bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enfances d’aujourd’hui. De l’enfant citoyen à l’enfant artiste, les politiques de l’enfance
Authors: Kerlan Alain , Lemonchois Myriam
Published: April 2015

Reconnaître l’enfant dans son identité et sa différence constitue l’un des problèmes majeurs que doivent de nos jours affronter les politiques de l’enfance. Parce que les dispositifs d’éducation artistique ont une place croissante et significative dans les politiques de l’enfance, ils constituent des lieux pertinents pour étudier les mutations de la définition de l’enfance dans nos sociétés démocratiques. Pour comprendre ce que révèlent de l’enfance les politiques qui la concernent, nous proposons d’étudier la rencontre de l’enfance et de l’art dans les milieux éducatifs sous plusieurs angles : le rapport enfant-artiste, la parole subjective de l’élève en art, ce que l’art apporte aux écoles, ou encore, la place des références artistiques dans les classes.
Éducation artistique à l’école primaire : questionner les points de vue
Authors: Vendramini Cécile , Scherb André , Safourcade Sandra
Published: April 2015

Cette étude de l’expérience artistique à l’école primaire s’intéresse au recueil de propos d’élèves dans leur approche de l’oeuvre d’art. Deux situations de verbalisation sont analysées par le biais de deux dispositifs distincts, abordant la notion commune de point de vue. Les pratiques observées montrent un changement du paradigme d’enseignement des arts, qui vise moins l’acquisition de savoirs experts ou la production d’oeuvres achevées que l’expérience artistique vécue et ses conséquences pour le développement de compétences transversales et la construction de la personne. Diverses stratégies de sollicitation de l’élève visent l’émergence du sens par introspection ou par confrontation intersubjective. Elles sont explorées dans leurs richesses comme dans leurs limites.
Le sentiment d’autoefficacité et les stratégies d’apprentissage chez les étudiants de français langue seconde venant d’immersion
Authors: Peguret Muriel
Published: April 2015

Cette étude quantitative corrélationnelle explore la relation entre le sentiment d’autoefficacité des étudiants venant d’immersion, par rapport à l’apprentissage ou l’utilisation du français langue seconde en première année de français à l’université, et leur emploi de stratégies d’apprentissage. Nous avons découvert que le sentiment d’autoefficacité de nos participants est élevé. Les stratégies d’apprentissage sont employées assez fréquemment, mais ce sont les stratégies de compensation qui sont favorisées. Alors que le sentiment d’autoefficacité est lié à l’emploi de stratégies dans une majorité de contextes et de domaines d’expertise, il ne l’est généralement pas chez nos participants. Une explication possible pour ce résultat est que la pédagogie immersive véhicule une image incomplète des tâches d’apprentissage et d’utilisation de la langue qui a tendance à décourager l’emploi de stratégies d’apprentissage. Nous appelons à plus de recherches dans ce domaine, avec la visée générale d’aider les apprenants à développer un sentiment d’autoefficacité en français, qui serait à la fois optimiste et solide.
Systems Development for Records Archiving and Digital Documents Repository: A Case Study
Authors: Gamba Michael P. , Ocbian Magdalena M. , Gamba Maryjean N.
Published: April 2015

The presence of vast communication and information nowadays necessitates the need for a system to readily access and transfer data. The study aimed to develop records archiving and document repository to overcome the barrier of server client method of deploying the documents from one place to another and easier data access to its stakeholders. The Sorsogon State College in the Philippines has four campuses which are located strategically in four municipalities of Sorsogon province. Their distance from each other sometimes causes a problem particularly along communication and real time updates. General User Interface (GUI) of the application has been built on top of all web-enabled computers and even to the mobile devices, so it requires only installed web browsers to render the GUI onto their devices regardless of its platform and specifications. The installation of web-based archiving and repository on its main campus enables satellite campuses to connect to the college private server in a cost-effective manner through virtual private network that connects on top of the Internet service provider. This study overcomes the vulnerability of security by means of allowing user credentials to login at the private server using a 1024 bit Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) private/public key exchange and 256-bit Advance Encryption System (AES) encryption through its virtual private network. Contents of the uploaded files were being encrypted at 128-bit to prevent intranet users from sneaking the file contents.
The Employability Skills of the Overseas Filipino Workers
Authors: Torres Beulah Rose R.
Published: April 2015

A university tracks its graduates to determine if its curriculum has prepared students for the job market. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the self-perceived employability skills of sociology and economics graduates of Bukidnon State University, who are working overseas. The OFWs were traced by using the snowball sampling technique. Of the three measures of employability, they scored the highest on personal qualities followed by core skills and process skills. Rated the highest were 'self-awareness' and 'initiative' skills. By and large, the OFWs may be considered global citizens and lifelong learners if viewed through the lenses of an Australian model of employability. This implies that even if the academic credentials do not directly match with the job description. The graduates were hired on the basis of employability qualities and skills that were perhaps already embedded in the curriculum. The study concludes that the notion that discipline-based knowledge will guarantee a job is no longer applicable. Since knowledge will be outdated but nevertheless, the main component for obtaining a college degree, one of the recommendations is for the curriculum to connect transferable personality and skills development with the process of obtaining and generating knowledge. Further research must be pursued in terms of determining the specific values and attitudes that the employers of these OFWs prefer so that it would be possible for the university to identify the exact qualities and skills preferred by employers as a basis for curriculum development.
Baseline Assessment of the Vegetable Gardens (Gulayan Sa Paaralan) in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools
Authors: Molijon Anita , De La Rama Juana
Published: April 2015

“Gulayan sa Paaralan” (Vegetable Gardens) is one of the strategies of the National Greening Program of the government implemented to help promote food security. This study was undertaken to determine its status five years after its implementation. Descriptive research design was used. The 242 samples were randomly selected from the list of schools implementing Gulayan sa Paaralan from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit in Region X. A survey was done in 16 elementary and six high schools of Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. About 77% of the schools maintained vegetable gardens to serve as food basket or main source of vegetables to sustain supplementary feeding. Also, 77% of the schools surveyed used organic vegetable production. The schools taught agriculture in their Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) in the elementary schools and also in the Technology Livelihood Education (TLE) classes in the high schools. About 87% of the 220 pupils and students interviewed said that Gulayan sa Paaralan through vegetable gardening helped the school and their families economically. It is concluded that schools are still vibrant in theimplementation of the program. Through the program, the pupils learned to love and appreciate the field of agriculture.
La dictadura argentina y el rock: enemigos íntimos
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Favoretto Mara
Published: April 2015

Durante la última dictadura militar en Argentina (1976-1983) el rock nacional argentino llegó a ocupar un lugar –antes ocupado por el rock anglo– que aún mantiene. Este crecimiento acelerado tuvo una relación directa con el accionar de la censura y el discurso militar que se basaba en la lucha contra un supuesto “enemigo”. Lo interesante radica en que el primer enemigo creado por la junta militar era el “joven”, que por su adicción al rock –se decía– se convertiría en subversivo, por lo cual el rock fue perseguido por la censura. Sin embargo, al declarar la guerra contra Inglaterra en 1982, surgió otro enemigo. El régimen entendió que necesitaba el apoyo de los jóvenes, por lo que de ser enemigos pasaron a ser convocados a colaborar con el régimen cediéndoseles espacios públicos para persuadir a la población, a través de su música, a apoyar la guerra.Si bien el régimen parecía tener claro que la música cumplía una función social y política importante, no contó con que, lejos de apoyar la guerra y el discurso épico de los militares, el rock nacional usaría ese mismo escenario para resistir, disentir y expresar su solidaridad con los rockeros y ciudadanos ingleses.
Música y tortura en centros de detención chilenos: Conversaciones con un ex agente de la policía secreta de Pinochet
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chornik Katia
Published: April 2015

Al asumir el control del país en 1973, el General Augusto Pinochet estableció más de mil centros de detención política. Casi 40.000 personas estuvieron recluidas, sufriendo un régimen de terror, serias torturas físicas y sicológicas, y condiciones de vida precarias. Miles fueron ejecutados y desaparecidos. Este artículo investiga el paisaje musical de algunos de estos centros, del cual existen registros escasos y fragmentados, y ha sido poco estudiado por la crítica. Lo hace examinando el testimonio de un ex agente de la policía secreta (DINA) entrevistado por la autora, quien operó en Chacabuco, Tejas Verdes, Villa Grimaldi y Londres 38, entre otros centros. El artículo muestra cómo los agentes empleaban la música para dominar y adoctrinar a los presos, como forma y trasfondo de tortura, como medio para esconder los gritos de los reclusos y como pasatiempo, relacionando algunos de estos usos con la tortura sin contacto de la CIA. También examina los recuerdos del agente sobre las actividades de los prisioneros desarrolladas por su iniciativa, identificando discrepancias y ambigüedades. Concluye que el valor de yuxtaponer las perspectivas de las víctimas y perpetradores está en la posibilidad de reconstruir el paisaje musical en detención política de forma más completa.
O (Lp) Banquete dos Mendigos e a Censura Musical no Brasil (1973-2013)
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Ramos de Oliveira Marcia
Published: April 2015

El artículo presenta el Lp “O Banquete dos Mendigos” (1973) como prueba documental del recorte de la actividad artística y musical durante la dictadura cívico-militar brasileña (1964-1985). Las reflexiones presentadas se guían por la Historia del Tiempo Presente, relacionando esta perspectiva con planteamientos que dimensionaron la represión y el control del Estado sobre los músicos durante el régimen autoritario. También se busca medir la importancia de la fuente audiovisual y musical en la labor del historiador, teniendo como parámetro este estudio de caso específico.
Variability of the Southeast Pacific Subtropical Anticyclone and its impact on sea surface temperature off north-central Chile
Authors: Ancapichún Santiago , Garcés-Vargas José
Published: April 2015

The Southeast Pacific Subtropical Anticyclone (SPSA) extends over the entire South Pacific Basin and it is the dominant forcing of the Humboldt Current System. The SPSA has seasonal, interannual, and decadal (interdecadal) variability. The latter variability has been associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), recognized as a Pan-Pacific mode. However, most of the ocean–atmosphere studies on interdecadal scales have been conducted in the Northern Hemisphere, and very few in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, through reanalysis model outputs and satellite data, this research mainly establishes the relationship between SPSA and PDO in the period 1949–2012 and its impact on sea surface temperature along the north-central coast of Chile between 2000 and 2012. For this purpose we first analyzed the seasonal and interannual variability of the SPSA. An analysis of correlation between air pressure at sea level and the PDO and Southern Annular Mode (SAM) indices established that, at the interdecadal scale, these oscillations explained 49% and 40% of the variance, respectively; however, SAM had a time lag of six years to explain this variance. The PDO, in the air pressure field, produced similar changes to El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Over the past 13 years, the SPSA has intensified and shifted toward the southwest, increasing the offshore Ekman transport and Ekman suction, which would explain much of the observed coastal cooling south of 33º S (central Chile).
Overlap of juvenile polyposis syndrome and cowden syndrome due to de novo chromosome 10 deletion involving BMPR1A and PTEN: Implications for treatment and surveillance
Authors: Alimi Adebisi , Weeth‐Feinstein Lauren A. , Stettner Amy , Caldera Freddy , Weiss Jennifer M.
Published: April 2015

We describe a patient with a severe juvenile polyposis phenotype, due to a de novo deletion of chromosome 10q22.3‐q24.1. He was initially diagnosed with Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) at age four after presenting with hematochezia due to multiple colonic juvenile polyps. He then re‐presented at 23 years with recurrent hematochezia from juvenile polyps in his ileoanal pouch. He is one of the earliest reported cases of JPS associated with a large deletion of chromosome 10. Since his initial diagnosis of JPS further studies have confirmed an association between JPS and mutations in BMPR1A in chromosome band 10q23.2, which is in close proximity to PTEN. Mutations in PTEN cause Cowden syndrome (CS) and other PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes. Due to the chromosome 10 deletion involving contiguous portions of BMPR1A and PTEN in our patient, he may be at risk for CS associated cancers and features, in addition to the polyps associated with JPS. This case presents new challenges in developing appropriate surveillance algorithms to account for the risks associated with each syndrome and highlights the importance of longitudinal follow‐up and transitional care between pediatric and adult gastroenterology for patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of facial phenotypes of children with congenital hypopituitarism and their parents: A matched case‐control study
Authors: Manousaki Despoina , Allanson Judith , Wolf Lior , Deal Cheri
Published: April 2015

Congenital Hypopituitarism (CH) has traditionally been associated with specific facial phenotypes subsumed under the term midface retrusion, based on cephalometric studies. In this study, we used a systematic anthropometric approach to facial morphology in 37 individuals with CH and their parents, primarily of French Canadian ancestry, and compared them to a control group of 78 French Canadian patients with well‐controlled type 1 diabetes and their parents. We were able to demonstrate clear morphological differences, which were more prevalent in the affected group than in the control group. More specifically, we showed the presence of a shorter skull base width (P < 0.001) and reduced inner canthal distance (P = 0.006) in the CH face, as well as a relative underdevelopment of the mandible (P = 0.001). These findings were present in individuals of all ages, and were independent of the duration of growth hormone treatment (median treatment 90.8 months; range 7.2–175.8 months). In addition, skull base width was significantly reduced in both mothers and fathers of affected children compared to the parents of the controls (P < 0.001), despite comparable parental heights, supporting an underlying genetic etiology. Such extensive phenotypic studies have not been done in congenital hypopituitarism and will provide further opportunities for data mining. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Noonan syndrome‐like disorder with loose anagen hair: A second case with neuroblastoma
Authors: Garavelli Livia , Cordeddu Viviana , Errico Stefania , Bertolini Patrizia , Street Maria Elisabeth , Rosato Simonetta , Pollazzon Marzia , Wischmeijer Anita , Ivanovski Ivan , Daniele Paola , Bacchini Ermanno , Lombardi Alfonsa Anna , Izzi Giancarlo , Biasucci Giacomo , Del Rossi Carmine , Corradi Domenico , Cazzaniga Giovanni , Dominici Carlo , Rossi Cesare , De Luca Alessandro , Bernasconi Sergio , Riccardi Riccardo , Legius Eric , Tartaglia Marco
Published: April 2015

Noonan‐like syndrome with loose anagen hair (NSLH), also known as Mazzanti syndrome, is a RASopathy characterized by craniofacial features resembling Noonan syndrome, cardiac defects, cognitive deficits and behavioral issues, reduced growth generally associated with GH deficit, darkly pigmented skin, and an unique combination of ectodermal anomalies. Virtually all cases of NSLH are caused by an invariant and functionally unique mutation inSHOC2(c.4A>G, p.Ser2Gly). Here, we report on a child with molecularly confirmed NSLH who developed a neuroblastoma, first suspected at the age 3 months by abdominal ultrasound examination. Based on this finding, scanning of theSHOC2coding sequence encompassing the c.4A>G change was performed on selected pediatric cohorts of malignancies documented to occur in RASopathies (i.e., neuroblastoma, brain tumors, rhabdomyosarcoma, acute lymphoblastic, and myeloid leukemia), but failed to identify a functionally relevant cancer‐associated variant. While these results do not support a major role of somaticSHOC2mutations in these pediatric cancers, this second instance of neuroblastoma in NSLAH suggests a possible predisposition to this malignancy in subjects heterozygous for the c.4A>GSHOC2mutation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High plasma neurotensin levels in children with Prader–Willi syndrome
Authors: Butler Merlin G. , Nelson Tommy A. , Driscoll Daniel J. , Manzardo Ann M.
Published: April 2015

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is an obesity‐related genetic condition, most commonly due to a paternal deletion of the chromosome 15q11‐q13 region. PWS is characterized by growth hormone deficiency, infantile hypotonia and feeding problems, hypogenitalism/hypogonadism, increased pain threshold and thermal instability, decreased gastric motility, and hyperphagia in childhood leading to severe obesity. Neuro‐endocrine peptides are known to influence gastric function and pain sensation which led us to measure a specific peptide that may be involved [i.e., neurotensin (NT)] in PWS and compared with unrelated control siblings. Overnight fasting plasma NT levels were obtained from 23 children with confirmed PWS (age: 8.2 ± 2.0 years; range: 5–11 years) and 18 unaffected, unrelated siblings (age: 8.2 ± 2.3 years; range: 5–11 years) and measured using Multiplex sandwich immunoassays with the Luminex magnetic‐bead based platform. Plasma NT levels were natural log‐transformed and analyzed by ANOVA with adjustments for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). No difference was found in plasma NT levels for gender, age or BMI or significant correlations seen with age or BMI. Higher plasma NT levels (P < 0.001) were seen in PWS children (mean of 626 ± 238 pg/ml) compared with unaffected, unrelated siblings (mean of 371 ± 236 pg/ml). Plasma levels were also higher in children with maternal disomy 15 (736 ± 182 pg/ml) compared with those having the deletion subtype (548 ± 247 pg/ml, P < 0.04). Although no measures for pain threshold, thermal instability or gastric motility were performed in our study participants, higher plasma NT levels were found in PWS children. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Medical procedures and outcomes of Japanese patients with trisomy 18 or trisomy 13: Analysis of a nationwide administrative database of hospitalized patients
Authors: Ishitsuka Kazue , Matsui Hiroki , Michihata Nobuaki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Nakamura Tomoo , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: April 2015

The choices of aggressive treatment for trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13) remain controversial. Here, we describe the current medical procedures and outcomes of patients with T18 and T13 from a nationwide administrative database of hospitalized patients in Japan. We used the database to identify eligible patients with T18 (n = 438) and T13 (n = 133) who were first admitted to one of 200 hospitals between July 2010 and March 2013. Patients were divided into admission at day <7 (early neonatal) and admission at day ≥7 (late neonatal and post neonatal) groups, and we described the medical intervention and status at discharge for each group. In the day <7 groups, surgical interventions were performed for 56 (19.9%) T18 patients and 22 (34.4%) T13 patients, including pulmonary artery banding, and procedures for esophageal atresia and omphalocele. None received intracardiac surgery. The rate of patients discharged to home was higher in the day ≥7 groups than the day <7 groups (T18: 72.6 vs. 38.8%; T13: 73.9 vs. 21.9%, respectively). Our data show that a substantial number of patients with trisomy received surgery and were then discharged home, but, of these, a considerable number required home medical care. This included home oxygen therapy, home mechanical ventilation, and tube feeding. These findings will be useful to clinicians or families who care for patients with T18 and T13. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A semilinear singular Sturm–Liouville equation involving measure data
Authors: Wang Hui
Published: April 2015

Given

\alpha > 0

and

p > 1

, let

μ

be a bounded Radon measure on the interval

(−1,1)

. We are interested in the equation

−(|x|^{2\alpha}u^{′})^{′} + |u|^{p−1}u = \mu

on

(−1,1)

with boundary condition

u(−1) = u(1) = 0

. We establish some existence and uniqueness results. We examine the limiting behavior of three approximation schemes. The isolated singularity at 0 is also investigated.
A non-dynamically coherent example on \( T^{3} \)
Authors: Rodriguez Hertz M.A. , Ures R. , Rodriguez Hertz F.
Published: April 2015

In this paper we give the first example of a non-dynamically coherent partially hyperbolic diffeomorphism with one-dimensional center bundle. The existence of such an example had been an open question since 1975 [2].
An improvement on the Brézis–Gallouët technique for 2D NLS and 1D half-wave equation
Authors: Ozawa Tohru , Visciglia Nicola
Published: April 2015

We revise the classical approach by Brézis–Gallouët to prove global well-posedness for nonlinear evolution equations. In particular we prove global well-posedness for the quartic NLS on general domains Ω in

\mathbb{R}^{2}

with initial data in

H^{2}(\mathrm{\Omega }) \cap H_{0}^{1}(\mathrm{\Omega })

, and for the quartic nonlinear half-wave equation on

\mathbb{R}

with initial data in

H^{1}(\mathbb{R})

.
Global bifurcation theory for periodic traveling interfacial gravity–capillary waves
Authors: Ambrose David M. , Strauss Walter A. , Wright J. Douglas
Published: April 2015

We consider the global bifurcation problem for spatially periodic traveling waves for two-dimensional gravity–capillary vortex sheets. The two fluids have arbitrary constant, non-negative densities (not both zero), the gravity parameter can be positive, negative, or zero, and the surface tension parameter is positive. Thus, included in the parameter set are the cases of pure capillary water waves and gravity–capillary water waves. Our choice of coordinates allows for the possibility that the fluid interface is not a graph over the horizontal. We use a technical reformulation which converts the traveling wave equations into a system of the form “identity plus compact.” Rabinowitz' global bifurcation theorem is applied and the final conclusion is the existence of either a closed loop of solutions, or an unbounded set of nontrivial traveling wave solutions which contains waves which may move arbitrarily fast, become arbitrarily long, form singularities in the vorticity or curvature, or whose interfaces self-intersect.
Impact of User-Generated and Professional Critics Reviews on Bollywood Movie Success
Authors: Niraj Rakesh , Singh Jagdip
Published: April 2015

User generated (e.g., peer-to-peer or word-of-mouth) reviews and professional experts’ reviews are important sources of external information that consumers use in making consumption decisions, but studies of their simultaneous effects is scarce. We develop a conceptual model for hypothesizing the simultaneous effects of the volume and valence of user and expert reviews on sales (i.e., box-office) revenue in the consumption of entertainment products (i.e., movies). We gather and analyze the User Generated Reviews (UGRs) using a text processing algorithm and evaluate resulting semantic networks to validate our approach. Combining these data with other relevant data from multiple sources for all Bollywood movies released over a six month period, we test the hypotheses proposed in the model. We find that, after controlling for effect of expert reviews, both volume and valence of user generated reviews have significant positive association with box-office revenue; however, valence evidences a curvilinear (saturation) effect such that positivity effect shows decreasing returns at high positivity levels. We also find that expert reviews positively affect box office revenue with little evidence of saturation or amplifying effects.
Outcomes and strategies in the ‘New Great Game’: China and the Caspian states emerge as winners
Authors: Smith Stegen Karen , Kusznir Julia
Published: April 2015

The decades-long struggle for control over oil and natural gas resources, infrastructure and influence in the Caspian region has been referred to as the ‘New Great Game’, with Europe, China, the US and Russia typically cited as the main combatants. We explore recent developments and aver that, if present trends continue, Europe will have access to Azerbaijan's resources, China to those of the East Caspian states, the US will stay commercially and strategically engaged, and Russia's influence will (continue to) diminish. How did this unexpected turn of events arise? We examine China's dominance and argue that the foreign policies of the US and Russia – within the region and even further abroad – have inadvertently driven the East Caspian states and China towards each other. Wary of potential maritime chokepoints in the Pacific, China feels strongly compelled to shore up resources and influence in the Caspian region. In part because of Russia's intransigence regarding the Caspian Sea's status, the East Caspian states – faced with constrained access to the West – have turned to China as an alternative market and counterbalance to Russia.
The effects of theCACNA1Crs1006737 A/G on affective startle modulation in healthy males
Authors: Pasparakis E. , Koiliari E. , Zouraraki C. , Tsapakis E.-M. , Roussos P. , Giakoumaki S.G. , Bitsios P.
Published: April 2015

Background:

TheCACNA1Crs1006737 risk A allele has been associated with affective psychoses and functional studies indicate that it is associated with increased hippocampal/amygdala activity during emotional face-processing. Here we studied the impact of the risk A allele on affective startle modulation.

Methods:

Hundred and ninety-four healthy males stratified for theirCACNA1Crs1006737 genotype (GG:111, GA:67, AA:16) were presented with 18 pleasant, 18 unpleasant and 18 neutral pictures with acoustic probes (104 dB) occurring during 12 pictures in each affective category. Baseline startle was assessed during blank screens. State mood was self-rated on arrival, pre- and post-test and the emotional valence and arousal of affective pictures at post-test.

Results:

Relative to the other genotypes, risk A allele homozygotes presented with higher anxiety/negative affect at pre-test, reduced and exaggerated physiological responses to the pleasant and negative pictures respectively, negative affect with reduced arousal at post-test and rated the affective pictures as less arousing and inconsistently to their physiological responses (allP< 0.05). Sustained contextual negative mood predicted reduced baseline and affective startle reactivity in the AA group.

Conclusions:

Healthy homozygous males for the risk A allele appear to have marked contextual sensitivity, affective reactivity akin to anxiety and depression and inefficient emotional appraisal. Our findings provide phenotypic detail of theCACNA1CAA genotype in non-symptomatic individuals, which suggest primary effects in emotional circuitry, consistent with previously documented alterations in hippocampal/amygdala processing.
Maternal tobacco smoking in pregnancy and children’s socio-emotional development at age 5: The EDEN mother-child birth cohort study
Authors: Melchior M. , Hersi R. , van der Waerden J. , Larroque B. , Saurel-Cubizolles M.-J. , Chollet A. , Galéra C.
Published: April 2015

Background

There is debate as to whether maternal tobacco use in pregnancy is related to offspring behaviour later on. We tested this association examining multiple aspects of children's behaviour at age 5 and accounting for parental smoking outside of pregnancy, as well as child and family characteristics.

Methods

Data come from a prospective community based birth cohort study (EDEN; n = 1113 families in France followed since pregnancy in 2003–2005 until the child's 5th birthday). Maternal tobacco use in pregnancy was self-reported. Children's socio-emotional development (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, prosocial behaviour) was assessed by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at age 5 years. Logistic regression analyses controlled for Inverse Probability Weights (IPW) of maternal tobacco use calculated based on study center, children's characteristics (sex, premature birth, low birth weight, breastfeeding), maternal characteristics (age at the child's birth, psychological difficulties and alcohol use in pregnancy, post-pregnancy depression, and smoking), paternal smoking in and post-pregnancy, parental educational attainment, family income, parental separation, and maternal negative life events.

Results

Maternal smoking in pregnancy only predicted children's high symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention (sex and study center-adjusted ORs: maternal smoking in the 1st trimester: 1.95, 95%CI: 1.13–3.38; maternal smoking throughout pregnancy: OR = 2.11, 95%CI: 1.36–3.27). In IPW-controlled regression models, only children of mothers who smoked throughout pregnancy had significantly elevated levels of hyperactivity/inattention (OR = 2.20, 95%CI: 1.21–4.00).

Conclusions

Maternal tobacco smoking in pregnancy may contribute directly or through epigenetic mechanisms to children's symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention.
Vibrio vulnificus glycogen branching enzyme preferentially transfers very short chains: N1 domain determines the chain length transferred
Authors: Jo Hye-Jin , Park Sunghoon , Jeong Hee-Gon , Kim Jung-Wan , Park Jong-Tae
Published: April 2015

The glycogen branching enzyme from Vibrio vulnificus (VvGBE) transfers short side chains (DP 3–5) significantly greater than any other bacterial glycogen branching enzyme (GBE). To elucidate the role of the N‐domain of VvGBE in the unique branching pattern, domain‐truncated (N1 and N) and N1‐domain‐swapped (with VvGBE N1 replacing the counter part of Escherichia coli GBE) mutants were constructed. The truncation mutants synthesized branched products with a greatly reduced proportion of short chains. The swapping mutant exhibited a branching pattern of the short chain region similar to that of VvGBE. We conclude that the N1‐domain of VvGBE has a crucial role in the determination of the branching pattern of glycogen.
The N‐terminal acidic residue of the cytosolic helix 8 of an odorant receptor is responsible for different response dynamics via G‐protein
Authors: Kawasaki Takashi , Saka Takahiro , Mine Shouhei , Mizohata Eiichi , Inoue Tsuyoshi , Matsumura Hiroyoshi , Sato Takaaki
Published: April 2015

We previously observed highly rapid and robust response of murine olfactory receptor S6 (mOR‐S6) with chimeric Gα15_olf, compared to Gα15. To identify residues responsible for this difference in response, mutations of the cytosolic helix 8 were analyzed in a heterologous functional expression system. The N‐terminal hydrophobic core between helix 8 and TM1–2 of mOR‐S6 is important for activation of both Gα15_olf and Gα15. Point mutation of a helix 8 N‐terminal acidic residue eliminated the differences in response dynamics via Gα. This result suggests that an N‐terminal acidic residue of helix 8 is responsible for rapid response via Gα15_olf.
miR‐889 promotes proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas through DAB2IP
Authors: Xu Yanting , He Jiangtu , Wang Yue , Zhu Xinyi , Pan Qiuhui , Xie Qiuling , Sun Fenyong
Published: April 2015

MicroRNAs have been reported to play critical roles in various cancers, but there has been no study on the role of miR‐889 in cancers. Here, we report that over‐expression of miR‐889 leads to rapid proliferation of EC109 and EC9706 cells in vitro and in vivo by inducing cells into S‐phase. Using bioinformatics methods, DAB2IP was further confirmed to be a direct target of miR‐889. In addition, the expression of DAB2IP, which was negatively correlated with that of miR‐889, was significantly associated with clinicopathological features of ESCC patients. In conclusion, miR‐889 is an important regulator in ESCC and both miR‐889 and DAB2IP may serve as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in patients with ESCC.
Endometrial ILKAP expression among patients with endometriosis and its association with clinical characteristics
Authors: Shao Guangying , Zheng Qiaomei , Xu Xiaoxuan , Zhao Jing , Liu Peishu
Published: April 2015

Objective

To investigate expression of ILKAP among women with endometriosis and its association with clinical characteristics.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at a center in China in 2012, using samples of ectopic (n = 55) and eutopic (n = 33) endometrium from women with endometriosis, and control endometrium samples (n = 33) from women without endometriosis. Information on clinical characteristics was obtained from records. The expression of ILKAP was tested by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The expression of ILKAP was higher in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle than in the proliferative phase, and it was lower in eutopic and ectopic endometriosis tissue than in control endometrium (P < 0.001 for both). A lower expression of ILKAP in ectopic endometrium was associated with moderate‐to‐severe dysmenorrhea, infertility for more than 1 year, a cancer antigen 125 level of more than 35 U/mL, a disease duration of at least 1 year, and American Fertility Society grade IV disease (P < 0.05 for all).

Conclusion

A low level of ILKAP could facilitate the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Additionally, the level of ILKAP expression in ectopic endometrium might reflect the severity of endometriosis.
Near missed reversible cardiomyopathy
Authors: Al-Fayyadh Majid , Alwadai Abdualah , Huzaimi Abdulah Al , Haíees Zohair Al
Published: April 2015

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a devastating disease affecting the myocardium that is characterized by cardiac chamber dilatation with contractile function impairment in the absence of structural heart disease. The majority of cases are idiopathic; these patients have a poor outcome. However, identifying a reversible etiology and instituting appropriate inter-vention could reverse the disease process and result in complete recovery. An electrocardio-gram is a simple, non-invasive and quick test that should be performed in each patient presenting with dilated cardiomyopathy. Failure to perform this test or misinterpreting its result could result in a tragic misdiagnosis of idiopathic cardiomyopathy, depriving the patient of a potentially curative intervention. Here, we report two cases of dilated cardiomyopathy caused by clinical conditions with recognizable ECGs. In both cases, the diagnosis was missed initially, delaying corrective interventions. These cases draw attention to the importance of performing and correctly interpreting ECGs in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
The obesity epidemic in children
Authors: Liu Gilbert C. , Hannon Tamara , Qi Rong , Downs Stephen M. , Marrero David G.
Published: April 2015

Background and objectives:

National surveillance clearly illustrates that U.S. chil-dren are becoming increasingly overweight. However, the timing of the onset of childhood overweight has not been well-described.

Patients and methods:

An accelerated failure time (AFT) model was used to describe the emergence of overweight based on a 12-year collection of height and weight data of over 40,000 children. Race, sex, insurance status and their interactions were specifically examined as predictors of earlier onset of overweight. The outcome of interest was an estimate of the age at which the model predicted that a subgroup would attain a 20% prevalence of over-weight.

Results:

The three-way interaction of race, sex, and insurance status was a significant predic-tor of onset of overweight. The model estimated that the publicly insured Latino male sub-group had the earliest onset of overweight, attaining a prevalence of 20% overweight by 4.3 years of age. The emergence of overweight in Latino subjects was significantly earlier than that for black or white subjects, irrespective of sex or insurance status.

Conclusion:

Regardless of sex or insurance status, overweight emerges at significantly younger ages in Latino children when compared to black and white children. Substantial numbers of Latino male children are predicted to develop overweight at preschool ages. Obesity prevention may need to be directed toward parents or children well before children enter grade-school.
Computable cause‐and‐effect models of healthy and Alzheimer's disease states and their mechanistic differential analysis
Authors: Kodamullil Alpha Tom , Younesi Erfan , Naz Mufassra , Bagewadi Shweta , Hofmann‐Apitius Martin
Published: April 2015

Introduction

The discovery and development of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires a profound mechanistic understanding of the disease. Here, we propose a model‐driven approach supporting the systematic identification of putative disease mechanisms.

Methods

We have created a model for AD and a corresponding model for the normal physiology of neurons using biological expression language to systematically model causal and correlative relationships between biomolecules, pathways, and clinical readouts. Through model‐model comparison we identify “chains of causal relationships” that lead to new insights into putative disease mechanisms.

Results

Using differential analysis of our models we identified a new mechanism explaining the effect of amyloid‐beta on apoptosis via both the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor, type 2 and nerve growth factor receptor branches of the neurotrophin signaling pathway. We also provide the example of a model‐guided interpretation of genetic variation data for a comorbidity analysis between AD and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Discussion

The two computable, literature‐based models introduced here provide a powerful framework for the generation and validation of rational, testable hypotheses across disease areas.
RETRACTED: Targeting MYCN IRES in MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma with miR‐375 inhibits tumor growth and sensitizes tumor cells to radiation
Authors: Zhang Hailong , Liu Tao , Yi Sha , Gu Lubing , Zhou Muxiang
Published: April 2015

The MYCN oncogene is amplified in 20% of neuroblastomas, leading to its overexpression at both the mRNA and protein levels. MYCN overexpression is strongly associated with advanced disease stage, rapid tumor progression and a worse prognosis. In the present study, we identified microRNA‐375 (miR‐375) as a negative regulator of MYCN: enforced expression of miR‐375 inhibited MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Upon searching the website miRbase for possible miR‐375 binding sites within the whole MYCN mRNA, we found that the MYCN 5′‐UTR had significant sequence complementarity to miR‐375, yet no complementary sequences existed within the MYCN 3′‐UTR and coding regions. Enforced overexpression of miR‐375 efficiently inhibited MYCN mRNA translation and protein synthesis, via an IRES‐dependent mechanism. In athymic nude mouse model with human MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma, MYCN downregulation by miR‐375 led to inhibition of tumor cell growth and tumorigenicity. In particular, miR‐375‐regulated inhibition of MYCN translation was enhanced when MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma cells were exposed to stress stimulation, such as ionizing irradiation (IR), resulting in a remarkable increase in the neuroblastoma's sensitivity to IR‐induced cell death. Our results identified a novel mechanism by which IRES‐dependent translation of MYCN is repressed by miR‐375, particularly during cellular stress, highlighting a potential anticancer strategy: the development of miR‐375 as a novel therapeutic agent to treat MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma.
Upregulated interleukin‐6 expression contributes to erlotinib resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Stanam Aditya , Love-Homan Laurie , Joseph Tisha S. , Espinosa-Cotton Madelyn , Simons Andrean L.
Published: April 2015

Despite the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development and progression, clinical trials involving EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have yielded poor results in HNSCC patients. Mechanisms of acquired resistance to the EGFR TKI erlotinib was investigated by developing erlotinib‐resistant HNSCC cell lines and comparing their gene expression profiles with their parental erlotinib‐sensitive HNSCC cell lines using microarray analyses and subsequent pathway and network analyses. Erlotinib‐resistant HNSCC cells displayed a significant upregulation in immune response and inflammatory pathways compared to parental cells. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was one of thirteen genes that was significantly differentially expressed in all erlotinib‐resistant HNSCC cell lines, which was validated using RT‐PCR and ELISA. Blockade of IL‐6 signaling using the IL‐6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab, was able to overcome erlotinib‐resistance in erlotinib‐resistant SQ20B tumors in vivo. Overall, erlotinib‐resistant HNSCC cells display elevated IL‐6 expression levels compared to erlotinib‐sensitive HNSCC cells and blockade of the IL‐6 signaling pathway may be an effective strategy to overcome resistance to erlotinib and possibly other EGFR TKIs for HNSCC therapy.
Preclinical validation of anti‐nuclear factor‐kappa B therapy to inhibit human vestibular schwannoma growth
Authors: Dilwali Sonam , Briët Martijn C. , Kao Shyan-Yuan , Fujita Takeshi , Landegger Lukas D. , Platt Michael P. , Stankovic Konstantina M.
Published: April 2015

Vestibular schwannomas (VSs), the most common tumors of the cerebellopontine angle, arise from Schwann cells lining the vestibular nerve. Pharmacotherapies against VS are almost non‐existent. Although the therapeutic inhibition of inflammatory modulators has been established for other neoplasms, it has not been explored in VS. A bioinformatic network analysis of all genes reported to be differentially expressed in human VS revealed a pro‐inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) as a central molecule in VS pathobiology. Assessed at the transcriptional and translational level, canonical NF‐κB complex was aberrantly activated in human VS and derived VS cultures in comparison to control nerves and Schwann cells, respectively. Cultured primary VS cells and VS‐derived human cell line HEI‐193 were treated with specific NF‐κB siRNAs, experimental NF‐κB inhibitor BAY11‐7082 (BAY11) and clinically relevant NF‐κB inhibitor curcumin. Healthy human control Schwann cells from the great auricular nerve were also treated with BAY11 and curcumin to assess toxicity. All three treatments significantly reduced proliferation in primary VS cultures and HEI‐193 cells, with siRNA, 5 μM BAY11 and 50 μM curcumin reducing average proliferation (±standard error of mean) to 62.33% ± 10.59%, 14.3 ± 9.7%, and 23.0 ± 20.9% of control primary VS cells, respectively. These treatments also induced substantial cell death. Curcumin, unlike BAY11, also affected primary Schwann cells. This work highlights NF‐κB as a key modulator in VS cell proliferation and survival and demonstrates therapeutic efficacy of directly targeting NF‐κB in VS.
The ‘logic of escalation’ in performance measurement: An analysis of the dynamics of a research evaluation system
Authors: Woelert Peter
Published: April 2015

This paper makes a conceptual contribution to the understanding of the ‘alternative logics’ (Pollitt) occurring in performance measurement systems in crucial public policy domains. The major focus is on what has been referred to as ‘logic of escalation’ (Pollitt) that manifests itself where performance measurement is strongly geared toward quantified performance indicators. What characterizes this logic is the unfolding of a peculiar dynamics through which performance measurement becomes increasingly expansive and technical (and hence costly), and, in political terms, control-focused. Drawing mainly on the conceptual resources of Edmund Husserl’s phenomenological philosophy, as well as on Michael Power’s work on (performance) measurement, it is shown that this sort of dynamics is linked to the constitution of quantitative performance measures as ‘abstractions from abstractions’. In addition, I highlight some of the organizational dimensions of the ‘logic of escalation’. I use the current Australian research evaluation system as a paradigmatic case to exemplify and ground my major conceptual points and observations.
On the interaction between momentum effect and size effect
Authors: Alhenawi Yasser
Published: April 2015

This paper uses a sample of firms listed in the NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ between January 1963 and December 2012 to analyze the interaction between size effect and momentum effect in cross‐sectional stock returns. Furthermore, this paper focuses on the evolution of this interaction through different market states. I report a significant shift in stock returns structure during the rising markets of the 1990s and the 2000s. First, momentum has absorbed the size effect. Second, the momentum effect has become stronger in larger, not smaller, firms. These patterns are indicative of a strong interaction between the two effects. Conceivably, in up markets, firms grow fast, and thus, the size and momentum effects stem from a common economic phenomenon: growth. The findings are robust to variations in the length of the formation period and to the use of residual return (instead of total return) to rank stocks.