bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-reporting under SEC Reg AB and transparency in securitization
Authors: R. Mason Joseph , B. Imerman Michael , Lee Hong
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the limitations and potential bias in securitized residential mortgage data and examine the importance of such data issues for typical studies of residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) market and the financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– We use trustee data on mortgage characteristics provided by BlackBox Logic – the BBx data – to study the extent to which undisclosed mortgage characteristics distort the available data and impact risk analysis of RMBS collateral pools.

Findings

– We illustrate that substantial amounts of loan characteristic data in crucial fields like occupancy, property type, loan purpose and FICO are missing from the trustee data. The frequency of missing values is staggering, ranging from just under 9 per cent for property type to 29 per cent for FICO, up to almost 85 per cent for originator name, all variables used in recent studies. The omissions are correlated to some degree with the securitization sponsor and even more dramatically with the identity of the deal trustee.

Research limitations/implications

– Analysis of RMBS collateral should be built not on the entirety of mortgage databases, but on stratified samples and should otherwise control for important sponsor and trustee fixed effects.

Practical implications

– The revisions for Regulation AB which require loan-level disclosure should be adopted to standardize mortgage disclosure.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper that examines selection bias in loan characteristics relied upon for a wide variety of mortgage market research that has substantially affected policy decisions in the post-crisis era.
Securitization and Italian banks’ risk during the crisis
Authors: Battaglia Francesca , Mazzuca Maria
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to examine the 2007-2009 financial crisis to analyze how securitization relates to the Italian bank risk profile, both in terms of credit and liquidity risks.

Design/methodology/approach

– To test our research hypotheses, we adopt ordered probit models, in which we regress the changes in credit risk and liquidity on a set of regressors, including two securitization dummy variables plus a vector of control variables.

Findings

– Our results show that the impact of securitization on the originators risk-taking is not uniform. When credit risk is considered, the securitization effects seem to be statistically significant only during the crisis period. However, when we turn to analyze the bank’s liquidity position, our results show that securitization improves it both during the pre-crisis and the crisis years. Our results support the Basel III initiatives aimed to realize a better integration between the different types of risks (i.e. credit and liquidity risks).

Research limitations/implications

– The major limitation of our study is related to the analyzed geographic area.

Practical implications

– First, our results support the Basel III initiatives aimed to realize a better integration between the different types of risks (i.e. credit and liquidity risks). In general, the broad policy implication of the paper is that in some contexts, such as the Italian market, securitization does not necessarily produce negative effects in terms of bank’s risk.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the empirical literature on the effects of securitization for banks in several ways. First, we consider the complexity of the bank’s risk profile; second, despite the importance of the Italian securitization market, there is a research void on it. Furthermore, unlike previous studies, our analysis covers the period 2000-2009, including the financial crisis years. Finally, to our knowledge, our methodology (ordered probit models) has not been used in the past in this context.
How to repair customer trust of high-risk products after negative publicity
Authors: Cao Ting , Shi Guicheng , Yin Yanting
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the efficiency of various customer trust repair efforts for high-risk products that are closely related with the safety and health of customers after negative publicity. Many corporations are suffering from the crisis of customer trust after negative publicity in China in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

– Taking the Chinese dairy industry as the research context, this research adopted quantitative survey methodology using self-administered questionnaires to collect data of 204 dairy consumers in mainland China. Hypotheses tests were conducted using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The results reveal that, for the high-risk products, affective repair has positive effect on benevolence-based trust and integrity-based trust, and informational repair has strong positive relationship with competence-based trust and integrity-based trust. Surprisingly, there are no significant relationship between functional repair and three factors of trust. In addition, all three trust factors positively affect repurchase intention.

Originality/value

– This paper is among the first to examine and confirm the efficiency of various customer trust repair efforts for high-risk products after negative publicity. The findings of this paper provide the high-risk product companies with guidance about how to repair customer trust after negative publicity.
Rethinking the path of business research in the West
Authors: S. Lee Allen , Luo Xin
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to make instrumental recommendations on how to conduct high-quality business-school research in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper offers four fundamental questions to guide business-school research in China.

Findings

– By offering answers to these guidance questions, this paper hopes that business-school research in China will reject the single path of the natural-science model of basic research and choose to also travel the path of the professional-practice model of pragmatic research.

Originality/value

– The following is an edited version of Professor Allen S. Lee’s keynote address at the Fourth Symposium on Financial Intelligence and Risk Management and the Fifth International Workshop on Electronic Payment and Electronic Commerce in China (FIRM-EPECC 2012), on June 2, 2012, at the Sichuan Key Lab of Financial Intelligence and Financial Engineering (FIFE) of the Southwestern University of Finance of Economics (SWUFE), in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China.
Hedonic product discounts: When is the price right?
Authors: Luong Alexandra , Slegh David
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of price discounts on products perceived to provide hedonic value vs those perceived to evoke displeasure. Also examined were the effects of various discount levels on consumer intentions to purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study design was a 2 (emotion-evoked) × 2 (price) × 3 (level of discount) mixed-factorial design. In this study, 182 participants were presented with several products and indicated whether they would shop with a competitor offering various price discounts on pleasure- vs displeasure-evoking products.

Findings

– ANOVA results indicated a significant main effect of price discounts on intention to purchase and a significant interaction between price discount and type/price of product. Discounts mattered more between certain levels (10 and 50 per cent) than others (50 versus 70 per cent). Discounts mattered more for hedonic products (pleasure-evoking) than those that evoked displeasure; however, price trumped all factors such that discounts mattered most when price of product is high.

Research limitations/implications

– Limitations include age range of participants and that intentions to shop were measured. Future research should examine price effects on other socio-demographic groups and actual behavior.

Practical implications

– Retailers would benefit from using price discounts as a competitive strategy, with attention given to the “percentage-off” levels that are perceived to be steeper. Discounts are more effective when the product offers hedonic value or when price is high.

Originality/value

– To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the relationship between “percentage-off” price discounts on hedonic products. This study contributes to the literature on pricing affect.
Effect of oil composition on fluid substitution in heavy oil reservoirs
Authors: Shamsa Amir , Lines Larry
Published: November 2014

Unlike light oils, heavy oils do not have a well‐established scheme for modelling elastic moduli from dynamic reservoir properties. One of the main challenges in the fluid substitution of heavy oils is their viscoelastic nature, which is controlled by temperature, pressure, and fluid composition. Here, we develop a framework for fluid substitution modelling that is reliable yet practical for a wide range of cold and thermal recovery scenarios in producing heavy oils and that takes into account the reservoir fluid composition, grounded on the effective‐medium theories for estimating elastic moduli of an oil–rock system. We investigate the effect of fluid composition variations on oil–rock elastic moduli with temperature changes. The fluid compositional behaviour is determined by flash calculations. Elastic moduli are then determined using the double‐porosity coherent potential approximation method and the calculated viscosity based on the fluid composition. An increase in temperature imposes two opposing mechanisms on the viscosity behaviour of a heavy‐oil sample: gas liberation, which tends to increase the viscosity, and melting, which decreases the viscosity. We demonstrate that melting dominates gas liberation, and as a result, the viscosity and, consequently, the shear modulus of the heavy oils always decrease with increasing temperature. Furthermore, it turns out that one can disregard the effects of gas in the solution when modelling the elastic moduli of heavy oils. Here, we compare oil–rock elastic moduli when the rock is saturated with fluids that have different viscosity levels. The objective is to characterize a unique relation between the temperature, the frequency, and the elastic moduli of an oil–rock system. We have proposed an approach that takes advantage of this relation to find the temperature and, consequently, the viscosity in different regions of the reservoir.
Colonization of rice roots with methanogenic archaea controls photosynthesis‐derived methane emission
Authors: Pump Judith , Pratscher Jennifer , Conrad Ralf
Published: November 2014

The methane emitted from rice fields originates to a large part (up to 60%) from plant photosynthesis and is formed on the rice roots by methanogenic archaea. To investigate to which extent root colonization controls methane (CH4) emission, we pulse‐labeled rice microcosms with 13CO2 to determine the rates of 13CH4 emission exclusively derived from photosynthates. We also measured emission of total CH4 (12+13CH4), which was largely produced in the soil. The total abundances of archaea and methanogens on the roots and in the soil were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the archaeal 16S rRNA gene and the mcrA gene coding for a subunit of the methyl coenzyme M reductase respectively. The composition of archaeal and methanogenic communities was determined with terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP). During the vegetative growth stages, emission rates of 13CH4 linearly increased with the abundance of methanogenic archaea on the roots and then decreased during the last plant growth stage. Rates of 13CH4 emission and the abundance of methanogenic archaea were lower when the rice was grown in quartz‐vermiculite with only 10% rice soil. Rates of total CH4 emission were not systematically related to the abundance of methanogenic archaea in soil plus roots. The composition of the archaeal communities was similar under all conditions; however, the analysis of mcrA genes indicated that the methanogens differed between the soil and root. Our results support the hypothesis that rates of photosynthesis‐driven CH4 emission are limited by the abundance of methanogens on the roots.
Surveillance for Toxoplasma gondii in California mussels (Mytilus californianus) reveals transmission of atypical genotypes from land to sea
Authors: Shapiro Karen , VanWormer Elizabeth , Aguilar Beatriz , Conrad Patricia A.
Published: November 2014

Coastal habitat contamination with Toxoplasma gondii is a health risk to humans and marine wildlife, with infections documented in both nearshore and pelagic marine mammals. Due to lack of sensitive methods for detection of T. gondii in water, this study utilized an alternative surveillance approach for evaluating marine habitat contamination using wild mussels. The objectives of this study were to (i) validate sensitive molecular tools for T. gondii detection in mussels and (ii) apply optimized methods in a surveillance study to determine the prevalence and genotype(s) of T. gondii in mussels. Simplex polymerase chain reaction screening and multiplex genotyping assays were validated and then applied on 959 wild‐caught mussels collected from central California. Thirteen mussels (1.4%) had detectable T. gondii DNA and the presence of T. gondii in mussels was significantly associated with proximity to freshwater run‐off and collection during the wet season. Molecular characterization revealed alleles from T. gondii types I, II/III, X at the B1 locus, and a novel atypical B1 allele that was recently documented in T. gondii‐infected carnivores from California. Findings demonstrate higher than previously reported T. gondii contamination of California coastlines, and describe novel strains of the parasite that further link terrestrial sources with marine contamination.
Bacterial networks and co‐occurrence relationships in the lettuce root microbiota
Authors: Cardinale Massimiliano , Grube Martin , Erlacher Armin , Quehenberger Julian , Berg Gabriele
Published: November 2014

Lettuce is one of the most common raw foods worldwide, but occasionally also involved in pathogen outbreaks. To understand the correlative structure of the bacterial community as a network, we studied root microbiota of eight ancient and modern Lactuca sativa cultivars and the wild ancestor Lactuca serriola by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicon libraries. The lettuce microbiota was dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteriodetes, as well as abundant Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria. Cultivar specificity comprised 12.5% of the species. Diversity indices were not different between lettuce cultivar groups but higher than in L. serriola, suggesting that domestication lead to bacterial diversification in lettuce root system. Spearman correlations between operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed that co‐occurrence prevailed over co‐exclusion, and complementary fluorescence in situ hybridization‐confocal laser scanning microscopy (FISH‐CLSM) analyses revealed that this pattern results from both potential interactions and habitat sharing. Predominant taxa, such as Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium and Sphingomonadaceae rather suggested interactions, even though these are not necessarily part of significant modules in the co‐occurrence networks. Without any need for complex interactions, single organisms are able to invade into this microbial network and to colonize lettuce plants, a fact that can influence the susceptibility to pathogens. The approach to combine co‐occurrence analysis and FISH‐CLSM allows reliably reconstructing and interpreting microbial interaction networks.
Combined effects of zooplankton grazing and dispersal on the diversity and assembly mechanisms of bacterial metacommunities
Authors: Berga Mercè , Östman Örjan , Lindström Eva S. , Langenheder Silke
Published: November 2014

Effects of dispersal and the presence of predators on diversity, assembly and functioning of bacterial communities are well studied in isolation. In reality, however, dispersal and trophic interactions act simultaneously and can therefore have combined effects, which are poorly investigated. We performed an experiment with aquatic metacommunities consisting of three environmentally different patches and manipulated dispersal rates among them as well as the presence or absence of the keystone species Daphnia magna. Daphnia magna reduced both local and regional diversity, whereas dispersal increased local diversity but decreased beta‐diversity having no net effect on regional diversity. Dispersal modified the assembly mechanisms of bacterial communities by increasing the degree of determinism. Additionally, the combination of the D. magna and dispersal increased the importance of deterministic processes, presumably because predator‐tolerant taxa were spread in the metacommunity via dispersal. Moreover, the presence of D. magna affected community composition, increased community respiration rates but did not affect bacterial production or abundance, whereas dispersal slightly increased bacterial production. In conclusion, our study suggests that predation by a keystone species such as D. magna and dispersal additively influence bacterial diversity, assembly processes and ecosystem functioning.
Intervention during pregnancy to reduce excessive gestational weight gain—a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Ronnberg AK , Ostlund I , Fadl H , Gottvall T , Nilsson K
Published: November 2014

Objective

To evaluate if a feasible, low‐cost intervention could decrease the percentage of women gaining weight above the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations on gestational weight gain (GWG) compared with standard maternity care.

Design

A randomised controlled interventional design.

Setting

Antenatal clinics (n = 14) in Örebro county, Sweden, participated.

Population

Healthy women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥19 kg/m2, age ≥18 years and adequate knowledge of Swedish language who signed in for maternity care at ≤16 weeks of gestation.

Methods

Standard care was compared with a composite intervention consisting of education on recommended GWG according to IOM, application of personalised weight graph, formalised prescription of exercise and regular monitoring of GWG at every antenatal visit.

Outcome

The proportion of women gaining weight above IOM guidelines (1990) and mean GWG (kg) was compared between groups.

Results

In all, 445 women were randomised and 374 women remained for analysis after delivery. A majority of the women analysed were normal weight (72%). The intervention reduced the proportion of women who exceeded the IOM guidelines (41.1% versus 50.0%). The reduction was, however, not statistically significant (P = 0.086). Mean GWG was significantly lower among women receiving the intervention, 14.2 kg (SD 4.4) versus 15.3 kg (SD 5.4) in the standard care group (P = 0.029).

Conclusions

The low‐cost intervention programme tested did significantly reduce the mean GWG but the proportion of women who exceeded the IOM recommendations for GWG was not significantly lower.

ClinicalTrials.gov Id NCT00451425 http://clinicaltrials.gov
Efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection for residual or recurrent superficial colorectal tumors after endoscopic mucosal resection
Authors: Rahmi Gabriel , Tanaka Shinwa , Ohara Yoshiko , Ishida Tsukasa , Yoshizaki Tetsuya , Morita Yoshinori , Toyonaga Takashi , Azuma Takeshi
Published: November 2014

Objective

Superficial colorectal tumors can be treated effectively by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Few data are available on using ESD for residual or recurrent tumors after the first endoscopic resection. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ESD for these lesions.

Methods

In all, 28 patients with residual or recurrent superficial colorectal tumors were referred to the Kobe University Hospital for ESD. The therapeutic outcomes and the possible factors predictive of procedure difficulties for ESD were analyzed.

Results

In total, 27 (96.4%) patients were successfully treated using ESD. There was no related immediate complication. One patient had a delayed perforation which was then treated surgically. En bloc R0 resection was possible in all the patients and curative resection in 26 patients (92.9%). One invasive cancer was treated surgically. More than one previous endoscopic resection was the only significant predictive factor for the difficulty in performing ESD. None of the patients experienced recurrence during a follow‐up of 22 months (range 3–41 months).

Conclusions

The use of ESD allowed a high rate of en bloc resection for residual or locally recurrent colorectal tumors. Furthermore, these lesions should be treated by ESD as a first‐line treatment.
Confidence intervals for ratios of proportions: implications for selection ratios
Authors: Aho Ken , Bowyer R. Terry
Published: November 2014

The selection ratio (proportional resource use divided by proportional availability) is often used by ecologists to measure the degree to which individuals and populations are selective in their food sources and habitats. Yet, confidence interval approaches for this metric are scarce and poorly evaluated.

In this paper, we compare 13 methods that can be used to construct simultaneous confidence intervals for selection ratios. Seven of the methods are applicable when availabilities are unknown. These are bootstrapping and six methods adapted from relative risk (Katz‐log, adjusted‐log, Bailey, inverse hyperbolic sine, Koopman and Noether). The other six approaches are applicable when availabilities are known. These are bootstrapping, two existing methods for relative risk (Wald‐adjusted, Noether‐fixed) and three straightforward new methods (fixed‐log, Agresti–Coull‐adjusted and Bayes‐beta). None of the 13 approaches have been previously evaluated in the context of selection ratios.

In simulations with unknown availabilities, the Koopman method performed best, and the currently recommended Noether method performed worst. In simulations with fixed availabilities, the new Agresti–Coull‐adjusted, fixed‐log, Bayes‐beta methods all outperformed the currently recommended Wald‐adjusted method. In the context of real ecological data sets, the Noether and Wald‐adjusted methods produced anomalous results that putatively would alter management decisions. We note that our findings, including those for new methods, are directly conferrable to relative risk, allowing extension of our work to the many branches of biology that rely on this measure.

The poor performance of the Noether and Wald‐adjusted methods is troubling because these are currently the most widely used procedures for calculating confidence intervals for type I resource‐selection designs. Based on our findings, we recommend that the Noether method be replaced with the Koopman method, and the Wald‐adjusted method be replaced with the Agresti–Coull‐adjusted method.
Cutaneous drug toxicity from 2,4‐dinitrophenol (DNP): Case report and histological description
Authors: Le Patricia , Wood Benjamin , Kumarasinghe Sujith Prasad
Published: November 2014

The use of 2,4‐dinitrophenol (DNP) has regained popularity as a weight loss aid in the last two decades due to increased marketing to bodybuilders and the increasing availability of this banned substance via the Internet. 2,4‐DNP is a drug of narrow therapeutic index and toxicity results in hyperthermia, diaphoresis, tachycardia, tachypnoea and possible cardiac arrest and death. Skin toxicity from 2,4‐DNP has not been reported since the 1930s. We report a case of a 21‐year‐old bodybuilding enthusiast who presented with a toxic exanthem after taking 2,4‐DNP, and describe the first skin biopsy findings in a case of 2,4‐DNP toxicity.
Objective assessment of vitiligo with a computerised digital imaging analysis system
Authors: Shamsudin Norashikin , Hussein Suraiya H , Nugroho Hermawan , Ahmad Fadzil Mohd Hani
Published: November 2014

An objective tool to quantify treatment response in vitiligo is currently lacking. This study aimed to objectively evaluate the treatment response in vitiligo by using a computerised digital imaging analysis system (C‐DIAS) and to compare it with the physician's global assessment (PGA). Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% (Protopic; Astellas Pharma Tech,Toyama, Japan) was applied twice daily on selected lesions which were photographed every 6 weeks for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐point was the mean percentage of repigmentation (MPR), as assessed by the digital method (MPR‐C‐DIAS) or by the PGA. The response was categorised into none (0%), mild (1–25%), moderate (26–50%), good (51–75%) and excellent (76–100%). MPR‐C‐DIAS: Out of 56 patients, 44 (79%) responded. Overall, the response was mild in 22 (39%), moderate in 21(40%) and good in one (2%) patient(s). A total of 39 (70%) patients responded as measured by PGA. The repigmentation was mild in 27(48%), moderate in 10 (18%) and good to excellent in two (4%) patients. The κ test of consistency was 0.17 (P = 0.053), which shows poor agreement between the two assessment methods, although this is not statistically significant. The C‐DIAS can be used to perform an objective analysis of repigmentation or depigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions in response to treatment.
Paraneoplastic subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Jenkins David , McPherson Tess
Published: November 2014

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a dermatosis that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals. The exogenous stimulus that triggers this condition is usually unknown; however, medication is often implicated. Malignancy is a rare cause. We present a case of paraneoplastic SCLE to cholangiocarcinoma and briefly review the features of this interesting entity.
Role of nanocrystalline silver dressings in the management of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and TEN/Stevens–Johnson syndrome overlap
Authors: Smith Saxon D , Dodds Annabel , Dixit Shreya , Cooper Alan
Published: November 2014

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) are severe mucocutaneous eruptions. There is currently no defined optimal approach to wound care. The objective of this study was to evaluate silver dressings in the wound‐care management of TEN and SJS/TEN syndrome overlap with a retrospective case review of nine patients with TEN and SJS/TEN overlap presenting to our institution. Nanocrystalline silver dressings appear to be useful in the rapid commencement of healing in these patients. TEN and SJS/TEN overlap are rare conditions. This contributed to a relatively small number of cases included in the study. The ease of application, antimicrobial properties and low frequency of change make nanocrystalline silver dressings ideal in TEN/SJS.
Paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the mediastinum: A favourable response to treatment and review of the literature
Authors: Ghandi Narges , Ghanadan Alireza , Azizian Mohammad‐Reza , Hejazi Pardis , Aghazadeh Nessa , Tavousi Parvin , Daneshpazhooh Maryam
Published: November 2014

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder that occurs in association with an underlying neoplasm. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) is a rare low‐grade sarcoma of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts associated with inflammatory cells, most commonly occurring in the lung. In this study, a case of PNP associated with IMT of the mediastinum is reported. The patient had a favourable outcome following surgical resection and treatment with a systemic steroid, azathioprine, and i.v. immunoglobulin. The occurrence of PNP with sarcomas, specifically IMT, is noteworthy although it is not well studied in the existing literature.
Dependency of Exercise‐Induced T‐Wave Alternans Predictive Power for the Occurrence of Ventricular Arrhythmias from Heart Rate
Authors: Burattini Laura , Man Sumche , Fioretti Sandro , Di Nardo *† Francesco , Swenne Cees A.
Published: November 2014

Background

T‐wave alternans (TWA) is a noninvasive index of risk for the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. It is known that TWA amplitude (TWAA) increases with heart rate (HR) but how the TWA predictive power varies with HR remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dependency of exercise‐induced TWA predictive power for the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias from HR.

Methods

TWA was identified using our HR adaptive match filter in exercise ECGs from 248 patients with implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD), of which 72 developed ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation during the 4 year follow‐up (ICD_Cases) and 176 did not (ICD_Controls). TWA predictive power was evaluated at HRs from 80 to 120 bpm by computing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) obtained using the maximum TWAA (maxTWAA) and the TWAA ratio (TWAAratio; i.e., the ratio between TWAA at a specific HR and at 80 bpm).

Results

TWAA increased with HR. At 80 bpm maxTWAA was lower than at 120 bpm in both ICD_Cases (22 μV vs 41 μV; P < 10−2) and ICD_ Controls (16 μV vs 36 μV; P < 10−4). However, only at 80 bpm ICD_Cases showed significantly higher maxTWAA than ICD_Controls (AUC = 0.6486; P = 0.0080). TWAAratio was higher in ICD_Controls than ICD_Cases for all HR but 120 bpm, and its predictive power was maximum at 115 bpm (AUC = 0.6914; P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Exercise‐induced TWA predictive power for the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias, quantified using both maxTWAA and TWAAratio, was higher at low rather than at high HR.
Short‐term outcomes of excisional atherectomy in lower limb arterial disease
Authors: Werner‐Gibbings Keagan , Dubenec Steven
Published: November 2014

Background

Endovascular interventions are increasingly utilized in managing occlusive peripheral vascular disease. Angioplasty and stenting remain the mainstay of endovascular management; however, newer treatment modalities such as excisional atherectomy provide the clinician with additional treatment options. While demonstrating promising results in available trials, a paucity of data exist regarding peripheral atherectomy. The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to assess the efficacy and safety of excisional atherectomy with the TurboHawk atherectomy device (Covidien/ev3, Plymouth, MN, USA) in the treatment of lower limb peripheral vascular disease and to evaluate the learning curve involved in the institution of a new treatment modality.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients undergoing atherectomy for symptomatic lower limb peripheral vascular disease by a single clinician between November 2011 and June 2013. Forty‐seven vessels on 28 legs in 24 patients were treated during the period.

Results

Atherectomy was possible in 98% of cases. The 6‐ and 12‐month primary patency was 72.6 and 58.9%, respectively. The primary‐assisted patency was 93.2% at 6 months and 74.6% at 12 months. There were significantly greater patency rates in the TransAtlantic Inter‐Society Consensus A + B lesions and a non‐significant trend towards improved patency rates in claudicants versus critical limb ischaemia. There were four instances of embolization and four cases of dissection.

Conclusion

Excisional atherectomy provides a further option for the minimally invasive management of peripheral vascular disease. It has similar patency rates to established endovascular therapies and should be considered among the treatment options in patients with favourable pathology.
Suicide among the youth in Malaysia: What do we know?
Authors: Bahar Norharlina , Ismail Wan Salwina Wan , Hussain Nurulwafa , Haniff Jamaiyah , Bujang Mohamad Adam , Hamid Abdul Muneer , Yusuff Yusni , Nordin Norhayati , Ali Nor Hayati
Published: November 2014

Introduction

This article aims to study the pattern of youth suicide cases in Malaysia, following which preventive actions can then be planned and practiced to reduce these suicide cases.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study looking at notifications of all suicides involving members of the youth population, as had been reported to National Suicide Registry Malaysia from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. Information such as profile demographics and methods of suicide were utilized accordingly.

Results

There were 53 youths between the ages of 15 and 24 years reported to have undergone completed suicides. The suicide rate among youths was 1.03 per 100,000 populations in 2009, accounting for the male gender (66.0%), with Indians being the highest suicide completers (40.4% and 5.6 per 100,000 populations). The most common method of suicide was hanging (56.6%) followed by self‐poisoning (15.1%).

Discussion

The suicide rate among Malaysian youth is relatively lower compared with other countries in the Asian region. Majority were male, of Indian descent, and were still in secondary school. Preventive actions need to be taken especially for specific groups such as the Indian youth.
Review article: selective histone deacetylase isoforms as potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Felice C. , Lewis A. , Armuzzi A. , Lindsay J. O. , Silver A.
Published: November 2014

Background

A link between histone deacetylases (HDACs) and intestinal inflammation has been established. HDAC inhibitors that target gut‐selective inflammatory pathways represent a potential new therapeutic strategy in patients with refractory inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Aims

To review the use of selective HDAC inhibitors to treat gut inflammation and to highlight potential improvements in selectivity/sensitivity by additional targeting of HDAC‐regulating microRNAs (miRNAs).

Methods

Original articles and reviews have been identified using PubMed search terms: ‘histone deacetylase’, ‘HDAC inhibitor’, ‘inflammatory bowel disease’, ‘gut inflammation,’ and ‘microRNA and HDAC’.

Results

The use of butyrate in distal colitis provided the first evidence that inhibition of HDACs decreases intestinal inflammation in IBD. HDAC inhibitors, such as valproic acid, vorinostat and givinostat, reduce inflammation and tissue damage in experimental murine colitis. Potential mechanisms of action for HDAC inhibitors include increased apoptosis, reduction of pro‐inflammatory cytokine release, regulation of transcription factors and modulation of HDAC‐regulatory miRNAs. HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC6, HDAC9 and HDAC10 isoforms seem to be specifically involved in chronic intestinal inflammation, justifying the use of selective inhibitors as new therapeutic strategies in IBD. Controlling miRNAs for these isoforms can be identified.

Conclusions

The pro‐inflammatory influence of HDACs in the gut has been confirmed, but mostly in murine studies. Considerably more human data are required to permit development of selective HDAC inhibitors for IBD treatment. Inhibition of key HDAC isoforms in combination with modulation of HDAC‐regulatory miRNAs has potential as a novel therapeutic approach.
Allogeneic Head and Body Reconstruction: Mouse Model
Authors: Ren Xiao‐Ping , Song Yang , Ye Yi‐Jie , Li Peng‐Wei , Han Ke‐Cheng , Shen Zi‐Long , Shan Ji‐Gang , Luther Kristin , Yang Bao‐Feng
Published: November 2014

Aims

There is still no effective way to save a surviving healthy mind when there is critical organ failure in the body. The next frontier in CTA is allo‐head and body reconstruction (AHBR), and just as animal models were key in the development of CTA, they will be crucial in establishing the procedures of AHBR for clinical translation.

Methods and results

Our approach, pioneered in mice, involves retaining the donor brain stem and transplanting the recipient head. Our preliminary data in mice support that this allows for retention of breathing and circulatory function. Critical aspects of the current protocol include avoiding cerebral ischemia through cross‐circulation (donor to recipient) and retaining the donor brain stem. Successful clinical translation of AHBR will become a milestone of medical history and potentially could save millions of people.

Conclusions

This experimental study has confirmed a method to avoid cerebral ischemia during the surgery and solved an important part of the problem of how to accomplish long‐term survival after transplantation and preservation of the donor brain stem.
Antibiotic dosing in obesity: the search for optimum dosing strategies
Authors: Tucker C. E. , Lockwood A. M. , Nguyen N. H.
Published: November 2014

Global obesity has nearly doubled and is now a common occurrence in high‐income and developing countries. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.4 billion adults are obese. Although the prevalence of obesity is increasing over the last decades, pharmacokinetic evaluations are still conducted in individuals with a body weight of approximately 70 kg. Morbid obesity is associated with several pathophysiological changes that can profoundly affect drug distribution and clearance. There are currently no specific dosing recommendations for antibiotics in obese patients, making dosing suggestions primarily based on pharmacokinetic characteristics of the medications and dosing recommendations in other disease states. Understanding of the pharmacokinetic alterations and maximum doses of antibiotics safely used is paramount to appropriate treatment in the obese population.
Trait differences between naturalized and invasive plant species independent of residence time and phylogeny
Authors: Gallagher R. V. , Randall R. P. , Leishman M. R.
Published: November 2014

The ability to predict which alien plants will transition from naturalized to invasive prior to their introduction to novel regions is a key goal for conservation and has the potential to increase the efficacy of weed risk assessment (WRA). However, multiple factors contribute to plant invasion success (e.g., functional traits, range characteristics, residence time, phylogeny), and they all must be taken into account simultaneously in order to identify meaningful correlates of invasion success. We compiled 146 pairs of phylogenetically paired (congeneric) naturalized and invasive plant species in Australia with similar minimum residence times (i.e., time since introduction in years). These pairs were used to test for differences in 5 functional traits (flowering duration, leaf size, maximum height, specific leaf area [SLA], seed mass) and 3 characteristics of species’ native ranges (biome occupancy, mean annual temperature, and rainfall breadth) between naturalized and invasive species. Invasive species, on average, had larger SLA, longer flowering periods, and were taller than their congeneric naturalized relatives. Invaders also exhibited greater tolerance for different environmental conditions in the native range, where they occupied more biomes and a wider breadth of rainfall and temperature conditions than naturalized congeners. However, neither seed mass nor leaf size differed between pairs of naturalized and invasive species. A key finding was the role of SLA in distinguishing between naturalized and invasive pairs. Species with high SLA values were typically associated with faster growth rates, more rapid turnover of leaf material, and shorter lifespans than those species with low SLA. This suite of characteristics may contribute to the ability of a species to transition from naturalized to invasive across a wide range of environmental contexts and disturbance regimes. Our findings will help in the refinement of WRA protocols, and we advocate the inclusion of quantitative traits, in particular SLA, into the WRA schemes.
Electrophysiological responses of male and female Amyelois transitella antennae to pistachio and almond host plant volatiles
Authors: Beck John J. , Light Douglas M. , Gee Wai S.
Published: November 2014

The polyphagous navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a major insect pest of almonds and pistachios in California (USA). Amyelois transitella moths have proven difficult to monitor and control for over 5 decades; however, recent reports indicate progress towards attractants using pheromone or semiochemical blends. Despite advances of a host plant volatile attractant blend that is effective for monitoring moth populations in almond orchards, the blend's attractancy and capture efficacy of A. transitella has not translated to pistachio orchards. The apparent orchard specificity of A. transitella to the blend suggests a different composition of host plant volatiles is needed to either improve the current blend or a new blend formulation is required for monitoring in pistachio orchards. One objective of this study was to evaluate available individual host volatiles via a standardised puff method in combination with electroantennographic analysis. In total 105 volatiles were evaluated individually for their ability to elicit an electrophysiological chemoreception response from excised male and female A. transitella antennae. Male antennae responded significantly higher to alcohols, aldehydes, alkyls, aromatics, and ketones. Female antennae responded significantly higher to benzenoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and short‐chain alcohols.
A first step in system improvement: a survey of Early Psychosis Intervention Programmes in Ontario
Authors: Durbin Janet , Selick Avra , Hierlihy Deborah , Moss Sarah , Cheng Chiachen
Published: November 2014

Aim

Ontario, Canada is a large province with a geographically dispersed population. Early psychosis intervention (EPI) programmes are available province‐wide, with delivery approaches adapted to context. This study examined EPI programme delivery in relation to recently released provincial EPI Program Standards, and variations based on geographic context.

Methods

The data source was a province‐wide key informant survey of early psychosis programmes conducted after release of the Standards. Chi‐squared tests compared large‐ and small‐area programmes on selected programme structural features and perceived adherence to 19 service components.

Results

Responses were obtained from 52 programme sites, including 21 small‐area programmes with 1 to 2 staff. In general, frequency of EPI delivery was highest for individual assessment and treatment components, and moderate for social supports and family support. Implementation was lowest for public education, early detection and recovery planning. Small‐area programmes reported lower implementation for over half of the components, with differences statistically significant for psychiatric assessment and physical health monitoring.

Conclusion

Since the release of the Standards, the Ontario Ministry of Health has partnered with a provincial network of EPI stakeholders to support practice improvement. This survey identified components where more implementation support is needed, overall and for rural area delivery. Ultimately, systematic monitoring of programme fidelity and measuring client outcomes are key to advancing the quality of EPI programme delivery.
Application of high‐frequency Granger causality to analysis of epileptic seizures and surgical decision making
Authors: Epstein Charles M. , Adhikari Bhim M. , Gross Robert , Willie Jon , Dhamala Mukesh
Published: November 2014

Objective

In recent decades intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings using increasing numbers of electrodes, higher sampling rates, and a variety of visual and quantitative analyses have indicated the presence of widespread, high frequency ictal and preictal oscillations (HFOs) associated with regions of seizure onset. Seizure freedom has been correlated with removal of brain regions generating pathologic HFOs. However, quantitative analysis of preictal HFOs has seldom been applied to the clinical problem of planning the surgical resection. We performed Granger causality (GC) analysis of iEEG recordings to analyze features of preictal seizure networks and to aid in surgical decision making.

Methods

Ten retrospective and two prospective patients were chosen on the basis of individually stereotyped seizure patterns by visual criteria. Prospective patients were selected, additionally, for failure of those criteria to resolve apparent multilobar ictal onsets. iEEG was recorded at 500 or 1,000 Hz, using up to 128 surface and depth electrodes. Preictal and early ictal GC from individual electrodes was characterized by the strength of causal outflow, spatial distribution, and hierarchical causal relationships.

Results

In all patients we found significant, widespread preictal GC network activity at peak frequencies from 80 to 250 Hz, beginning 2–42 s before visible electrographic onset. In the two prospective patients, GC source/sink comparisons supported the exclusion of early ictal regions that were not the dominant causal sources, and contributed to planning of more limited surgical resections. Both patients have a class 1 outcome at 1 year.

Significance

GC analysis of iEEG has the potential to increase understanding of preictal network activity, and to help improve surgical outcomes in cases of otherwise ambiguous iEEG onset.
Long–Term Orientation in Publicly Traded Family Businesses: Evidence of a Dominant Logic
Authors: Gentry Richard , Dibrell Clay , Kim Jaemin
Published: November 2014

Drawing from the behavioral theory of the firm, we examine the role of a long–term orientation in decision making at publicly traded, family–influenced firms (FIFs). We advance a view of the family as part of a firm's dominant coalition and the resulting effects of a family–influenced coalition on the FIF's decision making. Using a sample of publicly traded firms, our findings indicate that FIFs’ decision making reflects a focus on a long–term orientation, manifested in the greater accumulation of slack resources, less strategic risk taking, and lower bankruptcy risk than non–FIF firms.
ATP‐citrate lyase regulates cellular senescence via an AMPK‐ and p53‐dependent pathway
Authors: Lee Jong‐Hyuk , Jang Hyonchol , Lee Soon‐Min , Lee Ji‐Eun , Choi Jinmi , Kim Tae Wan , Cho Eun‐Jung , Youn Hong‐Duk
Published: November 2014

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is a key enzyme that is involved in de novo lipogenesis by catalyzing conversion of cytosolic citrate into acetyl CoA and oxaloacetate. Up‐regulation of ACLY in various types of tumors enhances fatty acid synthesis and supplies excess acetyl CoA for histone acetylation. However, there is evidence that its enzymatic activity alone is insufficient to explain ACLY silencing‐mediated growth arrest in tumor cells. In this study, we found that ACLY knockdown in primary human cells triggers cellular senescence and activation of tumor suppressor p53. Provision of acetyl CoA to ACLY knockdown cells did not alleviate ACLY silencing‐induced p53 activation, suggesting an independent role for ACLY activity. Instead, ACLY physically interacted with the catalytic subunit of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibited AMPK activity. The activation of AMPK under ACLY knockdown conditions may lead to p53 activation, ultimately leading to cellular senescence. In cancer cells, ACLY silencing‐induced p53 activation facilitated DNA damage‐induced cell death. Taken together, our results suggest a novel function of ACLY in cellular senescence and tumorigenesis.