bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thrombin-Accelerated Quick Clotting Serum Tubes: An Evaluation with 22 Common Biochemical Analytes
Authors: Ng Wai-Yoong , Yeo Chin-Pin
Published: April 2013

Clot activator serum tubes have significantly improved turnaround times for result reporting compared to plain tubes. With increasing workload and service performance expectations confronting clinical laboratories with high-volume testing and with particular emphasis on critical analytes, attention has focussed on preanalytical variables that can be improved. We carried out a field study on the test performance of BD vacutainer rapid serum tubes (RSTs) compared to current institutional issued BD vacutainer serum separator tubes (SSTs) in its test result comparability, clotting time, and stability on serum storage. Data from the study population (n=160) of patients attending outpatient clinics and healthy subjects showed that results for renal, liver, lipids, cardiac, thyroid, and prostate biochemical markers were comparable between RSTs and SSTs. Clotting times of the RSTs were verified to be quick with a median time of 2.05 min. Analyte stability on serum storage at 4°C showed no statistically significant deterioration except for bicarbonate, electrolytes, and albumin over a period of 4 days. In conclusion, RSTs offered savings in the time required for the clotting process of serum specimens. This should translate to further trimming of the whole process from blood collection to result reporting without too much sacrifice on test accuracy and performance compared to the current widely used SSTs in most clinical laboratories.
Petri Net Model for Serious Games Based on Motivation Behavior Classification
Authors: Syufagi Moh. Aries , Hariadi Mochamad , Purnomo Mauridhi Hery
Published: April 2013

Petri nets are graphical and mathematical tool for modeling, analyzing, and designing discrete event applicable to many systems. They can be applied to game design too, especially to design serous game. This paper describes an alternative approach to the modeling of serious game systems and classification of motivation behavior with Petri nets. To assess the motivation level of player ability, this research aims at Motivation Behavior Game (MBG). MBG improves this motivation concept to monitor how players interact with the game. This modeling employs Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) for optimizing the motivation behavior input classification of the player. MBG may provide information when a player needs help or when he wants a formidable challenge. The game will provide the appropriate tasks according to players’ ability. MBG will help balance the emotions of players, so players do not get bored and frustrated. Players have a high interest to finish the game if the players are emotionally stable. Interest of the players strongly supports the procedural learning in a serious game.
Increased Cell Fusion in Cerebral Cortex May Contribute to Poststroke Regeneration
Authors: Paltsyn Alexander , Komissarova Svetlana , Dubrovin Ivan , Kubatiev Aslan
Published: April 2013

In this study, we used a model of a hemorrhagic stroke in a motor zone of the cortex in rats at the age of 3 months The report shows that cortical neurons can fuse with oligodendrocytes. In formed binuclear cells, the nucleus of an oligodendrocyte undergoes neuron specific reprogramming. It can be confirmed by changes in chromatin structure and in size of the second nucleus, by expression of specific neuronal markers and increasing total transcription rate. The nucleus of an oligodendrocyte likely transforms into a second neuronal nucleus. The number of binuclear neurons was validated with quantitative analysis. Fusion of neurons with oligodendrocytes might be a regenerative process in general and specifically following a stroke. The appearance of additional neuronal nuclei increases the functional outcome of the population of neurons. Participation of a certain number of binuclear cells in neuronal function might compensate for a functional deficit that arises from the death of a subset of neurons. After a stroke, the number of binuclear neurons increased in cortex around the lesion zone. In this case, the rate of recovery of stroke-damaged locomotor behavior also increased, which indicates the regenerative role of fusion.
Invasive Group B Streptococcal Disease in Two Pediatric Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Wu Dongning , Bromberg Kenneth , Jodorkovsky Roberto
Published: April 2013

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with high morbidity and mortality, often caused by infection. We report two patients with SLE who were treated with steroids and immunosuppressive medication and then developed invasive Group BStreptococcus(GBS) infections. While GBS infection is rare in the nonneonatal pediatric age group, GBS should be considered when treating SLE patients presenting with signs of infection.
Increased Risk of Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmia in Long‐Lasting Psoriasis Patients
Authors: Simsek Hakki , Sahin Musa , Akyol Aytac , Akdag Serkan , Ozkol Hatice Uce , Gumrukcuoglu Hasan Ali , Gunes Yilmaz
Published: April 2013

Background. Several reports have demonstrated an association between psoriasis and cardiovascular diseases. P wave dispersion (PWD) is the most important electrocardiographic (ECG) markers used to evaluate the risk of atrial arrhythmias. QT dispersion (QTD) can be used to assess homogeneity of cardiac repolarization and may be a risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Aim. To search PWD and QTD in patients with psoriasis. Methods. Ninety‐four outpatient psoriasis patients and 51 healthy people were evaluated by physical examination, 12‐lead ECG, and transthoracic echocardiography. Severity of the psoriasis was evaluated by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). Results. Mean disease duration was 129.4 ± 83.9 (range, 3–360) months and PASI ranged from 0 to 34.0 (mean ± SD; 7.6 ± 6.7). Compared to control group, psoriatic patients had significantly shorter Pmax and Pmin durations, longer QTcmax, and greater PWD and QTcD. Transmitral deceleration time (DT) and isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) were significantly longer among psoriasis patients. QTcD and PWD were significantly correlated with disease duration (r = 0.693, P < 0.001, and r = 0.368, P = 0.003, resp.). Conclusions. In this study, we found that both PWD and QTcD are increased in psoriasis patients compared to healthy subjects. In addition, they had longer DT and IVRT.
Model Independent MRE Data Analysis
Authors: Yoshikawa Kogo , Nakamura Gen
Published: April 2013

For the diagnosing modality called MRE (magnetic resonance elastography), the displacement vector of a wave propagating in a human tissue can be measured. The average of the local wavelength from this measured data could be an index for the diagnosing, because the local wave length becomes larger when the tissue is stiffer. By assuming that the local form of the wave is given approximately as multiple complex plane waves, we identify the real part of the complex linear phase of the strongest plane wave of this multiple complex plane waves, by first applying the FBI transform (Fourier-Bros-Iagolnitzer transform) with an appropriate size of Gaussian window and then taking the maximum of the modulus of the transform with respect to the Fourier variable. The real part of the linear phase is nothing but the real inner product of the wave vector and the position vector. Similarly the imaginary part of the linear phase describes the attenuation of the wave and it is given as a real inner product of a real vector and the position vector. This vector can also be recovered by our method. We also apply these methods to design some denoising and filtering for noisy MRE data.
Approximate Analytical Solution for Nonlinear System of Fractional Differential Equations by BPs Operational Matrices
Authors: Alipour Mohsen , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: April 2013

We present two methods for solving a nonlinear system of fractional differential equations within Caputo derivative. Firstly, we derive operational matrices for Caputo fractional derivative and for Riemann-Liouville fractional integral by using the Bernstein polynomials (BPs). In the first method, we use the operational matrix of Caputo fractional derivative (OMCFD), and in the second one, we apply the operational matrix of Riemann-Liouville fractional integral (OMRLFI). The obtained results are in good agreement with each other as well as with the analytical solutions. We show that the solutions approach to classical solutions as the order of the fractional derivatives approaches 1.
A PSO-Optimized Minimum Spanning Tree-Based Topology Control Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Guo Wenzhong , Zhang Bin , Chen Guolong , Wang Xiaofeng , Xiong Naixue
Published: April 2013

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are networks of autonomous nodes used for monitoring an environment. Topology control is one of the most fundamental problems in WSNs. To overcome high connectivity redundancy and low structure robustness in traditional methods, a PSO-optimized minimum spanning tree-based topology control scheme is proposed in this paper. In the proposed scheme, we transform the problem into a model of multicriteria degree constrained minimum spanning tree (mcd-MST) and design a nondominated discrete particle swarm optimization (NDPSO) to deal with this problem. To obtain a better approximation of true Pareto front, the multiobjective strategy with a fitness function based on niche and phenotype sharing function is applied in NDPSO. Furthermore, a topology control scheme based on NDPSO is proposed. Simulation results show that NDPSO can converge to the non-dominated front quite evenly, and the topology derived under the proposed topology control scheme has lower total power consumption, higher robust structure, and lower contention among nodes.
A Multicenter Phase II Study of Ganetespib Monotherapy in Patients with Genotypically Defined Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Socinski Mark A. , Goldman Jonathan , El-Hariry Iman , Koczywas Marianna , Vukovic Vojo , Horn Leora , Paschold Eugene , Salgia Ravi , West Howard , Sequist Lecia V. , Bonomi Philip , Brahmer Julie , Chen Lin-Chi , Sandler Alan , Belani Chandra P. , Webb Timothy , Harper Harry , Huberman Mark , Ramalingam Suresh , Wong Kwok-Kin , Teofilovici Florentina , Guo Wei , Shapiro Geoffrey I.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: Ganetespib is a novel inhibitor of the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), a chaperone protein critical to tumor growth and proliferation. In this phase II study, we evaluated the activity and tolerability of ganetespib in previously treated patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Experimental Design: Patients were enrolled into cohort A (mutant EGFR), B (mutant KRAS), or C (no EGFR or KRAS mutations). Patients were treated with 200 mg/m2 ganetespib by intravenous infusion once weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest, until disease progression. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) at 16 weeks. Secondary endpoints included objective response (ORR), duration of treatment, tolerability, median PFS, overall survival (OS), and correlative studies.

Results: Ninety-nine patients with a median of 2 prior systemic therapies were enrolled; 98 were assigned to cohort A (n = 15), B (n = 17), or C (n = 66), with PFS rates at 16 weeks of 13.3%, 5.9%, and 19.7%, respectively. Four patients (4%) achieved partial response (PR); all had disease that harbored anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement, retrospectively detected by FISH (n = 1) or PCR-based assays (n = 3), in crizotinib-naïve patients enrolled to cohort C. Eight patients (8.1%) experienced treatment-related serious adverse events (AE); 2 of these (cardiac arrest and renal failure) resulted in death. The most common AEs were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and anorexia.

Conclusions: Ganetespib monotherapy showed a manageable side effect profile as well as clinical activity in heavily pretreated patients with advanced NSCLCs, particularly in patients with tumors harboring ALK gene rearrangement. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 3068–77. ©2013 AACR.
Evaluation of Food Effect on Pharmacokinetics of Vismodegib in Advanced Solid Tumor Patients
Authors: Sharma Manish R. , Karrison Theodore G. , Kell Bethany , Wu Kehua , Turcich Michelle , Geary David , Kang Soonmo P. , Takebe Naoko , Graham Richard A. , Maitland Michael L. , Schilsky Richard L. , Ratain Mark J. , Cohen Ezra E.W.
Published: April 2013

Purpose: Vismodegib, an orally bioavailable small-molecule Smoothened inhibitor, is approved for treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC). We conducted a pharmacokinetic study of vismodegib in patients with advanced solid tumors to explore the effects of food on drug exposure.

Experimental Design: In part I, patients were randomized to fasting overnight (FO), a high fat meal (HF), or a low fat meal (LF) before a single dose of vismodegib 150 mg. Plasma concentrations of vismodegib were determined by a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. Primary endpoints were Cmax and area under the curve (AUC0–168). In part II, patients randomized to FO or HF in part I took vismodegib 150 mg daily after fasting; those randomized to LF took it after a meal. Primary endpoints after two weeks were Cmax and AUC0–24.

Results: Sixty (22 FO, 20 HF, 18 LF) and 52 (25 fasting, 27 fed) patients were evaluable for primary endpoints in parts I and II, respectively. Mean Cmax and AUC0–168 after a single dose were higher in HF than FO patients [ratios of geometric means (90% CI) = 1.75 (1.30, 2.34) and 1.74 (1.25, 2.42), respectively]. There were no significant differences in Cmax or AUC0–24 between fasting and fed groups after daily dosing. The frequencies of drug-related toxicities were similar in both groups.

Conclusions: A HF meal increases plasma exposure to a single dose of vismodegib, but there are no pharmacokinetic or safety differences between fasting and fed groups at steady-state. Vismodegib may be taken with or without food for daily dosing. Clin Cancer Res; 19(11); 3059–67. ©2013 AACR.
Human Breast Tissue Disposition and Bioactivity of Limonene in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Miller Jessica A. , Lang Julie E. , Ley Michele , Nagle Ray , Hsu Chiu-Hsieh , Thompson Patricia A. , Cordova Catherine , Waer Amy , Chow H-H. Sherry
Published: April 2013

Limonene is a bioactive food component found in citrus peel oil that has shown chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities in preclinical studies. We conducted an open-label pilot clinical study to determine the human breast tissue disposition of limonene and its associated bioactivity. We recruited 43 women with newly diagnosed operable breast cancer electing to undergo surgical excision to take 2 grams of limonene daily for two to six weeks before surgery. Blood and breast tissue were collected to determine drug/metabolite concentrations and limonene-induced changes in systemic and tissue biomarkers of breast cancer risk or carcinogenesis. Limonene was found to preferentially concentrate in the breast tissue, reaching high tissue concentration (mean = 41.3 μg/g tissue), whereas the major active circulating metabolite, perillic acid, did not concentrate in the breast tissue. Limonene intervention resulted in a 22% reduction in cyclin D1 expression (P = 0.002) in tumor tissue but minimal changes in tissue Ki67 and cleaved caspase-3 expression. No significant changes in serum leptin, adiponectin, TGF-β1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were observed following limonene intervention. There was a small but statistically significant postintervention increase in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels. We conclude that limonene distributed extensively to human breast tissue and reduced breast tumor cyclin D1 expression that may lead to cell-cycle arrest and reduced cell proliferation. Furthermore, placebo-controlled clinical trials and translational research are warranted to establish limonene's role for breast cancer prevention or treatment. Cancer Prev Res; 6(6); 577–84. ©2013 AACR.
Identifying Early Events of Gene Expression in Breast Cancer with Systems Biology Phylogenetics
Authors: Abu-Asab M.S. , Abu-Asab N. , Loffredo C.A. , Clarke R. , Amri H.
Published: April 2013

Advanced omics technologies such as deep sequencing and spectral karyotyping are revealing more of cancer heterogeneity at the genetic, genomic, gene expression, epigenetic, proteomic, and metabolomic levels. With this increasing body of emerging data, the task of data analysis becomes critical for mining and modeling to better understand the relevant underlying biological processes. However, the multiple levels of heterogeneity evident within and among populations, healthy and diseased, complicate the mining and interpretation of biological data, especially when dealing with hundreds to tens of thousands of variables. Heterogeneity occurs in many diseases, such as cancers, autism, macular degeneration, and others. In cancer, heterogeneity has hampered the search for validated biomarkers for early detection, and it has complicated the task of finding clonal (driver) and nonclonal (nonexpanded or passenger) aberrations. We show that subtyping of cancer (classification of specimens) should be an a priori step to the identification of early events of cancers. Studying early events in oncogenesis can be done on histologically normal tissues from diseased individuals (HNTDI), since they most likely have been exposed to the same mutagenic insults that caused the cancer in their neighboring tissues. Polarity assessment of HNTDI data variables by using healthy specimens as outgroup(s), followed by the application of parsimony phylogenetic analysis, produces a hierarchical classification of specimens that reveals the early events of the disease ontogeny within its subtypes as shared derived changes (abnormal changes) or synapomorphies in phylogenetic terminology.
GNAS-Related Loss-of-Function Disorders and the Role of Imprinting
Authors: Linglart Agnès , Maupetit-Méhouas Stéphanie , Silve Caroline
Published: April 2013

GNAS (guanine nucleotide-binding protein, α stimulating) is a complex imprinted locus coding, besides the α-stimulatory subunit of the G protein, the paternally (extra-large, antisense and A/B) and maternally (neuroendocrine secretory protein) transcripts. Heterozygous mutations in the coding sequence of GNAS produce dominant phenotypes (combination of resistances to hormones signaling through G-protein-coupled receptors, osteodystrophy and obesity) that depend on the parental origin of the mutated allele. Likewise, alterations in the methylation at promoters of GNAS transcripts, associated or not with deletions of imprinting control regions in the nearby STX16 gene or within GNAS, prompt resistance to parathormone when affecting the maternal allele. Therefore, imprinting of GNAS is the determining factor for the variability of the phenotype. Knowledge of the various phenotypes is necessary for genetic counseling as well as an appropriate therapeutic balance between regular follow-up, prevention of disease complications and iatrogeny.
Clinical Pattern of Toxoplasmic Retinochoroiditis in a Spanish Referral Center
Authors: Rey Amanda , Llorenç Victor , Pelegrín Laura , Mesquida Marina , Molins Blanca , Rios José , Arévalo Jose Fernando , Adán Alfredo
Published: April 2013

Background/Aims: To analyze the clinical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis in a referral center in Spain. Methods: The medical records of consecutive patients with ocular toxoplasmosis admitted from a single referral center for uveitis in Barcelona (Spain) were retrospectively analyzed between January 2005 and January 2011. Results: One hundred and thirteen eyes from 113 patients (74 Spanish and 39 South American) with active ocular toxoplasmosis were analyzed with a 12-month follow-up. Final BCVA ≤20/200 was found in 30 eyes (26.5%). The most frequent complications were macular edema (16.8%) and epiretinal membrane (11.5%). Anterior chamber cell scores of ≥2+ (p = 0.003), vitreous cell scores of ≥2+ (p = 0.001), and the presence of cataracts (p = 0.047) or serous retinal detachment (p = 0.008) were more common among the South American than Spanish cohort. Active macular lesions (p < 0.001) with an initial BCVA ≤20/200 (p < 0.001) and advanced age (p = 0.019) were predictors for final BCVA ≤20/200, whereas female gender (p = 0.021) and an initial BCVA ≤20/200 (p = 0.045) were predictors for ocular complications. Moreover, a BCVA ≤20/200 (p < 0.001) and a vitreous cell score of ≥2+ (p = 0.045) at the initial examination were predictors of an eventual need for ocular surgery. Conclusion: The clinical features of ocular toxoplasmosis in Spanish patients differ from those of South American patients. In general, active macular lesions with an initial BCVA ≤20/200 and advanced age were shown to be predictors for final BCVA ≤20/200 in our patient cohort.
Use of Dabigatran for Periprocedural Anticoagulation in Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Bassiouny Mohamed , Saliba Walid , Rickard John , Shao Mingyuan , Sey Albert , Diab Mariam , Martin David O. , Hussein Ayman , Khoury Maurice , Abi-Saleh Bernard , Alam Samir , Sengupta Jay , Borek P. Peter , Baranowski Bryan , Niebauer Mark , Callahan Thomas , Varma Niraj , Chung Mina , Tchou Patrick J. , Kanj Mohamed , Dresing Thomas , Lindsay Bruce D. , Wazni Oussama
Published: April 2013

Background—

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation is associated with a transient increased risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. We hypothesized that dabigatran can be safely used as an alternative to continuous warfarin for the periprocedural anticoagulation in PVI.

Methods and Results—

A total of 999 consecutive patients undergoing PVI were included; 376 patients were on dabigatran (150 mg), and 623 patients were on warfarin with therapeutic international normalized ratio. Dabigatran was held 1 to 2 doses before PVI and restarted at the conclusion of the procedure or as soon as patients were transferred to the nursing floor. Propensity score matching was applied to generate a cohort of 344 patients in each group with balanced baseline data. Total hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications were similar in both groups, before (3.2% versus 3.9%;
P
=0.59) and after (3.2% versus 4.1%;
P
=0.53) matching. Major hemorrhage occurred in 1.1% versus 1.6% (
P
=0.48) before and 1.2% versus 1.5% (
P
=0.74) after matching in the dabigatran versus warfarin group, respectively. A single thromboembolic event occurred in each of the dabigatran and warfarin groups. Despite higher doses of intraprocedural heparin, the mean activated clotting time was significantly lower in patients who held dabigatran for 1 or 2 doses than those on warfarin.

Conclusions—

Our study found no evidence to suggest a higher risk of thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications with use of dabigatran for periprocedural anticoagulation in patients undergoing PVI compared with uninterrupted warfarin therapy.
Comprehensive Validation of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Techniques for the Assessment of Myocardial Extracellular Volume
Authors: Miller Christopher A. , Naish Josephine H. , Bishop Paul , Coutts Glyn , Clark David , Zhao Sha , Ray Simon G. , Yonan Nizar , Williams Simon G. , Flett Andrew S. , Moon James C. , Greiser Andreas , Parker Geoffrey J.M. , Schmitt Matthias
Published: April 2013

Background—

Extracellular matrix expansion is a key element of ventricular remodeling and a potential therapeutic target. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) T
1
-mapping techniques are increasingly used to evaluate myocardial extracellular volume (ECV); however, the most widely applied methods are without histological validation. Our aim was to perform comprehensive validation of (1) dynamic-equilibrium CMR (DynEq-CMR), where ECV is quantified using hematocrit-adjusted myocardial and blood T
1
values measured before and after gadolinium bolus; and (2) isolated measurement of myocardial T
1
, used as an ECV surrogate.

Methods and Results—

Whole-heart histological validation was performed using 96 tissue samples, analyzed for picrosirius red collagen volume fraction, obtained from each of 16 segments of the explanted hearts of 6 patients undergoing heart transplantation who had prospectively undergone CMR before transplantation (median interval between CMR and transplantation, 29 days). DynEq-CMR–derived ECV was calculated from T
1
measurements made using a modified Look-Locker inversion recovery sequence before and 10 and 15 minutes post contrast. In addition, ECV was measured 2 to 20 minutes post contrast in 30 healthy volunteers. There was a strong linear relationship between DynEq-CMR–derived ECV and histological collagen volume fraction (
P
<0.001; within-subject:
r
=0.745;
P
<0.001;
r
2
=0.555 and between-subject:
r
=0.945;
P
<0.01;
r
2
=0.893; for ECV calculated using 15-minute postcontrast T
1
). Correlation was maintained throughout the entire heart. Isolated postcontrast T
1
measurement showed significant within-subject correlation with histological collagen volume fraction (
r
=−0.741;
P
<0.001;
r
2
=0.550 for 15-minute postcontrast T
1
), but between-subject correlations were not significant. DynEq-CMR–derived ECV varied significantly according to contrast dose, myocardial region, and sex.

Conclusions—

DynEq-CMR–derived ECV shows a good correlation with histological collagen volume fraction throughout the whole heart. Isolated postcontrast T
1
measurement is insufficient for ECV assessment.
Loss of p47
phox
Subunit Enhances Susceptibility to Biomechanical Stress and Heart Failure Because of Dysregulation of Cortactin and Actin Filaments
Authors: Patel Vaibhav B. , Wang Zuocheng , Fan Dong , Zhabyeyev Pavel , Basu Ratnadeep , Das Subhash K. , Wang Wang , DesAulniers Jessica , Holland Steven M. , Kassiri Zamaneh , Oudit Gavin Y.
Published: April 2013

Rationale:

The classic phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (gp91
phox
or Nox2) is expressed in the heart. Nox2 activation requires membrane translocation of the p47
phox
subunit and is linked to heart failure. We hypothesized that loss of p47
phox
subunit will result in decreased reactive oxygen species production and resistance to heart failure.

Objective:

To define the role of p47
phox
in pressure overload–induced biomechanical stress.

Methods and Results:

Eight-week-old male p47
phox
null (p47
phox
knockout [KO]), Nox2 null (Nox2KO), and wild-type mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction–induced pressure overload. Contrary to our hypothesis, p47
phox
KO mice showed markedly worsened systolic dysfunction in response to pressure overload at 5 and 9 weeks after transverse aortic constriction compared with wild-type–transverse aortic constriction mice. We found that biomechanical stress upregulated N-cadherin and β-catenin in p47
phox
KO hearts but disrupted the actin filament cytoskeleton and reduced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. p47
phox
interacts with cytosolic cortactin by coimmunoprecipitation and double immunofluorescence staining in murine and human hearts and translocated to the membrane on biomechanical stress where cortactin interacted with N-cadherin, resulting in adaptive cytoskeletal remodeling. However, p47
phox
KO hearts showed impaired interaction of cortactin with N-cadherin, resulting in loss of biomechanical stress–induced actin polymerization and cytoskeletal remodeling. In contrast, Nox2 does not interact with cortactin, and Nox2-deficient hearts were protected from pressure overload–induced adverse myocardial and intracellular cytoskeletal remodeling.

Conclusions:

We showed a novel role of p47
phox
subunit beyond and independent of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity as a regulator of cortactin and adaptive cytoskeletal remodeling, leading to a paradoxically enhanced susceptibility to biomechanical stress and heart failure.
Forced to Be Free?: Why Foreign-Imposed Regime Change Rarely Leads to Democratization
Authors: Downes Alexander B. , Monten Jonathan
Published: April 2013

Is military intervention effective in spreading democracy? Existing studies disagree. Optimists point to successful cases, such as the transformation of West Germany and Japan into consolidated democracies after World War II. Pessimists view these successes as outliers from a broader pattern of failure typified by cases such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Those in between agree that, in general, democratic military intervention has little liberalizing effect in target states, but contend that democracies can induce democratization when they explicitly pursue this objective and invest substantial effort and resources. Existing studies, however, often employ overly broad definitions of intervention, fail to grapple with possible selection effects in countries where democracies choose to intervene, and stress interveners' actions while neglecting conditions in targets. Astatistical examination of seventy instances of foreign-imposed regime change (FIRC) in the twentieth century shows that implementing prodemocratic institutional reforms, such as sponsoring elections, is not enough to induce democratization; interveners will meet with little success unless conditions in the target state—in the form of high levels of economic development and societal homogeneity, and previous experience with representative governance—are favorable to democracy. Given that prospective regime change operations are likely to target regimes in poor, diverse countries, policymakers should scale back their expectations that democracy will flourish after FIRC.
Spheres of Migration: Political, Economic and Universal Imperatives in Israel’s Migration Regime
Authors: Shamir Hila , Mundlak Guy
Published: April 2013

This article seeks to describe the piecemeal process of creation of what may, arguably, be a new immigration regime in Israel. In order to do so, we focus on three distinct waves of non-Jewish entry to Israel. The first is the day-labor entry of Palestinian workers from the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) since 1967; the second is the entry of migrant workers from various countries, primarily since 1993; and the third is the entry of asylum-seekers, primarily from Africa, since 2007. Each of these waves was carved out by the state as a distinct sphere of migration, a narrow exception to Israel’s general Jewish Settler Regime, which is based on a different functional imperative. The entry of Palestinians is justified primarily by a political imperative – the political relationship between Israel and the Palestinians under occupation. The entry of migrant workers is, first and foremost, seen as the result of economic imperatives – a way to supply cheap labor to cater to the needs of the domestic labor market and fulfill the economic needs of the state. The entry of asylum-seekers (and their rights upon entry) rests primarily on a universal humanitarian imperative led by the state’s moral and convention-based responsibility toward those who are in dire need, and particularly in need of a safe territorial haven.
The Role of Civil Society in Creating the International Criminal Court Statute: Ten Years On and Looking Back
Authors: Durham Helen
Published: April 2013

This article demonstrates that civil society, in particular the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (Coalition), played a significant role in the creation of the Statute for the ICC. At the ten year anniversary of the ICC entry into force, a reflection on the impact of civil society in this particular treaty negotiation is useful and aims to tell an important element of the ICC story often not exposed. The Coalition was developed to act as an umbrella for a range of organisations wishing to see a just and effective ICC and was actively involved in the negotiations in New York and Rome. From writing papers, directly lobbying delegates, hosting meetings and events, creating daily updates and linking the UN discussions back to capitals, members of the Coalition worked hard on ensuring a voice wider than State representatives was heard in the debate. The Coalition members also provided a crucial connection with the media and added creativity, emotion and colour to the diplomatic negotiations. Noting the philosophical differences between various groups within civil society on the ICC and the careful processes and procedures used by the Coalition, this article highlights the tension between diversity and efficiency within the non-government organisation community.
Responsibility to Protect: Syria The Law, Politics, and Future of Humanitarian Intervention Post-Libya
Authors: Cronogue Graham
Published: April 2013

Based on the Security Council’s disparate responses to relatively similar acts of regime violence in Syria and Libya, it seems that the Responsibility to Protect doctrine is heavily influenced by factors other than the substantive act of violence. Accordingly, this paper discusses the legal, but also the strategic and pragmatic factors influencing the use, or abstention from the use, of armed humanitarian intervention. While some critics decry the influence of factors that are seemingly exogenous to Responsibility to Protect, this paper argues that the interplay of law and various matters of strategic concern such as politics, economics, and pragmatics is an unavoidable reality in a world where political actors (the states on the Security Council) decide the legitimacy of interventions. Therefore, this paper contends that the strategic and pragmatic concerns that prevent the use of force in Syria do not make the doctrine ipso facto illegitimate.
Three new species of Anchylorhynchus Schoenherr, 1836 from Colombia (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Curculioninae; Acalyptini)
Authors: DE MEDEIROS BRUNO A.S. , NÚÑEZ-AVELLANEDA LUIS A.
Published: April 2013

Three new species of the genus Anchylorhynchus from Colombia, are described: Anchylorhynchus pinocchio sp. nov., A. centrosquamatus sp. nov. and A. luteobrunneus sp. nov.. A morphological description, including the male genitalia, is pro-vided for each species as well as a comparison with similar species within the genus. All three species are found in inflo-rescences of species of Syagrus Mart. (Arecaceae). The adults are pollinators and the larvae develop inside fruits and feed on the endosperm, interrupting seed formation and causing fruit abortion.
A new species of ocellated Xanthias Rathbun, 1897 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae) from the Bohol Sea, Philippines
Authors: MENDOZA JOSE CHRISTOPHER E.
Published: April 2013

A new species of xanthid crab (Brachyura: Xanthidae) is described from the Bohol Sea in the central Philippines. Xanthias joanneae sp. nov. is most similar in morphology to X. maculatus Sakai, 1961 (type locality: Sagami Bay, Japan), partic-ularly in the presence of distinctive ocelli on the carapace and pereopods. It can be separated from this species by the great-er number of ocelli on the dorsal surface of the carapace, wider teeth separated by narrow notches on the carapace anterolateral margin, absence of longitudinal ridges on the external surface of the chelar palm, shorter and stouter ambu-latory legs, narrower male anterior thoracic sternum, and stouter G1.
Low-autonomy work and bad jobs in postfordist capitalism
Authors: Vidal Matt
Published: April 2013

In this article I present a critical reconstruction of the concept of postfordism, arguing for a regulation-theoretic approach that views Fordism and postfordism not in terms of production models based on a particular labour process but as institutional regimes of competition, within which there are one of four types of generic labour process: high-autonomy, semiautonomous, tightly constrained and unrationalized labour-intensive. I show that over one-third of US employment is in low-autonomy jobs and sketch an analytical framework for analysing job quality. Contrasting the four labour processes with various measures of job quality produces 18 job types that reduce to one of three job quality categories: good jobs, bad jobs and decent jobs. The typology provides a framework for analysing upgrading or downgrading of four aspects of employment quality within and across the four generic labour processes.
Socialist Values and Cooperation in Brazil’s Landless Rural Workers’ Movement
Authors: Diniz Aldiva Sales , Gilbert Bruce
Published: April 2013

When the Movimento de Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra do Brasil (Movement of Landless Rural Workers’ of Brazil—MST) occupies land and forms autonomous agricultural communities, it aspires to achieve the supremacy of labor over capital and to embody socialist values. However, a policy of organizing production cooperatives on its settlements in the early 1990s was unsuccessful, principally because of a failure fully to respect traditional forms of work and sociability. However, the MST learned from its early mistakes and has since developed elaborate forms of informal and formal cooperation on land that is essentially the common property of a democratic settlement association. It is therefore living up to its socialist objectives and manifesting a real alternative to capitalist work and property relations.

Cuando el Movimento de Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra do Brasil (MST) ocupa tierra y forma comunidades agrícolas autónomas, aspira a lograr la supremacía del trabajo sobre capital y encarnar valores socialistas. No obstante, una política para organizar cooperativas de producción en sus asentamientos a principios de los 1990 no prosperó, mayormente por la falta de respeto pleno a las formas tradicionales de trabajo y sociabilidad. El MST aprendió de sus errores iniciales y desde entonces ha desarrollado intricadas formas de cooperación informal y formal en tierra que es esencialmente la propiedad común de una asociación de asentamiento democrática. Por lo tanto está haciendo honra a sus objetivos socialistas y demostrando una alternativa concreta a las relaciones capitalistas de trabajo y propiedad.
Examining the developmental dynamics between achievement strategies and different literacy skills
Authors: Georgiou George K. , Manolitsis George , Zhang Xiao , Parrila Rauno , Nurmi Jari-Erik
Published: April 2013

We examined the developmental dynamics between task-avoidant behavior and different literacy outcomes, and possible precursors of task-avoidant behavior. Seventy Greek children were followed from Grade 4 until Grade 6 and were assessed every year on reading fluency, spelling, and reading comprehension. The teachers assessed the children’s achievement strategies at all testing times. In addition, in Grade 4, the children responded to a task value questionnaire and the parents reported their beliefs and expectations about their children’s academic performance. The results revealed that task avoidance was reciprocally related only to reading comprehension. In addition, only parental beliefs predicted task avoidance. These findings complement those of previous studies in transparent orthographies and suggest that the role of task avoidance on literacy development depends on the time when the literacy skills are assessed and the type of literacy outcome.
‘Walls or Boxes’: The Effects of Professional Identity, Power and Rationality on Strategies for Cross-Functional Integration
Authors: Vad Baunsgaard Vibeke , Clegg Stewart
Published: April 2013

Small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are recognized as drivers of economic growth, yet commonly face low innovation and organizational success due to insufficient cross-functional integration. We pose the simple question: what factors hinder cross-functional integration from occurring? We analyse cross-functional integration at management level by developing the framework of dominant ideological modes of rationality, composing professional identity, power relations and rationalities and through the construct of ‘members’ categorization devices’ (MCDs). The article builds theory from a longitudinal in-depth empirical investigation of ‘everyday’ micro-political processes involved in cross-functional integration by drawing on political and ethnomethodological perspectives. It provides novel findings on the dynamics between power relations and cross-functional integration, the influence of ‘thought worlds’ of different functions involved in the innovation process, and contributes empirical evidence that professional identity produces power relations and rationality. Implications for theory, method and practice are considered.
The Effect of Manager Exclusion on Nurse Turnover Intention and Care Quality
Authors: Cottingham Marci D. , Erickson Rebecca J. , Diefendorff James M. , Bromley Gail
Published: April 2013

Little is known about how exclusionary practices (i.e., ignored, ostracized) by managers differ across demographics and influence nursing outcomes. This study examines whether managerial exclusion varies by generation, race, and gender, and the extent to which these variables, in turn, relate to turnover intention and perceived patient care among a sample of 747 nurses working in hospitals in a midwestern health system. Exclusion did not differ across most demographic groups, though men reported less exclusion than women. Younger nurses of the Millennial generation, those feeling excluded, and those with fewer years of experience reported lower quality patient care. Managerial exclusion, being a nurse of color, and less experience were associated with stronger intentions to leave. Nursing leaders should attend to factors that may contribute to racial minorities seeking other jobs, diminish younger nurses’ ability to provide high-quality care, and minimize practices that might lead nurses to feel excluded.
Ulrich Beck, Cosmopolitanism and the Individualization of Religion
Authors: Mythen Gabe
Published: April 2013

This article offers a critical appraisal of Ulrich Beck’s A God of One’s Own. Connecting the trajectory of the book with the conceptual anchors set down in preceding work on reflexive modernization and cosmopolitanism, areas of empirical imprecision are identified and obstacles to the widespread adoption of personalized forms of faith are considered. Concentrating on issues around configurations of power, the formation of identity and filters of cultural difference, points of critique are developed and areas ripe for future investigation are suggested.
Clinical Utility of Cancellation on the WISC-IV
Authors: Zhu Jianjun , Chen Hsinyi
Published: April 2013

This study examined empirical evidence for clinical utility of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (WISC-IV) cancellation subtest by comparing data from 597 clinical and 597 matched control children. The results of dependent t and sequential logistic regression analyses demonstrated that (a) children with intellectual disabilities, motor impairments, head injuries, Autistic/Aszperger’s disorder, ADHD and learning disabilities, and mathematics disorder showed significant deficits on the cancellation subtest; (b) children with intellectual disabilities and Asperger’s disorder benefited when stimuli were randomly aligned, but children with ADHD benefited from structured conditions; (c) beyond the full-scaled IQ (FSIQ) and General Ability Index (GAI)–Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI) discrepancy scores, the cancellation subtest added unique diagnostic power to identify children with reading disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, closed head injuries, and motor impairments. These results suggest the utility of the cancellation subtest in clinical assessment.
Effect of sugammadex on rocuronium induced changes in pancreatic mast cells
Authors: Kalkan Yıldıray , Tumkaya Levent , Bostan Habib , Tomak Yakup , Altuner Durdu , Yilmaz Adnan , Erdivanli Başar , Bedir Recep , Yalcin Alper , Turan Alparslan
Published: April 2013

Mast cells play a vital role in hypersensitivity reactions. Rocuronium is known to cause mast cell mobilization, hypersensitivity, and pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sugammadex on pancreatic changes due to rocuronium. A total of 42 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into six equal groups to receive either rocuronium 1 mg/kg intravenously (i.v., R group), rocuronium 1 mg/kg + sugammadex 16 mg/kg i.v. (RS16 group), rocuronium 1 mg/kg + sugammadex 96 mg/kg i.v. (RS96 group), sugammadex 16 mg/kg (S16), sugammadex 96 mg/kg i.v. (S96 group), or 0.9% sodium chloride (control group). Sugammadex was administered 5s later following rocuronium. In R group, mast count was higher, and the distribution rate of granules and nuclear changes were different compared with other groups. Distribution rate of granules in groups S16 and S96 were similar to the control group and lower compared with other groups. The amount of mast cells and granule density in groups RS16 and RS96 was lower compared with R group. The amount of mast cells in groups RS16 and RS96 was significantly lower compared with other treatment groups. These results suggest that sugammadex may have an inhibitory effect on mobilization and morphological changes in pancreatic mast cells induced by administration of rocuronium and sugammadex in rats.
Primary school councils
Authors: Burnitt Michael , Gunter Helen
Published: April 2013

School councils have been an integral part of primary school life for the last decade and, despite not being mandatory in England, they are now to be found in the vast majority of primary schools. This research article aims to examine the current position of school councils in terms of their organization, the issues they address and the views held by senior leaders regarding the setting of agendas, their management and composition. The fieldwork took place in 50 primary schools within one local authority in the North West of England. This involved quantitative analysis based on a questionnaire sent directly to the head teachers. The data confirmed the widespread use of councils, with 100 per cent of responding schools having one in place. Certain themes relating to school council membership emerged, such as a positive emphasis on councillors being role models and possessing strong organizational and communication skills. Little importance, however, was given by head teachers to high academic attainment or creativity. The indications given by school leaders is that there is a clear commitment to having in place effective mechanisms via which children can raise their views, ideas and concerns, whilst promoting equality. However, in practice the emphasis on effective communication skills appears to actually limit the diversity of children actively taking part in primary schools councils. Therefore, school leaders need to take steps to allow a wider intake into their councils, in order to generate a truly representative council.