bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Divergent Effects of Joining International Organizations: Trade Gains and the Rigors of WTO Accession
Authors: Allee Todd L. , Scalera Jamie E. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractGovernments have joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in vastly different ways: some have taken mere days to join without undertaking any trade liberalization, while others have taken more than a decade and been forced to undergo significant liberalization. We argue that the more rigorous a state's accession to an international organization (IO), and thus the greater policy change required to join, the greater the benefits it will receive from membership in the organization. In the trade context, states facing greater scrutiny from the WTO and thus engaging in greater trade liberalization as part of the WTO accession process should experience greater trade on joining compared to those who face little scrutiny and engage in little if any liberalization. We develop a three-part classification of WTO members based on type of accession—early, automatic, and rigorous—and then compile detailed original data on the accession experiences of each relevant state, including length of time, number of veto players, rounds of questions, and tariff and nontariff commitments. Results of exhaustive quantitative tests on all countries from 1950 to 2006, which are robust to estimator, sample period, and model specification choices, consistently demonstrate that those who engage in the greatest amount of accession-driven liberalization experience the greatest trade increases from WTO membership, particularly in the years right after joining. In contrast, those who do little or nothing to join do not see any trade gains from being a WTO member. These findings reconcile previous findings on the effects of WTO membership on trade, highlight the causal importance of IO accession, and illuminate the conditions under which IOs will have beneficial effects for member states.
Monetizing Politics: Financing Parties and Elections in Malaysia
Authors: GOMEZ EDMUND TERENCE 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis paper assesses the patterns of financing of political parties and elections in Malaysia. The poor regulation of the activities of parties and of all forms of political elections has contributed to allegations of covert funding of politicians, from both Malaysian and foreign sources. Since parties have grossly unequal access to funds, this has led to unfairness in federal and state elections. This paper also deals with two fundamental issues in the financing of politics. First, Malaysia is one of very few countries where parties own corporate enterprises, a trend known as ‘political business’. Second, money-based factionalism, known as ‘money politics’, is threatening the existence of parties and undermining public confidence in government leaders. Party factionalism is based not on ideological differences but on which political leader has the greatest capacity to distribute funds to capture grassroots-level support. Two core issues contribute to the extensive monetization of politics. First, existing disclosure requirements do not adequately restrict the covert funding of politics or ensure electoral fair play. Second, public institutions that oversee electoral competition are not sufficiently autonomous to act without favour. Finally, this paper reviews the levels of transparency built into current legislation, the pattern of financing of parties and electoral campaigns, and the relevant regulatory bodies’ institutional capacity to ensure fairness and accountability during elections. The paper proposes legislative and institutional reforms to ensure electoral fairness, within and between parties.
“MY FEET SEE BETTER THAN MY EYES”: SPATIAL MASTERY AND THE GAME OF MASCULINITY INARDEN OF FAVERSHAM'S AMPHITHEATRE
Authors: Bloom Gina 
Published: April 2012

Although the long-awaited murder of Arden in the anonymousArden of Faversham(ca. 1592) takes place during a game of tables, or what we call backgammon,1critics have been quick to overlook the choice of game in this climactic scene, underestimating its importance to the play's central concerns and even mistakenly calling it a game of dice or cards.2These games do share some common features—backgammon, for instance, involves the use of dice—but the distinctions among them are significant, especially for the play's often-observed interests in geography and place. In attending to the intersection between games and theatre, I participate in a long tradition of performance studies scholarship. But in contrast to much of this scholarship, I emphasize the formal qualities of particular games—which vary widely from one game to another—arguing that different games call for unique competencies in players and in spectators of games.3Arden of Favershamreflects on spatial relations in the early modern theatre by staging and enacting the ludic competencies peculiar to backgammon.
Risk of congenital heart defects is influenced by genetic variation in folate metabolism
Authors: Christensen Karen E. , Zada Yassamin Feroz , Rohlicek Charles V. , Andelfinger Gregor U. , Michaud Jacques L. , Bigras Jean-Luc , Richter Andrea , Dubé Marie-Pierre , Rozen Rima 
Published: April 2012

AbstractGenetic disturbances in folate metabolism may increase risk for congenital heart defects. We examined the association of heart defects with four polymorphisms in folate-related genes (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.677C > T,MTHFRc.1298A > C, methionine synthase reductase (MTRR)c.66A > G, and reduced folate carrier (SLC19A1) c.80A > G) in a case–control study of children (156 patients, 69 controls) and mothers of children with heart defects (181 patients, 65 controls), born before folic acid fortification.MTRRc.66A > G in children modified odds ratios for overall heart defects, specifically ventricular septal defect and aortic valve stenosis (p-value below 0.05). The 66GG and AG genotypes were associated with decreased odds ratios for heart defects (0.42, 95% confidence interval (0.18–0.97) and 0.39 (0.18–0.84), respectively). This overall association was driven by decreased risk for ventricular septal defect for 66GG and AG (odds ratio 0.32 (0.11–0.91) and 0.25 (0.09–0.65)) and decreased odds ratio for aortic valve stenosis for 66AG (0.27 (0.09–0.79)). The association of ventricular septal defect and 66AG remained significant after correction for multiple testing (p = 0.0044, multiple testing threshold p = 0.0125). MaternalMTHFR1298AC genotype was associated with increased odds ratio for aortic valve stenosis (2.90 (1.22–6.86), p = 0.0157), but this association did not meet the higher multiple testing threshold. No association betweenMTHFRc.677C > T orSLC19A1c.80A > G and heart defect risk was found. The influence of folate-related polymorphisms may be specific to certain types of heart defects; larger cohorts of mothers and children with distinct sub-classes are required to adequately address risk.
Weird reciprocity? A ‘within-culture across-country’ trust experiment and methodological implications
Authors: VOLLAN BJÖRN 
Published: April 2012

Abstract:Economic experiments carried out in the computer laboratory seldom account for broader real-world contextual variables that affect humans as learning and norm-adopting individuals. The here presented ‘within-culture across-country’ design of a standard trust experiment reveals an interesting phenomenon which most probably is related to the context that people live in: South African communities expressed extremely low trust while participants from Namibia exhibited high trust, but low reciprocity, although both share the same ethnic background. The country effect between the two regions remained large even after using a matching estimator to substantiate that these differences were not driven by sample selection bias. Qualitative evidence from the study area suggests that corrupt local institutions have led to lower trust in South African communities while participants in Namibia seemingly applied a deep-rooted behavioural norm of the Nama society which they perceived to be appropriate for the exchange in the experiment.
Unpacking the Standards for Intervention
Authors: Power-deFur Lissa , Flynn Perry 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe role of the speech-language pathologist to enable the academic success of students with speech-language impairments using the standards and general curriculum is well established (Haskell, 2004; Power-deFur, 2010; Wallach, 2008). The Common Core Standards Initiative (2011a) emphasizes that “students with disabilities…must be challenged to excel within the general curriculum” (p. 1). The key for the success of students with disabilities is how special education professionals use the standards to enable the success of students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to provide an approach for using the standards to identify appropriate targets and design intervention.
From Common Core State Standards to Standards-Based IEPs: A Brief Tutorial
Authors: Rudebusch Judy 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Clinicians can use the Common Core State Standards (2010) along with requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004) to create conditions that support standards-based goals and objectives in a student's individualized education program (IEP). The IEP is the blueprint for speech-language pathology services provided to and on behalf of students with disabilities that allow them to participate in and make progress in the general curriculum (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], 2007). The IEP is written to meet the unique needs of the individual child and to delineate the specially designed instruction the child needs to make progress in meeting grade level or course standards. School-based speech-language pathologists are important IEP team members as educators move into a system that uses IEP development as a problem-solving tool rather than a listing of skills that will be taught to the student with disabilities.
Literacy, Common Core State Standards and the School-Based Speech/Language Pathologist: Making Sense of It All
Authors: Schraeder Trici 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
This pilot project was conducted by the ASHA Special Interest Group (SIG) 16 Ad Hoc Committee on Literacy Assessment: Trici Schraeder (Chair), Cornelia Cave, Barbara Decker, SallyAnn Giess, and Martha Testa. Christine Freiberg, SIG 16 coordinator and SIG 16 coordinating committee members Ruth Callahan and Judy Rudebusch served as the monitors. The project was approved by ASHA Staff. The ASHA SIG 16 Ad Hoc Committee on Literacy Assessment acknowledges the work of the Council of Chief State School Officers and National Governors Association Center for Best Practice for creating the Common Core State Standards.
Fill factor of planar heterojunction organic solar cells with varied donor materials
Authors: Zang Yue , Yu Junsheng , Huang Jiang , Jiang Rong , Huang Ganqin 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
The dependence of fill factor (FF) on material properties in planar heterojunction (PHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs) was investigated. The OSCs were prepared using a series of small molecular electron donating materials with different highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels ranging from 5.1 to 5.7 eV and hole mobility (μh) varying from 3.00 × 10−5 to 2.43 × 10−3 cm V−1 s−1. The results showed that donor materials with high mobility can significantly enhance the FF, which was partly due to the low series resistance according to the dark current density–voltage (J–V) characteristics. An optimal ΔE of 1.1–1.2 eV, which is the energy difference between the HOMO of the donor and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the acceptor, can also increase the FF. Meanwhile, the photocurrent densities (J
ph) of the OSCs were simulated based on the Poole–Frenkel model and charge trapping effect to intuitively reveal the effect of μh and ΔE on FF.
Formation mechanisms of sub-wavelength ripples during femtosecond laser pulse train processing of dielectrics
Authors: Yuan Yanping , Jiang Lan , Li Xin , Wang Cong , Xiao Hai , Lu Yongfeng , Tsai Hailung 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
A new model is proposed to investigate femtosecond laser pulse train processing of dielectrics by including the laser wave properties in the photon particle properties based plasma model. In the case studies, the pulse duration is 50 fs and the pulse delays are 0, 25, 50 and 75 fs. Both the laser wave–particle duality and transient localized changes of material properties are considered in the proposed model, and the formation mechanism of sub-wavelength ripples is revealed. This study shows that the interference between surface plasmons and laser field plays a key role in the formation of sub-wavelength ripples for which the excitation of surface plasmons is necessary. The predicted period of sub-wavelength ripples is in agreement with the experiments.
Longitudinal Assessment of Bone Mineral Density in Children and Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Schmidt Susanne , Mellström Dan , Norjavaara Ensio , Sundh Valter , Saalman Robert 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTObjectives:Low bone mineral density (BMD) is recognized as a potential problem in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to describe the longitudinal development of BMD in a population of Swedish pediatric patients with IBD.Methods:A total of 144 patients with IBD (93 males; 83 with ulcerative colitis [UC], 45 with Crohn disease [CD]) were examined with dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry at baseline. At follow‐up 2 years later, 126 of the initial 144 patients were reexamined. BMD values are expressed as z scores.Results:Children with UC and CD had significantly lower mean BMD z scores for the lumbar spine (LS) at baseline and after 2 years. The reduction in BMD was equally pronounced in patients with UC and CD, and neither group improved their z score during the follow‐up period. Furthermore, significantly lower mean BMD z scores for the LS were found at baseline in boys (−1.1 SD, ±2.7 SD, P < 0.001), but not in girls (−0.0 SD, ±3.0 SD). This finding remained unchanged at follow‐up. Subanalyses of the different age groups at baseline showed the lowest BMD values in the group of patients ages 17 to 19 years in boys (mean z score for the LS 1.59 SD, ±3.1 SD) and in girls (mean z score for the LS −3.40 SD, ±3.1 SD); however, at follow‐up, these patients had improved their BMD significantly (mean change z score for the LS 1.00 SD, 95% CI 0.40–1.60; 1.90 SD, 95% CI 0.60–3.20).Conclusions:In this longitudinal study, the entire group of pediatric patients with IBD showed permanent decreases in their BMD z scores for the LS; however, our data indicate that afflicted children have the potential to improve their BMD by the time they reach early adulthood.
How transparent is behavioral intervention research on pathological gambling and other gambling‐related disorders? A systematic literature review
Authors: Fink Arlene , Parhami Iman , Rosenthal Richard J. , Campos Michael D. , Siani Aaron , Fong Timothy W. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAims  To review the transparency of reports of behavioral interventions for pathological gambling and other gambling‐related disorders.Methods  We used the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs (TREND) Statement to develop the 59‐question Adapted TREND Questionnaire (ATQ). Each ATQ question corresponds to a transparency guideline and asks how clearly a study reports its objectives, research design, analytical methods and conclusions. A subset of 23 ATQ questions is considered particularly important. We searched PubMed, PsychINFO and Web of Science to identify experimental evaluations published between 2000 and 2011 aiming to reduce problem gambling behaviors or decrease problems caused by gambling. Twenty‐six English‐language reports met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed by three abstractors using the ATQ.Results  The average report adhered to 38.4 (65.1%) of the 59 ATQ transparency guidelines. Each of the 59 ATQ questions received positive responses from an average of 16.9 (63.8%) of the reports. The subset of 23 particularly relevant questions received an average of 15.3 (66.5%) positive responses. Thirty‐two of 59 (54%) ATQ questions were answered positively by 75% or more of the study reports, while 12 (20.3%) received positive responses by 25% or fewer. Publication year did not affect these findings.Conclusions  Gambling intervention reports need to improve their transparency by adhering to currently neglected and particularly relevant guidelines. Among them are recommendations for comparing study participants who are lost to follow‐up and those who are retained, comparing study participants with the target population, describing methods used to minimize potential bias due to group assignment, and reporting adverse events or unintended effects.
Intravitreal pegaptanib sodium (Macugen®) for treatment of diabetic macular oedema: a morphologic and functional study
Authors: Rinaldi Michele , Chiosi Flavia , dell'Omo Roberto , Romano Mario R. , Parmeggiani Francesco , Semeraro Francesco , Mastropasqua Rodolfo , Costagliola Ciro 
Published: April 2012

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Diabetic macular oedema can develop at all stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and its prevalence increases with the duration of diabetes, affecting approximately 30% of diabetic patients after 25–30 years of disease.• Elevated concentrations of VEGF have been identified in aqueous humour and vitreous of patients with DR, and the severity of macular oedema is correlated with its vitreous concentrations.• Intravitreal anti‐VEGFs exert a key role in the treatment of diabetic macular oedema.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• The present study, performed on 30 eyes of 30 patients, shows that intravitreal pegaptanib injections induced a significant reduction in mean central retinal thickness, with a parallel improvement in visual acuity.• For the first time a correlation between retinal morphologic and functional parameters in diabetic patients with macular oedema has been ascertained.• Our study demonstrates that the selective inhibition of VEGF‐165 isoform by pegaptanib represents an effective treatment for diabetic macular oedema, as assessed throughout a 48 week follow‐up.AIMS To study whether morphologic (foveal thickness, FT) variations of clinically significant macular oedema (CMO) in patients suffering from diabetes following intravitreal pegaptanib sodium (IVP) injection were associated with functional [macular sensitivity (MS) and colour discrimination (CD)] changes.METHODS A longitudinal, interventional, non‐randomized study was performed. FT was assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT), MS by microperimetry, best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) by early treatment diabetic retinopathy study charts (ETDRS) and CD by Farnswoth‐Munsell test. The treatment protocol consisted of three consecutive injections (0.3 mg/0.05 ml; baseline, week 6 and week 12). Follow‐up checks were scheduled at 18, 24, 36 and 48 weeks, after injections.RESULTS Thirty eyes of 30 patients with clinically significant CMO were included for analysis. After IVP a significant decrease of FT occurred with a mean reduction from baseline of 56.9% (P= 0.0001). An improvement of functional parameters was recorded in all patients (BCVA from 18.2 ± 8.5 letters to 25.5 ± 8.4 letters, P < 0.005, MS from 8.6 ± 2.16 dB to 10.6 ± 2.61 dB, P < 0.001, colour analysis from 376.1 ± 125.6 TES to 116 ± 34.6 TES, P= 0.0001). A statistically significant correlation between FT and BCVA as well as MS and CD was also found. Neither ocular nor systemic adverse events were reported.CONCLUSIONS Intravitreal pegaptanib significantly reduced FT, with a concomitant improvement of MS and CD. This association emphasizes the efficacy of IVP in the treatment of CMO.
CD137 deficiency does not affect development of airway inflammation or respiratory tolerance induction in murine models
Authors: Behrendt A-K , Meyer-Bahlburg A , Hansen G 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe co-stimulatory molecule CD137 (4-1BB) plays a crucial role in the development and persistence of asthma, characterized by eosinophilic airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, airway hyperreactivity, increased T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production and serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels. We have shown previously that application of an agonistic CD137 monoclonal antibody (mAb) prevented and even reversed an already established asthma phenotype. In the current study we investigated whether deficiency of the CD137/CD137L pathway affects the development of allergic airway inflammation or the opposite immune reaction of respiratory tolerance. CD137−/− and wild-type (WT) mice were sensitized and challenged with the model allergen ovalbumin (OVA) and analysed for the presence of allergic disease parameters (allergy protocol). Some animals were tolerized by mucosal application of OVA prior to transferring the animals to the allergy protocol to analyse the effect of CD137 loss on tolerance induction (tolerance protocol). Eosinophilic airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, Th2 cytokine production and elevated allergen-specific serum IgE levels were increased equally in CD137−/− and WT mice. Induction of tolerance resulted in comparable protection from the development of an allergic phenotype in both mouse strains. In addition, no significant differences could be identified in CD4+, CD8+ and forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+) regulatory T cells, supporting the conclusion that CD137−/− mice show equal Th2-mediated immune responses compared to WT mice. Taken together, CD137−/− mice and WT mice develop the same phenotype in a murine model of Th2-mediated allergic airway inflammation and respiratory tolerance.
Addition of enzymes complex during olive oil extraction improves oil recovery and bioactivity of Western Australian Frantoio olive oil
Authors: Chih Hui J. , James Anthony P. , Jayasena Vijay , Dhaliwal Satvinder S. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryOlive oil consumption has increased as many studies revealed the health benefits of regular consumption of olive oil. There is a need to find effective oil extraction techniques capable of increasing oil recovery without compromising its quality. This study investigated the impact of adding enzymes complex Viscozymes during olive oil extraction on oil recovery, total phenolic compounds, antiradical activity and the standard quality parameters. It was found that at a concentration of 0.30 g mL−1, Viscozymes could significantly improve the oil recovery from 49 to 69% (P < 0.001) when compared to the Control sample. The concentration of total phenolic compounds was also significantly improved from 110 to 266 mg kg−1 oil (P < 0.01) and the antiradical activity increased from 31 to 48% inhibition of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazil radical (P < 0.001). Addition of Viscozymes therefore represents an effective extraction technique that increases oil recovery without compromising the concentration of total phenolic compounds and antiradical activity.