bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants
Authors: Alvarez David A. , Cranor Walter L. , Perkins Stephanie D. , Schroeder Vickie L. , Iwanowicz Luke R. , Clark Randal C. , Guy Christopher P. , Pinkney Alfred E. , Blazer Vicki S. , Mullican John E. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
The seasonal occurrence of organic contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, entering the Potomac River, USA, watershed was investigated using a two-pronged approach during the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane device and polar organic chemical integrative sampler [POCIS]) were deployed in tandem at sites above and below wastewater treatment plant discharges within the watershed. Analysis of the samplers resulted in detection of 84 of 138 targeted chemicals. The agricultural pesticides atrazine and metolachlor had the greatest seasonal changes in water concentrations, with a 3.1- to 91-fold increase in the spring compared with the level in the previous fall. Coinciding with the elevated concentrations of atrazine in the spring were increasing concentrations of the atrazine degradation products desethylatrazine and desisopropylatrazine in the fall following spring and summer application of the parent compound. Other targeted chemicals (organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organic wastewater chemicals) did not indicate seasonal changes in occurrence or concentration; however, the overall concentrations and number of chemicals present were greater at the sites downstream of wastewater treatment plant discharges. Several fragrances and flame retardants were identified in these downstream sites, which are characteristic of wastewater effluent and human activities. The bioluminescent yeast estrogen screen in vitro assay of the POCIS extracts indicated the presence of chemicals that were capable of producing an estrogenic response at all sampling sites.
Early Childhood Poverty and Adult Body Mass Index
Authors: Ziol-Guest Kathleen M. , Duncan Greg J. , Kalil Ariel 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We estimated associations between poverty in early, middle, and later childhood and adult body mass index to further elucidate the effects of socioeconomic status on health. Methods. We conducted secondary analyses of data from men and women (N = 885) born between 1968 and 1975 who were tracked between their prenatal and birth years and adulthood in the nationally representative Panel Study of Income Dynamics. We used multivariate regression techniques and spline models to estimate the relationship between income in different stages of childhood and adult body mass index, overweight, and obesity. We controlled for other family characteristics, including income in other periods of childhood. Results. Mean annual family income in the prenatal and birth years for children whose annual family incomes averaged less than $25 000 was significantly associated with increased adult body mass index, but mean annual family income between 1 and 5 years of age and between 6 and 15 years of age was not. Conclusions. Our results indicated that economic conditions in the earliest period of life (during the prenatal and birth years) may play an important role in eventual anthropometric measures.
Motorcycle Helmet Laws in the United States From 1990 to 2005: Politics and Public Health
Authors: Homer Jenny , French Michael 
Published: December 2008

The passage of universal helmet legislation requiring motorcycle riders of all ages to wear helmets is a timely and controversial issue with far-reaching public health implications, especially as the number of motorcycle fatalities continues to rise. In 2008, only 20 states had a universal helmet policy, an effective safety measure for reducing motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries. We used state-specific longitudinal data for the continental United States from 1990 through 2005 to determine which industry, political, economic, and demographic factors had a significant influence on the enactment of universal helmet policies. Our findings suggest that political climate and ideology are important predictors of helmet policies.
The Role of Corporate Credibility in Legitimizing Disease Promotion
Authors: McDaniel Patricia A. , Malone Ruth E. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We explored what corporate “credibility” means to tobacco companies to determine why it matters to companies and what a lack of credibility means to them.Methods. We collected documents from an online tobacco industry document archive and analyzed them with an interpretive approach.Results. Tobacco companies conceptualized credibility not as being worthy of belief or confidence but as inspiring it. Thus, credibility was understood primarily as altering public perception of the industry. “Truth” was largely absent from tobacco industry conceptualizations of credibility, which were linked with “responsibility” and “reasonableness.” However, industry research found that the public regarded credibility and responsibility differently, expecting these to entail truth telling, advertising reductions, less harmful products, apologies for deception, making amends, or exiting the tobacco business altogether. Overall, industry credibility-building projects failed repeatedly.Conclusions. Public health discourse increasingly attends to the roles of corporations in promoting disease. Industries such as tobacco and alcohol have been identified as profiting from harmful products. Yet corporations' ability to continue business as usual requires sustaining an implicit societal assent to their activities that depends on corporate credibility. For public health to address corporate disease promotion effectively, undermining corporate credibility may be strategically important.
Food Insecurity and Risk of Poor Health Among US-Born Children of Immigrants
Authors: Chilton Mariana , Black Maureen M. , Berkowitz Carol , Casey Patrick H. , Cook John , Cutts Diana , Jacobs Ruth Rose , Heeren Timothy , de Cuba Stephanie Ettinger , Coleman Sharon , Meyers Alan , Frank Deborah A. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives. We investigated the risk of household food insecurity and reported fair or poor health among very young children who were US citizens and whose mothers were immigrants compared with those whose mothers had been born in the United States. Methods. Data were obtained from 19 275 mothers (7216 of whom were immigrants) who were interviewed in hospital-based settings between 1998 and 2005 as part of the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program. We examined whether food insecurity mediated the association between immigrant status and child health in relation to length of stay in the United States. Results. The risk of fair or poor health was higher among children of recent immigrants than among children of US-born mothers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02, 1.55; P < .03). Immigrant households were at higher risk of food insecurity than were households with US-born mothers. Newly arrived immigrants were at the highest risk of food insecurity (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 2.16, 2.77; P < .001). Overall, household food insecurity increased the risk of fair or poor child health (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.57, 1.93; P < .001) and mediated the association between immigrant status and poor child health. Conclusions. Children of immigrant mothers are at increased risk of fair or poor health and household food insecurity. Policy interventions addressing food insecurity in immigrant households may promote child health.
Decline in Physical Fitness From Childhood to Adulthood Associated With Increased Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Adults
Authors: Dwyer Terence , Magnussen Costan G. , Schmidt Michael D. , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Ponsonby Anne-Louise , Raitakari Olli T. , Zimmet Paul Z. , Blair Steven N. , Thomson Russell , Cleland Verity J. , Venn Alison 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE
To examine how fitness in both childhood and adulthood is associated with adult obesity and insulin resistance.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
A prospective cohort study set in Australia in 2004–2006 followed up a cohort of 647 adults who had participated in the Australian Schools Health and Fitness Survey in 1985 and who had undergone anthropometry and cardiorespiratory fitness assessment during the survey. Outcome measures were insulin resistance and obesity, defined as a homeostasis model assessment index above the 75th sex-specific percentile and BMI ≥30 kg/m2, respectively.

RESULTS
Lower levels of child cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with increased odds of adult obesity (adjusted odds ratio [OR] per unit decrease 3.0 [95% CI 1.6–5.6]) and insulin resistance (1.7 [1.1–2.6]). A decline in fitness level between childhood and adulthood was associated with increased obesity (4.5 [2.6–7.7]) and insulin resistance (2.1 [1.5–2.9]) per unit decline.

CONCLUSIONS
A decline in fitness from childhood to adulthood, and by inference a decline in physical activity, is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood. Programs aimed at maintaining high childhood physical activity levels into adulthood may have potential for reducing the burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults.
Population Intermediate Outcomes of Diabetes Under Pay-for-Performance Incentives in England From 2004 to 2008
Authors: Vaghela Pooja , Ashworth Mark , Schofield Peter , Gulliford Martin C. 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate diabetes outcomes under a national “pay-for-performance” program.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data were analyzed for 98% of all English family practices. For each practice, the proportion of diabetic subjects with A1C ≤7.5%, blood pressure ≤145/85 mmHg, and cholesterol ≤5 mmol/l was determined. Practices achieving less than the 25th centile for the A1C target for 2006–2007 were classified as low performing.
RESULTS—The proportion achieving the A1C target at the median practice increased from 59.1% (interquartile range [IQR] 51.7–65.9) in 2004–2005 to 66.7% (IQR 60.6–72.7) in 2007–2008, blood pressure from 70.9% in 2004–2005 to 80.2% in 2007–2008, and cholesterol from 72.6% in 2004–2005 to 83.6% in 2007–2008. In 2004–2005, 57% of practices were low performing (range by region 42.4–69.9). In 2007–2008, 26% of practices were low performing (range 11.6–37.5).
CONCLUSIONS—Introduction of pay-for-performance may be one factor contributing to increasing achievement of targets and reducing problems of low performance.
Weekly Pulsed Dye Laser Treatments for Port-Wine Birthmarks in Infants
Authors: Bajaj Shirin , Tao Joy , Hashemi David A. , Geronemus Roy G. 
Published: April 2024

ImportanceEarly treatment of port-wine birthmark (PWB) can be life-altering and is often associated with improved outcomes and quality of life. There is growing evidence that shorter treatment intervals may play a role in more rapid PWB clearance; however, the optimal treatment interval has not been established.ObjectiveTo describe the outcomes of once-weekly pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatments for PWB in infants.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis case series analyzed the medical records of patients with PWB who received once-weekly PDL treatments between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, at the Laser &amp;amp; Skin Surgery Center of New York. These patients were younger than 6 months. Before-and-after treatment photographs were independently assessed and graded 2 months after initiation of treatment.InterventionOnce-weekly PDL treatments.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was the percentage improvement of PWB, which was graded using the following scale: 0% (no improvement), 1% to 25% (mild improvement), 26% to 50% (moderate improvement), 51% to 75% (marked improvement), 76% to 95% (near-total clearance), and 96% to 100% (total clearance).ResultsOf the 10 patients (6 males [60%]; median [range] age at first treatment, 4 [&amp;lt;1 to 20] weeks) included, 7 (70%) had experienced either near-total clearance (76%-95%) or total clearance (96%-100%) of their PWB with once-weekly PDL treatments after 2 months. The other 3 patients all saw marked improvement (51%-75%) and subsequently went on to achieve near-total clearance with additional treatments. The median (range) duration of treatment and number of treatments to achieve near-total or total clearance in all patients were 2 (0.2-5.1) months and 8 (2-20) treatments, respectively. No adverse events were noted.Conclusion and RelevanceThis case series found that once-weekly PDL treatments for PWB in the first few months of life was associated with near-total or total clearance of PWB with no reported adverse events, suggesting improved outcomes can be achieved with shorter overall treatment duration. Further investigation into this novel decreased treatment interval of 1 week is warranted.
Laser and Light-Based Therapies for Hirsutism Management in Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Authors: Tan Katrina , Coster Thisara , Mousa Aya , Mar Adrian , Piltonen Terhi , Boyle Jacqueline A. , Teede Helena , Joham Anju , Romualdi Daniela , Tay Chau Thien 
Published: April 2024

ImportanceHirsutism represents a significant concern for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with deleterious psychological effects warranting acknowledgment and a clear imperative to provide effective management. To our knowledge, this is the first review to exclusively examine the effectiveness of laser and light-based therapies in addressing hirsutism in women with PCOS.ObjectiveTo synthesize the existing literature regarding the effectiveness of laser and light hair reduction therapies, either as stand-alone treatments or in combination with systemic agents, in treating hirsutism for women with PCOS.Evidence ReviewA systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, EMCARE, and CINAHL according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. Articles written in English, reporting on patients who met pre-established inclusion criteria were selected. Objective and subjectively measured outcomes relating to the effect of laser or light-based hair reduction therapies on hirsutism were abstracted. Heterogeneity among included studies precluded a meta-analysis, necessitating a narrative synthesis.FindingsSix studies reporting data on 423 individual patients with PCOS who underwent laser or light-based hair reduction therapies were included: 4 randomized clinical trials and 2 cohort studies. Alexandrite laser demonstrated significant improvements in hirsutism severity and psychological outcomes, particularly at high-fluence application. Alexandrite laser was also found to be more effective than intense pulsed light (IPL). The combination of diode laser with either metformin or combined oral contraceptive pill was superior to the application of diode laser alone, just as the addition of metformin to IPL demonstrated superior results to IPL treatment alone. Overall, most interventions were well tolerated. The overall certainty of evidence across all outcomes and comparisons was limited in part due to the observational nature of some studies.Conclusions and RelevanceThis systematic review highlights the potential of laser and light hair reduction therapies, both as stand-alone treatments and in combination with other pharmacological agents in PCOS. However, this review was limited by low certainty of the evidence, few studies evaluating effectiveness and safety in those with skin of color, and heterogeneity in outcome assessment. Future studies are needed to provide more robust evidence among diverse individuals with PCOS and hirsutism.
Examining Sex Differences in Autism Heritability
Authors: Sandin Sven , Yip Benjamin H. K. , Yin Weiyao , Weiss Lauren A. , Dougherty Joseph D. , Fass Stuart , Constantino John N. , Hailin Zhu , Turner Tychele N. , Marrus Natasha , Gutmann David H. , Sanders Stephan J. , Christoffersson Benjamin 
Published: April 2024

ImportanceAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder more prevalent in males than in females. The cause of ASD is largely genetic, but the association of genetics with the skewed sex ratio is not yet understood. To our knowledge, no large population-based study has provided estimates of heritability by sex.ObjectiveTo estimate the sex-specific heritability of ASD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis was a population-based, retrospective analysis using national health registers of nontwin siblings and cousins from Sweden born between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1998, with follow-up to 19 years of age. Data analysis occurred from August 2022 to November 2023.Main Outcomes and MeasuresModels were fitted to estimate the relative variance in risk for ASD occurrence owing to sex-specific additive genetics, shared environmental effects, and a common residual term. The residual term conceptually captured other factors that promote individual behavioral variation (eg, maternal effects, de novo variants, rare genetic variants not additively inherited, or gene-environment interactions). Estimates were adjusted for differences in prevalence due to birth year and maternal and paternal age by sex.ResultsThe sample included 1 047 649 individuals in 456 832 families (538 283 males [51.38%]; 509 366 females [48.62%]). Within the entire sample, 12 226 (1.17%) received a diagnosis of ASD, comprising 8128 (1.51%) males and 4098 (0.80%) females. ASD heritability was estimated at 87.0% (95% CI, 81.4%-92.6%) for males and 75.7% (95% CI, 68.4%-83.1%) for females with a difference in heritability estimated at 11.3% (95% CI, 1.0%-21.6%). There was no support for shared environmental contributions.Conclusions and RelevanceThese findings suggest that the degree of phenotypic variation attributable to genetic differences (heritability) differs between males and females, indicating that some of the underlying causes of the condition may differ between the 2 sexes. The skewed sex ratio in ASD may be partly explained by differences in genetic variance between the sexes.
Programmed Internal Reconfigurations in a 3D‐Printed Mechanical Metamaterial Enable Fluidic Control for a Vertically Stacked Valve Array
Authors: Supakar Tinku , Space David , Mejia Sophy , Tan Rou Yu , Alston Jeffrey R. , Josephs Eric A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMicrofluidic valves play a key role within microfluidic systems by regulating fluid flow through distinct microchannels, enabling many advanced applications in medical diagnostics, lab‐on‐chips, and laboratory automation. While microfluidic systems are often limited to planar structures, 3D printing enables new capabilities to generate complex designs for fluidic circuits with higher densities and integrated components. However, the control of fluids within 3D structures presents several difficulties, making it challenging to scale effectively and many fluidic devices are still often restricted to quasi‐planar structures. Incorporating mechanical metamaterials that exhibit spatially adjustable mechanical properties into microfluidic systems provides an opportunity to address these challenges. Here, systematic computational and experimental characterization of a modified re‐entrant honeycomb structure are performed to generate a modular metamaterial for an active device that allows us to directly regulate flow through integrated, multiplexed fluidic channels “one‐at‐a‐time,” in a manner that is highly scalable. A design algorithm is presented, so that this architecture can be extended to arbitrary geometries, and it is expected that by incorporation of mechanical metamaterial designs into 3D printed fluidic systems, which themselves are readily expandable to any complex geometries, will enable new biotechnological and biomedical applications of 3D printed devices.
Metabolic Control During Macrophage Polarization by a Citrate‐Functionalized Scaffold for Maintaining Bone Homeostasis
Authors: Wu Xiaopei , Xia Yuhao , Dai Honglian , Hong Chuhang , Zhao Yanan , Wei Wenying , Zheng Dian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMetabolites, as markers of phenotype at the molecular level, can regulate the function of DNA, RNA, and proteins through chemical modifications or interactions with large molecules. Citrate is an important metabolite that affects macrophage polarization and osteoporotic bone function. Therefore, a better understanding of the precise effect of citrate on macrophage polarization may provide an effective alternative strategy to reverse osteoporotic bone metabolism. In this study, a citrate functional scaffold to control the metabolic pathway during macrophage polarization based on the metabolic differences between pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory phenotypes for maintaining bone homeostasis, is fabricated. Mechanistically, only outside M1 macrophages are accumulated high concentrations of citrate, in contrast, M2 macrophages consume massive citrate. Therefore, citrate‐functionalized scaffolds exert more sensitive inhibitory effects on metabolic enzyme activity during M1 macrophage polarization than M2 macrophage polarization. Citrate can block glycolysis‐related enzymes by occupying the binding‐site and ensure sufficient metabolic flux in the TCA cycle, so as to turn the metabolism of macrophages to oxidative phosphorylation of M2 macrophage, largely maintaining bone homeostasis. These studies indicate that exogenous citrate can realize metabolic control of macrophage polarization for maintaining bone homeostasis in osteoporosis.
First‐Principles Investigations on Effects of B‐Site Substitution (B═Mn, Fe, and Co) on La‐Based Perovskite Oxides As Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Metal–Air Batteries
Authors: Somdee Siriwimol , Rittiruam Meena , Saelee Tinnakorn , Khajondetchairit Patcharaporn , Ektarawong Annop , Kheawhom Soorathep , Alling Björn , Praserthdam Piyasan , Praserthdam Supareak 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe effects of B‐site substitution (B═Mn, Fe, and Co) in La‐based perovskite oxides (LPOs); LaMnO3, LaFeO3, LaCoO3, as bifunctional electrocatalysts during oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in metal–air batteries (MABs) under an alkaline electrolyte (pH = 13) are investigated using density functional theory (DFT). It is found that LaMnO3 exhibits higher ORR activity than others with ORR overpotential (ηORR) of 0.57 V, but its OER activity is poor with OER overpotential (ηOER) of 1.12 V. The ηORR (0.59 V) and ηOER (1.13 V) of LaMn0.75Fe0.25O3 closely resemble those of LaMnO3, suggesting that Fe substitution does not yield appreciable enhancements in activity. Fe substitution reduces the ORR and OER activity because the adsorption energies of intermediate species on Fe‐substituted LPOs surfaces are too strong to obtain a potential determining step for ORR and OER. According to Sabatier's principle, the LaMn0.25Co0.75O3 demonstrates superior OER activity compared to the other composition, while ORR activity approximates that of LaMnO3, evidenced by ηORR of 0.65 V and ηOER of 0.53 V. The Co‐terminated LaMn0.25Co0.75O3 shows bifunctional activity higher than Mn/Co termination, indicating that Co is an active site for OER and Mn is a promoter for improved ORR activity.