bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pilot of a National Inpatient Medication Chart in Australia: improving prescribing safety and enabling prescribing training
Authors: Coombes Ian D. , Reid Carol , McDougall David , Stowasser Danielle , Duiguid Margaret , Mitchell Charles 
Published: March 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Prescribing errors are common and are caused by multiple factors. Standard medication charts have been recommended by British and Australian Health services. A study of a standard medication chart in five hospitals in one state of Australia significantly reduced prescribing errors.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• A standard medication chart developed in one area can be adopted through a collaborative process and successfully implemented across a diverse country resulting in similar reductions in prescribing errors. Three of the four stages of the prescribing process (information gathering, decision making and communication of instructions) can be improved by the use of an improved standard medication chart. The introduction of a standard medication chart has enabled development of standard prescribing education programmes.AIMS To establish whether a standard national inpatient medication chart (NIMC) could be implemented across a range of sites in Australia and reduce frequency of prescribing errors and improve the completion of adverse drug reaction (ADR) and warfarin documentation.METHODS A medication chart, which had previously been implemented in one state, was piloted in 22 public hospitals across Australia. Prospective before and after observational audits of prescribing errors were undertaken by trained nurse and pharmacist teams. The introduction of the chart was accompanied by local education of prescribers and presentation of baseline audit findings.RESULTS After the introduction of the NIMC, prescribing errors decreased by almost one‐third, from 6383 errors in 15 557 orders, a median (range) of 3 (0–48) per patient to 4293 in 15 416 orders, 2 (0–45) per patient (Wilcoxon Rank Sum test, P < 0.001). The documentation of drugs causing previous ADRs increased significantly from 81.9% to 88.9% of drugs (χ2 test, P < 0.001). The documentation of the indication for warfarin increased from 12.1 to 34.3% (χ2 test, P= 0.001) and the documentation of target INR increased from 10.8 to 70.0% (χ2 test, P < 0.001) after implementation of the chart.CONCLUSIONS National implementation of a standard medication chart is possible. Similar reduction in the rate of prescribing errors can be achieved in multiple sites across one country. The consequent benefits for patient care and training of staff could be significant.
Proton pump inhibitors and the risk of overanticoagulation during acenocoumarol maintenance treatment
Authors: Teichert Martina , van Noord Charlotte , Uitterlinden Andrė G. , Hofman Albert , Buhre Peter N. , De Smet Peter A. G. M. , Straus Sabine , Stricker Bruno H. Ch. , Visser Loes E. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryIn the Netherlands, several reports have described a potentiation of acenocoumarol‐induced anticoagulation by co‐medication of omeprazole or esomeprazole and competitive inhibition of CYP2C19 has been suggested as a possible mechanism for this interaction. We conducted an observational cohort study to investigate the effects of various proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on acenocoumarol effectiveness. All 2755 subjects from the Rotterdam Study who received acenocoumarol maintenance treatment between April 1st, 1991 and September 9th, 2009 were followed for events of an international normalized ratio (INR) ≥ 6, until death, end of treatment, or end of the study period. The Andersen–Gill extension of the Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate risks for repeated events of overanticoagulation in relation to concomitant PPI use. The risk for overanticoagulation was most pronounced for esomeprazole (HR 1·99, 95% CI 1·55–2·55) and lansoprazole (HR 1·49, 95% CI 1·05–2·10). There was also a lower and non‐significant risk increase for the other PPIs. We did not detect a modification of these results by CYP2C19*2 genotype. Caution should be paid to co‐medication with esomeprazole and lansoprazole during acenocoumarol treatment and possibly also with other PPIs.
Effect of temperature and storage time on cellular analysis of fresh pleural fluid samples
Authors: Antonangelo L. , Vargas F. S. , Acencio M. M. P. , Corá A. P. , Teixeira L. R. , Genofre E. H. , Sales R. K. B. 
Published: March 2011

L. Antonangelo, F. S. Vargas, M. M. P. Acencio, A. P. Corá, L. R. Teixeira, E. H. Genofre and R. K. B. Sales  Effect of temperature and storage time on cellular analysis of fresh pleural fluid samplesObjective:  Despite the methodological variability in preparation techniques for pleural fluid cytology, it is fundamental that the cells should be preserved, permitting adequate morphological classification. We evaluated numerical and morphological changes in pleural fluid specimens processed after storage at room temperature or under refrigeration.Methods:  Aliquots of pleural fluid from 30 patients, collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid‐coated tubes and maintained at room temperature (21 °C) or refrigeration (4 °C) were evaluated after 2 and 6 hours and 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 14 days. Evaluation of cytomorphology and global and percentage counts of leucocytes, macrophages and mesothelial cells were included.Results:  The samples had quantitative cellular variations from day 3 or 4 onwards, depending on the storage conditions. Morphological alterations occurred earlier in samples maintained at room temperature (day 2) than in those under refrigeration (day 4).Conclusions:  This study confirms that storage time and temperature are potential pre‐analytical causes of error in pleural fluid cytology.
Host size selection and sex allocation behaviour among parasitoid trophic levels
Authors: HEINZ KEVIN M. 
Published: March 2011

Abstract.

Sex ratio in the ectoparasitoid Chrysocharis nephereus, when attacking larvae of the lepidopteran leafminer Cameraria jacintoensis inhabiting the scrub oak Quercus dumosa, varies as a function of host size.
Female progeny are overproduced on large hosts and male progeny are overproduced on small hosts. Whether a host is perceived as large or small depends on the distribution of sizes of hosts encountered. Lastly, the primary sex ratio is consistently male biased. These patterns are not due to variation in progeny sex specific mortality, but are probably a result of maternal choice.
Female wasp size increases at a greater rate than does male wasp size with an equivalent increase in C.jacintoensis larval size. Although the average adult longevity of female C.nephereus is significantly greater than the average longevity of male C.nephereus, male wasp longevity increases at a greater rate than does female wasp longevity with an equivalent increase in C.jacintoensis larval size.
Chrysocharis nephereus developing on large C.jacintoensis are more likely to be hyperparasitized by Closterocerus sp. than are C.nephereus developing on smaller sized C.jacintoensis. Closterocerus sp. hyperparasitize female C.nephereus progeny with significantly greater frequency than male progeny.
Female C.nephereus overproducing daughters on large hosts and sons on small hosts may experience fitness trade‐offs between the benefits associated with producing offspring on large hosts and costs associated with these offspring becoming hyperparasitized.
Influence of feeding guild on insect response to host plant fertilization
Authors: MEYER GRETCHEN A. , ROOT RICHARD B. 
Published: March 2011

Abstract.

The densities of insect herbivores in fertilized and unfertilized field plots of goldenrods, Solidago altissima (Compositae), were monitored over a period of 4 years.
A total of seventeen insect taxa occurred on the plots over the course of the study, including sap feeders, leaf chewers, leaf miners, leaf gallers and stem gallers with multiple representatives in each of these feeding guilds.
Nine of the seventeen taxa significantly increased in density on fertilized plots in at least one year of the study, two taxa showed marginally significant increases on fertilized plots, two significantly decreased in density on fertilized plots in at least one year, and the remaining taxa were unaffected by the fertilizer treatment.
The effects of fertilization on the insects were not strongly related to feeding guild; the group of insects that increased on fertilized plots was functionally diverse, and for the most part members of the same guild did not respond to the fertilizer treatment in consistent ways.
Differences between fertilized and unfertilized plots were greatest in the fourth year. The insects that showed delayed responses to fertilizer treatment may have been affected by changes in microclimate that developed slowly over the course of the study, suggesting that long‐term studies may be necessary to detect effects of host plant stress on insect herbivores.
Potential for host range expansion in Ceratitis capitata flies: impact of proximity of adult food to egg‐laying sites
Authors: PROKOPY RONALD J. , DUAN JIAN JUN , VARGAS ROGER I. 
Published: March 2011

Abstract.

In field cage and field tests, female Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in trees alighted in significantly greater numbers upon sticky‐coated (non‐odour‐emitting) kumquats, Fortunella japonica, that were in the vicinity of odorous natural proteinaceous food (bird faeces) or synthetic food odour than on similar kumquats distant from bird faeces or synthetic food odour.
In field cage tests, oviposition in non‐sticky kumquats nearby bird faeces was significantly greater than in non‐sticky kumquats distant from bird faeces.
In field tests, medflies laid significantly more eggs in host kumquat and non‐host hawthorn, Crataegus mollis, fruit adjacent to bird faeces and synthetic food odour than in fruit of these types distant from food‐type stimuli.
These findings suggest that odour of natural food of medflies could lure flies to plants whose fruit emit little or no attractive odour and are not permanent hosts but which are nonetheless susceptible to egg‐laying and larval development, resulting in temporary expansion of host range.
Solutions of the inherent problem of the equivalence in direct current resistivity and electromagnetic methods through global optimization and joint inversion by successive refinement of model space
Authors: Sharma S.P. , Verma S.K. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTThe problem of equivalence in direct current (DC) resistivity and electromagnetic methods for a thin resistive and conducting layer is well‐known. Attempts have been made in the past to resolve this problem through joint inversion. However, equivalence still remains an unresolved problem. In the present study, an effort is made to reduce non‐uniqueness due to equivalence using global optimization and joint inversion by successive refinement of the model space. A number of solutions derived for DC resistivity data using very fast simulated annealing global inversion that fits the observations equally well, follow the equivalence principle and show a definite trend. For a thin conductive layer, the quotient between resistivity and thickness is constant, while for a resistive one, the product between these magnitudes is constant. Three approaches to obtain very fast simulated annealing solutions are tested. In the first one, layer resistivities and thicknesses are optimized in a linear domain. In the second, layer resistivities are optimized in the logarithmic domain and thicknesses in the linear domain. Lastly, both layer resistivities and thicknesses are optimized in the logarithmic domain. Only model data from the mean models, corresponding to very fast simulated annealing solutions obtained for approach three, always fit the observations.The mean model defined by multiple very fast simulated annealing solutions shows extremely large uncertainty (almost 100%) in the final solution after inversion of individual DC resistivity or electromagnetic (EM) data sets. Uncertainty associated with the intermediate resistive and conducting layers after global optimization and joint inversion is still large. In order to reduce the large uncertainty associated with the intermediate layer, global optimization is performed over several iterations by reducing and redefining the search limits of model parameters according to the uncertainty in the solution. The new minimum and maximum limits are obtained from the uncertainty in the previous iteration. Though the misfit error reduces in the solution after successive refinement of the model space in individual inversion, it is observed that the mean model drifts away from the actual model. However, successive refinement of the model space using global optimization and joint inversion reduces uncertainty to a very low level in 4–5 iterations. This approach works very well in resolving the problem of equivalence for resistive as well as for conducting layers. The efficacy of the approach has been demonstrated using DC resistivity and EM data, however, it can be applied to any geophysical data to solve the inherent ambiguities in the interpretations.
Three‐dimensional seismic full‐waveform inversion using the finite‐difference contrast source inversion method
Authors: Abubakar A. , Pan G. , Li M. , Zhang L. , Habashy T.M. , van den Berg P.M. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTWe present the extension of the so‐called finite‐difference contrast‐source inversion method for the three‐dimensional interpretation of full‐waveform seismic data using the acoustic approximation. The finite‐difference contrast‐source inversion method does not simulate a full forward problem in its inversion process, hence it is computationally more efficient than the standard non‐linear inversion methods. Furthermore it allows the use of an inhomogeneous background medium, hence this method has a great potential for carrying out time‐lapse seismic inversion. However, the price that we have to pay is the storing of the LU decomposition arrays of the impedance matrix of the background medium. We show some numerical examples to illustrate the (dis)advantages of this method.
Wave‐equation migration velocity analysis with time‐shift imaging
Authors: Yang Tongning , Sava Paul 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTWave‐equation migration velocity analysis is a technique designed to extract and update velocity information from migrated images. The velocity model is updated through the process of optimizing the coherence of images migrated with the known background velocity model. The capacity for handling multi‐pathing of the technique makes it appropriate in complex subsurface regions characterized by strong velocity variation. Wave‐equation migration velocity analysis operates by establishing a linear relation between a slowness perturbation and a corresponding image perturbation. The linear relationship and the corresponding linearized operator are derived from conventional extrapolation operators and the linearized operator inherits the main properties of frequency‐domain wavefield extrapolation. A key step in the implementation is to design an appropriate procedure for constructing an image perturbation relative to a reference image that represents the difference between the current image and a true, or more correct image of the subsurface geology. The target of the inversion is to minimize such an image perturbation by optimizing the velocity model. Using time‐shift common‐image gathers, one can characterize the imperfections of migrated images by defining the focusing error as the shift of the focus of reflections along the time‐shift axis. The focusing error is then transformed into an image perturbation by focusing analysis under the linear approximation. As the focusing error is caused by the incorrect velocity model, the resulting image perturbation can be considered as a mapping of the velocity model error in the image space. Such an approach for constructing the image perturbation is computationally efficient and simple to implement. The technique also provides a new alternative for using focusing information in wavefield‐based velocity model building. Synthetic examples demonstrate the successful application of our method to a layered model and a subsalt velocity update problem.
Is the temporal artery thermometer a reliable instrument for detecting fever in children?
Authors: Penning Corine , van der Linden Jan H , Tibboel Dick , Evenhuis Heleen M 
Published: March 2011

Aims and objective.  We aimed to study the diagnostic accuracy of the temporal artery thermometer vs. rectal temperature in a large group of children with and without fever, aged 0–18 years.Background.  Many have studied the diagnostic accuracy of the temporal artery thermometer in children compared with a reference method, with contradictory outcomes. No studies have been carried out in a large group of children of all ages.Design.  Diagnostic accuracy/validation study.Method.  Children (0–18 years) with fever (T > 38·0 °C) were recruited through the emergency department and children with normal temperatures through the day‐care department of the Children’s Hospital. All children routinely had rectal temperature recordings. Temporal artery temperature was recorded shortly after the rectal recording. The mean absolute difference in temperature, the level of agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient) and the sensitivity and specificity of detecting fever were calculated.Results.  A total number of 198 children (121 boys) participated, with a mean age of 5·1 (SD 4·7) years. Of those children, 81 had fever according to the rectal recording. Mean difference between temporal artery temperature and rectal temperature was −0·11 (SD 0·63) °C, with an agreement of 0·812. The sensitivity and specificity of the temporal artery thermometer for detecting fever were 67·9 and 98·3%, respectively.Conclusions.  The diagnostic accuracy of the temporal artery thermometer in detecting fever in children of all ages is low.Relevance to clinical practice. We do not recommend replacement of standard clinical thermometers with temporal artery thermometers.
Catadromous eels continue to be slippery research subjects
Authors: AVISE JOHN C. 
Published: March 2011

As adults, Atlantic eels (Anguilla rostrata in the Americas and Anguilla anguilla in Europe) are tubular slime‐covered fish that spend most of their catadromous life cycle in coastal environs before swimming far out to sea to reproduce, as part of an intergenerational migratory circuit that provides an interesting reversal of the pattern displayed by adult anadromous salmon that live mostly in the ocean but then migrate long distances to spawn in freshwater streams. Earlier genetic findings on Atlantic eels involved specimens collected across their broad continental ranges and generally indicated that conspecifics probably engage in panmictic or quasi‐panmictic spawning, from which arise leaf‐shaped leptocephaus larvae that then disperse back to coastal locations more or less at random with respect to the widespread geographical origins of the parental genes they carry. In this issue, Als et al. (2011) add exciting information about this peculiar life‐history pattern of catadromous Atlantic eels by extending the genetic analyses to eel larvae collected from the Sargasso Sea, the oceanic area where both species spawn. Results help to confirm standard textbook wisdom that these catadromous eels are nearly unique in the biological world by having both broad geographical distributions and yet displaying intraspecific near‐panmixia.
Lower genital tract inflammatory milieu and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: an exploratory factor analysis
Authors: Simhan Hyagriv N. , Bodnar Lisa M. , Kim Kevin H. 
Published: March 2011

SummarySimhan HN, Bodnar LM, Kim KH. Lower genital tract inflammatory milieu and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: an exploratory factor analysis. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 277–282.The inflammatory milieu of the cervix may play a role in preventing intrauterine infection and subsequent preterm birth. The objectives of this study were to use exploratory factor analysis to discover the underlying structure of cytokines in the lower genital tract immunological milieu, and evaluate the association between the cytokine factors and risk of preterm birth. Women (n = 613) enrolled in a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania had cervical cytokine concentrations assayed at <16 weeks and were followed for data on pregnancy outcomes. Principal factor analysis identified two primary cytokine patterns at <16 weeks gestation: Factor 1 (pro‐inflammatory/immunomodulatory factor), which loaded highly on interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, and IL‐10, and Factor 2 (anti‐inflammatory factor), which loaded heavily on IL‐4, IL‐10, and IL‐13. Women in the highest tertile of anti‐inflammatory cytokine factor scores at <16 weeks had an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth (confounder‐adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.4 [1.1, 5.7]). There was no association between pro‐inflammatory cytokine factor scores and preterm birth risk. These data support the hypothesis that increased concentrations of anti‐inflammatory cytokines may represent a cervical immune milieu that permits subsequent microbial invasion of the uterus during pregnancy, leading to subsequent spontaneous preterm birth.
Perinatal mortality in relation to birthweight and gestational age: a registry‐based comparison of Northern Norway and Murmansk County, Russia
Authors: Anda Erik Eik , Nieboer Evert , Wilsgaard Tom , Kovalenko Anton Alexandrovich , Odland Jon Øyvind 
Published: March 2011

SummaryAnda EE, Nieboer E, Wilsgaard T, Kovalenko AA, Odland JØ. Perinatal mortality in relation to birthweight and gestational age: a registry‐based comparison of Northern Norway and Murmansk County, Russia. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 218–227.The objective was to explore how perinatal mortality relates to birthweight, gestational age and optimal perinatal survival weight for two Arctic populations employing an existing and a newly established birth registry. A medical birth registry for all births in Murmansk County of North‐West Russia became operational on 1st January 2006. Its primary function is to provide useful information for health care officials pertinent to improving perinatal care. The cohort studied consisted of 17 302 births in 2006–07 (Murmansk County) and 16 006 in 2004–06 (Northern Norway). Birthweight probability density functions were analysed, and logistic regression models were employed to calculate gestational‐age‐specific mortality ratios.The perinatal mortality rate was 10.7/1000 in Murmansk County and 5.7/1000 in Northern Norway. Murmansk County had a higher proportion of preterm deliveries (8.7%) compared to Northern Norway (6.6%). The odds ratio (OR) of risk of mortality (Northern Norway as the reference group) was higher for all gestational ages in Murmansk County, but the largest risk difference occurred among term deliveries (OR 2.45, 95% confidence interval 1.45, 4.14) which hardly changed on adjustment for maternal age, parity and gestation. Proportionately, more babies were born near (±500 g) the optimal perinatal survival weight in Murmansk County (67.2%) than in Northern Norway (47.6%).The observed perinatal mortality was higher in Murmansk County at all birthweight strata and at gestational ages between weeks 25 and 42, but the adjusted risk difference was most significant for term deliveries.