bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Liver of Rats Chronically Exposed to Ethanol
Authors: Silva Camila S. , Monteiro Thaís H. , Simões-Ambrósio Lívia M.C. , Sunaga Daniele Y. , Cardoso João F.R. , Furtado Kelly S. , Ong Thomas P. , Moreno Fernando S. , Zucoloto Sérgio , Vannucchi Helio
Published: August 2013

Background/Aims: Chronic alcoholism is characterized by hepatotoxicity associated with antioxidant and redox status imbalance. Continuous ethanol intake induces free radical synthesis, resulting in the depletion of antioxidants, especially α-tocopherol, which has an important role in lipid peroxidation. This study aimed to evaluate if α-tocopherol supplementation can restore liver phenotype in rats chronically exposed to ethanol. Methods: α-Tocopherol levels were determined and histologic analysis of liver was performed. Hepatic gene expression was analyzed through oligonucleotide microarray and real-time PCR. Results: Alcohol exposure for 6 weeks did not decrease hepatic α-tocopherol levels; however, both groups exposed to ethanol (supplemented or not with α-tocopherol) displayed fatty liver. The antioxidant supplementation prevented Mallory bodies and inflammatory infiltration, but not apoptosis, in liver of the rats exposed to ethanol. Gene expression analysis showed evidence of adaptive response to chronic alcohol consumption, where antioxidant components were not regulated. Nevertheless, differentially expressed genes reflected the change in cellular homeostasis. Conclusion: The hepatic α-tocopherol content was coherent with the antioxidant gene expression in this study. Cells are likely to have adapted and restored their antioxidant status after long-term ethanol exposure, which might be the reason for such conflicting reports concerning α-tocopherol status in chronic alcoholism.
Skull Base Clear Cell Carcinoma, Metastasis of Renal Primary Tumor: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Sepúlveda Ilson , Platin Enrique , Klaassen Rodrigo , Spencer M. Loreto , García Cesar , Alarcón Ricardo , Ulloa David
Published: August 2013

We report on a patient who presented with cranial nerve VI bilateral paresis, absence of pharyngeal reflex, dysarthria, right tongue deviation, and right facial paralysis. Imaging studies showed an expansive process in the cranial base with clivus and petrous apex osteolysis. A biopsy confirmed the presence of clear cell adenocarcinoma and suspicion of renal tumor metastases. Abdominal imaging studies revealed a mass in the right kidney. Consequently, radiotherapy was performed, and the patient was enrolled in a palliative care and pain control program.
Carrying the Pain of Abuse: Gender-Specific Findings on the Relationship between Childhood Physical Abuse and Obesity in Adulthood
Authors: Fuller-Thomson Esme , Sinclair Deborah A. , Brennenstuhl Sarah
Published: August 2013

Background: Childhood abuse has been associated with negative adult health outcomes, including obesity. This study sought to investigate the association between childhood physical abuse and adult obesity, while controlling for five clusters of potentially confounding factors: childhood stressors, socioeconomic indicators, marital status, health behaviors, and mental health. Methods: Representative data from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey were selected. The response rate was approximately 84%. Gender-specific logistic regression analyses determined the association between abuse and obesity, while controlling for age and race and five clusters of potentially confounding factors. Of the 12,590 respondents with complete data, 2,787 were obese and 976 reported physical abuse as a child or adolescent by someone close to them. Results: Among women with childhood physical abuse compared to no abuse, the odds of obesity were 35% higher, even when controlling for age, race, and the five clusters of factors (odds ratio (OR) = 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09, 1.67). Childhood physical abuse was not associated with adult obesity among men (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.82, 1.53). Conclusions: This study provides one of the first population-based, gender-specific analyses of the association between childhood physical abuse and obesity controlling for a wide range of factors. The gender-specific findings require further exploration.
Association between Sleeping Hours and Siesta and the Risk of Obesity: The SUN Mediterranean Cohort
Authors: Sayón-Orea Carmen , Bes-Rastrollo Maira , Carlos Silvia , Beunza Juan Jose , Basterra-Gortari Francisco J. , Martínez-González Miguel A.
Published: August 2013

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the association between sleeping hours at night and during the siesta and the incidence of obesity in a Mediterranean cohort. Methods: After a median of 6.5 years of follow-up, we included 10,532 or 9,470 participants without chronic disease or obesity at baseline for analyzing the association between the incidence of obesity and nocturnal sleep duration or having siesta. Sleeping hours and siesta were assessed at baseline. Weight was recorded at baseline and every 2 years during the follow-up. The outcome was the incidence of obesity during follow-up among participants with initial BMI <30 kg/m2. Results: During follow-up we observed 446 new cases of obesity in the analysis of nocturnal sleep duration. Sleeping less than 5 h at night was associated with a higher risk of becoming obese compared to sleeping between 7 and <8 h (HR 1.94; 95% CI 1.19-3.18; p for quadratic trend = 0.06) after adjusting for potential confounders. During follow-up, we observed 396 incident cases of obesity in the analysis of siesta. Those who took a siesta for 30 min/day had a 33% lower risk of becoming obese (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46-0.96; p for quadratic trend = 0.13) compared to those who did not take siesta. Conclusion: Our results suggest that short nocturnal sleep duration could be a modifiable risk factor for obesity. It is possible that this association may be stronger among men and subjects who experienced previous weight gain. Additionally, siesta might be a novel and independent protective factor for obesity; however, confirmatory studies are needed.
Sirolimus Stimulates Vascular Stem/Progenitor Cell Migration and Differentiation Into Smooth Muscle Cells via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Extracellular Signal–Regulated Kinase/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wong Mei Mei , Winkler Bernhard , Karamariti Eirini , Wang Xiaocong , Yu Baoqi , Simpson Russell , Chen Ting , Margariti Andriani , Xu Qingbo
Published: August 2013

Objective—

Sirolimus-eluting stent therapy has achieved considerable success in overcoming coronary artery restenosis. However, there remain a large number of patients presenting with restenosis after the treatment, and the source of its persistence remains unclarified. Although recent evidence supports the contribution of vascular stem/progenitor cells in restenosis formation, their functional and molecular responses to sirolimus are largely unknown.

Approach and Results—

Using an established technique, vascular progenitor cells were isolated from adventitial tissues of mouse vessel grafts and purified with microbeads specific for stem cell antigen-1. We provide evidence that vascular progenitor cells treated with sirolimus resulted in an induction of their migration in both transwell and wound healing models, clearly mediated by CXCR4 activation. We confirmed the sirolimus-mediated increase of migration from the adventitial into the intima side using an ex vivo decellularized vessel scaffold, where they form neointima-like lesions that expressed high levels of smooth muscle cell (SMC) markers (SM-22α and calponin). Subsequent in vitro studies confirmed that sirolimus can induce SMC but not endothelial cell differentiation of progenitor cells. Mechanistically, we showed that sirolimus-induced progenitor-SMC differentiation was mediated via epidermal growth factor receptor and extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 activation that lead to β-catenin nuclear translocation. The ablation of epidermal growth factor receptor, extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2, or β-catenin attenuated sirolimus-induced SM-22α promoter activation and SMC differentiation.

Conclusions—

These findings provide direct evidence of sirolimus-induced progenitor cell migration and differentiation into SMC via CXCR4 and epidermal growth factor receptor/extracellular signal–regulated kinase/β-catenin signal pathways, thus implicating a novel mechanism of restenosis formation after sirolimus-eluting stent treatment.
Relation of Regional Fat Distribution to Left Ventricular Structure and Function
Authors: Neeland Ian J. , Gupta Sachin , Ayers Colby R. , Turer Aslan T. , Rame J. Eduardo , Das Sandeep R. , Berry Jarett D. , Khera Amit , McGuire Darren K. , Vega Gloria L. , Grundy Scott M. , de Lemos James A. , Drazner Mark H.
Published: August 2013

Background—

The relation of body fat distribution to left ventricular (LV) structure and function is poorly defined.

Methods and Results—

A total of 2710 participants without heart failure or LV dysfunction in the Dallas Heart Study underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and MRI assessment of fat distribution, LV morphology, and hemodynamics. Cross-sectional associations of fat distribution with LV structure and function were examined after adjustment for age, sex, race, comorbidities, and lean mass. Mean age was 44 years with 55% women; 48% blacks; and 44% obese. After multivariable adjustment, visceral adipose tissue was associated with concentric remodeling characterized by lower LV end-diastolic volume (β=−0.21), higher concentricity (β=0.20), and wall thickness (β=0.09;
P
<0.0001 for all). In contrast, lower body subcutaneous fat was associated with higher LV end-diastolic volume (β=0.48), reduced concentricity (β=−0.50), and wall thickness (β=−0.28,
P
<0.0001 for all). Visceral adipose tissue was also associated with lower cardiac output (β=−0.10,
P
<0.05) and higher systemic vascular resistance (β=0.08,
P
<0.05), whereas lower body subcutaneous fat associated with higher cardiac output (β=0.20,
P
<0.0001) and lower systemic vascular resistance (β=−0.18,
P
<0.0001). Abdominal subcutaneous fat showed weaker associations with concentric remodeling and was not associated with hemodynamics. Among the subset of obese participants, visceral adipose tissue, but not abdominal subcutaneous fat, was significantly associated with concentric remodeling.

Conclusions—

Visceral adipose tissue, a marker of central adiposity, was independently associated with concentric LV remodeling and adverse hemodynamics. In contrast, lower body subcutaneous fat was associated with eccentric remodeling. The impact of body fat distribution on heart failure risk requires prospective study.
Serum Brain–Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels Are Associated With Risk of Stroke and Vascular Brain Injury
Authors: Pikula Aleksandra , Beiser Alexa S. , Chen Tai C. , Preis Sarah R. , Vorgias Demetrios , DeCarli Charles , Au Rhoda , Kelly-Hayes Margaret , Kase Carlos S. , Wolf Philip A. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Seshadri Sudha
Published: August 2013

Background and Purpose—

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a major neurotrophin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have a documented role in neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and neuronal survival. In animal experiments, they impact infarct size and functional motor recovery after an ischemic brain lesion. We sought to examine the association of serum BDNF and VEGF with the risk of clinical stroke or subclinical vascular brain injury in a community-based sample.

Methods—

In 3440 Framingham Study participants (mean age, 65±11 years; 56% women) who were free of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), we related baseline BDNF and logVEGF to risk of incident stroke/TIA. In a subsample with brain MRI and with neuropsychological tests available (n=1863 and 2104, respectively; mean age, 61±9 years, 55% women, in each), we related baseline BDNF and logVEGF to log-white matter hyperintensity volume on brain MRI, and to visuospatial memory and executive function tests.

Results—

During a median follow-up of 10 years, 193 participants experienced incident stroke/TIA. In multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, and traditional stroke risk factors, lower BDNF and higher logVEGF levels were associated with an increased risk of incident stroke/TIA (hazard ratio comparing BDNF Q1 versus Q2–Q4, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–2.00;
P
=0.012 and hazard ratio/SD increase in logVEGF, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.40;
P
=0.012). Persons with higher BDNF levels had less log-white matter hyperintensity volume (β±SE=−0.05±0.02;
P
=0.025), and better visual memory (β±SE=0.18±0.07;
P
=0.005).

Conclusions—

Lower serum BDNF and higher VEGF concentrations were associated with increased risk of incident stroke/TIA. Higher levels of BDNF were also associated with less white matter hyperintensity and better visual memory. Our findings suggest that circulating BDNF and VEGF levels modify risk of clinical and subclinical vascular brain injury.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Blood Pressure Variability and Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Yadav Sunaina , Cotlarciuc Ioana , Munroe Patricia B. , Khan Muhammad S. , Nalls Michael A. , Bevan Steve , Cheng Yu-Ching , Chen Wei-Min , Malik Rainer , McCarthy Nina S. , Holliday Elizabeth G. , Speed Douglas , Hasan Nazeeha , Pucek Mateusz , Rinne Paul E. , Sever Peter , Stanton Alice , Shields Denis C. , Maguire Jane M. , McEvoy Mark , Scott Rodney J. , Ferrucci Luigi , Macleod Mary J. , Attia John , Markus Hugh S. , Sale Michele M. , Worrall Bradford B. , Mitchell Braxton D. , Dichgans Martin , Sudlow Cathy , Meschia James F. , Rothwell Peter M. , Caulfield Mark , Sharma Pankaj
Published: August 2013

Background and Purpose—

Visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure (vBP) is associated with ischemic stroke. We sought to determine whether such variability has genetic causes and whether genetic variants associated with BP variability are also associated with ischemic stroke.

Methods—

A Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) for loci influencing BP variability was undertaken in 3802 individuals from the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcome Trial (ASCOT) study, in which long-term visit-to-visit and within-visit BP measures were available. Because BP variability is strongly associated with ischemic stroke, we genotyped the sentinel single nucleotide polymorphism in an independent ischemic stroke population comprising 8624 cases and 12 722 controls and in 3900 additional (Scandinavian) participants from the ASCOT study to replicate our findings.

Results—

The ASCOT discovery GWAS identified a cluster of 17 correlated single nucleotide polymorphisms within the
NLGN1
gene (3q26.31) associated with BP variability. The strongest association was with rs976683 (
P
=1.4×10
−8
). Conditional analysis of rs976683 provided no evidence of additional independent associations at the locus. Analysis of rs976683 in patients with ischemic stroke found no association for overall stroke (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.97–1.07;
P
=0.52) or its subtypes: cardioembolic (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.97–1.16;
P
=0.17), large vessel disease (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.89–1.07;
P
=0.60), and small vessel disease (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.97–1.17;
P
=0.19). No evidence for association was found between rs976683 and BP variability in the additional (Scandinavian) ASCOT participants (
P
=0.18).

Conclusions—

We identified a cluster of single nucleotide polymorphisms at the
NLGN1
locus showing significant association with BP variability. Follow-up analyses did not support an association with risk of ischemic stroke and its subtypes.
Geometric, Hemodynamic, and Pathological Study of a Distal Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Model in Dogs
Authors: Yan Lei , Zhu Yue-Qi , Li Ming-Hua , Tan Hua-Qiao , Cheng Ying-Sheng
Published: August 2013

Background and Purpose—

We created a distal internal carotid artery side-wall aneurysm model in dogs and compared its geometric, hemodynamic, and histological similarities with human models.

Methods—

Eight distal internal carotid artery–shaped devices were constructed using rapid prototyping, and 8 aneurysms were created via surgical reconstruction and elastase incubation. The geometric and hemodynamic parameters of the aneurysm and the parent artery of the dog and human models were compared, and histological response was evaluated at 12 weeks.

Results—

Eight aneurysms were successfully created with good geometric simulation of the arteries between the dog and human models. Hemodynamic analysis revealed similar changes in the hemodynamic parameters both in the aneurysm sac and in the parent artery of the dog and human models. Histological analysis revealed internal elastic lamina discontinuity, elastic fiber disruption, a thinner muscular layer, increased smooth muscle cell proliferation rate, increased inflammation cell infiltration, and higher matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression indices in the medial aneurysm wall.

Conclusions—

The distal internal carotid artery aneurysm model in dogs is feasible and exhibited considerable geometric, hemodynamic, and histological similarities with the original human models.
Effects of Acute Dopamine Precusor Depletion on Immediate Reward Selection Bias and Working Memory Depend on Catechol-O-methyltransferase Genotype
Authors: Kelm Mary Katherine , Boettiger Charlotte A.
Published: August 2013

Little agreement exists as to acute dopamine (DA) manipulation effects on intertemporal choice in humans. We previously found that catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype predicts individual differences in immediate reward selection bias among adults. Moreover, we and others have shown that the relationship between COMT genotype and immediate reward bias is inverted in adolescents. No previous pharmacology studies testing DA manipulation effects on intertemporal choice have accounted for COMT genotype, and many have included participants in the adolescent age range (18–21 years) as adults. Moreover, many studies have included female participants without strict cycle phase control, although recent evidence demonstrates that cyclic estradiol elevations interact with COMT genotype to affect DA-dependent cognition. These factors may have interacted with DA manipulations in past studies, potentially occluding detection of effects. Therefore, we predicted that, among healthy male adults (ages 22–40 years), frontal DA tone, as indexed by COMT genotype, would interact with acute changes in DA signaling to affect intertemporal choice. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, we decreased central DA via administration of an amino acid beverage deficient in the DA precursors, phenylalanine and tyrosine, and tested effects on immediate reward bias in a delay-discounting (DD) task and working memory (WM) in an n-back task. We found no main effect of beverage on DD or WM performance but did find significant beverage*genotype effects. These results suggest that the effect of DA manipulations on DD depends on individual differences in frontal DA tone, which may have impeded some past efforts to characterize DA's role in immediate reward bias in humans.
Appropriate Sound Effector for Electronic Music Prototyping
Authors: Lee Byungjoo , Bae Jaehyuck , Bang Hyunwoo
Published: August 2013

The Appropriate Sound Effector (ASE) is a small, portable module to be attached to an existing acoustic instrument to modify its original sound, giving it an electronic timbre. It is composed of all of the basic components necessary for the generation of electronic sound and uses an open-source-based microcontroller in the module to maximize its expandability and for ease of future development. This project eventually showed a different possibility for appropriate technology when ASE is applied to musical applications.
The Use of Scripture in 4Q175
Authors: Katzin David
Published: August 2013

Abstract

It has been previously suggested that 4Q175 21–30 utilizes rare words and phrases obtained through its use of a lexicon derived from the Hebrew scriptures. It has not been noticed, however, that this entire section is made up of a string of rare or otherwise conspicuous words and phrases that function as allusions to “biblical” verses. As a result of identifying the context and primary meaning of these allusions, it will be shown that 4Q175 as a whole can be understood as being a stylized blessing-cursing text as is seen elsewhere in the Qumran Library (QL). Further, the synonymous root words for arising, ק-ו-ם and ע-מ-ד serve as unifiers of the four sections of 4Q175. Most importantly, it will be shown through this exercise that the ultimate unifying aspect of 4Q175 is that it serves as a contemporizing exegesis on Deut 11:26–13. It will also become clear that Josh 6, which is the basis for 4Q175 21–30, is itself an intra-biblical midrash on Deuteronomy 13. This suggests that Jericho is being used as a cipher for the wayward city which is being discussed in 4Q175 21–30. All of this points to 4Q175 21–30 being an intrinsic part of 4Q175 rather than having been borrowed from 4Q379.
Faith in a Fashionable Age: Abraham Kuyper and Charles Taylor on the Secular Nexus Between Mode and Modernité
Authors: Covolo Robert Stephen
Published: August 2013

Abstract

This article examines two Christian thinkers who detect a close relationship between fashion and secularity. First, the article discusses Reformed theologian Abraham Kuyper’s suspicion that the French fashion of his day carried political, cultural and social capacities that reinforced secularization in nineteenth century Holland. Having considered Kuyper’s perspective, the article turns to contemporary Roman Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor’s understanding of fashion. Drawing on Taylor’s magnum opus, A Secular Age, the article traces fashion’s complicit relationship with secularity as a ‘fourth axis of simultaneity’. In spite of their very different historical, intellectual and confessional contexts, Kuyper and Taylor share a similar analysis of the secularizing power of fashion, thereby pointing a way forward for those seeking to understand the relationship between mode and modernité.
Creating From Ashes: Huang Zhongyang’s Memories of The Shadow of Mao
Authors: Chin Gail
Published: August 2013

As new immigrants to Canada, Regina painter Huang Zhongyang and other cultural workers add to our diverse visual heritage. Although he left the People’s Republic of China after the end of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, his memories of senseless violence, with Communist leader Mao Zedong pitting neighbor against neighbor, son against father, scarred his psyche, which he has turned into oil paintings. These paintings of Huang’s memories of the Cultural Revolution rarely are displayed publicly, except occasionally. The intent of this article is to discuss his paintings in relation to actual events during the 1960s to 1970s. History painting, a 19th Century European genre, has become a bygone category of art, but in the hands of Huang, memory, a postmodern concern, is aroused by these very poignant images often created after popular images taken from newspapers and television, thus reflecting the contemporary interest in photographs.
Evaluation of a Cloud-Scale Lightning Data Assimilation Technique and a 3DVAR Method for the Analysis and Short-Term Forecast of the 29 June 2012 Derecho Event
Authors: Fierro Alexandre O. , Gao Jidong , Ziegler Conrad L. , Mansell Edward R. , MacGorman Donald R. , Dembek Scott R.
Published: August 2013

This work evaluates the short-term forecast (≤6 h) of the 29–30 June 2012 derecho event from the Advanced Research core of the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF-ARW) when using two distinct data assimilation techniques at cloud-resolving scales (3-km horizontal grid). The first technique assimilates total lightning data using a smooth nudging function. The second method is a three-dimensional variational technique (3DVAR) that assimilates radar reflectivity and radial velocity data. A suite of sensitivity experiments revealed that the lightning assimilation was better able to capture the placement and intensity of the derecho up to 6 h of the forecast. All the simulations employing 3DVAR, however, best represented the storm’s radar reflectivity structure at the analysis time. Detailed analysis revealed that a small feature in the velocity field from one of the six selected radars in the original 3DVAR experiment led to the development of spurious convection ahead of the parent mesoscale convective system, which significantly degraded the forecast. Thus, the relatively simple nudging scheme using lightning data complements the more complex variational technique. The much lower computational cost of the lightning scheme may permit its use alongside variational techniques in improving severe weather forecasts on days favorable for the development of outflow-dominated mesoscale convective systems.
Paths into and out of poverty among immigrants in Sweden
Authors: Obućina Ognjen
Published: August 2013

In this article I analyse longitudinal patterns of relative poverty among the foreign-born in Sweden, with data drawn from the register-based LINDA dataset. The descriptive statistics suggest that immigrants stay in poverty longer than poor natives do, just as they more often fall back into poverty. Poverty transitions are more frequently associated with employment transition among immigrants than among natives, while other trigger events are more prevalent among natives who experience poverty transition. Conditional transition rates of all the events associated with poverty exits and entries are more favourable for natives. The multivariate analysis shows that poverty is stickier among immigrants even after controlling for the observable characteristics, but the degree of disadvantage relative to natives varies greatly by immigrant group. Longer duration of stay and living with a Swedish-born adult are both beneficial in the context of poverty dynamics.
Obama’s Education Plan
Authors: Rogers-Chapman M. Felicity
Published: August 2013

Policy makers’ attempts to improve low-achieving schools through reform measures are not new to the 21st century. Research asserts that this policy churn has done little, if anything, to change student achievement levels. Based on the research, I assert that policy reforms such as teacher evaluations and test-based assessment, and school improvement cannot occur without an integration of organizational components. Furthermore, through a theory of action analysis of the School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, I suggest that the link between what we know about school improvement and what is put forth in policy is tenuous at best. Continuing to pass reform simply for political reasons is not a viable option if our schools are to produce sustainable, positive change in student outcomes.
Use of non-human DNA analysis in forensic science: A mini review
Authors: Iyengar Arati , Hadi Sibte
Published: August 2013

Analysis of non-human DNA in forensic science, first reported about two decades ago, is now commonplace. Results have been used as evidence in court in a variety of cases ranging from abduction and murder to patent infringement and dog attack. DNA from diverse species, including commonly encountered pets such as dogs and cats, to plants, viruses and bacteria has been used and the sheer potential offered by such analyses has been proven. In this review, using case examples throughout, we detail the considerable literature in this field.
The Motivational Dynamics of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting
Authors: Pica Gennaro , Pierro Antonio , Bélanger Jocelyn J. , Kruglanski Arie W.
Published: August 2013

Two experiments addressed the phenomenon of retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) from the standpoint of cognitive energetics theory (CET). Consistent with the inhibitory account of RIF and with the notion that inhibition can be demanding and resource dependent, we found that where the inhibitory activity was difficult (vs. easy), defining a high restraining force according to the CET, RIF occurred only in the presence of a high driving force combining an elevated motivation to inhibit with the availability of high resources. Overall, the current work highlights the crucial role of motivation in producing the RIF and the way in which this phenomenon abides by the general principles of motivated cognition.
Tournament Theory
Authors: Connelly Brian L. , Tihanyi Laszlo , Crook T. Russell , Gangloff K. Ashley
Published: August 2013

Tournament theory is useful for describing behavior when reward structures are based on relative rank rather than absolute levels of output. Accordingly, management scholars have used tournament theory to describe a wide range of inter- and intraorganizational competitions, such as promotion contests, innovation contests, and competition among franchisees. While the use of tournament theory has gained considerable momentum in recent years, the ideas that underlie the theory have become blurred and potentially useful insights remain trapped within disciplines. We, therefore, provide a synthesis of the theory’s foundational concepts, review its use in the management literature, identify advancements from related disciplines that may be imported to management research, and delineate the steps likely to be critical to moving the theory forward. Our hope is this review will make tournament theory more accessible and salient to management researchers with a view toward developing more nuanced versions of the theory and applying it in a wider range of contexts.
Organizational Correctives for Improving Recognition of Near-Miss Events
Authors: Dillon Robin L. , Tinsley Catherine H. , Madsen Peter M. , Rogers Edward W.
Published: August 2013

Despite decades of research on organizational disasters, such events remain too common. Scholars across a wide range of disciplines agree that one of the most viable approaches to preventing such catastrophes is to observe near-misses and use them to identify and eliminate problems before they produce large failures. Unfortunately, these important warning signals are too often ignored because they are perceived as successes rather than near-misses (or near-failures). In this article, we explore the effect of a climate for safety on improving near-miss recognition by observers, hypothesizing that safety climate increases the level of attention that observers pay to the underlying processes that generate an apparently successful outcome. Using a database of anomaly reports for unmanned NASA missions, we show that organizational safety climate and project stakes increase reporting rates of near-misses, both independently and interactively. In follow-up laboratory experiments, we confirm the independence of these effects to improve the likelihood that people differentiate near-miss outcomes from successes. Results suggest organizations can increase the recognition of near-misses with organizational messages that emphasize a positive safety climate.
Bayesian Estimation and Inference
Authors: Zyphur Michael J. , Oswald Frederick L.
Published: August 2013

This paper introduces the “Bayesian revolution” that is sweeping across multiple disciplines but has yet to gain a foothold in organizational research. The foundations of Bayesian estimation and inference are first reviewed. Then, two empirical examples are provided to show how Bayesian methods can overcome limitations of frequentist methods: (a) a structural equation model of testosterone’s effect on status in teams, where a Bayesian approach allows directly testing a traditional null hypothesis as a research hypothesis and allows estimating all possible residual covariances in a measurement model, neither of which are possible with frequentist methods; and (b) an ANOVA-style model from a true experiment of ego depletion’s effects on performance, where Bayesian estimation with informative priors allows results from all previous research (via a meta-analysis and other previous studies) to be combined with estimates of study effects in a principled manner, yielding support for hypotheses that is not obtained with frequentist methods. Data are available from the first author, code for the program Mplus is provided, and tables illustrate how to present Bayesian results. In conclusion, the many benefits and few hindrances of Bayesian methods are discussed, where the major hindrance has been an easily solvable lack of familiarity by organizational researchers.
Survey of social search from the perspectives of the village paradigm and online social networks
Authors: Trias i Mansilla Albert , de la Rosa i Esteva Josep Lluís
Published: August 2013

Two paradigms currently exist for information search. The first is the library paradigm, which has been largely automated and is the prevailing paradigm in today’s web search. The second is the village paradigm, and although it is older than the library paradigm, its automation has not been considered, yet certain elements of its key aspects have been automated, as in the cases of the Q&A communities or novel services such as Quora. The increasing popularity and availability of online social networks and question-answering communities have encouraged revisiting of the automation of the village paradigm owing to new helpful developments, primarily that people are more connected with their acquaintances on the internet and their contact lists are available. In this survey, we study how the village paradigm is today partially automated: we consider the selection of candidates for answering questions, answering questions automatically and helping candidates to decide what questions to answer. Other aspects are also considered, for example, the automation of a reward system. We conclude that a next step towards the automation of the village paradigm involves intelligent agents that can leverage a P2P (peer-to-peer) social network, which will create new and interesting issues deeply entwined with social networks in the form of information processing by agents in parallel and side by side with people.
The Psychic Life of White: Power and Space
Authors: Connellan Kathleen
Published: August 2013

This paper casts a net across spaces that are designed to be bland and identity-less. It posits that white is more than just a colour in design and that it is appropriated by organizations to spread sameness across public spaces. In this way, the article draws upon Foucauldian theories of power and organizational aesthetics in an effort to show that people become caught up in an institutionalization of space. White spaces become infused with an energy that is also derived from plain surfaces and which then offers up an illusion of spatial order. The article uses examples of the church, the parliament building, the prison, the hospital and the university to discuss ways in which whiteness transcends the limits of temporal colour and enters the psyche as an agent of power in the control of spaces and subjects.
Diagnostic role of Gallium-68 DOTATOC and Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: a meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Jigang , Kan Ying , Ge Benjamin H , Yuan Leilei , Li Chunlin , Zhao Wenrui
Published: August 2013

Background

Gallium-68 somatostatin receptor positron emission tomography (PET) has been used in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The compounds often used in molecular imaging of NETs with PET are 68Ga-DOTATOC, 68Ga-DOTATATE, and 68Ga-DOTANOC. There is varying affinity to different somatostatin receptors.

Purpose

To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis of published data regarding the diagnostic role of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs.

Material and Methods

A comprehensive literature search of studies published through 30 April 2013 regarding 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs was performed using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs were calculated. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to measure the accuracy of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs.

Results

Ten studies comprising 416 patients with NETs were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in the diagnosis of NETs calculated on a per-patient-based analysis was 93% (95% confidence interval [CI] 89–96%) and 96% (95% CI 91–99%). The pooled specificity of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET in diagnosing NETs was 85% (95% CI 74–93%) and 100% (95% CI 82–100%). The area under the ROC curve of 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET was 0.96 and 0.98, respectively, on a per-patient-based analysis.

Conclusion

The molecular imaging agents 68Ga-DOTATOC and 68Ga-DOTATATE demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of NETs on PET scan. Although both are accurate tools in the diagnosis of NETs, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET may be more sensitive and specific than 68Ga-DOTATOC PET scan.
Yesterday’s heroes, today’s villains: Ideology, corruption, and democratic performance
Authors: Gingerich Daniel W
Published: August 2013

This paper develops a game-theoretic model for assessing the relationship between ideological divisions in a society and prospects for good governance. Synthesizing the insights of the literature on political career concerns with those from the literature on issue framing, the model emphasizes that ideological balance—rough equality in the ideological component of utility the median voter derives from government and opposition—is the key to good governance. Polities which are ideologically balanced are ruled by elites who attempt to impress their merit upon the electorate through the provision of public goods. Ideologically imbalanced polities are ruled by elites who use public resources for their own consumption and who court voters through socially unproductive issue framing. The cases of pre-revolutionary Cuba, post-apartheid South Africa, and post-Pinochet Chile are used to illustrate the crucial importance of ideological balance for good governance.
A new iso-parametric machining algorithm for free-form surface
Authors: Sarkar Subhajit , Dey Partha P
Published: August 2013

In this paper, a new iso-parametric tool path generation technique has been presented for machining truncated free-form surfaces by means of re-parameterisation. Three methods of re-parameterisation have been discussed, namely, the Coons method, partial differential equation method and the newly developed ‘Boundary Interpolation method.’ Tool paths have been generated based on the iso-parametric curves produced by re-parameterisation. The complete mathematical formulations have been given and subsequently their applications have been studied through some typical cases. Case studies show that the Coons and Laplace partial differential equation have some drawbacks in generating tool paths when the surface boundaries are irregular but the new Boundary Interpolation algorithm gives smooth and efficient iso-parametric tool paths by eliminating the problems like overcrossing (in case of Coons method) and uneven distribution of iso-parametrics (in case of Laplace partial differential equation method).
Rash and hepatitis within days of starting a new antiretroviral regimen: nevirapine hypersensitivity, secondary syphilis or both?
Authors: Saxon Cara J , Helbert Matthew R , Komolafe Adeniyi J , Higgins Stephen P
Published: August 2013

We report a case in which an HIV-positive man developed general malaise, skin rash and biochemical hepatitis within days of starting a nevirapine-based antiretroviral treatment regimen. At the same time, his syphilis serology proved positive. We discuss the diagnostic dilemma: was this a nevirapine hypersensitivity reaction, secondary syphilis or both?
An Investigation of Factors Determining the Study Abroad Destination Choice
Authors: Lee Cheng-Fei
Published: August 2013

Previous studies on the field of education abroad have mainly focused on the factors influencing the mobility of international students from developing to developed countries and very few have been conducted to investigate the factors influencing the flow of international students to the Asia Pacific region. As a piece of country-specific research, this study, with an attempt to explore why and how international students travel to Taiwan for the purpose of study and to describe possible implications for the authorities and institutions offering higher education, is timely and worthwhile. A push–pull model is developed to identify the factors relating to the three-phase model of study abroad decision-making process, while the analytic hierarchy process method is used to examine the relative importance of these factors. The findings of this study suggest that policy makers and institutional administrators should focus on offering various kinds of scholarships for international students, designing multilingual websites for international students with different languages, promoting language training programs for international students, and designing student recruitment strategies tailored for the different study groups of international students at the government and the institution levels. This study is of particular significance because global competition between countries for international students and especially for the best among them will be more intense in the future.
Musical plausibility: Estimation and synchronisation
Authors: Hähnel Tilo
Published: August 2013

Synthetically modelled performances and commercial recordings of orchestral minuets were used in three rating tests and a synchronisation test to investigate two issues. The first one addresses the impression of authenticity and plausibility, i.e., the impression of a human-rendered performance, questioning whether smooth mathematical functions are adequate means of modelling timing and dynamics, or whether it is the deviations from smooth functions observed in human performances that contain hidden information contributing to the impression of authenticity and plausibility. The second question investigated whether the subjective impression of plausibility is also reflected in the anticipation of musical events, such as that required in a synchronisation task. In the plausibility tests, there was no significant difference between participants’ ratings of synthetic performances modelled with smooth functions and those including hidden information . In the synchronisation test, participants showed a higher standard deviation – proportionally to the mean beat length – in the tap-onset difference when tapping to the beat of a synthetic performance that had been rated implausible in the previous tests.
Pilot study assessing a seven-day continuous intrathecal topotecan infusion for recurrent or progressive leptomeningeal metastatic cancer
Authors: Tran Hung C , Gardner Sharon , Weiner Howard L , Liebes Leonard F , Finlay Jonathan L
Published: August 2013

Objective

To determine the feasibility and toxicity profile of topotecan administered as a seven-day continuous intrathecal infusion for patients with leptomeningeal metastasis secondary to recurrent or progressive central nervous system cancer.

Study design

Two patients with central nervous system leptomeningeal metastasis were treated with a seven-day continuous infusion of topotecan (0.2 mg/day) administered via continuous intrathecal/intraventricular infusion at a rate of 0.6 mL/h, totaling 1.4 mg/course. CSF and plasma concentrations of topotecan closed lactone (the active metabolite) were quantified at various points during topotecan infusion. Patients were monitored for neurologic and systemic toxicities according to NCI common toxicity criteria.

Results

Both patients tolerated the seven-day continuous topotecan without any significant adverse events. One patient received a second course 21 days after treatment initiation. CSF concentration of topotecan closed lactone ranged from 3.73 to 312 ng/mL (median = 131 ng/mL) and plasma topotecan closed lactone ranged from 0.44 to 1.78 ng/mL (median = 0.92 ng/mL). The median CSF topotecan concentration was greater than the median serum topotecan concentration by a 44-fold magnitude when samples were obtained at the same time point. None of the patients experienced any grade 3 or higher hematological toxicities or signs of arachnoiditis.

Conclusion

A seven-day continuous intrathecal infusion of topotecan is well tolerated and has the potential of maximizing central nervous system drug exposure.
Comparative Effects of Emotion Management Training and Social Skills Training in Korean Children With ADHD
Authors: Choi Eun Sil , Lee Woo Kyeong
Published: August 2013

Objective: ADHD is associated with social and emotional impairment that goes beyond the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention deficits. This study evaluates the comparative efficacy of emotional management training (EMT) with social skills training (SST) and no treatment in children with ADHD. Method: A randomized, controlled treatment outcome study was conducted with 32 boys and 40 girls (aged 10-12 years). The Child Behavior Checklist, Emotion Expression Scale for Children, Child Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children were completed before and after the intervention. Results: The EMT group exhibited a significant improvement in emotion recognition and expressive reluctance. Therefore, focusing on emotion identification and expression in social cognitive processes (i.e., EMT), instead of merely focusing on social skills (SST), enhances treatment efficacy. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that focusing on the identification and expression of emotional information processes, instead of merely focusing on social skills (SST) enhances treatment efficacy.
The Ethical Dilemmas of Restudies in Researching Youth
Authors: O’Connor Henrietta , Goodwin John
Published: August 2013

Since 2000, we have been undertaking a restudy of Elias’s ‘Adjustment of Young Workers to Work Situations and Adult Roles’ project (1962–64). We experienced a number of ethical dilemmas/questions in undertaking the restudy and in this article, we outline these and discuss how we resolved them as the project developed. In doing so, we focus our discussion around three central questions: ( i) how did we reuse this data and balance the conflict between having access to personal biographical information with the wish to trace and reinterview the original respondents?; ( ii) how do we responsibly analyze data that was collected but never used whilst providing an authentic voice for these ‘past’ young workers?; and ( iii) how do we accurately represent the demise of the research project and the contribution of the researchers originally involved? We conclude by considering the ethical imperative of the greater reuse of existing data on young people.
Survival of the Fastest: Ethical Dilemmas in Research with ‘Boy Racers’
Authors: Lumsden Karen
Published: August 2013

This article grapples with the ethical dilemmas of youth research, and more specifically ‘edgework’, via an experiential account of fieldwork with ‘boy racers’ in Aberdeen, Scotland. ‘Edgework’ is ethically problematic for those who wish to conduct fieldwork with youths. By engaging in ‘edgework’, researchers can find themselves unwittingly drawn into the deviant activities of youths, as deviance slowly becomes the norm through prolonged immersion in their social world. ‘Edgework’ also blurs the line between insider and outsider status, threatening the researcher’s ability to step back from the field and critically reflect on their experiences. Furthermore, the experiential aspect of the ‘edgework’ method is called to the fore since the researcher’s experiences of risky behaviours (in terms of discomfort) differed from those of the researched (in terms of pleasure).