bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment for Breast Cancer in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Gorin Sherri Sheinfeld , Heck Julia E. , Albert Steven , Hershman Dawn 
Published: September 2005

Objectives: To report use of breast cancer treatment (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy) by patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Design: Retrospective cohort study.Setting: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) is a population‐based cancer registry covering 14% of the U.S. population.Participants: Fifty thousand four hundred sixty breast cancer patients aged 65 and older, of whom 1,935 (3.8%) had a diagnosis of AD before or up to 6 months after cancer diagnosis.Measurements: Diagnosis of AD was taken from International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, diagnostic codes accompanying Medicare billing claims between 1992 and 1999. The SEER program reported surgery and radiation. Chemotherapy was taken from Medicare billing records.Results: Subjects with AD were diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages, when tumors were larger and the likelihood of lymph node involvement had increased. Patients with AD had a lower likelihood of surgery (odds ratio (OR)=0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.46–0.81), radiation (OR=0.31, 95% CI=0.23–0.41), and chemotherapy (OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.34–0.58) than those without AD.Conclusion: Overall, AD patients receive less treatment for breast cancer than do comparable female Medicare beneficiaries. Chemotherapy and radiation are administered less frequently to women with AD than to other comparable patients. It is unclear whether suboptimal medical care has an effect on their survival. Further research on the effect of screening and treatment decision‐making for these patients is warranted.
Numerical Investigation of Road Salt Impact on an Urban Wellfield
Authors: Bester M.L. , Frind E.O. , Molson J.W. , Rudolph D.L. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe impact of road salt on a wellfield in a complex glacial moraine aquifer system is studied by numerical simulation. The moraine underlies an extensive urban and industrial landscape, which draws its water supply from >20 wellfields, several of which are approaching or have exceeded the drinking water limit for chloride. The study investigates the mechanisms of road salt infiltration, storage, and transport in the subsurface and assesses the effectiveness of mitigation measures designed to reduce the impact. The three‐dimensional transport model accounts for increases in salt loading, as well as growth of the urbanized area and road network over the past 50 years. The simulations, which focus on one impacted wellfield, show chloride plumes originating mainly at arterial roads and migrating through aquitard windows into the water supply aquifers. The results suggest that the aquifer system contains a large and heterogeneously distributed mass of chloride and that concentrations in the aquifer can be substantially higher than the concentrations in the well water. Future impact scenarios indicate that although the system responds rapidly to reductions in salt loading, the residual chloride mass may take decades to flush out, even if road salting were discontinued. The implications with respect to urban wellfields in typical snow‐belt areas are discussed.
Characterization and Identification of Na‐Cl Sources in Ground Water
Authors: Panno S.V. , Hackley K.C. , Hwang H.H. , Greenberg S.E. , Krapac I.G. , Landsberger S. , O'Kelly D.J. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractElevated concentrations of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl−) in surface and ground water are common in the United States and other countries, and can serve as indicators of, or may constitute, a water quality problem. We have characterized the most prevalent natural and anthropogenic sources of Na+ and Cl− in ground water, primarily in Illinois, and explored techniques that could be used to identify their source. We considered seven potential sources that included agricultural chemicals, septic effluent, animal waste, municipal landfill leachate, sea water, basin brines, and road deicers. The halides Cl−, bromide (Br−), and iodide (I−) were useful indicators of the sources of Na+‐Cl− contamination. Iodide enrichment (relative to Cl−) was greatest in precipitation, followed by uncontaminated soil water and ground water, and landfill leachate. The mass ratios of the halides among themselves, with total nitrogen (N), and with Na+ provided diagnostic methods for graphically distinguishing among sources of Na+ and Cl− in contaminated water. Cl/Br ratios relative to Cl− revealed a clear, although overlapping, separation of sample groups. Samples of landfill leachate and ground water known to be contaminated by leachate were enriched in I− and Br−; this provided an excellent fingerprint for identifying leachate contamination. In addition, total N, when plotted against Cl/Br ratios, successfully separated water contaminated by road salt from water contaminated by other sources.
Two‐Stage Aquifer Pumping Subject to Slow Desorption and Persistent Sources
Authors: Saez Jose A. , Harmon Thomas C. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis work focuses on improving pump‐and‐treat remediation by optimizing a two‐stage operational scheme to reduce volumes extracted when confronted with nonequilibrium desorption, low‐permeability units, and continuous contaminant sources such as non–aqueous phase liquids (NAPL). Q1 and Q2 are the initial short‐term high pumping rate and later long‐term low pumping rate, respectively. A two‐dimensional ground water flow and transport management model was used to test the proposed strategy for plumes developed from finite (NAPL‐free) and continuous (NAPL‐driven) contaminant sources in homogeneous and nonhomogeneous (zoned) aquifers. Remediation scenarios were simulated over durations of 2000, 6000, and 15,000 d to determine (1) the optimal time to switch from a preset Q1 to Q2 and (2) the value of Q2. The problem was constrained by mass removal requirements, maximum allowable downgradient concentrations, and practical bounds on Q2. Q1 was fixed at preset values 50% to 200% higher than the single‐stage pumping rates (i.e., steady pumping rates during entire remediation period) necessary to achieve a desired cleanup level and capture the plume. Results for the NAPL‐free homogeneous case under nonequilibrium desorption conditions achieved the same level of cleanup as single‐stage pumping, while reducing extracted volumes by up to 36%. Comparable savings were obtained with NAPL‐driven sources only when the source concentration was reduced by at least 2 orders of magnitude. For the zoned aquifer, the proposed strategy provided volume savings of up to 24% under NAPL‐free and reduced source conditions.
Nitrogen Loads to Estuaries from Waste Water Plumes: Modeling and Isotopic Approaches
Authors: Kroeger Kevin D. , Cole Marci L. , York Joanna K. , Valiela Ivan 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe developed, and applied in two sites, novel methods to measure ground water–borne nitrogen loads to receiving estuaries from plumes resulting from land disposal of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. In addition, we quantified nitrogen losses from WWTP effluent during transport through watersheds. WWTP load to receiving water was estimated as the difference between total measured ground water–transported nitrogen load and modeled load from major nitrogen sources other than the WWTP. To test estimated WWTP loads, we applied two additional methods. First, we quantified total annual waste water nitrogen load from watersheds based on nitrogen stable isotopic signatures of primary producers in receiving water. Second, we used published data on ground water nitrogen concentrations in an array of wells to estimate dimensions of the plume and quantify the annual mass of nitrogen transported within the plume. Loss of nitrogen during transport through the watershed was estimated as the difference between the annual mass of nitrogen applied to watersheds as treatment plant effluent and the estimated nitrogen load reaching receiving water. In one plume, we corroborated our estimated nitrogen loss in watersheds using data from multiple‐level sampling wells to calculate the loss of nitrogen relative to a conservative tracer. The results suggest that nitrogen from the plumes is discharging to the estuaries but that substantial nitrogen loss occurs during transport through the watersheds. The measured vs. modeled and stable isotopic approaches, in comparison to the plume mapping approach, may more reliably quantify ground water–transported WWTP loads to estuaries.
The Use of Antibiotics for Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: An Analysis of Nurse Practitioner and Physician Prescribing Practices in Ambulatory Care, 1997–2001
Authors: Ladd Elissa 
Published: September 2005

PurposeThere are extensive data that describe the prescriptive behaviors of physicians (MDs) for upper respiratory tract infections; however, there is a paucity of data on the antibiotic‐prescribing patterns of nurse practitioners (NPs). The purpose of this study was to describe and predict factors that are associated with antibiotic prescribing by NPs and MDs for viral upper respiratory infections in the ambulatory setting.Data sourcesThe study utilized a cross‐sectional retrospective design of data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 1997 and 2001. Data were collected on a national probability sample of 506 NP and 13,692 MD visits for patients with nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection, viral pharyngitis, and bronchitis.ConclusionsBivariate analysis found no significant differences in antibiotic prescribing for viral upper respiratory tract infections by NPs (50.4%) and MDs (53%). Broad‐spectrum antibiotics accounted for 36.6% of the NP antibiotic prescriptions and for 33.2% of the MD antibiotic prescriptions. Multivariate analysis identified several clinical and nonclinical factors that are associated with NP antibiotic prescribing. The strongest positive predictors of NP antibiotic prescribing were black race, Medicaid insurance, Northeast region, and diagnoses of viral pharyngitis and bronchitis. The significant negative predictor was Medicaid insurance status. The strongest positive predictors of MD prescribing were viral pharyngitis, bronchitis, and nonantibiotic prescription.Implication for practiceThe excessive use of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections of viral etiology by both NPs and MDs suggests the continuing need for educational initiatives such as “academic detailing” as well as increasing involvement by both groups of providers in the dissemination of clinical guidelines and system‐based quality assurance programs. Also, the lower rate of antibiotic prescribing for viral infections by NPs for patients with Medicaid insurance suggests more appropriate cost‐effective care in this population of patients. More study is needed in general on prescribing by NPs for Medicaid patients. Finally, the strong association of nonclinical factors suggests the need for awareness and improvement of prescribing decisions by both NPs and MDs.
The Benefits of Early Vasoactive Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Albert Nancy M. 
Published: September 2005

PurposeTo review current issues in the management of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), focusing on the early initiation of intravenous (i.v.) vasoactive therapy and including the effects of vasoactive drugs on patient outcomes and the benefits and limitations of each medication class.Data sourcesReview of the worldwide scientific literature on ADHF.ConclusionsThe management of ADHF may be improved by early initiation of i.v. vasoactive therapy, reduced use of inotropic agents, and judicious use of diuretics. Data to date suggest that early treatment with the natriuretic peptide nesiritide reduces duration of hospitalization, in‐hospital mortality, and requirements for i.v. inotropes and diuretics.Implications for practiceAdvance practice nurses play an integral role in the management of patients with ADHF from initial triage in the emergency department through final discharge from the hospital. Because they are typically responsible for administering medications and monitoring patient status, nurses need to be familiar with the benefits and limitations of each class of vasoactive agent. They need to recognize that prompt initiation of i.v. vasodilator therapy is important for improving patient outcomes. Further, advance practice nurses should participate in team management that promotes the use of evidence‐based ADHF care by developing, using, and assertively communicating the need for processes of care that facilitate best practices.
Biomechanics of the head for Olympic boxer punches to the face
Authors: Walilko T J , Viano D C , Bir C A 
Published: September 2005

Objective:The biomechanics of the head for punches to the jaw and the risk of head injury from translational and rotational acceleration were studied.Methods:Seven Olympic boxers from five weight classes delivered 18 straight punches to the frangible face of the Hybrid III dummy. Translational and rotational head acceleration, neck responses, and jaw pressure distribution were measured. High speed video recorded each blow and was used to determine punch velocity. Equilibrium was used to determine punch force, energy transfer, and power.Results:Punch force averaged 3427 (standard deviation (SD) 811) N, hand velocity 9.14 (SD 2.06) m/s, and effective punch mass 2.9 (SD 2.0) kg. Punch force was higher for the heavier weight classes, due primarily to a higher effective mass of the punch. Jaw load was 876 (SD 288) N. The peak translational acceleration was 58 (SD 13)g, rotational acceleration was 6343 (SD 1789) rad/s2, and neck shear was 994 (SD 318) N.Conclusions:Olympic boxers deliver straight punches with high impact velocity and energy transfer. The severity of the punch increases with weight class.
Adult women with mitral valve prolapse are more flexible
Authors: Araújo C G S , Chaves C P G 
Published: September 2005

Background:Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is common in women. Other clinical features such as flexibility and hyperlaxity are often associated with MVP, as there is a common biochemical and histological basis for collagen tissue characteristics, range of joint motion, and mitral leaflet excursion.Objective:To confirm whether adult women with MVP are more flexible and hypermobile than those without.Methods:Data from 125 women (mean age 50 years), 31 of them with MVP, were retrospectively analysed with regard to clinical and kinanthropometric aspects. Passive joint motion was evaluated in 20 body movements using Flexitest and three laxity tests. Flexitest individual movements (0 to 4) and overall Flexindex scores were obtained in all subjects by the same investigator.Results:Women with MVP were lighter, less endomorphic and mesomorphic, and more linear. The Flexindex was significantly higher in the women with MVP, both absolute (48 (1.6)v41 (1.3); p<0.01) and centile for age (67v42; p<0.01) values. In 13 out of 20 movements, the Flexitest scores were significantly higher for the women with MVP. Signs of hyperlaxity were about five times more common in these women: 74%v16% (p<0.01). Scores of 0 and 1 in elbow extension, absence of hyperlaxity, and a Flexindex centile below 65 were almost never found in women with MVP.Conclusion:Flexitest, alone or combined with hyperlaxity tests, may be useful in the assessment of adult women with MVP.
Physique traits of lightweight rowers and their relationship to competitive success
Authors: Slater G J , Rice A J , Mujika I , Hahn A G , Sharpe K , Jenkins D G 
Published: September 2005

Objectives:Physique traits and their relationship to competitive success were assessed amongst lightweight rowers competing at the 2003 Australian Rowing Championships.Methods:Full anthropometric profiles were collected from 107 lightweight rowers (n = 65 males, n = 45 females) competing in the Under 23 and Open age categories. Performance assessments were obtained for 66 of these rowers based on results in the single sculls events. The relationship between physique traits and competitive success was then determined.Results:Lower body fat (heat time estimate −8.4 s kg−1, p<0.01), greater total body mass (heat time estimate −4.4 s kg−1, p = 0.03), and muscle mass (heat time estimate −10.2 s kg−1, p<0.01) were associated with faster 2000 m heat times.Conclusions:The more successful lightweight rowers were those who had lower body fat and greater total muscle mass.
High reproducibility of patellar tendon vascularity assessed by colour Doppler ultrasonography: a reliable measurement tool for quantifying tendon pathology
Authors: Cook J L , Ptazsnik R , Kiss Z S , Malliaras P , Morris M E , De Luca J 
Published: September 2005

Background:This study examined whether patellar tendon vascularity could be quantified accurately in the clinical setting using colour Doppler ultrasonography.Methods:A sonographer and two radiologists visually estimated tendon vascularity in millimetres in 74 tendons during ultrasound (US) examination and from hard copy films. These estimates were then compared to the length of vessels measured from the digital image in millimetres and the correlation between them was determined. A subset of 16 tendons was used to compare the estimates of vascularity by two examiners at US examination.Results:The estimation of vascular length at US examination correlated highly with the measured vascular length (r = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87 to 0.94), as did the length estimated from the films (r = 0.94; 95% CI 0.9 to 0.96). The correlation between examiners was 0.84 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.94) for the estimates made during US examination and 0.85 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.95) for the vessel lengths measured from the digital images.Conclusions:These excellent correlations indicate that tendon vascularity can be reliably estimated using colour Doppler ultrasonography and tendon vascularity could therefore be used by clinicians to rate clinical change. This method of quantifying tendon vascularity could also be used in research to investigate the effects of tendon treatments on vascularity.
Characterising the individual performance responses to mild illness in international swimmers
Authors: Pyne D B , Hopkins W G , Batterham A M , Gleeson M , Fricker P A 
Published: September 2005

Objectives:To determine individual differences in the impact of illness on the change in performance of swimmers in international competitions.Methods:Subjects were members of the Australian swimming team(33 male and 39 female, aged 15–27 years). Swimmers provided a weekly seven day recall of symptoms of illness during final six weeks of preparations for international competition over a three year period. Swimmers were categorised as either ill (one or more episodes of illness) or healthy. The measure of performances was the international point score. Mean changes in points score were calculated for healthy and ill swimmers between a national championship and an international competition (∼16 weeks later). Likelihoods of substantial effects of illness on an individual’s true change in performance (beneficial/trivial/harmful) were estimated from means and standard deviations, assuming a smallest substantial change of 6 points.Results:Illness was reported before international performances by 38% of female and 35% of male swimmers. For female swimmers the change in performance was −3.7 (21.5) points (mean (SD)) with illness and −2.6 (19.0) points when healthy; for male swimmers the changes were −1.4 (17.5) points with illness and 5.6 (13.2) points when healthy. The likelihoods that illness had a substantial beneficial/trivial/harmful effect on performance of an individual swimmer were 32%/31%/37% for female and 17%/31%/52% for male participants (90% confidence limits ∼±10% to 20%).Conclusions:Although mild illness had only a trivial mean effect on female swimmers and a small harmful mean effect on male swimmers, there were substantial chances of benefit and harm for individuals.
Thyroid Diseases and Cerebrovascular Disease
Authors: Squizzato A. , Gerdes V.E.A. , Brandjes D.P.M. , Büller H.R. , Stam J. 
Published: September 2005

Background and Purpose—Acute cerebral ischemia has been described in different diseases of the thyroid gland, and not only as a result of thyrotoxic atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke. The purpose of this review is to summarize the studies on the relationship between thyroid diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, discussing the main findings for overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, as well as for subclinical thyroid dysfunction.Summary of Review—In overt hyperthyroidism, cardioembolic stroke is clearly associated to thyrotoxic atrial fibrillation, and in subclinical hyperthyroidism with serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels <0.1 mU/L, the incidence of atrial fibrillation is increased. Although in vitro and in vivo studies indicate a hypercoagulability state in hyperthyroidism, there is insufficient evidence to prove that this state leads to an increased risk of cardiac emboli. However, the hypothesis that overt hyperthyroidism may cause acute cerebral venous thrombosis is intriguing. Possible associations between hyperthyroidism and Moyamoya or Giant cell arteritis have only been described in case reports. There is enough evidence that overt hypothyroidism is associated with several traditional and newer atherosclerotic risk factors, especially hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperhomocysteinemia. For subclinical hypothyroidism, these associations are less certain. Hypothyroidism has been associated with signs of aortic or coronary atherosclerosis, but no case-control or cohort studies have ever investigated hypothyroidism as a possible risk factor for atherothrombotic stroke.Conclusions—Hyperthyroidism is associated with atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke. Hypothyroidism is associated with a worse cardiovascular risk factor profile and leads to progression of atherosclerosis. Associations between hyperthyroidism and acute cerebral venous thrombosis, Moyamoya, and Giant cell arteritis have been suggested, but sound evidence is lacking. Additional studies are needed to clarify these issues.
Indoor Deposition and Forced Re-suspension of Respirable Particles
Authors: Miguel António F. , Aydin Murat , Reis A. Heitor 
Published: September 2005

The rate at which particles deposit and re-suspend from indoor surfaces is an essential parameter in determining human exposure to aerosol particles. In this study, we investigate experimentally particle deposition and forced re-suspension in a cubical enclosure for three particle sizes (0.7, 1.5 and 4 m). For particle deposition, the results are presented in terms of particle deposition velocity. It was observed that the particle deposition velocity is particularly significant for the floor surface. Deposition on vertical and ceiling surfaces becomes important only when these surfaces are electrically charged. Air humidity did not influence the particle deposition apart from when it was close to saturation. Re-suspension of particles from the floor surface due to household activities was also studied. It was observed that small particles are more difficult to detach from the floor than bigger ones. Besides, there is a pressure above which re-suspension is very likely to occur (minimum re-suspension pressure). This minimum pressure is dependent on the particle size.