bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laktobazillen als Probiotika zur Behandlung urogenitaler und intestinaler Infektionen sowie zur Vorbeugung und Therapie von allergischen Erkankungen
Authors: Merk Kathrin , Borelli Claudia , Schaller Martin , Korting Hans Christian 
Published: August 2004

ZusammenfassungLaktobazillen sind probiotische Mikroorganismen, die als Teil der normalen Mikroflora des Menschen den Gastrointestinal‐ sowie den Urogenitaltrakt besiedeln. Mehrere Studien weisen auf die gesundheitsförderne Wirkung, insbesondere den Schutz vor pathogenen Bakterien und Pilzen, hin. So konnte die sowohl präventive als auch therapeutische Wirkung von Laktobazillen bei Durchfallerkrankungen unterschiedlicher Genese sowie auch bei urogenitalen Infektionen nachgewiesen werden. Auch bei der Entstehung und Behandlung von Allergien bzw. atopischen Erkrankungen scheinen Laktobazillen einen protektiven Effekt zu haben.
Is Board Size an Independent Corporate Governance Mechanism?
Authors: Beiner Stefan , Drobetz Wolfgang , Schmid Frank , Zimmermann Heinz 
Published: August 2004

SUMMARYUsing a simultaneous equations framework with a comprehensive set of publicly listed Swiss companies, our findings suggest that the size of the board of directors is an independent corporate governance mechanism. This implies that any potential relationship between board size and firm valuation is indeed causal. However, in contrast to previous studies, we do not uncover a significant relationship between board size and firm valuation, which can be interpreted as support for the hypothesis of the existence of an optimal board size. On average, firms choose the number of board members just optimally. This indicates that cross‐sectional variations in board size to a large extent reflect differences in firms' underlying environment, and not mistaken choices.
Does Ownership Matter? Empirical Evidence from the German Wine Industry
Authors: Frick Bernd 
Published: August 2004

SUMMARYThere is widespread belief among economists that the separation of ownership and control tends to reduce the performance of companies while competition tends to improve it. Irrespective of their theoretical appeal these assumptions have not been tested very often. Using an unbalanced panel of about 300 German wineries (compiled from four different editions of a highly respected and widely used wine guide), the paper shows that firms run by ‘managing directors’ produce higher quality and more expensive wines than otherwise identical owner‐managed firms. Since firms have identical production functions and due to the intense competition in the sector under consideration it is very likely that differences in human capital explain the observed productivity differences.
Policy Advice as an Investment Problem
Authors: Heine Klaus , Mause Karsten 
Published: August 2004

SUMMARYFrom the viewpoint of Public Choice theory, the logic of electoral competition makes it difficult for rational, self‐interested politicians to advance unpopular reforms. As political decision‐makers have primarily the aim of re‐election in mind, ‘inconvenient’ scientific policy advice often falls on deaf ears in the political arena. This implementation problem has been widely discussed in political science, economics, and related social sciences. Complementary to this qualitative dimension, the present paper uses insight from the economics of innovation to analyze the quantitative dimension of policy advice. It is assumed that additional expert opinion is only requested whenever it increases a politician's chance to become re‐elected. This simple politico‐economic reasoning, it will be argued, induces a systematic under‐and overinvestment in policy advice, which is inefficient in terms of social welfare. After discussing the advisor's role in this framework, the paper concludes with a brief presentation of possible remedies to dilute these undesirable incentive effects. The theoretical reasoning will be illustrated by the case of Germany where problems of policy advice have become apparent in recent years.
Corruption's Effect on Growth and its Transmission Channels
Authors: Pellegrini Lorenzo , Gerlagh Reyer 
Published: August 2004

SUMMARYA common finding of recent theoretical and empirical literature is that corruption has a negative effect on economic growth. In the paper, through growth regression analysis, we estimate the direct and indirect effects of corruption on economic growth. The indirect transmission channels, specifically investments, trade policy, schooling, and political stability, analysed in our study prove to be significant in explaining the deleterious effect of corruption on growth rates. We find that one standard deviation increase in the corruption index is associated with a decrease in investments of 2.46 per centage points, which in turn decreases economic growth by 0.34 per cent per year. The second, by importance, transmission channel is openness: a standard deviation increase in the corruption index is associated with a decrease of the openness index by 0.19, resulting in a decrease in economic growth by 0.30 percent per year. Jointly, the transmission channels explain 81 per cent of the effect of corruption on growth. While combating corruption is a long‐term task, an understanding of the transmission channels, through which corruption affects the economy, may suggest ways to limit corruption's negative, but indirect, effects on growth.
The influence of diet, consumption and lipid use on recruitment of white bass
Authors: Eckmayer William J. , Margraf F. Joseph 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe abundance of white bass (Morone chrysops) in Lake Erie has declined in recent years, sparking interest in mechanisms influencing its recruitment. We evaluate two mechanisms affecting recruitment: diet and the potential for competition, and storage of lipid energy reserves and the relationship to overwinter survival. The fish in our study were characteristic of white bass in the northern portion of their range, feeding predominantly on zooplankton. Only the largest age‐0 white bass ate fish as a significant portion of their diet. Over the summer sampling period, we found decreasing ration sizes, expressed as a percentage of maximum ration, as the summer progressed with a concomitant decrease in the relative amount of lipid storage. In laboratory experiments, age‐0 white bass held at 5°C and given food ad libitum did feed, but at rates that were insufficient to maintain body weight. Loss in weight was accompanied with a loss in lipids at a rate of 2.8 mg of lipids per gram of body weight per day. Based on our data, we concluded that age‐0 white bass in Lake Erie were food‐limited. Food limitation resulted in reduced growth rates, presumably related to competition with other planktivorous fishes. Reduced growth results in increased mortality and, ultimately, low recruitment through increased risk of predation by larger piscivorous fishes, reduced ability for white bass to switch to more energetically profitable piscivory and the increased likelihood of higher overwinter mortality because of reduced lipid stores.
Resource Input, Service Process and Resident Activity Indicators in a Welsh National Random Sample of Staffed Housing Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Felce David , Perry Jonathan 
Published: August 2004

Background  The aims were to: (i) explore the association between age and size of setting and staffing per resident; and (ii) report resident and setting characteristics, and indicators of service process and resident activity for a national random sample of staffed housing provision.Methods  Sixty settings were selected randomly from those accommodating six or fewer adults with intellectual disabilities in Wales. Nine settings subsequently withdrew. Information from the remaining 51 was obtained on resident ages, gender, adaptive behaviour, physical and sensory disabilities, social impairment and challenging behaviour, the number and working hours of staff, staff:resident ratios at different times of the day, working practices, resident receipt of attention and assistance from staff and resident activity. The sample of 51 residences was divided into four groups of 12, 13, 13 and 13 settings each, according to ascending average adaptive behaviour scale scores.Results  Age of residence was associated with larger size of residence and fewer staff hours per resident. Higher staffing per resident was associated with smaller setting size. Staffing per resident differed across adaptive behaviour groups to a limited extent. Size and age of residence, working practices, resident receipt of attention and assistance from staff did not differ across groups but resident engagement in activity did. Considerable within‐group variation was found.Conclusions  The data illustrate trends in provision over time. In addition, they give a picture of recent practice and raise questions about whether staff input, on one hand, and staff training and performance, on the other hand, are well enough matched to the different needs of residents at different points of the adaptive behaviour spectrum.
Evaluation of Brief Group‐Administered Instruction for Parents to Prevent or Minimize Sleep Problems in Young Children with Down Syndrome
Authors: Stores Rebecca , Stores Gregory 
Published: August 2004

Background  The study concerns the unknown value of group instruction for mothers of young children with Down syndrome (DS) in preventing or minimizing sleep problems.Method

Children with DS were randomly allocated to an Instruction group (given basic information about children's sleep) and a Control group for later comparison including objective sleep measures (actometry).
As a secondary exercise, parental reports of sleep problems and objective sleep measures were compared in children with DS and a small sample of unimpaired children (U group) of comparable age and sex distribution.

Results  Instruction (shown to have improved mothers' knowledge) was associated with improvement in behavioural sleep problem ratings at 6‐month follow up with no change in sleep‐related breathing problem ratings or actometry findings. Sleep‐related breathing problem symptoms and actometry abnormalities were significantly more common in the DS group than in the U group at baseline, with no obvious differences for behavioural sleep problems.Conclusions  Group instruction offers some benefit regarding behavioural sleep problems but not for sleep‐related breathing problems to which more attention should be paid in children with DS, with a view to precise diagnosis and treatment.
A Functionally Focused Curriculum for Children with Profound Multiple Disabilities: a Goal Analysis
Authors: Van Der Putten Annette , Reynders Koop , Vlaskamp Carla , Nakken Han 
Published: August 2004

Background  This study analysed goals formulated in a functionally focused curriculum called Mobility Opportunities Via Education™ (MOVE).Method  The subjects were 49 children with profound multiple disabilities (PMD) who attended a centre for special education where the MOVE curriculum was implemented. Each goal was analysed to see whether or not it was formulated in terms of concrete skills. Furthermore, each goal was analysed for its objective, and it was decided whether or not the goal focused on the child's interests. The three aspects were analysed separately, so the percentages cannot be added up.Results  Ninety‐six per cent of the goals were formulated in terms of concrete skills. With regard to the objectives, 53% of the goals dealt with mobility skills and 23% were related to social functioning. Only 14% of the goals dealt with aspects related to care. In 52% of the analysed goals, it was made clear what the interest of the child was.Conclusions  Goals formulated for children with PMD by a curriculum that is based on functionality did not completely satisfy theoretical principles. This can be partially explained because the concept of functionality is a broad and unspecific notion that can be implemented in various ways.
Changing Selves: a Grounded Theory Account of Belonging to a Self‐advocacy Group for People with Intellectual Disabilities1
Authors: Beart Suzie , Hardy Gillian , Buchan Linda 
Published: August 2004

Purpose  To explore the experience of belonging to a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities, and how membership of such a group impacts on individual members.Methods  Eight people with intellectual disabilities, who belonged to a self‐advocacy group for at least 6 months, were interviewed about their experiences of membership. A grounded theory approach was used to generate and analyse the interview data.Results  A model of the impact of belonging to a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities on individual members' self‐concept is developed. The model proposes that participants' self‐concept changes as a result of group membership and that this process of change involves six key categories: joining the group; learning about and doing self‐advocacy; becoming aware of group aims and identity; experiencing a positive social environment; identifying positive change in self‐concept and seeing the future of self and group as interlinked.Conclusion  Membership of a self‐advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities changes the self‐concept of participants. The processes surrounding these changes have important implications for self‐advocacy groups both, in recruitment and in supporting group members.
People with Intellectual Disabilities Living in Generic Residential Services for Older People in the UK
Authors: Thompson D. J. , Ryrie I. , Wright S. 
Published: August 2004

Background  As part of a UK programme of work focusing on older people with intellectual disabilities, the circumstance of those who reside in generic services for older people were investigated.Materials and methods  Questionnaires were sent to 2570 residential and nursing homes in 53 local authorities across the UK.Results  Five hundred and thirty returned questionnaires identified 215 people with intellectual disabilities currently living in 150 homes. They were significantly younger than the other residents, and were placed in these homes more often because of organizational change or the ageing/death of a family carer, rather than any changes in their own needs. Several potential indicators of a low quality of life were identified, including limited opportunities to get out, to access day services, to have contact with family or friends and to receive input from professionals outside the home.Conclusions  Attention needs to be given both to people with intellectual disabilities already residing in older people's services and to the prevention of further inappropriate placements.
The Relationship Between Life Events and Psychopathology Amongst Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Hatton Chris , Emerson Eric 
Published: August 2004

Background  Research has established a clear relationship between life events and psychopathology amongst children generally, but this relationship has not been investigated in children with intellectual disabilities.Methods  A secondary analysis of data collected by the 1999 ONS survey of the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in Great Britain, investigating associations between adverse life events and psychopathology amongst 264 children with intellectual disabilities and 10 040 children without intellectual disabilities.Results  Children with intellectual disabilities were more likely to experience a greater number and range of adverse life events than children without intellectual disabilities, a difference partly accounted for by family poverty. For children with and without intellectual disabilities, there were robust associations between several life events and child psychiatric disorders, most strongly emotional disorder. There also appeared to be a cumulative effect of life events on the psychopathology of children with intellectual disabilities.Conclusions  Adverse life events play an important role in the psychopathology of children with intellectual disabilities and require further research attention. Policy interventions to reduce family poverty may have an indirect effect upon child psychopathology.
Job Stress, Burnout and Job Satisfaction: An Intervention Study for Staff Working with People with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Innstrand Siw Tone , Espnes Geir Arild , Mykletun Reidar 
Published: August 2004

Background  The present paper reviews staff stress, burnout and job satisfaction.Methods  A longitudinal, quasi experimental study was carried out among staff working with people with intellectual disabilities in two municipalities in Norway. The purpose was to measure mean differences of stress, burnout and job satisfaction after different intervention approaches were applied to staff in one of the municipalities. Staff in the other municipality acted as a control group.Results  Using the pretest score as the covariate, by analysis of covariance (ancova), the experimental group showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in stress and exhaustion, and a strong significant rise in job satisfaction after intervention.Conclusions  This was a sufficiently promising result to encourage further research, not only to promote the individual worker's health and well being, but also to ensure the health and well being of those for whom services are provided.
GUIDE study: double‐blind comparison of once‐daily gliclazide MR and glimepiride in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Schernthaner G. , Grimaldi A. , Di Mario U. , Drzewoski J. , Kempler P. , Kvapil M. , Novials A. , Rottiers R. , Rutten G. E. H. M. , Shaw K. M. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackground  Progressive β‐cell failure is a characteristic feature of type 2 diabetes; consequently, β‐cell secretagogues are useful for achieving sufficient glycaemic control. The European GUIDE study is the first large‐scale head‐to‐head comparison of two sulphonylureas designed for once‐daily administration used under conditions of everyday clinical practice.Design  Eight hundred and forty‐five type 2 diabetic patients were randomized to either gliclazide modified release (MR) 30–120 mg daily or glimepiride 1–6 mg daily as monotherapy or in combination with their current treatment (metformin or an α‐glucosidase inhibitor) according to a double‐blind, 27‐week, parallel‐group design. Efficacy was evaluated by HbA1c and safety by hypoglycaemic episodes using the European Agency definition.Results  HbA1c decreased similarly in both groups from 8·4% to 7·2% on gliclazide MR and from 8·2% to 7·2% on glimepiride. Approximately 50% of the patients achieved HbA1c levels less than 7%, and 25% less than 6·5%. The mean difference between groups of the final HbA1c was −0·06% (noninferiority test P < 0·0001). No hypoglycaemia requiring external assistance occurred. Hypoglycaemia with blood glucose level < 3 mmol L−1 occurred significantly less frequently (P = 0·003) with gliclazide MR (3·7% of patients) compared with glimepiride (8·9% of patients). The distribution of the sulphonylurea doses was similar in both groups.Conclusions  This study provides new insights into therapeutic strategies using sulphonylureas. It shows that gliclazide MR is at least as effective as glimepiride, either as monotherapy or in combination. The safety of gliclazide MR was significantly better, demonstrating approximately 50% fewer confirmed hypoglycaemic episodes in comparison with glimepiride.
Metabolism of cholesterol ester of apolipoprotein B100‐containing lipoproteins in dogs: evidence for disregarding cholesterol ester transfer
Authors: Bailhache E. , Briand F. , Nguyen P. , Krempf M. , Magot T. , Ouguerram K. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackground  It has been shown that dogs exhibit no cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) activity in vitro, in contrast to humans. The aim of our study was to determine modalities of in vivo plasma cholesterol ester turnover in this species, using a kinetic approach with stable isotopes.Materials and methods  Kinetics of very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) were studied in seven adult male Beagle dogs using a dual isotope approach through endogenous labelling of both their cholesterol moiety and their protein moiety. A primed constant infusion of both [1,213C]acetate and [5,5,5‐2H3]leucine enabled us to obtain measurable deuterium enrichments by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry for plasma leucine and apoB100, as well as measurable 13C enrichment by gas chromatography‐combustion‐isotopic ratio mass spectrometry for unesterified cholesterol and cholesterol ester in the VLDL and LDL. Two identical multicompartmental models (SAAM II) were used together for the analysis of tracer kinetics’ data of proteins and cholesterol.Results  Characterization of the apoB100‐containing lipoprotein cholesterol ester model allowed determination of kinetic parameters of VLDL and LDL cholesterol ester metabolism. We succeeded in modelling VLDL and LDL cholesterol ester metabolism and apoB100 metabolism simultaneously. Fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of apoB100 and CE had the same values. Introducing cholesterol ester transfer between lipoproteins in the model did not significantly improve the fit. Total VLDL FCR was 2·97 ± 01·47 h−1. Approximately one‐quarter corresponded to the direct removal of VLDL (0·81 ± 00·34 h−1) and the remaining three‐quarters corresponded to the fraction of VLDL converted to LDL, which represented a conversion of VLDL into LDL of 2·16 ± 01·16 h−1. Low‐density lipoproteins were produced exclusively from VLDL conversion and were then removed (0·031 ± 0·004 h−1) from plasma.Conclusion  These kinetic data showed that VLDL cholesterol ester and LDL cholesterol ester metabolism followed VLDL and LDL apoB100 metabolism, and that consequently there is no in vivo transfer of cholesterol ester in dogs.
Elevated rates of schizophrenia in a familial sample with mental illness and intellectual disability
Authors: Greenwood C. M. T. , Husted J. , Bomba M. D. , Hodgkinson K. A. , Bassett A. S. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackground  It is unknown whether intellectual disability (ID) is more familially related to psychotic mood disorders or schizophrenia. L. S. Penrose's large sample of families with two or more members admitted to psychiatric hospitals provided a unique opportunity to investigate the familial relationship between mild ID, schizophrenia and psychotic affective disorders.Method  There were 183 affected relative pairs comprising probands with mild ID (95 male, 88 female) and their first or second degree relatives with schizophrenia or psychotic affective disorder.Results  There were nearly twice as many relatives with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 121) as relatives with affective disorders (n = 62) among the intellectually impaired probands. This excess of schizophrenia was statistically significant, even after accounting for the increased risk of hospitalization for schizophrenia (P = 0.005), and was fairly constant across the different relative types. First‐degree relatives with either mental illness were more likely to be parents (n = 77) than siblings (n = 51) or children (n = 3), but there was no excess of mother–son pairs.Conclusions  These results suggest a stronger familial relationship of ID with schizophrenia than psychotic affective disorder, and lend some support to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.