bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Roles of Acyl-CoA:Diacylglycerol Acyltransferases 1 and 2 in Triacylglycerol Synthesis and Secretion in Primary Hepatocytes
Authors: Li Chen , Li Lena , Lian Jihong , Watts Russell , Nelson Randal , Goodwin Bryan , Lehner Richard
Published: March 2015

Objective—

Very low–density lipoprotein assembly and secretion are regulated by the availability of triacylglycerol. Although compelling evidence indicates that the majority of triacylglycerol in very low–density lipoprotein is derived from re-esterification of lipolytic products released by endoplasmic reticulum–associated lipases, little is known about roles of acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) in this process. We aimed to investigate the contribution of DGAT1 and DGAT2 in lipid metabolism and lipoprotein secretion in primary mouse and human hepatocytes.

Approach and Results—

We used highly selective small-molecule inhibitors of DGAT1 and DGAT2, and we tracked storage and secretion of lipids synthesized de novo from [
3
H]acetic acid and from exogenously supplied [
3
H]oleic acid. Inactivation of individual DGAT activity did not affect incorporation of either radiolabeled precursor into intracellular triacylglycerol, whereas combined inactivation of both DGATs severely attenuated triacylglycerol synthesis. However, inhibition of DGAT2 augmented fatty acid oxidation, whereas inhibition of DGAT1 increased triacylglycerol secretion, suggesting preferential channeling of separate DGAT-derived triacylglycerol pools to distinct metabolic pathways. Inactivation of DGAT2 impaired cytosolic lipid droplet expansion, whereas DGAT1 inactivation promoted large lipid droplet formation. Moreover, inactivation of DGAT2 attenuated expression of lipogenic genes. Finally, triacylglycerol secretion was significantly reduced on DGAT2 inhibition without altering extracellular apolipoprotein B levels.

Conclusions—

Our data suggest that DGAT1 and DGAT2 can compensate for each other to synthesize triacylglycerol, but triacylglycerol synthesized by DGAT1 is preferentially channeled to oxidation, whereas DGAT2 synthesizes triacylglycerol destined for very low–density lipoprotein assembly.
Monocytes in Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Dutta Partha , Nahrendorf Matthias
Published: March 2015

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Though timely revascularization of the ischemic myocardium and current standard therapy reduce acute mortality after MI, long-term morbidity and mortality remain high. During the first 1 to 2 weeks after MI, tissues in the infarcted myocardium undergo rapid turnover, including digestion of extracellular matrix and fibrosis. Post-MI repair is crucial to survival. Monocytes recruited to the infarcted myocardium remove debris and facilitate the repair process. However, exaggerated inflammation may also impede healing, as demonstrated by the association between elevated white blood cell count and in-hospital mortality after MI. Monocytes produced in the bone marrow and spleen enter the blood after MI and are recruited to the injured myocardium in 2 phases. The first phase is dominated by Ly-6c
high
monocytes and the second phase by Ly-6c
low
monocytes. Yet the number of Ly6C
low
monocytes recruited to the infarct is much lower, and Ly6C
high
monocytes can differentiate to Ly6C
low
macrophages in later healing stages. Understanding the signals regulating monocytosis after MI will help design new therapies to facilitate cardiac healing and limit heart failure.
Overview of the New Oral Anticoagulants
Authors: Yeh Calvin H. , Hogg Kerstin , Weitz Jeffrey I.
Published: March 2015

The non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are replacing warfarin for many indications. These agents include dabigatran, which inhibits thrombin, and rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, which inhibit factor Xa. All 4 agents are licensed in the United States for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and for treatment of venous thromboembolism and rivaroxaban and apixaban are approved for thromboprophylaxis after elective hip or knee arthroplasty. The NOACs are at least as effective as warfarin, but are not only more convenient to administer because they can be given in fixed doses without routine coagulation monitoring but also are safer because they are associated with less intracranial bleeding. As part of a theme series on the NOACs, this article (1) compares the pharmacological profiles of the NOACs with that of warfarin, (2) identifies the doses of the NOACs for each approved indication, (3) provides an overview of the completed phase III trials with the NOACs, (4) briefly discusses the ongoing studies with the NOACs for new indications, (5) reviews the emerging real-world data with the NOACs, and (6) highlights the potential opportunities for the NOACs and identifies the remaining challenges.
Sex Differences in Reperfusion in Young Patients With ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: D’Onofrio Gail , Safdar Basmah , Lichtman Judith H. , Strait Kelly M. , Dreyer Rachel P. , Geda Mary , Spertus John A. , Krumholz Harlan M.
Published: March 2015

Background—

Sex disparities in reperfusion therapy for patients with acute ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction have been documented. However, little is known about whether these patterns exist in the comparison of young women with men.

Methods and Results—

We examined sex differences in rates, types of reperfusion therapy, and proportion of patients exceeding American Heart Association reperfusion time guidelines for ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction in a prospective observational cohort study (2008–2012) of 1465 patients 18 to 55 years of age, as part of the US Variations in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) study at 103 hospitals enrolling in a 2:1 ratio of women to men. Of the 1238 patients eligible for reperfusion, women were more likely to be untreated than men (9% versus 4%,
P
=0.002). There was no difference in reperfusion strategy for the 695 women and 458 men treated. Women were more likely to exceed in-hospital and transfer time guidelines for percutaneous coronary intervention than men (41% versus 29%; odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.27–2.16), more so when transferred (67% versus 44%; odds ratio, 2.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.07); and more likely to exceed door-to-needle times (67% versus 37%; odds ratio, 2.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–2.18). After adjustment for sociodemographic, clinical, and organizational factors, sex remained an important factor in exceeding reperfusion guidelines (odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.28–2.33).

Conclusions—

Young women with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction are less likely to receive reperfusion therapy and more likely to have reperfusion delays than similarly aged men. Sex disparities are more pronounced among patients transferred to percutaneous coronary intervention institutions or who received fibrinolytic therapy.
Regional Variation in the Incidence and Outcomes of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the United States
Authors: Kolte Dhaval , Khera Sahil , Aronow Wilbert S. , Palaniswamy Chandrasekar , Mujib Marjan , Ahn Chul , Iwai Sei , Jain Diwakar , Sule Sachin , Ahmed Ali , Cooper Howard A. , Frishman William H. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Panza Julio A. , Fonarow Gregg C.
Published: March 2015

Background—

Regional variation in the incidence and outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is not well studied and may have important health and policy implications.

Methods and Results—

We used the 2003 to 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify patients ≥18 years of age who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification
procedure codes 99.60 and 99.63) for IHCA. Regional differences in IHCA incidence, survival to hospital discharge, and resource use (total hospital cost and discharge disposition among survivors) were analyzed. Of 838 465 patients with IHCA, 162 270 (19.4%) were in the Northeast, 159 581 (19.0%) were in the Midwest, 316 201 (37.7%) were in the South, and 200 413 (23.9%) were in the West. Overall IHCA incidence in the United States was 2.85 per 1000 hospital admissions. IHCA incidence was lowest in the Midwest and highest in the West (2.33 and 3.73 per 1000 hospital admissions, respectively). Compared with the Northeast, risk-adjusted survival to discharge was significantly higher in the Midwest (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.31–1.36), South (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–1.23), and West (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–1.27). IHCA survival increased significantly from 2003 to 2011 in the United States and in all regions (all
P
trend
<0.001). Total hospital cost was highest in the West, whereas discharge to skilled nursing facility and use of home health care among survivors was highest in the Northeast.

Conclusions—

We observed significant regional variation in IHCA incidence, survival, and resource use in the United States. This variation was explained only partially by differences in patient and hospital characteristics. Further studies are needed to identify other potential factors responsible for these regional differences to improve outcomes after IHCA.
Surgeon Case Volume and 30-Day Mortality After Carotid Endarterectomy Among Contemporary Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Kumamaru Hiraku , Jalbert Jessica J. , Nguyen Louis L. , Gerhard-Herman Marie D. , Williams Lauren A. , Chen Chih-Ying , Seeger John D. , Liu Jun , Franklin Jessica M. , Setoguchi Soko
Published: March 2015

Background and Purpose—

After the 2005 National Coverage Determination to reimburse carotid artery stenting (CAS) for Medicare beneficiaries, the number of CAS procedures increased and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) decreased. We evaluated trends in surgeons’ past-year CEA case-volume and 30-day mortality after CEA, and their association before and after the National Coverage Determination.

Methods—

In a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing CEA (2001–2008) and CAS (2005–2008) using Medicare data, we described yearly trends of CEA and CAS rates, patient characteristics, and 30-day mortality after CEA. We used logistic regression adjusting for patient- and surgeon-level factors to assess the effect of surgeon case volume on 30-day mortality after CEA.

Results—

We identified 454 717 CEA and 27 943 CAS patients. Patients undergoing CEA in recent years were older and had more comorbidities than earlier years. CEA rates per 10 000 beneficiaries declined from 18.1 in 2002 to 12.7 in 2008, whereas median surgeon past-year case-volume declined from 27 to 21. The CAS rates peaked at 2.3 per 10 000 beneficiaries in 2006 but declined to 1.8 in 2008, resulting in declining overall revascularization procedure rates during 2005 to 2008. Thirty day post-CEA mortality was 1.40% (95% confidence interval, 1.34–1.47) in 2001 to 2002 and 1.17% (1.10–1.24) in 2007 to 2008. Surgeon’s past-year case-volume of <10 was associated with higher 30-day mortality consistently during 2001 to 2008.

Conclusions—

The rate of CEA procedures decreased substantially during 2001 to 2008, as did surgeon past-year case-volume. The postprocedural mortality in Medicare beneficiaries was high compared with trial patients but somewhat improved over time. Those operated by lower past-year case-volume surgeons had increased mortality.
Safety of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Stroke Mimics
Authors: Tsivgoulis Georgios , Zand Ramin , Katsanos Aristeidis H. , Goyal Nitin , Uchino Ken , Chang Jason , Dardiotis Efthimios , Putaala Jukka , Alexandrov Anne W. , Malkoff Marc D. , Alexandrov Andrei V.
Published: March 2015

Background and Purpose—

Shortening door-to-needle time may lead to inadvertent intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) administration in stroke mimics (SMs). We sought to determine the safety of IVT in SMs using prospective, single-center data and by conducting a comprehensive meta-analysis of reported case-series.

Methods—

We prospectively analyzed consecutive IVT-treated patients during a 5-year period at a tertiary care stroke center. A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-series reporting safety of IVT in SMs and confirmed acute ischemic stroke were conducted. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was defined as imaging evidence of ICH with an National Institutes of Health Stroke scale increase of ≥4 points. Favorable functional outcome at hospital discharge was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 1.

Results—

Of 516 consecutive IVT patients at our tertiary care center (50% men; mean age, 60±14 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke scale, 11; range, 3–22), SMs comprised 75 cases. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient, whereas we documented no cases of orolingual edema or major extracranial hemorrhagic complications. In meta-analysis of 9 studies (8942 IVT-treated patients), the pooled rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and orolingual edema among 392 patients with SM treated with IVT were 0.5% (95% confidence interval, 0%–2%) and 0.3% (95% confidence interval, 0%–2%), respectively. Patients with SM were found to have a significantly lower risk for symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage compared with patients with acute ischemic stroke (risk ratio=0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.77;
P
=0.010), with no evidence of heterogeneity or publication bias. Favorable functional outcome was almost 3-fold higher in patients with SM in comparison with patients with acute ischemic stroke (risk ratio=2.78; 95% confidence interval, 2.07–3.73;
P
<0.00001).

Conclusions—

Our prospective, single-center experience coupled with the findings of the comprehensive meta-analysis underscores the safety of IVT in SM.
Balancing Conflicting Security Interests: U.S. Defense Exports to China in the Last Decade of the Cold War
Authors: Meijer Hugo
Published: March 2015

This article discusses the rationale and evolution of U.S. defense exports to the People's Republic of China (PRC) during the final decade of the Cold War. The article is based on a large body of primary sources, including newly declassified documents, congressional hearings, and interviews with key officials. It shows that, contrary to what is often assumed in the literature, U.S. officials’ assessments of the optimal degree of defense cooperation with Beijing did not result solely from the objective of using the “China card” against the Soviet Union. A broader range of national security considerations shaped U.S. military cooperation with the PRC, including a desire not to enhance China's offensive capabilities vis-à-vis the United States and its Asia-Pacific friends and allies, the impact of defense transfers to China on U.S.-Soviet diplomatic relations, and the willingness of China to cooperate on nuclear proliferation. Faced with conflicting national security interests, the United States had to make delicate trade-offs in its military relationship with the PRC.
The identity of Acanthosoma vicinum, with proposal of a new genus and species level synonymy (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae)
Authors: TSAI JING-FU , RÉDEI DÁVID
Published: March 2015

The identity of Acanthosoma vicinum Uhler, 1861 (type species of the monotypic genus Grossaria Kumar, 1974) is clarified based on reexamination of the lectotype. The following new combination and new subjective synonymies are proposed: Elasmucha Stål, 1864 = Grossaria Kumar, 1974, syn. nov.; Elasmucha vicina (Uhler, 1861), comb. nov. (transferred from Acanthosoma) = Elasmucha dorsalis (Jakovlev, 1876), syn. nov. Reversion to the senior name E. vicina is considered to be undesirable, therefore, in order to preserve stability, no nomenclatural changes are proposed in this paper, but an application has simultaneously been submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to give the specific name dorsalis precedence over the specific name vicinum.
Palaearctic Chelostoma bees of the subgenus Gyrodromella (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species
Authors: MÜLLER ANDREAS
Published: March 2015

Gyrodromella represents a subgenus of the osmiine bee genus Chelostoma (Megachilidae) containing eight species, which are confined to the Palaearctic region. Analysis of female pollen loads, field observations and literature data suggest that all C. (Gyrodromella) species are oligolectic harvesting pollen exclusively on flowers of Campanula and possibly also closely related Campanulaceae genera. Preexisting linear cavities in dead wood or stems serve as nesting sites and mud partly combined with pebbles is used for the construction of cell partitions and nest plug. The taxonomic revision of C. (Gyrodromella) revealed the existence of two undescribed species: C. clypeale spec. nov. from central and eastern Turkey, and C. tonsum spec. nov. from eastern Turkey. Chelostoma confusum (Benoist, 1934) and C. proximum Schletterer, 1889 are newly synonymized with C. rapunculi (Lepeletier, 1841), and a lectotype of C. handlirschi Schletterer, 1889 is designated. Keys for the identification of all C. (Gyrodromella) species are given.
Review of the leafhopper genus Oncopsis Burmeister (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Macropsinae) in China with descriptions of two new species
Authors: YANG LIYUAN , ZHANG YALIN
Published: March 2015

Two new macropsine species, Oncopsis latusoid sp. nov. and O. taibaiensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from China. A checklist and illustrated key to Chinese species of this genus are given.
Social Activism and Practice Diffusion
Authors: Briscoe Forrest , Gupta Abhinav , Anner Mark S.
Published: March 2015

This paper examines how social activist tactics affect the diffusion of social-responsibility practices. Studying collegiate adoptions of a controversial supplier-sanction practice championed by anti-sweatshop activists, we compare how non-targeted organizations are influenced by different types of practice adoptions in their environment. Drawing on interorganizational learning theory, we argue and show that disruption-linked adoptions—those that occur following activists’ disruptive protests against the adopting organization—appear to be taken under coercive pressure and therefore provide non-targeted organizations with poor inferences about the merits of the practice. In contrast, strong inferences are provided by evidence-linked adoptions—those that occur after activists use evidence-based tactics with the adopting organization—and by independent adoptions occurring without any activism. Hence the contagious effect of independent and evidence-based adoptions is greater than that of disruption-linked adoptions. We further explore differences in receptivity to contagious influence, proposing that features of an organization and its proximal environment that increase issue salience also increase susceptibility to diffusion. Our findings demonstrate the importance of including non-targeted organizations in research on social movements and corporate social responsibility. They also offer a new vantage for interorganizational diffusion research, based on how activists and other third parties shape organizational decision makers’ inferences.
Mutational Spectrum and Clinical Features of Patients With ACTG1 Mutations Identified by Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing
Authors: Miyagawa Maiko , Nishio Shin-ya , Ichinose Aya , Iwasaki Satoshi , Murata Takaaki , Kitajiri Shin-ichiro , Usami Shin-ichi
Published: March 2015

Objectives:

ACTG1 has been reported to be a causative gene for autosomal dominant sensorineural hearing loss, DFNA20/26. In this study we sought to clarify the detailed mutational spectrum, clinical features, and genotype-phenotype correlations.

Methods:

Massively parallel DNA sequencing (MPS) of 63 target candidate genes was used to screen 1120 Japanese hearing loss patients.

Results:

MPS screening successfully identified 4 ACTG1 mutations in 5 families. The majority of patients showed high frequency–involved progressive hearing loss, with the age of onset mostly in the first or second decade. One patient received electric acoustic stimulation (EAS), which showed a good outcome.

Conclusions:

Target exon-sequencing using MPS was proven to be a powerful new clinical diagnostic tool for the identification of rare causative genes such as ACTG1. The present clinical findings not only confirmed those previous reports but also provided important new clinical information.
Potentially Harmful Therapy and Multicultural Counseling
Authors: Wendt Dennis C. , Gone Joseph P. , Nagata Donna K.
Published: March 2015

In this rejoinder, we address three responses to our major contribution in this issue, “Potentially Harmful Therapy and Multicultural Counseling: Bridging Two Disciplinary Discourses.” These responses support our contention that not only are the potentially harmful therapy and multicultural counseling and psychotherapy literatures quite disparate, but that this compartmentalization is a symptom of broad and serious problems in the discipline. We explore further some of the underlying complexities the responding authors have raised, including (a) systemic ways that the current landscape of psychotherapy research maintains the status quo, thereby limiting a desirable integration of the two literatures; (b) complexities associated with multiple aspects of diversity, including the inadequacy of current professional ethical codes and practitioner training for addressing potential harm for disparate and vulnerable populations; and (c) the need for the discipline to articulate collective “goods” (against which conceptions of harm are at least implicitly formulated).
Encounter between literature and science: Galileo’s impact on Milton
Authors: Ceramella Nick
Published: March 2015

The relationship between literature and science finds its roots in the Renaissance, with the widely acknowledged literary quality of works such as Galileo’s, extending to novels of today such as Ian McEwan’s Solar, Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior, Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder and Daniel Kehlmann’s Vermessung der Welt. Here, I will focus on the influence that one of the greatest scientists of all times had on John Milton, when writing his Paradise Lost. Albert Einstein, in his Foreword to Galileo’s Dialogo sopra i massimi sistemi del mondo ( Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems) writes about its author that: His unusual literary gift enables him to address the educated men of his age in such clear and impressive language as to overcome the anthropocentric and mythical thinking of his contemporaries and to lead them back to an objective and casual attitude towards the cosmos, an attitude which had been lost to humanity with the decline of Greek culture. ( Galilei, 2001 : xxiii)
Guarding the guardian: ‘Article 258 TFEU complaints’ before the European Ombudsman
Authors: Tsadiras Alexandros
Published: March 2015

The infringement procedure of Article 258 TFEU has been consistently viewed by the EU administration and judges as a bipolar bargaining game between the European Commission and the defaulting member state, in which individuals have no role to play. The European Ombudsman's efforts to triangularize the infraction process have resulted in the introduction of a number of soft-law, non-justiciable commitments for the Commission, which are currently set out in the 2012 Communication on its relations with complainants. This article considers the Ombudsman's contribution in the field of infringement complaints by empirically examining the application of the principal provisions of the Commission's Communication in his decision-making. The resulting finding is that Article 258 TFEU complainants have substantially benefited from the Ombudsman's creativity beyond the tight constraints of legality.

Points for practitioners

The analysis brings to the fore a number of key soft-law, non-justiciable commitments that the European Union administration is expected to honour in its everyday dealings with the European citizenry. The discussion also explores the transformative impact that extra-judicial means for the delivery of administrative justice can have on the ethos and praxis of supranational management. The European Commission's reaction to the European Ombudsman's investigative pressure and the resultant restraints on the former's discretionary powers are useful lessons, which transcend the European Union context and could set the tone for relevant developments in the domestic spheres of the EU member states.
Spatial Dialectics
Authors: Barker Thomas P.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this article is to explore how music provided the U.S. plantation-slaves with a space in which the hegemony of the White ruling class could be subverted, adapted, and resisted. Consistent with the beliefs of slave religion, which saw the material and the spiritual as part of an intrinsic unity, I identify two tendencies in slave song: freedom as material practice and freedom as the “aesthetic imagination.” I argue that the tensions between these two spheres provided a crucial intimation of a life without slavery.
xArchiMate: Enterprise Architecture simulation, experimentation and analysis
Authors: Manzur Laura , Ulloa Jorge Mario , Sánchez Mario , Villalobos Jorge
Published: March 2015

ArchiMate has recently become the standard language for describing and visualizing Enterprise Architecture models encompassing different domains, their relations, and their dependencies. A few approaches have been proposed for the analysis of ArchiMate models, but they are static and thus focus on structural and static features, leaving aside the analysis of dynamic features. To address this shortfall we propose xArchiMate. It is a model-based approach for executing ArchiMate models and collecting data about dynamic features which is then used, together with static information, to assemble indicators and support decision-making processes. The core of xArchiMate is an execution engine that executes models that conform to the xArchiMate meta-model, which differentiates from the standard ArchiMate meta-model in a few key aspects: it includes behavioral information (e.g. states and interactions) on top of the normal structural information; it includes additional elements that complement and specialize ArchiMate’s base elements; and it only includes elements that have a meaningful behavior and thus are interesting to be simulated. This paper presents xArchiMate, including the meta-model, the execution platform, and a suggested process for creating scenarios and indicators, and then for designing and running experiments to back up decision-making processes on the enterprise.
Non-fatal acute haemorrhagic leukoencephalitis following snake bite: A case report
Authors: Prabhakar Appaswamy Thirumal , kamanahalli Ragavendra , Sivadasan Ajith , Joseph Elizabeth , Viggeswarpu Surekha
Published: March 2015

Acute haemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (AHL) is a fulminant inflammatory disease of cerebral white matter, characterised by demyelination and haemorrhagic necrosis. The outcome is usually fatal with only few survivors.

An unusual presentation of a 44–year-old South Indian farmer who developed AHL following a snake bite is reported. Though the initial brain imaging showed extensive involvement of the white matter with multiple haemorrhagic foci, the patient improved spontaneously with no specific therapy. A repeat magnetic resonance imaging of the brain 28 days after the snake bite confirmed radiological improvement.
Shrinkage Estimation of Log-odds Ratios for Comparing Mobility Tables
Authors: Zhou Xiang
Published: March 2015

Statistical analysis of mobility tables has long played a pivotal role in comparative stratification research. This article proposes a shrinkage estimator of the log-odds ratio for comparing mobility tables. Building on an empirical Bayes framework, the shrinkage estimator improves estimation efficiency by “borrowing strength” across multiple tables while placing no restrictions on the pattern of association within tables. Numerical simulation shows that the shrinkage estimator outperforms the usual maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) in both the total squared error and the correlation with the true values. Moreover, the benefits of the shrinkage estimator relative to the MLE depend on both the variation in the true log-odds ratio and the variation in sample size among mobility regimes. To illustrate the effects of shrinkage, the author contrasts the shrinkage estimates with the usual estimates for the mobility data assembled by Hazelrigg and Garnier for 16 countries in the 1960s and 1970s. For mobility tables with more than two categories, the shrinkage estimates of log-odds ratios can also be used to calculate summary measures of association that are based on aggregations of log-odds ratios. Specifically, the author constructs an adjusted estimator of the Altham index and, with a set of calibrated simulations, demonstrates its usefulness in enhancing both the precision of individual estimates and the accuracy of cross-table comparisons. Finally, using two real data sets, the author shows that in gauging the overall degree of social fluidity, the adjusted estimator of the Altham index agrees more closely with results from the Unidiff model than does the direct estimator of the Altham index.
Lessons learned from the casualties of war: battlefield medicine and its implication for global trauma care
Authors: Chatfield-Ball Catherine , Boyle Peter , Autier Philippe , van Wees Sibylle Herzig , Sullivan Richard
Published: March 2015

Summary

According to the Global Burden of Disease, trauma is now responsible for five million deaths each year. High-income countries have made great strides in reducing trauma-related mortality figures but low–middle-income countries have been left behind with high trauma-related fatality rates, primarily in the younger population. Much of the progress high-income countries have made in managing trauma rests on advances developed in their armed forces. This analysis looks at the recent advances in high-income military trauma systems and the potential transferability of those developments to the civilian health systems particularly in low–middle-income countries. It also evaluates some potential lifesaving trauma management techniques, proven effective in the military, and the barriers preventing these from being implemented in civilian settings.
General tissue reactions and implications for radiation protection
Authors: Miyazaki S. , Hill C.
Published: March 2015

Non-cancer effects and risks at low doses from ionising radiation are controversial topics within the field of radiation protection. These issues are discussed in International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 118, ‘ICRP statement on tissue reactions’. Both non-cancer effects and risks are expected to become increasingly important to the system of radiation protection. Before this can happen, several factors must be considered: thorough characterisation of the relationship between dose and risk; verification of the biological mechanisms for any noted excess risk; and adjustment of noted excess risks through the use of a detriment factor. It is difficult to differentiate the relatively small risks associated with radiation from other risk factors in the low-dose region of the dose–response curve. Several recent papers have indicated the possibility of a non-linear dose-response relationship for non-cancer effects. In addition, there are still many uncertainties associated with the biological mechanisms for non-cancer effects. Finally, it is essential to consider the incorporation of detriment into a well-defined system of radiological protection. Given the recent interest in non-cancer effects, it is essential to facilitate discussions in order to define dose limits more clearly within the existing system of radiation protection for both cancer and non-cancer effects.
Surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome
Authors: Tanaka Yuki , Miyamoto Takashi , Naito Yuji , Yoshitake Shuichi
Published: March 2015

The patient was a 3-month-old girl weighting 3.6 kg, diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve syndrome. We surgically repaired the tetralogy of Fallot by patch closure of the ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene monocusp patch with a bulging sinus, and removal of the bronchial obstruction by anterior translocation of the pulmonary artery using the Lecompte maneuver.
Endogenous Cycles in Rural to Urban Migration
Authors: Gangopadhyay Partha
Published: March 2015

We argue that the cost of rural–urban migration may act as an effective entry deterrence for successful migration to the urban sector. This cost results in some form of price rationing as the cash holding of a typical rural household falls short of the required cost. We demonstrate that certain endogenous forces will mesh in with the government policies to generate cumulative improvements in terms of trade in favour of the rural sector. Such improvements in terms of trade are shown to close the gap between the cost and the cash holding of a rural household. As a result, the rate of migration is positively related to the improvements in terms of trade in favour of agriculture. On the other hand, the terms of trade are shown to be inversely related to the rate of migration from agriculture. We establish, for the first time to the best of our understanding, that an endogenously driven and self-sustaining migration cycle would emerge from the rich dynamics involving migration flows and intersectoral terms of trade. We also demonstrates the possibility of a complex dynamics that can characterize the rural–urban migration and the attending development process. One can argue, on the basis of this type of complex dynamics, development process can be unpredictable and highly fragile. In other words, the principles of econophysics can offer an important new framework to understand labour flows in a complex society.

JEL: J31, C78
The creation of interactive activity pods at a Recycling Education Centre
Authors: Pickford Tony , Ellis Liz
Published: March 2015

This paper describes the creation of interactive, educational activity pods at an education centre at a recycling depot. The project originated from a new waste management contract between Cheshire West and Chester Council and May Gurney (now Keir Waste Management), which included the provision of educational facilities. Representatives from May Gurney and the council’s waste management team approached the Faculty of Education & Children’s Services looking for input into the proposed education centre to be set up in Winsford, Cheshire. An already existing module on Education for Sustainable Development was modified to enable trainee teachers on a specialist global learning route of an undergraduate programme to devise and create interactive exhibits and activities for the Centre. Although a quite unique opportunity to create learning resources about recycling issues, the process described in the paper illustrates ways in which higher education, the private sector and local authorities can co-operate effectively for mutual benefit and the benefit of learners. Trainees’ ideas also illustrated ways in which the, sometimes quite abstract, concepts of Education for Sustainable Development can be translated into engaging activities with implications at local and more global levels.
The reliability and validity of cervical auscultation in the diagnosis of dysphagia: a systematic review
Authors: Lagarde Marloes LJ , Kamalski Digna MA , van den Engel-Hoek Lenie
Published: March 2015

Objective:

To systematically review the available evidence for the reliability and validity of cervical auscultation in diagnosing the several aspects of dysphagia in adults and children suffering from dysphagia.

Data sources:

Medline (PubMed), Embase and the Cochrane Library databases.

Review methods:

The systematic review was carried out applying the steps of the PRISMA-statement. The methodological quality of the included studies were evaluated using the Dutch ‘Cochrane checklist for diagnostic accuracy studies’.

Results:

A total of 90 articles were identified through the search strategy, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, six articles were included in this review. In the six studies, 197 patients were assessed with cervical auscultation. Two of the six articles were considered to be of ‘good’ quality and three studies were of ‘moderate’ quality. One article was excluded because of a ‘poor’ methodological quality. Sensitivity ranges from 23%–94% and specificity ranges from 50%–74%. Inter-rater reliability was ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ in all studies. The intra-rater reliability shows a wide variance among speech language therapists.

Conclusion:

In this systematic review, conflicting evidence is found for the validity of cervical auscultation. The reliability of cervical auscultation is insufficient when used as a stand-alone tool in the diagnosis of dysphagia in adults. There is no available evidence for the validity and reliability of cervical auscultation in children. Cervical auscultation should not be used as a stand-alone instrument to diagnose dysphagia.
Do Postoperative Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Accelerate Early Tendon Healing and Functional Recovery After Arthroscopic Supraspinatus Repair?
Authors: Wang Allan , McCann Philip , Colliver Jess , Koh Eamon , Ackland Timothy , Joss Brendan , Zheng Minghao , Breidahl Bill
Published: March 2015

Background:

Tendon-bone healing after rotator cuff repair directly correlates with a successful outcome. Biological therapies that elevate local growth-factor concentrations may potentiate healing after surgery.

Purpose:

To ascertain whether postoperative and repeated application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the tendon repair site improves early tendon healing and enhances early functional recovery after double-row arthroscopic supraspinatus repair.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A total of 60 patients underwent arthroscopic double-row supraspinatus tendon repair. After randomization, half the patients received 2 ultrasound-guided injections of PRP to the repair site at postoperative days 7 and 14. Early structural healing was assessed with MRI at 16 weeks, and cuff appearances were graded according to the Sugaya classification. Functional scores were recorded with the Oxford Shoulder Score; Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand; visual analog scale for pain; and Short Form–12 quality-of-life score both preoperatively and at postoperative weeks 6, 12, and 16; isokinetic strength and active range of motion were measured at 16 weeks.

Results:

PRP treatment did not improve early functional recovery, range of motion, or strength or influence pain scores at any time point after arthroscopic supraspinatus repair. There was no difference in structural integrity of the supraspinatus repair on MRI between the PRP group (0% full-thickness retear; 23% partial tear; 77% intact) and the control group (7% full-thickness retear; 23% partial tear; 70% intact) at 16 weeks postoperatively ( P = .35).

Conclusion:

After arthroscopic supraspinatus tendon repair, image-guided PRP treatment on 2 occasions does not improve early tendon-bone healing or functional recovery.
Shoulder Functional Performance Status of National Collegiate Athletic Association Swimmers
Authors: Wymore Lucas , Fronek Jan
Published: March 2015

Background:

Shoulder trouble, described in the literature as “swimmer’s shoulder,” has been associated with competitive swimmers. The Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow Score is a validated survey used to define functional and performance measures of the upper extremity in overhead athletes. To date, no study has investigated the baseline functional scores for swimmers actively competing in the sport.

Purpose:

To establish a baseline score for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) swimmers actively competing in the sport.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

After institutional review board approval, the KJOC Shoulder and Elbow Score was administered to 5 NCAA swim teams (N = 99 participants; 46 men, 53 women). The results on 10 specific individual questions and on the total score were calculated according to the survey’s original description. The mean scores were calculated for all participants. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences between sexes, years swimming, and self-reported injury status.

Results:

The mean ± SD baseline KJOC score (out of a possible 100) for all participants was 79.0 ± 18.7; the mean score for men was 81.9 ± 15.6 and for women 76.6 ± 20.8. The score for athletes identifying themselves as injured at baseline was 53.9 ± 18.8, compared with 84.4 ± 13.6 for those not reporting as injured ( P < .001). Athletes competing ≥11 years had a mean score of 72.0 ± 22.1; those competing ≤10 years scored 86.4 ± 11.4 ( P = .007).

Conclusion:

Baseline scores for swimmers, which were lower than expected, were lower than baseline scores seen in studies of other overhead sports athletes. The data corroborate previous studies identifying swimmers as having a high level of shoulder trouble. Further research is indicated for improving shoulder symptoms and performance in competitive swimmers.
Non-tumor-Associated Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Encephalitis in Chinese Girls With Positive Anti-thyroid Antibodies
Authors: Guan Wenjuan , Fu Zhenqiang , Zhang Hui , Jing Lijun , Lu Jingjing , Zhang Jing , Lu Hong , Teng Junfang , Jia Yanjie
Published: March 2015

Anti- N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a new category of autoimmune encephalitis associated with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies. The disease was first described in 2007, and it predominantly affects young women with or without ovarian teratomas. Most patients typically present with seizures, a decreased consciousness level, dyskinesia, autonomic dysfunction, and psychiatric symptoms. The presence of anti-thyroid antibodies in non-tumor-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was first described in 2010. Additionally, anti-thyroid antibodies were found in teratoma-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. We report the cases of 3 Chinese girls with non-tumor-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis with positive anti-thyroid antibodies. We followed up the details of their titers and suggest that anti-thyroid antibodies were an indicator of autoimmune predisposition in the development of non-tumor-associated anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.
Novel superhydrophilic poly(l-lactic acid-co-ε-caprolactone)/fibrinogen electrospun patch for rat abdominal wall reconstruction
Authors: Liu Zhang , Li Shaojie , Su Ling , Sun Kang , Wu Xujun , Wu Feng , Huang Weihong , Yang Li , Tang Jianxiong , He Hongbing
Published: March 2015

A novel superhydrophilic hybrid scaffold was created by electrospinning a mixture of poly(l-lactic acid-co-ε-caprolactone) and formulated fibrinogen. The hybrid scaffolds possess the combined benefits of each individual component, such as moderate mechanical strength and excellent biocompatibility. In vitro studies also revealed that endothelial cells seeded on the hybrid scaffolds achieved a relatively high level of cell attachment after three days of culture and a significant increase in the proliferation rate after seven days of culture, compared with pure fibrinogen or poly(l-lactic acid-co-ε-caprolactone) scaffolds. A comparative study of hybrid and pure poly(l-lactic acid-co-ε-caprolactone) patches was performed in an abdominal wall defect model in rats. In both groups, implants degraded by six months, but muscle reconstruction was only observed in the hybrid patch group.
Linking Cultural Capital With Subjective Well-Being and Social Support
Authors: Lee Seungyoon , Chung Jae Eun , Park Namkee
Published: March 2015

This study examines the ways in which different forms of cultural capital are associated with college students’ subjective well-being and social support. Results show that when social capital is accounted for, cultural capital derived from sports participation was positively associated with subjective well-being and social support. Further, the size and density of discussion networks about culture were positively associated with well-being and social support in general, while the heterogeneity of networks was negatively related. Findings from this study extend previous research on cultural capital by (1) drawing attention to the inclusive aspect of cultural capital, (2) examining online cultural participation as well as multiple forms of cultural activities including popular and sporting events, (3) applying the literature on interpersonal discussion networks to the context of culture and demonstrating the value of communicative action about cultural experiences, and (4) understanding the implications of cultural capital in a college setting.
It Takes a Village
Authors: Payne G. Tyge , Ireland R. Duane
Published: March 2015

This editorial explores key issues regarding ethics in family business research – particularly that surrounding the evaluation and publication process – and advocates creating a stronger and more knowledgeable community of scholars to overcome the many challenges facing responsible research. Rather than only discussing the various types of ethical problems in research such as plagiarism, unprincipled data manipulation, and falsification of data, we expand the conversation to include the role the scholarly community – including researchers, reviewers, editors, and institutional leaders – plays in dealing with ongoing ethical concerns in scholarly publishing. We offer a few pragmatic suggestions for improving some processes, but primarily make a broad call for building a stronger (global) community of family business researchers that supports and promotes ethical conduct in publishing research through increased dialogue and interaction.
Task-oriented configuration optimization of a lattice distortable reconfigurable robot
Authors: Yin Bo , Liang Zhenning , Dai Xin , Mo Jinqiu , Wang Shigang
Published: March 2015

Designing an optimal configuration for a reconfigurable robot to complete a task is an important issue. This paper proposes an optimization approach for a lattice distortable reconfigurable robot to pursue the best configuration with the least number of modules, and the robot configuration obtained by the approach has enough workspace reachability and structure strength to perform the specific task. This approach is carried out in two steps. In the first step called mechanism design, after establishing the mathematical models by the product of exponential formula for 12 types of lattices, based on the given task workspace, a configuration of an actuator with the least number of lattices is obtained by configuration synthesis method using the genetic algorithm. In the second step called structure design, the K-nearest neighbor method is explored to recognize the removable modules that have the minimum contribution to the overall strength of the robot. Then, an optimal topology configuration of the reconfigurable robot with the least number of modules is obtained by removing the removable modules. A computation example of the configuration optimization of a hexapod robot walking with the tripod gait is performed, and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed optimization approach .