bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of 1856 inpatients and 33 deaths in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University from the Wenchuan earthquake*
Authors: Xie Juan , Du Liang , Xia Tian , Wang Miye , Diao Xiang , Li Youping 
Published: November 2008

Abstract Objective To describe the 1861 injured inpatients and deaths in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University after the Wenchuan earthquake, to provide evidence to help improve emergency plans for earthquake, and the establishment of state‐level regional medical centers. Methods The analyses use, data provided by the Department of Information of the hospital up until 23 July 2008. Microsoft Excel for data input and SPSS 11.5 for statistical analysis were used. Results By 23 July, 2728 people from the disaster areas had been treated in the hospital, of whom 872 were admitted to the emergency department and 1856 to the inpatient department (974 men, median age 43 years; 882 women, median age 46 years). Most (82.4%) patients were sent to the hospital within the first two weeks after the earthquake, and the number of inpatients reached its peak on day 8 (976 cases). Most (60.2%) of the inpatients were discharged between day 9 and day 18. The injured patients came mainly from Deyang, Aba Prefecture and Dujiangyan. On admission, the diagnoses were mainly fracture (54.8%), craniocerebral injury (9.8%), and thoracoabdominal injury (7.5%). Thirty‐three patients died, including five who were dead on arrival at the hospital, one death in the emergency department, and 27 inpatient deaths. Conclusion The development of an emergency plan for medical rescue after an earthquake disaster is an essential step to enhance emergency response capability, to improve the scientific process of field triage, transport and transfer, and to ensure the rational allocation and application of healthcare resources after large disasters in the future.
Managerial leadership and ischaemic heart disease among employees: the Swedish WOLF study
Authors: Nyberg A , Alfredsson L , Theorell T , Westerlund H , Vahtera J , Kivimäki M 
Published: November 2008

Objective:To investigate the association between managerial leadership and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) among employees.Methods:Data on 3122 Swedish male employees were drawn from a prospective cohort study (WOLF). Baseline screening was carried out in 1992–1995. Managerial leadership behaviours (consideration for individual employees, provision of clarity in goals and role expectations, supplying information and feedback, ability to carry out changes at work successfully, and promotion of employee participation and control) were rated by subordinates. Records of employee hospital admissions with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina and deaths from IHD or cardiac arrest to the end of 2003 were used to ascertain IHD. Cox proportional-hazards analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios for incident IHD per 1 standard deviation increase in standardised leadership score.Results:74 incident IHD events occurred during the mean follow-up period of 9.7 years. Higher leadership score was associated with lower IHD risk. The inverse association was stronger the longer the participant had worked in the same workplace (age-adjusted hazard ratio 0.76 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.96) for employment for 1 year, 0.77 (0.61 to 0.97) for 2 years, 0.69 (0.54 to 0.88) for 3 years, and 0.61 (0.47 to 0.80) for 4 years); this association was robust to adjustments for education, social class, income, supervisory status, perceived physical load at work, smoking, physical exercise, BMI, blood pressure, lipids, fibrinogen and diabetes. The dose–response association between perceived leadership behaviours and IHD was also evident in subsidiary analyses with only acute myocardial infarction and cardiac death as the outcome.Conclusion:If the observed associations were causal then workplace interventions should focus on concrete managerial behaviours in order to prevent IHD in employees.
Associations between adult and childhood secondhand smoke exposures and fecundity and fetal loss among women who visited a cancer hospital
Authors: Peppone L J , Piazza K M , Mahoney M C , Morrow G R , Mustian K M , Palesh O G , Hyland A 
Published: November 2008

Background:A large percentage of the population continues to be exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS). Although studies have consistently linked active smoking to various pregnancy outcomes, results from the few studies examining SHS exposure and pregnancy difficulties have been inconsistent.Methods:Approximately 4800 women who presented to Roswell Park Cancer Institute between 1982 and 1998 and reported being pregnant at least once were queried about their childhood and adult exposures to SHS using a standardised questionnaire. Women were asked to report on selected prenatal pregnancy outcomes (fetal loss and difficulty becoming pregnant).Results:Approximately 11.3% of women reported difficulty becoming pregnant, while 32% reported a fetal loss or 12.4% reported multiple fetal losses. 40% reported any prenatal pregnancy difficulty (fetal loss and/or difficulty becoming pregnant). SHS exposures from their parents were associated with difficulty becoming pregnant (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.56) and lasting >1 year (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.60). Exposure to SHS in both at home during childhood and at the time of survey completion was also associated with fetal loss (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.66) and multiple fetal losses (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.11). Increasing current daily hours of SHS exposure as an adult was related to the occurrence of both multiple fetal loss and reduced fecundity (ptrend<0.05).Conclusions:Reports of exposures to SHS during childhood and as an adult were associated with increased odds for prenatal pregnancy difficulties. These findings underscore the public health perspective that all people, especially women in their reproductive years, should be fully protected from tobacco smoke.
RENEWAL AGING IN NON-HOMOGENEOUS POISSON PROCESSES WITH PERIODIC RATE MODULATION
Authors: PARADISI PAOLO , GRIGOLINI PAOLO , BIANCO SIMONE , AKIN OSMAN C. 
Published: November 2008

The statistical properties of sequences of Waiting Times generated by Non-Homogeneous Poisson Processes are investigated by means of Renewal Aging, i.e. a statistical analysis being able to detect the presence of genuine renewal events with non-Poisson statistics. The Renewal Aging features of two non-homogeneous Poisson models with different prescriptions of the rate modulation are compared. Both prescriptions are essentially periodic. In the first model, the rate is a totally deterministic and smooth harmonic function. In the second model, the rate modulation is deterministic and smooth almost everywhere, except in some singular points occurring with a periodicity affected by weak random fluctuations. The main parameter of both models is the modulation speed, defined as the ratio between the modulation period and the average Waiting Time. This allows to distinguish between slow, intermediate and fast modulation of the rate. As expected, in the very slow modulation case both models have a strongly reduced Renewal Aging, practically zero, because the analysis is affected by local clusters of Waiting Times with the same Poisson rate. In the intermediate range of modulation speeds, both models show non-zero Renewal Aging and the behavior of the two models tends to be more different as the modulation speed decreases. Going towards the fast modulation regime, the behavior of the two models becomes completely different from one another. Model I does not show a definite global Renewal Aging. On the time scale of the modulation period, local oscillations arise in the Probability Density Function and an apparent oscillating aging is also observed. However, this form of aging is not the manifestation of genuine renewal non-Poisson events, but it is related to the local oscillations. On the contrary, Model II displays Renewal Aging features in agreement with a homogeneous Renewal non-Poisson Process. It is argued that this is related to the singular points in the rate modulation of Model II, which, due to their random occurrence, could be identified with genuine critical non-Poisson events. The approach presented here could have interesting applications in problems involving dichotomous noise and, in particular, in the statistical characterization of ON–OFF fluorescence intermittency experimentally observed in complex systems, such as nano-crystals and single bio-molecules stimulated by laser fields.
MARKET STATISTICS OF A PSYCHOLOGY-BASED HETEROGENEOUS AGENT MODEL
Authors: LAMBA HARBIR , SEAMAN TIM 
Published: November 2008

We continue an investigation into a class of agent-based market models that are motivated by a psychologically-plausible form of bounded rationality. Some of the agents in an otherwise efficient hypothetical market are endowed with differing tolerances to the tension caused by being in the minority. This herding tendency may be due to purely psychological effects, momentum-trading strategies, or the rational response to perverse marketplace incentives. The resulting model has the important properties of being both very simple and insensitive to its small number of fundamental parameters. While it is most certainly a caricature market, with only boundedly rational traders and the globally available information stream being modeled directly, other market participants and effects are indirectly replicated. We show that all of the most important "stylized facts" of real market statistics are reproduced by this model. Another useful aspect of the model is that, for certain parameter values, it reduces to a standard efficient-market system. This allows us to isolate and observe the effects of particular kinds of non-rationality. To this end, we consider the effects of different asymmetries in agent behavior and show that one in particular leads to skew statistics consistent with those seen in some real financial markets.
SERIAL CORRELATION, PERIODICITY AND SCALING OF EIGENMODES IN AN EMERGING MARKET
Authors: WILCOX DIANE , GEBBIE TIM 
Published: November 2008

We investigate serial correlation, periodic, aperiodic and scaling behavior of eigenmodes, i.e., daily price fluctuation time-series derived from eigenvectors, of correlation matrices of shares listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from January 1993 to December 2002.Periodic, or calendar, components are detected by spectral analysis. We find that calendar effects are limited to eigenmodes which correspond to eigenvalues outside the Wishart range. Using a variance ratio test, we uncover serial correlation in the first eigenmodes and find slight negative serial correlation for eigenmodes within the Wishart range. Our spectral analysis and variance ratio investigations suggest that interpolating missing data or illiquid trading days with zero-order hold introduces high frequency noise and spurious serial correlation. Aperiodic and scaling behavior of the eigenmodes are investigated by using rescaled-range (R/S) methods and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). We find that DFA and classic and modified R/S exponents suggest the presence of long-term memory effects in the first five eigenmodes.
Influence of maternal nicotine exposure on neonatal rat oxidant–antioxidant system and effect of ascorbic acid supplementation
Authors: Gunes T , Koklu E , Gunes I , Narin F , Koklu SS 
Published: November 2008

There have been a few studies that examined the oxidative stress effects of nicotine during pregnancy and lactation. We aimed to determine the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation on oxidant–antioxidant system, and to determine a protective effect of ascorbic acid (Asc). Gravid rats were assigned into four groups. In Group 1, pregnant rats received 6-mg/kg/day nicotine subcutaneously during pregnancy from 1 to 21 days of gestation and lactation (until postnatal day 21). Group 2 received nicotine and Asc for the same period. In Group 3, the rats received nicotine during lactation. Control pregnant rats (Group 4) received only saline subcutaneously. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were determined at 21 days of age. Nicotine exposure decreased birth weight and pregnancy weight gain. MDA values of the rat pups exposed to nicotine in both Groups 1 and 2 were higher than those of control and Group 3. SOD and MPO values of the groups were similar. Mean birth weight and serum MDA levels of Groups 1 and 2 were similar. Nicotine exposure via placental transfer increases oxidative stress as manifested by an increase in MDA level. Asc supplementation does not prevent the adverse effects of maternal nicotine exposure.
Effect of thioperamide on oxidative stress markers in middle cerebral artery occlusion model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats
Authors: Akhtar M , Pillai KK , Vohora D 
Published: November 2008

In view of the recent evidence for the involvement of histamine in cerebral ischemia, the present study evaluated the effect of thioperamide (THP), a selective histamine H3-receptor antagonist, on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats. The rats were subjected to 2 h of MCAO followed by 22 h reperfusion after which the grip strength, locomotor activity and spontaneous alternation performance were assessed. Animals were then killed and oxidative stress markers were estimated in the whole brain. An elevation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and a reduction in glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), was observed following MCAO, the last two being statistically insignificant. Pretreatment with THP (5.5 mg/kg i.p. and 11 mg/kg i.p.) significantly reversed the MCAO-induced increase in TBARS, but could not reverse the other parameters. Paradoxically, it further reduced the levels of GPx, GR and SOD. No significant changes were observed in the catalase levels and in the grip strength and spontaneous alternation behavior of rats. Locomotor activity was reduced slightly, but reversed on pretreatment with THP. The dual effect of THP on oxidative stress requires further investigation and raises doubts on its possible use in cerebral ischemia.
Toxicological evaluation of the immune function of pesticide workers, a European wide assessment
Authors: Steerenberg P , van Amelsvoort L , Colosio C , Corsini E , Fustinoni S , Vergieva T , Zaikov C , Pennanen S , Liesivuori J , Van Loveren H 
Published: November 2008

In this study, the prolonged low-dose exposure of mixtures of pesticides has been examined on hematological parameters and components of the immune defense in occupationally exposed humans. This investigation was carried out in five field studies in: the Netherlands (flower bulb growers, mainly re-entry workers), Italy (vineyard workers), Finland (potato farmers), and Bulgaria (workers from a zineb factory and greenhouse workers). Immunotoxicity was studied by measuring hematological parameters, complement, immunoglobulins, lymphocyte subpopulations, natural killer cells, autoimmunity, and antibody responses to hepatitis B vaccination. The total study population consisted of 248 pesticide-exposed and 231 non-occupationally exposed workers. As a surrogate measure of pesticide exposure the urinary excretion of ethylenethiourea (ETU), the main metabolite ethylenebisdithiocarbamates was measured. A significantly higher level of ETU in occupationally exposed subjects compared with controls (2.7 ± 8.1 μg/g vs 0.5 ± 3.7 μg/g creatinine) was found. Statistically significant differences, albeit very low, were found for complement C3 and C4 and the immunoglobulin classes IgG4 and IgA. For complement and IgG4, the levels were slightly increased and the level of IgA was decreased. In the lymphocyte populations, the CD8 subpopulation was increased. No effects were found on autoimmune antibodies and antibody response to hepatitis vaccination. In conclusion, pesticide exposure under various work place conditions in Europe was associated only with some subtle effects on the immune system, which may suggest that occupational exposure to pesticides does not influence the immunologic system in a clinically significant fashion, and does not pose a significant health risk to the exposed subjects.
Chloroform deposition in renal cyst fluid of hemodialysis patients with renal cystic disorders
Authors: Ito F , Nakazawa H , Ohsaka Y , Yagisawa T , Kondo T , Hashimoto Y 
Published: November 2008

Chronic exposure to chloroform (CHCl3) induces renal neoplasms in rodents and may be carcinogenic in humans, but studies on chronic CHCl3 deposition in the human body have not been performed. In this study, we examined 27 hemodialysis patients with renal cystic diseases including acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK) accompanied by renal tumors at high frequency. Intracystic and serum CHCl3 concentrations were determined using a headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. CHCl3 was not detected in the serum in any cases, but levels ranging from <0.1 to 0.659 mg/L were found in the cyst fluid in most cases, including patients with ACDK and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Because intracystic CHCl3 deposition was not confined to ACDK cases, we were unable to evaluate the relationship between CHCl3 accumulation and carcinogenesis in ACDK. However, our results suggest that compounds such as CHCl3 accumulate in renal cyst fluid in hemodialysis patients with renal cystic diseases.
Occupational exposure to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates in agriculture and allergy: results from the EUROPIT field study
Authors: Swaen GMH , van Amelsvoort LGPM , Boers D , Corsini E , Fustinoni S , Vergieva T , Bosetti C , Pennanen S , Liesivuori J , Colosio C , van Loveren H 
Published: November 2008

This epidemiological study was carried out to evaluate the possible association between occupational exposure to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EDBC) and allergy. The study was conducted in four countries in the European Union: The Netherlands, Finland, Italy and Bulgaria. A total of 248 workers exposed to EDBC and 231 non-occupationally exposed subjects entered the study. Exposure to EDBC was measured as urinary ethylenethiourea (ETU) in urinary samples collected at baseline and after 30 days of exposure. Several effect parameters were evaluated including questionnaire data on allergy, Phadiatop, a general allergy test, and specific IgE parameters. These data were also collected at baseline and after 30 days of exposure. Cross-sectional as well as longitudinal comparisons were made, adjusted for potential confounding factors. No association was found between exposure status, EDBC levels and allergic contact dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, food allergy or atopy as measured by the Phadiatop. The prevalence of skin irritation was elevated in the Dutch field study only and is more likely a result of plant contact rather than EDBC exposure. Occupational exposure to sunlight was noted to have a protective effect on atopy in terms of IgE positivity. We conclude that the EDBC exposure levels experienced in our field study are not associated with increased prevalence of allergic symptoms or allergy.
Pathological effects of sodium hypochlorite administration through drinking water in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)
Authors: Khan A , Ullah M , Khan MZ 
Published: November 2008

Fifty male Japanese quails of 40 days of age were divided into five equal groups viz. A, B, C, D, and E. Drinking water supplemented with sodium hypochlorite at dose level of 0, 25, 50, 200, and 400 mg chlorine/L, respectively was offered for 6 weeks. At the end of week 6 when no clinical signs of toxicity of sodium hypochlorite appeared, the birds in groups B and C were shifted to 100 mg chlorine/L drinking water, and this level was increased fourfold (400, 1600, 6400 mg chlorine/L drinking water) every week, till i.e., 10th week (70 day). Afterwards all the birds were killed. Depression and anorexia were prominent clinical signs observed. Reduction in feed intake, body weight, and hematological parameters appeared in a dose-dependant manner. Decreased serum total proteins and weights of liver, heart, and kidneys were recorded in birds receiving high levels of sodium hypochlorite. Intoxicated birds were emaciated. Decreased weight and volume of the testes were observed in birds receiving high levels of sodium hypochlorite. However, birds receiving 400 mg chlorine (group E) had smaller but functional testes. Birds receiving higher level of chlorine (groups B and C) had decreased weight and volume of testes, atrophied seminiferous tubules, and arrested spermatogenesis. It was concluded that sodium hypochlorite at high levels, that is, 6400 mg/L in drinking water is toxic to the quails; therefore, it should be used with caution in poultry farming as drinking water disinfectant.
Biological monitoring and questionnaire for assessing exposure to ethylenebisdithiocarbamates in a multicenter European field study
Authors: Fustinoni S , Campo L , Liesivuori J , Pennanen S , Vergieva T , van Amelsvoort LGPM , Bosetti C , Van Loveren H , Colosio C 
Published: November 2008

This study deals with pesticide exposure profile in some European countries with a specific focus on ethylenebisdithiocarbamates (EBDC). In all, 55 Bulgarian greenhouse workers, 51 Finnish potato farmers, 48 Italian vineyard workers, 42 Dutch floriculture farmers, and 52 Bulgarian zineb producers entered the study. Each group was matched with a group of not occupationally exposed subjects. Exposure data were gained through self-administered questionnaires and measuring ethylenethiourea (ETU) in two spot urine samples collected, respectively, before the beginning of seasonal exposure (T0), and after 30 days, at the end of the exposure period (T30). Controls underwent a similar protocol. Study agriculture workers were involved in mixing and loading pesticides, application of pesticide mixture with mechanical or manual equipments, re-entry activities, and cleaning equipments. Chemical workers were involved in synthesis, quality controls, and packing activities. The number of pesticides to whom these subjects were exposed varied from one (zineb production) to eight (potato farmers). The use of personal protective devices was variegate and regarded both aerial and dermal penetration routes. EBDC exposure, assessed by T30 urinary ETU, was found to follow the order: greenhouse workers, zineb producers, vineyard workers, potato farmers, floriculture farmers with median levels of 49.6, 23.0, 11.8, 7.5, and 0.9 μg/g creatinine; the last group having ETU at the same level of controls (~0.5 μg/g creatinine). Among agriculture workers, pesticide application, especially using manual equipment, seems to be the major determinant in explaining internal dose. Although the analysis of self-administered questionnaires evidenced difficulties especially related to lack and/or poor quality of reported data, biological monitoring confirms to be a powerful tool in assessing pesticide exposure.