bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pathway to Reform: Developing Action Research Capacity in Accounting Education
Authors: Curtis Susan M. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT
Outside of accounting education, action research is widely considered crucial for supporting broad reforms. Action research integrates theory with action to solve problems, improve practices, and address issues together with those who experience them. Yet the body of action research in accounting education remains very small. Historically, efforts to reform accounting education have led to pockets of innovation but have not systematically addressed impediments that inhibit widespread continuous improvement. Lack of available formal training inhibits development of the action research capacity needed to support broad reform in accounting education. This paper provides a conceptual action research framework that includes two ontologies to classify different types of action research. One type, emancipated action research, involves taking strategic action to change or eliminate structural impediments that limit improvement achievable through other types, often earlier phases, of action research. The paper reports an action research project that involved two strategic actions, investigation of an action research reflection practice and use of an educative case to report the project. The case illustrates how action research can support reform in accounting education and demonstrates a generalizable approach accounting educators and education researchers can use to develop action research capacity.
St George Hospital: Flexible Budgeting, Volume Variance, and Balanced Scorecard Performance Measurement
Authors: Vesty Gillian , Brooks Albie 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT
This case deals with funding, budgeting, and performance measurement in public hospitals. Data from the Orthopedic Unit at St George Hospital is used to examine efficiency and effectiveness of management in meeting budgeted targets. The Orthopedic Unit provides treatment for two common diagnosis-related group (DRG) treatments: hip replacement surgery, commonly performed on older patients with arthritic pain or hip fractures; and arthroscopy surgery for soft tissue knee injuries, commonly a result of sporting injuries in the younger population. As a business consultant, you will help Vera Jones, a newly graduated accountant, to develop a flexible budget, and calculate price, cost, and patient volume variances. You will then review the results in conjunction with St George Hospital's balanced scorecard to determine the quality of public sector service delivery and the ability to meet patient demands within the bounds of budgetary constraints.
Particle Swarm Optimisation algorithm for multi-agent system with dynamic ray (PSORM)
Authors: Hernane Yasmina , Hernane Soumeya Leila , Benyettou Mohamed 
Published: September 2016

This paper deals with the issue of reaching a target within an unknown search space. The target could be a human being, a bomb or any other object and the research space is composed of virtual robots, commonly known as agents that are continuously evolving together with the same purpose. To that aim, we use the bio-inspired Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method that we extend to the Particle Swarm Optimization with dynamic ray (PSORM) algorithm. The neighborhood is dynamically adjusted during the research process according to the value of fitness, which helps significantly to escape from local optimums. Despite the same variations we have made in some initial values such as population size and ray intensity, PSORM converges earlier. Our approach has the advantage to be completely distributed and of low-resources consumption.
Similar Progression of Morphological and Metabolic Phenotype in R6/2 Mice with Different CAG Repeats Revealed by In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
Authors: Sawiak Stephen J. , Wood Nigel I. , Morton A. Jennifer 
Published: September 2016

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by an unstable polyglutamine (CAG) repeat in the HD gene, whereby a CAG repeat length greater than ∼36 leads to the disease. In HD patients, longer repeats correlate with more severe disease and earlier death. This is also seen in R6/2 mice carrying repeat lengths up to ∼200. Paradoxically, R6/2 mice with repeat lengths >300 have a less aggressive phenotype and longer lifespan than those with shorter repeats. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon is unknown. Objective: To investigate the consequences of longer repeat lengths on structural changes in the brains of R6/2 mice, especially with regard to progressive atrophy. Methods: We used longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) to compare pathological changes in two strains of R6/2 mice, one with a rapidly progressing disease (250 CAG repeats), and the other with a less aggressive phenotype (350 CAG repeats). Results: We found significant progressive brain atrophy in both 250 and 350 CAG repeat mice, as well as changes in metabolites (glutamine/glutamate, choline and aspartate). Although similar in magnitude, atrophy in the brains of 350 CAG R6/2 mice progressed more slowly than that seen in 250 CAG mice, in line with the milder phenotype and longer lifespan. Interestingly, significant atrophy was detectable in 350 CAG mice as early as 8–12 weeks of age, although behavioural abnormalities in these mice are not apparent before 25–30 weeks. This finding fits well with human data from the PREDICT-HD and TRACK-HD project, where reductions in brain volume were found 10 years in advance of the onset of symptoms. Conclusions: The similar brain atrophy with a mismatch between onset of brain atrophy and behavioural phenotype in HD mice with 350 repeats will make this mouse particularly useful for modelling early stages of HD pathology.
Articulation Features of Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation
Authors: Tanaka Yasuhiro , Tsuboi Takashi , Watanabe Hirohisa , Kajita Yasukazu , Nakatsubo Daisuke , Fujimoto Yasushi , Ohdake Reiko , Ito Mizuki , Atsuta Naoki , Yamamoto Masahiko , Wakabayashi Toshihiko , Katsuno Masahisa , Sobue Gen 
Published: September 2016

Background: Voice and speech disorders are one of the most important issues after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. However, articulation features in this patient population remain unclear. Objective: We studied the articulation features of PD patients with STN-DBS. Methods: Participants were 56 PD patients treated with STN-DBS (STN-DBS group) and 41 patients treated only with medical therapy (medical-therapy-alone group). Articulation function was evaluated with acoustic and auditory-perceptual analyses. The vowel space area (VSA) was calculated using the formant frequency data of three vowels (/a/, /i/, and /u/) from sustained phonation task. The VSA reportedly reflects the distance of mouth/jaw and tongue movements during speech and phonation. Correlations between acoustic and auditory-perceptual measurements were also assessed. Results: The VSA did not significantly differ between the medical-therapy-alone group and the STN-DBS group in the off-stimulation condition. In the STN-DBS group, the VSA was larger in the on-stimulation condition than in the off-stimulation condition. However, individual analysis showed the VSA changes after stopping stimulation were heterogeneous. In total, 89.8% of the STN-DBS group showed a large VSA size in the on- than in the off-stimulation condition. In contrast, the VSA of the remaining patients in that group was smaller in the on- than the off-stimulation condition. Conclusions: STN-DBS may resolve hypokinesia of the articulation structures, including the mouth/jaw and tongue, and improve maximal vowel articulation. However, in the on-stimulation condition, the VSA was not significantly correlated with speech intelligibility. This may be because STN-DBS potentially affects other speech processes such as voice and/or respiratory process.
Acute Hospital Admissions of Individuals with a Known Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis in Ireland 2009–2012: A Short Report
Authors: Kelly Bróna , Blake Catherine , Lennon Olive 
Published: September 2016

Background: The rate of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is predicted to double by 2030 resulting in an even greater burden to an already struggling Irish health care system. There is a paucity of information regarding hospital utilisation among the PD population in an Irish context. Objective: To examine trends of acute hospital in-patient admissions of patients admitted with a secondary diagnosis of PD between 2009 and 2012 in Ireland. Method: Data concerning patients, aged over and under 65 years with a previously existing diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease were requested from the HIPE database for the years 2009–2012. Primary categories of interest were the top 10 principal diagnoses on admission, the top 10 principal procedures conducted, admission source and route, and final discharge destination. Results: 12,437 discharges were recorded for people with PD over the age of 65 years and 1,223 in those under 65 years in Republic of Ireland between 2009 and 2012. A steady rise in acute hospital admissions was noted in the over 65 group. The number of patients requiring long stay accommodation more than doubled across both age categories from admission to discharge status. The most common reasons for admission in all age ranges were acute lower respiratory infection; disorders of urinary system; pneumonia (organism unspecified); and pneumonitis due to solids and liquids (aspiration pneumonia). Conclusions: This report highlights a worrying trend towards increased rates of hospital admissions for pneumonia and infections for people living with PD in Republic of Ireland.
Prevalence and Prescribed Treatments of Orthostatic Hypotension in Institutionalized Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Hommel ALAJ , Faber MJ , Weerkamp NJ , van Dijk JG , Bloem BR , Koopmans RT 
Published: September 2016

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common non-motor sign that can be hard to recognize and treat. OH prevalence and treatment in institutionalized PD-patients remains unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and prescribed treatments of OH in institutionalized patients with PD. Method: A cross-sectional study of nursing homes in the south-east of the Netherlands identified 64 residents with PD (inclusion criteria: MMSE >18). Assessments included blood pressure measurement, both supine and in the upright position (after 1 minute and after 3 minutes of standing), and 2 questions on cardiovascular items including falls of the validated Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS). OH was defined according to the consensus guidelines. OH was considered as ‘probably symptomatic’ if patients had a concomitant frequency score >1 on the selected NMSS items, and ‘probably asymptomatic’ for a frequency score of 0. If OH was not present, but patients had a frequency score >1, OH was considered as ‘possibly symptomatic’. Results: The prevalence of OH was 51.6%, almost equally divided into probably symptomatic and probably asymptomatic cases. Another 20.6% had possibly symptomatic OH. Importantly, only two patients with symptomatic OH had an OH diagnosis noted in their medical records. Five received domperidone, one received fludrocortison and none received midodrine. Conclusion: One half of institutionalized PD patients had OH, of whom half were probably symptomatic. OH was rarely noted in the medical records, suggesting underdiagnosis. Finally, OH was rarely treated, suggesting undertreatment.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Nocturnal Continuous Subcutaneous Apomorphine Infusion in Sleep Disorders in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease: The APO-NIGHT Study
Authors: Fernández-Pajarín Gustavo , Sesar Ángel , Ares Begoña , Castro Alfonso 
Published: September 2016

Background: There are not many data about the beneficial effect of nocturnal continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (NCSAI) over sleep disturbances in advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: Evaluate the effect of the NCSAI in sleeping problems and insomnia due to nocturnal hypokinesia inadvanced PD. Methods: We assessed 17 advanced PD patients with several sleep disturbances measured by SCOPA-SLEEP and PDSS scales. All the patients were on apomorphine infusion during daytime. This therapy was extended to nighttime. We evaluated the patients before the onset and after six weeks with NCSAI. Results: NCSAI allowed highly significant improvements in SCOPA-SLEEP and PDSS scales ( p<0.0001), and daytime somnolence. NCSAI was well tolerated with no major adverse effects were noticed. Conclusion: This study shows and confirms the efficacy of NCSAI on the sleep disturbances related to advanced PD. We provide an easy protocol to start this therapy.
Subjective Perceived Motor Improvement after Acute Levodopa Challenge in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Rabel Constance , Le Goff Floriane , Lefaucheur Romain , Ozel Gulden , Fetter Damien , Rouillé Audrey , Maltête David 
Published: September 2016

Background: Previous studies found a poor association between parkinsonian patient’s reported subjective improvement after commencing dopaminergic treatment and improvements in objective measures of motor impairment by clinician. Objective: To compare PD patient’s subjective perceived motor improvement after acute levodopa challenge test with objective motor improvement assessed by the clinician using the UPDRS part III. To analyze clinical characteristics, i.e. age, disease duration, cognitive performance or severity of axial features, that may have influenced patient’s perception. Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive PD patients (23 women, 34 men; mean age, 63.4±7.7 years) (Hoehn and Yahr off score, 2.5±0.7; mean disease duration, 11.4±4.1 years) completed the acute levodopa challenge. The percentage of improvement in motor disability, i.e. objective motor improvement, was determined with respect to the off-drug condition. Results: Bland & Altman visual analysis reveals a high degree of correlation between objective and subjective perceived motor improvement. Both the axial sub-scores in the off- and on-state (respectively, P = 0.006 and P = 0.024) and the presence of peak-dose dyskinesia ( P = 0.043) significantly influence the difference between objective and subjective perceived motor improvement. Conclusions: This is the first study reporting on how PD patients assessed their motor improvement after acute levodopa challenge. These findings suggest a strong correlation between objective motor improvement assessed by the clinician using the UPDRS part III and subjective perceived motor improvement reported by the patient.
Muscarinic M1 Receptor Coupling to G-protein is Intact in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Authors: Lee Jasinda H. , Francis Paul T. , Ballard Clive G. , Aarsland Dag , Kalaria Raj N. , Wong Peter T.-H. , Chen Christopher P. , Lai Mitchell K.P. 
Published: September 2016

Background: Postsynaptic cholinergic deficits, including reduced cortical muscarinic M1 receptor coupling to G-proteins, are neurochemical findings postulated to underlie the limited efficacy of presynaptically-targeted cholinergic replacement therapies in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While the loss of M1-G-protein coupling has been associated with β-amyloid (Aβ) burden in AD, the status of M1 coupling to G-proteins in Parkinson’s disease-related or mixed dementias is unclear. Objective: To test the hypothesis that M1 receptor uncoupling is correlated with Aβ burden, we aimed to study muscarinic M1 neurochemical parameters in neurodegenerative dementias characterized by low and high Aβ loads. Methods: M1 receptors, M1 coupling to G-proteins as well as Aβ were measured in postmortem frontal cortex of a cohort of longitudinally assessed patients with Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD, low Aβ load) and AD with significant subcortical cerebrovascular disease (AD + CVD, high Aβ load). Results: We found unchanged levels of M1 receptors in both dementia groups, while M1 coupling was reduced only in AD + CVD ( p < 0.01). Furthermore, Aβ concentration was significantly increased only in AD + CVD, and correlated negatively with M1-G-protein coupling in the dementia groups. Conclusions: Our study suggests that loss of M1 coupling to G-proteins may be a neurochemical feature of neurodegenerative dementias with high cortical Aβ burden, and that cholinergic replacement therapies may be more efficacious for PDD due to low Aβ burden.
X‐rays and virtual taphonomy resolve the first Cissus (Vitaceae) macrofossils from Africa as early‐diverging members of the genus
Authors: Adams Neil F. , Collinson Margaret E. , Smith Selena Y. , Bamford Marion K. , Forest Félix , Malakasi Panagiota , Marone Federica , Dan Sykes  
Published: September 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:Fossilized seeds similar to Cissus (Vitaceae) have been recognized from the Miocene of Kenya, though some were previously assigned to the Menispermaceae. We undertook a comparative survey of extant African Cissus seeds to identify the fossils and consider their implications for the evolution and biogeography of Cissus and for African early Miocene paleoenvironments.METHODS:Micro‐computed tomography (µCT) and synchrotron‐based X‐ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) were used to study seed morphology and anatomy. Virtual taphonomy, using SRXTM data sets, produced digital fossils to elucidate seed taphonomy. Phylogenetic relationships within Cissus were reconstructed using existing and newly produced DNA sequences for African species. Paleobiology and paleoecology were inferred from African nearest living relatives.KEY RESULTS:The fossils were assigned to four new Cissus species, related to four modern clades. The fossil plants were interpreted as climbers inhabiting a mosaic of riverine woodland and forest to more open habitats. Virtual taphonomy explained how complex mineral infill processes concealed key seed features, causing the previous taxonomic misidentification. Newly sampled African species, with seeds most similar to the fossils, belong to four clades within core Cissus, two of which are early diverging.CONCLUSIONS:Virtual taphonomy, combined with X‐ray imaging, has enabled recognition of the first fossil Cissus and Vitaceae from Africa. Early‐divergent members of the core Cissus clade were present in Africa by at least the early Miocene, with an African origin suggested for the Cissus sciaphila clade. The fossils provide supporting evidence for mosaic paleoenvironments inhabited by early Miocene hominoids.
A BROADBAND X-RAY SPECTRAL STUDY OF THE INTERMEDIATE-MASS BLACK HOLE CANDIDATE M82 X-1 WITH NuSTAR, CHANDRA, AND SWIFT
Authors: Brightman Murray , Harrison Fiona A. , Barret Didier , Davis Shane W. , Fürst Felix , Madsen Kristin K. , Middleton Matthew , Miller Jon M. , Stern Daniel , Tao Lian , Walton Dominic J. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT
M82 X-1 is one of the brightest ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) known, which, assuming Eddington-limited accretion and other considerations, makes it one of the best intermediate-mass black-hole (IMBH) candidates. However, the ULX may still be explained by super-Eddington accretion onto a stellar remnant black hole. We present simultaneous NuSTAR, Chandra, and Swift/XRT observations during the peak of a flaring episode with the aim of modeling the emission of M82 X-1 and yielding insights into its nature. We find that thin accretion disk models all require accretion rates at or above the Eddington limit in order to reproduce the spectral shape, given a range of black-hole masses and spins. Since at these high Eddington ratios the thin-disk model breaks down due to radial advection in the disk, we discard the results of the thin-disk models as unphysical. We find that the temperature profile as a function of disk radius (

) is significantly flatter (

) than expected for a standard thin disk (p = 0.75). A flatter profile is instead characteristic of a slim disk, which is highly suggestive of super-Eddington accretion. Furthermore, radiation hydrodynamical simulations of super-Eddington accretion have shown that the predicted spectra of these systems are very similar to what we observe for M82 X-1. We therefore conclude that M82 X-1 is a super-Eddington accretor. Our mass estimates inferred from the inner disk radius imply a stellar remnant black hole (

=

M
⊙) when assuming zero spin and face-on inclination, or an IMBH for maximal spin and a highly inclined disk.
A HERSCHEL VIEW OF PROTOPLANETARY DISKS IN THE σ ORI CLUSTER
Authors: Maucó Karina , Hernández Jesús , Calvet Nuria , Ballesteros-Paredes Javier , Briceño César , McClure Melissa , D’Alessio Paola , Anderson Kassandra , Ali Babar 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTWe present newHerschelobservations using the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer of 32 T Tauri stars in the young (∼3 Myr)σOri cluster. Most of our objects are K and M stars with large excesses at 24μm. We used irradiated accretion disk models of D’Alessio et al. to compare their spectral energy distributions with our observational data. We arrive at the following six conclusions. (i) The observed disks are consistent with irradiated accretion disk systems. (ii) Most of our objects (60%) can be explained by significant dust depletion from the upper disk layers. (iii) Similarly, 61% of our objects can be modeled with large disk sizes (Rd ≥ 100 au). (iv) The masses of our disks range between 0.03 and 39MJup, where 35% of our objects have disk masses less than 1MJup. Although these are lower limits, high-mass (>0.05) disks, which are present in, e.g., Taurus, are missing. (v) By assuming a uniform distribution of objects around the brightest stars at the center of the cluster, we found that 80% of our disks are exposed to external FUV radiation of, which can be strong enough to photoevaporate the outer edges of the closer disks. (vi) Within 0.6 pc fromσOri we found forbidden emission lines of [Nii] in the spectrum of one of our large disks (SO662), but no emission in any of our small ones. This suggests that this object may be an example of a photoevaporating disk.
Incidental Findings on Chest Computed Tomography are Common and Linked to Inflammation in HIV-Infected Adults
Authors: Park Michelle S , Hileman Corrilynn O , Sattar Abdus , Gilkeson Robert , McComsey Grace A 
Published: September 2016

Background Chest imaging is performed for a variety of reasons in HIV-infected adults. There are limited data on the prevalence of incidental findings, progression of these findings over time and the relationship with inflammation in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated HIV-infected adults. Methods This study utilized data from a randomized clinical trial of rosuvastatin in HIV-infected adults on ART. Incidental findings were reported from chest computed tomography (CT) scans obtained for coronary artery calcium score at entry, week 48 and 96. Markers of immune activation and inflammation were measured concurrently. Poisson regression and generalized estimating equations were used. Results A total of 147 participants were enrolled. Median age was 46 years, 78% were male, 68% African American and 63% current smokers. At baseline, 57% of participants had at least one incidental lung finding (ILF) and four additional participants had at least one ILF by week 96. At baseline, older age, current smoking, lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count and low-density lipoprotein and higher lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were independently associated with having a greater number of ILFs. In the longitudinal analyses, older age, lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count and higher baseline soluble tumour necrosis factor α-receptor I (sTNF-RI) were independently associated with having a greater number of ILFs over 96 weeks. Conclusions Over half of participants had at least one incidental finding on chest CT. Beyond traditional factors of older age and smoking, lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count and higher markers of inflammation were associated with having a greater number of ILFs in HIV-infected adults on ART.