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Standing
Kinds of Standing Terms modified by Standing Selected Abstracts,Amsterdam is Standing on Norway' Part II: The Global North Atlantic in the Ecological Revolution of the Long Seventeenth CenturyJOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, Issue 2 2010JASON W. MOORE ,Amsterdam is standing on Norway', this was a popular saying in the Dutch Republic of the seventeenth century. There was more than one inflection to the phrase. Amsterdam was, in the first instance, built atop a subterranean forest of Norwegian origin. But southern Norway was also a vital resource zone, subordinated to Amsterdam-based capital. This paper follows the movement of strategic commodity frontiers within early modern Europe from the standpoint of capitalism as world-ecology, joining in dialectical unity the production of capital and the production of nature. Our geographical focus is trained upon the emergence of the Global North Atlantic, that zone providing the strategic raw materials and food supplies indispensable to the consolidation of capitalism , timber, naval stores, metals, cereals, fish and whales. I argue for a broader geographical perspective on these movements, one capable of revealing the dialectical interplay of frontiers on all sides of the Atlantic. From its command posts in Amsterdam, Dutch capital deployed American silver in the creation of successive frontiers within Europe, transforming Scandinavian and Baltic regions. The frontier character of these transformations was decisive, premised on drawing readily exploitable supplies of land and labour power into the orbit of capital. We see in northern Europe precisely what we see in the Americas , a pattern of commodity-centred environmental transformation, and thence relative ecological exhaustion, from which the only escape was renewed global conquest and ever-wider cycles of combined and uneven development. [source] ,Amsterdam is Standing on Norway' Part I: The Alchemy of Capital, Empire and Nature in the Diaspora of Silver, 1545,1648JOURNAL OF AGRARIAN CHANGE, Issue 1 2010JASON W. MOORE In the first of two essays in this Journal, I seek to unify the historical geography of early modern ,European expansion' (Iberia and Latin America) with the environmental history of the ,transition to capitalism' (northwestern Europe). The expansion of Europe's overseas empires and the transitions to capitalism within Europe were differentiated moments within the geographical expansion of commodity production and exchange , what I call the commodity frontier. This essay is developed in two movements. Beginning with a conceptual and methodological recasting of the historical geography of the rise of capitalism, I offer an analytical narrative that follows the early modern diaspora of silver. This account follows the political ecology of silver production and trade from the Andes to Spain in Braudel's ,second' sixteenth century (c. 1545,1648). In highlighting the Ibero-American moment of this process in the present essay, I contend that the spectacular reorganization of Andean space and the progressive dilapidation of Spain's real economy not only signified the rise and demise of a trans-Atlantic, Iberian ecological regime, but also generated the historically necessary conditions for the unprecedented concentration of accumulation and commodity production in the capitalist North Atlantic in the centuries that followed. [source] Effects of Valsartan or Amlodipine Alone or in Combination on Plasma Catecholamine Levels at Rest and During Standing in Hypertensive PatientsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 3 2007FRCPC, Jacques de Champlain MD To compare the effects of valsartan and amlodipine alone or in combination on plasma norepinephrine (NE) at rest and standing for 10 minutes in patients with hypertension, 47 patients with a sitting diastolic blood pressure (BP) (DBP) >95 mm Hg and <110 mm Hg were randomized in a double-blind fashion to either valsartan or amlodipine. During the first 4 weeks of treatment, patients received a low dose of either valsartan (80 mg) or amlodipine (5 mg). The patients were force-titrated to the high dose of either drug (160 or 10 mg) for 4 weeks. After 8 weeks of therapy, those who still had a DBP >90 mm Hg (nonresponders) received combination therapy with the other drug, whereas patients with a DBP <90 mm Hg (responders) continued on monotherapy. Decreases in ambulatory BP and clinic systolic BP and DBP were significant (P<.05) after 8 weeks' therapy with no difference between the 2 groups. Amlodipine but not valsartan as monotherapy consistently increased NE levels at rest and enhanced NE levels during standing. Valsartan decreased basal NE in responders. Combination therapy with valsartan and amlodipine did not attenuate the rise in NE levels induced by amlodipine. This study indicates that therapy with amlodipine increases peripheral sympathetic basal tone and reactivity to standing in patients with hypertension, whereas valsartan does not. Combined therapy with amlodipine/valsartan did not attenuate the sympathetic activation induced by amlodipine. The hypotensive action of valsartan may be mediated in part by an inhibition of the sympathetic baroreflex in patients with hypertension. [source] Mechanisms of Postural Control in Alcoholic Men and Women: Biomechanical Analysis of Musculoskeletal Coordination During Quiet StandingALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2010Edith V. Sullivan Background:, Excessive sway during quiet standing is a common sequela of chronic alcoholism even with prolonged sobriety. Whether alcoholic men and women who have remained abstinent from alcohol for weeks to months differ from each other in the degree of residual postural instability and biomechanical control mechanisms has not been directly tested. Method:, We used a force platform to characterize center-of-pressure biomechanical features of postural sway, with and without stabilizing conditions from touch, vision, and stance, in 34 alcoholic men, 15 alcoholic women, 22 control men, and 29 control women. Groups were matched in age (49.4 years), general intelligence, socioeconomic status, and handedness. Each alcoholic group was sober for an average of 75 days. Results:, Analysis of postural sway when using all 3 stabilizing conditions versus none revealed diagnosis and sex differences in ability to balance. Alcoholics had significantly longer sway paths, especially in the anterior,posterior direction, than controls when maintaining erect posture without balance aids. With stabilizing conditions the sway paths of all groups shortened significantly, especially those of alcoholic men, who demonstrated a 3.1-fold improvement in sway path difference between the easiest and most challenging conditions; the remaining 3 groups, each showed a ,2.4-fold improvement. Application of a mechanical model to partition sway paths into open-loop and closed-loop postural control systems revealed that the sway paths of the alcoholic men but not alcoholic women were characterized by greater short-term (open-loop) diffusion coefficients without aids, often associated with muscle stiffening response. With stabilizing factors, all 4 groups showed similar long-term (closed loop) postural control. Correlations between cognitive abilities and closed-loop sway indices were more robust in alcoholic men than alcoholic women. Conclusions:, Reduction in sway and closed-loop activity during quiet standing with stabilizing factors shows some differential expression in men and women with histories of alcohol dependence. Nonetheless, enduring deficits in postural instability of both alcoholic men and alcoholic women suggest persisting liability for falling. [source] Challenging the Registration of Scandalous and Disparaging Marks Under the Lanham Act: Who has Standing to Sue?AMERICAN BUSINESS LAW JOURNAL, Issue 2-3 2004Lynda J. Oswald [source] Lung volumes in healthy Afro-Caribbean children aged 4,17 yearsPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Karl P. Sylvester BSc Abstract Lung volumes in healthy children differ according to their ethnic origin. We wished to determine if any differences in the lung volumes of Afro-Caribbean (AC) children from those predicted by Caucasian reference values disappeared if the results were related to sitting height or to 90% or 77% of lung volumes predicted for height from Caucasian reference values based on standing height. We took, as our working hypothesis, that it is inappropriate to use Caucasian reference values to interpret data from Afro-Caribbean children, and that ethnic-specific reference values are required. This was a prospective, observational study. Subjects included 80 AC children with a median age of 9 (range, 4.3,17.8) years. Standing and sitting height were measured. Lung volumes were measured by body plethysmography (total lung capacity, TLCpleth; functional residual capacity, FRCpleth; and vital capacity, VCpleth), helium gas dilution (functional residual capacity, (FRCHe), spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC). The lung volumes of AC children correlated significantly with standing height, but differed significantly from values predicted from Caucasian reference values based on standing height (P,<,0.05). Significant differences remained for TLCpleth, FRCpleth, FRCHe, RVpleth, VCpleth, FEV1, and FVC when the results were related to sitting height or 90% or 77% of values predicted from Caucasian reference values based on height (P,<,0.05). Lung volumes in Afro-Caribbean children should be compared to ethnic-specific reference values. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2005; 40:109,112. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Body Movement Induced by Electrical Stimulation of Toe Muscles During StandingARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 1 2008Xavier Tortolero Abstract:, The purpose of this study was to investigate whether artificially induced muscle contractions of toe muscles using functional electrical stimulation (FES) would cause center of pressure (COP) displacement and corresponding body acceleration. Ten able-bodied subjects were asked to stand still on force plates. The flexor digitorum brevis and the flexor hallucis brevis in both legs were simultaneously stimulated using a transcutaneous FES device. The muscles were stimulated 20 times at random intervals with four different stimulation intensities. We demonstrated that the toe muscle activity induced by electrical stimulation evoked COP displacement, which generated body acceleration. As expected, a larger stimulation induced a larger COP movement and acceleration. Therefore, we propose the use of FES-induced contractions of the toe muscles as a means to control balance during FES-assisted quiet standing. Spinal cord-injured and severe-stroke patients could benefit from this electrical stimulation technique for improving FES-assisted standing. [source] Effect of body position on foot and ankle volume in healthy subjectsCLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 6 2004Ivy O. W. Man Summary Physical therapy treatments for and evaluation of lower limb swelling are usually performed in supine lying position. However, the limb is usually treated or assessed in the dependent position, i.e. sitting or standing. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible confounding effect of subject positioning on foot and ankle volume. Sixty healthy individuals were randomly positioned into motionless standing, sitting or supine lying for 30 min. Volumetric measurements of the dominant leg were taken with a foot and ankle volumeter before and after 30 min of positioning. A significant difference between the three groups for foot and ankle volume change (F2,53 = 35·41, P<0·001) was found. A post-hoc Tukey HSD test revealed that the difference was statistically significant between sitting and standing as well as supine lying and standing (P<0·001). No statistical significance was found between sitting and supine lying (P = 0·90). Standing caused the greatest increase in foot and ankle volume followed by sitting then supine lying. The results indicate that treating or assessing a limb with the subject in a sitting position would not be significantly different from a subject who is positioned in supine lying. However, it is not known whether the height and the distance from the heart to the feet were comparable between the groups, and so it is recommended that, where possible, treatment and assessment of lower leg swelling should be undertaken with the leg in a non-dependent position and definitely not in standing. [source] Enhancement of Farmland Biodiversity within Set-Aside LandCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2004JOSH VAN BUSKIRK agricultura; biodiversidad; conservación; terrenos de reserva Abstract:,The efficacy of agricultural set-aside policies for protecting farmland biodiversity is widely debated. Based on a meta-analysis of 127 published studies, we found that land withdrawn from conventional production unequivocally enhances biodiversity in North America and Europe. The number of species of birds, insects, spiders, and plants is 1,1.5 standard deviation units higher on set-aside land, and population densities increase by 0.5,1 standard deviation units. Set-aside land may be especially beneficial for desirable taxa because North American bird species that have exhibited population declines react most positively to set-aside agricultural land. Larger and older plots protect more species and higher densities, and set-aside land is more effective in countries with less-intensive agricultural practices and higher fractions of land removed from production. Although policies specifically designed to protect biodiversity might work even better, current incentives clearly improve the standing of plants and animals in farmland. Resumen:,La eficiencia de las políticas de reservas agrícolas para la protección de la biodiversidad en tierras cultivadas esta ámpliamente debatida. Con base en un meta-análisis de 127 estudios publicados, encontramos que terrenos retirados de la producción convencional inequívocamente mejoran la biodiversidad en Norte América y Europa. El número de especies de aves, insectos, arañas y plantas es 1-1.5 unidades de desviación estándar más alto en terrenos de reserva, y las densidades de población incrementan en 0.5-1 unidades de desviación estándar. Los terrenos de reserva pueden ser especialmente benéficos para taxones deseables porque especies de aves norteamericanas que han presentado una declinación poblacional reaccionan positivamente a terrenos agrícolas de reserva. Parcelas más grandes y viejas protegen a más especies y tienen mayores densidades, y los terrenos de reserva son más efectivos en países con prácticas agrícolas menos intensivas y con mayores fracciones de tierras removidas de la producción. Aunque las políticas diseñadas específicamente para proteger la biodiversidad pueden ser mejores aún, los incentivos actuales claramente mejoran la situación de plantas y animales en tierras agrícolas. [source] An enhanced level of motor cortical excitability during the control of human standingACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2009C. D. Tokuno Abstract Aim:, The study examined the role of the motor cortex in the control of human standing. Methods:, Subjects (n = 15) stood quietly with or without body support. The supported standing condition enabled subjects to stand with a reduced amount of postural sway. Peripheral electrical stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) was applied to elicit a soleus (SOL) H-reflex, or motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in the SOL and the tibialis anterior (TA). Trials were grouped based on the standing condition (i.e. supported vs. normal) as well as sway direction (i.e. forward and backward) while subjects were standing normally. Results:, During normal when compared to supported standing, the SOL H-reflex was depressed (,11 ± 4%), while the TMS-evoked MEPs from the SOL and TA were facilitated (35 ± 11% for the SOL, 51 ± 15% for the TA). TES-evoked SOL and TA MEPs were, however, not different between the normal and supported standing conditions. The data based on sway direction indicated that the SOL H-reflex, as well as the SOL TMS- and TES-evoked MEPs were all greater during forward when compared to backward sway. In contrast, the TMS- and TES-evoked MEPs from the TA were smaller when swaying forward as compared to backward. Conclusions:, The results indicated the presence of an enhanced cortical excitability because of the need to control for postural sway during normal standing. The increased cortical excitability was, however, unlikely to be involved in an on-going control of postural sway, suggesting that postural sway is controlled at the spinal and/or subcortical levels. [source] Control of the triceps surae during the postural sway of quiet standingACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 3 2007C. D. Tokuno Abstract Aim:, The present study investigated how the triceps surae are controlled at the spinal level during the naturally occurring postural sway of quiet standing. Methods:, Subjects stood on a force platform as electrical stimuli were applied to the posterior tibial nerve when the center of pressure (COP) was either 1.6 standard deviations anterior (COPant) or posterior (COPpost) to the mean baseline COP signal. Peak-to-peak amplitudes of the H-reflex and M-wave from the soleus (SOL) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles were recorded to assess the efficacy of the Ia pathway. Results:, A significant increase in the Hmax : Mmax ratio for both the SOL (12 ± 6%) and MG (23 ± 6%) was observed during the COPant as compared to the COPpost condition. The source of the modulation between COP conditions cannot be determined from this study. However, the observed changes in the synaptic efficacy of the Ia pathway are unlikely to be simply a result of an altered level of background electromyographic activity in the triceps surae. This was indicated by the lack of differences observed in the Hmax : Mmax ratio when subjects stood without postural sway (via the use of a tilt table) at two levels of background activity. Conclusions:, It is suggested that the phase-dependent modulation of the triceps surae H-reflexes during the postural sway of quiet standing functions to maintain upright stance and may explain the results from previous studies, which, until now, had not taken the influence of postural sway on the H-reflex into consideration. [source] Myotonic dystrophy: muscle involvement in relation to disease type and size of expanded CTG-repeat sequenceDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 7 2005Anna-Karin Kroksmark PT Msc This study aimed to: classify a cohort of children and adolescents with myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica: DM) into congenital and childhood onset forms; estimate CTG expansion size; and quantify muscle strength, contractures, and motor function in children with DM and compare results with those of controls. Participants were clinically examined, medical records were reviewed, and isometric muscle strength, contractures, and motor function were measured. Participants were: 42 children with DM (18 females, 24 males; mean age 8y 9mo [SD 4y 7mo], range 10mo to 17y) and 42 age- and sex-matched, healthy controls. Children with DM were divided into three groups: severe congenital (n=13), mild congenital (n=15), and childhood (n=14). Children with childhood DM were significantly weaker than controls (wrist and ankle dorsiflexors [p=0.0044, p=0.0044 respectively]; hip abductors and flexors [p=0.0464, p=0.0217]; and knee flexors and extensors: [p=0.0382, p=0.0033]). Children with mild congenital DM were significantly weaker than controls in all assessed muscle groups Contractures and skeletal deformities were more frequent at time of investigation than at birth, suggesting that foot and spine deformities in particular increase over time. Motor function score was significantly lower for children with DM than for controls. Children with severe congenital DM had the lowest motor function, with correlation between motor function and size of CTG repeat (p=-0.743). Children found jumping, heel standing, and head lifting the most difficult items to perform but few had difficulty walking, running, or stair climbing. DM in children is a heterogeneous disorder with a wide spectrum of muscle involvement, and owing to increased risk of contractures and skeletal deformities, regular follow-ups are recommended. [source] Impairment of cerebral autoregulation in diabetic patients with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and orthostatic hypotensionDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 2 2003B. N. Mankovsky Abstract Aims Impaired cerebrovascular reactivity and autoregulation has been previously reported in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, the contribution of cardiovascular diabetic autonomic neuropathy and orthostatic hypotension to the pathogenesis of such disturbances is not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cerebral blood flow velocity in response to standing in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy with or without orthostatic hypotension. Methods We studied 27 patients with diabetes,eight had cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and orthostatic hypotension (age 46.4 ± 13.5 years, diabetes duration 25.0 ± 11.0 years), seven had autonomic neuropathy without hypotension (age 47.3 ± 12.7 years, diabetes duration 26.4 ± 12.1 years), and 12 had no evidence of autonomic neuropathy (age 44.1 ± 13.8 years, diabetes duration 17.1 ± 10.2 years),and 12 control subjects (age 42.6 ± 9.7 years). Flow velocity was recorded in the right middle cerebral artery using transcranial Doppler sonography in the supine position and after active standing. Results Cerebral flow velocity in the supine position was not different between the groups studied. Active standing resulted in a significant drop of mean and diastolic flow velocities in autonomic neuropathy patients with orthostatic hypotension, while there were no such changes in the other groups. The relative changes in mean flow velocity 1 min after standing up were ,22.7 ± 16.25% in patients with neuropathy and orthostatic hypotension, +0.02 ± 9.8% in those with neuropathy without hypotension, ,2.8 ± 14.05% in patients without neuropathy, and ,9.2 ± 15.1% in controls. Conclusions Patients with diabetes and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy with orthostatic hypotension show instability in cerebral blood flow upon active standing, which suggests impaired cerebral autoregulation. [source] Cyclone Mitigation, Resource Allocation and Post-disaster Reconstruction in South India: Lessons from Two Decades of ResearchDISASTERS, Issue 1 2000Peter Winchester This paper opens with a history of development and disaster-prevention strategies in a cyclone-prone area of the east coast of India and traces the evolution in the area of British and Indian governments' programmes and policy over a century. Research over the last 20 years has shown however that the programmes and policies have failed to balance economic growth with safety. Resources intended for the benefit of all have been diverted by alliances of powerful people to a small minority, and recent developments have reduced the physical protection of the area. The result is that increasing numbers of people are vulnerable to the effects of cyclones and floods. The findings suggest that the best way to reduce vulnerability is to improve the socio-economic standing of the most vulnerable and for this to happen these people must have an assured income based on assets that will enable them to acquire social and economic credit-worthiness within the local economy. This paper presents evidence that suggests that non-governmental organisation (NGO)-supported co-operatives are the best way to achieve this through self-help and self-employment schemes. It also suggests that NGOs should be encouraged to take up environmentally and ecologically beneficial activities involving the poorest groups in the communities, in this way combining sustained self-employment with environmental protection. [source] Folcwin of Rankweil: the world of a Carolingian local officialEARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE, Issue 1 2005Katherine Bullimore This article examines charters from the St Gall archive which are valuable for the light they throw on the secular society of the settlement of Rankweil in Rhaetia and the surrounding area. The centrepiece is the rare collection of early ninth-century grants and sales made to the centenarius Folcwin and the article uses these and other related documents to examine the workings of Carolingian local society, the activities of local officials, and the patterns of landholding and transfer amongst secular individuals of relatively modest standing. [source] Greek Monetary Economics in Retrospect: The Adventures of the DrachmaECONOMIC NOTES, Issue 3 2005Sophia Lazaretou This paper enumerates the adventures of the drachma step by step, dividing its story into seven parts. Specifically, its main purpose is to present some historical perspective on the behaviour of the monetary and fiscal policies pursued in Greece during the period from the early 1830s until the introduction of the euro. For Greece, the lessons of historical experience are very important. Since the formation of the modern Greek state, government officials have striven , sometimes making hard efforts , to keep abreast of international monetary developments. This was because they understood that the participation of a peripheral, poor and inflation-prone country with a weak currency and an underdeveloped money market, like Greece of the time, in a monetary club of powerful economies could improve her international credit standing and imply important benefits in terms of exchange rate and monetary stability, and long-term foreign borrowing. [source] Robust International Comparisons of Distributions of Disposable Income and Regional Public GoodsECONOMICA, Issue 303 2009NICOLAS GRAVEL The paper provides robust normative comparisons of 12 OECD countries based on their distributions of disposable income and access to two regional public goods: infant mortality and pupil,teacher ratios at public schools. Comparisons are performed using two and three-dimensional dominance criteria that coincide with the unanimity of utilitarian judgments taken over specific classes of utility functions. The criteria succeed in ranking conclusively about 30% of all possible comparisons in the two-dimensional case, compared with 67% for one-dimensional income-based comparisons and 6% for three-dimensional ones. Introducing local public goods seems to worsen the relative standing of Anglo-Saxon countries. [source] EU energy-intensive industries and emission trading: losers becoming winners?ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 5 2009Jorgen Wettestad Abstract The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) initially treated power producers and energy-intensive industries similarly, despite clear structural differences between these industries regarding e.g. pass-through of costs. Hence, the energy-intensive industries could be seen as losing out in the internal distribution. In the January 2008 proposal for a reformed ETS post-2012, a differentiated system was proposed where the energy-intensive industries would come out relatively much better. Why is this? Although power producers still have a dominant position in the system, the increasing consensus about windfall profits has weakened their standing. Conversely, increasing attention to such profits and not least the possibility of global carbon leakage has strengthened the case of energy-intensive industries at both national and EU levels. These industries have become more active in EU processes and somewhat better organized. Finally, growing fear of lax global climate policies has strengthened the case of these industries further. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Effects of unilateral laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy in horses with laryngeal hemiplegiaEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2006P. ROBINSON Summary Reasons for performing study: Recent studies have evaluated surgical techniques aimed at reducing noise and improving airway function in horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN). These techniques require general anaesthesia and are invasive. A minimally invasive transnasal surgical technique for treatment of RLN that may be employed in the standing, sedated horse would be advantageous. Objective: To determine whether unilateral laser-assisted ventriculocordectomy (LVC) improves upper airway function and reduces noise during inhalation in exercising horses with laryngeal hemiplegia (LH). Methods: Six Standardbred horses were used; respiratory sound and inspiratory transupper airway pressure (Pui) measured before and after induction of LH, and 60, 90 and 120 days after LVC. Inspiratory sound level (SL) and the sound intensities of formants 1, 2 and 3 (F1, F2 and F3, respectively), were measured using computer-based sound analysis programmes. In addition, upper airway endoscopy was performed at each time interval, at rest and during treadmill exercise. Results: In LH-affected horses, Pui, SL and the sound intensity of F2 and F3 were increased significantly from baseline values. At 60 days after LVC, Pui and SL had returned to baseline, and F2 and F3 values had improved partially compared to LH values. At 90 and 120 days, however, SL increased again to LH levels. Conclusions: LVC decreases LH-associated airway obstruction by 60 days after surgery, and reduces inspiratory noise but not as effectively as bilateral ventriculocordectomy. Potential relevance: LVC may be recommended as a treatment of LH, where reduction of upper airway obstruction and respiratory noise is desired and the owner wishes to avoid risks associated with a laryngotomy incision or general anaesthesia. [source] Cardiopulmonary, blood and peritoneal fluid alterations associated with abdominal insufflation of carbon dioxide in standing horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2003F. G. LATIMER Summary Reasons for performing study: Abdominal insufflation is performed routinely during laparoscopy in horses to improve visualisation and facilitate instrument and visceral manipulations during surgery. It has been shown that high-pressure pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide (CO2) has deleterious cardiopulmonary effects in dorsally recumbent, mechanically ventilated, halothane-anaesthetised horses. There is no information on the effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on cardiopulmonary function and haematology, plasma chemistry and peritoneal fluid (PF) variables in standing sedated horses during laparoscopic surgery. Objectives: To determine the effects of high pressure CO2 pneumoperitoneum in standing sedated horses on cardiopulmonary function, blood gas, haematology, plasma chemistry and PF variables. Methods: Six healthy, mature horses were sedated with an i.v. bolus of detomidine (0.02 mg/kg bwt) and butorphanol (0.02 mg/kg bwt) and instrumented to determine the changes in cardiopulmonary function, haematology, serum chemistry and PF values during and after pneumoperitoneum with CO2 to 15 mmHg pressure for standing laparoscopy. Each horse was assigned at random to either a standing left flank exploratory laparoscopy (LFL) with CO2 pneumoperitoneum or sham procedure (SLFL) without insufflation, and instrumented for measurement of cardiopulmonary variables. Each horse underwent a second procedure in crossover fashion one month later so that all 6 horses had both an LFL and SLFL performed. Cardiopulmonary variables and blood gas analyses were obtained 5 mins after sedation and every 15 mins during 60 mins baseline (BL), insufflation (15 mmHg) and desufflation. Haematology, serum chemistry analysis and PF analysis were performed at BL, insufflation and desufflation, and 24 h after the conclusion of each procedure. Results: Significant decreases in heart rate, cardiac output and cardiac index and significant increases in mean right atrial pressure, systemic vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular resistance were recorded immediately after and during sedation in both groups of horses. Pneumoperitoneum with CO2 at 15 mmHg had no significant effect on cardiopulmonary function during surgery. There were no significant differences in blood gas, haematology or plasma chemistry values within or between groups at any time interval during the study. There was a significant increase in the PF total nucleated cell count 24 h following LFL compared to baseline values for LFL or SLFL at 24 h. There were no differences in PF protein concentrations within or between groups at any time interval. Conclusions: Pneumoperitoneum with CO2 during standing laparoscopy in healthy horses does not cause adverse alterations in cardiopulmonary, haematology or plasma chemistry variables, but does induce a mild inflammatory response within the peritoneal cavity. Potential relevance: High pressure (15 mmHg) pneumoperitoneum in standing sedated mature horses for laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely without any short-term or cumulative adverse effects on haemodynamic or cardiopulmonary function. [source] Influence of liver copper status of mare and newborn foal on the development of osteochondrotic lesionsEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2003P. R. van WEEREN Summary Reason for performing study: To elucidate the highly contentious role of copper in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. Hypothesis: There would be no relationship between liver copper concentration of mares and foals and incidence of radiographically detectable osteochondrotic lesions in foals and yearlings was tested. Methods: Liver copper concentration was assessed in biopsies taken within 4 days after birth from both mares and foals and from the same foals at age 5 months. Biopsies were taken in the standing, sedated animal under ultrasonographic guidance. Radiographs were taken of both hocks (lateromedial, dorsoplantar and dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique views) and stifles (lateromedial and caudolateral-craniomedial oblique views) at ages 5 and 11 months and scored for the presence and severity of osteochondrotic lesions. Results: Copper concentrations in newborn foals were high with a large variation (351 ± 201 mg/kg DM). They declined until reaching values comparable to those in mature animals at 5 months (20 ± 8 mg/kg DM; mares: 19 ± 20 mg/kg DM). Radiographic osteochondrotic lesions decreased in number and severity from 5 to 11 months. This pattern was more predominant in the stifle than in the hock, as has been described previously. Conclusions: There was no relationship between foal or mare liver copper concentration and osteochondrosis status at either 5 or 11 months. However, osteochondrotic lesions in foals with low-level copper status at birth decreased significantly less in number and severity than those in foals with high-level copper status at birth. Potential relevance: It is concluded that copper is not likely to be an important factor in the aetiopathogenesis of osteochondrosis, but this study indicates that there may be a significant effect of high copper status on the natural process of repair of early lesions. [source] Foraging Behaviour of Subordinate Great Tits (Parus major).ETHOLOGY, Issue 10 2001Can Morphology Reduce the Cost of Subordination? This paper studies the magnitude of the behavioural shift, from forage standing to forage hanging, of subordinate great tits (Parus major) in two different social contexts: feeding solitarily vs. feeding with a dominant conspecific. The aim is to test the hypothesis that differences in morphological design provide subordinates with varying abilities to reduce the presumed costs of subordination. We find that different subordinate individuals change the foraging behaviour, occupying a different niche when an intra-specific competitor is present. Morphology linked to sexual dimorphism, specifically body mass, is the factor responsible for the different magnitudes of change. Lighter subordinates can remain longer than heavier ones at the feeding patch without interrupting their foraging. Thereby, the former reduce the costs of being subordinate more than the latter. Among subordinates, females are lighter than males; they also spend more time feeding in the presence of a dominant conspecific than males do. No differences are found between age categories. We find no relationship between tarsus length and individual ecological plasticity. Our results support the idea that the ecological plasticity due to morphological differences is a mechanism that allows subordinate individuals to overcome costs associated with subordination. [source] Autonomic symptoms in patients and pre-manifest mutation carriers of Huntington's diseaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2010N. A. Aziz Background and purpose:, Although autonomic function tests have revealed abnormalities of the autonomic nervous system in Huntington's disease (HD), autonomic symptoms and their association with other symptoms and signs of HD have not yet been assessed in large groups of patients or pre-manifest mutation carriers. Therefore, we aimed at delineating the characteristics and correlates of autonomic symptoms in HD. Methods:, Using the scales for outcomes in Parkinson's disease-autonomic symptoms (SCOPA-AUT) and Beck Depression Inventory questionnaires, autonomic symptoms and depressed mood were assessed in 63 patients with HD, 21 pre-manifest mutation carriers, and 85 controls. The Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale was used to assess other HD symptoms and signs. Results:, Relative to controls, patients with HD experienced significantly more gastrointestinal, urinary, cardiovascular and, in men, sexual problems. The most prevalent symptoms were swallowing difficulties, erection and ejaculation problems, dysphagia, sialorrhea, early abdominal fullness, straining for defecation, fecal and urinary incontinence, urgency, incomplete bladder emptying, and light-headedness whilst standing. Pre-manifest mutation carriers experienced significantly more swallowing difficulties and light-headedness on standing up compared with controls. In patients with HD, autonomic symptoms were associated with a greater degree of functional disability, more severe depression, and antidepressant drugs use. However, depression was the only independent predictor of autonomic dysfunction. Conclusions:, Autonomic symptoms are highly prevalent in patients with HD and may even precede the onset of motor signs. Moreover, autonomic dysfunction is related to functional disability and depression in HD. [source] Personality psychology as a truly behavioural scienceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2009R. Michael Furr Abstract Personality psychology has been accused of neglecting behaviour,of devoting insufficient attention to what people actually do. The current paper addresses four important issues regarding the study of behaviour as separate from other important psychological responses,the definition of behaviour, the importance of studying behaviour, the strengths and weaknesses of core methods through which behaviour is studied and the degree to which behaviour actually has been studied in personality psychology over the past 15 years (along with information about the use of specific methods of studying behaviour). Analysis of publication trends indicates that behaviour is not studied to the degree it merits; furthermore, it indicates that, when behaviour is studied, it is usually studied at a very generalized level relying on relatively weak methods. The current paper is offered as a starting point for focused discussion of these important issues, potentially enhancing the field's standing as a truly behavioural science. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Discussion on ,Personality psychology as a truly behavioural science' by R. Michael FurrEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2009Article first published online: 14 JUL 200 Yes We Can! A Plea for Direct Behavioural Observation in Personality Research MITJA D. BACK and BORIS EGLOFF Department of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany mback@uni-leipzig.de Furr's target paper (this issue) is thought to enhance the standing of personality psychology as a truly behavioural science. We wholeheartedly agree with this goal. In our comment we argue for more specific and ambitious requirements for behavioural personality research. Specifically, we show why behaviour should be observed directly. Moreover, we illustratively describe potentially interesting approaches in behavioural personality research: lens model analyses, the observation of multiple behaviours in diverse experimentally created situations and the observation of behaviour in real life. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Categories of Behaviour Should be Clearly Defined PETER BORKENAU Department of Psychology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany p.borkenau@psych.uni-halle.de The target paper is helpful by clarifying the terminology as well as the strengths and weaknesses of several approaches to collect behavioural data. Insufficiently considered, however, is the clarity of the categories being used for the coding of behaviour. Evidence is reported showing that interjudge agreement for retrospective and even concurrent codings of behaviour does not execeed interjudge agreement for personality traits if the categories being used for the coding of behaviour are not clearly defined. By contrast, if the behaviour to be registered is unambiguously defined, interjudge agreement may be almost perfect. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Behaviour Functions in Personality Psychology PHILIP J. CORR Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK Philip.Corr@btopenworld.com Furr's target paper highlights the importance, yet under-representation, of behaviour in published articles in personality psychology. Whilst agreeing with most of his points, I remain unclear as to how behaviour (as specifically defined by Furr) relates to other forms of psychological data (e.g. cognitive task performance). In addition, it is not clear how the functions of behaviour are to be decided: different behaviours may serve the same function; and identical behaviours may serve different functions. To clarify these points, methodological and theoretical aspects of Furr's proposal would benefit from delineation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. On the Difference Between Experience-Sampling Self-Reports and Other Self-Reports WILLIAM FLEESON Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA fleesonW@wfu.edu Furr's fair but evaluative consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of behavioural assessment methods is a great service to the field. As part of his consideration, Furr makes a subtle and sophisticated distinction between different self-report methods. It is easy to dismiss all self-reports as poor measures, because some are poor. In contrast, Furr points out that the immediacy of the self-reports of behaviour in experience-sampling make experience-sampling one of the three strongest methods for assessing behaviour. This comment supports his conclusion, by arguing that ESM greatly diminishes one the three major problems afflicting self-reports,lack of knowledge,and because direct observations also suffer from the other two major problems afflicting self-reports. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. What and Where is ,Behaviour' in Personality Psychology? LAURA A. KING and JASON TRENT Department of Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA kingla@missouri.edu Furr is to be lauded for presenting a coherent and persuasive case for the lack of behavioural data in personality psychology. While agreeing wholeheartedly that personality psychology could benefit from greater inclusion of behavioural variables, here we question two aspects of Furr's analysis, first his definition of behaviour and second, his evidence that behaviour is under-appreciated in personality psychology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Naturalistic Observation of Daily Behaviour in Personality Psychology MATTHIAS R. MEHL Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA mehl@email.arizona.edu This comment highlights naturalistic observation as a specific method within Furr's (this issue) cluster direct behavioural observation and discusses the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) as a naturalistic observation sampling method that can be used in relatively large, nomothetic studies. Naturalistic observation with a method such as the EAR can inform researchers' understanding of personality in its relationship to daily behaviour in two important ways. It can help calibrate personality effects against act-frequencies of real-world behaviour and provide ecological, behavioural personality criteria that are independent of self-report. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Measuring Behaviour D. S. MOSKOWITZ and JENNIFER J. RUSSELL Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada dsm@psych.mcgill.ca Furr (this issue) provides an illuminating comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of various methods for assessing behaviour. In the selection of a method for assessing behaviour, there should be a careful analysis of the definition of the behaviour and the purpose of assessment. This commentary clarifies and expands upon some points concerning the suitability of experience sampling measures, referred to as Intensive Repeated Measurements in Naturalistic Settings (IRM-NS). IRM-NS measures are particularly useful for constructing measures of differing levels of specificity or generality, for providing individual difference measures which can be associated with multiple layers of contextual variables, and for providing measures capable of reflecting variability and distributional features of behaviour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Behaviours, Non-Behaviours and Self-Reports SAMPO V. PAUNONEN Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada paunonen@uwo.ca Furr's (this issue) thoughtful analysis of the contemporary body of research in personality psychology has led him to two conclusions: our science does not do enough to study real, observable behaviours; and, when it does, too often it relies on ,weak' methods based on retrospective self-reports of behaviour. In reply, I note that many researchers are interested in going beyond the study of individual behaviours to the behaviour trends embodied in personality traits; and the self-report of behaviour, using well-validated personality questionnaires, is often the best measurement option. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. An Ethological Perspective on How to Define and Study Behaviour LARS PENKE Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK lars.penke@ed.ac.uk While Furr (this issue) makes many important contributions to the study of behaviour, his definition of behaviour is somewhat questionable and also lacks a broader theoretical frame. I provide some historical and theoretical background on the study of behaviour in psychology and biology, from which I conclude that a general definition of behaviour might be out of reach. However, psychological research can gain from adding a functional perspective on behaviour in the tradition of Tinbergens's four questions, which takes long-term outcomes and fitness consequences of behaviours into account. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. What is a Behaviour? MARCO PERUGINI Faculty of Psychology, University of Milan,Bicocca, Milan, Italy marco.perugini@unimib.it The target paper proposes an interesting framework to classify behaviour as well as a convincing plea to use it more often in personality research. However, besides some potential issues in the definition of what is a behaviour, the application of the proposed definition to specific cases is at times inconsistent. I argue that this is because Furr attempts to provide a theory-free definition yet he implicitly uses theoretical considerations when applying the definition to specific cases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Is Personality Really the Study of Behaviour? MICHAEL D. ROBINSON Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA Michael.D.Robinson@ndsu.edu Furr (this issue) contends that behavioural studies of personality are particularly important, have been under-appreciated, and should be privileged in the future. The present commentary instead suggests that personality psychology has more value as an integrative science rather than one that narrowly pursues a behavioural agenda. Cognition, emotion, motivation, the self-concept and the structure of personality are important topics regardless of their possible links to behaviour. Indeed, the ultimate goal of personality psychology is to understanding individual difference functioning broadly considered rather than behaviour narrowly considered. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Linking Personality and Behaviour Based on Theory MANFRED SCHMITT Department of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany schmittm@uni-landau.de My comments on Furr's (this issue) target paper ,Personality as a Truly Behavioural Science' are meant to complement his behavioural taxonomy and sharpen some of the presumptions and conclusions of his analysis. First, I argue that the relevance of behaviour for our field depends on how we define personality. Second, I propose that every taxonomy of behaviour should be grounded in theory. The quality of behavioural data does not only depend on the validity of the measures we use. It also depends on how well behavioural data reflect theoretical assumptions on the causal factors and mechanisms that shape behaviour. Third, I suggest that the quality of personality theories, personality research and behavioural data will profit from ideas about the psychological processes and mechanisms that link personality and behaviour. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Apparent Objectivity of Behaviour is Illusory RYNE A. SHERMAN, CHRISTOPHER S. NAVE and DAVID C. FUNDER Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA funder@ucr.edu It is often presumed that objective measures of behaviour (e.g. counts of the number of smiles) are more scientific than more subjective measures of behaviour (e.g. ratings of the degree to which a person behaved in a cheerful manner). We contend that the apparent objectivity of any behavioural measure is illusory. First, the reliability of more subjective measures of behaviour is often strikingly similar to the reliabilities of so-called objective measures. Further, a growing body of literature suggests that subjective measures of behaviour provide more valid measures of psychological constructs of interest. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Personality and Behaviour: A Neglected Opportunity? LIAD UZIEL and ROY F. BAUMEISTER Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA Baumeister@psy.fsu.edu Personality psychology has neglected the study of behaviour. Furr's efforts to provide a stricter definition of behaviour will not solve the problem, although they may be helpful in other ways. His articulation of various research strategies for studying behaviour will be more helpful for enabling personality psychology to contribute important insights and principles about behaviour. The neglect of behaviour may have roots in how personality psychologists define the mission of their field, but expanding that mission to encompass behaviour would be a positive step. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Lobbying with conflicting interests: Norwegian local-central relationsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008LEIF HELLAND A total of 239 interactions are studied. Survey responses by a large number of voters and politicians, as well as registry data on fiscal standing, demographics and elections are utilised. Two of the main predictions of the costly lobbying model gain support in the data. The probability of obtaining substantial discretionary funding from the central level increases: with decreasing conflict of interest between local and central politicians; and with the lobbying cost incurred by local politicians. For a given conflict and cost, however, the rate of lobbying success depends crucially on structural characteristics of the municipality. In particular, the success rate is significantly higher for poor municipalities located in national electoral districts with many seats per voter than for rich municipalities located in districts with few seats per voter. [source] Responses to hedonically conflicting social comparisons: comparing happy and unhappy peopleEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Sonja Lyubomirsky Two laboratory studies explored how self-rated unhappy and happy students balance hedonically conflicting social comparison information, and tested whether unhappy students would be relatively more sensitive to hedonically consistent unfavorable information. In both studies, students working in teams of four competed against one other team on a novel verbal task. First, unhappy participants showed relatively greater sensitivity to undiluted unfavorable feedback,about group standing (e.g. your team ,lost'; Study 1) and about group and individual standing (e.g. your team lost and you were placed last; Study 2). Second, unhappy students were more reactive than happy students to individual social comparison information in the context of relative group feedback. In Study 1, the moods and self-assessments of unhappy individuals (but not happy ones) after news of team defeat appeared to be buffered by the additional news of personal triumph. In Study 2, unhappy students showed relatively larger decreases in mood and ability assessments after unfavorable than after favorable individual feedback (i.e. ranking last versus first), regardless of whether they additionally learned that their teams had won or lost. The role of students' attributions and perceptions of their personal contribution was also explored. Implications of these findings for the links among social comparison, cognitive processes, and hedonic consequences are discussed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] PERSPECTIVE: SEVEN REASONS (NOT) TO NEGLECT NICHE CONSTRUCTIONEVOLUTION, Issue 9 2006Kevin N. Laland Abstract ,The niche-construction perspective within evolutionary biology places emphasis on the changes that organisms bring about in their selective environments. Advocates of this viewpoint argue that there is both accuracy and utility in treating niche construction as an evolutionary process in its own right, rather than merely as a product of evolution. Here we discuss and assess seven putative weaknesses of the niche-construction perspective. Niche construction has been neglected or rejected on the grounds that (1) it is not prevalent, (2) its study is not tractable, (3) it is not a process, (4) it is caused by natural selection, (5) it does not change our understanding of evolution in any fundamental way, (6) it does not bring about adaptation, and (7) it is not a single phenomenon. In each case, we critically evaluate the theoretical standing of these arguments and consider the empirical evidence that can be brought to bear on the debate. We conclude that none of these are strong criticisms of the niche-construction perspective and maintain that there are compelling reasons for treating niche construction as a major evolutionary process. [source] An Empirical Investigation of Price Competition and Industry Specialisation in NHS Audit ServicesFINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2005Ilias G. Basioudis The NHS audit market is regulated by the Audit Commission (AC) and has unique features. We develop a model for audit fees that includes rigorous analysis of the type of auditor. Poor financial standing does not give rise to higher audit fees. Despite regulation the study supports the existence of a Big Five price premium on the audit fee, but only one firm has a premium. We found no premium due to industry specialisation. The removal of performance audit from AC regulation will require improved audit fee reporting and control. [source] IMI's Aspire program feeds its senior leader pipeline through self-nominationsGLOBAL BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, Issue 5 2009Victoria Stage Self-nominations, combined with sophisticated assessment and selection tools, have produced a more diverse pool of highly qualified talent that IMI, a worldwide engineering company, is now grooming for its top 40 senior leadership roles. A three-step nomination and selection process for the enterprise-level Aspire program includes 360-degree-type performance assessments; online testing of potential that measures foundational capabilities and predispositions as well as accelerators in order to assign a norm-based percentile standing; and an assessment center with simulations for gauging readiness for senior leadership roles. Those selected as Aspire participants are afforded a range of activities, geared to individual and organizational needs, that include training/education, on-the-job and business-driven development, and relationship-driven development. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||