bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Corporate Acquisition Policy of Financially Distressed Firms
Authors: Parnes Dror 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe paper examines a unique motive for corporate acquisitions among distressed firms: the desire to enhance creditworthiness by both the acquirer and the acquired firms. I develop a theoretical model of the creditworthiness conditions necessary for corporate acquisitions and identify the optimal policy in searching for an acquirer. I distinguish between strategic and nonstrategic acquisitions and find the necessary conditions and most favorable policy for a strategic acquisition to evolve. I demonstrate the importance of the cost of finding an acquirer, the impact of sharing bargaining leverage, and the economic significance of credit quality for the success of the accord.
The Forward Exchange Rate Bias Puzzle Is Persistent: Evidence from Stochastic and Nonparametric Cointegration Tests
Authors: Aggarwal Raj , Lucey Brian M. , Mohanty Sunil K. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAn important puzzle in international finance is the failure of the forward exchange rate to be a rational forecast of the future spot rate. We document that even after accounting for nonstationarity, nonnormality, and heteroskedasticity using parametric and nonparametric tests on data for over a quarter century, U.S. dollar forward rates for the major currencies (the British pound, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, and the German mark) are generally not rational forecasts of future spot rates. These findings deepen the forward exchange rate bias puzzle, especially as these markets are the most liquid foreign exchange markets with very low trading costs.
Personal Bankruptcy Law and New Business Formation
Authors: Francis Bill , Hasan Iftekhar , Wang Haizhi 
Published: October 2009

AbstractUsing a panel of all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia from 1990 to 1999, we report a nonlinear relation between state bankruptcy exemptions and new business formation. The rate of new business formation first increases as exemptions increase, but it then decreases. This result reflects the fact that bankruptcy exemptions tend to affect both demand for and supply of external financing to potential entrepreneurs.
Impact of Occluder Device Type on Success of Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects–A Medium‐Term Follow‐up Study
Authors: BECKER MICHAEL , FRINGS DOROTHEE , SCHRÖDER JÖRG , OCKLENBURG CHRISTINA , MÜHLER EBERHARD , HOFFMANN RAINER , FRANKE ANDREAS , LEPPER WOLFGANG 
Published: October 2009

Objective: To identify differences between various occluder types regarding thromboembolic event rates and existence of residual shunts during medium‐term follow‐up.
Methods: Three hundred nine consecutive patients with presumed paradoxical embolism and scheduled for percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect between 1997 and 2006 were considered for this study. Device implantation failed in seven patients (nonstable device position), so 302 patients (46 ± 12 years, 190 males) formed the study group using Amplatzer™ (n = 208), Starflex™ (n = 61), and Cardiastar™ (n = 33) occluders. Follow‐up transesophageal echocardiography was performed 1, 3, and 6 months after implantation.
Results: Periinterventional complications occurred in two patients (cardiac arrhythmias). There were more residual shunts in the Starflex™ and Cardiastar™ group than in the Amplatzer™ group at 6‐month follow‐up (8/61 vs. 7/33 vs. 8/208, P = 0.0005). Performing logistic regression, the type of occluder device was a significant risk factor for the presence of residual shunt 6 months after implantation (P = 0.0033; Cardiastar™ vs. Amplatzer™ OR 6.346, 95% CI 1.998 – 20.156; Starflex™ vs. Amplatzer™ OR 4.369, 95% CI 1.444 – 13.222). During mean follow‐up of 31 ± 8 months 16 recurrent thromboembolic events occurred; the annual recurrence was 2.1% for combined end‐point stroke, TIA, and peripheral embolism (Amplatzer™: 1.3%, Starflex™: 3.9%, and Cardiastar™: 3.6%, P = 0.0467). The presence of an atrial septal aneurysm was the only significant risk factor (P = 0.0168, OR 3.664, 95% CI 1.263 – 10.630) for the occurrence of thromboembolic events.
Conclusions: Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect is a safe procedure with little incidence of peri‐ and postprocedural complications. There is a significant difference between the Amplatzer™, Cardiastar™, and Starflex™ occluders in regard to complete closure of the defects and annual recurrence of thromboembolic events.
Aberrant human leucocyte antigen‐G expression and its clinical relevance in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lin A. , Chen H.‐X. , Zhu C.‐C. , Zhang X. , Xu H.‐H. , Zhang J.‐G. , Wang Q. , Zhou W.‐J. , Yan W.‐H. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe clinical relevance of human leucocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) has been postulated in malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major contributor to cancer incidence and mortality worldwide; however, potential roles of HLA‐G in HCC remain unknown. In the current study, HLA‐G expression in 219 primary HCC lesions and their adjacent non‐tumourous samples was analysed with immunohistochemistry. Correlations among HLA‐G expression and various clinical parameters were evaluated. Meanwhile, functional analysis of transfected cell surface HLA‐G expression on NK cell cytolysis was performed in vitro. HLA‐G expression was observed in 50.2% (110/219) of primary HCC lesions, and undetectable in corresponding adjacent normal liver tissues. HLA‐G expression was found in 37.8%, 41.9% and 71.4% of stage I, II and III HCC lesions, respectively. Data revealed that HLA‐G expression in HCC was strongly correlated to advanced disease stage (I versus II, P= 0.882; I versus III, P= 0.020; II versus III, P= 0.037). HLA‐G expression was also more frequently observed in elder patients (≥median 52 years, 57.5%versus 43.4%, P= 0.004). Meanwhile, plasma soluble HLA‐G in HCC patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls (median, 92.49U/ml versus 9.29U/ml, P= 0.000). Functional assay showed that HLA‐G expression in transfected cells could dramatically decrease the NK cell cytolysis (P= 0.036), which could be markedly restored by the blockade of HLA‐G (P= 0.004) and its receptor ILT2 (P= 0.019). Our finding indicated that HLA‐G expression was strongly correlated to advanced disease stage, and more frequently observed in elder patients. Its relevance to HCC progression might be result from the inhibition of NK cell cytolysis.
Osseointegration of titanium alloy and HA‐coated implants in healthy and ovariectomized animals: a histomorphometric study
Authors: Vidigal Guaracilei Maciel , Groisman Mario , Gregório Luiz Henrique , Soares Gloria de Almeida 
Published: October 2009

AbstractObjectives: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the response to dental implants in healthy and osteoporotic bone.Materials and methods: Ten ovariectomized (OVX) New Zealand rabbits submitted to a hypocalcic diet and 10 sham‐aged rabbits were used. All animals were submitted to bone mineral density (BMD) measurements before ovariectomy, and also 4 months afterwards, using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. The BMD measurements showed a significant loss of bone mass, between the first and second examinations, only in the experimental group (P<0.05). After the bone mass loss induction period, three different implants were installed in the proximal tibia metaphisis of each animal: a titanium alloy implant (Ti), a plasma‐spray hydroxyapatite‐coated implant (HA‐PS), and another implant coated with hydroxyapatite with the biomimetic process (HA‐B).Results: After 3 months, histomorphometry showed a bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) for Ti implants of 73.09±13.74% in healthy and 66.09±30.01% in OVX animals. The BIC for the HA‐PS was 64.83±15.65% and 90.17±8.14% for healthy and OVX animals, respectively, and 88.66±5.30% and 87.96±10.71% for the HA‐B implants placed in the same conditions. The differences between the implants in healthy and OVX conditions were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The only significant difference within groups was observed in the healthy animals between HA‐B and Ti implants (P<0.06).Conclusion: Within the parameters used in this animal model it was not possible to observe BIC differences between osteoporotic and healthy animals.
Influence of sterilization on the retention properties of magnetic attachments for dental implants
Authors: Boeckler Arne F. , Morton Dean , Ehring Carolin , Setz Juergen M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractObjectives: When used with dental implants advantages of the magnetic attachments include control of load transmitted to implants, improvements in stability, support and retention for the prosthesis, and the relative ease of prostheses fabrication. Clinically, the use of sterilized components is required, and this may be problematic as magnetic alloys are sensitive to temperature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of autoclave sterilization on the maximum retentive forces and characteristic curves for magnetic attachments recommended for use with dental implants.Material and methods: Eleven SmCo and NeFeB implant magnetic attachments were evaluated as provided by the respective manufacturers. Implant magnetic abutment and the corresponding denture magnet (n=5 magnet pairs) were tested before and after standardized autoclave sterilization (10 min at 134°C). Each magnet pair was tested 10 times in a calibrated universal testing machine using a non‐magnetic test device (s=40 mm, v=20 mm/min). Results were recorded electronically and statistically analyzed using t‐test and ANOVA (Welch and Brown‐Forsythe test; P<0.05).Results: After autoclave sterilization all magnetic pairs produced lower (though statistically insignificant) overall retention forces compared with the untreated pairs. After sterilization mean maximum retentive forces (SD) ranged from 5.65 (0.33) to 1.41 (0.07) N. The characteristic force–displacement curves of the tested magnetic systems showed differences among the single products.Conclusions: Autoclave sterilization caused a non‐significant reduction in retentive force of 0.04–14.6% when compared with the unsterilized magnet pairs. There were differences between the tested magnetic pairs for both the initial breakaway forces and the characteristic force–displacement curves. Within the limitations of this study all tested magnetic attachments were sterilized in an autoclave without significant change of retention properties. Nevertheless magnetic implant abutments should be sterilized with caution to reduce the risk of alterations of the retention properties.
Patient satisfaction with two designs of implant supported removable overdentures; ball attachment and magnets
Authors: Ellis Janice Susan , Burawi Gamal , Walls Angus , Thomason John Mark 
Published: October 2009

AbstractObjective: The aim of this study was to compare ball and magnet attachments within implant‐supported mandibular overdentures (ISMOD) using patient centred outcome measures. Our a priori hypothesis was that there is no difference in patient satisfaction between the two attachment types.Material and methods: In this within‐subject crossover randomised clinical trial, edentulous patients were recruited to the study and completed a denture satisfaction questionnaire before having two implants placed in the intraforaminal region of the mandible. They were randomly assigned to receive an ISMOD retained by either ball or magnetic attachment. After 3 months satisfaction questionnaires were repeated before attachments were changed to the alternative design. After a further 3 months patients completed final questionnaires. Patients were asked to choose their preferred prostheses and record the most influential factors in their final choice. The outcome variables of patient satisfaction were compared between baseline and the two attachment types using non‐parametric two‐related sample tests (Wilcoxon's signed rank).Results and discussion: Sixteen patients completed the study. Patient satisfaction improved significantly between baseline and the new prosthesis with each attachment type for all domains of satisfaction (P<0.05). Ball attachments provided greater satisfaction in the domains of general satisfaction, stability and ability to chew (P<0.05). Patients' general satisfaction with ball attachment retained overdentures was greater than that for magnetic attachments; however, both designs provide significantly greater satisfaction than conventional dentures. In this study, the majority preferred to retain the ball attachment although one‐third of patients actively chose the magnetic attachment.
Prevention of work‐related skin diseases: teledermatology as an alternative approach in occupational screenings
Authors: Baumeister Thomas , Weistenhöfer Wobbeke , Drexler Hans , Kütting Birgitta 
Published: October 2009

Background: Prevention of occupational skin diseases is of high socio‐economic impact. Implementing teledermatology into preventive occupational screenings holds obvious advantages; nevertheless, studies concerning this subject are scarce.Objectives: The present cross‐sectional study was aimed at determining if results of a teledermatological examination are equally sensitive and specific at detecting minimal skin lesions as the conventional face‐to‐face examination.Methods: The skin condition of the hands of 100 male wet workers was assessed in a face‐to‐face examination and a tele‐examination by means of a score for minimal skin lesions.Results: The comparison of the total score values that each participant received in face‐to‐face examination with those obtained in tele‐examination proved the skin condition to be estimated significantly worse when seen in tele‐examination (P < 0.0001). The median values of the sum totals and the median values for secondary lesions were higher in the tele‐examination than in the face‐to‐face examination.Conclusions: Our findings show a tendency in tele‐examination to assess the skin condition more critically in comparison with face‐to‐face examination. The teledermatological examination is sufficiently sensitive in detecting early signs of hand eczema, whereas signs for chronicity may get overestimated.
The continuing rise of contact dermatitis, Part 2: The scientific journal
Authors: Smith Derek R. 
Published: October 2009

Background: Although citation analysis represents an increasingly common method for examining the performance of scientific journals, few longitudinal studies have been conducted in the specialist fields of dermatology.Objectives: The objective of this study was to provide the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Contact Dermatitis for the 30‐year period between 1977 and 2006.Materials and Methods: Detailed historical data were extracted from the Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports® and systematically analysed. The most highly cited articles published in the journal were also identified and then examined for citation frequency and lag time.Results: Citation analysis showed that the impact factor of Contact Dermatitis has increased significantly over the past 30 years, experiencing a sixfold improvement between 1977 and 2006.Conclusions: Bibliometric trends as identified in the current study clearly demonstrate the ongoing rise of Contact Dermatitis, from early beginnings in the mid‐1970s, into the leading scientific periodical we know today.
The additive value of patch testing with patients' own products at an occupational dermatology clinic
Authors: Slodownik Dan , Williams Jason , Frowen Kathryn , Palmer Amanda , Matheson Melanie , Nixon Rosemary 
Published: October 2009

Background and objectives: Patch testing with commercially available kits detects only 70–80% of relevant allergens in patients with contact dermatitis. This is not ideal, especially when occupational issues are being evaluated. This study analyses our data regarding reactions to patients' own products.Methods: In a 5‐year period, 1532 patients were assessed in our occupational dermatology clinic.Results: We found that 101 patients (6.6%) reacted to their own samples. In 20 (1.3%) cases, reacting to their own samples was the only clue for detecting the responsible allergen. In 59 (3.9%) cases, testing with their own samples reinforced their reactions to commercial allergens.Conclusions: We found the overall additive value of testing with patients' own products to be 5.2%. This is not a low proportion considering the 20–30% false negative rate when patch testing. Patch testing with patients' own samples, appropriately diluted should be undertaken whenever possible.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Are Polymorphisms in the ACE and PAI‐1 Genes Associated with Recurrent Spontaneous Miscarriages?
Authors: Goodman Chelsi , Hur Jee , Goodman Cyle S. , Jeyendran Rajasingham S. , Coulam Carolyn 
Published: October 2009

Problem  To determine whether the ACE D/D genotype or the combination of PAI‐1 4G/4G and ACE D/D genotypes may serve as a risk factor for recurrent pregnancy loss.Method of study  Buccal swabs were obtained from 120 women experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss and from 84 fertile control women. DNA was extracted from the buccal swab samples using the Qiagen DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen), followed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were analyzed for the ACE gene polymorphism, which consists of the insertion or deletion (I/D) of a 287‐bp fragment in intron 16, and the PAI‐1 4G/4G genotype.Results  No significant differences in specific ACE gene mutations were observed when patients experiencing recurrent miscarriage were compared with control women. When the frequencies of homozygous mutations for ACE D/D and PAI‐I 4G/4G were compared between recurrent aborters and controls, again no significant differences in the prevalence of the combination of these gene mutations were noted.Conclusion  Homozygosity for the D allele of the ACE gene and the combination of the D/D genotype with two 4G alleles of the PAI‐1 promoter gene are not associated with a significant increase in the risk of recurrent miscarriage.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Correlation Between Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors and Intracellular Cytokine Expression of Peripheral Blood NK Cells in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Losses and Implantation Failures
Authors: Fukui Atsushi , Ntrivalas Evangelos , Fukuhara Rie , Fujii Shunsaku , Mizunuma Hideki , Gilman‐Sachs Alice , Beaman Kenneth , Kwak‐Kim Joanne 
Published: October 2009

Problem  Natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) are unique markers, which regulate NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine production. We investigated whether women with recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs) and implantation failures have aberrant correlation between NCRs and intracellular cytokine expression of NK cells.Method of study  Peripheral blood NK cells (CD56dim and CD56bright) were analyzed for NCRs (NKp46, NKp44 and NKp30) and cytokine expression (TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐10) using flow cytometry in RPL (n = 22), implantation failures (n = 23) or controls (n = 15).Results  In type 1 cytokine studies, CD56bright/NKp30+ cells in controls (r = 0.696, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with CD56bright/IFN‐γ+/TNF‐α+ cells. CD56bright/NKp46+ cells in implantation failures (r = −0.76, P < 0.01) were negatively correlated with CD56bright/IFN‐γ+/TNF‐α− cells. RPL did not have any correlation. In type 2 cytokine studies, CD56+/NKp46+ cells (r = 0.758, P < 0.01) and CD56+/NKp30+ cells (r = 0.637, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with CD56bright/IL‐4+/IL‐10+ cells in controls. CD56+/NKp30+ cells in implantation failures (r = −0.778, P < 0.05) were negatively correlated with CD56bright/IL‐10+/IL‐4+ cells. There were no correlations in RPL.Conclusion  Recurrent pregnancy losses and implantation failures have lack of, or negative correlation between NCRs and intracellular cytokines expression. This observation suggests that excessive pro‐inflammatory cytokine expression in NK cells in RPL and implantation failures may be exerted through the NCRs or interruption of signal transduction processes.
THE BODY SPEAKS: BION'S PROTOMENTAL SYSTEM AT WORK1
Authors: Morgan‐Jones Richard 
Published: October 2009

abstractPsychoanalysis has primarily explored somatic experience in relation to love and intimacy. This paper focuses on the body in relation to work. It explores the experience that what patients increasingly present for analysis are the traumas and pleasures of being caught up with and belonging to a body larger than their own, whether in a couple, a group, a work organization or the body politic. It begins with an exploration of Bion's idea of a relationship between protomentality and group disease. It goes on to consider what can be conceived of as his ecological methodology, which enables movement between different ‘fields of study’ (Bion 1962). These are applied to the health risks encountered by psychotherapists and the profession as a whole. Finally, there is a proposal for mentoring to address professional health, as an under‐developed element in the profession.
IMPROVING THE CONTAINER: WARD COMMUNITY GROUPS AND THE MODERN ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC IN‐PATIENT SETTING
Authors: Crockett Philip , Forrester Michael , Treliving Linda 
Published: October 2009

abstractWard community groups have been mostly lost from acute psychiatric in‐patient settings in recent years with changes related to care in the community and altered therapeutic expectations. This paper outlines the re‐introduction of ward community groups to such a setting and, by using the quantitative measure of patient complaints and qualitative observations, offers evidence for their usefulness as a therapeutic medium, beneficial to the acute psychiatric in‐patient ward, and as a container for disturbed states.
THE ODYSSEY – A JUNGIAN PERSPECTIVE: INDIVIDUATION AND MEETING WITH THE ARCHETYPES OF THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS
Authors: Leader Carol 
Published: October 2009

abstractHomer's epic tale of the 20‐year return of Odysseus from the Trojan War is investigated with particular reference to Jung's theory of individuation. Odysseus' meetings with ‘the anima’ in the form of goddesses, sirens and female monsters and his visit to Hades demonstrate the confrontation and humanization of aspects of the archetypal level of the psyche, central to Jung's theories of psychic growth and development. Jung's important ideas of the psychoid level and the transcendent function are explored and linked both to his investigations into medieval alchemy and with findings from contemporary neuroscience. The importance of Jung's constructive method of the interpretation of dreams and myths is shown to be central.