bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Re‐examination of the historical equity risk premium in Australia
Authors: Brailsford Tim , Handley John C. , Maheswaran Krishnan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn light of the ongoing debate over the value of the equity risk premium, its increasing use in the regulatory setting, and the impact of dividend imputation on the premium, this paper presents a timely new look at the historical equity risk premium in Australia, and provides an improved understanding of the historical record. We document concerns about data quality that become increasingly important the further back in time one looks. In particular, there are sufficient question marks over the quality of data prior to 1958 to warrant any estimates based thereon to be treated with caution. Accordingly, we present a new set of estimates of the historical equity risk premium corresponding to periods of increasing data quality but of decreasing sample size. Relative to bonds (bills), the equity premium has averaged 6.3 per cent (6.8 per cent) per annum over 1958–2005, which is a period of relatively good data quality. Together with other results in the paper, the findings reveal a historical estimate that is substantially less than widely cited historical studies would otherwise indicate. We reconcile prior evidence through documenting a dividend adjustment that has typically been overlooked. We also provide estimates that incorporate an adjustment for imputation credits.
Physical activity level and its association with metabolic syndrome among an employed population in China
Authors: Ma G. , Luan D. , Li Y. , Liu A. , Hu X. , Cui Z. , Zhai F. , Yang X. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe purpose of the present study was to estimate the association of physical activity level (PAL) with metabolic syndromes among the employed population in China. Using data from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey, the PAL of 21 834 subjects aged 18–59 years was described, and its relationship with the risk of metabolic syndrome was studied after adjusting for the relative effects of smoking, drinking, diet and socioeconomic status. Information on physical activity was collected by trained investigators using a 1‐year physical activity questionnaire. PAL was classified into four categories: sedentary (PAL 1.00–1.39), low active (PAL 1.40–1.59), active (PAL 1.60–1.89) and very active (PAL 1.90–2.50). The definition of metabolic syndrome by the International Diabetes Federation 2005 was applied. The percentage of people being sedentary, low active, active and very active was 12.3%, 13.7%, 20.1% and 53.9% respectively. The crude prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the sedentary, low active, active and very active groups was 9.7%, 6.9%, 5.6% and 4.9% respectively. After adjusting for the effect of other risk factors, the higher the PAL, the lower the relative risk of metabolic syndrome as well as the individual metabolic abnormalities. The risk of overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome was 50% and 59% less, respectively, in the adults who were very active and whose dietary fat contributed less than 20% to energy intakes when compared with their counterparts who were sedentary and consumed more fat (≥30% energy). PAL was an independent risk factor for obesity and multiple metabolic syndrome abnormalities among the employed population in China. The high‐risk population were middle‐age males living in large cities with high incomes who drink alcohol.
Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases intervention in the capital steel and iron company and Beijing Fangshan community
Authors: Chen J. , Wu X. , Gu D. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryTwo intervention studies are described involving >110 000 subjects in each. The first was in a steel factory where one intervention site had health promotion, aimed at altering diet, and particularly reducing salt and fat intake, modest alcohol drinking and smoking cessation, together with a high‐risk strategy of hypertension control. The second study involved similar population and high‐risk strategies in three of five rural communities. Significant reductions occurred in both intervention and control factory sites in blood pressure, with greater falls in the intervention site, together with a marked additional reduction in salt intake and better control of hypertension. In the rural communities, blood pressure fell in all communities to a more modest degree than in the factory, but with greater blood pressure falls, together with greater smoking cessation and more modest alcohol drinking in the intervention compared with the control communities. Stroke mortality fell by 74.3% and all strokes morbidity by 54.7% in the steel factory as a whole. In the rural communities, the intervention sites showed significantly greater falls in stroke rates than in the control communities. These data show the value and effectiveness of combining a population and high‐risk strategy for controlling blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases in both a rural setting and in the work place in China.
EMK: A Novel Program for Family‐Based Allelic and Genotypic Association Tests on Quantitative Traits
Authors: Li Y. W. , Martin E. R. , Li Y. J. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe QTDT program is a widely‐used program for analyzing quantitative trait data, but the methods mainly test allelic association. Since the genotype of a marker is a direct observation for an individual, it is of interest to assess association at the genotypic level. In this study, we extended the allele‐based association method developed by Monks and Kaplan (MK method) to genotype‐based association tests for quantitative traits. We implemented a novel extended MK (EMK) program that can perform both allele‐ and genotype‐ based association tests in any pedigree structure. To evaluate the performance of EMK, we utilized simulated pedigree data and real data from our previous report of GSTO1 and GSTO2 genes in Alzheimer disease (AD). Both allele‐ and genotype‐based EMK methods (allele‐EMK and geno‐EMK) showed correct type I error for various pedigree structures and admixture populations. The geno‐EMK method showed comparable power to the allele‐EMK test. By treating age‐at‐onset (AAO) as a quantitative trait, the EMK program was able to detect significant associations for rs4925 in GSTO1 (P= 0.006 for allele‐EMK and P= 0.009 for geno‐EMK), and rs2297235 in GSTO2 (P= 0.005 for allele‐EMK and P= 0.009 for geno‐EMK), which are consistent with our previous findings.
Characteristics of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in untreated oldest old Alzheimer's disease*
Authors: HAMURO Atsushi , ISONO Hiroshi , SUGAI Yuichi , MIMURA Masaru , KAMIJIMA Kunitoshi 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground:  The proportion of the population aged 85 years and older has increased rapidly in Japan, reaching 2.5 million (1.99%) in 2002. Under these circumstances, the number of dementia patients increases annually. However, few studies have focused on Alzheimer's disease (AD) with an age at onset older than 85 years (oldest old AD). The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in patients with oldest old AD compared with those with young old AD.Methods:  Fifty‐eight untreated AD patients were divided into two groups: young old AD patients (age at onset between 65 and 70 years; n = 28) and oldest old AD patients (age at onset 85 years or older; n = 30). Then, BPSD were compared between the two groups.Results:  There were significant differences in the frequencies of hallucinations (χ2 = 7.43; P = 0.011) and delusional misidentification syndrome (DMS; χ2 = 7.26; P = 0.011) between the two groups.Conclusions:  The results of the present study suggest that aging may play a part in the occurrence of hallucinations and DMS in oldest old AD patients.
Are Nonsustained Ventricular Tachycardias Predictive of Major Arrhythmias in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy on Optimal Medical Treatment?
Authors: ZECCHIN MASSIMO , DI LENARDA ANDREA , GREGORI DARIO , MERLO MARCO , PIVETTA ALBERTO , VITRELLA GIANCARLO , SABBADINI GASTONE , MESTRONI LUISA , SINAGRA GIANFRANCO 
Published: February 2008

Background: To evaluate the role of nonsustained ventricular tachycardias (NSVT) for the prediction of major ventricular arrhythmias (MVA) in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) after optimization of medical treatment.
Methods and Results: Three hundred nineteen consecutive DCM patients were evaluated after adequate stabilization on optimal angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (88%) and β‐blocker (82%) therapy. Frequency, length, and rate of NSVT at 24‐hour Holter monitoring were analyzed to assess their values in predicting MVA (unexpected sudden death, SVT, ventricular fibrillation, and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator interventions). During follow‐up (median 96 months, 1st–3rd interquartile range 52–130), MVA incidence was low, and not statistically different between patients with and without NSVT (3 and 2 per 100 patient‐years, respectively, P = nonsignificant [NS] at log‐rank analysis). At multivariable analysis, the number of NSVT was predictive of MVA only if left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was >0.35 (two NSVT/day vs no NSVT/day: hazard ratio [HR] 5.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59–17.85 in LVEF >0.35 vs HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.3–2.81 in LVEF ≤0.35). Consequently, in patients with LVEF ≤0.35, MVA incidence rates were similar regardless of NSVT (3.6 and 4.1 patient‐years, respectively, in those with and without NSVT, P = NS), while in patients with LVEF >0.35, MVA incidence (3.1 per 100 patient‐years vs 0.9 per 100 patient‐years, P = 0.003) was significantly higher when NSVT were present.
Conclusions: After medical stabilization, NSVT did not increase the risk of MVA in patients with DCM and LVEF ≤0.35. Conversely, the number and length of NSVT runs were significantly related to the occurrence of MVA in the patients with LVEF >0.35.
The Electrical Substrate of Vagal Atrial Fibrillation as Assessed by the Signal‐Averaged Electrocardiogram of the P Wave
Authors: NEMIROVSKY DMITRY , HUTTER RANDOLPH , GOMES J. ANTHONY 
Published: February 2008

Background: The autonomic nervous system is thought to be involved in the initiation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is a distinct entity of vagal AF characterized by episodes occurring at rest, postprandially, or during sleep. The purpose of this study was to compare intraatrial conduction in patients with vagally mediated AF to those with nonvagal AF, using the signal‐averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) of P wave.
Methods: SAECG of P wave was performed in 58 patients with AF using the Marquette Medical System, and the mean filtered P‐wave duration (SAPW) was measured. Nine patients were categorized as having pure vagal AF (Group I), and 42 patients as having nonvagal AF (Group II); the remaining seven patients were excluded from analysis because of incomplete data.
Results: The patients in Group I were significantly younger and more likely to have paroxysmal lone AF, as compared to those in Group II. There was no significant difference in left atrial size and left ventricular function in the two groups. The mean SAPW was significantly shorter in Group I when compared to Group II (118 ± 5 ms vs 149 ± 39 ms, P < 0.001). Whereas all patients in Group I had a normal SAPW, 79% of patients in Group II had an abnormal SAPW (P < 0.001). A normal SAPW was significantly predictive of vagal AF independent of other co‐variables.
Conclusions: (1) Patients with vagal AF are younger, and invariably have paroxysmal lone AF. (2) SAPW is normal and significantly shorter in vagal AF when compared to patients with nonvagal AF. (3) This suggests that those in the vagal AF population have normal intraatrial conduction, which has implications for AF ablation in these patients.
How Revealing Are Insertable Loop Recorders in Pediatrics?
Authors: FRANGINI PATRICIA A. , CECCHIN FRANK , JORDAO LIGIA , MARTUSCELLO MARIA , ALEXANDER MARK E. , TRIEDMAN JOHN K. , WALSH EDWARD P. , BERUL CHARLES I. 
Published: February 2008

Introduction: An insertable loop recorder (ILR) in patients with infrequent syncope or palpitations may be useful to decide management strategies, including clinical observation, medical therapy, pacemaker, or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). We sought to determine the diagnostic utility of the Reveal® ILR (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) in pediatric patients.
Methods: Retrospective review of clinical data, indications, findings, and therapeutic decision in 27 consecutive patients who underwent ILR implantation from 1998–2007.
Results: The median age was 14.8 years (2–25 years). Indications were syncope in 24 patients and recurrent palpitations in three. Overall, eight patients had structural heart disease (six congenital heart disease, one hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one Kawasaki), five had previous documented ventricular arrhythmias with negative evaluation including electrophysiology study, and three patients had QT prolongation. Tilt testing was performed in 10 patients, of which five had neurocardiogenic syncope but recurrent episodes despite medical therapy. After median three months (1–20 months), 17 patients presented with symptoms and the ILR memory was analyzed in 16 (no episode stored in one due to full device memory), showing asystole or transient atrioventricular (AV) block (2), sinus bradycardia (6), or normal sinus rhythm (8). Among asymptomatic patients, 3/10 had intermittent AV block or long pauses, automatically detected and stored by the ILR. In 19 of 20 patients, ILR was diagnostic (95%) and five subsequently underwent pacemaker implantation, while seven patients remained asymptomatic without ILR events. Notably, no life‐threatening events were detected. The ILR was explanted in 22 patients after a median of 22 months, two due to pocket infection, 12 for battery depletion and eight after clear documentation of nonmalignant arrhythmia.
Conclusions: The ILR in pediatrics is a useful adjunct to other diagnostic studies. Patient selection is critical as the ILR should not be utilized for malignant arrhythmias. A diagnosis is attained in the majority of symptomatic patients, predominantly bradyarrhythmias including pauses and intermittent AV block.
Femoral Angiogram Prior to Arteriotomy Closure Device Does Not Reduce Vascular Complications in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization
Authors: RAMANA RAVI K. , SINGH AMANDEEP , DIETER ROBERT S. , MORAN JOHN F. , STEEN LOWELL , LEWIS BRUCE E. , LEYA FERDINAND 
Published: February 2008

Objectives:

To compare the efficacy of achieving hemostasis without vascular access site complications (VCs) in patients who did not undergo femoral angiogram (FA) prior to arteriotomy closure device (ACD) placement.
Background:

Following coronary angiogram/percutaneous coronary intervention (CA/PCI), VCs increase morbidity and mortality. Previous studies in which an FA was highly recommended but not mandatory suggest that a predictor of VC is ACD use.
Methods:

We retrospectively identified consecutive patients who underwent CA/PCI and attempted ACD deployment at our institution over a three‐year period. These patients' medical and procedural records, angiogram films, and subsequent hospitalization records were reviewed to identify predetermined clinical outcomes.
Results:

One thousand four hundred and twenty‐two patients underwent CA/PCI from the transfemoral approach with ACD deployment. Seven hundred and eight (49.8%) patients did not undergo FA prior to ACD deployment. The use of ACD without FA guidance was not associated with an increased rate of combined measured clinical end‐point; immediate ACD failure; retroperitoneal bleed; TIMI minor bleed; infectious complications; need for surgical intervention; or mortality (5.3 vs. 4.9; 2.7% vs. 2.2%; 1.4% vs. 0.9%; 0.5% vs. 0.4%; 0% vs. 0%; 0.1% vs. 0.1%; 0% vs. 0%, respectively, P = NS).
Conclusion:

We found no evidence that performing an FA prior to ACD placement as recommended by the manufacturer had any influence on the clinical success rate of ACD placement or rates of VCs. Therefore, ACD use without FA guidance in patients undergoing CA/PCI is an equally safe and effective method in successfully obtaining hemostasis without an increased risk of VCs.
Influences of Cross Pollination on Pollen Tube Growth and Fruit Set in Zuili Plums (Prunus salicina)
Authors: Jia Hui‐Juan , He Feng‐Jie , Xiong Cai‐Zhen , Zhu Fu‐Rong , Okamoto Goro 
Published: February 2008

Abstract Zuili plum (Prunus salicina L.) trees usually set fruit poorly, although they produce high quality fruit. To elucidate the causes of the poor fruit set, pollen tube growth into pistils and fruit set percentage were investigated after cross‐, self‐ and open‐pollination. Ovule development in Zuili pistils was also investigated. Pollen tube penetration into the ovules via the obturator and micropyle was best when Zuili pistils were pollinated by cv. Black Amber (P. domestica) pollen grains, although cross‐pollinations with Hongxinli and Miili (P. salicina) pollen were more effective than self‐ and open‐pollination. The fruit set percentage was also highest in pistils pollinated with Black Amber pollen grains. Morphological observation of Zuili pistils revealed that the trees produce “double pistils”, developing two ovaries from a basal pistil, at a rate as high as 28%. In such abnormal pistils, most ovules were lacking an embryo sac or were entirely degenerated. The percentage of normally developed ovules was 24.3% and 8.9% in normal and double pistils, respectively. From these results, we conclude that the main causes of poor fruit set of Zuili plums are a lack of effective cross‐pollination and the production of high percentages of double pistils in which normally developed ovules are scarcely formed.
Seasonal Variation and Correlation with Environmental Factors of Photosynthesis and Water Use Efficiency of Juglans regia and Ziziphus jujuba
Authors: Yang Hai‐Bo , An Shu‐Qing , Sun Osbert‐Jianxin , Shi Zuo‐Min , She Xin‐Song , Sun Qing‐Ye , Liu Shi‐Rong 
Published: February 2008

Abstract Both the photosynthetic light curves and CO2 curves of Juglans regia L. and Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa in three seasons were measured using a LI‐6400 portable photosynthesis system. The maximal net photosynthetic rate (Amax), apparent quantum efficiency(φ), maximal carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and water use efficiency (WUE) of the two species were calculated based on the curves. The results showed that Amax of J. regia reached its maximum at the late‐season, while the highest values of Amax of Z. jujuba occurred at the mid‐season. The Amax of J. regia was more affected by relative humidity (RH) of the atmosphere, while that of Z. jujuba was more affected by the air temperature. Light saturation point (LSP) and Light compensation point (LCP) of J. regia had a higher correlation with RH of the atmosphere, those of Z. jujuba, however, had a higher correlation with air temperature. Vcmax of both J. regia and Z. jujuba had negative correlation with RH of the atmosphere. WUE of J. regia would decrease with the rise of the air temperature while that of Z. jujuba increased. Thus it could be seen that RH, temperature and soil moisture had main effect on photosynthesis and WUE of J. regia and Z. jujuba. Incorporating data on the physiological differences among tree species into forest carbon models will greatly improve our ability to predict alterations to the forest carbon budgets under various environmental scenarios such as global climate change, or with differing species composition.
Effects of Temperature on Photosynthetic Rates in Korean Fir (Abies koreana) between Healthy and Dieback Population
Authors: Woo Su Young , Lim Jong‐Hwan , Lee Don Koo 
Published: February 2008

Abstract The present study was carried out on natural Korean fir forests (Abies koreana) growing in Mount Halla in Jeju Island, Korea (33° 13–36′ N and 126° 12–57′ E). Mount Halla is the highest mountain (1 950 m a.s.l.) in South Korea. On the Korean fir forests near the top of Mount Halla in Korea, we established permanent plots between dieback and healthy population. Each permanent plot includes both dieback and relatively healthy Korean fir individuals. Three sites in this study showed similar altitude, topographic position, aspects, slope, diameter at breast height, average height and ages. Net photosynthetic rates (PN) on different temperature regimes were evaluated to explain the forest dieback phenomenon on Korean fir populations. Light response curves were determined on three different temperature regimes: 15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C. The irradiance response curve showed higher values in lower air temperatures. Generally, irradiance response curves of healthy Korean fir populations were higher than the dieback population at all sites.
Reproductive Allocation Patterns in Different Density Populations of Spring Wheat
Authors: Liu Jing , Wang Gen‐Xuan , Wei Liang , Wang Chun‐Ming 
Published: February 2008

Abstract The effects of increased intraspecific competition on size hierarchies (size inequality) and reproductive allocation were investigated in populations of the annual plant, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). A series of densities (100, 300, 1 000, 3 000 and 10 000 plants/m2) along a gradient of competition intensity were designed in this experiment. The results showed that average shoot biomass decreased with increased density. Reproductive allocation was negatively correlated to Gini coefficient (R2 = 0.927), which suggested that reproductive allocation is inclined to decrease as size inequality increases. These results suggest that both vegetative and reproductive structures were significantly affected by intensive competition. However, results also indicated that there were different relationships between plant size and reproductive allocation pattern in different densities. In the lowest density population, lacking competition (100 plants/m2), individual reproductive allocation was size independent but, in high density populations (300, 1 000, 3 000 and 10 000 plants/m2), where competition occurred, individual reproductive allocation was size dependent: the small proportion of larger individuals were winners in competition and got higher reproductive allocation (lower marginal reproductive allocation; MRA), and the larger proportion of smaller individuals were suppressed and got lower reproductive allocation (higher MRA). In conclusion, our results support the prediction that elevated intraspecific competition would result in higher levels of size inequality and decreased reproductive allocation (with a negative relationship between them). However, deeper analysis indicated that these frequency‐ and size‐dependent reproductive strategies were not evolutionarily stable strategies.