bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of the Mexican American Survival Advantage After Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Morgenstern Lewis B. , Brown Devin L. , Smith Melinda A. , Sánchez Brisa N. , Zahuranec Darin B. , Garcia Nelda , Kerber Kevin A. , Skolarus Lesli E. , Meurer William J. , Burke James F. , Adelman Eric E. , Baek Jonggyu , Lisabeth Lynda D. 
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose—
Mexican Americans (MAs) were previously found to have lower mortality after ischemic stroke than non-Hispanic whites. We studied mortality trends in a population-based design.

Methods—
Active and passive surveillance were used to find all ischemic stroke cases from January 2000 to December 2011 in Nueces County, TX. Deaths were ascertained from the Texas Department of Health through December 31, 2012. Cumulative 30-day and 1-year mortality adjusted for covariates was estimated using log-binomial models with a linear term for year of stroke onset used to model time trends. Models used data from the entire study period to estimate adjusted mortality among stroke cases in 2000 and 2011 and to calculate projected ethnic differences.

Results—

There were 1974 ischemic strokes among non-Hispanic whites and 2439 among MAs. Between 2000 and 2011, model estimated mortality declined among non-Hispanic whites at 30 days (7.6% to 5.6%;
P
=0.24) and 1 year (20.8% to 15.5%;
P
=0.02). Among MAs, 30-day model estimated mortality remained stagnant at 5.1% to 5.2% (
P
=0.92), and a slight decline from 17.4% to 15.3% was observed for 1-year mortality (
P
=0.26). Although ethnic differences in 30-day (
P
=0.01) and 1-year (
P
=0.06) mortality were apparent in 2000, they were not so in 2011 (30-day mortality,
P
=0.63; 1-year mortality,
P
=0.92).

Conclusions—
Overall, mortality after ischemic stroke has declined in the past decade, although significant declines were only observed for non-Hispanic whites and not MAs at 1 year. The survival advantage previously documented among MAs vanished by 2011. Renewed stroke prevention and treatment efforts for MAs are needed.
Meteorology, Air Quality, and Health in London: The ClearfLo Project
Authors: Bohnenstengel S. I. , Belcher S. E. , Aiken A. , Allan J. D. , Allen G. , Bacak A. , Bannan T. J. , Barlow J. F. , Beddows D. C. S. , Bloss W. J. , Booth A. M. , Chemel C. , Coceal O. , Di Marco C. F. , Dubey M. K. , Faloon K. H. , Fleming Z. L. , Furger M. , Gietl J. K. , Graves R. R. , Green D. C. , Grimmond C. S. B. , Halios C. H. , Hamilton J. F. , Harrison R. M. , Heal M. R. , Heard D. E. , Helfter C. , Herndon S. C. , Holmes R. E. , Hopkins J. R. , Jones A. M. , Kelly F. J. , Kotthaus S. , Langford B. , Lee J. D. , Leigh R. J. , Lewis A. C. , Lidster R. T. , Lopez-Hilfiker F. D. , McQuaid J. B. , Mohr C. , Monks P. S. , Nemitz E. , Ng N. L. , Percival C. J. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Ricketts H. M. A. , Sokhi R. , Stone D. , Thornton J. A. , Tremper A. H. , Valach A. C. , Visser S. , Whalley L. K. , Williams L. R. , Xu L. , Young D. E. , Zotter P. 
Published: July 2014

Abstract
Air quality and heat are strong health drivers, and their accurate assessment and forecast are important in densely populated urban areas. However, the sources and processes leading to high concentrations of main pollutants, such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and fine and coarse particulate matter, in complex urban areas are not fully understood, limiting our ability to forecast air quality accurately. This paper introduces the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo; www.clearflo.ac.uk) project’s interdisciplinary approach to investigate the processes leading to poor air quality and elevated temperatures.
Within ClearfLo, a large multi-institutional project funded by the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), integrated measurements of meteorology and gaseous, and particulate composition/loading within the atmosphere of London, United Kingdom, were undertaken to understand the processes underlying poor air quality. Long-term measurement infrastructure installed at multiple levels (street and elevated), and at urban background, curbside, and rural locations were complemented with high-resolution numerical atmospheric simulations. Combining these (measurement–modeling) enhances understanding of seasonal variations in meteorology and composition together with the controlling processes. Two intensive observation periods (winter 2012 and the Summer Olympics of 2012) focus upon the vertical structure and evolution of the urban boundary layer; chemical controls on nitrogen dioxide and ozone production—in particular, the role of volatile organic compounds; and processes controlling the evolution, size, distribution, and composition of particulate matter. The paper shows that mixing heights are deeper over London than in the rural surroundings and that the seasonality of the urban boundary layer evolution controls when concentrations peak. The composition also reflects the seasonality of sources such as domestic burning and biogenic emissions.
Agricultural Stakeholder Views on Climate Change: Implications for Conducting Research and Outreach
Authors: Prokopy Linda Stalker , Morton Lois Wright , Arbuckle J. Gordon , Mase Amber Saylor , Wilke Adam K. 
Published: July 2014

Abstract
Understanding U.S. agricultural stakeholder views about the existence of climate change and its causes is central to developing interventions in support of adaptation and mitigation. Results from surveys conducted with six Midwestern stakeholder groups [corn producers, agricultural advisors, climatologists, extension educators, and two different cross-disciplinary teams of scientists funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture–National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA–NIFA)] reveal striking differences. Individuals representing these groups were asked in 2011/12 to “select the statement that best reflects your beliefs about climate change.” Three of five answer options included the notion that climate change is occurring but for different reasons (mostly human activities; mostly natural; more or less equally by natural and human activities). The last two options were “there is not sufficient evidence to know with certainty whether climate change is occurring or not” and “climate change is not occurring.” Results reveal that agricultural and climate scientists are more likely to believe that climate change is mostly due to human activities (50%–67%) than farmers and advisors (8%–12%). Almost a quarter of farmers and agricultural advisors believe the source of climate change is mostly natural causes, and 22%–31% state that there is not sufficient evidence to know with certainty whether it is occurring or not. This discrepancy in beliefs creates challenges for communicating climate science to agricultural stakeholders in ways that encourage adaptation and mitigation. Results suggest that engagement strategies that reduce threats to worldviews and increase public dialogue could make climate information more relevant to stakeholder groups with different belief structures.
Global View Of Real-Time Trmm Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis: Implications For Its Successor Global Precipitation Measurement Mission
Authors: Yong Bin , Liu Die , Gourley Jonathan J. , Tian Yudong , Huffman George J. , Ren Liliang , Hong Yang 
Published: July 2014

Abstract
Accurate estimation of high-resolution precipitation on the global scale is extremely challenging. The operational Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) has created over 16 years of high-resolution quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE), and has built the foundation for improved measurements in the upcoming Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. TMPA is intended to produce the “best effort” estimates of quasi-global precipitation from almost all available satelliteborne precipitation-related sensors by consistently calibrating them with the high-quality measurements from the core instrument platform aboard TRMM. Recently, the TMPA system has been upgraded to version 7 to take advantage of newer and better sources of satellite inputs than version 6, and has attracted a large user base. A key product from TMPA is the near-real-time product (TMPA-RT), as its timeliness is particularly appealing for time-sensitive applications such as flood and landslide monitoring. TMPA-RT’s error characteristics on a global scale have yet to be extensively quantified and understood. In this study, efforts are focused on a systematic evaluation of four sets of mainstream TMPA-RT estimates on the global scale. The analysis herein indicates that the latest version 7 TMPA-RT with the monthly climatological calibration had the lowest daily systematic biases of approximately 9% over land and –11% over ocean (relative to the gauge-adjusted research product). However, there still exist some unresolved issues in mountainous areas (especially the Tibetan Plateau) and high-latitude belts, and for estimating extreme rainfall rates with high variability at small scales. These global error characteristics and their regional and seasonal variations revealed in this paper are expected to serve as the benchmark for the upcoming GPM mission.
Reference ranges for serum total and monomeric prolactin for the current generation Abbott Architect assay
Authors: Whitehead SJ , Cornes MP , Ford C , Gama R 
Published: July 2014

Background Exclusion of macroprolactinaemia, a well-recognised interference, as the cause of hyperprolactinaemia is essential to avoid potential misdiagnosis and mismanagement of patients. We have derived gender-specific serum total and post-polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation monomeric reference ranges for the recently re-standardised Abbott Architect prolactin assay. Methods Prolactin was measured in serum samples obtained from males ( n = 49) and females ( n = 52) using the current Abbott Architect immunoassay pre- and post-PEG precipitation. Gender-specific reference ranges were derived for total and monomeric (post-PEG) prolactin. Routine patients’ samples ( n = 175) with a serum total prolactin >700 mIU/L were screened for macroprolactinaemia to assess classification compared with our previous post-PEG precipitation percentage recovery-based approach. Results Reference ranges for serum total prolactin were 58–419 mIU/L (male) and 63–561 mIU/L (female). Male and female monomeric prolactin reference ranges were 32–309 mIU/L and 39–422 mIU/L, respectively. Mean (SD) post-PEG percentage recovery of the IS 84/500 prolactin standard was 80 (2.3)%. Of 175 patients’ samples screened for macroprolactinaemia, 149 had monomeric prolactin concentrations (median monomeric prolactin = 1035 mIU/L; median recovery = 83%) above the gender-specific reference range. Monomeric prolactin concentrations (median monomeric prolactin = 162 mIU/L; median recovery = 20%) in the remaining 26 were within the reference ranges. One patient classified as macroprolactin positive and another classified as macroprolactin negative would not have been identified as such using the previous recovery-based approach. Conclusions The use of post-PEG monomeric reference ranges not only identifies hyperprolactinaemia due solely to macroprolactinaemia but has the added advantage of identifying patients who have simultaneous true monomeric hyperprolactinaemia and elevated concentrations of macroprolactin.
Biological effects of sol–gel derived ZrO2 and SiO2/ZrO2 coatings on stainless steel surface—In vitro model using mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Śmieszek Agnieszka , Donesz-Sikorska Anna , Grzesiak Jakub , Krzak Justyna , Marycz Krzysztof 
Published: July 2014

The objective of this study was to determine biocompatibility of zirconia-based coatings obtained by the sol–gel method. Two matrices, ZrO2 and SiO2/ZrO2, were created and applied on stainless steel type 316L with dip-coating technique. The morphology and topography of biomaterials’ surface were characterized using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, while chemical composition was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, wettability and surface free energy were characterized. Biocompatibility of obtained biomaterials was evaluated using an in vitro model employing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of adipose and bone marrow origin. Biological analysis included determination of proliferation activity and morphology of MSCs in cultures on synthesized biomaterials. Osteoinductive properties of biomaterials were determined both in non-osteogenic, as well as osteogenic conditions. The results showed that investigated biomaterials exerted different impact on MSCs. Biomaterial with ZrO2 layer was more biocompatible for adipose-derived MSCs, while SiO2/ZrO2 layer promoted proliferation of bone marrow derived MSCs. Moreover, hybrid coating exhibited greater osteoinductive properties than ZrO2 coating, both on cultures with adipose-derived stromal (stem) cells and bone marrow stromal cells. Observed biological effects may result not only from different chemical composition, but also from diverse wettability. The ZrO2 coating was characterized as hydrophobic layer, while SiO2/ZrO2 exhibited hydrophilic properties. The results obtained suggest that behavior of MSCs in response to the biomaterial may vary depending on their origin, therefore we postulate, that screening analysis of implants’ biocompatibility, should incorporate model applying both adipose- and bone marrow derived MSCs.
Using an epidemiological model to investigate unwarranted variation: the case of ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion in England
Authors: Schang Laura , De Poli Chiara , Airoldi Mara , Morton Alec , Bohm Natalie , Lakhanpaul Monica , Schilder Anne , Bevan Gwyn 
Published: July 2014

Objectives To investigate unwarranted variation in ventilation tube insertions for otitis media with effusion in children in England. This procedure is known to be ‘overused’ from clinical audits, as only one in three ventilation tube insertions conforms to the appropriateness criteria of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); but audits cannot identify the scale of ‘underuse’ – i.e. patients who would benefit but are not treated. Methods To explore both ‘underuse’ and ‘overuse’ of ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion, we developed an epidemiological model based on: definitions of children with otitis media with effusion expected to benefit from ventilation tubes according to NICE guidance; epidemiological and clinical information from a systematic review; and expert judgement. A range of estimates was derived using Monte Carlo simulation and compared with the number of ventilation tubes provided in the English National Health Service in 2010. Results About 32,200 children in England would be expected to benefit from ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion per year (between 20,411 and 45,231 with 90% certainty). The observed number of ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion-associated diagnoses was 16,824. Conclusions The expected population capacity to benefit from ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion based on NICE guidance appeared to exceed, by far, the number of ventilation tubes provided in the English National Health Service. So, while there is known ‘overuse’, there also may be substantial ‘underuse’ of ventilation tubes for otitis media with effusion if NICE criteria were applied. Future investigations of unwarranted variation should, therefore, not only focus on the patients who are treated but also consider the potential for benefit at the population level.
Absence of STAT1 in donor-derived plasmacytoid dendritic cells results in increased STAT3 and attenuates murine GVHD
Authors: Capitini Christian M. , Nasholm Nicole M. , Chien Christopher D. , Larabee Shannon M. , Qin Haiying , Song Young K. , Klover Peter J. , Hennighausen Lothar , Khan Javed , Fry Terry J. 
Published: July 2014

Key Points
STAT1−/− BM prevents GVHD induced by delayed donor lymphocyte infusion via the expansion of CD9−Siglec Hhi pDCs, which are low producers of IFNα and IL-12. pDCs recovered from STAT1−/− BM chimeras show increased expression of S100A8, S100A9, and STAT3.
Evaluating a health care provider delivered intervention to reduce intimate partner violence and mitigate associated health risks: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial in Mexico City
Authors: Falb Kathryn L , Diaz–Olavarrieta Claudia , Campos Paola A , Valades Jimena , Cardenas Roosebelinda , Carino Giselle , Gupta Jhumka 
Published: July 2014

Abstract

Background
Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is a prevalent issue among women residing in Mexico City. Comprehensive and integrated health care provider (HCP) delivered programs in clinic-settings are needed, yet few have been evaluated in Latin America, including Mexico. In addition, there has been minimal attention to interventions among lower income women presenting at settings outside of antenatal care clinics. The current randomized controlled trial seeks to increase midlevel HCPs’ capacity, specifically nurses, who are often the first point of contact in this setting, to identify women presenting at health clinics with experiences of IPV and to assist these women with health risk mitigation. Specific outcomes include changes in past-year IPV (physical and/or sexual), reproductive coercion, safety planning, use of community resources, and quality of life.

Methods/Design
Forty-two public health clinics in Mexico City were randomized to treatment or control clinics. Nurses meeting eligibility criteria in treatment groups received an intensive training on screening for IPV, providing supportive referrals, and assessing for health and safety risks. Nurses meeting eligibility criteria at control clinics received the standard of care which included a one-day training focused on sensitizing staff to IPV as a health issue and referral cards to give to women. Women were screened for eligibility (currently experiencing abuse in a heterosexual relationship, 18-44 years of age, non-pregnant or in first trimester) by research assistants in private areas of waiting rooms in health clinics. Consenting women completed a baseline survey and received the study protocol for that clinic. In treatment clinics, women received the nurse delivered session at baseline and received a follow-up counseling session after three months. Surveys are conducted at baseline, three months, and fifteen months from baseline.

Discussion
This study will provide important insight into whether a nurse-delivered program can assist women currently experiencing abuse in a Latin American context. Findings can be used to inform IPV programs and policies in Mexico City’s public health clinics.

Trial registration

NCT01661504
The complexity in the implementation process of empowerment-based chronic kidney care: a case study
Authors: Nygårdh Annette , Malm Dan , Wikby Kerstin , Ahlström Gerd 
Published: July 2014

Abstract

Background
This study is part of an interactive improvement intervention aimed to facilitate empowerment-based chronic kidney care using data from persons with CKD and their family members. There are many challenges to implementing empowerment-based care, and it is therefore necessary to study the implementation process. The aim of this study was to generate knowledge regarding the implementation process of an improvement intervention of empowerment for those who require chronic kidney care.

Methods
A prospective single qualitative case study was chosen to follow the process of the implementation over a two year period. Twelve health care professionals were selected based on their various role(s) in the implementation of the improvement intervention. Data collection comprised of digitally recorded project group meetings, field notes of the meetings, and individual interviews before and after the improvement project. These multiple data were analyzed using qualitative latent content analysis.

Results
Two facilitator themes emerged: Moving spirit and Encouragement. The healthcare professionals described a willingness to individualize care and to increase their professional development in the field of chronic kidney care. The implementation process was strongly reinforced by both the researchers working interactively with the staff, and the project group. One theme emerged as a barrier: the Limitations of the organization. Changes in the organization hindered the implementation of the intervention throughout the study period, and the lack of interplay in the organization most impeded the process.

Conclusions
The findings indicated the complexity of maintaining a sustainable and lasting implementation over a period of two years. Implementing empowerment-based care was found to be facilitated by the cooperation between all involved healthcare professionals. Furthermore, long-term improvement interventions need strong encouragement from all levels of the organization to maintain engagement, even when it is initiated by the health care professionals themselves.
Cloning and expression of Aspergillus flavus urate oxidase in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Fazel Ramin , Zarei Najmeh , Ghaemi Nasser , Namvaran Mohammad Mehdi , Enayati Somayeh , Mirabzadeh Ardakani Esmat , Azizi Mohammad , Khalaj Vahid 
Published: July 2014

Abstract
Urate oxidase is an important enzyme with therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Rasburicase is a recombinant urate oxidase enzyme approved by FDA to use in the treatment of hyperuricemia conditions. Various hosts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula polymorpha and Escherichia coli have been used to express the enzyme. Today, Pichia pastoris is considered as an important host for heterologous protein expression since it has beneficial characteristics such as strong promoters, simple scale up, post translational modifications, high cell density cultivation and simple genetic manipulation. In this study, Aspergillus flavus urate oxidase gene was cloned in pPICZαA expression vector and expressed in P. pastoris. The recombinant urate oxidase was expressed in secretory form and was confirmed through RT-PCR, SDS-PAGE analysis and western blotting. The enzyme activity was determined using a colorimetric assay. A production yield of 0.43 U/ml of culture supernatant was obtained.