bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Product Market Competition, Monetary Policy Regimes and Inflation Dynamics: Evidence from a Panel of OECD Countries
Authors: Correa‐López Mónica , García‐Serrador Agustín , Mingorance‐Arnáiz Cristina 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWe empirically analyze the impact of product market competition on the responsiveness of inflation to macroeconomic imbalances. If competition is high the response of inflation to lagged inflation, unemployment and import prices is reduced, while inflation is more responsive to changes in productivity growth in countries in which competition is above the OECD average. Given the (‘good luck’) macroeconomic trajectories of the 1990s–2000s, the structural reforms that made goods markets more competitive improved the ability of OECD economies to smooth (dis)inflationary shocks, while changes in the monetary policy framework had a modest role in taming inflation during the Great Moderation.
Parasympathetic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP): a likely contributor to clozapine‐induced sialorrhoea
Authors: Ekström J , Godoy T , Loy F , Riva A 
Published: May 2013

ObjectiveThe parasympathetic transmitter vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) increases salivary gland blood flow and evokes protein secretion and, in some species, such as rats, a small fluid secretion. It interacts synergistically with muscarinics for protein and fluid output. Human salivary acini are supplied with VIP‐containing nerves. We hypothesise that VIP and clozapine, acting together, evoke a volume of saliva greater than the sum of those induced by each drug given separately. It was further considered whether, in the current test situation, circulatory events influenced the magnitude of the secretory response.Material and MethodsSaliva from parotid glands deprived of their autonomic innervation, and saliva and blood from innervated submandibular glands were collected in adrenoceptor antagonist‐pretreated pentobarbitone‐anaesthetised rats. Initially, the individual and then the combined effects of intravenous doses of VIP and clozapine were established.ResultsThe submandibular volume response to the combination was 2–3 times higher, while blood pressure and glandular blood flow did not differ from those to VIP alone. The synergism occurred independent of nerves as shown in denervated parotid glands.ConclusionsFrom the current preclinical data, we speculate that VIP of parasympathetic origin, by its synergistic interaction with clozapine, may contribute to the clozapine (muscarinic M1‐receptor)‐induced sialorrhoea in schizophrenics.
L’étranger intimement connu
Authors: Schyns Désirée 
Published: May 2013

Dans cet article, nous visons à élucider quelques stratégies de traduction (et d’écriture) mises en œuvre par Nancy Huston, qui figure aujourd'hui parmi les écrivains « translingues » les plus couronnés. Plainsong (1993), roman écrit en anglais et traduit par l'auteur vers le français (Cantiques des plaines, 1993), forme le point de départ de notre réflexion. En premier lieu, nous tâchons de découvrir dans quelle mesure Nancy Huston fait prévaloir son autorité d'auteur dans son autotraduction. Ensuite, en comparant Plainsong–Cantique des plaines à sa traduction en néerlandais, réalisée par l'auteur du présent article, nous mettons en lumière en quoi les stratégies de traduction de Huston diffèrent de celles adoptées par une tierce personne. Les résultats de cette analyse nous permettent de questionner l'opposition classique entre original et traduction, entre créativité et reproduction servile.
Decrease in antigen‐specific CD63 basophil expression is associated with the development of tolerance to egg by SOTI in children
Authors: Vila Leticia , Moreno Ana , Gamboa Pedro M. , Martínez‐Aranguren Rubén , Sanz Maria L. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundIn the last decade, there have been an increasing number of studies on achieving tolerance to foods by specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI). Still, the underlying mechanism of SOTI is unknown. Our aim was to describe changes in CD63 expression on basophils following in vitro Ag‐specific stimulation by basophil activation test (BAT), after SOTI with egg in a pediatric population.MethodsTen children with persistent allergy to egg were included. Skin prick tests (SPTs) and open food challenges (OFCs) were performed before SOTI. Specific IgE determination and BAT with egg white (EW), ovomucoid (OM), and ovalbumin (OVA) were performed before and after 1 month of the buildup phase of SOTI.ResultsTotal tolerance to egg was achieved in 9 cases and partial in one.After SOTI, there was a significant decrease in mean specific IgE levels (p < 0.05). CD63 expression also decreased (p < 0.05) in all patients.ConclusionDecrease in Ag‐specific basophil responsiveness is associated with the development of clinical tolerance by SOTI.
Peri‐operative pain management in children with cerebral palsy: comparative efficacy of epidural vs systemic analgesia protocols
Authors: Moore Robert P. , Wester Tracy , Sunder Rani , Schrock Charles , Park Tae S. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryIntroductionSelective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is the only surgical intervention with class I evidence supporting permanent reduction in spasticity for children with cerebral palsy (Paediatr Anaesth, 12, 2002, 296; Neurosurg Focus, 21, 2006, e2). Postoperatively, adequate analgesia can be difficult to achieve (J Neurosurg, 105, 2006, 8; Childs Nerv Syst, 17, 2001, 556; Pediatr Neurosurg, 43, 2007, 107; Anesth Analg, 79, 1994, 340; Reg Anesth Pain Med, 24, 1999, 438; Pediatr Anesth, 19, 2009, 1213). This study examines a novel regimen utilizing the combination of epidurally infused ropivacaine – hydromorphone and scheduled ketorolac. This regimen was compared to a protocol utilizing systemic fentanyl and diazepam.MethodsFollowing IRB approval, 31 patients receiving epidural analgesia were compared with 41 patients who received systemic analgesia. All surgeries were performed by one surgeon with standardized anesthetic and nursing care. Studied outcomes included: pain scores; episodes of severe pain; nausea, itching; oxygen desaturation; and ICU admission. Data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U‐test, CHI square, and Fisher exact test where indicated with P < 0.05 considered significant.ResultsStudied groups had similar demographics, biometrics and disease burdens. Patients in the epidural group had statistically and clinically significant reductions in peak recorded pain scores for each 4‐h period in the first 24 postoperative hours. Severe pain (score >5) was markedly reduced in the epidural group with 9% of epidural patients vs. 68% of systemic patients experiencing at least one episode. Fewer epidural patients experienced oxygen desaturation during the first two postoperative days (6.5% vs. 41%, 6.5% vs. 39%).ConclusionEpidural analgesia resulted in substantial improvements in pain control and safety. The data supports the superiority of a multimodal analgesia approach centered on epidural analgesia. A similar protocol should be considered following simple laminectomies or procedures associated with lower‐extremity muscle spasm.
Handoff checklists improve the reliability of patient handoffs in the operating room and postanesthesia care unit
Authors: Boat Anne C. , Spaeth James P. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryBackgroundIneffective communications among healthcare providers are common and increases the risk of medical errors. During the perioperative period, multiple handoffs occur within a short period of time, and failure to convey important patient information can compromise safety. We used quality improvement methodology to improve the reliability of our handoffs in the operating room and postanesthesia care unit (PACU).MethodsTwo quality improvement teams were developed to focus on the intraoperative and postanesthesia handoff processes. Key driver diagrams and ‘smart aims’ were developed for each process based on feedback from anesthesia and nursing staff, and handoff checklists were developed and revised using multiple plan‐do‐study‐act cycles. Data on the reliability of the handoff processes were obtained prior to initiation of the projects and throughout the 6‐month project period.ResultsThe reliability of intraoperative anesthesia handoffs improved from 20% to 100% with use of the intraoperative handoff checklist. Similarly, with the introduction of a standardized PACU checklist, the reliability of PACU handoffs improved from 59% to greater than 90%.ConclusionWe utilized quality improvement methodology to develop and implement standardized checklists for handoffs of care in the operating room and PACU. Acceptance of and adherence to the standardized handoff protocols dramatically increased the quality and reliability of our handoff process.
Tianeptine combination for partial or non‐response to selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor monotherapy
Authors: Woo Young Sup , Bahk Won‐Myong , Jeong Jong‐Hyun , Lee Seung‐Hwan , Sung Hyeung‐Mo , Pae Chi‐Un , Koo Bon‐Hoon , Kim Won 
Published: May 2013

AimsThe goal of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of tianeptine in combination with selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor (SSRI) in partial responders or non‐responders to SSRI monotherapy.MethodsIn this prospective, open‐label, 6‐week study, 150 patients with major depressive disorder who had previously not responded or partially responded to SSRI monotherapy were recruited. Tianeptine was given in combination with an SSRI for 6 weeks.ResultsSignificant improvements were observed in the mean scores of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI‐S). The change in the mean HDRS, MADRS, and CGI‐S scores was significant from week 1. The response rates were 64.7% (HDRS) and 68.7% (MADRS), and the remission rates were 34.0% (HDRS) and 42.0% (MADRS) at week 6. Thirty‐six patients (24.0%) reported adverse events that were determined by the investigator to be related to one of the study drugs. The tianeptine and SSRI combination was generally well‐tolerated.ConclusionsA combination strategy with tianeptine may be an effective and well‐tolerated tool for patients who have failed to adequately respond to SSRI monotherapy.
Validation of computer‐administered clinical rating scale: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale assessment with Interactive Voice Response technology – Japanese version
Authors: Kunugi Hiroshi , Koga Norie , Hashikura Miyako , Noda Takamasa , Shimizu Yu , Kobayashi Takayuki , Yamanaka Jun , Kanemoto Noriaki , Higuchi Teruhiko 
Published: May 2013

AimThe aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) program to rate the 17‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM‐D) score in Japanese depressive patients.MethodsDepression severity was assessed in 60 patients by a clinician and psychologists using HAM‐D. Scoring by the IVR program was conducted on the same and the following days. Test–retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity for total HAM‐D scores were examined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Inter‐rater consistency for each HAM‐D item was examined by Cohen's kappa.ResultsTest–retest reliability of the IVR program was high (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.93). Internal consistency of each total score obtained by the clinician, psychologists, and IVR program was high (Cronbach's alpha: 0.77, 0.79, 0.78, and 0.83). Regarding concurrent validity, correlation coefficients between total scores obtained by the clinician versus IVR and that by the clinician versus psychologists were high (0.81 and 0.93). The HAM‐D total score rated by the clinician was 3 points lower than that of IVR. Inter‐rater consistency for each HAM‐D item evaluated by the clinician versus IVR was estimated to be fair (Cohen's kappa coefficient: 0.02–0.50).ConclusionOur results suggest that the Japanese IVR HAM‐D program is reliable and valid to assess 17‐item HAM‐D total score in Japanese depressive patients. However, the current program tends to overestimate depression severity, and the score of each item did not always show high agreement with clinician's rating, which warrants further improvement in the program.
Awareness of deficits in Alzheimer's disease patients: Analysis of performance prediction discrepancies
Authors: Antoine Pascal , Nandrino Jean‐Louis , Billiet Caroline 
Published: May 2013

AimUnawareness has been operationalized in terms of a discrepancy between the patient's self‐reports and three main categories of standards: judgment of a relative, clinical assessment, and objective test performance. The purpose of this study was to develop a new measure of deficit unawareness based on multidimensional, isomorphic, simple tasks and to examine the relationship between this measure and neuropsychological tests.Methods Analysis was conducted on cognitive performance prediction discrepancies in a sample of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and a matched comparison group.ResultsPatients rated their cognitive functioning more highly than their performance, but their overall self‐reports were lower than the overall self‐reports of the comparison group. AD patients performed significantly lower than their predicted scores in all Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) domains, in contrast to comparison participants, who did not consistently perform significantly lower across domains. All unawareness scores were moderately inter‐correlated, except for memory, and all unawareness scores with the exception of memory were correlated with overall neuropsychological functioning.ConclusionA methodological and conceptual difficulty has been identified, and this raises the issue of the generalizability of studies with a focus on memory unawareness. The method proposed seems a good tool to assess the relationships between unawareness and several different aspects of cognitive functioning, in particular executive functioning.
Screening of families of patients with left‐sided cardiovascular anomalies
Authors: Demir Fikri , Karadeniz Cem , Atalay Semra , Tekin Mustafa , Tutar Ercan 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundThere is increasing evidence of clustering of certain cardiac anomalies in some families. The frequency and echocardiographic features of such anomalies among the relatives of patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or other left‐sided cardiovascular anomalies (LSCA) were evaluated.MethodsThe patients with BAV or any other LSCA and their relatives were enrolled in the study. They underwent an echocardiographic examination. The probands were assessed in three groups: BAV, BAV + coarctation of aorta (CoA), and other LSCA. Their relatives were also grouped and evaluated accordingly. The echocardiographic measurements were standardized by Z‐scores.ResultsEighty‐six probands and 261 relatives were evaluated. The numbers of the patients in the BAV, BAV + CoA, and other LSCA group were 52, 14, and 20, respectively. Any LSCA was determined in 17 (6.5%) of the relatives. Thirteen (5%) had aortic dilatation and the remainder (1.5%) had BAV. Accordingly, BAV incidence among relatives of patients with BAV was found to be 1.9%. A second individual with an LSCA was observed in 12.8% of 86 families investigated. The frequencies of aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis + aortic regurgitation, and aortic dilatation in the patients with BAV were found to be 37.9%, 53%, 25.8% and 48.5%, respectively. In contrast to previous reports, no enlargement was observed in the pulmonary arteries of BAV patients.ConclusionsBAV and other LSCA are of clinical significance. Because the clustering of LSCA in some families is observed, we recommend echocardiographic screening of those relatives. If this is not possible, at least it should be achieved for BAV patients.
Cloning and Characterization of Luciferase from a Fijian Luminous Click Beetle
Authors: Mitani Yasuo , Futahashi Ryo , Niwa Kazuki , Ohba Nobuyoshi , Ohmiya Yoshihiro 
Published: May 2013

AbstractLuminous click beetle is distributed almost exclusively in Central and South America with a single genus in Melanesia. Among these click beetles, the description of Melanesian species has been fragmentary, and its luciferase gene and phylogenetic relation to other click beetles still remain uncertain. We collected a living luminous click beetle, Photophorus jansonii in Fiji. It emits green‐yellow light from two spots on the pronotum and has no ventral luminous organ. Here, we cloned a luciferase gene from this insect by RT‐PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high identity of ~85% to the luciferases derived from other click beetle species. The luciferase of the Fijian click beetle was produced as a recombinant protein to characterize its biochemical properties. The Km for d‐luciferin and ATP were 173 and 270 μm, respectively. The luciferase was pH‐insensitive and the spectrum measured at pH 8.0 showed a peak at 559 nm, which was in the range of green‐yellow light as seen in the luminous spot of the living Fijian click beetle. The Fijian click beetle luciferase was assigned to the Elateridae clade by a phylogenetic analysis, but it made a clearly different branch from Pyrophorus group examined in this study.
Oxidation of Tyrosine Photoinduced by Pterin in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Castaño Carolina , Dántola María L. , Oliveros Esther , Thomas Andrés H. , Lorente Carolina 
Published: May 2013

AbstractPterins, heterocyclic compounds widespread in biological systems, accumulate in the skin of patients suffering from vitiligo, a chronic depigmentation disorder. Pterins have been previously identified as good photosensitizers under UV‐A irradiation. In this work, we have investigated the ability of pterin (Ptr), the parent compound of oxidized pterins, to photosensitize the oxidation of tyrosine (Tyr) in aqueous solutions. Tyr is an important target in the study of the photodynamic effects of UV‐A radiation because it is oxidized by singlet oxygen (1O2) and plays a key role in polymerization and cross‐linking of proteins. Steady UV‐A irradiation of solutions containing Ptr and Tyr led to the consumption of Tyr and dissolved O2, whereas the Ptr concentration remained unchanged. Concomitantly, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was produced. By combining different analytical techniques, we could establish that the mechanism of the photosensitized process involves an electron transfer from Tyr to the triplet excited state of Ptr. Mass spectrometry, chromatography and fluorescence were used to analyze the photoproducts. In particular, oxygenated and dimeric compounds were identified.
Discovery Learning and Teaching with Electronic Corpora in an Advanced German Grammar Course
Authors: Vyatkina Nina 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis study describes the design and implementation of a usage‐based and corpus‐based advanced German grammar course. Teaching materials for the course included DWDS, or Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache: a large, representative, free and publicly available corpus of contemporary German texts. The article outlines specific theoretically informed principles for course design and presents a logical progression of corpus‐based grammar‐teaching activities as used in this course. It also reports participants’ post‐course reactions which were very positive. The article contains practical recommendations for educators interested in trying out corpus‐based activities for teaching German grammar at different proficiency levels as well as to different participant groups. Furthermore, it promotes a more holistic perspective toward grammar as a meaning‐making resource compatible with innovative approaches to grammar pedagogy.
Meningococcal carriage in the African meningitis belt
Authors:   The MenAfriCar consortium
Published: May 2013

AbstractA meningococcal serogroup A polysaccharide/tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (PsA‐TT) (MenAfriVac™) is being deployed in countries of the African meningitis belt. Experience with other polysaccharide/protein conjugate vaccines has shown that an important part of their success has been their ability to prevent the acquisition of pharyngeal carriage and hence to stop transmission and induce herd immunity. If PsA‐TT is to achieve the goal of preventing epidemics, it must be able to prevent the acquisition of pharyngeal carriage as well as invasive meningococcal disease and whether PsA‐TT can prevent pharyngeal carriage needs to be determined. To address this issue, a consortium (the African Meningococcal Carriage (MenAfriCar) consortium) was established in 2009 to investigate the pattern of meningococcal carriage in countries of the African meningitis belt prior to and after the introduction of PsA‐TT. This article describes how the consortium was established, its objectives and the standardised field and laboratory methods that were used to achieve these objectives. The experience of the MenAfriCar consortium will help in planning future studies on the epidemiology of meningococcal carriage in countries of the African meningitis belt and elsewhere.
Development and evaluation of a model for predicting Lolium rigidum emergence in winter cereal crops in the Mediterranean area
Authors: Izquierdo J , Bastida F , Lezaún J M , Sánchez del Arco M J , Gonzalez‐Andujar J L 
Published: May 2013

SummaryLolium rigidum is an extremely competitive and prevalent grass weed in cereal fields of Mediterranean areas. The proper timing of control measures is a prerequisite to maximising herbicide efficacy, in terms of both improved control and reduced herbicide inputs. The development of models to predict emergence flushes will contribute to this goal. Pooled cumulative emergence data obtained during three seasons from a cereal field were used to develop a Gompertz model. This explained relative seedling emergence from crop sowing onwards as a function of: (i) standard soil thermal time accumulation (TT) with a base temperature of 1.8°C and (ii) soil thermal time accumulation corrected for soil moisture (cTT). For the latter, no thermal time accumulation was computed for days in which the soil water balance within the upper 10‐cm soil layer indicated no water available for plants, because evapotranspiration was greater than rainfall plus the stored water remaining from the previous day. The model was validated with six datasets from four different sites and seasons. Compared with TT, the model based on cTT showed better performance in predicting L. rigidum emergence, particularly in predicting the end of emergence. Complemented with in‐field observations to minimise deviations, the model may be used as a predictive tool to better control this weed in dryland cereal fields of Mediterranean climate areas.
Phylogeny and systematics of Old World serotine bats (genus Eptesicus, Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera): an integrative approach
Authors: Juste Javier , Benda Petr , Garcia‐Mudarra Juan Luis , Ibáñez Carlos 
Published: May 2013

Integrative taxonomy aims to document biodiversity by incorporating all useful characters to increase confidence in hypotheses about phylogenetic relationships. In this study, we combine data obtained independently from morphology, two maternally inherited mtDNA genes and two biparentally inherited nuDNA genes to make phylogenetic and taxonomic hypotheses about the Palaearctic members of the bat genus Eptesicus (Vespertilionidae). This genus is distributed worldwide (except for Antarctica) and is highly diversified, presenting one of the most entangled taxonomic puzzles among all mammals. Our results support restoring the genus Rhyneptesicus and separating E. isabellinus and E. pachyomus from E. serotinus and E. ognevi and E. anatolicus from E. bottae. Differences in the phylogenetic hypotheses from mtDNA and nuDNA data suggest the occurrence within E. serotinus of evolutionary processes such as mtDNA capture and secondary contacts between partially differentiated ecomorphs. These two evolutionary processes deserve more in‐depth studies within the group.