bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is London Really the Engine-Room? Migration, Opportunity Hoarding and Regional Social Mobility in the UK
Authors: Friedman Sam , Macmillan Lindsey
Published: May 2017

In this paper we explore for the first time regional differences in the patterning of occupational social mobility in the UK. Drawing on data from Understanding Society (US), supported by the Labour Force Survey (LFS), we examine how rates of absolute and relative intergenerational occupational mobility vary across 19 regions of England, Scotland and Wales. Our findings somewhat problematise the dominant policy narrative on regional social mobility, which presents London as the national ‘engine-room’ of social mobility. In contrast, we find that those currently living in Inner London have experienced the lowest regional rate of absolute upward mobility, the highest regional rate of downward mobility, and a comparatively low rate of relative upward mobility into professional and managerial occupations. This stands in stark contrast to Merseyside and particularly Tyne and Wear where rates of both absolute and relative upward mobility are high, and downward mobility is low. We then examine this Inner London effect further, finding that it is driven in part by two dimensions of migration. First, among international migrants, we find strikingly low rates of upward mobility and high rates of downward mobility. Second, among domestic migrants, we find a striking overrepresentation of those from professional and managerial backgrounds. These privileged domestic migrants, our results indicate, are less likely to experience downward mobility than those from similar backgrounds elsewhere in the country. This may be partly explained by higher educational qualifications, but may also be indicative of a glass floor or opportunity hoarding.
Predicting prognosis in patients with advanced cancer: A prospective study
Authors: Tavares Teresa , Oliveira Margarida , Gonçalves João , Trocado Vera , Perpétuo Jéssica , Azevedo Alexandra , Machado Firmino , Barreto Vasco , Rocha Céu
Published: May 2017

Background:

Prognosis is one of the most challenging questions with which physicians are confronted. Accuracy in the prediction of survival is necessary for clinical, ethical, and organizational reasons.

Aim:

Evaluate young doctors’ clinical prediction of survival and the aids they could get: expert opinion, Palliative Prognostic score, and Palliative Prognostic Index.

Design:

Prospective, observational study.

Setting/participants:

Advanced cancer patients under observation of an inhospital palliative care team, from April to July 2014. A total of 38 patients were included, mostly male (65.8%), average age 68.5 years. Average survival time was 24 days. Follow-up concluded with death or after 90 days.

Results:

Young doctors’ clinical prediction of survival was adequate at 10.5%, with 55.3% severe errors in an optimistic direction. Palliative care experts were more adequate (23.7%) and made less severe errors (42.1%). Palliative Prognostic score and Palliative Prognostic Index were even more adequate (47% and 55%, respectively) and made even less severe errors (0% and 11%, respectively). The best correlation with observed survival was achieved when palliative care experts used palliative prognostic score ( rs = −0.629; p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Young doctors’ clinical prediction of survival is often inadequate. Palliative Prognostic score, which includes clinical prediction of survival, calculated by palliative care experts had the best performance. Our results support the recommendation of using clinical prediction of survival together with prognostic scores.
Building bridges
Authors: Dickinson Jill , Griffiths Teri-Lisa
Published: May 2017

This article explores how universities and industry can work together to improve access to graduate opportunities for disadvantaged students. Focusing on an initiative which involved students from a ‘post-1992’ UK university experiencing London’s legal sector, the article analyses the factors that contributed to the students’ perceptions of their increased self-efficacy as a result of participating in the event. Using a focus group methodology, the authors critically examine the barriers that can be imposed by students’ socio-economic backgrounds, which may prevent such initiatives from having a meaningful impact on diverse recruitment and fair access to the higher professional occupations. Concentrating on two strands of the Triple Helix model, the authors also make recommendations for building more effective bridges between universities and industry to improve access to the elite professions.
Clinical value of miR-452-5p expression in lung adenocarcinoma: A retrospective quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction study and verification based on The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases
Authors: Gan Xiao-ning , Luo Jie , Tang Rui-xue , Wang Han-lin , Zhou Hong , Qin Hui , Gan Ting-qing , Chen Gang
Published: May 2017

The role and mechanism of miR-452-5p in lung adenocarcinoma remain unclear. In this study, we performed a systematic study to investigate the clinical value of miR-452-5p expression in lung adenocarcinoma. The expression of miR-452-5p in 101 lung adenocarcinoma patients was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were joined to verify the expression level of miR-452-5p in lung adenocarcinoma. Via several online prediction databases and bioinformatics software, pathway and network analyses of miR-452-5p target genes were performed to explore its prospective molecular mechanism. The expression of miR-452-5p in lung adenocarcinoma in house was significantly lower than that in adjacent tissues (p < 0.001). Additionally, the expression level of miR-452-5p was negatively correlated with several clinicopathological parameters including the tumor size (p = 0.014), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.032), and tumor–node–metastasis stage (p = 0.036). Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas also confirmed the low expression of miR-452 in lung adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). Furthermore, reduced expression of miR-452-5p in lung adenocarcinoma (standard mean deviations = −0.393, 95% confidence interval: −0.774 to −0.011, p = 0.044) was validated by a meta-analysis. Five hub genes targeted by miR-452-5p, including SMAD family member 4, SMAD family member 2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein epsilon, and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein beta, were significantly enriched in the cell-cycle pathway. In conclusion, low expression of miR-452-5p tends to play an essential role in lung adenocarcinoma. Bioinformatics analysis might be beneficial to reveal the potential mechanism of miR-452-5p in lung adenocarcinoma.
CXCL11 mediates TWIST1-induced angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Koo Yu-Jin , Kim Tae-Jin , Min Kyung-Jin , So Kyeong-A , Jung Un-Suk , Hong Jin-Hwa
Published: May 2017

To investigate the role of TWIST1 in tumor angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancer and to identify key molecules involved in angiogenesis. TWIST1 small interfering RNA was transfected into A2780 cells, while a complementary DNA vector was transfected into non-malignant human ovarian surface epithelial cells to generate a TWIST1-overexpressing cell line. To evaluate how this affects angiogenesis, human umbilical vein endothelial cell tube formation assays were performed using the control and transfected cell lines. An antibody-based cytokine array was used to identify the molecules involved in TWIST1-mediated angiogenesis. After knockdown of TWIST1 via transfection of TWIST1 small interfering RNA into A2780 cells, the number of tubes formed by human umbilical vein endothelial cells significantly decreased in a tube formation assay. In a cytokine array, TWIST1 downregulation did not significantly decrease the secretion of the common pro-angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, but instead inhibited the expression of the CXC chemokine ligand 11, which was confirmed by both an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting. In contrast, TWIST1 overexpression resulted in increased secretion of CXC chemokine ligand 11. Conversely, CXC chemokine ligand 11 downregulation did not inhibit the expression of TWIST1. Furthermore, the ability of TWIST1-expressing A2780 cells to induce angiogenesis was found to be inhibited after CXC chemokine ligand 11 knockdown in a tube formation assay. TWIST1 plays an important role in angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancer and is mediated by a novel pro-angiogenic factor, CXC chemokine ligand 11. Downregulation of CXC chemokine ligand 11 can inhibit tumor angiogenesis, suggesting that anti–CXC chemokine ligand 11 therapy may offer an alternative treatment strategy for TWIST1-positive ovarian cancer.
Automotive surrender: The demise of industrial policy in the Australian vehicle industry
Authors: Stanford Jim
Published: May 2017

Australia developed a strong and successful automotive manufacturing industry after the Second World War, based on active industrial policy. But in 2017, mass vehicle assembly in the country will cease altogether, as the last global automakers operating in the country close their final plants, with negative spillover effects along the automotive manufacturing supply chain. After 2017, Australia will be the only major industrial country with no vehicle assembly whatsoever. This article analyses the shifts in industrial policy that explain both the initial postwar expansion, and the subsequent decline and closures. Policy-makers incorrectly assumed that the critical goal of stimulating automotive exports could be achieved through trade liberalisation, but dismantling tariffs only stimulated vehicle imports without increasing overseas demand for Australian cars. Production declined in tandem with tariffs, and there was no clear industry policy strategy for facilitating the redirection of released resources to more productive manufacturing activity, when that outcome, predicted in neoliberal comparative advantage theory, failed to materialise. Financial market deregulation, resulting in financialisation of the economy, coupled with high commodity prices, resulted in an overvalued and volatile currency, attracting foreign investors to resources and asset speculation while appearing to increase manufacturing production costs. A clear contrast is drawn between Australia’s policy passivity in recent decades, and the continued policy activism visible in other jurisdictions of all political orientations – including countries which, particularly after the global financial crisis, faced economic and industrial challenges at least as daunting as Australia’s. In the 1970s, Australia had been among the world’s top 10 auto manufacturers; after 2017, it will be one of only two G20 countries completely lacking mass automotive manufacturing capacity. The industry’s disappearance from Australia is shown to have resulted from some unique policy choices: understanding them may help avert future similar policy errors.
Patient Perspectives on Transitions of Surgical Care: Examining the Complexities and Interdependencies of Care
Authors: González Maynor G. , Kelly Kristin N. , Dozier Ann M. , Fleming Fergal , Monson John R. T. , Becerra Adan Z. , Aquina Christopher T. , Probst Christian P. , Hensley Bradley J. , Sevdalis Nick , Noyes Katia
Published: May 2017

This study examined a thematic network aimed at identifying experiences that influence patients’ outcomes (e.g., patients’ satisfaction, anxiety, and discharge readiness) in an effort to improve care transitions and reduce patient burden. We drew upon the Sociology and Complexity Science Toolkit to analyze themes derived from 61 semistructured, longitudinal interviews with 20 patients undergoing either a benign or malignant colorectal resection (three interviews per patient over a 30-day after hospital discharge). Thematic interdependencies illustrate how most outcomes of care are significantly influenced by two cascades identified as patients’ medical histories and home circumstances. Patients who reported previous medical or surgical histories also experienced less distress during the discharge process, whereas patients with no prior experiences reported more concerns and greater anxiety. Patient dissatisfactions and challenges were due in large part to the contrasts between hospital and home experiences. Our hybrid approach may inform patient-centered guidelines aimed at improving transitions of care among patients undergoing major surgery.
A continuum damage-healing model of healing agents based self-healing materials
Authors: Pan Yihui , Tian Fang , Zhong Zheng
Published: May 2017

In this paper, a continuum damage-healing model is proposed to interpret the damage-healing phenomenon of healing agents based self-healing materials. The plasticity, damage and healing are respectively described by accumulated plastic strain, damage variable and healing variable. Based on the non-equilibrium thermodynamics and the phase field method, the energy dissipation and corresponding kinetic laws of plasticity, damage and healing are respectively obtained. The healing is motivated by the diffusion of healing agents released by capsules or solute atoms. The corresponding process is described by a diffusion equation with chemical reaction. Furthermore, the threshold and the criteria of damage and healing are established for self-healing materials. The theoretical model is then applied to simulate the healing of concentrated and dispersed damage including the cutting damage, the puncture damage, the homogeneous damage under uniaxial tensile stress and the inhomogeneous damage under pure bending. It is demonstrated that the mechanical loading, the accumulated damage and the diffusion of healing agents work together to govern the healing evolution of self-healing materials.
Monitoring and structural analysis of a rehabilitated box girder bridge based on long-gauge strain sensors
Authors: Huang Huang , Wu Zhishen
Published: May 2017

Structural rehabilitation is playing an increasingly important role in civil engineering owing to issues with aging infrastructure. In this context, a feasible inspection and monitoring system is needed to draw up effective structural rehabilitation projects. This article presents a case study of a real box girder bridge strengthened via external post-tensioning. With the aim of evaluating the strengthening project and the structural behavior changes, a large-scale strain sensing system containing four sensing areas was installed on the bridge before strengthening, and the static and dynamic strain distribution changes were recorded during annual inspections. The text focuses on discussing and comparing the variations of strain distribution across the bridge before and after strengthening, as well as the yearly changes the rehabilitated bridge has undergone. From the measured strain responses, we accurately determined that the rehabilitated bridge had undergone an unexpected reduction in its flexural stiffness as well as a torsion action. Moreover, finite element analysis results of three different damage models are discussed to understand the detailed cause for this.
Exploration, exploitation, and variability: Competition for primacy revisited
Authors: Uotila Juha
Published: May 2017

This study examines how exploration and exploitation contribute to variability in organizational performance and how this variability influences competitions for primacy, that is, contexts in which the ability to generate exceptionally high levels of performance is a key success factor. The results of simulation analyses conducted using the NK model, the mutual learning model, and the multiarmed bandit model all show that while exploration introduces more internal variability in organizations, exploitation tends to increase the variability in performance between different organizations. Variability and uniqueness in relation to one’s competitors, brought about by a single-minded focus on exploitation, is found to be advantageous in a race to finish first. In contrast, in contexts where avoiding especially low performance is the key consideration, exploration is found to be relatively more beneficial. These results suggest a need for a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between exploration, exploitation, and organizational risk taking.
Global capitalism’s Trojan Horse: Consumer power and the National Student Survey in England
Authors: Holligan Chris , Shah Qasir
Published: May 2017

Neo-liberal capitalism is a representation of values that are detrimental to intellectual inquiry. Market deregulation and consumer choice are relentless in their erosion of academic autonomy and traditions of independent scholarship. Education as a ‘positional good’ may be weakened more in the post-1992 higher education sector, where consumer-oriented quality assurance is used strategically to bolster prestige and so improve relative competitive advantage (for student recruitment and external monies), than in the pre-1992 Russell Group of universities, which privileges academic research and autonomy from regulation. The university as an intellectual public domain is subject to suppression by capitalism’s deployment of a putatively enlightened ‘student voice’. This neo-liberal embrace of ‘student experience’ is evidenced in the privileging of choice and satisfaction anchored in the envisaging of earning power as a basic touchstone of relevance. Globalisation’s Trojan Horse, the authors argue, is embodied in the positivism of the quantitative metrics of the National Student Survey, designed by global giant Ipsos MORI. The argument that a ranking of universities on the results of the National Student Survey demonstrates excellence begs the question of what the university is for.
Protective Factors in Families: Themes From a Socioecological Study of Australian Defence Force Families Experiencing Parental Deployment
Authors: Rogers-Baber Marg
Published: May 2017

Families sometimes face prolonged and frequent absences of a parent due to employment in industries that require work away or for military deployment. Many families, however, are finding ways to survive and thrive. Within Australian Defence Force (ADF) families, despite the high stress and inherent danger, most do cope, displaying strength and resilience. Limited research has been conducted with Australian military families with young children, even less focusing on protective factors. There is particularly a dearth of research about families who have left the ADF or who have experienced the death of an ADF parent. This study offers unique insights through exploring family experiences of parental deployment by applying a socioconstructivist approach from data derived through narrative research. Protective factors were identified through relationships, the ADF, social media, community organizations, government departments, and digital communication technologies. Understanding how these families manage and the protective factors they utilize may enable early childhood educators and family support services to better understand family resilience, and thus provide appropriate services for military families with young children.
I Look, You Smile: The First Mother–Child Communicative Interaction: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Tenuta Flaviana , Marcone Roberto , Bartolo Maria Giuseppina , Persampieri Mariarosa , Costabile Angela
Published: May 2017

This article discusses the first development of communicative interaction between mother and child, by analyzing the connection between expression and smile. A total of 13 mother–child dyads, recruited at the moment of admission to hospital, participated in the study. Observations have been made when the children were 3, 6, and 9 months old. Mother and child were put in front of each other, and the mother was asked to play freely with her child using a set of toys. The sequential codification of the mother’s and the child’s behaviors (occurrence and duration) was encoded by two independent observers. Occurrences and durations were analyzed to verify the increase of the interactive dyadic exchange along the three follow-ups. The results highlight an increase in synchronic behaviors in the dyad as the child’s age increases, showing the circularity of the dyadic interaction: Mothers increase the occurrences of contingent responses and children increase their competences regarding emotional regulations.
A local and regional spatial index for measuring three-dimensional urban compactness growth
Authors: Koziatek Olympia , Dragićević Suzana
Published: May 2017

The negative impacts resulting from urban sprawl are recognized as serious issues entailing environmental problems. Urban developments are moving towards a more compact form to mitigate many issues including pollution concerns, land depletion, and population growth demands. Urban compactness has been reported to be a more sustainable form of development that occurs through densification and mixed land use practices through spatial indicators that intensify the landscape. Urban modeling has been used extensively to aid in urban and regional planning as it can forecast possible scenarios of urban growth. The objective of this research is to develop and implement a spatial index for three-dimensional (3D) urban compactness to evaluate potential vertical development growth. The spatial index has two components, local and regional, and it is derived based on parameters accounting for a vertical urban growth suitability analysis, land designation, and average building height. Datasets used for this study were for the Metro Vancouver Region, Canada, a rapidly developing area with plans in place for sustainability and compact growth. The spatial index was derived for the study area for the year 2011 and projected to the year 2041 with a 10-year time interval, accounting for the spatio-temporal land use change. Results indicate concentrations of urban compactness growth near densely populated and transportation-oriented locations and also capture urban leap-frogging processes. The presented research aims to aid local governments in future planning processes related to regional sustainable development growth.
Procreative Beneficence, Obligation, and Eugenics
Authors: Sparrow Robert
Published: May 2017

The argument of Julian Savulescu's 2001 paper, "Procreative Beneficence: Why We Should Select the Best Children" is flawed in a number of respects. Savulescu confuses reasons with obligations and equivocates between the claim that parents have some reason to want the best for their children and the more radical claim that they are morally obligated to attempt to produce the best child possible. Savulescu offers aprima facieimplausible account of parental obligation, as even the best parents typically fail to do everything they think would be best for their children let alone everything that is in fact best for their children. The profound philosophical difficulties which beset the attempt to formulate a plausible account of thebesthuman life constitute a further independent reason to resile from Savulescu's conclusion. Savulescu's argument also requires parents to become complicit with racist and homophobic (and other forms of) oppression, which is yet another reason to reject it. Removing the equivocation from Savulescu's argument allows us to see that the assertion of an obligation to choose the "best child" has much more in common with the "old" eugenics than Savulescu acknowledges.
Genetics, genetic testing and sports: Aspects from sports cardiology
Authors: Löllgen Herbert , Löllgen Ruth
Published: May 2017

There is a major trade-off between improvements in longevity, general health, fitness and quality of life due to regular intense physical activity on the one hand and possible cardiac risks on the other hand, whether for participants in leisure time sports activities or for highly trained athletes. Cardiac complications and sudden death in sports, even though rare, but dramatic, events, are mainly observed in those suffering from inherited, often latent diseases with a strong genetic background, unknown to the subjects. Sedentary lifestyle together with more than one risk factor may also contribute to cardiac events in persons beginning to exercise for the first time or recommencing intense physical activities after a long pause.

Manifestations of inherited cardiac diseases with a typical genetic component may occur in children or adolescents, but also in adults. For many inherited cardiac diseases there is a large body of knowledge on the genetic origin, therefore, genetic testing may be a valuable tool for diagnosis and prevention of underlying diseases, especially as genetic testing has become much cheaper over the last few years.

The present paper describes cardiac diseases with genetic disposition and related genetic testing and presents recommendations for genetic examinations. Testing should be of benefit for sportsmen and women but also for family members to prevent fatal cardiac events. These recommendations will consider benefits for the sports person, and ethical reflections as well.
Complete genome sequence of bacteriochlorophyll-synthesizing bacterium Porphyrobacter neustonensis DSM 9434
Authors: Liu Qian , Wu Yue-Hong , Cheng Hong , Xu Lin , Wang Chun-Sheng , Xu Xue-Wei
Published: May 2017

The genus Porphyrobacter belongs to aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria cluster. Porphyrobacter neustonensis DSM 9434 was isolated from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Australia, and is able to synthesize Bacteriochlorophyll a as well as grow under aerobic conditions. It is the type species of the genus Porphyrobacter. Here we describe the characteristics of the strain DSM 9434, including the genome sequence and annotation, synthesis of BChl a, and metabolic pathways of the organism. The genome of strain DSM 9434 comprises 3,090,363 bp and contains 2,902 protein-coding genes, 47 tRNA genes and 6 rRNA genes. Strain DSM 9434 encodes 46 genes which participate in BChl a synthesis and this investigation shed light on the evolution and functional implications regarding bacteriochlorophyll synthesis.
Safety and Antitumor Activity of Pembrolizumab in Advanced Programmed Death Ligand 1–Positive Endometrial Cancer: Results From the KEYNOTE-028 Study
Authors: Ott Patrick A. , Bang Yung-Jue , Berton-Rigaud Dominique , Elez Elena , Pishvaian Michael J. , Rugo Hope S. , Puzanov Igor , Mehnert Janice M. , Aung Kyaw L. , Lopez Juanita , Carrigan Marion , Saraf Sanatan , Chen Mei , Soria Jean-Charles
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The multicohort phase Ib KEYNOTE-028 (NCT02054806) study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab, an anti–programmed death 1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) –positive advanced solid tumors. The results from the advanced endometrial cancer cohort are reported.

Patients and Methods

Female patients with locally advanced or metastatic PD-L1–positive endometrial cancer who had experienced progression after standard therapy were eligible. Patients received pembrolizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks for up to 24 months or until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary efficacy end point was objective response rate by RECIST (version 1.1). Secondary end points included safety, duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival, and overall survival. The data cutoff was February 17, 2016.

Results

Of 75 patients screened, 36 (48.0%) had PD-L1–positive tumors, and 24 (32.0%) were enrolled. Fifteen (62.5%) of these 24 patients had received at least two previous lines of therapy for advanced disease. Three patients (13.0%) achieved confirmed partial response (95% CI, 2.8% to 33.6%); the median DOR was not reached. Two patients were still receiving treatment and exhibiting continued response at time of data cutoff. Three additional patients (13.0%) achieved stable disease, with a median duration of 24.6 weeks. One patient who achieved partial response had a polymerase E mutation. Thirteen patients (54.2%) experienced treatment-related adverse events (AEs), with fatigue (20.8%), pruritus (16.7%), pyrexia (12.5%), and decreased appetite (12.5%) occurring in ≥ 10% of patients. Grade 3 treatment-related AEs were reported in four patients. No patient experienced a grade 4 AE, and no patient discontinued treatment because of an AE.

Conclusion

Pembrolizumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile and durable antitumor activity in a subgroup of patients with heavily pretreated advanced PD-L1–positive endometrial cancer.
Evolving Treatment of Advanced Urothelial Cancer
Authors: Sridhar Srikala S.
Published: May 2017

Urothelial cancer of the bladder is a smoking-related cancer and the fifth most common cancer in the United States. At presentation, up to 25% of patients will have muscle-invasive disease and, despite cystectomy or bladder-sparing trimodality approaches, will develop metastatic disease. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy regimens remain the standard of care in first-line metastatic disease. Although response rates to these regimens are high, they are rarely durable, and median overall survival is only 12 to 15 months. Treatment options following progression on cisplatin-based regimens or for patients unfit for cisplatin due to poor performance status, impaired renal function, or comorbidities have been quite limited. However, there is now a new class of drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, which target the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 axis and promote antitumor immunity, that are showing both efficacy and tolerability. These drugs have now been approved for use in both cisplatin-treated and most recently cisplatin-unfit patients. Clinical trials are currently ongoing to determine how best to use these drugs and whether they should be used alone or in combination with other treatments. This review will discuss the current standard of care in the management of urothelial cancer and highlight recent trials of immunotherapy in this disease.
Measurement tools of autism syndrome severity and selected neurocognitive processes in individuals with ASD
Authors: Krzysztofik Karolina , Otrębski Wojciech
Published: May 2017

Zgodnie z najnowszymi koncepcjami wyjaśniającymi patomechanizm i przebieg zaburzeń ze spektrum autyzmu (ASD), charakteryzują się one nieprawidłowościami w rozwoju procesów neuropoznawczych, takich jak: funkcje wykonawcze, "teoria umysłu" , styl poznawczy czy procesy integracji sensorycznej.
Niejednorodna struktura tych procesów przekłada się na zróżnicowanie narzędzi ich pomiaru. Dobór odpowiedniego narzędzia pomiarowego uwarunkowany jest natomiast rodzajem mierzonego wskaźnika danego procesu neuropoznawczego. Wskaźniki behawioralne (werbalne i niewerbalne zachowania osób badanych) mierzone są za pomocą arkuszy obserwacyjnych. Natomiast pomiar wskaźników neurofizjologicznych dokonywany jest z wykorzystaniem urządzeń wysokiej technologii, takich jak: tomografia komputerowa (CT), funkcjonalny rezonans magnetyczny(fMRI) czy okulograf.
Artykuł systematyzując narzędzia najczęściej stosowane do pomiaru przebiegu procesów integracji sensorycznej oraz poziomu rozwoju "teorii umysłu" i empatyzowania u osób z ASD, a także nasilenia syndromu autyzmu, ujawnia istnienie związku między postawioną hipotezą a rodzajem mierzonych wskaźników wyżej wymienionych zmiennych. Wskazuje zatem potrzebę osadzenia przez badacza projektu swoich badań w podejściu metodologicznym stosownym dla weryfikacji postawionej hipotezy.
Board Structure Mandates: Consequences for Director Location and Financial Reporting
Authors: Alam Zinat S. , Chen Mark A. , Ciccotello Conrad S. , Ryan Harley E.
Published: May 2017

We examine how the director independence mandates of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) and related reforms affected board geography and the quality of financial reporting. Using 1998–2006 data on the residential addresses of individual directors, we document that the geographic proximity to headquarters of audit committees and other monitoring committees declined upon implementation of the mandates. The decrease in proximity was especially large for those firms that were both SOX noncompliant and supply constrained in local director labor markets at the time the reforms were enacted. Moreover, firms with larger SOX-related losses of director proximity experienced significantly greater post-SOX declines in earnings quality. Our findings therefore suggest that, for some firms, the director independence mandates had unintended consequences for financial reporting quality.

Data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2736 .

This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Anaesthesia for liver transplantation
Authors: Thakrar Sonali V , Melikian Clare N
Published: May 2017

Liver transplantation is a complex procedure that requires a truly multidisciplinary team approach with anaesthetic involvement from the outset in order to ensure excellent outcomes. Before a patient is placed on the waiting list for a liver transplant, a thorough evaluation is undertaken and his/her suitability for transplantation discussed in a patient selection committee meeting. The perioperative management of patients requiring transplantation can be challenging because of the systemic implications of liver disease, approaches to surgical technique and the quality of the grafts used; an increase in the use of marginal donor organs to meet the organ demand poses its own unique difficulties.
Surgical issues in retrieval and implantation
Authors: Skipworth James RA , Spoletini Gabriele , Imber Charles
Published: May 2017

With increasing demand for organ transplantation and patients deteriorating or dying on the waiting list, organs are now being increasingly used from donors previously considered too marginal. This requires improvements to donor management during the retrieval process, and of the organ during transport and subsequent implantation, in order to maintain outcomes.
CALORIE COUNTING APPLICATION FEEDBACK: POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE TEENAGE FEMALE PSYCHE
Authors: Rentko Elizabeth
Published: May 2017

From an early age, girls are surrounded by a desire to be thin. Because of this, eating disorders are a growing epidemic. Technology has been infused into the dietary world, enabling people to diet by themselves as long as Wi-Fi is present. Caloric input applications (apps that count calories) (CCA) have become the efficient way to monitor dietary choices. CCAs use feedback to alert users of proper caloric intake. It was hypothesized that if a diet that ranged between 800-1200 calories a day was entered into a CCA, then feedback generated would be more positive as compared to negative. During three weeks, the dietary choices of the principle investigator (P.I.) were entered into two CCAs. Three dietary profiles were used to simulate the eating habits of an adolescent female. Caloric intake was tracked three times a day and feedback was collected. A certified psychologist classified the feedback. It was determined that there was a relationship between calories entered into the app and the type of feedback generated. Future studies should focus on the development of a CCA that focuses more on when the user is eating rather than calories.Dès l’enfance, les filles sont entourées des messages leur incitant d’un désir d’être minces. En conséquence, les troubles du comportement alimentaire sont devenus une épidémie croissante. La technologie a pénétré le monde diététique, permettant aux gens de suivre un régime eux-mêmes là où le WiFi est présent. Des applications d’apport caloriques (les apps qui calculent des calories) (ACC) sont devenues une façon efficace de controller des choix diététiques. Les ACCs font des observations par rapport à l’information qui a été saisie afin de proposer aux utilisateurs des choix correspondant à une consommation calorique appropriée. L’hypothèse projetée a été le suivant : si un régime comportant entre 800-1200 calories par jour a été saisie dans un ACC, les observations générées par l’app seraient plus positif que négatif. Au cours de trois semaines, l’enquêteur principal (E.P.) a enregistré ses choix diététiques dans deux ACCs. Trois distincts profils diététiques ont été programmés afin de simuler les habitudes alimentaires d’une adolescente. La consommation calorique a été surveillée trois fois par jour et une collecte d’information rassemblée. Un psychologue certifié a analysé la collecte d’information. Il a été conclu qu’il y avait une relation directe entre la saisie des calories dans l’app et les observations correspondent généré par ceci. Des études futures devraient se concentrer sur le développement d’un ACC qui se concentre plus sur l’heure pendant lequel l’utilisateur saisie les données (c’est-à-dire, le moment quand l’utilisateur mange) plutôt que le calcul des calories.
Diabetes Mellitus Complications in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Famiyeh Petra
Published: May 2017

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a non-communicable disease whereby a person’s pancreas is either incapable of producing or unable to use insulin in the body. The disease and its complications are growing in different parts of the world. It has been predicted that by 2035, there will be over 205 million diabetics in the world. It has been hypothesized that diabetes complications is highly prevalent in many African countries due to high medication cost, lack of early diagnoses and treatment, low economic standing, and culture-influenced beliefs about the disease. To address this hypothesis, a literary review was conducted on peer-reviewed articles. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched using the keywords: diabetes, diabetes in Africa, diabetes complications to retrieve these articles. The articles were read and evaluated by one reviewer and information was extracted to generate conclusion about the hypothesis. The research found that the high influx of diabetes complications in Sub-Saharan Africa is correlated with the low economic status of countries within this region. Also high reliance on traditional medicine leading to delayed treatment also influences the prevalence of complications.This research also sought to identify the most effective preventative measures for these complications (e.g. optimal diet, exercise, access to effective medications) and the availability of these measures in the Sub-Saharan African regions. It was determined that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to optimal medications, which is the most effective preventative measure. Future studies should focus on ways to improve this preventive measure to optimize diabetes control in these regions.Le diabète sucré, connu communément sous le nom de diabète, est une maladie non-transmissible qui surgit lorsque le pancréas d’une personne est incapable de produire de l’insuline ou est incapable d’utiliser l’insuline produite. Des prévisions montrent qu’à l’an 2035 , il y aura plus de 205 millions de diabétiques dans le monde. Il y a une hypothèse que la situation économique de pays subsahariens et la culture contribuent aux complications diabétiques de ces régions. De la recherche a été conduite dans des journaux révisé par des pairs afin de prouver ou de réfuter cette hypothèse. Il a été découvert qu’il y a une corrélation directe entre le statut économique et culturel de pays en Afrique subsaharienne et le taux élevé de complications provoqués par le diabète sucré. Cette recherche a aussi été ciblée pour rechercher les mesures préventatives pour éviter ces complications et pour augmenter la disponibilité de ces mesures. Il a été déterminé que ces pays manquaient ces mesures préventives et efficaces. Des études futures devraient se concentrer sur des moyens d’installation de ces mesures afin de sauver des vies.
Finding Myself through the Student Advancement Research Program and the Student Mentorship Program
Authors: Petit Mylene
Published: May 2017

As a high school student, being motivated to study hard was a struggle, and I lacked passion for the school subjects. I had ambitions about becoming a doctor, but somehow I lost my direction.
Tartaric Acid Cross-Linking of Starch: Effect of Reaction Conditions on the Maximum Tensile Strength of Cast Plastic Films
Authors: Mendoza Arturo José
Published: May 2017

Modification of starch by cross-linking is used in many fields, as the process improves many of the properties of starch, yet most cross-linking agents in common use tend to be toxic, expensive, or both. Polycarboxylic acids could function as nontoxic alternatives to these – some, such as tartaric acid (TA) being also of low cost. This study presents a method to cross-link thermoplastic starch films with TA, as well as the effect of this modification on the tensile strength of the material when films are prepared using different reaction conditions. An increase in strength was observed, which is believed to occur due to an increase in the London dispersion forces acting within the cross-linked starch (CLS). The greatest observed increase in the maximum tensile strength of the plastic was 6%. Monosodium tartrate was used as a catalyst for the cross-linking reaction. The maximum tensile strengths of the plastics produced were determined by using adapted binder clips, a hook (total mass 10g) and hanging masses to subject films of the plastics to progressively greater tension. Incremental weights of 10g were used, with recorded tensions at fracture of 1.2~8.9 N.
First Determination of the Proton's Weak Charge
Authors: Page Shelley A.
Published: May 2017

The weak charge of the proton has been determined for the first time via a high precision electron-proton scattering experiment, Qweak, carried out at Jefferson Laboratory (JLab) in Newport News, USA. The weak charge is a basic property in subatomic physics, analogous to electric charge. The Standard Model makes a prediction for the weak charges of protons and other particles. First results described here are based on an initial 4% of the data set reported in 20131, with the ultimate goal of the experiment being a high precision Standard Model test conducted with the full Qweak data set. These initial results are consistent with the Standard Model prediction; they serve as an important first determination of the proton’s weak charge and a proof of principle that the ultimate goals are within reach.
The Evolution of a Hypoxia Scientist
Authors: Dunn Jeff F.
Published: May 2017

This article is about my career path and my research. Hypoxia and imaging are the main themes. Hypoxia is a condition of low oxygen. I began as a comparative biochemist studying how species adapt to live in low oxygen conditions. Jobs looked tight in comparative research and so I moved into more medically applied research. I worked in one of the main laboratories developing what was then a new technology—MRI. I spent the rest of my career developing and applying MRI methods to study disease progression in a range of conditions including stroke, cancer, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, heart failure and high altitude exposure. I applied my knowledge of biochemistry and physiology to direct our MRI development research, which resulted in two ongoing programs: one was to study disease processes, the other to study technology development. Successes include a paper published in the journal PLoS One: “Training the brain to survive stroke”, where we stimulated natural hypoxia adaptive mechanisms in brain and showed that stroke outcome was greatly improved. Much of my work is in animal models but we translate technologies to patient care as well.
Building On Science: My Career (So Far) in Cell Research
Authors: Parreno Justin
Published: May 2017

Growing up, I always wanted to become a medical doctor. Like many young students pursuing medicine, I entered my undergraduate degree in the biological sciences. The science courses were a struggle for me to get through and I found myself even more interested in my option courses such as psychology or even economics. Nevertheless, I finished my biological sciences degree. I did apply to medicine but did not get in, so I decided to get a master’s degree in order to improve my curriculum vitae in hopes of eventually getting into medicine.
Proton Therapy: A New Tool for Treating Cancer
Authors: Pang Lawrence
Published: May 2017

One of the most effective ways of combating cancer is radiation therapy. Traditionally, radiation therapy uses photons in the form of high-energy x-ray radiation, which ionizes (i.e. removes or adds an electron) atoms in the DNA chains of cancerous cells. This changes the chemical properties of the atom, damaging the DNA and preventing the cancerous cell from multiplying. Une des façons les plus efficaces de combattre le cancer est la radiothérapie. Traditionnellement, la radiothérapie utilise des photons en forme de rayonnement ionisant à haute énergie, ce qui ionise (c.-à-d., retire ou ajoute un électron) les atomes dans la chaîne ADN des cellules cancéreuses. Ceci change les propriétés chimiques de l’atome, endommageant l’ADN et empêchant la multiplication des cellules cancéreuses.
CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA LINGÜÍSTICA TEXTUAL PARA O ENSINO-APRENDIZAGEM DA LEITURA/ESCRITA
Authors: Portela Girlene Lima
Published: May 2017

O presente texto aborda as contribuições da Lingüística textual para o ensino-aprendizagem da leitura/escrita, por meio de uma discussão teórica que dá conta de variados contextos, apontando caminhos para a utilização dos postulados da matéria em questão nas aulas de língua e redação.
VARIAÇÕES GRAFEMÁTICAS EM TRÊS TRATADOS MEDIEVAIS PORTUGUESES
Authors: De Queiroz Rita De Cássia Ribeiro
Published: May 2017

Os três tratados medievais – “Dos benefícios de Deus”, “Livro da consciência e do conhecimento próprio” e “Da amizade e das qualidades do amigo”, compõem a tradição portuguesa do texto ascético-místico “Castelo Perigoso”, compilado em dois manuscritos alcobacenses: ALC 199 e ALC 214, pertencentes à Biblioteca Nacional de Lisboa. A partir do estudo das variações grafemáticas que as duas versões apresentam, analisar-se-á alguns aspectos que marcam a ortografia portuguesa medieval.
The unfortunate miss: a saddle pulmonary embolism
Authors: Li William , Gruca Marek , Madhira Bhaskara
Published: May 2017

Pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis and efficient management such as in the form of thrombolysis or surgical thrombectomy. Saddle pulmonary emboli occurring at the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery are especially dangerous as they put afflicted individuals at risk for sudden hemodynamic collapse. While CT Angiography at present is the current imaging modality of choice, times exist when they are contraindicated and V/Q scintigraphy is used as the choice alternative. We present a rare catastrophic case of a saddle pulmonary embolism in an individual with a low-probabilityinterpretation on V/Q scintigraphy despite a clear depiction of the thrombus on echocardiography.