bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LiFE Pilot Study: A randomised trial of balance and strength training embedded in daily life activity to reduce falls in older adults
Authors: Clemson Lindy , Singh Maria Fiatarone , Bundy Anita , Cumming Robert G. , Weissel Elvina , Munro Jo , Manollaras Kate , Black Deborah 
Published: January 2010

Background:  Exercise as a falls prevention strategy is more complex with people at risk than with the general population. The Lifestyle approach to reducing Falls through Exercise (LiFE) involves embedding balance and lower limb strength training in habitual daily routines. Methods:  A total of 34 community‐residing people aged ≥70 years were randomised either into the LiFE programme or into a no‐intervention control group and followed up for six months. Inclusion criteria were two or more falls or an injurious fall in the past year. Results:  There were 12 falls in the intervention group and 35 in the control group. The
relative risk (RR) analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in falls (RR = 0.23; 0.07–0.83). There were indications that dynamic balance (
P
= 0.04 at three months) and efficacy beliefs (
P
= 0.04 at six months) improved for the LiFE programme participants. In general, secondary physical and health status outcomes, which were hypothesised as potential mediators of fall risk, improved minimally and inconsistently. Conclusions:  LiFE was effective in reducing recurrent falls in this at‐risk sample. However, there were minimal changes in secondary measures. The study was feasible in terms of recruitment, randomisation, blinding and data collection. A larger randomised trial is needed to investigate long‐term efficacy, mechanisms of benefit and clinical significance of this new intervention.
Trial of aripiprazole in the treatment of first‐episode schizophrenia
Authors: Lee Hwa‐Young , Ham Byung‐Joo , Kang Rhee‐Hun , Paik Jong‐Woo , Hahn Sang‐Woo , Lee Moon‐Soo , Lee Min‐Soo 
Published: January 2010

Aims:  Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia. It is effective and well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole in patients with first‐episode schizophrenia.Methods:  Twenty‐one patients meeting the DSM‐IV criteria for schizophrenia were recruited. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) were completed at the beginning of the study and again after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of aripiprazole treatment. Side‐effects were analyzed using the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side‐Effect Rating Scale. Weight was checked at each testing session, and prolactin levels were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of aripiprazole treatment.Results:  Significant benefits were observed after the first week of treatment. After 1 week of aripiprazole treatment, subscale and total scores on the PANSS had decreased significantly. This significant decrease was maintained throughout the study period. The mean score of CGI severity was also significantly different after 2 weeks of aripiprazole administration when compared to baseline score, and the significance was maintained thereafter. Weight did not significantly change after aripiprazole administration. Although mean prolactin level was decreased at 8 weeks, the difference was not significant.Conclusions:  Aripiprazole is an effective and well‐tolerated antipsychotic agent in patients with first‐episode schizophrenia. Further investigations with larger samples are needed.
Open wards versus locked wards of general hospitals in the treatment of psychiatric patients with medical comorbidities: A cross‐sectional study in Tokyo
Authors: Hatta Kotaro , Usui Chie , Nakamura Hiroyuki , Kurosawa Hisashi , Arai Heii 
Published: January 2010

Aim:  Treatment of medical comorbidities among psychiatric patients is an expected role of general hospital psychiatric wards. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether locked wards of general hospitals are necessary in the treatment of psychiatric patients with severe medical comorbidities.Methods:  A cross‐sectional study concerning patients who required admission due to both somatic and psychiatric diseases was performed all over Tokyo during a 2‐month period. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who were admitted to locked wards of general hospitals were compared with those of patients admitted to open wards of general hospitals.Results:  In locked wards, the rate of organic mental disorders, median Lack of Judgment and Insight from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and rate of diseases requiring surgery were significantly higher than those in open wards. The rate of patients with medical comorbidities who could not be admitted was significantly higher for open wards than for locked wards. Furthermore, the rate of patients with both medical comorbidities and attempted suicide who could not be admitted was significantly higher for open wards than for locked wards.Conclusion:  Locked wards may be necessary to treat severe psychiatric patients with severe medical comorbidities.
Does daily Naikan therapy maintain the efficacy of intensive Naikan therapy against depression?
Authors: Sengoku Mari , Murata Hiroaki , Kawahara Takanobu , Imamura Kaori , Nakagome Kazuyuki 
Published: January 2010

Aim:  Naikan Therapy, which has been applied to treating patients with various mental difficulties, can be classified into two major categories: intensive Naikan therapy, which lasts for seven days in a Naikan center or a clinical institute secluded from the outside world for the purpose of deep introspection, and daily Naikan therapy, which can be integrated into regular daily activities. The aim of this research is to evaluate daily Naikan therapy as a maintenance treatment for depression.Methods:  Forty‐seven patients, who were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder using DSM‐IV criteria and who practiced intensive Naikan therapy participated in the present study. Two groups of patients were compared: 24 patients who conducted daily Naikan therapy and 23 patients who did not, after practicing intensive Naikan therapy. To evaluate efficacy, the Beck Depression Inventory was used as a primary outcome measure for the assessment of depression. The State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Cornell Medical Index were also used as secondary outcome measures to evaluate anxiety and psychosomatic conditions before, immediately after and three months after intensive Naikan therapy.Results:  Significant between‐group differences were obtained in the time course change of depression, anxiety and psychosomatic scores within three months following the completion of intensive Naikan therapy.Conclusion:  The current study indicates that conducting daily Naikan therapy is effective for maintaining the psychological and psychosomatic state at 3 months following the intensive Naikan therapy, while a lack of therapy may allow the patients to exacerbate their conditions to the level they held before practicing intensive Naikan therapy.
S‐phase fraction and DNA ploidy in oral leukoplakia
Authors: Khanna Rahul , Agarwal Anshu , Khanna Seema , Basu Somprakas , Khanna Ajay Kumar 
Published: January 2010

AbstractBackground:  The risk of malignant conversion in oral leukoplakia is well documented. Histological findings are often unreliable and it is difficult to predict on the basis of clinical and histopathological changes which leukoplakic lesion will turn malignant.Methods:  We used the technique of flow cytometry to evaluate the ploidy status, DNA index and S‐phase fraction in leukoplakia, oral cancer and normal oral mucosal biopsies and compared it with histological findings. The study was carried out on 30 patients with oral cancer, 60 with leukoplakia and 30 with normal oral mucosal biopsies.Results:  The aneuploidy rate in oral cancers was 64%, for leukoplakia 20%, while all normal mucosal biopsies were diploid. Aneuploid lesions also had a greater S‐phase fraction (SPF). The DNA Index (DI) of aneuploid oral cancers was 1.72 and aneuploid leukoplakias was 1.24. Leukoplakia specimens which showed histological evidence of dysplasia had aneuploidy rate of 38%, DI of 1.19 and SPF of 6.2%. The corresponding values for leukoplakia specimens without dysplasia were 14%, 1.09 and 4.1%, respectively.Conclusion:  The method of flow cytometry can be used to identify the subset of leukoplakia patients who are at a higher risk of malignant conversion. These patients could undergo more rigid surveillance or undergo excision biopsy of their lesions.
Use of face masks by non‐scrubbed operating room staff: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Webster Joan , Croger Sarah , Lister Carolyn , Doidge Michelle , Terry Michael J. , Jones Ian 
Published: January 2010

AbstractBackground:  Ambiguity remains about the effectiveness of wearing surgical face masks. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact on surgical site infections (SSIs) when non‐scrubbed operating room staff did not wear surgical face masks.Methods:  Eight hundred twenty‐seven participants undergoing elective or emergency obstetric, gynecological, general, orthopaedic, breast or urological surgery in an Australian tertiary hospital were enrolled. Complete follow‐up data were available for 811 patients (98.1%). Operating room lists were randomly allocated to a ‘Mask group’ (all non‐scrubbed staff wore a mask) or ‘No Mask group’ (none of the non‐scrubbed staff wore masks). The primary end point, SSI was identified using in‐patient surveillance; post discharge follow‐up and chart reviews. The patient was followed for up to six weeks.Results:  Overall, 83 (10.2%) surgical site infections were recorded; 46/401 (11.5%) in the Masked group and 37/410 (9.0%) in the No Mask group; odds ratio (OR) 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49 to 1.21), p = 0.151. Independent risk factors for surgical site infection included: any pre‐operative stay (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.43 (95% CI, 0.20; 0.95), high BMI aOR, 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17; 0.87), and any previous surgical site infection aOR, 0.40 (95% CI, 0.17; 0.89).Conclusion:  Surgical site infection rates did not increase when non‐scrubbed operating room personnel did not wear a face mask.
Boundary element prediction of TBC fracture resistance
Authors: KEPPAS L. K. , ANIFANTIS N. K. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThe present study investigates the transient behaviour of interfacial cracks in thermal barrier coatings. It is assumed that a TBC withstands a thermal shock in the presence of external mechanical load acting on its surface. Crack closure takes place while the thermal contact resistance as well the friction between the crack faces is considered. The dependence of the thermal resistance on the contact pressure invokes coupling between the temperature and displacement fields. An appropriate boundary element procedure based on two‐dimensional time‐dependent thermoelasticity, is utilized for the numerical solution. A series of parametric analyses examines the impact of the coefficient of friction, thermal contact resistance and coefficient of heat convection on the crack severity.
Variable amplitude cyclic deformation and fatigue behaviour of stainless steel 304L including step, periodic, and random loadings
Authors: COLIN J. , FATEMI A. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses cyclic deformation and fatigue behaviours of stainless steel 304L and aluminium 7075‐T6 under variable amplitude loading using strain‐controlled as well as load‐controlled tests. Load sequence effects were investigated in step tests with high‐low and low‐high sequences. For stainless steel 304L, strong hardening induced by the first step of the H‐L sequence significantly affects the fatigue behaviour, depending on the test control mode used. For periodic overload tests of stainless steel 304L, hardening due to the overloads was progressive throughout life and more significant than in H‐L step tests. For aluminium 7075‐T6, no effect on deformation behaviour was observed due to periodic overloads. However, the direction of the overloads was found to affect fatigue life, as tensile overloads led to longer lives, while compressive overloads led to shorter lives. Deformation and fatigue behaviours under random loading were also studied for the two materials. To correlate a broad range of fatigue life data for a material with strong deformation history effect, such as stainless steel, it is shown that a damage parameter with both stress and strain is required. The Smith‐Watson‐Topper parameter as such a parameter is shown to correlate the data reasonably well under different control modes and loading conditions.
Atmospheric CO2 enrichment facilitates cation release from soil
Authors: Cheng L. , Zhu J. , Chen G. , Zheng X. , Oh N.‐H. , Rufty T. W. , Richter D. deB. , Hu S. 
Published: January 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 284–291AbstractAtmospheric CO2 enrichment generally stimulates plant photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, modifying the local and global cycling of bioactive elements. Although nutrient cations affect the long‐term productivity and carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems, little is known about the effect of CO2 enrichment on cation availability in soil. In this study, we present evidence for a novel mechanism of CO2‐enhancement of cation release from soil in rice agricultural systems. Elevated CO2 increased organic C allocation belowground and net H+ excretion from roots, and stimulated root and microbial respiration, reducing soil redox potential and increasing Fe2+ and Mn2+ in soil solutions. Increased H+, Fe2+, and Mn2+ promoted Ca2+ and Mg2+ release from soil cation exchange sites. These results indicate that over the short term, elevated CO2 may stimulate cation release from soil and enhance plant growth. Over the long‐term, however, CO2‐induced cation release may facilitate cation losses and soil acidification, negatively feeding back to the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems.
Non‐native species disrupt the worldwide patterns of freshwater fish body size: implications for Bergmann’s rule
Authors: Blanchet Simon , Grenouillet Gael , Beauchard Olivier , Tedesco Pablo A. , Leprieur Fabien , Dürr Hans H. , Busson Frederic , Oberdorff Thierry , Brosse Sébastien 
Published: January 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 421–431AbstractIn this study, we test whether established non‐native species induce functional changes in natural assemblages. We combined data on the body size of freshwater fish species and a worldwide data set of native and non‐native fish species for 1058 river basins. We show that non‐native fish species are significantly larger than their native counterparts and are a non‐random subset of the worldwide set of fish species. We further show that the median body size of fish assemblages increases in the course of introductions. These changes are the opposite of those expected under several null models. Introductions shift body size patterns related to several abiotic factors (e.g. glacier coverage and temperature) in a way that modifies latitudinal patterns (i.e. Bergmann’s rule), especially in the southern hemisphere. Together, these results show that over just the last two centuries human beings have induced changes in the global biogeography of freshwater fish body size, which could affect ecosystem properties.
A meta‐analysis of preference–performance relationships in phytophagous insects
Authors: Gripenberg Sofia , Mayhew Peter J. , Parnell Mark , Roslin Tomas 
Published: January 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 383–393AbstractThe extent to which behavioural choices reflect fine‐tuned evolutionary adaptation remains an open debate. For herbivorous insects, the preference–performance hypothesis (PPH) states that female insects will evolve to oviposit on hosts on which their offspring fare best. In this study, we use meta‐analysis to assess the balance of evidence for and against the PPH, and to evaluate the role of individual factors proposed to influence host selection by female insects. We do so in an explicitly bitrophic context (herbivores versus plants). Overall, our analyses offer clear support for the PPH: Offspring survive better on preferred plant types, and females lay more eggs on plant types conducive to offspring performance. We also found evidence for an effect of diet breadth on host choice: female preference for ‘good quality plants’ was stronger in oligophagous insects than in polyphagous insects. Nonetheless, despite the large numbers of preference–performance studies conducted to date, sample sizes in our meta‐analysis are low due to the inconsistent format used by authors to present their results. To improve the situation, we invite authors to contribute to the data base emerging from this work, with the aim of reaching a strengthened synthesis of the subject field.
Effects of asymmetric dispersal on the coexistence of competing species
Authors: Salomon Yacov , Connolly Sean R. , Bode Lance 
Published: January 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 432–441AbstractThe global biodiversity crisis has made a priority of understanding biodiversity maintenance in ecological communities. It is increasingly apparent that dispersal patterns can have important effects on such maintenance processes. Nevertheless, most competition theory has focused on a small subset of the possible dispersal patterns in nature. Here, we show that spatially asymmetric dispersal, i.e. the disproportionate transport of propagules towards or away from particular habitat patches in a metacommunity, when it differs between species, can promote the coexistence of competing species even in the absence of environmental heterogeneity among habitat patches. Moreover, when asymmetric dispersal is present, changes in the self‐recruitment of competitive dominants and subordinates have important, but fundamentally different, effects on species coexistence. Our results underscore the importance of the interplay between species interactions and dispersal patterns for understanding the effects of habitat fragmentation and for designing regional‐scale conservation strategies, such as networks of protected areas.
The robustness of pollination networks to the loss of species and interactions: a quantitative approach incorporating pollinator behaviour
Authors: Kaiser‐Bunbury Christopher N. , Muff Stefanie , Memmott Jane , Müller Christine B. , Caflisch Amedeo 
Published: January 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 442–452AbstractSpecies extinctions pose serious threats to the functioning of ecological communities worldwide. We used two qualitative and quantitative pollination networks to simulate extinction patterns following three removal scenarios: random removal and systematic removal of the strongest and weakest interactors. We accounted for pollinator behaviour by including potential links into temporal snapshots (12 consecutive 2‐week networks) to reflect mutualists’ ability to ‘switch’ interaction partners (re‐wiring). Qualitative data suggested a linear or slower than linear secondary extinction while quantitative data showed sigmoidal decline of plant interaction strength upon removal of the strongest interactor. Temporal snapshots indicated greater stability of re‐wired networks over static systems. Tolerance of generalized networks to species extinctions was high in the random removal scenario, with an increase in network stability if species formed new interactions. Anthropogenic disturbance, however, that promote the extinction of the strongest interactors might induce a sudden collapse of pollination networks.
Economic Growth and Labor Standards: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Data Model
Authors: Bonnal Michaël 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThe relations between economic growth and international labor standards are explored in a panel of 121 countries from 1974 to 2004. A large literature has empirically tested the neoclassical and endogenous growth models using cross‐sectional or panel regressions. Here, the growth model is augmented with labor standards. A dynamic panel data model is used to account for the endogeneity of the determinants of economic growth and labor standards. Two measures of labor standards are used: the rate of work injuries and the rate of strikes and lockouts. The estimation results show that higher levels of labor standards are associated with higher rates of economic growth.
Smoothing Income against Crop Flood Losses in Amazonia: Rain Forest or Rivers as a Safety Net?
Authors: Takasaki Yoshito , Barham Bradford L. , Coomes Oliver T. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis article examines the role of ex post labor supply in smoothing income in response to crop losses caused by large floods among riverine households in the Peruvian Amazon, where rich environmental endowments permit a variety of resource extractive activities and coping responses. The paper finds that households respond to crop losses primarily by intensifying fishing effort, not by relying on gathering of nontimber forest products, hunting, or asset liquidation. This ex post labor adjustment helps to smooth total income against small crop losses but less well against large crop losses. Both relatively nonpoor households with better fishing capital and poor young households with a physical labor advantage employ this natural insurance in rivers.
Allocation of Labor in Urban West Africa: Insights from the Pattern of Labor Supply and Skill Premiums
Authors: Dimova Ralitza , Nordman Christophe J. , Roubaud François 
Published: January 2010

AbstractUsing comparable data from five West African capitals, we assess the rationale behind development policies targeting high rates of school enrollment through the prism of allocation of labor and earnings effects of skills across the formal and informal sectors, and not working. We find that people with high levels of education allocate to the small formal sector, while less educated workers allocate to the informal sector. While high levels of education are given more value in the relatively smaller sectors of salaried employment, observed skills like education appear to be fairly unprofitable in the larger self‐employment sector. The fact that only the small formal sector in urban West Africa both seems to absorb highly educated workers and provide high skill premiums may be an important reason for the observed low demand for education and high dropout rates.
Equity Control of Multinational Firms: Effects on Resource Allocation and National Welfare
Authors: Beladi Hamid , Yabuuchi Shigemi 
Published: January 2010

AbstractIn this paper, we re‐examine the effects of equity control of multinational firms on resource allocation and national welfare in a model with rural–urban migration and urban unemployment. A large number of recipient (host) countries are developing countries with dual economies. We indicate, among other things, that a restriction on multinational investment may lower the unemployment rate and increase the total employment in the host country. Furthermore, we find that the restriction on multinational investment raises the national welfare in the host economy if the tariff imposed on imports is sufficiently large and the difference between domestic and foreign capital rental is sufficiently small.