bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Federal Civil Rights Policy on Black Economic Progress: Evidence from the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972
Authors: Chay Kenneth Y.
Published: June 2015

The Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEOA) of 1972 extended civil rights coverage to employers with 15–24 employees, while leaving unaffected the civil rights protection for employees of larger firms. In conjunction with pre-existing state fair employment practice (FEP) laws, the EEOA provides a “natural experiment” in which the treatment and control groups are defined by differences across industries in the fraction of workers employed in the newly covered establishments and across states in the scope of the FEP laws. Applying the treatment and control group methodology to Current Population Survey data, the author finds that there were large shifts in the employment and pay practices of the industries most affected by the amendment. The timing of the relative gains and their concentration by industry and region provide evidence that the EEOA had a positive impact on the labor market status of African-Americans.
Employer Skill Demands and Labor Market Outcomes of Blacks and Women
Authors: Holzer Harry J.
Published: June 2015

The author uses data from a 1992–94 survey of employers in four metropolitan areas to investigate the effects of skill demands, as measured by hiring requirements and job tasks, on the wages and employment of newly hired workers. Skill demands were generally associated with lower employment of blacks than whites, and with higher employment of women than men. Most tasks and requirements had statistically significant positive effects on starting hourly wages. Together, these effects help to account for some of the differences between the hourly wages of white and black men, and for some of the trends over time in the relative wages and employment of race and gender groups.
Wage Compensation for Dangerous Work Revisited
Authors: Dorman Peter , Hagstrom Paul
Published: June 2015

Using data from the 1982 Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the authors investigate the relationship between wages and the risk of work-related death or nonfatal injury. Including industry-level variables and using alternative risk measures dramatically affects measured wage compensation. The results cast doubt on the existence of compensating differentials for risk. Indeed, the strongest finding is the likely presence of negative compensation—relatively high risk and low wages—for nonunion workers. The role of rent-sharing or other forms of strategic bargaining behavior (captured by value-added per worker and other industry variables) and the gender distribution of both risk and wages demonstrate that noncompetitive elements in U.S. labor markets are sufficiently strong to overcome the competitive tendency toward equalizing differentials.
Trade Unions and Training Practices in British Workplaces
Authors: Green Francis , Machin Stephen , Wilkinson David
Published: June 2015

The authors use British establishment-level data from the 1991 Employers' Manpower and Skills Practices Survey (EMSPS) and individual-level data from the Autumn 1993 Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) to investigate the links between training provision and workplace unionization. Both the probability of receiving training and the amount of training received are found to have been substantially higher in unionized than in nonunion workplaces. The authors view these results as showing that trade unions can play an important role in developing and boosting skill formation in Britain.
Computer-Mediated Communication as Employee Voice: A Case Study
Authors: Bishop Libby , Levine David I.
Published: June 2015

Interviews with employees of a large, high-technology company reveal that computer-mediated communication (CMC) enhanced voice, defined as employees' ability to express their views and to participate in decision-making. The authors explore how two unique features of CMC enhanced voice. First, computer-mediated discussions were broadcast company-wide. Second, CMC facilitated employees' efforts to form interest groups. The authors analyze several examples of the expression of voice, including employees' response to distributive issues (a profit-sharing plan, for instance) and non-distributive policies (such as changing pay periods). They extend previous analyses by focusing on cases in which employees were trying to change management policies and by documenting the mechanisms by which computer-mediated voice operated and how it affected company policy.
Choice of Major: The Changing (Unchanging) Gender Gap
Authors: Turner Sarah E. , Bowen William G.
Published: June 2015

Within the arts, sciences, and engineering fields, differences between men and women in choice of college major have not lessened in the past two decades. In this paper, detailed data on choice of major and individual scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) are used to examine the extent to which observed differences between men and women reflect the effects of pre-collegiate preparation (as reflected in SAT scores), as contrasted with a panoply of other forces. One conclusion is that there is a widening divide between the life sciences and math/physical science fields in their relative attractiveness to men and women. Differences in SAT scores account for only part of the observed gap, and an array of residual forces—including differences in preferences, labor market expectations, and gender-specific effects of the college experience—account for the main part of today's gender gaps in choice of academic major.
Wage Inequality and Demand for Skill: Evidence from Five Decades
Authors: Juhn Chinhui
Published: June 2015

Using the 1940–90 Censuses, the author examines long-run changes in male wage inequality and skill premiums and investigates the extent to which shifts in observable measures of skill supply and demand can account for relative wage fluctuations across decades. A simple supply and demand framework is reasonably successful in accounting for movements in the education premium but is less successful in explaining changes in overall wage inequality. While the difference between the 90th and 10th percentiles of the log wage distribution fell sharply in the 1940s and grew at an accelerating rate in the 1980s, relative demand for the most versus the least skilled workers rose steadily throughout the period. The pace of industrial change and, in particular, the expansion of medium-skilled sectors such as blue-collar manufacturing appear to have been inversely related to overall wage inequality growth.
The Returns to Mobility and Job Search by Gender
Authors: Keith Kristen , McWilliams Abagail
Published: June 2015

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the authors estimate the returns to job search, mobility, and the interaction of search and mobility for young men and women. They find statistically significant gender differences in mobility patterns and search behavior, but not in the returns to a given behavior. Both men and women engaged in substantial job search and mobility early in their careers, which resulted in wage growth premiums. There is evidence of an interactive effect: returns to search were realized through mobility, and returns to mobility were augmented by search.
Work Organization, Technology, and Performance in Customer Service and Sales
Authors: Batt Rosemary
Published: June 2015

The author analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of Total Quality Management and Self-Managed Teams, as compared to mass production approaches to service delivery, among customer service and sales workers in a large unionized regional Bell operating company. Participation in self-managed teams was associated with a statistically significant improvement in self-reported service quality and a 9.3% increase in sales per employee. When combined with new technology, teams boosted sales an additional 17.4%. These effects persisted over time. Total Quality Management, by contrast, did not affect performance. This study represents a “strong test” of the efficacy of teams because theory predicts weak outcomes for self-managed teams among service and sales employees in establishments where technology and organizational structure limit opportunities for self-regulation, the nature of work and technology do not require interdependence, and downsizing creates pervasive job insecurity—conditions found at the company studied here.
Changing Consequences of Job Separation in the United States
Authors: Polsky Daniel
Published: June 2015

Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the author examines the consequences of job loss between the periods 1976–81 and 1986–91. He finds stability in the overall incidence of job separation, but a statistically significant increase in the incidence of involuntary job loss, relative to quits, for older workers. He also finds that the consequences of involuntary job loss worsened: the reemployment rate of workers who experienced involuntary job loss dropped from 67% in 1976–81 to 62% in 1986–91, and among those who found new jobs, the odds of receiving a large wage cut rose from 9% in 1976–81 to 17% in 1986–91.
Disability Retirement among German Men in the 1980s
Authors: Riphahn R. T.
Published: June 2015

In Germany, a large proportion of new retirees—at times, more than half of them—have taken disability retirement. This study investigates the role of expected benefits in determining that choice. The author finds that among German men in 1984–91, age, health, and prior wages were much stronger predictors of the transition into disability retirement than were expected benefits. She concludes that a benefit reduction would be largely ineffective in reducing the high level of disability retirement in Germany.
Employee Discharge and Reinstatement: Moral Hazards and the Mixed Consequences of Last Chance Agreements
Authors: Bamberger Peter A. , Donahue Linda H.
Published: June 2015

The authors examine the consequences of workplace discipline practices involving the use of last chance agreements (LCAs)—contracts governing the non-arbitral reinstatement of discharged employees. Using data from one manufacturing firm's 15-year experience with LCAs, they explore the impact of LCA-based employee reinstatement on subsequent years' discharge rates. They also seek to identify individual and work-related factors predictive of individual reinstatement “success.” Consistent with moral hazard theory, the analysis shows evidence of a positive relationship between the number of LCAs signed in one year and the rate of discharge in subsequent years; and consistent with the theory of reintegrative shaming, LCAs appear to be most effective among those most susceptible to shaming.
Inflation Stabilization and the Vanishing Size-Wage Effect
Authors: Woodruff Christopher
Published: June 2015

The author examines wage patterns under an incomes policy in Mexico in 1987–94. The policy specified increases in the minimum wage rate, but also guided salary negotiations more generally. The author finds indications of a substantial but largely temporary effect on wage rates, and evidence consistent with more intensive monitoring of compliance in large firms than in smaller ones. For example, three years after policy implementation, public sector wages had fallen approximately 10% relative to private sector wages, and wages in the largest private firms had fallen 15% relative to those in the smallest private firms. These relative wage effects are consistent with the centralized administration of the policy.
Predictors of success following endovascular retreatment of intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Mascitelli Justin R , Oermann Eric K , Mocco J , Fifi Johanna T , Paramasivam Srinivasan , Stapleton Christopher J , Patel Aman B
Published: June 2015

Introduction

Although approximately one in every 10 patients undergoing coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms requires retreatment, the factors that are associated with outcome following retreatment remain to be fully elucidated.

Methods

This is a single-center, retrospective review of 43 patients with 58 intracranial aneurysms that were retreated from 2004 to 2014. Aneurysms undergoing first time or microsurgical retreatment were excluded. Retreatment types were grouped into those without permanent parent vessel support (stand-alone and balloon-assisted coiling) versus those with permanent parent vessel support (stent-assisted coiling, stand-alone stenting, and flow diversion). The Modified Raymond Roy Classification was used to group aneurysms at all angiographic follow-up points either in the successful outcome group (Class I or II) or the unsuccessful outcome group (Class IIIa or IIIb).

Results

Of aneurysms with follow-up, 50% were in the successful group and 50% in the unsuccessful group. In univariate analysis, small aneurysm size ( p < 0.001), previous treatment type ( p = 0.022), retreatment type ( p = 0.001), and initial occlusion class ( p = 0.005) were all associated with angiographic outcome. In multivariate analysis, small aneurysm size ( p = 0.005, odds ratio (OR) 24.56, confidence interval (CI) 2.68–225.4) and retreatment type with permanent parent vessel support, namely stent-assisted coiling ( p = 0.017, OR 31.1, CI 1.89–517.7), were associated with retreatment success.

Conclusions

Small aneurysm size and retreatment with permanent parent vessel support, namely stent-assisted coiling, are predictors of success following endovascular retreatment of intracranial aneurysms. These findings could be useful in the effort to both prevent and predict treatment failure following endovascular retreatment.
Permanent endovascular balloon occlusion of the vertebral artery as an adjunct to the surgical resection of selected cervical spine tumors: A single center experience
Authors: Ogungbemi Ayokunle , Elwell Vivien , Choi David , Robertson Fergus
Published: June 2015

Background and purpose

Complete surgical resection of cervical spine tumors is often challenging when there is tumor encasement of major neck vessels. Pre-operative endovascular sacrifice of the major vessels can facilitate safe tumor resection. The use of transarterial detachable coils has been described in this setting, but it can be time-consuming and costly to occlude a patent parent vessel using this method. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of our endovascular detachable balloon occlusion technique, performed without prior balloon test occlusion in the pre-operative management of these tumors.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 18 consecutive patients undergoing pre-operative unilateral permanent endovascular balloon occlusion of tumor-encased vertebral arteries in our institution. Procedure-related ischemic or thromboembolic complication was defined as focal neurologic deficit attributable to the endovascular occlusion which occurs before subsequent surgical resection.

Results

Successful pre-operative endovascular vertebral artery sacrifice using detachable balloons was achieved in 100% ( n = 18) of cases without prior balloon test occlusion. Procedural complication rate was 5.6% as one patient developed transient focal neurology secondary to a delayed cerebellar infarct at home on day 11 and subsequently made a full recovery. There were no cases of distal balloon migration. Complete macroscopic resection of tumor as reported by the operating surgeon was achieved in 89% of cases.

Conclusion

Pre-operative endovascular sacrifice of the vertebral artery using detachable balloons and without prior balloon test occlusion is a safe procedure with low complication rates and good surgeon reported rates of total resection.
The application of fractional-order models for thermal process modelling inside buildings
Authors: Długosz Marek , Skruch Paweł
Published: June 2015

This article presents one of the applications of fractional-order models in modelling the dynamics of air temperature changes in residential spaces. The characteristics of these models include the order of the derivative which is a real number and, in more general cases, a complex number. These models are a further generalization of the traditional dynamic model but, thanks to the fact that derivatives are not real numbers, they can be used to model dynamics of much more complex physical phenomena. This article undertakes to identify the parameters of the fractional-order model which models the dynamics of air temperature changes inside buildings. Measurement data which were registered during experiment were used in the identification process.
Exosomes released by chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells induce the transition of stromal cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts
Authors: Paggetti Jerome , Haderk Franziska , Seiffert Martina , Janji Bassam , Distler Ute , Ammerlaan Wim , Kim Yeoun Jin , Adam Julien , Lichter Peter , Solary Eric , Berchem Guy , Moussay Etienne
Published: June 2015

Key Points

CLL-derived exosomes are internalized by stromal cells, deliver functional microRNA and proteins, and activate key signaling pathways. Stromal cells exposed to CLL-derived exosomes demonstrate a CAF-like phenotype and secrete factors promoting CLL cell survival.
Reactivity of rat bone marrow-derived macrophages to neurotransmitter stimulation in the context of collagen II-induced arthritis
Authors: Muschter Dominique , Göttl Claudia , Vogel Mandy , Grifka Joachim , Straub Rainer H. , Grässel Susanne
Published: June 2015

Introduction

Numerous observations indicate that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a bone marrow component. In parallel, local synovial changes depend on neuronal components of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. Here, we wanted to analyze whether collagen II-induced arthritis (CIA) has an impact on number, adhesion, apoptosis, and proliferation of the macrophage subset of bone marrow cells and how alterations in neurotransmitter microenvironment affect these properties.

Methods

Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were isolated from Dark Agouti rats at different stages of CIA, and number, adhesion, caspase 3/7 activity, and proliferation were analyzed in the presence of acetylcholine (ACh), noradrenaline (NA), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

Results

Opposed to enhanced CD11b+ (cluster of differentiation 11b-positive) and EMR1+ (epidermal growth factor-like module-containing mucin-like hormone receptor-like 1-positive) cells, characterizing the macrophage subset, in native bone marrow of rats with acute inflammatory arthritis, we found decreased numbers of CIA macrophages after enrichment and culture in comparison with healthy (control) animals. Adhesion studies revealed significantly reduced attachment to plastic in acute arthritis and collagen type I and fibronectin in chronic arthritis. Additionally, we found a strong reduction in proliferation of BMMs at CIA onset and in the chronic phase of CIA. Apoptosis remained unaffected. Neurotransmitter stimulation profoundly affected proliferation, adhesion, and apoptosis of BMMs from CIA and control rats, depending on disease time point. Cultured BMMs from CIA and control animals expressed neurotransmitter receptors for ACh, VIP and NA, but the expression profile seemed not to be affected by CIA.

Conclusions

Induction of CIA distinctly inhibits proliferation of BMMs in low- and non-inflammatory phases and reduces attachment to plastic at the acute inflammatory arthritis stage and adhesion to collagen I and fibronectin at the chronic stage. Influence of neurotransmitter stimulation on adhesion, apoptosis, and proliferation is altered by CIA depending on disease stage. We suggest an altered reactivity of BMMs to neurotransmitter stimulation caused by CIA and maybe also by aging.
Belinostat in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: Results of the Pivotal Phase II BELIEF (CLN-19) Study
Authors: O'Connor Owen A. , Horwitz Steven , Masszi Tamás , Van Hoof Achiel , Brown Peter , Doorduijn Jeannette , Hess Georg , Jurczak Wojciech , Knoblauch Poul , Chawla Shanta , Bhat Gajanan , Choi Mi Rim , Walewski Jan , Savage Kerry , Foss Francine , Allen Lee F. , Shustov Andrei
Published: June 2015

Purpose

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) represent a diverse group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with a poor prognosis and no accepted standard of care for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of belinostat, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, as a single agent in relapsed or refractory PTCL.

Patients and Methods

Patients with confirmed PTCL who experienced progression after ≥ one prior therapy received belinostat 1,000 mg/m2 as daily 30-minute infusions on days 1 to 5 every 21 days. Central assessment of response used International Working Group criteria. Primary end point was overall response rate. Secondary end points included duration of response (DoR) and progression-free and overall survival.

Results

A total of 129 patients were enrolled, with a median of two prior systemic therapies. Overall response rate in the 120 evaluable patients was 25.8% (31 of 120), including 13 complete (10.8%) and 18 partial responses (15%). Median DoR by International Working Group criteria was 13.6 months, with the longest ongoing patient at ≥ 36 months. Median progression-free and overall survival were 1.6 and 7.9 months, respectively. Twelve of the enrolled patients underwent stem-cell transplantation after belinostat monotherapy. The most common grade 3 to 4 adverse events were anemia (10.8%), thrombocytopenia (7%), dyspnea (6.2%), and neutropenia (6.2%).

Conclusion

Monotherapy with belinostat produced complete and durable responses with manageable toxicity in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL across the major subtypes, irrespective of number or type of prior therapies. These results have led to US Food and Drug Administration approval of belinostat for this indication.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neuropsychiatric Lupus
Authors: Sarbu Nicolae , Bargalló Núria , Cervera Ricard
Published: June 2015

Neuropsychiatric lupus is a major diagnostic challenge, and a main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is, by far, the main tool for assessing the brain in this disease. Conventional and advanced MRI techniques are used to help establishing the diagnosis, to rule out alternative diagnoses, and recently, to monitor the evolution of the disease. This review explores the neuroimaging findings in SLE, including the recent advances in new MRI methods.
CRE: a cost effective and rapid approach for PCR-mediated concatenation of KRAS and EGFR exons
Authors: Ramteke Manoj P. , Patel Kuldeep J , Godbole Mukul , Vyas Maulik , Karve Kunal , Choughule Anuradha , Prabhash Kumar , Dutt Amit
Published: June 2015

Molecular diagnostics has changed the way lung cancer patients are treated worldwide. Of several different testing methods available, PCR followed by directed sequencing and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) are the two most commonly used diagnostic methods worldwide to detect mutations at KRAS exon 2 and EGFR kinase domain exons 18-21 in lung cancer. Compared to ARMS, the PCR followed by directed sequencing approach is relatively inexpensive but more cumbersome to perform. Moreover, with a limiting amount of genomic DNA from clinical formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens or fine biopsies of lung tumors, multiple rounds of PCR and sequencing reactions often get challenging. Here, we report a novel and cost-effective single multiplex-PCR based method, CRE (for Co-amplification of five KRAS and EGFR exons), followed by concatenation of the PCR product as a single linear fragment for direct sequencing. CRE is a robust protocol that can be adapted for routine use in clinical diagnostics with reduced variability, cost and turnaround time requiring a minimal amount of template DNA extracted from FFPE or fresh frozen tumor samples. As a proof of principle, CRE is able to detect the activating EGFR L858R and T790M EGFR mutations in lung cancer cell line and primary tumors.
Lernen von Shoppingcentern
Authors: Korzer Tanja
Published: June 2015

Shoppingcenter stehen in der Kritik, die Einzelhandelslandschaft der Innenstädte in Bezug auf das Einzelhandelsangebot und die geschaffenen Raumsituationen (vor allem in der Mall) zu uniformieren. Doch was machen Projektentwickler und Betreiber von Shoppingcentern u. a. bei der strategischen und konzeptionellen Gestaltung (z. B. in Bezug auf Kundenansprache, Branchen- und Sortimentsmix) richtig? Was können die Akteure in Klein- und Mittelstädten von ihnen für die innerstädtische Einzelhandelsentwicklung in Klein- und Mittelstädten lernen? Denn die Umsetzung geschlossener Shoppingcenter-Komplexe ist in der meist kleinteiligen Einzelhandelslandschaft dieses Stadttypus nur selten möglich und wünschenswert. Hinzu kommt, dass eine große Anzahl von Klein-und Mittelstädten von Schrumpfungstendenzen betroffen ist bzw. zukünftig betroffen sein wird, was maßgeblich Einfluss auf die Entwicklungsperspektiven des innerstädtischen Einzelhandels hat.

Aus diesen Gründen sind alternative Lösungsansätze für die Zusammenarbeit von Akteuren der Stadtentwicklungsplanung sowie lokalen Einzelhändlern in Klein- und Mittelstädten gefragt. Vor diesem Hintergrund erfolgte basierend auf einer interdisziplinär angelegten Literatur- und Dokumentenanalyse, unterschiedlichen Sekundärdatenauswertungen und Primärdatenerhebungen die Identifizierung von Shoppingcenter-Erfolgsfaktoren. Deren inhaltliche Systematisierung führte im Weiteren zur Formulierung eines übertragbaren Zielkatalogs für die innerstädtische Einzelhandelsentwicklung in Klein- und Mittelstädten. Die Anwendung des Zielkatalogs und dessen Reflektion in der Praxis erfolgte in Torgau (Sachsen) und zeigte wesentliche exemplarische Handlungsdefizite auf.

Der folgende Beitrag umreißt in Kurzform die Ergebnisse der Dissertation zu diesem Thema, wobei es in diesem Beitrag vor allem darum geht, die Vorgehensweise bei der Übertragung von Shoppingcenter-Erfolgsfaktoren aus verschiedenen Fachperspektiven (Architektur, Betriebswirtschaft etc.) auf die Stadtentwicklungsplanung mit dem Fokus auf die Innenstädte von Klein- und Mittelstädten darzustellen.
MALDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging Identifies Vitronectin as a Common Constituent of Amyloid Deposits
Authors: Winter Martin , Tholey Andreas , Krüger Sandra , Schmidt Hartmut , Röcken Christoph
Published: June 2015

Amyloids are pathological intra- and extracellular fibrillar aggregates of polypeptides with a cross-β-sheet structure and characteristic tinctorial properties. The amyloid deposits commonly enclose several non-fibrillar components of the extracellular matrix. Their potential to regulate the formation and aggregation process of amyloid fibrils is still poorly understood. For a better understanding of the role of the extracellular matrix in amyloidosis, it is essential to gain deeper insights into the composition of amyloid deposits. Here, we utilized matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometry imaging to identify extracellular matrix compounds in amyloid deposits. Using this technique, we identified and determined the spatial distribution of vitronectin within AApoAI-, ALλ-, ATTR- and AIns amyloid deposits and, using immunohistochemistry, validated the spatial overlap of vitronectin with amyloids in 175 cases with diverse types of amyloid in several different tissues.
Fifty Baha’i Principles of Unity: A Paradigm of Social Salvation
Authors: Buck Christopher
Published: June 2015

The Baha’i Faith, a young world religion, offers principles of unity – from family relations to international relations – as a paradigm for social salvation. These principles may be studied within the analytic prism of an ‘illness/cure’ approach to religious soteriologies – a conceptual model in the phenomenology of religions popularized by Stephen Prothero. World religions are systems of salvation, liberation or harmony. Their respective offers of salvation, liberation or harmony respond directly to the human predicament, as defined by each religion. If humanity is plagued by sin, then Christianity’s redemptive offer of salvation from sin makes perfect sense. Early Buddhism’s offer of liberation – from the fundamental problem of suffering – also fits perfectly in this model. In the Baha’i religion, the plight facing the world is profound estrangement at all levels of society. Therefore the social salvation that the Baha’i religion offers are precepts and practices that augment unity and harmony, as Baha’u’llah proclaims: ‘The distinguishing feature that marketh the pre-eminent character of this Supreme Revelation consisteth in that We have … blotted out from the pages of God’s holy Book whatsoever hath been the cause of strife, of malice and mischief amongst the children of men, and have … laid down the essential prerequisites of concord, of understanding, of complete and enduring unity’. After reviewing Raymond Piper’s typology, fifty (50) Baha’i principles of unity are enumerated and briefly described: types of unity propounded by Baha’u’llah in the Tablet of Unity (Lawḥ-i Ittiḥād); types of unity forecast by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the ‘The Seven Candles of Unity’; and types of unity articulated by Shoghi Effendi – a splendid array of understudied elements of the Baha’i social gospel. Since the present study is a first extended survey – of the notion of unity vis-à-vis the Baha’i Faith, based squarely on authenticated primary sources – results are preliminary, not definitive.
Arminius Vámbéry and the Baha’i Faith
Authors: Sárközy Miklós
Published: June 2015

There has been much debate about the mysterious life and complexities of the world-famous scholar, explorer and orientalist Arminius Vámbéry (1832–1913). During his long life he outlived many political and religious events, which markedly influenced his own personality. His encounters with different religions and religious identities are one of the most peculiar signs of his career. A unique character who equally came into contact with Judaism, Christianity and Islam though regularly regarding himself as an atheist, Vámbéry finally declared himself a follower of the Baha’i Faith in the last weeks of his life. The aim of this paper is to throw light on Vámbéry’s contacts with Baha’is, his perceptions on this religion and the reasons that led him to fully embrace this faith at the end of his life.
Dialectic of embodiment: Mysticism, materiality and the performance of Sufism in China
Authors: Ha Guangtian
Published: June 2015

This article attempts to contribute to the study of religious – particularly Sufi Islamic – structuring of the body from two perspectives: on the one hand, it pays attention not merely to the disciplinary dimension of the Jahriyya Sufi training in northwest China, but also to the specific processes that build this training around the corporeal acts of ritual consumption. On the other hand, this article also examines how the structuring of embodiment specific to Jahriyya Sufism is intrinsically linked to a strongly eschatological conception of time that greatly intensifies the disciplinary power of training. Rather than reduce the question to one of ritual rigidity or nostalgia for spiritual grandeur lost to a past presumed to be perpetually unchanging, the article argues that the specifically Jahriyya eschatology, marked by the insistence upon the sealing of the sacred genealogy, dialectically sublimates sainthood, elevating it from the concrete and corporeal to the symbolic and sublime. This symbolization and sublimation is located at the centre of Jahriyya mysticism and forms the definitive drive that structures the pious Jahriyya body. Based upon this ethnographic discovery, this article challenges the current tendency in anthropological and religious studies of Sufism and Islam that locates the body completely within the space of ethical and performative practice. It argues that the dimension of the symbolic and the sublime, irreducible to the practical, bears its own specificity that demands our analytical attention.
TBX20 loss-of-function mutation associated with familial dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhao Cui-Mei , Bing-Sun  , Song Hao-Ming , Wang Juan , Xu Wen-Jun , Jiang Jin-Fa , Qiu Xing-Biao , Yuan Fang , Xu Jia-Hong , Yang Yi-Qing
Published: June 2015

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death and cardiac transplantation. Aggregating evidence highlights the genetic origin of DCM. However, DCM is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, and the genetic components underlying DCM in most cases remain unknown.

The coding regions and splicing junction sites of the

A novel heterozygous TBX20 mutation, p.F256I, was identified in a family with DCM transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion, which co-segregated with DCM in the family with complete penetrance. The missense mutation was absent in 600 control chromosomes and the altered amino acid was completely conserved evolutionarily among various species. Functional assays revealed that the mutant TBX20 had significantly diminished transcriptional activity. Furthermore, the mutation markedly reduced the synergistic activation of TBX20 with NKX2-5 or GATA4.

This study links TBX20 loss-of-function mutation to idiopathic DCM in humans for the first time, providing novel insight into the molecular mechanism underpinning DCM.
Efficient bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices based on modified PCBM
Authors: Sharma Shyam S. , Sharma Khushboo , Sharma G.D.
Published: June 2015

Organic bulk heterojunction solar cells are a promising candidate for low-cost next-generation photovoltaic systems. In bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells, conjugated polymers and fullerene derivatives [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) function as the electron-donating and electron-accepting materials, respectively. In this paper, we report the photovoltaic response of the solution-processed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cell based on poly (2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV): modified PCBM (MPCBM) blend. The BHJ showed power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 1.78%. The PCE has been further improved up to 1.95% after thermal annealing of the active layer. The increase in the PCE with the thermally annealed blend is mainly attributed to the improvement in incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) and short circuit photocurrent (Jsc).
Acetylenic antifolates as anticancer agents
Authors: Önen Bayram Filiz Esra , Sipahi Hande , Akgün Hülya
Published: June 2015

Folates are crucial cofactors involved in the de novo generation of purine and deoxythymidine monophosphate, which are essential for DNA synthesis. Antifolates are structural analogues of folate derivatives that act as inhibitors of folate-dependent enzymes and constitute the oldest antimetabolite class of anticancer agents. This review focuses on antifolates with remarkable anticancer activities that include a terminal alkyne function in their molecular structure. The properties of CB3717, a tremendous inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, are described, and the development of raltitrexed and pralatrexate, a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first drug for the treatment of relapsed and refractory peripheral T cell lymphoma are presented.
On the role of the extracellular space on the holistic behavior of the brain
Authors: Marcoli Manuela , Agnati Luigi F. , Benedetti Francesco , Genedani Susanna , Guidolin Diego , Ferraro Luca , Maura Guido , Fuxe Kjell
Published: June 2015

Multiple players are involved in the brain integrative action besides the classical neuronal and astrocyte networks. In the past, the concept of complex cellular networks has been introduced to indicate that all the cell types in the brain can play roles in its integrative action. Intercellular communication in the complex cellular networks depends not only on well-delimited communication channels (wiring transmission) but also on diffusion of signals in physically poorly delimited extracellular space pathways (volume transmission). Thus, the extracellular space and the extracellular matrix are the main players in the intercellular communication modes in the brain. Hence, the extracellular matrix is an ‘intelligent glue’ that fills the brain and, together with the extracellular space, contributes to the building-up of the complex cellular networks. In addition, the extracellular matrix is part of what has been defined as the global molecular network enmeshing the entire central nervous system, and plays important roles in synaptic contact homeostasis and plasticity. From these premises, a concept is introduced that the global molecular network, by enmeshing the central nervous system, contributes to the brain holistic behavior. Furthermore, it is suggested that plastic ‘brain compartments’ can be detected in the central nervous system based on the astrocyte three-dimensional tiling of the brain volume and on the existence of local differences in cell types and extracellular space fluid and extracellular matrix composition. The relevance of the present view for neuropsychiatry is discussed. A glossary box with terms and definitions is provided.
Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetism of Eu3Sc2O5Fe2As2
Authors: Hummel Franziska , Tegel Marcus , Gerke Birgit , Pöttgen Rainer , Johrendt Dirk
Published: June 2015

The iron arsenide Eu3Fe2O5Fe2As2 was synthesized at 1173–1373 K in a resistance furnace and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction with Rietveld analysis: Sr3Fe2O5Cu2S2 type, I4/mmm, a = 406.40(1) pm, c = 2646.9(1) pm. Layers of edge-sharing FeAs4/4 tetrahedra are separated by perovskite-like oxide blocks. No structural transition occurs in the temperature range from 10 to 300 K. Magnetic measurements have revealed Curie–Weiss behavior with an effective magnetic moment of 7.79 μ
B per europium atom in agreement with the theoretical value of 7.94 μ
B for Eu2+. A drop in the magnetic susceptibility at 5 K indicates possible antiferromagnetic ordering. 151Eu and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements have confirmed a beginning cooperative magnetic phenomenon by showing significantly broadened spectra at 4.8 K compared to those at 78 K.
Adolescent Health and Adult Education and Employment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hale Daniel R. , Bevilacqua Leonardo , Viner Russell M.
Published: June 2015

OBJECTIVE:

Poor health in adolescence has the potential to disrupt education and employment pathways. This study is the first systematic review of the literature examining education and employment outcomes in adulthood of poor adolescent mental and physical health.

METHODS:

We conducted searches using a standardized search protocol in 8 electronic databases: PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, ERIC, British Education Index, Australian Education Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, and CINAHL Plus. We identified studies that longitudinally compared adult education and employment outcomes of those with an adolescent chronic condition of clinical severity with healthy controls. We conducted meta-analyses using odds ratios (for dichotomous variables) and Cohen’s d (for continuous variables) as our main summary statistics.

RESULTS:

We identified 27 studies incorporating 70 relevant analyses. Our meta-analyses suggested that overall, poor health in adolescence was associated with poorer education and employment outcomes in adulthood. However, evidence was much stronger for mental health conditions than for physical health conditions, for which less evidence was available and mixed findings emerged. Compared with mental health conditions, we identified few studies investigating the long-term outcomes of physical health conditions. Age and follow-up times varied considerably across our studies, which potentially resulted in some heterogeneity in effect sizes. The majority of included studies were conducted in the United States, raising questions about the generalizability of the results internationally.

CONCLUSIONS:

Health in adolescence contributes to adult attainment and life chances. The results suggest that investment in health may improve life chances and that policy interventions may improve outcomes for those with adolescent chronic conditions.
Systematic Review on Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment of Children With Chronic Pain
Authors: Hechler Tanja , Kanstrup Marie , Holley Amy Lewandowski , Simons Laura E. , Wicksell Rikard , Hirschfeld Gerrit , Zernikow Boris
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Pediatric debilitating chronic pain is a severe health problem, often requiring complex interventions such as intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT). Research is lacking regarding the effectiveness of IIPT for children. The objective was to systematically review studies evaluating the effects of IIPT.

METHODS:

Cochrane, Medline/Ovid, PsycInfo/OVID, PubMed, PubPsych, and Web of Science were searched. Studies were included if (1) treatment was coordinated by ≥3 health professionals, (2) treatment occurred within an inpatient/day hospital setting, (3) patients were <22 years, (4) patients experienced debilitating chronic pain, (5) the study was published in English, and (6) the study had ≥10 participants at posttreatment. The child’s pain condition, characteristics of the IIPT, and 5 outcome domains (pain intensity, disability, school functioning, anxiety, depressive symptoms) were extracted at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up.

RESULTS:

One randomized controlled trial and 9 nonrandomized treatment studies were identified and a meta-analysis was conducted separately on pain intensity, disability, and depressive symptoms revealing positive treatment effects. At posttreatment, there were large improvements for disability, and small to moderate improvements for pain intensity and depressive symptoms. The positive effects were maintained at short-term follow-up. Findings demonstrated extreme heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS:

Effects in nonrandomized treatment studies cannot be attributed to IIPT alone. Because of substantial heterogeneity in measures for school functioning and anxiety, meta-analyses could not be computed. There is preliminary evidence for positive treatment effects of IIPT, but the small number of studies and their methodological weaknesses suggest a need for more research on IIPTs for children.
Critical Elements in the Medical Evaluation of Suspected Child Physical Abuse
Authors: Campbell Kristine A. , Olson Lenora M. , Keenan Heather T.
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND:

Previous research has described variability in medical evaluation of suspected abuse. The objective of this study was to identify, through expert consensus, required and highly recommended elements of a child abuse pediatrics (CAP) evaluation for 3 common presentations of suspected physical abuse in children aged 0 to 60 months.

METHODS:

Twenty-eight CAPs recruited from 2 national organizations formed the expert panel for this modified Delphi Process. An initial survey was developed for each presentation based on demographics, history of present illness, past medical, family and social history, laboratory, radiology, and consultation elements present in at least 10% of CAP consultations collected for a larger study. CAPs ranked each element on a 9-point scale then reviewed and discussed summary results through a project blog over 3 rounds. Required and highly recommended elements were defined as elements ranked as 9 and 8, respectively, by ≥75% of experts after the final round.

RESULTS:

From 96 elements in the initial surveys, experts identified 30 Required elements and 37 Highly Recommended elements for CAP evaluation of intracranial hemorrhage, 21 Required and 33 Highly Recommended elements for CAP evaluation of long bone fracture, and 18 Required and 16 Highly Recommended elements for CAP evaluation of isolated skull fracture.

CONCLUSIONS:

This guideline reflects expert consensus and provides a starting point for development of child abuse assessment protocols for quality improvement or research. Additional research is required to determine whether this guideline can reduce variability and/or improve reliability in the evaluation and diagnosis of child physical abuse.
Structural analysis for the identification of key variables in the Ruta del Oro, Nariño Colombia
Authors: Delgado Martínez Aida Mercedes , Pantoja Timarán Freddy
Published: June 2015

As proposed by Michael Godet, an Structural Analysis exercise applied to achieve a representation of the system as close to reality as possible, and reducing its complexity to its essential macrovariables in the research on sustainable tourist called "Ruta del Oro" in Nariño Colombia, which seeks to conjugate the geologic mining patrimony with other resources existing in the field. It was discovered that the macrovariables that determine the system are the geology, the geomorphology and the climate; those on which it is possible to intervene to equilibrate it are, the water, the territorial structure, the vegetation and to a lesser extent, the soil. The dependent macrovariables are the landscape, the cultural resources and the fauna. These results were contrasted with the correspondent cartography, secondary information and fieldwork. It is concluded that the macrovariables of the investigation and the role identified each one are the adequate.
Capacitated vehicle routing problem for PSS uses based on ubiquitous computing: An emerging markets approach
Authors: Ochoa-Ortíz Alberto , Ornelas-Zapata Francisco , Margain-Fuentes Lourdes , Cedillo-Campos Miguel Gastón , Sánchez-Aguilar Jöns , Jaramillo-Vacio Rubén , Ávila Isabel
Published: June 2015

The vehicle routing problem under capacity constraints based on ubiquitous computing in a perspective of deploying PSS (Product-Service Systems) configurations for urban goods transport, is addressed. It takes into account the specificities of city logistics under an emerging markets context. In this case, it involved: i) low logistical capabilities of decision makers; ii) limited availability of data; and iii) restricted access to high performance technology to compute optimal transportation routes. Therefore, the use of free download software providing inexpensive solutions (time and resources) is proposed. The paper shows the implementation of results to a software tool based on Graph Theory used to analyze and solve a CVRP (Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem). The case of a local food delivery company located in a large city in Mexico was used. Based on small fleet vehicles with the same technical specifications and comparable load capacity.
A genetic algorithm to solve a three-echelon capacitated location problem for a distribution center within a solid waste management system in the northern region of Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Salazar María Del Rosario , Mateo-Díaz Nicolás Francisco , García-Rodríguez Rogelio , Mar-Orozco Carlos Eusebio , Cruz-Rivero Lidilia
Published: June 2015

Mexico is the world’s third largest consumer of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), only preceded by the United States and China. PET is commonly used in plastic containers such as beverage bottles and food packaging. It can be argued that the main problem regarding pollution generated by PET waste lies in the lack of appropriate solid waste management. The decision regarding facility location is the central issue in solid waste management. A mixed integer linear programming model of the capacitated facility location problem is proposed and then a genetic algorithm is designed to optimize the model. The problem is described as follows: given the quantities of PET generated in the northern region of Veracruz, Mexico, by considering five cities and each as a single generation source, a collection center has to be selected among a set of pre-identified locations in the town of Tempoal, Veracruz; in order to serve a set of demand points in the re-use market; demands are assumed to be uncertain. The aim is to minimize the system’s overall cost.