bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Workers’ Risk Tolerance and Occupational Injuries
Authors: Galizzi Monica , Tempesti Tommaso 
Published: March 2015

This study explores the relationship between individuals’ risk tolerance and occupational injuries. We analyze data from a national representative survey of U.S. workers that includes information about injuries, risk tolerance, cognitive and noncognitive attributes, and risky behaviors. We measure risk tolerance through questions regarding individuals’ willingness to gamble on their lifetime income. We estimate zero‐inflated count models to assess the role played by such measures on workers’ recurrent injuries. We discuss some implications of our results for future research and occupational safety policies.Our results highlight the concurrent and changing role played by individual, work, and environmental factors in explaining recurrent incidents. They show that risk tolerance affects recurrent injuries, although not in the direction that proponents of the concept of proneness would expect. Our measure of risk aversion shows that individuals who are somewhat more risk tolerant have fewer recurrent injuries than those who are risk averse. But the estimated relationship is U‐shaped, not monotonic and, therefore, not easy to predict. At the same time, we find that individuals’ “revealed risk preferences”—specific risky behaviors—are related to higher injury probabilities. Demanding working conditions, measures of socioeconomic status, health, and safety problems experienced by workers during their youth remain among the most important factors explaining the phenomena of recurrent injuries. So our results contribute also to the important debate about the relationship between health and socioeconomic status.
Dips and Floors in Workplace Training: Gender Differences and Supervisors
Authors: Fitzenberger Bernd , Muehler Grit 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis article provides a detailed decomposition analysis of the gender differences in workplace training throughout the working life with a particular focus on parental leave and supervisors using personnel records from a large German firm. Females obtain less training during the early career, and more at higher age. The timing of the training gap seems to be driven by diverging career paths associated with employment interruptions. However, we find no evidence for catching‐up effects after parental leave. Furthermore, including supervisor‐fixed effects cannot explain the gender differences in training. The training of both male and female employees is positively associated with the training of the supervisor.
Learning‐related Social Skills as a Mediator between Teacher Instruction and Child Achievement in Head Start
Authors: Ansari Arya , Gershoff Elizabeth 
Published: March 2015

AbstractUsing a subsample of the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) 2006, this study examined the associations between the amount of teacher instruction in 292 Head Start classrooms with changes in young children's (n =936) early academic achievement and learning‐related social skills from ages three to five. In general, during the early years, children exhibited relatively stable academic and learning‐related social skills. Although the amount of teacher instruction did not predict children's short‐term academic growth directly, it did predict it indirectly through improvements in learning‐related social skills, with benefits lasting through the end of kindergarten. These findings demonstrate that gains in children's learning‐related social skills may be necessary before academic gains can be realized.
The trichotillometry: a technique for hair assessment
Authors: El‐Rifaie A. A. , Abdel Wehab A. M. , Gohary Y. , El‐Rifaie A. E. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundThere are many different non‐invasive or invasive techniques for studying the hair state either in the normal or diseased conditions.ObjectiveA technique is used to evaluate the current hair status through setting a normal standard value or range of the epilating force of different hair follicle types in normal individuals.MethodsThe trichotillometer is used to record in grams the force exerted to epilate a single hair in different locations of scalp.ResultsOf all the plucked hairs from all the volunteers, the epilating force, the diameter, and the follicular length were calculated. The shear strain needed for epilating different hair types is calculated.ConclusionUsing the trichotillometry technique to identify the normal range of the shear strain for different hair types is important as it may aid in diagnostic, prognostic, or even therapeutic decision making for many hair diseases.
Novel alleles of the transforming growth factor β‐1 regulatory region and exon 1
Authors: Arrieta‐Bolaños E. , Madrigal J. A. , Shaw B. E. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractTransforming growth factor β‐1, encoded by the TGFB1 gene, is a cytokine that plays a central role in many physiologic and pathogenic processes with pleiotropic effects. Regulatory activity for this gene has been shown for 3.0 kb between positions −2665 and +423 from its translational start site. At least 17 TGFB1 regulatory region and exon 1 alleles have been defined on the basis of 18 polymorphic sites. Polymorphisms in TGFB1's regulatory region have been associated with differential levels of expression of this cytokine and to genetic risk in cancer and transplantation. In this report, we present 19 novel TGFB1 regulatory region and exon 1 alleles: p018–p036. Amplification of TGFB1's regulatory region was performed with an in‐house protocol, and novel alleles were defined by either allele‐specific amplification and/or molecular cloning of the amplicons, followed by sequencing in isolation. Three of these novel alleles (p018, p019, and p020) are shown to be formed by novel combinations of the aforementioned known polymorphic positions. Another 16 novel alleles are shown to carry additional known and unknown single‐nucleotide polymorphisms. Polymorphism in TGFB1's regulatory region could have an impact on important processes, including embryogenesis, hematopoiesis, carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, fibrosis, immune responses, and transplantation, making its characterization necessary.
Non‐anaemic iron deficiency in pregnancy: the views of health service users and health care professionals
Authors: Daru J. , Moores R. , Dodds J. , Rayment J. , Allard S. , Khan K. S. 
Published: March 2015

SUMMARYBackgroundThe prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in Europe is 25% and that resulting from iron deficiency is estimated at 40%. The maternal and fetal morbidity of non‐anaemic iron deficiency (NAID) in pregnancy is likely to be significant.ObjectivesTo determine the views and opinions of health service users and clinicians concerning NAID in pregnancy in order to inform future research.MethodsTwo semi‐structured focus groups were carried out to determine health service users' views on anaemia and NAID in pregnancy. A questionnaire was administered to obstetricians, haematologists, midwives and anaesthetists to elucidate their views on NAID in pregnancy.ResultsThe study indicated that health service users and clinicians were interested in implementing testing for NAID in pregnancy with serum ferritin, if proven to be effective at reducing the effects of anaemia and improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Clinicians had reservations in the use of intravenous iron supplementation for NAID in pregnancy.ConclusionNAID is now accepted as a target condition for research by health service users and clinicians. The focus of future research should be on screening for NAID and its treatment.
Clinical and quality evaluation of apheresis vs random‐donor platelet concentrates stored for 7 days
Authors: Hussein E. 
Published: March 2015

SUMMARYBackground and ObjectivesThe clinical efficacy of different types of platelets remains under debate. We conducted a pilot study to prospectively evaluate the impact of subsequent storage on the in vitro quality and post‐transfusion outcome of apheresis prepared platelets (APCs) vs random donor platelets (RDPs).Materials and MethodsWe studied 30 units of APCs, and 30 units of RDPs. We performed assays on days 1, 3, 5 and 7, evaluating ADP aggregation, platelet count and pH. Fifteen thrombocytopenic patients with haematologic conditions were evaluated. Each patient received prophylactic transfusions of both components, and their post‐transfusion platelet increments were compared. Twenty‐five transfusions were apheresis prepared, and 35 transfusions were received as RDPs. None of the RDPs were leukoreduced.ResultsThe median platelet counts for APCs on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 were; 2070, 1990, 1680 and 1240 × 103 µL−1, respectively, and were; 1290, 850, 499 and 284 × 103 µL−1, respectively for RDPs. The pH of all units was more than 6·2. Both groups demonstrated a significant decrease of ADP aggregation after 3 days of storage (P < 0·05). However, APCs provided satisfactory increments for 90·9% of transfusions. On the sixth and seventh days of storage, APCs provided significantly higher platelet increments (18·7 × 103 µL−1) compared with RDPs (3·20 × 103 µL−1) (P < 0·05). Significantly longer transfusion intervals were also achieved with APCs (P < 0·05).ConclusionAlthough other variables may have confounded the results, subsequent storage of APCs appeared to provide higher increments with longer intervals of transfusion compared with RDPs. Future prospective studies are needed, adjusting for other possible confounding variables.
A novel hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization and collection algorithm based on preemptive CD34 enumeration
Authors: Storch Emily , Mark Tomer , Avecilla Scott , Pagan Carlos , Rhodes Joanna , Shore Tsiporah , van Besien Koen , Cushing Melissa 
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUNDThe collection of autologous peripheral blood (PB) stem cells can be challenging in the subgroup of patients deemed “poor mobilizers” with granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor. Plerixafor, a CXCR‐4 antagonist, is an alternative mobilizing agent, but is costly, and the optimal mobilization algorithm has yet to be determined.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSTo address the question we developed a protocol measuring PB CD34 on Day 4 of mobilization. We examined 26 patients before initiating the protocol versus 24 patients after initiation.RESULTSSignificant differences (p ≤ 0.05) included fewer days of collection (1.25 days vs. 2.42 days), lower total blood volume processed (25.9 L vs. 57.2 L), lower total product volume (324 mL vs. 691 mL), lower RBC content (9 mL vs. 18 mL), and lower granulocyte percentage per collection (35% vs. 11%). There were no significant differences between the two groups in demographics, baseline platelet count, total CD34, or CD34/kg harvested.CONCLUSIONUse of a protocol to assess PB CD34 1 day before collection allows for preemptive administration of plerixafor to augment mobilization. Subsequently, days of collection and processed blood volume are reduced while there is less RBC and granulocyte contamination in the collected stem cell product.
Measurements of Turbulent Heat Transfer on the Leading and Trailing Surfaces of a Square Duct Rotating About an Orthogonal Axis
Authors: Morris W. D. , Harasgama S. P. , Salemi R. 
Published: March 2015

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of local heat transfer on the trailing and leading surfaces of a square-sectioned duct rotating about an axis orthogonal to its central axis. The flow geometry has application to the cooling of gas turbine rotor blades.
It is demonstrated that Coriolis induced secondary flows enhance local heat transfer over the trailing surface in relation to the corresponding non rotating case. Little effect of rotation on the leading surface was detected over the range of experiments covered to date.
Rotational buoyancy is shown to have a slight effect only at the lowest Reynolds number tested. The conditions under which buoyancy may be neglected in the real engine range of parameters is still uncertain.
Simple correlations for the present data are given as design aids.
The Measurement of Stress and Vibration Data in Turbine Blades and Aeroengine Components
Authors: Oliver D. E. , Berry D. J. 
Published: March 2015

Instrumentation utilizing the thermoelastic effect has become established in recent years as an important tool for experimental stress analysis. This instrumentation provides full field stress data in a digitized form that can be integrated with computer aided design methods for experimental optimization and validation of designs.
More recently the same full field data acquisition techniques have been applied to vibration measurements. As a result stress and vibration data can be obtained from the same experimental set-up.
The paper describes theoretical aspects of the thermoelastic effect upon which the stress measurements are based. It goes on to show how laser Doppler interferometric techniques can be incorporated into stress measuring instrumentation. Results from typical aerospace components are used to illustrate applications of commercially available instrumentation (Fig. 1).
Use of High Temperature ODS-Superalloys for an Experimental Motor Vehicle Gas Turbine
Authors: Hedrich H. D. , Tank E. 
Published: March 2015

Important stationary components of the experimental motor vehicle gas turbine which is currently under development at Daimler-Benz AG are manufactured from the ODS-superalloys Incoloy MA 956 and Inconel MA 754.
This paper reports the reasons for choosing these materials, experience gained in the production and testing of components and the results of the parallel development of processing technologies and material investigations.
The paper is rounded off with a number of suggestions for material development based on the results from this work.
Efficiency Enhancement of a Pipeline Turbocompressor With a Gas/Steam Combined Cycle
Authors: Cocchi Vittorio , Pucci Marco , Mezzedimi Vasco , Vitali Giuliano 
Published: March 2015

The problems typically encountered with the basic engineering of a combined-cycle installation are examined here in general; the selection criteria of the operating fluid and determination of the thermodynamic parameters of the steam cycle are also dealt with in the appendix.
The combined-cycle gas compression unit at present under construction in SNAM’s Station at Messina is then described extensively; the system, designed to comply with the specific requirements of a gas compression plant (unmanned continuous operation in severe environmental conditions), is characterized by an efficiency higher than 47% at ISO conditions.
Special attention is paid to the control system and to the analysis of the dynamic behaviour of the gas / steam unit by which two pipeline compressors (the main one driven by the gas turbine and the auxiliary one driven by the steam turbine) are made to run in parallel.
Rotordynamic Coefficient and Leakage Test Results for Interlock and Tooth-on-Stator Labyrinth Seals
Authors: Childs Dara W. , Elrod David A. , Hale Keith 
Published: March 2015

Test results (leakage and rotordynamic coefficients) are presented for an interlock and tooth-on-stator labyrinth seals. Tests were carried out with air at speeds out to 16,000 cpm and supply pressures up to 7.5 bars. The rotordynamic coefficients consist of direct and cross-coupled stiffness and damping coefficients. Damping-coefficient data have not previously been presented for interlock seals.
The test results support the following conclusions:
(a) The interlock seal leaks substantially less than labyrinth seals.
(b) Destabilizing forces are lower for the interlock seal.
(c) The labyrinth seal has substantially greater direct damping values than the interlock seal.
A complete rotordynamics analysis is needed to determine which type of seal would yield the best stability predictions for a given turbomachinery unit.
Preliminary Clinical Study of the Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Colistin-Associated Nephrotoxicity
Authors: Sirijatuphat Rujipas , Limmahakhun Samornrod , Sirivatanauksorn Vorapan , Nation Roger L. , Li Jian , Thamlikitkul Visanu 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTNephrotoxicity is a dose-limiting factor of colistin, a last-line therapy for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. An earlier animal study revealed a protective effect of ascorbic acid against colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. The present randomized controlled study was conducted in 28 patients and aimed to investigate the potential nephroprotective effect of intravenous ascorbic acid (2 g every 12 h) against colistin-associated nephrotoxicity in patients requiring intravenous colistin. Thirteen patients received colistin plus ascorbic acid, whereas 15 received colistin alone. Nephrotoxicity was defined by the RIFLE classification system. Additionally, urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) andN-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) were measured as markers of renal damage, and plasma colistin concentrations were quantified. The baseline characteristics, clinical features, and concomitant treatments of the patients in the two groups were comparable. The incidences of nephrotoxicity were 53.8% (7/13) and 60.0% (9/15) in the colistin-ascorbic acid group and the colistin group, respectively (P= 0.956; relative risk [RR], 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.47 to 1.72). In both groups, the urinary excretion rates of NGAL and NAG on day 3 or 5 of colistin treatment and at the end of colistin treatment were significantly higher than those at the respective baselines (P< 0.05). However, the urinary excretion rates of these biomarkers at the various times during colistin treatment did not differ significantly between the groups (P> 0.05). The plasma colistin concentrations in the two groups were not significantly different (P> 0.28). The clinical and microbiological outcomes and mortality of the patients in the two groups were not significantly different. This preliminary study suggests that ascorbic acid does not offer a nephroprotective effect for patients receiving intravenous colistin. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01501968.)
In Vitro
Activity of Polymyxin B plus Imipenem, Meropenem, or Tigecycline against KPC-2-Producing Enterobacteriaceae with High MICs for These Antimicrobials
Authors: Barth Natália , Ribeiro Vanessa B. , Zavascki Alexandre P. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the
in vitro
activity of polymyxin B plus imipenem, meropenem, or tigecycline against six KPC-2-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
strains with high MICs for these antimicrobial agents. Polymyxin B with carbapenems, especially meropenem, were the most active combinations for
Klebsiella pneumoniae
and
Enterobacter cloacae
regardless of the polymyxin B concentration used in the time-kill assay. This combination was also synergistic against two
Serratia marcescens
strains that are intrinsically resistant to polymyxins. Polymyxin B and tigecycline also presented synergistic activity in most experiments.
Exposure to Total and Protein-Unbound Rifampin Is Not Affected by Malnutrition in Indonesian Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: te Brake L. H. M. , Ruslami R. , Later-Nijland H. , Mooren F. , Teulen M. , Apriani L. , Koenderink J. B. , Russel F. G. , Burger D. M. , Alisjahbana B. , Wieringa F. , van Crevel R. , Aarnoutse R. E. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

Nutritional status may have a profound impact on the pharmacokinetics of drugs, yet only few data are available for tuberculosis (TB) drugs. As malnutrition occurs frequently among TB patients, we assessed the effect of malnutrition on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of total and protein-unbound rifampin during the intensive phase of TB treatment. In a descriptive pharmacokinetic study in Bandung, Indonesia, patients received a fixed standard rifampin dose of 450 mg once daily during the intensive phase of TB treatment. A full pharmacokinetic curve for rifampin was recorded, and total and unbound concentrations of rifampin were analyzed in all samples. Rifampin pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between severely malnourished (BMI of <16.0 kg/m
2
), malnourished (BMI of <18.5 kg/m
2
), and well-nourished (BMI of ≥18.5 kg/m
2
) individuals. No difference in total and protein-unbound pharmacokinetic parameters between severely malnourished (
n
= 7), malnourished (
n
= 11), and well-nourished (
n
= 25) patients could be demonstrated. In addition, no significant correlation between BMI and exposure (area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC
0–24
] and maximum concentration of drug in serum [
C
max
]) was found. Females had significantly higher total AUC
0–24
(geometric mean, 59.2 versus 48.2 h · mg/liter;
P
= 0.02) and higher unbound AUC
0–24
(geometric mean, 6.2 versus 4.8 h · mg/liter;
P
= 0.02) than males. Overall, a marked 2-fold interindividual variation in the free fraction was observed (7.6 to 15.0%;
n
= 36). Nutritional status and BMI do not appear to have a major effect on total and protein-unbound pharmacokinetic parameters of rifampin in Indonesian subjects. The large interindividual variability in the free fraction of rifampin suggests that protein-unbound rather than total rifampin concentrations should preferably be used to study exposure-response relationships.
Imaging-Based High-Throughput Screening Assay To Identify New Molecules with Transmission-Blocking Potential against Plasmodium falciparum Female Gamete Formation
Authors: Miguel-Blanco Celia , Lelièvre Joël , Delves Michael J. , Bardera Ana I. , Presa Jesús L. , López-Barragán María José , Ruecker Andrea , Marques Sara , Sinden Robert E. , Herreros Esperanza 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

In response to a call for the global eradication of malaria, drug discovery has recently been extended to identify compounds that prevent the onward transmission of the parasite, which is mediated by
Plasmodium falciparum
stage V gametocytes. Lately, metabolic activity has been used
in vitro
as a surrogate for gametocyte viability; however, as gametocytes remain relatively quiescent at this stage, their ability to undergo onward development (gamete formation) may be a better measure of their functional viability. During gamete formation, female gametocytes undergo profound morphological changes and express translationally repressed mRNA. By assessing female gamete cell surface expression of one such repressed protein, Pfs25, as the readout for female gametocyte functional viability, we developed an imaging-based high-throughput screening (HTS) assay to identify transmission-blocking compounds. This assay, designated the
P. falciparum
female gametocyte activation assay (FGAA), was scaled up to a high-throughput format (
Z
′ factor, 0.7 ± 0.1) and subsequently validated using a selection of 50 known antimalarials from diverse chemical families. Only a few of these agents showed submicromolar 50% inhibitory concentrations in the assay: thiostrepton, methylene blue, and some endoperoxides. To determine the best conditions for HTS, a robustness test was performed with a selection of the GlaxoSmithKline Tres Cantos Antimalarial Set (TCAMS) and the final screening conditions for this library were determined to be a 2 μM concentration and 48 h of incubation with gametocytes. The
P. falciparum
FGAA has been proven to be a robust HTS assay faithful to
Plasmodium
transmission-stage cell biology, and it is an innovative useful tool for antimalarial drug discovery which aims to identify new molecules with transmission-blocking potential.