bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the role of independent organisations in care coordination for older people in England
Authors: Xie Chengqiu , Hughes Jane , Chester Helen , Sutcliffe Caroline , Challis David
Published: March 2013

Social care policies advocate the provision of coordinated care and the involvement of the independent sector in service planning and delivery. This study explores the characteristics of the independent organisations involved in care coordination for older people, the tasks undertaken, and management of the interface between the commissioning authorities and these organisations. The findings are based on semistructured telephone interviews conducted in 2009 with representatives from 25 local authorities in England regarding 40 organisations.

Findings

All organisations identified are voluntary in nature. They were diverse in terms of size, staffing, and history, typically undertaking care coordination for discrete user groups but few exclusively for older people. A range of care coordination activities were reported: assessment, brokerage, support planning, and monitoring and review. The extent of their involvement in these activities varied markedly. Commissioning and contracting arrangements differed; most organisations had short-term contracts. The main mechanism of contract monitoring was activity data returns; there was a lack of more detailed service evaluation. Both opportunities and challenges exist with regard to the future role of voluntary organisations in care coordination.

Applications

This study highlights the potential for voluntary organisations to undertake care coordination activities. To achieve this, partnership working between service commissioners and these organisations is required, and funding and support are essential for provider organisations to develop appropriate infrastructures. Information governance arrangements are required to facilitate information sharing. The potential expansion of the role of voluntary organisations and the implications for practitioners with respect to their employment prospects are explored.
Finding meaning in everyday life with dementia: A case study
Authors: Robertson Jane M.
Published: March 2013

This paper presents a case study exploring an older woman’s perspective on the quality of her life with dementia. The case study establishes the importance of coherence across the life course in understanding how she evaluates her changed situation in the present compared to the past. The metaphoric description of moving from ‘up there’ to ‘down here’ represents the perceived struggle to maintain a sense of worth despite a marginalised social position. Being able to define self and social identity in ways that preserve a sense of social status is important to find meaning in everyday life. Finding meaning involves looking backwards to sustain continuity with the past and looking forwards to maintain momentum and keep going. A narrative framework is valuable in showing that quality of life is a dimension of meaning associated with maintaining a sense of social worth.
The Diabetes Healthy Outcomes Program
Authors: BeLue Rhonda , Figaro M. Kathleen , Peterson Jeannine , Wilds Christina , William Parnitha
Published: March 2013

Background: Uninsured patients with diabetes are at increased risk for poor outcomes and often have limited access to health and prescription services necessary to manage diabetes. Hamilton Health Center, a federally qualified community health center, with support from the Highmark Foundation, implemented a Diabetes Healthy Outcomes Program (DHOP) for uninsured patients. Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of DHOP that is designed to provide health care and supportive services for uninsured diabetic patients at a federally qualified community health center. Methods: Mixed quantitative and qualitative analyses of participant outcomes and satisfaction were used to assess program effectiveness. Results: A total of 189 participants enrolled in DHOP over 2 years. Thirty-four (18%) participants had adequate glycemic control with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤7%. Overall, 105 participants received prescription drugs, 101 participants received eye care services, 23 participants received dental services, 45 received podiatry services, 37 received nutrition services, and 28 patients engaged in an exercise program. More participants (38%, 34) had controlled diabetes mellitus at study start than at the end (28%, 25). However, 30% versus 17% of participants with 2 HbA1c measurements achieved or maintained HbA1c ≤7% by the end of the program compared with the start. Participants who accessed more services were more likely to achieve glycemic control as measured by HbA1c ( P > .01). Conclusion: Although 30% of participants improved or maintained glycemic control over 2 years, more were uncontrolled at the end than at study start. Participants who accessed more primary and specialty care services were more likely to achieve glycemic control. Multidisciplinary care may improve diabetes control in low-income patients.
Changes in Positive Self-Views Mediate the Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Goldin Philippe R. , Jazaieri Hooria , Ziv Michal , Kraemer Helena , Heimberg Richard G. , Gross James J.
Published: March 2013

Social anxiety disorder is thought to be characterized by maladaptive self-views. This study investigated whether (a) patients with social anxiety disorder ( n = 75) differ at baseline from healthy controls ( n = 43) in negative and positive self-views, (b) cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder versus wait-list control produces statistically and clinically significant changes in negative and positive self-views, (c) changes in self-views mediate the effect of CBT on social anxiety symptoms, and (d) changes in self-views during CBT related to social anxiety symptoms at 1-year post-CBT. As expected, patients endorsed more negative and fewer positive self-views than healthy controls at baseline. Compared to wait-list control, CBT yielded statistically and clinically significant changes, specifically, fewer negative and more positive self-views. Mediational analysis indicated that increased positive (but not reduced negative) self-views mediated the effect of CBT on social anxiety reduction. Correlational analyses determined that increased positive self-views were associated with social anxiety symptom reduction at 1-year post-CBT.
Investigation of the Potential Windows and Methods for Viewing the Tongue Using Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound
Authors: Hennessey Arin
Published: March 2013

Currently diagnostic modalities to evaluate lesions of the tongue are limited. Ultrasonography is a potential source of diagnostic information that can be utilized, if developed properly, to evaluate these lesions. This study investigates prospective windows sonography use to examine the tongue externally, lessening invasive measures currently used to diagnose and treat pathology. Based on results of this study, five of eight windows and methods tested were shown to have potential for evaluating the tongue externally. These were shown to be reproducible, acceptable windows for sonographers, providing a prospective means for sonographic evaluation of the tongue with hopes of developing a standardized protocol.
The aristocratic oikos on the Vrina Plain, Butrint c. AD 830–1200
Authors: Greenslade Simon , Hodges Richard
Published: March 2013

This essay reviews the archaeology of a mid-Byzantine administrative central place – an aristocratic oikos – in the old Roman suburb of Butrint, Albania. Apart from illustrating the many aspects of the excavated evidence, consideration is given to Paul Magdalino’s ground-breaking essay on the nature of the Byzantine aristocratic oikos.
At the origins of ephoreia
Authors: Chitwood Zachary
Published: March 2013

Ephoreia, one of the principal forms of monastic trusteeship in the Byzantine empire, appears for the first time in texts around the year 1000. Despite its prevalence, like many post-Justinianic legal developments, ephoreia is not mentioned in the normative legal codes of the Middle Byzantine period, including the Basilika. A previously overlooked passage from the eleventh-century casebook known as the Peira, which was compiled by an anonymous redactor from the verdicts and legal treatises of the jurist Eustathios Rhomaios, mentions ephoreia in the context of how much time must elapse before a possessor of property acquires ownership. This mention of ephoreia in the Peira is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, appearance of the term as describing monastic trusteeship. The reference is an important example of a contemporary legal development without a basis in Roman law which was accommodated within the contemporary legal regime.
Megakaryocyte-specific deletion of the protein-tyrosine phosphatases Shp1 and Shp2 causes abnormal megakaryocyte development, platelet production, and function
Authors: Mazharian Alexandra , Mori Jun , Wang Ying-Jie , Heising Silke , Neel Benjamin G. , Watson Steve P. , Senis Yotis A.
Published: March 2013

Key Points

The protein-tyrosine phosphatases Shp1 and Shp2 are critical regulators of megakaryocyte development, platelet production, and function. Shp1 and Shp2 perform mainly distinct functions in megakaryocytes and platelets, with little functional overlap.
Neutrophil myeloperoxidase regulates T-cell−driven tissue inflammation in mice by inhibiting dendritic cell function
Authors: Odobasic Dragana , Kitching A. Richard , Yang Yuan , O’Sullivan Kim M. , Muljadi Ruth C. M. , Edgtton Kristy L. , Tan Diana S. Y. , Summers Shaun A. , Morand Eric F. , Holdsworth Stephen R.
Published: March 2013

Key Points

MPO, via its catalytic activity, inhibits the generation of adaptive immunity by suppressing DC function. MPO-mediated inhibition of adaptive immunity attenuates T cell-driven tissue inflammation.
β2 integrin–derived signals induce cell survival and proliferation of AML blasts by activating a Syk/STAT signaling axis
Authors: Oellerich Thomas , Oellerich Mark F. , Engelke Michael , Münch Silvia , Mohr Sebastian , Nimz Marika , Hsiao He-Hsuan , Corso Jasmin , Zhang Jing , Bohnenberger Hanibal , Berg Tobias , Rieger Michael A. , Wienands Jürgen , Bug Gesine , Brandts Christian , Urlaub Henning , Serve Hubert
Published: March 2013

Key Points

Integrin signaling promotes proliferative signals in AML cells that are mediated by the kinase Syk and the transcription factors STAT3 and STAT5.
α-admissible mappings and related fixed point theorems
Authors: Hussain Nawab , Karapınar Erdal , Salimi Peyman , Akbar Farhana
Published: March 2013

In this paper, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a fixed point for certainα-admissible contraction mappings. Our results generalize and extend some well-known results on the topic in the literature. We consider some examples to illustrate the usability of our results.

MSC:46N40, 47H10, 54H25, 46T99.
Plasticity-related gene 3 promotes neurite shaft protrusion
Authors: Velmans Tanja , Battefeld Arne , Geist Beate , Farrés Anna Soriguera , Strauss Ulf , Bräuer Anja U
Published: March 2013

Background

Recently, we and others proposed plasticity-related gene 3 (PRG3) as a novel molecule in neuritogenesis based on PRG3 overexpression experiments in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines. However, direct information on PRG3 effects in neuronal development and, in particular, its putative spatio-temporal distribution and conditions of action, is sparse.

Results

We demonstrate here that PRG3 induces filopodia formation in HEK293 cells depending on its N-glycosylation status. The PRG3 protein was strongly expressed during mouse brain development in vivo from embryonic day 16 to postnatal day 5 (E16 – P5). From P5 on, expression declined. Furthermore, in early, not yet polarized hippocampal cultured neurons, PRG3 was expressed along the neurite shaft. Knock-down of PRG3 in these neurons led to a decreased number of neurites. This phenotype is rescued by expression of an shRNA-resistant PRG3 construct in PRG3 knock-down neurons. After polarization, endogenous PRG3 expression shifted mainly to axons, specifically to the plasma membrane along the neurite shaft. These PRG3 pattern changes appeared temporally and spatially related to ongoing synaptogenesis. Therefore we tested (i) whether dendritic PRG3 re-enhancement influences synaptic currents and (ii) whether synaptic inputs contribute to the PRG3 shift. Our results rendered both scenarios unlikely: (i) PRG3 over-expression had no influence on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC) and (ii) blocking of incoming signals did not alter PRG3 distribution dynamics. In addition, PRG3 levels did not interfere with intrinsic neuronal properties.

Conclusion

Taken together, our data indicate that endogenous PRG3 promotes neurite shaft protrusion and therefore contributes to regulating filopodia formation in immature neurons. PRG3 expression in more mature neurons, however, is predominantly localized in the axon. Changes in PRG3 levels did not influence intrinsic or synaptic neuronal properties.
Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial pneumonia: is the outcome more favorable in non-ventilated than ventilated patients?
Authors: Yang Ya-Sung , Lee Yi-Tzu , Huang Tsai-Wang , Sun Jun-Ren , Kuo Shu-Chen , Yang Chin-Hsuan , Chen Te-Li , Lin Jung-Chung , Fung Chang-Phone , Chang Feng-Yee
Published: March 2013

Background

Acinetobacter baumannii hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is associated with a high mortality worldwide. Non-ventilated patients with HAP (NVHAP) caused by nosocomial pathogens are reported to have a more favorable outcome than those with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The current study was designed to determine whether bacteremic patients with A. baumannii NVHAP also have a lower mortality than those receiving assisted ventilation.

Methods

This retrospective 10-year study was conducted at a 2900-bed teaching hospital located in Northern Taiwan. The population consisted of 144 patients with A. baumannii bacteremia and HAP. Of these 96 had VAP and 48 had NVHAP. Charts were reviewed for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, antimicrobial susceptibility, and 14-day mortality. Clonal relationships were determined by molecular typing.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups in comorbidities (Charlson scores). Patients with NVHAP were more likely to have developed bacteremia earlier, outside the ICU and undergone fewer invasive procedures. They had significantly lower APACHE II scores, fewer bilateral pneumonias and lower rates of antimicrobial resistance. No specific clones were identified in either group. The unadjusted (crude) 14-day mortality rates were not significantly different between the groups (NVHAP 43.8% vs. VAP 31.3%, p = 0.196). The adjusted 14-day mortality risk was significantly lower in ventilator-assisted patients (odds ratio = 0.201; 95% confidence interval = 0.075-0.538; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Patients with bacteremic NVHAP and VAP caused by A. baumannii had similar crude mortality rates, but on logistic regression analysis those receiving ventilator assistance had a significantly lower mortality. This may have been due to better airway protection, more intensive monitoring with earlier diagnosis and treatment in patients with VAP, greater innate susceptibility to infection in those with NVHAP and differences in the virulence of A. baumannii.
The correlation between extracellular resistance by electrical biopsy and the ratio of optical low staining area in irradiated intestinal tissues of rats
Authors: Huang Yu-Jie , Huang Eng-Yen , Cheng Kuo-Sheng
Published: March 2013

Background

Electrical biopsy illustrates a tissue’s electrical properties by electrical impedance spectroscopy. However, electrical biopsy parameters are different from conventional morphological-based examinations. The correlation between electrical biopsy and the morphological observation has not been checked. Considering the tissue responses to injury, extracellular resistance should be most sensitive with the accumulation of fluid in tissue, and it is expected to increase the ratio of optical low staining area on histological images. In this study, we calculated the ratio of optical low staining area of sampled histological images and compared with the results of electrical biopsy to verify the hypothesis of that the extracellular resistance of electrical biopsy most highly correlates with the ratio of optical low staining area on histological images.

Methods

The irradiated intestinal tissues of rats after different latent period were used for study. The sampled tissues were measured by electrical impedance spectroscopy for electrical biopsy and the microscopic images were acquired. The sampled histological images were transformed into the Hue-Saturation-Density (HSD) colour model to decouple the stain density. The ratio of optical low staining area on histological images was computed to quantify the morphological changes. The results were related to the parameters from electrical biopsy according to three element circuit model by Spearman’s rank correlation test.

Results

The ratio of optical low staining area varied as well as the tissue’s electrical parameters. The extracellular resistance (Re) and intracellular resistance (Ri) by electrical biopsy tended to increase with the ratio of low staining area decreasing. The membrane capacitance (Cm) by electrical biopsy tended to increase with the ratio of optical low staining area increasing. The extracellular resistance (Re) of electrical biopsy was the parameter most highly correlated with the ratio of optical low staining area with a correlation coefficient of −0.757 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results of this report confirm the hypothesis and support the idea that electrical biopsy results reflect the changes in tissues seen in conventional histological findings in a sense of conventional histological knowledge, and this approach may have a great potential for augmenting the pathological diagnosis of tissues.
Effect of Echium oil compared with marine oils on lipid profile and inhibition of hepatic steatosis in LDLr knockout mice
Authors: Botelho Patrícia Borges , Mariano Karina da Rocha , Rogero Marcelo Macedo , de Castro Inar Alves
Published: March 2013

Background

In an effort to identify new alternatives for long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) supplementation, the effect of three sources of omega 3 fatty acids (algae, fish and Echium oils) on lipid profile and inflammation biomarkers was evaluated in LDL receptor knockout mice.

Methods

The animals received a high fat diet and were supplemented by gavage with an emulsion containing water (CON), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 42.89%) from algae oil (ALG), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 19.97%) plus DHA (11.51%) from fish oil (FIS), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, 26.75%) plus stearidonic acid (SDA, 11.13%) from Echium oil (ECH) for 4 weeks.

Results

Animals supplemented with Echium oil presented lower cholesterol total and triacylglycerol concentrations than control group (CON) and lower VLDL than all of the other groups, constituting the best lipoprotein profile observed in our study. Moreover, the Echium oil attenuated the hepatic steatosis caused by the high fat diet. However, in contrast to the marine oils, Echium oil did not affect the levels of transcription factors involved in lipid metabolism, such as Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor α (PPAR α) and Liver X Receptor α (LXR α), suggesting that it exerts its beneficial effects by a mechanism other than those observed to EPA and DHA. Echium oil also reduced N-6/N-3 FA ratio in hepatic tissue, which can have been responsible for the attenuation of steatosis hepatic observed in ECH group. None of the supplemented oils reduced the inflammation biomarkers.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that Echium oil represents an alternative as natural ingredient to be applied in functional foods to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Chemistry of conjugation to gold nanoparticles affects G-protein activity differently
Authors: Singh Vibha , Nair Santhosh P Nagappan , Aradhyam Gopala Krishna
Published: March 2013

Background

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are extensively used as biophysical tools in the area of medicine and technology due to their distinct properties. However, vivid understanding of the consequences of biomolecule-nanomaterial interactions is still lacking. In this context, we explore the affect of conjugation of Gαi1 subunit (of heterotrimeric G-proteins) to AuNP and examine its consequences. We consider two bio-conjugation strategies covalent and non-covalent binding.

Results

Affinity of the AuNP to the Gαi1 is 7.58 × 10 12 M-1. AuNP conjugated Gαi1 exhibits altered kinetics of activation, non-covalent bio-conjugates displays retarded kinetics, up to 0.88 fold when GTPγS was used as ligand, of protein activation contrary to covalent conjugates which accelerates it to ~ 5 fold. Conjugation influence intrinsic Gαi1 GTPase function in conflicting modes. Non-covalent conjugation inhibits GTPase function (decrease in activity upto 0.8 fold) whilst covalent conjugation drastically accelerates it (12 fold increase in activity). Altered basal nucleotide uptake in both types of conjugates and GTPase function in non-covalent conjugate are almost comparable except for GTPase property of covalent conjugate. The effect is despite the fact that conjugation does not change global conformation of the protein.

Conclusion

These findings provide clear evidence that nanoparticles, in addition to ‘passive interaction’ with protein (biomolecule), can interact “actively” with biomolecule and modify its function. This concept should be considered while engineering nanoparticle based delivery systems in medicine.
NBP: light-weight Narrow Band Protection for ZigBee and Wi-Fi coexistence
Authors: Lim Sangsoon , Lee Suchul , Yoo Joon , Kim Chong-Kwon
Published: March 2013

The recent development of various wireless technologies in the 2.4GHz ISM band has led to the co-channel coexistence of heterogeneous wireless devices, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. This sharing of the common channel results in the challenging problem of cross-technology interference, since the wireless devices generally use diverse PHY/MAC specifications. In particular, the less capable ZigBee device may often experience unpredictably low throughput due to the interference from the powerful Wi-Fi. The ZigBee protector is an attractive solution, since it can reserve the channel on behalf of the weak ZigBee devices. The protector method, however, has a few limitations; (i) it may cause significant overhead to both ZigBee and Wi-Fi, and (ii) the ZigBee control packets are still vulnerable to the Wi-Fi interference. In this paper, we propose a novel time reservation scheme called Narrow Band Protection (NBP), that uses a protector to guard the ongoing ZigBee transmission. The key contributions are threefold: First, NBP autonomously detects any ongoing ZigBee transmissions by cross-correlating the ZigBee’s packets with the pre-defined Pseudo-random Noise (PN) sequences. By using this cross-correlation, it significantly reduces the control overhead. Second, due to the reliable cross-correlation, NBP is robust from the control packet collisions, which typically wastes channel time for both ZigBee and Wi-Fi. Third, NBP protects the burst of ZigBee packets by estimating the size of the burst, in turn, giving a semantic to the PN codebook. This is important because ZigBee is typically battery-powered and thus the long burst is advantageous for the low duty cycle operations. We first show the feasibility of NBP by implementing it on the real USRP/GNURadio platform. Then, we evaluate the performance of NBP through mathematical analysis and NS-2 simulations. The results show that NBP enhances the ZigBee throughput by up to 1.77x compared to the existing scheme.
Modeling and performance evaluations of Alamouti technique in a single frequency network for DVB-T2
Authors: Tormos Mokhtar , Tanougast Camel , Dandache Abbas , Masse Denis , Kasser Pierre
Published: March 2013

Alamouti space–frequency coding provides additional frequency diversity, especially in multipath propagation environments. This article addresses a new modeling of the Alamouti code multiple input single output (MISO) in a single frequency network(SFN) for two, three, and four transmitters, and different types of coding and modulations in the DVB-T2 (Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial second generation). Classical SFN, Alamouti MISO, and combined SFN with Alamouti MISO (called SFN-2x1 Alamouti MISO) are compared and analyzed. Performance evaluations are made for two, three, or four transmission antennas through 0-dB Echo profile, TU6 mobile channel, unbalanced received power and rotated constellation. The obtained results show clearly that the performance of an SFN network using 0-dB Echo profile with Alamouti MISO is only better than a pure SFN for two and three antennas. Moreover, an SFN based on four antennas (receiving from four antennas) has almost the same performance as SFN-2x1 Alamouti MISO.
Treatment of T1b glottic SCC: Laser vs. radiation- a Canadian multicenter study
Authors: Taylor S Mark , Kerr Paul , Fung Kevin , Aneeshkumar Mankavil K , Wilke Derek , Jiang Yida , Scott John , Phillips Judith , Hart Robert D , Trites Jonathan RB , Rigby Matthew H
Published: March 2013

Objective

To assess the oncological and functional outcomes of T1b squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glottic larynx treated with laser in comparison with radiation.

Design

A Canadian multicenter cohort study.

Setting

Three tertiary referral centers for head and neck cancer- Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Western University in London, Ontario and the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg.

Methods

Patients with T1b glottic SCC who underwent transoral laser resection or radiation as the primary modality of treatment.

Outcome measures

Oncological outcomes were evaluated using local control, laryngeal preservation, disease free survival and disease specific survival. Voice outcomes were assessed using the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10).

Results

63 patients met study criteria. 21 were treated with laser and 42 with radiation. Oncologic outcomes at 2 years for laser and radiation demonstrated local control of 95% and 85.9%; laryngeal preservation of 100% and 85.9%; disease free survival of 88.7% and 85.9% and overall survival of 94.1% and 94.8% respectively. VHI-10 data was available for 23/63 patients. During the last follow up visit VHI-10 ranged from 0 to 11 (median 6) in the laser group and 0 to 34 (median 7) in the radiation group.

Conclusion

T1b SCC of the glottis can be effectively treated with transoral laser microsurgery with oncological outcomes that are at least equivalent to radiation. For patients with VHI scores, voice quality was similar between the two groups. To our knowledge this is the first study directly comparing the oncologic and voice outcomes with laser and radiation for the treatment of glottic cancer involving the anterior commissure.
Evaluating the timing of injection laryngoplasty for vocal fold paralysis in an attempt to avoid future type 1 thyroplasty
Authors: Alghonaim Yazeed , Roskies Michael , Kost Karen , Young Jonathan
Published: March 2013

Objectives

To determine whether immediate (less than 3 months from time of nerve injury), early (from 3 to 6 months from time of nerve injury) or late (more than 6 months from time of nerve injury) vocal fold injection influences the long-term outcomes for patients with permanent unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Methods

A total of 250 patients with documented unilateral vocal fold paralysis were identified in this retrospective chart review. 66 patients met the inclusion criteria, having undergone awake trancervical injection with gelfoam™, collagen, perlane™ or a combination. Patients with documented recovery of vocal fold mobility, or patients with less than one year of follow-up after the onset of paralysis were excluded. Patients were stratified into immediate (<3 months), early (3-6 months) and late (>6 months) groups denoting the time from suspected injury to injection. The need for open surgery as determined by a persistently immobile vocal fold with insufficient glottic closure following injection was the primary outcome.

Results

1 out of 21 (4.8%) in the immediate group, 2 out of 17 (11.8%) in the early group and 20 out of 28 (71.4%) in the late group required type 1 thyroplasty procedures to restore glottic competence. There was significance when comparing late injection to both early and immediate injection (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were seen when comparing the number of injections needed to restore glottic competence.

Conclusions

This 10-year longitudinal assessment revealed that early medialization of a permanent paralyzed, abducted vocal fold with a temporary material appears to diminish the likelihood of requiring permanent laryngeal framework surgery.
Inhaled corticosteroid influence toll like receptor 2 expression in induced sputum from patients with COPD
Authors: Zhu Haixing , Shi Yuheng , Tang Wei , Shi Guocao , Wan Huanyin
Published: March 2013

Background

The link between long-term ICS therapy and respiratory infection in COPD patients is controversial. We investigated the effect of long-term use of inhaled corticosteroid on Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) expression in induced sputum from COPD patients.

Methods

51 patients were divided into two groups according to their treatment history: long-term ICS treatment group (patients who have used ICS (equivalent to Fluticasone Propionate (FP) ≥ 500 ug/day for more than 1 year) (n = 21) and ICS naive group (who have never routinely used ICS before, n = 29). In their induced sputum, we tested TLR2 extracellular and intracellular expression on macrophages using flowcytometry. TLR2 and tumor necrosis factor αmRNA expression were also evaluated by real-time PCR.

Results

TLR2 extracellular expression on the macrophages from induced sputum in long-term ICS treatment group was lower than the ICS naïve group (13.69% ± 1.17% vs 20.12% ± 4.37%, p = 0.019). TLR2 intracellular expression in the macrophages, the TLR2 and TNFαmRNA in the induced sputum also showed a trend towards decreased endpoint in ICS long-term treatment group compare to ICS naïve group but did not reach significance. TLR2 extracellular and TLR2 intracellular expression were strongly related (r = 0.645, p = P = 0.017) as well as TNFαmRNA and TLR2 mRNA expression (r = 0.894, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Long-term use of ICS may have negative influence on TLR2 expression in the airway of severe COPD patient.
ABVD in Older Patients With Early-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated Within the German Hodgkin Study Group HD10 and HD11 Trials
Authors: Böll Boris , Görgen Helen , Fuchs Michael , Pluetschow Annette , Eich Hans Theodor , Bargetzi Mario J. , Weidmann Eckhart , Junghanß Christian , Greil Richard , Scherpe Alexander , Schmalz Oliver , Eichenauer Dennis A. , von Tresckow Bastian , Rothe Achim , Diehl Volker , Engert Andreas , Borchmann Peter
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Older patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) account for approximately 20% of all HL patients. ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) chemotherapy is regarded as standard of care in these patients. However, little is known on feasibility and efficacy of ABVD in this age group.

Patients and Methods

We analyzed the feasibility and efficacy of four cycles of ABVD in older patients age 60 to 75 years with early-stage HL who were treated within the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) HD10 and HD11 trials; results were compared with those of younger patients treated within these trials.

Results

In total, 1,299 patients received four cycles of ABVD, and 117 of those patients were older than age 60 years (median, 65 years). In 14% of older patients, treatment was not administered according to protocol, mainly because of excessive toxicity. The mean delay of treatment was twice as high in the older patients (2.2 v 1.2 weeks). Fifty-nine percent of older patients achieved a relative dose-intensity of at least 80% compared with 85% of younger patients. Major toxicity (WHO grade 3 and 4), including leucopenia, nausea, infection, and others, was documented in 68% of older patients with a treatment-related mortality of 5%. Complete response was achieved in 89% of older patients, 3% had progressive disease, and 11% relapsed. At a median observation time of 92 months, 28% of the patients had died, and the 5-year progression-free survival estimate was 75% (95% CI, 66% to 82%).

Conclusion

In patients age ≥ 60 years with HL, four cycles of ABVD is associated with substantial dose reduction, treatment delay, toxicity, and treatment-related mortality.
Which Languages?
Authors: Hassan Waïl S.
Published: March 2013

If reading literature in its original languages has always been the sine qua non of comparative literature, the discipline began to change when the answer to the above question was no longer restricted to European languages. In parallel motion, many efforts, several of which are comparative in nature, have been made since the early 1990s to reconfigure American studies beyond its established national-linguistic boundaries, either in relation to the American hemisphere or to various constructs of world literature. This essay reflects on those two mutually reinforcing processes by way of implicating Arabic studies, a field in which the question of which languages are relevant may seem as counterintuitive as in American studies. Given its (post)colonial contexts, comparative approaches to Arabic literature have tended to emphasize its relations with British and French literatures. These conventional answers to the question of which languages are relevant in the study of American and Arabic literatures have echoed geopolitical hierarchies and obscured important networks that do not always center on Europe and the United States, such as the South-South dimension of world literature, of which Arab-Latin American relations is but one example. The essay proposes a tertiary model that connects U.S. to Latin American and Arabic studies.
On Not Knowing the Original Language: French Philosophy against Comparative Literature
Authors: Kaufman Eleanor
Published: March 2013

This essay argues that twentieth- and twenty-first-century French philosophy (“French theory”) is aligned around a theory of difference that would contest many of the “comparative” frameworks of the discipline of Comparative Literature, including the question of original languages. Jacques Derrida, Gilles Deleuze, and Alain Badiou, each in their fashion, challenge the purportedly representational model on which questions of “original,” “translation,” and “maternal language” are based (what Deleuze refers to pejoratively as the principium comparationis with its four axes of identity, analogy, opposition, and similitude, on which “difference is crucified”). Thus, Richard Rorty's claim that philosophy / “theory” and literature have very little to do with each other is refined to suggest that one of the few unifying threads of contemporary French philosophy is precisely its foundational antagonism to the types of questions posed under the rubric of comparative literary analysis.
Sebald's Parrot: Speaking the Archive
Authors: Dubow Jessica , Steadman-Jones Richard
Published: March 2013

This essay takes a particular image in W.G. Sebald's novel Austerlitz and traces the hidden web of literary, theoretical, scientific, and philosophical allusion that informs it. At a crucial point in the narrative, when the protagonist is on the verge of entering the state archive in Prague and discovering his own origins, he has a dream which implicitly recalls the figure of Humboldt's parrot, a talking animal and the only creature to preserve the sounds of a now extinct language. If this is an image sourced in the literature of eighteenth-century science, it is also one that demands to be read against other key intertexts of the modern moment, including Darwin's Descent of Man, Flaubert's Un Coeur Simple, and the more recent voices of Walter Benjamin, Giorgio Agamben, and Maurice Blanchot. Weaving these diverse materials together in a manner that echoes Sebald's own textual and aesthetic practice, we argue that Sebald's parrot crystalizes a central problematic of the novel: What is the relationship between the archive and testimony in the experience of the desubjectified subject? What is the status of linguistic signification in the aftermath of loss? In this the image of the parrot becomes both a highly condensed figure of Freudian dream-work and the quintessential monad, caught in that vacant space between the real and the relic, primary event and present trace, representation and that which cannot be spoken. While all of this coheres with Sebald's historical preoccupations as a post-Holocaust writer, it points specifically to those literary resources of modernity that Sebald implicitly brings to bear on the very question of history. Indeed, the aim of this article is to mine the unrevealed archive of Sebald's own literary imagination in order to capture the problem of the archive itself.
Belling the Cat: Eli F. Heckscher on the Gold Standard as a Disciplinary Device
Authors: Fregert Klas
Published: March 2013

Unlike Knut Wicksell, Eli Heckscher did not believe the time had arrived for “managed money” to replace the gold standard after World War I. The war had shown that only a gold standard could bind the central bank to a time-consistent policy with reasonable price stability. Heckscher likened the problem of reinstating the gold standard to “belling the cat” in Aesop’s fable. When the international gold standard crumbled in the Great Depression, he supported the Swedish price-stabilization regime as a temporary system. Heckscher was an early discoverer of the time-consistency problem in monetary policy and hence stressed the importance of the institutional framework of monetary policy.
Bloomsbury report on mouse embryo phenotyping: recommendations from the IMPC workshop on embryonic lethal screening
Authors: Adams David , Baldock Richard , Bhattacharya Shoumo , Copp Andrew J. , Dickinson Mary , Greene Nicholas D. E. , Henkelman Mark , Justice Monica , Mohun Timothy , Murray Stephen A. , Pauws Erwin , Raess Michael , Rossant Janet , Weaver Tom , West David
Published: March 2013

Identifying genes that are important for embryo development is a crucial first step towards understanding their many functions in driving the ordered growth, differentiation and organogenesis of embryos. It can also shed light on the origins of developmental disease and congenital abnormalities. Current international efforts to examine gene function in the mouse provide a unique opportunity to pinpoint genes that are involved in embryogenesis, owing to the emergence of embryonic lethal knockout mutants. Through internationally coordinated efforts, the International Knockout Mouse Consortium (IKMC) has generated a public resource of mouse knockout strains and, in April 2012, the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), supported by the EU InfraCoMP programme, convened a workshop to discuss developing a phenotyping pipeline for the investigation of embryonic lethal knockout lines. This workshop brought together over 100 scientists, from 13 countries, who are working in the academic and commercial research sectors, including experts and opinion leaders in the fields of embryology, animal imaging, data capture, quality control and annotation, high-throughput mouse production, phenotyping, and reporter gene analysis. This article summarises the outcome of the workshop, including (1) the vital scientific importance of phenotyping embryonic lethal mouse strains for basic and translational research; (2) a common framework to harmonise international efforts within this context; (3) the types of phenotyping that are likely to be most appropriate for systematic use, with a focus on 3D embryo imaging; (4) the importance of centralising data in a standardised form to facilitate data mining; and (5) the development of online tools to allow open access to and dissemination of the phenotyping data.
Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders (DMDD): a new programme for phenotyping embryonic lethal mice
Authors: Mohun Timothy , Adams David J. , Baldock Richard , Bhattacharya Shoumo , Copp Andrew J. , Hemberger Myriam , Houart Corinne , Hurles Matt E. , Robertson Elizabeth , Smith James C. , Weaver Tom , Weninger Wolfgang
Published: March 2013

International efforts to test gene function in the mouse by the systematic knockout of each gene are creating many lines in which embryonic development is compromised. These homozygous lethal mutants represent a potential treasure trove for the biomedical community. Developmental biologists could exploit them in their studies of tissue differentiation and organogenesis; for clinical researchers they offer a powerful resource for investigating the origins of developmental diseases that affect newborns. Here, we outline a new programme of research in the UK aiming to kick-start research with embryonic lethal mouse lines. The 'Deciphering the Mechanisms of Developmental Disorders' (DMDD) programme has the ambitious goal of identifying all embryonic lethal knockout lines made in the UK over the next 5 years, and will use a combination of comprehensive imaging and transcriptomics to identify abnormalities in embryo structure and development. All data will be made freely available, enabling individual researchers to identify lines relevant to their research. The DMDD programme will coordinate its work with similar international efforts through the umbrella of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium [see accompanying Special Article (Adams et al., 2013)] and, together, these programmes will provide a novel database for embryonic development, linking gene identity with molecular profiles and morphology phenotypes.
Fluorescent Peptides Labeled with Environment-Sensitive 7-Aminocoumarins and Their Interactions with Lipid Bilayer Membranes and Living Cells
Authors: Murase Tokiko , Yoshihara Toshitada , Yamada Keiichi , Tobita Seiji
Published: March 2013

The photophysical properties of protected nonnatural amino acids Boc–l-Dap(7DEAC)–OMe (7DEAC: 7-diethylaminocoumarin) and Boc–l-Dap(C343)–OMe (C343: coumarin 343) were investigated to evaluate the suitability of these amino acids as fluorescent units in peptide-based fluorescent biosensors. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of Boc–l-Dap(7DEAC)–OMe and Boc–l-Dap(C343)–OMe exhibited significant red shifts with increasing solvent polarity. The fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of Boc–l-Dap(7DEAC)–OMe solutions decreased remarkably with increasing solvent polarity, whereas those of Boc–l-Dap(C343)–OMe were slightly affected by the solvent polarity. Fluorescent peptides H–Dap(7DEAC)–LLA–OMe (1), H–Dap(7DEAC)–KLA–OMe (2), and H–Dap(7DEAC)–ELA–OMe (3) labeled with environment-sensitive 7DEAC were synthesized to examine the interactions of these labeled peptides with lipid membranes and living cells. Neutral 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and anionic 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (DMPG) liposomes were used to investigate peptide–membrane interactions. Hydrophobic peptide 1 exhibited high affinities to both DMPC and DMPC/DMPG mixed membranes. Of the three peptides, cationic peptide 2 exhibited the strongest affinity to DMPC/DMPG membranes, whereas anionic peptide 3 showed a much lower affinity to DMPC/DMPG membranes. These results could be interpreted based on hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the peptides and membranes. Peptide 1 was efficiently internalized into HeLa cells, whereas peptides 2 and 3 showed a much lower intracellular delivery.
Uncertainty Measures for Economics Journal Impact Factors
Authors: Stern David I
Published: March 2013

Academic economists appear to be intensely interested in rankings of journals, institutions, and individuals. Yet there is little discussion of the uncertainty associated with these rankings. To illustrate the uncertainty associated with citations-based rankings, I compute the standard error of the impact factor for all economics journals with a five-year impact factor in the 2011 Journal Citations Report. I use these to derive confidence intervals for the impact factors as well as ranges of possible rank for a subset of thirty journals. I find that the impact factors of the top two journals are well defined and set these journals apart in a clearly defined group. An elite group of 9–11 mainstream journals can also be fairly reliably distinguished. The four bottom ranked journals are also fairly clearly set apart. For the remainder of the distribution, confidence intervals overlap and rankings are quite uncertain. (JEL A14)
Home Bias in Open Economy Financial Macroeconomics
Authors: Coeurdacier Nicolas , Rey Hélène
Published: March 2013

Home bias is a perennial feature of international capital markets. We review various explanations of this puzzling phenomenon highlighting recent developments in macroeconomic modeling that incorporate international portfolio choices in standard two-country general equilibrium models. We refer to this new literature as Open Economy Financial Macroeconomics. We focus on three broad classes of explanations: (i) hedging motives in frictionless financial markets (real exchange rate and nontradable income risk), (ii) asset trade costs in international financial markets (such as transaction costs or differences in tax treatments between national and foreign assets), and (iii) informational frictions and behavioral biases. Recent theories call for new portfolio facts beyond equity home bias. We present new evidence on cross-border asset holdings across different types of assets: equities, bonds and bank lending and new micro data on institutional holdings of equity at the fund level. These data should inform macroeconomic modeling of the open economy and a growing literature of models of delegated investment. (JEL E13, F41, G11, G12, G15)
The Cartel Penumbra: Where Public and Private Enforcement Policies Intersect
Authors: Gamble Roger
Published: March 2013

There has been considerable debate for some time about the proper role of private enforcement in cartel enforcement. It arose again recently in the wake of the decision of the European Court of Justice in Pfleiderer. The Court had to decide whether to disclose to private claimants documents obtained by a national competition regulator through its immunity programme. It decided that disclosure was not prohibited by EU law but was a matter for a national court to weigh the interests of civil claimants against the need to protect immunity programmes. Similar issues have arisen in Australia. The paper provides a brief overview of immunity policy and the place of private enforcement and then examines the regulatory, legislative and judicial responses to the disclosure/immunity issue in Europe and Australia and considers whether the correct balance has been struck between the competing interests of private claimants and regulatory authorities.
The Role of Sanctions and other Factors in Tackling International Tax Fraud
Authors: Devos Ken
Published: March 2013

The current global financial climate has placed governments under more pressure to prevent revenue leakage by curbing undesirable activity such as tax fraud. The aim of this paper is to examine the role of sanctions and other factors (both economic and non-economic) in tackling tax fraud and non-compliance in various jurisdictions. The evidence suggests that the imposition and increase in sanctions alone should perhaps be more correctly seen as only one part of an overall balanced, tax compliance strategy. It is submitted that the evidence produced in this paper provides useful information for revenue authorities globally and has implications for tax policy development.