bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community sensitization and decision‐making for trial participation: A mixed‐methods study from The Gambia
Authors: Dierickx Susan , O'Neill Sarah , Gryseels Charlotte , Immaculate Anyango Edna , Bannister‐Tyrrell Melanie , Okebe Joseph , Mwesigwa Julia , Jaiteh Fatou , Gerrets René , Ravinetto Raffaella , D'Alessandro Umberto , Peeters Grietens Koen 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundEnsuring individual free and informed decision‐making for research participation is challenging. It is thought that preliminarily informing communities through ‘community sensitization’ procedures may improve individual decision‐making. This study set out to assess the relevance of community sensitization for individual decision‐making in research participation in rural Gambia.MethodsThis anthropological mixed‐methods study triangulated qualitative methods and quantitative survey methods in the context of an observational study and a clinical trial on malaria carried out by the Medical Research Council Unit Gambia.Results/discussionAlthough 38.7% of the respondents were present during sensitization sessions, 91.1% of the respondents were inclined to participate in the trial when surveyed after the sensitization and prior to the informed consent process. This difference can be explained by the informal transmission of information within the community after the community sensitization, expectations such as the benefits of participation based on previous research experiences, and the positive reputation of the research institute. Commonly mentioned barriers to participation were blood sampling and the potential disapproval of the household head.ConclusionCommunity sensitization is effective in providing first‐hand, reliable information to communities as the information is cascaded to those who could not attend the sessions. However, further research is needed to assess how the informal spread of information further shapes people's expectations, how the process engages with existing social relations and hierarchies (e.g. local political power structures; permissions of heads of households) and how this influences or changes individual consent.
Association of transcallosal motor fibres with function of both hands after unilateral neonatal arterial ischemic stroke
Authors: Groeschel Samuel , Hertz‐Pannier Lucie , Delion Matthieu , Loustau Sébastien , Husson Béatrice , Kossorotoff Manoelle , Renaud Cyrille , Nguyen The Tich Sylvie , Chabrier Stéphane , Dinomais Mickael ,   the AVCnn study group
Published: August 2017

AimThe objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of the motor fibres of the corpus callosum after unilateral neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS) of the middle cerebral artery territory and the relationship to both ipsilesional and contralesional hand function.MethodUsing high‐resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, and magnetic resonance diffusion‐tractography, we compared the midsagittal area of the motor part of the corpus callosum (defined by the fibres connecting the precentral gyri) between 33 7‐year‐old children after unilateral NAIS and 31 typically developing 7‐year‐old children. Hand motor performance was assessed by the box and blocks test.ResultsChildren after NAIS showed on average significantly smaller motor corpus callosum area compared to typically developing children (p<0.001, without differences of the non‐motor corpus callosum area). In addition, there was a significant positive association between the motor part of the corpus callosum and both contralesional (Pr(>|t|)=0.034) and ipsilesional hand motor performance (Pr(>|t|)=0.006) after controlling for lesion volume and sex. In a post‐hoc analysis the additional contribution of corticospinal tract damage was evaluated.InterpretationCompared to typically developing children, children after NAIS exhibited a smaller motor part of their corpus callosum associated with reduced contralesional but also ipsilesional manual dexterity. These results indicate that the affection of transcallosal motor fibres in unilateral NAIS might be of functional relevance and an important part of the involved structural network that should be elucidated in further studies.
Forward or Back: The Future of European Integration and the Impossibility of the Status Quo
Authors: McCrea Ronan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThis article considers how the legal and political order of the EU can cope if the ‘Ever Closer Union’ envisaged by the Treaties ceases to be inevitable. In particular, it focuses on what are the likely consequences if previously successful integration mechanisms such as integration through law (including adventurous pro‐integration interpretation by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)) and functional integration can no longer successfully push forward the integration process. It considers whether it is possible for the Union to ‘stand still’, that is, to maintain the current level of integration without either moving forward to more intensive integration or engaging in costly and disruptive disintegration. In order to substantiate this claim, the article looks at three areas, the law of citizenship, the Eurozone and the legislative structures of the Union, showing in each case that the neither the current degree of integration nor methods used in recent times to move the integration process forward provide a long term basis for policy.
Milk with different somatic cells counts and the physicochemical, microbiological characteristics and fatty acid profile of pasteurised milk cream: is there an association?
Authors: Coelho Viviane R. P. , Rodrigues Christianne E. C. , Corassin Carlos H. , Balthazar Celso F. , Cappato Leandro P. , Ferreira Marcus Vinicius S. , Cruz Adriano G. , Oliveira Carlos A. F. 
Published: August 2017

SummaryIn this study, raw cow milk containing somatic cells counts (SCC) at mean levels of 39 000 cells mL−1 (low), 349 000 cells mL−1 (intermediate) and 1 297 000 cells mL−1 (high) was used for the production of pasteurised cream. Physicochemical (pH, fat and fatty acid profile) and microbiological analyses (mesophilic and psychrotrophs) were performed in the obtained creams during 30 days of refrigerated storage at 5 °C ± 2. No interactions (P > 0.05) were found between SCC, storage time and the physicochemical and microbiological variables studied. Fatty acid profile was similar among the SCC creams, except for oleic acid (C18:1), which decreased (P < 0.05) in intermediate and high SCC creams. Considering the technological aspect, our findings suggest that milk cream manufacture can be an interesting option for the use of high SCC milk.
Wrong‐patient incidents during medication administrations
Authors: Härkänen Marja , Tiainen Maijaterttu , Haatainen Kaisa 
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectivesTo describe the factors pertaining to medication being administered to the wrong patient and to describe how patient identification is mentioned in wrong‐patient incident reports.BackgroundAlthough patient identification has been given high priority to improve patient safety, patient misidentifications occur, and wrong‐patient incidents are common.DesignA descriptive content analysis.MethodsIncident reports related to medication administration (n = 1,012) were collected from two hospitals in Finland between 1 January 2013–31 December 2014. Of those, only incidents involving wrong‐patient medication administration (n = 103) were included in this study.ResultsWrong‐patient incidents occurred due for many reasons, including nurse‐related factors (such as tiredness, a lack of skills or negligence) but also system‐related factors (such as rushing or heavy workloads). In 77% (n = 79) of wrong‐patient incident reports, the process of identifying of the patient was not described at all.ConclusionsThere is need to pay more attention to and increase training in correct identification processes to prevent wrong‐patient incidents, and it is important to adjust system factors to support nurses.Relevance to clinical practiceActive patient identification procedures, double‐checking and verification at each stage of the medication process should be implemented. More attention should also be paid to organisational factors, such as division of work, rushing and workload, as well as to correct communication. The active participation of nurses in handling incidents could increase risk awareness and facilitate useful protection actions.
Gender disparities among patients with peripheral arterial disease treated via endovascular approach: A propensity score matched analysis
Authors: Doshi Rajkumar , Shah Priyank , Meraj Perwaiz 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundRemarkable improvement in the treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) has led to changes in revascularization strategies from traditional open surgery to less invasive endovascular management. However, few studies are available on gender disparities in patients with PAD treated via an endovascular approach. This study was designed to analyze gender related differences with respect to in‐hospital outcomes in PAD patients.MethodsOur data was obtained from National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2012 through 2014. We used International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic and procedural codes appropriate for PAD and endovascular treatment. Endovascular treatment included drug eluting stent, bare metal stent, atherectomy or angioplasty of lower extremity arteries. A propensity score matching was performed to adjust for imbalances between variables.ResultsFemales presented late with more comorbidities and underwent more emergent/urgent procedures. After performing propensity score matched analysis, 25 758 patients were included in each group. There was no difference in in‐hospital mortality between males and females in matched cohorts (2.3% vs 2.4%, P = 0.25). Acute renal failure, gangrene, infection, and composite of all complications were higher in males. Only blood transfusion was noted higher in females.ConclusionThis study revealed no difference in in‐hospital mortality between males and females undergoing endovascular peripheral intervention. Males have a higher rate of complications compared to females which explains the higher cost of care in males. Further research with long‐term follow up is needed to see if there is any difference with regards to long‐term outcomes and re‐admission.
A model‐based approach to characterize individual inbreeding at both global and local genomic scales
Authors: Druet T. , Gautier M. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractInbreeding results from the mating of related individuals and may be associated with reduced fitness because it brings together deleterious variants in one individual. In general, inbreeding is estimated with respect to an arbitrary base population consisting of ancestors that are assumed unrelated. We herein propose a model‐based approach to estimate and characterize individual inbreeding at both global and local genomic scales by assuming the individual genome is a mosaic of homozygous‐by‐descent (HBD) and non‐HBD segments. The HBD segments may originate from ancestors tracing back to different periods in the past defining distinct age‐related classes. The lengths of the HBD segments are exponentially distributed with class‐specific parameters reflecting that inbreeding of older origin generates on average shorter stretches of observed homozygous markers. The model is implemented in a hidden Markov model framework that uses marker allele frequencies, genetic distances, genotyping error rates and the sequences of observed genotypes. Note that genotyping errors, low‐fold sequencing or genotype‐by‐sequencing data are easily accommodated under this framework. Based on simulations under the inference model, we show that the genomewide inbreeding coefficients and the parameters of the model are accurately estimated. In addition, when several inbreeding classes are simulated, the model captures them if their ages are sufficiently different. Complementary analyses, either on data sets simulated under more realistic models or on human, dog and sheep real data, illustrate the range of applications of the approach and how it can reveal recent demographic histories among populations (e.g., very recent bottlenecks or founder effects). The method also allows to clearly identify individuals resulting from extreme consanguineous matings.
BMI, nephroangiosclerosis and glomerulonephritis: Is there any meeting point?
Authors: Gigante Antonietta , Giannakakis Konstantinos , Di Mario Francesca , Barbano Biagio , Rosato Edoardo , Pofi Riccardo , Di Paolo Marcello , Rocca Anna Rachele , Cianci Rosario 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTAimOverweight has been related to renal arteriolosclerosis and is able to modify intrarenal haemodynamics. Increasing evidence suggests an association between weight in excess and primary glomerulonephritis (GN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and intrarenal arterial stiffness in primary GN associated to arteriolosclerosis. We have considered the glomerular diameter (GD) as morphological parameter in overweight and obese patients.MethodsClinical, laboratory, anthropometric data and renal Doppler ultrasound were performed immediately before kidney biopsy.ResultsPrimary GN was diagnosed in 92 patients. Mild arteriolosclerosis was found in 19.6% of patients, moderate in the 20.6%, severe in the 10.9% while nephroangiosclerosis was diagnosed in 8.7% of patients. A positive correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and renal resistive index (RRI) (P < 0.01, r = 0.34). RRI were significantly higher in patients with severe arteriolosclerosis at kidney biopsy (P < 0.05). Furthermore, higher BMI (P < 0.01) was found in patients with renal arteriolosclerosis than patients without renal arteriolosclerosis (26.1 ± 4.4 kg/m2 vs. 24.4 ± 4.5 kg/m2). Finally, in overweight and obesity patients we found a positive correlation between maximal GD and BMI (P < 0.01) and maximal GD and RRI (P < 0.01).ConclusionIn overweight and obese patients affected by primary GN, it might be found not only glomerular but also renal vascular lesions. Finally, we believe that nephroangiosclerosis, in combination with weight in excess, is able to modify intrarenal haemodynamic parameters. Moreover, in response to these changes, the renal tissue morphologically promotes a GD increase regardless of the underlying GN.
Resveratrol for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Sawda Christine , Moussa Charbel , Turner R. Scott 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe amyloid hypothesis suggests that the progressive accumulation and deposition of central nervous system (CNS) amyloid with aging is the proximate cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, targeting molecular mechanisms of aging may be a viable treatment approach. Caloric restriction prevents diseases of aging, including AD, in animal models, perhaps by activation of sirtuins. The sirtuins (e.g., mammalian SIRT1) are deacetylases that link energy balance (NAD+/NADH) to regulation of gene transcription. Resveratrol is a potent activator of SIRT1, and thus may mimic caloric restriction to prevent diseases of aging. We conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, phase II trial of resveratrol for individuals with mild‐to‐moderate AD. Resveratrol (1) is detectable in cerebrospinal fluid (at low nanomolar levels), (2) is safe and well tolerated, (3) alters AD biomarker trajectories, (4) preserves blood–brain barrier integrity, and (5) modulates the CNS immune response. Further studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of resveratrol and the validity of this approach in the treatment and prevention of AD and other diseases of aging.
Identifying the Causes of Issue Attention and Policy Change: Evidence from U.S. Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Policy, 2008
Authors: Hughes Tyler 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe flow of attention in the policy process is dynamic and disruptive. While we know changes in issue attention often result in policy change, the causal mechanisms underlying the different stages of the attention allocation process remain unclear. This article uses Punctuated Equilibrium Theory to examine an underdeveloped aspect of issue attention within policy‐making institutions: how specific policy indicators influence the entry and exit of issues on policy‐making agendas. Partisan issue attention in the House of Representatives is used to analyze a significant change to U.S. offshore oil and natural gas drilling policy in 2008. The results highlight how historically high gasoline prices precipitated a shift in attention to offshore drilling and subsequent policy change. Moreover, gasoline prices Granger‐cause attention to energy policy in partisan speeches over time. The analysis further reveals how competing policy frames and a salient focusing event shaped congressional and public discourse, leading to subsequent changes in attention. Taken together, the findings broaden our understanding of the policy process by identifying the specific forces behind the entry and exit of issues on the policy‐making agenda.
Measuring Volunteerability and the Capacity to Volunteer among Non‐volunteers: Implications for Social Policy
Authors: Haski‐Leventhal Debbie , Meijs Lucas C.P.M. , Lockstone‐Binney Leonie , Holmes Kirsten , Oppenheimer Melanie 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAs volunteering and its benefits gain global recognition, social policymakers can sustain and increase volunteering through social policy, legislation and other types of involvement. A key performance practice is to measure the rate of volunteering based on the percentage of the population that volunteer or the number of hours donated. The focus of this article, however, is on the capacity to volunteer by non‐volunteers as well as by volunteers. The concept and theory of volunteerability (an individual's ability to overcome related obstacles and volunteer, based on his or her willingness, capability and availability) offers a richer understanding of how people can be assisted to overcome barriers to maximize their volunteer potential and thus increase volunteering. The article details the definitions and benefits of volunteering and covers examples of related social policy, as well as explaining the concept of volunteerability and how it can be measured using existing and new scales. Based on a mixed methods study in Australia, the article offers specific measures to examine the concept of volunteerability and reveals important differences between volunteers and non‐volunteers. The article also details major barriers to volunteering and how social policies can be developed to overcome them.
Assessing human risk of illness with West Nile virus mosquito surveillance data to improve public health preparedness
Authors: Karki S. , Westcott N. E. , Muturi E. J. , Brown W. M. , Ruiz M. O. 
Published: August 2017

SummarySurveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) and other mosquito‐borne pathogens involves costly and time‐consuming collection and testing of mosquito samples. One difficulty faced by public health personnel is how to interpret mosquito data relative to human risk, thus leading to a failure to fully exploit the information from mosquito testing. The objective of our study was to use the information gained from historic West Nile virus mosquito testing to determine human risk relative to mosquito infection and to assess the usefulness of our mosquito infection forecasting models to give advance warning. We compared weekly mosquito infection rates from 2004 to 2013 to WNV case numbers in Illinois. We then developed a weather‐based forecasting model to estimate the WNV mosquito infection rate one to 3 weeks ahead of mosquito testing both statewide and for nine regions of Illinois. We further evaluated human illness risk relative to both the measured and the model‐estimated infection rates to provide guidelines for public health messages. We determined that across 10 years, over half of human WNV cases occurred following the 29 (of 210) weeks with the highest mosquito infection rates. The values forecasted by the models can identify those time periods, but model results and data availability varied by region with much stronger results obtained from regions with more mosquito data. The differences among the regions may be related to the amount of surveillance or may be due to diverse landscape characteristics across Illinois. We set the stage for better use of all surveillance options available for WNV and described an approach to modelling that can be expanded to other mosquito‐borne illnesses.
Sensitivity Analysis of the One-Control Volume Bulk-Flow Model for a 14 Teeth-on-Stator Straight-Through Labyrinth Seal
Authors: Cangioli Filippo , Pennacchi Paolo , Riboni Giacomo , Vannini Giuseppe , Ciuchicchi Lorenzo , Vania Andrea , Chatterton Steven 
Published: August 2017

Since the 80s, academic research in the rotordynamics field has developed mathematical treatment for the prediction of the dynamic coefficients of sealing components. Dealing with the straight-through labyrinth seal, Iwatsubo [1], at a first stage, and Childs [2], later on, have developed the one-control volume bulk flow model. The model allows evaluating the surrounding fluid forces acting on the rotor, analyzing the fluid dynamics within the seal: the continuity, circumferential momentum and energy equations are solved for each cavity. To consider axial fluid dynamics, correlations, aiming to estimate the leakage and the pressure distribution, are required. Several correlations have been proposed in the literature for the estimation of the leakage, of the kinetic energy carry-over coefficient (KE), of the discharge coefficient and of the friction factor.
After decades of research in the field of seal dynamics, the bulk-flow model has been confirmed as the most popular code in the industries, however, it is not clear which is the best set of correlations for the prediction of seal dynamic coefficients.
This paper allows identifying the most accurate combination of correlations to be implemented in the bulk-flow model. The correlations are related to: the leakage formula, the flow coefficient, the KE and the friction factor. Investigating the results of several models (32 models), which consider different sets of correlations, in comparison to the experimental data (performed by General Electric Oil & Gas), it is possible to observe the dependence, of the model correlations, on the operating conditions.
The experimental results, performed using a 14 teeth-on-stator labyrinth seal, investigate several operating conditions of pressure drop.
Inhomogeneous Strain Distribution in SiCf/SiC Coupons Under Tensile Loading
Authors: Newton Christopher D. , Jones Jonathan P. , Chamberlain Adam L. , Bache Martin R. 
Published: August 2017

The complex structural architecture and inherent processing artefacts within ceramic matrix composites combine to induce inhomogeneous deformation and damage prior to ultimate failure. Bulk measurements of strain via extensometry or even localised strain gauging will fail to characterise such inhomogeneity when performing conventional mechanical testing on laboratory scaled coupons. The current research project has, therefore, applied digital image correlation (DIC) techniques to the room temperature axial assessment of a SiCf/SiC composite under static and ratchetted loading.
As processed SiCf/SiC panels were subjected to detailed X-ray computed tomography (XCT) inspection prior to specimen extraction and subsequent mechanical testing. In situ DIC strain measurements were taken throughout the period of room temperature monotonic and ratchet style tensile tests. Contemporary acoustic emission (AE) signals were also recorded to indicate significant damage events and the onset of ultimate failure. Data from these separate monitoring techniques were correlated to indicate the sensitivity or otherwise to pre-existing artefacts within the as received CMC panels.