bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Linking the quality of public spaces to quality of life
Authors: Beck Helen 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present how high quality public spaces contribute positively to people's quality of life. However, sources of credible evidence in support of this statement are surprisingly scarce. One impact is that it can be frustratingly difficult to quantify links between investment in the public realm and improvements to people's quality of life.Design/methodology/approachCABE Space, the government's national advisor on well‐designed, planned and maintained urban public spaces, fund a scoping study which seeks to determine and understand useful correlative relationships between existing data on quality of life and existing data on the quality of public space. The researchers analyse a total of 34 national datasets to ascertain what they can tell us about how the quality of public spaces affects people's quality of life.FindingsNumerous small scale research studies have examined the benefits of high quality public spaces in terms of their economic, social and environmental value. However, a national evidence base to inform policy agendas relating to well‐being and liveability is lacking.Research limitations/implicationsBetter understanding is needed to maximise the benefits of provision for individuals and the areas that they live in, especially because the poorest areas suffer from the poorest quality of environments.Originality/valueLinking the quality of public spaces and the quality of life is a complex and multifaceted area that suffers from a meagre evidence base. This research aims to further this area of research and is original in its national scale of analysis.
Systemic risk, coordination failures, and preparedness externalities
Authors: Hirshleifer David , Hong Teoh Siew 
Published: November 2009

PurposeSometimes resources are badly employed because of coordination failures. Actions by decision makers that affect the likelihood of such failures are sometimes said to cause “systemic risk.” This paper seeks to consider the externality in the choice of ex ante risk management policies by individuals and firms, concerned with private risk, not with their contribution to systemic risk.Design/methodology/approachThe implications for debates over fair value accounting are considered.FindingsOne consequence is that individuals and firms become overleveraged from a social viewpoint. The recent credit crisis exemplifies the importance of this problem. The US tax system taxes equity more heavily than debt, and therefore exacerbates the bias toward overleveraging. A possible solution is to reduce or eliminate taxation of corporate income and capital gains. Preparedness externalities can also cause firms to become too transparent, and thereby subject to financial runs.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into systemic risk, coordination failures, and preparedness externalities, focusing on tax and accounting policy.
Short sales around M&A announcements
Authors: Mai Liuqing , van Ness Robert , van Ness Bonnie 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine changes in short‐sale transactions of target firms and acquiring firms around merger and acquisition (M&A) announcements using daily short‐sale transaction data from the New York stock exchange and NASDAQ. The paper further aims to investigate the link between short‐sale transactions and trading costs.Design/methodology/approachTwo abnormal short‐sale measures are developed. Two regression models based on the two short‐sale measures are constructed and ordinary least squares is used to estimate the regressions. Two samples to test bid‐ask spreads (BAS) before and after M&A announcements t‐test are used.FindingsThe paper finds that target firms experience significant excess short sales (ES) from day−1 to day+7; while acquiring firms experience significant ES from day 0 to day+20. For acquiring firms, the five‐day pre‐announcement abnormal short sale is negatively related to the announcement day return and is positively related to post‐announcement return. Such a relationship for target firms is not observed. For target firms, it is found that changes in short activity are not significantly related to changes in trading cost. For acquiring firms, short activity changes are positively related to quoted spreads and percentage quoted spreads. The short‐sale activity changes are negatively related to effective spreads.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is a first step to understanding whether short sales affect market liquidity around M&A announcements; therefore restriction is necessary. Additional research can be done which should extend the current study to include the options market.Practical implicationsFrom the results, the paper cannot conclude that short sellers are informed traders around M&A announcements. Therefore restrictions on short sales around M&A announcements may not be warranted.Originality/valueThe paper fills an important blank in the existing literature by examining short‐sale transactions around M&A announcements. Such an investigation is of particular interest to market regulators as they try to update the short‐sale rules.
Effect of ketoconazole on the pharmacokinetics of udenafil in healthy Korean subjects
Authors: Shin Kwang‐Hee , Chung Yong‐ju , Kim Bo‐Hyung , Kim Tae‐Eun , Kim Hwa‐Sook , Cho Joo‐Youn , Jang In‐Jin , Shin Sang‐Goo , Yu Kyung‐Sang 
Published: November 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Udenafil is a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.• Udenafil is safe and well tolerated in healthy subjects, and effective as treatment for erectile dysfunction.• In vitro studies have demonstrated that CYP3A4 is the major enzyme responsible for the metabolism of udenafil. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • The pharmacokinetic characteristics of udenafil in the presence of ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor, were determined in healthy Korean volunteers.• Systemic exposure of udenafil was significantly increased when it was administered with ketoconazole.AIMS Udenafil is a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is metabolized to DA‐8164, a major metabolite, by CYP3A4. This study was performed to investigate the effect of ketoconazole, a known CYP3A4 inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of udenafil.METHODS An open‐label, two‐period, fixed‐sequence crossover study was performed in 12 healthy male volunteers. They received a single 100‐mg oral dose of udenafil. Following a 5‐day interval, 400 mg of ketoconazole was administered once a day for three consecutive days. On day 3 of ketoconazole treatment, a second 100 mg of udenafil was dosed concomitantly. Blood samples were collected at time points up to 48 h without ketoconazole treatment and up to 72 h with ketoconazole co‐administration. The plasma concentration of udenafil was determined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS Following ketoconazole co‐administration, the mean Cmax and AUClast of udenafil (95% confidence interval) increased 1.9‐fold (1.60, 2.27) and 3.2‐fold (2.82, 3.63), respectively. The median time to reach the Cmax was delayed in the co‐administrated treatment, while the mean terminal elimination half‐life (t1/2) remained relatively unchanged regardless of ketoconazole co‐administration. The metabolic AUC ratio (AUClast of DA‐8164/AUClast of udenafil) was 1.71 when udenafil was administered alone, and the value decreased to 0.19 when udenafil was dosed in the presence of ketoconazole. Regarding safety assessments, no clinically significant difference or serious adverse event was observed.CONCLUSIONS The systemic exposure of udenafil increased significantly when it was administered with ketoconazole. Dose adjustment may be required when these drugs are used together.
Herbivory patterns in mature sugar maple: variation with vertical canopy strata and tree ontogeny
Authors: THOMAS SEAN C. , SZTABA AGNIESZKA J. , SMITH SANDY M. 
Published: November 2009

1. Although leaf morphology and chemistry show profound changes as trees age, the consequences of such changes to herbivory have received little attention, particularly late in the ontogeny of canopy trees.2. Using a mobile aerial lift for canopy access, patterns of leaf damage were evaluated in canopy‐dominant mature sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh) trees ranging from ∼20 to 70 cm in diameter, corresponding to an age range of ∼40–180 years.3. Herbivore damage patterns varied in relation to both vertical canopy position (among upper‐, mid‐, and lower‐canopy positions) and with tree size. Damage types attributable to herbivores active on leaf surfaces, including leaf skeletonizers and leaf cutters (both principally Lepidoptera), and leaf stippling inducers (Hemiptera) showed decreases with tree size, and with increasing height in the canopy. In contrast, leaf damage from the most abundant gall‐forming arthropod in the system, the eriophyid mite Vasates aceriscrumena, increased markedly with tree size.4. The results indicate that herbivory patterns vary with both canopy stratum and with tree size in sugar maple, and that the relative strength of vertical stratification and tree ontogeny effects are similar in magnitude. The predominant patterns are of a decrease in herbivory with increasing height in the canopy and with tree size, but certain galling arthropods exhibit the reverse trends.
Effect of supportive care on the anxiety of women with suspected breast cancer
Authors: Liao Mei‐Nan , Chen Ping‐Ling , Chen Miin‐Fu , Chen Shin‐Cheh 
Published: November 2009

liao m.‐n., chen p.‐l., chen m.‐f. & chen s.‐c. (2010) Effect of supportive care on the anxiety of women with suspected breast cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1), 49–59.AbstractTitle.  Effect of supportive care on the anxiety of women with suspected breast cancer.Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of the effect of supportive care on anxiety levels of women with suspected breast cancer during the diagnostic period.Background.  Informational and psychosocial support has been shown to improve care outcomes for women with breast cancer. However, little is known about the effect of supportive care on women’s psychological status during the breast cancer diagnostic period.Methods.  For this longitudinal quasi‐experimental study, 122 participants were recruited from a large teaching hospital in Taiwan. The experimental group (n = 62) received a supportive care programme that included health education pamphlets about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, three face‐to‐face sessions of informational and emotional support, and two follow‐up telephone consultations. The control group (n = 60) received routine care. Data were collected from October 2006 to April 2007 using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline (notification of need for breast biopsy), before biopsy, and after receiving biopsy result (diagnosis).Findings.  After adjusting for covariance of breast discomfort, regular breast self‐examination, and biopsy result, the anxiety levels of women receiving supportive care were significantly lower before biopsy (P = 0·017) and after diagnosis (P = 0·001) than those of women receiving routine care.Conclusion.  Supportive care that incorporates informational and emotional support and follow‐up telephone consultations can decrease anxiety levels of women with suspected breast cancer. These findings can serve as a reference for clinical nursing staff to improve care quality during the breast cancer diagnostic period by providing women with individualized and culturally sensitive care.
Transformational experiences in adult‐to‐adult living‐donor liver transplant recipients
Authors: Watanabe Akemi , Inoue Tomoko 
Published: November 2009

watanabe a. & inoue t. (2010) Transformational experiences in adult‐to‐adult living‐donor liver transplant recipients. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(1), 69–81.AbstractTitle.  Transformational experiences in adult‐to‐adult living‐donor liver transplant recipients.Aim.  This paper is a report of a study conducted to explore the transformational experiences of adult‐to‐adult living‐donor liver transplant recipients.Background.  Living‐donor liver transplant was developed to overcome the shortage of cadaveric livers available for transplantation. However, living‐donor liver transplant generates multifaceted psychosocial problems for recipients.Method.  Data were collected from 2002 to 2004 through in‐depth interviews and participant observations. We adopted a phenomenological approach that examined the experience of 30 recipients.Findings.  We classified the experiences into three types: common, innate and unrealized. Analysis of the transcripts revealed four themes, all with associated sub‐themes. The first theme, guilt and concrete issues, includes anguish when thinking about survival by hurting a potential donor and problems associated with donor and cost. The second theme, let it happen includes leave it to fate; ambivalence; and worry about the donor candidate and whether he/she will change their mind. The third theme, pain, includes extreme physical and mental pain for me and the donor; and worry about cost. The fourth theme, balancing gains and losses, includes grateful for and hoping to enjoy my new life; burden of new body; difficulty in adapting to modified life plan; and changes in family relationships.Conclusion.  Nursing practice should be developed to (1) give support to patients and their families during decision‐making; (2) give support for the dramatic life change; (3) help recipients accept the reality of the transplant; and (4) help achieve the essential balance between feelings of attainment and loss.
Structure investigations of nonpolar GaN layers
Authors: NEUMANN W. , MOGILATENKO A. , WERNICKE T. , RICHTER E. , WEYERS M. , KNEISSL M. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThe microstructure of nonpolar m‐plane oriented GaN layers deposited on (100)γ‐LiAlO2 was analysed by transmission electron microscopy. This study shows that the films contain a large number of defects. The most dominant defects in the m‐plane GaN are intrinsic I1 basal plane stacking faults (∼104 cm−1), threading dislocations (∼109 cm−2) as well as a complex defect network consisting of planar defects located on prismatic GaN and differently inclined pyramidal planes. A large number of the stacking faults nucleate at the GaN/LiAlO2 interface. Furthermore, the inclined planar defects act as additional nucleation sites for the basal plane stacking faults. A decreasing crystal quality with an increasing layer thickness can be explained by this defect formation mechanism.
High temperature AFM study of CAP 30/45 pen grade bitumen
Authors: DE MORAES M.B. , PEREIRA R.B. , SIMÃO R.A. , LEITE L.F.M. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryBitumen is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons for which microstructural understanding is incomplete. In an effort to detail this microstructure, a asphalt cement sample (CAP 30/45) was analysed by thermal phase detection atomic force microscopy. Phase contrast and topography images showed that sample morphology is highly dependent on temperature. The ‘bee structure’ changed considerably at temperatures between 50°C and 56°C. A decrease of the oscillation amplitude was observed upon heating and the ‘bees’ completely disappeared at temperatures above 57°C. When the temperature was decreased after melting at 170°C, the ‘bees’ began to nucleate gradually at temperatures of 57°C and its evolution with time was followed. Changes in morphology were compared to thermal analysis results and a model for the ‘bee’ structure was proposed.
Enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis VI from 8 weeks of age–a sibling control study
Authors: McGill JJ , Inwood AC , Coman DJ , Lipke ML , De Lore D , Swiedler SJ , Hopwood JJ 
Published: November 2009

McGill JJ, Inwood AC, Coman DJ, Lipke ML, de Lore D, Swiedler SJ, Hopwood JJ. Enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis VI from 8 weeks of age–a sibling control studyMucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is a progressive, multisystem disorder caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme N‐acetylgalactosamine‐4‐sulphatase (ASB). Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been shown to clinically benefit affected individuals greater than 6 years of age. This case control study of affected siblings assessed the safety, efficacy and benefits of ERT in children less than 5 years of age. Siblings, aged 8 weeks and 3.6 years, were treated weekly with 1 mg/kg recombinant human N‐acetylgalactosamine‐4‐sulphatase (rhASB) with an end‐point of 3.6 years. Clinical and biochemical parameters were monitored to assess the benefits of ERT. The treatment was well tolerated by both siblings. In the younger sibling, ERT was associated with the absence of the development of scoliosis and preserved joint movement, cardiac valves and facial morphology. The older sibling had a marked improvement in joint mobility and cardiac valve pathology and scoliosis slowed or stabilized. Corneal clouding and progressive skeletal changes were observed despite treatment. This study demonstrated a clear benefit of early initiation of ERT to slow or prevent the development of significant pathological changes of MPS VI. These results indicate that the earlier ERT is started, the greater the response.
Effect of Rainfall Collecting with Ridge and Furrow on Soil Moisture and Root Growth of Corn in Semiarid Northwest China
Authors: Ren X. , Chen X. , Jia Z. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractA plastic‐covered ridge and furrow farming of rainfall collecting (RC) system were designed to increase water availability to corn for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid Loess region of northwest China. This system comprised two elements: the ridge mulched by plastic film that acts as a rainfall harvesting zone and the furrow as a planting zone. To adopt this system for large‐scale use in the semiarid region and bring it into full play, it is necessary to test the appropriate rainfall range for RC farming. A field study (using corn as an indicator crop) combined with rainfall simulation was conducted to determine the effect of RC on soil moisture, root characteristic parameters and the yield of corn under three different rainfall levels (230, 340 and 440 mm) during the growing seasons of 2006 and 2007. The results indicated that with the rainfalls ranging within 230–440 mm, the soil moisture at 0–100 cm depth for RC system in furrows was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of conventional flat (CF for control) practice. At 100–200 cm soil depth, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between soil moisture in the RC230plots and in the CF230plots during the corn growing seasons, while the soil moisture both in the RC340and RC440plots were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the CF340and CF440plots. The root length, root surface area, root volume and root dry weight for RC230and RC340plots all significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with CF230and CF340plots, but these root characteristic parameters at 440 mm rainfall slightly decreased compared with those of CF practice. Compared with the CF230–440pattern, the increasing amplitude of grain yield under the RC230–440pattern diminished with the rainfall increase and there was no obvious yield‐incrementing effect (P > 0.05) between two patterns at 440 mm rainfall in 2006. In comparison with these two farming practices, the RC system not only improved soil moisture of dry farmland, but also promoted the development of corn root systems when the rainfall ranged between 230 and 440 mm. Thus, it could be concluded that the optimal upper rainfall limit for the RC system is below 440 mm in the experiment. For corn, the adoption of the RC practice in the 230–440 mm rainfall area will make the system more effective during the whole growth period and offer a sound opportunity for sustainable farming in semiarid areas.
Control of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria of Xanthomonas spp. by the Essential Oil and Extracts of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Miki ex Hu In vitro and In vivo
Authors: Bajpai Vivek K. , Cho Moon Jae , Kang Sun Chul 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPlant diseases constitute an emerging threat to global food security. Many of the currently available antimicrobial agents for agriculture are highly toxic and non‐biodegradable and cause extended environmental pollution. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial efficacy of the essential oil and organic extracts of Metasequoia glyptostroboides against plant pathogenic bacteria of Xanthomonas spp. The oil (1000 μg/disc) and extracts (1500 μg/disc) displayed potential antibacterial effect in vitro as a diameter of zones of inhibition against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris KC94‐17‐XCC, X. campestris pv. vesicatoria YK93‐4‐XCV, X. oryzae pv. oryzae KX019‐XCO and X. sp SK12, which were found in the range of 10–14 and 8–12 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of oil and the extracts were ranged from 125–250 and 125 500 μg/ml and 250–1000 and 250–2000 μg/ml, respectively. Also the oil had strong detrimental effect on the viable count of the tested bacteria. Further, the oil displayed remarkable in vivo antibacterial effect up to 65 to 100% disease suppression efficacy against the tested strains of Xanthomonas spp. on greenhouse‐grown oriental melon plants (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa). These results suggest that the oil and extracts of M. glyptostroboides could be potential source of natural antibacterials for applying in food and agriculture industries to control plant bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas spp.
Roles of Fyn in pancreatic cancer metastasis
Authors: Chen Zhi‐Yu , Cai Lei , Bie Ping , Wang Shu‐Guang , Jiang Yan , Dong Jia‐Hong , Li Xiao‐Wu 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Src family kinases have been suggested to be associated with the metastasis of tumors, but their related mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of the present study were to assess the possible mechanisms by which the inhibition of Fyn activation regulates pancreatic cancer metastasis.Methods:  We examined the expressions of Fyn in human pancreatic cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry and systematically investigated the relationship between Fyn expression and pancreatic cancer metastasis. A nude mouse xenograft model induced by BxPC3 cells with or without the inhibition of Fyn activation was used to explore the effect of the inhibition of Fyn on metastasis in vivo. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐labeling assays were used to examine the effect of the inhibition of Fyn on the cell proliferation of BxPC3 pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to explore the possible mechanism of Fyn‐induced metastasis.Results:  We found that the upregulation of Fyn expression was correlated with human pancreatic cancer metastasis. In BxPC3 pancreatic cancer cells, the inhibition of Fyn activation by kinase‐dead Fyn transfection decreased liver metastasis in nude mice. Further analyses showed that Fyn activity modulated pancreatic cell metastasis through the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis.Conclusions:  Our results suggest a possible mechanism by which Fyn activity regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis that exerts an effect on pancreatic cancer metastasis.