bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding complexity in families' lives: the usefulness of ‘family practices’ as an aid to decision‐making
Authors: Saltiel David 
Published: January 2013

AbstractAn important aspect of the uncertainty that surrounds social workers' decision‐making in child protection situations concerns the complex, unconventional nature of the families referred for social work interventions. In a study of social work decision‐making, social workers struggled to make sense of these families and assess whether they were safe places for children. More recent sociological studies have emphasized the fluidity and diversity of family relationships in late modernity. In particular, the study of ‘family practices’, which focus on what people actually do to actively negotiate their family roles, could be a useful way of understanding this complexity and provide social workers with a valuable tool for understanding the situations about which they must make decisions.
Management's Earnings Justification and Earnings Management under Different Institutional Regimes
Authors: Aerts Walter , Cheng Peng , Tarca Ann 
Published: January 2013

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch Question/IssueThis study examines whether accruals earnings management is associated with managers' explanations of performance provided in narrative reports accompanying the financial statements in an international setting that covers voluntary and mandatory institutional environments for management commentary (MC) reporting. Differences in institutional environment are theorized as having a profound impact on the relative adequacy of different explanation types in mitigating earnings management concerns.Research Findings/InsightsBased on 162 companies from four countries (the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Canada), the study reports a close alignment of the use of earnings explanations and the strength and direction of accruals management. The results indicate that explanation type significantly affects the association between performance explanations and accruals management and that this effect becomes more pronounced in a mandatory institutional regime where expected regulatory and litigation costs are higher.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsThe results indicate that the mandatory setting for narrative reporting (United States and Canada) affects the type of explanation perceived by managers to be more effective in mitigating potential concerns about earnings management. In a mandatory setting, the more costly causal explanations are more likely to be used by companies that are engaged in upwards earnings management.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsRegulators have debated about how to promote useful disclosure in management commentary reports. They have pointed to the need for more meaningful causal explanations. Our findings are relevant to the debate as they show that more scrutiny via a mandatory reporting regime (with associated higher expected litigation and regulatory costs) is a setting that encourages provision of these more costly causality‐based explanations when preparers have incentives to ensure the adequacy of their explanations.
Use of catechol‐O‐methyltransferase inhibition to minimize L‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine‐induced dyskinesia in the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐lesioned macaque
Authors: Huot Philippe , Johnston Tom H. , Snoeren Tessa , Koprich James B. , Hill Michael P. , Fox Susan H. , Brotchie Jonathan M. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractL‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA)‐induced dyskinesia is a complication of dopaminergic treatment in Parkinson's disease. Lowering the L‐DOPA dose reduces dyskinesia but also reduces the antiparkinsonian benefit. A therapy that could enhance the antiparkinsonian action of low‐dose L‐DOPA (LDl) without exacerbating dyskinesia would thus be of considerable therapeutic benefit. This study assessed whether catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) inhibition, as an add‐on to LDl, might be a means to achieve this goal. Cynomolgus macaques were administered 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine. Dyskinesia was established by chronic treatment with L‐DOPA. Two doses of L‐DOPA were identified – high‐dose L‐DOPA (LDh), which provided good antiparkinsonian benefit but was compromised by disabling dyskinesia, and LDl, which was sub‐threshold for providing significant antiparkinsonian benefit, without dyskinesia. LDh and LDl were administered in acute challenges in combination with vehicle and, for LDl, with the COMT inhibitor entacapone (5, 15 and 45 mg/kg). The duration of antiparkinsonian benefit (ON‐time), parkinsonism and dyskinesia were determined. The ON‐time after LDh was ∼170 min and the ON‐time after LDl alone (∼98 min) was not significantly different to vehicle (∼37 min). In combination with LDl, entacapone significantly increased the ON‐time (5, 15 and 45 mg/kg being ∼123, ∼148 and ∼180 min, respectively). The ON‐time after LDl/entacapone 45 mg/kg was not different to that after LDh. However, whereas the percentage ON‐time that was compromised by disabling dyskinesia was ∼56% with LDh, it was only ∼31% with LDl/entacapone 45 mg/kg. In addition to the well‐recognized action of COMT inhibition to reduce wearing‐OFF, the data presented suggest that COMT inhibition in combination with low doses of L‐DOPA has potential as a strategy to alleviate dyskinesia.
Similarities in the neural signature for the processing of behaviorally categorized and uncategorized speech sounds
Authors: Signoret Carine , Gaudrain Etienne , Perrin Fabien 
Published: January 2013

AbstractRecent human behavioral studies have shown semantic and/or lexical processing for stimuli presented below the auditory perception threshold. Here, we investigated electroencephalographic responses to words, pseudo‐words and complex sounds, in conditions where phonological and lexical categorizations were behaviorally successful (categorized stimuli) or unsuccessful (uncategorized stimuli). Data showed a greater decrease in low‐beta power at left‐hemisphere temporal electrodes for categorized non‐lexical sounds (complex sounds and pseudo‐words) than for categorized lexical sounds (words), consistent with the signature of a failure in lexical access. Similar differences between lexical and non‐lexical sounds were observed for uncategorized stimuli, although these stimuli did not yield evoked potentials or theta activity. The results of the present study suggest that behaviorally uncategorized stimuli were processed at the lexical level, and provide evidence of the neural bases of the results observed in previous behavioral studies investigating auditory perception in the absence of stimulus awareness.
First steps in experimental cancer evolution
Authors: Taylor Tiffany B. , Johnson Louise J. , Jackson Robert W. , Brockhurst Michael A. , Dash Philip R. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractEvolutionary processes play a central role in the development, progression and response to treatment of cancers. The current challenge facing researchers is to harness evolutionary theory to further our understanding of the clinical progression of cancers. Central to this endeavour will be the development of experimental systems and approaches by which theories of cancer evolution can be effectively tested. We argue here that the experimental evolution approach – whereby evolution is observed in real time and which has typically employed microorganisms – can be usefully applied to cancer. This approach allows us to disentangle the ecological causes of natural selection, identify the genetic basis of evolutionary changes and determine their repeatability. Cell cultures used in cancer research share many of the desirable traits that make microorganisms ideal for studying evolution. As such, experimental cancer evolution is feasible and likely to give great insight into the selective pressures driving the evolution of clinically destructive cancer traits. We highlight three areas of evolutionary theory with importance to cancer biology that are amenable to experimental evolution: drug resistance, social evolution and resource competition. Understanding the diversity, persistence and evolution of cancers is vital for treatment and drug development, and an experimental evolution approach could provide strategic directions and focus for future research.
Perihepatic lymph node enlargement is a negative predictor for sustained responses to pegylated interferon‐α and ribavirin therapy for Japanese patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1
Authors: Hikita Hiromi , Enooku Kenichiro , Satoh Yumiko , Yoshida Haruhiko , Nakagawa Hayato , Masuzaki Ryota , Tateishi Ryosuke , Soroida Yoko , Sato Mamiko , Suzuki Atsushi , Gotoh Hiroaki , Iwai Tomomi , Yokota Hiromitsu , Koike Kazuhiko , Yatomi Yutaka , Ikeda Hitoshi 
Published: January 2013

Aim Although perihepatic lymph node enlargement (PLNE) is reportedly associated with the negative outcome of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C, there were limitations in that the results were obtained in patients with various genotypes, viral loads and treatment regimens. We aimed to precisely clarify the significance of PLNE in interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.Methods Between December 2004 and June 2005, 112 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and HCV RNA of more than 100 KIU/mL were enrolled, who underwent pegylated interferon‐α plus ribavirin therapy thereafter. PLNE was defined as a perihepatic lymph node of more than 1 cm in the longest axis by ultrasonography.Results The sustained virological response (SVR) rate was lower in patients with PLNE (4/22, 18.2%) than in those without (37/90, 41.1%; P = 0.045) and viral load decline was smaller in patients with PLNE than in those without (P = 0.028). The proportion of PLNE positive patients was the smallest in the SVR group (P = 0.033) among the patient groups divided by the treatment outcome. PLNE was retained as a negative predictor for SVR by multivariate logistic regression analysis (P = 0.012). Furthermore, PLNE was not significantly associated with the mutations at HCV core protein and at interferon sensitivity‐determining region, or interleukin‐28B polymorphism in 45 patients with HCV genotype 1, enrolled between December 2011 and March 2012.Conclusion PLNE is a negative predictor for SVR in patients with HCV genotype 1 and HCV RNA of more than 100 KIU/mL treated with pegylated interferon‐α plus ribavirin, independent of other known predictors for SVR.
Establishment of reference interval for immature platelet fraction
Authors: Ko Y. J. , Kim H. , Hur M. , Choi S. G. , Moon H.‐W. , Yun Y.‐M. , Hong S. N. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryIntroductionImmature platelet fraction (IPF) is a parameter for reticulated platelets. A high percentage IPF (%‐IPF) is indicative of consumptive or recovering thrombocytopenic disorders in contrast to a low %‐IPF seen in aplastic states. Absolute IPF (A‐IPF) specifically reflects the number of immature platelets in circulation. This study aimed to establish reliable reference intervals for %‐IPF and A‐IPF.MethodsExcept outliers, platelet counts and IPF were determined in 2152 healthy individuals (1252 men and 900 women) and 133 umbilical cord blood from healthy full‐term neonates using XE‐2100 hematology analyzer (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan). The reference intervals for %‐IPF and A‐IPF were defined using nonparametrical percentile methods according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guideline.ResultsPlatelets,%‐IPF, and A‐IPF all showed nonparametrical distributions. In total individuals, the reference intervals for %‐IPF and A‐IPF were 0.5–3.3% (0.5–3.1% in men; 0.5–3.4% in women) and 1.25–7.02 × 109/L (1.30–6.80 × 109/L in men; 1.21–7.15 × 109/L in women), respectively. The reference intervals for %‐IPF and A‐IPF in umbilical cord blood were 0.7–3.8% and 1.93–9.7 × 109/L, respectively.ConclusionsThis study provides the reference interval for IPF, including %‐IPF and A‐IPF, according to the CLSI guideline. These results could be used as fundamental data for clinical use as well as future researches.
The Achilles' heel of scale service design in social security administration: The case of the United Kingdom's Universal Credit
Authors: Seddon John , O'Donovan Brendan 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThis article takes a critical view of the United Kingdom government's design for the delivery of the Universal Credit (UC) benefit reforms. It is argued that the UC is destined to fail because of the policy's extension into specifying the means (“digital by default”) of delivery for such services. The authors argue that an unseen but ubiquitous set of “scale” management assumptions has been allowed to infiltrate the means by which the government intends to enact its headline policy objective to “make work pay”. Following Seddon's “Vanguard Method”, a practical example of how a better service was designed in a local authority housing benefits service is then examined. Results from this service include being able to deal with up to 50 per cent more demand, with fewer resources, in half the official target time. Finally, the article will conclude with a call for more evidence‐based policy.
The health care system of the People's Republic of China: Between privatization and public health care
Authors: Liu Dongmei , Darimont Barbara 
Published: January 2013

AbstractChinese health care policy has undergone numerous reforms in recent years that have often led to new challenges, inciting the need for further reform. The most recent reforms attempt to find a middle path between public health care provision and commercial private insurance. In this way, China is following in the footsteps of countries that initially increased the role of privatization in the 1990s and at the beginning of the 21st century, but are now gearing towards public health care. However, this process of constant reform has led to a lack of transparency in the functioning of the health care system, provoking a loss in public trust. There remains an important degree of uncertainty about the future direction of developments in China. Nonetheless, a dual financing approach to health care using tax finance and social insurance might yet crystallize, offering a potential model to inform developments in other countries.
The View From the Looking Glass: How Are Narcissistic Individuals Perceived by Others?
Authors: Malkin Mallory L. , Zeigler‐Hill Virgil , Barry Christopher T. , Southard Ashton C. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractPrevious studies have found that narcissistic individuals are often viewed negatively by those who know them well. The present study sought to extend these previous findings by examining whether normal and pathological aspects of narcissism were associated with perceiver ratings of narcissistic characteristics and aggression. This was accomplished by having each of our undergraduate participants (288 targets) recruit friends or family members to complete ratings of the target who recruited them (1,296 perceivers). Results revealed that perceived entitlement was strongly associated with perceived aggression. Further, self‐reported levels of pathological narcissism moderated these results such that vulnerable narcissism exacerbated the association between perceived entitlement and aggression, whereas grandiose narcissism mitigated the association. The discussion will focus on the implications of these results for understanding the various features of narcissism.
Clinical behaviour and long‐term therapeutic response in orofacial granulomatosis patients treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide injections alone or in combination with topical pimecrolimus 1%
Authors: Mignogna Michele D. , Pollio Annamaria , Leuci Stefania , Ruoppo Elvira , Fortuna Giulio 
Published: January 2013

Background:  Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a relapsing inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology and non‐standardized treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical behaviour and long‐term therapeutic response in OFG patients treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections alone or in combination with topical pimecrolimus 1%, as adjuvant, in those patients partially responders to TA.Methods:  We analysed data from 19 OFG patients followed‐up for 7 years. Demographic characteristics, clinical behaviour and long‐term therapeutic response were investigated.Results:  Eleven (57.9%) OFG patients treated with intralesional TA injections therapy reached first complete clinical remission in a mean time of 10 ± 2.2 (95% CI, 8.5–11.5) weeks, while eight (42.1%) patients, partially responders to intralesional TA injections, were treated with TA injections plus topical pimecrolimus 1%, as adjuvant, achieving complete clinical remission in a mean time of 29.8 ± 7.8 (95% CI, 23.2–36.3) weeks. Relapses occurred in four TA responder patients with a disease‐free time of 35.8 ± 8.7 (95% CI, 21.9–46.4) weeks and in five patients treated with TA and topical pimecrolimus 1% with a disease‐free time of 55.8 ± 18.5 (95% CI, 32.8–78.8) weeks. Patients were followed‐up for a mean time of 56.3 ± 18.2 (95% CI, 47.6–65.1) months. At last control, all 19 patients were in complete clinical remission.Conclusion:  These preliminary data suggest that intralesional TA injections still represent a mainstay in the treatment of OFG. It is unclear the role of topical pimecrolimus, as adjuvant, in leading OFG patients, partly responders to intralesional TA injections, to a complete clinical remission.
Male courtship preferences demonstrate discrimination against allopatric colour morphs in a cichlid fish
Authors: Zoppoth P. , Koblmüller S. , Sefc K. M. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractWhether premating isolation is achieved by male‐specific, female‐specific or sex‐independent assortative preferences often depends on the underlying evolutionary processes. Here we test mate preferences of males presented with females of different allopatric colour variants of the cichlid fish Tropheus sp., a Lake Tanganyika endemic with rich geographical colour pattern variation, in which the strength of sexual isolation varies between populations. We conducted two‐way mate choice experiments to compare behaviour of males of a red‐bodied morph (population Moliro) towards females from their own population with behaviour towards females from four allopatric populations at different stages of phylogenetic and phenotypic divergence. Males courted same‐population females significantly more intensely than females of other populations, and reduced their heteromorphic courtship efforts both with increasing genetic and increasing phenotypic distinctness of the females. In particular, females of a closely related red‐bodied population received significantly more courtship than either genetically distinct, similarly coloured females (‘Kirschfleck’ morph) or genetically related, differently coloured females (‘yellow‐blotch’ morph), both of which were courted similarly. Genetically and phenotypically distinct females (Tropheus polli) were not courted at all. Consistent with previous female‐choice experiments, female courtship activity also decreased with increasing genetic distance from the males’ population. Given successful experimental and natural introgression between colour morphs and the pervasive allopatry of related variants, we consider it unlikely that assortative preferences of both sexes were driven by direct selection during periods of secondary contact or, in turn, drove colour pattern differentiation in allopatry. Rather, we suggest that sexual isolation evolved as by‐product of allopatric divergence.
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease as an independent manifestation of the metabolic syndrome: Results of a US national survey in three ethnic groups
Authors: Smits Mark M , Ioannou George N , Boyko Edward J , Utzschneider Kristina M 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackground and AimThe metabolic syndrome (MetS) and each of its components are strongly associated with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This has led many investigators to suggest that NAFLD is an independent component of the MetS. We formally tested this hypothesis using confirmatory factor analysis, which allows comparison of different models, with or without including NAFLD as a component of the MetS.MethodsWe analyzed data from 3846 subjects of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994). NAFLD was defined by increased liver fat measured by ultrasonography.ResultsMetS by Adult Treatment Panel III criteria was present in 20.5%, and 30.2% had NAFLD, defined as mild, moderate, or severe ultrasonographic steatosis. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a basic model representing the MetS using its currently accepted components (glucose, waist, triglyceride/high‐density lipoprotein ratio, and mean arterial pressure) showed excellent goodness‐of‐fit statistics. Addition of NAFLD to the model as a fifth independent variable decreased model fit, suggesting that NAFLD is not an additional independent component of the MetS. Analysis by ethnicity showed that addition of NAFLD decreased model fit in Whites but resulted in minor improvements in non‐Hispanic Blacks and Mexican Americans.ConclusionsThe MetS is strongly associated with NAFLD. However, we found no evidence that NAFLD is an independent component or manifestation of the MetS. Interestingly, ethnic differences might be important in this relationship and require further study.
Striatal CB1 and D2 receptors regulate expression of each other, CRIP1A and delta opioid systems
Authors: Blume Lawrence C. , Bass Caroline E. , Childers Steven R. , Dalton George D. , Roberts David C. S. , Richardson Jasmine M. , Xiao Ruoyu , Selley Dana E. , Howlett Allyn C. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractAlthough biochemical and physiological evidence suggests a strong interaction between striatal CB1 cannabinoid (CB1R) and D2 dopamine (D2R) receptors, the mechanisms are poorly understood. We targeted medium spiny neurons of the indirect pathway using shRNA to knockdown either CB1R or D2R. Chronic reduction in either receptor resulted in deficits in gene and protein expression for the alternative receptor and concomitantly increased expression of the cannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a), suggesting a novel role for CRIP1a in dopaminergic systems. Both CB1R and D2R knockdown reduced striatal dopaminergic‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding, and D2R knockdown reduced pallidal WIN55212‐2‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding. Decreased D2R and CB1R activity was associated with decreased striatal phosphoERK. A decrease in mRNA for opioid peptide precursors pDYN and pENK accompanied knockdown of CB1Rs or D2Rs, and over‐expression of CRIP1a. Down‐regulation in opioid peptide mRNAs was followed in time by increased DOR1 but not MOR1 expression, leading to increased [D‐Pen2, D‐Pen5]‐enkephalin‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding in the striatum. We conclude that mechanisms intrinsic to striatal medium spiny neurons or extrinsic via the indirect pathway adjust for changes in CB1R or D2R levels by modifying the expression and signaling capabilities of the alternative receptor as well as CRIP1a and the DELTA opioid system.