bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alginate antacid (Gaviscon DA) chewable tablets reduce esophageal acid exposure in Chinese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn symptoms
Authors: Yuan Yao Zong , Fang Jing Yuan , Zou Duo Wu , Levinson Nigel , Jenner Bartosz , Wilkinson Joanne 
Published: September 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of Gaviscon Double Action (DA) alginate antacid chewable tablets for reducing esophageal acid exposure in Chinese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).MethodsAltogether 44 patients reporting moderate to severe heartburn symptoms underwent two pH monitoring visits. The treatment sequence was randomized to patients received DA alginate antacid or placebo at one visit and the alternate treatment 7 days later. After a standardized reflux‐provoking meal, patients took four tablets of DA alginate antacid or placebo. Esophageal pH was measured for 4 h post‐dosing using an electrode positioned 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. The primary end‐point was the percentage of 4‐h post‐dosing period with pH <4. Secondary end‐points were number of acid reflux episodes (pH <4), longest reflux time and DeMeester scores.ResultsAll 44 patients completed the study and provided data for analysis. With DA alginate antacid, the mean percentage time with pH <4 was 5.1%, significantly less (P = 0.0003) than with placebo (14.8%). DA alginate antacid was statistically significantly superior (P = 0.0290) to placebo (from at least twofold to threefold better) for all other end‐points. Two patients reported two mild adverse events (AEs) that resolved within a month of completing the study. No patients had serious and/or severe AEs and none withdrew due to AEs.ConclusionsDA alginate antacid was statistically significantly superior to placebo in reducing post‐prandial acid exposure without serious clinically relevant health risks. These findings suggest DA alginate antacid tablets are appropriate for treating acid reflux in Chinese GERD patients with heartburn symptoms.
Short selling, margin buying and stock return in China market
Authors: Li Rui , Li Nan , Li Jiahui , Wu Chongfeng 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIt is well argued that short sellers are informed traders, and short interests predict future stock returns significantly. However, most researches neglect margin buyers, as twin sisters of short sellers, and keep silent about their impact on stock returns. In this article, we demonstrate that margin buyers significantly impact predictive power of conventional short measures. We document that conventional short measures neglecting margin‐buying activities, short interest ratio (SIR) and days to cover (DTC) fail to predict stock return unless our analysis is confined to lightly margin bought stocks. We also show that short‐margin trading ratio (SMTR), revised short measure with consideration of margin buying, predict stock return more sharply. What is more, we can form profitable portfolios by the new short measure.
Macro Implementation: Testing the Causal Paths from U.S. Macro Policy to Federal Incarceration
Authors: Hall Matthew E.K. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractPolicy implementation is usually studied at the micro level by testing the short‐term effects of a specific policy on the behavior of government actors and policy outcomes. This study adopts an alternative approach by examining macro implementation—the cumulative effect of aggregate public policies over time. I employ a variety of methodological techniques to test the influence of macro criminal justice policy on new admissions to federal prison via three mediators: case filings by federal prosecutors, conviction rates in federal district courts, and plea bargaining behavior. I find that cumulative Supreme Court rulings influence the incarceration rate by altering conviction rates in district courts; however, I find only mixed evidence of congressional and presidential influence. The results suggest that U.S. macro policy influences bureaucratic outputs by altering the behavior of subordinate policy implementers; however, the Supreme Court may enjoy an advantage in shaping criminal justice policy.
Loop and drain technique for subcutaneous abscess: a safe minimally invasive procedure in an adult population
Authors: Gaszynski Rafael , Punch Gratian , Verschuer Kurt 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundThis study evaluated the safety, efficacy and compliance of an emerging technique for managing complex subcutaneous abscesses in an adult population (≥16 years).MethodsA retrospective review of prospectively collected data between April and October 2015 at a rural hospital comparing conventional incision drainage (CID) and repetitive packing to the minimal incision, irrigation, loop and drain technique (LDT). LDT method was consistent with previous publications, being ≤5 mm incisions at abscess edges, irrigation and passage of a VessiLoop through the cavity and then secured above the skin. The loop remained in situ until resolution. Both groups had empirical oral antibiotics.ResultsSixty‐three patients required intervention for complex subcutaneous abscess: CID group had 27 patients and LDT had 36 patients. The mean age of CID group was 43.9 years (range: 16–86 years), all required intervention in theatre with 10 patients lost to follow‐up (37%) and the remaining 17 required a mean of 11.8 (range: 1–17) care visits. The mean age of LDT group was 34.9 years (range: 16–62 years), 11 completed intervention in ED under local anaesthetic (30%) and 27 required general anaesthesia. Compliance to follow‐up clinic was 100%: 27 seen once at 10–14 days with loop removal and nine were seen a second time to complete care. There were no re‐operations.ConclusionThis is the first LDT data in adults and proves it is safe and effective. It saves operating theatre time with 30% of LDT treated in the Emergency Department and ensures excellent follow‐up compliance as patients return for VessiLoop removal. Healthcare burden is greatly reduced using LDT; most patients require only one review at 10–14 days.
Improved survival for rectal cancer compared to colon cancer: the four cohort study
Authors: Buchwald Pamela , Hall Claire , Davidson Callum , Dixon Liane , Dobbs Bruce , Robinson Bridget , Frizelle Frank 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. This study was undertaken to evaluate survival outcomes and changes of disease outcomes of CRC patients over the last decades.MethodsA retrospective analysis of CRC patients in Christchurch was performed in four patient cohorts at 5 yearly intervals; 1993–94, 1998–99, 2004–05 and 2009. Data on cancer location, stage, surgical and oncological treatment and survival were collected. Univariate, multivariate and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were performed.ResultsThere were 1391 patients (355, 317, 419 and 300 per cohort), 1037 colon and 354 rectal cancers, respectively. For colon cancer, right‐sided cancers appeared more common in later cohorts (P = 0.01). There was a significant decrease in the number of permanent stomas for colon cancer patients (P = 0.001). There was an analogous trend for rectal cancers (P = 0.075). More CRC patients with stage IV disease were treated surgically (P = 0.001) and colon cancer stages I and II tended to have increased survival if operated by a colorectal surgeon (P = 0.06). Oncology referrals have increased remarkably (P = 0.001). Overall 56% of patients were alive at 5 years however rectal cancer patients had significantly better 5‐year survival than those with colon cancer (P < 0.05).DiscussionThis four cohort study shows that modern CRC survival continues to improve and is comparable to international standards. Furthermore, rectal cancer patients have a better 5‐year survival than colon cancer patients. The improved survival with early stage colon cancers operated on by specialist colorectal surgeons needs further exploration.
Review of the mechanisms and therapeutic avenues for retinal and choroidal vascular dysfunctions in retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Rivera José Carlos , Madaan Ankush , Zhou Tianwei Ellen , Chemtob Sylvain 
Published: September 2016

AbstractRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a multifactorial disease and the main cause of visual impairment and blindness in premature neonates. The inner retina has been considered the primary region affected in ROP, but choroidal vascular degeneration and progressive outer retinal dysfunctions have also been observed. This review focuses on observations regarding neurovascular dysfunctions in both the inner and outer immature retina, the mechanisms and the neuronal‐derived factors implicated in the development of ROP, as well potential therapeutic avenues for this disorder.ConclusionAlterations in the neurovascular integrity of the inner and outer retina contribute to the development of ROP.
Effects of social isolation, re‐socialization and age on cognitive and aggressive behaviors of Kunming mice and BALB/c mice
Authors: An Dong , Chen Wei , Yu De‐Qin , Wang Shi‐Wei , Yu Wei‐Zhi , Xu Hong , Wang Dong‐Mei , Zhao Dan , Sun Yi‐Ping , Wu Jun‐Cheng , Tang Yi‐Yuan , Yin Sheng‐Ming 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBoth Kunming (KM) mice and BALB/c mice have been widely used as rodent models to investigate stress‐associated mental diseases. However, little is known about the different behaviors of KM mice and BALB/c mice after social isolation, particularly cognitive and aggressive behaviors. In this study, the behaviors of KM and BALB/c mice isolated for 2, 4 and 8 weeks and age‐matched controls were evaluated using object recognition, object location and resident‐intruder tests. The recovery of behavioral deficits by re‐socialization was also examined for the isolated mice in adolescence. Our study showed that isolation for 2, 4 and 8 weeks led to cognitive deficits and increased aggressiveness for both KM and BALB/c mice. An important finding is that re‐socialization could completely recover spatial/non‐spatial cognitive deficits resulted from social isolation for both KM and BALB/c mice. In addition, age only impacted aggressiveness of KM mice. Moreover, isolation duration showed different impacts on cognitive and aggressive behaviors for both KM and BALB/c mice. Furthermore, BALB/c mice showed weak spatial/non‐spatial memory and low aggressiveness when they were at the same age and isolation duration, compared to KM mice. In conclusion, KM mice and BALB/c mice behaved characteristically under physiology and isolation conditions.
Thorough QT study of the effect of intravenous amisulpride on QTc interval in Caucasian and Japanese healthy subjects
Authors: Täubel Jörg , Ferber Georg , Fox Gabriel , Fernandes Sara , Lorch Ulrike , Camm A. John 
Published: September 2016

AimThe D2/D3 antagonist amisulpride has shown promising efficacy against postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at low doses. We investigated whether intravenous amisulpride has an effect on the QTc interval in a formal Thorough QT study (TQT).MethodsThis was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo and positive‐controlled, four‐way crossover study. Forty healthy Caucasian and Japanese subjects were included to receive a single administration of 5 mg and 40 mg of i.v. amisulpride or a single oral dose of moxifloxacin or placebo per period.ResultsThe therapeutic dose of 5 mg amisulpride was associated with a slight, transient increase in mean ΔΔQTcF, from 2.0 ms prior to dosing to a peak of 5 ms (90% CI: 2.8, 7.1 ms) at 8 min, decreasing to 2.1 ms at 30 min after dosing. The supra‐therapeutic dose of 40 mg given at twice the infusion rate was associated with prolongation in ΔΔQTcF peaking at 23.4 ms (90% CI: 21.3, 25.5 ms) at the end of infusion (8 min), returning below 10 ms within 1.5 h. Assay sensitivity was confirmed; ΔΔQTcF had increased by 12.3 ms (90% CI 10.1, 14.6 ms) at 4 h post‐dose. The PK‐PD relationship revealed no differences between Caucasian and Japanese subjects (p‐value > 0.5).ConclusionsAmisulpride has a plasma concentration‐dependent effect on the QTc interval. The proposed therapeutic dose for management of PONV does not lead to a prolongation of QTcF above the threshold of regulatory concern, while such effect could not be excluded for the supratherapeutic dose.
Bye‐bye mummy – Word comprehension in 9‐month‐old infants
Authors: Syrnyk Corinne , Meints Kerstin 
Published: September 2016

From the little research that exists on the onset of word learning in infants under the age of 1 year, the evidence suggests an idiosyncratic comprehensive vocabulary is developing. To further this field, we tested 49 nine‐month‐old infants by pre‐assessing their vocabularies using a UK version of the MacArthur‐Bates Communicative Developmental Inventory. Intermodal preferential looking (IPL) was then used to examine word comprehension including: (a) words parents reported as understood, (b) words infants are expected to understand according to age‐related frequency data, and (c) words parents had reported infants not to understand. Assuming parents are good assessors of their infant's early word knowledge, we expected a naming effect with IPL in condition (a), but not condition (c). As language research uses standard samples of words, we expected a discernible naming effect in condition (b). Results show clear IPL evidence of word comprehension for those words that parents reported their infants to understand (condition a). This agreement between methods demonstrates the usefulness of parental communicative developmental inventory in conjunction with IPL to assess infant's individual word knowledge. No naming effects were found for condition (c) and the lack of naming effects in (b) shows that pre‐established word lists may not give a sufficiently clear picture of infant's true vocabulary – an important insight for researchers and practitioners alike.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Most word comprehension research is mainly based on older infants (12, 15, or 18 months of age to 2–3 years and older).

Some evidence of word comprehension for common and novel nouns in 6‐ to 10‐month‐olds.

Existing evidence uses either only specific word groups or nouns combined with specific training and/or repetition procedures.

What does this study add?

Nine‐month‐olds display word knowledge independent of context and without repetitions of words.

First words encompass not only nouns, but a range of other word classes.

Parents are good at indicating which words their infants do and do not understand.
Network effects, homogeneous goods and international currency choice: New evidence on oil markets from an older era
Authors: Eichengreen Barry , Chiţu Livia , Mehl Arnaud 
Published: September 2016

AbstractConventional wisdom has it that network effects are strong in markets for homogenous goods, leading to the dominance of one settlement currency in such markets. The dominance of the US dollar in global oil markets is said to epitomize this phenomenon. We question this presumption with evidence for earlier periods showing that several national currencies have simultaneously played substantial roles in global oil markets. European oil import payments before and after World War II were split between the dollar and non‐dollar currencies, mainly sterling. Differences in use of the dollar across countries were associated with trade linkages with the United States and the size of the importing country. That several national currencies could simultaneously play a role in international oil settlements suggests that a shift from the current dollar‐based system toward a multipolar system in the period ahead is not impossible.
The central bank as shaper and observer of events: The case of the yield spread
Authors: Florio Anna 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe yield spread has commonly been employed as a successful predictor of economic growth and recessions, although its marginal predictive power has decreased since the 1990s. Notably, the yield spread's declining power to predict US economic activity coincided with its growing power to predict US interest rate changes. In my view, these phenomena are inevitably linked and share one cause. The central bank intended to enhance both its transparency and credibility through greater information disclosure; this disclosure improved interest rate predictability but might also have crowded out useful private information formerly in the yield spread that helped predict economic activity.
Canadian monetary policy analysis using a structural VARMA model
Authors: Raghavan Mala , Athanasopoulos George , Silvapulle Param 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper builds a structural VARMA (SVARMA) model for investigating Canadian monetary policy. Using the scalar component methodology proposed by Athanasopoulos and Vahid (2008a), we first identify a VARMA model and then construct a SVARMA for Canadian monetary policy. Relative to the responses by a structural VAR, the responses generated by the SVARMA are consistent with those supported by various theoretical models and solve economic puzzles commonly found in the empirical literature on monetary policy. The superior out‐of‐sample forecasting performance of the reduced form VARMA compared to VAR alternatives further advocates the suitability of this framework for small open economies.
The effect of temporary help jobs on employment volatility
Authors: Jahn Elke , Weber Enzo 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of temporary agency employment on employment volatility outside the sector. Making use of econometric volatility models, we find that enhancing numerical flexibility by temporary agency employment decreases employment volatility of incumbent workers. However, not all subgroups are benefitting equally. While prime‐age permanent workers gain considerably from higher flexibility, young workers, migrants and low‐skilled workers not only are overrepresented among the temps but also do not gain when employed outside the sector.
A spiky pattern in the course of electrical thoracic impedance as a very early sign of a developing pneumothorax
Authors: Cambiaghi B. , Moerer O. , Kunze‐Szikszay N. , Mauri T. , Just A. , Dittmar J. , Hahn G. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryA pneumothorax (PTX) is a potentially lethal condition in high‐risk intensive care patients. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been proven to detect PTX at the bedside. A so far not described pattern in the course of thoracic impedance at an early state of PTX was observed in a pig model of ventilator‐induced lung injury (VILI) used for a more extensive study. EIT was performed at a framerate of 50 Hz. Beginning of PTX at normal ventilation, manifestation of PTX at VILI ventilation (plateau pressure 42 cm H2O) and final pleural drainage were documented. At ventilation with 8·6 ml kg−1, early PTX findings prior to any clinical deterioration consisted in a spike‐like pattern in the time course of impedance (relative impedance change referred to initial end‐expiratory level). Spike amplitudes (mean ± SD) were the following: 0·154 ± 0·059 (right lung) and 0·048 ± 0·050 (left lung). At this state, end‐expiratory levels (mean ± SD) were still similar, −0·035 ± 0·010 (right) and −0·058 ± 0·022 (left). After application of VILI ventilation (38 ml kg−1), a PTX developed slowly, being confirmed by a continuous increase in the end‐expiratory level on the right side and diverging levels of +0·320 ± 0·057 (right) and −0·193 ± 0·147 (left) at full manifestation. We assume that spikes reflect a temporary change in the electrical pathway caused by leakage into the pleural cavity. This newly described phenomenon of spikes is considered to be a potentially useful indicator for a very early detection of an evolving PTX in high‐risk ICU patients.
Effects of structured education program on organ donor designation of nursing students and their families: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Murakami Minoru , Fukuma Shingo , Ikezoe Masaya , Iizuka Chizuko , Izawa Satoshi , Yamamoto Yosuke , Yamazaki Shin , Fukuhara Shunichi 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIntroductionLittle is known about the effect of education programs on changing attitudes and behaviors of participants and their families toward deceased organ donation.MethodsThe subjects of this randomized trial were Japanese nursing students who were not previously designated organ donors. They were randomly assigned to either the education program or information booklet group. The program comprised a lecture followed by group discussion and information booklet. The primary outcome was self‐reported organ donor designation. Outcomes were assessed by questionnaire.ResultsData of 203 (99.0%) students were analyzed. At study end, seven of 102 students (6.9%) of the program group and one of 101 students (1.0%) of the booklet group consented to donate organs (proportion ratio 6.93 [95% CI 0.87‐55.32]). There were significant between‐group differences in willingness to consent for donation (54.9% vs 39.6%; proportion ratio 1.39 [95% CI 1.03‐1.87]), family discussion (31.4% vs 15.9%; 1.98 [1.16‐3.38]), and organ donor designation of family members (11.8% vs 2.0%; 5.94 [1.36‐25.88]). No group differences were found in willingness for organ donation by students and family members.ConclusionAlthough there were no significant between‐group differences in organ donor designation, the program seems to indirectly promote consent to organ donation by their families.
Cannibalism facilitates gigantism in a nine‐spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) population
Authors: Merilä Juha , Eloranta Antti P. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCannibalism is a taxonomically widespread phenomenon that can fundamentally affect the structure and stability of aquatic communities, including the emergence of a bimodal size distribution (“dwarfs” and “giants”) in fish populations. Emergence of giants could also be driven or facilitated by parasites that divert host resources from reproduction to growth. We studied the trophic ecology of giant nine‐spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) in a Finnish pond to evaluate the hypotheses that gigantism in this population would be facilitated by cannibalism and/or parasitic infections bySchistocephalus pungitiicestode. Stomach content analyses revealed an initial ontogenetic dietary shift from small to large benthic invertebrates, followed by cannibalism on 10–20‐mm‐long conspecifics by giant individuals. However, stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) indicated a concave relationship between fish size and trophic position, with relatively low trophic position estimates suggesting only facultative cannibalism among giants. The unexpectedly high trophic position of the intermediate‐sized fish may reflect substantial, but temporary, predation on eggs or young‐of‐the‐year conspecifics, but may also partly result from starvation caused byS. pungitiiinfection. However, it seems implausible that parasitic infections (i.e. castration) would explain gigantism among nine‐spined sticklebacks because all >100‐mm giants were unparasitised. Hence, the present results suggest that an ontogenetic niche shift from an invertebrate diet to intercohort cannibalism may facilitate the occurrence of gigantism in nine‐spined sticklebacks.