bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The inferential basis of species hypotheses: the solution to defining the term ‘species’
Authors: Fitzhugh Kirk 
Published: December 2005

AbstractA formal definition of the term ‘species’ is presented that is logically consistent with the inferential structures that lead to other taxonomic categories in biological systematics. A species name denotes an explanatory hypothesis that accounts for specified intrinsic or relational properties of organisms that can be accounted for by way of past tokogenetic,i.e., reproductive events. The inference of species hypotheses involves a form of non‐deductive reasoning known as abduction. Hypotheses in other taxonomic categories, such as ‘semaphoronts’ (sensuW. Hennig,Phylogenetic Systematics, University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 1966), genera, families,etc., exhibit the same abductive form. The differences between semaphoront, species, and supraspecific hypotheses is in the causal theories applied to infer each – these theories being ontogenetic, tokogenetic, and phylogenetic, respectively. By formally defining the term species as an explanatory hypothesis accounting for properties of organisms by way of tokogeny, there are several distinct consequences: (1) species cannot have the ontological status of individuals, and it would be inaccurate to reduce them to class constructs; (2) acknowledging species as representative of explanatory hypotheses leaves available a variety of tokogenetic theories, such as asexual, sexual, and metagenetic reproductive processes to account for relevant organismal properties; (3) removal of species hypotheses from consideration, as in the ‘least inclusive taxonomic unit’ concept of Pleijel & Rouse [Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B267(2000) 627;Zoologica Scripta29(2000) 157] is nihilistic; and (4) advocating the reduction of inferences of species hypotheses to one class of characters,e.g., ‘DNA barcoding,’ would be irrational.
Another diet of worms: the applicability of polychaete feeding guilds as a useful conceptual framework and biological variable
Authors: Pagliosa Paulo Roberto 
Published: December 2005

AbstractA fundamental question in guild studies is how to separate species into guilds. In a seminal manuscript, Fauchald & Jumars [Oceanography and Marine Biology Annual Review17 (1979) 193] summarized polychaete feeding biology and proposed a conceptual framework to test hypotheses on the sympatric occurrence of congeners with limited morphological differentiation. Twenty‐six years after this publication, few studies have tested the validity and practical functioning of this scheme of polychaete feeding guilds and then only using part of the classification. The objective of the present study was to analyze the applicability of polychaete feeding guilds to ecological and environment assessments. Two data sets from Santa Catarina Island Bay, southern Brazil, were used. The first data set deals with spatial distribution of natural polychaete assemblages along the bay. The second data set treats fauna in urbanized versus relatively pristine mangroves. Multivariate analysis showed similar patterns in sample groups formed using guilds or densities and composition data. The role of feeding guilds in benthic systems was assessed through comparison with environmental variables. The polychaete assemblage from the Bay was related to sediment type. Motile and discretely motile carnivores and herbivores with jawed probosces matched coarse sands; surface deposit feeders and filter feeders were found in fine sands; and surface and subsurface deposit feeders and carnivores, all with soft probosces matched silt and clay sediments. The data analyses in mangroves showed surface deposit feeders and filter feeders in undisturbed sites and omnivorous species in disturbed ones. The polychaete feeding guilds appear relevant to assembly rules based on resource availability, to resource partitioning and to interspecific competition.
The seasonal dynamics of six species of Dorvilleidae (Polychaeta) in the harbour of La Spezia (Italy)
Authors: Prevedelli D. , Massamba N'Siala G. , Simonini R. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractIn the harbour of La Spezia (Italy) six polychaete species belonging to the family Dorvilleidae are present. The population dynamics of Dinophilus gyrociliatus, Ophryotrocha hartmanni, O. japonica, O. labronica, O. puerilis and Schistomeringos rudolphii has been studied from August 2002 to August 2003. The density of each species was considerably different and during the year there was a species succession that alternated in dominating the community. The role of the life‐history characteristics of each species and environmental conditions in determining the population dynamics are discussed.
The publications of Kristian Fauchald and the polychaete taxa named in those works
Authors: Ward Linda A. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBetween 1961 and 2002, Kristian Fauchald produced, 72 single and co‐authored publications and named three families, thirty four genera and 256 species of polychaetes. A bibliography of his publications, excluding abstracts, book reviews, thesis and dissertation, along with a list of the polychaete taxa named in these works are given here.
Correlation between macroscopic changes of arthrosis and the posterior cruciate ligament histology in the osteoarthritic knee
Authors: Stubbs Geoffrey , Dahlstrom Jane , Papantoniou Peter , Cherian Maya 
Published: December 2005

Background:  There is ongoing debate about the role of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in total knee arthroplasty. Advocates of PCL retention cite better soft tissue balance and improved proprioception, whereas opponents report late flexion instability. The results of knee replacement are similar whether the PCL is retained or sacrificed. The aim of the present study was to examine the PCL for histological changes that would infer its competence and correlate these with changes easily observed by the operating surgeon.Methods:  A prospective study of 50 osteoarthritic knees was performed.Results:  Histology of the PCL showed changes secondary to degeneration and trauma. In most of the ligaments examined, arteriosclerosis and fibrosis were present. Half of the PCL examined showed perineural fibrosis, myxoid change and hyalinization. These changes, although very frequent, did not correlate well to the changes observed in either the anterior or PCL, or in the overall severity of osteoarthrosis.Conclusions:  Posterior cruciate ligaments usually show degenerative and chronic traumatic change of varying degrees on histology. The changes are not predictable from inspection of the knee at surgery. The frequency of these changes suggests that many osteoarthritic PCL are of indifferent quality and the surgeon should consider this when choosing the style of knee replacement.
A survey of the current surgical treatment of gallstones in Queensland
Authors: Askew James 
Published: December 2005

Background:  To survey the current practice of general surgeons in Queensland in their management of patients with gallstones.Methods:  A postal survey of 123 surgeons practising in Queensland.Results:  There were 114 responses to the questionnaire (92.7%) and seven were excluded from the analysis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was preferred by 97.2% and operative cholangiography was almost always attempted by 82.3%. One‐third of surgeons used drains routinely. In cases of acute cholecystitis, 56 surgeons (52.3%) favoured laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the same admission. Operative cholangiography (OC) was almost always attempted by 64.8% of surgeons during acute laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Only 3.8% of surgeons frequently offered day case surgery and 51% never offered it.Conclusions:  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice of nearly all Queensland surgeons in the elective and acute situations. Routine operative cholangiography is favoured by the majority of surgeons. Day case surgery is presently offered by a minority of surgeons.
The hospital costs of treating necrotizing fasciitis
Authors: Widjaja Audi B. , Tran Anh , Cleland Heather , Leung Michael , Millar Ian 
Published: December 2005

Background:  Management of necrotizing fasciitis places significant demands upon hospital and medical resources. A successful management usually requires extensive surgical intervention and an adjunct hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The cost impact on the health care system has not been well characterized. We have, therefore, analysed the cost of treating this disease at an Australian tertiary referral hospital with extensive case experience and well‐developed financial costing systems and have compared this with the current casemix‐based government funding arrangements applying in Victoria, Australia.Methods:  Data was extracted from the medical records of 92 sequential patients treated by the Alfred Hospital (Melbourne, Australia) during the four financial years 2000−04. Clinical costing data and government funding data was provided by the hospital's Finance Departments.Results:  The total Alfred Hospital in‐patient costs for treating the patients was $5 935 545 with a mean cost per patient of $64 517 (range, $1025 to $514 889). The total casemix‐based funding allocation derived from treating these patients was calculated at $3 208 664 with the per patient mean $34 887 (range, $1331 to $387 168). This analysis does not include allowance for non‐Alfred Hospital costs such as those incurred by the ambulance service, referring hospitals, for rehabilitation or as a result of the burden of residual disability.Conclusions:  This study has confirmed that a significant economic burden is involved in treating necrotizing fasciitis. There is a substantial difference between the hospital costs and government funding for treating these patients in the Australian setting.
Quality of life after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer
Authors: Gosselink M. P. , Busschbach J. J. , Dijkhuis C. M. , Stassen L. P. , Hop W. C. , Schouten W. R. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackground  After total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer, many surgeons try to avoid an abdominoperineal resection (APR) by performing a transanally double stapled low colo‐rectal anastomosis (LRA), frequently without a pouch. This policy is mainly based on the assumption that the quality of life after such LRA is higher than after APR. It has been suggested that a better functional outcome and therefore a higher quality of life might be achieved by a colo‐anal J‐pouch anastomosis (CPA). The aim of this study was to assess quality of life among disease‐free survivors after APR, LRA and CPA.Methods  The charts of 301 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for cancer in the middle or lower third of the rectum were analysed. Two hundred four patients were eligible for inclusion. The quality of life among these patients was assessed using one generic (EQ‐5D) and two disease‐specific questionnaires (EORTC QLQ‐C30 and EORTC QLQ‐CR38).Results  The response rate was 82%. The median follow‐up was 31 months. Overall, quality of life was good but CPA patients had better quality of life scores than APR and LRA patients. This difference was not only due to the better functional outcome but also to the lower incidence of disturbed micturition and sexual problems in the CPA group.Conclusion  The quality of life after colo‐anal J‐pouch anastomosis is better than after abdominoperineal resection (APR) and low colo‐rectal anastomosis (LRA). The quality of life after APR is similar to that after LRA.
Is pre‐operative radiotherapy necessary in T1‐T3 rectal cancer with TME?
Authors: MacKay G. , Downey M. , Molloy R. G. , O'Dwyer P. J. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective  The indications for pre‐operative radiotherapy in rectal cancer are still unclear with the exception of T4 tumours. The aim of this study was to assess local and overall recurrence in patients with T1‐T3 rectal cancers undergoing total mesorectal excision (TME).Methods  Prospective data was collected from 150 patients with rectal cancer treated in one surgical centre between July 1997 and July 2002. One hundred and twenty‐nine primary resections were carried of which 102 were with curative intent. Seventy‐nine patients with T1‐T3 tumours were included in the analysis. Nine had local resections and 70 underwent TME; 19 of the 70 patients were node positive and 51 were node negative.Results  At a median follow‐up of 37 months (range 19–79 months) there were 3 (4.3%) isolated local recurrences. One node positive patient developed isolated local recurrence compared with 2 node negative patients. The node positive patient died from a myocardial infarction while the two node negative patients died as a consequence of local recurrence. Three (4.3%) of 70 patients developed systemic relapse all of whom were node positive. The cancer specific mortality rate over the same follow‐up period was 3/19 for node positive patients and 2/51 for node negative patients. Of 9 patients who had local resections, none developed local recurrence or systemic relapse.Conclusions  With TME the rate of local recurrence in T1‐T3 tumours is low. Our results do not support the use of pre‐operative radiotherapy for these patients.
Prospective randomised study of urgent haemorrhoidectomy compared with non‐operative treatment in the management of prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids
Authors: Allan A. , Samad A. J. , Mellon A. , Marshall T. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjective  To compare the outcome of urgent haemorrhoidectomy with conservative treatment for prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids.Methods  A prospective randomised study of 50 patients with prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids was carried out using clinical and ultrasonic outcome measures. Peri‐operative bed occupancy and the presence of symptoms at 6 and 24 months were compared. Endoanal ultrasonic scanning was carried out to investigate anal sphincter integrity in those patients willing to be studied.Results  The median length of hospital stay for the group treated conservatively; 2 nights (range 1–9 nights) was significantly shorter than for the group treated by urgent haemorrhoidectomy; 4 nights (range 1–12 nights, P < 0.01). There was no difference between treatment groups in the number of patients with symptoms at six or 24 months. Urgent haemorrhoidectomy was associated with a significantly higher incidence of endosonographically detected anal sphincter damage in 18 patients: 66%vs 0% (P = 0.009).Conclusion  Conservative treatment for prolapsed thrombosed internal haemorrhoids is associated with shorter in patient stay and less anal sphincter damage compared with operative treatment.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber— Threskiornithidae‐Aves)
Authors: SANTOS M. S. , GONÇALVES E. C. , BARBOSA M. S. R. , SILVA A. , SCHNEIDER M. P. C. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractHere we presented 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci obtained from scarlet ibis through an enriched genomic library. The analysis of 45 individuals from three Brazilian natural populations showed allelic diversity ranged from three to 17 alleles, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.03 to 0.92, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.06 to 0.92. These highly variable microsatellite loci can provide means for assessing overall genetic variation in its remnant natural populations, which may help the development of effective conservation programs.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers from the panic moth, Saucrobotys futilalis L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Pyraustinae)
Authors: GRANT J. B. , BOGDANOWICZ S. M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe panic moth is a widely distributed North American pyralid moth with gregarious, nest‐building larvae. Primers for 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed to assay relatedness in nest groups and population structure in the eastern half of the moth's range. Primers were tested on 42 individuals (one from each of 42 nests) collected in the states of New York, Virginia and Georgia. All loci were polymorphic and exhibited varying degrees of allelic variation (4–24 alleles). These primers will enable further research into the social structure of these gregarious caterpillars.
Quality Improvement Implementation and Hospital Performance on Quality Indicators
Authors: Weiner Bryan J. , Alexander Jeffrey A. , Shortell Stephen M. , Baker Laurence C. , Becker Mark , Geppert Jeffrey J. 
Published: December 2005

Objective. To examine the association between the scope of quality improvement (QI) implementation in hospitals and hospital performance on selected indicators of clinical quality.Data Sources. Secondary data from 1997 mailed survey of hospital QI practices, Medicare Inpatient Database, American Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals, the Bureau of Health Professions' Area Resource File, and two proprietary data sets compiled by Solucient Inc. containing data on managed care penetration and hospital financial performance.Study Design. Cross‐sectional study of 1,784 community hospitals to assess relationship between QI implementation approach and six hospital‐level quality indicators.Data Collection/Abstraction Methods. Two‐stage instrumental variables estimation in which predicted values (instruments) of four QI scope variables and control (exogenous) variables used to estimate hospital‐level quality indicators.Principal Findings. Involvement by multiple hospital units in QI effort is associated with worse values on hospital‐level quality indicators. Percentage of hospital staff and percentage of senior managers participating in formally organized QI teams are associated with better values on quality indicators. Percentage of physicians participating in QI teams is not associated with better values on the hospital‐level quality indicators studied.Conclusions. Results supported the proposition that the scope of QI implementation in hospitals is significantly associated with hospital‐level quality indicators. However, the direction of the association varied across different measures of QI implementation scope.
Disparities in the Reporting and Treatment of Health Conditions in Children: An Analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Authors: Guevara James P. , Mandell David S. , Rostain Anthony L. , Zhao Huaqing , Hadley Trevor R. 
Published: December 2005

Objectives.To determine whether racial and ethnic disparities in health care use differ for physical and behavioral health conditions.Data Sources.Secondary analysis of the 1996–1997 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.Study Design.Retrospective cohort study of children aged 2–18 years old who were members of participating households. Children were categorized as Hispanic, black, or white. Differences in caregiver‐reported behavioral and physical health conditions and services use were compared, and estimates were weighted to reflect the complex sampling scheme.Principal Findings.Of eligible children weighted to represent over 44 million in each year, 13–15 percent were Hispanic, 14 percent black, and 68–70 percent white. After adjusting for potential confounding, Hispanic and black children were less likely to report externalizing behavioral conditions than white children. Black but not Hispanic children were more likely than white children to report asthma. In addition, Hispanic and black children were less likely to report ambulatory visits, and black children were less likely to report receiving a prescription medication than white children. There were no differences in reported emergency room visits or hospitalizations. Interactions between race and various health conditions, health status, insurance, and income were not significant.Conclusions.In this nationally representative sample, we identified racial and ethnic disparities in the reporting of health conditions and the use of discretionary health services. Disparities differed between those with behavioral conditions and those with physical conditions. These disparities were not explained by traditional measures including the presence of health conditions, health status, insurance, and family income, and suggest that national surveys such as Medical Expenditure Panel Survey may benefit from the inclusion of additional explanatory measures.
Variation in Hospital Length of Stay: Do Physicians Adapt Their Length of Stay Decisions to What Is Usual in the Hospital Where They Work?
Authors: de Jong Judith D. , Westert Gert P. , Lagoe Ronald , Groenewegen Peter P. 
Published: December 2005

Objective. To test the hypothesis that physicians who work in different hospitals adapt their length of stay decisions to what is usual in the hospital under consideration.Data Sources. Secondary data were used, originating from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). SPARCS is a major management tool for assisting hospitals, agencies, and health care organizations with decision making in relation to financial planning and monitoring of inpatient and ambulatory surgery services and costs in New York state.Study Design. Data on length of stay for surgical interventions and medical conditions (a total of seven diagnosis‐related groups [DRGs]) were studied, to find out whether there is more variation between than within hospitals. Data (1999, 2000, and 2001) from all hospitals in New York state were used. The study examined physicians practicing in one hospital and physicians practicing in more than one hospital, to determine whether average length of stay differs according to the hospital of practice. Multilevel models were used to determine variation between and within hospitals. A t‐test was used to test whether length of stay for patients of each multihospital physician differed from the average length of stay in each of the two hospitals.Principal Findings. There is significantly (p<.05) more variation between than within hospitals in most of the study populations. Physicians working in two hospitals had patient lengths of stay comparable with the usual practice in the hospital where the procedure was performed. The proportion of physicians working in one hospital did not have a consistent effect for all DRGs on the variation within hospitals.Conclusion. Physicians adapt to their colleagues or to the managerial demands of the particular hospital in which they work. The hospital and broader work environment should be taken into account when developing effective interventions to reduce variation in medical practice.
Application of Regression‐Discontinuity Analysis in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research
Authors: Zuckerman Ilene H. , Lee Euni , Wutoh Anthony K. , Xue Zhenyi , Stuart Bruce 
Published: December 2005

Objective. To demonstrate how a relatively underused design, regression‐discontinuity (RD), can provide robust estimates of intervention effects when stronger designs are impossible to implement.Data Sources/Study Setting. Administrative claims from a Mid‐Atlantic state Medicaid program were used to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational drug utilization review intervention.Study Design. Quasi‐experimental design.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. A drug utilization review study was conducted to evaluate a letter intervention to physicians treating Medicaid children with potentially excessive use of short‐acting β2‐agonist inhalers (SAB). The outcome measure is change in seasonally‐adjusted SAB use 5 months pre‐ and postintervention. To determine if the intervention reduced monthly SAB utilization, results from an RD analysis are compared to findings from a pretest–posttest design using repeated‐measure ANOVA.Principal Findings. Both analyses indicated that the intervention significantly reduced SAB use among the high users. Average monthly SAB use declined by 0.9 canisters per month (p<.001) according to the repeated‐measure ANOVA and by 0.2 canisters per month (p<.001) from RD analysis.Conclusions. Regression‐discontinuity design is a useful quasi‐experimental methodology that has significant advantages in internal validity compared to other pre–post designs when assessing interventions in which subjects' assignment is based on cutoff scores for a critical variable.