bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fatal injuries to teenage construction workers in the US
Authors: Suruda Anthony , Philips Peter , Lillquist Dean , Sesek Richard 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackgroundThe construction industry is second only to agriculture in the annual number of fatal injuries in workers less than 18 years of age. We examined fatal injury reports for youth and adult workers to determine risk factors for injury and applicability of existing child labor regulations.MethodsThe US Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) investigation data for fatal work injuries from 1984 through 1998 were reviewed with respect to type of event, employer characteristics, and apparent violations of existing child labor laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). We also examined whether the employer met exemption criteria for federal enforcement of child labor or OSHA regulations.ResultsThe fatality rate for teenage construction workers age 19 and younger was 12.1 per 100,000 per year, slightly less than for adult workers. Teenage workers who were fatally injured were more likely than adults to have been employed at non‐union construction firms (odds ratio (OR) = 4.96, P < 0.05), firms with fewer than 11 employees (OR = 1.72, P < 0.05), and their employers were more likely to have been cited by OSHA for safety violations (OR = 1.66, P < 0.05) than for firms which were investigated because of a fatality in an adult worker. Fatalities in teenagers were more likely to occur in special construction trades such as roofing. Among fatalities in workers less than 18 years of age, approximately one‐half (49%) of the 76 fatal injuries were in apparent violation of existing child labor regulations. We estimated that in 41 of the 76 cases (54%) the employer's gross annual income exceeded the $500,000 threshold for federal enforcement of child labor laws. Only 28 of 76 cases (37%) were at construction firms with 11 or more employees, which are subject to routine OSHA inspections.ConclusionsFatal injuries in teenage construction workers differed from those in adults in that they were more likely to be at small, non‐union firms of which a substantial proportion were exempt from federal enforcement of child labor laws and from routine OSHA inspections. Safety programs for young construction workers should include small, non‐union construction firms and those in special construction trades such as roofing. We did not identify specific areas for new regulation but the number of fatalities reviewed was small. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:510–514, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Novel diterpenoids and hydrocarbons in the Dufour gland of the ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: Howard Ralph W. , Baker James E. , Morgan E. David 
Published: October 2003

AbstractChemical constituents contained in the Dufour gland of the ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were characterized. Three terpenes, β‐springene, a homo‐β‐springene, and a homo‐geranyllinalool constitute approximately 37% of the gland components, with the remaining 63% all being hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons consist of a homologous series of n‐alkanes (n‐C21 to n‐C31), a trace amount of 3‐methyl C23, a homologous series of internally methyl‐branched alkanes (11‐methyl C23 to 13‐methyl C35), one dimethylalkane (13,17‐dimethyl C33), a homologous series of monoenes (C25:1 to C37:1) with the double bonds located at Δ9, Δ13 and Δ15 for alkenes of carbon number 25 to 31 and at Δ13 and Δ15 for carbon numbers 33 to 37 and three homologous dienes in very low amounts with carbon numbers of 31, 32, and 33. The terpenoid and hydrocarbon composition of the Dufour gland was similar in virgin and mated females. However, in contrast to the hydrocarbons, the amount of β‐springene and homo‐geranyllinalool increased significantly with time after adult emergence from the cocoon. Although many hydrocarbons in the Dufour gland are the same as those on the cuticle of this species [Howard and Baker, Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 53:1–18 (2003)], substantial differences also occur. Of particular note is the chain length of alkenes and location of the double bonds: cuticular alkenes have a chain length of C23 to C29 and double bond locations at Δ5, Δ7, and Δ9, whereas the Dufour gland alkenes contains a greater range of carbon numbers and have no Δ5 or Δ7 alkenes. The Dufour gland contains only one of the long‐chain dimethylalkanes found on the cuticle. Also, no terpenoids are found on the cuticle, and the Dufour gland contains none of the secondary wax esters that are major components on the cuticle. GC‐MS analysis of lipids carried in the hemolymph of H. hebetor indicated that all hydrocarbons found on both the cuticle and in the Dufour gland are present, as are some of the wax esters. However, none of the terpenoids were detected in the hemolymph. This suggests that the hydrocarbons are synthesized in other tissues or cells, probably by oenocytes, and differentially partitioned between the cuticle and the Dufour gland. The terpenoids are most likely synthesized within the Dufour gland. Analysis of surface lipids from eggs laid within 18 h indicated that no diterpenoids were present. Rather, the lipids present on the eggs were n‐alkanes, monomethylalkanes, alkenes, and secondary alcohol wax esters. This composition did not reflect that of the Dufour gland, hence eggs are not being coated with Dufour gland components during oviposition. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 54:95–109, 2003. Published 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Xenorhabdus nematophilus inhibits p‐bromophenacyl bromide (BPB)‐sensitive PLA2 of Spodoptera exigua
Authors: Park Youngjin , Kim Yonggyun 
Published: October 2003

AbstractXenorhabdus nematophilus is a Gram‐negative symbiotic bacterium of the entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae. The bacteria delivered into the insect hemocoel by the nematodes cause immunodepression of the target insects to protect host nematodes and themselves from the cellular immune reaction. Previous reports suggest that the immunodepression is caused by inhibition of the eicosanoid pathway that is known to be critically important to mediate cellular immunity. This study focused on the inhibitory effect of X. nematophilus on PLA2 activity of Spodoptera exigua. The PLA2 activity was functionally associated with the activation cascade of prophenoloxidase (pPO). Dexamethasone (DEX), a specific PLA2 inhibitor, inhibited pPO activation completely at the higher doses of ≈2.4 μM in vitro condition. The inhibitory effect of DEX was reversed by the addition of arachidonic acid, the catalytic product of PLA2. By means of this in vitro PLA2 inhibitor assay system, two different PLA2 inhibitors were used to compare their inhibitory effects on the hemolymph PLA2 of S. exigua. p‐Bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), a specific inhibitor of secretory PLA2 (sPLA2), significantly inhibited pPO activation, but methylarachidonyl fluorophosphates (MAFP), a specific inhibitor of cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), did not show any inhibitory effect. BPB also inhibited pPO activation of the plasma, though much higher PO activation and its inhibition by BPB was found in the hemocytes. Growth medium of X. nematophilus at the stationary phase had a PLA2 inhibitory effect. Via the in vitro PLA2 inhibitor assay, it was shown that the ethyl ether extract of the medium contained significant PLA2 inhibitor activity. These results indicate that X. nematophilus produces and secretes PLA2 inhibitor, which acts on BPB‐susceptible PLA2 of S. exigua. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 54:134–142, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular epidemiology of hypospadias: Review of genetic and environmental risk factors
Authors: Manson Jeanne M. , Carr Michael C. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractHypospadias is one of the most common congenital anomalies in the United States, occurring in approximately 1 in 125 live male births. It is characterized by altered development of the urethra, foreskin, and ventral surface of the penis. In this review, the embryology, epidemiology, risk factors, genetic predisposition, and likely candidate genes for hypospadias are described. Recent reports have identified increases in the birth prevalence of mild and severe forms of hypospadias in the United States from the 1960s to the present. Studies in consanguineous families and small case series have identified allelic variants in genes controlling androgen action and metabolism that cause hypospadias, but the relevance of these findings to the general population is unknown. Concern has also focused on whether exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) with antiandrogenic activity is the cause of this increase. Hypospadias is believed to have a multifactorial etiology in which allelic variants in genes controlling androgen action and metabolism predispose individuals to develop this condition. When genetic susceptibility is combined with exposure to antiandrogenic agents, a threshold is surpassed, resulting in the manifestation of this birth defect. A clear role for exposure to antiandrogenic environmental chemicals has yet to be established in the etiology of hypospadias, although results from laboratory animal models indicate that a number of environmental chemicals could be implicated. Molecular epidemiology studies that simultaneously examine the roles of allelic variants in genes controlling androgen action and metabolism, and environmental exposures are needed to elucidate the risk factors for these anomalies and the causes of the increased rate of hypospadias. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption and risk for conotruncal heart defects
Authors: Carmichael Suzan L. , Shaw Gary M. , Yang Wei , Lammer Edward J. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn this study we investigated whether the risk of delivering infants with conotruncal heart defects was increased among mothers who consumed alcohol during the periconceptional period (i.e., 1 month before conception to 3 months after conception).METHODSData were obtained from a population‐based case‐control study of California births from 1987–1988. Information concerning alcohol consumption was obtained via telephone interviews with mothers of 207 (87% of eligibles) case infants and 481 (76%) nonmalformed control infants.RESULTSBivariate results indicated that relative to nonconsumers, women who consumed alcohol less than once a week had a 1.3‐fold increased risk of delivering infants with a conotruncal heart defect (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0, 1.9), and women who consumed alcohol once a week or more had a 1.9‐fold increased risk (95% CI 1.0, 3.4). The risks associated with consuming five or more drinks per drinking occasion were 1.6 (95% CI 0.8, 3.2) for less than once a week, and 2.4 for once a week or more (95% CI 0.6, 9.7). The results for the phenotypic subgroups were similar to those for all cases. Adjustment for potential covariates resulted in somewhat weaker, but still elevated, risks.CONCLUSIONSThis study found that the risk of conotruncal heart defects in offspring was moderately elevated among women who consumed alcoholic beverages during the periconceptional period, and that risk was higher with increased frequency of drinking or increased number of drinks consumed per occasion. Most of the risk estimates were imprecise, and chance could not be ruled out as an explanation for the observed findings. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antibodies to folate receptors impair embryogenesis and fetal development in the rat
Authors: da Costa Maria , Sequeira Jeffrey M. , Rothenberg Sheldon P. , Weedon Jeremy 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDFolic acid (FA) supplementation reduces neural tube defects (NTDs) by 70%. However, the cause of most NTDs cannot be attributed to folate deficiency, to mutations of genes that encode folate pathway enzymes, and folate receptors (FRs) that mediate cellular folate uptake. Mouse embryos nullizygous for the ortholog of the FRα gene have lethal congenital abnormalities that are preventable by administration of folinic acid to the dams. To determine whether antibodies to FRs are similarly teratogenic, we studied a rat model.METHODSImmunohistochemistry with an antiserum to rat FRs was used to identify the receptors on reproductive tissues and embryos. Gestation day (GD) 8 rats received intraperitoneal injections of antiserum to the FRs, and their embryos were examined 2–9 days later. Some rats received pharmacologic doses of folinic acid or dexamethasone before the antiserum was administered.RESULTSThe FRs are present on oocytes, the oviduct, and uterine epithelial cells, and in the embryo at all stages examined between GD4 and GD15. The antiserum has a dose‐related effect on embryo viability and organogenesis. Folinic acid prevented teratogenicity resulting from smaller doses of antiserum, but not that caused by larger doses. Resorption of embryos with the larger doses of the antiserum was prevented by dexamethasone.CONCLUSIONSFRs are expressed on oocytes, epithelial cells of reproductive organs, and embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. Antiserum to FRs administered to pregnant rats causes embryonic damage. Embryo lethality with smaller doses of antiserum is preventable by administration of folinic acid, while larger doses cause embryo damage by immune‐mediated cell lysis, which can be prevented by dexamethasone. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pediatric neurobehavioral diseases in Nevada counties with respect to perchlorate in drinking water: An ecological inquiry
Authors: Chang Soju , Crothers Carol , Lai Shenghan , Lamm Steven 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackgroundContamination of drinking water with perchlorate, a known thyrotropic agent, has been demonstrated in areas in the western United States. The health consequences of that exposure have been studied, particularly in the State of Nevada. Previous studies in Nevada, comparing the area with perchlorate in the drinking water and the areas without perchlorate in the drinking water, have found no difference in neonatal thyroxine (T4) or thyrotropin (TSH) levels, or in the prevalences of thyroid diseases and thyroid cancer. This same study design has now been applied to the major neurobehavioral diseases of childhood (i.e., attention deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism) and to school performance in order to determine whether those conditions are more frequent in the area with perchlorate‐contaminated water.METHODSMedical services data on ADHD and autism were obtained from the Nevada Medicaid system for the period of January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2000, with county of residence used as the basis for residential information. Analyses of fourth‐grade school performance results for two recent time periods came from the state government. Perchlorate concentrations in drinking water had been determined by local water authorities. ADHD and autism rates for the area with perchlorate in the drinking water (Clark County) were calculated and compared with the rates for the other areas in the state, as were fourth‐grade school performances.RESULTSAnalysis of the data from the Nevada Medicaid program shows that the rates for ADHD and for autism in the area where perchlorate was in the drinking water did not exceed the rates in those areas where there was no perchlorate contamination in the drinking water. Fourth‐grade standardized test results for students in Clark County were not different from those of the remainder of the state.CONCLUSIONSThis ecological study of children in the exposure area did not find evidence of an increased risk of either ADHD or of autism caused by perchlorate contamination in the drinking water. Furthermore, no difference in overall fourth‐grade school performance was observed. No evidence was found that children from the area with perchlorate in the drinking water (up to 24 μg/liter) had either an increase in pediatric neurobehavioral disease (ADHD and autism) or a decrease in fourth‐grade academic performance. The limitations of this ecological study relate to diagnostic criteria and ascertainment of geographic and demographic differences and to data on individual residence and water consumption during pregnancy. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Caspase‐3 mediates retinoid‐induced apoptosis in the organogenesis‐stage mouse limb
Authors: Ali‐Khan Sarah E. , Hales Barbara F. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDCaspases are key mediators in the regulation and execution of apoptosis, a crucial part of the morphogenetic process during limb development. Caspase‐8 and ‐9 are upstream caspases. Caspase‐8 mediates the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis triggered by signaling through TNF‐R1 family receptors. Caspase‐9 is activated during the intrinsic pathway downstream of mitochondria. Caspase‐3 is an effector caspase that initiates degradation of the cell in the final stages of apoptosis. Vitamin A is a potent teratogen that causes limb reduction defects in embryos exposed during organogenesis. Previous in vitro studies have shown that exposure of the organogenesis‐stage murine limb to vitamin A results in excessive levels of apoptosis. The goal of this work was to characterize the involvement of caspase‐3, ‐8, and ‐9, as well as cytochrome‐c release from the mitochondria, in the apoptotic cascade induced by vitamin A.METHODSLimb buds from gestational day 12 CD‐1 mice were cultured in a chemically defined medium in the absence or presence of vitamin A. Cultures were terminated after 6 days to examine the effect of the drug on gross morphology. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining after culture for 24 hr. Caspase activation was determined by Western blotting and localized by immunohistochemistry of control and treated limbs. The release of cytochrome‐c into the cytoplasm was assessed by Western blotting after cell‐fractionation.RESULTSLimbs cultured in the presence of vitamin A showed a dose‐dependent growth reduction and dysmorphogenesis of the cartilaginous anlagen. Apoptosis was increased in the interdigital, anterior, and posterior marginal zones and in the apical ectodermal ridge. Western‐blotting confirmed the presence of activated caspase‐3 that increased with time in culture and vitamin A concentration. Cleaved caspase‐3 immunoreactivity colocalized with TUNEL stained limb regions and increased dramatically with increasing drug concentrations. In contrast, procaspase‐8 and ‐9 were not activated. Exposure to high concentrations of vitamin A did, however, increase cytoplasmic cytochrome‐c, suggesting mitochondrial involvement.CONCLUSIONSCaspase‐3 is a key effector caspase in the apoptotic pathway induced by Vitamin A. While caspases‐8 and ‐9 are not responsible for the activation of caspase‐3 in response to the drug, cytochrome‐c release from mitochondria may play an upstream role. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 67:848–860, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased risk of birth defects among children from multiple births
Authors: Li Si‐Jia , Ford Nancy , Meister Karen , Bodurtha Joann 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDMultiple births are increasing, and may be associated with birth defects.METHODSTo explore this relationship, data from the Virginia birth defects registry (VaCARES) was analyzed.RESULTSDuring 1989–1998, a total of 44,505 children from singleton births and 2258 children from multiple births were born with birth defects in Virginia. The risk of birth defects was significantly increased in children from multiple births as compared to singleton births (birth defect rate per 10,000 live births: singleton 482.3, twin 922.0, triplet 1300.0, and quadruplet or higher 2222.2). Increased risk was observed for 39 of 86 diagnoses. The five diagnoses with the highest risk ratio per 10,000 live births (RR) were: neurofibromatosis (RR, 12.80), retrolental fibroplasia (RR, 9.96), microphthalmos (RR, 5.24), pulmonary valve anomalies (RR, 5.00), and patent ductus arteriosus (RR, 4.68). A significantly reduced risk ratio for congenital hip dislocation was found in these children (RR, 0.54). In most multiple births, only one child was born with birth defects (81% in twin births, 71% in triplet births, and 56% in quadruplet and higher births). The diagnosis of birth defects might be concordant or discordant for children in which all siblings had birth defects. The children from multiple births who had birth defects were generally preterm and had significantly lower birth weight. A higher fatality and mortality rate and longer hospital stay were also observed.CONCLUSIONSOverall, children from multiple births have an increased risk of birth defects. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 67:879–885, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient Bayesian Sample Size Calculation for Designing a Clinical Trial with Multi‐Cluster Outcome Data
Authors: Zou Kelly H. , Resnic Frederic S. , Gogate Adheet S. , Ondategui‐Parra Silvia , Ohno‐Machado Lucila 
Published: October 2003

AbstractHealth care utilization and outcome studies call for hierarchical approaches. The objectives were to predict major complications following percutaneous coronary interventions by health providers, and to compare Bayesian and non‐Bayesian sample size calculation methods. The hierarchical data structure consisted of: (1) Strata: PGY4, PGY7, and physician assistant as providers with varied experiences; (2) Clusters: ks providers per stratum; (3) Individuals: ns patients reviewed by each provider. The main outcome event illustrated was mortality modeled by a Bayesian beta‐binomial model. Pilot information and assumptions were utilized to elicit beta prior distributions. Sample size calculations were based on the approximated average length, fixed at 1%, of 95% posterior intervals of the mean event rate parameter. Necessary sample sizes by both non‐Bayesian and Bayesian methods were compared. We demonstrated that the developed Bayesian methods can be efficient and may require fewer subjects to satisfy the same length criterion.
Incorporating Inter‐item Correlations in Item Response Data Analysis
Authors: Sheng Xiaoming , Biswas Atanu , Carrière K.C. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThis paper concerns with the analysis of item response data, which are usually measured on a rating scale and are therefore ordinal. These study items tended to be highly inter‐correlated. Rasch models, which convert ordinal categorical scales into linear measurements, are widely used in ordinal data analysis. In this paper, we improve the current methodology in order to incorporate inter‐item correlations. We have advocated the latent variable approach for this purpose, in combination with generalized estimating equations to estimate the Rasch model parameters. The data on a study of families of lung cancer patients demonstrate the utility of our methods.
Analysis of correlated series of repeated measurements: application to challenge data
Authors: Engel Bas , van Reenen Kees , Buist Willem 
Published: October 2003

AbstractData from an ACTH challenge experiment with veal calves, two short time series of cortisol measurements per animal at 6 and 27 weeks of age, are analysed. Interest is focussed on variation in cortisol profiles both within and between animals. Potential effects of an animals diet and housing system on the profiles are addressed as well. Fully parametric and semi‐parametric models, combining individual random effects with effects of diet and housing, were fitted using (approximate) restricted maximum likelihood (employing Laplacian integration). Eigenfunctions were utilized to describe the variation between profiles and the connection between profiles of the same individual. All calculations were performed with standard software. Results of the analysis provides empirical support for the existence of stable individual characteristics mediating reactivity of the adrenal cortex.