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Downward Trend (downward + trend)
Selected AbstractsFS11.1 Primula obconica , a falling allergenCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Maureen Connolly Objective:, We believe the incidence of primula contact allergic dermatitis has fallen since the introduction of primin-free primula onto the European market and thus our study aims were twofold. Firstly to see if the incidence of primula contact allergic dermatitis was truly on the decline and secondly to confirm the presence and document retailers' knowledge and awareness of primin-free primula in the UK. Methods:, A questionnaire was sent to 22 contact dermatitis departments throughout the UK and Ireland looking at the number of primin positive patch tests in the years 1995/96, 1998, 2000 and 2002 compared with the total number of patch tests. 10 seed suppliers and 12 plant retailers were asked to complete a telephone survey. Results:, We showed a significant fall in the yearly incidence of contact allergy to primin from 0.785% in 1995/96 to 0.457% in 2002. This downward trend was statistically significant (p = 0.001). The telephone survey showed 90% of seed suppliers were aware that the older varieties of P. obconica could cause an allergic reaction whereas only 60% of them were aware that new primin-free varieties were now being bred. 50% of suppliers were in fact selling these primin-free varieties with 60% of them stocking a primin-free variety exclusively. 90% of retailers were not currently selling any variety of P. obconica. Conclusion:, Our study shows that the incidence of primula contact dermatitis is falling. The overall trend is moving towards primin-free varieties provided they continue to be horticulturally viable long term. [source] Replacing ineffective early alcohol/drug education in the United States with age-appropriate adolescent programmes and assistance to problematic usersDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 6 2007Professor, RODNEY SKAGER PhD Abstract Issues. Despite more than a decade of federal sponsorship of ,evidence-based' alcohol/drug education, there has been no consistent downward trend in overall prevalence among youth over the past 15 years. Reasons underlying this situation are examined. Approach. Published technical critiques of initial research supporting widely used evidence-based programs are reviewed along with replication studies conducted later by independent researchers not associated with initial program development. Social and institutional barriers in the US against changes in AOD policy and practice for young people are also suggested. Key Findings. Emerging use of diverted pharmaceuticals (now second to cannabis in prevalence) may underlie moderate recent decline in use of alcohol. Early federal certification standards for ,evidence based' prevention education have been seriously compromised. Technical critiques of initial evaluations and negative replication studies of these programs are consistent with lack of impact. Finally, fidelity of implementation in regular school settings is commonly flawed. Implications. Failure of these mainly pre-secondary educational programs may underlie recent federal support for forced random AOD testing of secondary school students. A new approach to drug education for adolescent students seems warranted as a positive alternative to personally intrusive surveillance. Conclusion. An interactive approach at the secondary school level that incorporates an age-appropriate educational process is proposed. While advising abstinence, this approach also facilitates identifying and assisting problematic AOD users. [source] The ratification of ILO conventions: A hazard rate analysisECONOMICS & POLITICS, Issue 3 2001Bernhard Boockmann There are over 180 ILO conventions in many areas of labour law, industrial relations and social security, but they are not ratified universally: for the conventions adopted between 1975 and 1995, the cumulative probability of ratification is about 13 percent 10 years after their adoption. In this paper, the ratification decision is understood as a transition between two states. Using duration analysis, we identify circumstances which are favourable to this transition. For industrialized countries, the ratification of ILO conventions is shown to depend on internal political factors such as government preferences or the power of left-wing parties in parliament. For developing countries, economic costs of ratification have a significant impact. There is no evidence for external pressure in favour of ratification. Among industrialized member states, there is a clear downward trend in estimated ratification probabilities over the last two decades. [source] Beta-2-Microglobulin in nocturnal hemodialysis , A comparative study in low and high flux dialysersHEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005A.B. Reid In end-stage renal failure, impaired renal catabolism leads to retention of beta 2 microglobulin (ß2M), identified as the major constituent of hemodialysis (HD) related amyloidosis. It has been previously shown that, while using a high flux (HF) HD membrane, nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) with its increased time and frequency provides a much higher clearance of ß2M compared to conventional HD. We compared serum ß2M levels between low flux (LF) and HF in a group of 9 NHD patients who dialyse 8 hours 6 nights/week. Fresenius polysulfone LF membrane size F6-F8 HPS dialyser were used for the first 15 months (mth) of NHD (SA 1.3,1.8 m2). Subsequently, polysulfone HF FX80 dialyzer were used (SA 1.8 m2). Blood flow and dialysate flow rates were unchanged throughout the study. ß2M levels were measured at 6, 12, 15 mth on LF and at 6, 12 mth on HF. Albumin, homocysteine (Hcy), and phosphate (Phos) levels were also recorded at these times. ß2M levels trended upwards during the 15 mth on LF (36.6 ± 10.57 at 6 mth vs 47.1 ± 11.7 at 15 mth). On introduction of HF, there was a significant fall in ß2M at 6 mth to 12.4 ± 3.5 (p < 0.003), while ß2M levels were unchanged at 12 mth of HF. A downward trend in Hcy levels with the use of HF was noted (12.9 ± 2.9 at 0 mth Vs 11.1 ± 3.7 at 12 mth). Plasma albumin and Phos levels remained unchanged as did the use of Phos supplementation. Levels of ß2M continued to rise on NHD with LF, indicating inadequate clearance. With the introduction of HF there was a significant fall in ß2M levels consistent with improved clearance. The implications of this are that ß2M clearance may be time and frequency dependent only if dialyser membrane flux is adequate. [source] "You will only see it, if you understand it" or occupational risk prevention from a management perspectiveHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 4 2008Paul Swuste Evidence of a managerial influence on occupational risk prevention is largely lacking. The incidence of major accidents in high-hazard sectors of industry does not show a downward trend. Also, the decline of fatal occupational accidents in industrialized Western countries may well be attributed to the growing employment in the relatively safe service sectors and to a phenomenon known as export of hazards. Looking more closely at accidents and disasters, we now believe they are not only caused by direct physical events, nor by human errors alone. They have their roots in organizational settings and in the sociotechnical system companies are active in. Whatever their cause, we know that (major) accidents almost always take us by surprise. Despite all our efforts and systems, we seem unable to foresee or predict these events. It seems our management systems are looking at the wrong items. Critics from small- and medium-sized enterprises also point in that direction; management systems are too bureaucratic and lack a focus on hazard and risk identification. Apparently, we fail to incorporate the main ingredients of accident causation in our management systems. This article will discuss current models and presentations. In reference to the title of this article, the possibility to integrate these presentations into management systems will be discussed. This article is based on the presentation given at the 4th International Conference on Occupational Risk Prevention, Sevilla, Spain, May 10,12, 2006. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Mobility of major ions and nutrients in the unsaturated zone during paddy cultivation: a field study and solute transport modelling approachHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 20 2007N. Rajmohan Abstract Study of the movement of water and solute within soil profiles is important for a number of reasons. Accumulation of prominent contaminants from agricultural chemicals in the unsaturated zone over the years is a major concern in many parts of the world. As a result, the unsaturated zone has been a subject of great research interest during the past decade. Hence, an intensive field study was conducted in a part of Palar and Cheyyar river basins to understand the variation of major ions and nutrients in the soil zone during paddy cultivation. The chloride and nitrate data were used to model the movement of these chemicals in the unsaturated zone using the HYDRUS-2D model. The field study shows that fertilizer application and irrigation return flow increases the major ions and nutrients concentration in the unsaturated zone. Further, the nutrient concentrations are regulated by plant uptake, fertilizer application and infiltration rate. Additionally, denitrification and soil mineralization processes also regulate the nitrogen concentration in the unsaturated zone. The solute transport modelling study concluded that the simulated results match reasonably with the observed trends. Simulated concentrations of chloride and nitrate for a 5-year period indicate that the concentrations of these ions fluctuate in a cyclic manner (from 60 to 68 mg l,1 and from 3·4 to 3·5 mg l,1 respectively in groundwater) with no upward and downward trend. The influence of excessive fertilizer application on groundwater was also modelled. The model predicts an increase of about 17 mg l,1 of chloride and 2·3 mg l,1 of nitrogen in the groundwater of this area when the application of fertilizers is doubled. The model indicates that the present level of use of agrochemicals is no threat to the groundwater quality. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The ,oestrogen hypothesis', where do we stand now?,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2003Richard M. Sharpe Summary The original ,oestrogen hypothesis' postulated that the apparent increase in human male reproductive developmental disorders (testis cancer, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, low sperm counts) might have occurred because of increased oestrogen exposure of the human foetus/neonate; five potential routes of exposure were considered. This review revisits this hypothesis in the light of the data to have emerged since 1993. It addresses whether there is a secular increasing trend in the listed disorders and highlights the limitations of available data and how these are being addressed. It considers whether new data has emerged to support the suggestion that increased oestrogen exposure could cause these abnormalities and reviews new data on potential routes via which such increased exposure could have occurred. Secular trends: The disorders listed above are now considered to represent a syndrome of disorders (testicular dysgenesis syndrome, TDS) with a common origin in foetal life. Testicular cancer has increased in incidence in Caucasian men worldwide and lifetime risk is 0.3,0.8%. Secular trends in cryptorchidism are unclear but it is by far the commonest (2,4% at birth) congenital abnormality in either sex. Secular trends for hypospadias are not robust, although most studies suggest a progressive increase; registry data probably under-estimates incidence, but based on this data hypospadias is the second most common (0.3,0.7% at birth) congenital malformation. Retrospective analyses of sperm count data show a global downward trend but this is inconclusive , prospective studies using standardized methodology show significant differences between countries and very low sperm counts in the youngest cohort of men. For all disorders, other then testis cancer, standardized prospective studies are the best way forward and are in progress across Europe. Oestrogen effects: Evidence that foetal exposure to oestrogens can induce the above disorders has strengthened. New pathways via which such changes could be induced have been identified, including suppression of testosterone production by the foetal testis, suppression of androgen receptor expression and suppression of insulin-like factor-3 (InsL3) production by foetal Leydig cells. Other evidence suggests that the balance between androgen and oestrogen action may be important in induction of reproductive tract abnormalities. Oestrogen exposure: Although many new environmental oestrogens have been identified, their uniformly weak oestrogenicity excludes the possibility that they could induce the above disorders. However, emerging data implicates various environmental chemicals in being able to alter endogenous levels of androgens (certain phthalates) and oestrogens (polychlorinated biphenyls, polyhalogenated hydrocarbons), and the former have been shown to induce a similar collection of disorders to TDS. Other mechanisms via which increased fetal exposure to pregnancy oestrogens might occur (increasing trend in obesity, dietary changes) are also discussed. [source] Trend and variability of China precipitation in spring and summer: linkage to sea-surface temperaturesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 13 2004Fanglin Yang Abstract Observational records in the past 50 years show an upward trend of boreal-summer precipitation over central eastern China and a downward trend over northern China. During boreal spring, the trend is upward over southeastern China and downward over central eastern China. This study explores the forcing mechanism of these trends in association with the global sea-surface temperature (SST) variations on the interannual and interdecadal time scales. Results based on singular value decomposition (SVD) analyses show that the interannual variability of China precipitation in boreal spring and summer can be well defined by two centres of action for each season, which are covarying with two interannual modes of SSTs. The first SVD modes of precipitation in spring and summer, which are centred in southeastern China and northern China respectively, are linked to an El Niño,southern oscillation (ENSO)-like mode of SSTs. The second SVD modes of precipitation in both seasons are confined to central eastern China, and are primarily linked to SST variations over the warm pool and the Indian Ocean. Features of the anomalous 850 hPa winds and 700 hPa geopotential height corresponding to these modes support a physical mechanism that explains the causal links between the modal variations of precipitation and SSTs. On the decadal and longer time scale, similar causal links are found between the same modes of precipitation and SSTs, except for the case of springtime precipitation over central eastern China. For this case, while the interannual mode of precipitation is positively correlated with the interannual variations of SSTs over the warm pool and Indian Ocean, the interdecadal mode is negatively correlated with a different SST mode, i.e. the North Pacific mode. The latter is responsible for the observed downward trend of springtime precipitation over central eastern China. For all other cases, both the interannual and interdecadal variations of precipitation can be explained by the same mode of SSTs. The upward trend of springtime precipitation over southeastern China and downward trend of summertime precipitation over northern China are attributable to the warming trend of the ENSO-like mode. The recent frequent summertime floods over central eastern China are linked to the warming trend of SSTs over the warm pool and Indian Ocean. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Distribution and temporal variability of 500 hPa cyclone characteristics in the Southern HemisphereINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Murray Keable Abstract A 40 year period (1958,97) of US National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalysis data has been used to diagnose the behaviour and variability of 500 hPa extratropical cyclones for the Southern Hemisphere using a Lagrangian perspective. The ,finding' and ,tracking' of these systems were performed using a fully automated scheme. Seasonal distributions of system density, cyclone formation (cyclogenesis), decay (cyclolysis), cyclone centre velocity and intensity/strength are presented. System density is shown to exhibit a maximum in the surface circumpolar trough region and over the Antarctic continent. A broad band of enhanced cyclone system density was evident across the South Pacific from southeast Australia to South America in all seasons, most markedly in winter. As this feature appears also at the surface level, strong vertical consistency of these cyclones in the low and middle troposphere is indicated. Velocities of cyclone centres were found to peak in the latitudes 50,55 °S, and 500 hPa systems appeared to move on average in a much more zonal (easterly) direction than their sea-level counterparts. The mean number of midlatitude cyclones per analysis has exhibited a significant downward trend over the record, with particularly low values observed in the early 1980s. Offsetting this trend have been increases in three measures of mean cyclone vigour. Three orographic features, in particular, are seen to influence the behaviour of 500 hPa cyclones: the mountains of New Zealand, the Antarctic Peninsula and the southern Andes. Over most of Antarctica the rate of cyclogenesis exceeds that of cyclolysis, indicating that many of the cyclones being formed in the vortex are actually exported out (i.e. to the north) of the continent. In the subtropics, considerable numbers of systems are formed in the Mozambique Sea region, but these tend to be quasi-stationary features. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Explaining trading volume in the euroINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FINANCE & ECONOMICS, Issue 1 2006Janusz Brzeszczynski Abstract Following the introduction of the euro in 1999, daily trade volume began a downward trend until early 2002, after which daily volume started to trend upward. A model of weekly trades suggests that changes in momentum as well as the carry trade motives of interest differentials are significant explanatory factors. Daily data examination reveals that Fridays have lower activity, and Tuesdays greater activity than average. At the intradaily level, trading is very low before and after London business hours. Within the London business day, trade activity is higher in 5-min intervals when a ,big figure' is breached. This is consistent with stop-loss or take-profit motives for trading. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Influence of nutrients on proteinase A activity in draft beer during fermentationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Xin Hao Summary With the increase of ,-amino nitrogen concentrations from 90 to 230 mg L,1, proteinase A (PrA) in wort fermentations was showing a downward trend while higher alcohols contents a U-shaped one. The level of 210 mg L,1 of ,-amino nitrogen supplement, at which wort fermentation exhibited a low PrA activity and a level of higher alcohols below the industrial norm (90 mg L,1), was used as the optimised ,-amino nitrogen concentration for further exploring the effect of biotin levels on PrA activity. In the biotin range of 0,65 ,g L,1, PrA activity registered the lowest value when biotin level was at 50 ,g L,1. Medium with 210 mg L,1 of ,-amino nitrogen and 50 ,g L,1 of biotin was therefore adopted for investigating influences of inorganic salt Fe2(SO4)3, KH2PO4, ZnSO4 and MgSO4 on PrA production. It was shown that Fe2(SO4)3 and KH2PO4 had significant influence on PrA production while ZnSO4 and MgSO4 did not. Based on above findings, an optimised set of nutritive elements was determined and used in fermentation. The results indicated that the activity of PrA reduced by 60% without noticeably effects of the fermentation performance and beer flavour. [source] Elderly suicide and the 2003 SARS epidemic in Hong KongINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2006Sau Man Sandra Chan Abstract Background Hong Kong was struck by the community outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003. In the same year, the elderly suicide rate in Hong Kong showed a sharp upturn from a previous downward trend. Methods Secondary analyses using Poisson Regression Models on the suicide statistics from the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Government were performed. Results In a Poisson Regression Model on the annual suicide rates in elders aged 65 and over in years 1986,2003, 2002 served as the reference year. Suicide rates in 1986,1997 were significantly higher than the reference year, with an Incident Rate Ratio (IRR) of 1.34 to 1.61. However, rates in 1998,2001 did not differ from the reference year significantly, representing stabilization of suicide rates for 4 years after 1997. The elderly suicide rate increased to 37.46/100,000 in 2003, with an IRR of 1.32 (p,=,0.0019) relative to 2002. Such trend is preserved when female elderly suicide rates in 1993,2003 were analyzed, while suicide rates in elderly men and younger age groups did not follow this pattern. Discussions Mechanistic factors such as breakdown of social network and limited access to health care might account for the findings. These factors could have potentiated biopsychosocial risk factors for suicide at individual levels, particularly in elderly. Female elders, by way of their previous readiness to utilize social and health services instituted in the past decade, are thus more susceptible to the effects of temporary suspension of these services during the SARS epidemic. Conclusions The SARS epidemic was associated with increased risk of completed suicide in female elders, but not in male elders or the population under 65 years of age. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Population Trends in BMD Testing, Treatment, and Hip and Wrist Fracture Rates: Are the Hip Fracture Projections Wrong?JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005Susan B Jaglal PhD Abstract A worldwide epidemic of hip fractures has been predicted. Time trends in BMD testing, bone-sparing medications and hip and wrist fractures in the province of Ontario, Canada, were examined. From 1996 to 2001, BMD testing and use of bone-sparing medications increased each year, whereas despite the aging of the population, wrist and hip fracture rates decreased. Introduction: If patients with osteoporosis are being diagnosed and effective treatments used with increasing frequency in the population, rates of hip and wrist fractures will remain stable or possibly decrease. We report here time trends in BMD testing, prescriptions for bone-sparing medications, hip and wrist fracture rates, and population projections of fracture rates to 2005 in the province of Ontario, Canada. Materials and Methods: Ontario residents have universal access to Medicare. To examine time trends in BMD testing, all physician claims for DXA from 1992 to 2001 were selected from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) database. Trends in prescribing were examined from 1996 to 2003 using data from the Ontario Drug Benefit plan, which provides coverage to persons ,65 years of age. Actual numbers of hip and wrist fractures were determined for 1992-2000 and population projections for 2001-2005 using time-series analysis. Wrist fractures were identified in the OHIP database and hip fractures through hospital discharge abstracts. Results: From 1992 to 2001, the number of BMD tests increased 10-fold. There has been a steady increase in the number of persons filling prescriptions for antiresorptives (12,298 in 1996 to 225,580 in 2003) and the majority were for etidronate. For women, the rate of decline for wrist fractures is greater than that for hip fractures. The rate of hip fracture was fairly constant around 41 per 10,000 women ,50 years between 1992 and 1996. In 1997, the hip fracture rate began to decrease, and the population projections suggest that this downward trend will continue to a rate of 33.1 per 10,000 in 2005. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that fracture rates may be on the decline, despite the aging of the population, because of increased patterns of diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis. [source] Atrophy and anarchy: third national survey of nursing skill-mix and advanced nursing practice in ophthalmologyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 12 2006Dip Nursing, Wladyslawa J. Czuber-Dochan MSc Aims and objectives., The aims of the study were to investigate the advanced nursing practice and the skill-mix of nurses working in ophthalmology. Background., The expansion of new nursing roles in the United Kingdom in the past decade is set against the background of a nursing shortage. The plan to modernize the National Health Service and improve the efficiency and delivery of healthcare services as well as to reduce junior doctors' hours contributes towards a profusion of new and more specialized and advanced nursing roles in various areas of nursing including ophthalmology. Design., A self-reporting quantitative questionnaire was employed. The study used comparative and descriptive statistical tests. Method., The questionnaires were distributed to all ophthalmic hospitals and units in the United Kingdom. Hospital and unit managers were responsible for completing the questionnaires. Results., Out of a total 181 questionnaires 117 were returned. There is a downward trend in the total number of nurses working in ophthalmology. The results demonstrate more nurses working at an advanced level. However, there is a general confusion regarding role interpretation at the advanced level of practice, evident through the wide range of job titles being used. There was inconsistency in the qualifications expected of these nurses. Conclusion., Whilst there are more nurses working at an advanced level this is set against an ageing workforce and an overall decline in the number of nurses in ophthalmology. There is inconsistency in job titles, grades, roles and qualifications for nurses who work at an advanced or higher level of practice. The Agenda for Change with its new structure for grading jobs in the United Kingdom may offer protection and consistency in job titles, pay and qualifications for National Health Service nurse specialists. The Nursing and Midwifery Council needs to provide clear guidelines to the practitioners on educational and professional requirements, to protect patients and nurses. Relevance to clinical practice., The findings indicate that there is a need for better regulations for nurses working at advanced nursing practice. [source] Vegetation Change and Soil Nutrient Distribution along an Oasis-Desert Transitional Zone in Northwestern ChinaJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2007Bao-Ming Chen Abstract Many studies have focused on soil nutrient heterogeneity and islands of fertility in arid ecosystems. However, few have been conducted on an oasis-desert transitional zone where there is a vegetation pattern changing from shrubs to annual herbs. The goal of the present study was to understand vegetation and soil nutrient heterogenity along an oasis-desert transitional zone in northwestern China. Three replicated sampling belts were selected at 200 m intervals along the transitional zone. Twenty-one quadrats (10 × 10 m) at 50 m intervals were located along each sampling belt. The vegetation cover was estimated through the quadrats, where both the soil under the canopy and the open soil were sampled simultaneously. The dominated shrub was Haloxylon ammodendron in the areas close to the oasis and Nitraria tangutorum dominated the areas close to the desert. In general, along the transitional zone the vegetation cover decreased within 660 m, increased above 660 m and decreased again above 1 020 m (close to the desert). The soil nutrients (organic matter, total N, NO3, and NH4+) showed significant differences along the zone. The soil nutrients except the soil NH4+ under the canopy were higher than those in open soil, confirming "islands of fertility" or nutrient enrichment. Only a slight downward trend of the level of "islands of fertility" for soil organic matter appeared in the area within 900 m. Soil organic matter both under canopy and in interspace showed a positive correlation with the total vegetation cover, however, there was no significant correlation between the other soil nutrients and the total vegetation cover. We also analyzed the relationship between the shrubs and annuals and the soil nutrients along the zone. Similarly, there was no significant correlation between them, except soil organic matter with the annuals. The results implied that annual plants played an important role in soil nutrient enrichment in arid ecosystem. [source] Late Devensian and Holocene relative sea-level changes on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK,JOURNAL OF QUATERNARY SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Katherine A. Selby Abstract Detailed litho- and biostratigraphical analyses from three coastal sites in contrasting coastal settings on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK, reveal evidence for several changes in relative sea level during the Late Devensian and Holocene. At the start of the record, relative sea level in the area was high at ca. 12,500 14C (ca. 14,800,cal.) yr,BP but then fell, reaching a low point during the Younger Dryas, at ca. 11,000,10,000 14C (ca. 13,000,11,600,cal.) yr,BP, when a rock platform, correlated with the Main Rock Platform, was formed. In the early,middle Holocene, relative sea level was rising by ca. 8000 14C (ca. 8800,cal.) yr,BP and in northeast Skye a lagoonal surface, correlated with the Main Postglacial Shoreline, was formed at ca. 6600 14C (ca. 7500,cal.) yr,BP. By the late Holocene, relative sea level was again falling, but a rise, registered at at least two sites, began probably before ca. 4000 14C (ca. 4500,cal.) yr,BP, and a second lagoonal surface in northeast Skye, correlated with the Blairdrummond Shoreline, was formed, although by ca. 3000 14C (ca. 3200,cal.) yr,BP relative sea level in the area had resumed its downward trend. The pattern of relative sea-level changes disclosed is compared with evidence elsewhere in Scotland. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Development of Mathematics Interest in Adolescence: Influences of Gender, Family, and School ContextJOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE, Issue 2 2010Anne C. Frenzel This study investigated adolescents' developmental trajectories of mathematics interest and explored related effects of gender, family, and school context. Latent growth curve modeling was used to analyze longitudinal data of N=3,193 students (51% female) from grades 5 to 9 from all 3 ability tracks of the German state school system. Annual assessments involved student questionnaires on interest in mathematics, perceptions of classroom characteristics (classroom values for mathematics, mathematics teacher enthusiasm), as well as parent questionnaires regarding family values for mathematics. Results indicated a downward trend of students' mathematics interest that plateaued in later years, with high variability in mean levels, but little variability in the shape of the growth trajectories. Boys reported higher mathematics interest than girls, but similar downward growth trajectories. Students from the lowest ability track showed more favorable interest trajectories than students from the middle and highest tracks. Family values and classroom characteristics were positively related to within-person levels of interest over time and to average individual levels of interest, but not to growth parameters. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [source] BIG CITY, BIG TURNOUT?JOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Issue 1 2007ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION IN AMERICAN CITIES ABSTRACT:,This article seeks to describe and explain variation in voter turnout in American big city municipal elections using data from 332 mayoral elections in 38 large U.S. cities over 25 years. In my cross-sectional time-series analysis of turnout in mayoral elections, I find that city-level demographic factors are only weakly correlated with turnout. By contrast, institutional and campaign factors explain much of the variation. The effect of Progressive era reforms on depressing turnout is greatest in the most competitive elections. I conclude by discussing the implication of the overall downward trend in turnout and changes cities can make to increase participation. [source] Latex-induced occupational asthma: time trend in incidence and relationship with hospital glove policiesALLERGY, Issue 3 2009O. Vandenplas Background:, Natural rubber latex (NRL) has become as a major cause of occupational asthma (OA) in workers using NRL gloves. Few population-based studies have assessed the impact of changes in the patterns of glove usage on the incidence of NRL-induced OA. Objective:, To characterize the time trends in incident cases of NRL-induced OA in Belgium and examine whether incidence rates were related to the types of gloves used in hospitals. Methods:, Incident cases of NRL-induced OA were identified through a retrospective review of all claims submitted to the Workers' Compensation Board up to December 2004. Based on the results of diagnostic procedures, the diagnosis of NRL-induced OA was categorized as definite, probable, unlikely, or indeterminate. The patterns of glove usage were characterized through a questionnaire survey of Belgian hospitals. Results:, A total of 298 claims for NRL-induced OA were identified, including 127 subjects with definite OA and 68 with probable OA. Categorized by the year of asthma onset, the incident cases of definite and probable NRL-induced OA markedly decreased from 1999 onwards. The use of powdered NRL gloves fell from 80.9% in 1989 to 17.9% in 2004. Powdered NRL gloves were predominantly substituted with NRL-free gloves, especially in the case of non-sterile procedures. Conclusion:, These national compensation-based data confirm that a persistent decline in the incidence of NRL-induced OA has occurred since late 1990s. This downward trend has temporally been associated with a decreasing usage of powdered NRL, further supporting a beneficial role of changes in glove policies. [source] Has the increase in world-wide openness to trade worsened global income inequality?,PAPERS IN REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2002Saurav Dev Bhatta Globalization; global inequality; trade; time-series Abstract This article contributes to our understanding of the relationship between globalization and world income inequality by analyzing the trend in global inequality for the period 1960,1989. Using Penn World Tables data and time-series econometric techniques, it analyzes how the increase in worldwide openness to trade has been related to global income inequality during this period. When differential population growth rates among the countries are taken into account, the results indicate that (i) global income inequality exhibited a downward trend between 1960 and 1989, and (ii) while there is a positive relationship between inequality and openness, the relationship is not statistically significant. [source] Septic, CD-30 Positive Febrile Ulceronecrotic Pityriasis Lichenoides et Varioliformis AcutaPEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Mark D. Herron M.D. Hemorrhagic-crusted papules and plaques covered over 90% of the patient's body, leaving her susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia as well as Candida parapsilosis fungemia. Sepsis delayed definitive treatment of the underlying cutaneous disease for 2 weeks. Combined therapy with methotrexate and cyclosporin caused remission of the process. Although immunohistochemistry revealed CD-30 positive cells, suggesting the diagnosis of lymphomatoid papulosis, the histopathology was most compatible with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. A partial loss of CD2 and CD5 in the predominant CD3 T-cell lymphocytes suggested a clonal proliferation. Elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels reflected marked T-cell activation, and the downward trend of the levels during treatment coincided with clinical regression of this inflammatory dermatosis. [source] An Introduction to a Special Issue on Large-Scale Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Research in the Chesapeake Bay: 2003,2008RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Deborah Shafer The Chesapeake Bay is one of the world's largest estuaries. Dramatic declines in the abundance and distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay over the last few decades led to a series of management decisions aimed at protecting and restoring SAV populations throughout the bay. In 2003, the Chesapeake Bay Program established a goal of planting 405 ha of SAV by 2008. Realizing that such an ambitious goal would require the development of large-scale approaches to SAV restoration, a comprehensive research effort was organized, involving federal and state agencies, academia, and the private sector. This effort differs from most other SAV restoration programs due to a strong emphasis on the use of seeds rather than plants as planting stock, a decision based on the relatively low labor requirements of seeding. Much of the research has focused on the development of tools and techniques for using seeds in large-scale SAV restoration. Since this research initiative began, an average of 13.4 ha/year of SAV has been planted in the Chesapeake Bay, compared to an average rate of 3.6 ha/year during the previous 21 years (1983,2003). The costs of conducting these plantings are on a downward trend as the understanding of the limiting factors increases and as new advances are made in applied research and technology development. Although this effort was focused in the Chesapeake Bay region, the tools and techniques developed as part of this research should be widely applicable to SAV restoration efforts in other areas. [source] Seroprevalence of pertussis antitoxin (anti-PT) in Sweden before and 10 years after the introduction of a universal childhood pertussis vaccination programAPMIS, Issue 12 2009HANS O. HALLANDER The prevalence of IgG ELISA antibodies against pertussis toxin (anti-PT) was studied in two Swedish seroepidemiological studies. One was performed in 1997 when the new pertussis vaccination program was 1 year old (n = 3420). In 2007, when Pa vaccines had been used countrywide for 10 years in the universal child vaccination program, this study was repeated to analyze the effect of vaccination on anti-PT prevalence (n = 2379). Before the statistical analysis of seroprevalence, children vaccinated within the last 2 years before the serosurveys were excluded. The results indicate a reduced exposure to Bordetella pertussis in the population. The proportion of sera without measurable anti-PT antibodies increased significantly, aggregated over all comparable age groups, from 3.8% in people sampled in 1997 to 16.3% in people sampled in 2007. For cord blood, 1% was without measurable anti-PT antibodies in 1997 compared to a significantly higher level, 12%, in 2007. With anti-PT concentrations of ,50 and ,100 EU/ml as cutoff points for ,recent infection' the proportion above the cutoff points for younger children was significantly higher in 1997 than in 2007 at both cutoff points. For all adults, 20 years of age and older, the difference in proportions above the lower cutoff point was close to statistically significant, comparing 1997 with 2007. This was not the case at 100 EU/ml. In the 1997 samples of children, there was a significant downward trend of ,recent infections' at both cutoff points for three sampled age groups between 5 and 15 years of age from 21% at 5.0,5.5 years of age to 7% at 14.7,15.7 years for the lowest cutoff. In the 2007 samples of children, on the contrary, there was a significant continuous upward trend of ,recent infections', at both cutoff points, for four sampled age groups between 4 and 18 years of age , from 4% at 4,5 years of age to 16% at 17,18 years at the lowest cutoff. The continuous increase, with age of children with high anti-PT concentrations, supports the recent change in the general Swedish childhood vaccination program to include a pre-school booster at 5,6 years and a school-leaving booster at 14,16 years of age. [source] The record-breaking cold temperatures during the winter of 2009/2010 in the Northern Hemisphere,ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE LETTERS, Issue 3 2010Dr Chunzai Wang Abstract In this study, we show that the record-breaking cold temperatures from North America to Europe and Asia during the period of 28 December 2009 to 13 January 2010 are associated with extremely negative values of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, which produce northerly surface wind anomalies and cause the southward advection of the cold Arctic air. Corresponded to longer-term variations of Pacific and Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs), the downward trend of the NAO has occurred since the early 1990s. It is speculated that if the downward trend of the NAO continues, more frequent cold outbreaks and heavy snow are likely in the coming years. Published 2010 by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. [source] A COHORT ANALYSIS OF US AGE,EARNINGS PROFILESBULLETIN OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008Kosei Fukuda J31; C51 ABSTRACT Aggregate data on US earnings, classified by period and by age, are decomposed into age, period and cohort effects, using the Bayesian cohort models, which were developed to overcome the identification problem in cohort analysis. The main findings, obtained by comparing college and high school graduates, are threefold. First, the age effects show a downward trend for the age group of 45,49 onwards for high school graduates but do not show any such trend for college graduates. Second, the period effects show a downward trend for high school graduates but reveal no such trend for college graduates. Third, the cohort effects are negligible for both college and high school graduates. [source] Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2003CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2004Richard Reading The New Policy Institute has produced its sixth annual report of indicators of poverty and social exclusion. This year's report focuses on regional variations across England, Scotland and Wales. With 5 years of data now available to measure progress since Labour came to office in 1997, it is becoming much clearer where the Government's strategy for combating poverty and social exclusion is being successful , and where it is not. With the number of people living in low-income households now on a steady downward trend, the latest figures (for 2001/2002) passed the notable milestone of taking income poverty lower than at any time in the 1990s. The main reason why the number of people in low-income households fell in the 5 years to 2001/2002 is that there were fewer people in workless households. But, over the same period, the number of people in low-income, working households did not fall. Out-of-work benefits to both working-age families with dependent children and to pensioners have risen by around 30% in real terms since 1998, faster than earnings. This, plus the rise in tax credits, will have had a significant impact on the severity of poverty suffered by some low-income households even when it has not taken them above the low-income threshold. In education, earlier progress in increasing the numbers of those with an adequate minimum level of qualification has stalled, with no further advance since 2000, compared with rapid progress during the second half of the 1990s. Around a quarter of young people at each of the ages of 11, 16 and 19 are still failing to reach a basic level of attainment. There is no sign of any reduction since 1997 in the health inequalities which leave people with low incomes more likely to suffer serious health-related problems. Across the range of indicators, problems of poverty and social exclusion are generally more prevalent in the North-east than in other areas of the country. London has particular problems centred on low income and work and Scotland has particular problems centred on health. [source] Intercomparison of global cloud cover fields over oceans from the VOS observations and NCEP/NCAR reanalysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 13 2007Ernst Bedacht Abstract The paper inter-compares the total cloud cover over the World Ocean from marine visual observations assimilated in the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS) and National Centers of Environmental Prediction/National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR) reanalysis. The Intercomparison covers the period from 1948 to 2002. NCEP-NCAR reanalysis shows about 10% of fractional cloud cover smaller than the visual observations do. The largest differences are observed in the mid and sub-polar latitudes. In the tropics, NCEP-NCAR data show slightly higher cloud cover then ICOADS. These systematic differences are quite persistent through the year with somewhat stronger differences in summer. Comparison of the characteristics of inter-annual variability shows little consistency between visually observed total cloud cover and total cloudiness diagnosed by the reanalysis. Linear trends are primarily positive in the ICOADS cloud data, while in the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis they show downward trends in the tropics and upward tendencies in the mid and high latitudes. Analysis of the effect of sampling in ICOADS shows that sampling inhomogeneity cannot fully explain the disagreements observed. At the same time, the major climate variability patterns such as North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El-Nino,Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are well captured in both ICOADS and NCEP-NCAR cloud cover data sets. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Solarium use in Australia, recent trends and contextAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2010Kate Francis Abstract Objectives: To describe the prevalence of solarium use among representative samples of Australian adolescents (12,17 years) and adults (18,69 years). Methods: In national surveys conducted in 2003/04 and 2006/07 using equivalent methods, n=11,509 Australian adolescents and adults self-reported their use of solaria. Results: In 2006/07 10.6% of adults had ,ever' used a solarium, and use was most prevalent among women aged 18 to 24 (17.1%) and 25 to 44 (20.7%). Few adolescents (2.5%) had ever used a solarium. The prevalence of past year use was much lower (0.6% of adolescents, 1.5% of adults) and there was a significant reduction among adults between surveys (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.52,0.94). Adults' attitudes related to past year solarium use were preference for a suntan (OR=4.68, 95% CI=2.48,8.85); perceived protan attitudes of peers (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.17,3.77), belief that a suntan looks healthy (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.09,3.39); and perceiving they have some risk of getting skin cancer (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.03,2.78). Conclusions and implications: Although solarium use in Australia is relatively low, it is highest among young adult women. These data show encouraging downward trends in use, and provide a foundation for monitoring the impact of forthcoming regulatory changes to the solarium industry. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||