bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of modafinil on simulator driving and self‐assessment of driving following sleep deprivation
Authors: Gurtman Clint G. , Broadbear Jillian H. , Redman Jennifer R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectivesWhile it has been suggested that the novel wake promoting drug modafinil may have some utility with respect to drowsy driving in healthy adults, this has not been investigated until now. The present study was designed to assess the effects of modafinil on objective and self‐assessed driving simulator performance during an overnight period of sleep loss.MethodsSixteen healthy participants (eight males and eight females) remained awake overnight on two separate occasions during which they ingested either a single 300 mg dose of modafinil or a placebo capsule at either 0230 or 0330 h. Two hours post‐treatment, participants were evaluated using measures of driving simulator performance, self‐assessed driving performance and subjective alertness.ResultsModafinil treatment reduced lane deviation but had less effect on speed deviation, off‐road incidents and reaction time to a concurrent task. Modafinil also improved subjective appraisals of driving performance, although its use may have resulted in overconfidence in driving ability during short trips.ConclusionsModafinil offers some benefits with respect to objective driving performance under conditions of sleep loss. However it may induce overconfidence, suggesting that its use as a countermeasure to drowsiness when driving requires further examination. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Production of fuel ethanol from softwood by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation at high dry matter content
Authors: Hoyer Kerstin , Galbe Mats , Zacchi Guido 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: The production of bio‐ethanol from softwood is considered a promising alternative to fossil fuels in Sweden. In order to make fuel ethanol economically competitive with fossil fuels, it is important to reduce the production cost, which can be done by increasing the dry matter content of the fermentation medium, thus reducing the energy demand in the final distillation of the fermentation broth. Running simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at higher dry matter content has, however, been found to decrease the ethanol yield.RESULTS: The use of different stirrer types and stirring speeds in the present study has shown to have an influence on the final ethanol yield in SSF with 10% water‐insoluble solids (WIS). Also, higher concentration of pretreatment hydrolysate, i.e., with increased inhibitor concentration, at the same WIS resulted in a decreased ethanol yield. However, despite stirring problems and high inhibitor concentration, ethanol was produced at 12% WIS with an ethanol yield in the SSF step of 81% of the theoretical based on the content of fermentable sugars in the fermentor.CONCLUSION: The decrease in ethanol yield in SSF at high dry matter content has been shown to be a combined effect of increased mass transfer resistance and increased inhibitor concentration in the fermentation broth. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Mineral resource abundance and regional growth in Spain, 1860–2000
Authors: Domenech Jordi 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe natural resource curse hypothesis predicts that natural resource windfalls can reduce the long run level of income per capita by crowding out manufacturing, slowing down the accumulation of human capital, damaging institutions and increasing inequality. This paper explores some of the central tenets of the natural resource curse literature by exploiting variation in mineral resources in Spain from 1860 to 1936. The conclusions of the paper are that, contrary to the natural resource curse hypothesis, natural resources had a positive, sizeable effect on industrialisation by 1920 and that they did not reduce real wage growth in the period 1860–1920. Moreover, extractive industries did not slow down the accumulation of human capital. When I look at the very long run by analysing real income per capita convergence from 1930 to 2000, there are no significant costs of early specialisation in extractive industries. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Luminescence dating of sand–loess sequences and response of Mu Us and Otindag sand fields (north China) to climatic changes
Authors: Zhou Yali , Lu Huayu , Zhang Jiafu , Mason Joseph A. , Zhou Liping 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe sand–loess transition zone in north China is sensitive to climate change, and is an ideal place to investigate past environmental changes. However, past climate change at millennial–centennial timescales in this region has not been well reconstructed because of limited numerical dating. Alternations of sandy loam soils with aeolian sand layers in the Mu Us and Otindag sand fields, which lie along the sand–loess transition zone, indicate multiple intervals of dune activity and stability. This change is probably a response to variations of the East Asian monsoon climate during the late Quaternary. The single aliquot regeneration (SAR) optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating protocol, which has been successfully applied to aeolian deposits worldwide, is applied to these two sand fields in this study. The OSL ages provide reliable constraints for reconstruction of past climate changes at suborbital timescale. Sections in both sand fields contain aeolian sand beds recording millennial‐scale episodes of dry climate and widespread dune activation, including episodes at about the same time as Heinrich Event 5 and the Younger Dryas in the North Atlantic region. These results demonstrate the potential of aeolian sediments in semi‐arid north China to record millennial‐scale climatic events, and also suggest that dry–wet climate variation at the desert margin in China may be linked to climatic change elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, through atmospheric circulation. This article was published online on 27 November 2008. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected (16 December 2008). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polymorphism of DGAT1 associated with intramuscular fat‐mediated tenderness in sheep
Authors: Xu Qiu‐Liang , Chen Yu‐Lin , Ma Rui‐Xia , Xue Peng 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Polymorphism of acyl coenzyme A: diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) affects the fat content of milk and meat in cattle. To investigate the effects of DGAT1 on sheep meat quality traits, the cDNA of DGAT1 was cloned. The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the DGAT1 gene and sheep meat quality traits was assessed.RESULTS: Sequence analysis showed that sheep DGAT1 is about 1470 bp and contains an open reading frame coding for a protein of 489 amino acids. A silent mutation of GCT (Ala487) to GCC (Ala487) was found in exon 17 at the 1461st base pair in 286 lambs of three Chinese breeds by polymerase chain reaction single nucleotide conformation polymorphism assay. The mutation was confirmed by Alu I polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. The association between genotypes and meat quality traits in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle was analysed. The TT genotype conferred higher muscle marbling score (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat (IMF) content (P < 0.05) and lower shear force (P < 0.05) and drip loss rate (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: The T allele had a positive effect on tenderness, IMF content and marbling score in sheep meat. The results of this study suggest that the TT genotype of DGAT1 could be regarded as a molecular marker for meat tenderness and IMF content in sheep. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation and Physical Properties of Waterborne Polyurethane/Functionalized Graphene Sheet Nanocomposites
Authors: Raghu Anjanapura V. , Lee Yu Rok , Jeong Han Mo , Shin Cheol Min 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA nanocomposite of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was prepared with functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) which are a new type of nano‐sized conductive filler. The FGS were finely dispersed in a polymer matrix to improve the conductivity of the WPU. Conductivity of about 105 times that of pristine WPU was attained using two parts FGS per 100 parts of the matrix polymer. The FGS reduced the hard segment crystallinity of the WPU, which lowered the modulus of the WPU at room temperature. This modulus reduction became more evident in the temperature region above the glass transition temperature of the hard segment.magnified image
The identification of a Robin coefficient by a conjugate gradient method
Authors: Yang Fenglian , Yan Liang , Wei Ting 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis paper investigates a non‐linear inverse problem associated with the heat conduction problem of identifying a Robin coefficient from boundary temperature measurement. The variational formulation of the problem is given. The conjugate gradient method combining with the discrepancy principle for choosing the suitable stop step are proposed for solving the optimization problem, in which the finite difference method is used to solve the direct problems. The performance of the method is verified by simulating four examples. The convergence with respect to the grid refinement and the amount of noise in the data is also investigated. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Market failure, government failure and externalities in climate change mitigation: The case for a carbon tax
Authors: Andrew Brian 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis article addresses possible approaches to solving the problem of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). It considers some of the core science on climate change, leading to a discussion of market failure, government failure and externalities. The European Union's emissions trading scheme (ETS) is cited as an example of a failure in an environment of both market failure and government failure. The discussion then focuses on carbon costing and pricing, the design features of a carbon tax and the main advantages of a carbon tax over an ETS. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
UV‐curing synthesis of sulfonated polyaniline‐silver nanocomposites by an in situ reduction method
Authors: Karim Mohammad Rezaul , Yeum Jeong Hyun , Lee Min‐Young , Lee Mu Sang , Lim Kwon Taek 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSulfonated polyaniline‐silver (SPAni‐Ag) hybrid nanocomposites have been synthesized by the in situ reduction using a UV‐curing polymerization method without using any reducing or binding agent. An aqueous solution of aniline and orthoanilinic acid (OA) comonomers, a free‐radical oxidant and silver metal salts were irradiated by UV rays. Reduction of the silver salt in aqueous aniline and OA leads to the formation of silver particles which in turn catalyze the oxidation of comonomers to sulfonated polyaniline (SPAni). The resultant SPAni‐Ag nanocomposites were characterized by using different spectroscopy analyses like UV–visible (UV–Vis), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy. The absorption bands were revealed to be optically active and the peaks blue‐shifted due to the presence of metallic silver within the SPAni matrix. The XRD patterns displayed both the broad amorphous polymeric and sharp metallic peaks. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of the nanocomposites showed a uniform size distribution with spherical and granular morphology. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the nanocomposites had a better thermal stability than the bulk SPAni. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Offer and uptake of prenatal screening for Down syndrome in women from different social and ethnic backgrounds
Authors: Rowe Rachel , Puddicombe David , Hockley Christine , Redshaw Maggie 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo compare offer and uptake of prenatal screening for Down syndrome in women from different social and ethnic backgrounds.MethodA total of 4800 randomly selected women in England were sent a survey three months after they had given birth; 2960 women responded. Odds ratios (OR) for reported offer and uptake of screening comparing women by area deprivation and ethnicity were calculated.ResultsIn all, 65% of women reported having screening; 89% reported being offered screening, and 69% of these reported taking up the offer. There was no evidence of a difference in the reported offer (adjusted OR = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65–1.19, p = 0.41) or uptake (adjusted OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.66–1.06, p = 0.15) of screening for women living in the most deprived areas compared with other women. Asian women were less likely to report being offered screening than White women (adjusted OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.39–0.94, p = 0.02) and were less likely to take up screening when offered (adjusted OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.33–0.72, p < 0.001).ConclusionsWhile most pregnant women in England are offered prenatal screening for Down syndrome, approximately 1 in 10 is not. Asian women are less likely than White women to report being offered Down syndrome screening and are less likely to have a screening test when offered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
International migration to non‐metropolitan areas of high income countries: editorial introduction
Authors: Hugo Graeme , Morén‐Alegret Ricard 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIncreasing levels of immigration in response to ageing and fertility decline is one of the most significant demographic trends in OECD countries. Most of this immigration has focused on major metropolitan centres, but in recent years the proportion settling outside of these centres has increased. This phenomenon has largely got under the radar of policy makers and researchers alike but is significant for at least three reasons. The impact of ageing and fertility decline has been exacerbated in rural areas by outmigration so that immigration can potentially play a major role in reversing population decline and maintaining economic and social sustainability. In fact while immigration is much smaller in these areas, its impact can be magnified because of smaller local populations. Secondly, immigration is a neglected dimension of the much studied counterurbanistion phenomenon. Thirdly, the settlement experiences and integration processes for migrants in rural areas may be different to those of their urban counterparts. The countryside in high income countries is undergoing a transformation and international migration will play an increasingly important role in this over the next two decades. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ruralphilia and urbophobia versus urbophilia and ruralphobia? Lessons from immigrant integration processes in small towns and rural areas in Spain
Authors: Morén‐Alegret Ricard 
Published: November 2008

AbstractMost research on immigrants has focused on their arrival in metropolitan areas or capital cities. However, in some parts of Europe international migration into small towns and rural areas is a significant feature, and as a result populations outside the major cities are becoming more diverse. This paper focuses on Spain, which has one of the most rapidly increasing immigrant populations in Europe. Based on fieldwork in five regions, new qualitative data and innovative insights into the integration processes of international migrants in non‐metropolitan Spain are presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immigrant settlement outside of Australia's capital cities
Authors: Hugo Graeme 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe post‐war migration programme has added more than 8 million to the Australian population, but the immigrants have overwhelmingly settled in a few metropolitan areas. At each successive census an increasing proportion of the overseas‐born resided in capital cities until 2006 when there was a small reduction. The latter shift, while small, may herald a change in immigrant settlement. In 1996 the settler intake was divided into immigrants who could settle anywhere in Australia and those that were directed to designated areas. Predominant in the latter were non‐metropolitan communities. This paper analyses how these policy shifts relating to permanent and temporary migration have created a new flow of immigrants into regional Australia. A number of developments in the Australian Immigration Program are taken in turn, and empirical evidence regarding their scale and impact in non‐metropolitan Australia assessed. Firstly, a number of surveys of State Specific and Regional Migration (SSRM) settlers are analysed and show that while there is a high degree of satisfaction among both immigrants and employers, there are some labour issues. In addition, a significant minority intend to leave their area of initial settlement once they had fulfilled their residential qualification. While refugee‐humanitarian settlers are not compelled to settle in particular areas, many are channelled into regional areas. There is often a lack of support services for them in these areas, although some regional communities are mobilising to cancel this out. There are also several elements in Australia's new suite of temporary migration programmes which are funnelling migrants into regional areas. The paper examines student migration, the Working Holiday Maker programme and the Regional 457 long‐term business migration programme. Most of these represent totally new elements in regional populations. While it is too early to make definitive judgements about the extent of this trend and its impact, immigration is bringing social and economic change to many non‐metropolitan communities. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploration, exploitation, and financial performance: analysis of S&P 500 corporations
Authors: Uotila Juha , Maula Markku , Keil Thomas , Zahra Shaker A. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe literature suggests that established firms need to balance their exploration and exploitation activities in order to achieve superior performance. Yet, previous empirical research has modeled this balance as the interaction of orthogonal activities. In this study, we show that there is a trade‐off between exploration and exploitation and that the optimal balance between exploration and exploitation depends upon environmental conditions. Using a novel methodology to measure the relative exploration versus exploitation orientation, we find an inverted U‐shaped relationship between the relative share of explorative orientation and financial performance. This relationship is positively moderated by the R&D intensity of the industry in which the firm operates. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs
Authors: Doi Hideyuki 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAlthough ecologists have recognized the importance of spatial structure within food webs, this aspect of ecosystems remains difficult to characterize quantitatively. Stable‐isotope techniques have recently been used to provide evidence of spatial structure within aquatic food webs. Here, I review current literature on spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs in lakes and rivers. Across various habitats and ecosystems, the factors determining the major resources of aquatic food webs are primarily phytoplanktonic productivity, benthic algal productivity, and amount of subsidization from terrestrial habitats. Autochthonous and allochthonous resource availability in food webs shifts with gradients in water depth, nutrient concentrations, degree of canopy cover, and distance from terrestrial habitats. Size of lake and river ecosystem (i.e., lake volume and stream width) also affects the relative contribution of the resources to the food webs, as this factor determines the system primary productivity and linkage to terrestrial habitats. Human activities have fragmented river and lake ecosystems and have subsequently modified the structure of aquatic food webs. The responses of food webs to anthropogenic effects differ across ecosystems, and stable isotope techniques can help to quantitatively assess the effects of human impacts on aquatic food webs.
Recovery from severe heart failure following peripartum cardiomyopathy
Authors: Fett James D. , Sannon Herriot , Thélisma Emmeline , Sprunger Therese , Suresh Venkita 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectivesTraditional concepts surrounding peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) hold that if recovery does not occur within 6 months of diagnosis, it is unlikely to happen. The purpose of the study was to determine the length of time required for recovery of left ventricular systolic function.MethodsPatients were identified from the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer PPCM Registry over the period 2000–2008. Echocardiography was carried out at diagnosis and every 6 months thereafter. Recovery of systolic heart function was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 0.50.ResultsThirty‐two out of 116 (27.6%) PPCM patients reached recovery levels, with 75% of patients taking over 12 months to recover. Shortest time to recovery was 3 months and longest time to recovery was 48 months.ConclusionRecovery of left ventricular systolic function in PPCM patients often requires longer than 6–12 months following diagnosis. It is important to continue effective treatment and follow‐up for a sufficient period to assure maximum benefit.
Application of evidence‐based teaching in maternal and child health in remote Vietnam
Authors: Hirst Jane E. , Jeffery Heather E. , Morris Jonathan , Foster Kirsty , Elliott Elizabeth J. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence‐based multidisciplinary teaching program to improve maternal and infant health in remote Vietnam.MethodsNeeds assessments identified prevention of infection, neonatal resuscitation, and prevention of postpartum hemorrhage as primary targets. A 3‐day workshop based on the small group, interactive, skills‐based SCORPIO method was developed. Participants underwent formative written and performance‐based assessments. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of course content and teaching method was conducted.ResultsTwo annual workshops were conducted for 58 health professionals, all of whom demonstrated skills acquisition to an adequate standard on completion. The workshops were rated as good or excellent overall by 100% of the participants, who reported that the content would help with their clinical work and that the teaching method was acceptable and easy to understand.ConclusionWe demonstrated the SCORPIO method can be adapted to teach knowledge and clinical skills in remote Vietnam. Further work is needed to demonstrate an effect on health outcomes.
DOES TYPE OF HOUSEHOLD AFFECT MATERNAL HEALTH? EVIDENCE FROM INDIA
Authors: SAIKIA NANDITA , SINGH ABHISHEK 
Published: November 2008

SummaryThe present paper examines the association between the type of household and maternal health in India using data from the National Family Health Survey 1998–99. The indicators of maternal health used in the analysis are contraceptive use, visit to obtain antenatal care in the first trimester, safe delivery and nutritional status of women measured in terms of body mass index (BMI). Binary and multinomial logistic regressions are used to establish associations. The type of household is coded into three categories, viz. nuclear household, joint household with in-laws and joint household without in-laws. The other independent variables used in the analysis are age, children ever born, work status, education of women, religion, caste, standard of living, exposure to mass media, women’s autonomy and presence of others at the time of interview. The findings clearly suggest that type of household is significantly associated with the utilization of the above-mentioned services that positively affect maternal health. Women in nuclear households are more likely to utilize these services compared with women in joint households. However, an association between type of household and BMI was not found.