bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opioid genetics: the key to personalized pain control?
Authors: Branford R , Droney J , Ross JR
Published: July 2012

There are now several strong opioids available to choose from for the relief of moderate to severe pain. On a population level, there is no difference in terms of analgesic efficacy or adverse reactions between these drugs; however, on an individual level there is marked variation in response to a given opioid. The genetic influences to this variation are complex, and although current research has shown some promising results, these have not been replicated across larger studies and as such the ultimate aim of personalized prescribing remains elusive. If personalized prescribing could be achieved this would have a major impact at an individual level to facilitate safe, effective and rapid symptom control. This review presents some of the recent positive advances in opioid pharmacogenetic studies, focusing on associations between candidate genes and the three main elements of opioid response: analgesic, upper gastrointestinal and central adverse reactions.
Computed Tomography and Cross‐Sectional Anatomy of the Metatarsus and Digits of the One‐humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius) and Buffalo (Bos bubalis)
Authors: El‐Shafey A. , Kassab A.
Published: July 2012

The purpose of the present study was to provide a detailed computed tomography (CT) and cross‐sectional anatomic reference of the normal metatarsus and digits for the camel and buffalo, as well as to compare between metatarsus and digits in these animals to outstand a basis for diagnosis of their diseases. Advantages, including depiction of detailed cross‐sectional anatomy, improved contrast resolution and computer reformatting, make it a potentially valuable diagnostic technique. The hind limbs of 12 healthy adult camel and buffalo were used. Clinically relevant anatomic structures were identified and labelled at each level in the corresponding images (CT and anatomic slices). CT images were used to identify the bony and soft tissue structures of the metatarsus and digits. The knowledge of normal anatomy of the camel and buffalo metatarsus and digits would serve as initial reference to the evaluation of CT images in these species.
Factors influencing Thai parent–child interaction in a rapidly changing industrial environment
Authors: Chivanon Natchanan , Wacharasin Chintana
Published: July 2012

This paper explores factors influencing parent–child interaction of parents with children age 13–36 months old and working in the industrial setting in the eastern region of Thailand. An ethnographic study was conducted with 22 families. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews, participant observation, audiotape/videotape recording and field notes from October 2008 to September 2009. The data were analyzed by means of (i) quantitative data using frequency and percentage and (ii) qualitative data using Roper and Shapira's strategies of content analysis. The factors influencing parent–child interaction include the parental knowledge about child development, their intention and time availability. Other influences noted were economic burdens and support from parents, the factory and the community. These findings provide a greater understanding of the factors influencing parent–child interaction among Thai families with young children. Also, the findings may be useful in the development of effective interventions and/or guidelines that improve the quality of parent–child interaction.
Comparing child‐care values in Japan and China among parents with infants
Authors: Mori Emi , Liu Chunyan , Otsuki Eliko , Mochizuki Yoshimi , Kashiwabara Eiko
Published: July 2012

The purpose of this project was to identify parental child‐care values in Japan and China. Participants were 667 parents (432 Japanese and 235 Chinese) of newborn babies. A questionnaire, the Child‐care Value Scale, was used to collect the data. Japanese parents' mean scores were significantly higher (indicating more agreement) for parental responsibilities listed in the subscale ‘Views about parental role’ than those for Chinese parents. The mean scores for ‘Negative impressions of child‐care’ and ‘Need for support from others in the parents' environment’ subscales for Japanese fathers were significantly lower than for Chinese fathers. Japanese parents believed that mothers were responsible for taking care of their children. This was an obstacle to getting support from people outside the family. Chinese couples believed that parents should share housekeeping and child‐care, and obtained public and private support from their community. Findings suggest that parents of infants need community and health‐care support.
Evaluation of the training course for a nursing intervention programme to promote maternal role attainment in pregnant Japanese women who have undergone assisted reproductive technology
Authors: Iwata Hiroko , Mori Emi , Morita Akiko , Sakajo Akiko , Maekawa Tomoko , Ozawa Harumi , Maehara Kunie
Published: July 2012

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 2 day training course for a nursing intervention programme to promote maternal role attainment in pregnant Japanese women who have undergone assisted reproductive technology. Participants were 12 Japanese nurses with more than 3 years of clinical experience at reproductive institutions. The effectiveness of the training course was evaluated by assessing the following: (i) understanding of the nursing intervention programme; (ii) attitudes of nurses towards women who are pregnant following assisted reproductive technology; and (iii) self‐efficacy for implementing the programme. The training course was effective in increasing basic understanding of the programme and in assisting self‐evaluation of the attitudes of participants towards pregnant women. However, acquisition of effective interview skills and changes to make the programme clinically feasible are still needed. Findings suggest that researchers who use this training programme may need to evaluate and include training of nurses in interview skills suitable for their working environments.
Is partial tail loss the key to a complete understanding of caudal autotomy?
Authors: CROMIE GILLIAN L. , CHAPPLE DAVID G.
Published: July 2012

Autotomy, the self‐amputation of limbs or appendages, is a dramatic anti‐predator tactic that has repeatedly evolved in a range of invertebrate and vertebrate groups. In lizards, caudal autotomy enables the individual to break away from the predator's grasp, with the post‐autotomy thrashing of the tail distracting the attacker while the lizard makes its escape. This drastic defensive strategy should be selectively advantageous when the benefit (i.e. survival) exceeds the subsequent costs associated with tail loss. Here, we highlight how the position of autotomy along the length of the tail may influence the costs and benefits of the tactic, and thus the adaptive advantage of the strategy. We argue that most studies of caudal autotomy in lizards have focused on complete tail loss and failed to consider variation in the amount of tail shed, and, therefore, our understanding of this anti‐predator behaviour is more limited than previously thought. We suggest that future research should investigate how partial tail loss influences the likelihood of surviving encounters with a predator, and both the severity and duration of costs associated with caudal autotomy. Investigation of partial autotomy may also enhance our understanding of this defensive strategy in other vertebrate and invertebrate groups.
Feasibility of a new self‐expandable metallic stent for patients with malignant colorectal obstruction
Authors: Yoshida Shuntaro , Watabe Hirotsugu , Isayama Hiroyuki , Kogure Hirofumi , Nakai Yousuke , Yamamoto Natsuyo , Sasaki Takashi , Kawakubo Kazumichi , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Ito Yukiko , Yashima Yoko , Sasahira Naoki , Hirano Kenji , Yamaji Yutaka , Tada Minoru , Omata Masao , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: July 2012

Aim

Stent migration due to peristalsis of the colon is one of the unresolved complications of colonic self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement. Axial force (AF), a recovery force of the stent to a straight position after bending, has been considered a factor influencing the conformability of the digestive tract. An uncovered SEMS (Niti‐S Enteral Colonic Uncovered Stent, D‐type; Taewoong, Inc., Gimpo, South Korea) with improved conformability is considered to decrease migration.

Methods

Thirty three consecutive patients with symptomatic colorectal obstruction between March 2006 and December 2011 underwent endoscopic stent placement for palliation to estimate the efficacy and safety of Niti‐S stents prospectively in four tertiary referral centers.

Results

Technical and clinical success rates were 100% and 97%, respectively. Seventeen patients had the following complications: ingrowth (n = 6), overgrowth (n = 1), collapse of the SEMS (n = 1), stool impaction (n = 2), migration (n = 1), bleeding (n = 3), and tenesmus (n = 3). The patient with migration had no recurrent symptoms until death. Of these 17 patients, 10 required re‐interventions. Seven patients underwent an additional SEMS implantation. One patient underwent surgery for stoma creation. Two patients had stool impaction, and they underwent endoscopic cleaning. The median duration of patency was 347.0 ± 65.5 days. The mean survival time after stent insertion was 240.1 ± 39.9 days.

Conclusion

The new SEMS effectively relieves malignant colorectal obstruction. Good conformability, according to the very low AF, may contribute to the low incidence of migration.
A unified statistical model for S‐N fatigue curves: probabilistic definition
Authors: PAOLINO D. S. , CHIANDUSSI G. , ROSSETTO M.
Published: July 2012

In recent years, experimental tests exploring the gigacycle fatigue properties of materials suggest the introduction of modifications in well‐known statistical fatigue life models. Usual fatigue life models, characterized by a single failure mechanism and by the presence of the fatigue limit, have been integrated by models that can take into account the occurrence of two failure mechanisms and do not consider the presence of the fatigue limit. The general case, in which more than two failure mechanisms coexist with the fatigue limit, has not been proposed yet. The paper presents a unified statistical model which can take into account any number of failure mechanisms and the possible presence of the fatigue limit. The case of S‐N curves with different fatigue life distributions coexisting for the entire stress range covered by fatigue tests is also considered. The adaptability of the statistical model to the S‐N curves proposed in the open literature is demonstrated by qualitative numerical examples.
Selective and regulated gene expression in murine Purkinje cells by in utero electroporation
Authors: Nishiyama Jun , Hayashi Yukari , Nomura Toshihiro , Miura Eriko , Kakegawa Wataru , Yuzaki Michisuke
Published: July 2012

Cerebellar Purkinje cells, which convey the only output from the cerebellar cortex, play an essential role in cerebellar functions, such as motor coordination and motor learning. To understand how Purkinje cells develop and function in the mature cerebellum, an efficient method for molecularly perturbing them is needed. Here we demonstrate that Purkinje cell progenitors at embryonic day (E)11.5 could be efficiently and preferentially transfected by spatially directed in utero electroporation (IUE) with an optimized arrangement of electrodes. Electrophysiological analyses indicated that the electroporated Purkinje cells maintained normal membrane properties, synaptic responses and synaptic plasticity at postnatal days 25–28. By combining the L7 promoter and inducible Cre/loxP system with IUE, transgenes were expressed even more specifically in Purkinje cells and in a temporally controlled manner. We also show that three different fluorescent proteins could be simultaneously expressed, and that Bassoon, a large synaptic protein, could be expressed in the electroporated Purkinje cells. Moreover, phenotypes of staggerer mutant mice, which have a deletion in the gene encoding retinoid‐related orphan receptor α (RORα1), were recapitulated by electroporating a dominant‐negative form of RORα1 into Purkinje cells at E11.5. Together, these results indicate that this new IUE protocol, which allows the selective, effective and temporally regulated expression of multiple foreign genes transfected into Purkinje cell progenitors in vivo, without changing the cells’ physiological characteristics, is a powerful tool for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying early Purkinje cell developmental events, such as dendritogenesis and migration, and synaptic plasticity in mature Purkinje cells.
Biological control of the fruit‐spotting bug Amblypelta lutescens using weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina on African mahoganies in Australia
Authors: Peng Renkang , Christian Keith , Reilly Don
Published: July 2012

African mahogany Khaya senegalensis is a high‐value timber tree. Pilot plantings showed that the fruit‐spotting bug Amblypelta lutescens causes severe damage of the tree in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia. The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an efficient biocontrol agent in some horticulture crops. To investigate whether the ants control this pest, field experiments were conducted from April 2006 to January 2009 at two study sites in the Darwin area, Australia. A laboratory experiment was carried out in March 2007 at Berrimah Farm.

During the experimental period, in the weaver ant treatments, the overall percentage of trees damaged by the pest was 0–8% at both sites, and the damaged trees were attacked once only. In the treatments without weaver ants, however, the damage level was > 80% at Berrimah Farm and 31–100% at Howard Springs, and the damaged trees were attacked more than once.

The mean percentage of trees damaged per monitoring occasion was 0–2.6% in the weaver ant treatments at both sites, whereas, in the treatments without the ants, the damage percentages were 14.2–27.0% at Howard Springs and 28.2–48.6% at Berrimah Farm.

Extrafloral nectar of African mahoganies is attractive to weaver ants. Fruit‐spotting bugs only damage the tender parts of flushing shoots and growing tips. Weaver ants live on sugar solution and meat, and they frequently harvest extrafloral nectar on growing shoots, on which they catch nymphs of the pest for their meat supply. The aggressive behaviour of the ants also repels the pest away from flushing shoots.

The data suggest that weaver ants were effective biocontrol agents of fruit‐spotting bugs, and the ants can be used to manage the pest on African mahoganies.

The present study demonstrates that the introduced African mahogany comprises another major host of the fruit‐spotting bug.
Higher rate of colorectal cancer among patients with pyogenic liver abscess withKlebsiella pneumoniaethan those without: an 11‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Huang W.‐K. , Chang J. W.‐C. , See L.‐C. , Tu H.‐T. , Chen J.‐S. , Liaw C.‐C. , Lin Y.‐C. , Yang T.‐S.
Published: July 2012

Aim Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) has been reported as an early manifestation of colorectal cancer (CRC) in adults, but few studies have investigated this relationship. It is unclear if patients withKlebsiella pneumoniaePLA are at increased risk of subsequent CRC. Our aims were to estimate the incidence of CRC among patients with PLA and to compare the incidence of CRC betweenK. pneumoniaePLA and non‐K. pneumoniaePLA groups.

Method We conducted a retrospective study of patients with PLA diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 at a medical centre in northern Taiwan. CRC status and survival status were determined until December 2010. Incidence data from the general population were retrieved from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Outcome measures were defined as standardized incidence ratio and the incidence rate per 100 000 person‐years.

Results This study included 2294 patients, of whom 1194 (52%) hadK. pneumoniaeinfection. During the follow‐up period, 54 (2.3%) patients were diagnosed with CRC, corresponding to an overall incidence rate of 669.1 (95% CI, 490.7–847.6) per 100 000 person‐years. The adjusted hazard ratio of CRC was 2.68 times greater for patients withK. pneumoniaePLA than for those with non‐K. pneumoniaePLA (95% CI, 1.40–5.11).

Conclusion Patients withK. pneumoniaePLA had a significantly higher rate of subsequent CRC than did patients with non‐K. pneumoniaePLA. Colonoscopy is recommended to detect occult colonic malignancy in patients with PLA, particularly for patients over 60 years of age and withK. pneumoniae.
High‐frequency mini‐probe ultrasound as a useful adjunct in the management of patients with malignant colorectal polyps
Authors: Haji A. , Ryan S. , Bjarnason I. , Papagrigoriadis S.
Published: July 2012

Aim  Colorectal polyps with a focus of malignancy, identified postpolypectomy, pose a management challenge of whether endoscopic treatment is adequate or whether further surgical resection is required. This study assessed 12‐ and 20‐MHz colonoscopic ultrasound to evaluate the presence of residual disease and local lymph nodes.

Method  Consecutive cases of all colorectal polyps with a focus of malignancy were included. Colonoscopic high‐frequency ultrasound was performed (20‐MHz mini‐probes for residual polyps and 12‐MHz ultrasound for local lymph nodes) in the region of previous polypectomy. Biopsies were taken of the polypectomy site if any abnormalities were seen.

Results  Twenty‐one malignant polyps (sigmoid, n = 10; rectum, n = 8; transverse colon, n = 1; ascending colon, n = 1; and caecum, n = 1) were identified. All were invasive adenocarcinomas; 12 were intramucosal and nine were submucosal (seven sm1 lesions in the upper third of the submucosa; and two sm2 lesions in the middle third of the submucosa). Excision was histologically complete in 12 patients, four had involved margins and histology was uncertain in five owing to diathermy artefacts. Further colonoscopy revealed a residual abnormality in eight patients. The 12‐ and 20‐MHz ultrasound imaging revealed mucosal irregularity with normal bowel‐wall layers and no lymph‐node involvement, with normal histology. High‐frequency ultrasound was normal in the remaining 13 patients. At the time of writing, 15 (72%) of the 21 patients were disease free without further surgery. Six of the 21 patients underwent surgery, despite normal high‐frequency ultrasound findings, because of submucosal invasion (sm1 or sm2) and uncertain completeness of resection. The specimens were free of cancer in all six patients.

Conclusion  High‐frequency ultrasound is feasible for the assessment of colorectal malignant polyps.
Comparative morphology of the pectoral fin spine of the Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus, the Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, and the Starry sturgeon Acipenser stellatus in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Bakhshalizadeh Shima , Bani Ali , Abdolmalaki Shahram
Published: July 2012

The morphological characteristics of the pectoral fin spine were compared in three species of sturgeon, the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus), the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), and the Starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus), all sampled from the Caspian Sea. On the basis of morphological characters of the pectoral fin spine, 62.2% of the individuals were correctly classified into separate groups. The cluster analysis also divided the three species into two major subgroups. Acipenser persicus and A. gueldenstaedtii were grouped together, suggesting a similar evolutionary basis. Significant morphological heterogeneity in pectoral fin spine characteristics was observed among the three sturgeon species. Principal component analysis identified the largest differences were in the pectoral fin spine size and the angle between distal pectoral fin spine and the horizontal line (A°). The first and second principal components (PC1 and PC2) of all observations accounted for 64.19% and 14.33% of the total variation, respectively. The combination of all analyses showed the relevance of applying pectoral fin spine shape for interspecific distinction of the three species of sturgeons.
How Does Chinese Local Government Respond to Citizen Satisfaction Surveys? A Case Study of Foshan City (中国地方政府如何响应公民满意度调查？来自广东省佛山市的案例研究)
Authors: Gao (高洁) Jie
Published: July 2012

Three decades of economic liberalisation in China have reshaped relationships between the state, market and community to a remarkable degree. In recent years, a growing body of literature has documented the rise of citizen satisfaction surveys in assessing the performance of Chinese local government. Yet little is known about how Chinese local government responds to such surveys. This article addresses this gap. Based on a case study of Foshan City in Guangdong Province, this article shows that information in citizen satisfaction surveys is used in two major ways in this locality: the city's leadership officials use the information to support pre‐existing policies while departmental officials use it to improve service delivery. This study shows that, with the rising power of the community, citizen satisfaction surveys can be an important intermediary between the Chinese state and its citizens and help local government to be more responsive to citizen needs.

中国过去三十年来的经济改革在很大程度上重塑了政府、市场与社会的关系。近年来，越来越多的研究开始关注公民满意度调查在评估中国地方政府绩效中的使用。然而，对于地方政府如何响应这些调查的结果却知之尚少。本文试图解答这个问题。文章通过对广东省佛山市的案例研究发现，公民满意度调查中的信息在该地主要用于两个方面：市领导使用这些信息来支持既有改革和调整政策投入，而主管改革的部门官员则使用这些信息来改善公共服务。本研究表明，随着社会的力量不断增强，公民满意度调查或可成为中国地方政府与公民之间的重要媒介，并使地方政府对公民的需求更具响应性。
Serving Migrant Workers: A Challenging Public Service Issue in China (服务农民工：中国公共服务的挑战)1
Authors: Ngok (岳经纶) Kinglun
Published: July 2012

The results of the latest census disclose that there are more than 260 million mobile people among the total population of 1.34 billion in China. Among them, about 150 million are migrant workers. Due to the notorious household registration system (hukou) and the entrenched rural‐urban divide, access by migrant workers to public services provided by city governments is normally denied. Compared with their urban counterparts, migrant workers find it difficult to gain equal access to employment, social security and other public services. Though the central government has promised to provide public services to migrant workers, including employment services and training, compulsory education for their children, disease prevention and control, and improvement in housing conditions, providing public services to migrant workers poses a big challenge for both receiving and sending regions. Based on a survey of migrant workers and government officials conducted in 2009 in Guangzhou, one of the key receiving cities of migrant workers, this article examines migrant workers’ needs for, and knowledge of, public services. It also reviews current policy responses and service provision mechanisms of both the receiving and sending regions, and tries to evaluate the gap between the service needs of migrant workers and governments’ provision of services, and to explore more effective ways to satisfy needs through enhanced cooperation and coordination among government departments and non‐governmental organisations.

中国最新的人口普查结果显示，在13.4亿总人口中，流动人口高达2.6亿，其中，跨区域流动的农民工达到1.5亿。由于长期存在的城乡差距，特别是户籍制度的影响，农民工在城市中很难享受到诸如就业、社会保障等公共服务。虽然中央政府已经承诺为农民工提供各项公共服务，如就业服务和职业培训，子女义务教育，疾病预防与控制，住房改善等，但是，无论是对输入地还是输出地来说，如何为农民工提供公共服务一直是一个重大的公共政策挑战。基于2009年在广州针对农民工、政府官员的一项问卷调查，本文尝试了解农民工的服务需要及其对城市公共服务的认知情况，梳理输出地与输入地的政策回应及服务提供机制，评估农民工的公共服务需要与政府服务提供之间的差距，并且在此基础上探索如何通过加强输入地与输出地政府部门之间、非政府组织之间及政府部门与非政府部门之间的沟通与协调来寻找满足农民工服务需要的更有效的方法。
Policy Entrepreneur, Civic Engagement and Local Policy Innovation in China: Housing Monetarisation Reform in Guizhou Province (政策企业家、公民参与与地方政策创新：以贵州住房货币化改革为例)
Authors: Zhu (朱亚鹏) Yapeng
Published: July 2012

Creating local policy innovations and extending successful local experiences to other localities and provinces or even up to the national level has been a distinctive feature of China's policymaking process during the reform period. However, insufficient academic effort has been spent on what promotes or hinders policy innovations at the local level and their dissemination. This article contributes by exploring the role of policy entrepreneurs in fostering local policy innovations, using the housing monetarisation reform experience in Guizhou province as an example. In this article I argue that the key decision‐maker, being a policy entrepreneur, plays a central role in fostering policy innovations. An important aspect of the policy entrepreneur's strategy is to promote civic engagement and to strengthen legitimacy by leveraging the popularity of innovative policy. By highlighting the role of the policy entrepreneur as a policy innovator and the strategy of involving civic engagement, this research contributes to the literature in both the policy entrepreneurship and local politics development in China.

改革开放时期中国的政策决策过程呈现出一个显著特征，即政府积极推动地方政策创新并将成功的政策创新推广到其它地区、省份或者全国。然而，关于地方政策创新及其扩散受到何种因素的影响和制约，学界的研究并不充足。本文以贵州住房货币化改革为例，分析了政策企业家在推动地方政策创新中所扮演的重要角色：作为重要的决策者的政策企业家在政策创新过程中发挥了关键作用；政策企业家通过各种策略推动公民参与以增强政策创新的受欢迎程度，从而提升政策创新的合法性。通过强调政策企业家作为政策创新的首倡者的重要作用及其在推动公众参与所采用的各种策略，本文推进了政策企业家及中国地方政治等相关研究。
Citizen Expectations and Improvement of Government Functions: A Study of Importance and Performance of Budgetary Demands in China (公民期待和政府功能的改进：一项对中国预算需求和绩效的研究)
Authors: Zhang (张光) Guang
Published: July 2012

How should the government allocate fiscal resources among different sectors in order to satisfy the needs and expectations of its citizens? This question is worth considering because public finance in China has increased at a rate much higher than that of GDP in recent years. Based on a classification of public expenditures, we classify public services and goods provided by the Chinese government into five functions: the administrative, law and order, developmental, welfare, and humanitarian functions. We employ key findings from a survey provided by the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) questioning the importance and performance of different programs in a questionnaire sent to young educated citizens – the leaders and administration of tomorrow. The findings of the survey indicate the highest priority of the five state functions was as follows: welfare, humanitarian, developmental, law and order, and administrative. A comparison between this priority ranking and the actual spending levels indicates that the two sets of preferences roughly correspond, with one exception: the developmental function ranks as the top priority in actual spending but third priority in public expectations. If the expectations found in this survey reflect the broader public views, the survey suggests that, to be more responsive, the Chinese government needs to reallocate its fiscal resources towards welfare and humanitarian functions.

政府应该如何在不同的部门中配置其财政资源，以满足公民的需求和期待？近年来中国财政规模以远远高于国内生产总值的速度增长，使得这个问题尤为值得研究。本文将中国政府提供的公共物品和服务区分为五类：行政管理、法与秩序、经济发展、社会福利以及人文发展功能，并借用国际社会调查项目 (ISSP) 的“政府角色”问卷的研究设计，制作了一个有关中国政府不同支出项目的重要性和绩效的问卷。这个问卷在一所中国的精英大学的学生（他们可能成为未来中国各行各业的领导人物）中实施。问卷调查的结果表明大学生对五项功能的优先排序为社会福利、人文发展、经济发展、法与秩序和行政管理。我们将这一优先排序同中国政府的实际支出的优先性排序进行了比较，发现两者大体一致，但有一个例外：在实际支出的优先性排序中经济发展位居第一，而在公众的期待中排位第三。如果此次调查所揭示的期待确实反映了更为广泛的公众的观点的话，则可以断言，中国政府为了使自己的财政支出行为更加符合民意，有必要把财政资源投向的重点转到社会福利和人文发展领域。
EXPLOITING SYNTACTIC, SEMANTIC, AND LEXICAL REGULARITIES IN LANGUAGE MODELING VIA DIRECTED MARKOV RANDOM FIELDS
Authors: Wang Shaojun , Wang Shaomin , Cheng Li , Greiner Russell , Schuurmans Dale
Published: July 2012

We present a directed Markov random field (MRF) model that combinesn‐gram models, probabilistic context‐free grammars (PCFGs), and probabilistic latent semantic analysis (PLSA) for the purpose of statistical language modeling. Even though the composite directed MRF model potentially has an exponential number of loops and becomes a context‐sensitive grammar, we are nevertheless able to estimate its parameters in cubic time using an efficient modified Expectation‐Maximization (EM) method,the generalized inside–outside algorithm, which extends the inside–outside algorithm to incorporate the effects of then‐gram and PLSA language models. We generalize various smoothing techniques to alleviate the sparseness ofn‐gram counts in cases where there are hidden variables. We also derive an analogous algorithm to find the most likely parse of a sentence and to calculate the probability of initial subsequence of a sentence, all generated by the composite language model. Our experimental results on theWall Street Journalcorpus show that we obtain significant reductions in perplexity compared to the state‐of‐the‐art baseline trigram model with Good–Turing and Kneser–Ney smoothing techniques.
ENTREPRENEURIAL EXIT RESPONSE TO DISSATISFACTION WITH PUBLIC SERVICES
Authors: GOFEN ANAT
Published: July 2012

Following Hirschman's seminal Exit, Voice and Loyalty, an exit response to dissatisfaction with public services is often portrayed as a replacement of one service provider with another, depending on the availability of alternatives. This article enriches Hirschman's typology by conceptualising an ‘entrepreneurial exit' response referring to citizens who exit proactively by creating a viable alternative themselves. The practical aspects of entrepreneurial exit are analysed based on five manifestations: planned homebirth, homeschooling, urban self‐defence groups, children with disabilities, and claim clubs in the American West. Whereas citizens' roles within the public service sphere are referred to as ‘participators’, ‘customers’, and ‘co‐producers', entrepreneurial exit indicates the entrepreneurial role citizens may play. Similar to the additional forms of exit, entrepreneurial exit becomes meaningful if the newly introduced form of service gains social acceptance, especially when it reflects policy non‐compliance within which laymen are transformed into providers of professional services.
The Effects of Participation Rate on the Internal Reliability of Peer Nomination Measures
Authors: Marks Peter E. L. , Babcock Ben , Cillessen Antonius H. N. , Crick Nicki R.
Published: July 2012

Although low participation rates have historically been considered problematic in peer nomination research, some researchers have recently argued that small proportions of participants can, in fact, provide adequate sociometric data. The current study used a classical measurement perspective to investigate the internal reliability (Cronbach's α) of peer nomination measures of acceptance, popularity, friendship, prosocial behavior, and overt aggression. Data from 642 participants attending 10 schools were resampled at different participation rates ranging from 5 percent to 100 percent of the original samples. Results indicated that (1) the association between participation rate and Cronbach's α was curvilinear across schools and variables; (2) collecting more data for a given variable (by using unlimited vs. limited nominations, or two vs. one items) was significantly related to higher internal reliability; and (3) certain variables (overt aggression, popularity) were more reliable than others (acceptance, friendship). Implications for future research were discussed.
EVALUATING CURRENCY CRISES: A MULTIVARIATE MARKOV REGIME SWITCHING APPROACH*
Authors: MOURATIDIS KOSTAS , KENOURGIOS DIMITRIS , SAMITAS ARIS , VOUGAS DIMITRIS
Published: July 2012

This paper provides an empirical framework to analyse the nature of currency crises by extending earlier work of Jeanne and Masson (2000; Journal of International Economics, Vol. 50, pp. 327–350). Jeanne and Masson suggest a Markov regime switching models to analyse models of currency crises with multiple equilibria. This paper further contributes to the literature by suggesting a multivariate Markov regime switching model. In the new set‐up, one can test for the impact of the unobserved dynamics of fundamentals on the probability of devaluation.
‘Armament in depth’ or ‘armament in breadth’? German investment pattern and rearmament during the Nazi period1
Authors: SCHERNER JONAS
Published: July 2012

Today, most scholars agree that Nazi Germany did not follow a premeditated Blitzkrieg strategy in the late 1930s and at the beginning of the Second World War. However, the question of the extent to which Germany's economy had been prepared for a longer war is still debated because statistical information on Germany's investment pattern is fragmentary and data on the structure of prewar German military expenditure are not available. Relying on newly discovered sources, this article closes these gaps. The Nazi regime clearly shifted its investment towards preparation for war from the mid‐1930s on, and though armaments purchases stagnated during the period from 1937 to 1939, investment in munitions industries grew considerably. Consequently, during the late 1930s the Nazis pursued a ‘sustainable’ rearmament strategy necessary for fighting a longer war. Yet, despite massive capacity enlargements in the munitions industries, total German investment was not unusually high by today's definition because contemporary figures included a significant amount of armaments purchases.
Deterrence in Contests
Authors: De Luca Giacomo , Sekeris Petros G.
Published: July 2012

This paper explores the role of deterrence in contests. As a general rule, we show that for a deterrence strategy to be played by rational agents, it is necessary that the contest be destructive. We show for a very general class of functions that pure strategy deterrence equilibria where contestants deter one another do not exist. A corollary of this finding is that under fairly general conditions, agents should always be expected to engage in contests. Applied to international relations, our results imply that war is always a potential outcome despite deterrence attempts.
Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among pregnant smokers: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Myung S‐K , Ju W , Jung H‐S , Park C‐H , Oh S‐W , Seo HG , Kim HS ,   for the Korean Meta‐Analysis (KORMA) Study Group
Published: July 2012

Please cite this paper as: Myung S, Ju W, Jung H, Park C, Oh S, Seo H, Kim H, for the Korean Meta‐Analysis (KORMA) Study Group. Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among pregnant smokers: a meta‐analysis. BJOG 2012;119:1029–1039.

Background  The efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among pregnant smokers has not yet been established.

Objective  To investigate the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among pregnant smokers.

Search strategy  A search was made of PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL in June 2011.

Selection criteria  Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi‐RCTs and retrospective or prospective controlled studies were included.

Data collection and analysis  The main analyses were designed to examine the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among pregnant smokers based on the longest follow‐up data available and from data obtained at the latest available time‐point in pregnancy in each study.

Main results  Of 74 articles identified from the databases, seven studies (five RCTs, one quasi‐RCT and one prospective study) involving a total of 1386 pregnant smokers, 732 in the intervention groups and 654 in the control groups, were included in the final analyses. In a fixed‐effects meta‐analysis of all seven studies based on the longest follow‐up data available, pharmacotherapy had a significant effect on smoking cessation (relative risk [RR] 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–2.44). Subgroup meta‐analysis by type of study design also showed similar findings for RCTs (RR 1.48; 95% CI 1.04–2.09) and other types of studies (RR 3.25; 95% CI 1.65–6.39). The abstinence rate at late pregnancy in the intervention ranged from 7 to 22.6% (mean abstinence rate 13.0%; 95% CI 10.9–15.2%). A few minor adverse effects and serious adverse effects were reported in several studies.

Author’s conclusions  This study indicates that there may be clinical evidence to support the use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation among pregnant smokers. Further RCTs are needed.
Effectiveness of psychiatric inpatient care
Authors: Sonesson Ove , Arvidsson Hans , Tjus Tomas
Published: July 2012

Scand J Caring Sci; 2013; 27; 319–326

Effectiveness of psychiatric inpatient care

There is a growing demand for evaluating the process and outcome of mental health care. Most healthcare providers routinely collect and register data related to the process of treatment, and it is important to acquire more knowledge about how to make use of these databases. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of psychiatric inpatient care in relation to different clinical factors, using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) as a measure of outcome. Another objective was to explore the ability of routinely collected and registered data to provide valuable information about patients and their care. The studied psychiatric inpatient sample consisted of 816 care episodes with GAF ratings made both at admission and at discharge for 648 patients. Variables used in the study included GAF score at admission and at discharge, age, gender, diagnosis, length of stay and ward affiliation. The overall mean GAF change was 20.74, and the overall effect size Cohen’s d 1.67, which corresponds to a large effect. The mean GAF change for women was 21.6, with an effect size of 1.80, and for men 19.4 with an effect size of 1.52. The effect size spectra including all groups of diagnoses ranged from 1.03 (substance‐related disorders) to 2.33 (other mood disorders). Length of stay and ward affiliation also showed significant results concerning GAF change. Some limitations in this study could depend on the absence of randomization procedures and a control group. Another limitation concerns the insufficient control of the inpatient care interventions performed. The results support the capacity of the GAF to function as a measure of outcome in relation to different clinical factors, such as length of stay and diagnosis. Support was also found for the importance and usefulness of routinely collected and registered data.
QT interval prolongation by acute gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Trevisani Franco , Di Micoli Antonio , Zambruni Andrea , Biselli Maurizio , Santi Valentina , Erroi Virginia , Lenzi Barbara , Caraceni Paolo , Domenicali Marco , Cavazza Mario , Bernardi Mauro
Published: July 2012

Background & aims

QT interval prolongation is frequent in cirrhosis, and stressful conditions could further prolong QT. We aimed to test this hypothesis and, if it proved correct, to assess its prognostic meaning.

Methods

We reviewed the clinical records of 70 consecutive cirrhotic and 40 non‐cirrhotic patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. All patients had been evaluated before bleeding (T0) and were re‐evaluated at the time of bleeding (T1) and 6 weeks afterwards (T2).

Results

QT corrected by heart rate (QTc) lengthened at T1, returning towards baseline values at T2 (mean ± SEM; from 415.9 ± 4.3 to 453.4 ± 4.3 to 422.2 ± 5.7 ms, P < 0.001) in cirrhotics; contrariwise, QTc did not change in non‐cirrhotic patients. The 6‐week mortality was 29.6% among cirrhotic patients, while no control patient died. At T1, patients who died had longer QTc (P = 0.001) and higher model of end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score (P < 0.001) than survivors. MELD and QTc independently predicted survival. Their areas under the ROC curve were 0.88 (CI 95% 0.78–0.95) and 0.75 (CI 95% 0.63–0.85) respectively; the best cut‐off values were MELD ≥20 and QTc ≥ 460 ms. Based on these factors, the 6‐week mortality was: 0% for patients without risk factors, 32.1% for those with one risk factor and 70.6% for those with both (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Acute gastrointestinal bleeding further prolongs QTc in cirrhosis. This abnormality independently predicts bleeding‐induced mortality. The combined measurement of QTc interval and MELD can clearly identify three patient strata at increasing risk of bleeding‐related mortality, thus improving the decision‐making for these patients.
Mapping an X‐linked locus that influences heat‐induced febrile seizures in mice
Authors: Hessel Ellen V. S. , van Lith Hein A. , Wolterink‐Donselaar Inge G. , de Wit Marina , Hendrickx Debbie A. E. , Kas Martien J. H. , de Graan Pierre N. E.
Published: July 2012

Purpose:  Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common seizure type in children between the age of 6 months and 5 years. Although FS are largely benign, recurrent FS are a major risk factor for developing temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) later in life. The mechanisms underlying FS are largely unknown; however, family and twin studies indicate that FS susceptibility is under complex genetic control. We have recently developed a phenotypic screen to study the genetics of FS susceptibility in mice. Using this screen in a phenotype‐driven genetic strategy we analyzed the C57BL/6J‐Chr #A/NaJ chromosome substitution strain (CSS) panel. In each CSS line one chromosome of the A/J strain is substituted in a genetically homogeneous C57BL/6J background. The analysis of the CSS panel revealed that A/J chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 10, 13, and X carry at least one quantitative trait locus (QTL) for heat‐induced FS susceptibility. The fact that many X‐linked genes are highly expressed in the brain and have been implicated in human developmental disorders often presenting with seizures (like fragile X mental retardation) prompted us to map the chromosome X QTL.

Methods:  C57BL/6J mice were mated with C57BL/6J‐Chr XA/NaJ (CSSX) to generate F2‐generations—CXBL6 and BL6CX—originating from CSSX or C57BL/6J mothers, respectively. Heat‐induced FS were elicited on postnatal day 14 by exposure to a controlled warm airstream of 50°C. The latency to heat‐induced FS is our phenotype. This phenotype has previously been validated by video–electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring. After phenotyping and genotyping the F2‐population, QTL analysis was performed using R/QTL software.

Key Findings:  QTL analysis revealed a significant peak with an LOD‐score of 3.25. The 1‐LOD confidence interval (149,886,866–158,836,462 bp) comprises 52 protein coding genes, of which 34 are known to be brain expressed. Two of these brain‐expressed genes have previously been linked to X‐linked epilepsies, namely Cdkl5 and Pdha1.

Significance:  Our results show that the mouse genetics of X‐linked FS susceptibility is complex, and that our heat‐induced FS‐driven genetic approach is a powerful tool for use in unraveling the complexities of this trait in mice. Fine‐mapping and functional studies will be required to further identify the X‐linked FS susceptibility genes.
Dissecting the genetic basis of myoclonic‐astatic epilepsy
Authors: Tang Shan , Pal Deb K.
Published: July 2012

Herman Doose first described the generalized childhood epilepsy syndrome of myoclonic astatic epilepsy (MAE) in 1970, attributing a genetic cause from this first description. However, although the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) defined criteria for MAE in 1989, the diagnostic boundaries of the syndrome continue to be debated. Moreover, 40 years since Doose's first description of MAE, although a genetic predisposition is acknowledged and many studies have demonstrated familial aggregation of seizures within MAE families, the actual genetic determinants of MAE still remain unknown. Although initially thought to be within the same spectrum as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy, the exclusion of SCN1A mutations in non‐generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) MAE cases has confirmed the genetic distinction of MAE. In this critical review, we shall trace the historical evolution of concepts around MAE and its distinction from Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome, review the described phenotypic features of MAE from updated studies that will allow its distinction from other overlap epilepsy syndromes, review the evidence of genetic influences and clues for genetic heterogeneity, and discuss strategies that may be helpful in elucidating the etiology of MAE in light of current genetic techniques.
Dravet syndrome: Seizure control and gait in adults with different SCN1A mutations
Authors: Rilstone Jennifer J. , Coelho Fernando M. , Minassian Berge A. , Andrade Danielle M.
Published: July 2012

Purpose:  Dravet syndrome (DS) is an aggressive epileptic encephalopathy. Pharmacoresistant seizures of several types plague most patients with DS throughout their lives. Gait difficulties are a common, but inconsistent finding. The majority of cases are caused by mutations in the SCN1A gene, but little information is available about how particular mutations influence the adult phenotype. The purpose of this study is to correlate different types of SCN1A mutations and (1) seizure control, (2) occurrence of convulsive status epilepticus (cSE), and (3) the presence of crouch gait in adult patients.

Methods:  In a cohort of 10 adult patients with DS caused by SCN1A mutations, we investigated seizure frequency, history of cSE, and gait. All patients were identified in the epilepsy clinic between 2009 and 2011. SCN1A mutations were divided into four different groups based on location or effect of the mutation. Retrospective chart review and recent physical examination were completed in all cases.

Key Findings:  All patients had a pathogenic mutation in the SCN1A gene. Four SCN1A mutations have not been described previously. Greater than 90% seizure reduction was observed (compared to childhood frequency) in six of seven patients with missense mutations in the pore‐forming region (PFR) of the Nav1.1 protein (group A) and nonsense mutations (group B). One patient with a splice‐site mutation (group C) and another with a mutation outside the PFR (group D) became free of all types of seizures. cSE after the age of 19 years was observed in only one patient. Crouch gait, without spasticity, is identified as an element of the adult DS phenotype. However, only one half of our adult DS cohort demonstrated crouch gait. This feature was observed in five of seven patients from groups A and B.

Significance:  This study shows that seizure control improves and cSE become less frequent in DS as patients age, independent of their SCN1A mutation type. Complete seizure freedom was seen in two patients (groups C and D). Finally, this study shows that in DS, crouch gait can be observed in up to 50% of adults with SCN1A mutation. Although no definite statistical correlations could be made due to the small number of patients, it is interesting to note that crouch gait was observed only in those patients with nonsense mutations or mutations in the PFR. Future studies with larger cohorts will be required to formally assess an association of gait abnormalities with particular SCN1A mutations.