bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietetic Scope of Practice in Saskatchewan: Dietitian Perceptions
Authors: Selinger Martina , Berenbaum Shawna 
Published: August 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the concept of scope of practice for dietetics in Saskatchewan.Methods: Using interpretative description methodology, data were collected through 4 phases. This article reports on phases II and III. In phase II, 92 Saskatchewan Registered Dietitians (RDs) participated in an online survey on scope of practice. In phase III, 8 Saskatchewan RDs participated in a 3-week online focus group.Results: Results from phases II and III indicate that participants saw numerous opportunities in defining, understanding, and working with a scope of practice. Without a scope of practice, participants were interpreting their role from a combination of documents (e.g., ethics, research) and stakeholders (e.g., employers and colleagues). Current confusion amongst employers, other health professions, and RDs themselves regarding the role of dietitians was identified.Conclusion: Most participants believed a scope of practice would provide guidance to employers, other health professions, the public, regulatory bodies, and RDs themselves about the role of a dietitian. Dietetic regulators should continue to provide clear guidelines to their members and employers on safe dietetic practice. Dietitians need to be certain they are safely practicing within provincial policies and their own professional knowledge and skill at all times.
Utility of routine biopsy at vertebroplasty in the management of vertebral compression fractures: a tertiary center experience
Authors: Mukherjee Soumya , Thakur Bhaskar , Bhagawati Dolin , Bhagawati Dimpu , Akmal Samira , Arzoglou Vasileios , Yeh John , Ellamushi Habib 
Published: August 2014

Object
The authors assess the utility of routine biopsy at vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fracture (VCF) as a tool in the early detection of malignancy in presumed benign VCF.

Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted on a cohort of consecutive patients undergoing vertebroplasty over a 5-year period between April 2006 and March 2011 at the Royal London Hospital. Polymethylmethacrylate cement injection was used in every procedure. Intraoperative vertebral body biopsy was performed routinely at every level of VCF. Pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, analgesic usage, and complications were recorded preoperatively and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively.

Results
A total of 202 levels were augmented in 147 patients. The most common levels augmented were T-12 (17%), L-1 (18%), and L-4 (10%). Analysis of 184 routine vertebral biopsies in 135 patients revealed that in 86 patients with presumed osteoporosis and no prior cancer diagnosis, 4 (4.7%) had a malignant VCF. In 20 known cancer patients presumed to be in remission, 2 (10%) had a malignant VCF. Routine vertebral biopsy returned an overall cancer diagnosis rate of 5.5% (6 of 109) when combining the 2 groups (patients with no prior history of cancer or cancer thought to be in remission). In these 6 patients, history, examination, laboratory tests, and preprocedure imaging all failed to suggest malignancy diagnosed at routine biopsy. Significant reductions in pain VAS and ODI scores were evident at Day 1 and were sustained at up to 1 year postoperatively (p < 0.001). They were not dependent on the level of fracture (T3–10, T11–L2, or L3–S1) (p > 0.05), number of levels treated (single level, 2 levels, or > 2 levels) (p > 0.05), or etiology of VCF (p > 0.05). The complication rate was 6% (9 of 147). There were 5 deaths, none of which were directly related to surgery.

Conclusions
Routine vertebral biopsy performed at vertebroplasty may demonstrate cancer-related VCFs in unsuspected patients with no previous cancer diagnosis or active malignancy in patients previously thought to be in remission. This early diagnosis of cancer or relapsed disease will play an important role in expediting patients' subsequent cancer management. In cases of multiple-level VCF, the authors advocate biopsy at each level to maximize the diagnostic yield from the specimens and to avoid missing a malignancy at a single level.
Long-term patient outcomes after posterior cervical foraminotomy: an analysis of 151 cases
Authors: Bydon Mohamad , Mathios Dimitrios , Macki Mohamed , de la Garza-Ramos Rafael , Sciubba Daniel M. , Witham Timothy F. , Wolinsky Jean-Paul , Gokaslan Ziya L. , Bydon Ali 
Published: August 2014

Object
The authors conducted a study to investigate the rate and timing of reoperation due to symptom recurrence after unilateral posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF).

Methods
The authors retrospectively reviewed demographic, surgical, and clinical data from 151 patients who underwent unilateral PCF at their institution with an average follow-up of 4.15 years. The main outcome variables were reoperation rate, time to reoperation, and short- and long-term radiculopathy improvement rates. Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted to assess risk of reoperation and recurrence of radiculopathy over time.

Results
After index PCF in 151 patients, the overall reoperation rate was 9.9% (15 patients). The average time until reoperation was 2.4 years, and the average last follow-up examination was 4.15 years after the first surgery. Patients who presented with preoperative neck pain in addition to radiculopathy had a higher risk for reoperation and a shorter time to reoperation. The majority of patients who underwent a reoperation had an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (80%). A smaller number of patients had reoperation that included a repeat PCF (6.7%) or laminectomy with posterior cervical fusion (13.3%). The rate of same-level reoperation (6.6%, 10 patients) was significantly higher (p = 0.05) when compared with adjacent-segment (1.3%, 2 patients) or distant-segment (1.9%, 3 patients) reoperation. At last follow-up, the overall rate of improvement in radiculopathy was 85%, with the majority of patients (91.4%) experiencing resolution as early as 1 month after index surgery. Following the subgroup that experienced initial symptom improvement, 16.1% of these patients experienced radiculopathy recurrence an average of 7.3 years after the initial operation. While the reoperation rate for the overall cohort in this series was 9.9%, patients with follow-up periods longer than 2 years had a reoperation rate of 18.3%. Moreover, patients with more than 10 years of follow-up had a reoperation rate of 24.3%.

Conclusions
PCF is a procedure performed to address nerve root compression in the cervical spine. The authors evaluated 151 patients who underwent unilateral PCF and found a reoperation rate of 9.9% at an average of 2.4 years after the initial surgery (6.6% at same level, 3.3% elsewhere). The reoperation rates reached 18.3% and 24.3% in patients with follow-up periods longer than 2 and 10 years, respectively. The authors' analysis revealed that patients with no preoperative neck pain had the lowest rates of revision surgery after PCF.
Progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the thoracic spine following posterior decompression and stabilization
Authors: Sugita Shurei , Chikuda Hirotaka , Takeshita Katsushi , Seichi Atsushi , Tanaka Sakae 
Published: August 2014

Object
Despite its potential clinical impact, information regarding progression of thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is scarce. Posterior decompression with stabilization is currently the primary surgical treatment for symptomatic thoracic OPLL; however, it remains unclear whether thoracic OPLL increases in size following spinal stabilization. It is also unknown whether patients' clinical symptoms worsen as OPLL size increases. In this retrospective case series study, the authors examined the postoperative progression of thoracic OPLL.

Methods
Nine consecutive patients with thoracic OPLL who underwent posterior decompression and fixation with a minimum follow-up of 3 years were included in this study. Thin-slice CT scans of the thoracic spine obtained at the time of surgery and the most recent follow-up were analyzed. The level of the most obvious protrusion of ossification was determined using the sagittal reconstructions, and the ossified area was measured on the axial reconstructed scan at the level of the most obvious protrusion of ossification using the DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) software program. Myelopathy severity was assessed according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale score for lower-limb motor function on admission, at postoperative discharge, and at the last follow-up visit.

Results
The OPLL area was increased in all patients. The mean area of ossification increased from 83.6 ± 25.3 mm2 at the time of surgery to 114.8 ± 32.4 mm2 at the last follow-up visit. No patients exhibited any neurological deterioration due to OPLL progression.

Conclusions
The present study demonstrated that the size of the thoracic OPLL increased after spinal stabilization. Despite diminished local spinal motion, OPLL progression did not decrease or stop. Physicians should pay attention to ossification progression in patients with thoracic OPLL.
Drivers of a riparian forest specialist (Carex remota, Cyperaceae): It is not only a matter of soil moisture
Authors: Uria‐Diez Jaime , Gazol Antonio , Ibáñez Ricardo 
Published: August 2014

•Premise of the study:Plants respond to the prevailing conditions in the surrounding environment, but since they are dynamic systems this response may vary during their life. Thus, the identification of key aspects for the maintenance of plant populations requires the consideration of plant performance across environmental gradients and along life stages. This study examines how abiotic conditions and biotic interactions and processes determine the spatial distribution of two life‐story stages that play a key role in the functioning of a representative population ofCarex remota.•Methods:We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test for direct and indirect influences of abiotic and biotic factors on seedlings and adults ofCarex remota. The variables used in the analysis were number of seedlings, cover of adults, soil moisture, leaf litter cover, relative light, and topographic position.•Key results:Population patterns partially depend on direct and indirect effects of abiotic conditions. Whereas adult individuals were only affected by topsoil moisture, seedling emergence was largely affected by multiple environmental conditions. The number of seedlings increased with high topsoil moisture, low leaf‐litter values, high light values as well as in low parts of the study area. The importance of adult individuals in determining seedling success is also highlighted: higher abundance provides seed rain in the surroundings and modifies the microenvironmental conditions favoring high seedling establishment.•Conclusions:As hypothesized, adults and seedlings responded to the environmental conditions differently. Seedling emergence was a critical aspect inC. remotaperformance, and abrupt changes in the environment during this stage may strongly influence population performance.
Genetic diversity in Carthamus tinctorius (Asteraceae; safflower), an underutilized oilseed crop
Authors: Pearl Stephanie A. , Burke John M. 
Published: August 2014

• Premise of the study: Underutilized crops are potentially valuable resources for meeting increasing food demands. Safflower, an oilseed crop, is an example of one such underutilized crop that thrives in moisture‐limited areas. Characterization of the genetic diversity maintained within the gene pools of underutilized crops such as safflower is an important step in their further development.• Methods: A total of 190 safflower individuals, including 134 USDA accessions, 48 breeding lines from two private North American safflower breeding companies, and eight wild safflower individuals, were genotyped using 133 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We then used the resulting data to assess the amount and distribution of genetic diversity within and among these collections of safflower.• Key results: Although just a modest reduction in gene diversity was observed in the commercial breeding lines (relative to the other safflower groupings), safflower domestication was accompanied by a significant decrease in allelic richness. Further, our results suggest that most safflower breeding lines originated from a single pool of diversity within the Old World safflower germplasm.• Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that both the safflower germplasm collection and related, wild species harbor previously undocumented genetic diversity that could help fuel future improvement efforts. Paired with analyses of functional diversity, the molecular resources described herein will be thus be useful in the continued development of safflower as an oilseed crop.
Longterm Followup of Rituximab Therapy in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from the Belgian MabThera in Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry
Authors: De Keyser Filip , Hoffman Ilse , Durez Patrick , Kaiser Marie-Joëlle , Westhovens Rene ,   The MIRA Study Group
Published: August 2014

Objective.Our study reports the results of the MIRA (MabThera In Rheumatoid Arthritis) registry, set up to collect data about clinical usage, patient profile, and retention of rituximab (RTX) treatment in daily clinical practice in Belgium.Methods.Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who failed at least 1 anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment were included in our study between November 2006 and October 2011. At baseline, demographics, medication, disease history, disease activity, rheumatoid factor (RF), and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) status were recorded. Evolution of the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, retreatments, and reasons for therapy stop were followed prospectively.Results.The MIRA registry included 649 patients, with mean disease duration of 12.8 ± 0.4 years and DAS28 values at inclusion of 5.85 ± 0.48. Patients received on average 2.82 ± 0.07 (range 1–9) RTX treatments, over a mean followup period of 93.1 ± 2.6 weeks. At database lock, 433 patients (66.7%) were still under RTX treatment, 182 (28.0%) had stopped treatment, and 34 (5.2%) were lost to followup. Ineffectiveness (n = 108, 59%) and safety concerns (n = 39, 22%) were the most frequent reasons for discontinuing RTX therapy. From 2006 to 2011, RTX practice patterns clearly evolved toward RTX being started in patients with a lower number of previously failed anti-TNF drugs and lower baseline DAS28 values. A lower number of previous anti-TNF drugs, and positivity for RF and anti-CCP, predicted more successful longterm treatment. RTX treatment provided adequate longterm disease control.Conclusion.In our daily practice study, RTX provided good longterm disease control and treatment retention in refractory patients with RA. Over the years, rheumatologists tended to start this treatment in patients with fewer previous anti-TNF treatments and lower disease activity.
Infections Increase Risk of Arterial and Venous Thromboses in Danish Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: 5102 Patient-years of Followup
Authors: Baronaite Hansen Renata , Jacobsen Søren 
Published: August 2014

Objective.Infections and thromboses are known complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated if infectious episodes in patients with SLE were followed by an increased risk of thrombotic events.Methods.A cohort of 571 patients with prevalent or incident SLE was followed for a mean of 8.9 ± 7.6 years. All episodes of hospitalized infections or episodes of cutaneous herpes zoster as well as arterial and venous thrombotic events were identified by retrospective chart review and prospective updating of a clinical database. For time-dependent analyses adjusted for age, sex, and ever-presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, thrombotic events were classified as occurring during the time at risk of 1 year after an infection or during the remaining control observation time.Results.Of 271 infections identified, 104 were respiratory, 41 cutaneous herpes zoster, and 126 others. Of 159 thromboses identified, 98 were arterial. Incidence for arterial and venous thromboses within 1 year after infection was 2.18% and 2.56%, respectively, compared to patients who never had an infection (0.58 and 0.67). The adjusted 1-year risk of arterial and venous thrombosis after any infection was increased [relative rate (RR) 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.6, and RR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–5.9, respectively]. Venous thromboses were in particular more prevalent after respiratory infections (RR 5.4, 95% CI 2.3–13).Conclusion.The temporal associations observed in this study indicate that infections could be risk factors for arterial or venous thromboses in patients with SLE, although causality was not addressed by this study.
Evaluation of Sap Flow Sensors to Measure the Transpiration Rate of Plants during Canopy Wetting and Drying
Authors: Uddin Jasim , Smith Rod , Hancock Nigel , Foley Joseph 
Published: August 2014

Accurate measurement of transpiration is required to estimate the various components of evaporation losses during sprinkler irrigation. Among the methods, sap flow measurements have widely used for direct measurements of transpiration rate in plant. To evaluate the applicability of this method to field experiments involving canopy wetting (by sprinkler irrigation), stem flow measurements were compared with transpiration values estimated from successive mass measurements of small potted plants using pre-calibrated mini-lysimeters in a glasshouse at the University of Southern Queensland, during the period August–October 2010. From this study it was found that when the canopy was dry, the sap flow measurements mirrored the transpiration rate of plants with reasonable accuracy, overestimating the transpiration rate by about 11%. The measurements showed no evidence of time lag between sap flow and transpiration. Following wetting of the plant canopy the sap flow declined rapidly reflecting a decline in the transpiration rate transpiration and sap flow. Location of the sap flow gage on the stem was seen to be a factor with gages at different heights giving different sap flow rates again due to the buffering capacity of the stem.
A Spiritual Blockbuster:Avatar, Environmentalism, and the New Religions
Authors: Erb Cynthia 
Published: August 2014

Abstractover the past ten years, religious studies scholars have used newly acquired knowledge of film history and theory to support pathbreaking research in the area of religion and film. Although valuable work on religion and film has emerged in media studies, the field’s coverage of this topic has not kept pace with religious studies. I believe media studies scholars should look to religious studies methods for ways of constructing interdisciplinary projects in this area. In this spirit, I take up work on the new religions to survey changes in the way Hollywood addresses religion and spirituality. New religions are religions that have emerged in the recent past. Scholars define them according to different time frames: the past century, the post-World War II period, or the post-1960s period. I am using a prevalent model that defines the new religions as religions that have emerged since the 1960s. This is a moment that corresponds roughly to the emergence of the New American Cinema. I argue that sociological shifts chronicled in work on the new religions help to explain changes in the way religion and spirituality appear in contemporary Hollywood.
Prediction of relativistic electron flux at geostationary orbit following storms: Multiple regression analysis
Authors: Simms Laura E. , Pilipenko Viacheslav , Engebretson Mark J. , Reeves Geoffrey D. , Smith A. J. , Clilverd Mark 
Published: August 2014

AbstractMany solar wind and magnetosphere parameters correlate with relativistic electron flux following storms. These include relativistic electron flux before the storm; seed electron flux; solar wind velocity and number density (and their variation); interplanetary magnetic field Bz, AE and Kp indices; and ultra low frequency (ULF) and very low frequency (VLF) wave power. However, as all these variables are intercorrelated, we use multiple regression analyses to determine which are the most predictive of flux when other variables are controlled. Using 219 storms (1992–2002), we obtained hourly averaged electron fluxes for outer radiation belt relativistic electrons (>1.5 MeV) and seed electrons (100 keV) from Los Alamos National Laboratory spacecraft (geosynchronous orbit). For each storm, we found the log10 maximum relativistic electron flux 48–120 h after the end of the main phase of each storm. Each predictor variable was averaged over the 12 h before the storm, the main phase, and the 48 h following minimum Dst. High levels of flux following storms are best modeled by a set of variables. In decreasing influence, ULF, seed electron flux, Vsw and its variation, and after‐storm Bz were the most significant explanatory variables. Kp can be added to the model, but it adds no further explanatory power. Although we included ground‐based VLF power from Halley, Antarctica, it shows little predictive ability. We produced predictive models using the coefficients from the regression models and assessed their effectiveness in predicting novel observations. The correlation between observed values and those predicted by these empirical models ranged from 0.645 to 0.795.
Simulations of plasma obeying Coulomb's law and the formation of suprathermal ion tails in the solar wind
Authors: Randol Brent M. , Christian Eric R. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe present a model for the velocity distribution function (VDF) of the suprathermal ion tail in the solar wind and its commonly observed spectrum, a power law in velocity of index −5. The mechanism for our model is acceleration from extremely small scale electric fields caused by the finite number of particles in the solar wind (or any plasma). The simulations produce a VDF with a broken power law at short times and a type of κ distribution VDF at later times. The simulation uses very few assumptions as it is based solely on Coulomb's law, and the results are robust to a range of parameters that, although outside the range of the solar wind at 1 AU, are close to those in the lower solar atmosphere. Furthermore, we provide predictions based on the following mechanism: the probability distribution function for the electric field (the electric field distribution function or EDF) dictates the final state of the plasma, which means that the VDF at any time is a convolution of the initial VDF and the EDF. We have also shown that by varying the power law index of the electrostatic force law, the relationship between the two is such that the EDF power law index is exactly 5 for Coulomb's law, harder for shorter‐range forces, and softer for longer‐range forces, converging to a power law of index 3 in the former limit and to a Maxwellian in the latter.