bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monetary policy effects on investment spending: a firm‐level study of Malaysia
Authors: Abdul Karim Zulkefly 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the role of monetary policy transmission mechanism channel on firms' investment spending. The focal point is to investigate the differential of monetary policy effects across sub‐sector firms' investment by examining the role of interest rates, and broad credit channel of monetary transmission.Design/methodology/approachThe following research design has been employed in examining the relevance of both monetary policy channels. First, the firm user cost of capital as a proxy for the interest rates channel is constructed. Second, the neoclassical model of firm‐level investment function has been estimated using the dynamic panel data technique.FindingsThe results revealed that the monetary policy transmission mechanism works through both interest rate, and broad credit channels in influencing firms' investment spending in the Malaysian economy. Monetary policy has heterogeneous effects in respect of sub‐sectors of the economy. In the long‐run, the firm investment in the consumer products and services sectors are significantly affected by the interest rate and broad credit channels. However, the firm investment in the industrial products and property sectors has only been significantly affected by interest rates and broad credit channel, respectively.Originality/valueThe empirical results provide new evidence on the microeconomic effects of monetary policy in a small open economy (i.e. Malaysia) in two dimensions. First, this finding has supported the relevance of interest rates and broad credit channel of monetary transmission in a small open economy. Second, monetary policy effects are also heterogeneous by sub‐sectors of the economy, as some sectors (for example, consumer products, industrial products, and services) are significantly affected by monetary policy, and other sub‐sectors (for example, property) are not affected.
Legitimacy, shared ethos and public management
Authors: Kabbesa‐Abramzon Ruth 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to learn from the Jewish concept of the “public emissary” about how to contend with the contradiction that underlies the formal authority accorded in the Weberian approach when applied to public service.Design/methodology/approachThe first part of the article explains this contradiction and the second part offers a new way of thinking about the roles of people serving the public by means of the Jewish concept of public emissary – shaliah tzibbur – and exemplifies this in the role of the charity trustee, with reference to Jewish sources.FindingsThe article finds that the model of the “public emissary” constructs a deep emotional commitment to the role, public loyalty and strict ethics. At the same time, the model allows the individual engaging in public service greater autonomy in his work.Originality/valueThis article offers an alternative to the Weberian model of formal authority, which has proven to be less than ideal. In practical terms, it offers a new definition and profile for people serving the public, from which it follows that different areas should be emphasized in their training.
Measuring the efficiency of English Premier League football
Authors: Kern Alexander , Schwarzmann Michael , Wiedenegger Armin 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this research paper is to prove the superiority of a two‐stage data envelopment analysis compared to a one‐stage approach in measuring a football club's efficiency. Moreover it provides best practice benchmarks for the research sample which supports football officials to orient themselves to the right clubs.Design/methodology/approachA non‐parametric two‐stage data envelopment analysis for the seasons 2006/07 to 2008/09 is introduced to measure the efficiency of English Premier League football clubs from an off‐field and an on‐field perspective. The results are compared with those of the traditional one‐stage data envelopment analysis approach to identify insufficiencies of the latter.FindingsThe results show evidence that different conclusions derive from either the one‐ or the two‐stage approach with the threat of potential misinterpretations in the case of the former. Furthermore, this study provides football clubs with information to focus on specific efficiency‐enhancing strategies at the individual stages of the production process and therefore acts as a supportive tool for the football club officials for setting corrective actions if inefficiencies are identified.Research limitations/implicationsThe present article provides a foundation for future studies in other football leagues as well as for an intertemporal analysis which evaluates the efficiency of a club on a yearly basis.Originality/valueThis is the first paper that introduces a two‐stage data envelopment analysis approach in football research. It has proven that it can identify sources of inefficiencies more accurately than a one‐stage data envelopment analysis and provides football officials with valuable information about their club.
Public policy and funding New York's new sports venues
Authors: Santomier James , Gerlach John 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to examine selected public policy and funding issues of six New York Metropolitan Area sport venues and to discuss their implications for the future of sport venue construction.Design/methodology/approachThe design of this paper is a descriptive case study, which is appropriate when the question to be answered is how or why, when there is no necessary control of behavioral events, and when the study is focused on contemporary events. A systematic review of public documents and available research related to the recent development and funding of selected sport venues was conducted. In addition, a critical appraisal and financial analysis was performed on selected data collected from a variety of proprietary facility reports and public documents.FindingsBased on a systematic examination of public documents and available research it was determined that a complex mix of local, regional, and state politics has impacted significantly the dynamics of professional sport venue development in the New York Metropolitan Area. It is also apparent that there has been a significant lack of transparency with respect to public policy. In addition, it appears that sport venue development in the entire US will experience a trend toward integration with retail, commercial, and residential real estate development that appears to be a result of political pressure and the need to rapidly recoup investment costs associated with sport venue construction.Research limitations/implicationsBecause this is a descriptive case study, the findings, etc., are limited to those specific venues and public policy issues that were selected for examination.Practical implicationsThis case study should provide educators and practitioners with insight into the complexity of mission critical decisions that are involved in the development and funding of sport venues. It also should provide insight into the political process related to sport venue construction and the importance of transparency in communicating with the public.Social implicationsThis case study may provide educators and practitioners with insight into the relationship among public policy, venue financing, and selected social issues.Originality/valueThis case study provides original insight into the key elements of funding sport venues in the New York Metropolitan Area. It will provide educators and practitioners with a frame of reference for further examination of the development of sport venues worldwide.
A (partial) review of entrepreneurship literature across disciplines
Authors: Campbell Noel , Mitchell David T. 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to stimulate researchers’ interest by acquainting them with some aspects of the entrepreneurship literature they may not have known.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a non‐meta‐analytic literature review of several literatures in entrepreneurship.FindingsThe entrepreneurship literature is vast and can be found in every discipline where humans and their behaviour are the object of analysis.Research limitations/implicationsBecause the entrepreneurship literature is so large and widespread, the paper reviews only a small, deliberately chosen sample of the literature.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, no one has previously written a unified review of the market entrepreneurship, political entrepreneurship, and public choice.
Non‐adrenergic, non‐cholinergic, non‐purinergic contractions of the urothelium/lamina propria of the pig bladder
Authors: Moro C. , Chess‐Williams R. 
Published: September 2012

Summary

Acetylcholine, and to a lesser extent ATP, mediates neurogenic contractions of bladder smooth muscle. Recently, the urothelium and lamina propria have also been shown to have contractile properties, but the neurotransmitters involved in mediating responses to nerve stimulation have not been investigated.
Isolated strips of porcine urothelium with lamina propria were electrically field stimulated and contractions recorded. Drugs interfering with neurotransmission were then employed to identify which neurotransmitters mediated responses.
Strips of urothelium/lamina propria developed spontaneous contractions with a frequency of 3.5 ± 0.1 cycles min−1 and amplitude of 0.84 ± 0.06 g. Electrical field stimulation at 5, 10, and 20 Hz resulted in frequency‐related contractions (1.13 ± 0.36 g, 1.59 ± 0.46 g and 2.20 ± 0.53 g, respectively, n = 13), and these were reduced in the presence of tetrodotoxin (1 μm) by 77 ± 20% at 5 Hz, 79 ± 7% at 10 Hz and 74 ± 12% at 20 Hz (all P < 0.01), indicating they were predominantly neurogenic in nature.
Neither the muscarinic antagonist atropine (10 μm), the adrenergic neurone blocker guanethidine (10 μm) nor desensitization of the purinergic receptors with α,β‐methylene ATP (10 μm) affected the contractile amplitude. Similarly, responses were not affected by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l‐NNA (100 μm) or drugs that interfere with peptide neurotransmission (capsaicin, NK2 antagonist GR159897, protease inhibitors).
In conclusion, electrical depolarization of the nerves present in the porcine urothelium/lamina propria results in frequency‐dependent contractions, which are predominantly neurogenic in nature. These contractions are resistant to drugs that inhibit the adrenergic, cholinergic and purinergic systems. The neurotransmitter involved in the responses of this tissue is therefore unknown but does not appear to be a peptide.
Anatomic Reference for Computed Tomography of Paranasal Sinuses and Their Communication in the Egyptian Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Alsafy M. A. M. , El‐Gendy S. A. A. , El Sharaby A. A. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe purpose of this work was to present an anatomic reference for computed tomography (CT) for the paranasal sinuses of adult buffalo fit the use of anatomists, radiologists, clinicians and veterinary students. CT images with the most closely corresponding cross sections of the head were selected and studied serially in a rostral to caudal progression from the level of the interdental space to the level of the nuchal line. The anatomical features were compared with the dissected heads and skulls. The paranasal sinuses of buffalo comprise dorsal conchal, middle conchal, maxillary, frontal, palatine, sphenoidal (inconstant, small and shallow when present), lacrimal and ethmoidal that were identified and labelled according to the premolar and molar teeth as landmarks. The topographic description of all the compartments, diverticula, septa and communication of the paranasal sinuses in buffalo has been presented. The relationship between the various air cavities and paranasal sinuses was easily visualized.
Safety and predictors of adverse events during oral immunotherapy for milk allergy: severity of reaction at oral challenge, specific IgE and prick test
Authors: Vázquez‐Ortiz M. , Álvaro‐Lozano M. , Alsina L. , Garcia‐Paba M. B. , Piquer‐Gibert M. , Giner‐Muñoz M. T. , Lozano J. , Domínguez‐Sánchez O. , Jiménez R. , Días M. , Martín‐Mateos M. A. , Plaza‐Martín A. M. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryBackgroundStrict avoidance is the only accepted management for cow's milk (CM) allergy. CM oral immunotherapy (CM‐OIT) is under investigation.ObjectivesTo evaluate long‐term safety of CM‐OIT. To identify clinical/immunological predictors of adverse events.MethodsProspective longitudinal epidemiological intervention study. CM‐allergic children aged 5–18 underwent a Spanish‐approved CM‐OIT protocol without premedication. Clinical data, skin prick test (SPT) and specific IgE (sIgE) at baseline and 1 year after OIT were registered. All dose‐related reactions, treatments needed and cofactors involved were recorded. Through survival analysis, we studied the cumulative probability of reactions resolution over time and clinical/immunological risk factors of reactions persistence.Results81 children were recruited. Mean follow‐up was 25 months. 95% of children suffered reactions, 91% of which affected a single organ. Reactions were heterogeneously distributed: (a) 60 children (75%) had occasional symptoms which ceased over time. 86% of them reached complete desensitization (200 mL). (b) 20 children (25%) suffered frequent (78% of total reactions), more severe and unpredictable reactions, which persisted during follow‐up or led to withdrawal (6 cases). Reactions persistence was associated with a higher frequency and severity. Kaplan–Meier estimate revealed a cumulative probability of reactions resolution of 25% at 3 months (95% CI: 1.9–4.1) and 50% (95% CI: 6.1–9.9) at 8 months based on all patients. Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression model identified 3 variables (CM‐sIgE ≥ 50 KU L−1, CM‐SPT ≥ 9 mm and Sampson's severity grades 2, 3 and 4 at baseline food challenge) as independent risk factors of reactions persistence. The combination of 2 or 3 of these factors involved hazard ratios to develop persistent reactions of 2.26 (95% CI: 1.14–4.46; P = 0.019) and 6.06 (95% CI: 2.7–13.7; P < 0.001), respectively.Clinical implicationsCM‐OIT was insufficiently safe in 25% of children. The above‐mentioned clinical and immunological parameters would help clinicians to identify highly reactive patients before CM‐OIT. In them, individualized schedules and premedication should be considered.
In silico prediction of Ara h 2 T cell epitopes in peanut‐allergic children
Authors: Pascal M. , Konstantinou G. N. , Masilamani M. , Lieberman J. , Sampson H. A. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryBackgroundDespite the frequency and severity of peanut allergy, the only approved treatment is strict avoidance. Different types of immunotherapy with crude peanut extract are not universally effective and have been associated with relatively high adverse reaction rates.ObjectiveWe sought to determine whether in silico predictive algorithms were useful in identifying candidate peptides for an Ara h 2 peptide‐based vaccine using peanut‐allergic patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. A human leucocyte antigen (HLA) distribution analysis was also performed.MethodsMajor histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐class II‐binding peptides were predicted using NetMHCIIpan‐2.0 and NetMHCII‐2.2 algorithms. PBMCs from 80 peanut‐allergic patients were stimulated with overlapping 20‐mer Ara h 2 peptides. Cell supernatant cytokine profiles were evaluated by multiplex assays. HLA‐DRB1* and HLA‐DQB1* typing were performed.ResultsFour regions of overlapping sequences induced PBMC proliferation and predominant Th2 cytokine production. HLA genotyping showed 30 different DRB1* allele specificities and eight DQ serological specificities. The in silico analysis revealed similar relevant regions and predicted identical or similar core 9‐mer epitopes to those identified in vitro. If relevant peptides, as determined by either in vitro or in silico analysis (15 peptides and 9 core epitopes respectively), were used in a peptide‐based vaccine, they would cover virtually all subjects in the cohort studied.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceFour dominant regions in Ara h 2 have been identified, containing sequences that could serve as potential candidates for peptide‐based immunotherapy. MHC‐class II‐based T cell epitope prediction algorithms for HLA‐DR and ‐DQ loci accurately predicted Ara h 2 T cell epitopes in peanut‐allergic subjects, suggesting their potential utility in a peptide‐based vaccine design for food allergy.
Non‐histaminergic angioedema: focus on bradykinin‐mediated angioedema
Authors: Busse P. J. , Buckland M. S. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryAngioedema is a result of increased vascular permeability, with subsequent extravasation of intravascular fluid into the surrounding tissues. Angioedema may be mediated by histamine, bradykinin or other mediators. Histaminergic angioedema generally presents with urticaria and/or pruritus and will respond to conventional treatment with antihistamines, corticosteroids or epinephrine. Bradykinin‐mediated angioedema, which includes hereditary angioedema (HAE types I, II and III), acquired C1‐INH deficiency, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor‐induced angioedema does not typically present with urticaria/weals and does not respond to conventional agents such as antihistamines or corticosteroids. In recent years, several agents that prevent the generation or activity of bradykinin have been developed for the treatment of HAE types I and II and are also being evaluated in other types of bradykinin‐mediated angioedema. These agents have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with different forms of bradykinin‐mediated angioedema.
Is Mandibular Reconstruction Using Vascularized Fibula Flaps and Dental Implants a Reasonable Treatment?
Authors: Jacobsen Christine , Kruse Astrid , Lübbers Heinz‐Theo , Zwahlen Roger , Studer Stephan , Zemann Wolfgang , Seifert Burkhard , Grätz Klaus‐Wilhelm 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPurposethis study retrospectively analyzed the rate of screwed implant insertion and risk factors in patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction with microsurgical revascularized fibula flaps.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed all patients with microvascularized fibula grafts between 1997 and 2005. Collected data included general data and risk factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use), and irradiation was the main predictor variable. The number of patients rehabilitated with dental implants and the implant success rate were evaluated, possible influencing factors were identified, and the results were compared with previously published data.ResultsThe sample included 33 patients (17 men, 16 women; mean age: 52 years); 76% were smokers, 42% drank alcohol regularly, and 73% had undergone mandible irradiation. Twenty‐three patients received 140 screw‐retained implants for dental rehabilitation. Twenty‐three implants were lost. Overall 1‐ and 5‐year implant survival rates were 94% and 83%, respectively. Implant survival rates were 86% in non‐irradiated mandibular bone, 86% in non‐irradiated grafted fibular bone, 82% in irradiated mandibular bone, and 38% in irradiated grafted fibular bone.ConclusionThis study showed that the use of dental implants in patients with fibula flaps is an appropriate and successful option for dental rehabilitation, even in those with risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and irradiation. Implant placement in irradiated grafted bone seems to be a high‐risk procedure.
The criteria for metformin‐associated lactic acidosis: the quality of reporting in a large pharmacovigilance database
Authors: Kajbaf F. , Lalau J.‐D. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAimsTo study the quality of pharmacovigilance reporting in cases of so‐called ‘metformin‐associated lactic acidosis’ and, ultimately, whether or not the criteria for this condition are indeed met.MethodsWe searched for cases meeting the criteria for metformin‐associated lactic acidosis [arterial pH < 7.35, blood lactate > 5 mmol/l (45 mg/dl) and detectable plasma metformin concentration] in a 15‐year period (1995–2010) in a pharmacovigilance database of the license holder for metformin (Merck Serono, Lyon, France).ResultsWe found 869 reports stated as ‘metformin‐associated lactic acidosis’ from 32 countries. The respective criteria for pH, lactate concentration and metformin concentration were met in 51.2, 53.3 and 13.9% of cases. All three criteria were met in just 10.4% of cases. By year, each of the percentages remained roughly stable throughout the study period.ConclusionsThe role of metformin in triggering metformin‐associated lactic acidosis was assessed incorrectly in most patients and the quality of reporting did not improve over time.
The effect of insulin intensification in children and young persons with Type 1 diabetes differs in relation to ethnic group; a prospective observational study
Authors: Dias R. P. , Brown F. , Wyatt C. , Cheema S. , Allgrove J. , Amin R. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAimsWe prospectively evaluated the effect of insulin intensification on glycaemic control and lipid levels in children and young persons with Type 1 diabetes in relation to ethnicity.MethodsIn the first 2 years of a 3‐year observation period, as part of routine clinical care, 231 children and young persons (40% white, 28% South Asian, 32% black) from a single clinic were offered intensive insulin therapy. After 2 years, 222 were on intensive therapy and their data were compared between ethnic groups at the end of year 3.ResultsWe observed ethnic differences in HbA1c levels during the study [study beginning and end: white children and young persons 77 and 70 mmol/mol (9.2 and 8.6%) vs. South Asian 72 and 68 mmol/mol (8.7 and 8.4%) vs. black 83 and 79 mmol/mol (9.7 and 9.4%), P‐value for ANCOVA = 0.007]. By study end, South Asians had the lowest HDL cholesterol (2.0 vs. 1.4 vs. 1.6 mmol/l, P‐value = 0.03) and highest triglyceride levels (0.9 vs. 1.8 vs. 1.0 mmol/l, P‐value = 0.001). In linear mixed modelling, after adjustment for socio‐economic deprivation and other covariates: (1) black ethnicity was associated with poorer glycaemic control (P < 0.001) and (2) South Asian ethnicity was associated with higher triglyceride levels (P < 0.001), independent of HbA1c.ConclusionsThe effect of insulin intensification on glycaemic control and lipid profile in children and young persons with Type 1 diabetes differs in relation to ethnic group.