bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developments in technique and technology: the effect on the results of percutaneous nephrolithotomy for staghorn calculi
Authors: Desai Mahesh , Jain Prashant , Ganpule Arvind , Sabnis Ravindra , Patel Snehal , Shrivastav Prajay 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVETo review the development of the technique of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), for ease of learning and development of instrumentation for staghorn calculi at our centre since 1991, and to assess the results and outcomes.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively analysed the hospital records of 773 patients (632 males and 141 females, 834 renal units) who underwent PCNL for staghorn calculi at our centre from January 1991 to August 2008. We divided the patients into three groups depending on the changes in treatment policy, global trends and advances in equipment as follows: the first 200 cases (group I) from January 1991 to December 1996 (216 renal units); the next 200 (group II) from January 1997 to December 2001 (212 renal units); and the last 373 (group III) from January 2002 to August 2008 (406 renal units).RESULTSThe mean (sd, range) operative duration in groups I, II and III, respectively, were 138.2 (52.7, 60–310), 121.4 (42.8, 70–250) and 112.5 (51.5, 55–310) min; the decrease in haemoglobin level was 3.2, 2.6 and 1.6 g/dL, respectively, and continued to decrease with improvements in technique. With increasing experience, the number of stages required for stone clearance and the number of tracts required decreased exponentially. Most of the severe complications occurred early in our experience. The stone clearance rate in groups I, II and III was 81%, 86% and 93%, respectively, after completing the procedure; the overall clearance rate with observation/auxiliary procedures was 86%, 89% and 96%, respectively. The mean hospital stay for groups I, II and III was 11.1 (3.9, 7–25), 9.5 (3.4, 5–22) and 7.1 (3.6, 4–28) days, respectively.CONCLUSIONThe percutaneous management of staghorn calculi requires considerable expertise. Our data suggest that ‘multiperc’ PCNL is difficult to learn and requires experience. Although over the years our results improved, complete clearance remains a challenge. A constant review and application of newer techniques and results will improve the overall clearance rates further.
Prospective comparison of five mediators of the systemic response after high‐intensity focused ultrasound and targeted cryoablation for localized prostate cancer
Authors: Li Liao‐Yuan , Yang Ming , Gao Xin , Zhang Hai‐Bin , Li Jie‐Fang , Xu Wen‐Feng , Lin Zhe , Zhou Xie‐Lai 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is less invasive than targeted cryoablation of the prostate (TCAP), as experimental studies suggest that the acute‐phase reaction is proportional to surgery‐induced tissue damage.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween May 2004 and December 2007, 127 consecutive patients undergoing HIFU (71) or TCAP (56) in our departments were assessed prospectively. Blood samples were collected 24 h before (T0), during surgery (T1), at the end of anaesthesia (T2), and at 12 (T3), 24 (T4) and 36 h after surgery (T5). The extent of the systemic response to surgery‐induced tissue trauma was measured by assessing the levels of acute‐phase markers tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐10, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA), at all sampling times in all patients.RESULTSThe median (interquartile range) age in the HIFU and TCAP groups was 70 (62–77) and 68 (59–75) years, respectively (P = 0.4). Baseline levels (T0) of TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10, CRP and SAA were comparable in both groups. The levels of all four markers increased during both procedures; the median values were higher for TCAP at T2 (P = 0.02, 0.001, <0.001 and 0.06), T3 (P < 0.001, 0.009, 0.003 and 0.001), T4 (P = 0.007, <0.001, 0.005 and <0.001) and T5 (P < 0.001, 0.004, <0.001 and 0.02), respectively. IL‐6 was also higher for TCAP at T1 (P = 0.03). IL‐10 did not change at the different sampling times.CONCLUSIONThe tissue trauma and associated invasiveness of HIFU is less than that of TCAP, based on the variables objectively measured in this study.
Attrition from randomized controlled trials of pharmacological weight loss agents: a systematic review and analysis
Authors: Fabricatore A. N. , Wadden T. A. , Moore R. H. , Butryn M. L. , Gravallese E. A. , Erondu N. E. , Heymsfield S. B. , Nguyen A. M. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryClinical trials of obesity treatments have been limited by substantial dropout. Participant‐level variables do not reliably predict attrition, and study‐level variables have not yet been examined. We searched MEDLINE and identified 24 large randomized controlled trials of weight loss medications. These trials were comprised of 23 placebo and 32 drug groups. Two authors independently extracted the following for each treatment group: (i) treatment received; (ii) design characteristics (inclusion of a lead‐in period, selection of participants with weight‐related comorbidities, study location and number of study visits); (iii) sample characteristics (sample size, % female, and mean baseline age and body mass index); and (iv) attrition (total, adverse event [AE]‐related and non‐AE‐related) at 1 year. The primary outcome was total attrition, which was significantly related to treatment (i.e. 34.9%, 28.6%, 28.3% and 35.1% in placebo, orlistat, sibutramine and rimonabant groups, respectively, P < 0.0001). In adjusted multivariable models, total attrition was significantly lower in groups that completed a pre‐randomization lead‐in period than in those that did not (29.1% vs. 39.9%, P < 0.01). Gender also was significantly related to total attrition; groups with more women had higher dropout (P < 0.01). The pattern was similar for predicting non‐AE‐related attrition. Findings suggest ways to design studies that maximize retention.
Physical environmental correlates of childhood obesity: a systematic review
Authors: Dunton G. F. , Kaplan J. , Wolch J. , Jerrett M. , Reynolds K. D. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryIncreasing rates of childhood obesity in the USA and other Western countries are a cause for serious public health concern. Neighborhood and community environments are thought to play a contributing role in the development of obesity among youth, but it is not well understood which types of physical environmental characteristics have the most potential to influence obesity outcomes. This paper reports the results of a systematic review of quantitative research examining built and biophysical environmental variables associated with obesity in children and adolescents through physical activity. Literature searches in PubMed, PsychInfo and Geobase were conducted. Fifteen quantitative studies met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. The majority of studies were cross‐sectional and published after 2005. Overall, few consistent findings emerged. For children, associations between physical environmental variables and obesity differed by gender, age, socioeconomic status, population density and whether reports were made by the parent or child. Access to equipment and facilities, neighborhood pattern (e.g. rural, exurban, suburban) and urban sprawl were associated with obesity outcomes in adolescents. For most environmental variables considered, strong empirical evidence is not yet available. Conceptual gaps, methodological limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Defining Access to Health Care: Evidence on the Importance of Quality and Distance in Rural Tanzania
Authors: Klemick Heather , Leonard Kenneth L. , Masatu Melkiory C. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe examine the implications of health‐seeking behavior on access to quality health care using a unique dataset that combines a household survey from rural Tanzania with the location and quality of all health facilities available to households. Patients do not always visit the nearest facility, but choose from among multiple facilities, improving the quality of care they receive by bypassing low quality facilities. Recognizing this behavior alters the projected benefits to health interventions, reducing the value of focusing on the staff qualifications and increasing the value of focusing on travel time and the motivation of current staff.
An Empirical Investigation into the Excessive‐Choice Effect
Authors: Arunachalam Bharath , Henneberry Shida R. , Lusk Jayson L. , Norwood F. Bailey 
Published: March 2009

AbstractRecent marketing and psychological studies have shown that more choice does not always benefit consumers. This excessive‐choice effect (ECE) is examined empirically using food items in four experiments. The first experiment investigates whether people would voluntarily reduce their choice‐set size. The second seeks to replicate previous experimental results. The third and fourth experiments employ nonhypothetical Becker‐DeGroot‐Marschak (BDM) soda auctions and hypothetical ground beef choice experiments to further detect the prevalence of the ECE in alternative settings and explore the role of personality in decision tasks. Results suggest the ECE exists, but is less prevalent than previous studies suggest.
Is CEO Duality Always Negative? An Exploration of CEO Duality and Ownership Structure in the Arab IPO Context
Authors: Chahine Salim , Tohmé Nicholas S. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTManuscript type: EmpiricalResearch Question/Issue: This paper examines the relationships between initial public offering (IPO) underpricing, CEO duality, and strategic ownership in 12 Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.Research Findings/Results: Using all IPOs from January 2000 until the end of July 2007, we document an average IPO underpricing of 184.1 per cent. Underpricing is higher in IPO firms that have CEO duality. However, strategic shareholders, such as corporations and other industry‐related investors, are likely to play a monitoring role whereas underpricing is found to be lower in firms with both CEO duality and strategic shareholder ownership. Moreover, the negative relation between underpricing and strategic blockholding is greater for foreign strategic ownership than it is for domestic strategic ownership.Theoretical Implications: This paper examines the level and determinants of IPO underpricing in the MENA region. It provides evidence on the role played by foreign strategic owners in reducing agency conflicts and information asymmetries within an environment where firms may be affected by the cultural issues related to political ties and family involvement.Practical Implications: Our results contribute to the existing debate on the appropriate regulations for an effective and stable financial system in Arab countries. They offer policy‐makers additional evidence on the positive impact of market openness to foreign shareholders.
The Diffusion of Equity Incentive Plans in Italian Listed Companies: What is the Trigger?
Authors: Zattoni Alessandro , Minichilli Alessandro 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTManuscript Type: EmpiricalResearch Question/Issue: Recent dynamics in the institutional and market environment facilitated the propagation of equity incentive plans outside the US and the UK. This study sheds light on the reasons behind the diffusion of these plans in Italy, a country where companies are usually controlled by a blockholder and these instruments were almost absent.Research Findings/Results: To gain a deep understanding of the phenomenon, we collected data on both the diffusion and the technical aspects of equity incentive plans adopted by Italian listed companies in 1999 and 2005. The results show that 1) the determinant of their adoption is the firm size, rather than the absence of a controlling shareholder; 2) these plans are not extensively used to extract company value, although few cases suggest this possibility; and 3) plans' characteristics generally comply with the requirements in tax law, so that fiscal benefits can be accessed.Theoretical Implications: Our findings contribute to the expansion of the traditional knowledge about reasons behind the adoption of equity incentive plans outside Anglo‐Saxon countries. Further, they provide support for a symbolic perspective of corporate governance, according to which the introduction of new governance practices may not imply substantive governance reforms.Practical Implications: Our study recommends that policymakers improve the disclosure rules about these plans and avoid the introduction of fiscal benefits that provide an incentive to promote some compensation schemes over others. Moreover, our results encourage members of remuneration committees to pay attention to specific characteristics of the plans.
SOCIAL CAPITAL OF ECONOMIC CLUSTERS: TOWARDS A NETWORK‐BASED CONCEPTION OF SOCIAL RESOURCES
Authors: HUBER FRANZ 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTTo grasp the critical role of socio‐cultural factors for regional economic development, several concepts have been developed, including that of ‘social capital’. This notion usually refers to norms, values, networks, reciprocity or trust which are held in a community and can lead to positive social and economic outcomes. Despite its popularity as a fashionable concept in the literature, the exact meaning of social capital is far from clear. This paper criticises the dominant conceptions of social capital in economic geography and regional studies and aims to place the debate in a different perspective. It argues for an alternative understanding of social capital defined as resources embedded in social networks which can be accessed or are used for actions. The potential to overcome the current weaknesses in the literature is illustrated through discussing social capital of economic clusters.
UNIVERSITIES, AGGLOMERATIONS AND GRADUATE HUMAN CAPITAL MOBILITY
Authors: FAGGIAN ALESSANDRA , MCCANN PHILIP 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTIn this paper we examine one aspect of agglomeration, namely the geography of human capital. In some contexts, human capital may be very mobile, and understanding local agglomeration processes therefore requires us to consider inter‐regional flows of human capital. In particular, here we discuss the flows of students in Great Britain from domicile into university and then the flows of graduate human capital from university into first employment. We then estimate the local/non‐local pattern of these flows as a function of the characteristics of the university, of the student population, and of the local region. Our findings suggest that university attendance in Great Britain is generally associated with very significant levels of human capital mobility, and only certain types of higher education institutions play a significant employment role in their local economies.
THE JANUS‐FACED ECONOMY: HONG KONG FIRMS AS INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN GLOBAL CUSTOMERS AND LOCAL PRODUCERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
Authors: MEYER SUSANNE , SCHILLER DANIEL , DIEZ JAVIER REVILLA 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThe influence of the institutional framework on governance modes is well covered in economic geography literature but lacks empirical evidence. The main focus of this work is to explain the governance of customer and producer relations of Hong Kong‐based electronics firms by institutional factors. Hong Kong firms are able to deal simultaneously with both the Chinese transitional setting and global markets, thus leading them to be described as Janus‐faced. Producer relations with the Pearl River Delta are mainly organised in hierarchical ways, whereas globally spread customers govern their relations with Hong Kong firms via the market. Despite the differences of the institutional setting, the advantages of spatial concentration of producers in proximity to Hong Kong have been proven.
THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF RANDSTAD CITIES WITHIN COMPARATIVE WORLDWIDE CORPORATE NETWORKS
Authors: WALL R.S. (RONALD) 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTToday, the importance of the Randstad agglomeration is often discussed in terms of the economic coherence between its four largest cities. This is remarkable when several leading authors argue that the economic importance of cities is strongly determined by economic networks between cities worldwide. This discrepancy stems from the fact that limited empirical research exists on corporate networks. Furthermore, the relative importance of cities within various studies is based on different functional types and spatial scales of data, making the results incomparable. Therefore, in this paper, the relative importance of the four largest Randstad cities is explored within three independent, comparative networks (top 100 global firms, top 100 European firms, and top 100 Dutch firms). Employing network analysis techniques, this paper evaluates the local, supra‐regional and global importance of the four Randstad cities within the three independent networks. The results show that the relative importance and network structures of these four cities are highly dependent on the economic size and locality of the initial headquarters and that Amsterdam proves to be the most important Randstad city in all three scales of corporate networks.
FINANCIAL GEOGRAPHIES AND EMERGING MARKETS IN EUROPE
Authors: KARREMAN BAS 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThis study examines the contemporary financial geographies of Central and Eastern Europe and argues how these may affect the established European financial centre network in the future. As the development of the financial sector in Europe's emerging markets is largely dependent on foreign investments, explicit attention is directed towards emerging centres that exhibit sufficient power to attract multinational financial service firms. In addition, it is empirically assessed from which locations these investments are controlled. The results show a distinct spatial order of financial centres organised around three main city clusters: a ‘south‐east’ cluster controlled by Athens, a ‘central‐east’ cluster controlled by Vienna and a ‘Baltic’ cluster controlled by both Copenhagen and Stockholm. Based on these results it is argued that these centres of control, and Vienna in particular, may enhance their competitiveness as a financial centre due to their strategic position in the growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe.
Onychomycosis and diabetes
Authors: Cathcart S , Cantrell W , Elewski BE 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjective This study aims to discuss factors specific to diabetics in the diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis.Discussion Onychomycosis has the potential to cause severe complications in diabetics and should be treated promptly. The existence of comorbid conditions and potential for drug–drug interactions complicates the selection of an appropriate treatment regimen. The role ofCandidain onychomycosis is controversial but may be of increased significance in the diabetic population due to an underlying vulnerability to this organism.Conclusions Terbinafine is an excellent choice in diabetics due to its low risk of drug–drug interaction and proven efficacy against the typical pathogens that cause onychomycosis. Itraconazole, while an effective treatment for onychomycosis, is not a first‐choice therapy due to its black‐box cardiac warning and numerous drug interactions. Larger studies are needed in diabetics to determine the frequency of candidal nail infections.
Giant noctule bats face conflicting constraints between roosting and foraging in a fragmented and heterogeneous landscape
Authors: Popa‐Lisseanu A. G. , Bontadina F. , Ibáñez C. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe tree‐dwelling giant noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus, a partially carnivorous aerial‐hawking bat, is one of the least known European bats, and more information is needed to evaluate its conservation status. Using radiotracking, we obtained the first data on spatial requirements and habitat preferences for the species in an area critically affected by deforestation. Two breeding populations separated by 60 km, one roosting in a city and the other in a nature reserve encircling a vast coastal marshland, showed marked differences in the size of their home ranges, but both used selectively the marshlands for foraging. Urban bats remained in the city for foraging during pregnancy in spring, but increased largely their home ranges towards the marshland during lactation in early summer. The nature reserve, with few roosting opportunities, was only a marginal roosting site for a population which switched between roosts located up to 90 km apart. Giant noctules had to travel long distances (up to 130 km recorded) to meet both foraging and roosting requirements within the fragmented landscape, exhibiting among the largest home ranges ever reported in Microchiroptera. To promote the protection of this threatened species, a network of artificial roosting options should be provided in good foraging habitats until long‐term forest restoration is achieved.
RON receptor tyrosine kinase in human gliomas: expression, function, and identification of a novel soluble splice variant
Authors: Eckerich Carmen , Schulte Alexander , Martens Tobias , Zapf Svenja , Westphal Manfred , Lamszus Katrin 
Published: March 2009

AbstractMalignant gliomas are incurable because of their diffuse infiltration of the surrounding brain. The recepteur d’origine nantais (RON) receptor tyrosine kinase is highly expressed in several epithelial cancer types and mediates tumorigenic, pro‐invasive as well as metastatic effects. Analyzing RON expression in human gliomas, we found that different splice variants with known oncogenic activity are expressed in glioblastomas (GBM). In addition, the RON ligand macrophage‐stimulating protein (MSP) is secreted by cultured GBM cells. MSP showed no mitogenic effect on GBM cells but displayed significant chemotactic activity for several GBM cell lines. We identified a novel splice variant, RONΔ90, which is generated by a transcript missing exon 6. As a result of a frameshift, translation is terminated in exon 7, resulting in a truncated soluble protein. RONΔ90 transcripts are expressed in normal human brain as well as in low grade astrocytomas but only in approximately 50% of highly malignant astrocytomas. In addition, RONΔ90 is detectable in supernatants of GBM cell lines. We cloned the RONΔ90 cDNA, and purified the recombinant protein from transfected cells. RONΔ90 inhibited MSP‐induced phosphorylation of cellular RON and also attenuated basal activation levels. In addition, RONΔ90 inhibited MSP‐induced glioma cell migration as well as random motility. To conclude, RONΔ90 is a novel soluble receptor variant with antagonistic activity that may act as a physiological modulator of RON signaling. The expression of several oncogenic RON splice variants in malignant gliomas suggests that these could represent candidate targets for treatment with agents inhibiting RON activity.
Association of maternal pre‐pregnancy weight with birth defects: Evidence from a case–control study in Western Australia
Authors: ODDY Wendy H. , DE KLERK Nicholas H. , MILLER Margaret , PAYNE Jan , BOWER Carol 
Published: March 2009

Background: Maternal obesity confers increased risks of poor pregnancy outcomes. There are limited Australian data on the risk of birth defects associated with maternal pre‐pregnancy obesity.Methods: Population‐based case–control study of 418 controls, 111 cases with heart defects (and of these, 38 had conotruncal heart defects), 27 with neural tube defects, 86 cases with urinary tract defects, 48 cases with orofacial clefts, and 20 with limb reduction defects. Maternal pre‐pregnancy weight and height were self‐reported.Results: Women with pre‐pregnancy obesity (body mass index 30+) had a twofold increased odds of having an infant with neural tube defects, conotruncal heart defects, orofacial clefts and limb reduction defects and 30–40% increase in heart defects generally and urinary tract defects. None of the estimates was statistically significant.Conclusions: Our findings were consistent with similar, statistically significant studies in the literature. Weight reduction prior to pregnancy in obese women may be a means of primary prevention of birth defects.