bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiologists are more willing to prescribe β‐blockers than respiratory physicians: an Australasian clinical scenario survey
Authors: Jones T. E. , Ruffin R. E. , Arstall M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground/AimsRecent data show great benefit from beta adrenergic blocking drug (β‐blocker) use in heart failure and has resulted in increased use of these established agents. Older data caution against their use in patients with reversible airways disease because of risks of bronchoconstriction. Anecdotally, we noted a difference in willingness to prescribe β‐blockers by cardiologists and respiratory physicians, especially for patients with coexisting airways disease. We sought to test this difference.MethodsNine clinical scenarios were created, tested and emailed to all members of the Cardiac and Thoracic societies of Australasia. Scenarios combined varying degrees of benefit and risk (bronchoconstriction). An inducement to return questionnaires was applied.ResultsCardiologists and respiratory physicians were similarly willing to prescribe β‐blockers for patients at little risk of bronchoconstriction, irrespective of potential benefit. Cardiologists were more willing to prescribe β‐blockers than respiratory physicians for patients at greater risk of bronchoconstriction, particularly when the potential therapeutic benefit was greater.ConclusionsOur perception that cardiologists were more willing to prescribe β‐blockers than respiratory physicians was confirmed. This probably results from a difference in focus (namely focus on benefit by cardiologists vs focus on risk by respiratory physicians), although other factors including awareness of limitations of pulmonary function testing by respiratory physicians may have been involved. Until better tests are available (that discriminate between patients who are likely to suffer bronchoconstriction from those who are not), it is likely that this difference between the specialties will remain.
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system: experience of a Victorian tertiary‐referral hospital
Authors: Oon S. , Roberts C. , Gorelik A. , Wicks I. , Brand C. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundPrimary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare condition, which is often difficult to diagnose and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is no standardised treatment protocol or randomised clinical trial evidence to guide management.AimTo describe the clinical features, diagnostic modalities, treatment and outcomes in an Australian hospital population‐based series of primary cerebral angiitis.MethodsData were collected via retrospective medical record review of patients with primary angiitis of the central nervous system for the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2009, using previously published diagnostic criteria. Eligible patient records were identified in two ways; from routinely collected hospital episode data, coded using the ICD‐10‐AM coding standard and by review of cerebral biopsy data.ResultsTen of 12 included patients had a positive cerebral biopsy, with two patients diagnosed by angiography. Mean age at diagnosis was 47.2 years (range 18–73 years), with a female predominance of 5:1. Headache was the most common symptom experienced. Seventy per cent of the biopsy specimens showed a lymphocytic vasculitis. All patients received treatment with either steroids alone or a combination of steroids and cyclophosphamide, the latter treatment being initiated for those with a higher modified Rankin score of disability. Nine (75%) responded to treatment. There was one in‐hospital death, and two patients had no documented response to treatment.ConclusionThis study presents the first Australian case series data of primary cerebral angiitis. Better understanding of management and outcomes of this rare condition would be gained through multicentre studies.
Hip fractures among Indigenous Western Australians from 1999 to 2009
Authors: Wong Y. Y. E. , Flicker L. , Draper G. , Lai M. M. Y. , Waldron N. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundMinimal trauma hip fractures are prevalent in Australia. The incidence rate and trend of hip fractures in Indigenous Western Australians have not been formally reported.AimsTo evaluate incidence rates and trend of minimal trauma hip fractures in Indigenous and other Western Australians aged 40 years and over in 1999–2009MethodsHip fracture data were obtained from an administrative database for all hospitalisations in Western Australia. Age‐standardised incidence rates were calculated using direct standardisation, and standardised rate ratios were calculated using the indirect method. Trend in incidence rates were calculated using Poisson regression.ResultsIn 1999–2009, 11 844 admissions for minimal trauma hip fractures were reported among Western Australians aged 40 years and over, of which 201 were recorded as indigenous. The age‐standardised hip fracture rate was 273.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 230.7–315.4) per 100 000 person‐years for indigenous adults and 148.8 (95% CI 146.1–151.5) per 100 000 person‐years for non‐indigenous adults. The standardised morbidity ratio was 2.2 (95% CI 1.9–2.5). Over this period, age‐standardised rates increased by an average of 7.2% per year among indigenous adults (P = 0.006), whereas non‐indigenous rates fell by an average of 3.4% per year (P < 0.001). The relatively higher rates among indigenous adults were more evident in the younger age groups.ConclusionThere is a widening gap in minimal trauma hip fracture rates between indigenous and other Western Australians. This study demonstrates a need for public health review and management strategies to reduce falls and hip fracture in the indigenous community.
Clinical audit: recent practice in caring for patients with acute severe colitis compared with published guidelines – is there a problem?
Authors: Lim A. H. , Grafton R. , Hetzel D. J. , Andrews J. M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundAcute severe colitis (ASC) is a serious condition with possible outcomes of emergency colectomy and mortality. Validated guidelines exist to help avoid these.AimsTo examine local adherence to guidelines and identify (a) opportunities to improve care and (b) possible barriers to adherence.MethodsRetrospective, hospital‐wide audit of all patients with ASC during a 2‐year period (2009–2010) at a major metropolitan hospital. Cases were identified by an electronic search of all discharges with International Classification of Diseases‐10 codes for colitis, colectomy, ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease.ResultsTwenty‐six patients had 30 ASC admissions (14 female). Most admissions were under gastroenterology (25), 4 (13%) were under general medicine and 1 was under general surgery. Only 8 patients' (26%) management (all under gastroenterology) included all major details: blood investigations, Clostridium difficile test, abdominal X‐ray, colonic examination and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Only one patient had formal severity scoring on admission, and seven patients (24%) had descriptive severity recorded. On day 3, nine patients (30%) had some recorded severity assessment; however, no formal criteria were used. Four had colectomy, three during first admission and one on re‐admission. Of these patients, three received cyclosporine prior to colectomy. The mean duration of admission was 10 days (standard deviation 10.54, range 1–61).ConclusionOpportunities to optimise care exist including formal severity assessments on days 1 and 3, better deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism prophylaxis and prompt colonic examination. Admission under teams other than gastroenterology appeared to be a barrier to better care. Despite the low rate of ideal management, the colectomy rate was acceptably low at 20%.
Polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of Ghure (unripe grape) marc extract: influence of extraction time, temperature and solvent type
Authors: Shojaee‐Aliabadi Saeedeh , Hosseini Seyede M. , Tiwari Brijesh , Hashemi Maryam , Fadavi Ghasem , Khaksar Ramin 
Published: November 2012

SummaryThe objective of this study was to optimise the temperature (25–50 °C), time (1–24 h) and the solvent ratio (ethanol/water, 0–100%) for the phenolic compounds extraction of Ghure marc (unripe grape) using response surface methodology. The central composite design (CCD) generated satisfactory models for the optimisation of process variables. The results revealed that the ratio (X3) was the most significant parameter on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity [% 2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)], and there was a significant correlation between TPC and antioxidant activity. The optimal conditions for temperature and time were 44.93 °C and 19.34 h, respectively, and the ratio of ethanol to water was 70.08, which verified with carrying out confirmatory experiments. Under this condition, TPC and %DPPH were 388.79 mg GAE per 100 g and 91.01, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the Ghure marc can be used as a low‐cost source of natural antioxidant in food.
Morphological markers for the detection of introgression from cultivated into wild carrot (Daucus carotaL.) reveal dominant domestication traits
Authors: Grebenstein C. , Kos S. P. , de Jong T. J. , Tamis W. L. M. , de Snoo G. R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractHybridisation and subsequent introgression have recently received much attention in the context of genetically modified crops. But crop–wild hybrid detection in the field can be difficult, as most domestication traits seem to be recessive, and the hybrid phenotype may also depend on the direction of the cross or environmental factors. Our aim was to develop a reliable set of morphological markers that differ between two wild and 13 cultivated carrots (Daucus carotaL.) and to evaluate their inheritance in hybrid lines. We then examined these morphological markers in four F1 hybrids obtained by fertilising plants from the two wild accessions with pollen from two common carrot cultivars. Of the 16 traits that differed between the two carrot subspecies, three took intermediate values in the hybrids, eight resembled the cultivar parent (dominant domestication traits), two resembled the wild parent (domestication traits recessive), and three were not significant or growth condition‐dependent. Root:shoot ratio was seven times higher for cultivars than for wild plants, while still attaining equivalent total dry weight, which shows that dry matter production by the shoot is much higher in cultivars than in wild plants. High root:shoot ratios were also present in the hybrids. While we found no maternal effects, the type of cultivar used for pollination had an impact on hybrid characteristics. The morphological markers developed here provide insights into the mode of inheritance of ecologically relevant traits and can be useful for pre‐screening wild populations for hybrid detection prior to genetic analysis.
Nectar regulation in Euphorbia tithymaloides L., a hummingbird‐pollinated Euphorbiaceae
Authors: Veiga Blanco T. , Galetto L. , Machado I. C. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractFloral sexual phases can differ in nectar production and might be under selective pressure by pollinators. We studied Euphorbia tithymaloides, which has inflorescences that are initially female and then hermaphroditic. Volume and concentration of nectar were measured in both stages. Nectar production and the effect of extractions were determined using sets of bagged inflorescences; inflorescences in the hermaphroditic phase had higher values of nectar concentration, volume and sugar mass than inflorescences in the female phase. Nectar resorption was detected in senescent inflorescences. To test for homeostatic nectar regulation, artificial nectar was added and the response assessed after 24 h. The experiments showed that concentration and sugar mass are regulated within a narrow range, and the homeostatic points differ between the two sexual phases. These differences in nectar can be detected by hummingbirds, which prefer the female stage. Resorption and secretion seem to be part of a homeostatic mechanism by which nectar attributes are maintained to optimise sugar recovery.
Generalised pollination systems for three invasive milkweeds in Australia
Authors: Ward M. , Johnson S. D. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBecause most plants require pollinator visits for seed production, the ability of an introduced plant species to establish pollinator relationships in a new ecosystem may have a central role in determining its success or failure as an invader. We investigated the pollination ecology of three milkweed species – Asclepias curassavica, Gomphocarpus fruticosus and G. physocarpus – in their invaded range in southeast Queensland, Australia. The complex floral morphology of milkweeds has often been interpreted as a general trend towards specialised pollination requirements. Based on this interpretation, invasion by milkweeds contradicts the expectation than plant species with specialised pollination systems are less likely to become invasive that those with more generalised pollination requirements. However, observations of flower visitors in natural populations of the three study species revealed that their pollination systems are essentially specialised at the taxonomic level of the order, but generalised at the species level. Specifically, pollinators of the two Gomphocarpus species included various species of Hymenoptera (particularly vespid wasps), while pollinators of A. curassavica were primarily Lepidoptera (particularly nymphalid butterflies). Pollinators of all three species are rewarded with copious amounts of highly concentrated nectar. It is likely that successful invasion by these three milkweed species is attributable, at least in part, to their generalised pollinator requirements. The results of this study are discussed in terms of how data from the native range may be useful in predicting pollination success of species in a new environment.
Contrasting seasonal overlaps between primary and secondary growth are linked to wood anatomy in Mediterranean sub‐shrubs
Authors: Camarero J. J. , Palacio S. , Montserrat‐Martí G. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWhole‐plant approaches allow quantification of the temporal overlap between primary and secondary growth. If the amount of time available to grow is short, there may be a high temporal overlap between shoot growth and wood formation. We hypothesise that such overlap depends on the duration of the growing season and relates to wood anatomy. We evaluated wood anatomy, shoot longitudinal and radial growth rates, fine root production and the concentrations of non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) in the wood of six sub‐shrub species growing in sites with contrasting climatic conditions (Lepidium subulatum, Linum suffruticosum, Salvia lavandulifolia, Satureja montana, Ononis fruticosa, Echinospartum horridum). Sub‐shrub species living in sites with a short growing season displayed a high overlap between aboveground primary and secondary growth and formed wide vessels, whereas species from the warmest and driest sites presented the reverse characteristics. The highest overlap was linked to a rapid shoot extension and thickening through the enhanced hydraulic conductivity provided by wide vessels. The reductions in NSC concentrations when growth peaked were low or moderate, indicating that sub‐shrubs accumulate NSC in excess, as do trees. The temporal overlap among primary and secondary growth in woody plants may be connected to the duration and rates of shoot and wood growth, which in turn depend on the vessel lumen area.
Foreign Direct Investment in Australia Following the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement
Authors: Kirchner Stephen 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA model of inward foreign direct investment for Australia is estimated. Foreign direct investment is found to be positively related to economic and productivity growth and negatively related to foreign portfolio investment, trade openness, the exchange rate and the foreign real interest rate. Foreign direct investment is found to be a substitute for both portfolio investment and trade in goods and services. The exchange rate and the US bond rate affect foreign direct investment through the relative attractiveness of domestic assets. Actual foreign direct investment outperforms a model‐derived forecast in recent years, consistent with the liberalisation of foreign investment screening rules following the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement.
Chasing Data: Sources of Data for the Study of Gambling Economics
Authors: Farrell Lisa 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe last decade has seen significant deregulation in the betting and gaming sector in many developed countries. This deregulation, coupled with technology‐led product innovation, has seen a renewed interest in the drivers of the demand for gambling and the prevalence of excessive gambling. The necessity for governments to track the social impacts of the gambling has led to an increased need for high‐quality data and this article will review the variety of empirical resources available to researchers. I also discuss innovations in measures or scales employed to quantify excessive gambling and addiction.
Petrol Price Cycles
Authors: Byrne David P. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThis article provides an overview of the burgeoning academic literature on price dynamics and price cycles in retail petrol markets. I first present evidence of petrol price cycles and studies that describe what types of petrol markets tend to exhibit price cycles. I further discuss empirical investigations of firms’ pricing strategies in cycling markets. In light of the empirics, I outline theories of competition and consumer demand in petrol markets that help us understand various facets of petrol price cycles.
The Future of State and Local Economic Development Policy: What Research Is Needed
Authors: Bartik Timothy J. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractResearch will be more relevant to state and local economic development policy if this research focuses on research gaps. One gap is better estimates of how local labor demand policies affect local jobs. A second gap is better understanding of how labor supply policies affect overall local labor market outcomes, adjusting for spillovers and displacement. A third gap is better understanding of how effects of local employment shocks vary with local labor market conditions.
Patterns of Broadband Efficiency in the U.S
Authors: Parajuli Jitendra , Haynes Kingsley E. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractData envelopment analysis is used to assess the efficiency of broadband Internet adoption and use in the U.S. Analyses at the state level from 2005 to 2007 suggest that broadband adoption and use is not equally efficient across the U.S. states. Although the instantaneous efficiencies are relatively high for many states, the changes in total factor productivity suggest that the efficiency of broadband adoption and use still increases over time. Moreover, it is observed that efficiency values are often spatially autocorrelated, which suggests spatial dependency from spillovers or interstate competition. This leads to a particular spatial diffusion pattern in broadband adoption. Although states have different strategies in support of broadband expansion they need to identify their shortcomings and use the appropriate mix of inputs (and outputs) to improve their efficiencies.
Dental case manager encounters: the association with retention in dental care and treatment plan completion
Authors: Lemay Celeste A. , Tobias Carol , Umez‐Eronini Amarachi A. , Brown Carolyn , McCluskey Amanda , Fox Jane E. , Bednarsh Helene , Cabral Howard J. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTLittle is known about dental case managers as few programs have been scientifically evaluated. The goal of this study was to explore the impact of dental case manager on retention in dental care and completion of treatment plans, while specifically exploring the number of dental case manager encounters. Fourteen programs enrolled people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in dental care and a longitudinal study between 2007 and 2009. The 758 participants had a total of 2715 encounters with a dental case manager over twelve months: 29% had a single encounter; 21% had two; 27% had 3–4 and; 23% had 5–29 encounters. Adjusting for baseline characteristics, participants receiving more encounters were significantly more likely to complete their Phase 1 treatment plan, be retained in dental care, and experience improvements in overall oral health status. Organizations considering efforts to improve the oral health of vulnerable, hard‐to‐engage populations should consider these findings when planning interventions.
Oral health comparison between children with neutropenia and healthy controls
Authors: Park Michael S. , Tenenbaum Howard C. , Dror Yigal , Gloguaer Michael 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this cross‐sectional study was to assess and compare the oral health of children with neutropenia, who are under the active care of a hematologist in a designated marrow failure and myelodysplasia program, to a healthy control group. Children aged 6–18 with neutropenia attending the Marrow Failure and Myelodysplasia Program at SickKids Hospital and controls attending the Children's Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto were asked to participate in the study consisting of a patient questionnaire followed by a dental and radiographic examination. Fifteen patients with neutropenia (mean age 12.14 ± 4.04 years) and 26 healthy controls (mean age 11.61 ± 3.82 years) participated in this study. Patients with neutropenia reported significantly increased mouth sores (p < .008) and bleeding gums while brushing (p < .001). The dmft/t score was significantly lower for the neutropenia group (p < .009). The clinical examination also showed that there were no statistically significant differences with respect to ulcerations, gingival recession, tooth mobility, gingival inflammation, periodontal bone loss, DMFT/T scores, plaque, and calculus levels. Preliminary data demonstrates that pediatric patients who are under the active care of a hematologist do not present with an increased risk of oral diseases.
Global Governance of Health and the Requirements of Human Rights
Authors: Ooms Gorik , Hammonds Rachel 
Published: November 2012

AbstractAs globalisation increases interdependence health becomes a subject of global governance, posing new challenges to the present global governance mechanisms. The authors explore two areas in which new mechanisms of global governance of health have emerged in the first decade of the 21st century: firstly, international assistance to finance healthcare and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; and secondly, the Social Protection Floor which aims to ensure basic social guarantees for all. They argue that human rights can help to combine and strengthen these mechanisms, serving as a guide for a true partnership between people across borders, rather than merely a set of norms imposed upon states. Through a Framework Convention on Global Health, the Global Fund could become the cornerstone of a global social protection regime and act as an incentive for compliance with the Social Protection Floor.