bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thymol and Carvacrol Prevent Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiotoxicity by Abrogation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Rats
Authors: El‐Sayed El‐Sayed M. , Mansour Ahmed M. , Abdul‐Hameed Mohammed S.
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the possible protective effects of thymol and carvacrol (CAR) against doxorubicin (DOX)‐induced cardiotoxicity. A single dose of DOX (10 mg/kg i.v.) injected to male rats revealed significant increases in serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme‐MB, aspartate transaminase, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, and cardiac troponin levels. It also increased heart contents of malondialdehyde and caspase‐3 accompanied by a significant reduction in heart content of reduced glutathione as well as catalase and superoxide dismutase activity as compared with the control group. In contrast, administration of thymol (20 mg/kg p.o.) and/or CAR (25 mg/kg p.o.) for 14 days before DOX administration and for 2 days after DOX injection ameliorated the heart function and oxidative stress parameters. Summarily, thymol was more cardioprotective than CAR. Moreover, a combination of thymol and CAR had a synergistic cardioprotective effect that might be attributed to antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities.
Self‐Compassion and Self‐Criticism in Recovery in Psychosis: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study
Authors: Waite Felicity , Knight Matthew T. D. , Lee Deborah
Published: September 2015

Objective

To increase understanding of the internal processes of recovery in psychosis, with particular consideration given to self‐compassion and self‐criticism.

Method

Qualitative data were collected by semistructured interviews, from 10 participants with psychosis, and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Five superordinate themes emerged: (a) “my mind can't take the load”: the “curse” of psychosis; (b) the “trap” of self‐criticism; (c) “coming to terms” with psychosis in my life to “move on”; (d) “on my own two feet”; and (e) “an opportunity” for growth. The themes included a reciprocal relationship between psychosis and self‐criticism, processes of acceptance, empowerment, and posttraumatic growth.

Conclusions

The internal process of self‐to‐self relating contributed to 2 maintenance cycles: self‐criticism maintained distressing experiences of psychosis and compassionate self‐acceptance resulted in empowered action and promoted recovery and growth. The dual process of acceptance and change in relationship to self was central to recovery.
Can social media be used as a hospital quality improvement tool?
Authors: Lagu Tara , Goff Sarah L. , Craft Ben , Calcasola Stephanie , Benjamin Evan M. , Priya Aruna , Lindenauer Peter K.
Published: September 2015

Many hospitals wish to improve their patients’ experience of care. To learn whether social media could be used as a tool to engage patients and to identify opportunities for hospital quality improvement (QI), we solicited patients’ narrative feedback on the Baystate Medical Center Facebook page during a 3‐week period in 2014. Two investigators used directed qualitative content analysis to code comments and descriptive statistics to assess the frequency of selected codes and themes. We identified common themes, including: (1) comments about staff (17/37 respondents, 45.9%); (2) comments about specific departments (22/37, 59.5%); (3) comments on technical aspects of care, including perceived errors and inattention to pain control (9/37, 24.3%); and (4) comments describing the hospital physical plant, parking, and amenities (9/37, 24.3%). A small number (n = 3) of patients repeatedly responded, accounting for 30% (45/148) of narratives. Although patient feedback on social media could help to drive hospital QI efforts, any potential benefits must be weighed against the reputational risks, the lack of representativeness among respondents, and the volume of responses needed to identify areas of improvement. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:52–55. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Cell adhesion molecule contactin‐associated protein 3 is expressed in the mouse basal ganglia during early postnatal stages
Authors: Hirata Haruna , Umemori Juzoh , Yoshioka Hiroki , Koide Tsuyoshi , Watanabe Kazutada , Shimoda Yasushi
Published: September 2015

Cell adhesion molecules play important roles in the development of the nervous system. Among the contactin‐associated protein (Caspr; also known as Cntnap) family, which belongs to the neurexin superfamily of proteins, Caspr and Caspr2 are indispensable for the formation and maintenance of myelinated nerves. In contrast, a physiological role for Caspr3 remains to be elucidated. This study examines the expression and localization of Caspr3 in the mouse brain using newly generated Caspr3 antibodies. Caspr3 was expressed abundantly between the first and the second postnatal weeks. During this period, Caspr3 was localized especially to the basal ganglia, including the striatum, external segment of the globus pallidus, and substantia nigra, and no gross abnormalities were apparent in the basal ganglia of Caspr3 knockout mice. In the striatum, Caspr3 was expressed by a subpopulation of medium spiny neurons that constitute the direct and indirect pathways. Caspr3 immunostaining was observed as punctate around the cell bodies as well as in the soma. These Caspr3 signals did not, however, overlap with those of synaptic markers. Our findings suggest that Caspr3 may play an important role in basal ganglia development during early postnatal stages. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PCGEM1 stimulates proliferation of osteoarthritic synoviocytes by acting as a sponge for miR‐770
Authors: Kang Yeonho , Song Jinsoo , Kim Dongkyun , Ahn Chiyeon , Park Sujung , Chun Churl‐Hong , Jin Eun‐Jung
Published: September 2015

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play important roles in cellular metabolism and development. Various diseases have been associated with aberrant expression of lncRNAs and the related dysregulation of mRNAs. An lncRNA profiling assay was carried out to identify the key lncRNA in osteoarthritic human synoviocytes; the results revealed that prostate cancer gene expression marker 1 (PCGEM1) was significantly overexpressed in osteoarthritic synoviocytes. Exogenous overexpression of PCGEM1 inhibited apoptosis, induced autophagy, and stimulated the proliferation of human synoviocytes. The increased expression of PCGEM1 in human synoviocytes also suppressed the expression of miR‐770. Transfection of the miR‐770 precursor resulted in reduced proliferation, and induced apoptosis of human synoviocytes. This effect of miR‐770 expression was reversed by co‐introduction of PCGEM1. Target validation showed a direct binding between PCGEM1 and miR‐770. We demonstrate that PCGEM1 act as sponge lncRNA for miR‐770 that regulates proliferation/apoptosis and autophagy, and suggest PCGEM1 as possible target for OA therapy. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:412–418, 2016.
On‐site detection of phosgene agents by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy coupled with a chemical transformation approach
Authors: Gao Haiyue , Wu Jianfeng , Zhu Yingjie , Guo Lei , Xie Jianwei
Published: September 2015

Phosgene and its analogs are greatly harmful to the public health, environmental safety and homeland security as widely used industrial substances with extremely high toxicity. In order to rapidly evaluate the emergency risk caused by these chemicals, a new highly sensitive method based on surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique for measurement of phosgene agents was developed for the first time. Coupled with a chemical transformation approach, the highly toxic phosgene was conveniently converted to a SERS‐sensitive probe, i.e. iodine (I2), with low toxicity or non‐toxicity. The characteristic SERS peak in 459 cm−1 was used for quantitation and was presumed as a formation of triiodide anion (I3−), which was induced in an iodide (I−)‐aggregation Au NPs system. The total measurement can be completed in ~20 min with the limits of detection of ~60 µg/l (phosgene) and ~30 µg/l (diphosgene), respectively, on a portable Raman spectrometer. This work is the first report of SERS measurement on phosgene and diphosgene in a quantitative level. This method is expected to meet the requirements of on‐site detection of phosgene agents, promote emergency responses and raise more opportunities for the portable SERS applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meta‐analysis for aggregated survival data with competing risks: a parametric approach using cumulative incidence functions
Authors: Bonofiglio Federico , Beyersmann Jan , Schumacher Martin , Koller Michael , Schwarzer Guido
Published: September 2015

Meta‐analysis of a survival endpoint is typically based on the pooling of hazard ratios (HRs). If competing risks occur, the HRs may lose translation into changes of survival probability. The cumulative incidence functions (CIFs), the expected proportion of cause‐specific events over time, re‐connect the cause‐specific hazards (CSHs) to the probability of each event type. We use CIF ratios to measure treatment effect on each event type. To retrieve information on aggregated, typically poorly reported, competing risks data, we assume constant CSHs. Next, we develop methods to pool CIF ratios across studies. The procedure computes pooled HRs alongside and checks the influence of follow‐up time on the analysis. We apply the method to a medical example, showing that follow‐up duration is relevant both for pooled cause‐specific HRs and CIF ratios. Moreover, if all‐cause hazard and follow‐up time are large enough, CIF ratios may reveal additional information about the effect of treatment on the cumulative probability of each event type. Finally, to improve the usefulness of such analysis, better reporting of competing risks data is needed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Has survival following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreas adenocarcinoma improved over time?
Authors: Salem Ahmed I. , Alfi Mina , Winslow Emily , Cho Clifford S. , Weber Sharon M.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Survival following resection of pancreas cancer is poor. It is uncertain whether outcome improved overtime. Due to the recent advances in surgical techniques, diagnostic evaluation, and systemic treatment, we sought to evaluate pancreas cancer outcome over time.

Methods

Prospectively collected data on patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pathologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma from 1999 to 2012 were analyzed. Perioperative and long‐term outcomes were analyzed, comparing patients from era 1 (1999–2005) to patients from era 2 (2006–2012).

Results

Two‐hundred sixteen patients were evaluated, including 76 in era 1 and 140 in era 2. There was no difference in 30‐day mortality (1.3%, era 1 vs. 1.4%, era 2; P = 0.95) or rates of overall 30‐day morbidity (49%, era 1 vs. 62%, era 2; P = 0.06). On multivariable analysis after adjusting for perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, margin status, EBL, and venous resection, there was no difference in survival between eras (HR = 0.81, P = 0.27, CI = 0.57–1.16).

Conclusions

After adjusting for clinicopathological features, there was no association of improved outcome over time. However, despite an increasing prevalence of anatomically advanced and histologically aggressive tumors, perioperative outcomes such as blood loss and margin negativity improved over time, with no increase in 30‐day mortality. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015;112:643–649. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
More Complexity and Higher Quality
Authors: Borges Malte
Published: September 2015

The demands for more complexity and higher quality joining methods are rising continuously in the automotive and medical technology sectors, as well as in consumer goods. There are major differences between laser plastic welding and other technologies — this is why it is conquering more and more areas of applications with new laser systems and methods.
Seawater sampling by an autonomous underwater vehicle: “Gulper” sample validation for nitrate, chlorophyll, phytoplankton, and primary production
Authors: Pennington J. T. , Blum M. , Chavez F. P.
Published: September 2015

The effort and expense associated with sample and data collections for long oceanographic time series are, in part, driving the development of autonomous platforms, sensors and sample collectors. Here we validate basic oceanographic samples collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle with water sampler (AUV with “Gulper”) by comparison with samples collected by a standard collection device, the conductivity‐temperature‐depth rosette with Niskin bottles. After elimination of a toxic material, “on‐deck” and field comparisons show that Gulpers and Niskin bottles collect comparable nitrate, chlorophyll, phytoplankton species and 14C‐based primary production (PP) samples and data. Gulper materials and lubricants, Gulper firing, field presence of the possibly toxic submarine, and the pressure and temperature cycling associated with the submarine's depth undulations all appear unimportant. However, 24 h sample hold periods for live samples within the Gulpers, as is necessary during many AUV deployments, appears to depress nitrate, chlorophyll and PP values somewhat (4–16%). While challenges remain, demonstration that the AUV and sampler can collect fundamental oceanographic samples is a critical step toward the broader use of such autonomous platforms.
Targeting the Achilles' heel of adult living donor liver transplant: Corner‐sparing sutures with mucosal eversion technique of biliary anastomosis
Authors: Vij Vivek , Makki Kausar , Chorasiya Vishal Kumar , Sood Gaurav , Singhal Ashish , Dargan Puneet
Published: September 2015

Biliary complications are regarded as the Achilles' heel of liver transplantation, especially for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to smaller, multiple ducts and difficult ductal anatomy. Overall biliary complications reported in most series are between 10% and 30%. This study describes our modified technique of biliary anastomosis and its effects on incidence of biliary complications. This was a single‐center retrospective study of 148 adult LDLT recipients between December 2011 and June 2014. Group 1 (n = 40) consisted of the first 40 patients for whom the standard technique of biliary anastomosis (minimal hilar dissection during donor duct division, high hilar division of the recipient bile duct, and preservation of the recipient duct periductal tissue) was used. Group 2 (n = 108) consisted of 108 patients for whom biliary anastomosis was done with the addition of corner‐sparing sutures and mucosal eversion of the recipient duct to the standard technique. Primary outcome measures included biliary complications (biliary leaks and strictures). Biliary complications occurred in 7/40 patients in group 1 (17.5%) and in 4/108 patients in group 2 (3.7%). The technical factors mentioned above are aimed at preserving the blood supply of the donor and recipient ducts and hold the key for minimizing biliary complications in adult‐to‐adult LDLT. Liver Transpl 22:14‐23, 2016. © 2015 AASLD.
Anisotropic Gelation Induced by Very Little Amount of Filamentous Actin
Authors: Shikinaka Kazuhiro , Misu Manami , Furukawa Hidemitsu , Kakugo Akira , Gong Jian Ping
Published: September 2015

In this paper, the hydrogel is created with oriented structure by addition of very little amount of dopant, filamentous actin (F‐actin), which is 1/50 000 of lower critical concentration for nematic phase in F‐actin aqueous solution. The orientation mechanism of polymer network differs depending on the concentration of F‐actin. Furthermore, it is first exhibited that the role of polyelectrolyte for the emergence of anisotropy of gel is differed depending on its concentration by using digestion method to F‐actins, experimentally.

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Dietary lipids modulate the expression of miR‐107, a miRNA that regulates the circadian system
Authors: Daimiel‐Ruiz Lidia , Klett‐Mingo Mercedes , Konstantinidou Valentini , Micó Victor , Aranda Juan Francisco , García Belén , Martínez‐Botas Javier , Dávalos Alberto , Fernández‐Hernando Carlos , Ordovás José Maria
Published: September 2015

Scope

The increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been hypothesized to be the result of an increased exposure to a host of atherogenic environmental factors, paramount among them being unhealthy dietary habits. Long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to have cardio protective effects, partially due to their ability to regulate gene expression. In this regard, increasing attention has been devoted to the role of miRNAs as regulators of multiple metabolic pathways whose deregulation has been associated with CVD risk. In this work we investigated whether miRNA expression was regulated by docosahexanoic acid, conjugated linoleic acid and cholesterol in Caco‐2 cells.

Results

Among the modulated miRNAs, miR‐107 was differentially expressed by all treatments and this modulation was independent of its hosting gene, panthothenate kinase 1, possibly through its own promoter, which contains binding sites for metabolically relevant transcription factors. Among the putative target genes of miR‐107, we found some genes with key roles in circadian rhythm. Specifically, we demonstrated that binding of miR‐107 to the circadian locomotor output cycles kaput gene results in the deregulation of the circadian rhythm of the cells.

Conclusion

Since chronodisruption has been linked to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity, and CVD, our findings suggest that miR‐107 could represent a new approach for pharmacological treatment of these diseases.
Variable flip angle 3D‐GRASE for high resolution fMRI at 7 tesla
Authors: Kemper Valentin G. , De Martino Federico , Yacoub Essa , Goebel Rainer
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To evaluate the use of variable flip angle refocusing pulse trains in single‐shot three‐dimensional gradient and spin‐echo (3D‐GRASE) to reduce blurring and increase the spatial coverage for high spatial resolution T2‐weighted functional MRI at 7 Tesla.

Methods

Variable flip angle refocusing schemes in 3D‐GRASE were calculated based on extended phase graph theory. The blurring along the slice (partition) direction was evaluated in simulations, as well as phantom and in vivo experiments. Furthermore, temporal stability and functional sensitivity at 0.8 mm isotropic resolution were assessed.

Results

Variable flip angle refocusing schemes yielded significantly reduced blurring compared with conventional refocusing schemes, with the full width at half maximum being approximately 30–40% narrower. Simultaneously, spatial coverage could be increased by 80%. The temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio was slightly reduced, but functional sensitivity was largely maintained due to increased functional contrast in the variable flip angle acquisitions. Signal‐to‐noise ratio and functional sensitivity were reduced more strongly in areas with insufficient radiofrequency transmission indicating higher sensitivity to experimental imperfections.

Conclusion

Variable flip angle refocusing schemes increase usability of 3D‐GRASE for high‐resolution functional MRI by reducing blurring and allowing increased spatial coverage. Magn Reson Med 76:897–904, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Poverty and Housing Among Older People: Comparing Australia and Japan
Authors: Saunders Peter , Watanabe Kuriko , Wong Melissa
Published: September 2015

This article presents estimates of poverty among older people in two countries—Australia and Japan—that are long‐standing members of the OECD with unique social policy approaches. The focus is on understanding whether and why older person poverty rates differ, and on the role that housing costs play in explaining observed differences. Poverty is estimated using a conventional income metric and an alternative based on total expenditure, with allowance made in both cases for the impact of housing by deducting costs or including imputed rent, respectively, with poverty lines tied to the median of the appropriate metric. The overlap between income‐ and expenditure‐based poverty rates is also examined and compared. The estimates reflect country differences in housing status (specifically, the rate of home ownership) and living arrangements (including how many older people live with others). They show that taking account of housing has a large impact on poverty in both countries, that expenditure poverty exceeds income poverty in Australia but not in Japan, and that while poverty is always lower in Japan than in Australia, the gap narrows when the expenditure metric is used.
Coiled‐coil length: Size does matter
Authors: Surkont Jaroslaw , Diekmann Yoan , Ryder Pearl V. , Pereira‐Leal Jose B.
Published: September 2015

Protein evolution is governed by processes that alter primary sequence but also the length of proteins. Protein length may change in different ways, but insertions, deletions and duplications are the most common. An optimal protein size is a trade‐off between sequence extension, which may change protein stability or lead to acquisition of a new function, and shrinkage that decreases metabolic cost of protein synthesis. Despite the general tendency for length conservation across orthologous proteins, the propensity to accept insertions and deletions is heterogeneous along the sequence. For example, protein regions rich in repetitive peptide motifs are well known to extensively vary their length across species. Here, we analyze length conservation of coiled‐coils, domains formed by an ubiquitous, repetitive peptide motif present in all domains of life, that frequently plays a structural role in the cell. We observed that, despite the repetitive nature, the length of coiled‐coil domains is generally highly conserved throughout the tree of life, even when the remaining parts of the protein change, including globular domains. Length conservation is independent of primary amino acid sequence variation, and represents a conservation of domain physical size. This suggests that the conservation of domain size is due to functional constraints. Proteins 2015; 83:2162–2169. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MOVPE growth and indium incorporation of polar, semipolar (112) and (201) InGaN
Authors: Dinh Duc V. , Pristovsek Markus , Kneissl Michael
Published: September 2015

InGaN layers were grown simultaneously on polar (0001), and on semipolar (112) and (201) GaN templates with different In/Ga ratios by metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy with a thickness of about 50 nm. The indium content of the layers behaved as follows: (0001) (112)(201). The relaxed (0001) layers showed the highest indium content (In 17.4–48.7%) with an island‐like surface morphology, while the relaxed (112) layers (In 14.0–40.0%) had nearly unchanged morphology compared to the semipolar GaN templates. The (201) layers exhibited a three‐dimensional morphology that was attributed to differences in growth on the (101) and (100) surfaces. The degree of relaxation also reduced from 100% for the (0001) layers to less than 15% for the (201) layers that was attributed to the lowest indium content of the (201) layers. Room‐temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements of the semipolar layers showed a peak in emission wavelength that shifts gradually from 450 to 820 nm with increasing indium content. The stronger PL intensity of the semipolar layers was attributed to background impurity and band filling effects in the layers.
Integrating Discovery and Creation Perspectives of Entrepreneurial Action: The Relative Roles of Founding CEO Human Capital, Social Capital, and Psychological Capital in Contexts of Risk Versus Uncertainty
Authors: Hmieleski Keith M. , Carr Jon C. , Baron Robert A.
Published: September 2015

Research summary

This study examines the relationships of founding CEOs' intangible resources (human, social, and psychological capital) with the performance of their firms in environmental contexts of discovery (stable industry conditions that are characterized by risk) versus creation (dynamic industry conditions that are characterized by uncertainty). Results from a national (USA) random sample of founding CEOs (n = 223) found entrepreneurial experience (an aspect of human capital) to be positively related to performance in discovery contexts, whereas educational attainment, strong ties, and psychological capital (a composite index of optimism, self‐efficacy, resilience, and hope) were positively related to performance in creation contexts. These findings extend theorizing concerning discovery and creation perspectives from the pre‐entry phase (opportunity recognition) to the post‐entry phase (opportunity exploitation) of the entrepreneurial process.

Managerial summary

This research investigates the relationships of founding CEOs' intangible resources with the performance of their firms in industry environments that are stable (slow changing and predictable) versus dynamic (fast changing and unpredictable). The results indicate that entrepreneurial experience (number of prior new ventures founded) is positively related to performance in stable environments, whereas educational attainment (highest educational degree earned), strong ties (social connections to family members and friends who provide support relating to the firm), and psychological capital (inner cognitive, emotional, and behavioral resources used to cope with adversity) are positively related to performance in dynamic environments. The findings highlight the importance of fit between the intangible resources of founding CEOs and the characteristics of the industries in which they attempt to develop and grow their firms.
Development of a diagnostic test based on multiple continuous biomarkers with an imperfect reference test
Authors: García Barrado Leandro , Coart Els , Burzykowski Tomasz ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: September 2015

Ignoring the fact that the reference test used to establish the discriminative properties of a combination of diagnostic biomarkers is imperfect can lead to a biased estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of the combination. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian latent‐class mixture model to select a combination of biomarkers that maximizes the area under the ROC curve (AUC), while taking into account the imperfect nature of the reference test. In particular, a method for specification of the prior for the mixture component parameters is developed that allows controlling the amount of prior information provided for the AUC. The properties of the model are evaluated by using a simulation study and an application to real data from Alzheimer's disease research. In the simulation study, 100 data sets are simulated for sample sizes ranging from 100 to 600 observations, with a varying correlation between biomarkers. The inclusion of an informative as well as a flat prior for the diagnostic accuracy of the reference test is investigated. In the real‐data application, the proposed model was compared with the generally used logistic‐regression model that ignores the imperfectness of the reference test. Conditional on the selected sample size and prior distributions, the simulation study results indicate satisfactory performance of the model‐based estimates. In particular, the obtained average estimates for all parameters are close to the true values. For the real‐data application, AUC estimates for the proposed model are substantially higher than those from the ‘traditional’ logistic‐regression model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Married to the firm? A large‐scale investigation of the social context of ownership
Authors: Belenzon Sharon , Patacconi Andrea , Zarutskie Rebecca
Published: September 2015

Research summary: Using a large sample of private firms across Europe, we examine how the social context of owners affects firm strategy and performance. Drawing on embeddedness theory and the institutional logics perspective, we argue that embeddedness in a family, in particular the nuclear family, can strengthen identification and commitment to the firm, but can also induce owners to behave more conservatively. Consistent with this argument, we find that family‐owned firms have higher profit margins, returns on assets, and survival rates compared to single‐owner or unrelated‐owners' firms, but also invest and grow more slowly, hold greater reserves of cash, and rely less on external debt. These differences are most pronounced when the two largest shareholders are married. Our results highlight the key role of marital ties in explaining differences in behavior and performance among firms.

Managerial summary: Despite the prevalence of the married‐couple ownership structure in firms, little research has been dedicated to understanding how these firms are managed and perform. We examine the behavior and performance of firms owned by married couples in a large panel of closely held Western European firms. We find that married‐owner family firms are managed more conservatively relative to firms with unrelated owners and even to other family‐owned firms. In particular, married‐owner family firms invest and grow more slowly and rely less on external finance. However, they also exhibit greater performance stability and higher profitability. Our findings suggest that social relationships among owners have a large impact on firm strategy and performance, and highlight some potential trade‐offs to performance when married couples control firms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular and Cellular Functions Distinguish Superior Therapeutic Efficiency of Bone Marrow CD45 Cells Over Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Baligar Prakash , Mukherjee Snehasish , Kochat Veena , Rastogi Archana , Mukhopadhyay Asok
Published: September 2015

Liver fibrosis is strongly associated with chronic inflammation. As an alternative to conventional treatments for fibrosis, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is found to be attractive due to its immunomodulatory functions. However, low survival rate and profibrogenic properties of MSCs remain the major concerns, leading to skepticism in many investigators. Here, we have asked the question whether bone marrow (BM)-derived CD45 cells is the better candidate than MSCs to treat fibrosis, if so, what are the molecular mechanisms that make such distinction. Using CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mouse model of a Metavir fibrosis score 3, we showed that BM-CD45 cells have better antifibrotic effect than adipose-derived (AD)-MSCs. In fact, our study revealed that antifibrotic potential of CD45 cells are compromised by the presence of MSCs. This difference was apparently due to significantly high level expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-9 and 13, and the suppression of hepatic stellate cells' (HpSCs) activation in the CD45 cells transplantation group. Mechanism dissection studied in vitro supported the above opposing results and revealed that CD45 cell-secreted FasL induced apoptotic death of activated HpSCs. Further analyses suggest that MSC-secreted transforming growth factor β and insulin-like growth factor-1 promoted myofibroblastic differentiation of HpSCs and their proliferation. Additionally, the transplantation of CD45 cells led to functional improvement of the liver through repair and regeneration. Thus, BM-derived CD45 cells appear as a superior candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis due to structural and functional improvement of CCl4-induced fibrotic liver, which were much lower in case of AD-MSC therapy.
Fine‐Tuning of Linear Hexa‐Cobalt and Defective Penta‐­Cobalt Metal‐String Complexes
Authors: Lin Geng‐Min , Sigrist Marc , Horng Er‐Chien , Chen Chun‐hsien , Yeh Chen‐Yu , Lee Gene‐Hsiang , Peng Shie‐Ming
Published: September 2015

The ligand, 2, 7‐bis(α‐5‐phenylpyrazinamino)‐1, 8‐naphthyridine (H2bphpzany), was synthesized by the reaction of 2, 7‐dichloro‐1, 8‐naphthyridine with 2‐amino‐5‐phenylpyrazine in the presence of potassium tert‐butoxide under palladium(0)‐catalyzed conditions. Linear defective penta‐cobalt metal‐string complex [Co5(bphpzany)4(NCS)2] (1) and hexa‐cobalt Co611+ complex [Co6(bphpzany)4(NCS)2](PF6) (2) each containing four bphpzany2– ligands were synthesized, and their structure was determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structure of complex 1 consists of two lantern‐type dinuclear Co2 fragments at the terminal positions and one rare octacoordinated cobalt at the center forming a linear [Co2···Co···Co2] chain. The magnetic susceptibility measurement of 1 shows a quartet ground state with a significant spin‐orbital contribution of the central CoII ion. Complex 2 consists of a linear Co611+ configuration wrapped by four bphpzany2– ligands and its magnetic susceptibility measurement reveals a two‐stages magnetic behavior with spin‐states of S = 1/2 at 2 K, and S = 3/2 at 300 K. The cyclic voltammograms display three redox waves at E1/2 = +0.97, E1/2 = +0.71 and E1/2 = –1.02 V for 1, and four waves at E1/2 = +1.32, E1/2 = +0.99, E1/2 = +0.64, and E1/2 = –0.14 V for 2, respectively. The values of single‐molecular resistance for 1 and 2 are 15.5 (±4.84) and 16.1 (±10.4) MΩ, respectively.
Turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection described by projected dynamics in phase space
Authors: Lülff Johannes , Wilczek Michael , Stevens Richard J. A. M. , Friedrich Rudolf , Lohse Detlef
Published: September 2015

Rayleigh–Bénard convection, i.e. the flow of a fluid between two parallel plates that is driven by a temperature gradient, is an idealised set-up to study thermal convection. Of special interest are the statistics of the turbulent temperature field, which we are investigating and comparing for three different geometries, namely convection with periodic horizontal boundary conditions in three and two dimensions as well as convection in a cylindrical vessel, in order to determine the similarities and differences. To this end, we derive an exact evolution equation for the temperature probability density function. Unclosed terms are expressed as conditional averages of velocities and heat diffusion, which are estimated from direct numerical simulations. This framework lets us identify the average behaviour of a fluid particle by revealing the mean evolution of a fluid with different temperatures in different parts of the convection cell. We connect the statistics to the dynamics of Rayleigh–Bénard convection, giving deeper insights into the temperature statistics and transport mechanisms. We find that the average behaviour is described by closed cycles in phase space that reconstruct the typical Rayleigh–Bénard cycle of fluid heating up at the bottom, rising up to the top plate, cooling down and falling again. The detailed behaviour shows subtle differences between the three cases.
Low-fat and low-protein diets are associated with hearing discomfort among the elderly of Korea
Authors: Kim So Young , Sim Songyong , Kim Hyung-Jong , Choi Hyo Geun
Published: September 2015

Research on the effect of low-fat intake on hearing is limited. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between fat, carbohydrate and protein intake and the presence of hearing discomfort among the elderly. The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted from 2009 through to 2012. A total of 4615 participants ranging in age from 60 to 80 years underwent a pure-tone audiometric evaluation, a physical examination and a nutritional survey. The associations between the participants’ hearing thresholds and their protein/fat/carbohydrate intake/total energy intake were analysed using simple and multiple regression models with complex sampling adjusted for confounding factors, such as BMI, income level, smoking status and a history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes. Low fat and protein intakes were associated with hearing discomfort (OR 0·82, 95 % CI 0·71, 0·96, P=0·011; OR 0·81, 95 % CI 0·67, 0·96, P=0·017, respectively). This study revealed that low fat and protein intakes are associated with hearing discomfort in the elderly Korean population.
The electromotive force in multi-scale flows at high magnetic Reynolds number
Authors: Tobias Steven M. , Cattaneo Fausto
Published: September 2015

Recent advances in dynamo theory have been made by examining the competition between small- and large-scale dynamos at high magnetic Reynolds number $\mathit{Rm}$. Small-scale dynamos rely on the presence of chaotic stretching whilst the generation of large-scale fields occurs in flows lacking reflectional symmetry via a systematic electromotive force (EMF). In this paper we discuss how the statistics of the EMF (at high $\mathit{Rm}$) depend on the properties of the multi-scale velocity that is generating it. In particular, we determine that different scales of flow have different contributions to the statistics of the EMF, with smaller scales contributing to the mean without increasing the variance. Moreover, we determine when scales in such a flow act independently in their contribution to the EMF. We further examine the role of large-scale shear in modifying the EMF. We conjecture that the distribution of the EMF, and not simply the mean, largely determines the dominant scale of the magnetic field generated by the flow.
Growth, mortality and exploitation of bigeye scad,Selar crumenophthalmusoff Mumbai, north-west coast of India
Authors: Panda Debabrata , Jaiswar A. K. , Sarkar Soma Das , Chakraborty S. K.
Published: September 2015

An investigation was carried out to study the growth, mortality and exploitation of bigeye scad,Selar crumenophthalmusoff the Mumbai coast during September 2008 to August 2009. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was derived asLt= 310 mm [1−exp {−1.4 year−1× (t−(−0.059 year))}] with the growth performance index (ø’) of 3.13. The fishable lifespan of the species was 2+ years in Mumbai waters. Bigeye scad attains total length of 240 and 293 mm during its first and second year of life. The size at first capture (Lc) was estimated as 240 mm (1+ year). The recruitment was continuous and throughout the year with a single pulse during August. Nearly 50% of the recruitment took place during August and September. The total, natural and fishing mortality rates were 4.62, 2.21 and 2.41 year−1, respectively. The estimated exploitation ratio (0.52) was very close to the optimum value of 0.5. Hence, the stock can be considered as optimally over-exploited in Mumbai waters.
Regulating Inflow or Outflow: A Comparison of the Work Capability Assessments in the UK and Norway
Authors: GJERSØE HEIDI MOEN
Published: September 2015

In the era of activation policies, several OECD countries have introduced work capability assessments to measure the employability of sick and disabled people. In essence, such assessments concern how sick and disabled people get access to incapacity benefits and services. This paper investigates how the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is designed and implemented within the different institutional contexts of the UK and Norway. The paper concludes that introducing WCAs represents a challenge to the bureaucratic and legal models of administrative justice by emphasising a managerial model (in the UK) and a professional model (in Norway). In the UK, the WCA tool seems to be primarily aimed at reducing theinflowof new recipients, while in Norway it seeks to increase theoutflowof recipients. Consequently, the paper argues that the introduction of the WCAs as activation policy instruments has intensified the country-specific characteristics within which the instruments are implemented.
Compound stress in a Norwegian variety of Esperanto
Authors: Abrahamsen Jardar Eggesbø
Published: September 2015

In Norway, there are between 10 and 15 bilingual or multilingual native speakers of Norwegian and Esperanto. This paper discusses some prosodic traits in the Esperanto spoken by one of them. The focus will be on compound stress. The speaker assigns primary stress to the penultimate syllable of words as in Standard Esperanto, including most compounds. Some of the Esperanto compounds, however, display first element primary stress, as in the Norwegian adstrate. In the current dataset, this is especially so for underived nouns. It is proposed that the Norwegian-like pattern is found in compound nouns that are formed spontaneously, while the Standard Esperanto pattern is found in lexicalised compounds, understood as prosodically simplex. For derived compounds in word classes other than nouns, the overall stress pattern is more like that of Standard Esperanto.
A neurolinguistic study of South Swedish word accents: Electrical brain potentials in nouns and verbs
Authors: Roll Mikael
Published: September 2015

The brain response to words with correct and incorrect word accent–suffix combinations in South Swedish was investigated using electroencephalography (EEG). Accent 1 yielded an increased brain response (‘preactivation negativity’) that has previously been interpreted as reflecting preactivation of suffixes. Preactivation is greater for accent 1 due to its association with a limited set of suffixes, whereas accent 2 is default for compound words. The tonal realization of the word accent opposition in South Swedish is practically the mirror image of that in Central Swedish, where a similar preactivation negativity has been found. Therefore, the brain response is unlikely to result from a difference in acoustic features between the word accents. Invalidly cued suffixes yielded brain response pattern showing increased processing load of the unexpected suffix (negative electric potential) followed by its reprocessing (positivity ‘P600’).
Clinical symptoms cannot predict influenza infection during the 2013 influenza season in Bavaria, Germany
Authors: CAMPE H. , HEINZINGER S. , HARTBERGER C. , SING A.
Published: September 2015

For influenza surveillance and diagnosis typical clinical symptoms are traditionally used to discriminate influenza virus infections from infections by other pathogens. During the 2013 influenza season we performed a multiplex assay for 16 different viruses in 665 swabs from patients with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) to display the variety of different pathogens causing ARI and to test the diagnostic value of both the commonly used case definitions [ARI, and influenza like illness (ILI)] as well as the clinical judgement of physicians, respectively, to achieve a laboratory-confirmed influenza diagnosis. Fourteen different viruses were identified as causing ARI/ILI. Influenza diagnosis based on clinical signs overestimated the number of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases and misclassified cases. Furthermore, ILI case definition and physicians agreed in only 287/651 (44%) cases with laboratory confirmation. Influenza case management has to be supported by laboratory confirmation to allow evidence-based decisions. Epidemiological syndromic surveillance data should be supported by laboratory confirmation for reasonable interpretation.
FREE FETAL DNA AS A SCREENING TEST FOR ANEUPLOIDY – DOES IT ADD UP?
Authors: OGILVIE CAROLINE
Published: September 2015

The possibility of prenatal screening for genetic disorders was raised as early as the mid-1950s, and with the introduction in 1966 of amniocentesis for sampling fetal material, it became possible to identify pregnancies with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), the most common prenatal genetic abnormality. The fetal cells in the amniotic fluid could be cultured, then harvested, followed by chromosome spreading on microscope slides. These chromosome spreads, each representing the chromosomes from a single cell nucleus, could be stained, visualised by light microscopy and counted to establish the chromosome number. However, diagnosis of Down syndrome was expensive, and in the early days of amniocentesis, there was an associated risk of miscarriage; most countries therefore recommended this procedure only for women who were identified as having a raised risk of chromosome abnormality. As it is well established that raised maternal age increases the risk of Down syndrome, amniocentesis was first offered only to women above an age cut-off (usually 35). However, although the risk to an individual woman of having a Down syndrome pregnancy is greater in this age group, the majority of Down syndrome babies are born to younger women, due to the preponderance of pregnancies in the younger group.
The Shaky Legal Foundations for Institutional Action under the Employment, Lisbon and EU2020 Strategies
Authors: Barnard Catherine
Published: September 2015

This chapter considers the legal foundations for the EU institutions to act in the context of the Lisbon and EU2020 Strategies, including the EES (the Luxembourg European Employment Strategy). It begins by examining the formal structure provided by the Treaties for these processes and the legal basis for the resulting measures, focusing on the social strand of the three strategies. The chapter then examines the documents resulting from these strategies to see whether a legal basis is specified and, if so, what. These data are used to conclude that, outside the context of the EES, there is a remarkable absence of any express legal basis for particular EU institutions to act. Nevertheless, the European Council has assumed a pre-eminent role, pushing forward these strategies even in the absence of express competence to do so. The legitimacy of this mode of decision-making is then considered, particularly in the light of the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.
The discourse of anarchy in IR
Authors: Donnelly Jack
Published: September 2015

Contemporary International Relations (IR) typically treats anarchy as a fundamental, defining, and analytically central feature of international relations. Furthermore, it is usually held that IR since its inception has been structured around a discourse of anarchy. In fact, however, until the 1980s anarchy was rarely employed as a central analytical concept, as I show by examining 145 books published between 1895 and 1978. The conceptual and analytic centrality of anarchy is not imposed on us by international reality. Rather, it is a recent and contingent construction. Given the shortcomings of standard uses of ‘anarchy’ – especially the facts that there is no clear, generally agreed upon definition, that ‘the effects of anarchy’ are not effects of anarchy (alone), and that anarchy is not the structural ordering principle of international systems – I argue for returning to earlier practice and putting anarchy back in the background of IR.
Gender Differences in Risk Factors for Stice’s Bulimia in a Non-Clinical Sample
Authors: Ruisoto Pablo , Cacho Raúl , López-Goñi José J. , Real Deus Eulogio , Vaca Silvia , Mayoral Paula
Published: September 2015

Some females are at an increased risk of developing bulimia. However, etiological factors and their interplay remain controversial. The present study analyzed Sticefe Model for eating disorders in a non-clinical population by examining gender differences with respect to the following risk factors: body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction, perceived social pressure to be thin, body-thin internalization, and dieting behavior. A sample of 162 American college students (64 males and 91 females) was surveyed, and validated scales were used. The Sticey model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling. Our results supported Stice r Dual Pathway Model of bulimic pathology for females but not for males. Females reported significantly higher body dissatisfaction, perceived pressure to be thin and weight-loss oriented behaviors than males (p < .05), but no gender differences were found in their degree of body thin internalization (p > .05), a key predictor of body dissatisfaction (r = .33; p < .01). Participants with higher BMI reported greater social pressure to be thin than those with lower BMI (p < .05). However, females engaged in dietary restraint, the main risk factor for eating disorders, regardless of their BMI (p > .05) although their BMI was significantly lower than males (d = 0,51). The results of this study fail to support the role of BMI as a predictor of dietary restraint in females, the main risk factor of eating disorders. Males may abstain from dietary restraint to gain muscular volume and in turn increase their BMI. Implications are discussed.