bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution of the Interindustry Wage Structure in China Since the 1980s
Authors: Kwon Ohyun , Chang Simon , Fleisher Belton M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractIndustry mean wages in China have exhibited sharply increased dispersion since the early1990s. Researchers have attributed this rising inequality within the industrial wage structure to: (i) increasingly competitive labour markets leading to better matches between worker pay, worker skills and employer demands; or (ii) residual government control in some industrial sectors that has generated high wages through monopoly rent sharing. We argue that the rise in China's industrial wage dispersion is primarily attributable to increasingly competitive labour markets, which have led to greater returns to schooling and to efficient redistribution of workers across major industry groups. We cannot reject the null hypothesis that the level or changes in government monopoly power has had negligible impact on China's rising industrial wage dispersion.
International Financial Flows in Low‐Income Countries
Authors: Lane Philip R. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractFor a sample of low‐income countries, we analyse the behaviour of international financial flows during three periods: (i) the 2003–2007 global boom; (ii) the 2008–2009 crisis; and (iii) the 2010–2012 recovery phase. In particular, we examine aid‐adjusted net financial inflows, debt inflows, foreign direct investment inflows and official reserve outflows. We highlight the role of country characteristics in explaining the cross‐country variation in international financial flows during these different phases.
Are Islamic Banks More Resilient During Financial Panics?
Authors: Farooq Moazzam , Zaheer Sajjad 
Published: February 2015

AbstractIslamic banking is one of the fastest growing segments of the financial sector in developing countries. Rapid growth of this segment is accompanied with claims about its relative resilience to financial crises as compared to conventional banking. However, little empirical evidence is available to support such claims. Using data from Pakistan, where Islamic and conventional banks co‐exist, we compare the behaviour of Islamic and conventional banks during a financial panic. Our results show that Islamic bank branches are less prone to deposit withdrawals during financial panics, both unconditionally and after controlling for bank characteristics. The Islamic branches of banks that have both Islamic and conventional operations tend to attract (rather than lose) deposits during panics, which suggests a role for religious branding. We also find that Islamic bank branches grant more loans during financial panics and that their lending decisions are less sensitive to changes in deposits. Our findings suggest that greater financial inclusion of faith‐based groups may enhance the stability of the banking system.
Monetary Policy in Low Income Countries in the Face of The Global Crisis: A Structural Analysis
Authors: Baldini Alfredo , Benes Jaromir , Berg Andrew , Dao Mai C. , Portillo Rafael A. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWe develop a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with a banking sector to analyse the impact of the financial crisis in developing countries and the role of the monetary policy response, with an application to Zambia. We view the crisis as a combination of three related shocks: a worsening in the terms of the trade, an increase in the country's risk premium and a decrease in the risk appetite of local banks. Model simulations broadly match the path of the economy during this period. We derive policy implications for central banks, and for dynamic stochastic general equilibrium modelling of monetary policy, in low‐income countries.
Role of Effective Composition on Antioxidant, Anti‐inflammatory, Sedative‐Hypnotic Capacities of 6 Common Edible Lilium Varieties
Authors: Wang Tingting , Huang Hanhan , Zhang Yao , Li Xia , Li Hongfa , Jiang Qianqian , Gao Wenyuan 
Published: February 2015

AbstractNine Lilium samples (belong to 6 different cultivars with different maturity stage) were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed of total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), total saponins (TS), total carbohydrates (TC, polysaccharides), and soluble proteins contents (SP), and the monomeric components were quantified utilizing high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC‐PAD) associated with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS). Antioxidant activity (reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity), anti‐inflammatory (xylene‐induced mouse ear edema detumescent assay and carrageenan‐induced mouse paw edema detumescent assay), and sedative‐hypnotic capacities (sodium pentobarbital‐induced sleep assay) were comparatively evaluated in mouse model. Additionally, correlation analysis and principal component analysis were carried out to detect clustering and elucidate relationships between components’ concentrations and bioactivities to clarify the role of effective composition. Lilium bulbs in later maturity stage preliminary evidenced higher saponins content, and lower phenolic acids and flavonoids content. The result demonstrated that Lilium bulbs generally had distinct antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and sedative‐hypnotic capacities. Varieties statistically differed (P < 0.05) in chemical composition and bioactivities. Lilium varieties of Dongbei and Lanzhou presented potent sedative‐hypnotic effect and anti‐inflammatory activity. The antioxidant capacity was related to the phenolic acids and flavonoids contents, the anti‐inflammatory and sedative‐hypnotic capacities were related to the saponins content. This is first study presenting comprehensive description of common edible Lilium bulbs’ chemical compositions, sedative‐hypnotic, and anti‐inflammatory capacities grown in China. It would informatively benefit the genetic selection and cultivated optimization of Lilium varieties to improve nutritional quality, and promote Lilium bulbs as a therapeutic functional food worldwide.
A survey of genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms through genome resequencing in the Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.)
Authors: Payen Thibaut , Murat Claude , Gigant Anaïs , Morin Emmanuelle , De Mita Stéphane , Martin Francis 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.), considered a gastronomic delicacy worldwide, is an ectomycorrhizal filamentous fungus that is ecologically important in Mediterranean French, Italian and Spanish woodlands. In this study, we developed a novel resource of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for T. melanosporum using Illumina high‐throughput resequencing. The genome from six T. melanosporum geographical accessions was sequenced to a depth of approximately 20×. These geographical accessions were selected from different populations within the northern and southern regions of the geographical species distribution. Approximately 80% of the reads for each of the six resequenced geographical accessions mapped against the reference T. melanosporum genome assembly, estimating the core genome size of this organism to be approximately 110 Mbp. A total of 442 326 SNPs corresponding to 3540 SNPs/Mbps were identified as being included in all seven genomes. The SNPs occurred more frequently in repeated sequences (85%), although 4501 SNPs were also identified in the coding regions of 2587 genes. Using the ratio of nonsynonymous mutations per nonsynonymous site (pN) to synonymous mutations per synonymous site (pS) and Tajima's D index scanning the whole genome, we were able to identify genomic regions and genes potentially subjected to positive or purifying selection. The SNPs identified represent a valuable resource for future population genetics and genomics studies.
Confidence Intervals for Intraclass Correlation Coefficients in a Nonlinear Dose–Response Meta-Analysis
Authors: Demetrashvili Nino , Van den Heuvel Edwin R. 
Published: February 2015

Summary
This work is motivated by a meta-analysis case study on antipsychotic medications. The Michaelis–Menten curve is employed to model the nonlinear relationship between the dose and receptor occupancy across multiple studies. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) is used to quantify the heterogeneity across studies. To interpret the size of heterogeneity, an accurate estimate of ICC and its confidence interval is required. The goal is to apply a recently proposed generic beta-approach for construction the confidence intervals on ICCs for linear mixed effects models to nonlinear mixed effects models using four estimation methods. These estimation methods are the maximum likelihood, second-order generalized estimating equations and two two-step procedures. The beta-approach is compared with a large sample normal approximation (delta method) and bootstrapping. The confidence intervals based on the delta method and the nonparametric percentile bootstrap with various resampling strategies failed in our settings. The beta-approach demonstrates good coverages with both two-step estimation methods and consequently, it is recommended for the computation of confidence interval for ICCs in nonlinear mixed effects models for small studies.
Birds, Cattle, and Bracken Ferns: Bird Community Responses to a Neotropical Landscape Shaped by Cattle Grazing Activities
Authors: Maya‐Elizarrarás Elisa , Schondube Jorge E. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractLarge areas of tropical moist forests have been converted to cattle pastures, generating complex landscapes where different habitats are represented by small patches with an uneven spatial distribution. Here, we describe how bird communities respond to the different elements present in a livestock landscape that was originally dominated by tropical moist forest. We surveyed six habitats: open pastures, pastures with shrubs, early‐ and middle‐secondary forests, mature forest, and pastures invaded by bracken ferns (Pteridium aquilinum). Bird diversity was high in secondary and mature forests, and low in fern‐invaded sites and open pastures. Fern‐dominated sites had the lowest bird species richness, and trophic guild diversity of all habitats. Habitat structure affected both bird species richness and densities in similar ways. Tree species richness was the habitat attribute that had a bigger positive effect on bird species richness. Bird community structure varied among sampled habitats, separating habitats in two major groups (forests and pastures). Our data indicate that bracken fern‐invaded pastures were the worst habitat condition for avian communities. To increase bird diversity, we recommend to eliminate or manage bracken fern and to increase shrub and tree cover in open pastures to provide food resources and shelter for birds. Finally, we encourage the maintenance of secondary and mature forest remnants as a strategy to conserve resident birds within a landscape dominated by livestock activities.
High expression of interleukin‐11 is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Pan Deng , Xu Le , Liu Haiou , Zhang Weijuan , Liu Weisi , Liu Yidong , Fu Qiang , Xu Jiejie 
Published: February 2015

Interleukin‐11 (IL‐11), a member of the IL‐6 family of cytokines, exerts pleiotropic oncogenic activities by stimulating angiogenesis and metastasis in many cancer types. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of IL‐11 expression on recurrence and mortality of patients with clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We retrospectively enrolled 193 ccRCC patients undergoing nephrectomy at a single center. Clinicopathologic features, recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were recorded. IL‐11 intensity was assessed by immunohistochemistry in tumor specimens. The Kaplan–Meier method was applied to compare survival curves. Cox regression models were used to analyze the impact of prognostic factors on RFS and OS. The concordance index (C‐index) was calculated to assess predictive accuracy. High IL‐11 expression is associated with increased risk of recurrence and poor survival for ccRCC patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), especially those with early‐stage disease (TNM stage I + II). Multivariate analyses confirmed that IL‐11 expression was an independent prognostic factor for RFS and OS (P = 0.006 and P = 0.008, respectively). The predictive accuracy of well‐established prognostic models was improved when IL‐11 expression was integrated. In conclusion, high IL‐11 expression is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in ccRCC patients. It may help identify patients who could benefit from additional treatments and closer follow up.
Advanced human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 carriers and early‐stage indolent adult T‐cell leukemia‐lymphoma are indistinguishable based on CADM1 positivity in flow cytometry
Authors: Kobayashi Seiichiro , Watanabe Eri , Ishigaki Tomohiro , Ohno Nobuhiro , Yuji Koichiro , Nakano Kazumi , Yamochi Tadanori , Watanabe Nobukazu , Tojo Arinobu , Watanabe Toshiki , Uchimaru Kaoru 
Published: February 2015

We previously reported that the cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1) versus CD7 plot in flow cytometry reflects disease progression in human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) infection. In CD4+ cells from peripheral blood, CADM1−CD7+ (P), CADM1+CD7dim (D) and CADM1+CD7− (N) subpopulations are observed. The D and N subpopulations increase as asymptomatic HTLV‐1 carriers (AC) progress to indolent adult T‐cell leukemia‐lymphoma (ATL) and the N subpopulation then expands in aggressive ATL. In the present study we examined whether the analysis can estimate the risk of developing ATL in advanced AC. Peripheral blood samples from AC (N = 41) and indolent ATL patients (N = 19) were analyzed by flow cytometry using the CADM1 versus CD7 plot for CD4+ cells and inverse long PCR (clonality analysis) of FACS‐sorted subpopulations. Almost all AC with a high HTLV‐1 proviral load (>4 copies/100 cells) had a CADM1+ (D + N) frequency of >10%. AC with 25% < CADM1+ ≤ 50% contained expanded clones similar to smoldering‐type ATL. In many patients in the 25% < CADM1+ ≤ 50% group, the proportion of abnormal lymphocytes was distributed around the 5% line, which divides AC and smoldering‐type ATL in Shimoyama's classification. In conclusion, the CADM1 versus CD7 plot is useful for selection of putative high‐risk AC. The characteristics of some AC and smoldering ATL are said to be similar; however, long‐term follow up is required and the clinical outcome (e.g. rate of transformation) of these cases should be used to determine whether to include them in the same clinical category.
The impact of a dedicated multidisciplinary team on the management of early rectal cancer
Authors: Vaughan‐Shaw P. G. , Wheeler J. M. D. , Borley N. R. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimLocal excision of early rectal cancer (ERCa) offers comparable survival and reduced operative morbidity compared with radical surgery, yet it risks an adverse oncological outcome if performed in the wrong setting. This retrospective review considers the impact of the introduction of a specialist early rectal cancer multidisciplinary team (ERCa MDT) on the investigation and management of ERCa.MethodA retrospective comparative cohort study was undertaken. Patients with a final diagnosis of pT1 rectal cancer at our unit were identified for two 12‐month periods before and after the introduction of the specialist ERCa MDT. Data on investigations and therapeutic interventions were compared.ResultsNineteen patients from 2006 and 24 from 2011 were included. In 2006, 12 patients underwent MRI and four transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) examination, while in 2011, 18 and 20, respectively, received MRI and TRUS. In 2006 four patients underwent incidental ERCa polypectomy, with all having a positive resection margin leading to anterior resection. In 2011 only one case with a positive margin following extended endoscopic mucosal resection was identified. Definitive local excision without subsequent resection occurred in two patients in 2006 and in 16 in 2011.ConclusionThe study demonstrates an improvement in preoperative ERCa staging, a reduction in margin positivity and an increase in the use of local excision following the implementation of a specialist ERCa MDT. The increased detection of rectal neoplasms through screening and surveillance programmes requires further investigation and management. A specialist ERCa MDT will improve management and should be available to all practitioners involved with patients with ERCa.
Association of marital status and colorectal cancer screening participation in the USA
Authors: El‐Haddad B. , Dong F. , Kallail K. J. , Hines R. B. , Ablah E. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimIn the USA, for both men and women, colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in incidence and second in mortality. Despite evidence that it decreases mortality, CRC screening in the USA remains under‐utilized. Some European studies have suggested that marital status affects participation in CRC screening, but the effect of marital status on CRC screening participation in the USA is unknown. In this study, the aim was to compare CRC screening participation rates among married and unmarried couples, separated, widowed, never married and divorced adults living in the USA.MethodThis was a retrospective data analysis of the 2010 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The population studied included 239 300 participants, aged 50–75 years, who completed the 2010 survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between adherence with CRC screening guidelines and marital status while accounting for survey stratum/weight and covariates.ResultsIndividuals who were divorced or separated, never married or widowed had decreased odds of adherence with CRC screening guidelines compared with individuals who were married and unmarried couples.ConclusionIn this study, individuals living in the USA who were married and unmarried couples had increased odds of undergoing CRC screening compared to individuals in other marital status groups. Public health interventions are needed to promote CRC screening participation in these other groups.
Global and local evolutionary and ecological distinctiveness of terrestrial mammals: identifying priorities across scales
Authors: Hidasi‐Neto José , Loyola Rafael , Cianciaruso Marcus V. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimSpecies' ecological traits and evolutionary relatedness have gained attention in the scientific community for their important roles in the functioning and stability of ecosystems. However, conservation science is in urgent need of methods that integrate both ecological and evolutionary components of biodiversity into conservation strategies for threatened species. Here, we propose an approach to identify and locate ‘ecologically and evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered’ species (EcoEDGE) at broad and fine geographical scales.LocationGlobal.MethodsWe used phylogeny and life‐history traits to calculate evolutionary and ecological distinctiveness values of terrestrial mammals. We combined these values into one measure, EcoEDGE, which also considers species' threat status. Then, we correlated values of ecological and evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) and mapped the geographical distribution of species to locate regions with high number of mammals with great EcoEDGE scores. We also identified and located areas with high number of mammals that are highly distinct across most local assemblages in which they occur.ResultsEcological and ED tended to be complementary to each other rather than redundant. Evolutionarily distinct threatened species were mostly concentrated in the tropics, while ecologically distinct threatened species were distributed across tropical and temperate regions. In addition, both ecologically and evolutionarily distinct threatened species overlapped their distributions with biodiversity hotspots, including the Atlantic forest, the Cerrado, Indo‐Burma and Sundaland. Mammals with great EcoEDGE scores were concentrated in the tropics, but because they retained patterns from ecologically distinct species, their distribution stretched into temperate regions. Moreover, Africa, Australia and Indo‐Malayan regions held a great number of mammals with unique ecological and evolutionary roles in the local assemblages where they occur.Main conclusionsEcologically and evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered builds upon existing strategies that include ecological traits into a species‐focused prioritization approach and, thus, further informs conservation of ecosystem processes and services at multiple geographical scales.
A histological investigation of Oriental beech wood decayed by Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor
Authors: Bari E. , Schmidt O. , Oladi R. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryChemical, light and electron microscopic studies were carried out on wood of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) decayed by the white‐rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor for 30, 60 and 120 days according to the modified European standard EN 113. Mass loss as well as lignin, cellulose and carbohydrate content were determined before and after fungal attack. There were no significant differences of wood mass loss and chemical composition between both fungi at the end of incubation. After each incubation period, small specimens were stained for microscopic studies. The micromorphology of fungal cell wall degradation was rather similar for both fungi. Both decreased the cell wall thickness to the same extent. The accumulation of hyphae as well as the rupture of cell walls was also similar. The occurrence of hyphae, cavities in the pits and vessel walls followed nearly the same patterns. The parenchyma cells were completely destroyed. Altogether, both fungi produced a simultaneous white rot in Oriental beech wood.
Hemispheric lateralization in top‐down attention during spatial relation processing: a Granger causal model approach
Authors: Falasca N. W. , D'Ascenzo S. , Di Domenico A. , Onofrj M. , Tommasi L. , Laeng B. , Franciotti R. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMagnetoencephalography was recorded during a matching‐to‐sample plus cueing paradigm, in which participants judged the occurrence of changes in either categorical (CAT) or coordinate (COO) spatial relations. Previously, parietal and frontal lobes were identified as key areas in processing spatial relations and it was shown that each hemisphere was differently involved and modulated by the scope of the attention window (e.g. a large and small cue). In this study, Granger analysis highlighted the patterns of causality among involved brain areas – the direction of information transfer ran from the frontal to the visual cortex in the right hemisphere, whereas it ran in the opposite direction in the left side. Thus, the right frontal area seems to exert top‐down influence, supporting the idea that, in this task, top‐down signals are selectively related to the right side. Additionally, for CAT change preceded by a small cue, the right frontal gyrus was not involved in the information transfer, indicating a selective specialization of the left hemisphere for this condition. The present findings strengthen the conclusion of the presence of a remarkable hemispheric specialization for spatial relation processing and illustrate the complex interactions between the lateralized parts of the neural network. Moreover, they illustrate how focusing attention over large or small regions of the visual field engages these lateralized networks differently, particularly in the frontal regions of each hemisphere, consistent with the theory that spatial relation judgements require a fronto‐parietal network in the left hemisphere for categorical relations and on the right hemisphere for coordinate spatial processing.