bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The learning study as an approach for “clinical” subject matter didactic research
Authors: Carlgren Ingrid 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to the conceptual classification of learning study as a research approach.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is mainly theoretical, drawing on articles concerning classroom‐based research approaches as well as on some distinctions between a university‐based science of the universal and a clinical science of the particular.FindingsThe main argument of the article is that learning studies can neither be subsumed under “design and development research” (because this type of research does not include the professional actor) nor under “teacher research” (because it does not pay much attention to theoretical knowledge) nor should it be regarded as a hybrid between design experiments and lesson studies. In spite of similarities to both it should rather be described as clinical research (in analogy to medical clinical research). The use of teachers’ experiences and tacit knowing in the knowledge‐producing process, the iterative process of specification of theory, and the uniqueness of the learning problems among different groups of pupils are central aspects of a particularistic clinical research process. In comparison with lesson study, the learning study is more focussed on constructing knowledge concerning objects of learning as well as teaching‐learning relations. Teachers are included in the research as interpretative professionals making professional sense of particular educational events.Originality/valueThe paper promotes the conceptual discussion of the learning study approach, as well as of both lesson and learning studies as research approaches, i.e. as knowledge‐producing practices.
Learning study in pre‐school: teachers’ awareness of children's learning and what they actually learn
Authors: Holmqvist Mona , Brante Göran , Tullgren Charlotte 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe pre‐school children's learning during a learning study, and their teachers’ awareness of each child's learning possibilities in relation to what they actually learned. The paper's aims are twofold; first, to focus on how to design learning study in pre‐school settings; and second, to study young children's (aged 4‐5) learning.Design/methodology/approachThe data consist of three videotaped interviews with each participating child (n=39), three videotaped interventions and one videotaped interview each with three pre‐school teachers.FindingsThe results show: an increased learning outcome in all three groups; there is a discrepancy between what the children actually learned and the teachers’ awareness about the children's possibilities. The teachers’ awareness of the children's learning possibilities differ from what the children actually learned.Originality/valueLearning study is usually used in school settings, but this paper shows its potential also in pre‐school settings. Beside this, the results indicate that there is a risk that if teachers’ expectations are too high or too low, they will affect children's abilities to learn in either a positive or a negative way by not offering the children sufficiently challenging tasks. By the use of learning study the teachers became aware of this discrepancy and were able to reassess their expectations for each child according to their abilities.
Students’ open dimensions of variation
Authors: Kullberg Angelika 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on how the content of a single lesson that dealt with the addition and subtraction of negative numbers was handled in the interaction between students and a teacher in the 7th grade. The study is a follow‐up of a learning study and can be described as a teaching experiment. In total, four critical features for students’ learning were identified in the learning study.Design/methodology/approachIn the new study, the teacher deliberately did not bring up all the critical features of the object of learning in one lesson. The aim was to see how different critical features made a difference for student learning.FindingsThe results show that a particular student's questions had an impact on the critical features that were brought up and hence on what it is possible to learn. In this lesson it was the students that opened some of the dimensions of variation for learning negative numbers.Originality/valueThe paper suggests that being aware of critical features could help the teacher in the interaction with the students and their questions.
A nationwide analysis of risk factors for mortality and time to endoscopy in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage
Authors: Wysocki J. D. , Srivastav S. , Winstead N. S. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryBackgroundWe analysed nationwide in‐patient data from 2002 to 2007 to determine significant demographic variables when predicting mortality and receipt of prompt oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) for acute variceal haemorrhage (AVH) and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (NVUGIH).AimTo study the effects of demographic variables in predicting time to endoscopy and mortality in AVH and NVUGIH.MethodsWe analysed the United States' Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), for risk factors for mortality and receipt of OGD within 1 day of admission for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.ResultsRisk factors for increased mortality in AVH included: age >60, men, African Americans, comorbidities, insurance type and delayed OGD. Risk factors for increased mortality in NVUGIH were similar to AVH, except race which was not significant. After correction for factors such as insurance type, comorbidity, hospital location and time to endoscopy, this increased risk of mortality persisted, suggesting that none of these factors was the primary cause of the observed differences. For AVH, OGD within 1 day of admission was more likely in men, White Americans, patients aged 18–40 years, privately insured and those with no comorbidities. OGD within 1 day of admission in NVUGIH was more likely in men, patients age 40–60, Whites, Hispanics, privately insured and those with a single comorbidity.ConclusionsIn multivariate analysis, in‐patient mortality in AVH and NVUGIH increased with age, comorbidity, male gender, and delayed time to endoscopy. Young, healthier men were most likely to receive OGD within 1 day of admission. African Americans were less likely to receive OGD within 1 day of admission and had increased mortality in cases of AVH.
Effects of grazing and precipitation on herbage production, herbage nutritive value and performance of sheep in continental steppe
Authors: Schönbach P. , Wan H. , Gierus M. , Loges R. , Müller K. , Lin L. , Susenbeth A. , Taube F. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe present study highlights the effects of sheep grazing and precipitation on herbage and animal performance in a grazed steppe of Inner Mongolia. Experimental data were collected during grazing periods of four consecutive years (2005–2008), and effects were analysed across a gradient of seven grazing intensities. Variation in annual precipitation, reflected by the effect of ‘year’, was the major factor affecting herbage; i.e., the production and nutritive value of herbage increased with increasing precipitation. Herbage parameters were also affected by grazing intensity, as herbage production (HP) and herbage nutritive yields decreased, while herbage nutritive values increased with increasing grazing intensity. The grazing‐induced decrease in herbage nutritive yields suggests that decreases in HP offset the positive effect of grazing on the nutritive value. Liveweight gain (LWG) was predominantly affected by grazing intensity, as LWG per sheep and per ha decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing grazing intensity. However, responses varied among years: LWG per sheep was maximized by light grazing in the drought year and by moderate grazing the wet year. Our results showed that herbage shortage at high grazing intensities reduces LWG per sheep and thus diminishes responses in LWG per ha. Nevertheless, the highest grazing intensity provides highest animal production per ha in the short term; however, this is not sustainable in the mid‐ and long term because decreasing HP induces degradation processes. Based on our results, a reduction in grazing intensity that still provides 78% of the maximum LWG per ha meets the requirements of a sustainable grazing management.
Does pre‐grazing herbage mass really affect herbage intake and milk production of strip‐grazing dairy cows?
Authors: Pérez‐Prieto L. A. , Peyraud J. L. , Delagarde R. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe effect of pre‐grazing herbage mass (HM) on herbage intake and milk production of strip‐grazing dairy cows is usually studied at the same herbage allowance (HA). In the literature, the effect of HM seems to be affected by the cutting height above which HA is estimated. The aim of this 2 × 3 factorial study was to determine whether the effect of HM (low vs high HM) on herbage intake, milk production and grazing behaviour of dairy cows is affected by the HA estimation height (ground level vs 2·5 vs 5 cm). Two HMs were compared in three different ways: at same HA above ground level (SHA0), at same HA above 2·5 cm (SHA2) and at same HA above 5 cm (SHA5). During two consecutive years, twenty‐four Holstein‐Friesian dairy cows in mid‐lactation were assigned to one estimation height in an incomplete switchback design, with two 14‐d periods. There was an interaction between HM and estimation height for herbage intake and milk production. The effect of HM on herbage intake was positive, null and negative when HMs were compared at SHA0, SHA2and SHA5, respectively. This study may have practical implications on future research for studying, directly or indirectly, the effect of pre‐grazing HM under strip‐ or rotational‐grazing management, and on modelling herbage intake at grazing.
Morphological and molecular diversity of Colletotrichum spp. causing pepper spot and anthracnose of lychee (Litchi chinensis) in Australia
Authors: Anderson J. M. , Aitken E. A. B. , Dann E. K. , Coates L. M. 
Published: May 2012

Since the 1980s a new disease has been affecting Australian lychee. Pepper spot appears as small, black superficial lesions on fruit, leaves, petioles and pedicels and is caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the same fungus that causes postharvest anthracnose of lychee fruit. The aim of this study was to determine if a new genotype of C. gloeosporioides is responsible for the pepper spot symptom. Morphological assessments, arbitrarily‐primed PCR (ap‐PCR) and DNA sequencing studies did not differentiate isolates of C. gloeosporioides from anthracnose and pepper spot lesions. The ap‐PCR identified 21 different genotypes of C. gloeosporioides, three of which were predominant. A specific genotype identified using ap‐PCR was associated with the production of the teleomorph in culture. Analysis of sequence data of ITS and β‐tubulin regions of representative isolates did not group the lychee isolates into a monophyletic clade; however, given the majority of the isolates were from one of three genotypes found using ap‐PCR, the possibility of a lychee specific group of C. gloeosporioides is discussed.
Non‐random distribution of weed species abundance in arable fields
Authors: BORGY B , GABA S , PETIT S , REBOUD X 
Published: May 2012

Borgy B, Gaba S, Petit S & Reboud X (2012) Non‐random distribution of weed species abundance in arable fields. Weed Research52, 383–389.SummaryMany decisions for pest control in agriculture are based on densities, rather than species presence only. Little is known about the distribution of pest abundance and even less when several species present in a field may interact. With the aim of developing an ecologically based approach to weed management, we compared observed co‐occurrence patterns with a null model, to test whether the abundances of weed species were randomly assembled. The data set covered the pattern of co‐occurrence of abundances of weeds within 200‐m2 plots located in 1143 arable fields scattered across France. Our results pinpointed a highly significant ‘similar attraction–dissimilar repulsion’ rule, as species reaching similar abundance levels co‐occurred significantly more often than expected under the hypothesis of a random distribution of abundance. A similar analysis applied to the 25% plots that had the highest weed densities indicated that the ‘similar attraction–dissimilar repulsion’ rule held true for low‐abundance classes, but not in situations where at least one species was observed at densities above 20 individuals m−2. Our analysis extends the analysis of community beyond the sole species richness index by accounting for their abundance. Overall, weed species interfered or responded similarly to an external biotic or abiotic factor, with resulting adjustment of densities at the scale of the agricultural field.
The sensitivity of predicted financial and genetic gains in Holsteins to changes in the economic value of traits
Authors: Cottle D.J. , Coffey M.P. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe objective of this study was to assess the impact of using different relative economic values (REVs) in selection indices on predicted financial and trait gains from selection of sires of cows and on the choice of leading Holstein bulls available in the UK dairy industry. Breeding objective traits were milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, lifespan, mastitis, non‐return rate, calving interval and lameness. Relative importance of a trait, as estimated by a.h2, was only moderately related to the rate of financial loss or total economic merit (ΔTEM) per percentage under‐ or overestimation of REV (r = 0.38 and 0.29, respectively) as a result of the variance–covariance structure of traits. The effects on TEM of under‐ or overestimating trait REVs were non‐symmetrical. TEM was most sensitive to incorrect REVs for protein, fat, milk and lifespan and least sensitive to incorrect calving interval, lameness, non‐return and mastitis REVs. A guide to deciding which dairy traits require the most rigorous analysis in the calculation of their REVs is given. Varying the REVs within a fairly wide range resulted in different bulls being selected by index and their differing predicted transmitting abilities would result in the herds moving in different directions in the long term (20 years). It is suggested that customized indices, where the farmer creates rankings of bulls tailored to their specific farm circumstances, can be worthwhile.
Optimal contribution selection applied to the Norwegian and the North‐Swedish cold‐blooded trotter – a feasibility study
Authors: Olsen H. F. , Meuwissen T. , Klemetsdal G. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe aim of this study was to examine how to apply optimal contribution selection (OCS) in the Norwegian and the North‐Swedish cold‐blooded trotter and give practical recommendations for the future. OCS was implemented using the software Gencont with overlapping generations and selected a few, but young sires, as these turn over the generations faster and thus is less related to the mare candidates. In addition, a number of Swedish sires were selected as they were less related to the selection candidates. We concluded that implementing OCS is feasible to select sires (there is no selection on mares), and we recommend the number of available sire candidates to be continuously updated because of amongst others deaths and geldings. In addition, only considering sire candidates with phenotype above average within a year class would allow selection candidates from many year classes to be included and circumvent current limitation on number of selection candidates in Gencont (approx. 3000). The results showed that mare candidates can well be those being mated the previous year. OCS will, dynamically, recruit young stallions and manage the culling or renewal of annual breeding permits for stallions that had been previously approved. For the annual mating proportion per sire, a constraint in accordance with the maximum that a sire can mate naturally is recommended.
MACROPRUDENTIAL POLICY – A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Galati Gabriele , Moessner Richhild 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe recent financial crisis has highlighted the need to go beyond a purely micro approach to financial regulation and supervision. As a consequence, the number of policy speeches, research papers and conferences that discuss a macro perspective on financial regulation has grown considerably. The policy debate is focusing in particular on macroprudential tools and their usage, their relationship with monetary policy, their implementation and their effectiveness. Macroprudential policy has recently also attracted considerable attention among researchers. This paper provides an overview of research on this topic. We also identify important future research questions that emerge from both the literature and the current policy debate.
Low serum uric acid concentration in Parkinson's disease in southern Spain
Authors: Jesús S. , Pérez I. , Cáceres‐Redondo M. T. , Carrillo F. , Carballo M. , Gómez‐Garre P. , Mir P. 
Published: May 2012

Background and purposeUric acid (UA) is thought to have an antioxidant effect on the central nervous system and may also prevent cerebral damage induced by oxidative stress. Our study aimed to investigate whether patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) had lower serum UA concentrations than controls and whether UA concentration was related to clinical parameters of the disease.MethodsWe included 161 patients with PD and 178 controls from southern Spain. UA concentration was compared between these two groups. Clinical parameters including severity of the disease were related to serum UA.ResultsPatients with PD showed statistically significant lower serum UA concentrations than controls. Serum UA concentration was lower in patients with PD in severe stages (4 and 5) than in those in moderate stage (2) according to the modified Hoehn and Yahr scale. Other clinical parameters were not related to serum UA concentration, except for levodopa equivalent daily dose that was associated with lower serum UA concentration in men.ConclusionsOur study produced consistent findings that UA might have a protective effect against PD and could influence its clinical progression.
ATXN8 −62 G/A promoter polymorphism and risk of Taiwanese Parkinson's disease
Authors: Chen I.‐C. , Wu Y.‐R. , Yang S.‐J. , Kao S.‐H. , Chen Y.‐C. , Chang K.‐H. , Lee C.‐M. , Lee‐Chen G.‐J. , Chen C.‐M. 
Published: May 2012

Background and purposeWe recently reported a novel −62 G/A polymorphism within ataxin 8 (ATXN8) gene promoter region, with −62 G displaying significantly higher luciferase activity compared with −62 A. Phenotypic variability in spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) has been suggested, and large SCA8 repeats were found in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to investigate the association of ATXN8 −62 G/A polymorphism with the risk of Taiwanese PD, and identify the trans‐acting factor modulating the ATXN8 promoter activity.MethodsA case–control study in a cohort of 569 PD cases and 547 ethnically matched controls was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme analysis. The trans‐acting factor binding to the ATXN8 promoter was examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)‐PCR assay, cDNA co‐transfection and luciferase reporter assay.ResultsWhen genotype distribution was calculated by comparing the rare AA genotype with the GG + GA genotypes (recessive model), a significant difference was found (P = 0.035, 1 df). Individuals carrying AA genotype exhibited a decreased risk of developing PD (odds ratio: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.55–0.98, P = 0.035). After stratification by age, individuals over 60 years of age carrying AA genotype demonstrated a further decrease in the risk of developing PD (odds ratio: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43–0.96, P = 0.030). ChIP‐PCR and cDNA over‐expression revealed that CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein alpha binds to the ATXN8 proximal promoter to upregulate ATXN8 expression in neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells.ConclusionsOur data suggest that ATXN8 −62 G/A polymorphism plays a role in Taiwanese PD susceptibility.
Interrater reliability and convergent validity of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology for conducting systematic reviews
Authors: WIART LESLEY , KOLASKI KAT , BUTLER CHARLENE , VOGTLE LAURA , LOGAN LYNNE ROMEISER , HICKMAN ROBBIN , ROMEISER JAMIE , SAMSON‐FANG LISA , MATSUBA CAREY A , BAIRD MICAH W , ROXBOROUGH LORI , MAYSON TANJA , DINU IRINA 
Published: May 2012

Aim  The aim of this study was to evaluate the interrater reliability and convergent validity of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine’s (AACPDM) methodology for conducting systematic reviews (group design studies).Method  Four clinicians independently rated 24 articles for the level of evidence and conduct using AACPDM methodology. Study conduct was also assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project scale. Raters were randomly assigned to one of two pairs to resolve discrepancies. The level of agreement between individual raters and pairs was calculated using kappa (α=0.05) and intraclass correlations (ICCs; α=0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the relationship between raters’ categorization of quality categories using the two tools.Results  There was acceptable agreement between raters (κ=0.77; p<0.001; ICC=0.90) and between assigned pairs (κ=0.83; p<0.001; ICC=0.96) for the level of evidence ratings. There was acceptable agreement between pairs for four of the seven conduct questions (κ=0.53–0.87). ICCs (all raters) for conduct category ratings (weak, moderate, and strong) also indicated good agreement (ICC=0.76). Spearman’s rho indicated a significant positive correlation for the overall quality category comparisons of the two tools (0.52; p<0.001).Conclusions  The AACPDM rating system has acceptable interrater reliability. Evaluation of its study quality ratings demonstrated reasonable agreement when compared with a similar tool.
Congenital non‐central nervous system malformations in cerebral palsy: a distinct subset?
Authors: SELF LAUREN , DAGENAIS LYNN , SHEVELL MICHAEL 
Published: May 2012

Aim  The aim of this article was to identify and contrast the subset of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and non‐central nervous system (CNS) congenital malformations with children with CP but no coexisting non‐CNS congenital malformations.Method  A population‐based regional comprehensive CP registry was used to identify children with CP who had non‐CNS congenital malformations (n=34; 19 males, 15 females; 22 classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I–III, 12 as GMFCS level IV or V). Their clinical features were then compared with other children with CP without non‐CNS congenital malformations (n=207; 115 males, 92 females; 138 classified as GMFCS levels I–III, 69 as GMFCS level IV or V).Results  Children with CP and non‐CNS congenital malformations did not differ from those without in terms of neurological subtype distribution or functional severity, as measured by the GMFCS. Also, there was no association with previous maternal infections (i.e. toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 2 [TORCH]), maternal fever, use of illicit substances, asphyxia, neonatal encephalopathy, intraventricular haemorrhage, or septicaemia. The incidence of comorbidities such as convulsions, communication difficulties, gavage feeding, cortical blindness, and auditory impairment was not higher in this subgroup.Interpretation  The incidence of congenital non‐CNS malformations among children with CP is appreciable. Children with these non‐CNS malformations do not appear to differ from other children with CP regarding neurological subtype, functional severity, and comorbidities, or maternal or obstetrical factors. Thus, the specific presence of a non‐CNS congenital malformation does not appear to assist the practitioner in the management or understanding of a child’s CP.