bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Cardiovascular Disease and Associated Risk Factors by County Type and Health Insurance Status: Results from the 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey
Authors: Kariisa Mbabazi , Seiber Eric 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. Epidemiologic studies have documented a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases in Appalachia, showing the area to be underserved by the health-care system. Nothing is known about how the health status of the Appalachian population compares with other rural or non-rural populations in the same state. We examined the associations among county type, health insurance category, and health outcomes in poorer adult Ohioans. Methods. We obtained data from the 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey, a complex landline- and cell phone-based survey of 50,944 noninstitutionalized households. We constructed bivariate analyses examining health status measures across various insurance categories and metropolitan, suburban, rural, and Appalachian counties in Ohio. Results. Medicaid enrollees living in Appalachian and rural counties tended to be in poorer health and have a greater prevalence of smoking than non-Medicaid enrollees. Within rural and Appalachian regions, Medicaid enrollees were more likely than non-Medicaid enrollees to have lower self-rated health (54.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 44.1, 65.5 in rural regions and 52.1%, 95% CI 44.7, 59.5 in Appalachian regions). Appalachian and rural Medicaid enrollees were at an increased likelihood of having several chronic diseases compared with non-Medicaid enrollees. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that rural and Ohio Appalachian Medicaid enrollees were more likely to have hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and overall poorer health than non-Medicaid enrollees. These findings have important policy implications for health-care reform, highlighting regional disparities in provider coverage. These underserved regions would need an increase in the provider base to positively impact proposed Medicaid expansion programs.
Adding Industry and Occupation Questions to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: New Opportunities in Public Health Surveillance
Authors: Towle Meredith , Tolliver Rickey , Bui Alison Grace , Warner Amy , Van Dyke Mike 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. Industry and occupation variables are overlooked in many public health surveillance efforts, yet they are useful for describing the burden and distribution of various public health diseases, behaviors, and conditions. This study is the first ever analysis of the Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to describe chronic conditions and risk behaviors by occupation. It is intended to provide a new perspective on this existing data source and demonstrate the value of occupation as a core demographic variable for public health research, policy, and practice. Methods. Two standardized employment questions were included in the 2012 Colorado BRFSS survey and administered to eligible survey respondents who were employed, self-employed, or out of work for less than one year. Occupation data were coded using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System. We analyzed health behaviors and conditions by major occupation groups. We calculated prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (Cls). Results. The prevalence of chronic conditions, health statuses, and risk behaviors (e.g., smoking and seatbelt use) varied significantly by occupation. For example, compared with all workers (93.6%, 95% CI 92.7, 94.5), significantly fewer workers in farming, forestry, fishing and construction, extraction jobs (87.0%, 95% CI 82.0, 92.0) reported always or nearly always wearing a seatbelt while driving. Additionally, significantly more office and administrative support workers (27.5%, 95% CI 22.5, 32.4) compared with all workers (20.6%, 95% CI 19.3, 22.0) were obese. Further observation and research is needed to understand the effects of occupation on health outcomes and behaviors. Conclusion. There are no other Colorado state-level datasets that link health behaviors and chronic conditions with occupation. This study shows that the prevalence of chronic conditions and risk behaviors varies substantially by occupation. Other states conducting the BRFSS may choose to adopt the NIOSH industry and occupation module and add other questions to further investigate health issues by occupation.
Addressing Immunization Registry Population Inflation in Adolescent Immunization Rates
Authors: Robison Steve G. 
Published: January 2017

Objective. While U.S. adolescent immunization rates are available annually at national and state levels, finding pockets of need may require county or sub-county information. Immunization information systems (IISs) are one tool for assessing local immunization rates. However, the presence of IIS records dating back to early childhood and challenges in capturing mobility out of IIS areas typically leads to denominator inflation. We examined the feasibility of weighting adolescent immunization records by length of time since last report to produce more accurate county adolescent counts and immunization rates. Methods. We compared weighted and unweighted adolescent denominators from the Oregon ALERT IIS, along with county-level Census Bureau estimates, with school enrollment counts from Oregon's annual review of seventh-grade school immunization compliance for public and private schools. Adolescent immunization rates calculated using weighted data, for the state as a whole, were also checked against comparable National Immunization Survey (NIS) rates. Results. Weighting individual records by the length of time since last activity substantially improved the fit of IIS data to county populations for adolescents. A nonlinear logarithmic (ogive) weight produced the best fit to the school count data of all examined estimates. Overall, the ogive weighted results matched NIS adolescent rates for Oregon. Conclusion. The problem of mobility-inflated counts of teenagers can be addressed by weighting individual records based on time since last immunization. Well-populated IISs can rely on their own data to produce adolescent immunization rates and find pockets of need.
Water Intake by Outdoor Temperature among Children Aged 1–10 Years: Implications for Community Water Fluoridation in the U.S.
Authors: Beltrán-Aguilar Eugenio D. , Barker Laurie , Sohn Woosung , Wei Liang 
Published: January 2017

Objective. The U.S. water fluoridation recommendations, which have been in place since 1962, were based in part on findings from the 1950s that children's water intake increased with outdoor temperature. We examined whether or not water intake is associated with outdoor temperature. Methods. Using linked data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we examined reported 24-hour total and plain water intake in milliliters per kilogram of body weight per day of children aged 1–10 years by maximum outdoor temperature on the day of reported water intake, unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and poverty status. We applied linear regression methods that were used in previously reported analyses of data from NHANES 1988–1994 and from the 1950s. Results. We found that total water intake was not associated with temperature. Plain water intake was weakly associated with temperature in unadjusted (coefficient = 0.2, p=0.015) and adjusted (coefficient = 0.2, p=0.013) linear regression models. However, these models explained little of the individual variation in plain water intake (unadjusted: R2=0.005; adjusted: R2=0.023). Conclusion. Optimal fluoride concentration in drinking water to prevent caries need not be based on outdoor temperature, given the lack of association between total water intake and outdoor temperature, the weak association between plain water intake and outdoor temperature, and the minimal amount of individual variance in plain water intake explained by outdoor temperature. These findings support the change in the U.S. Public Health Service recommendation for fluoride concentration in drinking water for the prevention of dental caries from temperature-related concentrations to a single concentration that is not related to outdoor temperature.
A Framework to Reduce Infectious Disease Risk from Urban Poultry in the United States
Authors: Tobin Molly R. , Goldshear Jesse L. , Price Lance B. , Graham Jay P. , Leibler Jessica H. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. Backyard poultry ownership is increasingly common in U.S. cities and is regulated at the local level. Human contact with live poultry is a well-known risk for infection with zoonotic pathogens, notably Salmonella, yet the ability of local jurisdictions to reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission from poultry to humans is unstudied. We reviewed urban poultry ordinances in the United States and reported Salmonella outbreaks from backyard poultry to identify regulatory gaps in preventing zoonotic pathogen transmission. Based on this analysis, we propose regulatory guidelines for U.S. cities to reduce infectious disease risk from backyard poultry ownership. Methods. We assessed local ordinances in the 150 most populous U.S. jurisdictions for content related to noncommercial poultry ownership using online resources and communications with government officials. We also performed a literature review using publicly available data sources to identify human infectious disease outbreaks caused by contact with backyard poultry. Results. Of the cities reviewed, 93% ( n=139) permit poultry in some capacity. Most urban poultry ordinances share common characteristics focused on reducing nuisance to neighbors. Ordinances do not address many pathways of transmission relevant to poultry-to-human transmission of pathogens, such as manure management. Conclusions. To reduce the risk of pathogen exposure from backyard poultry, urban ordinances should incorporate the following seven components: limited flock size, composting of manure in sealed containers, prohibition of slaughter, required veterinary care to sick birds, appropriate disposal of dead birds, annual permits linked to consumer education, and a registry of poultry owners.
The situation of women in Dharavi, Asia's largest slum
Authors: Chodankar Smita R. 
Published: January 2017

The women of Dharavi, in many cases, are engaged in the dual roles of homemaker and breadwinner in the informal sector. In the work place, they have to contend with mental and physical stress, long hours of work, and harassment of middlemen and supervisors. On the domestic front, they manage meagre resources to feed a large family, and have to submit to both beatings from their husbands as well as torture from their in-laws, who resort to it as a way of venting frustrations. In spite of their adverse circumstances, the women perform their dual role with utmost sincerity and integrity. The government agency Jan Shikshan Sansthan has sought to help Dharavi's women contribute to family income through better types of income generating activities and also, to imbue them with self-respect and good moral and social values. As a consequence, there has been an overall sea change in the beneficiaries, both in their inner and outer lives. However, a government agency like the Jan Shikshan Sansthan has more of a role to play in making the slum women self reliant and empowering them with the capacity for rational thinking and prudent decision making.
Accessing higher education: Affirmative action and structured inequality – The Indian experience
Authors: Wankhede G.G. 
Published: January 2017

Education is considered as an important means for development of weaker sections like the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the contemporary period of globalization. However, due to their traditional socio-economic handicaps, their access to, performance and sustenance in education is hampered. The government committed itself to compensate their deprivation through various measures. Special provisions in education is one such measure. Studies revealed that the enrolment in higher education among these communities is very low and hence the scheme of post-matric scholarship is introduced since independence. The sole objective behind the scheme has been, in addition to many other facilities, to support their education financially to meet daily (other) expenses. The assumption has been that this material support will encourage and motivate them for higher education. It is an established fact that the post-matric scholarship scheme proves to be one of the major incentives for these communities. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the scheme was long overdue pertaining to its strengths and weakness besides its impact. This paper is based on primary d a t a collected from two states: Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The study tried to address issues like the socio-economic and educational background of the beneficiaries, implementation procedure, colleges wherein the beneficiaries were studying, problems and experiences of the beneficiaries while availing themselves of the scheme. The findings show that there are several weaknesses in implementing the scheme and yet it is found to be very useful for the beneficiaries. The scheme needs to be revamped in a big way.
Adjusting for Changes in Mode of Administration in Repeated Cross-Sectional Surveys
Authors: Gmel Gerhard , Gutjahr Elisabeth 
Published: January 2017

Objective: The present study compares changes in mean consumption and hazardous drinking between 1992/3 and 1997 in Switzerland, first without adjusting for changes in mode of questionnaire administration, and then by adjusting for mode of administration by use of a methodological split-sample study. Changes were compared for the total population and for subgroups of sex and linguistic regions. Method: The samples of the first and second Swiss Health Surveys (SHS), conducted in 1992/3 and 1997, respectively, were analyzed. Both surveys had used a combined telephone/self-administered questionnaire technique. Individuals had first been interviewed by telephone and were subsequently sent by mail a questionnaire containing additional questions. Whereas in the first SHS the questions on alcohol consumption had been included in the mailed questionnaire, in the second they were administered by telephone. In addition, to evaluate possible effects of different questionnaire versions, a split-sample study conducted in 1996 administered the version of the first SHS to one split of the sample and that of the second to the other. For the present study, only current drinkers were analyzed, resulting in sample sizes of N=9,464 (first SHS), N=9,774 (second SHS), and N=658 (split-sample study). Results: When mode ofadministration was not taken into account, mean consumption and percentages of hazardous drinkers decreased overall and in all but one ofthe eight subgroups examined. Controlling for mode of administration, however, resulted in (a) an overall increase in mean consumption and in the percentages of heavy drinking and (b) both increases and decreases for separate subgroups. Conclusions: Methods of data collection may influence within-country comparisons of repeated cross-sectional surveys of alcohol consumption.
US Time Series Evidence regarding Alcohol-Related Risk of Oral Cancers and Protection against Stomach Cancers: Are Higher Concentration Beverages Different?
Authors: Kerr William C. , Ye Yu 
Published: January 2017

Autoregressive integrated moving average modeling procedures are utilized on population-level mortality rates for oral and stomach cancers in relation to per capita consumption of total alcohol, beer, wine, spirits and cigarettes to estimate long-term population-level relationships between alcohol consumption series and oral and stomach cancer mortality rates, and to determine whether higher-concentration alcoholic beverages, as represented by spirits, are more strongly related to these cancers than beer or wine. Total alcohol consumption is found to increase oral cancer rates by 3.5% per litre of ethanol. Spirits consumption is found to be the only significant predictor in multivariate models. For stomach cancers, total alcohol and especially spirits are found to be protective, with each litre of spirits associated with a 10% reduction in rates. High-concentration beverages, as represented by spirits, are found to be significant risk factors for oral cancers but potentially protective for stomach cancer.
Using Economic Evaluation Techniques to Inform Policy: Reflections from Some UK Studies
Authors: Godfrey Christine , Parrott Steve 
Published: January 2017

Economic evaluation techniques are designed to provide some clear guidance to decision makers on the choice, in value for money terms, between specific interventions. However, such evaluations require a range of assumptions to be taken and these choices may impact on the ranking of interventions. This article explores these issues that arise in providing such policy relevant estimates using data from a number of recently completed United Kingdom (UK) studies. The broad welfarist approach which considers all costs and consequences is contrasted to a decision-maker approach taking a more restrictive set of costs and outcomes. The choice of perspective is shown to be an important issues affecting choices of different policies and interventions. Data from the UK studies also suggests there is currently insufficient evidence to support the general health outcome, Quality Adjust Life Years (QALYs) measure recommended by UK regulatory authorities to serve as a main individual drug user outcome. Crime and productivity costs have been a major part of many international evaluations but have mean measured and valued differently and different treatment across different studies can lead to different policy recommendations. The technicalities behind some economic studies should not obscure some of these important issues and the implications for intervention and policy choices.
Building An Initial Information Base: Assistive Technology Funding Resources for School-Aged Students with Disabilities
Authors: Kemp Crystal E. , Hourcade Jack J. , Parette Howard P. 
Published: January 2017

Due in large part to the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), individualized education program (IEP) teams increasingly are identifying assistive technology (AT) for students with disabilities to ensure the provision of free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Though this law requires that AT must be considered when developing the IEP of a student with a disability, the high costs of AT devices and services may lead some IEP teams to conclude that such technology is not accessible. IDEA remains the primary funding source for assistive technology that is identified as an educational necessity. However, because funding of AT devices and services through IDEA remains limited, school administrators, parents, and IEP team members need information on other funding resources. Alternative options and guidelines for accessing these possible additional funding resources often are not well known by school professionals. This article provides an overview of several AT funding resources, notes basic requirements for eligibility, and offers suggestions for making successful claims.
Distance Education: An Exploration of Alternative Methods and Types of Instructional Media in Teacher Education
Authors: Skylar Ashley Ann , Higgins Kyle , Boone Randall , Jones Paul , Pierce Tom , Gelfer Jeff 
Published: January 2017

Universities currently are exploring an array of instructional media to facilitate the delivery of instruction. Consensus from the studies indicates that there is no significant difference in the achievement of students who participate in traditional or online coursework. However, little research has compared traditional learning with the new multimedia online technologies that are becoming more prevalent in distance education. This study investigated the achievement, student satisfaction, and instructor course evaluations of pre-service general education students who participated in three special education courses in which a variety of instructional media and methods were used. The media used were: (a) a traditional classroom, (b) an online classroom (WebCT), and a (c) class-in-a-box via multimedia CD-ROMs. The various methods used to deliver the instructional content included PowerPoint notes, lecture notes, digital videos, and the textbook. Results of the study revealed that there were no significant differences found between the achievement of the students and the three conditions (e.g., traditional classroom, the online classroom, or the class-in-a-box via multimedia CD-ROMs). Also, no significant differences were found in the student satisfaction of the three groups. All were satisfied with the type of media of instruction in which they participated. Finally, the instructor course evaluation results completed by the three groups were not significantly different, indicating that the three groups evaluated the instructor and the instructional media similarly. The implications of these results for delivering courses via distance education are discussed.
The Sphenoid Sinus—A Site for Metastasis
Authors: Mickel Robert A. , Zimmerman Marilyn C. 
Published: January 2017

While metastatic tumors to the nose and the paranasal sinuses overall are unusual, metastasis to the sphenoid sinus is exceedingly rare. Presented are 26 cases of metastasis to the sphenoid sinus. Seven were treated at UCLA between 1955 and 1988, and 19 additional cases were discovered from a search of the medical literature. The patients ranged from 14 months to 79 years of age. The most common tumor sites from which sphenoid metastases arose were the prostate and the lung. In 11 of the 26 cases, the sphenoid sinus metastasis was the first presentation of malignancy. Patients manifested signs and symptoms that were indistinguishable from those from primary tumors of the sinus. They included headache, facial pain, visual changes, and single or multiple cranial neuropathies. While cure of patients with sphenoid metastasis has not been reported, significant palliation with resolution of morbidity is possible in many patients with radiation therapy. Although metastasis to the sphenoid sinus is an uncommon entity, when present, signs and symptoms relating to this metastasis are frequently the first presentation of disease. As such, patients with sphenoid sinus symptoms suggestive of sphenoid sinus malignancy should be vigorously evaluated for the possibility of primary as well as metastatic tumor of the sinus.