bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Access to, use of and satisfaction with health services among adults enrolled in Brazil’s Family Health Strategy: evidence from the 2008 National Household Survey
Authors: Macinko James , Lima Costa Maria F. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractObjective To assess the effects of participation in Brazil’s primary healthcare programme (the Family Health Strategy or FHS) on access, use and satisfaction with health services among adults.Methods Data are from the 2008 National Household Survey (PNAD) on 264 754 adults. This cross‐sectional analysis compares FHS enrollees to both non‐enrollees and those with private health plans. We calculated predicted probabilities of each outcome stratified by household wealth quintile, rural/urban location and sex using robust Poisson regression. We performed propensity score analysis to assess the differences in access among FHS enrollees and the rest of the population, once relevant socio‐demographic characteristics and other determinants of access were balanced.Results Compared to families with neither FHS enrolment nor private health plans, adult FHS enrollees were generally more likely to have a usual source of care, to have visited a doctor or dentist in the past 12 months, to have access to needed medications and to be satisfied with the care they received. The FHS effect was largest among urban dwellers and the poorest.Conclusions The FHS appears to be associated with enhanced access to and utilization of health services in Brazil. However, it has not yet been able to match levels of access experienced by those with private health plans, perhaps because the population served by the FHS is among the poorest, most rural and least healthy in the country.
Prevalence and risk factors of polyomavirus BK replication in simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplant recipients from a single transplant center
Authors: Mindlova Martina , Boucek Petr , Saudek Frantisek , Skibova Jelena , Jedinakova Teodora , Lipar Kvetoslav , Adamec Milos , Hirsch Hans H. 
Published: August 2011

Mindlova M, Boucek P, Saudek F, Skibova J, Jedinakova T, Lipar K, Adamec M, Hirsch HH. Prevalence and risk factors of polyomavirus BK replication in simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplant recipients from a single transplant center.  Clin Transplant 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2011.01488.x.  © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Background:  BK virus (BKV) replication is considered as a marker of risk for polyomavirus BK‐associated nephropathy (PVAN). We evaluated the occurrence and risk factors for BKV DNA positivity following simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplantation (SPK).Methods:  Point prevalence of BK viruria and viremia was assessed in 183 SPK recipients. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used with a detection threshold of 103 copies/mL. High‐level BKV positivity was defined as viruria and/or viremia >107 and >104 copies/mL, respectively. BKV‐positive patients were retested after 4–13 months and underwent an additional six‐month clinical follow‐up.Results:  Urine and serum BKV positivity was detected in 28 (17.3% of available samples) and 7 (3.8%) patients, with high‐level viruria and viremia occurring in 6 (3.7%) and 3 (1.6%) patients, respectively. PVAN was biopsy‐confirmed in 1 and suspected as a cause of progressive renal failure in another SPK recipient. Patients with single low‐level viruria did not progress to high‐level positivity or PVAN at follow‐up. In multivariate analysis, pre‐transplant diabetes duration and delayed graft function were independently associated with BKV positivity.Conclusions:  Point prevalence of high‐level BKV positivity and PVAN was low in SPK recipients from a single center. Diabetes duration and delayed graft function were independent risk factors for BKV replication.
Assessing the accuracy of small satellite transmitters on free‐living flying‐foxes
Authors: McKEOWN ADAM , WESTCOTT DAVID A. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractSatellite telemetry using ARGOS platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) is widely used to track the movements of animals, but little is known of the accuracy of these systems when used on active terrestrial mammals. An accurate estimate of the error, and therefore the limitations of the data, is critical when assessing the level of confidence in results. ARGOS provides published 68th percentile error estimates for the three most accurate location classes (LCs), but studies have shown that the errors can be far greater when the devices are attached to free‐living animals. Here we use data from a study looking at the habitat use of the spectacled flying‐fox in the wet tropics of Queensland to calculate these errors for all LCs in free‐living terrestrial mammals, and use these results to assess what level of confidence we would have in habitat use assignment in the study area. The results showed that our calculated 68th percentile errors were larger than the published ARGOS errors for all LCs, and that for all classes the error frequency had a very long tail. Habitat use results showed that the size of the error compared with the scale of the habitat the study was conducted in makes it unlikely that our data can be used to assess habitat use with great confidence. Overall, our results show that while satellite telemetry results are useful for assessing large scale movements of animals, in complex landscapes they may not be accurate enough to be used for finer scale analysis including habitat use assessment.
Response of plant species and life form diversity to variable fire histories and biomass in the jarrah forest of south‐west Australia
Authors: PEKIN BURAK K. , WITTKUHN ROY S. , BOER MATTHIAS M. , MACFARLANE CRAIG , GRIERSON PAULINE F. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractFrequent fires reduce the abundance of woody plant species and favour herbaceous species. Plant species richness also tends to increase with decreasing vegetation biomass and cover due to reduced competition for light. We assessed the influence of variable fire histories and site biomass on the following diversity measures: woody and herbaceous species richness, overall species richness and evenness, and life form evenness (i.e. the relative abundance or dominance among six herbaceous and six woody plant life forms), across 16 mixed jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (Corymbia calophylla) forest stands in south‐west Australia. Fire frequency was defined as the total number of fires over a 30‐year period. Overall species richness and species evenness did not vary with fire frequency or biomass. However, there were more herbaceous species (particularly rushes, geophytes and herbs) where there were fewer shrubs and low biomass, suggesting that more herbaceous species coexist where dominance by shrubs is low. Frequently burnt plots also had lower number and abundance of shrub species. Life form evenness was also higher at both high fire frequency and low biomass sites. These results suggest that the impact of fire frequency and biomass on vegetation composition is mediated by local interactions among different life forms rather than among individual species. Our results demonstrate that measuring the variation in the relative diversity of different woody and herbaceous life forms is crucial to understanding the compositional response of forests and other structurally complex vegetation communities to changes in disturbance regime such as increased fire frequency.
Corymbia leaf oils, latitude, hybrids and herbivory: A test using common‐garden field trials
Authors: NAHRUNG HELEN F. , HAYES R. ANDREW , WAUGH RACHEL , LAWSON SIMON A. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractFoliar oils, particularly monoterpenes, can influence the susceptibility of plants to herbivory. In plants, including eucalypts, monoterpenes are often associated with plant defence. A recent analysis revealed an increase in foliar oil content with increasing latitudinal endemism, and we tested this pattern using three eucalypt taxa comprising a latitudinal replacement cline. We also examined the relative concentrations of two monoterpenes (α‐pinene and 1,8‐cineole), for which meta‐analyses also showed latitudinal variation, using hybrids of these three taxa with Corymbia torelliana. These, and pure C. torelliana, were then assessed in common‐garden field plots for the abundance and distribution of herbivory by four distinct herbivore taxa. Differing feeding strategies among these herbivores allowed us to test hypotheses regarding heritability of susceptibility and relationships to α‐pinene and 1,8‐cineole. We found no support for an increase in foliar oil content with increasing latitude, nor did our analysis support predictions for consistent variation in α‐pinene and 1,8‐cineole contents with latitude. However, herbivore species showed differential responses to different taxa and monoterpene contents. For example, eriophyid mites, the most monophagous of our censused herbivores, avoided the pure species, but fed on hybrid taxa, supporting hypotheses on hybrid susceptibility. The most polyphagous herbivore (leaf blister sawfly Phylacteophaga froggatti) showed no evidence of response to plant secondary metabolites, while the distribution and abundance patterns of Paropsis atomaria showed some relationship to monoterpene yields.
Co‐metabolic conversion of toluene in anaerobic n‐alkane‐degrading bacteria
Authors: Rabus Ralf , Jarling René , Lahme Sven , Kühner Simon , Heider Johann , Widdel Friedrich , Wilkes Heinz 
Published: August 2011

SummaryDiverse microorganisms have been described to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons anaerobically. Strains able to utilize n‐alkanes do not grow with aromatic hydrocarbons, whereas strains able to utilize aromatic hydrocarbons do not grow with n‐alkanes. To investigate this specificity in more detail, three anaerobic n‐alkane degraders (two denitrifying, one sulfate‐reducing) and eight anaerobic alkylbenzene degraders (five denitrifying, three sulfate‐reducing) were incubated with mixtures of n‐alkanes and toluene. Whereas the toluene degradationers formed only the characteristic toluene‐derived benzylsuccinate and benzoate, but no n‐alkane‐derived metabolites, the n‐alkane degraders formed toluene‐derived benzylsuccinate, 4‐phenylbutanoate, phenylacetate and benzoate besides the regular n‐alkane‐derived (1‐methylalkyl)succinates and methyl‐branched alkanoates. The co‐metabolic conversion of toluene by anaerobic n‐alkane degraders to the level of benzoate obviously follows the anaerobic n‐alkane degradation pathway with C‐skeleton rearrangement and decarboxylation rather than the β‐oxidation pathway of anaerobic toluene metabolism. Hence, petroleum‐derived aromatic metabolites detectable in anoxic environments may not be exclusively formed by genuine alkylbenzene degraders. In addition, the hitherto largely unexplored fate of fumarate hydrogen during the activation reactions was examined with (2,3‐2H2)fumarate as co‐substrate. Deuterium was completely exchanged with hydrogen at the substituted carbon atom (C‐2) of the succinate adducts of n‐alkanes, whereas it is retained in toluene‐derived benzylsuccinate, regardless of the type of enzyme catalysing the fumarate addition reaction.
Role of remuneration committee in narrative human capital disclosure
Authors: Abeysekera Indra 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThis study empirically investigates whether independent directors on the remuneration committee influence narrative human capital disclosure (NAHCD) in firms where independent directors dominate the board composition. NAHCD is measured by frequency of occurrence, using latent content analysis in the annual reports of the top 30 listed firms on the Colombo Stock Exchange from 1998 to 2006. This study examines two attributes of corporate governance, controlling for other corporate governance attributes and firm‐level attributes. The findings highlight the importance of considering a firm’s independent director involvement in the remuneration committee when determining NAHCD strategy.
Antidepressant‐like effect of riparin II from Aniba riparia in mice: evidence for the involvement of the monoaminergic system
Authors: Teixeira Caroline Porto Leite , de Melo Carla Thiciane Vasconcelos , de Araújo Fernando Luiz Oliveira , de Carvalho Allyne Mara Rodrigues , Silva Maria Izabel Gomes , Barbosa‐Filho José Maria , Macêdo Danielle Silveira , de Barros Viana Glauce Socorro , de Sousa Francisca Cléa Florenço 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIn a previous study conducted by our group, riparin II (ripII) isolated from the green fruit of Aniba riparia presented antianxiety effects in mice. This study investigates a possible antidepressant activity of rip II using two predictive tests for antidepressant activity in rodents: the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Additionally, the mechanisms involved in the antidepressant‐like effect in mice were also assessed. Rip II was acute administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral (p.o) routes to male mice at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. Results showed that ripII at both tested doses and administration routes produced a significant decrease of immobility time in FST and TST. The pretreatment of mice with prazosin (1 mg/kg, i.p., an α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist), SCH23390 (15 μg/kg, i.p., a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist), sulpiride (50 mg/kg, i.p., a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist), p‐chlorophenylalanine (100 mg/kg, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis), or NAN‐190 (0.5 mg/kg, a serotonin 5‐HT1A receptor antagonist) completely blocked the anti‐immobility effects elicited by riparin II (50 mg/kg, p.o.) in the FST. This study indicates that riparin II produces significant antidepressant‐like activity in the forced swimming and TSTs, and this effect seems to be dependent on its interaction with noradrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic systems.
Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates root growth during the development of mouse molar teeth
Authors: Sakuraba H. , Fujiwara N. , Sasaki‐Oikawa A. , Sakano M. , Tabata Y. , Otsu K. , Ishizeki K. , Harada H. 
Published: August 2011

Sakuraba H, Fujiwara N, Sasaki‐Oikawa A, Sakano M, Tabata Y, Otsu K, Ishizeki K, Harada H. Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates root growth during the development of mouse molar teeth. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 81–88. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/SBackground and Objective:  It is well known that tooth root formation is initiated by the development of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath (HERS). However, relatively little is known about the regulatory mechanisms involved in root development. As hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the mediators of epithelial–mesenchymal interactions in rodent tooth, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of HGF on the root development of mouse molars.Material and Methods:  The HERS of mouse molars and HERS01a, a cell line originated from HERS, were used in this study. For detection of HGF receptors in vivo and in vitro, we used immunochemical procedures. Root development was assessed by implanting molar tooth germs along with HGF‐soaked beads into kidney capsules, by counting cell numbers in HERS01a cell cultures and by performing a 5′‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay in an organ‐culture system.Results:  HGF receptors were expressed in the enamel epithelium of molar germs as well as in HERS cells. HGF stimulated root development in the transplanted tooth germs, the proliferation of HERS01a cells in culture and HERS elongation in the organ‐culture system. Examination using BrdU revealed that cell proliferation in HERS was increased by treatment with HGF, especially that in the outer layer of HERS. This effect was down‐regulated when antibody against HGF receptor was present in the culture medium.Conclusion:  Our results raise the possibility that HGF signaling controls root formation via the development of HERS. This study is the first to show that HGF is one of the stimulators of root development.
Effects of adhesive dressings on stratum corneum conductance
Authors: Cavallini Maurizio , Gazzola Riccardo , Vaienti Luca 
Published: August 2011

BackgroundStratum corneum is a fundamental layer of epidermis. It acts as a barrier, with antimicrobial features, regulating skin permeability and integrity as well. Adhesive dressings and their removal could alter this layer, affecting cutaneous water balance and lipid composition of stratum corneum. These changes could be monitored by measurement of cutaneous hydration.MethodsNinety‐two patients affected by wounds dressed with adhesive tapes or plasters have been studied. Measurement of skin conductance under tape/plaster and in the surrounding healthy skin, immediately after removal of dressing has been performed. Dressing age, wound localization, and characteristics were also considered.ResultsAdhesive dressings alter significantly stratum corneum conductance. Although healthy skin hydration has significant variations throughout the body, cutaneous conductance under adhesive dressing in different areas displays no significative changes. Moreover, the increase in hydration due to adhesive tapes/plasters showed no association with wound dehiscence.DiscussionAdhesive dressings cause a significative increase in stratum corneum conductance, acting as a barrier to apocrine secretions. Although different hydration levels have been observed in healthy skin throughout the body, no difference exists under adhesive dressing among different regions, suggesting no contraindications in their employment throughout the body.ConclusionIncrease in cutaneous hydration showed no correlations with wound dehiscence, thus confirming safety and practicality of these dressings.
Computer‐aided pattern classification system for dermoscopy images
Authors: Abbas Qaisar , Emre Celebi M. , Fondón Irene 
Published: August 2011

BackgroundComputer‐aided pattern classification of melanoma and other pigmented skin lesions is one of the most important tasks for clinical diagnosis. To differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, the extraction of color, architectural order, symmetry of pattern and homogeneity (CASH) is a challenging task.MethodsIn this article, a novel pattern classification system (PCS) based on the clinical CASH rule is presented to classify among six classes of patterns. The PCS system consists of the following five steps: transformation to the CIE L*a*b* color space, pre‐processing to enhance the tumor region and removal of hairs, tumor‐area segmentation, color and texture feature extraction, and finally, classification based on a multiclass support vector machine.ResultsThe PCS system is tested on a total of 180 dermoscopic images. To test the performance of the PCS diagnostic classifier, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) is utilized. The proposed classifier achieved a sensitivity of 91.64%, specificity of 94.14%, and AUC of 0.948.ConclusionThe experimental results demonstrate that the proposed pattern classifier is highly accurate and classify between benign and malignant lesions into some extend. The PCS method is fully automatic and can accurately detect different patterns from dermoscopy images using color and texture properties. Additional pattern features can be included to investigate the impact of pattern classification based on the CASH rule.
Two‐dimensional dielectric imaging for dermatologic screening: a feasibility study
Authors: Habibi Mohammad , Olasz Edit B. , Klemer David P. 
Published: August 2011

Background/purposeThe diagnosis of skin neoplasia can be very challenging, given the low sensitivity and specificity of traditional methods of diagnosis which are based on visual appearance. Techniques which are based on the dielectric properties of cells can improve the diagnostic accuracy of screening techniques; as an example, point‐contact coaxial probes for dielectric measurement can improve diagnostic accuracy. Unfortunately, these probes are not well suited for two‐dimensional spatial imaging of the skin surface, given that they must be manually scanned over the skin surface.Methods/ResultsAn electronic scanning probe was developed and fabricated to simulate an open‐ended coaxial probe suitable for two‐dimensional dielectric imaging of human skin in real time. A clinical study was undertaken to demonstrate proof‐of‐concept for the instrumentation. A select group of normal healthy subjects as well as a subject with diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma participated in this study. The electronic scanning probe was found to be a potentially useful tool for providing two‐dimensional images from diseased skin.ConclusionThe electronic scanning probe used for the present study addresses existing limitations with current coaxial probes. Measurements of healthy and diseased areas of skin are provided to illustrate the feasibility of the approach.
Reference dosimetry during diagnostic CT examination using XR‐QA radiochromic film model
Authors: Boivin Jonathan , Tomic Nada , Fadlallah Bassam , DeBlois François , Devic Slobodan 
Published: August 2011

Purpose:The authors applied 2D reference dosimetry protocol for dose measurements using XR‐QA radiochromic film model during diagnostic computed tomography (CT) examinations carried out on patients and humanoid Rando phantom.Methods:Response of XR‐QA model GAFCHROMIC™ film reference dosimetry system was calibrated in terms of Air‐Kerma in air. Four most commonly used CT protocols were selected on their CT scanner (GE Lightspeed VCT 64), covering three anatomical sites (head, chest, and abdomen). For each protocol, 25 patients ongoing planned diagnostic CT examination were recruited. Surface dose was measured using four or eight film strips taped on patients' skin and on Rando phantom. Film pieces were scanned prior to and after irradiation using Epson Expression™ 10000XL document scanner. Optical reflectance of the unexposed film piece was subtracted from exposed one to obtain finalnet reflectance change, which is subsequently converted to dose using previously established calibration curves.Results:The authors' measurements show that body skin dose variation has a sinusoidal pattern along the scanning axis due to the helical movement of the x‐ray tube, and a comb pattern for head dose measurements due to its axial movement. Results show that the mean skin dose at anterior position for patients is (51 ± 6) mGy, (29 ± 11) mGy, (45 ± 13) mGy and (38 ± 20) mGy for head, abdomen, angio Abdomen, and chest and abdomen protocol (UP position), respectively. The obtained experimental dose length products (DLP) show higher values than CT based DLP taken from the scanner console for body protocols, but lower values for the head protocol. Internal dose measurements inside the phantom's head indicate nonuniformity of dose distribution within scanned volume.Conclusions:In this work, the authors applied an Air‐Kerma in air based radiochromic film reference dosimetry protocol forin vivo skin dose measurements. In this work, they employed green channel extracted from the scanned RGB image for dose measurements in the range from 0 to 200 mGy. Measured skin doses and corresponding DLPs were higher than DLPs provided by the CT scanner manufacturer as they were measured on patients' skin.