bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Degalactotigonin, a Natural Compound from Solanum nigrum L., Inhibits Growth and Metastasis of Osteosarcoma through GSK3β Inactivation–Mediated Repression of the Hedgehog/Gli1 Pathway
Authors: Zhao Zhiqiang , Jia Qiang , Wu Man-Si , Xie Xianbiao , Wang Yongqian , Song Guohui , Zou Chang-Ye , Tang Qinglian , Lu Jinchang , Huang Gang , Wang Jin , Lin De-Chen , Koeffler H. Phillip , Yin Jun-Qiang , Shen Jingnan
Published: September 2017

Purpose: Agents extracted from natural sources with antitumor property have attracted considerable attention from researchers and clinicians because of their safety, efficacy, and immediate availability. Degalactotigonin (DGT), extracted from Solanum nigrum L., has anticancer properties without serious side effects. Here, we explored whether DGT can inhibit the growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma.

Experimental Design: MTT, colony formation, and apoptosis assays were performed to analyze the effects of DGT on osteosarcoma cell viability in vitro. The migration and invasion abilities were measured using a Transwell assay. Animal models were used to assess the roles of DGT in both tumor growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma. Gli1 expression and function were measured in osteosarcoma cells and clinical samples. After DGT treatment, Gli1 activation and the phosphorylation status of multiple cellular kinases were measured with a luciferase reporter and phospho-kinase antibody array.

Results: DGT inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed migration and invasion in osteosarcoma cells. DGT, injected intraperitoneally after tumor inoculation, significantly decreased the volume of osteosarcoma xenografts and dramatically diminished the occurrence of osteosarcoma xenograft metastasis to the lungs. Mechanistically, DGT inhibited osteosarcoma growth and metastasis through repression of the Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway, which maintains malignant phenotypes and is involved in the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients. DGT decreased the activity of multiple intracellular kinases that affect the survival of osteosarcoma patients, including GSK3β. In addition, DGT represses the Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway mainly through GSK3β inactivation.

Conclusions: Our studies provide evidence that DGT can suppress the growth and metastasis of human osteosarcoma through modulation of GSK3β inactivation–mediated repression of the Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway. Clin Cancer Res; 24(1); 130–44. ©2017 AACR.
Lymphopenia and CD4+/CD8+ Cell Reduction under Fumaric Acid Esters
Authors: Sondermann Wiebke , Rompoti Natalia , Leister Larissa , Huptas Lisa , Klode Joachim , Dissemond Joachim , Körber Andreas
Published: September 2017

Background: Fumaric acid esters (FAEs) are a broadly used therapy option for patients suffering from moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Various studies in psoriasis have already shown peripheral blood lymphopenia during oral FAE therapy. Smaller studies also documented a reduction of CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts. Up to now, there are few case reports on opportunistic infections under FAE therapy - all of them associated with lymphopenia. Objective: To examine the influence of FAEs on white blood cells with special regard to leukocytes, lymphocytes, and CD4+ and CD8+ cells during psoriasis therapy. Patients and Methods: A cohort of 105 patients with diagnosed moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis was enrolled in this single-centre observational trial. For a cohort of 36 patients, T-cell subset analyses were performed. Results: Of the total, 65 patients were male (61.9%) and 40 (38.1%) female; the mean age was 43.3 years (range 16-73 years). The median lymphocyte count was significantly reduced by about 35.8% after the first 6 months of therapy. When assessing the lymphocyte count nadir over the whole period observed, 46.7% of the patients developed lymphopenia. Severe lymphopenia (<500/µL) was documented in 11.4% of the patients. The CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts were significantly reduced by about 30.2 and 45.3%, respectively. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the largest clinical investigation analysing prospectively CD4+ and CD8+ cell counts in psoriasis patients receiving FAEs. We suggest periodic monitoring of absolute lymphocyte counts as well as the establishment of the determination of T-cell subsets prior to and during therapy.
Comparative Effects of Education and Bilingualism on the Onset of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Ramakrishnan Subasree , Mekala Shailaja , Mamidipudi Annapurna , Yareeda Sireesha , Mridula Rukmini , Bak Thomas H. , Alladi Suvarna , Kaul Subhash
Published: September 2017

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that life course factors such as education and bilingualism may have a protective role against dementia due to Alzheimer disease. This study aimed to compare the effects of education and bilingualism on the onset of cognitive decline at the stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A total of 115 patients with MCI evaluated in a specialty memory clinic in Hyderabad, India, formed the cohort. MCI was diagnosed according to Petersen's criteria following clinical evaluation and brain imaging. Age at onset of MCI was compared between bilinguals and monolinguals, and across subjects with high and low levels of education, adjusting for possible confounding variables. Results: The bilingual MCI patients were found to have a clinical onset of cognitive complaints 7.4 years later than monolinguals (65.2 vs. 58.1 years; p = 0.004), while years of education was not associated with delayed onset (1-10 years of education, 59.1 years; 11-15 years of education, 62.6 years; >15 years of education, 62.2 years; p = 0.426). Conclusion: The effect of bilingualism is protective against cognitive decline, and lies along a continuum from normal to pathological states. In comparison, the role of years of education is less robust.
Is There a Relation between Vitamin D and Interleukin-17 in Vitiligo? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Aly Dalia , Mohammed Faisal , Sayed Khadiga , Gawdat Heba , Mashaly Heba , Abdel Hay Rania , Elias Tahany , Agaiby Mervat
Published: September 2017

Background: High interleukin (IL)-17 contributes to vitiligo pathogenesis. Vitamin D has been assessed in vitiligo, with no reports targeting its relation to IL-17. Objective: To evaluate a possible regulatory effect of vitamin D on IL-17 and their relation to disease activity in vitiligo. Methods: This study included 30 vitiligo patients and 40 controls evaluated for IL-17 and vitamin D serum levels by ELISA technique. Results: IL-17 was significantly higher (p = 0.001) whereas vitamin D was found to be lower among the patients (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression was performed to evaluate the relationship between IL-17 and vitamin D levels with the demographic data on the patients, revealing a nonsignificant relationship (p > 0.05). A significant positive correlation was noted between vitamin D levels and disease duration. Conclusion: Vitamin D represents a potential player in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Its possible regulatory relation to IL-17, together with its weight as a screening tool in vitiligo, needs further evaluation.
Impact of Preinjection Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in the Use of Intravitreal Ocriplasmin in a Clinical Setting
Authors: Wertheimer Christian , Haritoglou Christos , Laubichler Peter , Wolf Armin , Kaessmann Kathrin , Schumann Ricarda G. , Priglinger Siegfried , Mayer Wolfgang J.
Published: September 2017

Purpose: To investigate the impact of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) morphological predictive markers on visual acuity and outcome using ocriplasmin for macular hole and vitreomacular traction syndrome. Methods: A series of 40 patients in a retrospective study received intravitreal ocriplasmin. The primary endpoint was defined as morphological resolution of vitreomacular traction or closure of a macular hole. We analyzed the impact of pre- and postinjection SD-OCT findings on the outcome and visual acuity. Results: Thirteen of the 40 patients benefited from treatment. Statistical correlation between baseline characteristics and outcome revealed that higher foveal thickness (p = 0.018) and nontractional epiretinal membranes (p = 0.05) resulted in a worse outcome. In treatment success best corrected visual acuity gained was 9 (SD 12) letters and in failure 1 (SD 9) letter. We could not observe an influence of preinjection SD-OCT findings and other factors on visual outcome. Conclusion: We could confirm the therapeutic effect of ocriplasmin injections. SD-OCT morphological factors that influence treatment success and visual acuity were determined.
Renoportal Anastomosis in Left Lateral Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Pediatric Case
Authors: Ogasawara Hiroyuki , Nakanishi Chikashi , Miyagi Shigehito , Tokodai Kazuaki , Hara Yasuyuki , Nakanishi Wataru , Miyazawa Koji , Shimizu Kenji , Kumata Hiroyuki , Goto Hitoshi , Goto Masafumi , Unno Michiaki , Kamei Takashi
Published: September 2017

In adult liver transplantation, renoportal anastomosis (RPA) has been introduced as a useful technique for patients with grade 4 portal vein thrombosis and a splenorenal shunt. Here, we report a pediatric case in which RPA allowed a left lateral lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) despite portal vein thrombosis and a large splenorenal shunt. At 36 days old, the patient underwent a Kasai operation for biliary atresia. At 17 months old, she underwent LDLT because of repetitive cholangitis. Pretransplant examinations revealed a large splenorenal shunt and portal vein thrombosis. Simple end-to-end portal reconstruction and clamping of the collateral route after removing the thrombosis were unsuccessful. Thus, RPA was performed using a donor superficial femoral vein as an interpositional graft. The portal vein pressure was 20 mm Hg after arterial reperfusion. Ligation of the splenic artery reduced the portal vein pressure. Although she developed severe acute cellular rejection and chylous ascites, there were no signs of portal vein complications. She was discharged 73 days after transplantation without any signs of renal dysfunction. The patient’s condition was good at her last follow-up, 22 months after transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the youngest case of RPA in pediatric left lateral lobe LDLT. Additionally, this is the first case of RPA with splenic artery ligation and using the donor’s superficial femoral vein as the venous graft for RPA. Although long-term follow-up is necessary, RPA could be a salvage option in LDLT in infants if other methods are unsuccessful.
Basophil Recruitment to Skin Lesions of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Mediated by CCR1 and CCR2
Authors: Pan Qingjun , Feng Yongmin , Peng Yanxia , Zhou Hongjiu , Deng Zhenzhen , Li Lu , Han Huanqin , Lin Jieping , Shi Lei , Wang Shujun , An Ning , Yang Chen , Liu Hua-feng
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: Basophils have been reported to infiltrate skin lesions in various skin diseases, but not in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study investigated basophil infiltration in SLE and its mechanism. Methods: Twenty newly diagnosed SLE patients and twenty healthy controls were enrolled. Nine SLE patients underwent skin biopsies. Flow cytometric analysis the phenotype of peripheral basophils and their migration rate toward RANTES and MCP-1 were analyzed with the transwell culture system, also the expression of these two chemokines in skin tissue were analyzed with immunohistochemistry. Results: Increased activation and decreased numbers of peripheral basophils were observed in SLE patients compared with controls. Basophil migration into skin lesions of SLE patients were observed, but not in normal skin tissue. This migration was related to the upregulation of chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2 on basophils. In vitro studies showed that migration rate toward RANTES and MCP-1 increased significantly in basophils from SLE patients compared with those from controls. Consistently, high levels of RANTES and MCP-1 expression were observed in skin lesions from SLE patients but not in normal skin tissue. Conclusion: Basophil recruitment to skin lesions of SLE patients mediated by CCR1 and CCR2, which may contribute to tissue damage in SLE.
CXCR4/Let-7a Axis Regulates Metastasis and Chemoresistance of Pancreatic Cancer Cells Through Targeting HMGA2
Authors: Xiao Guangfa , Wang Xitao , Yu Yaqun
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: Pancreatic cancer cells (PCC) is one of the most risky cancers and gemcitabine (GEM) is the standard first-line drug for treating PCC. The PCC will develop drug resistance to GEM after a period of treatment. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of pathogenesis and drug resistance remains unresolved. Methods: we employed qRT-PCR and western blot to examine the expression level of CXCR4, let-7a and HMGA2. In addition, we used MTT assay to detect cell proliferation and transwell assay to measure migration and invasiveness. The expression level of epithelial marker E-cadherin and mesenthymal marker N-cadherin was detected by western blot. The apoptosis was determined using annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit by flow cytometry. Results: we first proved that CXCR4 negatively regulated let-7a in PCC. Next, let-7a was confirmed to play crucial role in tumorigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance of pancreatic cancer cells Bxpc-3 and Panc-1 in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we identified HMGA2 as important downsteam target of let-7a in PCC and overexpression of HMGA2 restores cell proliferation, metastasis and chemosensitivity of GEM inhibited by let-7a. Conlusion: Taken together, we show an important signaling pathway involved in pathogenesis and drug resistance of PCC, thereby providing deeper insight into molecular mechanism by which CXCR4/let-7a regulates tumorigenesis and drug resistance of PCC. These findings will help us develop new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of PCC.
Glibenclamide Mimics Metabolic Effects of Metformin in H9c2 Cells
Authors: Salani Barbara , Ravera Silvia , Fabbi Patrizia , Garibaldi Silvano , Passalacqua Mario , Brunelli Claudio , Maggi Davide , Cordera Renzo , Ameri Pietro
Published: September 2017

Background: Sulfonylureas, such as glibenclamide, are antidiabetic drugs that stimulate beta-cell insulin secretion by binding to the sulfonylureas receptors (SURs) of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels (KATP). Glibenclamide may be also cardiotoxic, this effect being ascribed to interference with the protective function of cardiac KATP channels for which glibenclamide has high affinity. Prompted by recent evidence that glibenclamide impairs energy metabolism of renal cells, we investigated whether this drug also affects the metabolism of cardiac cells. Methods: The cardiomyoblast cell line H9c2 was treated for 24 h with glibenclamide or metformin, a known inhibitor of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Cell viability was evaluated by sulforodhamine B assay. ATP and AMP were measured according to the enzyme coupling method and oxygen consumption by using an amperometric electrode, while Fo-F1 ATP synthase activity assay was evaluated by chemiluminescent method. Protein expression was measured by western blot. Results: Glibenclamide deregulated energy balance of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts in a way similar to that of metformin. It inhibited mitochondrial complexes I, II and III with ensuing impairment of oxygen consumption and ATP synthase activity, ATP depletion and increased AMPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, glibenclamide disrupted mitochondrial subcellular organization. The perturbation of mitochondrial energy balance was associated with enhanced anaerobic glycolysis, with increased activity of phosphofructo kinase, pyruvate kinase and lactic dehydrogenase. Interestingly, some additive effects of glibenclamide and metformin were observed. Conclusions: Glibenclamide deeply alters cell metabolism in cardiac cells by impairing mitochondrial organization and function. This may further explain the risk of cardiovascular events associated with the use of this drug, alone or in combination with metformin.
Short-Term Outcome and Hemodynamic Performance of Next-Generation Self-Expanding Versus Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valves in Patients With Small Aortic Annulus
Authors: Mauri Victor , Kim Won K. , Abumayyaleh Mohammad , Walther Thomas , Moellmann Helge , Schaefer Ulrich , Conradi Lenard , Hengstenberg Christian , Hilker Michael , Wahlers Thorsten , Baldus Stephan , Rudolph Volker , Madershahian Navid , Rudolph Tanja K.
Published: September 2017

Background—

Surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with small annular dimensions is challenging because they are at increased risk for prosthesis–patient mismatch and impaired outcomes. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement might be a good alternative; however, comparative data on different transcatheter heart valves are missing.

Methods and Results—

This multicenter, propensity score–matched study compared hemodynamics and early clinical outcomes in 246 patients with an aortic annulus area <400 mm
2
undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement with either a self-expanding transcatheter heart valve (Symetis ACURATE neo, n=129) or a balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valve (Edwards SAPIEN 3, n=117). The 1:1 propensity score matching resulted in 92 matched pairs. For ACURATE neo versus SAPIEN 3-treated patients, 30-day mortality (0.0% versus 1.0%), 1-year mortality (8.3% versus 13.3%), incidence of stroke (3.3% versus 2.2%), life-threatening bleeding (1.1% versus 1.1%), and major vascular complications (2.2% versus 6.5%), as well as pacemaker implantation rate (12.0% versus 15.2%), were similar. Paravalvular regurgitation ≥moderate was rare in both groups (4.5% versus 3.6%). The ACURATE neo presented lower mean transvalvular gradients (9.3 versus 14.5 mm Hg;
P
<0.001), larger indexed effective orifice areas (0.96 versus 0.80 cm
2
/m
2
;
P
=0.003), and lower rates of severe prosthesis–patient mismatch (3% versus 22%;
P
=0.004). Hemodynamics were sustained at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions—

Albeit a similar safety profile with low clinical event rates, transcatheter aortic valve replacement with the ACURATE neo valve resulted in lower transvalvular gradients and consequently less prosthesis–patient mismatch compared with the SAPIEN 3 in patients with small annulus. These results emphasize the need of careful prosthesis selection in each individual patient.
Diakonia: In Conversation with John N. Collins
Authors: Breed Gert
Published: September 2017

The work of John N. Collins on the διάκον- word group makes an important contribution to understanding church ministry. Although it receives much attention and support, there is some criticism of Collins’s exegesis. If his conclusions are accepted by churches, there will be an impact on their ministry. It is therefore important that his underlying assumptions be thoroughly tested. This article analyzes Mark 10:45 in the context of that Gospel and particularly in the context of Mark 8–10. Collins’s supposition that διακονία is never done out of love or compassion for other people is found wanting. Rather, Mark describes Jesus’s διακονία as done out of compassion and love for others, and as an envoy of God.
Ptilodactyla crenatostriata Redtenbacher, 1868 (Coleoptera: Ptilodactylidae) transferred to Phytocerum Costa, Vanin, Lawrence & Ide, 2003 (Coleoptera: Cerophytidae)
Authors: KUNDRATA ROBIN , JÄCH MANFRED
Published: September 2017

Ptilodactyla crenatostriata Redtenbacher, 1868 (Coleoptera: Byrrhoidea: Ptilodactylidae) described from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is transferred to the genus Phytocerum Costa, Vanin, Lawrence & Ide, 2003 (Coleoptera: Elateroidea: Cerophytidae). Based on the examination of the holotype, deposited in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Austria, Phytocerum crenatostriatum comb. nov. is redescribed and its main diagnostic characters are figured. It is similar to P. birai Costa, Vanin, Lawrence & Ide, 2003 and P. cayennense (Bonvouloir, 1870). An updated checklist of the extant and fossil Cerophytidae of the World is provided.
Isentropic Analysis on the Intensification of Hurricane Edouard (2014)
Authors: Fang Juan , Pauluis Olivier , Zhang Fuqing
Published: September 2017

An isentropic analysis technique is adopted in this study to investigate the intensification of Hurricane Edouard (2014) predicted by an experimental real-time convection-permitting hurricane analysis and forecast system. This technique separates the vertical mass transport in terms of equivalent potential temperature θe for the rising air parcels at high entropy from the subsiding air at low entropy. It is found that as Edouard intensifies the vertical circulation becomes wider via the expansion of upward (downward) mass flux to higher (lower) θe. In the early developing stages, the asymmetric convection dominates the vertical circulation and leads to a remarkable upward mass flux maximum center in the upper troposphere. When Edouard becomes intense, the axisymmetric convection becomes important to the upper-level vertical mass transport while the asymmetric convection still dominates the low-level vertical mass transport. Development of the warm core in the eye leads to double maxima along the θe axis for both the isentropic-mean relative humidity and tangential velocity. The isentropic-mean properties such as the mid- to upper-level relative humidity, vertical velocity, and radial outflow decrease considerably while the mid- to upper-level vorticity enhances on the high-θe side before the onset of rapid intensification. The isentropic analysis also reveals that as Edouard intensifies the eye characterized by warm and dry core first forms in the low to middle troposphere and then gradually expands upward. The abovementioned results indicate that the isentropic framework may have the advantages of binning common variables with θe that could reflect the changes of the tropical cyclone structure in the inner-core region without a prior specification of the location of the storm center.
Signs of the Apocalypse: An Analysis of Trump Magazine Covers During the 2016 Presidential Campaign
Authors: Goodnow Trischa
Published: September 2017

This essay engages a content analysis of 45 magazine covers featuring Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Surprisingly, a majority of the covers enlist apocalyptic rhetoric to garner potential consumer attention, regardless of the political leanings of the magazines. By applying characteristics of apocalyptic rhetoric to the magazine covers, the essay draws implications about the direction of the magazine covers, visual rhetoric, and presidential campaigns.
Patient-Administered Screening Tool May Improve Detection and Diagnosis of Depression Among Adolescents
Authors: Leslie Kimberly R. , Chike-Harris Katherine
Published: September 2017

Depression among adolescents is underdiagnosed and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses opportunistic depression screening beginning at age 11, implying that screening should be performed at every visit. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine whether a self-administered depression screen would improve the identification of major depressive disorder among adolescents in a pediatric primary care clinic. Introduction of the Patient Health Questionnaire modified for adolescents into a practice with no formal depression screening protocol in place demonstrated an increase in depression diagnosis. Additionally, adolescents presenting for sick visits were more likely to endorse depressive symptoms than those presenting for well visits. These data suggest that administering a patient-administered depression screening tool to adolescents during both well and sick visits will help improve the identification of depression, potentially leading to early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.
Current Caregiver Perspectives and Effects of Demographics on Family-Centered Rounds
Authors: Ahmed Ayesha , Chu Dorothy , Wang Susan
Published: September 2017

The 2010 Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings survey stated that 44% of pediatric hospitals practiced family-centered rounds (FCRs). We aimed to study caregivers’ opinions of FCRs and determine if there are demographic associations with these opinions. A cross-sectional survey of caregivers who attended FCRs was conducted at a tertiary-care general pediatrics unit. The survey contained Likert-type scale and qualitative questions. Fisher’s exact test was used to test demographic associations. Only English proficient caregivers were included. Almost all (99%) caregivers liked being present during rounds, 19% felt that there were too many people present during rounds and 15% felt that medical jargon was used. Significant demographic associations were found including older caregivers being less comfortable asking questions as well as more neutral responses from African Americans and those with less education. Opportunity exists to customize FCRs and tailor rounding according to demographics, opening the door for future quality improvement projects.
Broad Developmental Screening Misses Young Children With Social-Emotional Needs
Authors: Williams Marian E. , Zamora Irina , Akinsilo Olawunmi , Chen Alison Hickey , Poulsen Marie Kanne
Published: September 2017

Many pediatricians use a broad developmental screening test as part of well-child care, but do not specifically screen for behavioral and emotional disorders. Parents at 2 urban community agencies completed both the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional (ASQ:SE) for 608 children, ages 2 to 60 months; 51.8% in Spanish. Less than half of the children with a positive screen on the ASQ:SE would have been identified as needing additional assessment or intervention if only the ASQ-3 had been administered. Younger children with positive ASQ:SE screens were significantly less likely to be referred for mental health services compared with older children. Physicians should consider screening all young children for social-emotional and behavioral needs, and referring those identified for infant and early childhood mental health services.
Moral, Wasteful, Frugal, or Thrifty? Identifying Consumer Identities to Understand and Manage Pro-Environmental Behavior
Authors: Gatersleben Birgitta , Murtagh Niamh , Cherry Megan , Watkins Megan
Published: September 2017

Moral motives are important for pro-environmental behavior. But such behavior is not only motivated by moral or environmental concerns. We examined what higher order motives, other than morality, may be important for understanding pro-environmental behavior, by studying consumer identities. In three studies ( N = 877) four consumer identities were distinguished: moral, wasteful, frugal, and thrifty. Frugal and moral consumer identities were most salient and were the strongest predictors of pro-environmental behaviors, but in different ways. Frugality, which is related to, but distinct from thriftiness, was particularly important for behaviors associated with waste reduction of any kind (including money). The findings suggest that people adopt the same behavior for different reasons, in ways consistent with their consumer identities. People manage multiple consumer identities simultaneously, and environmental policy is likely to be more effective if it addresses these multiple identities.
Review of studies on spousal caregivers of frail spouses in South Korea
Authors: Oh Youngsam , Han Eunyoung
Published: September 2017

The first aim of this study is to review and critique the empirical literature on dyadic problems of spousal caregivers. A total of 18 relevant studies published between 1990 and 2015 were identified via several databases in South Korea. Four major results were identified: (1) assuming caregiving roles easily caused various caregiving-related problems, such as stress and burden; (2) care recipients’ health conditions and problems were one of the crucial factors influencing caregiving-related problems in spousal caregivers; (3) caregiving easily caused marital problems in couples with frail spouses; and (4) spousal caregivers had negative communications with their care recipients.
Conflicted Capital: The Effect of Civil Conflict on Patterns of BIT Signing
Authors: Billing Trey , Lugg Andrew D.
Published: September 2017

Why do developing countries commit to costly international agreements? Massive arbitral awards and the discovery that rich countries write investment rules have led to a newfound appreciation of the costs of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). Yet, developing countries continue to sign them. This article advances a novel argument for why governments sign potentially costly agreements. We argue that civil conflict changes the decision calculus of governments by rendering them domestically insecure. This insecurity makes governments more willing to sign agreements, like BITs, that sacrifice future policy autonomy. BITs can attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and signal competence, which have important domestic political benefits. BITs are also attractive postconflict since they can be copied quickly from past templates and require few ex ante policy changes. Empirical tests of over 150 countries from 1960 to 2012 demonstrate that governments sign more BITs after civil conflict. Additional tests indicate that postconflict BITs increase FDI inflows, especially after devastating conflict. Our results provide a unique perspective on why governments cede sovereignty to international institutions.
Ciliopathy Protein Tmem107 Plays Multiple Roles in Craniofacial Development
Authors: Cela P. , Hampl M. , Shylo N.A. , Christopher K.J. , Kavkova M. , Landova M. , Zikmund T. , Weatherbee S.D. , Kaiser J. , Buchtova M.
Published: September 2017

A broad spectrum of human diseases called ciliopathies is caused by defective primary cilia morphology or signal transduction. The primary cilium is a solitary organelle that responds to mechanical and chemical stimuli from extracellular and intracellular environments. Transmembrane protein 107 (TMEM107) is localized in the primary cilium and is enriched at the transition zone where it acts to regulate protein content of the cilium. Mutations in TMEM107 were previously connected with oral-facial-digital syndrome, Meckel-Gruber syndrome, and Joubert syndrome exhibiting a range of ciliopathic defects. Here, we analyze a role of Tmem107 in craniofacial development with special focus on palate formation, using mouse embryos with a complete knockout of Tmem107. Tmem107–/– mice were affected by a broad spectrum of craniofacial defects, including shorter snout, expansion of the facial midline, cleft lip, extensive exencephaly, and microphthalmia or anophthalmia. External abnormalities were accompanied by defects in skeletal structures, including ossification delay in several membranous bones and enlargement of the nasal septum or defects in vomeronasal cartilage. Alteration in palatal shelves growth resulted in clefting of the secondary palate. Palatal defects were caused by increased mesenchymal proliferation leading to early overgrowth of palatal shelves followed by defects in their horizontalization. Moreover, the expression of epithelial stemness marker SOX2 was altered in the palatal shelves of Tmem107–/– animals, and differences in mesenchymal SOX9 expression demonstrated the enhancement of neural crest migration. Detailed analysis of primary cilia revealed region-specific changes in ciliary morphology accompanied by alteration of acetylated tubulin and IFT88 expression. Moreover, Shh and Gli1 expression was increased in Tmem107–/– animals as shown by in situ hybridization. Thus, TMEM107 is essential for proper head development, and defective TMEM107 function leads to ciliary morphology disruptions in a region-specific manner, which may explain the complex mutant phenotype.
Workforce reduction across borders: The role of legal frameworks
Authors: Bergström Ola
Published: September 2017

This article reports on a case study of a Swedish multinational corporation where human resource practices were successfully transferred to its foreign subsidiaries in the context of extensively regulated host country institutional environments, offering an opportunity to provide a deeper understanding of the role of legal frameworks when transferring human resource practices within multinational corporations. The findings indicate that the transfer of human resource practices was not simply a matter of passively adapting to host country legal frameworks. A more balanced conceptualisation of the role of legal frameworks in human resource practice transfer is needed, including a view of law as negotiable and open to interpretation and that host country institutional environments can also contribute to and support multinational corporations to transfer human resource practices across foreign subsidiaries.
The Influence of Citizenship Norms and Media Use on Different Modes of Political Participation in the US
Authors: Copeland Lauren , Feezell Jessica T
Published: September 2017

Studies demonstrate that citizenship norms and media use are important predictors of political behavior. However, it remains unclear how norms and patterns of media use influence different modes of political participation—both directly and in tandem. Here, we leverage original US survey data ( N = 2200) to clarify how people’s attitudes about what it means to be a “good citizen” inform how they participate in politics, and whether certain types of media use moderate these relationships. In contrast to previous studies, we find that actualizing norms are associated with electoral, non-electoral, and individualized modes of political participation, but dutiful norms are not. In addition, although digital and traditional media use have distinct relationships with participation, there is little moderating influence. Collectively, these findings raise questions about whether the boundaries between dutiful and actualizing norms—and electoral and non-electoral participation, respectively—are still relevant in the contemporary media environment.
Policy Effects of Anti-Immigrant Party Representation on Aid to Vulnerable European Union/European Economic Area Citizens
Authors: Tyrberg Maria , Dahlström Carl
Published: September 2017

While anti-immigrant parties have been electorally successful in European parliaments, it is still unclear whether they have influenced policies. This article contributes by investigating the anti-immigrant party policy impact on a previously unexplored welfare policy area, that concerning the mobility of vulnerable European Union/European Economic Area citizens. In Sweden, the aid offered to these citizens varies a great deal in different municipalities. Furthermore, the largest anti-immigrant party (Sweden Democrats) has, unlike the mainstream political parties, preferences for a strict policy in line with so-called welfare chauvinism. Taking advantage of this subnational variation, our data give us a unique opportunity to investigate whether anti-immigrant party representation impacts welfare policy outcomes. The empirical findings show a negative correlation between Sweden Democrats’ representation and the aid offered and indicates that municipalities where Sweden Democrats holds a pivotal position offer less aid to vulnerable European Union/European Economic Area citizens. The hypothesis that these effects are conditional upon the ideology of the ruling coalition is, however, not supported.
Hearing the Other Side? – Debiasing Political Opinions in the Case of the Scottish Independence Referendum
Authors: Colombo Céline
Published: September 2017

This study reports the effects of two debiasing strategies on the complexity of people’s thinking on a controversial policy issue – the question of Scottish independence. I start from the well-researched assumptions of motivated reasoning theory that individuals tend to protect their beliefs, are often not willing to hear the other side and fail to integrate contrasting arguments and different perspectives in their political considerations – although considering different viewpoints is a fundamental normative requirement for democratic decision-making. Two different debiasing techniques, which are meant to counteract this tendency and to evoke more integrative and complex thinking, were tested experimentally: a cognitive and a motivational strategy. The experiment was situated in the context of the Scottish independence referendum. The expectation of accountability – having to justify one’s opinion in front of unknown others – significantly enhanced integrative complexity of thinking about the issue, while inducing subjects to consider the opposite had no significant effect. Opinion strength and political knowledge did not affect the treatment effects significantly.
Theoretical Foundations for Human Rights
Authors: Bufacchi Vittorio
Published: September 2017

This article explores an alternative to the established dichotomy between philosophical (natural law) accounts of human rights, characterized by a foundationalist tendency, and political (practice-based) accounts of human rights, which aspire to be non-foundationalist. I argue that in order to justify human rights practice, political accounts of human rights cannot do without the support of theoretical foundations, although not necessarily of the natural-law variety. As an alternative to natural-law metaphysics, a deflationary theory of human rights, based on a deflationary account of truth, is put forward. Starting from a distinction between ‘extreme’ and ‘moderate’ forms of deflationism, this article defends a constructivist theory of human rights grounded on the Humean notion of conventionalism. This innovative approach to human rights provides political conceptions of human rights with the foundations (or quasi-foundations) they need, but are currently lacking.
Quantitative assessment of the thermal stored energy in protective clothing under low-level radiant heat exposure
Authors: Jiazhen He , Yan Chen , Lichuan Wang , Jun Li
Published: September 2017

In addition to direct thermal energy from a heating source, a large amount of thermal energy stored in clothing will continuously discharge to the skin after exposure. Therefore, thermal protective clothing may have a dual effect on human skin in reality. An experimental investigation was conducted to study the energy storage within 15 different combinations of clothing layers exposed to low heat fluxes ranging from 2.5 kW/m2 to 8.5 kW/m2. The energy storage process, the distribution of energy storage, and variables critically impacting energy storage, including fabric layers, air gap under clothing, thermal resistance and heat source intensity were discussed. It is demonstrated that the weight and thickness of the fabric are dominating factors affecting energy storage. For a multilayer fabric system, 36–57% of the total amount of energy is stored in the outer shell. The neighboring layer proves to be very important for the energy storage in an individual fabric. The air gap that exists between the fabric and the skin exerts an influence on the energy storage within fabric layers. In addition, a linear correlation is observed between the energy storage and the total thermal resistance of a fabric system. The research findings will be brought to researchers to better understand the mechanism and factors associated with energy storage and help develop new fabric combinations in order to minimize heat transmission to the skin.
Strong Black Woman Schema and Psychological Distress: The Mediating Role of Perceived Emotional Support
Authors: Watson-Singleton Natalie N.
Published: September 2017

The Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema has been associated with injurious health consequences among African American women. However, research is needed to identify the mechanisms implicated in the SBW schema that contribute to these negative outcomes. The present study investigated if perceived emotional support mediated the link between the SBW schema and psychological distress among African American women. Data were collected from 158 participants from across the United States, ages 18 to 59. Mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro function. Perceived emotional support partially mediated the link between the SBW schema and psychological distress. The SBW schema was also directly associated with decreased perceived emotional support and increased psychological distress. Findings support the role of the SBW schema in African Americans women’s psychological distress. Future research directions and clinical implications are discussed.
An energy scheduling method for multiple users of residential community connected to the grid and wind energy source
Authors: Kakran Sandeep , Chanana Saurabh
Published: September 2017

Energy management of residential consumers plays a very important role in the achievement of aim of energy saving, lesser cost of electricity for the residential consumers and highest possible satisfaction of the consumers. In this paper, a common energy scheduler for the multiple users has been designed for energy scheduling of residential consumers having smart appliances. Mathematical modelling of different types of appliances has been done to achieve the required results. Time of use tariff and day ahead real time pricing tariff have been used for energy scheduling. A wind energy source has been considered to reduce the burden of energy demand on the grids and to analyse the effect of renewable energy sources in a small scale energy management problem. A delay factor has been also included in the main objective function of the problem to maintain the satisfaction level of the consumers by reducing cost of waiting. The final designed problem is solved by mixed integer linear programming technique using GAMS software. The time taken for the solution is very less. In this paper, to increase the energy efficiency and the accuracy of the required results, the selected time horizon of 24 h is divided into 96 small time slots, each of 15 min duration. Achievement of the aim of the paper, that is reduction in the cost of electricity and attainment of the highest possible satisfaction level of the users, has been verified by the simulation results.

Practical application: Our work is completely applicable in the practical field. This work can be used for the energy scheduling of home appliances.
ICRP Fukushima dialogue seminars: joint learning at many levels
Authors: Liland A.
Published: September 2017

The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority and representatives from the CERAD Centre of Excellence participated at the majority of the International Commission on Radiological Protection dialogue seminars in Fukushima between 2011 and 2015. The open and sharing structure of the seminars contributed to an unprecedented understanding of the challenges faced by the general public affected by radioactive contamination due to an accident at a nuclear power plant. Most importantly by presentations from people in Fukushima, but also by presentations from lay people in Norway and Belarus who shared their experiences from the Chernobyl accident at several seminars. The seminars created new friendships and connections, which inter alia led to several exchange visits between affected people in Norway and Japan where worries and experiences could be shared in an open and reflective manner. The mix of actors (various experts, authorities, local populations) created joint learning across sectors and levels, representing an invaluable source of knowledge for organisations involved in nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and planning.
The recommendations of ICRP Publication 111 in the light of the ICRP dialogue initiative in Fukushima
Authors: Lochard J.
Published: September 2017

Publication 111, published by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in 2009, provided the first recommendations for dealing with the long-term recovery phase after a nuclear accident. Its focus is on the protection of people living in long-term contaminated areas after a nuclear accident, drawing on the experience of the Belarus population, Cumbrian sheep farmers in the UK, and Sami reindeer herders in Norway affected by the fallout from Chernobyl. The ICRP dialogue initiative in Fukushima confirmed what had been identified after Chernobyl, namely the very strong concern for health, particularly that of children, loss of control over everyday life, apprehension about the future, disintegration of family life and of the social and economic fabric, and the threat to the autonomy and dignity of affected people. Through their testimonies and reflections, the participants of the 12 dialogue meetings shed light on this complex situation. The ICRP dialogue initiative also confirmed that the wellbeing of the affected people is at stake, and radiological protection must focus on rehabilitation of their living conditions. The challenge is to incorporate the important clarifications resulting from the ICRP dialogue initiative into the updated version of Publication 111 that is currently in development. This paper does not necessarily reflect the views of the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
Factor Structure and Validation of the Controlling Behaviors Scale–Revised and Revised Conflict Tactics Scale
Authors: Sleath Emma , Walker Kate , Tramontano Carlo
Published: September 2017

Recently, more attention is being paid to controlling behaviors within a continuum of intimate partner violence and abuse. However, it is unclear whether current scales are sufficiently valid to measure such behaviors. The current study assessed the factor structure and reliability of the revised Controlling Behaviors Scale (CBS-R) and the revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). Data were gathered from a U.K. general population sample ( N = 405). Confirmatory factor analyses were carried out on the CTS2 and the CBS-R, for both perpetration and victimization items, using the weighted least squares estimation with mean adjustment method. Multiple factor models were confirmed in the analysis of the CBS-R and CTS2 for perpetration and victimization items. Reliabilities for the factors were satisfactory across both scales. This is the first validation of the factor structure of the CBS-R and the findings suggests that this a valid and reliable scale for measuring controlling behaviors.
Adsorption isotherms and kinetics of vanadium by shale and coal waste
Authors: Kajjumba George William , Aydın Serdar , Güneysu Sinan
Published: September 2017

The use of adsorption using nanomaterials has become a very competitive method for removal of hazardous materials from wastewater. With increasing consumption of fossil fuels and development of energy storage systems, the levels of vanadium pollution are expected to increase. Utilizing natural shale and coal waste as adsorbents, batch adsorption, isotherms, and kinetics of vanadium was studied. The adsorption characteristics of shale and coal waste were studied using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The effect of pH, the amount of adsorbent, vanadium concentration, temperature, and contact time between adsorbate and adsorbents were also studied to obtain optimum conditions for maximum adsorption of vanadium. The Fourier Transform Infrared results show little distortion in the vibration of bands, and hence the surface properties remain unchanged for both sorbents after adsorption. The adsorption kinetics are best described by pseudo-second order, while Langmuir model fits the adsorption isotherm for both adsorbents. Maximum sorption capacity is 67.57 mg/g for shale while that of coal is 59.88 mg/g at 298 K and pH 3. For both adsorbents, the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and chemisorption in nature. Both adsorbents can effectively be recycled twice.