bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recovery of plant DNA using a reciprocating saw and silica‐based columns
Authors: ALEXANDER PATRICK J. , RAJANIKANTH GOVINDARAJALU , BACON CHRISTINE D. , BAILEY C. DONOVAN 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe time needed for hand grinding and the cost of commercially available extraction kits remain to be the major limitations in plant DNA extraction for many researchers. We present inexpensive techniques for (i) simultaneously machine grinding large numbers of plant samples for DNA extraction using a commercially available reciprocating saw; and (ii) DNA recovery using silica column‐based extractions similar to that used in some commercially available kits. Used together, these allow for the rapid recovery of plant DNA at relatively low cost. Furthermore, these methods appear to be widely applicable within plants with good yields recovered in test extractions across major plant groups (ferns, gymnosperms, monocots and eudicots).
Utilization of Infertility Services: How Much Does Money Matter?
Authors: Farley Ordovensky Staniec J. , Webb Natalie J. 
Published: September 2006

Objective. To estimate the effects of financial access and other individual characteristics on the likelihood that a woman pursues infertility treatment and the choice of treatment type.Data Source/Study Setting. The 1995 National Survey of Family Growth.Study Design. We use a binomial logit model to estimate the effects of financial access and individual characteristics on the likelihood that a woman pursues infertility treatment. We then use a multinomial logit model to estimate the differential effects of these variables across treatment types.Data Collection/Extraction Method. This study analyzes the subset of 1,210 women who meet the definition of infertile or subfecund from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth.Principal Findings. We find that income, insurance coverage, age, and parity (number of previous births) all significantly affect the probability of seeking infertility treatment; however, the effect of these variables on choice of treatment type varies significantly. Neither income nor insurance influences the probability of seeking advice, a relatively low cost, low yield treatment. At the other end of the spectrum, the choice to pursue assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs)—a much more expensive but potentially more productive option—is highly influenced by income, but merely having private insurance has no significant effect. In the middle of the spectrum are treatment options such as testing, surgery, and medications, for which “financial access” increases their probability of selection.Conclusions. Our results illustrate that for the sample of infertile of subfecund women of childbearing age studied, and considering their options, financial access to infertility treatment does matter.
Nurse Staffing Levels and Medicaid Reimbursement Rates in Nursing Facilities
Authors: Harrington Charlene , Swan James H. , Carrillo Helen 
Published: September 2006

Objective. To examine the relationship between nursing staffing levels in U.S. nursing homes and state Medicaid reimbursement rates.Data Sources. Facility staffing, characteristics, and case‐mix data were from the federal On‐Line Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) system and other data were from public sources.Study Design. Ordinary least squares and two‐stage least squares regression analyses were used to separately examine the relationship between registered nurse (RN) and total nursing hours in all U.S. nursing homes in 2002, with two endogenous variables: Medicaid reimbursement rates and resident case mix.Principal Findings. RN hours and total nursing hours were endogenous with Medicaid reimbursement rates and resident case mix. As expected, Medicaid nursing home reimbursement rates were positively related to both RN and total nursing hours. Resident case mix was a positive predictor of RN hours and a negative predictor of total nursing hours. Higher state minimum RN staffing standards was a positive predictor of RN and total nursing hours while for‐profit facilities and the percent of Medicaid residents were negative predictors.Conclusions. To increase staffing levels, average Medicaid reimbursement rates would need to be substantially increased while higher state minimum RN staffing standards is a stronger positive predictor of RN and total nursing hours.
Primary Care Practice Organization Influences Colorectal Cancer Screening Performance
Authors: Yano Elizabeth M. , Soban Lynn M. , Parkerton Patricia H. , Etzioni David A. 
Published: September 2006

Objective. To identify primary care practice characteristics associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) screening performance, controlling for patient‐level factors.Data Sources/Study Setting. Primary care director survey (1999–2000) of 155 VA primary care clinics linked with 38,818 eligible patients' sociodemographics, utilization, and CRC screening experience using centralized administrative and chart‐review data (2001).Study Design. Practices were characterized by degrees of centralization (e.g., authority over operations, staffing, outside‐practice influence); resources (e.g., sufficiency of nonphysician staffing, space, clinical support arrangements); and complexity (e.g., facility size, academic status, managed care penetration), adjusting for patient‐level covariates and contextual factors.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Chart‐based evidence of CRC screening through direct colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or consecutive fecal occult blood tests, eliminating cases with documented histories of CRC, polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease.Principal Findings. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and health care utilization, patients were significantly more likely to be screened for CRC if their primary care practices had greater autonomy over the internal structure of care delivery (p<.04), more clinical support arrangements (p<.03), and smaller size (p<.001).Conclusions. Deficits in primary care clinical support arrangements and local autonomy over operational management and referral procedures are associated with significantly lower CRC screening performance. Competition with hospital resource demands may impinge on the degree of internal organization of their affiliated primary care practices.
Measuring Organizational Attributes of Primary Care Practices: Development of a New Instrument
Authors: Ohman‐Strickland Pamela A. , John Orzano A. , Nutting Paul A. , Perry Dickinson W. , Scott‐Cawiezell Jill , Hahn Karissa , Gibel Michelle , Crabtree Benjamin F. 
Published: September 2006

Objective. To develop an instrument to measure organizational attributes relevant for family practices using the perspectives of clinicians, nurses, and staff.Data Sources/Study Setting. Clinicians, nurses, and office staff (n=640) from 51 community family medicine practices.Design. A survey, designed to measure a practices' internal resources for change, for use in family medicine practices was created by a multidisciplinary panel of experts in primary care research and health care organizational performance. This survey was administered in a cross‐sectional study to a sample of diverse practices participating in an intervention trial. A factor analysis identified groups of questions relating to latent constructs of practices' internal resources for capacity to change. ANOVA methods were used to confirm that the factors differentiated practices.Data Collection. The survey was administered to all staff from 51 practices.Principal Findings. The factor analysis resulted in four stable and internally consistent factors. Three of these factors, “communication,”“decision‐making,” and “stress/chaos,” describe resources for change in primary care practices. One factor, labeled “history of change,” may be useful in assessing the success of interventions.Conclusions. A 21‐item questionnaire can reliably measure four important organizational attributes relevant to family practices. These attributes can be used both as outcome measures as well as important features for targeting system interventions.
Inequalities in Use of Health Services among Jews and Arabs in Israel
Authors: Baron‐Epel Orna , Garty Noga , Green Manfred S. 
Published: September 2006

Objectives. To compare the levels of utilization of health services in Jews and Arabs taking into account differences in levels of socioeconomic status (SES) in a country with a National Health Insurance Law (NHIL).Data Source/Study Setting. A cross‐sectional National Health Interview Survey was carried out in Israel based on a random sample of telephone numbers as part of the EUROHIS project (WHO European Health Interview Survey 2003–2004).Study Design. A random telephone survey included 9,352 interviews. Questions included use of health care services, health status, and socioeconomic variables.Principal Findings. After adjusting for sex, age, income, education, marital status, and self‐reported chronic diseases, Arabs more often reported visiting a family physician (odds ratio [OR]=1.56, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.35–1.81) and less often reported visiting a specialist (OR=0.73, 95 percent CI=0.60–0.89) compared with Jews. In addition, the odds ratio for hospitalization was similar among Arabs and Jews (OR=1.16, 95 percent CI=0.97–1.38). SES was associated with utilization of health care services only in the Jewish population.Conclusions. A different pattern of utilization of health care services was observed in Arabs and Jews. This was not explained by differences in socioeconomic levels. More research is needed regarding the distribution of services between Jews and Arabs.
Insider Trading and Voluntary Disclosures
Authors: CHENG QIANG , LO KIN 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTWe hypothesize that insiders strategically choose disclosure policies and the timing of their equity trades to maximize trading profits, subject to the litigation costs associated with disclosure and insider trading. Accounting for endogeneity between disclosures and trading, we find that when managers plan to purchase shares, they increase the number of bad news forecasts to reduce the purchase price. In addition, this relation is stronger for trades initiated by chief executive officers than for those initiated by other executives. Confirming this strategic behavior, we find that managers successfully time their trades around bad news forecasts, buying fewer shares beforehand and more afterwards. We do not find that managers adjust their forecasting activity when they are selling shares, consistent with higher litigation concerns associated with insider sales. Overall, our evidence suggests that insiders do exploit voluntary disclosure opportunities for personal gain, but only selectively, when litigation risk is sufficiently low.
The Extreme Future Stock Returns Following I/B/E/S Earnings Surprises
Authors: DOYLE JEFFREY T. , LUNDHOLM RUSSELL J. , SOLIMAN MARK T. 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTWe investigate the stock returns subsequent to quarterly earnings surprises, where the benchmark for an earnings surprise is the consensus analyst forecast. By defining the surprise relative to an analyst forecast rather than a time‐series model of expected earnings, we document returns subsequent to earnings announcements that are much larger, persist for much longer, and are more heavily concentrated in the long portion of the hedge portfolio than shown in previous studies. We show that our results hold after controlling for risk and previously documented anomalies, and are positive for every quarter between 1988 and 2000. Finally, we explore the financial results and information environment of firms with extreme earnings surprises and find that they tend to be “neglected” stocks with relatively high book‐to‐market ratios, low analyst coverage, and high analyst forecast dispersion. In the three subsequent years, firms with extreme positive earnings surprises tend to have persistent earnings surprises in the same direction, strong growth in cash flows and earnings, and large increases in analyst coverage, relative to firms with extreme negative earnings surprises. We also show that the returns to the earnings surprise strategy are highest in the quartile of firms where transaction costs are highest and institutional investor interest is lowest, consistent with the idea that market inefficiencies are more prevalent when frictions make it difficult for large, sophisticated investors to exploit the inefficiencies.
Evaluation of an Osteoporosis Workshop for Women
Authors: Ribeiro Violeta , Blakeley Judith A 
Published: September 2006

Osteoporosis is a serious health problem that has reached epidemic proportions among Canadian women. This disease, and its concomitant fractures, places a heavy burden on society in terms of human suffering, loss of productivity, death, and health care costs. In keeping with these concerns, a Canadian community health agency has developed a series of workshops that are designed, in part, to educate women about this disease and to encourage them to take appropriate steps to prevent it or to make informed decisions about its treatment. The present study was designed to evaluate the outcome of one of these workshops.A semi‐experimental design was used to measure any changes in the participants' knowledge about osteoporosis and their prevention and treatment practices regarding this disease. The results were compared to those of a control group that consisted of members of various branches of the Women's Institute who volunteered to participate in the study.The findings indicate that the workshop was effective in increasing the participants' level of knowledge on osteoporosis, an increase that was still evident 6 months following the session. The effect of the workshop on the actual preventive and treatment practices of women who attended, however, was limited to a slight increase in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and calcium intake.
The influence of viscoelastic substances on the corneal endothelial cell population during cataract surgery: a prospective study of cohesive and dispersive viscoelastics
Authors: Storr‐Paulsen Allan , Nørregaard Jens Christian , Farik Ghassan , Tårnhøj Jens 
Published: September 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To compare the ability of cohesive and dispersive ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVDs) to protect the corneal endothelium following in‐the‐bag phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL).Methods:  In a prospective single‐masked randomized study, 60 eyes of 60 cataract patients were assigned to three groups of 20 patients each, according to which OVD was used: Celoftal®, Vitrax® or Healon®. The corneal response to surgery was evaluated by measuring the endothelial cell loss, the variation in mean cell area of the endothelial cells (CV), the frequency of hexagonal cells, and the central corneal thickness. Data were recorded preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.Results:  Preoperatively, no significant difference was observed in cell count, CV, hexagonal pattern or pachymetry among groups. Postoperatively, all three groups had a significant decrease in cell count, but the decrease was significantly less in the Vitrax group (6.97%) than in the Celoftal (18.03%) and Healon groups (18.46%). No changes in CV, hexagonality or corneal thickness were observed within any of the three groups or among the groups. There was an equal and significant increase in visual acuity.Conclusions:  Phacoemulsification with implantation of a posterior chamber lens is known to affect the density and morphology of corneal endothelial cells. Viscoelastics facilitate cataract surgery and protect the corneal endothelium during the procedure. Choosing a dispersive hyaluronate OVD during the phaco procedure may allow for protection of the endothelial cells while suppressing the formation of free radicals. This may be the reason for the superior protective effect on the corneal endothelial cells of Vitrax compared with Celoftal and Healon.
Induction of Maternal Tolerance to Fetal Alloantigens by RANTES Production
Authors: Ramhorst Rosanna , Patel Rahdika , Corigliano Adriana , Etchepareborda Juan José , Fainboim Leonardo , Schust Danny 
Published: September 2006

Problem  Previous studies have demonstrated a requirement for RANTES (regulated on activated normal T‐cell expressed, and secreted) at immune privileged sites; we have investigated the role of RANTES in the induction of maternal–fetal tolerance.Method of study  Endometrial and peripheral T lymphocytes were obtained from women with recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs) and fertile women. RANTES modulation by progesterone or paternal alloantigens was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay or flow cytometry analysis.Results  Progesterone significantly increased intracellular RANTES expression in CD4+ and CD8+ endometrial T cells. Moreover, alloreactive lymphocytes from RPL patients produced lower RANTES levels when compared with those from fertile women. At the local level, treatment with recombinant RANTES induced a decrease in CCR5 and CXCR4 messenger RNA that correlated with an increase in T‐bet expression. RPL patients and normally fertile women express RANTES similarly, but differ in their patterns of RANTES receptor expression.Conclusion  RANTES may be implicated in the local induction of a Th1‐type response necessary for successful implantation. Altered response to RANTES stimulation among some RPL patients may be responsible for poor pregnancy outcomes.
Review of endovascular stent‐assisted embolization for management of intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Chan Tony Kam‐Tong , Lui Wai‐Man , Fan Yiu‐Wah 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  This was a retrospective review of the results using stent‐assisted coil embolization for management of intracranial aneurysms.Methods:  The records of seven patients treated with stent‐assisted Gugliemi detachable coil (GDC) embolization were retrieved from the authors’ prospectively maintained database. The clinical presentation, site and type of aneurysms, treatment procedure and complications, and outcome of these identified cases were reviewed.Results:  Between January 2002 and May 2004, seven patients with intracranial aneurysms, four of which were ruptured, were treated by stent‐assisted GDC embolization. Four aneurysms were located at the anterior circulation and three were at the posterior circulation. The indications for stent use were: giant aneurysm (>2.5 cm), dissecting pseudo‐aneurysm, broad‐necked aneurysm and the need for preservation of important parent arteries or branches. Concerning the technical aspect, all except one had successful stent deployment. One stent dislodged after apparent successful deployment. GDC embolization was continued and the aneurysm was partially occluded. More than 90% occlusion of aneurysm sac was achieved in six aneurysms. Intraoperative complications included over‐coagulation, failure in stent deployment, displacement of stent, coil entrapment and thromboembolism. One patient had added focal neurological deficit after the procedure, and one became vegetative due to an unrelated cause. The patient in whom the stent was dislodged suffered another subarachnoid haemorrhage 4 months later and died.Conclusion:  Percutaneous intracranial stent is a new and useful device to assist embolization of cerebral aneurysms that were previously not amenable to endovascular therapy. These preliminary results suggest that this procedure could achieve satisfactory outcomes without significant complications.
Preoperative methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening: An effective method to control MRSA infections on elective orthopaedics wards
Authors: Anwar Rahij , Botchu Rajesh , Viegas Manoj , Animashawun Yomi , Shashidhara Singapura , Slater Guy J. R. 
Published: September 2006

Background:  Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections continue to increase in UK hospitals despite the introduction of various control measures. These infections have serious clinical and economic implications, particularly in relation to elective orthopaedic surgery.Methods:  A prospective study was performed from August 2003 to July 2004 to assess the effect of preadmission screening and ‘ring fencing’ of beds on the incidence of infection in an elective orthopaedics unit.Results:  The preoperative incidence of MRSA colonization was 2.25% and 53% of these patients had at least one risk factor. There were no postoperative MRSA infections in the ring‐fenced orthopaedic unit.Conclusions:  Preoperative screening and ring fencing reduced the MRSA incidence to zero in the operated patients. Mechanisms need to be developed where screening and isolation of MRSA cases can be performed in most, if not all, hospital admissions.
Single surgeon’s experience with Furlow palatoplasty and the fistula rate
Authors: Mak Anthony Sze‐Yuen , Wong Wai‐Hong , Or Chi‐Kong , Poon Angela Ming‐See 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  To review the clinical data on Furlow palatoplasty and the incidence of palatal fistula.Methods:  A retrospective review was conducted of clinical data and incidence of palatal fistula in all cleft palate patients undergoing Furlow palatoplasty by one surgeon in Princess Margaret Hospital from November 1997 to February 2003.Results:  Of the 54 patients (29 male, 25 female) treated, five (9.3%) had positive family history of cleft lip/cleft palate. Twenty‐two patients (40.7%) had associated cleft lip and four (7.4%) had other congenital malformations. Thirty‐one palates were Veau classes I & II; 15 were class III, six were class IV, and two were submucous clefts. The mean ± SD patient age was 22.8 ± 11.9 months, and follow‐up period 50.6 ± 17.5 months with five (9.3%) defaulted. Blood loss and operation time were significantly different among the different classes of clefts. There was one case of postoperative bleeding requiring immediate opening. Three palatal fistulae occurred, all within the first 3 years of the study period. Two were repaired with no recurrences.Conclusions:  The surgeon’s incidence of palatal fistula after Furlow palatoplasty is 5.6%, comparable to the low incidence reported by other surgeons using other methods of repair.
Formalin dab for refractory radiation proctitis: Preliminary Hong Kong experience
Authors: Ng Simon Siu‐Man , Ng Nancy Ching , Lee Janet Fung‐Yee , Yiu Raymond Ying‐Chang , Li Jimmy Chak‐Man , Leung Ka‐Lau 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  This prospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 4% formalin dab in managing patients with refractory radiation proctitis.Methods:  From January 2001 to December 2004, 11 patients with radiation proctitis who did not respond to regular steroid enemas and/or argon plasma coagulation were treated with local application of 4% formalin‐soaked gauze (formalin dab). Main outcome measures were control of bleeding, changes in haemoglobin level, hospitalization and blood transfusion requirements, and complications.Results:  The mean haemoglobin level before formalin dab was 7.3 ± 2.4 g/dL. Eight patients had required repeated admissions to hospital for blood transfusions (median 4 units; range, 2–27 units). The median number of sessions of formalin dab was two (range, 1–6). The treatment was effective in 10 patients (90.9%): four patients had complete cessation of bleeding and six patients had improvement of symptoms. At a median follow‐up of 15.3 months, only three patients required hospital admission once for blood transfusions (range 1–2 units). The mean haemoglobin level after formalin dab was 10.4 ± 2.2 g/dL, which was significantly higher than that before formalin dab (P = 0.007). No patient developed complications after formalin dab.Conclusions:  Formalin dab is an effective and safe treatment modality for refractory radiation proctitis.