bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age, SES, and health: a population level analysis of health inequalities over the lifecourse
Authors: Prus Steven G.
Published: October 2009

This paper tests two competing hypotheses on the relationship between age, SES, and health inequality at the cohort/population level. The accumulation hypothesis predicts that the level of SES‐based health inequality, and consequently the overall level of health inequality, within a cohort progressively increases as it ages. The divergence‐convergence hypothesis predicts that these inequalities increase only up to early‐old age then decrease. Data from a Canadian national health survey are used in this study, and are adjusted for SES‐biases in mortality. Bootstrap methods are employed to assess the statistical precision and significance of the results. The Gini coefficient is used to estimate change in the overall level of health inequality with age, and the Concentration coefficient estimates the contribution of SES‐based health inequalities to this change. Health is measured using the Health Utilities Index, and income and education provide the measure of SES. First, the findings show that the Gini coefficient progressively increases from 0.048 (95% CI: 0.045, 0.051) at ages 15–29 to 0.147 (95% CI: 0.131, 0.163) at ages 80+. Second, the data reveal that health inequalities between SES groups (Concentration coefficients for income and education) tend to follow a similar pattern of divergence. Together these findings provide support for the accumulation hypothesis. A notable implication of the study's findings is that the level of health inequality increases when compensating for age‐specific socio‐economic differences in mortality. These selective effects of mortality should be considered in future research on health inequalities and the lifecourse.
Linguistic Pitch Analysis Using Functional Principal Component Mixed Effect Models
Authors: Aston John A. D. , Chiou Jeng-Min , Evans Jonathan P.
Published: October 2009

Fundamental frequency (F0, broadly ‘pitch’) is an integral part of spoken human language; however, a comprehensive quantitative model for F0 can be a challenge to formulate owing to the large number of effects and interactions between effects that lie behind the human voice’s production of F0, and the very nature of the data being a contour rather than a point. The paper presents a semiparametric functional response model for F0 by incorporating linear mixed effects models through the functional principal component scores. This model is applied to the problem of modelling F0 in the tone language Qiang, a language in which relative pitch information is part of each word’s dictionary entry.
Multivariate Non-Linear Time Series Modelling of Exposure and Risk in Road Safety Research
Authors: Bijleveld Frits , Commandeur Jacques , Koopman Siem Jan , Montfort Kees van
Published: October 2009

A multivariate non-linear time series model for road safety data is presented. The model is applied in a case-study into the development of a yearly time series of numbers of fatal accidents (inside and outside urban areas) and numbers of kilometres driven by motor vehicles in the Netherlands between 1961 and 2000. The model accounts for missing entries in the disaggregated numbers of kilometres driven although the aggregated numbers are observed throughout. We consider a multivariate non-linear time series model for the analysis of these data. The model consists of dynamic unobserved factors for exposure and risk that are related in a non-linear way to the number of fatal accidents. The multivariate dimension of the model is due to its inclusion of multiple time series for inside and outside urban areas. Approximate maximum likelihood methods based on the extended Kalman filter are utilized for the estimation of unknown parameters. The latent factors are estimated by extended smoothing methods. It is concluded that the salient features of the observed time series are captured by the model in a satisfactory way.
Visualizing Uncertainty in Reliability Functions with Application to Aero Engine Overhaul
Authors: Ebden Mark , Stranjak Armin , Roberts Stephen
Published: October 2009

We propose an approach for estimating the date of lost confidence of jet engines, which are devices with multiple components subject to disruption. A mixed Weibull distribution is estimated from a large data set subject to censoring at various times. Parametric uncertainty is derived analytically and mapped visually onto the functions of use in reliability theory, including the hazard function. We demonstrate the use of the method on a database of disruption times for components in 325 jet engines.
Feminist Epistemology, Contextualism, and Philosophical Skepticism
Authors: BRISTER EVELYN
Published: October 2009

Abstract: This essay explores the relation between feminist epistemology and the problem of philosophical skepticism. Even though feminist epistemology has not typically focused on skepticism as a problem, I argue that a feminist contextualist epistemology may solve many of the difficulties facing recent contextualist responses to skepticism. Philosophical skepticism appears to succeed in casting doubt on the very possibility of knowledge by shifting our attention to abnormal contexts. I argue that this shift in context constitutes an attempt to exercise unearned social and epistemic power and that it should be resisted on epistemic and pragmatic grounds. I conclude that skepticism is a problem that feminists can and should take up as they address the social aspects of traditional epistemological problems.
Nonconcordance between subclinical atherosclerosis and the calculated Framingham risk score in HIV‐infected patients: relationships with serum markers of oxidation and inflammation
Authors: Parra S , Coll B , Aragonés G , Marsillach J , Beltrán R , Rull A , Joven J , Alonso‐Villaverde C , Camps J
Published: October 2009

Objectives

HIV‐infected patients show an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk resulting, essentially, from metabolic disturbances related to chronic infection and antiretroviral treatments. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the agreement between the CVD risk estimated using the Framingham risk score (FRS) and the observed presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV‐infected patients; (2) to investigate the relationships between CVD and plasma biomarkers of oxidation and inflammation.

Methods

Atherosclerosis was evaluated in 187 HIV‐infected patients by measuring the carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT). CVD risk was estimated using the FRS. We also measured the circulating levels of interleukin‐6, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and paraoxonase‐1 activity and concentration.

Results

There was a weak, albeit statistically significant, agreement between FRS and CIMT (κ=0.229, P<0.001). A high proportion of patients with an estimated low risk had subclinical atherosclerosis (n=66; 56.4%). In a multivariate analysis, the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in this subgroup of patients was associated with age [odds ratio (OR) 1.285; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.084–1.524; P=0.004], body mass index (OR 0.799; 95% CI 0.642–0.994; P=0.044), MCP‐1 (OR 1.027; 95% CI 1.004–1.050; P=0.020) and oxidized LDL (OR 1.026; 95% CI 1.001–1.051; P=0.041).

Conclusion

FRS underestimated the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV‐infected patients. The increased CVD risk was related, in part, to the chronic oxidative stress and inflammatory status associated with this patient population.
Haloarchaeal diversity in 23, 121 and 419 MYA salts
Authors: PARK J. S. , VREELAND R. H. , CHO B. C. , LOWENSTEIN T. K. , TIMOFEEFF M. N. , ROSENZWEIG W. D.
Published: October 2009

DNA was extracted from surface‐sterilized salt of different geological ages (23, 121, 419 million years of age, MYA) to investigate haloarchaeal diversity. Only Haloarcula and Halorubrum DNA was found in 23 MYA salt. Older crystals contained unclassified groups and Halobacterium. The older crystals yielded a unique 55‐bp insert within the 16S rRNA V2 region. The secondary structure of the V2 region completely differed from that in haloarchaea of modern environments. The DNA demonstrates that unknown haloarchaea and the Halobacterium were key components in ancient hypersaline environments. Halorubrum and Haloarcula appear to be a dominant group in relatively modern hypersaline habitats.
Antenatal Care Utilization in a Conflict‐Affected District of Northern Sri Lanka
Authors: Sivaganesh Subramaniam , Senarath Upul
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To assess utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and its determinants in a conflict‐affected area in Northern Sri Lanka.

Design and Sample: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among pregnant mothers who had completed 36 weeks of gestation, and were admitted or referred to 2 leading hospitals in Vavuniya district.

Measures: Data were collected from 392 mothers using an interviewer‐administered questionnaire.

Results: 55% of the respondents reported that their families were affected directly by conflict. Approximately 68% of mothers were registered by public health midwife (PHM) for ANC; 31.4% were registered before 12 weeks of gestation; 38.5% were visited at home by PHM; 37.8% had the first clinic visit before 12 weeks; and 90.1% made at least 4 clinic visits. The average number of antenatal visits to specialist clinics (5.34, 95%CI: 5.03–5.65) was significantly higher than field clinics (2.97, 95%CI: 2.69–3.25). On average, a pregnant woman was seen by PHM at home 1.47 times. ANC utilization was significantly poor in women whose families were affected by conflict, living in active conflict areas and urban regions, had a lower education level, and were not involved in decision making on ANC.

Conclusion: Provision of field antenatal clinics, early entry to ANC, and domiciliary care by PHM need improvement.
Retracted:Effects of Exercise Program on Physical Fitness, Depression, and Self‐Efficacy of Low‐Income Elderly Women in South Korea
Authors: Shin Kyung Rim , Kang Younhee , Park Hyo Jung , Heitkemper Margaret
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise programs on physical fitness, depression, and self‐efficacy in low‐income elderly women (age≥75).

Design and Sample: A pretest‐posttest experimental research design with a control group was used. The sample consisted of 26 women in the exercise group and 22 women in the wait‐list control group in Seoul, Korea.

Measures: The measures of physical fitness included body mass index, cardiopulmonary endurance (blood pressure and heart rate), muscle strength (hand grip strength), flexibility (degree of bending of the upper body), and balance (duration of time for which the subject could stand on one foot). Depression and self‐efficacy were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale and a modified form of Lee's scale, respectively. All measures were obtained twice: at baseline and at the completion of the exercise program.

Intervention: The exercise program consisted of 4 weeks of education along with 8 weeks of physical exercise.

Results: After the intervention, significant improvements were found in depression, self‐efficacy, and all measures of physical fitness, except heart rate and flexibility, in the experimental group.

Conclusion: The exercise program may be recommended as a method to maintain and promote the health of low‐income elderly women.
Nataniel, NAFTA, and Public Health at the U.S.‐Mexico Border
Authors: Olson Tom , Tapia Sergio
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT
Advocating overall improvements in health for individuals and communities is a daunting but important task for nurses in particular, and for health care professionals in general. This is particularly true when focusing on the population along the 2,000‐mile U.S.‐Mexico border, a unique region in which distinct cultures, economies, and political systems meet. The purpose of this paper is to confront the assumption that trade and economic expansion automatically translate into improved public health, and to explore policy implications of the public health situation at the border. It uses a meta‐narrative, an overarching story that draws on and illustrates collective stories from 300 participants in a study of mental health disparities, to argue for a more nuanced and complex understanding of health among the largely Hispanic population in this region.
Optimizing the Circuit of a Pulsatile Extracorporeal Life Support System in Terms of Energy Equivalent Pressure and Surplus Hemodynamic Energy
Authors: Lim Choon Hak , Yang Sung , Choi Jae‐Wook , Sun Kyung
Published: October 2009

Abstract:  The nonpulsatile blood flow obtained using standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits is still generally considered an acceptable, nonphysiologic compromise with few disadvantages. However, numerous reports have concluded that pulsatile perfusion during CPB achieves better multiorgan response postoperatively. Furthermore, pulsatile flow during CPB has been consistently recommended in pediatric and high‐risk patients. However, most (80%) of the total hemodynamic energy generated by a pulsatile pump is absorbed by the components of the extracorporeal circuit and only a small portion of the pulsatile energy is delivered to the patient. Therefore, we considered that optimizations of CPB unit and extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system circuit components were needed to deliver sufficient pulsatile flow. In addition, energy equivalent pressure, surplus hemodynamic energy, and total hemodynamic energy, calculated using pressure and flow waveforms, were used to evaluate the pulsatilities of pulsatile CPB and ECLS systems.
Animal Model Development for the Penn State Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Carney Elizabeth L. , Clark J. Brian , Myers John L. , Peterson Rebecca , Wilson Ronald P. , Weiss William J.
Published: October 2009

Abstract:  In March 2004, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded five contracts to develop devices providing circulatory support for infants and small children with congenital and acquired cardiac disease. Since 2004, the team at Penn State College of Medicine has developed a pneumatically actuated ventricular assist device (VAD) with mechanical tilting disk valves. To date, hemodynamic performance, thrombogenesis, and hemolysis have been chronically evaluated in 16 animals, including 4 pygmy goats and 12 sheep. Major complications, mainly respiratory failure, have been encountered and resolved by a multi‐disciplinary team. Multi‐modal analgesia, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and attentive animal care have contributed to successful outcomes. Time after implant has ranged from 0 to 40 days. Most recently, a sheep implanted with Version 3 Infant VAD was electively terminated at 35 days postimplant, with no major adverse events. This report describes a successful in vivo model for evaluating a pediatric VAD.
Needle‐Free Subcutaneous Sumatriptan (Sumavel™ DosePro™): Bioequivalence and Ease of Use
Authors: Brandes Jan Lewis , Cady Roger K. , Freitag Fred G. , Smith Timothy R. , Chandler Patricia , Fox Anthony W. , Linn Lawrence , Farr Stephen J.
Published: October 2009

Background.— Subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of sumatriptan is currently associated with needle aversion in some patients, and sharps disposal issues.

Objectives.— To investigate whether a needle‐free system can deliver s.c. sumatriptan. If so, to examine whether needle‐free administration is bioequivalent to a 26‐gauge needle‐based auto‐injector. Lastly, to assess the needle‐free system for clinical acceptability and ease of use during migraine attacks.

Methods.— Two clinical trials. Study A: Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence was studied in normal adult volunteers (n = 57 total), directly comparing needle‐free (Sumavel™ DosePro™) with needle‐based (Imitrex STATdose System®) administration of 6 mg s.c. sumatriptan. An incomplete, randomized, partial factorial, crossover design was used. Each subject received 2 administrations of each product, at 2 of the 3 anatomical sites (abdomen, thigh or arm). There were appropriate “washout” periods between each. Pharmacokinetic sampling was at standard time points, and tests for bioequivalence then followed. Study B: The term “ease of use” was used for clinical acceptability and utility of the needle‐free system when it was assessed among 52 outpatients treating migraine attacks. Instructional materials were used as would be provided after ordinary prescription. The primary endpoint was successful use of the needle‐free system to administer sumatriptan at the first attempt, including appropriate injection site selection. Second and subsequent uses of the needle‐free system were also documented.

Results.— For administration sites in the thigh and the abdomen, but not the arm, the needle‐free and needle‐based systems were bioequivalent (for all pharmacokinetic endpoints the mean ratios between the 2 devices were always between 90.1% and 115%). Among outpatients treating a migraine attack with the needle‐free system, 51 of 52 on first attempt used the needle‐free system successfully when treating a migraine attack.

Conclusions.— Sumavel™ DosePro™ needle‐free delivery system is a new presentation of s.c. sumatriptan that delivers drug effectively, is bioequivalent to the existing needle auto‐injector when used at the thigh or abdomen, and is easy to use.
The Raw Material Equivalents of International Trade
Authors: Muñoz Pablo , Giljum Stefan , Roca Jordi
Published: October 2009

This article aims at estimating the raw material equivalents (RMEs)—the upstream used material flows required along the production chain—of imports and exports for some Latin American countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. Furthermore, the United States is included in the analysis as a reference for a high‐income economy. The RME concept and the empirical evidence are articulated by use of an input−output methodology. Results are set out for the year 2003 for each of the countries and in time series for the years 1977, 1986, 1996, and 2003 in the case of Chile. The findings show not only the physical dimensions behind direct material traded but also how the previous exporter (importer) position of a country (based on standard material flow analysis indicators) deteriorates, alleviates, or changes. Implications for material consumption indicators, such as direct material consumption (DMC) and raw material consumption (RMC), are also drawn. The results suggest basing the discussion of material flows on a broader set of indicators to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the implications of international trade and its impacts on the environment.
Using Material Flow Analysis to Illuminate Long‐Term Waste Management Solutions in Oahu, Hawaii
Authors: Eckelman Matthew J. , Chertow Marian R.
Published: October 2009

Home to the capital city and nearly a million people, the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii, USA, is highly dependent on external resources. Over the past decade, large‐scale agricultural production has diminished dramatically, leaving the island greatly reliant on imports for food and most other basic goods. A strong tourism sector and high levels of affluence contribute to per capita municipal waste generation rates exceeding all other U.S. states. The only municipal landfill requires immediate expansion if it is to remain in operation, and it has proven extremely difficult to find additional disposal sites. An island‐wide material flow analysis (MFA) was performed as an innovative means of considering issues of import, export, consumption, and substitution, resulting in long‐term strategies for diminishing the generation of waste that could complement current local conservation and recycling efforts. The findings indicate several opportunities for using domestic waste resources to substitute for imports and simultaneously reduce waste generation, particularly for construction materials. Legislative constraints and possible changes in this regard are also considered. Although past efforts by both the city and state governments to encourage on‐island recycling and reuse have not achieved set goals, the MFA results suggest numerous opportunities that could be pursued to increase material self‐sufficiency and/or reduce waste disposal by several hundred thousand short tons, enhancing the long‐term sustainability of the island.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Comparative Chinese/American Public Administration
Authors: Holzer Marc , Zhang Mengzhong
Published: October 2009

In the field of public administration practice, China has a history of several thousand years, whereas the United States has a much shorter history of hundreds of years of governance. In terms of the scholarly development of public administration in China, the roots of those intellectual resources can be traced far back, to Confucius’s ideology of governance and the ancient development of a civil service system some 2,000 years ago. In terms of the systematic development of public administration as an independent subject of learning, however, the United States has been a leader worldwide. Public administration as a discipline in the United States dates back to the late nineteenth century, with extensive scholarly research and publications in the early twentieth century (Follett 1926; Goodnow 1900; Taylor 1912; Weber 1922; White 1926). In the Chinese context, although there were occasional studies of public administration in the first half of the twentieth century, systematic study was deferred until the middle of the 1980s. They were only truly continued following the official launch of master of public administration degree programs at the beginning of the twenty‐first century. In this respect, China was a latecomer, and Chinese scholars almost always date the study and scholarship in this field to about 1980. Over the past eighty years or so, the United States has established more than 200 MPA and related programs, while China has founded 100 MPA programs in just the past eight years. Recognizing the urgent need for MPA training, China is trying to catch up to the demand for social development and societal transition. Considering that China has a population of 1.3 billion, compared to a population of 300 million in the United States, it looks as if there is great potential for China to expand its MPA programs.
A Comparison of China's State‐Owned Enterprises and Their Counterparts in the United States: Performance and Regulatory Policy
Authors: Liu Yunhua
Published: October 2009

The stability of the Chinese economy during the recent world economic crisis has attracted global attention. This essay examines the role of state‐owned enterprises in China’s continued successful economic expansion. By comparing these enterprises’ performance with contemporary regulatory policies governing their American counterparts, the author, Yunhua Liu of Nanyang Technological University, finds that China’s strategy trumps that of the United States and concludes that in a transitional, developing economy, the existence of state‐owned enterprises offers an adaptive, efficacious strategy.
Crossing the River by Touching Stones: A Comparative Study of Administrative Reforms in China and the United States
Authors: Zhang Mengzhong
Published: October 2009

To compare administrative reform in one of the world’s most ancient civilizations and in one of the world’s “youngest countries” produces some surprises. Administrative reforms in both countries are similar, but occur at different periods of history. Mengzhong Zhang of the University of Maryland at College Park discovers that some of China’s recent reform efforts resemble historic efforts in the United States up to half a century ago. Other components of administrative reform in China reflect contemporary practices in the United States. This phenomenon reflects convergence, rather than divergence.
Governing Technological Entrepreneurship in China and the West
Authors: Yu Junbo , Stough Roger R. , Nijkamp Peter
Published: October 2009

What is the real driver of China’s technological entrepreneurship? Are the United States’ science parks the most efficient model for achieving a successful government policy regarding high‐technology research, development, and commercialization? This essay sheds light on the important role that central governments play and highlights limitations within each system. It also looks to the future, considering the newly evolving governance model for China’s innovation strategy.
Spontaneous or Constructed? Neighborhood Governance Reforms in Los Angeles and Shanghai
Authors: Chen Bin , Cooper Terry L. , Sun Rong
Published: October 2009

Can grassroots government succeed on its own without state involvement? By comparing approaches in two metropolitan governments—neighborhood councils in Los Angeles and resident committees in Shanghai—Bin Chen of the City University of New York at Baruch College, Terry L. Cooper of the University of Southern California, and Rong Sun of Shanghai Tongji University underscore the need to understand the interrelationships among the political and administrative structures where these specific reforms are implemented. Their analysis points out that the efficacy of a government‐initiated civic engagement program depends on a balanced combination of state involvement and community self‐organization.
The State of the State: Comparing Governance in China and the United States
Authors: Zhao Yongfei , Peters B. Guy
Published: October 2009

How do two world powers with starkly different governing systems share common accountability problems, and why? Does the cycle of administrative reform produce additional need for reforms that come full circle, eventually exacerbating problems without solution? Yongfei Zhao and B. Guy Peters of the University of Pittsburgh examine governance in the United States and China and point out that conflicts in government functions unique to each country result in strikingly similar accountability issues.
Key Issues for Implementation of Chinese Open Government Information Regulations
Authors: Piotrowski Suzanne J. , Zhang Yahong , Lin Weiwei , Yu Wenxuan
Published: October 2009

The Chinese context is in many ways fundamentally different from other countries where freedom of information laws and regulations are currently implemented. The authors, Suzanne Piotrowski, Yahong Zhang, and Weiwei Lin of Rutgers University – Newark, and Wenxuan Yu of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, identify the primary issues surrounding implementation of China’s new Open Government Information (OGI) regulations and compare the key concerns with those that have emerged in other contexts. The research included a survey of mid‐ and upper‐level Chinese government bureaucrats. The authors compare their findings to an established international framework of freedom of information implementation. The essay concludes that while the Chinese context is unique, the key issues surrounding implementation of the OGI regulations mirror in many ways what is found in other countries.
Advancing E‐Governance: Comparing Taiwan and the United States
Authors: Chen Yu‐Che , Hsieh Jun‐Yi
Published: October 2009

Can e‐governance fulfill the ideal of citizen‐centric government around the world? This comparative study examines Taiwan and the United States and offers PAR readers relevant management and policy lessons. The research utilizes a framework that captures the institutional, organizational, and technological drivers of e‐governance performance. The results indicate that the United States and Taiwan excel in different areas, but could improve in others and thereby learn from each other.
Performance Spillover Effects in Entrepreneurial Networks: Assessing a Dyadic Theory of Social Capital
Authors: Aarstad Jarle , Haugland Sven A. , Greve Arent
Published: October 2009

We study how social capital induces performance spillover effects in an industry network of entrepreneurs building their own hydroelectric micro–power plants. Most of them are farmers and novices living in rural areas. There is a link between social capital and performance at firm level. By expanding the level of analysis to dyads, we find that entrepreneurs lacking social capital can compensate for this through cohesion with colleagues rich in social capital. Entrepreneurs can also benefit by mimicking the networking patterns of successful colleagues, gaining access to equivalent resources developed in the niche.
Gender and Export Propensity
Authors: Orser Barbara , Spence Martine , Riding Allan , Carrington Christine A.
Published: October 2009

This article draws on theories about the internationalization process of small– and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs) and feminist arguments to explain gender differences in export propensity. Findings are based on a large–scale survey of Canadian SMEs. After controlling for sector, firm, and owner attributes, female majority–owned firms were significantly less likely to export than firms owned by men. The implications for entrepreneurship and feminist theory, export policy, and research are considered.
The Differential Impact of the Internet on Spurring Regional Entrepreneurship
Authors: Cumming Douglas , Johan Sofia
Published: October 2009

This paper studies the effect of the introduction of government–provided Internet technology to rural communities (Internet communities) on regional entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship increases among larger Internet communities, as the Internet spurs entrepreneurial activities by enabling agglomeration across areas that have a preexisting cluster of real entrepreneurial activities. There is, however, a decrease in entrepreneurship among smaller and more geographically remote Internet communities, as the Internet facilitates the consumption of items and services not produced within such smaller communities. Overall, the key finding is that virtual entrepreneurial clusters are not independent of real entrepreneurial clusters.
The Entrepreneurship Process in Base of the Pyramid Markets: The Case of Multinational Enterprise/Nongovernment Organization Alliances
Authors: Webb Justin W. , Kistruck Geoffrey M. , Ireland R. Duane , Ketchen David J.
Published: October 2009

Although base of the pyramid markets are significant sources of entrepreneurial opportunities, the nature of entrepreneurship in these markets is not well understood. Additionally, these markets remain largely underserved by multinational enterprises (MNEs). Given theoretical and practical gaps associated with these issues, we integrate entrepreneurship, institutional, and network theories to discuss how the entrepreneurship process of MNEs is negatively affected in base of the pyramid markets. We then explain how partnerships with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) can offset such negative effects due to NGOs‘ high degree of localized knowledge, social embeddedness within multiple informal networks, and ambidexterity in dealing with diverse stakeholder groups. Both economic and social benefits can result from such partnerships.
Bankruptcy Laws and Entrepreneur– Friendliness
Authors: Peng Mike W. , Yamakawa Yasuhiro , Lee Seung–Hyun
Published: October 2009

Using bankruptcy laws as a case of formal institutions, we show how formal institutions impact entrepreneurship development. Historically, bankruptcy laws usually have been harsh. Recently, many governments have realized that entrepreneur–friendly bankruptcy laws can not only lower exit barriers, but also lower entry barriers for entrepreneurs. Since bankruptcy laws are not uniform around the world, it is important to understand how they differ in their friendliness to entrepreneurs. This article focuses on six dimensions of entrepreneur–friendliness: (1) the availability of a reorganization bankruptcy option, (2) the time spent on bankruptcy procedures, (3) the cost of bankruptcy procedures, (4) the opportunity to have a fresh start in liquidation bankruptcy, (5) the opportunity to have an automatic stay of assets during reorganization bankruptcy, and (6) the opportunity for entrepreneurs and managers to remain on the job after filing for bankruptcy. In an effort to cover both developed and emerging economies and to draw on geographically diverse examples, we use data from Australia, Canada, Chile, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Norway, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and other countries to illustrate these differences. Overall, this article contributes to the institution–based view of entrepreneurship by highlighting the important role that formal institutions such as bankruptcy laws play behind entrepreneurship development around the world.
Mulling over Massachusetts: Health Insurance Mandates and Entrepreneurs
Authors: Jackson Scott
Published: October 2009

The author provides preliminary and provocative results regarding the impact of health insurance mandates on the propensity of entrepreneurs to start new organizations. In keeping with a well–observed propensity for individuals to adjust their economic calculations in anticipation of future costs/benefits, the evidence suggests that when confronted with such mandates, potential entrepreneurs may either abandon entrepreneurial ambitions or seek to minimize mandate costs through jurisdictional arbitrage with appreciable implications for state and national level approaches to health care, health insurance provision, and workers.
Dysregulation of CD36 upon TLR‐2 stimulation in monocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis and the TLR2 R753Q polymorphism
Authors: Niebuhr Margarete , Langnickel Jens , Sigel Stefanie , Werfel Thomas
Published: October 2009

Please cite this paper as: Dysregulation of CD36 upon TLR‐2 stimulation in monocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis and the TLR2 R753Q polymorphism. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e296–e298.

Background:  The cutaneous colonization with Staphylococcus aureus represents a potent trigger factor of atopic dermatitis. Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐2 and CD36 have been shown to play a pivotal role in the internalization of staphylococcal components.

Aims:  To investigate the impact of TLR‐2 ligands on cell surface protein expression in monocytes from wild type (WT) AD patients and TLR‐2 R753Q polymorph AD patients.

Results:  CD36 expression was significantly less downregulated in TLR‐2 polymorph AD patients compared to wild type AD patients upon stimulation with peptidoglycan (PGN) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and compared to healthy controls upon stimulation with PGN. Expression of CD86 was higher upon N‐palmitoyl‐S‐[2,3‐bis(palmitoyl)‐(2RS)‐propyl]‐(R)cysteinyl‐alanyl‐glycine (Pam3Cys) stimulation in TLR‐2 R753Q polymorph AD patients compared to wild type AD patients. Expression of CD80 and CD54 were unaffected.

Conclusion:  The differences in CD36 expression in TLR‐2 polymorph AD patients compared to wild type AD patients and healthy controls may be associated with an enhanced susceptibility to skin infections with S. aureus.
Physiological and biological factors associated with a 24 h treadmill ultra‐marathon performance
Authors: Millet G. Y. , Banfi J. C. , Kerherve H. , Morin J. B. , Vincent L. , Estrade C. , Geyssant A. , Feasson L.
Published: October 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological and biological factors associated with ultra‐endurance performance. Fourteen male runners volunteered to run on a treadmill as many kilometers as possible over a 24‐h period (24TR). Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max), velocity associated with V̇O2max () and running economy (RE) at 8 km/h were measured. A muscle biopsy was also performed in the vastus lateralis muscle. The subjects ran 149.2 ± 15.7 km in 18 h 39 ± 41 min of effective attendance on the treadmill, corresponding to 39.4 ± 4.2% of . Standard multiple‐regression analysis showed that performance was significantly (R2=0.82; P=0.005) related to V̇O2max and specific endurance, i.e. the average speed sustained over the 24TR expressed in . V̇O2max was associated with a high capillary tortuosity (R2=0.66; P=0.01). Specific endurance was significantly related to RE and citrate synthase activity. It is concluded that a high V̇O2max and an associated developed capillary network are essential for ultra‐endurance running performance. The ability to maintain a high %V̇O2max over a 24TR is another factor associated with performance and is mainly related to RE and high mitochondrial oxidative capacity in the vastus lateralis.
Effect of administration of oral contraceptives on the synthesis and breakdown of myofibrillar proteins in young women
Authors: Hansen M. , Langberg H. , Holm L. , Miller B. F. , Petersen S. G. , Doessing S. , Skovgaard D. , Trappe T. , Kjaer M.
Published: October 2009

Oral contraceptive (OC) treatment has an inhibiting effect on protein synthesis in tendon and muscle connective tissue. We aimed to investigate whether OC influence myofibrillar protein turnover in young women. OC‐users (24±2 years; Lindynette®n=7, Cilest®n=4) and non‐OC‐users (controls, 24±4 years n=12) performed one‐legged kicking exercise. The next day, the myofibrillar protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was measured using stable isotopic tracers (13C‐proline) while the subjects were fed standardized nutrient drinks. Simultaneously, a marker for myofibrillar protein breakdown, 3‐methyl‐histidine (3‐MH), was measured in the interstitial fluid of the vastus lateralis. Measurements were performed in both legs. In general, myofibrillar protein FSR was lower in OC‐users (two‐way analysis of variance, P<0.05), although the difference seemed to depend on the OC type. Interstitial 3‐MH in the skeletal muscle was not different between groups and did not vary by OC type. Exercise did not change myofibrillar protein FSR or 3‐MH concentrations. Serum androstenedione and bioavailability of testosterone were lower in OC‐users. In conclusion, the results indicate that the use of OC has an inhibiting effect on myofibrillar protein synthesis and the magnitude of the effect may depend on the type of OC. In contrast, there was no effect of OC on myofibrillar protein breakdown in the fed state.
Predictors of pre‐ and post‐competition affective states in male martial artists: a multilevel interactional approach
Authors: Cerin E. , Barnett A.
Published: October 2009

The aims of this study were to examine (a) the effects of competition‐related and competition‐extraneous concerns on affective states; (b) the relationships of primary and secondary appraisal with affective states and (c) the main and moderating effects of personality traits on pre‐ and post‐competition affects. Thirty‐nine male elite martial artists were assessed on 12 affective states, concerns and dimensions of primary and secondary appraisal at five random times a day across 1 week before and 3 days after a competition. On the competition day, they were assessed 1 h before and immediately after the contest. Competitive trait anxiety, neuroticism and extraversion were measured at the start of the study. The competition was the most significant and stressful event experienced in the examined period and had a pervasive influence on athletes' affective states. All examined appraisal and personality factors were somewhat associated with pre‐ and post‐competition affective states. Competitive trait anxiety was a key moderator of the relationship between cognitive appraisal and affective states. This study supports the idea that cognitive appraisal and situational and personality factors exert main and interactive effects on athletes' pre‐ and post‐competition affects. These factors need to be accounted for in planning of emotion regulation interventions.
Prenatal and neonatal risk factors for the development of enamel defects in low birth weight children
Authors: Velló MA , Martínez‐Costa C , Catalá M , Fons J , Brines J , Guijarro‐Martínez R
Published: October 2009

Oral Diseases (2010) 16, 257–262

Objective:  To analyse the influence of several prenatal and neonatal risk factors in the development of enamel defects in low birth weight children.

Subjects and methods:  Children between 4 and 5 years of age (n = 102) were classified into: Group 1) 52 low birth weight (<2500 g); Group 2) 50 normal birth weight (≥2500 g). Medical history, prenatal and neonatal variables were collected. Enamel defects were evaluated with the modified Developmental Defects of Enamel Index.

Results:  The prevalence of hypoplasia and average number of affected teeth were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (59.6%vs 16% and 1.6 vs 0.3 respectively). Low gestational age was linked to a higher prevalence of hypoplastic (P = 0.027) and combined defects (P = 0.001). Children with neonatal risk factors (low Apgar scores, parenteral nutrition, orotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation and acidosis) developed defects more frequently (P < 0.05). Defects were symmetrically distributed in children who were not intubated; in those who required intubation they concentrated on the left maxillary teeth (P < 0.05). Smoking during pregnancy, young maternal age and multiple birth were significantly associated to developmental defects.

Conclusions:  The prevalence of enamel defects in primary dentition is significantly influenced by birth weight, gestational age and several systemic factors. Orotracheal intubation probably plays an important role as a result of laryngoscope trauma on the maxilla.
Confounding and interaction effect of Treponema denticola salivary carriage in chronic periodontitis
Authors: Martínez‐Pabón MC , Martínez‐Gaviria A , Isaza‐Guzmán DM , Muskus‐López CE , Tobón‐Arroyave SI
Published: October 2009

Oral Diseases (2010) 16, 278–285

Aim:  To evaluate the salivary carriage of Treponema denticola and its association with demographic variables in the etiopathogenesis of chronic periodontitis.

Subjects and methods:  Ninety‐seven chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and a control group of 51 healthy subjects (HC) were selected. Periodontal status was assessed by criteria based on probing depth, attachment loss, extent, and severity of periodontal breakdown. A polymerase chain reaction method was used to determine the occurrence of T. denticola in saliva samples. Risk indicators for CP were assessed individually and adjusted for confounding and/or interaction using a logistic regression model.

Results:  Although univariate analysis revealed a positive association of age ≥30 years, smoking, and salivary carriage of T. denticola with CP, after logistic regression analysis, the association between age ≥30 years/smoking and CP persisted, whereas salivary carriage of T. denticola failed to achieve statistical significance. An interaction effect was significantly detected between these three variables.

Conclusion:  Although salivary carriage of T. denticola may be a risk indicator for CP, its pathogenicity should not be exclusively endorsed to its detection in saliva, but it might be associated with the synergistic biological interaction of the bacterium with some demographic characteristics of the susceptible host.
Parapsoriasis lichenoides/Parapsoriasis variegata – a new concept
Authors: Wolf Ingrid H. , Kerl Katrin , Cerroni Lorenzo , Kerl Helmut
Published: October 2009

We present a new concept on the nosology of parapsoriasis lichenoides (= parakeratosis variegata) and show that this parapsoriasis type is not a separate entity. It represents different diseases: a large number of cases presenting as reticular parapsoriasis are mycosis fungoides, another group represents reticular variants of the parapsoriasis guttata group (pityriasis lichenoides acuta et chronica). Further, cases exist that can be classified as lichen planus reticularis or other diseases (e. g. keratosis lichenoides).
A case of near‐drowning: a case for routine cerebral monitoring
Authors: Ponnusamy V , Beach RC , Blake J , Clarke P
Published: October 2009

A 6‐week‐old infant presenting with near‐drowning was medically paralysed and ventilated on admission. Status epilepticus was found on cerebral function monitoring, without which the diagnosis would have been missed or delayed for many hours. This case illustrates the value of cerebral function monitoring for patients in intensive care, where clinical signs of seizure activity are frequently masked by paralysis and sedation.

Conclusion:  Limited availability of electroencephalogram (EEG) and cerebral function monitoring (CFM) in paediatric intensive care may inadvertently delay diagnosis and appropriate treatments and so adversely affect outcomes. We propose that round‐the‐clock cerebral function and/or EEG monitoring should be available in all centres that provide paediatric intensive care.
Stent salvage for parent vessel coil herniation during intracranial aneurysm embolization
Authors: Wong George K.C. , Yu Simon C.H. , Wong Ka‐Tak , Poon Wai‐Sang
Published: October 2009

Background:  Despite accumulated experience and improved understanding of the tools, endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms still has risks associated with the technique itself and with the specificity of the pathology treated. An important risk is parent vessel Guglielmi detachable coil herniation. Here we review and illustrate our experiences in using a stent to manage this complication.

Methods:  We reviewed our experiences in 142 intracranial aneurysm embolizations over a four and a half year period and identified 13 cases with intravascular stent deployment. Three cases were unique in using a stent for salvage of coil herniation into the parent vessel.

Results:  We reported these cases and reviewed the literature for the management of parent vessel coil herniation.

Conclusion:  Parent vessel coil herniation was an uncommon but important complication of endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysm. Intravascular stent placement provided a tool to sequester herniated coils from the lumen of the parent artery to minimize thromboembolic complications and restore flow.
Surgical patient satisfaction in Hong Kong: Validation of a new instrument
Authors: Bower Wendy Fiona , Cheung Catherine S.K. , Wong Eric M.C. , Lee Ping‐Yin , Van Hasselt Charles Andrew
Published: October 2009

Objective:  To validate the locally developed surgical inpatient satisfaction instrument (SIPS) across a diverse population of perioperative patients and to identify independent contributors to patient satisfaction.

Methods:  Patients over 18 years of age who had undergone surgery either as a day or inpatient in three public hospitals within the eastern area of the New Territories in Hong Kong were recruited prior to discharge. Seven hundred and sixty‐five patients completed our 40‐item seven‐factor surgical patient satisfaction instrument along with an existing European measure of inpatient satisfaction in cancer patients (EORTC In‐Pats 32). Analysis included factorial validity by exploratory factor analyses, unidimensionality, item fit, differential item functioning and concurrent validity. Univariate and linear logistic regression analysis of overall satisfaction was carried out.

Results:  Psychometric testing demonstrated the instrument to be robust and generalizable and did not support removal of any of the items. The independent predictor of overall surgical inpatient satisfaction was the quality of nursing care and age over 50 years. Satisfaction was not confounded by gender, length of hospital stay or educational level.

Conclusions:  SIPS was shown to be valid across a range of surgical procedures.