bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High-Deductible Health Plans: Are Vulnerable Families Enrolled?
Authors: Galbraith Alison A. , Ross-Degnan Dennis , Soumerai Stephen B. , Miroshnik Irina , Wharam J. Frank , Kleinman Kenneth , Lieu Tracy A. 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVE. There is concern that high-deductible health plans may have negative effects on vulnerable groups. The objective of this study was to compare the characteristics of families who have children and switch to high-deductible health plans with those who stay in traditional plans.METHODS. This double-cohort study included families who had children aged &lt;18 years and were enrolled in a Massachusetts health plan through employers who did not offer a choice of health plans. We identified families who had traditional health maintenance organization plans for a 12-month baseline period between 2001 and 2004 and compared families whose coverage was then switched to a high-deductible health plan by their employers with similar families whose employer chose to remain in the traditional plan (controls). Data came from health plan enrollment and claims datasets and census data. We used multivariate logistic regression models to compare the characteristics of families who were switched to high-deductible health plans with controls.RESULTS. We identified 839 families who had children and whose employer switched them to high-deductible health plans and 5133 controls. Among families with large employers, the adjusted odds of the employer switching to a high-deductible health plan were higher for families living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Among families with small employers, the adjusted odds of the employer switching to a high-deductible health plan were lower for families with more children, above-average family morbidity, and baseline total expenditures &gt;$7000.CONCLUSIONS. Among families with large employers offering a single health plan, those from low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be switched to high-deductible health plans. In contrast, families with small employers offering a single plan are more likely to be switched to high-deductible health plans if they are healthier and have lower baseline costs. These findings suggest that families with children in high-deductible plans may represent two distinct groups, one with higher-risk characteristics and another with lower-risk characteristics compared with those in traditional plans.
Gut Morphometrics in the Long-Tailed Duck Clangula Hyemalis Wintering on the Polish Baltic Coast
Authors: Działa-Szczepańczyk Ewa 
Published: March 2009

Gut Morphometrics in the Long-Tailed DuckClangula HyemalisWintering on the Polish Baltic CoastThe study included guts of 140 individuals of the long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisobtained in autumn and winter of 1993-2000 in the western part of the Polish Baltic Coast. The following morphometric characters were analysed: duodenum length (DL), combined jejunum and ileum length (JIL), small intestine length (SIL), combined terminal intestine and cloaca length (TCL), and combined length (CBL) and weight (CBW) of both caeca. In the analysis the birds' sex and age were taken into consideration, as well as their body size characterised by body weight, body length, and sternum length. Ontogenetic differences in the gut morphometric characters were more pronounced in males than in females, and immature drakes were characterised by higher average values of JIL and CBW, compared to adult males. Besides the CBL and CBW, sexual dimorphism was manifest in the body size and other gut measurements - those parameters achieved higher average values in males than in females. No such differences were recorded with respect to relative parameters: DL, SIL, and TCL expressed as the percentage of the birds' body length. In case of JIL, CBL, and CBW no relation with any of the body size parameters was found. No relevant relations between SIL and JIL, and the measurements of CBL and TCL were noticed.
Retrospective multicentre study of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in 115 horses
Authors: ANDERSON M. E. C. , LEFEBVRE S. L. , RANKIN S. C. , ACETO H. , MORLEY P. S. , CARON J. P. , WELSH R. D. , HOLBROOK T. C. , MOORE B. , TAYLOR D. R. , WEESE J. S. 
Published: March 2009

Summary Reasons for performing study: Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging veterinary and zoonotic pathogen, associated with increasing reports of disease in horses. Objectives: To provide an overview of the characteristics of clinical MRSA infections in horses. Methods: A retrospective case study was performed on 115 horses admitted to 6 participating veterinary teaching hospitals in Canada and the United States between 2000 and 2006, and diagnosed with clinical MRSA infection. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable analyses for community‐ (CA) vs. hospital‐associated (HA) MRSA infections, and survival vs. nonsurvival at discharge were performed. Results: The age range of MRSA‐infected horses was zero (born in hospital) to 31 years. HA (58/114, 50.9%) and CA infections (56/114, 49.1%) were equally common. Infection of surgical incisions was most frequently reported (44/115, 38.0%). Overall 93/111 (83.8%) cases survived to discharge. Previous hospitalisation and treatment with gentamicin were associated significantly with CA‐MRSA, whereas infected incision sites were associated significantly with HA‐MRSA. Factors significantly associated with nonsurvival included i.v. catheterisation, CA‐MRSA infection and dissemination of infection to other body sites. Conclusions: Equine MRSA infections have a broad range of clinical presentations, appear to be primarily opportunistic and the overall prognosis for survival to discharge is good. Potential relevance: These results should help direct future research with regard to investigation of risk factors for equine MRSA infection in community and hospital populations.
Pharmacokinetics of detomidine and its metabolites following intravenous and intramuscular administration in horses
Authors: GRIMSRUD K. N. , MAMA K. R. , THOMASY S. M. , STANLEY S. D. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryReasons for performing study: Detomidine is commonly used i.v. for sedation and analgesia in horses, but the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of this drug have not been well described.Objectives: To describe the pharmacokinetics of detomidine and its metabolites, 3‐hydroxy‐detomidine (OH‐detomidine) and detomidine 3‐carboxylic acid (COOH‐detomidine), after i.v. and i.m. administration of a single dose to horses.Methods: Eight horses were used in a balanced crossover design study. In Phase 1, 4 horses received a single dose of i.v. detomidine, administered 30 μg/kg bwt and 4 a single dose i.m. 30 üg/kg bwt. In Phase 2, treatments were reversed. Plasma detomidine, OH‐detomidine and COOH‐detomidine were measured at predetermined time points using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry.Results: Following i.v. administration, detomidine was distributed rapidly and eliminated with a half‐life (t1/2(el)) of approximately 30 min. Following i.m. administration, detomidine was distributed and eliminated with t1/2(el)of approximately one hour. Following, i.v. administration, detomidine clearance had a mean, median and range of 12.41, 11.66 and 10.10–18.37 ml/min/kg bwt, respectively. Detomidine had a volume of distribution with the mean, median and range for i.v. administration of 470, 478 and 215–687 ml/kg bwt, respectively. OH‐detomidine was detected sooner than COOH‐detomidine; however, COOH‐detomidine had a much greater area under the curve.Conclusions and potential relevance: These pharmacokinetic parameters provide information necessary for determination of peak plasma concentrations and clearance of detomidine in mature horses. The results suggest that, when a longer duration of plasma concentration is warranted, the i.m. route should be considered.
Retreatment of trigeminal neuralgia with Gamma Knife radiosurgery: is there an appropriate cumulative dose?
Authors: Dvorak Tomas , Finn Arkadiy , Price Lori Lyn , Mignano John E. , Fitzek Markus M. , Wu Julian K. , Yao Kevin C. 
Published: March 2009

Object
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a disorder of the trigeminal nerve that results in intense episodic pain. Primary treatment with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) is well established; however, a significant number of patients experience recurrence of TN over time. Repeat GKS can be performed, but the retreatment dose has not been well established. In this study, the authors present their institutional retreatment results and compare them with other series.

Methods
Between December 2003 and January 2006, 28 patients were treated at Tufts Medical Center with repeat GKS for recurrence of TN. All patients had been initially treated with GKS at this institution, and only those with significant pain improvement were offered retreatment. The maximum dose was prescribed using a single isocenter; the 4-mm collimator was used. The initial median GKS dose was 80 Gy, the median retreatment dose was 45 Gy, and the median cumulative dose was 125 Gy. The median time between GKS procedures was 18.1 months. Facial pain outcomes were defined using the Marseille scale. Excellent outcome was defined as no pain (with or without medications), and good outcome was defined as > 50% pain relief. Toxicity was categorized as none, mild, or bothersome. The median clinical follow-up after the second GKS was 19.7 months. Our clinical outcomes were compared with 8 previously reported retreatment series (including 1 abstract), both for rate of pain control and for rate of complications.

Results
Outcomes after the second GKS were excellent in 29% (8 patients), good in 32% (9), and poor in 39% (11). Four patients (14%) experienced no improvement after repeat GKS. Eight patients (29%) experienced new trigeminal nerve dysfunction, including numbness (11%), paresthesia (14%), dysesthesia (4%), taste alteration (11%), and bite weakness (4%). None of these were bothersome. No patient developed corneal numbness. Univariate analysis failed to reveal any significant predictors of pain control or complications.
Seven published peer-reviewed retreatment series and the authors' data (total 215 patients) were analyzed. There was a cumulative dose-response relationship for both pain control (p = 0.04) and new trigeminal dysfunction (p = 0.08). Successful pain control was strongly correlated with development of new dysfunction (p = 0.02). A cumulative dose > 130 Gy was more likely to result in successful (> 50%) pain control, but was also more likely (> 20%) to result in development of new dysfunction.

Conclusions
Successful retreatment of patients in whom the initial GKS treatment fails is feasible. Patients who respond initially may be at a higher risk of retreatment-related complications. There appears to be a dose-response relationship for both pain control and development of new side effects. It is important to counsel and treat patients individually based on this dose-response relationship.
Effect of trans sodium crocetinate on brain tumor oxgenation
Authors: Sheehan Jason , Sherman Jonathan , Cifarelli Christopher , Jagannathan Jay , Dassoulas Kasandra , Olson Claire , Rainey Jessica , Han Shaojie 
Published: March 2009

Object
Glioblastoma multiforme tumors typically exhibit regions of hypoxia. Hypoxic regions within the tumor make cells less sensitive to radiosurgery and radiation therapy. Trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) has been shown to be a radiosensitizer. The goal of this research was to elucidate the underlying mechanism of TSC's radiosensitizing effect.

Methods
A rat C6 glioma model was used. The C6 glioma cells were stereotactically injected into the rat brain to create a tumor. Two weeks later, MR imaging was used to confirm the presence of a glioma. Following demonstration on MR imaging of a brain tumor, animals were randomized into 1 of 2 groups: 1) TSC alone (100 μg/kg), or 2) saline control. Licox probes were inserted into the brain tumor and contralateral cerebral hemisphere. Tissue oxygenation measurements were recorded before and after intravenous infusion of either TSC or saline.

Results
Not surprisingly, tissue oxygenation measurements revealed that the brain tumor was hypoxic relative to the contralateral cerebral hemisphere brain tissue. Two to 8 minutes after TSC was infused, tissue oxygenation measurements in the brain tumor increased above baseline by as much as 60%. After this temporary elevation following TSC infusion, tumor oxygenation measurements returned to baseline. No significant elevations in tissue oxygenation were seen on the contralateral side. Similarly, the saline vehicle was not observed to increase tissue oxygenation in either the brain tumor or the contralateral brain tissue.

Conclusions
Administration of TSC transiently improves tissue oxygenation in hypoxic gliomas. Such an effect is one potential mechanism for the radiosensitization previously observed after addition of TSC.
Assessment and mapping of snow avalanche risk in Russia
Authors: Seliverstov Yuri , Glazovskaya Tatiana , Shnyparkov Alexander , Vilchek Yana , Sergeeva Ksenia , Martynov Alexei 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe term ‘risk’ can be defined as the probability of unfavourable consequences or negative effects. Risk can be expressed by means of various indices, such as collective or social risk (possible number of dead), individual risk (probability of a person’s death within a certain territory during 1 year), probability of losses, etc. This paper is a case study of the small-scale assessment and mapping of individual avalanche risk focused on the two regions of Russia with the highest levels of avalanche activity: the northern Caucasus and the mountainous parts of Sakhalin island. The basic indices applied for individual avalanche risk estimation are: recurrence interval of avalanches (avalanche frequency), percentage of the whole investigated territory that is occupied by avalanche-prone areas, duration of avalanche danger period, probability of a person’s stay in an avalanche-prone area during 1 day (24 hours) and during 1 year, total population of the area and its density. The results of individual avalanche risk assessment, undertaken for the territory of Russia as a whole, show that its values generally do not exceed the admissible level (from 1×10–6 to 1×10–4). However, some areas of the northern Caucasus, including famous alpine skiing resorts (Krasnaya Poliana, Dombai, the Mount Elbrus region, etc.), and of Sakhalin, including the environs of towns (Kholmsk, Nevel’sk) and other smaller human settlements, are characterized by an unacceptable level of risk. In the aggregate, areas with an unacceptable (>1×10–4) level of individual avalanche risk comprise about 7% of the whole avalanche-prone territory of the northern Caucasus, those with an admissible level comprise 52% and those with an acceptable level (<1×10–6) 41%. The corresponding values for Sakhalin are 0.1%, 14.8% and 85.1%.
Experimental determination of snow sublimation rate and stable-isotopic exchange
Authors: Neumann T.A. , Albert M.R. , Lomonaco R. , Engel C. , Courville Z. , Perron F. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSnow sublimation is a fundamental process that affects the snow crystal structure and is important for ice-core interpretation, remote sensing, snow hydrology and chemical processes in snow. Prior studies have shown that sublimation can change the isotopic content of the remaining snow; these studies have inferred sublimation rates using field data, and were unable to control many of the environmental parameters that determine sublimation rate (e.g. temperature, relative humidity, snow microstructure). We present sublimation rate measurements on snow samples in the laboratory, where we have controlled many of these parameters simultaneously. We use the same experimental apparatus to determine sublimation rate, investigate the isotopic effects of sublimation, and study the isotopic exchange between vapor and solid. Our results suggest that pore spaces in snow are almost always at saturation vapor pressure; undersaturation may be possible in large pore spaces or in regions of rapid interstitial airflow. We present a revised formulation for determining the mass-transfer coefficient for snow as a linear function of Reynolds number (hm = 0.566Re + 0.075), estimate the fractionation coefficient for sublimating snow, and provide evidence for isotopic exchange between vapor and solid.
Simple relations for the close-off depth and age in dry-snow densification
Authors: Salamatin Andrey N. , Lipenkov Vladimir Ya. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA physical model for the snow/firn densification process (Salamatin and others, 2006) and Martinerie and others’ (1992, 1994) correlation for the firn density at the pore closure are employed to perform a scale analysis and computational experiments in order to deduce simplified relations for the close-off depth and ice age in quasi-stationary ice formation conditions. The critical snow density at which ice-grain rearrangement stops is used to take into account variability of snow structures subjected to densification. The results obtained are validated on a representative set of ice-core data from 22 sites which covers wide ranges of present-day temperatures and ice accumulation rates. A simple analytical approximation for the density–depth profile is proposed.
Reconstruction of snow/firn thermal diffusivities from observed temperature variation: application to iceberg C16, Ross Sea, Antarctica, 2004–07
Authors: Sergienko Olga V. , MacAyeal Douglas R. , Thom Jonathan E. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract.Two inverse methods are proposed as a means of estimating the thermal diffusivity of snow and firn from continuous measurements of their temperature. The first method is applicable to shallow depths where temperature experiences diurnal variations, and is based on the fact that phase and amplitude of these diurnal variations are functions of the thermal diffusivity. The second method is applicable to the deeper part of the firn layer, and is based on a simple least-squares estimation technique. The methods applied here differ from various methods used for borehole paleothermometry in that observations are continuous in time and performance constraints on model/data misfit can be applied over a finite temporal period. Both methods are tested on temperature records from thermistor strings operating in the upper 2.5 m of firn on iceberg C16 (Ross Sea, Antarctica) from 2004 to 2007. Results of the analysis show promise in identifying melting events and the movement and refreezing of meltwater within the snow/firn layer.
Winter regime of temperature and precipitation as a factor of snow-cover distribution and its stratigraphy
Authors: Golubev Vladimir N. , Petrushina Marina N. , Frolov Denis M. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe investigation of spatial and temporal variability of the snow cover in northern Eurasia (snow depth, density, thermal characteristics, water equivalent) includes large-scale fieldwork, modelling and analysis of meteorological data of two winters (2004/05 and 2005/06) from 38 weather stations situated in different climatic conditions and physico-geographical zones. Common regularities and features of snow-cover variability are revealed for these winters, despite their contrasting temperature and precipitation regimes and differences from an average winter, as the time of appearance, duration and depth of snow cover, the number of snowfalls and date of melting. The modelling of snow-cover stratigraphy is based on viscous compression and recrystallization laws. Meteorological information (temperature, wind velocity and precipitation) is used as input for the model. The output is the specific snow-cover stratigraphy according to positioning in different physical–geographical regions and due to the possible variation as determined by winter temperature and precipitation regimes. The peculiarity of snow-cover stratigraphy at the regional scale depends on the meteorological conditions of its formation as well as on the character of landscapes. A satisfactory correlation of the modelled typical columns of the snow cover formed in 2004/05 and 2005/06 in different regions of Russia and of real columns is revealed.
Modelling of snow avalanche dynamics: influence of model parameters
Authors: Bozhinskiy A.N. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe three-parameter hydraulic model of snow avalanche dynamics including the coefficients of dry and turbulent friction and the coefficient of new-snow-mass entrainment was investigated. The ‘Domestic’ avalanche site in Elbrus region, Caucasus, Russia, was chosen as the model avalanche range. According to the model, the fixed avalanche run-out can be achieved with various combinations of model parameters. At the fixed value of the coefficient of entrainment me , we have a curve on a plane of the coefficients of dry and turbulent friction. It was found that the family of curves ( me is a parameter) are crossed at the single point. The value of the coefficient of turbulent friction at the cross-point remained practically constant for the maximum and average avalanche run-outs. The conclusions obtained are confirmed by the results of modelling for six arbitrarily chosen avalanche sites: three in the Khibiny mountains, Kola Peninsula, Russia, two in the Elbrus region and one idealized site with an exponential longitudinal profile. The dependences of run-out on the coefficient of dry friction are constructed for all the investigated avalanche sites. The results are important for the statistical simulation of avalanche dynamics since they suggest the possibility of using only one random model parameter, namely, the coefficient of dry friction, in the model. The histograms and distribution functions of the coefficient of dry friction are constructed and presented for avalanche sites Nos 22 and 43 (Khibiny mountains) and ‘Domestic’, with the available series of field data.
Chemical and Antioxidant Studies of <i>Citrus macroptera</i>
Authors: Chowdhury Sadia A , Sohrab M Hossain , Datta Bidyut K , Hasan Choudhury M 
Published: March 2009

Lupeol (1) and Stigmasterol (2) were isolated from the crude extracts of the stem bark of Citrus macroptera (Family: Rutaceae) for the first time. The n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were screened in vitro for antioxidant activity using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The hot methanol extract showed potential antioxidant activity (IC50: 178.96 Î¼g/ml) whereas the cold methanol and dichloromethane extracts showed moderate activity (IC50: 242.78 Î¼g/ml and 255.78 Î¼g/ml respectively). Mild antioxidant activity was observed with the n-hexane extract of the stem bark of Citrus macroptera (IC50: 422.94 Î¼g/ml). Key words: Citrus macroptera, Rutaceae, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, Antioxidant. Â doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i4.2235 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(4), 449-454, 2008
Synthesis of Ca-hydroxyapatite Bioceramic from Egg Shell and its Characterization
Authors: Ahmed Samina , Ahsan Mainul 
Published: March 2009

Ca-hydroxyapatite (HA) was synthesised from egg shell under different conditions and characterised by using AAS, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDS techniques. The results of these analyses combined together indicate that sintered HA sample1 resembles the feature of pure and single apatite phase having hexagonal structure. A Ca/P molar ratio of 1.69 was achieved in this case. On the other hand HA obtained from calcined egg shell is a combination of both amorphous and crystalline phase and revealed a sub-stoichiometric Ca-deficient apatite form with a Ca/P ratio of 1.50. Keywords: Ca-hydroxyapatite, Biomaterials, Hexagonal, stoichiometric apatite, Ca-deficient apatite Â doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i4.2240 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(4), 501-512, 2008