bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With Well-being and Confidence in Providing Compassionate Care
Authors: Olson Kayloni , Kemper Kathi J.
Published: July 2014

We explored the relationships between potentially modifiable factors (mindfulness and self-compassion), intermediate factors (resilience and stress), and outcomes of interest in a cross-sectional study of medical trainees (compassionate care and clinician well-being). Among the 12 participants, the average age was 27.6 years. Mindfulness and self-compassion were positively associated with confidence in providing calm, compassionate care ( r = 0.91 and 0.81, respectively; P < .01); they were also positively correlated with clinician resilience ( P < .01), which was correlated with clinician mental health ( r = 0.83; P < .01). Perceived stress was strongly and significantly negatively correlated with all measures ( rs ranging from –0.62 for flourishing to –0.92 for confidence in delivering calm, compassionate care; P < .05 for all correlations). Given the positive correlations between mindfulness and self-compassion with both clinician well-being and confidence in providing calm, compassionate care, interventional studies are warranted to determine what kind of training most efficiently and effectively improves trainee mindfulness and self-compassion.
Effects of nanoparticle addition on hardening and tempering steel
Authors: Callejo L. M. , Kaltzakorta I.
Published: July 2014

The effects of nanoparticle addition on the hardening and tempering 20MnCr steel have been investigated. Addition of oxide nanoparticles to the melt, through a new technology that ensures safe handling, was found to give as hardened steel hardness and tensile properties close to those of the conventional steel in the hardened and tempered condition. This has the potential to eliminate the tempering step in component production, with benefits for process efficiency. The effects on microstructure, hardness and tensile properties depend on the type and concentration of the nanoparticles added. The reduced tensile strength and hardness, and increased ductility, of the steels with nanoparticle additions are attributed to the presence of retained ferrite in these microstructures, in both the hardened and tempered condition. It is proposed that the application of this approach at an industrial scale has the potential to reduce energy consumption, cost and time in component production through the elimination of intermediate operations such as tempering.
ICOS-based chimeric antigen receptors program bipolar TH17/TH1 cells
Authors: Guedan Sonia , Chen Xi , Madar Aviv , Carpenito Carmine , McGettigan Shannon E. , Frigault Matthew J. , Lee Jihyun , Posey Avery D. , Scholler John , Scholler Nathalie , Bonneau Richard , June Carl H.
Published: July 2014

Key Points

ICOS-based CARs program bipolar TH17/TH1 cells with augmented effector function and in vivo persistence. The expression of selected CAR endodomains can program T cells for their subsequent differentiation fates and effector functions.
VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 as predictive markers for treatment with fluorouracil, leucovorin plus either oxaliplatin or cisplatin in patients with advanced esophagogastric cancer: a comparative study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO)
Authors: Thomaidis Thomas , Maderer Annett , Al-Batran Salah-Eddin , Kany Janis , Pauligk Claudia , Steinmetz Kristina , Schad Arno , Hofheinz Ralf , Schmalenberg Harald , Homann Nils , Galle Peter Robert , Moehler Markus
Published: July 2014

Background

Combination of fluoropyrimidines and a platinum derivative are currently standards for systemic chemotherapy in advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Nevertheless, individual likelihood for response to these therapeutic regimes remains uncertain. Even more, no predictive markers are available to determine which patients may benefit more from oxaliplatin versus cisplatin or vice versa. The new invasion and stem cell markers VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 have been linked prognostically with more aggressive esophagogastric cancer types. Thus, we aimed to assess correlations of VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 expression levels with clinical outcome in a randomized phase III study of patients with oxaliplatin/leucovorin/5-FU (FLO) versus cisplatin/leucovorin/5-FU (FLP).

Methods

The patients data examined in this study (n = 72) were from the collective of the FLO vs. FLP phase III AIO trial. Tumour tissues were stained via immunohistochemistry for VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 expression and results were evaluated by two independent, blinded investigators.

Outcome parameter: Survival analysis was calculated for patients receiving FLO vs. FLP in relation to VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 expression.

Results

54% and 36% of the examined tumour tissues showed strong positive expression of VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 respectively. No superiority of each regime was detected in terms of overall survival (OS) in the whole population. Patients with strong expression of CXCR4 on their tumour tissues profited more in terms of OS under the treatment of FLP (mOS: 28 vs 15 months, p = 0.05 respectively). Patients with negative VEGFR-3 and CXCR4 expression had a trend to live longer when FLO regime was applied (mOS: 22 vs. 9 months, p = 0.099 and 20 vs. 10 months, p = 0.073 respectively). In an exploratory analysis of patients older than 60 years at diagnosis, we observed a significant benefit in overall survival for VEGFR-3 and CXCR4-positive patients when treated with FLP (p = 0.002, p = 0.021 respectively).

Conclusions

CXCR4 positive patients profited in terms of OS from FLP, whereas FLO proved to be more effective in CXCR4 and VEGFR-3 negative patients. Our results suggest, despite the limited size of the study, a predictive value of these biomarkers concerning chemotherapy with FLP or FLO in advanced esophagogastric cancer.
Yoga management of breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a randomised controlled pilot-trial
Authors: Loudon Annette , Barnett Tony , Piller Neil , Immink Maarten A , Williams Andrew D
Published: July 2014

Background

Secondary arm lymphoedema continues to affect at least 20% of women after treatment for breast cancer requiring lifelong professional treatment and self-management. The holistic practice of yoga may offer benefits as an adjunct self-management option. The aim of this small pilot trial was to gain preliminary data to determine the effect of yoga on women with stage one breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL). This paper reports the results for the primary and secondary outcomes.

Methods

Participants were randomised, after baseline testing, to receive either an 8-week yoga intervention (n = 15), consisting of a weekly 90-minute teacher-led class and a 40-minute daily session delivered by DVD, or to a usual care wait-listed control group (n = 13). Primary outcome measures were: arm volume of lymphoedema measured by circumference and extra-cellular fluid measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy. Secondary outcome measures were: tissue induration measured by tonometry; levels of sensations, pain, fatigue, and their limiting effects all measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life based on the Lymphoedema Quality of Life Tool (LYMQOL). Measurements were conducted at baseline, week 8 (post-intervention) and week 12 (four weeks after cessation of the intervention).

Results

At week 8, the intervention group had a greater decrease in tissue induration of the affected upper arm compared to the control group (p = 0.050), as well as a greater reduction in the symptom sub-scale for QOL (p = 0.038). There was no difference in arm volume of lymphoedema or extra-cellular fluid between groups at week 8; however, at week 12, arm volume increased more for the intervention group than the control group (p = 0.032).

Conclusions

An 8-week yoga intervention reduced tissue induration of the affected upper arm and decreased the QOL sub-scale of symptoms. Arm volume of lymphoedema and extra-cellular fluid did not increase. These benefits did not last on cessation of the intervention when arm volume of lymphoedema increased. Further research trials with a longer duration, higher levels of lymphoedema and larger numbers are warranted before definitive conclusions can be made.
Biometric quality: a review of fingerprint, iris, and face
Authors: Bharadwaj Samarth , Vatsa Mayank , Singh Richa
Published: July 2014

Biometric systems encounter variability in data that influence capture, treatment, and u-sage of a biometric sample. It is imperative to first analyze the data and incorporate this understanding within the recognition system, making assessment ofbiometric qualityan important aspect of biometrics. Though several interpretations and definitions of quality exist, sometimes of a conflicting nature, a holistic definition of quality is indistinct. This paper presents a survey of different concepts and interpretations of biometric quality so that a clear picture of the current state and future directions can be presented. Several factors that cause different types of degradations of biometric samples, including image features that attribute to the effects of these degradations, are discussed. Evaluation schemes are presented to test the performance of quality metrics for various applications. A survey of the features, strengths, and limitations of existing quality assessment techniques in fingerprint, iris, and face biometric are also presented. Finally, a representative set of quality metrics from these three modalities are evaluated on a multimodal database consisting of 2D images, to understand their behavior with respect to match scores obtained from the state-of-the-art recognition systems. The analysis of the characteristic function of quality and match scores shows that a careful selection of complimentary set of quality metrics can provide more benefit to various applications of biometric quality.
Clinical significance of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition
Authors: Steinestel Konrad , Eder Stefan , Schrader Andres Jan , Steinestel Julie
Published: July 2014

The concept of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process where cells change their epithelial towards a mesenchymal phenotype, has gained overwhelming attention especially in the cancer research community. Thousands of scientific reports investigated changes in gene, mRNA and protein expression compatible with EMT and their possible correlation with tumor invasion, metastatic spread or patient prognosis; however, up to now, a proof of clinical significance of the concept is still missing. This review, with a main focus on the role of EMT in tumors, will summarize the basic molecular events underlying EMT including the signaling pathways capable of its induction as well as changes in EMT‐associated protein expression and will very briefly touch the role of microRNAs in EMT. We then outline protein markers that are used most frequently for the assessment of EMT in research and diagnostic evaluation of tumor specimens and depict the link between EMT, a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype and resistance to conventional antineoplastic therapies. Furthermore, we evaluate a possible correlation between EMT marker expression and patient prognosis as well as current therapeutic concepts targeting the EMT process to slow down or prevent metastatic spread of malignant tumors.
4 weeks of high-intensity interval training does not alter the exercise-induced growth hormone response in sedentary men
Authors: Sasaki Hiroto , Morishima Takuma , Hasegawa Yuta , Mori Ayaka , Ijichi Toshiaki , Kurihara Toshiyuki , Goto Kazushige
Published: July 2014

This study determined the effects of high-intensity interval training on the exercise-induced growth hormone (GH) responses, whole body and regional fat content. Twenty-four sedentary males were randomized to either a high-intensity interval training (HIT) group or a low-intensity continuous training (LT) group. The HIT group performed intermittent exercises at 85% ofV˙O2max, whereas the LT group performed continuous exercise for 22 min at 45% ofV˙O2max. Before and after 4 weeks of training, hormonal and metabolic responses to acute exercise were determined. Acute exercise significantly increased GH concentrations in both groups (p < 0.05). However, the responses did not change after training period in either group. Furthermore, the training did not significantly affect intramyocellular or intrahepatic lipid content in either group. The present study indicates that 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training does not alter the exercise-induced GH responses, whole body fat mass or intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid content in sedentary males.
Association of MAPT haplotypes with Alzheimer’s disease risk and MAPT brain gene expression levels
Authors: Allen Mariet , Kachadoorian Michaela , Quicksall Zachary , Zou Fanggeng , Chai High Seng , Younkin Curtis , Crook Julia E , Pankratz V Shane , Carrasquillo Minerva M , Krishnan Siddharth , Nguyen Thuy , Ma Li , Malphrus Kimberly , Lincoln Sarah , Bisceglio Gina , Kolbert Christopher P , Jen Jin , Mukherjee Shubhabrata , Kauwe John K , Crane Paul K , Haines Jonathan L , Mayeux Richard , Pericak-Vance Margaret A , Farrer Lindsay A , Schellenberg Gerard D ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC), Parisi Joseph E , Petersen Ronald C , Graff-Radford Neill R , Dickson Dennis W , Younkin Steven G , Ertekin-Taner Nilüfer
Published: July 2014

Introduction

MAPT encodes for tau, the predominant component of neurofibrillary tangles that are neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Genetic association of MAPT variants with late-onset AD (LOAD) risk has been inconsistent, although insufficient power and incomplete assessment of MAPT haplotypes may account for this.

Methods

We examined the association of MAPT haplotypes with LOAD risk in more than 20,000 subjects (n-cases = 9,814, n-controls = 11,550) from Mayo Clinic (n-cases = 2,052, n-controls = 3,406) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC, n-cases = 7,762, n-controls = 8,144). We also assessed associations with brain MAPT gene expression levels measured in the cerebellum (n = 197) and temporal cortex (n = 202) of LOAD subjects. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which tag MAPT haplotypes with frequencies greater than 1% were evaluated.

Results

H2-haplotype tagging rs8070723-G allele associated with reduced risk of LOAD (odds ratio, OR = 0.90, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.85-0.95, p = 5.2E-05) with consistent results in the Mayo (OR = 0.81, p = 7.0E-04) and ADGC (OR = 0.89, p = 1.26E-04) cohorts. rs3785883-A allele was also nominally significantly associated with LOAD risk (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01-1.13, p = 0.034). Haplotype analysis revealed significant global association with LOAD risk in the combined cohort (p = 0.033), with significant association of the H2 haplotype with reduced risk of LOAD as expected (p = 1.53E-04) and suggestive association with additional haplotypes. MAPT SNPs and haplotypes also associated with brain MAPT levels in the cerebellum and temporal cortex of AD subjects with the strongest associations observed for the H2 haplotype and reduced brain MAPT levels (β = -0.16 to -0.20, p = 1.0E-03 to 3.0E-03).

Conclusions

These results confirm the previously reported MAPT H2 associations with LOAD risk in two large series, that this haplotype has the strongest effect on brain MAPT expression amongst those tested and identify additional haplotypes with suggestive associations, which require replication in independent series. These biologically congruent results provide compelling evidence to screen the MAPT region for regulatory variants which confer LOAD risk by influencing its brain gene expression.
Chronic Toll-like receptor 4 stimulation in skin induces inflammation, macrophage activation, transforming growth factor beta signature gene expression, and fibrosis
Authors: Stifano Giuseppina , Affandi Alsya J , Mathes Allison L , Rice Lisa M , Nakerakanti Sashidhar , Nazari Banafsheh , Lee Jungeun , Christmann Romy B , Lafyatis Robert
Published: July 2014

Introduction

The crucial role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is well established, and in the past few years the hypothesis that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation induced by endogenous ligands is involved in fibrogenesis has been supported by several studies on skin, liver, and kidney fibrosis. These findings suggest that TLR4 activation can enhance transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling, providing a potential mechanism for TLR4/Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent fibrosis.

Methods

The expression of TLR4, CD14 and MD2 genes was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction from skin biopsies of 24 patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc. In order to investigate the effects of the chronic skin exposure to endotoxin (Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) in vivo we examined the expression of inflammation, TGF-β signaling and cellular markers genes by nanostring. We also identified cellular subsets by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

Results

We found that TLR4 and its co-receptors, MD2 and CD14, are over-expressed in lesional skin from patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc, and correlate significantly with progressive or regressive skin disease as assessed by the Delta Modified Rodnan Skin Score. In vivo, a model of chronic dermal LPS exposure showed overexpression of proinflammatory chemokines, recruitment and activation of macrophages, and upregulation of TGF-β signature genes.

Conclusions

We delineated the role of MyD88 as necessary for the induction not only for the early phase of inflammation, but also for pro-fibrotic gene expression via activation of macrophages. Chronic LPS exposure might be a model of early stage of SSc when inflammation and macrophage activation are important pathological features of the disease, supporting a role for innate immune activation in SSc skin fibrosis.
Transforming growth factor beta receptor type III is a tumor promoter in mesenchymal-stem like triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Jovanović Bojana , Beeler J Scott , Pickup Michael W , Chytil Anna , Gorska Agnieszka E , Ashby William J , Lehmann Brian D , Zijlstra Andries , Pietenpol Jennifer A , Moses Harold L
Published: July 2014

Introduction

There is a major need to better understand the molecular basis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in order to develop effective therapeutic strategies. Using gene expression data from 587 TNBC patients we previously identified six subtypes of the disease, among which a mesenchymal-stem like (MSL) subtype. The MSL subtype has significantly higher expression of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway-associated genes relative to other subtypes, including the TGF-β receptor type III (TβRIII). We hypothesize that TβRIII is tumor promoter in mesenchymal-stem like TNBC cells.

Methods

Representative MSL cell lines SUM159, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-157 were used to study the roles of TβRIII in the MSL subtype. We stably expressed short hairpin RNAs specific to TβRIII (TβRIII-KD). These cells were then used for xenograft tumor studies in vivo; and migration, invasion, proliferation and three dimensional culture studies in vitro. Furthermore, we utilized human gene expression datasets to examine TβRIII expression patterns across all TNBC subtypes.

Results

TβRIII was the most differentially expressed TGF-β signaling gene in the MSL subtype. Silencing TβRIII expression in MSL cell lines significantly decreased cell motility and invasion. In addition, when TβRIII-KD cells were grown in a three dimensional (3D) culture system or nude mice, there was a loss of invasive protrusions and a significant decrease in xenograft tumor growth, respectively. In pursuit of the mechanistic underpinnings for the observed TβRIII-dependent phenotypes, we discovered that integrin-α2 was expressed at higher level in MSL cells after TβRIII-KD. Stable knockdown of integrin-α2 in TβRIII-KD MSL cells rescued the ability of the MSL cells to migrate and invade at the same level as MSL control cells.

Conclusions

We have found that TβRIII is required for migration and invasion in vitro and xenograft growth in vivo. We also show that TβRIII-KD elevates expression of integrin-α2, which is required for the reduced migration and invasion, as determined by siRNA knockdown studies of both TβRIII and integrin-α2. Overall, our results indicate a potential mechanism in which TβRIII modulates integrin-α2 expression to effect MSL cell migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity.
Plasma and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in the diagnosis of new onset acute kidney injury in critically ill patients
Authors: Matsa Ramprasad , Ashley Emma , Sharma Vivek , Walden Andrew P , Keating Liza
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been demonstrated to be a useful early diagnostic biomarker of acute kidney injury (AKI) where the timing of the insult is certain. However, NGAL is not well validated in adult critical care practice because of indeterminate timing of injury. Therefore, we sought to establish the predictive ability of both urine and plasma NGAL to detect AKI in ICU patients.

Method

This prospective observational study was performed in a busy large district general hospital mixed surgical-medical ICU in Reading, UK. Consecutive adult admissions to the ICU, with absence of chronic kidney disease, renal transplant or AKI as defined by RIFLE criteria were included. Blood and urine specimens were collected at admission and every 24 hours until 72 hours and tested for NGAL. The purpose of the study was to assess whether urinary NGAL (uNGAL) or plasma NGAL (pNGAL) can predict the occurrence of AKI at an earlier point of time than the conventional markers, that is creatinine and urine output as is used in RIFLE criteria.

Results

Over a 12-month period, 194 patients were enrolled. In total, 59 (30.4%) patients developed AKI. The admission pNGAL and uNGAL were significantly higher in the patients who developed AKI compared to the non-AKI patients (436 ng/mL (240, 797) versus 168 ng/mL (121.3, 274.3) P <0.001 and 342 ng/mL (61.5, 1,280) versus 34.5 ng/mL (11.5, 107.75) P <0.001 respectively). Hospital mortality was higher in the AKI group (17% versus 4%). Plasma NGAL performed fairly on admission (AUROC 0.77) and thereafter performance improved at 24 and 48 hours (AUROC 0.88 and 0.87) following ICU admission. Urine NGAL had a fair predictive value on admission (AUROC 0.79) and at 24 hours (AUROC 0.78) and was good at 48 hours (AUROC 0.82).

Conclusions

In critically ill patients without pre-existing kidney disease, both pNGAL and uNGAL measured at admission can predict AKI (defined by RIFLE criteria) occurrence up to 72 hours post-ICU admission and their performance (AUROC) was fair. The accuracy of NGAL appeared to improve slightly as patients progressed through their ICU stay. Serial measurements of NGAL (both pNGAL and uNGAL) may be of added value in an ICU setting to predict the occurrence of AKI.
Brain not processing: is finding a role for BNP in sepsis like fitting a square peg into a round hole?
Authors: McLean Anthony S , Huang Stephen J
Published: July 2014

Since its introduction to the intensive care setting a decade ago, B-type natriuretic peptide has been the focus of studies in different areas (in particular, sepsis). With this biomarker, as with many newly identified biomarkers, its diagnostic performance was pursued initially and then its ability to predict outcomes. Despite all the efforts, results have not been consistent and the applications of B-type natriuretic peptide in the intensive care setting remain by and large academic. Will such studies one day become clinical practice? Or are we too obsessed with finding a place for every biomarker?
Purified cell wall from the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus gasseriactivates systemic inflammation and, at higher doses, produces lethality in a rat model
Authors: Xu Xinhui , Hicks Caitlin , Li Yan , Su Junwu , Shiloach Joseph , Kaufman Jeanne B , Fitz Yvonne , Eichacker Peter Q , Cui Xizhong
Published: July 2014

Introduction

One proposed benefit of probiotic therapy is that probiotic bacterial cell-wall binding to intestinal cell pathogen-recognition receptors activates protective innate immunity. However, in critically ill patients, intestinal epithelium disruption by shock or other insults may compromise this compartmentalized response and cause systemic bacteria and cell-wall translocation. The effects of intravascular introduction of probiotic bacterial cell wall are unclear.

Methods

We investigated 24-hour infusions of purified cell wall from Lactobacillus gasseri ATC33323 (L. gasseri), a probiotic bacterium, in Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 49).

Results

Increasing cell-wall doses (0 (control), 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 mg/kg over 24 hours) produced dose-ordered decreases in survival measured after 168 hours (11 survivors/11 total (100%), seven of seven (100%), seven of seven (100%), six of eight (75%), five of eight (63%), and one of nine (11%), respectively, P < 0.0001). The L. gasseri cell wall was equally or more lethal than Staphylococcus aureus cell wall, which was previously studied (100% to 88% survival with the same increasing doses). During challenge, compared with controls, L. gasseri cell wall produced increases in blood IL-1β, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α, migratory inhibitory protein-1α, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and nitric oxide, and decreases in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets that were greater with higher versus lower doses (P ≤ 0.05). Medium-dose cell wall (40 and 80 mg/kg combined) progressively decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate, and all doses increased lactate, hepatic transaminases, and creatinine phosphokinase (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

Although L. gasseri, like other probiotic bacteria, is considered safe, its cell wall can stimulate the maladaptive inflammatory response associated with pathogenic bacteria. Such effects deserve study, especially regarding critically ill patients.
Using the minimum description length principle to reduce the rate of false positives of best-fit algorithms
Authors: Fang Jie , Ouyang Hongjia , Shen Liangzhong , Dougherty Edward R , Liu Wenbin
Published: July 2014

The inference of gene regulatory networks is a core problem in systems biology. Many inference algorithms have been proposed and all suffer from false positives. In this paper, we use the minimum description length (MDL) principle to reduce the rate of false positives for best-fit algorithms. The performance of these algorithms is evaluated via two metrics: the normalized-edge Hamming distance and the steady-state distribution distance. Results for synthetic networks and a well-studied budding-yeast cell cycle network show that MDL-based filtering is more effective than filtering based on conditional mutual information (CMI). In addition, MDL-based filtering provides better inference than the MDL algorithm itself.
Cross-Border Media and Nationalism: Evidence from Serbian Radio in Croatia
Authors: DellaVigna Stefano , Enikolopov Ruben , Mironova Vera , Petrova Maria , Zhuravskaya Ekaterina
Published: July 2014

How do nationalistic media affect animosity between ethnic groups? We consider one of Europe's deadliest conflicts since WWII, the Serbo-Croatian conflict. We show that, after a decade of peace, cross-border nationalistic Serbian radio triggers ethnic hatred toward Serbs in Croatia. Mostly attracted by nonpolitical content, many Croats listen to Serbian public radio (intended for Serbs in Serbia) whenever signal is available. As a result, the vote for extreme nationalist parties is higher and ethnically offensive graffiti are more common in Croatian villages with Serbian radio reception. A laboratory experiment confirms that Serbian radio exposure causes anti-Serbian sentiment among Croats. (JEL D72, D74, J15, L82, N34, N44)
Race and College Success: Evidence from Missouri
Authors: Arcidiacono Peter , Koedel Cory
Published: July 2014

Conditional on enrollment, African American students are substantially less likely to graduate from four-year public universities than white students. Using administrative micro-data from Missouri, we decompose the graduation gap into racial differences in four factors: (i) how students sort to universities, (ii) how students sort to initial majors, (iii) high-school quality, and (iv) other preentry skills. Preentry skills explain 65 and 86 percent of the gap for women and men respectively. A small role is found for differential sorting into college, driven by African Americans' disproportionate representation in urban schools and schools at the very bottom of the quality distribution. (JEL H75, I21, I23, J15, R23)
Learning about an Infrequent Event: Evidence from Flood Insurance Take-Up in the United States
Authors: Gallagher Justin
Published: July 2014

I examine the learning process that economic agents use to update their expectation of an uncertain and infrequently observed event. I use a new nation-wide panel dataset of large regional floods and flood insurance policies to show that insurance take-up spikes the year after a flood and then steadily declines to baseline. Residents in nonflooded communities in the same television media market increase take-up at one-third the rate of flooded communities. I find that insurance take-up is most consistent with a Bayesian learning model that allows for forgetting or incomplete information about past floods. (JEL D12, D83, D84, G22, Q54)
Effects of School Quality on Student Achievement: Discontinuity Evidence from Kenya
Authors: Lucas Adrienne M. , Mbiti Isaac M.
Published: July 2014

The most desirable Kenyan secondary schools are elite government schools that admit the best students from across the country. We exploit the random variation generated by the centralized school admissions process in a regression discontinuity design to obtain causal estimates of the effects of attending one of these elite public schools on student progression and test scores in secondary school. Despite their reputations, we find little evidence of positive impacts on learning outcomes for students who attended these schools, suggesting that their sterling reputations reflect the selection of students rather than their ability to generate value-added test score gains. ( JEL H52, I21, I28, O15)
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Modified Hydrophobic Zn–Al-Layered Double Hydroxides Using Structure-Directing Agents and Their Enhanced Adsorption Capacity for p-Nitrophenol
Authors: Sun Yayue , Zhou Jiabin , Cheng Ya , Yu Jiaguo , Cai Weiquan
Published: July 2014

Hollow microspheres of hierarchical ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method using hexamethylenetetramine as precipitating agent, sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS) as surfactant and sodium tartrate, sodium citrate and sodium salicylate (SS) as structure-directing agents, respectively. Characterization results of the microspheres synthesized indicate that the modified ZnAl–LDHs formed a variety of morphologies, surface areas and pore volumes. The hierarchical porous ZnAl/SDBS–LDH prepared using SS possesses the highest surface area (128.9 m2/g) and the greatest pore volume (0.37 cm3/g). A possible formation mechanism of the special three-dimensional nanostructures from the primary LDH nanosheet building units is proposed on the basis of the interaction between SS molecules and LDH crystals. The size of the channel height is approximately equal to the diameter of the intercalated anion SDBS, indicating that SDBS is in a vertical single-layer arrangement. using p-nitrophenol as model pollutant, the effects of initial concentration of p-nitrophenol and contact time on the adsorption of p-nitrophenol using various ZnAl–LDHs were investigated by performing a series of experiments. Results of these experiments indicate that the microsphere hydrophobic ZnAl/SDBS–LDH modified using SS has a maximum p-nitrophenol adsorption capacity of 101.6 mg/g.
Point Clouds Segmentation of Mixed Scenes with Archeological Standing Remains: A Multi-Criteria and Multi-Scale Iterative Approach
Authors: Opitz R. , Nuninger L.
Published: July 2014

The integration of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) survey into archaeological research and cultural heritage management has substantially added to our knowledge of archaeological remains in forested areas, and is changing our understanding of how these landscapes functioned in the past. Further, the results of ALS-based surveys of woodlands can now potentially be incorporated into micro-regional and landscape scale studies which rely on survey data, making an important contribution to our understanding of settlement patterns and land use – but doing so requires us to recognize and manage a host of biases inherent in ALS-based survey data. While many types of archaeological remains manifest as micro-topography, several important classes of features commonly appear as standing remains. The identification of these remains is important for archaeological prospection surveys based on ALS data. Standing structures in mixed scenes with vegetation are not well addressed by standard classification approaches. In this paper we propose an approach to the identification of these structures in the point cloud based on multi-scale measures of roughness, and measures of local density and normal orientation. We demonstrate this approach using discrete-return ALS data collected in the Franche-Comté region of France.
WikiPathways App for Cytoscape: Making biological pathways amenable to network analysis and visualization
Authors: Kutmon Martina , Lotia Samad , Evelo Chris T , Pico Alexander R
Published: July 2014

In this paper we present the open-source WikiPathways app for Cytoscape (http://apps.cytoscape.org/apps/wikipathways) that can be used to import biological pathways for data visualization and network analysis. WikiPathways is an open, collaborative biological pathway database that provides fully annotated pathway diagrams for manual download or through web services. The WikiPathways app allows users to load pathways in two different views: as an annotated pathway ideal for data visualization and as a simple network to perform computational analysis. An example pathway and dataset are used to demonstrate the functionality of the WikiPathways app and how they can be combined and used together with other apps. More than 2000 downloads between its first release in August 2013 and the submission of the paper in May 2014 highlight the importance and adoption of the app in the network biology field.
enhancedGraphics: a Cytoscape app for enhanced node graphics
Authors: Morris John H. , Kuchinsky Allan , Ferrin Thomas E. , Pico Alexander R.
Published: July 2014

enhancedGraphics (http://apps.cytoscape.org/apps/enhancedGraphics) is a Cytoscape app that implements a series of enhanced charts and graphics that may be added to Cytoscape nodes. It enables users and other app developers to create pie, line, bar, and circle plots that are driven by columns in the Cytoscape Node Table. Charts are drawn using vector graphics to allow full-resolution scaling.
GeneMANIA: Fast gene network construction and function prediction for Cytoscape
Authors: Montojo Jason , Zuberi Khalid , Rodriguez Harold , Bader Gary D. , Morris Quaid
Published: July 2014

The GeneMANIA Cytoscape app enables users to construct a composite gene-gene functional interaction network from a gene list. The resulting network includes the genes most related to the original list, and functional annotations from Gene Ontology. The edges are annotated with details about the publication or data source the interactions were derived from. The app leverages GeneMANIA’s database of 1800+ networks, containing over 500 million interactions spanning 8 organisms: A. thaliana, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, D. rerio, H. sapiens, M. musculus, R. norvegicus, and S. cerevisiae. Users may also import their own organisms, networks, and expression profiles. The app is compatible with Cytoscape versions 2 and 3.
Rare-Event Simulation for Many-Server Queues
Authors: Blanchet Jose , Lam Henry
Published: July 2014

We develop rare-event simulation methodology for the analysis of loss events in a many-server loss system under the quality-driven regime, focusing on the steady-state loss probability (i.e., fraction of lost customers over arrivals) and the behavior of the whole system leading to loss events. The analysis of these events requires working with the full measure-valued process describing the system. This is the first algorithm that is shown to be asymptotically optimal, in the rare-event simulation context, under the setting of many-server queues involving a full measure-valued representation.
A model of competence: the consumer's perspective
Authors: Fraser Diane , Murphy Roger , Worth-Butler Michelle
Published: July 2014

Childbearing women should be able to contribute to the development of a model of competence in midwifery. This article explores the relative value of three distinct methodologies for obtaining a deeper understanding of parents' perspectives of midwifery care.
Designing a questionnaire for a midwifery research project
Authors: Houston Sandra M
Published: July 2014

Designing an effective questionnaire which encourages completion and yields the desired data is a time-consuming, rigorous process. This article highlights key steps which you can follow in order to avoid the many pitfalls to ensure success.
The right to choice and the value of ethics
Authors: Marsh Beverley J
Published: July 2014

As the ‘choice in childbirth’ debate continues, the midwife needs to consider the issues for his/her clients, practice and profession. A study of ethics could provide signposts to help the best decisions in care to be made.
Sexuality and midwifery
Authors: Devane Declan
Published: July 2014

Although midwifery centres on the care given to women and their families as a result of a sexual act between two people, current education and midwifery texts tend to only superficially acknowledge the importance of sexuality in the provision of that care. Issues surrounding sexuality and its relationship to midwifery practice will be explored in this article.
Midwives and research-based practice
Authors: Hurley Jane
Published: July 2014

The assumption that midwifery practice should be based on research evidence is universally accepted, yet practices based on tradition or ineffective or unproven assumptions continue. This article reviews the development of research-based practice and considers the factors influencing the extent to which midwives value and implement research-based care.
The influence of antenatal information on breasHeeding experiences
Authors: Btitton Cathryn
Published: July 2014

Information about breastfeeding, both in pregnancy and after the birth of the baby, comes from a variety of sources. This article is based on a qualitative research study which draws on the breastfeeding experiences of thirty women. The analysis centres around three important and influential sources of information for breastfeeding women: media constructs of breastfeeding, antenatal classes and women with previous experience of breastfeeding. Many women feel the realitity of breastfeeding is different to their expectations. Health professionals are well placed to support and encourage the development of strategies which support breastfeeding, e.g. peer learning and self-help groups.
Internet use in pregnancy
Authors: Weston Claire , Anderson John L
Published: July 2014

Background:

More and more women are turning to the internet in pregnancy. Yet the value of this ever increasing quest for information is an area that appears to be under researched.

Objective:

This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceived value of internet use in pregnancy, conducted from the viewpoint of three distinct groups: midwives, pregnant women and postnatal women.

Methods:

Thirteen midwives, seven antenatal women and six postnatal women were recruited to three focus groups and seven in-depth interviews.

Results:

Appropriate internet usage during pregnancy was positively valued by all groups. However, midwives were more negative in their perceptions of inappropriate use. The data indicated that this could be influenced by their lack of awareness of current pregnancy website use.

Conclusion:

Greater collaboration between midwives and pregnant women is required to enable access to consistent, verified internet information which can be used appropriately and with confidence.
The social media revolution
Authors: Wylie Linda
Published: July 2014

Social media is the latest evolution in the development of communication pathways and many midwives and students have been advised to avoid its use professionally. The education of midwives about the professional use of social media is inadequate in many areas. As a result, midwives have been slow to use social media platforms to support women and students, and to interact professionally. The regulatory framework which underpins the profession provides clear guidance about the use of social media. This article debates whether these professional regulations have contributed to missed opportunities in revolutionising health care. Suggestions are offered to encourage the professional use of social media to empower women, support and educate students and to offer opportunities for continuing professional development.
Canine splenectomy
Authors: Charlesworth Tim
Published: July 2014

Splenectomy is a commonly performed procedure in general practice. The aim of this article is to review the normal anatomy and physiology of the spleen, to review the most commonly seen splenic disorders and to describe different ways to safely perform splenectomy so that clinicians can choose the best approach and procedure for each case that they see.
The Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register
Authors: Robertsson O. , Ranstam J. , Sundberg M. , W-Dahl A. , Lidgren L.
Published: July 2014

We are entering a new era with governmental bodies taking an increasingly guiding role, gaining control of registries, demanding direct access with release of open public information for quality comparisons between hospitals. This review is written by physicians and scientists who have worked with the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register (SKAR) periodically since it began. It reviews the history of the register and describes the methods used and lessons learned.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:217–22.
Methylene Malonates and Cyanoacrylates: Energy-Efficient, High-Performance Sustainable Adhesive Systems*
Authors: Stevenson Peter R. , Kern Kimberly E. , Roman Peter D. , DeSousa Joseph D. , Ellison Matthew M. , Malofsky Bernard M.
Published: July 2014

More robust and eco-friendly adhesive options are growing in demand. Monomer-based adhesive systems provide an alternative to solventborne adhesives residentially and industrially used. The systems discussed here include cyanoacrylates and methylene malonates. Although not typically used for woodworking, novel one-part cyanoacrylate formulations have been developed for millwork applications offering improved sustained strength and durability. Mechanical and environmental testing highlight the feasibility of using one-part cyanoacrylate systems in lieu of traditional solventborne wood glues or two-part cyanoacrylate adhesives. Similar to cyanoacrylates, methylene malonates provide supplementary environmental resistance that increases the range of overall industrial application.
Manufacturing Medium-Density Particleboards from Wood–Bark Mixture and Different Adhesive Systems*
Authors: Wang Xiang-Ming , Fang Haixia , Feng Martin , Zhang Yaolin , Yan Ning
Published: July 2014

The disposal problem of bark residues and the shortage of wood raw material supply in some regions make the use of bark an attractive option for the industry. In this study, medium-density particleboards were manufactured from mixed black spruce bark and spruce-pine-fir wood particles at a weight ratio of 50/50. Different adhesive systems were used as binders for the bark-based panels, including commercial phenol-formaldehyde (PF), urea-formaldehyde (UF), polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) resins, and a laboratory-synthesized lignin-PF resin containing 30 wt% lignin substitution for phenol. The objective was to investigate the suitability of utilizing bark residues in the manufacture of particleboards for the floor underlayment (PBU) application. The resulting boards were evaluated according to the ANSI A208.1‐2009 standard for internal bond (IB), modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, hardness, thickness swell, and linear expansion. The test results indicate that all panels made with these resin systems can meet the PBU requirements in terms of IB and hardness and that those bonded with 8 percent PF or 5 percent pMDI can meet all the requirements by the ANSI A208.1‐2009 standard for the floor underlayment application in terms of the properties evaluated. Results of this study imply that it is feasible to use bark as a raw material to manufacture medium-density particleboard for the floor underlayment application.
Dingo, Monster, Rabbit, “I”: Personal and Cultural Meanings in Sand Stories by a Young Girl, Central Australia
Authors: Eickelkamp Ute
Published: June 2014

The unified experience of culture and self appears writ large in children’s play stories, appearing in the inseparability of the interpersonal and intrapsychic. Through the ethnographic analysis of five sand stories (graphically illustrated play narratives) by a young Aṉangu girl in Central Australia, this essay illustrates the significance of spontaneous meaning making within the process of the acquisition of the collective symbolic system. Culture is shown to inhabit the child’s inner world as she is actively incorporating significant interpersonal experiences into her egoic self, while at the same time giving new expression and life to collectively instituted themes and motifs. Drawing selectively on concepts from developmental psychoanalysis, the essay pays special attention to her efforts of social-emotional adjustment to a life crisis—a time of prolonged separation from mother. Stepping aside from the hermeneutic approach to particular play situations, it concludes with reflections on the cultural dimension of internalization, suggesting that in Aṉangu lives, the human foundational exchanges between the intrapsychic world and external reality in infancy and early childhood are valorised as cultural capacity into old age.
Chromatopes of Noh : An Analysis of Timbral Progressions in the Introductions to Three Plays
Authors: Gardiner Michael , Lim Joyce S.
Published: June 2014

能楽で演奏される楽器や声において、音色が欠かせない表現方法であることは広く知 られているが、音色のデザインが、音楽形式に与える影響についての精緻な研究は少な い。本稿は、音響スペクトラムの詳細な分析を可能にする分光イメージングのソフトを 用いて、能楽における音色と音楽形式の関係を明らかにするものである。このような音 色デザインをクロマ（色）とトポス（空間的なモチーフまたは道）を合成して「クロマトプ ス」と名付けることにする。