bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental comparison of competition and facilitation in alpine communities varying in productivity
Authors: Onipchenko Vladimir G. , Blinnikov Mikhail S. , Gerasimova Maria A. , Volkova Elena V. , Cornelissen Johannes H.C. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractQuestion. Competitive and facilitative interactions among plant species in different abiotic environments potentially link productivity, vegetation structure, species composition and functional diversity. We investigated these interactions among four alpine communities along an environmental productivity gradient in a generally harsh climate. We hypothesised that the importance of competition would be higher in more productive sites.Location. Mt. M. Khatipara (43°27′N, 41°41′E, altitude 2750 m), NW Caucasus, Russia. Communities ranged from low‐productivity alpine lichen heath (ALH) and snowbed communities (SBC), to intermediate productivity Festuca grassland (FVG), and high‐productivity Geranium‐Hedysarum meadow (GHM).Methods. We quantified the relative influence of competition and facilitation on community structure by expressing biomass of target species within each natural community proportionally to biomass of the species in a “null community” with experimental release from interspecific competition by removing all other species (for 6 years). An overall index of change in community composition due to interspecific interactions was calculated as the sum of absolute or proportional differences of the component species.Results. Species responses to neighbour removal ranged from positive to neutral. There was no evidence of facilitation among the selected dominant species. As expected, competition was generally most important in the most productive alpine community (GHM). The intermediate position for low‐productivity communities of stressful environments (ALH, SBC) and the last position of intermediately productive FVG were unexpected.Conclusions. Our results appear to support the Fretwell‐Oksanen hypothesis in that competition in communities of intermediate productivity was less intense than in low‐ or high‐productive communities. However, the zero net effect of competition and facilitation in FVG might be the result of abiotic stress due to strong sun exposure and high soil temperatures after neighbour removal. Thus, non‐linear relationships between soil fertility, productivity and different abiotic stresses may also determine the balance between competition and facilitation.
Effect of bandaging on second intention healing of wounds of the distal limb in horses
Authors: Dart AJ , Perkins NR , Dart CM , Jeffcott LB , Canfield P 
Published: May 2009

Objective To evaluate the effect of a non‐occlusive dressing incorporated in a 3‐layer bandage on second intention healing of wounds of the distal portion of the limb.Study Design Untreated wounds in 33 adult horses used in four studies using the same wound‐healing model conducted over 5 years.Methods Standardised, full‐thickness wounds were made in the skin overlying the dorsomedial aspect of the mid‐metacarpus; 17 horses were bandaged with a non‐occlusive dressing covered by gauze‐coated cotton wool that was compressed with adhesive tape; 16 horses were left unbandaged. Wounds were photographed weekly for 9 weeks and the images were analysed electronically.Results There were significant effects associated with bandage (P < 0.0001), week (P < 0.001), and bandage by week interaction (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in wound area at the first time‐point after wound creation (P = 0.38). After week 1, there was a difference between bandaged and unbandaged wounds in wound area at each measurement until the end of the study. Bandaged wounds showed greater and more prolonged retraction. Unbandaged wounds retracted for 2 weeks before beginning to contract, whereas bandaged wounds continued to retract for 3 weeks. In bandaged wounds excess granulation tissue required regular trimming, but not in unbandaged wounds. There was no difference between groups in the total days to healing or the overall rate of healing.Conclusions These results should be treated with caution until validated with contemporaneous, controlled studies. Covering a wound with a non‐occlusive dressing in a 3‐layer bandage led to greater wound retraction, modulated the rate of wound contraction and promoted excessive granulation tissue. If excessive granulation tissue is excised regularly, bandaging has no effect on total time to healing.
Effects of a topical anaesthetic formulation and systemic carprofen, given singly or in combination, on the cortisol and behavioural responses of Merino lambs to castration
Authors: Paull DR , Lee C , Colditz IG , Fisher AD 
Published: May 2009

Objective  To determine the effectiveness of a topical anaesthetic formulation (Tri‐Solfen) with or without the administration of a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (carprofen) on the pain and distress response associated with ring or surgical castration of ram lambs.Procedures  Merino ram lambs (n = 78) were allocated to 10 treatment groups: 4 groups of knife‐castrated lambs and 4 groups of ring‐castrated lambs received carprofen (4 mg/kg SC) and Tri‐Solfen; 2 control groups (sham) received carprofen at 0 or 4 mg/kg SC. Measurements included plasma cortisol and haptoglobin concentrations, haematology, and behaviour, including posture.Results  Knife‐castrated lambs had higher peak cortisol and integrated cortisol responses for the first 6 h after treatment and greater concentration s of circulating acute phase proteins than ring‐castrated lambs, both of which were significantly different from the sham controls. Tri‐Solfen applied to the knife castration wound significantly reduced both the peak plasma cortisol concentration and the integrated cortisol response for the first 6 h and improved lying behaviour in the first 12 h. Carprofen reduced the cortisol response to knife castration at 30 min, but elevated the cortisol responses at 24 and 48 h. Carprofen nearly halved the number of acute pain behaviours associated with ring castration. There were no significant additive or synergistic effects from combining the analgesic treatments. Tri‐Solfen applied to the tail wound provided no detectible benefits during ring castration + tail docking.Conclusions   The physiological and behavioural responses suggest that ring castration has less impact on the lamb than knife castration. The specific analgesic treatments can provide modest amelioration of the pain and discomfort associated with castration. Alternative doses or application methods may enhance their efficacy.
Ultrasonographic and surgical findings of a gastric hyperplastic polyp resulting in pyloric obstruction in an 11‐week‐old French Bulldog
Authors: Kuan S , Hoffmann K , Tisdall P 
Published: May 2009

An 11‐week‐old male entire French Bulldog was presented with a 3‐week history of projectile vomiting after eating that was unresponsive to medical therapy. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a 1 × 2 cm pedunculated polypoid mass in the pyloric antrum. Histopathology showed this to be comprised of a pedunculated hyperplastic proliferation of gastric mucosal epithelium and submucosa, with dilatation of the glandular pits and a moderate degree of submucosal fibrosis and small amount of smooth muscle hyperplasia in the submucosa. The tunica muscularis was not involved in the polyp and appeared to be of normal thickness. Surgical treatment by pylorectomy and end‐to‐end gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I) was successful.
Incidence of lymphoma in a captive‐bred colony of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas)
Authors: Graves LE , Hennessy A , Sunderland NS , Heffernan SJ , Thomson SE 
Published: May 2009

Objective  To assess the incidence of lymphoma and wasting‐related deaths in the National Baboon Colony of Australia and relate it to the presence of simian T‐cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (STLV‐1) infection.Design and procedure  The records of all animals that had died since establishment of the National Baboon Colony in Australia were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical signs and histopathological findings were recorded and assessed to determine the involvement of lymphoma in the deaths. The presence of STLV‐1 was recorded if known and correlated with the STLV‐1 status of the colony.Results  Of the deaths from disease or illness, 53% were diagnosed as or suspected to be lymphoma, occurring in mature animals with no sex predisposition. The most common presentation was rapidly occurring generalised lymphadenomegaly.Conclusions  This study has described a relatively high prevalence of lymphoma in a colony of captive‐bred baboons, and it is evident that STLV‐1 may play a role in the disease. Management practices in baboon colonies need to take into account the possible presence of STLV‐1 and aim to reduce the transmission of the virus by preventing sexual contact between positive and negative animals. Lymphoma needs to be considered as one of the more common causes of wasting and death.
In situ stress testing to identify Australian black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) free of gill‐associated virus and Mourilyan virus
Authors: Cowley JA , Coman GJ , Salmon ML , Young ND , Rajendran KV , Wilson KJ , Preston NP 
Published: May 2009

Objective  To identify whether black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) in the Weipa region of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, are free of gill‐associated virus (GAV) and Mourilyan virus (MoV), which are endemic in P. monodon along the east coast of Queensland.Procedure  Preliminary screening suggested that Weipa might be a source of P. monodon that are free of GAV and MoV. To assess this, more than 150 prawns captured near Weipa were maintained locally in tanks for 2 weeks and bled three times as a stressor to promote higher‐level infections. The existence of GAV and MoV in lymphoid organ tissue was then determined using real‐time quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Some prawns were maintained in tanks for an additional 75 days before being tested.Results  Real‐time qRT‐PCR did not detect GAV in any of 33 pools of RNA isolated from the 166 prawns tested. MoV was detected in five pools of RNA at extremely low viral RNA copy numbers close to the sensitivity threshold of the test. MoV was also detected at a similar low copy number in one of nine pearl‐oyster mantle samples used as negative controls.Conclusions  GAV infection is either absent or, like MoV, potentially present at a very low prevalence in juvenile P. monodon inhabiting the inshore waters at Weipa. This region can thus be recommended as a good source of P. monodon certifiable as specific pathogen‐free for GAV and MoV, which is desirable for domestication and selective breeding programs in Australia.
Radioresistant malignant myoepithelioma of the breast with high level of ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein
Authors: Fang ZM , Tse RV , Marjoniemi VM , Kozlov S , Lavin MF , Chen H , Kearsley JH , Graham PH , Clarke RA 
Published: May 2009

SummaryMalignant myoepithelioma of the breast (MMB) is a rare and often aggressive disease with poor prognosis. Little is known regarding its optimal treatment and progression. We describe the clinical history of a woman following excision of a benign adenomyoepithelioma which recurred years later as a radioresistant malignant myoepithelioma with high levels of ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein and mutant p53 (Cys135Phe). MMB requires close follow‐up and aggressive treatment. If adjuvant radiotherapy is adopted to improve local control, minimal postoperative delay and higher doses than for standard post‐mastectomy radiation are recommended.
18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of malignant pleural mesothelioma*
Authors: Subramaniam RM , Wilcox B , Aubry MC , Jett J , Peller PJ 
Published: May 2009

SummaryMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is the most common primary pleural tumor and its incidence is rising. Its diagnosis, staging and response assessment are challenging for imaging. Integrated positron emission tomography (PET)/CT increases the accuracy of overall staging in patients with mesothelioma and improves the selection of patients for curative surgical resection. It is particularly useful in identifying occult distant metastases. It may be used to predict prognosis and to assess the metabolic response to therapy.
Role of ultrasound in the assessment of nodular thyroid disease
Authors: Bastin S , Bolland MJ , Croxson MS 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThe role for ultrasound (US) in the assessment of nodular thyroid disease has increased in recent years. This expanded role has been highlighted in recent consensus guidelines on the management of nodular thyroid disease. In this review, we address the potential roles for US in assessing thyroid nodules and review these recent guidelines. In particular, we review the evidence that US characteristics of thyroid nodules can predict the risk of malignancy. A predominantly solid nodule, hypoechogenicity, microcalcification, macrocalcification, ill‐defined margins, intranodular vascularity, and taller‐than‐wide shape have all been associated with increased risk of malignancy, but no single US characteristic is sufficiently sensitive or specific to exclude or diagnose malignancy by itself. However, the use of combinations of US characteristics to stratify nodules into high and low risk for malignancy appears a promising strategy. Unselected nodules without any suspicious US features have a low risk of malignancy (<2%), whereas malignancy rates are much higher in nodules with at least two suspicious features. Recent guidelines endorse this approach of using combinations of US features to guide nodule selection for fine needle aspiration.
Survey of radiotherapy planning and treatment of the supraclavicular fossa in breast cancer
Authors: Morgia M , Lamoury G , Morgan G 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA survey of radiation oncologists (RO) in Australia and New Zealand was undertaken to determine how they would plan and treat the supraclavicular fossa (SCF) in women with breast cancer. From the 259 surveys sent in February to March 2007 there were 168 responses (65%) and 124 of these were from RO who managed breast cancer. The study demonstrated a wide variation in placement of the SCF field and differences in the treatment prescription. With widespread availability of CT for simulation it would be worthwhile to explore the routine voluming of SCF lymph nodes (LN) to ensure the radiation field is accurately determined and targeted. This would also allow more individualized prescription parameters and overcome the variation in the ICRU dose point found in the present survey.
Work stress, satisfaction and burnout in New Zealand radiologists: Comparison of public hospital and private practice in New Zealand
Authors: Lim RCH , Pinto C 
Published: May 2009

SummaryDifferent aspects of work stress, job satisfaction, level of burnout and psychiatric morbidity were evaluated in New Zealand radiologists. The present study aims to identify differences in radiologists’ work stress, job satisfaction and professional burnout between public hospital and private practice work environments. A questionnaire consisting of various aspects of radiology‐specific work stress and job satisfaction was sent to all radiologists in New Zealand. Burnout was assessed with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Psychiatric morbidity was estimated using the General Health Questionnaire – 12. A response rate of 51% was achieved. The aspects of radiologists’ work that contributed to their work stress included ‘having conflicting demands on their time’ and ‘having too great an overall volume of work’. There are significant differences in the extent to which these stressors were experienced, based on radiologists’ work environments. Radiologists in public hospital‐based practice reported significantly higher levels of work stress, lower levels of job satisfaction and higher rates of burnout. There is a trend towards a higher rate of psychiatric morbidity among radiologists who practice in public hospitals. Radiologists in the public hospital environment experience more work stress, a lower level of job satisfaction and higher rates of burnout compared to private practice. The present study highlights the various aspects of work stress important to radiologists, so that they can be addressed to improve their mental health. Additionally, the results of this study may have implications for workforce planning, recruitment and retention of radiologists in the public health system.
Effects of interval between diagnosis and time of survey upon preferred information format for prostate cancer patients
Authors: Sharpley CF , Christie DRH 
Published: May 2009

SummaryPrevious data indicate that receiving adequate information about their cancer can assist patients to cope with treatment and comply with treatment regimes. The aim of the present study was to determine whether time since diagnosis affected patients’ evaluations of the information they had received at the time of their diagnosis. Two hundred and thirty‐seven patients who had received a diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer 4 months earlier completed a questionnaire about their ratings of, and preferences for, various types of information, their anxiety and depression levels and some background data. The most common and preferred form of information that the patients in the current study received was verbal information during an interview with their oncologist. Demographic factors and levels of anxiety and depression did not influence patient information preferences. Time since diagnosis was associated with elevated anxiety and depression, and consequent lower recall of having received information, but also with positive inflation of the value of the material that they did recall having received. Patients may not recall information given to them early after diagnosis and may make unreliable evaluations of its value to them due to psychological state.
Diagnostic errors in patients dying in hospital: Radiology’s contribution
Authors: Heriot GS , McKelvie P , Pitman AG 
Published: May 2009

SummaryWe propose a comprehensive taxonomy of diagnostic errors in radiology that incorporates requests, image acquisition, radiological reports and evidence of communication to the treating team, and is retrospectively applicable to a given set of radiological episodes using pre‐existing standard hospital databases. The taxonomy applies four binary tests to each diagnostic error using widely available hospital records, such as radiological requests, images in Picture Archiving and Communication System, radiological reports and hospital patient records. The taxonomy classifies errors into seven mutually exclusive patterns: no relevant imaging, consistent error (technical non‐demonstration), consistent error (human error), ignored correct dissenting radiology result, de novo radiology error (technical non‐demonstration), de novo radiology error (human error), and ignored correct confirmatory radiology result. The taxonomy was validated against a set of 250 diagnostic errors identified from an audit of clinical and radiological diagnoses with autopsy as the reference standard. All errors were successfully classified by the taxonomy, and the point of initiation of the error assigned. Of a total of 250 diagnostic errors, 138 (55%) had no relevant imaging performed. Ninety percent of all errors (226) were due to human error only, whether at the stage of clinical suspicion, the radiologist’s diagnosis, or afterwards. Of the 112 imaged errors, only 12 (11%) were initiated at diagnostic imaging. The taxonomy of diagnostic error we present is comprehensive, allows retrospective audit of error with commonly available data, and provides clinically useful identification of the point of error initiation.
Differential diagnosis of T2 hyperintense spinal cord lesions: Part B
Authors: Bou‐Haidar P , Peduto AJ , Karunaratne N 
Published: May 2009

SummaryHyperintense spinal cord signal on T2‐weighted images is seen in a wide‐ranging variety of spinal cord processes. Causes including simple MR artefacts, trauma, primary and secondary tumours, radiation myelitis and diastematomyelia were discussed in Part A. The topics discussed in Part B of this two part series include multiple sclerosis, subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, cord infarction, arteriovenous shunts, transverse myelitis, neurosarcoidosis, AIDS‐associated vacuolar myelopathy, and syringohydromyelia. Characterization of the abnormal areas of T2 signal as well as their appearance on other MR imaging sequences, when combined with clinical context and laboratory investigations, will often allow a unique diagnosis, or at least aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis. A wide range of instructive cases is discussed here, with review of the published reports focusing on pertinent MR features to aid in diagnosis.
A case study of translating ACGME practice-based learning and improvement requirements into reality: systems quality improvement projects as the key component to a comprehensive curriculum
Authors: Tomolo A M , Lawrence R H , Aron D C 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
In 2002, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) introduced a new requirement: residents must demonstrate competency in Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI). Training in this domain is still not consistently integrated into programmes, with few, if any, adequately going beyond knowledge of basic content and addressing all components of the requirement.

Aim
To summarise the implementation of a PBLI curriculum designed to address all components of the requirement and to evaluate the impact on the practice system.

Methods
A case-study approach was used for identifying and evaluating the steps for delivering the curriculum, along with the Model for Improvement’s successive Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles (July 2004–May 2006).

Data source
Notes from curriculum development meetings, notes and presentation slides made by teams about their projects, resident curriculum exit evaluations curriculum and interviews.

Results
Residents reported high levels of comfort by applying PBLI-related knowledge and skills and that the curriculum improved their ability to do various PBLI tasks. The involvement of multiple stakeholders increased. Twelve of the 15 teams’ suggestions with practical systems-relevant outcomes were implemented and sustained beyond residents’ project periods. While using the traditional PDSA cycles was helpful, there were limitations.

Conclusion
A PBLI curriculum that is centred around practice-based quality improvement projects can fulfil the objectives of this ACGME competency while accomplishing sustained outcomes in quality improvement. A comprehensive curriculum is an investment but offers organisational rewards. We propose a more realistic and informative representation of rapid PDSA cycle changes.
Are verbal orders a threat to patient safety?
Authors: Wakefield D S , Wakefield B J 
Published: May 2009

Abstract

Background
The use of verbal orders has been identified as a potential contributor to poor quality and less safe care. As a result, many organisations have encouraged changing the verbal orders process and/or reducing/eliminating verbal orders altogether (Joint Commission (2005), Institute of Medicine (2001), Leapfrog organisation, Institute of Safe Medication Practices). Ironically there is a paucity of research evidence to support the widespread concern over verbal order.

Aims
This paper describes the very limited existing research on verbal orders, presents a model of verbal order use identifying potential error trigger points and suggests a verbal order research agenda in order to better understand the nature and extent of the potential patient care safety threat posed by verbal orders.