bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Harmonic Scalpel versus Conventional Hemostasis in Right Colon Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Sista Federico , Abruzzese Valentina , Schietroma Mario , Cecilia Emanuela Marina , Mattei Antonella , Amicucci Gianfranco
Published: September 2013

Background: The Harmonic Scalpel (HS) is a device that uses vibrations to coagulate and cut tissues simultaneously. Its advantages are represented by minimal lateral thermal tissue damage, less smoke formation, no neuromuscular stimulation and no transmission of electricity to the patient. Methods: A total of 211 consecutive patients (113 men, 98 women; mean age 64 years) undergoing hemicolectomy for cancer of the right colon were divided into two groups, namely those in whom the operation was performed using a new HS handpiece (NHS; 108 patients) and those assigned to conventional hemostasis (CH; 103 patients). The two surgical groups were compared regarding patients' age and sex, tumor size, location, histotype and local invasiveness assessed by American Joint Cancer Committee stage, operative time, fluid content in the suction balloon (drainage volume) during the first 1-3 days after surgery, hospital stay and complications. Results: Ultrasonic energy delivered through an HS has been shown to be safe and to produce minimal damage to the surrounding tissues because of its minimal heat production. Electrical devices allow hemostatic control in vessels up to 3 mm in diameter, while HS can coagulate vessels up to 5 mm in diameter; thus, HS allows not only better control of bleeding but also of lymphorrhea. In fact, the amount of fluid collected in the drainage was significantly lower in the NHS group compared to the CH group. Protein depletion influences the patient's regenerative capacity and thus also the occurrence of complications and recovery time. Conclusion: NHS is a useful device in colon surgery; it facilitates surgical maneuvers and reduces operative times and blood and lymphatic losses, allowing satisfactory maintenance of protein storage. This results in a lower incidence of complications and faster recovery by patients.
Heidelberg Edge Perimetry for the Detection of Early Glaucomatous Damage: A Case Report
Authors: Marvasti Amir H. , Tatham Andrew J. , Weinreb Robert N. , Medeiros Felipe A.
Published: September 2013

Purpose: To illustrate the potential role for Heidelberg edge perimetry (HEP) in the assessment of early functional loss in glaucoma. Case Report: A 46-year-old male presented with raised intraocular pressure but healthy optic discs and normal standard automated perimetry (SAP). He was diagnosed with ocular hypertension, but after 16 years, he developed glaucomatous changes to the right optic disc and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer thinning. Despite the evidence of progressive structural damage, functional testing using SAP was repeatedly normal, based on conventional criteria. HEP, on the other hand, revealed an extensive superior visual field damage in agreement with the structural changes. Additionally, and in contrast to SAP, the HEP indices of Glaucoma Hemifield Test, mean deviation and pattern standard deviation were all outside normal limits. Conclusion: This case illustrates that HEP may have an important role in the early detection of functional damage in glaucoma, with potential advantages over SAP.
Serum S100B Levels Correlate with Clinical Benefit in a Metastatic Melanoma Patient Treated by CTLA-4 Blockade: A Case Report
Authors: Loquai Carmen , Müller-Brenne Tina , Schadmand-Fischer Simin , Grabbe Stephan
Published: September 2013

Background: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an immunoregulatory molecule expressed by activated T cells. In patients with metastatic melanoma, anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy with ipilimumab achieves durable cancer regression in approximately 10-15% of patients. In the face of complex and sometimes delayed tumor response patterns, prognostic and predictive biomarkers are needed to monitor therapy outcomes and to identify early potential long-term survivors who might also benefit from therapy re-induction. Case Report: The clinical case of a 49-year-old male patient with metastatic melanoma and unfavorable prognostic factors is presented. The time course of the serum biomarker S100B during initial anti-CTLA-4 therapy correlated very well with the clinical situation and, in the present case, proved its potential value as an early biomarker of a subsequently observed radiological response in this stage IV melanoma patient. The observed clinical response lasted for more than 24 months. Conclusions: Further efforts are required to better understand the patterns of response and the immunological tumor response in patients undergoing CTLA-4 blockade. A validation of S100B as a marker to identify early long-term responders among patients treated with ipilimumab is warranted.
Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway and Prostate Cancer
Authors: Chen Fang-Zhi , Zhao Xiao-Kun
Published: September 2013

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Various signaling pathways and proteins are involved in prostate carcinogenesis. Ubiquitination and deubiquitination of the related proteins contribute to the development of prostate cancer in various ways. The ubiquitin-proteasome (UPS) system is a common cellular process for protein degradation in eukaryotes. In this article we review recent advances related to the involvement of the UPS pathway in prostate cancer. The UPS pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cellular proteins with respect to cell cycle control, transcription, apoptosis, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. It is involved in prostate cancer in various ways by modulating prostate cancer-related genes/proteins such as androgen receptor, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor P27, cyclin D1, and PTEN. Some ubiquitin-like modifier proteins have also been found to be associated with prostate cancer. The UPS pathway represents a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer, and proteasome inhibitors represent a class of chemotherapeutic agents that inhibit tumor growth. The UPS pathway is related to prostate cancer in different ways. More research on that link is needed, as targeting the UPS pathway has led to some success in prostate cancer treatment.
Association of the hsa-mir-499 (rs3746444) Polymorphisms with Gastric Cancer Risk in the Chinese Population
Authors: Wu Xiao-Jin , Mi Yan-Yan , Yang Hui , Hu An-Kang , Li Chen , Li Xiao-Dong , Zhang Qing-Guo
Published: September 2013

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNAs (miRNA) have been shown to be related with susceptibility to several human cancers. We evaluated the associations of rs3746444 in pre-miRNA hsa-mir-499 with the risk of gastric cancer (GC) in the Chinese population. Patients and Methods: The rs3746444 (A>G) SNPs were genotyped in 201 GC and 213 non-cancer subjects in a case-control study by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results: There was no significant overall difference in the genotype distributions of rs3746444 (A>G) SNPs between cases and controls. In the logistic regression analyses, no significantly increased risk of GC was found to be associated with variant genotypes. Conclusion: The rs3746444 (A>G) SNP is not associated with susceptibility to GC in the Chinese population.
Glycosylation of autoantibodies: Insights into the mechanisms of immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Bakchoul Tamam , Walek Kathrin , Krautwurst Annika , Rummel Mathias , Bein Gregor , Santoso Sentot , Sachs Ulrich J.
Published: September 2013

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder caused by IgG autoantibodies (AAbs) directed against platelets (PLTs). IgG effector functions depend on their Fc-constant region which undergoes post-translational glycosylation. We investigated the role of Asn279-linked N-glycan of AAbs in vitro and in vivo. AAbs were purified from ITP patients (n=15) and N-glycans were enzymatically cleaved by endoglycosidase F. The effects of native AAbs and deglycosylated AAbs were compared in vitro on enhancement of phagocytosis of platelets by monocytes and complement fixation and activation applying flow cytometry, laser scanning microscopy, and a complement consumption assay. AAb-induced platelet phagocytosis was inhibited by N-glycan cleavage (median phagocytic activity: 8% vs 0.8%, p=0.004). Seven out of 15 native AAbs bound C1q and activated complement. N-glycan cleavage significantly reduced both effects. In vivo survival of human PLTs was assessed after co-transfusion with native or N-glycan cleaved AAbs in a NOD/SCID mouse model. Injection of AAbs resulted in rapid clearance of human platelets compared to control (platelet clearance after 5h (CL5h) 75% vs 30%, p<0.001). AAbs that were able to activate complement induced more pronounced platelet clearance in the presence of complement compared to the clearance in the absence of complement (CL5h 82% vs 62%, p=0.003). AAbs lost their ability to destroy platelets in vivo after deglycosylation (CL5h 42%, p<0.001). N-glycosylation of human ITP AAbs appears to be required for platelet phagocytosis and complement activation, reducing platelet survival in vivo. Posttranslational modification of AAbs may constitute an important determinant for the clinical manifestation of ITP.
Life and Times of the Samson Box
Authors: Loy D. Gareth
Published: September 2013

Peter Samson designed and built a real-time signal-processing computer for music applications in the 1970s. The Systems Concepts Digital Synthesizer (“Samson Box” for short) was installed at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University in 1977, where it served for over a decade as the principal music generation system. It was an important landmark in the transition from general-purpose computers to real-time systems for music and audio, and helped set the stage for the sea change in the music industry from analog to digital technologies that began in the 1980s and continues at a rapid pace today.

This article focuses on the historical context of the Samson Box, its development, its impact on the culture of CCRMA and the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, its use for music research and composition at Stanford, and its role in the transformation of the music and audio industries from analog to digital practices. A list of compositions realized on the Samson Box is included, which shows that from 1978 to its decommissioning in 1992 it was used to create over 100 finished works, many of which were widely performed and were awarded prizes. A companion article provides a detailed architectural review and an interview with Pete Samson.
Joint Recognition of Raag and Tonic in North Indian Music
Authors: Chordia Parag , Şentürk Sertan
Published: September 2013

In many non-Western musical traditions, such as North Indian classical music (NICM), melodies do not conform to the major and minor modes, and they commonly use tunings that have no fixed reference (e.g., A = 440 Hz). We present a novel method for joint tonic and raag recognition in NICM from audio, based on pitch distributions. We systematically compare the accuracy of several methods using these tonal features when combined with instance-based (nearest-neighbor) and Bayesian classifiers. We find that, when compared with a standard twelve-dimensional pitch class distribution that estimates the relative frequency of each of the chromatic pitches, smoother and more continuous tonal representations offer significant performance advantages, particularly when combined with appropriate classification techniques. Best results are obtained using a kernel-density pitch distribution along with a nearest-neighbor classifier using Bhattacharyya distance, attaining a tonic error rate of 4.2 percent and raag error rate of 10.3 percent (with 21 different raag categories). These experiments suggest that tonal features based on pitch distributions are robust, reliable features that can be applied to complex melodic music.
Two new species of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) from the cloud forests of Panama
Authors: Kriebel Ricardo , Almeda Frank
Published: September 2013

Two new species, Miconia galdamesiae and M. papillopetala are described from cloud forests of western Panama. Both species belong to a clade of Costa Rican and Panamanian taxa that typically have asymmetric leaf venation, flowers with calyces that are fused in bud but rupture into irregular lobes at anthesis, geniculate staminal filaments, five locular ovaries that are glandular-puberulent apically, exerted styles (herkogamous), and angulate seeds. The affinities of the new taxa are discussed and compared with presumed closest relatives and a comparative table is provided. Photographs of live plants and Scanning Electron Micrographs of foliar trichomes, flower buds, and whole flowers at anthesis are included for the new taxa as well as for Miconia brenesii and M. friedmaniorum, two closely related species that have been confused with the new taxa described here.
Musa arunachalensis: a new species of Musa section Rhodochlamys (Musaceae) from Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India
Authors: SREEJITH PURAVANNOOR E. , JOE ALFRED , SABU MAMIYIL
Published: September 2013

A wild banana species from West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India, belonging to section Rhodochlamys, is newly described as Musa arunachalensis. A detailed description, additional notes, illustration, phenology and photographs are provided.
Allium ramosum L. (Amaryllidaceae), a neglected alien in the European flora and its oldest record from Poland
Authors: Seregin Alexey P. , Korniak Tadeusz
Published: September 2013

Allium ramosum Linnaeus (1753: 296) is a wild relative of A. tuberosum Rottler ex Sprengel (1825: 38), an important crop plant from East Asia (Blattner & Friesen 2006), while A. ramosum sometimes is cultivated as a vegetable in north-eastern China (Choi & Oh 2011). Both species belong to a small section A. sect. Butomissa (Salisbury 1866: 91) Kamelin (1973: 239), which is subordinated to a subgenus of the same name, A. subgen. Butomissa (Salisb.) N.Friesen in Friesen et al. (2006: 22).
Crayfishes (Decapoda : Cambaridae) of Oklahoma: identification, distributions, and natural history
Authors: MOREHOUSE REID L. , TOBLER MICHAEL
Published: September 2013

We furnish an updated crayfish species list for the state of Oklahoma (United States of America), including an updated and illustrated dichotomous key. In addition, we include species accounts that summarize general characteristics, life coloration, similar species, distribution and habitat, life history, and syntopic species. Current and potential distributions were analyzed using ecological niche models to provide a critical resource for the identification of areas with conservation priorities and potential susceptibility to invasive species. Currently, Oklahoma harbors 30 species of crayfish, two of which were recently discovered. Eastern Oklahoma has the highest species diversity, as this area represents the western distribution extent for several species. The work herein provides baseline data for future work on crayfish biology and conservation in Oklahoma and surrounding states.
A new species of the genus Tripylina Brzeski, 1963 (Nematoda: Enoplida: Trischistomatidae) from Zhejiang Province, eastern China
Authors: PHAM THI HOA , WANG HAI TAO , ZHAO ZENG QI , ZHENG JING WU
Published: September 2013

Tripylina zhejiangensis n. sp. is described and illustrated from Zhejiang province, eastern China. It has a robust body, smooth cuticle with numerous pores, two small subventral teeth in the posterior part of the large triangular dorsal tooth, one ventral-median seta in the cervical region and a pair of setae on the tail. Females are characterized by a body length of 1325–1573 µm, a = 23.3–31.2, b = 5.5–6.6, c = 13.6–19.4, c' = 2.7–3.6 and V = 61.1–68.1%. Small subunit (SSU) and D2/D3 expansion segments of large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA were used to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of sequenced species in the genus Tripylina. Tripylina zhejiangensis n. sp. varied significantly from other related nematodes both in morphological characterizations and phylogenetic analyses.
Chrysotus Meigen (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Tibet with descriptions of four new species
Authors: LIU RUOSI , WANG MENGQING , YANG DING
Published: September 2013

The genus Chrysotus Meigen is reported from Tibet for the first time. Five species are recorded. The following four species are described as new to science: Chrysotus altavaginas sp. nov., C. motuoensis sp. nov., C. namaicunensis sp. nov. and C. tibetensis sp. nov. .Chrysotus biprojicienus Wei & Zhang is recorded from Tibet for the first time. A key to the species of Chrysotus from Tibet is presented.
A Large-Eddy Simulation Study of Scalar Dissimilarity in the Convective Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Authors: Cancelli Diana M. , Chamecki Marcelo , Dias Nelson L.
Published: September 2013

A numerical study of the effect of entrainment fluxes at the top of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) on dissimilarity between scalars within the mixed and surface layers is conducted. Simulation results clearly show that entrainment fluxes of opposite sign cause decorrelation between the scalars throughout the entire ABL. In the upper part of the mixed layer, this decorrelation is caused by changes in the covariance between the scalars and the scalar variance as well, and is distributed over the entire range of scales resolved in the simulation. Near the surface, the reduction in correlation coefficient originates from an increasing scalar variance, which is present exclusively in the large scales. These effects are noticeable on time scales of about 24 min or longer, and could be interpreted as nonstationarity for the typical 30-min periods used in surface-layer data processing. In addition, it is shown that, for the conditions studied here, the scalar correlation coefficient within the surface layer scales with the measurement height normalized by the ABL depth and not by the Obukhov length.
Closing an Opportunity Gap
Authors: Miretzky Debra , Chennault Ronald E. , Fraynd Donald J.
Published: September 2013

Chicago Public Schools and school districts throughout the country are seeking new ways to foster racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic equity as desegregation consent decrees are being lifted. One of Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools drafted parents, educators, administrators, and community representatives to address its own diversity concerns and to examine the barriers to high-quality educational opportunities district-wide. As a result, this school began a pilot program that explored opportunities for bolstering the recruitment and nurturing the success of low income and minority students, and these efforts eventually contributed to policy changes in the overall district. The authors describe the program’s development and implementation and suggest it as one model for closing the “opportunity gap.”
Cytocompatibility of a matrix of methylated cassava starch and chitosan
Authors: Sívoli L , Pérez E , Caraballo D , Rodríguez JP , Rodríguez D , Moret J , Sojo F , Arvelo F , Tapia M , Colina M , Alvarez-Barreto JF
Published: September 2013

Starches can be used to form edible or biodegradable films, and recently modified starches have been used to form self-supporting films by casting from aqueous solution. In this work, we aimed to propose a novel starch-based composite biomaterial matrix for use in biomedical applications, especially tissue engineering. The goal of the study was to evaluate the cytocompatibility of composite hydrogels of methylated starch and chitosan, using glutaraldehyde as the cross-linker. Commercial cassava starch with high purity (96.69%) was methylated with dimethyl sulfate in order to obtain a rigid material that could possibly render stronger mechanical properties to chitosan hydrogels. Therefore, methylated starch was mixed with a solution of chitosan and the cross-linking was induced by the addition of glutaraldehyde, allowing the formation of hydrogel films which were visualized under scanning electron microscopy. The method of fabrication was optimized based on the capacity of the cells to attach to the material and proliferate. After thorough washes with ethanol and saline solution, human fibroblasts were seeded on top of the gels and allowed to grow for 3 to 5 days. Cell viability was measured using an (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) MMT assay, and cell morphology was visualized by light microscopy. It was found that cells were viable at every time point, with their metabolic activity comparable to the controls (tissue culture plastic and chitosan alone), as well as clear cell–matrix interactions. Moreover, an increase in the metabolic activity over time indicated the capacity of the material to support cell proliferation. The proposed methylated starch–chitosan system is an excellent matrix that allows cell adhesion and could thereby be further assessed as a scaffold for tissue engineering.
Study on rheological and extrusion foaming behaviors of chain-extended poly (lactic acid)/clay nanocomposites
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Xiangdong , Li Hangquan , Du Zhongjie , Zhang Chen
Published: September 2013

Chain-extended poly(lactic acid) /clay nanocomposites were prepared through extrusion process. The effects of the content and dispersion morphology of clay on the molecular weight distribution and rheological behavior of chain extended poly(lactic acid) were discussed. The chain extender/clay ratio would strongly affect the molecular weight and gelation degree of poly(lactic acid), thus affecting the melt strength and melt elasticity. The melt strength increased with increasing clay content, reaching a maximum value, after which it decreased. Then chain extended poly(lactic acid) /clay were foamed with supercritical CO2, and the cellular structure, cell size, cell density were investigated. The introduction of clay would increase the cell density. The results indicated that a homogeneous and finer cellular morphology could be achieved with a proper content of chain extender and clay in poly(lactic acid).
MMP20 Modulates Cadherin Expression in Ameloblasts as Enamel Develops
Authors: Guan X. , Bartlett J.D.
Published: September 2013

Matrix metalloproteinase-20 (enamelysin, MMP20) is essential for dental enamel development. Seven different MMP20 mutations in humans cause non-syndromic enamel malformations, termed amelogenesis imperfecta, and ablation of Mmp20 in mice results in thin brittle enamel with a dysplastic rod pattern. Healthy enamel formation requires the sliding movement of ameloblasts in rows during the secretory stage of development. This is essential for formation of the characteristic decussating enamel rod pattern observed in rodents, and this is also when MMP20 is secreted into the enamel matrix. Therefore, we propose that MMP20 facilitates ameloblast movement by cleaving ameloblast cell-cell contacts. Here we show that MMP20 cleaves the extracellular domains of the E- and N-cadherin adherens junction proteins, that both E- and N-cadherin transcripts are expressed at significantly higher levels in Mmp20 null vs. wild-type (WT) mice, and that in Mmp20 ablated mice, high-level ameloblast N-cadherin expression persists during the maturation stage of development. Furthermore, we show that E-cadherin gene expression is down-regulated from the pre-secretory to the secretory stage, while N-cadherin levels are up-regulated. This E- to N-cadherin switch supports epithelial migration in other tissues and may be an important event necessary for the ameloblasts to start moving in rows that slide by one another.
Taking back the night? Gender and the contestation of sexual entertainment in England and Wales
Authors: Hubbard Phil , Colosi Rachela
Published: September 2013

Despite important moves towards gender equality, the experience of the night-time city remains profoundly different for women and men. The visibility of self-styled ‘gentleman’s clubs’ where female dancers perform for a predominantly male clientele has been taken as prime evidence of this persistent inequity. Opposition to such clubs has hence been vocal, with the result that many local authorities in England and Wales have moved to ban clubs within their jurisdiction utilising the powers of the Policing and Crime Act, 2009. This paper explores the arguments that have persuaded policy-makers to refuse licences for such venues, particularly the idea that sexual entertainment causes specific harms to women. The paper does not question the veracity of such arguments, but instead explores why sexual entertainment venues have become a target of feminist campaigning, situating this opposition in the context of long-standing debates about the vulnerability of women in the night-time city.
Why bureaucracies matter in the global age: A post-Weberian explanation with the case study of preparing and implementing the United Nations’ An Agenda for Peace
Authors: Kanninen Tapio , Piiparinen Touko
Published: September 2013

This article will challenge the conventional wisdom according to which international bureaucracies are unviable and undesirable in the age of globalisation. The relevance and powers of today’s international bureaucracies can best be understood by reference to the model of the ‘network logic of globalisation’ rather than Max Weber’s classic theory alone. Bureaucracies are undergoing a transformation from the rigid and hierarchical institutions of Weber’s time to more network-oriented and delayered post-Weberian entities. On occasion, these post-Weberian structures allow middle-level officials in international organisations to wield considerable new bureaucratic powers. The case study of this article draws upon empirical evidence on the drafting and implementation of An Agenda for Peace (1992) by UN Secretariat officials and its contributions to the United Nations early warning and conflict prevention mechanism. The network-oriented structures and approaches have started to permeate the UN Organisation in two ways: First, the United Nations operates more and more through interdepartmental and interagency teams. This trend was evident already in the drafting and implementation processes of the Agenda. Second, the United Nations is reaching out to academic and civil society networks. The start of these two transformations of the UN bureaucracy is related to globalisation and can be seen already in action in the early 1990s when the Agenda was drafted.
The Effect of a Combined Versus a Conventional Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Quality of Life for Comorbid Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Primiano Sandra , Marchand André , Gosselin Patrick , Langlois Frédéric , Bouchard Stéphane , Bélanger Claude , Labrecque Joane , Dugas Michel , Dupuis Gilles
Published: September 2013

Concurrent panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are the most common diagnostic occurrences among anxiety disorders. This particular comorbidity is associated with significant impairments in quality of life (QOL). The current study sought to investigate the efficacy of a combined cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy that addressed both conditions compared with a conventional psychotherapy, which attends solely to the primary disorder. The hypotheses postulated firstly, that both treatment conditions would lead to improvements in participants’ QOL and secondly, that the combined therapy would lead to greater QOL ameliorations. Twenty-five participants with comorbid PDA/GAD diagnoses were evaluated with a number of clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires, and were provided with either conventional or combined cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, which consisted of 14 one-hour weekly sessions. Participants were once again evaluated in the same fashion 2-weeks after the completion of the psychotherapy. The results revealed that both conditions led to significant improvements in participants’ QOL, but that the two groups did not significantly differ in terms of the effect on QOL. The results also reveal that the two conditions did not significantly differ in terms of their effect on PDA and GAD symptomatology or psychiatric comorbidity. The results demonstrate that the combined psychotherapy, which addresses both conditions simultaneously, is similar to the conventional psychotherapy employed for the primary disorder in terms of QOL enhancement, symptom severity, and comorbidity reduction.
Effects of in Utero Exposure to Di(n-butyl) Phthalate for Estrogen Receptors α, β, and Androgen Receptor of Leydig Cell on Rats
Authors: Wakui Shin , Shirai Masaru , Motohashi Masaya , Mutou Tomoko , Oyama Noriko , Wempe Michael F. , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Inomata Tomoo , Ikegami Masahiro , Endou Hitoshi , Asari Masao
Published: September 2013

Estrogens and androgens affect male and female reproductive systems. Recently, we reported that prenatal di( n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) exposure induced atypical Leydig cells (LCs) hyperplasia during adulthood. The present study investigated the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα), estrogen receptor β (ERβ), and androgen receptor (AR) in LCs of 5-, 7-, 9-, 14-, and 17-week-old Sprague-Dawley (srl) rats whose dams had been administered DBP intragastrically at 100 mg/kg/day or the vehicle (corn oil) from days 12 to 21 postconception. Immunohistochemical, Western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that the expressions of ERα, ERβ, and AR proteins and mRNAs in the DBP group were similar to those of the vehicle group at 5 and 7 weeks, but significantly higher ERα and lower ERβ and AR levels were observed in the DBP group at 9 to 17 weeks. The rats prenatally exposed to DBP had seminiferous tubule degeneration and atypical hyperplasia of LCs during adulthood, which was associated with an increase in expression of ERα and a decrease of ERβ and AR in the testis.
The Animal Face of Early Modern England
Authors: Fudge Erica
Published: September 2013

This article is both a work of historical reconstruction and a theoretical intervention. It looks at some influential contemporary accounts of human-animal relations and outlines a body of ideas from the 17th century that challenges what is presented as representative of the past in posthumanist thinking. Indeed, this article argues that this alternative past is much more in keeping with the shifts that posthumanist ideas mark in their departure from humanism. Taking a journey through ways of thinking that will, perhaps, be unfamiliar, the revised vision of human-animal relations outlined here emerges not from a history of philosophy but from an archival study of people’s relationships with and understandings of their livestock in early modern England. At stake are conceptions of who we are and who we might have been, and the relation between those two, and the livestock on 17th-century smallholdings are our guides.
Benzodiazepines: Risks and benefits. A reconsideration
Authors: Baldwin David S , Aitchison Katherine , Bateson Alan , Curran H Valerie , Davies Simon , Leonard Brian , Nutt David J , Stephens David N , Wilson Sue
Published: September 2013

Over the last decade there have been further developments in our knowledge of the risks and benefits of benzodiazepines, and of the risks and benefits of alternatives to benzodiazepines. Representatives drawn from the Psychopharmacology Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Association for Psychopharmacology together examined these developments, and have provided this joint statement with recommendations for clinical practice. The working group was mindful of widespread concerns about benzodiazepines and related anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs. The group believes that whenever benzodiazepines are prescribed, the potential for dependence or other harmful effects must be considered. However, the group also believes that the risks of dependence associated with long-term use should be balanced against the benefits that in many cases follow from the short or intermittent use of benzodiazepines and the risk of the underlying conditions for which treatment is being provided.
Explaining the bid-ask spread in the foreign exchange market: A test of alternate models
Authors: Treepongkaruna Sirimon , Brailsford Tim , Gray Stephen
Published: September 2013

This paper attempts to uncover the determinants of the dealer bid-ask spread in the foreign exchange market. Prior research has examined the Huang–Masulis model wherein the spread is modelled as a function of dealer competition and volatility. We first extend this model to a much larger set of quote data covering several currencies over five years. A more recent model of the bid-ask spread has been proposed (BSW) wherein the spread is modelled as a function of order-processing costs, inventory-holding costs, adverse selection and competition. This model has not previously been tested in the foreign exchange market and this study conducts such a test. We find general support for both models using individual currency samples and a pooled sample. Of note, we find strong evidence for the relevance of the inventory-holding premium on the size of the dealer bid-ask spread. To compare the two models we undertake out-of-sample forecasts of the spread and find evidence that favours the BSW model in the aggregated sample, while the evidence is mixed in relation to individual currencies.
Biopsychosocial Risk Factors for Driving Cessation
Authors: Dugan Elizabeth , Lee Chae Man
Published: September 2013

Objective: This study aims to identify social, psychological, and biomedical risk factors for current and future driving cessation in older adults. Method: Data from six waves (1998-2008) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were pooled. Participants aged 65 and above were included in the study ( N = 17,349). Results: Multivariate logistic regression models to identify risk factors for current and future driving cessation were consistent (age, gender, education, race, marital status, income, cognitive function, limits in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, vision, health, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and hip fracture). Only one variable, falls, was associated with future driving cessation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92; confidence interval [CI] = [0.85, 1.0]), but not current driving cessation. Discussion: Older age, female gender, and minority race were risk factors for current and future cessation. Adults with arthritis were more likely to keep driving compared with those without arthritis.
Disorders of inattention and hyperactivity
Authors: Bowden Gregory
Published: September 2013

This article explores some of the normative commitments which persist in the literature on behavioural interventions for disorders of inattention and hyperactivity. These programmatic texts grapple with a contradiction: on one hand, they posit individuals who cannot be held responsible for their behaviour on the grounds that it is pathological, rather than wilful; on the other hand, these texts are written for individuals diagnosed with these disorders and for related authorities, obliged to mitigate said behaviour on the grounds that it is disvalued and impairing. Facing the practical problem of alleviating impairing and disruptive behaviours, this literature has also consistently expressed a goal of producing individuals who demonstrate self-control. Self-control, in this context, however, is not simply the manifestation of wilful autonomy over one’s body, but the capacity to be ascribed responsibility for one’s actions. In the move from bodily control to self-control, institutions responsible for treating those diagnosed with these disorders produce what Foucault has called a ‘political economy of illegality’, where the management of disvalued behaviour is not the eradication of said behaviour, but a redistribution of the right to reward and punish based on the individualization of action.
Framework for evaluation of the relative contribution of the process on porosity–cutting force dependence in micromilling of titanium foams
Authors: Abolghasemi Fakhri Mohammadmehdi , Bordatchev Evgueni V , Tutunea-Fatan O Remus
Published: September 2013

Porous titanium, characterized by interconnected and large open-cell structures, constitutes one of the most promising bone substitutes that are currently available for surgical orthopedic and dental implantation procedures. Since little is known about the behavior of this highly porous material during material removal operations, the main objective of this study was to develop a framework capable of evaluating the effect of cutting speed, cutting depth, and feed rate on the interplay between porosity and cutting force signatures, as experienced during microslot cutting experiments. The comparisons performed between optically determined porosity and cutting force profiles by means of standard random data analysis metrics (correlation coefficient, power spectral density, and coherence) revealed that the presence of a material discontinuity has a prevalent effect on cutting force variation in the case of micromilling processes characterized by (1) less intensive machining regimes and (2) larger cutter/workpiece engagement zones. The proposed methodology is useful in selection of the investigative approach to be taken in assessment of the micromachining-related behavior of highly porous foams subjected to micromilling operations.
Numerical study of transient magnetohydrodynamic radiative free convection nanofluid flow from a stretching permeable surface
Authors: Ferdows M , Khan MS , Bég O Anwar , Azad MAK , Alam MM
Published: September 2013

Transient mixed convective laminar boundary layer flow of an incompressible, viscous, dissipative, electrically conducting nanofluid from a continuously stretching permeable surface in the presence of magnetic field and thermal radiation flux is studied. The model used for the unsteadiness in the momentum, temperature, and concentration fields is based on the time-dependent stretching velocity and surface temperature and concentration. Similarity transformations are used to convert the governing time-dependent nonlinear boundary layer equations for momentum, thermal energy, and concentration to a system of nonlinear ordinary coupled differential equations with appropriate boundary conditions. The transformed model is shown to be controlled by a number of thermophysical parameters, namely the magnetic parameter, thermal convective parameter, mass convective parameter, suction parameter, radiation-conduction parameter, Eckert number, Prandtl number, Lewis number, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, and the unsteadiness parameter. Numerical solutions are obtained with the robust Nactsheim–Swigert shooting technique together with Runge–Kutta sixth-order iteration schemes. Comparisons with previously published work are performed and are found to be in excellent agreement. The effects of selected parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions and furthermore on skin friction coefficients, heat transfer rate (Nusselt number), and mass transfer rate (Sherwood number) are presented graphically. The current study has applications in high-temperature nano-technological materials processing.
The Ergonomics of Dishonesty
Authors: Yap Andy J. , Wazlawek Abbie S. , Lucas Brian J. , Cuddy Amy J. C. , Carney Dana R.
Published: September 2013

Research in environmental sciences has found that the ergonomic design of human-made environments influences thought, feeling, and action. In the research reported here, we examined the impact of physical environments on dishonest behavior. In four studies, we tested whether certain bodily configurations—or postures—incidentally imposed by the environment led to increases in dishonest behavior. The first three experiments showed that individuals who assumed expansive postures (either consciously or inadvertently) were more likely to steal money, cheat on a test, and commit traffic violations in a driving simulation. Results suggested that participants’ self-reported sense of power mediated the link between postural expansiveness and dishonesty. Study 4 revealed that automobiles with more expansive driver’s seats were more likely to be illegally parked on New York City streets. Taken together, the results suggest that, first, environments that expand the body can inadvertently lead people to feel more powerful, and second, these feelings of power can cause dishonest behavior.
Social Status Moderates the Relationship Between Facial Structure and Aggression
Authors: Goetz Stefan M. M. , Shattuck Kraig S. , Miller Robert M. , Campbell Jocelyn A. , Lozoya Elianna , Weisfeld Glenn E. , Carré Justin M.
Published: September 2013

A growing body of evidence has linked individual differences in facial structure—in particular, the facial width-to-height ratio (FWHR)—to social behaviors, including aggression, cheating, and nonreciprocation of trust. In the research reported here, we extended this work by demonstrating that the association between FWHR and aggression is moderated by subjective and objective measures of social status. In Study 1 ( N = 237 college students), FWHR was positively correlated with aggressive behavior, but only among men reporting relatively low social status. In Study 2 ( N = 891 professional hockey players), FWHR was positively correlated with penalty minutes, but only among players who earned relatively low salaries. Collectively, these studies provide compelling evidence for the role of social status in moderating the relationship between facial structure and aggression, indicating that FWHR is a robust predictor of aggressive behavior, but only in the context of relatively low social status.
Developmental Reversals in False Memory
Authors: Brainerd C. J.
Published: September 2013

Classic research that was initiated in response to heavy reliance on children’s evidence in certain types of criminal cases showed that the incidence of false memories declines steadily between childhood and young adulthood. This developmental decline pattern became the centerpiece of much expert testimony, and it has been treated as settled science in court rulings. It is not settled science. A large number of studies have recently appeared on developmental reversals, an opposite pattern in which false memories for events that preserve the gist of experience increase dramatically between early childhood and young adulthood. Developmental reversals challenge the forensic principle that children’s evidence is inherently more infected with false memories than adults’ evidence.
Current Trends in Moral Research
Authors: Dinh Jessica E. , Lord Robert G.
Published: September 2013

In this article, we identify five disparate themes that guide the processing of ethical judgment and behavior on the basis of current research drawn from multiple disciplinary fields. We then suggest directions for integrative research that consider ethical judgment and behavior as emergent outcomes of dynamic processing systems.
The Consequences of the Hindsight Bias in Medical Decision Making
Authors: Arkes Hal R.
Published: September 2013

The hindsight bias manifests in the tendency to exaggerate the extent to which a past event could have been predicted beforehand. This bias has particularly detrimental effects in the domain of medical decision making. I present a demonstration of the bias, its contribution to overconfidence, and its involvement in judgments of medical malpractice. Finally, I point out that physicians and psychologists can collaborate to the mutual benefit of both professions.
Games Throughout the Life Cycle
Authors: Gamson William A.
Published: September 2013

Involvement with games has been a leitmotif of my life since early childhood. The fascination has its roots in my youthful discovery that the rules of games were not fixed, but malleable. A few changes here and there in the conventional or official rules could make a game more interesting. Even more important, one could make up the game from scratch. By the time I had graduated from high school, I had internalized the idea that statistics were about success indicators and that rules were about opportunities and constraints in achieving success. In my teaching at the University of Michigan and at Boston College, I sought some substitute for the lecture that would involve a less passive experience. Over the years, I developed three different teaching games for different courses: SIMSOC (Simulated Society), WHAT’S NEWS: A Game Simulation of TV News, and the GLOBAL JUSTICE GAME. In addition to these games with simulated environments, I developed various role-playing exercises for learning groups. As I reflect on the lessons that I have learned from my lifelong involvement with games, it strikes me that the personal appeal lies in blurring the distinction between work and play. Some of my professional work is “work” in the sense that I have to discipline myself to do it. “Work” on games is, for the most part, play—something that I am ready to do spontaneously in preference to most other activities.
Not all systematic reviews are systematic: a meta-review of the quality of systematic reviews for non-invasive remote monitoring in heart failure
Authors: Conway Aaron , Inglis Sally C , Chang Anne M , Horton-Breshears Margaret , Cleland John GF , Clark Robyn A
Published: September 2013

We carried out a critical appraisal and synthesis of the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of remote monitoring for heart failure. A comprehensive literature search identified 65 relevant publications from 3333 citations. Seventeen studies fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seven (41%) systematic reviews pooled results for meta-analysis. Eight (47%) considered all non-invasive remote monitoring strategies. Five (29%) focused on telemonitoring. Four (24%) included both non-invasive and invasive technologies. The reviews were appraised by two independent reviewers for their quality and risk of bias using the AMSTAR tool. According to the AMSTAR criteria, ten (58%) systematic reviews were of poor methodological quality. In the high quality reviews, the relative risk of mortality in patients who received remote monitoring ranged from 0.53 to 0.88. The high quality reviews also reported that remote monitoring reduced the relative risk of all-cause (0.52 to 0.96) and heart failure-related hospitalizations (0.72 to 0.79) and, as a consequence, healthcare costs. However, further research is required before considering widespread implementation of remote monitoring. The subset of the heart failure population that derives the most benefit from intensive monitoring, the best technology, and the optimum duration of monitoring, all need to be identified.
Valuing psychiatric patients’ stories: Belief in and use of the supernatural in the Jamaican psychiatric setting
Authors: James Caryl C. A. B. , Carpenter Karen A. , Peltzer Karl , Weaver Steve
Published: September 2013

The aim of this study was to examine illness presentation and understand how psychiatric patients make meaning of the causes of their mental illnesses. Six Jamaican psychiatric patients were interviewed using the McGill Illness Narrative Interview Schedule. Of the 6, 3 representative case studies were chosen. The hermeneutic phenomenological approach and the common sense model were used in the formulation of patients’ explanatory models. Results indicate that psychiatric patients actively conceptualized the causes and resultant treatment of their mental illnesses. Patients’ satisfaction and compliance with treatment were dependent on the extent to which practitioners’ conceptualization matched their own, as well as practitioners’ acknowledgement of patients’ concerns about causation, prognosis, and treatment.