bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MONETARY POLICY IN A NON‐REPRESENTATIVE AGENT ECONOMY: A SURVEY
Authors: Brzoza‐Brzezina Michał , Kolasa Marcin , Koloch Grzegorz , Makarski Krzysztof , Rubaszek Michał 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIt is well known that central bank policies affect not only macroeconomic aggregates, but also their distribution across economic agents. Similarly, a number of papers demonstrated that heterogeneity of agents may matter for the transmission of monetary policy to macro variables. Despite this, the mainstream monetary economics literature has so far been dominated by dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with representative agents. This paper aims to tilt this imbalance towards heterogeneous agents setups by surveying the main positive and normative findings of this line of the literature, and suggesting areas in which these models could be implemented. In particular, we review studies that analyse the heterogeneity of (i) households’ income, (ii) households’ preferences, (iii) consumers’ age, (iv) expectations and (v) firms’ productivity and financial position. We highlight the results on issues that, by construction, cannot be investigated in a representative agent framework and discuss important papers modifying the findings from the representative agent literature.
High prevalence of unintended pregnancies in HIV‐positive women of reproductive age in Ontario, Canada: a retrospective study
Authors: Loutfy MR , Raboud JM , Wong J , Yudin MH , Diong C , Blitz SL , Margolese SL , Hart TA , Ogilvie G , Masinde K , Tharao WE , Linklater G , Salam K , Ongoiba F , Angel JB , Smaill FM , Rachlis AR , Ralph ED , Walmsley SL ,   for the Ontario HIV Fertility Research Team
Published: November 2011

ObjectivesThere is speculation, but there are few data, on the high rates of unintended pregnancies in HIV‐positive women. We investigated rates and correlates of unintended pregnancies among HIV‐positive women of reproductive age.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted with recruitment stratified to match the geographical distribution of HIV‐positive women of reproductive age (18–52 years) living in Ontario, Canada. Women, recruited from 38 sites between October 2007 and April 2009, were invited to complete a 189‐item self‐administered survey. This analysis focused on questions relating to pregnancy and whether the last pregnancy was intended. Logistic regression models were fitted to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of correlates of unintended pregnancies occurring after HIV diagnosis. Happiness with unintended pregnancies was also assessed.ResultsThe median age at the time of the survey of the 416 participating HIV‐positive women who were previously pregnant (53% before and 47% after HIV diagnosis) was 38 years [interquartile range (IQR) 33–44 years] and their last pregnancy was a median of 8 years (IQR 3–14 years) prior to the survey (n=283). Fifty‐nine per cent were born outside Canada and 47% were of African ethnicity. Of the 416, 56% [95% confidence interval (CI) 51–61%] identified that their last pregnancy was unintended (57% before and 54% after HIV diagnosis). In the multivariable model, significant correlates of unintended pregnancy after HIV diagnosis were: marital status (P=0.01) and never having given birth (P=0.01). Women were less happy if their pregnancy was unintended (P<0.01).ConclusionsThe prevalence of unintended pregnancy was high in this cohort. Pregnancy planning programmes are needed for this population to decrease fetal and maternal complications and reduce vertical and horizontal transmission.
ON EUTHANASIA: EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGICAL MEANING AND ATTITUDES IN A SAMPLE OF MEXICAN PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS
Authors: DEL RÍO ASUNCIÓN ÁLVAREZ , MARVÁN MA. LUISA 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTEuthanasia has become the subject of ethical and political debate in many countries including Mexico. Since many physicians are deeply concerned about euthanasia, due to their crucial participation in its decision and implementation, it is important to know the psychological meaning that the term ‘euthanasia’ has for them, as well as their attitudes toward this practice. This study explores psychological meaning and attitudes toward euthanasia in 546 Mexican subjects, either medical students or physicians, who were divided into three groups: a) beginning students, b) advanced students, and c) physicians. We used the semantic networks technique, which analyzed the words the participants associated with the term ‘euthanasia’. Positive psychological meaning, as well as positive attitudes, prevailed among advanced students and physicians when defining euthanasia, whereas both positive and negative psychological meaning together with more ambivalent attitudes toward euthanasia predominated in beginning students. The findings are discussed in the context of a current debate on a bill proposing active euthanasia in Mexico City.
Polycrystalline Ho:YAG Transparent Ceramics for Eye‐Safe Solid State Laser Applications
Authors: Yang Hao , Zhang Jian , Qin Xianpeng , Luo Dewei , Ma Jan , Tang Dingyuan , Chen Hao , Shen Deyuan , Zhang Qitu 
Published: November 2011

High optical quality holmium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ho:YAG) transparent ceramics that contained 0.5–2.0 at.% holmium additives were fabricated by a reactive sintering method under vacuum. Fully dense Ho:YAG ceramics with the average grain size of ~10 μm were obtained after vacuum sintered at 1780°C for 8 h. The in‐line transmittances in the visible and infrared region are higher than 82% and 84%. The absorption coefficients of the 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 at.% Ho:YAG ceramics at 1907 nm was calculated to be 0.72, 0.89, 1.32, and 1.78 cm−1, respectively. The absorption cross‐section of Ho:YAG ceramic was 0.645 × 10−20 cm2. The 1.5 and 2.0 at.% Ho:YAG ceramic slabs were in‐band pumped by a Tm:fiber laser at 1907 nm. A maximum output power of 20.6 W at 2097 nm was obtained with a corresponding slope efficiency of 60.9%.
Associations of periodontal microorganisms with salivary proteins and MMP‐8 in gingival crevicular fluid
Authors: Yakob Maha , Kari Kirsti , Tervahartiala Taina , Sorsa Timo , Söder Per‐Östen , Meurman Jukka H. , Söder Birgitta 
Published: November 2011

AbstractObjectiveWe investigated in subjects with and without periodontitis, the levels of certain salivary proteins and matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (MMP‐8) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), in relation to the presence of specific periodontal pathogens.MethodsClinical parameters were recorded at baseline, in 1985 and in 2009 from 99 subjects; 56 with and 43 without periodontitis (mean age 59.2 ± SD 2.9). Saliva samples collected in 2009 were analysed for salivary albumin, total protein and immunoglobulins A, G and M. GCF was collected for analysis of MMP‐8 levels and for the PCR‐analysis of the microorganisms Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia.ResultsPeriodontitis patients were more often infected by P. gingivalis (p < 0.05), P. intermedia and T. denticola (p = 0.01) than controls. Salivary albumin and protein concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with T. denticola (p < 0.05). MMP‐8 levels were significantly higher in subjects with T. denticola (p < 0.001) and T. forsythia (p < 0.01). No corresponding results were found in salivary immunoglobulin concentrations.ConclusionThe presence of T. denticola seemed to increase salivary albumin and total protein concentrations, and GCF levels of MMP‐8. Both T. denticola and T. forsythia seemed to induce a cascade of host response with increased MMP‐8 in GCF.
Effect of long‐term water immersion on the fracture toughness of denture base and reline resins
Authors: Finoti Lívia Sertori , Machado Ana Lucia , Chaves Carolina De Andrade Lima , Pavarina Ana Cláudia , Vergani Carlos Eduardo 
Published: November 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00573.x

Effect of long‐term water immersion on the fracture toughness of denture base and reline resinspurpose:  This study evaluated the fracture toughness (FT) of one denture base (Lucitone 550 – L) and four hard reline resins [Ufi Gel Hard (UH), Tokuyama Rebase II (TR), New Truliner (NT) and Kooliner (K)], and the effect of long‐term water storage on this property.Materials and methods:  Forty specimens (40 × 8 × 4 mm) of each material were made, and FT was assessed after polymerisation (control of reliners), after 48 ± 2 h in water at 37°C (control of denture base resin) and after storage in water at 37°C for 7, 90 or 180 days (all materials). Data (MPa.m1/2) were analysed by two‐way anova and Games–Howell test (p = 0.05).Results:  Resin L exhibited the highest FT mean values. After 180 days of storage, FT mean values of L (3.37), UH (1.53) and K (1.20) were higher than those of the other periods. FT mean values of NT decreased from control (1.63) to 7 days (1.30) and then remained constant. FT mean values of TR (1.13) were similar in all periods of analysis.Conclusion:  The denture base resin L showed higher FT mean values than the reline resins. Long‐term water storage increased the FT of L, UH and K, reduced the FT of NT and did not influence the FT of TR.
Validity and reliability of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) scale in the elderly population of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Erić Jelena , Stančić Ivica , Šojić Ljiljana Tihaček , Popovac Aleksandra Jelenković , Tsakos Georgios 
Published: November 2011

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00584.xValidity and reliability of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) scale in the elderly population of Bosnia and HerzegovinaObjectives:  To adapt the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) index for elderly people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and test its validity, reliability and responsiveness to change.Background:  Clinical measures alone may not be adequate for assessing the oral health of individuals. Subjective oral health indicators tested within a particular cultural context may not be relevant across cultures.Materials and methods:  The study population comprised 231 free‐living adults aged 65 years or older. The OIDP was cross‐culturally adapted from English into the Serbian language and its psychometric properties were tested. Data were collected using a clinical examination and a questionnaire containing the OIDP.Results:  In terms of reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.82 and the intraclass correlation coefficient 0.88. The very high correlation of OIDP with self‐rated oral health (r = 0.78) verified criterion validity, while construct validity was demonstrated through its significant and graded associations with other subjective health measures. OIDP change scores on a treated subsample showed moderate effect size (0.59) and were associated with perceptions of oral health change, providing evidence for its responsiveness to change.Conclusion:  The Bosnian version of the OIDP showed satisfactory validity, reliability and responsiveness to change confirming its appropriateness for use among older populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The ‘Island Rule’ Acting on Anuran Populations (Bufonidae: Rhinella ornata) of the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Montesinos Rachel , da Silva Hélio Ricardo , de Carvalho André Luiz Gomes 
Published: November 2011

AbstractDarwin and Wallace, in the mid‐nineteenth century, were the first to document examples of natural selection acting on island dwellers. A century later a pattern of morphological differences among organisms on islands was coined the ‘island rule’, which states that on islands species with small individuals tend toward gigantism and large individuals tend toward dwarfism. Selective pressures such as limited resources and increased intraspecific competition modulate the size of organisms in these environments. Of the several works that have tested vertebrates for adherence to the island rule only two have addressed amphibians. This work is the third record of body size variation of island amphibian populations, and the first for the Southern Hemisphere. The islands investigated were once continuous with mainland, and now are isolated as a result of sea level fluctuations that took place in the Pleistocene and Holocene. This study compared morphometric variation in populations of Rhinella ornata (Bufonidae) occurring on three islands of the Costa Verde to populations on five continental areas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We measured 18 morphometric variables of 177 individuals. There was a shift toward smaller body size (dwarfism) in two of the three island populations studied. We attribute this general pattern to geographic factors, verifying the expression of the island rule in tropical frogs populations (insular dwarfism) operating inversely in relation to those of temperate environments (island gigantism).
NGC 2419 does not challenge modified Newtonian dynamics
Authors: Sanders R. H. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
I show that, in the context of modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND), non-isothermal models, approximated by high-order polytropic spheres, are consistent with the observations of the radial distribution of the line-of-sight velocity dispersion in the distant globular cluster, NGC 2419. This calls into question the claim by Ibata et al. that the object constitutes a severe challenge for MOND. In general, the existence and properties of globular clusters are more problematic for LCDM than for MOND.
Value of Measuring Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels in Diagnosing Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Dassan Pooja , Keir Geoffrey , Jäger Hans Rolf , Brown Martin M. 
Published: November 2011

Background and purpose It has previously been reported that serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor are raised after acute ischemic stroke compared to healthy controls. The aim of this prospective study was to ascertain whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor measurements could be used to distinguish between acute ischemic stroke and common stroke mimics in the emergency room. Methods Blood samples were taken on arrival to hospital and daily for six-days, in 44 patients with suspected ischemic stroke (29 acute infarcts and 15 stroke mimics), arriving within 24 h of symptom onset. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The neurological deficit was recorded daily using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Evaluation of infarct volumes was based on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Results Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were significantly raised in acute ischemic stroke patients on the day of symptom onset and at all other time points, compared to healthy controls ( P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of vascular endothelial growth factor for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke on admission to hospital were only 69% and 73%, respectively. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels were also elevated in four out of 15 stroke mimics, including three patients presenting with postictal paresis. Conclusions Vascular endothelial growth factor has limited clinical utility in the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke in the emergency room because levels are also raised in common stroke mimics. Further studies are required to establish the mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor elevation in postictal paresis.
The structure, dynamics and movement patterns of the Australian sheep industry
Authors: East IJ , Foreman I 
Published: November 2011

Objective  To describe the structure of Australia's sheep industries and the movement of sheep to enable examination of the potential for animal movements to spread disease between farms.Procedure  The structure, size, marketing and movement patterns of Australian sheep farms was determined through (i) review of data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, (ii) interviews with producers and saleyard managers and (iii) expert opinion.Results  Twelve geographic regions are described, based on the type and extent of sheep farming in each region. Five production sectors were identified within the Australian sheep industry, with the proportion of each varying between the geographic regions. Over the past 20 years, the industry has decreased in size and contracted from the northern and central areas of Australia. Movement of sheep onto the majority (79%) of properties was limited to the introduction of less than 50 stud rams annually, although cross‐bred‐ and wether‐based farms introduced up to 2000 sheep annually; 75% of sheep movements occurred over distances less than 200 km, but stud rams moved up to 500 km. An increasing percentage of movements off farms was direct to abattoirs and over 80% of sheep sold through saleyards were purchased by abattoirs.Conclusions  The majority of Australian sheep farms operate as self‐replacing enterprises and introduce few stock. In addition, most sheep movements occur over distances of less than 200 km and therefore sheep movements within Australia have only a limited potential to spread disease over larger distances.
Expression of autotaxin and acylglycerol kinase in proliferative vitreoretinal epiretinal membranes
Authors: Abu El‐Asrar Ahmed M. , Missotten Luc , Geboes Karel 
Published: November 2011

Abstract.Purpose:  Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)/LPA1 receptor pathway is involved in inflammation, angiogenesis and fibrosis. This study was conducted to analyse the expression of LPA‐producing enzymes, autotaxin (ATX) and acylglycerol kinase (AGK) and LPA1 receptor, in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) epiretinal membranes.Methods:  Nine active and 13 inactive membranes from patients with PDR and 21 membranes from patients with PVR were studied by immunohistochemistry.Results:  In PDR membranes, vascular endothelial cells expressed ATX and AGK in 16 and 19 membranes, respectively. Stromal cells expressed ATX and AGK in 19 and 22 membranes, respectively. Immunoreactivity for LPA1 receptor was noted in vascular endothelial cells and stromal cells in the five membranes stained for LPA1 receptor. Numbers of blood vessels and stromal cells expressing CD34, ATX and AGK were significantly higher in active membranes than in inactive membranes. Significant correlations were detected between number of blood vessels expressing the panendothelial cell marker CD34 and number of blood vessels and stromal cells expressing ATX and AGK. In PVR membranes, spindle‐shaped myofibroblasts expressing α‐smooth muscle actin co‐expressed ATX, AGK and LPA1 receptor.Conclusions:  The LPA/LPA1 receptor pathway may be involved in inflammatory, angiogenic and fibrotic responses in proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.
Reed canary grass cultivation mitigates greenhouse gas emissions from abandoned peat extraction areas
Authors: Mander Ülo , Järveoja Järvi , Maddison Martin , Soosaar Kaido , Aavola Rene , Ostonen Ivika , Salm Jüri‐Ott 
Published: November 2011

AbstractWe studied the impact of reed canary grass (RCG) cultivation on greenhouse gas emission in the following sites of an abandoned peat extraction area in Estonia: a bare soil (BS) site, a nonfertilized Phalaris (nfP) plot, a fertilized Phalaris (fP) plot, and a natural bog (NB) and a fen meadow (FM) as reference areas. The C balance and global warming potential (GWP) were estimated by measuring CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions and aboveground and belowground biomass variations. The high CO2 flux from the nfP and fP sites and the low CO2 emission from the BS are due to the enhancement of mineralization by plant growth on planted sites and inhibited mineralization by the recalcitrant C of BS. The NB site emitted 24 kg CH4 ha−1 yr−1, whereas the almost zero CH4 emission from the Phalaris plots and the BS site was due to the high S concentration in peat, which probably inhibited methanogenesis. The N2O flux varied from <0.1 kg on the Phalaris plots and the NB to 2.64 kg N2O ha−1 yr−1 on the FM. The highest yield of RCG was obtained in autumn (13.9 t and 8.0 t dw ha−1 on the fP and nfP, respectively). By spring, the biomass yield on the fP and nfP plot was 12.7 and 7.9 t dw ha−1, respectively. The C balance of nfP and fP plots was negative in comparison to the BS (−3322, −5983, and 2504 kg CO2 ha−1 yr−1, respectively). This indicates that the cultivation of RCG transformed them from a net source of C into a net sink of C. The GWP for the fP and nfP sites was −5981 and −3885 kg CO2 eq ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The BS site had a total GWP of 2544 kg CO2 eq ha−1 yr−1.
Chromosomal Integration and Location on IncT Plasmids of the
bla
CTX-M-2
Gene in Proteus mirabilis Clinical Isolates
Authors: Harada Sohei , Ishii Yoshikazu , Saga Tomoo , Kouyama Yuichi , Tateda Kazuhiro , Yamaguchi Keizo 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

Analysis of five CTX-M-2-producing
Proteus mirabilis
isolates in Japan demonstrated that
bla
CTX-M-2
was located on the chromosome in four isolates and on IncT plasmids in three isolates, including two isolates that also carried the gene on the chromosome. In all four isolates with chromosomal
bla
CTX-M-2
, IS
Ecp1
was responsible for the integration of the gene into the chromosome. Three different sites in the
P. mirabilis
genomic sequence were utilized as integration sites.
Global Analysis of the Staphylococcus aureus Response to Mupirocin
Authors: Reiß Swantje , Pané-Farré Jan , Fuchs Stephan , François Patrice , Liebeke Manuel , Schrenzel Jacques , Lindequist Ulrike , Lalk Michael , Wolz Christiane , Hecker Michael , Engelmann Susanne 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

In the present study, we analyzed the response of
S. aureus
to mupirocin, the drug of choice for nasal decolonization. Mupirocin selectively inhibits the bacterial isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS), leading to the accumulation of uncharged isoleucyl-tRNA and eventually the synthesis of (p)ppGpp. The alarmone (p)ppGpp induces the stringent response, an important global transcriptional and translational control mechanism that allows bacteria to adapt to nutritional deprivation. To identify proteins with an altered synthesis pattern in response to mupirocin treatment, we used the highly sensitive 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique in combination with mass spectrometry. The results were complemented by DNA microarray, Northern blot, and metabolome analyses. Whereas expression of genes involved in nucleotide biosynthesis, DNA metabolism, energy metabolism, and translation was significantly downregulated, expression of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, the branched-chain amino acid pathway, and genes with functions in oxidative-stress resistance (
ahpC
and
katA
) and putative roles in stress protection (the
yvyD
homologue
SACOL0815
and
SACOL1759
and
SACOL2131
) and transport processes was increased. A comparison of the regulated genes to known regulons suggests the involvement of the global regulators CodY and SigB in shaping the response of
S. aureus
to mupirocin. Of particular interest was the induced transcription of genes encoding virulence-associated regulators (i.e.,
arlRS
,
saeRS
,
sarA
,
sarR
,
sarS
, and
sigB
), as well as genes directly involved in the virulence of
S. aureus
(i.e.,
fnbA
,
epiE
,
epiG
, and
seb
).