bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large frugivorous birds facilitate functional connectivity of fragmented landscapes
Authors: Mueller Thomas , Lenz Johanna , Caprano Tanja , Fiedler Wolfgang , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin
Published: April 2014

Quantifying ecosystem functions in spatially explicit ways is important for management decisions in increasingly fragmented landscapes. Between‐patch dispersal of seeds by frugivores constitutes a key ecosystem function to ensure connectivity for fleshy‐fruited plants. However, to date, methodological hurdles have limited our understanding of dispersal pathways on the landscape scale.

We made use of newly available tracking devices and combined movement data of 30 trumpeter hornbills Bycanistes bucinator with gut passage times and high‐resolution habitat data in a fragmented forest landscape in South Africa. We identified each potential seed dispersal path and distinguished whether potential seed transport happened to a different forest patch (between‐patch dispersal), within the same patch (within‐patch dispersal) or into the habitat matrix (failed dispersal). To quantify functional landscape connectivity, we identified all possible between‐patch connections and used graph networks to estimate landscape connectivity provided by hornbills.

Although potential between‐patch dispersal events were rare (on average 7% compared to 20% failed dispersal and 73% within‐patch dispersal), hornbills could cover distances of up to 15 km. Hornbills visited over 100 forest patches and connected a habitat network with an extent of about 50 km, which increased the potential functional connectivity of the landscape more than twofold.

We identified habitat patches that were critical stepping stones for seed dispersal pathways. Without these stepping stones, the network would likely disintegrate into separated components and lead to isolation of forest fragments.

Synthesis and applications. We showed that large frugivorous birds can greatly improve functional connectivity for fleshy‐fruited plants across broad scales, linking habitat patches in fragmented forest landscapes. Combining high‐resolution movement and landscape data in graph networks allows identifying seed dispersal pathways and critical stepping stones in fragmented landscapes. This approach addresses the general challenge of spatially explicit mapping of ecosystem services and can be widely incorporated in reserve design and landscape‐level conservation planning.
Differences in risk factors for incident and recurrent small‐for‐gestational‐age birthweight: a hospital‐based cohort study
Authors: Hinkle SN , Albert PS , Mendola P , Sjaarda LA , Boghossian NS , Yeung E , Laughon SK
Published: April 2014

Objective

Examine whether small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) risk factors differed by prior SGA birth.

Design

Hospital‐based cohort study.

Setting

Utah, USA.

Population

Electronic medical record data from 25 241 women who were nulliparous at study entry with ≥2 subsequent consecutive singleton deliveries (2002–2010).

Methods

Estimated adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between second pregnancy characteristics and SGA risk. Tested for risk factor differences between recurrence and incidence (Pdifference).

Main outcome measures

Second pregnancy incident (n = 1067) and recurrent SGA (n = 484) determined using a population‐based reference.

Results

SGA complicated 20.3 and 4.5% of deliveries to women with and without a prior SGA birth, respectively. Young maternal age (Pdifference = 0.01) and pregnancy hypertensive diseases (Pdifference = 0.03) were associated with incident but not recurrent SGA. Significant risk factors for incidence and recurrence were smoking (incident RR = 1.64 [95% CI 1.22–2.19]; recurrent RR = 1.59 [95% CI 1.17–2.17]), short stature (incident RR = 1.34 [95% CI 1.16–1.54]; recurrent RR = 1.54 [95% CI 1.31–1.82]), prepregnancy underweight (incident RR = 1.32 [95% CI 1.07–1.64]; recurrent RR = 1.30 [95% CI 1.03–1.64]), and inadequate weight gain (incident RR = 1.41 [95% CI 1.22–1.64]; recurrent RR = 1.33 [95% CI 1.10–1.60]). Race‐ethnicity, marital or insurance status, alcohol, diabetes, asthma, thyroid disease, depression, or interpregnancy interval were not associated with incidence or recurrence.

Conclusion

There was considerable overlap in the risk factors for SGA recurrence and incidence. Recurrence and incidence risk factors included smoking, short stature, underweight, and inadequate weight gain. Maternal age and hypertensive diseases increased the risk for incidence only. Regardless of the SGA definition, some potentially modifiable risk factors for recurrence were identified.
Retained placenta is associated with pre‐eclampsia, stillbirth, giving birth to a small‐for‐gestational‐age infant, and spontaneous preterm birth: a national register‐based study
Authors: Endler M , Saltvedt S , Cnattingius S , Stephansson O , Wikström A‐K
Published: April 2014

Objective

To evaluate whether defective placentation disorders, i.e. pre‐eclampsia, stillbirth, small for gestational age (SGA), and spontaneous preterm birth, are associated with risk of retained placenta.

Design

Population‐based cohort study.

Setting

Sweden.

Population

Primiparous women in Sweden with singleton vaginal deliveries between 1997 and 2009 at 32–41 weeks of gestation (n = 386 607), without placental abruption or infants with congenital malformations.

Methods

Risks were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) by unconditional logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) after adjustments for maternal, delivery, and infant characteristics.

Main outcome measure

Retained placenta, defined by the presence of both a diagnostic code (of retained placenta) and a procedure code (for the manual removal of the placenta).

Results

The overall rate of retained placenta was 2.17%. The risk of retained placenta was increased for women with pre‐eclampsia (adjusted OR, aOR, 1.37, 95% CI 1.21–1.54), stillbirth (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.28–2.29), SGA birth (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.28–1.70), and spontaneous preterm birth (32–34 weeks of gestation, aOR 2.35, 95% CI 1.97–2.81; 35–36 weeks of gestation, aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.37–1.75). The risk was further increased for women with preterm pre‐eclampsia (aOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.25–2.28) and preterm SGA birth (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.42–3.38). There was no association between preterm stillbirth (aOR 1.10, 95% CI 0.63–1.92) and retained placenta, but the exposed group comprised only 15 cases.

Conclusions

Defective placentation disorders are associated with an increased risk of retained placenta. Whether these relationships indicate a common pathophysiology remains to be investigated.
Maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: adaptive functioning and psychiatric and psychological problems of the older offspring
Authors: Tuovinen S , Aalto‐Viljakainen T , Eriksson JG , Kajantie E , Lahti J , Pesonen A‐K , Heinonen K , Lahti M , Osmond C , Barker DJP , Räikkönen K
Published: April 2014

Objective

To study whether pre‐eclampsia and hypertension without proteinuria during pregnancy are associated with adaptive functioning, and psychiatric and psychological problems, of older offspring.

Design

Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Participants in the Helsinki Birth Cohort 1934–44 Study.

Population

A cohort of 778 participants born after normotensive, pre‐eclamptic, or hypertensive pregnancies, defined based on the mother's blood pressure and urinary protein measurements at maternity clinics and birth hospitals.

Methods

Pearson's chi‐squared tests and multivariable logistic regression.

Main outcome measures

Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Older Adult Self‐Report scores, completed at age 69.3 years (SD 3.1 years).

Results

Compared with offspring born after normotensive pregnancies, offspring born after pre‐eclamptic pregnancies had increased odds of reporting total problems (aOR 4.00, 95%CI 1.64–9.77) and problems of particular concern to clinicians (critical items; aOR 5.28, 95%CI 1.87–14.96), as well as: anxious/depressed, functional impairment, memory, thought, and irritable/disinhibited problems on syndrome scales; depressive, somatic, and psychotic problems on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders scales; and adjustment problems in relationship satisfaction with spouse/partner. Maternal hypertension without proteinuria was not consistently associated with adjustment and problems (total problems, aOR 1.08, 95%CI 0.75–1.57; critical items, aOR 1.58, 95%CI 0.91–2.72).

Conclusions

Maternal hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, during a period of expectant treatment, carry an increased risk of problems in adaptive functioning and mental wellbeing in the offspring seven decades later. Being the longest follow‐up on transgenerational consequences of maternal hypertensive disorders reported thus far, our study points to the life‐time increased risk of an adverse intrauterine environment.
The Informal Welfare State and the Family: Invisible Actors in the Greek Drama
Authors: Lyberaki Antigone , Tinios Platon
Published: April 2014

Are European welfare states, especially in the European periphery, ‘fair-weather systems'? Can they survive a sustained and deep crisis and still fulfil basic functions? This article argues that to answer these questions we must look at the interplay between ‘formal’ and ‘informal', family-based, social protection. Social protection services in all countries, but especially in Southern Europe, have always been provided by a hybrid system comprised of state-based and residual family-based systems, where gender plays a critical role. Austerity tests the capacity of formal welfare provision, and so eats into the liquidity of the informal support system. The crisis is thus transmitted from the state to the family. By examining the case of Greece, the article underlines the need for a joint analysis of both parts of the welfare state in the context of the unfolding crisis. A full understanding of crisis dynamics requires innovation in theoretical approaches, in the type of data needed and in policy thinking.
Poverty and Inequality during the Great Recession in Greece
Authors: Matsaganis Manos , Leventi Chrysa
Published: April 2014

The severe economic crisis that has been affecting Greece since 2009 is having an unprecedented impact in terms of job and income losses, and is widely perceived to have a comparably significant effect in terms of greater inequality and increased poverty. This article provides an early assessment of whether (and to what extent) the latter is the case. Specifically, it simulates the impact of the austerity (i.e. fiscal consolidation policies) and the recession (i.e. negative developments in the wider economy) on the distribution of incomes in 2009–12, and estimates how the burden of the Great Recession has been shared across income groups. The article concludes by discussing the policy implications of the authors’ research.
Multiple Crises and Policy Dismantling in Spain: Political Strategies and Distributive Implications
Authors: Jordana Jacint
Published: April 2014

This article examines the distributive implications of dismantling strategies applied to public policies in order to confront the multiple crises that have taken place in Spain since 2008. The hypotheses concern the logic of dismantling, while considering different theoretical alternatives. First, it is suspected that the configuration of social groups and business interests affects how dismantling strategies are chosen: the corporatist state selectively protects its closer clientele. Second, the characteristics of policies and instruments are discussed, with the suggestion that there was a preference for dismantling those that were less costly for the politicians. To assess these interpretations, variations across policy sectors in Spain during the period 2008–2012 are analysed and different areas of regulatory and expenditure policies are considered.
Review article: What makes a good healthcare quality indicator? A systematic review and validation study
Authors: Jones Peter , Shepherd Michael , Wells Susan , Le Fevre James , Ameratunga Shanthi
Published: April 2014

Indicators measuring aspects of performance to assess quality of care are often chosen arbitrarily. The present study aimed to determine what should be considered when selecting healthcare quality indicators, particularly focusing on the application to emergency medicine. Structured searches of electronic databases were supplemented by website searches of quality of care and benchmarking organisations, citation searches and discussions with experts. Candidate attributes of ‘good’ healthcare indicators were extracted independently by two authors. The validity of each attribute was independently assessed by 16 experts in quality of care and emergency medicine. Valid and reliable attributes were included in a critical appraisal tool for healthcare quality indicators, which was piloted by emergency medicine specialists. Twenty‐three attributes were identified, and all were rated moderate to extremely important by an expert panel. The reliability was high: alpha = 0.98. Twelve existing tools explicitly stated a median (range) of 14 (8–17) attributes. A critical appraisal tool incorporating all the attributes was developed. This was piloted by four emergency medicine specialists who were asked to appraise and rank a set of six candidate indicators. Although using the tool took more time than implicit gestalt decision making: median (interquartile range) 190 (43–352) min versus 17.5 (3–34) min, their rankings changed after using the tool. To inform the appraisal of quality improvement indicators for emergency medicine, a comprehensive list of indicator attributes was identified, validated, developed into a tool and piloted. Although expert consensus is still required, this tool provides an explicit basis for discussions around indicator selection.
Familial Mediterranean fever gene mutations as a risk factor for early coronary artery disease
Authors: Basar Nurcan , Kisacik Bunyamin , Ercan Suleyman , Pehlivan Yavuz , Yilmaz Sedat , Simsek Ismail , Erdem Hakan , Ozer Orhan , Pay Salih , Onat Ahmet M. , Dinc Ayhan
Published: April 2014

Objective

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are very common in the general population. Atherosclerosis is the main pathogenesis. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease. The gene causing FMF, designated MEFV, encodes a protein called pyrin or marenostrin that is expressed mainly in myeloid bone marrow precursors, neutrophils and monocytes. We herein aimed to determine the prevalence of MEFV mutations (all exon 2, 10 mutations) in patients with early coronary heart disease (early CHD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) with multiple risk factors and among the healthy subjects as controls.

Methods

A total of 197 patients and 119 healthy subjects were recruited and enrolled into three groups in terms of inclusion criteria. Ninety‐one patients diagnosed with early CHD enrolled into group one (men < 45 years of age, women < 40 years of age), 106 patients with CHD (men > 50 years of age) to group two and 119 healthy controls enrolled into group three. None of patients was diagnosed with FMF. The diagnosis of CHD was established on electrocardiographic changes, echocardiography and coronary angiography.

Results

Thirty‐eight patients (41.8%) with early CHD, 17 patients (16%) with CHD and 24 healthy controls (20.2%) carried at least one mutated MEFV allele. Young patients with CHD have different risk factor profiles, clinical presentations and prognoses than older patients. Young patients with CHD usually have multiple risk factors.

Conclusion

This study suggests that MEFV mutations in early CHD patients had significantly increased in contrast to CHD patients and healthy controls.
Non‐response to colchicine in familial Mediterranean fever should be identified accurately
Authors: Melikoglu Meltem A. , Senel Kazim
Published: April 2014

Aim

Colchicine prophylaxis is the single most important factor in ameliorating familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) for the prevention of both attacks and secondary amyloidosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the exact proportion of those patients who do not respond to colchicine and to characterize their demographic, sociodemographic and clinical aspects.

Methods

One hundred and eight patients with FMF were included in our study. The demographic (age, gender), socioeconomic (education level, employment status, economic income level) and clinical features (age at onset of FMF, age at FMF diagnosis, family history of FMF, mean duration of colchicine use and mean daily colchicine dose) of the patients were evaluated. The patients unresponsive to colchicine therapy, according to their statements, were recorded. Also with another question, patients’ routine colchicine‐consuming habits were elucidated in a self‐answering format. ‘Non‐responders’ were defined as patients who experienced FMF attacks at a frequency greater than once every 3 months despite treatment with 2 mg colchicine daily. Data were analyzed with the chi‐square test and Fisher's exact test.

Results

There were 50 female and 58 male patients with a mean age of 42.4 ± 11.3 years. The mean age at FMF onset and at FMF diagnosis were 14.3 ± 10.5 and 19.1 ± 12.9 years, respectively. Sixteen percent of the patients defined themselves as ‘suffering from attacks in spite of regular colchicine’. Irregular colchicine usage was determined in 11% of the patients who were considered as ‘unresponsive to colchicine therapy’ according to their statements. In spite of regular colchicine regimen, attacks were present in 5% of the patients in our study. Although there was no difference in demographic and clinical aspects, patients with irregular colchicine usage were found to be from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, had less education and more unemployment (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Regular colchicine usage anamnesis may be misleading in the first evaluation and this risk seems to be higher in patients from lower socioeconomic background. Routine colchicine‐consuming habits should be detailed in patients with FMF before claiming its failure.
New Insights into the Relationship between Viral Infection and Pregnancy Complications
Authors: Kwon Ja‐Young , Romero Roberto , Mor Gil
Published: April 2014

A recent study by McDonnold and coinvestigators published in Am J Obstet Gynecol reports an association between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and preeclampsia. The investigation was based on the hypothesis that HPV trophoblast infection results in failed trophoblast invasion, and placental dysfunction and hypoxia. The findings from this study along with previous data addressing the relationship between viral infection and obstetrical complications highlight the relevance of viral infection during pregnancy. A better understanding of mechanisms via which virus leads to pregnancy complications will drive us closer to finding a strategy to prevent adverse outcomes.
Achieving high quality and long‐lasting matches in youth mentoring programmes: a case study of 4Results mentoring
Authors: Higley Elizabeth , Walker Sarah C. , Bishop Asia S. , Fritz Cindy
Published: April 2014

Mentoring programmes show significant promise for enhancing the well‐being of youth with complex needs. Research indicates that high quality mentoring, although difficult to achieve, positively impacts youth development across behavioural, social, emotional and academic domains. The difficulty of sustaining long‐term matches between mentors and youth, however, remains an important concern for the field of mentoring, as foreshortened matches can be harmful to youth. The 4Results mentoring programme has been identified as a Promising Practice through the Washington State Inventory of child‐serving behavioural and mental health programmes and has developed a unique infrastructure to support critical programme values such as match longevity. In 7 years, the programme has successfully retained 98% of mentors for at least 1 year with an average match length of 3.7 years. The following article describes the programme's guiding philosophy and approach to recruiting and training mentors in the context of existing best practices research.
Genetic evaluation based on family history and Her2 status correctly identifies TP53 mutations in very early onset breast cancer cases
Authors: Fostira F. , Konstantopoulou I. , Mavroudis D. , Tryfonopoulos D. , Yannoukakos D. , Voutsinas G.E.
Published: April 2014

Currently, hereditary breast cancer is being attributed to more than 20 genes of differing penetrance. Although BRCA1 and BRCA2 are still the genes of reference for breast cancer susceptibility, extreme breast cancer phenotypes may be the result of deleterious alleles of other genes. Here, we report three families with early‐onset breast cancer that were initially referred for BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic testing. They were diagnosed with breast cancer at an extraordinarily early age. On the basis of their extensive family history, which included multiple cancer types, and their Her2 status, they were suspected for Li–Fraumeni syndrome. Indeed, all three probands were found to harbor TP53 tumor suppressor gene mutations. These included p.C275X, described here for the first time, as well as p.R213X and p.Y220C, which have been described in the past. Our conclusion is that decisions on genetic analysis for inherited early onset breast cancer should always be based on detailed pedigree information, combined with Her2 status.
REPEAL OF PROHIBITION: A BENEFIT‐COST ANALYSIS
Authors: Vitaliano Donald F.
Published: April 2014

In spite of an estimated increase in annual alcohol‐related motor vehicle costs of $2.767 billion (1947 dollars), the net social benefit of repeal of alcohol Prohibition amounts to $432 million per annum in 1934–1937, about 0.33% of gross domestic product. Total benefits of $3.25 billion consist primarily of increased consumer and producer surplus, tax revenues, and reduced criminal violence costs. A Monte Carlo simulation shows the probability of negative net benefits is 16%. The estimated price elasticity of demand for spirits, beer, and wine are –.60, −.56, and –.51 respectively, which is consistent with the modern literature. (JEL D61, I18, K420, I120)
Rewarding Poor Performance: Why Do Boards of Directors Increase New Options in Response to CEO Underwater Options?
Authors: Sun Yuanyuan , Shin Taekjin
Published: April 2014

Manuscript Type

Empirical

Research Question/Issue

When the stock options granted to CEOs go underwater, boards of directors tend to award additional stock options to their CEOs. Drawing on agency theory and attribution theory, this study explores social psychological mechanisms that explain why boards of directors increase new option grants to CEOs in response to underwater options.

Research Findings/Insights

Using the compensation data of CEOs at 966 US firms, we found that contextual factors such as market conditions and industry performance affected boards of directors' decisions to grant new stock options. Consistent with our hypotheses, boards of directors granted a greater number of new options to CEOs in response to CEOs' underwater options during the recession period than the recovery period, and they granted fewer new options when the firm's industry performance was high rather than low.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

This study incorporates attribution theory in understanding boards of directors' causal attribution of firm performance and its impact on executive compensation. It complements earlier studies on causal attribution by exploring the role of contextual factors. It also contributes to the research by examining the attribution process of boards of directors rather than that of top management, as well as the consequences of the causal attribution in terms of ex‐post adjustment in executive option compensation.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This study provides up‐to‐date and improved evidence on boards' decision making about executive stock options. Practitioners and policy makers can benefit from the study's findings that board members rely on contextual information about the market and the competition when they make causal attribution of firm performance changes, which tends to affect their decisions about executive compensation.
Look who's talking: speech style and social context in language input to infants are linked to concurrent and future speech development
Authors: Ramírez‐Esparza Nairán , García‐Sierra Adrián , Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: April 2014

Language input is necessary for language learning, yet little is known about whether, in natural environments, the speech style and social context of language input to children impacts language development. In the present study we investigated the relationship between language input and language development, examining both the style of parental speech, comparing ‘parentese’ speech to standard speech, and the social context in which speech is directed to children, comparing one‐on‐one (1:1) to group social interactions. Importantly, the language input variables were assessed at home using digital first‐person perspective recordings of the infants' auditory environment as they went about their daily lives (N =26, 11‐ and 14‐months‐old). We measured language development using (a) concurrent speech utterances, and (b) word production at 24 months. Parentese speech in 1:1 contexts is positively correlated with both concurrent speech and later word production. Mediation analyses further show that the effect of parentese speech‐1:1 on infants' later language is mediated by concurrent speech. Our results suggest that both the social context and the style of speech in language addressed to children are strongly linked to a child's future language development.
Social class differences produce social group preferences
Authors: Horwitz Suzanne R. , Shutts Kristin , Olson Kristina R.
Published: April 2014

Some social groups are higher in socioeconomic status than others and the former tend to be favored over the latter. The present research investigated whether observing group differences in wealth alone can directly cause children to prefer wealthier groups. In Experiment 1, 4–5‐year‐old children developed a preference for a wealthy novel group over a less wealthy group. In Experiment 2, children did not develop preferences when groups differed by another kind of positive/negative attribute (i.e. living in brightly colored houses vs. drab houses), suggesting that wealth is a particularly meaningful group distinction. Lastly, in Experiment 3, the effect of favoring novel wealthy groups was moderated by group membership: Children assigned to a wealthy group showed ingroup favoritism, but those assigned to a less wealthy group did not. These experiments shed light on why children tend to be biased in favor of social groups that are higher in socioeconomic status.
Interleukin‐6 in combination with the interleukin‐6 receptor stimulates glucose uptake in resting human skeletal muscle independently of insulin action
Authors: Saini A. , Faulkner S. H. , Moir H. , Warwick P. , King J. A. , Nimmo M. A.
Published: April 2014

Aim

To examine if the physiological concentrations of both interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), in combination with IL‐6 receptor (IL‐6R), are able to stimulate glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle and to identify the associated signalling pathways.

Methods

Skeletal muscle tissue (˜60 mg) obtained from healthy female volunteers via muscle biopsy was subjected to incubation in the absence or presence of insulin (60 µU/ml), recombinant human IL‐6 (rhIL‐6) (4 ng/ml) or a combination of rhIL‐6 (4 ng/ml) and rhIL‐6R (100 ng/ml) for 30 min, with glucose transport measured for each incubation. Western blot analysis was conducted on key signalling proteins, protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), adenosine monophosphate kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to gain an early insight into any differing transport mechanisms.

Results

Human skeletal muscle exhibited increased glucose uptake with insulin (1.85‐fold; p < 0.05) and stimulated phosphorylation of PKB/Akt and AMPK (0.98 ± 0.23 and 1.49 ± 0.13, respectively, phosphorylated: total; p < 0.05). IL‐6/IL‐6R increased phosphorylation of mTOR (fourfold, p < 0.05) compared to insulin, IL‐6 alone and basal control. IL‐6 did not stimulate glucose uptake but combined with IL‐6R, induced 1.5‐fold increase in glucose uptake (p < 0.05) and phosphorylation of AMPK (0.95 ± 0.19; phosphorylated: total, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

IL‐6 in combination with IL‐6R and not IL‐6 alone increased glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle. IL‐6/IL‐6R‐mediated glucose uptake occurred independently of PKB/Akt phosphorylation, showing that IL‐6/IL‐6R‐induced glucose uptake is dependent on a divergent pathway.
The Double Challenge of Market and Social Incorporation: Progress and Bottlenecks in Latin America
Authors: Martínez Franzoni Juliana , Sánchez‐Ancochea Diego
Published: April 2014

Has the past decade of sustained economic growth and political transformations reversed Latin America's historical failure to secure market and social incorporation? To address this question this article draws on the experiences of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay by distinguishing between short‐term outcomes – which may depend on benign international conditions – and policy changes, which are more important for long‐term performance. It highlights the overall success of both Brazil and Uruguay and shows that the other countries have made more progress in terms of social than market incorporation.
Leader, Protester, Enabler, Spoiler: Aid Strategies and Donor Politics in Institutional Assistance
Authors: Yanguas Pablo
Published: April 2014

Aid co‐ordination has come to be seen as a miracle cure for the ills of donor proliferation. However, in weak states where aid conditionality may be a catalyst for institutional change, the ideal of aid co‐ordination is conceptually suspect, and in some instances politically counterproductive. Co‐ordination is one of the two solutions to the collective‐action problem that the public good of effective institutional conditionality generates; donor leadership is the other. The desirability of each solution depends on every donor's commitment and presence, which together generate a four‐fold typology: leader, protester, enabler, and spoiler. As long as there is at least one enabler or spoiler donor present, aid co‐ordination will be less effective than donor leadership.
Revision of the genus Kolibacia Leschen and Lackner (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae: Trogossitinae)
Authors: Yoshitomi Hiroyuki , Lee Chi‐Feng
Published: April 2014

The genus Kolibacia Leschen and Lackner, 2013 is revised. Five species are recognized, one of which, K. okinawana sp. nov., is new to science. Two new combinations, K. tsushimana (Nakane) and K. regularis (Grouvelle), are proposed and K. regularis is newly recorded from Vietnam.
Amyloid aggregation and deposition of human islet amyloid polypeptide at membrane interfaces
Authors: Sasahara Kenji , Morigaki Kenichi , Shinya Kyoko
Published: April 2014

Amyloid deposition of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) within the islets of Langerhans is a pathological feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Substantial evidence indicates that the membrane‐mediated aggregation and subsequent deposition of hIAPP are linked to dysfunction and death of pancreatic β‐cells, but the molecular processes of hIAPP deposition are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the membrane‐mediated aggregation and deposition of hIAPP at supported planar lipid bilayers with and without raft components (i.e. cholesterol and sphingomyelin) to provide insight into hIAPP‐induced membrane dysfunction. The adsorption of hIAPP onto the bilayers was studied using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, which showed enhanced accumulation of the peptide onto the bilayer containing raft components. Microscope observations demonstrated the growth of the aggregates formed from the membrane‐adsorbed hIAPP. The examination of the membrane interfaces revealed that hIAPP aggregates retained the ability to associate with the membranes during the aggregation process, resulting in insertion of the aggregates into the bilayers. We also report the inhibitory effect of insulin on the hIAPP deposition. These findings demonstrate the aggregation of hIAPP at the membrane interfaces leading to amyloid deposits associated with the membrane and suggest a role for insulin in hIAPP deposition. A presumed mechanism regulating hIAPP deposition at the membrane interfaces is discussed.
The Sound of Silence
Authors: Harris Jeffrey H. , Saad Mohsen
Published: April 2014

Using comprehensive electronic data collected directly from NASDAQ systems, we assess the impact of changes in electronic message traffic on predicting short‐term changes in prices, spreads and quoted depth levels. We document evidence that message traffic at, and nearby, the inside quotes predicts upcoming price and quoted depth changes as much as 75 seconds in advance. Controlling for the time series properties of silent information, past price, volume, electronic communication network volume, time‐of‐day, and firm‐specific fixed effects, we find that message traffic is strongly related to short‐term returns. Our results demonstrate that modern electronic trading systems can be employed by high‐frequency traders to effectively forecast short‐term market conditions.
Computerization of the Equity, Foreign Exchange, Derivatives, and Fixed‐Income Markets
Authors: Cardella Laura , Hao Jia , Kalcheva Ivalina , Ma Yung‐Yu
Published: April 2014

We survey empirical studies on the development and effects of increased computerization across equity, foreign exchange, derivatives, and fixed‐income markets. While the changes in the trading process due to computerization in less liquid markets such as the corporate bond market have been modest, there have been dramatic changes in certain derivatives markets, foreign exchange, and particularly in equity markets. In many instances, previous research has found positive effects of computerization on measures of market quality, but our survey highlights that human intermediation is still prominent and beneficial in certain areas.
Algorithmic Trading, Liquidity, and Price Discovery: An Intraday Analysis of the SPI 200 Futures
Authors: Viljoen Tina , Westerholm P. Joakim , Zheng Hui
Published: April 2014

We study the intraday price impact of algorithmic trading (AT) on futures markets. We find that AT exhibits a strong reverse U‐shape intraday pattern, and greater AT activity is related to lower effective spreads, higher realized spreads and lower adverse selection risk, which suggests that algorithmic traders strategically enter the market when transaction costs and information asymmetry are lower. AT is associated with an increase in transaction costs in the subsequent intraday period mainly through an increase in the adverse selection risk, and is positively related to both public and private information. Our results strongly suggest that algorithmic traders are informed and contribute to liquidity and price discovery on the futures markets.
How Slow Is the NBBO? A Comparison with Direct Exchange Feeds
Authors: Ding Shengwei , Hanna John , Hendershott Terrence
Published: April 2014

This paper provides evidence on the benefits of faster proprietary data feeds from stock exchanges over the regulated “public” consolidated data feeds. We measure and compare the National Best Bid and Offer (NBBO) prices in each data feed at the same data center. Price dislocations between the NBBOs occur several times a second in very active stocks and typically last one to two milliseconds. The short duration of dislocations makes their costs small for investors who trade infrequently, while the frequency of the dislocations makes them costly for frequent traders. Higher security price and days with high trading volume and volatility are associated with dislocations.
The Provision of Liquidity by High‐Frequency Participants
Authors: Jarnecic Elvis , Snape Mark
Published: April 2014

This paper examines the order submission strategies and supply of liquidity by high‐frequency participants versus the remainder of participants in the limit order book. The results show that high‐frequency participants submit orders at multiple prices in the limit order book, concentrated at or within the quote. This activity translates into the provision of liquidity on an on‐going basis, which is robust to fast versus slow and volatile markets, together suggesting that high‐frequency participants resolve temporal liquidity imbalances in the limit order book. The evidence is consistent with high‐frequency trading (HFT) improving market liquidity, but there remain issues surrounding high‐frequency participants’ effect on market depth and the difficulty of trading of non‐HFT participants.
How Aggressive Are High‐Frequency Traders?
Authors: Hagströmer Björn , Nordén Lars , Zhang Dong
Published: April 2014

We study order aggressiveness of market‐making high‐frequency traders (MM‐HFTs), opportunistic HFTs (Opp‐HFTs), and non‐HFTs. We find that MM‐HFTs follow their own group's previous order submissions more than they follow other traders’ orders. Opp‐HFTs and non‐HFTs tend to split market orders into small portions submitted in sequence. HFTs submit more (less) aggressive orders when the same‐side (opposite‐side) depth is large, and supply liquidity when the bid–ask spread is wide. Thus, HFTs adhere strongly to the tradeoff between waiting cost and the cost of immediate execution. Non‐HFTs care less about this tradeoff, but react somewhat stronger than HFTs to volatility.
PedMIDAS‐Based Scoring Underestimates Migraine Disability on Non‐School Days
Authors: Heyer Geoffrey L. , Merison Kelsey , Rose Sean C. , Perkins Sara Q. , Lee JoEllen M. , Stewart William C.L.
Published: April 2014

Objective

The aim of this study is to compare daily Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS)‐based scores for headaches occurring on school days vs non‐school days and during the school year vs the summer holiday.

Background

The PedMIDAS is the only instrument validated to assess migraine disability among school‐aged children. However, the PedMIDAS may underestimate disability during prolonged school holidays.

Methods

In a prospective cohort study, migraine patients aged 10–18 years completed a 90‐day Internet‐based headache diary. For each headache day, they answered PedMIDAS‐based questions and rated their headache intensity (scale 1–10). PedMIDAS‐based scores, headache intensity ratings, and relative headache frequencies were compared for school days vs non‐school days and for the school year vs the summer holiday.

Results

Fifty‐two patients completed 4680 diary entries comprising 984 headache days. The headache frequencies and intensity ratings did not differ between time periods. However, the mean headache disability scores (as measured from PedMIDAS‐based questions) were significantly different for school days (0.85) compared to non‐school days (0.45), P < .001, and for the school year (0.73) compared to the summer holiday (0.46), P < .016.

Conclusion

Given similar headache intensities and frequencies, daily PedMIDAS‐based scores significantly underestimate headache disability on non‐school days. Accordingly, PedMIDAS scoring during the school year may not be comparable to assessments done during the summer holiday. These potential differences must be considered when using the instrument as an outcome measure for clinical trials.
Spindle cell thymomas with neuroendocrine morphology: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 18 cases
Authors: Weissferdt Annikka , Moran Cesar A
Published: April 2014

Aims

To present 18 cases of spindle cell thymoma (WHO type A) with prominent neuroendocrine morphology.

Methods and results

The patients were nine men and nine women aged 36–76 years (average: 56 years). Clinically, the patients presented with non‐specific symptoms such as chest pain, or were entirely asymptomatic. None of the patients had a history of autoimmune syndrome. Surgical resection was performed in all patients. The tumour size ranged from 30 to 110 mm. Macroscopically, the tumours were described as light brown or tan masses with a homogeneous and solid appearance. Microscopically, all tumours showed areas that closely resembled the typical growth pattern of neuroendocrine tumours, i.e. rosette‐like structures or a trabecular, insular or ribbon‐like arrangement of tumour cells. Areas of more conventional spindle cell thymoma were present in all cases. Seven cases were encapsulated, and 10 cases were invasive tumours. Immunohistochemically, the tumours were positive for pancytokeratin but negative for synaptophysin and chromogranin A. Follow‐up information for 10 patients showed that all patients were alive after a period ranging from 1 month to 6 years.

Conclusions

Familiarity with this particular pattern of thymoma is important in order to separate this tumour from true neuroendocrine carcinoma and prevent unnecessary adjuvant treatment.
Acute leukemia detection rate by automated blood count parameters and peripheral smear review
Authors: Rabizadeh E. , Pickholtz I. , Barak M. , Isakov E. , Zimra Y. , Froom P.
Published: April 2014

Introduction

It is unclear what minimal criteria will identify all new cases of acute leukemia in adults in various settings.

Methods

To determine the adult acute leukemia detection rate of the various criteria, we recorded complete blood count (CBC) test results from consecutive patients with leukemia (130 hospitalized patients and 96 outpatients) and from consecutive patients without leukemia (34 827 hospitalized and 33 695 outpatients).

Results

Basic criteria for a reflex review (hemoglobin, platelets, and a five‐part differential) detected 91% of new hospital leukemia patients (118 of 130) compared to 75% (72 of 96) outpatients. No cases were missed if we did reflex testing when there was either one of the basic criteria or an increased proportion of large unstained cells (LUC), but five cases were missed using the blast flag instead of the LUC. Adding the LUC to basic criteria resulted in the detection of all cases of acute leukemia. The cost of detection of one case of acute leukemia was 1029 and 425 peripheral smear reviews in hospital and outpatients, respectively.

Conclusion

We conclude that basic criteria available on most hematology analyzers along with the LUC identify all adult patients with acute leukemia in both hospital and outpatient settings with minimal peripheral smear review rates.
How Do We Judge Policies?
Authors: FRENCH RICHARD D.
Published: April 2014

Political science has paid scant attention to the way that citizens judge public policy, assuming that citizens do so, or should do so, in ways familiar to academics themselves, depending upon which of the various schools of thought they endorse. This paper argues that approaching citizens’ judgement realistically requires attention to political psychology. Indeed, our conception of citizen judgement can be enriched by attention to research and theory in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. That work emphasises that much judgement occurs spontaneously and very rapidly, that it is involuntary and non‐semantic and that it depends upon the emotional impact of experience rather than conscious weighing of situations against explicit standards of assessment such as science, self‐interest or moral theory. A moral psychology for public life is sketched out, with implications for judgment by politicians.
The Meretriciousness of Meritocracy
Authors: LIPSEY DAVID
Published: April 2014

Meritocracy has become the creed of all three British political parties. There is a consensus that progress towards it has stalled. In fact, it is doubtful how widespread the advance to meritocracy ever was and how far short of achieving it Britain fell. In any case, meritocracy, if it is not accompanied by greater equality of outcome, would not promote a happier society. It would make the rich more unrestrained in their greed and the poor more miserable thinking their poverty their own fault.
Accountability and Leadership in Twenty‐First Century Whitehall
Authors: JENKIN BERNARD
Published: April 2014

In July 2013 the UK's coalition government published “The Civil Service Reform Plan – One Year on”, reporting on progress against minister Frances Maude's objectives to shake up the civil service. This followed various reported disagreements between ministers and civil servants over policy implementation, and a research report commissioned by the government from think tank IPPR into lessons from overseas for civil service reform. This trio of short articles reviews the government's proposals from three perspectives: that of the lead author of the IPPR report, a former senior civil servant, and the chair of the House of Commons Public Administration Committee (PASC) which oversees the civil service. The authors take differing views on the proposals, which include introduction of ‘extended ministerial offices’, and greater control by ministers over choosing their civil servants. Should these be seen as useful next steps, worrying developments, and/or large and important enough to merit a Commission on the civil service, as PASC has suggested?
Less Invasive Unilateral Arytenoid Lateralization: A Modified Technique for Treatment of Idiopathic Laryngeal Paralysis in Dogs: Technique Description and Outcome
Authors: von Pfeil Dirsko J. F. , Edwards Michael R. , Déjardin Loïc M.
Published: April 2014

Objective

To (1) describe a modification of conventional unilateral cricoarytenoid lateralization (UCAL), called less‐invasive unilateral cricoarytenoid lateralization (LI‐UCAL) for treatment of idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (LP); (2) report clinical outcome of LI‐UCAL; and (3) describe the effect of early discharge after surgery.

Study Design

Retrospective clinical study.

Animals

Dogs (n = 22).

Methods

Medical records (January 2009 to October 2011) of dogs diagnosed with idiopathic LP that had LI‐UCAL were reviewed. Signalment, clinical signs, laboratory tests, imaging, concurrent medical conditions, information from the anesthesia record, and hospitalization time were documented. Follow‐up was obtained by direct examination, questionnaire, and review of medical records from referring veterinarians.

Results

Dogs included in the study had variable degrees and duration of respiratory distress before surgery. Median surgery time was 32 minutes. Median hospitalization was 6 hours, and median follow‐up was 427 days. Long‐term respiratory function, as reported by owners at last follow‐up, improved in 95.5% of dogs after surgery; exercise tolerance improved by 90%. Major complications included death secondary to aspiration pneumonia (9%), aspiration pneumonia from which dogs recovered within 3 days after administration of antimicrobials (9%), and development of right‐sided laryngeal collapse that required right sided LI‐UCAL (4.5%). At long‐term follow‐up, 95.5% of owners were satisfied with the surgical outcome.

Conclusion

LI‐UCAL is a feasible surgical technique and resulted in improvement of clinical signs related to LP. Calm recoveries without adverse effects such as respiratory distress were associated with early discharge. LI‐UCAL could be considered an alternative to conventional UCAL.