bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of osseous spurs on the dorsoproximal aspect of the third metatarsal bone
Authors: FAIRBURN A. , DYSON S. , MURRAY R. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryReasons for performing study:Osseous spurs on the dorsoproximal aspect of the third metatarsal bone (MtIII) are common, but their clinical significance is unknown.Objectives:To verify the sites of insertion of the dorsal metatarsal ligament and the tendons oftibialis cranialisandfibularis tertiusin order to determine if periarticular osteophytes and entheseophytes could be differentiated radiologically; and to determine the frequency of occurrence of osseous spurs on the dorsoproximal aspect of MtIII.Hypotheses:The frequency of osseous spurs on the dorsoproximal aspect of MtIII would be higher in lame than in clinically normal horses and higher in horses with distal hock joint pain or proximal suspensory desmitis than in horses with other causes of hindlimb lameness.Methods:A retrospective study of data from the clinical work up and tarsal radiographs of 455 horses was performed. Horses were divided into:Group 1, clinically normal horses;Groups 2–5, according to the diagnosis of hindlimb lameness. Radiographs were examined for the presence of an osseous spur on the dorsoproximal aspect of MtIII; pathology of the distal tarsal joints was graded. The associations between the presence of a spur and lameness, diagnosis group and the grade of distal tarsal joint abnormalities were analysed statistically using Chi‐squared tests.Results:An osseous spur was present in 25% of horses; 13% of horses with bilateral radiographs had bilateral spurs. There was no significant difference in frequency of the presence of a spur between lame and nonlame horses, or between horses with other causes of hindlimb lameness and horses with proximal suspensory desmitis and/or distal tarsal joint pain. The presence of an osseous spur was significantly associated with the grade of radiological abnormality in the distal tarsal joints (tarsometatarsal joint P = 0.018: centrodistal joint P = 0.027). In many horses it was not possible to differentiate accurately between osteophytes and entheseophytes.Conclusions and potential relevance:The presence of an osseous spur on the dorsoproximal aspect of MtIII in the absence of other radiological abnormalities may be an incidental finding. Osseous spurs occur more frequently in hocks with radiological abnormalities in the distal tarsal joints and may be an indicator of distal tarsal joint osteoarthritis. The clinical significance must be established by intra‐articular analgesia.
Effect of dietary restriction on body condition, composition and welfare of overweight and obese pony mares
Authors: DUGDALE A. H. A. , CURTIS G. C. , CRIPPS P. , HARRIS P. A. , ARGO C. McG. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryReasons for performing study:Increased prevalence of obesity among UK horses and ponies demands evidence‐based advice to promote weight loss.Hypothesis:Restriction of dry matter intake (DMI) to 1% of body mass (BM, 6% of predicted maintenance digestible energy [DE] requirements) would promote weight loss without compromise to health.Methods:Five mature (mean ± s.e. 10 ± 2 years), overweight/obese pony mares (BM, 257 ± 20 kg: body condition score [BCS] 6.8/9 ± 0.5) were studied over 12 weeks. Animals were individually housed. Daily provision of a chaff‐based, complete diet (measured DE, 8.5 MJ/kg DM) was restricted to 1% of actual BM as DMI daily. BCS, girth measurements and ultrasound‐derived measures of subcutaneous fat depth overlying the gluteal region and 12th intercostal space (rib‐eye) were recorded weekly. Body fat content was estimated at the beginning and end of the study by deuterium oxide dilution methods. Clinical biochemistry was monitored weekly. Behaviour was observed (24 h, 3/5 ponies) on 3 occasions.Results:BM decreased by 4.3 ± 1.1% during the first week and thereafter by 0.7 ± 0.1% of BM at end of Week 1 each week. BCS remained constant. Heart and belly girths, rump width and subcutaneous fat depth at rib‐eye decreased significantly with time and BM. Fat comprised 45 ± 19% of BM loss. Fatter animals lost relatively more fat. With decreased feeding activity, time spent in ‘play’ and rest increased by 36 ± 11% and 438 ± 95%, respectively.Conclusions:This plane of nutrition resulted in an overall rate of weight loss of 1% of outset BM weekly. BCS was not a useful index of early weight loss but heart and belly girths and subcutaneous rib‐eye fat were identified as alternative markers.Potential relevance:This study provides an evidence‐base for the management of weight loss in obese animals, especially those for which exercise may be contra‐indicated.
Intrauterine administration of plant oils inhibits luteolysis in the mare
Authors: WILSHER S. , ALLEN W. R. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryReasons for performing the study: The maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) signal in the mare has not been determined, although oestrogens have been proposed as a potential candidate.Objectives: To determine effects of intrauterine administration of oestrogen and various oils on cyclic luteolysis in the mare.Hypothesis: Intrauterine oestradiol or fatty acids may suppress luteolysis in the cycling mare when administered during late dioestrus.Methods: A single 1 ml dose of slow‐release oestradiol (10 mg/ml) in fractionated coconut oil was infused into the uterine lumen of cycling mares on Days 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 post ovulation (n = 12 in each group). Four further groups, each of 12 mares, received an intrauterine infusion of either 1 ml of fractionated coconut oil, peanut oil, mineral oil or a slow‐release preparation of oestradiol (10 mg/ml) in mineral oil on Day 10 post ovulation. Serial blood samples were assayed for progesterone concentrations to monitor luteal function.Results: Intrauterine administration of oestradiol in fractionated coconut oil showed peak efficacy at Day 10 when luteolysis was delayed in 11/12 (92%) mares. The ability of the treatment to delay luteolysis was not significantly different when administered on Days 8 (9/12; 75%), 12 (10/12; 83%) or 14 (6/12; 50%) of dioestrus, but declined significantly when given on Day 6 (3/12; 25%). Oestradiol was not needed to initiate luteostasis since fractionated coconut oil alone or peanut oil administered at Day 10 induced the same high rate of luteal persistence (11/12; 92% for both oils). In contrast, mineral oil did not prolong luteal lifespan, either when administered alone (2/12; 17%) or combined with oestradiol (3/12; 25%).Conclusion: These results do not unequivocally rule out a possible involvement of embryonic oestrogens in MRP in the mare but suggest it is unlikely. The results demonstrate that plant oils can postpone luteolysis, suggesting they may modulate synthesis or release of prostaglandins from the mare's endometrium.Potential relevance: Administration of fractionated coconut or peanut oil on Day 10 post ovulation provides an effective and practical method of prolonging luteal function (‘pseudopregnancy’) thereby suppressing unwanted oestrous behaviour. Further studies to elucidate the mechanism by which this is achieved may increase understanding of both luteostasis and MRP signal in the mare.
Switched Magnetospheric Regulation of Pulsar Spin-Down
Authors: Lyne Andrew , Hobbs George , Kramer Michael , Stairs Ingrid , Stappers Ben 
Published: June 2010

Pulsar ClocksPulsars are rotating neutron stars whose rotation rates can be extremely stable, sometimes rivaling the precision atomic clock. Unfortunately, not all pulsars are this precise—most show irregularities in their rotation rates. Using a large data set collected over many years at Jodrell Bank in the United Kingdom,Lyneet al.(p.408, published online 24 June) show that the rotation of pulsars is not modulated by a single spin-down rate but typically by two, each accompanied by a unique pulse profile. The irregularities are linked to abrupt quasiperiodic changes in the pulsar's magnetosphere, observed as changes in pulse shape and spin-down rate. Thus, it may be possible to use pulse-shape information to improve the precision of pulsars as stable clocks that can be used as probes of gravitational physics.
Electric-bicycle-related injury: a rising traffic injury burden in China
Authors: Feng Zhiying , Raghuwanshi Rakesh P , Xu Zigang , Huang Dayong , Zhang Chong , Jin Tao 
Published: June 2010

ObjectiveTo examine the rising casualty rate related to electric bicycle usage.DesignAnalysis of the Hangzhou Police Bureau's data on electric-bicycle-related injuries and deaths.SettingHangzhou, China, 2004–2008.Patients or subjectsElectric-bicycle riders.Main outcome measureElectric-bicycle-related casualty rates in Hangzhou from 2004 to 2008.ResultsThere was a significant average annual increase in electric-bicycle-related casualty rates of 2.7 per 100 000 population (95% CI 1.5 to 3.9, p=0.005). At the same time, overall road traffic and manual-bicycle-related deaths and injuries decreased.ConclusionAs it is difficult to ban the use of electric bicycles in China, laws, rules and regulations need to be reinforced and strengthened. New regulations should be created for the safety of electric bicycle riders and others on the road, and mandatory helmet use should be considered.
A historical mortality study among bus drivers and bus maintenance workers exposed to urban air pollutants in the city of Genoa, Italy
Authors: Merlo Domenico Franco , Stagi Elena , Fontana Vincenzo , Consonni Dario , Gozza Claudia , Garrone Elsa , Bertazzi Pier Alberto , Pesatori Angela Cecilia 
Published: June 2010

ObjectiveA historical mortality cohort study was conducted in Genoa, Italy among public transport workers ever employed between 1949 and 1980, to estimate overall and cause-specific mortality from January 1970 to December 2005 and to examine associations between exposure to urban air pollutants and overall and cause-specific mortality.MethodsCauses of death for 9267 males (6510 bus drivers, 2073 maintenance workers and 601 white collar workers) were coded according to ICD-9. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% CIs were computed by applying Italian and regional male death rates to person-years of observation for the entire cohort and following stratification by longest held job title and length of and time since first employment using the Poisson regression model.ResultsThere were 2916 deaths and 230 009 person-years of observation; 17 subjects were lost to follow-up. SMRs for all causes, diseases of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive and genitourinary systems, and for accidents were lower than expected. SMRs (95% CI) were increased for lung cancer (1.16, 1.05 to 1.28), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (1.23, 0.85 to 1.78), Hodgkin's lymphoma (2.14, 1.19 to 3.87) and diabetes mellitus (1.16, 1.05 to 1.28). The SMR for leukaemia was 0.77 (0.51 to 1.16). Hodgkin's lymphoma mortality was significantly increased among bus drivers (1.62, 1.37 to 5.04). Lung cancer risk was significantly increased among all workers after 30 years' employment and among maintenance workers.ConclusionsThe study failed to show any increased risk for leukaemias. The increased mortality from Hodgkin's lymphoma and lung cancer may be associated with long-term exposure to urban air pollution.
Maternal residence near municipal waste incinerators and the risk of urinary tract birth defects
Authors: Cordier Sylvaine , Lehébel Anne , Amar Emmanuelle , Anzivino-Viricel Lucie , Hours Martine , Monfort Christine , Chevrier Cécile , Chiron Mireille , Robert-Gnansia Elisabeth 
Published: June 2010

ObjectivesWaste incineration releases a mixture of chemicals with high embryotoxic potential, including heavy metals and dioxins/furans, into the atmosphere. In a previous ecological study we found an association between the risk of urinary tract birth defects and residence in the vicinity of municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). The objective of the present study was to specifically test this association.MethodsA population-based case–control study compared 304 infants with urinary tract birth defects diagnosed in the Rhône-Alpes region (2001–2003) with a random sample of 226 population controls frequency-matched for infant sex and year and district of birth. Exposure to dioxins in early pregnancy at the place of residence, used as a tracer of the mixture released by 21 active waste incinerators, was predicted with second-generation Gaussian modelling (ADMS3 software). Other industrial emissions of dioxins, population density and neighbourhood deprivation were also assessed. Individual risk factors including consumption of local food were obtained by interviews with 62% of the case and all control families.ResultsRisk was increased for mothers exposed to dioxins above the median at the beginning of pregnancy (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.47 to 5.92 for dioxin deposits). When only interviewed cases were considered, risk estimates decreased mainly because the non-interviewed cases were more likely to live in exposed residential environments (OR 2.05, 95% CI 0.92 to 4.57). The results suggest that consumption of local food modifies this risk.ConclusionsThis study confirms our previous observation of a link between the risk of urinary tract birth defects and exposure to MSWI emissions in early pregnancy and illustrates the effect of participation bias on risk estimates of environmental health impacts.
Pesticide safety training and practices in women working in small-scale agriculture in South Africa
Authors: Naidoo S , London L , Rother H-A , Burdorf A , Naidoo R N , Kromhout H 
Published: June 2010

ObjectivesUnregulated use of pesticides continues in developing countries in the presence of illiteracy and limited safety training and practices. This paper describes training and safety practices when mixing and spraying pesticides, and acetylcholinesterase levels among women farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.MethodsA cross-sectional study conducted in women working in small-scale agriculture in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2006 assessed pesticide training and safety practices using a questionnaire survey and measured acetylcholinesterase levels in 803 women. Three components of safety behaviour were identified through principle component analysis and described.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 41.8 years (range 18–82 years) with a mean of 6.9 years (range 1–12 years) of education among school attendees. Among the 803 women included, 366 (45.6%) were the primary sprayers on their farm. Only 16.4% of the sprayers had ever attended a pesticide training course and only 18.0% reported ever reading pesticide labels. Of the women using some form of protective equipment, 56.7% and 54.9% reported doing so when mixing and spraying pesticides, respectively. The mean acetylcholinesterase level corrected for haemoglobin among study participants was 28.9 U/g Hb (95% CI 28.4 to 29.4).ConclusionWomen working in small-scale agriculture in rural KwaZulu-Natal with limited access to pesticide training observe few safety practices when mixing and spraying pesticides.
Software development and crunch time; and more
Authors: Ortega Ruben , Guzdial Mark , Reed Daniel 
Published: June 2010

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Ruben Ortega discusses developers and crunch time; Mark Guzdial considers the impact of open source practices on computing education; and Daniel Reed writes about the technological shift from computational paucity to computational plethora.
ERP
Authors: Romero Jorge A. , Menon Nirup , Banker Rajiv D. , Anderson Mark 
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Most large companies have adopted some form of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. A survey of IT executives in the U.S. showed that ERP was the second most important key category for investment. In many cases, the implementation of an ERP system was a long and expensive ordeal that involved extensive restructuring of businesses and reengineering of processes.
While the potential benefits of ERP have been extolled frequently and much has been written about individual company experiences, only limited evidence has been produced that implementation of ERP does, on average, lead to enhanced performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first industry analysis on ERP because previous work has been limited to case studies and industry cross-sectional analyses.
Several research studies have validated that IT provides productivity and profitability advantages. However, questions remain because it is not clear whether advantages from IT contribute, and to what degree they might contribute, to operational efficiency and profitability. For example, if the same IT is implemented by all firms in an industry, will industry profits from IT disappear? Due to the fact that for many years large companies developed their information systems independently, there have been limited opportunities to evaluate the implementation of similar IT infrastructure across companies. This study seeks to extend prior work by performing a longitudinal study of implementation of ERP systems in a specific industry.
According to Porter, each industry is affected by new information technology in different ways and drawing general conclusions about how new IT affects firms across industries would be a mistake. The oil and gas industry was selected because ERP plays a major role in standardizing business processes in this industry. In this role, ERP helps firms link global operations and supply chains. Also, a commodity-product industry, like the oil and gas industry, helps us control for other influences that may have affected the performance of oil and gas companies during the study period. The ERP adopting firms are those that adopted SAP.
This research applies a new methodological approach toward understanding ERP implementation because rather than looking at ordinary measures of firm performance, we look at strategic performance measures (SPM) that can only be utilized if one delves into data that is not found on the financial statements. This is the first study that shows the sources of profitability after an ERP implementation, and will help managers understand the strategic and managerial implications of ERP implementations. Our analysis compares performance changes of ERP adopting firms versus non-adopting firms over a fifteen-year period (1990--2005), which is the period when this industry was being transformed by increased use of technology in the oil and gas industry. Therefore, we see how the implementation of ERP affected firm performance during this period in relation to non-adopting firms.
Creating the experience economy in e-commerce
Authors: Chang Wei-Lun , Yuan Soe-Tsyr , Hsu Carol W. 
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Advances in information technology together with the forces of globalization have accelerated the growth of service industries. In 2003, the OECD reported that service industries now account for over 60% of both employment and the gross domestic product (GDP) of OECD member countries. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has forecast strong employment growth in the American service sector between 2004 and 2014. Although service industries are expanding, Gilmore and Pine argue that, the growing commoditisation of services offered has gradually transformed the competition for market share from focusing on the quality of services to the creation of memorable experiences. As a consequence, the competitive position of a firm now depends to a large extent on its ability to generate impressive experiences through innovative delivery channels.
In this article, we adopt Gilmore and Pine's view that the economic value of the experience economy lies in co-producing the staging experiences via customer participation and connection. Furthermore, we suggest that current technologies and the growth of the Internet have both enabled and strengthened the opportunities for experience-oriented offerings beyond limitations of time and place. In following sections, we first describe the current practice of experience economy in electronic commerce. Taking the iCare health care service as an example, we demonstrate how collaborative pricing over the Internet can further provide added-value to the production of experiences offered in the electronic marketplace.
IT programs in high schools
Authors: Dennis Alan R. , Duffy Thomas M. , Cakir Hasan 
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Student enrollment in college computer science (CS) and information technology (IT) programs are in a downward trend in most developed countries. At the same time, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and their counterparts in other countries forecast an increased need for skilled CS/IT graduates.
To reverse the downwards trend in college level CS/IT enrollment, ACM launched the Computer Science Teachers Association (csta.acm.org), whose mission is to "directly and passionately" advocate for computer science education in the high school.
One major initiative is to develop a comprehensive computer science curriculum that educates high school students and informs them about the profession because a major factor in the enrollment decline is a lack of knowledge about possible CS/IT careers. In this article, we examine one CS/IT program (the Cisco Networking Academy that has been offered in high schools since 1978) to understand what lessons we can draw for other CS/IT high school initiatives.
Using ESI discovery teams to manage electronic data discovery
Authors: Ruhnka John C. , Bagby John W. 
Published: June 2010

Introduction

The importance of electronically stored information (ESI) in litigation has increased greatly over the past decade. Responding to the "discovery" requests made by all litigating parties has become a significant management function and cost center for organizations engaged in litigation. Today, over 92% of all business records and data are created and stored electronically; most are never reduced to hard copy. After civil litigation is filed, a pre-trial "discovery" phase occurs during which courts require litigants to identify and produce potentially relevant information to their adversaries. Settlements often occur before a trial is held, making ESI produced during the discovery phase and evaluated by the parties often determinative of litigation outcomes. Managing discovery of electronic information requires close coordination among managers with widely diverse technical IT expertise, litigation experience and operational authority. Multi-disciplinary "ESI Discovery Teams" are a key mechanism that can be used to achieve the necessary coordination and continuing oversight over enterprise discovery activities, particularly in larger organizations.
A 2007 litigation survey of 253 U.S. corporations reveals that 83% had new lawsuits filed against them in 2006 implicating e-discovery management.1 The most common subject of these law-suits was labor/employment, contract enforcement and personal injuries. Litigation was also significant at smaller companies surveyed, 17% had at least one lawsuit claiming $20 million or more, and at mid-sized companies, 98% reported one or more lawsuits of $20 million or larger. Costs of litigation are high, 71% of the companies reported litigation costs exceeding $1 million per year and 40% had litigation costs over $5 million per year, excluding settlements or judgment amounts. Over half the U.S. firms surveyed use outside e-discovery IT vendors to collect, identify, verify, recover and produce ESI and 30% reported using outside legal counsel with special expertise in e-discovery. These e-discovery vendors had revenues of $1.95 billion in 2006, a 50% increase over 2005, and $130 million was spent for forensic software, data recovery and production.