bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overall and Visceral Adiposity Are Associated with Incident Cardiovascular Disease among Breast Cancer Patients: Results from the B-SCANS Study
Authors: Cespedes Feliciano EM , WY Chen , Kroenke CH , Bradshaw PT , Alexeeff S , Caan BJ
Published: March 2018

It is assumed that total and visceral adiposity increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among breast cancer survivors; yet, these associations have not been studied, and could differ from non-cancer populations due to the modifying effects of cancer treatment. METHODS: We studied 2,630 Stage I–III breast cancer patients without pre-existing CVD diagnosed at Kaiser Permanente (2006–2013). We quantified body composition from computed tomography scans taken at breast cancer diagnosis. The main exposures were total and visceral adiposity indices (cm2/m2), examined in tertiles. From ICD codes, we identified non-fatal stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), and heart failure, and a composite outcome including CVD death (CVD). We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for age, smoking, tumor (stage, grade, and ER/PR and HER2 status) and treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiation) factors, skeletal muscle index (SMI), and body mass index (BMI) residuals. We assessed effect modification via product terms of adiposity with age (>=/<55 years), sarcopenia (SMI>=/<40 cm2/m2) and chemotherapy (yes/no). RESULTS: At diagnosis, mean (SD) age was 55 (11) years and BMI was 28 (6) kg/m2. Over a maximum follow-up of 11 years, 669 CVD events occurred. Independent of BMI and other covariates, women in the highest (v. lowest) tertile of total adiposity had a higher risk of CVD, heart failure, stroke and CAD; HRs (95%CI) were 1.45 (1.15–1.81), 1.78 (1.24–2.57), 1.89 (1.25–2.87), and 1.52 (0.83–2.79), respectively. Results were similar for visceral adiposity, and by age and sarcopenia, but were stronger for women receiving chemotherapy: e.g., the HR (95%CI) for the highest (v. lowest) tertile of total adiposity with CVD risk was 1.76 (1.33–2.33) for women who received chemotherapy versus 0.93 (0.63–1.38) for women who did not, p- interaction = 0.04. CONCLUSIONS: Women who enter a breast cancer diagnosis with greater total and visceral adiposity are at higher risk of subsequent CVD, particularly if they receive chemotherapy. Our results suggest that body composition - independent of BMI and other factors - can identify patients with high CVD risk for additional monitoring, tailored treatment plans and targeting of preventive interventions.
Breast Density and Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer among Older Women Undergoing Mammography: The Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Cohort Study
Authors: Braithwaite D , Miglioretti DL , Zhu W , Demb J , Trentham-Dietz A , Sprague B , Tice JA , Onega T , Henderson LM , Buist DSM , Walter LC , Kerlikowske K
Published: March 2018

This study examined whether breast density is associated with risk of breast cancer in women age ≥65 years undergoing screening mammography in community practice. Methods: We used prospective cohort data between 1996 and 2012 from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC). We calculated separate cumulative incidence models for breast cancer incidence according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density for women ages 65–74 and ages ≥75. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to determine the risk of invasive breast cancer adjusted for BCSC registry, race/ethnicity, BMI, hormone therapy use and benign breast disease. Results: Among the 403,268 women included in the study, approximately 40% were ages ≥75. The annual incidence rate of invasive breast cancer increased with increasing breast density among women ages 65–74 [BI- RADS fatty breasts: 2.2% (95% CI, 2.1%–2.4%) vs. heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts: 4.7% (95% CI, 4.6%–4.9%)] and women ages 75+ [BI-RADS fatty breasts: 2.3% (95% CI, 2.1%–2.5%) vs. heterogeneously or extremely dense: 4.3% (95% CI, 4.1%–4.5%)]. Women with BI-RADS fatty breasts had a decreased risk of breast cancer among women ages 65–74 [HR: 0.66 (95% CI: 0.58%–0.78%) and women ages ≥75 [HR: 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62%–0.87%). Women with BI-RADS heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts were found to have increased risk of breast cancer among women ages 65–74 [HR: 1.39 (95% CI: 1.28%–1.51%)] and women ages ≥75 [HR: 1.23 (95% CI: 1.10%–1.37%)]. Conclusions: Older women with higher BI-RADS density had a significantly increased risk of breast cancer. These findings add further evidence that breast density continues to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, even among women age ≥75 years.
Clinical and Psychological Predictors of Switching from Active Surveillance to Active Treatment among Men with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: the PREPARE Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Taylor KL , Luta G , Zotou V , Hoffman RM , Lobo T , Davis KM , Potosky AL , Aaronson D , Van Den Eeden S
Published: March 2018

Numerous observational studies have assessed the clinical predictors of switching from active surveillance (AS) to active treatment (AT), but few have assessed psychological and decisional predictors. In a prospective, comparative effectiveness cohort study of men newly diagnosed with low-risk PCa, we assessed whether psychological and decisional factors predicted switching to AT after adjusting for clinical factors. We conducted pre-treatment telephone interviews (N = 1,139; 69.3% participation) with low-risk PCa patients (PSA < 10, Gleason < 7) and a follow-up assessment 6–10 months post-diagnosis (N = 1057; 93%). Clinical variables were obtained from the medical record. The current analysis included men who were on AS for up to 24 months (N = 515), compared to men on AS for >12 months who switched to AT between 12–24 months (N = 86). In Cox proportional hazard models, we included 2 time-dependent covariates measured between diagnosis and 24-months post-diagnosis: PSA (<4, 4–9.99, 10+) and Gleason score (<7, 7+, no surveillance biopsy). Baseline covariates included age (X = 62.3 (SD = 7.0), first degree relative with PCa (25%), number of positive cores (<2 = 75%), urologist initial treatment recommendation (14% AT). Covariates measured at 6 months included prostate- specific anxiety, decisional satisfaction, decisional uncertainty, and preference for shared vs. independent decisions. The fully adjusted model indicated that switching to an active treatment was more likely among those with a PSA > 10 (HR 5.6, 2.4–13.1), Gleason 7+ (HR 20.2, 12.2–33.4), and the urologist's initial recommendation of AT (HR 2.1, 1.04–4.2). The psychological variables, including preference for making independent treatment decisions (HR 2.7, 1.07–6.9) and concern that disease progression will not be detected (HR 1.5, 0.95–2.4), were independently associated with undergoing AT. After adjusting for clinical evidence of disease progression over the first two years post-diagnosis, men's concerns that disease progression will not be detected and preference for making their own treatment decision each independently predicted undergoing AT. These findings suggest the need to provide information and assistance to men who may be uncertain about remaining on AS, particularly when AS remains clinically indicated.
Cumulative Incidence of Non-breast Cancer Mortality and Breast Cancer Risk by Comorbidity and Age among Older Women Undergoing Screening Mammography: The Medicare-linked Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Cohort Study
Authors: Demb J , Abraham L , Miglioretti DL , Buist DSM , Sprague B , Walter LC , O'Meara ES , Schousboe J , Henderson LM , Kerlikowske K , Braithwaite D
Published: March 2018

Due to an increasing comorbidity burden with aging, the margin of benefit from screening mammography in women ages ≥65 is highly variable. This study examined 10-year cumulative risk of non-breast cancer mortality and breast cancer by comorbidity and age in a screening population. Methods: We used prospective cohort data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC), which included 198,362 women ages ≥65 years who have undergone at least one screening mammogram. We calculated cumulative incidence of non-breast cancer mortality and risk of breast cancer 10 years following the screening mammogram for women ages 65–74, 75–84 and ≥85 years stratified by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI scores 0, 1 and ≥2). Results: During a median follow-up time of 8.1 years (interquartile range, 4.6 to 10 years), 34,768 died from non-breast cancer causes and 6,327 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer of whom 359 died from breast cancer and 942 from non-breast cancer causes. The 10-year cumulative risk of invasive breast cancer following a screening mammogram did not significantly decrease with elevating CCI score and age for women ages 65–74 [CCI 0 = 4.0% (95% CI, 3.9%–4.1%) vs. CCI ≥2 = 3.8% (95% CI, 3.3%–4.3%)], ages 75–84 [CCI 0 = 3.7% (95% CI, 3.5%–3.9%) vs. CCI ≥ 2 = 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8%–4.0%)], and ages ≥85 [CCI 0 = 2.7%, (95% CI, 2.3%–3.2%) vs. CCI ≥ 2 = 2.5% (95% CI, 1.4%–3.6%)]. Cumulative risk of non-breast cancer mortality significantly increased with increasing CCI and age for women ages 65–74 [CCI 0 = 11% (95% CI, 10%–11%] vs. CCI ≥ 2 = 45% (95% CI, [43%–46%)], ages 75–84 [CCI 0 = 29% (95% CI, 29%–30%) vs. CCI ≥2 = 62% (95% CI, 60%–63%)], and ages ≥85 [CCI 0 = 59%, (95% CI, 57%–60%) vs. CCI ≥2 = 84% (95% CI, 81%–86%)]. Conclusion: Risk of non-breast cancer mortality was high and significantly increased with rising comorbidity burden and age whereas breast cancer risk was low and non-significantly decreased with both. These results suggest that women with a CCI score of ≥2 or ages ≥75 years may experience minimal benefit from continuing routine screening mammography. Future research is needed to delineate the specific benefits and harms of screening mammography in subsets of older women defined by age and comorbidity burden.
In Vivo E2F Reporting Reveals Efficacious Schedules of MEK1/2–CDK4/6 Targeting and mTOR–S6 Resistance Mechanisms
Authors: Teh Jessica L.F. , Cheng Phil F. , Purwin Timothy J. , Nikbakht Neda , Patel Prem , Chervoneva Inna , Ertel Adam , Fortina Paolo M. , Kleiber Ines , HooKim Kim , Davies Michael A. , Kwong Lawrence N. , Levesque Mitch P. , Dummer Reinhard , Aplin Andrew E.
Published: March 2018

Targeting cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 (CDK4/6) represents a therapeutic option in combination with BRAF inhibitor and/or MEK inhibitor (MEKi) in melanoma; however, continuous dosing elicits toxicities in patients. Using quantitative and temporal in vivo reporting, we show that continuous MEKi with intermittent CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) led to more complete tumor responses versus other combination schedules. Nevertheless, some tumors acquired resistance that was associated with enhanced phosphorylation of ribosomal S6 protein. These data were supported by phospho-S6 staining of melanoma biopsies from patients treated with CDK4/6i plus targeted inhibitors. Enhanced phospho-S6 in resistant tumors provided a therapeutic window for the mTORC1/2 inhibitor AZD2014. Mechanistically, upregulation or mutation of NRAS was associated with resistance in in vivo models and patient samples, respectively, and mutant NRAS was sufficient to enhance resistance. This study utilizes an in vivo reporter model to optimize schedules and supports targeting mTORC1/2 to overcome MEKi plus CDK4/6i resistance.

Significance: Mutant BRAF and NRAS melanomas acquire resistance to combined MEK and CDK4/6 inhibition via upregulation of mTOR pathway signaling. This resistance mechanism provides the preclinical basis to utilize mTORC1/2 inhibitors to improve MEKi plus CDK4/6i drug regimens. Cancer Discov; 8(5); 568–81. ©2018 AACR.

See related commentary by Sullivan, p. 532.

See related article by Romano et al., p. 556.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 517
Digital Circulating Tumor Cell Analyses for Prostate Cancer Precision Oncology
Authors: Heitzer Ellen , Speicher Michael R.
Published: March 2018

Summary: In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Miyamoto and colleagues adapted their microfluidic CTC-iChip isolation platform with a digital RNA-PCR readout for eight prostate-specific transcripts and two assays for the androgen receptor mRNA splice variant ARV7 and the TMPRSS2–ERG translocation transcript. In patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer at initiating abiraterone therapy in a first-line setting, the resulting RNA-based digital circulating tumor cell signatures identified patients with a shorter overall survival, and in patients with clinically localized disease, the signatures identified those with seminal vesicle invasion and pelvic lymph node involvement. Cancer Discov; 8(3); 269–71. ©2018 AACR.

See related article by Miyamoto et al., p. 288.
Driver Oncogenes but Not as We Know Them: Targetable Fusion Genes in Breast Cancer
Authors: Natrajan Rachael , Tutt Andrew N.J. , Lord Christopher J.
Published: March 2018

Summary: Two reports in this issue of Cancer Discovery outline how the genomic composition of tumors, including the presence of intragenic gene fusions, could inform the selection of treatment approaches in aggressive forms of the disease. Cancer Discov; 8(3); 272–5. ©2018 AACR.

See related article by Matissek et al., p. 336.

See related article by Liu et al., p. 354.
The Overall Survival Benefit for Patients with T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma after Nephron-Sparing Surgery Depends on Gender and Age
Authors: Liek Elisabeth , Elsebach Klaus , Göbel Hubert , Krah Xaver , Krautschick-Wilkens Andreas W. , Schweiger Josef , Steiner Gabriel , Steiner Thomas , Wunderlich Heiko
Published: March 2018

Due to the recommendations in the urological guidelines to perform nephron-sparing surgery in patients with organ-confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the customary therapy regimen changed, but it is not well studied yet whether partial nephrectomy (PN) especially in the elderly is beneficial. From 2000 to 2015, 3,592 patients from 7 clinics undergoing surgery in RCC were identified; 2,323 had T1 tumours. We retrospectively compared the overall survival benefit of patients with T1 RCC who underwent either PN or radical nephrectomy (RN) and studied effects of age and gender. Results: In T1 RCC, PN was beneficial in male patients (p = 0.0006) independent of age, especially in those men ≤75 years of age (p = 0.0005); but PN was not beneficial for female patients (p = 0.0629) regardless of age and male patients older than 75 years (p = 0.736). The OS of female patients after RN and male patients after PN is the same, regardless of age. A life expectancy of more than 45 months at least is necessary to experience an overall survival benefit after PN. Conclusions: There should be harder proven indications for PN in female patients and especially in all patients older than 75 years, particularly with regard to perioperative risk factors.
Hyperhidrosis – Sweating Sites Matter: Quality of Life in Primary Hyperhidrosis according to the Sweating Sites Measured by SF-36
Authors: Shayesteh Alexander , Janlert Urban , Nylander Elisabet
Published: March 2018

Background: Primary hyperhidrosis has negative impacts on quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the impacts of primary hyperhidrosis on quality of life are different depending on the localisation of the sweating. Method: We compiled background data, Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) post hoc results from 2 previous studies. Cases who described only 1 site as their most problematic area of sweating were included (n = 160/188) while individuals with multifocal primary sites of hyperhidrosis were excluded (n = 28/188). Results: Individuals included were 11–62 years old with a mean age of 30.2 ± 10.4 years, and axillary hyperhidrosis (65.6%) was the most common type of hyperhidrosis. Comorbidities were more common when hyperhidrosis was reported in other than the axillary, palmar, and plantar regions. Excluding comorbidities showed the lowest SF-36 mental component summary scores for axillary (41.6 ± 11.6), palmar (40.0 ± 9.4), and plantar hyperhidrosis (41.1 ± 13.7). The HDSS showed the highest proportion of severe cases in axillary (60.6%) and palmar (51.5%) hyperhidrosis (p < 0.01) while mild cases were more often observed in plantar (60%), facial (83.3%), and other sites (85.7%) in primary hyperhidrosis (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our results indicate that impairments in quality of life can be different depending on the manifestation of primary hyperhidrosis on the body. This can have an influence on how patients with hyperhidrosis could be prioritised in health care. Subgroup samples affected by facial hyperhidrosis and other sites of primary hyperhidrosis were however small, and more research is required to verify our findings.
Dermoscopy Improves the Diagnostic Accuracy of Melanomas Clinically Resembling Seborrheic Keratosis: Cross-Sectional Study of the Ability to Detect Seborrheic Keratosis-Like Melanomas by a Group of Dermatologists with Varying Degrees of Experience
Authors: Carrera Cristina , Segura Sonia , Aguilera Paula , Takigami Carol Midori , Gomes Antonio , Barreiro Alicia , Scalvenzi Massimiliano , Longo Caterina , Cavicchini Stefano , Thomas Luc , Malvehy Josep , Puig Susana , Zalaudek Iris
Published: March 2018

Background: Malignant melanomas mimicking seborrheic keratosis (SK-like MMs) carry the risk of delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment. The value of dermoscopy to improve the correct detection of these mimickers has not been previously studied. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinically SK-like MMs with and without dermoscopy. Methods: Clinical and dermoscopic images of histopathologically proven SK-like MMs (n = 134) intermingled with other melanomas and benign tumors were randomly presented to clinicians with different levels of experience, blinded to the diagnosis and goal of the study. Each participant classified each lesion as melanoma or benign tumor. The clinical and clinical-dermoscopic diagnostic accuracies were measured separately. Results: Overall, 54 participants with a mean clinical experience of 15.8 years (SD 11.8) evaluated 231 tumors. Almost 40% of SK-like melanomas were clinically misclassified as benign tumor. Dermoscopy improved diagnostic accuracy for all participants, independently of experience, from 60.9 to 68.1% (p < 0.001), mostly due to a significant increase in the sensitivity (clinical 61.9% vs. dermoscopic 74.5%) (p < 0.001). Dermoscopy did not significantly affect specificity among the experienced participants (≥6 years of experience) compared to clinical examination (61.1 vs. 59.6%, respectively); in contrast, dermoscopy was associated with a decrease in specificity compared to clinical diagnosis among novice participants (< 6 years) (45.6 vs. 61.1%, respectively; p = 0.02). Conclusion: Melanomas can be clinically indistinguishable from SKs despite being evaluated by expert dermatologists. Dermoscopy, even in nonexpert hands, significantly improves their recognition.
Children with a History of Premature Adrenarche Have Good Health-Related Quality of Life at the Age of 12 Years
Authors: Liimatta Jani , Sintonen Harri , Utriainen Pauliina , Voutilainen Raimo , Jääskeläinen Jarmo
Published: March 2018

Background/Aim: Children with premature adrenarche (PA) are taller and more overweight than their healthy peers, and PA girls have a slightly accelerated pubertal development. There is some evidence that early exposure to androgens may have an influence on psychosocial development. The aim of this cross-sectional case-control study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PA children at the age of 12 years. Methods: The HRQoL was assessed for 43 PA (36 girls) and 63 control children (52 girls) at the median age of 12.0 years using the standardized 16D instrument, and the scores of the PA children were compared to those of the control children and reference population. Results: The mean overall HRQoL scores did not differ between PA and control girls, PA and control boys, or all PA and control children or the reference population. Independently of PA, overweight girls had a lower mean overall HRQoL score than lean girls, and both overweight girls and boys were on average worse off on the dimension of appearance than their lean peers. Conclusions: PA children have as good self-rated HRQoL as their peers at the age of 12 years. Overweight is associated with a worse HRQoL profile independently of PA.
Inhibitory Effects of Benzaldehyde, Vanillin, Muscone and Borneol on P-Glycoprotein in Caco-2 Cells and Everted Gut Sac
Authors: Wang Shixiang , Tan Nan , Ma Cuicui , Wang Jie , Jia Pu , Liu Jianghong , Yang Yang , Xie Zhanxiong , Zhao Kun , Zheng Xiaohui
Published: March 2018

Aims: In clinical practice, herbal medicines have played an important role in the modulation of drug transporters through the combination of conventional prescription drugs, which necessitates the elucidation of herb-drug interactions. The present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of benzaldehyde, vanillin, muscone, and borneol on P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Methods: The effects of the 4 compounds on the intracellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 (Rho-123) in vinblastine-treated Caco-2 (VB-Caco-2) cells were studied by monitoring fluorescence intensity through a flow cytometry assay, and the effects of these compounds on Rho-123 transport through VB-Caco-2 monolayers and Rho-123 intestinal absorption in the rat everted gut sac were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Moreover, P-gp expression in VB-Caco-2 cells was assessed using flow cytometry and Western blot analysis, and the relative ABCB1 mRNA level was determined by Real-time RT-PCR. Key Findings: The results showed that benzaldehyde, vanillin, muscone, and borneol significantly increased Rho-123 uptake in VB-Caco-2 cells, increased the absorption rate and apparent permeability coefficient of Rho-123 in rat jejunum and ileum, and decreased the efflux ratio of Rho-123 from 6.52 to less than 2 during transport across VB-Caco-2 cell monolayers. In addition, these compounds reduced the protein and ABCB1 mRNA levels of P-gp in VB-Caco-2 cells. Conclusions: These data indicate that benzaldehyde, vanillin, muscone and borneol could effectively reverse multidrug resistance via inhibiting the P-gp function and expression pathway. The data provide fodder for further investigation into the interaction between the 4 compounds and other drugs transported by P-gp.
Correction for Delay and Dispersion Results in More Accurate Cerebral Blood Flow Ischemic Core Measurement in Acute Stroke
Authors: Lin Longting , Bivard Andrew , Kleinig Timothy , Spratt Neil J. , Levi Christopher R. , Yang Qing , Parsons Mark W.
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—

This study aimed to assess how the ischemic core measured by perfusion computed tomography (CTP) was affected by the delay and dispersion effect.

Methods—

Ischemic stroke patients having CTP performed within 6 hours of onset were included. The CTP data were processed twice, generating standard cerebral blood flow (sCBF) and delay- and dispersion-corrected CBF (ddCBF), respectively. Ischemic core measured by the sCBF and ddCBF was then compared at the relative threshold <30% of normal tissue. Two references for ischemic core were used: acute diffusion-weighted imaging or 24-hour diffusion-weighted imaging in patients with complete recanalization. Difference of core volume between CTP and diffusion-weighted imaging was estimated by Mann–Whitney
U
test and limits of agreement. Patients were also classified into favorable and unfavorable CTP patterns. The imaging pattern classification by sCBF and ddCBF was compared by the χ
2
test; their respective ability to predict good clinical outcome (3-month modified Rankin Scale score) was tested in logistic regression.

Results—

Fifty-five patients were included in this study. Median sCBF ischemic core volume was 38.5 mL (12.4–61.9 mL), much larger than the median core volume of 17.2 mL measured by ddCBF (interquartile range, 5.5–38.8;
P
<0.001). Moreover, compared with sCBF <30%, ddCBF <30% measured the ischemic core much closer to diffusion-weighted imaging core references, with the mean volume difference of −0.1 mL (95% limits of agreement, −25.4 to 25.2;
P
=0.97) and 16.7 mL (95% limits of agreement, −21.7 to 55.2;
P
<0.001), respectively. Imaging patterns defined by sCBF showed a difference to that defined by ddCBF (
P
<0.001), with 12 patients classified as favorable imaging patterns by ddCBF but as unfavorable by sCBF. The favorable imaging pattern classified by ddCBF, compared with sCBF classification, had higher predictive power for good clinical outcome (odds ratio, 7.8 [2–30.5] and 3.1 [0.9–11], respectively).

Conclusions—

Delay and dispersion correction increases the accuracy of ischemic core measurement on CTP.
The Telephone and Its Uses in 1980s U.S. Activism
Authors: Keys Barbara
Published: March 2018

Claims that today’s digital technologies are unprecedented in their effect on society are founded on a weak understanding of the roles played by pre-digital technologies. Although the landline phone was the most ubiquitous American technology of the twentieth century, and an important influence on social and political life, it has received little attention in most fields of scholarship. But widespread use of the landline telephone is key to explaining how activists in the U.S. Central America movement of the 1980s sustained their commitment and sense of community. Telephony’s emotional and sensory qualities, underpinned by the powers of the human voice, were significant factors in the Central America movement’s longevity and potency. Communications technology had a profound influence on the character and results of protest movements well before the digital age.
The Effect of Geography and Institutions on Economic Development: The Case of Lodz
Authors: Dzionek-Kozlowska Joanna , Kowalski Kamil , Matera Rafal
Published: March 2018

Economic development in the Polish city of Lodz was a function of both geography and institutions. Neither geographical nor institutional factors, if taken separately, was a sufficient condition for long-term development. Although the economic achievements of Lodz depended on environmental factors throughout the entire period before World War I, dynamic progress there had to await the establishment of a beneficial institutional background—a change from wool to cotton production, the abolition of a custom’s border, and the construction of a railway system—in the nineteenth century.
Ideas of Subjective Well-Being in Democratic and Nondemocratic Societies: A Comparative Study
Authors: Zagrebina Anna
Published: March 2018

Being socially determined constructs, concepts of subjective well-being (swb) affect the motivation behind people’s behavior in every society. Usually, subjective well-being is measured using the survey questions about life satisfaction. Using multilevel modeling with individual and cross-national data from the World Values Survey on 65 countries for the 2005-2014 periods, this research confirms that life satisfaction determinants which constitute pivotal elements of subjective well-being differ significantly in democratic and nondemocratic social contexts. The effect of marital relations, participation in sports organizations and church attendance on life satisfaction is stronger in democratic social contexts than in nondemocratic ones. While the effect of income, educational level, participation in non-sports organizations and religiosity is stronger in a nondemocratic social context. These results contribute to a non-institutional measure of modern democracy, dispel some myths about modern democratic and nondemocratic values, and show the potency and applicability of a sociological approach in the field ofswbstudies.
Israel’s Foreign Investment Protection Regime in View of Developments in Its Energy Sector
Authors: Reich Arie
Published: March 2018

This article discusses Israel’s BITs regime and policy and analyzes its central features. It argues that time has come to use BITs as a tool to attract FDI to the country, in particular to the energy sector. It shows that until now, Israel has concluded BITs mainly as a means to protect Israeli investors in developing and transition countries. The article argues that this policy needs to change to keep up with current trends in International Investment Law and on the background of the important developments over the last few years in Israel’s energy sector. It describes the long saga of the regulatory changes in relation to the natural gas sector, ever since the discovery of huge offshore gas fields, including the Supreme Court’s rulings on the changes of the tax regime and on the stabilization clause, and analyses its impact on the investment climate based on original data.
One Window into the State of Insiders’ Arbitration Scholarship
Authors: Garth Bryant G.
Published: March 2018

This book, dedicated to Charles N. Brower, a prominent international arbitrator, provides a window into the field of international commercial arbitration. It is a depiction and embodiment of the state of what can be called ‘insiders’ international arbitration. It purports to be about ‘practicing virtue,’ providing keys to the actual work of international arbitrators as depicted by an important segment of them. But the scholarship of arbitrators performs multiple functions, including self-promotion, criticism of competitors from outside, unification of the field, and bolstering the legitimacy of the field, among others. The book is therefore not only about the practice of virtue as this community sees it. It is also about ‘dealing in virtue’ – seeking to maintain the market for precisely what this group has to offer.
A taxonomic revision of the Brazilian species of Encyclia (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae: Epidendreae)
Authors: BASTOS CLÁUDIA A. , MENEGUZZO THIAGO E. C. , VAN DEN BERG CÁSSIO
Published: March 2018

A taxonomic revision of the Brazilian species of Encyclia is presented, based on analysis of roughly 1,400 herbarium specimens, including types. Thirty-nine species and one variety are listed for Brazil; we indicate 101 synonyms, of which eight are newly proposed. Lectotypes are chosen for five names (E. chironii, E. dutrae, E. paraënsis, E. tripartita and Epidendrum capartianum), including accepted names and synonyms. Two names are indicated as invalid (E. randii var. rondoniensis and E. vazzoleri), one name as a nomen nudum (E. guesneliana) and another as superfluous (Epidendrum pabstii). The occurrence of E. auyantepuiensis and E. thienii is confirmed for Brazil, and new occurrences are documented of E. fimbriata in Minas Gerais (in addition to Bahia) and E. linearifolioides in Maranhão and possibly Paraná (in addition to Matto Grosso and Tocatins States and Bolivia and Paraguay). All species are described and illustrated, and distribution maps are included. For both varieties of E. patens, nomenclatural and taxonomic notes are provided.
Effect of Visualization Training on Uncertain Spatial Trajectory Predictions
Authors: Pugh Ashley J. , Wickens Christopher D. , Herdener Nathan , Clegg Benjamin A. , Smith C. A. P.
Published: March 2018

Objective:

The goal of this study was to explore the ways in which visualizations influence the prediction of uncertain spatial trajectories (e.g., the unknown path of a downed aircraft or future path of a hurricane) and participant overconfidence in such prediction.

Background:

Previous research indicated that spatial predictions of uncertain trajectories are challenging and are often associated with overconfidence. Introducing a visualization aid during training may improve the understanding of uncertainty and reduce overconfidence.

Method:

Two experiments asked participants to predict the location of various trajectories at a future time. Mean and variance estimates were compared for participants who were provided with a visualization and those who were not.

Results:

In Experiment 1, participants exhibited less error in mean estimations when a linear visualization was present but performed worse than controls once the visualization was removed. Similar results were shown in Experiment 2, with a nonlinear visualization. However, in both experiments, participants who were provided with a visualization did not retain any advantage in their variance estimations once the visualization was removed.

Conclusions:

Visualizations may support spatial predictions under uncertainty, but they are associated with benefits and costs for the underlying knowledge being developed.

Application:

Visualizations have the potential to influence how people make spatial predictions in the presence of uncertainty. Properly designed and implemented visualizations may help mitigate the cognitive biases related to such predictions.
Short-Term Temporal Clustering of Police-Reported Violent Offending and Victimization
Authors: Aaltonen Mikko , Kivivuori Janne , Kuitunen Laura
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

To examine short-term associations between offending and victimization using daily data on criminal offenses. We also examine the within-individual association between several types of offenses and victimization and see whether incidents closer together in time are more likely reflect revenge motives.

Method:

We use total data on all victims ( n = 88,106) and offenders ( n = 60,584) in police-reported assaults in Finland during 2007–2009 to examine temporal clustering of the two outcomes. Monthly panel data ( n = 4,886) on offending and victimization are analyzed with fixed-effects regression models, while revenge motives are derived from detailed case descriptions ( n = 299).

Results:

The risk of violent victimization is higher in months following criminal offending. Although the offending rates directly before and after victimization are low on absolute terms, we find that these rates are higher around the time of victimization. Violent offenses closer to victimization incidents are more likely to include the same parties in opposite roles.

Conclusions:

Criminal offending increases the risk of victimization in a state-dependent matter. Closer analysis of situational and motivational dynamics of victimization and offending requires temporally detailed data, as a substantial share of the victim–offender overlap is explained by incidents that take place on the same day, complicating the analysis of the temporal sequence of those events.
Development and control of a robotic lower limb exoskeleton for paraplegic patients
Authors: Yang Mingxing , Wang Xingsong , Zhu Zhiyong , Xi Ruru , Wu Qingcong
Published: March 2018

Robot-assisted therapy has gained wide attention in rehabilitation engineering, allowing patients with lower limb motor disorders to perform repeatable and consistent upright bipedal walking. The goal of this paper is to develop a novel wearable powered exoskeleton that enables the paraplegic to perform basic daily movements for active rehabilitation training of lower limbs. Mechanical structure and driving devices of the exoskeleton are reasonably designed and selected to ensure natural interaction with the user and provide sufficient driving torques in the course of walking. In order to avoid unwanted interaction forces between the exoskeleton and the patient, the passive exoskeleton testing system is proposed to measure and record various postures as the reference trajectories. In addition, a cascaded proportional–integral–derivative controller is designed to complete walking assistance tasks in passive control modes. Four typical trajectory tracking tasks are carried out for the sake of evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Further experiments were conducted by a healthy subject wearing the rehabilitation exoskeleton to perform sit-to-stand and level walking, and the results demonstrated that the developed robot-assisted system had the natural period and favorable response patterns.
A quality-driven stability analysis framework based on state fluctuation space model for manufacturing process
Authors: Zhao Liping , Hu Sheng , Yao Yiyong
Published: March 2018

Industrial manufacturing processes often show multiple operating modes, where different modes present different regularities, so real-time monitor and analyzing the quality state stability is an important way to ensure product quality. This paper proposes a state-driven fluctuation space model for quality stability analysis for multimode manufacturing process. First, the whole process is divided into many sub-processes and the multimode formation mechanism is analyzed to form the stability analysis framework. Then each single-mode quality state fluctuation space model is built based on multi-kernel support vector data description method to determine the max effective fluctuation border of the process state. For the current process state, the deep neural network (DNN) is adopted to extract process state features automatically and recognize the mode type. Thus appropriate quality stable fluctuation space model is selected to monitor and analyze the process stability state. Finally, a case study is performed to evaluate the feasibility of proposed stability analysis method, and the result reveals that the method shows good effect for analyzing the process stability in manufacturing process.
Drowning Not Waving: The ‘Children Overboard’ Event and Australia's Fear of the other
Authors: Slattery Kate
Published: March 2018

The last few years have been an awakening time for the people, communities and governments of the global village. Escalating problems in the Middle East, global economic uncertainty and an increase in asylum seekers, refugees and migration worldwide have reignited tensions involving boundaries and borders, both geographical and cognitive. One event which highlighted these tensions in Australia, and which was given much media coverage, was the ‘children overboard’ event in October 2001. Utilising a selection of print news coverage of the event, this paper explores how the ‘children overboard’ event demarcated national identities and spaces through the construction and representation of ‘good’ Australian citizens and ‘bad’ asylum seeker ‘others’. Specifically referring to ‘children overboard’ as an ‘event’, I seek to highlight the constructed and representational nature of ‘children overboard’ as a media story and political tool, one which promoted a continuing threat of ‘others’ to the nation in order to gain support for government policy and legitimize national security, and in so doing creating a model of Australian citizenship and identity based upon fear.
Lost at Woomera: Rereading Mainstream and Alternative Media
Authors: Bishop Peter
Published: March 2018

This paper focuses on aspects of the media engagement with demonstrations at the Woomera Detention Centre during Easter 2002. A broad range of interests and affiliations were represented within the 1000–2000 protestors, several hundred of whom attacked the fences, allowing a number of detainees to escape. In an era of online activism, the Easter 2002 demonstration at Woomera showed the continuing significance of the embodied occupation of public space by protestors. It echoed an upsurge in public demonstration, from Seattle to more recent worldwide marches against war in Iraq. In addition to receiving extensive mainstream media coverage both in Australia and overseas, a whole series of ‘alternative’ forms of media were mobilised around the demonstration. Through a study of some mainstream and alternative media, this paper suggests that casting them as oppositional — one as reactionary towards asylum seekers from Islamic cultures and the other as emancipatory — is too simplistic. While mainstream media are the subject of searching critiques of their representational and agenda-setting power, similar critical evaluations are few for alternative media. It suggests that such a dichotomy has serious consequences for the understanding and operation both of emancipatory struggles and of the media. Giroux (2002) has called for a politics of educated hope, and this paper suggests that critique should be accompanied by an active search for moments of contradiction and possibility.
Rediscovering connections between animal welfare and human welfare: Creating social work internships at a humane society
Authors: Hoy-Gerlach Janet , Delgado Martha , Sloane Heather , Arkow Phil
Published: March 2018

Within a narrative of how two distinct graduate social work internship placements at a humane society were structured and implemented, we address: (1) historic and contemporary rationales for social work roles in humane society settings, (2) development of social work field placements in a humane society, and (3) specific social work learning opportunities afforded.

Findings

The first petition for removal of a child due to abuse in the United States occurred in 1874 through efforts of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals director. While child protection services have evolved since then, numerous aspects of human–animal interaction are relevant to social work: social support roles of animals, connections between violence toward animals and violence toward humans, therapeutic benefits of animals, companion animal loss, and compassion fatigue among animal shelter and veterinary staff. Encompassing such HAI aspects, we describe the development of two distinct internship placements at a humane society. One placement entailed a twofold focus on: reduction of staff compassion fatigue and development of an Emotional Support Animal placement program (the Hope and Recovery Pet Program); the other placement focused on aspects of the connection between violence toward animals and violence toward people.

Applications

Aspects of these social work placements can be modified and replicated in humane societies and related settings. Increased awareness of the potential relevance of human–animal interaction across social work practice settings allows for explicit identification of/response to clients’ human–animal interaction-related strengths and concerns, ultimately supporting the well-being of both humans and animals.
Foot and ankle problems
Authors: James Magnus
Published: March 2018

Patients presenting with foot or ankle pain are commonly seen in general practice, and the differential diagnoses are extensive. There are many conditions that can affect the foot and ankle, including orthopaedic, vascular, rheumatologic and traumatic causes. This article will describe a general template for history taking and clinical examination of the foot and ankle. It will then focus on some conditions that commonly present in general practice, and consider their diagnosis and management.
Weekend effect in acute coronary syndrome: A meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Kwok Chun Shing , Al-Dokheal Mohammed , Aldaham Sami , Rushton Claire , Butler Rob , Kinnaird Tim , Zaman Azfar , Zaman M Justin , Timmis Adam , Mamas Mamas A
Published: March 2018

Background:

The effect of a weekend compared with a weekday hospital admission on patient outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome is unclear. This study aims to determine whether collectively there is a weekend effect in acute coronary syndrome.

Method:

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies examining the association between weekend compared to weekday admission at any time of the day and early mortality (in-hospital or 30-day). A search was performed on Medline and Embase and relevant studies were pooled using random effects meta-analysis for risk of early mortality. Additional analyses were performed considering only more recent studies (conducted after 2005) and by patient group (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] or non-STEMI [NSTEMI]), as well as meta-regression according to starting year and mean year of study.

Results:

A total of 18 studies were included with over 14 million participants incorporating 3 million weekend and over 11.5 million weekday admissions and the rates of mortality were 19.2% and 23.4%, respectively. The pooled results of all 18 studies suggest that weekend admission was associated with a small increased risk of early mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.09). The results for subgroups of STEMI and NSTEMI cohorts were not statistically significant and timing of admission after 2005 had minimal influence on the results (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.95–1.17).

Conclusions:

There is a small weekend effect for admission with acute coronary syndrome that has persisted over time.
The role of Th17/Treg-mediated immunoregulation in abortion mice
Authors: Li Ning , Qu Qinglan , Yan Qian
Published: March 2018

In the study, we investigated the immune factors related to T helper 17 (Th17) cells and T regulatory (Treg) cells in spontaneous abortion mice. The expression of Th17 was analyzed by interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17A secretion, RAR-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) expression, and proportion of CD4+IL-17+ cells. The levels of IL-10, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), Foxp3, and CD4+Foxp3+ cells were presented the Treg expression. Higher embryo absorption rate was found in spontaneous abortion group than that in normal pregnancy group ( P < 0.01). Compared with the normal pregnancy mice, spontaneous abortion mice showed higher levels of IL-6 and IL-17A and lower levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in serum and in decidua ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expressions of Foxp3 and CD4+Foxp3+ cells were significantly decreased in spontaneous abortion mice than those in normal pregnancy mice ( P < 0.05). However, the levels of RORγt and CD4+IL-17+ cells remarkably increased in spontaneous abortion mice ( P < 0.05). The results reveal that Th17/Treg cells may play a vital role in immunoregulation during pregnancy.
MicroRNA-27b-3p regulates function and metabolism in insulin resistance cells by inhibiting receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1
Authors: Liu Yong , Wang Guohui , Yang Xiangwu , Li Pengzhou , Ling Hao , Zhu Shaihong
Published: March 2018

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with insulin resistance-induced lipid and glucose metabolism disorder. The study was aimed to explore the potential functional role of microRNA (miR)-27b-3p in T2DM, as well as underlying mechanisms. An insulin resistance cell model was induced in HepG2 cells and then expression of miR-27b-3p and receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) was analyzed. The expression of miR-27b-3p was overexpressed or silenced, and the relationship between ROR1 and miR-27b-3p was investigated. Thereafter, the effects of miR-27b-3p on percentage of glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation and cell cycle were analyzed. The expressions of miR-27b-3p were significantly increased, while the ROR1 levels were statistically decreased in the cells of the model group. Overexpression of miR-27b-3p dramatically decreased the levels of ROR1 and the percentage of glucose uptake, but had no effects on fatty acid oxidation. ROR1 was a target of miR-27b-3p. Moreover, overexpression of miR-27b-3p could remarkably highlight the percentages of cells at G0/G1 phase, but decreased the percentages of cells at S phase. In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-27b-3p regulates the function and metabolism of insulin resistance cells by inhibiting ROR1. miR-27b-3p might be a potential drug target in treating T2DM.