bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indigenism in Contemporary IR Discourses in India: A Critique
Authors: Mishra Atul
Published: December 2014

This article critically examines indigenism in the field of International Relations (IR) in India. Indigenism involves a claim that a select corpus of resources from early India—‘indigenous historical knowledge’— is relevant for understanding contemporary India’s politics and international relations. It is also projected as a basis for reimagining IR in India. Contesting these claims, the article outlines the ahistorical and politically problematic nature of indigenism. It also argues that the appeal of indigenism reveals a predicament of imaginative capacity that marks the scholarship concerned with reimagining IR in India: despite considerable interest in lessening the dependence on the architecture of IR of the West, there is less clarity about the shape and substance of new scholarly frameworks. The enthusiasm for reimagining IR is not, as yet, matched by very substantive pathways to doing it. This too, inadvertently, encourages indigenism. The article concludes by arguing that closely studying the political modernization of South Asia and its implications for international relations of India and the region can resolve this predicament.
Seeking OBC Status: Political Strategies of Two Dominant Castes
Authors: Deshpande Rajeshwari
Published: December 2014

This article investigates the claims of backwardness made by two dominant castes, the Lingayats in Karnataka and the Marathas in Maharashtra. It argues that the narratives of OBCization of the Lingayats and the Marathas present an interesting account of how the dominant castes manipulate the state institutional discourse of reservations to seek political legitimacy. The article also attempts to posit the claims of backwardness of these two castes against each other in order to develop a comparative understanding of the state-specific patterns of caste politics. Finally, the article tries to assess whether and how the dominant castes are able to (re)construct their dominance under the changing circumstances and what the implications of this strategy are for the project of hegemony.
Electoral Politics in Madhya Pradesh: Explaining the BJP Consolidation
Authors: Sisodia Yatindra Singh
Published: December 2014

Two important elections held in close succession—the December 2013 Assembly elections and the May 2014 Lok Sabha elections—in the state of Madhya Pradesh emphatically underline the consolidation achieved by the BJP. Overriding anti-incumbency, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in the state returned to power and rode on the crest of the popularity of the state chief minister and the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to put up a creditable performance in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP was helped by strong anti-incumbency against the UPA, on the one hand, and the organizational ineffectiveness of the Congress party at the state level, on the other. This article attempts an analysis of the factors and forces that contributed to the BJP consolidating its position in the state in the recent years.
Book Review: Oliver Mendelsohn, Law and Social Transformation in India
Authors: Singh Anushka
Published: December 2014

Oliver Mendelsohn, Law and Social Transformation in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. 2014. 302 pages. ₹ 895.
Level of RUNX1 activity is critical for leukemic predisposition but not for thrombocytopenia
Authors: Antony-Debré Iléana , Manchev Vladimir T. , Balayn Nathalie , Bluteau Dominique , Tomowiak Cécile , Legrand Céline , Langlois Thierry , Bawa Olivia , Tosca Lucie , Tachdjian Gérard , Leheup Bruno , Debili Najet , Plo Isabelle , Mills Jason A. , French Deborah L. , Weiss Mitchell J. , Solary Eric , Favier Remi , Vainchenker William , Raslova Hana
Published: December 2014

Key Points

A half loss of RUNX1 activity leads to defects in primitive erythropoiesis, megakaryopoiesis, and proplatelet formation. An almost complete loss of RUNX1 activity leads to the amplification of the granulomonocytic compartment with increased genomic instability.
Variability in C-Type Lectin Receptors Regulates Neuropathic Pain-Like Behavior after Peripheral Nerve Injury
Authors: Dominguez Cecilia A , Carlström Karl E , Zhang Xing-Mei , Nimer Faiez Al , Lindblom Rickard P F , Guerreiro-Cacais Andre Ortlieb , Piehl Fredrik
Published: December 2014

Introduction:

Neuropathic pain is believed to be influenced in part by inflammatory processes. In this study we examined the effect of variability in the C-type lectin gene cluster (Aplec) on the development of neuropathic pain-like behavior after ligation of the L5 spinal nerve in the inbred DA and the congenic Aplec strains, which carries seven C-type lectin genes originating from the PVG strain.

Results:

While both strains displayed neuropathic pain behavior early after injury, the Aplec strain remained sensitive throughout the whole study period. Analyses of several mRNA transcripts revealed that the expression of Interleukin-1β, Substance P and Cathepsin S were more up-regulated in the dorsal part of the spinal cord of Aplec rats compared to DA, indicating a stronger inflammatory response. This notion was supported by flow cytometric analysis revealing increased infiltration of activated macrophages into the spinal cord. In addition, macrophages from the Aplec strain stimulated in vitro displayed higher expression of inflammatory cytokines compared to DA cells. Finally, we bred a recombinant congenic strain (R11R6) comprising only four of the seven Aplec genes, which displayed similar clinical and immune phenotypes as the Aplec strain.

Conclusion:

We here for the first time demonstrate that C-type lectins, a family of innate immune receptors with largely unknown functions in the nervous system, are involved in regulation of inflammation and development of neuropathic pain behavior after nerve injury. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to dissect the underlying mechanisms more in detail as well as any possible relevance for human conditions.
Hormone metabolism pathway genes and mammographic density change after quitting estrogen and progestin combined hormone therapy in the California Teachers Study
Authors: Lee Eunjung , Luo Jianning , Su Yu-Chen , Lewinger Juan Pablo , Schumacher Fredrick R , Van Den Berg David , Wu Anna H , Bernstein Leslie , Ursin Giske
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Mammographic density (MD) is a strong biomarker of breast cancer risk. MD increases after women start estrogen plus progestin therapy (EPT) and decreases after women quit EPT. A large interindividual variation in EPT-associated MD change has been observed, but few studies have investigated genetic predictors of the EPT-associated MD change. Here, we evaluate the association between polymorphisms in hormone metabolism pathway genes and MD changes when women quit EPT.

Methods

We collected mammograms before and after women quit EPT and genotyped 405 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 30 hormone metabolism pathway genes in 284 non-Hispanic white participants of the California Teachers Study (CTS). Participants were ages 49 to 71 years at time of mammography taken after quitting EPT. We assessed percent MD using a computer-assisted method. MD change was calculated by subtracting MD of an ‘off-EPT’ mammogram from MD of an ‘on-EPT’ (that is baseline) mammogram. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the SNP-MD change association, adjusting for the baseline ‘on-EPT’ MD, age and BMI at time of baseline mammogram, and time interval and BMI change between the two mammograms. An overall pathway and gene-level summary was obtained using the adaptive rank truncated product (ARTP) test. We calculated ‘P values adjusted for correlated tests (PACT)’ to account for multiple testing within a gene.

Results

The strongest associations were observed for rs7489119 in SLCO1B1, and rs5933863 in ARSC. SLCO1B1 and ARSC are involved in excretion and activation of estrogen metabolites of EPT, respectively. MD change after quitting was 4.2% smaller per minor allele of rs7489119 (P = 0.0008; PACT = 0.018) and 1.9% larger per minor allele of rs5933863 (P = 0.013; PACT = 0.025). These individual SNP associations did not reach statistical significance when we further used Bonferroni correction to consider the number of tested genes. The pathway level summary ARTP P value was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Data from this longitudinal study of EPT quitters suggest that genetic variation in two hormone metabolism pathway genes, SLCO1B1 and ARSC, may be associated with change in MD after women stop using EPT. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Profound loss of intestinal Tregs in acutely SIV-infected neonatal macaques
Authors: Wang Xiaolei , Xu Huanbin , Shen Chanjuan , Alvarez Xavier , Liu David , Pahar Bapi , Ratterree Marion S , Doyle-Meyers Lara A , Lackner Andrew A , Veazey Ronald S
Published: December 2014

Impairment of the intestinal mucosal immune system is an early feature of HIV-infected children. Most infected children exhibit clinical gastrointestinal symptoms at some stage of infection, and persistent diarrhea is a marker for rapid disease progression. It is known that Tregs are especially important in mediating intestinal immune homeostasis and that loss of this subset may result in intestinal inflammation and associated clinical signs. Large numbers of FoxP3+ T cells were found in all tissues in newborn macaques, which coexpressed high levels of CD25 and CD4, indicating that they were Tregs. Moreover, neonates had much greater percentages of Tregs in intestinal tissues compared with peripheral lymphoid tissues. After SIV infection, a significant loss of Tregs was detected in the intestine compared with age-matched normal infants. Finally, SIV-infected FoxP3+ T cells were detected in tissues in neonates as early as 7 SIV dpi. These results demonstrate that Tregs constitute a significant fraction of CD4+ T cells in neonatal intestinal tissues and that an early, profound loss of Tregs occurs in acute SIV infection, which may contribute to the intestinal disorders associated with neonatal HIV infection.
Near-surface scattering phenomena and implications for tunnel detection
Authors: Peterie Shelby L. , Miller Richard D.
Published: December 2014

Tunnel locations are accurately interpreted from diffraction sections of focused mode converted P- to S-wave diffractions from a perpendicular tunnel and P-wave diffractions from a nonperpendicular (oblique) tunnel. Near-surface tunnels are ideal candidates for diffraction imaging due to their small size relative to the seismic wavelength and large acoustic impedance contrast at the tunnel interface. Diffraction imaging algorithms generally assume that the velocities of the primary wave and the diffracted wave are approximately equal, and that the diffraction apex is recorded directly above the scatterpoint. Scattering phenomena from shallow tunnels with kinematic properties that violate these assumptions were observed in one field data set and one synthetic data set. We developed the traveltime equations for mode-converted and oblique diffractions and demonstrated a diffraction imaging algorithm designed for the roll-along style of acquisition. Potential processing and interpretation pitfalls specific to these diffraction types were identified. Based on our observations, recommendations were made to recognize and image mode-converted and oblique diffractions and accurately interpret tunnel depth, horizontal location, and azimuth with respect to the seismic line.
Development of a Common Calibration Model for Determining the Brix Value of Intact Apple, Pear and Persimmon Fruits by near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Jannok Piyamart , Kamitani Yoshinori , Kawano Sumio
Published: December 2014

Calibrations developed using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to determine the quality of fruits or vegetables are usually applicable to a single species. The ability to determine the quality of several species using a common calibration would have advantages in some situations. A method to develop a common NIR calibration model that could be applied to many fruit species was examined. NIR spectra of apples, pears and persimmons were measured in the short-wavelength region using an interactance method. Partial least-squares (PLS) regressions based on second-derivative spectra were performed for Brix-value determination using calibration samples comprising each fruit species independently and the three species combined. Each single species calibration model predicted the Brix value in validation samples of the same species with a low standard error of performance ( SEP) (0.34–0.40°Brix (°Bx) and with low bias (0.01–0.08 °Bx) but with much higher SEP and bias errors when used to predict the Brix value in other species. The common calibration model developed from the combined sample set predicted Brix values in the apples, pears and persimmons with an SEP = 0.43 °Bx and a bias of −0.03 °Bx.
Corporate Philanthropy and Productivity: Evidence from an Online Real Effort Experiment
Authors: Tonin Mirco , Vlassopoulos Michael
Published: December 2014

Contributing to a social cause can be an important driver for workers in the public and nonprofit sectors as well as in firms that engage in corporate philanthropy or other corporate social responsibility policies. This paper compares the effectiveness of a social incentive that takes the form of a donation received by a charity of the subject’s choice to a financial incentive. We find that social incentives lead to a 13% rise in productivity, regardless of their form (lump sum or related to performance) or strength. The response is strong for subjects with low initial productivity (30%), whereas high-productivity subjects do not respond. When subjects can choose the mix of incentives, half sacrifice some of their private compensation to increase social compensation, with women more likely to do so than men. Furthermore, offering subjects some discretion in choosing their own payment schemes leads to a substantial improvement in performance. Comparing social incentives to equally costly increases in private compensation for low-productivity subjects reveals that the former are less effective in increasing productivity, but the difference is small and not statistically significant.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1985 .

This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
Interpersonal Bundling
Authors: Chen Yongmin , Zhang Tianle
Published: December 2014

This paper studies a model of interpersonal bundling, in which a monopolist offers a good for sale under a regular price and a group purchase discount if the number of consumers in a group—the bundle size—belongs to some menu of intervals. We find that this is often a profitable selling strategy in response to demand uncertainty, and it can achieve the highest profit among all possible selling mechanisms. We explain how the profitability of interpersonal bundling with a minimum or maximum group size may depend on the nature of uncertainty and on parameters of the market environment, and we discuss strategic issues related to the optimal design and implementation of these bundling schemes. Our analysis sheds light on popular marketing practices such as group purchase discounts, and it offers insights on potential new marketing innovation.

This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
Performance Information, Production Uncertainty, and Subjective Entitlements in Bargaining
Authors: Karagözoğlu Emin , Riedl Arno
Published: December 2014

We experimentally explore the effect of performance information and production uncertainties on (i) subjective entitlements derived from the production process and (ii) bargaining over the jointly produced surplus. We hypothesize that performance information and details of the production process affect entitlements, which in turn influence bargaining behavior. We find that, without performance information, subjective entitlements are mostly mutually consistent, and bargaining mainly ends with an equal split. In stark contrast, negotiators derive strong, mutually inconsistent, subjective entitlements when there is performance information. These subjective entitlements affect opening proposals, concessions, and bargaining duration and lead to asymmetric agreements. Moreover, given performance information, endogenous variations in entitlements influence bargaining, suggesting an independent role of subjective entitlements. Production uncertainties influence bargaining, especially when performance information is present, but do not substantially mitigate the effect of entitlements. Theoretical bargaining models allowing for reference points or fairness principles can partly account for the empirical results. Yet, important aspects are left unexplained and our results suggest ways for extending these models.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.2012 .

This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
Post-traumatic stress: a personal experience
Authors: Williams Susan
Published: December 2014

A sudden medical emergency during labour exiled Susan into a psychological landscape she had never visited before. Where could she find help that was non-threatening and non-stigmatizing at a time when she was in emotional pain and particularly vulnerable? A research chaplaincy position gave her access to information about trauma and stress which would contribute to her recovery. Her closing remarks suggest the potential helpfulness of an attendant, someone who is responsible solely for being with the person who has suddenly been sucked into the medical machinery.
Book reviews
Authors: Rentoul Lynette , Wray Julie
Published: December 2014

Mercer has produced a book on the psychological processes of motherhood which is well structured, clearly laid out and the product of a systematic review of the empirical and theoretical literature on the subject. It pays tribute to the work of Reva Rubin, reflecting the influence of Rubin's ideas, especially the emphasis upon the importance of understanding evolving maternal identity, in its structure and its content. The main sections of the book mirror the phases of psychological development in pregnancy and early mother-hood, followed by chapters on achieving maternal identity and the social context of motherhood. The book addresses both healthy aspects and problem areas, such as interruptions or complications to the process because of prematurity, maternal depression or birth of an infant with chronic illness or disability.
The Emperor's new clothes
Authors: Chaffer Denise
Published: December 2014

I read with interest the Jean Robinson views about the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirth and Deaths in Infancy (CESDI) report (Department of Health, 1996) (Vol. 4(11) 1996, p.609). I would like to share some of the positive initiatives that have been taken within the trust that I work in response to the CESDI recommendations.
Managing ethical distress in nursing practice
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: December 2014

In this monthly column, Aysha Mendes explores the many aspects of psychology interwoven into nursing practice. This month, she explores the causes of ethical distress in nursing, the effect it can have on nurses and what can be done to manage it
Vertically drained closed incision NPWT. A novel method for managing surgical incisions: a case series
Authors: Leiboff A.R.
Published: December 2014

Topical negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is being used with increasing frequency to treat closed surgical incisions that are at high risk for wound complications. Known benefits of topical NPWT include improved perfusion, physical wound support and isolation. This case series report of four colon operations introduces a method to manage closed surgical incisions that is designed to potentiate the effects of topical NPWT. Channel drains are placed vertically through a closed incision and in contact with the foam sponge of a NPWT dressing. The drains transmit negative pressure into the wound in order to enhance fluid removal, reduce dead space and improve tissue apposition for primary healing.

Declaration of interest:

Dr Leiboff received no funding for this study. Dr Leiboff is President of Tools for Surgery, L.L.C.
How to repair the surgical defect after excision of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus: a dilemma
Authors: Rashidian N. , Vahedian-Ardakani J. , Baghai-Wadji M. , Keramati M.R. , Saraee A. , Ansari K. , Adman A. A.
Published: December 2014

Objective:

Although there are various therapeutic modalities to manage patients suffering from sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus disease, there remains controversy over a standard method to treat such patients. In this study the postoperative outcomes after three different surgical methods of wound repair in patients with sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus were compared.

Method:

Patients were divided randomly into three different groups. All of the patients underwent a wide excision of their pilonidal sinus; the subsequent surgical wound was left open in the first group (lay open group) whereas it was repaired with a simple primary closure and a rhomboid flap in the second and third groups. Variables including length of hospitalisation, time for wound healing, time off work, recurrence and surgical complications were evaluated.

Results:

A total of 60 patients with an average age of 27.61 years were studied, including 47 (78.3%) men and 13 (21.7%) women. Postoperative hospitalisation time was significantly shorter in patients who were treated using the simple primary closure method than those with the rhomboid flaps. However, there were no differences in terms of postoperative hospitalisation time between the lay open and simple primary groups or the lay open and rhomboid groups. The period of absence from work was significantly shorter in patients who were managed by a simple primary closure or rhomboid flap technique comparing to those whose wound was left open (p<0.05). Complete wound healing had a significantly shorter course in the rhomboid flap and the simple primary closure techniques compared to those within the lay open group. In terms of complications, postoperative infection and haemorrhage were more common in the lay open group than in the other two. Recurrence was about 5% in patients who were treated with the lay open method in an 18-month follow-up period; however, no recurrence was observed in the other two groups.

Conclusion:

Considering the earlier wound healing period, less days absent from work, lower complication levels and recurrence rates, the simple primary closure or rhomboid flap techniques appear to be better options to treat the subsequent wound after a wide excision of pilonidal sinus when compared to the lay open method. The simple primary closure method causes no cosmetic disfiguration and the most promising option among the three techniques assessed.

Declaration of interest:

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.
An ‘Opportunistic Interpretation’ of Bentham’s Panopticon writings
Authors: Gombert Karolina
Published: December 2014

In line with Bentham, who states that no one deserves punishment, not even the offender, this article argues for the development goal of criminal justice systems genuinely to achieve ‘justice’ for the greatest good of society and the offender. To this end, this article offers an ‘opportunistic interpretation’ of Bentham’s Panopticon writings.
José del Valle: a Benthamite in Central America
Authors: Alejandro Gómez
Published: December 2014

This paper examines the relationship between Jeremy Bentham and José Cecilio del Valle, one of the most important leaders of Central America’s independence process. Since this relationship has received little attention from those studying the links between Bentham and Spanish American politicians, with the exception of Miriam Williford1, we consider that is very important to explore the influence of the utilitarian philosophy in Central America. With this purpose in mind, we will examine the ideas expressed in some of Valle´s writings and government projects throughout his political career dated between 1810 and 1834 in Guatemala.
Synaptic Calcium Regulation in Hair Cells of the Chicken Basilar Papilla
Authors: Im Gi Jung , Moskowitz Howard S. , Lehar Mohammed , Hiel Hakim , Fuchs Paul Albert
Published: December 2014

Cholinergic inhibition of hair cells occurs by activation of calcium-dependent potassium channels. A near-membrane postsynaptic cistern has been proposed to serve as a store from which calcium is released to supplement influx through the ionotropic ACh receptor. However, the time and voltage dependence of acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked potassium currents reveal a more complex relationship between calcium entry and release from stores. The present work uses voltage steps to regulate calcium influx during the application of ACh to hair cells in the chicken basilar papilla. When calcium influx was terminated at positive membrane potential, the ACh-evoked potassium current decayed exponentially over ∼100 ms. However, at negative membrane potentials, this current exhibited a secondary rise in amplitude that could be eliminated by dihydropyridine block of the voltage-gated calcium channels of the hair cell. Calcium entering through voltage-gated channels may transit through the postsynaptic cistern, since ryanodine and sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase blockers altered the time course and magnitude of this secondary, voltage-dependent contribution to ACh-evoked potassium current. Serial section electron microscopy showed that efferent and afferent synaptic structures are juxtaposed, supporting the possibility that voltage-gated influx at afferent ribbon synapses influences calcium homeostasis during long-lasting cholinergic inhibition. In contrast, spontaneous postsynaptic currents (“minis”) resulting from stochastic efferent release of ACh were made briefer by ryanodine, supporting the hypothesis that the synaptic cistern serves primarily as a calcium barrier and sink during low-level synaptic activity. Hypolemmal cisterns such as that at the efferent synapse of the hair cell can play a dynamic role in segregating near-membrane calcium for short-term and long-term signaling.
Antibody-DerivedIn VivoImaging of Tau Pathology
Authors: Krishnaswamy Senthilkumar , Lin Yan , Rajamohamedsait Wajitha J. , Rajamohamedsait Hameetha B. , Krishnamurthy Pavan , Sigurdsson Einar M.
Published: December 2014

Antibodies or their derivatives as imaging probes for pathological tau protein have great potential, but have not been well studied. In particular, smaller, single-chain-variable antibody fragments (scFv's) are attractive for detecting tau lesions in live subjects. Here, we generated libraries of scFv's and identified numerous phospho-tau-selective scFv's. Peripheral injection of one of these scFv's consistently resulted in a strongin vivobrain signal in transgenic tauopathy mice, but not in wild-type or amyloid-β plaque mice. The parent tau antibody provided similar results, albeit with a weaker signal intensity. The imaging signal correlated very well with colocalization of the probe with intraneuronal tau aggregates. Both were associated with markers of endosomes, autophagosomes, and lysosomes, suggesting their interaction in these degradation pathways. Such specific antibody-derived imaging probes have great potential as diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies.
Hippocampal Metaplasticity Is Required for the Formation of Temporal Associative Memories
Authors: Xu Jian , Antion Marcia D. , Nomura Toshihiro , Kraniotis Stephen , Zhu Yongling , Contractor Anis
Published: December 2014

Metaplasticity regulates the threshold for modification of synaptic strength and is an important regulator of learning rules; however, it is not known whether these cellular mechanisms for homeostatic regulation of synapses contribute to particular forms of learning. Conditional ablation of mGluR5 in CA1 pyramidal neurons resulted in the inability of low-frequency trains of afferent activation to prime synapses for subsequent theta burst potentiation. Priming-induced metaplasticity requires mGluR5-mediated mobilization of endocannabinoids during the priming train to induce long-term depression of inhibition (I-LTD). Mice lacking priming-induced plasticity had no deficit in spatial reference memory tasks, but were impaired in an associative task with a temporal component. Conversely, enhancing endocannabinoid signaling facilitated temporal associative memory acquisition and, after training animals in these tasks,ex vivoI-LTD was partially occluded and theta burst LTP was enhanced. Together, these results suggest a link between metaplasticity mechanisms in the hippocampus and the formation of temporal associative memories.
Cognitive Enhancement or Cognitive Cost: Trait-Specific Outcomes of Brain Stimulation in the Case of Mathematics Anxiety
Authors: Sarkar Amar , Dowker Ann , Cohen Kadosh Roi
Published: December 2014

The surge in noninvasive brain stimulation studies investigating cognitive enhancement has neglected the effect of interindividual differences, such as traits, on stimulation outcomes. Using the case of mathematics anxiety in a sample of healthy human participants in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover experiment, we show that identical transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) exerts opposite behavioral and physiological effects depending on individual trait levels. Mathematics anxiety is the negative emotional response elicited by numerical tasks, impairing mathematical achievement. tDCS was applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a frequent target for modulating emotional regulation. It improved reaction times on simple arithmetic decisions and decreased cortisol concentrations (a biomarker of stress) in high mathematics anxiety individuals. In contrast, tDCS impaired reaction times for low mathematics anxiety individuals and prevented a decrease in cortisol concentration compared with sham stimulation. Both groups showed a tDCS-induced side effect—impaired executive control in a flanker task—a cognitive function subserved by the stimulated region. These behavioral and physiological double dissociations have implications for brain stimulation research by highlighting the role of individual traits in experimental findings. Brain stimulation clearly does not produce uniform benefits, even applied in the same configuration during the same tasks, but may interact with traits to produce markedly opposed outcomes.
Voltage Imaging of Waking Mouse Cortex Reveals Emergence of Critical Neuronal Dynamics
Authors: Scott Gregory , Fagerholm Erik D. , Mutoh Hiroki , Leech Robert , Sharp David J. , Shew Woodrow L. , Knöpfel Thomas
Published: December 2014

Complex cognitive processes require neuronal activity to be coordinated across multiple scales, ranging from local microcircuits to cortex-wide networks. However, multiscale cortical dynamics are not well understood because few experimental approaches have provided sufficient support for hypotheses involving multiscale interactions. To address these limitations, we used, in experiments involving mice, genetically encoded voltage indicator imaging, which measures cortex-wide electrical activity at high spatiotemporal resolution. Here we show that, as mice recovered from anesthesia, scale-invariant spatiotemporal patterns of neuronal activity gradually emerge. We show for the first time that this scale-invariant activity spans four orders of magnitude in awake mice. In contrast, we found that the cortical dynamics of anesthetized mice were not scale invariant. Our results bridge empirical evidence from disparate scales and support theoretical predictions that the awake cortex operates in a dynamical regime known as criticality. The criticality hypothesis predicts that small-scale cortical dynamics are governed by the same principles as those governing larger-scale dynamics. Importantly, these scale-invariant principles also optimize certain aspects of information processing. Our results suggest that during the emergence from anesthesia, criticality arises as information processing demands increase. We expect that, as measurement tools advance toward larger scales and greater resolution, the multiscale framework offered by criticality will continue to provide quantitative predictions and insight on how neurons, microcircuits, and large-scale networks are dynamically coordinated in the brain.
Compartment-Specific Modulation of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission by TRPV1 Channels in the Dentate Gyrus
Authors: Chávez Andrés E. , Hernández Vivian M. , Rodenas-Ruano Alma , Chan C. Savio , Castillo Pablo E.
Published: December 2014

The transient receptor potential TRPV1 or vanilloid receptor is a nonselective ligand-gated channel highly expressed in primary sensory neurons where it mediates nociception. TRPV1 is also expressed in the brain where its activation depresses excitatory synaptic transmission. Whether TRPV1 also regulates inhibitory synapses in the brain is unclear. Here, using a combination of pharmacology, electrophysiology, and anin vivoknockdown strategy, we report that TRPV1 activation by capsaicin or by the endocannabinoid anandamide depresses somatic, but not dendritic inhibitory transmission in both rat and mouse dentate gyrus. The effect on somatic inhibition was absent in TRPV1 knock-out mice and was also eliminated by two different TRPV1 shRNAs expressed in dentate granule cells, strongly supporting a functional role for TRPV1 in modulating GABAergic synaptic function. Moreover, TRPV1-mediated depression occurs independently of GABA release, requires postsynaptic Ca2+rise and activation of calcineurin, and is likely due to clathrin-dependent internalization of GABA receptors. Altogether, these findings reveal a novel form of compartment-specific regulation whereby TRPV1 channels can modify synaptic function in the brain.
Rapid and Precise Engineering of theCaenorhabditis elegansGenome with Lethal Mutation Co-Conversion and Inactivation of NHEJ Repair
Authors: Ward Jordan D
Published: December 2014

As in other organisms, CRISPR/Cas9 methods provide a powerful approach for genome editing in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Oligonucleotides are excellent repair templates for introducing substitutions and short insertions, as they are cost effective, require no cloning, and appear in other organisms to target changes by homologous recombination at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here, I describe a methodology in C. elegans to efficiently knock in epitope tags in 8–9 days, using a temperature-sensitive lethal mutation in the pha-1 gene as a co-conversion marker. I demonstrate that 60mer oligos with 29 bp of homology drive efficient knock-in of point mutations, and that disabling nonhomologous end joining by RNAi inactivation of the cku-80 gene significantly improves knock-in efficiency. Homology arms of 35–80 bp are sufficient for efficient editing and DSBs up to 54 bp away from the insertion site produced knock-ins. These findings will likely be applicable for a range of genome editing approaches in C. elegans, which will improve editing efficiency and minimize screening efforts.
Factors associated with the frailty syndrome in elderly individuals living in the urban area
Authors: Pegorari Maycon Sousa , Tavares Darlene Mara dos Santos
Published: December 2014

METHODS: this cross-sectional, observational and analytical household survey was conducted with 958 elderly individuals living in the urban area. The Brazilian version of the Functional Assessment Questionnaire and Multidimensional Scales (Depression, Katz and Lawton brief geriatric versions) were used, together with the Phenotype of Frailty developed by Fried. Descriptive analysis was performed along with a bivariate and multinomial logistic regression model (p<0.05).RESULTS: a total of 313 (32.7%) non-frail elderly individuals were found in addition to 522 (55.4%) pre-frail and 128 (12.8%) frail individuals. Factors associated with pre-frailty and frailty, respectively, included: being 70├ 79 years old and 80 years old or older; using 1├ 4 medications and 5 or more; greater number of morbidities, functional disability for instrumental activities of daily life, and negative self-perception. The absence of a partner was associated with pre-frailty while hospitalization in the last year, functional disability for basic activities of daily life and indication of depression were associated with frailty.CONCLUSION: pre-frailty and frailty conditions presented a percentage higher than that reported by Brazilian studies and are associated with health-related variables. These variables can be prevented with interventions directed to the health of elderly individuals.
Learning in the informal spaces and re-signification of the existence of undergraduate students of nursing
Authors: Jesus Isabel Silva de , Sena Edite Lago da Silva , Andrade Luana Machado
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVE: to describe the perception of lecturers and undergraduate nursing students regarding the dialogic experience in the informal spaces and its relationship with training in health.METHOD: experiential descriptions were collected in the context of a public university in the non-metropolitan region of the state of Bahia, Brazil, using open interviews. These descriptions were analyzed according to the principles of the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty.RESULTS: it was revealed that the informal spaces contribute significantly to the construction of knowledge and professional training strengthening teaching and promoting the re-signification of the subjects' experience.CONCLUSION: it is evidenced that the dialogic experience has relevancy for rethinking the teaching-learning process in the university, such that the informal spaces should be included and valued as producers of meanings for the personal and academic life of lecturers and students, with the ability to re-signify existence.
Students' satisfaction with simulated clinical experiences: validation of an assessment scale
Authors: Baptista Rui Carlos Negrão , Martins José Carlos Amado , Pereira Maria Fátima Carneiro Ribeiro , Mazzo Alessandra
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVE: validate an assessment instrument of nursing students' satisfaction with simulated clinical experiences.METHOD: a 17-item scale was applied to students from the Teaching Diploma Program in Nursing, after a set of simulated clinical experiences. Factorial analysis with orthogonal varimax rotation was used, and the internal consistency was estimated to determine the validity of the scale.RESULTS: in a sample of 181 students, we found a high correlation between practically all items and the total scale, with an Alpha coefficient of 0.914. The scale items were divided in three factors: practical dimension, realism dimension and cognitive dimension, with good internal consistency coefficients of 0.89; 0.88 and 0.73, respectively.CONCLUSION: the scale complies with the validity requisites, revealing a high potential for use in research.
Validity of the DISABKIDS® - Cystic Fibrosis Module for Brazilian children and adolescents
Authors: Santos Danielle Maria de Souza Serio dos , Deon Keila Cristiane , Bullinger Monika , Santos Claudia Benedita dos
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVES: to validate the health-related quality of life measuring instrument DISABKIDS(r) - Cystic Fibrosis Module (self version) for Brazilian children and adolescents.METHOD: methodological study in which a sample of 113 participants (54 girls and 59 boys; mean age 11.91 years and SD=2.79) was considered, from four Brazilian states, São Paulo, Paraná, Minas Gerais and the Federal District, 51 of whom participated in the pilot study and 62 in the field study. The answers to the questionnaire were analyzed, considering the frequency distributions with regard to the floor and ceiling effects, Cronbach's Alpha statistics, Pearson's Linear Correlation Coefficient, Mulitrait-Multimethod analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis according to Structural Equations Modeling.RESULTS: the instrument showed a high internal consistency coefficient (verified using Cronbach's Alpha) and construct validity, according to the Multitrait-Multimethod analysis. The DISABKIDS(r) - Cystic Fibrosis Module, self version, maintained the same factorial structure as in the originally proposed model.CONCLUSION: the instrument validation has been finished and indicates that the self version is validated for use in Brazil and can be included into the monitoring routine of this population.
Cross-cultural adaptation and clinical validation of the Neonatal Skin Condition Score to Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Schardosim Juliana Machado , Ruschel Luma Maiara , Motta Giordana de Cássia Pinheiro da , Cunha Maria Luzia Chollopetz da
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVE: to describe the process of cross-cultural adaptation and clinical validation of the Neonatal Skin Condition Score.METHODS: this methodological cross-cultural adaptation study included five steps: initial translation, synthesis of the initial translation, back translation, review by an Committee of Specialists and testing of the pre-final version, and an observational cross-sectional study with analysis of the psychometric properties using the Adjusted Kappa, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, and Bland-Altman Method statistical tests. A total of 38 professionals were randomly recruited to review the clarity of the adapted instrument, and 47 newborns hospitalized in the Neonatology Unit of the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre were selected by convenience for the clinical validation of the instrument.RESULTS: the adapted scale showed approximately 85% clarity. The statistical tests showed moderate to strong intra and interobserver item to item reliability and from strong to very strong in the total score, with a variation of less than 2 points among the scores assigned by the nurses to the patients.CONCLUSIONS: the scale was adapted and validated to Brazilian Portuguese. The psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Neonatal Skin Condition Score instrument were similar to the validation results of the original scale.
Immigration experience of Latin American working women in Alicante, Spain: an ethnographic study
Authors: González-Juárez Liliana , Noreña-Peña Ana Lucía , Cibanal-Juan Luis
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVE: to describe the experience of Latin American working women regarding immigration, taking into account the expectations and conditions in which this process takes place.METHOD: ethnographic qualitative study. Data collection was performed by means of semi-structured interviews with 24 Latin American immigrant women in Spain. The information collected was triangulated through two focal groups.RESULTS: the expectations of migrant women focus on improving family living conditions. Social support is essential for their settling and to perform daily life activities. They declare they have adapted to the settlement country, although they live with stress. They perceive they have greater sexual freedom and power with their partners but keep greater responsibility in childcare, combining that with the role of working woman.CONCLUSIONS: migrant women play a key role in the survival of households, they build and create new meanings about being a woman, their understanding of life, their social and couple relationships. Such importance is shaped by their expectations and the conditions in which the migration process takes place, as well as their work integration.
Women with breast cancer taking chemotherapy: depression symptoms and treatment adherence
Authors: Souza Bianca Fresche de , Moraes Jéssica Andrade de , Inocenti Aline , Santos Manoel Antônio dos , Silva Ana Elisa Bauer de Camargo , Miasso Adriana Inocenti
Published: December 2014

Objective to verify depressive symptoms and adherence to chemotherapy among women with breast cancer who are served by the Pharmacy of the Chemotherapy Center of a university hospital.METHOD: cross-sectional study with quantitative approach conducted with 112 women receiving chemotherapy. Structured interviews guided by a script addressing socio-demographic, clinical and therapeutic information, the Morisky Test, and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to collect data.RESULTS: 12.50% and 1.78% of the patients experienced "moderate" and "severe" depression, respectively, while 10.59% did not use antidepressant medication. A statistically significant association was found between levels of depression and the use of antidepressants. Lack of adherence was identified in 46.43% of the participants.CONCLUSION: these findings show the need to regularly screen for depressive symptoms and for adherence to chemotherapy treatment among women with breast cancer, in order to provide early detection and appropriate treatment centered on patients, and to improve their quality of life.
Development and assessment of learning objects about intramuscular medication administration
Authors: Tamashiro Lilian Mayumi Chinen , Peres Heloisa Helena Ciqueto
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVES: to develop and assess a learning object about intramuscular medication administration for nursing undergraduates and nurses.METHOD: a random, intentional and non-probabilistic sample was selected of nurses from a Brazilian social network of nursing and students from the Undergraduate Program at the University of São Paulo School of Nursing to serve as research subjects and assess the object.RESULTS: the participants, 8 nurses and 8 students, studied the object and answered an assessment instrument that included the following criteria: educational aspects (relevance of the theme, objectives and texts/hypertexts), interface of the environment (navigation, accessibility and screen design) and didactic resources (interactivity and presentation of resources). In total, 128 significant answers were obtained, 124 (97%) of which were positive, assessed as excellent and satisfactory, considered as a flexible, dynamic, objective resources that is appropriate to the nursing learning process.CONCLUSION: the educational technology shows a clear and easily understandable language and the teaching method could be applied in other themes, contributing to the education and training of nursing professionals, positively affecting nursing teaching, stimulating the knowledge, autonomous and independent learning, aligned with the new professional education requirements.
Proposta de fluxograma orientativo para aplicação de índices de capacidade
Authors: Souza Fernanda Siqueira , Pedrini Danilo Cuzzuol , Caten Carla Schwengber ten
Published: December 2014

Um gráfico de controle detecta se o processo está ou não sob controle estatístico, distinguindo entre causas comuns e causas especiais. Após o processo estar sob controle, é utilizada outra importante técnica: os índices de capacidade do processo, que verificam se ele atende às especificações de engenharia/projeto. A aplicação correta do tipo de gráfico de controle e índice de capacidade é essencial para a correta análise dos dados. Assim, o presente estudo apresenta um fluxograma orientativo para direcionar a escolha dessas ferramentas para processos com variáveis de resposta: (i) não correlacionadas, (ii) correlacionadas dependentes das variáveis de controle e (iii) autocorrelacionadas. O uso do fluxograma foi ilustrado através da sua aplicação em um processo de torneamento de uma empresa do ramo de equipamentos agrícolas. O processo foi monitorado por gráficos de controle de regressão múltipla, sendo sua capacidade avaliada utilizando-se os índices de capacidade para gráficos de controle baseados em modelos de regressão. Os resultados desses índices foram comparados com os índices de capacidade tradicionais.