bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategy, structure, and HRM policy orientation: Employee recruitment and selection practices in multinational subsidiaries
Authors: Mahmood Monowar
Published: September 2014

This study investigates influence of some important features of multinational corporations' (MNCs) such as their corporate strategies, structures, and international policy orientations, on subsidiaries' human resource management (HRM) practices, and particularly on employee recruitment and selection activities. Four European multinational subsidiaries operating in Bangladesh were selected for the study. In‐depth case studies revealed that the subsidiaries' recruitment and selection practices were guided by the changing nature of corporate structures, production strategies, and headquarters' international HRM policy orientations. The study also shows that the development of employee recruitment and selection practices by subsidiaries is not solely dependent on their parent companies. The roles and capabilities of subsidiaries also influence subsidiary–headquarters relationships, and consequently, the development of different employee recruitment and selection practices at the subsidiary level.
A Randomized Study of the Relative Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety of Alirocumab, a Fully Human Monoclonal Antibody to PCSK9, After Single Subcutaneous Administration at Three Different Injection Sites in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Lunven Catherine , Paehler Tobias , Poitiers Franck , Brunet Aurélie , Rey Jacques , Hanotin Corinne , Sasiela William J.
Published: September 2014

Aims

We investigated the relative pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab following injection at three different sites.

Methods

Sixty healthy subjects (39 male, 21 female; age 20–45 years) were randomized to receive a single subcutaneous injection of alirocumab 75 mg via 1‐mL prefilled pen into the abdomen, upper arm, or thigh (NCT01785329). Subjects were followed for 85 days ± 2 days following study drug administration. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters for the systemic exposure of alirocumab were calculated, and levels of free PCSK9 were assessed. Percentage changes from baseline in LDL‐C were compared between injection site groups using linear mixed‐effects models.

Results

Alirocumab concentration–time profiles were similar, and free PCSK9 levels were reduced to approximately zero between Day 3 and Day 4 postinjection in all groups. LDL‐C levels reached nadir on Day 15 postinjection in all groups with mean percentage reductions of 48.4% (abdomen), 39.5% (upper arm), and 45.6% (thigh) at this time point. A similar effect on LDL‐C levels was seen across the entire time course of the study at all three injection sites. Treatment‐emergent adverse events were experienced by 8/20 (abdomen), 11/20 (upper arm), and 13/20 (thigh) subjects. There were 2 mild/transient injection site reactions. There were no serious adverse events.

Discussion

A single subcutaneous administration of alirocumab 75 mg via prefilled pen was well tolerated with similar pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics when injected into the abdomen, upper arm, or thigh.

Conclusion

These results suggest that alirocumab can be interchangeably injected in the abdomen, upper arm, or thigh.
Efficacy and Safety of the Glycine Transporter‐1 Inhibitor Org 25935 for the Prevention of Relapse in Alcohol‐Dependent Patients: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: de Bejczy Andrea , Nations Kari R. , Szegedi Armin , Schoemaker Joep , Ruwe Frank , Söderpalm Bo
Published: September 2014

Background

Org 25935 is a glycine transporter inhibitor that increases extracellular glycine levels and attenuates alcohol‐induced dopaminergic activity in the nucleus accumbens. In animal models, Org 25935 has dose‐dependent effects on ethanol intake, preference, and relapse‐like behavior without tolerance. The current study aimed to translate these animal findings to humans by examining whether Org 25935 prevents relapse in detoxified alcohol‐dependent patients.

Methods

This was a multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Adult patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence were randomly assigned to receive Org 25935 12 mg twice a day or placebo for 84 days. The primary end point was percentage heavy drinking days (defined as ≥5 standard drinks per day for men and ≥4 for women). Secondary end points included other measures of relapse‐related drinking behavior (e.g., drinks per day, time to relapse), as well as measures of global functioning, alcohol‐related thoughts and cravings, and motivation.

Results

A total of 140 subjects were included in the intent‐to‐treat analysis. The trial was stopped approximately midway after a futility analysis showing that the likelihood of detecting a signal at study term was <40%. There was no significant difference between Org 25935 and placebo on percentage heavy drinking days or any other measure of relapse‐related drinking behavior. Org 25935 showed no safety issues and was fairly well tolerated, with fatigue, dizziness, and transient visual events as the most commonly occurring side effects.

Conclusions

Org 25935 demonstrated no benefit over placebo in preventing alcohol relapse. Study limitations and implications are discussed.
A Real‐Time Examination of Context Effects on Alcohol Cognitions
Authors: Monk Rebecca L. , Heim Derek
Published: September 2014

Background

This research used context aware experiential sampling to investigate the effect of contexts on in vivo alcohol‐related outcome expectancies.

Methods

A time‐stratified random sampling strategy was adopted to assess 72 students and young professionals at 5 daily intervals over the course of a week using a specifically designed smartphone application. This application recorded respondents' present situational and social contexts, alcohol consumption, and alcohol‐related cognitions in real‐time.

Results

In vivo social and environmental contexts and current alcohol consumption accounted for a significant proportion of variance in outcome expectancies. For instance, prompts which occurred while participants were situated in a pub, bar, or club and in a social group of friends were associated with heightened outcome expectancies in comparison with other settings.

Conclusions

Alcohol‐related expectancies do not appear to be static but instead demonstrate variation across social and environmental contexts. Modern technology can be usefully employed to provide a more ecologically valid means of measuring such beliefs.
Effects of State Cigarette Excise Taxes and Smoke‐Free Air Policies on State Per Capita Alcohol Consumption in the United States, 1980 to 2009
Authors: Krauss Melissa J. , Cavazos‐Rehg Patricia A. , Plunk Andrew D. , Bierut Laura J. , Grucza Richard A.
Published: September 2014

Background

Increasing state cigarette excise taxes and strengthening smoke‐free air (SFA) laws are known to reduce smoking prevalence. Some studies suggest that such policies may also reduce alcohol use, but results for cigarette taxes have been mixed, and associations with smoke‐free air policies have been limited to some demographic subgroups. To shed further light on the potential secondary effects of tobacco control policy, we examined whether increases in cigarette taxes and strengthening of SFA laws were associated with reductions of per capita alcohol consumption and whether any reductions were specific to certain beverage types.

Methods

State per capita alcohol consumption from 1980 to 2009 was modeled as a function of state price per pack of cigarettes and SFA policy scores while controlling for secular trends and salient state covariates. Both policy measures also accounted for local policies. Total alcohol, beer, wine, and spirits consumption per capita were modeled separately. For each type of beverage, we used a nested models approach to determine whether the 2 policies together were associated with reduced consumption.

Results

For total alcohol consumption, and for beer or spirits (but not wine), one or both tobacco policies were associated with reductions in consumption. A 1% increase in cigarette price per pack was associated with a 0.083% decrease in per capita total alcohol consumption (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0002 to 0.166, p = 0.0495), and a 1‐point increase in SFA policy score, measured on a 6‐point scale, was associated with a 1.1% decrease in per capita total alcohol consumption (95% CI 0.4 to 1.7, p = 0.001; p < 0.001 for the hypothesis that the 2 policies are jointly associated with reduced alcohol consumption).

Conclusions

The public health benefits of increasing cigarette taxes and smoke‐free policies may go beyond the reduction of smoking and extend to alcohol consumption, specifically beer and spirits.
Association of Increased S100A8 Serum Protein with Early Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Nair Rohini R. , Khanna Anuradha , Singh Kiran
Published: September 2014

Problem

The contribution of systemic S100A8 protein in menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and early pregnancy loss (EPL) is not known. Altered expression of S100A8 in maternal decidua is associated with recurrent early pregnancy loss. The objective of this study was to investigate the systemic level of S100A8 in different phases of menstrual cycle, different trimester of pregnancy, and in EPL.

Method of Study

Level of S100A8 was investigated in serum samples of the subjects through enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Result and Conclusion

S100A8 levels were elevated during proliferative phase of menstural cycle. We found no statistical difference in S100A8 level in different trimester of pregnancy. S100A8 level was found to be significantly elevated in patients with EPL. This is the first study evaluating the systemic level of S100A8 predicting its role during menstural cycle and pregnancy. It opens a new perspective in which S100A8 can be used as a prognostic marker for EPL.
Microbes Central to Human Reproduction
Authors: Reid Gregor , Brigidi Patrizia , Burton Jeremy P. , Contractor Nikhat , Duncan Sylvia , Fargier Emilie , Hill Colin , Lebeer Sarah , Martín Rocio , McBain Andrew J. , Mor Gil , O'Neill Catherine , Rodríguez Juan Miguel , Swann Jonathan , van Hemert Saskia , Ansell Juliett
Published: September 2014

As studies uncover the breadth of microbes associated with human life, opportunities will emerge to manipulate and augment their functions in ways that improve health and longevity. From involvement in the complexities of reproduction and fetal/infant development, to delaying the onset of disease, and indeed countering many maladies, microbes offer hope for human well‐being. Evidence is emerging to suggest that microbes may play a beneficial role in body sites traditionally viewed as being sterile. Although further evidence is required, we propose that much of medical dogma is about to change significantly through recognition and understanding of these hitherto unrecognized microbe–host interactions. A meeting of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics held in Aberdeen, Scotland (June 2014), presented new views and challenged established concepts on the role of microbes in reproduction and health of the mother and infant. This article summarizes some of the main aspects of these discussions.
Subjects with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia‐like B‐cell clones with stereotyped B‐cell receptors frequently show MDS‐associated phenotypes on myeloid cells
Authors: Rodríguez‐Caballero Arancha , Henriques Ana , Criado Ignacio , Langerak Anton W. , Matarraz Sergio , López Antonio , Balanzategui Ana , González Marcos , Nieto Wendy G. , Cortesão Emília , Paiva Artur , Almeida Julia , Orfao Alberto
Published: September 2014

An increasing body of evidence suggests the potential occurrence of antigen encounter by the cell of origin in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and CLL‐like monoclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis (MBL). However, the scenario in which this event might occur remains unknown. In order to gain insight into this scenario we investigated the molecular, cytogenetic and haematological features of 223 CLL‐like (n = 84) and CLL (n = 139) clones with stereotyped (n = 32) versus non‐stereotyped (n = 191) immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) amino acid sequences. Overall, stereotyped CLL‐like MBL and CLL clones showed a unique IGHV profile, associated with higher IGHV1 and lower IGHV3 gene family usage (P = 0·03), longer IGHV complementary determining region 3 (HCDR3) sequences (P = 0·007) and unmutated IGHV (P < 0·001) versus non‐stereotyped clones. Whilst the overall size of the stereotyped B‐cell clones in peripheral blood did not appear to be associated with the CLL‐related cytogenetic profile of B‐cells (P > 0·05), it did show a significant association with the presence of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)‐associated immunophenotypes on peripheral blood neutrophils and/or monocytes (P = 0·01). Altogether our results point to the potential involvement of different selection forces in the expansion of stereotyped vs. non‐stereotyped CLL and CLL‐like MBL clones, the former being potentially favoured by an underlying altered haematopoiesis.
What does the general public in the UK know about the risk to a developing foetus if exposed to alcohol in pregnancy? Findings from a UK mixed methodology study
Authors: Mukherjee R. , Wray E. , Hollins S. , Curfs L.
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a set of preventable conditions where the foetus is exposed to alcohol in utero and as a result suffers adverse consequences. To develop a public health strategy related to FASD, it is important to first establish what is known by the public about this condition. This study aimed to assess the current level of knowledge about FASD in the UK general population.

Methods

A mixed methodology study was conducted using a 17‐item questionnaire and focus group sessions. Four focus groups were held with an average of 10 people in each group. Semi‐structured questions and thematic analysis of interviews alongside quantitative analysis of the questionnaire data was completed. The research was approved by an National Health service (NHS) research ethical committee.

Results

A total of 674 people responded to the questionnaire and a majority (86.7%) had heard about FASD, with most receiving their information from the media (26.2%) or from their work (27.7%). Four broad themes emerged. Overall these were: a general lack of knowledge about the subject; information about the subject needed to be personally relevant; there was a need for further education; and there was a lack of clarity in the current guidance on alcohol use in pregnancy.

Discussion and conclusions

Currently there appears to be a superficial level of knowledge about FASD in the UK general public. More detailed work in subgroups, such as young women, to identify their specific needs may be necessary before targeted public health and educational interventions can be developed to meet the needs of the general public.
Development and implementation of a paediatric rehabilitation care path for hard‐to‐reach families: a case report
Authors: Phoenix M. , Rosenbaum P.
Published: September 2014

Service providers, policy makers and researchers are increasingly concerned with service provisions for hard‐to‐reach families. These are defined as families who are eligible for a service, but are difficult for service providers to identify or engage. In our setting, hard‐to‐reach families were those who missed appointments without prior notice, a problem that was inefficient for the organization, frustrating for clinicians and did not meet child or family needs. This case report describes the development of a care path to promote engagement with hard‐to‐reach families (MATCH: Making Alternative Therapy Choices Happen) and its adoption among clinicians within a community‐based paediatric rehabilitation centre in Ontario, Canada. The care path was developed and implemented at a pilot site at KidsAbility Centre for Child Development (KidsAbility), which allowed us to tailor the care path using clinician input via questionnaires, and to monitor use of the care path. Following pilot implementation clinicians reported being satisfied with the approach and perceived improved child and family outcomes. The care path was expanded to four service sites using a Knowledge Brokering model. After training, clinicians reported a good understanding of the care path: 87% felt that they would have an opportunity to use it within six months, however only 68% felt ready to use it. Challenges to offering MATCH and continuing training preferences were investigated. The MATCH care path illustrates a practical application of the principles of best‐practice for engaging hard‐to‐reach families, tailored for a specific paediatric rehabilitation setting. Continued research is planned to further define the hard‐to‐reach families within paediatric rehabilitation, determine how hard‐to‐reach families view engagement in services, and evaluate the effectiveness of MATCH implementation in reducing missed appointments and promoting family engagement in paediatric rehabilitation services.
A retrospective study of past graduates of a residential life skills program for youth with physical disabilities
Authors: Kingsnorth S. , King G. , McPherson A. , Jones‐Galley K.
Published: September 2014

Background

Young people with physical disabilities experience issues regarding employment, schooling, independent living and establishing meaningful personal relationships. A lack of life skills has been recognized as an important factor contributing to this lag. TheIndependenceProgram (TIP) is a short‐term residential life skills program that aims to equip youth with the foundational life skills required to assume adult roles. This study retrospectively examined the achievements, skills acquired and program attributions of youth and young adults who took part in this three‐week immersive teen independence program over a 20‐year period.

Methods

A total of 162 past graduates were invited to take part, with 78 doing so (a 48% response rate). These past graduates completed an online survey assessing objective outcomes such as employment and independent living; subjective outcomes such as feeling in control and living meaningful lives; and reflections on skills acquired, opportunities experienced and attributions toTIP.

Results

The majority of respondents were female (71%), had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (55%) and ranged from 20 to 35 years of age (92%). Despite a range of outcomes related to the achievement of adult roles, high levels of life satisfaction and overall quality of life were reported. Nearly every respondent reported using the skills they learned at the program in their lives afterwards and a high percentage attributed the acquisition and consolidation of core life skills to participating in this intensive immersive program.

Conclusions

Although causality cannot be assumed, respondents reflected very positively on the opportunities provided byTIPto develop their independent living and life skills, extend their social networks and understand their strengths and weaknesses. Such findings validate the importance of targeted skill development to assist young people with physical disabilities in attaining their life goals and encourage focused investigations of key features in program design.
Genomewide association study identifies HAS2 as a novel susceptibility gene for adult asthma in a Japanese population
Authors: Yatagai Y. , Sakamoto T. , Yamada H. , Masuko H. , Kaneko Y. , Iijima H. , Naito T. , Noguchi E. , Hirota T. , Tamari M. , Konno S. , Nishimura M. , Hizawa N.
Published: September 2014

Background

It is increasingly clear that asthma is not a single disease, but a disorder with vast heterogeneity in pathogenesis, severity, and treatment response. To date, 30 genomewide association studies (GWASs) of asthma have been performed, including by our group. However, most gene variants identified so far confer relatively small increments in risk and explain only a small proportion of familial clustering.

Objective

To identify additional genetic determinants of susceptibility to asthma using a selected Japanese population with reduced tobacco smoking exposure.

Methods

We performed a GWAS by genotyping a total of 480 098 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for a Japanese cohort consisting of 734 healthy controls and 240 patients with asthma who had smoked for no more than 10 pack‐years. The SNP with the strongest association was genotyped in two other independent Japanese cohorts consisting of a total of 531 healthy controls and 418 patients with asthma who had smoked for no more than 10 pack‐years. For the hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene, we investigated SNP–gene associations using an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) database and also analysed its gene expression profiles in 13 different normal tissues.

Results

In the discovery GWAS, a SNP located upstream of HAS2, rs7846389, showed the strongest statistical significance (P = 1.43 × 10−7). In the two independent replication cohorts, rs7846389 was consistently associated with asthma (nominal P = 0.0152 and 0.0478 in the first and second replication cohorts, respectively). In the meta‐analysis, association of rs7846389 with susceptibility to asthma reached the level of genomewide significance (P = 7.92 × 10−9). This variant was strongly correlated with HAS2 mRNA expression. The strongest expression of the gene was detected in the lung.

Conclusions

Our study identified HAS2 as a novel candidate gene for susceptibility to adult asthma.
Low ficolin-2 levels in common variable immunodeficiency patients with bronchiectasis
Authors: Metzger M-L , Michelfelder I , Goldacker S , Melkaoui K , Litzman J , Guzman D , Grimbacher B , Salzer U
Published: September 2014

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) encompasses a heterogeneous group of antibody deficiencies characterized by susceptibility to recurrent infections and sequelae, including bronchiectasis. We investigated the relevance of the lectin complement pathway in CVID patients by analysing ficolin-2 and ficolin-3 serum levels and genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FCN2 and FCN3 genes. Our results show that ficolin-2 levels in CVID patients are significantly lower (P < 0·0001) than in controls. The lowest ficolin-2 levels are found in CVID patients with bronchiectasis (P = 0·0004) and autoimmunity (P = 0·04). Although serum levels of ficolin-3 were similar in CVID patients and controls, CVID patients with bronchiectasis again showed lower levels when compared to controls (P = 0·0001). Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FCN2 gene confirmed known influences on ficolin-2 serum levels, but did not support a genetic basis for the observed ficolin-2 deficiency in CVID. We found that CVID patients with bronchiectasis have very low levels of ficolin-2. The reason for the deficiency of ficolin-2 in CVID and any possible causal relationship is currently unknown. However, as bronchiectasis is a very important factor for morbidity and mortality in CVID, ficolin-2 could also serve as biomarker for monitoring disease complications such as bronchiectasis.
Influence of recipient age on deceased donor kidney transplant outcomes in the expanded criteria donor era
Authors: Al‐Shraideh Yousef , Farooq Umar , Farney Alan C. , Palanisamy Amudha , Rogers Jeffrey , Orlando Giuseppe , Buckley Michael R. , Reeves‐Daniel Amber , Doares William , Kaczmorski Scott , Gautreaux Michael D. , Iskandar Samy S. , Hairston Gloria , Brim Elizabeth , Mangus Margaret , Stratta Robert J.
Published: September 2014

Methods

We performed a retrospective single‐center review of 884 deceased donor (DD) kidney transplants (KTs) in patients (pts) aged ≥40 yr.

Results

One hundred and four (11.8%) pts were ≥70 (mean 74), 286 (32.3%) were 60–69 (mean 64), and 494 (55.9%) were 40–59 (mean 51) yr of age; the proportion receiving expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys were 66%, 49%, and 30%, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean waiting time (15 months) was shorter for pts ≥70 yr compared to the other two groups combined (23 months, p = 0.002). With mean follow‐up ranging from 54 to 70 months, actual pt (81% vs. 72%, p = 0.002) and graft (66% vs. 58.5%, p = 0.03) survival rates were higher in the younger compared to the two older groups, whereas death‐censored graft survival was similar (76% vs. 73%, p = NS). The incidence of death with a functioning graft correlated with older recipient age group, increasing from 13% to 18% to 23% (p = 0.01). The incidence of delayed graft function was similar (31.8% overall), and renal function, morbidity, and resource utilization were similar among groups.

Conclusions

By directing ECD kidneys to selected older pts, waiting times are reduced and censored survival outcomes are similar to middle‐aged patients, suggesting that matching strategies for graft and patient lifespan are warranted.
Immunosuppressive therapies after intestinal transplant modulate the expression of Th1 signature genes during acute cellular rejection. Implications in the search for rejection biomarkers
Authors: Zambernardi Agustina , Chiodetti Ana , Meier Dominik , Cabanne Ana , Nachman Fabio , Solar Héctor , Rumbo Carolina , Gondolesi Gabriel E. , Rumbo Martin
Published: September 2014

Background and Aims

Acute cellular rejection (ACR) and infections are leading causes of graft loss and death in intestinal transplant patients. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of maintenance immunosuppressive therapies on the expression of pro‐inflammatory mediators in small bowel at ACR diagnosis.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed expression levels of Th1‐associated genes, IFNG, CXCL10, and CXCL11 by qPCR in 46 selected graft biopsies unequivocally assigned to mild ACR (n = 14) or normal histopathology and clinical condition (n = 32) from 15 patients receiving two different immunosuppressive (IS) schemes. Double treatment: corticosteroids and tacrolimus (n = 17) and triple treatment: sirolimus or mycophenolate mofetil in addition to the basal therapy (n = 29).

Results

IFNG, CXCL10, and CXCL11 were induced during rejection (p < 0.05; p < 0.005, and p < 0.05, respectively). However, when rejection and control groups were classified according to immunosuppressive treatment, in the rejection group, significant differences of IFNG, CXCL10, and CXCL11 expression (p < 0.001; p < 0.005, and 0.01, respectively) were detected, whereas no differences were observed in the control group.

Conclusion

Gene expression of Th1 response mediators is higher during ACR. Triple IS group showed significantly lower expression of pro‐inflammatory Th1 mediators during mild ACR indicating that use of these markers to monitor rejection can be affected by the IS treatment used.
Can aspirin reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in people with diabetes? A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Lin C. C. , Lai M. S. , Shau W. Y.
Published: September 2014

Aim

To evaluate whether aspirin can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in people with diabetes.

Methods

We studied ≥ 30‐year‐old people with diabetes, included in the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 in Taiwan, who were treated with hypoglycaemic drugs. We used a time‐varying Cox regression model to adjust for immortal time bias and to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio and 95% CI for the association between aspirin use and colorectal cancer occurrence.

Results

We studied a total of 60 828 people with diabetes (31 176 men and 29 652 women). Their mean (sd) age was 58.72 (13.33) years. A total of 26 494 people were taking aspirin. Aspirin use 3–5 times/week (moderate frequency) for > 5 years (long duration) was found to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 46% (hazard ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.34–0.86). Aspirin use > 5 times/week (high frequency) for 4–5 years (moderate duration) and > 5 years reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 56 and 68%, respectively (hazard ratio 0.44, 95% CI 0.24–0.80; hazard ratio 0.32, 95% CI 0.20–0.50). Low frequency (≤ 2 times/week) and/or short duration (≤ 3 years) of aspirin use did not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

Aspirin use with high frequency and long duration reduced the risk of colorectal cancer in people with diabetes in a frequency‐ and duration‐dependent manner, whereas low frequency and/or short duration of aspirin use did not. The dosage, frequency and duration of aspirin use that are sufficient to prevent the incidence of colorectal cancer in people with diabetes require further study.
Role of Three‐Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography in Diagnosis of Coronary Anomalies
Authors: Theron Alexis , Jacquier Alexis , Ravis Eleonore , Ronchard Thibault , Gaubert Jean‐Yves , Grisoli Dominique , Gariboldi Vlad , Collart Frederic
Published: September 2014

Mini‐Abstract

A 16‐year‐old man was referred to our institution after a recovered sudden cardiac death supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) revealed a left anterior descending coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus with a course between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. After extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning, a multidetector computed tomography coronary angiogram scan confirmed the 3DTEE findings. Here, we suggested that 3DTEE can provide a reliable coronary anatomic assessment in some emergency cases when it is not possible to shift the patient out of the ICU.
Diagnosis of Pentacuspid Aortic Valve with Severe Regurgitation Using Three‐Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography
Authors: Ozyilmaz Sinem , Akgul Ozgur , Guzeltas Alper , Ozyilmaz Isa
Published: September 2014

Mini‐Abstract

We describe a 48‐year‐old female patient with a pentacuspid aortic valve and severe aortic regurgitation that was diagnosed using three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
Left Atrial Volume Index as a Predictor for Persistent Left Ventricular Dysfunction after Aortic Valve Surgery in Patients with Chronic Aortic Regurgitation: The Role of Early Postoperative Echocardiography
Authors: Cho In‐Jeong , Chang Hyuk‐Jae , Hong Geu‐Ru , Heo Ran , Sung Ji Min , Lee Sang‐Eun , Chang Byung‐Chul , Shim Chi Young , Ha Jong‐Won , Chung Namsik
Published: September 2014

Background

This study aimed to explore whether echocardiographic measurements during the early postoperative period can predict persistent left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) after aortic valve surgery in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR).

Methods

We prospectively recruited 54 patients (59 ± 12 years) with isolated chronic severe AR who subsequently underwent aortic valve surgery. Standard transthoracic echocardiography was performed before the operation, during the early postoperative period (≤2 weeks), and then 1 year after the surgery.

Results

Twelve patients with preoperative LVSD demonstrated LVSD at early after the surgery. Of the 42 patients without LVSD at preoperative echocardiography, 15 patients (36%) developed early postoperative LVSD after surgical correction. All 27 patients without LVSD at early postoperative echocardiography maintained LV function at 1 year after surgery. In the other 27 patients with postoperative LVSD, 17 patients recovered from LVSD and 10 patients did not at 1 year after surgery. Multiple logistic analysis demonstrated that postoperative left atrial volume index (LAVI) was the only independent predictor for persistent LVSD at 1 year after surgery in patients with postoperative LVSD (OR 1.180, 95% CI, 1.003–1.390, P = 0.046). The optimal LAVI cutoff value (>34.9 mL/m2) had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 88% for the prediction of persistent LVSD.

Conclusion

Prevalence of early postoperative LVSD was relatively high, even in the patients without LVSD at preoperative echocardiography. Postoperative LAVI could be useful to predict persistent LVSD after aortic valve surgery in patients with early postoperative LVSD.
Reliability of Doppler‐Based Measurement of Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in Congenital Heart Disease with Left‐to‐Right Shunt Lesions
Authors: Bhyravavajhala Srinivas , Velam Vanajakshamma , Polapragada Nishanth V. , Pallempati Pranav , Iragavarapu Tammi Raju , Patnaik Amar Narayan , Damera Seshagiri Rao
Published: September 2014

Background

Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is a crucial parameter in the management of patients with left‐to‐right shunt lesions. Cardiac catheterization (Cath) is the gold standard test to assess PVR (PVRcath), but it is invasive and hence, risky in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). A noninvasive tool to assess PVR is desirable. Ratio of tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) and time‐velocity integral of right ventricular outflow tract (TVIRVOT) by Doppler was previously shown to be a reliable noninvasive method for estimation of PVR in acquired PAH.

Methods

Peak TR velocity and TVIRVOT were recorded from 63 prospective patients with various congenital shunt lesions. Subsequently, the patients were subjected to cath in less than 2 hours. The patients were subdivided into four subsets based on age and pulmonary arterial mean pressure (PAMP). A regression equation was developed for calculation of PVR from TRV/TVIRVOT (PVREcho) which was indexed for BSA (PVRIEcho). Bland–Altman analysis was done for agreement between PVRIcath and PVRIEcho. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to test the identity of the two methods and also the applicability of PVRIEcho across a wide range of Wood units.

Results

Receiver operating characteristic curve plotted between the two methods showed good identity. Bland–Altman analysis showed excellent agreement between the two methods with negligible bias. ROC curves showed that PVRIEcho was accurate in distinguishing different cutoff values of PVR in each of the 4 groups.

Conclusion

Noninvasive Doppler estimation of PVR is reliable in patients with shunt lesions over a wide range of PVR.
Diversity in tropical ecosystems: the species richness and turnover of moths in Malaysian rainforests
Authors: Ashton Louise A. , Barlow Henry S. , Nakamura Akihiro , Kitching Roger L.
Published: September 2014

As a contribution to accurate estimation of arthropod alpha and beta diversities in tropical forests, we present results of some of the largest moth samples ever collected in the Malaysian region.

To estimate alpha diversity, light traps were run at three geographically distinct locations. We generated individual‐based and coverage‐based rarefaction curves to estimate sampling sufficiency and alpha diversity of the locations. Despite a large number of moths collected (67 282 individuals, from three locations), none of the rarefaction curves reached asymptote. The species accumulation curves based on the Chao1 richness estimator at each location suggested that, even when sampling yielded over 30 000 individuals, Chao1 could not reliably estimate the observed number of species. In one of the three locations, moths were collected systematically by light traps in 1979–1980 and 2000–2001. Despite over 160 trapping nights and 16 500 individuals collected in total, the estimated total number of species (2262) was well below the general collection conducted at the same location over a 35‐year period [3921 species (1975–2013)].

Beta diversity was investigated using the samples collected at one location on two occasions over a 20‐year period. The faunal composition has changed over the 20‐year period, possibly as a result of extensive land‐use change around the study location. We estimated the minimum sampling effort required to detect such changes by calculating type II errors. Unlike alpha diversity estimation, we found that only four replicate samples, each with only two trapping nights, would be sufficient to reliably detect changes in assemblage composition.
Sonographically measured suprailiac adipose tissue is a useful predictor of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children and adolescents
Authors: Schlieske C. , Denzer C. , Wabitsch M. , Oeztuerk S. , Mason R. A. , Thiere D. , Kratzer W.
Published: September 2014

Objective

The objective of the present study was to identify ultrasonographic and anthropometric parameters that are highly associated with the presence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight children and adolescents.

Methods

A total of 447 overweight children and adolescents (body mass index, 32.4 ± 5.2 kg m−2; mean age, 14.2 ± 1.9 years; range 10.1–20.3 years) were analysed. Subjects underwent ultrasound examination of the liver as well as ultrasonographic measurement of the amount of adipose tissue overlying the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles, and of subscapular, suprailiac and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and intra‐abdominal depth. Anthropometric parameters such as body mass index, waist and hip circumference were documented.

Results

The prevalence of NAFLD was 27.1%; it was significantly associated with the above‐cited anthropometric parameters (P < 0.001). Ultrasonographic findings identified a significant association between NAFLD and the amount of subscapular, suprailiac and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.001) as well as between NAFLD and intra‐abdominal depth (P < 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed only intra‐abdominal depth for both gender and the deposit of subcutaneous suprailiac adipose tissue in females to be independent predictors of NAFLD.

Conclusions

In overweight children and adolescents, we identified intra‐abdominal depth for both gender and the ultrasonographically easily determined subcutaneous suprailiac adipose tissue in females as independent predictor of NAFLD.
Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and antegrade ureterolithotripsy in a 10‐month‐old infant with urinary stones in both kidney and ureter
Authors: Naitoh Yasuyuki , Yamada Yasuhiro , Fujihara Atsuko , Naya Yoshio , Hongo Fumiya , Kamoi Kazumi , Okihara Koji , Miki Tsuneharu
Published: September 2014

The prevalence of urinary tract stones in the pediatric population is lower than that in adults. Although methods of surgery and medical equipment have developed, medical treatments for urinary tract stones are limited for pediatric cases. We report the case of a 10‐month‐old male infant with urinary stones in the left kidney and ureter who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and ureterolithotripsy using antegrade insertion of a ureteroscope through the same nephrostomy tract.
Do they look like me?: Rethinking representation and its relationship with freedom
Authors: Dawson Hannah
Published: September 2014

Hannah Dawson argues that a sea change is underway in how we think about representation – one that requires us to think beyond ‘tokenism’ and ‘meritocracy’ and recognise the benefits of having leaders that more closely resemble society.
An election without precedent – can Labour win in 2015?
Authors: Curtice John
Published: September 2014

What can past electoral cycles tell us about each party's electoral prospects next May? John Curtice finds that three factors without recent precedent – a fixed‐term parliament, an incumbent coalition government and an insurgent fourth party in the form of Ukip – mean that there are more ‘known unknowns’ than clear indications.
Growth Mechanism and Defects of <111>‐Oriented β‐SiC Films Deposited by Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Zhang Song , Xu Qingfang , Tu Rong , Goto Takashi , Zhang Lianmeng
Published: September 2014

Two kinds of <111>‐oriented β‐SiC films with pyramidlike and needlelike morphologies were obtained by laser chemical vapor deposition. Their mean grain size () as a function of the distance from substrate (h) follows power laws of  ∝ h0.62 and  ∝ h0.71, respectively. The planar defects in pyramidlike films were perpendicular to the growth direction, whereas those in needlelike β‐SiC films inclined to growth direction, which can be annihilated with meeting of anti‐couple defect. This self‐vanish of defects would develop a new approach to fabricate high quality <111>‐oriented β‐SiC.
Postmyocarditis Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients with Epicardial‐Only Scar: A Specific Entity Requiring a Specific Approach
Authors: BERTE BENJAMIN , SACHER FREDERIC , COCHET HUBERT , MAHIDA SAAGAR , YAMASHITA SEIGO , LIM HAN , DENIS ARNAUD , DERVAL NICOLAS , HOCINI MÉLÈZE , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL , JAÏS PIERRE
Published: September 2014

Epicardial‐Only VT Ablation

Background

Nonischemic cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous condition providing a favorable substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Objective

The purpose of this study is to further characterize the substrate in a subset of postmyocarditis patients with epicardial‐only scar.

Methods

Twelve postmyocarditis patients (11 male, 49 ± 14 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 49 ± 12%) with VT and epicardial‐only scar were included for analysis comparing automatic high‐amplitude normal activity (HANA) maps to manually adjusted maps of based on local abnormal ventricular activity (LAVA) electrograms when present. A combined endocardial (endo) and epicardial (epi) approach was used in 11/12 with usual bipolar/unipolar voltage thresholds and analyzed using image integration.

Results

A delayed enhancement MRI scar area of 52 cm2 (38, 59) and multidetector CT wall thinning area of 18 cm2 (14, 35) was found. Bipolar voltage substrate mapping (160 points [101, 239] endo, 553 points [232, 713] epi and LAVA were found only epicardially [443 LAVA points] in all) illustrated a low‐voltage area of HANA: 1 cm2 (0, 10) endo, 25 cm2 (22, 39) epi and LAVA: 1 cm2 (0, 10) endo, 39 cm2 (28, 51) epi. Manual maps performed better than automatic maps for delineating low‐voltage area with a higher overlap with scar area on delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE‐MRI; 76% [66, 94] vs. 45% [35, 62]; P = 0.04). In addition, manual voltage maps also showed a higher overlap with location of LAVA (LAVA in normal voltage area: 3% [0, 9] vs. 35% [32, 41]; P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In postmyocarditis patients with epicardial‐only scar, automatic voltage mapping may miss or minimize the electrical VT substrate. DE‐MRI and manual LAVA‐based voltage mapping are necessary to optimize scar delineation. Epicardial access is critical for mapping and ablation in this condition.
When Is Sticky Information More Information?
Authors: SARTE PIERRE‐DANIEL
Published: September 2014

This paper uses sectoral data to study survey‐based balance indices designed to capture changes in the business cycle in real time. The empirical framework recognizes that when answering survey questions regarding their firm's output, respondents potentially rely on infrequently updated information. The analysis then suggests that their answers reflect notable information lags, on the order of 71/2 months on average. Moreover, information stickiness implies that noisy output fluctuations will be attenuated in survey answers and, consequently, helps explain why balance indices successfully track business cycles. Conversely, in an environment populated by fully informed identical firms, as in the standard RBC framework, for example, balance indices instead become degenerate. Finally, information regarding changes in aggregate output tends to be sectorally concentrated. The paper, therefore, illustrates how this feature of the data may be relevant for the construction of balance indices.
Economic Literacy and Inflation Expectations: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment
Authors: BURKE MARY A. , MANZ MICHAEL
Published: September 2014

We present experimental evidence of a link between economic literacy and inflation forecast accuracy. The experiment investigates two channels through which economic literacy may enable better forecasts: (i) choice of information and (ii) use of information. More literate subjects choose more relevant informationanduse the given information more effectively. Starting from a 10th percentile score, the boost in literacy from taking an economics course predicts a 0.64 standard deviation decline in mean absolute forecasting error. Our findings suggest that a significant portion of demographic heterogeneity in inflation expectations—observed in survey data—may be driven by heterogeneity in economic literacy.
Bank Funding, Securitization, and Loan Terms: Evidence from Foreign Currency Lending
Authors: BROWN MARTIN , KIRSCHENMANN KAROLIN , ONGENA STEVEN
Published: September 2014

We examine how bank funding structure and securitization activities affect the currency denomination of business loans. We analyze a unique data set that includes information on the requested and granted loan currency for 99,490 loans granted to 57,464 firms by a Bulgarian bank. Our findings document that foreign currency lending is at least partially driven by bank eagerness to match the currency structure of assets with that of liabilities. Our results also show that loan currency, as well as loan amount and maturity, are adjusted to make loans eligible for securitization.
Heterogeneous Expectations, Optimal Monetary Policy, and the Merit of Policy Inertia
Authors: GASTEIGER EMANUEL
Published: September 2014

The design and analysis of optimal monetary policy is usually guided by the paradigm of homogeneous rational expectations. Instead, we examine the dynamic consequences of design and implementation strategies, when the actual economy features expectational heterogeneity. Agents have either rational or adaptive expectations. Consequently, the central bank's ability to achieve price stability under heterogeneous expectations depends on its objective and implementation strategy. An expectations‐based reaction function, which appropriately conditions on private sector expectations, performs exceptionally well. However, once the objective introduces policy inertia, popular strategies have similar determinacy properties, but they are less operational. This finding calls for new implementation strategies under interest rate stabilization.
The Happiness Trade‐Off between Unemployment and Inflation
Authors: BLANCHFLOWER DAVID G. , BELL DAVID N.F. , MONTAGNOLI ALBERTO , MORO MIRKO
Published: September 2014

Unemployment and inflation lower well‐being. The macroeconomist Arthur Okun characterized the negative effects of unemployment and inflation by the misery index—the sum of the unemployment and inflation rates. This paper makes use of a large European data set, covering the period 1975–2013, to estimate happiness equations in which an individual subjective measure of life satisfaction is regressed against unemployment and inflation rate (controlling for personal characteristics, country, and year fixed effects). We find, conventionally, that both higher unemployment and higher inflation lower well‐being. We also discover that unemployment depresses well‐being more than inflation. We characterize this well‐being trade‐off between unemployment and inflation using what we describe as the misery ratio. Our estimates with European data imply that a 1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate lowers well‐being by more than five times as much as a 1 percentage point increase in the inflation rate.
Mainstream Economic Analysis and the Case for Accommodation
Authors: EVANS CHARLES L.
Published: September 2014

The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate to foster both full employment and price stability. Most often these two goals are in alignment, so policies that support one objective generally support the other. However, at times the two aims can be at odds. When that happens, policies that target one goal may lead to misses on the other one. This article argues that taking a balanced approach between competing choices provides a solution that is in agreement with mainstream monetary policy rules.