bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Moderating role of perceived risk in credit card usage and experience link
Authors: Chahal Hardeep , Kaur Sahi Gurjeet , Rani Anu 
Published: November 2014

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to present the exploratory research into the moderating influence of perceived risk on credit card usage and experience link and to know, among various types of risks, which risk is mostly perceived by credit card users. The study also investigates the dimensions of usage and service experience and their relative significance in credit card industry.Design/methodology/approach– The data were collected from 220 credit cardholders working in the various business and service units operating in Gandhi Nagar area of Jammu city.Findings– The study captures a clear and strong moderating effect of perceived risk on usage and service experience link. Time risk appeared to be the strongest moderator. Further, sense of security and confidence benefits emerged as the strongest predictors of usage and service experience, respectively.Research limitations/implications– The study is based on single financial service only, i.e. credit card. To generalise the results in financial and allied sectors, such as banking, retail or travel, where credit card usage is highly prevalent, this study need to be extended in future research. Further, influence of customer income, occupation and education on credit card use can also be seen in the future. Finally, focus can also be given to the identification and testing of risk-reducing strategies in future research.Originality/value– There is no previous research on Indian credit card industry which examined the influence of perceived risk on its use among Indian customers and subsequently on their experience.
Therapeutic communities and the local community: isolation or integration?
Authors: William Best David , Byrne Gerard , Pullen David , Kelly Jacqui , Elliot Karen , Savic Michael 
Published: November 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to test the feasibility of utilising an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model in the context of an Alcohol and Other Drug Therapeutic Community, and to use this as a way of assessing how TCs can contribute to the local communities in which they are sited.

Design/methodology/approach
– This is a qualitative action research project, based on an evolving model in which key stakeholders from participating sites were instrumental in shaping processes and activities, that is a partnership between a research centre, Turning Point in Melbourne, Australia and two Recovery Services operated by the Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory (TSA). One of these is the Dooralong Transformation Centre on the Central Coast of New South Wales and the other, Fairhaven, is in the Gold Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. The project was designed to create “rehabilitation without walls” by building bridges between the treatment centres and the communities they are based in, and improving participation in local community life. This was done through a series of structured workshops that mapped community asset networks and planned further community engagement activities.

Findings
– Both of the TCs already had strong connections in their local areas including but not restricted to involvement with the mutual aid fellowships. Staff, residents and ex-residents still in contact with the service were strongly committed to community engagement and were able to identify a wide range of connections in the community and to build these around existing Salvation Army connections and networks.

Research limitations/implications
– This is a pilot study with limited research findings and no assessment of the generalisability of this method to other settings or TCs.

Practical implications
– Both TCs are able to act as “community resources” through which residents and ex-residents are able to give back to their local communities and develop the social and community capital that can prepare them for reintegration and can positively contribute to the experience of living in the local community.

Social implications
– This paper has significant ramifications for how TCs engage with their local communities both as a mechanism for supporting resident re-entry and also to challenge stigma and discrimination.

Originality/value
– The paper and project extend the idea of ABCD to a Reciprocal Community Development model in which TCs can act as active participants in their lived communities and by doing so can create a “therapeutic landscape for recovery”.
Oxytocin in the nucleus accumbens core reduces reinstatement of methamphetamine‐seeking behaviour in rats
Authors: Baracz Sarah J. , Everett Nicholas A. , McGregor Iain S. , Cornish Jennifer L. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive illicit drug. Systemic administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin modulates METH‐related reward and METH‐seeking behaviour. Recent findings demonstrated a reduction in METH‐induced reward by oxytocin administration into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core. It is not known, however, if oxytocin acts in this region to reduce relapse to METH‐seeking behaviour. Using the drug reinstatement paradigm in rats experienced at METH self‐administration, we aimed to determine whether oxytocin pre‐treatment within the NAc core would reduce relapse to METH use and if this could be reversed by the co‐administration of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) antagonist desGly‐NH2,d(CH2)5[D‐Tyr2,Thr4]OVT. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent surgery to implant an intravenous jugular vein catheter and bilateral microinjection cannulae in the NAc core. Rats were then trained to self‐administer intravenous METH (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) by lever press during 2‐hour fixed ratio 1 scheduled sessions for 20 days. Following extinction of lever press activity, the effect of microinjecting saline, oxytocin (0.5 pmol, 1.5 pmol, 4.5 pmol) or co‐administration of oxytocin (1.5 pmol) and desGly‐NH2,d(CH2)5[D‐Tyr2,Thr4]OVT (1 nmol, 3 nmol) in the NAc core (500 nl/side) was examined on METH‐primed (1 mg/kg, i.p.) reinstatement of drug‐seeking behaviour. Our results showed oxytocin directly administered into the NAc core decreased METH‐primed reinstatement in a dose‐dependent manner. Co‐administration of the selective OTR antagonist did not specifically reverse the inhibitory effects of oxytocin on METH priming, suggesting mediation by receptors other than the OTR. These findings highlight an important modulatory effect of oxytocin in the NAc core on relapse to METH seeking.
Combined effects of genetic and non‐genetic risk factors affect response to ranibizumab in exudative age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Piermarocchi Stefano , Miotto Stefania , Colavito Davide , Leon Alberta , Segato Tatiana 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPurposeTo investigate whether genetic and non‐genetic risk factors influence 12‐month response to ranibizumab treatment for exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsA cohort of 94 Caucasian patients with unilateral exudative AMD received intravitreal ranibizumab. After a three‐injection loading phase, a PRN regimen was followed. Patients were genotyped for three single‐nucleotide polymorphisms: CFH rs1061170, ARMS2 rs10490924 and C3 rs2230199. Non‐genetic risk factors [choroidal neovascularization (CNV) phenotype, smoking habit, hypertension and body mass index] were considered. The selected end‐point was the 12‐month variation of number of ETDRS letters.ResultsComplement factor H (CFH) risk alleles, smoking history and arterial hypertension each independently influenced treatment response, with worse 12‐month BCVA outcomes (p = 0.036, 0.037, 0.043, respectively). A significant cumulative effect of these risk factors was also observed: patients homozygous for the CFH risk alleles and with a positive smoking history showed a mean loss of 8.0 ETDRS letters (p = 0.010). Patients with CFH risk alleles, smoking history and hypertension had a mean loss of 13.9 ETDRS letters (p = 0.013). CNV phenotypes did not influence visual outcomes, nor were they associated with other genetic/non‐genetic risk factors.ConclusionsComplement factor H risk alleles, smoking history and hypertension affect the mid‐term response to ranibizumab in exudative AMD.
Limited functional redundancy in vertebrate scavenger guilds fails to compensate for the loss of raptors from urbanized sandy beaches
Authors: Huijbers Chantal M. , Schlacher Thomas A. , Schoeman David S. , Olds Andrew D. , Weston Michael A. , Connolly Rod M. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimGlobally, urbanization is one of the most widespread, intense and ecologically destructive forms of landscape transformation, and it is often concentrated in coastal areas. Theoretically, species losses attributable to urbanization are predicted not to alter overall ecosystem function if functional redundancy (i.e. replacement of function by alternative species) compensates for such losses. Here, we test this expectation by measuring how coastal urbanization affects scavenger guilds on sandy beaches and whether changes in guild composition result either in an overall loss of scavenging efficiency, or in functional compensation under alternative guild structures, maintaining net ecosystem functioning.LocationFourteen beaches along the east coast of Australia with variable levels of urbanization.MethodsScavenging communities and rates of carrion removal were determined using motion‐triggered cameras at the beach‐dune interface.ResultsA substantial shift in the community structure of vertebrate scavengers was associated with gradients in urbanization. Iconic and functionally important raptors declined precipitously in abundance on urban beaches. Importantly, other vertebrates usually associated with urban settings (e.g. dogs, foxes, corvids) did not functionally replace raptors. In areas where < 15% of the abutting land had been developed into urban areas, carcass removal by scavengers was often complete, but always > 70%. Conversely, on beaches bordering coastal cities with < 40% of natural vegetation remaining, two‐thirds of fish carcasses remained uneaten by scavengers. Raptors removed 70–100% of all deployed fish carcasses from beaches with < 8% urban land cover, but this number dropped significantly with greater levels of urbanization and was not compensated by other scavenger species in urban settings.Main conclusionsThere is limited functional redundancy in vertebrate scavenger communities of sandy beach ecosystems, which impacts the system's capacity to mitigate the ecological consequences of detrimental landscape transformations.
Phase 2 study of dovitinib in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma with or without t(4;14) translocation
Authors: Scheid Christof , Reece Donna , Beksac Meral , Spencer Andrew , Callander Natalie , Sonneveld Pieter , Kalimi Ghulam , Cai Can , Shi Michael , Scott Jeffrey W. , Stewart A. Keith 
Published: November 2014

AbstractObjectivesApproximately 15% of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) exhibit a t(4;14) translocation, which often results in constitutive activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of dovitinib, an RTK inhibitor with in vitro inhibitory activity against FGFR, in patients with relapsed or refractory MM with or without t(4;14) translocation.MethodsAdult patients with relapsed or refractory MM who had received ≥2 prior regimens were enrolled in this multicenter, 2‐stage, phase 2 trial. Patients were grouped based on their t(4;14) status. Dovitinib (500 mg/day orally) was administered on a 5‐days‐on/2‐days‐off schedule. The primary endpoint was overall response rate by local investigator review (per International Myeloma Working Group criteria). In non‐responding patients, treatment could continue with the addition of low‐dose dexamethasone.ResultsIn total, 43 patients (median age, 63 years) were enrolled (13 t(4;14) positive, 26 t(4;14) negative, and 4 t(4;14) status non‐interpretable). Patients had received a median of 5 prior regimens. Median duration of treatment was 8.7 weeks in the t(4;14)‐positive group and 3.7 weeks in the t(4;14)‐negative group. None of the patients on dovitinib had objective responses. The stable disease rate was 61.5% in the t(4;14)‐positive group and 34.6% in the t(4;14)‐negative group. Overall, 39 patients (90.7%) had adverse events suspected to be related to study drug, most commonly diarrhea (60.5%), nausea (58.1%), vomiting (46.5%), and fatigue (32.6%).ConclusionDovitinib showed no single‐agent activity in relapsed or refractory MM but may stabilize disease in some t(4;14)‐positive patients.
Clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome in Korea, and its comparison with other Asian countries
Authors: Hong A Ram , Lim Soo 
Published: November 2014

AbstractMetabolic syndrome is referred to as syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome, and is primarily composed of abdominal obesity, diabetes, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure. Asians have a lower frequency of obesity than Caucasians, but have an increasing tendency toward metabolic syndrome. Thus, metabolic syndrome poses a major challenge for public health professionals, and is set to become a social and economic problem in Asian populations. Most data on metabolic syndrome are based on studies from Western countries with only limited information derived from Asian populations. Recently, several studies were carried out on a large scale that represents the general Korean population. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults has varied depending on the study designs and different criteria, but shows a distinct increasing trend of metabolic syndrome driven by an increase in abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. Given the rapid economic progression of Korea over the past 30 years along with a rise of the aged population, it is expected that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome will further increase. Therefore, a proactive strategy at the governmental level for metabolic syndrome prevention should be implemented, reducing abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia. Healthy dietary habits and regular exercise should be emphasized as a part of such a strategy.
Natural selection on quantitative immune defence traits: a comparison between theory and data
Authors: Seppälä O. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractParasites present a threat for free‐living species and affect several ecological and evolutionary processes. Immune defence is the main physiological barrier against infections, and understanding its evolution is central for predicting disease dynamics. I review theoretical predictions and empirical data on natural selection on quantitative immune defence traits in the wild. Evolutionary theory predicts immune traits to be under stabilizing selection owing to trade‐offs between immune function and life‐history traits. Empirical data, however, support mainly positive directional selection, but also show variation in the form of selection among study systems, immune traits and fitness components. I argue that the differences between theory and empirical data may at least partly arise from methodological difficulties in testing stabilizing selection as well as measuring fitness. I also argue that the commonness of positive directional selection and the variation in selection may be caused by several biological factors. First, selection on immune function may show spatial and temporal variation as epidemics are often local/seasonal. Second, factors affecting the range of phenotypic variation in immune traits could alter potential for selection. Third, different parasites may impose different selective pressures depending on their characteristics. Fourth, condition dependence of immune defence can obscure trade‐offs related to it, thus possibly modifying observed selection gradients. Fifth, nonimmunological defences could affect the form of selection by reducing the benefits of strong immune function. To comprehensively understand the evolution of immune defence, the role of above factors should be considered in future studies.
Host behaviour manipulation as an evolutionary route towards attenuation of parasitoid virulence
Authors: Maure F. , Doyon J. , Thomas F. , Brodeur J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBy definition, insect parasitoids kill their host during their development. Data are presented showing that ladybirds not only can survive parasitism by Dinocampus coccinellae, but also can retain their capacity to reproduce following parasitoid emergence. We hypothesize that host behaviour manipulation constitutes a preadaptation leading to the attenuation of parasitoid virulence. Following larval development, the parasitoid egresses from the host and spins a cocoon between the ladybird's legs. Throughout parasitoid pupation, the manipulated host acts as a bodyguard to protect the parasitoid cocoon from predation. The parasitoid has evolved mechanisms to avoid killing the host prematurely so that its own survival is not compromised. Bodyguard manipulation may thus constitute a selective trait for the evolution of true parasitism in some host–parasitoid associations.
Polyacrylamide gel 10 years experience: with particular reference to complications from filling of the body of the lip
Authors: Rish Adam 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackgroundA review of 242 facial treatments, in 86 different patients, with polyacrylamide gel (PAAG) was carried out by the author between 2003 and 2013.ObjectivesTo evaluate by retrospective study the long‐term outcomes of PAAG filling for facial contouring. To quantify adverse events and patient comfort in prior mixing 0.3 mL of 2% lidocaine/1 mL PAAG and decanting into a smaller volume syringe.MethodReview of clinical records combined with a patient survey.ResultsComplications: 11 of 166 (6.6%) lip body infections; 1 of 202 (0.5%) in other sites. Addition of 2% lidocaine (55 treatments/28 patients) reduced lip body infections (8.7% to 5.7%, P < 0.05%) and mean pain score (8/10 to 2/10). No patients sustained any long‐term side effects and all (even those infected) were eventually satisfied. Seven lip asymmetries, after infected PAAG drainage, were corrected with further PAAG, showing adverse events to be contamination rather than immune reaction.ConclusionFacial usage of PAAG with lidocaine results in high levels of patient satisfaction and low incidence of side effects (0.5%) except in the lip body (6.6%). Potential users, fearful of complications, may more readily use this cost‐effective and long‐lasting dermal filler if they avoid injection of the lip body.
Oral prevalence and clearance of oncogenic human papilloma virus in a rehabilitation community for substance abusers in Italy: a case of behavioral correction?
Authors: Pugliese Davide B. , Bruzzesi Giacomo , Montaldo Caterina , Porcu Luca , Landi Marco , Mastinu Andrea , Torri Valter , Licitra Lisa , Locati Laura D. 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundHuman papilloma virus oral infection can be related to several factors including HIV infection, cigarette smoking, marijuana consumption and number of sexual partners. We conducted a study on oral HPV prevalence and clearance among the hosts of the San Patrignano community, a population considered at “high‐risk” for HPV due to their previous habits.MethodsFrom March 2007 to September 2010 all subjects were submitted to oropharyngeal brushing and saliva collection at baseline, after 6, 12 and 48 months (for subjects HPV positive at baseline). Samples were analyzed to detect HPV DNA and virus genotypes. The correlation between HPV prevalence and demographic, behavioral or immunological characteristics was assessed.ResultsAmong 194 subjects, 30 (15%) were HPV positive with 25 (13%) high‐risk (HR)‐HPV at baseline brushing. At 12 months HPV infection was cleared in all cases. However at 48 months HPV was newly detected in 33% of subjects. A correlation between time spent in the community and increase in the ratio of “low‐risk” (LR) HPV and HR‐HPV was observed. HPV infection was not associated with age, gender, HIV status, HCV, alcohol and/or drug exposure, number of years spent in community, sex with drug‐addicts and condom use. Only AIDS under antiretroviral treatment was inversely correlated with the risk of infection.ConclusionsAt 1 year a complete HPV clearance was observed which could be related to adoption of healthier lifestyles of participants. New HPV infections were detected even in the absence of the recognized and declared risky behavioral factors, suggesting a re‐expression from a latent infection.
Sexual Quality of Life in Gender-Dysphoric Adults Before Genital Sex Reassignment Surgery
Authors: Bartolucci Constanza , Gómez-Gil Esther , Salamero Manel , Esteva Isabel , Guillamón Antonio , Zubiaurre Leire , Molero Francisca , Montejo Angel L. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Although there is literature on sexuality in gender dysphoria, few studies have been done prior to genital sex reassignment surgery (SRS).

Aims
To evaluate the perception of sexual QoL in gender-dysphoric patients before genital SRS and the possible factors associated to this perception.

Methods
The final sample consisted of 67 male-to-female and 36 female-to-male gender-dysphoric adults consecutively attended in a gender unit who had not undergone genital SRS; 39.8% was receiving cross-sex hormonal treatment, and 30.1% had undergone breast augmentation or reduction. Sexual QoL was assessed using the sexual activity facet of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-100. Sociodemographic (age, gender, partner relationship) and clinical data (being on hormonal treatment and having undergone any breast surgery) were recorded from the clinical records. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the negative feelings facet of the WHOQOL-100. Personality was assessed using the Revised NEO-Five Factor Inventory.

Main Outcome Measures
Sexual QoL, negative feelings, hormonal treatment, partner relationship, personality.

Results
The mean score of the sexual facet was 10.01 (standard deviation = 4.09). More than 50% of patients rated their sexual life as “poor/dissatisfied” or “very poor/very dissatisfied,” around a quarter rated it as “good/satisfied” or “very good/very satisfied,” and the rest had a neutral perception. Three variables were significantly associated with a better sexual QoL: less negative feelings (β = −0.356; P &lt; 0.001), being on hormonal treatment (β = 0.216; P = 0.018), and having a partner (β = 0.206; P = 0.022). Age, sex, having undergone some breast surgery, and personality factors were not associated with their perception.

Conclusion
This study indicates that before genital SRS, about half of gender-dysphoric subjects perceived their sexual life as “poor/dissatisfied” or “very poor/very dissatisfied.” Moreover, receiving hormonal treatment, low negative feelings, and having a partner are related to a better subjective perception of sexual QoL.