bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Compulsory Voting and Parties’ Vote‐Seeking Strategies
Authors: Singh Shane P. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractI advance a theory about how compulsory voting affects the behavior of political parties. The theory suggests that parties will pivot toward programmatic vote‐seeking strategies and away from clientelistic tactics, such as vote buying, where voting is compulsory. I test my expectations in three separate studies, using several data sources and empirical approaches. In Study 1, cross‐national analyses show that parties behave more programmatically under compulsory voting and that vote buying is less common where voting is mandatory. In Study 2, synthetic control and difference‐in‐differences analyses show that a switch to compulsory voting in Thailand produced an increase in programmatic vote seeking. In Study 3, a list experiment conducted in tandem with a natural experiment shows that compulsory voting leads parties to rely less on vote‐buying tactics in Argentina. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings, which together are broadly supportive of my theoretical expectations.
Modified early obstetric warning scores: A promising tool but more evidence and standardization is required
Authors: Robbins Tanya , Shennan Andrew , Sandall Jane 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEarly warning systems involve the routine monitoring and recording of vital signs or clinical observations on specifically designed charts with linked escalation protocols. Meeting criteria for abnormal physiological parameters triggers a color‐coded or weighted scoring system aimed to guide the frequency of monitoring, need for, and urgency of clinical review. Color‐coded systems trigger a clinical response when one or more abnormal observation is recorded in the red zone or two or more mildly abnormal parameters in the amber zone. The principle of maternity‐specific early warning systems to structure surveillance for hospitalized women is intuitive. The widespread use and policy support, including recommendations following confidential enquiries and from the National Health Service Litigation Authority, is not, however, currently backed up by a strong evidence base. Research is required to develop predictive models and validate evidence‐based maternity‐specific early warning systems in the general maternity population.
Emotional excitability and behaviour of horses in response to stroking various regions of the body
Authors: Janczarek Iwona , Stachurska Anna , Wilk Izabela , Krakowski Leszek , Przetacznik Monika , Zastrzeżyńska Monika , Kuna‐Broniowska Izabela 
Published: August 2018

AbstractTouching the skin by gentle stroking is frequently used to reward horses. The objective of the study was to examine emotional excitability and behaviour of horses in response to stroking different regions of their bodies. The study included 15 adult warmbloods and 15 adult ponies, nine geldings and six mares within each type of horse. First, a novel‐object test was conducted. For five successive days, one of five regions of the horse's body was stroked on each side for 5 min. Heart rate and heart rate variability were monitored at rest, during the test and stroking. Simultaneously, horse behaviour was assessed on a 1–5 scale. The data were analysed using analysis of variance GLM, Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. When stroked, horses were more excited than when at rest. Differences in emotional excitability and behaviour while stroking various body regions depended on the type and sex of horses. Parameters studied indicated that both in warmbloods and ponies, stroking the head may be beneficial, whereas the trunk should be treated with caution. Stroking may have a more positive influence in horses of lower emotionality and highly estimated behaviour at rest and during the novel‐object test.
Farmer survey to assess the size of the Australian dairy goat industry
Authors: Zalcman E , Cowled B 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveTo better understand the commercial food‐producing Australian dairy goat industry.MethodsWe contacted all licensing boards and telephone surveyed a large sample of Australian dairy goat farmers producing food products on demographics, production and labour.ResultsJurisdictional licensing boards confirmed there were 68 licensed dairy goat farms in Australia in 2016. We surveyed representatives from 41. Of the farmers surveyed 20 were female and 19 were male; 81% were over 40 years old. The median number of milking goats per farm was 96 and the median total number of goats per farm was 150. The mean number of litres of milk produced per milking goat per day was 2.5. A total production of 9.6 million litres of milk was reported from these 41 farms alone in 2016, suggesting an increase in production since 2012. Production included 60% sold as cheese, 18% as fresh milk and the remaining as milk powder or other products. Most of the respondents (73%) supported the development of an industry group.ConclusionIf the farmers surveyed are representative, we estimate that in 2016 there were 30,550 milking goats in the Australian national herd, producing 16,867,792 litres of milk with a farm‐gate value of AU$20–27 million. This is a significant increase on the estimates made in 2009 and 2012 and suggests the industry is expanding.
Mapping grassland plant communities using a fuzzy approach to address floristic and spectral uncertainty
Authors: Rapinel Sébastien , Rossignol Nicolas , Hubert‐Moy Laurence , Bouzillé Jan‐Bernard , Bonis Anne 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAimsThe mapping and monitoring of natural vegetation is a challenging but important objective for environmental management. Although remote sensing has been used to map plant communities for several years, the maps produced are not sufficiently accurate to meet management requirements. This can be explained by the cumulative effects of floristic and spectral uncertainty. The objective of this study was to accurately map grassland plant communities using a comprehensive fuzzy approach in order to address floristic and spectral uncertainty.LocationSub‐brackish wet grasslands, Marais Poitevin, France.MethodsWe first created a compromise typology—floristically and spectrally consistent—to perform fuzzy noise clustering on a joint PCA matrix derived from vegetation relevés and remote sensing data. This typology had two levels, which corresponded to spectral signatures and plant communities, respectively. Second, we mapped grassland plant communities to predict the fuzzy model from the remote sensing data. We applied this approach using (1) a very high spatial resolution multispectral satellite image and a LiDAR‐derived Digital Terrain Model acquired on a 73 km2 wet grassland site and (2) more than 200 relevés collected in the field.ResultsThe results show that (1) the compromise typology yields significantly higher mapping accuracy than classic phytosociological typology (62% and 26%, respectively); (2) compared to a crisp approach, the fuzzy approach improves mapping accuracy by 17 percentage points and (3) a single plant community can be defined by several (1–4) distinct spectral signatures.ConclusionsThe comprehensive fuzzy procedure successfully mapped herbaceous plant communities at the ecosystem scale using inexpensive remote sensing data. Floristic and spectral uncertainty was considered in a fuzzy approach, resulting in the mapping of nine herbaceous plant communities with acceptable accuracy. As the natural habitats were characterized at the plant community level, correspondence with functional properties of the species or with ecosystem services can be easily inferred. These encouraging results open up new ways to meet the requirements for monitoring the conservation status of natural habitats in the EU Habitats Directive.
Transcranial electrical stimulation for human enhancement and the risk of inequality: Prohibition or compensation?
Authors: Lavazza Andrea 
Published: August 2018

AbstractNon‐invasive brain stimulation is used to modulate brain excitation and inhibition and to improve cognitive functioning. The effectiveness of the enhancement due to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is still controversial, but the technique seems to have large potential for improvement and more specific applications. In particular, it has recently been used by athletes, both beginners and professionals. This paper analyses the ethical issues related to tDCS enhancement, which depend on its specific features: ease of use, immediate effect, non‐detectability and great variability of effects. If tDCS were to become widespread, there could be some potential side effects, especially the rise of inequality in many selective competitive contexts. I discuss two possible scenarios to counter this effect: that of prohibition and that of compensation, each supported by reasons and arguments that seem plausible and worthy of consideration. In conclusion, I show why I think the scenario of compensation is the preferable one.
Peri‐operative and local control outcomes of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy vs percutaneous cryoablation for renal masses: comparison after matching on radiological stage and renal score
Authors: Fraisse Guillaume , Colleter Loïc , Peyronnet Benoit , Khene Zine‐Eddine , Mandoorah Qusay , Soorojebally Yanish , Bourgi Ali , De La Taille Alexandre , Roupret Morgan , De Kerviler Eric , Desgrandchamps François , Bensalah Karim , Masson‐Lecomte Alexandra 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesTo compare the oncological outcomes of percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) vs robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for the treatment of T1 renal tumours.Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study in all patients treated by RAPN or PCA for malignant renal tumours in one of four centres between 2009 and 2016. Tumours were paired one by one using radiological tumour stage and RENAL nephrometry score (package matchit, R software version 3.2.2). Malignancy was confirmed by biopsy for all patients in the PCA group. Patient characteristics before and after matching and oncological results were compared between the two groups. Cox regression, adjusted for age, treatment type, histological type and margins, was used to identify factors associated with time to local recurrence. Positive margins were defined histologically in the RAPN group and radiologically in the PCA group.ResultsA total of 647 patients were identified; 470 underwent RAPN and 177 underwent PCA. After matching, there was no significant difference between the two groups (RAPN, n = 177; PCA, n = 177) with regard to tumour stage, RENAL nephrometry score, tumour size (27.6 vs 25.9 mm; P = 0.07) and gender ratio. Patients in the PCA group remained significantly older (69.9 vs 59.8 years; P < 0.001). The absolute recurrence rate was 2.8% in the RAPN group vs 8.4% in the PCA group (P = 0.03). The 5‐year recurrence‐free survival rate was 85% in the PCA group vs 95% in the RAPN group (log‐rank P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, the presence of positive margins and the type of treatment were the two factors significantly associated with local recurrence (P < 0.001 and P = 0.046, respectively).ConclusionThe local recurrence rate after PCA was significantly higher than after RAPN for T1 renal tumours. Incomplete treatment was the main criterion associated with recurrence. The recurrence rate may have been overestimated in the PCA group because of closer radiological follow‐up in these patients.
Preclinical efficacy in therapeutic area guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Langhof Holger , Chin William Wei Lim , Wieschowski Susanne , Federico Carole , Kimmelman Jonathan , Strech Daniel 
Published: August 2018

Background and PurposeTherapeutic area guidelines (TAGs) published by the EMA and the FDA offer guidance in planning the launch of a trial in a certain indication. We assessed and compared the guidance on preclinical efficacy of all available TAGs from EMA and FDA.Experimental ApproachEMA and FDA websites and databases were searched for all TAGs. A mixed deductive and inductive approach was applied to analyse and cluster content for preclinical efficacy.Key ResultsA total of 114 EMA and 120 FDA TAGs were identified, covering 126 indications. Our core finding is that 75% of EMA TAGs and 58% from the FDA TAGs do not offer any guidance on preclinical efficacy. TAGs varied widely on the extent, nature and detail of guidance.Conclusions and ImplicationsGuidance on preclinical efficacy in a consistent, comprehensive and explicit way that still allows for justified deviations is an important but neglected aspect of transparency for drug development. This transparency would help sponsors in designing preclinical studies and in negotiating more efficiently with regulators.
Effects of levetiracetam on astroglial release of kynurenine‐pathway metabolites
Authors: Fukuyama Kouji , Okada Motohiro 
Published: August 2018

Background and PurposeSeveral preclinical studies have demonstrated the unique profiles of levetiracetam (LEV), inhibits spontaneous absence epilepsy models but does not affect traditional convulsion models; however, the detailed pharmacological mechanisms of action of LEV remain to be clarified.Experimental ApproachWe determined the interaction between LEV and IFNγ regarding astroglial release of anti‐convulsive (kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid), pro‐convulsive (quinolinic acid) and anti‐convulsive but pro‐absence (cinnabarinic acid) kynurenine‐pathway metabolites from rat cortical primary cultured astrocytes using ultra‐HPLC equipped with MS.Key ResultsIFNγ increased basal astroglial release of cinnabarinic acid and quinolinic acid but decreased that of kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid. IFNγ enhanced inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) receptor agonist (adenophostin A, AdA)‐induced astroglial release of kynurenine‐pathway metabolites, without affecting AMPA‐induced release. LEV increased basal astroglial release of kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid without affecting cinnabarinic acid or quinolinic acid. Chronic and acute LEV administration inhibited AMPA‐ and AdA‐induced kynurenine‐pathway metabolite release. Upon chronic administration, LEV enhanced stimulatory effects of IFNγ on kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid, and reduced its stimulatory effects on cinnabarinic acid and quinolinic acid. Furthermore, LEV inhibited stimulatory effects of chronic IFNγ on AdA‐induced release of kynurenine‐pathway metabolites.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study demonstrated several mechanisms of LEV: (i) inhibition of AMPA‐ and AdA‐induced astroglial release, (ii) inhibition of IFNγ‐induced IP3receptor activation and (iii) inhibition of release of cinnabarinic acid and quinolinic acid with activation of that of kynurenic acid induced by IFNγ. These combined actions of LEV may contribute to its unique profile.
The Truth of Conditional Assertions
Authors: Goodwin Geoffrey P. , Johnson‐Laird P. N. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractGiven a basic conditional of the form, If A then C, individuals usually list three cases as possible: A and C, not‐A and not‐C, not‐A and C. This result corroborates the theory of mental models. By contrast, individuals often judge that the conditional is true only in the case of A and C, and that cases of not‐A are irrelevant to its truth or falsity. This result corroborates other theories of conditionals. To resolve the discrepancy, we devised two new tasks: the “collective” truth task, in which participants judged whether sets of assertions about a specific individual, such as: If A then C, not‐A, C, could all be true at the same time; and one in which participants judged the truth of conditional predictions about specific future events. The results consistently matched the three possibilities, thereby corroborating the model theory. They also showed a massive violation of the probability calculus in estimates of the probabilities of the four cases in the partition of conditionals (A and C, A and not‐C, not‐A and C, and not‐A and not‐C), which summed to over 200%.
Politicians in the boardroom: Is it a convenient burden?
Authors: Pascual‐Fuster Bartolomé , Crespí‐Cladera Rafel 
Published: August 2018

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch Question/IssueOur paper analyzes whether firms appoint former politicians to relevant positions (Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary) in the boardroom and on the main delegated committees. We also analyze how former politicians perform in their monitoring tasks as board directors.Research Findings/InsightsWe find evidence that the probability of having former politicians in relevant positions on boards of directors and on the main delegated committees is not different from that of the other directors. We also find that their activity does not affect board performance in terms of CEO turnover control, executive director compensation, audit qualifications, and earnings management. It is only when politicians serve as proprietary directors, representing large shareholders, or as executive directors that we find some evidence that board monitoring performance deteriorates.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsOur analysis suggests that the expected positive contributions predicted by resource dependence theory regarding the political connections that are provided to the firm by former politicians serving as board directors do not generally imply higher agency costs due to weaker monitoring performance. Our analysis provides a more comprehensive understanding of the implications of resource dependence theory and of agency theory to explain politicians' functions on boards of directors.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsWe deliver a better understanding of the specific implications of having politicians on boards of directors, providing guidance on how to configure a board to maximize the value that politically connected directors provide. Furthermore, regulators and investors should consider that the general interests of shareholders may be better protected when former politicians serve as independent directors. https://youtu.be/pBsOZIwqdAQ
Genomewide association study reveals novel genetic loci associated with change in renal function in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Asleh Rabea , Snipelisky David , Hathcock Matthew , Kremers Walter , Liu Duan , Batzler Anthony , Jenkins Gregory , Kushwaha Sudhir , Pereira Naveen L. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundRenal dysfunction occurs commonly after heart transplantation (HTx) with wide inter‐individual variability but whether a genetic predisposition exists in these patients is unknown. Genomewide association studies (GWAS) have not been performed to assess the association of genetic variation with change in renal function after HTx.MethodsClinical and demographic data of patients who underwent HTx and provided blood samples and consent for genetic analysis were included. Genotyping was performed using Illumina Infinium Human CoreExome v1.0 analysis kit. A GWAS utilizing linear regression models was performed with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1 year as the phenotype after adjusting for baseline eGFR prior to HTx and conversion from calcineurin inhibitor to sirolimus as primary immunosuppression therapy.ResultsA total of 251 HTx recipients were genotyped for 314,903 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The mean (SD) age was 50 (12.5) years; most patients were of European origin (n = 243, 96.8%) and males (n = 179, 71.3%). After adjustment for potential confounders, two variants, rs17033285 (P = 4.3 × 10−7) and rs4917601 (P = 6.46 × 10−7), in a long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) gene LINC01121 and a pseudogene BTBD7P2, were identified to have a significant association with change in GFR at 1 year after HTx.ConclusionsOur first of its kind GWAS demonstrates that genetic variation affects renal function after HTx independent of other risk factors. Agnostic genetic approaches such as these may lead to identification of novel biological pathways such as the role of lncRNAs in the development of renal dysfunction post‐HTx.
Children's scale errors: A by‐product of lexical development?
Authors: Grzyb Beata J. , Cangelosi Angelo , Cattani Allegra , Floccia Caroline 
Published: August 2018

AbstractScale errors occur when young children seriously attempt to perform an action on an object which is impossible due to its size. Children vary substantially in the incidence of scale errors with many factors potentially contributing to these differences, such as age and the type of scale errors. In particular, the evidence for an inverted U‐shaped curve of scale errors involving the child's body (i.e., body scale errors), which would point to a developmental stage, is mixed. Here we re‐examine how body scale errors vary with age and explore the possibility that these errors would be related to the size and properties of children's lexicon. A large sample of children aged 18–30 months (N = 125) was tested in a scale error elicitation situation. Additionally, parental questionnaires were collected to assess children's receptive and expressive lexicon. Our key findings are that scale errors linearly decrease with age in childhood, and are more likely to be found in early talkers rather than in less advanced ones. This suggests that scale errors do not correspond to a developmental stage, and that one determinant of these errors is the speed of development of the linguistic and conceptual system, as a potential explanation for the individual variability in prevalence.
Visceral Fibromuscular Dysplasia: From asymptomatic disorder to emergency
Authors: Van der Niepen Patricia , van Tussenbroek Frank , Devos Hannes , Debing Erik , Di Monaco Silvia , Goffette Pierre , Astarci Parla , Persu Alexandre 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an idiopathic, segmental, non‐atherosclerotic and non‐inflammatory disease of the musculature of arterial walls, leading to stenosis of small and medium‐sized arteries, mostly involving renal and cervical arteries. As a result of better and more systematic screening, it appears that involvement of the splanchnic vascular bed is more frequent than originally assumed. We review epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture as well as diagnosis and treatment of visceral artery (VA) FMD. The clinical picture is very diverse, and diagnosis is based on CT‐, MR‐ or conventional catheter‐based angiography. Involvement of VAs generally occurs among patients with multi‐vessel FMD. Therefore, screening for VA FMD is advised especially in renal artery (RA) FMD and in case of aneurysms and/or dissections. Treatment depends on the clinical picture. However, the level of evidence is low, and much of the common practice is extrapolated from visceral atherosclerotic disease.