bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Streptococcus viridans tubo‐ovarian abscess in an adolescent virgin
Authors: Simpson‐Camp LaShondria , Richardson Elizabeth Jane , Alaish Samuel M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA tubo‐ovarian abscess (TOA) is a common complication of pelvic inflammatory disease in premenopausal women; however, in virginal females, TOAs are an exceedingly rare occurrence. Within this rare subset of patients, there is almost always an underlying condition, such as vaginal voiding, or a concomitant disease process. A virginal adolescent female with no prior medical history presented with a large pelvic mass which proved to be a TOA. An exploratory laparotomy was eventually required to establish the diagnosis. Open drainage and antibiotic therapy successfully treated the patient. With only the organism, Streptococcus viridians, isolated in her cultures, an etiology of direct ascension from the lower genitourinary tract is implicated. We believe this to be the youngest case of a TOA occurring in a virginal adolescent female without a predisposing condition. A TOA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic masses in previously healthy pediatric patients regardless of their sexual activity.
Management of complete heart block during pregnancy
Authors: Dhiman Niharika , Sarda Nivedita , Arora Renu 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA 22‐year‐old second gravida presented to the antenatal clinic at 28 weeks of gestation with frequent fainting attacks (2–3 episodes/day), palpitations and dyspnea (New York Heart Association Functional Classification II). Her pulse rate was 40 b.p.m. A 12‐lead electrocardiogram and 24‐h Holter revealed complete heart block. A transvenous permanent pacemaker (ventricular demand rate‐responsive), paced at a rate of 60 pulses/min, was successfully implanted. A multidisciplinary approach was taken and the patient delivered a healthy baby boy of 2.8 kg at 38 weeks. She remained asymptomatic and was discharged in good condition. Management varies from expectant management to temporary pacemaker insertion to permanent pacing during pregnancy. In a young patient with sinus bradycardia, the primary criterion for a pacemaker is the concurrent observation of a symptom (e.g., syncope) with bradycardia (e.g., heart rate 35–40 b.p.m. or asystole for 3 s). Symptomatic pregnant women should always be counseled for a permanent pacemaker.
Medical abortion service in rural areas of Henan Province, China: A provider survey
Authors: Ji Ning , Zhou You , Zhang Ying , He Dian , Pang Cheng , Xi Maomao , Cheng Yimin 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAim:  The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices on medical abortion of abortion service providers in rural areas of China.Material and Methods:  A cross‐sectional study via self‐administered questionnaire was conducted among 362 abortion service providers from family planning service centers (FPSC) and hospitals in rural areas of Henan Province, China, between November 2009 and May 2010.Results:  Most of the providers were female (99.4%) and obstetricians/gynecologists (63.3%). The knowledge score achieved ranged from 9.4 to 78.1 points, with both the median and the mode of 56.3 points. Of the 52.2% (189/362) of providers having a preference on abortion method, 30.2% (57/189) preferred medical abortion, while 69.8% (132/189) preferred surgical abortion. In total, 50.7% (174/343) of the providers indicated the provision of medical abortion should be expanded, with the three biggest challenges in its further expansion being increased complications/failures, poor client knowledge/awareness, and problems with drug/equipment supplies. Of all the providers, 81.7% and 92.2% reported they had experience in providing medical abortion and surgical abortion, respectively. Medical abortion providers were mainly experienced in misoprostol with oral (81.8%)/vaginal (79.6%) prostaglandin (misoprostol/gemeprost).Conclusion:  Knowledge on medical abortion of providers working in rural China was at a moderate level. Providers preferred surgical abortion to medical abortion. Providers have more experience in providing surgical abortion than medical abortion. Efforts should be made to overcome the perceived challenges in future expansion of medical abortion.
Investors’ preference towards risk: evidence from the Taiwan stock and stock index futures markets
Authors: Qiao Zhuo , Clark Ephraim , Wong Wing‐Keung 
Published: September 2012

AbstractWe apply the stochastic dominance (SD) tests proposed by Linton et al. (2005) and Davidson and Duclos (2000) for risk averters and risk seekers to examine investors’ preferences with respect to the Taiwan stock index and its corresponding index futures. We find that there is no first‐order SD relationship between Taiwan spot and futures. However, for second‐ and third‐order SD, we find that spot dominates futures for risk averters whereas futures dominates spot for risk seekers. The implication is that to maximize their expected utilities, risk averters prefer to buy stocks, whereas risk seekers prefer long index futures.
Playing the numbers: how hepatitis C patients create meaning and make healthcare decisions from medical test results
Authors: Perzynski Adam T. , Terchek Joshua J. , Blixen Carol E. , Dawson Neal V. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIn this article we describe how patients assign meanings to medical test results and use these meanings to justify their actions. Evidence is presented from lay interpretations of medical tests for monitoring hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) to show how numeracy becomes embodied in the absence of physical symptoms. Illness narratives from 307 individuals infected with HCV were collected from the internet and analysed qualitatively. As part of standard medical care, chronically infected HCV patients are required to have periodic blood tests for laboratory testing. The lab results are presented numerically and compared with established physiological standards. HCV patients’ knowledge and interpretations of test results have important consequences for their health behaviour and their medical decisions. In their stories, the patients described their decisions to begin, delay or stop treatment and developed strategies to alter their diet, exercise and use alternative therapies according to changes in their test result. The perceived meanings of test results are powerful signifiers that are capable of altering the course of HCV patients’ illness, lives and stories. An interpretive model of health numeracy has the advantage of promoting understanding between patients and healthcare providers over a model that views innumeracy as a skill deficit.
The relationship between oxidative stress, smoking and the clinical severity of psoriasis
Authors: Emre S. , Metin A. , Demirseren D.D. , Kilic S. , Isikoglu S. , Erel O. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackground  Recent studies suggested that increased oxidant products and decreased antioxidant system functions may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In this study, we investigated total oxidative status, Paraoxonase (PON)1/arylesterase enzyme activities and severity of the disease in smoker and non‐smoker psoriatic patients.Methods  Fifty‐four patients with plaque type psoriasis (28 smokers and 26 non‐smokers) and 62 healthy volunteers (16 smokers and 46 non‐smokers) were enrolled in the study. Serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and arylesterase levels were measured, and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated in all participants.Results  Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores were significantly higher in smoker patients than in non‐smoker patients (P = 0.014). Both smoker and non‐smoker patients had significantly increased TOS levels and OSI values and decreased TAC levels than healthy subjects (all P values = 0.000). The TAC and TOS levels, OSI values and arylesterase activities were similar between smoker and non‐smoker patients. The levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) were not significantly different between smoker and non‐smoker psoriasis patients. When compared with non‐smoking controls, only smoking psoriasis patients had significantly higher TG (P = 0.005), lower HDL (P = 0.022) and lower arylesterase levels (P = 0.015). There were no significant correlations with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and TAC, TOS, OSI, TG, TC, HDL and LDL levels in all psoriasis patients.Conclusions  Oxidative stress is increased in psoriasis patients regardless of their smoking status. The decreased arylesterase activity in smoker psoriasis patients suggested that smoking may be a considerable risk factor that increases the severity of psoriasis by increasing oxidative stress in these patients.
Morphology and allometry suggest multiple origins of rostral appendages in Sri Lankan agamid lizards
Authors: Johnston G. R. , Lee M. S. Y. , Surasinghe T. D. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractRostral appendages occur in a very small number of species spread across the entire clade of iguanian lizards. The five species of Sri Lankan agamid lizards of the poorly known endemic genus Ceratophora show remarkable variation in the morphology and development of rostral appendages, which are absent in two species and present in the other three. Parsimony and Bayesian comparative methods do not robustly resolve whether the appendage evolved once (with two losses), twice (with one loss) or thrice independently. The appendage in C. tennentii is leaf‐shaped, present in juveniles and monomorphic in adults. It is quite dissimilar to the appendages in C. aspera and C. stoddartii which are horn‐shaped, absent in juveniles and dimorphic in adults. Ceratophora stoddartii is more closely related to C. erdeleni, which lacks the rostral appendage, than it is to C. aspera. The combined morphological, allometric and phylogenetic evidence suggests rostral appendages evolved three times within Ceratophora: perhaps once as a result of natural selection for crypsis (in C. tennentii) and twice as a result of sexual selection (in C. aspera and C. stoddartii). Our results suggest that these unusual ornaments can evolve by more than one mechanism and more readily than is suggested by their low frequency among iguanian lizards.
Mycorrhizal fungal establishment in agricultural soils: factors determining inoculation success
Authors: Verbruggen Erik , van der Heijden Marcel G. A. , Rillig Matthias C. , Kiers E. Toby 
Published: September 2012

SummarySoil biota provide a number of key ecological services to natural and agricultural ecosystems. Increasingly, inoculation of soils with beneficial soil biota is being considered as a tool to enhance plant productivity and sustainability of agricultural ecosystems. However, one important bottleneck is the establishment of viable microbial populations that can persist over multiple seasons. Here, we explore the factors responsible for establishment of the beneficial soil fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which can enhance the yield of a wide range of agricultural crops. We evaluate field application potential and discuss ecological and evolutionary factors responsible for application success. We identify three factors that determine inoculation success and AM fungal persistence in soils: species compatibility (can the introduced species thrive under the imposed circumstances?); field carrying capacity (the habitat niche available to AMF); and priority effects (the influence of timing and competition on the establishment of alternative stable communities). We explore how these factors can be employed for establishment and persistence of AMF. We address the importance of inoculum choice, plant choice, management practices and timing of inoculation for the successful manipulation of the resulting AMF community.
Climate change alters stoichiometry of phosphorus and nitrogen in a semiarid grassland
Authors: Dijkstra Feike A. , Pendall Elise , Morgan Jack A. , Blumenthal Dana M. , Carrillo Yolima , LeCain Daniel R. , Follett Ronald F. , Williams David G. 
Published: September 2012

Summary

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are essential nutrients for primary producers and decomposers in terrestrial ecosystems. Although climate change affects terrestrial N cycling with important feedbacks to plant productivity and carbon sequestration, the impacts of climate change on the relative availability of N with respect to P remain highly uncertain.

In a semiarid grassland in Wyoming, USA, we studied the effects of atmospheric CO2 enrichment (to 600 ppmv) and warming (1.5/3.0°C above ambient temperature during the day/night) on plant, microbial and available soil pools of N and P.

Elevated CO2 increased P availability to plants and microbes relative to that of N, whereas warming reduced P availability relative to N. Across years and treatments, plant N : P ratios varied between 5 and 18 and were inversely related to soil moisture.

Our results indicate that soil moisture is important in controlling P supply from inorganic sources, causing reduced P relative to N availability during dry periods. Both wetter soil conditions under elevated CO2 and drier conditions with warming can further alter N : P. Although warming may alleviate N constraints under elevated CO2, warming and drought can exacerbate P constraints on plant growth and microbial activity in this semiarid grassland.
A comparison of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and human T‐lymphotropic virus marker rates for directed versus volunteer blood donations to the American Red Cross during 2005 to 2010
Authors: Dorsey Kerri A. , Moritz Erin D. , Steele Whitney R. , Eder Anne F. , Stramer Susan L. 
Published: September 2012

BACKGROUND: At most US blood centers, patients may still opt to choose specific donors to give blood for their anticipated transfusion needs. However, there is little evidence of improved safety with directed donation when compared to volunteer donation.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The percentage of directed donations made to the American Red Cross (ARC) from 1995 to 2010 was determined. Infectious disease marker rates for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human T‐lymphotropic virus (HTLV) were calculated for volunteer and directed donations made from 2005 to 2010. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to compare marker‐positive rates of directed donations to volunteer donations.RESULTS: The percentage of donations from directed donors declined from 1.6% in 1995 to 0.12% in 2010. From 2005 to 2010, the ARC collected 38,894,782 volunteer and 69,869 directed donations. Rates of HIV, HCV, HBV, and HTLV for volunteer donations were 2.9, 32.2, 12.4, and 2.5 per 100,000 donations, respectively; for directed, the rates were 7.2, 93.0, 40.1, and 18.6 per 100,000. After demographics and first‐time or repeat status were adjusted for, corresponding ORs of viral marker positivity in directed versus volunteer donations were not significant for HIV, HBV, or HTLV and significant for HCV (OR, 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.50‐0.90).CONCLUSIONS: Directed donations have declined by 92% at the ARC since 1995, but have higher viral marker rates than volunteer donations. The difference can be explained in part by the effects of first‐time or repeat status of the donors. Patients considering directed donation should be appropriately counseled about the potential risks.
Use of Glycerol as a Cryoprotectant in Vacuum‐Assisted Foaming of Ceramic Suspension Technique for Improving Compressive Strength of Porous Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Ceramics
Authors: Ahn Min‐Kyung , Moon Young‐Wook , Koh Young‐Hag , Kim Hyoun‐Ee 
Published: September 2012

This article reports the utility of glycerol as a cryoprotectant for improving the compressive strength of highly porous biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics, comprised of hydroxyapatite and β‐tricalcium phosphate, produced using vacuum‐assisted foaming of a ceramic suspension technique. All the samples produced with various glycerol contents (0, 9, 17, and 23 wt% in relation to the water content) showed a highly porous structure with a uniform pore distribution. However, the addition of glycerol effectively suppressed the formation of microchannels in the BCP walls, accordingly leading to a considerable increase in compressive strength from 0.72 ± 0.11 to 2.36 ± 0.41 MPa with increasing glycerol content from 0 to 23 wt%.
Human myometrium – the ultrastructural 3D network of telocytes
Authors: Creţoiu Sanda M. , Creţoiu Dragos , Popescu Laurentiu M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractTelocytes (TCs), a novel type of interstitial cells, were recently described in the interstitial space of tissues (www.telocytes.com). Telocytes TCs have several very long, moniliform extensions, namely telopodes (Tps). However, the functional role(s) of TCs is not yet understood. Successive photomicrographs of ultrathin sections were concatenated to capture the entire length of Tps which usually measure tens to hundreds of micrometres. Besides the podoms (dilations) and podomers (thin segments), ultrastructural features of Tps include the dichotomous branching and establishing homo‐ and heterocellular contacts. Telopodes make a labyrinthine system by 3D convolution and overlapping, their number being roughly estimated at approximately 20 per 1000 μm2. Moreover, the presence of extracellular vesicles (shedding vesicles/exosomes) along the Tps suggests an active intercellular signalling (micro‐ and macromolecules), with possible significance in regulating uterine contractility.
Current therapeutic options for endodontic biofilms
Authors: Haapasalo Markus , Shen Ya 
Published: September 2012

Microbial biofilms in the infected root canal space are the primary cause of apical periodontitis. Root canal treatment therefore aims to either remove the biofilms from the root canal or kill all of the microbes in the biofilms. Instrumentation mechanically removes or disrupts biofilm organization and creates sufficient space in the canal to allow effective irrigation and disinfection to occur. While none of the mechanical or chemical factors alone can predictably eradicate the infective agents, their combined action under optimal efforts is the key factor for long‐term success of endodontic treatment and healing of the lesion. In this article, the role and impact of various mechanical (physical) and chemical means of attacking root canal biofilms are discussed in light of relevant literature (Fig. ).Green symbols: factors that effect the development and characteristics of endodontic biofilms. Red symbols: factors that are important in eradication of biofilms and biofilm bacteria.figure
Screening for dietary fat intake of grade six children: self‐assessment vs. maternal assessment
Authors: Wenhold Friede , MacIntyre Una , Rheeder Paul 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAs part of justifiable nutrition promotion, this study aimed to determine internal consistency of a dietary fat screener and to compare self‐assessment to maternal assessment of fat intake of grade six (about 12 years old) learners in a South African public primary school. The children completed in school a pictorial, quantitative food frequency‐type screener consisting of 10 high‐fat food categories; mothers individually completed a text version. Internal consistency was measured with item‐total correlations, Cronbach's alpha and the split‐half method. Child–mother comparison was based on kappa (κ) statistics, McNemar's tests, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and the Bland–Altman method. In total, 101 (93.5%) children and 78 (72.2%) mothers responded. The screener was internally consistent, regardless of data source and statistical technique. For portion sizes and frequency of intake, children consistently reported higher intake than mothers. This resulted in systematic error, also evidenced by a significant difference from zero for the difference between child's and mother's final test scores for the whole group, and for boys and girls separately (always P < 0.001). In 76% of the pairs, classification into high fat or prudent intake was identical, yet the chance‐corrected agreement was poor (κ = 0.16) and non‐agreement was non‐symmetrical (P = 0.001). Children and mothers reported high fat intakes (93% and 75%, respectively). It was concluded that the dietary fat screener was internally consistent, yet children and mothers did not agree in their assessment. The high fat intakes reported by children and mothers warrant measurement refinement and implementation of primary prevention programmes.
Nutritional status among pediatric cancer patients: A comparison between hematological malignancies and solid tumors
Authors: Tah Pei Chien , Nik Shanita Safii , Poh Bee Koon 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to compare the nutritional status of pediatric patients with hematological malignancies and solid tumors.Design and MethodsA total of 74 pediatric cancer patients were assessed for anthropometric status, biochemical profiles, and dietary intake.ResultsThe prevalence of undernutrition was higher among patients with solid tumors as reflected in their lower dietary intakes of energy and nutrients compared with patients with hematological malignancies.Practice ImplicationAdequate dietary intake is important for pediatric cancer patients, but nurses need to pay more attention to the diets of patients with solid tumors as compared with those with hematological malignancies.
Maximum synchrotron frequency for shock-accelerated particles
Authors: Kumar P. , Hernández R. A. , Bošnjak Ž. , Duran R. Barniol 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
It is widely believed that the maximum energy of synchrotron photons when electrons are accelerated in shocks via the Fermi process is about 50 MeV (in plasma comoving frame). We show that under certain conditions, which are expected to be realized in relativistic shocks of gamma-ray bursts, synchrotron photons of energy much larger than 50 MeV (comoving frame) can be produced. The requirement is that magnetic field should decay downstream of the shock front on a length-scale that is small compared with the distance travelled by the highest energy electrons before they lose half their energy; photons of energy much larger than 50 MeV are produced close to the shock front, whereas the highest Lorentz factor that electrons can attain is controlled by the much weaker field that occupies most of the volume of the shocked plasma.
Evaluation of nutritional status of an edible grasshopper, Oxya Chinensis Formosana
Authors: Hyun Sook‐Hee , Kwon Ki Han , Park Keun‐Hyung , Jeong Heon Cheon , Kwon Ohseok , Tindwa Hamisi , Han Yeon Soo 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis study was conducted to examine the nutritional status of the grasshopper (Oxya chinensis formosana, OCF) as human food, exploring it as an alternative edible resource. Analysis of free amino acid shows that there are various essential amino acids in addition to saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in OCF dried powder. Analysis of the mineral contents and vitamins of dried OCF indicates that it is rich in calcium, vitamin B6, and niacin. The heavy metal content of OCF recorded was low, making it safe for human consumption: OCF had plumbum at 0.01–0.03 mg/100 g, cadmium at 0.002–0.005 mg/100 g, arsenic at 0.07–0.17 mg/100 g, and mercury at 0.0003–0.0007 mg/100 g. In conclusion, given its high nutritive quality in terms of proteins and fats, coupled with lower heavy metal content, it would be recommended to use the grasshopper (OCF) as substitute to the traditional sources of protein.