bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Klotho gene promoter polymorphism and cognitive impairment
Authors: Shimokata Hiroshi , Ando Fujiko , Fukukawa Yasuyuki , Nishita Yukiko 
Published: June 2006

Aim:  To study the association between the klotho gene polymorphism and cognitive impairment in community‐living men and women.Methods:  The subjects consisted of 2234 community‐living Japanese men and women aged 40–79 years. The klotho gene promoter polymorphism G‐395A was identified and cognitive function was assessed using the Japanese Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales – Revised Short Forms ( JWAIS‐R SF) and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Brain infarction and atrophy were assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The differences in cognitive function, infarction and atrophy were compared between the GG type and GA/AA type of the klotho gene G‐395A polymorphism.Results:  The distribution of the klotho gene G‐395A polymorphism was GG 1639 (73.4%), GA 539 (24.1%), and AA 56 (2.5%). There was no significant difference in intelligence quotient (IQ) between the GG type and GA/AA type in the subjects aged 40–59 years. However, the IQ level was significantly different in terms of the klotho genotype for subjects aged 60–79 years (P = 0.004). The mean and SE of IQ levels of the subjects with the GG type and the GA/AA type at nucleotide −395 were 99.8 ± 0.5 and 102.6 ± 0.8, respectively. There were also significant differences in three subtests of JWAIS‐R SF – Information, Similarities, and Picture Completion – for subjects aged 60–79 years. Also, the MMSE score was slightly lower for the GG type than for the GA/AA type (P = 0.099). However, there were no differences in the findings of brain MRI.Conclusion:  There were statistically significant differences in cognitive function for klotho gene promoter polymorphism G‐395A only in subjects aged 60 or over. This polymorphism may be associated with age‐related cognitive impairment.
Safe removal of LMA in children – at what BIS?
Authors: SINHA APARNA , SOOD JAYASHREE 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackground:  Removal of an LMA without producing untoward complications has remained a matter of concern to all anesthesiologists; more so in pediatric practice where the margin of safety is narrow. Most work on LMA in adults supports its removal following return of airway reflexes. The situation regarding its removal in children is, however, less clear.Methods:  We conducted a randomized, prospective study to compare incidence of airway complications after removal of the LMA at deep or awake planes in 120 children, ASA I or II, aged 1–8 years and to objectively determine the most appropriate Bispectral index (BIS) to allow safe removal of an LMA in children. They were studied in two groups of 60 and depth of anesthesia (whether awake‐Gp A or deep‐Gp D) for LMA removal was decided by random distribution from sealed envelopes. BIS was recorded continuously for all the patients until 2 min after removal of LMA.Results:  Mean SpO2 after removal of LMA was 93% Gp A and 98% in Gp D. The mean duration of surgery in Gp A was 53.9 ± 10 and in Gp D 46.7 ± 4 min. PESev at removal in Gp A was 0.20 ± 0.16 and in Gp D was 0.59 ± 0.1. BIS median in Gp A was 79 with a maximum of 86 and minimum of 66. In Gp D BIS, median was 60 with maximum of 76 and minimum of 58. The number of patients with airway complications in awake removal group was 21 (35%) and in deep removal group was 4 (6.6%).Conclusions:  Bispectral index scoring should prove a useful adjunct to the present monitoring and can be used to achieve smoother emergence conditions. We suggest that LMA removal should be attempted in children when a BIS value of approximately 60 is reached.
Anesthesia management with short acting agents for bilateral pheochromocytoma removal in a 12‐year‐old boy
Authors: BAKAN MEFKUR , KAYA GUNER , CAKMAKKAYA SERPIL , TUFANOGULLARI BURCU 
Published: June 2006

SummaryA 12‐year‐old boy with bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma pretreated with furosemide, nifedipine, prazosin, and propranolol underwent surgical removal of the tumors. General anesthesia with desflurane, remifentanil infusion and thoracic epidural analgesia was performed. To control the blood pressure (BP), remifentanil up to 1 μg·kg−1·min−1infusion rate, sodium nitroprusside, and esmolol infusions were administered successfully. Following the ligation of the adrenal veins, hemodynamic parameters were stable and neither inotropic support nor corticosteroid replacement was required. We concluded that remifentanil‐based anesthesia combined with low‐dose desflurane and thoracic epidural analgesia may reduce the need for vasoactive drugs in the anesthesia management of pheochromocytoma. This combination may not prevent the hemodynamic fluctuations during tumor manipulation, but appears to facilitate a rapid and stable postoperative recovery.
Continuous monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation in neonates and small infants: in vitro evaluation of two different oximetry catheters
Authors: HUBER DIRK , OSTHAUS WILHELM A. , OPTENHÖFEL JÖRG , BREYMANN THOMAS , MARX GERNOT , PIEPENBROCK SIEGFRIED , SÜMPELMANN Robert 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackground:  Accurate assessment and monitoring of the cardiocirculatory function are essential during major pediatric and pediatric cardiac surgery. Monitoring of the central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) may be a better indicator of tissue oxygenation and derangement of cellular oxygen utilization than the more commonly used vital parameters. Therefore, we compared oxygen saturation measurements with thin fiberoptic oximetry catheters and standard blood gas oximetry in an in vitro setting.Methods:  Two different size continuous fiberoptic oximetry catheters (2–4‐F) were inserted in an extracorporeal circuit filled with human red blood cells in normal saline (haematocrit 30%, flow 600 ml·min−1). The results of fiberoptic oximetry were then compared with standard blood gas oximetry for a wide range of different oxygen saturations using linear regression.Results:  The oxygen saturations found ranged from 9% to 100%. The results of the two different fiberoptic oximetry catheters correlated significantly (r = 0.99, P < 0.0001) with standard blood gas oximetry.Conclusion:  The results of fiberoptic oximetry are nearly identical with standard blood gas oximetry for a wide range of different oxygen saturations. Thin oximetry catheters can be inserted percutaneously even in neonates and small infants. The continuous monitoring of ScvO2 may be beneficial, especially in patients who are in danger of developing low cardiac output or sudden cardiovascular collapse.
Prospective, randomized comparison of laryngeal tube and laryngeal mask airway in pediatric patients
Authors: GENZWUERKER H.V. , FRITZ A. , HINKELBEIN J. , FINTEIS T. , SCHLAEFER A. , SCHAEFFER M. , THIL E. , RAPP H.J. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackground : While reports of the use of laryngeal mask airway (LMA)‐Classic in great patient numbers are available, data on the use of the laryngeal tube (LT) in this age group is limited. The two devices are compared in a prospective randomized trial to evaluate success rates and quality of airway seal.Methods : Sixty children, aged 2–8 years, scheduled for elective surgical interventions were randomized to be ventilated with LMA or LT. Standardized anesthesia was induced with fentanyl and propofol. Number of insertion attempts, time until first tidal volume and intraoperative tidal volumes, and peak pressures were recorded. Airway leak pressure was measured with cuff pressure adjusted to 60 cmH2O.Results : Demographic data were comparable, average age in the LMA/LT group was 5.2 ± 1.9/5.3 ± 1.9 years. Insertion was successful in 29 of 30 patients in the LMA group (second attempt 8) and in all patients in the LT group (second attempt 3). Time until first tidal volume for LMA/LT was 23.1 ± 7.3/19.2 ± 8.6 s (P < 0.05). Peak airway pressures for LMA and LT were 15.3 ± 3.4 and 17.1 ± 4.0 cmH2O (P < 0.05) with tidal volumes of 10.2 ± 2.2 and 10.2 ± 1.9 ml·kg−1, airway leak pressure was 19.2 ± 8.6 cmH2O for LMA and 26.3 ± 7.3 cmH2O for LT (P < 0.001).Conclusion : Insertion success rate is high with both LMA and LT in the age group studied. The airway leak pressure, serving as an estimate to judge quality of airway seal, is higher with the LT.
Indirect effects of algae on coral: algae‐mediated, microbe‐induced coral mortality
Authors: Smith Jennifer E. , Shaw Morrigan , Edwards Rob A. , Obura David , Pantos Olga , Sala Enric , Sandin Stuart A. , Smriga Steven , Hatay Mark , Rohwer Forest L. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractDeclines in coral cover are generally associated with increases in the abundance of fleshy algae. In many cases, it remains unclear whether algae are responsible, directly or indirectly, for coral death or whether they simply settle on dead coral surfaces. Here, we show that algae can indirectly cause coral mortality by enhancing microbial activity via the release of dissolved compounds. When coral and algae were placed in chambers together but separated by a 0.02 μm filter, corals suffered 100% mortality. With the addition of the broad‐spectrum antibiotic ampicillin, mortality was completely prevented. Physiological measurements showed complementary patterns of increasing coral stress with proximity to algae. Our results suggest that as human impacts increase and algae become more abundant on reefs a positive feedback loop may be created whereby compounds released by algae enhance microbial activity on live coral surfaces causing mortality of corals and further algal growth.
Active investment manager portfolios and preferences for stock characteristics
Authors: Brands Simone , Gallagher David R. , Looi Adrian 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe present study investigates the stock characteristic preferences of institutional Australian equity managers. In aggregate we find that active managers exhibit preferences for stocks exhibiting high‐price variance, large market capitalization, low transaction costs, value‐oriented characteristics, greater levels of analyst coverage and lower variability in analyst earnings forecasts. We observe stronger preferences for higher volatility, value stocks and wider analyst coverage among smaller stocks. We also find that smaller investment managers prefer securities with higher market capitalization and analyst coverage (including low variation in the forecasts of these analysts). We also document that industry effects play an important role in portfolio construction.
Data preprocessing and data parsimony in corporate failure forecast models: evidence from Australian materials industry
Authors: Wu Weiping , Lee Vincent Cheng Siong , Tan Ting Yean 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe present study, based on data for delisted and active corporations in the Australian materials industry, is an attempt to develop a systematic way of selecting corporate failure‐related features. We empirically tested the proposed procedure using three datasets. The first dataset contains 82 financial economic factors from the corporation's financial statement. The second dataset comprises 73 relevant financial ratios, which either directly or indirectly measure a corporation's propensity to fail, and are conciliated from the first dataset. The third dataset is a parsimonious dataset obtained from the application of combining a filter and a wrapper to preprocess the first dataset. The robustness of this preprocessed dataset is tested by comparing its performance with the first and second datasets in two statistical (logistic regression and naïve‐Bayes) and two machine learning (decision tree, neural network) classes of prediction models. Tests for prediction accuracies and reliabilities, using the computational (ROC curve, AUC) and the statistical (Cochran's Q statistic) criteria show that the third dataset outperforms the other two datasets in all four predicting models, achieving various accuracies ranges from 81 per cent to 84 per cent.
Does market misvaluation help explain share market long‐run underperformance following a seasoned equity issue?
Authors: Brown Philip , Gallery Gerry , Goei Olivia 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWe examine the relation between pre‐seasoned equity offering (SEO) announcement date misvaluation and long‐run post‐SEO performance for a large sample of Australian SEOs made between 1993 and 2001. Our study is motivated by inconsistent findings across countries with respect to the SEO long‐run underperformance anomaly first documented in the USA, inconclusive findings with respect to the hypothesis that managers exploit market misvaluation when timing equity issues, and a recent Australian Stock Exchange proposal to loosen SEO regulation. We find SEO firms underperform common share market benchmarks for up to 5 years after the announcement. Using a residual income valuation method, we show that this underperformance is related to pre‐announcement date misvaluation. An unexpected result is that underperformance and misvaluation are more severe for private placements than rights issues. Institutional factors unique to the Australian setting, particularly the large number of smaller loss‐making firms among private placement issuers, appear to explain the poorer performance of placement firms. Our results are robust to various measurement methods and assumptions, and demonstrate the importance of researching SEO performance in alternative institutional settings.
Brain and cognitive‐behavioural development after asphyxia at term birth
Authors: De Haan Michelle , Wyatt John S. , Roth Simon , Vargha‐Khadem Faraneh , Gadian David , Mishkin Mortimer 
Published: June 2006

Abstract Perinatal asphyxia occurs in approximately 1–6 per 1000 live full‐term births. Different patterns of brain damage can result, though the relation of these patterns to long‐term cognitive‐behavioural outcome remains under investigation. The hippocampus is one brain region that can be damaged (typically not in isolation), and this site of damage has been implicated in two different long‐term outcomes, cognitive memory impairment and the psychiatric disorder schizophrenia. Factors in addition to the acute episode of asphyxia likely contribute to these specific outcomes, making prediction difficult. Future studies that better document long‐term cognitive‐behavioural outcome, quantitatively identify patterns of brain injury over development and consider additional variables that may modulate the impact of asphyxia on cognitive and behavioural function will forward the goals of predicting long‐term outcome and understanding the mechanisms by which it unfolds.
Physiological correlates of intellectual function in children with sickle cell disease: hypoxaemia, hyperaemia and brain infarction
Authors: Hogan Alexandra M. , Pit‐ten Cate Ineke M. , Vargha‐Khadem Faraneh , Prengler Mara , Kirkham Fenella J. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractLowered intelligence relative to controls is evident by mid‐childhood in children with sickle cell disease. There is consensus that brain infarct contributes to this deficit, but the subtle lowering of IQ in children with normal MRI scans might be accounted for by chronic systemic complications leading to insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain. We investigated the relationship between daytime oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SpO2), cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and intellectual function (IQ) using path‐analysis in 30 adolescents with sickle cell disease (mean age 17.4 years, SD 4.2). Initial analyses revealed that the association between SpO2and Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) was fully mediated by increased CBFV, whereby SpO2was negatively correlated with CBFV and CBFV was negatively correlated with FSIQ, i.e. decreases in oxygen saturation are associated with increases in velocity, and increased velocity is associated with lowered IQ scores. The mediated relationship suggests that lowered IQ may be a function of abnormal oxygen delivery to the brain. Further analyses showed that the association between CBFV and IQ was significant for verbal but not for performance IQ. The pathophysiology characteristic of SCD can interfere with brain function and constrain intellectual development, even in the absence of an infarct. This supports the hypothesis that lowered intellectual function is partly explained by chronic hypoxia, and has wider implications for our understanding of SCD pathophysiology.
Institutional Efficiency, Monitoring Costs and the Investment Share of FDI*
Authors: Aizenman Joshua , Spiegel Mark M. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThis paper models and tests the implications of institutional efficiency on the pattern of FDI. We posit that domestic agents have a comparative advantage over foreign agents in overcoming some of the obstacles associated with corruption and weak institutions. Under these circumstances, FDI is more sensitive to increases in enforcement costs. We then test this prediction, comparing institutional efficiency levels for a large cross‐section of countries in 1989 to subsequent FDI flows through the period of 1990–99, finding that institutional efficiency is positively associated with the ratio of subsequent foreign direct investment flows to both gross fixed capital formation and to private investment.
Trade and Real Wages: a Macroeconomic Model*
Authors: Batra Ravi , Beladi Hamid 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWe offer a new paradigm to understand the effects of trade on factor rewards. It utilizes the classical‐Keynesian model, and shows that normally a country’s trade deficit hurts labor by lowering the real wage, but benefits the owners of capital. The effects of tariffs on factor rewards and employment are opposite to those of the trade deficit, which falls with a rise in the tariff rate. Countries with trade shortfalls unambiguously benefit from their tariffs, because laborers far outnumber capitalists, who suffer from the declining interest rate. Thus, tariffs lead to a rise in social welfare in trade‐deficit countries.
A comparison between the effects of low (1 µg) and standard dose (250 µg) ACTH stimulation tests on adrenal cortex functions with Behçet's disease
Authors: Colak R , Ozkan Y , Cengiz SU , Saral Y , Kandi BC , Halifeoglu I 
Published: June 2006

AbstractIntroduction  Behçet's disease is a rare, chronic disorder. The cause of Behçet's disease is unknown. It is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction. As in other chronic autoimmune diseases, Behçet's disease may show a subclinical adrenal failure and some changes in cortisol levels. We aimed to evaluate adrenal gland function in Behçet's disease patients.Material and method  This study included 18 Behçet's disease patients and 15 healthy controls. Patient and control groups were administered i.v. 1 µg low dose test (LDT) and 250 µg standard dose test (SDT) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test after 12 h of night fasting with an interval of 3‐days and cortisol responses in the 0th, 30th and 60th minutes were evaluated.Results  There was no statistically significant difference between basal cortisol values of Behçet's disease and control groups. Cortisol values in the 60th minute in LDT were significantly lower in Behçet's disease group than in the control group. In the peak cortisol responses to LDT, a significant decrease was found in Behçet's disease group.Conclusion  These findings suggest that hypothalamo‐pituitary adrenal axis is partially suppressed in Behçet's disease.
Impact of protection on nest take and nesting success of parrots in Africa, Asia and Australasia
Authors: Pain D. J. , Martins T. L. F. , Boussekey M. , Diaz S. H. , Downs C. T. , Ekstrom J. M. M. , Garnett S. , Gilardi J. D. , McNiven D. , Primot P. , Rouys S. , Saoumoé M. , Symes C. T. , Tamungang S. A. , Theuerkauf J. , Villafuerte D. , Verfailles L. , Widmann P. , Widmann I. D. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWild parrots represent one of the greatest commercial interests in the legal trade in wild birds. Although it is difficult to quantify, there is a considerable illegal trade in wild parrots. Thirty‐six per cent of the world's parrot species are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as threatened or near threatened, and 55% of these are threatened to some degree by trade. In this paper, we investigate the impact of protection on the number of nests that failed because of nestlings being taken by humans (hereafter nest take) and on nesting success in parrots. We collate data on parrot nest take from published and unpublished studies from Africa, Asia and Australasia, including countries and sites with and without national and local parrot protection measures in place. Nest take was insignificant in Australia, where all studies were from areas with both local and national protection. For less developed countries, levels of nest take were variable between studies, spanning the whole range from 0 to 100%. Protection significantly reduced nest take and correspondingly increased nesting success. Our results corroborate those for the Neotropics; thus, the advantages of protection appear to be independent of geographical location or political and economic conditions. We analysed data on legal trade in wild‐caught parrots before and after implementation of the 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act (which practically eliminated import of parrots to the USA) and found that there was no apparent shift in parrot imports to other global regions from the Neotropics. We suggest that conservation of parrots globally would benefit from similar legislation introduced in other regions, such as the EU (15), which is responsible for more than 60% of global imports of wild parrots.
Fur snagging as a method of evaluating the presence and abundance of a small carnivore, the pine marten (Martes martes)
Authors: Lynch Á. B. , Brown M. J. F. , Rochford J. M. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe pine marten Martes martes was once considered one of Ireland's rarest carnivores, but is now recolonizing many of the areas where it was once extirpated. It is important to monitor its population expansion so that conservation management decisions can be made regarding the status of this species. In this study, we investigate the use of fur snagging devices as a method of estimating pine marten presence and abundance in lowland and upland broadleaf woodland. We investigated whether these devices reliably detected presence, and how quickly. It was found that hair traps functioned very well in detecting pine martens on all survey transects and was essential in their detection in the most isolated site. A survey length of 6 days was sufficient to detect pine marten in all survey sites, with most detections occurring within the first 4 days. The hair traps functioned equally well as scat location for detecting pine marten and had the added advantage of there being no confusion as to the origin of the sample. Live trapping was used to verify the estimates of relative abundance from hair traps. There was a trend for the number of hair samples per site and the number of times animals were trapped per site to be positively correlated, although this was not significant. Hair traps do provide a real alternative for the monitoring of pine martens in both lowland and upland broadleaf woodlands, overcoming many of the disadvantages associated with scat location.