bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new tool to assess bleeding severity in patients with chemotherapy‐induced thrombocytopenia (CME)
Authors: Webert Kathryn E. , Arnold Donald M. , Lui Yang , Carruthers Julie , Arnold Emmy , Heddle Nancy M. 
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: Current scales to measure bleeding in clinical trials are inadequate. The aim of this study was to develop a simple, valid, and reliable measurement tool to categorize the severity of bleeding in patients with chemotherapy‐induced thrombocytopenia (CIT).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Measurement theory was used to develop the Bleeding Severity Measurement Scale (BSMS) in four steps: 1) identification of the patient population, 2) item generation and reduction, 3) reviewing the items and formatting the scale, and 4) evaluation of psychometric properties. Feasibility was tested in a pilot study. Content and face validity were assessed by expert review. Psychometric evaluation included determination of intra‐ and interrater reliability and construct and criterion validity.RESULTS: The final BSMS defined two grades of bleeding: not clinically significant (Grade 1) and clinically significant (Grade 2). Grade 2 bleeds were defined as bleeds resulting in morbidity, requiring interventions, or directly causing death. The BSMS had excellent interrater (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.80) and intrarater (ICC, 1.0) reliability and good construct and criterion validity. The BSMS distinguished between patients with different bleeding severities.CONCLUSION: Using rigorous methods, we designed a simple bleeding assessment tool with excellent psychometric properties for patients with CIT. Use of this scale in clinical trials should provide valid and reliable assessments of bleeding.
Moral Hazard and Health Insurance When Treatment Is Preventive
Authors: Seog S. Hun 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe consider a two‐period model under moral hazard when treatment is preventive. In the second period, the treatment level under moral hazard is higher than that under no moral hazard. However, it may be lower than that under moral hazard when overinsurance is not allowed. In the first period, the treatment level is higher when treatment is preventive than when it is not. Treatment level is also higher as the discount factor increases. We demonstrate that a treatment increase following a coverage increase does not necessarily imply moral hazard. These findings imply that moral hazard is possibly overemphasized in the literature.
Information in the U.S. Treasury Term Structure of Interest Rates
Authors: Brooks Robert , Cline Brandon N. , Enders Walter 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe provide evidence of a significant change in the information content of the U.S. Treasury term structure of interest rates over the last 20 years. We apply a regression approach to measure the information in forward interest rates and introduce both a curve fitting method and an alternative data source. We find more information in the recent U.S. Treasury term structure about future interest rates than about expected holding period returns. These results document a significant departure from prior empirical findings.
Does Regulation Fair Disclosure Reduce the Information Quality of Managerial Guidance?
Authors: Agapova Anna , Madura Jeff , Mailibayeva Zhanel 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe examine an effect of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD) on voluntary public managerial guidance information quality. Results suggest that the information quality of public guidance has not deteriorated after Reg FD. We also examine separately the effect of Reg FD on information efficiency before earnings releases for firms that provide public managerial guidance and those that do not. We find that when we control for the impact of Reg FD on firm characteristics, information efficiency deteriorates for firms that do not provide public guidance and for new guiders, while it does not change for firms that continue issuing public guidance after Reg FD.
Labor Unions as Shareholder Activists: Champions or Detractors?
Authors: Prevost Andrew K. , Rao Ramesh P. , Williams Melissa A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe examine the impact of labor union shareholder activism through the submission of shareholder proposals during the period 1988–2002. We examine the effect of labor union‐sponsored shareholder proposals on announcement period returns; on the corporate governance environment of the firm including shareholder rights, board composition, and CEO compensation; on changes in unionization rates and labor expense; and on long‐run shareholder wealth. We do not find any observable patterns for the overall sample of proposals. However, subsets of proposals associated with union presence at the target firm and shareholder voting support for the proposal are associated with significant effects surrounding and subsequent to targeting.
Improved Procedural Results After CoreValve Implantation with the New AccuTrak Delivery System
Authors: CHORIANOPOULOS EMMANUEL , KRUMSDORF ULRIKE , PLEGER SVEN T. , KATUS HUGO A. , BEKEREDJIAN RAFFI 
Published: April 2012

Aims of the study:

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an established treatment for severe aortic stenosis in patients with unacceptable high‐surgical risk. Recently, the new AccuTrak delivery system for improved deliverability of the CoreValve aortic bioprosthesis was launched. It has not yet been shown if the new delivery catheter leads to optimized positioning and improved procedural outcomes.
Methods and results:

We conducted a retrospective single‐center analysis and evaluated 70 consecutive patients (35 with the original delivery catheter and 35 with the new AccuTrak catheter) for anatomic positioning and related outcome parameters like postinterventional aortic regurgitation (AR) and the need for permanent pacemaker insertion, after CoreValve implantation. The use of the AccuTrak delivery catheter resulted in significantly higher positioning of the CoreValve prosthesis in the left ventricular outflow tract (distance from annulus to lower edge of prosthesis 7.0 mm [5.5 to 9.4 mm] for the AccuTrak group vs. 8.8 mm [7.1 to 11.2 mm] for the original system; median [interquartile range]; P = 0.0068). Moreover, the optimized positioning resulted in reduced rates of significant (≥grade 2) AR assessed by postinterventional aortography and echocardiography (P = 0.044 and P = 0.0275, respectively). Despite improved positioning, no differences in the need for permanent pacemaker implantation were observed.
Conclusions:

Our retrospective analysis indicates improved positioning with reduced postinterventional AR with the new CoreValve AccuTrak delivery system. Whether this may also affect the need for permanent pacemaker insertion or long‐term outcome after TAVI needs to be evaluated in larger studies. (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:174–179)
The Protein Import Pore Tom40 in the Microsporidian Nosema bombycis
Authors: Lin Lipeng , Pan Guoqing , Li Tian , Dang Xiaoqun , Deng Yuanhong , Ma Cheng , Chen Jie , Luo Jie , Zhou Zeyang 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMicrosporidia, an unusual group of unicellular parasites related to fungi, possess a highly reduced mitochondrion known as the mitosome. Since mitosomes lack an organellar genome, their proteins must be translated in the cytosol before being imported into the mitosome via translocases. We have identified a Tom40 gene (NbTom40), the main component of the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane, in the genome of the microsporidian Nosema bombycis. NbTom40 is reduced in size, but it is predicted to form a β‐barrel structure composed of 19 β‐strands. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that NbTom40 forms a clade with Tom40 sequences from other species, distinct from a related clade of voltage‐dependent anion channels (VDACs). The NbTom40 contains a β‐signal motif that the polar residue is substituted by glycine. Furthermore, we show that expression of NbTom40, as a GFP fusion protein within yeast cells, directs GFP to mitochondria of yeast. These findings suggest that NbTom40 may serve as an import channel of the microsporidian mitosome and facilitate protein translocation into this organelle.
The Curious Case of the Refrigerator–TV: Similarity and Hybridization
Authors: Gibbert Michael , Hampton James A. , Estes Zachary , Mazursky David 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis article examines the role of similarity in the hybridization of concepts, focusing on hybrid products as an applied test case. Hybrid concepts found in natural language, such as singer songwriter, typically combine similar concepts, whereas dissimilar concepts rarely form hybrids. The hybridization of dissimilar concepts in products such as jogging shoe mp3 player and refrigerator TV thus poses a challenge for understanding the process of conceptual combination. It is proposed that models of conceptual combination can throw light on the judged future success and desirability of hybrid products in general. The composite prototype model proposes two stages of conceptual combination. In the first stage, the concepts are aggregated into an additive hybrid, simply by forming the union of the two sets of attributes. In the second stage, any conflicting attributes are identified and resolved, often with the introduction of emergent attributes, resulting in an integrative hybrid. Across four studies that varied the similarity and type of hybrid products, similar and integrative hybrids were valued more than dissimilar and additive hybrids. Critically, though, dissimilar hybrids were also highly valued if they were integrative. Results supported the two stages proposed by the composite prototype model, and implications for other models of hybrid formation are discussed.
Matched False‐Belief Performance During Verbal and Nonverbal Interference
Authors: Dungan James , Saxe Rebecca 
Published: April 2012

AbstractLanguage has been shown to play a key role in the development of a child’s theory of mind, but its role in adult belief reasoning remains unclear. One recent study used verbal and nonverbal interference during a false‐belief task to show that accurate belief reasoning in adults necessarily requires language (Newton & de Villiers, 2007). The strength of this inference depends on the cognitive processes that are matched between the verbal and nonverbal inference tasks. Here, we matched the two interference tasks in terms of their effects on spatial working memory. We found equal success on false‐belief reasoning during both verbal and nonverbal interference, suggesting that language is not specifically necessary for adult theory of mind.
Periodontal status and post‐transplantation complications following intensive periodontal treatment in patients underwent allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation conditioned with myeloablative regimen
Authors: Gürgan CA , Özcan M , Karakuş Ö , Zincircioğlu G , Arat M , Soydan E , Topcuoglu P , Gürman G , Bostancı HS 
Published: April 2012

Abstract:  Objectives:  Evaluation of the periodontal status is necessary prior to management with high‐dose chemotherapy before hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT). During medical therapy, pre‐existing periodontal conditions may exacerbate and cause local and systemic complications. When possible, maximal oral health should be achieved prior to engraftment. In this study, we aimed to determine the alterations occurred in the periodontal status of the patients after periodontal treatment and allogenic HSCT and evaluate the effect of intensive periodontal approach on the short‐term complications of HSCT.Methods:  The alterations occurred in the periodontal tissues 3–4 weeks after periodontal treatment and after HSCT periods of 3 months for 29 patients treated with full‐mouth periodontal treatment completed in 24 h in addition to eradication of dental foci, and oral hygiene status were evaluated using pocket depth measurements, presence of bleeding on probing and plaque and gingival indices. The incidence and severity of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) and oral mucositis (OM) were recorded. Duration of engraftment period and the episode of febrile neutropenia were also evaluated.Results:  There were significant improvements in periodontal status after periodontal treatment (P < 0.001). There were 14 (48.3%) patients without acute GVHD and 17 (58.6%) patients with no sign of OM. The majority of OM was at grade II level. There was a negative relation that exists between the percentage of BOP (+) sites and presence of OM (r = −0.518, P < 0.05).Conclusions:  Together with a significant reduction in gingival inflammation and maintenance of the improvement in periodontal health, remarkable decrease in the incidence and severity of OM were observed.
Oil Absorption Mechanism of Fried Food During Cooling Process
Authors: He Ding‐Bing , Xu Fei , Hua Tse‐Chao , Song Xiao‐Yan 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to investigate critical parameters affecting oil absorption and provide promising clues for reducing oil absorption in the deep‐fat fried potato products. Driving forces of oil absorption in deep‐fried potato cylinders were analyzed during a post‐frying cooling. Results revealed that a pressure difference (Patm − Pv), which was formed by vapor condensation, played a key role in the oil uptake into microstructure of the fried potato products. Based on the experiments conducted in the different vacuum environments, it was found that less oil was absorbed by the potato cylinders when they were cooled under 80 kPa after frying, in which a delayed initiation of oil uptake and a reduced driving force for oil absorption were noticed. Therefore, lowering the pressure difference (Patm − Pv) with pressure–vacuum method can change the equilibrium existing between oil uptakes and adhesion, which promoted the oil drainage at the early stage of cooling period and led to a low amount of oil uptake into the fried food.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThese results can provide a reference for reducing oil uptake of deep‐fat frying process in the food industry.
Association and Diffusion of Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies on the State and District Level*
Authors: Taber Daniel R. , Chriqui Jamie F. , Chaloupka Frank J. 
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: School district wellness policies designed to reduce obesity and promote student health and well‐being often lack specific requirements or any mandate that schools comply with the policy. Researchers, educators, and policymakers have called for states to take an active role in shaping district policies. The objective of this study was to determine if states with strong school‐based nutrition and physical activity (PA)‐related policies have stronger district wellness policies, and explore the direction of policy diffusion between states and districts.METHODS: State policies and nationally representative samples of district policies for the 2006–2007 and 2008–2009 school years were obtained across 5 domains—competitive foods, school meals, nutrition education, physical education (PE), and PA—and were classified as “strong” or “weak,” based on policy language, in each grade level (elementary, middle, high). Linear models estimated the cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between state and district policies.RESULTS: In 2006–2007 and 2008–2009, district elementary school competitive food policies were stronger in states with strong policies. For policies governing competitive foods in high schools and school meals at all grade levels, mean district policy strength increased from 2006–2007 to 2008–2009 in states with strong 2006–2007 policies. States that strengthened their PE policies from 2006–2007 to 2008–2009 saw an increase in mean district PE policy strength. Across all domains, states that had weak 2006–2007 policies and made no changes saw little increase in district policy strength.CONCLUSION: District competitive food, school meal, and PE policies are stronger in states that have developed strong policies in these domains.
Comparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers for Hypertension on Clinical End Points: A Cohort Study
Authors: Roy Jason , Shah Nirav R. , Wood G. Craig , Townsend Raymond , Hennessy Sean 
Published: April 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:407–414. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Important questions concerning the comparative effectiveness of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) remain unanswered, including whether they are equally effective in reducing clinical end points and in which populations. An incident cohort of adult patients 18 years and older prescribed an ACE inhibitor or ARB between 2001 and 2008 was identified from Geisinger Clinic, a large community‐based set of medical practices that uses a common electronic health record. Propensity score matching was used to balance the groups on baseline factors. The authors examined differences in mortality and new‐onset coronary disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and diabetes for different patient subgroups based on sex and age. A total of 25,035 hypertensive patients newly prescribed an ACE inhibitor or ARB were identified. No differences were found in risk of death, coronary disease, chronic kidney disease, or stroke between those prescribed ACE inhibitors and those prescribed ARBs. Patients prescribed ARBs had a greater rate of new‐onset diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28; confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.52), and this was especially true for women (HR, 1.93; CI, 1.22–3.07). Within a large medical‐practice based population, there was no evidence of differential effectiveness between ACE inhibitors and ARBs for most outcomes, with diabetes being the notable exception.
Effect of the rs168924 Single‐Nucleotide Polymorphism in the SLC6A2 Catecholamine Transporter Gene on Blood Pressure in Caucasians
Authors: Zolk Oliver , Ott Christian , Fromm Martin F. , Schmieder Roland E. 
Published: April 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:293–298. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The NG_016969.1:g.5003A>G promoter polymorphism (rs168924) in the SLC6A2 norepinephrine transporter gene was found to be predictive of the hypertensive status in a Japanese population, but no data are available for Caucasians. Genotyping for rs168924 was performed in 282 young men with normal blood pressure (BP), grade 1 or 2 hypertension. In addition to casual BP, 24‐hour ABPM and echocardiography were performed. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association of rs168924 genotype with diagnosis of hypertension (P=.044), casual systolic BP (SBP) levels (P=.028), and daytime ambulatory SBP (P=.02). The finding that rs168924 was also significantly associated with diastolic posterior wall thickness (P=.041), an echocardiographic index of hypertensive cardiac target organ damage, further supports the notion that the rs168924 SNP in SLC6A2 in fact might influence BP. Unlike previous findings in a Japanese population, in our Caucasian study cohort the presence of the minor rs168924 G allele was associated with lower prevalence of hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012;00:00–00. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Development and Validation of the Hypertension Evaluation of Lifestyle and Management Knowledge Scale
Authors: Schapira Marilyn M. , Fletcher Kathlyn E. , Hayes Avery , Eastwood Dan , Patterson Leslie , Ertl Kristyn , Whittle Jeff 
Published: April 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:461–466.. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Hypertension knowledge is an integral component of the chronic care model. A valid scale to assess hypertension knowledge and self‐management skills is needed. The hypertension evaluation of lifestyle and management (HELM) scale was developed as part of a community‐based study designed to improve self‐management of hypertension. Participants included 404 veterans with hypertension. Literature review and an expert panel were used to identify required skills. Items were generated and pilot tested in the target population. Validity was assessed through comparisons of performance with education, health numeracy, print numeracy, patient activation and self‐efficacy, and hypertension control. The HELM knowledge scale had 14 items across 3 domains: general hypertension knowledge, lifestyle and medication management, and measurement and treatment goals. Scores were positively associated with education (0.28, P<.0001), print health literacy (0.21, P<.001), health numeracy (0.17, P<.001), and patient activation (0.12, P=.015) but no association was found with diastolic or systolic blood pressure. The HELM knowledge scores increased following the educational intervention from baseline (mean, 8.7; standard deviation, 2.2) to 12‐month follow‐up (mean, 9.2, standard deviation, 2.2; P<.001). We conclude that the HELM provides a valid measure of the knowledge required for patients to take an active role in the chronic disease management of hypertension.
Detection and diversity of pathogenic Vibrio from Fiji
Authors: Singh Reema , Narayan Vinay , McLenachan Patricia , Winkworth Richard C. , Mitra Suparna , Lockhart Peter J. , Berry Lorraine , Hatha Abdulla M. , Aalbersberg William , Rao Dhana 
Published: April 2012

SummaryHere we investigate the diversity of pathogenic Vibrio species in marine environments close to Suva, Fiji. We use four distinct yet complementary analyses – biochemical testing, phylogenetic analyses, metagenomic analyses and molecular typing – to provide some preliminary insights into the diversity of vibrios in this region. Taken together our analyses confirmed the presence of nine Vibrio species, including three of the most important disease‐causing vibrios (i.e. V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus), in Fijian marine environments. Furthermore, since toxigenic V. parahaemolyticus are present on fish for consumption we suggest these bacteria represent a potential public health risk. Our results from Illumina short read sequencing are encouraging in the context of microbial profiling and biomonitoring. They suggest this approach may offer an efficient and cost‐effective method for studying the dynamics of microbial diversity in marine environments over time.
Treatment dropout of patients in National Continuing Management and Intervention Program for Psychoses in Guangdong Province from 2006 to 2009: Implication for mental health service reform in China
Authors: Ma Ning , Liu Jin , Wang Xun , Gan Yu‐Wen , Ma Hong , Ng Chee H. , Jia Fu‐Jun , Yu Xin 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIntroductionIn 2005, China commenced its mental health reform by establishing a national program to move from a hospital‐based service model to an integrated hospital and community treatment model for psychoses, adopting the key principles of and provisions for continuity of care, treatment accessibility and equitable mental health care. This paper reports the rate and associated factors of treatment dropout for patients with psychoses in the national program in Guangdong Province from 2006 to 2009.MethodsAdult patients with psychoses followed‐up in two demonstration sites in Guangdong Province were grouped as treatment dropout if they were lost to follow‐up for three consecutive months. Dropout rate was estimated, and associated factors were explored with multifactor binary logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf 1,386 patients followed up from 2006 to 2009, 73 patients (5.29%) dropped out (five deceased patients were excluded). Poor adherence to medication, having no medication, and having worse global clinical outcome contributed to increased risk of dropout by 12.765 (P = 0.0017), 7.400 (P = 0.0063) and 6.385 times (P = 0.0207), respectively. When course of illness increased by five years, the risk of dropout increased by 1.322 times (P = 0.0031).DiscussionTreatment dropout rate for patients with psychoses in Guangdong Province appears to be low. Implications for mental health service reform in China include assertive follow‐up for patients with history of poor adherence with treatment, free medications to poor patients to increase access to appropriate and affordable treatment, and active psychoeducation for patients with poor insight and their families.