bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preventing Infectious Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Foreign-Born Residents of the United States
Authors: Davidow Amy L. , Katz Dolly , Ghosh Smita , Blumberg Henry , Tamhane Ashutosh , Sevilla Anna , Reves Randall 
Published: July 2015

Objectives. We described risk factors associated with infectious tuberculosis (TB) and missed TB-prevention opportunities in foreign-born US residents, who account for almost two thirds of the nation’s TB patients.Methods. In a cross-sectional study at 20 US sites of foreign-born persons diagnosed with TB in 2005 through 2006, we collected results of sputum smear microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (a marker for infectiousness) and data on visa status, sociodemographics, TB-related care seeking, and latent TB infection (LTBI) diagnosis opportunities.Results. Among 980 persons with pulmonary TB who reported their visa status, 601 (61%) were legal permanent residents, 131 (13.4%) had temporary visas, and 248 (25.3%) were undocumented. Undocumented persons were more likely than permanent residents to have acid-fast bacilli–positive smears at diagnosis (risk ratio = 1.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.2, 1.4). Of those diagnosed 1 year or more after arrival, 57.3% reported LTBI screening opportunities; fewer than 25% actually were. Undocumented persons reported fewer LTBI screening opportunities and were less likely to be tested.Conclusions. Progress toward TB elimination in the United States depends upon expanding opportunities for regular medical care and promotion of LTBI screening and treatment among foreign-born persons.
Police Encounters Among Needle Exchange Clients in Baltimore: Drug Law Enforcement as a Structural Determinant of Health
Authors: Beletsky Leo , Cochrane Jess , Sawyer Anne L. , Serio-Chapman Chris , Smelyanskaya Marina , Han Jennifer , Robinowitz Natanya , Sherman Susan G. 
Published: July 2015

Objectives. We piloted a monitoring mechanism to document police encounters around programs targeting people who inject drugs (PWID), and assessed their demographic predictors at 2 Baltimore, Maryland, needle exchange program (NEP) sites. Methods. In a brief survey, 308 clients quantified, characterized, and sited recent police encounters. Multivariate linear regression determined encounter predictors, and we used geocoordinate maps to illustrate clusters. Results. Within the past 6 months, clients reported a median of 3 stops near NEP sites (interquartile range [IQR] = 0–7.5) and a median of 1 arrest in any location (IQR = 0–2). Three respondents reported police referral to the NEP. Being younger (P = .009), being male (P = .033), and making frequent NEP visits (P = .02) were associated with reported police stops. Among clients reporting arrest or citation for syringe possession, Whites were significantly less likely than non-Whites to report being en route to or from an NEP (P < .001). Reported encounters were clustered around NEPs. Conclusions. Systematic surveillance of structural determinants of health for PWID proved feasible when integrated into service activities. Improved monitoring is critical to informing interventions to align policing with public health, especially among groups subject to disproportionate levels of drug law enforcement.
Mental Health Recovery in the Patient-Centered Medical Home
Authors: Sklar Marisa , Aarons Gregory A. , O’Connell Maria , Davidson Larry , Groessl Erik J. 
Published: July 2015

Objectives. We examined the impact of transitioning clients from a mental health clinic to a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) on mental health recovery. Methods. We drew data from a large US County Behavioral Health Services administrative data set. We used propensity score analysis and multilevel modeling to assess the impact of the PCMH on mental health recovery by comparing PCMH participants (n = 215) to clients receiving service as usual (SAU; n = 22 394) from 2011 to 2013 in San Diego County, California. We repeatedly assessed mental health recovery over time (days since baseline assessment range = 0–1639; mean = 186) with the Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) scale and Recovery Markers Questionnaire. Results. For total IMR (log-likelihood ratio χ2[1] = 4696.97; P < .001) and IMR Factor 2 Management scores (log-likelihood ratio χ2[1] = 7.9; P = .005), increases in mental health recovery over time were greater for PCMH than SAU participants. Increases on all other measures over time were similar for PCMH and SAU participants. Conclusions. Greater increases in mental health recovery over time can be expected when patients with severe mental illness are provided treatment through the PCMH. Evaluative efforts should be taken to inform more widespread adoption of the PCMH.
Adverse Birth Outcomes in Colorado: Assessing the Impact of a Statewide Initiative to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy
Authors: Goldthwaite Lisa M. , Duca Lindsey , Johnson Randi K. , Ostendorf Danielle , Sheeder Jeanelle 
Published: July 2015

Objectives. We assessed whether living in counties with Title X clinics and increased use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in Colorado are associated with decreased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Methods. We linked Title X clinic counties to the Colorado birth data set by using the mother’s county of residence. We compared low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) in 2008 and 2012, in counties with and without Title X clinics. We compared the relationship between LARC use and the incidence of LBW or PTB in 2012 for women living in counties with Title X clinics. Results. For women living in counties with Title X clinics, the odds of PTB were significantly lower in 2012 compared with 2008 (odds ratio = 0.85; 95% confidence interval = 0.81, 0.89; interaction P = .02). For women living in Title X clinic counties in 2012, a higher proportion of LARC use (> 12.4%) was significantly associated with decreased risk of PTB (P = .02) compared with a low proportion of LARC use (≤ 4.96%). Conclusions. Improved access to family planning services and increased use of LARC are associated with lower risk of PTB.
Impact of Economic Constraints on Public Health Delivery Systems Structures
Authors: Smith Sharla A. , Mays Glen P. , Felix Holly C. , Tilford J. Mick , Curran Geoffrey M. , Preston Michael A. 
Published: July 2015

Objectives. We estimated the effect of economic constraints on public health delivery systems (PHDS) density and centrality during 3 time periods, 1998, 2006, and 2012. Methods. We obtained data from the 1998, 2006, and 2012 National Longitudinal Study of Public Health Agencies; the 1993, 1997, 2005, and 2010 National Association for County and City Health Officials Profile Study; and the 1997, 2008, and 2011 Area Resource Files. We used multivariate regression models for panel data to estimate the impact of economic constraints on PHDS density and centrality. Results. Findings indicate that economic constraints did not have a significant impact on PHDS density and centrality over time but population is a significant predictor of PHDS density, and the presence of a board of health (BOH) is a significant predictor of PHDS density and centrality. Specifically, a 1% increase in population results in a significant 1.71% increase in PHDS density. The presence of a BOH is associated with a 10.2% increase in PHDS centrality, after controlling for other factors. Conclusions. These findings suggest that other noneconomic factors influence PHDS density centrality.
Understanding Trends in Pertussis Incidence: An Agent-Based Model Approach
Authors: Sanstead Erinn , Kenyon Cynthia , Rowley Seth , Enns Eva , Miller Claudia , Ehresmann Kristen , Kulasingam Shalini 
Published: July 2015

Objectives. We examined the impact of undetected infections, adult immunity, and waning vaccine-acquired immunity on recent age-related trends in pertussis incidence. Methods. We developed an agent-based model of pertussis transmission in Dakota County, Minnesota using case data from the Minnesota Department of Health. For outbreaks in 2004, 2008, and 2012, we fit our model to incidence in 3 children’s age groups relative to adult incidence. We estimated parameters through model calibration. Results. The duration of vaccine-acquired immunity after completion of the 5-dose vaccination series decreased from 6.6 years in the 2004 model to approximately 3.0 years in the 2008 and 2012 models. Tdap waned after 2.1 years in the 2012 model. A greater percentage of adults were immune in the 2008 model than in the 2004 and 2012 models. On average, only 1 in 10 adult infections was detected, whereas 8 in 10 child infections were detected. Conclusions. The observed trends in relative pertussis incidence in Dakota County can be attributed in part to fluctuations in adult immunity and waning vaccine-acquired immunity. No single factor accounts for current pertussis trends.
Upstream Representations for the LNG Supply Chain
Authors: Miller Guindon Leah 
Published: July 2015

Summary
Gas trapped in low-permeability tight shales has become accessible with advances in horizontal drilling and new completion techniques, making liquefied natural gas (LNG) an economically feasible product marketed worldwide. This paper explores the intricacies involved in modelling upstream field development and the scenarios required to provide reasonable estimates of the upstream asset that will feed the rest of the LNG chain, including investment required, growth potential, and long-term sustainability.
New Seismic-to-Stimulation Work Flows for Engineering and Modelling Hydraulic Fractures in Unconventionals
Authors: Miller Guindon Leah 
Published: July 2015

Summary
The details of the planning, design, and evaluation processes in the application of a new work flow called the Unconventional Reservoir Optimized Completion work flow are discussed. This seismic-to-stimulation work flow demonstrates how a dominant-well-centric process was migrated to a reservoir-centric process. A significant step change in fracture modelling has been applied using with unconventional fracture models that have the ability to model complex fractures by use of discrete fracture networks (DFNs).
Iterative Ensemble Smoother as an Approximate Solution to a Regularized Minimum-Average-Cost Problem: Theory and Applications
Authors: Luo Xiaodong , Stordal Andreas S. , Lorentzen Rolf J. , Nævdal Geir 
Published: July 2015

SummaryThe focus of this work is on an alternative implementation of the iterative-ensemble smoother (iES). We show that iteration formulae similar to those used by Chen and Oliver (2013) and Emerick and Reynolds (2012) can be derived by adopting a regularized Levenberg-Marquardt (RLM) algorithm (Jin 2010) to approximately solve a minimum-average-cost (MAC) problem. This not only leads to an alternative theoretical tool in understanding and analyzing the behavior of the aforementioned iES, but also provides insights and guidelines for further developments of the smoothing algorithms. For illustration, we compare the performance of an implementation of the RLM-MAC algorithm with that of the approximate iES used by Chen and Oliver (2013) in three numerical examples: an initial condition estimation problem in a strongly nonlinear system, a facies estimation problem in a 2D reservoir, and the history-matching problem in the Brugge field case. In these three specific cases, the RLM-MAC algorithm exhibits comparable or better performance, especially in the strongly nonlinear system.
Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI) in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): Volutrauma and Molecular Effects
Authors: Carrasco Loza R , Villamizar Rodríguez G , Medel Fernández N 
Published: July 2015

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical condition secondary to a variety of insults leading to a severe acute respiratory failure and high mortality in critically ill patients. Patients with ARDS generally require mechanical ventilation, which is another important factor that may increase the ALI (acute lung injury) by a series of pathophysiological mechanisms, whose common element is the initial volutrauma in the alveolar units, and forming part of an entity known clinically as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).
Injured lungs can be partially protected by optimal settings and ventilation modes, using low tidal volume (VT) values and high positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP). The benefits in ARDS outcomes caused by these interventions have been conﬁrmed by several prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and are attributed to reduction in volutrauma.
The purpose of this article is to present an approach to VILI pathophysiology focused on the effects of volutrauma that lead to lung injury and the ‘mechanotransduction’ mechanism. A more complete understanding about the molecular effects that physical forces could have, is essential for a better assessment of existing strategies as well as the development of new therapeutic strategies to reduce the damage resulting from VILI, and thereby contribute to reducing mortality in ARDS.
State Pension Liabilities and Credit Assessments
Authors: Hallman Nicholas , Khurana Inder K. 
Published: July 2015

SYNOPSIS
We examine the decision relevance of a commonly suggested adjustment to how state governments report governmental pension liabilities by recalculating such pension liabilities using the return on a portfolio of high-quality municipal bonds as the discount rate. Calculated as the difference between the state's expected rate of return and the municipal bond return, we find that the discount rate adjustment associates with lower credit ratings and higher interest costs. We also find that credit rating agencies are more likely to issue conflicting ratings when the calculation of the discount rate adjustment involves greater uncertainty. Overall, while financial statement users agree about the need for and the direction of a pension liability rate adjustment, there is less consensus about the proper magnitude of this adjustment, suggesting that current accounting treatment of pensions in the public sector leads to costly uncertainty among financial statement users.
Banks' Acquisition of Private Information about Financial Misreporting
Authors: Chen Po-Chang 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACT
This study investigates whether banks respond to financial misreporting as the borrowing firms release misstated financial reports, i.e., in the misreporting period. Drawing upon finance theory that recognizes banks' superior information access and processing abilities, this study predicts and finds that banks adjust loan contract terms in response to the ongoing misreporting. Compared with loans issued in the prior period, loans issued in the misreporting period have higher interest spread, are more likely to be secured by collateral, and have more restrictive covenants. Further analyses show that banks acquire indirect, rather than direct, information about the misreporting and that they do not fully adjust loan pricing until after the restatement announcement. Together, these findings suggest that banks make timely, but insufficient, adjustments during the misreporting period. Nevertheless, banks' early reactions appear to be unique, as equity investors do not respond to the ongoing misreporting, but react to the loan information when it becomes public.
JEL Classifications: D82; G21; M41.
Audit Quality and Analyst Forecast Accuracy: The Impact of Forecast Horizon and Other Modeling Choices
Authors: Wu Yi (Ava) , Wilson Mark 
Published: July 2015

SUMMARY
The accuracy and other properties of analyst earnings forecasts represent potentially useful proxies for the impact of audit quality on client financial reports. Extant research in the auditing literature, however, is characterized by diametrically opposite predictions and inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between audit quality and analyst forecast accuracy. We argue that a potential reason for the inconsistency in the literature reflects these studies' focus on end-of-year forecast accuracy, which is subject to competing effects of audit quality. High-quality auditors may simultaneously improve forecast accuracy through their impact on the decision usefulness of clients' prior period reports, and reduce forecast accuracy by constraining client attempts to manage earnings in the direction of the consensus forecast. We argue and present evidence in support of the conjecture that analysts' beginning-of-year forecasts are a superior metric for identifying the impact of audit quality on the properties of analyst forecasts because the decision usefulness effect of audit quality should be dominant with respect to those forecasts.
Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the article.
Are Lengthy Audit Report Lags a Warning Signal?
Authors: Blankley Alan I. , Hurtt David N. , MacGregor Jason E. 
Published: July 2015

SUMMARY
In this paper, we summarize our recent research into the association between abnormal audit report lags (the length of time between the fiscal year-end and the audit report date) and the likelihood of future restatements (Blankley, Hurtt, and MacGregor 2014). We find that as the audit report lag increases, the likelihood of a future restatement increases, and this dynamic appears to be associated with the effect of time pressure on the auditor. We will first summarize the motivation for the study, then discuss the empirical methods used, explain our results, and conclude with a discussion of the practical applications to practitioners.
Insights into Large Audit Firm Sampling Policies
Authors: Christensen Brant E. , Elder Randal J. , Glover Steven M. 
Published: July 2015

SUMMARY
Changes in the audit profession after Sarbanes-Oxley, including mandatory audits of internal control over financial reporting and PCAOB oversight and inspection of audit work, have potentially changed the nature and extent of audit sampling in the largest accounting firms. In our study, “Behind the Numbers: Insights into Large Audit Firm Sampling Policies” (Christensen, Elder, and Glover 2015), we administered an extensive, open-ended survey to the national offices of the Big 4 and two other international accounting firms regarding their firm's audit sampling policies. We find variation among the largest firms' policies in their use of different sampling methods and in inputs used in the sampling applications that could result in different sample sizes. We also provide evidence of some of the sampling topics firms find most problematic, as well as changes to firms' policies regarding revenue testing due to PCAOB inspections. Our evidence provides important insights into current sampling policies, which may be helpful to audit firms in evaluating their sampling inputs and overall sampling approaches.
On-Line Gaming, Financial Reporting, and Audit: Chester Games Corp.
Authors: Conrod Joan Davison , Cumby Judy 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACT
This case examines selected financial reporting and audit issues in the context of the on-line gaming industry. Key issues are revenue recognition and asset impairment under IFRS. Revenue trends are critical for the company as it considers a public offering. The estimates inherent in recognizing revenue for virtual goods, both consumable goods and durable goods, make revenue recognition and audit of revenue especially judgmental. IAS 18 or IFRS 15 may be used as a framework to discuss revenue recognition. Judgment is also required to support impairment testing of an intangible asset and goodwill.
Exception Prioritization in the Continuous Auditing Environment: A Framework and Experimental Evaluation
Authors: Li Pei , Chan David Y. , Kogan Alexander 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACT
Researchers have found that the volume of exceptions generated by a continuous auditing system can be overwhelming for an internal audit department to handle. In this paper, we propose and validate a framework that systematically prioritizes exceptions based on the likelihood of an exception being erroneous or fraudulent and evaluate the framework using an experiment. The framework consists of six stages: (1) generation of exceptions using defined rules, (2) assignment of suspicion scores to exceptions using belief functions, (3) exception prioritization, (4) exception investigation, (5) rule confidence level update utilizing back propagation, and (6) rule(s) addition utilizing a rule learner algorithm. We also simulate the proposed framework using an experiment. The experiment results provide evidence that the framework can be effective in prioritizing exceptions and thus maximizing audit efficiency.
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression and Risk of Vascular Events in People With Diabetes: Results From the PROG-IMT Collaboration
Authors: Lorenz Matthias W. , Price Jackie F. , Robertson Christine , Bots Michiel L. , Polak Joseph F. , Poppert Holger , Kavousi Maryam , Dörr Marcus , Stensland Eva , Ducimetiere Pierre , Ronkainen Kimmo , Kiechl Stefan , Sitzer Matthias , Rundek Tatjana , Lind Lars , Liu Jing , Bergström Göran , Grigore Liliana , Bokemark Lena , Friera Alfonsa , Yanez David , Bickel Horst , Ikram M. Arfan , Völzke Henry , Johnsen Stein Harald , Empana Jean Philippe , Tuomainen Tomi-Pekka , Willeit Peter , Steinmetz Helmuth , Desvarieux Moise , Xie Wuxiang , Schmidt Caroline , Norata Giuseppe D. , Suarez Carmen , Sander Dirk , Hofman Albert , Schminke Ulf , Mathiesen Ellisiv , Plichart Matthieu , Kauhanen Jussi , Willeit Johann , Sacco Ralph L. , McLachlan Stela , Zhao Dong , Fagerberg Björn , Catapano Alberico L. , Gabriel Rafael , Franco Oscar H. , Bülbül Alpaslan , Scheckenbach Frank , Pflug Anja , Gao Lu , Thompson Simon G. 
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVE
Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a marker of subclinical organ damage and predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in the general population. It has also been associated with vascular risk in people with diabetes. However, the association of CIMT change in repeated examinations with subsequent CVD events is uncertain, and its use as a surrogate end point in clinical trials is controversial. We aimed at determining the relation of CIMT change to CVD events in people with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In a comprehensive meta-analysis of individual participant data, we collated data from 3,902 adults (age 33–92 years) with type 2 diabetes from 21 population-based cohorts. We calculated the hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation (SD) difference in mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) or in CCA-IMT progression, both calculated from two examinations on average 3.6 years apart, for each cohort, and combined the estimates with random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS
Average mean CCA-IMT ranged from 0.72 to 0.97 mm across cohorts in people with diabetes. The HR of CVD events was 1.22 (95% CI 1.12–1.33) per SD difference in mean CCA-IMT, after adjustment for age, sex, and cardiometabolic risk factors. Average mean CCA-IMT progression in people with diabetes ranged between −0.09 and 0.04 mm/year. The HR per SD difference in mean CCA-IMT progression was 0.99 (0.91–1.08).

CONCLUSIONS
Despite reproducing the association between CIMT level and vascular risk in subjects with diabetes, we did not find an association between CIMT change and vascular risk. These results do not support the use of CIMT progression as a surrogate end point in clinical trials in people with diabetes.