bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Government Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from the EU Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme
Authors: Whitford Andrew B. , Provost Colin 
Published: December 2018

AbstractGovernments play an active role in promoting corporate social responsibility and specifically environmental management system (EMS) programs, but few studies have examined the impact of such support on the decision of businesses to adopt EMS programs. We ask two questions in this paper: how does government support for EMS programs affect adoption of such programs? Second, what effect does this government support have on the pace of adoption of such programs? The answer to the first question can reveal how effective government programs are in boosting membership in EMS programs. The answer to the second reveals to what extent businesses within EU member states are converging upon particular EMS standards. We examine these questions in the context of the European Union’s Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), 2010–2014. There is significant variation in government support of EMAS across the EU and at the same time, EMAS competes for business attention with the more established ISO 14001. Our quantitative and qualitative analyses therefore reveal the effectiveness of government programs in boosting adoption, but also to the extent to which such programs cause convergence upon EMAS in the face of a competing standard such as ISO 14001.
Biotic forcing militates against river meandering in the modern Bonneville Basin of Utah
Authors: Ielpi Alessandro , Lapôtre Mathieu G. A. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBiotic forcing on river meandering is a highly debated topic in sedimentology. Vegetation is assumed to hold a vital role on channel stability and sinuosity, for example through bank stabilization and pedogenic production of cohesive clays. However, statistically solid and causal relationships between vegetation density and river sinuosity remain largely untested in natural systems. This study investigates physical and biotic forcings on channel sinuosity in the Bonneville Basin of Utah (USA), an endorheic depression flanked by active fluvial networks (‘washes’) that display diverse vegetation density and channel‐planform style. By means of remote sensing and ground‐data collection, 58 washes are considered, 0·1 to 90 km2 in surface area and drained by trunk channels <45 m wide and <1·2 m deep. Each wash is composed of a catchment basin connected downstream to an aggradational and distributive channel network. Statistically solid regressions highlight the primary roles played by base level and catchment size on fluvial morphogenesis. In contrast, no correlation is found between vegetation density and other parameters such as trunk‐channel width or surface area of the largest meander in a wash. Similarly, no statistical correlation exists between vegetation density and meander size or sinuosity index. Rather, larger and more sinuous meanders are invariably associated with lower vegetation density. These results are corroborated by field evidence showing that sparse vegetation promotes flow disturbance, channel branching and bar braiding instead of stabilizing sediment surfaces. Thus, river meandering is attributed to cohesion offered by mud retention within the endorheic basin, as well as discharge and stream‐power modulation along bifurcating and low‐gradient channel reaches. Hence, this work demonstrates how meandering‐channel patterns may arise from entirely physical forcings in the absence of vegetation.
A factor model approach for the joint segmentation with between‐series correlation
Authors: Collilieux Xavier , Lebarbier Emilie , Robin Stéphane 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWe consider the detection of changes in the mean of a set of time series. The breakpoints are allowed to be series specific, and the series are assumed to be correlated. The correlation between the series is supposed to be constant along time but is allowed to take an arbitrary form. We show that such a dependence structure can be encoded in a factor model. Thanks to this representation, the inference of the breakpoints can be achieved via dynamic programming, which remains one the most efficient algorithms. We propose a model selection procedure to determine both the number of breakpoints and the number of factors. This proposed method is implemented in theFASegR package, which is available on the CRAN. We demonstrate the performances of our procedure through simulation experiments and present an application to geodesic data.
Effects of oral curcumin ingested before or after eccentric exercise on markers of muscle damage and inflammation
Authors: Tanabe Yoko , Chino Kentaro , Ohnishi Takahiro , Ozawa Hitomi , Sagayama Hiroyuki , Maeda Seiji , Takahashi Hideyuki 
Published: December 2018

We examined the effect of curcumin (CUR) ingestion before or after exercise on changes in muscle damage and inflammatory responses after exercise. We conducted two parallel experiments with different CUR ingestion timings using a double‐blind crossover. In Exp. 1, ten healthy men ingested 180 mg d−1 of CUR or placebo (PLA) 7 days before exercise. In Exp. 2, ten other healthy men ingested 180 mg d−1 of CUR or PLA 7 days after exercise. They performed 30 maximal isokinetic (120°s−1) eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors using an isokinetic dynamometer, and this was repeated with the other arm ≥4 weeks later. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque of the elbow flexors, elbow joint range of motion (ROM), muscle soreness, and serum creatine kinase (CK) activity were measured before, immediately after, and 1‐7 days after exercise. Plasma interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) was measured before, immediately after, 12 hours after, and 1‐7 days after exercise. The changes were compared over time. In Exp. 1, no significant differences were found between CUR and PLA subjects for each parameter. However, increases in IL‐8 were significantly reduced 12 hours after exercise when CUR was ingested before exercise. In Exp. 2, compared to the PLA subjects, MVC torque and ROM were higher 3‐7 days and 2‐7 days after exercise (P < 0.05), respectively, whereas muscle soreness and CK activity were lower 3‐6 days and 5‐7 days after exercise (P < 0.05), respectively, in CUR subjects. CUR ingestion before exercise could attenuate acute inflammation, and after exercise could attenuate muscle damage and facilitate faster recovery.
Interrelation between empathy and friendship development during (pre)adolescence and the moderating effect of developmental language disorder: A longitudinal study
Authors: van den Bedem Neeltje P. , Willems Danique , Dockrell Julie E. , van Alphen Petra M. , Rieffe Carolien 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe association between empathy and friendship quality in children and adolescents is well established, but longitudinal studies are lacking. Because social interactions typically involve language, these relations might be moderated by children's communication problems. The current study examined the interrelation of friendship quality (positive and negative) and empathy (affective, cognitive, and prosocial motivation) development of 317 children (8–16 years old) at three time points across 18 months. Of these children 112 had a developmental language disorder (DLD). Results confirmed a bidirectional relation between empathy and friendship quality across time. Cognitive empathy and prosocial motivation contributed to the development of more positive friendship features in children with and without DLD. For children with unstable friendships, more cognitive empathy was related to fewer negative friendship features. Positive friendship features in turn contributed to higher empathy on all three aspects. Negative friendship features were related to higher affective empathy and lower prosocial motivation in both groups, but did not predict empathy development across time. These results imply that positive friendship features are important for development of empathic skills and vice versa that empathy enables children to grow in friendship quality in children with and without DLD.
Digital by default? A qualitative study of exclusion in digitalised welfare
Authors: Schou Jannick , Pors Anja Svejgaard 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDigitalisation reforms have become increasingly pervasive across European welfare agencies and public sector institutions. As welfare provision becomes premised on the use of digital technologies, often in the form of “self‐service” solutions, new demands are imposed on citizens, including already disadvantaged groups. Although existing research has showcased how digitalisation often reproduces existing lines of stratification, little to no work has been conducted on such processes in the context of welfare provision and public administration. Through a study of citizen service centres in Denmark, based on ethnographic observations and qualitative interviews, this article analyses the new exclusionary mechanisms that emerge at the frontline of the digital agenda. The article argues that digitalised welfare agencies simultaneously sustain existing lines of social stratification and enhance these by producing new forms of digital exclusion. Taken together, the article contributes with new knowledge on the impact of digitalisation policies and their exclusionary consequences for disadvantaged citizens.
Brecciation driven by changes in fluid column heights
Authors: Peacock David C. P. , Rotevatn Atle , Sanderson David J. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA mechanism is presented for the pulses of high fluid pressure (PF) necessary for fluid‐assisted brecciation. Establishment of hydraulic‐ or pneumatic‐connectivity between rock masses with different PF can cause overpressure in the higher rocks because the PF gradient is parallel to the hydrostatic gradient (the centroid effect). PF can become high enough to create a fracture network, with an influx of fluids and mineralisation occurring as fluids migrate to areas of lower PF. Changes in PF caused by the centroid effect can cause other structures and seismicity.
Long‐term survival and clinical forms in the acute phase of Chikungunya virus infection in older Caribbeans
Authors: Godaert Lidvine , Bartholet Seendy , Najioullah Fatiha , Andrianasolo Hanitra , Kanagaratnam Lukshe , Joachim Clarisse , Césaire Raymond , Fanon Jean‐Luc , Dramé Moustapha 
Published: December 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether the long‐term survival in elderly patients with prior Chikungunya virus infection (CVI) is associated with the clinical form presented in the acute phase, as defined by the WHO classification.MethodsRetrospective cohort study performed in Martinique University Hospitals. Patients who attended the emergency department for suspected CVI, and who had a positive biological diagnosis of CVI by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction on a plasma sample between 10 January and 31 December 2014 were eligible for inclusion. Time‐to‐death was the primary outcome. The independent relationship between clinical forms and time‐to‐death was analysed using a Cox model.ResultsIn total, 268 patients were included. Mean age was 80 ± 8 years, 53% were women. Median length of follow‐up was 28 months (range: 0–39). During follow‐up, 53 (19.8%) patients died. Median survival time was 13.2 months (range: 0–33.6). At the end of follow‐up, death rates were 4.6% for acute clinical cases, 19.0% for atypical cases, 19.2% for severe acute cases and 23.5% for unclassifiable cases. By multivariable analysis, the clinical form of CVI at admission was found to be independently associated with long‐term survival (atypical form: HR = 2.38; 95% CI = 2.15–2.62; severe acute form: HR = 2.40; 95% CI = 2.17–2.64; unclassifiable form: HR = 2.28; 95% CI = 2.06–2.51).ConclusionThe clinical form at presentation with CVI has a significant impact on long‐term survival. Management of CVI patients should be tailored according to their clinical form at admission.
The willingness to participate in biomedical research involving human beings in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review
Authors: Browne Joyce L. , Rees Connie O. , van Delden Johannes J. M. , Agyepong Irene , Grobbee Diederick E. , Edwin Ama , Klipstein‐Grobusch Kerstin , van der Graaf Rieke 
Published: December 2018

AbstractObjectivesTo systematically review reasons for the willingness to participate in biomedical human subjects research in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs).MethodsFive databases were systematically searched for articles published between 2000 and 2017 containing the domain of ‘human subjects research’ in ‘LMICs’ and determinant ‘reasons for (non)participation’. Reasons mentioned were extracted, ranked and results narratively described.ResultsNinety‐four articles were included, 44 qualitative and 50 mixed‐methods studies. Altruism, personal health benefits, access to health care, monetary benefit, knowledge, social support and trust were the most important reasons for participation. Primary reasons for non‐participation were safety concerns, inconvenience, stigmatisation, lack of social support, confidentiality concerns, physical pain, efficacy concerns and distrust. Stigmatisation was a major concern in relation to HIV research. Reasons were similar across different regions, gender, non‐patient or patient participants and real or hypothetical study designs.ConclusionsAddressing factors that affect (non‐)participation in the planning process and during the conduct of research may enhance voluntary consent to participation and reduce barriers for potential participants.
Detection of Mansonella ozzardi among blood donors from highly endemic interior cities of Amazonas state, northern Brazil
Authors: Abrahim Claudia M. M. , Py‐Daniel Victor , Luz Sergio L. B. , Fraiji Nelson A. , Stefani Mariane M. A. 
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUNDIn the Brazilian Amazon, the filarial nematode Mansonella ozzardi co‐exists with malaria parasites and thick blood smear microscopy is considered the diagnostic gold standard. Transfusion of M. ozzardi microfilariae does not establish new infections, however microfilariae can survive approximately 2 years in blood‐recipients with unknown risk of pathology. Data on transfusion‐transmitted filariasis are lacking. This study investigated M. ozzardi parasitemias in blood donors from decentralized centers of “Fundação Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Estado do Amazonas/HEMOAM,” Northern Brazil.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSCross‐sectional investigation employing blood smear microscopy (n = 356) and qualitative nested‐M. ozzardi‐PCR (227 out of 356) in donor candidates from 19 hemocenters in interior/rural municipalities of Amazonas state. FINDINGS: Participants were mostly young males. Positivity by microscopy was 7.9% (28 out of 356) and 23.8% by M. ozzardi‐PCR (54 out of 227). Parasitaemias were found in 16 out of 19 municipalities. In 54 M. ozzardi‐positives, 24 were ineligible; among 30 that donated, 27 were interdicted by seropositivity (22 anti‐HBc, 3 anti‐HBc + HBsAg, 1 Chagas+malaria, 1 VDRL). Seropositivty was higher in M. ozzardi‐PCR‐positives vs M. ozzardi‐PCR‐negatives (OR = 15.8, 95% CI 4.5–56.1, p < 0.0001). Three M. ozzardi contaminated blood units were transfused, but no follow‐up information on the recipients is available.MAIN CONCLUSIONSOur study provides important baseline data on M. ozzardi among blood donors from the Brazilian Amazon. Further investigations in endemic areas are necessary to clarify possible association between M. ozzardi and other infections and also to elucidate whether there is any significant clinical effect upon transfusion of contaminated blood.
Trade barriers or trade facilitators? The heterogeneous impact of food standards in international trade
Authors: Medin Hege 
Published: December 2018

AbstractRecent research shows that the effect of food standards can be heterogeneous across sectors or countries: they sometimes act as barriers to trade, but in other cases may lead to increased trade. I present empirical evidence on Norwegian seafood exports showing that foreign food standards, measured by sanitary and phytosanitary notifications to the WTO, generally have a negative impact on total exports, the number of exporters and their average exports. However, for fresh seafood, there is a positive counteracting effect. I present a theoretical explanation for this, suggesting that food standards reduce consumer uncertainty about quality and safety and therefore increase demand.
Maternal HPA‐1a antibody level and its role in predicting the severity of Fetal/Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia: a systematic review
Authors: Kjær Mette , Bertrand Gerald , Bakchoul Tamam , Massey Edwin , Baker Jillian M. , Lieberman Lani , Tanael Susano , Greinacher Andreas , Murphy Michael F. , Arnold Donald M. , Baidya Shoma , Bussel James , Hume Heather , Kaplan Cécile , Oepkes Dick , Ryan Greg , Savoia Helen , Shehata Nadine , Kjeldsen‐Kragh Jens ,   International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines
Published: December 2018

Background and ObjectivesIn Caucasians, fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is most commonly due to maternal HPA‐1a antibodies. HPA‐1a typing followed by screening for anti‐HPA‐1a antibodies in HPA‐1bb women may identify first pregnancies at risk. Our goal was to review results from previous published studies to examine whether the maternal antibody level to HPA‐1a could be used to identify high‐risk pregnancies.Materials and MethodsThe studies included were categorized by recruitment strategies: screening of unselected pregnancies or samples analyzed from known or suspected FNAIT patients.ResultsThree prospective studies reported results from screening programmes, and 10 retrospective studies focused on suspected cases of FNAIT. In 8 studies samples for antibody measurement, performed by the monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigen (MAIPA) assay, and samples for determining fetal/neonatal platelet count were collected simultaneously. In these 8 studies, the maternal antibody level correlated with the risk of severe thrombocytopenia. The prospective studies reported high negative predictive values (88–95%), which would allow for the use of maternal anti‐HPA‐1a antibody level as a predictive tool in a screening setting, in order to identify cases at low risk for FNAIT. However, due to low positive predictive values reported in prospective as well as retrospective studies (54–97%), the maternal antibody level is less suited for the final diagnosis and for guiding antenatal treatment.ConclusionHPA‐1a antibody level has the potential to predict the severity of FNAIT.
Modelling the risk of transfusion‐transmitted syphilis: a reconsideration of blood donation testing strategies
Authors: Jayawardena Thisuri , Hoad Veronica , Styles Claire , Seed Clive , Bentley Peter , Clifford Vanessa , Lacey Sarina , Gastrell Tessa 
Published: December 2018

Background and ObjectivesDonor syphilis testing began in the 1940s amidst widespread transfusion‐transmitted syphilis (TTS). Since then, the introduction of penicillin, pre‐donation screening questionnaires and improved storage conditions have contributed to reducing transmission risk. Consequently, universal testing may no longer be cost‐effective. This study analysed alternative options for donor syphilis testing to determine the optimal strategy.Materials and MethodsA model was developed using conservative parameter estimates for factors affecting TTS and 2009‐2015 Australian donations to calculate risk outcomes (TTS infections, tertiary syphilis in recipients and transfusion‐associated congenital syphilis) and cost‐effectiveness of alternative testing strategies. The strategies modelled were as follows: universal testing, targeted‐testing of high‐risk groups (males ≤50 years old and first‐time donors) and no testing.ResultsThe estimated risk of TTS is one in 49·5 million transfusions for universal testing, one in 6 million for targeted‐testing of males ≤50 years old, one in 4 million for targeted‐testing of first‐time donors and one in 2·8 million for no testing. For all strategies, the risk of tertiary and congenital syphilis is <1 in 100 million. Universal testing is the least cost‐effective strategy with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) estimated at $538·5 million per disability‐adjusted life year averted.ConclusionUniversal testing is not required to maintain the risk of TTS within tolerable limits and is estimated to greatly exceed acceptable ICERs for blood safety interventions. However, despite a strong economic and risk‐based rationale, given the epidemiology of syphilis in Australia is changing, feedback from critical stakeholders is not currently supportive of reducing testing.
Red cell transfusion thresholds in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Tinmouth Alan , Tay Jason 
Published: December 2018

Red cell transfusions are part of the routine supportive care following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. There is increasing evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrating that restrictive transfusion thresholds are equivalent to liberal thresholds in other patient populations. However, given the lack of patient‐centred outcomes and the longer transfusion support required for patients with haematologic malignancies, the results of these trials may not be generalizable to haematology–oncology patients. In the recently completed multicentre TRIST trial, we randomized 300 patients requiring an autologous or allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation to either a restrictive (haemoglobin threshold <70 g/l) or liberal (haemoglobin threshold <90 g/l) red cell transfusion strategy. Our primary outcome was health‐related quality of life measured by FACT‐BMT through day 100 post‐transplant. The median number of red cell units transfused was lower in the restrictive strategy group (2 vs. 4). The FACT‐BMT total score was higher at all time points for patients in the restrictive transfusion group including at baseline (109 vs. 103) and at 100 days (116·3 vs. 109·2). After adjustment for baseline, the FACT‐BMT score at day 100 in the restrictive group was statistically non‐inferior to the liberal group (P < 0·0001). There were no significant differences between the two groups for any other clinical outcomes. Based on the results of the TRIST trial, a restrictive haemoglobin threshold of 70 g/l should become standard practice in haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, and, given the lack of other clinical studies, all other haematology–oncology inpatients.
Impact of irrigation water quality and envelope materials around drip line on emitter performance in subsurface drip irrigation
Authors: Al‐Mefleh Naji K. , Al‐Raja O’badah F. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA field experiment was conducted to study the effect of water quality types of fresh water (FW) and treated wastewater (TWW) and envelope materials of coarse sand (CS), fine sand (FS), and control (CO) on emitter performance, dry matter yield (DMY), and water use efficiency (WUE) under subsurface drip irrigation.The main interaction effect of water quality type and envelope material on coefficient of variation, Christiansen uniformity coefficient, and emission uniformity was not significant (P < 0.05), but they have a significant effect on the average emitter discharge (Qavg), DMY, and WUE. The means of Qavg for FW with CS, FS, and CO were 7.13, 6.94, 2.65 L/h, and for TWW, they were 6.78, 6.84, and 2.35 L/h, respectively. The DMY under FW with CS, FS, and CO was 3083.87, 1367.95, and 417.45 kg/ha, and under the TWW, it was 2409.5, 1347.4, and 417 kg/ha, respectively.