bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The image impact of mega-sporting events perceived by international students and their behaviour intentions
Authors: Liu Dongfeng
Published: February 2016

Using Shanghai F1 as an example, this research seeks to examine the impact of mega-events on host city image from the perspective of international students. Leisure facilities and service were the most positive image impact perceived by the respondents, followed by affective city images as well as opportunities and convenience. International students tended to disagree that F1 would result in any crime and security problems and were unsure about any negative impact on environment and daily life. Some of the image factors were significantly related to intention to work in the city or the willingness to recommend the city.
Potential negative outcomes from sports sponsorship
Authors: Crompton John L
Published: February 2016

While substantial literature has addressed the benefits that sponsors seek from linking with a sports property, relatively little attention has been given to the potential costs businesses risk from such relationships. This paper suggests that beyond ambushing there are eight risks companies are likely to consider. Four can be controlled relatively easily: liability exposure; insensitivity to public sentiment to changing established rules or formats, the name of a facility or team or a team's uniform; insensitivity to the prevailing societal and political environment; and opposition from workers or stockholders. Companies have less control over: poor presentation of the event; poor performance by either the sponsored team/player or the company's products if the event is being used as a demonstration platform; association with disreputable behaviour; and trauma to performers.
Visual Analytics of Twitter Conversations about Corporate Sponsors of FC Barcelona and Juventus at the 2015 UEFA Final
Authors: Jensen Ricard W , Limbu Yam B , Spong Yasha
Published: February 2016

Until now, little research has been conducted to analyse Twitter conversations about the corporate sponsors of football clubs. The conventional and most widely used method has been to use content analysis to assess the sentiment of the tweets that were sent. However, this approach may be inadequate because sports fans may be unlikely to mention a corporate sponsor in the text they tweet. This study demonstrates the use of visual analytics to assess conversations about corporate sponsors by examining the images people tweet.
Intangible and tangible value: brand equity benefits associated with collegiate athletics
Authors: Bozman Carl S , Friesner Daniel , McPherson Matthew Q , Chase Nancy M
Published: February 2016

This paper presents a simple methodological framework to characterise the tangible and intangible benefits of a university athletics department. The methodology is applied to the athletics department at Gonzaga University (GU) in Spokane, Washington USA. The brand equity associated with this department is estimated at approximately US$5.8 million in 2006. Of this, between $617,000 and $2.71 million is ascribed
to a specific type of tangible brand equity (with the most plausible estimate being $926,000); namely, the impact of GU athletics events on the economic vitality of the local community. The remainder is attributed to (unobserved) intangible brand equity benefits.
Assessing the relationships between image congruence, tourist satisfaction and intention to revisit in marathon tourism: the Shanghai International Marathon
Authors: Huang Haiyan , Lunhua Mao Luke , Wang Junqi , Zhang James J
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between image congruence, tourist satisfaction and intention to revisit in marathon tourism. The results show that both affective image congruence (AIC) and cognitive image congruence (CIC) have a positive influence on tourist satisfaction and intention to revisit in the context of marathon tourism. The results also reveal that demographic and behavioural characteristics have a significant impact on revisiting intentions; and past experience of marathon tourism controls the relationship between image congruence and tourist satisfaction.
The effects of sensory stimuli on motorsports spectators
Authors: Chung Kyu-soo , Ryu Dong Soo , Green B. Christine , Kang Hyun Min
Published: February 2016

This study measures the effect of each of the five senses on arousal, satisfaction and intention to revisit a live racing event. Spectators' arousal was significantly influenced by sights, sounds and smells. Spectators' sense of smell, taste, and touch directly impacted satisfaction. Interestingly, olfactory stimuli had an effect on both arousal and satisfaction. Spectators' arousal had a significant indirect effect on their revisit intention. The study proposes that motorsports marketers make use of olfactory stimuli to provide racing spectators with memorable experiences.
An examination of US golfers' communication behaviours across consumer innovativeness
Authors: Kim Soojin , Kim Yongjae
Published: February 2016

In the diffusion of innovation framework, this study identified three distinct segments of golf
product consumers using a cluster analysis and explored potential differences between segments on communication behaviours related to innovativeness. Results indicate that the members of each cluster show varying degrees of innovativeness for new golf products. Each cluster also was further distinguished based upon communication behaviours.
The economic benefit of time‐varying surveillance effort for invasive species management
Authors: Holden Matthew H. , Nyrop Jan P. , Ellner Stephen P.
Published: February 2016

Government agencies develop invasive species management programmes assuming early detection is key to successful management. Some theoretical studies confirm this intuition, while others, which restrict sampling effort to be constant in time, suggest managers are investing too heavily in sampling to detect new local invader populations.

We explore whether these optimal constant‐effort strategies underplay the importance of early surveillance and determine how much changing sampling effort through time reduces total management costs.

Using optimal control theory to calculate time‐dependent surveillance policies that minimize the total cost of sampling, eradication, and damage by the invasive, we find that the best strategies often use intense early sampling, followed by reduced sampling effort.

Intense early sampling can drastically reduce costs compared with constant‐effort strategies if propagule pressure from outside the managed area is low. However, if new infestations arise from frequent independent introductions from an outside source, constant strategies are cost‐effective.

Synthesis and applications. For invasive species that are initially present, not frequently reintroduced into the managed area, and for which surveillance is reasonably cost‐effective, we recommend a simple three‐phase management programme that deploys intense early surveillance until the majority of undetected populations have been discovered, followed by medium effort until most of the heavily infested areas have been cleared of the invader and finally low long‐term effort to prevent infestations caused by future introductions and spread from populations that escaped surveillance. This programme captures the majority of the economic benefits from varying sampling effort continuously through time.
Impacts of environmental filters on functional redundancy in riparian vegetation
Authors: Bruno Daniel , Gutiérrez‐Cánovas Cayetano , Sánchez‐Fernández David , Velasco Josefa , Nilsson Christer
Published: February 2016

Understanding and predicting ecosystem responses to multiple environmental pressures is a long‐standing interest in ecology and environmental management. However, few studies have examined how the functional features of freshwater biological communities vary along multiple gradients of environmental stress. Furthermore, modelling these functional features for a whole river network constitutes a strong potential basis to improve ecosystem management.

We explored how functional redundancy of biological communities (FR, a functional feature related to the stability, resistance and resilience of ecosystems) responds to single and multiple environmental filters. We compared these responses with those of functional richness, evenness and divergence. We used riparian vegetation of a Mediterranean basin, and three of the main environmental filters affecting freshwater communities in such regions, that is drought, flow regulation and agricultural intensity, thus considering the potential effect of natural environmental variability. We also assessed the predictability ofFRand estimated it for the entire river network.

We found that all functional measures decreased with increasing environmental filter intensity. However,FRwas more sensitive to single and multiple environmental filters compared to other functional measures. The best‐fitting model explained 59% of theFRvariability and included agriculture, drought and flow regulation and the pairwise interactions of agriculture with drought and flow regulation. The parameters of theFRmodels differed from null model expectations reflecting a non‐random decline along stress gradients.

Synthesis and applications. We found non‐random detrimental effects along environmental filters' gradients for riparian functional redundancy (the most sensitive functional index), meaning that increased stress could jeopardize stability, resistance and resilience of these systems. In general, agriculture caused the greatest impact on functional redundancy and functional diversity measures, being the most important stressor for riparian functionality in the study area. Temporary streams flowing through an agricultural, regulated basin had reduced values of functional redundancy, whereas the free‐flowing medium‐sized, perennial water courses flowing through unaltered sub‐basins displayed higher values of functional redundancy and potentially greater stability against human impacts. All these findings along with the predicted basin‐wide variation of functional redundancy can assist environmental managers in improving monitoring and ecosystem management.
Individual resource limitation combined with population‐wide pollen availability drives masting in the valley oak (Quercus lobata)
Authors: Pesendorfer Mario B. , Koenig Walter D. , Pearse Ian S. , Knops Johannes M. H. , Funk Kyle A.
Published: February 2016

Masting, the synchronized production of variable seed crops, is widespread among woody plants, but there is no consensus about the underlying proximate mechanisms. To understand this population‐level behaviour, it is necessary to dissect the behaviour of individual trees as well as the interactions that synchronize them.

Here, we test a model of masting in which variability in seed set is driven by resource limitation within trees and synchrony is driven by pollen limitation due to phenological asynchrony in some years.

We used a 35‐year seed set data set and a 12‐year phenological data set to analyse seed production of 84 valley oaks (Quercus lobata) in central coastal California. Individual trees varied tremendously in their seed production patterns; trees with high levels of seed production were less variable over time, but showed stronger negative autocorrelation between years, suggesting that they are more resource‐limited than unproductive trees. In years of more asynchronous flowering, Q. lobata produced fewer seeds, consistent with the importance of phenological synchrony.

We parametrized a model with these results to investigate how individual resource limitation and population‐wide pollen limitation – a consequence of asynchronous flowering during cold spring temperatures – interact to shape annual variation in seed production. The model illustrates that this proximate abiotic driver can synchronize the behaviour of individuals, resulting in population‐wide seed production patterns that closely resemble the field data.

Synthesis. Our findings support the hypothesis that an interaction between two proximate mechanisms, individual resource limitation and environmental variation affecting population‐wide pollen availability, drives masting in this population of Quercus lobata. This combination of internal and external proximate drivers may underlie masting behaviour in many wind‐pollinated plants.
Determinants of National Guard Mental Health Service Utilization in VA versus Non‐VA Settings
Authors: Gorman Lisa A. , Sripada Rebecca K. , Ganoczy Dara , Walters Heather M. , Bohnert Kipling M. , Dalack Gregory W. , Valenstein Marcia
Published: February 2016

Objective

To determine associations between need, enabling, and predisposing factors with mental health service use among National Guard soldiers in the first year following a combat deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Primary data were collected between 2011 and 2013 from 1,426 Guard soldiers representing 36 units.

Study Design

Associations between Guard soldier factors and any mental health service use were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models in a cross‐sectional study. Further analysis among service users (N = 405) assessed VA treatment versus treatment in other settings.

Principal Findings

Fifty‐six percent of Guard soldiers meeting cutoffs on symptom scales received mental health services with 81 percent of those reporting care from the VA. Mental health service use was associated with need (mental health screens and physical health) and residing in micropolitan communities. Among service users, predisposing factors (middle age range and female gender) and enabling factors (employment, income above $50,000, and private insurance) were associated with greater non‐VA services use.

Conclusion

Overall service use was strongly associated with need, whereas sector of use (non‐VA vs. VA) was insignificantly associated with need but strongly associated with enabling factors. These findings have implications for the recent extension of veteran health coverage to non‐VA providers.
The Relative Importance of Post‐Acute Care and Readmissions for Post‐Discharge Spending
Authors: Huckfeldt Peter J. , Mehrotra Ateev , Hussey Peter S.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To understand what patterns of health care use are associated with higher post‐hospitalization spending.

Data Sources

Medicare hospital, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and home health agency claims, and Medicare enrollment data from 2007 and 2008.

Study Design

For 10 common inpatient conditions, we calculated variation across hospitals in price‐standardized and case mix–adjusted Medicare spending in the 30 days following hospital discharge. We estimated the fraction of spending differences between low‐ and high‐spending hospitals attributable to readmissions versus post‐acute care, and within post‐acute care between inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) versus skilled nursing facility (SNF) use. For each service, we distinguished between differences in probability of use and spending conditional on use.

Data Extraction Methods

We identified index hospital claims and examined hospital and post‐acute care occurring within a 30‐day period following hospital discharge. For each Medicare Severity Diagnosis‐Related Group (MS‐DRG) at each hospital, we calculated average price‐standardized Medicare payments for readmissions, SNFs, IRFs, and post‐acute care overall (also including home health agencies and long‐term care hospitals).

Principal Findings

There was extensive variation across hospitals in Medicare spending in the 30 days following hospital discharge. For example, the interquartile range across hospitals ranged from $1,245 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to over $4,000 for myocardial infarction MS‐DRGs. The proportion of differences attributable to readmissions versus post‐acute care differed across conditions. For myocardial infarction, 74 to 93 percent of the variation was due to readmissions. For hip and femur procedures and joint replacement, 72 to 92 percent of the variation was due to differences in post‐acute care spending. There was also variation in the relative importance of the type of post‐acute spending. For hip and femur procedures, joint replacement, and stroke, whether patients received IRF was the key driver of variation in post‐acute care spending In contrast, for pneumonia and heart failure, whether patients received SNF care was the key driver of variation in post‐acute spending.

Conclusions

Through initiatives such as bundled payment, hospitals are financially responsible for spending in the post‐hospitalization period. The key driver of variation in post‐hospitalization spending varied greatly across conditions. For some conditions, the key driver was having a readmission, for others it was whether patients receive any post‐acute care, and for others the key driver was the type of post‐acute care. These findings may help hospitals implement strategies to reduce post‐discharge spending.
Do Smoking Bans Improve Neonatal Health?
Authors: Hankins Scott , Tarasenko Yelena
Published: February 2016

Research Objective

To estimate the effects of smoking bans on neonatal health outcomes and maternal smoking behavior during pregnancy.

Data Sources

Restricted‐use 1991–2009 Natality Detail Files, a Clean Air Dates Table Report, and the Tax Burden of Tobacco.

Study Design

A quasi‐experimental study using difference‐in‐differences estimation based on legislative history of smoking restrictions or bans by type/place/county/state level. Dependent variables included average monthly percentage of healthy neonates, of term neonates born with low and very low birth weight, of premature births, of maternal smokers, and average number of cigarettes smoked daily during pregnancy. The analyses were restricted to singleton births and those that occurred in the same county as mother's county of residence.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

The data from three data sources were combined using Federal Information Processing Standard codes.

Principal Findings

Results of the overall and stratified by maternal smoking status, educational level, and age regression analyses suggested no appreciable effect of smoking bans on neonatal health. Smoking bans had also no effect on maternal smoking behavior.

Conclusion

While there are health benefits to the general population from smoking bans, their effects on neonatal health outcomes and maternal smoking during pregnancy seem to be limited.
Retrospective Single Center Study of Granulocyte Monocyte Adsorption Apheresis Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Edfors Kajsa , Ståhlberg Dagny , Söderman Charlotte
Published: February 2016

Patients with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have elevated and activated myeloid leukocytes, which infiltrate the intestinal mucosa. A significant proportion of IBD patients do not respond adequately to conventional treatment regimes. Studies have suggested that treatment with granulocyte monocyte apheresis (GMA) could be a safe and efficacious alternative for these patients. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of granulocyte/monocyte apheresis in patients with IBD in a retrospective cohort study, conducted from a single center in Stockholm. Clinical details from consecutive apheresis treated patients were retrospectively reviewed from 2004 to 2012. A total of 37 patients were included, 23 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 14 with Crohn's disease (CD). Clinical response was seen in 11 patients (30%) and complete remission in 11 patients (30%). The remission rate was higher in UC patients compared to CD patients, 39% (N = 9) and 14% (N = 2) respectively. A total of 9 patients experienced adverse events. Most frequently reported was headache (N = 4). GMA seems to be a valuable adjuvant treatment regime in the care of patients with refractory IBD.
Association of fasting glucose levels with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: An 8‐year follow‐up study in a Chinese population
Authors: Liu Fangchao , Yang Xueli , Li Jianxin , Cao Jie , Chen Jichun , Li Ying , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhao Liancheng , Shen Chong , Yu Ling , Huang Jianfeng , Gu Dongfeng
Published: February 2016

Background

Identification of the population at high risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is critical for its prevention. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of fasting blood glucose (FBG) to predict ASCVD.

Methods

In all, 18 610 participants, aged 35–74 years at enrollment, were included in this prospective study. Baseline information was collected using a standardized questionnaire, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. During follow‐up, disease status and vital information were updated. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate associations, with normal FBG (70–99 mg/dL) as the reference group. Anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic status, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors were included in the multivariate‐adjusted model.

Results

After 7.8 years follow‐up (145 223 person‐years), there were 519 cases of ASCVD. The multivariate‐adjusted hazard ratios (HR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI), for ASCVD in patients with low FBG (<70 mg/dL), impaired fasting glucose (IFG; 100–125 mg/dL), and diabetes (≥126 mg/dL, use of antidiabetic medication and/or self‐report) were 1.35 (0.84, 2.15), 1.02 (0.81, 1.27), and 1.68 (1.26, 2.23), respectively. Although IFG was associated with the development of diabetes (multivariate‐adjusted HR 3.67; 95% CI 3.20, 4.21), it was only associated with incident ASCVD in the univariate model (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.23, 1.88). The association of diabetes with coronary heart disease was more pronounced than that with stroke. Gender and residential differences were also identified.

Conclusions

In the present study, IFG was associated with the development of diabetes but not incident ASCVD. Prevention strategies to reduce the development of diabetes in people with IFG are critical to improve cardiovascular health.
Gefitinib for asymptomatic brain metastasis from advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: Report of a favourable outcome
Authors: Liu Wen‐Yang , Liu Yu‐Tao , Yang Lin , Zhang Ye , Liu Peng , Wang Yan , Hui Zhou‐Guang
Published: February 2016

Brain metastasis (BM) is common in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have now been included as standard treatment options for NSCLC harboring EGFR‐activating mutations, only a few prospective reports demonstrate the efficacy of these agents in a BM setting. We report a case of a patient with advanced NSCLC, in which oral gefitinib documented a significant antitumor effect on parallel progression of extracranial lesion and BM occurred during chemotherapy.
Dynamic seascapes predict the marine occurrence of an endangered species: Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus
Authors: Breece Matthew W. , Fox Dewayne A. , Dunton Keith J. , Frisk Mike G. , Jordaan Adrian , Oliver Matthew J.
Published: February 2016

Categorical landscapes are powerful environmental partitions that index complex biogeochemical processes that drive terrestrial species distributions. However, translating landscapes into seascapes requires that the dynamic nature of the fluid environment be reflected in spatial and temporal boundaries such that seascapes can be used in marine species distribution models and conservation decisions.

A seascape product derived from satellite ocean colour and sea surface temperature partitioned mid‐Atlantic coastal waters on scales commensurate with the Atlantic Sturgeon migration. The seascapes were then matched with acoustic telemetry records of Atlantic Sturgeon to determine seascape selectivity. To test for selectivity, we used real‐time satellite seascape maps to normalize the sampling of an autonomous underwater vehicle that resampled similar geographic regions with time varying seascape classifications.

Our findings suggest that Atlantic Sturgeon prefer one seascape class over those available in the coastal ocean, indicating selection for covarying environmental properties rather than geographical location.

The recent listing of Atlantic Sturgeon as Endangered throughout much of their United States range has highlighted the need for improved understanding of marine habitat requirements to reduce interactions with anthropogenic stressors. Narrow dynamic migration corridors may enable seascapes to be used as a daily decision tool by industry and managers to reduce interactions with this imperilled species during coastal migrations.
Autoantibodies to Heat‐Shock Protein, HSPA5, and Epitope Spreading: High‐Dose Dexamethasone Therapy Rescues Ovarian Function in Experimental Autoimmune Ovarian Insufficiency Mouse Model
Authors: Kadam Kaushiki M. , Mande Purvi V. , Gawas Nilesh , Ahire Sarika , Khole Late Vrinda V.
Published: February 2016

Problem

Role of autoantibodies to heat‐shock protein 70 isoform, HSPA5, both alone or in combination with other antigenic peptides in epitope spreading and effect of high‐dose dexamethasone to overcome this.

Method of study

Experimental autoimmune premature ovarian insufficiency mouse model generated by immunization with immunodominant epitopes of HSPA5 alone or in combination with other antigenic peptides. Two doses of dexamethasone treatment are given to the latter group. Immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis were undertaken to detect cross‐reactivity. Hormonal estimations, histological evaluation, and fertility studies were performed to assess treatment efficacy.

Results

One of the immunodominant epitopes of HSPA5 led to epitope spreading. Of the two doses, 100 mg was more effective in rescuing fertility.

Conclusions

We postulate that the shared immunodominant peptide could be included in a peptide array to detect both HSAP5 and HSP90β autoantibodies for early diagnosis or prognosis of aPOI and customized glucocorticoid therapy for such subjects.
Are open‐Label Placebos Ethical? Informed Consent and Ethical Equivocations
Authors: Blease Charlotte , Colloca Luana , Kaptchuk Ted J.
Published: February 2016

The doctor‐patient relationship is built on an implicit covenant of trust, yet it was not until the post‐World War Two era that respect for patient autonomy emerged as an article of mainstream medical ethics. Unlike their medical forebears, physicians today are expected to furnish patients with adequate information about diagnoses, prognoses and treatments. Against these dicta there has been ongoing debate over whether placebos pose a threat to patient autonomy. A key premise underlying medical ethics discussion is the notion that the placebo effect necessitates patient deception. Indeed, the American Medical Association guidelines imply that placebo treatment necessary entails a form of deception. As a consequence of this assumption, the fulcrum of debate on the use of placebo treatment has hinged on whether that deception is ever justified. Recently performed experiments with open‐label transparently prescribed placebos have begun to challenge the notion that deception is necessary in eliciting the placebo effect and such effects necessarily involve a binary distinction between autonomy and beneficence. In this article we focus on the content of disclosures in distinctive open‐label, transparently disclosed placebo studies and inquire whether they might be said to invoke deception in clinical contexts, and if so, whether the deception is unethical. We find that open placebos may be said to involve equivocation over how placebos work. However, drawing on surveys of patient attitudes we suggest that this equivocation appears to be acceptable to patients. We conclude that open placebos fulfil current American Medical Association guidelines for placebo use, and propose future research directions for harnessing the placebo effect ethically.
Partial Functional Correspondence
Authors: Rodolà E. , Cosmo L. , Bronstein M. M. , Torsello A. , Cremers D.
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we propose a method for computing partial functional correspondence between non‐rigid shapes. We use perturbation analysis to show how removal of shape parts changes the Laplace–Beltrami eigenfunctions, and exploit it as a prior on the spectral representation of the correspondence. Corresponding parts are optimization variables in our problem and are used to weight the functional correspondence; we are looking for the largest and most regular (in the Mumford–Shah sense) parts that minimize correspondence distortion. We show that our approach can cope with very challenging correspondence settings.
Magnetic assembly of 3D cell clusters: visualizing the formation of an engineered tissue
Authors: Ghosh S. , Kumar S. R. P. , Puri I. K. , Elankumaran S.
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Contactless magnetic assembly of cells into 3D clusters has been proposed as a novel means for 3D tissue culture that eliminates the need for artificial scaffolds. However, thus far its efficacy has only been studied by comparing expression levels of generic proteins. Here, it has been evaluated by visualizing the evolution of cell clusters assembled by magnetic forces, to examine their resemblance to in vivo tissues.

Materials and methods

Cells were labeled with magnetic nanoparticles, then assembled into 3D clusters using magnetic force. Scanning electron microscopy was used to image intercellular interactions and morphological features of the clusters.

Results

When cells were held together by magnetic forces for a single day, they formed intercellular contacts through extracellular fibers. These kept the clusters intact once the magnetic forces were removed, thus serving the primary function of scaffolds. The cells self‐organized into constructs consistent with the corresponding tissues in vivo. Epithelial cells formed sheets while fibroblasts formed spheroids and exhibited position‐dependent morphological heterogeneity. Cells on the periphery of a cluster were flattened while those within were spheroidal, a well‐known characteristic of connective tissues in vivo.

Conclusions

Cells assembled by magnetic forces presented visual features representative of their in vivo states but largely absent in monolayers. This established the efficacy of contactless assembly as a means to fabricate in vitro tissue models.
Overexpression of CD61 promotes hUC‐MSC differentiation into male germ‐like cells
Authors: Li Bo , Liu Weishuai , Zhuang Mengru , Li Na , Wu Siyu , Pan Shaohui , Hua Jinlian
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Previous studies have shown that germ‐like cells can be induced from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC‐MSCs) in vitro. However, induction efficiency was low and a stable system had not been built. CD61, also called integrin‐β3, plays a significant role in cell differentiation, in that CD61‐positive‐cell‐derived pluripotent stem cells easily differentiate into primordial germ‐like cells (PGC). Here, we have explored whether overexpression of CD61 would promote hUC‐MSC differentiation into PGC and male germ‐like cells.

Materials and methods

hUC‐MSCs were cultured and transduced using pCD61‐CAGG‐TRIP‐pur (oCD61) and pTRIP‐CAGG plasmid (Control), and hUC‐MSCs overexpressed CD61 were induced by bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4, 12.5 ng/ml), to differentiate into PGC and male germ cells. Quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR), western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine PGC‐ and germ cell‐specific markers.

Results

High expression levels of PGC‐specific markers were detected in oCD61 hUC‐MSCs compared to controls. After BMP4 induction, expression levels of male germ cell markers such as Acrosin (ACR), Prm1 and meiotic markers including Stra8, Scp3 in oCD61 were significantly higher than those of the Control group.

Conclusions

Under induction of BMP4, CD61‐overexpressing hUC‐MSCs, which had turned into PGC‐like cells, could be further differentiated into male germ‐like cells. Thus, a simple and efficient approach to study male germ cell development by using hUC‐MSCs has been established.
Decellularized human amniotic membrane: how viable is it as a delivery system for human adipose tissue‐derived stromal cells?
Authors: Gholipourmalekabadi M. , Sameni M. , Radenkovic Dina , Mozafari M. , Mossahebi‐Mohammadi M. , Seifalian A.
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Human amniotic membrane (HAM) has been widely used in soft tissue engineering both in its fresh form and decellularized; its efficiency to aid treatment of burn injuries is well known. On the other hand, it has been reported clinically by several studies that human adipose‐derived stem cells (hADSC) are a promising cell source for cell therapy for burns. Recently, we have reported a new technique for decellularization of HAM. In this study, potential of prepared decellularized HAM (dHAM) as a viable support for proliferation and delivery of hADSC was investigated.

Materials and methods

Amniotic membranes were collected, decellularized and preserved according to the protocol described in our previously published study. hADSC were obtained from the patients undergoing elective liposuction surgery and cells were then seeded on the decellularized membrane for various times. Efficiency of the decellularized membrane as a delivery system for hADSC was investigated by MTT, LDH specific activity, DAPI staining and SEM.

Results

The results showed that dHAM provided a supporting microenvironment for cell growth without producing any cytotoxic effects. In addition, the cells were spread out and actively attached to the dHAM scaffold.

Conclusion

These results strongly suggest that dHAMs have considerable potential as 3D cell‐carrier scaffolds for delivery of hADSC, in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Effect of donor cardiac arrest and arrest duration on outcomes of lung transplantation
Authors: Mohite Prashant N. , Zych Bartlomiej , Sabashnikov Anton , Popov Aron‐Frederik , Garcia‐Saez Diana , Patil Nikhil P. , Koch Achim , Zeriouh Mohamed , Rahmanian Parwis B. , Dhar Dhruva , Amrani Mohamed , Bahrami Toufan , DeRobertis Fabio , Carby Martin , Reed Anna , Simon Andre R.
Published: February 2016

Background

Limited data are available about lung transplantation (LTx) from donors suffering cardiac arrest (CA) prior to actual donation.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of LTx performed between January 2007 and September 2012 was done with the focus on CA in donors. The recipients were grouped depending on the history of donor CA and CA duration (downtime) as: No cardiac arrest (“NoCA”), CA downtime less than 20 min (“CA < 20”), and CA downtime equal to or more than 20 min (“CA > 20”). Early and mid‐term outcomes after LTx were compared among the three groups.

Results

A total of 237 LTx were performed during the study period. One hundred eighty‐eight patients received organs from “NoCA” donors, 25 from “CA < 20” donors, and 24 patients from “CA > 20” donors. There was a trend toward better overall cumulative survival in both CA groups (log rank p = 0.076) whereas the survival in the “CA > 20” group was significantly better than in the “NoCA” group in the subgroup analysis (log rank p = 0.045). Freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) also increased with increase in CA duration, although it did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Transplantation of lungs from donors with a history of CA is safe and feasible. Longer duration of cardiac arrest may improve the outcomes after the LTx in terms of survival and freedom from BOS.
A rare indication for lung transplantation – pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: institutional experience of five consecutive cases
Authors: Klikovits Thomas , Slama Alexis , Hoetzenecker Konrad , Waseda Ryuichi , Lambers Christopher , Murakoezy Gabriella , Jaksch Peter , Aigner Clemens , Taghavi Shahrokh , Klepetko Walter , Lang Gyoergy , Hoda Mir Alireza
Published: February 2016

Background

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare lung disease caused by calcifications within the alveolar space. The only known effective treatment for an end‐stage PAM is lung transplantation (LuTX).

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of all individuals that underwent lung transplantation at our center between 1989 and 2013. Five consecutive patients with PAM were identified.

Results

Four females and one male with a mean age of 46.3 yr were identified. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support was required intraoperatively in four cases and post‐operatively in one case. Mean post‐operative intubation time was 3.3 (range, 2–5) d and mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 8.3 (range, 4–12) d. No intraoperative complications were observed. One early patient (operated in 1995) underwent acute re‐transplantation on the second post‐operative day (POD) and died from sepsis on the 11 POD. In one patient reperfusion edema was observed requiring a prolonged weaning process. No other severe perioperative complications were observed. Four of five patients are currently still alive with normal follow‐up parameters. No recurrence of PAM was observed.

Conclusions

Lung transplantation is a feasible therapy option in patients with end‐stage PAM showing good post‐operative results comparable to other indications for LuTX.
Pharmacoepidemiology of cytomegalovirus prophylaxis in a large retrospective cohort of kidney transplant recipients with Medicare Part D coverage
Authors: Santos Carlos A. Q. , Brennan Daniel C. , Saeed Mohammed J. , Fraser Victoria J. , Olsen Margaret A.
Published: February 2016

We assembled a cohort of 21 117 kidney transplant patients from July 2006 to June 2011 with Medicare Part D coverage using US Renal Database System data to determine real‐world use of cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis. CMV prophylaxis was defined as filled prescriptions for daily oral valganciclovir (≤900 mg), ganciclovir (≤3 g), or valacyclovir (6–8 g) within 28 d of transplant. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with CMV prophylaxis. CMV prophylaxis (97% valganciclovir) was identified in 61% of kidney transplant recipients (median duration, 64 d); 71% of seronegative recipients of kidneys from seropositive donors (D+/R−); 63% of R+ patients; 60% of patients with unknown serostatus; and 34% of D−/R− patients. Variability in usage of prophylaxis among transplant centers was greater than variability within transplant centers. One in four transplant centers prescribed CMV prophylaxis to >60% of their D−/R− patients. CMV donor/recipient serostatus, lymphocyte‐depleting agents for induction and mycophenolate for maintenance were associated with CMV prophylaxis. CMV prophylaxis was commonly used among kidney transplant recipients. Routine prescription of CMV prophylaxis to D−/R− patients may have occurred in some transplant centers. Limiting unnecessary use of CMV prophylaxis may decrease healthcare costs and drug‐related harms.
Optical diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia: A Western perspective
Authors: Sakata Shinichiro , Kheir Ammar O. , Hewett David G.
Published: February 2016

Optical diagnosis is an emerging paradigm in Western endoscopic practice for the colonoscopic management of diminutive polyps, and includes two complementary clinical strategies: ‘resect and discard’, in which diminutive high‐confidence adenomas are identified, and then removed and discarded without pathological assessment; and ‘diagnose and leave’, where diminutive high‐confidence hyperplastic polyps are identified in the rectosigmoid and then left without resection or biopsy. Like other aspects of colonoscopy performance, adoption of optical diagnosis in Western practice is limited by operator dependency and variation in clinical effectiveness. There is substantial potential for optical diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia during colonoscopy to alleviate the rising costs of health care in the West. However, operator dependence in diagnostic performance together with critical system factors such as informed consent, credentialing, medical legal support and reimbursement incentives must be overcome before optical diagnosis of diminutive lesions is considered for widespread adoption in Western clinical practice.
Measurement, “scriptural economies,” and social justice: governing HIV/AIDS treatments by numbers in a fragile state, the Central African Republic (CAR)
Authors: David Pierre‐Marie
Published: February 2016

Fragile states have been raising increasing concern among donors since the mid‐2000s. The policies of the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (GF) have not excluded fragile states, and this source has provided financing for these countries according to standardized procedures. They represent interesting cases for exploring the meaning and role of measurement in a globalized context. Measurement in the field of HIV/AIDS and its treatment has given rise to a private outsourcing of expertise and auditing, thereby creating a new form of value based on the social process of registration and the creation of realities produced by the intervention itself. These “scriptural economies” must be questioned in terms of the production of knowledge, but also in terms of social justice. Governing HIV/AIDS treatments by numbers in a fragile state is explored in this article through the experience of the Central African Republic (CAR) in terms of epidemiology and access to antiretroviral drugs. The unexpected effects of performance‐based programs in this context underline the need for global health governance to be re‐embedded into a social justice framework.
Understanding Health Research Ethics in Nepal
Authors: Sharma Jeevan Raj , Khatri Rekha , Harper Ian
Published: February 2016

Unlike other countries in South Asia, in Nepal research in the health sector has a relatively recent history. Most health research activities in the country are sponsored by international collaborative assemblages of aid agencies and universities. Data from Nepal Health Research Council shows that, officially, 1,212 health research activities have been carried out between 1991 and 2014. These range from addressing immediate health problems at the country level through operational research, to evaluations and programmatic interventions that are aimed at generating evidence, to more systematic research activities that inform global scientific and policy debates. Established in 1991, the Ethical Review Board of the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) is the central body that has the formal regulating authority of all the health research activities in country, granted through an act of parliament. Based on research conducted between 2010 and 2013, and a workshop on research ethics that the authors conducted in July 2012 in Nepal as a part of the on‐going research, this article highlights the emerging regulatory and ethical fields in this low‐income country that has witnessed these increased health research activities. Issues arising reflect this particular political economy of research (what constitutes health research, where resources come from, who defines the research agenda, culture of contract research, costs of review, developing Nepal's research capacity, through to the politics of publication of data/findings) and includes questions to emerging regulatory and ethical frameworks.
The external globus pallidus: progress and perspectives
Authors: Hegeman Daniel J. , Hong Ellie S. , Hernández Vivian M. , Chan C. Savio
Published: February 2016

The external globus pallidus (GPe) of the basal ganglia is in a unique and powerful position to influence processing of motor information by virtue of its widespread projections to all basal ganglia nuclei. Despite the clinical importance of theGPe in common motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease, there is only limited information about its cellular composition and organizational principles. In this review, recent advances in the understanding of the diversity in the molecular profile, anatomy, physiology and corresponding behaviour during movement ofGPe neurons are described. Importantly, this study attempts to build consensus and highlight commonalities of the cellular classification based on existing but contentious literature. Additionally, an analysis of the literature concerning the intricate reciprocal loops formed between theGPe and major synaptic partners, including both the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus, is provided. In conclusion, theGPe has emerged as a crucial node in the basal ganglia macrocircuit. While subtleties in the cellular makeup and synaptic connection of theGPe create new challenges, modern research tools have shown promise in untangling such complexity, and will provide better understanding of the roles of theGPe in encoding movements and their associated pathologies.
What affects the subjective sleep quality of hospitalized elderly patients?
Authors: Park Mi Jeong , Kim Kon Hee
Published: February 2016

Aim

The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting the subjective sleep quality in elderly inpatients.

Methods

The participants were 290 older adults admitted in three general hospitals. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of scales for general characteristics, sleep quality, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and depression. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t‐test, one‐way anova, Scheffé post‐hoc, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.

Results

There were statistically significant differences in sleep quality according to age, education level, marital status, monthly income and number of cohabitants. The most powerful predictor of sleep quality was depression (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.30). Five variables, depression, perceived health status, diagnosis, number of cohabitants and duration of hospitalization; explained 43.0% of the total variance in sleep quality.

Conclusions

Elderly inpatients suffered from low sleep quality, and depression affected their sleep. We should develop and apply hospital‐tailored sleep interventions considering older adults' depression, and then hospitalized older adults' sleep could improve. Furthermore, it is useful to identify other sleep‐related factors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 471–479.