bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Getting Real About Suicide Prevention in the Classroom and Beyond
Authors: Bal Anjali S. , Weidner Kelly , Leeds Christopher , Raaka Brian
Published: June 2016

Marketing faculties, as well as business schools in general, are placing increasing importance on finding ways to better tie theoretical concepts to real-world situations. In the article that follows, we describe a project wherein students were given an opportunity to apply core consumer behavior concepts to a simulated advertising project with the aim to prevent suicide. A post hoc qualitative survey was conducted, and a series of propositions were generated. We propose that students have high levels of recall when studying in a real-world simulation. Additionally, our findings suggested that when students use core concepts in real-world simulation projects, they are able to later apply those concepts in actual real-world situations. Finally, we propose that simulations are an effective way of teaching sensitive subject matter.
ATRIAS: Design and validation of a tether-free 3D-capable spring-mass bipedal robot
Authors: Hubicki Christian , Grimes Jesse , Jones Mikhail , Renjewski Daniel , Spröwitz Alexander , Abate Andy , Hurst Jonathan
Published: June 2016

ATRIAS is a human-scale 3D-capable bipedal robot designed to mechanically embody the spring-mass model for dynamic walking and running. To help bring the extensive work on this theoretical model further into practice, we present the design and validation of a spring-mass robot that can operate in real-world settings (i.e. off-tether and without planarizing restraints). We outline the mechanisms and design choices necessary to meet these specifications, particularly ATRIAS’ four-bar series-elastic leg design. We experimentally demonstrate the following robot capabilities, which are characteristics of the target model. 1) We present the robot’s physical capability for both grounded and aerial gaits, including planar walking and sustained hopping, while being more efficient than similarly gait-versatile bipeds. 2) The robot can be controlled by enforcing quantities derived from the simpler spring-mass model, such as leg angles and leg forces. 3) ATRIAS replicates the center-of-mass dynamics of human hopping and (novelly) walking, a key spring-mass model feature. Lastly, we present dynamically stable stepping in 3D without external support, demonstrating that this theoretical model has practical potential for real-world locomotion.
“You’re not alone”: Music as a source of consolation among adolescents and young adults
Authors: ter Bogt Tom F. M. , Vieno Alessio , Doornwaard Suzan M. , Pastore Massimiliano , van den Eijnden Regina J. J. M.
Published: June 2016

This study aimed at determining whether adolescents and young adults use music as an agent of consolation when dealing with daily sorrow and stress. We furthermore tested whether three aspects of music listening, i.e., the music itself, its lyrics, and experiences of closeness to artists and fans, were experienced as comforting. Third, we explored whether consolation through music listening was related to music use and psychological problems. Overall, 1,040 respondents, age 13–30 years ( M = 20.3, 70.7% female), responded to items measuring listening hours, music importance, music preferences, positive and negative affects elicited by music (PANAS), internalizing and externalizing problems, and consolation through music. Slightly over 69% reported that they (definitely) use music as a source of consolation. Furthermore, female respondents and respondents with higher levels of anxiousness/depression and lower levels of aggression sought consolation by music more often. The same result emerged for respondents with a preference for chart pop music, for those who found music important, and for those with stronger emotional reactions to music. Music’s consoling effects were reported as resulting particularly from the sound and texture of the music itself, from attribution of personal meaning to music’s lyrics, and, to a lesser extent, from perceptions of closeness to artists and other listeners.
Capturing Experiences of Youth With ASD via Photo Exploration: Challenges and Resources Becoming an Adult
Authors: Cheak-Zamora Nancy C. , Teti Michelle , Maurer-Batjer Anna
Published: June 2016

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant challenges transitioning to adulthood, but we have few firsthand accounts of these issues due to youth’s limited participation in research. In this study, we utilized a qualitative methodology, Photovoice, to understand youth’s perspectives on becoming adults. We recruited 11 youth with ASD, aged 18 to 25, from urban and rural counties in Missouri. Youth described their experiences of becoming adults with pictures; attended group, individual, and discussion photo-sharing sessions; and exhibited their work publicly. This methodology facilitated dialogue and the collection of an array of data including 201 transcription pages and 184 pictures. Thematic analysis identified important topics and patterns. Youth’s discussions and photos captured difficulties transitioning out of school, socialization challenges, and their connection with animals. Five themes emerged: (a) difficulty transitioning into adulthood, (b) desires for and problems with relationship building, (c) feeling different from peers and family, (d) animals as a coping mechanism for negative feelings, and (e) animals as a source of companionship. This study is the first to elicit experiences of youth with ASD during the transition to adulthood and coping techniques. Although youth described many challenges, they showed resilience and used animals as a source of support and socialization.
BCASP and the Evolution of School Psychology in British Columbia
Authors: Agar Douglas J.
Published: June 2016

Since 1992, the British Columbia Association of School Psychologists (BCASP) has been the professional body for school psychologists in British Columbia. In the intervening 24 years, BCASP has been very successful in performing the dual roles of a certifying body and a professional development organization for school psychologists in British Columbia. Historically, school psychologists at the master’s level have been allowed to practice and to use the title school psychologist in specific settings (school, government agencies, hospitals, and universities) through an Exemption Clause in the Psychologist Regulation of the Health Professions Act. In 2001, the Health Profession’s Council repealed both the Psychologist Regulation and the exemption clause under which school psychologists work. The Ministries of Education and Health, recognizing that if these recommendations were adopted, the provision of psychological services in British Columbia schools would be severely affected, instead opted to extend the existing Exemption Clause until an agreement could be reached with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (CPBC) and BCASP. This article provides an examination of the integral role that BCASP has played in this evolution of school psychology in British Columbia.
Daunomycin-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: Preparation, magnetic targeting, cell cytotoxicity, and protein delivery research
Authors: Liu Min-Chao , Jin Shu-fang , Zheng Min , Wang Yan , Zhao Peng-liang , Tang Ding-tong , Chen Jiong , Lin Jia-qi , Wang Xia-hong , Zhao Ping
Published: June 2016

The clinical use of daunomycin is restricted by dose-dependent toxicity and low specificity against cancer cells. In the present study, modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were employed to load daunomycin and the drug-loaded nanospheres exhibited satisfactory size and smart pH-responsive release. The cellular uptake efficiency, targeted cell accumulation, and cell cytotoxicity experimental results proved that the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-loading process brings high drug targeting without decreasing the cytotoxicity of daunomycin. Moreover, a new concern for the evaluation of nanophase drug delivery's effects was considered, with monitoring the interactions between human serum albumin and the drug-loaded nanospheres. Results from the multispectroscopic techniques and molecular modeling calculation elucidate that the drug delivery has detectable deleterious effects on the frame conformation of protein, which may affect its physiological function.
Education, Perception Factors, and Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence: Empirical Research on Chinese University Students’ Perceptions and Attitudes Concerning Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Wang Lili
Published: June 2016

Research on perceptions and attitudes regarding intimate partner violence (IPV), a prominent predictor of IPV, is limited, and surveys on the relationships of the influencing factors are even rarer. Using a convenience sample of 2,057 students and assessed by the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, this study explored Chinese university students’ perceptions and attitudes concerning IPV to improve IPV prevention programs. It focused on the existences of the different perceptions and attitudes regarding gender, residence, major, and age under the same condition of educational attainment. Significant gender differences were found, with female students possessing better perceptions, which indicated that with the same education levels, the perceptions of females were better than those of males. Significant differences were also found for the first time in the literature between science students and arts students, with the latter holding better attitudes. No significant differences were seen between students from rural areas and students from urban areas, suggesting that with the same educational attainment, there were no perception differences between rural and urban residents. No significant perception differences were found among freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, which revealed that neither university education nor urban life had a significant effect on perceptions and attitudes concerning IPV for students who had finished high school education. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that among the other factors such as gender, residence, and age, education was the most powerful factor influencing perceptions and attitudes concerning IPV.
Retrofiring control method via combination of a 1DoF gimbaled thrust vector control and spin-stabilization
Authors: Kouhi Hamed , Kabganian Mansour , Shahravi Morteza , Fani Saberi Farhad
Published: June 2016

In impulsive orbital maneuvers, thrust vector misalignment from the center of mass is the serious source of disturbance torque. A high capacity attitude control system is needed to compensate the mentioned large exogenous disturbance. In this paper a new retrofiring control method is proposed and studied which is based on the combination of a 1DoF gimbaled thrust vector control and spin-stabilization method. Spin-axis stabilization and disturbance rejection are considered as two important attitude control objectives. The nonlinear two-body dynamics of a small spacecraft is derived in which dynamical interaction between the nozzle and the body is significant. Reaction control system is not used and the only active control part is a 1DoF gimbal. The spacecraft design efficiency is very important; therefore, the H∞ performance and control gain norm are chosen as two conflicting cost function in the Pareto front multiobjective optimization. Many Pareto fronts are given for some ranges of two favorable parameters: (1) spin rate and (2) spin-axis moment of inertia. Optimization variables are the closed-loop system poles. Moreover, poles region constraint is employed to obtain a well-damped transient response. From the perspective of performance and design efficiency, the optimization results give many attractive outcomes. The resulting system is an efficient design for a small spacecraft. Furthermore, numerical simulations are included to confirm the optimization results and illustrate the superiority of the proposed method compared to the only spin-stabilization.
Who Drives Market Access for Genetically Modified Organisms and Products in Korea? A Political Economy Approach to Sustainable Development
Authors: Sung Bongsuk , Yoon Ki-Kwan , Yu Seunghun
Published: June 2016

This study explores the definition of the industrial use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), factors that affect it, and how it influences a firm’s economic performance to understand who drives market access for GMOs and GM products, considering the two premises related to sustainable development: 1) the continuing use of GMOs is one of the most prominent driving forces behind a bio-based economy’s growth, and 2) social system members seek protection from the potential risks of GMOs. The results show compelling evidence of a structural relationship between sociopolitical/economic pressures and economic performance. Additionally, these pressures vary by industry, and activities to secure both social and economic legitimacy due to these pressures have a positive impact on overall firm performance.
Effect on Clinical Outcome and Growth Factor Synthesis With Adjunctive Use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields for Fifth Metatarsal Nonunion Fracture
Authors: Streit Adam , Watson B. Collier , Granata Jaymes D. , Philbin Terrence M. , Lin Hsuan-Ni , O’Connor J. Patrick , Lin Sheldon
Published: June 2016

Background:

Electromagnetic bone growth stimulators have been found to biologically enhance the bone healing environment, with upregulation of numerous growth factors. The purpose of the study was to quantify the effect, in vivo, of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on growth factor expression and healing time in fifth metatarsal nonunions.

Methods:

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial of patients, cared for by 2 fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients between 18 and 75 years old who had been diagnosed with a fifth metatarsal delayed or nonunion, with no progressive signs of healing for a minimum of 3 months. Eight patients met inclusion criteria and were randomized to receive either an active stimulation or placebo PEMF device. Each patient then underwent an open biopsy of the fracture site and was fitted with the appropriate PEMF device. The biopsy was analyzed for messenger-ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels using quantitative competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QT-RT-PCR). Three weeks later, the patient underwent repeat biopsy and open reduction and internal fixation of the nonunion site. The patients were followed at 2- to 4-week intervals with serial radiographs and were graded by the number of cortices of healing.

Results:

All fractures healed, with an average time to complete radiographic union of 14.7 weeks and 8.9 weeks for the inactive and active PEMF groups, respectively. A significant increase in placental growth factor (PIGF) level was found after active PEMF treatment ( P = .043). Other factors trended higher following active PEMF including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) -7, and BMP-5.

Conclusion:

The adjunctive use of PEMF for fifth metatarsal fracture nonunions produced a significant increase in local placental growth factor. PEMF also produced trends toward higher levels of multiple other factors and faster average time to radiographic union compared to unstimulated controls.

Level of Evidence:

Level I, prospective randomized trial.
‘Learning to live your life again’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of weblogs documenting the inside experience of recovering from anorexia nervosa
Authors: Smethurst Laura , Kuss Daria
Published: June 2016

This study aimed to explore the construct of recovery from anorexia nervosa through the medium of weblogs, focusing on the benefits and barriers to the recovery process. Data were extracted from female ( n = 7) and male ( n = 1) participants’ textual pro-recovery weblogs, all of which were posted between 2013 and 2015 in the public domain. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified: (1) barriers to recovery, (2) factors increasing the likelihood of recovery and (3) support. Results suggest supportive relationships, regaining control and recognising the consequences of the eating disorder benefit recovery, whereas public perceptions, the anorexia nervosa voice and time act as barriers to recovery. Out of eight participants, four described seeking professional help as part of their recovery, of which three believed their professional therapy experience helped aid recovery. Implications for anorexia nervosa treatment are discussed in detail.
Three-dimensional pedagogy: A new professionalism in educational contexts
Authors: Andrews Dorothy , Abawi Lindy
Published: June 2016

This article provides evidence of a new teacher professionalism whereby teachers, acting as collaborative individuals working together, are the key to effectively meeting the needs of diverse student cohorts. Drawing on data from Australian school contexts and the work of researchers from the Leadership Research International team, new professional images of teachers’ work have emerged as the result of a whole-school improvement process – the Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievements in Schools (IDEAS) process. Such processes facilitate collective engagement enabling teachers to refine and share individual strengths, as well as build capacity in areas of challenge. This reimaging of teachers is related to the concept of three-dimensional pedagogy where teachers weave personal pedagogical beliefs and authoritative pedagogical frameworks with schoolwide pedagogical principles which are known as the school’s schoolwide pedagogy (SWP). A SWP, clearly aligned with the school’s vision for a preferred future, is derived by staff as a sign of their collective commitment to contextualized, high-yield teaching and learning practices. The focus is on meeting the needs of ‘our students’ in ‘our context’ while being sensitive to systemic direction. Teachers lead the process of developing SWP, working with it, refining it and embedding principles into shared pedagogical action. What emerges is the concept of micro-pedagogical deepening, a process of critiquing and defining contextualised practice. Such practices, led by the new teacher professional, are not only changing the professional image of teachers but also the look, feel and sound of educational workplaces.
Rethinking mobility in criminology: Beyond horizontal mobilities of prisoner transportation
Authors: Turner Jennifer , Peters Kimberley
Published: June 2016

Typically, to be incarcerated is to be fixed: limited within specific parameters or boundaries with liberty and agency greatly reduced. Yet, recent literature has attended to the movement (or mobilities) that shape, or are shaped by modes of incarceration. Rather than simply assuming that experiences are inherently ones of immobility, such literature unhinges carceral studies from its framing within a sedentary ontology. However, the potential of mobility studies for unpacking the movements enfolded in carceral space and imprisoned life has yet to be fully exploited. When attending to mobilities, criminologists have investigated the politics of movement through a traditional horizontal frame of motion (between prison spaces, between court and prison, etc.). This paper contends that studies of mobility in criminology could be productively rethought. Drawing on movements of convicts from Britain to Australia aboard prison ships, this paper argues that straightforward, horizontal mobilities at work in regimes of control and practices of resistance marry together with vertical mobilities. Paying attention to the complex mobilities involved in carceral experience leads to a more nuanced understanding of regimes of discipline and practices of resistance that shape how incarcerated individuals move (or are unable to move) within carceral spaces, past and present.
Action research in procurement management; evidence from selected lower local government authorities in Tanzania
Authors: Rasheli Geraldine A
Published: June 2016

The aim of the paper was to show how opportunities provided by Action Research models could solve problems related to procurement management in three selected lower local government authorities in Tanzania. It builds on Marja Liisa Swantz’s participant research. Three phases of Action Research were adapted from Lewin’s spiral framework. Purposive technique was used to select members of Action Research groups for the lower local government authority. It was revealed that problems were mainly in planning, managing records, bid evaluation, knowledge on legal framework and contract management for works. Attitudes on transparency and accountability among actors were also not in line with principles of public procurement. Action plans developed were implemented and evaluated. Three components, i.e. research, actions and training were combined to improve procurement planning, records and contract management. There were remarkable improvements in planning, record keeping and contract management. Positive attitudes towards equality, transparency and accountability were also reported for villages which participated in Action Research. A need for integrating Action Research with lower local government authorities’ procurement activities is recommended. However, there are challenges such as building culture of self assessment, frequent transfer of personnel to other government departments and the temporary nature of village project committees.
The Trump Show
Authors: Ouellette Laurie
Published: June 2016

Trump is more than a symptom of manipulative infotainment and cultural decline: His political ascendency speaks to reality TV’s long-established role in governing practices.
Mixed Methods Papers in First-Person and Third-Person: Writing Voices in Dialogue
Authors: Zhou Xiaodi , Hall Jori N.
Published: June 2016

While writing from a qualitative tradition often occurs in first person and from a quantitative tradition often occurs in third person, the pros and cons of voice in mixed methods research needs consideration. This article argues for more inclusion of the first-person in such writing, particularly as evidence for the researcher’s claims, as a way to triangulate and corroborate perspectives from a Bakhtinian dialogic theoretical framework. This article presents a discussion of the first- and third-person styles in academic writing and the effect of each on the reader. Additionally, there are dialectic and complementary justifications for such use of different perspectives within a mixed methods piece, as each style dialogues with the other, compensating for the other’s shortfalls. Such a style of writing is imperative because it brings both distance and familiarity, presenting a more complete understanding of the mixed methods research and the phenomenon investigated.
Weird Music: Tension and Reconciliation in Cultural-Economic Knowledge
Authors: Johnson Whitney
Published: June 2016

How do music venues reconcile competing desires for popularity and uniqueness in their bookings? According to 25 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with the staff of licensed and unlicensed music venues, gatekeepers tended to prefer ‘weird’ music in terms of unconventionality and even obscurity rather than focusing on cultural similarity through genre conventions. Respondents described at least three ways to reconcile this internal tension of cultural-economic value. A few licensed venue administrators took popularity within the ‘underground’ as an index of value. Others constructed a narrative of building bands from obscurity to success in terms of both economic and cultural value. However, most respondents described strategies of differentiation between cultural and economic value in their economic relationships. This final way of understanding the cultural economy extends Zelizer’s theory of relational economics to find that economic actors do not only differentiate transactions according to social ties but also may differentiate their exchange relationships according to opposing value judgments.
Artificial Intelligence-Virtual Trainer: An educative system based on artificial intelligence and designed to produce varied and consistent training lessons
Authors: Henriet Julien
Published: June 2016

AI-Virtual Trainer is an educative system using Artificial Intelligence to propose varied lessons to trainers. The agents of this multi-agent system apply case-based reasoning to build solutions by analogy. However, as required by the field, Artificial Intelligence-Virtual Trainer never proposes the same lesson twice, whereas the same objective may be set many times consecutively. The adaptation process of Artificial Intelligence-Virtual Trainer delivers an ordered set of exercises adapted to the objectives and sub-objectives chosen by trainers. This process has been enriched by including the notion of distance between exercises: the proposed tasks are not only appropriate but are hierarchically ordered. With this new version of the system, students are guided towards their objectives via an underlying theme. Finally, the agents responsible for the different parts of lessons collaborate with each other according to a dedicated protocol and decision-making policy since no exercise must appear more than once in the same lesson. The results prove that Artificial Intelligence-Virtual Trainer, however perfectible, meets the requirements of this field.
Round Table Discussion on Inpatient Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring at the International Hospital Diabetes Meeting
Authors: Wallia Amisha , Umpierrez Guillermo E. , Nasraway Stanley A. , Klonoff David C. ,   on behalf of PRIDE Investigators, Alexanian Sara , Cagliero Enrico , Cook Curtiss B. , Draznin Boris , Drincic Andjela , Gaudiani Linda , Gianchandani Roma , Gilden Janice L. , Kosiborod Mikhail , Kulasa Kristen , Lien Lillian F. , Low Wang Cecilia C. , Maynard Greg , Mendez Carlos E. , Pieber Thomas , Rayman Gerry , Rhee Chanhaeng , Rubin Daniel J. , Rushakoff Robert J. , Schwartz Stanley , Scott Mitchell G. , Jeffrie Seley Jane , Tobin Garry , Vigersky Robert A.
Published: June 2016

In May 2015 the Diabetes Technology Society convened a panel of 27 experts in hospital medicine and endocrinology to discuss the current and potential future roles of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in delivering optimum health care to hospitalized patients in the United States. The panel focused on 3 potential settings for CGM in the hospital, including (1) the intensive care unit (ICU), (2) non-ICU, and (3) continuation of use of home CGM in the hospital. The group reviewed barriers to use and solutions to overcome the barriers. They concluded that CGM has the potential to improve the quality of patient care and can provide useful information to help health care providers learn more about glucose management. Widespread adoption of CGM by hospitals, however, has been limited by added costs and insufficient outcome data.
Urology higher specialist training in North London and North West England: a comparison of two training regions in the UK
Authors: Babu Asrit , Alleemudder Adam , Kavia Rajesh , Datta Sam , Maan Zafar
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

Local education training boards (LETBs) and deaneries are under pressure to demonstrate delivery of high quality specialist urology training. There is at present no quality tool used routinely to demonstrate this quality regionally or nationally. Differences in training could therefore exist between different regions, and locally between different training units. A trainer/trainee questionnaire tool previously piloted by the specialist advisory committee was used to evaluate urology training posts in the North London LETB over 3 years. The findings were used to compare trainee scores in North London with those in the North West region of England.

Materials and methods:

Questionnaires were circulated electronically to all higher surgical urology trainees in the 18 training units affiliated to the North London LETB. Three years of trainee data were collated, statistically analysed and compared to those collected by Oates and colleagues, looking for any differences in regional trainee scores for higher surgical training posts in North London and North West of England regions.

Results:

The mean trainee response rate was 28 questionnaires per year from all 18 units in the North London region. Combined mean and median scores were 83.3 and 84, respectively. This compares to 86.2 and 88.1 from North West England region comprising eight units. There was no statistically significant difference in scores between the two regions (two-tailed t test, P=0.31).

Conclusion:

There is no statistical difference in trainee scores for the evaluation of urological training posts between the two regions. The questionnaire tool can be used effectively to look at overall differences in training standards between geographically distinct regions from a trainee perspective. Both regions offer higher surgical training with high levels of trainee satisfaction. This questionnaire tool can provide insight into subjective differences in training posts within a region.
mTORC1 promotes aging-related venous thrombosis in mice via elevation of platelet volume and activation
Authors: Yang Jun , Zhou Xuan , Fan Xiaorong , Xiao Min , Yang Dinghua , Liang Bo , Dai Meng , Shan Lanlan , Lu Jingbo , Lin Zhiqi , Liu Rong , Liu Jun , Wang Liping , Zhong Mei , Jiang Yu , Bai Xiaochun
Published: June 2016

Key Points

Activation of mTORC1 in MKs and platelets contributes to aging-related venous thrombosis. ROS production with aging activates mTORC1 to elevate MPV and platelet activation and promote venous thrombosis.
IRF2BP2 transcriptional repressor restrains naive CD4 T cell activation and clonal expansion induced by TCR triggering
Authors: Sécca Cristiane , Faget Douglas V , Hanschke Steffi C , Carneiro Mayra S , Bonamino Martin H , de-Araujo-Souza Patricia S , Viola João P B
Published: June 2016

CD4 T cell activation and differentiation mechanisms constitute a complex and intricate signaling network involving several regulatory proteins. IRF2BP2 is a transcriptional repressor that is involved in gene-expression regulation in very diverse biologic contexts. Information regarding the IRF2BP2 regulatory function in CD4 T lymphocytes is very limited and suggests a role for this protein in repressing the expression of different cytokine genes. Here, we showed that Irf2bp2 gene expression was decreased in CD4 T cells upon activation. To investigate the possible regulatory roles for IRF2BP2 in CD4 T cell functions, this protein was ectopically expressed in murine primary-activated CD4 T lymphocytes through retroviral transduction. Interestingly, ectopic expression of IRF2BP2 led to a reduction in CD25 expression and STAT5 phosphorylation, along with an impaired proliferative capacity. The CD69 expression was also diminished in IRF2BP2-overexpressing cells, whereas CD44 and CD62L levels were not altered. In vivo, transferred, IRF2BP2-overexpressing, transduced cells displayed an impaired expansion capacity compared with controls. Furthermore, overexpression of IRF2BP2 in differentiated Th cells resulted in slightly reduced IL-4 and pro-TGF-β production in Th2 and iTregs but had no effect on IFN-γ or IL-17 expression in Th1 and Th17 cells, respectively. Taken together, our data suggest a role for IRF2BP2 in regulating CD4 T cell activation by repressing proliferation and the expression of CD25 and CD69 induced by TCR stimuli.
Relationship Between Quality of Comorbid Condition Care and Costs for Cancer Survivors
Authors: Frick Kevin D. , Snyder Claire F. , Herbert Robert J. , Blackford Amanda L. , Neville Bridget A. , Wolff Antonio C. , Carducci Michael A. , Earle Craig C.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

To estimate the association between cancer survivors’ comorbid condition care quality and costs; to determine whether the association differs between cancer survivors and other patients.

Methods:

Using the SEER–Medicare-linked database, we identified survivors of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers who were diagnosed in 2004, enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service for at least 12 months before diagnosis, and survived ≥ 3 years. Quality of care was assessed using nine process indicators for chronic conditions, and a composite indicator representing seven avoidable outcomes. Total costs on the basis of Medicare amount paid were grouped as inpatient and outpatient. We examined the association between care quality and costs for cancer survivors, and compared this association among 2:1 frequency-matched noncancer controls, using comparisons of means and generalized linear regressions.

Results:

Our sample included 8,661 cancer survivors and 17,332 matched noncancer controls. Receipt of recommended care was associated with higher outpatient costs for eight indicators, and higher inpatient and total costs for five indicators. For three measures (visit every 6 months for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or diabetes, and glycosylated hemoglobin or fructosamine every 6 months for patients with diabetes), costs for cancer survivors who received recommended care increased less than for noncancer controls. The absence of avoidable events was associated with lower costs of each type. An annual eye examination for patients with diabetes was associated with lower inpatient costs.

Conclusion:

Higher-quality processes of care may not reduce short-term costs, but the prevention of avoidable outcomes reduces costs. The association between quality and cost was similar for cancer survivors and noncancer controls.
Association of Breast Cancer Knowledge With Receipt of Guideline-Recommended Breast Cancer Treatment
Authors: Freedman Rachel A. , Kouri Elena M. , West Dee W. , Lii Joyce , Keating Nancy L.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

Knowledge about one’s breast cancer characteristics is poor, but whether this knowledge affects treatment is uncertain. Among women with breast cancer, we examined whether tumor knowledge was associated with adjuvant treatment receipt.

Methods:

We surveyed a population-based sample of women in Northern California with stage 0 to III breast cancer diagnosed during 2010 to 2011 (participation rate, 68.5%). Interviews were conducted between 4 months and 3 years after diagnosis. Among 414 respondents with stage I to III disease, we examined receipt of guideline-recommended chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy by reporting correct information about one’s tumor, including stage, estrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and grade (using registry data for confirmation). We performed multivariate logistic regression to assess the probability of receiving each treatment in relevant patient groups, adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics, and examined the impact of reporting correct tumor information on treatment receipt.

Results:

Among relevant treatment-eligible groups, 81% received chemotherapy, 91% received radiation, and 83% received hormonal therapy. In adjusted analyses, having correct (v incorrect) information for stage and HER2 were associated with chemotherapy receipt (odds ratio [OR], 4.45; 95% CI, 1.50 to 12.50 for stage; OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.02 to 7.18 for HER2). Correctly reporting estrogen receptor status was associated with hormonal therapy receipt (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.73 to 8.86), and correctly reporting stage was associated with radiation receipt (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.03 to 7.40).

Conclusion:

Knowledge about one’s tumor characteristics was strongly associated with receipt of recommended therapies. Interventions to improve patients’ knowledge and understanding of their cancers should be tested as a strategy for improving receipt of care.
The Patient Care Connect Program: Transforming Health Care Through Lay Navigation
Authors: Rocque Gabrielle B. , Partridge Edward E. , Pisu Maria , Martin Michelle Y. , Demark-Wahnefried Wendy , Acemgil Aras , Kenzik Kelly , Kvale Elizabeth A. , Meneses Karen , Li Xuelin , Li Yufeng , Halilova Karina I. , Jackson Bradford E. , Chambless Carol , Lisovicz Nedra , Fouad Mona , Taylor Richard A.
Published: June 2016

The Patient Care Connect Program (PCCP) is a lay patient navigation program, implemented by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System Cancer Community Network. The PCCP’s goal is to provide better health and health care, as well as to lower overall expenditures. The program focuses on enhancing the health of patients, with emphasis on patient empowerment and promoting proactive participation in health care. Navigator training emphasizes palliative care principles and includes development of skills to facilitate advance care planning conversations. Lay navigators are integrated into the health care team, with the support of a nurse supervisor, physician medical director, and administrative champion. The intervention focuses on patients with high needs to reach those with the greatest potential for benefit from supportive services. Navigator activities are guided by frequent distress assessments, which help to identify patient concerns across multiple domains, triage patients to appropriate resources, and ultimately overcome barriers to health care. In this article, we describe the PCCP’s development, infrastructure, selection and training of lay navigators, and program operations.
Challenges With Research Contract Negotiations in Community-Based Cancer Research
Authors: Thompson Michael A. , Hurley Patricia A. , Faller Bryan , Longinette Jean , Richter Katie , Stewart Teresa L. , Robert Nicholas
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

Community-based research programs face many barriers to participation in clinical trials. Although the majority of people with cancer are diagnosed and treated in the community setting, only roughly 3% are enrolled onto clinical trials. Research contract and budget negotiations have been consistently identified as time consuming and a barrier to participation in clinical trials. ASCO’s Community Research Forum conducted a survey about specific challenges of research contract and budget negotiation processes in community-based research settings. The goal was to ultimately identify potential solutions to these barriers.

Methods:

A survey was distributed to 780 community-based physician investigators and research staff. The survey included questions to provide insight into contract and budget negotiation processes and perceptions about related barriers.

Results:

A total of 77% of the 150 respondents acknowledged barriers in the process. Respondents most frequently identified budget-related issues (n = 133), inefficiencies in the process (n = 80), or legal review and negotiation issues (n = 70). Of the respondents, 44.1% indicated that contract research organizations made the contract negotiations process harder for their research program, and only 5% believed contract research organizations made the process easier. The contract negotiations process is perceived to be impeded by sponsors through underestimation of costs, lack of flexibility with the contract language, and excessive delays.

Conclusion:

Improving clinical trial activation processes and reducing inefficiencies would be beneficial to all interested stakeholders, including patients who may ultimately stand to benefit from participation in clinical trials. The following key recommendations were made: standardization of contracts and negotiation processes to promulgate transparency and efficiencies, improve sponsor processes to minimize burden on sites, create and promote use of contract templates and best practices, and provide education and consultation.
Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: Treatment in the Age of Molecular Targeted Therapy
Authors: Cabanillas Maria E. , Zafereo Mark , Gunn G. Brandon , Ferrarotto Renata
Published: June 2016

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers in humans and accounts for one to two cases per million persons annually. The rarity of this malignancy and the rapidity by which it grows has been a major barrier to progress in finding effective therapies. Thus, the treatment that is the current standard of care for these patients is largely palliative, and few are cured; however, novel therapies and approaches are being studied in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and are delineated herein.
Metabolite profile of a mouse model of Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2D neuropathy: implications for disease mechanisms and interventions
Authors: Bais Preeti , Beebe Kirk , Morelli Kathryn H. , Currie Meagan E. , Norberg Sara N. , Evsikov Alexei V. , Miers Kathy E. , Seburn Kevin L. , Guergueltcheva Velina , Kremensky Ivo , Jordanova Albena , Bult Carol J. , Burgess Robert W.
Published: June 2016

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease encompasses a genetically heterogeneous class of heritable polyneuropathies that result in axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system. Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2D neuropathy (CMT2D) is caused by dominant mutations in glycyl tRNA synthetase (GARS). Mutations in the mouse Gars gene result in a genetically and phenotypically valid animal model of CMT2D. How mutations in GARS lead to peripheral neuropathy remains controversial. To identify putative disease mechanisms, we compared metabolites isolated from the spinal cord of Gars mutant mice and their littermate controls. A profile of altered metabolites that distinguish the affected and unaffected tissue was determined. Ascorbic acid was decreased fourfold in the spinal cord of CMT2D mice, but was not altered in serum. Carnitine and its derivatives were also significantly reduced in spinal cord tissue of mutant mice, whereas glycine was elevated. Dietary supplementation with acetyl-L-carnitine improved gross motor performance of CMT2D mice, but neither acetyl-L-carnitine nor glycine supplementation altered the parameters directly assessing neuropathy. Other metabolite changes suggestive of liver and kidney dysfunction in the CMT2D mice were validated using clinical blood chemistry. These effects were not secondary to the neuromuscular phenotype, as determined by comparison with another, genetically unrelated mouse strain with similar neuromuscular dysfunction. However, these changes do not seem to be causative or consistent metabolites of CMT2D, because they were not observed in a second mouse Gars allele or in serum samples from CMT2D patients. Therefore, the metabolite ‘fingerprint’ we have identified for CMT2D improves our understanding of cellular biochemical changes associated with GARS mutations, but identification of efficacious treatment strategies and elucidation of the disease mechanism will require additional studies.
DISC1 regulates astrogenesis in the embryonic brain via modulation of RAS/MEK/ERK signaling through RASSF7
Authors: Wang Shukun , Liang Qingli , Qiao Huimin , Li Hong , Shen Tianjin , Ji Fen , Jiao Jianwei
Published: June 2016

Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is known as a high susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Recent studies have indicated that schizophrenia might be caused by glia defects and dysfunction. However, there is no direct evidence of a link between the schizophrenia gene DISC1 and gliogenesis defects. Thus, an investigation into the involvement of DISC1 (a ubiquitously expressed brain protein) in astrogenesis during the late stage of mouse embryonic brain development is warranted. Here, we show that suppression of DISC1 expression represses astrogenesis in vitro and in vivo, and that DISC1 overexpression substantially enhances the process. Furthermore, mouse and human DISC1 overexpression rescued the astrogenesis defects caused by DISC1 knockdown. Mechanistically, DISC1 activates the RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathway via direct association with RASSF7. Also, the pERK complex undergoes nuclear translocation and influences the expression of genes related to astrogenesis. In summary, our results demonstrate that DISC1 regulates astrogenesis by modulating RAS/MEK/ERK signaling via RASSF7 and provide a framework for understanding how DISC1 dysfunction might lead to neuropsychiatric diseases.
Roles of Wnt pathway genes wls, wnt9a, wnt5b, frzb and gpc4 in regulating convergent-extension during palate morphogenesis
Authors: Rochard Lucie , Monica Stefanie D. , Ling Irving T. C. , Kong Yawei , Roberson Sara , Harland Richard , Halpern Marnie , Liao Eric C.
Published: June 2016

Wnt signaling is a critical pathway for tissue morphogenesis participating in cellular behavior changes, notably during the convergent-extension process. Interactions between Wnt secreting and receiving cells during convergence-extension remain elusive. We investigated the role and genetic interactions of Wnt ligands and their trafficking factors, Wls, Gpc4 and Frzb in the context of palate morphogenesis. We described that the chaperon Wls and its ligands Wnt9a and Wnt5b are expressed in the ectoderm, whereas juxtaposed chondrocytes express Frzb and Gpc4. Using wls, gpc4, frzb, wnt9a and wnt5b mutants, we genetically dissected Wnt signal operating between secreting ectoderm and receiving chondrocytes. Our analysis delineates that non-canonical Wnt signaling is required for cell intercalation, and that wnt5b and wnt9a are required for palate extension, in the antero-posterior and transverse axes, respectively.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Cyclopropylmethanamines by Rhodium-catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Pinacol Allylboronate with N-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles
Authors: Miura Tomoya , Nakamuro Takayuki , Nikishima Hiroki , Murakami Masahiro
Published: June 2016

Herein, the rhodium(II)-catalyzed cyclopropanation reaction of pinacol allylboronate with N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles is reported. Boryl-substituted cyclopropylmethanamines are produced in a highly diastereo- and enantioselective manner. Various cyclopropylmethanamines containing a quaternary stereocenter are derived from them.
Mechanisms shaping the development of personality and personality disorders in children and adolescents.
Authors: Lenkiewicz Kamila , Srebnicki Tomasz , Bryńska Anita
Published: June 2016

Do końca lat 90. XX w. uważano, że zaburzeń osobowości nie można diagnozować u osób poniżej 18 roku życia. Badania prowadzone w ostatniej dekadzie wskazują jednak na to, że zaburzenia osobowości występują u dzieci i młodzieży oraz, że zaburzenia osobowości dorosłych mają swój początek w dzieciństwie. Nadal jednak wiedza dotycząca mechanizmów powstawiania zaburzeń osobowości w wieku rozwojowym oraz czynników ryzyka jest niewystarczająca. Psychologia rozwojowa przyczynę rozwoju nieprawidłowej osobowości upatruje głównie w braku prawidłowego przejścia między fazami rozwojowymi oraz nieprawidłowych wzorcach przywiązania. W etiologii zaburzeń osobowości istotną rolę odrywają czynniki genetyczne i temperamentalne, ale także kształtujące się w toku osobistych doświadczeń i interakcji z innymi wczesnodziecięce dezadaptacyjne schematy poznawcze.Istnieje konieczność dalszych badań zakresie zaburzeń osobowości u dzieci i młodzieży jak i opracowanie skutecznych strategii terapeutycznych i prewencyjnych. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest dokonanie przeglądu obecnego stanu wiedzy, dotyczącego mechanizmów kształtujących rozwój osobowości i jej zaburzeń u dzieci i młodzieży.