bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online Sexual Solicitation of Minors
Authors: Schulz Anja , Bergen Emilia , Schuhmann Petya , Hoyer Jürgen , Santtila Pekka
Published: September 2015

Objectives:

This study examined how frequently online sexual solicitation of adolescents and children by adults occurs and what characteristics the perpetrators have using a novel methodological approach.

Method:

In an online survey, we investigated the frequency of online sexual solicitation exhibited by adult Internet users ( N = 2,828), including a subgroup recruited on pedophilia-related websites. Perpetrators soliciting adolescents were compared to those soliciting children concerning solicitation outcomes (e.g., cybersex) and demography.

Results:

In total, 4.5 percent reported soliciting adolescents and 1.0 percent reported soliciting children. Most solicitors of adolescents and children were from pedophilia-related websites (49.1 and 79.2 percent). Solicitation frequently involved sexual outcomes (47.5 percent), which also followed nonsexual interaction. The minors’ age did not affect the odds of sexual outcomes. A substantial proportion of perpetrators were female.

Conclusions:

This study offers unprecedented data on the number of adults soliciting minors. Although adolescents were more often target of solicitation, the risk of sexual outcomes was equally high in solicitation of children, suggesting younger children to be considered in prevention efforts as well. Nonsexual interactions resulting in sexual outcomes need to be more closely examined to inform appropriate prevention efforts. Moreover, awareness should be raised about females as perpetrators.
Defining consensus norms for palliative care of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe, using Delphi methods: A White Paper from the European Association of Palliative Care
Authors: Tuffrey-Wijne Irene , McLaughlin Dorry , Curfs Leopold , Dusart Anne , Hoenger Catherine , McEnhill Linda , Read Sue , Ryan Karen , Satgé Daniel , Straßer Benjamin , Westergård Britt-Evy , Oliver David
Published: September 2015

Background:

People with intellectual disabilities often present with unique challenges that make it more difficult to meet their palliative care needs.

Aim:

To define consensus norms for palliative care of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe.

Design:

Delphi study in four rounds: (1) a taskforce of 12 experts from seven European countries drafted the norms, based on available empirical knowledge and regional/national guidelines; (2) using an online survey, 34 experts from 18 European countries evaluated the draft norms, provided feedback and distributed the survey within their professional networks. Criteria for consensus were clearly defined; (3) modifications and recommendations were made by the taskforce; and (4) the European Association for Palliative Care reviewed and approved the final version.

Setting and participants:

Taskforce members: identified through international networking strategies. Expert panel: a purposive sample identified through taskforce members’ networks.

Results:

A total of 80 experts from 15 European countries evaluated 52 items within the following 13 norms: equity of access, communication, recognising the need for palliative care, assessment of total needs, symptom management, end-of-life decision making, involving those who matter, collaboration, support for family/carers, preparing for death, bereavement support, education/training and developing/managing services. None of the items scored less than 86% agreement, making a further round unnecessary. In light of respondents’ comments, several items were modified and one item was deleted.

Conclusion:

This White Paper presents the first guidance for clinical practice, policy and research related to palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities based on evidence and European consensus, setting a benchmark for changes in policy and practice.
Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Özpelit Ebru , Akdeniz Bahri , Özpelit Mehmet Emre , Tas Sedat , Bozkurt Selen , Tertemiz Kemal Can , Sevinç Can , Badak Özer
Published: September 2015

Objective

To evaluate the prognostic value of baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the prediction of long-term mortality in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods

This prospective study recorded NLR during initial diagnostic right-sided cardiac catheterization in adult patients with PAH. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and haemodynamic variables were compared by NLR tertile. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to determine whether NLR was independently associated with mortality.

Results

Adults with PAH ( n = 101) were followed-up for mean ± SD 36.8 ± 23.6 months. The number of deaths, New York Heart Association functional capacity (NYHA FC), levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or C-reactive protein (CRP) and presence of pericardial effusion increased as the NLR tertile increased, but haemoglobin and tricuspid plane annular systolic excursion (TAPSE) decreased. On univariate analysis, high NLR values were associated with mortality, but on multivariate analysis, NLR did not remain an independent predictor of mortality. Baseline NYHA FC, TAPSE, BNP level and pericardial effusion were independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusions

NLR was correlated with important prognostic markers in PAH such as NYHA FC, BNP and TAPSE. This simple marker may be useful in the assessment of disease severity in patients with PAH.
Inequities in access to cancer care in Canada
Authors: Purificacion Sunshine J. , French John G. , d’Agincourt-Canning Lori
Published: September 2015

The ability to provide quality cancer care largely depends on how accessible the services are to those in need. In the current state, disparities exist in access to Canadian cancer services, and this poses an ethical challenge. This article highlights ethical and strategic considerations related to equity in access to Canadian cancer care. Based on the principles of bioethics—beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—various action strategies have been recommended in order to improve access to cancer care nationally.
Attitudes Toward Partner Violence and Gender Roles in Uruguayan Women
Authors: Bucheli Marisa , Rossi Maximo
Published: September 2015

The incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the Latin America and Caribbean region is relatively high compared with other high-income and middle-income countries. This problem is particularly relevant in Uruguay. The empirical literature provides evidence that violence toward partners is more likely among individuals who justify, approve, or favor this type of violence. This article analyzes women’s attitudes to IPV using the survey Encuesta de Situaciones Familiares carried out in 2007 by Universidad de la República, Innovation National Agency in Uruguay (ANII), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The data show that most women disagree with IPV; the indifference and justification of IPV have a very low prevalence. The analysis highlights that women’s attitudes to IPV against men and against women are highly correlated and are explained by the same factors. A multivariate estimation indicates that the experience of violence in childhood, the strong identification of the woman as a mother, and the low confidence on women’s abilities in political and business activities increase tolerance toward IPV.
A generalized semi-analytical load distribution model for clearance-fit, major-fit, minor-fit, and mismatched splines
Authors: Hong J , Talbot D , Kahraman A
Published: September 2015

A generalized semi-analytical load distribution model for all common types of involute spline joints is proposed. It is formulated to model clearance-fit (side-fit) involute splines with contacts happening only at the drive flanks of the spline teeth, major or minor-diameter fit splines where additional contact occurs along the top land and the root land of the external spline teeth, respectively, as well as mismatched splines where an intentional lead mismatch is introduced to initiate contact along both drive and back (coast) flanks. Using this model, load distribution and tooth-to-tooth load sharing of example major and minor diameter-fit spline joints under typical multi-directional spur and helical gear loading conditions are characterized and compared to those of the corresponding side-fit spline joint. Further, self-centralizing performance of major and minor-fit splines versus side-fit splines is quantified including its sensitivity to the radial clearance magnitude. Finally, load distribution of an example side-fit spline having various intentional mismatch magnitudes at different torque level is investigated to show that a given mismatch value is optimal at a certain design torque.
Star selection strategy using measurement coupling matrix in starlight Doppler-based integrated navigation system
Authors: Liu Jin , Fang Jian-Cheng , Yang Zhao-Hua , Liu Gang , Wu Jin
Published: September 2015

The starlight Doppler navigation must be integrated with other navigation methods to operate normally since it is not completely observable. The star selection for the Doppler navigation system influences the whole integrated navigation performance greatly. The star magnitude-based star selection method is commonly used to select the star for the Doppler navigation. However, it can be found that the direction of star is more important than the measurement accuracy. To select the optimal navigation star, the star selection strategy for the starlight Doppler-based integrated navigation system, where both the direction and magnitude of star are considered, is proposed in this paper. Considering the impact of the star direction and measurement noise, the measurement coupling matrix is constructed to give the relationship between the star direction and the integrated navigation accuracy, and utilize this matrix as the star selection criterion. According to the perturbation matrix theory, the measurement coupling matrix is analyzed to obtain the theoretical maximum and minimum of its trace by formula derivation. Finally, the proposed star selection criterion is utilized to select the optimal navigation star from the first-magnitude stars. In this paper, the XNAV (X-ray pulsar navigation)/starlight Doppler integrated navigation system is taken as an instance to analyze and simulate. The simulation results demonstrate that using the star selected by our method as the navigation star, the XNAV/starlight Doppler integrated navigation has good performance. Compared with the X-ray sensor area and the spectrometer measurement accuracy, the direction of star is more important for the improvement of the integrated navigation performance.
Technetium-99m thyroid scan; does it have a diagnostic aid in sub-clinical auto-immune thyroid disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients?
Authors: Amin A , Alkemary A , Abdo M , Salama M
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) thyroid scintigraphy is a well known diagnostic tool that shows the entire gland in a single image. We aimed to evaluate its additive diagnostic value in subclinical autoimmune thyroid disease (S-AITD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods

We investigated 100 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without overt thyroid involvement (eight men and 92 women; mean age 40±6.5 years) and 50 age and sex matched controls. All were subjected to thyroid evaluation using anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies; hormones (FT3; FT4 and TSH) and Tc-99m thyroid scintigraphy.

Results

14/100 (14%) and none (0%) were positive for S-AITD in SLE and control groups, respectively ( P = 0.0001). They were classified by thyroid scintigraphy and hormonal profile into 2/14 Hashimoto; 10/14 atrophic thyroiditis and 2/14 Graves' disease. Anti-TPO was elevated in 12 SLE cases, while anti-TG was elevated in only 2/14 ( P = 0.0001). Thyroid scintigraphy showed statistically significant associations with FT4, TSH and anti-TPO.

Conclusion

Tc-99m thyroid scintigraphy may have an additional diagnostic role in S-AITD among SLE patients, with an impact on patient management. This potential needs to be further evaluated in a larger series on a multicenter basis.
Living, working and earning for people with disabilities in Australia
Authors: Athanasou James Anthony
Published: September 2015

The purpose of this article is to consider the extent to which disabilities are likely to affect the length of a career and earnings potential. The net worklife expectancy for persons with a profound, severe, moderate or mild disability in Australia was determined. This was compared this to those with no disability. Tables for five-year age groups to age 65 are produced for males and females. There is a marked theoretical reduction of worklife capacity at all levels of disability and across every age group. The net effect of restricted vocational potential is likely to be a reduced worklife and diminished earnings for those with disabilities. This finding is considered in the light of current career development theory and practice.
From Participatory Design to a Listening Infrastructure
Authors: Moore Kristen R. , Elliott Timothy J.
Published: September 2015

In this article, the authors confront challenges faced in public planning projects when the desire to implement participatory design is complicated by the need for mass quantities of data. Using one case of participatory design in urban planning, they suggest that planners struggled to effectively employ participatory design methodology because they neglected to collect the tacit knowledge generated through their participatory processes. Coupling participatory design with a listening rhetoric, they suggest that participatory processes that include tacit knowledge and representative citizen participation might augment public planning projects that hope for both big data collection and democratic approaches to urban planning.
Bulging bifurcation of inflated circular cylinders of doubly fiber-reinforced hyperelastic material under axial loading and swelling
Authors: Demirkoparan Hasan , Merodio Jose
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we examine the influence of swelling on the bulging bifurcation of inflated thin-walled cylinders under axial loading. We provide the bifurcation criteria for a membrane cylinder subjected to combined axial loading, internal pressure and swelling. We focus here on orthotropic materials with two preferred directions which are mechanically equivalent and are symmetrically disposed. Arterial wall tissue is modeled with this class of constitutive equation and the onset of bulging is considered to give aneurysm formation. It is shown that swelling may lead to compressive hoop stresses near the inner radius of the tube, which could have a potential benefit for preventing aneurysm formation. The effects of the axial stretch, the strength of the fiber reinforcement and the fiber winding angle on the onset of bifurcation are investigated. Finally, a boundary value problem is studied to show the robustness of the results.
Hombres Mujeres
Authors: Mirandé Alfredo
Published: September 2015

This article interrogates West and Zimmerman’s Doing Gender paradigm by examining the Muxes of Juchitán, a little known third gender in El Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca México. After presenting preliminary findings based on personal interviews with forty-two muxes and forty-eight community members, distinguishing between muxes and gays and describing the wide variation in the muxe lifestyle, the essay concludes that muxes are a third sex/gender category that is actively redoing the prevailing Western gender binary as well as traditional Mexican conceptions of gender and sexuality. They are an indigenous third sex/gender category, which is less about Western conceptions of sexuality, sexual identity, or doing transgender and more about retaining the language, cultural categories, practices, and worldviews of indigenous communities.
Tailor-made fuels for future engine concepts
Authors: Hoppe Fabian , Heuser Benedikt , Thewes Matthias , Kremer Florian , Pischinger Stefan , Dahmen Manuel , Hechinger Manuel , Marquardt Wolfgang
Published: September 2015

Increasing carbon dioxide accumulation in earth’s atmosphere and the depletion of fossil resources pose huge challenges for our society and, in particular, for all stakeholders in the transportation sector. The Cluster of Excellence ‘Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass’ at RWTH Aachen University establishes innovative and sustainable processes for the conversion of whole plants into molecularly well-defined fuels exhibiting tailored properties for low-temperature combustion engine processes, enabling high efficiency and low pollutant emissions. The concept of fuel design, that is, considering fuel’s molecular structure to be a design degree of freedom, aims for the simultaneous optimisation of fuel production and combustion systems. In the present contribution, three examples of tailor-made biofuels are presented. For spark ignition engines, both 2-methylfuran and 2-butanone show increased knock resistance compared to RON95 gasoline, thus enabling a higher compression ratio and an efficiency gain of up to 20% at full-load operation. Moreover, both fuels comprise a good mixture formation superior to the one of ethanol, especially under difficult boundary conditions. For compression ignition engines, 1-octanol enables a remarkable reduction in engine-out soot emissions compared to standard diesel fuel due to the high oxygen content and lower reactivity. This advantage is achieved without sacrificing the high indicated efficiency and low NOX emissions.
Developmental origins of chronic physical aggression: An international perspective on using singletons, twins and epigenetics
Authors: Tremblay Richard E.
Published: September 2015

This article takes an international and historical perspective to discuss the present state of knowledge on the developmental origins of physical aggression and its implications for the prevention of chronic physical aggression. An increasing number of longitudinal studies of singleton and twins initiated at birth or during the first few years of life are showing that physical aggressions are more frequent in early childhood than at any other time during the life-span. Because chronic physical aggression generally starts in early childhood, preventive interventions during this period are much more likely to be effective and substantially decrease the costs of criminal behavior during adolescence and early adulthood. Unfortunately, most criminological studies on physical aggression development and prevention target the adolescent and adulthood periods and do not take into account gene–environment contributions. Early childhood studies are needed to identify early bio-psycho-social mechanisms that put individuals on a chronic trajectory of physical aggression from early childhood to adulthood. These studies can also help identify the preventive interventions that are most effective in preventing a life-course of crime and misery. Developmental criminology needs to take a bio-psycho-social intergenerational and life-span perspective as well as focus more systematically on females as the key target for intergenerational prevention of chronic physical aggression.
Magnesium Status in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Veronese Nicola , Zurlo Anna , Solmi Marco , Luchini Claudio , Trevisan Caterina , Bano Giulia , Manzato Enzo , Sergi Giuseppe , Rylander Ragnar
Published: September 2015

The interest in poor magnesium (Mg) status as risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasing due to its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. A systematic PubMed literature search of studies investigating Mg status was undertaken comparing AD to healthy controls (HCs) or patients with medical illness (medical controls [MCs]). Standardized mean differences (SMDs) ± 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all outcomes. Of 192 potentially eligible studies, 13 were included (559 patients with AD, 381 HCs, and 126 MCs). Compared to HCs, patients with AD had significantly lower Mg in cerebrospinal fluid (2 studies; SMD = −0.35; P = .02) and in hair (2 studies; SMD = −0.75; P = .0001). No differences between AD and controls were evident for serum Mg. In conclusion, AD seems to be associated with a lower Mg status when compared to HCs, while the scarcity of studies limited the findings about MCs.
Creating Activating Events for Transformative Learning in a Prison Classroom
Authors: Keen Cheryl H. , Woods Robert
Published: September 2015

In this article, we interpreted, in light of Mezirow’s theory of transformative learning, interviews with 13 educators regarding their work with marginalized adult learners in prisons in the northeastern United States. Transformative learning may have been aided by the educators’ response to unplanned activating events, humor, and respect, and being a role model, and counselor. Teachers presented activating events that they perceived as supporting resistant learners in altering their meaning schemes and revising their frames of reference. Administrators of educational programs for marginalized adult learners can help prison educators develop these pedagogical practices. Practitioners and researchers may wish to explore humor in restricted learning environments as well as the challenge mandatory prison classrooms present for the field of formal adult learning and transformative learning theory.
Gamma-Band Modulation and Coherence in the EEG by Involuntary Eye Movements in Patients in Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome
Authors: Balazs Susanne , Kermanshahi Kazem , Binder Heinrich , Rattay Frank , Bodis-Wollner Ivan
Published: September 2015

Gamma power and coherence in the electroencephalogram increase in healthy individuals in association with voluntary eye movements, saccades. Patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome show repetitive involuntary eye movements that are similar to saccades but progress at a much lower speed. In the present study, we explored the changes in gamma power and coherence related to these eye movements and investigated whether any relationship to the patients’ clinical status could be found that would indicate first neurophysiological signs of recovery. To this end, we assessed the clinical status and registered classical scalp electroencephalography with 19 surface electrodes and electro-oculogram of 45 consecutive patients at admission and at 4 weekly intervals. Slow gamma activity (in the frequency range of 37-40 Hz) was analyzed before, during, and after eye movements (pre, -intra and post–eye movement) by means of “continuous wavelet transform.” We graded recovery using clinical behavioral scales, taking into account the variables, age, gender, recovery (yes or no), as well as the patients diagnoses (traumatic brain injury, hypoxia, hemorrhage, infection). Statistical evaluation was performed using DataLab, R, and Kruskal-Wallis methods. Based on the clinical status, we distinguished between recovering and chronic groups of patients. In comparison with the chronic group, the recovering group showed significantly higher gamma power over the posterior electrodes and significant higher values of coherence in the gamma-band activity during the presaccadic period of eye movements. We suggest that our findings on the onset of involuntary eye movements in the recovering group of patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome indicates a first neurophysiological sign of favorable prognosis.
Dwarf Fortress
Authors: Fordyce Robbie
Published: September 2015

The “fortress simulator” game Dwarf Fortress (Bay 12 Games, 2006-present) allows players the space to conduct experiments in economics. The player is not granted an avatar in the world, but this does not mean the player is granted the role of a transcendent deity either. Instead, the player operates on the relational level—completely managing all economic interactions and assigning social codes to different spaces. Lacking a “win” condition, players are free to engage with the game however they wish, including allowing for the immediate and unsympathetic demise of the community. As play continues, Dwarf Fortress ceases to be a fortress and becomes what the autonomists describe as a “laboratory.” The social relations of the fortress are upturned and become the site for experiments in production. The fortress too becomes the site for thought experiments on alternative economies, containing not one but many social laboratories.
Older Adult Video Game Preferences in Practice
Authors: Souders Dustin J. , Boot Walter R. , Charness Neil , Moxley Jerad H.
Published: September 2015

Recent meta-analyses on video game interventions with the aim to improve cognition have shown promise for both younger and older adults. Most studies suggest that fast-paced action games produce the largest benefits, but previous work has shown that older adults might not necessarily adhere to interventions using action games. To increase intervention adherence, we investigated older adult video game preferences that might bolster adherence by having participants play a competitive game ( Mario Kart DS) or a cooperative game ( Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga) alone or with a partner. Although hypotheses regarding cooperative and multiplayer gameplay were not supported, converging evidence suggests multiplayer gameplay may lead to greater enjoyment, which has been previously shown to be related to intervention adherence. Insights for gaming intervention studies in older populations are also provided.
A pooled analysis of common femoral and profunda femoris endovascular interventions
Authors: Bath Jonathan , Avgerinos Efthymios
Published: September 2015

Background

Atherosclerotic disease of common femoral and profunda femoris arteries has been historically treated with surgical endarterectomy. Endovascular treatment of common femoral artery and profunda femoris artery disease is increasingly reported in the recent literature. This review summarizes short- and mid-term outcomes of endovascular interventions to the common femoral artery and common femoral artery.

Methods

All published series in the English language were identified through a systematic PubMed search. Standard descriptive statistics, reported as mean ± SD, were applied to perform the pooled analysis and calculate the overall outcome measures. Combined overall effect sizes were calculated using fixed-effect meta-analysis.

Results

The analysis included 20 studies with a total of 836 patients (897 limbs, mean age of 70.5 ± 4.3 years, critical limb ischemia 39.6%). Technical success was 95%. Angioplasty alone was undertaken in 68.8% of cases and stenting in 22.3%. Access complications occurred in 2.4% of cases. Post-operative major adverse limb events occurred in 2% and major adverse cardiovascular events in 1% of cases. Primary patency at 6, 12 and 24 months was 87%, 77% and 73%, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher mean primary patency at 12 months for routine stenting compared to a selective stenting strategy (91.4% versus 75%; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Endovascular interventions to the common femoral artery and common femoral artery can be performed safely with high technical success. Endovascular therapy may be a favored approach over endarterectomy for highly selected patients of poor surgical risk, with limited life expectancy and those with wound-healing considerations such as re-operative fields or prone to infection.
Optimizing the initial choice and timing of therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Farber Rebecca S. , Sand Ilana K.
Published: September 2015

With 12 available US Food and Drug Administration approved medications for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), choosing an initial therapy is no longer a straightforward task. Each disease-modifying therapy (DMT) has a distinct risk–benefit profile and each patient is an individual. Therefore, the development of a simple algorithm to apply in selecting initial therapy is not feasible. Instead, the prescribing physician must consider many factors related to the treatments themselves, such as efficacy, safety, and tolerability, while also taking into account a particular patient’s disease characteristics, personal preferences, comorbid illnesses and reproductive plans. The efficacy of each drug may be assessed through clinical trial data, although these data are limited by scarcity of direct comparisons among the different agents and lack of availability of biomarkers to predict an individual patient’s response. Differences in safety profiles help to distinguish the various DMTs and influence selection of agent; both the known safety concerns, which can be addressed with risk mitigation and monitoring strategies, and the potential for yet undiscovered safety issues must be assessed, and an individual patient’s comfort level with the risks and ability to comply with monitoring must be determined. Potential issues related to tolerability, which largely relate to matters of patient personal preference and lifestyle, should also be factored into the decision-making process. With regard to the timing of therapy initiation, it must be acknowledged that long-term benefits of early DMT have not yet been definitively demonstrated. Nonetheless, starting DMT early in the MS disease course has been shown to have a beneficial effect on relapse prevention, and appears to curtail the atrophy and neurodegenerative changes that are now known to begin at disease onset. Although under certain circumstances there are acceptable reasons for deferring treatment, it is generally recommended that DMT is initiated early in the disease course.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: current treatment options and future perspectives
Authors: Pavlovic Dejan , Patera Andriani C. , Nyberg Fredrik , Gerber Marianne , Liu Maggie ,   for the Progressive Multifocal Leukeoncephalopathy Consortium
Published: September 2015

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare but debilitating and frequently fatal viral disease of the central nervous system, primarily affecting individuals with chronically and severely suppressed immune systems. The disease was relatively obscure until the outbreak of HIV/AIDS, when it presented as one of the more frequent opportunistic infections in this immune deficiency syndrome. It attracted additional attention from the medical and scientific community following the discovery of significant PML risk associated with natalizumab, a monoclonal antibody used for treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis. This was followed by association of PML with other immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs. PML is currently untreatable disease with poor outcomes, so it is a significant concern when developing new immunotherapies. Current prophylaxis and treatment of PML are focused on immune reconstitution, restoration of immune responses to JC virus infection, and eventual suppression of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. This approach was successful in reducing the incidence of PML and improved survival of PML patients with HIV infection. However, the outcome for the majority of PML patients, regardless of their medical history, is still relatively poor. There is a high unmet need for both prophylaxis and treatment of PML. The aim of this review is to discuss potential drug candidates for prophylaxis and treatment of PML with a critical review of previously conducted and completed PML treatment studies as well as to provide perspectives for future therapies.
Role of Self-managing Leadership in Crisis Management: An Empirical Study on the Effectiveness of Rajayoga
Authors: Pillai R. Radhakrishna , Anil Kumar G.  , Krishnadas N.
Published: September 2015

Crises are common in the modern world and the value system of leaders plays a crucial role in effectively managing the crises. The role of self-managing leadership in crisis management is explored in this article. An empirical study is conducted to understand the effectiveness of the ancient self-management technique called Rajayoga. It is based on a sample survey among two groups—one group not practicing Rajayoga and the other group practicing Rajayoga. It is found that the inner powers and innate values have a positive correlation with crises management capabilities. Further, these capabilities and correlations are found to be stronger in a group of people practicing Rajayoga for self empowerment. The relationship between inner powers and innate values, the interactivity and proactivity among the inner powers, the relationship between the ‘doing’ powers and the ‘being’ powers are also confirmed through the study.
Book Review: J.A. Quelch and K. Jocz, Greater Good: How Marketing Makes for Better Democracy
Authors: Lyngdoh Teidorlang
Published: September 2015

J.A. Quelch and K. Jocz, Greater Good: How Marketing Makes for Better Democracy, 2007, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 331 pp.
Globalizing Indian Thought through Indian Management Knowledge Tree
Authors: Sharma Subhash
Published: September 2015

This article traces the evolutionary journey of the idea of Indian management 1960 onwards. It identifies four phases of development of Indian management ideas in terms of adopting a scientific approach (1960–1980), recognizing the influence of cultural approach through indigenous theories and concepts (1980–2000), movement towards Indian ideas in management through influences of new consciousness in a ‘New Age of modernity’ (2000 onwards) and the fourth phase beginning with 2010, wherein globalizing Indian thought is gathering momentum. This journey has led to seeding and gradual growth of the Indian management knowledge tree representing the coexistence of multiple paradigms primarily represented by five thought streams as five branches of the knowledge tree. The article also views this evolutionary journey and the growth of the Indian management knowledge tree, within the context of historical changes at the global and Indian society level and also in the context of four stages of Western management thought over the last 100 years. It suggests that more than 50 years of experiences in creating new knowledge are leading us towards the development of a new ‘body of original knowledge’ (BOOK), that could become a basis for globalizing Indian thought and Indian ideas in management. The article also presents a brief discussion on some of the management centres in India, involved in globalizing Indian thought through Indian Ideas in Management.
Book Review: Shashank Shah and V.E. Ramamoorthy, Soulful Corporations —A Values Based Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Manchiraju Hariom
Published: September 2015

Shashank Shah and V.E. Ramamoorthy, Soulful Corporations —A Values Based Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility, 2014, New Delhi: Springer, 608 pp.
Impact of Firm Performance on Board Characteristics: Empirical Evidence from India
Authors: Arora Akshita , Sharma Chandan
Published: September 2015

This study attempts to examine the impact of prior and current firm performance on board composition as it is the least explored issue in the corporate governance area. For this purpose, our analysis covers a large sample of the Indian manufacturing firms for the period 2001–2010. We utilize a range of measures of firm performance such as return on assets, return on equity, net profit margin, adjusted Tobin’s q and stock returns in the analysis. We also use a range of alternative measures of board characteristics like board size, independence and meetings in the estimation process. The results of the study show that firm performance has a negative impact on board characteristics. Findings of the study also indicate that the larger board, outside membership and more meetings are considered as expensive affairs in the firm. Our findings in this study are expected to generate further debate on the related issue and sensitize the scholars to reason further research in this area especially in context of developing countries.
“I Just Did Everything Physically Possible to Get in There”
Authors: Hirshfield Laura E.
Published: September 2015

This ethnographic study focuses on how men and women chemistry graduate students are socialized to “do masculinity” differently in scientific contexts. Using results from nine months of observation and 40 semistructured interviews from five labs at a research-intensive university, I argue that the link between men, science, and academia may allow men, but not women, graduate students leeway in establishing their claim to scientific authority. Thus, men graduate students may be able to perform gender in more varied and complex ways than their women peers. In contrast, women graduate students, who do not embody masculinity, may feel more pressure to conform to the strict norms of competition that are associated with traditional masculinity.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside promotes oxidative stress-induced cytoskeleton reorganization through integrin-linked kinase signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Jiang Yue-Hua , Sun Wei , Li Wei , Hu Hong-Zhen , Zhou Le , Jiang Hui-Hui , Xu Jing-Xin
Published: September 2015

Background

Dysfunction of vascular endothelium is implicated in many pathological situations. Cytoskeleton plays an importance role in vascular endothelial permeability barrier and inflammatory response. Many Chinese herbs have the endothelial protective effect, of which, “Astragalus membranaceus” is a highly valued herb for treatment of cardiovascular and renal diseases in traditional Chinese medicine, In this study, we tested whether calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (Calycosin), a main effective monomer component of “Astragalus membranaceus”, could protect endothelial cells from bacterial endotoxin (LPS)-induced cell injury.

Methods

Endothelial cell injury was induced by exposing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to LPS. The effects of calycosin on LPS-induced changes in cell viability, apoptosis rate, cell migration, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), generationof intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytoskeleton organization were determined. Microarray assay was employed to screen the possible gene expression change. Based on the results of microarray assay, the expression profile of genes involved in Rho/ROCK pathway and AKT pathway were further evaluated with quantitative real-time RT-PCR or western blot methods.

Results

Calycosin improved cell viability, suppressed apoptosis and protected the cells from LPS-induced reduction in cell migration and generation of ROS, protein level of NOS at a comparable magnitude to that of Y27632 and valsartan. Similar to Y27632 and valsartan, Calycosin, also neutralized LPS-induced actomyosin contraction and vinculin protein aggregation. Microarray assay, real-time PCR and western blot results revealed that LPS induced expression of FN, ITG A5, RhoA, PI3K (or PIP2 in western blotting), FAK, VEGF and VEGF R2, and inhibited expression of MLCP. We believed multiple pathways involved in the regulation of calycosin on HUVECs. Calycosin are considered to be able to activate MLCP through promoting the generation of NO, decreasing PMLC, suppressing the cytoskeleton remodeling caused by activation of Rho/ROCK pathway and inhibiting AKT pathway by decreasing VEGF, VEGF R2 and PI3K level.

Conclusion

Calycosin protected HUVEC from LPS-induced endothelial injury, possibly through suppression of Rho/ROCK pathway and regulation of AKT pathway.
A study of the immediate effects of glycerine‐filled insoles, contoured prefabricated orthoses and flat insoles on single‐leg balance, gait patterns and perceived comfort in healthy adults
Authors: Hatton Anna L. , Hug François , Brown Brooke C. M. , Green Leon P. , Hughes Jacob R. , King Jarrad , Orgar Emma J. , Surman Kate , Vicenzino Bill
Published: September 2015

Background

Footwear interventions are often prescribed to assist with the management of lower limb pain, injury and disease. Commercially available shoe insoles and orthoses are increasingly incorporating novel design features to alleviate foot and lower limb symptoms, but this may be at a cost to optimal functional performance. This study compared the immediate effects of wearing glycerine‐filled insoles, contoured prefabricated orthoses, and flat insoles, on balance and gait measures.

Methods

Thirty healthy adults (17 men, 13 women; mean [SD] age: 24.3 [2.5] years) performed tests of single‐leg standing with eyes open (Kistler force platform), star excursion balance test, and level‐ground walking (GAITRite® walkway system), under three randomised conditions: wearing glycerine‐filled insoles, prefabricated orthoses, and flat (control) insoles, within their own footwear. Centre of pressure movement (anterior‐posterior and mediolateral range and standard deviation, total path velocity), star excursion balance test reach distance, and temporospatial gait variables were collected. Perceived comfort of the inserts was scored immediately after use on a 100 mm visual analogue rating scale. After trialling all inserts each participant ranked their level of comfort from least to most.

Results

Centre of pressure measures, star excursion balance test reach distance, or temporospatial gait variables did not differ between the three inserts (all P values >0.088). Significant between‐condition differences were reported for comfort ranking (P = 0.031), but not rating scores (P = 0.638). Weak to moderate negative correlations (r values ranged between −0.368 and −0.406) were observed between visual analogue scale comfort rating for the flat insoles and prefabricated orthoses, star excursion balance test and gait measures.

Conclusions

Single‐leg standing balance, star excursion balance test performance, and level‐ground walking patterns in asymptomatic adults do not appear to differ when wearing glycerine‐filled insoles, contoured prefabricated orthoses, or flat insoles. Perceived comfort may be related to the biomechanical or clinical effectiveness of novel footwear interventions, and requires further investigation. Importantly, these findings are specific to a healthy population and further research is needed to determine the long‐term effects of glycerine‐filled insoles in patients with known balance impairments.
Transplantation of cultured dental pulp stem cells into the skeletal muscles ameliorated diabetic polyneuropathy: therapeutic plausibility of freshly isolated and cryopreserved dental pulp stem cells
Authors: Hata Masaki , Omi Maiko , Kobayashi Yasuko , Nakamura Nobuhisa , Tosaki Takahiro , Miyabe Megumi , Kojima Norinaga , Kubo Katsutoshi , Ozawa Shogo , Maeda Hatsuhiko , Tanaka Yoshinobu , Matsubara Tatsuaki , Naruse Keiko
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells located in dental pulp and are thought to be a potential source for cell therapy since DPSCs can be easily obtained from teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons. Obtained DPSCs can be cryopreserved until necessary and thawed and expanded when needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of DPSC transplantation for diabetic polyneuropathy.

Methods

DPSCs isolated from the dental pulp of extracted incisors of Sprague–Dawley rats were partly frozen in a −80 °C freezer for 6 months. Cultured DPSCs were transplanted into the unilateral hindlimb skeletal muscles 8 weeks after streptozotocine injection and the effects of DPSC transplantation were evaluated 4 weeks after the transplantation.

Results

Transplantation of DPSCs significantly improved the impaired sciatic nerve blood flow, sciatic motor/sensory nerve conduction velocity, capillary number to muscle fiber ratio and intra-epidermal nerve fiber density in the transplanted side of diabetic rats. Cryopreservation of DPSCs did not impair their proliferative or differential ability. The transplantation of cryopreserved DPSCs ameliorated sciatic nerve blood flow and sciatic nerve conduction velocity as well as freshly isolated DPSCs.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the effectiveness of DPSC transplantation for diabetic polyneuropathy even when using cryopreserved DPSCs, suggesting that the transplantation of DPSCs could be a promising tool for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Assessment of bystander killing-mediated therapy of malignant brain tumors using a multimodal imaging approach
Authors: Leten Cindy , Trekker Jesse , Struys Tom , Dresselaers Tom , Gijsbers Rik , Velde Greetje Vande , Lambrichts Ivo , Van Der Linden Annemie , Verfaillie Catherine M. , Himmelreich Uwe
Published: September 2015

Introduction

In this study, we planned to assess if adult stem cell-based suicide gene therapy can efficiently eliminate glioblastoma cells in vivo. We investigated the therapeutic potential of mouse Oct4− bone marrow multipotent adult progenitor cells (mOct4− BM-MAPCs) in a mouse glioblastoma model, guided by multimodal in vivo imaging methods to identify therapeutic windows.

Methods

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of animals, wherein 5 × 105 syngeneic enhanced green fluorescent protein-firefly luciferase-herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (eGFP-fLuc-HSV-TK) expressing and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle labeled (1 % or 10 %) mOct4− BM-MAPCs were grafted in glioblastoma (GL261)-bearing animals, showed that labeled mOct4− BM-MAPCs were located in and in close proximity to the tumor. Subsequently, ganciclovir (GCV) treatment was commenced and the fate of both the MAPCs and the tumor were followed by multimodal imaging (MRI and bioluminescence imaging).

Results

In the majority of GCV-treated, but not phosphate-buffered saline-treated animals, a significant difference was found in mOct4− BM-MAPC viability and tumor size at the end of treatment. Noteworthy, in some phosphate-buffered saline-treated animals (33 %), a significant decrease in tumor size was seen compared to sham-operated animals, which could potentially also be caused by a synergistic effect of the immune-modulatory stem cells.

Conclusions

Suicide gene therapy using mOct4− BM-MAPCs as cellular carriers was effective in reducing the tumor size in the majority of the GCV-treated animals leading to a longer progression-free survival compared to sham-operated animals. This treatment could be followed and guided noninvasively in vivo by MRI and bioluminescence imaging. Noninvasive imaging is of particular interest for a rapid and efficient validation of stem cell-based therapeutic approaches for glioblastoma and hereby contributes to a better understanding and optimization of a promising therapeutic approach for glioblastoma patients.
Subventricular zone neural progenitors reverse TNF-alpha effects in cortical neurons
Authors: Morini Raffaella , Ghirardini Elsa , Butti Erica , Verderio Claudia , Martino Gianvito , Matteoli Michela
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) plays a physiological role in controlling synaptic transmission and plasticity in the healthy central nervous system by modulating glutamate receptor trafficking to the plasma membrane. TNFα expression is also rapidly induced in response to tissue injury and infection. By promoting the insertion of Ca2+ permeable-AMPA receptors into the neuronal plasma membrane, this cytokine may cause excessive Ca2+ influx into neurons, thus enhancing neuronal death.

Methods

Primary cultures of cortical neurons were obtained from E18 foetal mice and incubated for 24 h with adult neural stem cells (aNPCs) either stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS+aNPCs) or not (aNPCs). Cultures were treated with TNFα (100 ng/ml), and electrophysiological recordings were performed in different conditions to evaluate the effect of the cytokine on neuronal transmission.

Results

In this study, we demonstrate that aNPCs from the subventricular zone reverse the effects induced by the cytokine. Moreover, we show that the effect of aNPCs on cortical neurons is mediated by cannabinoid CB1 receptor activation.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the role of aNPCs in preventing excitatory neurotransmission potentiation induced by TNFα on cortical neurons may have important implications for pathologies characterized by an inflammatory component affecting cortical neurons such as Alzheimer’s disease.