bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Odors from Sewage Sludge and Livestock: Associations with Self-Reported Health
Authors: Wing Steve , Lowman Amy , Keil Alex , Marshall Stephen W. 
Published: July 2017

Objectives. Class B treated sewage sludge (TSS) contains microbes and toxicants and is applied to land in areas where livestock wastes may be present. We evaluated relationships of reports of TSS and livestock odors with acute symptoms and excessive flies. Methods. A total of 158 adults living near liquid TSS application sites, 85 living near cake TSS application sites, and 188 living in comparison areas responded to a household survey regarding odors, health, and demographics. We identified symptom groups using factor analysis. We used generalized estimating equations to fit linear models for associations between factor scores and odors, and Poisson models for associations with specific symptoms. Results. Most factor scores were similar between exposure groups. Covariate-adjusted z-scores for lower respiratory symptoms were 0.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.10, 0.65) higher among residents who reported moderate to very strong liquid TSS odor than among residents in comparison areas, and 0.28 (95% CI 0.05, 0.50) higher among residents who reported moderate to very strong livestock odor compared with residents reporting no or faint livestock odor. The factor score for dermatologic conditions was higher among residents who reported higher liquid sludge odor (0.27, 95% CI −0.13, 0.68), primarily due to skin rash (prevalence ratio = 2.21, 95% CI 1.13, 4.32). Excessive flies were reported twice as commonly among respondents who reported moderate to very strong TSS odor than among other residents. Conclusions. Reported odors from TSS and livestock were associated with some acute symptoms. Health departments should monitor land applications of human and animal wastes and conduct surveillance of health problems reported by neighbors.
Police Recruits‘ Attitudes toward the Death Penalty
Authors: Mignon Sylvia I. , Holmes William M. 
Published: July 2017

The knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of police toward capital punishment help to shape public opinion regarding the death penalty. Prior research has not consistently identified the relationship between knowledge and attitudes of officers regarding capital punishment. This article examines that relationship, as well as the role of background factors and other attitudes. Survey questionnaires were given in 1995 to Boston area police recruits in Massachusetts. One hundred and three officers answered questions regarding their background characteristics, knowledge of and attitudes toward capital punishment, and other attitudes that prior research has shown to be associated with support for or opposition to the death penalty. The findings reveal that police recruits favor the death penalty even more strongly than the public, with those least knowledgeable about the realities of the death penalty more likely to support capital punishment. Knowledge of discrimination in the application of capital punishment, its great expense, its lack of general deterrence, and that it has resulted in the execution of innocent citizens were associated with opposition to the death penalty. Women, minorities, and those police recruits with more education also tended to oppose capital punishment. Those opposed to abortions were likely to favor executions. The findings imply that police have an important role to play in the debate over capital punishment. Their knowledge, experience, and attitudes can identify critical issues in this debate.
Still Arbitrary: Capital Sentencing in the Post-Furman Era
Authors: Steiner Benjamin D. 
Published: July 2017

At the epicenter of modern capital jurisprudence has been a critical question: How do capital jurors make the life or death sentencing decision? Since its 1976 decision in Gregg v. Georgia, Profitt v. Florida, and Jurek v. Texas authorized the states' return to capital punishment, the United States Supreme Court has grappled with the two-part question: To what extent must they be explicitly directed in their decision-making? Once the Court has determined that some constraints are necessary, it then must decide whether they are needed only to correct misbehavior or, more fundamentally, to shape the constitutional contours of capital sentencing. What the Court decides to do, or not to do, often depends on untested assumptions about how jurors do, or will, make the critical punishment decision. In this paper, I review what social science evidence reveals about capital juror decision making in the Post-Furman era. Employing a variety of research methodologies and perspectives, one overwhelming commonality of this research emerges: The use of guided discretion statutes has done little ameliorate the arbitrariness the U.S. Supreme Court condemned 27 years ago in Furman v. Georgia.
University–Industry Cooperation in Eastern Europe
Authors: Novozhilov Yuri V. 
Published: July 2017

This special focus from the USSR looks at the future of higher education–industry collaboration since perestroika and sets it in the context of reforms aimed at developing the national economy and mastering progress. The first article examines university–industry cooperation in science and technology in Eastern Europe, with particular reference to the USSR. It discusses how different kinds of collaboration are organized, supervised and assessed, analyses the problems that have to be addressed, and looks beyond perestroika to consider the possibilities for East–West cooperation.
β-Glucans in standardized allergen extracts
Authors: Finkelman Malcolm A. , Lempitski Steven J. , Slater Jay E. 
Published: July 2017

Background: Allergen extracts contain variable quantities of bacterial endotoxin. Recent studies have suggested that (1→3)-β-D-glucans (β-glucans), also microbial cell wall components, may have adjuvant properties that could affect allergen immunotherapy. Objective: To determine the quantities of β-glucans in standardized allergen extracts. Materials and Methods : Ninety-four lots of 13 standardized allergen extracts were tested for β-glucan content by Glucatell assay, and for endotoxin content by a specific, chromogenic formulation of the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. Results: Standardized allergen extracts contain variable quantities of endotoxins and β-glucans. As in our previous work, endotoxin activity was greatest in cat pelt and Dermatophagoides farinae, and least in the pollens. There was no correlation between endotoxin and β-glucan levels ( r = 0.1887; P = 0.07). β-Glucan content was highest for grass pollen (median content, 10.6 ng/ml; range, 0.4—41.8 ng/ml), ragweed pollen (32.9 ng/ml; range, 6.5—41.2 ng/ml), and cat pelt (25.5 ng/ml; range, 16.7—41.1 ng/ml), and lowest for cat hair (4.9 ng/ml; range, 1.2—10.3 ng/ml), D. farinae (1.2 ng/ml; range, 0.4—5.2 ng/ml) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (1.8 ng/ml; range, 0.4—6.7 ng/ml). Conclusions: β-Glucans are present in standardized allergen extracts. The effects of these quantities of β-glucans on allergen immunotherapy and allergen skin testing require further study.
Persistent environmental reservoirs for Vancomycin-resistant enterococci requiring repeated decontamination to achieve eradication
Authors: Sexton T , Creamer E , Turley M , Smyth E , Humphreys E 
Published: July 2017

V ancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are increasingly recognised nosocomial pathogens in clinical areas with high antibiotic usage. Patients with chronic renal failure, including those requiring haemodialysis, are at particular risk. Investigation and control of an outbreak of VRE in two renal wards, highlighting mattresses as reservoirs and environmental measures to control VRE are reported in this paper. Outbreak control measures included standard isolation in accordance with the Recommendations of the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Patients were screened on admission and weekly using a rectal swab. The inanimate environment including mattresses was also screened. Enhanced environmental decontamination was performed on a daily basis. The outbreak continued over a 20-week period with most cases occurring in the first 6 weeks. The results of screening indicated that 59 (13%) of 451 patients and 54 (8.3%) of 647 environmental samples were positive for VRE. VRE was isolated from 35 (8%) of 433 mattresses, 12 (8.1%) of 148 environmental ledges, 4 (8%) of 50 toilets, and 3 (18.8%) of 16 items of cleaning equipment. Molecular typing indicated that a predominant strain was also implicated in mattress contamination, thus highlighting a potential and important reservoir for transmission of VRE. Difficulty with eradication of VRE from the environment was encountered despite enhanced cleaning regimens and a doubling of use of disinfectant was necessary. Restriction of antibiotics, hand hygiene, hygiene and education are the cornerstone of VRE prevention and control. Lessons from this outbreak highlight the role of the environment in VRE transmission and the need for attention to the environment, especially mattress decontamination.
Isolation—a patient satisfaction and compliance survey
Authors: Madeo M , Owen E 
Published: July 2017

I nfection control is critically important to the effective provision and management of healthcare services. Nurses have the opportunity to practice infection control as an integral part of patient care on a daily basis. However, several studies suggest an overall lack of understanding of the components that make up informed infection control care (Mokabel, 1998). Within the NHS plan there is increasing emphasis on patients’ views of healthcare treatment, in order to try and deliver quality care (Department of Health, 1999). Patients in hospital who are diagnosed as having an infection caused by pathogenic microorganisms are usually nursed in source isolation or ‘barrier nursed'. Isolation nursing involves the use of practices aimed at controlling and minimising the spread of the microorganisms to others. A review of the literature reveals a number of studies describing the effects of isolation, (Gammon, 1998; Gammon, 1999; Madeo, 2001), but there remains a general lack of insight into what being in isolation means to the patient.
Variations in the prevalence of childhood asthma and wheeze in MeDALL cohorts in Europe
Authors: Uphoff Eleonora P. , Bird Philippa K. , Antó Joseph Maria , Basterrechea Mikel , von Berg Andrea , Bergström Anna , Bousquet Jean , Chatzi Leda , Fantini Maria Pia , Ferrero Amparo , Gehring Ulrike , Gori Davide , Heinrich Joachim , Keil Thomas , Kull Inger , Lau Susanne , Maier Dieter , Momas Isabelle , Narduzzi Silvia , Porta Daniela , Ranciere Fanny , Roumeliotaki Theano , Schikowski Tamara , Smit Henriette A. , Standl Marie , Sunyer Jordi , Wright John 
Published: July 2017

While there is evidence for variations in prevalence rates of childhood wheeze and asthma between countries, longitudinal, individual-level data are needed to understand these differences. The aim of this study was to examine variations in prevalence rates of childhood asthma, wheeze and wheeze with asthma in Europe.We analysed datasets from 10 MeDALL (Mechanisms of the Development of ALLergy) cohorts in eight countries, representing 26 663 children, to calculate prevalence rates of wheeze and asthma by child age and wheeze with asthma at age 4 years. Harmonised variables included outcomes parent-reported wheeze and parent-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma, and covariates maternal education, parental smoking, pets, parental asthma, doctor-diagnosed allergic rhinitis, doctor-diagnosed eczema and wheeze severity.At age 4 years, asthma prevalence varied from 1.72% in Germany to 13.48% in England and the prevalence of wheeze varied from 9.82% in Greece to 55.37% in Spain. Adjusted estimates of the proportion of 4-year-old children with wheeze diagnosed with asthma remained highest in England (38.14%, 95% CI 31.38–44.90%) and lowest in Spain (15.94%, 95% CI 6.16–25.71%).The large differences in prevalence rates of asthma, wheeze and wheeze with asthma at age 4 years between European cohorts may indicate that childhood asthma is more readily diagnosed in some countries while going unrecognised elsewhere.
Cathepsin B inhibitor improves developmental competency and cryo-tolerance of in vitro ovine embryos
Authors: Pezhman M. , Hosseini S. M. , Ostadhosseini S. , Rouhollahi Varnosfaderani Sh. , Sefid F. , Nasr-Esfahani M. H. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Background
Cathepsin B is a lysosomal cysteine protease involved in apoptosis and oocytes which have lower developmental competence show higher expression of Cathepsin B. Furthermore, expression of Cathepsin B show a decreasing trend from oocyte toward blastocyst stage.

Results
Present study assessed the effect of cathepsin B inhibitor, E-64, on developmental competency and cryo-survival of pre-implantation ovine IVF derived embryos. Cathepsin B inhibitor was added during day 3 to 8 of development. One μM E-64 was defined as the optimal concentration required for improving blastocyst rate. This concentration also reduced DNA fragmentation and BAX as apoptotic markers while increasing total cell number per blastocyst and improving anti-apoptotic marker, the BCL2. We further showed that addition of 1.0 μM of E-64 during day 3 to 8 of development improved re-expansion and hatching rates of blastocysts post vitrification. E-64 also reduced rate of DNA fragmentation and BAX expression and increased total cell number per blastocyst and BCL2 expression post vitrification. However, addition of E-64 post vitrification reduced the hatching rate.

Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that inhibition of cathepsin B in IVC, not only improves quality and quantity of blastocysts but also improves the cryo-survival of in vitro derived blastocysts.
Entropy-limited hydrodynamics: a novel approach to relativistic hydrodynamics
Authors: Guercilena Federico , Radice David , Rezzolla Luciano 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe present entropy-limited hydrodynamics (ELH): a new approach for the computation of numerical fluxes arising in the discretization of hyperbolic equations in conservation form. ELH is based on the hybridisation of an unfiltered high-order scheme with the first-order Lax-Friedrichs method. The activation of the low-order part of the scheme is driven by a measure of the locally generated entropy inspired by the artificial-viscosity method proposed by Guermond et al. (J. Comput. Phys. 230(11):4248-4267, 2011, doi:10.1016/j.jcp.2010.11.043). Here, we present ELH in the context of high-order finite-differencing methods and of the equations of general-relativistic hydrodynamics. We study the performance of ELH in a series of classical astrophysical tests in general relativity involving isolated, rotating and nonrotating neutron stars, and including a case of gravitational collapse to black hole. We present a detailed comparison of ELH with the fifth-order monotonicity preserving method MP5 (Suresh and Huynh in J. Comput. Phys. 136(1):83-99, 1997, doi:10.1006/jcph.1997.5745), one of the most common high-order schemes currently employed in numerical-relativity simulations. We find that ELH achieves comparable and, in many of the cases studied here, better accuracy than more traditional methods at a fraction of the computational cost (up to ${\sim}50\%$
∼
50
%
speedup). Given its accuracy and its simplicity of implementation, ELH is a promising framework for the development of new special- and general-relativistic hydrodynamics codes well adapted for massively parallel supercomputers.
Methodological and Reporting Quality of Systematic Reviews Published in the Highest Ranking Journals in the Field of Pain
Authors: Riado Minguez Daniel , Kowalski Martin , Vallve Odena Marta , Longin Pontzen Daniel , Jelicic Kadic Antonia , Jeric Milka , Dosenovic Svjetlana , Jakus Dora , Vrdoljak Marija , Poklepovic Pericic Tina , Sapunar Damir , Puljak Livia 
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND:
Systematic reviews (SRs) are important for making clinical recommendations and guidelines. We analyzed methodological and reporting quality of pain-related SRs published in the top-ranking anesthesiology journals.

METHODS:
This was a cross-sectional meta-epidemiological study. SRs published from 2005 to 2015 in the first quartile journals within the Journal Citation Reports category Anesthesiology were analyzed based on the Journal Citation Reports impact factor for year 2014. Each SR was assessed by 2 independent authors using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) tools. Total score (median and interquartile range, IQR) on checklists, temporal trends in total score, correlation in total scores between the 2 checklists, and variability of those results between journals were analyzed.

RESULTS:
A total of 446 SRs were included. Median total score of AMSTAR was 6/11 (IQR: 4–7) and of PRISMA 18.5/27 (IQR: 15–22). High compliance (reported in over 90% SRs) was found in only 1 of 11 AMSTAR and 5 of 27 PRISMA items. Low compliance was found for the majority of AMSTAR and PRISMA individual items. Linear regression indicated that there was no improvement in the methodological and reporting quality of SRs before and after the publication of the 2 checklists (AMSTAR: F(1,8) = 0.22; P = .65, PRISMA: F(1,7) = 0.22; P = .47). Total scores of AMSTAR and PRISMA had positive association (R = 0.71; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:
Endorsement of PRISMA in instructions for authors was not a guarantee of compliance. Methodological and reporting quality of pain-related SRs should be improved using relevant checklists. This can be remedied by a joint effort of authors, editors, and peer reviewers.
Patients Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Require Lower Concentrations of the Volatile Anesthetic Sevoflurane
Authors: Baron-Stefaniak Joanna , Götz Viola , Allhutter Andreas , Schiefer Judith , Hamp Thomas , Faybik Peter , Berlakovich Gabriela , Baron David M. , Plöchl Walter 
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND:
Sevoflurane is a volatile anesthetic commonly used to maintain anesthesia in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Growing evidence suggests that patients with ESLD have decreased anesthetic requirements compared to patients with preserved liver function. The potency of volatile anesthetics is expressed as the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). In this prospective, blinded study, we compared the MAC of sevoflurane among patients with ESLD undergoing OLT and patients with normal liver function undergoing major abdominal surgery.

METHODS:
After propofol-induced anesthesia, the MAC of sevoflurane was assessed by evaluating motor response to initial skin incision in patients undergoing OLT and in patients with normal liver function undergoing major abdominal surgery. The MAC was determined using Dixon “up-and-down” method and compared between groups. In addition, the bispectral index was documented immediately before and after skin incision.

RESULTS:
Twenty patients undergoing OLT and 20 control patients were included in the study. The MAC of sevoflurane in patients undergoing OLT was 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–1.4). In comparison, the MAC of sevoflurane in patients with normal liver function was 1.7% (95% CI, 1.6–1.9), equal to a relative reduction of the MAC in patients with ESLD of 26% (95% CI, 14–39). The bispectral index was higher in patients with ESLD than in control patients at 3 minutes before (47 [95% CI, 40–53] vs 35 [95% CI, 31–40], P = .011), 1 minute before (48 [95% CI, 42–54] vs 37 [95% CI, 33–43], P = .03), and 1 minute after skin incision (57 [95% CI, 50–64] vs 41 [95% CI, 36–47], P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:
Our results suggest that the MAC of sevoflurane is lower in patients with ESLD than in patients with normal liver function after propofol-induced anesthesia. However, as we did not measure propofol concentrations at the time of skin incision, the difference in MAC should be interpreted with caution given that residual propofol may have been present at the time of skin incision.
Clathrin-mediated post-fusion membrane retrieval influences the exocytic mode of endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies
Authors: Stevenson Nicola L. , White Ian J. , McCormack Jessica J. , Robinson Christopher , Cutler Daniel F. , Nightingale Thomas D. 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACT
Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), the storage organelles of endothelial cells, are essential to normal haemostatic and inflammatory responses. Their major constituent protein is von Willebrand factor (VWF) which, following stimulation with secretagogues, is released into the blood vessel lumen as large platelet-catching strings. This exocytosis changes the protein composition of the cell surface and also results in a net increase in the amount of plasma membrane. Compensatory endocytosis is thought to limit changes in cell size and retrieve fusion machinery and other misplaced integral membrane proteins following exocytosis; however, little is known about the extent, timing, mechanism and precise function of compensatory endocytosis in endothelial cells. Using biochemical assays, live-cell imaging and correlative spinning-disk microscopy and transmission electron microscopy assays we provide the first in-depth high-resolution characterisation of this process. We provide a model of compensatory endocytosis based on rapid clathrin- and dynamin-mediated retrieval. Inhibition of this process results in a change of exocytic mode: WPBs then fuse with previously fused WPBs rather than the plasma membrane, leading, in turn, to the formation of structurally impaired tangled VWF strings.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first authors of the paper.
You can’t burn the house down because of one bedbug: a qualitative study of changing gender norms in the prevention of violence against women and girls in an urban informal settlement in India
Authors: Daruwalla Nayreen , Hate Ketaki , Pinto Preethi , Ambavkar Gauri , Kakad Bhaskar , Osrin David 
Published: July 2017

Background: The contribution of structural inequalities and societal legitimisation to violence against women, which 30% of women in India survived in the last year, is widely accepted. There is a consensus that interventions should aim to change gender norms, particularly through community mobilisation. How this should be done is less clear.Methods: We did a qualitative study in a large informal settlement in Mumbai, an environment in which 41% of the population live. After reviewing the anonymised records of consultations with 1653 survivors of violence, we conducted 5 focus group discussions and 13 individual interviews with 71 women and men representing a range of age groups and communities. We based the interviews on fictitious biographical vignettes to elicit responses and develop an understanding of social norms. We hypothesised that, in trying to change norms, we might exploit the disjunction between descriptive norms (beliefs about what others actually do) and injunctive norms (beliefs about what others think one ought to do), focusing program activities on evidence that descriptive norms are changing.Results: We found that descriptive and injunctive norms were relatively similar with regard to femininity, masculinity, the need for marriage and childbearing, resistance to separation and divorce, and disapproval of friendships between women and men. Some constraints on women’s dress and mobility were relaxing, but there were more substantial differences between descriptive and injunctive norms around women’s education, control of income and finances, and premarital sexual relationships.Conclusions: Programmatically, we hope to exploit these areas of mismatch in the context of injunctive norms generally inimical to violence against women. We propose that an under-appreciated strategy is expansion of the reference group: induction of relatively isolated women and men into broader social groups whose descriptive and injunctive norms do not tolerate violence.