bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of general practices with a participatory pay-for-performance program: a qualitative study in primary care
Authors: Kirschner Kirsten , Braspenning Jozé , Jacobs J. E. Annelies , Grol Richard
Published: May 2013

The involvement of target users in the design choices of a pay-for-performance program may enhance its impact, but little is known about the views of participants in these programs. To explore general practices’ experiences with pay-for-performance in primary care we conducted a qualitative study in general practices in the Netherlands. Thirty out of 65 general practices participating in a pay-for-performance program, stratified for bonus, were invited for a semistructured interview on feasibility, feedback and the bonus, spending of the bonus, unintended consequences, and future developments. Content analysis was used to process the resulting transcripts. We included 29 practices. The feasibility of the pay-for-performance program was questioned due to the substantial time investment. The feedback on clinical care, practice management and patient experience was mostly discussed in the team, and used for improvement plans, but was also qualified as annoying for one GP and for another GP it brought feelings of insecurity. Most practices considered the bonus a stimulus to improve quality of care, in addition to compensation for their effort and time invested. Distinctive performance features were not displayed, for instance, on a website. The bonus was mainly spent on new equipment or team building. Practices referred to gaming and focusing on those aspects that were incentivised (‘tunnel vision’) as unintended consequences. Future developments should be directed to absolute thresholds, new indicators to keep the process going, and an independent audit. Linking a part of the bonus to innovation was also suggested. The participants thought the pay-for-performance program was a labour-intensive positive breakthrough to stimulate quality improvement, but warned of unintended consequences of the program and the sustainability of the indicator set.
Multimorbidity is associated with higher out-of-pocket spending: a study of older Australians with multiple chronic conditions
Authors: McRae Ian , Yen Laurann , Jeon Yun-Hee , Herath Pushpani M. , Essue Beverley
Published: May 2013

Most older Australians have at least one chronic health condition. The management of chronic disease is associated with potentially severe economic consequences for patients and their households, partially due to the financial burden associated with out-of-pocket costs for medical and health-related care. A questionnaire was mailed to a cross-sectional sample of older Australians in mid-2009, with 4574 responding. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to investigate the relationships between multimorbidity and out-of-pocket spending on medical and health-related expenses, including the factors associated with severe financial stress among older Australians. We found a positive relationship between number of chronic conditions and out-of-pocket spending on health and that people with multiple chronic conditions tend to be on lower incomes. People with five or more chronic conditions spent on average five times as much on their health as those with no diagnosed chronic conditions and each additional chronic disease added 46% to the likelihood of a person facing a severe financial burden due to health costs.
While health policy may minimise out-of-pocket spending for individual conditions, costs compound rapidly for patients with multiple conditions and this burden falls most heavily on those with the lowest incomes.
Safety climate in the US federal wildland fire management community: influences of organisational, environmental, group and individual characteristics
Authors: Black Anne E. , Baldauf McBride Brooke
Published: May 2013

This study examined the effects of organisational, environmental, group and individual characteristics on five components of safety climate (High Reliability Organising Practices, Leadership, Group Culture, Learning Orientation and Mission Clarity) in the US federal wildland fire management community. Of particular interest were differences between perceptions based on respondents’ Incident Position. Those in supervisory positions at the ground level (Type 1 Firefighters) and those at the top (Incident Commanders and operational leads) scored significantly higher than did mid-level supervisors (Single Resource, Division Supervisors, Task Force and Strike Team Leads). This was particularly the case for High Reliability Organising Practices, which measure the degree of communication among and between units, and Group Culture, which measures the tightness of a group and the degree of psychological safety felt by members. Both components directly affect the amount and type of information flowing within and between incident units. That the critical middle links in incident organisation perceive these essential safety-related functions to be significantly lower than do individuals at other levels provides a startling empirical insight into, and powerful leverage for further improving, incident operations and resulting safety outcomes.
Classification of quaternionic hyperbolic isometries
Authors: Gongopadhyay Krishnendu , Parsad Shiv
Published: May 2013

LetF\mathbb {F}denote either the complex numbersC\mathbb {C}or the quaternionsH\mathbb {H}. LetHFn\mathbf {H}_{\mathbb {F}}^ndenote thenn-dimensional hyperbolic space overF\mathbb {F}. We obtain algebraic criteria to classify the isometries ofHFn\mathbf {H}_{\mathbb {F}}^n. This generalizes the work in Geom. Dedicata157(2012), 23–39 and Proc. Amer. Math. Soc.141(2013), 1017–1027, to isometries of arbitrary dimensional quaternionic hyperbolic space. As a corollary, a characterization of isometries ofHCn\mathbf {H}_{\mathbb {C}}^nis also obtained.
Molecular biological and isotopic biogeochemical prognoses of the nitrification‐driven dynamic microbial nitrogen cycle in hadopelagic sediments
Authors: Nunoura Takuro , Nishizawa Manabu , Kikuchi Tohru , Tsubouchi Taishi , Hirai Miho , Koide Osamu , Miyazaki Junichi , Hirayama Hisako , Koba Keisuke , Takai Ken
Published: May 2013

There has been much progress in understanding the nitrogen cycle in oceanic waters including the recent identification of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea and anaerobic ammonia oxidizing (anammox) bacteria, and in the comprehensive estimation in abundance and activity of these microbial populations. However, compared with the nitrogen cycle in oceanic waters, there are fewer studies concerning the oceanic benthic nitrogen cycle. To further elucidate the dynamic nitrogen cycle in deep‐sea sediments, a sediment core obtained from the Ogasawara Trench at a water depth of 9760 m was analysed in this study. The profiles obtained for the pore‐water chemistry, and nitrogen and oxygen stable isotopic compositions of pore‐water nitrate in the hadopelagic sediments could not be explained by the depth segregation of nitrifiers and nitrate reducers, suggesting the co‐occurrence of nitrification and nitrate reduction in the shallowest nitrate reduction zone. The abundance of SSU rRNA and functional genes related to nitrification and denitrification are consistent with the co‐occurrence of nitrification and nitrate reduction observed in the geochemical analyses. This study presents the first example of cooperation between aerobic and anaerobic nitrogen metabolism in the deep‐sea sedimentary environments.
Effects of chlorhexidine on bonding durability of different adhesive systems using a novel thermocycling method
Authors: Deng D , Huang X , Huang C , Yang T , Du X , Wang Y , Ouyang X , Pei D
Published: May 2013

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of chlorhexidine on the bonding durability of etch‐and‐rinse and self‐etch adhesive systems using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermocycling method.

Methods

Twenty freshly extracted intact human third molars were ground and bonded with either an etch‐and‐rinse adhesive (Single‐Bond) or a self‐etch adhesive (G‐Bond). Specimens were either left untouched or placed in PCR tubes filled with three thermocycling mediums: water, chlorhexidine or silicone oil. Thermocycling (5000 cycles) was done using the PCR programme at temperatures of 5 °C and 55 °C. The microtensile bond strength (μTBS) was evaluated and interfacial nanoleakage was assessed by scanning electron microscopy before and after thermocycling.

Results

Significant differences were detected among groups kept in different media after thermocycling. For Single‐Bond, both the chlorhexidine and silicone oil groups could preserve the μTBS (p < 0.001). For G‐Bond, μTBS of the chlorhexidine and water groups were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). No obvious increase in silver deposition was observed in specimens incubated in water after thermocycling, less silver penetration was found in specimens incubated in chlorhexidine.

Conclusions

In this experimental model, chlorhexidine was found to preserve bonding durability in Single‐Bond but have no significant effects on G‐Bond.
Hypersensitivity and desensitization to antineoplastic agents: outcomes of 189 procedures with a new short protocol and novel diagnostic tools assessment
Authors: Madrigal‐Burgaleta R. , Berges‐Gimeno M. P. , Angel‐Pereira D. , Ferreiro‐Monteagudo R. , Guillen‐Ponce C. , Pueyo C. , Gomez de Salazar E. , Alvarez‐Cuesta E.
Published: May 2013

Background

Desensitization to antineoplastic agents is becoming a standard of care. Efforts to establish and improve these techniques are being made at many institutions. Our aims are to evaluate a new rapid desensitization protocol designed to be shorter (approximately 4 h) and safer (reducing hazardous drugs exposure risks) and to assess the oxaliplatin‐specific immunoglobulinE(IgE) as a novel diagnostic tool.

Methods

Prospective, observational, longitudinal study with patients who, for a 1‐year period, suffered reactions to antineoplastic agents and were referred to theDesensitizationProgram atRamon yCajalUniversityHospital (RCUH). Patients were included or excluded as desensitization candidates after anamnesis, skin testing, risk assessment, and graded challenge. SpecificIgEwas determined in oxaliplatin‐reactive patients. Candidate patients were desensitized using the newRCUHrapid desensitization protocol.

Results

Of 189 intravenous rapid desensitizations, 188 were successfully accomplished in the 23 patients who met inclusion criteria for desensitization (of 58 referred patients). No breakthrough reactions occurred in 94% of desensitizations, and most breakthrough reactions were mild. In 10 oxaliplatin‐reactive patients, 38 desensitizations were successfully accomplished. Sensitivity for oxaliplatin‐specificIgEwas 38% (0.35UI/l cutoff point) and 54% (0.10UI/l cutoff point); specificity was 100% for both cutoff points.

Conclusions

In the hands of aDesensitizationProgram, managed by drug desensitization experts, this new protocol has proven an effective therapeutic tool for hypersensitivity to several antineoplastic agents (oxaliplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab); moreover, it improves safety handling of hazardous drugs. We report the first large series of oxaliplatin desensitizations.Oxaliplatin‐specificIgEdetermination could be helpful.
Correlation of selection scores with subsequent assessment scores during surgical training
Authors: Oldfield Zaita , Beasley Spencer W. , Smith Julian , Anthony Adrian , Watt Anthony
Published: May 2013

Background

Determining admission criteria to select candidates most likely to succeed in surgical training in Australia and New Zealand has been an imprecise art with little empirical evidence informing decisions. Selection to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Surgical Education and Training programme is based entirely on applicants' performance in structured curriculum vitae (CV), referees' reports and interviews. This retrospective review compared General Surgery (GS) trainees' performance in selection with subsequent performance in assessments during training.

Methods

Data from three cohorts of GS trainees were sourced. Scores for four selection items were compared with scores from six training assessments. Interrelationships within each of the sets of selection and assessment variables were determined.

Results

A single significant relationship was found between scores on the three selection tools. High scores in the CV did not correlate with higher scores in any subsequent assessments. The structured referee report score, multi‐station interview score and total selection score all correlated with performance in subsequent work‐based assessments and examinations. Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) scores appear to reflect increasing acquisition of operative skills. Performance in mini clinical examinations (Mini‐CEX) was variable, perhaps reflecting limitations of this assessment. Candidates who perform well in one examination tend to perform well in all three examinations.

Conclusions

No selection tool demonstrated strong relationships with scores in all subsequent assessments; however referee reports, multi‐station interviews and total selection scores are indicators for performance in particular assessments. This may engender confidence that candidates admitted into the GS training programme are likely to progress successfully through the programme.
Prefabrication of a Vascularized Bone Graft With Beta Tricalcium Phosphate Using an In Vivo Bioreactor
Authors: Han Dong , Dai Kerong
Published: May 2013

We aimed to introduce an in vivo bioreactor‐vascular pedicle threaded through the central portion of a scaffold in which a vascularized bone graft was prefabricated using adenoviral human BMP‐2 gene (AdBMP2)‐modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), beta tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), a vessel bundle, and muscularis membrane(group A). As controls, Adβgal‐BMSCs/β‐TCP granules, vessel bundle, and the muscularis membrane (group B); BMSCs/β‐TCP granules, vessel bundle, and muscularis membrane (group C); and β‐TCP granules, vessel bundle, and muscularis membrane (group D) were prepared. Formation of bone tissue and a vascular network was assessed by microangiography and histological methods 4 weeks after prefabrication. New cartilage and bone tissue in the space between β‐TCP granules (mainly endochondral bone) were confirmed by histology, and a de novo vascular network circulating from the vessel bundle through newly formed bone tissue was observed in group A. Formation of bone or cartilage was not observed in the control groups. We concluded that the in vivo bioreactor is a promising method for prefabrication of vascularized functional bone.
WDR45 mutations define a novel disease entity—Static Encephalopathy of Childhood with Neurodegeneration in Adulthood
Authors: Aminkeng F
Published: May 2013

De novo mutations in the autophagy gene encoding WDR45 cause static encephalopathy of childhood with neurodegeneration in adulthood

Saitsu et al. (2013)

Nature Genetics 45(4): 445–449
Material Editing in Complex Scenes by Surface Light Field Manipulation and Reflectance Optimization
Authors: Nguyen Chuong H. , Scherzer Daniel , Ritschel Tobias , Seidel Hans‐Peter
Published: May 2013

This work addresses the challenge of intuitive appearance editing in scenes with complex geometric layout and complex, spatially‐varying indirect lighting. In contrast to previous work, that aimed to edit surface reflectance, our system allows a user to freely manipulate the surface light field. It then finds the best surface reflectance that “explains” the surface light field manipulation. Instead of classic L2 fitting of reflectance to a combination of incoming and exitant illumination, our system infers a sparse L0 change of shading parameters instead. Consequently, our system does not require “diffuse” or “glossiness” brushes or any such understanding of the underlying reflectance parametrization. Instead, it infers reflectance changes from scribbles made by a single simple color brush tool alone: Drawing a highlight will increase Phong specular; blurring a mirror reflection will decrease glossiness; etc. A sparse‐solver framework operating on a novel point‐based, pre‐convolved lighting representation in combination with screen‐space edit upsampling allows to perform editing interactively on a GPU.
Stroke Parameterization
Authors: Schmidt R.
Published: May 2013

We present a novel algorithm for generating a planar parameterization of the region surrounding a curve embedded in a 3D surface, which we call a stroke parameterization. The technique, which extends the well‐known Discrete Exponential Map [SGW06], uses the same basic geometric transformations and hence is both efficient and easy‐to‐implement. We also handle self‐intersecting curves, for which a 1–1 map between the original surface and the plane is not possible. Stroke parameterizations provide an ideal coordinate space for solving a variety of computer graphics problems. We present applications including tiling texture and displacement along 3D brush strokes, procedural texturing along 3D paths, and user‐guided crease extraction.
Pose Space Image Based Rendering
Authors: Hilsmann A. , Fechteler P. , Eisert P.
Published: May 2013

This paper introduces a new image‐based rendering approach for articulated objects with complex pose‐dependent appearance, such as clothes. Our approach combines body‐pose‐dependent appearance and geometry to synthesize images of new poses from a database of examples. A geometric model allows animation and view interpolation, while small details as well as complex shading and reflection properties are modeled by pose‐dependent appearance examples in a database. Correspondences between the images are represented as mesh‐based warps, both in the spatial and intensity domain. For rendering, these warps are interpolated in pose space, i.e. the space of body poses, using scattered data interpolation methods. Warp estimation as well as geometry reconstruction is performed in an offline procedure, thus shifting computational complexity to an a‐priori training phase.
Computing and Fabricating Multiplanar Models
Authors: Chen Desai , Sitthi‐amorn Pitchaya , Lan Justin T. , Matusik Wojciech
Published: May 2013

We present a method for converting computer 3D models into physical equivalents. More specifically, we address the problem of approximating a 3D textured mesh using a small number of planar polygonal primitives that form a closed surface. This simplified representation allows us to easily manufacture individual components using computer controlled cutters (e.g., laser cutters or CNC machines). These polygonal pieces can be assembled into the final 3D model using internal planar connectors that are manufactured simultaneously. Our shape approximation algorithm iteratively assigns mesh faces to planar segments and slowly deforms these faces towards corresponding segments. This approach ensures that the output for a given closed mesh is still a closed mesh and avoids introducing self‐intersections. After this step we also compute the shape of polygonal connectors that internally hold the whole mesh surface. Both the polygonal surface elements and connectors can be manufactured in a single cutting pass. We validate the use of our method by computing and manufacturing a variety of textured polyhedral models.
Measurement‐Based Synthesis of Facial Microgeometry
Authors: Graham Paul , Tunwattanapong Borom , Busch Jay , Yu Xueming , Jones Andrew , Debevec Paul , Ghosh Abhijeet
Published: May 2013

We present a technique for generating microstructure‐level facial geometry by augmenting a mesostructure‐level facial scan with detail synthesized from a set of exemplar skin patches scanned at much higher resolution. Additionally, we make point‐source reflectance measurements of the skin patches to characterize the specular reflectance lobes at this smaller scale and analyze facial reflectance variation at both the mesostructure and microstructure scales. We digitize the exemplar patches with a polarization‐based computational illumination technique which considers specular reflection and single scattering. The recorded microstructure patches can be used to synthesize full‐facial microstructure detail for either the same subject or to a different subject. We show that the technique allows for greater realism in facial renderings including more accurate reproduction of skin's specular reflection effects.
A Novel Projection Technique with Detail Capture and Shape Correction for Smoke Simulation
Authors: Wu Xiaoyue , Yang Xubo , Yang Yang
Published: May 2013

Smoke simulation on a large grid is quite time consuming and most of the computation time is spent on the projection step. We present a novel projection method which produces quite similar visual results as those produced with the traditional projection method, but uses much less computation time. Our method includes two steps: detail‐capture and shape‐correction. The first step preserves most of the smoke details using an efficient DST (Discrete Sine Transformation) Poisson Solver with auxiliary boundary sweeping. The second step maintains the overall flow shape by solving a correcting Poisson equation on a coarse grid. Our algorithm is very fast and quite easy to implement. Experiments show that our projection is approximately 10–30 times faster than the traditional projection with PCG(Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient), while convincingly preserving both the flow details and the overall shape of the smoke.
Landmark‐Guided Elastic Shape Analysis of Spherically‐Parameterized Surfaces
Authors: Kurtek Sebastian , Srivastava Anuj , Klassen Eric , Laga Hamid
Published: May 2013

We argue that full surface correspondence (registration) and optimal deformations (geodesics) are two related problems and propose a framework that solves them simultaneously. We build on the Riemannian shape analysis of anatomical and star‐shaped surfaces of Kurtek et al. and focus on articulated complex shapes that undergo elastic deformations and that may contain missing parts. Our core contribution is the re‐formulation of Kurtek et al.'s approach as a constrained optimization over all possible re‐parameterizations of the surfaces, using a sparse set of corresponding landmarks. We introduce a landmark‐constrained basis, which we use to numerically solve this optimization and therefore establish full surface registration and geodesic deformation between two surfaces. The length of the geodesic provides a measure of dissimilarity between surfaces. The advantages of this approach are: (1) simultaneous computation of full correspondence and geodesic between two surfaces, given a sparse set of matching landmarks (2) ability to handle more comprehensive deformations than nearly isometric, and (3) the geodesics and the geodesic lengths can be further used for symmetrizing 3D shapes and for computing their statistical averages. We validate the framework on challenging cases of large isometric and elastic deformations, and on surfaces with missing parts. We also provide multiple examples of averaging and symmetrizing 3D models.
Testing Decision Rules for Categorizing Species’ Extinction Risk to Help Develop Quantitative Listing Criteria for the U.S. Endangered Species Act
Authors: REGAN TRACEY J. , TAYLOR BARBARA L. , THOMPSON GRANT G. , COCHRANE JEAN FITTS , RALLS KATHERINE , RUNGE MICHAEL C. , MERRICK RICHARD
Published: May 2013

Lack of guidance for interpreting the definitions of endangered and threatened in the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) has resulted in case‐by‐case decision making leaving the process vulnerable to being considered arbitrary or capricious. Adopting quantitative decision rules would remedy this but requires the agency to specify the relative urgency concerning extinction events over time, cutoff risk values corresponding to different levels of protection, and the importance given to different types of listing errors. We tested the performance of 3 sets of decision rules that use alternative functions for weighting the relative urgency of future extinction events: a threshold rule set, which uses a decision rule of x% probability of extinction over y years; a concave rule set, where the relative importance of future extinction events declines exponentially over time; and a shoulder rule set that uses a sigmoid shape function, where relative importance declines slowly at first and then more rapidly. We obtained decision cutoffs by interviewing several biologists and then emulated the listing process with simulations that covered a range of extinction risks typical of ESA listing decisions. We evaluated performance of the decision rules under different data quantities and qualities on the basis of the relative importance of misclassification errors. Although there was little difference between the performance of alternative decision rules for correct listings, the distribution of misclassifications differed depending on the function used. Misclassifications for the threshold and concave listing criteria resulted in more overprotection errors, particularly as uncertainty increased, whereas errors for the shoulder listing criteria were more symmetrical. We developed and tested the framework for quantitative decision rules for listing species under the U.S. ESA. If policy values can be agreed on, use of this framework would improve the implementation of the ESA by increasing transparency and consistency.

Evaluando Reglas de Decisión para Categorizar el Riesgo de Extinción de Especies con el Fin de Desarrollar de Criterios Cuantitativos de Alistamiento en el Acta de Especies en Peligro de los EE. UU.
Virtual Garden Computer Program for use in Exploring the Elements of Biodiversity People Want in Cities
Authors: SHWARTZ ASSAF , CHEVAL HELENE , SIMON LAURENT , JULLIARD ROMAIN
Published: May 2013

Urban ecology is emerging as an integrative science that explores the interactions of people and biodiversity in cities. Interdisciplinary research requires the creation of new tools that allow the investigation of relations between people and biodiversity. It has been established that access to green spaces or nature benefits city dwellers, but the role of species diversity in providing psychological benefits remains poorly studied. We developed a user‐friendly 3‐dimensional computer program (Virtual Garden [www.tinyurl.com/3DVirtualGarden]) that allows people to design their own public or private green spaces with 95 biotic and abiotic features. Virtual Garden allows researchers to explore what elements of biodiversity people would like to have in their nearby green spaces while accounting for other functions that people value in urban green spaces. In 2011, 732 participants used our Virtual Garden program to design their ideal small public garden. On average gardens contained 5 different animals, 8 flowers, and 5 woody plant species. Although the mathematical distribution of flower and woody plant richness (i.e., number of species per garden) appeared to be similar to what would be expected by random selection of features, 30% of participants did not place any animal species in their gardens. Among those who placed animals in their gardens, 94% selected colorful species (e.g., ladybug [Coccinella septempunctata], Great Tit [Parus major], and goldfish), 53% selected herptiles or large mammals, and 67% selected non‐native species. Older participants with a higher level of education and participants with a greater concern for nature designed gardens with relatively higher species richness and more native species. If cities are to be planned for the mutual benefit of people and biodiversity and to provide people meaningful experiences with urban nature, it is important to investigate people's relations with biodiversity further. Virtual Garden offers a standardized tool with which to explore these relations in different environments, cultures, and countries. It can also be used by stakeholders (e.g., city planners) to consider people's opinions of local design.

Programa de Computadora de Jardín Virtual para Uso en la Exploración de los Elementos de Biodiversidad que la Gente Desea en las Ciudades
Effect of Planning for Connectivity on Linear Reserve Networks
Authors: LENTINI PIA E. , GIBBONS PHILIP , CARWARDINE JOSIE , FISCHER JOERN , DRIELSMA MICHAEL , MARTIN TARA G.
Published: May 2013

Although the concept of connectivity is decades old, it remains poorly understood and defined, and some argue that habitat quality and area should take precedence in conservation planning instead. However, fragmented landscapes are often characterized by linear features that are inherently connected, such as streams and hedgerows. For these, both representation and connectivity targets may be met with little effect on the cost, area, or quality of the reserve network. We assessed how connectivity approaches affect planning outcomes for linear habitat networks by using the stock‐route network of Australia as a case study. With the objective of representing vegetation communities across the network at a minimal cost, we ran scenarios with a range of representation targets (10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) and used 3 approaches to account for connectivity (boundary length modifier, Euclidean distance, and landscape‐value [LV]). We found that decisions regarding the target and connectivity approach used affected the spatial allocation of reserve systems. At targets ≥50%, networks designed with the Euclidean distance and LV approaches consisted of a greater number of small reserves. Hence, by maximizing both representation and connectivity, these networks compromised on larger contiguous areas. However, targets this high are rarely used in real‐world conservation planning. Approaches for incorporating connectivity into the planning of linear reserve networks that account for both the spatial arrangement of reserves and the characteristics of the intervening matrix highlight important sections that link the landscape and that may otherwise be overlooked.

El Efecto de la Planeación para la Conectividad en Redes de Reservas Lineales
Use of Experimental Translocations of Allegheny Woodrat to Decipher Causal Agents of Decline
Authors: SMYSER TIMOTHY J. , JOHNSON SCOTT A. , PAGE L. KRISTEN , HUDSON CASSIE M. , RHODES OLIN E.
Published: May 2013

Translocations are an important tool for wildlife conservation, although progress in the field of reintroduction biology has been hindered by the ad hoc and opportunistic nature of many translocations. We used an experimental translocation to elucidate the role of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) and inbreeding depression in the decline of the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister), an endangered species. We translocated woodrats from genetically diverse populations in the core of the species range to 4 previously occupied sites (reintroductions) and 2 sites supporting genetically depauperate populations (reinforcements) in Indiana (U.S.A.). In 2 reintroduction sites and 1 reinforcement site, we distributed anthelmintic baits to passively deworm raccoons and reduce the risk of woodrat exposure to roundworms. The remaining sites served as controls. We used raccoon latrine surveys and fecal flotation to monitor temporal variability in roundworm prevalence and effect of treatment. We used live trapping and microsatellite genotyping to monitor the demographic and genetic response of translocated populations over the following 54 months. At the conclusion of the study, 4 of 6 translocations were successfully maintaining abundance through local recruitment. The distribution of anthelmintic baits reduced levels of roundworm contamination, but levels of contamination were also low in 2 of 3 control sites. Reintroductions failed at control sites, one of which was due to high roundworm exposure. The other failed control reintroduction was likely attributable to demographic stochasticity and limited reproductive potential following initial mortality within the first 4 months. In both control and treatment reinforcements, increases in both allelic richness and heterozygosity were accompanied by increases in abundance, which is suggestive of genetic rescue. Our results demonstrate that mitigation of roundworm exposure through the distribution of anthelmintic baits can facilitate woodrat recovery and that diversity within genetically depauperate populations can be restored through the introduction of a limited number of individuals.

El Uso de Reubicaciones Experimentales de Neotoma magister para Descifrar Agentes Causales de Disminución
Attitudes of regular injecting drug users towards the legal status of the major illicit drugs
Authors: Darke Shane , Torok Michelle
Published: May 2013

Introduction and Aims

The study aimed to determine injecting drug users' (IDU) attitudes, and correlates of attitudes, towards continued prohibition, decriminalisation or legalisation of the major illicit drugs.

Design and Methods

This study used structured interview with 300 IDUs who had injected on at least a weekly basis over the preceding 12 months.

Results

Methamphetamine was rated the most harmful of the five illicit substances and cannabis the lowest. By far the highest level of support for legislative change was for cannabis, with only 8.7% supporting continued prohibition. While there was majority support for change to the legal status of heroin, the modal position was for decriminalisation. Support for changing the status of the three illicit psychostimulants was low, with the majority believing that methamphetamine (63.3%), cocaine (53.3%) and 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐methylamphetamine (53.3%) should remain illegal. Demographic characteristics were largely unrelated to attitudes. Lower levels of perceived harm were associated with increased likelihood of support for legalisation of all substances. Recent use was positively related to support for both decriminalisation and legality of heroin, but was not associated with views on other substances. Higher lifetime polydrug use was associated with support for the legalisation of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐methylamphetamine.

Discussion and Conclusions

IDUs expressed nuanced views on different substances. In policy debates, care should be taken not to speak for IDUs by imputing their beliefs. It is clear that the fact that a group uses illegal drugs does not necessarily imply that they support changes to their legal status. [Darke S, Torok M. Attitudes of regular injecting drug users towards the legal status of the major illicit drugs. Drug Alcohol Rev 2013;32:483–488]
A comparison of methods to identify alcohol involvement in youth injury‐related emergency department presentation data
Authors: Vallmuur Kirsten , Limbong Jesani , Barker Ruth , Hides Leanne
Published: May 2013

Introduction and Aims

The study aims to compare methods for identifying alcohol involvement in injury‐related emergency department (ED) presentation in Queensland youth, and explore alcohol terminology used in triage text.

Design and Methods

ED Information System data were provided for patients aged 12–24 years with an injury‐related diagnosis code for a 5‐year period 2006–2010 presenting to a Queensland ED (n = 348 895). Three approaches were used to estimate alcohol involvement: (i) analysis of coded data; (ii) mining of triage text; and (iii) estimation using an adaptation of alcohol attributable fractions.

Results

Around 6.4% of these injury presentations overall had some documentation of alcohol involvement, with higher proportions of alcohol involvement documented for 18 to 24‐year‐olds, females, indigenous youth, where presentations occurred on a Saturday or Sunday, and where presentations occurred between midnight and 5 am. The most common alcohol terms identified for all subgroups were generic alcohol terms (e.g. ethanol or alcohol), with almost half of the cases where alcohol involvement was documented having a generic alcohol term recorded in the triage text.

Discussion and Conclusions

ED data are useful sources of information for identification of high‐risk sub‐groups to target intervention opportunities, though it is not a reliable source of data for incidence or trend estimation in its current unstandardised form. Improving the accuracy and consistency of identification, documenting and coding of alcohol involvement at the point of data capture in the ED is the most desirable long‐term approach to produce a more solid evidence base to support policy and practice in this field. [Vallmuur K, Limbong J, Barker R, Hides L. A comparison of methods to identify alcohol involvement in youth injury‐related emergency department presentation data. Drug Alcohol Rev 2013;32:519–526]
Practical solutions for making models indispensable in conservation decision‐making
Authors: Addison Prue F. E. , Rumpff Libby , Bau S. Sana , Carey Janet M. , Chee Yung En , Jarrad Frith C. , McBride Marissa F. , Burgman Mark A.
Published: May 2013

Aim

Decision‐making for conservation management often involves evaluating risks in the face of environmental uncertainty. Models support decision‐making by (1) synthesizing available knowledge in a systematic, rational and transparent way and (2) providing a platform for exploring and resolving uncertainty about the consequences of management decisions. Despite their benefits, models are still not used in many conservation decision‐making contexts. In this article, we provide evidence of common objections to the use of models in environmental decision‐making. In response, we present a series of practical solutions for modellers to help improve the effectiveness and relevance of their work in conservation decision‐making.

Location

Global review.

Methods

We reviewed scientific and grey literature for evidence of common objections to the use of models in conservation decision‐making. We present a set of practical solutions based on theory, empirical evidence and best‐practice examples to help modellers substantively address these objections.

Results

We recommend using a structured decision‐making framework to guide good modelling practice in decision‐making and highlight a variety of modelling techniques that can be used to support the process. We emphasize the importance of participatory decision‐making to improve the knowledge‐base and social acceptance of decisions and to facilitate better conservation outcomes. Improving communication and building trust are key to successfully engaging participants, and we suggest some practical solutions to help modellers develop these skills.

Main conclusions

If implemented, we believe these practical solutions could help broaden the use of models, forging deeper and more appropriate linkages between science and management for the improvement of conservation decision‐making.
Using internet intelligence to manage biosecurity risks: a case study for aquatic animal health
Authors: Lyon Aidan , Grossel Geoff , Burgman Mark , Nunn Mike
Published: May 2013

Aim

AquaticHealth.net is an open‐source aquatic biosecurity intelligence gathering and analysis application. The system collects information in much the same way as other similar systems (e.g. HealthMap, BioCaster). However, the information collected undergoes minimal automated analysis, and analysis is largely left to AquaticHealth.net's users. The result is an automated system of intelligence gathering, combined with a manual system of intelligence analysis. This approach relies on a large number of users, and so AquaticHealth.net relies on an open‐intelligence analysis method: any user can publish their own analyses for all to see and analyse further. By combining automated data collection and human analysis, AquaticHealth.net will provide fast and accurate forecasts, accompanied with nuanced explanations. These methods can be applied to other areas of biosecurity and disease surveillance.

Location

Canberra, Australia; College Park, Maryland, USA; Melbourne, Australia.

Methods

Automated: AquaticHealth.net performs hourly scans of an array of RSS feeds, blogs, social networks and news sites. It analyses this information and removes redundancies and applies taxonomy and geospatial tags. The information is then pushed to the Daily Scan, where users then analyse it further. Manual: Users assess the information for inaccuracies and its importance. They decide whether an article should be a disease alert, which is emailed to all users. Users can change tags, edit reports, add commentary, apply rankings, change search terms and summarize issues in the Emerging Issues blog (formerly a wiki).

Results

AquaticHealth.net publishes seven daily reports and 2 weekly disease alerts (on average). Ninety per cent of CEFAS's (www.cefas.defra.gov.uk) Emerging Disease Updates cite AquaticHealth.net. The Australian Sub‐Committee for Aquatic Animal Health (SCAAH) uses the system to compile quarterly reports. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) uses AquaticHealth.net to make forecasts—for example, used aquaculture equipment is a high‐risk pathway for OsHV. AquaticHealth.net's users forecasted an increase in emerging marine finfish disease outbreaks in Southeast Asia and are actively watching this issue.

Main conclusions

AquaticHealth.net's open‐intelligence approach has proven to be an effective and flexible biosecurity forecasting method.
Risks, decisions and biological conservation
Authors: Burgman Mark A. , Yemshanov Denys
Published: May 2013

Aim

Risk assessments in applied scientific disciplines have evolved somewhat in isolation, adopting conventions, assumptions and tools from other disciplines almost haphazardly. This editorial provides background for the articles in this special issue, which sample six broad themes in risk assessment in conservation biology and presenting new innovations and applications.

Location

Global.

Methods

The articles in the special issue address themes related to species distribution modelling, population viability analysis, threatened species management, biosecurity, uncertainty analysis, cost–benefit analysis and foresight. We sought articles that address new and emerging topics in each of these areas.

Results

The articles identify new and potentially useful innovations in a variety of areas relevant to conservation biology. Collectively, they paint a picture of risk assessment as an important element in supporting transparent, rational decisions and effective policy.

Main conclusions

Policy makers and conservation managers aspire to set evidence‐based priorities, and technical specialists aim to have their methods used in decision‐making. Scientists will succeed if, as the articles in this issue exemplify, they develop a sound understanding of the context of the decisions in which their tools are to be used and shape them accordingly.
Mapping ecological risks with a portfolio‐based technique: incorporating uncertainty and decision‐making preferences
Authors: Yemshanov Denys , Koch Frank H. , Ducey Mark , Koehler Klaus
Published: May 2013

Aim

Geographic mapping of risks is a useful analytical step in ecological risk assessments and in particular, in analyses aimed to estimate risks associated with introductions of invasive organisms. In this paper, we approach invasive species risk mapping as a portfolio allocation problem and apply techniques from decision theory to build an invasion risk map that combines risk and uncertainty in a single map product.

Location

Canada.

Methods

We divide the study area into a set of spatial domains and treat each domain as an individual ‘portfolio’ with a unique distribution of the expected impacts of invasion. The risk of invasion is then mapped by finding nested ‘efficient’ portfolio sets that identify the geographic areas exhibiting the worst combinations of the estimated risk of invasion and the uncertainty in that estimate. For Canadian municipalities, we apply the approach to quantify the risk that a given location will receive invasive forest pests with commercial freight transported via the North American road network. We compare risk allocation techniques that employ the concepts of nested mean‐variance (M‐V) frontiers and second‐degree stochastic dominance.

Results

While both methods based on M‐V and the stochastic dominance principles identified similar areas of highest risk, they differed in how they demarcated moderate‐risk areas. Furthermore, they address uncertainty in different ways, treating it as a risk premium (in the case of nested M‐V frontiers) or producing risk‐averse delineations (in the case of stochastic dominance).

Main conclusions

The portfolio‐based approach offers a viable strategy for dealing with the typically wide variability in risk estimates caused by a lack of knowledge about a new invader. The methodology also provides a tractable way of incorporating decision‐making preferences into the final risk estimates and thus better aligns risk assessments with particular decision‐making scenarios about the organism of concern.
Extinction risk in cloud forest fragments under climate change and habitat loss
Authors: Ponce‐Reyes Rocio , Nicholson Emily , Baxter Peter W. J. , Fuller Richard A. , Possingham Hugh
Published: May 2013

Aim

To quantify the consequences of major threats to biodiversity, such as climate and land‐use change, it is important to use explicit measures of species persistence, such as extinction risk. The extinction risk of metapopulations can be approximated through simple models, providing a regional snapshot of the extinction probability of a species. We evaluated the extinction risk of three species under different climate change scenarios in three different regions of the Mexican cloud forest, a highly fragmented habitat that is particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Location

Cloud forests in Mexico.

Methods

Using Maxent, we estimated the potential distribution of cloud forest for three different time horizons (2030, 2050 and 2080) and their overlap with protected areas. Then, we calculated the extinction risk of three contrasting vertebrate species for two scenarios: (1) climate change only (all suitable areas of cloud forest through time) and (2) climate and land‐use change (only suitable areas within a currently protected area), using an explicit patch‐occupancy approximation model and calculating the joint probability of all populations becoming extinct when the number of remaining patches was less than five.

Results

Our results show that the extent of environmentally suitable areas for cloud forest in Mexico will sharply decline in the next 70 years. We discovered that if all habitat outside protected areas is transformed, then only species with small area requirements are likely to persist. With habitat loss through climate change only, high dispersal rates are sufficient for persistence, but this requires protection of all remaining cloud forest areas.

Main conclusions

Even if high dispersal rates mitigate the extinction risk of species due to climate change, the synergistic impacts of changing climate and land use further threaten the persistence of species with higher area requirements. Our approach for assessing the impacts of threats on biodiversity is particularly useful when there is little time or data for detailed population viability analyses.