bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patient Turnover and Nursing Staff Adequacy
Authors: Unruh Lynn Y. , Fottler Myron D. 
Published: January 2006

Objective. To assess the relative validity of patient turnover adjustments and the difference in nurse staffing using measures that adjust for patient turnover and severity versus those that do not.Data Sources. Numbers of registered nurses (RNs), adjusted patient days of care (APDC), length of stay, and patient severity information from acute care general hospitals in Pennsylvania 1994–2001, obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the American Hospital Association, and the Atlas MediQual system.Study Design. After examining the trends in patient turnover and severity and their relationship to RN staffing, we apply two‐patient turnover indices, with and without patient severity adjustments, to RN staffing measures, and test the difference between the original and adjusted measures using paired sample t‐tests.Data Extraction Methods. Data sets were match merged by hospital ID, and patient turnover and severity indices were created, using 1994 as the base year. RN staffing measures were developed using unadjusted APDC, and APDC adjusted for patient turnover and both patient turnover and severity.Principal Findings. Patient turnover increased significantly from 1994 to 2001. The difference between RN staffing measures adjusted for patient turnover and severity and those not adjusted was increasingly significant from 1995 onward. Unadjusted RN staffing showed a 1 percent decline over the 8‐year‐period compared with decreases of from 9 to 26 percent after adjustments.Conclusions. These results indicate that the assessment of unadjusted RN staffing by RN to patient ratios alone underestimates nursing workload and overstates RN staffing levels. Patient turnover, as well as severity, should be taken into account in staffing assessment and decision making.
Clinical relevance of Fas expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chan K W , Lee P Y , Lam A K Y , Law S , Wong J , Srivastava G 
Published: January 2006

Aims:To determine the extent of Fas expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) from Chinese patients and to correlate Fas expression with clinicopathological prognostic parameters.Methods:Clinicopathological data were collected from 58 patients with ESCC who underwent oesophagectomy and had no prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Immunostaining was performed on the primary tumours. Expression of Fas was correlated with patients’ demographics, tumour characteristics and stage, R category of surgery, and patients’ survival.Results:The actuarial survival rates of all patients at two and five years after surgery were 48% and 14%, respectively. Fas expression was detected in 89.7% of ESCCs. Higher Fas expression recorded on a four point scale correlated with better tumour differentiation (p < 0.01), but not with other patient or tumour variables. Importantly, higher Fas expression was associated with better survival (p  =  0.0317).Conclusions:These findings suggest that Fas activated apoptosis is important in the pathogenesis of ESCC. This molecular pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.
Genome scan linkage analysis comparing microsatellites and single-nucleotide polymorphisms markers for two measures of alcoholism in chromosomes 1, 4, and 7
Authors: Chen Guanjie , Adeyemo Adebowale , Zhou Jie , Yuan Ao , Chen Yuanxiu , Rotimi Charles 
Published: January 2006

Abstract

Background
We analyzed 143 pedigrees (364 nuclear families) in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) data provided to the participants in the Genetic Analysis Workshop 14 (GAW14) with the goal of comparing results obtained from genome linkage analysis using microsatellite and with results obtained using SNP markers for two measures of alcoholism (maximum number of drinks -MAXDRINK and an electrophysiological measure from EEG -TTTH1). First, we constructed haplotype blocks by using the entire set of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in chromosomes 1, 4, and 7. These chromosomes have shown linkage signals for MAXDRINK or EEG-TTTH1 in previous reports. Second, we randomly selected one, two, three, four, and five SNPs from each block (referred to as Rep1 – Rep5, respectively) to conduct linkage analysis using variance component approach. Finally, results of all SNP analyses were compared with those obtained using microsatellite markers.

Results
The LOD scores obtained from SNPs were slightly higher but the curves were not radically different from those obtained from microsatellite analyses. The peaks of linkage regions from SNP sets were slightly shifted to the left when compared to those from microsatellite markers. The reduced sets of SNPs provide signals in the same linkage regions but with a smaller LOD score suggesting a significant impact of the decrease in information content on linkage results. The widths of 1 LOD support interval of linkage regions from SNP sets were smaller when compared to those of microsatellite markers. However, two linkage regions obtained from the microsatellite linkage analysis on chromosome 7 for LOG of TTTH1 were not detected in the SNP based analyses.

Conclusion
The linkage results from SNPs showed narrower linkage regions and slightly higher LOD scores when compared to those of microsatellite markers. The different builds of the genetic maps used in microsatellite and SNPs markers or/and errors in genotyping may account for the microsatellite linkage signals on chromosome 7 that were not identified using SNPs. Also, unresolved map issues between SNPs and microsatellite markers may be partly responsible for the shifted linkage peaks when comparing the two types of markers.
Covariate linkage analysis of GAW14 simulated data incorporating subclinical phenotype, sex, population, parent-of-origin, and interaction
Authors: Hamshere Marian L , MacGregor Stuart , Moskvina Valentina , Nikolov Ivan N , Holmans Peter A 
Published: January 2006

Abstract

Background
We evaluate a method for the incorporation of covariates into linkage analysis using the Genetic Analysis Workshop 14 simulated data. Focusing on a randomly chosen replicate (42) we investigated the effect of the 12 subclinical phenotypes, sex, population, and parent-of-origin on the linkage signal from a model-free linkage analysis of Kofendrerd Personality Disorder.

Results
We detected a linkage peak on chromosome 1, at about 175 cM, which varied depending upon individuals' status for subclinical phenotype b. A linkage peak on chromosome 3 (310 cM) was found not to depend upon subclinical phenotype status. Further peaks were found on chromosomes 5 (12 cM), 9 (4 cM), and 10 (95 cM), depending on the status of subclinical phenotypes a, k, and c/d/g, respectively.

Conclusion
Retrospective comparison of our results with the simulation model showed correct identification of disease loci D1-5 on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 9 and 10, respectively.
The role of parametric linkage methods in complex trait analyses using microsatellites
Authors: Badzioch Michael D , Goode Ellen L , Jarvik Gail P 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Many investigators of complexly inherited familial traits bypass classical segregation analysis to perform model-free genome-wide linkage scans. Because model-based or parametric linkage analysis may be the most powerful means to localize genes when a model can be approximated, model-free statistics may result in a loss of power to detect linkage. We performed limited segregation analyses on the electrophysiological measurements that have been collected for the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. The resulting models are used in whole-genome scans. Four genomic regions provided a model-based LOD > 2 and only 3 of these were detected (p < 0.05) by a model-free approach. We conclude that parametric methods, using even over-simplified models of complex phenotypes, may complement nonparametric methods and decrease false positives.
Neonatal erythropoiesis and subsequent anemia in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Zimbabwean babies during the first year of life: a longitudinal study
Authors: Miller Melissa F , Humphrey Jean H , Iliff Peter J , Malaba Lucie C , Mbuya Nkosinathi V ,   the ZVITAMBO Study Group, Stoltzfus Rebecca J 
Published: January 2006

Abstract

Background
Anemia is common in HIV infection and independently associated with disease progression and mortality. The pathophysiology of HIV-related anemia is not well understood especially in infancy.

Methods
We conducted a longitudinal cohort study nested within the Zimbabwe Vitamin A for Mothers and Babies Project. We measured hemoglobin, erythropoietin (EPO), serum transferrin receptor (TfR) and serum ferritin at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months of age and hemoglobin at 9 and 12 months in 3 groups of randomly selected infants: 136 born to HIV-negative mothers, and 99 born to HIV-positive mothers and who were infected themselves by 6 weeks of age, and 324 born to HIV-positive mothers but who did not become infected in the 6 months following birth.

Results
At one year of age, HIV-positive infants were 5.26 (adjusted odds ratio, P < 0.001) times more likely to be anemic compared to HIV-negative infants. Among, HIV-negative infants, EPO was or tended to be inversely associated with hemoglobin and was significantly positively associated with TfR throughout the first 6 months of life; TfR was significantly inversely associated with ferritin at 6 months; and EPO explained more of the variability in TfR than did ferritin. Among infected infants, the inverse association of EPO to hemoglobin was attenuated during early infancy, but significant at 6 months. Similar to HIV-negative infants, EPO was significantly positively associated with TfR throughout the first 6 months of life. However, the inverse association between TfR and ferritin observed among HIV-negative infants at 6 months was not observed among infected infants. Between birth and 6 months, mean serum ferritin concentration declined sharply (by ~90%) in all three groups of babies, but was significantly higher among HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative babies at all time points.

Conclusion
HIV strongly increases anemia risk and confounds interpretation of hematologic indicators in infants. Among HIV-infected infants, the EPO response to anemia is attenuated near the time of infection in the first weeks of life, but normalizes by 6 months.
Chocolate and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ding Eric L , Hutfless Susan M , Ding Xin , Girotra Saket 
Published: January 2006

Abstract

Background
Consumption of chocolate has been often hypothesized to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to chocolate's high levels of stearic acid and antioxidant flavonoids. However, debate still lingers regarding the true long term beneficial cardiovascular effects of chocolate overall.

Methods
We reviewed English-language MEDLINE publications from 1966 through January 2005 for experimental, observational, and clinical studies of relations between cocoa, cacao, chocolate, stearic acid, flavonoids (including flavonols, flavanols, catechins, epicatechins, and procynadins) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke). A total of 136 publications were selected based on relevance, and quality of design and methods. An updated meta-analysis of flavonoid intake and CHD mortality was also conducted.

Results
The body of short-term randomized feeding trials suggests cocoa and chocolate may exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk via effects on lowering blood pressure, anti-inflammation, anti-platelet function, higher HDL, decreased LDL oxidation. Additionally, a large body of trials of stearic acid suggests it is indeed cholesterol-neutral. However, epidemiologic studies of serum and dietary stearic acid are inconclusive due to many methodologic limitations. Meanwhile, the large body of prospective studies of flavonoids suggests the flavonoid content of chocolate may reduce risk of cardiovascular mortality. Our updated meta-analysis indicates that intake of flavonoids may lower risk of CHD mortality, RR = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.71–0.92) comparing highest and lowest tertiles.

Conclusion
Multiple lines of evidence from laboratory experiments and randomized trials suggest stearic acid may be neutral, while flavonoids are likely protective against CHD mortality. The highest priority now is to conduct larger randomized trials to definitively investigate the impact of chocolate consumption on long-term cardiovascular outcomes.
Differential leg function in a sprawled-posture quadrupedal trotter
Authors: Chen J. J. , Peattie A. M. , Autumn K. , Full R. J. 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARYLegs of sprawled-posture, quadrupedal trotting geckos (Hemidactylus garnotii) each functioned differently during constant average-speed locomotion. The center of mass decelerated in the first half of a step and accelerated in the second half, as if geckos were bouncing in fore–aft and side-to-side directions. Forelegs decelerated the center of mass only in the fore–aft direction. Hindlegs provided all the acceleration in the latter half of the step. Lateral ground reaction forces were always directed toward the midline and exceeded the magnitude of fore–aft forces. The differential leg function of sprawled-posture geckos resembled sprawled-posture hexapods more than upright-posture quadrupeds. The pattern of leg ground reaction forces observed may provide passive, dynamic stability while minimizing joint moments, yet allow high maneuverability. Integrating limb dynamics with whole body dynamics is required to resolve the trade-offs,if any, that result from stable sprawled-posture running with differential leg function.
Iridescent plumage in satin bowerbirds: structure, mechanisms and nanostructural predictors of individual variation in colour
Authors: Doucet Stéphanie M. , Shawkey Matthew D. , Hill Geoffrey E. , Montgomerie Robert 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARY
Iridescence is produced by coherent scattering of light waves from alternating layers of materials of different refractive indices. In birds,iridescent colours are produced by feather barbules when light is scattered from alternating layers of keratin, melanin and air. The structure and organization of these layers, and hence the appearance of bird species with different types of plumage iridescence, varies extensively. One principal distinction between different types of iridescent colours is whether they are produced by a single pair of layers or by multiple pairs of layers. Multi-layer iridescence, such as that displayed by hummingbirds, has been relatively well characterized, but single-layer iridescence has only recently been modeled successfully. Here we use electron microscopy, spectrometry and thin-film optical modeling to investigate the glossy, ultraviolet-blue iridescent plumage colouration of adult male satin bowerbirds Ptilonorhynchus violaceus minor. The flattened barbules of adult males are composed of a superficial keratin layer overlying a melanin layer that is several granules thick. A thin-film model based on the thickness of the keratin layer and its two associated interfaces (air/keratin and keratin/melanin) generates predicted reflectance spectra that closely match measured spectra. In addition, hues predicted from this model are positively correlated with measured hues. As predicted from our thin-film model, measured hues shifted to shorter wavelengths at increasing angles of incidence and reflectance. Moreover, we found that individual variation in barbule nanostructure can predict measured variation in both hue and UV-chroma. Thus,we have characterized the microstructure of satin bowerbird barbules,uncovered the mechanisms responsible for producing ultraviolet iridescence in these barbules, and provided the first evidence of a nanostructural basis for individual variation in iridescent plumage colour.
Influence of the behavioural context on the optocollic reflex (OCR) in pigeons (Columba livia)
Authors: Maurice Monique , Gioanni Henri , Abourachid Anick 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARYWe investigated the effects of several behavioural conditions on the properties of the horizontal optocollic reflex (OCR) in pigeons. The head reflex was triggered by rotating the visual surroundings at different velocities (stimuli steps of 30-300 deg. s-1) and the characteristics of the slow and fast phases of the OCR were analysed during,(i) the `resting condition', in which animals were hung in a harness, (ii) the`standing condition', in which animals were freely standing, (iii) the`walking condition', in which animals were walking on a treadmill at different velocities, and (iv) the `flying condition', in which animals were hung in a harness and subjected to a frontal air-stream, provoking a flying posture.In the `resting' condition, irregularities were observed in the amplitude of nystagmic beats, in the beating field and in the slow phase velocity (SPV)of the OCR. These irregularities diminished progressively when the behavioural condition changed from `standing' to `walking', and disappeared in the`flying' condition. Correlatively, the working range of the OCR (evaluated by its gain at the plateau of SPV) was progressively extended toward higher stimulation velocities.The velocity of the fast phases of the OCR (measured for all the conditions except the `walking condition') also increased in correlation with the SPV. The walking speed did not influence the OCR in the treadmill velocity range of 0.20-0.40 m s-1. The presence of a frontal airstream in the`standing condition' did not change the OCR properties. This fact (and other observations discussed in the paper) suggests that the adaptation of the OCR to the behavioural context is mediated by internal signals generated by each behavioural condition.
Early 15th-Century Pairings of the Sanctus and Agnus Dei, and the Case of the Composer “Bloym”
Authors: WRIGHT PETER 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACT
Self-contained pairings of the polyphonic Sanctus and Agnus Dei (as distinct from the Gloria and Credo) appear to have been something of a rarity in the early 15th century, both on the Continent and in England. In their catalogue of 15th-century English liturgical music, Gareth Curtis and Andrew Wathey list just five firm Sanctus-Agnus pairs for the period ca. 1400–ca. 1440. Yet examination of these alleged pairs suggests that the status of all but one of them is in some degree open to question. Curtis and Wathey's catalogue also includes a number of movements that have been paired either by 15th-century scribes or by modern commentators but that have so far failed to convince. Among them is a group of eight closely related movements contained in a layer of the two oldest Trent Codices (MSS 87 and 92), which comprises four possible pairs. Investigation suggests that all eight movements are probably the work of the same composer, “Bloym,” whose name heads one of the Sanctus settings; that in the process of transmission a number of the movements became wrongly associated; and that by realigning them new and more plausible pairings can be established. The establishment of connections between one of these pairings and a Credo attributed to Bloym in the same Trent layer raises the possibility that all three movements may have been conceived in conjunction with one another, and may therefore form a partial or incomplete cycle.
Bacterial Meningitis Among Children With Cochlear Implants Beyond 24 Months After Implantation
Authors: Biernath Krista R. , Reefhuis Jennita , Whitney Cynthia G. , Mann Eric A. , Costa Pamela , Eichwald John , Boyle Coleen 
Published: January 2006

Background. More than 11000 children in the United States with severe-to-profound hearing loss have cochlear implants. A 2002 investigation involving pediatric cochlear implant recipients identified meningitis episodes from January 1, 1997, through September 15, 2002. The incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in the cohort was 138.2 cases per 100000 person-years, &gt;30 times higher than that for children in the general US population. Children with implants with positioners were at higher risk than children with other implant models. This higher risk of bacterial meningitis continued for up to 24 months after implantation.
Objective. To evaluate additional reported cases to determine whether the increased rate of bacterial meningitis among children with cochlear implants extended beyond 24 months after implantation.
Methods. Our study population consisted of the cohort of children identified through the 2002 investigation; it included 4265 children who received cochlear implants in the United States between January 1, 1997, and August 6, 2002, and who were &lt;6 years of age at the time of implantation. We calculated updated incidence rates and incidence according to time since implantation.
Results. We identified 12 new episodes of meningitis for 12 children. Eleven of the children had implants with positioners; 2 children died. Six episodes occurred &gt;24 months after implantation. When cases identified in the 2002 and 2004 investigations were combined, the incidence rate of ≥24-months postimplantation bacterial meningitis among children with positioners was 450 cases per 100000 person-years, compared with no cases among children without positioners.
Conclusions. Our updated findings support continued monitoring and prompt treatment of bacterial infections by health care providers and parents of children with cochlear implants. This vigilance remains important beyond 2 years after implantation, particularly among children with positioners. The vaccination recommendations for all children with implants, with and without positioners, and all potential recipients of implants continue to apply.
Spatiotemporal Evolution of Soil pH and Zinc after the Aznalcóllar Mine Spill
Authors: Vanderlinden Karl , Polo Maria J. , Ordóñez Rafaela , Giráldez Juan V. 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACTThe residual pollution after the Aznalcóllar (southwestern Spain) pyrite mine spill is still a threat due to the continuing oxidation of sulfuric minerals. The objective of this paper was to analyze the combined effect of pyrite oxidation, sugar beet foam applications, and meteorological conditions on the spatiotemporal evolution of the pH and EDTA‐extractable Zn concentration, using non co‐located data from 11 sampling dates between June 1999 and March 2002. Median pH values ranged from 4.4 at the beginning of the monitoring period to 7.6 at the end, although values near 2.5 were observed throughout the entire period, despite of two sugar beet foam (SBF) applications. Zinc distributions were positively skewed and median concentrations ranged from 17 to 94 mg kg−1The inverse relationship between pH and Zn became weaker toward the end of the monitoring period as a consequence of the precipitation and posterior dissolution of newly formed minerals from the reaction products of the pyrite oxidation. Normal score maps showed that after the SBF applications only 0.5% of the monitored area was below the pH = 4 threshold, while on other dates up to one‐third of the area remained below this value. The better performance of the second SBF application could be explained in terms of pyrite oxidation pathways and environmental conditions. From this analysis, with data obtained under uncontrolled field conditions, it is concluded that SBF should be applied before or during the wet and cold season to alleviate acidification, caused by the oxidation of pyrite or other sulfuric minerals.