bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the postabortion care program in Nepal: the contribution of a national Safe Motherhood Project
Authors: Basnet I. , Clapham S. , Shakya G. , McCall M. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe objective of this review is to present the findings and lessons learned over the first 4 years (1999–2002) of implementation of postabortion care (PAC) services outside of major urban centers in Nepal, where a significant proportion of services are provided by nurses. The contributions made by a national Safe Motherhood project to the establishment of the National Postabortion Care Program including the promotion of nurse providers within an integrated program of emergency obstetric care services are highlighted. Clinical competency assessments and service utilization data from three district hospital‐based postabortion service sites supported by the Nepal Safer Motherhood Project are analyzed. The relationship between the findings of this assessment and two previous assessments, one covering two districts and one nationwide, are discussed. This review found that nurses are at least as competent as physicians in providing postabortion care services. The inclusion of postabortion care into the emergency treatment of obstetric complications provided the environment needed for successful introduction of nurse‐led PAC services. Competency‐based training of nurse providers is the key to making life‐saving postabortion care services accessible and affordable in Nepal. Ensuring that these nurse providers are able to implement services requires strategic planning, careful advocacy and support from physician colleagues as well as the presence of adequate infrastructure and equipment. The successful introduction of postabortion care services into three district hospitals also offering emergency obstetric care provides an example of how a nurse‐led service can be integrated into an emergency obstetric care support project. The project's learning has influenced national policy on the expansion of the postabortion care program throughout Nepal.
Safe abortion: WHO technical and policy guidance
Authors: Cook R.J , Dickens B.M , Horga M 
Published: June 2004

AbstractIn 2003, the World Health Organization published its well referenced handbook Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidance for Health Systems to address the estimated almost 20 million induced abortions each year that are unsafe, imposing a burden of approximately 67 thousand deaths annually. It is a global injustice that 95% of unsafe abortions occur in developing countries. The focus of guidance is on abortion procedures that are lawful within the countries in which they occur, noting that in almost all countries, the law permits abortion to save a woman's life. The guidance treats unsafe abortion as a public health challenge, and responds to the problem through strategies concerning improved clinical care for women undergoing procedures, and the appropriate placement of necessary services. Legal and policy considerations are explored, and annexes present guidance to further reading, international consensus documents on safe abortion, and on manual vacuum aspiration and post‐abortion contraception.
Neonatal outcome in discordant eutrophic twins
Authors: Smiljan Severinski N , Mamula O , Petrovic O 
Published: June 2004

AbstractObjective: To compare maternal characteristics and neonatal outcome in discordant twin gestations (DT) and concordant twin gestation (CT). Method: Maternal and neonatal data base of live twins >25 weeks’ gestation (N=351 pairs) were reviewed for antepartum complications, labor beginning, mode of delivery, neonatal complications, malformations and perinatal mortality. The chi‐squared analysis and Student t‐tests were used to analyze the differences between discordant and concordant premature and term twin pairs, and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) twins, separately. Results: DT occurred in 15.1% of all twin pregnancies. In preterm and term DT there were significantly more elective cesareans. Growth discordance among preterm and term eutrophic twins was not connected with increased neonatal death or other complications, except higher incidence of early neurological signs in term DT. Conclusion: We strongly believed that prematurity and not discordant growth of eutrophic twins has important influence on neonatal outcome.
Risk factors for preterm birth in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen N , Savitz D.A , Thorp J.M 
Published: June 2004

AbstractObjective: To identify the risk of preterm birth and possible determinants among women in Hanoi, Vietnam. Method: Prospective cohort study of 1709 women with singleton live births at Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, June–October 2002. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine predictors of preterm birth (<37 weeks’ gestation). Result: The risk of preterm birth was 11.8%. Physically demanding work during pregnancy, two or more prior spontaneous abortions, history of preterm birth, vaginal bleeding, inadequate prenatal care during the first 20 weeks of gestation, and history of intrauterine device use with removal less than 12 months before the current pregnancy were associated with increased risk of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratios between 1.8 and 2.6). Conclusion: Preterm birth is relatively frequent in this population. Beyond established risk factors, these data implicated agricultural work and physical work demands with preterm birth, as well as history of recent IUD use.
Home range and movements of the quokka Setonix brachyurus (Macropodidae: Marsupialia), and its impact on the viability of the metapopulation on the Australian mainland
Authors: Hayward Matt W. , de Tores Paul J. , Augee Michael L. , Fox Barry J. , Banks Peter B. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe home range and movements of the quokka Setonix brachyurus, a medium‐sized macropodid marsupial, were investigated using radio telemetry. Fifty‐eight quokkas from five remnant mainland populations in the northern jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia were radio‐collared and monitored for up to 2 years between 1998 and 2000. Mean (±se) home‐range sizes were 6.39±0.77 ha and core ranges averaged 1.21±0.12 ha. Male core home ranges were larger than those of females although not when corrected for body mass. Nocturnal ranges were larger than diurnal owing to nocturnal departures from the swamp. Ranges shifted to the edge of swamps in winter, as the swamps became inundated following rain, and toward the centre in autumn as the swamps dried. Quokka populations are thought to exist below carrying capacity at all sites and this probably caused the lack of dispersal observed in this study. We hypothesize that predation is suppressing population booms which would otherwise drive dispersal and thereby maintain metapopulation dynamics. Without dispersal to rescue unpopulated patches, we conclude that the original quokka metapopulation has collapsed and ameliatory measures are required.
Predation on European wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) by wolves (Canis lupus) in Finland
Authors: Kojola Ilpo , Huitu Otso , Toppinen Katri , Heikura Kalevi , Heikkinen Samuli , Ronkainen Seppo 
Published: June 2004

AbstractIt is generally accepted that predation by wolves Canis lupus is one of the major factors limiting densities of woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou in North America. Conversely, little is known about the role of European wild forest reindeer R. t. fennicus as wolf prey, or about the influence of wolf predation on populations of this rare subspecies. This relationship was examined in east‐central Finland, where wild forest reindeer coexist with moose Alces alces at a numerical ratio of c. 1 reindeer to 1.5 moose. During the study, moose were clearly the primary prey of wolves. Reindeer were, however, an important part of wolf diet in summer, autumn and early winter, when their remains comprised roughly 20–50% of all food items identified in wolf scats. Wolves exhibited a slight preference for reindeer over moose as prey during early winter (November–December) when the reindeer were moving towards their wintering ranges. Virtually no reindeer were killed by wolves during midwinter (January–March). This held also for a pack whose territory was located in the middle of the wintering range of reindeer, where reindeer outnumbered moose during the winter months. After the approximate ratio of wolves to reindeer increased from 0.004 (1998) to 0.02 (2000), wolf predation became the most common source of mortality (50%) for reindeer. The annual net increase in the reindeer population decreased from 13% to 7% because of increased wolf predation. The results indicate that wolf predation was an important factor limiting reindeer population growth. Wolves were, however, unable to prevent entirely the number of reindeer from increasing, partly owing to behavioural traits used by reindeer during winter and calving times.
The age structure and growth of female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) in southern Australian waters
Authors: Evans Karen , Hindell Mark A. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe age of 86 individuals derived from groups of female sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus involved in three mass strandings on the north and west coasts of Tasmania in 1998 was determined from the number of dentinal growth layer groups in the teeth of individuals. Dorsal total lengths were also measured. Ages of females ranged from 0.75 to 64 years, with the majority (77%) aged between 20 and 45 years. Total lengths of female sperm whales ranged from 417–1200 cm, with 68% of females 1050–1200 cm long. Constraints associated with the age structure observed in this study and the representativeness of the age structure to that of the greater population are discussed. In an effort to assess the effects of underestimation of age estimates on age‐specific demographic parameters, a model simulating changes in age structure as a result of tooth wear was developed and the resulting survival rates compared to those derived from the original age structures of the samples. Survival did not change significantly between the modelled and original age structures. Also, the survival rate calculated from Australian mature female sperm whales was compared to that calculated from sperm whales caught in whaling operations from Japanese waters. Australian mature female sperm whales demonstrated significantly higher survival rates (mean=0.905±0.046 sd range: 0.856–0.986) than mature females from Japanese waters (mean=0.885±0.034 sd; range=0.859–0.970), possibly the reflection of higher fishing mortality on the Japanese whales. Growth equations using Gompertz and von Bertalanffy models were calculated for female Australian sperm whales and compared. Both models described growth in female sperm whales similarly. Changes in the demographic parameters of sperm whales with the cessation of whaling may be reflected in the growth rates of individuals and as such, these equations may provide a useful tool for monitoring continuing changes in the demographic parameters of this species. Without long‐term mark–recapture studies on sperm whales in this region, the frequent stranding of sperm whales in south‐eastern Australia provides an important opportunity to collect data on the life history and demography of this species.
Winter dispersal of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx): environmental factors influencing demographics and seasonal abundance
Authors: Jessopp M. J. , Forcada J. , Reid K. , Trathan P. N. , Murphy E. J. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe dynamics of leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx abundance and residency were investigated both within and between years at Bird Island, South Georgia, using observations of tagged and untagged individuals. Seals belonged to an open population, and were sampled outside the breeding season and during their northward winter dispersal (April–October). Seals at Bird Island were highly transient (41–63%) with only a limited number of individuals making repeat visits across years. A minimum yearly survival for resident seals was estimated to be between 0.61 and 0.85. The physical environment played an important role in leopard seal abundance, with observations following an apparent 4‐year periodicity consistent with the frequency and timing of the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave. Years of low sea‐surface temperature (SST) and extensive pack‐ice corresponded to a higher number of seals present, earlier arrivals, and longer periods of residency. Peak leopard seal arrivals at Bird Island corresponded to periods of low SST, which was consistent with the pagophilic nature of this species.
Feeding resource partitioning among four sympatric carnivores in the Peneda‐Gerês National Park (Portugal)
Authors: Carvalho J. C. , Gomes P. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe Iberian Peninsula comprises two distinct biogeographic areas: a temperate Atlantic Eurosiberian (north) and a Mediterranean (centre and south), and they provide very different biotopes, landscapes and prey for carnivores. One example is an abundance of the wild rabbit Orytolagus cuniculus in the Mediterranean zone, which contrasts with the Eurosiberian zone, where the rabbit is scarce. The feeding resource partitioning among four sympatric predators (red fox Vulpes vulpes, wild cat Felis silvestris, genet Genetta genetta and stone marten Martes foina) was analysed in the Peneda‐Gerês National Park (north‐west Portugal), located in the Eurosiberian region. Data on the spatial distribution of three important prey species (Apodemus sylvaticus, Microtus lusitanicus and Talpa occidentalis) were also collected to investigate their possible relationships with the feeding habits of each predator. Rodents are the staple prey for this guild of carnivores. Predators are able to supplement their diets with one or two secondary prey types: rabbits and arthropods by the largest carnivores (the red fox and the wild cat); insectivores by the small predators (the genet and the stone marten). These results contrast with the characteristic Mediterranean predator–prey features, where rabbits are the main support of carnivore communities. The feeding resource partitioning revealed a complex structure characterized by a dynamic niche differentiation and overlap, according to a seasonal pattern. To explain this pattern of resource exploitation two hypotheses are discussed in the light of the body size of predators and their use of space.
River dolphins and flooded forest: seasonal habitat use and sexual segregation of botos (Inia geoffrensis) in an extreme cetacean environment
Authors: Martin A. R. , da Silva V. M. F. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractHabitat use by the boto, or Amazon river dolphin Inia geoffrensis, was investigated in and around the Mamirauá Reserve, Brazil. Largely forested with numerous channels and lakes, Mamirauá comprises a variety of seasonal floodplain habitats known collectively as várzea. The annual cycle of flooding in this region (amplitude 11–15 m) dominates all life. Profound seasonal differences in dolphin density between habitats were consistent with known fish movements, in turn dictated by changes in water level and dissolved oxygen. An exodus of botos from floodplain to river at low water prevents dolphins being trapped in areas that become entirely dry. Densities of botos in floodplain channels were seasonally higher (up to 18 km−2) than reported for any cetacean worldwide. Adults were largely segregated by sex except at low water. Females and calves dominated in chavascal habitat–the areas most remote from rivers, which were preferred by males. Probable causes of this segregation are the energetic requirements of calves and the safety of females and/or calves from male harassment. Some 80% of botos occurring on rivers were within 150 m of the margins. The reliance of adult females and calves on várzea in a region with exceptional dolphin densities demonstrates the importance of floodplain habitats for the boto, and may be the key determinant of this species' distribution.
A comparative test of the correlated evolution of flightlessness and relative brain size in birds
Authors: Iwaniuk Andrew N. , Nelson John E. , James Helen F. , Olson Storrs L. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractSecondary flightlessness has evolved independently many times in birds. Morphological changes in the pectoral girdle and flight feathers and changes in body size have been associated with the evolution of flightlessness, and it has also been suggested that flightless birds have relatively small brains. We therefore tested whether flightlessness is related to changes in relative brain size. Relative brain size was compared between volant and flightless species using both conventional statistics and modern comparative methods within nine taxonomic groups. No significant difference was found between flightless and volant species in six of these groups, regardless of whether body mass or tibiotarsal measurements were used as estimates of body size. Species with relatively smaller brains compared with their volant relatives were the great auk Pinguinus impennis, the kakapo Strigops habroptilus and some species of penguin. Thus, we found no evidence of a general correlation between the evolution of secondary flightlessness and the evolution of relatively small brains in birds. This suggests that neural requirements are not significantly different between flightless and volant species, although our methods may have overlooked subtle neurological changes that do not result in markedly different endocranial volumes.
Ultrastructure of echimyid and murid rodent spines
Authors: Hoey Kelley A. , Wise Robert R. , Adler Gregory H. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAristiform spines of the rodents Niviventer fulvescens, Maxomys surifer, Hoplomys gymnurus and 17 species of Proechimys (representing both recognized subgenera and all nine species groups) were studied qualitatively using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitatively by measuring seven linear dimensions. SEM was used to examine spine tips, bases, longitudinal furrows and cross sections. Spines of the murid rodents N. fulvescens and M. surifer differed from those of the echimyid rodents H. gymnurus and Proechimys spp. in possessing a smaller base with a longer, narrower neck, scaled rather than ridged longitudinal furrows, and a solid internal core and large lacunae at the spine margins. Spines of H. gymnurus differed from those of Proechimys spp. in being considerably more robust with a stout neck at the base, an abruptly‐tapering tip and a dense inner layer with a series of smaller lacunae at the spine margins. A factor analysis of spine measurements revealed major differences among N. fulvescens, M. surifer, H. gymnurus, the Proechimys subgenus Trinomys and the nine Proechimys species groups within the subgenus Proechimys. However, all Proechimys species groups clustered closely together. A discriminant function analysis of the nine Proechimys species groups provided generally limited discriminatory power. Although spines are distinct at the generic and subgeneric levels, spines may possess limited diagnostic structure at the level of species within the subgenus Proechimys.
MICROBIC VIRULENCE AND HOST SUSCEPTIBILITY IN PARATYPHOID-ENTERITIDIS INFECTION OF WHITE MICE
Authors: Pritchett Ida W. 
Published: June 2004

Epidemics of mouse typhoid set up among the Rockefeller Institute strain of mice were studied over a period of 6 months. During this time the relationship of cage number of mouse typhoid bacilli to mortality, total population, and survival time was determined. A single virulence titration of the epidemic strain was made, and at the end of the experiment all survivors were examined for evidence of infection. The following conclusions may be drawn for the data here presented.
1. The available dosage of mouse typhoid bacilli varied directly with the mortality (plus a time constant of 6 to 8 days) and inversely with the survival time.
2. The virulence of the epidemic strain appeared to be practically the same as that of the original stock culture.
3. About 53.5 per cent of the survivors of one epidemic and 68 per cent of those in the other showed, at the end of the experiment, no signs of infection; the others had either specific blood agglutinins, or living bacteria in their heart's blood, spleen, feces, or gall bladder.
4. During the course of the epidemic, the original infecting strain (mouse typhoid Type II—Bacillus pestis caviæ) was almost entirely replaced by an antigenically dissimilar strain (mouse typhoid Type I—Bacillus enteritidis), probably introduced through the inadvertent inclusion of fecal carriers among the normal mice added as contacts.
THE RELATION OF THE THYROID GLAND TO THE SURFACE TENSION OF THE BLOOD PLASMA
Authors: Wilhelmj C. M. , Fleisher Moyer S. 
Published: June 2004

1. Following thyroidectomy in guinea pigs, there is a gradual elevation of the surface tension of the blood plasma which reaches its height in from 19 to 22 days after operation. This elevation is probably permanent, since we have found it to persist for as long as 120 days.
2. In our experiments, we found a few thyroidectomized animals in which the surface tension of the plasma was still within normal limits 24 and 120 days after operation. We suggest that these exceptions are due to three possible factors: (1) incomplete thyroidectomy; (2) presence of accessory thyroid tissue; (3) compensatory activity on the part of other organs.
3. The surface tension of the plasma from operated animals is higher than that from controls in both the initial and 20 minute determinations, but the difference is greater at the 20 minute period.
4. The time-drop (difference between the initial and 20 minute determinations) is somewhat greater in the plasma from normal than in that from operated animals.
5. It is suggested that these changes are due to a decrease in the amount of certain normally occurring surface-active substances, the production of which is directly or indirectly dependent upon the thyroid gland.
THE RELATION OF THE THYROID GLAND TO THE SURFACE TENSION OF THE BLOOD PLASMA
Authors: Wilhelmj C. M. , Fleisher Moyer S. 
Published: June 2004

1. Determinations of the surface tension of blood plasma from guinea pigs, before and after feeding thyroxin, showed in most cases a definite decrease. Out of twenty-seven experimental animals, twenty showed a depression in the surface tension which ranged from 1.9 to 13.9 dynes, with an average of 5 dynes. Six animals showed variations hardly exceeding the limits of experimental error, while one showed an elevation of 1.1 dynes.
2. Six normal control animals, bled on the same days and kept under identical conditions, showed differences in the two determinations which ranged from a decrease of 0.5 to an increase of 0.6 of a dyne. One other control showed a drop of 1 dyne.
3. Two animals which had been fed large quantities of thyroid extract over a period of 10 days, gave values considerably below normal. One of these animals survived, and after 11 days during which no thyroid extract was given, the surface tension was found again to be within normal limits.
4. The hypothesis is advanced that these changes are due to an increase in the amount of certain normally occurring surface-active constituents, which are produced as a result of increased cellular metabolism.