bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Healthcare workers’ duty concerns of working in the isolation ward during the novel H1N1 pandemic
Authors: Wong Eliza LY , Wong Samuel YS , Lee Nelson , Cheung Annie , Griffiths Sian 
Published: July 2011

Aims and objectives.  The aim was to explore healthcare workers’ duty concerns in the isolation wards during the novel H1N1 pandemic.Background.  Healthcare workers’ willingness to work is a concern worldwide since SARS; Concerns related to work in the isolation wards among healthcare workers’ who continue to work during the novel H1N1 pandemic is unknown. In the light of possible staff shortages, healthcare workers’ duty concern is very important for planning the retention strategies.Method.  The qualitative study with individual interview of 10 healthcare workers (four physicians, three nurses and three healthcare assistances) working in isolation wards were conducted in mid June 2009 where pandemic alert level 6 was raised by WHO. Interviews were audio‐taped, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Results.  All participants who were still working in the isolation wards during the novel H1N1 pandemic showed professional senses that were strongly related to the willingness to work. Their concerns in their duty including appreciation from the employers, efficacy and side effects of vaccination, frequent policy changes, unclear criteria of case management, poor facility layout, duty role stress were highlighted.Conclusions.  Further research should seek to provide in‐depth specific concerns in each type of healthcare workers which is very important to keep adequate healthcare workers fighting against the infectious disease pandemic. Interesting results on the negative view towards the swine flu vaccination demonstrate more detailed evidence‐based information about the vaccination is needed.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is important for mangers to provide a support to healthcare workers during influenza pandemic by providing a clear guideline/policy for case management and demonstrating appreciation for the frontline healthcare workers to minimise the risk for high staff turnover rates.
Malignant melanoma: gender patterns in care seeking for suspect marks
Authors: Hajdarevic Senada , Schmitt‐Egenolf Marcus , Brulin Christine , Sundbom Elisabet , Hörnsten Åsa 
Published: July 2011

Aims and objectives.  Gender patterns in self‐detection of melanoma are not sufficiently highlighted in the literature. The aim of the study was to identify specific patterns in the decision‐making process to seek care for suspect melanoma, as narrated by women and men.Background.  Females have a more favourable prognosis than males and also a higher level of perceived susceptibility and a higher level of knowledge about melanoma. Women are, furthermore, more prone to participate in screening.Method.  Thirty patients (15 women and 15 men) with a mean age of 55.5 years and diagnosed with malignant melanoma were interviewed about their decisions to seek care for suspect skin marks. The interviews were transcribed and analysed with qualitative content analysis.Results.  Care‐seeking behaviour for suspect melanoma was influenced by gender constructions. Men seldom or never acknowledged interest in attention to bodily changes, but when they became aware of changes, they often took a quick decision and sought an expert’s assessment. Men were compliant with wives’ and relatives’ advice about seeking care. All women reported that they paid attention to bodily changes, but they often delayed care seeking, due to family responsibilities and emotional struggles. The women also attempted self‐care remedies, such as applying ointment, before seeking professional care.Conclusions.  There are gender‐specific patterns that may influence decision making in the care‐seeking process. Such patterns are important to identify, since health care professionals must take these factors into account in communicating with men and women.Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses and in particular those working in telephone counselling, are often at the frontlines, deciding who can have access to health services. They are ideally placed to tackle the issue of gender constructions in the development of effective health care services.
Cytonuclear evidence for hybridogenetic reproduction in natural populations of the Australian carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris: Eleotridae)
Authors: SCHMIDT DANIEL J. , BOND NICHOLAS R. , ADAMS MARK , HUGHES JANE M. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAlthough most vertebrates reproduce sexually, a small number of fishes, amphibians and reptiles are known in which reproduction is asexual, i.e. without meiotic recombination. In fishes, these so‐called unisexual lineages usually comprise only females and utilize co‐occurring males of a related sexual species to reproduce via gynogenesis or hybridogenesis. Here, we examine patterns of microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in a widespread group of freshwater fishes (carp gudgeons; Hypseleotris spp.) to investigate a long‐standing proposal that this group includes unisexual forms. We show that the mtDNA genome of most carp gudgeons in tributaries of the Goulburn River belongs to one of two deeply divided clades (∼10% cyt b divergence) and that nuclear variation divides the same individuals into four distinct groups. Group 1 exhibits the genotypic proportions of a random mating population and has a 1:1 sex ratio. Two other groups are extremely sex‐biased (98% male, 96% female), exhibit excess heterozygosity at most loci and share at least one allele per locus with group 1. We propose that these two groups represent ‘unisexual’ hybridogenetic lineages and that both utilize co‐occurring group 1 as sexual host. Interestingly, the fourth distinct group appears to represent hybrid offspring of the two putative hybridogenetic lineages. The propagation of clonal haploid genomes by both males and females and the ability of these clones to unite and form sexually mature diploid hybrid offspring may represent a novel mechanism that contributes to the dynamics of coexistence between hybridogenetic lineages and their sexual hosts.
Clustering of fecundability within women
Authors: McLain Alexander C. , Sundaram Rajeshwari , Cooney Maureen A. , Gollenberg Audra L. , Buck Louis Germaine M. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryMcLain AC, Sundaram R, Cooney MA, Gollenberg AL, Buck Louis GM. Clustering of fecundability within women. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 460–465.Adverse pregnancy outcomes have long been observed to cluster within women resulting in the inclusion of past reproductive history in clinical assessments and perinatal scoring systems. However, limited study has focused on the clustering of fecundability as measured by time to pregnancy (TTP), despite growing evidence suggestive of a possible association with adverse pregnancy outcomes known to cluster within women. We sought to empirically evaluate the clustering of conception delay, and TTP more globally, in one of the few existing prospective pregnancy cohort studies that captured women's successive pregnancies. The study cohort comprised 544 women who contributed 1119 pregnancies in the US Collaborative Perinatal Project. We used a discrete Cox frailty model to estimate the degree and significance of within‐woman clustering of TTP. Women with an initial conception delay (TTP > 6 months) were older, less educated and had higher body mass indices than women not experiencing delays (TTP ≤ 6 months). Our analysis indicates that there is significant within‐woman clustering of TTP (variance of the frailty = 0.80, [95% confidence interval 0.49, 1.11]) after adjusting for baseline maternal age, body mass index and education level. Similar to many other reproductive and perinatal outcomes, our findings suggest that TTP clusters within women. Identifying exposures or behaviours that affect TTP may offer strategies for reducing conception delay in future pregnancy attempts.
Glutathione in plants: an integrated overview
Authors: NOCTOR GRAHAM , MHAMDI AMNA , CHAOUCH SEJIR , HAN YI , NEUKERMANS JENNY , MARQUEZ‐GARCIA BELEN , QUEVAL GUILLAUME , FOYER CHRISTINE H. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTPlants cannot survive without glutathione (γ‐glutamylcysteinylglycine) or γ‐glutamylcysteine‐containing homologues. The reasons why this small molecule is indispensable are not fully understood, but it can be inferred that glutathione has functions in plant development that cannot be performed by other thiols or antioxidants. The known functions of glutathione include roles in biosynthetic pathways, detoxification, antioxidant biochemistry and redox homeostasis. Glutathione can interact in multiple ways with proteins through thiol‐disulphide exchange and related processes. Its strategic position between oxidants such as reactive oxygen species and cellular reductants makes the glutathione system perfectly configured for signalling functions. Recent years have witnessed considerable progress in understanding glutathione synthesis, degradation and transport, particularly in relation to cellular redox homeostasis and related signalling under optimal and stress conditions. Here we outline the key recent advances and discuss how alterations in glutathione status, such as those observed during stress, may participate in signal transduction cascades. The discussion highlights some of the issues surrounding the regulation of glutathione contents, the control of glutathione redox potential, and how the functions of glutathione and other thiols are integrated to fine‐tune photorespiratory and respiratory metabolism and to modulate phytohormone signalling pathways through appropriate modification of sensitive protein cysteine residues.
Effect of short‐term water restriction in hot season on some blood parameters and immune response to Newcastle disease vaccine of local and commercial layers in the late phase of production
Authors: Alamer M. A. , Ahmed A. S. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryForty‐five Hisex commercial layers and forty‐five local Saudi breed layers were used to compare and assess the effect of water restriction under hot conditions on blood constituents and immune response to Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine. The trial was divided into three periods: control (7 day), water restriction (14 day) and rehydration (7 day). During water restriction, layers from each breed were divided into three groups that received 0%, 20% and 40% restriction of drinking water relative to the control period. The immune response against ND was affected by breed; it also declined significantly with 40% water restriction 10 days post‐restriction. Water restriction did not affect haematocrit value, plasma total protein, albumin, glucose or osmolality, which may not suggest a reduction in plasma volume. However, plasma creatinine increased in both breeds because of water restriction that remained elevated during rehydration. Water restriction increased plasma urea in the local group, while it decreased in the commercial group. Irrespective of rate of water restriction, it can be concluded that the two breeds can withstand up to 40% water restriction during high environmental temperature. However, the local breed may be superior in water conservation in relation to the commercial layers.
Invasive pneumococcal pneumonia is the major cause of paediatric haemolytic‐uraemic syndrome in Taiwan
Authors: LEE CHING‐SUNG , CHEN MEI‐JU , CHIOU YEE‐HSUAN , SHEN CHING‐FEN , WU CHAN‐YAO , CHIOU YUAN‐YOW 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Streptococcus pneumoniae‐associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (SP‐HUS) is a major concern of paediatric acute renal failure in Taiwan; it leads to significant morbidity and mortality during the acute phase and to long‐term morbidity after an acute episode.Methods:  Twenty children diagnosed with HUS between 1 May 1995, and 31 December 2008 was enrolled. Clinical variables related to laboratory data, organ involved, and outcomes were examined between patients with and without SP‐HUS.Results:  Thirteen of the 20 (13/20, 65%) patients required dialysis, nine (9/20, 45.0%) developed hepatic dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), gastrointestinal bleeding, and hypertension, respectively. They were the second most common extrarenal complication except empyema (11/20, 55%). Two (10%) died and seven (35%) of the survivors developed long‐term renal morbidity. Twelve of the 20 patients (60%) were diagnosed with SP‐HUS. Younger age, female children, higher white blood cell count, higher alanine transaminase, higher lactate dehydrogenase and high incidence of DIC were significantly common in SP‐HUS cases. All SP‐HUS cases were complicated with pleural effusion, empyema, or both. Positive Thomsen‐Freidenreich antigen (T‐Ag) activation was 83% sensitive and 100% specific for SP‐HUS, and a positive direct Coombs' test was 58% sensitive and 100% specific.Conclusion:  Invasive pneumococcal infection is the most common cause of HUS in Taiwan. Positive T‐Ag activation and a direct Coombs' test are rapid predictors of SP‐HUS in children with invasive pneumonia.
Distribution of cryptic blue oat mite species in Australia: current and future climate conditions
Authors: Hill Matthew P. , Hoffmann Ary A. , McColl Stuart A. , Umina Paul A. 
Published: July 2011

Invertebrate pests, such as blue oat mites Penthaleus spp., cause significant economic damage to agricultural crops in Australia. Climate is a major driver of invertebrate species distributions and climate change is expected to shift pest assemblages and pest prevalence across Australia. At this stage, little is known of how individual species will respond to climate change.
We have mapped the current distribution for each of the three pest Penthaleus spp. in Australia and built ecological niche models for each species using the correlative modelling software, maxent. Predictor variables useful for describing the climate space of each species were determined and the models were projected into a range of future climate change scenarios to assess how climate change may alter species‐specific distribution patterns in Australia.
The distributions of the three cryptic Penthaleus spp. are best described with different sets of climatic variables. Suitable climate space for all species decreases under the climate change scenarios investigated in the present study. The models also indicate that the assemblage of Penthaleus spp. is likely to change across Australia, particularly in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria.
These results show the distributions of the three Penthaleus spp. are correlated with different climatic variables, and that regional control of mite pests is likely to change in the future. A further understanding of ecological and physiological processes that may influence the distribution and pest status of mites is required.
The determinants of reserves disclosure in the extractive industries: evidence from Australian firms
Authors: Taylor Grantley , Richardson Grant , Tower Greg , Hancock Phil 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis paper examines the determinants of reserves disclosure (RD) in the Australian extractive industries. Our regression results indicate that RD are positively associated with variables relating to corporate governance, foreign listing, existence of reserves in foreign jurisdictions, pledging of reserves in debt covenants, leverage and external (Big 4) auditor, after controlling for firm size, subindustry, shareholder concentration and development/production stage. Additional regression testing shows that the existence of reserves in foreign jurisdictions is the most important determinant of RD in Australia. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the extent and rationale behind the RD practices of Australian resource firms.
Differentiated Products, Vertical Related Markets, and Optimal Export Policy
Authors: Chou Stephen Jui‐Hsien 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis paper studies the optimal export policy in the context of a vertically related industry with differentiated products, and analyzes the effects of the degree of product substitutability and market structure on the determination of such a policy. It is shown that the results obtained in a similar model with homogeneous goods rivalry no longer hold when the goods are differentiated. Indeed, the degree of product substitutability plays an important role in the determination of export policies, and also determines whether a country can be better off under a trade policy war compared to free trade. The use of a differentiated product setting also allows one to compare export policies and countries' welfare levels under both Cournot and Bertrand competition. It is found that the results of the comparison are also sensitive to the degree of product substitutability.
Monopolistic Competition and North–South Trade
Authors: Oladi Reza , Gilbert John 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis paper examines the consequences of opening to international trade for a developing economy with open urban unemployment and rural–urban migration, where the urban sector is monopolistically competitive. It is shown that there exists a threshold level of urbanization prior to which increases in product variety will be reflected in increased urban unemployment, that opening to intra‐industry trade with a high‐wage economy (i.e. North–South trade) will reduce the rate of urban unemployment by a greater amount than intra‐industry trade with a similar economy, and that trade intervention in the South may lower welfare by reducing varieties produced in the North.
Trade Policy and Antitrust: Do Consumers Matter to Legislators?
Authors: Feinberg Robert M. , Husted Thomas A. , Reynolds Kara M. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe provide one of the first efforts to measure the importance of consumer preferences in legislators' trade policy decisions by estimating the degree to which the level of antitrust enforcement in the legislator's state impacts his or her vote on free trade agreements. To the extent that antitrust and trade liberalization are both viewed as pro‐consumer in nature, we would expect to see a positive relationship between antitrust enforcement in their legislative district and Congressional votes in support of trade liberalization. We find evidence suggesting that consumer preferences do play a role in legislative decisions on trade policy.
Why Did ‘Zombie’ Firms Recover in Japan?
Authors: Fukuda Shin‐ichi , Nakamura Jun‐ichi 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe Japanese economy experienced prolonged recessions during the 1990s. Previous studies suggest that evergreen lending to troubled firms known as ‘zombie firms’ distorted market discipline in terms of stabilising the economy and caused significant delays in its recovery. However, the eventual bankruptcy of zombies was rare. The purpose of this study is to investigate why zombie firms recovered in Japan. We first extend the method of Caballero et al. (2008) and identify zombies from among the listed firms. Subsequently, we investigate the nature of corporate restructuring that was effective in reviving zombie firms. Our multinomial logistic regressions suggest that reducing the employee strength of zombie firms and selling its fixed assets were beneficial in facilitating their recovery. However, corporate restructuring without accounting transparency or by discouraging incentives for managers was ineffective. In addition, corporate restructuring lacked effectiveness in the absence of favourable macroeconomic environment as well as substantial external financial support.
A clinical profile of 103 patients with secondary movement disorders: correlation of etiology with phenomenology
Authors: Netravathi M. , Pal P. K. , Indira Devi B. 
Published: July 2011

Background and purpose:  Studying patients with secondary movement disorders (SMD) provides a unique opportunity to determine the correlation between the etiology and phenomenology of movement disorders.Methods:  This was a prospective study of 103 patients (43 women, 60 men; age = 28.7 ± 17.3 years; range = 2–70 years) with SMD, in a tertiary hospital over 4 years.Results:  The mean age of onset of SMD was 24.3 ± 19.7 years, and duration of symptoms was 4.3 ± 7.1 years (42 days to 40 years). Patients with pure tremor, pure dystonia (DYS), or a combination of tremor with dystonia had longest latency (10.9–18.5 months), whereas those with parkinsonism (PAR) and hemiballismus (HMB) had shorter latency (2.7–3.0 weeks). Pure dystonia was most prevalent (30.1%) followed by dystonia plus (13.6%), tremor (12.6%), PAR (11.7%), HMB (8.7%), mixed SMD (7.8%), tremor with dystonia (6.8%), myoclonus (5.8%), and chorea (2.9%). In approximately 60% of patients, the underlying etiologies were vascular (VAS), infections, and space‐occupying lesions (SOL), and 25% had SMD following trauma or hypoxia (HYP). With reference to specific etiologies, the most frequent SMDs were tremor following SOL (46%), post‐traumatic syndromes (25%), dystonia following HYP (56%), VAS lesions (50%), and infections (28%). With reference to specific SMDs, the most common etiologies were VAS for dystonia (39%), SOL for tremor (67%), and PAR (31%), and both SOL and trauma (37.5% each) for tremor with dystonia.Conclusions:  Our study highlights the spectrum of SMDs and the lack of correlation between types of SMDs and underlying etiologies. Preventable causes such as infections, HYP, trauma, and kernicterus still play a major role in pathogenesis of SMD.
Critical care outreach referrals: a mixed‐method investigative study of outcomes and experiences
Authors: Pattison Natalie , Eastham Elizabeth 
Published: July 2011

Aim: To explore referrals to a critical care outreach team (CCOT), associated factors around patient management and survival to discharge, and the qualitative exploration of referral characteristics (identifying any areas for service improvement around CCOT).Method: A single‐centre mixed method study in a specialist hospital was undertaken, using an explanatory design: participant selection model. In this model, quantitative results (prospective and retrospective episode of care review, including modified early warning system (MEWS), time and delay of referral and patient outcomes for admission and survival) are further explained by qualitative (interview) data with doctors and nurses referring to outreach. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS +17 and 19, and qualitative data were analysed using grounded theory principles.Results: A large proportion of referrals (124/407 = 30·5%) were made by medical staff. For 97 (97/407 = 23·8%) referrals, there was a delay between the point at which patients deteriorated (as verified by retrospective record review and MEWS score triggers) and the time at when patients were referred. The average delay was 2·96 h (95% CI 1·97–3·95; SD 9·56). Timely referrals were associated with improved outcomes; however, no causal attribution can be made from the circumstances around CCOT referral. Qualitative themes included indications for referral, facilitating factors for referral, barriers to referral and consequences of referral, with an overarching core theory of reassurance. Outreach was seen as back‐up and this core theory demonstrates the important, and somewhat less tangible, role outreach has in supporting ward staff to care for at‐risk patients.Conclusion: Mapping outreach episodes of care and patient outcomes can help highlight areas for improvement. This study outlines reasons for referral and how outreach can facilitate patient pathways in critical illness.