bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TEMPORAL CHANGES IN THE DETERMINANTS OF MUTUAL FUND FLOWS
Authors: Fant L. Franklin , O'Neal Edward S.
Published: August 2014

We examine how the relation between mutual fund performance and fund flows has changed over time by separating our sample into two periods (1978–87 and 1988–97). We document an increase in the flow‐performance asymmetry in the second period that exacerbates the adverse incentive for fund managers to increase portfolio risk. We develop a measure of the elasticity of fund flows with respect to performance, which filters out the confounding influence of greater aggregate fund flows in the second period and allows an examination of whether current investors place more emphasis on prior performance when selecting funds. We conclude that, though top performing funds are rewarded with greater fund flows in the second half of our sample, the change is due solely to the increase in aggregate fund flows and not to an increased reliance on performance by individual fund investors.

JEL classification: G1, G2, L1.
BOOK REVIEWS
Authors: Jordan Bradford D.
Published: August 2014

The Venture Capital Cycle, by Paul A. Gompers and Josh Lerner. The MIT Press, 1999, 375 pages, suggested retail price $45.
A SEQUENTIAL SIGNALING MODEL OF CONVERTIBLE DEBT ISSUE AND CALL POLICIES
Authors: Lee Yul W.
Published: August 2014

This paper offers a new explanation for why some risk‐averse firms may prefer to issue callable convertible debt. Here, the convertible debt issue and call policies are integrated into a unified financing policy. It is then shown that for firms with relatively low unsystematic risk, convertible debt issuance followed by an appropriate in‐the‐money signaling call policy reduces more unsystematic equity risk than equity, callable straight debt, or their combination. The model is modified to incorporate asymmetric information at the issue stage to explain the stock price behavior at announcements of convertible debt sales.
SYSTEMATIC LIQUIDITY
Authors: Huberman Gur , Halka Dominika
Published: August 2014

Most of the market microstructure literature focuses on the liquidity of individual securities, whereas much of the asset pricing literature examines the association between systematic risk and return. We document the presence of a systematic, time‐varying component of liquidity. At the moment, neither the inventory nor the asymmetric information‐based approach to liquidity explains the systematic, time‐varying component of liquidity.

JEL classification: G10, G12
DO U.S. STOCK MARKET INDEXES OVER‐ OR UNDERREACT?
Authors: Schnusenberg Oliver , Madura Jeff
Published: August 2014

Our objective is to investigate the short‐term over‐ or underreaction of six U.S. stock market indexes. We find evidence of a one‐day underreaction for winners (days on which an index experiences abnormally high returns) and losers (days on which an index experiences abnormally poor performance). We also find strong evidence of a sixty‐day underreaction for winners. For losers, abnormal returns turn from negative to positive as the period is extended, resulting in significant reversals over the sixty‐day period. Results are generally consistent for each of the six indexes. Overall, these results provide strong support for the uncertain information hypothesis.

JEL classification: G14
BOOK REVIEW
Authors: Chen Carl R.
Published: August 2014

Emerging Financial Markets, by David O. Beim and Charles W. Calomiris. McGraw‐Hill/Irwin, 2001, 364 pages, price $75.00.
INVESTORS' DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE TO MANAGED FUND PERFORMANCE
Authors: Sawicki J.
Published: August 2014

Several studies measuring the flow of monies into and out of U.S. mutual funds note a convexity in the performance‐flow relation and offer several explanations for the apparent investor insensitivity to poor performance. In this study investor response to past performance is measured in a different setting: the Australian wholesale funds market. The results confirm that, like the U.S. mutual fund investor, institutional investors in Australia react to recent performance. However, a similar response asymmetry is not detected in most tests. Evidence that small, young funds are potential drivers of the asymmetric response effect is also provided.

JEL classification: G10, G14
ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL FUNDS RATE CHANGES AND VARIANCE PATTERNS
Authors: Cyree Ken B. , Winters Drew B.
Published: August 2014

We analyze Fed funds rate changes in GARCH‐in‐mean (GARCH‐M) models and find that daily rate change and variance patterns differ with the timing of the rate observation, but that all patterns are generally consistent with optimal reserve account management. We also find that Fed funds daily and intraday variances exhibit trends and persistence, and that daily variance effects differ when using marginal rates versus daily weighted average rates. Furthermore, we find that conditional variances do not provide information about daily or intraday rate changes. Our results provide support for the use of GARCH models for studies on other financial assets.

JEL classification: G21, G28
STRATEGIC RULES ON SPECULATION IN THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET
Authors: Ghosh Dilip K. , Prakash Arun J.
Published: August 2014

In this article we specify the conditions for profitable speculaion in the foreign exchange market with spot and forward contracts. We derive the unique strategic rules from the initial two‐choice situations in a given environment. Finally, in a more complex structure involving covered arbitrage, speculative profits are computed with iterative plays.

JEL classification: F310
SHORT‐TERM EFFECTS OF PRIVATIZATION ON OPERATING PERFORMANCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Authors: Harper Joel T.
Published: August 2014

In this article I use a sample of 178 Czech firms that were in the first wave of voucher privatization to test changes in efficiency and profitability. Based on a previous study's methodology, nonparametric tests reveal that efficiency and profitability decreased immediately following privatization. This is in contrast to earlier studies that find privatization increases these measures. Changes in firms' operations do not vary significantly by size or ownership but do vary by industry type, with nonmanufacturing firms having more positive (or less negative) changes after privatization. Evidence indicates that in spite of the disappointing findings, positive operating performance changes are taking place, such as a decrease in employment.

JEL classification: G32, L33, 052
BOOK REVIEWS
Authors: Byrd Anthony K.
Published: August 2014

Dodging Bullets—Changing U.S. Corporate Capital Structure in the 1980s and 1990s, by Robert N. McCauley, Judith S. Ruud, and Frank Iacono, The MIT Press, 1999, 352 pages, suggested retail price $34.95.
BOOK REVIEWS
Authors: Conrad Jennifer S.
Published: August 2014

Irrational Exuberance, by Robert J. Shiller, Princeton University Press, 2000, 296 pages, suggested retail price $27.95.
OPENING RETURNS, NOISE, AND OVERREACTION
Authors: Chelley‐Steeley Patricia
Published: August 2014

In this article a partial‐adjustment model, which shows how equity prices fail to adjust instantaneously to new information, is estimated using a Kalman filter. For the components of the Dow Jones Industrial 30 index I aim to identify whether overreaction or noise is the cause of serial correlation and high volatility associated with opening returns. I find that the tendency for overreaction in opening prices is much stronger than for closing prices; therefore, overreaction rather than noise may account for differences in the return behavior of opening and closing returns.

JEL classification: G15
MODELING THE TERM STRUCTURE FROM THE ON‐THE‐RUN TREASURY YIELD CURVE
Authors: Mansi Sattar A. , Phillips Jeffery H.
Published: August 2014

We propose a new model to estimate the term structure of interest rates using observed on‐the‐run Treasury yields. The new model is an improvement over models that require a priori knowledge of the shape of the yield curve to estimate the term structure. The general form of the model is an exponential function that depends on the estimation of four parameters fit by nonlinear least squares and has straightforward interpretations. In comparing the proposed model with current yield‐curve‐smoothing models, we find that, for the data used, the proposed model does best overall in terms of pricing accuracy both in sample and out of sample.

JEL classification: E43, G12
Phase Stabilization of ZrO2 Polymorph by Combined Additions of Ca2+ and PO43− Ions Through an In Situ Synthetic Approach
Authors: Vasanthavel Subramaniyan , Kannan Sanjeevi
Published: August 2014

This study has been aimed at the phase stabilization of tetragonal Zirconia (t‐ZrO2) by the additions of Ca2+ and PO43− through an in situ synthetic approach. A wide range of variations have been attempted in which the precursor concentrations of Ca2+ and PO43− have been maintained constant for every synthesis. The characterization results from XRD, Raman spectra, FT‐IR spectra, XRF, and the quantitative analysis have confirmed the t‐ZrO2 stabilization for the selected concentrations ranging from 5% to 20% of Ca2+ and PO43− in the ZrO2 system at 900°C. Pure ZrO2 system without the additions of Ca2+ and PO43− have yielded the mixture of c‐ZrO2 and m‐ZrO2 at the investigated temperatures ranging between 800°C and 1000°C with no identified traces of t‐ZrO2. Thus, the stabilization of t‐ZrO2 has been mainly attributed to the combined influence of Ca2+ and PO43− presence in the ZrO2 matrix creating oxygen vacancies that has been confirmed from impedance measurements. Heat treatment beyond 900°C had resulted in the phase degradation leading to the formation of mixture of phases comprising of major amount of m‐ZrO2 and minor amount of t‐ZrO2.
Purified deoxynivalenol or feed restriction reduces mortality in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), with experimental bacterial coldwater disease but biologically relevant concentrations of deoxynivalenol do not impair the growth of Flavobacterium psychrophilum
Authors: Ryerse I A , Hooft J M , Bureau D P , Hayes M A , Lumsden J S
Published: August 2014

Diets containing deoxynivalenol (DON) were fed to rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) for 4 weeks followed by experimental infection (intraperitoneal) with Flavobacterium psychrophilum (4.1 × 106 colony‐forming units [CFU] mL−1). Mortality of rainbow trout fed either 6.4 mg kg−1 DON or trout pair‐fed the control diet was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in comparison with trout fed the control diet to apparent satiation (<0.1 mg kg−1 DON). In a second experiment, trout were fed one of three experimental diets; a control diet, a diet produced with corn naturally contaminated with DON (3.3 mg kg−1 DON) or a diet containing purified DON (3.8 mg kg−1); however, these fish were not experimentally infected. The presence of DON resulted in significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in feed intake as well as weight gain after 4 weeks. Respiratory burst of head‐kidney leucocytes isolated from rainbow trout fed diets containing purified DON (3.8 mg kg−1) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) at 35 day post‐exposure compared with controls. The antimicrobial activity of DON was examined by subjecting F. psychrophilum in vitro to serial dilutions of the chemical. Complete inhibition occurred at a concentration of 75 mg L−1 DON, but no effect was observed below this concentration (0–30 mg L−1).
Appendectomy and the clinical course of ulcerative colitis: A retrospective cohort study and a nested case–control study from Korea
Authors: Lee Ho‐Su , Park Sang Hyoung , Yang Suk‐Kyun , Kim Seon‐Ok , Soh Jae Seung , Lee Seohyun , Bae Jung Ho , Lee Hyo Jeong , Yang Dong‐Hoon , Kim Kyung Jo , Ye Byong Duk , Byeon Jeong‐Sik , Myung Seung‐Jae , Kim Jin‐Ho
Published: August 2014

Background and Aim

Appendectomy protects against the development of ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the relationship between appendectomy and the clinical course of UC is complex, and could be impacted by a number of variables. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical course of UC between appendectomized patients and nonappendectomized patients in Korea.

Methods

Data on 2648 UC patients were retrieved from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease registry at Asan Medical Center. This retrospective cohort study compared the clinical course of UC in 68 patients who received an appendectomy before their UC diagnosis and 2544 patients who did not receive this procedure. A nested case–control study was also conducted to compare the disease course before and after appendectomy in 36 patients who received this surgery after UC diagnosis. To control for potential confounders, 144 matched controls were retrieved from among 2544 nonappendectomized patients

Results

In the retrospective cohort study, an appendectomy before UC diagnosis demonstrated no influence on disease extent at diagnosis, rates of medication use, proximal disease extension, or colectomy. The 10‐ and 20‐year probabilities of receiving a colectomy were 12.7% and 20.6%, respectively, in appendectomized patients, in comparison with 8.9% and 16.4%, respectively, in nonappendectomized patients (P = 0.81). According to the nested case–control study, an appendectomy after UC diagnosis did not change the subsequent disease course in terms of medication use, proximal disease extension, or hospital admission rate. The adjusted ratio of hospital admissions after appendectomy versus before appendectomy was 1.01 (95% confidence interval = 0.46–2.23; P = 0.97).

Conclusions

Appendectomies performed before or after UC diagnosis do not affect its clinical course in the Korean population.
TLR4, TLR9, and NLRP3 in biliary epithelial cells of primary sclerosing cholangitis: Relationship with clinical characteristics
Authors: Matsushita Hiroshi , Miyake Yasuhiro , Takaki Akinobu , Yasunaka Tetsuya , Koike Kazuko , Ikeda Fusao , Shiraha Hidenori , Nouso Kazuhiro , Yamamoto Kazuhide
Published: August 2014

Background and Aim

Inappropriate innate immune responses have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We evaluated the associations of expressions of toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4, TLR9, and nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein (NOD)‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) in the biliary epithelial cells (BECs) with clinical features of PSC patients.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the expressions of TLR4, TLR9, and NLRP3 in the intrahepatic BECs by immunohistochemical staining in 21 PSC patients and 10 normal controls. In PSC, 17 patients underwent liver biopsy, and, in the other four patients, liver specimens were obtained at the time of liver transplantation.

Results

TLR9 expressions in BECs were higher in PSC patients than in normal controls. TLR9 expressions were correlated with Ludwig fibrosis scores in PSC patients. TLR4 and NLRP3 expressions were similar between PSC patients and normal controls. Seventeen PSC patients undergoing liver biopsy were followed up during a median period of 55.7 months. Four reached to liver transplantation and four developed cholangiocarcinoma. Patients developing cholangiocarcinoma showed lower NLRP3 expressions than the others. Patients reaching to liver transplantation showed higher TLR9 expressions. Expression levels of TLR9 and NLRP3 were not correlated with liver biochemical tests and Mayo risk scores.

Conclusions

In PSC, excessive immune responses through TLR9 signaling may be associated with the disease progression. Insufficient immune response through NLRP3 signaling may be associated with the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Evaluation of TLR9 and NLRP3 expressions in BECs may be useful for predicting the prognosis as an auxiliary marker.
No increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis due to Wilson disease during long‐term follow‐up
Authors: van Meer Suzanne , de Man Robert A , van den Berg Aad P , Houwen Roderick H J , Linn Francisca H H , van Oijen Martijn G H , Siersema Peter D , van Erpecum Karel J
Published: August 2014

Background and Aims

Data on risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with Wilson disease are scarce. We determine HCC risk in a well‐defined cohort of Wilson patients.

Methods

All patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Wilson disease (Leipzig score ≥ 4) in three Dutch university referral hospitals were included in this retrospective cohort study. End of follow‐up was defined as date of diagnosis of HCC, liver transplantation, death, or last available hospital visit. Also, a meta‐analysis was performed to determine incidence and mortality rate of HCC in Wilson disease based on all published cohorts.

Results

In total, 130 patients with Wilson disease were followed during a median follow‐up of 15 years (range 0.1–51.2). At baseline, cirrhosis was present in 74 patients (57% of total: 64% compensated, and 36% decompensated). At end of follow‐up, liver disease severity was improved, stable or deteriorated in 20%, 46%, and 24% of all cases (10% unknown), respectively. Two patients developed HCC (one despite excellent decoppering after 50 years follow‐up, the other with newly diagnosed Wilson disease). Estimated annual HCC risk for all patients was 0.09% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.28). Subgroup analysis in cirrhotic patients revealed an annual HCC risk of 0.14% (95% CI: 0.02–0.46). The meta‐analysis showed an annual HCC risk of 0.04% (95% CI: 0.01–0.10) and HCC mortality rate of 2.6/10 000 person‐years (95% CI: 0.7–7.0).

Conclusions

Even in case of cirrhosis, HCC risk is low in Wilson disease. Our data do not support regular HCC surveillance in Wilson disease.
“The Pure Hard Slog That Nursing Is . . .”: A Qualitative Analysis of Nursing Work
Authors: Bogossian Fiona , Winters‐Chang Peta , Tuckett Anthony
Published: August 2014

Purpose

To explore nurses' perceptions of the nature of nursing work as a factor that contributes to attrition from the profession.

Design

A nonpurposive sample of nurses from the Nurses and Midwives e‐cohort Study in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom provided electronic responses about reasons for leaving the profession. Data were then subjected to qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Nurses at the “coal face,” that is, those who actually do the work of nursing, in real working conditions, express dissatisfaction in relation to hygiene factors relating to the nature of nursing work and attribute these to nurses leaving the profession: workload, shift work, violence, and financial remuneration.

Conclusions

Nurses’ satisfaction with work and motivation to work are being sorely tested. There is manifest tension between the core concepts of nursing—compassion and care—and a system of work that actively precludes nurses from being able to exhibit these virtues and fails to reward them. Workload, shift work, violence, and financial remuneration are drivers of attrition and need to be addressed.

Clinical Relevance

Implications from this study are fourfold: determination of nursing workload, mitigating the impact of shift work, providing safe work environments, and adequate financial remuneration.
Surgical resolution of obstructive dyspareunia after traumatic pelvic injury
Authors: Lee Yoon Kyung , Kim Su Mi , Jeung In Cheul , Park Eun Kyung , Kim Weon Yoo , Lee Yong Seok
Published: August 2014

As more of the patients with traumatic pelvic injuries survive, they desire an optimal quality of life, including normal sexual function, even after the most severe injuries. We present the case of a 31‐year‐old woman who had dyspareunia due to impaired vaginal penetration after severe pelvic injury. After excision of a disunited fragment of pelvic bone and an adhesion band at the vaginal wall, dyspareunia was considerably resolved and the patient resumed sexual function. In cases of severe pelvic injury, physicians used to be satisfied with the patient's survival alone, and tended to regard sexual dysfunction as a trivial outcome. However, restoration of sexual function is an important part of management of these patients. In selected cases, obstructive dyspareunia resulting from traumatic pelvic injury can be managed by planned surgical intervention.
Intrapartum and neonatal outcome of screening non‐stress test (NST) compared with no screening NST in healthy women at 40–40 (+6) weeks of gestation
Authors: Kiettisanpipop Patcharin , Phupong Vorapong
Published: August 2014

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare the intrapartum and neonatal outcome between screening non‐stress test (NST) and no screening NST groups in healthy pregnant women at a gestational age of 40–40+6 weeks.

Methods

Healthy pregnant women, with a gestational age of 40–40+6 weeks who had received antenatal care and delivered at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between 1 July 2011 and 31 March 2013, were included in the study. The treatment group consisted of women who had had screening NST while no NST screening had been performed in the control group. The primary outcome was intrapartum and neonatal outcome, which included stillbirth, the incidence of non‐reassuring fetal heart, neonatal morbidity (meconium aspiration, respiratory distress, neonatal asphyxia) and neonatal mortality. Secondary outcome was the cost‐effectiveness of the NST screening.

Results

A total of 460 healthy pregnant women with a gestational age of 40–40+6 weeks were included in the study. There were 228 cases in the NST screening group and 232 cases in the no NST screening group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of stillbirth, non‐reassuring fetal heart, neonatal morbidity (meconium aspiration, respiratory distress, neonatal asphyxia) and neonatal mortality. The cost of NST plus neonatal care was higher in the NST screening group than the no NST screening group.

Conclusion

Routine performing NST at the gestational age of 40–40+6 weeks has no benefit in intrapartum and neonatal outcome.
Three‐year questionnaire survey on human papillomavirus vaccination targeting new female college students
Authors: Sukegawa Akiko , Ohshige Kenji , Arai Suzuko , Sakanashi Kaoru , Usui Masami , Hirahara Fumiki , Miyagi Etsuko
Published: August 2014

Aim

A questionnaire survey was conducted at fixed points to describe changes over a 3‐year period in the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake rate among young women. Several factors obtained from the questionnaire were investigated in relation to HPV vaccination.

Methods

The study was conducted at two universities in Yokohama City, Japan. Newly enrolled female students of the universities were recruited to participate in this study in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The study participants were asked about their HPV vaccination status. They were also questioned about factors that potentially influenced HPV vaccination, such as current age, place of residence during high school, and knowledge related to cervical cancer and HPV vaccination.

Results

The proportion of vaccinated participants dramatically increased in 2013 (48.7%) in comparison to 2011 (5.4%) and 2012 (13.5%). Three factors were positively related to HPV vaccination: being 18 years old in 2013, which means that they were eligible for a financial support program (P < 0.001); living in the study city, in which HPV vaccination was well conducted (P < 0.001); and proper knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The HPV vaccination uptake rate in 2013 dramatically increased from that in 2011. Official financial support and publicity work were likely to have had an effect on the HPV vaccination uptake rate.
The emerging role of microRNAs in cardiovascular disease
Authors: Maegdefessel L.
Published: August 2014

Cardiovascular disease remains the most prevalent cause of human morbidity and mortality in ageing Western societies. Basic and translational scientific efforts have focused on the development and improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to limit the burden of associated diseases, such as stroke and myocardial infarction, and diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. Progress in molecular medicine and biology has unravelled a complex epigenetic and post‐transcriptional gene‐regulating machinery in humans which may limit disease development. An increasing number of attractive molecular strategies, which use the potential of modulating noncoding RNAs, have surfaced over the last decade. Currently, the most extensively studied gene‐regulating RNA subspecies are microRNAs, which have been shown to adjust the translational output of coding transcripts by enforcing their degradation and inhibiting their translation into protein. Key findings indicate that microRNAs act as crucial regulators in the majority of human pathologies. Thus, recent research has focused on detecting and modulating microRNAs for therapeutic and biomarker purposes. This review focuses on main and repeated discoveries regarding the role and the therapeutic and biomarker feasibility of microRNAs during cardiovascular disease development and exacerbation.
Harsh Evaluations of Entrepreneurs Who Fail: The Role of Sexual Orientation, Use of Environmentally Friendly Technologies, and Observers' Perspective Taking
Authors: Shepherd Dean A. , Patzelt Holger
Published: August 2014

Although there is a pervasive anti‐failure bias in society, we investigate why some entrepreneurs who fail are evaluated more harshly than others. Building on attribution theory and the literatures on prejudice, pro‐social intentions, and perspective taking, we offer an evaluation model of entrepreneurial failure and test this model on 6,784 assessments made by 212 observers. We find that variance in the harshness of failure evaluations depends on both the attributes of the entrepreneur and the attributes of the observer, and the interaction between the two. Specifically, entrepreneurs who are homosexual are evaluated more harshly by some observers and entrepreneurs who use environmentally friendly technology are evaluated less harshly. Moreover, observers high in perspective taking are more ‘lenient’ in their failure evaluations of those who use environmentally friendly technology than those low in perspective taking.
Involvement of autophagy in melatonin‐induced cytotoxicity in glioma‐initiating cells
Authors: Martín Vanesa , Sanchez‐Sanchez Ana María , Puente‐Moncada Noelia , Gomez‐Lobo Marina , Alvarez‐Vega Marco Antonio , Antolín Isaac , Rodriguez Carmen
Published: August 2014

Glioblastoma‐initiating cells (GICs) represent a stem cell‐like subpopulation within malignant glioblastomas responsible for tumor development, progression, therapeutic resistance, and tumor relapse. Thus, eradication of this subpopulation is essential to achieve stable, long‐lasting remission. We have previously reported that melatonin decreases cell proliferation of glioblastoma cells both in vitro and in vivo and synergistically increases effectiveness of drugs in glioblastoma cells and also in GICs. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the indolamine alone in GICs and found that melatonin treatment reduces GICs proliferation and induces a decrease in self‐renewal and clonogenic ability accompanied by a reduction in the expression of stem cell markers. Moreover, our results also indicate that melatonin treatment, by modulating stem cell properties, induces cell death with ultrastructural features of autophagy. Thus, data reported here reinforce the therapeutic potential of melatonin as a treatment of malignant glioblastoma both by inhibiting tumor bulk proliferation or killing GICs, and simultaneously enhancing the effect of chemotherapy.
IASSIDD Academy on Education, Teaching, and Research: The Genesis and Evolution of an Idea
Authors: Brown Roy I.
Published: August 2014

The author provides an overview of the development of the IASSIDD Academy from its inception to December 2013. The commentary represents the personal reflections of the founding director of the Academy in terms of its mission and its history of carrying out activities around the world. Outlined are some of the challenges and successes, as well as some of the future needs in terms of the Academy's relevance both inside and beyond IASSIDD. The author notes that with the formation of a board of directors, the development of IASSIDD Academy bylaws along with mission statements, and the design and work with various agencies and communities around the world, the Academy has now moved into a period of consolidation and renewed progress.
Facilitating and Impeding Factors for Knowledge Translation in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Results from a Consultation Workshop in Iran
Authors: Shooshtari Shahin , Samadi Sayyed Ali , Zarei Khatoon , Naghipur Saba , Martin Toby , Lee May
Published: August 2014

The authors report on the outcome of a consultation workshop held in Iran, which focused on knowledge translation (KT) and intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). The goal was to learn more about the contextual factors that facilitate and impede KT in applications related to IDD in Iran. Forty‐six stakeholders participated, representing the perspectives of policy‐makers, administrators, parents, practitioners, and researchers. The authors introduced a conceptual framework for KT and assessed KT capacity using a validated tool. They facilitated discussions among stakeholder groups with respect to contextual facilitating and impeding factors, and suggested ways to improve IDD‐related KT activities in Iran. The authors found that all of the stakeholder groups highly valued research, but there were statistically significant differences among the participating stakeholder groups in acquiring, accessing, adapting, and applying research information to their practice. A number of factors, including the existing connections between parents and practitioners, could potentially facilitate the development of collaborative KT strategies. A lack of time, incentives, and resources were reported by all stakeholder groups as impeding factors for KT in IDD. The authors believe the researchers in Iran need to work closer with stakeholder groups to develop KT strategies with respect to IDD and thus achieve more effective dissemination of research findings that affect policy and practice.
The development and effectiveness of a health information website designed to improve parents' self‐efficacy in managing risk for obesity in preschoolers
Authors: Davies Marilyn A. , Terhorst Lauren , Nakonechny Amanda J. , Skukla Nimisha , El Saadawi Gilan
Published: August 2014

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of web‐based information on parental self‐efficacy in managing obesity risk in preschoolers.

Design and Methods

The project included a literature review and the development and field testing of an information website that presented information on how to manage nine obesity risk factors for childhood obesity.

Results

Parents stated that they had no problems using the website, and 69% reported improved self‐efficacy on at least two risk factors.

Practice Implications

Many parents access the Internet to obtain health information. A website that offers practical information on managing childhood obesity risk factors is a valuable resource for obesity prevention efforts.
Relationship between energy expenditure and stress behaviors of preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Lin Hung‐Chih , Huang Li‐Chi , Li Tsai‐Chung , Chen Chau‐Huei , Bachman Jean , Peng Niang‐Huei
Published: August 2014

Purpose

This research evaluated the relationship between behaviors and energy expenditure in preterm infants receiving nursing interventions.

Design and Methods

This study was an explorative secondary data analysis from a previous study. The current study investigated energy expenditure calculated using heart rate‐based energy expenditure‐estimate across 500 repeated measures for 37 infants.

Results

Research results indicate that preterm infants expend more energy when they show the following seven behaviors: grimace, sucking, diffusion squirm, fist, gape face, salute, and sneezing.

Practice Implications

The interventions for preterm infants should be flexible, according to the infant's stress behaviors and conditions of energy expenditure.
Sleep and moral awareness
Authors: Barnes Christopher M. , Gunia Brian C. , Wagner David T.
Published: August 2014

The implications of sleep for morality are only starting to be explored. Extending the ethics literature, we contend that because bringing morality to conscious attention requires effort, a lack of sleep leads to low moral awareness. We test this prediction with three studies. A laboratory study with a manipulation of sleep across 90 participants judging a scenario for moral content indicates that a lack of sleep leads to low moral awareness. An archival study of Google Trends data across 6 years highlights a national dip in Web searches for moral topics (but not other topics) on the Monday after the Spring time change, which tends to deprive people of sleep. Finally, a diary study of 127 participants indicates that (within participants) nights with a lack of sleep are associated with low moral awareness the next day. Together, these three studies suggest that a lack of sleep leaves people less morally aware, with important implications for the recognition of morality in others.
Telomeric 1p36.3 deletion and Ki‐67 expression in B‐Non‐Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Mosad E. , Said Abd El‐Rahman Allam M. , Moustafa H. M. , Mohammed A. Eliaw , El kebeer A. M. , Abdel‐Moneim S. S.
Published: August 2014

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein is able to accumulate genetic p53 mutations and may be considered co‐oncogenic. This study investigates 1p36.3 telomere deletion in B‐non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients with chronic HCV infection using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in relation to survival to assess Ki‐67 antigen expression. A study group and a control group of 100 patients with B‐NHL (50 HCV positive and 50 HCV negative) and 60 control bone marrow biopsies were subjected to FISH for the detection of 1P36.3 deletion and to immunohistochemical staining with Ki‐67 antigens. 1p36.3 deletion by FISH was detected in 40% of the study group, and Ki‐67 was expressed in approximately 74% of patients. A significant difference was found between positive and negative HCV patients in their overall survival, the qualitative expression of Ki‐67 and the quantitative detection of 1p36.3 deletion by FISH. The overall survival was shorter with the presence of an 1p36 deletion by FISH and HCV positive. We concluded that the coexistence of Ki‐67 positivity, HCV positivity and 1p36.3 deletion may contribute to infection‐related cancers at the 1p36.3 locus.
Leprosy, Legal Mobilization, and the Public Sphere in Japan and South Korea
Authors: Arrington Celeste L.
Published: August 2014

This article addresses the question of what gets transmitted in cross-national diffusion and why. It does so by analyzing the spread of rights-based activism from Japanese to South Korean leprosy (Hansen's disease) survivors in the 2000s. Previous scholarship would predict extensive diffusion of mobilizing frames and tactics, especially since Korean lawyers learned an effective legal mobilization template while working with Japanese lawyers to win compensation for Korean leprosy survivors mistreated by Japanese colonial authorities before 1945. Yet the form of subsequent activism by Korean leprosy survivors for redress from the Korean government differed from the original Japanese model. This case suggests the need for scope conditions on theories about isomorphism and the agency of brokers. In particular, it draws attention to how the structure of a country's public sphere—and especially its legal profession, news media, and activist sector—affects the feasibility of imported innovations related to activism and legal mobilization.
Prediction of higher visual function in macular degeneration with multifocal electroretinogram and multifocal visual evoked potential
Authors: Herbik Anne , Geringswald Franziska , Thieme Hagen , Pollmann Stefan , Hoffmann Michael B.
Published: August 2014

Objective

Visual search can be guided by past experience of regularities in our visual environment. This search guidance by contextual memory cues is impaired by foveal vision loss. Here we compared retinal and cortical visually evoked responses in their predictive value for contextual cueing impairment and visual acuity.

Methods

Multifocal electroretinograms to flash stimulation (mfERGs; 103 locations; 55.8° diameter) and visual evoked potentials to pattern‐reversal stimulation (mfVEPs; 60 locations; 48.6° diameter) were recorded monocularly in participants with age‐related macular degeneration (n = 14 and 16, respectively). Response magnitudes were calculated as the respective signal‐to‐noise ratios for each eccentricity. Visual acuities (logMAR, range: 0.0–1.2) and contextual cueing effects on visual search (reaction time gain, range: −0.14–0.15) were correlated with the signal‐to‐noise ratios. A step‐wise regression analysis was applied separately to the mfERG‐ and mfVEP‐dataset to determine the eccentricity range and the processing stage that is critical for these visual functions.

Results

Central mfERGs (1.0–3.2°) were the sole predictor of contextual cueing of visual search (p = 0.006), but they were not significant predictors of visual acuity. In contrast, central mfVEPs (1.3–3.2°) were the sole predictor of visual acuity (p < 0.001), but they were not significant predictors of contextual cueing.

Conclusions

Contextual cueing is more dependent on parafoveal mfERG magnitude while visual acuity is more dependent on parafoveal mfVEP magnitude. The relation of contextual cueing to parafoveal mfERG magnitudes indicates the predictive value of retinal bipolar cell activity for this advanced level of visual function.
Comparison of Different Approaches to Atrioventricular Junction Ablation and Pacemaker Implantation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: ARENJA NISHA , KNECHT SVEN , SCHAER BEAT , REICHLIN TOBIAS , PAVLOVIC NIKOLA , OSSWALD STEFAN , STICHERLING CHRISTIAN , KÜHNE MICHAEL
Published: August 2014

Background

To compare the feasibility and efficiency of atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation and device implantation in patients with drug‐refractory atrial fibrillation using three different approaches.

Methods

Sixty‐nine patients (57% male; age 72 ± 10; ejection fraction 45 ± 15%) undergoing device implantation and AVJ ablation were retrospectively studied at a tertiary referral center. In 20 patients (29%) AVJ ablation was performed via the femoral vein immediately following device implantation (group 1), whereas 33 patients (48%) underwent a staged procedure with AVJ ablation via the femoral vein >3 weeks after device implantation (group 2). In a third group of 16 patients (23%), AVJ ablation was performed during device implantation through the pocket using the same axillary vein access site (group 3). The main outcome measures were: procedure time, fluoroscopy time, laboratory occupancy time, and success rate.

Results

There was a significant difference in procedure time (118 ± 45 minutes. in group 1, 133 ± 32 minutes in group 2, and 87 ± 26 minutes in group 3, P < 0.001) and the laboratory occupancy time (175 ± 48 minutes in group 1, 200 ± 32 minutes in group 2, and 121 ± 27 minutes in group 3, P < 0.001). There was no difference in fluoroscopy time (group 1: 20 ± 15 minutes, group 2: 27 ± 22 minutes, and group 3: 24 ± 9 minutes P = 0.4). The procedure was successfully completed in all patients, but cross‐over to a femoral approach was required in one patient in group 3.

Conclusion

The alternative approach of AVJ ablation during permanent pacemaker implantation from the same axillary vein access site is feasible and more efficient compared to the femoral approach.
Bad Luck or Bad Budgeting: An Analysis of Budgetary Roles Underpinning Poor Municipal Fiscal Conditions in Thailand
Authors: Krueathep Weerasak
Published: August 2014

This research examines the causes of the poor fiscal condition of Thai municipalities during 2001 and 2006. A mixed analytical approach is employed. First, the research quantitatively singles out fiscally distressed municipalities from a set of sampled cities. The findings show that central cities and semi‐rural areas were fiscally weak. Then, two cases of disparate fiscal conditions are qualitatively analyzed. In contrast to those of the healthy city, budget actors in the fiscally weak city failed to follow designated budgetary roles. The paper recommends that improved budgetary roles in Thai cities be promoted so that their fiscal performance is secure.
Excise Taxes, Consumer Demand, Over‐Shifting, and Tax Revenue
Authors: Dutkowsky Donald H. , Sullivan Ryan S.
Published: August 2014

This paper examines over‐shifting in excise taxes, using the constant elasticity demand function under monopolistic competition. We apply the solution for price from this model to previous studies to obtain estimated price elasticities of demand. We also derive the excise tax, which maximizes tax revenue under this formulation, resulting in a revenue‐maximizing tax‐price ratio based upon the price elasticity. The model is applied to some previous experience regarding excise tax increases for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. Our study offers structural insights behind empirical research that finds over‐shifting. The model can also be used to help construct excise tax policy.
The Savings Behavior of Special Purpose Governments: A Panel Study of New York School Districts
Authors: Duncombe William , Hou Yilin
Published: August 2014

During the Great Recession, local governments experienced unprecedented fiscal stress. Among localities, special‐purpose governments are especially vulnerable to recessions due to their reliance on sole revenue sources. School districts are one example that depends heavily on state aid on top of property taxes. However, the literature is very thin on the savings behavior of special‐purpose governments. This paper contributes to filling the niche: it uses a 28‐year panel of fiscal and socio‐economic data for school districts in New York State to examine the determinants of fund balances. Our findings show that the savings of school districts are affected by their size, fiscal capacity, and revenue portfolio. The results are similar for reserved funds and unreserved funds, which suggests that school districts use reserved funds as a savings mechanism. However, the savings are not necessarily related to economic cycles.
Exogenous abscisic acid alleviates zinc uptake and accumulation in Populus × canescens exposed to excess zinc
Authors: SHI WEN‐GUANG , LI HONG , LIU TONG‐XIAN , POLLE ANDREA , PENG CHANG‐HUI , LUO ZHI‐BIN
Published: August 2014

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study whether exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) mediates the responses of poplars to excess zinc (Zn). Populus × canescens seedlings were treated with either basal or excess Zn levels and either 0 or 10 μm ABA. Excess Zn led to reduced photosynthetic rates, increased Zn accumulation, induced foliar ABA and salicylic acid (SA), decreased foliar gibberellin (GA3) and auxin (IAA), elevated root H2O2 levels, and increased root ratios of glutathione (GSH) to GSSG and foliar ratios of ascorbate (ASC) to dehydroascorbate (DHA) in poplars. While exogenous ABA decreased foliar Zn concentrations with 7 d treatments, it increased levels of endogenous ABA, GA3 and SA in roots, and resulted in highly increased foliar ASC accumulation and ratios of ASC to DHA. The transcript levels of several genes involved in Zn uptake and detoxification, such as yellow stripe‐like family protein 2 (YSL2) and plant cadmium resistance protein 2 (PCR2), were enhanced in poplar roots by excess Zn but repressed by exogenous ABA application. These results suggest that exogenous ABA can decrease Zn concentrations in P. × canescens under excess Zn for 7 d, likely by modulating the transcript levels of key genes involved in Zn uptake and detoxification.
Acclimation of isoprene emission and photosynthesis to growth temperature in hybrid aspen: resolving structural and physiological controls
Authors: RASULOV BAHTIJOR , BICHELE IRINA , HÜVE KATJA , VISLAP VIVIAN , NIINEMETS ÜLO
Published: August 2014

Acclimation of foliage to growth temperature involves both structural and physiological modifications, but the relative importance of these two mechanisms of acclimation is poorly known, especially for isoprene emission responses. We grew hybrid aspen (Populus tremula x P. tremuloides) under control (day/night temperature of 25/20 °C) and high temperature conditions (35/27 °C) to gain insight into the structural and physiological acclimation controls. Growth at high temperature resulted in larger and thinner leaves with smaller and more densely packed chloroplasts and with lower leaf dry mass per area (MA). High growth temperature also led to lower photosynthetic and respiration rates, isoprene emission rate and leaf pigment content and isoprene substrate dimethylallyl diphosphate pool size per unit area, but to greater stomatal conductance. However, all physiological characteristics were similar when expressed per unit dry mass, indicating that the area‐based differences were primarily driven by MA. Acclimation to high temperature further increased heat stability of photosynthesis and increased activation energies for isoprene emission and isoprene synthase rate constant. This study demonstrates that temperature acclimation of photosynthetic and isoprene emission characteristics per unit leaf area were primarily driven by structural modifications, and we argue that future studies investigating acclimation to growth temperature must consider structural modifications.
Carbohydrate dynamics and mortality in a piñon‐juniper woodland under three future precipitation scenarios
Authors: DICKMAN LEE T. , MCDOWELL NATE G. , SEVANTO SANNA , PANGLE ROBERT E. , POCKMAN WILLIAM T.
Published: August 2014

Drought‐induced forest mortality is an increasing global problem with wide‐ranging consequences, yet mortality mechanisms remain poorly understood. Depletion of non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) stores has been implicated as an important mechanism in drought‐induced mortality, but experimental field tests are rare. We used an ecosystem‐scale precipitation manipulation experiment to evaluate leaf and twig NSC dynamics of two co‐occurring conifers that differ in patterns of stomatal regulation of water loss and recent mortality: the relatively desiccation‐avoiding piñon pine (Pinus edulis) and the relatively desiccation‐tolerant one‐seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma). Piñon pine experienced 72% mortality after 13–25 months of experimental drought and juniper experienced 20% mortality after 32–47 months. Juniper maintained three times more NSC in the foliage than twigs, and converted NSC to glucose and fructose under drought, consistent with osmoregulation requirements to maintain higher stomatal conductance during drought than piñon. Despite these species differences, experimental drought caused decreased leaf starch content in dying trees of both species (P < 0.001). Average dry‐season leaf starch content was also a good predictor of drought‐survival time for both species (R2 = 0.93). These results, along with observations of drought‐induced reductions to photosynthesis and growth, support carbon limitation as an important process during mortality of these two conifer species.