bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are Individual Investors Uninformed? Evidence from Trading Behaviors by Heterogeneous Investors around Unfaithful Corporate Disclosure
Authors: Chung Chune Young , Lee Jonghyeon , Park Jinwoo
Published: May 2014

This paper examines the trading behaviors of individual investors as well as domestic and foreign institutional investors around a unique corporate event: unfaithful disclosure (non‐disclosure, canceling disclosure and changing disclosure of a firm's material information). Our study relied on the daily trading data of different groups of investors in Korea's stock market. We found that the market reacts negatively toward announcements on forewarnings of unfaithful disclosure by the Korea Exchange as well as toward the confirmation of the forewarnings. Further, our finding indicates that firms that are proved to be responsible for the unfaithful disclosure tend to perform poorly prior to the announcement days of the forewarnings. This implies that poor‐performing firms are likely to have negative information and thus, have incentives not to disclose or not to correctly disclose bad news. In addition, our result demonstrates that firms performing poorly before receiving the forewarnings subsequently perform poorly after confirmation of the unfaithful disclosure, which is consistent with the incentives of unfaithful disclosure. Most importantly, we found that individual investors constantly buy shares of firms receiving the forewarnings prior to the announcements, whereas both domestic and foreign institutional investors sell them. Even after the confirmation of unfaithful disclosure, individual investors continue to buy shares of unfaithful firms and domestic and foreign institutional investors continue to sell them. Because institutional investors are considered to be better informed and/or more sophisticated investors than individual investors, this finding adds to the evidence of information asymmetry among different types of investors prior to the news release as well as to the evidence of trading behaviors by individual investors who are unsophisticatedly following the news release.
A Reexamination of Diversification Premiums: An Information Asymmetry Perspective
Authors: Chae Joon , Jung Jin‐Young , Yang Cheol‐Won
Published: May 2014

Acquiring firms that earn positive abnormal returns on acquisitions may have internal capital markets that overcome the information asymmetry costs in less‐developed capital markets. In this paper, through an examination of data on 1064 acquiring firms in theKorean market from 1994 to 2011, we find that the highest acquiring returns occur when the firms with high information asymmetry acquire firms with low information asymmetry. To measure the degree of information asymmetry, we use the models ofGlosten–Harris (1988), Hasbrouck (1991) and Foster–Viswanathan (1993), which we selected from a variety of studies on market microstructure. We also find that the effect of information asymmetry on mergers and acquisitions (M&As) was larger before the Asian financial crisis of 1998, as well as before the global financial crisis of 2007, and that theKorean capital market was less developed before these crises than after them. We show that the internal capital market hypothesis holds forM&As, and that information asymmetry is a strong determinant ofM&Adecisions in emerging markets.
Volume Information and the Profitability of Technical Trading
Authors: Chang Yung‐Ho , Chan Chia‐Chung , Chiang Ya‐Chun
Published: May 2014

Past studies have employed market indices to gauge the usefulness of technical trading, disclosing an enigma concerning the technical trading of individual stocks. We, for the first time, applied technical trading rules to each and every stock listed in an emerging equity market. We controlled the vast data set by share turnover that signifies trading volume information. Blending price and volume information, we observed that variable‐length moving averages (VMAs) generally outperform the buy‐and‐hold strategy. VMAs, however, beat the equity market index only for less liquid stocks. Notably, the profitability of VMAs decreases with share turnover, indicating a possible liquidity effect on the profitability of technical trading.
The Flow–Performance Relationship of Chinese Equity Mutual Funds: Net Flows, Inflows, and Outflows
Authors: Ko Kwangsoo , Wang Yaping , Paek Miyoun , Ha Yeonjeong
Published: May 2014

This paper investigates the flow–performance relationship of Chinese equity mutual funds, and is the first attempt to analyze their cash flows. The empirical findings are summarized as follows. First, prior performance has a positive effect on subsequent cash flows. Second, flow outliers in 2007 seem to blur the flow–performance relationship. Third, during the stable period from 2008 Q1 to 2012 Q4, convexity is observed for the net flow–performance relationship due to the inflow–performance relationship. Fourth, the disposition effect is corroborated by the results of the portfolio approach, piecewise linear regression and SVAR model. Fifth, variance decomposition analysis shows that market return shock explains the forecasted error variance of cash flows to a large extent. Finally, while both inflows and outflows respond positively to market return shock over time, the response of inflows is stronger than that of outflows.
Keyhole limpet haemocyanin – a model antigen for human immunotoxicological studies
Authors: Swaminathan Ashwin , Lucas Robyn M. , Dear Keith , McMichael Anthony J.
Published: May 2014

Immunization with a T‐cell dependent antigen has been promoted as a reliable and sensitive tool for assessing the influence of putative immunotoxic exposures or agents on immune function. Keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) is a very large, copper‐containing protein molecule derived from the haemolymph of the inedible mollusc, Megathura crenulata. KLH is a highly immunogenic T‐cell dependent antigen that is used increasingly in immunotoxicological studies, particularly in those involving animals. This report systematically reviews the human clinical studies that have used trans‐cutaneous KLH immunization for assessment of the influence of various physiological and disease states and exposures on immune function over the last 20 years (1994–2013). These studies varied in their immunization protocols, formulation of KLH, dose, site and route of administration and immunoassay platforms developed to assess KLH‐specific responses. KLH immunization has been well tolerated with only mild to moderate adverse effects reported. Though very promising as a model antigen candidate in immunotoxicology research, more work on standardizing immunization and immunoassay protocols is required.
Cord blood Insulin‐like peptide 3 (INSL3) but not testosterone is reduced in idiopathic cryptorchidism
Authors: Fénichel Patrick , Lahlou Najiba , Coquillard Patrick , Panaïa‐Ferrari Patricia , Wagner‐Mahler Kathy , Brucker‐Davis Françoise
Published: May 2014

Background

Cryptorchidism, the most frequent congenital malformation in full‐term male newborns, increases the risk of hypofertility and testicular cancer. Most cases remain idiopathic but epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested a role of both genetic and environmental factors. Physiological testicular descent is regulated by two major Leydig hormones: insulin‐like peptide 3 (INSL3) and testosterone.

Objectives

To study the endocrine context at birth as a reflection of late pregnancy in isolated idiopathic cryptorchidism and to analyse the possible disruptions of INSL3 and/or testosterone.

Methods

From a prospective case–control study at Nice University Hospital, we assessed 180 boys born after 34 weeks gestation: 52 cryptorchid (48 unilateral, 4 bilateral; 26 transient, 26 persistent), and 128 controls matched for term, weight and time of birth. INSL3 and testosterone were measured in cord blood and compared in both groups as were other components of the pituitary‐gonadic axis: LH, HCG, FSH, AMH and SHBG.

Results

INSL3 was decreased in cryptorchid boys (P = 0·031), especially transient cryptorchid (P = 0·029), while testosterone was unchanged as were the other hormones measured. INSL3 was significantly decreased (P = 0·018) in the group of 20 with nonpalpable testes compared with the group of 21 with palpable testes (15 suprascrotal, five inguinal, one high scrotal) according to Scorer classification. In the whole population, INSL3 correlated positively with LH and negatively with AMH, but with no other measured hormones.

Conclusions

INSL3 but not testosterone is decreased at birth in idiopathic cryptorchidism, especially in transient forms. This hormonal decrease may contribute to the impaired testicular descent along with genetic and anatomical factors. Whether foetal environment (nutritional and/or toxicological) interferes with INSL3 secretion in humans remains to be confirmed.
Ketogenic diet in children with intractable epilepsy: what about resting energy expenditure and growth?
Authors: Bertoli Simona , Battezzati Alberto , Tagliabue Anna
Published: May 2014

This commentary is on the original article by Groleau et al. on pages 898–904 of this issue.
Using rarity to infer how dendritic network structure shapes biodiversity in riverine communities
Authors: Swan Christopher M. , Brown Bryan L.
Published: May 2014

Dispersal of organisms connects physical localities, but the strength of connection varies widely. Variability in the influence of dispersal can be predictable in sharply defined networks like river systems because some sections of the network are more isolated, leading to different balances of local (i.e. environmental filtering, species interactions) and regional (i.e. dispersal‐driven) processes in structuring communities. We examined the influence of spatial isolation on the relative contributions of α‐ and β‐diversity to regional (γ) diversity, and examined how that influence differed between common and rare species in stream macroinvertebrate communities. One explanation for rarity on a regional scale is that common species are habitat generalists while rare species are specialists. Therefore, common species should be influenced more by dispersal‐driven processes while rare species should be more influenced by local processes. We predicted that for rare taxa, β‐diversity should represent a higher fraction of γ‐diversity in isolated headwaters but that differences between rare and common taxa with regard to the contribution of β‐diversity to γ‐diversity should be less distinct in well‐connected mainstem habitats. To test these predictions, we used macroinvertebrate communities from 634 sites across 22 watersheds. Regardless of rarity, β‐ and γ‐diversity were higher in headwaters compared to mainstems. However, α‐diversity was similar regardless of isolation for rare assemblages. But contrary to our predictions, common assemblages of predators and herbivores did exhibit differences in α‐diversity between locations. Our predictions were strongly supported for two guilds of consumers, the detritivores and collectors, but less so for herbivores and predators. However, these results make sense considering differences in life histories between the groups. For detritivores and collectors, species turnover (β‐diversity) was higher in isolated regions in river networks, and rarity exacerbated this effect, resulting in higher regional diversity of rare species, supporting the general theory that rarity reflects habitat specialization.
Evaluating the influence of surface soil moisture and soil surface roughness on optical directional reflectance factors
Authors: Croft H. , Anderson K. , Kuhn N. J.
Published: May 2014

Fine‐scale information on soil surface roughness (SSR) is needed for calculating heat budgets, monitoring soil degradation and parameterizing surface runoff and sediment transfer models. Previous work has demonstrated the potential of using hyperspectral, hemispherical conical reflectance factors (HCRFs) to retrieve the SSR of different soil crusting states. However, this was achieved by using dry soil surfaces, generated in controlled laboratory conditions. The primary aim of this study was therefore to test the impact that in situ variations in surface soil moisture (SSM) content had on the ability of directional reflectance factors to characterize SSR conditions. Five soil plots (20 cm × 20 cm in area) representing different agricultural conditions were subjected to different durations of natural rainfall to produce a range of different levels of SSR. The values of SSM varied from 8.7 to 20.1% across all soil plots. Point laser data (4‐mm sample spacing) were geostatistically analysed to give a spatially‐distributed measure of SSR, giving sill variance values from 3.2 to 23.0. The HCRFs from each soil state were measured using a ground‐based hyperspectral spectroradiometer for a range of viewing zenith angles from extreme forward‐scatter (θr = −60°) to extreme back‐scatter (θr = +60°) at a 10° sampling resolution in the solar principal plane. The results showed that despite a large range of SSM values, forward‐scattered reflectance factors exhibited a very strong relationship with SSR (R2 = 0.84 at θr = −60°). Our findings demonstrate the operational potential of HCRFs for providing spatially‐distributed SSR measurements, across spatial extents containing spatio‐temporal variations in SSM content.
Effect of Trail Bifurcation Asymmetry and Pheromone Presence or Absence on Trail Choice by Lasius niger Ants
Authors: Forster Antonia , Czaczkes Tomer J. , Warner Emma , Woodall Tom , Martin Emily , Ratnieks Francis L. W.
Published: May 2014

During foraging, ant workers are known to make use of multiple information sources, such as private information (personal memory) and social information (trail pheromones). Environmental effects on foraging, and how these interact with other information sources, have, however, been little studied. One environmental effect is trail bifurcation asymmetry. Ants forage on branching trail networks and must often decide which branch to take at a junction (bifurcation). This is an important decision, as finding food sources relies on making the correct choices at bifurcations. Bifurcation angle may provide important information when making this choice. We used a Y‐maze with a pivoting 90° bifurcation to study trail choice of Lasius niger foragers at varying branch asymmetries (0°, [both branches 45° from straight ahead], 30° [branches at 30° and 60° from straight ahead], 45°, 60° and 90° [one branch straight ahead, the other at 90°]). The experiment was carried out either with equal amounts of trail pheromone on both branches of the bifurcation or with pheromone present on only one branch. Our results show that with equal pheromone, trail asymmetry has a significant effect on trail choice. Ants preferentially follow the branch deviating least from straight, and this effect increases as asymmetry increases (47% at 0°, 54% at 30°, 57% at 45°, 66% at 60° and 73% at 90°). However, when pheromone is only present on one branch, the graded effect of asymmetry disappears. Overall, however, there is an effect of asymmetry as the preference of ants for the pheromone‐marked branch over the unmarked branch is reduced from 65%, when it is the less deviating branch, to 53%, when it is the more deviating branch. These results demonstrate that trail asymmetry influences ant decision‐making at bifurcations and that this information interacts with trail pheromone presence in a non‐hierarchical manner.
Loss of genetic integrity in wild lake trout populations following stocking: insights from an exhaustive study of 72 lakes from Québec, Canada
Authors: Valiquette Eliane , Perrier Charles , Thibault Isabel , Bernatchez Louis
Published: May 2014

Stocking represents the most important management tool worldwide to increase and sustain commercial and recreational fisheries in a context of overexploitation. Genetic impacts of this practice have been investigated in many studies, which examined population and individual admixture, but few have investigated determinants of these processes. Here, we addressed these questions from the genotyping at 19 microsatellite loci of 3341 adult lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from 72 unstocked and stocked lakes. Results showed an increase in genetic diversity and a twofold decrease in the extent of genetic differentiation among stocked populations when compared to unstocked. Stocked populations were characterized by significant admixture at both population and individual levels. Moreover, levels of admixture in stocked populations were strongly correlated with stocking intensity and a threshold value of total homogenization between source and stocked populations was identified. Our results also suggest that under certain scenarios, the genetic impacts of stocking could be of short duration. Overall, our study emphasizes the important alteration of the genetic integrity of stocked populations and the need to better understand determinants of admixture to optimize stocking strategies and to conserve the genetic integrity of wild populations.
Sustainable deathstyles? The geography of green burials in Britain
Authors: Yarwood Richard , Sidaway James D , Kelly Claire , Stillwell Susie
Published: May 2014

In the context of a wider literature on ‘deathscapes’, we map the emergence of a new mode of burial and remembrance in Britain. Since a ‘green’ burial ground was established in Carlisle in 1993, sites for so‐called ‘green, ‘natural’ or ‘woodland’ funerals have proliferated. There are now over 270 such sites in Britain. Drawing on a postal and email survey sent to all managers/owners and visits to 15 green burial grounds (enabling observations and semi‐structured interviews with their managers), we chart their growth, establishment and regulation and describe the landscapes associated with them. This requires, and leads to, wider reflections on nature, capital, consumption, culture and the body.
Efficacy and Safety of Ecabet Sodium as an Adjuvant Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wang Youhua , Wang Ben , Lv Zhi Fa , Yang Yang , Wang Fucai , Wang Hui , Chen Shuping , Xie Yong , Zhou Xiaojiang
Published: May 2014

Background

Several studies have reported that the application of ecabet sodium during the eradication of Helicobacter pylori can improve the eradication rate and reduce therapy‐associated side effects. However, the efficacy and safety of this therapy are controversial.

Objectives

To determine whether ecabet sodium improves the eradication rate of H. pylori and examine treatment safety by conducting a meta‐analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

Literature searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Science Citation Index, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, and the Wanfang Database. A meta‐analysis of all RCTs comparing ecabet sodium supplementation with nonecabet sodium‐containing therapy was performed.

Results

Thirteen RCTs that included a total of 1808 patients were assessed. The meta‐analysis showed that the eradication rate in the ecabet sodium‐containing quadruple therapy group was higher than that in the standard triple therapy group (84.5% vs 74.55%, OR 1.757 (95%CI: 1.307 to 2.362), p < .001). The analysis also showed that the eradication rate in the ecabet sodium‐containing triple therapy group was significantly higher than that in the PPI plus amoxicillin or clarithromycin therapy group (74.6% vs 43.9%,OR 3.727 (95%CI: 2.320 to 5.988), p < .001)(ITT), (74.6% vs 43.9%,OR 3.863 (95%CI: 2.369 to 6.298), p < .001) (PP). Furthermore, our meta‐analysis suggested that the occurrence of side effects did not significantly differ between patients receiving ecabet sodium‐containing therapy and patients receiving nonecabet sodium‐containing therapy (14.0% vs 13.3%, OR 1.055 (95%CI: 0.632 to 1.759), p = .839).

Conclusion

Supplementation with ecabet sodium during H. pylori eradication therapy improves the eradication rate. The use of ecabet sodium does not increase the side effects based on our meta‐analysis.
Role of activated hepatic stellate cells in proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lin Nan , Chen Zhiju , Lu Yi , Li Yangzhu , Hu Kunpeng , Xu Ruiyun
Published: May 2014

Aim

Cancer is not only influenced by specific tumor cells but also by the stromal microenvironment. Upon liver damage, activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSC) become highly proliferative myofibroblast‐like cells and are thought to secrete molecules that influence development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of aHSC in the development of HCC.

Methods

To assess if aHSC secreted factor(s) that promote microvascular endothelial cell (MEC) tube formation, MEC were plated with aHSC‐conditioned medium and tube formation analyzed by light microscopy. An established transendothelial migration assay with MEC was used to evaluate the role of aHSC in migration and metastasis. A novel in vitro and in vivo orthotopic mouse HCC tumor model was used to investigate angiogenic, proliferative and metastatic activity of aHSC.

Results

We found that aHSC promoted angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). aHSC‐conditioned medium increased the ability of MEC to form tubes which was dependent upon aHSC‐secreted VEGF. In addition, HCC orthogenic tumors derived from co‐injection of H22 cells plus aHSC into the hepatic lobes of mice had greater cell proliferation and vascularization, as evaluated by the presence of CD34 and VEGF expression, than tumors resulting from H22 injections alone. aHSC also migrated from the primary tumor to sites of metastasis.

Conclusion

Our findings support aHSC playing multiple roles in HCC development and metastasis.
The Impact of Alliance Management Capabilities on Alliance Attributes and Performance: A Literature Review
Authors: Niesten Eva , Jolink Albert
Published: May 2014

The literature on alliances has identified a variety of inter‐firm antecedents of performance, including information and knowledge sharing between partners, shared partner understanding, and a focus on collective objectives. Recent studies have focused on alliance management capabilities (AMC) – firms' abilities to capture, share, store and apply alliance management knowledge – as an important antecedent of performance. This paper reviews 90 studies on AMC and makes two important contributions to the literature. First, the review provides an overview of and classification scheme for the different types of AMC to better organise the diverse empirical findings that have been presented in the literature. The novel classification distinguishes between general and partner‐specific AMC and between AMC stored within the firm and within the alliance. Second, consistent with the dynamic capabilities perspective, this paper offers a more detailed understanding of why AMC improve performance, by highlighting the intermediate impact of AMC on alliance attributes. In particular, the review demonstrates how the different categories of AMC influence alliances in terms of information and knowledge‐sharing between partners, shared partner understanding and the pursuit of collective goals. The review also demonstrates that these attributes improve performance. The authors note promising avenues for future empirical research that involve combining the classification scheme with research on the impact of AMC on alliance attributes and performance.
EuroHYP-1: European Multicenter, Randomized, Phase III Clinical Trial of Therapeutic Hypothermia plus Best Medical Treatment vs. Best Medical Treatment Alone for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: van der Worp H. Bart , Macleod Malcolm R. , Bath Philip M. W. , Demotes Jacques , Durand-Zaleski Isabelle , Gebhardt Bernd , Gluud Christian , Kollmar Rainer , Krieger Derk W. , Lees Kennedy R. , Molina Carlos , Montaner Joan , Roine Risto O. , Petersson Jesper , Staykov Dimitre , Szabo Istvan , Wardlaw Joanna M. , Schwab Stefan
Published: May 2014

Rationale

Cooling reduced infarct size and improved neurological outcomes in animal studies modeling ischemic stroke, and also improved outcome in randomized clinical trials in patients with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest. Cooling awake patients with ischemic stroke has been shown feasible in phase II clinical trials.

Primary aim

To determine whether systemic cooling to a target body temperature between 34·0 and 35·0°C, started within six-hours of symptom onset and maintained for 24 h, improves functional outcome at three-months in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Design

International, multicenter, phase III, randomized, open-label clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment in 1500 patients aged 18 years or older with acute ischemic stroke and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 6 up to and including 18. In patients randomized to hypothermia, cooling to a target body temperature of 34–35°C will be started within six-hours after symptom onset with rapid intravenous infusion of refrigerated normal saline or a surface cooling technique and maintained for 24 h with a surface or endovascular technique. Patients randomized to hypothermia will receive pethidine and buspirone to prevent shivering and discomfort.

Primary outcome

Score on the modified Rankin Scale at 91 days, as analyzed with ordinal logistic regression and expressed as a common odds ratio. Discussion With 750 patients per intervention group, this trial has 90% power to detect 7% absolute improvement at the 5% significance level. The full trial protocol is available at http://www.eurohyp1.eu . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01833312.
Prenatal depression and 5‐HTTLPR interact to predict dysregulation from 3 to 36 months – A differential susceptibility model
Authors: Babineau Vanessa , Green Cathryn Gordon , Jolicoeur‐Martineau Alexis , Bouvette‐Turcot Andrée‐Anne , Minde Klaus , Sassi Roberto , St‐André Martin , Carrey Normand , Atkinson Leslie , Kennedy James L. , Lydon John , Steiner Meir , Gaudreau Helene , Levitan Robert , Meaney Michael , Wazana Ashley ,   the MAVAN project
Published: May 2014

Background

Childhood dysregulation, which reflects deficits in the capacity to regulate or control one's thoughts, emotions and behaviours, is associated with psychopathology throughout childhood and into adulthood. Exposures to adversity during the prenatal period, including prenatal depression, can influence the development of dysregulation, and a number of candidate genes have been suggested as moderators of prenatal exposure, including polymorphisms in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5‐HTTLPR). We examined whether prenatal depression and child 5‐HTTLPR interact to predict childhood dysregulation.

Method

Sample of N = 213 mother–child pairs from the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment (MAVAN) project. Mothers reported the IBQ‐R at 3 and 6 months, and the ECBQ at 18 and 36 months, from which measures of dysregulation were extracted. Mothers' self‐reported symptoms of depression on the CES‐D at 24–36 weeks of gestation, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months postnatal. 5‐HTTLPR genotype was extracted from buccal swabs. Mixed‐model and confirmatory analyses were conducted.

Results

Prenatal depression and 5‐HTTLPR interacted to predict dysregulation from 3 to 36 months, within a model of strong differential susceptibility.

Conclusion

Children with S or LG alleles, when exposed to prenatal depression, have higher levels of dysregulation, and when exposed to lower or little prenatal depression, have higher capacity for regulation. Our findings support efforts to identify, support and treat prenatal depression.
Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy in Trans Persons Is Safe and Effective at Short-Time Follow-Up: Results from the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence
Authors: Wierckx Katrien , Van Caenegem Eva , Schreiner Thomas , Haraldsen Ira , Fisher Alessandra , Toye Kaatje , Kaufman Jean Marc , T'Sjoen Guy
Published: May 2014

Introduction

Data on the effects of cross-sex hormone therapy (CHT) are limited due to the low prevalence of gender dysphoria, small number of subjects treated at each center, lack of prospective studies, and wide variations in treatment modalities.

Aim

The aim of this study is to report the short-term effects of CHT on hormonal and clinical changes, side effects, and adverse events in trans men (female-to-male gender dysphoric persons) and trans women (male-to-female gender dysphoric persons).

Methods

This was a multicenter 1-year prospective study in 53 trans men and 53 trans women. Trans men received injections of testosterone undecanoate every 3 months. Trans women younger than 45 years received 50 mg cyproterone acetate (CA) and 4 mg estradiol valerate daily, whereas those older than 45 years received 50 mg CA daily together with 100 μg/24 hours transdermal 17-β estradiol.

Main Outcome Measures

Sex steroids, prolactin, liver enzymes, lipids, hematocrit, blood pressure, anthropometrics, Ferriman and Gallwey score, and global acne grading scale were measured. Side effects, adverse events, and desired clinical changes were examined.

Results

No deaths or severe adverse events were observed. Two trans men developed erythrocytosis, and two had transient elevation of the liver enzymes. Trans men reported an increase in sexual desire, voice instability, and clitoral pain (all P ≤ 0.01). Testosterone therapy increased acne scores, facial and body hair, and prevalence of androgenetic alopecia. Waist–hip ratio, muscle mass, triglycerides, total cholesterol (C), and LDL-C increased, whereas total body fat mass and HDL-C decreased. Three trans women experienced transient elevation of liver enzymes. A significant increase in breast tenderness, hot flashes, emotionality, and low sex drive was observed (all P ≤ 0.02). Fasting insulin, total body fat mass, and prolactin levels increased, and waist–hip ratio, lean mass, total C, and LDL-C decreased.

Conclusions

Current treatment modalities were effective and carried a low risk for side effects and adverse events at short-time follow-up.
Which is a better predictor of plant traits: temperature or precipitation?
Authors: Moles Angela T. , Perkins Sarah E. , Laffan Shawn W. , Flores‐Moreno Habacuc , Awasthy Monica , Tindall Marianne L. , Sack Lawren , Pitman Andy , Kattge Jens , Aarssen Lonnie W. , Anand Madhur , Bahn Michael , Blonder Benjamin , Cavender‐Bares Jeannine , Cornelissen J. Hans C. , Cornwell Will K. , Díaz Sandra , Dickie John B. , Freschet Grégoire T. , Griffiths Joshua G. , Gutierrez Alvaro G. , Hemmings Frank A. , Hickler Thomas , Hitchcock Timothy D. , Keighery Matthew , Kleyer Michael , Kurokawa Hiroko , Leishman Michelle R. , Liu Kenwin , Niinemets Ülo , Onipchenko Vladimir , Onoda Yusuke , Penuelas Josep , Pillar Valério D. , Reich Peter B. , Shiodera Satomi , Siefert Andrew , Sosinski Enio E. , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. , Swaine Emily K. , Swenson Nathan G. , van Bodegom Peter M. , Warman Laura , Weiher Evan , Wright Ian J. , Zhang Hongxiang , Zobel Martin , Bonser Stephen P.
Published: May 2014

Question

Are plant traits more closely correlated with mean annual temperature, or with mean annual precipitation?

Location

Global.

Methods

We quantified the strength of the relationships between temperature and precipitation and 21 plant traits from 447,961 species‐site combinations worldwide. We used meta‐analysis to provide an overall answer to our question.

Results

Mean annual temperature was significantly more strongly correlated with plant traits than was mean annual precipitation.

Conclusions

Our study provides support for some of the assumptions of classical vegetation theory, and points to many interesting directions for future research. The relatively low R2values for precipitation might reflect the weak link between mean annual precipitation and the availability of water to plants.
Extracellular vesicles produced by the Gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis are disrupted by the lipopeptide surfactin
Authors: Brown Lisa , Kessler Anne , Cabezas‐Sanchez Pablo , Luque‐Garcia Jose L. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: May 2014

Previously, extracellular vesicle production in Gram‐positive bacteria was dismissed due to the absence of an outer membrane, where Gram‐negative vesicles originate, and the difficulty in envisioning how such a process could occur through the cell wall. However, recent work has shown that Gram‐positive bacteria produce extracellular vesicles and that the vesicles are biologically active. In this study, we show that Bacillus subtilis produces extracellular vesicles similar in size and morphology to other bacteria, characterized vesicles using a variety of techniques, provide evidence that these vesicles are actively produced by cells, show differences in vesicle production between strains, and identified a mechanism for such differences based on vesicle disruption. We found that in wild strains of B. subtilis, surfactin disrupted vesicles while in laboratory strains harbouring a mutation in the gene sfp, vesicles accumulated in the culture supernatant. Surfactin not only lysed B. subtilis vesicles, but also vesicles from Bacillus anthracis, indicating a mechanism that crossed species boundaries. To our knowledge, this is the first time a gene and a mechanism has been identified in the active disruption of extracellular vesicles and subsequent release of vesicular cargo in Gram‐positive bacteria. We also identify a new mechanism of action for surfactin.
Our 2014 approach to mucormycosis
Authors: Tacke Daniela , Koehler Philipp , Markiefka Birgid , Cornely Oliver A.
Published: May 2014

Mucormycosis, previously termed as zygomycosis, is caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales and is a very severe disease in immunocompromised patients with an often unfavourable outcome. Given the high morbidity and mortality of mucormycosis, establishing a timely diagnosis followed by immediate treatment is of major importance. As randomised clinical trials are lacking, we present our current diagnostic and treatment pathways for mucormycosis in the immunocompromised host. Due to the difficulty to distinguish mucormycosis from other filamentous fungi, mucormycosis always has to be considered as differential diagnosis in predisposed patients. Diagnostic procedures comprise imaging, microscopy, culture and histopathology and need to be rigorously used. In patients with a high suspicion of mucormycosis, e.g. reversed halo sign on computed tomography scanning, our approach combines liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) with surgical debridement. In light of the rapid deterioration and poor prognosis of these patients, we prefer a daily dose of LAmB of at least 5 mg kg−1 despite nephrotoxicity. In patients with stable disease we switch to posaconazole 200 mg four times per day. In case of progression antifungal combination is an option.
Vulvovaginal candidiasis: species distribution, fluconazole resistance and drug efflux pump gene overexpression
Authors: Zhang Jie‐Yu , Liu Jin‐Hui , Liu Fa‐Di , Xia Yan‐Hua , Wang Jing , Liu Xi , Zhang Zhi‐Qin , Zhu Na , Yan‐Yan   , Ying Ying , Huang Xiao‐Tian
Published: May 2014

The increasing incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and the emergence of fluconazole resistance are an indisputable fact. However, little information is available regarding the correlation between fluconazole resistance in vaginal Candida albicans and the expression of drug efflux pump genes. In this study, we investigated the species distribution, fluconazole susceptibility profiles and the mechanisms of fluconazole resistance in Candida strains. In total, 785 clinical Candida isolates were collected from patients with VVC. C. albicans was the most frequently isolated species (n = 529) followed by C. glabrata (n = 164) and C. krusei (n = 57). Of all Candida isolates, 4.7% were resistant to fluconazole. We randomly selected 18 fluconazole‐resistant isolates of C. albicans to evaluate the expression of CDR1, CDR2, MDR1 and FLU1 genes. Compared with fluconazole‐susceptible C. albicans isolates, CDR1 gene expression displayed 3.16‐fold relative increase, which was statistically significant. CDR2, MDR1 and FLU1 overexpression was observed in several fluconazole‐resistant C. albicans isolates, but statistical significance was not achieved. These results demonstrate a high frequency of non‐albicans species (32.6%); however, C. albicans is the most common Candida species implicated in vaginitis, and this strain displays considerable fluconazole resistance. Meanwhile, our study further indicates that fluconazole resistance in C. albicans may correlate with CDR1 gene overexpression.
A new Hyperodapedon (Archosauromorpha, Rhynchosauria) from the Upper Triassic of India: implications for rhynchosaur phylogeny
Authors: Mukherjee Debarati , Ray Sanghamitra
Published: May 2014

A new species of the rhynchosaur genus Hyperodapedon, namely H. tikiensis, is described from well‐preserved skeletal elements that were collected from the Upper Triassic Tiki Formation of India. Hyperodapedon tikiensis is diagnosed on the basis of several cranial and postcranial features including longer than wide basipterygoid process, crest‐shaped maxillary cross section lateral to the main longitudinal groove, deeply excavated neural arches of mid‐dorsal vertebrae, long scapular blade, a pronounced deltopectoral crest, proximal humeral end much broader than distal end, iliac length greater than iliac height, equal pre‐ and postacetabular iliac lengths and circular femoral cross section. Two distinct morphotypes of the maxillary tooth plates can be discerned, which are attributed to ontogenetic variations. A maximum‐parsimony analysis was carried out to show that the order Rhynchosauria is characterized by nine cranial and one postcranial character states. The analysis reveals that Otischalkia elderae is invalid and the basal forms, Howesia and Mesosuchus, are closely related. The Mid‐Triassic genus Ammorhynchus is more derived and forms a sister group to the Late Triassic subfamily Hyperodapedontinae. Isalorhynchus and Teyumbaita are basal to the pandemic genus Hyperodapedon. Twenty‐four characters that are not homoplasious document major patterns of skeletal evolution in rhynchosaurs. From laterally oriented scapula and slender propodials, the postcranial skeleton evolved into a more robust form as is evident from nearly vertical scapula and increase in the robustness of the propodials. Shortening of the femur is noted in the derived Late Triassic forms as exemplified in Hyperodapedon gordoni, Hyperodapedon huxleyi and H. tikiensis.
Distributive Justice for Others, Collective Angst, and Support for Exclusion of Immigrants
Authors: Lucas Todd , Rudolph Cort , Zhdanova Ludmila , Barkho Evone , Weidner Nathan
Published: May 2014

Harsh treatment of others can reflect an underlying motivation to view the world as fair and just and also a dispositional tendency to believe in justice. However, there is a critical need to refine and expand existing knowledge, not only to identify underlying psychological processes but also to better understand how justice may be implicated in support for exclusionary policies. Across two studies, we show that support for policies that restrict immigrants is exclusively associated with thoughts about fair outcomes for other people (distributive justice for others). In Study 1, Americans' dispositional tendency to believe in distributive justice for others was associated with greater support for a policy proposing to further restrict immigrant job seekers' capacity to gain employment in the United States. In Study 2, we experimentally primed thoughts about justice in a sample of U.S. police officers. Support for a policy that mandated stricter policing of illegal immigration was strongest among officers who first thought about fair outcomes for other people, relative to other unique justice primes. Across both studies, distributive justice for others was associated with greater collective angst—perceived threat towards the future existence of Americans. Moreover, collective angst mediated the link between distributive justice for others and support for restrictive policies. Overall, this research suggests that thoughts about distributive justice for others can especially diminish compassion towards immigrants and other underprivileged groups via support for exclusionary policies. In addition, merely thinking about distributive justice for others may be sufficient to amplify social callousness.
Pathways involved in vanadate‐induced root hair formation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lin Chung‐Yi , Huang Li‐Yao , Chi Wen‐Chang , Huang Tsai‐Lien , Kakimoto Tatsuo , Tsai Chang‐Rong , Huang Hao‐Jen
Published: May 2014

Root hair formation is controlled by environmental signals. We found significantly increased Arabidopsis root hair density and length in response to low‐dose vanadate (V). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was induced with V treatment. We investigated the possible role of NADPH oxidase in altering root system architecture induced by V by using diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, and an NADPH oxidase mutant (rhd2/AtrbohC). NADPH oxidase was involved in root hair elongation induced by V. As well, ethylene receptor (ETR1) and ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE (RHD6) participated in inducing root hair formation induced by V. Furthermore, the kinase inhibitors, genistein (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and K252a (ser/thr kinase inhibitor), and a phosphatase inhibitor, cantharidin (ser/thr phosphatase inhibitor), suppressed root hair formation induced by V. To elucidate the regulation of gene expression in response to V, we investigated transcriptional changes in roots by microarray assay. Exposure to V triggered changes in transcript levels of genes related to cell wall formation, ROS activity and signaling. Several genes involved in root hair formation were also regulated.
Policy Journal Trends and Tensions: JPAM and PSJ
Authors: Adams William C. , Infeld Donna Lind , Minnichelli Laura F. , Ruddell Michael W.
Published: May 2014

Academic journals may especially influence the development of an emerging field; early editors of public policy journals were explicit about that goal. Two leading journals—the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management and the Policy Studies Journal—were compared for changes between the early 1980s and 2007–2010. Over time, both journals published far fewer research articles by practitioners, and the non‐university share of both editorial boards also declined. The journals continued to focus largely on the United States. Both showed a dramatic increase in the proportion of co‐authored articles. Over time, JPAM became far more likely to publish studies by economists and far less likely to publish political scientists while PSJ increasingly published political scientists. JPAM authors now primarily reference economics journals. PSJ authors often cite political science, public administration, and other public policy journals. Both journals moved away from broad policy essays, with JPAM heavily trending to multivariate (essentially econometric) secondary analyses of large data sets and PSJ including a broader range of methodologies. Contrary to early predictions of a progressively more interdisciplinary field, the opposite trend—stronger alignments with specific disciplines—reflects public policy's ongoing challenge in transcending long‐standing academic legacies and boundaries.
The Importance of Attention Diversity and How to Measure It
Authors: Boydstun Amber E. , Bevan Shaun , Thomas Herschel F.
Published: May 2014

Studies of political attention often focus on attention to a single issue, such as front‐page coverage of the economy. However, examining attention to a single issue without accounting for the agenda as a whole can lead to faulty assumptions. One solution is to consider the diversity of attention; that is, how narrowly or widely attention is distributed across items (e.g., issues on an agenda or, at a lower level, frames in an issue debate). Attention diversity is an important variable in its own right, offering insight into how agendas vary in their accessibility to policy problems and perspectives. Yet despite the importance of attention diversity, we lack a standard for how best to measure it. This paper focuses on the four most commonly used measures: the inverse Herfindahl Index, Shannon's H, and their normalized versions. We discuss the purposes of these measures and compare them through simulations and using three real‐world datasets. We conclude that both Shannon's H and its normalized form are better measures, minimizing the danger of spurious findings that could result from the less sensitive Herfindahl measures. The choice between the Shannon's H measures should be made based on whether variance in the total number of possible items (e.g., issues) is meaningful.
Lobbying after 9/11: Policy Regime Emergence and Interest Group Mobilization
Authors: LaPira Timothy M.
Published: May 2014

Does the emergence of a new boundary‐spanning policy regime shift the focus of well‐established organized interests, or does it mobilize new ones? In this article, I show that interest groups with a presence inWashington before 9/11 rapidly—but temporarily—shift their attention to the homeland security issues. Established groups' entrenchment in antecedent subsystems appears to buffer against widespread policy disruption and interest upheaval. However, a new set of previously latent groups opportunistically mobilizes after the regime is institutionalized. Newly mobilized groups replace those that retreat back to the regime's antecedent subsystems. Though the policy regime fails to resolve the jurisdictional turf conflicts that triggered its creation, the institutionalization of homeland security generates its own original, distinct government demand for lobbying. Interests that previously had no business inWashington before 9/11 took advantage of the new opportunities the regime offered without supplanting interests established long before theDepartment ofHomelandSecurity and its congressional committees existed.
The Effect of Persuasive Messages on Policy Problem Recognition
Authors: Oxley Douglas R. , Vedlitz Arnold , Wood B. Dan
Published: May 2014

Prior theories of individual behavior in recognizing public problems have centered on the role of policy entrepreneurs; institutional effects; information; and cultural, political, and social pressures. Our extension of these theories suggests that policy problem recognition is an attitudinal evaluation process. If the information is considered valid and the new attitude is negative in valence, then a policy problem is recognized. To test this theory, we use an embedded experiment in a national survey to measure the effect of persuasive messages on the concern for global warming. We find that the negativity of the message and the credibility of the source of the message both affect the level of increase in concern for global warming. Further, the impact of the message from the source is conditional based upon the recipient's ideology. This suggests that policy problem recognition is attitudinal and thus incorporates both analytical and affective components.
Policy Innovativeness and Interstate Compacts
Authors: Nicholson‐Crotty Sean C. , Woods Neal D. , Bowman Ann O'M. , Karch Andrew
Published: May 2014

Are someAmerican states inherently more innovative than others? This question has confounded researchers for more than four decades. In this study we develop a measure of collective policy innovation that measures formal cooperative policy arrangements among the states, compare the measure to existing measures of internal state policy innovation, and assess whether existing innovativeness measures explain policy cooperation among the states. This test of the innovativeness concept addresses internal and external validity concerns that have long plagued this research tradition. Our multivariate analyses indicate that policy innovativeness is often a statistically and substantively important determinant of compact participation. These results suggest that (i) innovativeness is a meaningful and durable state attribute, (ii) several existing indices successfully capture the underlying latent concept, and (iii) innovativeness provides analytic utility in multiple empirical contexts.