bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Technological Change in India’s Textile Machinery Industry Using the Malmquist Productivity Index
Authors: Malik Sanjaya Kumar
Published: April 2015

This article measures technological change in India’s textile machinery industry, and examines how user–producer interaction affects this. Employing the non-parametric Malmquist productivity index, we find there has been little technological change in the textile machinery industry from 1998–99 through 2007–08. It is proposed that poor and unsustainable demand and the shrinking share of domestic demand for textile machinery owing to the technological upgradation fund scheme—meant for providing interest reimbursements or capital subsidies to textile manufacturers—may have weakened the user–producer interactions, thereby bringing down innovative activities and innovations in the textile machinery industry in India.

JEL Classification: O14, O33, C14
Telecentres Go Where Mobile Phones Fear to Tread
Authors: Ray Rupamanjari Sinha , Prasad Rohit
Published: April 2015

As broadband becomes an integral part of universal service schemes in emerging economies, the lines between universal access to telephony and universal access to computing are blurring. This article focuses on the social inclusiveness of publicly funded telecentres in India. In contrast to the previous literature, it does not test their inclusiveness in absolute terms, but relative to the inclusiveness of mobile phones. Data from telecentres set up in two states in India under the National Common Service Centre Scheme shows that mobile and telecentre adoption is driven by different factors. This suggests that telecentre adoption could take precedence over mobile adoption in certain socio-economic categories like females and agriculturists. We show that this is indeed true among females where telecentres are substitutes for mobiles. Among males the two media behave as complements. This suggests that telecentres and mobiles must play complementary roles in bringing connectivity to rural areas. The optimism on telecentre performance with respect to women has to be tempered with a sober reflection on commercial viability.
Using Joint Interviews to Add Analytic Value
Authors: Polak Louisa , Green Judith
Published: April 2015

Joint interviewing has been frequently used in health research, and is the subject of a growing methodological literature. We review this literature, and build on it by drawing on a case study of how people make decisions about taking statins. This highlights two ways in which a dyadic approach to joint interviewing can add analytic value compared with individual interviewing. First, the analysis of interaction within joint interviews can help to explicate tacit knowledge and to illuminate the range of often hard-to-access resources that are drawn upon in making decisions. Second, joint interviews mitigate some of the weaknesses of interviewing as a method for studying practices; we offer a cautious defense of the often-tacit assumption that the “naturalness” of joint interviews strengthens their credibility as the basis for analytic inferences. We suggest that joint interviews are a particularly appropriate method for studying complex shared practices such as making health decisions.
Identifying Preschool Children for Higher Tiers of Language and Early Literacy Instruction Within a Response to Intervention Framework
Authors: Carta Judith J. , Greenwood Charles R. , Atwater Jane , McConnell Scott R. , Goldstein Howard , Kaminski Ruth A.
Published: April 2015

Response to Intervention (RTI) or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is beginning to be implemented in preschool programs to improve outcomes and to reduce the need for special education services. The proportions of children in programs identified as struggling learners through universal screening have important implications for the feasibility of these approaches as well as for the way programs might allocate resources and staff implementing tiered models of intervention. The expected proportions of children who might be identified for higher tiers of instructional support in pre-kindergarten settings are relatively unknown. The proportions of children who would have been identified for higher tiers of instructional language/literacy support when using three different universal screening measures are described. Participants were 659 children participating in the Center for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood (CRTIEC) Tier 1 Study. Results indicated that the proportions of children at Tier 2 and Tier 3 performance levels were higher for children in low-income eligibility programs and varied by program-level characteristics including numbers of English language learners and children with special needs, as well as the universal screening measure used. Implications of these findings suggest the importance of increased focus on early literacy and language in Tier 1 instruction in programs serving high proportions of children at risk as a means of preventing reading failure in future years.
A one-dimensional continuum with microstructure for single-wall carbon nanotubes bifurcation analysis
Authors: AminPour H , Rizzi N
Published: April 2015

In this paper a one-dimensional continuum endowed with polynomial nonlinear hyperelastic constitutive functions is used in order to capture the necking and the kinking arising in carbon nanotubes. In view of some preceding works by Antman and Podio-Guidugli these phenomena are seen as cases of bifurcation from a trivial nonlinear equilibrium path. The bifurcation analysis is performed by means of the asymptotic method. For a sample case, the bifurcation point and the eigenmode are determined by solving a standard eigenvalue problem. The slopes of the trivial and the bifurcated equilibrium curves at the critical point are also determined and shown.
Radical Incrementalism
Authors: Halpern David , Mason Danielle
Published: April 2015

A strategy of ‘radical incrementalism’ is herein advocated as a useful approach to policy making which makes proper use of evaluation. It is argued that small, incremental changes, supported by small-scale and tightly focused evaluations, are under-utilised as an approach to cost effective policy improvement.
Systematizing cultural awareness: Toward a model for modification of trauma therapy and an application in Turkey
Authors: Welkin Leyla , Candansayar Selçuk , Dönmez Aslihan
Published: April 2015

A cross-cultural team including a U.S.-trained clinical cross-cultural psychologist and two Turkish psychiatrists conducted research on a set of five trauma treatment psychotherapy groups for adult women survivors of sexual abuse in Ankara, Turkey. Based upon observational comparisons between trauma treatment groups in U.S. and Turkish settings, the team developed an approach to assist in adaptation of treatment methods from one cultural setting to another. This is a preliminary effort to develop a conceptual tool to focus the attention of therapists on salient dimensions of culture that may influence the psychotherapy process. This article describes six possible dimensions: (a) relational/individual self; (b) situationalism/universalism; (c) high/low power differential; (cc) high/low gender differential; (d) internal/external control; (e) emotional expressivity/containment; and (f) short-term/long-term time orientation. Comparative cultural examples from trauma psychotherapy group field notes illustrate the use of the tool.
Motivational limitations on the demands of justice
Authors: Wiens David
Published: April 2015

Do motivational limitations due to human nature constrain the demands of justice? Among those who say no, David Estlund offers perhaps the most compelling argument. Taking Estlund’s analysis of ‘ability’ as a starting point, I show that motivational deficiencies can constrain the demands of justice under at least one common circumstance – that the motivationally deficient agent makes a good faith effort to overcome her deficiency. In fact, my argument implies something stronger; namely, that the demands of justice are constrained by what people are sufficiently likely to be motivated to do. Thus, contrary to the prevailing wisdom, it is the business of ideal theory – not just nonideal theory – to work with the motivational capacities people are likely enough to have.
“Dear Fresher …” – How Online Questionnaires can Improve Learning and Teaching Statistics
Authors: Bebermeier Sarah , Nussbeck Fridtjof W. , Ontrup Greta
Published: April 2015

Lecturers teaching statistics are faced with several challenges supporting students’ learning in appropriate ways. A variety of methods and tools exist to facilitate students’ learning on statistics courses. The online questionnaires presented in this report are a new, slightly different computer-based tool: the central aim was to support students to master the course content and to provide the lecturer with continuous feedback about the students’ difficulties and deficits.

The aims of online questionnaires supporting teaching and learning of statistics are compared to aims of other computer-based and non-computerized methods and tools. Additionally, data from a first evaluation of the questionnaires is presented. In a first year psychology student’s statistics course (bachelor program), students were offered the possibility of filling in an online questionnaire every time a specific theme had been taught. Out of the 126 first year students there were 28 who answered the online questionnaires regularly and 12 answered them sometimes. Those who answered the online questionnaires assessed them as helpful for their understanding of the course’s content. The lecturer judged the online questionnaires as particular helpful for improving teaching and assessing performance deficits.
Key theoretical distinctions in community-based health interventions
Authors: Murphy John W , Franz Berkeley A , Choi Jung Min
Published: April 2015

The move to community-based practice is often accompanied by doubts about the veracity of the research or clinical data that might be generated. Critics contend that the introduction of subjectivity that accompanies this maneuver obscures the empirical side of social existence, and thus compromises the discovery of facts. But this erroneous conclusion rests on confusion about several key philosophical distinctions that are discussed in this paper. The clarification that results from addressing these issues enhances the utility of community-based health strategies.
Lack of Genetic Association Between TREM2 and Alzheimer’s Disease in East Asian Population
Authors: Huang Man , Wang Dejun , Xu Zhijun , Xu Yongshan , Xu Xiaoping , Ma Yuefeng , Xia Zheng
Published: April 2015

Purpose:

Large-scale genome-wide association studies have identified TREM2 variants to be significantly associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in caucasian population. The goal of this systematic study and meta-analysis was to assess the association between Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 ( TREM2) variants and AD in East Asian population.

Methods:

In this study, literatures were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library to screen citations from January 1990 to June 2014. Data analysis was done by using the Stata 12 software.

Results:

Twelve studies were considered for analysis. A total of 13 535 patients with AD and 22 976 healthy controls were studied. The results showed that rs75932628 variant was significantly associated with AD in caucasian population ( P < .001, odds ratio = 3.17, 95% confidence interval 2.45-4.09). However, the association was not found in East Asian population.

Conclusion:

In our study, we found that TREM2 variant is likely not associated with AD in East Asian population.
Neurosurgical Assessment of Metrics Including Judgment and Dexterity Using the Virtual Reality Simulator NeuroTouch (NAJD Metrics)
Authors: Alotaibi Fahad E. , AlZhrani Gmaan A. , Sabbagh Abulrahman J. , Azarnoush Hamed , Winkler-Schwartz Alexander , Del Maestro Rolando F.
Published: April 2015

Advances in computer-based technology has created a significant opportunity for implementing new training paradigms in neurosurgery focused on improving skill acquisition, enhancing procedural outcome, and surgical skills assessment. NeuroTouch is a computer-based virtual reality system that can generate output data known as metrics from operator performance during simulated brain tumor resection. These measures of quantitative assessment are used to track and compare psychomotor performance during simulated operative procedures. Data output from the NeuroTouch system is recorded in a comma-separated values file. Data mining from this file and subsequent metrics development requires the use of sophisticated software and engineering expertise. In this article, we introduce a system to extract a series of new metrics using the same data file using Excel software. Based on the data contained in the NeuroTouch comma-separated values file, 13 novel NeuroTouch metrics were developed and classified. Tier 1 metrics include blood loss, tumor percentage resected, and total simulated normal brain volume removed. Tier 2 metrics include total instrument tip path length, maximum force applied, sum of forces utilized, and average forces utilized by the simulated ultrasonic aspirator and suction instrument along with pedal activation frequency of the ultrasonic aspirator. Advanced tier 2 metrics include instrument tips average separation distance, efficiency index, ultrasonic aspirator path length index, coordination index, and ultrasonic aspirator bimanual forces ratio. This system of data extraction provides researchers expedited access for analyzing the data files available for NeuroTouch platform to assess the multiple psychomotor and cognitive neurosurgical skills involved in complex surgical procedures.
Modeling and simulation study of micro-nano structures for single-cell capture
Authors: Shen Wentao , Jin Di , Cai Wei , Qiu Zhichang , Tu Long , Wang Wenhui
Published: April 2015

Nanohole arrays can serve as a sensing unit for cellular physiologic properties such as cell adhesion. Multiplexing these nanohole arrays to immobilize or capture a single cell would largely facilitate cell adhesion assay in one single chip. To this end, a micro-nano-fluidic single-cell capture structure was designed, consisting of four sections: a main top channel, a cell capture region, nanohole arrays and a bottom channel. A simplified micro-nano-fluidic model has been established involving two important fluidic parameters (i.e. inlet flow velocity and outlet negative pressure) that drive the cell flow to the cell capture region deployed above the nanoholes. Through simulation, for a certain micro-nano structure, capture efficiency decreases as the fluid velocity and viscosity at the main channel inlet increase but increases as the negative pressure applied via the bottom channel outlet does so. Fabrication of nanoholes has been tried for future experimental test. Our study provides a new thought for the design of microfluidic single-cell capture chips based on nanohole arrays.
Revolution from Above in English Schools: Neoliberalism, the Democratic Commons and Education
Authors: Stevenson Nick
Published: April 2015

The ideas of the New Left and the recently emerged alter-globalisation movements are marginal within current policy debates concerning the English education system. Here I seek to demonstrate the interconnections between the New Left and the alter-globalisation movement and suggest that these ideas contain a powerful corrective to the increasingly authoritarian present. The next part of the article considers the development of neoliberalism both in a theoretical context and since the arrival of the new Conservative–Liberal government in the UK. Here I outline the rapid transformation of English schools under the academies programme and look at how it has been explicitly linked to ideas of ‘moral collapse’ evident in the popular discourse of ‘Broken Britain’. Especially significant in this respect has been the labelling of comprehensive schools as ‘failures’ and the explicit imposition of more authoritarian understandings of pedagogy. I seek to explore both the rapidity of this transformation in the context of the dissatisfaction with the idea of comprehensive schools shown by the political Right and the Third Way’s reworking of socialism. Finally I briefly consider more progressive alternatives for schools and education by returning to the idea of the democratic commons. In this respect, the cultural Left needs to explore more radical alternatives beyond the defence of comprehensive schooling which sounds both nostalgic and misplaced within our global times.
“Where I’m From” and belonging: A multimodal, cosmopolitan perspective on arts and inquiry
Authors: DeJaynes Tiffany
Published: April 2015

The paper draws upon a year-long practitioner inquiry with adolescents who conducted auto-ethnographies as part of a research course in their urban public high school. Through ethnographic data collection, youth researched their own lives, cultures, and beliefs with the end goal of producing multimodal films that represented their embodied senses of “Where I’m From”, broadly defined. As youth collected and interpreted culturally and personally meaningful artifacts, stories, memories, and family discourses, the cosmopolitan habits of mind and heart that it is argued are important for nurturing reflective citizens of the world. In the process of video production or self-curation, youth palpably negotiated and represented complex, often transnational, identities through the sophisticated use of a range of representational modes and art forms. The paper illustrates how youth-produced multimodal texts such as films can serve as a kind of social glue in educational communities, an invitation for youth to make visible a range of local and global affiliations, creating a sense of belonging and deeper knowing in increasingly diverse learning contexts.
Digital curation: Learning and legacy in later life
Authors: Manchester Helen , Facer Keri
Published: April 2015

The world population is ageing. In the UK alone, it is projected that by 2035 those aged 65 and over will account for 23 per cent of the total population whilst the number of people aged 85 and over will account for 5 per cent of the total population. At the same time, the digital transformations of the last few decades are leaving behind many older adults who, for reasons ranging from accessibility issues to work biographies to personal preference, are less likely to engage with digital technologies. Research undertaken in this area to date has largely been policy led and concerned with providing hardware access and basic skills (e.g. Race Online in the UK).

In this article we are concerned with the powerful capacities of digital technologies for communication, archiving, and self-representation, which are under-used by this group, meaning that their cultural histories and experiences are often less visible in the digital world ( Loe, 2013 ; Potter, 2013 ). While large digital companies such as Google are beginning to consider and provide resources to help people to plan for their ‘digital afterlife’ (Graham et al., 2013) – mainly restricted to issues of specifying what happens to social media presence and email accounts after death – there is little work that examines older people’s experiences of attempting to use the digital to tell stories that will leave a personal and public legacy towards the end of life.

This article begins to examine the challenges and the opportunities that might characterise this area. In doing so, it explores two research studies with ‘third’ and ‘fourth’ agers that have examined, in very different settings, the diverse challenges of knitting together the fragmented and scattered ‘data’ of life experience into private and public narratives. The first study is a case study of three community filmmakers working with an artist to create a film based on their peers’ experiences as first generation Caribbean immigrants to the UK; the second is a study comprising three workshops and five detailed case studies examining how older adults use existing ‘data’ to recollect, to curate and to reflect on their lives and learning for personal purposes.
Still to learn from vicarious learning
Authors: Mayes JT
Published: April 2015

The term ‘vicarious learning’ was introduced in the 1960s by Bandura, who demonstrated how learning can occur through observing the behaviour of others. Such social learning is effective without the need for the observer to experience feedback directly. More than twenty years later a series of studies on vicarious learning was undertaken in the context of technology-enhanced learning in mass higher education. These studies employed the idea in a rather narrower sense, defining it as learning through observing others in the act of learning, focusing in particular on the kind of conceptual learning that is typical in higher education and is best observed in tutorial settings. The key proposal was that multimedia recorded versions of tutorial dialogues could be chosen for their effectiveness in revealing the way concepts are grasped, questions posed and problems solved, from the perspective of real learners rather than from that imagined by teachers. These recorded dialogues could be linked to the primary subject matter and, it was hoped, would constitute a powerful resource for new students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to benefit from a teaching method which, if restricted to the original participants, simply does not scale. This paper reviews the subsequent research that has continued to explore this idea. Overall, the potential importance of vicarious learning in various kinds of subject matter has been confirmed. Research on vicarious learning continues to resonate with fundamental issues of the design of higher education in a digital world.
Subclavian artery stenosis caused by a prominent first rib
Authors: Claus Isabelle , Van Bael Kobe , Speybrouck Sabrina , Van Der Tempel Geerhardus
Published: April 2015

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a mechanical space problem in which the brachial plexus and/or subclavian vessels are compressed. Arterial compression is least common and almost always associated with a bony anomaly. We present a case of a 49-year-old woman with a prominent first rib which caused a subclavian artery stenosis. There are many options for subclavian artery repair through open surgery. In high-risk patients, minimal invasive techniques are favorable. To date, few case reports exist on an endovascular artery repair combined with open first rib resection. While long-term follow-up will be necessary, our preliminary results seem promising.
A Randomized Double Blind Clinical Trial on a Sabgh Formulation for Patients With Vitiligo
Authors: Hosseinkhani Ayda , Montaseri Hashem , Sodaifi Manouchehr , Mohagheghzadeh Abdolali , Seradj Hassan , Afshari-Jouybari Hassan
Published: April 2015

Background.

The cosmetic problem that vitiligo produces affects patients psychologically. Many patients with vitiligo are suggested to cover their white skin patches with cosmetic products. There are formulations in traditional Iranian pharmacy to color these white skin patches. In this study, one of these formulations was compared with a cosmetic formulation.

Methods.

Two groups of patients were selected. One group used a marketed formulation and other group used a traditional Iranian Pharmacy formulation. The quality of life of the patients was compared based on the Dermatology Life Quality Index Questionnaire.

Results.

Both interventions were associated with statistically improved Dermatology Life Quality Index scores over the 8-week intervention ( P < .05), although the difference between the 2 was not statistically significant ( P = .436).

Conclusion.

Traditional Iranian Pharmacy formulation is effective in increasing the quality of life in vitiligo patients.
Common best proximity points theorem for four mappings in metric-type spaces
Authors: Lo’lo’ Parvaneh , Vaezpour Seyyed Mansour , Esmaily Jafar
Published: April 2015

In this article, we first give an existence and uniqueness common best proximity points theorem for four mappings in a metric-type space $(X, D, K)$
(
X
,
D
,
K
)
such that D is not necessarily continuous. An example is also given to support our main result. We also discuss the unique common fixed point existence result of four mappings defined on such a metric space.
Fixed points of monotone nonexpansive mappings with a graph
Authors: Alfuraidan Monther Rashed
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we study the existence of fixed points of monotone nonexpansive mappings defined in Banach spaces endowed with a graph. This work is a continuity of the previous results of Ran and Reurings, Nieto et al., and Jachimsky done for contraction mappings defined in metric spaces endowed with a graph.
Coexistence of P190 and P210 BCR/ABL transcripts in chronic myeloid leukemia blast crisis resistant to imatinib
Authors: Junmei Zhao , Fengkuan Yu , Yongping Song , Baijun Fang , Yuzhang Liu , Lina Liu , Qinglan Zhang
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) is a hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which exists in more than 90% CML and in 3% to 40% acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Case description

A 25-year-old man was diagnosed with CML in chronic phase. He first received treatment with hydroxyurea, achieving hematological remission and following imatinib mesylate for main treatment. A year later, he began to appear unexplained high fever with ineffective antibiotic treatment and bone morrow and blood tests indicated blast crisis. Both BCR/ABL 210 and BCR/ABL 190 fusion transcript were positive. Imatinib resistance was confirmed by a screening for ABL kinase domain E255K mutations, and dasatinib was administered. After two months, the patient went on to hematological remission.

Discussion and evaluation

During medical treatment for CML, we experienced a relatively rare case with co-expression of the p210 and p190 encoding BCR-ABL transcripts in blastic phase. Imatinib resistance was confirmed and remission wasn’t easily obtained, yet dasatinib was helpful. When resistance emerges, the treatment options include increasing the daily dose of imatinib, or combining imatinib with other agents. Of course, dasatinib, nilotinib and bone marrow transplantation are good choice as well.

Conclusions

The presence of p-190 transcript in CML may be related to progression of the disease. Thus monitoring the resistance of imatinib in CML patients, especially for advanced phase CML and BCR-ABL ALL, may be meaningful to guide clinical treatment and predict the prognosis.
Evaluation of state and community/private forests in Punjab, Pakistan using geospatial data and related techniques
Authors: Shahzad Naeem , Saeed Urooj , Gilani Hammad , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Ashraf Irfan , Irteza Syed Muhammad
Published: April 2015

Background

Forests are fundamental in maintaining water supplies, providing economic goods, mitigating climate change, and maintaining biodiversity, thus providing many of the world’s poorest with income, food and medicine. Too often, forested lands are treated as “wastelands” or “free” and are easily cleared for agricultural and infrastructure expansion.

Methods

In this paper, the sustainability of two forest ecosystems (state and community/private owned) was evaluated using SPOT-5 satellite images of 2005 and 2011. This study was conducted in a sub-watershed area covering 468 km2, of which 201 km2 is managed by the state and 267 km2 by community/private ownership in the Murree Galliat region of Punjab Province of Pakistan. A participatory approach was adopted for the delineation and demarcation of forest boundaries. The Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) technique was used for identification and mapping of ten Land Cover (LC) features.

Results

The results show that between the years 2005 to 2011, a total of 55 km2 (24 km2 in state-owned forest and 31 km2 in community/private forest) was converted from forest to non-forest. The conclusion is that conservation is more effective in state-owned forests than in the community/private forests.

Conclusions

These findings may help to mobilize community awareness and identify effective initiatives for improved management of community/private forest land for other regions of Pakistan.
Moduli of tropical plane curves
Authors: Brodsky Sarah , Joswig Michael , Morrison Ralph , Sturmfels Bernd
Published: April 2015

We study the moduli space of metric graphs that arise from tropical plane curves. There are far fewer such graphs than tropicalizations of classical plane curves. For fixed genus g, our moduli space is a stacky fan whose cones are indexed by regular unimodular triangulations of Newton polygons with g interior lattice points. It has dimension 2g+1 unless g≤3 or g=7. We compute these spaces explicitly for g≤5.
Acute Influences of Bisphenol A Exposure on Hypothalamic Release of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Kisspeptin in Female Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Kurian Joseph R. , Keen Kim L. , Kenealy Brian P. , Garcia James P. , Hedman Curtis J. , Terasawa Ei
Published: April 2015

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial compound with pervasive distribution in the environments of industrialized countries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently found that greater than 90% of Americans carry detectable levels of BPA, raising concern over the direct influences of this compound on human physiology. Epidemiologic evidence links elevated BPA serum concentrations to human reproductive dysfunction, although controlled studies on the acute effect of BPA exposure on reproductive function are limited, particularly in primates. We evaluated the effect of direct BPA exposure on female primate hypothalamic peptide release. Specifically, using a microdialysis method, we examined the effects of BPA (0.1, 1, and 10nM) directly infused to the stalk-median eminence on the release of GnRH and kisspeptin (KP) in mid to late pubertal ovarian intact female rhesus monkeys. We found that the highest level of BPA exposure (10nM) suppressed both GnRH and KP release, whereas BPA at lower concentrations (0.1 and 1nM) had no apparent effects. In addition, we measured BPA in plasma and hypothalamic dialysates after an iv bolus injection of BPA (100 μg/kg). We found a relatively stable distribution of BPA between the blood and brain (plasma:brain ≅ 5:1) persists across a wide range of blood BPA concentrations (1–620 ng/mL). Findings of this study suggest that persistent, high-level exposures to BPA could impair female reproductive function by directly influencing hypothalamic neuroendocrine function.
The Meckel-Gruber syndrome protein TMEM67 controls basal body positioning and epithelial branching morphogenesis in mice via the non-canonical Wnt pathway
Authors: Abdelhamed Zakia A. , Natarajan Subaashini , Wheway Gabrielle , Inglehearn Christopher F. , Toomes Carmel , Johnson Colin A. , Jagger Daniel J.
Published: April 2015

Ciliopathies are a group of developmental disorders that manifest with multi-organ anomalies. Mutations in TMEM67 (MKS3) cause a range of human ciliopathies, including Meckel-Gruber and Joubert syndromes. In this study we describe multi-organ developmental abnormalities in the Tmem67tm1Dgen/H1 knockout mouse that closely resemble those seen in Wnt5a and Ror2 knockout mice. These include pulmonary hypoplasia, ventricular septal defects, shortening of the body longitudinal axis, limb abnormalities, and cochlear hair cell stereociliary bundle orientation and basal body/kinocilium positioning defects. The basal body/kinocilium complex was often uncoupled from the hair bundle, suggesting aberrant basal body migration, although planar cell polarity and apical planar asymmetry in the organ of Corti were normal. TMEM67 (meckelin) is essential for phosphorylation of the non-canonical Wnt receptor ROR2 (receptor-tyrosine-kinase-like orphan receptor 2) upon stimulation with Wnt5a-conditioned medium. ROR2 also colocalises and interacts with TMEM67 at the ciliary transition zone. Additionally, the extracellular N-terminal domain of TMEM67 preferentially binds to Wnt5a in an in vitro binding assay. Cultured lungs of Tmem67 mutant mice failed to respond to stimulation of epithelial branching morphogenesis by Wnt5a. Wnt5a also inhibited both the Shh and canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathways in wild-type embryonic lung. Pulmonary hypoplasia phenotypes, including loss of correct epithelial branching morphogenesis and cell polarity, were rescued by stimulating the non-canonical Wnt pathway downstream of the Wnt5a-TMEM67-ROR2 axis by activating RhoA. We propose that TMEM67 is a receptor that has a main role in non-canonical Wnt signalling, mediated by Wnt5a and ROR2, and normally represses Shh signalling. Downstream therapeutic targeting of the Wnt5a-TMEM67-ROR2 axis might, therefore, reduce or prevent pulmonary hypoplasia in ciliopathies and other congenital conditions.
The lysyl oxidase inhibitor β-aminopropionitrile reduces body weight gain and improves the metabolic profile in diet-induced obesity in rats
Authors: Miana María , Galán María , Martínez-Martínez Ernesto , Varona Saray , Jurado-López Raquel , Bausa-Miranda Belén , Antequera Alfonso , Luaces María , Martínez-González José , Rodríguez Cristina , Cachofeiro Victoria
Published: April 2015

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling of the adipose tissue plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of obesity. The lysyl oxidase (LOX) family of amine oxidases, including LOX and LOX-like (LOXL) isoenzymes, controls ECM maturation, and upregulation of LOX activity is essential in fibrosis; however, its involvement in adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity is unclear. In this study, we observed that LOX is the main isoenzyme expressed in human adipose tissue and that its expression is strongly upregulated in samples from obese individuals that had been referred to bariatric surgery. LOX expression was also induced in the adipose tissue from male Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Interestingly, treatment with β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a specific and irreversible inhibitor of LOX activity, attenuated the increase in body weight and fat mass that was observed in obese animals and shifted adipocyte size toward smaller adipocytes. BAPN also ameliorated the increase in collagen content that was observed in adipose tissue from obese animals and improved several metabolic parameters – it ameliorated glucose and insulin levels, decreased homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and reduced plasma triglyceride levels. Furthermore, in white adipose tissue from obese animals, BAPN prevented the downregulation of adiponectin and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), as well as the increase in suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) levels, triggered by the HFD. Likewise, in the TNFα-induced insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocyte model, BAPN prevented the downregulation of adiponectin and GLUT4 and the increase in SOCS3 levels, and consequently normalised insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Therefore, our data provide evidence that LOX plays a pathologically relevant role in the metabolic dysfunction induced by obesity and emphasise the interest of novel pharmacological interventions that target adipose tissue fibrosis and LOX activity for the clinical management of this disease.
NIR News 2014 Data Analysis Challenge: Results
Authors: Antonio Juan , Pierna Fernández , Vermeulen Philippe
Published: April 2015

You will remember, I am sure, the challenge which we set you in the last issue of 2014 dedicated to the memory of Jim Burger. This used a dataset supplied by Juan Antonio Fernández Pierna and Philippe Vermeulen of CRA-W, Belgium, a dataset which they had actually generated and used in a real application. Somewhat to our disappointment, we only received two responses to our challenge, and neither of the scientists involved belong to our normal NIR community. They were Xavier Hadoux and Taylor Glenn. However, it seems that they have added to the repertoire of strategies and methods available to imaging NIR spectroscopists since some of the approaches they used were not familiar to the CRA-W scientists. The approaches taken together with the reported results are described and discussed in this article. Given that we only had the two applicants and they both produced interesting and improved solutions, we have decided to award the prize jointly—Ed.
Sex differences in cortical and subcortical human brain anatomy
Authors: Herron Timothy J. , Kang Xiaojian , Woods David L.
Published: April 2015

Previous research has reported many sex differences in cortical and subcortical anatomy, but only a subset of findings is consistent across studies. Here, we used improved Freesurfer-based automated methods to analyze the properties of the cortex and seven subcortical structures in young, right-handed subjects (69 male and 69 female), carefully matched in age and education. Significant sex differences were observed. Females had greater gyral complexity (i.e., greater bending energy). In contrast, males had greater unadjusted cortical surface area (+10.3%), but area differences were reduced (to +2.8%) when area was adjusted for total intracranial volume (ICV). There were no significant omnibus sex differences in cortical thickness. Males showed larger unadjusted subcortical gray matter structural volumes, as well as larger ICV-adjusted volumes in the amygdala. These results help to resolve some of the inconsistencies in previous studies of sex differences in brain anatomy.
POSSIBILITIES OF BURRS ELIMINATION FROM CORES PRODUCED WITH COLD-BOX-AMINE TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Hrubovcakova Martina , Vaskova Iveta
Published: April 2015

Actual problem of all foundries that produce core castings with the Cold-Box-Amine methods are surface defects. Most common surface defect are burrs. Therefore it is needed to specify the possibilities for preventing the burrs, or make their occurrence as low as possible. According to the knowledges, the best way of eliminating the burrs is using of additives. Experiments were executed on two types of gray cast iron castings, where during preparation of mould mixture for first casting additive EP 3767/2 had been used and additive Spherox had been used for second casting. These chosen additives showed good results, surface of castings was clean, without surface defects. Given the effectiveness of selected additives only for specific types of castings, it is necessary to define the effects of these additives on the quality of the castings. For further production of flawless cast, it is necessary to describe all the possibilities of eliminating burrs.
Demand Estimation from Censored Observations with Inventory Record Inaccuracy
Authors: Mersereau Adam J.
Published: April 2015

A retailer cannot sell more than it has in stock; therefore, its sales observations are a censored representation of the underlying demand process. When a retailer forecasts demand based on past sales observations, it requires an estimation approach that accounts for this censoring. Several authors have analyzed inventory management with demand learning in environments with censored observations, but the authors assume that inventory levels are known and hence that stockouts are observed. However, firms often do not know how many units of inventory are available to meet demand, a phenomenon known as inventory record inaccuracy. We investigate the impact of this unknown on demand estimation in an environment with censored observations. When the firm does not account for inventory uncertainty when estimating demand, we discover and characterize a systematic downward bias in demand estimation under typical assumptions on the distribution of inventory record inaccuracies. We propose and test a heuristic prescription that relies on a single error statistic and that sharply reduces this bias.
Obstructive sleep apnoea associated with syringomyelia
Authors: Shao Chuan , Li Shan-qun
Published: April 2015

Coexistence of obstructive sleep apnoea and syringomyelia is quite rare. This article discusses three cases of coexisting obstructive sleep apnoea and syringomyelia and looks at the possible mutual influences between the two diseases.
Splenic injury: diagnosis and management
Authors: Williamson JML
Published: April 2015

Better understanding of the dual functionality of the spleen has led to a conservative approach to splenic trauma. With accurate assessment and vigilant clinical examination up to two thirds of splenic injuries can be managed expectantly; when surgery is unavoidable, splenic preserving techniques may be used to maintain function.
Clinical leadership effectiveness, change and complexity
Authors: McKimm Judy , Till Alex
Published: April 2015

This article explores how an understanding of approaches to leading and managing change and complexity science can help clinical leaders engage with and manage change in complex environments and systems more effectively.
Experiences of two paramedics deployed to the Phillipines in response to Typhoon Haiyan
Authors: Watts Peta , Byrom Tim
Published: April 2015

This article describes the experiences of two paramedics from the UK International Emergency Trauma Register (UKIETR) who deployed as part of the UK-Med response to Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Each had a key role in the deployed teams, both targeting distinct but differing health needs following the Typhoon. Tim Byrom was a member of the first team activated on 13 November 2013. He formed part of a surgical, anaesthetic and rehabilitation team that assisted the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) at their field hospital in Tacloban. Peta Watts was in the second team, deployed two weeks after the Typhoon following invitation to continue assessments and health provision on outlying islands. Her experience involved being part of a unique and effective collaboration between the Department for International Development (DfID), UK-Med, and the British Military in the delivery of an integrated humanitarian aid package.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy: from facial rejuvenation to bone regeneration
Authors: Costa Naomi Silva
Published: April 2015

Fibroblast proliferation and collagen production are key to facial rejuvenation. Just as topical growth factors are used to rejuvenate photodamaged skin and increase collagen production ( Sundaram et al, 2009 ), the administration of a solution high in growth factor proteins into the dermis or subdermis may prove a valuable tool both in the regeneration of facial tissues and the treatment of other common aesthetic indications (e.g. stretch marks and scars). Platelet-rich plasma therapy acts as a scaffold in vivo and allows aesthetic practitioners to administer a high concentration of growth factor proteins into various tissue types to stimulate fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis.
Managing dermal filler complications part 4: impending necrosis
Authors: Brackenbury Julie
Published: April 2015

As the number of soft tissue filler injections increases, the incidence of adverse events associated with these treatments will inevitably rise. Impending necrosis is a serious complication; if it is not treated correctly and in good time, there may be grave consequences. Although impending necrosis is one of the most feared complications among aesthetic practitioners, its incidence is difficult to quantify. This is possibly owing to an adverse event of this kind not being reported, combined with the element of taboo associated with dermal filler complications. However, even with the most experienced of injectors, adverse effects can and do occur, ranging from mild bruising to severe injection necrosis. It is paramount that aesthetic practitioners are able to recognise and treat the severe complication of impending necrosis for the safety of their patients and to protect themselves from litigation.
Vaginal dryness and the menopause: hormonal and non-hormonal therapies
Authors: Abernethy Kathy
Published: April 2015

Vaginal dryness is a common symptom often experienced by women post menopause. However, many women feel that their concerns are dismissed by health professionals and therefore do not receive counselling on the available treatment options. Both hormonal and non-hormonal therapies can be used to alleviate symptoms and treat the underlying cause of vaginal dryness. This article will provide aesthetic nurses with information on vaginal dryness, its causes, treatment methods, and how to discuss this symptom with women.
Social pressures and health consequences associated with body hair removal
Authors: Williamson Heidi
Published: April 2015

The removal of body hair on the legs, arms and pubic area is commonplace in today's society and being hair-free is associated with beauty and femininity. Not only do adult women feel pressure from their peers and partners to achieve the hairless ideal, but also girls as young as 11 years old are presenting to health professionals with no pubic hair. Heidi Williamson looks hair removal practices in the Western world
Australia's battle for sun-kissed skin and specialty recognition
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: April 2015

With both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures on the rise worldwide, aesthetic nursing is becoming an increasingly popular profession. In this new series, Aysha Mendes examines aesthetic nursing practices and cultural perceptions of beauty across the globe by focusing on a different country every month. This issue looks at the significance of sun-kissed, bronzed-babe beauty in Australia
A case study regarding a claim made after the administration of anti-wrinkle injections
Authors: Luckman Mandy
Published: April 2015

Before undertaking any procedure, it is vital that the patient gives informed consent after all benefits, risks and alternative options have been disclosed. Practitioners who fail to explain all aspects of the treatment and provide substandard care could be liable to pay compensation for any patient injuries. This article discusses a claim made against an aesthetic nurse following treatment with anti-wrinkle injections
‘Aesthetic nurses practising in the UK deserve much respect and recognition’
Authors: Barton Cheryl , Lopez Juan
Published: April 2015

In the field of medical aesthetics, it is common for nurses to work in isolation and meet only at annual conferences and association meetings. To get to know your peers, the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing's consultant editor Cheryl Barton has undertaken a series of ten interviews with both new and experienced aesthetic nurses, exploring their lives in and out of the clinic. This interview is with Juan Lopez
American aesthetic nurse named ‘Woman of Distinction’ by national association
Authors: Devan Natasha , Brennan Connie
Published: April 2015

Alongside children's author Dicy McCullough, retired school nurse Barbara Davis and art educator Kay Lamb Shannon, Minnesota-based aesthetic nurse Connie Brennan was named a ‘Woman of Distinction’ by the National Association of Distinguished Professionals. To mark this achievement, Natasha Devan speaks to her about her career to date, how she maintains a work–life balance, and her vision for the future
Celebrating the work of aesthetic nurses on International Women's Day
Authors: Collier Helena
Published: April 2015

Although the specialty of aesthetic medicine is experiencing some turbulent times, nurses practising in the field continue to achieve great things. In this month's column, which has been written to mark International Women's Day, Helena Collier praises practitioners who are working hard to raise the profile of aesthetic nurses, promote best practice, and provide the best possible care to their patients