bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Heat Treatment on Joint Properties of Laser‐Welded Ag‐Au‐Cu‐Pd and Co‐Cr Alloys
Authors: Watanabe Ikuya , Benson Andrew P. , Nguyen Khoi 
Published: September 2005

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of heat treatment on the strengths of laser‐welded cast Ag‐Au‐Cu‐Pd and Co‐Cr alloys.
Materials and Methods: Cast plates of Ag‐Au‐Cu‐Pd (Ag) and Co‐Cr (Co) alloys were prepared. After polishing the surfaces to be welded, the plates were matched and butted Ag to Ag (Ag/Ag), Co to Co (Co/Co), and Ag to Co (Ag/Co) and welded using Nd:YAG laser at a pulse duration of 10 ms, spot diameter of 1 mm, and voltage of 200 V. Five specimens were prepared for each experimental condition by bilaterally welding them with five spots. The Ag/Ag, Ag/Co, and control Ag underwent two heat treatments—softening (ST) and hardening (AH). A group of as‐cast specimens serving as controls was not given either heat treatment. The failure load and percent elongation were measured at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min.
Results: The fracture resistance of Co/Co was similar to that of the control Co, while the fracture resistance of Co/Ag was significantly lower than that of both like alloy pairings for all heat‐treating conditions. The control Ag had greater fracture resistance after AH and lower fracture resistance after ST. The AH treatment increased the fracture resistance, and the ST treatment decreased the fracture resistance of both Ag/Ag and Co/Ag, although not significantly. The percentage of elongation appeared to positively correlate with the fracture resistance results.
Conclusions: The results obtained in this study indicated that the age‐hardening heat treatment increased the weld strength between the paired Au‐Ag‐Cu‐Pd alloys and between the Au‐Ag‐Cu‐Pd and Co‐Cr alloys.
Ophthalmological adverse effects of (chiropractic) upper spinal manipulation: evidence from recent case reports
Authors: Ernst Edzard 
Published: September 2005

Abstract.Objective:  Upper spinal manipulation (USM) is frequently used by chiropractors and other health care professionals to treat minor complaints. This systematic review aimed to summarize ophthalmological adverse effects of USM recently reported in the medical literature. Methods:  Five electronic databases were searched for all case reports of ophthalmological adverse effects after USM published between January 1995 and April 2003. No language restrictions were applied. Key data from the primary publications thus located were extracted and critically evaluated. Results:  Fourteen case reports were found. Clinical symptoms and signs were diverse and included loss of vision, ophthalmoplegia, diplopia and Horner's syndrome. The underlying mechanism was arterial wall dissection in most cases. The eventual outcome varied and often included permanent deficits. Causality was frequently deemed likely or certain. Conclusion:  Upper spinal manipulation is associated with ophthalmological adverse effects of unknown frequency. Ophthalmologists should be aware of its risks. Rigorous investigations must be conducted to establish reliable incidence figures.
Intraocular pressure control after clear corneal phacoemulsification in eyes with previous trabeculectomy: a controlled study
Authors: Inal Asli , Bayraktar Sükrü , Inal Berkay , Bayraktar Zerrin , Yilmaz Ömer Faruk 
Published: September 2005

Abstract.Purpose:  To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) control in eyes with or without clear corneal phacoemulsification following trabeculectomy. Methods:  The study group included 30 eyes that underwent uneventful clear corneal phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation following trabeculectomy without antimetabolites. Thirty eyes that had undergone filtering surgery without cataract extraction were selected as controls. Case and control groups were matched with respect to age, gender, IOP, number of glaucoma medications, glaucoma type (primary open‐angle glaucoma/ pseudoexfoliative glaucoma), trabeculectomy time and follow‐up. Comparisons between the study and control groups (intergroup) and within the same group at different time‐points (intragroup) were performed for IOP, glaucoma medications and bleb morphology. Success rates were investigated by Kaplan−Meier survival analysis and the factors influencing final success by logistic regression. Results:  Intraocular pressure (p = 0.04) and glaucoma medications (p = 0.001) increased during an average follow‐up of 26.1 ± 9.9 months in both groups. Intragroup differences became statistically significant after the 6‐month visit, but intergroup differences remained insignificant. Bleb height decreased significantly following phacoemulsification in the study group (p = 0.017). Success rates decreased with time in both groups, with no intergroup difference (p = 0.46). The final success rate was negatively correlated with IOP and number of glaucoma medications used at the study entry, while there was a positive correlation between the baseline and final success rates. Conclusion:  Trabeculectomy success decreased in a time‐dependent manner in eyes with and without subsequent phacoemulsification. Uncomplicated clear corneal phacoemulsification was not found to have any additional unfavorable influence on IOP control in eyes with filtering blebs.
Can the prevalence of open‐angle glaucoma be estimated from a retrospective clinical material? A study on the west coast of Iceland
Authors: Jóhannesson Gauti , Guðmundsdóttir Guðrún J. , Lindén Christina 
Published: September 2005

Abstract.Purpose: To explore the possibility of estimating the prevalence of open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) on the west coast of Iceland using a clinical retrospective material, and to compare that estimate with the results from a recent prospective Icelandic study.Methods: The compulsory ophthalmological examination for the prescription of eye glasses in combination with information obtained from Statistics Iceland were used to establish the prevalence of glaucoma in Akranes and to estimate the minimum prevalence for the greater west coast area. A recent prospective study from Iceland was used as reference.Results: In all, 79% of 1443 Akranes inhabitants aged 50 years or more had visited the eye clinic at least once between 1996 and 2001. The prevalence of OAG was 4.8% (95% CI 3.6–6.1). The minimum prevalence for the west coast was 3.8% (95% CI 3.2–4.4). The prevalence increased with age (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence was similar to that of recently published prospective data but the prevalence of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) was lower.Conclusion: The results from the two studies are similar in many respects, which indicates that retrospective data may supply meaningful information on glaucoma prevalence. Important sources of error are the selection and attendance of patients, screening methods and diagnostic criteria. If routine examination does not include fundus photography and/or perimetry, the prevalence of NTG will be underestimated.
The effects of structures on decision‐making policies in health care
Authors: Tuulonen Anja 
Published: September 2005

Abstract.Background:  There is plenty of evidence in the literature indicating how difficult it is to recognize, question and eventually change our current mental models of the structures and decision‐making processes in health care. The citizens of western countries are offered more health care services than ever and report themselves to be somatically healthier than ever. Paradoxically, many health care systems claim to be in a state of crisis, for which the cure is believed to more services and more money. Growth is a major feature of modern medicine and most people assume that more medical care must lead to improved health and wellbeing. However, adding more resources and more health care may also have counterintuitive effects. Objective:  This perspective describes common phenomena seen in our health care structures and searches for reports and results that may challenge some of the ‘self‐evident’ solutions to these problems. Results and Discussion:  Most organizations and systems learn poorly and it is difficult to recognize how we contribute to our own problems and crisis. Even if the evidence has been apparent for decades, it may simply be ignored or rejected when it is inconsistent with the underlying beliefs. Learning seems to be associated more with attitudes and mental models than with evidence. As we are part of the health care structure, we share responsibility for problems generated by the system. It is time for health care professionals to study and question the efficacy of our current paradigms and practices.
Neuronal versus glial cell swelling in the ischaemic retina
Authors: Bringmann Andreas , Uckermann Ortrud , Pannicke Thomas , Iandiev Ianors , Reichenbach Andreas , Wiedemann Peter 
Published: September 2005

Abstract.Under normal conditions, the pigment epithelium dehydrates the outer retina while Müller glial cells mediate the rapid water transport within the inner retina. Gliotic alterations of Müller cells may be implicated in the development of oedema in the post‐ischaemic retina. Here, we suggest a mechanism of Müller cell‐supported neuronal cell swelling and apoptosis in the ischaemic retina. During ischaemia, over‐excitation of ionotropic glutamate receptors leads to neuronal cell depolarization that causes excess Ca2+influx into the cells, and to activation of the apoptosis machinery. The ion fluxes into the retinal neurons are associated with water movements that are mediated by aquaporin‐4 water channels expressed by Müller cells and result in neuronal cell swelling. After reperfusion, the glial cells may swell due to the down‐regulation of their K+conductance, which results in intracellular K+overload and water movements from the blood and vitreous into the cells. An inhibition of the glial cell‐mediated water movements during ischaemic episodes should reduce the ion shifts at the neuronal synapses, resulting in decreased neuronal cell swelling and apoptosis. An inhibition of the water movements in the post‐ischaemic phase may prevent cytotoxic Müller cell swelling but may impair the fluid clearance from retinal tissue in the presence of vasogenic oedema. Thus, pharmacological modification of the ion and fluid clearance functions of Müller cells may become a novel way to resolve both cytotoxic and vasogenic oedema in the retina.
The stellar halo metallicity—luminosity relationship for spiral galaxies
Authors: Renda Agostino , Gibson Brad K. , Mouhcine Mustapha , Ibata Rodrigo A. , Kawata Daisuke , Flynn Chris , Brook Chris B. 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
The stellar haloes of spiral galaxies bear important chemodynamical signatures of galaxy formation. We present here the analysis of 89 semi-cosmological spiral galaxy simulations, spanning ∼4 mag in total galactic luminosity. These simulations sample a wide variety of merging histories and show significant dispersion in halo metallicity at a given total luminosity — more than a factor of 10 in metallicity. Our preliminary analysis suggests that galaxies with a more extended merging history possess haloes which have younger and more metal-rich stellar populations than the stellar haloes associated with galaxies with a more abbreviated assembly. A correlation between a halo's metallicity and its surface brightness has also been found, reflecting the correlation between halo metallicity and its stellar mass. Our simulations are compared with recent Hubble Space Telescope observations of resolved stellar haloes in nearby spirals.
Potential for Satellite Remote Sensing of Ground Water
Authors: Becker Matthew W. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractPredicting hydrologic behavior at regional scales requires heterogeneous data that are often prohibitively expensive to acquire on the ground. As a result, satellite‐based remote sensing has become a powerful tool for surface hydrology. Subsurface hydrology has yet to realize the benefits of remote sensing, even though surface expressions of ground water can be monitored from space. Remotely sensed indicators of ground water may provide important data where practical alternatives are not available. The potential for remote sensing of ground water is explored here in the context of active and planned satellite‐based sensors. Satellite technology is reviewed with respect to its ability to measure ground water potential, storage, and fluxes. It is argued here that satellite data can be used if ancillary analysis is used to infer ground water behavior from surface expressions. Remotely sensed data are most useful where they are combined with numerical modeling, geographic information systems, and ground‐based information.
Determination of Transverse Dispersion Coefficients from Reactive Plume Lengths
Authors: Cirpka Olaf A. , Olsson Åsa , Ju Qingsong , Rahman Md. Arifur , Grathwohl Peter 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWith most existing methods, transverse dispersion coefficients are difficult to determine. We present a new, simple, and robust approach based on steady‐state transport of a reacting agent, introduced over a certain height into the porous medium of interest. The agent reacts with compounds in the ambient water. In our application, we use an alkaline solution injected into acidic ambient water. Threshold values of pH are visualized by adding standard pH indicators. Since aqueous‐phase acid‐base reactions can be considered practically instantaneous and the only process leading to mixing of the reactants is transverse dispersion, the length of the plume is controlled by the ratio of transverse dispersion to advection. We use existing closed‐form expressions for multidimensional steady‐state transport of conservative compounds in order to evaluate the concentration distributions of the reacting compounds. Based on these results, we derive an easy‐to‐use expression for the length of the reactive plume; it is proportional to the injection height squared, times the velocity, and inversely proportional to the transverse dispersion coefficient. Solving this expression for the transverse dispersion coefficient, we can estimate its value from the length of the alkaline plume. We apply the method to two experimental setups of different dimension. The computed transverse dispersion coefficients are rather small. We conclude that at slow but realistic ground water velocities, the contribution of effective molecular diffusion to transverse dispersion cannot be neglected. This results in plume lengths that increase with increasing velocity.
Dementia and Driving: Autonomy Versus Safety
Authors: Snyder Charlene Hoffman 
Published: September 2005

PurposeThis article reviews the effects of various types of dementia on driving skills, the available assessment measures, legal considerations, and the important role played by the nurse practitioner (NP) in the process of recommending driving cessation. It provides strategies and resources that may offer guidance to NPs who are attempting to balance the continued independence of patients with dementia, as represented by driving, with the safety not only of such patients but also of the public at large.Data sourcesA review of the biomedical literature, resources available on the World Wide Web, and illustrative case studies were used.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of dementia alone is often insufficient to determine driver competence because the topographic losses of dementia are complex. Recognizing when cessation should occur is made more difficult because objective assessment tools do not exist to predict impaired driving skills. Recommending driving cessation at the appropriate time can be a challenge for NPs, who must balance such a significant impact on the driver's autonomy with concerns about public safety if the patient continues to drive despite progressive impairment.Implications for practiceThe progressive loss of cognitive abilities in dementia presents a series of ongoing challenges for the patient throughout the disease continuum. Unfortunately, the recommendation to stop driving can present one of the more immediate issues confronting the patient, the family, and the healthcare provider. Failure to assess diminished driving skill can lead either to premature or to delayed driving cessation. Either outcome can have adverse effects on the patient, the patient's family, and public safety.
The Development of Health Care–Seeking Behaviors in Traditional‐Age Undergraduate College Students
Authors: Nicoteri Jo Ann , Arnold Elizabeth C. 
Published: September 2005

PurposeTraditional‐age undergraduate college students are embarking into the world of autonomous decision making. These decisions encompass not only academics but also lifestyle and lifeskills. One of the lifeskill areas in which students have difficulty is seeking health care independently. The aim of this pilot study is to gather qualitative data to help illuminate the process of the development of health care–seeking behaviors in traditional‐age undergraduate college students (18–23 years).Data sourceA purposive focus group sample of eight traditional‐age undergraduate college students was recruited from a private university in the northeastern United States.ConclusionsFive major themes emerged: needing help or care, expectations, decision making, healthcare accessibility, and future needs. Health care for these student participants is expected upon demand by them in this “age of convenience.”Implications for PracticeThe findings indicate these traditional‐age undergraduate college students view themselves as independent but still rely on parental supervision of health care. Implications for providing primary health care for this generation may include marketing strategies to meet this perspective of “24‐7” care based upon this limited focus group, but further expanded studies are needed for generalizations.
Factors Contributing to Low Weight in Community‐Living Older Adults
Authors: Martin Carolyn T. , Kayser‐Jones Jeanie , Stotts Nancy A. , Porter Carol , Froelicher Erika Sivarajan 
Published: September 2005

PurposeTo investigate the factors that influence the dietary practices and eating patterns of low‐weight, community‐living older adults (aged 65 and older) and to examine the nutritional advice given to them by healthcare providers (HCPs) (e.g., nurse practitioner, medical doctor).Data sourcesA qualitative approach was used to study a convenience sample of older women. Semistructured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis and open coding were used to analyze data.ConclusionsEating alone, social isolation, and stressors are the main reasons reported by participants for low weight. Data gathered in this study provide important insights into possible reasons for low weight in community‐living older adults.Implication for practiceAs HCPs, it is important to bring low weight to the attention of older adults and educate them regarding appropriate weight for their age (body mass index [BMI] range >21 to <27 kg/m2 for age 65 and older), to understand that older adults with a BMI of <24 may be at increased risk for poor nutritional status, and to weigh older adults at each office visit to assess change in BMI. Small changes in eating patterns and food intake can potentially play an important role in stabilizing weight. Strategies that address eating alone, social isolation, and stressors need to be pursued.
Novel, Single-Dose Microsphere Formulation of Azithromycin versus 7-Day Levofloxacin Therapy for Treatment of Mild to Moderate Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults
Authors: D'Ignazio Joseph , Camere Marco A. , Lewis Drew E. , Jorgensen Daniel , Breen Jeanne D. 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACT

This randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study was designed to demonstrate that a single 2.0-g oral dose of a novel microsphere formulation of azithromycin was at least as effective as 7 days of levofloxacin, 500 mg/day, in the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia (Fine classes I, II, and III). In total, 427 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a single 2.0-g dose of azithromycin microspheres (
n
= 213) or a 7-day regimen of levofloxacin (
n
= 214). At baseline, 219 of 423 (51.8%) treated subjects had at least one pathogen identified by culture, PCR, or serology. The primary end point was the clinical response (cure or failure) in the “clinical per protocol” population at test of cure (days 13 to 24). Clinical cure rates were 89.7% (156 of 174) for azithromycin microspheres and 93.7% (177 of 189) for levofloxacin (treatment difference, −4.0%; 95% confidence interval, −9.7%, 1.7%). Bacteriologic success at test of cure in the “bacteriologic per protocol” population was 90.7% (97 of 107) for azithromycin microspheres and 92.3% (120 of 130) for levofloxacin (treatment difference, −1.7%; 95% confidence interval, −8.8%, 5.5%). Both treatment regimens were well tolerated; the incidence of treatment-related adverse events was 19.9% and 12.3% for azithromycin and levofloxacin, respectively. A single 2.0-g dose of azithromycin microspheres was at least as effective as a 7-day course of levofloxacin in the treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia in adult outpatients.
Molecular Characterization of Isoniazid-Resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Isolates Collected in Australia
Authors: Lavender Caroline , Globan Maria , Sievers Aina , Billman-Jacobe Helen , Fyfe Janet 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACT

Elucidation of the molecular basis of isoniazid (INH) resistance in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
has led to the development of different genotypic approaches for the rapid detection of INH resistance in clinical isolates. Mutations in
katG
, in particular the S315T substitution, are responsible for INH resistance in a large proportion of tuberculosis cases. However, the frequency of the
katG
S315T substitution varies with population samples. In this study, 52 epidemiologically unrelated clinical INH-resistant
M. tuberculosis
isolates collected in Australia were screened for mutations at
katG
codon 315 and the
fabG1
-
inhA
regulatory region. Importantly, 52 INH-sensitive isolates, selected to reflect the geographic and genotypic diversity of the isolates, were also included for comparison. The
katG
S315T substitution and
fabG1
-
inhA
−15 C-to-T mutation were identified in 34 and 13 of the 52 INH-resistant isolates, respectively, and none of the INH-sensitive isolates. Three novel
katG
mutations, D117A, M257I, and G491C, were identified in three INH-resistant strains with a wild-type
katG
codon 315,
fabG1
-
inhA
regulatory region, and
inhA
structural gene. When analyzed for possible associations between resistance mechanisms, resistance phenotype, and genotypic groups, it was found that neither the
katG
S315T nor
fabG1
-
inhA
−15 C-to-T mutation clustered with any one genotypic group, but that the −15 C-to-T substitution was associated with isolates with intermediate INH resistance and isolates coresistant to ethionamide. In total, 90.4% of unrelated INH-resistant isolates could be identified by analysis of just two loci:
katG315
and the
fabG1
-
inh
A regulatory region.