that the laboratory‐cage voles were more stressed and dehydrated than the outdoor‐enclosure voles. Weights and LCC scores of both housing groups decreased as the study progressed, suggesting that elements of the study, such as repeated handling, may have caused stress to both groups. Evidence suggested a short‐term effect of radio‐collaring on immuno‐competence. We conclude that captive housing conditions, repeated manipulation and radio‐collaring had demonstrable physiological effects on the water voles studied. We recommend that the effects of husbandry and tagging practices upon captive‐bred mammals be closely studied as part of the quest to improve the success of the re‐introductions to which they contribute.
Secret lives of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus Illiger 1815): as revealed by GPS tracking collars
Authors: Bandeira de Melo L. F. , Lima Sábato M. A. , Vaz Magni E. M. , Young R. J. , Coelho C. M.
Published: July 2006

The maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus is a nocturnal and shy species, which has proven difficult to study in the field; consequently, data about its behavioural biology are almost absent from the scientific literature. However, recent advances in global positioning system (GPS) technology mean that it is now possible to study the socio‐spatial dynamics of this species in the field. In the present study three related maned wolves (an adult pair and their juvenile female offspring) were monitored by GPS tracking collars for a 6‐month period, which included the birth of a litter of pups to the adult pair. The three GPS collars were programmed to record the position of the wearer every 2 h (simultaneously for all three individuals). Analyses of the data from the three individuals showed that the female had the largest home range, then the male and finally the juvenile. Furthermore, there was considerable overlap in home‐range use by all three individuals. The home ranges of the adult pair also varied in relation to the birth of pups (decreasing dramatically and then showing a slow increase). During the night, which is the normal period of activity for this species, the three individuals avoided contact with each other. However, during the day, the adult pair usually slept together and their juvenile slept within a few hundred metres of their location. The distance travelled at night was greatest for the female, then the male and finally the juvenile. These data suggest that (1) the social bond between the male and female is strong, (2) maned wolves are highly tolerant of their juvenile offspring, even in the case of new pups being born, and (3) that maned wolves do not hunt together and, in fact, avoid each other when hunting.
Tetranucleotide microsatellite loci from eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis
Authors: FAIRCLOTH BRANT C. , KELLER GWEN P. , NAIRN C. JOSEPH , PALMER WILLIAM E. , CARROLL JOHN P. , GOWATY PATRICIA ADAIR
Published: July 2006

We describe primers and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions to amplify 18 tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci in eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis). The primers were tested using individuals from two study sites in Georgia and South Carolina. Among individuals from the Georgia population (n = 23), the primer pairs developed in this study yielded an average of 6.6 alleles per locus (range 2–12), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.56 (range 0.24–0.96) and an average polymorphic information content of 0.65 (range 0.3–0.86). Among individuals from the South Carolina population (n = 19), the primer pairs yielded an average of 5.8 alleles per locus (range 2–9), an average observed heterozygosity of 0.56 (range 0.05–0.86) and an average polymorphic information content of 0.63 (range 0.29–0.83).
Universal primers for a large cryptically simple cpDNA microsatellite region inAristolochia(Aristolochiaceae)
Authors: WANKE STEFAN , QUANDT DIETMAR , NEINHUIS CHRISTOPH
Published: July 2006

We provide a new and valuable marker to study species relationships and population genetics in order to trace evolutionary, ecological, and conservational aspects in the genusAristolochia. Universal primers for amplification and subsequent sequencing of a chloroplast microsatellite locus inside thetrnK intron are presented. Utility of the primers has been tested in 32 species representing all clades ofAristolochia, including population studies within theA. pallidacomplex,A. clusiiandA. rotunda. The microsatellite region is characterized as a (AnTm)krepeat of 22–438 bp containing a combination of different repeats arranged as ‘cryptically simple’.
hybridlab (version 1.0): a program for generating simulated hybrids from population samples
Authors: NIELSEN EINAR EG , BACH LARS ARVE , KOTLICKI PIOTR
Published: July 2006

We present the computer program hybridlab 1.0 for simulating intraspecific hybrids from population samples of nuclear genetic markers such as microsatellites, allozymes or SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). The program generates a user‐specified number of multilocus F1 hybrid genotypes between any pair of potentially hybridizing populations included in a standard input‐file of multilocus genotypes for population genetic analysis. This simple, user‐friendly program has a wide range of applications for studying natural and artificial hybridization; in particular, for evaluating the statistical power for individual assignment of parental and hybrid individuals. An example of application for Atlantic cod populations is given.
Incorporating historical museum specimens into molecular systematic and conservation genetics research
Authors: AUSTIN JEREMY J. , MELVILLE JANE
Published: July 2006

We successfully amplified mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellites from historical museum specimens of lizards and frogs dating from 1894 through to 1998. Ancient DNA techniques were used to extract whole genomic DNA from a number of different tissues, including liver, leg muscle and toe clips, followed by standard polymerase chain reaction techniques for amplification. We had a 78% success rate amplifying mtDNA from 14 museum specimens and a 57% success rate amplifying microsatellite markers for seven museum specimens. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating historical museum specimens into molecular systematic and conservation genetic studies.
Seventeen novel microsatellite markers from an enriched library of the pest species Bactrocera dorsalis sensu stricto
Authors: AKETARAWONG N. , BONIZZONI M. , MALACRIDA A. R. , GASPERI G. , THANAPHUM S.
Published: July 2006

Seventeen novel microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized from an enriched DNA library of the pest species Bactrocera dorsalis sensu stricto. The polymorphism of these loci was tested in individual fruit flies from a Thai mass‐rearing strain and three wild Asian populations: two from Thailand and one from Myanmar. Allele numbers per locus ranged from two to 15. In the natural populations, a high level of polymorphism was detected in all loci suggesting the usefulness of these markers to quantify the genetic variation in this highly invasive insect.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Elliot's pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti)
Authors: JIANG PING‐PING. , DING PING. , FANG SHENG‐GUO
Published: July 2006

We isolated eight microsatellite loci from genomic DNA in Elliot's pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti using streptavidin‐coated magnetic beads. In the analyses of 53 individuals sampled, these loci displayed polymorphism varying from six to nine alleles per locus and observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.174 to 0.430. The results suggested that these novel microsatellite markers could become useful molecular tools for genetic studies of S. ellioti.
Development of EST‐SSRs in Cucumis sativus from sequence database
Authors: KONG Q. , XIANG C. , YU Z.
Published: July 2006

Simple sequence repeat markers derived from expressed sequence tags (EST‐SSR) are potentially valuable tools for plant breeding and germplasm collection conservation, and increasingly, efforts have been made for developing this type of marker. We have identified 20 polymorphic SSR markers from cucumber ESTs deposited in public sequence database. The average allele number was 3.3 per locus, ranging from two to six alleles during screening 20 cucumber genotypes with the mean expected heterozygosity of 0.477. Amplification products were also detected by 13 pairs of primer in Cucumis melo. These informative EST‐SSR markers can be used in cucumber genetic improvement projects.
The politics of changing human geography's agenda: textbooks and the representation of increasing diversity*
Authors: Johnston Ron
Published: July 2006

A discipline's changing agenda involves the introduction of new practices which challenge those already deployed and may at least partly replace them. Historians of human geography have identified several major changes over recent decades but have been less successful in accounting for them. This paper adopts a recently‐formulated model of disciplinary change, to which it adds a missing political element. It argues for the importance of mobilizing support for a new agenda among students and other new entrants to the discipline, in which textbooks can play a substantial role. Several recently‐published texts are analysed to illustrate their use as political tools in attempts to promote particular visions of human geographical practices.
‘What do you mean?’ The importance of language in developing interdisciplinary research
Authors: Bracken L J , Oughton E A
Published: July 2006

Unity between human and physical geography continues to be debated widely. However, if geography is to take advantage of its unique positioning between the natural and social sciences, geographers need to be able to communicate more effectively and efficiently across human and physical specialisms. In this paper we focus on the significance and uses of language in interdisciplinary research practice. Interdisciplinary research faces a range of challenges in achieving effective communication between discipline‐based experts, of which language is key. This paper draws on a discussion developing the initial ideas for a research application and a field day to familiarize the group members with the study area. Dialects, metaphor and articulation are identified as three overlapping aspects of language which play an important role in developing understandings between different disciplines. These three different aspects of language are illustrated through the analysis of three situations focusing on the words dynamic, mapping and catchment. We conclude that interdisciplinary projects must allocate time to the development of shared vocabularies and understandings. Common understanding derived from shared languages in turn plays a vital role in enhancing the relations of trust that are necessary for effective interdisciplinary working.
Health Insurance Take‐up by the Near‐Elderly
Authors: Buchmueller Thomas C. , Ohri Sabina
Published: July 2006

Objective. To examine the effect of price on the demand for health insurance by early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64.

Data Source. Administrative health plan enrollment data from a medium‐sized U.S. employer.

Study Design. The analysis takes advantage of a natural experiment created by the firm's health insurance contribution policy. The amount the firm contributes toward retiree health insurance coverage depends on when a person retired and her years of service at that date. As a result of this policy, there is considerable variation in out‐of‐pocket premiums faced by individuals in the data. This variation is independent of the nonprice attributes of the health insurance plans offered and is plausibly exogenous to individual characteristics that are likely to affect the demand for insurance. A probit model is used to estimate the decision to take‐up employer‐sponsored health insurance by early retirees between the ages of 55 and 64. Demand for insurance is measured as a function of out‐of‐pocket premiums and a set of individual characteristics.

Principal Findings. We find that price has a small but statistically significant effect on the decision to take up coverage. Estimated price elasticities range from −0.10 to −0.16, depending on the sample.

Conclusions. The implied elasticities are comparable with results found in previous studies using very different data. Our estimates indicate that policy proposals for a Medicare buy‐in or a nongroup tax credit will have a modest impact on take‐up rates of near‐elderly retirees.
Racial Variation in End‐of‐Life Intensive Care Use: A Race or Hospital Effect?
Authors: Barnato Amber E. , Berhane Zekarias , Weissfeld Lisa A. , Chang Chung‐Chou H. , Linde‐Zwirble Walter T. , Angus Derek C. ,   on behalf of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ICU End‐of‐Life Peer Group
Published: July 2006

Objective. To determine if racial and ethnic variations exist in intensive care (ICU) use during terminal hospitalizations, and, if variations do exist, to determine whether they can be explained by systematic differences in hospital utilization by race/ethnicity.

Data Source. 1999 hospital discharge data from all nonfederal hospitals in Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

Design. We identified all terminal admissions (N=192,705) among adults. We calculated crude rates of ICU use among non‐Hispanic whites, blacks, Hispanics, and those with “other” race/ethnicity. We performed multivariable logistic regression on ICU use, with and without adjustment for clustering of patients within hospitals, to calculate adjusted differences in ICU use and by race/ethnicity. We explored both a random‐effects (RE) and fixed‐effect (FE) specification to adjust for hospital‐level clustering.

Data Collection. The data were collected by each state.

Principal Findings. ICU use during the terminal hospitalization was highest among nonwhites, varying from 64.4 percent among Hispanics to 57.5 percent among whites. Compared to white women, the risk‐adjusted odds of ICU use was higher for white men and for nonwhites of both sexes (odds ratios [ORs] and 95 percent confidence intervals: white men =1.16 (1.14–1.19), black men =1.35 (1.17–1.56), Hispanic men =1.52 (1.27–1.82), black women =1.31 (1.25–1.37), Hispanic women =1.53 (1.43–1.63)). Additional adjustment for within‐hospital clustering of patients using the RE model did not change the estimate for white men, but markedly attenuated observed differences for blacks (OR for men =1.12 (0.96–1.31), women =1.10 (1.03–1.17)) and Hispanics (OR for men =1.19 (1.00–1.42), women =1.18 (1.09–1.27)). Results from the FE model were similar to the RE model (OR for black men =1.10 (0.95–1.28), black women =1.07 (1.02–1.13) Hispanic men =1.17 (0.96–1.42), and Hispanic women =1.14 (1.06–1.24))

Conclusions. The majority of observed differences in terminal ICU use among blacks and Hispanics were attributable to their use of hospitals with higher ICU use rather than to racial differences in ICU use within the same hospital.
The Normative Dimension and Legal Meaning of Endangered and Recovery in the U.S. Endangered Species Act
Authors: VUCETICH JOHN A. , NELSON MICHAEL P. , PHILLIPS MICHAEL K.
Published: July 2006

Abstract:  The ethical, legal, and social significance of the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is widely appreciated. Much of the significance of the act arises from the legal definitions that the act provides for the terms threatened species and endangered species. The meanings of these terms are important because they give legal meaning to the concept of a recovered species. Unfortunately, the meanings of these terms are often misapprehended and rarely subjected to formal analysis. We analyzed the legal meaning of recovered species and illustrate key points with details from “recovery” efforts for the gray wolf (Canis lupus). We focused on interpreting the phrase “significant portion of its range,” which is part of the legal definition of endangered species. We argue that recovery and endangerment entail a fundamentally normative dimension (i.e., specifying conditions of endangerment) and a fundamentally scientific dimension (i.e., determining whether a species meets the conditions of endangerment). Specifying conditions for endangerment is largely normative because it judges risks of extinction to be either acceptable or unacceptable. Like many other laws that specify what is unacceptable, the ESA largely specifies the conditions that constitute unacceptable extinction risk. The ESA specifies unacceptable risks of extinction by defining endangered species in terms of the portion of a species' range over which a species is “in danger of extinction.” Our analysis indicated that (1) legal recovery entails much more than the scientific notion of population viability, (2) most efforts to recover endangered species are grossly inadequate, and (3) many unlisted species meet the legal definition of an endangered or threatened species.
Collaborating to Conserve Large Mammals in Southeast Asia
Authors: STEINMETZ ROBERT , CHUTIPONG WANLOP , SEUATURIEN NARET
Published: July 2006

Abstract:  Depressed mammal densities characterize the interior of many Southeast Asian protected areas, and are the result of commercial and subsistence hunting. Local people are part of this problem but can participate in solutions through improved partnerships that incorporate local knowledge into problem diagnosis. The process of involving local people helps build a constituency that is more aware of its role (positive and negative) in a protected area and generates site‐specific conservation assessments for management planning. We illustrate the practical details of initiating such a partnership through our work in a Thai wildlife sanctuary. Many protected areas in Southeast Asia present similar opportunities. In local workshops, village woodsmen were led through ranking exercises to develop a spatially explicit picture of 20‐year trends in the abundance of 31 mammal species and to compare species‐specific causes for declines. Within five taxonomic groups, leaf monkeys (primates), porcupines (rodents), tigers (large carnivores), civets (small carnivores), and elephants (ungulates) had declined most severely (37–74%). Commercial hunting contributed heavily to extensive population declines for most species, and subsistence hunting was locally significant for some small carnivores, leaf monkeys, and deer. Workshops thus clarified which species were at highest risk of local extinction, where the most threatened populations were, and causes for these patterns. Most important, they advanced a shared problem definition, thereby unlocking opportunities for collaboration. As a result, local people and sanctuary managers have increased communication, initiated joint monitoring and patrolling, and established wildlife recovery zones. Using local knowledge has limitations, but the process of engaging local people promotes collaborative action that large mammals in Southeast Asia need.
Comparison of the Cognitive Effects of Tiagabine and Carbamazepine as Monotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Adult Patients with Partial Epilepsy: Pooled Analysis of Two Long‐term, Randomized, Follow‐up Studies
Authors: Äikiä Marja , Jutila Leena , Salmenperä Tuuli , Mervaala Esa , Kälviäinen Reetta
Published: July 2006

Summary:  Purpose: Patients with epilepsy are at greater risk for cognitive impairment than are age‐ and education‐matched controls. Cognitive decline is a significant adverse event associated with many first‐generation anticonvulsant drugs (AEDs); however, the past decade has seen the introduction of several new AEDs with more‐favorable cognitive profiles. Tiagabine (TGB) is indicated as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial seizures. The cognitive effects of TGB and carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy were evaluated in adult epilepsy patients with partial seizures.

Methods: This analysis pooled data from two randomized studies with similar populations, dosing, and cognitive assessments. TGB was titrated to 20–30 mg/day and CBZ to 400–800 mg/day over a 6‐week period. A control or no‐drug group of untreated patients with a single epileptic seizure was included for comparison. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 52 weeks.

Results: Of the 105 epilepsy patients enrolled, 79 completed the 52 weeks of monotherapy (TGB, 74%; CBZ, 77%). Altogether, 19 untreated patients composed the no‐drug group. During the 52‐week follow‐up, only one statistically significant difference was found between the treatment groups and the no‐drug group [verbal fluency task: F(2, 92) = 3.16; p = 0.047]. On further analysis, it was determined that this statistical difference was solely based on the patients receiving CBZ performing worse than the control group (p = 0.048). Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found on six (26%) of 23 variables with TGB and CBZ, as well as the no‐drug group, although the variables differed between the groups. Significant worsening in the test scores was not seen in any of the study groups.

Conclusions: The results of this 52‐week, follow‐up study show that successful TGB monotherapy with 20–30 mg/day has a cognitive profile similar to that of successful long‐term CBZ monotherapy with 400–800 mg/day in newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy and to that of untreated patients with a single seizure. We observed no significant decline in cognitive scores associated with TGB monotherapy.
Valproate‐associated Coagulopathies Are Frequent and Variable in Children
Authors: Gerstner Thorsten , Teich Martin , Bell Nellie , Longin Elke , Dempfle Carl‐Erik , Brand Joachim , König Stephan
Published: July 2006

Summary:  Purpose: Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug (AED) commonly used for generalized and focal epilepsies. The clinical relevance of coagulopathies, known as side effects of VPA therapy, especially thrombocytopenia, von Willebrand disease, and a decrease of factor XIII, is still unclear.

Methods: In our institute, we noticed a high incidence of clinically relevant coagulation problems related to VPA in eight patients within 1 year only and a further seven children with significant coagulopathy were identified in the context of planned surgery.

Results: We provide an overview of these patients and all six VPA‐induced coagulopathies.

Conclusions: At this time, it cannot be recommended to control all hemostatic parameters in every patient. Whenever an increased bleeding tendency is observed, or before surgical procedures, a platelet count, thrombelastography, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, TT, fibrinogen, von Willibrand factor, and factor XIII should be examined. With 385 VPAtreated patients per year and 15 cases of coagulation disorders in this period, we estimate the incidence of coagulation disorders related to VPA in children to be nearly 4%.
The Effect of the New Antiepileptic Drug Rufinamide on Cognitive Functions
Authors: Aldenkamp Albert P. , Alpherts Willem C. J.
Published: July 2006

Summary:  Purpose: Rufinamide (RUF 331; 1‐(2,6‐difluoro‐phenyl)methyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐carboxamide) is a structurally novel compound that limits the frequency of sodium‐dependent neuronal action potentials. So far no data have been published on the cognitive effects of RUF, except for two animal studies.

Methods: The study used a multicenter, multinational double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled parallel‐study design with four different doses of RUF (based on prior studies): 200 mg/day, 400 mg/day, 800 mg/day, and 1,600 mg/day as add‐on to the existing medication. All patients had partial seizures, in the age range of 15–64 years (with an average of 37.5 years). Cognitive assessments were performed at baseline (before the start with RUF treatment) and at end point (after 3 months of treatment).

Results: In total, 189 patients were included, divided over the treatment groups: placebo (n = 41), 200 mg/day (n = 33), 400 mg/day (n = 38), 800 mg/day (n = 37), and 1,600 mg/day (n = 40). The most important finding is that for none of the cognitive tests did a statistically significant worsening occur for any of the doses of RUF when the period after 12 weeks of treatment was compared with the baseline before introducing RUF. Also none of the comparisons between dose and placebo showed a statistically significant difference.

Conclusions: RUF is a new AED with no serious cognitive effects even in add‐on treatment and even in the higher dose ranges.
Pilot Study of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) for Epilepsy: A Proof‐of‐Concept Trial
Authors: DeGiorgio Christopher M. , Shewmon Alan , Murray Diane , Whitehurst Todd
Published: July 2006

Summary:  The safety and preliminary efficacy of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) for epilepsy was evaluated in a pilot feasibility study of transcutaneous stimulation of the infraorbital and supraorbital branches of the trigeminal nerve. TNS was well tolerated. Four (57%) of seven subjects who completed ≥3 months experienced a ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency. The results of this pilot study support further investigation into the safety and efficacy of TNS for epilepsy.
Epilepsy Care in the World: Results of an ILAE/IBE/WHO Global Campaign Against Epilepsy Survey
Authors: Dua Tarun , De Boer Hanneke M. , Prilipko Leonid L. , Saxena Shekhar
Published: July 2006

Summary:  Purpose: Information about existing resources available within the countries to tackle the huge medical, social, and economic burden caused by epilepsy is lacking. To fill this information gap, a survey of country resources available for epilepsy care was conducted within the framework of the ILAE/IBE/WHO Global Campaign Against Epilepsy.

Methods: The study represents a major collaborative effort involving the World Health Organization (WHO), the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE).

Results: Data were collected from 160 countries representing 97.5% of the world population. The information included availability, role, and involvement of professional and patient associations for epilepsy, epilepsy treatment and services including antiepileptic drugs, human resources involved in epilepsy care, teaching in epileptology, disability benefits, and problems encountered by people with epilepsy and health professionals involved in epilepsy care. The data confirm that epilepsy care is grossly inadequate compared with the needs in most countries. In addition, large inequities exist across regions and income groups of countries, with low‐income countries having extremely meager resources. Complete results of this survey can be found in the Atlas: Epilepsy Care in the World.

Conclusions: The data reinforce the need for urgent, substantial, and systematic action to enhance resources for epilepsy care, especially in low‐income countries.
Risk of Aplastic Anemia in Patients Using Antiepileptic Drugs
Authors: Handoko Kim B. , Souverein Patrick C. , Van Staa Tjeerd P. , Meyboom Ronald H. B. , Leufkens Hubert G. M. , Egberts Toine C. G. , Van Den Bemt Patricia M. L. A.
Published: July 2006

Summary:  Purpose: To assess the association between exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the occurrence of aplastic anemia.

Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted using data from the U.K. General Practitioners Research Database (GPRD). Cases were defined as patients diagnosed with aplastic anemia. For each case, up to three control patients were matched on age, sex, and medical practice. Cases and controls were compared with respect to AED use. The effects of duration of AED use were assessed. Characteristics of individual cases with AED use were reviewed.

Results: The study population comprised 173 cases and 497 controls. AED use was more prevalent among cases (9.2%) than among controls (0.8%). After adjustment for confounders, the use of AEDs was significantly associated with aplastic anemia (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 9.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.0–39.7). The most frequently used AEDs were carbamazepine (CBZ), valproic acid (VPA), and phenytoin. The 16 exposed cases were heterogeneous with respect to patient and exposure characteristics: the age of these patients varied from 1 to 92 years, and the duration of AED use varied from 17 days to 6.8 years.

Conclusions: This study indicates that use of AEDs, in particular CBZ and VPA, is associated with a ninefold increased risk of aplastic anemia. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of AED‐associated aplastic anemia.
Uncertainty Reduction Approaches, Uncertainty Coping Approaches, and Process Performance in Financial Services
Authors: Field Joy M. , Ritzman Larry P. , Safizadeh M. Hossein , Downing Charles E.
Published: July 2006

Developing a better understanding of the impact of uncertainty on process performance has been recognized as an important research opportunity in service design (Hill, et al., 2002). Within this general research stream, our study focuses on the question of what managers can do to most effectively address operational uncertainty and mitigate its negative effects. To begin to address this question, we report on an exploratory study using a sample of professionals in the financial‐services industry who acted as informants on 108 financial‐services processes. These professionals were sampled from a population of graduates of a university in the northeastern region of the United States who were employed in the financial‐services industry. Based on these processes, we empirically examine the relationship between responses to operational uncertainty and process performance after controlling for customer mix, other uncertainty sources, and process type characteristics. Our findings suggest that process improvement—an uncertainty reduction approach related to the internal functioning of the process—as well as several uncertainty coping approaches are associated with better performing processes. However, uncertainty reduction approaches related to customer involvement with, and demands on, the process are not associated with better performing processes. We discuss the implications of our findings for determining what actions managers can take to reduce the negative performance effects of operational uncertainty and how managers can decide which of these actions to take. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations of our study.