bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship of respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions to the southern California wildfires of 2003
Authors: Delfino R J , Brummel S , Wu J , Stern H , Ostro B , Lipsett M , Winer A , Street D H , Zhang L , Tjoa T , Gillen D L 
Published: November 2008

Objective:There is limited information on the public health impact of wildfires. The relationship of cardiorespiratory hospital admissions (n = 40 856) to wildfire-related particulate matter (PM2.5) during catastrophic wildfires in southern California in October 2003 was evaluated.Methods:Zip code level PM2.5concentrations were estimated using spatial interpolations from measured PM2.5, light extinction, meteorological conditions, and smoke information from MODIS satellite images at 250 m resolution. Generalised estimating equations for Poisson data were used to assess the relationship between daily admissions and PM2.5, adjusted for weather, fungal spores (associated with asthma), weekend, zip code-level population and sociodemographics.Results:Associations of 2-day average PM2.5with respiratory admissions were stronger during than before or after the fires. Average increases of 70 μg/m3PM2.5during heavy smoke conditions compared with PM2.5in the pre-wildfire period were associated with 34% increases in asthma admissions. The strongest wildfire-related PM2.5associations were for people ages 65–99 years (10.1% increase per 10 μg/m3PM2.5, 95% CI 3.0% to 17.8%) and ages 0–4 years (8.3%, 95% CI 2.2% to 14.9%) followed by ages 20–64 years (4.1%, 95% CI −0.5% to 9.0%). There were no PM2.5–asthma associations in children ages 5–18 years, although their admission rates significantly increased after the fires. Per 10 μg/m3wildfire-related PM2.5, acute bronchitis admissions across all ages increased by 9.6% (95% CI 1.8% to 17.9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admissions for ages 20–64 years by 6.9% (95% CI 0.9% to 13.1%), and pneumonia admissions for ages 5–18 years by 6.4% (95% CI −1.0% to 14.2%). Acute bronchitis and pneumonia admissions also increased after the fires. There was limited evidence of a small impact of wildfire-related PM2.5on cardiovascular admissions.Conclusions:Wildfire-related PM2.5led to increased respiratory hospital admissions, especially asthma, suggesting that better preventive measures are required to reduce morbidity among vulnerable populations.
Urinary naphthalene and phenanthrene as biomarkers of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Sobus J R , Waidyanatha S , McClean M D , Herrick R F , Smith T J , Garshick E , Laden F , Hart J E , Zheng Y , Rappaport S M 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:The study investigated the utility of unmetabolised naphthalene (Nap) and phenanthrene (Phe) in urine as surrogates for exposures to mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).Methods:The report included workers exposed to diesel exhausts (low PAH exposure level, n = 39) as well as those exposed to emissions from asphalt (medium PAH exposure level, n = 26) and coke ovens (high PAH exposure level, n = 28). Levels of Nap and Phe were measured in urine from each subject using head space-solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Published levels of airborne Nap, Phe and other PAHs in the coke-producing and aluminium industries were also investigated.Results:In post-shift urine, the highest estimated geometric mean concentrations of Nap and Phe were observed in coke-oven workers (Nap: 2490 ng/l; Phe: 975 ng/l), followed by asphalt workers (Nap: 71.5 ng/l; Phe: 54.3 ng/l), and by diesel-exposed workers (Nap: 17.7 ng/l; Phe: 3.60 ng/l). After subtracting logged background levels of Nap and Phe from the logged post-shift levels of these PAHs in urine, the resulting values (referred to as ln(adjNap) and ln(adjPhe), respectively) were significantly correlated in each group of workers (0.71⩽ Pearson r⩽0.89), suggesting a common exposure source in each case. Surprisingly, multiple linear regression analysis of ln(adjNap) on ln(adjPhe) showed no significant effect of the source of exposure (coke ovens, asphalt and diesel exhaust) and further suggested that the ratio of urinary Nap/Phe (in natural scale) decreased with increasing exposure levels. These results were corroborated with published data for airborne Nap and Phe in the coke-producing and aluminium industries. The published air measurements also indicated that Nap and Phe levels were proportional to the levels of all combined PAHs in those industries.Conclusion:Levels of Nap and Phe in urine reflect airborne exposures to these compounds and are promising surrogates for occupational exposures to PAH mixtures.
Compensation patterns for healthcare workers in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Alamgir H , Siow S , Yu S , Ngan K , Guzman J 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:This report examines relationships between the acceptance of compensation claims, and employee and workplace characteristics for healthcare workers in British Columbia, Canada to determine suitability of using only accepted claims for occupational epidemiology research.Methods:A retrospective cohort of full-time healthcare workers was constructed from an active incident surveillance database. Incidents filed for compensation over a 1-year period were examined for initial claim decision within a 6-month window relative to sub-sector of employment, age, sex, seniority, occupation of workers, and injury category. Compensation costs and duration of time lost for initially accepted claims were also investigated. Multiple logistic regression models with generalised estimating equations (GEEs) were used to calculate adjusted relative odds (ARO) of claims decision accounting for confounding factors and clustering effects.Results:Employees of three health regions in British Columbia filed 2274 work-related claims in a year, of which 1863 (82%) were initially accepted for compensation. Proportion of claims accepted was lowest in community care (79%) and corporate office settings (79%) and highest in long-term care settings (86%). Overall, 46% of claims resulting fromallergy/irritationwere accepted, in contrast to 98% acceptance of claims fromcutsandpuncture wounds. Licensed practical nurses had the lowest odds of claims not accepted compared with registered nurses (ARO (95% CI)  =  0.55 (0.33 to 0.91)), whereas management/administrative staff had the highest odds (ARO  =  2.91 (1.25 to 6.79)) of claims not accepted. A trend was observed with higher seniority of workers associated with lower odds of non-acceptance of claims.Conclusions:Analysis from British Columbia’s healthcare sector suggests variation in workers’ compensation acceptance exists across sub-sectors, occupations, seniority of workers, and injury categories. The patterns observed, however, were independent of age and sex of workers. Results suggest that when using workers’ compensation datasets, local adjudication regulations and factors associated with acceptance of claims should be taken into consideration.
Correlation between co-exposures to noise and air pollution from traffic sources
Authors: Davies H W , Vlaanderen J J , Henderson S B , Brauer M 
Published: November 2008

Background:Both air and noise pollution associated with motor vehicle traffic have been associated with cardiovascular disease. Similarities in pollution source and health outcome mean that there is potential for noise to confound studies of air pollution and cardiovascular disease, and vice versa, or for more complex interactions to occur.Methods:The correlations between 2-week average roadside concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) and short term average noise levels (Leq,5min) for 103 urban sites with varying traffic, environment and infrastructure characteristics were examined.Results:The Pearson correlation coefficient for Leq,5minand NO2was 0.53, and for Leq,5minand NOX, 0.64. Factors influencing the degree of correlation were number of lanes on the closest road, number of cars or trucks during noise sampling and presence of a major intersection.Conclusions:We recommend measurement of both pollutants in future studies of traffic-related pollution and cardiovascular disease to allow for more sophisticated analysis of this relationship.
CLUSTERING-BASED, LOAD BALANCED SOURCE SELECTION FOR CBIR IN P2P NETWORKS
Authors: EISENHARDT MARTIN , MÜLLER WOLFGANG , BLANK DANIEL , EL ALLALI SOUFYANE , HENRICH ANDREAS 
Published: November 2008

In peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, computers with equal rights form a logical (overlay) network in order to provide a common service that lies beyond the capacity of every single participant. Efficient similarity search is generally recognized as a frontier in research about P2P systems. One way to address this issue is using data source selection based approaches where peers summarize the data they contribute to the network, generating typically one summary per peer. When processing queries, these summaries are used to choose the peers (data sources) that are most likely to contribute to the query result. Only those data sources are contacted. There are several contributions of this article. We extend earlier work, adding a data source selection method for high-dimensional vector data, comparing different peer ranking schemes. Furthermore, we present two methods that use progressive stepwise data exchange between peers to better each peer's summary and therefore improve the system's performance. We finally examine the effect of these data exchange methods with respect to load balancing.
Fledføring – elder care and the protection of the interests of heirs in Danish medieval laws
Authors: Vogt Helle 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe Danish fledføring is a legal term referring to an institution which combined assistance to persons who, because of old age, illness or otherwise, were no longer able to provide for their own support, and the protection of their heirs' interests. During formal proceedings before the local court, the person in need would offer himself and all his property to his heirs, who would in return offer him food and shelter. The institution did not only entail material consequences regarding the property and the duty of maintenance, it also affected the legal status of the fledførte person, who lost all his personal rights and was placed under the guardianship of his heirs. Traditionally, the fledføring has been presented as an ancient form of care for the elderly. That view, however, should be questioned, for, arguably, the institution was more concerned about determining who was entitled in law to land and other property than about the care of those in need.
Bibliotheca frisica juridica II Bio-bibliografische notities over enkele weinig bekende Friese juristen
Authors: Feenstra R. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Bibliotheca Frisica juridica II, Bio-bibliographical notes on some little known Frisian jurists. – Second part of a series on some early Frisian jurists who have left printed editions of their works (for the first part see TR 75 (2007), p. 125–137. The present contribution deals with: Joachimus Hopperus (1523–1576), professor in Louvain, judge in the Grote Raad (Malines), member of the Privy Council (Brussels) and Philip II's secretary for the affairs of the Netherlands (Madrid); Regnerus Sixtinus (1543–1617), professor in Marburg and member of the Privy Council of the Count of Nassau (Kassel); Ausonius Popma (ca. 1553–1621), private scholar in IJlst; Tiallingius ab Eijssingha (van Eysinga; 1562–1603), grietman of Menaldumadeel; Thomas Herbaius (ca. 1570–1613), Attorney-General at the Hof van Friesland; Sibrandus Siccama (1571–1622), syndic of the city of Bolsward.
Near-Surface Shear Flow in the Tropical Pacific Cold Tongue Front*
Authors: Cronin Meghan F. , Kessler William S. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
Near-surface shear in the Pacific cold tongue front at 2°N, 140°W was measured using a set of five moored current meters between 5 and 25 m for nine months during 2004–05. Mean near-surface currents were strongly westward and only weakly northward (∼3 cm s−1). Mean near-surface shear was primarily westward and, thus, oriented to the left of the southeasterly trades. When the southwestward geostrophic shear was subtracted from the observed shear, the residual ageostrophic currents relative to 25 m were northward and had an Ekman-like spiral, in qualitative agreement with an Ekman model modified for regions with a vertically uniform front. According to this “frontal Ekman” model, the ageostrophic Ekman spiral is forced by the portion of the wind stress that is not balanced by the surface geostrophic shear. Analysis of a composite tropical instability wave (TIW) confirms that ageostrophic shear is minimized when winds blow along the front, and strengthens when winds blow oblique to the front. Furthermore, the magnitude of the near-surface shear, both in the TIW and diurnal composites, was sensitive to near-surface stratification and mixing. A diurnal jet was observed that was on average 12 cm s−1 stronger at 5 m than at 25 m, even though daytime stratification was weak. The resulting Richardson number indicates that turbulent viscosity is larger at night than daytime and decreases with depth. A “generalized Ekman” model is also developed that assumes that viscosity becomes zero below a defined frictional layer. The generalized model reproduces many of the features of the observed mean shear and is valid both in frontal regions and at the equator.
A New Apparatus for Monitoring Sea Ice Thickness Based on the Magnetostrictive-Delay-Line Principle
Authors: Lei Ruibo , Li Zhijun , Cheng Yanfeng , Wang Xin , Chen Yao 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
High-precision ice thickness observations are required to gain a better understanding of ocean–ice–atmosphere interactions and to validate numerical sea ice models. A new apparatus for monitoring sea ice and snow thickness has been developed, based on the magnetostrictive-delay-line (MDL) principle for positioning sensors. This system is suited for monitoring fixed measurement sites on undeformed ice. The apparatus presented herein has been tested on landfast ice near Zhongshan Station, East Antarctica, for about 6 months during the austral autumn and winter of 2006; valid data records from the deployment are available for more than 90% of the deployment’s duration. The apparatus’s precision has been estimated to be ±0.002 m for the deployment. Therefore, it is possible that this apparatus may become a standard for sea ice/snow thickness monitoring.
An Example of the Use of Mobile, Doppler Radar Data for Tornado Verification
Authors: French Michael M. , Bluestein Howard B. , Wicker Louis J. , Dowell David C. , Kramar Matthew R. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract
On 16 May 2003, two ground-based, mobile, Doppler radars scanned a potentially tornadic supercell in the Texas Panhandle intermittently from ∼0200 to 0330 UTC. The storm likely was tornadic, but because it was dark, visual confirmation of any tornadoes was not possible. A damage survey was completed after the storm moved through the area. The final conclusion of the damage survey prior to this analysis was that there were two tornadoes near Shamrock, Texas: one that formed prior to 0300 UTC and one that formed at or after 0300 UTC. High-resolution, mobile, Doppler radar data of the supercell were compared with the damage survey information at different times. The location of the first tornado damage path was not consistent with the locations of the low-level circulations in the supercell identified through the mobile, Doppler radar data. The damage within the first path, which consisted mostly of downed trees, may have been caused by straight-line winds in a squall line that moved through the area after the passage of the supercell. The mobile, Doppler radar data did not provide any supporting evidence for the first tornado, but the data did support the existence of the second tornado in Wheeler County on the evening of 15 May 2003. Ground-based, mobile, Doppler radar data may be used as an important tool to help to confirm (or deny) tornado damage reports in situations in which a damage survey cannot be completed or in which the survey does not provide clear evidence as to what phenomenon caused the damage.
Structural Equation Modeling for High School Principals' Data-Driven Decision Making: An Analysis of Information Use Environments
Authors: Mingchu Luo  
Published: November 2008

Background: Accountability demands are increasingly pushing school leaders to explore more data and do more sophisticated analyses. Data-driven decision making (DDDM) has become an emerging field of practice for school leadership and a central focus of education policy and practice. Purpose: This study examined principals' DDDM practices and identified the factors influencing DDDM using the theoretical frame of information use environments. Participants: Participants were 183 public high school principals in a Midwestern state. Research Design: The research design was cross-sectional survey research. Data Collection and Analysis: Survey instruments were developed and administered to principals. Structural equation modeling was conducted to determine what factors significantly affect principals' DDDM practices in different leadership dimensions. Findings: Principals used data more frequently in instructional and organization operational leadership than in the leadership dimensions of school vision and collaborative partnerships. Different contextual factors affected data use in different leadership dimensions. Human-related factors such as perceptions of data quality and data analysis skills seemed to have direct effects on data use in addressing administrative problems in instruction and organizational operation, in which data were used frequently. Organization-related factors such as school district requirement and accessibility of data tended to have more direct influence on data use in the leadership dimensions of school vision and collaborative partnerships, where data were used less often. Conclusions: This study supports the proposition that as information behavior, DDDM is situational, multidimensional, and dynamic. Results provide insights into practice, research, and theoretical foundation for the emerging topic of DDDM.
Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) induces cytotoxicity of T-helper cells
Authors: Figueiredo Constança , Wittmann Miriam , Wang Dong , Dressel Ralf , Seltsam Axel , Blasczyk Rainer , Eiz-Vesper Britta 
Published: November 2008

AbstractHeat shock protein 70 (HSP70) has gained plenty of attention because of its adjuvant capability to induce CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte and CD4+ T-helper cell responses. We investigated the behavior of T-cell subsets stimulated with endotoxin-free HSP70 with respect to proliferation, cytokine expression, cytotoxicity against allogeneic B-lymphoblastoid cell line and K562 cells, as well as target-independent cytotoxicity. CD4+ cells exhibited a strong increase in proliferation after stimulation with HSP70 (29%). In the presence of targets, a 35-fold up-regulation of granzyme B was observed after stimulation of CD4+ T cells with HSP70 in combination with interleukin-7 (IL-7)/IL-12/IL-15. The target cell-independent secretion of granzyme B by CD4+ cells was greatly augmented after stimulation with HSP70 plus IL-2 or IL-7/IL-12/IL-15. In this study, we showed that HSP70 is capable of inducing a cytotoxic response of T-helper cells in the absence of lipopolysaccharide. The granzyme B secretion and cytolytic activity of T-helper cells are induced in a target-independent way, whereas the cytotoxic activity of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells can be further enhanced in the presence of target cells. Our data provide novel insights into the role of extracellular HSP70 on T-cell immune response concerning the induction of target-independent T-helper cell cytotoxicity.
Study protocol. A prospective cohort study of unselected primiparous women: the pregnancy outcome prediction study
Authors: Pasupathy Dharmintra , Dacey Alison , Cook Emma , Charnock-Jones D Stephen , White Ian R , Smith Gordon CS 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackgroundThere have been dramatic changes in the approach to screening for aneuploidy over the last 20 years. However, the approach to screening for other complications of pregnancy such as intra-uterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia and stillbirth remains largely unchanged. Randomised controlled trials of routine application of high tech screening methods to the general population have generally failed to show improvement in outcome. We have previously reviewed this and concluded it was due, in large part, to poor performance of screening tests. Here, we report a study design where the primary aim is to generate clinically useful methods to screen women to assess their risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.Methods/designWe report the design of a prospective cohort study of unselected primiparous women recruited at the time of their first ultrasound scan. Participation involves serial phlebotomy and obstetric ultrasound at the dating ultrasound scan (typically 10–14 weeks), 20 weeks, 28 weeks and 36 weeks gestation. In addition, maternal demographic details are obtained; maternal and paternal height are measured and maternal weight is serially measured during the pregnancy; maternal, paternal and offspring DNA are collected; and, samples of placenta and membranes are collected at birth. Data will be analysed as a prospective cohort study, a case-cohort study, and a nested case-control study.DiscussionThe study is expected to provide a resource for the identification of novel biomarkers for adverse pregnancy outcome and to evaluate the performance of biomarkers and serial ultrasonography in providing clinically useful prediction of risk.
A comprehensive joint replacement program for total knee arthroplasty: a descriptive study
Authors: Cook Jon R , Warren Meghan , Ganley Kathleen J , Prefontaine Paul , Wylie Jack W 
Published: November 2008

Abstract

Background
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a commonly performed surgical procedure in the US. It is important to have a comprehensive inpatient TKA program which maximizes outcomes while minimizing adverse events. The purpose of this study was to describe a TKA program – the Joint Replacement Program (JRP) – and report post-surgical outcomes.

Methods
74 candidates for a primary TKA were enrolled in the JRP. The JRP was designed to minimize complications and optimize patient-centered outcomes using a team approach including the patient, patient's family, and a multidisciplinary team of health professionals. The JRP consisted of a pre-operative class, standard pathways for medical care, comprehensive peri-operative pain management, aggressive physical therapy (PT), and proactive discharge planning. Measures included functional tests, knee range of motion (ROM), and medical record abstraction of patient demographics, length of stay, discharge disposition, and complications over a 6-month follow-up period.

Results
All patients achieved medical criteria for hospital discharge. The patients achieved the knee flexion ROM goal of 90° (91.7 ± 5.4°), but did not achieve the knee extension ROM goal of 0° (2.4 ± 2.6°). The length of hospital stay was two days for 53% of the patients, with 39% and 7% discharged in three and four days, respectively. All but three patients were discharged home with functional independence. 68% of these received outpatient physical therapy compared with 32% who received home physical therapy immediately after discharge. Two patients (< 3%) had medical complications during the inpatient hospital stay, and 9 patients (12%) had complications during the 6-month follow-up period.

Conclusion
The comprehensive JRP for TKA was associated with satisfactory clinical outcomes, short lengths of stay, a high percentage of patients discharged home with outpatient PT, and minimal complications. This JRP may represent an efficient, effective and safe protocol for providing care after a TKA.