bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two decades of building capacity in rural health education, training and research in Australia: University Departments of Rural Health and Rural Clinical Schools
Authors: Lyle David , Greenhill Jennene 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis review article reports on the contribution of university Departments of Rural Health and Rural Clinical Schools to the development of rural health and the rural health workforce and is set at the Australian Government's university Departments of Rural Health and Rural Clinical Training and Support Programs. The main outcome measures include educational infrastructure, clinical academic workforce, student numbers, community engagement, research outputs, rural health and workforce outcomes. As a result, university Departments of Rural Health and Rural Clinical Schools have established a substantial geographical footprint covering most of the rural and remote populations and regions across Australia. They have a large distributed rural clinical academic workforce that exceeds 1300. Medical student numbers on long‐term placements have increased threefold from inception to 1200 annually. Allied health and nursing numbers doubled over 10 years to 4000 in 2013 and are projected to double again by 2018. In 2013, they published 363 peer‐reviewed papers – half of which specifically addressed rural and/or remote health issues. High levels of intention to practise rurally and uptake of rural and remote practice following exposure to rural training have been reported, especially for medicine. Thus, university Departments of Rural Health and Rural Clinical Schools constitute a national network of academic units that deliver academically enriched clinical education and training for medical, nursing and allied health students and fulfil an essential academic role for the health system in rural and remote Australia. Community engagement and accountability to region are hallmarks of the program. Early evidence of the uptake of rural and remote practice following exposure to rural training has set expectations for the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program.
Framework for examining the spatial equity and sustainability of general practitioner services
Authors: Whitehead Jesse , Pearson Amber L. , Lawrenson Ross , Atatoa‐Carr Polly 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo propose a framework for examining both the spatial equity and sustainability of GP services.DesignA conceptual discussion based on a systematic literature review of spatial equity definitions and methods.SettingImproving the spatial equity of health services is a key step in achieving health equity. Health systems should contribute to achieving health equity and maintain equitable services into the future. The GP services are a key component of primary health care, which often aims to promote health equity. Despite the importance of spatially equitable and sustainable GP services, a framework for analysis has not yet been established.Main outcome measureExamples of how the proposed framework could be implemented are provided from the New Zealand health care context.ResultThe framework entails three steps: (i) defining spatial equity and sustainability; (ii) estimating current and future distributions of health services and needs; and (iii) quantifying spatial equity and sustainability. In step (i), a needs‐based distribution is the most common definition of spatial equity, while sustainability is the ability to provide ongoing equitable access. Step (ii) depends on current and future estimates of access and need within a well‐defined geographical area. In step (iii), spatial equity and sustainability should be quantified through measures, such as the Gini coefficient. Current and future levels of spatial equity should then be compared to assess the sustainability of equitable GP services.ConclusionThis article outlines a novel conceptual framework for examining the spatial equitability and sustainability of GP services.
Epac1−/− mice have elevated baseline permeability and do not respond to histamine as measured with dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with contrast agents of different molecular weights
Authors: Curry Fitz‐Roy E. , Taxt Torfinn , Rygh Cecilie Brekke , Pavlin Tina , Bjørnstad Ronja , Døskeland Stein Ove , Reed Rolf K. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAimEpac1−/− mice, but not Epac2−/− mice have elevated baseline permeability to albumin. This study extends the investigations of how Epac‐dependent pathways modulate transvascular exchange in response to the classical inflammatory agent histamine. It also evaluates the limitations of models of blood‐to‐tissue exchange in transgenic mice in DCE‐MRI measurements.MethodsWe measured DCE‐MRI signal intensity in masseter muscle of wt and Epac1−/− mice with established approaches from capillary physiology to determine how changes in blood flow and vascular permeability contribute to overall changes of microvascular flux. We used two tracers, the high molecular weight tracer (Gadomer‐17, MW 17 kDa, apparent MW 30‐35 kDa) is expected to be primarily limited by diffusion and therefore less dependent on changes in blood flow and the low molecular weight tracer (Dotarem (MW 0.56 kDa) whose transvascular exchange is determined by both blood flow and permeability. Paired experiments in each animal combined with analytical methods provided an internally consistent description of microvascular transport.ResultsEpac1−/− mice had elevated baseline permeability relative to wt control mice for Dotarem and Gadomer‐17. In contrast to wt mice, Epac1−/− mice failed to increase transvascular permeability in response to histamine. Dotarem underestimated blood flow and vascular volume and Gadomer‐17 has limited sensitivity in extravascular accumulation.ConclusionThe study suggests that the normal barrier loosening effect of histamine in venular microvessels do not function when the normal barrier tightening effect of Epac1 is already compromised. The study also demonstrated that the numerical analysis of DCE‐MRI data with tracers of different molecular weight has significant limitations.
Leveraging satellite technology to create true shark sanctuaries
Authors: Bradley Darcy , Mayorga Juan , McCauley Douglas J. , Cabral Reniel B. , Douglas Patric , Gaines Steven D. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractShark sanctuaries are an ambitious attempt to protect huge areas of ocean space to curtail overfishing of sharks. If shark sanctuaries are to succeed, effective surveillance and enforcement is urgently needed. We use a case study with a high level of illegal shark fishing within a shark sanctuary to help motivate three actionable opportunities to create truly effective shark sanctuaries by leveraging satellite technology: (1) require vessel tracking systems; (2) partner with international research organizations; and (3) ban vessels previously associated with illegal fishing from shark sanctuaries. Sustaining the level of fishing mortality observed in our case study would lead even a healthy shark population to collapse to <10% of its unfished state in fewer than five years. We outline implementations pathways and provide a roadmap to pair new and emerging satellite technologies with existing international agreements to offer new hope for shark conservation successes globally.
Labour Bureaucracy and Labour Officialdom in Evo Morales's Bolivia
Authors: McNelly Angus 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTEvo Morales has labelled his government the ‘government of social movements’, and much has been written on relations between social movements and the state in Bolivia since the turn of the century. The Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) — Bolivian Workers’ Central — has, however, remained largely absent from discussions in much of the literature. This article seeks to analyse the position of the COB under Morales, and to explore the nature and consequences of its relationship with the government over the past 12 years. The article differentiates between the concepts of labour bureaucracy and labour officialdom and examines how they can be used as analytical lenses that shed light on the position of the COB today. The author argues that during Bolivia's neoliberal period (1985–2005) the need to look after the COB bureaucratized union structures, as personal needs of the leadership were placed above those of the Bolivian working classes. This then allowed Morales's government to easily co‐opt sections of the labour movements’ leadership to form a labour officialdom, leaving the COB unable to challenge the continuation of the neoliberal structure of the economy and represent the majority of the country's working classes.
The productivity trend in Iran Evidence from manufacturing firms
Authors: Rahmati Mohammad H. , Pilehvari Asal 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIran has been experiencing slow growth for the past ten years. Using plant‐level information, we show that on average firm‐specific productivity in manufacturing sectors declined at the rate of 2.6% annually, while large top decile firms experienced a modest growth in productivity between 2005 and 2011. We decompose this trend and find that within‐plant variation is its main driving force while the between firms and industries component is insignificant. We test several alternative explanations that may contribute to these negative trends. We show that the subsidy reform had a negative effect, while privatization seems to have had no effect. Private management not affected productivity growth, while firm size is associated with higher productivity growth. Also, we find that productivity growth decreases with the energy intensity of the firm. We also find that R&D expenditures significantly increase productivity growth, while the R&D sales ratio is about 0.5% in manufacturing sectors, which is about one‐fifth of the world average. A one‐percent point increase in R&D expenditures increases productivity growth by 0.5%.
Shanghai Studies: An evolving academic field
Authors: Jin Yan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe field of Shanghai Studies has a history of more than a century. It evolves along with the unfolds of modern history of Shanghai. The city's dramatic growth in the late 19th century aroused early scholarly attempts in writing the history of the city. In the following half century, however, due to the chaotic socio‐political context, the studies of Shanghai had never really taken off. After 1949, when the Chinese communists took power, the studies of Shanghai was forced to conform with major political themes of modern Chinese history. Broad political ideas always superseded local history. It was not until the late 1980s, when the study of Shanghai history began to surge and immediately grew into one of the most vibrant and prolific subfields of historical studies. It has no sign of crescent so far, with an ever growing research community and the openness towards new perspective and methodology.
Adjustment processes of mountainous rivers affected by tilting uplift: Laboratory experiments and a case study of Yakushima Island, Japan
Authors: Genno Reiko , Endo Noritaka 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMountainous river basins are one of the main sources of sediment. Over long time scales, sediment production is sustained by the persistent dissection of river basins, which is promoted by tectonic activity. The response or adjustment of rivers to forcing factors such as uplift is based on the concept of the graded river and a feedback mechanism between the incision and uplift. Although the development of graded rivers under natural circumstances has been discussed for a long time, knowledge about the transition of river basins under heterogeneous uplift is not enough. To understand the development of a river basin with a non‐uniform uplift rate, two simple cases are examined: landward and seaward tilting uplift, where the uplift rate varies linearly in space. For our study, laboratory experiments were conducted and the results were compared with those of natural river basins; two river basins in Yakushima Island were selected for this purpose. In both the laboratory and Yakushima, the longitudinal profile of the river basin under landward‐tilting uplift has a convex‐up zone and a specific knickpoint is formed at the upstream end of this zone. This knickpoint is inactive with respect to migration and incision owing to the insufficient cumulative uplift to the equilibrium state. It was also observed in both the experimental and natural cases that the profile of the river basin under seaward tilting is unlikely to have such a convex‐up zone in the long term, and will instead have a smooth concave profile. Therefore, the spatiotemporal pattern of dissection differs depending on the type of tilting uplift, which suggests that sediment production also varies in time and space according to the type of uplift.
Bone health in chronic kidney disease‐mineral and bone disorder: a clinical case seminar and update
Authors: Aleksova Jasna , Ng Kong W. , Jung Caroline , Zeimer Howard , Dwyer Karen M. , Milat Frances , MacIsaac Richard J. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe metabolic abnormalities affecting bone in the setting of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are complex with overlapping and interacting aetiologies and have challenging diagnostic and management strategies. Disturbances in calcium, phosphate, fibroblast growth factor 23, parathyroid hormone concentrations and vitamin D deficiency are commonly encountered and contribute to the clinical syndromes of bone disorders in CKD, including hyperparathyroidism, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and adynamic bone disease. Mineral and bone abnormalities may also persist or arise de novo post‐renal transplantation. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes organisation describes these mineral metabolism derangements and skeletal abnormalities as ‘CKD Mineral and Bone Disorder’. Patients with this disorder have an increased risk of fracture, cardiovascular events and overall increased mortality. In light of the recently updated 2017 guidelines from the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, we present a clinical case‐based discussion to highlight the complexities of investigating and managing the bone health of patients with CKD with a focus on these updates.
Parents' Perceptions and Use of School‐Based Body Mass Index Report Cards
Authors: Jones Marla M. , Carnes Michael C. , Adams Thomas , Bryant Lance G. , Church Brian , Stillwell Jimmy L. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDObesity in children and adolescents has become one of the most critical public health problems in the United States. Schools may play an important role in raising awareness and possibly slowing the obesity epidemic.METHODSThe purpose of this study was to gather information on parents' perception and use of body mass index (BMI) report cards provided by public schools through the administration of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed with the assistance of physical educators, pediatricians, and exercise scientists. The questionnaires were backpacked home with 1127 students in 6 Arkansas public schools. Parents completed and returned 404 questionnaires.RESULTSFindings indicate that parents are supportive of schools reporting BMI and providing information on healthier lifestyles. However, most parents reported not making any adjustment to their child's diet and physical activity habits based on the BMI reports. Approximately half of parents (55%) thought the BMI report accurately reflected their child's health status. Approximately half of the parents reported their child's BMI report led them to think about their family's health habits.CONCLUSIONSAlthough parents do support receiving BMI information from schools, many did not indicate using the data to initiate changes such as increased physical activity or healthy eating.
Theology, Metaphysics, and Realism about Truth
Authors: Slater Michael R. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis essay examines the theological grounds for rejecting metaphysics and the correspondence theory of truth, and argues that while there are good grounds for rejecting a certain kind of metaphysically oriented theology, metaphysics per se is neither objectionable nor avoidable in Christian theology. In the process, it also defends a realist conception of truth against some recent theological criticisms, and argues that a commitment to a modest version of metaphysical realism and realism about truth is not only philosophically tenable, but also theologically preferable to non‐realist views.
In‐hospital usability and feasibility evaluation of Panda, an app for the management of pain in children at home
Authors: Sun Terri , Dunsmuir Dustin , Miao Ian , Devoy Gregor M. , West Nicholas C. , Görges Matthias , Lauder Gillian R. , Ansermino J. Mark 
Published: October 2018

SummaryBackgroundPostoperative pain in children is often poorly managed at home, leading to slower functional recovery, poor oral intake, sleep disturbances, and behavioral changes. Panda is a smartphone application (app) designed to support parents in assessing their child's pain and managing medications.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the Panda app's usability and feasibility in hospital prior to testing the app at home.MethodsThe study comprised two phases. Phase I evaluated Panda's usability with nurses, parents, and adolescents using simulated scenarios. Usability was measured by task completion rate, user error rates, and the Computer Systems Usability Questionnaire. Phase II evaluated Panda's feasibility by observing parents/guardians of pediatric patients using the app on the postsurgical ward. Feasibility was measured using response frequency and delay following app notifications from an audit trail of app function, and parental satisfaction from an interview. Feedback was used to guide iterative app improvements.ResultsIn Phase I, 13 nurses, 12 parents, and 5 adolescents evaluated the app. A total of 103 usability issues were identified, analyzed, and addressed. In Phase II, 29 parents responded to a total of 151 app notifications, with 84% responding within 1 hour in the final round of testing; 93% of participants reported the app was easy to use, and rated the app with a median [interquartile range] Computer Systems Usability Questionnaire score of 2 [1‐4]. Significant barriers to use included lack of flexibility in the medication scheduling, low volume of alert sounds, and the extra time spent on medication safety checks.ConclusionPanda's usability was improved and its feasibility demonstrated in the controlled hospital environment. The next step is to evaluate its feasibility for use at home.
Fluoroscopically guided wide‐bore thoracostomy tube placement: Description of the technique and comparison to blind placement
Authors: Barker David A. , Trinterud Tonje , Demetriou Jackie L. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo describe and compare fluoroscopic guidance for placement of wide‐bore thoracostomy tubes (FGTT) to traditional, blind placement of thoracostomy tubes (BPTT).Study designProspective clinical trial.AnimalsTwenty client‐owned dogs.MethodsDogs requiring medical management of pleural effusion received a BPTT, whereas dogs undergoing postoperative management of pneumothorax and/or pleural fluid after lateral thoracotomy received an FGTT. Time of placement, accuracy of positioning, radiation exposure, and complications were compared between groups.ResultsInitial placement of BPTT took a mean of 168 seconds (range, 89‐197), whereas adequate placement was radiographically confirmed at 20 minutes and 38 seconds (range, 7 minutes and 57 seconds to 39 min). Initial placement of FGTT took a mean time of 108 seconds (range, 50‐341, P = .17), and adequate placement was confirmed at 125 seconds (range, 50‐341, P < .001). Major errors in placement requiring removal and replacement occurred in 2 dogs for BPTT and in none for FGTT. Procedural complications did not differ between groups, and no postoperative complication occurred within the first 12 hours after placement. Radiation entrance surface dose was lower in the BPTT group (P = .004), but stochastic radiation doses did not differ.ConclusionFluoroscopic guidance of wide‐bore thoracostomy tubes accelerated the time to accurate tube placement and alleviated the requirement for removal and replacement in this population. Although use of fluoroscopy increased radiation entrance surface dose, the dose was not clinically significant.Clinical significanceFluoroscopic guidance of wide‐bore thoracostomy tubes should be considered as an alternative to traditional, blind placement.
Objective effectiveness of and indications for laser‐assisted turbinectomy in brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
Authors: Liu Nai‐Chieh , Genain Marie‐Aude , Kalmar Lajos , Sargan David R. , Ladlow Jane F. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of laser‐assisted turbinectomy (LATE) in treating brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and to investigate the potential indications.Study designProspective clinical study.Sample populationClient‐owned pugs, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs (n = 57).MethodsA BOAS index was obtained from whole‐body barometric plethysmography before BOAS conventional multilevel surgery (CMS) and 2–6 months post‐CMS. Dogs with BOAS index >50% and BOAS functional grades II‐III after CMS were considered candidates for LATE. A BOAS index was repeated 2–6 months after LATE. Intranasal lesions and a measurement of soft tissue proportion at the rostral entrance of choanae (STC) were recorded on the basis of computed tomography images. Logistic regressions were used to assess the intranasal predictors for being LATE candidates.ResultsTwenty‐nine of 57 dogs were candidates for LATE, all of which were pugs or French bulldogs. The median BOAS index of dogs that were operated on (20/29 candidates) decreased from 67% post‐CMS to 42% after LATE (P < .001). Soft tissue proportion at the rostral entrance of choanae was the only predictor for candidacy for LATE. Pugs (P = .021; cutoff = 64%) and French bulldogs (P = .008; cutoff = 55%) with higher STC were more likely to be candidates for LATE. After LATE, 12 of 20 dogs had temporary episodes of reverse sneezing, and nasal noise was noted in 8 of 20 dogs when sniffing and excited.ConclusionLaser‐assisted turbinectomy was an effective treatment for dogs with intranasal abnormalities and a poor response to CMS. Soft tissue proportion at the rostral entrance of choanae was a predictor of candidacy for LATE in pugs and French bulldogs.Clinical significanceComputed tomography‐based measurement of STC can be used to predict whether LATE is required in addition to CMS in pugs and French bulldogs with BOAS.