bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the role of the exclusionary rule for optimal law enforcement effort
Authors: Friehe Tim , Miceli Thomas J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis article explores the role of the exclusionary rule for improving the level of law enforcement. In a setup in which the enforcement authority and the offender choose effort levels in a struggle to influence the probability of detection, exclusion of excessive evidence can be welfare‐improving because it allows the social planner to commit to low enforcement effort.
Political contestability and public contracting
Authors: Moszoro Marian W. , Spiller Pablo T. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDo public agents undertake socially inefficient activities to protect themselves? In politically contestable markets, part of the lack of flexibility in the design and implementation of the public procurement process reflects public agents' risk adaptations to limit the political hazards from opportunistic third parties—political opponents, competitors, and interest groups. Reduced flexibility limits the likelihood of opportunistic challenges, while externalizing the associated adaptation costs to the public at large. We study this matter and provide a comprehensive theoretical framework with empirically testable predictions.
Optimal nonlinear taxation of income and savings without commitment
Authors: Brett Craig , Weymark John A. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWhen a government is unable to commit to its future tax policies, information about taxpayers' characteristics revealed by their behavior may be used to extract more taxes from them in the future. We examine the implications of this ratchet effect for the design of redistributive income and savings tax policies in a two‐period model with two types of individuals who only differ in their skill levels. When commitment is not possible, it may be optimal to separate, pool, or partially pool different types in period one. The nature of the distortions to labor supplies and savings are investigated for each of these three regimes. The identification of the optimal regime is investigated numerically.
Pharmacists' knowledge and perceptions about pharmacovigilance and barriers towards adverse drug reactions reporting in Yemen
Authors: Zawiah Mohammed , Mukred Ramzi , Al-Jamei Sayida , Kadi Taha , Al-Baidani Abdulrhman , Abu Farha Rana 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Objective
The current study aims to assess Yemeni pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude and practice of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reporting systems and to determine barriers hindering them from reporting.

Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between August and October 2017. One hundred sixty-two pharmacists practicing in both community and hospital settings were recruited from five governorates using a convenient sampling technique. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and to achieve the study objectives. Descriptive analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science version 20.

Key findings
Out of 260 questionnaires distributed, 162 pharmacists responded (Response rate of 62.3%). In terms of knowledge, 156 (96.3%) were not aware of the existence of ADRs reporting system in Yemen. The overall average knowledge score among pharmacists was 1.2 (SD = 1.2) out of 7. Concerning practice, about (140, 87.0%) of pharmacists disclosed that patients reported at least one ADRs annually. Insufficient clinical knowledge of pharmacist, unavailability of ADRs reporting form and unawareness of existence of the national ADRs reporting system were noticed to be the main barriers towards ADRs reporting.

Conclusions
Most of pharmacists were unaware of the ADRs reporting system in Yemen. However, advertising, education and intensive training are needed to improve awareness and to ensure an effective ADRs reporting process.
Sensitivity and specificity of microRNA‐122 for liver disease in dogs
Authors: Oosthuyzen W. , Ten Berg P.W.L. , Francis B. , Campbell S. , Macklin V. , Milne E. , Gow A. G. , Fisher C. , Mellanby R.J. , Dear J.W. 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundCurrent tests for diagnosing liver disease in dogs are sub‐optimal. MicroRNA‐122 (miR‐122) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of liver injury in humans and rodents. Circulating miR‐122 could have utility in identifying dogs with liver disease.ObjectiveEstablish the reference interval for miR‐122 in healthy dogs and determine performance in a range of dog breeds with liver disease and control animals with non‐liver disease.AnimalsStored serum from 120 healthy dogs, 100 dogs with non‐liver diseases, and 30 dogs with histologically confirmed liver disease was analyzed.MethodsRetrospective study. Medical records of dogs with liver disease, non‐liver disease and healthy dogs were reviewed. Serum miR‐122 concentrations were measured by PCR and compared with the characteristics of the dogs and their conventional clinical measurements.ResultsIn healthy dogs the 2.5th, 50th, and 97.5th quartiles of miR‐122 were 110 (90% CI 80‐114), 594 (505‐682), and 3312 (2925‐5144) copies/μL, respectively. There was no difference between healthy dogs and dogs with non‐liver disease (median ± IQR: healthy dogs 609 [327‐1014] copies/μL; non‐liver disease 607 [300‐1351] copies/μL). miR‐122 was higher in dogs with liver disease (11 332 [4418‐20 520] copies/μL, P < .001 compared to healthy dogs). miR‐122 identified dogs with liver disease with high accuracy (receiver operating characteristic area under curve for comparison with healthy dogs: 0.93 [95% CI 0.86‐0.99]). The upper limit of normal for healthy dogs (3312 copies/μL) had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 97% for identifying liver disease.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceLiver disease can be sensitively and specifically diagnosed in dogs by measurement of miR‐122.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis: Efficacy of patented probiotic, VSL#3, in irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Connell M. , Shin A. , James‐Stevenson T. , Xu H. , Imperiale T. F. , Herron J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundVSL#3 is a patented probiotic for which several clinical trials suggest benefits on motor function, bloating, and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).ObjectivesTo quantify effects of VSL#3 on abdominal pain, stool consistency, overall response, abdominal bloating, and quality of life (QOL) in IBS through meta‐analysis.MethodsMEDLINE (OvidSP and PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to May 2017. Using a fixed effects model, we pooled data from intention‐to‐treat analyses of randomized trials (RCTs) comparing VSL#3 to placebo in IBS. Data were reported as relative risk (RR), overall mean difference (MD), or standardized MD (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Quality of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach.Key ResultsAmong 236 citations, 5 RCTs (243 patients) were included. No significant differences were observed for abdominal pain (SMD = −0.03; 95% CI −0.29 to 0.22), bloating (SMD = −0.15; 95% CI −0.40 to 0.11), proportion of bowel movements with normal consistency (overall MD = 0; 95% CI −0.09 to 0.08), or IBS‐QOL (SMD = 0.08; 95% CI −0.22 to 0.39). VSL#3 was associated with a nearly statistically significant increase in overall response (RR = 1.39; 95% CI 0.99‐1.98).Conclusions & InferencesIn this systematic review and meta‐analysis, there was a trend toward improvement in overall response with VSL#3, but no clear evidence effectiveness for IBS. However, the number and sample sizes of the trials are small and the overall quality of evidence for 3 of the 5 outcomes was low. Larger trials evaluating validated endpoints in well‐defined IBS patients are warranted.
Sustained esophageal longitudinal smooth muscle contraction may not be a cause of noncardiac chest pain
Authors: McIntosh K. , Paterson W. G. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe etiology of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) is poorly understood. Some evidence suggests that it may be related to sustained esophageal contractions (SECs) of longitudinal smooth muscle. This study attempts to evaluate whether SECs play a role in symptom production in NCCP patients.MethodsThis was a prospective double‐blind study comparing NCCP patients to healthy controls. Subjects underwent high‐resolution esophageal manometry followed by infusions of normal saline and 0.1N hydrochloric acid into the esophagus. Pain intensity was recorded during each minute of the infusion using a visual analog scale between 0 and 10. Two blinded investigators measured the esophageal length at the end of the saline and acid infusion periods as well as the point at which esophageal shortening began using the computer based manometry software.Key ResultsSeventeen NCCP patients and 16 controls completed the study. 64% of study subjects demonstrated esophageal shortening in response to acid infusion with mean shortening of 0.4 ± 0.54 cm. The mean decrease in esophageal length with acid was similar between the groups (1.9% ± 2.6% for NCCP patients vs 1.7% ± 2.4% for controls, P = .82). There was no correlation between pain onset and esophageal shortening.Conclusions and InferencesNCCP patients did not appear to have an exaggerated esophageal shortening response to intraluminal acid. As well, there was poor temporal correlation between esophageal shortening and symptoms. Thus, acid‐induced SECs may not play a significant role in pain production in NCCP patients.
ERP correlates of valence asymmetry during incentive anticipation
Authors: Li Qi , Xu Jing , Chen Weiran , Mu Zhen , An Tong , Zheng Ya 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe stimulus‐preceding negativity (SPN) is a reliable index of incentive anticipation. However, it remains controversial whether the anticipatory process indexed by the SPN is modulated by incentive valence. The present study investigated the effect of valence on the SPN in a gambling task that required participants to make a binary (gain vs. loss) prediction after their choice on trials with different reward probabilities. Behaviorally, the participants exhibited a positive bias in their prediction. Electrophysiologically, a valence asymmetry was observed for the SPN. Specifically, the SPN was more pronounced when the participants made a gain relative to loss prediction, which was specific over the left hemisphere. Moreover, the SPN showed an uncertainty effect with enhanced amplitudes before uncertain versus certain outcomes, which tended to be pronounced during gain compared to loss anticipation. These findings indicated that the SPN is more sensitive to positive relative to negative valence, which may be mediated by the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic pathway.© 2018 Society for Psychophysiological Research
Proteus spp. as Putative Gastrointestinal Pathogens
Authors: Hamilton Amy L. , Kamm Michael A. , Ng Siew C. , Morrison Mark 
Published: August 2018

SUMMARYProteusspecies, members of theEnterobacteriaceaefamily, are usually considered commensals in the gut and are most commonly recognized clinically as a cause of urinary tract infections. However, the recent identification ofProteusspp. as potential pathogens in Crohn's disease recurrence after intestinal resection serves as a stimulus to examine their potential role as gut pathogens.Proteusspecies possess many virulence factors potentially relevant to gastrointestinal pathogenicity, including motility; adherence; the production of urease, hemolysins, and IgA proteases; and the ability to acquire antibiotic resistance. Gastrointestinal conditions that have been linked toProteusinclude gastroenteritis (spontaneous and foodborne), nosocomial infections, appendicitis, colonization of devices such as nasogastric tubes, and Crohn's disease. The association ofProteusspecies with Crohn's disease was particularly strong.Proteusspecies are low-abundance commensals of the human gut that harbor significant pathogenic potential; further investigation is needed.
Responsiveness of histological disease activity indices in ulcerative colitis: a post hoc analysis using data from the TOUCHSTONE randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jairath Vipul , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Zou Guangyong , Mosli Mahmoud , Vande Casteele Niels , Pai Reetesh K , Valasek Mark A , Marchal-Bressenot Aude , Stitt Larry W , Shackelton Lisa M , Khanna Reena , D’Haens Geert R , Sandborn William J , Olson Allan , Feagan Brian G , Pai Rish K 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveWe evaluated the reliability and responsiveness of available but incompletely validated UC histological disease activity indices using standardised rules for centralised assessment.DesignDisease activity was assessed in biopsies collected in a phase II placebo-controlled ozanimod trial by four blinded pathologists using the Geboes (GS) and modified Riley (MRS) scores, the Robarts Histopathology (RHI) and Nancy Histological (NHI) indices and a Visual Analogue Scale. Reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Index responsiveness was evaluated by assessing longitudinal validity (Pearson correlations of changes in index scores and other disease measures), and effect size estimates (standardised effect size (SES)) using two criteria for change (treatment assignment and >2 point decrease in total Mayo Clinic score). Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve estimates evaluated the probability of the indices to discriminate between treatment and placebo.ResultsInter-rater reliability of the histological indices was substantial to almost perfect (ICC>0.61), and responsiveness was moderate to large (SES estimates>0.5); 0.81 (0.52, 1.10), 0.87 (0.58, 1.17), 0.57 (0.30, 0.84) and 0.81 (0.52, 1.09) when treatment assignment was the criterion for change and 1.05 (0.80, 1.31), 1.13 (0.87, 1.39), 0.88 (0.64, 1.12) and 1.06 (0.80, 1.31) for the change in Mayo score criterion for the GS, MRS, RHI and NHI, respectively. The indices had similar drisciminative ability based on AUROC estimates (range 0.608–0.649).ConclusionAll four existing histological indices were similarly reliable and responsive based on this dataset.
Early use of donepezil against psychosis and cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease: a randomised controlled trial for 2 years
Authors: Sawada Hideyuki , Oeda Tomoko , Kohsaka Masayuki , Umemura Atsushi , Tomita Satoshi , Park Kwiyoung , Mizoguchi Kouichi , Matsuo Hidenori , Hasegawa Kazuko , Fujimura Harutoshi , Sugiyama Hiroshi , Nakamura Michikazu , Kikuchi Seishi , Yamamoto Kenji , Fukuda Toshiaki , Ito Suminobu , Goto Masashi , Kiyohara Kosuke , Kawamura Takashi 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesBrain acetylcholine is decreased even in patients with cognitively preserved Parkinson’s disease (PD). We investigated whether early and long-term use of donepezil prevents psychosis in non-demented PD patients.MethodsA double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 145 non-demented PD patients were randomly assigned to receive 5 mg/day donepezil (n=72) or placebo (n=73) for 96 weeks. Medications for PD were not restricted, but antipsychotic drugs were not permitted throughout the study. The primary outcome measure was survival time to psychosis that was predefined by Parkinson’s Psychosis Questionnaire (PPQ) B score ≥2 or C score ≥2. Secondary outcome measures included psychosis developing within 48 weeks, total PPQ score, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and subgroup analysis by apolipoprotein ε4 genotyping.ResultsKaplan-Meier curves for psychosis development were very similar between the two groups, and the Cox proportional hazard model revealed an adjusted HR of 0.87 (95%CI 0.48 to 1.60). The changes in MMSE and WMS-1 (auditory memory) were significantly better with donepezil than in placebo. In the subgroup analysis, donepezil provided an HR of 0.31 (0.11–0.86) against psychosis in 48 weeks for apolipoprotein ε4 non-carriers.ConclusionsAlthough donepezil provided beneficial effects on PPQ, MMSE and auditory WMS score changes in 2 years, it had no prophylactic effect on development of psychosis in PD. Apolipoprotein ε4 may suppress the antipsychotic effect of donepezil.Trial registration numberUMIN000005403.
Cognitive and behavioural changes in PLS and PMA:challenging the concept of restricted phenotypes
Authors: de Vries Bálint S , Rustemeijer Laura M M , Bakker Leonhard A , Schröder Carin D , Veldink Jan H , van den Berg Leonard H , Nijboer Tanja C W , van Es Michael A 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesCognitive and behavioural changes within the spectrum of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are observed frequently in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Whether these changes also occur in other forms of motor neuron disease (MND) is not well studied. We therefore systemically screened a large cohort of patients with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) and progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) for cognitive and behavioural changes, and subsequently compared our findings with a cohort of patients with ALS.MethodsUsing a set of screening instruments (Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen, ALS and Frontotemporal Dementia Questionnaire, Frontal Assessment Battery, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), the presence of cognitive and behavioural changes as well as anxiety and depression in 277 patients with ALS, 75 patients with PLS and 143 patients with PMA was evaluated retrospectively.ResultsWe found a high frequency of cognitive and behavioural abnormalities with similar profiles in all three groups. Subjects with behavioural variant FTD were identified in all groups.ConclusionsThe percentage of patients with PLS and PMA with cognitive dysfunction was similar to patients with ALS, emphasising the importance for cognitive screening as part of routine clinical care in all three patient groups. With a similar cognitive profile, in line with genetic and clinical overlap between the MNDs, the view of PLS as an MND exclusively affecting upper motor neurons and PMA exclusively affecting lower motor neurons cannot be held. Therefore, our findings are in contrast to the recently revised El Escorial criteria of 2015, where PLS and PMA are described as restricted phenotypes. Our study favours a view of PLS and PMA as multidomain diseases similar to ALS.
Optimizing combining green manures and pelletized manure for organic spring wheat production
Authors: Alam Mohammed Z. , Lynch Derek H. , Tremblay Gilles , Gillis-Madden Rosalie , Vanasse Anne 
Published: August 2018

Well-planned crop rotations and targeted use of organic amendments are critical to success in organic wheat production. The impact of green manure (GMr) type, GMr termination timing, and “Acti-Sol” [pelletized dehydrated poultry manure (DPM); 5-2-3] on organic wheat productivity and quality was evaluated from 2014 to 2016 in Truro, NS, and Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, QC. Crops prior to wheat were soybean or GMr of hairy vetch/oat (HVO), common vetch/oat (CVO), and red clover (RC) (NS site), and HVO, red clover/oat (RCO), and oat (QC site). Trials were split-split-plot designs with treatments of precrops, GMr termination (fall vs. spring), and DPM at 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg total N ha−1. Wheat yields ranged from 1500 to 1800 kg ha−1 if unfertilized with DPM and following soybean or oat precrops. All legume GMrs (HVO, CVO, and RC/RCO) and DPM applications increased grain yield (2000–4200 kg ha−1) and protein content (13%–16%), wheat total N uptake [49–60 kg N ha−1 (QC); 87–125 kg N ha−1 (NS)] and soil mineral N content mid-season and postharvest, and responses were consistently greatest following HVO. Timing of GMr incorporation largely had no impact. Applying DPM at 80 kg N ha−1 was an effective substitute for a GMr precrop.
The family of topological Hall effects for electrons in skyrmion crystals
Authors: Göbel Börge , Mook Alexander , Henk Jürgen , Mertig Ingrid 
Published: August 2018

Abstract

Hall effects of electrons can be produced by an external magnetic field, spin–orbit coupling or a topologically non-trivial spin texture. The topological Hall effect (THE) – caused by the latter – is commonly observed in magnetic skyrmion crystals. Here, we show analogies of the THE to the conventional Hall effect (HE), the anomalous Hall effect (AHE), and the spin Hall effect (SHE). In the limit of strong coupling between conduction electron spins and the local magnetic texture the THE can be described by means of a fictitious, “emergent” magnetic field. In this sense the THE can be mapped onto the HE caused by an external magnetic field. Due to complete alignment of electron spin and magnetic texture, the transverse charge conductivity is linked to a transverse spin conductivity. They are disconnected for weak coupling of electron spin and magnetic texture; the THE is then related to the AHE. The topological equivalent to the SHE can be found in antiferromagnetic skyrmion crystals. We substantiate our claims by calculations of the edge states for a finite sample. These states reveal in which situation the topological analogue to a quantized HE, quantized AHE, and quantized SHE can be found.
Autobiography and documentable fact in the family background and religious affiliation of Archibald Geikie (1835–1924)
Authors: Taylor Michael A. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
In his autobiography of 1924, Archibald Geikie (1835–1924) suppressed basic information about his family and religious beliefs. Investigation reveals a more complete picture of those aspects of Geikie's life. He was brought up in a strongly religious family, of Congregational affiliation, which he himself followed as a young man. His father was in trade as an Edinburgh perfumer, hairdresser and wig manufacturer. Amongst several apparent family scandals were a near-murder committed by his brother (which led indirectly to Geikie's departure from Edinburgh University), and the probable suicide of his son. Geikie's later shift to middle-of-the-ground Anglicanism could be due to his marrying an Englishwoman, his move to England and/or the example of his patron Roderick Murchison. However, Geikie's suppression of his earlier Congregationalism and of his family background in trade strongly suggests that the shift to Anglicanism was part of the ambitious Geikie's career-building strategy, reinventing himself as one of the Anglicized ruling elite of the British empire. It probably also reflects the problems of establishing science as a profession in the political and religious context of the time. It may also be linked to Geikie's apparently conservative politics. Those findings throw further light on Geikie's approach to autobiography.