bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxiety symptoms in young people with autism spectrum disorder attending special schools: Associations with gender, adaptive functioning and autism symptomatology
Authors: Magiati Iliana , Ong Clarissa , Lim Xin Yi , Tan Julianne Wen-Li , Ong Amily Yi Lin , Patrycia Ferninda , Fung Daniel Shuen Sheng , Sung Min , Poon Kenneth K , Howlin Patricia
Published: April 2015

Anxiety-related problems are among the most frequently reported mental health difficulties in autism spectrum disorder. As most research has focused on clinical samples or high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder, less is known about the factors associated with anxiety in community samples across the ability range. This cross-sectional study examined the association of gender, age, adaptive functioning and autism symptom severity with different caregiver-reported anxiety symptoms. Participants were caregivers of 241 children (6–18 years old) with autism spectrum disorder attending special schools in Singapore. Measures included the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale and assessments of overall emotional, behavioural and adaptive functioning. Caregivers reported more anxiety symptoms in total, but fewer social anxiety symptoms, than Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale Australian/Dutch norms. There were no gender differences. Variance in total anxiety scores was best explained by severity of repetitive speech/stereotyped behaviour symptoms, followed by adaptive functioning. Severity of repetitive speech/behaviour symptoms was a significant predictor of separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic/agoraphobia and obsessive–compulsive subscale symptoms, but not of social phobia and physical injury fears. Adaptive functioning and chronological age predicted social phobia and generalized anxiety symptoms only. Severity of social/communication autism symptoms did not explain any anxiety symptoms, when the other variables were controlled for. Findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature. Limitations and possible implications for prevention, assessment and intervention are also discussed.
Policing following political and social transitions: Russia, Brazil, and China compared
Authors: Light Matthew , Mota Prado Mariana , Wang Yuhua
Published: April 2015

This is a comparative analysis of policing in three countries that have experienced a major political or social transition, Russia, Brazil, and China. We consider two related questions: (1) how has transition in each country affected the deployment of the police against regime opponents (which we term “repression”)? And (2) how has the transition affected other police misconduct that also victimizes citizens but is not directly ordered by the regime (“abuse”)? As expected, authoritarian regimes are more likely to perpetrate severe repression. However, the most repressive authoritarian regimes such as China may also contain oversight institutions that limit police abuse. We also assess the relative importance of both transitional outcomes and processes in post-transition policing evolution, arguing that the “abusiveness” of contemporary Brazilian police reflects the failure to create oversight mechanisms during the transition, and that the increasing “repressiveness” of Chinese police reflects a conscious effort by the Chinese Communist Party to reinforce the police in an era of economic liberalization. In contrast, Russian police are both significantly abusive and repressive, although less systematically “repressive” than Chinese police, and less “abusive” (or at least violent) than Brazilian police. Also, abuse and repression are less distinct in Russia than in the other cases. These results reflect the initial processes of decay and fragmentation, and subsequent partial recovery and recentralization, which Russian police have experienced since the Soviet collapse.
Refining the association between intergroup contact and intergroup forgiveness in Northern Ireland: Type of contact, prior conflict experience, and group identification
Authors: Voci Alberto , Hewstone Miles , Swart Hermann , Veneziani Chiara A.
Published: April 2015

We conducted a secondary analysis of a general sample of the population in Northern Ireland, including a significant proportion of respondents with “personal experience” of the sectarian conflict, to provide a refined test of whether contact was associated with more forgiveness and less prejudice. We tested the association between two measures of intergroup contact (outgroup friendship and generic contact) and both intergroup forgiveness and prejudice among people who varied in their personal experience of conflict, while simultaneously considering the role of ingroup identification as an inhibitor of forgiveness, and accounting for relevant demographic variables. Contact was positively associated with forgiveness, marginally more so in the case of friendship than general outgroup contact, whereas both conflict experience and identification were negatively associated with forgiveness. While outgroup friendship robustly predicted forgiveness, generic outgroup contact was moderated by conflict experience and ingroup identification. Effects of both forms of contact on prejudice were not moderated. Results are discussed in terms of the greater impact of friendship contact, forgiveness as a more demanding criterion, and the need to pursue research on intergroup forgiveness among large samples of people directly impacted by the events for which forgiveness is relevant.
Users’ experiences of an emergency department patient admission predictive tool: A qualitative evaluation
Authors: Jessup Melanie , Crilly Julia , Boyle Justin , Wallis Marianne , Lind James , Green David , Fitzgerald Gerard
Published: April 2015

Emergency department overcrowding is an increasing issue impacting patients, staff and quality of care, resulting in poor patient and system outcomes. In order to facilitate better management of emergency department resources, a patient admission predictive tool was developed and implemented. Evaluation of the tool’s accuracy and efficacy was complemented with a qualitative component that explicated the experiences of users and its impact upon their management strategies, and is the focus of this article. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 pertinent users, including bed managers, after-hours managers, specialty department heads, nurse unit managers and hospital executives. Analysis realised dynamics of accuracy, facilitating communication and enabling group decision-making. Users generally welcomed the enhanced potential to predict and plan following the incorporation of the patient admission predictive tool into their daily and weekly decision-making processes. They offered astute feedback with regard to their responses when faced with issues of capacity and communication. Participants reported an growing confidence in making informed decisions in a cultural context that is continually moving from reactive to proactive. This information will inform further patient admission predictive tool development specifically and implementation processes generally.
Effects of fuel injection parameters on the performance of homogeneous charge compression ignition at low-load conditions
Authors: Keum SeungHwan , Pal Pinaki , Im Hong G , Babajimopoulos Aristotelis , Assanis Dennis N
Published: April 2015

With the objective of enhancing the effectiveness of late fuel injection strategy in extending the low-load limit of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines, a numerical study is conducted to investigate the effects of fuel injection parameters, such as the injection pressure and spray cone angle, on the overall combustion efficiency and CO/NOx emissions. Closed-cycle engine simulations are performed incorporating detailed iso-octane reaction kinetics and combustion submodel based on the spray-interactive flamelet approach. Extensive parametric studies are conducted to provide a detailed map of the combustion efficiency and emission performance. In general, it is found that the in-cylinder charge stratification can be reduced by both an increased injection pressure and a wider spray cone angle, resulting in substantially lower NOx emissions and reasonably high combustion efficiency simultaneously. The present study demonstrates that an optimal adjustment of the two fuel injection parameters can result in significant extension of the low-load limit of homogeneous charge compression ignition through delayed fuel injection strategy.
Multi-agency action learning: Challenging institutional barriers in policing and mental health services
Authors: Noga Heather , Foreman Alison , Walsh Elizabeth , Shaw Jenny , Senior Jane
Published: April 2015

The police have underdeveloped links with mental health and social care services despite daily contact with mentally ill individuals. They struggle with identifying and managing the mentally ill in custody, and consistently express a lack of support from partner agencies. In 2010, our research team developed a mental health screening tool and pathway for use by police custody officers, The Police Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (PolQuest). However, due to the large number of agencies with different organisational goals and responsibilities that deal with mentally disordered offenders, the introduction of a screening tool alone was considered insufficient. Thus, an action learning group comprising key professionals from relevant services in one geographical area was tasked with developing a manual and training materials to support the implementation of PolQuest by frontline staff. This paper reflects upon the key themes that emerged from the experience of action learning as a method for engaging multi-agency staff, operating under different occupational goals and cultures, to develop shared practice-oriented outcomes. Data analysed include the facilitator’s reflective notes, meeting minutes and emails. The action learning process was considered a useful method for engaging multi-agency stakeholders in developing materials to support PolQuest’s implementation in vivo.
Institutional statements of commitment and widening participation policy in Australia
Authors: Chapman Amy , Mangion Antoine , Buchanan Rachel
Published: April 2015

This article describes ways in which the equity agenda, as outlined in the Bradley Review of Higher Education (Bradley et al., 2008), is translated into action in one Australian university. Drawing on the conceptual work of Ahmed (2012) to elaborate institutional life, we investigate the effects of the widening participation policy. Ahmed (2012) provokes us to consider institutional commitment as a non-performative in order to examine the association between names and effects as central to institutional cultures. This is achieved through a focus not only on what documents circulating within institutions say but what they do from the perspective of those working with them. The paper draws on three statements of commitment made by various Australian universities in the form of publicly available mission statements and strategic plans to explore how universities value, construct and authenticate their role in widening participation. It then proceeds by supplementing these texts with qualitative data gathered through semi-structured interviews with academic and professional staff in one Australian university to examine how such statements of commitment inform us of the extent to which they are practised or utilised as demonstrations of action in and of themselves. Drawing on Rizvi and Lingard’s (2011) work on social equity in Australian higher education, we argue that statements of commitment to equity and widening participation from universities in the current neoliberal policy assemblage can function to mask the ways in which universities continue to redefine educational values in terms of economics (Rizvi and Lingard, 2011).
Radiotherapy of Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Zaffino P. , Ciardo D. , Piperno G. , Travaini L. L. , Comi S. , Ferrari A. , Alterio D. , Jereczek-Fossa B. A. , Orecchia R. , Baroni G. , Spadea M. F.
Published: April 2015

Purpose:

To improve the contouring of clinical target volume for the radiotherapy of neck Hodgkin/non-Hodgkin lymphoma by localizing the prechemotherapy gross target volume onto the simulation computed tomography using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Material and Methods:

The gross target volume delineated on prechemotherapy [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography images was warped onto simulation computed tomography using deformable image registration. Fifteen patients with neck Hodgkin/non-Hodgkin lymphoma were analyzed. Quality of image registration was measured by computing the Dice similarity coefficient on warped organs at risk. Five radiation oncologists visually scored the localization of automatic gross target volume, ranking it from 1 (wrong) to 5 (excellent). Deformable registration was compared to rigid registration by computing the overlap index between the automatic gross target volume and the planned clinical target volume and quantifying the V95 coverage.

Results:

The Dice similarity coefficient was 0.80 ± 0.07 (median ± quartiles). The physicians’ survey had a median score equal to 4 (good). By comparing the rigid versus deformable registration, the overlap index increased from a factor of about 4 and the V95 (percentage of volume receiving the 95% of the prescribed dose) went from 0.84 ± 0.38 to 0.99 ± 0.10 (median ± quartiles).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates the impact of using deformable registration between prechemotherapy [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and simulation computed tomography, in order to automatically localize the gross target volume for radiotherapy treatment of patients with Hodgkin/non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Renal artery stenting may not be appropriate for patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis
Authors: Dua Anahita , Desai Sachin , Upchurch Gilbert R , Desai Sapan S
Published: April 2015

Introduction

This study compared aortorenal bypass to renal artery stenting to determine the most efficacious and financially sound method for treating patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS).

Methods

A decision analysis using direct and indirect costs, and value of statistical life (VSL) was completed. Direct costs were obtained using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), indirect costs from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and VSL from the Department of Transportation. A variance-based sensitivity analysis was completed to assess the accuracy of the decision analysis.

Results

Aortorenal bypass has a 95% five-year patency, a 98% 30-day survival, a 26% rate of overall complications, and a 70% five-year dialysis-free survival. Renal artery stenting has a 56% five-year patency, a 99% 30-day survival, a 40% rate of complications, and a 65% five-year dialysis-free survival. Renal artery stenting has an overall cost of $305,370 and aortorenal bypass has an overall cost of $103,453 per patient. After accounting for VSL, renal artery stenting has a negative value of −$182,270 and aortorenal bypass has a value of $415,881.

Conclusions

Lower five-year patency and higher rate of complications from renal artery stenting that ultimately lead to significantly lower five-year dialysis-free survival.
Race, Class, and Gender and the Impact of Racial Segregation on Black-White Income Inequality
Authors: Thomas Melvin , Moye Richard
Published: April 2015

African Americans have yet to achieve parity with whites in terms of income. A growing number of studies have identified several factors that have influenced the size of the racial gap, which has been found to vary by social class status and gender as well as across space. While most research has examined these factors separately, they may interact with each other in shaping racial inequality. Using an intersectional approach with a multilevel model, this study focuses on the impact of residential segregation and social class on racial differences in earnings for men and women. Findings indicate that (1) earning differences between African Americans remain after controls for socioeconomic status, gender, and other control variables; (2) racial differences increase with rising social class status; (3) segregation increases the disparity between African American and white males; and (4) among males only, segregation worsens the disparity that increases with rising social class.
The Safety of Hospital Beds
Authors: Morse Janice M. , Gervais Pierre , Pooler Charlotte , Merryweather Andrew , Doig Alexa K. , Bloswick Donald
Published: April 2015

To explore the safety of the standard and the low hospital bed, we report on a microanalysis of 15 patients’ ability to ingress, move about the bed, and egress. The 15 participants were purposefully selected with various disabilities. Bed conditions were randomized with side rails up or down and one low bed with side rails down. We explored the patients’ use of the side rails, bed height, ability to lift their legs onto the mattress, and ability to turn, egress, and walk back to the chair. The standard bed was too high for some participants, both for ingress and egress. Side rails were used by most participants when entering, turning in bed, and exiting. We recommend that side rails be reconsidered as a means to facilitate in-bed movement, ingress, and egress. Furthermore, single deck height settings for all patients are not optimal. Low beds as a safety measure must be re-evaluated.
U300 Insulin Glargine
Authors: Rosselli Jennifer L. , Archer Shana N. , Lindley Nathan K. , Butler Lakesha M.
Published: April 2015

Objective: To review clinical efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 units/mL (Gla-300), a novel high-concentration basal insulin. Data Sources: A MEDLINE search was performed to identify relevant articles published 1960 through February 2015 using the search term glargine 300. Published abstracts from conference proceedings of the American Diabetes Association 74th Scientific Sessions were identified. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Human studies that evaluated pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or safety of Gla-300 were included. Data Synthesis: Six trials investigated efficacy and safety of Gla-300; 3 of 6 trials were available in abstract form only. The EDITION group of trials compared Gla-300 to insulin glargine 100 units/mL (Gla-100) in several populations. These included subjects with type 1 diabetes continuing mealtime insulin and subjects with type 2 diabetes on basal and mealtime insulin, basal insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and with no prior insulin use. Three studies were multinational including 2 studies exclusive to Japanese participants. Each clinical trial was an open-label, multicenter, randomized study with 6 to 12 months of follow-up. Gla-300 demonstrated similar reductions in HbA1c compared to Gla-100. Basal insulin requirements increased by 11% to 17% with Gla-300 without excessive weight gain. Rates of overall hypoglycemia were similar with Gla-300 compared to Gla-100; however, 16% to 38% less nocturnal hypoglycemia was observed in type 2 clinical trials. Conclusions: Gla-300 in combination with mealtime insulin or OADs has shown comparable glycemic control with higher insulin dose requirements versus Gla-100, and may induce less hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its resistance phenotypes in critically ill medical patients: role of colonization pressure and antibiotic exposure
Authors: Cobos-Trigueros Nazaret , Solé Mar , Castro Pedro , Torres Jorge Luis , Hernández Cristina , Rinaudo Mariano , Fernández Sara , Soriano Álex , Nicolás José María , Mensa Josep , Vila Jordi , Martínez José Antonio
Published: April 2015

Introduction

The objective of this work was to investigate the risk factors for the acquisition ofPseudomonas aeruginosaand its resistance phenotypes in critically ill patients, taking into account colonization pressure.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study in an 8-bed medical intensive care unit during a 35-month period. Nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs and respiratory secretions were obtained within 48 hours of admission and thrice weekly thereafter. During the study, a policy of consecutive mixing and cycling periods of three classes of antipseudomonal antibiotics was followed in the unit.

Results

Of 850 patients admitted for ≥3 days, 751 (88.3%) received an antibiotic, 562 of which (66.1%) were antipseudomonal antibiotics. A total of 68 patients (8%) carriedP. aeruginosaupon admission, and among the remaining 782, 104 (13%) acquired at least one strain ofP. aeruginosaduring their stay. Multivariate analysis selected shock (odds ratio (OR) =2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2 to 3.7), intubation (OR =3.6; 95% CI, 1.7 to 7.5), enteral nutrition (OR =3.6; 95% CI, 1.8 to 7.6), parenteral nutrition (OR =3.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 9.6), tracheostomy (OR =4.4; 95% CI, 2.3 to 8.3) and colonization pressure >0.43 (OR =4; 95% CI, 1.2 to 5) as independently associated with the acquisition ofP. aeruginosa, whereas exposure to fluoroquinolones for >3 days (OR =0.4; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.8) was protective. In the whole series, prior exposure to carbapenems was independently associated with carbapenem resistance, and prior amikacin use predicted piperacillin-tazobactam, fluoroquinolone and multiple-drug resistance.

Conclusions

In critical care settings with a high rate of antibiotic use, colonization pressure and non-antibiotic exposures may be the crucial factors forP. aeruginosaacquisition, whereas fluoroquinolones may actually decrease its likelihood. For the acquisition of strains resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam, fluoroquinolones and multiple drugs, exposure to amikacin may be more relevant than previously recognized.
Extracting research-quality phenotypes from electronic health records to support precision medicine
Authors: Wei Wei-Qi , Denny Joshua C
Published: April 2015

The convergence of two rapidly developing technologies - high-throughput genotyping and electronic health records (EHRs) - gives scientists an unprecedented opportunity to utilize routine healthcare data to accelerate genomic discovery. Institutions and healthcare systems have been building EHR-linked DNA biobanks to enable such a vision. However, the precise extraction of detailed disease and drug-response phenotype information hidden in EHRs is not an easy task. EHR-based studies have successfully replicated known associations, made new discoveries for diseases and drug response traits, rapidly contributed cases and controls to large meta-analyses, and demonstrated the potential of EHRs for broad-based phenome-wide association studies. In this review, we summarize the advantages and challenges of repurposing EHR data for genetic research. We also highlight recent notable studies and novel approaches to provide an overview of advanced EHR-based phenotyping.
Evidence-Based Diagnostic Algorithm for Glioma: Analysis of the Results of Pathology Panel Review and Molecular Parameters of EORTC 26951 and 26882 Trials
Authors: Kros Johan M. , Huizer Karin , Hernández-Laín Aurelio , Marucci Gianluca , Michotte Alex , Pollo Bianca , Rushing Elisabeth J. , Ribalta Teresa , French Pim , Jaminé David , Bekka Nawal , Lacombe Denis , van den Bent Martin J. , Gorlia Thierry
Published: April 2015

Purpose

With the rapid discovery of prognostic and predictive molecular parameters for glioma, the status of histopathology in the diagnostic process should be scrutinized. Our project aimed to construct a diagnostic algorithm for gliomas based on molecular and histologic parameters with independent prognostic values.

Methods

The pathology slides of 636 patients with gliomas who had been included in EORTC 26951 and 26882 trials were reviewed using virtual microscopy by a panel of six neuropathologists who independently scored 18 histologic features and provided an overall diagnosis. The molecular data for IDH1, 1p/19q loss, EGFR amplification, loss of chromosome 10 and chromosome arm 10q, gain of chromosome 7, and hypermethylation of the promoter of MGMT were available for some of the cases. The slides were divided in discovery (n = 426) and validation sets (n = 210). The diagnostic algorithm resulting from analysis of the discovery set was validated in the latter.

Results

In 66% of cases, consensus of overall diagnosis was present. A diagnostic algorithm consisting of two molecular markers and one consensus histologic feature was created by conditional inference tree analysis. The order of prognostic significance was: 1p/19q loss, EGFR amplification, and astrocytic morphology, which resulted in the identification of four diagnostic nodes. Validation of the nodes in the validation set confirmed the prognostic value (P < .001).

Conclusion

We succeeded in the creation of a timely diagnostic algorithm for anaplastic glioma based on multivariable analysis of consensus histopathology and molecular parameters.
Progress in the Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer and the Search for Next Opportunities
Authors: Ko Andrew H.
Published: April 2015

A growing number of therapeutic options are now available for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, informed by positive results from recently completed phase III clinical trials. These have led to modest, if not necessarily transformative, improvements in clinical outcomes. Although the standard of care for metastatic disease remains cytotoxic therapy, a variety of novel therapeutic approaches are currently under active investigation, several of which have already demonstrated encouraging results in phase I/II studies. The following three broad categories (with significant overlap among them) are highlighted here: stromal-depleting agents, immunotherapies, and signal transduction inhibitors. The mechanistic rationale, limitations, and promise of each of these strategies specific to pancreatic cancer are discussed, as are the aspects of this disease and this patient population that pose ongoing challenges in terms of both therapeutic management and biomarker-driven trial design.
Role of Radiotherapy and Newer Techniques in the Treatment of GI Cancers
Authors: Hajj Carla , Goodman Karyn A.
Published: April 2015

The role of radiotherapy in multidisciplinary treatment of GI malignancies is well established. Recent advances in imaging as well as radiotherapy planning and delivery techniques have made it possible to target tumors more accurately while sparing normal tissues. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy is an advanced method of delivering radiation using cutting-edge technology to manipulate beams of radiation. The role of intensity-modulated radiotherapy is growing for many GI malignancies, such as cancers of the stomach, pancreas, esophagus, liver, and anus. Stereotactic body radiotherapy is an emerging treatment option for some GI tumors such as locally advanced pancreatic cancer and primary or metastatic tumors of the liver. Stereotactic body radiotherapy requires a high degree of confidence in tumor location and subcentimeter accuracy of the delivered dose. New image-guided techniques have been developed to overcome setup uncertainties at the time of treatment, including real-time imaging on the linear accelerator. Modern imaging techniques have also allowed for more accurate pretreatment staging and delineation of the primary tumor and involved sites. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography scans can be particularly useful in radiotherapy planning and assessing treatment response. Molecular biomarkers are being investigated as predictors of response to radiotherapy with the intent of ultimately moving toward using genomic and proteomic determinants of therapeutic strategies. The role of all of these new approaches in the radiotherapeutic management of GI cancers and the evolving role of radiotherapy in these tumor sites will be highlighted in this review.
Toxicities of Immunotherapy for the Practitioner
Authors: Weber Jeffrey S. , Yang James C. , Atkins Michael B. , Disis Mary L.
Published: April 2015

The toxicities of immunotherapy for cancer are as diverse as the type of treatments that have been devised. These range from cytokine therapies that induce capillary leakage to vaccines associated with low levels of autoimmunity to cell therapies that can induce damaging cross-reactivity with normal tissue to checkpoint protein inhibitors that induce immune-related adverse events that are autoinflammatory in nature. The thread that ties these toxicities together is their mechanism-based immune nature and the T-cell–mediated adverse events seen. The basis for the majority of these adverse events is a hyperactivated T-cell response with reactivity directed against normal tissue, resulting in the generation of high levels of CD4 T-helper cell cytokines or increased migration of cytolytic CD8 T cells within normal tissues. The T-cell immune response is not tissue specific and may reflect a diffuse expansion of the T-cell repertoire that induces cross-reactivity with normal tissue, effectively breaking tolerance that is active with cytokines, vaccines, and checkpoint protein inhibitors and passive in the case of adoptive cell therapy. Cytokines seem to generate diffuse and nonspecific T-cell reactivity, whereas checkpoint protein inhibition, vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy seem to activate more specific T cells that interact directly with normal tissues, potentially causing specific organ damage. In this review, we summarize the toxicities that are unique to immunotherapies, emphasizing the need to familiarize the oncology practitioner with the spectrum of adverse events seen with newly approved and emerging modalities.
Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumors: Building on Success
Authors: Kunz Pamela L.
Published: April 2015

We have come a long way in our understanding and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors since the term “karzinoide” was coined in 1907. Neuroendocrine tumors are a group of biologically and clinically heterogeneous neoplasms that most commonly originate in the lungs, GI tract, and pancreas. The selection of initial and subsequent therapies requires careful consideration of both tumor and treatment characteristics. With recent advances, we now have more tools for the diagnosis and treatment of our patients. This comprehensive review article summarizes recent advances in the field of neuroendocrine tumors and places them into context for best management practices.
Role of OAT4 in Uptake of Estriol Precursor 16α-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Into Human Placental Syncytiotrophoblasts From Fetus
Authors: Tomi Masatoshi , Eguchi Hiromi , Ozaki Mayuko , Tawara Tomohiro , Nishimura Sachika , Higuchi Kei , Maruyama Tetsuo , Nishimura Tomohiro , Nakashima Emi
Published: April 2015

Estriol biosynthesis in human placenta requires the uptake of a fetal liver-derived estriol precursor, 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (16α-OH DHEAS), by placental syncytiotrophoblasts at their basal plasma membrane (BM), which faces the fetal circulation. The aim of this work is to identify the transporter(s) mediating 16α-OH DHEAS uptake at the fetal side of syncytiotrophoblasts by using human placental BM-enriched vesicles and to examine the contribution of the putative transporter to estriol synthesis at the cellular level, using choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells. Organic anion transporter (OAT)-4 and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1 proteins were enriched in human placental BM vesicles compared with crude membrane fraction. Uptake of [3H]16α-OH DHEAS by BM vesicles was partially inhibited in the absence of sodium but was significantly increased in the absence of chloride and after preloading glutarate. Uptake of [3H]16α-OH DHEAS by BM vesicles was significantly inhibited by OAT4 substrates such as dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estrone-3-sulfate, and bromosulfophthalein but not by cyclosporin A, tetraethylammonium, p-aminohippuric acid, or cimetidine. These characteristics of vesicular [3H]16α-OH DHEAS uptake are in good agreement with those of human OAT4-transfected COS-7 cells as well as forskolin-differentiated JEG-3 cells. Estriol secretion from differentiated JEG-3 cells was detected when the cells were incubated with 16α-OH DHEAS for 8 hours but was inhibited in the presence of 50 μM bromosulfophthalein. Our results indicate that OAT4 at the BM of human placental syncytiotrophoblasts plays a predominant role in the uptake of 16α-OH DHEAS for placental estriol synthesis.
Transcription factors COUP-TFI and COUP-TFII are required for the production of granule cells in the mouse olfactory bulb
Authors: Zhou Xing , Liu Fang , Tian Miao , Xu Zhejun , Liang Qifei , Wang Chunyang , Li Jiwen , Liu Zhidong , Tang Ke , He Miao , Yang Zhengang
Published: April 2015

Neural stem cells (NSCs) persist in the adult mammalian subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. Primary NSCs generate rapidly dividing intermediate progenitor cells, which in turn generate neuroblasts that migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to the olfactory bulb (OB). Here, we have examined the role of the COUP-TFI and COUP-TFII orphan nuclear receptor transcription factors in mouse OB interneuron development. We observed that COUP-TFI is expressed in a gradient of low rostral to high caudal within the postnatal SVZ neural stem/progenitor cells. COUP-TFI is also expressed in a large number of migrating neuroblasts in the SVZ and RMS, and in mature interneurons in the OB. By contrast, very few COUP-TFII-expressing (+) cells exist in the SVZ-RMS-OB pathway. Conditional inactivation of COUP-TFI resulted in downregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the OB periglomerular cells and upregulation of COUP-TFII expression in the SVZ, RMS and OB deep granule cell layer. In COUP-TFI/COUP-TFII double conditional mutant SVZ, cell proliferation was increased through the upregulation of the proneural gene Ascl1. Furthermore, COUP-TFI/II-deficient neuroblasts had impaired migration, resulting in ectopic accumulation of calretinin (CR)+ and NeuN+ cells, and an increase in apoptotic cell death in the SVZ. Finally, we found that most Pax6+ and a subset of CR+ granular cells were lost in the OB. Taken together, these results suggest that COUP-TFI/II coordinately regulate the proliferation, migration and survival of a subpopulation of Pax6+ and CR+ granule cells in the OB.
Lin28 promotes the proliferative capacity of neural progenitor cells in brain development
Authors: Yang Mei , Yang Si-Lu , Herrlinger Stephanie , Liang Chen , Dzieciatkowska Monika , Hansen Kirk C. , Desai Ridham , Nagy Andras , Niswander Lee , Moss Eric G. , Chen Jian-Fu
Published: April 2015

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) have distinct proliferation capacities at different stages of brain development. Lin28 is an RNA-binding protein with two homologs in mice: Lin28a and Lin28b. Here we show that Lin28a/b are enriched in early NPCs and their expression declines during neural differentiation. Lin28a single-knockout mice show reduced NPC proliferation, enhanced cell cycle exit and a smaller brain, whereas mice lacking both Lin28a alleles and one Lin28b allele display similar but more severe phenotypes. Ectopic expression of Lin28a in mice results in increased NPC proliferation, NPC numbers and brain size. Mechanistically, Lin28a physically and functionally interacts with Imp1 (Igf2bp1) and regulates Igf2-mTOR signaling. The function of Lin28a/b in NPCs could be attributed, at least in part, to the regulation of their mRNA targets that encode Igf1r and Hmga2. Thus, Lin28a and Lin28b have overlapping functions in temporally regulating NPC proliferation during early brain development.
Assessing Sale Strategies in Online Markets Using Matched Listings
Authors: Einav Liran , Kuchler Theresa , Levin Jonathan , Sundaresan Neel
Published: April 2015

We use data from eBay to identify hundreds of thousands of instances in which retailers posted otherwise identical product listings with targeted variation in pricing and auction design. We use these matched listings to measure the dispersion in auction prices for identical goods sold by the same seller, to estimate nonparametric auction demand curves, to analyze the effect of buy it now options, and to assess consumer sensitivity to shipping fees. The scale of the data allows us to show that the estimates are robust to narrower criteria for matching listings, thereby addressing plausible concerns about endogeneity and selection biases. (JEL D44, L11, L81)
Grading Standards and Education Quality
Authors: Boleslavsky Raphael , Cotton Christopher
Published: April 2015

We consider school competition in a Bayesian persuasion framework. Schools compete to place graduates by investing in education quality and by choosing grading policies. In equilibrium, schools strategically adopt grading policies that do not perfectly reveal graduate ability to evaluators. We compare outcomes when schools grade strategically to outcomes when evaluators perfectly observe graduate ability. With strategic grading, grades are less informative, and evaluators rely less on grades and more on a school's quality when assessing graduates. Consequently, under strategic grading, schools have greater incentive to invest in quality, and this can improve evaluator welfare. (JEL D82, I21, I23)
High performance leadership in unusually challenging educational circumstances
Authors: Hargreaves Andy , Harris Alma
Published: April 2015

This paper draws on findings from the results of a study of leadership in high performing organizations in three sectors. Organizations were sampled and included on the basis of high performance in relation to no performance, past performance, performance among similar peers and performance in the face of limited resources or challenging circumstances. The paper concentrates on leadership in four schools that met the sample criteria.  It draws connections to explanations of the high performance ofEstoniaon the OECD PISA tests of educational achievement. The article argues that leadership in these four schools that performed above expectations comprised more than a set of competencies. Instead, leadership took the form of a narrative or quest that pursued an inspiring dream with relentless determination; took improvement pathways that were more innovative than comparable peers; built collaboration and community including with competing schools; and connected short-term success to long-term sustainability.
Novice teachers’ workplace experiences of collegiate support
Authors: Remmik Marvi , Lepp Liina , Koni Ingrid
Published: April 2015

Esimestel tööaastatel peavad algajad õpetajad toime tulema erinevate olukordadega, sest sel ajal arenevad õpetamisoskused, saadakse õpetajate kogukonna liikmeks ning kujuneb õpetaja identiteet. Uurimused on näidanud, et algajad õpetajad vajavad ametisse sisseelamisel toetust, mistõttu on loodud ka mitmesuguseid tugisüsteeme. Samas on vähe tähelepanu pööratud sellele, kuidas kohanevad algajad õpetajad koolikeskkonnaga, millisena tajutakse erinevaid koolikollektiivi liikmeid enda toetajana ning mida ootavad algajad õpetajad koolikeskkonnalt kui tervikult, et õpetajatöösse paremini sisse elada. Artikli eesmärk on analüüsida algajate õpetajate kirjeldusi kohanemisest koolikeskkonnaga ja institutsiooni erinevate liikmete rolli selles. Andmete kogumiseks salvestati täies mahus ühe aasta vältel toimunud kutseaasta seminarid. Seminaridel osales 13 algajat õpetajat. Tulemused näitasid, et algajate õpetajate kogemused kooliga kohanemisel olid erinevad. Eduka kohanemise eeldusena nimetati kolleegide toetavat hoiakut ja algajate õpetajate püüdlusi igas olukorras hakkama saada. Kõige sagedasemaks koolikeskkonnaga mittekohanemise põhjuseks peeti algajate õpetajate ja institutsiooni liikmete erinevusi väärtushinnangutes. Koolijuhi osa algaja õpetaja toetajana hinnati väheoluliseks, kuna algajatel õpetajatel tööalased kokkupuuted koolijuhiga peaaegu puudusid.
 Summary
The effectiveness of content and language integrated learning at Russian speaking schools: school leaders’ views and strategies
Authors: Kitsnik Mare , Metslang Helena
Published: April 2015

Aastatel 2007–2012 läksid vene õppekeelega koolid üle kohustuslikule eestikeelsele aineõppele. Alates 2011. aastast õpivad kõik 10. klassi astuvad noored gümnaasiumis kohustuslikult 60% aineid eesti keeles, sh riikliku õppekavaga määratud viit ainet. Koolijuhid näevad eestikeelse aineõppe kasu õpilastele ning arendavad muudatuste elluviimise raskusest hoolimata programmi edasi. Artiklis käsitleme juhtide hinnanguid eestikeelset aineõpet mõjutavatele teguritele ning nende strateegiaid eestikeelse aineõppe arendamisel. Toetudes uuringule "Kakskeelne õpe vene õppekeelega koolis" (Metslang et al., 2013), kirjeldame direktorite ja õppejuhatajate peamisi muresid, mis on seotud eestikeelse ainekava rakendamisega muudatuse algusetapil. Kasutame selleks 2012. aasta sügisel kuues koolis korraldatud 12 juhiintervjuu tulemusi. Võrdleme neid 77 tunnivaatluse käigus ning õpilaste ja õpetajate anketeerimise ja fookusrühma intervjuude teel kogutud andmetega. Uuringust selgus, et olulisteks probleemideks on sobivate õpetajate leidmine, gümnaasiumiastujate vähene eesti keele oskus ja keeleõppe motivatsioon ning õpilaste kesised õpioskused. Vaatleme, kas juhid rakendavad strateegiaid nende probleemide lahendamiseks. Artiklis tõuseb esile vajadus suurendada direktorite ja õppejuhatajate teadmisi kakskeelse haridusprogrammi juhtimisest. Kuna õppeprogrammi järgi algab kohustuslik teiskeelne õpe alles gümnaasiumiastmes, on Eesti mudel maailma kakskeelse hariduse kontekstis haruldane. Levinud mudelite puhul alustavad õpilased teiskeelset õpet nooremas eas: alates lasteaiast, algkoolist või põhikoolist. Artiklis analüüsime Eesti mudeli tulemuslikkust eri programmikomponentide mõju uurimise kaudu.
 Summary
Lasteaedade juhtimine rahvusvahelises võrdluses
Authors: Ginter Jüri , Kukemelk Hasso
Published: April 2015

Tampere Ülikooli välja antud artiklikogumik on mitmes mõttes unikaalne raamat, mis lasteaiale keskendudes pakub ainest haridusasutuse juhtimise üldiste põhimõtete üle arutlemiseks. See hõlmab 15 kaastööd seitsmest riigist (Soome, Norra, Inglismaa, Taiwan, Aserbaidžaan, Trinidad ja Tobago ning Austraalia), kogu tähelepanu on koolieelsel lasteasutusel ja selle juhtimiseeripäral. Kogumikus käsitletakse lasteasutuste juhtimise uuringuid riikide kaupa ja esitatakse üldistavaid teoreetilisi analüüse, tuginedes ühtsele metodoloogilisele raamistikule. Lugeja saab võrrelda käsitlusviise ja korralduslikke lahendusi eri riikides ning keskenduda nii majanduslikust kui ka poliitilisest süsteemist tingitud erinevustele.
Notes on models of first-order mereological theories
Authors: Tsai Hsing-chien
Published: April 2015

This paper will consider some interesting mereological models and, by looking into them carefully, will clarify some important metalogical issues, such as definability, atomicity and decidability. More precisely, this paper will inquire into what kind of subsets can be defined in certain mereological models, what kind of axioms can guarantee that any member is composed of atoms and what kind of axioms are crucial, by regulating the models in a certain way, for an axiomatized mereological theory to be decidable.
Assessing and treating allergic rhinitis
Authors: Scullion Jane , Holmes Steve
Published: April 2015

Allergic rhinitis is commonly seen in general practice. This article looks at diagnosis and management, and how health professionals can make a positive difference to the lives of people with allergic rhinitis
Treasures from the Archives
Authors: Anthony Emma
Published: April 2015

Heroes of Heritage: William Le Fanu (1904–1995).
Setting the context for using complexity theory in evaluation: boundaries, governance and utilisation
Authors: Walton Mat
Published: April 2015

Recent literature has usefully explored the application of complexity theory to evaluation. However, there is little discussion of the contextual conditions in applying complexity theory. Drawing upon a single complexity-consistent public health programme evaluation and subsequent policy decisions, this paper considers how programme framing and governance can help or hinder application of complexity theory. A wider framing of the programme and cross-system network governance arrangements are suggested as important components to a complexity theory-informed policy practice.
Emergency Department and Inpatient Hospitalizations for Young People With Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: McDermott Suzanne , Hardin James W , Royer Julie A , Mann Joshua R , Tong Xin , Ozturk Orgul D , Ouyang Lijing
Published: April 2015

We compared hospital encounters between adolescents and young adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS) to peers with intellectual disability (ID) from other causes, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and a comparison group without these conditions matched by gender, age, and insurance coverage. Those with FXS, ASD, or ID were more likely to have had hospital encounters. In terms of age groups, we found mental illness hospitalizations decreased during adulthood as compared to adolescence for those with FXS, and we found that for conditions unrelated to FXS (e.g., respiratory, genitourinary, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia) adolescents had higher rates of hospitalization compared to their peers with FXS, ID, or ASD. We analyzed epilepsy, common among people with FXS and designated as an ambulatory care sensitive condition that can be treated outside the hospital, and found that people with FXS, ID, and ASD had higher odds of hospitalization due to epilepsy in both age groups than did the comparison group.
The Purple Movement: How Facebook’s design undermined the anti-Berlusconi protest in Italy
Authors: Coretti Lorenzo , Pica Daniele
Published: April 2015

This article assesses the relationship between the use of Facebook and the development of social movements by focusing on the case study of the Italian movement Popolo Viola/Purple People and its organizational structure. The findings of this study show how Facebook proved to be an efficient mobilizing structure for the social movement only on a short-term basis. After this initial success, the incompatibility between the commercial interests behind Facebook design and the ideology of Popolo Viola became manifest. Facebook failed to provide the movement with the necessary instruments in terms of a shared democratic management of its resources. The inability to manage Facebook pages and groups according to commonly agreed values promoted vertical power structures within the movement, contributing to a controversial management of the Facebook page and to internal divisions that hindered significantly the potential of the anti-Berlusconi protest.
Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies: Intersections Between Italy and China
Authors: Bertozzi Eddie , Falduto Antonio
Published: April 2015

Asian Cinema at the 71st Venice International Film Festival: Remapping the New (Venice, 27 August–6 September 2014)

The Controversial Relationship between Italian Film Authors and Film Festivals