bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
UNDERPRICING AND LONG‐RUN PERFORMANCE OF SHARE ISSUE PRIVATIZATIONS IN THE EGYPTIAN STOCK MARKET
Authors: Omran Mohammed 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe underpricing of initial public offerings (IPOs) is documented for 53 share issue privatizations in Egypt between 1994 and 1998. Over several intervals (up to five years), I find mixed results: share issue privatizations sustain their positive performance and provide investors with positive abnormal returns over a one‐year period; however, my results document negative abnormal returns over three‐ and five‐year horizons. The initial excess returns are determined by ex ante uncertainty and oversubscription, whereas the aftermarket abnormal returns over a one‐year period are driven by ex ante uncertainty and the price‐earnings ratio. However, over three‐ and five‐year periods, abnormal returns are significantly affected by initial excess returns, the price‐earnings ratio, and, to a lesser extent, oversubscription. The empirical findings are consistent with IPO markets in which investors are overoptimistic about the performance of these issues but grow more pessimistic over time.
MACROECONOMIC NEWS, STOCK TURNOVER, AND VOLATILITY CLUSTERING IN DAILY STOCK RETURNS
Authors: Connolly Robert , Stivers Chris 
Published: April 2005

AbstractWe study volatility clustering in daily stock returns at both the index and firm levels from 1985 to 2000. We find that the relation between today's index return shock and the next period's volatility decreases when important macroeconomic news is released today and increases with the shock in today's stock market turnover. Collectively, our results suggest that volatility clustering tends to be stronger when there is more uncertainty and disperse beliefs about the market's information signal. Our findings also contribute to a better understanding of the joint dynamics of stock returns and trading volume.
WHAT DRIVES TIME VARIATION IN EMERGING MARKET SEGMENTATION?
Authors: Hunter Delroy M. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractI use American Depositary Receipts and underlying stocks to test the level of integration of the stock markets of Argentina, Chile, and Mexico into the world capital market in the post‐liberalization period. I find that these markets experience time‐varying integration and are, on average, still not highly internationally integrated. Furthermore, there is no distinct trend toward higher levels of integration. In fact, the markets of Argentina and Mexico have become increasingly segmented over the post‐liberalization period. I find that financial and economic openness, stock market liquidity and volatility, and the state of the currency market significantly affect the level of segmentation.
WHO ARE THE NOISE TRADERS?
Authors: Hughen J. Christopher , McDonald Cynthia G. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractClosed‐end funds often trade at a discount to net asset value. Previous research suggests that the positive correlation in discounts is associated with investor sentiment that causes systematic mispricing by noise traders. We use a newly available sample of daily fund valuations to examine the relation between intraday trading activity and discount changes. Contrary to the assumption that retail investors are noise traders, we find no relation between discount changes and the order‐flow imbalances of individual investors. Large daily discount changes are associated with institutional trading, and this may reflect the price inelasticity of closed‐end fund shares.
The association between tooth loss and the self‐reported intake of selected CVD‐related nutrients and foods among US women
Authors: Hung Hsin‐Chia , Colditz Graham , Joshipura Kaumudi J. 
Published: April 2005

Abstract –  Objectives:  Many studies have reported associations between oral health and cardiovascular diseases; poor nutritional status due to impaired dentition status has been suggested as a mediator. Our objective is to evaluate the associations between tooth loss and the self‐reported consumption of fruits and vegetables and selected CVD‐related nutrients.Methods:  A total of 83,104 US women who completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in 1990 and 1994 and reported number of natural teeth in 1992, were included in a cross‐sectional analysis relating dietary intake to number of natural teeth. A longitudinal analysis was also conducted to evaluate whether tooth loss in 1990–1992 was associated with change in diet between 1990 and 1994.Results:  After adjusting for age, total calorie intake, smoking and physical activity, edentulous women appeared to have dietary intake associated with increased risk for CVD, including significantly higher intake of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and vitamin B12, and lower intake of polyunsaturated fat, fiber, carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, vegetables, fruits, and fruits excluding juices compared with women with 25–32 teeth. In the longitudinal analyses, women who lost more teeth were more likely to change their diet in ways that would potentially increase risk for development of CVD. They also tended to avoid hard foods, such as raw carrot, fresh apple or pear.Conclusions:  Women with fewer teeth have unhealthier diets such as decreased intake of fruits and vegetables, which could increase CVD risk. Diet may partially explain associations between oral health and cardiovascular disease.
Routine oral examination: differences in characteristics of Dutch general dental practitioners related to type of recall interval
Authors: Mettes Theodorus G. , Bruers Josef J. M. , van der Sanden Wil J. M. , Verdonschot Emiel H. , Mulder Jan , Grol Richard P. T. M. , Plasschaert Alphons J. M. 
Published: April 2005

Abstract –  Objectives:  The aim of this study was to explore differences in behaviour (characteristics and opinions) among general dental practitioners (GDPs), using either a fixed (Fx) or an individualized recall interval (Iv) between successive routine oral examinations (ROEs).Methods:  In the year 2000, data were collected by means of a written questionnaire sent to a random stratified sample of 610 dentists of whom 521 responded, of which 508 (83%) were used for analysis.Results:  Two groups of GDPs were distinguished based on their answer to the question: ‘Do you apply for all patients a fixed recall interval between two successive ROEs?’ Fifty‐one per cent of the GDPs (n = 257) applied Fxs for all patients, generally for a period of 6 months. Ivs were applied by 49% (n = 251) of GDPs, depending on the determination of specific patient characteristics. Logistic regression analysis showed that GDPs applying Fxs also used fixed periods between successive bitewing radiographs for all patients. Furthermore, dentists applying Ivs required more time to conduct an ROE, partly because of a more extensive periodontal screening. GDPs applying Fxs, adhered more to the opinion that a fixed recall regime (every 6 months, as existed before 1995) should be re‐introduced, whereas the GDPs in support of Ivs were more in favour to support the opinion that the ROE is ‘an excellent instrument for effective, individualized oral care’.Conclusions:  Dutch GDPs differ in the way they deal with the determination of recall interval frequency. These are also specific differences in performance and opinions regarding ROE. With the changing prevalence of oral diseases and the skewed distribution within populations, further research is advocated on consistent decision making to determine the most appropriate recall policy in preventing oral disease.
A follow‐up study of patients with subjective symptoms related to dental materials
Authors: Lygre Gunvor Bentung , Gjerdet Nils Roar , Björkman Lars 
Published: April 2005

Abstract –  Objectives:  The extent to which substances released from dental materials cause adverse health effects and whether removal of dental materials results in improvement of health is a matter of dispute. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the intensity of subjective symptoms after replacement of dental materials in patients referred for adverse reactions related to dental materials, and to compare the profiles of symptoms with those found in the general population.Methods:  Information was obtained from 142 patients referred to the Dental Biomaterials Adverse Reaction Unit in Bergen, Norway. At the time of examination, all patients completed a questionnaire regarding a range of subjective symptoms. A follow‐up questionnaire was sent to all patients 1 to 2 years later. Similar questionnaires were sent to a reference group of 800 persons drawn from the general population.Results:  The follow‐up questionnaires were completed and returned by 84 patients, and 441 persons in the reference group. The patient group presented higher symptom indices than the reference group (P < 0.001). Generally, there was some decrease in the intensity of different symptoms in patients who had replaced dental materials. The decrease was evident regarding intraoral symptoms (P = 0.022) and total symptom index (P = 0.041). The group of patients who had replaced materials still had significantly higher symptom indices than those of the reference group. Patients who had not replaced dental materials did not present any reduction in symptom indices.Conclusion:  The pattern of symptoms was similar for the groups investigated. At the group level, the intensity of local and some general subjective symptoms was reduced after replacement of the materials, but not to the level found in the general population.
Localization of Electrons: Blue-shifting Hydrogen Bonds
Authors: Inagaki Satoshi , Takeuchi Takahiro 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
A theory of electron localization is developed. Localization is caused by the interaction of an occupied orbital with a vacant orbital. Electrons localize in the occupied orbital rather than delocalize from the occupied orbital to the overlap region. The localization is substantiated by the contraction of the CH bond length of HnCF4−n with the fluorination and successfully applied to the blue-shifting hydrogen bonding of fluoroform with dimethyl ether.
The Police Legitimacy Crisis and Police Law Reform in China: Part II
Authors: Wong Kam C. 
Published: April 2005

In 1978 the third plenary session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCCP) set a new course of development for China, ie modernisation by way of economic reform and market opening. The reform movement changed China socially, politically, economically, and culturally. The gongan or public security is a part of that transformation process. This article is a first attempt to investigate and report upon PRC police law reform effort — objectives, process and result — since 1978. In so doing, the article catalogues the past, describes the present, and speculates upon the future. The paper argues that police law reform in China is a reaction to a growing police legitimacy crisis attenuating police-public relationship. In the first part of this article (Wong, 2004) the case was made for police law reform in China using political, historical and doctrinal material. This second part details and discusses the direction, promulgation, actualisation and concluding observations of PRC police law reform.
Virus safety of human blood products – diagnostics and prevention. Virussicherheit humaner Blutprodukte – Diagnostik und Prävention
Authors: Gürtler Lutz G. 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
Relevant blood transfusion-transmitted viruses are still HBV, HCV and HIV. As newly emerged infectious agent, the vCJD prion is relevant as well and will cause difficulties within the next decade, since there is no diagnostic tool applicable to blood donation testing. Still, the most effective measure for the virus safety of blood is donor selection followed by antibody and nucleic acid testing, followed by derichment and inactivation performed to the extent possible.
For selected recipients, relevant viruses are CMV and Parvovirus B19. Diagnostic testing for both viruses is no challenge. The prevalence of HTLV-I is very low in Germany but higher in many other countries. Therefore epidemiological surveillance is sufficient to control the spreading of this retrovirus in Germany.
As the West Nile fever virus and the SARS coronavirus demonstrate, old viruses may newly enter the donor population and the efficient way to prevent these viruses from spreading is still the usual quarantine for donors who have visited contaminated areas.
The history of blood transfusion shows that by taking appropriate measures safety will be increased, but also that new infectious agents will enter the donor population in future years.
Diagnostische Verfahren bei der Hepatitis C und ihre Zuverlässigkeit. Reliability of diagnostic procedures for hepatitis C
Authors: Polywka Susanne 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
The diagnosis of HCV infection is often hampered by false positive reactivities in antibody screening assays. Therefore, confirmatory assays are necessary. Since most unspecific reactivities are only slightly above the cut-off value, the intensity of the reactivity should always be considered. Particularly in groups with low HCV risk such as blood donors, positive reactivities obtained by one test system can often be ruled out by re-testing with another format (e.g. an enzyme immunoassay instead of a microparticle enzyme immunoassay). Most confirmatory assays are based on a recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA); these tests should always be done in patients diagnosed as HCV positive for the first time. Additionally, in many cases, tests for HCV RNA are necessary. Based on these results, an evaluation of the risk of transmission to household contacts is possible and in patients receiving antiviral treatment, the success can be monitored. A negative PCR result in patients showing high positive antibody reactivities does not necessarily represent loss of the virus since even in chronic carriers, viral replication can be intermittently very low. Immuno-compromised patients often show prolonged seroconversion so that antibody screening assays remain negative for a long time while the patients have high level viraemia. Therefore, we recommend regular RT-PCR in populations at risk such as patients on chronic dialysis. To evaluate patients for antiviral treatment, the determination of the genotype is necessary. The HCV genotype also has an influence on the course of liver disease in chronic carriers. Possible transmission of HCV, e.g. by blood products, can be elucidated by sequence analysis of the high variance region (HVR) of the virus.
Empfehlungen zur qualitätsgesicherten Durchführung von Nukleinsäure-Amplifikations - Testungen (NAT) von Blutprodukten. Quality assurance in nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) of blood products
Authors: Roth Willi K. 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
European manufacturers of plasma products and German blood transfusion services were the first to introduce nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) of blood products in the mid-1990s. Their primary goal was to increase the safety of blood by closing as far as possible the diagnostic window, which exists after the onset of viral infection until the appearance of the first detectable antibodies. Sample preparation, transport and storage are crucial steps in a quality-controlled PCR. Sensitivity and contamination rates highly depend on the sample preparation and storage techniques. Anticoagulants must be selected carefully because some may inhibit the PCR. Dilution of samples by pooling needs to be considered and should be compensated for by subsequent virus enrichment procedures, e.g. centrifugation. The whole process of sample preparation, pooling and virus enrichment must be validated and quality control measures must be implemented. Reagents for the extraction of viral nucleic acids should not pose any risk to the laboratory staff. Nevertheless, the reagents should be highly efficient in liberating viral nucleic acids at high yield and purity for the following amplification reactions. At this critical stage, quality control measures should guarantee an efficient extraction process and contain potential sources of contaminations. Several methods are available for the amplification of nucleic acids. PCR is the most common, especially in in-house assays. The amplification of nucleic acids should be performed as far as possible in a closed system, which may be guaranteed best by real-time PCR approaches. Reaction tubes need never be opened during the amplification because detection can be performed through the closed tube. Amplicons that could contaminate the following PCR reactions will not be released. It is of great importance to blood transfusion services to guarantee that negative results un-equivocally indicate virus negative blood donations. Therefore, internal control sequences should be implemented in each individual PCR reaction in order to monitor that the individual PCR has worked correctly. Besides internal control sequences, external negative and positive controls should be implemented in each PCR run to demonstrate false positive reactions as well as to monitor pre-PCR processes like virus enrichment and extraction. The whole process needs to be validated according to the criteria set in national guidelines or by national authorities. External quality assessment programs are highly recommended.
Significance of SEN virus in post-transfusion hepatitis. Bedeutung von SEN-Viren für die Posttransfusionshepatitis
Authors: Sagir Abdurrahman , Häussinger Dieter 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
Five hepatitis viruses (A-E) cause more than 80% of cases of viral hepatitis. However, the fact that nearly 20% of individuals with acute hepatitis test negative for all known hepatitis viruses, as do up to 10% of patients with transfusion-associated hepatitis, suggests the existence of other viral hepatitis agents. Hepatitis G virus (HGV) and TT virus (TTV) were originally proposed as potential causative agents. The SEN virus (SENV) belongs to a recently discovered group of DNA viruses whose members (SENV D and SENV H) are associated with post-transfusion hepatitis. Eight different strains of SENV have been identified and provisionally classified as members of the Circoviridae family, a group of small, single-stranded, non-enveloped circular DNA viruses which includes, in addition to SENV, the TT virus (TTV), TUS01, SANBAN, PMV, and YONBAN viruses. SENV is a single-stranded circular, non-enveloped DNA virus of ~3.600 to ~3.900 nucleotides with at least three open reading frames (ORFs). The prevalence in different populations shows great variability with marked differences between different countries and groups. Although parenteral transmission is very likely, other routes of transmission are not excluded. Mother-to-infant transmission has been demonstrated. Data on other acute and chronic liver diseases are sparse. Further studies are needed to define the pathogenesis and clinical importance of SENV infection.
Tumormarker-Profilauswertung – und aus Messdaten wird Information. Analysis of tumor marker profiles – turning measured data into information
Authors: Bitterlich Norman 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
In practical use, the experiences of single marker interpretation influence the analysis of tumor marker profiles. From a mathematical point of view, there are different possibilities to link individual measured data. When comparing such methods of resolution, significant differences in their efficiency are observed. An increase in sensitivity generally results in a loss of specificity. Therefore, the choice of the mathematical process is decisively influenced by subjective expectations.
The goal of the analysis of tumor marker profiles is raising the sensitivity while maintaining a high specificity. Based on the study of frequently used strategies of data evaluation, effects are described from which a universally valid concept of data evaluation can be derived. Special attention is given to the independence of the mathematical processes from specified cut-offs and thereby from diagnostic testing methods. Instead of quantitative measured data, qualitative valuations of decision security are handled. This not only enables a rise in sensitivity but also allows a plausible interpretation of results from the user's view. Thus the analysis of tumor marker profiles seems (fuzzy) logical and opens up new avenues to make far-reaching contributions to the clarification of clinical problems by laboratory analysis.
Diagnostische Bedeutung zirkulierender DNA- Fragmente in der Onkologie. Diagnostic importance of circulating DNA fragments in oncology
Authors: Holdenrieder Stefan , Pawel Joachim von , Schalhorn Andreas , Stieber Petra 
Published: April 2005

Abstract
The past decade witnessed an increasing interest in assessing circulating DNA in the plasma and serum of patients with malignant and non-malignant diseases. This might be due to the availability of new and sensitive methods for the determination of qualitative and quantitative changes in circulating DNA. As, previously, tumor-specific mutations or epigenetic modifications have been detected predominantly in tissue specimens, the appealing possibility to use less invasive though specific methods for tumor diagnosis was a noticeable incentive for the exploration of circulating DNA.
A considerable part of the circulating DNA, which is mostly present in serum and plasma as nucleosomal DNA, is released during apoptotic cell death. Because the rate of apoptosis is deregulated in many pathological situations such as degenerative, traumatic, ischemic, inflammatory, and malignant diseases, and because many cytotoxic therapies aim at reducing the cancer cell number by apoptosis, the cell death product “circulating DNA” might serve as an attractive and appropriate biochemical correlative.
In this review, the physiological and pathophysiological background of the arrangement of DNA as nucleosomes and of its release into circulation is shown. Further, the metabolism of circulating DNA in plasma and serum and its role in the pathogenesis of various diseases is discussed. Finally, the diagnostic relevance of qualitative and quantitative changes in circulating DNA for screening, differential diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring of systemic therapies, early prediction of therapy response and detection of recurrence in malignant diseases is reviewed. Concluding, some methodical considerations regarding the measurement of circulating DNA are given.