bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emergency department personal protective equipment requirements following out‐of‐hospital chemical biological or radiological events in Australasia
Authors: Sansom Guy W 
Published: February 2007

AbstractRecent events have led to a revision in ED equipment, preparedness and training for disasters. However, clinicians must still decide when, and what level of personal protection is required when a toxic threat exists. If possible, clear, simple and achievable protocols are required in such situations. Following an off‐site Australasian chemical biological or radiological incident, current evidence indicates that the initial receiving ED staff will be adequately protected from all known chemical biological and radiological inhalational threats by wearing a properly fitted P2 (N95) mask, or its equivalent. Protection from serious contact injury is offered by wearing double gloves, disposable fluid‐repellent coveralls or gown, eye protection, surgical mask, and ideally, a cap and shoe covers; in conjunction with universal precautions and procedures.
Effects of Season, Rainfall, and Hydrogeomorphic Setting on Mangrove Tree Growth in Micronesia
Authors: Krauss Ken W. , Keeland Bobby D. , Allen James A. , Ewel Katherine C. , Johnson Darren J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTSeasonal patterns of tree growth are often related to rainfall, temperature, and relative moisture regimes. We asked whether diameter growth of mangrove trees in Micronesia, where seasonal changes are minimal, is continuous throughout a year or conforms to an annual cycle. We installed dendrometer bands on Sonneratia alba and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza trees growing naturally within mangrove swamps on the islands of Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Pohnpei, FSM, and Butaritari, Republic of Kiribati, in the eastern Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Trees were remeasured monthly or quarterly for as long as 6 yr. Annual mean individual tree basal area increments ranged from 7.0 to 79.6 cm2/yr for all S. alba trees and from 4.8 to 27.4 cm2/yr for all B. gymnorrhiza trees from Micronesian high islands. Diameter increment for S. alba on Butaritari Atoll was lower at 7.8 cm2/yr for the one year measured. Growth rates differed significantly by hydrogeomorphic zone. Riverine and interior zones maintained up to seven times the annual diameter growth rate of fringe forests, though not on Pohnpei, where basal area increments for both S. alba and B. gymnorrhiza were approximately 1.5 times greater in the fringe zone than in the interior zone. Time‐series modeling indicated that there were no consistent and statistically significant annual diameter growth patterns. Although rainfall has some seasonality in some years on Kosrae and Pohnpei and overall growth of mangroves was sometimes related positively to quarterly rainfall depths, seasonal diameter growth patterns were not distinctive. A reduced chance of moisture‐related stress in high‐rainfall, wetland environments may serve to buffer growth of Micronesian mangroves from climatic extremes.
An Ant Mosaic Revisited: Dominant Ant Species Disassemble Arboreal Ant Communities but Co‐Occur Randomly
Authors: Sanders Nathan J. , Crutsinger Gregory M. , Dunn Robert R. , Majer Jonathan D. , Delabie Jacques H. C. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTThe spatial distributions of many tropical arboreal ant species are often arranged in a mosaic such that dominant species have mutually exclusive distributions among trees. These dominant species can also mediate the structure of the rest of the arboreal ant community. Little attention has been paid to how diet might shape the effects of dominant species on one another and the rest of the ant community. Here, we take advantage of new information on the diets of many tropical arboreal ant species to examine the intra‐ and inter‐guild effects of dominant species on the spatial distribution of one another and the rest of the tropical arboreal ant community in a cocoa farm in Bahia, Brazil. Using null model analyses, we found that all ant species, regardless of dominance status or guild membership, co‐occur much less than expected by chance. Surprisingly, the suite of five dominant species showed random co‐occurrence patterns, suggesting that interspecific competition did not shape their distribution among cocoa trees. Across all species, there was no evidence that competition shaped co‐occurrence patterns within guilds. Co‐occurrence patterns of subordinant species were random on trees with dominant species, but highly nonrandom on trees without dominant species, suggesting that dominant species disassemble tropical arboreal ant communities. Taken together, our results highlight the often complex nature of interactions that structure species‐rich tropical arboreal ant assemblages.
Low Inbreeding and High Pollen Dispersal Distances in Populations of Two Amazonian Forest Tree Species
Authors: Cloutier Dominic , Hardy Olivier J. , Caron Henri , Ciampi Ana Y. , Degen Bernd , Kanashiro Milton , Schoen Daniel J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTRecent studies suggest that tropical tree species exhibit low inbreeding and high gene dispersal levels despite the typically low density of conspecifics in tropical forests. To examine this, we undertook a study of pollen gene dispersal and mating system of two Amazonian tree species. We analyzed 341 seeds from 33 trees at four microsatellite loci in a Carapa guianensis population from Brazil, and 212 seeds from 22 trees at four microsatellite loci in a Sextonia rubra population from French Guiana. Differentiation of allele frequencies among the pollen pool of individual trees was ΦFT= 0.053 (95% CI: 0.027–0.074) for C. guianensis and ΦFT= 0.064 (95% CI: 0.017–0.088) for S. rubra. The mean pollen dispersal distances were estimated at 69–355 m for C. guianensis, and 86–303 m for S. rubra, depending on the pollen dispersal model and the estimate of reproductive tree density used. The multi‐locus outcrossing rate was estimated at 0.918 and 0.945, and the correlation of paternity at 0.089 and 0.096, for C. guianensis and S. rubra, respectively, while no significant levels of biparental inbreeding were detected. Comparing trees with high and low local density of conspecifics, we found no evidence for differences in inbreeding levels. The results are discussed within the framework of the emerging picture of the reproductive biology of tropical forest trees.
Phosphorus Fertilization Increases the Abundance and Nitrogenase Activity of the Cyanolichen Pseudocyphellaria crocata in Hawaiian Montane Forests
Authors: Benner Jon W. , Conroy Shannon , Lunch Claire K. , Toyoda Noriko , Vitousek Peter M. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTNitrogen‐fixing epiphytes (especially lichens with a cyanobacterial symbiont—cyanolichens) have the potential to contribute significant amounts of nitrogen (N) to montane tropical forests, which are typically low in N—but the factors controlling the abundance and distribution of epiphytic cyanolichens are poorly understood. In long‐term fertilization experiments in montane forests on a 4.l million‐yr‐old Oxisol on the island of Kauà'i and on a 152‐yr‐old lava flow on the island of Hawai'i, the epiphytic cyanolichen Pseudocyphellaria crocata increased significantly in abundance in canopies of host trees fertilized with phosphorus (P). There was no response to fertilization with N or other essential elements. Nitrogen‐fixation rates were also elevated in lichens in P‐fertilized plots at both sites. Phosphorus supply to host trees may be an important factor controlling N inputs to montane tropical forests by N‐fixing epiphytes.
Behavioral Avoidance of Ultraviolet‐B Radiation by Two Species of Neotropical Poison‐Dart Frogs
Authors: Han Barbara A. , Kats Lee B. , Pommerening Rachel C. , Ferrer Ryan P. , Murry‐Ewers Marcia , Blaustein Andrew R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTMany animals, plants, and microorganisms are harmed by ultraviolet‐B radiation. In particular, several members of class amphibia are negatively affected by exposure to ultraviolet‐B radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet‐B radiation can cause death or various types of sublethal damage in amphibians. One mechanism to lessen the effect of harmful ultraviolet‐B radiation is to limit exposure to sunlight behaviorally. Few studies have examined the behavioral sensitivity of adult amphibians to ultraviolet‐B radiation. Using both field experiments and field observations, we found that two species of diurnal poison‐dart frogs in Costa Rica (Dendrobates pumilio, D. auratus) consistently preferred areas in the field and within experimental testing chambers that offered low levels of ultraviolet‐B radiation. In field observations, vocalizing D. pumilio were found at locations with significantly lower levels of ambient ultraviolet‐B compared to random locations throughout their natural habitat. Ultraviolet‐B avoidance behavior may be an important behavioral response for tropical frogs in light of recent evidence suggesting a significant increase in the levels of ambient ultraviolet‐B radiation in the tropics over the past decade.
Indirect Evidence that Flying Foxes Track Food Resources Among Islands in a Pacific Archipelago
Authors: McConkey Kim R. , Drake Donald R. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTAlthough flying foxes (fruit bats in the genus Pteropus) in continental forests often fly between scattered resources, little is known about their ranging behavior among islands. The inhospitable water matrix that surrounds the food patches (islands) in archipelagos may prevent flying foxes from tracking resources as efficiently as their counterparts on larger landmasses do. Our aim in this study was to determine whether the abundance of foraging flying foxes (Pteropus tonganus) reflected food availability on islands in the Vava‘u archipelago of Tonga, regardless of island size and isolation. Overall, food availability was the strongest determinant of flying fox abundance, and spatial aspects of the islands (land area within 10 km) had only a small influence. Food availability appears to regulate flying fox abundance only when food resources are low, but when food sources are plentiful, flying fox abundance may be high or low. These results provide indirect evidence that flying foxes are able to track food resources efficiently in an archipelago, and the water matrix that surrounds the food patches (islands) is not a strong deterrent for foraging animals.
Melbourne dietitians’ experience of Medicare policy on allied health services (strengthening Medicare; Enhanced Primary Care) in the first 12 months
Authors: CANT Robyn , ARONI Rosalie 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjective:  To describe Victorian private practitioner dietitians’ experience of the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program funded under national heath insurance.Design:  Dietitians’ experience of the EPC program was investigated between August 2004 and July 2005. A purposive sample of 10% (n = 15) of Victorian dietitians in private practice was interviewed via semi‐structured interviews or focus groups. Focus group/interview data were audio‐taped, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using NVIVO software to manage data.Subjects:  Victorian dietitians.Setting:  Dietetic private practice.Main outcome measures:  Issues identified from narrative themes.Results:  Thirteen (86%) participants were registered with the Medicare Australia and managed EPC‐referred patients. Two chose not to. All those using the program supported it but voiced frustrations experienced in the first year. Five themes emerged from narrative analysis involving difficulties with implementation in the following areas: referral issues, client preparedness, annual number of consultations limit, impact of financial cost on client and non‐reimbursed administration costs.Conclusion:  For clients with chronic illness, access to dietitians in private practice under Medicare EPC is an important service. As increasing numbers of dietitians nationally work with EPC patients with chronic illness or complex care needs, there is a need for information sharing between professional groups about billing procedures and chronic care management. More dietitians need to structure practice to initiate bulk‐billing. Rigorous evaluation is needed to understand which diagnosis types can benefit from the program and to implement an evidence‐based model of chronic care improvement for dietetics consultations.
Dietetic practice in type 2 diabetes: An ethnographic study of Australian dietitians
Authors: KNIGHTS Sallyanne , TAPSELL Linda 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjectives:  To explore and describe the work patterns of Australian dietitians working in type 2 diabetes and to identify variations in practice and gaps in applying evidence.Subjects and design:  In‐depth telephone interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 20 Australian dietitians working in the area of type 2 diabetes to determine elements of current practice and views on best practice. For the purpose of the present study a diabetes dietitian was defined as spending ≥50% of their patient management time in type 2 diabetes. Data were content‐analysed and ethnographic descriptions were developed for practitioners’ daily activities that were sensitive to the context in which the research was conducted.Results:  Interviewees described a standard dietetic process, involving assessment, education, goal setting and the monitoring of outcomes. Their descriptions were consistent with practice guidelines established elsewhere and found in the literature; however, there was some variation in the management of elements within practice. These included dietary assessment, weight management, access to relevant assessment data such as test results and the description of dietary goals and outcome measures. Six components of best practice were identified: the dietetic process, client centredness, multidisciplinary teamwork, reference to evidence‐based practice guidelines, continuing professional development and practice‐based research and quality assurance activities.Conclusion or application:  The present research demonstrated a consistency in practice in diabetes management by Australian dietitians. The ability of interviewees to determine the consequences of competent practice further suggests that the present research would support the development of practice guidelines.
Critical review of nutrition assessment tools to measure malnutrition in chronic kidney disease
Authors: CAMPBELL Katrina L. , ASH Susan , BAUER Judith , DAVIES Peter S.W. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe use of the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and similar clinical tools for nutrition assessment is integral in the nutritional management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The present paper is a critical review of the quality of studies introducing and validating SGA‐based tools in CKD. In the CKD literature, clinical, predictive and criterion validity were investigated by a number of studies. Common limitations identified include the use of questionable statistical methods, difference in prevalence of malnutrition based on tool or administrator (i.e. dietitan, nephrologist or nurse) and use of inadequate reference tests to establish true nutrition status. The SGA appears to have the best diagnostic evidence to adequately detect the presence of abnormal nutrition status and prognostic evidence to predict poor outcome. Modified scored versions may improve clinician’s ability to detect degree of malnutrition; however, the present review indicates more work is required. Tools based on the original SGA claiming validity in CKD and potentially other clinical areas should be approached with caution. Critical evaluation of study design, reference tests and statistical methods is recommended before implementing new tools in practice.
Dietitians and naturopaths require evidence‐based nutrition information on organic food
Authors: OJHA Rachel , AMANATIDIS Soumela , PETOCZ Peter , SAMMAN Samir 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA pilot survey was undertaken to identify dietitians’ and naturopaths’ attitudes to and advice about organic foods, and to ascertain whether nutrition education is required. A questionnaire, which was not validated, was mailed to 240 randomly selected private practice dietitians and naturopaths in Australia. The responses were analysed by chi‐squared and independent two‐samples t‐test. Each group had a response rate of 50%. More dietitians (n = 52) than naturopaths (n = 18) (P < 0.01) indicated a lack of difference in protein (88% vs 30%), fat (83% vs 33% where n = 49 dietitians and 20 naturopaths) and carbohydrate (85% vs 38%, n = 50 dietitians and 23 naturopaths) between organic and conventional foods. Significantly more naturopaths (P < 0.01) than dietitians indicated that organic foods contained more vitamins (85% vs 32%, n = 51 naturopaths and 19 dietitians), minerals (82% vs 25%, n = 49 naturopaths and 15 dietitians) and phytochemicals (72% vs 32%, n = 43 naturopaths and 19 dietitians) compared with conventionally produced foods. The majority of naturopaths indicated that organic foods have a favourable effect on health (97%, n = 58) and differ in taste (82%, n = 49). Dietitians were less certain with n = 21 thinking there is an effect on health and n = 15 indicating that there is a difference in taste (P < 0.01). More naturopaths (77%, n = 46) than dietitians (31%, n = 18) indicated that they have sufficient knowledge of organic food. Naturopaths discuss the topic of organic food with their clients ‘sometimes’ (55%, n = 33) or ‘always’ (32%, n = 19) whereas the majority of dietitians ‘seldom’ (51%, n = 30) or ‘never’ (7%, n = 4) do so. Naturopaths recommend organic foods more often than dietitians (P < 0.001). The survey results suggest that evidence‐based educational programs would be useful for both groups of health professionals.
Avidity of the Immunoglobulin G Response to aNeisseria meningitidisGroup C Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine as Measured by Inhibition and Chaotropic Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays
Authors: Harris Shannon L. , Tsao How , Ashton Lindsey , Goldblatt David , Fernsten Philip 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTAntibody avidity, the strength of the multivalent interaction between antibodies and their antigens, is an important characteristic of protective immune responses. We have developed an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure antibody avidity for the capsular polysaccharide (PS) ofNeisseria meningitidisgroup C (MnC) and determined the avidity constants (KDs) for 100 sera from children immunized with an MnC PS conjugate vaccine. The avidity constants were compared to the avidity indices (AI) obtained for the same sera using a chaotropic ELISA protocol. After the primary immunization series, the geometric mean (GM)KDwas 674 nM and did not change in the months following immunization. However, the GM avidity did increase after the booster dose (GMKD, 414 nM 1 month after booster immunization). In contrast, the GM AI increased from an initial value of 118 after the primary immunization series to 147 6 months after the completion of the primary immunization series and then further increased to 178 after booster immunization. At the individual subject level, the avidity constant and AI correlated after the primary immunization series and after booster immunization but not prior to boosting. This work suggests that the AI, as measured by the chaotropic ELISA, in contrast to theKD, reflects changes that render antibody populations less susceptible to disruption by chaotropic agents without directly affecting the strength of the binding interactions.
Multicenter Evaluation of a Commercial PCR-Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Diagnostic Kit (Onychodiag) for Diagnosis of Dermatophytic Onychomycosis
Authors: Savin C. , Huck S. , Rolland C. , Benderdouche M. , Faure O. , Noacco G. , Menotti J. , Candolfi E. , Pelloux H. , Grillot R. , Coupe S. , Derouin F. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT
We prospectively evaluated a new PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Onychodiag; BioAdvance, France) for the diagnosis of dermatophytic onychomycosis by testing nail samples from 438 patients with suspected onychomycosis and from 108 healthy controls in three independent laboratories. In two laboratories, samples were collected by trained mycologists as close as possible to the lesions (proximal samples). In one laboratory, samples were collected by other physicians. All samples were processed by conventional mycological techniques and by Onychodiag, blindly to the mycological results. An additional distal sample, collected by clipping the nail plate, was obtained from 75 patients and tested with Onychodiag alone. In patients with culture-proven dermatophytic onychomycosis, the sensitivity of Onychodiag was 83.6% (87.9% including the gray zone) and ranged from 75 to 100% according to the laboratory and the sampling conditions. The specificity was 100% when healthy subjects were considered true negative controls. Onychodiag was positive on 68 patient samples that were sterile or yielded nondermatophyte species in culture. Based on the results of Onychodiag for mycologically proven positive samples and true-negative samples, these results were considered true positives, and the poor performance of mycology on these samples was attributed to inconvenient sampling conditions or to contaminants. When tested on distal samples, Onychodiag was positive in 49/53 (92%) cases of proven dermatophytic onychomycosis. Finally, with either proximal or distal samples, Onychodiag provided a diagnosis of dermatophytic onychomycosis within 24 to 48 h after sampling, and its sensitivity was close to that of mycological techniques applied to proximal samples.
Epidemiologic Analysis of Reactivated Cytomegalovirus Antigenemia in Patients with Cancer
Authors: Han Xiang Y. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

The epidemiologic features of reactivated cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia were studied among 4,382 cancer patients who were cared for and tested at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 2001 to 2004. The effects of stem cell transplant (SCT) status, underlying disease, age, sex, ethnicity, and antibody status (prior to CMV exposure) on the incidence of CMV antigenemia were determined; and the CMV burdens were quantified. Antigenemia occurred in 9.3% of patients with non-SCT (
n
= 2511), 12.0% with autologous SCT (
n
= 582), and 39.1% with allogeneic SCT (
n
= 1289). Non-SCT patients with lymphoid tumors had a significantly higher rate of antigenemia than those with myeloid tumors (13.6% versus 3.9%) (
P
< 0.001); however, after allogeneic SCT, the underlying diseases had little effect, except for multiple myeloma (56.8%) (
P
= 0.014). Among the allogeneic SCT recipients, higher CMV antigenemia rates were also associated with female sex, older age, and positivity for pre-SCT CMV antibody. Depending on the underlying disease and its associated initial CMV risk, allogeneic SCT increased the risk by 2.6- to 29.6-fold (overall, 4.0-fold). With or without SCT, Asians had the highest CMV antigenemia rates and burdens, followed by blacks, Hispanics, and whites, and these partially correlated with antibody prevalence. Among the 808 patients with antigenemia, the circulating peak CMV burden was significantly higher among non-SCT patients (geometric mean, 18.7 positive cells per 10
6
leukocytes) than among allogeneic SCT patients (geometric mean, 7.7 positive cells per 10
6
leukocytes) or autologous SCT patients (geometric mean, 7.0 positive cells per 10
6
leukocytes) who underwent monitoring for CMV. Together, these results allow stratification of CMV risks and suggest a substantial CMV reactivation among non-SCT cancer patients and, thus, the need for better diagnosis and control.