bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does internal control over financial reporting really alleviate agency conflicts?
Authors: Qi Baolei , Li Liuchuang , Zhou Qing , Sun Jinghui 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis study investigates whether internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) alleviates the managerial expropriation of corporate resources. We do this by examining the potential effects of material weaknesses in internal control on the values of corporate cash holdings and capital expenditures. Our findings suggest that ICFR facilitates the scrutiny and discipline of capital markets and thus alleviates the agency problems. Our results support the premise that high financial reporting quality impairs managers’ abilities to use corporate resources in a self‐serving manner.
Intra‐cerebral and intra‐nasal melanocortin‐4 receptor antagonist blocks withdrawal hyperalgesia in alcohol‐dependent rats
Authors: Roltsch Hellard Emily A. , Impastato Renata A. , Gilpin Nicholas W. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractHumans diagnosed with alcohol use disorder are more sensitive to painful stimuli during withdrawal, which suggests that excessive alcohol drinking worsens pain outcomes. Alcohol‐dependent rats exhibit increases in nociceptive sensitivity during withdrawal. Data from animal models suggest that brain melanocortin‐4 receptors (MC4Rs) mediate alcohol drinking and nociception. Here we tested: (1) the effect of alcohol dependence on thermal nociception in rats, and (2) the ability of acute alcohol and (3) MC4R antagonists to reverse hyperalgesia during withdrawal in alcohol‐dependent rats. Rats were trained to self‐administer operant alcohol and were tested for baseline thermal nociception. Half of the rats were made dependent on alcohol, then all rats were cannulated in the lateral ventricle. We tested the effects of acute alcohol drinking, acute fixed‐dose alcohol, intra‐ventricular agouti‐related protein (endogenous MC4R antagonist), intra‐ventricular HS014 (synthetic MC4R antagonist) and intra‐nasal HS014 on hyperalgesia during withdrawal in alcohol‐dependent rats, relative to non‐dependent drinkers and alcohol‐naïve controls. Alcohol‐dependent rats exhibit thermal hyperalgesia that is abolished by alcohol drinking, bolus alcohol and intra‐ventricular and intra‐nasal MC4R antagonists. These manipulations did not affect thermal nociception in non‐dependent drinkers and alcohol‐naïve controls, suggesting that alcohol dependence produces neuroadaptations in brain MC4R systems. These results suggest that brain MC4R systems may be an effective therapeutic target for reducing nociception in the alcohol‐dependent organism.
The Effect of Corporate Governance on Post Reverse Merger Survival
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Dong , Lee Bong‐Soo , Lee Sang Whi , Park Kwangwoo , Jambal Khishigjargal 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this paper, we examine how firm financial conditions and governance characteristics affect reverse mergers’ survival. Using a sample of reverse mergers that took place in the United States during the 1997–2009 period, we find that firms with better corporate governance are more likely to survive after a reverse merger. In particular,CEOownership, staggered board dummy, and venture dummy have a positive association with reverse merger survival. We also show a concave relation between the average board tenure and the probability of reverse merger survival. In contrast, most of the firm characteristic variables have an insignificant relationship with reverse merger survival. Our results suggest that the survivability of reverse mergers relies more on the presumed value‐enhancing governance characteristics than on the financial conditions of the merging firms.
Average Price Futures Contracts: Pricing, Characteristics, and Implications
Authors: Yoo Jin 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWe define and price average index and currency futures, show how they reduce price manipulation, explore their features as financial instruments, and discuss their policy implications. They offer investors protection against price manipulation, effective hedging, and even rational speculation. The study shows that the mean and variance of the price of an arithmetic average futures contract are functions of its reference dates and that it can be flexibly designed to meet diverse hedging needs of investors. With these features, average price futures contracts can serve as a good complement to existing plain vanilla futures.
The Shocks in the Interbank Market: An Analysis of China and the US
Authors: Fei Ziwei , Jiang Xiaoquan , Zeng Li , Peng Jiangang 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWe compare the contagion risk in the interbank market between China and the United States during the period from 2011 to 2013. Applying simulation method, we find that the contagion risk of an individual bank shock in the US interbank market is relatively lower than that in China during the period. For a group bank shock, we find that the group with the lowest capital adequacy ratio in China induces a serious contagion, while the group with the highest concentration degree in the US induces a mild contagion. One potential reason is that the additional capital of most commercial banks in China is relatively lower than that of the US and most banks in China highly depend on the interbank market for acquiring liquidity or income.
Intraday Volatility and Volume in China's Stock Index and Index Futures Markets
Authors: Nishimura Yusaku , Sun Bianxia 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis paper examines the effects of intraday trading volume on return volatility across China's stock index and index futures markets using 5‐min intraday data. The periodic characteristics of intraday data are considered and aFIEGARCHmodel is employed to allow for long memory properties of intraday volatility. We find that volume has significant positive influences on volatility across the two markets, and that the impact of futures volume on spot volatility is significantly stronger than the impact of spot volume on futures volatility. These findings indicate a stronger information flow from the futures market to the spot market than vice versa, which might result from current access restrictions on investors in China's stock index futures market.
Age‐related macular degeneration in Portugal: prevalence and risk factors in a coastal and an inland town. The Coimbra Eye Study – Report 2
Authors: Cachulo Maria da Luz , Laíns Inês , Lobo Conceição , Figueira João , Ribeiro Luísa , Marques João P. , Costa José , Vieira António , Rodrigues João , Alves Dalila , Nunes Sandrina , Costa Miguel , Rodrigues Victor , Cunha‐Vaz José , Delcourt Cecile , Silva Rufino 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPurposeTo determine the age‐ and sex‐specific prevalence of early and late age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) in two Portuguese population‐based samples and to identify its risk factors.PopulationA population of 6023 adults aged ≥55 years was recruited from two Portuguese primary healthcare units in the central region of Portugal – one from a coastal (n = 3000) and another from an inland town (n = 3023).MethodsCross‐sectional population‐based study. Participants were enrolled in the two locations between August 2009 and October 2013. Responders underwent standardized interviews and ophthalmologic examination, including digital fundus imaging. All fundus photographs were graded according to an International Classification and Grading System. The main outcome measures consisted of age‐ and sex‐adjusted prevalence of early and late AMD. Potential epidemiologic risk factors were also evaluated using logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf the 6023 subjects enrolled, 5996 had gradable fundus images and were included in the analysis. The crude prevalence of early and late AMD was 6.99 and 0.67%, respectively, for the coastal town and 15.39 and 1.29% for the inland town. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted prevalence of any AMD for the Portuguese population was 12.48% (95% CI: 11.61–13.33) with late AMD accounting for 1.16% (95% CI: 0.85–1.46). Neovascular AMD (NV‐AMD) and geographic atrophy (GA) accounted for 0.55% (95% CI: 0.36–0.75) and 0.61% (95% CI: 0.37–0.84) of individuals, respectively. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, prevalence of early and late AMD increased with increasing age (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.23–1.49 for early and OR = 3.01; 95% CI: 2.22–4.08 for late AMD, per each decade of age increase, p < 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, family history, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes and BMI, subjects from the inland town presented a significantly higher OR of early and late AMD than subjects from the coastal town (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 2.12–3.12, p < 0.001 for early and OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.07–3.95, p = 0.029 for late AMD).ConclusionsThe prevalence of early and late AMD in this Portuguese population was similar to other large‐scale population‐based cohorts. After controlling for confounders, age and study site of inclusion were significant independent predictors for both early and late forms of the disease. Further analysis will be needed to completely unravel the underlying reasons for this difference regarding geographic location.
Effects of focal/grid laser treatment on the central visual field in diabetic macular oedema: a 2‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Tababat‐Khani Poya , Bengtsson Boel , Agardh Elisabet 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPurposeTo assess the long‐term effects of focal/grid laser treatment on the central visual field in subjects with clinically significant diabetic macular oedema (CSMO).MethodsTwenty‐six subjects with CSMO were included in the study. Fundus photography, assessment of retinal thickness by time‐domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), measurement of visual acuity (VA) and standard automated perimetry of the central 10° of the visual field were performed at baseline before focal/grid laser treatment and thereafter at four follow‐up visits 6 months apart, when the laser treatment was also repeated in subjects with persistent oedema. Changes in VA and retinal thickness between baseline and study end at 24‐month follow‐up were calculated. Trends in changes in the visual field were assessed by linear regression of number of significantly depressed test points over time.ResultsOn average after the laser treatment, retinal thickness decreased by 17% and VA decreased by three letters. In most eyes, visual fields were stable over time: the mean of the trend slopes (0.05 points/month) did not differ significantly from 0 (p = 0.63). The number of depressed test points at follow‐up was not correlated with either the total number of laser effects or the number of laser sessions.ConclusionFocal/grid laser treatment for CSMO did not affect retinal sensitivity in the central visual field in the subjects included in this 2‐year follow‐up study.
Overweight parents are twice as likely to underestimate the weight of their teenage children, regardless of their sociodemographic characteristics
Authors: Christofaro DGD , Andrade SM , Fernandes RA , Cabrera MAS , Rodríguez‐Artalejo F , Mesas AE 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAimIt is unclear whether parents' weight affects their ability to recognise whether their teenage children are overweight. This study analysed whether overweight parents assessed their child's weight as well as normal weight parents.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was carried out in Londrina, Brazil, in 2011 and included teenagers between 14 and 17 years of age and their parents or guardians. We recorded the weight and height of the teenagers and asked the parents or guardians to fill in a questionnaire that included how they perceived their child's weight and demographic information.ResultsWe studied 1231 teenagers – 58.2% girls – and 19.4% were overweight or obese. In 842 (68.4%) of cases both parents replied to the questionnaire. We found that 8.7% of the 1202 mothers and 10.0% of the 871 fathers underestimated how overweight their child was. The adjusted analyses confirmed they were twice as likely to underestimate their child's weight if they were overweight themselves, with an odds ratio of 1.96 for the mothers and 2.04 for the fathers. Sociodemographic characteristics did not affect the results.ConclusionOverweight parents were twice as likely to underestimate the weight of their teenage children, regardless of the sociodemographic characteristics.
Investigation of faecal volatile organic metabolites as novel diagnostic biomarkers in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Ahmed I. , Greenwood R. , Costello B. , Ratcliffe N. , Probert C. S. 
Published: January 2016

SummaryBackgroundThe aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests an important role of gut microbial dysbiosis in IBD, and this may be associated with changes in faecal volatile organic metabolites (VOMs).AimTo describe the changes in the faecal VOMs of patients with IBD and establish their diagnostic potential as non‐invasive biomarkers.MethodsFaecal samples were obtained from 117 people with Crohn's disease (CD), 100 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 109 healthy controls. Faecal VOMs were extracted using solid‐phase micro‐extraction and analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Data analysis was carried out using partial least squares‐discriminate analysis (PLS‐DA) to determine class membership based on distinct metabolomic profiles.ResultsThe PLS‐DA model showed clear separation of active CD from inactive disease and healthy controls (P < 0.001). Heptanal, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 2‐piperidinone and 6‐methyl‐2‐heptanone were up‐regulated in the active CD group [variable important in projection (VIP) score 2.8, 2.7, 2.6 and 2.4, respectively], while methanethiol, 3‐methyl‐phenol, short‐chain fatty acids and ester derivatives were found to be less abundant (VIP score of 3.5, 2.6, 1.5 and 1.2, respectively). The PLS‐DA model also separated patients with small bowel CD from healthy controls and those with colonic CD from UC (P < 0.001). In contrast, less distinct separation was observed between active UC, inactive UC and healthy controls.ConclusionsAnalysis of faecal volatile organic metabolites can provide an understanding of gut metabolomic changes in IBD. It has the potential to provide a non‐invasive means of diagnosing IBD, and can differentiate between UC and CD.
Association of rumen fill score and energy status during the close‐up dry period with conception at first artificial insemination in dairy cows
Authors: Kawashima Chiho , Karaki Chihiro , Munakata Megumi , Matsui Motozumi , Shimizu Takashi , Miyamoto Akio , Kida Katsuya 
Published: January 2016

AbstractRecent studies have shown significant associations between prepartum energy status and postpartum fertility in dairy cows; therefore, the assessment of energy status by blood metabolites and metabolic hormones and suitable improvement of management during the prepartum period may enhance reproductive performance. Rumen fill score (RFS) is associated with feed intake; however, it is unknown whether RFS is also related to blood parameters. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between RFS and energy status during the prepartum period, and their associations with conception at first artificial insemination (AI) after parturition. In 42 multiparous Holstein cows, RFS assessment and blood sampling were carried out twice a week during 3 weeks of the peripartum period. Ovarian cycles until AI were evaluated by measuring milk progesterone levels. Before calving, positive correlations were observed between RFS and total cholesterol, and RFS did not change in pregnant cows at first AI after parturition, whereas in non‐pregnant cows, RFS decreased gradually as the calving day approached. After calving, non‐pregnant cows showed lower energy status compared with pregnant cows, and some non‐pregnant cows showed anovulation and cessation of estrous cycle. In conclusion, RFS during the close‐up dry period is related to real‐time energy status, and is associated with postpartum energy status and conception at first AI in dairy cows. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science
Effect of increased concentrate allotment before evening grazing on herbage intake, nitrogen utilization and rumen fermentation in dairy cows grazed on perennial ryegrass pasture
Authors: Ueda Koichiro , Mitani Tomohiro , Kondo Seiji 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to elucidate the effect of increased concentrate allotment before evening grazing on herbage intake, nitrogen utilization and rumen fermentation in dairy cows. In experiment 1, nine lactating cows were grazed in the morning and evening sessions (2.5 h each). The cows were allocated to treatments of three concentrate allotment levels before the evening grazing session by altering proportions to daily total offered; 25%, 50% and 75%. Daily herbage dry matter intake quadratically decreased with increasing the concentrate allotment levels (P < 0.05). Nitrogen utilization was similar among treatments. To investigate diurnal changes in rumen fermentation, a second experiment was conducted where six ruminally cannulated non‐lactating dairy cows grazed in the morning and evening sessions (3 h each) were subjected to the same treatments as experiment 1. Total volatile fatty acid concentration in the rumen linearly increased with increasing the concentrate allotment levels throughout the pre‐evening grazing session to the post‐morning grazing session (P < 0.01). The results indicate that dairy cows reduce daily herbage intake but do not alter nitrogen utilization with increasing concentrate allotment before evening grazing. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science
Worries About Labor and Birth: A Population‐Based Study of Outcomes for Young Primiparous Women
Authors: Henderson Jane , Redshaw Maggie 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundPregnancy at a young age is a continuing public health concern strongly associated with socioeconomic deprivation, social isolation, and stigma. The objectives were to see whether, compared with women aged 21 or more, women aged 20 years or younger worried more about labor and birth, and had poorer maternal outcomes. Another objective was to investigate the extent to which worries about labor and birth mediated the associations between young age and outcomes.MethodsA secondary analysis of data was conducted relating to 2,598 primiparous women's experience of maternity care in England in 2010. The survey collected data on care in the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, and sociodemographic factors. A validated checklist measured worries about labor and birth.ResultsCompared with women aged 21 or more, women aged 20 years or younger worried more about labor and birth. The pain and duration of labor worried all women and those aged 20 years or younger were particularly worried about the uncertainty of labor onset, cesarean section birth, and about embarrassment. In logistic regression, after adjusting for potential confounders, young age was a significant independent risk factor for worries about pain and distress in labor, and self‐reported depression at 1 and 3 months. However, young age was also significantly associated with having a normal vaginal delivery.ConclusionsIt may be appropriate to focus support on women experiencing multiple disadvantage, rather than young age alone.
Risk of prostate cancer‐specific death in men with baseline metabolic aberrations treated with androgen deprivation therapy for biochemical recurrence
Authors: Rudman Sarah M. , Gray Kathryn P. , Batista Julie L. , Pitt Michael J. , Giovannucci Edward L. , Harper Peter G. , Loda Massimo , Mucci Lorelei A. , Sweeney Christopher J. 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations of host metabolic factors and metabolic syndrome on prostate cancer‐specific death (PCSD) and overall survival (OS) in patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for biochemically recurrent disease.Patients and MethodsThe analysis included 273 patients with prostate cancer treated withADTfor rising prostate‐specific antigen level after surgery or radiotherapy. Patients were assessed for the presence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity before commencingADT, and Adult Treatment PanelIIIcriteria were used to assess the presence of the composite diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. A competing risks regression model was used to assess associations of time toPCSDwith the metabolic conditions, while a multivariable Cox regression model was used to assess associations ofOSwith metabolic syndrome and metabolic conditions.ResultsDuring a median follow‐up of 11.6 years, 157 patients (58%) died, of whom 58 (21%) died from prostate cancer. At the start ofADTthe median (range) patient age was 74 (46–92) years and the medianPSAlevel was 3.0 ng/mL. Metabolic syndrome was observed in 31% of patients; hypertension (68%) and dyslipidaemia (47%) were the most common metabolic conditions. No association ofPCSDand metabolic syndrome status was observed. Patients with hypertension tended to have a higher cumulative incidence ofPCSDthan those without hypertension (sub‐distribution hazard ratio [HR] 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89, 2.84;P= 0.11) although the difference was not statistically significant. Patients with metabolic syndrome had an increased risk of death from all causes (HR1.56, 95%CI1.07, 2.29;P= 0.02) when compared with patients without metabolic syndrome, as did patients with hypertension (HR1.72, 95%CI1.18, 2.49;P= 0.004).ConclusionsNo association ofPCSDand metabolic syndrome was observed in this cohort of men receivingADTfor biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. Metabolic syndrome was associated with an increased risk of death from all causes and a similar effect was also observed for patients with prostate cancer with hypertension alone.
The acute and long‐term L‐DOPA effects are independent from changes in the activity of dorsal raphe serotonergic neurons in 6‐OHDA lesioned rats
Authors: Miguelez C , Navailles S , De Deurwaerdère P , Ugedo L 
Published: January 2016

Background and PurposeL‐DOPA is still the most efficacious pharmacological treatment for Parkinson's disease. However, in the majority of patients receiving long‐term therapy with L‐DOPA, its efficacy is compromised by motor complications, notably L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia. Evidence suggests that the serotonergic system is involved in the therapeutic and the side effects of L‐DOPA. Here, we investigate if long‐term L‐DOPA treatment alters the activity of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and its responses to serotonergic drugs.Experimental ApproachWe measured the responses of serotonergic neurons to acute and chronic L‐DOPA treatment using in vivo electrophysiological single unit‐extracellular recordings in the 6‐OHDA‐lesion rat model of Parkinson's disease.Key ResultsThe results showed that neither acute nor chronic L‐DOPA administration (6 mg·kg−1 s.c.) altered the properties of serotonergic‐like neurons. Furthermore, no correlation was found between the activity of these neurons and the magnitude of L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia. In dyskinetic rats, the inhibitory response induced by the 5‐HT1A receptor agonist 8‐OH‐DPAT (0.0625–16 μg·kg−1, i.v.) was preserved. Nonetheless, L‐DOPA impaired the ability of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (0.125–8 mg·kg−1, i.v) to inhibit DRN neuron firing rate in dyskinetic animals.Conclusions and ImplicationsAlthough serotonergic neurons are involved in the dopaminergic effects of L‐DOPA, we provide evidence that the effect of L‐DOPA is not related to changes of the activity of DRN neurons. Rather, L‐DOPA might reduce the efficacy of drugs that normally enhance the extracellular levels of serotonin.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Updating Neuropathology and Neuropharmacology of Monoaminergic Systems. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v173.13/issuetoc