bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainability, materiality, assurance and the UK’s leading property companies
Authors: Jones Peter , Comfort Daphne , Hillier David 
Published: December 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief for property occupiers who look to monitor trends in sustainability reporting. The paper offers a preliminary examination of the extent to which the UK’s leading commercial property companies are embracing the concept of materiality and commissioning independent external assurance as a part of their sustainability reporting processes and some wider reflections on materiality and external assurance in sustainability reporting.Design/methodology/approach– The paper begins with a review of the characteristics of materiality and external assurance and an outline of the drivers for, and challenges to, sustainability for property companies. The information on which the paper is based is drawn from the leading UK property companies’ corporate websites.Findings– The paper reveals that approximately half of the UK’s leading property companies had embraced materiality or commissioned some form of independent external assurance as an integral part of their sustainability reporting processes. In many ways, this reduces the reliability and credibility of the leading property companies’ sustainability reports. Looking to the future, growing stakeholder pressure may persuade more of the UK’s leading property companies to embrace materiality and commission external assurance as systematic and integral elements in the sustainability reporting process.Originality/value– The paper provides an accessible review of the current status of materiality and external assurance among the UK’s leading commercial property companies’ sustainability reporting. As such, it will not only interest occupiers but also professionals, practitioners, academics and students interested in sustainability in the property industry.
Caesarean hysterectomy for placenta praevia/accreta using an approach via the pouch of Douglas
Authors: Selman AE 
Published: December 2015

Placenta praevia/accreta is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality and is a common cause of obstetric hysterectomy. This paper describes posterior retrograde abdominal hysterectomy, a new surgical technique for caesarean hysterectomy, in 11 women with placenta percreta, increta or accreta There were no intraoperative or postoperative maternal complications, and only one fetus required admission to the neonatal unit, for prematurity. Our technique in placenta praevia/accreta allows easy identification of the vagina and early uterine devascularisation, as well as safe resection of the involved urinary bladder in women with placenta percreta showing bladder penetration. Analytical studies are needed to confirm our findings.Tweetable abstractPosterior retrograde abdominal hysterectomy in women with placenta praevia/accreta may enable safer surgery.
Neonatal complications associated with use of fetal scalp electrode: a retrospective study
Authors: Kawakita T , Reddy UM , Landy HJ , Iqbal SN , Huang C‐C , Grantz KL 
Published: December 2015

ObjectivesTo estimate the incidence and risk of complications associated with a fetal scalp electrode and to determine whether its application in the setting of operative vaginal delivery was associated with increased neonatal morbidity.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingTwelve clinical centers with 19 hospitals across nine American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists US districts.PopulationWomen in the USA.MethodsWe evaluated 171 698 women with singleton deliveries ≥ 23 weeks of gestation in a secondary analysis of the Consortium on Safe Labor study between 2002 and 2008, after excluding conditions that precluded fetal scalp electrode application such as prelabour caesarean delivery. Secondary analysis limited to operative vaginal deliveries ≥ 34 weeks of gestation was also performed.Main outcome measuresIncidences and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of neonatal complications were calculated, controlling for maternal characteristics, delivery mode and pregnancy complications.ResultsFetal scalp electrode was used in 37 492 (22%) of deliveries. In non‐operative vaginal delivery, fetal scalp electrode was associated with increased risk of injury to scalp due to birth trauma (1.2% versus 0.9%; adjusted odds ratios 1.62; 95% confidence intervals 1.41–1.86) and cephalohaematoma (1.0% versus 0.9%; adjusted odds ratios 1.57; 95% confidence intervals 1.36–1.83). Neonatal complications were not significantly different comparing fetal scalp electrode with vacuum‐assisted vaginal delivery and vacuum‐assisted vaginal delivery alone or comparing fetal scalp electrode with forceps‐assisted vaginal delivery and forceps‐assisted vaginal delivery alone.ConclusionsWe found increased neonatal morbidity with fetal scalp electrode though the absolute risk was very low. It is possible that these findings reflect an underlying indication for its use. Our findings support the use of fetal scalp electrodes when clinically indicated.Tweetable abstractNeonatal risks associated with fetal scalp electrode use were low (injury to scalp 1.2% and cephalohaematoma 1.0%).
Childcare Assistance: Are Subsidies or Tax Credits Better?
Authors: Gong Xiaodong , Breunig Robert 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe evaluate price subsidies and tax credits for childcare. We focus on partnered women's labour supply, household income and welfare, demand for childcare and government expenditure. Using Australian data, we estimate a joint, discrete structural model of labour supply and childcare demand. We introduce two methodological innovations – a more flexible quantity constraint that total formal and informal childcare hours are at least as large as the mother's labour supply and the explicit inclusion of maternal childcare in the utility function as a proxy for child development. We find that tax credits are more effective than subsidies in terms of increasing average hours worked and household income. However, tax credits disproportionately benefit wealthier and more educated women. Price subsidies, while less efficient, have positive redistributional effects.
Analysis of Naturally Occurring Fluoride in Commercial Teas and Estimation of Its Daily Intake through Tea Consumption
Authors: Peng Chuan‐yi , Cai Hui‐mei , Zhu Xiao‐hui , Li Da‐xiang , Yang Yun‐qiu , Hou Ru‐yan , Wan Xiao‐chun 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the levels of fluoride in commercial teas and to estimate the contribution of tea consumption to the fluoride recommended daily allowance. A total of 558 tea products in 6 categories, green tea, black tea, oolong tea, pu'er tea, white tea, and reprocessed tea, were collected in the period from 2010 to 2013. The levels of fluoride in infusions of these teas were determined by a fluoride‐ion selective electrode. The mean fluoride level in all of the tea samples was 85.16 mg/kg. For each category of tea, the mean fluoride levels were 63.04, 99.74, 52.19, 101.67, 159.78, and 110.54 mg/kg for green tea, black tea, white tea, pu'er tea, oolong tea, and reprocessed tea, respectively. The fluoride content of tea from 4 tea zones in descending order were Southern tea zone (111.39 mg/kg) > Southwest tea zone (78.78 mg/kg) > Jiangnan tea zone (71.73 mg/kg) > Jiangbei tea zone (64.63 mg/kg). These areas produced teas with lower fluoride levels than available foreign‐produced tea (161.11 mg/kg). The mean chronic daily intake (CDI) was 0.02 mg/(kg•day) or 1.27 mg/kg. Generally, consuming tea from these 6 categories does not result in the intake of excessive amounts of fluoride for the general population.
Robustness of Meteorological Droughts in Dynamically Downscaled Climate Simulations
Authors: Ganguli Poulomi , Ganguly Auroop R. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe examine the robustness of a suite of regional climate models (RCMs) in simulating meteorological droughts and associated metrics in present‐day climate (1971‐2003) over the conterminous United States (U.S.). The RCMs that are part of North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) simulations are compared with multiple observations over the climatologically homogeneous regions of the U.S. The seasonal precipitation, climatology, drought attributes, and trends have been assessed. The reanalysis‐based multi‐model median RCM reasonably simulates observed statistical attributes of drought and the regional detail due to topographic forcing. However, models fail to simulate significant drying trend over the Southwest and West. Further, reanalysis‐based NARCCAP runs underestimate the observed drought frequency overall, with the exception of the Southwest; whereas they underestimate persistence in the drought‐affected areas over the Southwest and West‐North Central regions. However, global climate model‐driven NARCCAP ensembles tend to overestimate regional drought frequencies. Models exhibit considerable uncertainties while reproducing meteorological drought statistics, as evidenced by a general lack of agreement in the Hurst exponent, which in turn controls drought persistence. Water resources managers need to be aware of the limitations of current climate models, while regional climate modelers may want to fine‐tune their parameters to address impact‐relevant metrics.
Identification and SNP association analysis of a novel gene in chicken
Authors: Mei Xingxing , Kang Xiangtao , Liu Xiaojun , Jia Lijuan , Li Hong , Li Zhuanjian , Jiang Ruirui 
Published: December 2015

SummaryA novel gene that was predicted to encode a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcript was identified in a previous study that aimed to detect candidate genes related to growth rate differences between Chinese local breed Gushi chickens and Anka broilers. To characterise the biological function of the lncRNA, we cloned and sequenced the complete open reading frame of the gene. We performed quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to analyse the expression patterns of the lncRNA in different tissues of chicken at different development stages. The qPCR data showed that the novel lncRNA gene was expressed extensively, with the highest abundance in spleen and lung and the lowest abundance in pectoralis and leg muscle. Additionally, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the 5′‐end of the gene and studied the association between the SNP and chicken growth traits using data from an F2 resource population of Gushi chickens and Anka broilers. The association analysis showed that the SNP was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with leg muscle weight, chest breadth, sternal length and body weight in chickens at 1 day, 4 weeks and 6 weeks of age. We concluded that the novel lncRNA gene, which we designated pouBW1, may play an important role in regulating chicken growth.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria and internal parasites – a systematic review
Authors: Kolkhir P. , Balakirski G. , Merk H. F. , Olisova O. , Maurer M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractChronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as persistent wheals, angioedema, or both lasting for >6 weeks due to known or unknown causes. Some epidemiological studies and case reports suggest that internal parasite infections (PI) can cause CSU. Here, we provide a systematic overview of published findings on the prevalence and relevance of PI in CSU and we discuss possible pathomechanisms. The prevalence of PI in CSU was investigated by 39 independent studies and comorbidity reportedly ranged from 0 to 75.4% (two‐thirds of these studies reported infection rates of 10% or less). The prevalence of PI in adult and pediatric CSU patients ranged from 0% to 75.4% and from 0% to 37.8%, respectively. CSU patients were more often diagnosed with protozoa and had a significantly higher risk of toxocariasis seropositivity and Anisakis simplex sensitization when compared to healthy controls. Patients with chronic urticaria more frequently had seropositivity of fasciolosis, Anisakis simplex sensitization, and the presence of Blastocystis hominis allele 34 (ST3) as compared with control subjects. In 21 studies, efficacy of treatment with antiparasitic drugs ranged from 0 to 100% (35.7% of 269 CSU patients benefitted). In 9 (42.8%) of 21 studies, more than 50% of efficacy was observed. The reported rate of urticaria comorbidity in PI patients in 18 independent studies is 1–66.7%. Urticaria including CSU might be a quite common symptom of strongyloidiasis and blastocystosis. Pathogenic mechanisms in CSU due to PI may include specific IgE, Th2 cytokine skewing, eosinophils, activation of the complement, and the coagulation systems.
Sports‐related eye and adnexal injuries in the Western Australian paediatric population
Authors: Hoskin Annette K. , Yardley Anne‐Marie E. , Hanman Kate , Lam Geoffrey , Mackey David A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPurposeTo identify the causes of sports‐related eye and adnexal injuries in children in Perth, Western Australia, to determine which sporting activities pose the highest risk of eye and adnexal injury to children.MethodsWe performed a 12‐year retrospective review of children admitted to hospital from 2002 to 2013 with sports‐related ocular and adnexal eye injuries. The main outcome measures were the cause and type of ocular and adnexal injuries, age and gender risk factors.ResultsA total of 93 cases of sports‐related ocular and adnexal injury were identified in the 12‐year time period. A peak in injuries occurred for 12‐ to 14‐year‐olds with a second peak in 6‐ to 8‐year‐olds; the median age was 8.82 years (range = 1.59–16.47). Cycling, football (including soccer and Australian Rules Football), tennis, trampolining, fishing and swimming were the sports responsible for the greatest number of injuries, a total of 63%. More than one‐third (35%) of injuries resulted from being struck by a blunt object, and more than a quarter (26%) were as a result of contact with a blunt projectile.ConclusionSerious ocular and adnexal injuries have occurred in children as a result of participating in sports, with cycling and football being the largest contributors in the 12‐year period we assessed. As we continue to encourage children to spend more time participating in sports and recreational activities, identifying associated risk factors will help us develop injury prevention strategies to promote eye safety for children.
Evaluation of early anatomical changes following canaloplasty with anterior segment spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy
Authors: Fuest Matthias , Kuerten David , Koch Eva , Becker Jakob , Hirsch Thalia , Walter Peter , Plange Niklas 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPurposeTo analyse structural changes in conjunctiva, sclera and Schlemm's canal (SC) following canaloplasty with optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).MethodsFifteen patients undergoing canaloplasty were included in this prospective study. AS‐OCT images were acquired pre‐ and 1, 7, 30 and 90 days postoperatively. UBM was performed 3 months postoperatively. The surgical site was evaluated for the presence of SC, transscleral filtration, a scleral lake and the visibility of intra‐Schlemm‐sutures. The height and width of SC were measured at the 3 and 9 o'clock limbus position.ResultsAfter canaloplasty, SC was detectable with AS‐OCT in 93% of the patients on day 1. The increase in height was higher than that in width (height: +369%, p = 0.0004, width: +152%, p = 0.002). IOP was negatively correlated to SC's width 1 week postoperatively (r = −0.63, p = 0.04) and to SC's height until 3 months (r = −0.66, p = 0.02) postoperatively. Using UBM, a reflection of the traction sutures indicated SC's position in all patients. Transscleral filtration was found in all patients using AS‐OCT, demonstrating a peak 1 week postoperatively. At 3 months, a scleral lake could be visualized in 50% and 83% of patients using AS‐OCT and UBM, respectively.ConclusionsAS‐OCT offers a high resolution for imaging superficial conjunctival areas and SC after canaloplasty, whereas UBM is capable of detecting deeper structures such as scleral lakes or intra‐canal‐sutures. The results imply a correlation of the dilation of SC with the IOP‐lowering effect and an early pronounced transscleral filtration following canaloplasty.
Dissociation between systemic and pulmonary anti‐inflammatory effects of dexamethasone in humans
Authors: Bartko Johann , Stiebellehner Leopold , Derhaschnig Ulla , Schoergenhofer Christian , Schwameis Michael , Prosch Helmut , Jilma Bernd 
Published: December 2015

AimsThe local pulmonary inflammatory response has a different temporal and qualitative profile compared with the systemic inflammatory response. Although glucocorticoids substantially downregulate the systemic release of acute‐phase mediators, it is not clear whether they have comparable inhibitory effects in the human lung compartment. Therefore, we compared the anti‐inflammatory effects of a pure glucocorticoid agonist, dexamethasone, on bronchoalveolar lavage and blood cytokine concentrations in response to bronchially instilled endotoxin.MethodsIn this randomized, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled trial, 24 volunteers received dexamethasone or placebo and had endotoxin instilled into a lung segment and saline instilled into a contralateral segment, followed by bronchoalveolar lavage.ResultsBronchially instilled endotoxin induced a local and systemic inflammatory response. Dexamethasone strongly blunted the systemic interleukin (IL) 6 and C‐reactive protein release. In sharp contrast, dexamethasone left the local release of acute‐phase mediators in the lungs virtually unchanged: bronchoalveolar lavage levels of IL‐6 were only 18% lower and levels of IL‐8 were even higher with dexamethasone compared with placebo, although the differences between treatments were not statistically significant (P = 0.07 and P = 0.08, respectively). However, dexamethasone had inhibitory effects on pulmonary protein extravasation and neutrophil migration.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated a remarkable dissociation between the systemic anti‐inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids and its protective effects on capillary leak on the one hand and surprisingly low anti‐inflammatory effects in the lungs on the other.
Role of Aspirin and Dexamethasone against Experimentally Induced Depression in Rats
Authors: Bhatt Shailendra , Shukla Priyanka , Raval Jibril , Goswami Sunita 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA large number of current studies indicate that inflammatory mediators may contribute to depression in experimental models as well as in human beings. Nevertheless, the subject, whether anti‐inflammatory treatments can prevent depression still remains controversial. In the present study, a chronic mild stress (CMS) model of male Sprague Dawley rats was used to investigate the role of anti‐inflammatory drugs in the treatment of depression. All the animals in different groups, except the normal control group, were exposed to CMS procedure for 28 days and concurrently treated with aspirin (10 mg/kg, p.o.), dexamethasone (1 mg/kg p.o.) and amitriptyline (10 mg/kg p.o., reference standard), respectively. Amitriptyline was also used in combination with aspirin and dexamethasone to inspect any synergistic effects. Tests performed towards the end of the study included sucrose preference test, behavioural tests like forced swim test, elevated plus‐maze, light/dark box, locomotor activity and biochemical estimations like serum cortisol and brain neurotransmitters. Disease control group (CMS‐treated) produced significant depressive behaviour in rats. The animals treated with aspirin showed increased sucrose preference, decreased immobility time in forced swim test, decreased serum cortisol and increased brain serotonin levels signifying antidepressant action. In contrast, there was aggravation of depressive behaviour in rats treated with dexamethasone. Together, these findings suggest that aspirin can serve as a potential antidepressant both individually and as adjunctive agent in the treatment of depression. Inhibition of the inflammatory mediators during stress procedures or any other potential physiological and biochemical mechanisms may be involved in its antidepressant effect.
A Personalist Ontological Approach to Synthetic Biology
Authors: Gómez‐Tatay Lucía , Hernández‐Andreu José Miguel , Aznar Justo 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAlthough synthetic biology is a promising discipline, it also raises serious ethical questions that must be addressed in order to prevent unwanted consequences and to ensure that its progress leads toward the good of all. Questions arise about the role of this discipline in a possible redefinition of the concept of life and its creation. With regard to the products of synthetic biology, the moral status that they should be given as well as the ethically correct way to behave towards them are not clear. Moreover, risks that could result from a misuse of this technology or from an accidental release of synthetic organisms into the environment cannot be ignored; concerns about biosecurity and biosafety appear. Here we discuss these and other questions from a personalist ontological framework, which defends human life as an essential value and proposes a set of principles to ensure the safeguarding of this and other values that are based on it.
Determinants of Breastfeeding Practices and Success in a Multi‐Ethnic Asian Population
Authors: Pang Wei Wei , Aris Izzuddin M. , Fok Doris , Soh Shu‐E , Chua Mei Chien , Lim Sok Bee , Saw Seang‐Mei , Kwek Kenneth , Gluckman Peter D. , Godfrey Keith M. , van Dam Rob M. , Kramer Michael S. , Chong Yap‐Seng ,   the GUSTO Study Group
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundMany countries in Asia report low breastfeeding rates and the risk factors for early weaning are not well studied. We assessed the prevalence, duration, and mode of breastfeeding (direct or expressed) among mothers of three Asian ethnic groups.MethodsParticipants were 1,030 Singaporean women recruited during early pregnancy. Data collected included early breastfeeding experiences, breastfeeding duration, and mode of breastfeeding. Full breastfeeding was defined as the intake of breast milk, with or without water. Cox regression models were used to identify factors associated with discontinuation of any and full breastfeeding. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association of ethnicity with mode of breastfeeding.ResultsAt 6 months postpartum, the prevalence of any breastfeeding was 46 percent for Chinese mothers, 22 percent for Malay mothers, and 41 percent for Indian mothers; prevalence of full breastfeeding was 11, 2, and 5 percent, respectively. More Chinese mothers fed their infants expressed breast milk, instead of directly breastfeeding them, compared with the other two ethnic groups. Duration of any and full breastfeeding were positively associated with breastfeeding a few hours after birth, higher maternal age and education, and negatively associated with irregular breastfeeding frequency and being shown how to breastfeed. Adjusting for maternal education, breastfeeding duration was similar in the three ethnic groups, but ethnicity remained a significant predictor of mode of breastfeeding.ConclusionsThe low rates and duration of breastfeeding in this population may be improved with breastfeeding education and support, especially in mothers with lower education. Further work is needed to understand the cultural differences in mode of feeding and its implications for maternal and infant health.