bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of financial distress on foreign exchange exposure
Authors: Akhigbe Aigbe , D. Martin Anna , J. Mauer Laurence 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a non-monotonic relationship may exist between financial distress and foreign exchange (FX) exposure. The authors hypothesize that firms with higher FX exposures are those with the lowest levels of financial distress because the costs of hedging exceed the benefits and those with highest levels of financial distress due to the conflict of interest between shareholders and bondholders.

Design/methodology/approach
– The methodology allows for the possibility of a non-monotonic relation between financial distress and FX exposure for firms known to have ex-ante exposures. The approach is to include a Black-Scholes-Merton financial distress measure and standard accounting-based financial distress measures.

Findings
– The results support the hypothesis of a non-monotonic relationship between financial distress and exposure; companies with the lowest and highest levels of financial distress are willing to bear greater FX exposures.

Originality/value
– The authors examine whether a non-monotonic relationship may exist between distress and FX exposure. Intuition for this non-monotonic relationship is provided by Stulz (1996) as he describes the risk management practices of firms with low, medium, and high default probabilities.
Top‐down and bottom‐up forces interact at thermal range extremes on American lobster
Authors: Boudreau Stephanie A. , Anderson Sean C. , Worm Boris 
Published: November 2014

Summary

Exploited marine populations are thought to be regulated by the effects of fishing, species interactions and climate. Yet, it is unclear how these forces interact and vary across a species’ range.

We conducted a meta‐analysis of American lobster (Homarus americanus) abundance data throughout the entirety of the species’ range, testing competing hypotheses about bottom‐up (climate, temperature) vs. top‐down (predation, fishing) regulation along a strong thermal gradient.

Our results suggest an interaction between predation and thermal range – predation effects dominated at the cold and warm extremes, but not at the centre of the species’ range. Similarly, there was consistent support for a positive climate effect on lobster recruitment at warm range extremes. In contrast, fishing effort followed, rather than led changes in lobster abundance over time.

Our analysis suggests that the relative effects of top‐down and bottom‐up forcing in regulating marine populations may intensify at thermal range boundaries and weaken at the core of a species’ range.
Concomitant predation on parasites is highly variable but constrains the ways in which parasites contribute to food web structure
Authors: Cirtwill Alyssa R. , Stouffer Daniel B. 
Published: November 2014

Summary

Previous analyses of empirical food webs (the networks of who eats whom in a community) have revealed that parasites exert a strong influence over observed food web structure and alter many network properties such as connectance and degree distributions. It remains unclear, however, whether these community‐level effects are fully explained by differences in the ways that parasites and free‐living species interact within a food web.

To rigorously quantify the interrelationship between food web structure, the types of species in a web and the distinct types of feeding links between them, we introduce a shared methodology to quantify the structural roles of both species and feeding links. Roles are quantified based on the frequencies with which a species (or link) appears in different food web motifs – the building blocks of networks.

We hypothesized that different types of species (e.g. top predators, basal resources, parasites) and different types of links between species (e.g. classic predation, parasitism, concomitant predation on parasites along with their hosts) will show characteristic differences in their food web roles.

We found that parasites do indeed have unique structural roles in food webs. Moreover, we demonstrate that different types of feeding links (e.g. parasitism, predation or concomitant predation) are distributed differently in a food web context. More than any other interaction type, concomitant predation appears to constrain the roles of parasites. In contrast, concomitant predation links themselves have more variable roles than any other type of interaction.

Together, our results provide a novel perspective on how both species and feeding link composition shape the structure of an ecological community and vice versa.
Risk factors and morbidity associated with suboptimal instrument placement at instrumental delivery: observational study nested within the Instrumental Delivery & Ultrasound randomised controlled trial ISRCTN 72230496
Authors: Ramphul M , Kennelly MM , Burke G , Murphy DJ 
Published: November 2014

ObjectivesTo identify risk factors and morbidity associated with suboptimal instrument placement at instrumental delivery.DesignObservational study, nested within a randomised controlled trial.SettingTwo university‐affiliated maternity hospitals.SampleA cohort of 478 nulliparous women at term (≥37 weeks of gestation) undergoing instrumental delivery.MethodsUnivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.Main outcome measuresRisk factors for suboptimal application of vacuum or forceps, maternal and neonatal morbidity, and the sequential use of instruments, second operator, and caesarean section following failed instrumental delivery.ResultsInstrument placement was suboptimal in 138 of 478 (28.8%) deliveries. Factors associated with suboptimal instrument placement included fetal malposition (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.62–3.66), mid‐cavity station (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.02–2.78), and forceps as the primary instrument (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.33–3.04). Compared with optimal instrument placement, suboptimal placement was associated with prolonged hospital stay (adjusted OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.30–4.02) and neonatal trauma (adjusted OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.85–9.72). Suboptimal placement was associated with a greater use of sequential instruments (adjusted OR 3.99, 95% CI 1.94–8.23) and caesarean section for failed instrumental delivery (adjusted OR 3.81, 95% CI 1.10–13.16). The mean decision to delivery interval (DDI) was 4 minutes longer in the suboptimal group (95% CI 2.1–5.9 minutes).ConclusionsSuboptimal instrument placement is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and procedural complications. Greater attention should be focused on instrument placement when training obstetricians for instrumental delivery.
Nondestructive estimates of above‐ground biomass using terrestrial laser scanning
Authors: Calders Kim , Newnham Glenn , Burt Andrew , Murphy Simon , Raumonen Pasi , Herold Martin , Culvenor Darius , Avitabile Valerio , Disney Mathias , Armston John , Kaasalainen Mikko 
Published: November 2014

Summary

Allometric equations are currently used to estimate above‐ground biomass (AGB) based on the indirect relationship with tree parameters. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) can measure the canopy structure in 3D with high detail. In this study, we develop an approach to estimate AGB from TLS data, which does not need any prior information about allometry. We compare these estimates against destructively harvested AGB estimates and AGB derived from allometric equations. We also evaluate tree parameters, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height, estimated from traditional field inventory and TLS data.
Tree height, DBH and AGB data are collected through traditional forest inventory, TLS and destructive sampling of 65 trees in a native Eucalypt Open Forest in Victoria, Australia. Single trees are extracted from the TLS data and quantitative structure models are used to estimate the tree volume directly from the point cloud data. AGB is inferred from these volumes and basic density information and is then compared with the estimates derived from allometric equations and destructive sampling.
AGB estimates derived from TLS show a high agreement with the reference values from destructive sampling, with a concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) of 0·98. The agreement between AGB estimates from allometric equations and the reference is lower (CCC = 0·68–0·78). Our TLS approach shows a total AGB overestimation of 9·68% compared to an underestimation of 36·57–29·85% for the allometric equations.
The error for AGB estimates using allometric equations increases exponentially with increasing DBH, whereas the error for AGB estimates from TLS is not dependent on DBH. The TLS method does not rely on indirect relationships with tree parameters or calibration data and shows better agreement with the reference data compared to estimates from allometric equations. Using 3D data also enables us to look at the height distributions of AGB, and we demonstrate that 80% of the AGB at plot level is located in the lower 60% of the trees for a Eucalypt Open Forest. This method can be applied in many forest types and can assist in the calibration and validation of broad‐scale biomass maps.
Routine operative swab cultures and post‐operative antibiotic use for uncomplicated perianal abscesses are unnecessary
Authors: Seow‐En Isaac , Ngu James 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBackgroundRoutine swab cultures for perianal abscesses remain commonplace in surgical practice. However, patients are often discharged post‐operatively prior to the culture results being made available. Consequently, intra‐operative swab cultures rarely impact subsequent management and outcomes. Similarly, the use of broad‐spectrum antibiotics for perianal abscesses post‐drainage also remains prevalent, albeit with questionable benefit.MethodsThe records of all patients diagnosed with perianal abscess from January 2011 to December 2011 were reviewed. Patients with complicated perianal abscesses or recurrent abscesses previously treated before the study period were excluded. The demographics, medical co‐morbidities, intra‐operative findings, swab cultures, microbiological results and use of post‐operative antibiotics were reviewed. Subsequent wound healing and follow‐up were also recorded.ResultsTwo hundred and seven patients were admitted to our institution for perianal abscesses in 2011. After excluding 35, the remaining 172 patients were analysed. One hundred and thirty‐four patients (78%) had swab cultures performed intra‐operatively but 80% of these were discharged prior to the culture results being available. One hundred and eight (63%) were discharged with outpatient antibiotics. During the index admission and subsequent follow‐up, swab culture results were not documented to be reviewed by the attending physician 96.5% of the time. Sixteen patients required repeat surgery for recurrence of anorectal sepsis. We found that the use of antibiotics after the index surgery did not confer a statistically significant benefit.ConclusionRoutine swab cultures are unnecessary and do not affect management and outcome. The use of post‐operative antibiotics may reduce the rates of recurrence, but this benefit was not found to be statistically significant.
Effects of disability on pregnancy experiences among women with impaired mobility
Authors: Iezzoni Lisa I. , Wint Amy J. , Smeltzer Suzanne C. , Ecker Jeffrey L. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractObjectiveLittle is known about how functional impairments might affect the pregnancies of women with mobility disability. We aimed to explore complications that arise during pregnancy that are specifically related to physical functional impairments of women with significant mobility disabilities.DesignQualitative descriptive analysis.SettingTelephone interviews with women from 17 USA states.Sample22 women with significant mobility difficulties who had delivered babies within the prior 10 years; most participants were recruited through social networks.MethodsWe conducted 2‐h, in‐depth telephone interviews using a semi‐structured, open‐ended interview protocol. We used NVIVO software to sort interview transcript texts for conventional content analyses.Main outcome measuresFunctional impairment‐related complications during pregnancy.ResultsThe women's mean (standard deviation) age was 34.8 (5.3) years. Most were white, well‐educated, and higher income; eight women had spinal cord injuries, four cerebral palsy, and 10 had other conditions; 18 used wheeled mobility aids; and 14 had cesarean deliveries (eight elective). Impairment‐related complications during pregnancy included: falls; urinary tract and bladder problems; wheelchair fit and stability problems that reduced mobility and compromised safety; significant shortness of breath, sometimes requiring respiratory support; increased spasticity; bowel management difficulties; and skin integrity problems (this was rare, but many women greatly increased skin monitoring during pregnancy to prevent pressure ulcers).ConclusionsIn addition to other pregnancy‐associated health risks, women with mobility disabilities appear to experience problems relating to their functional impairments. Pre‐conception planning and in‐depth discussions during early pregnancy could potentially assist women with mobility disabilities to anticipate and address these difficulties.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for noncardiac chest pain
Authors: Atluri D. K. , Chandar A. K. , Fass R. , Falck‐Ytter Y. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackgroundSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) symptoms, however, data regarding their efficacy remains inconclusive.AimTo conduct a meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing SSRIs to placebo in patients with NCCP, and rate the quality of evidence.MethodsElectronic databases were searched using the terms ‘noncardiac chest pain’, ‘atypical chest pain’ and ‘selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors’. Data were extracted from RCTs of ≥8 weeks. Standardised mean differences (SMD), weighted mean differences (WMD) or risk ratios (RR) were used as summary statistics for pooled outcomes. GRADE methodology was used to rate the quality of evidence.ResultsFour RCTs (184 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Compared to placebo, patients on SSRIs showed a nonsignificant change in chest pain of 3½ points decrease on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (184 patients, 95% CI, −9.5 to 2.5; I2 = 0%). Change in depression scores was not significantly different between the two groups (88 patients; WMD = 0.7; 95% CI, −1.81 to 3.20; I2 = 64%). Treatment discontinuations were not significantly different between groups (154 patients, RR = 2.08; 95% CI, 0.77–5.60; I2 = 0%). The quality of evidence was rated as moderate for change in chest pain symptoms, low for change in depression scores and moderate for treatment discontinuation due to adverse events.ConclusionsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are not superior to placebo in improving chest pain or depression symptoms in patients with noncardiac chest pain. Larger trials with longer follow‐up periods are necessary to assess the benefits and drawbacks of SSRIs for the treatment of noncardiac chest pain.
The association of hepatitis C virus infection and post‐liver transplant diabetes: data from 17 000 HCV‐infected transplant recipients
Authors: Younossi Z. , Stepanova M. , Saab S. , Trimble G. , Mishra A. , Henry L. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with metabolic manifestations including insulin resistance and diabetes through various mechanisms. Whether HCV infection is associated with an increased risk of post‐transplant diabetes in liver transplant recipients is unclear.AimTo assess the association of HCV infection with post‐transplant diabetes.MethodsAll liver transplant recipients infected with hepatitis C (exposed) and hepatitis B (HBV) (controls) with post‐transplant follow‐up from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (2003–2012) were included.ResultsA total of 17 121 HCV patients and 1450 HBV controls were included in this observational study. Subjects with HCV were more likely to be overweight and obese at transplant, but the rate of pre‐transplant diabetes of 13.7% was similar to HBV (P > 0.05). Post‐transplant, 32.5% of HCV patients and 27.5% of HBV patients had diabetes (P < 0.0001). This difference was observed starting as early as 6 months post‐transplant: 22.5% HCV and 18.9% HBV (P = 0.0043). With longer follow‐up, both the cumulative and incidental risks of developing post‐transplant diabetes were consistently higher in HCV patients. In particular, by 5 years post‐transplant, both the relative risk of having diabetes [1.18 (1.08–1.29), P = 0.0002] and the hazard ratio for time to developing diabetes [1.27 (1.15–1.41), P < 0.0001] were significantly higher in HCV patients compared to HBV patients. In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for confounders including the use of immunosuppressants, hepatitis C infection was independently associated with developing post‐transplant diabetes: aHR = 1.55 (1.34–1.79), P < 0.0001.ConclusionHepatitis C infection is associated with a higher risk of post‐transplant diabetes that persists up to 5 years post‐transplant.
Altered balance between self-reactive T helper (Th)17 cells and Th10 cells and between full-length forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) and FoxP3 splice variants in Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Authors: Kristensen B , Hegedüs L , Madsen H O , Smith T J , Nielsen C H 
Published: November 2014

SummaryT helper type 17 (Th17) cells play a pathogenic role in autoimmune disease, while interleukin (IL)-10-producing Th10 cells serve a protective role. The balance between the two subsets is regulated by the local cytokine milieu and by the relative expression of intact forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) compared to FoxP3Δ2, missing exon 2. Th17 and Th10 cell differentiation has usually been studied using polyclonal stimuli, and little is known about the ability of physiologically relevant self-antigens to induce Th17 or Th10 cell differentiation in autoimmune thyroid disease. We subjected mononuclear cells from healthy donors and patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) or Graves' disease (GD) to polyclonal stimulation, or stimulation with human thyroglobulin (TG), human thyroid peroxidase (TPO), or Esherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TPO and LPS induced increased differentiation of naive CD4+CD45RA+CD45R0– T cells from HT patients into Th17 cells. Th10 cell proportions were decreased in HT after polyclonal stimulation, but were comparable to those of healthy donors after antigen-specific stimulation. Taken together, our data show that an increased Th17 : Th10 ratio was found in HT patients after stimulation with thyroid-specific self-antigens. We also observed an elevated baseline production of IL-6 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and of mRNA encoding FoxP3Δ2 rather than intact FoxP3. This may contribute to the skewing towards Th17 cell responses in HT.
A new quantitative method for estimating glomerular filtration rate and its clinical value
Authors: Cheng Mu‐hua , Zeng Feng‐wei , Xie Liang‐jun , Li Jian‐fang , Zhang Feng , Jiang Hang 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackground and aimThe estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential for the renal function. However, all estimation methods for GFR have advantages and disadvantages. The aim of this study was to develop a new quantitative method for estimating GFR and evaluate its clinical value.MethodsThe new GFR was estimated by quantifying the accumulation of Tc‐99m DTPA in the dual kidneys and bladder during a gamma camera renogram study in 116 patients with chronic kidney disease. GFR was determined by this new method (nGFR), Gates' gamma camera technique (gGFR), a two‐plasma sampling method (tGFR) and creatinine‐based clearance as estimated by Cockcroft–Gault (cGFR) and abbreviated MDRD (aGFR) formulae. The correlation analysis, Bland–Altman analysis and receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) plots were carried out among above methods.ResultsThe nGFR value has significant correlation with tGRF (r = 0·827, P<0·01). The nGFR had the best overall performances with a lowest bias deviation (3·1 ml min−1/1·73 m2), better precision (53·0 ml min−1/1·73 m2), narrowest interquartile range (13·5 ml min−1/1·73 m2) and best accuracy (68·1%) within 30% of the tGFR, compared with those of gGFR, cGFR and aGFR. The new method had the similar maximum accuracy with the Gates' method and creatinine clearance as estimated by Cockcroft–Gault and abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) method. The new method had better repeatability characteristic compared with the Gates' method.ConclusionsThe new method for estimating GFR had the better performances compared with the Gates' method and creatinine clearance as estimated by Cockcroft–Gault and MDRD method.
High‐risk HPV platforms and test of cure: should specific HPV platforms more suited to screening in a ‘test of cure’ scenario be recommended?
Authors: Innamaa A. , Dudding N. , Ellis K. , Crossley J. , Smith J. H. , Tidy J. A. , Palmer J. E. 
Published: November 2014

ObjectiveWhen the Sheffield screening laboratory changed the high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) platforms from hybrid capture 2® (HC2; Digene Ltd) and to cobas 4800® (Roche) an unexpected and substantial increase in the number of cytology‐negative/hrHPV‐positive test‐of‐cure (ToC) samples after large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) was noted. We explore the potential reasons for these increased rates and discuss the implications this may have on the English NHS cervical screening programme (CSP).MethodsA retrospective cohort study with interval analysis between June 2007 and June 2012.ResultsToC was performed on 1530 women with HC2 and 396 with cobas 4800: 95.1% and 92.4% of women had negative cytology at ToC in the HC2 and cobas4800 testing period, respectively. Of these 13.9% and 27.8% tested positive for hrHPV in the HC2 and cobas 4800 group, respectively (P = <0.0001). No clinically significant increase in the number of cases of cervical intraepithelial neolpasia (CIN) was detected by the cobas4800 test in spite of doubling the number of cytology‐negative/hrHPV‐positive ToC samples.ConclusionsAs far as we are aware, this is the first study reporting potential differences between different HPV platforms currently available in the English programme. The immediate impact of this increase in rates of hrHPV detection with cobas4800 is an increased number of colposcopy referrals to our service. The NHSCSP needs to assess whether this increase is acceptable and, if not, whether specific HPV platforms more suited to screening in a ToC scenario should be recommended.