bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Anticipated Capitalisation Effect of a New Metro Line on Housing Prices*
Authors: Agostini Claudio A. , Palmucci Gastón A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractHousing units with closer access to public transportation enjoy a higher market value than those with similar characteristics but poorer access. This difference can be explained by the lower cost of transport to the main workplaces and shopping areas in town. For this reason, investments in public transport infrastructure, such as building a new metro line, are capitalised totally or partially into land and housing prices.This work empirically analyses the degree of capitalisation into housing prices of the benefits of the new Line 4 of the Santiago metro system, which began operating in December 2005. We focus on anticipated capitalisation into housing prices at the moment construction of Line 4 was announced and at the moment information on the basic engineering project was unveiled, identifying the location of the future stations.We use a unique database containing all home buying and selling transactions in the Greater Santiago area between December 2000 and March 2004. The results show that the average apartment price rose by between 4.2 per cent and 7.9 per cent after construction was announced and by between 3.1 per cent and 5.5 per cent after the location of the stations was identified. These increases were not distributed evenly, but depended on the distance from the apartment to the nearest station.An indirect effect of this kind of capitalization is that property tax collections will increase if property is reappraised following the price rise. This effect is not negligible in magnitude and could represent 11 to 17 per cent of investment in the new metro line. This raises and interesting discussion on how the metro network extension is financed.
Horizontal Inequity and Vertical Redistribution with Indirect Taxes: The Greek Case*
Authors: Kaplanoglou Georgia , Newbery David M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNon‐uniform indirect taxes treat equals and those unequal differently (horizontal inequity and vertical redistribution). Horizontal inequity is caused by taste differences among similar households, but some excises are designed to reflect social, not revealed, preferences. We apply two methodologies for decomposing the overall redistributive effect of the present and three alternative indirect tax structures into vertical and horizontal effects for Greece, using the 1998–99 Household Expenditure Survey micro‐database. In all cases, the taste component is considerable, even when we allow for social preferences, while improvements in vertical redistribution can be achieved, albeit at the cost of increased horizontal inequity.
The Effect of Financial Incentives on Labour Supply: Evidence for Lone Parents from Microsimulation and Quasi‐Experimental Evaluation*
Authors: Cai Lixin , Kalb Guyonne , Tseng Yi‐Ping , Vu Ha 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to analyse the work incentive effects of a change in the Australian tax and transfer system on lone parents in July 2000. To evaluate the effect of the total change only, microsimulation can be used; but for a subgroup of lone parents, a few components of this policy change can be analysed through two alternative approaches — microsimulation and quasi‐experimental evaluation. Both approaches examine the effects on the probability of employment and on average working hours. The results from microsimulation show that the combined changes introduced in July 2000 — involving reduced withdrawl rates, changed family payments and lower income tax rates — have increased labour supply for lone parents to a moderate extent. The estimated effect on average working hours when using microsimulation is very close to the effect estimated in a quasi‐experimental approach using matching techniques to control for alternative influences.
Long‐term Follow up of Helicobacter pylori IgG Serology After Eradication and Reinfection Rate of H. pylori in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jung Hoon , Kim Nayoung , Chung Jae Il , Kang Kyung Phil , Lee Sang Hyup , Park Young Soo , Hwang Jin‐Hyeok , Kim Jin‐Wook , Jeong Sook‐Hyang , Lee Dong Ho , Jung Hyun Chae , Song In Sung 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackground: Serology is widely used for epidemiologic research of Helicobacter pylori. However, there is limited information on the long‐term follow up of H. pylori titers after eradication. In addition, it is presumed that the reinfection rate decreases as the H. pylori infection rate decreases. The aim of this study was to investigate the long‐term follow up of H. pylori IgG, and to evaluate the reinfection rate of H. pylori in Korea.Methods: Among 247 patients, who were enrolled during 2003–07, 185 patients with invasive H. pylori test positive received proton pump inhibitor‐based triple therapy, and follow‐up H. pylori testing, including histology, CLOtest, culture, and serology, were evaluated 2, 10, and 18 months after H. pylori eradication.Results: The initial H. pylori IgG optical density (OD450nm), 2.06, gradually decreased to 0.63 (67% reduction) at 18 months after H. pylori eradication. The seroreversion rate was 5, 10, and 45% at 2, 10, and 18 months after H. pylori eradication, respectively. The recrudescence of H. pylori was 3.49%, and the annual reinfection rate was 2.94% per year. H. pylori IgG titers abruptly increased in cases with recrudescence and reinfection, and correlated with the results of the invasive H. pylori tests.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that H. pylori IgG serology could be used for the determination of reinfection of H. pylori, but not for the diagnosis of H. pylori eradication. The reinfection rate of H. pylori, in Korea, was found to be very low, 2.94% per year.
In utero exposure to vigabatrin: No indication of visual field loss
Authors: Lawthom Charlotte , Smith Philip E. M. , Wild John M. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryThe purpose of the study was to determine whether in utero exposure to vigabatrin caused visual field loss. Three mothers with four children who had been exposed to vigabatrin in utero and who were subsequently formula fed were identified. All seven individuals underwent perimetry and imaging of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). All individuals yielded reliable outcomes to perimetry and RNFL images of acceptable quality. Two of the three mothers exhibited vigabatrin‐attributed visual field loss and an abnormally attenuated RNFL. The third exhibited an upper left quadrantanopia, consistent with previous temporal lobe surgery, and a normal RNFL. All four children yielded normal visual fields and RNFL thicknesses. The presence of the normal findings for the children is reassuring and, if representative, suggests a lack of vigabatrin visual toxicity and therefore obviates the need for ophthalmological examination of those exposed to vigabatrin prenatally.
Electroclinical features of epilepsy in patients with juvenile type dentatorubral‐pallidoluysian atrophy
Authors: Egawa Kiyoshi , Takahashi Yukitoshi , Kubota Yuko , Kubota Hideki , Inoue Yushi , Fujiwara Takeki , Onodera Osamu 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose: To clarify the electroclinical characteristics of epileptic seizures in patients with juvenile type dentatorubral‐pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA).Methods: Seventeen patients with juvenile type DRPLA confirmed by genetic analysis were studied retrospectively. The clinical records of all 17 patients and the ictal video electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from 12 of the 17 patients were reviewed.Results: Electroclinical studies in 12 patients identified 11 habitual seizures in 6 patients as partial seizures on ictal video EEG recordings. Clinical manifestations composed mainly of versions of the head and loss of consciousness. These partial seizures were persistently recorded throughout the clinical course. Brief generalized seizures (atypical absence and myoclonic seizure) were observed in 6 of 12 patients at the early stage. In contrast, generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCS) were recorded in four advanced stage patients who were almost bedridden. Semiological studies in 17 patients showed that the prevalence of partial seizures was significantly higher in patients with younger epilepsy onset (below 10 years of age; χ2test, p < 0.05) and that the age of epilepsy onset was significantly lower in patients with partial seizures than in those without partial seizures (Mann‐Whitney U test, p = 0.02). However, the number of CAG repeats and age at clinical onset were not significantly different between two groups.Discussion: Partial seizure is one of the common epileptic features in juvenile type DRPLA, especially in patients with younger epilepsy onset. Seizure types may be affected in an age‐dependent manner and change evolutionally during progression of the clinical stage.
Idiopathic epilepsy with generalized tonic–clonic seizures only versus idiopathic epilepsy with phantom absences and generalized tonic–clonic seizures: One or two syndromes?
Authors: Koutroumanidis Michael , Aggelakis Konstantinos , Panayiotopoulos Chrysostomos P. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose: To define the relationship between two syndromes of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) with apparently similar phenotypes: The form with generalized tonic–clonic seizures only (IGE‐GTCS) and that with phantom absences (IGE‐PA).Methods: We compared the electroclinical features of 33 consecutive patients with GTCS and generalized spike wave (GSW); 18 had only GTCS and were diagnosed as IGE‐GTCS, and 15 had hitherto unnoticed mild absences on the electroencephalography (EEG) and were diagnosed as IGE‐PA. All patients were subjected to the same diagnostic workout, including video EEG during hyperventilation with breath counting (HBC). Patients with a clinical history of absences or myoclonic seizures were excluded.Results: PA were easily identified with the first or second EEG in 14 of 15 patients with IGE‐PA and always with sleep‐deprived EEGs; conversely, PA did not occur in the IGE‐GTCS patients despite using more EEGs. GTCS were twice as frequent in the IGE‐GTCS group and tended to occur on awakening, whereas episodes of absence status affected twice as many patients with IGE‐PA. The hereditary risk was 30% in the IGE‐GTCS and 6.7% in IGE‐PA. GSW had a strong polyspike component in IGE‐PA and were briefer in IGE‐GTCS. There is no evidence for a maturational influence on the duration of GSW in either syndrome.Conclusion: Our findings clearly indicate that IGE‐GTCS and IGE‐PA are two distinct IGE syndromes and emphasize the role of PA for patients' diagnosis and management and for syndromic classification. They also appear to validate HBC as a simple, sensitive, and pragmatic method for the clinical identification of typical absences.
Case‐control analysis of ambulance, emergency room, or inpatient hospital events for epilepsy and antiepileptic drug formulation changes
Authors: Zachry, III Woodie M. , Doan Quynhchau D. , Clewell Jerry D. , Smith Brien J. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose:  Although antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with multisource generic alternatives are becoming more prevalent, no case‐control studies have been published examining multisource medication use and epilepsy‐related outcomes. This study evaluated the association between inpatient/emergency epilepsy care and the occurrence of a recent switch in AED formulation.Methods:  A case‐control analysis was conducted utilizing the Ingenix LabRx Database. Eligible patients were 12–64 years of age, received ≥145 days of AEDs in the preindex period, had continuous eligibility for 6 months preindex, and no prior inpatient/emergency care. Cases received care between 7/1/2006 and 12/31/2006 in an ambulance, emergency room, or inpatient hospital with a primary epilepsy diagnosis. Controls had a primary epilepsy diagnosis in a physician's office during the same period. The index date was the earliest occurrence of care in each respective setting. Cases and controls were matched 1:3 by epilepsy diagnosis and age. Odds of a switch between “A‐rated” AEDs within 6 months prior to index were calculated.Results:  Cases (n = 416) had 81% greater odds of having had an A‐rated AED formulation switch [odds ratio (OR) = 1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25 to 2.63] relative to controls (n = 1248). There were no significant differences between groups regarding demographics or diagnosis. Significant differences were found with regard to medical coverage type (case Medicaid = 4.6%, control Medicaid = 1.8%, p = 0.002). Post hoc analysis results excluding Medicaid recipients remained significant and concordant with the original analysis.Discussion:  This analysis found an association between patients receiving epilepsy care in an emergency or inpatient setting and the recent occurrence of AED formulation switching involving A‐rated generics.
Prolonged infusion of inhibitors of calcineurin or L‐type calcium channels does not block mossy fiber sprouting in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Ingram Elizabeth A. , Toyoda Izumi , Wen Xiling , Buckmaster Paul S. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose: It would be useful to selectively block granule cell axon (mossy fiber) sprouting to test its functional role in temporal lobe epileptogenesis. Targeting axonal growth cones may be an effective strategy to block mossy fiber sprouting. L‐type calcium channels and calcineurin, a calcium‐activated phosphatase, are critical for normal growth cone function. Previous studies have provided encouraging evidence that blocking L‐type calcium channels or inhibiting calcineurin during epileptogenic treatments suppresses mossy fiber sprouting.Methods: Rats were treated systemically with pilocarpine to induce status epilepticus, which lasted at least 2 h. Then, osmotic pumps and cannulae were implanted to infuse calcineurin inhibitors (FK506 or cyclosporin A) or an L‐type calcium channel blocker (nicardipine) into the dorsal dentate gyrus. After 28 days of continuous infusion, extent of mossy fiber sprouting was evaluated with Timm staining and stereological methods.Results: Percentages of volumes of the granule cell layer plus molecular layer that were Timm‐positive were similar in infused and noninfused hippocampi.Conclusions: These findings suggest inhibiting calcineurin or L‐type calcium channels does not block mossy fiber sprouting in the pilocarpine‐treated rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Focal generation of paroxysmal fast runs during electrographic seizures
Authors: Boucetta Sofiane , Chauvette Sylvain , Bazhenov Maxim , Timofeev Igor 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose:  A cortically generated Lennox‐Gastaut type seizure is associated with spike‐wave/poly‐spike‐wave discharges at 1.0–2.5 Hz and fast runs at 7–16 Hz. Here we studied the patterns of synchronization during runs of paroxysmal fast spikes.Methods:  Electrographic activities were recorded using multisite intracellular and field potential recordings in vivo from cats anesthetized with ketamine‐xylazine. In different experiments, the recording electrodes were located either at short distances (<1 mm) or at longer distances (up to 12 mm). The main experimental findings were tested in computational models.Results:  In the majority of cases, the onset and the offset of fast runs occurred almost simultaneously in different recording sites. The amplitude and duration of fast runs could vary by orders of magnitude. Within the fast runs, the patterns of synchronization recorded in different electrodes were as following: (1) synchronous, in phase, (2) synchronous, with phase shift, (3) patchy, repeated in phase/phase shift transitions, and (4) nonsynchronous, slightly different frequencies in different recording sites or absence of oscillatory activity in one of the recording sites; the synchronous patterns (in phase or with phase shifts) were most common. All these patterns could be recorded in the same pair of electrodes during different seizures, and they were reproduced in a computational network model. Intrinsically bursting (IB) neurons fired more spikes per cycle than any other neurons suggesting their leading role in the fast run generation.Conclusions:  Once started, the fast runs are generated locally with variable correlations between neighboring cortical foci.
Factors influencing clinical features of absence seizures
Authors: Sadleir Lynette G. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Smith Sherry , Carstensen Bendix , Carlin John , Connolly Mary B. , Farrell Kevin 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose:  The clinical features of absence seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy have been held to be syndrome‐specific. This hypothesis is central to many aspects of epilepsy research yet has not been critically assessed. We examined whether specific factors such as epilepsy syndrome, age, and state determine the features of absence seizures.Methods:  Children with newly presenting absence seizures were studied using video electroencephalography (EEG) recording. We analyzed whether a child's epilepsy syndrome, age, state of arousal, and provocation influenced specific clinical features of their absence seizures: duration, eyelid movements, eye opening, and level of awareness during the seizure.Results:  Seizures (509) were evaluated in 70 children with the following syndromes: Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), 37; CAE plus photoparoxysmal response (PPR), 10; juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), 8; juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), 6; unclassified, 9. Seizure duration was associated with epilepsy syndrome as children with JME had shorter seizures than in other syndromes, independent of age. Age independently influences level of awareness and eye opening. Arousal or provocation affected all features except level of awareness. Specific factors unique to the child independently influenced all features; the nature of these factors has not been identified.Discussion:  The view that the clinical features of absence seizures have syndrome‐specific patterns is not supported by critical analysis. We show that confounding variables profoundly affect clinical features and that syndromes also show marked variation. Variation in clinical features of absence seizures results from a complex interaction of many factors that are likely to be genetically and environmentally determined.
Electroencephalographic evolution of hypsarrhythmia: Toward an early treatment option
Authors: Philippi Heike , Wohlrab Gabriele , Bettendorf Uli , Borusiak Peter , Kluger Gerhard , Strobl Karl , Bast Thomas 
Published: July 2008

SummaryPurpose:  A retrospective study for a classification of prehypsarrhythmic elecroencephalographies (EEGs) was carried out to enable an early treatment option for West syndrome.Methods:  Out of 39 infants with symptomatic West syndrome, 18 infants (age 3–14 months) with 61 serial non‐REM sleep EEG records of the prehypsarrhythmic phase were identified. The prehypsarrhythmic phase encompassed 2 to 13 months (mean 4.5 months) after an initial insult. A classification system of three EEG types corresponding to the clinical states prior to West syndrome occurrence was developed. In addition, follow‐up of all patients presenting with type 2 EEGs (n = 22) was evaluated.Results:  Three clinical states and corresponding EEG types were classified. Clinical state 1 (weeks to months, silent phase) presented with (multi‐)focal epileptic discharges <50% of the non‐REM EEG recording time (type 1 EEG). Clinical state 2 (several weeks, beginning mental deterioration) was accompanied by type 2 EEG with bihemispheric epileptic discharges >50% of the non‐REM EEG recording time within abnormal background activity (imminent hypsarrhythmia). Clinical state 3 (mental deterioration) was characterized by hypsarryhthmia. Interrater reliability of seven blinded raters was good (median weighted κ 0.67). Out of 22 patients presenting with type 2 EEGs, two were lost for follow‐up, and 16 developed West syndrome, whereas four were treated early with anti‐epileptic drugs and remained stable.Conclusions:  Infants with West syndrome could be reliably identified several weeks before the occurrence of hypsarrhythmia by a typical EEG pattern (type 2), thereby opening the way for early intervention studies.
Developing a method for laboratory biosafety testing impacts of transgenic plants on non‐target insects
Authors: Barratt B. I. P. , Crook K. E. , Ferguson C. M. , Johnstone P. D. , Malone L. A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA series of laboratory experiments was carried out with the main objective of contributing to the development of biosafety testing methods for transgenic plants or plants produced by other novel technologies. The adult stage of a New Zealand native weevil, Nicaeana cervina (Broun) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae), was used as a test insect as this has become well‐adapted to introduced pasture species, feeding on both ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. (Poaceae)] and white clover [Trifolium repens L. (Fabaceae)]. Ryegrass plants used in experiments were infected with strains of the symbiotic endophytic fungi Neotyphodium lolii (Latch, M.J. Chr. & Samuels) and Epichloe festucae Leuchtm., Schardl & M.R. Siegel and included a transgenic endophyte, which was modified to eliminate production of the insect deterrent, peramine. Nicaeana cervina was exposed to these endophyte‐infected plants along with endophyte‐free ryegrass. Weevils were also exposed to white clover with high or low levels of cyanogens, and to white clover selections bred conventionally to contain high or low levels of crude protein. These bioassays were carried out sometimes over a series of time intervals, and weevil survival, feeding, and reproductive performance variables were measured. Nicaeana cervina survival was generally high, although feeding and oviposition were variable between experiments despite high replication in some cases. A summary of significant differences obtained across all experiments suggested that data on the proportion of weevils feeding and amounts of leaf material consumed were more often significantly different than treatment effects on survival or reproductive performance. A positive relationship between the proportion of weevils feeding and those ovipositing was found, suggesting that a 50% reduction in feeding would result in a 28% reduction in the proportion of weevils ovipositing. Power analysis using the range of values recorded for the variables measured indicated that for proportions of weevils surviving, feeding, or fecund, about 35–42 replicates would be required for a 40% difference in values. For measures of leaf consumption and numbers of eggs per female, fewer replicates were required for 95% power when these values were at the higher end of the range than when they were at the lower end of the observed range. The usefulness of the case study test insect and risk assessment protocols used for biosafety testing are discussed.