bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases, type IV collagen, and interleukin‐10 in rabbits treated with morphine after lamellar keratectomy
Authors: Ribeiro Alexandre P. , Silva Miguel L. , Araújo Rodrigo L. , Ferrucci Danilo L. , Mineo Tiago , Thiesen Roberto , Bandarra Márcio B. , Laus José L. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractPurpose  To study the effects of topical administration of 1% morphine on corneal analgesia in rabbits submitted to lamellar keratectomy and to assess the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐1, metalloproteinase‐2, metalloproteinase‐9 (MMPs), type IV collagen, and interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) during the treatment.Methods  Morphine group (MG) received 50 μL of topical 1% morphine four times daily, while the control group received saline instead. Corneal touch threshold (CTT) and the wound area were assessed until corneal healing. Corneal samples were processed for routine histology, immunohistochemistry, zymography, and ELISA.Results  Following keratectomy, CTT increased significantly from 6 to 96 h time points. Mean corneal re‐epithelization rate and scores of leukocyte infiltration did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Immunolabeling pattern for MMP‐1, MMP‐9, and type IV collagen was similar in both treatment groups. In the MG, zymography indicated significantly higher levels of active MMP‐2 on days 6 and 12; and in the latent MMP‐9, on days 3 and 6, and in the active MMP‐9, on day 6. Latent MMP‐2 and MMP‐9, and active MMP‐9 decreased to values close to those of healthy corneas on day 12, but levels of active MMP‐2 remained significantly elevated in the MG. IL‐10 levels measured on days 1–6 were reduced as compared to those of healthy corneal tissue and returned to levels close to those of healthy corneas on day 12.Conclusion  Topical morphine promoted corneal analgesia for up to 4 days and did not delay corneal re‐epithelization. The re‐establishment of MMPs and IL‐10 to levels close to baseline values at the end of the study and the expression of type IV collagen in both groups reinforce that, with caution, 1% morphine can be used after lamellar keratectomy in rabbits.
Rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocellatus) embryos parasitize freshwater mussels by competing for nutrients and oxygen
Authors: Spence Rowena , Smith Carl 
Published: November 2011

AbstractSpence, R. and Smith, C. 2011. Rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocellatus) embryos parasitize freshwater mussels by competing for nutrients and oxygen. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 00: 1–6.Understanding how parasites inflict fitness costs on their hosts is a key question in host–parasite biology. Rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocellatus) are small cyprinid fish that place their eggs in the gills of living freshwater mussels. The embryos complete their development inside the mussel gill and emerge as free‐swimming larvae after approximately 4 weeks. Bitterling show a range of specialized adaptations for using mussels as a spawning substrate, and the presence of bitterling embryos has been shown to retard the growth of mussels. We compared the development and survival of embryos incubated in either mussels or Petri dishes and exposed to either nutrient‐rich or nutrient‐poor pond water. Embryonic development rate was significantly faster in Petri dishes, probably as a result of oxygen limitation in mussel gills. Embryo survival rate was significantly higher in nutrient‐rich than filtered water, suggesting that the embryos obtained a nutritional benefit prior to emergence from the host. The results imply that bitterling embryos compete for oxygen and nutrients with their host mussel, as well as each other, and in this way, impose a growth cost on mussels.
Challenges and opportunities for sustainable livestock production in the UK
Authors: Pullar D. , Allen N. , Sloyan M. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryMeat and milk production generally gets a bad press when it comes to discussions around climate change and food production. However, with a rising population, a balance has to be found between the environmental cost of producing and the benefits in terms of food security. Consequently, sustainable production is the byword. The beef, sheep meat, pig meat and dairy industries all have specific challenges in work to reduce their environmental impact. This paper examines some of these challenges, the research which has been undertaken into their scale, routes being exploited to improve efficiency and what gains have already been achieved. It also looks at some of the mitigating factors of dairy and livestock production that help mitigate any environmental costs and ensure we are making the most efficient use of available land.
Food and drink waste from households in the UK
Authors: Quested T. E. , Parry A. D. , Easteal S. , Swannell R. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryReducing the amount of food and drink that is wasted is a key element in developing a sustainable food system. In the UK, the largest contribution to food waste is from homes: 8.3 million tonnes per year, costing consumers £12 billion and contributing 3% of UK greenhouse gas emissions. This paper describes recent insights gained from research by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and others into the types of food wasted, why it is wasted and what can be done to minimise it. The research methods used – which have parallels with dietary research – are described and findings of interest to the field of nutrition are highlighted, including the impact of waste on intake (e.g. 0.8 portions of fruit and vegetables are wasted per person per day). The activities undertaken by WRAP and its partners to minimise household food waste are described: consumer engagement and working with retailers and food manufacturers to help consumers to buy the right amount, keep what they buy at its best and use what they buy. Between 2006–2007 and 2009, the amount of household food waste reduced, this is discussed in light of the work of WRAP and its partners, and other influences such as food prices. Areas for future research and engagement to further reduce the quantity and impact of food waste are outlined.
Making sustainable choices easier
Authors: Davies Sue 
Published: November 2011

SummaryAs policy makers grapple with the challenge of producing more food sustainably, consumers will increasingly be affected in terms of the food on offer and the choices they are encouraged to make. Which? research shows little awareness among consumers of the environmental impact of what they eat, but many would be open to making more sustainable choices if it was easy to do so. Simpler, user‐friendly information and advice about how to make more sustainable choices is necessary. Much can be learned from efforts to enable healthier choices, including the lack of consistent, user‐friendly labelling. But consumers' choices are determined by many factors and conflicting demands as well as synergies need to be made more explicit. Many of our choices are determined before food reaches the supermarket and so it is essential that consumers' views and expectations are also taken into account when decisions are made about the future direction of food policy and production.
Inter‐temporal changes in analysts’ forecast properties under the Australian continuous disclosure regime
Authors: Hsu Grace C.‐M. , Lindsay Steven , Tutticci Irene 
Published: November 2011

AbstractCorporate disclosure regulations are important mechanisms for investor protection. This study examines the inter‐temporal changes in analysts’ forecast properties over the period 1988–2001 as Australia’s continuous disclosure regulation and enforcement intensity changed. The effectiveness of the continuous disclosure regime has been a question of interest since its inception, but research in this area is limited. Our results suggest that analysts’ forecast accuracy and dispersion improved for sample firms in response to the proposal and introduction of continuous disclosure regulations. However, following increased enforcement from 1998, analysts’ forecast dispersion deteriorated for small firms, possibly due to a decrease in private information received by financial analysts as regulators became more proactive in enforcing the ban on selective disclosure.
Recent advances towards development and commercialization of plant cell culture processes for the synthesis of biomolecules
Authors: Wilson Sarah A. , Roberts Susan C. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryPlant cell culture systems were initially explored for use in commercial synthesis of several high‐value secondary metabolites, allowing for sustainable production that was not limited by the low yields associated with natural harvest or the high cost associated with complex chemical synthesis. Although there have been some commercial successes, most notably paclitaxel production from Taxus sp., process limitations exist with regards to low product yields and inherent production variability. A variety of strategies are being developed to overcome these limitations including elicitation, in situ product removal and metabolic engineering with single genes and transcription factors. Recently, the plant cell culture production platform has been extended to pharmaceutically active heterologous proteins. Plant systems are beneficial because they are able to produce complex proteins that are properly glycosylated, folded and assembled without the risk of contamination by toxins that are associated with mammalian or microbial production systems. Additionally, plant cell culture isolates transgenic material from the environment, allows for more controllable conditions over field‐grown crops and promotes secretion of proteins to the medium, reducing downstream purification costs. Despite these benefits, the increase in cost of heterologous protein synthesis in plant cell culture as opposed to field‐grown crops is significant and therefore processes must be optimized with regard to maximizing secretion and enhancing protein stability in the cell culture media. This review discusses recent advancements in plant cell culture processing technology, focusing on progress towards overcoming the problems associated with commercialization of these production systems and highlighting recent commercial successes.
The Opportunity Cost of Climate Policy: A Question of Reference*
Authors: Rezai Armon 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe cost of climate policy depends on the no‐policy alternative without which the “opportunity cost” of climate action cannot be determined. This baseline path has to reflect the current failure in the market for carbon emissions. Because of a negative externality, private investment decisions are made without considering the climate damage they entail. Agents overinvest in conventional capital and underinvest in climate capital. Internalization of climate damage lowers the private return to capital, and agents reduce investment in favor of mitigation and consumption. Optimal climate policy increases the welfare of both the present and the future. A simulation of the inefficient no‐policy scenario in the Dynamic Integrated Climate–Economy model (DICE‐07) confirms this numerically.
Organizational Form as a Mechanism to Involve Staff, Public and Users in Public Services: A Study of the Governance of NHS Foundation Trusts
Authors: Allen Pauline , Townsend Jean , Dempster Paul , Wright John , Hutchings Andrew , Keen Justin 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn addition to introducing markets and market‐like structures into public services, New Labour wished to promote the involvement of users and the public in decision‐making in other ways than as individual consumers. One way was to involve the public in the governance of organizations. This could be done by removing public services from state control, and transferring them to mutual ownership; or by increasing public involvement in the governance of public bodies. NHS foundation trusts (FTs) were presented as mutuals. Our study shows FTs are not mutuals, as they continue to be owned by the state. Moreover, staff of FTs were generally not engaging with the new governance structures. In general, there was mixed experience of the new structures enabling governors to increase accountability of the hospitals to the public. On the other hand, having a membership did enhance the legitimacy of FTs, as opposed to other NHS organizations. The findings of the study are of current interest as the coalition government is continuing with the policy of FTs, and also encouraging mutuals and other forms of public involvement.
Time‐Varying Spillover Effects on Sectoral Equity Returns
Authors: Balli Hatice Ozer , Balli Faruk , Louis Rosmy Jean 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the integration of the Euro‐ and US‐wide sector equity indices by focusing on the return, volatility, and trend spillover effects of local and global shocks. We explore that unlike volatility spillovers, return spillovers are not significant enough to explain sector equity returns. Moreover, we are able to show that when the trend is incorporated into the volatility spillover analysis, a number of sector equity indices tend to react similarly to local and global shocks. Following this path, we arrive at four major sector groups: production and industry; consumer goods and services; financial; and technology, media, and telecommunication across Euro‐ and US‐wide sector equity indices.
Europe and Its Empires: From Rome to the European Union*
Authors: MARKS GARY 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThis article claims that the territorial structure of government results from a tension between scale and community. The benefits of scale arise from the nature of public goods, and include economic exchange, political power and protection against external shocks. Communities are double‐edged in that they are characterized by parochial altruism. Altruism and social solidarity facilitate government within communities, but parochial attachments constrain government among communities. Scale and community, as theorized here, provide a setting for strategic choice. Both are in flux as patterns of human interaction change, and government itself shapes those patterns. Evidence is drawn from the five largest polities in the history of western Europe: the Roman Empire, the Frankish Empire, Napoleonic France, the Third Reich and the European Union.
Aiming for the bull's eye: Preparing for throwing investigated with event‐related brain potentials
Authors: Frömer Romy , Hafner Verena , Sommer Werner 
Published: November 2011

AbstractWe explored the feasibility of investigating complex goal‐directed actions with event‐related brain potentials by studying the aiming phase of throwing. A virtual reality environment was set up, allowing aimed throws at distant targets, with participants standing upright and moving relatively unrestrained. After a separate practice session, the contingent negative variation (CNV) was measured during preparation for a simple button release, unaimed throws, and aimed throws at targets of two levels of difficulty. Consistent with expectations, CNV amplitude was larger for all throwing conditions compared to button release. It further increased with task difficulty in the aimed throwing conditions, reflecting the increasing motor programming demands for more difficult goal‐directed actions. Therefore, investigating throwing as an instance of complex goal‐directed action with ERPs is feasible, opening interesting perspectives for future research.
Effects of body size on sex‐related migration vary between two closely related gull species with similar size dimorphism
Authors: BOSMAN DAVY S. , VERCRUIJSSE HARRY J. P. , STIENEN ERIC W. M. , VINCX MAGDA , DE NEVE LIESBETH , LENS LUC 
Published: November 2011

Studies of migration have revealed multiple trade‐offs with other life‐history traits that may underlie observed variation in migratory properties among ages and sexes. To assess whether, and to what extent, body size and/or sex‐specific differences in competition for resources (e.g. breeding territories or winter food) may shape variation in migration distance and timing of arrival in ecologically and phylogenetically related species, we combined over 30 000 sightings of individually marked, sexually mature males and females of Herring GullsLarus argentatusand Lesser Black‐Backed GullsLarus fuscuswith biometric measurements and phenological observations at a mixed breeding colony. InL. argentatus, larger males migrated further from the breeding colony, whereas migration distance was independent of body size in adult females. InL. fuscus, no relationship between body size and migration distance was apparent in either sex. Mean arrival dates at the breeding colony did not vary with migration distances but differed between males and females ofL. argentatus(but notL. fuscus). As allometry at least partly explains sexual segregation in migration behaviour inL. argentatus, but not inL. fuscus, we conclude that the effect of body size on sex‐related migratory strategies may vary between closely related, sympatric species despite similar size dimorphism.
The Productivity and Cost‐Efficiency of Models for Involving Nurse Practitioners in Primary Care: A Perspective from Queueing Analysis
Authors: Liu Nan , D'Aunno Thomas 
Published: November 2011

ObjectiveTo develop simple stylized models for evaluating the productivity and cost‐efficiencies of different practice models to involve nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary care, and in particular to generate insights on what affects the performance of these models and how.Data Sources and Study DesignThe productivity of a practice model is defined as the maximum number of patients that can be accounted for by the model under a given timeliness‐to‐care requirement; cost‐efficiency is measured by the corresponding annual cost per patient in that model. Appropriate queueing analysis is conducted to generate formulas and values for these two performance measures. Model parameters for the analysis are extracted from the previous literature and survey reports. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the model performance under different scenarios and to verify the robustness of findings.Principal FindingsEmploying an NP, whose salary is usually lower than a primary care physician, may not be cost‐efficient, in particular when the NP's capacity is underutilized. Besides provider service rates, workload allocation among providers is one of the most important determinants for the cost‐efficiency of a practice model involving NPs. Capacity pooling among providers could be a helpful strategy to improve efficiency in care delivery.ConclusionsThe productivity and cost‐efficiency of a practice model depend heavily on how providers organize their work and a variety of other factors related to the practice environment. Queueing theory provides useful tools to take into account these factors in making strategic decisions on staffing and panel size selection for a practice model.
State‐Level Variations in Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy
Authors: Bharmal Nazleen , Tseng Chi‐Hong , Kaplan Robert , Wong Mitchell D. 
Published: November 2011

ObjectiveTo explore state patterns in the racial life expectancy gap.Data SourcesThe 1997–2004 Multiple Cause of Death PUF, 2000 U.S. Census.Study DesignWe calculated life expectancy at birth for black and white men and women.Data Extraction MethodsData were obtained by the NCHS and U.S. Census Bureau.Principal FindingsStates with small racial differences are due to higher‐than‐expected life expectancy for blacks or lower‐than‐expected for whites. States with large disparity are explained by higher‐than‐average life expectancy among whites or lower‐than‐average life expectancy among blacks.ConclusionsHeterogeneous state patterns in racial disparity in life expectancy exist. Eliminating disparity in states with large black populations would make the greatest impact nationally.
Testing the Effect of Function‐Focused Care in Assisted Living
Authors: Resnick Barbara , Galik Elizabeth , Gruber‐Baldini Ann , Zimmerman Sheryl 
Published: November 2011

ObjectivesTo develop and test the Function‐Focused Care in Assisted Living (FFC‐AL) intervention so as to alter the decline that older adults in AL experience.DesignCluster‐randomized controlled trial using repeated measures to test the effect of FFC‐AL.SettingFour AL facilities with at least 100 beds.ParticipantsOne hundred seventy‐one residents and 96 direct care workers (DCWs) were recruited. Ninety‐five of the DCWs were female (99%), and 59 were black (62%), with a mean age of 41.7 ± 13.8. The residents were mostly female (80%), white (93%), and widowed (80%), with a mean age of 87.7 ± 5.7.InterventionFFC‐AL included four components implemented by a research‐supported function focused‐care nurse (FFCN) and a site‐identified champion over a 12‐month period. Control sites were exposed to FFC education only.MeasurementsOutcomes for residents included psychosocial domains (mood, resilience, self‐efficacy, and outcome expectations for function and physical activity), function, gait and balance, and actigraphy. Outcomes for DCWs included knowledge, performance, and beliefs associated with FFC.ResultsDCWs in treatment sites provided more FFC by 12 months than those in control sites. Residents in treatment sites demonstrated less decline in function, a greater percentage returned to ambulatory status, and there were positive trends demonstrating more time in moderate‐level physical activity at 4 months and more overall counts of activity at 12 months than for residents in control sites.ConclusionUsing a function‐focused approach in AL may help prevent some of the functional decline commonly noted in these settings.
Language Concordance and Patient–Physician Communication Regarding Mental Health Needs
Authors: August Kristin J. , Nguyen Hannah , Ngo‐Metzger Quyen , Sorkin Dara H. 
Published: November 2011

Language‐related communication barriers between minority patients and their physicians may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care. Accordingly, the current study sought to examine whether perceived mental health needs and discussion of these needs differed as a function of race or ethnicity and language concordance in older Latinos and Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs). Using the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, the analytical sample included Latinos and APIs aged 55 and older (N = 2,960) who reported having seen a primary care provider within the past 2 years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine differences according to race or ethnicity and language concordance status (three groups: English‐language concordant, other‐language concordant, language discordant) in perceived mental health needs and discussion of those needs with a physician, adjusting for respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics and mental health status. There were no significant differences in respondents’ perceptions of their mental health needs across race or ethnicity or level of language concordance status (Ps > .41), although there were significant differences in whether respondents had discussed their mental health needs with their physicians according to participant race or ethnicity and language concordance status (adjusted odds ratio = 0.47, P = .04). Specifically, Spanish language‐concordant Latinos were just as likely to discuss their mental health needs with their physicians as English language‐concordant Latinos. In contrast, Asian language‐concordant APIs were less likely to discuss their mental health needs with their physicians than English language‐concordant APIs. There were no significant differences between language‐discordant and English language‐concordant older adults in predicting discussion of mental health concerns. These findings underscore the importance of overcoming language‐related and cultural barriers to improve patient‐provider discussions of older adults’ mental health needs.