bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Criminal records and college admissions: A modified experimental audit
Authors: Stewart Robert , Uggen Christopher 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn this article, we consider the effect of criminal records on college admissions. Nearly 72 percent of colleges require criminal history information during their application processes, which indicates that an applicant's criminal history could be a significant impediment to achieving the benefits associated with higher education. We conducted a modified experimental audit to learn whether and to what extent criminal records affect admissions decisions. Matched same‐race pairs of tester applications were sent to a national sample of nonelite 4‐year colleges, with both testers applying as either Black or White. Within each pair, one application signaled a prior low‐level felony conviction only when required by the application. Consistent with the findings of research on employment, we find the rejection rate for applicants with felony convictions was nearly 2.5 times the rate of our control testers. Relative to the large racial differences observed in previous studies of hiring decisions, we find smaller racial differences in admissions decisions. Nevertheless, Black applicants with criminal records were particularly penalized when disclosing a felony record at colleges with high campus crime rates. We address implications for reentry, racial progress, and the college “Ban the Box” movement. We suggest colleges consider narrowing the scope of such inquiries or removing the question altogether – particularly when it conflicts with the goals of these institutions, including reducing the underrepresentation of students of color.”
Documented brief intervention associated with reduced linkage to specialty addictions treatment in a national sample of VA patients with unhealthy alcohol use with and without alcohol use disorders
Authors: Frost Madeline C. , Glass Joseph E. , Bradley Katharine A. , Williams Emily C. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackground and aimsAlcohol screening, brief intervention (BI) and referral to treatment is often considered stepped care, such that BI with referral links patients to treatment. A meta‐analysis of randomized trials found no evidence that BI increases treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aimed to determine whether BI is associated with receipt of treatment for AUD among patients receiving BI as part of routine care.DesignRegression analysis.SettingUS Veterans Health Administration (VA), in which BI is supported by performance measurement and electronic clinical reminders.ParticipantsVA outpatients with positive Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption screens (≥ 5) (n = 830,825) documented nationally from 1 October 2009 to 30 May 2013.MeasurementsRegression models estimated the prevalence of receiving VA specialty addictions treatment within 0–365 days for patients with documented BI (advice to reduce/abstain within 0–14 days) compared to those without. Models clustered on patient and adjusted for demographics and mental health and substance use conditions were fit among all patients and stratified across documented past‐year AUD diagnosis. Multiple secondary analyses assessed robustness of findings, including assessing repeated BI as a predictor.FindingsAmong 830,825 VA outpatients with unhealthy alcohol use (1,172,606 positive screens), documented BI was associated with lower likelihood of receiving VA specialty addictions treatment [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83–0.84]. Associations were similar for those with and without AUD (aIRR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.82–0.84 and aIRR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.83–0.88, respectively) and in most secondary analyses. However, among patients without AUD, documentation of more than one BI was associated with greater likelihood of treatment relative to no BI (aIRR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.68–1.83).ConclusionsIn a national sample of US Veterans Health Administration patients with unhealthy alcohol use, documented brief intervention for alcohol use was associated with lower likelihood of receiving specialty addictions treatment regardless of alcohol use disorder diagnosis.
Diversity and community structure of bats (Chiroptera) in the Centre Region of Cameroon
Authors: Waghiiwimbom Mbeng Donatus , Eric‐Moise Bakwo Fils , Jules Atagana Patrick , Aimé Tsague Kenfack Joseph , Tamesse Joseph Lebel 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIn this survey, we investigated the diversity and community structure of bats in the Centre Region of Cameroon with respect to their distribution in the different vegetation zones of the region. We mist‐netted bats monthly from January 2016 to June 2017 for five nonconsecutive nights per month. Thirty‐nine sites were surveyed: 24 in traditional farms, nine in the savannah and six in the forests. A total of 668 bats were captured during 81 nights of capture, covering seven families, 21 genera and 36 species. This included 26 species in traditional farms, 13 species in savannah and 11 species in the forest.Micropteropus pusilluswas the most abundant species (30.7%) recorded, followed byHipposideros ruber(24.9%). The sample efficiency was estimated at 72.1% with fitted species accumulation curves not reaching asymptotes for the three habitat types, suggesting that the survey did not record all the bats present. There was an indication of general increased in abundance of bats during the dry and rainy seasons but it is not significant (Mann–WhitneyU: 783.5,p = .195). The rarity index was highest in traditional farms (0.44), followed by savannah (0.38) and then forest (0.33). This preliminary survey provides baseline data on the distribution of bats in the different vegetation types in the Centre Region of Cameroon.
Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide may affect the endothelial barrier and IL‐10 expression of apolipoprotein B100‐pulsed dendritic cells
Authors: Chalubinski Maciej , Wojdan Katarzyna , Luczak Emilia , Gorzelak‐Pabis Paulina , Kluszczynska Katarzyna , Borowiec Maciej , Gajewski Adrian , Rudnicka Karolina , Chmiela Magdalena , Broncel Marlena 
Published: October 2019

Atherogenesis is associated with chronic gut infections; however, the mechanisms are not clear. The aim of the study was to determine whether lipopolysaccharide of E. coli (E. coli LPS) may affect endothelial barrier and modify IL‐10 expression in dendritic cells (DCs). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and monocyte‐derived DCs were treated with E. coli LPS, apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100) and 7‐ketocholesterol (7‐kCH) – harmful oxidized form of cholesterol. The effect of E. coli LPS, 7‐kCH and ApoB100 on the barrier functions of HUVECs in real‐time cell electric impedance sensing system (RTCA‐DP) was assessed. Furthermore, the effect of 7‐kCH and ApoB100 on barrier functions of HUVECs co‐cultured with DCs previously treated with LPS was analyzed. Both E. coli LPS and 7‐kCH decreased barrier functions of HUVECs and reduced tight junction protein mRNA expression, whereas ApoB100 increased endothelial barrier. In DCs, ApoB100 and E. coli LPS decreased IL‐10 mRNA expression. In HUVECs co‐cultured with DCs treated with LPS and subsequently pulsed with ApoB100 or 7‐kCH, IL‐10 mRNA expression was lower. E. coli LPS‐exposed DCs diminished the protective effect of ApoB100 on endothelial integrity and led to the decrease in occludin mRNA expression. LPS potentially derived from gut microflora may destabilize endothelial barrier together with oxidized cholesterol and intensify the immunogenicity of ApoB100.
The Shock Index is not accurate at predicting outcomes in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Saffouri Eliana , Blackwell Clare , Laursen Stig B. , Laine Loren , Dalton Harry R. , Ngu Jing , Shultz Michael , Norton Rebecca , Stanley Adrian J. 
Published: October 2019

SummaryBackgroundAcute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) remains a major cause of hospital admission worldwide. The recent UK National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) report on severe gastrointestinal bleeding used the Shock Index to assess bleeding severity and found an association between Shock Index and mortality. However, this has never been prospectively validated as a predictor of outcome in UGIB.AimsTo compare the Shock Index with existing pre‐endoscopic UGIB risk scores in predicting outcomes after UGIBMethodsIn an international, prospective study of 3012 consecutive patients with UGIB, we compared the Shock Index with existing scores including the Glasgow Blatchford score (GBS), admission Rockall score, AIMS65, and the newly described “ABC” score. Pre‐determined endpoints were need for major (≥4 units red cells) transfusion, need for endoscopic therapy and 30‐day mortality.ResultsThe Shock Index was inferior to the GBS in predicting need for major transfusion (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.655 vs 0.836, P < 0.001) and need for endotherapy (AUROC 0.606 vs 0.747, P < 0.001). The Shock Index was inferior to all other scores for 30‐day mortality: for example, AUROC 0.611 vs 0.863 for ABC score (P < 0.001). Adding the Shock Index to the ABC score did not improve accuracy of the ABC score in predicting mortality (AUROC 0.864 vs 0.863, P = 0.95).ConclusionThe Shock Index performed poorly with AUROCs <0.66 and was inferior to existing pre‐endoscopy scores at predicting major clinical endpoints after UGIB. We found no clear evidence that the Shock Index is clinically useful at predicting outcomes in UGIB.[Correction added on 20 December 2019, after first online publication: Summary section has been changed for clarification.]
Effect of a prospective opioid reduction intervention on opioid prescribing and use after radical prostatectomy: results of the Opioid Reduction Intervention for Open, Laparoscopic, and Endoscopic Surgery (ORIOLES) Initiative
Authors: Patel Hiten D. , Faisal Farzana A. , Patel Neil D. , Pavlovich Christian P. , Allaf Mohamad E. , Han Misop , Herati Amin S. 
Published: October 2019

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of a prospective opioid reduction intervention after radical prostatectomy (RP; based on a surgery‐specific guideline and education) on post‐discharge opioid prescribing, use, disposal, and need for additional opioid medication.Patients and MethodsA prospective, non‐randomised, pre–post interventional trial of patients undergoing RP for prostate cancer (August 2017–November 2018) was conducted as part of the Opioid Reduction Intervention for Open, Laparoscopic, and Endoscopic Surgery (ORIOLES) Initiative. An evidence‐based intervention including: a discharge sheet, nursing education, and standardised prescribing guideline, was applied with the primary outcome of total oral morphine equivalents (OMEQ) used after RP. Secondary outcomes included opioid prescribing, opioid disposal, need for additional opioid medication, and presence of incisional/post‐surgical abdominal pain at 30 days after RP.ResultsA total of 214 (Pre‐Intervention arm) and 229 (Post‐Intervention arm) adult patients were enrolled (100% follow‐up). The intervention reduced post‐discharge opioid prescribing (from 224.3 to 120.3 mg; −46.4%, P = 0.01), reduced opioid use (from 52.1 to 38.3 mg; −26.5%, P < 0.01), and increased opioid disposal (+13.5%, P < 0.01). Greater prescribing of opioids at discharge, higher body mass index, and use of opioid medication prior to surgery, were independently associated with greater post‐discharge opioid use, while history of a chronic pain diagnosis was not statistically significant. In the Post‐Intervention cohort, 2.2% of patients needed additional medication for post‐surgical pain (0.9% obtained a prescription) and 1.3% initiated long‐term use.ConclusionsA prospective, evidence‐based intervention reduced post‐discharge opioid prescribing and use, while increasing disposal after RP. Risk factors for increased opioid use were identified. The results support expanding the use of evidence‐based opioid reduction interventions to other surgical specialties.
Aggression in the Australian night time economy: A comparison of alcohol only versus alcohol and illicit drug consumption
Authors: Norman Thomas , Peacock Amy , Bruno Raimondo , Chan Gary , Morgan Anthony , Voce Isabella , Droste Nicolas , Taylor Nicholas , Coomber Kerri , Miller Peter G. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroduction and AimsAssociations between substance use and aggression may be amplified by simultaneous alcohol and illicit drug use. This study aims to compare differences in involvement in past aggression between people who use different substances while accounting for broader risk propensity.Design and MethodsSelf‐reported data on past three‐month involvement in verbal and physical aggression (victim or perpetrator) were drawn from interviews conducted in night‐time entertainment districts in seven Australian cities (n = 5078). Using inverse probability of treatment weighting techniques, participants who reported alcohol versus alcohol and illicit drug use on the night of interview (including ecstasy, cannabis and other illicit stimulant subgroups) were weighted on the basis of drug use risk covariates (e.g. alcohol consumed, gender) to determine differences in involvement in aggression involvement.ResultsAfter weighting for covariates, individuals who reported consuming any illicit drug + alcohol and ecstasy + alcohol combinations were more likely to be involved in physical (33% and 105%, respectively) and verbal (36% and 116%, respectively) aggression in the previous 3‐months when compared to those who consumed alcohol only. Cannabis + alcohol and other illicit stimulant + alcohol combinations were no more likely to be involved in either forms of aggression.Discussion and ConclusionsThe likelihood of having been involved in past aggressive incidents was higher among those who reported any illicit drug + alcohol and ecstasy + alcohol combinations than those who reported alcohol exclusively, after accounting for covariates. These findings highlight individuals that may benefit most from the development of tailored health promotion/preventative safety interventions in night‐time settings.
Nature and history of the CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines and implications for local implementation: A perspective from East Africa
Authors: Barugahare John , Kutyabami Paul 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe theme of the 10th Annual Research Ethics Conference organized by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (2018) was “Evolution of Research Ethics in Uganda and the Region: Past, Present and Future”. We were asked to address the topic: “The History of CIOMS and the recent changes in the international ethics guidelines: implications for local research”. The thrust of the conference was to track progress in ensuring ethical conduct of research, highlight challenges encountered, and to propose strategies for effective and meaningful implementation of international ethical guidelines in local contexts. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to comment on the implications of the history of CIOMS ethical guidelines and suggest strategies for their effective and meaningful implementation in the East African region, and perhaps the whole of Sub‐Saharan Africa. Inferring from the ‘evolutionary’, ‘flexible’, and ‘general’ nature of the CIOMS guidelines, we proposed a six‐point strategy for ensuring their effective and meaningful implementation in local contexts. This strategy is in the form of obligations for local research regulators and researchers, the fulfillment of which will go a long way towards their smooth and meaningful implementation in local contexts. These obligations are: ensuring evidence‐based adaptation of each individual guideline; ensuring sufficiently judicious and motivated RECs membership; acting proactively to ensure harmony between bioethics and local legal regimes; cultivating a ‘bioethics culture’ among the public; moving towards regional bioethics governance; and playing an active and meaningful role in future revisions of these guidelines.
Drivers of the beta diversity of spider assemblages in southern Brazilian temporary wetlands
Authors: de Ávila Arthur C. , Pires Mateus M. , Rodrigues Everton N.L. , Costi José A.R. , Stenert Cristina , Maltchik Leonardo 
Published: October 2019

1. The composition of local assemblages is assembled by an interplay of species sorting, mass effects and dispersal limitation processes. The contributions of assembly processes to metacommunity structure can change with ecosystem type and specificities of the study area. Spider composition is influenced by environmental features such as habitat structure and climate, and also by spatial distances between patches. However, little is known about the roles of assembly processes in spider metacommunity structure in wetlands.2. The beta diversity patterns of spider assemblages were assessed in 24 temporary wetlands distributed along a latitudinal gradient in southern Brazil. The study also assessed the individual correspondence of beta diversity (and its turnover and richness components) with dissimilarities in habitat structure and climate, as well as with geographic distances, using Mantel and partial Mantel correlation tests and multivariate correlograms.3. Turnover was the most important component of spider beta diversity. Mantel tests detected significant correlations of spider beta diversity with habitat structure. Partial Mantel tests detected significant relationships only between spider beta diversity (and the richness component) and geographic distances. Additionally, spider composition was more similar than chance on smaller scales.4. These results evidenced a complex interplay of assembly processes explaining spider metacommunity structure in temporary wetlands. Although species‐sorting processes associated with habitat structure were important in structuring local spider composition, mass effects and dispersal limitation across climatic zones played an important role on a broader scale.
The immunology of Plasmodium vivax malaria
Authors: Antonelli Lis R. , Junqueira Caroline , Vinetz Joseph M , Golenbock Douglas T. , Ferreira Marcelo U. , Gazzinelli Ricardo T. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPlasmodium vivax infection, the predominant cause of malaria in Asia and Latin America, affects ~14 million individuals annually, with considerable adverse effects on wellbeing and socioeconomic development. A clinical hallmark of Plasmodium infection, the paroxysm, is driven by pyrogenic cytokines produced during the immune response. Here, we review studies on the role of specific immune cell types, cognate innate immune receptors, and inflammatory cytokines on parasite control and disease symptoms. This review also summarizes studies on recurrent infections in individuals living in endemic regions as well as asymptomatic infections, a serious barrier to eliminating this disease. We propose potential mechanisms behind these repeated and subclinical infections, such as poor induction of immunological memory cells and inefficient T effector cells. We address the role of antibody‐mediated resistance to P. vivax infection and discuss current progress in vaccine development. Finally, we review immunoregulatory mechanisms, such as inhibitory receptors, T regulatory cells, and the anti‐inflammatory cytokine, IL‐10, that antagonizes both innate and acquired immune responses, interfering with the development of protective immunity and parasite clearance. These studies provide new insights for the clinical management of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals and the development of an efficacious vaccine for vivax malaria.
Exposure to domestic violence and its effects on adolescents: A survey among Turkish students
Authors: Oğuztürk Ömer , Demir Nefise , Bülbül Selda , Türkel Yakup , Ünlü Erdal 
Published: October 2019

AbstractProblemExposure to domestic violence is an important social problem. What remains unknown are the effects of domestic violence on Turkish adolescents.MethodsThis study was performed in Kırıkkale, Turkey, to determine the state of verbal and/or physical domestic violence and its effects on adolescent behavior. A total of 1,807 students (44.4% female and 55.6% male) with a mean age of 15.1 ± 1.6 years at two high schools and five elementary schools were enrolled in the study and completed questionnaires that surveyed their exposure to domestic violence and its possible relationship to their disruptive behaviors.FindingsTwenty‐three percent of the students were exposed to violence. Among those, 75% had been exposed to violence within the family, 53% by their friends and 17% by their teachers. Of those exposed to domestic violence, 70% were exposed only verbally and 24% only physically. The economic level of the family, gender, marital status of the parents, and education level of the father were significant factors on violence exposure within the family. The results showed that the rates of being involved in a fight, getting injured at a fight, using a gun, bringing knives (mostly pocket knives) to school and using it were higher in children exposed to domestic violence than with the children who were not.ConclusionsTo address the impact of domestic violence on teens and possibly decrease the adolescent's violent behavior and its consequences, policies aiming to reduce violence in the social environments of adolescents are needed.
Medicare reimbursement policy for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: A qualitative analysis of public comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Authors: Dixon Dave L. , Salgado Teresa M. , Luther James Matthew , Byrd James Brian 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAmbulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered the best means of diagnosing hypertension. However, it is rarely used and is reimbursed only under narrow conditions. We sought to gain insight into the perceived value of ABPM among stakeholders who responded to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) request for comments to inform the first revision of ABPM reimbursement policy in over 15 years. We found that most comments were classifiable in two main themes, current coverage and future coverage. Individuals and institutions representing multiple disciplines and specialties were highly supportive of expanding the current CMS coverage of ABPM, including for a wide range of clinical indications and populations. It is clear from the comments reviewed that there is wide support for expanding CMS coverage for ABPM. Broad support for a change in ABPM reimbursement policy may lead to changes in the way this technology is used in the United States.