bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Upper Secondary School Completion and the Business Cycle
Authors: Reiling Rune Borgan , Strøm Bjarne 
Published: October 2015

AbstractPrevious evidence suggests that enrollment in post‐compulsory education increases (decreases) in cyclical downturns (upturns). However, little evidence exists on whether enrollment is successfully transformed into completed education. This paper adds to the literature by analyzing the relationship between completion of upper secondary education and regional unemployment using Norwegian regional panel data on students graduating from compulsory school between 1981 and 2004. We find robust evidence that completion rates are countercyclical. Our results suggest that poor labor‐market conditions when starting upper secondary education have a lasting effect and motivate students to stay in school and graduate.
Do Urban Neighborhoods Benefit from Homeowners? Evidence from Housing Prices
Authors: Kortelainen Mika , Saarimaa Tuukka 
Published: October 2015

AbstractHomeownership is heavily subsidized in most countries. The adverse effects of this policy on economic efficiency and income distribution are well documented in the economics literature. The main argument in favor of subsidizing homeownership is that it creates positive externalities that offset these adverse effects. In this paper, we test whether homeowners create positive externalities that capitalize into housing prices in multi‐storey buildings. Using semi‐parametric hedonic regressions with and without instrumental variables, we find no evidence of positive externalities, although the results with instrumental variables are somewhat imprecise. This result is robust to several sensitivity checks and to a relaxation of the identification assumptions of our instrument using set identification.
Job Polarization and Task‐Biased Technological Change: Evidence from Sweden, 1975–2005
Authors: Adermon Adrian , Gustavsson Magnus 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we show that between 1975 and 2005, Sweden exhibited a pattern of job polarization with expansions of the highest‐ and lowest‐paid jobs compared to middle‐wage jobs. The most popular explanation for such a pattern is the hypothesis of task‐biased technological change, where technological progress reduces the demand for routine middle‐wage jobs but increases the demand for non‐routine jobs located at the tails of the job–wage distribution. However, our estimates do not support this explanation for the 1970s and 1980s. Stronger evidence for task‐biased technological change, albeit not conclusive, is found for the 1990s and 2000s. In particular, there is both a statistically and economically significant growth of non‐routine jobs and a decline of routine jobs. However, results for wages are mixed; while task‐biased technological change cannot explain changes in between‐occupation wage differentials, it does have considerable explanatory power for changes in within‐occupation wage differentials.
National Sentiment and Consumer Choice: The Iraq War and Sales of US Products in Arab Countries
Authors: Clerides Sofronis , Davis Peter , Michis Antonis 
Published: October 2015

AbstractDid the rise in anti‐American sentiment caused by the Iraq war affect sales of US goods abroad? We address this question using data on soft drinks and fabric detergents sales in nine Arab countries. We find a statistically significant negative impact of the war on sales of US soft drinks in seven countries. The impact dissipates after a few months in two countries but persists in the other five. In the case of detergents, we only find a significant negative impact in one country. We conclude that international politics can sometimes affect consumer behavior and market outcomes.
Malthus in Sweden
Authors: Lagerlöf Nils‐Petter 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper presents some new and unique cross‐county data from 19th‐century Sweden over birth, death, and marriage rates, grain prices, and harvests. Local grain prices correlate negatively with local harvests, suggesting imperfectly integrated food markets. The so‐called positive and preventive checks are also present: good local harvests are associated with high birth and marriage rates, and low death rates. We also find that the fertility and marriage effects from changes in prices – but not harvests – are greater in counties that rely more on manufacturing, consistent with an open‐economy model of fertility choice, where agents earn income from both agriculture and manufacturing.
A Voting Architecture for the Governance of Free‐Driver Externalities, with Application to Geoengineering
Authors: Weitzman Martin L. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAbating climate change is an enormous international public‐goods problem with a classical “free‐rider” structure. However, it is also a global “free‐driver” problem because geoengineering the stratosphere with reflective particles to block incoming solar radiation is so cheap that it could essentially be undertaken unilaterally by one state perceiving itself to be in peril. This exploratory paper develops the main features of a free‐driver externality in a simple model motivated by the asymmetric consequences of type‐I and type‐II errors. I propose a social‐choice decision architecture, embodying the solution concept of a supermajority voting rule, and derive its basic properties.
Does the Welfare State Destroy the Family? Evidence from OECD Member Countries
Authors: Halla Martin , Lackner Mario , Scharler Johann 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe study the effect of the size of the welfare state on demographic trends in OECD member countries. Exploiting exogenous variation in public social spending, due to varying degrees of political fractionalization (i.e., the number of relevant parties involved in the legislative process), we show that an expansion in the welfare state increases fertility, marriage, and divorce rates with a quantitatively stronger effect on the marriage rate. We conclude that the welfare state supports family formation in the aggregate. Further, we find that the welfare state decouples marriage and fertility, and therefore alters the organization of the average family.
The impact of alcohol consumption on African people in 2012: an analysis of burden of disease
Authors: Ferreira‐Borges Carina , Rehm Jürgen , Dias Sónia , Babor Thomas , Parry Charles D. H. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the impact of alcohol consumption on deaths and disability in Africa.MethodsWe estimated alcohol exposure for 2012, and its impact on deaths and disability in Africa using estimates from the WHO Global Health Estimates for outcome data, and the WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2014 for risk relations. We provide a scenario that includes the impact of alcohol on HIV/AIDS incidence, and qualitative predictions on future exposure and harm.ResultsOverall, alcohol consumption has a large impact on burden of disease and mortality in African countries. Alcohol‐attributable disease burden is more important when the impact of alcohol consumption on the incidence and course of HIV/AIDS is taken into account, with alcohol being responsible, in 2012, for 6.4% of all deaths and 4.7% of all DALYs lost in the African region. Alcohol exposure is expected to increase in the next years, and thus alcohol‐attributable fractions.ConclusionsThe weight of new evidence, especially of alcohol's role in the incidence and course of HIV/AIDS, is particularly relevant to African countries and points to the need for a strong policy response to reduce the alcohol‐related burden of disease on the continent.
Modeling and Characterization of Rotary Electrohydrostatic Actuators
Authors: Galluzzi Renato , Amati Nicola , Tonoli Andrea 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Electrohydrostatic actuators are increasingly finding applications in different fields due to their numerous advantages with respect to electromechanical and conventional hydraulic systems. To understand their behavior, potentialities, limitations, and design aspects, the present paper deals with the modeling of such devices. The discussed phenomena are experimentally validated through the stationary and dynamic characterization tests of a rotary electrohydrostatic prototype. Results emphasize the role of mechanical and hydraulic dissipative effects and the fluid bulk modulus.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Streptomyces
sp. JHA19, a Strain That Possesses β-
d
-Galactofuranosidase Activity
Authors: Matsunaga Emiko , Higuchi Yujiro , Mori Kazuki , Tashiro Kosuke , Kuhara Satoru , Takegawa Kaoru 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

By screening for microbes that exhibit β-
d
-galactofuranosidase (Gal
f
-ase) activity, a
Streptomyces
sp. strain, named JHA19, was isolated from a soil sample from Kagawa University, Japan, in 2010. Here, we report the results of whole-genome shotgun sequencing and found that the strain has four predicted Gal
f
-ase genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Rheinheimera
sp. KL1, Isolated from a Freshwater Lake in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: O’Connor Brady R. W. , Perry Benjamin J. , Yost Christopher K. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Rheinheimera
sp. KL1 was isolated from an algal bloom in Katepwa Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. The isolate shares genetic and physiological similarities with
Rheinheimera tangshanensis
. The genome is estimated to be 4,295,060 bp in length with a GC content of 46.37%. Sequence analysis suggests the strain carries a previously uncharacterized prophage.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus plantarum Strain SNU.Lp177 from Pig Feces in South Korea
Authors: Kim Eun Bae , Jin Gwi-Deuk , Lee Jun-Yeong , Choi Yun-Jaie 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Herein we report a draft genome sequence for
Lactobacillus plantarum
SNU.Lp177, which was isolated from animal gut pig feces in South Korea. The draft genome of
L. plantarum
SNU.Lp177 contains 3,204,772 bp with a G+C content of 44.98% in 101 contigs (
N
50
= 116,595 bp).
Complete Genome Sequence of the Clostridium difficile Type Strain DSM 1296
T
Authors: Riedel Thomas , Bunk Boyke , Wittmann Johannes , Thürmer Andrea , Spröer Cathrin , Gronow Sabine , Liesegang Heiko , Daniel Rolf , Overmann Jörg 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of the
Clostridium difficile
type strain DSM 1296
T
. A combination of single-molecule real-time (SMRT) and Illumina sequencing technology revealed the presence of one chromosome and two extrachromosomal elements, the bacteriophage phiCDIF1296T and a putative plasmid-like structure harboring genes of another bacteriophage.
Diagnostic accuracy of screening tests for COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Haroon Shamil , Jordan Rachel , Takwoingi Yemisi , Adab Peymane 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is widely underdiagnosed. A number of studies have evaluated the accuracy of screening tests for COPD, but their findings have not been formally summarised. We therefore sought to determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of such screening tests in primary care.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of screening tests for COPD confirmed by spirometry in primary care. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and other bibliographic databases from 1997 to 2013 for diagnostic accuracy studies that evaluated 1 or more index tests in primary care among individuals aged ≥35 years with no prior diagnosis of COPD. Bivariate meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity was performed where appropriate. Methodological quality was assessed independently by 2 reviewers using the QUADAS-2 tool.Results10 studies were included. 8 assessed screening questionnaires (the COPD Diagnostic Questionnaire (CDQ) was the most evaluated, n=4), 4 assessed handheld flow meters (eg, COPD-6) and 1 assessed their combination. Among ever smokers, the CDQ (score threshold ≥19.5; n=4) had a pooled sensitivity of 64.5% (95% CI 59.9% to 68.8%) and specificity of 65.2% (52.9% to 75.8%), and handheld flow meters (n=3) had a sensitivity of 79.9% (95% CI 74.2% to 84.7%) and specificity of 84.4% (68.9% to 93.0%). Inadequate blinding between index tests and spirometry was the main risk of bias.ConclusionsHandheld flow meters demonstrated higher test accuracy than the CDQ for COPD screening in primary care. The choice of alternative screening tests within whole screening programmes should now be fully evaluated.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42012002074.
Direct Evidence for Microdomain-Specific Localization and Remodeling of Functional L-Type Calcium Channels in Rat and Human Atrial Myocytes
Authors: Glukhov Alexey V. , Balycheva Marina , Sanchez-Alonso Jose L. , Ilkan Zeki , Alvarez-Laviada Anita , Bhogal Navneet , Diakonov Ivan , Schobesberger Sophie , Sikkel Markus B. , Bhargava Anamika , Faggian Giuseppe , Punjabi Prakash P. , Houser Steven R. , Gorelik Julia 
Published: October 2015

Background—
Distinct subpopulations of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) with different functional properties exist in cardiomyocytes. Disruption of cellular structure may affect LTCC in a microdomain-specific manner and contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiac diseases, especially in cells lacking organized transverse tubules (T-tubules) such as atrial myocytes (AMs).

Methods and Results—

Isolated rat and human AMs were characterized by scanning ion conductance, confocal, and electron microscopy. Half of AMs possessed T-tubules and structured topography, proportional to cell width. A bigger proportion of myocytes in the left atrium had organized T-tubules and topography than in the right atrium. Super-resolution scanning patch clamp showed that LTCCs distribute equally in T-tubules and crest areas of the sarcolemma, whereas, in ventricular myocytes, LTCCs primarily cluster in T-tubules. Rat, but not human, T-tubule LTCCs had open probability similar to crest LTCCs, but exhibited ≈40% greater current. Optical mapping of Ca
2+
transients revealed that rat AMs presented ≈3-fold as many spontaneous Ca
2+
release events as ventricular myocytes. Occurrence of crest LTCCs and spontaneous Ca
2+
transients were eliminated by either a caveolae-targeted LTCC antagonist or disrupting caveolae with methyl-β-cyclodextrin, with an associated ≈30% whole-cell
I
Ca,L
reduction. Heart failure (16 weeks post–myocardial infarction) in rats resulted in a T-tubule degradation (by ≈40%) and significant elevation of spontaneous Ca
2+
release events. Although heart failure did not affect LTCC occurrence, it led to ≈25% decrease in T-tubule LTCC amplitude.

Conclusions—
We provide the first direct evidence for the existence of 2 distinct subpopulations of functional LTCCs in rat and human AMs, with their biophysical properties modulated in heart failure in a microdomain-specific manner.
Survival After Out‐of‐Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children
Authors: Jayaram Natalie , McNally Bryan , Tang Fengming , Chan Paul S. 
Published: October 2015

Background

Little is known about survival after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (
OHCA
) in children. We examined whether
OHCA
survival in children differs by age, sex, and race, as well as recent survival trends.

Methods and Results

Within the prospective Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (
CARES
), we identified children (age <18 years) with an
OHCA
from October 2005 to December 2013. Survival to hospital discharge by age (categorized as infants [0 to 1 year], younger children [2 to 7 years], older children [8 to 12 years], and teenagers [13 to 17 years]), sex, and race was assessed using modified Poisson regression. Additionally, we assessed whether survival has improved over 3 time periods: 2005–2007, 2008–2010, and 2011–2013. Of 1980 children with an
OHCA
, 429 (21.7%) were infants, 952 (48.1%) younger children, 276 (13.9%) older children, and 323 (16.3%) teenagers. Fifty‐nine percent of the study population was male and 31.8% of black race. Overall, 162 (8.2%) children survived to hospital discharge. After multivariable adjustment, infants (rate ratio: 0.56; 95%
CI
: 0.35, 0.90) and younger children (rate ratio: 0.42; 95%
CI
: 0.27, 0.65) were less likely to survive compared with teenagers. In contrast, there were no differences in survival by sex or race. Finally, there were no temporal trends in survival across the study periods (
P
=0.21).

Conclusions

In a large, national registry, we found no evidence for racial or sex differences in survival among children with
OHCA
, but survival was lower in younger age groups. Unlike in adults with
OHCA
, survival rates in children have not improved in recent years.
Infarct Volume Prediction by Early Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Murine Stroke Model Depends on Ischemia Duration and Time of Imaging
Authors: Leithner Christoph , Füchtemeier Martina , Jorks Devi , Mueller Susanne , Dirnagl Ulrich , Royl Georg 
Published: October 2015

Background and Purpose—
Despite standardization of experimental stroke models, final infarct sizes after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) vary considerably. This introduces uncertainties in the evaluation of drug effects on stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging may detect variability of surgically induced ischemia before treatment and thus improve treatment effect evaluation.

Methods—
MCAO of 45 and 90 minutes induced brain infarcts in 83 mice. During, and 3 and 6 hours after MCAO, we performed multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated time courses of cerebral blood flow, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), T1, T2, accuracy of infarct prediction strategies, and impact on statistical evaluation of experimental stroke studies.

Results—
ADC decreased during MCAO but recovered completely on reperfusion after 45 and partially after 90-minute MCAO, followed by a secondary decline. ADC lesion volumes during MCAO or at 6 hours after MCAO largely determined final infarct volumes for 90 but not for 45 minutes MCAO. The majority of chance findings of final infarct volume differences in random group allocations of animals were associated with significant differences in early ADC lesion volumes for 90, but not for 45-minute MCAO.

Conclusions—
The prediction accuracy of early magnetic resonance imaging for infarct volumes depends on timing of magnetic resonance imaging and MCAO duration. Variability of the posterior communicating artery in C57Bl6 mice contributes to differences in prediction accuracy between short and long MCAO. Early ADC imaging may be used to reduce errors in the interpretation of post MCAO treatment effects on stroke volumes.
Copeptin and Long-Term Risk of Recurrent Vascular Events After Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Greisenegger Stefan , Segal Helen C. , Burgess Annette I. , Poole Debbie L. , Mehta Ziyah , Rothwell Peter M. 
Published: October 2015

Background and Purpose—
Copeptin, the c-terminal portion of provasopressin, is a useful prognostic marker in patients after myocardial infarction and heart failure. More recently, high levels of copeptin have also been associated with worse functional outcome and increased mortality within the first year after ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). However, to date, there are no published data on whether copeptin predicts long-term risk of vascular events after TIA and stroke.

Methods—
We measured copeptin levels in consecutive patients with TIA or ischemic stroke in a population-based study (Oxford Vascular Study) recruited from 2002 to 2007 and followed up to 2014. Associations with risk of recurrent vascular events were determined by Cox-regression.

Results—

During ≈6000 patient-years in 1076 patients, there were 357 recurrent vascular events, including 174 ischemic strokes. After adjustment for age, sex, and risk factors, copeptin was predictive of recurrent vascular events (adjusted hazard ratio per SD, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.31–1.64;
P
=0.0001), vascular death (1.85; 1.60–2.14;
P
<0.0001), all-cause death (1.75; 1.58–1.93;
P
<0.0001), and recurrent ischemic stroke (1.22; 1.04–1.44;
P
=0.017); and improved model-discrimination significantly: net reclassification improvement for recurrent vascular events (32%;
P
<0.0001), vascular death (55%;
P
<0.0001), death (66%;
P
<0.0001), and recurrent stroke (16%;
P
=0.044). The predictive value of copeptin was largest in patients with cardioembolic index events (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.53–2.20 versus 1.31, 1.14–1.50 in noncardioembolic stroke;
P
=0.0025). In patients with cardioembolic stroke, high copeptin levels were associated with a 4-fold increased risk of vascular events within the first year of follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.02; 95% confidence interval, 2.13–7.70).

Conclusions—
In patients with TIA and ischemic stroke, copeptin predicted recurrent vascular events and death, particularly after cardioembolic TIA/stroke. Further validation is required, in particular, in studies using more extensive cardiac evaluation.
Group motivational interviewing in schools: Development of a health promotion intervention
Authors: Hawkins Jemma L , Bravo Paulina , Gobat Nina , Rollnick Stephen , Jerzembek Gabrielle , Whitehead Sarah , Chanon Sue , Kelson Mark , Adams Orla , Murphy Simon 
Published: October 2015

Objective: In the light of the shortcomings of curriculum-based health promotion in secondary schools, group motivational interviewing provides a potential alternative approach. This two-phase study set out to establish the key components, feasibility and acceptability of a group motivational interviewing intervention, focused on alcohol consumption. Methods: In phase 1, focus groups with 12 students and 8 teachers explored issues with existing health education in Wales. Phase 2 involved the development of a 1-hour group motivational interviewing session to address the issues raised. The session was delivered to two classes of students aged 13–15 years, facilitated by two motivational interviewing practitioners. Sessions were observed and audio-recorded and coded by two researchers using the Assessment of Motivational Interviewing Groups Observer Scale (AMIGOS). Student acceptability of the session was captured using a satisfaction questionnaire. Results: Sessions were consistent with motivational interviewing principles, providing empathic and focused discussion while maximising participants’ autonomy and strengths. The majority of students felt listened to during the session, considered it was helpful and felt that they could learn more from this kind of experience. Conclusion: A group motivational interviewing session, developed based on key components identified during focus groups, was shown to be acceptable to students and feasible to deliver in secondary schools. The approach requires further research to establish sustainable delivery mechanisms.
Drug prescribing pattern in pregnancy in a secondary care hospital in south India: a retrospective study
Authors: Das Saibal , Winston A Blessed , Sukumaran Deepasree , Kumar Aniket , FX Margaret Shanthi , Prasad Jasmin 
Published: October 2015

Background In pregnancy drug treatment presents a special concern due potential teratogenic effects and physiologic alterations in mother. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the drug prescribing pattern in pregnancy among pregnant women in a secondary care hospital in India. Materials and methods This cross-sectional retrospective study was done for 3 months using pre-formatted forms and patient’s records. Results A total of 326 drugs, including 46 different types of drugs, were prescribed to 606 gravid women. Eight different types of medications were started before being seen at the antenatal clinic. Most of these drugs fall under US FDA pregnancy categories B and C and few under categories A, X and N. Conclusion This study reflects a good, safe and rational medication practice during pregnancy in various common disorders in a secondary care hospital and can be cited as an example to similar primary and secondary care hospitals.