bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ORIGINAL RESEARCH: Self‐care and quality of life among patients with heart failure
Authors: Britz Jody A. , Dunn Karen S. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this cross‐sectional, descriptive study was to determine if there were specific self‐care deficits among patients with heart failure at the time of discharge in an acute care setting, which may be related to a decreased quality of life. Data Sources: Patients admitted with acute, chronic congestive heart failure were recruited to complete both the Self‐care of Heart Failure Index and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaires. Data analyses were conducted to determine if there were any significant relationships between self‐care abilities and quality of life. Conclusions: Results from this study were promising as “self‐care confidence” and perceived better health were found to be significantly related to improved quality of life. Heart failure is a chronic disease that requires patients to develop confidence in their self‐care abilities to maintain and improve quality of life. Implications for practice: Findings from this research study suggest that nurse practitioners need to first identify patients with heart failure who lack the self‐care confidence required to manage their condition at home, and then focus on specific educational interventions to build confidence in self‐care prior to discharge.
CASE STUDY: Diagnostic challenge: Myasthenia gravis in the emergency department
Authors: Abbott Susan A. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract Purpose: To describe an instructive case of neurological disease encountered by a nurse practitioner (NP) student in the emergency department (ED). Characteristics, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic considerations, and appropriate testing options for myasthenia gravis (MG) are included. Data sources: Findings from the history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing of a 41‐year‐old male with neck weakness and pain. Review of published literature about MG. Conclusions: MG is a pure motor syndrome characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigue and is exacerbated by sustained muscle use. It is usually caused by an autoimmune process that is chronic and progressive. Multiple patient encounters with the healthcare system often occur prior to diagnosis. Many viable treatment options now exist that can enhance quality of life and improve function. Implications for practice: The NP must include MG in the differential diagnosis with any report of fluctuating muscle weakness or other neurological, upper gastrointestinal, respiratory, or ophthalmic complaint. The key diagnostic finding is a specific muscle weakness that can be reproduced and exacerbated with sustained muscle use. These considerations will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
IMMIGRATION POLICY, BORDER SECURITY, AND MIGRANT DEATHS: AN IMPACT EVALUATION OF LIFE‐SAVING EFFORTS UNDER THE BORDER SAFETY INITIATIVE*
Authors: GUERETTE ROB T. 
Published: September 2010

Research Summary:Subsequent to U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) efforts to control illegal immigration throughout the 1990s, concern arose over an apparent increase in deaths of illegal migrants as they began to undertake more treacherous routes to enter the United States from Mexico. In response, the Border Safety Initiative (BSI) was created to increase safety along the southwest border. Using multiple data sources, including the USBP BSI Incident Tracking System, this study evaluated the impact of life‐saving efforts performed under the BSI program. Results indicate that there has been no overall reduction in the rate of migrant deaths since BSI has been in operation. However, an evaluation of BORSTAR search and rescue teams and the 2003 Lateral Repatriation Program (LRP), which returned apprehended migrants from Tucson sector to less hazardous places along the border, were found to be effective in preventing migrant deaths. Policy Implications: Critics of U.S. immigration policy claim that the only way reductions in migrant deaths along the U.S.‐Mexico border can be achieved is through liberalization of immigration policy and relaxing of border security. Yet, for more than a decade, U.S. policy makers have increased restrictions on immigration and have tightened security at the borders. Considering this, alternative means must be deployed in order to save migrant lives in the near term rather than waiting for a reversal of immigration policy. This study suggests that proactive life‐saving measures implemented through a harm‐reduction strategy can have some impact on saving migrant lives.
Taxonomy of two oxypodine genera, Porocallus Sharp and Rhomphocallus Assing, in Korea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)
Authors: PARK Jong‐Seok , AHN Kee‐Jeong 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA taxonomic study of the genera Porocallus Sharp and Rhomphocallus Assing in Korea is presented. The genus Rhomphocallus and two species, Rhomphocallus princeps (Sharp) and Rhomphocallus maruyamai Assing, are reported for the first time in Korea. Porocallus insignis Sharp is recorded for the first time in South Korea. Diagnoses, illustrations of habitus and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided.
Immature stages of Glyphocassis spilota (Gorham) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) from Korea
Authors: CHO Hee Wook , LEE Jong Eun 
Published: September 2010

AbstractDetailed morphological descriptions and illustrations of the immature stages of Glyphocassis spilota (Gorham) are presented for the first time. Taxonomic remarks and notes on its biology are also provided.
Molecular phylogeny of Camponotus ants in Korea
Authors: KIM Ki‐Gyong , KIM Byung‐Jin 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe molecular phylogeny of 12 species of Camponotus ants in Korea was examined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers as inputs for an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and cluster analysis to describe the relationships between species. For comparison, morphometric data (based on 10 morphological characters) were also gathered for phylogenetic analysis. Assessments of similarity between species were made, and the results of these assessments are compared for the molecular and morphological data sets. In the morphometric analysis, the following groups were identified: (i) C. atrox, C. kiusuensis, C. japonicus and C. concavus (93% similarity); (ii) C. sp. 1 (be diverging at 80% similarity); (iii) C. jejuensis, C. sp. 3, C. itoi, C. nawai and C. tokioensis (94.5% similarity); and (iv) C. nipponensis and C. quadrinotatus (94.5% similarity). Formica fusca was 73.5% similar to the 12 Camponotus species studied here. The group comprising C. nawai and C. tokioensis had the highest similarity index (97.36%), followed by the group comprising C. jejuensis and C. sp. 3 (95%), then C. atrox and C. kiusuensis (94.5%), and then C. nipponensis and C. quadrinotatus (93.5%). In the molecular analysis the following groups were identified: (i) C. atrox and C. jejuensis (30% similarity); (ii) C. concavus, C. japonicus and C. itoi (25% similarity); (iii) C. kiusuensis, C. nawai, C. sp. 3, C. nipponensis, C. quadrinotatus and C. sp. 1 (24% similarity); and (iv) C. tokioensis (be diverging at 23% similarity). The most closely related group in the molecular analysis was C. nawai and C. sp. 3 (75% similarity), followed by C. concavus and C. japonicus (50.5% similarity), then C. atrox and C. jejuensis (30%), and then C. quadrinotatus and C. sp. 1. Camponotus tokioensis was the least closely related to other species among the 12 species studied. Although C. jejuensis and C. tokioensis were found to be 93.6% similar on the basis of morphometric data, molecular data indicated only 23% similarity, the lowest similarity index between any two species considered here. Camponotus jejuensis has marked morphological similarities to C. tokioensis, but on the basis of molecular data gathered in the present study, we refute the proposal that they are synonyms or sister species.
Effects of added nitrogen on leaf nitrogen concentration and population dynamics of insects associated with Rumex obtusifolius L.
Authors: KWON Ohseok 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA series of experiments was designed to study the effects of changes in leaf nitrogen (N) concentration on population dynamics of a range of insects associated with Rumex obtusifolius. During the study period, the N concentration in leaves fluctuated between 2 and 6% dry weight. The insects at both study sites showed a pattern of shift in time for peak population density (time‐shift). This suggests that the insect community dynamics might be closely related to the allocation and distribution of resources by the host‐plant. The elevated N concentration in the host‐plant did not change the temporal order of the peak population densities of the insects, although it may determine the time for the optimal exploitation of resources by each insect species.
Ecological synopsis for Chironomus flaviplumus (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Jung‐rang stream
Authors: KIM Myoung Chul , PARK Jae Heung , HAN Sung Sik 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn this study, we conducted field sampling to assess the relative influences of water and substrate quality on benthic macroinvertebrate communities living in the Jung‐rang stream, Korea. We collected macroinvertebrates and assessed physicochemical variables from three sites in the stream between May 2001 and January 2002. Sites were located approximately within 20 km from the headwater. The structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities may be strongly affected by the physical conditions inherent to the environment in which they live. In this stream, we detected profound differences in water temperature (18 ∼ 19.75°C), the concentrations of suspended solids (3.935 ∼ 7.87 mg/L), and demand for chemical oxygen (10.575 ∼ 14.425 mg/L). Nonylphenol concentrations ranging from 0.375 to 0.55 ng/mL were found in the water, and the sediments were measured to contain between 2.45 and 3.425 ng/mL. We identified a total of 20 macroinvertebrate species, including seven species of Chironomidae, the most abundant of which was Chironomus flaviplumus. At none of the sites did we find any significant differences in the structure of the communities. Using canonical correspondence analysis for the relation of species and environmental variables, chemical oxygen demand and suspended sediment gradients (SS) had significant preferences for site 1 with SS. The results of our study suggest that physico‐chemical variables exerted complex effects on the structure of the benthic community in the Jung‐rang stream. This study supports the contention that physico‐chemical analyses as well as community analysis are valuable tools to assess the effect of pollution on the ecological condition of a stream. Chironomids, in particular, showed a high degree of tolerance against contaminants.
Sensilla on the aedeagus of the ground beetle Carabus (Ohomopterus) arrowianus arrowianus (Breuning) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: KIM Jung Lark , SOTA Teiji 
Published: September 2010

AbstractSensilla on the aedeagus of the ground beetle Carabus (Ohomopterus) arrowianus arrowianus (Breuning) were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. On the aedeagus, a total of six types of sensillum were confirmed: five basiconic and one coeloconic. The external features and distributional patterns of the sensilla are described.
Spider silk as a resource for future biotechnologies
Authors: SPONNER Alexander 
Published: September 2010

AbstractInsect silks have been used by mankind for millennia to produce textiles and in particular, the cocoon silk of Bombyx mori was the base of one of the most important industries in history. In fact, B. mori is probably the only domesticated insect if not invertebrate in its true and strict sense, comparable to cattle and other livestock that humans have known and bred since the Neolithic period. In contrast, reports regarding the use of spider silk throughout history have the character of travellers’ tales or anecdotes, and serious attempts to exploit these biomaterials on a large scale have not been undertaken until recently. Indeed, the cannibalism of these carnivores makes their farming difficult and the production of significant yields of spider silk virtually impossible. Only today, with recombinant technologies available, does this problem seem to have been overcome. But why use spider silk at all – if we have the infrastructure to produce significant yields of silk from Bombyx? In contrast to most insects, spiders do not spin from labial glands, and many spiders possess different types of gland, most of them active throughout the whole lifespan. Typical orb‐weavers (Araneoidea) for instance possess up to seven different types of silk gland to produce different silk fibers and glues. Each of these products has evolved for a particular use and the respective material properties are highly adapted to that use. As the group of Araneae is about 400 million years old, the oldest fossil orb‐weaver is dated about 150 million years, and the use of silk is crucial to a spider's survival, we can expect that evolution will have “squeezed out every iota” to achieve optimum performance at minimum cost. Indeed, some dragline silks such as the major ampullate silks of some Nephila species show amazing mechanical properties that, in terms of toughness, are far superior to Bombyx silk. Labels like “stronger than steel” or “even better than Kevlar” were attached to them, and the Canadian‐based biotech company Nexia created the trademark “bio‐steel” for their prospective product. The discovery of these exceptional mechanical properties of those protein fibers triggered intense research on spider silk, with the goal of their commercial exploitation. But there is more to Arachne's weave and science is beginning to pick up those threads.
Taxonomy of the genus Scathophaga Meigen (Diptera: Scathophagidae) in Korea
Authors: SUH Sang Jae , KWON Yong Jung , JO Tae‐Ho 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThree species of the genus Scathophaga–S. mellipes (Coquillet), S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) and S. stercoraria (Linnaeus) – are treated in this study. Of these, S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) is reported for the first time from Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities and some illustrations are given.
Evidence review and ENT‐UK consensus report for the use of aminoglycoside‐containing ear drops in the presence of an open middle ear
Authors: Phillips J.S. , Yung M.W. , Burton M.J. , Swan I.R.C. 
Published: September 2010

Background and objectives of review:  The use of aminoglycoside drops in the presence of a perforation/grommet is still a common practice amongst the UK ENT community, in spite of theoretical risk of ototoxicity. Mindful of the need to produce clinical guidelines based on the best available evidence, it was the intention of the Clinical Audit and Practice Advisory Group of the British Association of Otolaryngologists – Head and Neck Surgeons (ENT‐UK) to produce evidence‐based guidelines. In the absence of good evidence, intentions were shifted towards producing consensus guidelines using validated methodology.Type of review:  Literature review, review of international guidelines and consensus guidelines.Search strategy:  A MEDLINE literature search (1966 to August 2006) was conducted, using the following strategies: ‘ototoxicity and drops’, ‘ototoxic and drops’, ‘vestibulotoxicity and drops’, ‘vestibulotoxic and drops’, ‘cochleotoxicity and drops’, ‘cochleotoxic and drops’. Foreign language articles were not excluded.Results of the literature review:  The inclusion of foreign language articles and manually searching the reference sections of identified articles revealed further evidence not considered in previous reviews on this subject. However, the available ‘evidence’ that does exist remains to be of poor quality, consisting of data from a number of case reports and small case series. Prospective studies into the ototoxic effects of aminoglycoside ear drops either support their use but lack power to statistically confirm this, or are performed in conditions that are not representative of normal clinical conditions.Evaluation method:  In the light of issues raised from the literature review, a questionnaire was produced. The questionnaire was initially completed by council members of the British Society of Otology, then revised and presented at a meeting of the British Society of Otology, where a consensus panel was formed.Conclusions:  ENT‐UK recommends that when treating a patient with a discharging ear, in whom there is a perforation or patent grommet: if a topical aminoglycoside is used, this should only be in the presence of obvious infection. Topical aminoglycosides should be used for no longer than 2 weeks. The justification for using topical aminoglycosides should be explained to the patient. Baseline audiometry should be performed, if possible or practical, before treatment with topical aminoglycosides.
Prophylactic gastrostomy placement and early tube feeding may limit loss of weight during chemoradiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer, a preliminary study
Authors: Wiggenraad R.G.J. , Flierman L. , Goossens A. , Brand R. , Verschuur H.P. , Croll G.A. , Moser L.E.C. , Vriesendorp R. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives:  Most patients with advanced head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy need tube feeding for at least some weeks. For these periods gastrostomy tubes have advantages over nasogastric tubes. Tube feeding may start earlier and thus loss of weight may be limited if the gastrostomy tube already is in place. The objective of this study is to analyse the results of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement and early tube feeding.Design:  Retrospective chart review.Setting:  Multidisciplinary head and neck oncology team in a general hospital.Participants:  Fifty consecutive patients with unresectable stage III and IV head and neck cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. In all patients prophylactic PEG placement was performed. Tube feeding was initiated if food‐intake became insufficient or loss of weight occurred.Main outcome measures:  Loss of weight during treatment, complication rate, PEG duration.Results:  The mean loss of weight during treatment for all patients was only 2.8%. One complication of tube placement occurred: a colon perforation, treated successfully by surgery. The median duration of the PEG was 178 days. Three of the 17 patients (18%) with no evidence of disease (NED) still had a PEG at their last follow‐up visit. Of the 26 patients who died of their cancer, 13 used the PEG until death.Conclusions:  Loss of weight was limited after prophylactic gastrostomy placement and early tube feeding. Moreover, the complication rate was low. In 82% of the NED patients the PEG could eventually be removed.
The prevalence of ENT disorders in pre‐school children with Down Syndrome
Authors: Barr E. , Dungworth J. , Hunter K. , McFarlane M. , Kubba H. 
Published: September 2010

Introduction.  Guidelines for children with Down syndrome suggest hearing testing at birth, then annually until school entry, followed by checks every 2 years. For some time, the departments of Audiology and Educational Audiology have run a hearing surveillance clinic for all children with Down Syndrome in Greater Glasgow. Since September 2004, an ENT consultant has attended these clinics. A prospective record of the ENT health of children in Greater Glasgow with Down syndrome has been kept for 3 years. We present prevalence data for ENT problems between 1 and 6 years of age.Method.  Data were extracted from the database for the presence of otitis media with effusion (OME) and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) for every clinic visit.Results.  There were 76 children with Down syndrome in Greater Glasgow, aged 9 months‐6 years. 42 were female, 34 male. Of these, 70 were seen at the clinic at least once (92%). 25 (36%) underwent ENT surgery during the study period. The prevalence of OME (based on otoscopy, tympanometry and age‐appropriate audiometry) ranged from 92% at age 1 to 73% at age 5‐6. SDB was most prevalent at age 2 (44%). Other ENT diagnoses were subglottic stenosis (2), laryngomalacia (1) and congenital muscular torticollis (1). None had sensorineural hearing impairment.Conclusion.  ENT disorders are very common in preschool children with Down syndrome. It is likely that they will have a significant impact on development for some children. Further research is required to determine whether our intensive approach to surveillance and intervention will improve outcomes.
Reduced TLR2 gene expression is a feature of chronic rhinitic mucosa supporting the hygiene hypothesis
Authors: Vanhinsbergh L. , Powe D.G. , Jones N.S. 
Published: September 2010

Objective.  Pathogenic induction of the immunomodulators toll like receptors (TLRs) and beta‐defensins (HBD) can steer the developing immune system toward a Th1 nonallergic pathway and might explain why farmer's children show reduced frequency of allergy. We hypothesised that chronic allergic and nonallergic rhinitis might be associated with reduced mucosal levels of TLRs and HBDs.Method.  The gene expression levels of TLR2 & 4 and HBD1‐4 was determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction in sections of nasal turbinate tissue from adults with persistent allergic and idiopathic rhinitis, healthy nasal mucosa and tonsil tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the localisation and distribution of proteins for TLR2, HBD2, α‐defensins (1‐3) and neutrophil elastaseResults.  A significant reduction in TLR2 mRNA expression was identified in allergic mucosa compared to control mucosa, with generally reduced expression for TLR4 and HBDs. While not significant, the nonallergic group also showed reduced expression for TLRs and HBDs. With the exception of HBD4, increased gene levels were seen in tonsil tissue. HBD2 and TLR2 protein expression was localised in lining and submucosal glandular epithelium but insignificant differences were seen for HBDs, TLRs, neutrophils and α‐defensin between the rhinitic and control patient groups.Conclusion.  Chronic rhinitic mucosa shows reduced levels of TLR and HBD gene expression. The significant reduction in TLR2 gene expression in adult allergics support the concept that increased TLR2 is protective against the development of allergy.
Natural Language Processing for Cultural Heritage Domains
Authors: Sporleder Caroline 
Published: September 2010

AbstractMuseums, archives, libraries and other cultural heritage institutes maintain large collections of artefacts, which are valuable knowledge sources for both experts and interested lay persons. Recently, more and more cultural heritage institutes have started to digitise their collections, for instance to make them accessible via web portals. However, while digitisation is a necessary first step towards improved information access, to fully unlock the knowledge contained in these collections, users have to be able to easily browse, search and query these collections. This requires cleaning, linking and enriching the data, a process that is often too time‐consuming to be performed manually. Information technology can help with (partially) automating this task. Because data processing and enrichment typically involve the textual metadata level, natural language processing has a key role to play in this endeavour. At the same time, cultural heritage domains pose significant challenges for language technology and call for the development of very robust and flexible solutions. Consequently, cultural heritage data can also serve as a good test‐bed for the development of robust natural language processing tools.