bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Legal Order, Legal Pluralism, Fundamental Principles. Europe and Its Law in Three Concepts
Authors: Itzcovich Giulio 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe essay analyses the way in which the concepts of legal order, legal pluralism and fundamental rights have been used to describe (and decide) what European integration is (and what it ought to be) from the perspective of the law. The essay does not provide a legal theory but limits itself to investigating how certain concepts have been employed to justify legal decisions and to construct legal theories. The juridical discourse on Europe is examined to identify some trends in contemporary legal culture: the decline of a tradition of legal thought, ‘legal dogmatics,’ the vanishing of the distinction between internal and external law (between domestic law and international law, and between positive law and morality), the growing importance of fundamental rights discourse, the centrality of balancing test, the widespread criticism of legal science's claim to neutrality and the consequent normative turn affecting legal scholarship.
Constitutional Pluralism and the Question of the European Common Good
Authors: Goldoni Marco 
Published: April 2012

AbstractConstitutional pluralism seems to be one of the most inspiring theories of European constitutionalism. It can account for the multilayered institutional framework of the Union. Therefore, it is a natural candidate for explaining how to track the European public interest. Pluralism may serve as the best methodology for keeping into account and for respecting the multiple perspectives on the common good represented by every institutional layer of the Union. After having examined the theories of two of the most influential authors of constitutional pluralism, Mattias Kumm and Miguel Maduro, this essay tries to show how pluralism might improve its highly potential explanatory and normative force, that is, by including in the institutional picture not only courts but also political institutions. In this way, the constitutional dialogue between the European and the national layers would be enriched, and every European and national voice might have a say in the interactions between institutions, securing a fairer way of tracking the European common good.
EU–China Competition Dialogue: A New Step in the Internationalisation of EU Competition Law?
Authors: Wu Qianlan 
Published: April 2012

AbstractEU has been the protagonist in promoting the internationalization of competition laws based on EU competition law norms. The development of China's Antimonopoly Law shows that EU has succeeded so far in establishing itself as the main reference point for China's competition regulation. The success can be mainly attributed to the EU‐China Competition Dialogue (Dialogue), a new initiative set up by EU and China in 2004. The paper reviews the internationalization of EU competition law and its characteristics. It then examines the Dialogue and how EU exported its competition law norms to one of the latest AML secondary legislations on Antimonopoly Pricing. It argues that the Dialogue's informal nature, EU's routinized technical assistance to Chinese competition authorities and its China‐oriented strategy in communication have been highly important in ensuring that the EU Competition Law becomes the main reference point for the AML. However, the paper argues that it is for the same reasons that EU faces weakness in controlling the reception of EU competition law norms by China. Based on this, the paper further illustrates that EU's understanding of competition law internationalization as reflected under the Dialogue has not undergone fundamental changes.
What Drives Banking Sector Fragility in the Eurozone? Evidence from Stock Market Data
Authors: EICHLER STEFAN , SOBAŃSKI KAROL 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis article explores the determinants of banking sector fragility in the eurozone. For this purpose, a stock‐market‐based banking sector fragility indicator is calculated for eight member countries from 1999 to 2009 using the Merton model (1974). Using a panel framework, it is found that the macroeconomic environment, the structure of the banking sector and the intensity of banking regulation all have an effect on banking sector fragility in the eurozone.
Similarity‐Based Multimarker Association Tests for Continuous Traits
Authors: Lin Wan‐Yu , Tiwari Hemant K. , Gao Guimin , Zhang Kui , Arcaroli John J. , Abraham Edward , Liu Nianjun 
Published: April 2012

SummaryTesting multiple markers simultaneously not only can capture the linkage disequilibrium patterns but also can decrease the number of tests and thus alleviate the multiple‐testing penalty. If a gene is associated with a phenotype, subjects with similar genotypes in this gene should also have similar phenotypes. Based on this concept, we have developed a general framework that is applicable to continuous traits. Two similarity‐based tests (namely, SIMc and SIMp tests) were derived as special cases of the general framework. In our simulation study, we compared the power of the two tests with that of the single‐marker analysis, a standard haplotype regression, and a popular and powerful kernel machine regression. Our SIMc test outperforms other tests when the averageR2(a measure of linkage disequilibrium) between the causal variant and the surrounding markers is larger than 0.3 or when the causal allele is common (say, frequency = 0.3). Our SIMp test outperforms other tests when the causal variant was introduced at common haplotypes (the maximum frequency of risk haplotypes >0.4). We also applied our two tests to an adiposity data set to show their utility.
MAP Kinase 6‐mediated activation of vacuolar processing enzyme modulates heat shock‐induced programmed cell death in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Zhe , Yue Haiyun , Xing Da 
Published: April 2012

Summary
Vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE), a cysteine protease, has been intensively studied in plant hypersensitive cell death, but the role and molecular mechanism of VPEs in response to abiotic stresses remain unclear. This work investigated the involvement of VPEs in Arabidopsis response to heat stress.
Under heat shock (HS), Arabidopsis VPE activity and the transcript level of γVPE were both upregulated, and γVPE deficiency suppressed vacuolar disruption and delayed caspase‐3‐like activation in HS‐induced programmed cell death (PCD). Moreover, the change of VPE activity generally paralleled the alteration of caspase‐1‐like activity under HS treatment, indicating that HS‐induced VPE activity might exhibit the caspase‐1‐like activity.
Further studies showed that MAP Kinase 6 (MPK6) activity was increased after HS treatment, and experiments with inhibitors and mutants suggested that MPK6 was responsible for the γVPE activation after HS treatment. In response to HS stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increase of cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) and the upregulation of calmodulin 3 (CaM3) transcript level occurred upstream of MPK6 activation.
Our results suggested that activation of Arabidopsis γVPE was mediated by MPK6 and played an important role in HS‐induced Arabidopsis PCD, providing new insight into the mechanistic study of plant VPEs.
Molecular phenotyping of aging in single yeast cells using a novel microfluidic device
Authors: Xie Zhengwei , Zhang Yi , Zou Ke , Brandman Onn , Luo Chunxiong , Ouyang Qi , Li Hao 
Published: April 2012

SummaryBudding yeast has served as an important model organism for aging research, and previous genetic studies have led to the discovery of conserved genes/pathways that regulate lifespan across species. However, the molecular causes of aging and death remain elusive, because it is very difficult to directly observe the cellular and molecular events accompanying aging in single yeast cells by the traditional approach based on micromanipulation. We have developed a microfluidic system to track individual mother cells throughout their lifespan, allowing automated lifespan measurement and direct observation of cell cycle dynamics, cell/organelle morphologies, and various molecular markers. We found that aging of the wild‐type cells is characterized by an increased general stress and a progressive lengthening of the cell cycle for the last few cell divisions; these features are much less apparent in the long‐lived FOB1 deletion mutant. Following the fate of individual cells revealed that there are different forms of cell death that are characterized by different terminal cell morphologies, and associated with different levels of stress and lifespan. We have identified a molecular marker – the level of the expression of Hsp104, as a good predictor for the lifespan of individual cells. Our approach allows detailed molecular phenotyping of single cells in the process of aging and thus provides new insight into its mechanism.
When Access to Chronic Dialysis is Limited: One Center’s Approach to Emergent Hemodialysis
Authors: Raghavan Rajeev 
Published: April 2012

AbstractEmergent hemodialysis is the practice of dialyzing a patient only when there is a life‐threatening need for this treatment. Undocumented immigrants in many cities depend on this practice, as they are not entitled to the regularly scheduled hemodialysis treatments available to US citizens. There are several medical and ethical challenges to emergent hemodialysis. One example is defining the criteria that determine the need for an emergent treatment. Although it is lifesaving, emergent dialysis is inadequate dialysis; it results in unnecessary patient complications, is medically burdensome for the treating physician, and expensive to the providing facility. This article describes how undocumented immigrants are cared for in one county hospital system in a large city.
Intervening Conditions of Hospital‐Based Home Care for People with Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Cheng Jui‐Fen , Huang Xuan‐Yi , Lin Mei‐Jue , Yang Tzu‐Ching , Hsu Yuan‐Shan 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectiveThis study discusses the intervening conditions of hospital‐based home care (HBHC) for people with severe mental illness in Taiwan.Design and SampleGrounded theory of the Strauss and Corbin approach was used. Participants were selected from six hospitals in Central Taiwan, including 21 clients, 19 caregivers, and 25 professionals.MeasuresSemi‐structured one‐on‐one interviews were used to collect data. Data analysis consisted of three stages: open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis, data collection, and sampling were conducted through the constant comparative analysis process.ResultsTwo categories were generated as positive and negative intervening conditions of HBHC services. Eight positive effects and nine negative effects were generated from the data.ConclusionsSeveral positive and negative intervening conditions were found in this study to affect the delivery of HBHC. Government support and several limitations regarding HBHC services quality should be noticed and improved.
Ventricular Assist Device Support in Children and Adolescents With Heart Failure: The Children's Medical Center of Dallas Experience
Authors: Sharma Mahesh S. , Forbess Joseph M. , Guleserian Kristine J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractChildren with heart failure unresponsive to medical therapy are left with few options for survival. Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are life‐saving options for such patients, allowing for bridge to transplantation or cardiac recovery. Retrospective review of cases from May 2006 to October 2010 was undertaken. Fourteen patients underwent implantation of VADs for refractory heart failure. Mean age was 9 years (range 1–17 years), and weight was 41 kg (range 9.7–71 kg). Indications for support: end‐stage cardiomyopathy (n = 8), myocarditis (n = 3), univentricular failure (n = 2), and congenital heart disease/postcardiotomy (n = 1). Level of limitation at time of implant included critical cardiogenic shock in six (43%) and progressive decline in eight (57%). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used as a bridge to VAD in five (36%) patients. Preimplant variables: 86% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation (mean 10.3 days), hyperbilirubinemia in 75%, and acute renal insufficiency in 79%. Device selection was systemic VAD in 11 (79%) and biventricular assist device in three (21%). Berlin Heart EXCOR was used in eight patients, while six patients received a Thoratec implantable VAD or paracorporeal VAD. Mean duration of support was 68 days (range 8–363 days). Overall survival was 79%. Ten patients (71%) were successfully bridged to transplantation, three (21%) died while on a device, one remains on support, and no patients were weaned from VAD. Children supported for single ventricle heart failure had a 50% survival with none currently bridged to transplantation. Complications included bleeding requiring reoperation in 21% (n = 3), stroke in 29% (n = 4), and driveline infections in 7% (n = 1). In two patients, a total of six pump exchanges were performed for thrombus formation. Survival for pediatric patients of all ages is excellent using current device technology with a majority of patients being successfully bridged to transplantation. Morbidity is acceptably low considering the severity of illness. Significant challenges exist with long‐term extracorporeal support due to lack of donor availability and the high incidence of preformed alloantibodies especially in the failing single ventricle.
Three‐Dimensional Geometry of Honeycomb Collagen Promotes Higher Beating Rate of Myocardial Cells in Culture
Authors: Guo Zhikun , Iku Shouhei , Zheng Xianjie , Sammons Rachel L. , Kuboki Yoshinori 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMyocardial cells were isolated from newborn rats, cultured on a novel three‐dimensional (3‐D) honeycomb collagen scaffold (HC) and their morphology and beating rates compared with ones on conventional plastic dishes. On the first day, the cells attached to HC had already started beating. As time went on, the rate of beating increased as the pores of HC gradually filled with the cells, which integrated to form the cell–matrix complex. At day 8, beating reached the highest frequency of 162 beats per minute, which was twice that of the control cells on plastic dishes. It was concluded that 3‐D geometry of the HC is conducive to functional growth of the myocardial tissues, and will potentially be useful for tissue engineering of myocardial regeneration.
Are Underwriting Cycles Real and Forecastable?
Authors: Boyer M. Martin , Jacquier Eric , Van Norden Simon 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSpeculative efficiency often requires that future changes in a series cannot be forecast. In contrast, series with a cyclical component would seem to be forecastable with decreases, possibly relative to a trend, during the upper part of the cycle and increases during the lower part. On the basis of autoregressive model (AR) estimates, it is considered that there is strong evidence of cycles in insurance underwriting performance as measured by the premium‐to‐loss ratio. Indeed, a large literature attempts to explain this documented cyclicality. First, we show that the parameter estimates from AR models do not lead to any such inference and that in the contrary, the evidence in the data is consistent with no cyclicality at all. Second, we show that a number of different filters lead to the same conclusion: that there is no evidence of in‐sample or out‐of‐sample predictability in annual insurance underwriting performance in the United States.
Internationalization in the Reinsurance Industry: An Analysis of the Net Financial Position of U.S. Reinsurers
Authors: Cole Cassandra R. , Ferguson William L. , Lee Ryan B. , McCullough Kathleen A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn today's global marketplace, the extent of internationalization has become increasingly relevant. We use the framework of the eclectic paradigm to empirically investigate internationalization by U.S. reinsurers using the net financial position in foreign markets to proxy for the level of internationalization. Our sample includes both developed and developing nations to provide a more complete analysis of internationalization of U.S. reinsurers. We find that the factors related to reinsurers’ net financial positions vary based on the characteristics of the countries, the reinsurers, and the industry.
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Octogenarians: Safety and Outcomes
Authors: SANTANGELI PASQUALE , BIASE LUIGI DI , MOHANTY PRASANT , BURKHARDT J. DAVID , HORTON RODNEY , BAI RONG , MOHANTY SANGHAMITRA , PUMP AGNES , GIBSON DOUGLAS , COUTS LINDA , HONGO RICHARD , BEHEIRY SALWA , NATALE ANDREA 
Published: April 2012

AF Ablation in Octogenarians. Introduction: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), although studies evaluating the role of RFCA have largely excluded elderly patients. We report the safety and outcomes of RFCA of AF in octogenarians.Methods and Results: From 2008 to 2011, out of 2,754 consecutive patients undergoing RFCA of AF, 103 (3.7%) had ≥80 years (age 85 ± 3 years, 4 with >90 years). Pulmonary vein (PV) antrum isolation was performed in paroxysmal AF. In nonparoxysmal AF, ablation was extended to the entire left atrial posterior wall and to complex fractionated electrograms. Non‐PV triggers were disclosed by isoproterenol challenge at the end of the procedure and targeted for ablation. Octogenarians presented a high rate of non‐PV triggers (84% vs 69%, P = 0.001), especially in patients with paroxysmal AF (62% vs 19%, P < 0.001); non‐PV triggers were most commonly mapped in the coronary sinus (54%), left atrial appendage (32%), interatrial septum and superior vena cava (14%). After a mean follow‐up of 18 ± 6 months, 71 (69%) octogenarians remained free from AF recurrence off antiarrhythmic drugs after a single procedure (vs 71% in patients <80 years, P = 0.65). The success rate reached 87% after 2 procedures. Total periprocedural complication rates also did not differ between the 2 age groups.Conclusions: RFCA of AF is safe and effective in octogenarians. A high rate of non‐PV triggers is present in these patients, and targeting multiple structures other than the pulmonary veins is often necessary to achieve long‐term success. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 687‐693, July 2012)
Impact of Ablation Catheter Irrigation Design on Silent Cerebral Embolism After Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Results from a Pilot Study
Authors: SCAGLIONE MARCO , BLANDINO ALESSANDRO , RAIMONDO CRISTINA , CAPONI DOMENICO , Di DONNA PAOLO , TOSO ELISABETTA , EBRILLE ELISA , CESARANI FEDERICO , FERRARESE EVA , GAITA FIORENZO 
Published: April 2012

Catheter Design and Anticoagulation on Postablation Silent Cerebral Ischemia. Introduction: Silent cerebral lesions (SCL) are a sensitive tool to evaluate thromboembolic risk of catheter ablation. Recent data showed the possibility to reduce thrombus formation when the electrode–tissue interface cooling is optimized by a homogeneous flushing of saline along the entire surface of the distal electrode through a larger number of irrigation holes. The study aim is to compare procedural parameters and safety of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) performed by using open‐irrigated catheters with different irrigation design.
Methods and Results:
Eighty patients (74% males; age 57 ± 12 years) with paroxysmal AF randomly underwent PVI performed with a new irrigation design catheter (group A, 40 patients) versus a standard irrigated catheter (group B, 40 patients). A cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before and after the procedure. Postprocedural brain MRI unveiled SCL in 2 patients in group A and in 3 in group B (5% vs 7.5%, P = 0.500). Intraprocedural ACT was the only independent factor associated with the occurrence of SCL (OR = 0.996; 95% CI 0.994–0.998, P < 0.001). Among procedural parameters, we observed a reduction of irrigation saline volume of 662 mL in group A versus group B (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
PVI performed with a new irrigated catheter did not reduce significantly the SCL risk when compared to a standard irrigated catheter. Intraprocedural ACT reduces the SCL risk of 0.4% for each point of ACT increase. For ACT > 320 seconds no SCL occurred. Finally, compared to a standard irrigated catheter, PVI performed with a new irrigation design catheter reduces significantly saline volume infusion. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 801‐805, August 2012)
Female urinary incontinence, from pregnancy to menopause: a review of epidemiological and pathophysiological findings
Authors: FRITEL XAVIER , RINGA VIRGINIE , QUIBOEUF EMELINE , FAUCONNIER ARNAUD 
Published: April 2012

Abstract Hypotheses that might explain urinary incontinence during pregnancy and after childbirth have been examined. The prevalence of urinary incontinence reaches a maximum during pregnancy and decreases after childbirth. Cesarean delivery is associated with lower rates of stress incontinence than vaginal delivery. Women delivered by cesarean section differ from women who had a vaginal delivery through pre‐existing characteristics associated with the incontinence risk, producing a selection bias. The only randomized trial (intention of vaginal delivery vs. elective caesarean section) was not conclusive. The suspected etiological factors consist of congenital elements, obesity, aging, pregnancy and vaginal delivery. They are likely to have an effect at different times and on different portions of the urethral sphincter complex. Unfortunately, there exist no cohorts facilitating description of the natural history of female urinary incontinence. Given the small amount of usable data available, it is not possible to draw any conclusions concerning the possible long‐term protective effects of cesarean section.
Students’ perception of a problem‐based learning scenario in dental nurse education
Authors: Anderson V. , Reid K. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground:  In July 2008, The General Dental Council implemented mandatory registration for Dental Nurses in the United Kingdom, recognising them as legally responsible for patient care. As dentistry comes to terms with the impact registration has on dental nurses, sustained advances in the teaching of students in other healthcare disciplines demonstrate the way in which the role of pedagogy in dental nurse education has been underdeveloped. In an attempt to see dental nursing stand in line with other progressive healthcare professionals, the authors have implemented Problem‐Based Learning (PBL) into a dental nurse program in NHS Education for Scotland, Glasgow.Aim:  The aim of the research is to assess the perceptions of dental nurse students with regard to participation in active learning.Materials and Methods:  The study is facilitated by a short PBL package which offers introductory exposure to this method of learning. A qualitative approach has been taken to gather experiential data using a questionnaire. Thematic analysis took place to reveal emergent themes.Results:  Analysis reveals that the participants found PBL to be an enjoyable experience that could be valuable in the acquisition of deep knowledge and improved patient care. The participants raised concerns with regard to confidence in their own knowledge acquisition in PBL sessions and highlighted a need for improved feedback.Discussion and conclusion:  While the participants enjoyed the self directed nature of PBL, it is important to note that the need for facilitator guidance was considered imperative, especially where the students had little or no experience of PBL, as in this study.