bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Relationship Between Response to Chemotherapy and Response to Radiation Therapy in Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Sequential Treatment
Authors: Maquilan Genevieve , Grover Surbhi , Xanthopoulos Eric , Evans Tracey L. , Aggarwal Charu , Langer Corey J. , Cohen Roger B. , Stevenson James P. , Simone Charles B. , Rengan Ramesh
Published: April 2016

Objectives:

We examine whether induction chemotherapy response predicts thoracic radiotherapy response in locally advanced or oligometastatic non–small cell lung cancer.

Materials and Methods:

Between January 2001 to August 2010, 25 consecutive patients were identified who received systemic dose chemotherapy followed by definitive thoracic radiotherapy alone. All patients had measurable disease after chemotherapy that was evaluable for response to radiotherapy. Response to each modality was scored by RECIST as stable disease (SD), progressive disease (PD), partial response (PR), or complete response (CR).

Results:

Patients had adenocarcinoma (n=13), squamous cell carcinoma (n=8), or other histologies (n=4). They had stage IIIA (n=6), IIIB (n=14), and IV (n=5) disease. Patients received 2 to 6 cycles (median 4) of platinum-based chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy (median 66.6/1.8 Gy [range 50 to 84 Gy]). Median time between chemotherapy end and radiotherapy start was 6.7 weeks (range, 1.6 to 53.4 wk). Twelve patients responded to chemotherapy (all were PRs) and 13 did not (SD+PD). Fifteen patients responded to radiotherapy (7 CR, 8 PR) and 10 did not (SD+PD). Of the 12 patients who responded to chemotherapy, 8 also responded to radiotherapy (4 CR, 4 PR). Of the 13 chemotherapy nonresponders, 7 responded to radiotherapy (3 CR, 4 PR). χ2 analysis did not find any association between chemotherapy and radiotherapy response (P=0.513). Regression analysis also failed to identify any correlation between chemotherapy and radiotherapy response (r
2=0.008).

Conclusions:

This study suggests that response to chemotherapy does not predict response to radiotherapy in locally advanced or oligometastatic non–small cell lung cancer. Lack of response to chemotherapy, therefore, should not preclude treatment with definitive radiotherapy.
Parsing the hedonic and motivational influences of nociceptin on feeding using licking microstructure analysis in mice
Authors: Mendez Ian A. , Maidment Nigel T. , Murphy Niall P.
Published: April 2016

Opioid peptides are implicated in processes related to reward and aversion; however, how specific opioid peptides are involved remains unclear. We investigated the role of nociceptin (NOC) in voluntary licking for palatable and aversive tastants by studying the effect of intracerebroventricularly administered NOC on licking microstructure in wild-type and NOC receptor knockout (NOP KO) mice. Compared with the wild-type mice, NOP KO mice emitted fewer bouts of licking when training to lick for a 20% sucrose solution. Correspondingly, intracerebroventricular administration of NOC increased the number of licking bouts for sucrose and sucralose in wild-type, but not in NOP KO mice. The ability of NOC to initiate new bouts of licking for sweet solutions suggests that NOC may drive motivational aspects of feeding behavior. Conversely, adulterating a sucrose solution with the aversive tastant quinine reduced licking bout lengths in wild-type and NOP KOs, suggesting that NOC signaling is not involved in driving voluntary consumption of semiaversive tastants. Interestingly, when consuming sucrose following 20 h of food deprivation, NOP KO mice emitted longer bouts of licking than wild types, suggesting that under hungry conditions, NOC may also contribute toward hedonic aspects of feeding. Together, these results suggest differential roles for NOC in the motivational and hedonic aspects of feeding.
Mental Health Effects of Premigration Trauma and Postmigration Discrimination on Refugee Youth in Canada
Authors: Beiser Morton , Hou Feng
Published: April 2016

This report examines the role of pre- and post-migration trauma in explaining differences in refugee and immigrant mental health. Data were derived from mother-youth refugee and immigrant dyads from six countries of origin who were living in Canada at the time of the study. Youth reports of emotional problems (EP) and aggressive behavior (AB) were the mental health outcomes. EP and AB were regressed on predictor blocks: a) status (refugee versus immigrant), visible minority, and gender; b) premigration trauma and postmigration discrimination; c) parent and youth human and social capital; d) poverty, neighborhood, and schools. Refugees suffered higher levels of EP and AB, premigration traumas, and discrimination. Postmigration perception of discrimination predicted both EP and AB and explained immigrant versus refugee differences in EP. Antirefugee discrimination net of discrimination based on immigrant or visible minority status has deleterious mental health consequences.
Association of Hospital Structure and Complications With Mortality After Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Nasr Viviane G. , Faraoni David , DiNardo James A. , Thiagarajan Ravi R.
Published: April 2016

Objectives:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is increasingly utilized to provide cardiopulmonary support to critically ill children. Although life-saving in many instances, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. This study evaluates the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complications and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation hospital characteristics on mortality in neonates and children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Design:

Retrospective analysis of administrative data.

Setting:

Data from 31 U.S. states included in 2012 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database.

Patients:

Children treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Study subject were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition Clinical Modification code 39.65 and classified into six diagnostic categories: 1) cardiac surgery, 2) non-surgical heart disease, 3) congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 4) neonatal respiratory failure, 5) pediatric respiratory failure, and 6) sepsis. Demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcome information were used in a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with mortality. We identified 1,465 children treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Overall mortality was 40% (591/1,465). Mortality was independently associated with diagnosis (heart disease: odds ratio, 1.7; p = 0.01; congenital diaphragmatic hernia: odds ratio, 5.1; p < 0.001; and sepsis odds ratio: 2.4; p = 0.003 compared with neonatal respiratory failure) time from hospital admission to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation of more than 10 days (odds ratio, 4.5; p < 0.001) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complications (renal [odds ratio: 5; p < 0.001] and neurologic [odds ratio, 1.4; p = 0.03] injury). In addition, hospitals with bed size less than 400 had higher mortality (odds ratio, 1.4; p = 0.02). In patients with any extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complication, probability of mortality was lower for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients in larger hospitals, 38% (95% CI, 37–39) versus 44% (95% CI, 43–46) with p value of less than 0.001.

Conclusions:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mortality was significantly associated with patient diagnosis, time to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation complications, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation hospital bed size. Improved survival in larger hospitals supports centralization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation services to larger centers.
Impact of Telemedicine on Severity of Illness and Outcomes Among Children Transferred From Referring Emergency Departments to a Children’s Hospital PICU*
Authors: Dayal Parul , Hojman Nayla M. , Kissee Jamie L. , Evans Jacqueline , Natale JoAnne E. , Huang Yunru , Litman Rebecca L. , Nesbitt Thomas S. , Marcin James P.
Published: April 2016

Objectives:

To compare the severity of illness and outcomes among children admitted to a children’s hospital PICU from referring emergency departments with and without access to a pediatric critical care telemedicine program.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Tertiary academic children’s hospital PICU.

Patients:

Pediatric patients admitted directly to the PICU from referring emergency departments between 2010 and 2014.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements:

Demographic factors, severity of illness, and clinical outcomes among children receiving care in emergency departments with and without access to pediatric telemedicine, as well as a subcohort of children admitted from emergency departments before and after the implementation of telemedicine.

Main Results:

Five hundred eighty-two patients from 15 emergency departments with telemedicine and 524 patients from 60 emergency departments without telemedicine were transferred and admitted to the PICU. Children admitted from emergency departments using telemedicine were younger (5.6 vs 6.9 yr; p< 0.001) and less sick (Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score, 3.2 vs 4.0; p < 0.05) at admission to the PICU compared with children admitted from emergency departments without telemedicine. Among transfers from emergency departments that established telemedicine programs during the study period, children arrived significantly less sick (mean Pediatric Risk of Mortality III scores, 1.2 units lower; p = 0.03) after the implementation of telemedicine (n = 43) than before the implementation of telemedicine (n = 95). The observed-to-expected mortality ratios of posttelemedicine, pretelemedicine, and no-telemedicine cohorts were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.53–1.09), 1.07 (95% CI, 0.53–1.60), and 1.02 (95% CI, 0.71–1.33), respectively.

Conclusions:

The implementation of a telemedicine program designed to assist in the care of seriously ill children receiving care in referring emergency departments was associated with lower illness severity at admission to the PICU. This study contributes to the body of evidence that pediatric critical care telemedicine programs assist referring emergency departments in the care of critically ill children and could result in improved clinical outcomes.
Ex-STORM: Expansion Single Molecule Super-resolution Microscopy
Authors: Tong Zhisong , Beuzer Paolo , Ye Qing , Axelrod Josh , Hong Zhenmin , Cang Hu
Published: April 2016

We present critical improvements to recently invented Expansion Microscopy (ExM), which resolve the incompatibility between ExM and single molecule super-resolution microscopy STORM. Specifically, the improved ExM circumvents the massive, 50-100%, bleaching of fluorophores during sample preparations, and preserve the efficiency of enzymatic oxygen scavenging systems in expanded samples. These improvements open up new avenues for Ex-STORM - expanding a sample mechanically, and then visualizing the sample with STORM.
Estimating seven coefficients of pairwise relatedness using population genomic data
Authors: Ackerman Matthew S , Johri Parul , Spitze Ken , Xu Sen , Doak Thomas , Young Kimberly , Lynch Michael
Published: April 2016

Population structure can be described by genotypic correlation coefficients between groups of individuals, the most basic of which are the pair-wise relatedness coefficients between any two individuals. There are nine pair-wise relatedness coefficients in the most general model, and we show that these can be reduced to seven coefficients for biallelic loci. Although all nine coefficients can be estimated from pedigrees, six coefficients have been beyond empirical reach. We provide a numerical optimization procedure that estimates them from population-genomic data. Simulations show that the procedure is nearly unbiased, even at 3× coverage, and errors in five of the seven coefficients are statistically uncorrelated. The remaining two coefficients have a negative correlation of errors, but their sum provides an unbiased assessment of the overall correlation of heterozygosity between two individuals. Application of these new methods to four populations of the freshwater crustaceanDaphnia pulexreveal the occurrence of half-siblings in our samples, as well as a number of identical individuals that are likely obligately asexual clone-mates. Statistically significant negative estimates of these pair-wise relatedness coefficients, including inbreeding coefficents that were typically negative, underscore the difficulties that arise when interpreting genotypic correlations as estimations of the probability that alleles are identical by descent.
CNView: a visualization and annotation tool for copy number variation from whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Collins Ryan L. , Stone Matthew R. , Brand Harrison , Glessner Joseph T. , Talkowski Michael E.
Published: April 2016

Copy number variation (CNV) is a major component of structural differences between individual genomes. The recent emergence of population-scale whole-genome sequencing (WGS) datasets has enabled genome-wide CNV delineation. However, molecular validation at this scale is impractical, so visualization is an invaluable preliminary screening approach when evaluating CNVs. Standardized tools for visualization of CNVs in large WGS datasets are therefore in wide demand.

Methods & Results

To address this demand, we developed a software tool, CNView, for normalized visualization, statistical scoring, and annotation of CNVs from population-scale WGS datasets. CNView surmounts challenges of sequencing depth variability between individual libraries by locally adapting to cohort-wide variance in sequencing uniformity at any locus. Importantly, CNView is broadly extensible to any reference genome assembly and most current WGS data types.

Availability and Implementation

CNView is written in R, is supported on OS X, MS Windows, and Linux, and is freely distributed under the MIT license. Source code and documentation are available fromhttps://github.com/RCollins13/CNView

Contact

talkowski@chgr.mgh.harvard.edu
Robust cell tracking in epithelial tissues through identification of maximum common subgraphs
Authors: Kursawe Jochen , Bardenet Rémi , Zartman Jeremiah J. , Baker Ruth E. , Fletcher Alexander G.
Published: April 2016

Tracking of cells in live-imaging microscopy videos of epithelial sheets is a powerful tool for investigating fundamental processes in embryonic development. Characterising cell growth, proliferation, intercalation and apoptosis in epithelia helps us to understand how morphogenetic processes such as tissue invagination and extension are locally regulated and controlled. Accurate cell tracking requires correctly resolving cells entering or leaving the field of view between frames, cell neighbour exchanges, cell removals and cell divisions. However, current tracking methods for epithelial sheets are not robust to large morphogenetic deformations and require significant manual interventions. Here, we present a novel algorithm for epithelial cell tracking, exploiting the graph-theoretic concept of a ‘maximum common subgraph’ to track cells between frames of a video. Our algorithm does not require the adjustment of tissue-specific parameters, and scales in sub-quadratic time with tissue size. It does not rely on precise positional information, permitting large cell movements between frames and enabling tracking in datasets acquired at low temporal resolution due to experimental constraints such as photoxicity. To demonstrate the method, we perform tracking on theDrosophilaembryonic epidermis and compare cell-cell rearrangements to previous studies in other tissues. Our implementation is open source and generally applicable to epithelial tissues.
Evolution of Mating Types Driven by Purifying Selection against Mitochondrial Mutations
Authors: Radzvilavicius Arunas L
Published: April 2016

Sexual cell fusion combines genetic material of two gametes, but why the two reproductive cells have to belong to distinct self-incompatible gamete classes is not known. In a vast majority of sexual eukaryotes, mitochondria are inherited uniparentally from only one of the two mating types, which is thought to facilitate purifying selection against deleterious mitochondrial mutations and limit the inter-genomic conflicts. Here I argue that two mating types in eukaryotes represent a mechanism of mitochondrial quality control through the highly asymmetric transmission of mitochondrial genes at cell fusion. I develop a mathematical model to explicitly study the evolution of two self-incompatible mating type alleles linked to the nuclear locus controlling the pattern of organelle inheritance. The invasion of mating-type alleles is opposed by the short-term fitness benefit of mitochondrial mixing under negative epistasis and the lower chance of encountering a compatible mating partner. Nevertheless, under high mitochondrial mutation rates purifying selection against defective mitochondria can drive two mating types with uniparental inheritance to fixation. The invasion is further facilitated by the paternal leakage of mitochondria under paternal control of cytoplasmic inheritance. In contrast to previous studies, the model does not rely on the presence of selfish cytoplasmic elements, providing a more universal solution to the longstanding evolutionary puzzle of two sexes.
Sanctions, partner recognition, and variation in mutualism
Authors: Yoder Jeremy B. , Tiffin Peter
Published: April 2016

Mutualistic interactions can be stabilized against invasion by non-cooperative individuals by putting such “cheaters” at a selective disadvantage. Selection against cheaters should eliminate genetic variation in partner quality — yet such variation is often found in natural populations. One explanation for this paradox is that mutualism outcomes are determined not only by responses to partner performance, but also by partner signals. Here, we build a model of coevolution in a symbiotic mutualism, in which hosts’ ability to sanction non-cooperative symbionts and recognition of symbiont signals are determined by separate loci, as are symbionts’ cooperation and expression of signals. In the model, variation persists without destabilizing the interaction, in part because coevolution of symbiont signals and host recognition is altered by the coevolution of sanctions and cooperation, and vice-versa. Individual-based simulations incorporating population structure strongly corroborate these results. The dual systems of sanctions and partner recognition converge toward conditions similar to some economic models of mutualistic symbiosis in which hosts offering the right incentives to potential symbionts can initiate symbiosis without screening for partner quality. These results predict that mutualists can maintain variation in recognition of partner signals or in the ability to sanction non-cooperators without destabilizing mutualism, and reinforce the notion that studies of mutualism should consider communication between partners as well as the exchange of benefits.
Jiang Hu theory of organizing: in-depth study of self-managing of tourism
Authors: Wen Tong , Li Jieyi , Liang Zengxian
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore self-management among informal tourism employees in urban China with the theoretical basis ofJianghuand reveal the forming process and operation mechanism of China’s urban informal organizations’ self-management.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts process–event analysis of informal tourism photographers surrounding Guangzhou Tower. Conducting field inspection and in-depth interviews, the forming process is analyzed and typical events are captured to unveil this self-management mechanism.

Findings

The self-management of informal tourism employees in China is based on theJianghutheory, which specifies the role, obligation and responsibility of a member. These above rely on word-of-mouth order or implicit ways to treat newcomers, realize internal communication and deal with public affairs. Brotherhood, benevolence and etiquette make up the core values of theJianghutheory that advises strategies in dealing with different events. This self-management, based on theJianghutheory, has not only effectively solved internal conflicts, but has also achieved the goal of social management.

Originality/value

Informal employees’ self-management is extremely important due to the high cost of government intervention. Through China’s urban informal tourism employees’Jianghu-styled self-management, the paper shows that the government should not crack down on this group indiscriminately. Instead, it should, through the management agent, set up effectiveJianghurules to realize regular control over this group.
Articulating accounting principles
Authors: Rutherford Brian A.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a soundly based epistemological underpinning for the kind of theorisation in which many classical financial accounting researchers engaged and thus to support a renewal of this programme.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper draws on pragmatist philosophy and, in particular, on Jules Coleman’s theory of “explanation by embodiment”. The applicability of this theory to the world of financial reporting is discussed. Various theorists and schools within classical accounting theory are examined from the perspective of Coleman’s ideas, focusing particularly on A.C. Littleton’s Structure of Accounting Theory.

Findings

– The paper finds that classical accounting research works such as Structure of Accounting Theory can be interpreted as the search for Colemanian explanation by embodiment and that this provides them with a soundly based pragmatist underpinning for their theorisation.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper supports the resumption by academics, qua academics, of work to contribute to accounting standard-setting by offering argumentation that addresses accounting principles and methods directly, rather than only via the social scientific investigation of behaviour in the accounting arena.

Practical implications

– Such a resumption would contribute positively to future standard-setting.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the defence of classical financial accounting research from the charge of lacking theoretical rigour.
Audit quality and earnings management: evidence from Jordan
Authors: Alzoubi Ebraheem Saleem Salem
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test the association between audit quality and earnings management (EM). Audit quality studies documented that accruals would reduce when the auditor is independent or the audit firm is large.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses generalised least square regression to investigate the influence of audit quality on EM. The sample contained 86 companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange from 2007 to 2010. The cross-sectional modified Jones model was employed to measure discretionary accruals as a proxy for EM.

Findings

– This paper revealed that there is a significantly negative association between audit quality and EM. The result inferred that EM level is significantly lower among companies using the services of independent auditors. Moreover, this study exposed that the level of EM is significantly less among companies hiring a Big 4 audit firm, as compared to companies utilising the service of a non-Big 4 audit firm.

Research limitations/implications

– The measurement error, which is a rigorous concern for studies on EM, is one of the limitations in this study. Hence, the current study wholly inherited the limits of the modified Jones model.

Practical implications

– The findings based on the current study would provide beneficial information for regulators in Jordan and other countries with an institutional environment similar to that of Jordan. Moreover, the results provided valuable information to investors in assessing the influence of audit quality on financial reporting quality (FRQ).

Originality/value

– The current study contributed to auditing and corporate governance literature and its influence on EM among Jordanian companies. This research will be of value to companies seeking to reduce EM and enhance FRQ.
How institutional factors and IFRS affect the value relevance of conservative and non-conservative banks
Authors: Manganaris Panayotis , Spathis Charalambos , Dasilas Apostolos
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the value relevance of accounting information before and after mandatory International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption as well as the ensuing relationship between conditional conservatism and value relevance. The authors probe the above relationship by considering a number of institutional parameters, such as the accounting origin of each European country, the degree of differentiation between domestic standards and IFRS, and the level of each country’s enforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors run panel data regressions for banks listed in 15 European countries using both the price and the return model. The authors partition the total sample in conservative and non-conservative banks – based on Khan and Watts (2009) – and in other institutional clusters based on prior highly acclaimed studies. Value relevance is then gauged by the corresponding adjustedR2.

Findings

– The results provide evidence that IFRS have reinforced the value relevance for both conservative and non-conservative banks. However, this result alters when controlling for institutional dimensions. Specifically, the value relevance of conservative banks is strengthened when operating in high enforcement, low differences or English-origin environments, while non-conservative banks display better goodness-of-fit in French-origin countries.

Research limitations/implications

– A survivorship bias might exist because the authors require three years of data before and three years after IFRS adoption for including a bank in the sample. More importantly, the post-IFRS period coincides with the burst of global financial crisis, which may have severely affected this bias. Furthermore, the C_Score methodology has been developed in a US-oriented context. Therefore, the validity of this measure might be different in countries with other institutional settings, such as week legal enforcement of high level of IFRS divergence.

Practical implications

– The authors stress the qualitative significance of conditional conservatism and suggest that accounting standards regulators redefine the qualitative substance of conditional conservatismvis-à-visother accounting quality properties, such as value relevance. Also, both conditional conservatism and value relevance are directly linked to contracting, thus the findings are of value to the entities that are legally involved with banks. These findings are particularly important, especially when the authors take institutional parameters into consideration.

Originality/value

– Studies that investigate the relationship between value relevance and conditional conservatism in the banking sector are scarce. In the wake of IFRS adoption, the authors signify the role of institutional features as potential determinants in accounting quality changes, as well as in the relationship between value relevance and conditional conservatism.
Immunoadsorption of Agonistic Autoantibodies Against α1‐Adrenergic Receptors in Patients With Mild to Moderate Dementia
Authors: Hempel Petra , Heinig Bente , Jerosch Carola , Decius Imke , Karczewski Peter , Kassner Ursula , Kunze Rudolf , Steinhagen‐Thiessen Elisabeth , Bimmler Marion
Published: April 2016

Dementia has been shown to be associated with agonistic autoantibodies. The deleterious action of autoantibodies on the α1‐adrenergic receptor for brain vasculature has been demonstrated in animal studies. In the current study, 169 patients with dementia were screened for the presence of agonistic autoantibodies. 47% of patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and/or vascular dementia carried these autoantibodies. Eight patients positive for autoantibodies underwent immunoadsorption. Patients treated on four consecutive days were subsequently negative for autoantibodies and displayed stabilization of cognitive and mental condition during 12–18 months’ follow‐up. In patients treated for 2–3 days, autoantibodies were reduced by only 78%. They suffered a rebound of autoantibodies during follow‐up, benefited from immunoadsorption too, but their mental parameters worsened. We provide first data on the clinical relevance of agonistic autoantibodies in dementia and show that immunoadsorption is safe and efficient in removing autoantibodies with overall benefits for patients.
Proposed radiological criteria for pre‐operative determination of resectability in peritoneal‐based malignancies
Authors: Tan Grace Hwei Ching , Kwek Jin Wei , Hosseini Reza , Chanyaputhipong Jendana , Tham Chee Kian , Soo Khee Chee , Teo Melissa Ching Ching
Published: April 2016

Background

The selection of patients for cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intra‐peritoneal chemotherapy infusion (HIPEC) is important, and relies heavily on imaging. However, it has been reported that Computer Tomographic (CT) scans may only achieve a low sensitivity of 33% for peritoneal disease. We propose a set of radiological criteria for pre‐operative determination of resectability of peritoneal disease in peritoneal‐based malignancies and validate this in our cohort of patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent laparotomy with a view for CRS and HIPEC, at the National Cancer Centre Singapore from January 2000 to April 2010, was performed. Intra‐operative Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) scores were recorded. The pre‐operative imaging was reviewed with a senior radiologist who was blinded, and recorded the radiological PCI scores (CT‐PCI) and eight additional CT prognostic factors (CT‐PF). The CT‐PCI and CT‐PF scores were then compared with the intra‐operative findings to determine the radiological accuracy. The scores and the individual prognostic factors were then evaluated for their predictive ability for unresectability.

Results

Comparison of the CT‐PCI and PCI scores showed a concordance correlation coefficient at 0.52 (95% CI 0.34–0.7). Accuracy was increased with the addition CT‐PF. The presence of omental caking and ascites were predictors of unresectability. We propose a scoring system which is able to predict for unresectable disease with a specificity of 80% and a sensitivity of 62%.

Conclusion

With our proposed criteria, and scoring system, the selection of patients for CRS and HIPEC can be improved, and unnecessary exploratory operations avoided.
A Combined Weight of Evidence and Logistic Regression Method for Susceptibility Mapping of Earthquake‐induced Landslides: A Case Study of the April 20, 2013 Lushan Earthquake, China
Authors: Suhua ZHOU , Wei WANG , Guangqi CHEN , Baochen LIU , Ligang FANG
Published: April 2016

The Ms 7.0 Lushan earthquake triggered a huge number of landslides. Landslide susceptibility mapping is of great importance. Weight of Evidence (WoE) and Logistic Regression (LR) methods have been widely used for LSM (Landslide Susceptibility Mapping). However, limitations still exist. WoE is capable of assessing the influence of different classes of each factor, but neglects the correlation between factors. LR is able to analyze the relationship among the factors while it is not capable of evaluating the influence of different classes. This paper proposes a combined method of LR and WoE for LSM, taking advantage of their individual merits and overcoming their limitations. An inventory of 1289 landslides was used: 70% were random‐selected for training and the remaining for validation. 11 landslide condition factors were employed in the model and the result was validated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The results showed that the LR‐WoE model had a better accuracy than the LR model, producing an area below the curve with values of 0.802 success and 0.791 predictive, higher than that of the LR model (0.715 success and 0.722 predictive). It is therefore concluded that the combined method of WoE and LR can provide a promising level of accuracy for earthquake‐induced landslide susceptibility mapping.
Tectonic Framework of Late Paleozoic Intrusions in Xingxingxia: Implications for Final Closure of South Tianshan Ocean in East Tianshan
Authors: Hai ZHOU , Liang CHEN , Yong SUN , Tao ZHU
Published: April 2016

This work carried out systematic geological field investigation, petrography observation, zircon geochronology and whole rock geochemistry on Late Paleozoic intrusions in the Xingxingxia region near the Xinjiang‐Gansu provincial boundary, western China, aiming to constrain the Late Paleozoic tectonic framework of the Xingxingxia region and the final closure time of South Tianshan Ocean in the East Tianshan. The Xingxingxia area is located in the east part of the Tianshan orogen, and adjacent to the north of the Tarim Basin. The Late Paleozoic magma activities in the Xingxingxia region can be mainly divided into three stages. The first stage includes intrusive magma activities under a collision setting between Late Ordovician to the Late Devonian. The second stage is intrusive magma activities under a subduction setting during (304±3)–(278±3) Ma, and the third stage involves intrusive magma activities under a collision and post‐collision setting during (268±5)–(259.9±2.6) Ma. The final suture zone of South Tianshan Ocean should be between the Central Tianshan Block and South Tianshan accretionary complex. Based on previous work, both the first stage magma activities (i.e., intrusive magmatic activities between the Late Ordovician to Late Devonian) and the Hongliuhe ophiolitic complex indicate a close event between Central Tianshan Block and South Tianshan Accretionary Complex. The 304±3 Ma dioritic metamorphic gneiss of the XingXingxia complex and the 278±3 Ma diorite are all island arc calc‐alkaline rocks, the 289±3 Ma gabbro is island arc tholeiitic gabbro formed by magma from metasomatic enrichment mantle. All these results indicate that the second stage of magmatic activities is under a subduction setting. The third stage magma activities i.e. the granitic magma activities of (268±5)–(259.9±2.6) Ma occurred at a transitional setting from compressional to post‐collision extensional tectonic setting. Thus, around (268±5)–(260±3) Ma, the final closure of the South Tianshan Ocean occurred and the Tianshan orogen shifted into the intracontinental evolution stage. During and after the closure process, a wide range of metamorphism and large dextral strike‐slip faults developed.
Additional challenges and issues in classifying compulsive sexual behavior as an addiction
Authors: Reid Rory C.
Published: April 2016

Commentary to: Should compulsive sexual behavior be considered an addiction?
Comparative isotopic natural history of two native passerines (Troglodytes cobbi and Cinclodes antarcticus) and the invasive rats (Rattus norvegicus) that extirpate them
Authors: Tabak Michael A. , Anderson Orea R. J. , Robb Gillian , Poncet Sally , Passfield Ken , Martinez Melissa Gaste , Martinez Del Rio Carlos
Published: April 2016

While several studies have shown that invasive rats can have negative effects on island birds through predation (both direct predation and nest predation), other mechanisms for the effects of invasives on island biota have been given less attention. Here, we explore another potential mechanism by which invasive rats can affect native island birds: the competitive use of common resources. We used stable isotope analyses to estimate the fraction of marine and terrestrial sources incorporated into the tissues of two species of passerines (Troglodytes cobbi, Troglodytidae; and Cinclodes antarcticus, Furnariidae) and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus, Muridae) in the Falkland Islands. These two passerines are absent on islands where rats are present. We found significant incorporation of marine resources in the three species, with the highest incorporation in tissues of T. cobbi. This species appears to be one of the passerines most reliant on marine sources and the most marine member of the family Troglodytidae. We also used the results of these isotopic analyses to estimate the isotopic niche breadth of each of these species and the isotopic niche overlap among them. Rattus norvegicus had a large isotopic niche that overlapped broadly with those of the two passerine species. We propose that different ways of both depicting and estimating isotopic niche widths are complementary rather than alternative. Our results are consistent with the notion that invasive rats might have an impact on these two species of Falkland Island passerines by using common resources but do not rule out the possibility that part of their effect is through direct predation.
Use of home range behaviour to assess establishment in translocated giraffes
Authors: Flanagan Shea E. , Brown Michael B. , Fennessy Julian , Bolger Douglas T.
Published: April 2016

Conservation translocation is a management technique employed to introduce, re‐introduce or reinforce wild animal and plant populations. Giraffe translocations are being conducted throughout Africa, but the lack of effective post‐translocation monitoring limits our ability to assess translocation outcomes. One potential indicator of translocation success is the establishment of characteristic movement and home range behaviour in the new location. We analysed the post‐translocation movement patterns of six Global Positioning System‐collared Angolan giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) in three regions of Namibia. We estimated home range size with minimum convex polygon (MCP) and adaptive local convex hull estimators, and assessed home range behaviour with the localizing tendency model and a home range Monte Carlo bootstrap analysis. Four of the six giraffes appeared to establish home ranges, indicating short‐term translocation success. The other two giraffes exhibited long‐distance linear movements throughout the observation period, suggesting they did not establish home ranges. Home range sizes varied greatly among regions. Our results suggest monitoring translocated animals for the establishment of characteristic movement behaviour could be a useful early indicator of translocation success.
Effects of Variety Support on Exercise‐Related Well‐Being
Authors: Sylvester Benjamin D. , Lubans David R. , Eather Narelle , Standage Martyn , Wolf Svenja A. , McEwan Desmond , Ruissen Geralyn R. , Kaulius Megan , Crocker Peter R.E. , Beauchamp Mark R.
Published: April 2016

Background

The purpose of this study was to experimentally examine the extent to which variety support in a resistance exercise program influences exercise‐related well‐being among inactive adults.

Methods

A sample of 121 inactive university students were randomly assigned and participated in either a high or low variety support 6‐week exercise program. Measures of exercise‐related perceived variety, positive affect, negative affect, and subjective vitality were completed at baseline, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks (i.e. post‐test).

Results

Through use of structural equation modelling, the results showed that for those who completed measures at post‐test (i.e. n = 55), and for all participants who received variety support (i.e. a modified intention‐to‐treat analysis; N = 121), exercise‐related variety support indirectly explained higher levels of exercise‐related positive affect, and subjective vitality, and lower levels of negative affect, through the mediating role of perceived variety.

Conclusions

The provision of variety support in a resistance exercise program influences exercise‐related well‐being through perceptions of variety. Results are discussed in relation to the potential utility of providing variety support to promote exercise‐related well‐being in people who are physically inactive.
How we manage patients with heparin induced thrombocytopenia
Authors: Scully Marie , Gates Carolyn , Neave Lucy
Published: April 2016

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) remains a rare, but significant, condition related to mortality and morbidity. The incidence has decreased with reduced use of unfractionated heparin, with the exception of cardiac surgery. Due to the high risk of thrombosis, a switch to a non‐heparin anticoagulant is required, until platelet counts normalize. Within the acute setting, argatroban, fondaparinux and direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACS) are therapeutic options. In patients with HIT‐associated thrombosis or who require long‐term anticoagulation, warfarin remains the preference, but DOACs are attractive alternatives.
Assessment: A Personal Overview
Authors: Carvalho Richard
Published: April 2016

The author offers personal rather than scholarly reflections on the sometimes difficult process of assessment. He discusses aims of assessment which include risk assessment, and an assessment of the prospective patient's ability to engage in the therapeutic process as indicated by their engagement with the assessor's interpretive remarks, albeit oppositionally or defensively, and whether consciously or unconsciously. Implicit or explicit in this engagement will be the issue of the patient's habitual ways of relating, the transference. Consideration is also given to how we can evaluate the nature of the patient's motivation, not only with regard to insight and change, but also to dependency and malignancy. The issue of treatment choices is discussed, along with the desirability of any management decisions being offered as interpretations. The author also addresses the issue of note and record writing in the light of the scope this gives for countertransference enactment, as well as the issue of what records are kept for what purposes and of how and when these are communicated to GPs. Vignettes illustrate some of the difficulties and pitfalls of the process.
MAP2 Splicing is Altered in Huntington's Disease
Authors: Cabrera Jorge Rubén , Lucas José J.
Published: April 2016

Dendritic alteration of striatal medium spiny neurons is one of the earliest morphological abnormalities in Huntington's disease (HD). The main microtubule‐associated protein in dendrites is MAP2. The low‐molecular weight isoforms of MAP2 (LMW‐MAP2) are the juvenile forms resulting from exclusion of the sequence encoded by exons E7‐E9 and are downregulated after the early stages of neuronal development when E7‐E9 exon‐including high‐molecular weight isoforms (HMW‐MAP2) are favored. Splicing alteration has recently been proposed to contribute to HD in view of two pathogenic missplicing events resulting in a highly toxic N‐terminal version of mutant huntingtin and in a detrimental imbalance in MAP Tau isoforms with three or four tubulin‐binding repeats. Both splicing events are postulated targets of the SR splicing factor SRSF6 which has recently been reported to be dramatically altered in HD. SR proteins often regulate functionally related sets of genes and SRSF6 targets are enriched in genes involved in brain organogenesis including several actin‐and tubulin‐binding proteins. Here we hypothesized that MAP2 might be target of SRSF6 and altered in HD. By SRSF6 knockdown in neuroblastoma cells, we demonstrate that splicing of MAP2 E7‐E9 exons is affected by SRSF6. We then show a disbalance in LMW and HMW MAP2 mRNA isoforms in HD striatum in favor of the juvenile LMW forms together with a decrease in total MAP2 mRNA. This is accompanied by a global decrease in total MAP2 protein due to almost total disappearance of HMW‐MAP2 isoforms with preservation of LMW‐MAP2 isoforms. Accordingly, the predominant dendritic MAP2 staining in striatal neuropil of control subjects is absent in HD cases. In these, MAP2‐immunoreactivity is faint and restricted to neuronal cell bodies often showing a sharp boundary at the base of dendrites. Together, our results highlight the importance of splicing alteration in HD and suggest that MAP2 alteration contributes to dendritic atrophy.
Renal allograft thrombosis after living donor transplantation: risk factors and obstacles to retransplantation
Authors: Adler Joel T. , Markmann James F. , Yeh Heidi
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Early allograft thrombosis is a devastating complication that often leads to graft loss after living donor kidney transplantation. In addition to the psychological effects on donor and recipient, it could make future kidney matches challenging due to sensitization.

Patients and Methods

The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) was queried for adult patients undergoing living donor renal transplantation from 2001 to 2010. Sensitization was defined as a panel reactive antibody of ≥50%. Early allograft thrombosis included events within 30 d of transplantation.

Results

In multivariable logistic regression, recipient female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, p < 0.001) and right kidneys (OR 1.46, p < 0.001) were associated with increased risk of thrombosis, while increasing recipient age per 10 yr (OR 0.62, p < 0.001) and recipient Asian race/ethnicity (OR 0.34, p = 0.02) were protective. In a time‐varying Cox model examining factors affecting the likelihood of retransplantation, the chance of retransplantation was 37% lower (p = 0.01) once patients became sensitized. The median time to sensitization after transplantation was 288 d.

Conclusions

Even with relatively brief exposure to foreign antigen, sensitization occurs and delays retransplantation for recipients of living donor kidneys with early allograft thrombosis.
Differential item functioning in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pediatric Short Forms in a sample of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Authors: Coster Wendy J , Ni Pengsheng , Slavin Mary D , Kisala Pamela A , Nandakumar Ratna , Mulcahey Mary Jane , Tulsky David S , Jette Alan M
Published: April 2016

Aim

The present study examined the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Mobility, Fatigue, and Pain Interference Short Forms (SFs) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) for the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) relative to the original calibration sample.

Method

Using the Graded Response Model we compared item parameter estimates generated from a sample of 303 children and adolescents with CP (175 males, 128 females; mean age 15y 5mo) to parameter estimates from the PROMIS calibration sample, which served as the reference group. DIF was assessed in a two‐step process using the item response theory–likelihood ratio–differential item functioning detection procedure.

Results

Significant DIF was identified for four of eight items in the PROMIS Mobility SF, for two of eight items in the Pain Interference Scale, and for one item out of 10 on the Fatigue Scale. Impact of DIF on total score estimation was notable for Mobility and Pain Interference, but not for Fatigue.

Interpretation

Results suggest differences in the responses of adolescents with CP to some items on the PROMIS Mobility and Pain Interference SFs. Cognitive interviews about the PROMIS items with adolescents with varying degrees of mobility limitations would provide better understanding of how they are interpreting and selecting responses to the PROMIS items and thus help guide selection of the most appropriate way to address this issue.