bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On‐market share buybacks, exercisable share options and earnings management
Authors: Balachandran Balasingham , Chalmers Keryn , Haman Janto 
Published: February 2008

Abstract Chan et al. (2006b) suggest that managers might announce a share buyback to manipulate investors’ perceptions and capitalize on the positive price reaction usually associated with the announcement. The incentive to do so is greater when managers have exercisable options. Prior studies document that managers engage in upwards earnings management for opportunistic reasons related to option holdings (Bergstresser and Philippon, 2006). We examine the association between earnings management and exercisable option holdings for buyback firms to investigate if earnings management in the pre‐buyback period is greater for firms with equity incentives to increase share price. Our results, using 138 buybacks over the period 1996–2003, support our prediction. We find that buyback firms with both exercisable options that are in‐the‐money prior to the buyback announcement as well as options that are exercised in the buyback period have higher discretionary current accruals than buyback firms with no exercisable options, unexercised options or with out‐of‐the‐money options. Overall, our results are consistent with buyback firms with exercisable options using earnings management and buyback announcements to maximize option payoffs, and buyback firms without exercisable options signalling undervaluation.
Does accounting choice influence US investment in non‐US companies? Evidence from US institutional investment in Australian companies
Authors: Chugh Shrutika , Fargher Neil 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPrevious research asserts that companies that choose accounting methods more familiar to investors reduce information asymmetry and increase credibility of their financial statements to those investors, thereby attracting higher levels of foreign investment. This study examines the variation in accounting policies associated with institutional investment in Australian equity. The results suggest that large US institutional holdings in Australian companies are associated with American Depositary Receipt listing and, incrementally, choice of accounting methods that conform to US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Although making accounting choices in compliance with US GAAP is significantly associated with higher levels of institutional ownership in a statistical sense, examination of the specific differences in accounting choices suggests that the differences in informational content are relatively minor.
Financial analysts and price discovery
Authors: Aitken Michael , Almeida Niall , Harris Frederick H. deB. , McInish Thomas H. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWe show that whether or not a bank/brokerage firm has top‐rated financial analysts and high Wall Street Search rankings for their research is significantly related to that firm's contribution to price discovery, the process by which information is incorporated into stock prices. Our study relates cross‐sectional characteristics of the quality of brokerage research, the asymmetric information environment, and order flow volume to a microstructure measure of price discovery developed by Granger and Gonzalo. We measure analysts’ research quality with an industry‐specific ranking by institutional investors, with an opinion survey of trading desk personnel, and with the number of top 3 analysts across all industries employed by the bank/brokerage firm.
The fundamental drivers of the obesity epidemic
Authors: James W. P. T. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryMost policy makers do not yet understand that the obesity epidemic is a normal population response to the dramatic reduction in the demand for physical activity and the major changes in the food supply of countries over the last 40 years. A national focus on individual behaviour reflects a failure to confront the facts. Thus, the changes in food supply and physical environment are socioeconomically driven, and the health sector simply picks up the consequences. Urbanization alone in China has reduced daily energy expenditure by about 300–400 kcal d−1 and cycling/bussing or going to work by car determines another variation of 200 kcal d−1. Thus, energy demands may have dropped with additional TV/media, mechanization and computerized changes by 400–800 kcal d−1, so weight gain and obesity are inevitable for most or all the population. Food intake should have fallen substantially despite the community's focus on the value of food after all the food crises of the past. Yet, Chinese fat and sugar intakes are escalating, and these policy‐mediated features are amplified by the primeval biological drive for those commodities with specialized taste buds for fatty acids, meat, sugar and salt. Yet, traditionally, Chinese diets had negligible sugar, and 25‐year‐old data show that the optimum diet for Chinese contains 15% fat. Policies relating to food imports, agriculture, food quality standards, appropriate food traffic light labelling, price adjustments and controlled access to unhealthy foods are all within the grasp of the Chinese government. China has traditionally been far more responsive to the value of policies which limit inequalities and establish standards of care than many western governments, who have yet to recognize that the individualistic free‐market approach to obesity prevention is guaranteed to fail. China could therefore lead the way: if it follows western approaches, the health and economic burden will become unsustainable.
Obesity and its related diseases in Taiwan
Authors: Huang K.‐C. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryObesity is related to increased morbidity and mortality, and prevails worldwide. It has become an important health issue and requires urgent attention. In Taiwan, overweight and obesity are defined as body mass index ≥24 and 27 kg m−2, respectively. These cut‐offs differ from Caucasian standards, as Asians have higher comorbidities and fat mass at lower BMI levels than Caucasians. The prevalence of obesity and overweight in Taiwan are 19.2% and 30.5% in men, 13.4% and 21.3% in women. This implies that a more profound increase in obesity prevalence is found in men than in women. A high‐fat diet, sedentary lifestyle and betel nut chewing may increase substantially this obesity epidemic. Recently, type 2 diabetes mellitus has been found to be the most common type of diabetes, and obesity is significantly related to type 2 diabetes in children. In addition, obesity is associated with cardiovascular diseases risk factors and cannot be neglected in elderly. Therefore, a comprehensive prevention and management programme of obesity is urgently warranted for controlling the growing obesity trend and its related diseases in Taiwan.
Ethnic comparisons of the cross‐sectional relationships between measures of body size with diabetes and hypertension
Authors: Huxley R. , James W. P. T. , Barzi F. , Patel J. V. , Lear S. A. , Suriyawongpaisal P. , Janus E. , Caterson I. , Zimmet P. , Prabhakaran D. , Reddy S. , Woodward M. ,   the Obesity in Asia Collaboration
Published: February 2008

SummaryRecent estimates indicate that two billion people are overweight or obese and hence are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and its comorbidities. However, this may be an underestimate of the true extent of the problem, as the current method used to define overweight may lack sensitivity, particularly in some ethnic groups where there may be an underestimate of risk. Measures of central obesity may be more strongly associated with cardiovascular risk, but there has been no systematic attempt to compare the strength and nature of the associations between different measures of overweight with cardiovascular risk across ethnic groups. Data from the Obesity in Asia Collaboration, comprising 21 cross‐sectional studies in the Asia‐Pacific region with information on more than 263 000 individuals, indicate that measures of central obesity, in particular, waist circumference (WC), are better discriminators of prevalent diabetes and hypertension in Asians and Caucasians, and are more strongly associated with prevalent diabetes (but not hypertension), compared with body mass index (BMI).For any given level of BMI, WC or waist : hip ratio, the absolute risk of diabetes or hypertension tended to be higher among Asians compared with Caucasians, supporting the use of lower anthropometric cut‐points to indicate overweight among Asians.
Developmental origin of metabolic syndrome: interaction of thinness at birth and overweight during adult life in Chinese population
Authors: Mi J. , Cheng H. , Zhao X.‐Y. , Hou D.‐Q. , Chen F.‐F. , Zhang K.‐L. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryIn the present study we explore the association between the ponderal index (PI) at birth and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in middle‐aged population in China. A total of 975 men and women aged 41–52 years with detailed birth records were followed up and recruited for clinic examinations, involving anthropometry and measurements of blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, serum lipid profile. The MetS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (Adult Treatment Panel III) definition. Multivariate logistic regression analysis estimated the effect of PI on MetS and the interaction between PI at birth and adult body mass index (BMI). The average prevalence of MetS was 19.3%, with rates of 23.7%, 22.9%, 16.9% and 16.5% in those who at birth were <25th percentile, the 25th−50th percentile, the 50th−75th percentile and >75th percentile PI respectively, with a significant decreasing trend (x2for trend = 5.661, P = 0.017). Logistic regression analysis showed that 25.7% of the occurrence of MetS was attributable to PI at birth and adult BMI both acting independently and synergistically.In summary thinness at birth predicts the later occurrence of MetS, as well as modifying the association between later BMI and MetS. Overweight later in life was most deleterious for those with growth retardation at birth.
Closing the energy gap to prevent weight gain in China
Authors: Zhai F. , Wang H. , Wang Z. , Popkin B. M. , Chen C. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryTo estimate the energy gap (i.e. degree of positive energy balance) that is causing weight gain in the population of China in order to provide a quantitative goal for how much behaviour change is required to prevent excess weight gain in the population. This is based on data collected in the China Health and Nutrition Survey. 2288 adults (20–45 years) who took part in both the 1989 and 2000 surveys were selected. Results: from 1989 to 2000, the average weight of this population increased from 55.4 kg to 59.1 kg. The medium increasing rate was 0.33 kg year−1. During this time, the prevalence of overweight in the population increased dramatically from 9.0% to 23.2%. By assuming that each kilogram of body weight gained represents 7700 kcal, the estimated medium energy accumulation in the sample was 7.0 kcal day−1 and the 90th percentile was 22.5 kcal d−1. Further, assuming that the energy derived from mixed composition diets is stored with an average efficiency of 50%, the estimated energy gap for the population was 45 kcal day−1. This is the degree of positive energy balance that is causing weight gain in 90% of the population. The estimate suggests that the behaviour change needed to close the energy gap is small and achievable without dramatically altering current lifestyle in China. For example, reducing energy intake by just 2–3% less each day or walking an extra 10–15 minutes each day could offset weight gain in roughly 90% of the population in China. By providing an estimate of the energy gap it can be predicted that weight gain in most of the population of China could be prevented with small lifestyle changes. It is critical that these lifestyle changes be implemented in order to prevent acceleration of the obesity epidemic in China.
Effect of supervised exercise intervention on metabolic risk factors and physical fitness in Chinese obese children in early puberty
Authors: Chang C. , Liu W. , Zhao X. , Li S. , Yu C. 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe aim of this paper was to study the effect of long‐term supervised exercise‐induced weight maintenance on metabolic risk factors and physical fitness in obese children in early puberty. A total of 49 obese children aged 12–14 years were divided into control and exercise groups. The children in the exercise group accepted exercise intervention supervised by a professional sports teacher for 9 of the 12 months. All participants in both groups received health education once every 3 months. Anthropometry and fasting serum lipids, glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) were measured at months 0, 3, 9, 12 of the intervention. Physical fitness was determined before and after intervention. After the intervention (i) BMI was reduced by 0.6 (P < 0.05) in the exercise group, but increased by 0.5 (P < 0.05) in the control group, compared with the pre‐intervention level at the end of 9‐month intervention; (ii) Triglyceride levels in the exercise group significantly decreased by 23.1% by 3 months (P < 0.05), and by 30.2% after 9 months (P < 0.05), but increased by 50% (P < 0.05) in the control group; high density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) decreased more by 35% (P < 0.05) in the controls than in the exercise group (P < 0.05); (iii) Fasting serum glucose, insulin level and HOMA‐IR decreased, respectively, by 23.1%, 36.6% and 48.5% in the exercise group at 9 months (P < 0.05), whereas glucose levels increased by 10.9% (P < 0.05) in the control group; (iv) Exercise performance, such as upper‐ and lower‐limb strength, flexibility and endurance, were enhanced by 17.9%, 12.3%, 22.3% and 20.4% (P < 0.01), respectively and (v) At 12 months, i.e. 3 months after terminating the supervised exercise, serum triglycerides, glucose, insulin and HOMA‐IR level all returned to the pre‐intervention level. Supervised decrement exercise can effectively slow the progress of obesity, improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic risk factors, but once the supervised exercise is stopped, the health benefits weaken or vanish. The key to helping these obese children is for them to cultivate good exercise habits which are sustained throughout their lives.
BDNF and the diseased nervous system: a delicate balance between adaptive and pathological processes of gene regulation
Authors: Hu Yinghui , Russek Shelley J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIt is clear that brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in organizing the response of the genome to dynamic changes in the extracellular environment that enable brain plasticity. BDNF has emerged as one of the most important signaling molecules for the developing nervous system as well as the impaired nervous system, and multiple diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, epilepsy, Rett’s syndrome, and psychiatric depression, are linked by their association with potential dysregulation of BDNF‐driven signal transduction programs. These programs are responsible for controlling the amount of activated transcription factors, such as cAMP response element binding protein, that coordinate the expression of multiple brain proteins, like ion channels and early growth response factors, whose job is to maintain the balance of excitation and inhibition in the nervous system. In this review, we will explore the evidence for BDNF's role in gene regulation side by side with its potential role in the etiology of neurological diseases. It is hoped that by bringing the datasets together in these diverse fields we can help develop the foundation for future studies aimed at understanding basic principles of gene regulation in the nervous system and how they can be harnessed to develop new therapeutic opportunities.
A case of vascular depression associated with musical hallucinations successfully treated with paroxetine and a low dose of risperidone
Authors: UMENE Wakako , YOSHIMURA Reiji , HORI Hikaru , NAKAMURA Jun 
Published: February 2008

AbstractHerein, we report a case of an 83‐year‐old man with vascular depression associated with musical hallucinations. Brain magnetic resonance imaging disclosed diffuse brain atrophy with multiple higher‐density zones in the white matter and basal ganglia. Single photon emission computed tomography images showed areas of hypoperfusion in the bilateral temporal lobe and basal ganglia. Combination treatment with paroxetine and a low dose of risperidone rapidly improved both the depressive symptoms and musical hallucinations.
Alcohol Intake is Significantly Associated with Atrial Flutter in Patients under 60 Years of Age and a Shorter Right Atrial Effective Refractory Period
Authors: MARCUS GREGORY M. , SMITH LISA M. , WHITEMAN DEAN , TSENG ZIAN H. , BADHWAR NITISH , LEE BYRON K. , LEE RANDALL J. , SCHEINMAN MELVIN M. , OLGIN JEFFREY E. 
Published: February 2008

Background: Although evidence suggests that alcohol is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), the association between alcohol and atrial flutter (AFL) has not been examined. The mechanism connecting alcohol and atrial arrhythmias is unknown.
Methods: Alcohol intake was determined in 195 consecutive patients with AF and AFL. Control subjects included patients with other supraventricular arrhythmias (n = 132) and healthy subjects (n = 54). Because of important competing risk factors for atrial arrhythmias in the elderly, stratification by age was performed. In a subset, atrial effective refractory periods (AERPs) were obtained from the high right atrium and proximal and distal coronary sinus.
Results: AF and AFL patients were significantly more likely to be daily alcohol drinkers (27% vs 14% of controls, P = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, AFL patients ≤ 60 years of age were significantly more likely to be daily drinkers than to drink no alcohol compared to controls (odds ratio 17, 95% confidence interval 1.6–192.0, P = 0.019). Progressively more frequent alcohol intake was significantly associated with a progressively greater odds of AFL in patients ≤ 60 years of age (P = 0.045). Neither AF subjects of any age nor AFL subjects > 60 years of age exhibited significant associations with alcohol after multivariable adjustment. Right AERPs shortened significantly with increasing amounts of alcohol intake (P = 0.025), whereas left AERPs were not associated with alcohol intake.
Conclusions: Alcohol intake is positively associated with AFL in younger patients. The mechanism may be related to a shortening of the right AERP.
The Acute Effect of Cardiac Pacing Mode on Endothelial Vasodilation: Prospective, Double‐Blind, Cross‐Over, Comparative Clinical Study
Authors: FAK ALI SERDAR , OZBEN BESTE , TOPRAK AHMET , CINCIN A. ALTUG , PAPILA NURDAN , TANRIKULU M. AZRA , OKTAY AHMET 
Published: February 2008

Background: Compared to atrioventricular sequential pacing, ventricular demand pacing is known to have somewhat more deleterious hemodynamic effects, which probably arise from increased sympathetic tonus and inappropriate baroreceptor activation. Endothelial function is affected by various local and systemic factors including baroreceptor activity. The aim of this study was to explore whether cardiac pacing would have any effect on endothelial functions.
Methods: Twelve patients (six male, mean age: 75 ± 9 years) with previously implanted DDD or VDD
cardiac pacemakers were included. All patients had stable atrial rhythms during the study. Patients were randomized to either atrial‐based pacing mode (VDD or DDD) or ventricular demand pacing mode (VVI) first, and then cross‐over was performed with the other pacing mode. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery ultrasonography. Basal diameter of the brachial artery, and both flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelium‐independent vasodilation with nitroglycerin were measured 1 hour after each pacing mode.
Results: Compared to atrial‐based pacing mode, ventricular demand pacing was associated with a significantly worse FMD both as absolute and percentage values (0.17 ± 0.09 mm vs 0.28 ± 0.11 mm, P = 0.015 and 4.84 ± 2.37 % vs 7.00 ± 2.88 %, P = 0.028, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in nitroglycerin‐mediated vasodilation values between the two pacing sessions.
Conclusions: Acute ventricular demand pacing (VVI pacing) is clearly associated with attenuation of FMD in patients with atrial‐based pacing systems. The attenuation of endothelial vasodilation might have a role in hemodynamic and clinical deterioration in patients with VVI pacemakers.
Natural history of choroidal neovascularization after surgical induction in an animal model
Authors: Lassota Nathan , Kiilgaard Jens Folke , La Cour Morten , Scherfig Erik , Prause Jan Ulrik 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACT.Purpose:  To study an expanded time course of surgically induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a porcine model applying fluorescence angiography and immunohistology.Methods:  Twenty‐two porcine eyes underwent vitrectomy, a retinal bleb was raised and the detached retina perforated using endodiathermy. Bruch’s membrane was perforated with a retinal perforator at a site where the overlying neuroretina was normal. Eyes were enucleated in a time interval between 30 min and 42 days after the perforation, and the pigs were subsequently killed. Immediately prior to enucleation, fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms were obtained. Sections of paraffin‐embedded eyes were immunohistochemically stained.Results:  On fluorescein angiography, membranes aged 14 days or less exhibited leakage in 10/11 cases while the remaining showed persistent staining. The propensity to leak diminished with time and only 1/3 of the oldest membranes leaked. In eyes enucleated immediately after surgery, neuroretinas overlying the induced lesions were intact without apparent atrophy of cells. At day 3, macrophages and myofibroblasts formed membrane‐like structures in the subretinal space. At day 7, the outer surface of the membrane was covered by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and the neuroretinas had suffered damage in the form of outer segment loss. In the time period 14–42 days, the CNV membrane became completely enveloped by RPE cells. The degree of membrane vascularization increased with time and was at its maximum after 42 days. Intact outer segments were identified over the oldest membranes.Conclusion:  The formation of surgical CNV membranes followed the normal reparatory pathway and the degree of vascularization of CNV membranes continued to increase during the 42 days. However, propensity to leak diminished with time. We believe that this was because of the fact that RPE cells completely enveloped older membrane and thus prevented leakage from the newly formed vessels. Photoreceptor outer segments, which had atrophied after 7 days, were able to regenerate over CNV membranes and could be identified again after 42 days.
Terlipressin as rescue treatment of refractory shock in a neonate
Authors: Filippi Luca , Poggi Chiara , Serafini Lisa , Fiorini Patrizio 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPatients with septic shock may develop refractory hypotension despite maximal inotropic support with impairment of clinical outcome. Terlipressin, a long‐acting vasopressin analogue, is reported to be effective as rescue treatment of refractory septic shock in adult and paediatric patients, while clinical experience in neonates is definitely scarce. We report a neonate with systemic inflammatory response syndrome after surgery for abdominal neuroblastoma who received terlipressin as rescue treatment after failure of volume load and catecholamines. Terlipressin promptly reversed hypotension and improved tissue perfusion without adverse effects.Conclusion: Terlipressin appears an effective rescue treatment in patients with refractory vasodilatory septic shock. Further studies are required to assess its efficacy and safety in neonatal population.