bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variations in Health and Health Behaviors by Nativity Among Pregnant Black Women in Philadelphia
Authors: Elo Irma T. , Culhane Jennifer F. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We compared health behaviors and health outcomes among US-born, African-born, and Caribbean-born pregnant Black women and examined whether sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics explained differences among these population subgroups. Methods. We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study conducted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a series of nested logistic regression models predicting tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use and measures of physical and mental health. Results. Foreign-born Black women were significantly less likely to engage in substance use and had better self-rated physical and mental health than did native-born Black women. These findings were largely unchanged by adjustment for sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics. The foreign-born advantage varied by place of birth: it was somewhat stronger for African-born women than for Caribbean-born women. Conclusions. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the role of immigrant selectivity and other characteristics that contribute to more favorable health behaviors and health outcomes among foreign-born Blacks than among native-born Blacks in the United States.
Disparities in Health-Related Quality of Life: A Comparison of Lesbians and Bisexual Women
Authors: Fredriksen-Goldsen Karen I. , Kim Hyun-Jun , Barkan Susan E. , Balsam Kimberly F. , Mincer Shawn L. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We investigated the association of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) with sexual orientation among lesbians and bisexual women and compared the predictors of HRQOL between the 2 groups.Methods. We used multivariate logistic regression to analyze Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System population-based data (2003 to 2007) in a sample of 1496 lesbians and bisexual women and examined determinants of HRQOL among lesbians and bisexual women.Results. For lesbians and bisexual women, frequent mental distress and poor general health were associated with poverty and lack of exercise; poor general health was associated with obesity and mental distress. Bisexual women showed a higher likelihood of frequent mental distress and poor general health than did lesbians. The odds of mental distress were higher for bisexual women living in urban areas as compared with nonurban areas. Lesbians had an elevated risk of poor general health and mental distress during midlife.Conclusions. Despite the standard practice of collapsing sexual minority women into a single group, lesbian and bisexual women in this study emerge as distinct groups that merit specific attention. Bisexual women are at elevated risk for poor HRQOL.
Unhealthy Competition: Consequences of Health Plan Choice in California Medicaid
Authors: Millett Christopher , Chattopadhyay Arpita , Bindman Andrew B. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We compared the quality of care received by managed care Medicaid beneficiaries in counties with a choice of health plans and counties with no choice. Methods. This cross-sectional study among California Medicaid beneficiaries was conducted during 2002. We used a multivariate Poisson model to calculate adjusted rates of hospital admissions for ambulatory care–sensitive conditions by duration of plan enrollment. Results. Among beneficiaries with continuous Medicaid coverage, the percentage with 12 months of continuous enrollment in a health plan was significantly lower in counties with a choice of plans than in counties with no choice (79.2% vs 95.2%; P < .001). Annual ambulatory care–sensitive admission rates adjusted for age, gender, and race/ethnicity were significantly higher among beneficiaries living in counties with a choice of plans (6.58 admissions per 1000 beneficiaries; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.57, 6.58) than among those in counties with no choice (6.27 per 1000; 95% CI = 6.27, 6.28). Conclusions. Potential benefits of health plan choice may be undermined by transaction costs of delayed enrollment, which may increase the probability of hospitalization for ambulatory care–sensitive conditions.
Association of Perceived Neighborhood Safety on Body Mass Index
Authors: Fish Jason S. , Ettner Susan , Ang Alfonso , Brown Arleen F. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We sought to determine whether there is an association between perceived neighborhood safety and body mass index (BMI), accounting for endogeneity. Methods. A random sample of 2255 adults from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey 2000–2001 was analyzed using instrumental variables. The main outcome was BMI using self-reported height and weight, and the main independent variable was residents’ report of their neighborhood safety. Results. In adjusted analyses, individuals who perceived their neighborhoods as unsafe had a BMI that was 2.81 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11, 5.52) higher than did those who perceived their neighborhoods as safe. Conclusions. Our results suggest that clinical and public health interventions aimed at reducing rates of obesity may be enhanced by strategies to modify the physical and social environment that incorporate residents’ perceptions of their communities.
Effects of Alcohol Tax and Price Policies on Morbidity and Mortality: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wagenaar Alexander C. , Tobler Amy L. , Komro Kelli A. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We systematically reviewed the effects of alcohol taxes and prices on alcohol-related morbidity and mortality to assess their public health impact. Methods. We searched 12 databases, along with articles’ reference lists, for studies providing estimates of the relationship between alcohol taxes and prices and measures of risky behavior or morbidity and mortality, then coded for effect sizes and numerous population and study characteristics. We combined independent estimates in random-effects models to obtain aggregate effect estimates. Results. We identified 50 articles, containing 340 estimates. Meta-estimates were r = −0.347 for alcohol-related disease and injury outcomes, −0.022 for violence, −0.048 for suicide, −0.112 for traffic crash outcomes, −0.055 for sexually transmitted diseases, −0.022 for other drug use, and −0.014 for crime and other misbehavior measures. All except suicide were statistically significant. Conclusions. Public policies affecting the price of alcoholic beverages have significant effects on alcohol-related disease and injury rates. Our results suggest that doubling the alcohol tax would reduce alcohol-related mortality by an average of 35%, traffic crash deaths by 11%, sexually transmitted disease by 6%, violence by 2%, and crime by 1.4%.
Impact of the Penalty Points System on Road Traffic Injuries in Spain: A Time–Series Study
Authors: Novoa Ana M. , Pérez Katherine , Santamariña-Rubio Elena , Marí-Dell'Olmo Marc , Ferrando Josep , Peiró Rosana , Tobías Aurelio , Zori Pilar , Borrell Carme 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We assessed the effectiveness of the penalty points system (PPS) introduced in Spain in July 2006 in reducing traffic injuries. Methods. We performed an evaluation study with an interrupted time–series design. We stratified dependent variables—numbers of drivers involved in injury collisions and people injured in traffic collisions in Spain from 2000 to 2007 (police data)—by age, injury severity, type of road user, road type, and time of collision, and analyzed variables separately by gender. The explanatory variable (the PPS) compared the postintervention period (July 2006 to December 2007) with the preintervention period (January 2000 to June 2006). We used quasi-Poisson regression, controlling for time trend and seasonality. Results. Among men, we observed a significant risk reduction in the postintervention period for seriously injured drivers (relative risk [RR] = 0.89) and seriously injured people (RR = 0.89). The RRs among women were 0.91 (P = .095) and 0.88 (P < .05), respectively. Risk reduction was greater among male drivers, moped riders, and on urban roads. Conclusions. The PPS was associated with reduced numbers of drivers involved in injury collisions and people injured by traffic collisions in Spain.
Using Geographic Information Systems and Local Food Store Data in California's Low-Income Neighborhoods to Inform Community Initiatives and Resources
Authors: Ghirardelli Alyssa , Quinn Valerie , Foerster Susan B. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We examined conditions in California low-income neighborhoods that affect obesity to inform program planning, nutrition education, community participation, investment of resources, and involvement of stakeholders. Methods. Staff members in 18 local health departments were trained to use an online geographic information system (GIS) and conduct field surveys. GIS data were aggregated from 68 low-income neighborhoods of 1 or more census tracts. Data were collected in 2007 to 2009 from 473 grocery stores in 62 neighborhoods. Results. Thirty-one percent of neighborhoods mapped had no supermarket within any of their census tract boundaries, but health department staff members estimated that 74.2% of residents had access to a large grocery store within 1 mile. Eighty-one percent of small markets sold produce, and 67.6% offered 4 or more types of fresh vegetables. Conclusions. Small markets and corner stores in California's low-income neighborhoods often have fresh produce available for sale. Stores providing healthy options in typically underserved areas can be part of community efforts to promote healthy eating behaviors.
Lessons Learned From Evaluations of California's Statewide School Nutrition Standards
Authors: Woodward-Lopez Gail , Gosliner Wendi , Samuels Sarah E. , Craypo Lisa , Kao Janice , Crawford Patricia B. 
Published: September 2010

Objectives. We assessed the impact of legislation that established nutrition standards for foods and beverages that compete with reimbursable school meals in California.Methods. We used documentation of available foods and beverages, sales accounts, and surveys of and interviews with students and food service workers to conduct 3 studies measuring pre- and postlegislation food and beverage availability, sales, and student consumption at 99 schools.Results. Availability of nutrition standard–compliant foods and beverages increased. Availability of noncompliant items decreased, with the biggest reductions in sodas and other sweetened beverages, regular chips, and candy. At-school consumption of some noncompliant foods dropped; at-home consumption of selected noncompliant foods did not increase. Food and beverage sales decreased at most venues, and food service à la carte revenue losses were usually offset by increased meal program participation. Increased food service expenditures outpaced revenue increases.Conclusions. Regulation of competitive foods improved school food environments and student nutritional intake. Improvements were modest, partly because many compliant items are fat- and sugar-modified products of low nutritional value. Additional policies and actions are needed to achieve more substantive improvements in school nutrition environments and student nutrition and health.
Setting Population Targets for Measuring Successful Obesity Prevention
Authors: Backholer Kathryn , Walls Helen L. , Magliano Dianna J. , Peeters Anna 
Published: September 2010

In 2008, The Council of Australian Governments set a target to increase by 5% the proportion of Australian adults at a healthy body weight by 2017, over a 2009 baseline. Target setting is a critical component of public health policy for obesity prevention; however, there is currently no context within which to choose such targets. We analyzed the changes in current weight gain that would be required to meet Australian targets. By using transition-based multistate life tables to project obesity prevalence, we found that meeting national healthy weight targets by 2017 will require a 75% reduction in current 5-year weight gain. A reliable model of future body weight prevalence is critical to set, evaluate, and monitor national obesity targets.
How Many Sonograms Are Needed to Reliably Predict the Absence of Fetal Overgrowth in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Pregnancies?
Authors: Schaefer-Graf Ute M. , Wendt Luise , Sacks David A. , Kilavuz Öemer , Gaber Bettina , Metzner Sabine , Vetter Klaus , Abou-Dakn Michael 
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE
Serial measurements of the fetal abdominal circumference have been used to guide metabolic management of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A reduction in the number of repeat ultrasound examinations would save resources. Our purpose was to determine the number of serial abdominal circumference measurements per patient necessary to reliably predict the absence of fetal overgrowth.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Women who had GDM were asked to return for repeat ultrasound at 3- to 4-week intervals starting at initiation of care (mean 26.9 ± 5.7 weeks). Maternal risk factors associated with fetal overgrowth were determined.

RESULTS
A total of 4,478 ultrasound examinations were performed on 1,914 subjects (2.3 ± 1.2 per pregnancy). Of the 518 women with fetal abdominal circumference &gt;90th percentile, it was diagnosed in 73.9% with the first ultrasound examination at entry and in 13.1% with the second ultrasound examination. Of the fetuses, 85.9 and 86.9% of the fetuses were born non-large for gestational age (LGA) when abdominal circumference was &lt;90th percentile at 24–27 weeks and 28–32 weeks, respectively, and 88.0% were born non-LGA when both scans showed normal growth. For those women who had no risk factors for fetal overgrowth (risk factors: BMI &gt;30 kg/m2, history of macrosomia, and fasting glucose &gt; 100 mg/dl), the accuracy of prediction of a non-LGA neonate was 90.0, 89.5, and 95.2%. The predictive ability did not increase with more than two normal scans.

CONCLUSIONS
The yield of sonographic diagnosis of a large fetus drops markedly after the finding of a fetal abdominal circumference &lt;90th percentile on two sonograms, which excludes with high reliability the risk of a LGA newborn. The ability was enhanced in women who had no risk factors for neonatal macrosomia.
Percolation thresholds in temperature dependence of electric conductivity of collagen films
Authors: Gauza Marlena , Kubisz Leszek 
Published: September 2010

Percolation thresholds in temperature dependence of electric conductivity of collagen films
Temperature measurement of electrical conductivity s were carried out from 395 to 543 K. The obtained dependence indicates an increase in s. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity allowed to observe the release of the free water, bound water and structural water. Studies on electric conductivity of collagen indicate the occurrence of percolation threshold, which comprises free release of water and change its properties from semiconducting to dielectric one.
Quality assurance and dosimetric analysis of intensity modulation radiotherapy using compensators for head and neck cancers
Authors: Tyagi Atul , Nangia Sapna , Chufal Kundan , Mishra Maninder , Ghosh Dhananjay , Supe Sanjay , Singh Man 
Published: September 2010

Quality assurance and dosimetric analysis of intensity modulation radiotherapy using compensators for head and neck cancers
In this study we describe our experience in implementing compensator based intensity modulated radiotherapy (cIMRT) for head and neck cancer with regard to pre treatment quality assurance (QA), dosimetric parameters and other technical detail.
This study represents the analysis of initial 48 patients who underwent cIMRT for head and neck cancers. All patients were treated with pre treatment QA in terms of point dose with ion chamber and spatial dose comparison with film dosimetry.
In our study for all 48 patients, compensators revealed a deviation in central axis dose of 2% ± 1.8% in terms of cumulative calculated versus measured dose. Target coverage for high dose volume (70 Gy) was adequate in terms of volume receiving 93% and 95% of the prescription dose, which was 98.5% and 97.5% respectively. Parotid and other critical organs were spared adequately. Contralateral parotid (CLP) was spared. V30 Gy and V35 Gy was 55.9% and 36.8% for CLP and average dose was 31.7 Gy. Median variation in cumulative measured dose versus cumulative calculated dose was 1.8% (SD + 1.8) and mean variation was 2.5% (95%CI 1.5, 2.6). Range was 0 to 7%.
cIMRT is practically feasible. Our QA tests revealed high degree of concordance between cumulative measured doses versus cumulative calculated doses. All dosimetric parameters were within acceptable limits. The manufacturing of compensator is cumbersome but it is a one time job followed by easy treatment delivery and simple QA procedure, high monitor unit (MU) efficiency and less treatment time. cIMRT is easy to implement and now can be applied to larger number of patients with different type of tumor.
Influence of exposure parameters on patient dose and image noise in computed tomography
Authors: Stoyanov Desislav , Vassileva Jenia 
Published: September 2010

Influence of exposure parameters on patient dose and image noise in computed tomography
This work presents the results of investigation of influence of main exposure parameters on the patient dose and image noise on five clinical computed tomography units. Patient dose was determined by means of the quantity CTDIair
free on air measured with pencil shaped ionization chamber. The image noise was estimated as a standard deviation of CT numbers in a 500 mm2 central region of interest in a water-equivalent phantom positioned in the centre of rotation. The alteration of tube voltage and tube current show the potential in patient dose reduction up to 40% but may deteriorate image quality and has to be carefully applied in order to optimize the clinical CT protocols taking into account the specific clinical task. This survey is essential for optimization of routine CT protocols especially for CT units without automatic exposure control systems, which are main part of CT units in Bulgaria.
Embodied Appraisals and Non-emotional States
Authors: Hvorecký Juraj 
Published: September 2010

Embodied Appraisals and Non-emotional StatesWe present the embodied appraisal theory of emotions and show how it handles a variety of intuitions we hold about affective states. While appreciating its integrative potential, we point out possible difficulties that it might face from further investigation of embodied non-emotional states. Following Darwin and his work on the expression of emotions, we suggest that some obviously non-emotional mental states comply with the criteria set by Prinz's theory. Therefore it is doubtful whether his definition of emotions is correct and whether perceptual approaches are useful in explicating the nature of emotion types.
Disgust and Intimacy
Authors: Bužeková Tatiana , Išová Monika 
Published: September 2010

Disgust and Intimacy
The aim of the paper is to present the results of preliminary research into the relation between disgust and intimacy. The authors apply current psychological conceptions of the emotions relating to social behaviour, primarily the theory of disgust associated with Paul Rozin, Jonathan Haidt and Clark McCauley. The research was conducted in a community of students living in student halls in Bratislava. The authors argue that social relationships may influence expressions of core disgust and the animal-nature disgust that is considered to be an earlier stage in the evolutionary development of this emotion. More specifically, people's representations of feelings of disgust towards elicitors linked to certain persons are conditioned by the social categories those persons belong to and the socio-cultural schemas distributed in the given environment.
Development of Fluvio-Lacustrine Systems in the Young Glacial Area in Poland Based on the Research in the Valleys of the Rivers Wierzyca and WDA
Authors: Błaszkiewicz Mirosław 
Published: September 2010

Development of Fluvio-Lacustrine Systems in the Young Glacial Area in Poland Based on the Research in the Valleys of the Rivers Wierzyca and WDA
Both rivers presented in the article, the Wierzyca River and the Wda River, flow along typical polygenic valleys in young glacial areas. Their valleys include a number of postglacial basins, mainly subglacial channels connected by gap sections. The course of fluvial processes in postglacial basins was determined by the Late Glacial melting and the development of lakes. In Holocene, on the lacustrine and delta deposits, which were filling up the lake basins, wide meander zones with meandering river beds developed. In Late Glacial erosive processes dominated at the gap sections, which ended up with the development of slide meanders. Since the beginning of Holocene, lateral erosion has been dominant due to stabilization of the river bed. This has lead to the widening of the floodplain. Despite this, along the major course of both valleys the width of the floodplains is insufficient for free development of river channels. This is the case of constrained meandering.
Evaluating the Parsęta Basin Communes' Tourist Space Using the Selected Quantification Methods
Authors: Domin Dominik , Kwiatkowski Grzegorz , Chodkowska-Miszczuk Justyna 
Published: September 2010

Evaluating the Parsęta Basin Communes' Tourist Space Using the Selected Quantification Methods
Identifying differences in the factors determining tourism development in an area is crucial to utilising its natural, economic and socio-cultural resources that enable sustainable development of the tourist function. This article sets out to present and estimate factors underlying tourism development in the context of various quantification methods and the comparisons of their results. The phenomenon selected for the research is evaluated using tools such as a synthetic measure Gołembski (2002) (based on weights assigned to particular features) and two synthetic measures Perkal (z-scores) (1953) and Zioło (1985).