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Valuable Feature (valuable + feature)
Selected AbstractsCharacterizing the ADHD phenotype for genetic studiesDEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2005Jim Stevenson The genetic study of ADHD has made considerable progress. Further developments in the field will be reliant in part on identifying the most appropriate phenotypes for genetic analysis. The use of both categorical and dimensional measures of symptoms related to ADHD has been productive. The use of multiple reporters is a valuable feature of the characterization of psychopathology in children. It is argued that the use of aggregated measures to characterize the ADHD phenotype, particularly to establish its pervasiveness, is desirable. The recognition of the multiple comorbidities of ADHD can help to isolate more specific genetic influences. In relation to both reading disability and conduct disorder there is evidence that genes may be involved in the comorbid condition that are different from pure ADHD. To date, progress with the investigation of endophenotypes for ADHD has been disappointing. It is suggested that extending such studies beyond cognitive underpinnings to include physiological and metabolic markers might facilitate progress. [source] Gresham on horseback: the monetary roots of Spanish American political fragmentation in the nineteenth century1ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW, Issue 3 2009MARIA ALEJANDRA IRIGOIN This article deals with the political economic consequences of the disappearance of the Spanish silver peso standard in Spanish America, the longest monetary union that ever existed. With the Napoleonic invasion of Spain in 1808, the fiscal and political structure of the empire imploded and most colonies became independent. Regional competition for revenues exacerbated budget shortfalls driven by military expenditure. Local elites established in former colonial Treasury districts started highly diverse monetary experiments to procure funds. Those in control of mint houses started minting their own coins or debased existing silver currency. Elsewhere, inconvertible paper currency was also created to meet budget deficits. As a result, the most valuable feature of the Spanish American silver peso, its quality standard, was broken and the standard that had organized the early modern international economy for more than 300 years ceased to exist altogether. In Spanish America, as diverse monies co-existed within a formerly highly integrated economic space, a widespread Gresham's law effect exacerbated the conflict among local and regional elites. This fostered the political fragmentation of colonial Spanish America into an increasing number of political and monetary sovereign entities during the nineteenth century. [source] Effects of water dependence on the utilization pattern of woody vegetation by elephants in the Tembe Elephant Park, Maputaland, South AfricaAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Jerome Y. Gaugris Abstract The utilization of vegetation and particularly trees in enclosed small reserves where elephant populations are confined is a contentious conservation issue. In Tembe Elephant Park in Maputaland, the diverse Sand Forest is considered the most valuable feature to conserve; yet it is considered at risk from increasing elephant utilization of the park's vegetation in general. The mean canopy removal by elephants across the park was studied over two periods: a recent period including the twelve months before the study and an older period >12 months earlier. Age of utilization was determined from the degree of decay observed on woody fibres. The relationships between intensity of utilization, vegetation unit selection and distance to water were evaluated. Results show that utilization patterns have shifted in the recent drier period, during which elephants used vegetation communities closer to permanent water. Concurringly, a significant decrease in utilization intensity was correlated to an increasing distance from water points in the park during that period, while this effect was not observed during the wetter old period. We debate that active water availability management may be a way to limit elephant utilization in small fenced reserves. Résumé L'utilisation de la végétation, et particulièrement des arbres, dans de petites réserves clôturées où sont confinées des populations d'éléphants est un problème de conservation controversé. Dans le Tembe Elephant Park, au Maputaland, la Sand Forest, très variée, est considérée comme la caractéristique la plus intéressante à préserver; pourtant, on estime qu'elle est en danger en raison de l'utilisation croissante que font les éléphants de la végétation du parc en général. Pendant deux périodes de temps, on a étudié l'enlèvement moyen de la canopée par les éléphants dans tout le parc : une période récente qui incluait les 12 mois qui ont précédé cette étude et une période plus ancienne, plus de 12 mois auparavant. La date de l'utilisation fut déterminée à partir du degré de décomposition observé sur les fibres ligneuses. Les relations entre l'intensité de l'utilisation, la sélection du type de végétation et la distance par rapport à l'eau ont étéévaluées. Les résultats montrent que les schémas d'utilisation se sont modifiés lors de la période sèche récente, au cours de laquelle les éléphants ont fréquenté des communautés végétales plus proches des points d'eau permanents. Dans le même temps, une réduction significative de l'intensité d'utilisation était corrélée à l'éloignement croissant par rapport aux points d'eau dans le parc, alors que cet effet ne fut pas constaté au cours de la première période, plus humide. Nous discutons du fait que la gestion de la disponibilité en eau pourrait être un moyen de limiter la fréquentation des petites réserves clôturées par les éléphants. [source] Evaluating disease management programme effectiveness: an introduction to the regression discontinuity designJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2006Ariel Linden DrPH MS Abstract Although disease management (DM) has been in existence for over a decade, there is still much uncertainty as to its effectiveness in improving health status and reducing medical cost. The main reason is that most programme evaluations typically follow weak observational study designs that are subject to bias, most notably selection bias and regression to the mean. The regression discontinuity (RD) design may be the best alternative to randomized studies for evaluating DM programme effectiveness. The most crucial element of the RD design is its use of a ,cut-off' score on a pre-test measure to determine assignment to intervention or control. A valuable feature of this technique is that the pre-test measure does not have to be the same as the outcome measure, thus maximizing the programme's ability to use research-based practice guidelines, survey instruments and other tools to identify those individuals in greatest need of the programme intervention. Similarly, the cut-off score can be based on clinical understanding of the disease process, empirically derived, or resource-based. In the RD design, programme effectiveness is determined by a change in the pre,post relationship at the cut-off point. While the RD design is uniquely suitable for DM programme evaluation, its success will depend, in large part, on fundamental changes being made in the way DM programmes identify and assign individuals to the programme intervention. [source] Invasive front grading: reliability and usefulness in the management of oral squamous cell carcinomaJOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 1 2003Faleh A. Sawair Abstract Background:, The value of histological grading was examined with emphasis on reliability of assessment in 102 cases of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma from Northern Ireland with known outcome. Methods:, Two pathologists independently graded the invasive tumour front blinded to the stage and outcome. Results:, Intraobserver agreement was acceptable but interobserver agreement was not satisfactory. The degree of keratinisation was assessed most consistently while nuclear polymorphism was the least reliable feature. Multivariate survival analysis showed that the total grading score was associated with overall survival while the pattern of tumour invasion was the most valuable feature in estimating regional lymph node involvement. The number of positive lymph nodes was strongly associated with regional relapse, while the treatment modality and status of the surgical margins correlated with local relapse. Conclusions:, Grading of selected features in OSCC is reliable and can facilitate treatment planning. [source] Psychological impact on implant patients' oral health-related quality of lifeCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006Abu Hantash Ra'ed Omar Abstract Objectives: The literature has shown that patients' satisfaction with dental prostheses is associated with the existence of certain personality profiles. It is important to study such relationships in dental implant patients. Material and methods: Fifty patients (28 men and 22 women), aged between 22 and 71 years (mean age 43.22 years, SD 12.24 years), who were partially edentulous and were seeking dental implant therapy were entered into this study. The patients were requested to answer two reliable and valid questionnaires , the Dental Impact on Daily Living (DIDL) and the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) , before implant treatment and 2,3 months after prosthodontic rehabilitation therapy. Results: Certain personality traits were found to have a significant relationship with patients' satisfaction with dental implants both before and after implant therapy (P<0.05). Neuroticism score had valuable features in predicting patients' total satisfaction ratings (P=0), satisfaction with appearance dimension (P=0), satisfaction with oral comfort dimension (P=0.005) as well as satisfaction with general performance dimension (P=0). Conclusion: Personality traits have an impact on patients' satisfaction with dental implant therapy. In addition, personality traits provide valuable information for the prediction of patients' satisfaction with their implant-supported prostheses. Neuroticism, openness, agreeableness and consciousness are very helpful in this regard. Neuroticism was found the main predictor of the patients' oral health-related quality of life following implant treatment. [source] | ||||||||||