bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Low‐Cost Land Certification on Investment and Productivity
Authors: Holden Stein T. , Deininger Klaus , Ghebru Hosaena 
Published: January 2009

AbstractNew land reforms are again high on the policy agenda and low‐cost, propoor reforms are being tested in poor countries. This article assesses the investment and productivity impacts of the recent low‐cost land certification implemented in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, using a unique household and farm‐plot‐level panel data set, with data from before and up to eight years after the reform. Alternative econometric methods were used to test and control for endogeneity of certification and for unobserved household heterogeneity. Significant positive impacts were found, including effects on the maintenance of soil conservation structures, investment in trees, and land productivity.
Insuring Against Losses from Transgenic Contamination: The Case of Pharmaceutical Maize
Authors: Ripplinger David G. , Hayes Dermot J. , Goggi A. Susana , Lamkey Kendall 
Published: January 2009

AbstractConcerns about the risk of food supply contamination have limited the development and commercialization of certain pharmaceutical plants. This article develops an insurance pricing model that helps translate these concerns into a cost‐benefit analysis. The model first estimates the physical dispersal of maize pollen subject to a number of weather parameters. This distribution is then validated with the limited amount of currently available field trial data. The physical distribution is then used to calculate the premium for a fair‐valued insurance policy that would fund the destruction of possibly contaminated fields. The flexible framework can be readily adapted to other crops, management practices, and regions.
A Multivariate Evaluation of Ex ante Risks Associated with Fed Cattle Production
Authors: Belasco Eric J. , Ghosh Sujit K. , Goodwin Barry K. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate production risks faced by fed cattle producers. We do this by jointly modeling a group of cattle production yield risk factors using a multivariate dynamic regression model. The proposed econometric model estimates parameters that influence the mean and variance of production yield factors, as well as the covariance between variables, while accounting for a high degree of censoring through the use of a dynamic multivariate Tobit model. The model provides insights into the relationship between production yield factors in fed cattle production.
Second‐order analysis of inhomogeneous spatio‐temporal point process data
Authors: Gabriel Edith , Diggle Peter J. 
Published: January 2009

Second‐order methods provide a natural starting point for the analysis of spatial point process data. In this note we extend to the spatio‐temporal setting a method proposed byBaddeley et al.[Statistica Neerlandica(2000) Vol. 54, pp. 329–350] for inhomogeneous spatial point process data, and apply the resulting estimator to data on the spatio‐temporal distribution of humanCampylobacterinfections in an area of north‐west England.
Assessment of mother‐to‐child HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 transmission: an AIDS reference laboratory collaborative study
Authors: Pádua E , Almeida C , Nunes B , Cortes Martins H , Castela J , Neves C , Paixão MT 
Published: January 2009

ObjectiveA prospective study was carried out to assess HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) rates in Portugal between 1999 and 2005 by analysing the proportion of diagnosed infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers.Materials and methodsSerial blood samples were collected from 1315 children at risk of HIV‐1 infection, 131 children at risk of HIV‐2 infection and six children at risk of both HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 infections attending 25 Health Institutions. HIV proviral DNA was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and statistical analysis was performed using spss.ResultsDNA PCR using HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 long terminal repeat (LTR) primers amplified 92.5% and 75% of maternal HIV infections, respectively. Overall, MTCT occurred in 3.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5–4.6%] of HIV‐1 and 1.5% (95% CI 0.2–5.4%) of HIV‐2 mother–child pairs. A significant decrease in HIV‐1 MTCT was observed with time, from 7.0% (95% CI 2.6–14.6%) in 1999 to 0.5% (95% CI 0.0–2.5%) in 2005. HIV MTCT was associated with an absence of antiretroviral therapy in infected pregnant women (P<0.0001). Of the 48 infected children (46 with HIV‐1 and two with HIV‐2), the schedule of blood sample collection was followed for only 26 children. In 14 (53.8%) of those 26 children the infections were diagnosed in the first sample collected before they were 48 h old, suggesting in utero transmission. Despite the national recommendations for antenatal HIV testing, a high overall proportion (22.2% for HIV‐1 and 44.3% for HIV‐2) of mothers did not access any MTCT prevention measures, mostly because of late diagnosis in pregnancy. A small but significant proportion of HIV‐2 infection was found in mothers with no identifiable link with West Africa.ConclusionHIV‐2 transmission rates are low (1.5% in this study), and this may have led to a lower uptake of interventions, but in the absence of interventions transmission does occur. HIV‐1 transmission was also associated with a lack of intervention, mostly as a result of late presentation. Use of primers restricted to a single sequence led to false‐negative maternal results in a significant proportion of cases. In part this may have been attributable to very low HIV DNA loads as well as primer template mismatches. HIV infection was not documented in children born to mothers with negative HIV DNA PCR results.
Aetiology of cavitary lung lesions in patients with HIV infection*
Authors: Lin C‐Y , Sun H‐Y , Chen M‐Y , Hsieh S‐M , Sheng W‐H , Lo Y‐C , Hung C‐C , Chang S‐C 
Published: January 2009

BackgroundAlthough many studies have been carried out on pulmonary diseases in HIV‐infected patients, studies specifically investigating the aetiologies of cavitary lung lesions are rare.MethodsHIV‐infected patients enrolled in a cohort study who presented with cavitary lung lesions by radiography were identified between June 1994 and March 2008. Medical records and radiological and microbiological data for these patients were retrospectively reviewed using a standardized case collection form.ResultsDuring the 14‐year study period, 73 episodes of cavitary lung lesions were diagnosed in 66 of 1790 (3.7%) HIV‐infected patients. At the diagnosis of cavitary lung lesions, the median CD4 count was 25 cells/μL (range 1–575 cells/μL). Eighty‐one pathogens were considered causative, with fungi being the most common aetiology (42.0%), followed by bacteria (29.6%) and mycobacteria (25.9%). Of the fungal pneumonias, 19 (55.9%) were caused byPenicillium marneffei, 11 (32.4%) byCryptococcus neoformans, two (5.9%) byPneumocystis jirovecii, and two (5.9%) byAspergillusspecies. During the study period, 11 of 205 patients (5.4%) who were diagnosed as having tuberculosis presented with cavitary lung lesions, compared with 19 of 36 patients (52.8%) with penicilliosis and 11 of 64 patients (17.2%) with cryptococcosis (P<0.0001). The median CD4 count of patients with cavitary lung lesions resulting from tuberculosis (115 cells/μL) was significantly higher than that of patients with cavitary lung lesions resulting from penicilliosis (4 cells/μL) and cryptococcosis (29.5 cells/μL).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that invasive infections attributable to endemic fungi were the leading cause of cavitary lung lesions among patients in the late stage of HIV infection, and were more common than infections attributable to bacteria and mycobacteria.
Reduced major histocompatibility complex class II polymorphism in a hunter‐managed isolated Iberian red deer population
Authors: Fernández‐de‐Mera I. G. , Vicente J. , Pérez de la Lastra J. M. , Mangold A. J. , Naranjo V. , Fierro Y. , De La Fuente J. , Gortázar C. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contains the most variable functional genes described in vertebrates. Individuals from natural populations deal constantly with a diverse range of pathogens and the polymorphism at MHC loci is what determines the diversity of foreign antigens that the host immune system can recognize. Polymorphism at individual loci may result in variable MHC class II (MHC‐II) haplotypes. We characterized for the first time, the allelic diversity at the second DRB locus of the MHC‐II in the Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus. The studied population was sampled from a fenced estate that has been managed for hunting purposes and may provide information of the effect of game management on the genetic diversity of this species. Deer presented high levels of variation at MHC‐II DRB‐2 with 18 different alleles detected in 94 individuals. However, a significant heterozygous deficiency was found for MHC‐II DRB‐2 locus (92.5% of individuals only amplified one allele), whereas genotype frequencies at three neutral microsatellite loci were according to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, with heterozygosity over 50%. The analysis of control Iberian red deer from different geographic locations identified two expressed DRB‐2 loci with a high degree of heterozygosis. The annual diversity index of MHC‐II DRB‐2 alleles significantly decreased along the 16‐year study period, which was confirmed with losses in microsatellite markers. Although we cannot exclude positive non‐assortative mating and/or substructured breeding (Wahlund effect) within our reference population, such unexpected apparent homozygosity at MHC DRB‐2 loci is suggestive of null alleles occurring at our population. The observed pattern could be the result of a founder effect in this recently established population. Nonetheless, the loss of MHC‐II DRB‐2 allele diversity could reflect the effects of inbreeding in this fenced population managed for hunting. These findings support the importance of immunogenetic studies to assess management decisions, especially in isolated ungulate populations.
Handling‐related tail loss in an endangered skink: incidence, correlates and a possible solution
Authors: Scroggie M. P. , Clemann N. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractCaudal autotomy (tail loss) during capture and handling is widely reported among several families of lizards. Autotomy causes elevated stress levels in lizards, and imposes a significant fitness cost on autotomized individuals. Despite these detrimental impacts, conservation and ethical issues associated with handling‐related tail loss have received little attention. We assessed the incidence and correlates of tail autotomy during capture and handling in an endangered skink, the alpine she‐oak skink Cyclodomorphus praealtus. A significant proportion (9.3%) of lizards autotomized their tails during capture and handling. Medium‐sized lizards were more likely to lose their tails during handling, and this effect was exacerbated at intermediate body temperatures. Probability of autotomy had a complex relationship with cumulative observer experience, independent of other risk factors. Based on the modelled relationship of autotomy with body temperature, we propose that alpine she‐oak skinks be cooled immediately after capture to reduce rates of autotomy during subsequent handling.
Economic influences on perceived value, quality expectations and customer satisfaction
Authors: Frank Björn , Enkawa Takao 
Published: January 2009

AbstractConsumer research has extensively analysed psychological determinants of customer satisfaction. As macro‐level customer satisfaction data were not available until recently, researchers have only taken first steps towards analysing economic determinants of customer satisfaction. Based on a more complex conceptual framework and on data from Germany and Japan, this article examines how economic processes influence the perceived value of goods and services, quality expectations and customer satisfaction. Using principal component analysis, regression analysis and structural equation modelling, this study finds that perceived value is positively influenced by both economic growth and lagged economic expectations. Customer satisfaction is positively influenced by economic growth and negatively by current economic expectations, with half of the impact mediated by perceived value. Economic expectations positively influence expectations regarding the quality of goods and services. These results imply that consumer researchers should no longer ignore economic influences on consumer attitudes. Marketing managers are advised to be cautious not to misinterpret economic‐induced variations in customer satisfaction as caused by corporate performance.
The workplace lunch room: an arena for multicultural eating
Authors: Lindén Anna‐Lisa , Nyberg Maria 
Published: January 2009

AbstractMany countries in Europe have experienced growing migration since World War II. It is estimated that more than one in five Swedes living today has roots in other countries and cultures. Segregation in terms of ethnic origin in housing areas makes it easier to maintain the language and cultural traditions of the home country when it comes to cooking and eating. In extremely segregated housing areas, there may even be no interface between foreign cultural traditions and Swedish traditions in food consumption.Almost every inhabitant in the age range 20–65 years spends a number of years in workplaces outside the home. Workplaces are generally melting pots for employees of all ages and ethnic groups. In this study, a bus company lunch room served as a field for studying preferences in food, meals structure and eating patterns during lunch breaks. The city centre lunch room was visited by every driver at least once during their working day for coffee/tea, lunch or a rest. The lunch room served as an arena for discussions and exposure to new foods customs relating to meals and eating. It thus constituted a place for cultural exchange about food preferences and for forming opinions about individuals and nationalities, including Swedes. The methods for gathering empirical material for the analysis were participant observations and semi‐structured interviews.Food consumption can be recognized as a marker of class and status in the same way as consumption of leisure activities and clothing. Some new criteria in identifying members of we‐groups in relation to others can be added to the classical criteria. When language fails in communication, visible signs become more important. A workplace lunch room is a clear arena for attitude formation. Attitudes may be conservative or stereotyped but sometimes evoke the curiosity to eat something different. In a multicultural arena such as a workplace lunch room, the knowledge available about food, meals and preferences is sometimes far from the real truth, especially when visible impressions are not followed by verbal communication, which can sometimes lead to incomplete and narrow‐minded conclusions.
Implementation of a nutritional programme in elderly people admitted to resident homes
Authors: Wikby Kerstin , Ek Anna‐Christina , Christensson Lennart 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  The aim was to test the hypothesis that education provided to staff regarding nutritional needs and individualizing nutritional care will improve the nutritional status and functional capacity of elderly people newly admitted to resident homes.Design:  Pre‐ and posttest, quasi experimental.Setting:  Resident homes.Subjects:  Sixty‐two residents (20 men, 42 women) in the experimental group and 53 (14 men, 39 women) in the control group were consecutively included. Mean age was 85 years.Methods:  On admission and after 4 months, nutritional status was assessed using a combination of anthropometry (weight index, arm muscle circumference and triceps skinfold thickness) and biochemical measurements (serum albumin and transthyretin). Functional capacity and overall cognitive function were also assessed. In the experimental unit, the staff received education about nutritional needs and individualized nutritional care.Results:  After 4 months the number of residents assessed as protein energy malnourished decreased from 20 to seven in the experimental (p = 0.004), and from 17 to 10 in the control group (p = 0.1). In the experimental group, motor activity (p = 0.006) and cognitive function (p = 0.02) increased. In the control group, motor activity decreased (p = 0.02).Conclusions:  The results indicate that the intervention had effects, as the number of protein energy malnourished residents decreased in the experimental group and motor activity and cognitive function improved. No such improvements were seen in the control group.
Doves and hawks: practice educators’ attitudes towards interprofessional learning
Authors: Dutton Amanda J. , Worsley Aidan R. C. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe authors offer a critical account of interprofessional learning and working within the spheres of health and social care. The ‘joined up’ imperatives promoted by central government are compared to the somewhat contradictory findings of research exploring the effectiveness of interprofessional working. The role of practice educators in developing attitudes, learning and experiences around interprofessional working is heralded as an under‐researched area while being of particular significance in the formation of professional identity. This paper uses the term ‘practice educators’ to capture the shared functions of nurse mentors and social work practice teachers. The authors draw on a small‐scale piece of focus group‐based research with professional practitioners from health and social care. The authors stress throughout the need to retain a localized approach to research in this area where differences emerged even among teams located closely to each other. The focus groups explored the experiences and attitudes of a variety of field‐based practice educators within two profession‐specific focus groups. The findings are coded, summarized and presented using a matrix. An analysis is offered which suggests that across both professional groups, two distinct categories of practice educators are emerging. The ‘doves’ appear to be more accepting of changes around professional boundaries where blurring is taking place. Although they do not ignore the potential conflict that can exist for themselves and their students, the doves largely seek to manage this conflict and look to a consensus approach. In contrast, the ‘hawks’ are more concerned with issues of professional erosion and look to develop more combative strategies around the maintenance of the existing boundaries and their current professional identity. It is argued that this approach has more of a conflict base.
Added Value of Physical Performance Measures in Predicting Adverse Health‐Related Events: Results from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Authors: Cesari Matteo , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Newman Anne B. , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Harris Tamara B. , Penninx Brenda W. , Brach Jennifer S. , Tylavsky Frances A. , Satterfield Suzanne , Bauer Doug C. , Rubin Susan M. , Visser Marjolein , Pahor Marco ,   for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVES: To determine how three different physical performance measures (PPMs) combine for added utility in predicting adverse health events in elders.DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.SETTING: Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand twenty‐four well‐functioning older persons (mean age 73.6).MEASUREMENTS: Timed gait, repeated chair stands, and balance (semi‐ and full‐tandem, and single leg stands each held for 30 seconds) tests were administered at baseline. Usual gait speed was categorized to distinguish high‐ and low‐risk participants using the previously established 1‐m/s cutpoint. The same population‐percentile (21.3%) was used to identify cutpoints for the repeated chair stands (17.1 seconds) and balance (53.0 seconds) tests. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to evaluate the added value of PPMs in predicting mortality, hospitalization, and (severe) mobility limitation events over 6.9 years of follow‐up.RESULTS: Risk estimates for developing adverse health‐related events were similarly large for each of the three high‐risk groups considered separately. Having more PPM scores at the high‐risk level was associated with a greater risk of developing adverse health‐related events. When all three PPMs were considered, having only one poor performance was sufficient to indicate a highly significantly higher risk of (severe) lower extremity and mortality events.CONCLUSION: Although gait speed is considered to be the most important predictor of adverse health events, these findings demonstrate that poor performance on other tests of lower extremity function are equally prognostic. This suggests that chair stand and standing balance performance may be adequate substitutes when gait speed is unavailable.
Effect of Central Nervous System Medication Use on Decline in Cognition in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Authors: Wright Rollin M. , Roumani Yazan F. , Boudreau Robert , Newman Anne B. , Ruby Christine M. , Studenski Stephanie A. , Shorr Ronald I. , Bauer Douglas C. , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Hilmer Sarah N. , Hanlon Joseph T. ,   for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether combined use of multiple central nervous system (CNS) medications over time is associated with cognitive change.DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study.SETTING: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee.PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand seven hundred thirty‐seven healthy adults (aged ≥65) enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study without baseline cognitive impairment (modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MS) score ≥80).MEASUREMENTS: CNS medication (benzodiazepine‐ and opioid‐receptor agonists, antipsychotics, antidepressants) use, duration, and dose were determined at baseline (Year 1) and Years 3 and 5. Cognitive function was measured using the 3MS at baseline and Years 3 and 5. The outcome variables were incident cognitive impairment (3MS score <80) and cognitive decline (≥5‐point decline on 3MS). Multivariable interval‐censored survival analyses were conducted.RESULTS: By Year 5, 7.7% of subjects had incident cognitive impairment; 25.2% demonstrated cognitive decline. CNS medication use increased from 13.9% at baseline to 15.3% and 17.1% at Years 3 and 5, respectively. It was not associated with incident cognitive impairment (adjusted hazard ratio (adj HR)=1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.73–1.69) but was associated with cognitive decline (adj HR 1.37, 95% CI=1.11–1.70). Longer duration (adj HR=1.39, CI=1.08–1.79) and higher doses (>3 standardized daily doses) (adj HR=1.87, 95% CI=1.25–2.79) of CNS medications suggested greater risk of cognitive decline than with nonuse.CONCLUSION: Combined use of CNS medications, especially at higher doses, appears to be associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Future studies must explore the effect of combined CNS medication use on vulnerable older adults.