bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
China’s foreign direct investment in Africa’s land: hallmarks of neo-colonialism or South–South cooperation?
Authors: Okolo Abutu Lawrence , Akwu Joseph O.
Published: October 2015

Since the end of the Cold War and the emergence of globalization, China’s economic role has gained significant prominence in a system once dominated by capital from developed countries. Undeniably, the increasing role of China’s foreign direct investment in Africa’s land is transforming the agricultural sector of the region. Beijing’s visible presence in the international political economy has attracted distinctive attention in both academic and media discourse across the globe but more importantly in the developing geopolitical terrains such as Africa. The discussion of Sino-African relationship at policy levels is therefore compelling against such a background. The major concern has been whether Beijing’s direct investment in Africa’s land marks any important change in Africa’s international political economy. Trade between the two partners has grown significantly and Beijing is accorded access to supplies of natural resources such as land, diamond, coopers and oil among other vital resources. The paper seeks to examine the most pertinent question in relation to China–Africa relationship: To what extent is Chinese involvement in Africa’s land any different from the hallmarks of neo-colonialism?
Real-Time PCR Assay for Detection of Sphacelotheca reiliana Infection in Maize (Zea mays) Seedlings and Evaluation of Seed Treatment Efficacy
Authors: Anderson S. J. , Simmons H. E. , Munkvold G. P.
Published: October 2015

Head smut of maize, caused by the fungus Sphacelotheca reiliana, is an economically important disease in all major maize-producing countries. Although seed treatments are commonly used for management purposes, evaluating these treatments for efficacy is both time consuming and inefficient. Therefore, in order to improve the capacity for evaluating seed treatment fungicides, we developed a real-time PCR-based seedling assay for S. reiliana infection. We optimized growth chamber conditions and inoculation methods to achieve infection incidence of 60 to 80% in inoculated, nontreated controls. The effects of five commercially available fungicidal seed treatment formulations on seedling infection incidence were compared by PCR analysis of root and mesocotyl tissues. Tebuconazole, fludioxonil, sedaxane, and Maxim Quattro (fludioxonil+mefenoxam+azoxystrobin+thiabendazole) reduced the incidence of infection (P < 0.05) compared with the control, but no difference was found between the azoxystrobin treatment and the control. All rates tested for both sedaxane and tebuconazole were equally effective for seeds coated with 106 teliospores∙seed–1. Sedaxane, at a rate of 0.1 mg/kernel, eliminated seedling infection if seeds were infested with a low inoculum concentration (101 teliospores∙seed–1). The assay developed here is a valuable tool not only for the detection of fungal infection at the seedling stage, but also for testing the relative efficacies of seed treatments for reducing incidence of infection.
Nursing Diagnosis of “Spiritual Distress” in Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Caldeira Sílvia , Timmins Fiona , de Carvalho Emília C. , Vieira Margarida
Published: October 2015

Background:

Spirituality and spiritual needs of cancer patients are frequently mentioned in the nursing literature, but the most significant defining characteristics of spiritual distress in the context of clinical reasoning and nursing diagnosis are rarely explored. Understanding of these is important for effective spiritual intervention.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis “spiritual distress,” as classified according to NANDA International, among women with breast cancer.

Methods:

This was a quantitative and cross-sectional study, comprising the third phase of a larger study investigating the clinical validation of spiritual distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Fehring’s clinical diagnostic validation model was used to identify the prevalence and the major defining characteristics of the diagnosis. A convenience sample was used, and data were collected by structured interview.

Results:

A total of 70 women participated; most were married (62.9%) and had a mean age of 54 years, and 55.7% reported having at least 1 person depending on them. The average length of time since the cancer diagnosis was 30.9 months. Twenty-seven participants were experiencing spiritual distress (38.6%). Eleven defining characteristics were classified as major.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of spiritual distress and the major defining characteristics give clinical evidence about the nurse’s role in providing spiritual care. The results are useful for the improved use of the NANDA International diagnoses within this domain.

Implications for Practice:

The findings highlight the importance of assessing the defining characteristics of the diagnosis as an objective strategy to improve clinical reasoning related to spirituality and to facilitate more effective interventions.
Single molecule targeted sequencing for cancer gene mutation detection
Authors: Gao Yan , Deng Liwei , Yan Qin , Gao Yongqian , Wu Zengding , Cai Jinsen , Ji Daorui , Li Gailing , Wu Ping , Jin Huan , Zhao Luyang , Liu Song , Deem Michael W. , He Jiankui
Published: October 2015

With the rapid decline cost of sequencing, it is now clinically affordable to examine multiple genes in a single disease-targeted test using next generation sequencing. Current targeted sequencing methods require a separate step of targeted capture enrichment during sample preparation before sequencing, and the library preparation process is labor intensive and time consuming. Here, we introduced an amplification-free Single Molecule Targeted Sequencing (SMTS) technology, which combined targeted capture and sequencing in one step. We demonstrated that this technology can detect low-frequency mutations of cancer genes. SMTS has several advantages, namely that it requires little sample preparation and avoids biases and errors introduced by PCR reaction. SMTS can be applied in cancer gene mutation detection, inherited condition screening and noninvasive prenatal diagnosis.
SpectralTDF: transition densities of diffusion processes with time-varying selection parameters, mutation rates, and effective population sizes
Authors: Steinrücken Matthias , Jewett Ethan M. , Song Yun S.
Published: October 2015

In the Wright-Fisher diffusion, the transition density function (TDF) describes the time-evolution of the population-wide frequency of an allele. This function has several practical applications in population genetics, and computing it for biologically realistic scenarios with selection and demography is an important problem. We develop an efficient method for finding a spectral representation of the TDF for a general model where the effective population size, selection coefficients, and mutation parameters vary over time in a piecewise constant manner. The method, called spectralTDF, is available athttps://sourceforge.net/projects/spectraltdf/.
Crystal structures of (N-methyl-N-phenylamino)(N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl)sulfide and the corresponding disulfane
Authors: Henley Matthew J. , Schroll Alayne L. , Young Victor G. , Barany George
Published: October 2015

The title compounds, (N-methyl-N-phenylamino)(N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl)sulfide, C15H16N2OS, (I), and (N-methyl-N-phenylamino)(N-methyl-N-phenylcarbamoyl)disulfane, C15H16N2OS2, (II), are stable derivatives of (chlorocarbonyl)sulfenyl chloride and (chlorocarbonyl)disulfanyl chloride, respectively. The torsion angle about the S—S bond in (II) is −92.62 (6)°, which is close to the theoretical value of 90°. In the crystal of (II), non-classical intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds form centrosymmetric cyclic dimers [graph setR22(10)], while inter-dimer C—H...S interactions generate chains extending along thebaxis.
Crystal structure of (4R,5S,6R)-6-azido-5-benzyloxy-3,3,4-trifluoroazepan-1-ium 2,2,2-trifluoroacetate from synchrotron data
Authors: Patel Alpesh Ramanlal , Bhadbhade Mohan M. , Liu Fei
Published: October 2015

The structure of the title compound, C15H16F6N4O3, was determined using synchrotron radiation on an extremely small crystal (0.015 × 0.01 × 0.01 mm). Although the diffraction was weak, leading to high residuals and a poor data-to-parameter ratio, the data allowed ready solution and refinement to reveal the entire structure. The solid-state structure is in accordance with the absolute configuration assigned based on that of the known starting material. The compound comprises a highly substituted seven-membered N-heterocyclic cation and a trifluoromethanesulfonate counter-anion. The title compound crystallizes with two independent cations (AandB) and anions (CandD) in the asymmetric unit. Two geminal F atoms, a single F atom, a benzyl ether and an azide group are substituted on consecutive C atoms between the NH2and CH2units of the azepan-1-ium ring system. The seven-membered rings adopt different conformations with the principal differences occurring in the CF2CHFCH2segments of the ring systems. The geminal F atoms on the quaternary C atom exhibit essentially identical bond angles [109 (2) and 106 (2)°] in the two independent molecules. The two molecules associate as a dimeric unitviatwo C—H...F interactions. An extensive series of N—H...O, N—H...F, C—H...O, C—H...N, C—H...F and C—H...π contacts generate a three-dimensional network with cations and anions linked intoABCDrepeat columns alonga.
Two isostructural carbamates: theo-tolylN-(pyridin-3-yl)carbamate and 2-bromophenylN-(pyridin-3-yl)carbamate monohydrates
Authors: Mocilac Pavle , Gallagher John F.
Published: October 2015

The title carbamate monohydrates, C13H12N2O2·H2O and C12H9BrN2O2·H2O, form isomorphous crystals that are isostructural in their primary hydrogen-bonding modes. In both carbamates, the primary hydrogen bonding and aggregation involves cyclic amide–water–pyridine moieties as (N—H...O—H...N)2dimers about inversion centres [asR44(14) rings], where the participation of strong hydrogen-bonding donors and acceptors is maximized. The remaining water–carbonyl O—H...O=C interaction extends the aggregation into two-dimensional planar sheets that stack parallel to the (100) plane. The Br derivative does not participate in halogen bonding. A weak intramolecular C—H...O hydrogen bond is observed in each compound.
Crystal structure of (E)-1,3-bis(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one
Authors: Patel Paresh N. , Chadha Anju
Published: October 2015

In the title compound, C25H20O3, the central –C(=O)—C=C– chain is disordered over two positions about the central C atom, with an occupancy ratio of 0.848 (6):0.152 (6). The molecule is twisted with the two naphthalene ring systems being inclined to one another by 52.91 (9)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional structure. The structure was refined as a two-component twin with a 180 ° rotation about thec* axis.
The relationship between humorous leadership and innovative behavior
Authors: Pundt Alexander
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between humorous leadership and innovative behavior and the moderator effects of creative requirement and perceived innovation climate, beyond transformational leadership, and leader-member exchange (LMX).

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaire data were collected from 150 employees of various organizations in Germany.

Findings

– Employees whose leader used humor more frequently reported to be more innovative, when the employees perceived their tasks to require creativity and innovation. Perceived innovation climate did not moderate the relationship.

Research limitations/implications

– Different humor styles rather than just positive humor should be investigated in the future. Future research should incorporate multi-level designs and objective data on innovative behavior.

Practical implications

– Humorous leadership is an important element of innovation-relevant leadership behavior. Its use may be integrated in broader leadership development approaches.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to knowledge on humorous leadership and its relationship to organizational behavior. It enhances theoretical developments by considering the employees’ task and perceived innovation climate as moderator variables. It helps establish humor as a leadership tool beyond constructs such as LMX or transformational leadership.
Conflicting personal goals: a risk to occupational well-being?
Authors: Hyvönen Katriina , Rantanen Johanna , Huhtala Mari , Wiese Bettina S. , Tolvanen Asko , Feldt Taru
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating role of goal conflict in the relationship between the contents of managers’ personal work goals and occupational well-being (burnout and work engagement). Eight goal categories (organization, competence, well-being, career-ending, progression, prestige, job change, and employment contract) described the contents of goals. Goal conflict reflected the degree to which a personal work goal was perceived to interfere with other life domains.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data were drawn from a study directed to Finnish managers in 2009 (n=806). General linear models were conducted to investigate the associations between goal content categories and occupational well-being and to test whether goal conflict moderates the relationship between goal content categories and occupational well-being.

Findings

– Career-ending goals related to significantly higher burnout than progression goals. Participants with organization, competence, or progression goals reported the highest goal conflict, whereas participants with well-being, career-ending, or job change goals reported lower goal conflict. Goal conflict was found to have a moderating role: in a high-goal conflict situation, participants with organizational, competence, and progression goals reported lower occupational well-being, whereas participants with job change goals reported higher occupational well-being.

Originality/value

– The research highlights that both the contents and appraisals (e.g. goal conflict) of personal work goals should be taken into account when investigating the relationship between personal goals and well-being at work.
Communicating virtually in a global organization
Authors: Brotheridge Céleste M. , Neufeld Derrick J. , Dyck Bruno
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to consider the extent to which changes in communication media are associated with changes in the nature of manager-expatriate employee communications. Using an affordance lens, the authors explore how hierarchical level and communication medium interact to influence status dynamics manifested in communication attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypothesis was tested with a 2 (hierarchical level)×3 (communication media) multivariate analysis of covariance (experience level) in a sample of 1,193 messages that were transmitted between managers and field employees in a global organization over a ten year period.

Findings

– The authors found significant interaction effects between communication media and hierarchical level on communication attributes such that changes in communication media intensified status differences between managers and their employees.

Research limitations/implications

– Communications media may be appropriated differently depending on one’s hierarchical level.

Practical implications

– Managers should adopt new communication media more consciously given their potential influence of how people communicate.

Originality/value

– Unlike many computer-mediated communications (CMC) effects studies that compare face-to-face communications with CMC or employ self-report questionnaires or laboratory designs with student samples, this study examines a complete set of manager-employee communications over an extended period of time.
Sharing my knowledge? An interactional perspective
Authors: Lee Soojin , Yoo Yongsu , Yun Seokhwa
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that facilitate individual knowledge sharing. Specifically, the authors investigated the roles of coworker support and individual characteristics, i.e., exchange ideology and learning orientation on knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from questionnaires distributed to employees and their direct supervisors in two companies in South Korea. Hierarchical regression analyses and simple slope test were performed to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Coworker support and learning orientation is positively but exchange ideology is negatively related to knowledge sharing. Furthermore, when coworker support is low, knowledge sharing is mainly dependent on each individual’s characteristics. However, when coworker support is high, employees showed high level of knowledge sharing irrespective of their individual characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

– This study suggested that the support from coworker as well as individuals’ characteristics plays an important role in determining their knowledge sharing behaviors. Moreover, the authors found the significant interaction effects of coworker support and individual characteristics on knowledge sharing, drawing on insights from trait activation theory.

Practical implications

– For organizations to encourage individual knowledge sharing behaviors, they may need to maintain the work environment that encourages the peer workers to support each other.

Originality/value

– Although many actions have been adopted to foster knowledge management in organizations, employees may still be reluctant to share their knowledge. This paper highlights not only the main effects of coworker support and individual differences but also the interaction effect between them in facilitating knowledge sharing.
Organizational identification, work engagement, and job satisfaction
Authors: Karanika-Murray Maria , Duncan Nikita , Pontes Halley M. , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– Organizational identification refers to a person’s sense of belonging within the organization in which they work. Despite the importance of organizational identification for work-related attitudes and organizational behavior, little research has directly examined the mechanisms that may link these. The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding of how organizational identification relates to job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– Adopting a social identity perspective, the authors present and test two models that describe work engagement and its constituent dimensions (vigor, dedication, absorption) as mediating the relationship between organizational identification and job satisfaction.

Findings

– Bootstrapped mediation analyses provided support for full mediation whereby there is an indirect (via work engagement) and positive effect of organizational identification on job satisfaction. Analyses also provided support for the mediating effects of the three dimensions of work engagement, vigor, dedication, and absorption, in this relationship.

Practical implications

– Although cross-sectional, this study provides a needed first step toward an understanding of the important role of organizational identification for job satisfaction and the mediating role of work engagement in this relationship.

Originality/value

– The results provide valuable insights into the effects of organizational identification and address some of the gaps in understanding social identity as the context for work behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications for strengthening employee engagement and enhancing organizational identification are discussed.
Mesoporous Silica‐Based Supports for the Controlled and Targeted Release of Bioactive Molecules in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Pérez‐Esteve Édgar , Ruiz‐Rico María , Martínez‐Máñez Ramón , Barat José Manuel
Published: October 2015

Mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) have attracted increasing interest as supports in the design of controlled delivery materials. Besides their excellent properties as loading supports (that is, large surface area and pore volume), the modification of their external surface with molecular/supramolecular ensembles allows the design of gated MSPs. Delivery systems based on gated MSPs show “zero delivery” until an adequate stimulus is present and triggers gate opening and the cargo is released. Encapsulation of bioactive molecules in gated MSPs may improve biological stability, facilitate component handling, mask unpleasant sensorial properties, and modulate the bioaccessibility of target molecules along the gastrointestinal tract. These properties make gated MSPs excellent candidates for encapsulating bioactive molecules and their subsequent utilization in the formulation of functional foods. This text highlights the most significant endogenous triggering stimuli that might be applied to design these site‐specific delivery systems, as well as the strategies to develop them. Given the novelty of using MSPs in the food sector, the benefits and current potential limitations of employing MSPs in human food have been identified and discussed.
Measuring benefits of opioid misuse treatment for economic evaluation: health‐related quality of life of opioid‐dependent individuals and their spouses as assessed by a sample of the US population
Authors: Wittenberg Eve , Bray Jeremy W. , Aden Brandon , Gebremariam Achamyeleh , Nosyk Bohdan , Schackman Bruce R.
Published: October 2015

Aims

To understand how the general public views the quality of life effects of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder on an individual and his/her spouse, measured in terms used in economic evaluations.

Design

Cross‐sectional internet survey of a US population‐representative respondent panel conductedDecember2013–January2014.

Setting

United States.

Participants

A total of 2054 randomly selected adults; 51.1% male (before weighting).

Measurements

Mean (95% confidence interval) and median health ‘utility’ for six opioid misuse and treatment outcomes: active injection misuse; active prescription misuse; methadone maintenance therapy at initiation and when stabilized in treatment; and buprenorphine therapy at initiation and when stabilized. Utility is a numerical representation of health‐related quality of life used in economic evaluations to ‘adjust’ estimated survival to include peoples’ preferences for health states. Utilities are determined by surveying the general population to estimate the value they assign to particular health states on a scale where 0 = the value of being dead and 1.0 = the value of being in perfect health. Spouse spillover utility is assigned to a spouse of an individual who is in a particular health state.

Findings

Mean individual utility ranged from 0.574 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.538, 0.611] for active injection opioid misuse to 0.766 for stabilized buprenorphine therapy (95% CI = 0.738, 0.795), with other states in between. Female respondents assigned higher utility to the active prescription misuse and buprenorphine therapy at initiation states than did males (P < 0.05); all other states did not differ by respondent gender. Mean spousal utilities were significantly lower than 1.0 but mostly higher than individual utility, and were similar between male and female respondents.

Conclusions

In the opinion of the US public, injection opioid misuse results in worse health‐related quality of life than prescription misuse, and methadone therapy results in worse health‐related quality of life than buprenorphine therapy. Spouses are negatively affected by their partner's opioid misuse and early treatment.
Pretreatment With Inactivated Bacillus Calmette–Guerin Increases CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Function and Decreases Functional and Structural Effects of Asthma Induction in a Rat Asthma Model
Authors: Gong Ping , Li Yun , Tan Yu‐Pin , Li Hong
Published: October 2015

Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) has been shown to have therapeutic effects on asthma through CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). We sought to assess pretreatment with inactivated BCG on CD4+CD25+ Tregs and its functional and structural effects in rat asthma model. The rat asthma model was established using ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Ten rats were pretreated with BCG prior to OVA and received continued BCG injections during OVA challenge (BCG+OVA group), 10 rats were treated with OVA alone (OVA group), and 10 rats were treated with saline (control group). After 9 weeks, histamine dihydrochloride effect on airway resistance was measured. Number of CD4+CD25+ Tregs was measured by flow cytometry, expression of Foxp3 and CTLA‐4 mRNA was measured, and serum TGF‐β levels were determined. Differential cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was determined, and lung tissue was processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and alcine blue and periodic acid Schiff's reaction to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and presence of goblet cells, respectively. BCG treatment led to an increase in CD4+CD25+ Tregs, as well as an increase in Foxp3 and CTLA‐4 expression and serum TGF‐β levels. In addition, we observed a decrease in histamine dihydrochloride–induced airway resistance, a decrease in inflammatory leukocytes in BALF, and a decrease in airway remodeling indicators in BCG+OVA‐treated rats compared with OVA‐treated rats. Intradermally injected inactivated BCG has the potential to improve airway inflammation, airway resistance, and airway remodeling through a mechanism that may involve CD4+CD25+ Tregs.
Risk of thromboembolic disease in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy
Authors: O'Farrell Sean , Sandström Karin , Garmo Hans , Stattin Pär , Holmberg Lars , Adolfsson Jan , Van Hemelrijck Mieke
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To investigate the risk of thromboembolic disease (TED) in men with prostate cancer (PCa) on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), while accounting for known TED risk factors.

Materials and Methods

We assessed TED risk for 42 263 men with PCa who were receiving ADT compared with a matched cohort of 190 930 without PCa. The associations between ADT and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) were analysed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models, while accounting for previous PCa‐related surgeries and the following proxies for disease progression: transurethral resection of the prostate, palliative radiotherapy and nephrostomy.

Results

Between 1997 and 2013, 11 242 men with PCa received anti‐androgen monotherapy, 26 959 men received gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, 1 091 men received combined androgen blockade and 3 789 men underwent orchiectomy. When accounting for previous surgeries and proxies of disease progression, GnRH agonist users and surgically castrated men had a higher risk of TED than the comparison cohort: hazard ratios (HRs) 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–1.98) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.15–2.28), respectively. Men on anti‐androgen monotherapy had a lower risk: HR for DVT 0.49 (95% CI 0.33–0.74). TED risk was highest among those who switched from anti‐androgen to GnRH agonists: HR for PE 2.55 (95% CI 1.76–3.70). This increased from 2.52 (95% CI 1.54–4.12) in year 1, to 4.05 (95% CI 2.51–6.55) in year 2.

Conclusion

The incidence of TED among men on ADT increased with the duration of therapy and the risk was highest for those who switched regimen, suggesting that disease progression as well as ADT contribute to the propagation of TED risk. Nonetheless, these findings support the hypothesis that only men with a relevant indication should receive systemic ADT.
Surgimesh M‐SLING® transobturator and prepubic four‐arm urethral sling for post‐prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence: clinical prospective assessment at 24 months
Authors: Le Portz Benoit , Haillot Olivier , Brouziyne Majid , Saussine Christian
Published: October 2015

Objective

To assess tolerance and mid‐term clinical outcomes of treatment, with a new four‐arm mesh sling, of post‐prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) in men.

Material and Methods

This was a French multicentre prospective study that included 93 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at least 1 year before Surgimesh M‐SLING® implantation for the treatment of PPI. Data were collected preoperatively, and patients were followed at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Objective outcome measures included number of pads per day, 24‐h pad‐test, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and urinary retention. We also analysed Urinary Symptom Profile (USP®) score, degree of erectile dysfunction, patients' satisfaction level, postoperative pain and procedure complications. Length of catheterization and hospitalization periods were also recorded. Patients were considered cured if no protection was used and/or daily pad weight was <2 g. Patients whose condition was considered to have improved reduced their daily urinary losses by >50%. Those not included in any of the aforementioned groups were assessed as unchanged or to have deteriorated, and were considered as treatment failures.

Results

The mean hospitalization period was 1.57 ± 0.70 days. All patients remained catheterized for 1.17 ± 0.48 days. Intention‐to‐treat analysis at 24 months showed that 34.4% of patients were cured, 27.1% had improved, and 19.4% were considered failures. Two patients experienced transient urinary retention. USP questionnaire scores showed a significant decrease in incontinence and prevalence of hyperactive bladder. There was a nonsignificant tendency for reduced severe erectile dysfunction (ED), and a shift towards moderate ED was observed. No severe complications occurred.

Conclusion

The Surgimesh M‐SLING transobturator and prepubic four‐arm urethral sling represents an easy‐to‐deploy, safe and durable therapeutic alternative for mild to moderate PPI. Its implantation did not have a negative influence on sexual performance outcomes.
Outcomes of kidney retransplantation in recipients with prior post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
Authors: Rouphael Bassem , Lankireddy Srilakshmi , Lazaryan Aleksandr , Kukla Aleksandra , Ibrahim Hassan N. , Matas Arthur J. , Issa Naim
Published: October 2015

Post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is an uncommon but serious complication of solid organ transplantation. Reduction in immunosuppression is the mainstay of PTLD treatment, but it may precipitate graft loss. Retransplantation remains controversial, as immunosuppression resumption may trigger PTLD relapse. Herein, we describe the experience of eight patients who underwent kidney retransplantation after successful PTLD treatment. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) serology was not known before the first transplantation. PTLD was diagnosed 62.5 months (range 5–323 months) after transplantation and was confined to the renal allograft (n = 1), lymph nodes (n = 2), gastrointestinal tract (n = 4), or central nervous system (n = 1). Immunosuppression tapering (8/8), chemotherapy (6/8), oral cavity lymphoma excision (1/8), and allograft nephrectomy (1/8) led to hematological remission in all patients. Retransplantation was performed at a median of 55.5 months (range 29–95 months) after PTLD diagnosis. After a median follow‐up of 62.5 months (range 2–125 months) allograft survival was 87.5% (seven functioning grafts, one failed graft from chronic rejection), with no recurrence of PTLD. In all, five patients remain alive; the other three died from causes other than PTLD. In conclusion, kidney retransplantation appears to be safe in patients with prior PTLD and without major risk of hematological recurrence provided that PTLD has remitted.
Incidence, etiology, and significance of acute kidney injury in the early post‐kidney transplant period
Authors: Panek Romuald , Tennankore Karthik K. , Kiberd Bryce A.
Published: October 2015

Little is known about the incidence, causes, and significance of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the early transplant period. This study used a definition as >26 μmol/L increase in creatinine within 48 h or >50% increase over a period >48 h. In 326 adult consecutive recipients of a solitary kidney transplant from 2006 to 2014 followed at this center, 21% developed AKI within the first six months. Most etiologies were CNI toxicity (33%) or unknown (26%), whereas acute rejection accounted for 17% and urinary tract obstruction for 10%. Those with AKI had a significantly lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at one‐yr post‐transplant (adjusted beta coefficient −5.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI: −10.4, −0.7, p = 0.025) in a multivariable linear regression model. However, the AKI definition missed 6 of 19 episodes of acute rejection and 4 of 10 episodes of urinary tract obstruction. When acute rejection (including those that did not satisfy AKI criteria) was included in the model, other causes of AKI were not significantly associated with GFR at year 1. Although AKI, using current criteria, is likely to be a significant predictor of later outcomes, important causes are missed and the criteria are not sensitive for clinical decision‐making.
Temporal Trends of Cardiac Chambers Function with Trastuzumab in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor II–Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Moustafa Sherif , Murphy Katie , Nelluri Bhargava K. , Northfelt Donald , Shah Parth , Lee Howard , Wilansky Susan , Naqvi Tasneem Z. , Meyer Susan , Mookadam Farouk
Published: October 2015

Background

Trastuzumab has substantially improved overall survival and reduced the risk of disease recurrence in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor type II (HER‐II)–positive breast cancer. However, this benefit may be at the increased risk of cardiotoxicity. We aimed to explore the early subclinical left and right ventricular as well as atrial dysfunction, in trastuzumab‐treated patients with HER‐II–positive breast cancer, using velocity vector imaging.

Methods

Echocardiography images were acquired in 50 patients with HER‐II–positive breast cancer undergoing trastuzumab therapy. All patients had baseline and 3–6 months and 12–15 months of follow‐up echocardiograms after initiation of trastuzumab therapy. Subendocardial borders of all the cardiac chambers were traced from the apical views to obtain volumetric and deformation indices.

Results

Mean age was 60 ± 13 years. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction as well as conventional indices of right ventricular (RV) function did not change with trastuzumab. The RV peak systolic global longitudinal strain (GLε) significantly decreased (−24.53 ± 6.03 vs. −21.28 ± 5.11 vs. −21.84 ± 5.15, baseline vs. first and second follow‐ups, P = 0.01). LV peak systolic GLε was reduced by 1.19 at early follow‐up (P < 0.05). Left atrial reservoir and booster pump functions as well as right atrial reservoir function were reduced through follow‐up as well.

Conclusions

The RV exhibited greater change in strain after trastuzumab treatment when compared to the LV. Atria function was reduced by trastuzumab as well. The repercussion of these findings and their potential implication will warrant further study.
More Bankers, More Growth? Evidence from OECD Countries
Authors: Capelle‐Blancard Gunther , Labonne Claire
Published: October 2015

We re‐examine empirically the finance–growth relationship. We argue that financial deepening should not only be assessed via the familiar measures of financial activity output—the volume of credit—but also through its inputs—for example, the relative number of employees in the financial industry—or the efficiency of the financial‐intermediation process. The latter is measured in this paper by the ratio of credit volume to the number of financial‐sector employees. We compare these measures using the econometric approach recommended by Roodman (). Overall, we fail to find a positive relationship between financial deepening and economic growth in OECD countries over the last 40 years.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Identifying risk and preventing mortality
Authors: Lhatoo Samden , Noebels Jeffrey , Whittemore Vicky ,   The NINDS Center for SUDEP Research
Published: October 2015

Premature death among individuals with epilepsy is higher than in the general population, and sudden unexpected death is the most common cause of this mortality. A new multisite collaborative research consortium, the Center for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) Research (CSR), has received major funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine the possible biologic mechanisms underlying this potentially preventable comorbidity and develop predictive biomarkers for interventions that could lower SUDEP incidence. This inaugural report describes the structure of the CSR, its priorities for human and experimental research, and the strategic collaborations and advanced tools under development to reduce this catastrophic outcome of epilepsy. The CSR Partners Program will work closely with committed volunteer agencies, industry, and academic institutions to accelerate and communicate these advances to the professional and lay community.
Can birds count eggs in their nests?
Authors: Haywood Sacha
Published: October 2015

Sensory mechanisms controlling avian clutch size have diversified into distinct types, according to the nature of the input that is used to disrupt the growth of ovarian follicles and hence halt egg‐laying. In an article on brood parasitism, Lyon (2003) claimed that female American Coots Fulica americana can reduce their clutch size on the basis of visual cues in response to eggs laid in their nests by other females; in this species, therefore, egg counting would be used to control clutch size. After a close examination of the physiological determination of clutch size in American Coots, I show that seven of 17 parasitized clutches were smaller than the range controlled through the mechanism using an input to disrupt follicular growth (7–10 eggs per clutch). My reanalysis suggests that American Coots are incapable of adjusting clutch size via counting and re‐asserts that a species that can count eggs has yet to be found among birds that rely upon their own body heat for incubation.
A clinical report of Chediak–Higashi syndrome in infancy with a novel genotype from the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Singh Ankur , Bryan Melanie M. , Roney Joseph C. , Cullinane Andrew R. , Gahl William A. , Khurana Nita , Kapoor Seema
Published: October 2015

Chediak–Higashi syndrome (CHS; OMIM no. 214500) is an inherited multisystem disorder presenting with hypopigmentation and a propensity to infections due to immunological dysfunction. CHS generally presents in infancy with a fatal outcome, but less severe cases can present in adulthood. Treatment with bone marrow transplantation can be life‐saving, so establishing a correct diagnosis is critical. The presence of large granules on examination of peripheral blood smears is suggestive of the diagnosis of CHS in most centers. However, sequencing of the lysosomal trafficking, LYST, gene confirms the diagnosis and can provide a prognosis regarding disease severity. In the case presented here, we performed molecular testing to identify the causative mutation and tabulated published mutation data from 2009 to 2014. We found a novel frameshift mutation in our case and concluded that frameshift and nonsense are the most common types of mutation in CHS, but this may be biased due to underdiagnosis of the milder and atypical forms of the disease.
Processing of Transparent Polycrystalline AlON:Ce3+ Scintillators
Authors: Chen Ching‐Fong , Yang Pin , King Graham , Tegtmeier Eric L.
Published: October 2015

A new polycrystalline ceramic scintillator is reported for potential use in radiation detection and medical imaging applications. The goal was to develop cerium‐activated aluminum oxynitride (AlON:Ce3+) ceramics, which can be produced using ceramic processes in comparison to the high‐cost, low‐yield single‐crystal growth technique. A phase pure AlON:Ce3+ powder with cubic symmetry was successfully synthesized at high temperature under a reducing atmosphere to convert Ce4+ to Ce3+ in the solid solution. Two different activator concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 mol%) were explored. Fully dense and transparent AlON:Ce3+ ceramics were produced by a liquid‐phase‐assisted pressureless sintering. The crystal field splitting around the Ce3+ activator in the AlON was comparable to the splitting induced by Br− and the Cl− ligands, which produced an emission spectrum perfectly matching the maximum quantum efficiency range of the photomultiplier tube for radiation detection. Both optical excitation and radiation ionizations in AlON:Ce3+ were demonstrated. Challenges and mechanisms related to the radioluminescence efficiency are discussed.
Self‐efficacy and progression of periodontal disease: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Mizutani Shinsuke , Ekuni Daisuke , Tomofuji Takaaki , Irie Koichiro , Azuma Tetsuji , Iwasaki Yoshiaki , Morita Manabu
Published: October 2015

Aim

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether self‐efficacy scale for self‐care (SESS) was related to changes in oral health behaviours and progression of periodontal disease in Japanese university students.

Material and Methods

Students (n = 533) who were interested in receiving oral health examinations before entering the university and before graduation were included in the analysis. Self‐efficacy was assessed using SESS, which uses three subscales: self‐efficacy for brushing of the teeth (SE‐BR), for dentist consultations (SE‐DC) and for dietary habits. The informations about oral health behaviours were also collected. For all participants, oral hygiene instructions was performed at baseline. After 3 years, the oral health behaviours and the periodontal condition were re‐assessed.

Results

The progression of periodontal disease was related to low baseline SE‐BR. Logistic regression analysis showed that progression of periodontal disease risk during a 3‐year period was associated with low baseline SE‐BR (OR: 1.516; 95% CI: 1.010–2.275; p < 0.05). The increase in the score of SE‐DC was related to the increase in regular dental checkups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Low SESS was associated with progression of periodontal disease and improvement of oral health behaviours in university students who received oral hygiene instructions at baseline.
Quality improvement in diabetes—successful in achieving better care with hopes for prevention
Authors: Haw J. Sonya , Venkat Narayan K. M. , Ali Mohammed K.
Published: October 2015

Diabetes affects 29 million Americans and is associated with billions of dollars in health expenditures and lost productivity. Robust evidence has shown that lifestyle interventions in people at high risk for diabetes and comprehensive management of cardiometabolic risk factors like glucose, blood pressure, and lipids can delay the onset of diabetes and its complications, respectively. However, realizing the “triple aim” of better health, better care, and lower cost in diabetes has been hampered by low adoption of lifestyle interventions to prevent diabetes and poor achievement of care goals for those with diabetes. To achieve better care, a number of quality improvement (QI) strategies targeting the health system, healthcare providers, and/or patients have been evaluated in both controlled trials and real‐world programs, and have shown some successes, though barriers still impede wider adoption, effectiveness, real‐world feasibility, and scalability. Here, we summarize the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness data regarding QI strategies in diabetes care and discuss the potential role of quality monitoring and QI in trying to implement primary prevention of diabetes more widely and effectively. Over time, achieving better care and better health will likely help bend the ever‐growing cost curve.
A commentary on ‘Amplitude spectra of natural images’
Authors: Tolhurst David J.
Published: October 2015

Tolhurst, Tadmor and Tang Chao (Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 1992; 12: 229‐232)published their analyses of the Fourier spectra of 135 digitised monochrome photographs of everyday scenes. In 2015, this would be a trivial exercise, but in 1992, this stretched emerging computer technology to its desktop limits. The short paper made an impact because it provided a handle for extending vision science beyond laboratory stimuli such as sinewave gratings into a real world of real visual scenes and real visual tasks.
Refractive plasticity of the developing chick eye: a summary and update
Authors: Irving Elizabeth L. , Sivak Jacob G. , Callender Murchison G.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

To summarize the OPO 1992 Classic Paper: Refractive plasticity of the developing chick eye (12: 448–452) and discuss recent findings in refractive development.

Summary and recent findings

The classic paper shows that when lightweight plastic goggles with rigid contact lens inserts are applied to the eyes of newly hatched chicks, the eye responds accurately to defocus between −10 and +20 D, although hyperopia develops more rapidly. While the changes largely are due to change in axial length, high levels of hyperopia are associated with corneal flattening. Also, newly hatched chicks are better able to compensate for the induced defocus than chicks that are 9 days old. In addition, astigmatism of 2–6 D can be produced by applying 9 D toric inducing lenses on the day of hatching, and the most myopic meridian coincides with the power meridian of the inducing lens. This astigmatism appears to be primarily due to corneal toricity. Furthermore, the greatest magnitude was produced when the plano meridian of the inducing lens was placed 45° from the line of the palpebral fissure.

Since our publication in 1992, it has been shown that similar results can be produced in a variety of species, including; tree shrews, marmosets, monkeys and fish. Considerable effort has been spent in trying to determine what the eye uses, if not the brain, as the signal to the sign of the defocus. Accommodation, chromatic aberration, diurnal variation, astigmatism and higher order monochromatic aberrations have all been considered. Choroidal thinning and thickening play a role in myopia and hyperopia development, respectively, in chicks. High light levels (15,000 lux) increase the rate at which chicks compensate for positive lenses and decrease the compensation rate for negative lenses. However these light levels do not prevent the eye from fully compensating for either type of lens. It has also been shown that brief periods of normal vision prevent the development of form deprivation myopia. Finally, the importance of the peripheral retina in refractive development has been explored and lenses designed to reduce relative peripheral hyperopia have resulted in variable effects as far as myopia control is concerned.

Conclusions

A growing body of evidence, from both animal models and human clinical trials indicates that the development of myopia is related both to genetics and environment / lifestyle. Nevertheless, we are far from understanding how this interaction takes place.
Kant and Women
Authors: Varden Helga
Published: October 2015

Kant's conception of women is complex. Although he struggles to bring his considered view of women into focus, a sympathetic reading shows it not to be anti‐feminist and to contain important arguments regarding human nature. Kant believes the traditional male‐female distinction is unlikely to disappear, but he never proposes the traditional gender idealasthe moral ideal; he rejects the idea that such considerations of philosophical anthropology can set the framework for morality. This is also why his moral works clarifies that all citizens, including women have the right, and should be encouraged to strive towards an active condition.