bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the Non‐Contractual Nature of Donor–Recipient Interaction in Development Assistance
Authors: Murshed S. Mansoob 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe author analyzes three issues in strategic donor–recipient interaction motivated by the complexity of the rationale underlying aid. The first is when we have several principals with conflicting objectives. Any one principal cannot offer high powered incentives to the agent to carry out his or her designated task. The second is to do with the fact that effort associated with ensuring aid effectiveness may concern both principal and agent, the optimal solution to which requires cooperative behavior that is difficult to design. Consequently, the contractual type principal–agent relationship between donors and recipients is inappropriate. We need to consider models that signal recipient quality or commitment to reform. Thus, thirdly, a simple model of signaling with commitment problems is presented, along with extensions to multiple types of agent and time periods, as well as possible solutions involving mechanism design.
Does Aid Mitigate External Shocks?
Authors: Collier Paul , Goderis Benedikt 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe authors investigate the role of aid in mitigating the adverse effects of commodity export price shocks on growth in commodity‐dependent countries. Using a large cross‐country dataset, they find that negative shocks matter for short‐term growth, while the ex ante risk of shocks does not seem to matter. They also find that both the level of aid and the flexibility of the exchange rate substantially lower the adverse growth effect of shocks. While the mitigating effect of aid is significant in both countries with pegs and countries with floats, the effect seems to be smaller for the latter, suggesting that aid and exchange rate flexibility are partly substitutes. They investigate whether aid has historically been targeted at shock‐prone countries, but find no evidence that this is the case. This suggests that donors could increase aid effectiveness by redirecting aid toward countries with a high incidence of commodity export price shocks.
The Macroeconomic Management of Increased Aid: Policy Lessons from Recent Experience
Authors: Hussain Mumtaz , Berg Andrew , Aiyar Shekhar 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe authors investigate the macroeconomic challenges created by a surge in aid inflows. They develop an analytical framework for examining possible policy responses to increased aid, in terms ofabsorptionandspendingof aid—where the central bank controls absorption, through monetary policy and the sale of foreign exchange, and where the fiscal authority controls spending. Different combinations of absorption and spending lead to different macroeconomic consequences. Evidence from five countries that recently experienced an aid surge (Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda) shows no support for aid‐related real exchange rate appreciation in these countries, but it does indicate that thefearof Dutch disease played an important part in the policy reaction to aid surges. Fiscal and monetary authorities should coordinate their responses to an aid surge, because an uncoordinated response—typically when the fiscal authority wants to spend aid while the central bank wants to avoid exchange rate appreciation—can have serious negative macroeconomic consequences.
Aid Effectiveness: Looking at the Aid–Social Capital–Growth Nexus
Authors: Baliamoune‐Lutz Mina , Mavrotas George 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe authors examine the impact of institutional quality and social capital on aid effectiveness. They find strong evidence that social capital and institutions enhance aid effectiveness. Moreover, once they account for the role of social capital and institutions, the impact of policies tends to disappear. These findings have important policy implications as they indicate that conditioning aid allocation on “good policies” may not lead to an optimal (or fair) allocation of aid, as countries with high social capital at the macrolevel could actually make good use of aid regardless of the quality of policy. This casts doubt on the conclusions in Burnside and Dollar (2000) and the policy lessons derived from their findings.
Observed Inflation Forecasts and the New Keynesian Phillips Curve*
Authors: Zhang Chengsi , Osborn Denise R. , Kim Dong Heon 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThis paper investigates the empirical success of the New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) in explaining US inflation when observed measures of inflation expectations are used in conjunction with the output gap. The paper contributes to the literature by addressing the important problem of serial correlation in the stylized NKPC and developing an extended model to account for this serial correlation. Contrary to recent results indicating no role for the output gap, we find it to be a statistically significant driving variable for inflation, with this finding robust to whether the inflation expectations series used relates to individual consumers, professional forecasters or the US Fed.
Psycho‐cutaneous disorders: an epidemiologic study
Authors: Ehsani AH , Toosi S , Shahshahani M Mirshams , Arbabi M , Noormohammadpour P 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground and aims  Psycho‐dermatology addresses the interaction between mind and the skin. Effective management of at least one third of the patients attending the skin department depends, to some extent, upon the recognition of emotional and psychologic factors. The aim of this study was to provide epidemiologic data about common psycho‐dermatoses and their prevalence in dermatologic patients in Iran.Materials and methods  Patients suspicious to have psychocutaneous problem with primary dermatologic chief complaint were included. After detailed dermatologic evaluation, all patients were visited by an expert psychologist to determine prevalence of DSM‐IV disorders in each psychocutaneous category including delusion of parasitosis, trichotillomania, dermatitis artefacta and neurotic excoriation.Results  A total of 178 patients including 78 (43.8%) males and 100 (56.2%) females entered the study. The commonest psychocutaneous disorder was neurotic excoriation followed by trichotillomania, delusion of parasitosis and dermatitis artefacta. Mood disorder was the commonest DSM‐IV disorder in our patients, then anxiety disorder and drug‐induced symptoms.Conclusion  According to our results, it seems that all psychocutaneous disorders but delusion of parasitosis are commoner in females. Mood and anxiety disorders were common in patients with dermatitis artefacta, as patients with neurotic excoriation. In trichotillomania, obsessive compulsive disorder was the commonest disorder. Drug abuse is a major background of delusional parasitosis.Conflicts of interestNone declared.
How can the feeding habits of the sand tiger shark influence the success of conservation programs?
Authors: Lucifora L. O. , García V. B. , Escalante A. H. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe feeding habits of the sand tiger shark Carcharias taurus, one of the most threatened sharks of the world, are poorly known. Sand tiger sharks are critically endangered in the South‐west Atlantic. Since 2007, the law requires that all individuals caught in recreational fisheries off Argentina must be released. Using data from a north Patagonian recreational fishery (n=164 stomachs with contents), we analyzed the diet of sand tiger sharks in relation with size, sex, maturity stage and season; assessed prey consumption patterns and hooking location; and estimated diet overlap with fishery landings. Sand tiger sharks consumed mainly teleosts (55.4% of the total prey number, N) and elasmobranchs (41.84%N), and ate more benthic elasmobranchs (batoids and angel sharks) as they become larger. Sharks swallowed prey mostly in one piece (93.7%) and were hooked mainly in internal organs (87.4%, n=175), causing occlusion and perforation of the esophagus and stomach, and lacerations to the pericardium, heart and liver. Sand tiger sharks fed on the most heavily landed species, overlapping almost completely (>90%) with fishery landings. Conservation plans should take into account that releasing hooked sharks could be insufficient to minimize fishing mortality and that competition for food with fisheries is likely to occur.
XENOTRANSPLANTATION, CONSENT AND INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
Authors: SPARROW ROBERT 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThe risk posed to the community by possible xenozoonosis after xenotransplantation suggests that some form of ‘community consent’ is required before whole organ animal‐to‐human xenotransplantation should take place. I argue that this requirement places greater obstacles in the path of ethical xenotransplantation than has previously been recognised. The relevant community is global and there are no existing institutions with democratic credentials sufficient to establish this consent. The distribution of the risks and benefits from xenotransplantation also means that consent is unlikely to be forthcoming. Proceeding on the basis of hypothetical consent to a package of global health measures that includes xenotransplantation, as Rothblatt has recently advocated, is more problematic than she acknowledges. Given that it may place the lives of citizens of poor nations at risk to benefit the citizens of wealthy nations, xenotransplantation raises significant questions of international justice.
Use of dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination in psychiatric hospital in Bahrain: is there a cause for concern?
Authors: Al Khaja Khalid A. J. , Al‐Haddad Mohammed K. , Al‐Offi Adel R. , Abdulraheem Masooma H. , Sequeira Reginald P. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThere are concerns about the safety of the dextropropoxyphene and acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination, particularly in patients with psychiatric morbidity, which has led to a phased withdrawal of this fixed‐dose combination in many countries. A retrospective prescription audit was conducted to evaluate the dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination prescribing pattern in the major psychiatric hospital of Bahrain. The data analysis was performed using SPSS/PC+ version 14.0. Prescriptions with the dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination comprised 11.8% of all dispensed prescriptions and in most instances for outpatients undergoing substance abuse rehabilitation. Nearly half of the patients received ≥20 tablets of this fixed‐dose combination (mean ± SD: 30.9 ± 13.1; range 20–126) as multiple doses. The dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination was often co‐prescribed with psychotropics, such as benzodiazepines (BZDs) (25.4%), BZDs + antidepressants (62.9%), BZDs + antipsychotics (3.7%) and BZDs + anticonvulsants (1.9%). Approximately 40% of prescriptions with the dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination were written ‘as required’ (prn), basis. Despite poor safety and efforts to restrict or withdraw worldwide, the dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination continues to be irrationally prescribed to outpatients undergoing substance abuse rehabilitation in Bahrain. Health policy decision‐makers should introduce a phased withdrawal of this drug from clinical use. In the meanwhile, it is important to create awareness among prescribers of the risks associated with over‐dosage of the dextropropoxyphene + acetaminophen fixed‐dose combination and its interaction with other psychotropic medications.
Characterization and differential expression of a newly identified phosphorylated isoform of the human 20S proteasome β7 subunit in tumor vs. normal cell lines
Authors: Eang Rothmony , Girbal‐Neuhauser Elisabeth , Xu Bo , Gairin Jean Edouard 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe search of new pharmacological targets with original mechanism of action within the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway is still a goal to be reached in oncopharmacology. Modification by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation has been found to be involved in cancer and to regulate functional activity of proteasome. Until now, phosphorylated forms of α subunits of the 20S human proteasome have been mostly reported. Here, we have rationally designed a polyclonal antibody specifically directed against a phosphorylated peptide sequence bearing the β7 subunit Ser249 residue of the human 20S proteasome. This anti‐β7 phosphoSer249 antibody appeared to be a probe of choice to detect the presence of a phosphorylated isoform of the β7 subunit of the human 20S proteasome using mono or two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. PhosphoSer249 was sensitive to acid phosphatase treatment of native 20S proteasome. Dephosphorylation affected the peptidylglutamyl‐peptide hydrolyzing activity whereas the chymotrypsin‐like and trypsin‐like activities remained unchanged. A comparative analysis between human normal and tumor cells showed a differential expression of the phosphoSer249 β7 isoform with a significantly lower detection in the proteasome isolated from tumor cells, suggesting its possible use as a biomarker.
Early prediction of sustained virological response at day 3 of treatment with albinterferon‐α‐2b in patients with genotype 2/3 chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Neumann Avidan U. , Bain Vincent G. , Yoshida Eric M. , Patel Keyur , Pulkstenis Erik , Subramanian G. Mani 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: Albinterferon‐α‐2b (albIFN) is a long‐acting fusion polypeptide composed of albumin and IFN‐α‐2b. In a phase 2 study of albIFN 1500 μg q2wk or q4wk in patients with genotype 2/3 chronic hepatitis C, albIFN demonstrated sustained virological response (SVR) rates of 62–77% (intent‐to‐treat population).Aims: To assess the association of initial viral kinetics during albIFN therapy with baseline factors and SVR prediction.Methods: In all, 43 patients were treated with albIFN 1500 μg (q2wk/q4wk) plus ribavirin (RBV) 800 mg/day for 24 weeks. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA levels were measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction, insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) and serum albIFN levels by enyzme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Prediction analysis was performed in a per protocol 28‐patient subset who were ≥80% adherent to albIFN/RBV and had HCV‐RNA levels measured at treatment day 3.Results: Day‐3 HCV‐RNA level and first‐phase viral decline as well as second‐phase slope of viral decline were significantly associated with SVR. In adherent patients, 82.1% had a day‐3 viral load <4.2 log10 IU/ml or first‐phase decline >1.25 log10 IU/ml, which was predictive of SVR, both positively (95.7%; sensitivity: 100%) and negatively (100%; specificity: 83.3%). As low first‐phase decline was associated with a high pretreatment HOMA‐IR index (P=0.004) and a low day‐3 serum albIFN level (P=0.01).Conclusions: First‐phase viral decline with albIFN/RBV was predictive of SVR in this study and may be modulated in part by IR.
Subfield atrophy pattern in temporal lobe epilepsy with and without mesial sclerosis detected by high‐resolution MRI at 4 Tesla: Preliminary results
Authors: Mueller Susanne G. , Laxer Kenneth D. , Barakos Jerome , Cheong Ian , Garcia Paul , Weiner Michael W. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryPurpose:  High‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 4 Tesla depicts details of the internal structure of the hippocampus not visible at 1.5 Tesla, and so allows for in vivo parcellation of different hippocampal subfields. The aim of this study was to test if distinct subfield atrophy patterns can be detected in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE‐MTS) and without (TLE‐no) hippocampal sclerosis.Methods:  High‐resolution T2‐weighted hippocampal images were acquired in 34 controls: 15 TLE‐MTS and 18 TLE‐no. Entorhinal cortex (ERC), subiculum (SUB), CA1, CA2, and CA3, and dentate (CA3&DG) volumes were determined using a manual parcellation scheme.Results:  TLE‐MTS had significantly smaller ipsilateral CA1, CA2, CA3&DG, and total hippocampal volume than controls or TLE‐no. Mean ipsilateral CA1 and CA3&DG z‐scores were significantly lower than ipsilateral CA2, ERC, and SUB z‐scores. There were no significant differences between the various subfield or hippocampal z‐scores on either the ipsi‐ or the contralateral side in TLE‐no. Using a z‐score ≤−2.0 to identify severe volume loss, the following atrophy patterns were found in TLE‐MTS: CA1 atrophy, CA3&DG atrophy, CA1 and CA3&DG atrophy, and global hippocampal atrophy. Significant subfield atrophy was found in three TLE‐no: contralateral SUB atrophy, bilateral CA3&DG atrophy, and ipsilateral ERC and SUB atrophy.Discussion:  Using a manual parcellation scheme on 4 Tesla high‐resolution MRI, we found the characteristic ipsilateral CA1 and CA3&DG atrophy described in TLE‐MTS. Seventeen percent of the TLE‐no had subfield atrophy despite normal total hippocampal volume. These findings indicate that high‐resolution MRI and subfield volumetry provide superior information compared to standard hippocampal volumetry.
Association between familial suicidal behavior and frequency of attempts among depressed suicide attempters
Authors: Lizardi D. , Sher L. , Sullivan G. M. , Stanley B. , Burke A. , Oquendo M. A. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:  Only a few studies have examined whether a family history of suicide influences the severity of suicidal acts and the results have been inconsistent. The current study aimed to examine whether a family history of suicidal acts predicts severity of suicide attempts.Method:  190 suicide attempters aged 18–75 years with a lifetime history of major depression were assessed for first‐degree family history of suicidality and severity of suicide attempts (number and lethality of prior suicide attempts and age at first attempt).Results:  Regression analyses indicate that a positive family history of suicidal behaviors predicts a greater number of suicide attempts. Reasons for living predict number and lethality of prior attempts.Conclusion:  It is critical to assess for family history of suicidal behavior when treating depressed suicide attempters as it may serve as an indicator of the risk of repeat suicide attempt and as a guide for treatment.
Factors influencing caries experience among adults with physical and intellectual disabilities
Authors: Pradhan Archana , Slade Gary D. , Spencer A. John 
Published: March 2009

Abstract –  Background:  There is limited and inconsistent evidence on the influence of residential setting on caries experience of adults with physical and intellectual disabilities (PID), described here as care‐recipients.Objective:  To examine caries experience and associated factors among adults with PID.Methods:  Mailed questionnaire survey (2005–2006) of carers of adults with PID (18–44 years) in South Australia from family homes, community housing, and institutions, and oral examinations of care‐recipients recording decayed (D), missing (M) and filled (F) teeth (DMFT).Results:  Carers completed questionnaires for 485 care‐recipients, 267 of whom were examined (completion rate = 55.1%). The prevalence of decay (D > 0) was 16.9% and 76.3% had caries experience (DMFT > 0). In unadjusted analysis, care‐recipients at institutions had a significantly higher mean DMFT than other settings. After adjusting for carer and care‐recipient characteristics, there was no difference in any of the DMFT components among residential settings. However, there were statistically significant associations (OR ± 95% CI excluding unity) between decayed teeth and moderate and high intake of sweet drinks and frequency of dental visits. Higher odds of missing teeth were associated with type of disability, general anaesthetic requirement for dental treatment and low and high carer‐contact. Higher odds of filled teeth were associated with age, no oral hygiene assistance (OHA) and high carer‐contact. Higher odds of caries experience were associated with age and no OHA.Conclusions:  Residential setting was not associated with caries experience. Modifiable risk factors were diet, frequency of dental visits, no OHA and carer‐contact hours.
Effects of vitamin C on dark circles of the lower eyelids: quantitative evaluation using image analysis and echogram
Authors: Ohshima Hiroshi , Mizukoshi Koji , Oyobikawa Midori , Matsumoto Katsuo , Takiwaki Hirotsugu , Kanto Hiromi , Itoh Masatoshi 
Published: March 2009

Background/aims: The pathogenesis of dark circles of the lower eyelid (DCLE) has been considered to involve stasis and hyperpigmentation of the eyelids. We have already reported that dermal thickness of lower eyelid skin may represent another factor that affects the appearance of DCLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin C, which is known to increase collagen, on DCLE through a clinical trial.Methods: Fourteen subjects with DCLE applied either 10% sodium ascorbate (ANa) or ascorbic acid glucoside (AG) lotion in split‐face fashion (opposite side: vehicle only) for 6 months. Melanin index (MI), erythema index (EI), thickness and echogenicity of the dermis at bilateral lower eyelids was measured during this trial.Results: Change in EI was significantly smaller on the ANa‐treated side than on the vehicle‐treated side. Dermal thickness tended to be thicker for the ANa‐treated side than for the vehicle‐treated side, although no significant difference was seen. Both EI and dermal thickness tended to change in parallel manner. On the other hand, no significant differences in changes of EI, MI, and dermal thickness were found between AG‐ and vehicle‐treated sides.Conclusion: ANa may improve DCLE by thickening the eyelid dermis and concealing dark coloration due to congested blood.
Correlation of image analysis features and visual morphology in melanocytic skin tumours using in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy
Authors: Lorber Andrea , Wiltgen Marco , Hofmann‐Wellenhof Rainer , Koller Silvia , Weger Wolfgang , Ahlgrimm‐Siess Verena , Smolle Josef , Gerger Armin 
Published: March 2009

Background/purpose: In vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) represents a novel imaging tool that allows the non‐invasive examination of skin cancer morphology at a quasi histological resolution without biopsy. Previous studies dealt with the search for diagnostic, but subjective visual criteria. In this study we examined the correlation between objectively reproducible image‐analysis features und visual morphology in melanocytic skin tumours using CLSM.Methods: Eight hundred and fifty‐seven CLSM tumour images including 408 benign nevi and 449 melanoma images were evaluated. Image analysis was based on features of the wavelet transform and classification tree analysis (CART) was used for classification purposes. In a second step, morphologic details of CLSM images, which have turned out to be of diagnostic significance by the classification algorithm were evaluated.Results: CART analysis of the whole set of CLSM images correctly classified 97.55% of all melanoma images and 96.32% of all nevi images. Seven classification tree nodes seemed to indicate benign nevi, whereas six nodes were suggestive for melanoma morphology. The visual examination of selected nodes demonstrated that monomorphic melanocytic cells and melanocytic cell nests are characteristic for benign nevi whereas polymorphic melanocytic cells, disarray of melanocytic architecture and poorly defined or absent keratinocyte cell borders are characteristic for melanoma.Conclusion: Well‐known, but subjective CLSM criteria could be objectively reproduced by image analysis features and classification tree analysis. Moreover, features not accessible to the human eye seem to contribute to classification success.