bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adverse Birth Outcomes among Nulliparous vs. Multiparous Women
Authors: Miranda Marie Lynn , Edwards Sharon E. , Myers Evan R. 
Published: July 2017

Objectives. Previous studies indicate that nulliparous women (i.e., women having no previous births) are at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes than multiparous women (i.e., women having had at least one previous birth). We examined whether part of the difference in adverse outcome rates is attributable to nulliparous women with poor pregnancy outcomes being less likely (through choice or fecundity differences) to have a subsequent live birth within the same time period as nulliparous women without adverse outcomes. Methods. Using deterministic matching, we linked nulliparous women from the North Carolina Detailed Birth Record to subsequent births. We employed statistical and simulation-based analyses to estimate first birth outcome rate differences between nulliparous women who did have a subsequent live birth vs. those who did not. Our Markov simulations focused on preterm birth (PTB). Results. Among nulliparous women who were not linked to a second birth, maternal age-adjusted rates of multiple adverse outcomes were all statistically higher compared with rates for linked women. These results also held in race/ethnicity-specific analyses. Simulations found that the relative risk of PTB associated with a history of PTB was underestimated if some women who would have been at risk for PTB did not experience a second birth. Conclusions. The observed differences in rates of adverse outcomes between nulliparous and multiparous women are partly attributable to higher-risk women not having a subsequent live birth, either by choice or due to fecundity differences.
Adverse Respiratory Symptoms and Environmental Exposures among Children and Adolescents following Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Rath Barbara , Young Elizabeth A. , Harris Amy , Perrin Keith , Bronfin Daniel R. , Ratard Raoult , VanDyke Russell , Goldshore Matthew , Magnus Manya 
Published: July 2017

Objectives. Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to environmental exposures and their respiratory effects. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, residents experienced multiple adverse environmental exposures. We characterized the association between upper respiratory symptoms (URS) and lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) and environmental exposures among children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study following the return of the population to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (October 2005 and February 2006) among a convenience sample of children and adolescents attending New Orleans health facilities. We used uni-, bi-, and multivariable analyses to describe participants, exposures, and associations with URS/LRS. Results. Of 1,243 participants, 47% were Caucasian, 50% were male, and 72% were younger than 11 years of age. Multiple environmental exposures were identified during and after the storm and at current residences: roof/glass/storm damage (50%), outside mold (22%), dust (18%), and flood damage (15%). Self-reported URS and LRS (76% and 36%, respectively) were higher after the hurricane than before the hurricane (22% and 9%, respectively, p<0.0001). Roof/glass/storm damage at home was associated with URS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15, 2.21) and LRS (AOR=1.35, 95% CI 1.01, 1.80), while mold growth at home was associated with LRS (AOR=1.47, 95% CI 1.02, 2.12). Conclusions. Children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina experienced environmental exposures associated with increased prevalence of reported URS and LRS. Additional research is needed to investigate the long-term health impacts of Hurricane Katrina.
Creating and Using New Data Sources to Analyze the Relationship between Social Policy and Global Health: The Case of Maternal Leave
Authors: Heymann Jody , Raub Amy , Earle Alison 
Published: July 2017

Objectives. Operating at a societal level, public policy is often one of our best approaches to addressing social determinants of health (SDH). Yet, limited data availability has constrained past research on how national social policy choices affect health outcomes. We developed a new data infrastructure to illustrate how globally comparative data on labor policy might be used to examine the impact of social policy on health. Methods. We used multivariate ordinary least squares regression models to examine the relationship between the duration of paid maternal leave and neonatal, infant, and child mortality rates in 141 countries when controlling for overall resources available to meet basic needs measured by per capita gross domestic product, total and government health expenditures, female literacy, and basic health care and public health provision. Results. An increase of 10 full-time-equivalent weeks of paid maternal leave was associated with a 10% lower neonatal and infant mortality rate ( p≤0.001) and a 9% lower rate of mortality in children younger than 5 years of age ( p≤0.001). Paid maternal leave is associated with significantly lower neonatal, infant, and child mortality in non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and OECD countries. Conclusions. This preliminary study, using newly available worldwide policy data, demonstrates the potential strength of using globally comparative data to examine SDH. Further data development to make multilevel modeling of the impact of labor conditions possible and to broaden which social policies can be examined is a critical next step.
A Tale of Two Gonorrhea Epidemics: Results from the STD Surveillance Network
Authors: Newman Lori Marie , Dowell Deborah , Bernstein Kyle , Donnelly Jennifer , Martins Summer , Stenger Mark , Stover Jeffrey , Weinstock Hillard 
Published: July 2017

Objective. An increasing proportion of gonorrhea in the United States is diagnosed in the private sector, posing a challenge to existing national surveillance systems. We described gonorrhea epidemiology outside sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic settings. Methods. Through the STD Surveillance Network (SSuN), health departments in the San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, and Richmond, Virginia, metropolitan areas interviewed systematic samples of men and women reported with gonorrhea by non-STD clinic providers from 2006 through 2008. Results. Of 2,138 interviews, 10.0% were from San Francisco, 26.4% were from Seattle, 25.2% were from Denver, 22.9% were from Minneapolis, and 15.5% were from Richmond. A total of 1,165 women were interviewed; 70.1% (815/1,163) were ≤24 years of age, 51.3% (598/1,165) were non-Hispanic black, and 19.0% (213/1,121) reported recent incarceration of self or sex partner. Among 610 men who have sex with only women, 50.9% were ≤24 years of age, 65.1% were non-Hispanic black, 14.1% reported incarceration of self or sex partner, and 16.7% reported anonymous sex. Among 363 men who have sex with men (MSM), 20.9% were ≤24 years of age, 61.6% were non-Hispanic white, 39.8% reported anonymous sex, 35.7% reported using the Internet to meet sex partners, and 12.1% reported methamphetamine use. Conclusions. These data identified two concurrent gonorrhea epidemics in minority populations: a young, black, heterosexual epidemic with frequently reported recent incarceration, and an older, mostly white MSM epidemic with more frequently reported anonymous sex, Internet use to meet sex partners, and methamphetamine use.
A Design Procedure for Large Spherical Domes under External Pressure
Authors: Krishnamachari S. I. , Broutman L. J. 
Published: July 2017

Large, thinwalled, spherical domes are favored as view windows in underwater leisure vehicles. Such domes are made of polycarbonate material for clarity. Also, their design and construction are governed by the applicable ASME Code [1]. At the basis of the said ASME standard are small aperture windows subjected to high pressure, such as those used in very deep sea research vehicles. However, the leisure vehicles are different both in size and the applied external pressure. Such domes need to be designed against buckling. Buckling of apparently symmetrical shapes can be unsymmetrical due to thickness variations, property variations, orientations, non-linear behavior of the material, hydraulic gradients of the pressure over the dome surface, and fluctuations of external pressure due to waves. Furthermore, the theoretical mode shapes for perfect, thin walled, symmetrical shells can themselves be unsymmetrical. Thus, one needs to recognize the shell buckling in unsymmetrical mode, at a pressure far less than the critical pressure predicted by linear elastic theories; also, the corresponding mode shape does not necessarily relate to the lowest mode. In this paper, an extra-code viewpoint is discussed for the design of large view diameter domes for functionality. An example is used to simulate the buckling process by the finite element method. Lastly, a design procedure is proposed which essentially assumes the experimentally observed lower buckling pressures as the basis rather than the linear elastic buckling formulas.
Shrinkage Analysis of Molded Parts Using Neural Network
Authors: Lee Sang Chan , Youn Jae Ryoun 
Published: July 2017

To predict the shrinkage of molded parts using numerical simulations, the mathematical model should be simplified to overcome the difficulties of formulation due to non-linearity of problems. It is hard to predict the shrinkage exactly because of the simplification. In the present work, the neural network is used to predict the shrinkage which can implement nonlinear models very well. Comparison between the results of neural network and that of the commercial analysis software, ABAQUS, shows that the result of the neural network is in better agreement with that of the experiments.
Design and Analysis of Spiral Mandrel Dies for Wire Coating Application
Authors: Schläfli Daniel 
Published: July 2017

Spiral mandrel dies are commonly used for pipe and blown film extrusion. Despite their attractive properties they have not been used for wire-coating applications, because the feeding of the rather large number of spirals led to designs with unacceptably high pressure losses. A design procedure using only a few spiral channels avoids the aforementioned drawbacks and is suitable for wire-coating applications. Backed up by experimental data and a numerical flow analysis, excellent results in terms of concentricity and regularity can be obtained.
Stability of Disodium Sulfobenzylpenicillin in Large Volume Parenteral Solutions
Authors: Fukuchi Hiroshi , Yoshida Minoru , Kumagai Michio , Kitaura Teruaki 
Published: July 2017

The stability of disodium sulfobenzylpenicillin (SB-PC) in several large-volume parenteral solutions was studied. A study was also made of the influences of other additive drugs upon the stability of SB-PC in SB-PC IV fluid admixtures. Quantitative determinations were made by iodometry of the residual rate over time of SB-PC. The residual rate of SB-PC in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU injection)-10 percent glucose admixture was 67 percent after 24 hours at 25 °C, (77 °F) and in aminophylline (aminophylline injection J.P.)-10 percent glucose admixture it was 54 percent after 24 hours. It was found that the decomposition of SB-PC was due to amines which were added to these injections. In an admixture of amino acid and SB-PC, the residual rate of SB-PC decreased linearly with the increase in amino acid concentration. In the 12 kinds of amino acids used in this study, the greatest decrease was observed in the admixture with lysine, the residual rate being 76.7 percent. For the study of degradation products of SB-PC, thin layer chromatography was employed and a spot of the degradation product was detected at an Rf value of 0.2.
Choosing instrument disinfectants and processors
Authors: JR Babb , CR Bradley 
Published: July 2017

The thorough cleaning and high-level disinfection or sterilisation of heat sensitive instruments and equipment, preferably using a validated washer disinfector and an effective, non-damaging disinfectant, will minimise the risk of infection, prolong the life of the device and protect the quality of diagnostic samples. No disinfectant or washer disinfector meets all the preferred selection criteria at present, but a careful appraisal of the options, using the criteria outlined, will enable you to choose a processor and disinfectant that more nearly meet your requirements.
Expression of Ciona intestinalis AOX causes male reproductive defects in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Saari Sina , Andjelković Ana , Garcia Geovana S. , Jacobs Howard T. , Oliveira Marcos T. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Background
Mitochondrial alternative respiratory-chain enzymes are phylogenetically widespread, and buffer stresses affecting oxidative phosphorylation in species that possess them. However, they have been lost in the evolutionary lineages leading to vertebrates and arthropods, raising the question as to what survival or reproductive disadvantages they confer. Recent interest in using them in therapy lends a biomedical dimension to this question.

Methods
Here, we examined the impact of the expression of Ciona intestinalis alternative oxidase, AOX, on the reproductive success of Drosophila melanogaster males. Sperm-competition assays were performed between flies carrying three copies of a ubiquitously expressed AOX construct, driven by the α-tubulin promoter, and wild-type males of the same genetic background.

Results
In sperm-competition assays, AOX conferred a substantial disadvantage, associated with decreased production of mature sperm. Sperm differentiation appeared to proceed until the last stages, but was spatially deranged, with spermatozoids retained in the testis instead of being released to the seminal vesicle. High AOX expression was detected in the outermost cell-layer of the testis sheath, which we hypothesize may disrupt a signal required for sperm maturation.

Conclusions
AOX expression in Drosophila thus has effects that are deleterious to male reproductive function. Our results imply that AOX therapy must be developed with caution.
Parity and Risk of Thyroid Autoimmunity Based on the NHANES (2001–2002, 2007–2008, 2009–2010, and 2011–2012)
Authors: Yehuda Marelle , Wang Chia-Hao , Pak Youngju , Chiu Ken C , Gianoukakis Andrew G 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

Context
Autoimmune thyroid disease is more common in women than in men. Fetal microchimerism has been implicated as a potential explanation for this disparity.

Objective
The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between parity and thyroid autoimmunity in the US population.

Design, Setting, Patients
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to identify females with antithyroperoxidase (TPOAb) and antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) measurements and parity data. Subjects (n = 4864) were categorized as never pregnant (n = 909) or previously pregnant (n = 3955). The association of parity with thyroid autoantibodies was examined both qualitatively and quantitatively. Thyroid autoimmunity was defined as TPOAb and/or TgAb titers above the reference limits.

Results
Previous pregnancy carried an odds ratio (OR) of 1.55 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26 to 1.91] for thyroid autoimmunity compared with never pregnant. Number of pregnancies was associated with thyroid autoimmunity: OR = 1.37 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.84); 1.4 (95% CI: 1.08 to 1.81); 1.52 (95% CI: 1.18 to 1.96); and 1.73 (95% CI: 1.38 to 2.18) for 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 pregnancies, respectively. Because ever-pregnant women differed in several variables—age, race, smoking status, history of thyroid disease, and urinary iodine level—from never-pregnant women (P &lt; 0.001), a multivariate regression analysis was performed, which showed no association of pregnancy with thyroid autoimmunity. The association was further examined utilizing an age-matched analysis, which confirmed the absence of an association between thyroid autoimmunity and parity.

Conclusion
Although we initially observed a strong association between parity and thyroid autoimmunity, after controlling for age and other variables, we were unable to identify an association.
Optimal Pricing of Correlated Product Options Under the Paired Combinatorial Logit Model
Authors: Li Hongmin , Webster Scott 
Published: July 2017

In this paper, we study price optimization with price-demand relationships captured by the paired combinatorial logit (PCL) model, which overcomes restrictions of the well-studied multinomial logit (MNL) and nested logit (NL) models. The PCL model allows for choice-correlation and, like the NL model, includes the MNL model as a special case. Compared to the NL models, the PCL model does not restrict the sequence of the choice structure and allows for different covariances among all pairs of choices. This additional flexibility in structure enables a more accurate representation of some choice settings and broadens its empirical applications. Hence, it is of both theoretical and practical interests to extend the normative studies on the MNL and NL models to the PCL model and examine the pricing problem under this model. Due to cross-nesting of choice alternatives, the pricing problem under the PCL model poses a greater challenge than the MNL and NL models. However, using the concept of P-matrix, we are able to identify conditions for a unique optimal price solution and develop an efficient and theoretically sound approach for finding the optimal prices. We show that the analysis and solution approach are generalizable to other GEV family models with cross-nested alternatives. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1614 .
Reading Makers
Authors: Stoyanova Minka 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Since its inception, digital and interactive art has been forced to negotiate the tension between the inherently spectacular nature of the technologies it uses and the desire of creators to embed relevant critical stances within the work. With the recent rise of “maker” or DIY culture, this negotiation has become even more pronounced as the production of technologies becomes more accessible and (allegedly) more democratized. In addition, our relationship with technology is becoming increasingly intimate. Whereas machines once could have been read as tools, through which we would enact our individualized wills, they now implicate themselves into our mental processes, our bodies and (one could argue) our very being. Within this cyborgian construction we risk mindless acceptance and integration of the particular logical models technology and its producers bring to the merger. A tension arises between our need to understand or recognize the logic which drives our lives and the technology, which often seeks to obfuscate that logic. This paper, through the application of philosophy of technology to a specific maker subculture - as it has been adopted by a movement in fine art (art and technology) - situates making as a form of artistic practice at the intersection of these ideas. As a mode by which technologically inclined artists can navigate the spectacular and the critical in their work, making allows these artists to enact criticality through revealing underlying technical (and social) logic in the systems (and objects) with which they engage. Thus, this paper will trace the philosophical foundations of this critical approach and finally analyse a series of works that reveal strategies through which “making” as a mode of “revealing” has been refined by artists as a critical approach to embedded technological systems.
The influence of shear stress on the adhesion capacity of Legionella pneumophila
Authors: Oder Martina , Fink Rok , Bohinc Klemen , Torkar Karmen Godič 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Bacterial adhesion is a complex process influenced by many factors, including hydrodynamic conditions. They affect the transfer of oxygen, nutrients, and bacterial cells in a water supply and cooling systems. The aim of this study was to identify hydrodynamic effects on bacterial adhesion to and detachment from stainless steel surfaces. For this purpose we observed the behaviour of bacterium L. pneumophila in no-flow and laminar and turbulent flow conditions simulated in a fluid flow chamber. The bacterial growth in no-flow and laminar flow conditions was almost identical in the first 24 h, while at 48 and 72 h of incubation, the laminar flow stimulated bacterial growth. In the second part of this study we found that laminar flow accelerated bacterial adhesion in the first 48 h, but after 72 h the amount of bacterial cells exposed to the flow dropped, probably due to detachment. In the third part we found that the turbulent flow detached more bacterial cells than the laminar, which indicates that the strength of shear forces determines the rate of bacterial removal.
An Automatic Synthesis of Musical Phrases from Multi-Pitch Samples
Authors: Pluta Marek , Spalek Leszek J. , Delekta Rafał J. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Sound synthesizers are a natural element of a musician’s toolset. In music arrangement, samplers can often produce satisfactory results, but it requires a combination of manual and automatic methods that may be arduous at times. Concatenative Sound Synthesis reproduces many of natural performance- and expression-related nuances but at a cost of high demand for processing power. Here, another method of musical phrase synthesis aimed at music arrangement is presented that addresses these and other related issues. Contrary to common practice, we propose to record and utilize sound samples containing not one,but short sequences of pitches. In effect, natural pitch transitions are preserved and phrases appear to be much smoother, despite using very limited set of performance rules. The proof-of-concept implementation of the proposed method is discussed in detail along with attempts at optimizing the final sound effects, based on auditory tests. The limitations and future applications of the synthesizer are also discussed.
Measurement of Earmuffs Attenuation at High Audible Frequencies
Authors: Kozłowski Emil , Młyński Rafał 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Standardised measurements of sound attenuation of hearing protectors are performed in the frequency range from 125 Hz to 8 kHz. However, noise present at many workplaces contains significant components at higher audible frequency. Therefore, the knowledge about noise attenuation with earmuffs in the audible frequency range above 8 kHz is also necessary for proper hearing protection. The aim of this study was to obtain values of the noise attenuation with 27 commonly-used earmuffs models in the 1/3 octave bands of 10, 12.5 and 16 kHz. The measurements were conducted with a real ear at threshold (REAT) method with participation of subjects. The study showed that attenuation of earmuffs ranged from 24.7 to 42.8 dB, depending on model of earmuffs and frequency band. Furthermore, the measurements were performed with the use of acoustic test fixture which is designed especially for testing hearing protectors. Results obtained with the use of acoustic test fixture indicated that this measurement method can lead to values close to attenuation measured with participation of subjects. On the other hand, values obtained with the use of acoustic test fixture may differ average up to 14 dB from REAT method.