bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review article: Addressing risk factors in chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder: Can we influence patient‐level outcomes?
Authors: O'SHEA STACEY , JOHNSON DAVID W 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYChronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder (CKD‐MBD), characterized by disturbances of calcium/phosphate/parathyroid hormone, bone abnormalities and vascular and soft tissue calcification, is highly prevalent in CKD and is a strong, independent predictor of bone fracture, cardiovascular disease and death. Clinical practice guidelines, such as the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) and Caring for Australasians with Renal Insufficiency (CARI), support the use of phosphate binders, vitamin D compounds and calcimimetics for treatment of CKD‐MBD and recommend stringent targets for serum calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone. However, these recommendations are based primarily on the results of observational cohort studies and randomized controlled trials employing surrogate outcome measures. The aim of this paper is to review the available evidence addressing whether therapeutic strategies targeting CKD‐MBD and its surrogate outcome measures appreciably influence patient‐level outcomes (‘hard’ clinical end‐points).
The choice of estimating equations for glomerular filtration rate significantly affects the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a multi‐ethnic population during health screening
Authors: TEO BOON W , NG ZHI Y , LI JIALIANG , SAW SHARON , SETHI SUNIL , LEE EVAN JC 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARY:Background:  Patients present to the National University Hospital of Singapore and select one of several health screening packages after counselling. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in this population when different glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations are used has not been examined.Methods:  Demographic data and urinalyses of patients from 2000 to 2005 were extracted from laboratory computer databases and analysed. CKD was classified into stages according to the US National Kidney Foundation guidelines by eGFR (mL/min per 1.73 m2) using the four‐variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. GFR of ethnic Chinese was also estimated using Ma's equation 8 (cGFR). Stage 1 and normal (eGFR or cGFR > 90) was discriminated by urinary microscopy or dipstick for proteinuria, albuminuria, hematuria or leukocyturia.Results:  There were 3979 screenings (55.9% males, 61.9% Chinese). Means: age = 47.0 ± 12.3 years, creatinine = 80.1 ± 26.5 µmol/L, eGFR = 89.6 ± 19.7, cGFR = 110.8 ± 23.8 and (eGFR + cGFR) = 102.5 ± 24.9. By eGFR in all patients, the prevalence of CKD was 45.7%, 50.6%, 3.3%, 0.3% and 0.08% for stages normal or 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. For Chinese patients only, eGFR and cGFR resulted in a different distribution (eGFR%/cGFR%): 24.9/50.5, 15.2/29.3, 56.8/19.7, 3/0.8, 0.2/0.2, 0/0 for stages ‘Normal’, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  The prevalence of moderate to severe CKD (stage 3 to 5) in patients presenting for health screening in Singapore was 3.7%. Notably, the prevalence of mild to moderate CKD (stages 1, 2 and 3) in Chinese patients was affected significantly by the choice of GFR estimating equation.
New method of predicting dry weight using bioelectrical impedance analysis in haemodialysis patients
Authors: LEE SEOUNG WOO , KIM DEOK YOUNG , LEE SEUNG HEE , CHO HYUNG CHAN , KWON SU HYUN , SONG JOON HO , KIM MOON JAE 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARY:Aim:  There were significant differences in the slopes of the ultrafiltration (UF) amount removed during haemodialysis (HD) sessions versus the percentage change in the extracellular fluid/total body water ratio for the right lower extremity (ECF/TBWright leg) plot in normohydrated (NH) and overhydrated states. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method for predicting dry weight (DW) using these results.Methods:  It was hypothesized that for patients to become NH, the slope of the UF amount versus the percentage changes in ECF/TBWright leg plot should be same as that of NH patients and a method for predicting DW was developed. To validate the accuracy of this method, the ECF/TBWright leg was measured by eight‐point tactile‐electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis before and after HD in 17 newly enrolled NH patients. Using the current DW (cDW) of subjects as a reference, we compared the accuracies of pDW1 (our devised method) and pDW2 (the normovolaemia/hypervolaemia slope method).Results:  The mean cDW, pDW1 and pDW2 values were 56.8 ± 7.9, 56.4 ± 7.7 and 56.3 ± 8.0 kg, respectively. No significant differences existed between cDW, pDW1 and pDW2. pDW1 had a lower root mean square error than pDW2 (1.12 vs 1.69). On the Bland–Altman plot, differences between pDW1 and cDW were closer to zero than between pDW2 and cDW.Conclusion:  A new method was developed of predicting the DW using the relationship between the UF amount and the percentage change in the ECF/TBW ratio of the lower extremities after HD. The devised method appears to be as accurate as the normovolaemia/hypervolaemia slope method.
A survey of medical staff attitudes to an antibiotic approval and stewardship programme
Authors: Bannan A. , Buono E. , McLaws M.‐L. , Gottlieb T. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: Antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs) are advocated to ensure appropriate antimicrobial use; with short‐term evidence they may improve outcomes, limit adverse effects, encourage cost‐effectiveness and reduce antibiotic resistance. At Concord Hospital, a 450‐bed acute care hospital, we have used a telephone‐based ASP for 15 years. There may be differences in attitudes to the ASP by prescribers, which may influence its long‐term efficacy.Method: A 40‐item self‐administered questionnaire was sent to 190 junior and 250 specialist medical staff. We aimed to elicit medical staff attitudes to the ASP's utility, educational value, effect on patient care and ease of use.Results: One hundred and sixty‐four completed questionnaires were returned. Most (82%, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 75–87%) clinicians had used the ASP, 98% of whom believed it to be a reasonable system. Most staff (85%, 95%CI 79–90%) believed that seeking approval made teams think carefully about antibiotic choice, agreed it provided helpful advice (91%, 95%CI 85–95%) and that the approval system provided useful advice and was educational (88%, 95%CI 81–92%). The ASP was felt time‐consuming and detracting from clinical duties by 33% (95%CI 26–41%), while 10% (95%CI 5.8–15.7%) believed it undervalued intuition and experience. Few (19%, 95%CI 13–25%, P < 0.0001) clinicians believed it infringed their autonomy. The advice given through the ASP was believed by most (89%, 95%CI 81–92%) to improve patient outcomes.Conclusion: The ASP was surprisingly well supported by all levels of staff, and reinforced the benefits of maintaining an ASP policy.
Patients with acute myocardial infarction using ambulance or private transport to reach definitive care: which mode is quicker?
Authors: Song L. , Yan H. , Hu D. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: One of the main reasons cited by patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for not using an ambulance was quickness of private transport.Aims: To examine differences in transport times for patients with AMI who used ambulance compared with patients who used private transportation to reach definitive care in Beijing.Methods: Data were prospectively collected from the 498 patients with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction admitted within 12 h of symptom onset to 19 hospitals in Beijing between 1 November 2005 and 31 December 2006. Elapsed time to definitive care was examined through the use of (i) decision to seek care to hospital arrival (private transport group) versus emergency medical service (EMS) arrival on scene (ambulance transport group), (ii) decision to seek care to hospital arrival, (iii) decision to seek care to reperfusion therapy and (iv) symptom onset to reperfusion therapy for both groups.Results: Private transportation resulted in faster hospital arrival than using ambulance (median, 35 vs 50 min, P < 0.001). However, if one considers EMS treatment to be initial definitive care, using ambulance resulted in much quicker care than patients using private transportation to the hospital (median, 15 vs 35 min, P < 0.001). In addition, using ambulance resulted in shorter decision‐to‐balloon (173 vs 193 min, P = 0.049) and symptom onset‐to‐balloon (medians, 223 vs 300 min, P < 0.001) times compared with patients using private transportation.Conclusion: Although private transportation results in a faster trip to the hospital, quicker definitive care is obtained with the use of ambulance.
A link between the North Atlantic Oscillation and measles dynamics during the vaccination period in England and Wales
Authors: Lima Mauricio 
Published: March 2009

AbstractEcologists have become aware of the role played by interannual climatic variability on the temporal dynamics of infectious diseases. In this report, I present evidence from data on measles cases in England and Wales showing that during the post‐vaccination period, the interannual variability of winter weather (represented by the North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO) influences the annual dynamics of the disease. Using annual measles data from seven cities and simple logistic models, this study reveals how, after vaccination, NAO increases its effects on measles fluctuations. In addition, this study shows that vaccination may be represented as a simple vertical and lateral perturbation effect (Royama’s classification), by reducing the maximum per capita growth rate and the equilibrium number of infected individuals.The results suggest that vaccination will not lead to outbreaks of measles from regular cyclic to irregular chaotic dynamics. In contrast, because of the reduction in per capita growth rates, the disease dynamics appear to be more stable than during the pre‐vaccination period. The analysis of annual data on infectious diseases may be useful for detecting long‐term effects of climate and complements the classical analyses and modeling based on monthly or seasonal time‐step data.
Climatic drivers of hemispheric asymmetry in global patterns of ant species richness
Authors: Dunn Robert R. , Agosti Donat , Andersen Alan N. , Arnan Xavier , Bruhl Carsten A. , Cerdá Xim , Ellison Aaron M. , Fisher Brian L. , Fitzpatrick Matthew C. , Gibb Heloise , Gotelli Nicholas J. , Gove Aaron D. , Guenard Benoit , Janda Milan , Kaspari Michael , Laurent Edward J. , Lessard Jean‐Philippe , Longino John T. , Majer Jonathan D. , Menke Sean B. , McGlynn Terrence P. , Parr Catherine L. , Philpott Stacy M. , Pfeiffer Martin , Retana Javier , Suarez Andrew V. , Vasconcelos Heraldo L. , Weiser Michael D. , Sanders Nathan J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAlthough many taxa show a latitudinal gradient in richness, the relationship between latitude and species richness is often asymmetrical between the northern and southern hemispheres. Here we examine the latitudinal pattern of species richness across 1003 local ant assemblages. We find latitudinal asymmetry, with southern hemisphere sites being more diverse than northern hemisphere sites. Most of this asymmetry could be explained statistically by differences in contemporary climate. Local ant species richness was positively associated with temperature, but negatively (although weakly) associated with temperature range and precipitation. After contemporary climate was accounted for, a modest difference in diversity between hemispheres persisted, suggesting that factors other than contemporary climate contributed to the hemispherical asymmetry. The most parsimonious explanation for this remaining asymmetry is that greater climate change since the Eocene in the northern than in the southern hemisphere has led to more extinctions in the northern hemisphere with consequent effects on local ant species richness.
Resilience of tropical rain forests: tree community reassembly in secondary forests
Authors: Norden Natalia , Chazdon Robin L. , Chao Anne , Jiang Yi‐Huei , Vílchez‐Alvarado Braulio 
Published: March 2009

AbstractUnderstanding the recovery dynamics of ecosystems presents a major challenge in the human‐impacted tropics. We tested whether secondary forests follow equilibrium or non‐equilibrium dynamics by evaluating community reassembly over time, across different successional stages, and among multiple life stages. Based on long‐term and static data from six 1‐ha plots in NE Costa Rica, we show that secondary forests are undergoing reassembly of canopy tree and palm species composition through the successful recruitment of seedlings, saplings, and young trees of mature forest species. Such patterns were observed over time within sites and across successional stages. Floristic reassembly in secondary forests showed a clear convergence with mature forest community composition, supporting an equilibrium model. This resilience stems from three key factors co‐occurring locally: high abundance of generalist species in the regional flora, high levels of seed dispersal, and local presence of old‐growth forest remnants.
Plant–pollinator networks: adding the pollinator’s perspective
Authors: Bosch Jordi , Martín González Ana M. , Rodrigo Anselm , Navarro David 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPollination network studies are based on pollinator surveys conducted on focal plants. This plant‐centred approach provides insufficient information on flower visitation habits of rare pollinator species, which are the majority in pollinator communities. As a result, pollination networks contain very high proportions of pollinator species linked to a single plant species (extreme specialists), a pattern that contrasts with the widely accepted view that plant–pollinator interactions are mostly generalized. In this study of a Mediterranean scrubland community in NE Spain we supplement data from an intensive field survey with the analysis of pollen loads carried by pollinators. We observed 4265 contacts corresponding to 19 plant and 122 pollinator species. The addition of pollen data unveiled a very significant number of interactions, resulting in important network structural changes. Connectance increased 1.43‐fold, mean plant connectivity went from 18.5 to 26.4, and mean pollinator connectivity from 2.9 to 4.1. Extreme specialist pollinator species decreased 0.6‐fold, suggesting that ecological specialization is often overestimated in plant–pollinator networks. We expected a greater connectivity increase in rare species, and consequently a decrease in the level of asymmetric specialization. However, new links preferentially attached to already highly connected nodes and, as a result, both nestedness and centralization increased. The addition of pollen data revealed the existence of four clearly defined modules that were not apparent when only field survey data were used. Three of these modules had a strong phenological component. In comparison to other pollination webs, our network had a high proportion of connector links and species. That is, although significant, the four modules were far from isolated.
SEMIPARAMETRIC REGRESSION AND GRAPHICAL MODELS
Authors: Wand M. P. 
Published: March 2009

SummarySemiparametric regression models that use spline basis functions with penalization have graphical model representations. This link is more powerful than previously established mixed model representations of semiparametric regression, as a larger class of models can be accommodated. Complications such as missingness and measurement error are more naturally handled within the graphical model architecture. Directed acyclic graphs, also known as Bayesian networks, play a prominent role. Graphical model‐based Bayesian ‘inference engines’, such asbugsandvibes, facilitate fitting and inference. Underlying these are Markov chain Monte Carlo schemes and recent developments in variational approximation theory and methodology.
Explaining International Differences in Genetically Modified Food Labeling Policies*
Authors: Gruère Guillaume P. , Carter Colin A. , Farzin Y. Hossein 
Published: March 2009

AbstractMany countries have adopted labeling policies for genetically modified (GM) food, and the regulations vary considerably across countries. We evaluate the importance of political‐economic factors implicit in the choice of GM food labeling regulations. Using an analytical model, we show that production and trade‐related interests play a prominent role in labeling decision‐making. This conclusion is validated by an empirical analysis of GM food labeling policy choices. We find that countries producing GM crops are more likely to have less stringent labeling policies. Food and feed exporters to the European Union (EU) and Japan are more likely to have adopted stricter labeling policies. Labeling regulations in Asia and Europe are similar to those of Japan and the EU. Countries with no labeling policies are less developed, with important rural sectors and are more likely to have ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Trade, Growth, and Increasing Returns to Infrastructure: The Role of the Sophisticated Monopolist*
Authors: Guha Ashok S. , Guha Brishti 
Published: March 2009

AbstractEquilibrium in international trade with increasing returns in infrastructure depends on whether the infrastructure provider is “naïve” or sophisticated. A monopolist produces infrastructure under decreasing cost using fixed equipment. Unlike similar work, we derive a unique closed‐economy equilibrium. In a small open economy, with “naïve” infrastructure provider(s), multiple equilibria obtain. The industrial export potential of the economy depends on unexhausted economies of scale, and equilibria are possible where manufactures are exported despite an autarky price higher than the world price. With a sophisticated infrastructure provider, even an open economy has a unique equilibrium, which, at least as long as economies of scale are unexhausted, also involves more industrialization than the “naïve” equilibria. Access to the unlimited world market is necessary for significant industrialization but is not sufficient: one may also require “Schumpeterian” entrepreneurs, monopolists with a panoramic vision of the economy and of their catalytic role in it.
Effects of Transboundary Pollution on the Mode of International Trade of a Polluting Good*
Authors: Fujiwara Kenji , Matsueda Norimichi 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBy analyzing a strategic interaction between environmentally‐concerned governments, we examine how the competition mode of international polluting oligopoly is determined. We show that a resulting form of competition depends on the magnitudes of marginal damage costs and cross‐border spillover as well as on the degrees of similarities in these environment‐related parameters.
Uncovered Interest Parity at Long Horizons: Evidence on Emerging Economies*
Authors: Mehl Arnaud , Cappiello Lorenzo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis paper estimates uncovered interest parity (UIP) at long horizons using bilateral US dollar rates vis‐à‐vis mature economy and emerging market currencies. The paper finds support in favor of UIP for dollar rates vis‐à‐vis major mature economy currencies, but far less against emerging market currencies. There are also signs that political risk and the exchange risk premium help explain the empirical failure of UIP for these latter currencies. This suggests that whether UIP holds depends more on the currency than on the horizon.
Gambling behavior and gambling problems in Norway 2007
Authors: BAKKEN INGER JOHANNE , GÖTESTAM K. GUNNAR , GRÅWE ROLF W. , WENZEL HANNE GRO , ØREN ANITA 
Published: March 2009

In Norway, legalized gambling is pervasive, easily accessible and socially accepted, particularly the participation in national lotteries. We conducted a stratified probability sample study during January–March 2007 (age group 16–74 years, N = 3,482, response rate 36.1%) to assess gambling behavior and prevalence of problematic gambling by the NORC Diagnostic Screen (NODS). Overall, 67.9% of the study population had been engaged in past‐year gambling and 0.7% were past‐year problematic gamblers (NODS score 3+). Male gender, low educational level, single marital status, and being born in a non‐Western country were variables positively associated with problematic gambling. Past‐year problematic gamblers indicated the slot machine (34.6%) and Internet gambling (26.9%) as the most important games, while most non‐problematic gamblers pointed out the lotteries (62.3%) as the most important game. The prevalence of self‐reported sleeping disorders, depression and other psychological impairments was significantly higher among problematic gamblers. Gambling problems affect people's lives in multiple ways.
Welfare State Developments in the Russian Federation: Oil‐led Social Policy and ‘The Russian Miracle’
Authors: Cerami Alfio 
Published: March 2009

Abstract This article investigates the main welfare state developments of the Russian Federation that have occurred since the fall of communism. It argues that the contemporary welfare expansion strictly depends on high oil and gas prices, and that this oil‐led social policy makes the future of the ‘Russian miracle’ highly volatile. The main conclusion is that the Russian welfare state will be able to function properly and to ensure social integration and solidarity only under conditions of sustained oil‐led growth. The article also identifies a variety of different, but equally important, endogenous, as well as exogenous, factors that have influenced the social policy developments in the Russian Federation since 1989. These correspond to the existence of few veto points present in the political arena, the lack of a well‐structured system of interest representation, the presence of informality in the welfare state organization, but also to the presence of national economic vulnerabilities and/or strengths in the now open global economy, as well as to non‐contingent decisions taken in strategic sectors of the state, such as those related to the energy or defence sectors.
Croatian Social Policy: The Legacies of War, State‐building and Late Europeanization
Authors: Stubbs Paul , Zrinščak Siniša 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis article outlines the differences and commonalities between social policy developments in Croatia and those in Central Europe. In Croatia, issues such as national identities and the redefinition of citizenship, war, state‐building and crisis management have produced a complex mix of statist centralization and parallelism of welfare actors at the central and local level. While subject both to neo‐liberal pressures to privatize provision, and later to European Union influences, both of these came later, and were more mediated, than in Central Europe. Croatia forms a bridge to studying the uneven welfare arrangements of other countries in South‐East Europe, marked as they are by complex governance arrangements and the presence of social development and postwar reconstruction discourses.