bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary mFOLFOX6 Plus Bevacizumab Without Resection of the Primary Tumor for Patients Presenting With Surgically Unresectable Metastatic Colon Cancer and an Intact Asymptomatic Colon Cancer: Definitive Analysis of NSABP Trial C-10
Authors: McCahill Laurence E. , Yothers Greg , Sharif Saima , Petrelli Nicholas J. , Lai Lily Lau , Bechar Naftali , Giguere Jeffrey K. , Dakhil Shaker R. , Fehrenbacher Louis , Lopa Samia H. , Wagman Lawrence D. , O'Connell Michael J. , Wolmark Norman
Published: August 2012

Purpose

Major concerns surround combining chemotherapy with bevacizumab in patients with colon cancer presenting with an asymptomatic intact primary tumor (IPT) and synchronous yet unresectable metastatic disease. Surgical resection of asymptomatic IPT is controversial.

Patients and Methods

Eligibility for this prospective, multicenter phase II trial included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 1, asymptomatic IPT, and unresectable metastases. All received infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) combined with bevacizumab. The primary end point was major morbidity events, defined as surgical resection because of symptoms at or death related to the IPT. A 25% major morbidity rate was considered acceptable. Secondary end points included overall survival (OS) and minor morbidity related to IPT requiring hospitalization, transfusion, or nonsurgical intervention.

Results

Ninety patients registered between March 2006 and June 2009: 86 were eligible with follow-up, median age was 58 years, and 52% were female. Median follow-up was 20.7 months. There were 12 patients (14%) with major morbidity related to IPT: 10 required surgery (eight, obstruction; one, perforation; and one, abdominal pain), and two patients died. The 24-month cumulative incidence of major morbidity was 16.3% (95% CI, 7.6% to 25.1%). Eleven IPTs were resected without a morbidity event: eight for attempted cure and three for other reasons. Two patients had minor morbidity events only: one hospitalization and one nonsurgical intervention. Median OS was 19.9 months (95% CI, 15.0 to 27.2 months).

Conclusion

This trial met its primary end point. Combining mFOLFOX6 with bevacizumab did not result in an unacceptable rate of obstruction, perforation, bleeding, or death related to IPT. Survival was not compromised. These patients can be spared initial noncurative resection of their asymptomatic IPT.
Randomized Phase II Trial Designs With Biomarkers
Authors: Freidlin Boris , McShane Lisa M. , Polley Mei-Yin C. , Korn Edward L.
Published: August 2012

Efficient development of targeted therapies that may only benefit a fraction of patients requires clinical trial designs that use biomarkers to identify sensitive subpopulations. Various randomized phase III trial designs have been proposed for definitive evaluation of new targeted treatments and their associated biomarkers (eg, enrichment designs and biomarker-stratified designs). Before proceeding to phase III, randomized phase II trials are often used to decide whether the new therapy warrants phase III testing. In the presence of a putative biomarker, the phase II trial should also provide information as to what type of biomarker phase III trial is appropriate. A randomized phase II biomarker trial design is proposed, which, after completion, recommends the type of phase III trial to be used for the definitive testing of the therapy and the biomarker. The recommendations include the possibility of proceeding to a randomized phase III of the new therapy with or without using the biomarker and also the possibility of not testing the new therapy further. Evaluations of the proposed trial design using simulations and published data demonstrate that it works well in providing recommendations for phase III trial design.
The Refugee Soldier: A Critique of Recognition and Citizenship in the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 1997
Authors: Vang Ma
Published: August 2012

This essay examines the Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 1997 to critically engage with the context of the “secret war” in Laos (1961–75) and the “refugee question.” In doing so, it explores the ways in which the state deploys the concept of citizenship: first, as a validation of the Hmong soldiers' sacrifice and, second, as a reward for the Hmong refugee who inhabits a condition of statelessness. This essay foregrounds the link between the refugee and soldier figures to formulate the refugee soldier, a conjoining of the soldier who fought abroad and the refugee who lives at home, as a critical category of analysis that imbues the refugee figure with social and political critiques of the nation-state.
Exile of Freedom: The Nation-State and Exile in Linda Lê's Slander
Authors: Dao Anh Thang
Published: August 2012

Focusing on the idea of the homeland as a central aspect of exile and using Linda Lê's novel Slander as an entry point, this essay argues that exile often functions as a continuation of the original place, which remains under the control of a nation-state that is necessarily exclusive and constraining. By highlighting these constraints, this essay reimagines exile as a marginal position that could work to destabilize the false homogeneity of the nation-state and a space for the practice of radical freedom.
Pop Tarts (Photographic Portfolio)
Authors: Le Viet
Published: August 2012

In contemporary Viet Nam, China, and Korea (among other Asian countries), popular cultural production has opened up new modes of transnational subjectivity, questioning the boundaries of community, identity, and identification. How are national and consumer desires linked? Boy bands such as Fahrenheit and Super Junior and male pop stars such as Jay Chou, Lam Truong, and Wang Lee Hom have cultivated international followings of screaming fans. The boy bang/gang band project consists of (campy?) images of faux pan-Asian boy bands and solo performers in various guises and costumes, examining the borders of spectacle, (homoerotic) desire, translation, audience, and affect.
Developmental and evolutionary diversity of plant MADS-domain factors: insights from recent studies
Authors: Smaczniak Cezary , Immink Richard G. H. , Angenent Gerco C. , Kaufmann Kerstin
Published: August 2012

Members of the MADS-box transcription factor family play essential roles in almost every developmental process in plants. Many MADS-box genes have conserved functions across the flowering plants, but some have acquired novel functions in specific species during evolution. The analyses of MADS-domain protein interactions and target genes have provided new insights into their molecular functions. Here, we review recent findings on MADS-box gene functions in Arabidopsis and discuss the evolutionary history and functional diversification of this gene family in plants. We also discuss possible mechanisms of action of MADS-domain proteins based on their interactions with chromatin-associated factors and other transcriptional regulators.
Ribosomal biogenesis genes play an essential and p53-independent role in zebrafish pancreas development
Authors: Provost Elayne , Wehner Karen A. , Zhong Xiangang , Ashar Foram , Nguyen Elizabeth , Green Rachel , Parsons Michael J. , Leach Steven D.
Published: August 2012

Mutations in the human Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome (SBDS) gene cause defective ribosome assembly and are associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, chronic neutropenia and skeletal defects. However, the mechanism underlying these phenotypes remains unclear. Here we show that knockdown of the zebrafish sbds ortholog fully recapitulates the spectrum of developmental abnormalities observed in the human syndrome, and further implicate impaired proliferation of ptf1a-expressing pancreatic progenitor cells as the basis for the observed pancreatic phenotype. It is thought that diseases of ribosome assembly share a p53-dependent mechanism. However, loss of p53 did not rescue the developmental defects associated with loss of zebrafish sbds. To clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed organogenesis defects, we performed transcriptional profiling to identify candidate downstream mediators of the sbds phenotype. Among transcripts displaying differential expression, functional group analysis revealed marked enrichment of genes related to ribosome biogenesis, rRNA processing and translational initiation. Among these, ribosomal protein L3 (rpl3) and pescadillo (pes) were selected for additional analysis. Similar to knockdown of sbds, knockdown or mutation of either rpl3 or pes resulted in impaired expansion of pancreatic progenitor cells. The pancreatic phenotypes observed in rpl3- and pes-deficient embryos were also independent of p53. Together, these data suggest novel p53-independent roles for ribosomal biogenesis genes in zebrafish pancreas development.
Dopaminergic neurons modulate GABA neuron migration in the embryonic midbrain
Authors: Vasudevan Anju , Won Chungkil , Li Suyan , Erdélyi Ferenc , Szabó Gábor , Kim Kwang-Soo
Published: August 2012

Neuronal migration, a key event during brain development, remains largely unexplored in the mesencephalon, where dopaminergic (DA) and GABA neurons constitute two major neuronal populations. Here we study the migrational trajectories of DA and GABA neurons and show that they occupy ventral mesencephalic territory in a temporally and spatially specific manner. Our results from the Pitx3-deficient aphakia mouse suggest that pre-existing DA neurons modulate GABA neuronal migration to their final destination, providing novel insights and fresh perspectives concerning neuronal migration and connectivity in the mesencephalon in normal as well as diseased brains.
Dally and Notum regulate the switch between low and high level Hedgehog pathway signalling
Authors: Ayers Katie L. , Mteirek Rana , Cervantes Alexandra , Lavenant-Staccini Laurence , Thérond Pascal P. , Gallet Armel
Published: August 2012

During development, secreted morphogens, such as Hedgehog (Hh), control cell fate and proliferation. Precise sensing of morphogen levels and dynamic cellular responses are required for morphogen-directed morphogenesis, yet the molecular mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. Several recent studies have suggested the involvement of a multi-protein Hh reception complex, and have hinted at an understated complexity in Hh sensing at the cell surface. We show here that the expression of the proteoglycan Dally in Hh-receiving cells in Drosophila is necessary for high but not low level pathway activity, independent of its requirement in Hh-producing cells. We demonstrate that Dally is necessary to sequester Hh at the cell surface and to promote Hh internalisation with its receptor. This internalisation depends on both the activity of the hydrolase Notum and the glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) moiety of Dally, and indicates a departure from the role of the second glypican Dally-like in Hh signalling. Our data suggest that hydrolysis of the Dally-GPI by Notum provides a switch from low to high level signalling by promoting internalisation of the Hh-Patched ligand-receptor complex.
Making waves: the rise and fall and rise of quantitative developmental biology
Authors: Davidson Lance A. , Baum Buzz
Published: August 2012

The tenth annual RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology symposium ‘Quantitative Developmental Biology’ held in March 2012 covered a range of topics from coat colour patterning to the mechanics of morphogenesis. The studies presented shared a common theme in which a combination of physical theory, quantitative analysis and experiment was used to understand a specific cellular process in development. This report highlights these innovative studies and the long-standing questions in developmental biology that they seek to answer.
Focal adhesion kinase regulates actin nucleation and neuronal filopodia formation during axonal growth
Authors: Chacón Mariola R. , Navarro Ana I. , Cuesto German , del Pino Isabel , Scott Ricardo , Morales Miguel , Rico Beatriz
Published: August 2012

The establishment of neural circuits depends on the ability of axonal growth cones to sense their surrounding environment en route to their target. To achieve this, a coordinated rearrangement of cytoskeleton in response to extracellular cues is essential. Although previous studies have identified different chemotropic and adhesion molecules that influence axonal development, the molecular mechanism by which these signals control the cytoskeleton remains poorly understood. Here, we show that in vivo conditional ablation of the focal adhesion kinase gene (Fak) from mouse hippocampal pyramidal cells impairs axon outgrowth and growth cone morphology during development, which leads to functional defects in neuronal connectivity. Time-lapse recordings and in vitro FRAP analysis indicate that filopodia motility is altered in growth cones lacking FAK, probably owing to deficient actin turnover. We reveal the intracellular pathway that underlies this process and describe how phosphorylation of the actin nucleation-promoting factor N-WASP is required for FAK-dependent filopodia formation. Our study reveals a novel mechanism through which FAK controls filopodia formation and actin nucleation during axonal development.
A novel 3D mouse embryo atlas based on micro-CT
Authors: Wong Michael D. , Dorr Adrienne E. , Walls Johnathon R. , Lerch Jason P. , Henkelman R. Mark
Published: August 2012

The goal of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) is to phenotype targeted knockout mouse strains throughout the whole mouse genome (23,000 genes) by 2021. A significant percentage of the generated mice will be embryonic lethal; therefore, phenotyping methods tuned to the mouse embryo are needed. Methods that are robust, quantitative, automated and high-throughput are attractive owing to the numbers of mice involved. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging is a useful method for characterizing morphological phenotypes. However, tools to automatically quantify morphological information of mouse embryos from 3D imaging have not been fully developed. We present a representative mouse embryo average 3D atlas comprising micro-CT images of 35 individual C57BL/6J mouse embryos at 15.5 days post-coitum. The 35 micro-CT images were registered into a consensus average image with our automated image registration software and 48 anatomical structures were segmented manually. We report the mean and variation in volumes for each of the 48 segmented structures. Mouse organ volumes vary by 2.6-4.2% on a linear scale when normalized to whole body volume. A power analysis of the volume data reports that a 9-14% volume difference can be detected between two classes of mice with sample sizes of eight. This resource will be crucial in establishing baseline anatomical phenotypic measurements for the assessment of mutant mouse phenotypes, as any future mutant embryo image can be registered to the atlas and subsequent organ volumes calculated automatically.
Multilayer mounting enables long-term imaging of zebrafish development in a light sheet microscope
Authors: Kaufmann Anna , Mickoleit Michaela , Weber Michael , Huisken Jan
Published: August 2012

Light sheet microscopy techniques, such as selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), are ideally suited for time-lapse imaging of developmental processes lasting several hours to a few days. The success of this promising technology has mainly been limited by the lack of suitable techniques for mounting fragile samples. Embedding zebrafish embryos in agarose, which is common in conventional confocal microscopy, has resulted in severe growth defects and unreliable results. In this study, we systematically quantified the viability and mobility of zebrafish embryos mounted under more suitable conditions. We found that tubes made of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) filled with low concentrations of agarose or methylcellulose provided an optimal balance between sufficient confinement of the living embryo in a physiological environment over 3 days and optical clarity suitable for fluorescence imaging. We also compared the effect of different concentrations of Tricaine on the development of zebrafish and provide guidelines for its optimal use depending on the application. Our results will make light sheet microscopy techniques applicable to more fields of developmental biology, in particular the multiview long-term imaging of zebrafish embryos and other small organisms. Furthermore, the refinement of sample preparation for in toto and in vivo imaging will promote other emerging optical imaging techniques, such as optical projection tomography (OPT).
Hox genes regulate the onset of Tbx5 expression in the forelimb
Authors: Minguillon Carolina , Nishimoto Satoko , Wood Sophie , Vendrell Elisenda , Gibson-Brown Jeremy J. , Logan Malcolm P. O.
Published: August 2012

Tbx4 and Tbx5 are two closely related T-box genes that encode transcription factors expressed in the prospective hindlimb and forelimb territories, respectively, of all jawed vertebrates. Despite their striking limb type-restricted expression pattern, we have shown that these genes do not participate in the acquisition of limb type-specific morphologies. Instead, Tbx4 and Tbx5 play similar roles in the initiation of hindlimb and forelimb outgrowth, respectively. We hypothesized that different combinations of Hox proteins expressed in different rostral and caudal domains of the lateral plate mesoderm, where limb induction occurs, might be involved in regulating the limb type-restricted expression of Tbx4 and Tbx5 and in the later determination of limb type-specific morphologies. Here, we identify the minimal regulatory element sufficient for the earliest forelimb-restricted expression of the mouse Tbx5 gene and show that this sequence is Hox responsive. Our results support a mechanism in which Hox genes act upstream of Tbx5 to control the axial position of forelimb formation.
Synthesis of Pyrene-Based Ester Dendrimers for Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Rajakumar Perumal , Visalakshi Kathiresan , Ganesan Shanmugam , Maruthamuthu Pichai , Suthanthiraraj Samuel Austin
Published: August 2012

Synthesis of dendrimers with pyrene at the surface and benzenetricarboxylic acid and phloroglucinol at the core and with ester functionality as branching points has been described. When such dendrimers are used as an additive in DSSC, power conversion efficiency of 6.78% is observed.
Pay for Percentile
Authors: Barlevy Gadi , Neal Derek
Published: August 2012

We propose an incentive scheme for educators that links compensation to the ranks of their students within comparison sets. Under certain conditions, this scheme induces teachers to allocate socially optimal levels of effort. Moreover, because this scheme employs only ordinal information, it allows education authorities to employ completely new assessments at each testing date without ever having to equate various assessments. This removes incentives for teachers to teach to a particular assessment form and eliminates opportunities to influence reward pay by corrupting assessment scales. Education authorities can employ separate no-stakes assessment systems to track trends in scaled measures of student achievement. (JEL I21, I28, J33, J45)
Europe's Tired, Poor, Huddled Masses: Self-Selection and Economic Outcomes in the Age of Mass Migration
Authors: Abramitzky Ran , Boustan Leah Platt , Eriksson Katherine
Published: August 2012

During the age of mass migration (1850–1913), one of the largest migration episodes in history, the United States maintained a nearly open border, allowing the study of migrant decisions unhindered by entry restrictions. We estimate the return to migration while accounting for migrant selection by comparing Norway-to-US migrants with their brothers who stayed in Norway in the late nineteenth century. We also compare fathers of migrants and nonmigrants by wealth and occupation. We find that the return to migration was relatively low (70 percent) and that migrants from urban areas were negatively selected from the sending population. (JEL J11, J61, N31, N33)
A Rational Expectations Approach to Hedonic Price Regressions with Time-Varying Unobserved Product Attributes: The Price of Pollution
Authors: Bajari Patrick , Fruehwirth Jane Cooley , Kim Kyoo il , Timmins Christopher
Published: August 2012

We propose a new strategy for a pervasive problem in the hedonics literature: recovering hedonic prices in the presence of time-varying correlated unobservables. Our approach relies on an assumption about home buyer rationality, under which prior sales prices can be used to control for time-varying unobservable attributes of the house or neighborhood. Using housing transactions data from California's Bay Area between 1990 and 2006, we apply our estimator to recover marginal willingness to pay for reductions in three of the EPA's “criteria” air pollutants. Our findings suggest that ignoring bias from time-varying correlated unobservables considerably understates the benefits of a pollution reduction policy. (JEL D12, D84, Q53, Q58, R21)
The Impact of Family Income on Child Achievement: Evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit
Authors: Dahl Gordon B , Lochner Lance
Published: August 2012

Using an instrumental variables strategy, we estimate the causal effect of income on children's math and reading achievement. Our identification derives from the large, nonlinear changes in the Earned Income Tax Credit. The largest of these changes increased family income by as much as 20 percent, or approximately $2,100, between 1993 and 1997. Our baseline estimates imply that a $1,000 increase in income raises combined math and reading test scores by 6 percent of a standard deviation in the short run. Test gains are larger for children from disadvantaged families and robust to a variety of alternative specifications. (JEL H24, H31, I21, I38, J13)
Fund Managers, Career Concerns, and Asset Price Volatility
Authors: Guerrieri Veronica , Kondor Péter
Published: August 2012

We propose a model of delegated portfolio management with career concerns. Investors hire fund managers to invest their capital either in risky bonds or in riskless assets. Some managers have superior information on default risk. Based on past performance, investors update beliefs on managers and make firing decisions. This leads to career concerns that affect managers' investment decisions, generating a countercyclical “reputational premium.” When default risk is high, return on bonds is high to compensate uninformed managers for the high risk of being fired. As default risk changes over time, the reputational premium amplifies price volatility. (JEL G11, G12, G23, L84)
Revealed Attention
Authors: Masatlioglu Yusufcan , Nakajima Daisuke , Ozbay Erkut Y
Published: August 2012

The standard revealed preference argument relies on an implicit assumption that a decision maker considers all feasible alternatives. The marketing and psychology literatures, however, provide well-established evidence that consumers do not consider all brands in a given market before making a purchase (Limited Attention). In this paper, we illustrate how one can deduce both the decision maker's preference and the alternatives to which she pays attention and inattention from the observed behavior. We illustrate how seemingly compelling welfare judgments without specifying the underlying choice procedure are misleading. Further, we provide a choice theoretical foundation for maximizing a single preference relation under limited attention. (JEL D11, D81)
The Multi-unit Assignment Problem: Theory and Evidence from Course Allocation at Harvard
Authors: Budish Eric , Cantillon Estelle
Published: August 2012

We use theory and field data to study the draft mechanism used to allocate courses at Harvard Business School. We show that the draft is manipulable in theory, manipulated in practice, and that these manipulations cause significant welfare loss. Nevertheless, we find that welfare is higher than under its widely studied strategyproof alternative. We identify a new link between fairness and welfare that explains why the draft performs well despite the costs of strategic behavior, and then design a new draft that reduces these costs. We draw several broader lessons for market design, regarding Pareto efficiency, fairness, and strategyproofness. (JEL D63, D82, I23)
Durable Consumption and Asset Management with Transaction and Observation Costs
Authors: Alvarez Fernando , Guiso Luigi , Lippi Francesco
Published: August 2012

The empirical evidence on rational inattention lags the theoretical developments: micro evidence on one of the most immediate consequences of observation costs––the infrequent observation of state variables––is not available in standard datasets. We contribute to filling the gap using new household surveys. To match these data we modify existing models, shifting the focus from nondurable to durable consumption. The model features both observation and transaction costs and implies a mixture of time-dependent and state-dependent rules. Numerical simulations explain the frequencies of trading and observation of the median investor with small observation costs and larger transaction costs. (JEL D12, D14, E21, G11)
Credit Supply and Monetary Policy: Identifying the Bank Balance-Sheet Channel with Loan Applications
Authors: Jiménez Gabriel , Ongena Steven , Peydró José-Luis , Saurina Jesús
Published: August 2012

We analyze the impact of monetary policy on the supply of bank credit. Monetary policy affects both loan supply and demand, thus making identification a steep challenge. We therefore analyze a novel, supervisory dataset with loan applications from Spain. Accounting for time-varying firm heterogeneity in loan demand, we find that tighter monetary and worse economic conditions substantially reduce loan granting, especially from banks with lower capital or liquidity ratios; responding to applications for the same loan, weak banks are less likely to grant the loan. Finally, firms cannot offset the resultant credit restriction by applying to other banks. (JEL E32, E44, E52, G21, G32)
The Hidden Advantage of Delegation: Pareto Improvements in a Gift Exchange Game
Authors: Charness Gary , Cobo-Reyes Ramón , Jiménez Natalia , Lacomba Juan A , Lagos Francisco
Published: August 2012

This paper analyzes the effect on performance and earnings of delegating the wage choice to employees. Our results show that such delegation significantly increases effort levels. Moreover, we observe a Pareto improvement, as the earnings of both employers and employees increase when employers delegate than when they do not. Interestingly, we also find that the employees' performance under delegation is higher than under nondelegation, even for similar wages. While there is strong evidence that behavior reflects strategic considerations, this result also holds for one-shot interactions. A possible nonstrategic motivation explaining the positive reaction to delegation is a sense of enhanced responsibility. (JEL J31, J33, J41)
Malarial acute kidney injury in a paediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Kapoor Kapil , Gupta Shalu
Published: August 2012

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of malaria which has a very high mortality rate. A retrospective analysis of medical record data of children treated for malarial AKI in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was performed in order to evaluate the incidence, poor prognostic factors and outcome of AKI with malaria. Eighteen (48.6%) malarial patients had AKI (11 Plasmodium vivax positive, six P. falciparum positive and one mixed infection) with a male-to-female ratio of 1:2. The mean age was 75 ± 32 months (range, 1 month to 10 years). Oliguria was present in 61.1% and 55.5% required renal replacement therapy. Mortality was noted in 33.3% of patients and full recovery was achieved in 50% of patients. Oliguria, shock, central nervous system involvement, jaundice, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and acute respiratory distress syndrome emerged as bad prognostic factors in simple univariate analysis. Malaria patients with and without AKI differ significantly in terms of shock, ventilator requirement, mortality and length of PICU stay.
Electrophoretic mobility of latex nanospheres in electrolytes: Experimental challenges
Authors: Chassagne Claire , Ibanez Maria
Published: August 2012

The electrophoretic mobility of sulfate latex nanospheres (radius 300 ± 10 nm) was measured as a function of ionic strength for different salts. The results were obtained from two similar instruments (Malvern ZetaSizer 3000 HSa and Malvern ZetaSizer Nano) using the same dispersions, in the same conditions. The values predicted from the standard electrokinetic model for constant surface charge were in good agreement with the data over a large range of ionic strength. The influence of the protocol used to fill the cells appears to be of importance between 1–10 mM of added monovalent salt. There, the capillary wall properties seem to influence the electrophoretic measurements, even at fast field reversal (FFR), where electroosmosis should be absent. We found that during a series of measurements with monovalent salts, it was best to fill the cell starting from high ionic strength and decreasing the ionic strength during the series. The measurements with divalent salts were not sensitive to the filling procedure.
Privacy and Security Assessment of Biometric Template Protection
Authors: Zhou Xuebing
Published: August 2012

Template-Protection-Techniken stellen eine wichtige Ergänzung zu biometrischen Systemen, um das gewünschte Sicherheitsniveau zu erreichen und die Anforderungen an den Schutz der Privatsphäre zu erfüllen. Diese Techniken ermöglichen Erneuerung und Widerruf der Referenzendaten in biometrischen Systemen. In dieser Arbeit wird ein systematisches Evaluierungsframework entwickelt, das sich an die wesentlichen Kriterien und Anforderungen an biometrische Template-Protection-Verfahren festhält. Seine Anwendbarkeit wird durch die Analyse der verschiedenen Algorithmen demonstriert. Die in dieser Arbeit präsentierte Evaluierung ist grundlegend für eine vollständige Analyse. Darüber hinaus ermöglicht es einen Nachweis der Sicherheit und Einhaltung der Privatsphäre. Es schafft eine Basis für Zertifizierung und Benchmark der Template-Protection-Verfahren.
Crossmodal Speech Priming of Visual Objects: A New Approach for Urgent Information Transfer from Car to Driver
Authors: Mahr Angela
Published: August 2012

Contents being conveyed to the driver by in-car information and warning systems are becoming more and more diverse and complex. Hence, new solutions beyond sounds and graphical interfaces are apparently needed for rapid disambiguation of presentations. This paper provides a short overview about speech warnings for drivers and describes new insights about the topical issue of crossmodal speech priming in cognitive psychology. Furthermore, an outline of our previous research on this topic is given. Transfer of recent results to the applied field is promising, since keyword warnings could for example assist the driver with the timely detection of (possibly) critical visual objects in the environment without any visual distraction. Time-compressed speech keywords or even their simultaneous combination with diverse sound sources (“semanticons”) appear to be promising approaches.
An Experiential Perspective on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Authors: Eckoldt Kai , Knobel Martin , Hassenzahl Marc , Schumann Josef
Published: August 2012

The objective of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is to support drivers in mastering the driving task. Until now, the development of ADAS has mainly focused on technology, safety and comfort. This paper aims to complement this by a more experiential view. A study explored how Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), as an example of ADAS, impacts people´s driving experience. It showed that ACC creates a gap between the driver and her car. This gap can be interpreted in two different ways. It is negative, when the “joy of driving” is in the fore, because it removes the feeling of mastery, control, being in charge and being one with the car. It is potentially positive, when the “joy while driving” is in the fore, because it creates the freedom to engage in pleasurable activities beyond driving. Unfortunately, the current concept of “supervisory control” for ADAS does not allow for the disengagement with driving. Based on our findings, we discuss crucial aspects to consider when designing ADAS from an experiential perspective.
Reducing Non-Primary Task Distraction in Cars Through Multi-Modal Interaction
Authors: Pfleging Bastian , Kern Dagmar , Döring Tanja , Schmidt Albrecht
Published: August 2012

To offer access to a multitude of driving and more often non-driving related functions in the car including infotainment, entertainment, comfort, and assistance systems, automotive user interfaces have become more complex in the last decade. This trend will probably continue in the future. Interaction with these systems inevitably leads to driver distraction and consequently to an increased risk for the drivers as well as for their environment. Hence, for some functions interacting while driving is prohibited (like entering an address into the navigation system) whereas other functions are allowed or even need to be operated while driving (like setting the speed limit for cruise control). In our research we investigate how interaction styles in automotive user interfaces can be designed in order to limit driver distraction to a minimum. There are two major areas we discuss in this paper: (1) the support for switching attention between interactive systems in the car and the road, and (2) interface technologies in the car that minimize the need for (visual) attention. We describe technological solutions for both areas, explain their implementations and discuss the impact on driving performance, based on results obtained by several simulator studies. The main findings are that multimodality, especially including implicit and explicit interaction, can speed up attention switching and that gestural interaction provides a way to reduce visual demand.
Interaction Principles for Cooperative Human-Machine Systems
Authors: Bengler Klaus , Zimmermann Markus , Bortot Dino , Kienle Martin , Damböck Daniel
Published: August 2012

Human-machine systems with shared authority can be observed in different domains of assistance systems. This article creates a taxonomy of the most important aspects of human-machine cooperation in five layers: intention, modes of cooperation, allocation, interfaces and contact. This is investigated with help of driver assistance and Human-Robot Interaction. Furthermore, a perspective for possibilities of cross-domain generalization is given.
Spermatid development in XO male mice with varying Y chromosome short-arm gene content: evidence for a Y gene controlling the initiation of sperm morphogenesis
Authors: Vernet Nadège , Mahadevaiah Shantha K , Ellis Peter J I , de Rooij Dirk G , Burgoyne Paul S
Published: August 2012

We recently used three XO male mouse models with varying Y short-arm (Yp) gene complements, analysed at 30 dayspost partum, to demonstrate a Yp gene requirement for the apoptotic elimination of spermatocytes with a univalent X chromosome at the first meiotic metaphase. The three mouse models were i) XSxraO in which the Yp-derived Tp(Y)1CtSxr-asex reversal factor provides an almost complete Yp gene complement, ii) XSxrbO,Eif2s3ymales in which Tp(Y)1CtSxr-bhas a deletion completely or partially removing eight Yp genes – the Yp geneEif2s3yhas been added as a transgene to support spermatogonial proliferation, and iii) XOSry,Eif2s3ymales in which theSrytransgene directs gonad development along the male pathway. In this study, we have used the same mouse models analysed at 6 weeks of age to investigate potential Yp gene involvement in spermiogenesis. We found that all three mouse models produce haploid and diploid spermatids and that the diploid spermatids showed frequent duplication of the developing acrosomal cap during the early stages. However, only in XSxraO males did spermiogenesis continue to completion. Most strikingly, in XOSry,Eif2s3ymales, spermatid development arrested at round spermatid step 7 so that no sperm head restructuring or tail development was observed. In contrast, in XSxrbO,Eif2s3ymales, spermatids with substantial sperm head and tail morphogenesis could be easily found, although this was delayed compared with XSxraO. We conclude thatSxra(and therefore Yp) includes genetic information essential for sperm morphogenesis and that this is partially retained inSxrb.
Successful Treatment of Pallid Breath-Holding Spells With Fluoxetine
Authors: Walsh Mark , Knilans Timothy K. , Anderson Jeffrey B. , Czosek Richard J.
Published: August 2012

Pallid breath-holding (PBH) is a childhood condition that presents with recurrent syncope. Although typically benign, severe cases can lead to asystole and anoxic seizures. Previous studies have advocated pacemaker placement to abbreviate symptoms. This was a retrospective study of patients treated with fluoxetine for PBH spells. Clinical response, side effects and avoidance of pacemaker implantation were reviewed in six patients (12–60 months) treated with fluoxetine for PBH. Patients were referred because of concern of arrhythmia and failed medical treatment strategies. Two patients had previously implanted loop recorders, 5 patients had documented episodes of asystole, and 2 patients had generalized seizures. Fluoxetine resulted in alleviation of syncope in 5 of 6 patients. Time to symptomatic improvement symptoms ranged from 2 days to 1 month (median, 2 weeks). Median duration of treatment with fluoxetine was 12 months (12–24 months). One patient demonstrated no improvement and had a pacemaker implanted. There were no reported side effects to fluoxetine. Fluoxetine can be used to treat childhood PBH spells and may obviate the need for permanent pacing in a significant subset of this population. Considering its safe side-effect profile it is a worthwhile first-line agent to treat this disorder.
Copper Deficiency Presenting as Metabolic Bone Disease in Extremely Low Birth Weight, Short-Gut Infants
Authors: Marquardt Michelle L. , Done Stephen L. , Sandrock Maura , Berdon Walter E. , Feldman Kenneth W.
Published: August 2012

Copper deficiency can cause bone lesions in infants, which might be confused with child abuse. Two extremely low birth weight preterm infants had complicated medical courses requiring prolonged parenteral nutrition for short-gut syndrome, which led to the development of cholestasis. Both had spent their entire lives in the hospital. They had been on prolonged ventilator support for chronic lung disease. They developed signs of copper deficiency between 5 and 6 months of age, initially raising child abuse concerns. Musculoskeletal discomfort led to the recognition of radiographic findings of metabolic bone disease. Included were osteoporosis, metaphyseal changes, and physeal disruptions. Copper levels were low; both low copper parenteral nutrition and gut losses from refeeding diarrhea likely contributed to their deficiency. Therapeutic supplementation with copper corrected their deficits and clinical and radiologic findings. The information from these cases, in particular, their radiologic findings, indicate the need to monitor copper status in at-risk premature infants. These findings may aid prevention and earlier recognition of copper deficiency. Their specific radiologic and clinical findings should aid differentiation of such children from abused infants.
Maternal HIV Infection and Vertical Transmission of Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Cutland Clare L. , Schrag Stephanie J. , Zell Elizabeth R. , Kuwanda Locadiah , Buchmann Eckhardt , Velaphi Sithembiso C. , Groome Michelle J. , Adrian Peter V. , Madhi Shabir A. ,   the PoPS trial team
Published: August 2012

BACKGROUND:

HIV-exposed newborns may be at higher risk of sepsis because of immune system aberrations, impaired maternal antibody transfer and altered exposure to pathogenic bacteria.

METHODS:

We performed a secondary analysis of a study (clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00136370) conducted between April 2004 and October 2007 in South Africa. We used propensity score matching to evaluate the association between maternal HIV infection and (1) vaginal colonization with bacterial pathogens; (2) vertical transmission of pathogens to the newborn; and (3) sepsis within 3 days of birth (EOS) or between 4–28 days of life (LOS).

RESULTS:

Colonization with group B Streptococcus (17% vs 23%, P = .0002), Escherichia coli (47% vs 45%, P = .374), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7% vs 10%, P = .008) differed modestly between HIV-infected and uninfected women, as did vertical transmission rates. Maternal HIV infection was not associated with increased risk of neonatal EOS or LOS, although culture-confirmed EOS was >3 times higher among HIV-exposed infants (P = .05). When compared with HIV-unexposed, neonates, HIV-exposed, uninfected neonates (HEU) had a lower risk of EOS (20.6 vs 33.7 per 1000 births; P = .046) and similar rate of LOS (5.8 vs 4.1; P = .563). HIV-infected newborns had a higher risk than HEU of EOS (134 vs 21.5; P < .0001) and LOS (26.8 vs 5.6; P = .042).

CONCLUSIONS:

Maternal HIV infection was not associated with increased risk of maternal bacterial colonization, vertical transmission, EOS, or LOS. HIV-infected neonates, however, were at increased risk of EOS and LOS.
Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery: Laparoscopy and Thoracoscopy in Infants and Children
Authors: Blinman Thane , Ponsky Todd
Published: August 2012

This article discusses the potential benefits and challenges of minimally invasive surgery for infants and small children, and discusses why pediatric minimally invasive surgery is not yet the surgical default or standard of care. Minimally invasive methods offer advantages such as smaller incisions, decreased risk of infection, greater surgical precision, decreased cost of care, reduced length of stay, and better clinical information. But none of these benefits comes without cost, and these costs, both monetary and risk-based, rise disproportionately with the declining size of the patient. In this review, we describe recent progress in minimally invasive surgery for infants and children. The evidence for the large benefits to the patient will be presented, as well as the considerable, sometimes surprising, mechanical and physiological challenges surgeons must manage.
Improving Newborn Screening Follow-up in Pediatric Practices: Quality Improvement Innovation Network
Authors: Hinton Cynthia F. , Neuspiel Daniel R. , Gubernick Ruth S. , Geleske Timothy , Healy Jill , Kemper Alex R. , Lloyd-Puryear Michele A. , Saul Robert A. , Thompson Barry H. , Kaye Celia I.
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To implement a 6-month quality improvement project in 15 primary care pediatric practices to improve short-term newborn screening (NBS) follow-up.

METHODS:

At the start of the project, each practice completed a survey to evaluate office systems related to NBS and completed a chart audit. Practice teams were provided information about NBS and trained in quality-improvement methods, and then implemented changes to improve care. Monthly chart audits over a 6-month period were completed to assess change.

RESULTS:

At baseline, almost half of practices completed assessment of infants for NBS; after 6 months, 80% of practices completed assessment of all infants. Only 2 practices documented all in-range results and shared them with parents at baseline; by completion, 10 of 15 practices documented and shared in-range results for ≥70% of infants. Use of the American College of Medical Genetics ACTion sheets, a decision support tool, increased from 1 of 15 practices at baseline to 7 of 15 at completion.

CONCLUSIONS:

Practices were successful in improving NBS processes, including assessment, documentation, and communication with families. Providers perceived no increase in provider time at first visit, 2- to 4-week visit, or during first contact with the family of an infant with an out-of-range result after implementation of improved processes. Primary care practices increased their use of decision support tools after the project.
The Association of Vitamin D Status With Pediatric Critical Illness
Authors: McNally J. Dayre , Menon Kusum , Chakraborty Pranesh , Fisher Lawrence , Williams Kathryn A. , Al-Dirbashi Osama Y. , Doherty Dermot R.
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVES:

Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone important for the proper functioning of multiple organ systems. It has been hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency could contribute to or worsen outcomes in critical illness. The study objective was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, risk factors for its presence, and potential association with clinically relevant outcomes in critically ill children.

METHODS:

A prospective cohort study, conducted from 2005 to 2008 in 6 tertiary-care PICUs in Canada. Data and biological samples from 326 critically ill children up to 17 years of age were available for analysis. Total serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D was measured by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L was 69% (95% confidence interval, 64–74), and 23% (95% confidence interval, 19–28) for 25(OH)D between 50 to 75 nmol/L. Lower levels were associated with hypocalcemia, catecholamine utilization, and significant fluid bolus administration. Vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with a longer PICU length of stay (+1.92 days, P = .03) and increasing severity of illness as determined by the Pediatric Risk of Mortality score with every additional point increasing the likelihood of being vitamin D deficient by 8% (P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provides evidence that vitamin D deficiency is both common among critically ill children and associated with greater severity of critical illness. Further research will determine whether targeted vitamin D supplementation or rapid restoration will improve outcome.
Effect of Honey on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Cohen Herman Avner , Rozen Josef , Kristal Haim , Laks Yoseph , Berkovitch Mati , Uziel Yosef , Kozer Eran , Pomeranz Avishalom , Efrat Haim
Published: August 2012

OBJECTIVES:

To compare the effects of a single nocturnal dose of 3 honey products (eucalyptus honey, citrus honey, or labiatae honey) to placebo (silan date extract) on nocturnal cough and difficulty sleeping associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URIs).

METHODS:

A survey was administered to parents on 2 consecutive days, first on the day of presentation, when no medication had been given the previous evening, and the following day, when the study preparation was given before bedtime, based on a double-blind randomization plan. Participants included 300 children aged 1 to 5 years with URIs, nocturnal cough, and illness duration of ≤7 days from 6 general pediatric community clinics. Eligible children received a single dose of 10 g of eucalyptus honey, citrus honey, labiatae honey, or placebo administered 30 minutes before bedtime. Main outcome measures were cough frequency, cough severity, bothersome nature of cough, and child and parent sleep quality.

RESULTS:

In all 3 honey products and the placebo group, there was a significant improvement from the night before treatment to the night of treatment. However, the improvement was greater in the honey groups for all the main outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS:

Parents rated the honey products higher than the silan date extract for symptomatic relief of their children’s nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to URI. Honey may be a preferable treatment for cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood URI.