bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety of exenatide once weekly for 52 weeks in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Onishi Yukiko , Koshiyama Hiroyuki , Imaoka Takeshi , Haber Harry , Scism‐Bacon Jamie , Boardman Marilyn K 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAims/IntroductionAn initial 26‐week, randomized, open‐label study compared the efficacy and safety of exenatide 10 mcg twice daily with exenatide 2 mg once weekly in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes who experienced inadequate glycemic control with oral antidiabetes medications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of exenatide once weekly in Japanese patients, a subset of the initial patient population, who continued into this extension study for an additional 26 weeks of therapy on exenatide once weekly, followed by 10 weeks without exenatide once weekly.Materials and MethodsJapanese patients initially assigned to exenatide twice daily (n = 62) switched to exenatide once weekly for the extended 26 weeks, and patients initially assigned to exenatide once weekly (n = 74) continued on this regimen for the remainder of the study (total treatment of 52 weeks).ResultsA total of 68% of patients reported one or more treatment‐emergent adverse events during the extension period; the most common of these were nasopharyngitis (14%) and vomiting (6%). No major hypoglycemic episodes were reported. Improvements in glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose and postprandial glucose were maintained over 52 weeks of treatment. At week 52, bodyweight remained reduced from baseline.ConclusionsExenatide once weekly added to oral antidiabetes medication was well tolerated in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, and was associated with glycemic control and weight loss through to 52 weeks, supporting the use of exenatide once weekly as an adjunctive treatment for type 2 diabetes in this patient population. The initial 26‐week portion of this trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT00917267).
Comparison of effects of cilnidipine and azelnidipine on blood pressure, heart rate and albuminuria in type 2 diabetics with hypertension: A pilot study
Authors: Abe Hiroko , Mita Tomoya , Yamamoto Risako , Komiya Koji , Kawaguchi Minako , Sakurai Yuko , Shimizu Tomoaki , Ohmura Chie , Ikeda Fuki , Kawamori Ryuzo , Fujitani Yoshio , Watada Hirotaka 
Published: October 2012

AbstractPrevious studies reported that both cilnidipine and azelnidipine have a renoprotective effect compared with amlodipine. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cilnidipine and azelnidipine on blood pressure, heart rate and albuminuria. An open‐label prospective crossover trial was carried out. We recruited 19 type 2 diabetics treated with amlodipine (5 mg/day) at least for 12 weeks. At study entry, amlodipine was changed to cilnidipine (10 mg/day) or azelnidipine (16 mg/day) and each administered for 16 weeks. Then, the drugs were switched and the treatment was continued for another 16 weeks. Despite no differences in 24‐h blood pressure and heart rate between cilnidipine and azelnidipine, treatment with cilnidipine resulted in a greater reduction in urinary albumin:creatinine ratio than azelnidipine. Our results suggested that cilnidipine is more efficient in reducing albuminuria than azelnidipine independent of its blood pressure lowering effect in type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension. This trial was registered with UMIN (no. 000007201).
Uncertainty, Specialization and Government Intervention
Authors: Di Maio Michele , Valente Marco 
Published: October 2012

AbstractWe use a one‐factor two‐sector model of comparative advantage with uncertainty to compare the effects of different specialization levels on growth under various scenarios. We derive the static and dynamic optimal level of specialization under the centralized and the decentralized economy. We identify the conditions under which the socially optimal specialization level entails positive investment in the comparatively disadvantaged sector. We show that in this case the socially optimal solution cannot be reached by the decentralized economy which is in fact characterized by over‐specialization. We conclude presenting a simple tax‐based redistributive mechanism able to achieve the optimal level of specialization in a decentralized economic system.
Multiple Large Shareholder Structure and Governance: The Role of Shareholder Numbers, Contest for Control, and Formal Institutions in Chinese Family Firms
Authors: Luo Jin-hui , Wan Di-fang , Cai Di , Liu Heng 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe principal–principal (PP) perspective of corporate governance shows that multiple large shareholder (MLS) structure has competing monitoring and entrenchment governance effects. We argue that the dominant effect depends on contest for control among large shareholders and the number of large shareholders involved. Using data from Chinese family listed companies from 2004 to 2007, this study shows inverse U-shaped relationships between contest for control and corporate market value, as measured by Tobin's Q, and between the number of large shareholders and corporate market value. Findings indicate that at low to medium levels of contest for control or number of large shareholders, formal institutions can strengthen MLS structure's monitoring effect and can help this effect last longer. As a whole, the findings extend the institution-based view in the context of family corporate governance by showing that formal institutions can shape the ability of MLS structure to exert governance.
From Personal Relationship to Psychological Ownership: The Importance of Manager–Owner Relationship Closeness in Family Businesses
Authors: Zhu Hang , Chen Chao C. , Li Xinchun , Zhou Yinghui 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIntegrating theories of psychological ownership and stewardship, and taking a relational perspective, we examine key antecedents and outcomes of professional managers' psychological ownership in Chinese owner-managed family businesses. We tested the model using a survey of 166 Chinese professional managers (one from each of 166 family businesses). We find that owner–manager relationship closeness at work mediates the effect of both the owner's benevolent leadership and owner–manager friendship ties on the manager's psychological ownership. Psychological ownership, in turn, is positively related to the manager's intention to stay and to stewardship behaviour. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Unidentified Candidates for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Guideline Adherence in a Large Academic Outpatient Clinic in the Netherlands
Authors: de GROOT JORIS R. , KRUL SÉBASTIEN P. J. , KROON SEM , KNOPS REINOUD E. , PETERS RON J. G. , WILDE ARTHUR A. M. 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundCardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces mortality and morbidity in patients with heart failure, diminished left ventricular function, and prolonged QRS duration. We investigated adherence to the CRT guidelines and screened for unidentified CRT candidates.MethodsEvery unique patient visiting the outpatient clinic during three months was analyzed. In patients with QRS duration ≥120 ms or a paced QRS duration ≥200 ms on the electrocardiogram (ECG), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and New York Heart Association functional class were retrieved from hospital records and compared with the institutional implantable cardioverter defibrillator/pacemaker implantation database. The appropriateness of CRT indication was studied in patients who previously received CRT.ResultsQRS duration was <120 ms in 2,609 out of 3,053 patients screened. LVEF was ≤35% in 28 out of 282 patients with a QRS duration ≥120 ms or a paced QRS duration ≥200 ms. Of those, 11 patients were potential CRT candidates. During follow‐up, three patients received a CRT device, two patients died, one patient improved, and one refused implantation, leaving four potential CRT candidates. Forty‐six patients previously implanted with a CRT device visited the outpatient clinic, of whom 42 (91.3%) fulfilled the guideline criteria. Hence, 45 out of 49 patients (91.8%) qualifying for CRT had received CRT or were implanted during follow‐up, and four (8.2%) CRT candidates were unidentified.ConclusionIn a large, tertiary academic hospital, >91% of patients fulfilling guideline criteria received CRT, and 8.2% of patients were unidentified. Systematic ECG screening of every patient may prove a simple tool to detect CRT candidates who were otherwise unrecognized.(PACE 2013; 36:69–75)
TOPAS: An innovative proton Monte Carlo platform for research and clinical applications
Authors: Perl J. , Shin J. , Schümann J. , Faddegon B. , Paganetti H. 
Published: October 2012

Purpose:While Monte Carlo particle transport has proven useful in many areas (treatment head design, dose calculation, shielding design, and imaging studies) and has been particularly important for proton therapy (due to the conformal dose distributions and a finite beam range in the patient), the available general purpose Monte Carlo codes in proton therapy have been overly complex for most clinical medical physicists. The learning process has large costs not only in time but also in reliability. To address this issue, we developed an innovative proton Monte Carlo platform and tested the tool in a variety of proton therapy applications.Methods:Our approach was to take one of the already‐established general purpose Monte Carlo codes and wrap and extend it to create a specialized user‐friendly tool for proton therapy. The resulting tool, TOol for PArticle Simulation (TOPAS), should make Monte Carlo simulation more readily available for research and clinical physicists. TOPAS can model a passive scattering or scanning beam treatment head, model a patient geometry based on computed tomography (CT) images, score dose, fluence, etc., save and restart a phase space, provides advanced graphics, and is fully four‐dimensional (4D) to handle variations in beam delivery and patient geometry during treatment. A custom‐designed TOPAS parameter control system was placed at the heart of the code to meet requirements for ease of use, reliability, and repeatability without sacrificing flexibility.Results:We built and tested the TOPAS code. We have shown that the TOPAS parameter system provides easy yet flexible control over all key simulation areas such as geometry setup, particle source setup, scoring setup, etc. Through design consistency, we have insured that user experience gained in configuring one component, scorer or filter applies equally well to configuring any other component, scorer or filter. We have incorporated key lessons from safety management, proactively removing possible sources of user error such as line‐ordering mistakes. We have modeled proton therapy treatment examples including the UCSF eye treatment head, the MGH stereotactic alignment in radiosurgery treatment head and the MGH gantry treatment heads in passive scattering and scanning modes, and we have demonstrated dose calculation based on patient‐specific CT data. Initial validation results show agreement with measured data and demonstrate the capabilities of TOPAS in simulating beam delivery in 3D and 4D.Conclusions:We have demonstrated TOPAS accuracy and usability in a variety of proton therapy setups. As we are preparing to make this tool freely available for researchers in medical physics, we anticipate widespread use of this tool in the growing proton therapy community.
Terminology and classification of muscle injuries in sport: The Munich consensus statement
Authors: Mueller-Wohlfahrt Hans-Wilhelm , Haensel Lutz , Mithoefer Kai , Ekstrand Jan , English Bryan , McNally Steven , Orchard John , van Dijk C Niek , Kerkhoffs Gino M , Schamasch Patrick , Blottner Dieter , Swaerd Leif , Goedhart Edwin , Ueblacker Peter 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveTo provide a clear terminology and classification of muscle injuries in order to facilitate effective communication among medical practitioners and development of systematic treatment strategies.MethodsThirty native English-speaking scientists and team doctors of national and first division professional sports teams were asked to complete a questionnaire on muscle injuries to evaluate the currently used terminology of athletic muscle injury. In addition, a consensus meeting of international sports medicine experts was established to develop practical and scientific definitions of muscle injuries as well as a new and comprehensive classification system.ResultsThe response rate of the survey was 63%. The responses confirmed the marked variability in the use of the terminology relating to muscle injury, with the most obvious inconsistencies for the termstrain. In the consensus meeting, practical and systematic terms were defined and established. In addition, a new comprehensive classification system was developed, which differentiates between four types:functional muscle disorders(type 1: overexertion-related and type 2: neuromuscular muscle disorders) describing disorders without macroscopic evidence of fibre tear andstructural muscle injuries(type 3: partial tears and type 4: (sub)total tears/tendinous avulsions) with macroscopic evidence of fibre tear, that is, structural damage. Subclassifications are presented for each type.ConclusionsA consistent English terminology as well as a comprehensive classification system for athletic muscle injuries which is proven in the daily practice are presented. This will help to improve clarity of communication for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and can serve as the basis for future comparative studies to address the continued lack of systematic information on muscle injuries in the literature.What are the new thingsConsensus definitions of the terminology which is used in the field of muscle injuries as well as a new comprehensive classification system which clearly defines types of athletic muscle injuries.Level of evidenceExpert opinion, Level V.
Architectural strategies ofRhamnus cathartica(Rhamnaceae) in relation to canopy openness
Authors: Charles-Dominique Tristan , Edelin Claude , Brisson Jacques , Bouchard André 
Published: October 2012

While phenotypic plasticity is considered the major means that allows plant to cope with environmental heterogeneity, scant information is available on phenotypic plasticity of the whole-plant architecture in relation to ontogenic processes. We performed an architectural analysis to gain an understanding of the structural and ontogenic properties of common buckthorn ( Rhamnus cathartica L., Rhamnaceae) growing in the understory and under an open canopy. We found that ontogenic effects on growth need to be calibrated if a full description of phenotypic plasticity is to be obtained. Our analysis pointed to three levels of organization (or nested structural units) in R. cathartica. Their modulation in relation to light conditions leads to the expression of two architectural strategies that involve sets of traits known to confer competitive advantage in their respective environments. In the understory, the plant develops a tree-like form. Its strategy here is based on restricting investment in exploitation structures while promoting major vertical exploration and is probably key to species survival in the understory. Under an open canopy, the second strategy leads the plant to adopt a shrub-like shape. It develops densely branched exploitation structures and flowers abundantly and rapidly. This strategy perfectly matches its aggressive behaviour observed in full sunlight. We propose, as hypotheses, that these two light-related strategies are implicated in the ability of R. cathartica to outcompete the surrounding vegetation in a range of environmental conditions.
Interaction of atrial natriuretic peptide and ouabain in the myocardium
Authors: Nesher Maoz , Bai Yan , Li Daxiang , Rosen Haim , Lichtstein David , Liu Lijun 
Published: October 2012

Natriuretic peptides and digitalis-like compounds serve as regulators of homeostasis, including control of volume expansion and blood pressure. The aim of the present study was to explore possible interactions between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and ouabain in the heart. ANP (1 nmol/L) had no effect in papillary muscle preparations from guinea pigs. Ouabain (1 µmol/L) induced positive inotropic effect. The addition of ANP prior to ouabain resulted in a significant decrease in the ouabain-induced positive inotropic effect, manifested as an attenuated increase in twitch maximal upward force slope and resting muscular tension. In addition, ANP caused an increase in Na+–K+-ATPase activity in heart microsomal preparations. The effect of ouabain on Na+–K+-ATPase activity was shown in a biphasic manner. Ouabain (0.01–1 nmol/L) had a small but significant increase on pump activity, but higher doses of ouabain inhibited activity. ANP attenuated ouabain-induced Na+–K+-ATPase activity. Furthermore, ouabain (50 nmol/L) or ANP (10 nmol/L) alone induced Akt activation in cardiomyocytes. However, ANP blocked ouabain-induced Akt activation. These results point to the existence of interactions between ANP and ouabain on Na+–K+-ATPase signaling and function in the heart, which may be mediated by regulation of Na+–K+-ATPase activity and (or) signal transduction mechanisms.
An empirical study on clone stability
Authors: Mondal Manishankar , Roy Chanchal K. , Schneider Kevin A. 
Published: October 2012

Code cloning is a controversial software engineering practice due to contradictory claims regarding its effect on software maintenance. Code stability is a recently introduced measurement technique that has been used to determine the impact of code cloning by quantifying the changeability of a code region. Although most existing stability analysis studies agree that cloned code is more stable than non-cloned code, the studies have two major flaws: (i) each study only considered a single stability measurement (e.g., lines of code changed, frequency of change, age of change); and, (ii) only a small number of subject systems were analyzed and these were of limited variety.
In this paper, we present a comprehensive empirical study on code stability using four different stability measuring methods. We use a recently introduced hybrid clone detection tool, NiCAD, to detect the clones and analyze their stability in different dimensions: by clone type, by measuring method, by programming language, and by system size and age. Our in-depth investigation on 12 diverse subject systems written in three programming languages considering three types of clones reveals that: (i) cloned code is generally less stable than non-cloned code, and more specifically both Type-1 and Type-2 clones show higher instability than Type-3 clones; (ii) clones in both Java and C systems exhibit higher instability compared to the clones in C# systems; (iii) a system's development strategy might play a key role in defining its comparative code stability scenario; and, (iv) cloned and non-cloned regions of a subject system do not follow any consistent change pattern.
Cleaning efficiency of poly(ethylene terephthalate) washing procedure in recycling process
Authors: Krehula Ljerka Kratofil , Siročić Anita Ptiček , Dukić Maja , Hrnjak-Murgić Zlata 
Published: October 2012

This work demonstrates the poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) washing process, which is the very important step in the overall PET recycling procedure. The samples of waste PET bottles were washed in sodium hydroxide at two different temperatures, that is, at 70 and 75°C, at a time intervals of 15 and 30 min. The cleaning efficiency of the washing processes was determined through the identification of the residual impurities and products of PET degradation. The samples before and after the washing procedure were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Due to low obtained oligomer molecular masses, it can be concluded that the degradation during all washing processes is not strong. Results show good purity of washed PET, especially at 75°C, due to very low content of adhesives, toxic compounds and formed monomers. The washing process carried out at 75°C for 15 min can be considered as the most successful. It results with low polymer degradation and the removal of the high quantity of contaminants in short time interval.
Does art imitate death? Depictions of suicide in fiction
Authors: Pridmore Saxby , Walter Garry 
Published: October 2012

Objective: To determine whether fiction (narrative products) deals with the issue of suicide and, if so, what it tells us about suicide “drivers”. Method: Accounts of suicide in narrative products were sought through web-based lists, book club members, other active readers and a prize-winning film writer and producer. Results: Seventy-one depictions of fictional suicidal events were identified. In 12 suicides, the author appeared to indicate that the death was directly or indirectly due to mental disorder. In 15 suicides, the motivation could not be determined by the reader, and in 44 cases the motivation was social/situational factors. Conclusions: Suicidal events are depicted in fiction, and the features are broadly similar to the features of suicide in the real world. Should it be determined that cultural influences, including fiction, are important in suicide, any preventive activities aimed at modifying cultural influences will need to consider all forms of narrative product.
Expression conservation within the circadian clock of a monocot: natural variation at barley Ppd-H1affects circadian expression of flowering time genes, but not clock orthologs
Authors: Campoli Chiara , Shtaya Munqez , Davis Seth J , von Korff Maria 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
The circadian clock is an endogenous mechanism that coordinates biological processes with daily changes in the environment. In plants, circadian rhythms contribute to both agricultural productivity and evolutionary fitness. In barley, the photoperiod response regulator and flowering-time gene Ppd-H1 is orthologous to the Arabidopsis core-clock gene PRR7. However, relatively little is known about the role of Ppd-H1 and other components of the circadian clock in temperate crop species. In this study, we identified barley clock orthologs and tested the effects of natural genetic variation at Ppd-H1 on diurnal and circadian expression of clock and output genes from the photoperiod-response pathway.

Results
Barley clock orthologs HvCCA1, HvGI, HvPRR1, HvPRR37 (Ppd-H1), HvPRR73, HvPRR59 and HvPRR95 showed a high level of sequence similarity and conservation of diurnal and circadian expression patterns, when compared to Arabidopsis. The natural mutation at Ppd-H1 did not affect diurnal or circadian cycling of barley clock genes. However, the Ppd-H1 mutant was found to be arrhythmic under free-running conditions for the photoperiod-response genes HvCO1, HvCO2, and the MADS-box transcription factor and vernalization responsive gene Vrn-H1.

Conclusion
We suggest that the described eudicot clock is largely conserved in the monocot barley. However, genetic differentiation within gene families and differences in the function of Ppd-H1 suggest evolutionary modification in the angiosperm clock. Our data indicates that natural variation at Ppd-H1 does not affect the expression level of clock genes, but controls photoperiodic output genes. Circadian control of Vrn-H1 in barley suggests that this vernalization responsive gene is also controlled by the photoperiod-response pathway. Structural and functional characterization of the barley circadian clock will set the basis for future studies of the adaptive significance of the circadian clock in Triticeae species.