bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foreign Direct Investment and Labor Quality in Developing Countries
Authors: Iwai Nobuyuki , Thompson Stanley R.
Published: April 2012

The quality of local labor is an important factor in a multinational corporation's (MNC) decision to set up production operations in a developing country. It is often observed that developing country governments attempt to attract MNCs by enhancing labor quality. This paper studies the interaction between an MNC and a local government which has superior information on local labor quality. The local government has an incentive to enhance the labor quality and share that information with the MNC because it increases both its net tax revenue and profit of the MNC. The paper provides an explanation for recent findings of FDI in developing countries: the bulk of FDI has been directed toward a limited number of countries and human capital plays an increasingly important role in attracting FDI.
Odious Debt in an Imperfect World
Authors: Janus Thorsten
Published: April 2012

The odious debt problem refers to a government's ability to borrow for elite consumption while the general population repays. Although an intuitive response is to ban lending to such regimes, this paper shows that if a government faces endogenous replacement risk, then an international odious debt doctrine which (i) decreases the country's debt ceiling; (ii) decreases the likelihood that the citizens must repay the debt; or (iii) increases the government's cost of borrowing for a given default risk can all decrease citizens' welfare. These findings suggest that, even when a regime is clearly odious, allowing it to borrow up to a point may be preferable to a complete lending ban.
Buyer and Seller Concentration in Global Commodity Markets
Authors: Oladi Reza , Gilbert John
Published: April 2012

In recent years there has been an increased incidence of export restrictions applied by developing countries to commodities and raw materials. Commodity markets may be characterized by concentration on the buyer side, with a small number of transnational intermediary firms purchasing from supplying countries and distributing to the market, and recent work has suggested that export taxes may be an optimal policy to recapture monopsony rent. However, in many commodity markets there are also a limited number of large supplying countries. This paper considers a situation where an oligopsonistic intermediary industry purchases from a small number of supplying countries, the governments of which act strategically in their policy choices both with respect to the intermediaries and any competing suppliers. In the resulting two‐stage game, the paper shows that an export subsidy, rather than an export tax, may arise as the optimal intervention.
Do Current Account Forecasters Herd? Evidence from the Euro Area and the G7 Countries
Authors: Frenkel Michael , Rülke Jan‐C. , Zimmermann Lilli
Published: April 2012

Data from the Consensus Economics Forecast Poll is used to analyze how current account forecasters form expectations. The results suggest that forecasts do not satisfy traditional unbiasedness and orthogonality criteria for forecast rationality. In addition, this paper finds anti‐herding behavior among forecasters for the euro area and G7 countries. It also shows that the cross‐sectional heterogeneity with regard to anti‐herding is associated with cross‐sectional heterogeneity in forecast accuracy. More specifically, this paper finds some evidence indicating that forecasters who tend to herd provide more accurate forecasts than their colleagues who follow an anti‐herding strategy.
The Globalization–Welfare State Nexus Reconsidered
Authors: Meinhard Stephanie , Potrafke Niklas
Published: April 2012

Two hypotheses relate to the globalization–welfare state nexus: the efficiency hypothesis predicts that globalization reduces government sector size and governments' capacity to finance the welfare state. The compensation hypothesis, in contrast, predicts that globalization induces a higher demand for social insurance which results in an extended welfare state. Empirical evidence on the globalization–welfare state nexus is mixed. The evidence is re‐examined by investigating a yearly panel dataset of 186 countries for the 1970–2004 period. This paper uses data compiled by the Penn World Tables on government sector size and employs the Konjunkturforschungsstelle (KOF—Swiss Economic Institute) index of globalization. The results show that globalization increased government sectors around the world. Social globalization especially had a positive influence. Globalization‐induced effects were stronger in Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries. Overall globalization and economic globalization reduced the relative price of government expenditures. These findings suggest that globalization does not jeopardize the welfare state at all.
Has Special 301 Promoted US Manufacturing Exports?
Authors: Riker David
Published: April 2012

Every year in its Special 301 review, the USA identifies trade partners who are not complying with their agreement on Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) obligations to adequately protect and enforce intellectual property rights. Countries that are identified as Special 301 priorities become the focus of dispute resolution efforts. This study quantifies the impact of these priority designations on US manufacturing export revenues, manufacturing employment, and research and development (R&D) expenditures using an econometric model of the US export expansion between 2004 and 2007.
Does Outsourcing Provision Lead to Wage Inequality? New Evidence from Thailand's Establishment‐level Data
Authors: Chongvilaivan Aekapol , Thangavelu Shandre M.
Published: April 2012

The impacts of outsourcing provision—the arrangements whereby a firm carries out production stages for other firms—are examined on wage differentials between skilled and unskilled workers using Thailand's establishment‐level data. The estimates based on a translog production function indicate that outsourcing provision augments productivity of both skilled and unskilled labor and contributes positively to wage inequality. The model predicts that a 1% increase in outsourcing provision leads to a rise in wage differentials by nearly 2.5%. The robustness check further reveals that the impacts of services provision on wage inequality are more pronounced than those of materials provision. These results highlight the importance of outsourcing provision as a new explanation of the widening skilled–unskilled wage gap in developing countries which typically emerge as a hub of outsourcing provision.
Remittances, Exchange Rate Regimes and the Dutch Disease: A Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Lartey Emmanuel K. K. , Mandelman Federico S. , Acosta Pablo A.
Published: April 2012

Using disaggregated sectorial data for developing and transition countries, this study shows that rising levels of remittances have spending effects that may lead to real exchange rate appreciation, and resource movement effects that favor the nontradable sector at the expense of tradable goods production. These are two characteristics of the phenomenon known as “Dutch disease”. The results further suggest that resource movement effects that favor the nontradable sector should operate stronger under fixed nominal exchange rate regimes.
Regional Heterogeneity and China's Trade: Sufficient Lumpiness or Not?
Authors: Lu Meng , Milner Chris , Yu Zhihong
Published: April 2012

This paper explores whether there is sufficient lumpiness or heterogeneity in the relative endowments (capital, labor, and skills) of the regions of China to affect China's specialization and trade patterns. It does so using both the lens condition to identify the violation of factor price equalization across regions, and direct evidence on regional trade and specialization. The results are sensitive to the level of regional aggregation. The paper concludes, however, that China was sufficiently lumpy as recently as 2004 to affect its pattern of international trade.
Transaction Falsification and the Difficulty of Achieving Pareto‐improving Gains from Trade through Lump‐sum Transfers
Authors: Ichino Yasukazu
Published: April 2012

Lump‐sum transfer rules to redistribute the gains from free trade are examined. When individuals anticipate that free trade policy will come with a lump‐sum transfer, they are going to change their behaviors under autarky in order to get larger transfers. In spite of this falsification, can a lump‐sum transfer still make everyone enjoy the gains from free trade? In a model of simple exchange economy, a condition under which a lump‐sum transfer can make it was found, but in general it is difficult to achieve Pareto‐improving gains from free trade.
HAVE DUTCH MUNICIPALITIES BECOME MORE EFFICIENT IN MANAGING THE COSTS OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE DEPENDENCY?*
Authors: Broersma Lourens , Edzes Arjen J.E. , van Dijk Jouke
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT Many welfare reforms undertaken in Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries are directed toward enhancing efficiency in the administration and implementation of social security. In this perspective, reforms in The Netherlands are an example of decentralization through budgeting financial means to municipalities. By using data envelopment analysis, we assess the effect of the introduction of the new Work and Social Assistance Act (WSA) in 2004 on cost efficiency. By applying a stochastic frontier analysis, we assess the impact of municipal policy strategies on cost inefficiency for the period 2005–2007. We find a clear positive effect of the WSA in 2004 on cost efficiency. Pursuing a strategy of activation raised efficiency significantly.
UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE IMPACTS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH VARIABLES*
Authors: Burnett Perry , Cutler Harvey , Davies Stephen
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT The paper uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for a small city to examine how expansions in export and local sectors, changes in total factor productivity (TFP), and growth in population impact an economy. We examine the effects of each source of growth and find that the level and distribution of economic activity vary considerably. We also evaluate each source of growth in the context of a variety of policy metrics, which provide guidelines to policy makers, including the types of firms to be recruited in specific regions.
Unemployment and Retirement in a Model with Age‐specific Heterogeneity
Authors: Lefèbvre Mathieu
Published: April 2012

This paper presents a model where young and old workers compete for one type of jobs in the presence of retirement opportunity. Within this framework, we show that increased retirement opportunities (such as a decrease of the retirement age) has most of the time a depressing impact on the unemployment rate. Indeed the number of vacancies posted by firms is influenced by the probability that an old worker is going into retirement. We show that the degree to which younger workers are influenced by retirement of older workers depends on the relative productivity of young and older workers. It is only when older workers are much more productive than young workers that retirement may benefit to unemployment.
Special Interest Group Formation in the United States: Do Special Interest Groups Mirror the Success of their Spatial Neighbors?
Authors: Randolph Gregory M. , Tasto Michael T.
Published: April 2012

Special interest groups exert a great deal of influence over political outcomes in the United States. Understanding the determining factors for the formation of special interest groups is important. However, the literature has excluded the role of spatial neighbors. This article employs spatial econometric techniques to discriminately analyze the factors determining the number of special interest groups in a state. While geographic location is not a factor, gross state product, state general expenditures, union membership, and the percentage of manufacturing employment relationships between states are crucial in the formation of special interest groups across states.
HLA‐Bw4 identifies a population of HIV‐infected patients with an increased capacity to control viral replication after structured treatment interruption
Authors: Stern M , Czaja K , Rauch A , Rickenbach M , Günthard H F , Battegay M , Fellay J , Hirschel B , Hess C ,   the Swiss HIV Cohort Study Group
Published: April 2012

Objectives

After structured treatment interruption (STI) of treatment for HIV‐1, a fraction of patients maintain suppressed viral loads. Prospective identification of such patients might improve HIV‐1 treatment, if selected patients are offered STI.

Methods

We analysed the effect of previously identified genetic modulators of HIV‐1 disease progression on patients’ ability to suppress viral replication after STI. Polymorphisms in the genes killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor 3DLI (KIR3DL1)/KIR3DS1, human leucocyte antigen B (HLA‐B) and HLA Complex P5 (HCP5), and a polymorphism affecting HLA‐C surface expression were analysed in 130 Swiss HIV Cohort Study patients undergoing STI. Genotypes were correlated with viral load levels after STI.

Results

We observed a statistically significant reduction in viral load after STI in carriers of HLA‐B alleles containing either the Bw480Thr or the Bw480Ile epitope (mean adjusted effect on post‐STI viral load: −0.82 log HIV‐1 RNA copies/ml, P < 0.001; and −1.12 log copies/ml, P < 0.001, respectively). No significant effects were detected for the other polymorphisms analysed. The likelihood of being able to control HIV‐1 replication using a prespecified cut‐off (viral load increase < 1000 copies/ml) increased from 39% in Bw4‐negative patients to 53% in patients carrying Bw4‐80Thr, and to 65% in patients carrying Bw4‐80Ile (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

These data establish a significant impact of HLA‐Bw4 on the control of viral replication after STI.
Labour Identities of the Coalfield: The General Election of 1931 in County Durham
Authors: BARRON HESTER
Published: April 2012

This article examines the extraordinary political swing that occurred in the Durham coalfield in the 1931 general election. Having won all eleven county seats in 1929, Labour lost all but two in 1931. This was despite the dominance of the coal industry, the strength of the miners' union, and the increasing pre‐eminence of Durham's Labour organization. While the circumstances of the election certainly motivated a traditional anti‐socialist base, the article suggests that previous explanations have failed to acknowledge the extent to which mining constituents may also have been responsible for the result. Rather than any uniform political identity amongst the mining community, it finds that allegiances were fluid and complex, swayed by factors such as political charisma (particularly with regard to Ramsay MacDonald, re‐elected at Seaham), specific local concerns, and paternalistic loyalties. In doing so, it reveals the fragility of the Labour Party's appeal even amongst its ‘core’ supporters. The National success in 1931 demonstrated that Labour's dominance in Durham remained recent, limited and as yet provisional, a finding that has significant implications for the wider picture of Labour's national advance, revealing that Labour's progress in the inter‐war years was conditional and erratic even in its most ‘natural’ strongholds.
Effects of Dohsa‐hou relaxation on body awareness and psychological distress1
Authors: FUJINO HARUO
Published: April 2012

Relaxation is one of the most frequently used methods for treating psychological and physical problems. Many relaxation methods are effective treatments for various psychological problems. Body awareness could be an important component of body‐oriented psychological treatment. In this study, a self‐report measure for the assessment of body awareness was developed, and its psychometric characteristics and relationships with other psychological constructs were examined. The effect of Dohsa‐hou relaxation was investigated using the developed Body Awareness Scale (BAS). The results showed that the BAS had good internal consistency and test‐retest reliability, and that it was associated with related psychological constructs. Dohsa‐hou relaxation led to increased body awareness and decreased psychological distress. The BAS can be a useful instrument in the field of body‐oriented psychotherapy research and related treatment methods, and increased body awareness has an important role in Dohsa‐hou relaxation therapy.
Overexpression ofMtCAS31enhances drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by reducing stomatal density
Authors: Xie Can , Zhang Rongxue , Qu Yueting , Miao Zhenyan , Zhang Yunqin , Shen Xiaoye , Wang Tao , Dong Jiangli
Published: April 2012

Dehydrins are a type of late embryogenesis abundant protein. Some dehydrins are involved in the response to various abiotic stresses. Accumulation of dehydrins enhances the drought, cold and salt tolerances of transgenic plants, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. MtCAS31 (Medicago Truncatulacold‐acclimation specific protein 31) is a Y2K4‐type dehydrin that was isolated fromMedicago truncatula.

We analyzed the subcellular and histochemical localization ofMtCAS31, and the expression patterns ofMtCAS31under different stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis that overexpressedMtCAS31was used to determine the function ofMtCAS31. A yeast two‐hybrid assay was used to screen potential proteins that could interact with MtCAS31. The interaction was confirmed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay.

After a 3‐h drought treatment, the expression ofMtCAS31significantly increased 600‐fold.MtCAS31overexpression dramatically reduced stomatal density and markedly enhanced the drought tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. MtCAS31 could interact with AtICE1 (inducer of CBF expression 1) and the AtICE1 homologous protein Mt7g083900.1, which was identified fromMedicago truncatulabothin vitroandin vivo.

Our findings demonstrate that a dehydrin induces decreased stomatal density. Most importantly, the interaction of MtCAS31 with AtICE1 plays a role in stomatal development. We hypothesize that the interaction of MtCAS31 and AtICE1 caused the decrease in stomatal density to enhance the drought resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis.
Iranians’ contribution to world literature on neuroscience
Authors: Ashrafi Farzad , Mohammadhassanzadeh Hafez , Shokraneh Farhad , Valinejadi Ali , Johari Karim , Saemi Nazanin , Zali Alireza , Mohaghegh Niloofar , Ashayeri Hassan
Published: April 2012

Objective:  The purpose of this study is to analyse Iranian scientific publications in the neuroscience subfields by librarians and neuroscientists, using Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) via Web of Science data over the period, 2002–2008.

Methods:  Data were retrieved from the SCIE. Data were collected from the ‘subject area’ of the database and classified by neuroscience experts into 14 subfields. To identify the citation patterns, we applied the ‘impact factor’ and the ‘number of publication’. Data were also analysed using HISTCITE, Excel 2007 and SPSS.

Results:  Seven hundred and thirty‐four papers have been published by Iranian between 2002 and 2008. Findings showed a growing trend of neuroscience papers in the last 3 years with most papers (264) classified in the neuropharmacology subfield. There were fewer papers in neurohistory, psychopharmacology and artificial intelligence. International contributions of authors were mostly in the neurology subfield, and ‘Collaboration Coefficient’ for the neuroscience subfields in Iran was 0.686 which is acceptable. Most international collaboration between Iranians and developed countries was from USA. Eighty‐seven percent of the published papers were in journals with the impact factor between 0 and 4; 25% of papers were published by the researchers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Conclusion:  Progress of neuroscience in Iran is mostly seen in the neuropharmacology and the neurology subfields. Other subfields should also be considered as a research priority by health policymakers. As this study was carried out by the collaboration of librarians and neuroscientists, it has been proved valuable for both librarians and policymakers. This study may be encouraging for librarians from other developing countries.
The heat shock transcription factor Hsf1 is downregulated in DNA damage–associated senescence, contributing to the maintenance of senescence phenotype
Authors: Kim Geunwon , Meriin Anatoli B. , Gabai Vladimir L. , Christians Elisabeth , Benjamin Ivor , Wilson Andrew , Wolozin Benjamin , Sherman Michael Y.
Published: April 2012

Heat shock response (HSR) that protects cells from proteotoxic stresses is downregulated in aging, as well as upon replicative senescence of cells in culture. Here we demonstrate that HSR is suppressed in fibroblasts from the patients with segmental progerioid Werner Syndrome, which undergo premature senescence. Similar suppression of HSR was seen in normal fibroblasts, which underwent senescence in response to DNA damaging treatments. The major DNA‐damage‐induced signaling (DDS) pathways p53–p21 and p38‐NF‐kB‐SASP contributed to the HSR suppression. The HSR suppression was associated with inhibition of both activity and transcription of the heat shock transcription factor Hsf1. This inhibition in large part resulted from the downregulation of SIRT1, which in turn was because of decrease in the expression of the translation regulator HuR. Importantly, we uncovered a positive feedback regulation, where suppression of Hsf1 further activates the p38–NF‐κB‐SASP pathway, which in turn promotes senescence. Overexpression of Hsf1 inhibited the p38–NFκB‐SASP pathway and partially relieved senescence. Therefore, downregulation of Hsf1 plays an important role in the development or in the maintenance of DNA damage signaling‐induced cell senescence.
The capacitated transshipment location problem with stochastic handling utilities at the facilities
Authors: Tadei Roberto , Perboli Guido , Ricciardi Nicoletta , Baldi Mauro Maria
Published: April 2012

The problem consists in finding a transshipment facilities location that maximizes the total net utility when the handling utilities at the facilities are stochastic variables, under supply, demand, and lower and upper capacity constraints. The total net utility is given by the expected total shipping utility minus the total fixed cost of the located facilities. Shipping utilities are given by a deterministic utility for shipping freight from origins to destinations via transshipment facilities plus a stochastic handling utility at the facilities, whose probability distribution is unknown. After giving the stochastic model, by means of some results of the extreme values theory, the probability distribution of the maximum stochastic utilities is derived and the expected value of the optimum of the stochastic model is found. An efficient heuristics for solving real‐life instances is also given. Computational results show a very good performance of the proposed methods both in terms of accuracy and efficiency.
Both α1‐ and β1‐adrenoceptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are involved in the expression of conditioned contextual fear
Authors: Hott Sara C , Gomes Felipe V , Fabri Denise RS , Reis Daniel G , Crestani Carlos C , Côrrea Fernando MA , Resstel Leonardo BM
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a limbic structure that is involved in the expression of conditioned contextual fear. Among the numerous neural inputs to the BNST, noradrenergic synaptic terminals are prominent and some evidence suggests an activation of this noradrenergic neurotransmission in the BNST during aversive situations. Here, we have investigated the involvement of the BNST noradrenergic system in the modulation of behavioural and autonomic responses induced by conditioned contextual fear in rats.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Male Wistar rats with cannulae bilaterally implanted into the BNST were submitted to a 10 min conditioning session (6 footshocks, 1.5 ma/ 3 s). Twenty‐four hours later freezing and autonomic responses (mean arterial pressure, heart rate and cutaneous temperature) to the conditioning box were measured for 10 min. The adrenoceptor antagonists were administered 10 min before the re‐exposure to the aversive context.

KEY RESULTS

L‐propranolol, a non‐selective β‐adrenoceptor antagonist, and phentolamine, a non‐selective α‐adrenoceptor antagonist, reduced both freezing and autonomic responses induced by aversive context. Similar results were observed with CGP20712, a selective β1‐adrenoceptor antagonist, and WB4101, a selective α1‐antagonist, but not with ICI118,551, a selective β2‐adrenoceptor antagonist or RX821002, a selective α2‐antagonist.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings support the idea that noradrenergic neurotransmission in the BNST via α1‐ and β1‐adrenoceptors is involved in the expression of conditioned contextual fear.
Positive allosteric modulation by ivermectin of human but not murine P2X7 receptors
Authors: Nörenberg W , Sobottka H , Hempel C , Plötz T , Fischer W , Schmalzing G , Schaefer M
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In mammalian cells, the anti‐parasitic drug ivermectin is known as a positive allosteric modulator of the ATP‐activated ion channel P2X4 and is used to discriminate between P2X4‐ and P2X7‐mediated cellular responses. In this paper we provide evidence that the reported isoform selectivity of ivermectin is a species‐specific phenomenon.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Complementary electrophysiological and fluorometric methods were applied to evaluate the effect of ivermectin on recombinantly expressed and on native P2X7 receptors. A biophysical characterization of ionic currents and of the pore dilation properties is provided.

KEY RESULTS

Unexpectedly, ivermectin potentiated currents in human monocyte‐derived macrophages that endogenously express hP2X7 receptors. Likewise, currents and [Ca2+]i influx through recombinant human (hP2X7) receptors were potently enhanced by ivermectin at submaximal or saturating ATP concentrations. Since intracellular ivermectin did not mimic or prevent its activity when applied to the bath solution, the binding site of ivermectin on hP2X7 receptors appears to be accessible from the extracellular side. In contrast to currents through P2X4 receptors, ivermectin did not cause a delay in hP2X7 current decay upon ATP removal. Interestingly, NMDG+ permeability and Yo‐Pro‐1 uptake were not affected by ivermectin. On rat or mouse P2X7 receptors, ivermectin was only poorly effective, suggesting a species‐specific mode of action.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The data indicate a previously unrecognized species‐specific modulation of human P2X7 receptors by ivermectin that should be considered when using this cell‐biological tool in human cells and tissues.
Augmentation of cognitive function by NS9283, a stoichiometry‐dependent positive allosteric modulator of α2‐ and α4‐containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Timmermann DB , Sandager‐Nielsen K , Dyhring T , Smith M , Jacobsen A‐M , Nielsen EØ , Grunnet M , Christensen JK , Peters D , Kohlhaas K , Olsen GM , Ahring PK
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Positive allosteric modulation of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors could add a new dimension to the pharmacology and therapeutic approach to these receptors. The novel modulator NS9283 was therefore tested extensively.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Effects of NS9283 were evaluated in vitro using fluorescence‐based Ca2+ imaging and electrophysiological voltage clamp experiments in Xenopus oocytes, mammalian cells and thalamocortical neurons. In vivo the compound was tested in models covering a range of cognitive domains in mice and rats.

KEY RESULTS

NS9283 was shown to increase agonist‐evoked response amplitude of (α4)3(β2)2 nACh receptors in electrophysiology paradigms. (α2)3(β2)2, (α2)3(β4)2 and (α4)3(β4)2 were modulated to comparable extents, but no effects were detected at α3‐containing or any 2α : 3β stoichiometry nACh receptors. Native nACh receptors in thalamocortical neurons similarly displayed DHβE‐sensitive currents that were receptive to modulation. NS9283 had favourable effects on sensory information processing, as shown by reversal of PCP‐disrupted pre‐pulse inhibition. NS9283 further improved performance in a rat model of episodic memory (social recognition), a rat model of sustained attention (five‐choice serial reaction time task) and a rat model of reference memory (Morris water maze). Importantly, the effects in the Morris water maze could be fully reversed with mecamylamine, a blocker of nACh receptors.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These results provide compelling evidence that positive allosteric modulators acting at the (α4)3(β2)2 nACh receptors can augment activity across a broad range of cognitive domains, and that α4β2 nACh receptor allosteric modulation therefore constitutes a promising therapeutic approach to symptomatic treatment of cognitive impairment.
The struggle for reform: contested conceptualizations of iṣlāḥ in the Maghreb*
Authors: Macías Amoretti Juan A. , Fuentes Juan Marsá
Published: April 2012

This contribution draws an historical and conceptual analysis of the concept of iṣlāḥ, which is traditionally understood as “reform” in general terms, and tries to stress the origins and the main conceptual paradigms of the two main ideological and political lines in which this concept has been developed and is still used in the Arab Maghreb by main political actors and thinkers.
Anti‐fibrotic activity and enhanced interleukin‐6 production by hepatic stellate cells in response to imatinib mesylate
Authors: Kim Youngchul , Fiel Maria I. , Albanis Efsevia , Chou Hsin I. , Zhang Weijia , Khitrov Gregory , Friedman Scott L.
Published: April 2012

Objective

To examine imatinib mesylate's effects on stellate cell responses in vivo and in vitro. The hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is a key target of anti‐fibrotic therapies. Imatinib mesylate is a small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor indicated for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia and GI stromal tumours.

Design

Because imatinib inhibits β‐PDGFR signalling, which stimulates HSC proliferation, we assessed its activity in culture and in vivo, and examined downstream targets in a human stellate cell line (LX‐2) using cDNA microarray.

Methods and Results

Imatinib inhibited proliferation of LX‐2 cells (0.5–10 mM) but not primary human stellate cells, with no effect on viability, associated with attenuated β‐PDGFR phosphorylation. Mitochondrial activity and superoxide anion production were decreased in response to imatinib. cDNA microarray uncovered up‐regulation of 29 genes in response to imatinib, including interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) mRNA, which was correlated with progressive IL‐6 secretion. Imatinib also decreased gene expression of collagen α1(I), alpha smooth muscle actin, β‐PDGFR, transforming growth factor β receptor type 1, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2. In vivo, imatinib administered to rats beginning 4 weeks after starting thioacetamide (TAA) led to reduced collagen content, with significant reductions in portal pressure and down‐regulation of fibrogenic genes in whole liver. Importantly, hepatic IL‐6 mRNA levels were significantly increased in TAA‐treated animals receiving imatinib.

Conclusions

These findings reinforce the anti‐fibrotic activity of imatinib and uncover an unexpected link between inhibition of HSC activation by imatinib and enhanced secretion of IL‐6, a regenerative cytokine.
Postoperative adverse outcomes in surgical patients with epilepsy: A population‐based study
Authors: Chang Chuen‐Chau , Hu Chaur‐Jong , Lam Fai , Chang Hang , Liao Chien‐Chang , Chen Ta‐Liang
Published: April 2012

Purpose:  People with epilepsy are more likely than healthy people to experience comorbidities and complications in various medical situations. However, the prevalence of postoperative complications, mortality, and use of medical resources in surgical patients with epilepsy has not been studied. The purpose of this study is to examine whether epilepsy is an independent risk factor for postoperative adverse outcomes of patients receiving major surgery.

Methods:  Retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients with epilepsy who underwent major surgery in Taiwan between the years 2004 and 2007. For each case, four age‐ and sex‐matched participants without epilepsy were included. Preoperative comorbidities in the 24 months before surgery were identified. Eight major postoperative complications, overall 30‐day mortality, and in‐hospital utilization of medical resources (including length of hospital stay, percentage of postoperative intensive care unit admissions, and in‐hospital medical expenditures) served as the major outcome measurements. Comorbidities, status of receiving renal dialysis, teaching hospital status, types of surgery, and patients living in urban or rural areas were adjusted by multivariate logistic regression.

Key Findings:  A total of 13,103 participants with epilepsy and 52,412 without were included. Patients with epilepsy have significantly more preoperative comorbidities and demonstrated more risks of any postoperative complications (odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval 1.90–2.14). Consumption of in‐hospital medical resources was also significantly higher in patients with epilepsy, but no significant differences in postoperative mortality rates between the two groups were noted.

Significance:  Stroke was identified as the most significant postoperative complication for surgical patients with epilepsy. Patients, especially those with previous hospitalization or emergency visits due to the disease, confronted significantly higher postoperative complication rates, and consumed more in‐hospital medical resources without differences in overall mortality rates. Further revision of health care standards to provide early recognition of postoperative complications and better management for surgical patients with epilepsy is needed.
The role of voxel‐based morphometry in the detection of cortical dysplasia within the temporal pole in patients with intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Pail Martin , Mareček Radek , Hermanová Markéta , Slaná Bronislava , Tyrlíková Ivana , Kuba Robert , Brázdil Milan
Published: April 2012

Purpose:  To determine whether voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) might contribute to the detection of cortical dysplasia within the temporal pole in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE/HS).

Methods:  Eighteen patients with intractable MTLE/HS and 30 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls were included in the study. All of the patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for MTLE/HS and underwent anteromedial temporal resection. VBM without a modulation step was applied to the magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain. Statistical parametric maps were used to compare structural characteristics such as gray matter concentration (GMC) within the temporal pole among patients and controls separately. The acquired data were then statistically analyzed to determine the congruency between visually inspected MR imaging (MRI) scans and VBM results in the detection of morphologic abnormalities in the temporal pole compared to postoperative histopathologic findings of cortical dysplasia.

Key Findings:  Histopathologic examination revealed cortical dysplasia within the temporal pole in 11 patients. In detail, according to Palmini’s classification, mild malformations of cortical development (mMCDs) were disclosed in three patients, focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type Ia in three patients, and FCD type Ib in five patients. Some type of structural temporal pole abnormality was suggested by VBM in 14 patients and by visually inspected MRI scans in 11 patients. The results of VBM were in agreement with the presence/absence of cortical dysplasia in 13 patients (72.2%); this correspondence was significant (p = 0.047). In one case, VBM was false negative and in four cases it was false positive. There was congruence between the results of visual analysis and histologic proof in 55.6% of examined patients, which was not significant.

Significance:  We found that VBM made a superior contribution to the detection of temporopolar structural malformations (cortical dysplasia) compared to visual inspection. The agreement with postoperative histopathologic proof was clearly significant for VBM results and nonsignificant for visual inspection.
Youth Recovery Contexts: The Incremental Effects of 12‐Step Attendance and Involvement on Adolescent Outpatient Outcomes
Authors: Kelly John F. , Urbanoski Karen
Published: April 2012

Background

A major barrier to youth recovery is finding suitable sobriety‐supportive social contexts. National studies reveal most adolescent addiction treatment programs link youths to community 12‐step fellowships to help meet this challenge, but little is known empirically regarding the extent to which adolescents attend and benefit from 12‐step meetings or whether they derive additional gains from active involvement in prescribed 12‐step activities (e.g., contact with a sponsor and other fellowship members). Greater knowledge in this area would enhance the efficiency of clinical continuing care recommendations.

Methods

Adolescent outpatients (N = 127; M age 16.7; 75% male; 87% white) enrolled in a naturalistic study of treatment effectiveness were assessed at intake and 3, 6, and 12 months later using standardized assessments. Mixed‐effects models, controlling for static and time‐varying confounds, examined the concurrent and lagged effects of 12‐step attendance and active involvement on abstinence over time.

Results

The proportion attending 12‐step meetings was relatively low across follow‐up (24 to 29%), but more frequent attendance was independently associated with greater abstinence in concurrent and, to a lesser extent, lagged models. An 8‐item composite measure of 12‐step involvement did not enhance outcomes over and above attendance, but separate components did; specifically, greater contact with a 12‐step sponsor outside of meetings and more verbal participation during meetings.

Conclusions

The benefits of 12‐step participation observed among adult samples extend to adolescent outpatients. Community 12‐step fellowships appear to provide a useful sobriety‐supportive social context for youths seeking recovery, but evidence‐based youth‐specific 12‐step facilitation strategies are needed to enhance outpatient attendance rates.
Adolescents’ Conformity to Their Peers’ Pro‐Alcohol and Anti‐Alcohol Norms: The Power of Popularity
Authors: Teunissen Hanneke A. , Spijkerman Renske , Prinstein Mitchell J. , Cohen Geoffrey L. , Engels Rutger C. M. E. , Scholte Ron H. J.
Published: April 2012

Background

Research on adolescent development suggests that peer influence may play a key role in explaining adolescents’ willingness to drink, an important predictor of drinking initiation. However, experiments that thoroughly examine these peer influence effects are scarce. This study experimentally examined whether adolescents adapted their willingness to drink when confronted with the pro‐alcohol and anti‐alcohol norms of peers in a chat room session and whether these effects were moderated by the social status of peers.

Methods

We collected survey data on drinking behavior, social status, and willingness to drink among five hundred thirty‐two 14‐ to 15‐year‐olds. Of this sample, 74 boys participated in a simulated Internet chat room session in which participants were confronted with preprogrammed pro‐alcohol or anti‐alcohol norms of “grade‐mates” which were in fact preprogrammed e‐confederates. Accordingly, we tested whether participants adapted their willingness to drink to the norms of these grade‐mates. To test whether adaptations in participants’ willingness to drink would depend on grade‐mates’ social status, we manipulated their level of popularity.

Results

The results indicated that adolescents adapted their willingness to drink substantially to the pro‐alcohol (i.e., more willing to drink) as well as anti‐alcohol (i.e., less willing to drink) norms of these peers. Adolescents were more influenced by high‐status than low‐status peers. Interestingly, the anti‐alcohol norms of the popular peers seemed most influential in that adolescents were less willing to drink when they were confronted with the anti‐alcohol norms of popular peers. Additionally, the adolescents internalized these anti‐alcohol norms.

Conclusions

This study gives more insight into peer influence processes that encourage or discourage alcohol use. These results could be fundamental for the development of prevention and intervention programs to reduce alcohol use among the adolescents.
Face–Name Association Learning and Brain Structural Substrates in Alcoholism
Authors: Pitel Anne‐Lise , Chanraud Sandra , Rohlfing Torsten , Pfefferbaum Adolf , Sullivan Edith V.
Published: April 2012

Background

Associative learning is required for face–name association and is impaired in alcoholism, but the cognitive processes and brain structural components underlying this deficit remain unclear. It is also unknown whether prompting alcoholics to implement a deep level of processing during face–name encoding would enhance performance.

Methods

Abstinent alcoholics and controls performed a levels‐of‐processing face–name learning task. Participants indicated whether the face was that of an honest person (deep encoding) or that of a man (shallow encoding). Retrieval was examined using an associative (face–name) recognition task and a single‐item (face or name only) recognition task. Participants also underwent 3T structural MRI.

Results

Compared with controls, alcoholics had poorer associative and single‐item learning and performed at similar levels. Level of processing at encoding had little effect on recognition performance but affected reaction time (RT). Correlations with brain volumes were generally modest and based primarily on RT in alcoholics, where the deeper the processing at encoding, the more restricted the correlations with brain volumes. In alcoholics, longer control task RTs correlated modestly with smaller tissue volumes across several anterior to posterior brain regions; shallow encoding correlated with calcarine and striatal volumes; deep encoding correlated with precuneus and parietal volumes; and associative recognition RT correlated with cerebellar volumes. In controls, poorer associative recognition with deep encoding correlated significantly with smaller volumes of frontal and striatal structures.

Conclusions

Despite prompting, alcoholics did not take advantage of encoding memoranda at a deep level to enhance face–name recognition accuracy. Nonetheless, conditions of deeper encoding resulted in faster RTs and more specific relations with regional brain volumes than did shallow encoding. The normal relation between associative recognition and corticostriatal volumes was not present in alcoholics. Rather, their speeded RTs occurred at the expense of accuracy and were related most robustly to cerebellar volumes.
Cryoablation for AVNRT: Importance of Ablation Endpoint Criteria
Authors: ECKHARDT LEE L. L. , LEAL MIGUEL , HOLLIS ZACHARY , TANEGA JEANETTE , ALBERTE CESAR
Published: April 2012

Cryoablation for AVNRT. Background: For ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), cryoablation has been shown to be a safe alternative to radiofrequency ablation. However, previous studies have shown a higher recurrence rate with cryoablation compared to radiofrequency ablation.

Objective: This study reviewed our experience using cryoablation for typical AVNRT using stringent endpoint criteria for slow pathway ablation, yet preserving the desirable safety profile of cryoablation.

Methods: Seventy‐five consecutive cases of typical AVNRT underwent cryoablation. Ablation of the AV nodal slow pathway was performed with the goal of eliminating tachycardia, AH jump, and retrograde atrial echo beats. The primary efficacy endpoint was freedom of recurrent supraventricular tachycardia at follow‐up. Analysis of AVN characteristics, number of lesions, and complications was performed.

Results: Seventy‐two (96%) patients met the primary efficacy endpoint over an average follow‐up of 34.6 (12.6–68.3) months. In patients who had complete elimination of the slow pathway, there were no recurrences. The presence of an AH jump with a single retrograde echo was highly associated with a recurrence (P = 0.0001). There were no complications, including AV conduction block.

Conclusion: The efficacy of cryoablation for management of AVNRT can be comparable to radiofrequency energy if the suggested endpoint of elimination of tachycardia, AH jump with retrograde atrial beats, is met. Prior studies evaluating cryoablation in this setting did not require this endpoint, which could have contributed to the relatively higher rate of late recurrences. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 729‐734, July 2012)
Vasodepressor Cough Syncope Masked by Sleep Apnea‐Induced Asystole
Authors: DICKINSON OANA , NIJJAR PRABHJOT S. , DETLOFF BARRY L.S. , BENDITT DAVID G.
Published: April 2012

Vasodepressor Cough Syncope.  Cough syncope is classified among the neural‐reflex “situational” faints, but whether the clinical consequences in affected individuals result from reflex triggered bradyarrhythmia or vasodepressor‐induced hypotension, or both, is often unknown. In this report we describe findings in a patient with a clinical history consistent with cough syncope, and in whom documented multiple asystolic spells were at first believed to be responsible for symptoms. However, pacemaker therapy initiated at an outside facility failed to suppress symptoms, and subsequent referral for more detailed autonomic study revealed the asystole to be due to sleep apnea, whereas cough‐induced vasodepressor hypotension was the basis of syncope in this individual; the latter provided a pathophysiologic target for prevention of recurring symptoms. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 1024‐1027, September 2012)
Pulmonary Vein Antral Isolation and Nonpulmonary Vein Trigger Ablation without Additional Substrate Modification for Treating Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: LIN DAVID , FRANKEL DAVID S. , ZADO ERICA S. , GERSTENFELD EDWARD , DIXIT SANJAY , CALLANS DAVID J. , RILEY MICHAEL , HUTCHINSON MATHEW , GARCIA FERMIN , BALA RUPA , VERDINO RALPH , COOPER JOSHUA , MARCHLINSKI FRANCIS E.
Published: April 2012

PV Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Introduction: Effectiveness of antral pulmonary vein isolation (PVAI) and ablation of non‐PV triggers (non‐PVTA) in controlling longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been reported. We sought to describe clinical outcomes with this ablation strategy in patients (pts) followed for at least 1 year.

Methods: Two hundred pts underwent PVAI for longstanding persistent AF and were followed for recurrence. Thirty‐three pts with <1‐year follow‐up and 37 pts with additional RF atrial ablation were excluded, leaving 130 pts for analysis.

Results: All 130 pts (108 men, mean LA 4.7 ± 0.6 cm, mean AF duration of 38 ± 44 months) underwent PVAI with entrance/exit block. In addition, 24 pts (15 pts during the initial procedure and 9 additional pts at repeat ablations) had 40 non‐PVTA, including 3 with AVNRT. During follow‐up, atrial flutter (AFL) was noted in 7 (5%) pts. The AF‐free survival after single procedure without antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) was 38%. Repeat AF or AFL ablation was performed in 37 pts (28%) with PV reconnection uniformly identified (3.7 ± 0.5 veins/pt). During mean follow‐up of 41.1 ± 23.8 months (range 12–103 months), 85/130 pts (65%) were in sinus rhythm with 65 pts (50%) off AAD, 20 pts (15%) on AAD. Additionally, 9 pts (7%) have had rare episodes of AF such that 72% of pts have had good long‐term clinical outcome. Of the 36 pts with recurrent AF, 20 pts have not had a repeat procedure.

Conclusions: PVAI with non‐PVTA for longstanding persistent AF provides good long‐term AF control in over 70% of patients with infrequent (5%) AFL. AAD therapy and repeat PVAI may be required for this optimal outcome. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 806‐813, August 2012)