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Recent Literature (recent + literature)
Selected AbstractsSurveying Recent Literature on the Arabic and Persian Mirrors for Princes GenreHISTORY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2009L. Marlow The study of the medieval Arabic and Persian ,mirror for princes' literatures in many respects resembles that of the similarly abundant literatures produced in Byzantium and the Latin West. In earlier scholarship, the predominant approach was that of the history of ideas, and scholars tended to focus on depictions of the ideal ruler and other aspects of the ,political thought' expressed in the mirror literatures. A secondary area of interest concerned textual transmission within and across these literatures. More recent scholarship has continued to develop and refine these established approaches, and has also developed new directions of research. Notably, several scholars have explored the Sitz im Leben of individual mirrors, and have studied their meaning and significance in the historical settings in and for which they were composed. Certain recent publications have highlighted the flexibility of mirrors, the multiple purposes they often served, the range of perspectives represented by their authors, and the importance of authors' choices of language and genre in shaping the composition and reception of their works. [source] Gadolinium Is Not the Only Trigger for Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: Insights From Two Cases and Review of the Recent LiteratureAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2007I. M. Wahba Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is an emerging fibrosing disease with serious consequences in patients with acute and chronic kidney disease including solid organ and renal transplant recipients. It has recently been linked to gadolinium exposure. Almost all recently reported cases of NSF were found to be preceded by gadolinium administration, which led the FDA to issue a warning against the use of gadolinium in patients with moderate-to-severe reduction in the glomerular filtration rate. We report two organ transplant recipients who developed NSF and in whom extensive record review failed to document any prior gadolinium exposure. We then critically review the recently published literature linking NSF and gadolinium and we propose other possible triggers. We conclude that gadolinium is not the only trigger for NSF, and that the search for other triggers should be sought. We believe that this information is an important addition to the NSF literature, such that the definitive etiology and pathogenesis of NSF can be researched. [source] Amelioration of Oxaliplatin Neurotoxicity by Drugs in Humans and Experimental Animals: A MiniReview of Recent LiteratureBASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Badreldin H. Ali The drug is particularly useful alone and in combination with flurouracil and leucovorin in colorectal cancer, but it is also used for other cancers such as those of the ovary, lung, breast and liver, as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The drug is known to cause neurological, gastrointestinal and haematological toxicities. Neurotoxicity occurs in most of the treated patients and is considered to be a serious limitation for the use of the drug. The mechanism of the neurotoxicity is not known with certainty but may involve prolongation of sodium channels opening. Strategies to ameliorate oxaliplatin neurotoxicity include the use of several ,neuroprotective' drugs. This MiniReview attempts to list and comment on the action and use of some of these agents, which include carbamazepine, gabapentin, calcium and magnesium salts, reduced glutathione, N -acetylcysteine and a few others. None of these drugs have been proven to be effective in large, controlled, clinical trials. [source] Children and Work: A Review of Current Literature and DebatesDEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, Issue 6 2006Michael Bourdillon ABSTRACT Recent literature concerning work in the lives of children raises several contentious issues. This contribution starts with issues arising from conceptualizations of childhood: we need to understand the continuities between the various stages of childhood and the adult world, and see children as active agents in their own development. The article discusses discourse and terminology surrounding children's work; children's rights and their relationship with fundamental human rights; the relationship between work and school; and briefly the relationship between children's work and poverty. It questions whether discourse on ,abolishing child labour' works in the children's interests. [source] The ,New Minimalist Approach' to Private-Sector Development: A Critical AssessmentDEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 4 2006Tilman Altenburg Recent literature on private-sector development emphasises the need to establish a ,level playing field' and tends to disregard selective supportive interventions. The most commonly highlighted elements are administrative simplification and effective property rights policies, with business services largely left to private providers - what we call the ,new minimalist approach' (NMA). However, the NMA is based on certain unrealistic assumptions and is barely backed by empirical evidence. A range of complementary public policies is needed to create competitive sectors and overcome internal constraints, especially in small-scale economies. [source] The Impact of Environment and Entrepreneurial Perceptions on Venture-Creation Efforts: Bridging the Discovery and Creation Views of EntrepreneurshipENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 5 2010Linda Edelman Recent literature has highlighted two conflicting theories of entrepreneurship. In the "discovery" perspective, objective environmental conditions are considered to be the source of entrepreneurial opportunities and thus drivers of subsequent entrepreneurial action. The "creation" view, in contrast, is based on entrepreneurial perceptions and socio-cognitive enactment processes. While empirical studies have separately utilized each of these perspectives, few attempts have been made to integrate insights from both theories to empirically examine the interrelationships among environmental conditions, entrepreneurial perceptions, entrepreneurial action, and outcomes. In this article, we explicate the roles that both objective environmental conditions and entrepreneurial perceptions of opportunity and resource availability play in the process of firm creation. Utilizing longitudinal data on nascent entrepreneurs, we find that as hypothesized, entrepreneurs' opportunity perceptions mediate between objective characteristics of the environment and the entrepreneurs' efforts to start a new venture. Contrary to our expectations, we do not find a similar mediating effect for perceived resource availability. These findings have important implications for further theory development in entrepreneurship as well as for practice and education in the field. [source] Endothelin receptor selectivity in chronic kidney disease: rationale and review of recent evidenceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 2009W. Neuhofer Abstract Endothelin (ET) is a potent vasoconstrictory peptide with proinflammatory and profibrotic properties that exerts its biological effects through two pharmacologically distinct receptor subtypes, namely ETA and ETB. In addition to its substantial contribution to normal renal function, a large body of evidence suggests that derangement of the renal ET system is involved in the initiation and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetes, hypertension and glomerulonephritis. Thus, the use of ET receptor antagonists (ERAs) may offer potential novel treatment strategies in CKD. Recent literature on the role of the renal ET system in the healthy kidney was reviewed. In addition, an unbiased PubMed search was performed for studies published during the last 5 years that addressed the effects of ERAs in CKD. A particular objective was to extract information regarding whether selective or nonselective ERAs may have therapeutic potential in humans. ET-1 acts primarily as an autocrine or paracrine factor in the kidney. In normal physiology, ET-1 promotes diuresis and natriuresis by local production and action through ETB receptors in the renal medulla. In pathology, ET-1 mediates vasoconstriction, mesangial-cell proliferation, extracellular matrix production and inflammation, effects that are primarily conveyed by ETA receptors. Results obtained in animal models and in humans with the use of ERAs in CKD are encouraging; nevertheless, it is still under debate which receptor subtype should be targeted. According to most studies, selective inhibition of ETA receptors appears superior compared with nonselective ERAs because this approach does not interfere with the natriuretic, antihypertensive and ET clearance effects of ETB receptors. Although preliminary data in humans are promising, the potential role of ERAs in patients with CKD and the question of which receptor subtype should be targeted can only be clarified in randomized clinical trials. [source] Quantifying the Effects of Mask Metadata Disclosure and Multiple Releases on the Confidentiality of Geographically Masked Health DataGEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2008Dale L. Zimmerman The availability of individual-level health data presents opportunities for monitoring the distribution and spread of emergent, acute, and chronic conditions, as well as challenges with respect to maintaining the anonymity of persons with health conditions. Particularly when such data are mapped as point locations, concerns arise regarding the ease with which individual identities may be determined by linking geographic coordinates to digital street networks, then determining residential addresses and, finally, names of occupants at specific addresses. The utility of such data sets must therefore be balanced against the requirements of protecting the confidentiality of individuals whose identities might be revealed through the availability of precise and accurate locational data. Recent literature has pointed toward geographic masking as a means for striking an appropriate balance between data utility and confidentiality. However, questions remain as to whether certain characteristics of the mask (mask metadata) should be disclosed to data users and whether two or more distinct masked versions of the data can be released without breaching confidentiality. In this article, we address these questions by quantifying the extent to which the disclosure of mask metadata and the release of multiple masked versions may affect confidentiality, with a view toward providing guidance to custodians of health data sets. The masks considered include perturbation, areal aggregation, and their combination. Confidentiality is measured by the areas of confidence regions for individuals' locations, which are derived under the probability models governing the masks, conditioned on the disclosed mask metadata. [source] Maternal employment and overweight children: does timing matter?HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 8 2008Stephanie von Hinke Kessler Scholder Abstract Recent literature has shown consistent evidence of a positive relationship between maternal employment and children's overweight status. These studies largely use average weekly work hours over the child's life to measure employment. This paper specifically aims at exploring the importance of the timing of employment. Using various econometric techniques to control for observable and unobservable child and family characteristics, the results show that full-time maternal employment during mid-childhood positively affects the probability of being overweight at age 16. There is no evidence that part-time or full-time employment at earlier/later ages affects this probability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Medical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: physician and patient preferences and satisfactionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 10 2010M. Emberton Summary Practice guidelines acknowledge the importance of patient preferences in determining the appropriate treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Recent literature suggests that patient and physician perspectives and satisfaction with BPH treatment management may differ; this may have an impact on clinical outcomes and patient compliance. This review evaluates patients' and physicians' preferred treatment options for managing BPH and patient satisfaction with therapy. A Medline-based systematic review using the terms ,Benign prostatic hyperplasia' + ,Patient preference/perception/satisfaction' or ,Physician/urologist preference/perception' was performed. Patients prefer therapies affecting long-term disease progression over those that provide short-term symptom improvement, which contrasts with the beliefs of their physicians. The prescribing behaviour of urologists and primary care physicians can be very varied. Studies of patient satisfaction with specific treatments generally show a high level of overall satisfaction, but cross-study comparisons are limited because of heterogeneity in study design. The evidence to date suggests that patients' views and beliefs and those of their physician may not always be in agreement. Improved physician,patient communication will help determine the best treatment option for patients with BPH and may ensure greater compliance and treatment success. [source] Recent modelling of sedimentation of suspended particles: a survey,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 2 2001P. Boogerd modélisation de la sédimentation; dépostition granulaire; transport sédimentaire Abstract Recent literature on modelling of sedimentation was studied. Attention was paid to hydrodynamics, numerical simulation, settling velocity models, sediment and velocity distribution functions, and sediment transport equations. Many popular theories, e.g. those regarding stratification and preferential sweeping, are under discussion. The traditional view that large-scale, energy-containing fluid motions dominate the transport of particles is found to be under attack, as is the modification of the von Karman coefficient to account for the presence of sediment. It is unclear which model for hindered settling should be used under what circumstances, and the effect of particle distribution cannot yet be calculated. Even the most basic problems, such as settling of multiple and/or non-spherical particles in a quiescent liquid, still require research. In the field of sediment distribution functions new solutions are still not entirely satisfactory. Furthermore, the predictive value of transport rate models is still rather low, and several popular sediment transport functions consistently allow more degradation than aggradation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Ce document est une étude de la littérature récente de la modélisation de la sédimentation, en prêtant attention à la hydrodynamique, les simulations numériques, les modèles de la vitesse de déposer, les fonctions de la répartition du sédiment et de la vitesse, et les équations du transport sédimentaire. Beaucoup de théories modernes, celles concernant la stratification et l'entraînage préférentiel par exemple, sont en cours de discussion. L'idée traditionnelle que les mouvements fluides au champ extensif et contenant de l'energie dominent le transport granulaire est attaquée, ainsi que la modification du coefficient von Karman pour tenir compte de la présence du sédiment. Quel modèle à user pour la déposition gênée, et en quelle situation, n'est pas évident, et l'effet de la répartition granulométrique est incalculable. Même les problèmes les plus fondamentaux, comme la déposition d'e multiples granules ou des granules non-sphériques dans un liquide quiescent, ont besoin de recherche. Dans le domaine des fonctions de la répartition du sédiment, les nouvelles solutions ne sont pas encore entièrement satisfaisantes. En outre la valeur prédictionnaire des modèles de la vitesse de transport est encore assez basse, et plusieurs fonctions de transport populaires permettent constamment plus de dégradation que d'accroissement. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of Analysts' Optimism on Estimates of the Expected Rate of Return Implied by Earnings ForecastsJOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 5 2007PETER D. EASTON ABSTRACT Recent literature has used analysts' earnings forecasts, which are known to be optimistic, to estimate implied expected rates of return, yielding upwardly biased estimates. We estimate that the bias, computed as the difference between the estimates of the implied expected rate of return based on analysts' earnings forecasts and estimates based on current earnings realizations, is 2.84%. The importance of this bias is illustrated by the fact that several extant studies estimate an equity premium in the vicinity of 3%, which would be eliminated by the removal of the bias. We illustrate the point that cross-sample differences in the bias may lead to the erroneous conclusion that cost of capital differs across these samples by showing that analysts' optimism, and hence, bias in the implied estimates of the expected rate of return, differs with firm size and with analysts' recommendation. As an important aside, we show that the bias in a value-weighted estimate of the implied equity premium is 1.60% and that the unbiased value-weighted estimate of this premium is 4.43%. [source] An examination of the intentional and unintentional aspects of medication non-adherence in patients diagnosed with hypertensionJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2007Elaine Lehane MSc Aims., The primary aim of this study was to describe the unintentional and intentional aspects of non-adherence in patients diagnosed with hypertension. A secondary aim was to examine the relationships between medication adherence and purposeful actions (intentional non-adherence), patterned behaviours (unintentional non-adherence) and demographic questionnaire variables. Background., Non-adherence to medications continues to be a significant health-care issue, the extent and consequences of which have been well documented. Despite considerable research over the past five decades, little progress has been made in solving this healthcare problem. Recent literature indicates that this lack of progress can be attributed to the fact that past research has concentrated solely upon either the unintentional or the intentional aspects of non-adherence, instead of addressing both facets simultaneously. Methods., A quantitative, descriptive, correlation research design was employed using Johnson's (2002) Medication Adherence Model as a theoretical framework. A convenience sample of 73 participants with hypertension, attending the outpatients' clinics of two university hospitals was recruited. Data were collected by means of a researcher administered questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results., High levels of medication adherence with a mean adherence score of 4·75 (maximum 5) were reported. Low and medium levels of purposeful actions and medium and high levels of patterned behaviours towards medication taking were found. Correlational analyses did not demonstrate statistically significant associations. Conclusions., Both the intentional and unintentional dimensions of medication-taking are simultaneously considered by patients to varying levels when adhering to therapeutic regimens. This is an important research area for nurses as it facilitates an increased understanding of non-adherence and, in so doing, aids the uncovering of more effective interventions aimed at sustaining lifelong pharmacotherapy. Relevance to clinical practice., By acknowledging a broader approach to patient medication-taking, nurses will be able more effectively to assess and intervene in non-adherent behaviours and actions. [source] Myeloperoxidase and chlorinated peptides in osteoarthritis: potential biomarkers of the diseaseJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 9 2007Marla J. Steinbeck Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling condition in which multiple initiating events or conditions (heritable and nonheritable) result in eventual loss of articular cartilage. However, the etiology of OA remains poorly understood, and diagnosis of early disease is difficult due to the lack of specific identifiers. Recent literature suggests that a series of inflammatory processes may be involved in initiating and propagating OA. We hypothesized that products of neutrophils and macrophages, namely myeloperoxidase (MPO), a specific enzyme responsible for the production of both highly reactive hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and chlorine gas (Cl2) and chlorinated peptides, may be present in the synovial fluid of patients with OA. We examined the synovial fluid from 30 patients to identify and profile the presence of MPO. We divided the samples into three groups using radiographic and clinical assessment: (1) control, patients with acute knee injury with no history of OA and no radiographic evidence of OA; (2) early OA, patients with a mild OA based on radiographs; and (3) late OA, patients with a longstanding history of OA and with radiographic evidence of complete joint loss. Patients with early OA demonstrated significantly elevated levels of MPO. We also demonstrated the presence of HOCl and Cl2 modified proteins (Cl-peptides) in early OA synovial fluid samples by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Patients in the control and advanced OA groups demonstrated little elevation in MPO levels and Cl-peptides were undetectable. These results indicate that MPO and Cl-peptides may serve as diagnostic markers for the detection of early OA. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 25:1128,1135, 2007 [source] Dynamic foams in topical drug deliveryJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Yanjun Zhao Abstract Objectives Pharmaceutical foams are not new inventions and their application in topical therapy can be traced back three decades. However, foam formulations have been gaining in popularity with over 100 patents published globally in the last 10 years alone. The aim of this paper is to review the current status and explore the future potential of dynamic foam vehicles in the field of topical drug delivery. Key findings The use of foam technology to deliver a range of topical active agents has been claimed, including sun-screening compounds, corticosteroids, and antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents. Although foams present distinct application advantages and improved patient compliance, the real reason for the rapid growth of topical foam technology is that foams as elegant, aesthetic and cosmetically appealing vehicles provide an alternative, promising formulation strategy in the highly competitive dermatological market. Although there is a plethora of published data proving the safety profiles of topical foams there is a lack of sufficient clinical evidence to demonstrate any superiority of foams over other traditional topical vehicles such as creams and ointments for drug delivery. Summary Recent literature suggests that when foams are properly engineered using the advances of in situ analysis techniques, the enhancement of topical drug delivery via engineering this type of vehicle can be achieved. [source] Advances in the diagnosis and management of cutaneous mast cell tumours in dogsJOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 8 2007J. M. Dobson Mast cell tumours are one of the most common tumours of the canine skin and have a reputation for being difficult to manage because of their variable clinical presentation, behaviour and response to treatment. This review of recent literature on canine mast cell tumours suggests that the majority of such tumours may not be as bad as their reputation suggests. Most grade I and grade II tumours can be managed successfully by good surgery. Recent literature also calls into question the utility of clinical staging systems and the value of assessing surgical margins for prognosis and highlights the paucity of well-conducted, case-controlled clinical trials in assessing the efficacy of medical management of high-risk tumours. In terms of more basic research, recent studies have implicated the stem cell factor receptor KIT as having a role in the aetiology of canine mast cell tumours and there appears to be an association between c-kit mutation and higher grade of tumour. This may offer a possible target for new therapeutic approaches. [source] Inference for two-stage adaptive treatment strategies using mixture distributionsJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES C (APPLIED STATISTICS), Issue 1 2010Abdus S. Wahed Summary., Treatment of complex diseases such as cancer, leukaemia, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and depression usually follows complex treatment regimes consisting of time varying multiple courses of the same or different treatments. The goal is to achieve the largest overall benefit defined by a common end point such as survival. Adaptive treatment strategy refers to a sequence of treatments that are applied at different stages of therapy based on the individual's history of covariates and intermediate responses to the earlier treatments. However, in many cases treatment assignment depends only on intermediate response and prior treatments. Clinical trials are often designed to compare two or more adaptive treatment strategies. A common approach that is used in these trials is sequential randomization. Patients are randomized on entry into available first-stage treatments and then on the basis of the response to the initial treatments are randomized to second-stage treatments, and so on. The analysis often ignores this feature of randomization and frequently conducts separate analysis for each stage. Recent literature suggested several semiparametric and Bayesian methods for inference related to adaptive treatment strategies from sequentially randomized trials. We develop a parametric approach using mixture distributions to model the survival times under different adaptive treatment strategies. We show that the estimators proposed are asymptotically unbiased and can be easily implemented by using existing routines in statistical software packages. [source] Review of flavonoids and other phenolics from fruits of different tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivarsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 8 2009Rune Slimestad Abstract BACKGROUND: Tomato, one of the most important vegetables worldwide, contains a range of flavonoids and phenolic acids in addition to lycopene, which are regarded as potentially useful compounds with respect to health benefits. Composition data in fresh tomatoes vary due to genetic and environmental factors and cultural practices. Breeding programs aim to produce tomatoes with enhanced levels of flavonoids and other phenolics. RESULTS: The present paper gives an overview of flavonoids, stilbenoids and other phenolics reported to occur in tomato fruits. Contents are reported for a wide range of cultivars and types. Metabolism of phenolics during fruit maturation and tissue location are described, and an overview of measured contents is given. Effects of environmental conditions and cultural practices are estimated using available literature. Recent literature on transgenic tomatoes is included, and possibilities for regulating phenolic contents in tomatoes are discussed. CONCLUSION: The literature review clearly discloses a rapidly growing interest in flavonoids and other phenolics in tomato fruits and products made thereof. This is particularly connected to the antioxidant properties of these compounds as well as other possible health effects. Choice of cultivar and effects of environment and agronomic practices are important factors with respect to phenolic qualities and quantities of tomatoes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Pressor Therapy in Critically III PatientsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue 1 2000ACVECC, ACVIM, James S. Wohl DVM Diplomate Summary Vasopressors are agents that increase systemic vascular resistance by increasing vasoconstriction. Therapy with intravenous vasopressors may be required in critically ill patients when efforts to optimize cardiac output and blood pressure with intravascular fluid therapy fail. Increasing systemic vascular resistance can promote a favorable perfusion pressure gradient to vital organs in critically ill patients with severe, unresponsive vasodilation. Improperly administered, vasopressors may impede cardiac output and reduce oxygen transport to vital tissue sites. The understanding of systemic and regional effects of vasopressors is currently evolving. Recent literature of the commonly used agents is reviewed. Individual drugs, drug combinations, and potential new therapies are discussed. (Vet. Emerg. & Crit. Care, 10:19,33, 2000) [source] Forensic Methods and Procedures Applied to Child Custody Evaluations: What Judges Need to Know in Determining a Competent Forensic Work ProductJUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JOURNAL, Issue 3 2000JONATHAN W. GOULD PH.D. ABSTRACT Judges are seeing an increase in the number of forensic reports in the area of child custody. This increase in forensic mental health involvement suggests that judges need to better understand the application of current forensic mental health methodology to assist them in determining a competent forensic work product. Recent literature has argued that child custody evaluators need to craft their reports consistent with scientific methods and procedures as well as legal standards governing admissibility of scientific evidence. This paper provides a framework for judges to assist in determining whether a child custody evaluation has been crafted consistent with current behavioral science literature pertaining to use of forensic mental health methods and procedures. [source] Effects of probiotic therapy on portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis: a pilot studyLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2009Puneeta Tandon Abstract Background: Recent literature has supported the role of bacterial translocation as a mediator of splanchnic vasodilatation and portal hypertension. The objective of this study was to determine whether the probiotic VSL#3 would reduce portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: Eight patients with compensated or very early decompensated cirrhosis and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) >10 mmHg, received 2 months of VSL#3 (3600 billion bacteria daily). The HVPG, intestinal permeability, endotoxin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-,, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, renin and aldosterone were measured at baseline and study end. Results: There was no change in the HVPG or intestinal permeability from baseline to study end but there was a trend to reduction in plasma endotoxin (P=0.09), a mild but significant increase in serum TNF-, (P=0.02) and a significant reduction in plasma aldosterone (P=0.03). Conclusions: Within the limitations of small sample size, there does not appear to be a benefit of probiotic therapy for portal pressure reduction in patients with compensated or early decompensated cirrhosis. The reductions in endotoxin and aldosterone suggest possible beneficial effects of probiotics for this patient population. The clinical significance of the small but unexpected increase in TNF-, is unclear. Future studies are planned in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. [source] RANDOM PENALTIES AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES: A MECHANISM TO REACH OPTIMAL LANDINGS IN FISHERIESNATURAL RESOURCE MODELING, Issue 3 2009FRANK JENSEN Abstract Recent literature considers illegal landings a moral hazard problem that arises because individual landings are unobservable. The literature proposes incentive schemes to solve the information problem. However, most of the proposed schemes raise huge information requirements and social budget balance is not secured. In this paper, we suggest a random penalty mechanism that reduces the information requirements and secures budget balance in the case of a given number of licensed vessels. In the random penalty mechanism, aggregate landings are measured through stock sizes and the natural growth function. If aggregate landings are below optimal landings, each fisherman receives a subsidy. If aggregate catches are above optimal landings, the mechanism works such that either the fisherman is randomly selected and pays a fine or the fisherman is not selected and receives a subsidy. The fine and subsidy can be designed such that budget balance is secured. Provided risk aversion is sufficiently large and the fine is high enough, the random penalty mechanism will generate optimal individual landings. The budget balance combined with risk aversion drives the result for this advanced tax/subsidy system that does not exhaust the resource rents. The budget balance creates interdependence between fishermen that secure optimality. [source] Creating social presence in online environmentsNEW DIRECTIONS FOR ADULT & CONTINUING EDUCATION, Issue 100 2003Steven R. Aragon Recent literature has shown that social presence is one of the most significant factors in improving instructional effectiveness and building a sense of community. This chapter examines strategies for creating social presence within online environments. [source] Upper extremity pain and computer use among engineering graduate students: A replication studyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009Cammie Chaumont Menéndez PhD Abstract Background Recent literature identified upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms at a prevalence of >40% in college populations. The study objectives were to determine weekly computer use and the prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms in a graduate student population, and make comparisons with previous graduate and undergraduate cohorts. Methods One hundred sixty-six graduate students completed a survey on computing and musculoskeletal health. Associations between individual factors and symptom status, functional limitations, academic impact, medication use, and health services utilization were determined. Logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between symptom status and computing. Cross-study comparisons were made. Results More symptomatic participants experienced functional limitations than asymptomatic participants (74% vs. 32%, P,<,0.001) and reported medication use for computing pain (34% vs. 10%, P,<,0.01). More participants who experienced symptoms within an hour of computing used health services compared to those who experienced symptoms after an hour of computer use (60% vs. 12%, P,<,0.01). Years of computer use (OR,=,1.59, 95% CI 1.05,2.40) and number of years in school where weekly computer use was more than 10 hr (OR,=,1.56, 95% CI 1.04,2.35) were associated with pain within an hour of computing. Cross-study comparisons found college populations more similar than different. Conclusion The overall findings reinforced previous literature documenting the prevalence of upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms in college populations, suggesting an important population for participating in public health interventions designed to support healthy computing practices and identify risk factors important to evaluate in future cohort studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:113,123, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Ghettos in Canada's cities?THE CANADIAN GEOGRAPHER/LE GEOGRAPHE CANADIEN, Issue 3 2006Racial segregation, ethnic enclaves, poverty concentration in Canadian urban areas Recent literature suggests a growing relationship between the clustering of certain visible minority groups in urban neighbourhoods and the spatial concentration of poverty in Canadian cities, raising the spectre of ghettoization. This paper examines whether urban ghettos along the U.S. model are forming in Canadian cities, using census data for 1991 and 2001 and borrowing a neighbourhood classification system specifically designed for comparing neighbourhoods in other countries to the U.S. situation. Ecological analysis is then performed in order to compare the importance of minority concentration, neighbourhood classification and housing stock attributes in improving our understanding of the spatial patterning of low-income populations in Canadian cities in 2001. The findings suggest that ghettoization along U.S. lines is not a factor in Canadian cities and that a high degree of racial concentration is not necessarily associated with greater neighbourhood poverty. On the other hand, the concentration of apartment housing, of visible minorities in general, and of a high level of racial diversity in particular, do help in accounting for the neighbourhood patterning of low income. We suggest that these findings result as much from growing income inequality within as between each visible minority group. This increases the odds of poor visible minorities of each group ending up in the lowest-cost, least-desirable neighbourhoods from which they cannot afford to escape (including social housing in the inner suburbs). By contrast, wealthier members of minority groups are more mobile and able to self-select into higher-status ,ethnic communities'. This research thus reinforces pleas for a more nuanced interpretation of segregation, ghettoization and neighbourhood dynamics. Il ressort de la littérature la plus récente qu'il existerait une association de plus en plus étroite entre la forte concentration en milieu urbain de personnes appartenant à des groupes de minorités visibles et la concentration spatiale de la pauvreté dans les villes canadiennes, phénomène qui n'est pas sans soulever le spectre de la ghettoïsation. C'est dans cette optique que ce papier examine si les ghettos urbains à l'américaine ont vu le jour dans les villes canadiennes, à partir des données des recensements de 1991 et de 2001 et à l'aide d'un système de classification des quartiers conçu spécifiquement pour établir des comparaisons entre les quartiers de différents pays et ceux des États-Unis. Une analyse écologique est ensuite menée afin de comparer l'importance de la concentration des minorités, la classification par quartier, et les caractéristiques du parc de logements et ainsi mieux comprendre la configuration spatiale des populations à faible revenu dans les villes canadiennes en 2001. Les résultats laissent entendre que la ghettoïsation à l'américaine n'est pas un facteur à prendre en compte en ce qui concerne les villes canadiennes, et que la tendance vers une concentration de groupes ethniques n'est pas nécessairement associée au niveau de pauvreté dans le voisinage. En revanche, la concentration d'immeubles à logements multiples, de minorités visibles en général et d'un niveau élevé de diversité raciale en particulier, expliquent, en partie, la distribution des personnes à faible revenu dans le voisinage. Ces résultats laissent entendre que la croissance de l'inégalité des revenus au sein des groupes de minorités visibles est aussi importante que l'inégalité qui existe entre eux. Ceci augmente les chances que les membres les plus défavorisés de tous les groupes de minorités visibles échouent dans un quartier précaire et moins que désirable duquel ils n'ont pas les moyens de s'échapper (y compris les logements sociaux dans les quartiers centraux). Par contre, les membres les plus aisés des groupes minoritaires peuvent choisir de vivre dans une ,communauté ethnique, dont le statut socio-économique est plus élevé. Cette recherche peut servir dans les plaidoyers en faveur d'une interprétation plus nuancée de la ségrégation, la ghettoïsation et les dynamiques de quartier. [source] Naloxone-responsive acute dystonia and parkinsonism following general anaesthesiaANAESTHESIA, Issue 12 2009I. A. Iselin-Chaves Summary Various movement disorders such as dystonia may acutely develop during or at emergence from general anaesthesia in patients with or without pre-existing Parkinson disease. These movements are triggered by a variety of drugs including propofol, sevoflurane, anti-emetics, antipsychotics and opioids. The postulated mechanism involves an imbalance between dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia. We report an acute, severe and generalised dystonic reaction in an otherwise healthy woman at emergence from general anaesthesia, dramatically reversed by the administration of naloxone, pointing to a potential role of the fentanyl and morphine that the patient had received. Recent literature on the mechanisms of abnormal movements induced by opioids are discussed. The severity of the reaction with usual doses of opioids, in a patient with no prior history of parkinsonism, led to further investigation that demonstrated the possibility of an enhanced susceptibility to opioids, involving a genetically determined abnormal function of glycoproteine-P and catechol-O-methyltransferase. [source] Infected pancreatic necrosis: minimizing the cutANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 1-2 2010A. Peter Wysocki Abstract The challenge for the pancreatologist managing patients with infected pancreatic necrosis is to devise a treatment algorithm that enables recovery but at the same time limits the morbidity and mortality. The current gold standard remains open necrosectomy. Recent literature contains scattered reports of endoscopic, radiologic, laparoscopic, percutaneous and lumbotomy approaches to managing patients with this condition. This literature review addresses the role of techniques that aim to minimize the physiological insult to the patient with infected pancreatic necrosis. [source] Are expert athletes ,expert' in the cognitive laboratory?APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2010A meta-analytic review of cognition, sport expertise Recent literature has demonstrated the usefulness of fitness and computer-based cognitive training as a means to enhance cognition and brain function. However, it is unclear whether the combination of fitness and cognitive training that results from years of extensive sport training also results in superior performance on tests of cognitive processes. In this study we examine, in a quantitative meta-analysis (k,=,20), the relationship between expertise in sports and laboratory-based measures of cognition. We found that athletes performed better on measures of processing speed and a category of varied attentional paradigms, and athletes from interceptive sport types and males showed the largest effects. Based on our results, more research should be done with higher-level cognitive tasks, such as tasks of executive function and more varied sub-domains of visual attention. Furthermore, future studies should incorporate more female athletes and use a diverse range of sport types and levels of expertise. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seasonal variation and meteotropism in suicide: clinical relevance of findings and implications for researchACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2002A. Preti Seasonal asymmetry in yearly suicide occurrence is a long-observed phenomenon in psychiatric, suicidological and sociological research, and the effects of seasonal factors on suicidal behaviour have been the focus of a number of earlier studies. Taking into account limitations of data and methods, these studies have in general favoured interpretations based on psychosocial factors. Recent studies have challenged the widely held notion that seasonal effects on suicide are not influenced by age, gender or the circumstances of the act. The suicides committed with violent methods have been shown to follow clearer seasonal patterns than suicides by less violent methods, and differences have been found between male and female cycles of occurrence. The seasonal occurrence of suicides has also been found to differ significantly between the young and the elderly. The use of inappropriate statistics or age- and gender-biased samples may have hidden a seasonal component in some previous studies on attempted suicide. The absence of seasonality in earlier studies on attempted suicide was interpreted as depending upon the minor relevance of psychiatric and biological factors in non-fatal self-harm. However, recent studies have reported clear seasonality in attempted suicide samples, with older people showing greater seasonal effect. Recent literature after 1985 on seasonal variation and weather or climate influence in attempted and completed suicide is reviewed. Suggestions for research and the development of more effective preventative strategies are offered. [source] Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: New Ways of Working in Primary CareCHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2007Gill Salmon Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed pharmacotherapy require ongoing regular follow-up for many years. Recent literature outlining the role of primary care in the ongoing medication monitoring of children and young people with ADHD is reviewed. We propose that a General Practitioner with a Specialist Interest (GPwSI) model could be developed in relation to ADHD to ensure that shared care arrangements between CAMHS and primary care for children with ADHD are in place. Clinical materials to support GPs in this new role are described. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||