bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Physician Assistant Care on Office Visit Resource Use in the United States
Authors: Morgan Perri A. , Shah Nilay D. , Kaufman Jay S. , Albanese Mark A. 
Published: July 2008

Objective. To investigate whether the use of physician assistants (PAs) as providers for a substantive portion of a patient's office‐based visits affects office visit resource use.Data Source. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Household Component data from 1996 to 2004.Study Design. This retrospective cohort study compares the number of office‐based visits per year between adults for whom PAs provided ≥30 percent of visits and adults cared for by physicians only.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality collects MEPS data using methods designed to produce data representative of the U.S. noninstitutionalized civilian population. Negative binomial regression was used to compare the number of visits per year between persons with and without PA care, adjusted for demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic factors; insurance status; health status; and medical conditions.Principal Findings. After case‐mix adjustment, patients for whom PAs provided a substantive portion of care used about 16 percent fewer office‐based visits per year than patients cared for by physicians only. This difference in the use of office‐based visits was not offset by increased office visit resource use in other settings.Conclusions. Results indicate that the inclusion of PAs in the U.S. provider mix does not affect overall office visit resource use.
Rural Veterans and Access to High‐Quality Care for High‐Risk Surgeries
Authors: West Alan N. , Weeks William B. , Wallace Amy E. 
Published: July 2008

Objectives. To determine whether older Veterans Health Administration (VA) health care enrollees obtain most high‐risk surgeries in non‐VA hospitals under Medicare, whether residence in less populous areas increases this reliance on non‐VA care or the likelihood of obtaining it in hospitals with higher mortality rates, and whether directing VA enrollees to better hospitals would add a substantial travel burden.Data Sources. VA and Medicare hospital discharge data from 2000 and 2001 for VA enrollees 65 years or older who received any of 14 high‐risk elective procedures, including heart, vascular, and cancer surgeries.Study Design/Data Extraction. We compared urban, suburban, and rural patients on use of VA versus non‐VA hospitals, use of non‐VA hospitals of higher versus lower mortality rates, travel times to get to these hospitals, and the additional travel burden if they had gone to lower mortality hospitals.Principal Findings. Regardless of residence, VA enrollees obtained most high‐risk surgeries in non‐VA hospitals. Urban veterans were most likely to get heart or cancer surgeries in lower mortality hospitals, but rural veterans were most likely to get vascular surgeries in lower mortality hospitals. Average travel times to lower or higher mortality hospitals did not differ greatly.Conclusions. Accessing better hospitals need not add a great travel burden for rural veterans.
Sample Size Effects on Estimates of Population Genetic Structure: Implications for Ecological Restoration
Authors: Sinclair Elizabeth A. , Hobbs Richard J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe field of ecological restoration is growing rapidly, and the sourcing of suitable seed is a major issue. Information on the population genetic structure of a species can provide valuable information to aid in defining seed collection zones. For a practical contribution from genetics, a rapid approach to delineating seed collection zones using genetic markers (amplified fragment length polymorphisms [AFLPs]) has been developed. Here, we test the effects of sampling regime on the efficacy of this method. Genetic data were collected for an outcrossing seeder,Daviesia divaricatassp.divaricata, an important species in urban bushland restoration in Perth, Western Australia. The effect of sample size and number of AFLP markers on estimates of genetic variation and population structure was examined in relation to implications for sourcing material for restoration. Three different sample sizes were used (n= 8, 15, and 30) from six urban bushland remnants. High levels of genetic diversity were observed inD. divaricata(87.4% polymorphic markers), with significant population differentiation detected among sampled populations (ΘB= 0.1386,p< 0.001). Although sample size does not appear to affect the spatial pattern in principle co‐ordinates analysis (PCA) plots, the number of polymorphic loci increased with sample size and estimates of population subdivision (FSTand ΘB) and associated confidence intervals decreased with increasing sample size. We recommend using a minimum of 30 plants for sourcing seed for restoration projects.
Seasonal Effects of Four Control Methods on the Invasive Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) and Initial Responses of Understory Plants in a Southwestern Pennsylvania Old Field
Authors: Love Jason P. , Anderson James T. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract The first step in restoration often involves the removal of invasive plants, but few studies have determined if the response of plant communities matches management goals. The shrub Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii Gray) is one of a suite of exotic bush honeysuckle species that have become pervasive woody invaders in eastern North America. In 2004, we tested four control methods (cut, mechanical removal, stump application of glyphosate, and foliar application of glyphosate) during late spring and early autumn within a degraded meadow at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Our restoration goals are to control Morrow’s honeysuckle, restore native vegetation, and mimic the conditions present in the mid‐1700s. We established forty‐five 5 × 5–m plots to measure woody species; five plots of each treatment method were treated in spring, whereas the remaining five were treated in autumn. We maintained five control plots. Before control, mean density of Morrow’s honeysuckle was 67,920 ± 4,480 shrubs/ha. Foliar application of herbicide and mechanical removal were most effective at reducing the number of shrubs (≥62%). Overall, our treatments were less successful (26–68% reduction) than reported control efforts of other bush honeysuckle species; the sheer number of shrubs coupled with their open habitat made control efforts difficult. Spring treatments, particularly cut and mechanical treatments, had higher metrics of herbaceous community quality. However, continued restoration efforts, including follow‐up treatments, White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) control, and the planting of native seeds and saplings, should be employed to favor the establishment of native seedlings and herbs.
Smart World: Breakthrough Creativity and the New Science of Ideas by Richard Ogle and The Medici Effect: What Elephants & Epidemics Can Teach Us about Innovation by Frans Johansson
Authors: Klein Ruediger 
Published: July 2008

As Ruediger Klein leads off in this group of reviews, “Innovation is everywhere—or so it seems.” Most of these reviews center on idea generation and processing. It will be interesting to see if—as Klein forecasts—this is indeed the decade of innovation and creativity.In the next issue, we will try to be more balanced—or we may get even more creative!Books reviewed in this issue:

Smart World: Breakthrough Creativity and the New Science of Ideas
The Medici Effect: What Elephants & Epidemics Can Teach Us about Innovation
Getting to Innovation: How Asking the Right Questions Generates the Great Ideas Your Company Needs
Hidden in Plain Sight
Human Factors in Project Management
The Fast Path to Corporate Growth: Leveraging Knowledge and Technologies to New Market Applications
Rate‐Independent QT Shortening During Exercise in Healthy Subjects: Terminal Repolarization Does Not Shorten with Exercise
Authors: KANNANKERIL PRINCE J. , HARRIS PAUL A. , NORRIS KRIS J. , WARSY IRFAN , SMITH PHILLIP D. , RODEN DAN M. 
Published: July 2008

Introduction: QT interval for a given heart rate differs between exercise and recovery (QT hysteresis) due to slow QT adaptation to changes in heart rate. We hypothesized that QT hysteresis is evident within stages of exercise and investigated which component of the QT contributes to hysteresis. Methods and Results: Nineteen healthy volunteers performed a staged exercise test (four stages, 3 min each). Continuous telemetry was analyzed with software to compare QT intervals in a rate‐independent fashion. QRST complexes during each minute were sorted by RR interval, and complexes in bins of 20 ms width were signal‐averaged. QT and QTp (onset of QRS to peak T wave) were measured, and terminal QT calculated (peak to end of T wave, Tpe = QT – QTp). QT, QTp, and Tpe at the same heart rate were compared between the first and last minute of each stage. QT shortened from the first to last minute of exercise in each stage (Stage I: 358 ± 30 to 346 ± 25 ms, P < 0.001; Stage II: 342 ± 27 to 331 ± 24 ms, P = 0.003; Stage III: 329 ± 21 to 322 ± 18 ms, P = 0.03; Stage IV: 313 ± 22 to 303 ± 23 ms, P = 0.005). QTp also shortened in each stage, while Tpe was unchanged. Conclusion: QT hysteresis occurs during exercise in normals, and the major determinant is shortening of the first component of the T wave. Terminal repolarization (peak to end of T wave), a surrogate for transmural dispersion of repolarization, does not shorten significantly with exercise.
Diagnosis, symptoms, frequency and mortality of 260 patients with urea cycle disorders from a 21‐year, multicentre study of acute hyperammonaemic episodes
Authors: Summar Marshall L , Dobbelaere Dries , Brusilow Saul , Lee Brendan 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAim: A large longitudinal interventional study of patients with a urea cycle disorder (UCD) in hyperammonaemic crisis was undertaken to amass a significant body of data on their presenting symptoms and survival.Methods: Between 1982 and 2003, as part of the FDA approval process, data were collected on patients receiving an intravenous combination of nitrogen scavenging drugs (Ammonul® sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate (10%, 10%)) for the treatment of hyperammonaemic crises caused by urea cycle disorders.Results: A final diagnosis of a UCD was made for 260 patients, representing 975 episodes of hospitalization. Only 34% of these patients presented within the first 30 days of life and had a mortality rate of 32%. The most common presenting symptoms were neurological (80%), or gastrointestinal (33%). This cohort is the largest collection of patients reported for these diseases and the first large cohort in the United States.Conclusion: Surprisingly, the majority (66%) of patients with heritable causes of hyperammonaemia present beyond the neonatal period (>30 days). Patients with late‐onset presenting disorders exhibited prolonged survival compared to the neonatal‐presenting group.
Ethnic differences in metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese children and adolescents: the Oslo Adiposity Intervention Study
Authors: Pollestad Kolsgaard Magnhild L. , Andersen Lene Frost , Tonstad Serena , Brunborg Cathrine , Wangensteen Teresia , Joner Geir 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAim: Are there differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome between obese and overweight Norwegian and immigrant children and adolescents?Methods: Two hundred and three overweight and obese Norwegian, Pakistani, Tamil and Turkish patients aged 6–17 years living in Norway were included. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of at least three abnormal values of waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting triglycerides, fasting glucose and HDL cholesterol.Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher among the immigrant compared to Norwegian subjects when adjusted for age, gender and BMI‐Z‐score (20.8 vs. 30.6%; OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.05–4.77). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased with increasing severity of obesity and reached 50% in severely obese immigrants and 30% in severely obese Norwegians. Among the overweight subjects metabolic syndrome prevalence was 23.5% among immigrants and 19.4% among Norwegians.Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was found more frequently among children and adolescents with Middle Eastern and South Asian origins than Norwegians. Differences were found even after adjustment for age, sex and degree of obesity. This suggests that ethnic minorities may have an increased sensitivity to adiposity and need more aggressive prevention and treatment than their Norwegian counterparts.
Origin and evolution of magnetars
Authors: Ferrario Lilia , Wickramasinghe Dayal 
Published: July 2008

Abstract
We present a population synthesis study of the observed properties of the magnetars investigating the hypothesis that they are drawn from a population of progenitors that are more massive than those of the normal radio pulsars. We assume that the anomalous X-ray emission is caused by the decay of a toroidal or tangled up field that does not take part in the spin-down of the star. Our model assumes that the magnetic flux of the neutron star is distributed as a Gaussian in the logarithm about a mean value that is described by a power law , where Mp is the mass of the progenitor. We find that we can explain the observed properties of the magnetars for a model with Φ0 = 2 × 1025 G cm2 and γ= 5 if we suitably parametrize the time evolution of the anomalous X-ray luminosity as an exponentially decaying function of time. Our modelling suggests that magnetars arise from stars in the high-mass end (20 M⊙≤Mp≤ 45 M⊙) of this distribution. The lower mass progenitors are assumed to give rise to the radio pulsars.
The high value of γ can be interpreted in one of two ways. It may indicate that the magnetic flux distribution on the main sequence is a strong function of mass and that this is reflected in the magnetic fluxes of the neutron stars that form from this mass range (the fossil field hypothesis). The recent evidence for magnetic fluxes similar to those of the magnetars in a high fraction (∼25 per cent) of massive O-type stars lends support to such a hypothesis. Another possibility is that the spin of the neutron star is a strong function of the progenitor mass, and it is only for stars that are more massive than ∼20 M⊙ that magnetar-type fields can be generated by the α−ω dynamo mechanism (the convective dynamo hypothesis). In either interpretation, it has to be assumed that all or a subset of stars in the mass range ∼20–45 M⊙, which on standard stellar evolution models lead to black holes via the formation of a fall-back disc, must give rise to magnetars.
Unlike with the radio pulsars, the magnetars only weakly constrain the birth spin period, due to their rapid spin-down. Our model predicts a birthrate of ∼1.5–3 × 10−3 yr−1 for the magnetars.
PROTECTIVE CULTURES USED FOR THE BIOPRESERVATION OF HORSE MEAT FERMENTED SAUSAGE: MICROBIAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
Authors: EL MALTI JAZILA , AMAROUCH HAMID 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT In this paper, 150 isolates, originating from horse meat, were subjected to step‐by‐step screening and characterization to search for potential protective cultures to be used in the meat industry. Isolates were first tested on their homofermentative and salt tolerance. Second, the antibacterial capacities toward Listeria monocytogenes were determined in an agar spot test. In total, 50% of the tested isolates were inhibitory toward Listeria monocytogenes. However, only 12 isolates produced a bacteriocin. Finally, three isolates with the strong bacteriocin activity were evaluated on their competitive nature by comparing their growth rate, acidifying character and lactic acid production at 15C under anaerobic conditions in a liquid broth. All three isolates combined a fast growth rate with a deep and rapid acidification caused by the production of high levels of lactic acid. Lactobacillus sakei was used as starter culture for producing sausage horse meat. In this study, fermentations were followed analyzing the microbiological and physicochemical aspects of this product. The sausages were characterized by an important microbial activity of lactic acid bacteria that resulted in a product with a final pH of about 4.56. No Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. or sulfite reducing clostridia were ever isolated from the raw materials or the fermented sausages during the maturation, underlining the microbial safety of this product. The final water activity of the product was 0.85. Starter cultures showed that Lactobacillus sakei was really efficient in reducing the amine production since this strain caused a quick pH drop during sausage fermentation.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSA starter culture can be defined as a microbial preparation of large numbers of cells of at least one microorganism to be added to a raw material to produce a fermented food by accelerating and steering its fermentation process. The group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) occupies a central role in these processes, and has a long and safe history of application and consumption in the production of fermented foods and beverages. They cause rapid acidification of the raw material through the production of organic acids, mainly lactic acid. Also, their production of acetic acid, ethanol, aroma compounds, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides and several enzymes is of importance. The main reason for suitability of LAB is their natural origin, and they can contribute to food safety and/or offer one or more organoleptic, technological, nutritional or health advantages.
PERSISTENCE OF SALMONELLA SEROTYPES ON CHICKEN SKIN AFTER EXPOSURE TO KOSHER SALT AND RINSING*
Authors: OSCAR THOMAS P. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT A series of experiments was undertaken to determine whether kosher salt reduces persistence of Salmonella serotypes that might cross‐contaminate chicken skin on the conveyor belt between the soaking and salting stations in a kosher processing line. The line was simulated in the laboratory because Salmonella could not be inoculated onto chickens in a commercial plant. Prevalence of Salmonella Typhimurium (0.5 log10 cfu) was reduced (P < 0.0001) from 93 to 21% by kosher salt followed by rinsing as compared with 48% for rinsing alone; results were similar for Salmonella Kentucky and for 12 and 24C. Salmonella Hadar was less persistent than the other serotypes. The beneficial effect of kosher salt on reducing persistence of Salmonella was not observed when initial pathogen levels were greater than 2.5 log10 cfu and when kosher salt was applied without rinsing. These results suggest that the application of kosher salt followed by rinsing is an important pathogen reduction step in the kosher processing of chickens.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSJewish dietary laws have been in existence for thousands of years but have received little attention from the scientific community for their potential beneficial effects for improving the quality and safety of poultry products. Practices employed during the kosher processing of poultry may be amendable to non‐kosher processing of poultry. Results of this study suggest that application of dry kosher salt might reduce attachment of Salmonella during processing and facilitate their removal by carcass washing. Further studies are needed to validate these results in a commercial plant and to evaluate other types of salt for their effects on Salmonella persistence and the potential application of the process to non‐kosher poultry.
EVALUATION OF AMOMUM SUBULATUM ROXB OIL AS A SOURCE OF BOTANICAL FUNGITOXICANT FOR THE PROTECTION OF MANGO FRUITS FROM FUNGAL ROTTING
Authors: DUBEY R.K. , KUMAR RAJESH , JAYA  , CHANSOURIA J.P.N. , DUBEY N.K. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT The essential oil extracted from the leaves of Amomum subulatum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) has been evaluated for efficacy in the control of mango fruit rotting due to fungal infections. The essential oil of A. subulatum exhibited absolute antifungal activity against two mango rotting fungi viz. Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat. and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz, the common storage fungi causing stem end rot and anthracnose disease of mango fruits. The oil showed its absolute fungitoxicity at the minimum inhibitory concentration of 500 µL/L. Its fungitoxic potency did not alter even on a high inoculum density of the test fungi. The Amomum oil significantly enhanced the shelf life of mango fruits by controlling anthracnose disease as well as stem end rot for an additional five and six days, respectively. The oil also inhibited pectinase and cellulase enzymes secreted by the test fungi during pathogenesis and exhibited a wide range of fungitoxicity against 13 fungal isolates. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis of the oil found 1, 8 cineole to be a major component. The LD50 of Amomum oil was found to be 22,070 mg/kg of body weight in mice (Mus musculus L.) when administered for acute oral toxicity. Keeping in view the side effects of synthetic fungicides, A. subulatum oil may be recommended as a botanical fungitoxicant of plant origin to control the rotting of mango fruits and to enhance their shelf life because of its nonmammalian toxicity and in vivo efficacy.
PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA SPP. IN RAW AND COOKED FOODS IN ISFAHAN‐IRAN
Authors: JALALI MOHAMMAD , ABEDI DARYOUSH , POURBAKHSH SEYED ALI , GHOUKASIN KARINE 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT A total of 645 samples of raw and cooked foods were examined for the presence of Salmonella spp. Salmonella was detected in 43 (6.66%) of the samples. Salmonella was isolated from 24/134 (17.91%) of raw poultry, 3/56 (5.35%) of cooked poultry, 8/101 (7.92%) of raw meat, 2/118 (1.69%) of cooked meat, 1/3 (33.3%) of turkey, 2/5 (40.00%) of quail and 3/38 (7.89%) of vegetables. All samples taken from fish, yogurt, ready‐to‐eat olovieh salad, hamburger, mayonnaise souse and smallgoods were free of Salmonella. Of the 31 strains of Salmonella, 11 different serotypes were separated; among them S. enteritidis (29%) and S. baibouknown (29%) were the most frequent in raw foods. Furthermore, a high proportion of poultry was contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella spp. were present in a small proportion of cooked foods, that is, they were not killed during the cooking process, or the contamination might have occurred after thermal treatment. These findings have a clear implication for public health, indicating the needs for improvement of hygienic condition in food processing centers.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSTo control and reduce human salmonellosis, periodic surveillance is necessary to determine the occurrence of Salmonella in various foods.Therefore, this study investigated the presence of Salmonella serovar in raw and cooked foods in one of the most populated provinces in Iran.The data presented here will help the food industry, regulatory agencies and health policymakers target sectors which need additional monitoring or more effective control. As no documented information is provided on the sources of disease in Iran, this report may assist in further assessment of the sources of Salmonella in the human population. The number of salmonellosis cases will decrease following the introduction of mandatory Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in food industries. Hence, this study may convince governmental authority and private sectors to apply the HACCP system to ensure food safety. This study also underlines the need for adequate consumer protection against pathogens transmitted by foods in Iran.
BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery
Authors: Eatwell Kevin 
Published: July 2008

BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery
Anna Meredith and Paul Flecknell Published by the BSAVA, 2006, 2nd edition, paperback, 224 pages, Price 74.00, ISBN‐10: 090521496X; ISBN‐13: 978‐0905214962