bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of esophageal varices on liver computed tomography: Receiver operating characteristic analyses of the performance of radiologists and endoscopists
Authors: Kim Hyojin , Choi Dongil , Gwak Geum‐Youn , Lee Joon Hyoek , Park Moon Kyung , Lee Hyang Ie , Kim Seong Hyun , Nam Sangyu , Yoo Eun Young , Do Young Soo 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Recent liver multi‐detector row computed tomography (MDCT) always covers the distal esophagus with an excellent image quality. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of faculty abdominal radiologists with those of radiology residents and endoscopists for the detection of esophageal varices and high‐risk esophageal varices on liver MDCT.Methods:  A total of 104 cirrhotic patients that had undergone liver MDCT 4 weeks or less before an upper endoscopy were evaluated. Two faculty abdominal radiologists, two radiology residents, and two endoscopists independently interpreted all of the CT images to detect the presence of esophageal varices and high‐risk (grade 2 or 3) esophageal varices. With endoscopic grading as the reference standard, their performances were compared by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results:  The areas under the ROC curves for the detection of esophageal varices indicated better performance of the abdominal radiologists (Az = 0.868), compared with the radiology residents (Az = 0.798) (P = 0.007) and endoscopists (Az = 0.784) (P = 0.006). For the detection of high‐risk esophageal varices, however, the performance of the abdominal radiologists (Az = 0.914) was similar to those of radiology residents (Az = 0.900) and endoscopists (Az = 0.907) (each P > 0.05).Conclusions:  Experienced readers have a better ability to detect esophageal varices on liver MDCT, but had no higher performance to evaluate high‐risk esophageal varices. As the accuracy of detecting high‐risk esophageal varices with clinical relevance on liver MDCT is excellent, even by endoscopists, the evaluation of esophageal varices from a recent liver MDCT may be useful to avoid the use of low‐yield endoscopy.
Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale: Relation of cognitive insight to clinical insight
Authors: Uchida Tomohiro , Matsumoto Kazunori , Kikuchi Akiko , Miyakoshi Tetsuo , Ito Fumiaki , Ueno Takashi , Matsuoka Hiroo 
Published: April 2009

Aim:  Insight in schizophrenia is considered to have a multidimensional construct, and cognitive insight is thought to be an important dimension of insight: an ability to evaluate and correct one's own distorted beliefs and misinterpretations. The Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) was developed to measure cognitive insight, and studies have shown that cognitive insight is associated with several clinical features in schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to develop a Japanese version of the BCIS (BCIS‐J) and assess the psychometric properties of this instrument.Methods:  The BCIS‐J was completed by university students (n = 183) and patients with schizophrenia (n = 30). The Japanese version of the Schedule for the Assessment of Insight was used to measure clinical insight in patients with schizophrenia, and its association with the BCIS‐J was investigated.Results:  Factor analysis in the university students indicated that the BCIS‐J was composed of two factors, self‐reflectiveness and self‐certainty, as was seen in the original BCIS. The relation between the specific dimensions of clinical insight and each component of the BCIS‐J in patients with schizophrenia indicated that overconfidence in their belief or judgment may be involved in their attitude to treatment and openness to feedback, and objectivity might be essential to attribute one's symptoms as part of mental illness.Conclusions:  The BCIS‐J is a reliable and valid instrument to measure cognitive aspects of insight and appears to complement clinical insight scales.
Randomized clinical comparison of perospirone and risperidone in patients with schizophrenia: Kansai Psychiatric Multicenter Study
Authors: Okugawa Gaku , Kato Masaki , Wakeno Masataka , Koh Jun , Morikawa Masayuki , Matsumoto Naoki , Shinosaki Kazuhiro , Yoneda Hiroshi , Kishimoto Toshifumi , Kinoshita Toshihiko 
Published: April 2009

Aim:  Perospirone is classified as a second‐generation antipsychotic agent for the treatment of schizophrenia. Perospirone binds with high affinity to serotonin 5‐HT2A receptors and dopamine D2 receptors. There are no reports of clinical comparisons of perospirone and risperidone in multicenter studies. To clarify the clinical traits of perospirone in the treatment of schizophrenia, the clinical efficacies and side‐effects of perospirone and risperidone were compared in a randomized clinical multicenter trial.Methods:  Sixty‐six schizophrenia patients were enrolled in the trial. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total, positive, negative and general symptoms scores and Drug‐Induced Extra‐Pyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS) scores were investigated at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks.Results:  Significant reductions in the PANSS total and subscale scores were observed in both the perospirone and risperidone groups, with no significant between‐group differences at 4 and 12 weeks. Risperidone improved the total scores and overall psychopathologic symptom total scores more effectively than perospirone at week 8. There were no significant differences in the DIEPSS scores at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks between the perospirone and risperidone groups. The numbers of patients who dropped out did not differ between the perospirone and risperidone groups.Conclusions:  Perospirone was as effective as risperidone against positive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Both antipsychotic agents were equally well‐tolerated.
Differentiation between attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and pervasive developmental disorders with hyperactivity on objective activity levels using actigraphs
Authors: Tsujii Noa , Okada Akira , Kaku Reigetsu , Kuriki Noriko , Hanada Kazushi , Shirakawa Osamu 
Published: April 2009

Aims:  To clarify differences in objective activity levels between children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and those with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and hyperactivity.Method:  Eighteen boys with combined type ADHD, 10 boys with PDD with hyperactivity, and 18 control boys wore actigraphs for 1 week while attending elementary school. In addition to the average activity level, the standard deviation in the activity levels were compared for two continuous situations: (i) in‐seat classes, in which the participants were expected to sit in their own seats and learn quietly; and (ii) free recess periods following the in‐seat classes.Results:  All the groups were affected by the situational shift, the average activity level of each the groups was higher and the standard deviation was smaller than those during the in‐seat classes. The boys with ADHD exhibited a still smaller standard deviation than the controls and the boys with PDD and hyperactivity during the free recess period; no difference between the controls and the boys with PDD was seen. The boys with PDD exhibited a significantly lower average activity level than the other groups. No differences among the groups in the average activity levels and standard deviation were seen during the in‐seat classes.Conclusions:  The observed objective activity levels in each group reflect the degree to which the boys are able to tolerate changes in situations. Objective measurement of activity levels may be useful to differentiate hyperactivity in children with ADHD from that in children without ADHD.
Association between feasibility of discharge, clinical state, and patient attitude among inpatients with schizophrenia in Japan
Authors: Mino Yoshio , Oshima Iwao , Shimodera Shinji 
Published: April 2009

Aim:  There have been some studies on the feasibility of discharging mentally ill inpatients from mental hospitals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate how a psychiatrist judges whether an inpatient can be discharged.Methods:  A survey regarding such judgments on discharge was conducted involving 549 inpatients with schizophrenia with a hospital stay of ≥1 year. Relationships between psychiatrist judgments on discharge and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Scales for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Global Assessment Scale (GAS), patient attitude to discharge, and other variables were investigated. A similar analysis was conducted regarding patient attitudes toward discharge.Results:  After controlling for potential confounding factors using multiple logistic regression, the judgments showed significant relationships with BPRS‐P, SANS, GAS, and age. Patient attitudes showed significant relationships with the length of the current hospital stay, SANS, and psychiatrists' judgments.Conclusion:  A psychiatrist's judgment regarding discharge is a comprehensive decision that takes into account psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, and age. Such a judgment could also affect a patient's own attitude toward discharge.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms predict change in quality of life of Alzheimer disease patients: A two‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Tatsumi Hiroshi , Nakaaki Shutaro , Torii Katsuyoshi , Shinagawa Yoshihiro , Watanabe Norio , Murata Yoshie , Sato Junko , Mimura Masaru , Furukawa Toshiaki A. 
Published: April 2009

Aim:  To examine the effect of neuropsychiatric symptoms on longitudinal changes in the quality of life (QOL) of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).Methods:  First, we investigated whether neuropsychiatric symptoms at baseline predict changes in the QOL of AD patients over time. Then we examined the associations between changes in neuropsychiatric symptoms and changes in QOL. QOL was assessed using the Japanese version of the Quality of Life–Alzheimer Disease (QOL–AD) scale and other clinical instruments [the Mini‐Mental State Examination, The Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI)] at baseline and again two years later in 96 AD patients among 140 AD patients at baseline. We performed a multiple regression analysis of the baseline QOL–AD score, NPI score (mood, psychosis, and euphoria factor), Mini‐Mental State Examination score, and other clinical instrument variables (e.g. Activities‐of‐Daily‐Living scores) to determine their contribution to the change in QOL–AD score.Results:  While the total QOL–AD score based on the patients' responses did not change significantly, the total QOL–AD score derived from the caregivers' responses declined. Both the Activities‐of‐Daily‐Living score and the mood factor of the NPI score predicted the change in the QOL–AD score as assessed by the caregivers' responses. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the changes in two factors of the NPI, i.e. the mood and psychosis factor, and the changes in the QOL–AD score based on the caregivers' responses.Conclusions:  The presence of specific neuropsychiatric symptoms (mood and psychosis symptoms) was associated with changes in the QOL of AD patients during the follow‐up period.
Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome screening in mood disorder patients
Authors: Hattori Miho , Kitajima Tsuyoshi , Mekata Takahiro , Kanamori Aya , Imamura Mototaka , Sakakibara Hiroki , Kayukawa Yuhei , Okada Tamotsu , Iwata Nakao 
Published: April 2009

Aims:  Previous studies have reported that the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in patients with depression is higher than in the general population. We examined the risk factors to predict OSAS in mood disorder patients with depressive symptoms.Method:  We conducted polysomnography for patients who satisfied the following criteria: (i) diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder according to the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI); (ii) a score of ≥10 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM‐D); (iii) fulfillment of either (a) or (b) below: (a) at least one of the following: severe snoring, witnessed apnea during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness; (b) at least one of the following plus an oxygen desaturation index of 4% ≥5 times/h by pulse oximeter: mild snoring, sleep disturbance, headache, high blood pressure. The patients with apnea hypopnea index ≥5 were diagnosed with OSAS.Results:  Of the 32 mood disorder patients who met the subject conditions, 59.4% had OSAS. The diagnosis rate with our criteria was significantly higher than the previously reported incidence of OSAS in patients with depression. There was no significant difference among diagnosis rates as to individual risk factors or the number of risk factors. A multiple regression test showed no significant association between apnea–hypopnea index and other clinical factors including depression severity.Conclusion:  The present results showed that OSAS can be detected at a remarkably higher rate by considering appropriate OSAS risk factors in mood disorder patients, and suggested that there is a high rate of undetected and therefore untreated OSAS among mood disorder patients.
The role of species traits and taxonomic patterns in alien bird impacts
Authors: Shirley Susan M. , Kark Salit 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTAim  To test whether the distribution of alien bird impacts varies across bird families and regions of origin, and to investigate whether species traits associated with successful introductions can predict which species will have negative impacts in the new area of introduction.Location  Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.Methods  Combining historical information and published literature about negative economic, biological and human health impacts, we compared the distribution of impacts among bird families and native origins of bird species for three major types of impact (economic, biodiversity and human health). We examined the relationships between ecological, biological and reproductive characteristics of species and the severity of the impacts.Results  The majority of alien species with reported impacts originated from the Afrotropical, Indo‐Malayan and Palaearctic biogeographical regions. The distribution of alien bird species in Europe with reported impacts shows a taxonomic bias and largely mirrors patterns of establishment. While most species had primarily either economic or biodiversity impacts, several species in the Anatidae, Corvidae, Passeridae, Phasianidae and Sturnidae families were associated with moderate to serious negative impacts on both economic resources and native biodiversity. After controlling for taxonomic effects, species with the greatest overall impacts were habitat generalists and multi‐brooded, while species with smaller bodies and the tendency to form large feeding or roosting flocks were linked with greater impacts on native biodiversity.Main conclusions  This study presents the first synthesis of published impact data for alien birds and provides a broad‐scale perspective on factors that contribute to their impacts. The results show that accounting for both species traits and taxonomy improves our ability to predict the impacts of alien bird species. Because several species are currently in the early stages of establishment in Europe, there may be an opportunity to limit negative impacts with efforts that promote proactive strategies against species and families possessing the above characteristics.
New mitigation measures reducing seabird by‐catch in trawl fisheries
Authors: Bull Leigh S 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis paper provides an update on an earlier review [Fish & Fisheries 8 (2007) 31] of mitigation methods used to reduce seabird by‐catch in trawl fisheries. Interactions of seabirds with trawl vessels fall into two broad categories: those focused on the trawl warps and those focused around trawl nets. For reducing seabird strikes on trawl warps, the use of bird‐scaring lines has been proved to be the most effective mitigation device in the trawl fisheries in which comparative studies have been undertaken. However, the retention or strategic management of fish waste (offal and discards) is recommended as the most effective primary measure for by‐catch reduction, and as such should be viewed as the best long‐term solution to reducing seabird by‐catch in trawl fisheries. Coincident with effective fish waste management, measures such as cleaning the net prior to shooting and reducing the time the net is on the surface should be viewed as best practice measures and incorporated into normal fishing activities. While a number of methods have been trialled to reduce the incidence of warp strikes, there continues to be the need for more work on effective measures for reducing interactions of seabirds with the trawl net.
Editorial Ruminations: Publishing Kyklos
Authors: Frey Bruno S. , Eichenberger Reiner , Frey René L. 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYScholars today are under increasing pressure to publish in A journals, the main role of which consists in certifying that a paper meets traditional academic standards. Consequences of this pressure are multiple authorship, the slicing of ideas, and incentives to deviate from the truth. The overburdened reviewers' evaluations are characterized by selfish efforts to protect their intellectual capital and to avoid risk. The behaviour of editors depends much on whether there are a large or small number of editors.The editors of Kyklos respond to these developments by welcoming innovative papers that go beyond standardized orthodoxy.
Obesity as Market Failure: Could a ‘Deliberative Economy’ Overcome the Problems of Paternalism?
Authors: Anand Paul , Gray Alastair 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYThe paper argues that the problem of obesity can usefully be seen as illustrating a new kind of market failure. At the heart of such failures is the emergence of a sub‐optimal choice environment which, though derived from a large number of small individual optimising decisions, is not the choice environment that people would choose if they were able to choose the environment itself. This idea is claimed to be consistent with modern economic theories of freedom of choice and applicable particularly to choice environments that emerge in highly competitive market situations. The retail supply of food and consumer credit is discussed by way of example. Concluding, the paper develops the concept of a ‘deliberative economy’ as an alternative to liberal paternalism and explores conditions under which such an approach to social choice might deliver desirable outcomes.
Bureaucracy and Financial Markets
Authors: Nee Victor , Opper Sonja 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYRecent research on financial market development has focused on the nature of the legal system. The law and finance literature, however, exclusively focuses on the abuse of management power as a major cause of shareholder expropriation. We examine the role of the administrative capability of the state in providing and guaranteeing the institutional foundations for financial market development. The characteristic feature of bureaucracy is predictable, calculable and methodical performance. Our analysis of the linkage between bureaucratic quality and financial market development confirms our hypothesis that arm's length finance not only needs a reliable legal environment, but also bureaucratic effectiveness (1) We provide evidence that state bureaucratic performance plays a crucial role in determining financial market development; (2) We find that legal origin plays an indirect role, as it affects the financial market development through the channel of the quality of state bureaucratic performance, but it does not exert a direct and independent effect.
What Drives Economic Growth? The Case of Cross‐Border M&A and Greenfield FDI Activities
Authors: Wang Miao , Sunny Wong M. C. 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYThe effect of aggregate foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth remains uncertain in the literature. We revisit this FDI–Growth relation by analyzing the components of FDI – greenfield investment and cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Our analysis contributes to the existing literature by focusing on potentially heterogeneous growth effects of different FDI entry modes. Using a sample of 84 countries from 1987 to 2001, we separately examine the growth effects of greenfield investment and M&As. We find that greenfield investment and M&As have different impacts on economic growth. Greenfield investment promotes economic growth while M&As can be beneficial only when the host country has an adequate level of human capital. Our results provide support for receiving M&As when policymakers allocate more resources for human capital accumulation.
Access and Property: A Question of Power and Authority
Authors: Sikor Thomas , Lund Christian 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTIn this introduction we argue that access and property regarding natural resources are intimately bound up with the exercise of power and authority. The process of seeking authorizations for property claims also has the effect of granting authority to the authorizing politico‐legal institution. In consequence, struggles over natural resources in an institutionally pluralist context are processes of everyday state formation. Through the discussion of this theoretical proposition we point to legitimizing practices, territoriality and violence as offering particular insights into the recursively constituted relations between struggles over access and property regarding natural resources, contestations about power and authority, and state formation.
Property, Authority and Citizenship: Land Claims, Politics and the Dynamics of Social Division in West Africa
Authors: Berry Sara 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTIn the contemporary African context of rising competition and anxiety over access to land, neoliberal policy interventions designed to clarify property rights, broaden political participation and increase official accountability have frequently provoked rather than alleviated social and political conflict. Comparing case histories of local struggles over land and authority in selected rural areas in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Bénin, this paper argues that in situations where access to land has been linked historically to claims on authority and social belonging, pressures to privatize or clarify ownership have intensified debates over citizenship and governance as well as over land claimsper se. Ensuing struggles over land and entitlement have intersected with national as well as local economic and political dynamics, reinforcing ‘traditional’ hierarchies, contributing to the proliferation of formal and informal governing agents and institutions, and frequently disrupting or subverting open governance and sustainable resource use, rather than helping to create conditions for sustainable development and democratization.
Recategorizing ‘Public’ and ‘Private’ Property in Ghana
Authors: Lund Christian 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACTIn the course of political struggle in northern Ghana, the classification of land and resources has shifted between the two ‘master categories’ of public and private. Despite the fact that master categories may be wholly inadequate in accounting for the actual complexity of property objects, social units and rights, they are not divorced from the agency of people who have something at stake. Laws, rules and by‐laws are referred to as important markers and fashion the local political struggles over the rights to and control over resources. This article offers a general account of conflicts and the recategorization of resources in the property system of small‐scale irrigation. It examines the logics and positioning of the different stakeholders, and discusses how different levels of public policy have provided opportunities for such changes. A case study presents the opportunity to examine the details of a particular controversy demonstrating the social and political powers involved in the recategorization of property.