bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monetary policy, financing constraints and investment efficiency
Authors: Han Dongping , Zhang Peng 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– This paper aims to analyze the different impacts of monetary policy on the financing constraints of diverse enterprises from China by introducing the concepts of external and internal management factors, and on the investment efficiency of these enterprises with the help of “Hayek Triangle”.Design/methodology/approach– Based on the concept of human action, this paper builds an empirical model which is remarkably different from previous related researches and conducts an empirical test by using the chosen sample data of 312 Chinese listed private companies from 2003 to 2012.Findings– This paper shows that owing to the differences of management capacity of diverse enterprises, under the condition of the governmental micro-economic intervention in the allocation of credit funds, the loose monetary policy relieves the financing constraints confronted by the enterprises with better external management capacity, and aggravates the financing constraints confronted by the enterprises with better internal management capacity. This paper also shows that the loose monetary policy will distort the market interest rate signal, which in turn falsely directs the enterprises to divert resources from short-term to long-term investment projects.Research limitations/implications– These findings mean that under the condition of the loose monetary policy, contrasted with the private enterprises with better internal management capacity, the investment efficiency of the private enterprises with better external management capacity will be lowered because they are able to acquire more credit funds preferentially and readily.Practical implications– This paper argues that the government should strengthen the ex-post property rights protection for financial transactions, reduce the micro-economic intervention in the credit funds allocation and improve the marketization level of the financial deals. Also, the government should prudently regulate macro-economy by monetary policy.Originality/value– This paper is mainly based on the market process theory of Austrian School, and therefore initiates a totally new perspective for the research of corporate financing.
Dependence and extreme correlation among US industry sectors
Authors: Sukcharoen Kunlapath , Leatham David J. 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of dependence and extreme correlation (i.e. tail dependence) among US industry sectors.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper makes use of both conventional measures of dependence (the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s tau) and copula measures of extreme correlations (including the same-direction and cross-tail dependence coefficients) to explore sector diversification opportunities. The paper splits the full sample in three periods, namely, 1995 to 2000, 2001 to 2006 and 2007 to 2012, to access the extent to which the dependence results change through time.

Findings
– This research provides three important findings. First, the degree of dependence and same-direction extreme correlations are high, whereas the cross-extreme correlations are considerably low. Second, the sector pairs offering the best and worst tail diversification change across sample periods. Third, the traditional dependence measures suggest that benefits for sector diversification have decreased over all sample periods, while the potential for sector diversification during extreme events has just started to disappear in the most recent period.

Practical implications
– An investor should consider both the normal co-movements and extreme co-movements among sector indices to maximize diversification benefits.

Originality/value
– Given the limited empirical investigations of the degree of dependence and extreme correlation at a sector level, the results from this research should provide additional and valuable information for both investors and empirical researchers about portfolio diversification and risk management.
The inverse of a terror event? Stock market response to pro-active action
Authors: Afik Zvika , Lahav Yaron , Mandelzweig Lior 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– This paper aims to study and document the effect of counter-terrorism on stock returns. The authors select a sample of pro-active defense operations, performed by the Israeli military and government agencies, with significant media coverage, including leading international channels.Design/methodology/approach– The authors use the event study methodology to assess the effect of each operation on the Israeli equity market. The theoretical background of this work is the recent behavioral literature on anomalies in the formation of asset pricing and in investors’ decision-making.Findings– The authors find generally a statistically significant positive equity market reaction, on average, to prominent successful operations. The initial market response is usually negative and then changes according to the type of event, its specific circumstances and expected ramifications.Originality/value– Unlike the vast prior literature on terror effects, the authors believe that this is the first paper to study the market reaction to prominent counter-terrorism operations.
Does idiosyncratic volatility predict future growth of the Australian economy?
Authors: Liu Bin , Di Iorio Amalia 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine whether idiosyncratic volatility and other asset pricing factors predict growth rates of the ten Australian economic indicators.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors use the Liew and Vassalou (2000) model augmented with an idiosyncratic volatility factor to investigate the issue.

Findings
– Using regression analysis, the authors find that the asset pricing factors can be used to predict the growth rates for eight out of the ten economic indicators. Moreover, using portfolio performance analysis, the authors find that high returns of size factor and a book-to-market factor portfolios precede periods of good macroeconomic states, whereas high returns of HIMLI portfolios precede periods of bad macroeconomic states.

Originality/value
– To the authors’ knowledge, the relationship between idiosyncratic volatility and Australian economic growth has not been investigated explicitly in the literature.
A hybrid approach to exchange rates
Authors: Zhang Guangfeng , Marsh Ian , MacDonald Ronald 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– This study aims to investigate the impact of information, both public macro news and private information, on exchange rate volatility in an integrated framework.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors apply real-time data of macro announcements and high-frequency trading data (German Deutsche Mark to US dollar, DEM/USD, from 1 May to 31August 1996) to GARCH models and examine various model specifications.

Findings
– Data analysis demonstrates real-time macro news and market makers’ private information both have a significant impact on exchange rate volatility, but there is no interaction between macro and micro information in the information transmission process.

Originality/value
– This study contributes to empirical hybrid studies of examining exchange rates volatility, which is in line with literature that combine both macro and micro fundamentals in examining exchange rates variation. Particularly, a key element of this study is to use a microstructure fundamental variable, namely, order flow, to capture private information in an exchange rate volatility study.
‘Ladd traps’ as a visual trap for male and female Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Schutze Mark K , W Cribb Bronwen , Cunningham J Paul , Newman Jaye , Peek Thelma , Clarke Anthony R 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) is Australia's major horticultural insect pest, yet monitoring females remains logistically difficult. We trialled the ‘Ladd trap’ as a potential female surveillance or monitoring tool. This trap design is used to trap and monitor fruit flies in countries other (e.g. USA) than Australia. The Ladd trap consists of a flat yellow panel (a traditional ‘sticky trap’), with a three dimensional red sphere (= a fruit mimic) attached in the middle. We confirmed, in field‐cage trials, that the combination of yellow panel and red sphere was more attractive to B. tryoni than the two components in isolation. In a second set of field‐cage trials, we showed that it was the red‐yellow contrast, rather than the three dimensional effect, which was responsible for the trap's effectiveness, with B. tryoni equally attracted to a Ladd trap as to a two‐dimensional yellow panel with a circular red centre. The sex ratio of catches was approximately even in the field‐cage trials. In field trials, we tested the traditional red‐sphere Ladd trap against traps for which the sphere was painted blue, black or yellow. The colour of sphere did not significantly influence trap efficiency in these trials, despite the fact the yellow‐panel/yellow‐sphere presented no colour contrast to the flies. In 6 weeks of field trials, over 1500 flies were caught, almost exactly two‐thirds of them being females. Overall, flies were more likely to be caught on the yellow panel than the sphere; but, for the commercial Ladd trap, proportionally more females were caught on the red sphere versus the yellow panel than would be predicted based on relative surface area of each component, a result also seen the field‐cage trial. We determined that no modification of the trap was more effective than the commercially available Ladd trap and so consider that product suitable for more extensive field testing as a B. tryoni research and monitoring tool.
Teaching and assessment of communication skills in undergraduate dental education – a survey in German‐speaking countries
Authors: Rüttermann S. , Sobotta A. , Hahn P. , Kiessling C. , Härtl A. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractIntroductionTeaching communication is perceived to be of importance in dental education. Several reports have been published worldwide in the educational literature describing modifications of the dental curriculum by implementing the teaching of communication skills. Surveys which evaluate the current state of training and assessment of communication skills in dental education in different countries exist already in some countries, but little information is available about German‐speaking countries.Material and MethodsIn a cross‐sectional study with the aim of a census, all 36 dental schools in Germany (30), Austria (3), and Switzerland (3) were surveyed.ResultsThe present survey revealed that at 26 of the 34 dental schools (76%), communication skills training has been implemented. Training of communication skills mainly takes place between the 6th and the 9th semester. Ten schools were able to implement a partly longitudinal curriculum, while the other sites only offer stand‐alone courses. Of the 34 dental schools, six assess communication skills in a summative way. Three of those schools also use formative assessments for their students. Another seven sites only use formative assessment. From the various formats of assessment, OSCE is mentioned most frequently.ConclusionThe necessity to train and assess communication skills has reached German‐speaking dental schools. The present survey allows an overview of the training and assessment of communication skills in undergraduate dental education in German‐speaking Europe.
Major and trace element geochemistry of S‐type cosmic spherules
Authors: Rudraswami N. G. , Shyam Prasad M. , Babu E. V. S. S. K. , Vijaya Kumar T. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMicrometeorites that pass through the Earth's atmosphere undergo changes in their chemical compositions, thereby making it difficult to understand if they are sourced from the matrix, chondrules, or calcium–aluminum‐rich inclusions (CAIs). These components have the potential to provide evidence toward the understanding of the early solar nebular evolution. The variations in the major element and trace element compositions of 155 different type (scoriaceous, relict bearing, porphyritic, barred, cryptocrystalline, and glass) of S‐type cosmic spherules are investigated with the intent to decipher the parent sources using electron microprobe and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. The S‐type cosmic spherules appear to show a systematic depletion in volatile element contents, but have preserved their refractory trace elements. The trends in their chemical compositions suggest that the S‐type spherules comprise of components from similar parent bodies, that is, carbonaceous chondrites. Large fosteritic relict grains observed in this investigation appear to be related to the fragments of chondrules from carbonaceous chondrites. Furthermore, four spherules (two of these spherules enclose spinels and one comprised entirely of a Ca‐Al‐rich plagioclase) show enhanced trace element enrichment patterns that are drastically different from all the other 151 cosmic spherules. The information on the chemical composition and rare earth elements (REEs) on cosmic spherules suggest that the partially to fully melted ones can preserve evidences related to their parent bodies. The Ce, Eu, and Tm anomalies found in the cosmic spherules have similar behavior as that of chondrites. Distinct correlations observed between differentREEs and types of cosmic spherules reflect the inherited properties of the precursors.
The effect of multiple particle sizes on cooling rates of chondrules produced in large‐scale shocks in the solar nebula
Authors: Morris Melissa A. , Weidenschilling Stuart J. , Desch Steven J. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractChondrules represent one of the best probes of the physical conditions and processes acting in the early solar nebula. Proposed chondrule formation models are assessed based on their ability to match the meteoritic evidence, especially experimental constraints on their thermal histories. The model most consistent with chondrule thermal histories is passage through shock waves in the solar nebula. Existing models of heating by shocks generally yield a good first‐order approximation to inferred chondrule cooling rates. However, they predict prolonged heating in the preshock region, which would cause volatile loss and isotopic fractionation, which are not observed. These models have typically included particles of a single (large) size, i.e., chondrule precursors, or at most, large particles accompanied by micron‐sized grains. The size distribution of solids present during chondrule formation controls the opacity of the affected region, and significantly affects the thermal histories of chondrules. Micron‐sized grains evaporate too quickly to prevent excessive heating of chondrule precursors. However, isolated grains in chondrule‐forming regions would rapidly coagulate into fractal aggregates. Preshock heating by infrared radiation from the shock front would cause these aggregates to melt and collapse into intermediate‐sized (tens of microns) particles. We show that inclusion of such particles yields chondrule cooling rates consistent with petrologic and isotopic constraints.
Melting curve analysis in canine lymphoma by calculating maximum fluorescence decrease
Authors: Schöpper I. , Ohmura S. , Rütgen B. , Tsujimoto H. , Weber K. , Hirschberger J. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPARR is widely used in the diagnostics of canine lymphoma. In human and veterinary medicine, melting curve analysis (MCA) has successfully been introduced to facilitate the process. Since visual interpretation of melting curves can be rather subjective, the purpose of this study was to develop an objective interpretation of melting curves by calculating the maximum fluorescence decrease (dFmax) within a defined rise of temperature. Lymph node aspirates and blood of 34 dogs with lymphoma and 28 control dogs were tested. 27/34 lymphoma cases were correctly detected to be monoclonal (sensitivity 79%). 2/28 control dogs showed a monoclonal rearrangement (specificity 93%). B‐ and T‐cell neoplasia were still detectable using DNA amount as low as 10 ng. In serial dilutions of tumor DNA with DNA of normal tonsils, the detection limit was 25% for B‐cell lymphomas and 100% for T‐cell lymphoma, suggesting that PCR conditions could still be optimized.
Fosfomycin
Authors: Falagas Matthew E. , Vouloumanou Evridiki K. , Samonis George , Vardakas Konstantinos Z. 
Published: March 2016

SUMMARY

The treatment of bacterial infections suffers from two major problems: spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) pathogens and lack of development of new antibiotics active against such MDR and XDR bacteria. As a result, physicians have turned to older antibiotics, such as polymyxins, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides. Lately, due to development of resistance to these agents, fosfomycin has gained attention, as it has remained active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative MDR and XDR bacteria. New data of higher quality have become available, and several issues were clarified further. In this review, we summarize the available fosfomycin data regarding pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, the
in vitro
activity against susceptible and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, mechanisms of resistance and development of resistance during treatment, synergy and antagonism with other antibiotics, clinical effectiveness, and adverse events. Issues that need to be studied further are also discussed.
Viability and Functionality of Cryopreserved Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Pediatric Dengue
Authors: Perdomo-Celis Federico , Salgado Doris M. , Castañeda Diana M. , Narváez Carlos F. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are widely used in studies of dengue. In this disease, elevated frequency of apoptotic PBMCs has been described, and molecules such as soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligands (sTRAIL) are involved. This effect of dengue may affect the efficiency of PBMC cryopreservation. Here, we evaluate the viability (trypan blue dye exclusion and amine-reactive dye staining) and functionality (frequency of gamma interferon [IFN-γ]-producing T cells after polyclonal stimulation) of fresh and cryopreserved PBMCs from children with dengue (in acute and convalescence phases), children with other febrile illnesses, and healthy children as controls. Plasma sTRAIL levels were also evaluated. The frequencies of nonviable PBMCs detected by the two viability assays were positively correlated (
r
= 0.74;
P
< 0.0001). Cryopreservation particularly affected the PBMCs of children with dengue, who had a higher frequency of nonviable cells than healthy children and children with other febrile illnesses (
P
≤ 0.02), and PBMC viability levels were restored in the convalescent phase. In the acute phase, an increased frequency of CD3
+
CD8
+
amine-positive cells was found before cryopreservation (
P
= 0.01). Except for B cells in the acute phase, cryopreservation usually did not affect the relative frequencies of viable PBMC subpopulations. Dengue infection reduced the frequency of IFN-γ-producing CD3
+
cells after stimulation compared with healthy controls and convalescent-phase patients (
P
≤ 0.003), and plasma sTRAIL correlated with this decreased frequency in dengue (rho = −0.56;
P
= 0.01). Natural dengue infection in children can affect the viability and functionality of cryopreserved PBMCs.
Development of a Simple, Peripheral-Blood-Based Lateral-Flow Dipstick Assay for Accurate Detection of Patients with Enteric Fever
Authors: Khan Iqbal Hassan , Sayeed M. Abu , Sultana Nishat , Islam Kamrul , Amin Jakia , Faruk M. Omar , Khan Umama , Khanam Farhana , Ryan Edward T. , Qadri Firdausi 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Enteric fever is a systemic infection caused by typhoidal strains of
Salmonella enterica
and is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in many parts of the world, especially in resource-limited areas. Unfortunately, currently available diagnostic tests for enteric fever lack sensitivity and/or specificity. No true clinically practical gold standard for diagnosing patients with enteric fever exists. Unfortunately, microbiologic culturing of blood is only 30 to 70% sensitive although 100% specific. Here, we report the development of a lateral-flow immunochromatographic dipstick assay based on the detection of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhi (
S
. Typhi) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific IgG in lymphocyte culture secretion. We tested the assay using samples from 142 clinically suspected enteric fever patients, 28 healthy individuals residing in a zone where enteric fever is endemic, and 35 patients with other febrile illnesses. In our analysis, the dipstick detected all blood culture-confirmed
S
. Typhi cases (48/48) and 5 of 6
Salmonella enterica
serovar Paratyphi A blood cultured-confirmed cases. The test was negative in all 35 individuals febrile with other illnesses and all 28 healthy controls from the zone of endemicity. The test was positive in 19 of 88 individuals with suspected enteric fever but with negative blood cultures. Thus, the dipstick had a sensitivity of 98% compared to blood culture results and a specificity that ranged from 78 to 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 70 to 100%), depending on the definition of a true negative. These results suggest that this dipstick assay can be very useful for the detection of enteric fever patients especially in regions of endemicity.
Antibodies Elicited by Multiple Envelope Glycoprotein Immunogens in Primates Neutralize Primary Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV-1) Sensitized by CD4-Mimetic Compounds
Authors: Madani Navid , Princiotto Amy M. , Easterhoff David , Bradley Todd , Luo Kan , Williams Wilton B. , Liao Hua-Xin , Moody M. Anthony , Phad Ganesh E. , Vázquez Bernat Néstor , Melillo Bruno , Santra Sampa , Smith Amos B. , Karlsson Hedestam Gunilla B. , Haynes Barton , Sodroski Joseph 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins (Env) mediate virus entry through a series of complex conformational changes triggered by binding to the receptors CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4. Broadly neutralizing antibodies that recognize conserved Env epitopes are thought to be an important component of a protective immune response. However, to date, HIV-1 Env immunogens that elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies have not been identified, creating hurdles for vaccine development. Small-molecule CD4-mimetic compounds engage the CD4-binding pocket on the gp120 exterior Env and induce Env conformations that are highly sensitive to neutralization by antibodies, including antibodies directed against the conserved Env region that interacts with CCR5/CXCR4. Here, we show that CD4-mimetic compounds sensitize primary HIV-1 to neutralization by antibodies that can be elicited in monkeys and humans within 6 months by several Env vaccine candidates, including gp120 monomers. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the gp120 V2 and V3 variable regions were isolated from the immunized monkeys and humans; these monoclonal antibodies neutralized a primary HIV-1 only when the virus was sensitized by a CD4-mimetic compound. Thus, in addition to their direct antiviral effect, CD4-mimetic compounds dramatically enhance the HIV-1-neutralizing activity of antibodies that can be elicited with currently available immunogens. Used as components of microbicides, the CD4-mimetic compounds might increase the protective efficacy of HIV-1 vaccines.

IMPORTANCE
Preventing HIV-1 transmission is a high priority for global health. Eliciting antibodies that can neutralize transmitted strains of HIV-1 is difficult, creating problems for the development of an effective vaccine. We found that small-molecule CD4-mimetic compounds sensitize HIV-1 to antibodies that can be elicited in vaccinated humans and monkeys. These results suggest an approach to prevent HIV-1 sexual transmission in which a virus-sensitizing microbicide is combined with a vaccine.