bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engaging with sleep: male definitions, understandings and attitudes
Authors: Meadows Robert , Arber Sara , Venn Susan , Hislop Jenny 
Published: October 2008

AbstractRecent literature has highlighted the sociological significance of sleep and has suggested that sleep offers a ‘window’ onto the gendered nature of our lives. Yet within this body of work men's sleep has been largely ignored. This paper seeks to rectify this omission and situates itself at the intersection between literature on the sociological aspects of sleep and social‐constructionist‐orientated writings on men's health. It draws upon qualitative data from 40 men to investigate male understandings of, and attitudes towards, sleep. At first glance, it could be suggested that men have little regard for sleep, and are prone to taking risks with their dormancy. Viewed in this way sleep becomes an instrument used in the negotiation of status and power and intrinsically bound up with the demonstration of masculinities. Yet, men's relationship with sleep is more complex than this. Amongst other things, the men within the present study were embroiled in a function/non‐function dichotomy. Sleep was seen as needed for the praxis of ‘father’, ‘worker’, ‘husband’ and ‘mate’ but was also considered as something which should not get in the way of performing these roles.
Beyond cultural competency: Bourdieu, patients and clinical encounters
Authors: Lo Ming‐cheng M. , Stacey Clare L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn response to widely documented racial and ethnic disparities in health, clinicians and public health advocates have taken great strides to implement ‘culturally competent’ care. While laudable, this important policy and intellectual endeavour has suffered from a lack of conceptual clarity and rigour. This paper develops a more careful conceptual model for understanding the role of culture in the clinical encounter, paying particular attention to the relationship between culture, contexts and social structures. Linking Bourdieu's (1977) notion of ‘habitus’ and William Sewell's (1992) axioms of multiple and intersecting structures, we theorise patient culture in terms of ‘hybrid habitus’. This conceptualisation of patient culture highlights three analytical dimensions: the multiplicity of schemas and resources available to patients, their specific patterns of integration and application in specific contexts, and the constitutive role of clinical encounters. The paper concludes with a discussion of directions for future research as well as reforms of cultural competency training courses.
Pain experience and the imagined researcher
Authors: Smith Marion V. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractLittle attention has been paid to what happens communicatively when members of the general population attempt to complete a postal survey. The questions – here, on the experience of pain – encapsulate health researchers’ views of useful indicators of the scope of pain experience, hence displaying an ‘official’ representation of experienced pain, limitation, and disability. The respondent faces the double task of aligning their personal experience with this representation in a way that is meaningful and true both to their own experience and to the perceived demands of the questionnaire. For this to succeed, context is often crucial. The paper explores sources and indications of tension in this endeavour as part of a communicative process. Beginning from the observation that respondents frequently write unsolicited comments on their questionnaires, the paper proposes that the need for communication beyond the requested tick in the box treats the questionnaire as an attempt at dialogue with a figure I call ‘the imagined researcher’. The paper discusses the communicative task that confronts respondents and the implications of ‘the imagined researcher’ for the research process.
Impact of Exchange Rate Uncertainty on Trade Flows: Evidence from Commodity Trade between the United States and the United Kingdom
Authors: Bahmani‐Oskooee Mohsen , Kovyryalova Marina 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTPrevious studies that investigated the impact of exchange rate volatility on the trade flows employed aggregate trade data and standard estimation techniques. They provided mixed results. In this paper we use disaggregated import and export data for 177 commodities traded between the United States and the United Kingdom to investigate whether volatility of the real bilateral dollar–pound exchange rate has any detrimental effect on trade flows at the commodity level. Additionally, we employ the bounds testing approach to cointegration and error‐correction modelling that is suitable for the models used mostly because it does not require pre‐unit‐root testing and variables in the model could be stationary, non‐stationary or a combination of the two. In most trade flow models estimated, we found a negative effect of exchange rate volatility on commodity trade.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of acupuncture in in vitro fertilisation
Authors: El‐Toukhy T , Sunkara SK , Khairy M , Dyer R , Khalaf Y , Coomarasamy A 
Published: October 2008

Background  Numerous randomised studies have reported pregnancy outcome in women who received acupuncture during their in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment cycle.Objective  The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta‐analysis of the trials of acupuncture during IVF treatment on the outcomes of clinical pregnancy and live birth rates.Search strategy  Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ISI Proceedings and SCISEARCH.Selection criteria  All randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared with no treatment or sham acupuncture in women undergoing IVF–intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were included.Data collection and analysis  Study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate. A sensitivity analysis was conducted where the meta‐analysis was restricted to trials in which sham acupuncture was used in the control group. Meta‐regression analysis was used to explore the association between study characteristics and pregnancy rates.Main results  Thirteen relevant trials, including a total of 2500 women randomised to either acupuncture or control group, were identified. No evidence of publication bias was found (Begg’s test, P = 0.50). Five trials (n = 877) evaluated IVF outcome when acupuncture was performed around the time of transvaginal oocyte retrieval, while eight trials (n = 1623) reported IVF outcome when acupuncture was performed around the time of embryo transfer (ET). Meta‐analysis of the five studies of acupuncture around the time of egg collection did not show a significant difference in clinical pregnancy (relative risks [RR] = 1.06, 95% CI 0.82–1.37, P = 0.65). Meta‐analysis of the eight studies of acupuncture around the time of ET showed no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.96–1.58, P = 0.1). Live birth data were available from five of the eight studies of acupuncture around the time of ET. Meta‐analysis of these studies did not show a significant increase in live birth rate with acupuncture (RR = 1.34, 95% CI 0.85–2.11). Using meta‐regression, no significant association between any of the studied covariates and clinical pregnancy rate was found (P > 0.05 for all covariates).Conclusion  Currently available literature does not provide sufficient evidence that adjuvant acupuncture improves IVF clinical pregnancy rate.
Long‐term outcomes following laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy
Authors: Lieng M , Qvigstad E , Istre O , Langebrekke A , Ballard K 
Published: October 2008

Objective  Evaluation of long‐term outcomes following laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH).Design  Retrospective postal questionnaire.Setting  Norwegian university teaching hospital.Population  A total of 315 consecutive patients.Methods  A questionnaire sent to all patients who underwent a LSH during 2004 and 2005.Main outcome measures  Persistent vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain, patient acceptability of such symptoms and patient satisfaction following LSH.Results  A total of 240 women (78%) completed the questionnaire. About 24% reported experiencing vaginal bleeding up to 3 years following their hysterectomy, although this was rated as minimal in 90% of cases, resulting in a mean bothersome score of 1.1 (SD 2.0) on a 10‐point visual analogue scale (VAS). Women operated on by less experienced surgeons were more likely to report vaginal bleeding following surgery (P = 0.02). About 74% of women reported having menstrual pain prior to surgery, with a mean score of 6.8 (SD 2.1) (10‐point VAS). Up to 3 years following surgery, 38% continued to experience menstrual pain, although this was significantly less intense with a mean score of 3.5 (SD 2.2) (P < 0.01). While all women reported a decrease in the amount of pain experienced following the hysterectomy, those having a hysterectomy because of endometriosis reported significantly higher levels of menstrual/cyclical pain after surgery compared with women who had a hysterectomy for other reasons (P < 0.01). Ninety per cent of women reported being satisfied with their surgery.Conclusion  Although vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain are frequently observed following LSH, these symptoms are significantly reduced and patient satisfaction is high.
Sensitivity and specificity of intrapartum computerised FIGO criteria for cardiotocography and fetal scalp pH during labour: multicentre, observational study
Authors: Schiermeier S , Pildner von Steinburg S , Thieme A , Reinhard J , Daumer M , Scholz M , Hatzmann W , Schneider KTM 
Published: October 2008

Objective  To identify sensitivity and specificity of computerised cardiotocography (CTG) analysis for fetal acidosis during delivery.Design  Retrospective observational study.Setting  Tertiary referral labour ward, Technical University München (TUM) and University Witten/Herdecke (UWH).Population  All deliveries, which had at least one fetal scalp pH measurement and electronically saved CTG traces, between 2000 and 2002 (TUM) and between 2004 and 2005 (UWH).Method  Correlation analysis of fetal scalp pH values and computerised International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) classification using ‘CTG Online®’ program of digitally saved CTG traces.Main outcome measures  Fetal scalp pH values, FIGO parameter (baseline, variability, acceleration and deceleration) using computerised analysis.Results  Both collectives showed a high sensitivity (95.0%) for computerised FIGO classification ‘suspect’ and ‘pathological’, together with a low specificity (21.8%) for fetal acidosis. The most sensitive single FIGO parameter was deceleration. Very low sensitivity (<50%) was shown for the parameters variability and acceleration.Conclusions  Computerised CTG analysis is highly sensitive for fetal acidosis and can be used as an objective adjunctive criterion during delivery. Further CTG data are needed to adjust and optimise each FIGO parameter and increase sensitivity and specificity.
Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: what about quality of life?
Authors: Lacasse A , Rey E , Ferreira E , Morin C , Bérard A 
Published: October 2008

Objective  The objective of this study was to determine the impact of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) and other determinants on generic and NVP‐specific health‐related quality of life (QOL) in the first trimester of pregnancy.Design  Prospective study.Setting  Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Sainte‐Justine or René‐Laennec clinics, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.Population  Pregnant women attending the clinics for their prenatal care from 2004 to 2006. Women were eligible if they were ≥18 years of age and ≤16 weeks of gestation at the time of their first prenatal visit.Methods  After their first prenatal visit, women were asked to fill out a questionnaire covering maternal characteristics, presence and severity of NVP, and health‐related QOL.Main outcome measures  QOL was measured by the generic 12‐item Short Form Health Survey v.1 (SF‐12) and the NVP‐specific Quality of Life for Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy.Results  Of the 367 pregnant women included in the study, 78.5% of women reported NVP in the first trimester of pregnancy. Multivariable linear models showed that presence of NVP in the first trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with a lower physical component summary scale (P < 0.0001) and mental component summary scale (P = 0.0066) of the SF‐12 scores. More severe NVP (moderate versus mild: P = 0.0002; severe versus mild: P = 0.0177 as measured by the validated modified Pregnancy‐Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea index), intensity of nausea symptoms reported on a visual analogue scale (P < 0.0001), and nonpharmacological methods used to ease NVP symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy (P = 0.0059) were significantly associated with poorer NVP‐specific QOL among women suffering from NVP.Conclusion  These findings show that presence and severity of NVP have a negative impact on health‐related QOL, which emphasises the importance of an optimal management of NVP.
Twenty years of understorey bird extinctions from Amazonian rain forest fragments: consistent trends and landscape‐mediated dynamics
Authors: Stouffer Philip C. , Strong Cheryl , Naka Luciano N. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAim  We analysed presence/absence data for understorey bird species in rain forest fragments sampled from 1979 through 2001. Here we consider extinctions between 1992, when most fragments had been isolated for at least 8 years, and 2001. Our objectives were to determine whether high extinction rates documented soon after isolation continued through up to 20 years after isolation, and to examine fragment size and landscape effects on extinction.Location  Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, near Manaus, Brazil.Methods  Through 1992, birds were surveyed with standardized mist net sampling in ten 1‐ to 100‐ha fragments. We repeated the mist net protocol in 2000–01. We also added remote taping of the dawn chorus and tape playback surveys for species captured in 1991–92 but not in 2000–01.Results  Between 1992 and 2001, 37 species went extinct in at least one fragment. As expected, extinction rate decreased with increasing fragment size. Over 30% of species went extinct in 1‐ha fragments, compared to about 5% in 100‐ha fragments. Extinction followed a predictable pattern: most species lost from 100‐ha fragments between 1992 and 2001 had already gone extinct in smaller fragments before 1992. Despite extinctions, fragments gained species between 1992 and 2001, apparently due to species moving through the developing second growth matrix. Fragments surrounded by old second growth had lower extinction rates than predicted based on fragment size alone.Main conclusions  Sequential extinctions occurred for at least 20 years. Some additional species previously lost from smaller fragments may continue to go extinct in 100‐ha fragments. At the same time, species assemblages in 1‐ and 10‐ha fragments mostly reflect second‐growth dynamics by 20 years after isolation. High species loss predicted from the first few years after isolation has not occurred, almost certainly because of recolonization.
Enhanced niche opportunities: can they explain the success of New Zealand's introduced bird species?
Authors: MacLeod Catriona J. , Newson Stuart E. , Blackwell Grant , Duncan Richard P. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAim The niche hypothesis could explain why some species introduced to new locations reach higher densities than in their native range: it posits that the new environment provides more abundant or higher quality resources or habitat, a more suitable physical environment or both. We investigate whether 11 bird species occur at higher densities in their introduced range than in their native range and whether the differences can be explained by the availability of preferred habitat or the suitability of climatic conditions in their introduced range relative to their native range.Location South Island, New Zealand (the introduced range); UK (the native range).Methods We first develop a series of models that accurately predict the density of 11 bird species at 54 UK farmland sites, which are closely matched to our New Zealand sites, from habitat and climatic variables. We then use these models to predict the density of the 11 species at 54 New Zealand farmland sites and compare the predicted and observed values.Results Actual densities at New Zealand sites were on average (median) 22 times (range: 1–6361) higher than predicted from the UK models and similarly higher than actually observed at comparable UK sites. Habitat and climatic variables can accurately predict bird densities in the UK but grossly underestimate densities for all species exceptTurdus merulain New Zealand.Main conclusions These findings indicate that factors other than the measured habitat and climatic variables must differ between the two regions and explain the much higher densities of New Zealand birds. We suggest that introduced birds, other thanT. merula, in New Zealand may still experience enhanced niche opportunities due to greater availability of higher quality resources within habitats, release from natural enemy regulation, less exposure to extreme weather events, particularly during winter, or some combination of these processes.
Range‐wide patterns of greater sage‐grouse persistence
Authors: Aldridge Cameron L. , Nielsen Scott E. , Beyer Hawthorne L. , Boyce Mark S. , Connelly John W. , Knick Steven T. , Schroeder Michael A. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAim   Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a shrub‐steppe obligate species of western North America, currently occupies only half its historical range. Here we examine how broad‐scale, long‐term trends in landscape condition have affected range contraction.Location   Sagebrush biome of the western USA.Methods   Logistic regression was used to assess persistence and extirpation of greater sage‐grouse range based on landscape conditions measured by human population (density and population change), vegetation (percentage of sagebrush habitat), roads (density of and distance to roads), agriculture (cropland, farmland and cattle density), climate (number of severe and extreme droughts) and range periphery. Model predictions were used to identify areas where future extirpations can be expected, while also explaining possible causes of past extirpations.Results   Greater sage‐grouse persistence and extirpation were significantly related to sagebrush habitat, cultivated cropland, human population density in 1950, prevalence of severe droughts and historical range periphery. Extirpation of sage‐grouse was most likely in areas having at least four persons per square kilometre in 1950, 25% cultivated cropland in 2002 or the presence of three or more severe droughts per decade. In contrast, persistence of sage‐grouse was expected when at least 30 km from historical range edge and in habitats containing at least 25% sagebrush cover within 30 km. Extirpation was most often explained (35%) by the combined effects of peripherality (within 30 km of range edge) and lack of sagebrush cover (less than 25% within 30 km). Based on patterns of prior extirpation and model predictions, we predict that 29% of remaining range may be at risk.Main Conclusions   Spatial patterns in greater sage‐grouse range contraction can be explained by widely available landscape variables that describe patterns of remaining sagebrush habitat and loss due to cultivation, climatic trends, human population growth and peripherality of populations. However, future range loss may relate less to historical mechanisms and more to recent changes in land use and habitat condition, including energy developments and invasions by non‐native species such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and West Nile virus. In conjunction with local measures of population performance, landscape‐scale predictions of future range loss may be useful for prioritizing management and protection. Our results suggest that initial conservation efforts should focus on maintaining large expanses of sagebrush habitat, enhancing quality of existing habitats, and increasing habitat connectivity.
Genetic diversity and structure of the invasive tree Miconia calvescens in Pacific islands
Authors: Le Roux Johannes J. , Wieczorek Ania M. , Meyer Jean‐Yves 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTAim  This study investigates the amount and distribution of genetic variation within and among populations of the highly invasive tree, Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae; hereafter miconia), in tropical island habitats that are differently impacted (distribution and spread) by this weed.Location  Invasive populations were included from northern and southern Pacific islands including the Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii, Kauai and Maui), Marquesas Islands (Nuku Hiva), Society Islands (Tahiti, Tahaa, Moorea, Raiatea) and New Caledonia.Methods  We used 9 codominant microsatellite and 77 highly variable dominant intersimple sequence repeat markers (ISSRs) to characterize and compare genetic diversity among and within invasive miconia populations. For the codominant microsatellite data we calculated standard population genetic estimates (heterozygosity, number of alleles, inbreeding coefficients, etc.) and described population genetic structure using AMOVA, Mantel tests (to test for isolation by distance), unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis and principal components analysis (PCA). We also tested for the presence of a population bottleneck and used a Bayesian analysis of population structure in combination with individual assignment tests. For the dominant ISSR data we used AMOVA, PCA, upgma and a Bayesian approach to investigate population genetic structure.Results  Both markers types showed little to no genetic differentiation among miconia populations from northern and southern Pacific hemispheres (AMOVA: microsatellite, 3%; ISSR, 0%). Bayesian and frequency‐based analysis also failed to support geographical genetic structure, confirming considerable low genetic differentiation throughout the Pacific. Molecular data furthermore showed that highly successful miconia populations throughout the Pacific are currently undergoing severe bottlenecks and high levels of inbreeding (f = 0.91, ISSR; FIS = 0.27, microsatellite).Main conclusions  The lack of population genetic structure is indicative of similar geographical sources for both hemispheres and small founding populations. Differences in invasive spread and distribution among Pacific islands are most likely the result of differences in introduction dates to different islands and their accompanying lag phases. Miconia has been introduced to relatively few tropical islands in the Pacific, and the accidental introduction of a few or even a single seed into favourable habitats could lead to high invasive success.