bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of hydromethanolic extract of Daniella oliveri leaves in carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Onoja Samuel Okwudili , Madubuike Gideon Kelechi , Ezeja Maxwell Ikechukwu 
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Background:
Daniella oliveri is a deciduous plant that is commonly found in savanna and open grassland. Various parts of the plant is used by herbalist in the management of different ailments. The present study aims at investigating the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of D. oliveri leaves.

Methods: The hepatoprotective activity was investigated using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. The antioxidant activity was determined using both in vitro (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine photometric assay) and in vivo (malondialdehyde and catalase level assay) models.

Results: The pretreatment with extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and silymarin (100 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in hepatoprotective activity when compared with the negative control group. The extract (25–400 μg/mL concentration) produced a concentration-dependent increase in antioxidant activity in 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) photometric assay. The IC50 of the extract in DPPH photometric assay was 400 μg/mL concentrations. The extract and silymarin showed a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in catalase level in treated rats when compared with the negative control group. Also, the extract and silymarin produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decrease in malondialdehyde level in treated rats when compared with the negative control group.

Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that D. oliveri leaves has a potent hepatoprotective activity that may be linked to its antioxidant activities and validates its use in the traditional management of liver disorders.
Transport of radioselenium oxyanions by diffusion in unsaturated soils
Authors: Aldaba David , García-Gutiérrez Miguel , Abrão Taufik , Rigol Anna , Vidal Miquel 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
There is a lack of data on the diffusion of long-lived radionuclides in soils, especially of those originated from the leaching of
radioactive waste in waste disposal facilities. Here, the simultaneous diffusion of two radioselenium species, which were postulated to
be radioselenite and radioselenate, was examined for the first time in four soils at laboratory level by applying the planar-source
method. The Gaussian-shaped experimental diffusion profile was deconvoluted into two Gaussian functions, and then the apparent
diffusion coefficients (D
a) were quantified for each species. Radioselenate D
a values ranged from
1.4E-11 to 1.5 · 10
–10 m2 s
–1, while those of radioselenite were two orders of magnitude lower (from
5.2E-13 to 2.7 · 10
–12 m2 s
–1) for all samples and conditions tested. The radioselenite distribution coefficient
values derived from D
a correlated to soil properties, such as pH and Al/Fe mineral content, and thus were consistent with
the factors controlling the sorption of selenium species in soils.
Isolation of 163Ho from dysprosium target material by HPLC for neutrino mass measurements
Authors: Mocko Veronika , Taylor Wayne A. , Nortier Francois M. , Engle Jonathan W. , Barnhart Todd E. , Nickles Robert J. , Pollington Anthony D. , Kunde Gerd J. , Rabin Michael W. , Birnbaum Eva R. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The rare earth isotope 163Ho is of interest for neutrino mass measurements. This report describes the isolation of
163Ho from a proton-irradiated dysprosium target and its purification. A Dy metal target was irradiated with
16 MeV protons for 10 h. After target dissolution, 163Ho was separated from the bulk Dy via
cation-exchange high performance liquid chromatography using 70 mmol dm
–3
α-hydroxyisobutyric acid as the mobile
phase. Subsequent purification of the collected Ho fraction was performed to remove the α-hydroxyisobutyrate chelating agent and
to concentrate the Ho in a low ionic strength aqueous matrix. The final solution was characterized by MC-ICP-MS to determine the
163Ho/165Ho ratio, 163Ho and the residual Dy content. The HPLC purification process resulted in
a decontamination factor 1.4E5 for Dy. The isolated Ho fraction contained 24.8 ± 1.3 ng of 163Ho
corresponding to holmium recovery of 72 ± 3%.
Association Between Implementation of a Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit and Process-of-Care Outcomes in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Zipkin Ronen , Ostrom Kathleen , Olowoyeye Abiola , Markovitz Barry , Schrager Sheree M. 
Published: May 2015

Background:
The Joint Commission’s 2009 National Patient Safety Goals aimed to improve identification of and response to clinical deterioration in hospital-ward patients. Some hospitals implemented intermediate-care units for patients without intensive care–level support needs. No studies have evaluated what effect changes associated with a move to a pediatric cardiovascular step-down unit (CVSDU) has on process-of-care outcomes.

Methods:
A retrospective cohort study comparing process-of-care outcomes in units caring for children with congenital heart disease (n = 1415) 1 year before (July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011) and 1 year after (August 1, 2011–July 30, 2012) implementation of a CVSDU following the move to a new hospital building. Units caring for noncardiac tracheostomy and/or ventilator-dependent patients were used as controls (n = 606). Primary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) and transfers to higher levels of care. Secondary outcomes included rapid response team, cardiopulmonary arrest, and code blue rates. Mann-Whitney U and z tests were used for all analyses.

Results:
When compared with a medical-surgical unit, cardiac patients admitted to a CVSDU had a significantly decreased total LOS (median 7.0 vs 5.4 days, P = .03), non-ICU LOS (median 3.5 vs 3.0 days, P = .006), and rapid response team/code blue rate per 1000 non-ICU patient days (11.2 vs 7.0, P = .04). No significant differences in primary or secondary outcomes were seen within the control group.

Conclusions:
Changes associated with a new CVSDU were associated with decreased LOS and lower rates of rapid response and code blue events for patients with congenital heart disease.
Early Weight Loss Nomograms for Formula Fed Newborns
Authors: Miller Jennifer R. , Flaherman Valerie J. , Schaefer Eric W. , Kuzniewicz Michael W. , Li Sherian X. , Walsh Eileen M. , Paul Ian M. 
Published: May 2015

Objectives:
To develop nomograms depicting percentiles of weight loss by hour of age for both vaginal and cesarean-delivered newborns who are exclusively formula fed.

Methods:
Data regarding delivery mode, race/ethnicity, feeding type, and weights were extracted from electronic medical records of the birth hospitalization at 14 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals between 2009 and 2013. Newborns whose first feeding was formula from a cohort of 161 471 healthy, term, singleton neonates born at ≥36 weeks’ gestation between 2009 and 2013 were identified. Quantile regression was used to create nomograms stratified according to delivery mode; percentiles of weight loss were estimated as a function of time among formula-fed neonates. Weights measured subsequent to any breast milk feeding were excluded. Percentiles were determined through 48 and 72 hours of age for those born vaginally and via cesarean delivery, respectively.

Results:
A total of 7075 formula-fed newborns had weights recorded; 4525 were delivered vaginally, and 2550 were born via cesarean delivery. The median weight loss was 2.9% at 48 hours after vaginal delivery; weight loss &gt;7% was rare. For cesarean-delivered neonates, median weight losses at 48 and 72 hours were 3.7% and 3.5%, respectively; weight loss &gt;8% was rare.

Conclusions:
For newborns who are formula fed, these results provide nomograms depicting percentiles of weight loss according to mode of delivery. These plots can be used to classify early weight loss according to percentile and may enable early identification of feeding difficulties or other neonatal morbidities.
Heart Rates in Hospitalized Children by Age and Body Temperature
Authors: Daymont Carrie , Bonafide Christopher P. , Brady Patrick W. 
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Heart rate (HR) is frequently used by clinicians in the hospital to assess a patient’s severity of illness and make treatment decisions. We sought to develop percentiles that characterize the relationship of expected HR by age and body temperature in hospitalized children and to compare these percentiles with published references in both primary care and emergency department (ED) settings.

METHODS:
Vital sign data were extracted from electronic health records of inpatients &lt;18 years of age at 2 large freestanding children’s hospitals from July 2011 to June 2012. We selected up to 10 HR-temperature measurement pairs from each admission. Measurements from 60% of patients were used to derive the percentile curves, with the remainder used for validation. We compared our upper percentiles with published references in primary care and ED settings.

RESULTS:
We used 60 863 observations to derive the percentiles. Overall, an increase in body temperature of 1°C was associated with an increase of ∼10 beats per minute in HR, although there were variations across age and temperature ranges. For infants and young children, our upper percentiles were lower than in primary care and ED settings. For school-age children, our upper percentiles were higher.

CONCLUSIONS:
We characterized expected HR by age and body temperature in hospitalized children. These percentiles differed from references in primary care and ED settings. Additional research is needed to evaluate the performance of these percentiles for the identification of children who would benefit from further evaluation or intervention for tachycardia.
Physalaemus albifrons Spix, 1824 (Anura: Leiuperidae): distribution and geographic extension
Authors: Palmeira Cristiane Nikely S. , Gonçalves Ubiratan , Paz Viviane N. 
Published: May 2015

We report the first record of Physalaemus albifrons in the state of Alagoas, in the municipality of Boca da Mata, Brazil.
Soft Touch or Heavy Hand? Legislative Approaches for Preventing Invasions: Insights from Cacti in South Africa
Authors: Novoa Ana , Kaplan Haylee , Kumschick Sabrina , Wilson John R. U. , Richardson David M. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe rate of transportation, introduction, dissemination, and spread of nonnative species is increasing despite growing global awareness of the extent and impact of biological invasions. Effective policies are needed to prevent an increase in the significant negative environmental and economic impacts caused by invasive species. Here we explore this issue in the context of the history of invasion and subsequent regulation of cacti introduced to South Africa. We consider seven approaches to restricting trade by banning the following: (1) species already invasive in the region, (2) species invasive anywhere in the world, (3) species invasive anywhere in the world with a climate similar to the target region, (4) genera containing invasive species, (5) growth forms associated with invasiveness, (6) cacti with seed characteristics associated with invasiveness, and (7) the whole family. We evaluate each approach on the basis of the availability and complexity of information required for implementation, including the cost of the research needed to acquire such information, the likely numbers of false positives and false negatives, the likely degree of public acceptance, and the costs of implementation. Following a consultative process, we provide recommendations for how to regulate nonnative cacti in South Africa. The simplest option would be to ban all cacti, but available evidence suggests that most species pose negligible risk of becoming invasive, making this option unreasonable. The other extreme—reactively regulating species once they are invasive—would incur significant control costs, likely result in significant environmental and economic impacts, and limit management goals (e.g., eradication might be unfeasible). We recommended an intermediate option—the banning of all genera containing invasive species. This recommendation has been partly incorporated in South African regulations. Our study emphasizes the importance of scientific research, a legal framework, and participation of stakeholders in assessments. This approach builds awareness, trust, and support, and ensures that all interests are reflected in final regulations, making them easier to implement and enforce.
Estimation of the Domestic Transport Performance from the Consolidated European Road Freight Transport Data
Authors: Karner Thomas , Scharl Sylvia , Weninger Brigitte 
Published: May 2015

Transport statistics provide information about transport volume and performance on defined territories (e.g. for the European Union as a whole or for the individual member states) and are therefore necessary for political, economic and ecological decisions. Complying with the current European legal basis[1] the surveys for the modes of transport rail, aviation and inland waterways are performed according to the territoriality principle and hence the data on total transport volume is collected in each member state. Alone the road freight transport survey is based on the nationality principle, which means that only freight vehicles registered in the respective member state take part in the national surveys. Thus the single member states have no information about the total transport volume and performance on their own territory derived from road freight vehicles registered in other member states. In contrast the member states have information about the transport volume and performance provided by their freight vehicles in the other European countries. This situation implies a significant limitation of the usability of the results of the national road freight surveys as well as the usefulness of the modal split of the single modes of transport based solely on the national surveys.[1] Regulation (EC) No 91/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on rail statistics, OJ No L14, 21.2.2003 p 1 - 15; Regulation (EC) No 437/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 February 2003 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of passengers, freight and mail by air; OJ No L 66, 11.3.2003 p 1 – 8; Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways and repealing Council Directive 80/1119/EEC, OJ L No 264; 25.9.2006 p 1 – 11; Regulation (EU) No 70/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 January 2012 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (recast), OJ No L 32, 3.2.2012 p 1-18
Geomechanical Modelling of Cyclic Steaming Induced Surface Deformation
Authors: Shen Luyi , Schmidt Douglus R. , Dokht Ramin H. , Samsonov Sergey V. , Singhroy Vern , Shipman Todd 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Cyclic Steam Stimulation (CSS) can significantly change the volume of the bitumen-bearing reservoir. Uneven uplift of overburden caused by such volume change induces noticeable stress perturbation in the structure providing containment for the steam/bitumen emulsion and may lead to material yielding in subsurface structure. To study the impact and mechanism of such a phenomenon, InSAR images of surface deformation were collected between 2010 and 2011 at a CSS operation site. These interferograms were processed to 14 snapshots of surface deformation within that period of time. We observed that heave and subsidence can occur simultaneously across one operation site, as the heated steam front moves through the reservoir. A brief review of the production history of the site indicates that the surface deformation is directly related to fluid injection and extraction. In the first step of our modelling, we invert the surface deformation to assess the extent of reservoir expansion/compaction and induced subsurface deformation. Due to the highly non-uniqueness nature of the inversion results, we carefully benchmarked the mathematical and geomechanical parameters used in the inversion process. The results from the selected inversion parameters are compared with forward modeling results to increase the confidence of the inversion scheme. Subsurface deformation is modelled sequentially through Finite Element forward modelling. The computed reservoir deformation is channeled into the commercial FEM simulation software Abaqus to assess the stress and strain of the overburden. We load the deformation computed from inversion at the reservoir/overburden interface and then simulate the corresponding stress and strain alteration of the overburden. Simulation results show that uneven uplift from reservoir expansion and compaction can alter the stress state of the overburden significantly. This study shows that with proper knowledge of in-situ geomechanical characteristics, InSAR coupled with geomechanical modelling can be a useful tool to understand injection/production monitoring data and identify possible effects of CSS operations on the structural integrity of subsurface.
An Updated Analysis of Enforcement Actions against Engagement Quality Reviewers
Authors: Kraussman Michael , Messier William F. 
Published: May 2015

SUMMARY
Engagement quality review (EQR) is designed to be a quality control mechanism for improving the quality of audit engagements. This paper updates the findings of Messier, Kozloski, and Kochetova-Kozloski (2010) on enforcement actions against engagement quality (EQ) reviewers, especially in light of the December 2009 implementation of the new standard on engagement quality review, Auditing Standard No. 7 (AS7). We identified 16 enforcement actions since 2009 that involve some type of sanction against an EQ reviewer. Only two cases involved a Big 4 firm. Thus, the vast majority of cases involved EQRs from smaller public accounting firms. Six cases occurred prior to the implementation of AS7, nine cases occurred after AS7 took effect, and one case involved violations both prior to and after AS7 implementation. All of the pre-AS7 cases involved sanctions resulting from an inadequate EQR. In contrast, all of the post-AS7 cases involved sanctions resulting from a failure to perform an EQR. Our review of these post-AS7 cases suggests that some small firms were either unable or unwilling to bring in qualified outside reviewers. Our findings provide important implications for practitioners, regulators, and researchers interested in engagement quality review and in improving the overall quality of audit engagements.
Data Availability: The cases included in this study are available from public sources.
Is PCAOB Standard No. 5 Impairing Auditor Objectivity?
Authors: Brody Richard G. , Haynes Christine M. , White Craig G. 
Published: May 2015

SUMMARY
Auditing Standard No. 5 (AS5) urges external auditors to rely on the work of internal auditors when auditing internal controls over financial reporting. Although relying on the work of internal auditors may enhance audit efficiency, this paper examines whether such reliance is achieved at the expense of audit effectiveness. Specifically, this commentary questions whether conformity with AS5 is advisable given that changes in auditor/client relationships may have impacted internal and external auditor objectivity. Research has demonstrated that since the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 external auditor objectivity has improved, ostensibly due to a reduced conflict of interest between external auditors and their clients. Although this result has positive implications for relying on the work of internal auditors, research also shows that internal auditors' objectivity has not improved over time. Thus, in complying with AS5, external auditors may be incorporating internal auditors' biases into their own judgments. The impact and implications of this problem are discussed.
Physical Therapists as Primary Practitioners in the Emergency Department: Six-Month Prospective Practice Analysis
Authors: de Gruchy Adam , Granger Catherine , Gorelik Alexandra 
Published: May 2015

Background
Increasing pressure on the emergency department (ED) throughout the world has meant the introduction of innovative ways of working. One such innovation is the advanced practice physical therapist (APP) acting as a primary contact practitioner. There has been little research into the role beyond identifying patient satisfaction with management, cost-effectiveness, and time efficiency. In order to give further support and assist in development of an APP service in the ED, an increased exploration of patient caseload demographics, resource utilization, and management outcomes is needed.

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative data regarding patient demographics, time efficiency, resource utilization, and management outcomes to examine the APP role in the ED.

Design
This was a prospective observational study of practice.

Setting
The study was conducted in a single ED in Melbourne, Australia.

Method
Data collection was conducted over a 6-month period. Patient demographics and diagnoses, assessment times, hospital resource utilization, and discharge destinations were recorded.

Results
One thousand seventeen patients (45% female; median age=34 years, interquartile range=25–52) were managed by the APPs; 89% had conditions triaged as not serious or life threatening, and 97% had musculoskeletal pathologies, with the most common diagnosis being fracture or dislocation. Four-hour length-of-stay targets were met in 95% of the patients. Forty-six percent of the patients seen were managed independently, without any support from medical colleagues. The most frequent discharge destination was a referral back to the primary care physician or to hospital outpatient clinics. When comparing similar diagnostic groups, the APPs were significantly more time-efficient than ED physicians in their patient management.

Conclusions
This study described in detail the caseload managed by the APP in the ED and identified the role as a valuable asset to an ED, managing a great deal of their caseload independently, safely, and time efficiently.