bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postpartum Breastfeeding Promotion and Duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Western Nepal
Authors: Khanal Vishnu , Lee Andy H. , Karkee Rajendra , Binns Colin W. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundEncouragement and skills provided to mothers during the postpartum period have been found to be successful in increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates. However, evidence from developing countries is limited. This study aimed to ascertain whether education and skill support provided by health workers during the postpartum period were associated with increased duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Western Nepal.MethodsA community‐based prospective cohort study was conducted between January and October 2014, in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. Information on breastfeeding promotion provided by health workers after birth was collected from 649 mothers. The association between breastfeeding promotion and exclusive breastfeeding was investigated using multivariable Cox regression analysis.ResultsOf the 649 mothers, 35 percent received all eight types of breastfeeding promotion advice, and 60 percent received six or more such types of advice. Breastfeeding promotion, such as “breastfeeding on demand” (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74 [95% CI 0.59–0.92]) and “not to provide pacifier or teats” (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.68–0.97]), were significantly associated with a lower risk of exclusive breastfeeding cessation. The dose–response relationship was also significant for the number of advices received (HR 0.94 [95% CI 0.90–0.97]).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that breastfeeding education and support immediately after childbirth could increase the duration of breastfeeding. The results suggest further attention to breastfeeding promotion in all maternity hospitals and birthing centers through skilled birth attendants.
Planned Home VBAC in the United States, 2004–2009: Outcomes, Maternity Care Practices, and Implications for Shared Decision Making
Authors: Cox Kim J. , Bovbjerg Marit L. , Cheyney Melissa , Leeman Lawrence M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundIn the United States, the number of planned home vaginal births after cesarean (VBACs) has increased. This study describes the maternal and neonatal outcomes for women who planned a VBAC at home with midwives who were contributing data to the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project 2.0 cohort during the years 2004–2009.MethodTwo subsamples were created from the parent cohort: 12,092 multiparous women without a prior cesarean and 1,052 women with a prior cesarean. Descriptive statistics were calculated for maternal and neonatal outcomes for both groups. Sensitivity analyses comparing women with a prior vaginal birth and those who were at the lowest risk with various subgroups in the parent cohort were also conducted.ResultsWomen with a prior cesarean had a VBAC rate of 87 percent, although transfer rates were higher compared with women without a prior cesarean (18% vs 7%, p < 0.001). The most common indication for transfer was failure to progress. Women with a prior cesarean had higher proportions of blood loss, maternal postpartum infections, uterine rupture, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions than those without a prior cesarean. Five neonatal deaths (4.75/1,000) occurred in the prior cesarean group compared with 1.24/1,000 in multiparas without a history of cesarean (p = 0.015).ConclusionAlthough there is a high likelihood of a vaginal birth at home, women planning a home VBAC should be counseled regarding maternal transfer rates and potential for increased risk to the newborn, particularly if uterine rupture occurs in the home setting.
The Implications of the Value Chain and Financial Institutions for Work and Employment: Insights from the Video Game Industry in Poland, Sweden and Germany
Authors: Teipen Christina 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWhat are the reasons for national differences of international market access in high‐risk software development and what is the role of employment regulation? This analysis elucidates this question based on national sector studies of the video games industry with particular focus on financial systems, skill formation as well as work and employment systems in Sweden, Germany and Poland. National financial architectures and education are a decisive factor. However, the results also suggest that the ‘varieties‐of‐capitalism’ (VoC) approach underestimates industry divergence within and across supposedly homogeneous national models, especially in the field of labour regulation. The author proposes to link VoC theory to a transnational perspective, which complementarily takes into account firm embeddedness in industry‐specific value chains.
Degree of Cajal–Retzius Cell Mislocalization Correlates with the Severity of Structural Brain Defects in Mouse Models of Dystroglycanopathy
Authors: Booler Helen S. , Williams Josie L. , Hopkinson Mark , Brown Susan C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe secondary dystroglycanopathies are characterized by the hypoglycosylation of alpha dystroglycan, and are associated with mutations in at least 18 genes that act on the glycosylation of this cell surface receptor rather than the Dag1 gene itself. At the severe end of the disease spectrum, there are substantial structural brain defects, the most striking of which is often cobblestone lissencephaly. The aim of this study was to determine the gene‐specific aspects of the dystroglycanopathy brain phenotype through a detailed investigation of the structural brain defects present at birth in three mouse models of dystroglycanopathy—the FKRPKD, which has an 80% reduction in Fkrp transcript levels; the Pomgnt1null, which carries a deletion of exons 7–16 of the Pomgnt1 gene; and the Largemyd mouse, which carries a deletion of exons 5–7 of the Large gene. We show a rostrocaudal and mediolateral gradient in the severity of brain lesions in FKRPKD, and to a lesser extent Pomgnt1null mice. Furthermore, the mislocalization of Cajal–Retzius cells is correlated with the gradient of these lesions and the severity of the brain phenotype in these models. Overall these observations implicate gene‐specific differences in the pathogenesis of brain lesions in this group of disorders.
Young Children's Comprehension of Temporal Relations in Complex Sentences: The Influence of Memory on Performance
Authors: Blything Liam P. , Davies Robert , Cain Kate 
Published: August 2015

The present study investigated 3‐ to 7‐year‐olds' (N = 91) comprehension of two‐clause sentences containing the temporal connectives before or after. The youngest children used an order of mention strategy to interpret the relation between clauses: They were more accurate when the presentation order matched the chronological order of events: “He ate his lunch, before he played in the garden” (chronological) versus “Before he played in the garden, he ate his lunch” (reverse). Between 4 and 6 years, performance was influenced by a combination of factors that influenced processing load: connective type and presentation order. An independent measure of working memory was predictive of performance. The study concludes that the memory demands of some sentence structures limits young children's comprehension of sentences containing temporal connectives.
A screening model for oral cancer using risk scores: development and validation
Authors: Krishna Rao Sreevidya , Mejia Gloria C. , Logan Richard M. , Kulkarni Muralidhar , Kamath Veena , Fernandes Donald J , Ray Satadru , Roberts‐Thomson Kaye 
Published: August 2015

AbstractObjectiveA study was conducted to develop and validate a screening model using risk scores to identify individuals at high risk for developing oral cancer in an Indian population.MethodsLife‐course data collected from a multicentre case–control study in India were used. Interview was conducted to collect information on predictors limited to the time before the onset of symptoms or cancer diagnosis. Predictors included statistically significant risk factors in the multivariable model. A risk score for each predictor was derived from respective odds ratios (OR). Discrimination of the final model, risk scores and various risk score cut‐offs was examined using the c statistic. The optimal cut‐off was determined as the one with good area under curve (AUC) and high sensitivity. Predictive ability of the regression model and cut‐off risk score was determined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Models were validated from a bootstrap sample.ResultsSmoking, chewing quid and/or tobacco, alcohol, a family history of upper aero‐digestive tract cancer, diet and oral hygiene behaviour were the predictors. Risk scores ranged from 0 to 28. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for risk scores was good (0.866). The sensitivity (0.928) and negative predictive value (0.927) were high, while specificity (0.603) and positive predictive value (0.607) were low for a risk score cut‐off of 6.ConclusionA risk score model to screen for individuals with high risk of oral cancer with satisfactory predictive ability was developed in the Indian population. Validation of the model in other populations is necessary before it can be recommended to identify subgroups of the population to be directed towards more extensive clinical evaluation.
Quantifying the relative irreplaceability of important bird and biodiversity areas
Authors: Di Marco Moreno , Brooks Thomas , Cuttelod Annabelle , Fishpool Lincoln D.C. , Rondinini Carlo , Smith Robert J. , Bennun Leon , Butchart Stuart H.M. , Ferrier Simon , Foppen Ruud P.B. , Joppa Lucas , Juffe‐Bignoli Diego , Knight Andrew T. , Lamoreux John F. , Langhammer Penny F. , May Ian , Possingham Hugh P. , Visconti Piero , Watson James E.M. , Woodley Stephen 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWorld governments have committed to increase the global protected areas coverage by 2020, but the effectiveness of this commitment for protecting biodiversity depends on where new protected areas are located. Threshold‐ and complementarity‐based approaches have been independently used to identify important sites for biodiversity. We brought together these approaches by performing a complementarity‐based analysis of irreplaceability in important bird and biodiversity areas (IBAs), which are sites identified using a threshold‐based approach. We determined whether irreplaceability values are higher inside than outside IBAs and whether any observed difference depends on known characteristics of the IBAs. We focused on 3 regions with comprehensive IBA inventories and bird distribution atlases: Australia, southern Africa, and Europe. Irreplaceability values were significantly higher inside than outside IBAs, although differences were much smaller in Europe than elsewhere. Higher irreplaceability values in IBAs were associated with the presence and number of restricted‐range species; number of criteria under which the site was identified; and mean geographic range size of the species for which the site was identified (trigger species). In addition, IBAs were characterized by higher irreplaceability values when using proportional species representation targets, rather than fixed targets. There were broadly comparable results when measuring irreplaceability for trigger species and when considering all bird species, which indicates a good surrogacy effect of the former. Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has convened a consultation to consolidate global standards for the identification of key biodiversity areas (KBAs), building from existing approaches such as IBAs. Our results informed this consultation, and in particular a proposed irreplaceability criterion that will allow the new KBA standard to draw on the strengths of both threshold‐ and complementarity‐based approaches.
Portrayal of sustainability principles in the mission statements and on home pages of the world's largest organizations
Authors: Garnett Stephen T. , Lawes Michael J. , James Robyn , Bigland Kristen , Zander Kerstin K. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractConservation can be achieved only if sustainability is embraced as core to organizational cultures. To test the extent to which the related concepts of sustainability, conservation, response to climate change, poverty alleviation, and gender equity have been incorporated into organizational culture, we compared mission statements published from 1990 to 2000 with those published in 2014 for 150 organzations, including conservation nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), aid NGOs, government development agencies, resource extraction companies, and retailers (30 in each category). We also analyzed the 2014 home web pages of each organization. Relative to the earlier period, the frequency with which mission statements mentioned poverty alleviation, biodiversity conservation, and a range of sustainable practices increased only slightly by 2014, particularly among resource extractors and retail companies. Few organizations in any sector had embedded either climate change or gender equity into their mission statements. In addition, the proportional intensity with which any of the aspirations were expressed did not change between periods. For current home pages, conservation NGOs, resource extractors, and government agencies were significantly more likely to acknowledge the importance of matters that were not part of their core business, but few aid agencies or retail companies promoted goals beyond alleviation of crises and profit maximization, respectively. Overall, there has been some progress in recognizing poverty alleviation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable practices, but gender equity and a determination to reduce impacts on climate change are still rarely promoted as central institutional concerns. Sustainability in general, and biodiversity conservation in particular, will not be achieved unless their importance is more widely apparent in core communication products of organizations.
Designing and Sustaining a Foreign Language Writing Proficiency Assessment Program at the Postsecondary Level
Authors: Bernhardt Elizabeth , Molitoris Joan , Romeo Ken , Lin Nina , Valderrama Patricia 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWriting in postsecondary foreign language contexts in North America has received far less attention in the curriculum than the development of oral proficiency. This article describes one institution's process of confronting the challenges not only of recognizing the contribution of writing to students' overall linguistic development, but also of implementing a program‐wide process of assessing writing proficiency. The article reports writing proficiency ratings that were collected over a 5‐year period for more than 4,000 learners in 10 languages, poses questions regarding the proficiency levels that postsecondary learners achieved across 2 years of foreign language instruction, and relates writing proficiency scores to Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview ratings for a subset of students. The article also articulates the crucial relationship between professional development and writing as well as the role of technology in collecting and assessing writing samples.
Hydroclimatology of extreme river flows
Authors: Garner Grace , Van Loon Anne F. , Prudhomme Christel , Hannah David M. 
Published: August 2015

Summary

Floods and droughts are recurrent events with characteristics of frequency, magnitude, duration and timing occupying the opposing extremes of natural river flow regimes. This hydrological variability, driven by climate and meteorology and modified by river basin processes, is a key determinant of physicochemical river habitat influencing the structure and function of freshwater communities.

A changing (warming) climate is projected to alter water and heat inputs to river systems that drive river flow, and thus, hydrological processes may be subject to unprecedented future change, resulting in potentially unprecedented river flow extremes.

We review the hydroclimatology of extreme river flows in changing climates and draw case studies from the European temperate regions.

Specifically, we adopt a ‘catchment perspective’, in which an understanding of meteorological and hydrological processes is used to (i) conceptually define extreme river flows, (ii) explain the (natural) climatic and catchment processes that drive extreme river flows, (iii) discuss future potential changes driven by an anthropogenically modified climate and (iv) identify uncertainties associated with projections of future climate‐driven hydrological shifts.
Evidence for SiO2‐NaCl complexing in H2O‐NaCl solutions at high pressure and temperature
Authors: Newton R. C. , Manning C. E. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractExperimental studies reveal complex dissolution behavior of quartz in aqueous NaCl solutions at high temperature and pressure, involving variation from salting‐in to salting‐out that changes with temperature, pressure, and salt concentration. The behavior is not explainable by traditional electrostatic theory. An alternative hypothesis appeals to complexing of SiO2 with NaCl and can explain the observations. However, the hypothesis of complexing, as previously applied, is inadequate in several respects: it neglects polymerization of solute silica, regards the SiO2‐NaCl hybrid complex(es) as anhydrous, which seems unlikely, and invokes an incorrect stoichiometry of the hydrated silica monomer, now known to be Si(OH)4•2H2O. These neglected features can be incorporated into the complexing model in a revised formulation based on a simple thermodynamic analysis using existing quartz solubility data. The analysis leads to a quasi‐ideal solution model with silica monomers, dimers, and two distinct hydrous SiO2‐NaCl hybrid complexes with overall NaCl:H2O = 1:6, one Na‐bearing and one Cl‐bearing. Their (equal) molar concentrations (Xhc) are governed by a pressure‐ and temperature‐dependent equilibrium constant, , where aNacl and are the respective activities of the solvent components. The stability of the hybrid complexes (i.e., their concentration) is very sensitive to H2O activity. The entire set of experimental quartz‐solubility data at 700°C, 1–15 kbar, is reproduced with high fidelity by the expression (P is pressure in kbar), including the transition from low‐pressure salting‐in to high pressure salting‐out. The results indicate that hybrid SiO2‐NaCl complexes are the main hosts for dissolved silica at NaCl concentrations greater than 6 wt%, which are likely common in crustal fluids. At higher temperatures, approaching the critical end point in the system SiO2‐H2O, the model becomes progressively inaccurate, probably because polymers higher than the dimer become significant as SiO2 concentration increases.
Effective gas permeability of Tight Gas Sandstones as a function of capillary pressure – a non‐steady‐state approach
Authors: Amann‐Hildenbrand A. , Dietrichs J. P. , Krooss B. M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSingle‐ and two‐phase (gas/water) fluid transport in tight sandstones has been studied in a series of permeability tests on core plugs of nine tight sandstones of the southern North Sea. Absolute (Klinkenberg‐corrected) gas permeability coefficients (kgas_inf) ranged between 3.8 × 10−16 and 6.2 × 10−19 m2 and decreased with increasing confining pressure (10–30 MPa) by a factor 3–5. Klinkenberg‐corrected (intrinsic) gas permeability coefficients were consistently higher by factors from 1.4 to 10 than permeability coefficients determined with water. Non‐steady‐state two‐phase (He/water) flow experiments conducted up to differential pressures of 10 MPa document the dynamically changing conductivity for the gas phase, which is primarily capillary‐controlled (drainage and imbibition). Effective gas permeability coefficients in the two‐phase flow tests ranged between 1.1 × 10−17 and 2.5 × 10−22 m², corresponding to relative gas permeabilities of 0.03% and 10%. In the early phase of the nonstationary flow regime (before establishment of steady‐state conditions), they may be substantially (>50%) lower. Effective gas permeability measurements are affected by the following factors: (i) Capillary‐controlled drainage/imbibition, (ii) viscous–dynamic effects (iii) and slip flow.
Dielectric barrier discharge plasma for microbial decontamination of dried laver: effects on physicochemical characteristics
Authors: Kim Je‐Wook , Puligundla Pradeep , Mok Chulkyoon 
Published: August 2015

SummaryDielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma in atmospheric pressure air was used for microbial decontamination of thin sheets of dried laver, which are commonly used in kimbab preparation. Microbial contaminants namely aerobic bacteria, moulds and marine bacteria were found in sun‐dried laver sheets. DBD plasma was generated at an output voltage of 30 kV AC and a frequency of 30 kHz. Upon the plasma treatment of laver, 2.5‐log (99.68%), nearly 1.5‐log (96.84%) and above 1.0‐log (90%) unit reductions in viable counts of aerobic bacteria, marine bacteria and moulds were observed over a 10‐min period, respectively. The inactivation pattern fitted well to Singh–Heldman model or pseudo first‐order kinetics. Compared to control laver, no significant (P > 0.05) changes in the colour characteristics, total phenolic content and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity were observed in plasma‐treated laver. Furthermore, DBD plasma‐treated laver sheets had exerted no negative impact on the sensory characteristics of kimbab and can extend the shelf life.
Nobody's responsibility: the precarious position of disabled employees in the UK workplace
Authors: Foster Deborah , Scott Peter 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSecondary analysis of a qualitative data set of perceived workplace ill treatment suggests that human resource and occupational health professionals play too subordinate, belated and haphazard a role, compared with ill‐equipped line managers, in the de‐escalation and resolution of ill treatment experienced by disabled and ill employees.
The Columbia River Treaty Renegotiation from the Perspective of Contract Theory
Authors: Brady Michael , Li Tongzhe , Yoder Jonathan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis paper contributes to the literature on transboundary water agreements by analyzing the Columbia River Treaty renegotiation from the perspective of contract theory. Contract theory has become a powerful part of the economics toolbox but it is much less well known outside of the discipline than game theory. We demonstrate the importance of the concept of contract completeness in identifying efficient contractual arrangements that can consider the tradeoffs of increased flexibility. The limited objectives of the first treaty meant that it was possible to write a complete contract. Climate change and more complex stakeholder interests have moved any future agreement into the realm of incomplete contracts. Alternative types of incomplete contracts are considered as potential future treaty arrangements. The approach used in this study should provide a more general framework for working through potential treaty designs from an efficiency standpoint.