bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The short‐term impact of the alcohol act on alcohol‐related deaths and hospital admissions in Scotland: a natural experiment
Authors: Robinson Mark , Bouttell Janet , Lewsey James , Mackay Daniel , McCartney Gerry , Beeston Clare 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBackground and aimThe introduction of the Alcohol Act in Scotland on 1 October 2011, which included a ban on multi‐buy promotions, was probably associated with a fall in off‐trade alcohol sales in the year after its implementation. The aim of this study was to test if the same legislation was associated with reduced levels of alcohol‐related deaths and hospital admissions in the 3‐year period after its introduction.DesignA natural experiment design using time–series data to assess the impact of the Alcohol Act legislation in Scotland. Comparisons were made with unexposed populations in the rest of Great Britain.SettingScotland with comparable data obtained for geographical control groups in other parts of Great Britain.ParticipantsFor alcohol‐related deaths, a total of 17 732 in Scotland and 88 001 in England and Wales throughout 169 4‐week periods between January 2001 and December 2013 and for alcohol‐related hospital admissions, a total of 121 314 in Scotland and 696 892 in England throughout 182 4‐week periods between January 2001 and December 2014.MeasurementsDeaths and hospital admissions in Scotland and control groups that were wholly attributable to alcohol for consecutive 4‐week periods between January 2001 and December 2014. Data were obtained by age, sex and area‐based socio‐economic position.FindingsThere was no evidence to suggest that the Alcohol Act was associated with changes in the overall rate of alcohol‐related deaths [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.91–1.07)] or hospital admissions (IRR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.95–1.02) in Scotland. In control group analyses, the pseudo intervention variable was not associated with a change in alcohol‐related death rates in England/Wales (IRR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.95–1.02), but was associated with an increase in alcohol‐related hospital admission rates in England (IRR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03–1.07). In combined models, the interaction analysis did not provide support for a ‘net effect’ of the legislation on alcohol‐related deaths in Scotland compared with England/Wales (IRR 0.99, 95% CI = 0.95–1.04), but suggested a net reduction in hospital admissions for Scotland compared with England (IRR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.87–0.98).ConclusionThe implementation of the Alcohol Act in Scotland has not been associated clearly with a reduction in alcohol‐related deaths or hospital admissions in the 3‐year period after it was implemented in October 2011.
Oxidative Stress Increases Erythrocyte Sensitivity to Shear‐Mediated Damage
Authors: McNamee Antony P. , Horobin Jarod T. , Tansley Geoff D. , Simmonds Michael J. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractPatients receiving mechanical circulatory support often present with heightened inflammation and free radical production associated with pre‐existing conditions in addition to that which is due to blood interactions with nonbiological surfaces. The aim of this experimental laboratory study was to assess the deformability of red blood cells (RBC) previously exposed to oxygen free radicals and determine the susceptibility of these cells to mechanical forces. In the present study, RBC from 15 healthy donors were washed and incubated for 60 min at 37°C with 50 µM phenazine methosulfate (PMS; an agent that generates superoxide within RBC). Incubated RBC and negative controls were assessed for their deformability and susceptibility to mechanical damage (using ektacytometry) prior to the application of shear stress, and also following exposure to 25 different shear conditions of varied magnitudes (shear stress 1, 4, 16, 32, 64 Pa) and durations (1, 4, 16, 32, 64 s). The salient findings demonstrate that incubation with PMS impaired important indices of RBC deformability indicating altered cell mechanics by ∼19% in all conditions (pre‐ and postexposure to shear stress). The typical trends in shear‐mediated changes in RBC susceptibility to mechanical damage, following conditioning shear stresses, were maintained for PMS incubated and control conditions. We demonstrated that free radicals hinder the ability of RBC to deform; however, RBC retained their typical mechanical response to shear stress, albeit at a decreased level compared with control following exposure to PMS. Our findings also indicate that low shear exposure may decrease cell sensitivity to mechanical damage upon subsequent shear stress exposures. As patients receiving mechanical circulatory support have elevated exposure to free radicals (which limits RBC deformability), concomitant exposure to high shear environments needs to be minimized.
Food elimination diets are effective for long‐term treatment of adults with eosinophilic oesophagitis
Authors: Reed C. C. , Fan C. , Koutlas N. T. , Shaheen N. J. , Dellon E. S. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryBackgroundLimited data describe the long‐term efficacy of dietary elimination in eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE).AimTo assess the long‐term outcomes of food elimination diets for treatment of adults with EoE.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study at our centre analysing all EoE patients receiving a food elimination diet without concomitant steroids. Baseline data were abstracted using standardised collection forms. Follow‐up data from a mean 24.9‐month period were collected for patients with a histological response to a food elimination diet during and after food reintroduction. The main outcomes were symptomatic, endoscopic and histological responses.ResultsOf 52 patients, 18 received a 6‐food food elimination diet, 32 received targeted diet, and two received a 6‐food food elimination diet with targeted elimination. There were 21 (40%) patients with an initial histological response. Responders reported less dysphagia after treatment (95% baseline vs 11%; P = .001) and at the end of follow‐up (95% baseline vs 33%; P = .008). Significant and durable endoscopic improvements were recorded at the same time points: Endoscopic reference score: 3.2 vs 0.7; P = .001; and 3.2 vs 1.7; P = .06. Histological findings improved after the most restrictive diet in responders (49.8 vs 4.1 eosinophils per high‐power field; P = .001) and remained suppressed in the 10 initial responders maintaining compliance at the end of follow‐up (5.2 eosinophils per high‐power field).ConclusionsAmong EoE patients responding to a food elimination diet and remaining adherent, maintenance dietary therapy produced durable long‐term symptomatic, endoscopic and histological disease control. These long‐term data confirm that a food elimination diet is an effective maintenance treatment option in select adults with EoE.
Glucocorticoid receptor is involved in the differential expression of hepatic 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase between barrows and boars at finishing stage
Authors: Li Xian , Cong Rihua , Yao Wen , Jia Yimin , Li Runsheng , Sun Zhiyuan , Li Xi , Zhao Ruqian 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe enzyme 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD) plays an important role in androstenone metabolism in pig liver, and its defective expression is related to the development of boar taint. Early age castration is a common practice in many countries to avoid boar taint, yet whether and how castration affects porcine hepatic 3β‐HSD expression are still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to compare the expression of 3β‐HSD between intact (boars) and castrated (barrows) male pigs, and to explore the potential factors regulating 3β‐HSD transcription. Compared to barrows, boars showed worse carcass quality. Boars had significantly higher levels of serum androstenone (P < 0.01), testosterone (P < 0.01) and hepatic cortisol (P < 0.05), which were contrary to significantly lower expression of 3β‐HSD messenger RNA (P < 0.01) and protein (P < 0.01) in the liver. Significant differences were detected for the hepatic expression of androgen receptor (AR) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay demonstrated reduced histone H3 acetylation (P < 0.05) but increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binding to 3β‐HSD gene promoter in boars (P < 0.05). These results indicate that GR binding to 3β‐HSD promoter is involved in the differential hepatic 3β‐HSD expression between boars and barrows.
Economic evaluation of dental sealants: A systematic literature review
Authors: Akinlotan Marvellous , Chen Bradley , Fontanilla Tiana M. , Chen Annie , Fan Victoria Y. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo systematically review the literature on economic evaluations of dental sealants and examine the costs and effectiveness of caries prevention using sealants.MethodsOf 21 full‐text articles examined, a total of 13 were included in this study. These studies are grouped by the type of intervention as follows: (i) sealants compared with no sealants; (ii) sealants compared with other forms of caries prevention; (iii) resin‐based sealants compared with glass‐ionomer sealants; (iv) different sealing strategies in primary teeth; (v) different sealing strategies in permanent teeth; and (vi) sealants based on school‐ or clinic‐based setting of delivery. All currency is reported in constant 2010 US$.ResultsCost‐effectiveness analyses differed due to varying study designs, assumptions, sealant delivery settings, outcomes, caries risk assessment and study durations. Findings varied on the cost‐effectiveness of sealants compared with other caries‐preventive strategies. Under the assumption of equal caries risk, always sealing primary molars appeared to be the most effective strategy, whereas risk‐based sealing was the optimal strategy with differing caries risk. Studies that assessed sealing strategies in permanent teeth reported that risk‐based sealing was more cost‐effective than not sealing, but they differed on the cost‐effectiveness of risk‐based seal compared with non‐risk‐based seal. Sealants delivered in school settings had mixed results on costs but were as equally effective as sealants delivered in private practices.ConclusionsThe cost‐effectiveness of sealants is dependent on the conditions of delivery. The list of cost‐effectiveness ratios for each intervention can support policy makers to estimate expected returns on their investments in dental sealants.
Development of the quality of reaching in infants with cerebral palsy: a kinematic study
Authors: Boxum Anke G , La Bastide‐Van Gemert Sacha , Dijkstra Linze‐Jaap , Hamer Elisa G , Hielkema Tjitske , Reinders‐Messelink Heleen A , Hadders‐Algra Mijna 
Published: September 2017

AimTo assess development of reaching and head stability in infants at very high risk (VHR‐infants) of cerebral palsy (CP) who did and did not develop CP.MethodThis explorative longitudinal study assessed the kinematics of reaching and head sway in sitting in 37 VHR‐infants (18 CP) one to four times between 4.7 months and 22.6 months corrected age. Developmental trajectories were calculated using linear mixed effect models. Motor function was evaluated with the Infant Motor Profile (IMP) around 13 months corrected age.ResultsThroughout infancy, VHR‐infants with CP had a worse reaching quality than infants without CP, reflected for example by more movement units (factor 1.52, 95% CI 1.16–1.99) and smaller transport movement units (factor 1.86, 95% CI 1.20–2.90). Total head sway of infants with and without CP was similar, but infants with CP used more head movement units to achieve stability. The rate of developmental change in infants with and without CP was similar. Around 13 months, head control and reaching quality were interrelated; both were associated with IMP‐scores.InterpretationInfants with CP showed a worse kinematic reaching quality and head stability throughout infancy from early age onwards than VHR‐infants without CP, implying that kinematically they do not grow into a deficit, but exhibit deficits from early infancy on.What this paper adds

Reaching quality improves throughout infancy in all infants at high risk (VHR‐infants).

Infants with cerebral palsy (CP) show a worse reaching quality than VHR‐infants without CP.

Infants with CP achieve head stability differently from infants without CP.

Infants with CP exhibit kinematic reaching problems from early age onwards.
Cherry (Prunus cerasus cv Montmorency) extract with standardised antioxidant potential as preservative for refrigerated storage of ground pork
Authors: Brodowska Marta , Guzek Dominka , Godziszewska Jolanta , Górska‐Horczyczak Elżbieta , Pogorzelska Ewelina , Sakowska Anna , Wojtasik‐Kalinowska Iwona , Gantner Magdalena , Wierzbicka Agnieszka 
Published: September 2017

SummaryAntioxidants occurring naturally are much sought‐after for their safety of use for human nutrition and strong preservative properties. The study was performed to determine the antioxidant potential of sour cherry extract and its effect (equivalent of 20 mg and 40 mg GAE kg−1) on the quality of ground pork patties during 8‐day storage. The patties were analysed for antioxidant capacity, oxidation, profile of fatty acids, flavour, colour, sensory properties and aerobic bacteria count. Patties with addition of cherry extract (40 mg GAE kg−1) showed higher antioxidant capacity of 844 ± 149 μmol TE L‐1 on the last day of the storage than the control group where the result was 480 ± 81 μmol TE L‐1. The addition of extract caused lower overall increase in lipid oxidation and prevented loss of redness even on the last day of the storage. Flavour changes resulted from oxidation and decrease in the amount of desirable volatile compounds in storage. The application of the extract from Prunus cerasus combined with vacuum packaging inhibited both oxidation and quality deterioration of pork patties in cold storage.
What hasGWASdone forHLAand disease associations?
Authors: Kennedy A. E. , Ozbek U. , Dorak M. T. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is located in chromosome 6p21 and contains crucial regulators of immune response, including human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes, alongside other genes with nonimmunological roles. More recently, a repertoire of noncodingRNAgenes, including expressed pseudogenes, has also been identified. TheMHCis the most gene dense and most polymorphic part of the human genome. The region exhibits haplotype‐specific linkage disequilibrium patterns, contains the strongest cis‐ and trans‐eQTLs/meQTLs in the genome and is known as a hot spot for disease associations. Another layer of complexity is provided to the region by the extreme structural variation and copy number variations. While theHLA‐Bgene has the highest number of alleles, theHLA‐DR/DQsubregion is structurally most variable and shows the highest number of disease associations. Reliance on a single reference sequence has complicated the design, execution and analysis ofGWASfor theMHCregion and not infrequently, theMHCregion has even been excluded from the analysis ofGWASdata. Here, we contrast features of theMHCregion with the rest of the genome and highlight its complexities, including its functional polymorphisms beyond those determined by single nucleotide polymorphisms or single amino acid residues. One of the several issues with customaryGWASanalysis is that it does not address this additional layer of polymorphisms unique to theMHCregion. We highlight alternative approaches that may assist with the analysis ofGWASdata from theMHCregion and unravel associations with all functional polymorphisms beyond singleSNPs. We suggest that despite already showing the highest number of disease associations, the true extent of the involvement of theMHCregion in disease genetics may not have been uncovered.
Natural Disasters and Human Trafficking: Do Disasters Affect State Anti‐Trafficking Performance?
Authors: Bowersox Zack 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDespite the oft noted negative connection between natural disasters and human trafficking, no quantitative study has been performed. Natural disasters, like conflict, can destroy homes and the economic security of individuals forcing them to migrate and making them targets for traffickers. This article tests the link between a state's ability to address trafficking and natural disasters, testing the popular prediction that a state's capabilities will be strained as increased natural disasters occur thus producing a negative effect. The findings though demonstrate that states are actually more likely to perform better in their efforts to confront trafficking. I argue that this is because natural disasters actually strengthen and enhance the state, and particularly its security institutions, in responding to these events. I place these findings in the context of other recent quantitative studies of trafficking that have also produced contradictory results when compared with the field's qualitative studies.
Liberalism, Civil Marriage, and Amorous Caregiving Dyads
Authors: Cave Eric M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractRecently, the US has joined many European jurisdictions in extending civil marriage to same sex as well as different sex dyads. Many liberals regard this as a development worth entrenching. But a prominent recent liberal challenge to civil marriage claims otherwise. According to this challenge, by defining and conferring civil marriage, the state privileges some relationships over others that serve equally well the important liberal goal of fostering effective liberal citizenship, in violation of a prominent interpretation of the doctrine of state neutrality. Theorists who press this challenge, such as Elizabeth Brake and Tamara Metz, argue that it can be met effectively only by dismantling civil marriage and replacing it with more inclusive state‐maintained arrangements. So far, prominent responses to this neutralist challenge to civil marriage have focused on the special value of either the relationships to which civil marriage currently extends, or the special value of civil marriage itself. In this article, I develop an alternative reply to this neutralist challenge to civil marriage, one focusing instead on the special vulnerabilities of some of the liberally valuable relationships to which civil marriage currently extends, amorous caregiving dyads.
Development and evaluation of a manual for extended brief intervention for alcohol misuse for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities living in the community: The EBI‐LD study manual
Authors: Kouimtsidis Christos , Scior Katrina , Baio Gianluca , Hunter Rachael , Pezzoni Vittoria , Hassiotis Angela 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundExtended brief interventions for alcohol misuse are effective in the general population. The process of manualising the first ever such intervention for people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities in the UK is the focus of this study.MethodsThe manual was an adaptation of existing manuals based on Motivational Enhancement and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and was used in a feasibility randomized controlled trial, the EBI‐LD study. The sessions were recorded and scored using an adapted version of the Yale Adherence and Competence Scale (YACS II). Feedback was provided by therapists. The trial is closed. Registered: isrctn.com; ISRCTN58783633.ResultsThe quality of the sessions provided was rated as good. Therapists were able to cover all topics within each session. Main challenges included session duration and homework task completion.ConclusionsWe recommend the duration of the sessions to be extended to 40 min to accommodate carers in the session and to enhance their support in homework task completion.
Achieving Consensus on Principles of Good Practice for School Health in Independent Schools: A Delphi Study
Authors: Marshall Miguel G. , Allegrante John P. 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDAlthough the 8 components of the coordinated school health (CSH) framework have been implemented to various degrees in the nation's public schools, principles of good practice (PGPs) to guide health promotion efforts in independent schools do not exist. The purpose of this study was to generate PGPs and rate their feasibility of implementation.METHODSA modified Delphi process was used to generate PGPs for school health in independent schools and develop consensus regarding their feasibility of implementation. A working group of 6 independent school health professionals (ISHPs) was convened to propose draft PGPs based on the CSH framework. The proposed PGPs were then reviewed by a national and geographically diverse expert panel of 10 school health researchers and 23 ISHPs that completed 3 Delphi rounds to achieve consensus on the PGPs. Of 33 participants originally invited to participate, 27 completed the Delphi process.RESULTSA total of 27 panelists rated 67 PGPs, provided 399 comments, and achieved consensus using interquartile range on 56 (84%) of the proposed PGPs, 41 of which were rated feasible and 15 somewhat feasible.CONCLUSIONThis study has generated empirical support for the feasibility of PGPs for school health in independent schools.
Measuring the Implementation of a School Wellness Policy
Authors: Snelling Anastasia , Belson Sarah Irvine , Watts Erin , Malloy Elizabeth , Van Dyke Hugo , George Stephanie , Schlicker Sandra , Katz Nancy Brenowitz 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDWith the rise in childhood obesity, school policies related to nutrition and physical activity have been written and implemented. In this paper, we present a model to evaluate the degree to which state legislation for school health policies are implemented at the school level.METHODSUsing Washington, DC's Healthy Schools Act (HSA) and a self‐report measure of the implementation of the HSA, we illustrate the process of developing a composite score that can be used to measure compliance with the provisions of the law.RESULTSWe calculated elementary and middle school composite scores based on the provisions within the HSA. Schools have been successful in implementing nutrition provisions; however, more resources are needed for schools to achieve the minutes of health and physical education. We found statistically significant differences between public charter and traditional public schools on the implementation of the provisions of the HSA.CONCLUSIONSUnderstanding how schools are complying with school wellness policies is a next step to determining where additional resources or support are needed in order to support school‐wide adoption of healthy policies.
A Strategic User Equilibrium for Independently Distributed Origin‐Destination Demands
Authors: Wen Tao , Cai Chen , Gardner Lauren , Dixit Vinayak , Waller S. Travis , Chen Fang 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis article proposes an extension of the strategic user equilibrium proposed by Waller and colleagues and Dixit and colleagues. The proposed model relaxes the assumption of proportional Origin‐Destination (O‐D) demand, as it accounts for users’ strategic link choice under independently distributed O‐D demands. The convexity of the mathematical formulation is proved when each O‐D demand is assumed to follow a Poisson distribution independently; link flow distributions and users’ strategic link choice are also proved to be unique. Network performance measures are given analytically. A numerical analysis is conducted on the Sioux Falls network. A Monte Carlo method is used to simulate network performance measures, which are then compared to the results computed from the analytical expression. It is illustrated that the model is capable of accounting for demand volatility while maintaining computation efficiency.