bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic masses: contrast‐enhanced harmonic (CEH‐EUS), quantitative‐elastography (QE‐EUS), or both?
Authors: Iglesias‐Garcia Julio , Lindkvist Björn , Lariño‐Noia Jose , Abdulkader‐Nallib Ihab , Dominguez‐Muñoz J Enrique
Published: March 2016

Background

Contrast‐enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CEH‐EUS) and quantitative‐elastography endoscopic ultrasound (QE‐EUS) are considered useful tools for the evaluation of solid pancreatic tumors (SPT). The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CEH‐EUS, QE‐EUS, and the combination of both for the differential diagnosis of SPT.

Methods

Sixty‐two consecutive patients (mean age 64.3 years, range 32–89 years, 44 male) who underwent EUS for the evaluation of SPT were prospectively included. EUS was performed with a linear Pentax‐EUS and a Hitachi‐Preirus processor. The mass (area A) and a reference area B were selected during QE‐EUS, and results expressed as B/A (strain ratio). A strain histogram of the mass was also evaluated. Microvascularization of the tumor was evaluated over 2 min during CEH‐EUS after intravenous injection of 4.8 mL SonoVue. Final diagnosis was based on histopathology of surgical specimens or EUS‐guided tissue acquisition and clinical follow‐up in non‐operated cases. Diagnostic accuracy of CEH‐EUS, QE‐EUS, and their combination was calculated.

Results

Median size of the masses was 32 mm (range 12‐111). Final diagnosis was pancreatic adenocarcinoma (n  = 45), neuroendocrine tumor (n  = 3), inflammatory mass (n  = 10), pancreatic metastasis (n  = 2), autoimmune pancreatitis (n  = 1), and a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (n  = 1). Overall accuracies for determination of malignancy using QE‐EUS, CEH‐EUS, their combination, and EUS‐guided tissue acquisition were 98.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 91.4–99.7), 85.5% (95% CI: 74.7–92.2), 91.9% (95% CI: 82.5–96.5), and 91.5% (95% CI: 83.6–99.5), respectively.

Conclusion

The combination of QE‐EUS and CEH‐EUS is a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of SPT, giving complementary information. However, this combination does not significantly increase the diagnostic accuracy of either of the techniques performed alone.
Neutrophil heterogeneity: implications for homeostasis and pathogenesis
Authors: Silvestre-Roig Carlos , Hidalgo Andres , Soehnlein Oliver
Published: March 2016

Neutrophils are polymorphonuclear leukocytes of the phagocytic system that act as first line of host defense against invading pathogens but are also important mediators of inflammation-induced injury. In contrast to other members of the innate immune system, neutrophils are classically considered a homogenous population of terminally differentiated cells with a well-defined and highly conserved function. Indeed, their short lifespan, the absent proliferative capacity, their limited ability to produce large amounts of cytokines, and the failure to recirculate from the tissue to the bloodstream have sustained this idea. However, increasing evidence over the last decade has demonstrated an unexpected phenotypic heterogeneity and functional versatility of the neutrophil population. Far beyond their antimicrobial functions, neutrophils are emerging as decision-shapers during innate and adaptive immune responses. These emerging discoveries open a new door to understand the role of neutrophils during homeostatic but also pathogenic immune processes. Thus, this review details novel insights of neutrophil phenotypic and functional heterogeneity during homeostasis and disease.
VTD is superior to VCD prior to intensive therapy in multiple myeloma: results of the prospective IFM2013-04 trial
Authors: Moreau Philippe , Hulin Cyrille , Macro Margaret , Caillot Denis , Chaleteix Carine , Roussel Murielle , Garderet Laurent , Royer Bruno , Brechignac Sabine , Tiab Mourad , Puyade Mathieu , Escoffre Martine , Stoppa Anne-Marie , Facon Thierry , Pegourie Brigitte , Chaoui Driss , Jaccard Arnaud , Slama Borhane , Marit Gerald , Laribi Karim , Godmer Pascal , Luycx Odile , Eisenmann Jean-Claude , Allangba Olivier , Dib Mamoun , Araujo Carla , Fontan Jean , Belhadj Karim , Wetterwald Marc , Dorvaux Véronique , Fermand Jean-Paul , Rodon Philippe , Kolb Brigitte , Glaisner Sylvie , Malfuson Jean-Valere , Lenain Pascal , Biron Laetitia , Planche Lucie , Caillon Helene , Avet-Loiseau Herve , Dejoie Thomas , Attal Michel
Published: March 2016

Key Points

The overall response rate following 4 induction cycles of VTD prior to ASCT is higher than that of 4 cycles of VCD.
Common molecular mechanism of the hepatic lesion and the cardiac parasympathetic regulation in chronic hepatitis C infection: a critical role for the muscarinic receptor type 3
Authors: Glišić Sanja , Cavanaugh David P. , Chittur Krishnan K. , Sencanski Milan , Perovic Vladimir , Bojić Tijana
Published: March 2016

Background

The pathophysiological overlapping between Sjorgen’s Syndrome (SS) and HCV, presence of anti- muscarinic receptor type 3 (M3R) antibodies in SS, the role that M3R plays in the regulation of the heart rate, has led to the assumption that cardiovagal dysfunction in HCV patients is caused by anti-M3R antibodies elicited by HCV proteins or by their direct interaction with M3R.

Results

To identify HCV protein which possibly is crossreactive with M3R or which binds to this receptor, we performed the Informational Spectrum Method (ISM) analysis of the HCV proteome. This analysis revealed that NS5A protein represents the most probable interactor of M3R or that this viral protein could elicit antibodies which modulate function of this receptor. Further detailed structure/function analysis of NS5A and M3R performed by the ISM method extended with other Digital Signal processing (DSP) approaches revealed domains of these proteins which participate in their crossreactivity or in their direct interaction, representing promising diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Conclusions

Application of the ISM with other compatible bioinformatics methods offers new perspectives for identifying diagnostic and therapeutic targets for complicated forms of HCV and other viral infections. We show how the electron-ion interaction potential (EIIP) amino-acid scale used in the ISM combined with a robust, high performance hydrophobicity scale can provide new insights for understanding protein structure/function and protein-protein interactions.
Retinoic acid receptor signaling preserves tendon stem cell characteristics and prevents spontaneous differentiation in vitro
Authors: Webb Stuart , Gabrelow Chase , Pierce James , Gibb Edwin , Elliott Jimmy
Published: March 2016

Background

Previous studies have reported that adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) tend to gradually lose their stem cell characteristics in vitro when placed outside their niche environment. They subsequently undergo spontaneous differentiation towards mesenchymal lineages after only a few passages. We observed a similar phenomenon with adult tendon stem cells (TSCs) where expression of key tendon genes such as Scleraxis (Scx), are being repressed with time in culture. We hypothesized that an environment able to restore or maintain Scleraxis expression could be of therapeutic interest for in vitro use and tendon cell-based therapies.

Methods

TSCs were isolated from human cadaveric Achilles tendon and expanded for 4 passages. A high content imaging assay that monitored the induction of Scx protein nuclear localization was used to screen ~1000 known drugs.

Results

We identified retinoic acid receptor (RAR) agonists as potent inducers of nuclear Scx in the small molecule screen. The upregulation correlated with improved maintenance of tendon stem cell properties through inhibition of spontaneous differentiation rather than the anticipated induction of tenogenic differentiation. Our results suggest that histone epigenetic modifications by RAR are driving this effect which is not likely only dependent on Scleraxis nuclear binding but also mediated through other key genes involved in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the effect of RAR compounds on TSCs is reversible by revealing their multi-lineage differentiation ability upon withdrawal of the compound.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, RAR agonists could provide a valid approach for maintaining TSC stemness during expansion in vitro, thus improving their regenerative potential for cell-based therapy.
Existence theorems for single-valued and set-valued mappings with w-distances in metric spaces
Authors: Kaneko Soh , Takahashi Wataru , Wen Ching-Feng , Yao Jen-Chih
Published: March 2016

In this paper, using the concept of w-distances, and we prove existence theorems for single-valued mappings and set-valued mappings in a complete metric space which generalize Takahashi, Wong, and Yao’s theorems.
Fertility Research and Practice reviewer acknowledgement 2015
Authors: Ginsburg Elizabeth , Schust Danny
Published: March 2016

Contributing reviewers

The editors of Fertility Research and Practice would like to thank all of our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 1 (2015).
[18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) in Suspected Recurrent Breast Cancer: A Prospective Comparative Study of Dual-Time-Point FDG-PET/CT, Contrast-Enhanced CT, and Bone Scintigraphy
Authors: Hildebrandt Malene Grubbe , Gerke Oke , Baun Christina , Falch Kirsten , Hansen Jeanette Ansholm , Farahani Ziba Ahangarani , Petersen Henrik , Larsen Lisbet Brønsro , Duvnjak Sandra , Buskevica Inguna , Bektas Selma , Søe Katrine , Jylling Anne Marie Bak , Ewertz Marianne , Alavi Abass , Høilund-Carlsen Poul Flemming
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To prospectively investigate the diagnostic accuracy of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with dual-time-point imaging, contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT), and bone scintigraphy (BS) in patients with suspected breast cancer recurrence.

Patients and Methods

One hundred women with suspected recurrence of breast cancer underwent 1-hour and 3-hour FDG-PET/CT, ceCT, and BS within approximately 10 days. The study was powered to estimate the precision of the individual imaging tests. Images were visually interpreted using a four-point assessment scale, and readers were blinded to other test results. The reference standard was biopsy along with treatment decisions and clinical follow-up (median, 17 months).

Results

FDG-PET/CT resulted in no false negatives and fewer false positives than the other imaging techniques. Accuracy of results were similar for 1-hour and 3-hour FDG-PET/CT. For distant recurrence, the area under the receiver operating curve was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1) for FDG-PET/CT, 0.84 (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.94) for ceCT, and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.94) for the combined ceCT+BS. Of 100 patients, 22 (22%) were verified with distant recurrence, and 18 of these had bone involvement. Nineteen patients (19%) had local recurrence only. In exploratory analyses, diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT was better than ceCT alone or ceCT combined with BS in diagnosing distant, bone, and local recurrence, shown by a greater area under the receiver operating curve and higher sensitivity, specificity, and superior likelihood ratios.

Conclusion

FDG-PET/CT was accurate in diagnosing recurrence in breast cancer patients. It allowed for distant recurrence to be correctly ruled out and resulted in only a small number of false-positive cases. Exploratory findings suggest that FDG-PET/CT has greater accuracy than conventional imaging technologies in this patient group.
Association of Vitamin D Levels With Outcome in Patients With Melanoma After Adjustment For C-Reactive Protein
Authors: Fang Shenying , Sui Dawen , Wang Yuling , Liu Huey , Chiang Yi-Ju , Ross Merrick I. , Gershenwald Jeffrey E. , Cormier Janice N. , Royal Richard E. , Lucci Anthony , Wargo Jennifer , Hu Mimi I. , Gardner Julie M. , Reveille John D. , Bassett Roland L. , Wei Qingyi , Amos Christopher I. , Lee Jeffrey E.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To evaluate for an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (vitamin D) and outcome measures in patients with melanoma after evaluation is controlled for systemic inflammatory response (SIR) on the basis of simultaneous C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement.

Materials and Methods

Plasma samples from 1,042 prospectively observed patients with melanoma were assayed for vitamin D and CRP. The associations of demographics and CRP with vitamin D were determined, followed by a determination of the association between vitamin D and stage and outcome measures from the date of blood draw. The vitamin D level was considered sufficient if it was 30 to 100 ng/mL. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed.

Results

The median vitamin D level was 25.0 ng/mL. The median follow-up time was 7.1 years. A lower vitamin D was associated with the blood draw during fall/winter months (P < .001), older age (P = .001), increased CRP (P < .001), increased tumor thickness (P < .001), ulcerated tumor (P = .0105), and advanced melanoma stage (P = .0024). On univariate analysis, lower vitamin D was associated with poorer overall (OS; P < .001), melanoma-specific survival (MSS; P = .0025), and disease-free survival (DFS; P = .0466). The effect of vitamin D on these outcome measures persisted after adjustment for CRP and other covariates. Multivariable hazards ratios per unit decrease of vitamin D were 1.02 for OS (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04; P = .0051), 1.02 for MSS (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.04; P = .048), and 1.02 for DFS (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.04; P = .0427).

Conclusion

Lower vitamin D levels in patients with melanoma were associated with poorer outcomes. Although lower vitamin D was strongly associated with higher CRP, the associations of lower vitamin D with poorer OS, MSS, and DFS were independent of this association. Investigation of mechanisms responsible for these associations may be of value to patients with melanoma.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibition for Hypermutant Glioblastoma Multiforme Resulting From Germline Biallelic Mismatch Repair Deficiency
Authors: Bouffet Eric , Larouche Valérie , Campbell Brittany B. , Merico Daniele , de Borja Richard , Aronson Melyssa , Durno Carol , Krueger Joerg , Cabric Vanja , Ramaswamy Vijay , Zhukova Nataliya , Mason Gary , Farah Roula , Afzal Samina , Yalon Michal , Rechavi Gideon , Magimairajan Vanan , Walsh Michael F. , Constantini Shlomi , Dvir Rina , Elhasid Ronit , Reddy Alyssa , Osborn Michael , Sullivan Michael , Hansford Jordan , Dodgshun Andrew , Klauber-Demore Nancy , Peterson Lindsay , Patel Sunil , Lindhorst Scott , Atkinson Jeffrey , Cohen Zane , Laframboise Rachel , Dirks Peter , Taylor Michael , Malkin David , Albrecht Steffen , Dudley Roy W.R. , Jabado Nada , Hawkins Cynthia E. , Shlien Adam , Tabori Uri
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is incurable with current therapies. Biallelic mismatch repair deficiency (bMMRD) is a highly penetrant childhood cancer syndrome often resulting in GBM characterized by a high mutational burden. Evidence suggests that high mutation and neoantigen loads are associated with response to immune checkpoint inhibition.

Patients and Methods

We performed exome sequencing and neoantigen prediction on 37 bMMRD cancers and compared them with childhood and adult brain neoplasms. Neoantigen prediction bMMRD GBM was compared with responsive adult cancers from multiple tissues. Two siblings with recurrent multifocal bMMRD GBM were treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab.

Results

All malignant tumors (n = 32) were hypermutant. Although bMMRD brain tumors had the highest mutational load because of secondary polymerase mutations (mean, 17,740 ± standard deviation, 7,703), all other high-grade tumors were hypermutant (mean, 1,589 ± standard deviation, 1,043), similar to other cancers that responded favorably to immune checkpoint inhibitors. bMMRD GBM had a significantly higher mutational load than sporadic pediatric and adult gliomas and all other brain tumors (P < .001). bMMRD GBM harbored mean neoantigen loads seven to 16 times higher than those in immunoresponsive melanomas, lung cancers, or microsatellite-unstable GI cancers (P < .001). On the basis of these preclinical data, we treated two bMMRD siblings with recurrent multifocal GBM with the anti–programmed death-1 inhibitor nivolumab, which resulted in clinically significant responses and a profound radiologic response.

Conclusion

This report of initial and durable responses of recurrent GBM to immune checkpoint inhibition may have implications for GBM in general and other hypermutant cancers arising from primary (genetic predisposition) or secondary MMRD.
Optimal Depth for Nasopharyngeal Temperature Probe Positioning
Authors: Wang Mi , Singh Asha , Qureshi Hashim , Leone Alexander , Mascha Edward J. , Sessler Daniel I.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

The nasopharynx is considered 1 of the 4 generally reliable core temperature measurement sites. But curiously, there is no consensus on how far past the nares to insert the probe. Insertion depth is likely to influence the accuracy of nasopharyngeal temperature measurements because probes near the nares will be cooled by ambient air; similarly, probes inserted too far may approach the airway and be cooled by ventilation gases. We thus determined the range of nasopharyngeal probe insertion depths that best approximate reference core temperature measured in the distal esophagus.

METHODS:

In 36 adults undergoing noncardiac surgery with endotracheal intubation, we inserted a nasopharyngeal thermometer 20 cm past the nares and an esophageal temperature probe 40 cm from the incisors. The nasopharyngeal probe was withdrawn sequentially 2 cm at a time at 5-minute intervals. Pairs of nasopharyngeal and reference distal esophageal temperatures were then compared and summarized by Bland and Altman methods.

RESULTS:

All nasopharyngeal probe insertion depths between 10 and 20 cm past the nares provided temperatures similar to reference distal esophageal temperatures. At those depths, the bias was typically approximately −0.1°C, with SD of approximately ±0.15°C; the limits of agreement thus were easily within our a priori specified clinically acceptable range of −0.5°C and 0.5°C.

CONCLUSIONS:

Any nasopharyngeal probe insertion depth between 10 and 20 cm well represents core temperature in adults having noncardiac surgery.
A Comparison of the Haider Tube-Guard® Endotracheal Tube Holder Versus Adhesive Tape to Determine if This Novel Device Can Reduce Endotracheal Tube Movement and Prevent Unplanned Extubation
Authors: Buckley Jack C. , Brown Adam P. , Shin John S. , Rogers Kirsten M. , Hoftman Nir N.
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

Endotracheal tube security is a critical safety issue. We compared the mobility of an in situ endotracheal tube secured with adhesive tape to the one secured with a new commercially available purpose-designed endotracheal tube-holder device (Haider Tube-Guard®). We also observed for the incidence of oropharyngeal or facial trauma associated with the 2 tube fixation methods.

METHODS:

Thirty adult patients undergoing general anesthesia with neuromuscular blockade were prospectively enrolled. Immediately after intubation, a single study author positioned the endotracheal tube tip in the distal trachea using a bronchoscope. Anesthesiologists caring for patients secured the tube in their normal fashion (always with adhesive tape). A force transducer was used to apply linear force, increasing to 15 N or until the principal investigator deemed that the force be aborted for safety reasons. The displacement of the endotracheal tube was measured with the bronchoscope. Any tape was then removed and the endotracheal tube secured with the Haider Tube-Guard device. The linear force was reapplied and the displacement of the endotracheal tube measured. The Haider Tube-Guard device was left in place for the duration of the case. The patient’s face and oropharynx were examined for any evidence of trauma during surgery and in the recovery room. On discharge from the postanesthesia care unit, the patient answered a brief survey assessing for any subjective evidence of minor facial or oropharyngeal trauma.

RESULTS:

Under standardized tension, the endotracheal tube withdrew a mean distance of 3.4 cm when secured with adhesive tape versus 0.3 cm when secured with the Haider Tube-Guard (P <0.001). Ninety-seven percent of patients (29/30) experienced clinically significant endotracheal tube movement (>1 cm) when adhesive tape was used to secure the tube versus 3% (1/30) when the Haider Tube-Guard was used (P <0.001). Thirty percent of patients (9/30) were potentially deemed a high extubation risk (endotracheal tube movement >4 cm) when the endotracheal tube was secured with tape versus 0% (0/30) when secured with the Haider Tube-Guard (P = 0.004). Six patients with taped endotracheal tubes required the traction to be aborted before 15 N of force was achieved to prevent potential extubation as the tape either separated from the face or stretched to allow excessive endotracheal tube movement. None of the patients appeared to sustain any injury from the Haider Tube-Guard device.

CONCLUSIONS:

The Haider Tube-Guard significantly reduced the mobility of the endotracheal tube when compared with adhesive tape and was well tolerated in our observations.
Anesthetic Care in Mozambique
Authors: Lyon Camila B. , Merchant Amina I. , Schwalbach Teresa , Pinto Emilia F. V. , Jeque Emilia C. , McQueen K. A. Kelly
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

The World Bank and Lancet Commission in 2015 have prioritized surgery in Low-Income Countries (LIC) and Lower-Middle Income Countries (LMICs). This is consistent with the shift in the global burden of disease from communicable to noncommunicable diseases over the past 20 years. Essential surgery must be performed safely, with adequate anesthesia monitoring and intervention. Unfortunately, a huge barrier to providing safe surgery includes the paucity of an anesthesia workforce.
1
In this study, we qualitatively evaluated the anesthesia capacity of Mozambique, a LIC in Africa with limited access to anesthesia and safe surgical care. Country-based solutions are suggested that can expand to other LIC and LMICs.

METHODS:

A comprehensive review of the Mozambique anesthesia system was conducted through interviews with personnel in the Ministry of Health (MOH), a school of medicine, a public central referral hospital, a general first referral hospital, a private care hospital, and leaders in the physician anesthesia community. Personnel databases were acquired from the MOH and Maputo Central Hospital.

RESULTS:

Quantitative results reveal minimal anesthesia capacity (290 anesthesia providers for a population of >25 million or 0.01:10,000). The majority of physician anesthesiologists practice in urban settings, and many work in the private sector. There is minimal capacity for growth given only 1 Mozambique anesthesia residency with inadequate resources. The most commonly perceived barriers to safe anesthesia in this critical shortage are lack of teachers, lack of medical student interest in and exposure to anesthesia, need for more schools, low allocation to anesthesia from the list of available specialist prospects by MOH, and low public payments to anesthesiologists. Qualitative results show assets of a good health system design, a supportive environment for learning in the residency, improvement in anesthetic care in past decades, and a desire for more educational opportunities and teachers.

CONCLUSIONS:

Mozambique has a strong health system design but few resources for surgery and safe anesthesia. At present, similar to other LICs, human resources, access to essential medicines, and safety monitoring limit safe anesthesia in Mozambique.
China’s Contribution to Anesthesiology Research: A 10-Year Survey of the Literature
Authors: Xie Guohao , Zhang Kai , Wood Chris , Hoeft Andreas , Liu Jin , Fang Xiangming
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND:

Anesthesiology has advanced in China over the past decade. We compared the trends in publication of anesthesiology articles from China between 2005 and 2014 with the trends in 5 developed countries.

METHODS:

We included all journals listed in the ‘‘Anesthesiology’’ category of Journal Citation Reports. Anesthesiology-related publications from 2005 to 2014 were retrieved from the PubMed and Web of Knowledge online databases. The total number of articles, publication type categories, number of citations, and citation rate (number of citations/years since publication) were analyzed. The sample size was the n = 10 years for all confidence intervals and P values. We additionally evaluated the total number of articles published in the 10 top-ranking journals.

RESULTS:

From 2005 to 2014, 41,344 articles were published in anesthesiology journals. Of these, 3.07% were contributed by authors from Chinese institutions. Although this contribution was less than the Unites States, Great Britain, Germany, France, or Japan, publications from Chinese institutions grew at an annual rate of 13% (95% confidence interval: 3.08%–23.38%, P < 0.001, r = 0.903). Chinese institutions produced relatively more basic research reports than clinical investigations. China ranked before Great Britain (221 articles) and France (245 articles) in basic research, with 448 basic researches publications during the study period. The articles from China averaged 2.24 citations per year, comparable to the articles from the United States (2.71, P = 0.545), Great Britain (2.57, P = 0.999), Germany (2.35, P = 0.999), France (1.50, P = 0.520), and Japan (1.24, P = 0.065). In the 10 highest impact anesthesiology journals, China published 780 articles during the decade. The 3 journals with the most publications from Chinese institutions were Anesthesia & Analgesia, Anesthesiology, and Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the studied decade, anesthesiology research published by Chinese institutions lagged behind publications from developed countries. There was a steady increase in the number of articles every year, resulting in recent rates of publication similar to several developed countries. The citation rate of articles from Chinese institutions was similar to the citation rate of articles from developed countries, indicating that the quality of articles from China in these journals is comparable to the quality from developed countries.
To the Question about the Defi nition of Competitiveness and Competence of Employees of Law Enforcement Services of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Досымбек  , Dosymbek B.
Published: March 2016

The article is devoted to fi nding new ways to improve the effi ciency of law enforcement services of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of the development

of competitiveness and competence. To this end the author proposes the use of a rating «rating service of personal competence», consisting of two sections:

the service rating, and personal rating. Offi cial rating is proposed to evaluate on the basis of characteristics such as the performance of offi cial duties, legal

literacy, combat and physical training, possession of modern information technology, service discipline that must be assessed as excellent, good or satisfactory.

Personal rating, according to the author, should include such indicators, as the relationship of employee in the team, the presence or absence of confl ict,

behavior in everyday life, the correctness in relations with citizens, etc.
Self-Education As an Investment in Individual Human Capital
Authors: Сухова  , Sukhova E. , Сараева  , Saraeva N.
Published: March 2016

The subject of study is the human development index in Primorsky Krai. The paper focuses on the relationship between the concepts «human capital» and «human potential». The paper studied international experience, including the experience of the Russian Federation on the calculation of the human development index (HDI) based on the Human Development Report, presentation of programs of the United Nations (UNDP). The study shows the changes in the structure and methodology of calculating HDI since 2010. As an illustrative example, the index calculated for the Primorye Territory. The study revealed problems in the socio-economic development of the area and the ways of solving them. The measurement of each component of the HDI allows you to conduct further studies to fi nd out in what area of human capacity specifi cally, there are problems and why they are taking place. The paper used general theoretical (analysis, classifi cation, induction, deduction, etc.), as well as practical research methods (comparison and measurement).
Practice Summary: Improving Bus Routing for KIPP Charter Schools
Authors: Levin Michael W. , Boyles Stephen D.
Published: March 2016

KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) provides school bus service to the majority of its students over a relatively large geographic region. We applied the Clarke-Wright heuristic in to quickly find routes that adhere to capacity and travel-time constraints. These routes improved transportation spending and reliability significantly over the previous routes that KIPP used.
Information Sampling, Belief Synchronization, and Collective Illusions
Authors: Denrell Jerker , Le Mens Gaël
Published: March 2016

We demonstrate that a sampling-based mechanism can offer an alternative explanation for belief synchronization in social groups and the persistence of collective illusions. Our model assumes that people are more likely to sample popular alternatives than unpopular alternatives. We show that this mechanism is sufficient to explain belief synchronization: a strong majority of opinions will likely emerge in favor of one alternative. The reason is that the group is unlikely to move away from a state in which one alternative is very unpopular. If by chance most people come to dislike alternative A, they are all unlikely to sample it again and their opinions of A remain the same. When A is in fact the best alternative, a collective illusion has emerged because people mistakenly believe that a suboptimal alternative is the best. Our model implies that such a collective illusion is persistent. The model thus offers an existence proof that a collective illusion can occur even in settings where people do not infer that popular alternatives are better. The model also casts new light on the effect of online recommendation systems on attitude homogenization and the effect of majority voting on beliefs and attitudes.

This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.
A Dynamic Network Measure of Technological Change
Authors: Funk Russell J. , Owen-Smith Jason
Published: March 2016

This article outlines a network approach to the study of technological change. We propose that new inventions reshape networks of interlinked technologies by shifting inventors’ attention to or away from the knowledge on which those inventions build. Using this approach, we develop novel indexes of the extent to which a new invention consolidates or destabilizes existing technology streams. We apply these indexes in analyses of university research commercialization and find that, although federal research funding pushes campuses to create inventions that are more destabilizing, deeper commercial ties lead them to produce technologies that consolidate the status quo. By quantifying the effects that new technologies have on their predecessors, the indexes we propose allow patent-based studies of innovation to capture conceptually important phenomena that are not detectable with established measures. The measurement approach presented here offers empirical insights that support theoretical development in studies of innovation, entrepreneurship, technology strategy, science policy, and social network theory.

This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Two New Features in Discrete Choice Experiments to Improve Willingness-to-Pay Estimation That Result in SDR and SADR: Separated (Adaptive) Dual Response
Authors: Schlereth Christian , Skiera Bernd
Published: March 2016

Discrete choice experiments such as choice-based conjoint and dual response are popular preference elicitation methods, yet, they can suffer from context effects, extreme response behavior, and problems with estimating consumers’ willingness to pay accurately when the purchase probability is high. This study proposes two new features to avoid these limits: (a) strictly separating all forced and all free choice questions and (b) an adaptive mechanism to select fewer, but more informative, free choice questions. The use of these two features invokes two new discrete choice experiment methods: separated dual response (SDR), with just the first feature, and separated adaptive dual response (SADR), with both features. A conceptual comparison, simulation study, tests to address endogeneity concerns, and three empirical studies demonstrate the appeal of these two new features, relative to the benefits of existing discrete choice experiments, especially when estimating willingness to pay.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2015.2367 .

This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Do leg ulcer clinics improve patients' quality of life?
Authors: Liew I.H. , Law K.A. , Sinha S.N.
Published: March 2016

The aim of this prospective study was to measure quality of life in patients with chronic leg ulcers. All eligible, consenting patients who attended the leg ulcer clinic at the Repatriation General Hospital (Tasmania, Australia) during the 16-month study period were included. Patients completed questionnaires on their first visit and at follow-up which occurred, on average, eight weeks later.

This study found an improvement in three quality-of-life indicators — pain, sleep and mobility — over an average of eight weeks' treatment involving one to three visits to the clinic and home visits by primary care nurses. Of the 57 patients, 53 (93%) indicated that their wound had improved following attendance at the clinic.

The cost-effectiveness of providing treatment in a dedicated leg ulcer clinic has been the focus of many previous studies. This study emphasises the additional benefits a dedicated clinic may have in improving quality of life in patients with chronic leg ulcers. Such benefits ought to be considered when allocating resources to leg ulcer services.
Origin of dark mass apparentfrom gravitationally bound extended ordinary material systems
Authors: Biswas Shubhen
Published: March 2016

To grow up a gravitationally bound system with fixed proper mass requires sufficient energy to overcome the gravitational pull. Following General relativity both matter energy and field energy act on the source of gravity. Apart from the field energy if our concern is just for the bound system of mass only, then we can easily attribute the gain of matter energy as the gain of gravitational mass. This gain of matter energy can be backed immediately if the system is allowed to collapse to its initial state. So in the case of expansion there will be no possibility in creation of normal or proper mass. But the concern regarding the gain of matter energy must have realistic effect in increase of gravitational mass. This article explains how gravitational mass of the gravitationally bound large material system like galaxy exceeds its ordinary mass with the size of the system. Here presence of the dark mass and flat rotation curveÂ  are given without considering MOND theory, not even distorting any accepted paradigm of post Newtonian gravity. The findings are truly consistent with the recent observed data.
Adenovirus-mediated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-a potentiates bone morphogenetic protein9-induced osteogenic differentiation and bone formation
Authors: Pi Chang-jun , Liang Kai-lu , Ke Zhen-yong , Chen Fu , Cheng Yun , Yin Liang-jun , Deng Zhong-liang , He Bai-cheng , Chen Liang
Published: March 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are suitable seed cells for bone tissue engineering because they can self-renew and undergo differentiation into osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, or myogenic lineages. Vascular endothelial growth factor-a (VEGF-a), an angiogenic factor, is also involved in osteogenesis and bone repair. However, the effects of VEGF-a on osteogenic MSCs differentiation remain unknown. It was previously reported that bone morphogenetic protein9 (BMP9) is one of the most important osteogenic BMPs. Here, we investigated the effects of VEGF-a on BMP9-induced osteogenesis with mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs). We found that endogenous VEGF-a expression was undetectable in MSCs. Adenovirus-mediated expression of VEGF-a in MEFs potentiated BMP9-induced early and late osteogenic markers, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteopontin (OPN). In stem cell implantation assays, VEGF-a augmented BMP9-induced ectopic bone formation. VEGF-a in combination with BMP9 effectively increased the bone volume and osteogenic activity. However, the synergistic effect was efficiently abolished by the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT inhibitor LY294002. These results demonstrated that BMP9 may crosstalk with VEGF-a through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to induce osteogenic differentiation in MEFs. Thus, our findings demonstrate the effects of VEGF-a on BMP9-induced bone formation and provide a new potential strategy for treating nonunion fractures, large segmental bony defects, and/or osteoporotic fractures.
Effects of Tai Chi training on postural control and cognitive performance while dual tasking – a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Lu Xi , Siu K. C. , Fu Siu N. , Hui-Chan Christina W. Y. , Tsang William W. N.
Published: March 2016

Background: This single-blinded, randomized controlled study investigated the effects of practicing Tai Chi on the postural control and cognitive performance of older women while dual tasking.

Methods: Community-dwelling older women (n=31) were recruited from community centers. They were randomized to Tai Chi group (n=15, 12-form Yang style Tai Chi training) or a control group (n=16, general interest classes) for 16 weeks. Balance was tested in single leg stance after stepping down from a step, with and without a concurrent auditory response task (auditory Stroop test). Balance was measured by total sway path and sway area of subject’s center of pressure (COP). The reaction time and the correctness of the auditory Stroop test were also measured.

Results: Tai Chi subjects made fewer errors in auditory Stroop test under dual-task condition after Tai Chi training (p=0.01). They also showed significant decreases in the COP path (p<0.05) and the COP area (p<0.05) in their postural control after training in both single- and dual-task conditions. The subjects in the control group did not show any significant improvement in dual-task condition after the intervention.

Conclusions: Tai Chi training improves the cognitive and postural control performance of older women when dual tasking.
An inverse problem for a nonlinear diffusion equation with time-fractional derivative
Authors: Tatar Salih , Ulusoy Süleyman
Published: March 2016

A nonlinear time-fractional inverse coefficient problem is considered. The unknown coefficient depends on the solution. It is proved that the direct problem has a unique solution. Afterwards the continuous dependence of the solution of the corresponding direct problem on the coefficient is proved. Then the existence of a quasi-solution of the inverse problem is obtained in the appropriate class of admissible coefficients.
Intonational phonology and politeness in L1 and L2 Spanish
Authors: Astruc Lluïsa , del Mar Vanrell Maria
Published: March 2016

This study makes a foray into the politeness strategies used by English learners of Spanish by comparing a corpus of invitations and requests recorded by 14 adult English learners of beginner-level Spanish as part of their course assignment to the data recorded by 12 native speakers. The native speakers’ data was collected using discourse completion tests, which elicited offers and requests in scenarios controlled for social distance, power, and the cost of the request or offer. All the data was analysed pragmatically, by quantifying the occurrence of politeness strategies, and phonologically, by transcribing pitch accents and boundary tones in line with the guidelines of the Autosegmental Metrical framework. The results show that, depending on the situation, native speakers combine the use of different lexical and morpho-syntactic devices with the use of specific intonational patterns. Most learners at beginner level correctly use a limited range of morpho-syntactic politeness strategies appropriate to their level, and these are frequently reinforced with intonation. However, our data also show that beginner learners often transfer the intonational patterns of their first language.
India in 2015
Authors: Jaffrelot Christophe
Published: March 2016

While India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lost elections in Delhi and Bihar, and its government failed to implement any significant reform in 2015, the economy was slowly recovering and Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an active foreign policy.
Taiwan in 2015
Authors: Hickey Dennis V. , Niou Emerson
Published: March 2016

In 2015, Taipei’s relations with Washington moved forward in parallel with the improvements in cross-Strait relations initiated in 2008. Perhaps most notable was President Ma Ying-jeou’s summit meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping. Despite gains in external relations, however, the island was plagued by partisan gridlock, a stagnating economy, and political unrest. Most anticipated a Democratic Progressive Party victory over the ruling Kuomintang in the January 2016 presidential election. But few could predict what kind of fallout the election might generate.
Critical role of Emx2 in the pluripotency – differentiation transition in male gonocytes via regulation of FGF9/NODAL pathway
Authors: Tian-Zhong Ma , Bi Chen , Ying Zhang , Xia Jing , Cai-Ling Peng , Yun-Shan Zhang , Mei-Wen Huang , Yan-Ru Niu
Published: March 2016

Emx2deletion impairs the growth and maintenance of the genital ridge. However, its role in subsequent germ cell differentiation during embryonic stages is unknown. Using a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-loxP mouse model (Emx2flox/flox,Cre-ERTM, hereafter called asEmx2knockdown), we showed that germ cell differentiation was impaired inEmx2-knockdown testes. Representative characteristics of male germ cell differentiation, including a reduced ability to form embryonic germ (EG) cell coloniesin vitro, down-regulation of pluripotency markers and G1/G0 arrest, did not occur inEmx2-knockdown testes. Furthermore, FGF9 and NODAL signalling occurred at abnormally high levels inEmx2-knockdown testes. Both blocking FGF9 signalling with SU5402 and inhibiting NODAL signalling with SB431542 allowed germ cells fromEmx2-knockdown testes to differentiatein vitro. Therefore, EMX2 in somatic cells is required to trigger germ cell differentiation in XY foetuses, posterior to its previously reported role in the growth and maintenance of the genital ridge.
Neurocognitive and Academic Outcomes at Age 10 Years of Extremely Preterm Newborns
Authors: Joseph Robert M. , O’Shea Thomas M. , Allred Elizabeth N. , Heeren Tim , Hirtz Deborah , Jara Hernan , Leviton Alan , Kuban Karl C.K. ,   for the ELGAN Study Investigators
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Despite reductions in mortality and morbidity among children born extremely preterm, they remain at high risk of neurocognitive deficits, with up to 40% having significant cognitive deficits at school age. We assessed the rate of neurocognitive impairment in a contemporary US cohort of 873 children aged 10 years who were born <28 weeks’ gestation.

METHODS:

The families of 889 of 966 (92%) children enrolled from 2002 to 2004 at 14 sites in 5 states returned at age 10 years for a comprehensive assessment of IQ, language, attention, executive function, processing speed, visual perception, visual-motor function, and academic achievement.

RESULTS:

A total of 873 children were assessed with well-validated tests of cognitive and academic function. Distributions of test scores were consistently and markedly shifted below normative expectation, with one-third to two-thirds of children performing >1 SD below age expectation. The most extreme downward shifts were on measures of executive control and processing speed. Multivariate analyses, adjusted for socioeconomic status, growth restriction, and other potential confounders, revealed that the risk of poor outcome was highest at the lowest gestational age across all 18 measures.

CONCLUSIONS:

More than half of our extremely preterm cohort exhibited moderate or severe neurocognitive deficits at age 10 years, with the most extensive impairments found among those born at the lowest gestational age. Children born extremely preterm continue to be at significant risk of persistent impairments in neurocognitive function and academic achievement, underscoring the need for monitoring and remediating such outcomes beginning in early childhood.
Acerca de las ideas desamortizadoras de Flórez Estrada
Authors: Aguado Cabezas Elena
Published: March 2016

Siguiendo la evolución de los conceptos económicos básicos del político e intelectual asturiano sobre la propiedad y sus límites, sobre los arrendamientos rústicos, sobre la política tributaria y sobre la deuda pública, se analizan aquí las propuestas que Flórez Estrada presentó como alternativa a la legislación desamortizadora de Mendizábal. Su planteamiento presenta aspectos muy discutibles como la fórmula de asignación de tierras en enfiteusis, la determinación de los beneficiarios y el procedimiento para la ejecución de todo el plan. Los puntos débiles del proyecto fueron la causa de que, ya en su tiempo, dicho plan se considerara desde las filas liberales menos viable y eficaz que el de Mendizábal
Escenarios de conflictividad: motines y desórdenes públicos en la Navarra del Antiguo Régimen
Authors: Ruiz Astiz Javier
Published: March 2016

Durante el Antiguo Régimen los comportamientos violentos impregnaron cualquier esfera de la vida pública. Es por ello por lo que desórdenes públicos y altercados se originaron en multitud de espacios en cada comunidad. El presente artículo surge con el objetivo primordial de tratar de analizar esta realidad para el caso del reino de Navarra entre 1512 y 1808. A través de este estudio se podrá comprobar los distintos emplazamientos que se han encontrado. Gracias a ello, podremos constatar si existió cierta lógica con los disturbios que estallaron en cada uno de estos lugares
Formar professores: a escola normal particular Amato Lusitano (1950-1973)
Authors: Guerra Henriques Helder Manuel
Published: March 2016

El objetivo central de este artículo es analizar el recorrido histórico de una institución escolar de la ciudad de Castelo Branco (Portugal) – La Escuela Privada de Magisterio - entre 1950 y 1973. Discutimos la importancia del estudio de la formación de profesores a través de un enfoque en el que la institución educativa sirve de marco representativo de un conjunto de discursos que se cruzan en su interior. ¿Qué lugar asume la formación del profesorado de primaria portugués, sobre todo, en el Estado Novo? ¿Qué recorrido es posible construir para esta Escuela formadora de profesorado de educación básica? ¿Qué públicos frecuentaron la institución? ¿Quiénes eran sus alumnos-maestros? A lo largo del artículo vamos a intentar responder a estas cuestiones, auxiliados por fuentes documentales de archivo, de la prensa regional y local de Castelo Branco y a través de la prensa pedagógica de la propia institución. Desde el punto de vista metodológico utilizamos la crítica histórica y la necesaria triangulación de los datos en una perspectiva diacrónica. Para encuadrar todas estas cuestiones utilizamos como referencias teóricas los trabajos de Antonio Nóvoa, Maria João Mogarro, Joaquim Pintassilgo, Luís Mota, entre otros