bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of Locum Tenens Surgeons to Provide Surgical Care in Small Rural Hospitals
Authors: Doty Brit , Andres Mark , Zuckerman Randall , Borgstrom David 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundToo few general surgeons practice in rural American communities, and many hospitals in the smallest rural areas do not have a surgeon. Therefore, it is likely that some small rural hospitals are using alternative arrangements to provide surgical care, including hiring locum tenens surgeons. We describe the degree to which small rural hospitals are using locum tenens surgeons to provide surgical services.MethodsAdministrators at 129 small rural hospitals were surveyed by telephone. The survey instrument was comprised of questions asking whether the hospital provides surgical services, if the hospital has recruited a surgeon, whether the hospital uses locum tenens surgeons and if so for what purposes.ResultsA total of 76% of surveyed rural hospitals have offered surgical services during the past 5 years. In all, 56% of hospitals providing surgical care have recruited a surgeon during the past 5 years. Of those who have been unsuccessful in their search, 30% have considered using a locum tenens surgeon, and 20% have done so.ConclusionsGiven the difficulty of recruiting surgeons to practice in rural America, it is critical to develop strategies to address this problem. Although using locum tenens surgeons may allow rural hospitals to offer surgical services, the quality of surgical care could be compromised. Other means for delivering surgical services at rural hospitals that cannot recruit or retain a surgeon should be explored to ensure that rural residents have access to high quality surgical care.
Structure of Dehydroergosterol Monohydrate and Interaction with Sterol Carrier Protein‐2
Authors: McIntosh Avery L. , Atshaves Barbara P. , Gallegos Adalberto M. , Storey Stephen M. , Reibenspies Joseph H. , Kier Ann B. , Meyer Edgar , Schroeder Friedhelm 
Published: November 2008

AbstractDehydroergosterol [ergosta‐5,7,9(11),22‐tetraen‐3β‐ol] is a naturally‐occurring, fluorescent sterol utilized extensively to probe membrane cholesterol distribution, cholesterol‐protein interactions, and intracellular cholesterol transport both in vitro and in vivo. In aqueous solutions, the low solubility of dehydroergosterol results in the formation of monohydrate crystals similar to cholesterol. Low temperature X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that dehydroergosterol monohydrate crystallizes in the space group P21 with four molecules in the unit cell and monoclinic crystal parameters a = 9.975(1) Å, b = 7.4731(9) Å, c = 34.054(4) Å, and β = 92.970(2)° somewhat similar to ergosterol monohydrate. The molecular arrangement is in a slightly closer packed bilayer structure resembling cholesterol monohydrate. Since dehydroergosterol fluorescence emission undergoes a quantum yield enhancement and red‐shift of its maximum wavelength when crystallized, formation or disruption of microcrystals was monitored with high sensitivity using cuvette‐based spectroscopy and multi‐photon laser scanning imaging microscopy. This manuscript reports on the dynamical effect of sterol carrier protein‐2 (SCP‐2) interacting between aqueous dispersions of dehydroergosterol monohydrate microcrystal donors and acceptors consisting not only of model membranes but also vesicles derived from plasma membranes isolated by biochemical fractionation and affinity purification from Madin‐Darby canine kidney cells. Furthermore, this study provides real‐time measurements of the effect of increased SCP‐2 levels on the rate of disappearance of dehydroergosterol microcrystals in living cells.
Triacylglycerol Analysis of Fats and Oils by Evaporative Light Scattering Detection
Authors: Rombaut Roeland , De Clercq Nathalie , Foubert Imogen , Dewettinck Koen 
Published: November 2008

AbstractA high performance liquid chromatography method with evaporative light scattering detection was developed for the analysis of oils and fats, which enabled excellent separation of major and minor triacylglycerol (TAG) species in 33 min, including regeneration of the column. The influence of the mobile phase and temperature on separation and analysis time were evaluated with a cocoa butter standard. The influence of the drift tube temperature and flow of the nebulising gas on the evaporative light scattering detector output signal was investigated by means of a response surface experimental design. Especially the flow of the nebulising gas had a profound effect on the detector signal. An optimal separation was obtained when using a 150 × 3.0 mm C18 column with 3 μm particle diameter at 20 °C and an acetonitrile/dichloromethane gradient at 0.72 mL/min. The maximum response was attained when the ELSD detector was set at the minimum temperature (45 °C) and a gas flow of 1.2 L/min. Finally, the linearity of the detector was investigated. It was found that at very low concentrations, the signal tends to flatten towards zero, giving an underestimation for minor TAG species, especially for oils or fats with a mixed fatty acid composition.
Zukunft der Zytogenetik
Authors: Speicher M.R. 
Published: November 2008

Zusammenfassung
Der Themenschwerpunkt dieser Ausgabe der Zeitschrift „Medizinische Genetik“ ist der gegenwärtigen Entwicklung der Zytogenetik gewidmet. Die klassische Bänderungsanalyse, die seit Jahrzehnten in der humangenetischen Routinediagnostik eine zentrale Position einnimmt, wird anhand qualitätssichernder Maßnahmen dargestellt. Verschiedene Beiträge beschreiben die molekulare Zytogenetik, die im Wesentlichen auf der Fluoreszenz-in-situ-Hybridisierung (FISH) beruht. Die Einführung der vergleichenden genomischen Hybridisierung [“comparative genomic hybridization“ (CGH)], speziell auf Arrayplattformen, hat die Zytogenetik revolutioniert und erlaubt die Bearbeitung völlig neuer Fragestellungen. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt der Zytogenetik, der sie von vielen anderen molekularen Techniken unterscheidet, ist, dass sie Analysen auf Einzelzellniveau ermöglichen. Mit dem vorliegenden Heft wird auch versucht, mögliche zukünftige Entwicklungen der Zytogenetik aufzuzeichnen.
SLANT CURVES IN CONTACT PSEUDO-HERMITIAN 3-MANIFOLDS
Authors: CHO JONG TAEK , LEE JI-EUN 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBy using the pseudo-Hermitian connection (or Tanaka–Webster connection) $\widehat \nabla $, we construct the parametric equations of Legendre pseudo-Hermitian circles (whose $\widehat \nabla $-geodesic curvature $\widehat \kappa $ is constant and $\widehat \nabla $-geodesic torsion $\widehat \tau $ is zero) in S3. In fact, it is realized as a Legendre curve satisfying the $\widehat \nabla $-Jacobi equation for the $\widehat \nabla $-geodesic vector field along it.
Probiotics and dietary counselling contribute to glucose regulation during and after pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Laitinen Kirsi , Poussa Tuija , Isolauri Erika ,   the Nutrition, Allergy, Mucosal Immunology and Intestinal Microbiota Group
Published: November 2008

Balanced glucose metabolism ensures optimal fetal growth with long-term health implications conferred on both mother and child. We examined whether supplementation of probiotics with dietary counselling affects glucose metabolism in normoglycaemic pregnant women. At the first trimester of pregnancy 256 women were randomised to receive nutrition counselling to modify dietary intake according to current recommendations or as controls; the dietary intervention group was further randomised to receive probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12; diet/probiotics) or placebo (diet/placebo) in a double-blind manner, whilst the control group received placebo (control/placebo). Blood glucose concentrations were lowest in the diet/probiotics group during pregnancy (baseline-adjusted means 4·45, 4·60 and 4·56 mmol/l in diet/probiotics, diet/placebo and control/placebo, respectively; P = 0·025) and over the 12 months' postpartum period (baseline-adjusted means 4·87, 5·01 and 5·02 mmol/l; P = 0·025). Better glucose tolerance in the diet/probiotics group was confirmed by a reduced risk of elevated glucose concentration compared with the control/placebo group (OR 0·31 (95 % CI 0·12, 0·78); P = 0·013) as well as by the lowest insulin concentration (adjusted means 7·55, 9·32 and 9·27 mU/l; P = 0·032) and homeostasis model assessment (adjusted means 1·49, 1·90 and 1·88; P = 0·028) and the highest quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (adjusted means 0·37, 0·35 and 0·35; P = 0·028) during the last trimester of pregnancy. The effects observed extended over the 12-month postpartum period. The present study demonstrated that improved blood glucose control can be achieved by dietary counselling with probiotics even in a normoglycaemic population and thus may provide potential novel means for the prophylactic and therapeutic management of glucose disorders.
Long-term consumption of plant stanol and sterol esters, vascular function and genetic regulation
Authors: Gylling Helena , Hallikainen Maarit , Raitakari Olli T. , Laakso Markku , Vartiainen Erkki , Salo Pia , Korpelainen Vesa , Sundvall Jouko , Miettinen Tatu A. 
Published: November 2008

Polymorphisms of theABCG5andABCG8genes interfere with cholesterol absorption and synthesis. We determined whether common polymorphisms of these genes regulate the responses of serum cholesterol and vascular function during long-term inhibition of cholesterol absorption. Mildly to moderately hypercholesterolaemic subjects (n282) completed a 1-year study consuming plant stanol or sterol ester (2 g stanol or sterol) or control spread. Serum cholesterol and non-cholesterol sterols, markers of cholesterol absorption and synthesis, and variables of vascular function and structure were analysed in relation to common polymorphisms ofABCG5andABCG8. At baseline, subjects with the 54K allele ofABCG8had higher brachial endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilatation than those without it (5·79 (se0·31)v.4·46 (se0·44) %;P = 0·049), and subjects with the 632V allele ofABCG8had larger brachial artery diameter than those without it. Polymorphisms ofABCG5andABCG8were neither associated with serum cholesterol reduction nor changes in cholesterol metabolism or in vascular function. However, in subjects with the 400K allele ofABCG8, intima media thickness (IMT) was increased in all groups more than in those without it (P < 0·05). In conclusion, serum cholesterol lowering with absorption inhibition was not associated with polymorphic sites ofABCG5andABCG8. However, regulation of baseline cholesterol metabolism and vascular function and structure, and IMT progression during 1 year seemed to share some of the common polymorphic sites of these genes, suggesting a gene-regulated interaction between cholesterol metabolism and vascular function and structure.
Dietary strategies for improving folate status in institutionalized elderly persons
Authors: Bermejo Laura M. , Aparicio Aránzazu , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Elena , López-Sobaler Ana M. , Andrés Pedro , Ortega Rosa M. 
Published: November 2008

The aim of this work was to compare the efficacy of two strategies designed to improve folate status: increasing the intake of vegetables, and the consumption of a folic acid-fortified food. Residents (126) from three old people's homes in the Madrid region (Spain) were studied. To each centre a dietary intervention was assigned to be followed for 6 months: (1) the consumption of margarine fortified with 200 μg folic acid/10 g portion (centre M), (2) increasing the consumption of vegetables to three servings per day (centre V), (3) control (centre C). At the beginning and end of the intervention period the subjects' intakes, serum and erythrocyte concentrations of folate were measured. The use of fortified margarine (centre M) led to a significant increase in folate intake (260·9 μg/d), serum concentration (10·3 (sd8·3) nmol/l) and erythrocyte concentration (638·4 nmol/l). At centre V the increase in total vegetable intake achieved was very poor; these foods met with very poor acceptance, although the intake of certain vegetables particularly rich in folate improved. Therefore, the intake of this vitamin increased a little (26·7 (sd33·0) μg/d); erythrocyte folate concentration also increased somewhat (460·5 nmol/l), althought less than centre M. The daily consumption of margarine fortified with folic acid was the more effective strategy for improving the folate status of the study subjects.
A systematic review on the timing of artificial nutrition in acute pancreatitis
Authors: Petrov Maxim S. , Pylypchuk Romana D. , Uchugina Antonina F. 
Published: November 2008

Artificial nutrition is an inherent part of management in acute pancreatitis. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal time of the commencement of feeding in these patients. Our aim was to compare the effect of enteral v. parenteral nutrition with regard to the time points when they were administered in the randomised controlled trials. The search was undertaken in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and Science Citation Index as well as in the proceedings of major gastroenterology meetings. The summary estimate of the effect associated with artificial nutrition was calculated using a random-effects model and presented as a risk ratio (RR) and 95 % CI. A total of eleven randomised controlled trials were included. When started within 48 h of admission, enteral nutrition, in comparison with parenteral nutrition, resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the risks of multiple organ failure (RR 0·44; 95 % CI 0·23, 0·84), pancreatic infectious complications (RR 0·46; 95 % CI 0·27, 0·77) and mortality (RR 0·46; 95 % CI 0·20, 0·99). After 48 h of admission, enteral nutrition, in comparison with parenteral nutrition, did not result in a statistically significant reduction in the risks of multiple organ failure (RR 0·73; 95 % CI 0·33, 1·63), pancreatic infectious complications (RR 0·31; 95 % CI 0·07, 1·34) and mortality (RR 0·67; 95 % CI 0·22, 2·10). Enteral nutrition is more effective than parenteral nutrition in reducing the risk of multiple organ failure, pancreatic infectious complications and mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis. The magnitude of these benefits may depend on the timing of the commencement of nutrition.
Effect of the introduction of ‘Healthy Start’ on dietary behaviour during and after pregnancy: early results from the ‘before and after’ Sheffield study
Authors: Ford Fiona A. , Mouratidou Theodora , Wademan Sarah E. , Fraser Robert B. 
Published: November 2008

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the introduction of a new food-support benefit ‘Healthy Start’ (HS) on dietary intakes and eating patterns of low-income, Caucasian, pregnant and postpartum women living in Sheffield (UK). A before-and-after study comparing nutritional behaviour of participants, who were beneficiaries or eligible for the Welfare Food Scheme (WFS) (phase 1) or HS (phase 2), was conducted. Dietary intakes and eating patterns were assessed using a validated semi-quantified FFQ. In phase 1, 176 WFS subjects (ninety pregnant and eighty-six postpartum) were recruited and in phase 2, there were 160 HS subjects (ninety-six pregnant and sixty-four postpartum). The results suggested that pregnant and postpartum HS women significantly increased their daily intakes of energy, Fe, Ca, folate and vitamin C compared with the WFS women. Observed differences remained significant after controlling for potential confounding effects of known factors, i.e. education and age. HS women were more likely to meet the recommended nutrient intakes for Fe, folate, Ca and vitamin C. HS women ate significantly more mean portions of fruit and vegetables per d (P = 0·004 andP = 0·023) respectively. None of the HS recipients was receiving HS vitamin supplements. The present study showed that pregnant and postpartum HS women increased their food consumption, and a higher proportion of them than the earlier WFS scheme met the recommended intakes for Ca, folate, Fe and vitamin C.
Combining models to examine the financial impact of infertility caused by bovine viral diarrhoea in Scottish beef suckler herds
Authors: BARBUDO A. VARO , GUNN G. J. , STOTT A. W. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYIn beef suckler herds, reproductive failure is a major cause of financial loss during a bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) outbreak due to reduction in the numbers of calves, increased calving spread and the financial implications of dealing with infertile cows. These losses may be hidden and/or not fully attributed to BVD. A model of herd dynamics was built and combined with an epidemiological model to encapsulate the disruptions to reproduction that BVD may cause in beef suckler herds and to estimate the associated financial consequences of such disruptions.Results from the model suggest that the average losses associated with BVD in Scottish beef suckler herds via impaired reproduction alone may vary between £43 and £22/cow/year during the course of a BVD epidemic. These results indicate that an outbreak can be costly and these losses may be hidden by the use of low risk management practices such as a long breeding season, not only in herds with no evidence of antibodies but also in herds where there are some antibody positive (immune) animals.
Soil biochemical response after 23 years of direct drilling under a dryland agriculture system in southwest Spain
Authors: MELERO S. , VANDERLINDEN K. , RUIZ J. CARLOS , MADEJÓN E. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYSoil enzyme activities are widely utilized as rapid and sensitive indicators in discriminating among soil management effects. The objective of the present study was to compare the influence of conservation tillage, i.e. direct drilling (DD) (residue cover is left on the soil surface)v. conventional tillage (CT), on soil chemical and biochemical properties in a crop rotation (cereals–sunflower–legumes) under dryland production in a semi-arid Mediterranean Vertisol after 23 years. A randomized experimental design was established. Soil biological status was evaluated by measuring of enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase and protease). Total organic carbon (TOC) contents were greater in soils managed by DD than those found by CT. Except for protease activity, enzymatic activity values were approximately 2-fold higher in soils under DD than in soils under CT. The β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase values showed a high correlation (fromr=0·481 tor=0·886,P⩽0·01) with TOC contents and they were correlated with each other (fromr=0·664 tor=0·923,P⩽0·01). The coefficient of variation of biochemical properties was higher than those of chemical properties in both treatments. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that two principal components explained 58% and 20% of the total variability. The first principal component was influenced mostly by β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase and TOC, whereas the second was influenced by pH. The first component effectively differentiated managed soil under both agriculture practices. In general, long-term soil conservation management by DD in a dryland farming system improved the quality of this Vertisol by enhancing its organic matter content and biochemical activity.
The morphology and behaviour ofCercaria lataLespés, 1857 (Digenea, Faustulidae) from the Mediterranean clamTapes decussata(L.)
Authors: Gargouri Ben Abdallah L. , Trigui El Menif N. , Maamouri F. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractCercaria lata(Digenea, Faustulidae), discovered by Lespés (1857) inTapes decussata(L.) in the basin of Arcachon, was found for the first time, from the eastern Mediterranean, in the same lamellibranch from Tunisia (Bizerte and Tunis lagoons and Gulf of Gabes). These cercariae develop in daughter sporocysts, which develop in mother sporocysts in the gonads. Daughter sporocysts are observed in the gonads and sometimes in the digestive gland. A redescription and the behaviour of the naturally emerging cercariae and spatio-temporal distribution of the sporocysts are reported. A comparative study using multivariate analyses associated with morphology, biology and seasonality confirm the distinctness ofCercaria lataand the cercaria ofCercaria pectinatafromDonax trunculus.
Survivability of fuel layers with a different structure under conditions of the environmental effects: Physical concept and modeling results
Authors: Aleksandrova I.V. , Belolipetskiy A.A. , Koresheva E.R. , Tolokonnikov S.M. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis report addresses the physical concept and the results of mathematical modeling of cryogenic layer degrading caused by its radiation heating during direct drive target injection into the reaction chamber. Special attention is paid to the influence of a solid layer structure on the roughening of the layer surface that is of critical importance for the development of target injection scenario.
Walking the dog: exploration of the contact networks between dogs in a community
Authors: WESTGARTH C. , GASKELL R. M. , PINCHBECK G. L. , BRADSHAW J. W. S. , DAWSON S. , CHRISTLEY R. M. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYThis study uses social network analysis to investigate potential contact among 214 dog-owning households in a UK community through their utilization of public space during walking. We identified a high level of potential contact between dog-owning households; most households walked their dogs in only a few areas but a small number visited many. Highly connected households were more likely to have multiple dogs, walk their dogs off lead, and own Working, Pastoral or some Terrier types. Similarly, most areas were only visited by a few households but a few were visited by many. Despite identification of subgroups of households and locations, we demonstrated high connectivity between dog-owning households, with minimum path lengths of two ‘steps’ (household–area–household, 74%) or four ‘steps’ (via two areas, 26%).
Structured surveillance of infectious intestinal disease in pre-school children in the community: ‘The Nappy Study’
Authors: ITURRIZA-GÓMARA M. , ELLIOT A. J. , DOCKERY C. , FLEMING D. M. , GRAY J. J. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYThe incidence and causes of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in children aged <5 years presenting to general practitioners (GPs) were estimated. During a 12-month period, soiled nappies were collected from children presenting with symptoms suggestive of IID in a network of 65 GPs located across England. Molecular methods were used to detect a range of enteric pathogens including viruses, bacteria and parasites. Genotyping was performed on rotavirus and norovirus isolates. A total of 583 nappies were collected from 554 children; a pathogen was detected in 361 (62%) specimens. In the 43 practices 1584 new episodes of IID were recorded in a population averaging 19774; the specimen capture rate was 28%. IID incidence peaked during March and April. Norovirus (24·5%), rotavirus (19·0%) and sapovirus (12·7%) were most commonly detected, and mixed infections were detected in 11·7% of cases. Strain characterization revealed G1P[8] (65·8%), G4P[4] (8·1%) and G9P[8] (8·1%) as the most common rotavirus genotypes, similar to the UK national distribution. GII-3 (42·9%) and GII-4 (39·7%) were the most common norovirus genotypes; this was significantly different (P<0·005) to the national distribution.