bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generality Versus Context Specificity: First, Second and Third Best in Theory and Policy
Authors: Lipsey Richard G. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSecond‐best theory established that a policy's effect on community welfare (or any other objective function) varies with its specific context. In contrast, Ng argues that fulfilling first‐best conditions piecemeal is optimal whenever the policy‐maker's information is insufficient to determine the direction of the change in the variable under consideration that will raise welfare, irrespective of the conditions in that market. It is argued in the present paper: (i) that Ng's own assumptions imply not that first‐best conditions should be established under these circumstances, but that the status quo should be maintained; (ii) that when Ng's key assumption is altered to be empirically relevant, all policy decisions become fully context‐specific; and (iii) that Woo's argument for accepting Ng's conclusions in spite of point (ii) is incorrect. The conclusion discusses valid uses of piecemeal welfare theory in spite of second best.
Theory of Third Best: How to Interpret and Apply
Authors: Ng Yew‐Kwang 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSix decades after the formulation of his (Lipsey & Lancaster, ) celebrated general theory of the second best, Richard Lipsey has written on the important issue of second‐best and third‐best theories. In particular, he criticizes the theory of third best (see Section 3 below). This paper explains our agreements and differences and reaches the following conclusions. First, several arguments provided do not invalidate the theory of third best, at least if correctly interpreted and applied. We may have useful piecemeal welfare policies after all, if appropriately used. Second, I did not and do not attempt to refute the general result of second‐best theory; both the second‐best and third‐best theories remain valid, if properly interpreted. Third, the usefulness of some general results (properly interpreted and used) and the importance of additional information (if available) on specific context need not be an either–or choice (Section 1). Finally, the third‐best theory is not completely non‐context specific; the distinction between cases of Informational Poverty and Scarcity itself depends on the context. However, it also provides some general guides useful for making piecemeal policies in different contexts (Sections 3 and 4).
Impact of an Individual Mandate and Other Health Reforms on Dependent Coverage for Adolescents and Young Adults
Authors: Wisk Lauren E. , Finkelstein Jonathan A. , Toomey Sara L. , Sawicki Gregory S. , Schuster Mark A. , Galbraith Alison A. 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of state‐level dependent coverage expansion (DCE) with and without other state health reforms on exit from dependent coverage for adolescents and young adults (AYA).Data SourcesAdministrative longitudinal data for 131,542 privately insured AYA in Massachusetts (DCE with other reforms) versus Maine and New Hampshire (DCE without other reforms) across three periods: prereform (1/00–12/06), poststate reform (1/07–9/10), and postfederal reform (10/10–12/12).Study DesignA difference‐in‐differences estimator was used to determine the rate of exit from dependent coverage, age at exit from dependent coverage, and re‐uptake of dependent coverage among AYA in states with comprehensive reforms versus DCE only.Principal FindingsImplementation of DCE with other reforms was significantly associated with a 23 percent reduction in exit from dependent coverage among AYA compared to the reduction observed for DCE alone. Additionally, comprehensive reforms were associated with over two additional years of dependent coverage for the average AYA and a 33 percent increase in the odds of regaining dependent coverage after a prior loss.ConclusionsFindings suggest that an individual mandate and other reforms may enhance the effect of DCE in preventing loss of coverage among AYA.
Does High‐Quality Auditing Mitigate or Encourage Private Information Collection?
Authors: Chen Yangyang , Sadique Shibley , Srinidhi Bin , Veeraraghavan Madhu 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe finance literature offers two competing possibilities on how investors respond to the quality of public financial statements in their pricing decisions. They could collect either (i) more private information to benefit from lower information collection cost, or (ii) less private information because of lower incremental benefits. In this paper, we use the audit setting to examine which possibility prevails. Using the idiosyncratic return volatility as a proxy for firm‐specific information, we show in a sample of 51,559 firm‐year observations for 8,261 U.S. firms spanning the period of 2000–2010 that firms audited by higher‐quality auditors exhibit lower average idiosyncratic return volatility but a higher concentration of it at the time of earnings announcements. Our findings are consistent with the argument that investors reduce private information collection in response to higher audit quality. Our findings are robust to alternative measures of audit quality and idiosyncratic return volatility.
Hybrid approach using laparoscopy and transanal minimally invasive surgery to treat rectal cancer with invasion to the seminal vesicles
Authors: Yamaguchi Takuya , Imai Minoru , Uematsu Dai 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe treated a 64‐year‐old man for rectal cancer with direct invasion to the seminal vesicles and no distant metastases by complete resection with laparoscopy and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS). We inserted the TAMIS device into the anal canal to above the anorectal ring and dissected to prostate level. High ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery and vein was performed by standard medial laparoscopy. The sigmoid and descending colon were mobilized, and in the postrectal space, we dissected to the space made by TAMIS. The membranous peritoneum was dissected on both sides of the rectum to the cul de sac. The peritoneum was dissected anterolaterally to reveal the seminal ducts, which were ligated and dissected on both sides. The seminal vesicles were dissected from the posterior wall of the bladder to the prostate level. The rectal specimen was now fully mobilized. Lower rectal resection with combined laparoscopy and TAMIS provided a better surgical plane than standard laparoscopy.
Roaming of dogs in remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia and potential interaction between community and wild dogs
Authors: Bombara C , Dürr S , Gongora J , Ward MP 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate the roaming of Indigenous community dogs and potential interaction with wild dogs and dingoes.DesignCross‐sectional survey and longitudinal follow‐up study.MethodsSix remote Indigenous communities in Cape York Peninsula and Arnhem Land in northern Australia were selected. Hair samples were collected from community dogs and microsatellite DNA analyses were used to determine hybrid (>10% dingo DNA) status. Dogs were fitted with GPS collars and home range (ha) was estimated during monitoring periods of up to 3 days.ResultsIn Cape York Peninsula, 6% of the 35 dogs sampled were dingo hybrids, whereas in Arnhem Land 41% of the 29 dogs sampled were hybrids. The median extended home range was estimated to be 4.54 ha (interquartile range, 3.40 − 7.71). Seven community dogs were identified with an estimated home range > 20 ha and home ranges included the bushland surrounding communities. No significant difference in home ranges was detected between hybrid and non‐hybrid dogs.ConclusionsStudy results provide some evidence (dingo hybridisation, bushland forays) of the potential interaction between domestic and wild dogs in northern Australia. The nature of this interaction needs further investigation to determine its role in disease transmission; for example, in the case of a rabies incursion in this region.
A pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model predicting tumour growth inhibition after intermittent administration with the mTOR kinase inhibitor AZD8055
Authors: Yates James W T , Holt Sarah V , Logie Armelle , Payne Kirsty , Woods Karen , Wilkinson Robert W , Davies Barry R , Guichard Sylvie M 
Published: May 2017

Background and PurposeAZD8055 is a potent orally available mTOR kinase inhibitor with in vitro and in vivo antitumour activity against a range of tumour types. Preclinical studies showed that AZD8055 induced a dose‐dependent pharmacodynamic effect in xenograft models in vivo, but a lack of understanding of the relative contributions of the maximum inhibition of the biomarkers and the duration of inhibition to the antitumour effect, limited the rational design of experiments to optimize the dose and schedules of treatment.Experimental ApproachIn this study, a mathematical modelling approach was developed to relate pharmacodynamics and antitumour activity using preclinical data generated in mice bearing U87‐MG xenografts.Key ResultsRefinement and validation of the model was carried out in a panel of additional human tumour xenograft models with different growth rates and different sensitivity to AZD8055 (from partial growth inhibition to regression). Finally, the model was applied to accurately predict the efficacy of high, intermittent dosing schedules of AZD8055.Conclusions and ImplicationsOverall, this new model linking pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic biomarkers and efficacy across several tumour xenografts with different sensitivity to AZD8055 was able to identify the optimal dose and route of administration to maximize the antitumour efficacy in preclinical models and its potential for translation into man.
Associations Between Sexting Behaviors and Sexual Behaviors Among Mobile Phone‐Owning Teens in Los Angeles
Authors: Rice Eric , Craddock Jaih , Hemler Mary , Rusow Joshua , Plant Aaron , Montoya Jorge , Kordic Timothy 
Published: May 2017

The implications of teen sexting for healthy development continue to concern parents, academics, and the general public. Using a probability sample of high school students (N = 1,208) aged 12–18, the prevalence of sexting, associations with sexting, and associations between sexing and sexual activity were assessed. Seventeen percent both sent and received sexts, and 24% only received sexts. Sending and receiving sexts were positively associated with each other and both behaviors were associated with having peers who sext. Lifetime reports of sexual intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, and recent unprotected sex were positively associated with reports of texting 300 or more times per day, only receiving sexts, and both sending and receiving sexts.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients with profound hyponatraemia due to primary polydipsia
Authors: Sailer Clara O. , Winzeler Bettina , Nigro Nicole , Suter‐Widmer Isabelle , Arici Birsen , Bally Martina , Schuetz Philipp , Mueller Beat , Christ‐Crain Mirjam 
Published: May 2017

SummaryObjectiveHyponatraemia due to excessive fluid intake (ie primary polydipsia [PP]) is common. It may culminate in profound hyponatraemia—carrying considerable risk of morbidity. However, data on patients with PP leading to hyponatraemia are lacking. Herein, we describe the characteristics of polydiptic patients hospitalized with profound hyponatraemia and assess 1‐year outcomes.DesignSubstudy of the prospective observational Co‐MED Study.PatientsPatients with an episode of profound hyponatraemia (≤125 mmol/L) due to PP in the medical emergency were eligible and classified into psychogenic polydipsia (PsyP), dipsogenic polydipsia (DiP) and beer potomania (BP).MeasurementsSymptoms, laboratory findings and factors contributing to hyponatraemia (comorbidities, medication and liquid intake) were assessed. A 1‐year follow‐up was performed to evaluate recurrence of hyponatraemia, readmission rate and mortality.ResultsTwenty‐three patients were included (median age 56 years [IQR 50‐65], 74% female), seven had PsyP, eight had DiP and eight had BP. Median serum sodium of all patients was 121 mmol/L (IQR 114‐123), median urine osmolality 167 mmol/L (IQR 105‐184) and median copeptin 3.6 mmol/L (IQR 1.9‐5.5). Psychiatric diagnoses, particularly dependency disorder (43%) and depression (35%), were highly prevalent. Factors provoking hyponatraemia were found in all patients (eg acute water load, medication, stress).During the follow‐up period, 67% of patients were readmitted, 52% of these with rehyponatraemia, and three patients (38%) with BP died.ConclusionPatients with PP are more likely to be female and to have addictive and affective disorders. Given the high recurrence, rehospitalization and mortality rate, careful monitoring and long‐term follow‐up including controls of serum sodium, education and behavioural therapy are needed.
CPU–GPU Parallel Framework for Real‐Time Interactive Cutting of Adaptive Octree‐Based Deformable Objects
Authors: Jia Shiyu , Zhang Weizhong , Yu Xiaokang , Pan Zhenkuan 
Published: May 2017

AbstractA software framework taking advantage of parallel processing capabilities of CPUs and GPUs is designed for the real‐time interactive cutting simulation of deformable objects. Deformable objects are modelled as voxels connected by links. The voxels are embedded in an octree mesh used for deformation. Cutting is performed by disconnecting links swept by the cutting tool and then adaptively refining octree elements near the cutting tool trajectory. A surface mesh used for visual display is reconstructed from disconnected links using the dual contour method. Spatial hashing of the octree mesh and topology‐aware interpolation of distance field are used for collision. Our framework uses a novel GPU implementation for inter‐object collision and object self collision, while tool‐object collision, cutting and deformation are assigned to CPU, using multiple threads whenever possible. A novel method that splits cutting operations into four independent tasks running in parallel is designed. Our framework also performs data transfers between CPU and GPU simultaneously with other tasks to reduce their impact on performances. Simulation tests show that when compared to three‐threaded CPU implementations, our GPU accelerated collision is 53–160% faster; and the overall simulation frame rate is 47–98% faster.
Parental pre‐pregnancy obesity and the risk of offspring weight and body mass index change from childhood to adulthood
Authors: Zalbahar N. , Najman J. , McIntyre H. D. , Mamun A. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to examine the association of parental pre‐pregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI) on offspring weight and BMI change from childhood to adulthood.We analysed BMI data from a subsample of parents (n = 1494) from the Mater‐University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy cohort that started in the early 1980s in Brisbane, Australia: data were collected at pre‐pregnancy and then also for offspring at 5, 14 and 21‐year follow‐ups. Multiple regression for continuous outcomes and multinomial regression for categorical outcomes were performed.A total of 14.7% of offspring experienced BMI change from normal at 5 years to overweight or obese (OW/OB) at 14 years, 15.3% of normal at 14 years to OW/OB at 21 years and 22.8% from normal at 5 years to OW/OB at 21 years. Overall, the strength of the association of parental BMI with offspring BMI was stronger as offspring become older. Pre‐pregnancy parental BMI differentially impacts offspring OW/OB across the life course. For every unit increase in paternal and maternal BMI z‐score, offspring BMI z‐score increased, on average, by between 0.15% (kg m−2) and 0.24% (kg m−2) throughout all three stages of life when both parents were OW/OB; these associations were stronger than with one parent.Parental pre‐pregnancy BMI and OW/OB is a strong predictor of offspring weight and BMI change from early life to adulthood.
The influence of pubertal maturation on antisaccade performance
Authors: Ordaz Sarah J. , Fritz Barbara L. , Forbes Erika E. , Luna Beatriz 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAdolescence is a period characterized by continued improvements in inhibitory control, and this persisting immaturity is believed to interact with affective/motivational behavior to generate the impulsive and risk‐taking behavior evidenced at this time. Puberty is a central event of adolescence that has been shown to influence affective/motivational behavior. However, despite plausible mechanisms by which puberty might influence inhibitory control, researchers have yet to test this possibility rigorously. Thus, we designed a study to examine the unique role of pubertal maturation, independent of age, in the development of inhibitory control. In order to minimize age‐related variability while maximizing pubertal status variability, we recruited 78 participants (34 F) whose ages narrowly spanned the mean age of gonadarche for each sex (F: ages 11–13, M: ages 12–14). Two complementary measures were used to assess pubertal status: (1) circulating blood serum testosterone and estradiol levels reflecting internal manifestations of pubertal maturation, and (2) Tanner staging by a trained nurse reflecting pubertal maturation's external manifestations. Inhibitory control was assessed using the antisaccade task, and findings were adjusted for the potential effect of age. Results revealed no association between testosterone levels and error rates or response latencies in either sex. In girls, estradiol levels were not associated with error rates, but were associated with faster response latencies. There was similarly no association between Tanner status and error rates, although girls in more advanced pubertal stages showed faster response latencies. Power analyses indicate that findings of a lack of association did not reflect limited statistical power. Thus, in a study designed to isolate the effects of pubertal maturation independent of age, both external and internal indices of pubertal maturation converged to indicate that age‐related improvements in cold antisaccade performance are independent of pubertal maturation.
Salience network response to changes in emotional expressions of others is heightened during early adolescence: relevance for social functioning
Authors: Rosen Maya L. , Sheridan Margaret A. , Sambrook Kelly A. , Dennison Meg J. , Jenness Jessica L. , Askren Mary K. , Meltzoff Andrew N. , McLaughlin Katie A. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAdolescence is a unique developmental period when the salience of social and emotional information becomes particularly pronounced. Although this increased sensitivity to social and emotional information has frequently been considered with respect to risk behaviors and psychopathology, evidence suggests that increased adolescent sensitivity to social and emotional cues may confer advantages. For example, greater sensitivity to shifts in the emotions of others is likely to promote flexible and adaptive social behavior. In this study, a sample of 54 children and adolescents (age 8–19 years) performed a delayed match‐to‐sample task for emotional faces while undergoing fMRI scanning. Recruitment of the anterior cingulate and anterior insula when the emotion of the probe face did not match the emotion held in memory followed a quadratic developmental pattern that peaked during early adolescence. These findings indicate meaningful developmental variation in the neural mechanisms underlying sensitivity to changes in the emotional expressions. Across all participants, greater activation of this network for changes in emotional expression was associated with less social anxiety and fewer social problems. These results suggest that the heightened salience of social and emotional information during adolescence may confer important advantages for social behavior, providing sensitivity to others’ emotions that facilitates flexible social responding.
Auditory access, language access, and implicit sequence learning in deaf children
Authors: Hall Matthew L. , Eigsti Inge‐Marie , Bortfeld Heather , Lillo‐Martin Diane 
Published: May 2017

AbstractDevelopmental psychology plays a central role in shaping evidence‐based best practices for prelingually deaf children. The Auditory Scaffolding Hypothesis (Conway et al., 2009) asserts that a lack of auditory stimulation in deaf children leads to impoverished implicit sequence learning abilities, measured via an artificial grammar learning (AGL) task. However, prior research is confounded by a lack of both auditory and language input. The current study examines implicit learning in deaf children who were (Deaf native signers) or were not (oral cochlear implant users) exposed to language from birth, and in hearing children, using both AGL and Serial Reaction Time (SRT) tasks. Neither deaf nor hearing children across the three groups show evidence of implicit learning on the AGL task, but all three groups show robust implicit learning on the SRT task. These findings argue against the Auditory Scaffolding Hypothesis, and suggest that implicit sequence learning may be resilient to both auditory and language deprivation, within the tested limits. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/EeqfQqlVHLI [Correction added on 07 August 2017, after first online publication: The video abstract link was added.]
Social cohesion in Rwanda: Results from a public good experiment
Authors: Stage Jesper , Uwera Claudine 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe describe a public good experiment, a type of economic experiment commonly used to examine feelings of prosociality—that is, behaviour which is positive, helpful and intended to promote social acceptance and friendship—and community cohesion, carried out in Rwanda. Contributions in different parts of the country are affected by the local intensity of the 1994 genocide, with more generous contributions being made in areas where violence was greater. This supports earlier research indicating that conflict experience leads to greater prosociality. However, we also find that people who have not, themselves, been targets of violence give lower contributions than people who have. The considerable group‐related and regional differences in social behaviour may have implications for the country's policies to deal with social cohesion.
Differences among avocado cultivars in susceptibility to polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea spec.)
Authors: Eatough Jones Michele , Paine Timothy D. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPolyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) (Euwallacea spec.; Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) has recently invaded southern California, USA. Along with its associated fungi, the beetle causes branch dieback and tree mortality in more than 200 host tree species, including avocado (Persea americana Mill., Lauraceae) and many important native, urban landscape, and nursery stock trees. As PSHB spreads into the avocado‐growing regions of southern California, there is a pressing need for more information for effective management of the insect/fungus complex. The objective of this study was to examine avocado cultivars to see whether there were differences in susceptibility to attack and gallery development from PSHB. We conducted choice and no‐choice trials with cut branches in the laboratory, artificially infested avocado saplings with PSHB, and also surveyed attack rates for two cultivars of field‐grown avocado subject to natural attack by PSHB. Laboratory and field trials showed similar patterns for preference among avocado cultivars indicated by beetle attack rates and gallery formation. Among the common commercial cultivars, Fuerte, Gwen, and Bacon most often had lower attack rates and lower rates of gallery formation. Zutano most frequently indicated high attack rates and much gallery formation, indicating that it may be the most susceptible to PHSB of the commercial cultivars.