bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capital Structure, Corporate Taxation and Firm Age*
Authors: Pfaffermayr Michael , Stöckl Matthias , Winner Hannes 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThis paper analyses the relationship between corporate taxation, firm age and debt. We adapt a standard model of capital structure choice under corporate taxation, focusing on the financing and investment decisions typically faced by a firm. Our model suggests that the debt ratio is associated positively with the corporate tax rate and negatively with firm age. Further, we predict that the tax‐induced advantage of debt is more important for older firms than for younger ones. To test these hypotheses empirically, we use a cross‐section of around 405,000 firms from 35 European countries and 127 NACE three‐digit industries. In line with previous research, we find that a firm's debt ratio increases with the corporate tax rate. Further, we observe that older firms exhibit smaller debt ratios than their younger counterparts. Finally, consistent with our theoretical model, we find a positive interaction between corporate taxation and firm age, indicating that the impact of corporate taxation on debt increases over a firm's lifetime.
SHARED DECISION MAKING AND PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN CHOOSING HOME THERAPIES
Authors: Johansson Lina 
Published: March 2013

SUMMARYBackgroundPatient involvement through shared decision making is advocated to support patients deciding on a dialysis treatment suitable to their clinical condition, lifestyle and social circumstances. Evidence to date, however, suggests that shared decision making is far from routine practice. Not all physicians or patients are willing to participate in shared decision making. Equally, modality education does not always meet the needs of patients and their families, resulting in a significant proportion of patients remaining unaware of the existence of home therapies. The selection of home therapies appears to be tightly associated with the quality of the modality education. This paper considers several ways in which patient involvement in their dialysis modality decision can be improved, with particular reference to information provision. Information needs to be balanced, explore the medical as well as the psychosocial aspects of each treatment, be tailored to the needs of the individual patient and be delivered in a timely fashion.ConclusionOptimising modality education will optimise patient's ability to participate in shared decision making, thereby improving uptake of home therapies.
THE ROLE OF PRIVATE CAPITAL INFLOWS AND THE EXCHANGE MARKET PRESSURE ON REAL EXCHANGE RATE APPRECIATION: THE CASE OF TURKEY
Authors: ERSOY IMRE 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to investigate the role of different private capital inflows and the exchange market pressure (EMP) on the real effective exchange rate (REER) appreciation of the currency in Turkey. To that end, the paper first investigates the long‐run equilibrium relationship and then employs Granger causality analysis. Results of the bounds test for cointegration within the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) modelling approach of Pesaran et al. (2001) reveal level relationship between the diverse private capital inflows, EMP and REER. Granger causality analysis suggests that there is a unidirectional causality running from all the concerned private capital inflows and EMP to REER. The ARDL model shows first that the impact of bank liabilities and portfolio investment liabilities are almost equal, high and positive. Second, foreign direct investment and workers' remittances have a negative but statistically insignificant effect. Third, EMP mitigates REER appreciation of the currency in Turkey. The empirical results suggest that speculative portfolio investment liabilities but particularly bank liabilities with short maturities should be better managed; more flexibility should be introduced to the floating exchange rate regime to avoid loss of competitiveness related with capital inflows; whereas foreign direct investments and remittances should be encouraged.
Self‐reported questionnaire for surveillance of periodontitis in Chinese patients from a prosthodontic clinic: a validation study
Authors: Wu Xiayi , Weng Haiyan , Lin Xuefeng 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackground and PurposePeriodontal maintenance is critical for the long‐term success of prosthodontic treatment. This study investigates the validity of questionnaires/models in monitoring periodontitis for Chinese prosthodontic patients.MethodsIn total, 114 patients completed the questionnaire. The chi‐squared test and classification and regression trees were used to screen for predictive items. Predictive models developed by Yamamoto et al. and Dietrich et al. were validated using ROC curves and calibration plots.ResultsUnivariate and multivariate analysis revealed that demographic features (age, gender, smoking history, education history and number of remaining teeth), symptoms(tooth mobility without injury, painful gums), dental recommendations (“need periodontal or gum treatment?”) and treatment history (scaling and root planing) were predictive of periodontitis. The AUC values of the Yamamoto model and Dietrich's model‐a and model‐b were 0.67, 0.89, and 0.89 for moderate/severe periodontitis and 0.78, 0.93, and 0.93 for severe periodontitis, respectively. The calibration plot showed that Dietrich's model‐a and model‐b accurately predicted the actual probability of moderate/severe and severe periodontitis, respectively.ConclusionQuestionnaires may be an efficient approach to monitor periodontal health in China. Dietrich's models, with age, smoking and self‐reported mobility as predictors, can be used to monitor periodontal health for Chinese prosthodontic patients.
Anthropometric indicators of obesity for identifying cardiometabolic risk factors in a rural Bangladeshi population
Authors: Bhowmik Bishwajit , Munir Sanjida B , Diep Lien M , Siddiquee Tasnima , Habib Samira H , Samad Mohammad A , Azad Khan Abul Kalam , Hussain Akhtar 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAims/IntroductionThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive ability of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and body fat percentages (BF%) for the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors, namely type 2 diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome (MS).Materials and MethodsA total of 2293 subjects aged ≥20 years from rural Bangladesh were randomly selected in a population‐based, cross‐sectional survey. The association of anthropometric indicators with cardiometabolic risk conditions was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for DM, HTN, dyslipidemia and MS.ResultsArea under the curve cut‐off values showed that the association of WHR, BF% and WC was higher than that for other indices for DM, HTN and MS, respectively, for both sexes, and WHtR for men and WHR for women for dyslipidemia. The ORs were highest for WHR for DM and WC for MS for both sexes, and WHtR for men and WC for women for HTN and dyslipidemia, respectively. The optimal cut‐off values for obesity for the present study in men and women showed BMIs of 22 and 22.8 kg/m2, WHRs of 0.93 and 0.87, WHtRs of 0.52 and 0.54, BF% of 21.4 and 32.4%, and WCs of 82 and 81 cm, except for MS, which were 90 for men and 80 for women.ConclusionsCompared with BMI, measures of central obesity, particularly WHR, WC, WHtR and BF%, showed a better association with obesity‐related cardiometabolic risk factors for both sexes.
Functional properties of behaviour problems depending on level of intellectual disability
Authors: Medeiros K. , Rojahn J. , Moore L. L. , van Ingen D. J. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundBehaviour problems are common among individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) especially in those with more severe forms. The determination of the functional profile of a targeted behaviour has important implications for the design of customised behavioural interventions.MethodWe investigated the relationship between the level of ID and the functional profile of aggression, stereotypy and self‐injurious behaviour (SIB) using the Questions about Behavioural Function (QABF). Two staff members at two time points completed the QABF for each of 115 adults with varying levels of ID participating in a day training and habilitation programme.Results and conclusionsOur results suggest that there is a differential relationship between the functions of behaviour problems and level of ID. While SIB is more often seen by raters to be maintained by escape of social demands and by attaining access to tangible items with the decline of the intellectual level, aggressive and stereotypic behaviours were identified more often as serving multiple functions equally across functioning level.
The relationship between maltreatment victimisation and sexual and violent offending: differences between adolescent offenders with and without intellectual disability
Authors: van der Put C. E. , Asscher J. J. , Wissink I. B. , Stams G. J. J. M. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundJuveniles with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more often victims of maltreatment and more often perpetrators of abuse than juveniles without ID. Because previous research on the relationship between maltreatment victimisation and subsequent offending behaviour was primarily performed in non‐disabled samples, the present study aimed to examine differences between juvenile offenders with and without ID in the relationship between maltreatment victimisation and sexual and violent offending.MethodThe sample consisted of juvenile offenders with ID (n = 102) and without ID (n = 526) who appeared before the courts for a criminal act and for whom the Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment (WSJCA) was completed. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the strength of the relationship between maltreatment and offending, Fisher's z tests were calculated to assess the significance of the differences between the two groups in the strength of the correlations, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the unique contribution of maltreatment victimisation to the prediction of violent and sexual offending.ResultsSeventy per cent of the juvenile offenders with ID and 42% of the juvenile offenders without ID had experienced abuse and/or neglect. Both sexual and violent offending were more common in juvenile offenders with ID than in juvenile offenders without ID. Moreover, the relationship between different forms of maltreatment and sexual offending was stronger in juvenile offenders with ID than in juvenile offenders without ID.ConclusionsGiven the high rates of abuse and neglect victimisation and the strength of the association between victimisation and sexual offending, especially in juvenile offenders with ID, treatment should focus on potential trauma and other problems associated with the abuse.
Views of Black Nurses Toward Genetic Research and Testing
Authors: Powell‐Young Yolanda M. , Spruill Ida J. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractPurposeTo describe views and beliefs that Black nurses hold regarding several conceptual areas of genetic research and testing.DesignData were generated using a descriptive, cross‐sectional design. The sample consisted of 384 Black nurses attending the 2009 annual conference of the National Black Nurses Association in Las Vegas, Nevada.MethodsThe chi‐squared test was used to evaluate group differences by education level, functional area, age, and gender.FindingsOne half of the Black nurses surveyed believed the potential for the discriminative misuse of genetic information against minority populations exists. However, 84% of these nurses believed the possibility of information misuse should not be used as a barrier to participation in genetic research and testing by the Black populace.ConclusionsBlack nurses expressed concerns about the potential for discriminatory use of genetic information gleaned from research and testing. Yet, Black nurses recognize the importance of racial‐ethnic minority participation in genetic research and testing.Clinical RelevanceParticipation in genetic research and testing by diverse populations will provide opportunities to improve the healthcare delivery system and aid the eradication of health disparities. More research is needed to clarify factors that contribute to the bifurcation of importance for participation, reluctance to participate, and what interventions might reduce reluctance.
Formal hepatitis C education enhances HCV care coordination, expedites HCV treatment and improves antiviral response
Authors: Lubega Samali , Agbim Uchenna , Surjadi Miranda , Mahoney Megan , Khalili Mandana 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackground & AimsFormal Hepatitis C virus (HCV) education improves HCV knowledge but the impact on treatment uptake and outcome is not well described. We aimed to evaluate the impact of formal HCV patient education on primary provider‐specialist HCV comanagement and treatment.MethodsPrimary care providers within the San Francisco safety‐net health care system were surveyed and the records of HCV‐infected patients before and after institution of a formal HCV education class by liver specialty (2006–2011) were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsCharacteristics of 118 patients who received anti‐HCV therapy were: mean age 51, 73% males and ~50% White and uninsured. The time to initiation of HCV treatment was shorter among those who received formal education (median 136 vs 284 days, P < 0.0001). When controlling for age, gender, race and HCV viral load, non‐1 genotype (OR 6.17, 95% CI 2.3–12.7, P = 0.0003) and receipt of HCV education (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1–7.9, P = 0.03) were associated with sustained virologic treatment response. Among 94 provider respondents (response rate = 38%), mean age was 42, 62% were White, and 63% female. Most providers agreed that the HCV education class increased patients' HCV knowledge (70%), interest in HCV treatment (52%), and provider‐patient communication (56%). A positive provider attitude (Coef 1.5, 95% CI 0.1–2.9 percent, P = 0.039) was independently associated with referral rate to education class.ConclusionsFormal HCV education expedites HCV therapy and improves virologic response rates. As primary care provider attitude plays a significant role in referral to HCV education class, improving provider knowledge will likely enhance access to HCV specialty services in the vulnerable population.
Latin‐American Special Olympics athletes: evaluation of oral health status, 2010
Authors: Hanke‐Herrero Rosana , López del Valle Lydia M. , Sánchez Carolina , Waldman H. Barry , Perlman Steven P. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACTObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health status and dental needs of the athletes with intellectual disabilities from Latin‐American and Caribbean countries who were participating in the II Latin‐American Special Olympics games held in Puerto Rico, February 2010.MethodsThere were 930 athletes who participated in the games, of whom 445 received a dental examination, including 367 from Latin‐American and 78 from Caribbean countries. Forty‐four trained and standardized dental professionals performed dental screenings of athletes with intellectual disabilities, following Special Olympic Special Smiles and CDC protocols. These criteria were used to record untreated caries, missing and filled teeth, and gingival status. Socio‐demographics, existence, and severity of pain and oral hygiene habits were assessed by questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using EPI‐INFO and SPSS Statistical Program to produce descriptive statistics and chi‐square test.ResultsUntreated dental caries was recorded for more than half of the examined athletes. Missing teeth were noted in more than one‐third of the athletes. More than half of the participants had signs of gingival disease and half needed preventive mouth guards. Statistics for each Latin‐American country suggests a dissimilar trend of dental decay and treatment needs among nations.ConclusionsWhile the Special Olympic athletes may not be representative of the entire population of individuals with intellectual disabilities in their specific country, the general consistency of the oral health status of these athletes from the 31 countries supports the certainty of the need for increased dental services for individuals with intellectual disability in the respective countries.
A clinical review of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of uroabdomen in the dog and cat
Authors: Stafford Jennifer R. , Bartges Joseph W. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo review current literature regarding uroabdomen in dogs and cats with respect to etiology, diagnostic approach, medical and surgical treatment, and prognosis.EtiologyUroabdomen in dogs and cats is most often associated with vehicular or blunt trauma. This condition may also result from urinary tract obstruction, traumatic bladder expression or catheterization, neoplasia, and postoperative leakage following abdominal or urogenital surgery.DiagnosisDisruption to the urinary tract should be considered when a patient is diagnosed with azotemia, hyperkalemia, and abdominal effusion. By comparing the creatinine concentration of the abdominal fluid to the serum or plasma creatinine concentration, a diagnosis of uroabdomen can be made if the creatinine ratio is ≥2:1. In most patients imaging studies with contrast are necessary to identify the exact source of urine leakage and to determine therapeutic options.TherapyUroabdomen is a medical emergency, not a surgical emergency. Acute management involves stabilization of the patient with IV fluid therapy and treatment of hyperkalemia. Urinary diversion and, in some cases, peritoneal dialysis are necessary to stabilize the patient until life‐threatening conditions such as hyperkalemia or concomitant injuries such as pulmonary contusions resolve. Once the patient is stable for anesthesia, surgical repair, if indicated, may be performed.PrognosisThe prognosis of patients with uroabdomen depends on the extent of urinary and nonurinary injuries as well as the development of complications. Potential complications include dehiscence or urine leakage following surgical repair of the urinary tract, urosepsis, unresolving azotemia secondary to renal damage or underlying renal insufficiency, or stricture formation in the urinary tract.
Performance of the GenoType MTBDR
plus
Assay Directly on Sputum Specimens from Brazilian Patients with Tuberculosis Treatment Failure or Relapse
Authors: Maschmann Raquel de Abreu , Sá Spies Fernanda , Nunes Luciana de Souza , Ribeiro Andrezza Wolowski , Machado Taís Raquel Marcon , Zaha Arnaldo , Rossetti Maria Lucia Rosa 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

Rapid identification of drug resistance in clinical isolates of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is important in determining treatment for tuberculosis. The aim of this work was evaluate the performance of the GenoType MDRTB
plus
assay directly on sputum of patients who had treatment failure or relapse in a routine outpatient setting in southern Brazil.
Electronic Nose Technology for Detection of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Prolonged Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia: a Proof-of-Principle Study
Authors: de Heer Koen , van der Schee Marc P. , Zwinderman Koos , van den Berk Inge A. H. , Visser Caroline Elisabeth , van Oers Rien , Sterk Peter J. 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

Although the high mortality rate of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with prolonged chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (PCIN) can be reduced by timely diagnosis, a diagnostic test that reliably detects IA at an early stage is lacking. We hypothesized that an electronic nose (eNose) could fulfill this need. An eNose can discriminate various lung diseases through the analysis of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs). An eNose is cheap and noninvasive and yields results within minutes. In a single-center prospective cohort study, we included patients who were treated with chemotherapy expected to result in PCIN. Based on standardized indications, a full diagnostic workup was performed to confirm invasive aspergillosis or to rule it out. Patients with no aspergillosis were considered controls, and patients with probable or proven aspergillosis were considered index cases. Exhaled breath was examined with a Cyranose 320 (Smith Detections, Pasadena, CA). The resulting data were analyzed using principal component reduction. The primary endpoint was cross-validated diagnostic accuracy, defined as the percentage of patients correctly classified using the leave-one-out method. Accuracy was validated by 100,000 random classifications. We included 46 subjects who underwent 16 diagnostic workups, resulting in 6 cases and 5 controls. The cross-validated accuracy of the eNose in diagnosing IA was 90.9% (
P
= 0.022; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 83.3%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.93. These preliminary data indicate that PCIN patients with IA have a distinct exhaled VOC profile that can be detected with eNose technology. The diagnostic accuracy of the eNose for invasive aspergillosis warrants validation.
Detection of Avian Retroviruses in Vaccines by Amplification on DF-1 Cells with Immunostaining and Fluorescent Product-Enhanced Reverse Transcriptase Endpoint Methods
Authors: Birmingham Cheryl L. , Dupont Dominique , Riou Patrice , Armanet Corinne , Edamura Kerrie Nichol , Martinho Briolange , Serres Aurelie , Jacouton Severine , Detrez Valerie , McNeil Bryan , Schreiber Martha , Gaillac David , Bonnevay Thierry , Gisonni-Lex Lucy , Mallet Laurent 
Published: March 2013

ABSTRACT

In order to ensure the safety of vaccines produced on avian cells, rigorous testing for the absence of avian retroviruses must be performed. Current methods used to detect avian retroviruses often exhibit a high invalid-test/false-positive rate, rely on hard-to-secure reagents, and/or have readouts that are difficult to standardize. Herein, we describe the development and validation of two consistent and sensitive methods for the detection of avian retroviruses in vaccines: viral amplification on DF-1 cells followed by immunostaining for the detection of avian leukosis virus (ALV) and viral amplification on DF-1 cells followed by fluorescent product-enhanced reverse transcriptase (F-PERT) for the detection of all avian retroviruses. Both assays share an infectivity stage on DF-1 cells followed by a different endpoint readout depending on the retrovirus to be detected. Validation studies demonstrated a limit of detection of one 50% cell culture infectious dose (CCID
50
)/ml for retrovirus in a 30-ml test inoculum volume for both methods, which was as sensitive as a classical method used in the vaccine industry, namely, viral amplification on primary chicken embryo fibroblasts followed by the complement fixation test for avian leukosis virus (COFAL). Furthermore, viral amplification on DF-1 cells followed by either immunostaining or F-PERT demonstrated a sensitivity that exceeds the regulatory requirements for detection of ALV strains. A head-to-head comparison of the two endpoint methods showed that viral amplification on DF-1 cells followed by F-PERT is a suitable method to be used as a stand-alone test to ensure that vaccine preparations are free from infectious avian retroviruses.