bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voice quality as a marker of ethnicity in New Zealand: From acoustics to perception1
Authors: Szakay Anita
Published: June 2012

This study is the first acoustic analysis of voice quality in the two main ethnic dialects of New Zealand English. In a production experiment, narratives from 36 speakers were analyzed and H1‐H2 spectral tilt measures were calculated for each vowel. The results provide instrumental evidence for impressionistic claims about the differing voice quality features of the two main ethnic groups, showing that Maori English speakers are creakier than European New Zealanders. A perception experiment was also carried out to determine the perceptual salience of voice quality for the identification of speaker ethnicity. The results of regression analyses confirm that listeners are sensitive to the phonation differences, and are able to rely on phonation cues in an ethnic dialect identification task. The study demonstrates the role of voice quality as a critical sociolinguistic variable, and highlights the importance of listeners’ previous dialect exposure in terms of sensitivity to prosodic cues.

Ko tēnei pūrongo te tirohanga tuatahi ki ētahi āhuatanga o te reo e puta ana i te korokoro o ngā kaikōrero o ngā reo ā‐iwi e rua o te Reo Pākehā i Aotearoa. I tētahi whakamātau i āta tirohia ngā oropuare o ētahi kōrero nō ngā kaikōrero 36, ā, kua tatauria ngā ine H1‐H2 e kīia ana ko te spectral tilt. Ko ngā putanga he taunakitanga mō ngā whakaaro o te tāngata e pā ana ki te rerekētanga o ngā reo o te hunga Pākehā me te hunga Māori, e whakaatu hoki ana he kekē atu te reo o ngā mea e kōrero ana i te ‘Māori English’ i te reo e kōrerohia ana e te iwi Pākehā. He whakamātau whakarongo i whakahaerehia kia kite mena he āwhina tēnei āhuatanga o te reo kia mōhio te kaiwhakarongo ko wai te iwi o te kaikōrero. Ko ngā whakaputanga o ngā tatauranga e kī ana kei te tino mārama tēnei āhuatanga o te reo e puta ana i te korokoro o te tāngata, ā, ka taea ēnei rerekētanga te whakamahi kia whakawehea te tangata Māori i te tangata Pākehā. Nā tēnei ka kitea he āhuatanga motuhake te reo o te korokoro, ā, he mea nui hoki mena kua tino wāia te kaiwhakarongo ki ngā reo ā‐iwi. [Māori]
Log-Optimal Economic Evaluation of Probability Forecasts
Authors: Johnstone D. J.
Published: June 2012

The commercial test of an expert’s probability assessments is not that they are accurate in an abstract sense, but that they yield financial returns to decision makers. From this utilitarian standpoint, a model or forecaster is merely a font of cash pay-offs, like any other form of asset or security. The modern perspective in finance theory is that individual ‘securities’ (sources of cash pay-offs) must be valued in portfolio rather than of themselves. Applying portfolio methods to forecast evaluation, the theoretical worth of a forecast depends on its marginal contribution to the best available portfolio of securities. When considered within a log-optimal (maximum E[ log (wealth)]) portfolio, the value of an individual forecast (or forecaster) depends on both its expected cash pay-off and the covariance of its pay-off with those from all other available securities. In effect, portfolio theory rewards forecasters more for making accurate forecasts when other forecasters (or, more broadly, other sources of pay-offs) perform badly than when all or most forecasters do well. Conversely, the penalty for being wrong is reduced when other forecasters are right. This has the effect of promoting original thinking and unique (idiosyncratic) forecasting expertise. Herding by resort to industry standard models or routines is discouraged.
R&D PRODUCTIVITY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS*
Authors: POYAGO‐THEOTOKY JOANNA , TEERASUWANNAJAK KHEMARAT TALERNGSRI
Published: June 2012

We study firms' preferences towards intellectual property rights (IPR) regimes in a North–South context, using a simple duopoly model where a ‘North’ and a ‘South’ firm compete in a third market. Unlike other contributions in this field, we explicitly introduce the South's capability to undertake cost‐reducing R&D, but maintain the South's inferiority in using and managing its R&D. In contrast to traditional results, we show that the North may encourage lax IPR protection provided that its South rival's R&D productivity is not too low. In this sense, our results do not support the idea of universal or uniform IPR protection regime.
TESTING FOR UNIT ROOTS IN PANEL TIME‐SERIES MODELS WITH MULTIPLE LEVEL BREAKS*
Authors: WESTERLUND JOAKIM
Published: June 2012

This paper proposes two new unit root tests that are appropriate in the presence of an unknown number of structural breaks in the level of the data. One is based on a single time series and the other is based on a panel of multiple series. For the estimation of the number of breaks and their locations, a simple procedure based on outlier detection is proposed. The limiting distributions of the tests are derived and evaluated in small samples using simulation experiments. The implementation of the tests is illustrated using as an example purchasing power parity.
THE DETERMINANTS OF INNOVATION: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF RISK?*
Authors: MURRO PIERLUIGI
Published: June 2012

Because of its importance in explaining growth, the topic of innovation has received a huge attention in the economic literature. The present study aims at contributing to analyse the determinants of innovation, with a special focus on firm risk. Employing a rich sample of Italian manufacturing firms, we tested for the impact on innovation of the riskiness of the firm, as proxied by the probability of default. We found that riskiness of enterprise reduces the tendency to innovate for the firms. The main channel through which firm risk affects innovation capability appears to be that of innovation financing.
PRODUCTIVE GOVERNMENT PURCHASES AND THE REAL EXCHANGE RATE*
Authors: BASU PARANTAP , KOLLMANN ROBERT
Published: June 2012

Empirical research documents that an exogenous rise in government purchases in a given country triggers a depreciation of its real exchange rate. This raises an important puzzle, as standard macro‐theories predict an appreciation of the real exchange rate. We argue that this prediction might reflect the conventional assumption that government purchases are unproductive. Using a simple frictionless model with efficient international risk sharing, we show that the real exchange can depreciate in response to a rise in government purchases, if these purchases increase domestic private sector productivity, and labor supply is highly elastic. Empirically plausible marginal products of government purchases are sufficient to generate this result.
ECONOMIC FORECAST QUALITY AND PUBLICATION LAGS*
Authors: TAYLOR NICHOLAS
Published: June 2012

In this paper we investigate the impact of publication lags on forecast quality. Specifically, using a set of 285 economic series, we provide a concise measure of the forecast inefficiencies associated with series that are subject to a delay in their publication. This inefficiency is measured with respect to a variety of models and found to be statistically significant under certain conditions. These conditions include the persistence of the series, and the model used to generate the forecasts. Regarding the latter, we provide some evidence to suggest that recently proposed models based on real‐time predictor variables tend to deliver lower levels of forecast inefficiency.
DETERMINANTS OF INTERREGIONAL MIGRATION FLOWS: THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN THE ITALIAN CASE*
Authors: BONASIA MARIANGELA , NAPOLITANO ORESTE
Published: June 2012

This paper investigates the economic and non‐economic determinants of interregional migration for unskilled and skilled migrants in Italy for the period 1985–2006. In addition to the traditional variables of the Harris and Todaro model, we consider the impact of house prices, carbon dioxide emission and crime. Using a dynamic two‐step panel generalized method of moments, the traditional model omits some important variables and may not be representative of migration flow. Our analysis confirms that for different periods we have to take into account different determinants. Moreover, the externalities are significant, indicating the importance of including broader quality of life as explanatory variables.
COMPETITIVE PRIVATIZATION AND TARIFF POLICIES IN AN INTERNATIONAL MIXED DUOPOLY*
Authors: LEE SANG‐HO , XU LILI , CHEN ZHAO
Published: June 2012

We consider the interaction of two countries regarding strategic choices on privatization policy in an international mixed market under an open economy. We demonstrate that the equilibrium degree of privatization depends not only on the relative efficiency of the state‐owned enterprise, but also on trade policy. We show that, if the state‐owned enterprise is relatively inefficient, the competitive optimal degree of privatization is lower in open competition than in closed competition. We also show that the international competitive equilibrium involves less privatization and a higher tariff, even though they are jointly suboptimal.
DYNAMIC PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION WITH A DEFAULTABLE SECURITY AND REGIME‐SWITCHING
Authors: Capponi Agostino , Figueroa‐López José E.
Published: June 2012

We consider a portfolio optimization problem in a defaultable market with finitely‐many economical regimes, where the investor can dynamically allocate her wealth among a defaultable bond, a stock, and a money market account. The market coefficients are assumed to depend on the market regime in place, which is modeled by a finite state continuous time Markov process. By separating the utility maximization problem into a predefault and postdefault component, we deduce two coupled Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations for the post‐ and predefault optimal value functions, and show a novel verification theorem for their solutions. We obtain explicit constructions of value functions and investment strategies for investors with logarithmic and Constant Relative Risk Aversion utilities, and provide a precise characterization of the directionality of the bond investment strategies in terms of corporate returns, forward rates, and expected recovery at default. We illustrate the dependence of the optimal strategies on time, losses given default, and risk aversion level of the investor through a detailed economic and numerical analysis.
OPTIMAL CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT FOR A LARGE INVESTOR: AN INTENSITY‐BASED CONTROL FRAMEWORK
Authors: Busch Michael , Korn Ralf , Seifried Frank Thomas
Published: June 2012

We introduce a new stochastic control framework where in addition to controlling the local coefficients of a jump‐diffusion process, it is also possible to control the intensity of switching from one state of the environment to the other. Building upon this framework, we develop a large investor model for optimal consumption and investment that generalizes the regime‐switching approach of Bäuerle and Rieder (2004).
RETHINKING DYNAMIC CAPITAL STRUCTURE MODELS WITH ROLL‐OVER DEBT
Authors: Décamps Jean‐Paul , Villeneuve Stéphane
Published: June 2012

Dynamic capital structure models with roll‐over debt rely on widely accepted arguments that have never been formalized. This paper clarifies the literature and provides a rigorous formulation of the equity holders’ decision problem within a game theory framework. We spell out the linkage between default policies in a rational expectations equilibrium and optimal stopping theory. We prove that there exists a unique equilibrium in constant barrier strategies, which coincides with that derived in the literature. Furthermore, that equilibrium is the unique equilibrium when the firm loses all its value at default time. Whether the result holds when there is a recovery at default remains a conjecture.
Institutional Level Student Engagement and Organisational Cultures
Authors: van der Velden Gwen
Published: June 2012

Driven by the growing presence of market forces within higher education worldwide, universities are changing the way they engage with students. This article explores how a university's internal culture relates to engagement with students and their views. It builds on wider research into student engagement and organisational cultures. The organisational cultures of two universities are mapped against a typology developed by McNay, which was extended by the author to include aspects of institutional engagement with students. It appears that corporate and bureaucratic institutional cultures that may respond well to external pressures on institutions (regulation, performance indicators, audits and policy pressure) are not conducive to engagement with student opinion. The stronger preference of students remains a collegial, partnership‐based approach for enhancement of the student experience. This study will be of interest to institutional managers, student (union) leaders, academics and practitioners who seek to improve the student experience through effective engagement with student views.
Hip‐Hop as Urban and Regional Research: Encountering an Insider's Ethnography of City Life
Authors: Beer David
Published: June 2012

This essay suggests that hip‐hop music may reasonably be thought of as a form of urban and regional research. The essay draws upon a recently published book by hip‐hop artist Jay‐Z, which provides biographical information alongside translations of the lyrical content of his works, to show that hip‐hop is full of insider ethnographic insights into urban life. This, it is argued, can be thought of as an answer to Daryl Martin's call for a more ‘poetic urbanism’, an urbanism that captures the material, sensory and emotional aspects of the city. The essay uses Jay‐Z's text to illustrate the type of insights and ideas that we might obtain from hip‐hop, giving some specific examples of these insights and concluding with some reflections upon this alternative insider account of city life — and how it might provide us with opportunities for expanding our repertoire.
Thermal sensitivity of voltage‐gated Na+ channels and A‐type K+ channels contributes to somatosensory neuron excitability at cooling temperatures
Authors: Sarria Ignacio , Ling Jennifer , Gu Jianguo G.
Published: June 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 1145–1154.

Cooling temperatures may modify action potential firing properties to alter sensory modalities. Herein, we investigated how cooling temperatures modify action potential firing properties in two groups of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, tetrodotoxin‐sensitive (TTXs) Na+ channel‐expressing neurons and tetrodotoxin‐resistant (TTXr) Na+ channel‐expressing neurons. We found that multiple action potential firing in response to membrane depolarization was suppressed in TTXs neurons but maintained or facilitated in TTXr neurons at cooling temperatures. We showed that cooling temperatures strongly inhibited A‐type K+ currents (IA) and TTXs Na+ channels but had fewer inhibitory effects on TTXr Na+ channels and non‐inactivating K+ currents (IK). We demonstrated that the sensitivity of A‐type K+ channels and voltage‐gated Na+ channels to cooling temperatures and their interplay determine somatosensory neuron excitability at cooling temperatures. Our results provide a putative mechanism by which cooling temperatures modify different sensory modalities including pain.
Touched in sensation – moved by respiration
Authors: Sviland Randi , Råheim Målfrid , Martinsen Kari
Published: June 2012

The aim of this theoretical article is to elaborate on the underpinning of Norwegian psychomotor physiotherapy (NPMP). With a narrative and hermeneutic point of departure, we explore the unfolding of a 10‐year‐long treatment by analysing a particular narrative from this treatment context in relation to some foundational perspectives on movement, sensation and time. A woman in her late thirties suffering from muscular tensions and pain, depression, anxiety and anorexia, came for NPMP. The investigation of her treatment experience is based on the journal written by her physiotherapist and first author of this article. We suggest that new experiences in movement and sensation as well as changes in movement patterns can contribute to retuning in sensation and restructuring of narrative time. Feeding the fictional space and narrative fantasy with new experiences in movement and sensation can help counteracting delusional ideas and assist changes, supporting embodied narrative identity. Ingrid’s experience is discussed in the light of Trygve Braatøy’s understanding of muscular functions, Knud E Løgstrup’s phenomenology of sensation and Paul Ricouer’s narrative time.
PROVISION OF COMMUNITY‐WIDE BENEFITS IN PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTION RESEARCH: THE EXPERIENCE OF INVESTIGATORS CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN THE COMMUNITY SETTING IN SOUTH ASIA
Authors: TAYLOR HOLLY A. , MERRITT MARIA W.
Published: June 2012

Background:  This article describes the types of community‐wide benefits provided by investigators conducting public health research in South Asia as well as their self‐reported reasons for providing such benefits.

Methods:  We conducted 52 in‐depth interviews to explore how public health investigators in low‐resource settings make decisions about the delivery of ancillary care to research subjects. In 39 of the interviews respondents described providing benefits to members of the community in which they conducted their study. We returned to our narrative dataset to find answers to two questions: What types of community‐wide benefits do researchers provide when conducting public health intervention studies in the community setting, and what reasons do researchers give when asked why they provided community‐wide benefits?

Findings:  The types of community‐wide benefits delivered were directed to the health and well‐being of the population. The most common types of benefits delivered were the facilitation of access to health care for individuals in acute medical need and emergency response to natural disasters. Respondents' self‐reported reasons when asked why they provided such benefits fell into 2 general categories: intrinsic importance and instrumental importance.
Primary Care Physicians and Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Elderly
Authors: Singal Ashwani K. , Lin Yu‐Li , Kuo Yong‐Fang , Riall Taylor , Goodwin James S.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To examine whether having a primary care physician (PCP) is associated with reduced ethnic disparities for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and whether clustering of minorities within PCPs contributes to the disparities.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries age 66–75 in 2009 in Texas.

Study Design

The percentage of beneficiaries up to date in CRC screening in 2009 was stratified by race/ethnicity. Multilevel models were used to study the effect of having a PCP and PCP characteristics on the racial and ethnic disparities on CRC screening.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Medicare data from 2000 to 2009 were used to assess prior CRC screening.

Principal Findings

Odds of undergoing CRC screening were more than twice as high in patients with a PCP (OR = 2.05, 95 percent CI 2.03–2.07). After accounting for clustering and PCP characteristics, the black–white disparity in CRC screening rates almost disappears and the Hispanic–white disparity decreases substantially.

Conclusions

Ethnic disparities in CRC screening in the elderly are mostly explained by decreased access to PCPs and by clustering of minorities within PCPs less likely to screen any of their patients.
Hospital and Surgeon Variation in Complications and Repeat Surgery Following Incident Lumbar Fusion for Common Degenerative Diagnoses
Authors: Martin Brook I. , Mirza Sohail K. , Franklin Gary M. , Lurie Jon D. , MacKenzie Todd A. , Deyo Richard A.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To identify factors that account for variation in complication rates across hospitals and surgeons performing lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

Data Sources

Discharge registry including all nonfederal hospitals in Washington State from 2004 to 2007.

Study Design

We identified adults (n = 6,091) undergoing an initial inpatient lumbar fusion for degenerative conditions. We identified whether each patient had a subsequent complication within 90 days. Logistic regression models with hospital and surgeon random effects were used to examine complications, controlling for patient characteristics and comorbidity.

Principal Findings

Complications within 90 days of a fusion occurred in 4.8 percent of patients, and 2.2 percent had a reoperation. Hospital effects accounted for 8.8 percent of the total variability, and surgeon effects account for 14.4 percent. Surgeon factors account for 54.5 percent of the variation in hospital reoperation rates, and 47.2 percent of the variation in hospital complication rates. The discretionary use of operative features, such as the inclusion of bone morphogenetic proteins, accounted for 30 and 50 percent of the variation in surgeons' reoperation and complication rates, respectively.

Conclusions

To improve the safety of lumbar spinal fusion surgery, quality improvement efforts that focus on surgeons' discretionary use of operative techniques may be more effective than those that target hospitals.
Racial/Ethnic Disparity Trends in Children's Mental Health Care Access and Expenditures from 2002 to 2007
Authors: Cook Benjamin Lê , Barry Colleen L. , Busch Susan H.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To examine trends in disparities in children's mental health care.

Data

2002–2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Study Design

We used the Institute of Medicine (IOM) definition of health care disparities and estimated two‐part expenditure models to examine disparity trends in any mental health care use, any outpatient care, and psychotropic drug use, as well as expenditures in these three categories, conditional on use. We used 2‐year longitudinal panel data to determine disparities in care initiation among children with unmet need.

Principal Findings

Assessing trends over time between 2002 and 2007, we identified that disparities persist for blacks and Latinos in receipt of any mental health care, any outpatient care, and any psychotropic drug use. Among those with positive mental health care expenditures, Latino–white disparities in overall mental health care expenditures increased over time. Among children with unmet need, significant disparities in initiation of an episode of mental health care were found, with whites approximately twice as likely as blacks and Latinos to initiate care.

Conclusions

Disparities in children's mental health care use are persistent and driven by disparities in initiation, suggesting policies to improve detection or increase initial access to care may be critical to reducing disparities.
Modelling and Compensating Internal Light Scattering in Time of Flight Range Cameras
Authors: Karel Wilfried , Ghuffar Sajid , Pfeifer Norbert
Published: June 2012

Time of flight range cameras simultaneously gather object distances for all pixels of a focal plane array by evaluating the round‐trip time of an emitted signal. While ranging precisions typically amount to some centimetres, accuracies may be worse by an order of magnitude. Scattering is one of the sources of systematic errors, caused by the spreading of portions of the incident light over the sensor due to multiple reflections between the sensor, lens and optical filter. The present contribution analyses this phenomenon with respect to various capture parameters, with the objective of achieving a better understanding and a validation of assumptions. Subsequently, the authors derive both image space invariant and variant models for scattering, apply them to test scenes, and compare the results to each other and to those of existing methods.
HBeAg‐positive hepatitis delta: virological patterns and clinical long‐term outcome
Authors: Heidrich Benjamin , C. Serrano Beatriz , Idilman Ramazan , Kabaçam Gökhan , Bremer Birgit , Raupach Regina , Önder Fatih O. , Deterding Katja , Zacher Behrend J. , Taranta Andrzej , Bozkaya Hakan , Zachou Kalliopi , Tillmann Hans L. , Bozdayi Abdurrahman M. , Manns Michael P. , Yurdaydın Cihan , Wedemeyer Heiner
Published: June 2012

Background and Aims

The presence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐eAg in patients with hepatitis B is associated with higher HBV replication and with an increased risk to develop liver‐related clinical endpoints defined as liver related death, liver transplantation, development of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic decompensation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HBeAg in patients co‐infected with the hepatitis D virus (HDV).

Methods

We studied virological markers of HBV and HDV infection and as well as biochemical and clinical features of liver disease in a cohort of 534 anti‐HDV‐positive patients. In addition, we compared the clinical long‐term outcome of HBeAg‐positive HDV‐infected patients with HBeAg‐negative control patients matched for age, gender and baseline‐MELD score.

Results

HBeAg‐positive hepatitis delta was detected in 71 of 534 patients (13.3%). HBeAg positivity was associated with a higher biochemical disease activity and higher HBsAg levels in HDV co‐infected patients. Sixty one per cent of the HBeAg‐positive HDV‐infected patients presented with HBV DNA levels below 2000 IU/ml, at least once during follow‐up. Both HBeAg‐positive and ‐negative patients showed a similar severe clinical long‐term course with about half of the patients developing a liver‐related clinical complication after a median follow‐up period of 51 months (range: 9–193 months).

Conclusions

HBV DNA levels are low in both HBeAg‐negative and HBeAg‐positive patients suggesting suppressive effects of HDV on HBV irrespective of the phase of HBV infection. The clinical long‐term outcome of HBeAg‐positive patients is not different to HBeAg‐negative patients infected with the HDV.
Incidence and risk factors associated withde novoautoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation
Authors: Montano‐Loza Aldo J. , Vargas‐Vorackova Florencia , Ma Mang , Bain Vincent G. , Burak Kelly , Kumar Thara , Mason Andrew L.
Published: June 2012

Background/Aims

De novoautoimmune hepatitis (AIH) describes the development of hepatitis with autoimmune features in liver transplant (LT) patients without prior diagnosis ofAIH. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors forde novoAIH.

Methods

A cohort of 576 patients withLTfor aetiologies other thanAIHwas evaluated.

Results

De novoAIHwas diagnosed in 17 patients (3%) with an overall incidence of 4.0 cases per 1000 patient‐years. By univariateCox analysis, patients who received cyclosporine A had lower risk (HR0.24, 95%CI0.07–0.80,P = 0.02), whereas patients who had female donors (HR3.03, 95%CI1.11–8.25,P = 0.03), donors ≥40‐years (HR6.95, 95%CI1.93–25.03,P = 0.003), and those who received tacrolimus (HR4.39, 95%CI1.47–13.13,P = 0.008) and mycophenolate mofetil (HR6.37, 95%CI1.62–25.13,P = 0.008) had higher risk. Survival was similar in patients withde novoAIHcompared with theLTpopulation (mean survival time, 17 ± 1.5 vs. 16 ± 0.5 years, Log‐rank test;P = 0.4).

Conclusions

The incidence ofde novoAIHis low and does not impact on long‐term survival. Recipients of female or older donor grafts, or recipients using tacrolimus, or mycophenolate mofetil as part of their immunosuppressive regimen have a higher risk ofde novoAIH, whereasLTrecipients maintained on cyclosporine A have a lower risk.
Percutaneous ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma: 20‐year outcome and prognostic factors
Authors: Shiina Shuichiro , Tateishi Ryosuke , Imamura Masatoshi , Teratani Takuma , Koike Yukihiro , Sato Shinpei , Obi Shuntaro , Kanai Fumihiko , Kato Naoya , Yoshida Haruhiko , Omata Masao , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: June 2012

Background

Ethanol injection is the best‐known image‐guided percutaneous ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a well‐tolerated, inexpensive procedure with few adverse effects. However, there have been few reports on its long‐term results.

Aims

We report a 20‐year consecutive case series at a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

We performed 2147 ethanol injection treatments on 685 primary HCC patients and analysed a collected database.

Results

Final computed tomography demonstrated complete ablation of treated tumours in 2108 (98.2%) of the 2147 treatments. With a median follow‐up of 51.6 months, 5‐, 10‐ and 20‐year survival rates were 49.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 45.3–53.0%], 17.9% (95% CI = 15.0–21.2%) and 7.2% (95% CI = 4..5–11.5%) respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, Child–Pugh class, tumour size, tumour number and serum alpha‐fetoprotein level were significant prognostic factors for survival. Five‐, 10‐ and 20‐year local tumour progression rates were 18.2% (95% CI = 15.0–21.4%), 18.4% (95% CI = 15.2–21.6%) and 18.4% (95% CI = 15.2–21.6%) respectively. Five‐, 10‐ and 20‐year distant recurrence rates were 53.5% (95% CI = 49.4–57.7%), 60.4 (95% CI = 56.3–64.5%) and 60.8% (95% CI = 56.7–64.9%) respectively. There were 45 complications (2.1%) and two deaths (0.09%).

Conclusions

Ethanol injection was potentially curative for HCC, resulting in survival for more than 20 years. This study suggests that new ablation therapies will achieve similar or even better long‐term results in HCC.
Association between apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease in Uighur and Han populations
Authors: ZHOU Xiaohui , MIAO Haijun , RAUSCH Wolf Dieter , LONG Ma , LUO Xiaomei , YU Hong , ZHANG Xiaoning , BAYAHEMAITI Kumusi , ABULIZI Palida , KEYIMU Kabinur
Published: June 2012

Aim:  Currently, there are almost 100 genes related to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and studies have indicated that apolipoprotein E (APO E) ε4 allele is a genetic risk factor of AD. However, there have been no reports of the distributions of APO E genotypes and allele frequencies in Uighur and Han AD patients.

Methods:  We analyzed APO E gene polymorphism in 209 AD cases diagnosed based on National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association and 220 non‐dementia controls. We used polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism methods as the basis of this epidemiological survey.

Results:  In the AD and control groups, there are no statistically significant differences in APO E genotypes and allele frequency between the Uighur and Han ethnicities (P < 0.05). In the AD group, the ε3/4 genotype (28.2%) and ε4 allele frequency (14.8%) occurred at a higher rate than in the control (13.2% and 8.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). This distinction remained true within each ethnicity; the ε3/4 genotype and ε4 allele frequency are higher in the AD groups (Uighur, 30.6% and 15.8%, respectively; Han, 25.5% and 13.8%, respectively) than in the control groups (Uighur, 14.5% and 9.4%, respectively; Han, 11.7% and 6.3%, respectively; P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  The distribution of APO E genotype and allele frequency does not differ between the Uighur and Han ethnicities. The APO E ε4 allele is a risk factor of AD for both populations.
TCF7L2 polymorphism and cognitive test performance in cardiovascular disease
Authors: KEARY Therese Anne , GUNSTAD John , BENITEZ Andreana , SPITZNAGEL Mary Beth , MCCAFFERY Jeanne , MCGEARY John E. , POPPAS Athena , PAUL Robert H. , SWEET Lawrence H. , COHEN Ronald A.
Published: June 2012

Aims:  The present study examines cognitive function among transcription factor 7‐like 2 (TCF7L2) genotype groups in a sample of older adults with cardiovascular disease.

Methods:  We recruited 111 older adults with diagnosed cardiovascular disease from outpatient cardiology clinics. Neuropsychological tests assessed the following domains of cognitive functioning: global function, attention/executive/psychomotor speed, learning and memory, visuospatial/construction, motor, and language. Genotyping of TCF7L2 single nucleotide polymorphism rs7903146 was conducted to determine membership in the TT, CT, or CC genotype groups.

Results:  Controlling for diabetes status, participants with the TT genotype of TCF7L2 (n= 12) performed worse on tests of attention/executive function/processing speed than those with the CC (n= 46) and CT (n= 53) genotypes, despite no between‐group differences in demographic or medical variables.

Conclusions:  Older cardiovascular disease patients with the TCF7L2 TT genotype performed worse on tests of attention/executive/ psychomotor speed than CC and CT genotype carriers. Further work using neuroimaging and glucose tolerance indices is needed to clarify underlying mechanisms.
The function of psychiatric hospitals in the treatment of dementia
Authors: MATSUBARA Saburo
Published: June 2012

In Japan, there are 531 special wards for the treatment of dementia in which patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are treated. In these wards, 85% of the patients stay for more than 91 days, and 45% of them are judged as ready to discharge. The function of the wards declines as a result of the long‐stay patients. It is necessary to create two types of wards: one for acute treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia within 90 days and another for patients requiring longer‐term treatment (i.e. more than 91 days) for chronic behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, deterioration of activity of daily living and somatic complications
Tretinoin Microsphere Gel 0.04% Pump for Treating Acne Vulgaris in Preadolescents: A Randomized, Controlled Study
Authors: Eichenfield Lawrence F. , Hebert Adelaide A. , Schachner Lawrence , Paller Amy S. , Rossi Ana Beatris , Lucky Anne W.
Published: June 2012

Abstract:  Although acne vulgaris is common in preadolescents (<13 yrs), few acne treatments are currently approved for children. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of tretinoin microsphere gel (TMG) 0.04% pump in children aged 9–11 with acne vulgaris. In this multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled pilot study, patients applied TMG 0.04% pump or vehicle once daily to the face for 12 weeks. Efficacy measures were changes in facial lesion counts, Investigator Global Evaluation of acne severity using two scales, and Investigator Global Assessment of Improvement from baseline to week 12. Of the 110 patients enrolled, 55 received TMG 0.04% pump, and 55 received vehicle. At week 12, there was significantly greater improvement in the least‐squares mean change in noninflammatory lesions with TMG 0.04% than with vehicle (−19.9 vs −9.7, p = 0.04) and a significant difference in Investigator Global Assessment of improvement at week 12 between the children treated with TMG 0.04% pump and those treated with vehicle (p = 0.02), but there were no discernible differences in static acne severity scales. Change from baseline in signs and symptoms of cutaneous irritation were similar between the active and vehicle arms at week 12. This study demonstrated statistically significant differences in the reduction of noninflammatory lesions between TMG 0.04% pump and vehicle in patients aged 9–11 with acne vulgaris. Additional studies are warranted to further characterize the safety and efficacy of TMG 0.04% pump for the treatment of acne in the preadolescent population.
Acute Pain in Undergraduate Medical Education: An Unfinished Chapter!
Authors: Vadivelu Nalini , Mitra Sukanya , Hines Roberta , Elia Maxwell , Rosenquist Richard W.
Published: June 2012

Inadequately treated acute pain is a global healthcare problem that causes significant patient suffering and disability, risk of chronicity, increased resource utilization, and escalating healthcare costs. Compounding the problem is the lack of adequate instruction in acute pain management available in medical schools worldwide. Incorporating acute pain diagnosis and management as an integral part of the medical school curriculum will allow physicians to develop a more comprehensive, compassionate approach to treating patients with acute pain syndromes and should be considered a healthcare imperative. In this article, we review the current status of pain education in educational institutions across the world, focusing on achievements, lacunae, and inadequacies. We appeal to all concerned—pain management specialists, health educators, and policymakers—to consider incorporating education on acute pain and its management at undergraduate medical levels in an integrated manner.
Development of Rapid Preexcited Ventricular Response to Atrial Fibrillation in a Patient with Intermittent Preexcitation
Authors: GEMMA LEE W. , STEINBERG LEONARD A. , PRYSTOWSKY ERIC N. , PADANILAM BENZY J.
Published: June 2012

Intermittent preexcitation during sinus rhythm is indicative of an accessory pathway at a very low risk for sudden death. We present the case of a 49‐year‐old man with intermittent preexcitation who subsequently developed rapid atrial fibrillation with a shortest preexcited R–R interval of 230 milliseconds. Electrophysiology study showed intermittent preexcitation at baseline and 1:1 anterograde accessory pathway conduction to 220 milliseconds in the presence of 1 mcg/min isoproterenol infusion. The pathway was successfully ablated at the lateral mitral annulus. Accessory pathways highly sensitive to catecholamines may show intermittent preexcitation at baseline with potential for rapid conduction during atrial fibrillation and sudden death. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 24, pp. 347‐350, March 2013)
Intracellular Calcium Dynamics, Shortened Action Potential Duration, and Late‐Phase 3 Early Afterdepolarization in Langendorff‐Perfused Rabbit Ventricles
Authors: TANG LIANG , JOUNG BOYOUNG , OGAWA MASAHIRO , CHEN PENG‐SHENG , LIN SHIEN‐FONG
Published: June 2012

Calcium Dynamics, APD Shortening, and Late‐Phase 3 EAD. Introduction: To elucidate the mechanism of late‐phase 3 early after depolarization (EAD) in ventricular arrhythmogenesis, we hypothesized that intracellular calcium (Cai) overloading and action potential duration (APD) shortening may promote late‐phase 3 EAD and triggered activity, leading to development of ventricular fibrillation (VF).

Methods and Results: In isolated rabbit hearts, we performed microelectrode recording and simultaneous dual optical mapping of transmembrane potential (Vm) and Cai transient on left ventricular endocardium. An IKATP channel opener, pinacidil, was used to abbreviate APD. Rapid pacing was then performed. Upon abrupt cessation of rapid pacing with cycle lengths of 60–200 milliseconds, there were APD90 prolongation and the corresponding Cai overloading in the first postpacing beats. The duration of Cai transient recovered to 50% (DCaT50) and 90% (DCaT90) in the first postpacing beats was significantly longer than baseline. Abnormal Cai elevation coupled with shortened APD produced late‐phase 3 EAD induced triggered activity and VF. In additional 6 preparations, the heart tissues were treated with BAPTA‐AM, a calcium chelator. BAPTA‐AM significantly reduced the maximal Cai amplitude (26.4 ± 3.5% of the control; P < 0.001) and the duration of Cai transients in the mapped region, preventing the development of EAD and triggered activity that initiated VF.

Conclusions: I
KATP channel activation along with Cai overloading are associated with the development of late‐phase 3 EAD and VF. Because acute myocardial ischemia activates the IKATP channel, late‐phase 3 EADs may be a mechanism for VF initiation during acute myocardial ischemia. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1364‐1371, December 2012)
Beneficial effects of nocturnal hemodialysis in a hemodynamically unstable patient with AL‐amyloidosis
Authors: Trigka Konstantina , Dousdampanis Periklis , Chan Christopher T.
Published: June 2012

We present a patient with primary systemic AL‐amyloidosis, who stabilized hemodynamically on nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD). The NHD allowed a significant reduction in ultrafiltration rates which likely underlies the procedural tolerability. It also provided an increase in urea clearance, better control of serum phosphorus levels without the use of any binders, and normalization of blood pressure despite the discontinuation of all antihypertensive agents. Given the autonomic derangements associated with AL‐amyloidosis pathophysiology and the clinical benefits of NHD on hemodynamic stability, the use of intensive hemodialysis may be considered for the management of patients with unstable hemodynamic profiles.
Changes in circulating biomarkers during a single hemodialysis session
Authors: Yamamoto Tae , Nascimento Marcelo M. , Hayashi Shirley Y. , Qureshi Abdul Rashid , Waniewski Jacek , Brodin Lars Åke , Anderstam Björn , Lind Britta , Riella Miguel C. , Seeberger Astrid , Lindholm Bengt
Published: June 2012

The hemodialysis (HD) procedure induces an inflammatory response potentially contributing to cardiovascular disease. Here we investigated the acute impact of HD on circulating biomarkers. Circulating biomarkers (small solutes, middle molecular‐sized peptides, and proteins) related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular calcification (VC) were measured before and after a single session of HD in 45 clinically stable patients. Concentrations were corrected for ultrafiltration‐induced hemoconcentration. Among vascular calcification‐related biomarkers, osteoprotegerin and fetuin‐A remained unchanged while fibroblast growth factor‐23 (FGF23) decreased by −19%. Changes of FGF23 and changes of phosphate correlated (ρ = 0.61, P < 0.001). While C‐reactive protein did not change, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) increased by 14% and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) increased by 45%. IL‐6 and PTX3 appear to be valid biomarkers of the intradialytic inflammatory response. VC‐related markers were in general not affected by the single HD session; however, the observed correlation between acute changes of FGF‐23 and phosphate during HD warrants further studies.
Beyond Macro and Micro in the Linguistic Anthropology of Education
Authors: Wortham Stanton
Published: June 2012

This special issue explores whether the heuristics “macro” and “micro” capture the most important levels of explanation in the anthropology of education. Recent work suggests that we must move beyond a macro–micro approach. This introduction sketches reasons for going beyond macro and micro and reviews alternative approaches to explaining cultural and educational processes. The following articles illustrate such alternatives and develop their own arguments about macro, micro, and other relevant scales. [timescales, agency, structure, language use, social theory]
Interaction Rescaled: How Monastic Debate Became a Diasporic Pedagogy
Authors: Lempert Michael
Published: June 2012

Rather than assume the relevance of a priori scalar distinctions (micro‐, macro‐, meso‐), this article examines scale as an emergent dimension of sociospatial practice in educational institutions. Focusing on Buddhist debate at Tibetan monasteries in India, I describe how this educational practice has been placed as a rite of institution within the perimeter of Sera Monastery in India and rescaled into a more expansive diasporic pedagogy by reformers like the Dalai Lama. [interaction, scale, language, religious education, reproduction]
Migration, Sociolinguistic Scale, and Educational Reproduction
Authors: Collins James
Published: June 2012

Migration‐based language pluralism and globalized identity conflicts pose challenges for educational research and linguistic anthropology, in particular, how we think about education and social inequality. This article proposes new conceptual tools, drawn from linguistic anthropology as well as world systems theory, for analyzing the role of schooling in social reproduction and for investigating the dynamics of globalized social polarization. It grounds the argument in an ethnographic study of Latino migrant schoolchildren in upstate New York. [scale, migration, globalization, social reproduction, linguistic anthropology]
Recontextualizing YouTube: From Macro–Micro to Mass‐Mediated Communicative Repertoires
Authors: Rymes Betsy
Published: June 2012

In this article, I deconstruct the macro–micro dichotomy by arguing that the very same mass‐media messages that appear culturally homogenizing (like catchy tunes and phrases) also invite creative recontextualizations (Bauman and Briggs 1990). Moreover, the more widely circulated and mass‐produced a message is, the more highly diverse the interactions with it will be. This is because these widely circulating forms become incorporated into individuals' communicative repertoires (Rymes 2010), to be deployed in indeterminate variation. I illustrate this point by first looking at the meteoric rise of the pop artist “Soulja Boy” and his hit, “Crank Dat.” Following the illustration of the circulation and recontextualization of Soulja Boy's hit, I apply this method of analysis to a less seemingly trivial mass‐mediated movement—Obama's first presidential campaign. By tracing the pathway of semiotic forms as recontextualized and circulated via YouTube, I demonstrate an empirical approach for studying how widely circulating cultural emblems become incorporated into individual‐level communicative repertoires. This approach is important to scholars of Anthropology and Education because, unlike micro–macro approaches, which often rely on a priori demographic or interactional categories for analysis, a repertoire approach provides a nonessentializing way of investigating difference in and out of classrooms.[communicative repertoire, popular culture, discourse analysis, mass media]
Social Capital, Place Meanings, and Perceived Resilience to Climate Change*
Authors: Smith Jordan W. , Anderson Dorothy H. , Moore Roger L.
Published: June 2012

Abstract

This research analyzes individuals' perceived resilience to changing climatic conditions. Specifically, we suggest individual resilience is composed of an awareness of localized risks created because of climate change, a willingness to learn about, and plan for, the potential impacts of altered environmental conditions, and general appraisals of personal adaptive capacities. We hypothesize that resilience is influenced by the characteristics of individuals' social networks and also by their social‐psychological dependence on local environments. Using data collected in three resource‐associated communities within the southeastern United States, our analysis suggests bonding ties may limit individuals' willingness to seek new information about the potential impacts of climate change. Conversely, the data suggest the use of a diverse array of bridging ties is positively associated with information‐seeking behavior. The data also support our hypothesis that individuals' social psychological dependencies on the local environment influences their perceived resilience to changing climatic conditions. By gaining a clearer understanding of how individuals' social networks and social‐psychological dependencies affect their perceived ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, decision makers can focus on policy solutions that increase adaptive capacities and build social resilience.