bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture management of pain and emergence agitation in children after bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion
Authors: LIN YUAN‐CHI , TASSONE ROSALIE F. , JAHNG STEFAN , RAHBAR REZA , HOLZMAN ROBERT S. , ZURAKOWSKI DAVID , SETHNA NAVIL F. 
Published: August 2009

SummaryAim:  To further investigate the effect of acupuncture in postoperative pain and emergence agitation in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube (BMT) placement.Background:  BMT insertion surgery in children is routinely performed under general anesthesia and is associated with a high incidence of postoperative pain and agitation upon emergence from anesthesia. Various medications have been investigated to alleviate the pain and agitation, which have been accompanied by high incidence of adverse effects. In children, anecdotal reports suggest that acupuncture may offer postoperative analgesia.Methods/Materials:  This prospective randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture to control pain and agitation after initial bilateral myringotomy tube placement in 60 nonpremedicated children. Acupuncture was applied at points LI‐4 (he gu) and HT‐7 (shen men) immediately after induction of anesthesia. A single‐blinded assessor evaluated postoperative pain and agitation using CHEOPS and emergence agitation scale. Pain and agitation scores were significantly lower in the acupuncture group compared to those in the control group at the time of arrival in the post anesthesia care unit and during the subsequent 30 min.Results:  Acupuncture treatment provided significant benefit in pain and agitation reduction. The median time to first postoperative analgesic (acetaminophen) administration was significantly shorter in the control group. The number of patients who required analgesia was considerably fewer in the acupuncture group than that in the control. No adverse effects related to acupuncture treatment were observed.Conclusion:  Our study suggests that acupuncture therapy may be effective in diminishing both pain and emergence agitation in children after BMT insertion without adverse effects.
Efficacy of a low‐dose spinal morphine with bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in children undergoing hypospadias repair
Authors: APILIOGULLARI SEZA , DUMAN ATES , GOK FUNDA , AKILLIOGLU ISAK , CIFTCI ILHAN 
Published: August 2009

SummaryBackground:  Children undergoing hypospadias repair need to be protected from highly unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences during and after surgery. We designed a double‐blinded, randomized, and placebo‐controlled study to compare the efficacy of a low‐dose (2 μg·kg−1) of intrathecal morphine with placebo for postoperative pain control of children undergoing repair of hypospadias surgery with spinal anesthesia.Methods:  Fifty‐four children were randomly assigned to one of two spinal anesthesia groups. Group M (n = 27) received hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 2 μg·kg−1 of preservative‐free morphine and group P (n = 27) received hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 0.9% NaCl (placebo) under inhalation anesthesia. General anesthetics were discontinued subsequent to the block. The primary outcome was the presence of pain‐requiring analgesics during the first 12 h after the spinal block. Side effects were also recorded. The analgesic effects were evaluated by using the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale.Results:  Forty‐nine patients completed the trial. Fifteen patients (60%) in group P received supplementary analgesics within the first 12 h compared to only four patients (16.7%) in group M (P = 0.005). Mean duration of analgesia was 480 ± 209 and 720 ± 190 min in group P and group M respectively (P = 0.009). The groups were similar in postoperative side effects.Conclusion:  Spinal anesthesia provided by hyperbaric bupivacaine is adequate for distal hypospadias repair in children, but adding 2 μg·kg−1 intrathecal morphine provides better postoperative pain control when compared to placebo in these children.
Serengeti real estate: density vs. fitness‐based indicators of lion habitat quality
Authors: Mosser Anna , Fryxell John M. , Eberly Lynn , Packer Craig 
Published: August 2009

AbstractHabitat quality is typically inferred by assuming a direct relationship between consumer density and resource abundance, although it has been suggested that consumer fitness may be a more accurate measure of habitat quality. We examined density vs. fitness‐based measures of habitat quality for lions in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. A 40‐year average of female reproductive success (yearling cubs per female) was best explained by proximity to river confluences, whereas patterns of productivity (yearling cubs per km2) and adult female density (individuals per km2) were associated with more general measures of habitat quality and areas of shelter in poor habitat. This suggests that density may not accurately distinguish between high‐quality ‘source’ areas and low‐quality sites that merely provide refuges for effectively non‐reproductive individuals. Our results indicate that density may be a misleading indicator of real estate value, particularly for populations that do not conform to an ideal free distribution.
Phenotypic population divergence in terrestrial vertebrates at macro scales
Authors: Jetz Walter , Ashton Kyle G. , La Sorte Frank A. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractPhenotypic divergence between populations, i.e. how much phenotypes within a species vary geographically, is critical to many aspects of ecology and evolution, including eco‐geographical trends, speciation and coexistence. Yet, the variation of divergence across species with different ecologies and distributions and the relative role of adaptive causes remains little understood. We predict that genetic control vs. phenotypic plasticity of traits, geographical distance and (assuming adaptation) environmental differences should explain much of the phenotypic variability between populations. We tested these predictions with body sizes of 1447 populations in 98 terrestrial vertebrate species. Population phenotypic variability differs strongly across species, and divergence increases with increasing levels of clade‐typical phenotypic plasticity, the area covered by populations and body size. Geographical distance and environmental dissimilarity are similarly important predictors of divergence within species, highlighting a potential role for biotic and environmental conditions. Increased availability of phylogeographical and ecological data should facilitate further understanding of population divergence drivers at broad scales.
Do rabbits eat voles? Apparent competition, habitat heterogeneity and large‐scale coexistence under mink predation
Authors: Oliver Matthew , Luque‐Larena Juan José , Lambin Xavier 
Published: August 2009

AbstractHabitat heterogeneity is predicted to profoundly influence the dynamics of indirect interspecific interactions; however, despite potentially significant consequences for multi‐species persistence, this remains almost completely unexplored in large‐scale natural landscapes. Moreover, how spatial habitat heterogeneity affects the persistence of interacting invasive and native species is also poorly understood. Here we show how the persistence of a native prey (water vole,Arvicola terrestris) is determined by the spatial distribution of an invasive prey (European rabbit,Oryctolagus cuniculus) and directly infer how this is defined by the mobility of a shared invasive predator (American mink,Neovison vison). This study uniquely demonstrates that variation in habitat connectivity in large‐scale natural landscapes creates spatial asynchrony, enabling coexistence between apparent competitive native and invasive species. These findings highlight that unexpected interactions may be involved in species declines, and also that in such cases habitat heterogeneity should be considered in wildlife management decisions.
Making training more cognitively effective: Making videos interactive
Authors: Cherrett Tom , Wills Gary , Price Joe , Maynard Sarah , Dror Itiel E. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe cost of health and safety (H&S) failures to the UK industry is currently estimated at up to £6.5 billion per annum, with the construction sector suffering unacceptably high levels of work‐related incidents. Better H&S education across all skill levels in the industry is seen as an integral part of any solution. Traditional lecture‐based courses often fail to recreate the dynamic realities of managing H&S on site and therefore do not sufficiently create deeper cognitive learning (which results in remembering and using what was learned). The use of videos is a move forward, but passively observing a video is not cognitively engaging and challenging, and therefore learning is not as effective as it can be. This paper describes the development of an interactive video in which learners take an active role. While observing the video, they are required to engage, participate, respond and be actively involved. The potential for this approach to be used in conjunction with more traditional approaches to H&S was explored using a group of 2nd‐year undergraduate civil engineering students. The formative results suggested that the learning experience could be enhanced using interactive videos. Nevertheless, most of the learners believed that a blended approach would be most effective.
The Neuropsychology of Proper Names
Authors: SEMENZA CARLO 
Published: August 2009

Abstract:The difference between common and proper names seems to derive from specific semantic characteristics of proper names. In particular, proper names refer to specific individual entities or events, and unlike common names, rarely map onto more general semantic characteristics (attributes, concepts, categories). This fact makes the link proper names have with their reference particularly fragile. Processing proper names seems, as a consequence, to require special cognitive and neural resources. Neuropsychological findings show that proper names and common names follow functionally distinct processing pathways. These pathways are neurally distinct and differently sensitive to focal or generalized brain damage, cognitive changes with age or lack of organic resources. Their precise location, depending on specific tasks, is still partly unknown.
Sexual Abuse in Adults with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Fenwick Annabelle 
Published: August 2009

The recognition that people with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse is not new. However, only recently has it received much attention. The increased awareness of child sexual abuse within the general population, alongside the recognition that people with learning disabilities have sexual needs and the right to express their sexuality, has pushed the issue of sexual abuse to the forefront.This is the first of two articles which address the issue of sexual abuse in adults with learning disabilities. It reviews current research literature on sexual abuse and focuses on those issues of particular relevance to adults with learning disabilities. The application of these findings to clinical investigations of sexual abuse will be discussed in the second article.
A Practice and Policy Agenda for HIV and Learning Difficulties
Authors: Cambridge Paul 
Published: August 2009

The aim of this paper is to review how issues around HIV and learning difficulties come together to present a challenge for health promotion/HIV prevention and services for people with learning difficulties. This review will also identify the key practice issues which services for people with learning difficulties need to address in relation to HIV and offer a model for developing policy and resources for carrying forward work in this area. The information and arguments presented in this paper are my personal interpretations based on the experiences and issues generated by two areas of work.The first is a series of learning sets organised for South East Thames Regional Health Authority (SETRHA) on HIV and HEP B and services for people with learning difficulties. These were open to managers and staff working in learning difficulty services across agencies and sectors, and have recently been completed. (1) SETRHA Learning Sets. Organised by Paul Cambridge and Hilary Brown at The Tizard Centre. Inputs involved SE London Health Promotion Service (James Nichol) and the Sex Education Team (David Thompson). The second is a needs assessment exercise funded by South East London Health Authority (SELHA), covering the special and ordinary needs of men with learning difficulties who have sex with men in public places. (2) SELHA Needs Assessment Exercise. The steering group developed and conducted the study and included Paul Cambridge (Tizard Centre), Simon Davies (Southside Partnership), James Nichol (SELHPS) and David Thompson (Sex Education Team).
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! People with Learning Difficulties as Co‐researchers
Authors: March Justine , Steingold Betty , Justice Susan , Mitchell Paula 
Published: August 2009

This article is written by three people with learning difficulties. It is about our experience of doing research. We are all members of Hackney People First and in 1994 we got involved in a project researching self‐advocacy and families. The article describes why we decided to get involved, our feelings about doing research and what we did. It explains the help we had to take part.Researchers have been talking about disabled people doing research for quite some time, but involving people with learning difficulties as researchers is only just beginning. This article is extremely important, as one of the very few times that people with learning difficulties have written about carrying out research.
Auditory Integration Training (AIT): Sound Therapy? Case Studies of Three Boys with Autism who Received AIT
Authors: Link Hanna M. 
Published: August 2009

Auditory Integration Training (AIT) is an experimental ‘alternative’ therapy aimed at individuals with hypersensitive hearing. Developed by Otorhinolaryngologist Dr. Guy Berard, AIT involves listening to electronically‐processed music through headphones for 20 half‐hour sessions. Berard (1993) believes that many cognitive and behavioural problems, including autism, dyslexia and depression, result partially from distortions in hearing, and thus, that clinical symptoms can be alleviated by use of AIT. For example, Berard (1993) considers autistic behaviours to be largely an avoidance reaction to noises heard too acutely.The progress of three boys with autism receiving AIT was closely monitored. Few if any beneficial effects on behaviour were observed. Sound hypersensitivity remained unchanged. The paper also questions the validity of the AIT technique used, and highlights a need for an AIT ‘watchdog’ in the UK.
Assessing and Intervening in the Communication Environment
Authors: Bradshaw Jill 
Published: August 2009

An approach to implementing a total communication environment with a man who has severe learning disabilities, a profound hearing loss and challenging behaviour is described. This involved teaching the staff team visual modes of communication and supporting staff to use these methods. The intervention was evaluated by conducting observations of the communication acts taking place prior to and one year after the intervention.Improvements were found in the amount of communication acts which were accompanied by signs and the range of communication functions employed. Changes were also reported in the communication skills set of the person with learning disabilities. Staff's perception altered from seeing him as someone who was challenging, to someone who was challenged by his hearing loss and communication difficulties.
Researching Together
Authors: Williams Val 
Published: August 2009

To be empowering, the research must be designed with a group of people who have decided to obtain power, and then must be conducted so that the group learns how to do the research as well as decides what research needs to be conducted. (Sample, 1996: 320)This article describes a project in which Bristol Self Advocacy Group members visited similar groups in their area, and carried out group interviews based on their own research questions. Some academic researchers appear to question the genuine research involvement of people with learning difficulties and I attempt to answer some of these views. The group has already published, in their own names, their views about the process of doing research and their findings (Palmer & Turner, 1998; Palmer et al., in press), and have produced a booklet aimed at other self advocacy groups (Finding Out, 1999). However, in view of the importance of such a group expressing their own viewpoint directly, a word of explanation is in order about the authorship of the present article. It arose originally from my attempts to summarise for the Research Group some of the literature mentioned in this paper, which resulted in an ‘alternative paragraph’ article, in which I wrote one point, and one group member responded in the next paragraph. That project is still in progress, but in the meantime, the group members wanted me to write the present article. I include their own words and writings at several points, but this remains essentially my account of what has happened.
Development of the FOCUS (Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six), a communication outcome measure for preschool children
Authors: THOMAS‐STONELL NANCY L , ODDSON BRUCE , ROBERTSON BERNADETTE , ROSENBAUM PETER L 
Published: August 2009

Aim  Our aim was to develop an outcome measure, called Focus on the Outcomes of Communication Under Six (FOCUS), that captures real‐world changes in preschool children’s communication. Conceptually grounded in the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework, the FOCUS items were derived from observations of change provided by parents and clinicians after speech–language therapy.Method  Participating families (n=165) were drawn from a convenience sample at partner institutions in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. All children had speech, language comprehension, and/or language production disorders and were receiving speech–language therapy. The age of the children ranged from 1 year 2 months to 5 years 6 months (mean=3.8y; SD=0.91y), and 119 children were male. Three test phases were completed. The measure was revised according to item analysis and parent/clinician feedback after phase 1 (n=74) and phase 2 (n=65). In phase 3 (n=26), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), a health‐related quality of life measure, was added to establish construct validity.Results  In phase 1, item analysis revealed high internal consistency for both parents (Cronbach’s α=0.87) and clinicians (Cronbach α=0.97). These values indicated redundancy, so 31 items were cut. Five items for young children were added. In phase 2, internal consistency remained high for both parents (Cronbach α=0.98) and clinicians (Cronbach α=0.83), indicating redundancy of items. Twenty‐seven items were removed. In phase 3, parents and clinicians reliably scored the FOCUS in 10 minutes. They stated that it provided an accurate snapshot of the child’s communication. Internal consistency for parents remained high (Cronbach α=0.96). Children with higher FOCUS scores at the end of treatment had higher PedsQL total scores (r=0.466, p=0.029).Interpretation  The FOCUS is a usable measure of a child’s ability to communicate and participate in his or her community. It demonstrates high internal consistency and construct validity.
Biomedical and health informatics in Peru: significance for public health
Authors: Curioso Walter H. , Peinado Jesus , Rubio Crisogono F. , Lazo‐Escalante Marcela , Castagnetto Jesus M. 
Published: August 2009

IntroductionThis issue of the feature column reports on developments in Peru on the use of information and communication technologies to improve public health. The authors describe how cell phones and hand‐held devices are being deployed to monitor diseases. Recent concerns about the spread of swine flu highlight the importance of robust public health systems in developing countries.1Jeannete MurphyReference1.
British Journal of Healthcare Computing and Information Management, 30 April 2009. http://www.bjhcim.co.uk/news/2009/n904046.htm (accessed 18/05/09).
CHARACTERISATION OF THE ALPHA‐ADRENOCEPTORS OF THE RAT RENAL VASCULAR BED*
Authors: SCHMIDT M. , KRIEGER J.‐P. , GIESEN‐CROUSE E. , IMBS J.‐L. 
Published: August 2009

Summary— Postjunctional renal alpha‐adrenoceptors were studied (1) in vivo, on the renal vasculature of the anaesthetized rat and compared with those in the femoral vasculature, and (2) in vitro, on the renal vascular bed of isolated perfused rat kidney.In vivo, renal and iliac blood flows were measured with an electromagnetic flow meter. The i.v. injection of (‐)‐phenylephrine (1–16 μ/kg) and B‐HT 920 (0.6–600 μ/kg) induced an increase in both renal and iliac vascular resistance, inhibited respectively with prazosin (300 μ/kg) or yohimbine (300 μ/kg). In the kidney, maximum response to B‐HT 920 was equivalent to 64% of that to (‐)‐phenylephrine; on the iliac vasculature, vasoconstrictor responses to both drugs were identical, but only corresponded to 50% of the maximum renal response to (‐)‐phenylephrine. This indicates the predominance of alpha1‐over alpha2‐adrenoceptors in the renal vascular bed.In vitro, on the isolated perfused rat kidney, vasoconstriction was induced by the preferential alpha1‐adrenoceptor agonists [(‐)‐phenylephrine, cirazoline and methoxamine] and the preferential alpha2‐adrenoceptor agonists (alpha‐methylnoradrenaline, dopamine and clonidine) at concentrations at which they lose their selectivity for the alpha2‐adrenoceptors; all responses were antagonised by prazosin but not by yohimbine. B‐HT 920, the selective alpha2‐adrenoceptor agonist, only induced renal vasoconstriction in vitro under concomitant infusion of rabbit plasma.
AGONIST/ANTAGONIST ACTIVITY OF ERGOCRISTINE AT ALPHA‐ADRENOCEPTORS IN THE RAT
Authors: ROQUEBERT J. , DEMICHEL P. 
Published: August 2009

Summary—

The action of ergocristine at α‐adrenoceptors was studied in vivo in the pithed rat, and in vitro on the rat isolated vas deferens.
In the pithed rat, the pressor response to ergocristine was reduced competitively by yohimbine, but not by prazosin.
Ergocristine decreased the tachycardia elicited by electrical stimulation of the cardioaccelerator sympathetic nerves, this effect being antagonized by yohimbine.
At postsynaptic α1‐adrenoceptors, on the vas deferens of the rat, ergocristine antagonized the contraction induced by phenylephrine in a competitive manner (pA2 = 7.85).
These results show that vasoconstriction due to ergocristine is mediated by α2‐adrenoceptors and that, in the rat, ergocristine acts as an α2‐adrenoceptors agonist, and an α1‐adrenoceptors antagonist.