bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating menarcheal age distribution from partially recalled data
Authors: Mirzaei Salehabadi Sedigheh , Sengupta Debasis , Ghosal Rahul 
Published: March 2019

SummaryIn a cross-sectional study, adolescent and young adult females were asked to recall the time of menarche, if experienced. Some respondents recalled the date exactly, some recalled only the month or the year of the event, and some were unable to recall anything. We consider estimation of the menarcheal age distribution from this interval-censored data. A complicated interplay between age-at-event and calendar time, together with the evident fact of memory fading with time, makes the censoring informative. We propose a model where the probabilities of various types of recall would depend on the time since menarche. For parametric estimation, we model these probabilities using multinomial regression function. Establishing consistency and asymptotic normality of the parametric maximum likelihood estimator requires a bit of tweaking of the standard asymptotic theory, as the data format varies from case to case. We also provide a non-parametric maximum likelihood estimator, propose a computationally simpler approximation, and establish the consistency of both these estimators under mild conditions. We study the small sample performance of the parametric and non-parametric estimators through Monte Carlo simulations. Moreover, we provide a graphical check of the assumption of the multinomial model for the recall probabilities, which appears to hold for the menarcheal data set. Our analysis shows that the use of the partially recalled part of the data indeed leads to smaller confidence intervals of the survival function.
Functional and Structural Brain Correlates of Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Yaple Zachary A , Yu Rongjun 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSocioeconomic status (SES) is a multidimensional construct that includes not only measures of material wealth, but also education, social prestige, and neighborhood quality. Socioeconomic correlates between wealth and cognitive functions have been well established in behavioral studies. However, functional and structural brain correlates of SES remain unclear. Here, we sought to uncover the most likely neural regions to be affected by low SES, specifically associated with age. Using effect size–seed-based d Mapping, we compiled studies that examined individuals with low SES and performed functional magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry meta-analyses. The results revealed that as from early to late age, individuals exposed to low SES are less likely to have sustained executive network activity yet a greater likelihood to enhanced activity within reward-related regions. A similar activity was shown for gray matter volume across early to older age. These findings provide the first quantitative integration of neuroimaging results pertaining to the neural basis of SES. Hypoactivation of the executive network and hyperactivation of the reward network in low SES individuals may support the scarcity hypothesis and animal models of the effects of early adversity.
Epidemiology, Management, and Outcomes of Large and Small Native Joint Septic Arthritis in Adults
Authors: McBride Stephen , Mowbray Jessica , Caughey William , Wong Edbert , Luey Christopher , Siddiqui Ahsan , Alexander Zanazir , Playle Veronica , Askelund Tim , Hopkins Christopher , Quek Norman , Ross Katie , Orec Robert , Mistry Dinshaw , Coomarasamy Christin , Holland David 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundNative joint septic arthritis (NJSA) is poorly studied. We describe the epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of large joint NJSA (LNJSA) and small joint NJSA (SNJSA) in adults at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.MethodsThis was a coding-based retrospective study of patients ≥16 years old admitted between 2009 and 2014. Prosthetic joint infections were excluded.ResultsFive hundred forty-three NJSA episodes were included (302 LNJSA, 250 SNJSA). Only 40% had positive synovial fluid culture. Compared to SNJSA, LNJSA has higher incidence (13 vs 8/100 000 person-years [PY]), occurs in older, more comorbid patients, and is associated with greater rates of treatment failure (23% vs 12%) and mortality, despite longer antibiotic treatment. Total incidence is higher than previously reported (21/100 000 PY), with marked interethnic variation. Incidence rises with age (LNJSA only) and socioeconomic deprivation (LNJSA and SNJSA). Tobacco smokers and males are overrepresented. The most commonly involved joints were knee (21%) and hand interphalangeal (20%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen (53%). Mean antibiotic duration was 25 days for SNJSA and 40 days for LNJSA, and the mean number of surgical procedures was 1.5 and 1.6, respectively. Treatment failure was independently associated with LNJSA, age, intra-articular nonarthroplasty prosthesis, and number of surgical procedures.ConclusionsThis is the largest contemporary series of adult NJSA. SNJSA has better outcomes than LNJSA and may be able to be safely treated with shorter antimicrobial courses. Incidence is high, with significant ethnic and socioeconomic variation. Microbiological NJSA case ascertainment underestimates case numbers as it frequently excludes SNJSA.
Optimum lesion set and predictors of outcome in persistent atrial fibrillation ablation: a meta-regression analysis
Authors: Sau Arunashis , Al-Aidarous Sayed , Howard James , Shalhoub Joseph , Sohaib Afzal , Shun-Shin Matthew , Novak Paul G , Leather Rick , Sterns Laurence D , Lane Christopher , Kanagaratnam Prapa , Peters Nicholas S , Francis Darrel P , Sikkel Markus B 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimsAblation of persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF) has been performed by many techniques with varying success rates. This may be due to ablation techniques, patient demographics, comorbidities, and trial design. We conducted a meta-regression of studies of PsAF ablation to elucidate the factors affecting atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence.Methods and results Databases were searched for prospective studies of PsAF ablation. A meta-regression was performed. Fifty-eight studies (6767 patients) were included. Complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) ablation reduced freedom from AF by 8.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) −15 to −2.3, P = 0.009). Left atrial appendage [LAA isolation (three study arms)] increased freedom from AF by 39.5% (95% CI 9.1–78.4, P = 0.008). Posterior wall isolation (PWI) (eight study arms) increased freedom from AF by 19.4% (95% CI 3.3–38.1, P = 0.017). Linear ablation or ganglionated plexi ablation resulted in no significant effect on freedom from AF. More extensive ablation increased intraprocedural AF termination; however, intraprocedural AF termination was not associated with improved outcomes. Increased left atrial diameter was associated with a reduction in freedom from AF by 4% (95% CI −6.8% to −1.1%, P = 0.007) for every 1 mm increase in diameter.Conclusion Linear ablation, PWI, and CFAE ablation improves intraprocedural AF termination, but such termination does not predict better long-term outcomes. Study arms including PWI or LAA isolation in the lesion set were associated with improved outcomes in terms of freedom from AF; however, further randomized trials are required before these can be routinely recommended. Left atrial size is the most important marker of AF chronicity influencing outcomes.
Moderate emotional reactions to stressful life events are associated with lowest risk of increased alcohol consumption: evidence from the Whitehall II study
Authors: Dich Nadya , Doan Stacey N 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundResearch investigating the associations between stress-related negative emotions and alcohol consumption often assumes a linear dose–response relationship. Based on the current theories of emotions, we questioned this assumption and hypothesized that both very low and very high levels of negative emotional response (NER) to stressful life events are related to increased alcohol consumption.MethodsWe used data from Phases 1 (1985–88) and 2 (1989–90) of the British Whitehall II study. At both phases, participants reported on their alcohol consumption, recent stressful events and the NER to the events. Two thousand and sixteen participants without recent stressful events at baseline were selected. Logistic regression was used to model the association between emotional response at baseline and increased frequency of alcohol consumption between the two phases.ResultsThe likelihood of increased alcohol consumption increased with the number of recent stressful events. Among participants with at least one event, 17% increased alcohol consumption, compared with 14% of those who reported no events. Participants with average NER were at lowest risk (14%) of increasing alcohol consumption after major life events. Those with highest NER were significantly more likely to increase alcohol consumption (20%) than those with average NER, but the difference between those with highest NER and those with lowest NER (17%) was not statistically significant.ConclusionsIncreases in alcohol consumption following stressful events are least likely if people experience moderate levels of NER to events. Negative emotions in moderate doses should not be regarded as a risk factor for unhealthy behaviours, but rather a potentially protective factor.
Including health impacts in environmental impact assessments for three Australian coal-mining projects: a documentary analysis
Authors: Riley Emily , Sainsbury Peter , McManus Phil , Colagiuri Ruth , Viliani Francesca , Dawson Angus , Duncan Elizabeth , Stone Yolande , Pham Tracy , Harris Patrick 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Notwithstanding the historical benefits of coal in aiding human and economic development, the negative health and environmental impacts of coal extraction and processing are of increasing concern. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are a regulated policy mechanism that can be used to predict and consider the health impacts of mining projects to determine if consent is given. The ways in which health is considered within EIA is unclear. This research investigated ‘How and to what extent are health, well-being and equity issues considered in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) of major coal mining projects in New South Wales, Australia’. To this end we developed and applied a comprehensive coding framework designed to interrogate the publicly available environmental impact statements (EISs) of three mines in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, for their inclusion of health, well-being and equity issues. Analysis of the three EISs demonstrates that: the possible impacts of each mine on health and well-being were narrowly and inadequately considered; when health and well-being were considered there was a failure to assess the possible impacts specific to the particular mine and the communities potentially affected; the cumulative impacts on human health of multiple mines in the same geographical area were almost completely ignored; the discussions of intragenerational and intergenerational equity did not demonstrate a sound understanding of equity and, it is essential that governments’ requirements for the EIA include detailed analysis of the health, well-being, equity and cumulative impacts specific to the proposed mine and relevant communities.
The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Care Use in the Manitoba IBD Cohort Study
Authors: Witges Kelcie M , Bernstein Charles N , Sexton Kathryn A , Afifi Tracie , Walker John R , Nugent Zoann , Lix Lisa M 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Background
We aimed to determine the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and whether having ACEs was associated with health care utilization post-IBD diagnosis.

Method
Three hundred forty-five participants from the population-based Manitoba IBD Cohort Study self-reported ACEs (ie, physical abuse, sexual abuse, death of a very close friend or family member, severe illness or injury, upheaval between parents, and any other experience thought to significantly impacts one’s life or personality) at a median of 5.3 years following IBD diagnosis. Cohort study data were linked to administrative health databases that captured use of hospitals, physician visits, and prescription drugs; use was classified as IBD-related and non-IBD-related. Mean annual estimates of health care use were produced for the 60-month period following the ACE report. Generalized linear models (GLMs) with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with and without covariate adjustment were fit to the data.

Results
The prevalence of at least 1 ACE was 74.2%. There was no statistically significant association between having experienced an ACE and health care use. However, unadjusted mean annual non-IBD-related general practitioner visits were significantly higher for participants exposed to physical and sexual abuse than those not exposed. Selected adjusted rates of IBD-related health care use were lower for participants who reported exposure to an upheaval between parents and high perceived trauma from ACEs.

Conclusion
The estimated prevalence of at least 1 self-reported ACE in persons with diagnosed IBD was high. Health care use among those who experienced ACEs may reflect the impacts of ACE on health care anxiety.
When Linder meets Hirschman: inter-industry linkages and global value chains in business services
Authors: López González Javier , Meliciani Valentina , Savona Maria 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis article looks at the determinants of a country’s participation in business services (BS) global value chains (GVCs). BS GVCs are comparatively less explored than traditional manufacturing ones, and there is a gap in the literature on the relative positions of countries in BS GVCs and the opportunities they might open for development. This article puts forward and finds empirical support to the conjecture that the domestic structure of backward and forward linkages à la Hirschman, alongside the domestic representative demand for BS à la Linder, are of high importance. The results, based on the World Input-Output Database, suggest that the presence of strong domestic backward-linked industries to BS makes an emerging country more likely to create domestic value within BS GVC. Our findings contribute to the debate on a “premature de-industrialization” in emerging countries and on the relationship between levels of development and engagement in BS GVCs.
Chemokine Receptor 7 Is Essential for Coxiella burnetii Whole-Cell Vaccine-Induced Cellular Immunity but Dispensable for Vaccine-Mediated Protective Immunity
Authors: Chen Chen , van Schaik Erin J , Gregory Anthony E , Vigil Adam , Felgner Phillip L , Hendrix Laura R , Faris Robert , Samuel James E 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundProtective immunity against Coxiella burnetii infection is conferred by vaccination with virulent (PI-WCV), but not avirulent (PII-WCV) whole-cell inactivated bacterium. The only well-characterized antigenic difference between virulent and avirulent C. burnetii is they have smooth and rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively.MethodsMice were vaccinated with PI-WCV and PII-WCV. Humoral and cellular responses were evaluated using protein chip microarrays and ELISpots, respectively. Dendritic cell (DC) maturation after stimulation with PI-WVC and PII-WVC was evaluated using flow cytometry. Vaccine-challenge studies were performed to validate the importance of the receptor CCR7.ResultsOther than specific antibody response to PI-LPS, similar antibody profiles were observed but IgG titers were significantly higher after vaccination with PI-WCV. Furthermore, higher frequency of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells was detected in mice immunized with PI-WCV. PI-WCV–stimulated DCs displayed significantly higher levels of CCR7 and migratory ability to secondary lymphoid organs. Challenge-protection studies in wild-type and CCR7-deficient mice confirmed that CCR7 is critical for PI-WCV–induced cellular immunity.ConclusionsPI-WVC stimulates protective immunity to C. burnetii in mice through stimulation of migratory behavior in DCs for protective cellular immunity. Additionally, the humoral immune response to LPS is an important component of protective immunity.
Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study virulence and azole treatment of the emerging pathogen Candida auris
Authors: Wurster Sebastian , Bandi Ashwini , Beyda Nicholas D , Albert Nathaniel D , Raman Nitya M , Raad Isaam I , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Objectives
Candida auris is an emerging, often MDR, yeast pathogen. Efficient animal models are needed to study its pathogenicity and treatment. Therefore, we developed a C. auris fruit fly infection model.

Methods
TollI-RXA/Tollr632 female flies were infected with 10 different C. auris strains from the CDC Antimicrobial Resistance bank panel. We used three clinical Candida albicans strains as controls. For drug protection assays, fly survival was assessed along with measurement of fungal burden (cfu/g tissue) and histopathology in C. auris-infected flies fed with fluconazole- or posaconazole-containing food.

Results
Despite slower in vitro growth, all 10 C. auris isolates caused significantly greater mortality than C. albicans in infected flies, with &gt;80% of C. auris-infected flies dying by day 7 post-infection (versus 67% with C. albicans, P &lt; 0.001–0.005). Comparison of C. auris isolates from different geographical clades revealed more rapid in vitro growth of South American isolates and greater virulence in infected flies, whereas the aggregative capacity of C. auris strains had minimal impact on their growth and pathogenicity. Survival protection and decreased fungal burden of fluconazole- or posaconazole-fed flies infected with two C. auris strains were in line with the isolates’ disparate in vitro azole susceptibility. High reproducibility of survival curves for both non-treated and antifungal-treated infected flies was seen, with coefficients of variation of 0.00–0.31 for 7 day mortality.

Conclusions
Toll-deficient flies could provide a fast, reliable and inexpensive model to study pathogenesis and drug activity in C. auris candidiasis.
Goniometric Measurement of Burn Scar Contracture: A Paradigm Shift Challenging the Standard
Authors: Parry Ingrid , Richard Reg , Aden James K , Yelvington Miranda , Ware Linda , Dewey William , Jacobson Keith , Caffrey Julie , Sen Soman 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACT
Standard goniometry is the most commonly used method of assessing the range of motion (ROM) in patients with burn scar contracture. However, standard goniometry was founded on arthrokinematic principles and doesn’t consider the cutaneous biomechanical influence between adjacent joint positions and skin pliability to accommodate motion. Therefore, the use of standard goniometry to measure burn scar contracture is called into question. This prospective, multicenter, comparative study investigated the difference between standard goniometry, based on arthrokinematics and a revised goniometry protocol, based on principles of cutaneokinematics and functional positions to measure ROM outcome in burn survivors. Data were collected for 174 joints from 66 subjects at seven burn centers totaling 1044 measurements for comparison. ROM findings using the revised protocol demonstrated significantly more limitation in motion 38.8 ± 15.2% than the standard protocol 32.1 ± 13.4% (p &lt; .0001). Individual analyses of the motions likewise showed significantly more limitation with revised goniometry compared with standard goniometry for 9/11 joint motions. Pearson’s correlation showed a significant positive correlation between the percentage of cutaneous functional units scarred and ROM outcome for the revised protocol (R2 = .05, p = .0008) and the Δ between the revised and standard protocols (R2 = .04, p = .0025) but no correlation was found with the standard goniometric protocol (R2 = .015, p = .065). The results of this study support the hypothesis that standard goniometry underestimates the ROM impairment for individuals whose motion is limited by burn scars. Having measurement methods that consider the unique characteristics of skin impairment and the impact on functional positions is an important priority for both clinical reporting and future research in burn rehabilitation.
Nonlinear Household Earnings Dynamics, Self-Insurance, and Welfare
Authors: De Nardi Mariacristina , Fella Giulio , Paz-Pardo Gonzalo 
Published: March 2019

AbstractEarnings dynamics are much richer than typically assumed in macro models with heterogeneous agents. This holds for individual-pre-tax and household-post-tax earnings and across administrative and survey data. We estimate two alternative processes for household after-tax earnings and study their implications using a standard life-cycle model. Both processes feature a persistent and a transitory component, but although the first one is the canonical linear process with stationary shocks, the second one has substantially richer earnings dynamics, allowing for age-dependence of moments, non-normality, and nonlinearity in previous earnings and age. Allowing for richer earnings dynamics implies a substantially better fit of the evolution of cross-sectional consumption inequality over the life cycle and of the individual-level degree of consumption insurance against persistent earnings shocks. The richer earnings process implies lower welfare costs of earnings risk.
Non-equilibrium chemistry and destruction of CO by X-ray flares
Authors: Mackey Jonathan , Walch Stefanie , Seifried Daniel , Glover Simon C O , Wünsch Richard , Aharonian Felix 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACT
Sources of X-rays such as active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries are often variable by orders of magnitude in luminosity over time-scales of years. During and after these flares the surrounding gas is out of chemical and thermal equilibrium. We introduce a new implementation of X-ray radiative transfer coupled to a time-dependent chemical network for use in 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations. A static fractal molecular cloud is irradiated with X-rays of different intensity, and the chemical and thermal evolution of the cloud are studied. For a simulated $10^5\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ fractal cloud, an X-ray flux &lt;0.01 erg cm−2 s−1 allows the cloud to remain molecular, whereas most of the CO and H2 are destroyed for a flux of ≥1 erg cm−2 s−1. The effects of an X-ray flare, which suddenly increases the X-ray flux by 105×, are then studied. A cloud exposed to a bright flare has 99 per cent of its CO destroyed in 10–20 yr, whereas it takes &gt;103 yr for 99 per cent of the H2 to be destroyed. CO is primarily destroyed by locally generated far-UV emission from collisions between non-thermal electrons and H2; He+ only becomes an important destruction agent when the CO abundance is already very small. After the flare is over, CO re-forms and approaches its equilibrium abundance after 103–105 yr. This implies that molecular clouds close to Sgr A⋆ in the Galactic Centre may still be out of chemical equilibrium, and we predict the existence of clouds near flaring X-ray sources in which CO has been mostly destroyed but H is fully molecular.