bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinematic Structure of Mesovortices in the Eyewall of Hurricane Ike (2008) Derived from Ground-Based Dual-Doppler Analysis
Authors: Wingo Stephanie M. , Knupp Kevin R.
Published: August 2016

Previous work has shown that vorticity mixing in the tropical cyclone (TC) inner core can promote mesovortex (MV) formation and impact storm intensity. Observations of MVs have largely been serendipitous but are necessary to improve understanding of these features and their role in TC dynamics. This study presents nearly 10 h of ground-based dual-Doppler analysis of MVs in the eyewall of Hurricane Ike (2008) near and during landfall. Derived 3D winds, vertical vorticity, horizontal divergence, and perturbation pressures are analyzed. Results indicate persistent kinematic field arrangements and evolving vertical structures. Perturbation pressure retrievals suggest local pressure minima associated with the MVs. Preferential updraft locations appear to transition cyclonically about the local vorticity maximum as the MVs progress around the eye. Based on published observational datasets, the dual-Doppler updraft magnitudes in Ike’s MVs are within the top 5%–10% of TC vertical velocities. The MVs are marked by peak vorticity in the lowest 2 km and contain vertically coherent vorticity structures extending to 8 km AGL. After prolonged land interaction, the MV structures deteriorate. First, the vertical extent of localized vorticity diminishes, followed by a deterioration in the prelandfall characteristic kinematic arrangements. This supports the notion that the replenishment of a high vorticity annulus contributes to MV production and maintenance, and when the elevated vorticity aloft is not maintained, MV kinematic patterns become less consistent. It is unclear whether the decay of the vertically coherent vorticity structures occurs in response to land interaction, TC inner core processes, or some combination of both.
Development and Validation of an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Method for Quantitative Analysis of Platinum in Plasma, Urine, and Tissues
Authors: Zhang Ti , Cai Shuang , Forrest Wai Chee , Mohr Eva , Yang Qiuhong , Forrest M. Laird
Published: August 2016

Cisplatin, a platinum chemotherapeutic, is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for many solid tumors. In this work, we developed and validated an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for quantitative determination of platinum levels in rat urine, plasma, and tissue matrices including liver, brain, lungs, kidney, muscle, heart, spleen, bladder, and lymph nodes. The tissues were processed using a microwave accelerated reaction system (MARS) system prior to analysis on an Agilent 7500 ICP-MS. According to the Food and Drug Administration guidance for industry, bioanalytical validation parameters of the method, such as selectivity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability were evaluated in rat biological samples. Our data suggested that the method was selective for platinum without interferences caused by other presenting elements, and the lower limit of quantification was 0.5 ppb. The accuracy and precision of the method were within 15% variation and the recoveries of platinum for all tissue matrices examined were determined to be 85–115% of the theoretical values. The stability of the platinum-containing solutions, including calibration standards, stock solutions, and processed samples in rat biological matrices was investigated. Results indicated that the samples were stable after three cycles of freeze–thaw and for up to three months.
Canada’s responses to the torture of citizens: Rights aberration or rights aspiration?
Authors: Banham Cynthia
Published: August 2016

Traditional analyses of Canada’s behaviour on international human rights tend to view it through the prism of the state’s global identity as a good international citizen. Such explanations are limited in helping us understand Canada’s inconsistent responses to allegations that two citizens were tortured in the war on terror—Maher Arar and Omar Khadr. This article uses Jutta Brunnée and Stephen Toope’s interactional account, which emphasizes the need for continuous shared practices of legality in order for international human rights norms to exert influence, to analyze Canada’s responses to the torture of citizens. It argues that to make sense of Canada’s behaviour, we need to examine the role of different state and non-state actors in terms of whether they were agitating for Canada’s compliance with the international prohibition against torture. Civil society was critical in shaping the responses of the Canadian state to the torture of citizens.
Preparing Teachers for Educational Renewal Within Current Contexts of Accountability
Authors: Paufler Noelle A. , Amrein-Beardsley Audrey
Published: August 2016

Given changes to the ways teachers and, by association, the universities that prepare them are held accountable, the critical work of John Goodlad in educational renewal through teacher education has restored at least some capacity to reframe conversations about ways to better prepare teachers to serve diverse students in America’s schools. In this article, we examine how Goodlad’s vision, reified through his Twenty Postulates (a) might have helped to reshape teacher education over the past three decades, (b) has been (or might be) affected by current accountability policies, and (c) might be extended or expanded for the next generation of teachers and students. We argue that research is needed within which researchers examine ways to reaffirm teacher education as a top priority, better prepare teachers to serve as stewards of schools, empower teachers as change agents, and create spaces for faculty to engage in research with their school district partners.
Spatial Processing in Infancy Predicts Both Spatial and Mathematical Aptitude in Childhood
Authors: Lauer Jillian E. , Lourenco Stella F.
Published: August 2016

Despite considerable interest in the role of spatial intelligence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) achievement, little is known about the ontogenetic origins of individual differences in spatial aptitude or their relation to later accomplishments in STEM disciplines. The current study provides evidence that spatial processes present in infancy predict interindividual variation in both spatial and mathematical competence later in development. Using a longitudinal design, we found that children’s performance on a brief visuospatial change-detection task administered between 6 and 13 months of age was related to their spatial aptitude (i.e., mental-transformation skill) and mastery of symbolic-math concepts at 4 years of age, even when we controlled for general cognitive abilities and spatial memory. These results suggest that nascent spatial processes present in the first year of life not only act as precursors to later spatial intelligence but also predict math achievement during childhood.
The Development of Inequity Aversion
Authors: Shaw Alex , Choshen-Hillel Shoham , Caruso Eugene M.
Published: August 2016

Children and adults respond negatively to inequity. Traditional accounts of inequity aversion suggest that as children mature into adults, they become less likely to endorse all forms of inequity. We challenge the idea that children have a unified concern with inequity that simply becomes stronger with age. Instead, we argue that the developmental trajectory of inequity aversion depends on whether the inequity is seen as fair or unfair. In three studies ( N = 501), 7- to 8-year-olds were more likely than 4- to 6-year-olds to create inequity that disadvantaged themselves—a fair type of inequity. In findings consistent with our theory, 7- to 8-year-olds were not more likely than 4- to 6-year-olds to endorse advantageous inequity (Study 1) or inequity created by third parties (Studies 2 and 3)—unfair types of inequity. We discuss how these results expand on recent accounts of children’s developing concerns with generosity and partiality.
Labour Migration to the Construction Sector in India and its Impact on Rural Poverty
Authors: Srivastava Ravi , Sutradhar Rajib
Published: August 2016

The present article studies the impact of migration to the construction sector on rural poverty in India based on field survey. The survey has been carried out in two phases, the first phase involving the survey of construction workers in National Capital Region and the second phase comparing the well-being of migrant households with non migrant households in selected source villages. The study finds that at destination, workers have poor living and working conditions, lack citizenship rights, entitlements and voice. However, at the cost of hardship, low consumption levels, and possibly a smaller working life span, they manage to save a good portion of their income which they remit or take back home. At origin, migrant households report higher expenditure on consumption, residential housing, and children’s education, as well as some other assets. These differences are a result of higher employment and wage incomes among migrants. However, we were not able to control for differences in initial conditions, and life cycle and other issues, which influence both participation in migration, as well as long-term impacts.
Social Sciences in India: Premises and Promises of Capability Approach
Authors: Venkataraman Lakshmi Narayanan
Published: August 2016

Social sciences in India are known for systemic lacunae. As this is in sharp contrast with the mainstream debates in knowledge society, the present article takes a retrospective look to analyze the premises and promises of capability approach in higher education. The central argument deconstructs the developmental complexities of social science scholarship in the neoliberal democracy.
Taking Your Talents to Business Communications
Authors: Manisaligil Alperen , Bilimoria Diana
Published: August 2016

We describe an in-class activity that helps students improve their skills in media selection and use to reinforce effective communication. The activity builds on media richness and channel expansion theories through an examination of the media selection and use of NBA athlete LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert during James’s career moves. We utilize three minicase studies highlighting James’s and Gilbert’s videos and open letters. We provide guidelines for preparing and implementing the activity and present students’ reactions through their in-class participation and quantitative survey responses. Student evaluations, collected from both a required undergraduate course and a graduate elective course, indicate that students found this activity engaging and effective in achieving the learning objectives. In addition to business communication courses, this in-class activity may be used in other courses including organizational behavior, introduction to business and management, leadership, human resources management, introduction to public relations, and crisis management.
Greater Success of Primary Fascial Closure of the Open Abdomen: A Retrospective Study Analyzing Applied Surgical Techniques, Success of Fascial Closure, and Variables Affecting the Results
Authors: Kääriäinen M. , Kuuskeri M. , Helminen M. , Kuokkanen H.
Published: August 2016

Background and Aims:

The open abdomen technique is a standard procedure in the treatment of intra-abdominal catastrophe. Achieving primary abdominal closure within the initial hospitalization is a main objective. This study aimed to analyze the success of closure rate and the effect of negative pressure wound therapy, mesh-mediated medial traction, and component separation on the results. We present the treatment algorithm used in our institution in open abdomen situations based on these findings.

Material and Methods:

Open abdomen patients (n = 61) treated in Tampere University Hospital from May 2005 until October 2013 were included in the study. Patient characteristics, treatment prior to closure, closure technique, and results were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The first group included patients in whom direct or bridged fascial closure was achieved, and the second group included those in whom only the skin was closed or a free skin graft was used. Background variables and variables related to surgery were compared between groups.

Results and Conclusion:

Most of the open abdomen patients (72.1%) underwent fascial defect repair during the primary hospitalization, and 70.5% of them underwent direct fascial closure. Negative pressure wound therapy was used as a temporary closure method for 86.9% of the patients. Negative pressure wound therapy combined with mesh-mediated medial traction resulted in the shortest open abdomen time (p = 0.039) and the highest fascial repair rate (p = 0.000) compared to negative pressure wound therapy only or no negative pressure wound therapy. The component separation technique was used for 11 patients; direct fascial closure was achieved in 5 and fascial repair by bridging the defect with mesh was achieved in 6. A total of 8 of 37 (21.6%) patients with mesh repair had a mesh infection. The negative pressure wound therapy combined with mesh-mediated medial traction promotes definitive fascial closure with a high closure rate and a shortened open abdomen time. The component separation technique can be used to facilitate fascial repair but it does not guarantee direct fascial closure in open abdomen patients.
Description of a New Predictive Modeling Approach That Correlates the Risk and Associated Cost of Well-Defined Diabetes-Related Complications With Changes in Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)
Authors: Fortwaengler Kurt , Parkin Christopher G. , Neeser Kurt , Neumann Monika , Mast Oliver
Published: August 2016

The modeling approach described here is designed to support the development of spreadsheet-based simple predictive models. It is based on 3 pillars: association of the complications with HbA1c changes, incidence of the complications, and average cost per event of the complication. For each pillar, the goal of the analysis was (1) to find results for a large diversity of populations with a focus on countries/regions, diabetes type, age, diabetes duration, baseline HbA1c value, and gender; (2) to assess the range of incidences and associations previously reported. Unlike simple predictive models, which mostly are based on only 1 source of information for each of the pillars, we conducted a comprehensive, systematic literature review. Each source found was thoroughly reviewed and only sources meeting quality expectations were considered. The approach allows avoidance of unintended use of extreme data. The user can utilize (1) one of the found sources, (2) the found range as validation for the found figures, or (3) the average of all found publications for an expedited estimate. The modeling approach is intended for use in average insulin-treated diabetes populations in which the baseline HbA1c values are within an average range (6.5% to 11.5%); it is not intended for use in individuals or unique diabetes populations (eg, gestational diabetes). Because the modeling approach only considers diabetes-related complications that are positively associated with HbA1c decreases, the costs of negatively associated complications (eg, severe hypoglycemic events) must be calculated separately.
Update in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Research
Authors: Nwawka O. Kenechi
Published: August 2016

Context:

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) research is expanding due to increased clinical utility of sonography.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Results:

Ultrasound is widely applied in musculoskeletal imaging and sports medicine. The real-time capabilities and favorable cost profile of US make it ideal for use in diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions. The enthusiasm for the use of US in musculoskeletal imaging has led to an increase in US research to broaden its applications.

Conclusion:

Several recent advances have been made in conventional and novel US imaging techniques, quantitative US imaging, and US-guided interventions.

Strength of Recommendations Taxonomy (SORT):

C
Global urology: A survey of members of the British Association of Urological Surgeons
Authors: Campain Nicholas J , Venn Suzie , Biyani Chandra Shekhar , MacDonagh Ruaraidh P , McGrath John S ,   on behalf of BAUS Urolink
Published: August 2016

Objective:

The objective of this article is to establish current levels of activity and interest in global urology amongst British urologists, in order to inform BAUS Urolink and guide future strategic decision making.

Subjects and methods:

Voluntary online surveys were sent to all BAUS members in May 2014.

Results:

This survey demonstrated a significant level of interest and engagement by BAUS members in global urology. Over 40% of respondents had participated in overseas work, predominantly in the form of short-term visits. Motivating factors for involvement included a desire to help, but personal and organisational benefits were also noted.

Conclusion:

There was consensus that Urolink represents an important part of BAUS, with a clear desire for improvements in dissemination of opportunities to widen engagement amongst the BAUS membership.
Clinical Trials of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Arresting Caries among Children
Authors: Gao S.S. , Zhao I.S. , Hiraishi N. , Duangthip D. , Mei M.L. , Lo E.C.M. , Chu C.H.
Published: August 2016

This review aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in arresting dental caries among children. A systematic search of publications was conducted with the key words “silver diamine fluoride,” “silver diammine fluoride,” “silver fluoride,” “diamine silver fluoride,” or “diammine silver fluoride” as well as their translation in Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish in 7 databases: PubMed (English), Embase (English), Scopus (English), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (Chinese), Ichushi-web (Japanese), Biblioteca Virtual em Saude (Portuguese), and Biblioteca Virtual en Salud Espana (Spanish). Duplicated publications were deleted. The title and abstract were screened and irrelevant publications were excluded. The full text of the remaining publications was retrieved. Prospective clinical studies of SDF that reported a caries-arresting effect among children were included. Meta-analysis was performed for quantitative analysis. A total of 1,123 publications were found, including 19 publications of clinical trials. Sixteen clinical trials studied the caries-arresting effect on primary teeth, and 3 clinical trials were on permanent teeth. Fourteen studies used 38% SDF, 3 used 30% SDF, and 2 used 10% SDF. Meta-analysis was performed on extracted data from 8 studies using 38% SDF to arrest caries in primary teeth. The overall percentage of active caries that became arrested was 81% (95% confidence interval, 68% to 89%; P < 0.001). Apart from staining the arrested lesion black, no significant complication of SDF use among children was reported. SDF was commonly used at 38%. It was effective in arresting dentine caries in primary teeth among children.

Knowledge Transfer Statement: This systematic review found that 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) can effectively arrest caries among children. SDF treatment is noninvasive and easily operated. It can be a promising strategy to manage dental caries in young children or those who have special needs.
Global Trends and the North American Church in Mission: Discovering the Church’s Role in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Morgan J. Rupert
Published: August 2016

Change has always been a part of human experience in history, but perhaps never at the accelerated rate that we are witnessing in the early twenty-first century. It may be easier to identify change than to assess the implication and its effects. This is certainly true of the modern missionary enterprise. The center of Christianity, in terms of growth and vitality, has moved outside of North America to South America, Africa, and parts of Asia. A new set of trends now characterize missions from North America. These changes require new responses in order for the North American church to fulfill a new role.
CD4+ T-cell alloreactivity toward mismatched HLA class II alleles early after double umbilical cord blood transplantation
Authors: Lamers Cor H. J. , Wijers Rebecca , van Bergen Cornelis A. M. , Somers Judith A. E. , Braakman Eric , Gratama Jan Willem , Debets Reno , Falkenburg J. H. Frederik , Cornelissen Jan J.
Published: August 2016

Key Points

Graft-versus-graft alloreactivity after dUCBT involves recognition of mismatched HLA class II alleles by allele-specific CD4+ effector T cells. Alloreactive donor CD4+ T cells may recognize recipient leukemia if mismatched for individual HLA class II alleles.
Bounds of elastic parameters characterizing transversely isotropic media: Application to shales
Authors: Holt Rune M.
Published: August 2016

Several rocks, and in particular shales, are often described as transversely isotropic (TI) materials. Geophysical data coverage does not always permit reliable determination of all five elastic parameters, neither in seismic and sonic data from the field nor in laboratory measurements. Data may, however, be constrained by the existence of bounds on elastic moduli, derived from the fundamental requirement of positive elastic energy. Conditioned bounds are described for engineering parameters such as Poisson’s ratios as well as anisotropy coefficients such as the moveout parameter [Formula: see text] and the anellipticity parameter [Formula: see text]. “Conditioned bounds” means bounds that in general depend on some of the other elastic moduli: The bounds we have evaluated are controlled primarily by P- and S-wave moduli obtained from wave propagation along a symmetry axis and to some extent by P- and S-wave anisotropies. Such data may be acquired more easily from geophysical measurements. We have inspected the laboratory data obtained with various types of shales under different testing conditions, and none of them failed to adapt to the bounds. The data indicate, for instance, clear distinctions between how the proximity to bounds is driven by stress changes for saturated versus nonsaturated shales.
Effects of Acute, Profound Hypoxia on Healthy Humans: Implications for Safety of Tests Evaluating Pulse Oximetry or Tissue Oximetry Performance
Authors: Bickler Philip E. , Feiner John R. , Lipnick Michael S. , Batchelder Paul , MacLeod David B. , Severinghaus John W.
Published: August 2016

Extended periods of oxygen deprivation can produce acidosis, inflammation, energy failure, cell stress, or cell death. However, brief profound hypoxia (here defined as Sao2
50%–70% for approximately 10 minutes) is not associated with cardiovascular compromise and is tolerated by healthy humans without apparent ill effects. In contrast, chronic hypoxia induces a suite of adaptations and stresses that can result in either increased tolerance of hypoxia or disease, as in adaptation to altitude or in the syndrome of chronic mountain sickness. In healthy humans, brief profound hypoxia produces increased minute ventilation and increased cardiac output, but little or no alteration in blood chemistry. Central nervous system effects of acute profound hypoxia include transiently decreased cognitive performance, based on alterations in attention brought about by interruptions of frontal/central cerebral connectivity. However, provided there is no decrease in cardiac output or ischemia, brief profound hypoxemia in healthy humans is well tolerated without evidence of acidosis or lasting cognitive impairment.
Synergistic Modulation of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Inhibition in Cortical Networks by Allopregnanolone and Propofol
Authors: Drexler Berthold , Balk Monika , Antkowiak Bernd
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND:

The neuroactive steroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) is an endogenous allosteric modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. There is evidence that ALLO, at physiologically relevant concentrations, modulates GABAA receptor function in the cerebral cortex. The widely used anesthetic agent propofol and ALLO share a similar mode of molecular action. Here, we ask how GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition and action potential firing of neurons in cultured cortical slices are altered by either ALLO or propofol or by coapplying both agents.

METHODS:

We explored the effects of ALLO and propofol on spontaneous action potential activity of neocortical neurons in organotypic slices cultured from C57BL6 mice by performing extracellular multiunit recordings. Furthermore, we carried out whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments to quantify the drug effects on GABAA receptor-mediated tonic and phasic currents.

RESULTS:

We found that ALLO (100 nM) decreased multiunit action potential firing of neocortical neurons by approximately 21%. Moreover, the duration of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) was prolonged (mean Δdecay time prolongation: 12.9 ± 2.2 milliseconds; n = 23), and a bicuculline-sensitive tonic current was induced (mean Δbaseline shift: −24.6 ± 13.6 pA; P = .002; n = 6). A subanesthetic concentration of propofol (250 nM) decreased the discharge rates of cortical neurons to a similar degree as ALLO (100 nM). ALLO and propofol administered in combination acted in an additive manner to reduce action potential firing. However, during ALLO administration, propofol was significantly more effective in enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission. Propofol (250 nM) prolonged the inhibitory postsynaptic currents decay times by 10.4 ± 6.1 milliseconds (n = 9) with ALLO added to the bathing solution; in the absence of ALLO, however, propofol prolonged the decay time by only 3.8 ± 2 milliseconds (n = 13).

CONCLUSIONS:

In cortical neurons, GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission is potentiated by ALLO and propofol in a synergistic manner, whereas the effects on spontaneous action potential activity appear additive. A coapplication of neurosteroids and propofol in general anesthesia and intensive care medicine may open new ways to reduce anesthetic dose requirements and, thus, avoid undesired anesthetic-induced side effects.
Fischer 344-Tp53 knockout rats exhibit a high rate of bone and brain neoplasia with frequent metastasis
Authors: Hansen Sarah A. , Hart Marcia L. , Busi Susheel , Parker Taybor , Goerndt Angela , Jones Kevin B. , Amos-Landgraf James M. , Bryda Elizabeth C.
Published: August 2016

Somatic mutations in the Tp53 tumor suppressor gene are the most commonly seen genetic alterations in cancer, and germline mutations in Tp53 predispose individuals to a variety of early-onset cancers. Development of appropriate translational animal models that carry mutations in Tp53 and recapitulate human disease are important for drug discovery, biomarker development, and disease modeling. Current Tp53 mouse and rat models have significant phenotypic and genetic limitations and often do not recapitulate certain aspects of human disease. We used a marker-assisted speed congenic approach to transfer a well-characterized Tp53 mutant allele from an outbred rat to the genetically inbred Fischer 344 rat to create the F344-Tp53tm1(EGFP-Pac)Qly/Rrrc (F344-Tp53) strain. On the F344 genetic background, the tumor spectrum shifted, with the primary tumor types being osteosarcomas and meningeal sarcomas, compared to the hepatic hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma identified in the original outbred stock model. The Fischer model is more consistent with the early onset of bone and central nervous system sarcomas found in humans with germline Tp53 mutations. The frequency of osteosarcomas in F344-Tp53 homozygous and heterozygous animals was 57% and 36%, respectively. Tumors were highly representative of human disease radiographically and histologically, with tumors found primarily on long bones with frequent pulmonary metastases. Importantly, the rapid onset of osteosarcomas in this promising new model fills a current void in animal models that recapitulate human pediatric osteosarcomas and may facilitate studies to identify therapeutic targets.
MEKK1-dependent phosphorylation of calponin-3 tunes cell contractility
Authors: Hirata Hiroaki , Ku Wei-Chi , Yip Ai Kia , Ursekar Chaitanya Prashant , Kawauchi Keiko , Roy Amrita , Guo Alvin Kunyao , Vedula Sri Ram Krishna , Harada Ichiro , Chiam Keng-Hwee , Ishihama Yasushi , Lim Chwee Teck , Sawada Yasuhiro , Sokabe Masahiro
Published: August 2016

MEKK1 (also known as MAP3K1), which plays a major role in MAPK signaling, has been implicated in mechanical processes in cells, such as migration. Here, we identify the actin-binding protein calponin-3 as a new MEKK1 substrate in the signaling that regulates actomyosin-based cellular contractility. MEKK1 colocalizes with calponin-3 at the actin cytoskeleton and phosphorylates it, leading to an increase in the cell-generated traction stress. MEKK1-mediated calponin-3 phosphorylation is attenuated by the inhibition of myosin II activity, the disruption of actin cytoskeletal integrity and adhesion to soft extracellular substrates, whereas it is enhanced upon cell stretching. Our results reveal the importance of the MEKK1–calponin-3 signaling pathway to cell contractility.
Bradykinin promotes neuron-generating division of neural progenitor cells through ERK activation
Authors: Pillat Micheli M. , Lameu Claudiana , Trujillo Cleber A. , Glaser Talita , Cappellari Angélica R. , Negraes Priscilla D. , Battastini Ana M. O. , Schwindt Telma T. , Muotri Alysson R. , Ulrich Henning
Published: August 2016

During brain development, cells proliferate, migrate and differentiate in highly accurate patterns. In this context, published results indicate that bradykinin functions in neural fate determination, favoring neurogenesis and migration. However, mechanisms underlying bradykinin function are yet to be explored. Our findings indicate a previously unidentified role for bradykinin action in inducing neuron-generating division in vitro and in vivo, given that bradykinin lengthened the G1-phase of the neural progenitor cells (NPC) cycle and increased TIS21 (also known as PC3 and BTG2) expression in hippocampus from newborn mice. This role, triggered by activation of the kinin-B2 receptor, was conditioned by ERK1/2 activation. Moreover, immunohistochemistry analysis of hippocampal dentate gyrus showed that the percentage of Ki67+ cells markedly increased in bradykinin-treated mice, and ERK1/2 inhibition affected this neurogenic response. The progress of neurogenesis depended on sustained ERK phosphorylation and resulted in ERK1/2 translocation to the nucleus in NPCs and PC12 cells, changing expression of genes such as Hes1 and Ngn2 (also known as Neurog2). In agreement with the function of ERK in integrating signaling pathways, effects of bradykinin in stimulating neurogenesis were reversed following removal of protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated sustained phosphorylation.
Splicing-factor alterations in cancers
Authors: Anczuków Olga , Krainer Adrian R.
Published: August 2016

Tumor-associated alterations in RNA splicing result either from mutations in splicing-regulatory elements or changes in components of the splicing machinery. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of splicing-factor alterations in human cancers. We describe splicing-factor alterations detected in human tumors and the resulting changes in splicing, highlighting cell-type-specific similarities and differences. We review the mechanisms of splicing-factor regulation in normal and cancer cells. Finally, we summarize recent efforts to develop novel cancer therapies, based on targeting either the oncogenic splicing events or their upstream splicing regulators.
Top 10 metrics for life science software good practices
Authors: Artaza Haydee , Chue Hong Neil , Corpas Manuel , Corpuz Angel , Hooft Rob W.W. , Jiménez Rafael C. , Leskošek Brane , Olivier Brett G. , Stourac Jan , Svobodová Vařeková Radka , Van Parys Thomas , Vaughan Daniel
Published: August 2016

Metrics for assessing adoption of good development practices are a useful way to ensure that software is sustainable, reusable and functional. Sustainability means that the software used today will be available - and continue to be improved and supported - in the future.

We report here an initial set of metrics that measure good practices in software development. This initiative differs from previously developed efforts in being a community-driven grassroots approach where experts from different organisations propose good software practices that have reasonable potential to be adopted by the communities they represent. We not only focus our efforts on understanding and prioritising good practices, we assess their feasibility for implementation and publish them here.
More Harm Than Good? How Messages That Interrupt Can Make Us Vulnerable
Authors: Jenkins Jeffrey L. , Anderson Bonnie Brinton , Vance Anthony , Kirwan C. Brock , Eargle David
Published: August 2016

System-generated alerts are ubiquitous in personal computing and, with the proliferation of mobile devices, daily activity. While these interruptions provide timely information, research shows they come at a high cost in terms of increased stress and decreased productivity. This is due to dual-task interference (DTI), a cognitive limitation in which even simple tasks cannot be simultaneously performed without significant performance loss. Although previous research has examined how DTI impacts the performance of a primary task (the task that was interrupted), no research has examined the effect of DTI on the interrupting task. This is an important gap because in many contexts, failing to heed an alert—the interruption itself—can introduce critical vulnerabilities.

Using security messages as our context, we address this gap by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore how (1) DTI occurs in the brain in response to interruptive alerts, (2) DTI influences message security disregard, and (3) the effects of DTI can be mitigated by finessing the timing of the interruption. We show that neural activation is substantially reduced under a condition of high DTI, and the degree of reduction in turn significantly predicts security message disregard. Interestingly, we show that when a message immediately follows a primary task, neural activity in the medial temporal lobe is comparable to when attending to the message is the only task.

Further, we apply these findings in an online behavioral experiment in the context of a web-browser warning. We demonstrate a practical way to mitigate the DTI effect by presenting the warning at low-DTI times, and show how mouse cursor tracking and psychometric measures can be used to validate low-DTI times in other contexts.

Our findings suggest that although alerts are pervasive in personal computing, they should be bounded in their presentation. The timing of interruptions strongly influences the occurrence of DTI in the brain, which in turn substantially impacts alert disregard. This paper provides a theoretically grounded, cost-effective approach to reduce the effects of DTI for a wide variety of interruptive messages that are important but do not require immediate attention.
When Random Assignment Is Not Enough: Accounting for Item Selectivity in Experimental Research
Authors: Feinberg Fred M. , Salisbury Linda Court , Ying Yuanping
Published: August 2016

Experimental methods are critical tools in marketing, psychology, and economics to isolate the effects of key variables from vagaries intrinsic to field data. As such, they are often considered exempt from the sort of sample selectivity artifacts widely documented in empirical research, in part because participants are randomly assigned to experimental conditions. To conserve time and resources, experiments often focus on items participants have chosen or are familiar with, for example, postchoice satisfaction ratings, certain free recall tasks, or specifying consideration sets preceding brand choice. When consumer input even partially influences the items about which researchers request subsequent data, the potential for item selectivity arises. In such situations, analyses are contingent on both the choice context(s) of the experiment and the alternatives participants elect to evaluate, potentially leading to substantial item selectivity overall and to differing degrees across conditions. We examine situations in which a nonignorable “choose one of many” (polytomous) selection process limits which items offer up subsequent information, and develop methods to allow substantive results to pertain to the full set of items, not only those selected. The framework is illustrated via two experiments in which participants choose and then evaluate a frequently purchased consumer good as well as data first examined by Ratner et al. [Ratner RK, Kahn BE, Kahneman D (1999) Choosing less-preferred experiences for the sake of variety. J. Consumer Res. 26(1):1–15]. Results indicate substantial item selectivity that, when corrected for, can lead to markedly different interpretations of focal variable effects, such as large effect size changes and even sign reversal. Moreover, failing to flexibly account for item selectivity across experimental conditions, even in well-designed experimental settings, can lead to inaccurate substantive inferences about consumers’ evaluative criteria. We further demonstrate robustness to theoretically driven (but not overtly misspecified) selection rules and provide researchers with a simple, “two-step” exploratory procedure akin to a “control function” approach—involving just one additional variable added to standard models—to determine whether and to what degree item selectivity may be affecting their substantive results.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2016.0991 .
The inter-rater reliability of the diagnosis of surgical site infection in the context of a clinical trial
Authors: Nuttall J. , Evaniew N. , Thornley P. , Griffin A. , Deheshi B. , O’Shea T. , Wunder J. , Ferguson P. , Randall R. L. , Turcotte R. , Schneider P. , McKay P. , Bhandari M. , Ghert M.
Published: August 2016

Objectives

The diagnosis of surgical site infection following endoprosthetic reconstruction for bone tumours is frequently a subjective diagnosis. Large clinical trials use blinded Central Adjudication Committees (CACs) to minimise the variability and bias associated with assessing a clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to determine the level of inter-rater and intra-rater agreement in the diagnosis of surgical site infection in the context of a clinical trial.

Materials and Methods

The Prophylactic Antibiotic Regimens in Tumour Surgery (PARITY) trial CAC adjudicated 29 non-PARITY cases of lower extremity endoprosthetic reconstruction. The CAC members classified each case according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria for surgical site infection (superficial, deep, or organ space). Combinatorial analysis was used to calculate the smallest CAC panel size required to maximise agreement. A final meeting was held to establish a consensus.

Results

Full or near consensus was reached in 20 of the 29 cases. The Fleiss kappa value was calculated as 0.44 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35 to 0.53), or moderate agreement. The greatest statistical agreement was observed in the outcome of no infection, 0.61 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.72, substantial agreement). Panelists reached a full consensus in 12 of 29 cases and near consensus in five of 29 cases when CDC criteria were used (superficial, deep or organ space). A stable maximum Fleiss kappa of 0.46 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.35) at CAC sizes greater than three members was obtained.

Conclusions

There is substantial agreement among the members of the PARITY CAC regarding the presence or absence of surgical site infection. Agreement on the level of infection, however, is more challenging. Additional clinical information routinely collected by the prospective PARITY trial may improve the discriminatory capacity of the CAC in the parent study for the diagnosis of infection. Cite this article: J. Nuttall, N. Evaniew, P. Thornley, A. Griffin, B. Deheshi, T. O’Shea, J. Wunder, P. Ferguson, R. L. Randall, R. Turcotte, P. Schneider, P. McKay, M. Bhandari, M. Ghert. The inter-rater reliability of the diagnosis of surgical site infection in the context of a clinical trial. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:347–352. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.58.BJR-2016-0036.R1.
Teaching as a creative and learning process.
Authors: Nord Julia Ann , Samaras Anastasia , Ericson Rebecca , Ikonomidou Vasiliki , Rytikova Ioulia , Sachs Robert , Schwebach James Reid , Nelson Jill , Gerasimova Dasha
Published: August 2016

The Teaching Inquiry Group (TIG) is a team of six faculty members from STEM disciplines who are conducting research about their teaching. The group met through AY 15-16, and was mentored by an expert in self-study methodology from the Graduate School of Education. TIG meetings have focused on the self-study of interactive teaching including, self-study as a research method, developing a topic for self-study, self-study research questions, and identifying “critical friends groups”. The group facilitates critical reflection by maintaining an open dialogue; this enables them to think about teaching in ways that go beyond the subject area. The end-goal of the group is to improve their professional development on teaching and learning, not only for themselves, but also for the students they teach. Dissemination includes group and individual presentations at conferences, followed by write ups of the studies and publication in their respective educational research journals The session will include an overview of the process and then the six faculty group members will describe parts of the process that affected them greatly. Discipline fields included astronomy, bioengineering, biology, geology, information sciences and technology, and mathematics.  At the end of the session, participants will be aware of the importance of taking time to reflect, reframe and respond to their practice, and foster genuine educational change for themselves and their students.
Post-Keynote Discussion
Authors: Zakrajsek Todd
Published: August 2016

Post Keynote Q & A Session with Todd Zakrajsek
A comparison of student engagement in the online vs. face-to-face environment
Authors: Brielmaier Jennifer , Kuo Ying-Ying
Published: August 2016

Enhancing student engagement has been a goal of increasing importance in higher education.  This may be especially valuable in online courses, where face-to-face interactions and synchronous activities are often minimal or nonexistent. Students are thought to be engaged when they view course activities as meaningful, persist in the face of difficulties or obstacles, and wish to learn to achieve mastery of the material (Bomia et al., 1997; Schlecty, 1994). Given the importance of student engagement for effective teaching, it is important for instructors and course designers to understand the factors that foster engagement within the learning environment.The present study sought to measure and compare student satisfaction and engagement in online vs. face-to-face sections of Physiological Psychology taught in Spring and Fall 2015. An end of semester survey, adapted from the literature (Dixson, 2010; Ouimet & Smallwood, 2005), included 18 questions relevant to learner satisfaction, motivation and engagement.  The preliminary data analysis was based on Spring 2015 data collected from 56 students total (22 online, 34 face-to-face).  The findings indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the online and face-to-face sections for student learning satisfaction and overall engagement levels. Results suggest that online teaching and learning can be comparable to the face-to-face environment on these parameters. More complete analysis of the data from the Spring, Summer, and Fall 2015 semesters, as well as a discussion of implications for course design, will be presented.  Faculty and course designers will learn about strategies for measuring and promoting student engagement within their own courses.
Enhancing Learning through Visualization - Bringing Data and Equations to Life
Authors: Zoltek Stanley
Published: August 2016

We demonstrate how Mathematica, a powerful visualization and computational tool available to all students faculty and staff, is being used to visually interpret data sets and create "manipulations" that allow students to visualize, in real-time, the effect of modifying a parameter. Examples will be drawn from a variety of disciplines, including literature, history, psychology, and mathematics: we will (1) visualize character location in Shakespeare's plays, (2) graphically display details of categorical interconnections in the elements of a set, such as US presidents who were vice presidents, or who were vice presidents and governors, (3) work with a "digital" Rorschach Test. Currently, we use Mathematica as the central tool for collaboration by students in an online precalculus course. Demonstrations that model specific course topics are assigned to groups of students. The groups are tasked with "explaining" the demonstration. For example, a demonstration might display a sine curve with "sliders" controlling the amplitude, frequency, and phase shift. Students can move the sliders, but can't see the values assigned. They must determine what values are being assigned to the constants in order to obtain the specified graphs. Simple demonstrations are easy to make and thousands of open source demonstrations are available at demonstrations.wolfram.com.
Enhancing Teaching through SIMPLE Faculty Development Groups
Authors: Nelson Jill Paul , Hjalmarson Margret , Edwards Cody , Kosoglu Laura , Lorie Craig , Nelson Mary , Pettigrew Katherine , Schwebach Reid
Published: August 2016

The presenters are members of a cross-disciplinary teaching design group at Mason including faculty in science, mathematics, engineering, and education. As part of an NSF-funded project focused on improving undergraduate STEM teaching, each member is trying a new research-proven instructional technique in our classes. Most techniques were focused on formative assessment or student engagement in learning. We meet monthly to share our progress and challenges, as well as to discuss relevant literature in education and the learning sciences. In addition, we are each preparing to lead a discipline-focused team starting this fall.In this interactive session, we will share the new techniques we are trying, how the teaching design group has affected our pedagogical efforts, and why attendees might be interested in joining (and perhaps eventually leading) a teaching design group in their discipline. We will ask attendees to consider new techniques they have considered for their courses and to brainstorm about how they might take the first step in implementing such techniques. We'll also ask them to discuss with attendees from similar disciplines in order to form the groundwork for new teaching design teams.