bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Seismic Damage of Underground Powerhouse Structure of Hydropower Plants Based on Dynamic Contact Force Method
Authors: Yang Yang , Chen Juntao , Xiao Ming
Published: September 2014

Based on the characteristics of the dynamic interaction between an underground powerhouse concrete structure and its surrounding rock in a hydropower plant, an algorithm of dynamic contact force was proposed. This algorithm enables the simulation of three states of contact surface under dynamic loads, namely, cohesive contact, sliding contact, and separation. It is suitable for the numerical analysis of the dynamic response of the large and complex contact system consisting of underground powerhouse concrete structure and the surrounding rock. This algorithm and a 3D plastic-damage model were implemented in a dynamic computing platform, SUCED, to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the underground powerhouse structure of Yingxiuwan Hydropower Plant. By comparing the numerical results and postearthquake investigations, it was concluded that the amplitude and duration of seismic waves were the external factors causing seismic damage of the underground powerhouse structure, and the spatial variations in structural properties were the internal factors. The existence of rock mass surrounding the underground powerhouse was vital to the seismic stability of the structure. This work provides the theoretical basis for the anti-seismic design of underground powerhouse structures.
Empirical Likelihood for Partial Parameters in ARMA Models with Infinite Variance
Authors: Li Jinyu , Liang Wei , He Shuyuan
Published: September 2014

This paper proposes a profile empirical likelihood for the partial parameters in ARMA(p,q)models with infinite variance. We introduce a smoothed empirical log-likelihood ratio statistic. Also, the paper proves a nonparametric version of Wilks’s theorem. Furthermore, we conduct a simulation to illustrate the performance of the proposed method.
Predictive Criteria to Study the Pathogenesis of Malaria-Associated ALI/ARDS in Mice
Authors: Ortolan Luana S. , Sercundes Michelle K. , Barboza Renato , Debone Daniela , Murillo Oscar , Hagen Stefano C. F. , Russo Momtchilo , D’ Império Lima Maria Regina , Alvarez José M. , Amaku Marcos , Marinho Claudio R. F. , Epiphanio Sabrina
Published: September 2014

Malaria-associated acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) often results in morbidity and mortality. Murine models to study malaria-associated ALI/ARDS have been described; we still lack a method of distinguishing which mice will develop ALI/ARDS before death. This work aimed to characterize malaria-associated ALI/ARDS in a murine model and to demonstrate the first method to predict whether mice are suffering from ALI/ARDS before death. DBA/2 mice infected withPlasmodium bergheiANKA developing ALI/ARDS or hyperparasitemia (HP) were compared using histopathology, PaO2measurement, pulmonary X-ray, breathing capacity, lung permeability, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels according to either the day of death or the suggested predictive criteria. We proposed a model to predict malaria-associated ALI/ARDS using breathing patterns (enhanced pause and frequency respiration) and parasitemia as predictive criteria from mice whose cause of death was known to retrospectively diagnose the sacrificed mice as likely to die of ALI/ARDS as early as 7 days after infection. Using this method, we showed increased VEGF levels and increased lung permeability in mice predicted to die of ALI/ARDS. This proposed method for accurately identifying mice suffering from ALI/ARDS before death will enable the use of this model to study the pathogenesis of this disease.
Development of Control Structure for Hybrid Wind Generators with Active Power Capability
Authors: Niroomand Mehdi , Won Dong-Jun
Published: September 2014

A hierarchical control structure is proposed for hybrid energy systems (HES) which consist of wind energy system (WES) and energy storage system (ESS). The proposed multilevel control structure consists of four blocks: reference generation and mode select, power balancing, control algorithms, and switching control blocks. A high performance power management strategy is used for the system. Also, the proposed system is analyzed as an active power filter (APF) with ability to control the voltage, to compensate the harmonics, and to deliver active power. The HES is designed with parallel DC coupled structure. Simulation results are shown for verification of the theoretical analysis.
Etiopathogenesis and Therapy of Epithelial Ingrowth after Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty
Authors: Semeraro Francesco , Di Salvatore Attilio , Bova Alessandro , Forbice Eliana
Published: September 2014

Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty is an emerging technique finalized to treat endothelial dysfunction replacing only the pathological portion of cornea. The advent of any new technique puts us in front of new complications. The epithelial ingrowth is a well-known complication already studied in case of ocular trauma and more recently in refractive surgery. This job analyzed the potential etiopathogenesis of epithelial ingrowth after DSAEK, reviewing the cases described in literature, and suggests the potential therapy.
Regulatory Variants and Disease: The E-Cadherin −160C/A SNP as an Example
Authors: Li Gongcheng , Pan Tiejun , Guo Dan , Li Long-Cheng
Published: September 2014

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) occurring in noncoding sequences have largely been ignored in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Yet, amounting evidence suggests that many noncoding SNPs especially those that are in the vicinity of protein coding genes play important roles in shaping chromatin structure and regulate gene expression and, as such, are implicated in a wide variety of diseases. One of such regulatory SNPs (rSNPs) is the E-cadherin (CDH1) promoter −160C/A SNP (rs16260) which is known to affect E-cadherin promoter transcription by displacing transcription factor binding and has been extensively scrutinized for its association with several diseases especially malignancies. Findings from studying this SNP highlight important clinical relevance of rSNPs and justify their inclusion in future GWAS to identify novel disease causing SNPs.
Using High-Throughput Transcriptomic Data for Prognosis: A Critical Overview and Perspectives
Authors: Domany Eytan
Published: September 2014

Accurate prognosis and prediction of response to therapy are essential for personalized treatment of cancer. Even though many prognostic gene lists and predictors have been proposed, especially for breast cancer, high-throughput “omic” methods have so far not revolutionized clinical practice, and their clinical utility has not been satisfactorily established. Different prognostic gene lists have very few shared genes, the biological meaning of most signatures is unclear, and the published success rates are considered to be overoptimistic. This review examines critically the manner in which prognostic classifiers are derived using machine-learning methods and suggests reasons for the shortcomings and problems listed above. Two approaches that may hold hope for obtaining improved prognosis are presented. Both are based on using existing prior knowledge; one proposes combining molecular “omic” predictors with established clinical ones, and the second infers biologically relevant pathway deregulation scores for each tumor from expression data, and uses this representation to study and stratify individual tumors. Approaches such as the second one are referred to in the physics literature as “phenomenology”; they will, hopefully, play a significant role in future studies of cancer.

See all articles in this Cancer Research section, “Physics in Cancer Research.”

Cancer Res; 74(17); 4612–21. ©2014 AACR.
Toward Decoding the Principles of Cancer Metastasis Circuits
Authors: Lu Mingyang , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Onuchic Jose' , Ben-Jacob Eshel
Published: September 2014

Understanding epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMT) during cancer metastasis remains a major challenge in modern biology. Recent observations of cell behavior together with progress in mapping the underlying regulatory genetic networks led to new understandings of carcinoma metastasis. It is now established that the genetic network that regulates the EMT also enables an epithelial–mesenchymal hybrid phenotype. These hybrid cells possess mixed carcinoma epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics that enable specialized capabilities such as collective cell migration. On the gene network perspective, a four-component decision unit composed of two highly interconnected chimeric modules—the miR34/SNAIL and the miR200/ZEB mutual-inhibition feedback circuits—regulates the coexistence of and transitions between the different phenotypes. Here, we present a new tractable theoretical framework to model and decode the underlying principles governing the operation of the regulatory unit. Our approach connects the knowledge about intracellular pathways with observations of cellular behavior and advances toward understanding the logic of cancer decision-making. We found that the miR34/SNAIL module acts as an integrator while the miR200/ZEB module acts as a three-way switch. Consequently, the combined unit can give rise to three phenotypes (stable states): (i) a high miR200 and low ZEB, or (1, 0) state; (ii) a low miR200 and high ZEB, or (0, 1) state; and (iii) a medium miR200 and medium ZEB, or (½, ½) state. We associate these states with the epithelial, mesenchymal, and hybrid phenotypes, respectively. We reflect on the consistency between our theoretical predictions and recent observations in several types of carcinomas and suggest new testable predictions.

See all articles in this Cancer Research section, “Physics in Cancer Research.”

Cancer Res; 74(17); 4574–87. ©2014 AACR.
Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Cancer: Physical Foundations and Applications of Restriction Spectrum Imaging
Authors: White Nathan S. , McDonald Carrie R. , Farid Niky , Kuperman Josh , Karow David , Schenker-Ahmed Natalie M. , Bartsch Hauke , Rakow-Penner Rebecca , Holland Dominic , Shabaik Ahmed , Bjørnerud Atle , Hope Tuva , Hattangadi-Gluth Jona , Liss Michael , Parsons J. Kellogg , Chen Clark C. , Raman Steve , Margolis Daniel , Reiter Robert E. , Marks Leonard , Kesari Santosh , Mundt Arno J. , Kane Christopher J. , Carter Bob S. , Bradley William G. , Dale Anders M.
Published: September 2014

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been at the forefront of cancer imaging since the early 2000s. Before its application in clinical oncology, this powerful technique had already achieved widespread recognition due to its utility in the diagnosis of cerebral infarction. Following this initial success, the ability of DWI to detect inherent tissue contrast began to be exploited in the field of oncology. Although the initial oncologic applications for tumor detection and characterization, assessing treatment response, and predicting survival were primarily in the field of neurooncology, the scope of DWI has since broadened to include oncologic imaging of the prostate gland, breast, and liver. Despite its growing success and application, misconceptions about the underlying physical basis of the DWI signal exist among researchers and clinicians alike. In this review, we provide a detailed explanation of the biophysical basis of diffusion contrast, emphasizing the difference between hindered and restricted diffusion, and elucidating how diffusion parameters in tissue are derived from the measurements via the diffusion model. We describe one advanced DWI modeling technique, called restriction spectrum imaging (RSI). This technique offers a more direct in vivo measure of tumor cells, due to its ability to distinguish separable pools of water within tissue based on their intrinsic diffusion characteristics. Using RSI as an example, we then highlight the ability of advanced DWI techniques to address key clinical challenges in neurooncology, including improved tumor conspicuity, distinguishing actual response to therapy from pseudoresponse, and delineation of white matter tracts in regions of peritumoral edema. We also discuss how RSI, combined with new methods for correction of spatial distortions inherent in diffusion MRI scans, may enable more precise spatial targeting of lesions, with implications for radiation oncology and surgical planning.

See all articles in this Cancer Research section, “Physics in Cancer Research.”

Cancer Res; 74(17); 4638–52. ©2014 AACR.
Force Engages Vinculin and Promotes Tumor Progression by Enhancing PI3K Activation of Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-Triphosphate
Authors: Rubashkin Matthew G. , Cassereau Luke , Bainer Russell , DuFort Christopher C. , Yui Yoshihiro , Ou Guanqing , Paszek Matthew J. , Davidson Michael W. , Chen Yunn-Yi , Weaver Valerie M.
Published: September 2014

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness induces focal adhesion assembly to drive malignant transformation and tumor metastasis. Nevertheless, how force alters focal adhesions to promote tumor progression remains unclear. Here, we explored the role of the focal adhesion protein vinculin, a force-activated mechanotransducer, in mammary epithelial tissue transformation and invasion. We found that ECM stiffness stabilizes the assembly of a vinculin–talin–actin scaffolding complex that facilitates PI3K-mediated phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate phosphorylation. Using defined two- and three-dimensional matrices, a mouse model of mammary tumorigenesis with vinculin mutants, and a novel super resolution imaging approach, we established that ECM stiffness, per se, promotes the malignant progression of a mammary epithelium by activating and stabilizing vinculin and enhancing Akt signaling at focal adhesions. Our studies also revealed that vinculin strongly colocalizes with activated Akt at the invasive border of human breast tumors, where the ECM is stiffest, and we detected elevated mechanosignaling. Thus, ECM stiffness could induce tumor progression by promoting the assembly of signaling scaffolds, a conclusion underscored by the significant association we observed between highly expressed focal adhesion plaque proteins and malignant transformation across multiple types of solid cancer.

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Cancer Res; 74(17); 4597–611. ©2014 AACR.
Resistance to Chemotherapy: Patient Variability and Cellular Heterogeneity
Authors: Kessler David A. , Austin Robert H. , Levine Herbert
Published: September 2014

The issue of resistance to targeted drug therapy is of pressing concern, as it constitutes a major barrier to progress in managing cancer. One important aspect is the role of stochasticity in determining the nature of the patient response. We examine two particular experiments. The first measured the maximal response of melanoma to targeted therapy before the resistance causes the tumor to progress. We analyze the data in the context of a Delbruck–Luria type scheme, wherein the continued growth of preexistent resistant cells are responsible for progression. We show that, aside from a finite fraction of resistant cell-free patients, the maximal response in such a scenario would be quite uniform. To achieve the measured variability, one is necessarily led to assume a wide variation from patient to patient of the sensitive cells' response to the therapy. The second experiment is an in vitro system of multiple myeloma cells. When subject to a spatial gradient of a chemotherapeutic agent, the cells in the middle of the system acquire resistance on a rapid (two-week) timescale. This finding points to the potential important role of cell-to-cell differences, due to differing local environments, in addition to the patient-to-patient differences encountered in the first part.

See all articles in this Cancer Research section, “Physics in Cancer Research.”

Cancer Res; 74(17); 4663–70. ©2014 AACR.
Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Physical Processes in Human Glioblastoma
Authors: Kalpathy-Cramer Jayashree , Gerstner Elizabeth R. , Emblem Kyrre E. , Andronesi Ovidiu C. , Rosen Bruce
Published: September 2014

The most common malignant primary brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a devastating disease with a grim prognosis. Patient survival is typically less than two years and fewer than 10% of patients survive more than five years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can have great utility in the diagnosis, grading, and management of patients with GBM as many of the physical manifestations of the pathologic processes in GBM can be visualized and quantified using MRI. Newer MRI techniques such as dynamic contrast enhanced and dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI provide functional information about the tumor hemodynamic status. Diffusion MRI can shed light on tumor cellularity and the disruption of white matter tracts in the proximity of tumors. MR spectroscopy can be used to study new tumor tissue markers such as IDH mutations. MRI is helping to noninvasively explore the link between the molecular basis of gliomas and the imaging characteristics of their physical processes. We, here, review several approaches to MR-based imaging and discuss the potential for these techniques to quantify the physical processes in glioblastoma, including tumor cellularity and vascularity, metabolite expression, and patterns of tumor growth and recurrence. We conclude with challenges and opportunities for further research in applying physical principles to better understand the biologic process in this deadly disease.

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Cancer Res; 74(17); 4622–37. ©2014 AACR.
Bivalves from the latest Jurassic-earliest Cretaceous hydrocarbon seep carbonates from central Spitsbergen, Svalbard
Authors: Hryniewicz Krzysztof , Little Crispin T.S. , Nakrem Hans Arne
Published: September 2014

The bivalve fauna from the latest Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous hydrocarbon seep deposits from central Spitsbergen, Svalbard comprises at least 17 species, four of which belong to chemosymbiotic taxa often found at seeps. These are the solemyid Solemya (Petrasma) cf. woodwardiana; Nucinella svalbardensis sp. nov., which belongs to a group of large Nucinella species known from seeps and deep water environments; the lucinid bivalve, Tehamatea rasmusseni sp. nov., included in a genus widely distributed in other Jurassic–Cretaceous seeps; and Cretaxinus hurumi gen. et sp. nov., which is the oldest known thyasirid and is discussed in relation to other large seep-restricted genera in this family. The remaining species in the fauna belong to ‘background’ genera known from coeval normal marine sediments, mostly from the Boreal area. These include the nuculid Dacromya chetaensis, two new malletiids (Mesosaccella rogovi sp. nov. and M. toddi sp. nov.), the oxytomiid Oxytoma octavia, at least three Buchia species, at least two pectinids, including Camptonectes (Costicamptonectes) aff. milnelandensis and Camptonectes (Camptochlamys) clatrathus, the limid Pseudolimea arctica, the arcticid Pseudotrapezium aff. groenlandicum, and the pholadomyid Goniomya literata. The large number of ‘background’ species in the bivalve fauna is probably a reflection of the shallow-water setting of the Svalbard seeps. This might also explain the lack of the seep-restricted modiomorphid bivalve Caspiconcha from the fauna. With solemyids, Nucinella, lucinids and thyasirids, the latest Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous bivalve seep fauna of Svalbard contains typical representatives of the Mesozoic bivalve seep faunas, both long established and young evolutionary colonists.
Growth differentiation factor GDF-15 does not influence iron metabolism in stable chronic haemodialysis patients
Authors: Li Xiang-Yang , Ying Jiang , Li Jiu-Hong , Zhu Sheng-Lang , Li Jiang , Pai Pearl
Published: September 2014

Background

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a divergent member of transforming growth factor-beta super family. Under physiological states, it is weakly expressed in most tissues, but it is elevated in impaired kidney function. High concentrations of GDF-15 have been found in some haemoglobinopathies associated with suppressed concentration of hepcidin and iron overload. It is not clear whether the increased concentration of GDF-15 in chronic kidney disease influences iron metabolism.

Methods

The serum concentrations of GDF-15 and hepcidin, iron (Fe), ferritin, transferrin (Tf), total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, soluble transferrin receptor1 (sTfR1), erythropoietin and Hb were measured in 32 stable chronic kidney disease stage 5-dialysis (CKD5-D) patients and 24 healthy adults (controls) to investigate any relationship between GDF-15 and iron indices.

Results

GDF-15 was significantly elevated in the haemodialysis group (4840.6 ± 1520.5 ng/L) compared to control (472.8 ± 148.1 ng/L). There was a positive correlation between GDF-15 concentration and age in both groups. In the haemodialysis group, hepcidin was increased and correlated with serum ferritin, Tf, total iron binding capacity and sTfR1. There was no correlation between GDF-15 and hepcidin or other iron indices.

Conclusions

GDF-15 was significantly elevated in our haemodialysis patients but there was no correlation between GDF-15, hepcidin and various iron indices. In this small observational study, GDF-15 would not appear to be associated with iron metabolism in stable CKD5-D patients.
European Union responses to terrorist use of the Internet
Authors: Argomaniz Javier
Published: September 2014

The Internet has had a transformative effect in modern societies, becoming an empowering tool for individuals and an increasingly indispensable part of citizens’ lives. Yet, like any technology, the Internet also has negative ramifications. For instance, violent groups and networks can exploit it in a variety of ways including the planning of operations, establishing communications, circulation of propaganda, training and recruiting new members, and raising funds. In light of the above, terrorists’ use of the Internet is an area that has started to attract attention from European institutions. So far, the EU response has concentrated on raising critical communication infrastructure resilience standards to prevent potential cyber-attacks. Yet, these efforts have, in reality, been motivated by security concerns regarding acts of cyber-espionage, cyber-crime, and cyber-sabotage rather than hitherto hypothetical attacks of terrorist origin. On the other hand, other malicious uses of the Internet by terrorist groups have received comparatively less attention. However, this does not make these policies unimportant. Far from it. Some initiatives at the European level of the EU designed to undermine online radicalisation, embryonic as they are, may have failed already to balance the need for effective action against the obligation to protect Internet users’ privacy rights.
Deconstructing the 2012 Human Security Report: Examining narratives on wartime sexual violence
Authors: Krystalli Roxanne
Published: September 2014

At a time of increasing attention to the issue of wartime sexual violence, the 2012 Human Security Report (HSR 2012) sought to expose perceived biases in the mainstream narrative. HSR 2012 raised questions about the prevalence of wartime sexual violence, whether this form of violence was increasing or decreasing, the identity of perpetrators and victims, the state of evidence-based research and its challenges, and the policy implications of such analyses. While some of HSR 2012’s findings have been widely accepted, many of the report’s inferences are problematic. This paper uses HSR 2012 as a primary source to ask why narratives about sexual violence matter; why closely examining the report’s narrative, in particular, is important; and how we can be more reflective about what we can and do know about wartime sexual violence, given the opportunities and limitations of conducting research in this field.
Development of single filament testing procedure for polyacrylonitrile precursor and polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers
Authors: Lyons Kevin M , Newcomb Bradley A , McDonald Kenneth J , Chae Han Gi , Kumar Satish
Published: September 2014

Single filament testing protocols for polyacrylonitrile precursor and polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers have been developed to ensure reliable tensile results that can be compared to the standard testing protocols used by the industry. Accurate carbon fiber linear density measurement by vibroscope was quite sensitive to the pre-stress applied to the fiber. Gauge length dependence testing of the commercial carbon fibers exhibited that tensile strengths obtained at 25.4 mm gauge length are comparable to those reported by the manufacturer using the standard strand testing results. On the other hand, experimental carbon fibers that have not been surface treated or sized, showed that single filament tensile strength values at 6 mm gauge length was comparable to the strand testing results. In addition, the compliance corrected tensile moduli of carbon fibers obtained by single filament tests were also comparable to the moduli obtained from the standard strand testing results. A modified Weibull analysis, which accounts for sample volume effects, has also been used to determine the Weibull modulus of both the commercial and experimental carbon fibers.
Sociopsychological analysis of conflict-supporting narratives
Authors: Bar-Tal Daniel , Oren Neta , Nets-Zehngut Rafi
Published: September 2014

Societies involved in intractable conflicts form conflict-supporting narratives that illuminate and justify their intergroup conflicts. These narratives play an important role in satisfying the basic sociopsychological needs of the involved individuals and collectives. In order to fulfill this role the narratives tend to be biased in favor of the in-group, selective, distorting and simplistic. This article analyzes such narratives that focus on the following major themes: Justification and Threats (of conflict), Delegitimization (of the opponent), Glorification and Victimhood (of the in-group), the in-group’s need for Patriotism and Unity, and its Aspiration for Peace. Additionally, the article describes the individual and collective functions of these narratives. It also describes six main methods that are used in the narratives’ construction: reliance on supportive sources, marginalization of contradictory information, magnification of supportive themes, fabrication of supportive contents, omission of contradictory contents, and use of framing language. Because conflict-supporting narratives are so functional, the involved societies struggle to support their dominance within their own society as well as in the international community. This article, therefore, presents seven methods that are used by the parties in their intrasocietal struggles – control of access to information, censorship, discrediting of contradicting information, monitoring, punishment, encouragement and rewarding, and closure of archives. Similar methods are used in the international arena struggles. Finally, it describes the process of change from adherence to the conflict-supportive narratives to the construction of new peace-supporting narratives and adherence to them.
Turning away from terrorism
Authors: Altier Mary Beth , Thoroughgood Christian N , Horgan John G
Published: September 2014

Although research on violent extremism traditionally focuses on why individuals become involved in terrorism, recent efforts have started to tackle the question of why individuals leave terrorist groups. Research on terrorist disengagement, however, remains conceptually and theoretically underdeveloped. In an effort to enhance our understanding of disengagement from terrorism and pave the way for future empirical work, this article provides a multidisciplinary review of related research from psychology, sociology, and criminology. Significant promise for moving beyond the existing push/pull framework is found in Rusbult and colleagues’ investment model from psychology and Ebaugh’s research on voluntary role exit from sociology. Rusbult’s investment model offers insight into when and why individuals disengage from terrorism, while accounting for individual, group, and macro-level differences in the satisfaction one derives from involvement, the investments incurred, and the alternatives available. Ebaugh’s research on voluntary role exit provides a deeper understanding of how people leave, including the emotions and cuing behavior likely to be involved. The article highlights the strengths and limitations of these frameworks in explaining exit and exit processes across a variety of social roles, including potentially the terrorist role, and lends additional insights into terrorist disengagement through a review of related research on desistance from crime, disaffiliation from new religious movements, and turnover in traditional work organizations.
A distributional analysis of wage discrimination against migrant workers in China’s urban labour market
Authors: Wang Haining , Guo Fei , Cheng Zhiming
Published: September 2014

Chinese internal migrants without a local hukou (household registration) are often discriminated against in the urban labour market. This study examines the impacts of such discrimination on wage differentials and the distribution among urban locals, urban migrants and rural migrants. It uses an extended analytical framework of segmented labour market to examine the multiple segmentations between urban residents and rural migrants and between locals and non-locals. The results show that, compared with urban locals, rural migrants only face discrimination above the medium-wage level, while urban migrants face discrimination below the medium-wage level, but to a much lesser degree. Owing to structural differences in employment, urban locals (rather than migrant workers) are discriminated against at other wage levels. The results suggest that the hukou system still plays an important role in segmenting China’s urban labour market. The degree of discrimination against urban migrants relative to urban locals is greater than that against rural migrants relative to urban migrants. This suggests that nowadays China’s urban labour market is mainly characterised by the segmentation between locals and non-locals, rather than the segmentation between urban residents and rural migrants, which was the case in the past.
Experience of left atrial appendage closure performed under conscious sedation
Authors: Chan Ngai-Yin , Lau Chun-Leung , Tsui Ping-Tim , Lo Ying-Keung , Mok Ngai-Shing
Published: September 2014

Background

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure is typically performed with transesophageal echocardiography guidance under general anesthesia. This study was performed to investigate the safety, feasibility, procedural characteristics, and outcomes of performing this procedure under conscious sedation without an anesthetist’s support.

Methods

Eleven patients (6 men; mean age 64.6 ± 10.4 years) with atrial fibrillation (median CHA2DS2VASc score 3) underwent transesophageal echocardiography-guided left atrial appendage occlusion under conscious sedation.

Results

All patients had successful procedures. Procedural duration and fluoroscopic times were 93.8 ± 25.3 and 16.2 ± 6.5 min, respectively. The doses of midazolam and fentanyl required were 5.4 ± 1.8 mg and 54.5 ± 27 µg, respectively. No complications arose from conscious sedation. Watchman (mean size 29 ± 5 mm) and Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (mean size 24 ± 4 mm) devices were implanted in 5 and 6 patients, respectively. One patient had device displacement due to over-compression on day one, and underwent successful percutaneous retrieval without any long-term sequelae. Warfarin was stopped in all patients after day 45, with transesophageal echocardiography showing optimal device position without a significant jet flow. In a mean follow-up of 12.1 ± 10.1 months, no thromboembolic complications were observed.

Conclusions

Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion can be performed safely and effectively under conscious sedation. This approach will significantly reduce the complexity and costs of this increasingly performed procedure.
Thermoreactive nitinol clips: Propensity score comparison with Robicsek technique
Authors: Sarıkaya Sabit , Aksoy Eray , Özen Yücel , Dedemoğlu Mehmet , Özgür Mustafa Mert , Büyükbayrak Fuat , Kırali Kaan
Published: September 2014

Objective

To compare the use of thermoreactive nitinol clips with the classic Robicsek technique for treatment of sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery.

Methods

Eighty-two (2.3%) of 3564 open heart surgery patients underwent reoperation for sternal dehiscence between October 2011 and 2012. Prospectively collected data from 26 (31%) consecutive patients who underwent reoperation using thermoreactive nitinol clips were compared with those of a retrospective cohort of 42 (51.2%) who were treated with the classic Robicsek technique. To overcome baseline and operative variations, we constructed a propensity model using logistic regression.

Results

Overall mortality occurred in 3 (5%) patients and a second revision was performed in 2 (7.7%) in the nitinol clip group and 2 (6.3%) in the control group ( p > 0.05). Postoperative results were similar except for the mean time of operation which was significantly shorter in the nitinol clip group, and patients in this group required substernal dissection slightly less frequently than those in the control group.

Conclusions

Thermoreactive nitinol clips allow the surgeon to perform a rapid and less challenging technique for sternal reoperations, without additional complications. Using this technique in an identical group with a finite sample size, we accomplished similar early results to those of the classic Robicsek technique.
Let’s get real about the ‘riots’: Exploring the relationship between deprivation and the English summer disturbances of 2011
Authors: Lightowlers Carly L.
Published: September 2014

Despite media and political rhetoric to the contrary, there is persuasive evidence to suggest an association between deprivation and those involved in the English riots of 2011, which continues to be downplayed when developing responses to crime and crime prevention policy. This study explores empirical evidence from two major cities in the North West of England, which highlights an association between deprivation and rioting in both criminal charge and sentencing data allowing further exploration of some of these issues. The paper argues that to mask the rioting as ‘mindless criminality’ is to ignore wider social-structural inequalities and to silence important messages contained in the rioting behaviour from disenfranchised youth and communities about the inequalities they suffer.
Logics of marginalisation in health and social care reform: Integration, choice, and provider-blind provision
Authors: Glynos Jason , Speed Ewen , West Karen
Published: September 2014

The period 2010–2013 was a time of far-reaching structural reforms of the National Health Service in England. Of particular interest in this paper is the way in which radical critiques of the reform process were marginalised by pragmatic concerns about how to maintain the market-competition thrust of the reforms while avoiding potential fragmentation. We draw on the Essex school of political discourse theory and develop a ‘nodal’ analytical framework to argue that widespread and repeated appeals to a narrative of choice-based integrated care served to take the fragmentation ‘sting’ out of radical critiques of the pro-competition reform process. This served to marginalise alternative visions of health and social care, and to pre-empt the contestation of a key norm in the provision of health care that is closely associated with the notions of ‘any willing provider’ and ‘any qualified provider’: provider-blind provision.
The effects of explicit instruction on French-speaking kindergarteners’ understanding of stories
Authors: Pesco Diane , Devlin Christine
Published: September 2014

The study examines the effects of a short period of explicit instruction on the narrative comprehension of French-speaking kindergarteners, as measured by story retell and comprehension questions. A group of kindergarteners that received explicit instruction ( n = 15) was compared to a control group that was exposed to the same storybooks and afterwards shared related experiences ( n = 15). In the explicit instruction group, comprehension was facilitated through instruction on story grammar, cause–effect relationships, and the internal states of characters. Instructional strategies included explanation, modelling of the identification of story components, guided practice, feedback, and the use of visuals to map story elements, depict causes and effects, and represent internal states.

At posttest, children in the explicit instruction group had significantly higher scores on the retell task, as expected, but not on the comprehension questions, a finding we discuss in light of task demands. Although further investigation is needed, the retell results are consistent with findings by others, demonstrating the benefits of instruction on children’s narrative skills. The study is the first we are aware of to assess instruction of brief duration and for French-speaking children, and one of the very few to examine explicit instruction with kindergarteners, regardless of language. Narrative instruction of the kind reported here might be of particular interest to speech-language therapists given the benefits that accrue to children as well as the opportunities that such instruction provides for ‘push in’ service delivery and collaboration with classroom educators.
Effectiveness of a parent-implemented language and literacy intervention in the home language
Authors: Ijalba Elizabeth
Published: September 2014

Few studies explore parent-implemented literacy interventions in the home language for young children with problems in language acquisition. A shift in children’s use of the home language to English has been documented when English is the only language of instruction. When parents are not proficient in English, such language shift can limit communication at home. In this study we examine a parent-implemented language-literacy intervention in the home language on building vocabulary in preschool children with difficulty acquiring language. Twenty-four mother–child dyads were randomly assigned to an intervention or to a comparison group. Mothers in the intervention group learned how to stimulate language literacy through play, reading, and routine activities at home. They received interactive picture books in Spanish. Findings showed substantial gains in expressive vocabulary in Spanish, in English, and for conceptual scores (total vocabulary minus duplets) for children in the intervention group. Mothers’ perceptions regarding use of the home language improved after the intervention. Findings suggest that mothers in the intervention group were able to transform their children’s home educational environment into an additive one, where the home language was valued.
A wire transposition technique for recanalization of chronic complex central venous occlusions
Authors: Massmann A , Rostam A , Fries P , Buecker A
Published: September 2014

Purpose

A minimal-invasive interventional technique for recanalization of complex chronic central venous total occlusions is described to overcome difficulties in case of failure of common approaches.

Method

We present a patient with a central venous occlusion that caused severe venous congestion of her upper extremity and significant impairment of her forearm hemodialysis shunt. Since the usual transbrachial and transfemoral attempts for recanalization of occluded right subclavian, brachiocephalic, superior vena cava, and proximal internal jugular veins (IJV) failed, the approach was changed to a transjugular access. Only the IJV and subclavian vein occlusions were passed from transjugular.

Results

The key procedure was the switch of a jugular-brachial wire to a femoral-brachial setting. The wire transposition was achieved by snaring the looped stiff end of the jugular-brachial wire outside the jugular sheath from the opposite femoral access.

Conclusion

Different approaches should be considered for the recanalization of challenging central venous occlusions. After failed attempts via common access sites, a guidewire transposition maneuver using a combined approach may be particularly helpful for safe and effective endovascular treatment of complex situations.
Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood: A 10-year observational follow-up
Authors: Marcelli Vincenzo , Russo Antonio , Cristiano Elisabetta , Tessitore Alessandro
Published: September 2014

Aim

The aim of this article is to explore the progression of neurological, neuro-otological and cochlear features in benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV) in children over time and its relation with migraine, neuro-otological and cochlear disorders in adulthood.

Methods

From January 2002 to December 2002, 15 children with BPV were prospectively recruited and then evaluated during a 10-year observational follow-up. All patients underwent detailed neurological, neuro-otological and cochlear examinations during interictal phases. Six children were also studied during ictal periods.

Results

At first assessment, four children reported migraine with aura (MwA) and six children reported migraine without aura (MwoA). Neuro-otological examinations were abnormal in two of 15 children. Cochlear examinations were normal in all patients. During the 10-year follow-up, recurrent vestibular symptoms and/or MwA and/or MwoA have been observed in the children. Neuro-otological examinations were abnormal in three of 15 individuals during the interictal period, and abnormal in four out of six patients who were studied during the ictal period. Two patients developed cochlear signs and/or symptoms.

Conclusions

During the 10-year follow-up, a phenotype variability in BPV patients has been observed. Specifically, de novo cochlear signs and/or symptoms developed in children with BPV, suggesting that cochlear symptoms should be properly investigated in these patients over time.
‘Green’ biocompatible organic–inorganic hybrid electrospun nanofibers for potential biomedical applications
Authors: Manjumeena R , Elakkiya T , Duraibabu D , Feroze Ahamed A , Kalaichelvan PT , Venkatesan R
Published: September 2014

Gold nanoparticles were prepared by green route using Couroupita guianensis leaves extract. The green synthesized gold nanoparticles exhibited maximum absorbance at 526 nm in the ultraviolet spectrum. By incorporating the green synthesized gold nanoparticles in poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, unique green organic–inorganic hybrid nanofibers (poly (vinyl alcohol)–gold nanoparticles) were developed by electrospinning. Contact angle measurements showed that the prepared poly (vinyl alcohol)–gold nanoparticles were found to be highly hydrophilic. The crystallinity of gold nanoparticles was analyzed using XRD. The synthesized gold nanoparticles and poly (vinyl alcohol)–gold nanoparticles were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray. The ultimate aim of the present work is to achieve optimum antibacterial, antifungal, biocompatibility and antiproliferative activities at a very low loading of gold nanoparticles. Vero cell lines showed a maximum of 90% cell viability on incubation with the prepared poly (vinyl alcohol)–gold nanoparticles. MCF 7 and HeLa cell lines proliferated only to 8% and 9%, respectively, on incubation with the poly (vinyl alcohol)–gold nanoparticles, and also exhibited good antibacterial and antifungal activities against test pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Thus, the poly (vinyl alcohol)–gold nanoparticles could be used for dual applications such as antimicrobial, anticancer treatment besides being highly biocompatible.
Visible and invisible violence and inequality in neoliberal Santiago
Authors: Rodríguez Alfredo , Rodríguez Paula , Saborido Marisol , Segovia Olga , Mires Lylian
Published: September 2014

This article argues that existing inequalities of all kinds in the city of Santiago de Chile are symptoms of the gap between those who are favoured by the distribution of benefits and those who are at the margins of this process. We propose that these groups are differentiated not only by the socioeconomic sector to which they belong but also by the part of the city in which they live. People’s exclusion is also affected by gender. The point of view taken is that although these inequalities have a systemic and structural nature, they are not abstract elements in people’s lives. We claim that, in fact, they are social, economic, political and institutional types of violence, which affect individuals and groups.(1) These types of violence, which in turn have visible manifestations (such as direct violence) and invisible manifestations (such as structural and cultural violence),(2) are examined in the case of Santiago de Chile in the context of three different socioeconomic districts (low, medium and high).
Has South Asia Benefited from the Growth of Asian Emerging Economies?
Authors: Banga Rashmi
Published: September 2014

India and China are two Asian emerging economies with the unprecedented growth. In the context of slowdown in North since 2008, many have argued that the emerging economies can be drivers of growth of South. However, not much empirical evidence is available to support this argument. This article estimates the growth linkages between the South Asia and its economies, and the two Asian emerging economies in terms of cointegration and causation in their growth rates. Both short-term and long-term relationships are tested for the period 1970–2009. The tests for structural breaks are also undertaken. The results show that there is a long-term relationship as well as short-term relationship between China’s growth and growth South Asia (excluding India). In the post-structural break period, that is, post-1985, the relationship is found to be two way, with China also benefitting from growth of South Asia. India, on the other hand, seems to have limited integration with the region. The only relationship that is found between India’s growth and that of other countries’ growth in the region is with Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Kazakhstan 2050
Authors: Linn Johannes F.
Published: September 2014

In 2012 the country’s leadership announced a vision that Kazakhstan would join the top 30 developed countries by 2050. This article reports on a study that assessed this vision and its feasibility; explored the current conditions in Kazakhstan, the international outlook, and the lessons from comparator countries; carried out in-depth analysis in seven priority areas, resulting in a set of short, medium, and long-term recommendations and an assessment of key challenges and trade-offs; and explored cross-cutting principles to guide policy making. The article closes with an assessment of challenges that faced the study team in its work.