bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prenatal and Childhood Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Exposures and Blood Pressure Trajectories From Birth to Late Adolescence in a Prospective US Prebirth Cohort
Authors: Zhang Mingyu , Aris Izzuddin M. , Lin Pi‐I Debby , Rifas‐Shiman Sheryl L. , Brady Tammy M. , James‐Todd Tamarra , Oken Emily , Hivert Marie‐France 
Published: August 2023

Background
Evidence is limited regarding the associations of prenatal and childhood per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposures with blood pressure (BP) trajectories in children.

Methods and Results

Participants are from Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort in eastern Massachusetts. We measured PFAS in early‐pregnancy maternal (median, 9.6 weeks) and midchildhood (median, 7.7 years) plasma samples. We conducted standardized BP measurements at 6 research visits: birth, infancy (median, 6.3 months), early childhood (median, 3.2 years), midchildhood (median, 7.7 years), early adolescence (median, 12.9 years), and late adolescence (median, 17.5 years). We used linear regression to examine associations of individual PFASs with BP at each visit, linear spline mixed‐effects regression to model BP trajectories, and a mixture approach to estimate PFAS exposure burden. We included 9036 BP measures from 1506 participants. We observed associations between particular individual prenatal PFASs and child BP at specific time points, for example, prenatal 2‐(N‐ethyl‐perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (EtFOSAA) and 2‐(N‐methyl‐perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetate (MeFOSAA) with higher systolic BP at birth; prenatal perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and EtFOSAA with lower diastolic BP in infancy; and prenatal PFOS, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and EtFOSAA with higher systolic BP at midchildhood. No prenatal or childhood PFAS was consistently associated with BP across all visits. Diastolic BP trajectories from 0 to 20 years differed slightly by prenatal PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (
P
values 0.01–0.09). Diastolic BP trajectories from 6 to 20 years differed slightly by midchildhood PFHxS and MeFOSAA (
P
‐values 0.03–0.08). Prenatal or childhood PFAS mixture burden scores were not associated with BP.

Conclusions
We found associations of prenatal and childhood PFAS exposures with BP at specific time points between birth and late adolescence but no consistent associations across all time points or PFAS types.
Study Design, Rationale, and Methodology for Promote Weight Loss in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease Who Also Have Obesity: The PROVE Trial
Authors: Whipple Mary O. , Pfammatter Angela Fidler , Spring Bonnie , Rejeski W. Jack , Treat‐Jacobson Diane , Domanchuk Kathryn J. , Dressler Emily V. , Ferrucci Luigi , Gildea Lois , Guralnik Jack M. , Harvin Lea , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan , Polonsky Tamar S. , Reynolds Eric , Stowe Cynthia L. , Sufit Robert , Van Horn Linda , Walkup Michael P. , Ambrosius Walter T. , McDermott Mary M. 
Published: August 2023

Background
Overweight and obesity are associated with adverse functional outcomes in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The effects of weight loss in people with overweight/obesity and PAD are unknown.

Methods

The PROVE (Promote Weight Loss in Obese PAD Patients to Prevent Mobility Loss) Trial is a multicentered randomized clinical trial with the primary aim of testing whether a behavioral intervention designed to help participants with PAD lose weight and walk for exercise improves 6‐minute walk distance at 12‐month follow‐up, compared with walking exercise alone. A total of 212 participants with PAD and body mass index ≥25 kg/m
2
will be randomized. Interventions are delivered using a Group Mediated Cognitive Behavioral intervention model, a smartphone application, and individual telephone coaching. The primary outcome is 12‐month change in 6‐minute walk distance. Secondary outcomes include total minutes of walking exercise/wk at 12‐month follow‐up and 12‐month change in accelerometer‐measured physical activity, the Walking Impairment Questionnaire distance score, and the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System mobility questionnaire. Tertiary outcomes include 12‐month changes in perceived exertional effort at the end of the 6‐minute walk, diet quality, and the Short Physical Performance Battery. Exploratory outcomes include changes in gastrocnemius muscle biopsy measures of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase activity, mitochondrial biogenesis, capillary density, and inflammatory markers.

Conclusions
The PROVE randomized clinical trial will evaluate the effects of exercise with an intervention of coaching and a smartphone application designed to achieve weight loss, compared with exercise alone, on walking performance in people with PAD and overweight/obesity. Results will inform optimal treatment for the growing number of patients with PAD who have overweight/obesity.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04228978.
Liberatory Linguistics
Authors: Hudley Anne H. Charity 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
While the college population in the United States is becoming increasingly diverse, few studies focus on the goal of linguistic justice in higher education teaching and learning-a critical factor in achieving all forms of social equity. I offer liberatory linguistics as a productive, unifying framework for the scholarship that will advance strategies for attaining linguistic justice. Emerging from the synthesis of various lived experiences, academic traditions, and methodological approaches, I illustrate how a structural ignorance of language justice affects the lived experiences of people across the world. I present findings from my work with Black undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty members as they endeavor to embed a justice framework throughout the study of language broadly conceived. I conclude by highlighting promising strategies that can improve current approaches to engaging with structural realities that impede linguistic justice.
Communicating Justice: Cambodian Press Coverage of the eccc’s Final Judgment
Authors: Grey Rosemary , Killean Rachel 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
This article explores Khmer-language media reporting of the final appeal judgment at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (Case 002/02). Media reports are interesting for two reasons. First, as a source of opinions expressed in Cambodia’s official language (Khmer), which often remain beyond purview of international observers. Second, as one of the few sources of information about the eccc available to the Cambodian public now that official Court outreach has largely ceased. Yet, free media is significantly curtailed in Cambodia, and reporting on the eccc is likely to be shaped by what is politically safe to print, as well as what is deemed publicly interesting. Against this backdrop this article explores: the press’s tendency to downplay Cambodian political interference in the eccc proceedings; its (mis)representation of the eccc’s genocide findings; its reporting on the prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes; and its use of ‘justice for victims’ rhetoric.
Plane nostris moribus: customary financing on future salary by the Dutch East India Company
Authors: van Bochove Christiaan , Milo Michael , van Velzen Ton 
Published: August 2023

Summary
Transferring claims has traditionally been a dogmatic near impossibility in the civilian institutional tradition. In practice, however, contractual creativity provided space to develop a variety of mechanisms for transferring claims. Our paper explores such a mechanism, which financed the seamen of the Dutch East India Company (voc), on the basis of their claims to future salary. The associated document, the so-called transportbrief, started from a seaman’s debt, which by mandate the Company accepted to pay to the bearer of the document, if conditions as performance of labor obligations were met. Payment practice itself was carefully orchestrated by resolutions of the voc board, the Heeren xvii, thereby tailoring market and law according to the various interests involved.
Joachim von Exter und die Rezeption der actio Pauliana im hamburgischen Stadtrecht
Authors: Willems Constantin 
Published: August 2023

Summary
Joachim von Exter and the reception of the actio Pauliana in Hamburg statute law. – On 23 May 1785, a certain Joachim von Exter defended his legal dissertation De actione Pauliana Hamburgi non introducta sed necessario introducenda at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder, under the auspices of Joachim Georg Darjes, professor of natural law. As the title of his thesis indicates, von Exter wanted to demonstrate that there had been no formal reception of the actio Pauliana, remedy against fraudulent conveyances in Justinianic law, in the statute law of his home town Hamburg up to his time, but that an incorporation of this legal institution was something to be desired. After a brief preliminary note on von Exter’s quite colourful life, the paper traces the core theses of his work and the process of reception of the actio Pauliana in Hamburg.
An Empirical Likelihood Approach to Reduce Selection Bias in Voluntary Samples
Authors: Kim Jae Kwang , Morikawa Kosuke 
Published: August 2023

How to construct the pseudo-weights in voluntary samples is an important practical problem in survey sampling. The problem is quite challenging when the sampling mechanism for the voluntary sample is allowed to be non-ignorable. Under the assumption that the sample participation model is correctly specified, we can compute a consistent estimator of the model parameter and construct the propensity score estimator of the population mean. We propose using the empirical likelihood method to construct the final weights for voluntary samples by incorporating the bias calibration constraints and the benchmarking constraints. Linearization variance estimation of the proposed method is developed. A toy example is also presented to illustrate the idea and the computational details. A limited simulation study is also performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. AMS subject classification: 62D10, 63D05
Depression, anxiety, and stress and adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with history of recurrent pregnancy loss in Nigeria
Authors: Eleje George U , Oguejiofor Charlotte B , Oriji Sunday O , Ekwuazi Kingsley E , Ugwu Emmanuel O , Igbodike Emeka P , Malachy Divinefavour E , Nwankwo Ekeuda U , Onah Christian E , Ugboaja Joseph O , Ikechebelu Joseph I , Nwagha Uchenna I 
Published: August 2023

Objective The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether pregnant women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are more likely to experience moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms than pregnant women without a history of RPL. The secondary purpose was to determine whether women with prior RPL experienced more unfavorable pregnancy outcomes if they had depression, anxiety, or stress. Methods A prospective case-control study was conducted that included 47 pregnant women with a history of RPL and 94 pregnant women without prior RPL. Participants 20 weeks of gestation or earlier were included. Both groups completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and were followed up until delivery to determine the pregnancy outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare adverse pregnancy outcomes. Result Among the 47 women with prior RPL, 10 had primary RPL (two or more miscarriages without a successful pregnancy) and 37 secondary RPL (two or more miscarriages with a history of successful pregnancy). RPL was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe levels of depression ( P < .001), anxiety ( P < .001), and stress ( P < .001). Among the RPL group, high stress level was significantly associated with repeat miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.28, 95%CI = 1.25-100.0, P = .03) and preterm labor (AOR = 6.07, 95%CI = 1.61-100.0, P = .04). Depression and anxiety were not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusion Pregnant women with a history of RPL had considerably higher rates of moderate-to-severe depression, anxiety, and stress. Repeat miscarriage and preterm labor were considerably higher among pregnant women with RPL who were experiencing high stress levels at baseline.
Polyurethane and Latex Foam Carpet Backing Today
Authors: Bez W. , Quack G. 
Published: August 2023

Foam carpet backing improves sound and heat insulation and provides the carpet with additional elasticity. The complete contact that it gives with the floor prolongs wear and gives the carpet luxury value. This paper describes foam systems, in practical use, based on polyurethane and rubber latex chemistry. The different application techniques are explained and the resulting foam properties are compared.
Fire Retardant Foams
Authors: Hurd R. 
Published: August 2023

Combustion Modified (CM) foams based on three types of additives, aluminium hydrate, melamine and graphite, are reviewed.All three approaches give advantages in ignition resistance and speed of fire development. Small differences, if any, in fire performance are probably not significant compared to the other major variables in upholstered furniture, e.g. fabric choice and design.The choice of these three available technologies for CM foams will be conditioned by, more probably, the range of physical properties required and the cost of achieving the level of fire performance required.
Novel Small Scale Procedures for Initial Formulation Selection in the Development of Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Wooler A.M. 
Published: August 2023

The small scale mixing methods and assessment techniques described have proved their worth over the past ten years. The methods are simple, quick, reliable, reproducible, economic and have been used successfully to predict behaviour in larger scale mixings in a wide range of development projects. An electric hand drill using a special stirrer is used to mix a basic resin blend with the other formulation ingredients and the foaming proceeds in the mixing cup and has been found to have advantages over the usual method of pouring a larger foam mix into a mould box. The use of a corer which gives quick and accurate density and strength comparisons is described. A stratagraphic method of measuring foam strengths relative to the position from where the core is taken provides useful additional data on relative flow and anisotropy. Also a portable apparatus for the rapid measurement of closed/open cell content is described. All the properties are determined using the same foam cores.
Novel Polyurethane Systems for Footwear as Replacement for EVA and Rubber
Authors: Stilling H. , Lin N.W. 
Published: August 2023

Polyester based microcellular polyurethanes are usually dimensionally unstable at low densities and show shrinkage. Polyether based polyurethane soling materials however are usually dimensionally stable at these lower densities but exhibit unacceptably low mechanical properties. The density of these soles is therefore limited by the required properties. Shrinkage occurs, at lower densities, because there is insufficient strength to support the foam and because of inherently high closed cell content. Problems of shrinkage have been overcome by the development of a new ICI prepolymer. This product acts as a reactive surfactant thereby controlling reactant compatibilities, cell size and open/closed cell ratios. Stable foams down to the free rise density are now possible. The nature of the product is such that the derived products maintain satisfactory properties even at densities down to ca. 200 – 250 kg/m3. This constitutes a major weight saving per sole. Conventional midsoles have densities of ca. 400 – 500 kg/m3, so achieving, with the new prepolymer, a weight saving of ca. 50 %. The low density midsole system can be used in conjunction with almost any outsole material. But of special interest is the use of the recently developed, high slip resistant outsole. The construction of this combi-sole allows direct replacement of EVA/Rubber soles - but with the usual all-PU processing/handling advantages. The high slip resistant PU outsole system is a soft formulation, which employs novel hydrophobic soft blocks and retains excellent mechanical properties.
Pigmentation of lower limbs: Contribution of haemosiderin and melanin in chronic venous insufficiency and related disorders
Authors: Zhang Lois , Ng Kate , Pham James P , Thoo Samuel , Yang Anes , Kang Mina , Connor David , Kossard Steven , Parsi Kurosh 
Published: August 2023

Background To determine the composition of skin pigmentation in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and other less common vascular conditions of lower limbs. Methods Forty-five skin biopsies were obtained from 17 patients. Samples were taken from pigmented regions and compared with control non-lesional samples from the same patient. Perl’s Prussian Blue was used to identify haemosiderin and Schmorl’s for melanin. Results Seven patients presented with CVI, one with concurrent livedo vasculopathy (LV). One patient had LV only. Two patients had acroangiodermatitis (AAD). Six patients had post-sclerotherapy pigmentation (PSP), one with concurrent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). One patient had PIH only. The predominant pigment in CVI samples was haemosiderin. C5-C6 patients showed increased epidermal melanin. LV, AAD, and PSP samples showed dermal haemosiderin but no increase in epidermal melanin. PIH samples showed prominent epidermal melanin whilst no haemosiderin was detected. Conclusion The predominant pigment in CVI and other vascular conditions was haemosiderin. Melanin was present in later stages of CVI (C5-C6) and in PIH.
The potential effect of ambrisentan as monotherapy and combined with tadalafil on diabetic erectile dysfunction in rats
Authors: Azmy Nabeh Omnia , Ahmed El-Batrawy Fatma , Anwar Khorshid Omayma , Farouk Soliman Ghada 
Published: August 2023

Introduction: This study investigated the role of ambrisentan; the selective endothelin type-A receptor (ETAR) blocker on experimental diabetic erectile dysfunction in rats. Materials and methods: Eighty-four adult male Sprague Albino rats were divided randomly into 7 groups. Three control groups received 1 mL saline, 0.2 mg/kg/d ambrisentan and 1.5 mg/kg/d tadalafil, respectively orally for 4 weeks. The remaining four groups were fed high fat diet for 14 days. Diabetes was induced by a single intra-peritoneal injection of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin. After 72 h, diabetes was confirmed by plasma glucose level ⩾250 mg/dL. Diabetic rats were divided randomly into four groups, numbered from 4 to 7. The fourth group was the diabetic-control group, while the fifth and sixth groups received ambrisentan and tadalafil respectively. The seventh group received a combination of both drugs. Treatment continued for 4 weeks then, copulatory, intracavernous pressure measurement, and laboratory tests were conducted. Results: In diabetic rats, ambrisentan and tadalafil improved fasting glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, testosterone, nitric oxide, and rho kinase (ROCK) values compared to diabetic group with the maximum improvement achieved in ambrisentan/tadalafil group ( p < 0.05). Ambrisentan also enhanced ICP and improved latency to erection and number of mounts with a tolerable SBP. Yet, ambrisentan/tadalafil combined therapy resulted in deterioration in SBP with consecutive worsening in ICP and mating indices. Conclusion: Ambrisentan showed significant therapeutic potential to prevent and improve diabetic ED in rats comparable to tadalafil.
Cigarette Smoking Motives and Stages of Change in Smoking Cessation Among Veterans: Differences by Gender and Sexual Orientation
Authors: Ruiz Raymond A. , Lehavot Keren , Heffner Jaimee L. , Kava Christine M. , Ornelas India J. 
Published: August 2023

Purpose To examine differences across gender and sexual orientation in cigarette smoking motives and stages of change in smoking cessation among Veterans. Design Secondary data analysis of cross-sectional baseline surveys from a prospective cohort study. Setting United States, self-administered online survey. Participants Cisgender Veterans who reported past-year smoking (N = 146); 66.4% identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and 52.1% were men. Measures Smoking motives (i.e., social, self-confidence, boredom relief, and affect regulation), with higher scores indicating stronger motivation to smoke. Stages of change categories included precontemplation, contemplation/preparation, and action/maintenance. Analysis Analyses were stratified by gender and sexual orientation. Age-adjusted linear regression models estimated differences in smoking motives scores and multinomial logistic regression models estimated differences in stages of change categories relative to the precontemplation stage (reference category). Results In this Veteran sample, gay men reported higher social smoking motives vs heterosexual men (β = 1.50 (95% CI: .04, 2.97), P-value = .045) and higher boredom relief smoking motives vs bisexual men (β = 1.53 (95% CI: .06, 2.29), P-value = .041) in age-adjusted models. Lesbian women were more likely to be in the action/maintenance stage relative to the precontemplation stage when compared to both heterosexual women (aRRR = 4.88 (95% CI: 1.00, 23.79) P-value = .050) and bisexual women (aRRR = 16.46 (95% CI: 2.12, 127.57), P-value = .007) after adjusting for age. Conclusion Smoking cessation interventions may benefit from enhancing peer support for gay men. Given bisexual and heterosexual women were in less advance stages of change, there may be a greater need for motivational interventions to encourage quitting and additional support to assist with cessation efforts. Overall, findings highlight the diversity of cigarette use within LGB communities.
Examining health care access disparities in Hispanic populations with peripheral artery disease and diabetes
Authors: Bazikian Sebouh , Urbina Diego , Hsu Chiu-Hsieh , Gonzalez Karla A , Rosario Emily R , Chu Dan I , Tsui Jennifer , Tan Tze-Woei 
Published: August 2023

Introduction: This study investigated disparities in health care access for Hispanic adults with diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD) who are at risk of lower-extremity amputation and other cardiovascular morbidities and mortalities. Methods: We utilized the health care access survey data from the All of Us research program to examine adults (⩾ 18 years) with either diabetes and/or PAD. The primary associations evaluated were: could not afford medical care and delayed getting medical care in the past 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association of Hispanic ethnicity and survey responses, adjusting for age, sex, income, health insurance, and employment status. Results: Among 24,104 participants, the mean age was 54.9 years and 67% were women. Of these, 8.2% were Hispanic adults. In multivariable analysis, Hispanic adults were more likely to be unable to afford seeing a health care provider, and receiving emergency care, follow-up care, and prescription medications ( p < 0.05) than non-Hispanic adults. Furthermore, Hispanic adults were more likely to report being unable to afford medical care due to cost (odds ratios [OR] 1.72, 95% CI 1.50–1.99), more likely to purchase prescription drugs from another country (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.69–2.86), and more likely to delay getting medical care due to work (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.22–1.74) and child care (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.35–2.39) issues than non-Hispanic White adults. Conclusion: The Hispanic population with diabetes and PAD faces substantial barriers in health care access, including a higher likelihood of delaying medical care and being unable to afford it.