bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amos Economics
Authors: Ellis Robert R.
Published: March 2014

A major ethical focus of Amos is the issue of economic injustice. The book depicts a situation in Israel of political stability and material prosperity. The wealth of the nation, however, was accumulated in the hands of a few, while the majority of the population lived in desperate poverty. The wealthy not only consumed excessive amounts but also oppressed the poor by exacting from them what little they had. The economic abuse of the underprivileged originated in debt slavery, harsh taxation, extortion in the marketplace, and injustices in the courts. As a result of these abusive practices, the elite lived in luxurious leisure, with no concern for the suffering of the poor. Amos condemned the economic injustices of the land with some of the harshest rhetoric in the Old Testament canon, threatening the utter devastation of the nation. The book of Amos is remarkably relevant for our culture, especially in the current economic malaise. Today the ranks of the poor are growing dramatically, while the gap between the haves and have-nots is widening. In such a climate, the church has a solemn responsibility to guard against wanton consumerism, alleviate the suffering of the poor, and combat abusive economic structures.
Ancient Economics—Modern Interpreters: The World of Jesus
Authors: May David M.
Published: March 2014

Jesus was keenly aware of the economic realities in his age, and many of his sayings and parables reflect these realities. Contemporary readers, however, tend to “de-economize” them in order to extract theological truths or to read Jesus' words through capitalistic lenses. A considerate reader of the New Testament, however, needs an appropriate template for reading economic situations within their original contexts.

Jesus' economic world was embedded within two major social domains: Kinship and politics (powers). These two social domains serve as twin institutions for understanding the economic language, imagery, and focus of Jesus' words. Jesus' saying about leaving family and land in Mark 10:29–31 serves as a test case for examining some of the prominent economic issues of Jesus' day.
Light in Darkness: Pastoral Conversations from Plaquemines Parish
Authors: Tolbert Samuel C.
Published: March 2014

In response to a request for information about the impact of the oil spill and pastors and churches in the affected area, the author traveled to Plaquemines Parish and conducted an in-depth interview with a group of pastors there. The interview revealed deep suffering, emotional pain, and the multiplication of frustrations, but also, amazingly, hope and embracing of the promises of the Christian gospel. The author was moved to respond and therefore organized a Summit of care for these pastors and churches. This article describes the Summit gathering and some of the outcomes.
The Textual Base for Modern Translations of the Old Testament
Authors: Schäfer Rolf , Omanson Roger
Published: March 2014

This article discusses the history of scholarly texts of the Hebrew Bible up to the Biblia Hebraica Quinta, which is currently being published in individual fascicles at the rate of one or two volumes a year. It also helps the reader understand why translations of the Bible in English are sometimes so different even though the translators almost always base their work on the Hebrew Masoretic Text.
James: A Circular Letter for Immigrants
Authors: Tamez By Elsa , Kinsler Gloria
Published: March 2014

This article proposes rereading the letter of James from the situation of persons who migrate to other countries. To do that we will take up the challenges the letter presents to its addressees living far from Palestine. We will highlight the author's advice in relation to Greco-Roman culture, such as the internal relations within an immigrant community under outside pressure. We will also see that the advice or exhortations are supported by a well-founded theology of the Scriptures.
A “Complete” Ethics: James' Practical Theology
Authors: Church Christopher
Published: March 2014

James offers a “complete” Christian ethics by James W. McClendon's standard, skillfully interweaving concerns for the (1) body, (2) the social self, and (3) the new order, that together capture the essence of what it is to live life as a Christian. The first, bodily strand appears in James' concern for creature needs, acknowledgement of mortality, and awareness of human feelings, yearnings and psychological divisions. The second, social strand is evident in James' definition of religion; his confrontation of patterns of discrimination and neglect within congregations; his interest in speech and inter-personal wisdom; his demand for fair business practices; and interest in congregational practices that support community. The third, eschatological strand appears in James' conception of the new community as “first fruits of creation,” in the in-breaking of Kingdom values, in the expectation of rewards and the comfort provided by “the coming of the Lord.” Like McClendon's ethic, James' is rooted in an understanding of God and of how Christians relate to God. For James, God is the very model of integrity, whose values and acts (e.g., choosing the poor) set the standard for the beloved community.
A Biblical Approach to Hospitality
Authors: Carroll Matthew
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

This article speaks as an introduction to the theology and practice of hospitality. Throughout scripture, we read an understanding and calling to hospitality both as custom and more importantly as mandate for followers of Christ. First, the challenges of meeting this mandate are laid out primarily through identifying the fear many have of the unknown. Second, the definitions of stranger and neighbor have been influenced by popular culture today and are seen by some as total opposites. This article aims to help differentiate the two terms through the lens of scripture. Finally, a celebration of difference is emphasized as a primary means to welcome all to the table of hospitality.
Sowing Discord: The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1–9)
Authors: Herzog William R.
Published: March 2014

This experiment in biblical interpretation works with the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1–9) as a parable from the historical Jesus spoken in a village setting in Galilee. This study explores the character of the parable as an example of Jesus' oral communication. As its oral nature comes to the fore so does the potential for the parable to reveal a “hidden transcript” of village resistance to Roman and Herodian rule. This theme of resistance is pursued by creating an imaginary conversation among peasants in a village in Galilee on the model of the discussion of Gospel texts by the peasants in Solentiname. This conversation will break open the parable in a manner much different from the earlier discussion of the parable and the questions it raises. The experiment in interpreting the parable in these different ways raises questions about the role between critical and creative approaches to biblical texts.
Occupy Theology: Hyperbolic Christianity and American Culture
Authors: Ritter Joshua R.
Published: March 2014

Two competing and often contradictory hyperboles appear to exist in harmony. On the one hand is the extravagant call of Christianity to love the “other” in excess, to forgive without limit, and to offer as well as to accept exorbitant grace. On the other hand are societal and economic systems that advocate loving the “self” in excess, consuming without reserve, and taking what is given freely with no thought of reciprocity. The problem, then, is that the message of Christianity often directly opposes this more economic, materialistic way of viewing the world. This essay primarily approaches these issues of religion and economy from a rhetorical perspective to reveal instances when Christianity and a consumeristic culture driven by economic interests and materialistic desires interact in often-unnoticed ways. Specifically, it will re-define hyperbole and will argue that competing hyperboles in public discourse can be equally oppressive and transformative. Overall, a hyper-consumerist American culture constantly uses exaggerated claims and promises in order to sell various products, which may seem harmless enough, but what is troubling is that traditional religious practices and expressions such as “spirituality” are also being turned into products for mass consumption in the marketplace. They are being “occupied,” re-branded, re-packaged, and stripped of their ethical religious underpinnings. However, Christianity itself is equally extravagant and excessive in its own claims about love, grace, redemption, and forgiveness. Through these excessive claims and actions one can resist, disrupt, and transform the “occupation,” or re-branding and selling, of Christian practices and expressions as products. By engaging in a perpetual critique of society as well as a critique of its own doctrines and expressions, one can participate in a more radical form of Christianity.
Integrating Literacy and Science in Biology: Teaching and Learning Impacts of Reading Apprenticeship Professional Development
Authors: Greenleaf Cynthia L. , Litman Cindy , Hanson Thomas L. , Rosen Rachel , Boscardin Christy K. , Herman Joan , Schneider Steven A. , Madden Sarah , Jones Barbara
Published: March 2014

This study examined the effects of professional development integrating academic literacy and biology instruction on science teachers? instructional practices and students? achievement in science and literacy. The intervention consisted of 10 days of professional development in Reading Apprenticeship, an instructional framework integrating metacognitive inquiry routines into subject-area instruction to make explicit the tacit reasoning processes, problem-solving strategies, and textual features that shape literacy practices in academic disciplines. The study utilized a group-randomized, experimental design and multiple measures of teacher implementation and student learning and targeted groups historically unrepresented in the sciences. Hierarchical linear modeling procedures were used to estimate program impacts. Intervention teachers demonstrated increased support for science literacy learning and use of metacognitive inquiry routines, reading comprehension instruction, and collaborative learning structures compared to controls. Students in treatment classrooms performed better than controls on state standardized assessments in English language arts, reading comprehension, and biology.
Placemaking in a translocal receiving community: The relevance of place to identity and agency
Authors: Main Kelly , Sandoval Gerardo Francisco
Published: March 2014

Recent case studies of receiving communities have established that translocal immigrants are transforming their neighbourhoods, producing spaces of identity. While these studies have focused on the reshaping of local power dynamics, less attention has been given to the spaces, themselves, and the qualities that influence identity. This study utilises place identity literature, from environmental psychology, to explore the remaking of MacArthur Park, a public space at the centre of a Mexican and Central American immigrant community in Los Angeles, California. We find that new ‘place identities’ are influenced by the specific physical, social, and cultural elements of the park, as study participants attempt to maintain identities influenced by important places in their sending communities. The result is a park that has emotional significance for participants, significance that leads to agency – everyday and political practices – to protect the park, sometimes in the face of immense challenges.
European Capitals of Culture and life satisfaction
Authors: Steiner Lasse , Frey Bruno , Hotz Simone
Published: March 2014

This paper analyses whether hosting the most prestigious European cultural event, the European Capital of Culture, has an impact on regional economic development and the life satisfaction of the local population. We show that European Capitals are hosted in regions with above-average GDP per capita, but do not causally affect the economic development in a significant way. Surprisingly, using difference-in-difference estimations, a negative effect on the wellbeing of the regional population is found during the event. Since no effect is found before the event, reverse causality and positive anticipation can be ruled out. The negative effect during the event might result from dissatisfaction with the high levels of public expenditure, transport disruptions, general overcrowding or an increase in housing prices.
Evaluation of the Late-Life Disability Instrument (LLDI) in Low-Income Older Populations
Authors: Vafaei Afshin , Gomez Fernando , Zunzunegui Maria V. , Guralnik Jack , Curcio Carmen L. , Guerra Ricardo , Alvarado Beatriz E.
Published: March 2014

Objective: To assess the construct and convergent validity of the 16 items of the Late-Life Disability Instrument (LLDI) in Latin American seniors. Method: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the factor structure of frequency and limitation sub-scales of the LLDI. ANOVA and t test were used to determine the convergent and construct validity of the LLDI by exploring associations with physical performance tests, mobility limitations, depression, cognition, self-reported health, as well as with sex, education, and income. Results: Factor analysis resulted in one-factor solution and acceptable model fit. Participants with better physical function, less mobility limitations, better self-reported health, and intact cognition reported more frequent activities and fewer limitations, indicating good convergent and construct validity of our measure. Conclusion: LLDI is a good instrument to assess disability in low-income populations. Further research is needed to include culturally acceptable activities for the frequency sub-scale.
Fever in hospitalized HIV-infected patients in Western French Guiana: first think histoplasmosis
Authors: Vantilcke Vincent , Boukhari Rachida , Jolivet Anne , Vautrin Cyrille , Misslin Caroline , Adenis Antoine , Nacher Mathieu
Published: March 2014

Summary

In Western French Guiana, there was a dramatic increase in HIV prevalence between 1990 and 2000. The present study describes the causes of fever among HIV patients hospitalized in the medical ward of the only hospital in the western part of French Guiana. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2010 in the department of medicine of Saint Laurent du Maroni Hospital. The main characteristics of 67 patients having presented with fever in the first 48 hours of hospitalization were described. Among patients with CD4 <200/mm3 the main febrile opportunistic infection was disseminated histoplasmosis (41.1%). Among patients with CD4 counts <50/mm3 and fever without focal points 85.7% had disseminated histoplasmosis. Three patients died and all had disseminated histoplasmosis. Disseminated histoplasmosis is the most common febrile opportunistic infection in western French Guiana. Primary prophylaxis with itraconazole among immunocompromised patients seems warranted.
Oral candidiasis in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Fangtham M , Magder LS , Petri MA
Published: March 2014

Objectives: We assessed the frequency of oral candidiasis and the association between demographic variables, disease-related variables, corticosteroid treatment, other treatments and the occurrence of oral candidiasis in the Hopkins Lupus Cohort. Methods: In this large prospective cohort study of 2258 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), demographic and clinical associates of oral candidiasis were estimated by univariate, multivariate and within-person regression models. Results: There were 53,548 cohort visits. Oral candidiasis was diagnosed at 675 visits (1.25%) in 325 (14%) of the patients. In the multivariate analyses, oral candidiasis was associated with African-American ethnicity, SELENA-SLEDAI disease activity, high white blood cell count, a history of bacterial infection, prednisone use and immunosuppressive use. The urine protein by urine dip stick was higher in SLE patients with oral candidiasis. Considering only patients who had candidiasis at some visits in a ‘within-person’ analysis, candidiasis was more frequent in visits with higher SELENA-SLEDAI disease activity, high white blood cell count, proteinuria by urine dip stick, a history of bacterial infection and prednisone use. The use of hydroxychloroquine was associated with a lower risk of oral candidiasis, but was not statistically significant ( p = 0.50) in the within-person analysis models. Conclusion: This study identified multiple risk factors for oral candidiasis in SLE. Inspection of the oral cavity for signs of oral candidiasis is recommended especially in SLE patients with active disease, proteinuria, high white blood cell count, taking prednisone, immunosuppressive drugs or antibiotics.
Estimation of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) in patients with lupus nephritis
Authors: Nozaki Y , Kinoshita K , Yano T , Shiga T , Hino S , Niki K , Kishimoto K , Funauchi M , Matsumura I
Published: March 2014

Objective

Biomarkers of disease activity in lupus nephritis (LN) are needed. Ideally, such biomarkers would be capable of detecting early sub-clinical disease and could be used to gauge response to therapy, thus obviating the need for serial renal biopsies. Much of the focus in the search for LN biomarkers has been on the measurement of urinary chemokines and cytokines in LN patients. However, these have yet to be widely implemented in clinical practice. Kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) is expressed in damaged tubules, but whether urinary (u) and tubular (t)-Kim-1 could serve as a biomarker of active LN is unknown. To investigate the disease activity and histological findings in LN, we evaluated u-Kim-1 levels and t-Kim-1 cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Method

We measured u-Kim-1 levels and stained t-Kim-1 expression in 57 patients with LN using an ELISA and immunohistochemistry staining. Patients were classified into two groups (active LN, n = 37; inactive LN, n = 20) based on the presence of active renal disease according to the renal SLE disease activity index. correlations of clinical, laboratory data, and histological findings with urinary and t-Kim-1 expression were assessed.

Result

The u-Kim-1 levels were significantly correlated with the expression of t-Kim-1 ( R = 0.64; P = 0.004) in the SLE patients. The active LN patients exhibited elevated u-Kim-1 levels compared to the inactive LN patients. The number of t-Kim-1 cells was also correlated with histological findings (both glomerular and interstitial inflammation). The u-Kim-1 levels were also correlated with proteinuria and tubular damage in the active LN group. The number of t-Kim-1 cells at baseline was significantly correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate ( R = 0.72; P = 0.005) and serum creatinine ( R = 0.53; P = 0.005) after 6–8 months of treatment.

Conclusion

These data suggest the potential use of the u-Kim-1 levels to screen for active LN and for the estimation of t-Kim-1 expression in renal biopsies to predict renal damage, ongoing glomerular nephritis and tubulointerstitial inflammation, and tubular atrophy.
Physical Intimate Partner Violence in Northern India
Authors: Ragavan Maya I. , Iyengar Kirti , Wurtz Rebecca M.
Published: March 2014

In this article, we examine perceptions about the definition of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) in northern India utilizing feminist perspectives as a framework. We interviewed 56 women and 52 men affiliated with a health services nongovernmental organization in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. We transcribed, coded, and analyzed the interviews utilizing grounded theory. We found that perceptions regarding physical IPV were associated with both structural and ideological patriarchal beliefs and microlevel constructs such as alcohol use. We discovered multiple types of physical IPV in the study region, including rationalized violence (socially condoned violence perpetrated by a husband against his wife), unjustified violence (socially prohibited violence perpetrated by a husband against his wife), and majboori violence (violence perpetrated by a wife against her husband). Our results add to the breadth of research available about IPV in India and create a framework for future research and IPV prevention initiatives.
Women’s Experiences of Internet-Based or Postal Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Björk Anna-Bell , Sjöström Malin , Johansson Eva E. , Samuelsson Eva , Umefjord Göran
Published: March 2014

Stress urinary incontinence is common and sometimes embarrassing. New, simple, and easily accessible treatments are needed. We telephone interviewed 21 women who participated in a randomized controlled study comparing two treatment programs based on instructions for pelvic floor muscle training. One program was Internet-based and included email support by a urotherapist; the other was sent by post. There was no face-to-face contact in either program. Our main aim was to explore the women’s experiences of the Internet-based treatment. Grounded theory analysis revealed three categories: hidden but present, at a distance but close, and by myself but not alone. These were incorporated in a core category: acknowledged but not exposed. The leakage was often a well-hidden secret, but the study treatments lowered the barrier for seeking care. In the Internet group, a supportive patient–provider relationship developed despite the lack of face-to-face contact. Internet-based treatment programs can increase access to care and empower women.
Confirming Delivery
Authors: Macdonald Marilyn T. , Heilemann MarySue V. , MacKinnon Neil J. , Lang Ariella , Gregory David , Gurnham Mary Ellen , Fillatre Theresa
Published: March 2014

The purpose of our study was to gain an understanding of current patient involvement in medication administration safety from the perspectives of both patients and nursing staff members. Administering medication is taken for granted and therefore suited to the development of theory to enhance its understanding. We conducted a constructivist, grounded theory study involving 24 patients and 26 nursing staff members and found that patients had the role of confirming delivery in the administration of medication. Confirming delivery was characterized by three interdependent subprocesses: engaging in the medication administration process, being “half out of it” (patient mental status), and perceiving time. We believe that ours is one of the first qualitative studies on the role of hospitalized patients in administering medication. Medication administration and nursing care systems, as well as patient mental status, impose limitations on patient involvement in safe medication administration.
Team Boundary Activity
Authors: Somech Anit , Khalaili Amira
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study is to broaden our understanding of team boundary activities in promoting team innovation. The model examines the mediating role of boundary activities in the relationship between the structural variables of inter-team goal interdependence and team functional heterogeneity and team innovation. Sixty teams from high-technology companies were studied involving 196 team members and their 60 corresponding team leaders and unit managers to whom the leaders report. Results identified two dimensions of boundary activities: boundary-loosening activities and boundary-tightening activities. Overall, the results of the structural equation model confirmed the mediating role of team boundary activity. The results indicated a positive relationship between the two structural variables and boundary-loosening activities, a negative relationship between functional heterogeneity and boundary-tightening activities, and a positive relationship between the two dimensions of boundary activities and team innovation. Implications, limitations, and directions for further research on team boundary activities are discussed.
Equity and inclusion in physical education PLC
Authors: Evans John
Published: March 2014

Physical Educationalists in many western and westernised societies across the globe are facing new challenges as system wide changes take place increasing the role of private bodies (e.g. Academy trusts) in the delivery of school based education. This reflective and rather personal paper1 considers the place and meaning of ‘inclusion’ and ‘equity’ on a terrain of consortia, free schools, academies and de-nationalised curricula, where outsourcing Physical Education (PE), either to corporate coach/sport industries and/or health providers is fast becoming the norm. The paper addresses class, race and gender issues, highlights the repackaging of privilege in PE, and pleads for the rediscovery of PE grounded in education principles rather than the interests of health and sport industries.
Dynamic NOx emission modelling using local model networks
Authors: Hametner Christoph , Mayr Christian , Jakubek Stefan
Published: March 2014

More and more stringent emission regulations and the desire to reduce fuel consumption lead to an increasing demand for efficient and reliable modelling tools in the automotive industry. When conventional physical modelling is not possible due to the lack of precise, formal knowledge about the system, black-box- and grey-box-oriented nonlinear system identification procedures are a widely used concept to create models based on measured input and output data of the process. In this context, local model networks are an established approach for nonlinear dynamic system identification as they provide not only accurate but also interpretable models and therefore allow a better understanding of the true system than pure black-box models. As a consequence, local model networks provide a basis for the development of systematic approaches to stability analysis and nonlinear controller design. In this article, local model network–based dynamic NOx emission modelling is presented. A robust and efficient local model network training algorithm is described, and the proposed concepts are validated using real measurement data. An important advantage of the architecture of local model networks is their good interpretability which is an important advantage for the design of controllers or observers. Additionally, stability analysis of both the nonlinear open- and closed-loop system is possible based on Lyapunov stability theory.
Hacienda ruins as sites of difficult memory in Chimborazo, Ecuador
Authors: Jamieson Ross W
Published: March 2014

For over 200 years, until the 1960s, a system of haciendas and debt peonage dominated the rural economy of the central Ecuadorian highland province of Chimborazo. Over the last 40 years, with land reform and growing indigenous political and economic power, the hacienda system has declined. The ruins of hacienda architectural complexes now dot the landscape of highland Ecuador, presenting challenges to ideas of heritage representation, management, and visions of the rural past. Through the presentation of three case studies of hacienda complexes outside the town of Colta, Ecuador, I propose that these properties usefully remain in legal limbo, providing community architectural spaces and spaces for the memories of great pain that surround the hacienda era in this region.
Motor Imagery EEG Discrimination Using the Correlation of Wavelet Features
Authors: Hsu Wei-Yen
Published: March 2014

A novel method for motor imagery (MI) electroencephalogram (EEG) data classification is proposed in this study. Time-frequency representation is constructed by means of continuous wavelet transform from EEG signals and then weighted with 2-sample t-statistics, which are also used to automatically select the area of interest in advance. Finally, normalized cross-correlation is used to discriminate the test MI data. Compared with the nonweighted version on MI data, the experimental results indicate that the proposed system achieves satisfactory results in the applications of brain-computer interface (BCI).
The Added Value of Log File Analyses of the Use of a Personal Health Record for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Sieverink Floor , Kelders Saskia M. , Braakman-Jansen Louise M. A. , van Gemert-Pijnen Julia E. W. C.
Published: March 2014

Background:

The electronic personal health record (PHR) is a promising technology for improving the quality of chronic disease management. Until now, evaluations of such systems have provided only little insight into why a particular outcome occurred. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the navigation process (what functionalities are used, and in what sequence) of e-Vita, a PHR for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), to increase the efficiency of the system and improve the long-term adherence.

Method:

Log data of the first visits in the first 6 weeks after the release of a renewed version of e-Vita were analyzed to identify the usage patterns that emerge when users explore a new application.

Results:

After receiving the invitation, 28% of all registered users visited e-Vita. In total, 70 unique usage patterns could be identified. When users visited the education service first, 93% of all users ended their session. Most users visited either 1 or 5 or more services during their first session, but the distribution of the routes was diffuse.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, log file analyses can provide valuable prompts for improving the system design of a PHR. In this way, the match between the system and its users and the long-term adherence has the potential to increase.
Improved myocardial perfusion after transmyocardial laser revascularization in a patient with microvascular coronary artery disease
Authors: Oskui Peyman Mesbah , Mayeda Guy S , Burstein Steven , Gheissari Ali , French William J , Thomas Joseph , Kloner Robert A
Published: March 2014

We report the case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with symptoms of angina that was refractory to medical management. Although her cardiac catheterization revealed microvascular coronary artery disease, her symptoms were refractory to optimal medical management that included ranolazine. After undergoing transmyocardial revascularization, her myocardial ischemia completely resolved and her symptoms dramatically improved. This case suggests that combination of ranolazine and transmyocardial revascularization can be applied to patients with microvascular coronary artery disease.
MHC class I antigen presentation and implications for developing a new generation of therapeutic vaccines
Authors: Comber Joseph D. , Philip Ramila
Published: March 2014

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) presented peptide epitopes provide a ‘window’ into the changes occurring in a cell. Conventionally, these peptides are generated by proteolysis of endogenously synthesized proteins in the cytosol, loaded onto MHC-I molecules, and presented on the cell surface for surveillance by CD8+ T cells. MHC-I restricted processing and presentation alerts the immune system to any infectious or tumorigenic processes unfolding intracellularly and provides potential targets for a cytotoxic T cell response. Therefore, therapeutic vaccines based on MHC-I presented peptide epitopes could, theoretically, induce CD8+ T cell responses that have tangible clinical impacts on tumor eradication and patient survival. Three major methods have been used to identify MHC-I restricted epitopes for inclusion in peptide-based vaccines for cancer: genetic, motif prediction and, more recently, immunoproteomic analysis. Although the first two methods are capable of identifying T cell stimulatory epitopes, these have significant disadvantages and may not accurately represent epitopes presented by a tumor cell. In contrast, immunoproteomic methods can overcome these disadvantages and identify naturally processed and presented tumor associated epitopes that induce more clinically relevant tumor specific cytotoxic T cell responses. In this review, we discuss the importance of using the naturally presented MHC-I peptide repertoire in formulating peptide vaccines, the recent application of peptide-based vaccines in a variety of cancers, and highlight the pros and cons of the current state of peptide vaccines.
Arts-Informed Research Dissemination in the Health Sciences
Authors: Lapum Jennifer L. , Liu Linda , Church Kathryn , Yau Terrence M. , Ruttonsha Perin , Matthews David Alison , Retta Bruk
Published: March 2014

Arts-informed dissemination of health care research is an emerging field of scholarship. Our team chose to use the arts as a means to disseminate findings from a study about patients’ experiences of open-heart surgery and recovery. We transformed patients’ stories, gathered through interviews and journal writings, into poetry and photographic imagery and displayed this within a 1,739 ft2 art installation titled “The 7,024th Patient.” Our intention was to use the arts as dissemination method that could convey the sentiments and perspectives of patients. To evaluate this novel method of dissemination in the health sciences, we conducted a study to analyze its effect on viewers. We used a narrative methodology with a multimodal theoretical lens. Thirty-four individuals participated in either an individual interview or a focus group. In addition, more than 200 anonymous, written comments were generated at research stations placed throughout the installation. In this article, we present the findings. Participants found this art installation of poetry and imagery to be a valid, meaningful, and authentic representation of patients’ experiences. They also described being immersed into patients’ journeys and evoking self-reflection. Based on this research, arts-informed dissemination is a powerful medium to report findings. Our work provides empirical evidence that expands the different ways to distribute research in the health and social sciences.
Knowledge, awareness and attitudes about cervical cancer among women attending or not an HIV treatment center in Lao PDR
Authors: SICHANH Chanvilay , QUET Fabrice , CHANTHAVILAY Phetsavanh , DIENDERE Joeffroy , LATTHAPHASAVANG Vatthanaphone , LONGUET Christophe , BUISSON Yves
Published: March 2014

Background

Cervical cancer is the first female cancer in Lao PDR, a low-income country with no national screening and prevention programs for this human papillomavirus (HPV) associated pathology. HIV-infected women have a higher risk of persistent oncogenic HPV infection.

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge, awareness and attitudes about cervical cancer among Lao women attending or not an HIV treatment center, in order to understand if this attendance had offered an opportunity for information and prevention.

Methods

A cross-sectional case–control survey was conducted in three provinces of Lao PDR, Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Savannakhet. Cases were 320 women aged 25 to 65, living with HIV and followed in an HIV treatment center. Controls were 320 women matched for age and place of residence, not attending an HIV treatment center.

Results

Cases had a greater number of sexual partners and used condoms more often than controls. Only 36.6% of women had consulted a gynecologist (47.5% among cases and 25.6% among controls, p < 0.001) and 3.9% had benefited from at least one Pap smear screening (5.6% cases and 2.2% controls, p = 0.02). The average knowledge score was 3.5 on a 0 to 13 scale, significantly higher in cases than in controls (p < 0.0001). Despite having a lower education level and economic status, the women living with HIV had a better knowledge about cervical cancer and were more aware than the controls of the risk of developing such a cancer (35.9% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.0001). The main source of information was healthcare professionals. The main reasons for not undergoing Pap smear were the absence of symptoms and the default of medical injunction for cases, the lack of information and ignorance of screening usefulness for controls.

Conclusion

In Lao PDR, routine consultation in HIV treatment centers is not enough harnessed to inform women of their high risk of developing cervical cancer, and to perform screening testing and treatment of precancerous lesions. Implementing this cost-effective strategy could be the first step toward a national prevention program for cervical cancer.
Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) overexpression predicts the prognosis and pN2 in pancreatic head carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Jian , Song Shiduo , Li Dechun , He Songbing , Zhang Bing , Wang Zhenxin , Zhu Xinguo
Published: March 2014

Background

This study was carried out to examine decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) expression and investigate its clinical and prognostic significance in patients with pancreatic head carcinoma.

Methods

Tissue samples were obtained from 50 patients with pancreatic head carcinoma. DcR3 protein expression in tissues and sera was assessed by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Correlations between DcR3 and clinicopathologic features and prognoses were analyzed statistically.

Results

Serum DcR3 levels were significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic head carcinoma compared with patients with cystadenoma and healthy individuals (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). DcR3 overexpression correlated with lymph node metastases and TNM stages (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively). Median overall survival for the high DcR3 group was 16.3 months, compared to 21.6 months for the low DcR3 group (P < 0.05). In the low DcR3 group, no significant difference was found in the overall survival between patients who underwent standard pancreatoduodenectomy (SPD) and those who had radical pancreatoduodenectomy (RPD) (P > 0.05). In the high DcR3 group, the median overall survival rates were 16.8 months in the RPD group and 13.5 months in the SPD group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

We found that DcR3 was overexpressed in pancreatic head carcinoma. The patients with high DcR3 levels had higher pN2 stages than those with low DcR3 levels. Detecting serum DcR3 level preoperatively might be an additional approach for evaluating pN2 stage and guiding the range of lymphadenectomy.
Optimal power policies and throughput scaling analyses in fading cognitive broadcast channels with primary outage probability constraint
Authors: Limmanee Athipat , Dey Subhrakanti , Nekouei Ehsan
Published: March 2014

This paper focuses on a spectrum-sharing-based fading cognitive radio broadcast channel (BC) with a single-antenna secondary base station (SBS) and M single-antenna secondary receivers (SRs) utilizing the same spectrum band with a delay-sensitive primary user (PU). The service-quality requirement for the primary user is set by an outage probability constraint (POC). We address the optimal power allocation problem for the SBS ergodic sum capacity (ESC) maximization in the secondary BC network subject to POC and a transmit power constraint at SBS specified by either a long-term or a short-term power constraint. The optimality conditions reveal that in each joint channel state, the SBS allocates transmission power to the only one selected SR with the highest value of a certain metric consisting of the ratio of the SR’s direct channel power gain and the sum of interference power and noise power at the SR. Then, the secondary network throughput scaling analysis as the number of SRs becomes large, is also investigated, showing that if PU applies a truncated channel inversion (TCI) power policy, the SBS ESC scales like ε

p
log(logM) where ε

p
is the PU outage probability threshold. To reduce the amount of channel side information (CSI) transferred between the two networks, we propose a suboptimal transmission scheme which requires only 1-bit feedback from the delay-sensitive PR (partial CSI). We show that the new power control policy is asymptotically optimal, i.e. the SBS ESC under this reduced feedback scheme still scales like ε

p
log(logM).
SPARC deficiency affects bone marrow stromal function, resulting in impaired B lymphopoiesis
Authors: Luo Zhen , Zhou Yu , Luo Pan , Zhao Qian , Xiao Na , Yu Yan , Yan Qi , Lu Guangxiu , Cheng Lamei
Published: March 2014

It has been demonstrated that B cells were decreased in the BM of SPARC-null mice, accompanied by a lack of immune response to LPS. However, the effect of SPARC deficiency on B lymphopoiesis remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the role of SPARC in the regulation of B lymphopoiesis, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. In present study, we found that the size of B-lineage progenitors (pro-B and pre-B plus immature B cells) and primitive hematopoietic cells (LSK and LTC cells) were reduced, whereas multipotent progenitors (CFU-S12) were increased in BM of SPARC-null mice. When SPARC-null BM cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated WT mice, the B cell population in recipients was restored to a level equivalent to that generated by WT BM cells, suggesting that the changes of the BM microenvironment in SPARC-null mice affect B lymphopoiesis. Furthermore, we found that SPARC-null BMSCs did not support the differentiation of WT BM cells into the B cell population in vitro, and conditioned medium derived from SPARC-null BMSCs inhibited B cell differentiation. However, the addition of rmSPARC to the coculture system did not restore the impaired B lymphopoiesis. In summary, our findings suggest that SPARC plays a crucial role in the regulation of early B lymphopoiesis.
Endocrine Disorders in Adolescent and Young Female Athletes: Impact on Growth, Menstrual Cycles, and Bone Mass Acquisition
Authors: Maïmoun Laurent , Georgopoulos Neoklis A. , Sultan Charles
Published: March 2014

Context:

Puberty is a crucial period of dramatic hormonal changes, accelerated growth, attainment of reproductive capacity, and acquisition of peak bone mass. Participation in recreational physical activity is widely acknowledged to provide significant health benefits in this period. Conversely, intense training imposes several constraints, such as training stress and maintenance of very low body fat to maximize performance. Adolescent female athletes are therefore at risk of overtraining and/or poor dietary intake, which may have several consequences for endocrine function. The “adaptive” changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, -adrenal, and somatotropic axes and the secretory role of the adipose tissue are reviewed, as are their effects on growth, menstrual cycles, and bone mass acquisition.

Design:

A systematic search on Medline between 1990 and 2013 was conducted using the following terms: “intense training,” “physical activity,” or “exercise” combined with “hormone,” “endocrine,” and “girls,” “women,” or “elite female athletes.” All articles reporting on the endocrine changes related to intense training and their potential implications for growth, menstrual cycles, and bone mass acquisition were considered.

Results and Conclusion:

Young female athletes present a high prevalence of menstrual disorders, including delayed menarche, oligomenorrhea, and amenorrhea, characterized by a high degree of variability according to the type of sport. Exercise-related reproductive dysfunction may have consequences for growth velocity and peak bone mass acquisition. Recent findings highlight the endocrine role of adipose tissue and energy balance in the regulation of homeostasis and reproductive function. A better understanding of the mechanisms whereby intense training affects the endocrine system may orient research to develop innovative strategies (ie, based on nutritional or pharmacological approaches and individualized modalities of training and competition) to improve the medical care of these adolescents and protect their reproductive function.
Novel Reddish Yellow-emitting Ce3+-Doped Ba3Sc4O9 Phosphors for Blue-light-based White LEDs
Authors: Hasegawa Takuya , Kim Sun Woog , Ishigaki Tadashi , Uematsu Kazuyoshi , Takaba Hiromitsu , Toda Kenji , Sato Mineo
Published: March 2014

Novel reddish yellow-emitting Ba3(Sc1−xCex)4O9 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.01) phosphors were synthesized in a single-phase form by a conventional solid-state reaction method. These phosphors exhibited excellent optical absorption in the blue-light region and showed reddish yellow emission with a peak at 583 nm due to the 5d → 4f transition of Ce3+ under excitation at 437 nm. By optimizing the Ce3+ concentration, the maximum emission intensity was obtained for Ba3(Sc0.999Ce0.001)4O9.
Preface
Authors: Chen Min-Bo
Published: March 2014

The 17th International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry (ICPOC-17) is the latest event in a regular IUPAC-sponsored series, and took place in Shanghai, China on 15ñ20 August 2004 under the local auspices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Chemical Society.

About 200 delegates attended ICPOC-17 from 21 countries, to participate in a scientific program comprising 14 plenary and 17 invited lectures, 41 contributed lectures, and 53 posters. The ongoing importance of the conference theme is reflected in a range of topics that serve to underpin fundamental principles of the subject, whilst also addressing new and evolving challenges posed by the growing interdisciplinary interfaces. This interdependence is exemplified by the centrality of mechanistic insight in modern synthesis, the interpretive and predictive power of theoretical studies, and the indispensable role of physical organic principles in studies of organized matter and biological systems, all of which featured prominently in the program.

Proceedings of this series of conferences are traditionally published in Pure and Applied Chemistry, and it is pleasing to introduce a representative selection of outstanding works based upon plenary lectures delivered at ICPOC-17. Mechanistic studies form the subject of papers by H. Mayr (Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany), V. D. Parker (Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA), and M. Eckert-Maksic (Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia), whilst those of F. Diederich (ETH, Zurich, Switzerland) and C. J. Easton (Australian National University, Canberra, Australia) address fundamental aspects of materials sciences. Biological themes feature in works by F. M. Menger (Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA), Zhong-Li Liu (Lanzhou University, China), and A. Pross (Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel).

Collectively, these papers exemplify the vigor and topicality of the overall scientific proceedings of ICPOC-17, and convey something of the diversity of themes that characterize current and future challenges in physical organic chemistry. This important forum will reconvene in Warsaw on 20ñ25 August 2006 for the 18th International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry (ICPOC-18), and it is confidently expected that this record will serve the needs of practicing scientists, and offer inspiration and insight for future advances that may be reported on that occasion.

Min-Bo Chen

Conference Editor