bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With Emergency Department Visits for Migraine: An Observational Study
Authors: Minen Mia T. , Loder Elizabeth , Friedman Benjamin 
Published: October 2014

Objective/BackgroundThis study aims to determine why patients with migraine present to an emergency department (ED). While migraine accounts for over 800,000 ED visits annually, no prospectively gathered data characterize patients' reasons for presenting to an ED.MethodsWe prospectively interviewed 309 consecutive patients presenting to an urban ED for headache. Patients were asked 100 closed‐ended questions regarding sociodemographics, headache history, and current headache attack. We performed descriptive analyses on patients fulfilling International Classification of Headache Disorders 2 migraine criteria.ResultsOf 186 patients who met migraine criteria, 77% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 71, 83%) had a primary care provider (PCP), 87% (95% CI: 82, 92%) had medical insurance, and 83% (95% CI: 77, 88%) had drug coverage. Fifty‐three percent (95% CI: 46, 60%) reported that they previously visited a doctor for headache. Fifty‐five percent (95% CI: 48, 62%) previously received a migraine diagnosis. Twenty‐two percent (95% CI: 16, 28%) sought medical care for the current headache prior to ED presentation. Fifty‐five percent (95% CI: 48, 63%) took abortive medication for migraine on the day of the ED visit. Median headache duration was 24 hours (IQR: 12‐72). Forty‐nine percent (95% CI: 42, 57%) screened positive for depression. The most common reason for visiting the ED was a perceived emergency condition or referral by a physician (33.3% [95% CI: 27, 40%]). Other commonly cited reasons related to access to care.ConclusionsMost migraineurs presenting to the ED have a PCP and health insurance. ED visits commonly result from an inability to access care elsewhere and because patients consider pain to be an emergency condition. Missed opportunities for diagnosis and treatment likely contribute to ED visits.
Chronic bladder ischemia and oxidative stress: New pharmacotherapeutic targets for lower urinary tract symptoms
Authors: Nomiya Masanori , Andersson Karl‐Erik , Yamaguchi Osamu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractChronic bladder ischemia is potentially a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in the elderly. Epidemiological studies have shown a close association between lower urinary tract symptoms and vascular risk factors for atherosclerosis, and investigations using transrectal color Doppler ultrasonography have shown a negative correlation between decreased lower urinary tract perfusion and International Prostate Symptom Score in elderly patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Bladder blood flow is also known to decrease in men with bladder outlet obstruction as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Studies in animal models suggest that chronic bladder ischemia and repeated ischemia/reperfusion during a micturition cycle might produce oxidative stress, leading to denervation of the bladder and the expression of tissue‐damaging molecules in the bladder wall, which could be responsible for the development of bladder hyperactivity progressing to bladder underactivity. The effects of drugs with different mechanisms of action; for example, α1‐adrenoceptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, free radical scavengers and β3‐adrenoceptor agonist, have been studied in animal models of chronic bladder ischemia. The drugs, representing different treatment principles for increasing blood flow and decreasing oxidative stress, showed protective effects not only on urodynamic parameters, but also on negative effects on muscle contractility and on detrimental structural bladder wall changes. Improvement of lower urinary tract perfusion and control of oxidative stress can be considered new therapeutic strategies for treatment of bladder dysfunction induced by chronic ischemia.
Coarsened Propensity Scores and Hybrid Estimators for Missing Data and Causal Inference
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhang Zhiwei , Li Zhaohai , Zhang Jun 
Published: October 2014

SummaryIn the areas of missing data and causal inference, there is great interest in doubly robust (DR) estimators that involve both an outcome regression (RG) model and a propensity score (PS) model. These DR estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal if either model is correctly specified. Despite their theoretical appeal, the practical utility of DR estimators has been disputed (e.g. Kang and Schaffer, Statistical Science 2007; 22: 523–539). One of the major concerns is the possibility of erratic estimates resulting from near‐zero denominators due to extreme values of the estimated PS. In contrast, the usual RG estimator based on the RG model alone is efficient when the RG model is correct and generally more stable than the DR estimators, although it can be biased when the RG model is incorrect. In light of the unique advantages of the RG and DR estimators, we propose a class of hybrid estimators that attempt to strike a reasonable balance between the RG and DR estimators. These hybrid estimators are motivated by heuristic arguments that coarsened PS estimates are less likely to take extreme values and less sensitive to misspecification of the PS model than the original model‐based PS estimates. The proposed estimators are compared with existing estimators in simulation studies and illustrated with real data from a large observational study on obstetric labour progression and birth outcomes.
Narratives of family transition during the first year post‐head injury: perspectives of the non‐injured members
Authors: Whiffin Charlotte Jane , Bailey Christopher , Ellis‐Hill Caroline , Jarrett Nickey , Hutchinson Peter J. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAimTo explore the narratives created by non‐injured family members in relation to themselves and their family in the first year after head injury.BackgroundA head injury is a potentially devastating injury. The family responds to this injury by supporting the individual and their recovery. While the perspective of individual family members has been well documented, there is growing interest in how the family as a whole makes sense of their experiences and how these experiences change over time.DesignLongitudinal narrative case study using unstructured in‐depth interviews.MethodsData were collected during an 18‐month period (August 2009–December 2010). Nine non‐injured family members from three families were recruited from an acute neurosurgical ward and individual narrative interviews were held at one, three and 12 months postinjury where participants were asked to talk about their experience of head injury. Analysis was completed on three levels: the individual; the family and between family cases with the aim of identifying a range of interwoven narrative threads.FindingsFive interwoven narratives were identified: trauma, recovery, autobiographical, suffering and family. The narrative approach emphasized that the year posthead injury was a turbulent time for families, who were active agents in the process of change.ConclusionThis study has shown the importance of listening to people's stories and understanding their journeys irrespective of the injured person's outcome. Change postinjury is not limited to the injured person: family members need help to understand that they too are changing as a result of their experiences.
Design of Finned Pipe Network to Improve Efficiency of Butter Melter
Authors: Warrier A.S. , Sawhney I.K. , Minz P.S. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis study was undertaken to improve the efficiency of industrial butter melter. Butter is generally kept in cold storage at −18 to −20C in 20–25 kg blocks. Butter blocks are melted in a vat/kettle before being further processed or mixed with other food ingredients. The equipment comprised of a network of pipes with longitudinal plate fins, melting tank and hot water system. The improved piping system was designed using Matlab programming. The effect of fins and application of pressure (0, 750 and 1,500 Pa) for butter block pressing were studied. The equipment was evaluated in terms of cutting capacity, heat utilization efficiency, melted butter percentage, volumetric reduction ratio, overall heat transfer coefficient (U‐value) and average temperature gradient in pipe network. It was observed that the finned pipe network was better than network without fins. The combination of a network with fins and application of pressure (1,500 Pa) improved the butter block cutting capacity by three times.Practical ApplicationsAn improved butter melter was designed and developed using finned pipe network. This study gives insight into use of fins to improve heat transfer for food processing application such as thawing, melting, etc.
Comparison of Fatty Acid Analysis with Serotype and Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis for Typing Salmonella Isolated from Retail Foods and Human
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Xing Xiaonan , Wang Xin , Yang Baowei , Fu Chengyu , Liu Dehao , Guo Chunfeng 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWhole‐cell fatty acid analysis by pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was compared with pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and serotyping to determine the best suited method for identification of Salmonella strains. Forty‐two isolates were analyzed and 10 fatty acids were identified in all of the tested strains. The main fatty acid component was n‐hexadecanoic acid (C16:0), followed by cis‐9‐hexadecenoic acid (C16:1ω‐7c), cis‐10‐heptadecenoic acid (C17:1ω‐7c), tetradecanoic acid (C14:0), cis‐10‐nonadecenoic acid (C19:1ω‐9c), trans‐2‐dodecenoic acid (C12:1ω‐10t), cis‐vaccenic acid (C18:1ω‐8c), dodecanoic acid (C12:0), octadecanoic acid (C18:0) and 2‐tridecanoic acid (E)‐(C13:0). Whole‐cell fatty acid analysis, PFGE and serotyping yielded 38, 35 and 29 types, respectively. Simpson's diversity indices of the three typing methods were 0.994, 0.985 and 0.943, respectively. PFGE grouped all the strains into 27 clusters based on 80% similarity. Fatty acid analysis was grouped into four clusters based on r = 0.8. Our findings indicate that whole‐cell fatty acid analysis was found to help with rapid identification of Salmonella strains. Whole‐cell fatty acid analysis was not only as portable as PFGE and serotyping but also more rapid and cost‐effective.Practical ApplicationsFoodborne diseases caused by Salmonella enterica represent an important public health problem worldwide. Therefore, tracing sporadic cases and outbreaks of Salmonella infection is important for epidemiological purposes. In this context, fatty acid analysis is a rapid and cost‐effective method for identification and classification of Salmonella strains, and it can help expedite the process of foodborne outbreak investigation.
A Rapid Multiplex PCR‐DHPLC Method of Detection and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria in Aquatic Products
Authors: Zhan Xiaowei , Zheng Qiuyue , Fu Junfan , Xu Junyi , Cao Jijuan 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn this study, we established a multiplex polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (MPCR‐DHPLC) method for rapid detection of the aquatic‐associated pathogens Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus and Listeria monocytogenes. Specific primer sets targeting the dnaJ gene of the Vibrio species and the hly gene of L. monocytogenes were used. We also defined the optimal primer concentrations to detect each Vibrio species. We used the MPCR‐DHPLC method to identify target bacteria in aquatic products. Performance characteristics of the MPCR‐DHPLC system showed that it is specific for six common pathogenic bacterial species and can be used for the practical detection of these pathogens in aquatic products. Furthermore, two practical applications of two environmental water samples were tested according to this method by MPCR‐DHPLC, then the results of detection were consistent with conventional tests but faster. It showed that this method proved to be a fast, sensitive and specific tool for V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. mimicus, V. alginolyticus and L. monocytogenes detection in a routine microbiological laboratory.Practical ApplicationsVarious bacterial species can be simultaneously detected with the same PCR reaction. A MPCR‐DHPLC method of identification of various bacterial species was established. This method improves test efficiency and minimizes test time.
The Effects of the Specialist Schools Education Policy on School and Post‐School Outcomes in England
Authors: Bradley Steve , Migali Giuseppe 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWe investigate the effects of the specialist schools policy, introduced in 1994 in England, on test scores and truancy for pupils during compulsory schooling. We also assess the effects on labour market status and post‐secondary test score performance. We use matching models and data from the Youth Cohort Surveys for pupils who left school in either 2002 or 2004. We find that the policy did raise test scores, as well as increase the probability of employment. The evidence on post‐secondary test scores is mixed insofar as the policy increased the number of A levels studied but reduced average points scores.
Vacation Leave, Work Hours, and Wages: New Evidence from Linked Employer–Employee Data
Authors: Fakih Ali 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis paper provides new evidence on the determinants of vacation leave and its relationship to hours worked and hourly wages by examining the case of Canada. Previous studies from the USA, using individual‐level data, have revealed that annual work hours fall by around 53 hours for each additional week of vacation used. Exploiting a linked employer–employee dataset that allows to control for detailed observed demographic, job, and firm characteristics, we find instead that annual hours of work fall by only 29 hours for each additional week of vacation used. Our findings support the hypothesis that pressure at work may lead employees to use more vacation days but also causes them to work for longer hours.
Long‐term evaluation of combined prolonged‐release oxycodone and naloxone in patients with moderate‐to‐severe chronic pain: pooled analysis of extension phases of two Phase III trials
Authors: Blagden M. , Hafer J. , Duerr H. , Hopp M. , Bosse B. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBackgroundWhile opioids provide effective analgesia, opioid‐induced constipation (OIC) can severely impact quality of life and treatment compliance. This pooled analysis evaluated the maintenance of efficacy and safety during long‐term treatment with combined oxycodone/naloxone prolonged‐release tablets (OXN PR) in adults with moderate‐to‐severe chronic pain.MethodsPatients (N = 474) received open‐label OXN PR during 52‐week extension phases of two studies, having completed 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized treatment with oxycodone prolonged‐release tablets (Oxy PR) or OXN PR. Analgesia and bowel function were assessed at each study visit using ‘Average pain over last 24 h scale and Bowel Function Index (BFI), respectively. Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication was assessed at study end only.Key ResultsImprovement in bowel function was particularly marked in patients who switched from Oxy PR in the double‐blind phase to OXN PR during the extension phase, resulting in a clinically meaningful reduction (≥12 points) in BFI score: at the start of the extension phases, mean (SD) BFI score was 44.3 (28.13), and was 29.8 (26.36) for patients who had received OXN PR in the double‐blind phase. One week later, BFI scores were similar for the two groups (26.5 [24.40] and 27.5 [25.60], respectively), as was observed throughout the following months. Fewer than 10% of patients received laxatives regularly. Mean 24‐h pain scores were low and stable throughout the extension phases. No unexpected adverse events were observed.Conclusions & InferencesPooled data demonstrate OXN PR is an effective long‐term therapy for patients with chronic non‐cancer pain, and can address symptoms of OIC. No new safety issues were observed which were attributable to the long‐term administration of OXN PR.
High‐energy diets: a threat for male fertility?
Authors: Rato L. , Alves M. G. , Cavaco J. E. , Oliveira P. F. 
Published: October 2014

SummaryMale fertility is declining in developed countries, as well as in developing countries. External factors linked to lifestyle, such as eating disorders, negatively affect spermatogenesis, both at central and gonadal levels. The overconsumption of high‐energy diets (HED) alters the functioning of the male reproductive axis and consequently affects the testicular physiology, disrupting its metabolism and bioenergetic capacity. Testicular metabolism presents unique characteristics, partly because of its cellular heterogeneity and to the specific functions that each cell type plays within the testicular environment. Disruption of the tightly regulated metabolic pathways leads to adverse reproductive outcomes, such as inefficient energy supply to germ cells, sperm defects or spermatogenesis arrest. Testicular metabolic alterations induced by HED intake may also lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is closely associated to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and oxidative stress. ROS easily target spermatozoa DNA and lipids, contributing to decreased sperm quality. Thus, understanding the detrimental effects of HED overconsumption on the pathways underlying testicular metabolism and sperm production is imperative; otherwise, one may favour a transgenerational amplification of subfertility. Herein, we present an up‐to‐date overview of the effects of HED on testicular metabolism, sperm parameters and the subsequent consequences for male fertility.
Persistence of Current‐account Disequilibria and Real Exchange‐rate Misalignments
Authors: Gnimassoun Blaise , Mignon Valérie 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis paper aims at studying whether the persistence of the gap between the observed current‐account position and its equilibrium value nonlinearly depends on real exchange‐rate misalignments. Estimating a panel smooth transition regression model on a sample of 22 industrialized countries, we find evidence for this hypothesis, showing that persistence of current‐account imbalances strongly depends on the deviation of the real exchange rate from its long‐term equilibrium. More specifically, while there is no persistence in cases of currency undervaluation or weak overvaluation, persistence tends to augment for overvaluations higher than 11%. In addition, whereas disequilibria are persistent even for very low overvaluations in the euro area, persistence is observed only for overvaluations higher than 14% for non‐eurozone members.
A Combined Experimental and Computational Study for the Design of a Low Water Consumption Cooling Tower
Authors: Dogan Burak , Yilmaz Ibrahim , Polat Ozgur , Karabulut Oytun , Ural Ahmet , Uludag Yusuf , Aradag Selin 
Published: October 2014

In this study, a combined experimental and computational study for the design of a low water consumption cooling tower is performed. The purpose of the study is to reduce the water consumption without decreasing the efficiency of a typical cooling tower. To achieve this aim, it is necessary to enhance the homogeneity of mist/air mixture. For this purpose, firstly, an experimental set-up including a small scale wind tunnel is installed which provides opportunity to examine different inlet and outlet configurations easily.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used extensively to examine the effects of different configurations before experimental studies. Simulations of different inlet and outlet configurations are performed using only air. Several turbulators are designed and simulated to increase the turbulence levels. A three dimensional multi-phase CFD model is utilized to design a nozzle-turbulator system for the cooling tower. As results of the computational and experimental studies, the most efficient inlet and outlet configurations are specified and turbulators are selected from the alternative designs.
Experimental Kinematics of a Special Shape Actuator
Authors: Borboni Alberto , Pandini Stefano , Cambiaghi Danilo , Lancini Matteo , Adamini Riccardo , Faglia Rodolfo , Bodini Ileana , Vetturi David , Dassa Luca , Riccò Theonis , Degli Espositi Micaela , Paderni Katia , Messori Massimo , Pilati Francesco , Toselli Maurizio 
Published: October 2014

This paper investigates the kinematical behavior of a polymer based star-shaped actuator, able to produce mechanical work through the shape memory effect, that allows a significant shape variations on the application of an external stimulus. The adopted material is a semicrystalline network based on poly(ε-caprolactone) crosslinked by thermal curing; the material was adopted due to its fast recovery process when heated close to the melting temperature and the high recovery degree, and, due to its good biocompatibility, it may suitable for biomedical application. The original, or “permanent”, material shape is that of a cylindrical annulus, which is set in a “temporary” configuration as a six spikes star. The temporary shape is fixed through a thermo-mechanical program, involving deformation above melting temperature and cooling under fixed strain and carried out by means of an ad-hoc designed fixture. By heating the deformed specimen above the melting temperature, the system is able to recover the original cylindrical shape realizing a motion and a mechanical power. This peculiar response, consisting in a progressive radial expansion activated by temperature, may be considered for application as self-expanding stenting device triggered by the human body temperature.
The shape of the system, that changes during the transformation, can be described as a two dimensional temporal function that represents the mean line of the section of the cylindrical annulus (perpendicular to the height of the annulus). This temporal function is a combination of a circular function and of a modified rhodoneal function and, after a proper calibration through experimental tests, is used to evaluate the kinematics of the system. The function is able to describe adequately the shape evolution experimentally displayed by the samples, with a very good agreement at the starting and final instants of the transformation, while the accuracy during the transformation is acceptable for the proposed application.