bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discovering Treatment Effect Heterogeneity Through Post-Treatment Variables with Application to the Effect of Class Size on Mathematics Scores
Authors: Ertefaie Ashkan , Hsu Jesse Y. , Page Lindsay C. , Small Dylan S. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryClass size reduction represents an appealing but costly education policy lever. A crucial question, therefore, is whether certain types of students benefit particularly from small classes, i.e. are there effect modifiers for the benefit of small classes? We use data from the Tennessee ‘Student/teacher achievement ratio’ study, which is a large randomized experiment of class size to address this question. In the Tennessee study, a challenge is that relatively few potential effect modifiers were measured at baseline. Yet many proxies for effect modifiers were measured after baseline. In an experiment, treatment effect modification based on pretreatment variables can be assessed by using standard regression techniques. For post-treatment variables, however, such regression approaches are valid only under a strong sequential ignorability assumption. We develop two instrumental-variable-based approaches for studying effect modification based on post-treatment variables. The key advantage of the method proposed is that it allows relaxation of the strong sequential ignorability assumption. However, this advantage comes at the cost of reliance on alternative assumptions that can be challenging to verify. We provide evidence that students who are not academically engaged outside the classroom benefit more from small classes than students who are academically engaged.
The role of bail and pretrial detention in the reproduction of racial inequalities
Authors: Menefee Michael R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe role of bail systems in the United States has been understudied within the sociology of punishment. The use of monetary bail is pervasive in the United States, contributing to a rising number of pretrial detainees and, consequently, jail populations. Since 2000, 95% of the growth in jail populations has been the result of the growing number of people held in jail pretrial. Moreover, racial and ethnic minorities account for a disproportionate number of pretrial detainees. In this review, I first summarize the empirical literature on racial and economic disparities in the use of bail and pretrial detention, arguing that race and social class are important determinants of who is ultimately detained. I also highlight the literature on the downstream outcomes associated with pretrial detention, and several recent studies which suggest that pretrial detention has a causal effect on conviction. Second, I consider how inequalities in policing and arrests, in combination with pretrial processes, lead to cumulative disadvantages. Lastly, I highlight recent debates surrounding the use of pretrial risk assessment tools and whether they serve as panacea or pariah for mitigating discrimination in criminal processing.
Calibration of cellular automata models using differential evolution to simulate present and future land use
Authors: Feng Yongjiu , Tong Xiaohua 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA key issue in cellular automata (CA) modeling is the minimization of the differences between the actual and simulated patterns, which can be mathematically formulated as an objective function. We develop a new hybrid model (termed DE‐CA) by integrating differential evolution (DE) into CA to solve the objective function and retrieve the optimal CA parameters. Constrained relations among factors were applied in DE to generate different sets of CA parameters for prediction of future scenarios. The DE‐CA model was calibrated using historical spatial data to simulate 2016 land use in Kunming and predict multiple scenarios to the year 2026. Assessment of quantitative accuracy shows that DE‐CA yields 92.4% overall accuracy, where 6.8% is the correctly captured urban growth; further, the model reported only 5.0% false alarms and 2.6% misses. Regarding the simulation ability, our new CA model performs as well as the widely applied genetic algorithm‐based CA model, and outperforms both the logistic regression‐based CA model and a no‐change NULL model. We projected three possible scenarios for the year 2026 using DE‐CA to adequately address the baseline urban growth, environmental protection and urban planning to show the strong prediction ability of the new model.
Village‐scale (Phase III) evaluation of the efficacy and residual activity of SumiShield®50 WG (Clothianidin 50%, w/w) for indoor spraying for the control of pyrethroid‐resistantAnopheles culicifaciesGiles in Karnataka state, India
Authors: Uragayala S. , Kamaraju R. , Tiwari S. N. , Sreedharan S. , Ghosh S. K. , Valecha N. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractObjectiveThere is an urgent need to test and incorporate new molecules with promising efficacy and novel mode of action to control insecticide‐resistant mosquito vectors for disease control. We tested a new compound, clothianidin (SumiShield 50WG), for its efficacy as an indoor residual spray (IRS) for the control of pyrethroid‐resistantAnopheles culicifacies(Diptera: Culicidae) in comparison with pirimiphos methyl (ActellicCS) as a positive control.MethodsTen villages were selected, five each forIRSwith clothianidin (300 mg AI/m2) and pirimiphos methyl (1000 mg AI/m2) in Almatti Dam catchment area in Karnataka state, India. Entomological parameters were monitored in these sprayed villages using standard methods. Assessment of quality of spray was performed by analysing the insecticide content in the filter paper samples collected from sprayed houses. Perceptions of spray men and inhabitants were recorded post‐spray on safety of these molecules.ResultsThe mean applied to target ratio of content was 1.7 (n= 29) for clothianidin and 1.8 (n= 50) for pirimiphos methyl on filter paper samples analysed. Residual activity (≥80% mortality in exposed mosquitoes) after 24 h post‐exposure of SumiShieldWGwas 5 months and increased to 6 months when the holding period was extended to 120 h and that of ActellicCSwas 3 months at 24‐h holding period and extended to 4 months at 120‐h extended holding period. The mean densities ofAn. culicifaciesin both arms fell drastically post‐spray. In light trap collections, density of mosquitoes collected indoors was lower than outdoors in both arms indicating effectiveness ofIRS. SumiShieldWGwas more efficacious in reducing the per‐structure density than ActellicCS. The proportion of nulliparous mosquitoes was higher than that of parous mosquitoes during post‐spray collections in both arms. The majority of adverse events reported were transitory and subsided without medication.ConclusionIndoor residual spraying with SumiShieldWGwas found effective, operationally feasible and safe, and it is effective for up to 6 months.
Risk for interspecies transmission of zoonotic pathogens during poultry processing and pork production in Peru: A qualitative study
Authors: Carnero A. M. , Kitayama K. , Diaz D. A. , Garvich M. , Angulo N. , Cama V. A. , Gilman R. H. , Bayer A. M. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryInterspecies transmission of pathogens is an unfrequent but naturally occurring event and human activities may favour opportunities not previously reported. Reassortment of zoonotic pathogens like influenza A virus can result from these activities. Recently, swine and birds have played a central role as “mixing vessels” for epidemic and pandemic events related to strains like H1N1 and H5N1. Unsafe practices in poultry markets and swine farms can lead to interspecies transmission, favouring the emergence of novel strains. Thus, understanding practices that lead to interspecies interactions is crucial. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate poultry processing practices in formal and informal markets and the use of leftovers by swine farmers in three Peruvian cities: Lima (capital), Tumbes (coastal) and Tarapoto (jungle). We conducted 80 direct observations at formal and informal markets and interviewed 15 swine farmers. Processors slaughter and pluck chickens and vendors and/or processors eviscerate chickens. Food safety and hygiene practices were suboptimal or absent, although some heterogeneity was observed between cities and chicken vendors versus processors. Both vendors (76%) and processors (100%) sold the chicken viscera leftovers to swine farmers, representing the main source of chicken viscera for swine farms (53%). Swine farmers fed the chicken viscera to their swine. Chicken viscera cooking times varied widely and were insufficient in some cases. Non‐abattoired poultry leads to the sale of poultry leftovers to small‐scale swine farms, resulting in indirect but frequent interspecies contacts that can lead to interspecies transmission of bacterial pathogens or the reassortment of influenza A viruses. These interactions are exacerbated by suboptimal safety and hygiene conditions. People involved in these activities constitute an at‐risk population who could play a central role in preventing the transmission of pathogens between species. Educational interventions on hygiene and food safety practices will be important for reducing the risk of interspecies influenza transmission.
Deconstructing Pneumococcal Progression from Colonization to Disease
Authors: Pelton Stephen I. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACT

Despite advances in treatment and prevention, the pneumococcus continues to be a dominant cause of severe pneumonia and sepsis and of otitis media, sinusitis, and nonbacteremic pneumonia. Lewnard and colleagues (Infect Immun 86:e00727-17, 2018,
https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00727-17
) used a unique data set of nasopharyngeal and middle ear fluid samples to provide further insight into the progression of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization to disease. They report the comparative rate of progression from colonization to otitis media by serotype, providing insight into how conjugate vaccines that do not reduce the overall prevalence of pneumococci in the nasopharynx dramatically impact the incidence of acute and complex otitis media.
Immediate Effect of Scalp Acupuncture on the Gait of Patients with Subacute Intracerebral Haemorrhage Analysed by Three-Dimensional Motion: Secondary Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Hai-Qiao , Dong Gui-Rong , Bao Chun-Ling , Jiao Zhi-Hua 
Published: March 2018

Objective To investigate the immediate effect of scalp acupuncture on walking pattern, using three-dimensional gait analysis (3D-GA), among patients in the subacute stage of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Methods A subset of 30 patients with subacute ICH participating in a recently published randomised controlled trial who were able to walk independently were assessed by 3D-GA before and immediately after scalp acupuncture treatment (treatment group) or no intervention (control group) and the results presented here as a secondary analysis. The acupuncture manipulation was repeated three times with an interval of 5 min. Spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters during walking were collected and analysed using a 3D motion analysis system. Results After treatment, there were significant differences between the treatment and control groups in the spatiotemporal parameters of step length, velocity and cadence (p<0.05) and double-limb support. No significant difference was found in step width. When kinematic parameters were evaluated, the treatment group showed a significantly decreased peak pelvic anterior tilt angle and an increased hip extension angle after scalp acupuncture treatment, whereas the control group demonstrated no temporal changes. There were no significant changes in any other kinematic parameters in either group. Conclusions As the first exploratory study to investigate the effect of the scalp acupuncture on gait performance in patients with subacute ICH, this secondary analysis of a recent randomised trial suggested an immediate effect of treatment on spatiotemporal parameters. Improvement in gait pattern may be associated with a decreased anterior tilt of the pelvis and augmented hip joint motion during walking. Trial Registration Number ChiCTR-TRC-08000225; Post-results.
Distribution and predictors of hospital charges for haemorrhagic stroke patients in Beijing, China, March 2012 to February 2015: a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Xiaole , Kong Dehui , Lian Hui , Zhao Xiaoyi , Zhao Yakun , Xu Qun , Peng Bin , Wang Haitao , Fang Quan , Zhang Shuyang , Jin Xiaofeng , Cheng Kang’an , Fan Zhongjie 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to analyse hospital charges for patients with haemorrhagic stroke in China and investigate potential factors associated with inpatient charges.MethodsThe study participants were in-hospital patients with a primary diagnosis of haemorrhagic stroke from all the secondary and tertiary hospitals in Beijing during the period from 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2015. Distribution characteristics of detailed hospital charges were analysed. The influence of potential factors on hospital charges was researched using a stepwise multiple regression model.ResultsA total of 34 890 patients with haemorrhagic stroke of mean age 61.19±14.37 years were included in the study, of which 37.2% were female. Median length of hospital stay (LOHS) was 15 days (IQR 9–23) and median hospital cost was 18 577 Chinese yuan (CNY) (IQR 10 442–39 784). The hospital costs for patients in Western medicine hospitals (median 19 651 CNY) were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals (median 14 560 CNY), and were significantly higher (P<0.01) for Level 3 hospitals (median 20 029 CNY) than for Level 2 hospitals (median 16 095 CNY). The proportion of medicine fees and bed fees within total hospital charges showed a decreasing trend during the study period. With stepwise multiple regression, the major factors associated with hospital charges were LOHS, surgery, pulmonary infection, ventilator usage, hospital level, occupation, hyperlipidaemia, hospital type, in-hospital death, sex and age.ConclusionWe conclude that medicines form the largest part of hospital charges but are showing a decreasing trend, and LOHS is strongly associated with patient charges for haemorrhagic stroke in China. This implies that the cost structure is very unreasonable in China and medical technology costs fail to be fully manifested. A reasonable decrease in medicine charges and shortening LOHS may be effective ways to reduce hospital charges.
Dementia and vagotomy in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Lin Shih-Yi , Lin Cheng-Li , Wang I-Kuan , Lin Cheng-Chieh , Lin Chih-Hsueh , Hsu Wu-Huei , Kao Chia-Hung 
Published: March 2018

ObjectiveTruncal vagotomy is associated with a decreased risk of subsequent Parkinson disease (PD), although the effect of vagotomy on dementia is unclear. In response, we investigated the risk of dementia in patients who underwent vagotomy.SettingPopulation-based cohort study.ParticipantsA total of 155 944 patients who underwent vagotomy (vagotomy cohort) and 155 944 age-matched, sex-matched and comorbidity-matched controls (non-vagotomy cohort) were identified between 2000 and 2011.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAll patient data were tracked until the diagnosis of dementia, death or the end of 2011. The cumulative incidence of subsequent dementia and HRs were calculated.ResultsThe mean ages of the study patients in the vagotomy and non-vagotomy cohorts were 56.6±17.4 and 56.7±17.3 years, respectively. The overall incidence density rate for dementia was similar in the vagotomy and non-vagotomy cohorts (2.43 and 2.84 per 1000 person-years, respectively). After adjustment for age, sex and comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, stroke, depression, coronary artery disease and PD, the patients in the vagotomy cohort were determined to not be at a higher risk of dementia than those in the non-vagotomy cohort (adjusted HR=1.09, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.36). Moreover, the patients who underwent truncal vagotomy were not associated with risk of dementia (adjusted HR=1.04, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.25), compared with the patients who did not undergo vagotomy.ConclusionVagotomy, either truncal or selective, is not associated with risk of dementia.
Impact of gestational weight gain and prepregnancy body mass index on the prevalence of large-for-gestational age infants in two cohorts of women with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes: a cross-sectional population study
Authors: McWhorter Ketrell L , Bowers Katherine , Dolan Lawrence M , Deka Ranjan , Jackson Chandra L , Khoury Jane C 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesDespite improvements in treatment modalities, large-for-gestational age (LGA) prevalence has remained between 30% and 40% among infants of mothers with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (TIDM). Our objective was to estimate LGA prevalence and examine the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) with LGA among mothers with TIDM.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingRegional data in Cincinnati, Ohio, from the Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project (PPG), a prospective cohort for the period 1978–1993; national data from Consortium on Safe Labor (CSL), a multicentre cross-sectional study for the period 2002–2008.ParticipantsThe study included 333 pregnancies in the PPG and 358 pregnancies in the CSL. Pregnancies delivered prior to 23 weeks’ gestation were excluded. Women with TIDM in the PPG were identified according to physician confirmation of ketoacidosis, and/or c-peptide levels, and by International Classification of Diseases, ninth version codes within the CSL. LGA was identified as birth weight >90th percentile according to gestational age, race and sex.Main outcome measuresLGA at birth.ResultsMean±SD maternal age at delivery was 26.4±5.1 years for PPG women and 27.5±6.0 years for CSL women, p=0.008. LGA prevalence did not significantly differ between cohorts (PPG: 40.2% vs CSL: 36.6%, p=0.32). More women began pregnancy as overweight in the later cohort (PPG (16.8%) vs CSL (27.1%), p<0.001). GWG exceeding Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines was higher in the later CSL (56.2%) vs PPG (42.3%) cohort, p<0.001. Normal-weight women with GWG within IOM guidelines had a lower LGA prevalence in CSL (PPG: 30.6% vs CSL: 13.7%), p=0.001.ConclusionsNormal-weight women with GWG within IOM guidelines experienced a lower LGA prevalence, supporting the importance of adherence to IOM guidelines for GWG to reduce LGA. High BMI and GWG may be hindering a reduction in LGA prevalence.
Acupuncture for constipation in patients with stroke: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhai Jingbo , Mu Wei , Si Jinhua , Li Yan , Zhao Chen , Shang Hongcai , Li Huanan , Tian Guihua 
Published: March 2018

IntroductionConstipation is one of the most common complications in patients with stroke. Acupuncture has gained increased popularity for the management of constipation. However, there is a lack of supportive evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for poststroke constipation. This systematic review aims to collect and critically appraise all the available evidence about the efficacy and safety of the acupuncture for constipation in poststroke patients.Methods and analysisA comprehensive search of Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, four Chinese databases (National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literatures database (CBM), Wanfang Digital Periodicals (WANFANG) and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals (VIP) database), one Japanese medical database (National Institute of Informatics, CiNii) and one Korean medical database (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, OASIS) will be conducted to identify randomised controlled trials of acupuncture for constipation in poststroke patients. There is no restriction on language or publication status. The primary outcome measure will be frequency of bowel movement. The risk of bias will be assessed using the approach recommended by Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We will conduct the meta-analysis to synthesise the evidence for each outcome, if possible. The heterogeneity will be statistically assessed using a χ2test and I2statistic. This protocol is developed following the guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocols 2015.Ethics and disseminationThe ethical approval is not required because no primary data are collected. The findings will be presented at scientific conferences or a peer-reviewed scientific journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017076880.
Urban–rural differences in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among 25–74 year-old adults of the Yangon Region, Myanmar: two cross-sectional studies
Authors: Aung Wai Phyo , Htet Aung Soe , Bjertness Espen , Stigum Hein , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Kjøllesdal Marte Karoline Råberg 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between urban–rural location and the occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Yangon Region, and to estimate the proportion of urban and rural participants already diagnosed with DM, and of those, the proportion under treatment and under control.DesignTwo cross-sectional studies, using the WHO STEPs methodology.SettingThe Yangon Region of Myanmar, urban and rural areas.ParticipantsMen and women, aged 25–74 years, included during the study period from September–November 2013 (urban) and 2014 (rural areas) (n=1372). Institutionalised people, physically and mentally ill person, monks and nuns were excluded.ResultsThe age-standardised prevalence of DM was 12.1% in urban and 7.1% in rural areas (p=0.039). In urban areas, the prevalence of DM was lowest in the highest educational groups (p<0.001). There were no differences in DM prevalence between gender or income levels. In rural areas, those who were physically inactive had a low intake of fruit and vegetable and were overweight/obese had a higher DM prevalence than others. In a logistic regression, the OR for DM in rural compared with urban areas was 0.38 (0.22, 0.65), adjusted for sociodemographic variables and behavioural risk factors. In urban areas, 43.1% of participants had the experience of receiving blood glucose measurements by a doctor or health worker, and 61.5% of all cases of DM were already diagnosed, 78.7% were under treatment and 45.8% were under control. The corresponding proportions in rural areas were 26.4%, 52.4%, 78.1% and 32.0%, respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of DM in the Yangon Region was high, and significantly higher in urban than in rural areas. More health services are needed to serve this population with a large proportion of undiagnosed diabetes. Preventive measures to halt and reduce the prevalence of DM are urgently needed.