bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stroke Associated With Varicella Zoster Vasculopathy
Authors: Maurya Pradeep K. , Kulshreshtha Dinkar , Singh Ajai K. , Thacker Anup K. 
Published: February 2017

Introduction:
Varicella zoster (VZ) vasculopathy is a rare but well recognized cause of stroke. In the absence of zoster rash and infection in remote past, the disease can pose diagnostic challenge. We report 3 cases of anterior circulation stroke occurring in close temporal relation to VZ. Their clinical, radiologic, and angiographic features are discussed.

Case Report:
Of the 3 patients, 2 had stroke within a span of 4 to 6 weeks of herpes zoster ophthalmicus while the third patient had zoster of cervical dermatome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute subcortical infarcts in 2, while 1 patient showed acute on chronic infarct in left middle cerebral artery territory. The magnetic resonance angiography was abnormal in 2 patients while it was normal in third. All the patients were treated with acyclovir and antiplatelets with good recovery in 2.

Conclusions:
VZ associated vasculopathy may have diverse clinical profile and neuroimaging features. It should be considered as an important and treatable cause of stroke in appropriate clinical settings.
Macroeconomic determinants of interest rate spreads in Ghana
Authors: Obeng Samuel Kwabena , Sakyi Daniel 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine macroeconomic determinants of interest rate spreads in Ghana for the period 1980-2013.Design/methodology/approachThe autoregressive distributed lag bounds test approach to cointegration and the error correction model were used for the estimation.FindingsThe results indicate that exchange rate volatility, fiscal deficit, economic growth, and public sector borrowing from commercial banks, increase interest rate spreads in Ghana in both the long and short run. Institutional quality reduces interest rate spreads in the long run while lending interest rate volatility and monetary policy rate reduce interest rate spreads in the short run.Research limitations/implicationsThe depreciation of the Ghana cedi must be controlled since its volatility increases spreads. There is a need for fiscal discipline since fiscal deficits increase interest rate spreads. Government must reduce its domestic borrowing because the associated crowding-out effect increases interest rate spreads. The central bank must improve its monitoring and regulation of the financial sector in order to reduce spreads.Originality/valueThe main novelty of the paper (compared to other studies on Ghana) lies on the one hand; analysing macroeconomic determinants of interest rate spreads and, on the other hand, controlling for the impact of institutional quality on interest rate spreads in Ghana.
Factors leading to early internationalization in emerging Central and Eastern European economies
Authors: Sekliuckiene Jurgita 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore factors leading to the early internationalization of international new ventures (INVs) in Lithuania – a transition economy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The determinants of early internationalization were grouped into three categories: entrepreneurial, firm-related and contextual determinants, and their impact on high-tech INVs that operate in emerging economies was investigated.Design/methodology/approachThe research design is a case study approach. Case studies are presented of six Lithuanian entrepreneurial firms that demonstrated successful internationalization and rapidly expanded into foreign markets during the preceding year.FindingsRegion-specific theoretical propositions are provided for new ventures in CEE emerging economies. The results reveal that essential factors leading to the early internationalization of INVs operating in Lithuania, a transition economy, are entrepreneurial factors. Internationalization of INVs from CEE emerging economies is driven by push factors related to domestic market specifics; however, institutional factors do not seem to have a significant impact on INVs’ internationalization.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of the analysis of the case studies are not generalizable to the entire population of INVs in Lithuania. However, the results are substantial considering the success of high-tech Lithuanian firms that started their international activities shortly after their inception. Future research can contribute to the literature by seeking to apply international new venture theory in the context of emerging economies with larger samples and a focus on distinct patterns of internationalization.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the literature on international entrepreneurship by exploring early internationalization of INVs in the context of transition economies in CEE. This study’s contribution is based on theory building, especially in understanding the driving factors related to the early internationalization of new ventures founded by Lithuanian entrepreneurs. International entrepreneurship studies in the CEE, as well as Baltic countries, are limited, and this research contributes to filling this gap.
A virtual tutor for children with autism
Authors: Herring Paul , Kear Karen , Sheehy Kieron , Jones Roger 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
The picture exchange communication system (PECS) is an established communication intervention for non-verbal children with autism. The purpose of this paper is to present an evaluation of a computer-based PECS approach, in which young non-verbal children with autism respond to an on-screen “virtual tutor” through the manipulation of picture/symbol cards. The paper presents research to investigate how the virtual tutor’s voice influences the children’s participation and performance.

Design/methodology/approach
Eight non-verbal children between six and nine years old and with a diagnosis of autism were presented with a series of computer-based activities, using a virtual tutor with either a natural or synthetic voice, in two separate sessions. Data were gathered using a within-participants counterbalanced design to control against variations between individuals and effects of presentation order.

Findings
Analysis of the children’s responses suggest that they were able to use the system more effectively when the virtual tutor had a synthetic voice, rather than a human voice. The findings demonstrate that a computer-based virtual tutor can provide an engaging method of supporting symbol-based communication for non-verbal children with autism, and that a synthetic voice type was preferable for the sessions undertaken.

Originality/value
Investigations of voice type and its influence on non-verbal children’s participation and performance have so far provided inconclusive results (Ramdoss, 2013). This research suggests that the voice type is an important feature of the learning experience of non-verbal children with autism, and can have a significant influence on their participation and performance in virtual tutor-led learning.
Interdisciplinary perspectives on designing, understanding and evaluating digital technologies for autism
Authors: Parsons Sarah , Yuill Nicola , Brosnan Mark , Good Judith 
Published: February 2017

PurposeInterdisciplinary perspectives and collaboration in technology research are regarded as vital for producing effective and usable solutions that meet real needs. The purpose of this paper is to draw upon the fifth seminar in an Economic and Social Research Council funded series in the UK on “Innovative Technologies for Autism”. This seminar focused on the contributions that different disciplines can make to the field of autism and technology, and offers some interesting avenues for future research.Design/methodology/approachA synthesis of key messages from the speakers’ talks is presented, interspersed with comments and observations from delegates which were written on post-it notes during the day and shared amongst the group.FindingsInterdisciplinarity can be conceptualised in many different ways and is not simply about academic contributions. Collaborative research involving genuine stakeholder participation can provide fertile grounds for respecting and exploring individual differences and needs. Investigating the uses of existing technologies as well as developing innovative ideas and prototypes through inclusive design are important avenues for future research.Originality/valueThis paper offers a rare glimpse into a range of perspectives within a broad field of research and draws out some important connections between these different viewpoints. There are valuable avenues for collaboration and further exploration that would extend research in productive ways.
Cash flow volatility-return relation and financial constraints: international evidence
Authors: Palkar Darshana D. 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine whether cash flow volatility (CFV) has a negative impact on future stock returns, and whether the CFV-return relation is different among financially constrained and unconstrained firms, by using a broad sample of 21 developed markets.

Design/methodology/approach
The study conducts portfolio analysis to test the CFV effect on returns. Risk-adjusted returns (alphas) are computed with respect to country-specific factors based on market, size, book-to-market, and momentum.

Findings
The strategy of buying stocks with low CFV while shorting stocks with high CFV delivers significant alphas in more than three-fourths of the markets. The alphas for the long-short portfolio based on CFV are positive and statistically significant in more than 70 percent of the countries among financially constrained firms, largely driven by the underperformance of high-CFV stocks. In comparison, the CFV effect is observed in less than 45 percent of the countries among financially unconstrained firms, and is largely driven by the outperformance of low-CFV stocks.

Originality/value
This study extends prior findings by providing evidence of a negative relation between CFV and stock returns in a majority of global equity markets. The evidence also suggests an important role of financial constraints in explaining this relation.
The Grammar of Politics: A Brief History of Legislative Language in Britain
Authors: Williams Matthew 
Published: February 2017

AbstractLegislative language is a crucial, yet somewhat overlooked element of British politics. So how has the language of British legislation changed over the past century? For this study, all 191,080 pages of legislation enacted between 1900 and 2015 were assessed for changes in the quantity of legislation, and 5,878 sections of legislation from 1920 to 2015 were analysed for changes to the quality of language. Parts of speech that affect the subject, object and verb of sentences were recorded, giving a novel long‐term study of indeterminacy in legislative language. Findings show that interpreting legislation became increasingly dependent on circumstance and discretion after the war. Change further accelerated after 1975. This reflected a widening gap between public demands placed on government power and the difficulties faced in accommodating these demands.
Spatial and seasonal variation in abundance within an insular grey parrot population
Authors: Valle Simon , Collar Nigel J. , Harris W. Edwin , Marsden Stuart J. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPopulations of Psittacidae are endangered by habitat loss and the international pet market. The grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is among the most traded species, yet little is known about densities and their variability in time and space. The population of grey parrots on the island of Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea) was estimated with distance sampling, in both pre‐ and postbreeding seasons. Abundance was related to a range of habitat features using generalized additive models. Densities averaged 48 ± 3 (SE) individuals km−2 in the prebreeding and 59 ± 4 in the postbreeding season, both extremely high compared to elsewhere in Africa and to other parrot species. Despite a population of 6000–8000 individuals over only 139 km2, parrots were patchily distributed, being unrecorded in ~25% of surveyed areas. Abundance varied seasonally, with densities being significantly higher in secondary compared to primary forest in the post‐ but not in the prebreeding season. Abundance was most tied to the presence of nest‐tree species prior to breeding and to feeding‐tree species and lightly sloping ground after breeding. These results highlight the need to preserve a matrix of habitat types to provide resources for parrots across seasons and ensure that surveys recognize seasonality in habitat use as a potential bias.
Influence of environmental conditions on the distribution of Amphipoda, Talitridae, in the lagoon complex of Ghar El Melh (north‐east of Tunisia)
Authors: Jelassi Raja , Khemaissia Hajer , Zimmer Martin , Garbe‐Schönberg Dieter , Nasri‐Ammar Karima 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe study of the spatiotemporal distribution of talitrid amphipods was carried out along a transect in three stations belonging to the lagoon complex of Ghar El Melh, namely the supralittoral zones of the old harbour of Ghar El Melh, the opposite to Boughaz and Sidi Ali Mekki lagoon. Four species belonging to Talitridae family with two different genera were identified at all stations. These species are Orchestia gammarellus, Orchestia mediterranea, Orchestia stephenseni and Platorchestia platensis. The first two species were collected during the four seasons. The study of the density showed that the most important global mean density in talitrid was found in the supralittoral zone of opposite to Boughaz. In addition, statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the seasonal distribution of amphipods based on plant associations. Furthermore, the highest diversity of talitrid was observed in the winter in the supralittoral zone of opposite to Boughaz and in summer in the supralittoral zones of Sidi Ali Mekki lagoon and the old harbour of Ghar El Melh. Results showed that at all stations, a highly significant correlation of amphipod community with Cymodocea banquette was observed. Moreover, principal component analysis showed that the distribution of the different species depends on climatic and edaphic factors.
Counting Carbon: Calculative Activism and Slippery Infrastructure
Authors: Beuret Nicholas 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe environmental movement in the global North is in a state of impasse. It appears that despite the renewed international focus on climate change, and the actions of innumerable social movements, a “solution” to the problem appears as one, without a viable solution. It is the contention of this paper that climate change has no clearly viable solution as it is a seemingly impossible problem. This paper investigates how the problem of climate change is constructed as a global object of political action and how it functions to render politics into a matter of calculative action, one that seeks—but fails—to take hold of a slippery carbon infrastructure. It concludes by suggesting one possible solution to this dilemma is to turn away from the global scalar logic of climate change and towards a situated focus on questions of infrastructure, or what Dimitris Papadopoulos calls “thick justice”.
CCAT2: A novel oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in human cancers
Authors: Xin Yu , Li Zheng , Zheng Heyi , Chan Matthew T.V. , Ka Kei Wu William 
Published: February 2017

AbstractColon cancer‐associated transcript 2 (CCAT2) was originally identified as an oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in colorectal cancer. Since its discovery, the oncogenic role of CCAT2 has been increasingly demonstrated in human cancers. In this connection, CCAT2 upregulation is frequently reported and very often associated with tumour progression and poor clinical outcomes. Functionally, knockdown of CCAT2 could induce cancer cell apoptosis and suppress cell proliferation and invasiveness, suggesting that CCAT2 might be a therapeutic target. The present review summarized current literature concerning the expression and functional role of CCAT2 in human malignancies.
Detection of inherited chromosomally integrated HHV‐6 (ciHHV‐6) in a marker chromosome
Authors: Campioni Diana , Gentili Valentina , Cavazzini Francesco , Bortolotti Daria , Nacheva Elisabeth P. , Cuneo Antonio , Di Luca Dario , Rizzo Roberta 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectivesInherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus‐6 (ciHHV‐6) is characterised by the complete HHV‐6 genome integration into the host germ line genome and is vertically transmitted with a Mendelian inheritance. By now, the only relationship between ciHHV‐6 and diseases seems to be with angina pectoris.MethodsWe report a case of an 82‐year‐old man diagnosed with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) on October 2014. To substantiate the suspicion of ciHHV‐6, we analysed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, bone marrow biopsy and pleural effusion‐derived mesothelial cells with PCR, RT‐PCR and FISH.ResultsVirological routine screening by PCR showed the absence of HHV‐8 and EBV infections, while the presence of HHV‐6 DNA (ie, U22, U42 and U94 HHV‐6 genes), with a viral load of about 1.0 genome per cell, strongly suggests ciHHV‐6. The RT‐PCR showed the positivity only for the immediate‐early U94, at low levels of transcription (100±15 transcripts/1 μg RNA). FISH analysis reported a case of inherited ciHHV‐6 in 17p chromosome region and, for the first time, in a marker chromosome.ConclusionsThis is the first case of inherited ciHHV‐6 in a marker chromosome, possibly elucidating the role of this abnormality in the biology of DLBCL.
Synapsins regulate brain‐derived neurotrophic factor‐mediated synaptic potentiation and axon elongation by acting on membrane rafts
Authors: Kao Hung‐Teh , Ryoo Kanghyun , Lin Albert , Janoschka Stephen R. , Augustine George J. , Porton Barbara 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn neurons, intracellular membrane rafts are essential for specific actions of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which include the regulation of axon outgrowth, growth cone turning and synaptic transmission. Virtually, all the actions of BDNF are mediated by binding to its receptor, TrkB. The association of TrkB with the tyrosine kinase, Fyn, is critical for its localization to intracellular membrane rafts. Here, we show that synapsins, a family of highly amphipathic neuronal phosphoproteins, regulate membrane raft lipid composition and consequently, the ability of BDNF to regulate axon/neurite development and potentiate synaptic transmission. In the brains of mice lacking all synapsins, the expression of both BDNF and TrkB were increased, suggesting that BDNF/TrkB‐mediated signaling is impaired. Consistent with this finding, synapsin‐depleted neurons exhibit altered raft lipid composition, deficient targeting of Fyn to rafts, attenuated TrkB activation, and abrogation of BDNF‐stimulated axon outgrowth and synaptic potentiation. Conversely, overexpression of synapsins in neuroblastoma cells results in corresponding reciprocal changes in raft lipid composition, increased localization of Fyn to rafts and promotion of BDNF‐stimulated neurite formation. In the presence of synapsins, the ratio of cholesterol to estimated total phospholipids converged to 1, suggesting that synapsins act by regulating the ratio of lipids in intracellular membranes, thereby promoting lipid raft formation. These studies reveal a mechanistic link between BDNF and synapsins, impacting early development and synaptic transmission.
Identifying patient‐centred recommendations for improving patient safety in General Practices in England: a qualitative content analysis of free‐text responses using the Patient Reported Experiences and Outcomes of Safety in Primary Care (PREOS‐PC) questionnaire
Authors: Ricci‐Cabello Ignacio , Saletti‐Cuesta Lorena , Slight Sarah P. , Valderas Jose M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundThere is a growing interest in identifying strategies to achieve safer primary health‐care provision. However, most of the research conducted so far in this area relies on information supplied by health‐care providers, and limited attention has been paid to patients’ perspectives.ObjectiveTo explore patients’ experiences and perceptions of patient safety in English general practices with the aim of eliciting patient‐centred recommendations for improving patient safety.MethodsThe Patient Reported Experiences and Outcomes of Safety in Primary Care questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 6736 primary care users registered in 45 English practices. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of responses to seven open‐ended items addressing patients’ experiences of safety problems, lessons learnt as a result of such experiences and recommendations for safer health care.ResultsA total of 1244 (18.4%) participants returned completed questionnaires. Of those, 678 (54.5%) responded to at least one open‐ended question. Two main themes emerged as follows: (i) experiences of safety problems and (ii) good practices and recommendations to improve patient safety in primary care. Most frequent experiences of safety problems were related to appointments, coordination between providers, tests, medication and diagnosis. Patients’ responses to these problems included increased patient activation (eg speaking up about concerns with their health care) and avoidance of unnecessary health care. Recommendations for safer health care included improvements in patient‐centred communication, continuity of care, timely appointments, technical quality of care, active monitoring, teamwork, health records and practice environment.ConclusionThis study identified a number of patient‐centred recommendations for improving patient safety in English general practices.
Influence of sustained submaximal clenching fatigue test on electromyographic activity and maximum voluntary bite forces in healthy subjects and patients with temporomandibular disorders
Authors: Xu L. , Fan S. , Cai B. , Fang Z. , Jiang X. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryThis study aimed to investigate whether the fatigue induced by sustained motor task in the jaw elevator muscles differed between healthy subjects and patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Fifteen patients with TMD and thirteen age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls performed a fatigue test consisting of sustained clenching contractions at 30% maximal voluntary clenching intensity until test failure (the criterion for terminating the fatigue test was when the biting force decreased by 10% or more from the target force consecutively for >3 s). The pre‐ and post‐maximal bite forces (MBFs) were measured. Surface electromyographic signals were recorded from the superficial masseter muscles and anterior temporal muscles bilaterally, and the median frequency at the beginning, middle and end of the fatigue test was calculated. The duration of the fatigue test was also quantified. Both pre‐ and post‐MBFs were lower in patients with TMD than in controls (P < 0·01). No significant difference was found in the percentage change in MBF between groups. The duration of the fatigue test in TMD patients was significantly shorter than that of the controls (P < 0·05). Our results suggest that, compared to healthy subjects, patients with TMD become more easily fatigued, but the electromyographic activation process during the fatigue test is similar between healthy subjects and patients with TMD. However, the mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear, and further research is warranted.