bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social Insurance for Long‐term Care: An Evaluation of the German Model
Authors: Rothgang Heinz 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAfter fifteen years of existence, Germany's long‐term care insurance shows both successes and weaknesses. The latter led to the 2008 reform, which concentrated on quality improvements, care management and careful adjustments of benefits. While attempts to improve quality and care management contain promising elements, new rules for adjustment are disappointing. This is also true for the issue of future financing as the modest increase in the contribution rate, which is part of the reform, only buys time. Thus, the next round of reform is already in the making, marking the scheme as a system of permanent reform. As Germany is one of the most clear‐cut examples of social insurance, the assessment of this scheme and its recent reform also allow us to draw some general lessons for the design of long‐term care social insurance schemes.
Long‐term Care in Central and South‐Eastern Europe: Challenges and Perspectives in Addressing a ‘New’ Social Risk
Authors: Österle August 
Published: July 2010

AbstractLong‐term care in Central and South‐Eastern Europe (CSEE) has to date been largely neglected in the social policy literature. This article provides an examination of the context and the sources of reform of long‐term care in CSEE, particularly Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. It focuses on studying developments in the light of the major principles underlying the transition process and discussing key features of current developments in terms of their potential for establishing a new paradigm in long‐term care policies. The article argues that the realization of more comprehensive long‐term care systems has been largely hindered by a failure of governments to set priorities in this sector, by the limitations civil society finds in bringing the issue into a broader public debate and by fears that new welfare schemes will substantially extend public expenditure obligations. The findings show that – similar to the situation in most other European countries – long‐term care is a latecomer in welfare state development in CSEE. But ageing societies, growing care needs and broader socio‐economic developments will also increasingly challenge traditional ways of organizing long‐term care and create pressure to find new welfare approaches.
Devolution, Diversity and Welfare Reform: Long‐term Care in the ‘Latin Rim’
Authors: Costa‐Font Joan 
Published: July 2010

AbstractUnderstanding long‐term care (LTC) reform is at the core of the study of European social policy. Particularly important are the effects of regional devolution on the development of LTC services, being one of the few areas only subject to limited welfare retrenchment. One important question is the extent to which a devolved system of welfare governance influences the process of welfare reform as well as the degree of diversity in the provision and financing of LTC. The article draws upon evidence from Italy and Spain, two ‘Latin Rim’ countries, both of which have faced similar demands over the last twenty years for reform of systems with limited entitlement to long‐term care. It argues that when there is a latent demand for reform, welfare devolution does not inhibit reform when fiscal blame‐avoidance opportunities arise at the central government level. Furthermore, we examine the extent to which devolution leads to increasing fragmentation and diversity. The article's findings indicate that by diffusing policy responsibilities, devolution has enhanced LTC reform and reduced pre‐existing welfare fragmentation in Spain. In contrast, the lack of countrywide reform in Italy is explained by the absence of political opportunities for the diffusion of the fiscal blame that has frustrated attempts to reform the existing national cash allowance.
The Performance of European Index Funds and Exchange‐Traded Funds
Authors: Blitz David , Huij Joop , Swinkels Laurens 
Published: July 2010

AbstractEuropean index funds and exchange‐traded funds underperform their benchmarks by 50 to 150 basis points per annum. The explanatory power of dividend withholding taxes as a determinant of this underperformance is at least on par with fund expenses. Dividend taxes also explain performance differences between funds that track different benchmarks and time variation in fund performance. Our results imply that not only fund expenses, but also dividend taxes can result in a substantial drag on mutual fund performance.
Using computerized games to teach face recognition skills to children with autism spectrum disorder: the Let’s Face It! program
Authors: Tanaka James W. , Wolf Julie M. , Klaiman Cheryl , Koenig Kathleen , Cockburn Jeffrey , Herlihy Lauren , Brown Carla , Stahl Sherin , Kaiser Martha D. , Schultz Robert T. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  An emerging body of evidence indicates that relative to typically developing children, children with autism are selectively impaired in their ability to recognize facial identity. A critical question is whether face recognition skills can be enhanced through a direct training intervention.Methods:  In a randomized clinical trial, children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were pre‐screened with a battery of subtests (the Let’s Face It! Skills battery) examining face and object processing abilities. Participants who were significantly impaired in their face processing abilities were assigned to either a treatment or a waitlist group. Children in the treatment group (N = 42) received 20 hours of face training with the Let’s Face It! (LFI!) computer‐based intervention. The LFI! program is comprised of seven interactive computer games that target the specific face impairments associated with autism, including the recognition of identity across image changes in expression, viewpoint and features, analytic and holistic face processing strategies and attention to information in the eye region. Time 1 and Time 2 performance for the treatment and waitlist groups was assessed with the Let’s Face It! Skills battery.Results:  The main finding was that relative to the control group (N = 37), children in the face training group demonstrated reliable improvements in their analytic recognition of mouth features and holistic recognition of a face based on its eyes features.Conclusion:  These results indicate that a relatively short‐term intervention program can produce measurable improvements in the face recognition skills of children with autism. As a treatment for face processing deficits, the Let’s Face It! program has advantages of being cost‐free, adaptable to the specific learning needs of the individual child and suitable for home and school applications.
A preliminary transcranial magnetic stimulation study of cortical inhibition and excitability in high‐functioning autism and Asperger disorder
Authors: ENTICOTT PETER G , RINEHART NICOLE J , TONGE BRUCE J , BRADSHAW JOHN L , FITZGERALD PAUL B 
Published: July 2010

Aim  Controversy surrounds the distinction between high‐functioning autism (HFA) and Asperger disorder, but motor abnormalities are associated features of both conditions. This study examined motor cortical inhibition and excitability in HFA and Asperger disorder using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).Method  Participants were diagnosed by experienced clinicians strictly according to DSM‐IV criteria. Participants with HFA (nine males, two females; mean age 16y 8mo, SD 4y 5mo) or Asperger disorder (11 males, three females; mean age 19y 1mo, SD 4y 2mo) and neurotypical participants (eight males, three females; mean age 19y 0mo, SD 3y 1mo) were administered a paired‐pulse TMS paradigm intended to assess motor cortical inhibition and excitability. Responses to TMS were recorded by electromyography.Results  Cortical inhibition was significantly reduced in the HFA group compared with both the Asperger disorder (p<0.001) and neurotypical (p<0.001) groups, suggesting disruption of activity at gamma‐aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptors. There was no group difference in cortical excitability.Interpretation  Cortical inhibition deficits may underlie motor dysfunction in autism, and perhaps even relate to specific clinical symptoms (e.g. repetitive behaviours). These findings provide novel evidence for a possible neurobiological dissociation between HFA and Asperger disorder based on GABAergic function.
Factor structure of paediatric timed motor examination and its relationship with IQ
Authors: MARTIN REBECCA , TIGERA CASSIE , DENCKLA MARTHA B , MARK MAHONE E 
Published: July 2010

Aim  Brain systems supporting higher cognitive and motor control develop in a parallel manner, dependent on functional integrity and maturation of related regions, suggesting neighbouring neural circuitry. Concurrent examination of motor and cognitive control can provide a window into neurological development. However, identification of performance‐based measures that do not correlate with IQ has been a challenge.Method  Timed motor performance from the Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs and IQ were analysed in 136 children aged 6 to 16 (mean age 10y 2.6mo, SD 2y 6.4mo; 98 female, 38 male) attending an outpatient neuropsychology clinic and 136 right‐handed comparison individuals aged 6 to 16 (mean age 10y 3.1mo, SD 2y 6.1mo; 98 female, 38 male). Timed activities – three repetitive movements (toe tapping, hand patting, finger tapping) and three sequenced movements (heel–toe tap, hand pronate/supinate, finger sequencing) each performed on the right and left – were included in exploratory factor analyses.Results  Among comparison individuals, factor analysis yielded two factors – repetitive and sequenced movements – with the sequenced factor significantly predictive of Verbal IQ (VIQ) (ΔR2=0.018, p=0.019), but not the repetitive factor (ΔR2=0.004, p=0.39). Factor analysis within the clinical group yielded two similar factors (repetitive and sequenced), both significantly predictive of VIQ, (ΔR2=0.028, p=0.015; ΔR2=0.046, p=0.002 respectively).Interpretation  Among typical children, repetitive timed tasks may be independent of IQ; however, sequenced tasks share more variance, implying shared neural substrates. Among neurologically vulnerable populations, however, both sequenced and repetitive movements covary with IQ, suggesting that repetitive speed is more indicative of underlying neurological integrity.
Hybrid Assembly of Metal Head and Femoral Stem From Different Manufacturers During Isolated Acetabular Revision
Authors: Chen Cheng‐Fong , Chen Wei‐Ming , Yang Chan‐Tsung , Huang Ching‐Kuei , Chen Tain‐Hsiung 
Published: July 2010

AbstractDuring revision of a failed acetabular component with well‐fixed antiquated femoral stem, the same variant of metal head is usually not available in the inventory production. We gathered the stems retrieved from revision surgeries and tried to reassemble with the commercially available femoral heads. This study reports the results of suitable hybrid assembly of metal heads with the most common antiquated femoral stems from different manufacturers. Three hybrid combinations were determined and pull‐off strengths of these hybrid combinations were performed through in vitro studies to evaluate the quality of the taper locks.
Computational Characterization of Flow and Hemolytic Performance of the UltraMag Blood Pump for Circulatory Support
Authors: Taskin M. Ertan , Fraser Katharine H. , Zhang Tao , Gellman Barry , Fleischli Andi , Dasse Kurt A. , Griffith Bartley P. , Wu Zhongjun J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe Levitronix UltraMag blood pump is a next generation, magnetically suspended centrifugal pump and is designed to provide circulatory support for pediatric and adult patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the hemodynamic and hemolytic characteristics of this pump using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The computational domain for CFD analysis was constructed from the three‐dimensional geometry (3D) of the UltraMag blood pump and meshed into 3D tetrahedral/hybrid elements. The governing equations of fluid flow were computationally solved to obtain a blood flow through the blood pump. Further, hemolytic blood damage was calculated by solving a scalar transport equation where the scalar variable and the source term were obtained utilizing an empirical power‐law correlation between the fluid dynamic variables and hemolysis. To obtain mesh independent flow solution, a comparative examination of vector fields, hydrodynamic performance, and hemolysis predictions were carried out. Different sizes of tetrahedral and tetrahedral/hexahedral mixed hybrid models were considered. The mesh independent solutions were obtained by a hybrid model. Laminar and SST κ–ω turbulence flow models were used for different operating conditions. In order to pinpoint the most significant hemolytic region, the flow field analysis was coupled to the hemolysis predictions. In summary, computational characterization of the device was satisfactorily carried out within the targeted operating conditions of the device, and it was observed that the UltraMag blood pump can be safely operated for its intended use to create a circulatory support for both pediatric and adult‐sized patients.
Urgent Continuous EEG (cEEG) Monitoring Leads to Changes in Treatment in Half of Cases
Authors: Hirsch Lawrence J. 
Published: July 2010

How Seizure Detection by Continuous Electroencephalographic Monitoring Affects the Prescribing of Antiepileptic Medications. Kilbride RD, Costello DJ, Chiappa KH. Arch Neurol 2009;66(6):723–728. Objectives To assess the effect of continuous electroencephalographic monitoring on the decision to treat seizures in the inpatient setting, particularly in the intensive care unit. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Medical and neuroscience intensive care units and neurological wards. Patients Three hundred consecutive nonelective continuous electroencephalographic monitoring studies, performed on 287 individual inpatients over a 27-month period. Main Outcome Measures Epileptiform electroencephalographic abnormalities and changes in antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy based on the electroencephalographic findings. Results The findings from the continuous electroencephalographic monitoring led to a change in AED prescribing in 52% of all studies with initiation of an AED therapy in 14%, modification of AED therapy in 33%, and discontinuation of AED therapy in 5% of all studies. Specifically, the detection of electrographic seizures led to a change in AED therapy in 28% of all studies. Conclusions The findings of continuous electroencephalographic monitoring resulted in a change in AED prescribing during or after half of the studies performed. Most AED changes were made as a result of the detection of electrographic seizures.
Lessons Learned from Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty Experience from the Pre‐transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Era
Authors: KAPADIA SAMIR R. , GOEL SACHIN S. , YUKSEL UYGAR , AGARWAL SHIKHAR , PETTERSSON GOSTA , SVENSSON LARS G. , SMEDIRA NICHOLAS G. , WHITLOW PATRICK L. , LYTLE BRUCE W. , TUZCU E. MURAT 
Published: July 2010

Background:
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has been used as a bridge to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in high‐risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS). Such patients are now being referred for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We sought to study the indications and outcomes of BAV in patients with severe AS in the pre‐TAVI era.
Methods:
We analyzed consecutive patients with severe AS undergoing BAV from 1990 to 2005. In these patients with no immediate surgical option, BAV was attempted to temporarily improve hemodynamics, with a goal to improve general health of the patient, and ultimately AVR.
Results
: A total of 99 BAVs (eight repeats, one second repeat) were performed in 90 consecutive patients. Baseline ejection fraction was ≤25% in 36 (36%) patients. The 30‐day mortality rate was 17% (n = 17). Of the 99 patients, 27 (30%) underwent AVR. Average follow‐up of patients with and without AVR was 55 ± 57 months and 16 ± 23 months, respectively. The 6‐month and 1‐year survival rates in patients who underwent AVR were 81% and 78%, respectively, versus 57% and 44% in patients who did not undergo AVR (P = 0.024).
Conclusion:
BAV can be used successfully to clinically improve the health of some nonsurgical patients with severe symptomatic AS, and a proportion of these patients improve to a point where AVR can be performed. Bridging to TAVI will provide further options to high‐risk patients who cannot be bridged to conventional AVR. The role of BAV in bridging to TAVI merits further study. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:499–508)
Protected Carotid Stenting in High‐Risk Patients: Results of the SpideRX Arm of the Carotid Revascularization with ev3 Arterial Technology Evolution Trial
Authors: SAFIAN ROBERT D. , JAFF MICHAEL R. , BRESNAHAN JOHN F. , FOSTER MALCOLM , BACHARACH J. MICHAEL , YADAV JAY , JOYE JAMES , MYLA SUBBARAO , KASSAB ELIAS , MANN J. TIFT , ANSEL GARY M. ,   on behalf of the CREATE SpideRX Trial Investigators
Published: July 2010

Purpose:
A prospective nonrandomized multicenter registry of 160 patients with severe carotid stenosis and high‐risk features for carotid endarterectomy was conducted during the 3‐month period from March to May 2005.
Methods:
Carotid artery stenting (CAS) was performed with the SpideRX™ Embolic Protection System (ev3, Inc., Plymouth, MN, USA) as part of an investigational device exemption from the Food and Drug Administration.
Results:
The primary end‐point of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 30 days after CAS was observed in nine patients (5.6%), including death in four patients (2.5%), nonfatal stroke in five patients (3.1%), and nonfatal myocardial infarction in one patient (0.6%). A secondary end‐point of technical success (defined as successful deployment of all devices, filter retrieval, and final diameter stenosis <50%) was achieved in 156 of 160 patients (97.5%). The only independent predictor of death or stroke at 30 days was baseline stenosis severity (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
CAS with distal embolic protection using the SpideRX™ Embolic Protection System is a reasonable alternative for revascularization of some high‐risk patients with severe carotid stenosis. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:491–498)
Trends in prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in a Japanese community: the Hisayama Study
Authors: Sekita A. , Ninomiya T. , Tanizaki Y. , Doi Y. , Hata J. , Yonemoto K. , Arima H. , Sasaki K. , Iida M. , Iwaki T. , Kanba S. , Kiyohara Y. 
Published: July 2010

Sekita A, Ninomiya T, Tanizaki Y, Doi Y, Hata J, Yonemoto K, Arima H, Sasaki K, Iida M, Iwaki T, Kanba S, Kiyohara Y. Trends in prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia in a Japanese community: the Hisayama Study.Objective:  To examine secular trends in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) in a general Japanese population.Method:  Four cross‐sectional examinations were conducted among residents of a Japanese community aged ≥65  in 1985, 1992, 1998 and 2005.Results:  The age‐ and sex‐adjusted prevalence of all‐cause dementia significantly increased with time (6.0% in 1985, 4.4% in 1992, 5.3% in 1998 and 8.3% in 2005; P for trend = 0.002). A similar trend was observed for AD (1.1%, 1.3%, 2.3% and 3.8% respectively; P for trend < 0.001), while the age‐ and sex‐adjusted prevalence of VD and other/unclassified dementia showed J‐shaped patterns (for VD: 2.3%, 1.5%, 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, P for trend = 0.82; for other/unclassified dementia: 2.6%, 1.7%, 1.5% and 2.0%, P for trend = 0.26). The prevalence of AD was likely to increase with time from 1985 to 2005 among subjects aged 75  or older. The ratio of the prevalence of VD to that of AD decreased with time (2.1 in 1985, 1.2 in 1992, 0.7 in 1998 and 0.7 in 2005).Conclusion:  Our findings suggest that the prevalence of all‐cause dementia and AD significantly increased over the past two decades in the general Japanese population.
Fear in a Handful of Dust: Aviation and the Icelandic Volcano
Authors: Brooker Peter 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010 closed airports throughout Europe, stranded thousands of passengers, and enraged airlines and cost them millions. Was the grounding justified? Peter Brooker finds that planes stopped flying because of gaps in the statistical and test data needed to establish safe levels of ash concentration.
Fundamental Health Care Reform for The United States
Authors: Gruber Jonathan , Sekhon Jasjeet Singh 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
President Obama's health care reforms are the most controversial that the United States has ever seen. Proponents and opponents portray them in radically different terms. Here, Jonathan Gruber explains why statistics from previous experience are of only partial use; and on page 124, Jasjeet Singh Sekhon looks at the uncertainties and false inferences that have been ignored by commentators on both sides.
Keeping Things in Proportion: How can Voting Systems be Fairer?
Authors: Thompson Gavin 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
In the 2010 UK General election the Conservative party won 36% of the votes – but 47% of the seats. The Liberal Democrats won 23% of the votes and just 9% of the seats. Does the first-past-the-post system really give results that reflect voters' wishes? Gavin Thompson looks at alternatives.
Bioenergy by‐products as soil amendments? Implications for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: CAYUELA M. L. , OENEMA O. , KUIKMAN P. J. , BAKKER R. R. , Van GROENIGEN J. W. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAn important but little understood aspect of bioenergy production is its overall impact on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Increased energy production from biomass will inevitably lead to higher input of its by‐products to the soil as amendments or fertilizers. However, it is still unclear how these by‐products will influence microbial transformation processes in soil, and thereby its greenhouse gas (GHG) balance and organic C stocks. In this study, we assess C and N dynamics and GHG emissions following application of different bioenergy by‐products to soil. Ten by‐products were selected from different bioenergy chains: anaerobic digestion (manure digestates), first generation biofuel by‐products (rapeseed meal, distilled dried grains with solubles), second‐generation biofuel by‐products (nonfermentables from hydrolysis of different lignocellulosic materials) and pyrolysis (biochars). These by‐products were added at a constant N rate (150 kg N ha−1) to a sandy soil and incubated at 20 °C. After 60 days, >80% of applied C had been emitted as CO2 in the first‐generation biofuel residue treatments. For second‐generation biofuel residues this was approximately 60%, and for digestates 40%. Biochars were the most stable residues with the lowest CO2 loss (between 0.5% and 5.8% of total added C). Regarding N2O emissions, addition of first‐generation biofuel residues led to the highest total N2O emissions (between 2.5% and 6.0% of applied N). Second‐generation biofuel residues emitted between 1.0% and 2.0% of applied N, with the original feedstock material resulting in similar N2O emissions and higher C mineralization rates. Anaerobic digestates resulted in emissions <1% of applied N. The two biochars used in this study decreased N2O emissions below background values. We conclude that GHG dynamics of by‐products after soil amendment cannot be ignored and should be part of the lifecycle analysis of the various bioenergy production chains.