bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between destination images and sociodemographic and trip characteristics of international travellers
Authors: Baloglu Seyhmus
Published: September 2014

This study attempts to delineate destination image variations of the USA, based on sociodemographic and trip characteristics of West German travellers. Using factor analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure, this study determines six image factors and finds that the image of the US is significantly influenced by some demographic and trip characteristics of West German travellers. Suggestions are made for marketing implications and future research.
The projected inbound market trends of 12 tourist destinations in South-East Asia and the Pacific, 1997-2001
Authors: Hailin Qu  , Hanqin Qiu Zhang
Published: September 2014

The purpose of this paper was to project international tourist arrivals in 12 major tourist destinations in South-East Asia and the Pacific to the year 2001. The SAS forecast autoregressive time series trend model was applied and 25 years (1970-94) of historical data was used to project international tourist flows in these destinations. The five years' projection (1997-2001) showed that tourist arrivals in the 12 destinations will increase from 69.9 million in 1997 to 104.6 million in the year 2001, with an overall growth rate of 49.6 per cent and an average annual growth rate of 10.6 per cent. The tremendons growth of international tourism in the region has been very much associated with intra-regional travel in the past. In the projected regional market share, intra-regional travel will still maintain its dominant position, increasing from 61 per cent of market share in 1997 to 63.5 per cent in 2001, followed by Europe, America, and Oceania. By the year 2001, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, China, and South Korea will be the top five tourist destinations in the region.
Hotel service quality in Hong Kong: A study of tourists' expectations
Authors: Heung Vincent C. S. , Wong M.Y.
Published: September 2014

The study aims to measure travellers' capectations of service quality for Hong Kong hotels and to compare the service expectations of business and leisure visitors. A total of 200 travellers were surveyed. The instrument used was LODGSERV (a multiple-item scale desigited to measure service quality in the hotel industry based on five dimensions ; Reliability, Assurance, Responsiveness, Tangibles and Empathy). It was found that travellers, whether on business or pleasure, have high expectations of service quality in Hong Kong hotels. However, there are differences in the various dimensions. 'Responsiveness' and 'Empathy' are more important to business travellers than leisure travellers. In order to compete successfully in the hotel industry, management must know what their customers expect and provide services to meet their expectations. Since there are differences in the levels of service expectation between business and leisure travellers, management should address those differences accordingly.
'Mood marketing' — The new destination branding strategy: A case study of 'Wales' The Brand
Authors: Pritchard Annette , Morgan Nigel
Published: September 2014

In the ever more competitive tourism marketplace, destinations — from resorts to countries — are increasingly adopting branding techniques in an effort to craft and differentiate an identity which emphasises the uniqueness of their product. This paper briefly discusses the role of branding in destination marketing and evaluates whether destinations can indeed be branded as other goods and services. It suggests that destinations seeking to brand themselves face three unique constraints — a lack of control over the total marketing mix, their relatively limited budgets, and often, over-arching political considerations. In such circumstances, some destinations are adopting strategies whose main goal could be described as the creation of brand saliency — the development of an emotional relationship with the consumer through highly choreographed and focused communications campaigns. To explore this strategy — which we term 'spiritual marketing' — the paper discusses a case study, evaluating how one destination is currently trying to brand itself, particularly in its prime overseas market of the USA. The paper concludes by arguing that such a targeted, multi-agency 'mood marketing' initiative is an effective and efficient way to overcome some of the problems facing destination marketers.
The art and science of conducting economic impact studies
Authors: Delpy Lisa , Ming Li
Published: September 2014

As the awareness and interest in sport tourism as an economic catalyst increases, so do the number of related economic impact studies. These studies have been commissioned by organising bodies as well as supportive governmental and sponsoring officials for differing purposes. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of economic impact research, the broad scope of sport tourism and the involvement of numerous variables, many such previous studies were flawed in design, resulting in fallacious conclusions pertaining to the amount of economic impact brought to a community. The authors of this paper, through reviewing more than 50 economic impact studies, attempted to unveil the art and science of economic impact research, the goal being to help sport tourism managers obtain a better understanding of economic impact research in the light of how to conduct, interpret and evaluate such studies. The scope of an economic impact study; that is, the economic region to be studied, is the first issue that needs to be addressed. Without clearly defining the impact region, it would be impossible to exclude those unqualified visitors and their expenditures from the final estimates of economic impact. The use of multipliers is the next issue to be addressed. A decision must be made as to whether or not a multiplier should be applied and if so, which type to use. The cause and source of economic impact must also be determined prior to the execution of an impact study. As related to sport tourism, a cause is a sport event, facility, or organisation that brings about the activity that impacts the economy of the host community. Another issue discussed pertains to the different methods (survey and non-survery) for collecting data. Visitor spending on lodging, food and beverage, entertainment, transportation and miscellaneous retail are common elements collected through a survey. Construction costs, player salaries, advertising fees, and tax revenues are samples of the sources of impact that need to be dealt with cautiously. Both the survey and non-survey methods have their own merits, shortcomings and circumstances to use. Attribution, accessibility, time delays and appropriateness are four problems associated with secondary data collection that could affect the accuracy of data. The different uses of vocabulary and the selective inclusion of information (tangible vs non-tan gible impacts), are but two issues related to the reporting of economic impact study results. A total of 11 types of expenditure have been identified that are commonly excluded from economic impact studies due to the difficulty in data collection. In conclusion, when evaluating an economic study, one needs to consider the study's relevance, scope, efficiency, accuracy and verification.
Design and utilization of macrophage and vascular smooth muscle cell co-culture systems in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease investigation
Authors: Zuniga Mary C , White Sharla L Powell , Zhou Wei
Published: September 2014

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has been acknowledged as a chronic inflammatory condition. Monocytes and macrophages lead the inflammatory pathology of atherosclerosis whereas changes in atheromatous plaque thickness and matrix composition are attributed to vascular smooth muscle cells. Because these cell types are key players in atherosclerosis progression, it is crucial to utilize a reliable system to investigate their interaction. In vitro co-culture systems are useful platforms to study specific molecular mechanisms between cells. This review aims to summarize the various co-culture models that have been developed to investigate vascular smooth muscle cell and monocyte/macrophage interactions, focusing on the monocyte/macrophage effects on vascular smooth muscle cell function.
Social support mediates the association between benefit finding and quality of life in caregivers
Authors: Brand Charles , Barry Lorna , Gallagher Stephen
Published: September 2014

The psychosocial pathways underlying associations between benefit finding and quality of life are poorly understood. Here, we examined associations between benefit finding, social support, optimism and quality of life in a sample of 84 caregivers. Results revealed that quality of life was predicted by benefit finding, optimism and social support. Moreover, the association between benefit finding and quality of life was explained by social support, but not optimism; caregivers who reported greater benefit finding perceived their social support be higher and this, in turn, had a positive effect on their overall quality of life. These results underscore the importance of harnessing benefit finding to enhance caregiver quality of life.
A snapshot of the lives of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A photovoice investigation
Authors: Williams Sophie , Sheffield David , Knibb Rebecca C
Published: September 2014

Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 6  percent of women. Symptoms include hirsutism, acne, and infertility. This research explores the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on women’s lives using photovoice. Nine participants photographed objects related to their quality of life and made diary entries explaining each photograph. Three themes emerged from thematic analysis of the diaries: control (of symptoms and polycystic ovary syndrome controlling their lives), perception (of self, others, and their situation), and support (from relationships, health care systems, and education). These findings illuminate positive aspects of living with polycystic ovary syndrome and the role pets and social networking sites play in providing support for women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Carnivalesque collaborations: reflections on ‘doing’ multi-disciplinary research
Authors: Spiller Keith , Ball Kirstie , Daniel Elizabeth , Dibb Sally , Meadows Maureen , Canhoto Ana
Published: September 2014

Many funding bodies emphasize the advantages of using multi-disciplinary approaches; in response, in this article we consider our reflections on doing such a project. We contribute to the multi-disciplinary literature by considering the standardizing effect of collaboration on multifarious research approaches. We argue that greater attention should be paid to ‘doing’ qualitative multi-disciplinary research. We find that elements of ‘letting go’ and ‘coming together’ are important when new perspectives and knowledge are engaged. Therefore, we call for clarity on the multi-disciplinary approaches and discuss how we came to understand the collaborative processes of researching, thinking, and writing. The paper begins with vignettes about our ontological journeys during the research project. In developing our argument, we consider the retrospective and reflexive qualities expressed in our vignettes and examine how our collaborative theorizing shaped the research project.
A technique for real-time detecting, locating, and quantifying damage in large polymer composite structures made of carbon fibers and carbon nanotube networks
Authors: Naghashpour Ali , Van Hoa Suong
Published: September 2014

A significant safety concern preventing extensive use of composite materials for large polymer composite structures is the ability to detect, locate, and quantify damages that occur at one or several locations in large polymer composite structures. Real-time health monitoring of large polymer composite structures improves their performance, durability, and reliability while minimizing the life cycle cost. In this article, we present a new, practical, and real-time structural health monitoring technique for detecting, locating, and quantifying damages in large polymer composite structures made of carbon fibers and carbon nanotube networks. In this technique, electrically conductive epoxy resin was prepared by dispersing multiwalled carbon nanotubes into epoxy matrix. This modified epoxy matrix was then incorporated with long carbon fibers to make large composite plates. Two sets of grid points made from silver-epoxy paste were mounted on the surface of the large plates. The first set was used to apply the constant electric current, and the second set was utilized to measure the electric potential. The electric potentials across the second set of grid points on the undamaged plate were measured and used as a reference set. Two different damages were created by drilling holes and by applying impact loading on the large plates. It is found that the electric potential between the contact points surrounding the damage changes. The significant change in electric potential corresponds to the damage location in the plates. As such, drilled holes, impact damages, and barely visible impact damages are detected, located, and quantified.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in adults with type 2 diabetes: An alternative equation for accurate estimation and improved cardiovascular risk classification
Authors: Chai Kheng Ester Yeoh , Chee Fang Sum , Chang Su , Kiat Mun Serena Low , Su Chi Lim , Lee Ying Yeoh , Xiao Wei Ng , Wern Ee Tang , Biing Ming Simon Lee , Tavintharan S
Published: September 2014

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Despite its limitations, Friedewald-calculated LDL-C (F-LDL-C) remains widely used for LDL-C determination. In this observational study of 1999 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we compare the accuracy of F-LDL-C to directly measured LDL-C (M-LDL-C) and derived and validated a new [SMART2D (Singapore Study of MAcro-angiopathy and Micro-Vascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes)] formula to estimate LDL-C. From 1000 randomly selected patients, M-LDL-C was compared to F-LDL-C. Using multiple linear regression to identify independent predictors for M-LDL-C, the SMART2D equation was derived and subsequently validated in the next 981 patients. F-LDL-C was 0.367 (0.216) mmol/L lower than M-LDL-C. This difference was −0.009 (0.189) for SMART2D-LDL-C. Using F-LDL-C, 27% with M-LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L were classified as LDL-C <2.6 mmol/L, reduced to 2.1% when using SMART2D-LDL-C. With F-LDL-C, misclassification was greater when triglycerides were ≥2.2 mmol/L, especially for the lower LDL-C cut-offs (1.8 and 2.6 mmol/L), and this was markedly improved with SMART2D-LDL-C. In conclusion, in T2DM, F-LDL-C underestimates M-LDL-C, with misclassifications that may potentially have an impact on therapeutic decisions in T2DM. The SMART2D equation improves accuracy of estimate, reducing misclassifications. Trials will be needed to ascertain the clinical significance of these findings.
Induction of GADD34 Regulates the Neurotoxicity of Amyloid β
Authors: Xu Niangui , Xiao Zhijie , Zou Ting , Huang Zhiling
Published: September 2014

The possible roles played by growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene 34 (GADD34) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are so far less understood. In this study, we found that GADD34 was increased in the brains of AD transgenic J20 mice. The deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide is the main component of neurotic plaques in AD brain. Thus, we examined the effect of Aβ in the expression of GADD34 in human SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Amyloid β (Aβ1-42) treatment led to increased expression of GADD34. Pretreatment with 50 nmol/L of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 abolished the upregulation of GADD34. c-Jun silencing by transfection with c-Jun small-interfering RNA abolished the effects of Aβ1-42 on the expression of GADD34. Importantly, chromatin immunoprecipitation studies verified the ability of c-Jun to bind to the GADD34 promoter, and this ability was increased more than 3-fold by Aβ1-42. These data suggest that the induction of GADD34 by Aβ is mediated by JNK/c-Jun pathway. Finally, depletion of GADD34 significantly rescued Aβ-induced cell apoptosis as evidenced by a marked decrease in the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. Consistently, knockdown of GADD34 attenuated caspase 3 activation induced by Aβ1-42.
Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Medicine Advertising and Seniors’ Knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Park Jin Seong
Published: September 2014

Purpose:

This study examined whether seniors’ exposure to direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) medicine contributes to his or her subjective and objective knowledge of AD.

Methods:

A self-administered survey was conducted with a sample of 626 US seniors who were registered for an online consumer research panel.

Results:

The study found that (1) exposure to DTCA for AD medicine was positively related to seniors’ subjective knowledge of AD, (2) DTCA exposure had no significant relationship with overall objective knowledge of AD, and (3) DTCA exposure might influence knowledge of specific features of AD.

Implications:

Although DTCA for AD medicine may induce people to “feel” knowledgeable about AD, it may not result in an equivalent increase in actual knowledge. Therefore, to enhance doctor–patient interactions, both patients and doctors should be aware that although DTCA delivers important and potentially useful health information, it does not necessarily enhance actual knowledge.
Family Dynamics of the Stay-at-Home Father and Working Mother Relationship
Authors: Rushing Cassie , Powell Lisa
Published: September 2014

A phenomenological qualitative study was utilized to explore family dynamics in stay-at-home father and working mother households. A total of 20 working mothers were asked to describe family interactions and daily routines with regard to their stay-at-home father and working mother dynamic. All participants were married, heterosexual women with biological children ages 1 to 4 and who worked outside the home and the father stayed home as primary caretaker and did not contribute financially. The study indicated that the family dynamic of a working mother and stay-at-home father provided a positive parent–child relationship, enhanced parenting cohesion, and enhanced quality time.
A simulation-based approach to determine the evaluation adequacy of system-of-systems operational test configurations
Authors: Tamburello Robert N , Herrmann Jeffrey W
Published: September 2014

A system-of-systems is defined as “a set or arrangement of systems that results from independent systems integrated into a larger system that delivers unique capabilities.” Given practical resource constraints, it is rare that the full-field configuration of the system-of-systems can be exercised during an operational reliability demonstration test. However, as we consider various potential operational test configurations for a given system-of-systems during the reliability test program planning process, it is critical to understand how testing a configuration that is smaller than the full-field configuration decreases the adequacy of the test by reducing the accuracy of the system-of-systems’ reliability estimate that is based on the test results. Thus, it is useful to assess the adequacy of potential system-of-systems’ operational test configurations before adopting one. We present a novel simulation-based method that can be employed to assess the adequacy of a given test configuration for any type of system-of-systems. To illustrate how this simulation-based method can be used to aid in the identification of the best alternative from among a group of potential operational test configuration alternatives, we include an example application using a notional air defense system-of-systems. Trade-offs with respect to cost, schedule, and accuracy are addressed within the context of this application.
Oxygen therapy: time to move on?
Authors: Kelly Carol
Published: September 2014

This analysis examines the roots of clinical practice regarding oxygen therapy and finds that some aspects have changed very little over the past 200 years. Oxygen is commonly prescribed and administered as a therapy across all healthcare settings, particularly for the treatment and management of respiratory conditions, both acute and chronic. Yet despite its widespread use and recent advances in understanding and guidance, poor practice and controversies regarding its use persist. This historical analysis highlights origins in practice that may suggest where the roots of these fallacies lie, highlighting potential ambiguities and myths that have permeated clinical and social contexts. It can be considered that based on clinical presumptions and speculation the prolific and injudicious use of oxygen was encouraged and the legacy for today’s practice seeded. The conjectures proposed here may enable modern day erroneous beliefs to be confronted and clinical practice to move on.
Deep-Vein Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Foot and Ankle Surgery
Authors: Shah Kalpesh , Thevendran Gowreeson , Younger Alastair , Pinney Stephen J.
Published: September 2014

Background. When contemplating thromboprophylaxis for patients undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery the potential for complications secondary to venous thromboembolism (VTE) must be balanced against the cost, risk, and effectiveness of prophylactic treatment. The incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) following foot and ankle surgery is considerably lower than after hip or knee surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess current trends in practice regarding VTE prophylaxis among expert orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. Methods. An e-mail-based survey of active AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) committee members was conducted (n = 100). Surgeons were questioned as to their use, type, and duration of thromboprophylaxis following elective ankle fusion surgery. Scenarios included the following: (1) A 50-year-old woman with no risk factors; (2) a 50-year-old woman with a history of PE; and (3) a 35-year-old woman actively using birth control pills (BCPs). Results. The response rate for the survey was 80% (80/100). Replies regarding the use of thromboprophylaxis were as follows: (1) in the absence of risk factors, 57% of respondents (45/80) answered, “No prophylaxis required”; (2) for the scenario in which the patient had experienced a previous PE, 97.5% of respondents (78/80) answered, “Yes” to prophylaxis use; (3) for the scenario in which the patient was on BCP, 61.3% of respondents (49/80) stated that they would give some type of thromboprophylaxis. The most commonly recommended methods of prophylaxis were aspirin, 49% (24/49), and low-molecular-weight heparin, 47% (23/49). The recommended length of time for thromboprophylaxis varied widely, from 1 day to more than 6 weeks. Conclusion. There remains wide variation in the practice of deep-vein thrombosis thromboprophylaxis within the foot and ankle community. Because risks for foot and ankle patients differ from those in the well-studied areas of hip and knee, specific guidelines are needed for foot and ankle surgery.

Levels of Evidence: Level V: Expert Opinion
Acute Posterior Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Caused by Gouty Tophus
Authors: Lui Tun Hing
Published: September 2014

Gouty tophus of the tarsal tunnel is a rare cause of posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome. We present a case of acute posterior tarsal tunnel syndrome due to gouty tophus that required early tarsal tunnel release in order to avoid irreversible nerve damage. The presence of background neuropathy resulted in a less favorable result than expected.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level V: Case report
The Adult Ball-and-Socket Ankle Joint
Authors: Lewis John S. , DeOrio James K.
Published: September 2014

Background: We review the surgical management of 4 adult patients with ball-and-socket ankle deformity who developed end-stage subtalar and/or ankle joint arthritis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 4 adult patients with ball-and-socket ankle configurations who underwent surgical treatment for either end-stage tibiotalar or subtalar arthritis, with either subtalar arthrodesis or total ankle replacement (TAR). Clinical outcome, including subjective pain assessment, limitation of activities, and difficulty with shoe wear, were assessed at follow-up. Results: A total of 5 ankles in 4 patients were identified that met the inclusion criteria. There were 3 subtalar arthrodeses in 2 patients and 2 primary TARs in 2 patients. At an average follow-up of 30.5 (range = 17 to 59) months, there were no failures, although 1 patient who underwent TAR was considered an impending failure with aseptic component loosening. Of the 4 patients, 3 resumed normal activity with minimal pain and were very pleased with their overall outcome. Conclusion: Standard surgical interventions for ankle and subtalar arthritis, such as total ankle arthroplasty and subtalar arthrodesis, can be successfully performed in patients with ball-and-socket ankles; clinical outcome and survivorship, however, may be inferior to that in patients with normal ankle configurations.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case Series
All-Inside, Anatomical Lateral Ankle Stabilization for Revision and Complex Primary Lateral Ankle Stabilization
Authors: Prissel Mark A. , Roukis Thomas S.
Published: September 2014

Lateral ankle instability is a common mechanical problem that often requires surgical management when conservative efforts fail. Historically, myriad open surgical approaches have been proposed. Recently, consideration for arthroscopic management of lateral ankle instability has become popular, with promising results. Unfortunately, recurrent inversion ankle injury following lateral ankle stabilization can occur and require revision surgery. To date, arthroscopic management for revision lateral ankle stabilization has not been described. We present a novel arthroscopic technique combining an arthroscopic lateral ankle stabilization kit with a suture anchor ligament augmentation system for revision as well as complex primary lateral ankle stabilization.
Moral Impression Management
Authors: van Nunspeet Félice , Derks Belle , Ellemers Naomi , Nieuwenhuis Sander
Published: September 2014

Previous research revealed that emphasizing morality increases motivational processes that improve people’s task performance. Here we examined whether this emphasis differentially affects people’s performance in the presence of an in-group compared to an out-group member. Ostensibly while being evaluated by another person, participants performed an Implicit Association Test that was framed as a test of either their morality or their competence. Results showed a smaller bias toward Muslim women in the morality compared to the competence condition, but this effect was more pronounced when participants were evaluated by a member of their minimal in-group. Moreover, in that same condition, event-related potentials revealed increased perceptual attention (N1) and affected conflict and response monitoring (N450 and error-related negativity). These findings suggest that being moral is especially important when monitored by the in-group and reveal the cognitive processes associated with controlling intergroup bias in a social situation.
Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss
Authors: Plack Christopher J. , Barker Daphne , Prendergast Garreth
Published: September 2014

Dramatic results from recent animal experiments show that noise exposure can cause a selective loss of high-threshold auditory nerve fibers without affecting absolute sensitivity permanently. This cochlear neuropathy has been described as hidden hearing loss, as it is not thought to be detectable using standard measures of audiometric threshold. It is possible that hidden hearing loss is a common condition in humans and may underlie some of the perceptual deficits experienced by people with clinically normal hearing. There is some evidence that a history of noise exposure is associated with difficulties in speech discrimination and temporal processing, even in the absence of any audiometric loss. There is also evidence that the tinnitus experienced by listeners with clinically normal hearing is associated with cochlear neuropathy, as measured using Wave I of the auditory brainstem response. To date, however, there has been no direct link made between noise exposure, cochlear neuropathy, and perceptual difficulties. Animal experiments also reveal that the aging process itself, in the absence of significant noise exposure, is associated with loss of auditory nerve fibers. Evidence from human temporal bone studies and auditory brainstem response measures suggests that this form of hidden loss is common in humans and may have perceptual consequences, in particular, regarding the coding of the temporal aspects of sounds. Hidden hearing loss is potentially a major health issue, and investigations are ongoing to identify the causes and consequences of this troubling condition.
Role for early-differentiated natural killer cells in infectious mononucleosis
Authors: Azzi Tarik , Lünemann Anna , Murer Anita , Ueda Seigo , Béziat Vivien , Malmberg Karl-Johan , Staubli Georg , Gysin Claudine , Berger Christoph , Münz Christian , Chijioke Obinna , Nadal David
Published: September 2014

Key Points

Early-differentiated NK cells accumulate and proliferate during IM. These early-differentiated NK cells preferentially target lytic EBV-infected B cells in vitro.
Investigating osteogenic differentiation in multiple myeloma using a novel 3D bone marrow niche model
Authors: Reagan Michaela R. , Mishima Yuji , Glavey Siobhan V. , Zhang Yong , Manier Salomon , Lu Zhi Ning , Memarzadeh Masoumeh , Zhang Yu , Sacco Antonio , Aljawai Yosra , Shi Jiantao , Tai Yu-Tzu , Ready John E. , Kaplan David L. , Roccaro Aldo M. , Ghobrial Irene M.
Published: September 2014

Key Points

3D bone marrow niche model recapitulates in vivo interactions of tumor and bone cells in a more biologically relevant system than in 2D. Differential expression levels of miRs in MSCs provide novel insights into mechanisms of regulation of osteoblasts in multiple myeloma.
Inherited bone marrow failure associated with germline mutation of ACD, the gene encoding telomere protein TPP1
Authors: Guo Yiran , Kartawinata Melissa , Li Jiankang , Pickett Hilda A. , Teo Juliana , Kilo Tatjana , Barbaro Pasquale M. , Keating Brendan , Chen Yulan , Tian Lifeng , Al-Odaib Ahmad , Reddel Roger R. , Christodoulou John , Xu Xun , Hakonarson Hakon , Bryan Tracy M.
Published: September 2014

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that is necessary for overcoming telomere shortening in human germ and stem cells. Mutations in telomerase or other telomere-maintenance proteins can lead to diseases characterized by depletion of hematopoietic stem cells and bone marrow failure (BMF). Telomerase localization to telomeres requires an interaction with a region on the surface of the telomere-binding protein TPP1 known as the TEL patch. Here, we identify a family with aplastic anemia and other related hematopoietic disorders in which a 1-amino-acid deletion in the TEL patch of TPP1 (ΔK170) segregates with disease. All family members carrying this mutation, but not those with wild-type TPP1, have short telomeres. When introduced into 293T cells, TPP1 with the ΔK170 mutation is able to localize to telomeres but fails to recruit telomerase to telomeres, supporting a causal relationship between this TPP1 mutation and bone marrow disorders. ACD/TPP1 is thus a newly identified telomere-related gene in which mutations cause aplastic anemia and related BMF disorders.
Viewing systematic reviews and meta-analysis in social research through different lenses
Authors: Davis Jacqueline , Mengersen Kerrie , Bennett Sarah , Mazerolle Lorraine
Published: September 2014

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are used to combine results across studies to determine an overall effect. Meta-analysis is especially useful for combining evidence to inform social policy, but meta-analyses of applied social science research may encounter practical issues arising from the nature of the research domain. The current paper identifies potential resolutions to four issues that may be encountered in systematic reviews and meta-analyses in social research. The four issues are: scoping and targeting research questions appropriate for meta-analysis; selecting eligibility criteria where primary studies vary in research design and choice of outcome measures; dealing with inconsistent reporting in primary studies; and identifying sources of heterogeneity with multiple confounded moderators. The paper presents an overview of each issue with a review of potential resolutions, identified from similar issues encountered in meta-analysis in medical and biological sciences. The discussion aims to share and improve methodology in systematic reviews and meta-analysis by promoting cross-disciplinary communication, that is, to encourage ‘viewing through different lenses’.
Response of airway epithelial cells to double-stranded RNA in an allergic environment
Authors: Herbert Cristan , Zeng Qing-Xiang , Shanmugasundaram Ramesh , Garthwaite Linda , Oliver Brian G , Kumar Rakesh K
Published: September 2014

Background

Respiratory viral infections are the most common trigger of acute exacerbations in patients with allergic asthma. The anti-viral response of airway epithelial cells (AEC) may be impaired in asthmatics, while cytokines produced by AEC may drive the inflammatory response. We investigated whether AEC cultured in the presence of Th2 cytokines associated with an allergic environment exhibited altered responses to double-stranded RNA, a virus-like stimulus.

Methods

We undertook preliminary studies using the MLE-12 cell line derived from mouse distal respiratory epithelial cells, then confirmed and extended our findings using low-passage human AEC. Cells were cultured in the absence or presence of the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 for 48 hours, then stimulated with poly I:C for 4 hours. Expression of relevant anti-viral response and cytokine genes was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Secretion of cytokine proteins was assessed by immunoassay.

Results

Following stimulation with poly I:C, MLE-12 cells pre-treated with Th2 cytokines exhibited significantly higher levels of expression of mRNA for the cytokine genesCxcl10andCxcl11, as well as a trend towards increased expression ofCxcl9andIl6.Expression of anti-viral response genes was mostly unchanged, althoughStat1, Ifit1andIfitm3were significantly increased in Th2 cytokine pre-treated cells. Human AEC pre-treated with IL-4 and IL-13, then stimulated with poly I:C, similarly exhibited significantly higher expression ofIL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11andCCL5genes. In parallel, there was significantly increased secretion of CXCL8 and CCL5, as well as a trend towards increased secretion of CXCL10 and IL-6. Again, expression of anti-viral response genes was not decreased. Rather, there was significantly enhanced expression of mRNA for type III interferons, RNA helicases and other interferon-stimulated genes.

Conclusion

The Th2 cytokine environment appears to promote increased production of pro-inflammatory chemokines by AEC in response to double-stranded RNA, which could help explain the exaggerated inflammatory response to respiratory viral infection in allergic asthmatics. However, any impairment of anti-viral host defences in asthmatics appears unlikely to be a consequence of Th2 cytokine-induced downregulation of the expression of viral response genes by AEC.
X-ray tomography of large wooden artworks: the case study of "Doppio corpo" by Pietro Piffetti
Authors: Re Alessandro , Albertin Fauzia , Avataneo Chiara , Brancaccio Rosa , Corsi Jacopo , Cotto Giorgio , De Blasi Stefania , Dughera Giovanni , Durisi Elisabetta , Ferrarese Walter , Giovagnoli Annamaria , Grassi Novella , Lo Giudice Alessandro , Mereu Paolo , Mila Giorgia , Nervo Marco , Pastrone Nadia , Prino Francesco , Ramello Luciano , Ravera Massimo , Ricci Chiara , Romero Alessandra , Sacchi Roberto , Staiano Amedeo , Visca Lorenzo , Zamprotta Lorenzo
Published: September 2014

Introduction

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is now used in the cultural heritage field because it is non-invasive and it can give a large amount of information on the inner structure of the object under study. Until recently mainly medical CT scanners or micro-CT setups have been used, limiting the analysis to relatively small artworks or requiring multiple acquisition and difficult image-joining for objects larger than detector dimensions.

Results

To overcome the limitations of ordinary CT devices, a facility for the X-ray tomography of large size artefacts has recently been designed and installed in a protected area of the Fondazione Centro Conservazione e Restauro "La Venaria Reale", a Centre for Preservation and Restoration. This facility, based on a X-ray source, a linear X-ray detector and a high precision mechanical system, has been and will be used to gather information on materials, manufacturing techniques and conservative conditions of artworks undergoing the restoration process.

In this paper the results of the tomography of the first analyzed large artistic object are presented, giving an idea of the wealth of information obtained from the CT scan. The presented artwork is the writing cabinet called "doppio corpo", a masterpiece of furniture more than 3 m high, inlaid for Savoy Residences by Pietro Piffetti, the most famous cabinet-maker in Piedmont in the XVIII century. The artwork is now housed in the Quirinale Palace, the official residence of the Italian President in Rome.

Conclusions

The CT analysis permitted us to obtain valuable information about the conservative conditions, the presence of previous interventions, the distribution of various materials and the dimensions and arrangement of several wooden pieces, thus allowing for interesting hypotheses about the building technique of this masterpiece.
A security analysis of uniformly-layered rainbow defined over non-commutative rings
Authors: Yasuda Takanori , Sakurai Kouichi
Published: September 2014

Hashimoto and Sakurai proposed a signature scheme (HS scheme), whose security is based on the difficulty of integer factorization. In this paper, we redefine HS scheme as a signature scheme in Multivariate Public Key Cryptosystems (MPKC). MPKC are public key cryptosystems whose security is based on the difficulty of solving multivariate quadratic equations, and candidates for post-quantum cryptography. In this paper, we analyze the security of the extended HS scheme using technique of security analysis for MPKC. Furthermore, based on the security analysis of the extended HS scheme, we estimate secure parameters of the extended HS scheme.
Using Twitter to investigate opinions about multiple sclerosis treatments: a descriptive, exploratory study
Authors: Ramagopalan Sreeram V. , Wasiak Radek , Cox Andrew P.
Published: September 2014

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common complex disorder, with new treatment options emerging each year. Social media is being increasingly used to investigate opinions about drugs, diseases and procedures. In this descriptive exploratory study, we sought to investigate opinions about currently available MS treatments.

Methods: The Twitter resource Topsy was searched for tweets mentioning the following MS treatments: Aubagio, Avonex, Betaferon or Betaseron, Copaxone, Extavia, Gilenya, Lemtrada, Novantrone, Rebif, Tysabri and Tecfidera between 1 Jan 2006 to 31 Jul 2014. Tweets were normalised and sentiment analysis performed.

Results: In total, there were 60037 unique tweets mentioning an MS treatment. About half of the tweets contained non-neutral sentiment. Mean sentiment scores were different for treatments ranging from -0.191to 0.282 when investigating all tweets. These differences in sentiment scores between treatments were statistically significant (P<0.001). Sentiment scores tended to be higher for oral MS treatments than injectable treatments.

Conclusions: Many tweets about MS treatments have a non-neutral sentiment. The analysis of social media appears to be a potential avenue for exploring patient opinion about MS treatments.
The United States and the Fall of the Trujillo Regime
Authors: Fatalski Marcin
Published: September 2014

Rafael Trujillo, who governed the Dominican Republic in the years 1930‑1961, was one of the most recognizable Latin American dictators. Trujillo created one of the most repressive regimes in Central America, even when compared with other dictatorships of this cruelly governed region. Till the late 1950s, his position in the eyes of U.S. policymakers was stable. He maintained order in the country and upheld an anti‑Communist policy, both an internal and foreign one. In the late 1950s, the Trujillo regime became the subject of growing criticism in the United States and other American republics. The Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations were concerned that a continuation of the Trujillo regime would provoke a Castro‑like revolution in the Dominican Republic. Kennedy also criticized Trujillo for his violation of human rights, which was contrary to the new program of U.S. policy toward Latin America. Kennedy promoted democracy and reform to avoid the threat of a Communist revolution. The U.S.A. supported the conspiracy against Trujillo in order to overthrow the dictator and establish a “moderate pro‑American government.” After the assassination of the dictator, pressure from the U.S. frustrated Trujillo’s son’s attempts to maintain the regime, and protected the transition of the Dominican Republic to a democratic system.
Korean Unification Prospects and the United States’ Policy
Authors: Grabowski Marcin
Published: September 2014

Korean unification seemed a conceivable prospect at the turn of the century, especially after the Inter‑Korean summit in 2000. This is not the case nowadays, however, in light of the provocative behavior of the North Korean regime in 2010, 2012 and 2013 (especially the declarations made in March 2013).the declarations made in March 2013). Since such an option seems likely in the future, U.S. foreign policy‑makers should analyze possible scenarios for Korean integration and its influence on the regional system.The costs of such an endeavor are hard to estimate, although using German unification for comparison, we may expect that such a process could ruin the economies of both Koreas, as well as the socio‑political systems of both countries. There are even greater doubts concerning whether there is any actor in the regional scene that could support Korean unification. As for the main regional players – China, Japan and the United States – such a change would be a serious challenge. This is why it is important to focus on the German example in order to strengthen the regional trust and alliance system.The main goal of this paper is to analyze the crucial Northeast Asian challenge of American foreign policy, present the possibilities of Korean unification, assess its costs, use German unification as a point of comparison, and assess the possible influence of Korean unification on the regional system and the approaches of regional powers towards the process of creating a New Korea.
So This Is Peace? The Postwar Ventures by John Steinbeck, Irwin Shaw, and Robert Capa
Authors: Hauzer Katarzyna
Published: September 2014

This paper is an attempt to analze literary ventures by John Steinbeck, Irwin Shaw and Robert Capa in which text and pictures make their own commentary. A Russian Journal (1948) is an unusual record of “the great other side of Russia,” wherein Steinbeck and Capa struggle to present the Soviet Union deprived of its ideological context. The authors make a sweeping journey through the USSR, portraying the landscapes and ways of life of ordinary Russians who were emerging from the rubble of WWII with the hope of peaceful coexistence of capitalism and communism in the atomic decade. The challenging task of demarcating culture with politics produced an intriguing travel narrative in which the power of observation is inherent in Steinbeck’s insights into Russia’s cultural landscapes and its memories of war, not in its Cold War state of mind. Similarly, Shaw and Capa take up a delicate task, reporting on the labyrinths of war in a newly developing state in the Middle East. Report on Israel (1950) is a powerful depiction of several wars at a crossroads where verbal assessment and photographic artistry often compete with one another. The spirit behind A Russian Journal and Report on Israel is a reminder of the postwar era’s instability and the human dimension of political changes. Both literary perspectives, unknown to a wider audience, serve as unique historical documents and skillfully arranged postwar profiles of countries and cultures traveling along a swinging rope between war and peace.
The Role of Congress, President and the Supreme Court in Defining Immigration Policy in the United States
Authors: Ludwikowski Anna
Published: September 2014

In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform in the US, many states and local governments have attempted to enact their own immigration policies. In 2010, Arizona legislature passed the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (referred to as SB‑1070, the version introduced in Arizona’s senate) to decrease illegal immigration within the state.A few months before the presidential elections of 2012, two issues – healthcare and immigration – became the main focus of Barack Obama’s second presidential campaign, especially because the US Supreme Court agreed to review the constitutionality of both acts: federal law – Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and state law – SB‑1070. The decisions of the Supreme Court were eagerly anticipated and, quite surprisingly, they brought the president a double victory in June 2012.The Supreme Court confirmed that states lack the power to regulate immigration issues and create their own immigration policy. Its ruling preserved federal control over immigration. However, in light of the inability of Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration law, we may expect a gridlock resulting in temporary measures aimed to solve the most crucial problems with executive orders of the president, or further changes in enforcement policy.
Interpretation in the Supreme National Tribunal in Poland (1946‑1948)
Authors: Tryuk Małgorzata
Published: September 2014

Niniejszy artykuł prezentuje działalność tłumaczy ustnych podczas procesów przed Najwyższym Trybunałem Narodowym ustanowionym w 1946 r. w celu osądzenia zbrodniarzy hitlerowskich po II wojnie światowej. Praca powstała w oparciu o materiały archiwalne zgromadzone w Instytucie Pamięci Narodowej i przedstawia po raz pierwszy sylwetki tłumaczy, którzy zostali zaangażowani do pracy w charakterze tłumaczy sądowych, a jednocześnie byli tłumaczami symultanicznymi lub konsekutywnymi. Artykuł omawia także kwestie zaufania wobec tłumaczy i ich kontroli podczas procesów zbrodniarzy wojennych.