bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Between progress and obstacles in urban climate interdisciplinary studies and knowledge transfer to society
Authors: Hidalgo Julia , Lemonsu Aude , Masson Valéry 
Published: November 2018

AbstractCities modify their local climate, and at the same time they suffer from the local impacts of climate change. Our paper discusses the progress and obstacles in three active research topics that contribute to increasing the capability within the urban climate research community for transferring local climate knowledge to society. The first is linked to the production of urban surface descriptions useful for urban climate studies. The concept of local climate zones is now widely used to represent urban climate variability at the neighborhood scale. Land‐use, morphological, architectural, and social data are also needed, and those are being gathered using different approaches. The second is linked to the necessity for producing information directly connected to their effects on society. This requires a strong multidisciplinary approach, and nowadays impact studies are not limited to one dimension but instead cover multiple dimensions. The third is to transfer all this information to city practitioners, so that urban climate features are considered, among many other aspects, in city management. For urban planning, cartographic tools have been introduced to include urban climate diagnosis as well as recommendations for future urbanization.
Risks of excess iodine intake in Ghana: current situation, challenges, and lessons for the future
Authors: Abu Brenda A.Z. , Oldewage‐Theron Wilna , Aryeetey Richmond N.O. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn Ghana, iodine deficiency was first reported in 1994 among 33% of the population. A nationwide Universal Salt Iodization (USI) program plus other complementary interventions were subsequently implemented as a response. Our paper reviews the current risks of excess iodine status in Ghana and identifies policy and research gaps. A mixed methods review of 12 policies and institutional reports and 13 peer‐reviewed articles was complemented with consultations with 23 key informants (salt producers and distributors, food processors, regulatory agency officials, and healthcare providers) purposively sampled between May and August 2017. The findings show a strong policy environment indicated by regulations on food and salt fortification (Act 851), including the USI regulation. However, currently, only a third of Ghanaian households use adequately iodized salt. Recent evidence shows that voluntarily fortified processed foods (including condiments) supply a considerable amount of iodine to the food system. Limited biological impact data suggest possible household exposure to excessive dietary iodine (>15 parts per million). Currently, there is no systematic tracking of iodine content from fortified foods and other sources. Cross‐sectoral actions are needed to understand this situation better. Key research gap is the lack of comprehensive data on iodine content and intake from other sources in Ghana.
Role of cyclic and pseudo‐cyclic electron transport in response to dynamic light changes in Physcomitrella patens
Authors: Storti Mattia , Alboresi Alessandro , Gerotto Caterina , Aro Eva‐Mari , Finazzi Giovanni , Morosinotto Tomas 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPhotosynthetic organisms support cell metabolism by harvesting sunlight and driving the electron transport chain at the level of thylakoid membranes. Excitation energy and electron flow in the photosynthetic apparatus is continuously modulated in response to dynamic environmental conditions. Alternative electron flow around photosystem I plays a seminal role in this regulation contributing to photoprotection by mitigating overreduction of the electron carriers.Different pathways of alternative electron flow coexist in the moss Physcomitrella patens, including cyclic electron flow mediated by the PGRL1/PGR5 complex and pseudo‐cyclic electron flow mediated by the flavodiiron proteins FLV. In this work, we generated P. patens plants carrying both pgrl1 and flva knock‐out mutations. A comparative analysis of the WT, pgrl1, flva, and pgrl1 flva lines suggests that cyclic and pseudo‐cyclic processes have a synergic role in the regulation of photosynthetic electron transport. However, although both contribute to photosystem I protection from overreduction by modulating electron flow following changes in environmental conditions, FLV activity is particularly relevant in the first seconds after a light change whereas PGRL1 has a major role upon sustained strong illumination.
Poor Quality of Data in Africa: What Are the Issues?
Authors: Kinyondo Abel , Pelizzo Riccardo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractOne of the problems that scholars encounter when conducting research is that data from Africa are poor. Indeed, they either do not exist in a complete sense or they are not of good quality in the sense of lacking validity and reliability. Using various sources of available data on corruption and tourism, we show that lack of quality data in Africa not only limits the continent’s ability to generate a pertinent body of knowledge but also prevents analysts from generating the evidence that policy makers need to make proper decisions in influencing the development of the continent. We go on to argue that the problem of data quality in Africa is due to the lack of research culture rather than just scarcity of resources, as argued in the literature. It is in this context that we advocate for inculcation of research culture in Africa for development of the continent.Related Articles
Asongu, Simplice A., and Jacinta C. Nwachukwu. 2016. “.” Politics & Policy 44 (): 916‐944. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12171

Pelizzo, Riccardo, and Abel Kinyondo. 2014. “.” Politics & Policy 42 (): 77‐102. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12062

Pelizzo, Riccardo, and Zim Kinyondo. 2016. “.” Politics & Policy 44 (): 1017‐1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12188
Related Media
. 2013. “.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypGikIFf8LM

. 2018. “.” https://www.afrobarometer.org/

. 2018. “.” https://allafrica.com/

. 2018. “.” https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/
Workplace and Non‐workplace Pro‐environmental Behaviors: Empirical Evidence from Florida City Governments
Authors: Azhar Aisha , Yang Kaifeng 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPublic employees are expected to be good stewards of public resources and engage in pro‐environmental behaviors (PEBs). Using different categorizations of PEBs, this article examines whether public employees perform these PEBs in workplace and non‐workplace settings. The article further investigates how PEBs are influenced by salient characteristics of public organizations—that is, public service motivation (PSM) and civic participation categorized as civic engagement and cognitive engagement. Data were collected through a survey of public employees in two city governments in Florida. A structural equation model was employed to test the proposed model. Findings indicate that PSM has a positive influence on workplace PEBs and similar PEBs in the non‐workplace settings. Civic engagement has a positive influence on both workplace and non‐workplace PEBs. Barriers significantly moderate the effects of PSM and cognitive engagement on workplace and non‐workplace PEBs.
Policing alienated minorities in divided cities
Authors: Mentovich Avital , Ben‐Porat Guy , Levy Natalie , Goff Phillip A. , Tyler Tom 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMinority groups frequently challenge the legitimacy of legal authorities, particularly the police. Without trust and legitimacy, the police encounter constant conflict and cannot function effectively. While past research has examined minorities’ perceptions of the police, national minorities provide an interesting and under‐investigated test case because of their inherent identity conflict with the state. The current research examines three factors to explain minority–majority disparities in views of the police: (i) police effectiveness and fairness; (ii) intergroup discrimination (termed relative deprivation in policing); and (iii) identification with the state. Findings from a survey of Jewish and Arab residents of nationally mixed neighborhoods in Israel (n = 394) suggest that while all of these factors account for minority–majority discrepancies in views of the police, perceptions of police fairness are particularly important. Furthermore, feelings of discrimination and low levels of identification with the state are less important than evaluations of fairness in explaining minorities’ negative perceptions of the police.
The association of hepatitis C infection with the onset of CKD and progression into ESRD
Authors: Henson Jacqueline B. , Sise Meghan E. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is not only an important cause of chronic liver disease, but extrahepatic manifestations are common and include chronic kidney disease (CKD). HCV is classically associated with cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis in the context of mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome, but other glomerular diseases also occur and may be significantly under‐recognized. HCV may cause glomerular disease by immune complex deposition; however, other potential mechanisms by which HCV promotes CKD include a direct cytopathic effect of the virus on renal tissue, and by its association with accelerated atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. Epidemiologic studies show HCV infection confers an increased risk of incident CKD and accelerates progression of CKD to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) in the general population, as well as subpopulations including diabetic patients, those coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and kidney transplant recipients. Patients with CKD and HCV infection experience inferior clinical outcomes, including poorer quality of life and an increased risk of mortality. Treatment with interferon‐based regimens is associated with decreased risk of incident CKD and ESRD, though prior studies are limited by the small number of patients with HCV and CKD who underwent treatment. With the advent of new, well‐tolerated direct‐acting antiviral combinations that are not cleared by the kidneys, it is possible to treat all genotypes of HCV infection in patients with CKD and ESRD. More data on the effect of direct‐acting antivirals on CKD incidence and progression are necessary. However, there is every expectation that with improved access to HCV treatment, the burden of CKD in patients with HCV could significantly decline.
Respiration and applied tension strategies to reduce vasovagal reactions to blood donation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mennitto Serena , Harrison Johanna , Ritz Thomas , Robillard Pierre , France Christopher R. , Ditto Blaine 
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUNDWhether produced by breathing too fast or too deeply, hyperventilation is common in stressful situations and may contribute to blood donation–related vasovagal symptoms. The effects of some previously tested interventions for vasovagal symptoms, for example, applied tension (AT), may be related to reduction of hyperventilation. More targeted breathing techniques might be useful.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThis was a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of AT, a slow, shallow “anti‐hyperventilation” breathing technique previously tested in phobic individuals (respiration control [RESP]), the combination of AT and RESP, and no intervention on blood donors participating in university clinics. A total of 547 eligible donors were assigned randomly to one of these four groups. Observational, self‐report, and physiologic measures (primarily via respiratory capnometry) were obtained.RESULTSAlthough both RESP and AT had some positive impact on blood donation outcome, the effects of RESP were more numerous, albeit limited primarily to donors who had less general fear of medical procedures. For example, lower‐fear donors assigned to practice RESP had significantly lower Blood Donation Reaction Inventory scores and were significantly less likely to require treatment for symptoms than no‐treatment individuals. In general, RESP led to a significant decrease in respiration rate, though it did not influence end‐tidal CO2, a more precise measure of hyperventilation.CONCLUSIONWhile the mechanisms remain somewhat unclear and the interventions did not benefit more fearful, higher‐risk donors, respiration control is a promising additional approach to reducing vasovagal symptoms.
Performance of blood biomarkers to rule out invasive bacterial infection in febrile infants under 21 days old
Authors: Gomez Borja , Diaz Haydee , Carro Alba , Benito Javier , Mintegi Santiago 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesTo determine the performance of procalcitonin (PCT), C reactive protein (CRP) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) in identifying invasive bacterial infection (IBI) among well-appearing infants ≤21 days old with fever without source and no leukocyturia. To compare this performance with that in those 22–90 days old.DesignSubstudy of a prospective single-centre registry performed between September 2008 and August 2017.SettingPaediatric emergency department of a tertiary teaching hospital.Patients196 infants ≤21 days old and 1331 infants 22–90 days old.Main outcome measuresSensitivity and negative likelihood ratio of blood tests for ruling out IBI (positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture). Abnormal blood test results: PCT ≥0.5 ng/mL, CRP >20 mg/L and ANC >10 000/µL.ResultsPrevalence of IBI in infants ≤21 days old with normal or any abnormal blood test result was 3.6% and 6.8%, respectively (OR 0.52 (95% CI 0.13 to 2.01)), compared with 0.2% and 4.5% in older infants (OR 0.03 (95% CI 0 to 0.17)). Sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio of the blood tests for ruling out IBI in infants ≤21 days were 44.4% (95% CI 18.9% to 73.3%) and 0.79 (95% CI 0.43 to 1.44), respectively (vs 84.6% (95% CI 57.8% to 95.7%)%) and 0.19 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.67) in older infants). The values improved in infants with fever ≥6 hours aged 22–90 days, but not in those ≤21 days.ConclusionsPCT, CRP and ANC are not useful for ruling out IBI in febrile infants ≤21 days old. It is still recommended that these patients are admitted and given empirical antibiotic therapy, regardless of their general appearance or blood test results.
Temporal trends in use of tests in UK primary care, 2000-15: retrospective analysis of 250 million tests
Authors: O’Sullivan Jack W , Stevens Sarah , Hobbs F D Richard , Salisbury Chris , Little Paul , Goldacre Ben , Bankhead Clare , Aronson Jeffrey K , Perera Rafael , Heneghan Carl 
Published: November 2018

Abstract

Objectives
To assess the temporal change in test use in UK primary care and to identify tests with the greatest increase in use.

Design
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting
UK primary care.

Participants
All patients registered to UK General Practices in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, 2000/1 to 2015/16.

Main outcome measures
Temporal trends in test use, and crude and age and sex standardised rates of total test use and of 44 specific tests.

Results
262 974 099 tests were analysed over 71 436 331 person years. Age and sex adjusted use increased by 8.5% annually (95% confidence interval 7.6% to 9.4%); from 14 869 tests per 10 000 person years in 2000/1 to 49 267 in 2015/16, a 3.3-fold increase. Patients in 2015/16 had on average five tests per year, compared with 1.5 in 2000/1. Test use also increased statistically significantly across all age groups, in both sexes, across all test types (laboratory, imaging, and miscellaneous), and 40 of the 44 tests that were studied specifically.

Conclusion
Total test use has increased markedly over time, in both sexes, and across all age groups, test types (laboratory, imaging, and miscellaneous) and for 40 of 44 tests specifically studied. Of the patients who underwent at least one test annually, the proportion who had more than one test increased significantly over time.
A smoking prevention photoageing intervention for secondary schools in Brazil delivered by medical students: protocol for a randomised trial
Authors: Faria Bianca Lisa , Brieske Christian M , Cosgarea Ioana , Omlor Albert J , Fries Fabian N , de Faria Christian Olber Moreira , Lino Henrique Augusto , Oliveira Ana Carla Cruz , Lisboa Oscar Campos , Klode Joachim , Schadendorf Dirk , Bernardes-Souza Breno , Brinker Titus J 
Published: November 2018

IntroductionMost smokers start smoking during their early adolescence, often with the idea that smoking is glamorous; the dramatic health consequences are too far in the future to fathom. We recently designed and tested an intervention that takes advantage of the broad availability of mobile phones as well as adolescents’ interest in their appearance. A free photoageing mobile app (Smokerface) was implemented by medical students in secondary schools via a novel method called mirroring. The pupils’ altered three-dimensional selfies on tablets were ‘mirrored’ via a projector in front of their whole grade. This is the first randomised trial to measure the effectiveness of the mirroring approach on smoking behaviour in secondary schools.Methods and analysisThe mirroring intervention, which lasts 45 min, is implemented by Brazilian medical students in at least 35 secondary school classes with 21 participants each (at least 35 classes with 21 participants for control) in February 2018 in the city of Itauna, Brazil. External block randomisation via computer is performed on the class level with a 1:1 allocation. In addition to sociodemographic data, smoking behaviour is measured via a paper–pencil questionnaire before, 3 and 6 months postintervention plus a random carbon monoxide breathing test at baseline and end line. The primary outcome is cigarette smoking in the past week at 6 months follow-up. Smoking behaviour (smoking onset, quitting) and effects on the different genders are studied as secondary outcomes. Analysis is by intention to treat.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is obtained from the ethics committee of the University of Itauna in Brazil. Results will be disseminated at conferences, in peer-reviewed journals, throughout the Education Against Tobacco network social media channels and on our websites.Trial registration numberNCT03178227.
Association of IL-10 and IL-10RA single nucleotide polymorphisms with the responsiveness to HBV vaccination in Chinese infants of HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(−) mothers: a nested case–control study
Authors: Wen Simin , Wu Yanhua , Pan Yuchen , Cao Mengzhuo , Zhao Dan , Wang Chong , Wang Chuan , Kong Fei , Li Jie , Niu Junqi , Jiang Jing 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate the association of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-10 receptor A (IL-10RA) single nucleotide polymorphisms with the responsiveness to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in newborns whose mothers were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)(+)/hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)(–).DesignNested case–control study.SettingChangchun, China.Participants713 infants from a Han Chinese population whose mothers were HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(–) and participated in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HBV at the First Hospital of Jilin University from July 2012 to July 2015 were included. Infants were excluded for HBsAg-positive; unstandardised vaccination process; inadequate blood samples; not Han Chinese and failed genotyping.ResultsInfants with artificial feeding pattern were correlated with low responsiveness to HBV vaccination (p=0.009). The GG genotype of IL-10 rs3021094 was correlated with a higher risk of low responsiveness to HBV vaccination (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.35 to 5.83). No haplotype was found to be correlated with responsiveness to HBV vaccination. No gene–gene interaction was found between IL-10 and IL-10RA.ConclusionsOur study found that IL-10 gene variants were significantly associated with the immune response to the HBV vaccine. Identifying these high-risk infants who born to HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(–) mothers and low responses to hepatitis B vaccination will provide evidence for individualised prevention strategies.
Antibiotic use in children with asthma: cohort study in UK and Dutch primary care databases
Authors: Baan Esmé J , Janssens Hettie M , Kerckaert Tine , Bindels Patrick J E , de Jongste Johan C , Sturkenboom Miriam C J M , Verhamme Katia M C 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesTo compare the rate, indications and type of antibiotic prescriptions in children with and without asthma.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingTwo population-based primary care databases: Integrated Primary Care Information database (IPCI; the Netherlands) and The Health Improvement Network (THIN; the UK).ParticipantsChildren aged 5–18 years were included from January 2000 to December 2014. A child was categorised as having asthma if there were ≥2 prescriptions of respiratory drugs in the year following a code for asthma. Children were labelled as non-asthmatic if no asthma code was recorded in the patient file.Main outcome measuresRate of antibiotic prescriptions, related indications and type of antibiotic drugs.ResultsThe cohorts in IPCI and THIN consisted of 946 143 and 7 241 271 person years (PY), respectively. In both cohorts, antibiotic use was significantly higher in asthmatic children (IPCI: 197vs126 users/1000 PY, THIN: 374vs250 users/1000 PY). In children with asthma, part of antibiotic prescriptions were for an asthma exacerbation only (IPCI: 14%, THIN: 4%) and prescriptions were more often due to lower respiratory tract infections then in non-asthmatic children (IPCI: 18%vs13%, THIN: 21%vs12%). Drug type and quality indicators depended more on age, gender and database than on asthma status.ConclusionsUse of antibiotics was higher in asthmatic children compared with non-asthmatic children. This was mostly due to diseases for which antibiotics are normally not indicated according to guidelines. Further awareness among physicians and patients is needed to minimise antibiotic overuse and limit antibiotic resistance.
Impact of resilience on health in older adults: a cross-sectional analysis from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)
Authors: Lau Siu Yu Zoe , Guerra Ricardo Oliveira , Barbosa Juliana Fernandes de Souza , Phillips Susan P 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesSelf-rated health (SRH) is a predictor of objective health measures, including mortality and morbidity. The link between resilience and SRH among the elderly is unclear. We aim to examine whether resilience aligns with SRH and, secondarily, whether resilience can override the negative health consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACE).Design and settingWe use 2012, 2014 and 2016 data from the International Mobility in Aging Study, a longitudinal cohort study that collects survey and biophysical data from Albania, Brazil, Colombia and Canada. The main independent variables were resilience and ACE (social and economic).ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling 65–74 year olds (in 2012) were recruited through primary care registers. The sample size of the study was 1506.Primary outcomeThe outcome measure was SRH.ResultsWe found that sex, site, economic ACE, current income sufficiency, current depressive symptoms, current physical function and current resilience were associated with current SRH. In regression analyses, we showed that the association between ACE and SRH disappeared once factors such as sex, site, income, depression, physical health and resilience were considered.ConclusionsThe association between resilience and health poses a compelling argument for building resilience throughout life.