bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amplatzer vascular plug for rapid vessel occlusion in interventional neuroradiology
Authors: Banfield Jillian C , Shankar Jai Jai Shiva
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this paper is to report different uses of endovascular Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) treatment for rapid vessel occlusion in the field of interventional neuroradiology. We retrospectively reviewed our interventional neuroradiology database from November 2010 to July 2015 and found nine patients who were treated with endovascular AVP. AVP was used for rapid vessel occlusion of common carotid artery (1 patient), internal carotid artery (5 patients), vertebral artery (2 patients), and internal jugular vein (1 patient). A median of three AVPs were used with almost immediate occlusion and no thromboembolic complications. Use of AVP is feasible, safe, rapid, and potentially cost-effective method for rapid occlusion of larger size vessels in the head and neck region for different indications.
Acute stroke from tumor embolus in a patient with cardiac sarcoma: Aspiration thrombectomy with Penumbra catheter
Authors: Byon Jung Hee , Kwak Hyo Sung , Chung Gyung Ho , Jang Kyu Yun
Published: October 2015

The most common primary malignant cardiac tumor is the cardiac sarcoma, which is mesenchymal in origin. This case report describes a patient with hyperacute stroke caused by cardiac sarcoma who underwent rapid recanalization through mechanical aspiration thrombectomy with Penumbra catheter.
Media and violent conflict: Halil Dağ, Kurdish insurgency, and the hybridity of vernacular cinema of conflict
Authors: Smets Kevin , Akkaya Ahmet Hamdi
Published: October 2015

This article analyses the life and work of Halil Dağ (1973–2008), a filmmaker who worked within the Kurdish insurgent movement, with two critical goals. First, the authors use Dağ’s case to conceptualize vernacular cinema of conflict, defying traditional dichotomies between mainstream/vernacular, and fiction/non-fiction. Secondly, through Dağ’s case they seek to better understand the role of vernacular cinema of conflict for the Kurdish culture of resistance and the PKK insurgent movement in particular. Empirically, the article discusses unique ethnographic records (interviews and personal correspondence with Dağ) and a qualitative content analysis of his major films. The authors argue that the concept of vernacular cinema of conflict can serve a better comprehension of the hybrid character and impact of filmmaking in conflict zones.
Degree of concordance between single balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding after an initial positive capsule endoscopy finding
Authors: Shiani Ashok , Nieves Javier , Lipka Seth , Patel Brijesh , Kumar Ambuj , Brady Patrick
Published: October 2015

Introduction:

In patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OBGIB) capsule endoscopy (CE) is the initial diagnostic procedure of choice. Often patients undergo single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) with both diagnostic and therapeutic intention after CE. Although SBE offers a therapeutic benefit, long procedure times, complexity, and invasiveness are drawbacks. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic correlation between these two modalities after an initial positive CE finding.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of 418 patients who underwent CE at our institution from January 2010 to May 2014. A total of 95 patients were analyzed after selecting patients that underwent SBE originally after a positive CE result for the evaluation for OGIB. Agreement beyond chance was evaluated using the κ coefficient. A p value less than 5% was considered statistically significant.

Results:

The mean age of our population was 65.8 ± 12.2 and it was female predominant: 57/95 (60%). The most frequent positive findings were vascular lesions found on SBE in 31.6% and on CE in 41.1%. There was a strong agreement when identifying active bleeding and clots [κ=0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92–1.03; p ⩽ 0.0001], and a moderate agreement when diagnosing vascular lesions (0.41; 95% CI 0.21–0.61; p ⩽ 0.0001). There was fair agreement for ulcers (0.26; 95% CI 0.07–0.59; p = 0.005). There was a low correlation between masses, polyps, and others.

Conclusion:

CE still remains the initial test of choice in evaluating stable patients with OBGIB since it has strong-to-fair concordance for the major small bowel findings. However, in cases of severe overt small bowel bleeding, balloon-assisted enteroscopy can be considered the initial procedure of choice since it is therapeutic as well as diagnostic and this approach avoids delays in treatment. Further research should focus on methods to improve interpretation of CE and enhance the ability to evaluate the entire small bowel with SBE.
“We Are Not Fools”
Authors: Slavtcheva-Petkova Vera
Published: October 2015

Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Eastern European countries face an increasing threat to their media pluralism and democracies after a lot of media corporations fell in the hands of local owners. The region is plagued by “mini-Murdochs,” and Bulgaria is a case in point. This study investigates a subset of Bulgarian online newspaper readers’ perceptions of the state of journalism. The article presents the results from a qualitative analysis of 1,583 comments about the media war between the country’s biggest press groups. It focuses on 178 comments that discuss the role of journalists. Readers differentiate between “ideal journalism” and “real journalism.” The former is based on an idealized view of journalists as detached watchdogs, whereas the latter depicts a dire picture of journalists as manipulative servants of their owners. The virtual space is a vibrant arena for democratic discussions and can also potentially serve as an accountability tool for journalists. A reconceptualization of Habermas’s public sphere is needed if we are to more clearly understand how vibrant online spaces contribute to democracy even if they fall short of his normative ideal.
Brainstem variant of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: A case report
Authors: Tortora Fabio , Caranci Ferdinando , Belfiore Maria Paola , Manzi Francesca , Pagliano Pasquale , Cirillo Sossio
Published: October 2015

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinico-radiological condition, generally observed in conjunction with severe and acute hypertension, that involves mainly the posterior head areas (occipital and temporal lobes) and anterior “watershed” areas. In this syndrome it is rare to observe a predominant involvement of the brainstem. We describe the clinical and radiological findings in a patient with brainstem involvement, discussing its pathophysiological features and possible differential diagnosis.
Childhood posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: Magnetic resonance imaging findings with emphasis on increased leptomeningeal FLAIR signal
Authors: Agarwal Ajay , Kapur Gaurav , Altinok Deniz
Published: October 2015

Purpose

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinico-radiologic syndrome characterized clinically by headache, seizures, and altered sensorium and radiological changes which are usually reversible. The purpose of this study was to describe the spectrum of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in childhood PRES, to determine the common etiologies for childhood PRES, and to have an insight into the pathophysiology of PRES.

Methods

The MRI results of 20 clinically diagnosed cases of PRES between July 2011 and June 2013 were reviewed. The final diagnosis of PRES was based on the clinical presentation and the MRI features at the time of presentation, which resolved on the follow-up imaging. The medical records of the patients were reviewed to determine the underlying medical disease.

Results

Eight out of the 20 patients included in the study were on cyclosporine or tacrolimus based immunosuppressant therapy for kidney transplant. Four patients had severe hypertension at presentation. The most common MRI finding was high T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signal in the cortex and subcortical white matter of both cerebral hemispheres, particularly in the parietal and occipital lobes ( n = 16). The second most common MRI finding was increased leptomeningeal FLAIR signal ( n = 7). Out of seven patients with leptomeningeal signal, five demonstrated leptomeningeal enhancement as well. Four out of these seven patients had no other parenchymal findings.

Conclusion

Childhood PRES is commonly seen in the setting of immunosuppressant therapy for kidney transplant, severe hypertension and cancer treatment. There was high incidence of increased leptomeningeal FLAIR signal and leptomeningeal enhancement in our study. It supports the current theory of endothelial injury with increased microvascular permeability as the potential pathophysiology of PRES. Also, absence of elevated blood pressure in majority of the patients in our study supports the theory of direct endothelial injury by some agents leading to vasogenic edema.
Theses on the critique of “religion”
Authors: Martin Craig
Published: October 2015

Those of us who study the history and politics of the concept of religion and its related terms often find that our peers in adjacent disciplines or subdisciplines do not take into account our findings and continue to use the terms naively and unreflexively. Perhaps this is because they are unaware of the problematic norms knotted into the history of the concept or the contested political stakes involved in its use. Or, perhaps they are engaged in just the very sort of politics our subdiscipline documents. When discussing this with one of the editors of CRR, he asked me to outline why those not engaged in the historicization of the concept of religion should take our work into account. How or why would a contemporary sociologist of religion benefit from reading, for example, a discourse analysis of Reformation-era theologico-political rhetoric? To that end, here I put forward the following theses on the critique of the concept of religion, making the case, as boldly and as succinctly as I can, why our work is relevant to all who write on “religion,” and provide references to the essential literature on the subject for those who wish to pursue further reading on the matter.
Effect of age and surgical approach on perioperative wound complication following ovariohysterectomy in shelter-housed cats in Australia
Authors: Roberts Madeleine L , Beatty Julia A , Dhand Navneet K , Barrs Vanessa R
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age and/or surgical approach on perioperative wound complication following ovariohysterectomy (OHE).

Methods

A retrospective search of perioperative monitoring records from a shelter desexing program was conducted to identify cats that underwent OHE between 1 June 2010 and 31 December 2012 inclusive. A wound complication was defined as gross observation of inflammation or wound dehiscence at the surgical site in the 5 day postoperative period. Cases were grouped according to age (≤12 weeks or >12 weeks) and surgical approach (flank or midline). Stratified analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between surgical approach and wound complications, after adjusting for age. Mantel–Haenszel adjusted risk ratio, Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test statistic and their 95% confidence intervals were presented.

Results

A total of 312 cases met the study criteria. The overall wound complication risk was low (6.09%) and was not related to age. A midline approach was associated with a 4.59-times increased risk of wound complication, compared with a flank approach in cats up to 12 weeks of age ( P = 0.015) but not in older cats.

Conclusions and relevance

These findings support the practice of prepubertal desexing for cats.
Promoting Citizenship Behaviors in Workplace: The Relevance of Organizational Justice and Psychological Well-being of Employees
Authors: Garg Pooja , Rastogi Renu , Kataria Aakanksha
Published: October 2015

The objective of this article is to indicate that perception of justice in the workplace can be comprehended as a positive experience about oneself leading to psychological well-being (PWB), which in reciprocation promotes citizenship behaviors at the organizational level. The present study endeavors to explore the mediating effect of PWB on the relationship between organizational justice and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). The study has been conducted on a sample of 200 employees working in banking and automobile industries. The collected data are pertinent to Pearson r and hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship among the key study variables. The article concludes that the key study variables can prove to be an organizational milieu to enable employees to cultivate a worthwhile life.
Measuring Consumer Attitude through Marketing Dimensions: A Comparative Study between Metro and Non-metro Cities
Authors: Khandelwal Utkal , Bajpai Naval
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this article is to find the factors affecting consumer attitude from marketing dimensions through the review of literature and develop a simpler and a precise model of consumer attitude, and also to measure the difference in consumer attitude of metro and non-metro consumers, because metro and non-metro customers are different in their consumer behavior in many ways.

The conceptual framework of factors affecting customer attitude—including brand equity, quality of products and services, pricing, marketing communication, risk aversion, purchase intention, consumer conformity, consumer reference group, consumer purchasing power, and consumer’s past-use experience—is developed by examining the theoretical foundation for general products and services. Linear regression and z-test are used to measure the impact of these attributes on consumer attitude and difference in metro and non-metro customers, respectively. Furthermore, dimensions such as pricing strategies, risk aversion, purchase intention, consumer conformity, consumer reference group, consumer purchasing power, and consumer’s past-use experience have a significant difference in these two regions, and consumer behavior based on brand equity, quality, and marketing communication has no significant difference. Regression results establish a significant positive linear relationship between consumer attitude and the various marketing dimension variables taken for the study in both the regions.

The article proposes a conceptual framework of factors affecting consumer attitude. Results on the difference of consumer attitude from marketing dimensions in metro and non-metro customers and linear impact of the same on consumer attitude will help the marketers, academicians, and strategist in better understanding of these markets and help in the formulation of better policy.
Lipid Profile in HIV-Infected Patients Using First-Line Antiretroviral Drugs
Authors: Ombeni Walter , Kamuhabwa Appolinary R.
Published: October 2015

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients using the first-line antiretroviral (ARV) drugs triple regimen.

Methods:

HIV-infected patients aged ≥15 years and attending Care and Treatment Clinic (CTC) at Muhimbili National Hospital, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were recruited for the study. Blood samples from patients were collected during their regular visits at the CTC and assayed for determination of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and CD4 counts.

Results:

The median CD4 count was 346 cells/mm3 (2-2600). Triple therapy combinations of ARV drugs used by patients included zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC)/efavirenz (EFV; 42.4%), ZDV/3TC/nevirapine (NVP; 33.8%), tenofovir (TDF)/emtricitabine/EFV (19.9%), and TDF/3TC/EFV (3.9%). The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients was 77.5%. There were varied prevalence of derangement of individual lipids among patients. Age, body mass index, CD4 count, sex, and duration of ARV drug use were the predictors of poor lipid profiles.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study indicate the need for routine monitoring of lipids among HIV-infected patients.
Assessing Children With Disabilities Using WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Child and Youth Version Activities and Participation D Codes
Authors: Illum Niels Ove , Gradel Kim Oren
Published: October 2015

Aim:

Evaluation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health child and youth version (ICF-CY) activities and participation d code functions in clinical practice with children across diagnoses, disabilities, ages, and genders.

Methods:

A set of 57 codes were selected and worded to describe children’s support needs in everyday life. Parents of children aged 1 to 15 years participated in interviews to discuss and rate their child’s disability.

Results:

Of 367 invited parents, 332 (90.5%) participated. The mean age of their children with disability was 9.4 years. The mean code scores were 50.67, the corrected code–total correlations were .76, intercode correlations had the mean of 0.61, and Cronbach’s α was .98. As a result of Rasch analysis, graphical data for disability measures paralleled clinical expectations across the total population of 332 children.

Conclusion:

The World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health child and youth version d code data can provide a coherent measure of severity of disability in children across various diagnoses, ages, and genders.
Understanding the role of hyperdiploidy in myeloma prognosis: which trisomies really matter?
Authors: Chretien Marie-Lorraine , Corre Jill , Lauwers-Cances Valerie , Magrangeas Florence , Cleynen Alice , Yon Edwige , Hulin Cyrille , Leleu Xavier , Orsini-Piocelle Frederique , Blade Jean-Sebastien , Sohn Claudine , Karlin Lionel , Delbrel Xavier , Hebraud Benjamin , Roussel Murielle , Marit Gerald , Garderet Laurent , Mohty Mohamad , Rodon Philippe , Voillat Laurent , Royer Bruno , Jaccard Arnaud , Belhadj Karim , Fontan Jean , Caillot Denis , Stoppa Anne-Marie , Attal Michel , Facon Thierry , Moreau Philippe , Minvielle Stephane , Avet-Loiseau Hervé
Published: October 2015

Key Points

In myeloma patients, trisomy 3 improved time to progression and trisomies 3 and/or 5 improved overall survival. In contrast, trisomy 21 significantly worsened overall survival.
Stable and bicistronic expression of two genes in somite- and lateral plate-derived tissues to study chick limb development
Authors: Bourgeois Adeline , Esteves de Lima Joana , Charvet Benjamin , Kawakami Koichi , Stricker Sigmar , Duprez Delphine
Published: October 2015

Background

Components of the limb musculoskeletal system have distinct mesoderm origins. Limb skeletal muscles originate from somites, while the skeleton and attachments (tendons and connective tissues) derive from limb lateral plate. Despite distinct mesoderm origins, the development of muscle, skeleton and attachments is highly coordinated both spatially and temporally to ensure complete function of the musculoskeletal system. A system to study molecular interactions between somitic-derived tissues (muscles) and lateral-plate-derived tissues (skeletal components and attachments) during limb development is missing.

Results

We designed a gene delivery system in chick embryos with the ultimate aim to study the interactions between the components of the musculoskeletal system during limb development. We combined the Tol2 genomic integration system with the viral T2A system and developed new vectors that lead to stable and bicistronic expression of two proteins at comparable levels in chick cells. Combined with limb somite and lateral plate electroporation techniques, two fluorescent reporter proteins were co-expressed in stoichiometric proportion in the muscle lineage (somitic-derived) or in skeleton and their attachments (lateral-plate-derived). In addition, we designed three vectors with different promoters to target muscle cells at different steps of the differentiation process.

Conclusion

Limb somite electroporation technique using vectors containing these different promoters allowed us to target all myogenic cells, myoblasts or differentiated muscle cells. These stable and promoter-specific vectors lead to bicistronic expression either in somitic-derived myogenic cells or lateral plate-derived cells, depending on the electroporation sites and open new avenues to study the interactions between myogenic cells and tendon or connective tissue cells during limb development.
Extracorporeal decarboxylation in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and ARDS enables effective control of intracranial pressure
Authors: Munoz-Bendix Christopher , Beseoglu Kerim , Kram Rainer
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with concomitant impairment of oxygenation and decarboxylation represents a complex problem in patients with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Permissive hypercapnia is not an option to obtain and maintain lung-protective ventilation in the presence of elevated ICP. Pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (pECLA) devices (iLA Membrane Ventilator; Novalung, Heilbronn, Germany) can improve decarboxylation without aggravation associated with invasive ventilation. In this pilot series, we analyzed the safety and efficacy of pECLA in patients with ARDS and elevated ICP after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

The medical records of ten patients (eight male, two female) with severe ARDS and severe TBI concurrently managed with external ventricular drainage in the neurointensive care unit (NICU) were retrospectively analyzed. The effect of pECLA on enabling lung-protective ventilation was evaluated using the difference between plateau pressure and positive end-expiratory pressure, defined as driving pressure (ΔP), during the 3 days preceding the implant of pECLA devices until 3 days afterward. The ICP threshold was set at 20 mmHg. To evaluate effects on ICP, the volume of daily cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage needed to maintain the set ICP threshold was compared pre- and postimplant.

Results

The ΔP values after pECLA implantation decreased from a mean 17.1 ± 0.7 cm/H2O to 11.9±0.5 cm/H2O (p = 0.011). In spite of this improved lung-protective ventilation, carbon dioxide pressure decreased from 46.6 ± 3.9 mmHg to 39.7 ± 3.5 mmHg (p = 0.005). The volume of daily CSF drainage needed to maintain ICP at 20 mmHg decreased significantly from 141.5 ± 103.5 ml to 62.2 ± 68.1 ml (p = 0.037).

Conclusions

For selected patients with concomitant severe TBI and ARDS, the application of pECLA is safe and effective. pECLA devices improve decarboxylation, thus enabling lung-protective ventilation. At the same time, potentially detrimental hypercapnia that may increase ICP is avoided. Larger prospective trials are warranted to further elucidate application of pECLA devices in NICU patients.
Direct Displacement-Based Design of a Novel Hybrid Structure: Steel Moment-Resisting Frames with Cross-Laminated Timber Infill Walls
Authors: Bezabeh Matiyas A. , Tesfamariam Solomon , Stiemer Siegfried F. , Popovski Marjan , Karacabeyli Erol
Published: October 2015

This study proposes an iterative direct displacement based design method for a novel steel-timber hybrid structure. The hybrid structure incorporates cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear panels as an infill in steel moment-resisting frames. The proposed design method is applied to design three-, six-, and nine-story hybrid buildings, each with three bays and a CLT-infilled middle bay. Nonlinear time history analysis, using 20 earthquake ground motion records, is carried out to validate the performance of the design method. The results indicate that the proposed method effectively controls the displacements due to seismic excitation of the hybrid structure.
Seismic Hazard in the Intermountain West
Authors: Haller Kathleen M. , Moschetti Morgan P. , Mueller Charles S. , Rezaeian Sanaz , Petersen Mark D. , Zeng Yuehua
Published: October 2015

The 2014 national seismic-hazard model for the conterminous United States incorporates new scientific results and important model adjustments. The current model includes updates to the historical catalog, which is spatially smoothed using both fixed-length and adaptive-length smoothing kernels. Fault-source characterization improved by adding faults, revising rates of activity, and incorporating new results from combined inversions of geologic and geodetic data. The update also includes a new suite of published ground motion models. Changes in probabilistic ground motion are generally less than 10% in most of the Intermountain West compared to the prior assessment, and ground-motion hazard in four Intermountain West cities illustrates the range and magnitude of change in the region. Seismic hazard at reference sites in Boise and Reno increased as much as 10%, whereas hazard in Salt Lake City decreased 5–6%. The largest change was in Las Vegas, where hazard increased 32–35%.
Importance of Endogenous Atrial and Brain Natriuretic Peptides in Murine Embryonic Vascular and Organ Development
Authors: Tokudome Takeshi , Kishimoto Ichiro , Shindo Takayuki , Kawakami Hayato , Koyama Teruhide , Otani Kentaro , Nishimura Hirohito , Miyazato Mikiya , Kohno Masakazu , Nakao Kazuwa , Kangawa Kenji
Published: October 2015

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) bind to the receptor guanylyl cyclase (GC)-A, leading to diuresis, natriuresis, and blood vessel dilation. In addition, ANP and BNP have various angiogenic properties in ischemic tissue. When breeding mice devoid of GC-A, we noted significant skewing of the Mendelian ratio in the offspring, suggesting embryonic lethality due to knockout of GC-A. Consequently, we here investigated the roles of endogenous ANP and BNP in embryonic neovascularization and organ morphogenesis. Embryos resulting from GC-A−/− × GC-A+/− crosses developed hydrops fetalis (HF) beginning at embryonic day (E)14.5. All embryos with HF had the genotype GC-A−/−. At E17.5, 33.3% (12 of 36) of GC-A−/− embryos had HF, and all GC-A−/− embryos with HF were dead. Beginning at E16.0, HF-GC-A−/− embryos demonstrated poorly developed superficial vascular vessels and sc hemorrhage, the fetal side of the placenta appeared ischemic, and vitelline vessels on the yolk sac were poorly developed. Furthermore, HF-GC-A−/− embryos also showed abnormal constriction of umbilical cord vascular vessels, few cardiac trabeculae and a thin compact zone, hepatic hemorrhage, and poor bone development. Electron microscopy of E16.5 HF-GC-A−/− embryos revealed severe vacuolar degeneration in endothelial cells, and the expected 3-layer structure of the smooth muscle wall of the umbilical artery was indistinct. These data demonstrate the importance of the endogenous ANP/BNP-GC-A system not only in the neovascularization of ischemic tissues but also in embryonic vascular development and organ morphogenesis.
β1-Adrenergic and M2 Muscarinic Autoantibodies and Thyroid Hormone Facilitate Induction of Atrial Fibrillation in Male Rabbits
Authors: Li Hongliang , Murphy Taylor , Zhang Ling , Huang Bing , Veitla Vineet , Scherlag Benjamin J. , Kem David C. , Yu Xichun
Published: October 2015

Activating autoantibodies to the β1-adrenergic and M2 muscarinic receptors are present in a very high percentage of patients with Graves' disease and atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to develop a reproducible animal model and thereby to examine the impact of these endocrine-like autoantibodies alone and with thyroid hormone on induction of thyroid-associated atrial tachyarrhythmias. Five New Zealand white rabbits were coimmunized with peptides from the second extracellular loops of the β1-adrenergic and M2 muscarinic receptors to produce both sympathomimetic and parasympathomimetic antibodies. A catheter-based electrophysiological study was performed on anesthetized rabbits before and after immunization and subsequent treatment with thyroid hormone. Antibody expression facilitated the induction of sustained sinus, junctional and atrial tachycardias, but not AF. Addition of excessive thyroid hormone resulted in induced sustained AF in all animals. AF induction was blocked acutely by the neutralization of these antibodies with immunogenic peptides despite continued hyperthyroidism. The measured atrial effective refractory period as one parameter of AF propensity shortened significantly after immunization and was acutely reversed by peptide neutralization. No further decrease in the effective refractory period was observed after the addition of thyroid hormone, suggesting other cardiac effects of thyroid hormone may contribute to its role in AF induction. This study demonstrates autonomic autoantibodies and thyroid hormone potentiate the vulnerability of the heart to AF, which can be reversed by decoy peptide therapy. These data help fulfill Witebsky's postulates for an increased autoimmune/endocrine basis for Graves' hyperthyroidism and AF.
X-linked Christianson syndrome: heterozygous female Slc9a6 knockout mice develop mosaic neuropathological changes and related behavioral abnormalities
Authors: Sikora Jakub , Leddy Jennifer , Gulinello Maria , Walkley Steven U.
Published: October 2015

Christianson syndrome (CS) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental and neurological disorder characterized in males by core symptoms that include non-verbal status, intellectual disability, epilepsy, truncal ataxia, postnatal microcephaly and hyperkinesis. CS is caused by mutations in the SLC9A6 gene, which encodes a multipass transmembrane sodium (potassium)-hydrogen exchanger 6 (NHE6) protein, functional in early recycling endosomes. The extent and variability of the CS phenotype in female heterozygotes, who presumably express the wild-type and mutant SLC9A6 alleles mosaically as a result of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), have not yet been systematically characterized. Slc9a6 knockout mice (Slc9a6 KO) were generated by insertion of the bacterial lacZ/β-galactosidase (β-Gal) reporter into exon 6 of the X-linked gene. Mutant Slc9a6 KO male mice have been shown to develop late endosomal/lysosomal dysfunction associated with glycolipid accumulation in selected neuronal populations and patterned degeneration of Purkinje cells (PCs). In heterozygous female Slc9a6 KO mice, β-Gal serves as a transcriptional/XCI reporter and thus facilitates testing of effects of mosaic expression of the mutant allele on penetrance of the abnormal phenotype. Using β-Gal, we demonstrated mosaic expression of the mutant Slc9a6 allele and mosaically distributed lysosomal glycolipid accumulation and PC pathology in the brains of heterozygous Slc9a6 KO female mice. At the behavioral level, we showed that heterozygous female mice suffer from visuospatial memory and motor coordination deficits similar to but less severe than those observed in X-chromosome hemizygous mutant males. Our studies in heterozygous Slc9a6 KO female mice provide important clues for understanding the likely phenotypic range of Christianson syndrome among females heterozygous for SLC9A6 mutations and might improve diagnostic practice and genetic counseling by helping to characterize this presumably underappreciated patient/carrier group.
Tax Compliance and Loss Aversion
Authors: Engström Per , Nordblom Katarina , Ohlsson Henry , Persson Annika
Published: October 2015

We study if taxpayers are loss averse when filing returns. Preliminary deficits might be viewed as losses assuming zero preliminary balances as reference points. Swedish taxpayers can to try to escape such losses by claiming deductions after receiving information about the preliminary balance. Using a regression kink and discontinuity approach, we study data for 3.6 million Swedish taxpayers for 2006. There are strong causal effects of preliminary tax deficits on the probability of claiming deductions. Compliance will increase and auditing costs will be reduced if preliminary taxes are calibrated so that most taxpayers receive refunds. (JEL H24, H26)
Only One Tree from Each Seed? Environmental Effectiveness and Poverty Alleviation in Mexico’s Payments for Ecosystem Services Program
Authors: Alix-Garcia Jennifer M. , Sims Katharine R. E. , Yañez-Pagans Patricia
Published: October 2015

Environmental conditional cash transfers are popular but their impacts are not well understood. We evaluate land cover and wealth impacts of a federal program that pays landowners for protecting forest. Panel data for program beneficiaries and rejected applicants allow us to control for fixed differences and time trends affecting both groups. We find the program reduces the expected land cover loss by 40–51 percent and generates small but positive poverty alleviation. Environmental gains are higher where poverty is low while household gains are higher where deforestation risk is low, illustrating the difficulty of meeting multiple policy goals with one tool. (JEL I32, I38, O13, O15, Q23, Q28, Q56)
Is It Possible to Get out of the Economic Crisis in the Coming Years?
Authors: Басовский  , Basovskiy Leonid , Басовская  , Basovskaya Elena
Published: October 2015

The paper is aimed to forecast how the crisis in the Russian economy is likely

to evolve. The construction of econometric models of Russia’s economic

dynamics for the period of 2000 to 2015 allows to predict, that in 2015-2019 the

deep economic crisis is to be expected. During the crisis period the overall

decline in production can reach 20%. The greatest decline in production is likely

to occur in 2016-2017. In 2019-2020 stabilization or transition to growth of

production can follow. Present crisis developments are by about 80% due to

unfavorable institutional environment, being the result of the laws adopted.

Thus the transition to economic growth even in 2019-2020 is quite questionable.

As the authors argue, to overcome the crisis developments in the economy, it is

needed to pursue more effective policy of building institutions, which would

boost economic growth and economic development, as well as policies, aimed

at encouraging entrepreneurship development, bringing in investments and

expanding domestic demand.
Mechanisms for Economic Regulation of Innovative Activities
Authors: Кальянов  , Kalyanov Aleksandr , Лунёва  , Luneva Anna
Published: October 2015

The paper considers the term «innovation» as a novelty or newly introduced

development, which results in positive economic and social effects to the

enterprise concerned. The government plays an important role in regulating

innovative processes and acts as a guarantor for private investors. Reviewed

are the direct and indirect methods of government regulation in the sphere of

innovative activities. The types of tax remissions for entrepreneurs are reviewed

and measures, concerning the public risk (venture) enterprise, are outlined.
Technical Debt and the Reliability of Enterprise Software Systems: A Competing Risks Analysis
Authors: Ramasubbu Narayan , Kemerer Chris F.
Published: October 2015

Enterprise software systems are required to be highly reliable because they are central to the business operations of most firms. However, configuring and maintaining these systems can be highly complex, making it challenging to achieve high reliability. Resource-constrained software teams facing business pressures can be tempted to take design shortcuts in order to deliver business functionality more quickly. These design shortcuts and other maintenance activities contribute to the accumulation of technical debt, that is, a buildup of software maintenance obligations that need to be addressed in the future. We model and empirically analyze the impact of technical debt on system reliability by utilizing a longitudinal data set spanning the 10-year life cycle of a commercial enterprise system deployed at 48 different client firms. We use a competing risks analysis approach to discern the interdependency between client and vendor maintenance activities. This allows us to assess the effect of both problematic client modifications (client errors) and software errors present in the vendor-supplied platform (vendor errors) on system failures. We also examine the relative effects of modular and architectural maintenance activities undertaken by clients in order to analyze the dynamics of technical debt reduction. The results of our analysis first establish that technical debt decreases the reliability of enterprise systems. Second, modular maintenance targeted to reduce technical debt was approximately 53% more effective than architectural maintenance in reducing the probability of a system failure due to client errors, but it had the side effect of increasing the chance of a system failure due to vendor errors by approximately 83% more than did architectural maintenance activities. Using our empirical results we illustrate how firms could evaluate their business risk exposure due to technical debt accumulation in their enterprise systems, and we assess the estimated net effects, both positive and negative, of a range of software maintenance practices. Finally, we discuss implications for research in measuring and managing technical debt in enterprise systems.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
Inventory Pooling Under Heavy-Tailed Demand
Authors: Bimpikis Kostas , Markakis Mihalis G.
Published: October 2015

Risk pooling has been studied extensively in the operations management literature as the basic driver behind strategies such as transshipment, manufacturing flexibility, component commonality, and drop shipping. This paper explores the benefit of risk pooling in the context of inventory management using the canonical model first studied in Eppen [Eppen GD (1979) Effects of centralization on expected costs in a multi-location newsboy problem. Management Sci. 25(5):498–501]. Specifically, we consider a single-period, multilocation newsvendor model, where n different locations face independent and identically distributed demands and linear holding and backorder costs. We show that Eppen’s celebrated result, i.e., that the expected cost savings from centralized inventory management scale with the square root of the number of locations, depends critically on the “light-tailed” nature of the demand uncertainty. In particular, we establish that the benefit from pooling relative to the decentralized case, in terms of both expected cost and safety stock, is equal to n(α–1)/α for a class of heavy-tailed demand distributions (stable distributions), whose power-law asymptotic decay rate is determined by the parameter α ∈ (1, 2). Thus, the benefit from pooling under heavy-tailed demand uncertainty can be significantly lower than [Formula: see text], which is predicted for normally distributed demands. We discuss the implications of this result on the performance of periodic-review policies in multiperiod inventory management, as well as for the profits associated with drop-shipping fulfillment strategies. Corroborated by an extensive simulation analysis with heavy-tailed distributions that arise frequently in practice, such as power law and log normal, our findings highlight the importance of taking into account the shape of the tail of demand uncertainty when considering a risk pooling initiative.

This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
Mutual Forbearance and Competition Among Security Analysts
Authors: Baum Joel A. C. , Bowers Anne , Mohanram Partha
Published: October 2015

Research in industrial organization and strategic management has shown that rivals competing with each other in multiple markets are more willing to show each other mutual forbearance, i.e., compete less aggressively, within their spheres of influence, i.e., the markets in which each firm dominates. Sell-side equity analysts typically cover multiple stocks in common with their rivals. We examine the impact of this “multipoint contact” for mutual forbearance on two key dimensions of competition among security analysts: forecast accuracy and information leadership (issuing earnings forecasts or stock recommendations that influence rival analysts). We find that multipoint contact is associated with analysts exerting greater information leadership on stocks within their own spheres of influence. We also find greater forbearance related to information leadership under Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD). In contrast, multipoint contact was not associated with greater forecast accuracy on stocks within analysts’ spheres of influence, either before or under Reg FD. Our analysis is among the first to consider mechanisms of competition among securities analysts and also adds to the literature on Reg FD by demonstrating that the increased workload imposed on analysts after Reg FD fostered mutual forbearance as a response.

This paper was accepted by Mary Barth, accounting.
Corporate Science, Innovation, and Firm Value
Authors: Simeth Markus , Cincera Michele
Published: October 2015

Many firms actively disclose research findings in scientific peer-reviewed journals. The literature highlights several potential benefits of such scientific boundary-spanning activities, including privileged access to academic information networks. However, scientific disclosure may lead to unintended knowledge spillovers. It remains unclear whether active engagement in science leads to higher returns. This paper investigates the impact of scientific activities on the firm’s market value, using accounting data for U.S. firms and matched patent and scientific publication data. We find evidence for the positive impact of scientific publications on a firm’s market value beyond the effects of research and development, patent stocks, and patent quality, and also document heterogeneity with respect to this impact between different industrial sectors.

This paper was accepted by David Hsu, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Robustness to Dependency in Portfolio Optimization Using Overlapping Marginals
Authors: Doan Xuan Vinh , Li Xiaobo , Natarajan Karthik
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we develop a distributionally robust portfolio optimization model where the robustness is across different dependency structures among the random losses. For a Fréchet class of discrete distributions with overlapping marginals, we show that the distributionally robust portfolio optimization problem is efficiently solvable with linear programming. To guarantee the existence of a joint multivariate distribution consistent with the overlapping marginal information, we make use of a graph theoretic property known as the running intersection property. Building on this property, we develop a tight linear programming formulation to find the optimal portfolio that minimizes the worst-case conditional value-at-risk measure. Lastly, we use a data-driven approach with financial return data to identify the Fréchet class of distributions satisfying the running intersection property and then optimize the portfolio over this class of distributions. Numerical results in two different data sets show that the distributionally robust portfolio optimization model improves on the sample-based approach.
Integrating Patient-Reported Measures into Routine Cancer Care: Cancer Patients’
and Clinicians’ Perceptions of Acceptability and Value
Authors: Stover Angela , Irwin Debra E. , Chen Ronald C. , Chera Bhishamjit S. , Mayer Deborah K. , Muss Hyman B. , Rosenstein Donald L. , Shea Thomas C. , Wood William A. , Lyons Jessica C. , Reeve Bryce B.
Published: October 2015

Introduction: Despite growing interest in integrating patient-reported outcome
(PRO) measures of symptoms and functional status into routine cancer care, little
attention has been paid to patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of acceptability and
value.Methods: A two-phase qualitative study was conducted to develop a web-based PRO
screening system with 21 items assessing symptoms (e.g., nausea) and functional status.
Phase 1 involved cognitive interviews with 35 cancer outpatients (n=9 breast
chemotherapy, radiation for prostate (n=8) or head and neck cancer (n=10), and n=8 bone
marrow transplant [BMT]). In Phase 2, we evaluated the acceptability and perceived value
of reviewing a PRO measure during real-time clinical encounters with 39 additional
outpatients (n=10 breast, n=9 head and neck, n=10 prostate, n=10 BMT) and 12 clinicians
(n=3 breast, n=2 head and neck, n=4 prostate, n=3 BMT). At least 20% of patients were
≥60 years, African American, or ≤ high school.Results: Patients felt that their PRO
summary of symptoms and functional status was helpful in discussing health issues with
clinicians (92%), wanted to review their results with clinicians during future visits
(82%), and would recommend it to other patients (87%). Clinicians found the PRO summary
to be easy to interpret (83%), most helpful for documenting the Review of Symptoms
(92%), and would recommend it to future patients (92%). Over 90% of clinicians reported
that consultation time did not increase.Conclusion: Both cancer patients and clinicians
reported that discussing a PRO summary of symptoms and functional status during an
outpatient visit was useful, acceptable, and feasible.
Meta_Body: Uma Investigação Baseada na Prática Artística
Authors: Sousa Catarina Carneiro de
Published: October 2015

Meta_Body é um projeto artístico participatório de partilha construção de avatares, em desenvolvimento em ambiente virtual colaborativo. Trata-se de um projeto de investigação-ação orientado e baseado na prática artística, uma vez que a abordagem teórica informa, mas também é informada pela praxis, e cujos principais eixos estruturantes da investigação são a constituição de uma corporeidade virtual e o processo criativo partilhado. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_12
Sobre o Conhecimento que a Arte É
Authors: Melo e Castro E.M. de
Published: October 2015

Este artigo tem por fim repensar a teoria da arte contemporânea à luz de conceitos científicos, estabelecendo uma provável correspondência estrutural entre invenção artística e invenção científica. Mas também alertar para a indispensabilidade de um adequado pensamento teórico sobre a arte, num mundo pré-catastrófico. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_14
Dígitos a Contrapelo ou da Materialidade do Erro na Cultura Digital
Authors: Neves Nuno Miguel
Published: October 2015

Recensão crítica de Peter Krapp, Noise Channels: Glitch and Error in Digital Culture. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2011, 162 pp. ISBN 978-0-8166-7625-5
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_19
Interlíngua: Miscigenação Linguística e Ficção Poética
Authors: Matuck Artur
Published: October 2015

Este artigo pretende levantar a questão da interlíngua na contemporaneidade, um processo de inter-relação entre línguas, resultante dos processos de mobilidade, migração, nomadismo, conflito armado, globalização, colonização, exílio e, mais recentemente, da interconectividade digital, ampliada para uma dimensão planetária. Estes processos, tornados possíveis e passíveis de ressignificação graças à comunicação mediática transnacional, têm desencadeado situações de contato interlinguístico, além e através das fronteiras geográficas das nações e do ciberespaço. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_2
Perspectivas Colaborativas das Humanidades Digitais nas Investigações sobre William Blake
Authors: Di Palma Caio
Published: October 2015

Recensão crítica à obra de Roger WHITSON & Jason WHITTAKER, William Blake and the Digital Humanities: Collaboration, Participation, and Social Media,  London & New York, Routledge, 2013, 200 pp. ISBN 978-0-415-65618-4 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_20
PO.EX: Arquivo, Subarquivo, Meta-arquivo
Authors: Marques Diogo
Published: October 2015

Recensão crítica de Rui TORRES & Sandy BALDWIN, PO.EX: Essays from Portugal on Cyberliterature and Intermedia (By Pedro Barbosa, Ana Hatherly and E. M. de Melo e Castro). Morgantown, WV: Center for Literary Computing/ West Virginia University Press, 2014, 282 pp. ISBN 978-1-938228-74-2
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-8830_3-1_21