bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prudent evidence‐fettered shared decision making
Authors: Bogdan‐Lovis Elizabeth (Libby) , Holmes‐Rovner Margaret 
Published: March 2010

AbstractIn its brief tenure evidence‐based medicine (EBM) has proven to be a powerful magnet for criticism, while at the same time it has demonstrated impressive resilience. Located within the ongoing critical discourse surrounding the strengths and weaknesses of an EBM approach is the persistent question of the proper place of the social sciences relative to other disciplinary perspectives. This article considers one way the social sciences might usefully illuminate EBM‐mediated human interactions to influence policy. We focus on the ethical nexus of the human impulse for unlimited consumption of health care resources in those situations where there exist competing clinical management options and suggest strategies for resource‐preserving shared decision making. We conclude that a frugal default option is a fruitful avenue for future exploration in such situations.
Evidence‐based medicine. The good the bad and the ugly. A clinician's perspective
Authors: Wilson Kumanan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractEvidence‐based medicine (EBM) has dramatically changed clinical practice but has had its share of both supporters and detractors. From a clinical perspective, EBM has improved critical thinking, empowered young clinicians/the public and allows for the generalizing research findings to large populations. However, one of the central problems with EBM is when it is used as a cookbook approach and independent thought is sacrificed in the process. Three examples of this include the inappropriate interpretation of significance testing, understanding the role of chance and examining subgroup effects. Perhaps the most scathing criticism of EBM is the susceptibility of clinical research to abuse and fraudulent practices. Therefore, as valuable as it has been to clinical practice, the practice EBM requires that it should be critiqued itself.
Applying a simulation model to the management of an infestation of Miconia calvescens in the wet tropics of Australia
Authors: HESTER S M , BROOKS S J , CACHO O J , PANETTA F D 
Published: March 2010

Hester SM, Brooks SJ, Cacho OJ & Panetta FD (2010). Applying a simulation model to the management of an infestation of Miconia calvescens in the wet tropics of Australia. Weed Research50, 269–279.SummaryA simulation model that combines biological, search and economic components is applied to the eradication of a Miconia calvescens infestation at El Arish in tropical Queensland, Australia. Information on the year M. calvescens was introduced to the site, the number of plants controlled and the timing of control, is used to show that currently there could be M. calvescens plants remaining undetected at the site, including some mature plants. Modelling results indicate that the eradication programme has had a significant impact on the population of M. calvescens, as shown by simulated results for uncontrolled and controlled populations. The model was also used to investigate the effect of changing search effort on the cost of and time to eradication. Control costs were found to be negligible over all levels of search effort tested. Importantly, results suggest eradication may be achieved within several decades, if resources are increased slightly from their current levels and if there is a long‐term commitment to funding the eradication programme.
Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase IIδ orchestrates G‐protein‐coupled receptor and electric field stimulation‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy
Authors: Zhang Wei , Qi Feng , Chen Dong‐Qin , Xiao Wen‐Yan , Wang Jing , Zhu Wei‐Zhong 
Published: March 2010

Summary1. G‐Protein‐coupled receptors (GPCR) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) regulate cardiac function and pathological remodelling, including cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase (CaMK) IIδ expression and activity are altered in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of CaMKIIδ isoforms on neonatal rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by GPCR and EFS.2. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by angiotensin II, phenylephrine or EFS and was confirmed by increases in cell volume, [3H]‐leucine incorporation, sarcomere assembly and mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic factor and β‐myosin heavy chain. The effects of the CaMKII inhibitors KN93 and autocamtide 2‐related inhibitory peptide (AIP) on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy were investigated, as was the effect of overexpression of dominate negative CaMKIIδ.3. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was inhibited by the CaMKII inhibitors KN93 and AIP and by overexpression of dominate negative CaMKIIδ, but was potentiated by overexpression of wild‐type CaMKIIδB or CaMKIIδC. Activation of CaMKII by GPCR agonists or EFS was inhibited by the CaMKII inhibitors.4. The GPCR agonists and EFS synergistically activated CaMKII and upregulated CaMKIIδB and CaMKIIδC mRNA expression and protein synthesis. All these effects were abolished by the CaMKII inhibitors.5. The findings of the present study indicate that CaMKII orchestrates additive prohypertrophic factors between GPCR agonists and EFS. Thus, CaMKII may be a useful target in the clinical treatment of hypertrophy and cardiac remodelling.
Effects of 3′,4′‐dihydroxyflavonol on vascular contractions of rat aortic rings
Authors: Song Min‐Ji , Baek Inji , Seo Minchul , Kim Sang‐Hyun , Suk Kyoungho , Woodman Owen L , Williams Spencer J , Kim In‐Kyeom 
Published: March 2010

Summary1. 3′,4′‐Dihydroxyflavonol (DiOHF) is an effective vasodilator with anti‐oxidant activity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of DiOHF on vascular contractions.2. Contractile and relaxation responses were determined in rat endothelium‐denuded aortic rings mounted in organ baths. In addition, the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC20), myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and protein kinase C (PKC)‐potentiated inhibitory protein for heterotrimeric myosin light chain phosphatase of 17 kDa (CPI‐17) was determined using western blot analaysis. Levels of GTP RhoA, as a marker of RhoA activation, were also measured.3. Cumulative addition of increasing concentrations of NaF (3.0–12.0 mmol/L) or U46619 (1.0–1000 nmol/L) concentration‐dependently increased vascular tension. These responses were inhibited by pretreatment of aortic rings with DiOHF (10, 30 or 100 μmol/L), which dose‐dependently decreased vascular contractions induced by 8.0 mmol/L NaF, 30 nmol/L U46619, 0.1 μmol/L phenylephrine and 50 mmol/L KCl.4. The K+ channel blockers 4‐aminopyridine (3 mmol/L), charybdotoxin (10 nmol/L), apamin (500 nmol/L) and glibenclamide (10 μmol/L) had no effect on vascular relaxation induced by DiOHF (1–30 μmol/L).5. At 30 μmol/L, DiOHF decreased the activation of RhoA and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1, CPI‐17 and MLC20 to almost basal levels.6. In conclusion, DiOHF decreases vascular contraction at least partly by inhibition of the RhoA/Rho‐kinase pathway in rat endothelium‐denuded aorta. These results suggest that DiOHF may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
A reciprocal peer review system to support college students' writing
Authors: Yang Yu‐Fen 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAs students' problem‐solving processes in writing are rarely observed in face‐to‐face instruction, they have few opportunities to participate collaboratively in peer review to improve their texts. This study reports the design of a reciprocal peer review system for students to observe and learn from each other when writing. A sample of 95 undergraduate students was recruited to construct texts with the support of web‐based reciprocal peer review in the processes of modelling, coaching, scaffolding, articulation, reflection and exploration. The results of the study revealed that these six processes helped students externalise and visualise their internal writing processes so that they could observe and learn from peers in writing as well as support peers in making text revisions. During their extensive and reciprocal interactions with various peers, students addressed mutual concerns in each other's text revisions. They constructed collaborative language knowledge for text improvement as local revisions (grammatical corrections) and global revisions (corrections on the development, organization or style of a text) were made in their final texts. The students' perceptions towards text improvement in this web‐based peer review of modelling, coaching, scaffolding, articulation, reflection and exploration are also discussed in this study.
Measuring Complexity in Lagrangian and Eulerian Flow Descriptions
Authors: Jänicke H. , Scheuermann G. 
Published: March 2010

Abstract Automatic detection of relevant structures in scientific data sets is still one of the big challenges in visualization. Techniques based on information theory have shown to be a promising direction to automatically highlight interesting subsets of a time‐dependent data set. The methods that have been proposed so far, however, were restricted to the Eulerian view. In the Eulerian description of motion, a position fixed in space is observed over time. In fluid dynamics, however, not only the site‐specific analysis of the flow is of interest, but also the temporal evolution of particles that are advected through the domain by the flow. This second description of motion is called the Lagrangian perspective. To support these two different frames of reference widely used in CFD research, we extend the notion of local statistical complexity (LSC) to make them applicable to Lagrangian and Eulerian flow descriptions. Thus, coherent structures can be identified by highlighting positions that either feature unusual temporal dynamics at a fixed position or that hold a particle that experiences such dynamics while passing through the position. A new area of application is opened by LagrangianLSC, which can be applied to short pathlines running through each position in the data set, as well as to individual pathlines computed for longer time intervals. Coloring the pathline according to the local complexity helps to detect extraordinary dynamics while the particle passes through the domain. The two techniques are explained and compared using different fluid flow examples.
Hamiltonian Dynamic Equations for Fluid Films
Authors: Grinfeld P. 
Published: March 2010

Two‐dimensional models for hydrodynamic systems, such as soap films, have been studied for over two centuries. Yet there has not existed a fully nonlinear system of dynamic equations analogous to the classical Euler equations. We propose the following exact system for the dynamics of a fluid film
image

Here δ/δ t is the invariant time derivative, ρ is the two‐dimensional density of the film, C is the normal component of the velocity field, Vα are the tangential components, Bαβ is the curvature tensor, and ∇α is the covariant surface derivative. The surface energy density e(ρ) is a generalization of the common surface tension and eρ is its derivative. The Laplace model corresponds to e(ρ) =σ/ρ, where σ is the surface tension density. The proper choice of e(ρ) in paramount in capturing particular effects displayed by fluid films.The proposed system is exact in the sense that neither velocities nor deviation from the equilibrium are assumed small. The system is derived in the classical Hamiltonian framework. The assumption that e is a function of ρ alone can be relaxed in practical physical and biological applications. This leads to more complicated systems, briefly discussed in the text.
Burst transcranial magnetic stimulation: which tinnitus characteristics influence the amount of transient tinnitus suppression?
Authors: Vanneste S. , Plazier M. , Van Der Loo E. , Ost J. , Van de Heyning P. , De Ridder D. 
Published: March 2010

Background:  Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a method capable of temporarily suppressing tinnitus by delivering tonic or burst stimuli. Burst TMS has a high interindividual variability and low effect size. Tinnitus type and laterality, tinnitus‐related distress, and tinnitus duration might contribute to this large individual variation.Methods:  The effect of burst TMS on the auditory cortex in 100 male individuals is evaluated with coil placed over the auditory cortex. For unilateral tinnitus, this coil was placed contralaterally to the tinnitus, whilst for bilateral tinnitus the coil was placed over the right auditory cortex. The site of maximal tinnitus suppression is determined using 1‐Hz stimulation with five pulses per burst (intensity of the stimulation set at 90% of the motor threshold). When tinnitus suppression is noted, the patients are asked to estimate the decrease in tinnitus in percentage using the numeric rating scale. The procedure is repeated with stimulations at 5, 10 and 20 Hz, each stimulation session consisting of 200 pulses.Results:  Results demonstrate that burst stimulation can decrease the perceived tinnitus intensity transiently in 57.83% of the patients. Patients with bilateral tinnitus respond better to burst TMS than patients with unilateral tinnitus and highly distressed patients presenting with unilateral pure tone tinnitus fail to bust TMS.Conclusions:  Burst TMS modulates both unilateral and bilateral tinnitus, both high and low distress and both pure tones and narrow band tinnitus. However, the suppression effect is moderated by tinnitus type and laterality, tinnitus‐related distress, and tinnitus duration.
Cluster Randomized‐Controlled Trial of Interventions to Improve Health for Adults with Intellectual Disability Who Live in Private Dwellings
Authors: Lennox Nicholas , Bain Chris , Rey‐Conde Therese , Taylor Miriam , Boyle Frances M. , Purdie David M. , Ware Robert S. 
Published: March 2010

Background  People with intellectual disability who live in the community often have poor health and healthcare, partly as a consequence of poor communication, recall difficulties and incomplete patient health information.Materials and Methods  A cluster randomized‐controlled trial with 2 × 2 factorial design was conducted with adults with intellectual disability to investigate two interventions to enhance interactions among adults with intellectual disability, their care providers and general practitioners (GPs). The interventions were the Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP), a one‐off health review tool, and the Ask health diary, designed for ongoing use. Follow‐up was for 12 months post‐intervention. Evidence of health promotion, disease prevention and case‐finding activities were extracted from GPs clinical records.Results  Increased health promotion, disease prevention and case‐finding activity were found in the intervention groups using the CHAP. It had a positive impact on Pneumococcus vaccination (OR 7.4; 95% CI: 1.5–37.1), hearing testing (4.5; 1.9–10.7), Hepatitis A vaccinations (5.4; 1.8–16.3), vision testing (3.4; 1.4–8.3), and weight measurement (3.1; 1.5–6.4). There were no strong changes in the measured outcomes in the group who used the Ask health diary alone.Conclusions  The use of the CHAP increased health promotion, disease prevention and case‐finding activity in adults with intellectual disability living in the community and confirms the previously demonstrated benefits of the CHAP can be extended to less formal residential settings. The use of the Ask health diary did not improve the measured healthcare activity, at least in the short term, although it may contribute in other ways towards better health.
A trial of two trouts: comparing the impacts of rainbow and brown trout on a native galaxiid
Authors: Young K. A. , Dunham J. B. , Stephenson J. F. , Terreau A. , Thailly A. F. , Gajardo G. , Garcia de Leaniz C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractRainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta are the world's two most widespread exotic fishes, dominate the fish communities of most cold‐temperate waters in the southern hemisphere and are implicated in the decline and extirpation of native fish species. Here, we provide the first direct comparison of the impacts of rainbow and brown trout on populations of a native fish by quantifying three components of exotic species impact: range, abundance and effect. We surveyed 54 small streams on the island of Chiloé in Chilean Patagonia and found that the rainbow trout has colonized significantly more streams and has a wider geographic range than brown trout. The two species had similar post‐yearling abundances in allopatry and sympatry, and their abundances depended similarly on reach‐level variation in the physical habitat. The species appeared to have dramatically different effects on native drift‐feeding Aplochiton spp., which were virtually absent from streams invaded by brown trout but shared a broad sympatric range with rainbow trout. Within this range, the species' post‐yearling abundances varied independently before and after controlling for variation in the physical habitat. In the north of the island, Aplochiton spp. inhabited streams uninvaded by exotic trouts. Our results provide a context for investigating the mechanisms responsible for apparent differences in rainbow and brown trout invasion biology and can help inform conservation strategies for native fishes in Chiloé and elsewhere.
Subtle – but easily reversible – anthropogenic disturbance seriously degrades habitat quality for rock‐dwelling reptiles
Authors: Pike D. A. , Croak B. M. , Webb J. K. , Shine R. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractEven apparently subtle disturbance to habitat may have severe long‐term consequences if that disturbance alters specific microhabitat features upon which animals depend. For example, in south‐eastern Australia, the endangered broad‐headed snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides and its prey (velvet geckos Oedura lesueurii) shelter in narrow crevices beneath sun‐warmed rocks. Humans frequently displace rocks while searching for snakes and lizards, and these reptiles are rarely found under such displaced rocks (even when the rocks superficially appear suitable). We quantified disturbance to rock outcrops and show that most disturbance was subtle (rocks were typically displaced <30 cm from their original position), but that disturbed rocks harbored fewer reptiles than undisturbed rocks. In a field experiment, we replaced half of the rocks back to their original positions to test whether crevice structure and microclimates differed between disturbed and restored rocks. Crevices beneath displaced rocks were larger and cooler than those beneath restored rocks, and precise repositioning of rocks enhanced usage by reptiles. Both crevice size and temperature influence reptile retreat‐site selection; hence, minor displacement of overlying rocks reduces habitat quality by modifying critical crevice attributes. The subtlety of this disturbance suggests that even well‐intentioned researchers could damage habitat during field surveys. Conservation of rock outcrop systems requires efforts to reduce rock disturbance, and to educate those searching for animals beneath rocks about the importance of replacing rocks properly. Encouragingly, if rocks are not completely removed, disturbed outcrops can be quickly and easily restored by returning displaced rocks to their original locations.
Microbial production of isotopically light iron(II) in a modern chemically precipitated sediment and implications for isotopic variations in ancient rocks
Authors: TANGALOS G. E. , BEARD B. L. , JOHNSON C. M. , ALPERS C. N. , SHELOBOLINA E. S. , XU H. , KONISHI H. , RODEN E. E. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe inventories and Fe isotope composition of aqueous Fe(II) and solid‐phase Fe compounds were quantified in neutral‐pH, chemically precipitated sediments downstream of the Iron Mountain acid mine drainage site in northern California, USA. The sediments contain high concentrations of amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxides [Fe(III)am] that allow dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) to predominate over Fe–S interactions in Fe redox transformation, as indicated by the very low abundance of Cr(II)‐extractable reduced inorganic sulfur compared with dilute HCl‐extractable Fe. δ56Fe values for bulk HCl‐ and HF‐extractable Fe were ≈ 0. These near‐zero bulk δ56Fe values, together with the very low abundance of dissolved Fe in the overlying water column, suggest that the pyrite Fe source had near‐zero δ56Fe values, and that complete oxidation of Fe(II) took place prior to deposition of the Fe(III) oxide‐rich sediment. Sediment core analyses and incubation experiments demonstrated the production of millimolar quantities of isotopically light (δ56Fe ≈ −1.5 to −0.5‰) aqueous Fe(II) coupled to partial reduction of Fe(III)am by DIR. Trends in the Fe isotope composition of solid‐associated Fe(II) and residual Fe(III)am are consistent with experiments with synthetic Fe(III) oxides, and collectively suggest an equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation between aqueous Fe(II) and Fe(III)am of approximately −2‰. These Fe(III) oxide‐rich sediments provide a model for early diagenetic processes that are likely to have taken place in Archean and Paleoproterozoic marine sediments that served as precursors for banded iron formations. Our results suggest pathways whereby DIR could have led to the formation of large quantities of low‐δ56Fe minerals during BIF genesis.
Is the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program system an adequate weighting for survival of hepatocellular carcinoma? Evaluation of intrascore prognostic value among 36 subgroups
Authors: Lin Chih‐Yun , Kee Kwong‐Ming , Wang Jing‐Houng , Lee Chuan‐Mo , Chen Chao‐Long , Changchien Chi‐Sin , Hu Tsung‐Hui , Cheng Yu‐Fan , Hsu Hsuan‐Chih , Wang Chih‐Chi , Chen Tai‐Yi , Lu Sheng‐Nan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground: The Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was subdivided into 36 subgroups. We aimed to validate the prognostic value of CLIP scoring.Methods: This study included 3868 HCC cases treated between 1986 and 2002. Survival and prognostic impact of all subgroups were analysed.Results: In primary CLIP, comparisons of each score showed a significant difference (P<0.001) and exhibited a linear trend (P<0.001). A CLIP score of 0 was used as control group. Portal vein thrombosis, Child–Pugh B, α‐fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/ml and multinodular with tumour extension ≤50% of the four subgroups with a CLIP score of 1 exhibited decreasing univariate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with values of 2.99 (2.05–4.37), 2.39 (2.00–2.86), 1.66 (1.40–1.96) and 1.39 (1.18–1.63) respectively. Homogeneity in the same score was evaluated by comparing subgroup survival curves. For scores 1–5, 83.3% (5/6), 57.1% (16/28), 24.4% (11/45), 3.6% (1/28) and 16.7% (1/6) pairs of survival curves significantly differed, respectively, with decreasing linear trend (P<0.001).Conclusion: Different prognostic weighting of four predictive factors caused intrascore heterogeneity. Lower CLIP scores were associated with increased differences in intrascore. In conclusion, the CLIP staging scoring system is a reasonable ordinal scale, but the clinician must be aware of the heterogeneity of mortality risk within a given score.