bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in the ST‐interval segment of the fetal electrocardiogram in relation to acid–base status at birth
Authors: Melin M , Bonnevier A , Cardell M , Hogan L , Herbst A 
Published: November 2008

Objective  To assess the occurrence of ST‐interval segment changes of the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiotocographic (CTG) abnormalities preceding acidaemia at birth.Design  Case–control study.Setting  University hospital labour ward.Sample  Newborns with severe cord artery metabolic acidaemia (pH < 7.00 and lactate ≥ 10 mmol/l; n= 24), moderate metabolic acidaemia (pH 7.00–7.09 and lactate ≥ 10; n= 48), acidaemia (pH 7.00–7.09; n= 52), pre‐acidaemia (pH 7.10–7.19; n= 265), and controls (pH ≥ 7.20; n= 117).Methods  Monitoring traces were assessed blinded to outcome.Main outcome measures  CTG and ST changes.Results  Any ST event occurred significantly more often among cases with severe (79%) and moderate (75%) metabolic acidaemia than among controls (50%). The difference was restricted to baseline T/QRS rises and to the second stage of labour, during which any event only occurred significantly more often among cases with severe metabolic acidaemia (62%) than among controls (38%). ST events coincided with abnormal CTG patterns in 67, 44, 40, and 28% of cases with severe and moderate metabolic acidaemia, acidaemia, and pre‐acidaemia, respectively, and in 12% of controls. ST events with intermediary CTG were similarly frequent in the case groups (0–6%) as in the controls (4%). The ST guidelines stated intervention in 96, 62, 73, and 49% of case groups and 23% of controls.Conclusions  Only two of three cases with severe and less than half of cases with moderate metabolic acidaemia were preceded by ST events coinciding with CTG abnormalities. It is therefore important to intervene for long‐lasting, rapidly deteriorating or marked (preterminal) CTG abnormalities, also in the absence of ST events.
Factors affecting decidual IGFBP‐1 levels in the vagina and cervix in the first and mid‐second trimester of pregnancy
Authors: Rahkonen L , Unkila‐Kallio L , Rutanen E‐M , Paavonen J 
Published: November 2008

Objective  The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of and factors associated with decidual insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein‐1 (IGFBP‐1) in the lower genital tract in early‐ and mid‐gestation in singleton pregnancies.Design  Prospective population‐based cohort study.Setting  Maternity Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.Population  A total of 1702 unselected pregnant women undergoing the first‐ and the second‐trimester ultrasound screening between April 2005 and December 2006.Methods  The vaginal and cervical swab samples for assay of decidual IGFBP‐1 and vaginal pH measurement were taken before transvaginal ultrasonography in the first trimester and in the mid‐second trimester. Use of antibiotics, history of vaginal bleeding, and the history of sexual intercourse were questioned on both occasions. The concentration of IGFBP‐1 was measured by a quantitative immunoenzymometric assay, which detects the decidual phosphoisoforms of IGFBP‐1 (phIGFBP‐1). The concentration of 10 micrograms/l was used as a cutoff when factors influencing phIGFBP‐1 levels were analysed.Main outcome measures  The phIGFBP‐1 concentrations in the vagina and the cervix and associations between the levels of ≥10 micrograms/l and selected factors.Results  In the first trimester, the median (range) concentrations of phIGFBP‐1 in vaginal and cervical samples were <0.3 micrograms/l (<0.3–176 micrograms/l) and 4.8 micrograms/l (<0.3–174 micrograms/l), respectively. During the second trimester, the corresponding values were <0.3 micrograms/l (<0.3–55 micrograms/l) in the vagina and 3.6 micrograms/l (<0.3–126 micrograms/l) in the cervix. In the vaginal samples, the frequency of phIGFBP‐1 concentrations ≥10 micrograms/l was 5.8% in the first trimester and 1.5% in the second trimester (P < 0.001). In the cervical samples, the corresponding rates were 34.3 and 28.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). Of the factors studied, nulliparity (P < 0.001) and history of vaginal bleeding (P < 0.001) were independently associated with cervical phIGFBP‐1 concentrations ≥10 micrograms/l during both trimesters. In addition, short cervical length (<30 mm) was associated with phIGFBP‐1 concentration ≥10 micrograms/l in both vaginal and cervical samples in the second trimester in multivariate analysis.Conclusions  The rate of phIGFBP‐1 concentrations ≥10 micrograms/l, both in the vagina and in the cervix, was significantly lower during the second trimester compared with the first trimester. The low rate of levels ≥10 micrograms/l in vaginal samples compared with cervical samples during both trimesters indicates that the exact site of sampling is important when phIGFBP‐1 is used as a decidual marker. Nulliparity and history of vaginal bleeding were independently associated with phIGFBP‐1 concentrations ≥10 micrograms/l in cervical samples during both trimesters.
A prospective cohort study of maternal and neonatal morbidity in relation to use of episiotomy at operative vaginal delivery
Authors: Macleod M , Strachan B , Bahl R , Howarth L , Goyder K , Van de Venne M , Murphy DJ 
Published: November 2008

Objective  To evaluate the maternal and neonatal morbidity of operative vaginal delivery in relation to the use of episiotomy.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Two urban maternity units in Scotland and England.Population  All nonrandomised nulliparous women delivered by forceps or vacuum during the recruitment period of a clinical trial evaluating the use of episiotomy at operative vaginal delivery.Methods   Use of episiotomy was compared to no episiotomy for all operative vaginal deliveries with sub‐group analyses for forceps or vacuum deliveries.Main outcome measures  The primary outcome was anal sphincter tearing (third or fourth degree). Secondary outcomes included postpartum haemorrhage, neonatal trauma and pelvic floor symptoms up until 10 days postpartum.Results  A total of 1360 women were included in the study, of whom 294 (21.6%) did not receive an episiotomy. Vacuum delivery was associated with less use of episiotomy than forceps (56.1 versus 89.4%, OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.11–0.20). Anal sphincter tear rates were not statistically different with use of episiotomy compared with no episiotomy (9.9 versus 7.1%, adjusted OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.66–1.87). Episiotomy use was associated with higher rates of postpartum haemorrhage (28.5 versus 18.4%, adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.21–2.45), need for moderate or strong analgesia (90.5 versus 67.6%, adjusted OR 3.70, 95% CI 2.60–5.27), perineal infection (5.1 versus 1.4%, adjusted OR 4.04, 95% CI 1.44–11.37) and neonatal trauma (38.1 versus 22.0%, adjusted OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.20–2.27). Use of episiotomy did not reduce the risk of shoulder dystocia (3.5 versus 1.7%, adjusted OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.53–3.85).Conclusions  The use of episiotomy did not reduce or greatly increase anal sphincter tears and was associated with greater maternal and neonatal morbidity. This may reflect the complexity of deliveries. The role of episiotomy at operative vaginal delivery should be evaluated in a randomised controlled trial.
A series of 3190 laparoscopic hysterectomies for benign disease from 1990 to 2006: evaluation of complications compared with vaginal and abdominal procedures
Authors: Donnez O , Jadoul P , Squifflet J , Donnez J 
Published: November 2008

Objective  The aim of this study was to evaluate the complication rate after laparoscopic total hysterectomy and laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LASH) in case of benign disease.Design  All complications were prospectively recorded at the time of surgery and analysed retrospectively.Setting  University hospital.Population  Among 4505 hysterectomies performed by the same team using the same techniques between 1990 and 2006, 3190 were performed by laparoscopy, 906 by the vaginal route and 409 by laparotomy.Methods  Laparoscopic hysterectomies, defined as laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LASH) and total laparoscopic hysterectomy [laparoscopy‐assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) switched to total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) in 2000], were compared with vaginal and abdominal hysterectomies.Main outcome measures and results  Since the early 1990s, the number of laparoscopic procedures has continued to grow, while the number of abdominal and vaginal procedures has decreased. Both minor complications (fever >38.5°C after 2 days, bladder incision of <2 cm and iatrogenic adenomyosis) and major complications (haemorrhage, vesicoperitoneal fistula, ureteral injury, rectal perforation or fistula) have been observed during the surgical procedure itself and postoperatively. In the LASH group (n = 1613), the minor complication rate was 0.99% (n = 16) and the major complication rate 0.37% (n = 6). In the total laparoscopic hysterectomy (LAVH/TLH) group (n = 1577), the minor complication rate was 1.14% (n = 18) and the major complication rate 0.51% (n = 8). In the vaginal hysterectomy group (n = 906), minor and major complication rates were 0.77% (n = 7) and 0.33% (n = 3), respectively. In the abdominal hysterectomy group (n = 409), minor and major complication rates were 0.73% (n = 3) and 0.49% (n = 2), respectively.Conclusion  The results from our series of 4505 women clearly show that, in experienced hands, laparoscopic hysterectomy is not associated with any increase in major complication rates.
EXTENSION ECONOMICS—THE NEXT TEN YEARS1
Authors: PURNELL G. R. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryIn summary, let me emphasize a few highlights of the subject—Extension Economics—the next ten years.

Changing farm problems will require major adjustments by agriculture and its advisors.
Structural reform in farming and marketing arrangements of one kind or another will lead these adjustments.
Clientele of extension economists will include producers (in two basic groups), agri‐business, non‐agricultural rural residents and consumers.
Our approach should be on the basis of educators and we must keep up‐to‐date in the teaching methods and media used. Agricultural extension could logically become the center for a new broad program of continuing adult education.
Subject matter areas of concern to the economist must be broadened to actively include marketing, processing and public affairs.
A sound program of physical and economic research must be provided as a companion to effective extension work. Greater collaboration is necessary—both ways.
Personnel for extension economics will be forthcoming only if salary adjustments are made and university curricula revised to better train extension people.
Extension economists must use care and diplomacy in their relationships with University, Federal and Provincial officials.
We still have responsibility to more completely demonstrate the usefulness of our knowledge to other extension workers, administrators, and the farm public. Recognition must also be given to working closely with advisors in agri‐business and private consulting firms.
Program evaluation, internal and external, are essential for a healthy program in extension economics.
Cross‐Cultural Incompatibilities Complicating Economic Development
Authors: Rackham T. S. 
Published: November 2008

This paper suggests that aid to areas of lagging development has not often been effective in generating fully corrective economic activity. The author draws on observations in a number of countries and refers to other analyses of economic development factors to hypothesize that cultural obstacles in the receiving society impede or block the intended economic impact of the aid. This is a problem of cultural incompatibility, it is thought, arising from aid programs modelled on techniques, successful in the donor environment, but unsuitable to the receiving culure. The solution is, it is suggested, to catalogue the cultural characteristics of lagging societies and devise development programs that are compatible.L'inCOMPATIBILITÉ CULTURELLE COMPLIQUÉ LE DÉVELOPPEMENT ÉCONOMIQUE: Cette dissertation suggère que l'assistance donnée aux régions sousdéveloppées n'a souvent pas été suffisante à créer des activités économiques pleinement rectives. L'auteur se sert d' observations faites en plusieurs pays et utilise d'autres analyses des facteurs du développement économique afin dc présenter l'hypothèse que ce sont des obstacles culturels dans la société recevante qui arrêtent ou empèchent l'impétus économique voulu. II s'agit d'un problème d'incompatibilité culturelle, pense‐t‐il, qui sort des programmes d'assistance faites selon des techniques, bénéficients dans le milieu donateur, mais, inadéquats pour la culture recevante. La solution, il suggère, c'est de numéroter les caractéristiques des sociétés sousdéveloppées, et dessiner des programmes de développement qui soient compatibles avec l'ambiance actuelle.
The Role Of The Agricultural Economist In Foreign Agricultural Assignments1
Authors: Purnell G. R. 
Published: November 2008

Rapid expansion of foreign agricultural aid to developing nations has emphasized the important role which agricultural economists can play in this complex field. individually, or as a member of a team, the Agricultural Economist can contribute by applying sound economic principles to policy and project evaluation within the socio‐economic and political setting found in the recipient nation. Experience gained in foreign advisory work can also be usefully applied to the career positions occupied in Canada. Therefore, Agricultural Economists are urged to actively participate in Canadian technical aid to developing nations.LE RÔLE DE L'ÉCONOMISTE AGRICOLE EN FUNCTION À L'ÉTRANGER L'extension rapide qu'a prise l'aide agricole aux pays en voie de développement met en relief le rôle que peuvent jouer les économistes agricoles en ce domaine complexe. Seul ou en équipe, l'économiste agricole peut contribuer par l'application des sages principes de l'économie, à l'analyse des politiques et des plans, à la lumière du milieu socio‐économique et politique du pays récipiendaire. L'expérience acquise comme conseiller aux affaires extérieures peut toujours venir à point même aux carrières intérieures, c'est pourquoi les économistes agricoles sont instamment priés de participer au programme d'assistance technique du Canada aux nations en voie de développement.
ECONOMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FOR LIVESTOCK
Authors: Osburn D.D. , Hahn LeRoy 
Published: November 2008

Probability techniques, when combined with climatological records and known responses of domestic animals to environment permit prediction of production losses during periods of adverse environment. These predictions plus the additional costs and returns associated with an environmental control system provide the necessary information to determine its profitability. The “present value” method is utilized to determine the profitability of a summer environmental control system, using production responses of dairy cows and climatological records for Columbia, Missouri, as a specific example. LE COÛT ET LES AVANTAGES D'UN CONTRÔLE DES CONDITIONS DE MILIEU POUR LE BÉTAIL:
Les rapports climatologiques combinés avec les reactions connues des animaux de ferme à une certain milieu permettront la prédiction des pertes dans la production, sous des conditions de milieu variées. Ces prédictions en plus des renseignements sur le coût d'un contrôle des conditions de milieu fourniront l'information nécessaire afin de déterminer l'efficacité d'une telle méthode. Cette dissertation évalue l'efficacité d'une méthode de ce genre duranl l'été, en employant comme exemple le rendement dans la production des vaches laitières et les rapports climatologiques dans la région de Columbia, Missouri.
Intracity Retail Food Price Behavior And The Impact Of Price Enquiries*
Authors: Hawkins M. H. , Warrack A. A. , Pattison W. S. 
Published: November 2008

Pricing strategies of retail food organizations have perennially intrigued agricultural economists. in the pricing tactics of large integrated retail food chains considered in this paper there are implications for all segments of the economy. Despite the relative difficulty of obtaining data and objective measurements regarding pricing performance, the results of this study outline the need for action by policy‐makers to remove an undesirable fact of competitive behaviour. Moreover, the results of the study further document the problems of using concentration indices to describe competitive behavior. A need for a realistic re‐evaluation of current market performance guidelines and retailer food‐pricing tactics is indicated.LE COMPORTEMENT DANS LES PRIX D'ALIMENTATION DE DÉTAIL ET L'IMPACT DANS LA DEMandE DES PRIX La stratégie des prix sur les marchés d'alimentation de détail a toujours intéressé les économistes agricoles. Dans les tactiques employées par les grands magasins à chaîne, mentionné dans cet article, il y a des implications pour tous les secteurs de l'économie. Malgré les difficultés à obtenir les données, et les mesures objectives relativement à la performance des prix, les résultats de cette étude soulignent un besoin urgent de la part des organismes, d'enlever tout fait indésirable dans le comportement et la concurrence, De plus, les résultats de cette étude documentent les problèmes qui existent en employant les indices pour décrire ce comportement. Un besoin pour une réévaluation de la performance dans le courant du marché et les tactiques employées par les grands magasins à chaîne paraîent être nécessaire.
CANADA'S FUTURE ROLE IN THE WORLD WHEAT MARKET*
Authors: Huff H. Bruce. 
Published: November 2008

Many indicators point to increasing surpluses in the world wheat market. This study presents evidence of this trend by examining the present and projected 1975 levels of import demand and export supply for wheat in the major wheat importing and exporting countries. Domestic policies which directly or indirectly affect the level of wheat trade are also taken into account.The implications for Canada resulting from these developments are indicated in terms of its anticipated level of exports, required wheat acreage adjustments and indirect effects to other sectors of the Canadian economy.LA PARTICIPATION DU CANADA SUR LE MARCHÉ INTERNATIONAL DU BLÉ ‐ Plusieurs changements indiquent une augmentation dans le surplus de blé sur le marché international. Cette étude présente une indication de cette tendance en examinant le nrveau actuel et celui de 1975 de la demande d'importation et l'offre d'exportations dans les principaux pays qui importent et exponent le blé. La politique intérieure qui touche directement ou indirectement le commerce du blé est aussi considérée.L'implication du Canada est exprimée en fonction du niveau d'exportation anticipé, un ajustement dans la superfine et l'influence apportée aux autres secteurs de l'économie canadienne.
MULTICOLLINEARITY AND CONSUMER DEMAND ELASTICITIES*
Authors: Sastry M.V. Rama. 
Published: November 2008

Multicollinearity is a common problem in the estimation of consumer demand models and the elasticities. While straight forward application of classical least squares often yields models with good predictive power, this apparently occurs for reasons other than the accuracy of the estimates of the parameters. The implications of multicollinearty in two‐stage and three‐stage least squares are discussed, with examples from Brookings Quarterly Agricultural Submodel of the United States. A comparison is made of alternative estimators of the parameters of consumer demand functions. The article points to difficulties raised by using a priori coefficients for one variable (eg. income elasticity) as a means of developing an accurate estimate of another coefficient (eg. price elasticity), and indicates evidence of multicollinearity depressing estimated consumer price elasticities.LA COLLINEARITE ET DES ELASTICITES DE LA DEMANDS DE CONSUMMATION ‐ La collinéarité est un problème common de l'estimation des modèles de demande en consummation et des élasticités. Quoique l'application directe de la méthode classique de “moindre carré”, permet souvent d‘êlaborer des modèles ayant beaucoup de prediction, ceci semble‐t‐il être en function de d'autres facteurs que de l'exactitude des évaluations des paramètres. Les effets de la cottinéarité dans les estimations moindre carré de deux et trois étapes sont évahtés avec des exemples tires du “Brookings Quarterly Agricultural Submodel” des Etats‐Unis. Différentes méthodes d'estimation de la fonction de la demande en consummation sont comparées. L'article fait état des difficultés que soulève l'emploi de coefficient a priori pour une variable (ex. l’êlasticité du revenue) comme moyen de développer un estimé précis d'un autre coefficient (ex. l‘élasticité de prix), et apporte de l'evidence sur l'effet attendant de la collinéarité sur les estimés d’élasticité de prix.
REGIONAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND FEED FREIGHT ASSISTANCE*
Authors: Wilson A.G. , Wood A.W. 
Published: November 2008

This paper reports on a livestock feed‐grain study, in which linear programming is used to develop the optimum pattern of livestock production in Canada. A model is developed, based on data for 1962–63, and related to the subsidization of transportation costs of feed‐grains from the Prairie Provinces to British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. The article indicates that savings in the total cost of livestock production would result from removal of the feed‐freight subsidy, although substantially greater savings could occur through reorganizing the regional production patterns for Canadian livestock.LA PRODUCTION RÉGION ALE DU BÉTAIL ET L'AIDE AU TRANSPORT DES ALIMENTS DU BÉTAIL ‐ Cet article expose une etude faite sur le grain de provendes où un programme linéaire est employé afin de développer le meilleur modèle de production du bétail au Canada. Un modèle est développé en se basant sur les données de 1962–63, et en se rapportant à la subvention du coût de transport du grain de les provinces des Prairies à la Colombie Britannique, l'Ontario, le Québec et les Maritimes. En supprimant cette subvention, l'étude indique que des économies résulteraient dans le coût total de la production du bétail. Néanmoins une plus grande économie surviendrait avec la reorganisation de la production régionale du bétail canadien.
MEASURING THE EFFECT OF WEATHER ON CROP PRODUCTIO*
Authors: Buller Orlan. , Lin Wuu‐Long. 
Published: November 2008

Farm income is greatly affected by the impact of weather on crop production. Relating crop production to weather requires an index that is relatively specific to a local area. A single index is preferable in economic analysis to avoid including many weather variables that may be highly intercorrelated and to preserve degrees of freedom for testing the models chosen. The unique feature of the reported index is the use of readily available data and the direct estimation of the effect of weather on yield per acre. The resulting weather index was found to be reasonably accurate, and thus suitable for use in studies concerned with such diverse topics as the benefits of environmental control and the stability of farm income.WE ANALYSE DBS CONDITIONS CLIMATIQUES SUR LE RENDEMENT DES CULTURES. — Le revenu agricole est grandement affectée par les conditions climatiques sur le rendement des récoltes. Le rapport entre les deux demande un indice qui relate particulièrement à une région précise. Un seul indice est preferable dans l'analyse économique afin d'éviter d'y inclure trop de variables qui pourraient être et de préserver un dégré de liberté dans l'application des modèles choisis. L'unique caractéristique de cet indice est l'emploie des données disponibles et une évaluation juste des conditions climatiques sur le rendement à l'acre des cultures. Les résultats sur l'indice des conditions climatiques semblent être très efficace, ainsi convenable à l'usage des études concernant les avantages d'un contrôle de milieu et de la stabilité du revenue agricole.