bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphatidylserine-Targeted Nanotheranostics for Brain Tumor Imaging and Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Wang Lulu , Habib Amyn A. , Mintz Akiva , Li King C. , Zhao Dawen
Published: May 2017

Phosphatidylserine (PS), the most abundant anionic phospholipid in cell membrane, is strictly confined to the inner leaflet in normal cells. However, this PS asymmetry is found disruptive in many tumor vascular endothelial cells. We discuss the underlying mechanisms for PS asymmetry maintenance in normal cells and its loss in tumor cells. The specificity of PS exposure in tumor vasculature but not normal blood vessels may establish it a useful biomarker for cancer molecular imaging. Indeed, utilizing PS-targeting antibodies, multiple imaging probes have been developed and multimodal imaging data have shown their high tumor-selective targeting in various cancers. There is a critical need for improved diagnosis and therapy for brain tumors. We have recently established PS-targeted nanoplatforms, aiming to enhance delivery of imaging contrast agents across the blood–brain barrier to facilitate imaging of brain tumors. Advantages of using the nanodelivery system, in particular, lipid-based nanocarriers, are discussed here. We also describe our recent research interest in developing PS-targeted nanotheranostics for potential image-guided drug delivery to treat brain tumors.
Innate inflammatory gene expression profiling in potential brain-dead donors: detailed investigation of the effect of common corticosteroid therapy
Authors: Gholamnezhadjafari Reza , Tajik Nader , Falak Reza , Aflatoonian Reza , Dehghan Sanaz , Rezaei Abbas
Published: May 2017

Our study aimed to assess the influence of common methylprednisolone therapy on innate inflammatory factors in potential brain-dead organ donors (BDDs). The study groups consisted of 50 potential BDDs who received 15 mg/kg/d methylprednisolone and 25 live organ donors (LDs) as control group. Innate immunity gene expression profiling was performed by RT-PCR array. Soluble serum cytokines and chemokines, complement components, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) were measured by ELISA. Surface expression of TLR2 and TLR4 were determined using flow cytometry. Gene expression profiling revealed up-regulation of TLRs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, MYD88, NF-κB, NF-κB1A, IRAK1, STAT3, JAK2, TNF-α, IL-1β, CD86 and CD14 in the BDD group. Remarkably, the serum levels of C-reactive protein and HSP70 were considerably higher in the BDD group. In addition, serum amounts of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, HMGB1, HSP70, C3a and C5a, but not IL-8, sCD86 or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, were significantly increased in the BDD group. Significant differences were observed in flow cytometry analysis of TLR2 and TLR4 between the two groups. In summary, common methylprednisolone therapy in BDDs did not adequately reduce systemic inflammation, which could be due to inadequate doses or inefficient impact on other inflammatory-inducing pathways, for example oxidative stress or production of damage-associated molecules.
Frontal lobe meningioma mimicking preeclampsia: A case study
Authors: Foo Jinny Y , Davis Gregory K , Brown Mark A
Published: May 2017

We report a case of a left frontal lobe meningioma presenting in a woman with proteinuric preeclampsia in her first term pregnancy. The patient had a background of antepartum migraines that resolved in the second trimester of pregnancy. Postpartum, she required urgent surgery and sustained convulsions after surgery. She had no residual disease and has had another successful pregnancy. This case highlights the importance of cerebral imaging in the context of an atypical clinical course of preeclampsia. Although headaches are common in pregnancy and usually benign, other, more serious, diagnoses should be considered with atypical headaches, a change in the nature of the headache, and headaches that persist despite appropriate treatment. A full neurological examination including fundoscopy to exclude papilloedema should be performed and abnormal findings require further investigation.
The Warm Glow of Restaurant Checkout Charity
Authors: Giebelhausen Michael , Lawrence Benjamin , Chun HaeEun Helen , Hsu Liwu
Published: May 2017

Checkout charity is a phenomenon whereby frontline employees (or self-service technologies) solicit charitable donations from customers during the payment process. Despite its growing ubiquity, little is known about this salient aspect of the service experience. The present research examines checkout charity in the context of fast-food restaurants and finds that, when customers donate, they experience a “warm glow” that mediates a relationship between donating and store repatronage. Study 1 utilizes three scenario-based experiments to explore the phenomenon across different charities and different participant populations using both self-selection and random assignment designs. Study 2 replicates with a field study. Study 3 examines national store–level sales data from a fast-food chain and finds that checkout fund-raising, as a percentage of sales, predicts store revenue—a finding consistent with results of Studies 1 and 2. Managers often infer, quite correctly, that many consumers do not like being asked to donate. Paradoxically, our results suggest this ostensibly negative experience can increase service repatronage. For academics, these results add to a growing body of literature refuting the notion that small prosocial acts affect behavior by altering an individual’s self-concept.
Prevalence of Os Styloideum in National Hockey League Players
Authors: Greditzer Harry G. , Hutchinson Ian D. , Geannette Christian S. , Hotchkiss Robert N. , Kelly Bryan T. , Potter Hollis G.
Published: May 2017

Background:

Os styloideum describes an accessory carpal ossicle between the trapezoid, the capitate, and the second and third metacarpals. Injuries to this tissue have been described as part of the carpal boss syndrome. While the etiology of os styloideum remains uncertain, it may represent a physiologic response to altered loading forces in the wrist, similar to the development of cam-type deformity in the hips of ice hockey players or the Bennett lesion in the shoulders of baseball pitchers.

Hypothesis:

Professional hockey players will have a higher prevalence of os styloideum compared with the general population.

Study Design:

Case series.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 16 professional hockey players from 4 different National Hockey League (NHL) teams who underwent unilateral imaging of the wrist was performed. Seventeen wrists were reviewed for the presence of os styloideum.

Results:

Thirteen of 16 players (81%) had an os styloideum, representing an increased prevalence compared with the general population. Previous clinical and cadaveric studies estimated a general prevalence of up to 19% ( P < 0.001). For the 10 players who had their leading wrist scanned, 9 had an os styloideum (90%). Ten of 11 (91%) players demonstrated a bone marrow edema pattern within the metacarpal and the os styloideum on magnetic resonance imaging. There was no significant association between the presence of an os styloideum and the player’s position, leading wrist, or years in the league.

Conclusion:

There appears to be an increased prevalence of os styloideum among NHL players, and team physicians should consider this finding while formulating a differential diagnosis for dorsal wrist pain.

Clinical Relevance:

This study identified NHL players as having an increased prevalence of os styloideum compared with the general population. By doing so, these findings represent an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the etiology, clinical significance, and treatment of os styloideum.
Infancy Online: An Introduction
Authors: Leaver Tama , Nansen Bjorn
Published: May 2017

This article introduces a Special Issue on the topic of infancy online, addressing a range of issues, including representation, privacy, datafication, and children’s rights. The 7 articles included map important arenas of emerging research which highlight a range of increasingly urgent questions around the way infants are situated online, the longer term ramifications of infant online presences, and the ways in which infants and young children participate as users of online media.
Digital Television as a Usable Platform for Enhancement of Learning Possibilities for the Elderly
Authors: Bureš Vladimír , Mikulecká Jaroslava , Ponce Daniela
Published: May 2017

The use of television (TV) for learning purposes has been a topic of interest for several decades. Although digital TV represents a highly up-and-coming platform for education, there is a plethora of issues from various areas. The primary goal of this article is to present details associated with the investigation of how elderly as a distinctive group of users perceive the usability of t-learning applications while communicating by diverse types of interaction tools and t-learning applications. These applications are focused on cognitive training, physical education, and game-like application dealing with building of family trees. A total of 119 subjects attended in the experiment. All participants participated in a group of appointments that involved 24 sessions for almost 3 months. The activity during these individual sessions demanded from 20 to 30 min of time, accumulating to between 8 and 12 hr in total. There were three hypotheses tested, focused on usability, and influence of age and gender. Evaluation of usability uncovers that t-learning applications have a higher chance of acceptance by the elderly when the content deals with mentally oriented tasks rather than physical exercise. In this way, it is proved that t-learning does not represent a suitable platform for stimulation of the elderly to undertake physical exercise.
Provider Perception of Patient-Initiated Communication for Non-Essential Tasks
Authors: Moturu Anoosha , Avera Angela , Kotin Stephan , Sasangohar Farzan
Published: May 2017

The EPIC MyChart Bedside iPad application aims to make patient-provider communication more personalized and efficient and to provide patients with access to medical education information and electronic health records during their hospital stay. The purpose of this on-going study is to learn the impacts of the application on healthcare provider workflow and satisfaction. Data presented here is from the first phase of data collection which was collected before the implementation of the Bedside application. Observational and survey data was collected from 32 registered nurses (RNs) and personal care assistants (PCAs) (mean age = 33; sd = 12) before the implementation of the Bedside application in three inpatient hospital units of a large hospital in Southeastern Texas. Results highlighted three main issues in provider workflow in regards to patient-initiated communication: 1) providers have insufficient information about the requested task at the time of request, 2) there is no running task list for the provider to refer to and 3) the incorrect care provider is often notified to perform a task. It is hypothesized that the implementation of the Bedside application will mitigate these issues by directly notifying the correct care provider and by populating specific tasks to a task list that the providers can refer to from their workstations.
Ambient Activity Technologies for Managing Responsive Behaviours in Dementia
Authors: Wilkinson Andrea , Kanik Marc , O’Neill Judy , Charoenkitkarn Vishuda , Chignell Mark
Published: May 2017

Many people living with dementia are under-stimulated and socially isolated. While there has been an increase in activities and programming based on recreational therapy and music therapy, such programs can cover only a fraction of the day for people with dementia and are resource demanding to execute. The result is that many people with dementia, who are institutionalized, are staying most of the day either in their rooms, sitting in communal areas, or wandering the hallways. A related problem is that people with dementia often have difficulty with social interactions and may become anxious or aggressive around people they do not recognize, or in situations they do not understand. Resulting responsive behaviours (e.g., hitting, screaming) may lead to overmedication and poor quality of life. Ambient Activity Technology (AAT) is a wall-mounted interactive tool designed for people with dementia. The AAT unit is available in the environment for easy access, and have been designed to augment existing programming and activities by providing self-accessed, engaging and personalized interactions at any time (24-hours per day, 7 days/week). AATs have been designed to reduce distress, in residents and caregivers, by substituting responsive behaviours and purposelessness with active and meaningful activities, distractions, and appropriate interventions. This paper describes the motivation behind the design and development of the AAT. The paper ends with a description of our summative evaluation research, which is currently in progress at several long-term care facilities in Ontario, Canada.
Strategies of Using Textual Information: Implications for Delivery of Health Information to Patients and Families
Authors: Papautsky Elizabeth Lerner , Shalin Valerie L.
Published: May 2017

In the current study we investigated the explicit representation of constraints or “rules” in a team-based planning task using shared representations. We manipulated the variable of text, which has had limited attention in human factors literature. In addition, we used the subject variable of gender, also unique in human factors research. We also demonstrated successful use of a game-based experimental platform to investigate these variables using multiple process and performance measures. Findings highlight the need to develop principles concerning text for health information that do not currently exist. All findings involve considerations applicable to the design of health information, rich in content that has to be located, comprehended, and applied in a potentially time sensitive manner for individuals with differing backgrounds and levels of expertise.
Best Practices: Human Factors for Combination Products
Authors: Story Molly , Biondi Sherri , Fenster Valerie , Cluff Kevin
Published: May 2017

The paper presents industry perspectives on best practices for several topics related to human factors engineering for combination (medical) products. The four primary topics discussed were training decay periods, product differentiation testing, construction of questions for knowledge tasks, and the most appropriate and productive ways to engage regulatory agencies when their human factors feedback is unexpected. The expert panel shared their own experiences and invited the session attendees to share their own perspectives and experiences.
How Useful are Handheld ECG devices?
Authors: Bonnette Brad , Suggs Jeremy , Tremoulet Patrice D
Published: May 2017

Patients without clinical knowledge must be able to use mobile electrocardiography (ECG) devices to collect healthcare data outside a clinical setting safely and effectively. We conducted a simulated use test to assess usability from a patient perspective, with 18 ECRI employee volunteers who were familiar with smartphones, but unfamiliar with the two devices being evaluated. The largest a priori concerns were how long it would take to collect a valid ECG reading and how easy it was to share data captured by the devices. Overall the systems (ECG device plus smartphone app) were rated similarly in terms of usability, and none took so much longer than the others that it could be considered less useful. However, the testing did reveal some significant usability problems with each system. Moreover, it is unclear how the data produced by these devices, which needs to be reviewed by a clinical expert, will impact communication between patients and providers. More research is needed to understand how having patients use medical devices with smartphone apps could impact the workflow and communications of the primary care or specialty physicians to whom the data produced by these devices will be sent.
Using the PDMS-2 to Measure Visual-Motor Skill Development with Laparoscopic and Robotic Instruments
Authors: Dektor Asha , Littau Jane , Knudsen Kate
Published: May 2017

With the introduction of conventional laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery, surgical treatment options beyond traditional open surgery are increasing. If and when different minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques are learned vary from surgeon to surgeon. It is important for human factors researchers to have tools for measuring how visual-motor skills develop using MIS tools across different learning experiences. The current research examines a child movement skill assessment tool, the Peabody Developmental Motor Skills Scales – Second Edition (PDMS-2), as a metric for measuring visual motor skill development with adults learning to use laparoscopic or robotic tools. At a high-level, the PDMS-2 provided insight into which motor skills were supported by each set of MIS tools and which skills were impacted by differences in learning history. Supplemental measures must be paired with the PDMS-2 to better understand the mechanisms behind the observed patterns.
What Can Medical Device Human Factors Learn from Other Industries?
Authors: Foster L. Bryant , Branaghan Russell J. , Barker Dean , Donahue Jen , Mitropoulous-Rundus Dave
Published: May 2017

Human factors has grown in popularity in the medical device industry since the introduction of FDA’s Draft Guidance Applying Human Factors and Usability Engineering to Optimize Medical Device Design in 2011. However, human factors and ergonomics has been practiced since the 1940’s and adopted by various industries, regulated and unregulated, to improve user safety and satisfaction. Over the last 70+ years, many manufacturers in industries like aerospace, aviation, automotive, and consumer goods have incorporated human factors into their product design controls. Nevertheless, many medical device manufacturers still treat human factors as a singular step (validation testing) in the regulatory submission process. Leveraging the diverse experience, we aimed to identify human factors practices that have proven successful in non-medical industries that are not commonly practiced in the medical device industry, possible reasons these practices are not used by medical device manufacturers, and recommend possible solutions. Our discussions revealed four human factors practices that are not commonly used in the medical device industry, reasons the medical device industry may be slow to adopt human factors, and potential solutions for each.
Making MATB-II medical: Pilot testing results to determine a novel lab-based, stress-inducing task
Authors: Kennedy Lauren , Parker Sarah Henrickson
Published: May 2017

The purpose of this project was to adapt an existing computer-based task called Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB-II), developed by NASA and frequently used to induce acute stress among air craft crew members and general populations, for use in medical populations. We gathered continuous electrocardiography (ECG) data while medical students completed four different versions of the MATB-II of varying difficulties alongside questions probing medical knowledge, comprising a new task called medically-focused multitasking game (MFMG). After completing each version, participants responded to questionnaires to assess subjective states of stress (State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults) and cognitive workload (NASA Task Load Index). Responses to these questionnaires, physiological data from continuous ECG, and overall performance scores were combined to determine one version of MFMG that represented the highest level of elicited stress, and one that represented the lowest level of elicited stress. The results of this pilot study are promising, and have converged to reveal one high-stress and one low-stress version of MFMG, which will later be used to induce acute stress in biofeedback intervention studies among surgical residents and fellows. Beyond this specific application, MFMG can have broader applications in measuring acute stress induction and/or reduction among populations of healthcare practitioners.
Cardiovascular and Cortisol Reactivity to Acute Mental Stress in Female Shift and Non-Shift Workers
Authors: Carson Ira N. , Batson Morgan J , Tranmer Joan E. , Scribbans Trisha D. , Gurd Brendon J. , Pyke Kyra E.
Published: May 2017

High cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity to stressful tasks are predictors of increased future cardiovascular risk. Few studies have investigated the impact of shift work on cardiovascular reactivity, and none have examined cortisol reactivity. The purpose of this study was to compare cardiovascular and cortisol stress reactivity in female shift workers (SW) versus non-shift workers (NSW). Nineteen SW (40 ± 11 years) and 19 NSW (42 ± 11 years) participated. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at rest, and during each minute of a speech (5 min) and mental arithmetic (5 min) stress task. Serum cortisol was measured pre- and poststress task (immediately and 15 min post). Values are means ±  SD. Peak increases in DBP during the task did not differ between groups ( p = .261), however, analyzed over time there was an interaction such that DBP increased significantly more in SW during the fifth minute of the speech task ( p = .035). There were no group differences in heart rate or systolic blood pressure responses. The increase in cortisol also did not differ between groups (ΔSW: 5.5 ± 7.5 µg/dL, ΔNSW: 1.8 ± 2.9 µg/dL, p = .165). However, when compared separately, the increase in cortisol from baseline to peak poststress was significant in SW ( p = .013) but not in NSW ( p = .125). In conclusion, these preliminary data suggest that shift work exposure may have a modest influence on cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity. Further research is necessary to fully characterize and explore the importance of stress reactivity in this population.
A European Respiratory Society technical standard: exhaled biomarkers in lung disease
Authors: Horváth Ildiko , Barnes Peter J. , Loukides Stelios , Sterk Peter J. , Högman Marieann , Olin Anna-Carin , Amann Anton , Antus Balazs , Baraldi Eugenio , Bikov Andras , Boots Agnes W. , Bos Lieuwe D. , Brinkman Paul , Bucca Caterina , Carpagnano Giovanna E. , Corradi Massimo , Cristescu Simona , de Jongste Johan C. , Dinh-Xuan Anh-Tuan , Dompeling Edward , Fens Niki , Fowler Stephen , Hohlfeld Jens M. , Holz Olaf , Jöbsis Quirijn , Van De Kant Kim , Knobel Hugo H. , Kostikas Konstantinos , Lehtimäki Lauri , Lundberg Jon O. , Montuschi Paolo , Van Muylem Alain , Pennazza Giorgio , Reinhold Petra , Ricciardolo Fabio L.M. , Rosias Philippe , Santonico Marco , van der Schee Marc P. , van Schooten Frederik-Jan , Spanevello Antonio , Tonia Thomy , Vink Teunis J.
Published: May 2017

Breath tests cover the fraction of nitric oxide in expired gas (FENO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), variables in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and other measurements. For EBC and forFENO, official recommendations for standardised procedures are more than 10 years old and there is none for exhaled VOCs and particles. The aim of this document is to provide technical standards and recommendations for sample collection and analytic approaches and to highlight future research priorities in the field. For EBC andFENO, new developments and advances in technology have been evaluated in the current document. This report is not intended to provide clinical guidance on disease diagnosis and management.

Clinicians and researchers with expertise in exhaled biomarkers were invited to participate. Published studies regarding methodology of breath tests were selected, discussed and evaluated in a consensus-based manner by the Task Force members.

Recommendations for standardisation of sampling, analysing and reporting of data and suggestions for research to cover gaps in the evidence have been created and summarised.

Application of breath biomarker measurement in a standardised manner will provide comparable results, thereby facilitating the potential use of these biomarkers in clinical practice.
Bacteria-driven peribronchial lymphoid neogenesis in bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis
Authors: Frija-Masson Justine , Martin Clémence , Regard Lucile , Lothe Marie-Noëlle , Touqui Lhousseine , Durand Aurélie , Lucas Bruno , Damotte Diane , Alifano Marco , Fajac Isabelle , Burgel Pierre-Régis
Published: May 2017

We aimed to characterise lymphoid neogenesis in bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs and to examine the role of bacterial infection.

Lymphoid aggregates were examined using immunohistochemical staining and morphometric analysis in surgical lung sections obtained from nonsmokers and patients with bronchiectasis or CF. Sterile,Pseudomonas aeruginosa- orStaphylococcus aureus-coated agarose beads were instilled intratracheally in mice. Kinetics of lymphoid neogenesis and chemokine expression were examined over 14 days.

Lymphoid aggregates were scarce in human lungs of nonsmokers, but numerous peribronchial lymphoid aggregates containing B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, germinal centres and high endothelial venules were found in bronchiectasis and CF. Mouse lungs contained no lymphoid aggregate at baseline. During persistentP. aeruginosaorS. aureusairway infection peribronchial lymphoid neogenesis occurred. At day 14 after instillation, lymphoid aggregates expressed markers of tertiary lymphoid organs and the chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL13. The airway epithelium was an important site of CXCL12, CXCL13 and interleukin-17A expression, which began at day 1 after instillation.

Peribronchial tertiary lymphoid organs are present in bronchiectasis and in CF, and persistent bacterial infection triggered peribronchial lymphoid neogenesis in mice. Peribronchial localisation of tertiary lymphoid organs and epithelial expression of chemokines suggest roles for airway epithelium in lymphoid neogenesis.
Dihydroartemisinin inhibits TCTP-dependent metastasis in gallbladder cancer
Authors: Zhang Fei , Ma Qiang , Xu Zihang , Liang Haibin , Li Huaifeng , Ye Yuanyuan , Xiang Shanshan , Zhang Yijian , Jiang Lin , Hu Yunping , Wang Zheng , Wang Xuefeng , Zhang Yong , Gong Wei , Liu Yingbin
Published: May 2017

Background

Patients with metastatic or relapsed gallbladder cancer generally have a poor prognosis. Therefore, targeting metastasis is one arm of therapeutic strategies to treat gallbladder cancer.

Methods

Levels of translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) were measured in samples of gallbladder cancer by immunohistochemical staining. Wound healing, migration and invasion assays were used to investigate the motility of cells. Western blot assay was used to investigate the levels of TCTP and other proteins. Liver metastasis models and lung metastasis models were established to investigate the inhibitory effect of Dihydroartemisinin on gallbladder cancer metastasis.

Results

TCTP is aberrantly expressed in gallbladder cancer patients and associated with metastasis and a poor prognosis. Depleting TCTP significantly inhibited gallbladder cancer cell migration and invasion. We found that Dihydroartemisinin as a potent inhibitor of TCTP inhibited TCTP-dependent cell migration and invasion by reducing cell division control protein 42 homolog (Cdc42) activation. In addition, in mice with xenografted tumors, treatment with Dihydroartemisinin decreased gallbladder cancer cell metastases and improved survival.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insights into the therapeutic activity of Dihydroartemisinin as a treatment for gallbladder cancer metastasis.
Vildagliptin has the same safety profile as a sulfonylurea on bone metabolism and bone mineral density in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vianna Andre Gustavo Daher , de Lacerda Claudio Silva , Pechmann Luciana Muniz , Polesel Michelle Garcia , Marino Emerson Cestari , Borba Victoria Zeghbi Cochenski , Barreto Fellype de Carvalho
Published: May 2017

Background

Several antidiabetic therapies affect bone metabolism. Sulfonylureas have the lowest impact on bone among oral antidiabetics. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of vildagliptin and gliclazide modified release (MR) on bone turnover markers (BTMs) and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

Forty-two postmenopausal women with uncontrolled T2D were randomly allocated into vildagliptin or gliclazide MR (control) groups. The primary endpoint was the change in the BTMs in months 6 and 12 compared with the baseline. The secondary endpoint was the variation in the BMD, which was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip at baseline and month 12.

Results

After a 12-month treatment, the BTM serum carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen increased 0.001 ± 0.153 ng/mL in the vildagliptin group versus 0.008 ± 0.060 ng/mL in the gliclazide MR group (p = 0.858). The serum osteocalcin, serum amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I and urinary amino-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen remained stable in both groups, and there was no statistically significant difference between the effect of vildagliptin and gliclazide MR on these variables. The lumbar spine BMD did not change in the vildagliptin or gliclazide MR groups after a 12-month treatment (0.000 ± 0.025 g/cm2 versus −0.008 ± 0.036, respectively, p = 0.434). Furthermore, there was a similar lack of change in the femoral neck and total hip BMD values in both treatments.

Conclusions

Bone turnover markers and BMD remained unchanged after a 12-month treatment in both groups, which suggests that vildagliptin has the same safety profile as gliclazide MR on bone metabolism.

Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01679899
F-cone metric spaces over Banach algebra
Authors: Fernandez Jerolina , Malviya Neeraj , Radenovič Stojan , Saxena Kalpana
Published: May 2017

The paper deals with the achievement of introducing the notion of F-cone metric spaces over Banach algebra as a generalization of $N_{p}$

N
p

-cone metric space over Banach algebra and $N_{b}$

N
b

-cone metric space over Banach algebra and studying some of its topological properties. Also, here we define generalized Lipschitz and expansive maps for such spaces. Moreover, we investigate some fixed points for mappings satisfying such conditions in the new framework. Subsequently, as an application of our results, we provide an example. Our results generalize some well-known results in the literature.
Nano meets the sheet: adhesive-free application of nanocellulosic suspensions in paper conservation
Authors: Völkel L. , Ahn K. , Hähner U. , Gindl-Altmutter W. , Potthast A.
Published: May 2017

Historical papers are often locally damaged by exogenous influences and/or have endogenously degraded paper areas. The stabilization of such papers is very important because further use of the object can cause additional damage. Different types of nanocellulose are interesting as a novel stabilizing materials for paper due to their close structural relation to the paper matrix. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the treatment of historical papers with nanocellulose suspensions is a novel method for paper stabilization. Two different types of nanocelluloses, bacterial cellulose and a mechanically nanofibrillated cellulose based on wood pulp, were tested with regard to their performance in stabilizing fragile papers. Concerning material handling and application in conservation steps, different ways to modify the suspensions were tested. The resulting suspensions were applied to historical papers from several centuries with different extents of damage. The paper-nanocellulose composites were characterized with regard to their optical and microscopic integrity and by physical and chemical analyses. The treatment of mechanical damage and the consolidation of weakened paper areas could be realized by the application of a nanocellulose suspension without an additional adhesive. The results of the treatment depend on the type of nanocellulose, on the paper material, on processing and application techniques. The paper discusses the applicability and stability of the differently prepared nanocellulose suspensions, also with regard to their mode of application and long-term performance. Advantages and limitations are addressed in detail.
Tale of Two Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents: Utilization, Dosing, Litigation, and Costs of Darbepoetin and Epoetin Among South Carolina Medicaid-Covered Patients With Cancer and Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia
Authors: Noxon Virginia , Knopf Kevin B. , Norris LeAnn B. , Chen Brian , Yang Y. Tony , Qureshi Zaina P. , Hrushesky William , Lebby Akida A. , Schooley Benjamin , Hikmet Neset , Dickson Michael , Thamer Mae , Cotter Dennis , Yarnold Paul R. , Bennett Charles L.
Published: May 2017

Purpose:

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved epoetin and darbepoetin for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). Approved epoetin and darbepoetin dosing schedules were three times per week and weekly, respectively, although off-label, less frequent scheduling was common. In 2004, 2007, and 2008, a US Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committees warned of risks associated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. During this period, lawsuits alleging illegal darbepoetin marketing practices have concluded, resulting in $1.1 billion in fines and settlements and one criminal conviction. No prior study, to our knowledge, has reported on the use of darbepoetin versus epoetin for CIA.

Methods:

We evaluated the dosing, utilization, and costs of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents among 3,761 South Carolina Medicaid patients with CIA.

Results:

Epoetin and darbepoetin utilization rates were 22% and 28% in 2003, 10% and 33% in 2007, and 3% and 7% in 2010, respectively. Mean per-patient per-administration epoetin and darbepoetin doses were 40,983 IU and 191 µg, respectively, in 2003 and 47,753 IU and 369 µg, respectively, in 2010. Mean monthly patient costs for epoetin and darbepoetin were $1,030 and $981, respectively, in 2003 and $932 and $1,352, respectively, in 2010. Epoetin use decreased steadily between 2002 and 2010; darbepoetin use increased steadily between 2003 and 2007 and then decreased steadily thereafter. Per-patient dosing of darbepoetin, but not epoetin, increased steadily between 2003 and 2010, and monthly per-patient epoetin costs decreased 3% while the per-patients costs of darbepoetin increased 30% between 2003 and 2010.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, our findings are the first data reporting on epoetin versus darbepoetin use for CIA and support recently concluded lawsuits involving allegations of illegal marketing practices of the manufacturer of darbepoetin.
A Stabilization and Development Dilemma: The United States, Transatlantic Relations, and Southern Europe in the 1960s
Authors: Rizas Sotiris
Published: May 2017

During the 1960s Italy and Greece were undergoing rapid economic and social changes that were significant in both their economic and political ramifications. US policy was able to influence the course of events either bilaterally or multilaterally in the context of the Bretton Woods nexus of institutions and procedures. The central argument of this essay is that Washington's policy was formulated under various contradictory considerations. Cardinal among them was the necessity of preserving the basic requirements of the Bretton Woods regime. The stability of currency parities, particularly the safeguarding of the preeminent position of the dollar as an international reserve currency and its credibility against gold, dictated the continuation of orthodox monetary and fiscal policies. Political stability in Italy and Greece as a prop against political radicalization was a strategic consideration that militated against a strict application of a deflationary policy. The development of transatlantic relations with Charles de Gaulle's France posed a problem from an Allied perspective and was a factor that also militated against the strict application of a policy of monetary stability.
Cyprus's Natural Gas Strategy: Geopolitical and Economic Preconditions
Authors: Tsakiris Theodoros
Published: May 2017

Optimism arose about the discovery of Cypriot and Israeli gas reserves and how they might help resolve the Cyprus question, but the prospective monetization of these reserves has not modified Turkish or Turkish-Cypriot behavior vis-à-vis the Republic of Cyprus, despite Greek-Cypriot hopes. The gas discoveries were not the principal motivation behind the Greek and Greek-Cypriot attempts to establish a trilateral framework of structured cooperation with Israel and Egypt. The export of Cypriot gas to Egyptian liquefied natural gas facilities, however, is the only realistic option available to Nicosia that could also have a positive geopolitical impact on the trilateral framework and help reduce European Union gas dependence on Russia, although the reduction would be quite limited in the short to medium term. The revenues from the monetization of Cypriot gas reserves may be significant for the Cypriot economy, amounting to approximately 2 percent of its gross domestic product, but these direct benefits will materialize gradually over a period of fifteen years and will not be available in time to influence the ongoing talks for the resolution of the Cyprus question.
Hama's Ominous Shadow and the Stalled Jihadist War in Syria
Authors: Celso Anthony N.
Published: May 2017

Little has been written about the Syrian Civil War and its relationship to the 1980s revolutionary period. This essay examines this historical connection and emphasizes the unique features that drive the current rebellion. The essay has five sections. First, it lays out the historical roots of the current confessional-political conflict. Second, it provides an overview of the Muslim Brotherhood – led 1979 – 82 rebellion and its defeat in Hama. Third, it discusses the role that the Muslim Brotherhood revolt plays in the current conflict. Fourth, it analyzes jihadist infighting that has weakened the insurgency. Finally, it assesses the role that Russian, Iranian, and Hezbollah intervention has had in bolstering the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Syria's jihadist revolt has limited but important parallels to the failed 1982 Muslim Brotherhood insurrection. Even with the regime's conquest of Aleppo, the Islamist defeat in today's war is far from certain, although the current jihadist insurgency has stalled.
Erratum: Can attenuated total internal reflection-Fourier transform infrared be used to understand the interaction
between polymers and water? A hyperspectral imaging study
Authors: Mukherjee S. , Martínez-González J. , Stallard C. , Dowling D. , Gowen A.
Published: May 2017

The original article contained errors in a number of symbols within the text. Extraneous characters were added
before and after the symbol.

The original version is now corrected and is available at https://doi.org/10.1255/jsi.2017.a3.
Using Causal Forests to Predict Treatment Heterogeneity: An Application to Summer Jobs
Authors: Davis Jonathan M.V. , Heller Sara B.
Published: May 2017

To estimate treatment heterogeneity in two randomized controlled trials of a youth summer jobs program, we implement Wager and Athey's (2015) causal forest algorithm. We provide a step-by-step explanation targeted at applied researchers of how the algorithm predicts treatment effects based on observables. We then explore how useful the predicted heterogeneity is in practice by testing whether youth with larger predicted treatment effects actually respond more in a hold-out sample. Our application highlights some limitations of the causal forest, but it also suggests that the method can identify treatment heterogeneity for some outcomes that more standard interaction approaches would have missed.
Does Public Assistance Reduce Recidivism?
Authors: Yang Crystal S.
Published: May 2017

Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, individuals convicted of drug-related felonies were permanently banned from receiving welfare and food stamps. Since then, over 30 states have opted out of the federal ban. In this paper, I estimate the impact of public assistance eligibility on recidivism by exploiting both the adoption of the federal ban and subsequent passage of state laws that lifted the ban. Using administrative prison records on five million offenders and a triple-differences research design, I find that public assistance eligibility for drug offenders reduces one-year recidivism rates by 10 percent.
Moving to Job Opportunities? The Effect of “Ban the Box” on the Composition of Cities
Authors: Doleac Jennifer L. , Hansen Benjamin
Published: May 2017

Jurisdictions across the United States have adopted “ban the box” (BTB) policies preventing employers from conducting criminal background checks until late in the job application process. Their primary goal is to increase employment for those with criminal records. If individuals with criminal records view these policies as improving their labor market opportunities, they might move to BTB-adopting places in search of employment. In this paper, we consider BTB's effects on the demographic composition of labor markets and the likelihood that residents report recently moving from other labor markets. We find no evidence that BTB affects migration.
Large Firms and International Business Cycle Comovement
Authors: di Giovanni Julian , Levchenko Andrei A. , Mejean Isabelle
Published: May 2017

This paper investigates the role of the top 100 firms in France in aggregate business cycle comovement. We establish that the top 100 firms (i) are important in aggregate; (ii) exhibit stronger international linkages than the rest of the economy; and (iii) contribute substantially to aggregate comovement.
Gender Gap in High-Growth Ventures: Evidence from a University Venture Mentoring Program
Authors: Scott Erin L. , Shu Pian
Published: May 2017

We track high-growth ventures from the idea stage to commercialization and investigate the nature of the gender gap early in the venture lifecycle. Using data on 651 venture ideas that collectively attracted over $700 million in venture financing, we find a significant gender gap among ventures without documented intellectual assets at the earliest stage of founding but not among ventures that already possess intellectual assets. We also find a gender gap in entrepreneurs' readiness to commit to their venture ideas full-time. Conditional on such commitment, there are no significant differences in ventures' access to venture financing or rate of commercialization.
Heterogeneous Scarring Effects of Full-Year Nonemployment
Authors: Guvenen Fatih , Karahan Fatih , Ozkan Serdar , Song Jae
Published: May 2017

Drawing on administrative data from the Social Security Administration, we find that individuals that go through a long period of non-employment suffer large and long-term earnings losses (around 35-40 percent) compared to individuals with similar age and previous earnings histories. Importantly, these differences depend on past earnings, and are largest at the bottom and top of the earnings distribution. Focusing on workers that are employed 10 years after a period of long-term non-employment, we find much smaller earnings losses (8-10 percent). Furthermore, the large earnings losses of low-income individuals are almost entirely due to employment effects.
Trumping Norms: Lab Evidence on Aggressive Communication Before and After the 2016 US Presidential Election
Authors: Huang Jennie , Low Corinne
Published: May 2017

This paper provides evidence from a negotiation experiment that the 2016 US presidential election of Donald Trump had a profound impact on individual behavior in the lab. Using a Battle of the Sexes game with unstructured communication, we find that post-election individuals are less cooperative in general, more likely to use adversarial negotiation strategies, and less likely to reach an agreement. Furthermore, this is particularly driven by men acting more aggressively toward women. Our results are robust to controlling for sample selection. These results suggest that Trump's election may have disrupted community norms around civility and chivalry.
No Gender Difference in Willingness to Compete When Competing against Self
Authors: Apicella Coren L. , Demiral Elif E. , Mollerstrom Johanna
Published: May 2017

We report on two experiments investigating whether there is a gender difference in the willingness to compete against oneself (self-competition), similar to what is found when competing against others (other-competition). In one laboratory and one online market experiment, involving a total of 1,200 participants, we replicate the gender-gap in willingness to other-compete but find no evidence of a gender difference in the willingness to self-compete. We explore the roles of risk and confidence and suggest that these factors can account for the different findings. Finally, we document that self-competition does no worse than other-competition in terms of performance boosting.
Replication and Economics Journal Policies
Authors: Höffler Jan H.
Published: May 2017

Economics journals with reproducibility policies are cited more often than others. For the minority of journals with a mandatory and enforced policy, this is significant when controlling for time and journal effects. To cope with the large variety of software used and to develop standards for replicability, joint efforts of journals could ensure each empirical study is published with data, code, and instructions on how to use them together. Individual reviewers could take initiative by asking for replicable empirical results. The American Journal of Political Science sets an example by having all empirical studies externally check for replicability prior to publication.
Replication, Meta-Analysis, and Research Synthesis in Economics
Authors: Anderson Richard G. , Kichkha Areerat
Published: May 2017

Replicability is essential to assure the scientific integrity of empirical economic research. Some authors have suggested metadata analysis as a complementary tool. This suggestion must be addressed with caution. Empirical studies in most of economics are nonstochastic in the sense that they seldom are created via experiments and, with the data and computer software in-hand, should be reproducible without error.
A Preanalysis Plan to Replicate Sixty Economics Research Papers That Worked Half of the Time
Authors: Chang Andrew C. , Li Phillip
Published: May 2017

We attempted to replicate 67 macroeconomic papers using author-provided data and code files by following a preanalysis plan. Excluding 6 papers that used confidential data, we obtained data and code replication files for 29 of 35 papers (83 percent) that were required to provide such files as a condition of publication, compared to 11 of 26 papers (42 percent) that were not required to provide such files. Also excluding the 2 papers that used software we did not possess, we replicated 29 of 59 papers (49 percent) with assistance from the authors. We conclude with recommendations on improving replication of economics research.
Euro-Area Quantitative Easing and Portfolio Rebalancing
Authors: Koijen Ralph S. J. , Koulischer François , Nguyen Benoît , Yogo Motohiro
Published: May 2017

We use new and comprehensive data on the security holdings of euro-area investors to document facts about the ongoing quantitative easing program. The holdings of purchase-eligible government bonds have strong home bias not only for banks but also for insurance companies, pension funds, and mutual funds, especially in the vulnerable countries. In response to the program, foreign investors sold most of the purchase-eligible government bonds. Banks also sold purchase-eligible government bonds to a lesser extent, but insurance companies and pension funds bought them. Thus, quantitative easing may have reduced the duration mismatch for these institutions.