bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcyclin‐binding protein/Siah‐1‐interacting protein as a regulator of transcriptional responses in brain cells
Authors: Kilanczyk Ewa , Filipek Anna , Hetman Michal
Published: August 2014

The calcyclin‐binding protein/Siah‐1‐interacting protein (CacyBP/SIP) is highly expressed in the brain and has been shown to regulate β‐catenin‐driven transcription in thymocytes. Therefore, we investigated whether CacyBP/SIP plays a role as a transcriptional regulator in brain cells. In brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)‐ and forskolin‐stimulated rat primary cortical neurons, overexpression of CacyBP/SIP enhanced transcriptional activity of the cAMP‐response element (CRE). In addition, overexpressed CacyBP/SIP enhanced BDNF‐mediated activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) but not the serum response element (SRE). These stimulatory effects required an intact C‐terminal domain of CacyBP/SIP. Moreover, in C6 rat glioma cells, the overexpressed CacyBP/SIP enhanced activation of CRE and NFAT following forskolin and serum stimulation, respectively. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous CacyBP/SIP reduced activation of CRE and NFAT but not of SRE. Taken together, these results indicate that CacyBP/SIP is a novel regulator of CRE‐ and NFAT‐driven transcription.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simultaneous measuring of magnetic field and temperature based on photonic crystal fiber loop filled with magnetic fluid
Authors: Zhang Yuyan , Zhao Yong , Li Zhi
Published: August 2014

A novel simultaneous measurement method for magnetic field and temperature is proposed based on the photonic crystal fiber loop mirror selectively filled magnetic fluid. The measuring principle was introduced in detail and verified by experiment. Sensitivity coefficients that the pitch between adjacent resonant valley and the resonant valley drift changed with temperature and magnetic field were achieved theoretically and found to be consistent basically. Therefore, the temperature and magnetic field can be simultaneous detected according to the two‐parameter matrix. The measurement errors and the fitting curves between resonant valley pitch, resonant valley shift, and temperature/magnetic field were given by experiment. The results show that the theoretical calculations and experimental results are basically consistent, and the scheme is feasible. The detection resolution of temperature and magnetic field were 0.07°C and 0.41 Oe respectively for resolution of 0.02 nm spectrometer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2548–2552, 2014
Modeling of the antenna effects and calibration for subsurface probing
Authors: Nounouh Soufiane , Eyraud Christelle , Tortel Hervé , Litman Amélie
Published: August 2014

In near‐subsurface imaging, the antenna constitutes an important part of the probing device. Unfortunately, during the data processing sequence, its radiation pattern is often neglected, inappropriately approximated, or accurately modeled, but with heavy procedure. In the present work, we propose an approach for accurately modeling the antenna behavior. The methodology was derived keeping in mind that it must remain simple to implement and that it should not require a complete description of the antenna geometry. Instead, a correctly balanced set of elementary sources, acquired through free‐space transmission measurements, are introduced to mimic the antenna radiation characteristics. Comparisons with experimental fields acquired in controlled laboratory conditions show that this procedure allows a correct implementation of the antenna effect. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2516–2522, 2014
Electromagnetic scattering from periodic dielectric rough surfaces by transform method
Authors: Tezel Necmi Serkan
Published: August 2014

In this study, a new and very computational effective method related to electromagnetic scattering from periodic dielectric surfaces is proposed. This method is based on Taylor series expansion of fields on the planes which are below and above of the periodic surface. The fields are represented by Floquet modes with unknown coefficients. Using the boundary condition, series equations are obtained. These series equations can be solved using orthogonality properties of Fourier expansion functions. Thismtransformation makes the problem simple formulation and computational effectively without involving calculation of slowly converging periodic Green's function. The proposed method can be extended for solution of electromagnetic scattering from multilayer periodic dielectric rough straightforwardly. Results and computational times obtained by transform method and those obtained by Method of Moments (MoM) technique are compared. Good agreements are observed in results. It is also observed that transform method needs much less computational time than MoM method. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2572–2576, 2014
A directional method of extrinsic resistance determination for millimeter‐wave small‐signal model
Authors: Nguyen Tung The‐Lam , Kim Sam‐Dong
Published: August 2014

We propose in this study an approach to highly reliable extraction scheme for the extrinsic resistances of the W‐band metamorphic high electron mobility transistors. This method uses a directional search technique to determine the channel resistance of the device under zero‐biased condition by minimizing the fitting errors between hot field effect transistor model S‐parameters and measurements. From this, the extraction accuracies of the extrinsic resistances and all intrinsic parameters are greatly improved. Extractions for the parasitic elements are performed at four different gate widths (2 × 10 µm, 2 × 20 µm, 2 × 30 µm, and 2 × 70 µm), and we achieved the most accurate parameter prediction among the small‐signal models reported to date with an effective fitting error of 10.69% in a frequency range of 0.5–110 GHz. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2609–2612, 2014
A 24‐GHz radar sensor with a six‐port network for short‐range detection
Authors: Yang Jong‐Ryul , Hong Songcheol
Published: August 2014

The miniaturized radar sensor for detecting short distances is realized using a six‐port network. The six‐port network of the radar sensor consists of passive components and RF power detectors. The power detector obtains a highly accurate DC voltage because DC offsets are cancelled using a dummy structure in the detector. The maximum error of a distance measurement to 3 m is approximately 2% for a single target. Using traveling wave antennas, the distances to two targets with different directions are measured with 6.7% maximum detection error to 1 m. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2634–2637, 2014
Tunable L‐band fiber lasers using fiber bragg gratings and wavelength reflector
Authors: Liaw Shien‐Kuei , Wu Wen‐Fang , Shin Chow‐Shing
Published: August 2014

An L‐band tunable linear cavity fiber laser using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and wavelength reflector as cavity ends is investigated. A four‐lamina composite device is used to facilitate tunable wavelength with 0.1‐nm tuning resolution. Two strain‐tunable FBGs are demonstrated with whole tuning range from 1574.5 to 1602.4 nm. A stable lasing output power at 1582.0 nm has 11.5 mW threshold pump power and 59 dB side‐mode suppression ratio, respectively, using 10 M erbium‐doped fiber and 100 mW pump power. The measured slope efficiency is 12.2% corresponding to 13.0% of quantum efficiency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2681–2683, 2014
Multiband bandpass filters with suppressed harmonics using a novel defected ground structure
Authors: Hejazi Zuhair M. , Ali Zeshan
Published: August 2014

A novel defected ground structure, with a predominantly magnetic coupling, is designed, fabricated, and used to suppress the out‐of‐band harmonics of a class of multiband filter, characterized by very abrupt spurious response. A one‐pole lowpass filter is realized solely by making slots on the ground plane and keeping the original filter structure unchanged. The proposed structure has very minor effect on the performance of the original multiband filter, for example, on fractional bandwidths or level of S11. Measurements show the achieved suppression level of the filter spurious response to vary from 13 to 37 dB over a frequency range of about 1.5 GHz. Excellent agreements are observed between measurements and simulations within the filter bands. The filter size is maintained compact as the original. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2726–2731, 2014
Acceleration and motion‐correction techniques for high‐resolution intravascular MRI
Authors: Hegde Shashank Sathyanarayana , Zhang Yi , Bottomley Paul A.
Published: August 2014

Purpose

High‐resolution intravascular (IV) MRI is susceptible to degradation from physiological motion and requires high frame‐rates for true endoscopy. Traditional cardiac‐gating techniques compromise efficiency by reducing the effective scan rate. Here we test whether compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction and ungated motion‐compensation using projection shifting, could provide faster motion‐suppressed, IVMRI.

Theory and Methods

CS reconstruction is developed for undersampled Cartesian and radial imaging using a new IVMRI‐specific cost function to effectively increase imaging speed. A new motion correction method is presented wherein individual IVMRI projections are shifted based on the IVMRI detector's intrinsic amplitude and phase properties. The methods are tested at 3 Tesla (T) in fruit, human vessel specimens, and a rabbit aorta in vivo. Images are compared using structural‐similarity and “spokal variation” indices.

Results

Although some residual artifacts persisted, CS acceleration and radial motion compensation strategies reduced motion artifact in vitro and in vivo, allowing effective accelerations of up to eight‐fold at 200–300 µm resolution.

Conclusion

The 3T IVMRI detectors are well‐suited to CS and motion correction strategies based on their intrinsic radially‐sparse sensitivity profiles and high signal‐to‐noise ratios. While benefits of faster free‐breathing high‐resolution IVMRI and reduced motion sensitivity are realized, there are costs to spatial resolution, and some motion artifacts may persist. Magn Reson Med 74:452–461, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Minimizing lipid signal bleed in brain 1H chemical shift imaging by post‐acquisition grid shifting
Authors: Zhang Yi , Zhou Jinyuan , Bottomley Paul A.
Published: August 2014

Purpose

Low spatial resolution in conventional 1H brain chemical shifting imaging (CSI) studies causes partial volume error (PVE) or signal “bleed” that is especially deleterious to voxels near the scalp. The standard spatial apodization approach adversely affects spatial resolution. Here, a novel automated post‐processing strategy of partial volume correction employing grid shifting (“PANGS”) is presented, which minimizes residual PVE without compromising spatial resolution.

Methods

PANGS shifts the locations of the reconstruction coordinates in a designated region of image space—the scalp, to match the tissue “centers‐of‐mass” instead of the geometric centers of each voxel, by iteratively minimizing the PVE from the scalp into outside voxels. PANGS' performance was evaluated by numerical simulation, and in 3 Tesla 1H CSI human studies employing outer volume suppression and long echo times.

Results

PANGS reduced lipid contamination of cortical spectra by up to 86% (54% on average). Metabolite maps exhibited significantly less lipid artifact than conventional and spatially‐filtered CSI. All methods generated quantitatively identical spectral peak areas from central brain locations, but spatial filtering increased spectral linewidths and reduced spatial resolution.

Conclusion

PANGS significantly reduces lipid artifacts in 1H brain CSI spectra and metabolite maps, and improves metabolite detection in cortical regions without compromising resolution. Magn Reson Med 74:320–329, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diabetes‐Related Quality of Life and the Demands and Burdens of Diabetes Care Among Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes in the Year After High School Graduation
Authors: Hanna Kathleen M. , Weaver Michael T. , Slaven James E. , Fortenberry J. Dennis , DiMeglio Linda A.
Published: August 2014

The roles of glycemic control, diabetes management, diabetes care responsibility, living independently of parents, and time since high school graduation in predicting diabetes‐related quality of life (DQOL) were examined in 184 emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Data were collected at graduation and 1 year later. Analyses controlling for selected covariates were completed using generalized linear mixed models. Better diabetes management was associated with more positive responses on all four dimensions of DQOL. Impact and worry of DQOL were greater in the presence of depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction was lower. DQOL life satisfaction was lower in those living independently of parents. Young women reported poorer diabetes‐related health status than did young men. Time since graduation was not linked to DQOL. Further research is needed on ways to improve DQOL in conjunction with diabetes management and on ways that families can support DQOL when youth live independently. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficacy of a group‐based dietary intervention for limiting gestational weight gain among obese women: A randomized trial
Authors: Vesco Kimberly K. , Karanja Njeri , King Janet C. , Gillman Matthew W. , Leo Michael C. , Perrin Nancy , McEvoy Cindy T. , Eckhardt Cara L. , Smith K. Sabina , Stevens Victor J.
Published: August 2014

Objective

Observational studies suggest that minimal gestational weight gain (GWG) may optimize pregnancy outcomes for obese women. This trial tested the efficacy of a group‐based weight management intervention for limiting GWG among obese women.

Methods

One hundred and fourteen obese women (BMI [mean ± SD] 36.7 ± 4.9 kg/m2) were randomized between 7 and 21 weeks' (14.9 ± 2.6) gestation to intervention (n = 56) or usual care control conditions (n = 58). The intervention included individualized calorie goals, advice to maintain weight within 3% of randomization and follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension dietary pattern without sodium restriction, and attendance at weekly group meetings until delivery. Control participants received one‐time dietary advice. Our three main outcomes were maternal weight change from randomization to 2 weeks postpartum and from randomization to 34 weeks gestation, and newborn large‐for‐gestational age (birth weight >90th percentile, LGA).

Results

Intervention participants gained less weight from randomization to 34 weeks gestation (5.0 vs. 8.4 kg, mean difference = −3.4 kg, 95% CI [‐5.1‐1.8]), and from randomization to 2 weeks postpartum (−2.6 vs. +1.2 kg, mean difference = −3.8 kg, 95% CI [‐5.9‐1.7]). They also had a lower proportion of LGA babies (9 vs. 26%, odds ratio = 0.28, 95% CI [0.09‐0.84]).

Conclusions

The intervention resulted in lower GWG and lower prevalence of LGA newborns.
CMOS high‐precision loser‐take‐all circuit
Authors: Naderi Saatlo Ali , Ozoguz Serdar
Published: August 2014

This paper presents a new current‐mode CMOS loser‐take‐all circuit. The proposed circuit consists of a basic cell that allows implementation of a multi‐input configuration by repeating the cell for each additional input. A high‐speed feedback structure is employed to determine the minimum current among the applied inputs. The significant feature of the circuit is its high accuracy and high‐speed operation. Additionally, the input dynamic range of the circuit can be efficiently controlled via the biasing current. HSPICE simulation results are presented to verify the performance of the circuit, where under a supply voltage of 2.5 V, bias current of 100 µA, and frequency of 10 MHz, the input dynamic range increases within 0–100 µA and the corresponding error remains as low as 0.4%. © 2014 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Agroforestry systems: helping smallholders adapt to climate risks while mitigating climate change
Authors: Lasco Rodel D. , Delfino Rafaela Jane P. , Espaldon Marya Laya O.
Published: August 2014

There is increasing interest to combine adaptation and mitigation measures that provide win–win solutions to climate change. Agroforestry systems offer compelling synergies between adaptation and mitigation. This article reviews the empirical evidence from various studies on how trees and agroforestry systems enhance smallholders' capacity to adapt to climate risks. Agroforestry systems improve resilience of smallholder farmers through more efficient water utilization, improved microclimate, enhanced soil productivity and nutrient cycling, control of pests and diseases, improved farm productivity, and diversified and increased farm income while at the same time sequestering carbon. Although these seems very promising, tradeoffs may arise both at the farm and landscape scales. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:825–833. doi: 10.1002/wcc.301

This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Learning from Cases and Analogies

Climate and Development > Knowledge and Action in Development
Temperature loggers decrease costs of determining bird nest survival
Authors: Sutti Flavio , Strong Allan M.
Published: August 2014

We tested whether temperature loggers (iButtons®) placed inside bird nests could be used to estimate the date the nest hatched or failed and compared their efficiency and cost to observational data. Temperature loggers were more precise (approx. 1 hr error vs. 1–3‐days error for researcher visit) in estimating fate date for 28 nests of 15 species of birds monitored in the Champlain Valley of Vermont (USA) between May and August 2010. Our nest sample represented a wide range of nest characteristics, and considerably expanded the range of species whose nests have been monitored successfully with temperature data loggers. The use of iButtons would have reduced the number of visits to the nest by 15%, decreasing disturbance, and allowing for more time spent searching for additional nests, or for employment of a smaller field crew. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Prediction of Lymph Node Involvement in Patients with Breast Tumors Measuring 3–5 cm in a Middle‐Income Setting: the Role of CancerMath
Authors: Pijnappel E. N. , Bhoo‐Pathy N. , Suniza J. , See M. H. , Tan G. H. , Yip C. H. , Hartman M. , Taib N. A. , Verkooijen H. M.
Published: August 2014

Background

In settings with limited resources, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) is only offered to breast cancer patients with small tumors and a low a priori risk of axillary metastases.

Objective

We investigated whether CancerMath, a free online prediction tool for axillary lymph node involvement, is able to identify women at low risk of axillary lymph node metastases in Malaysian women with 3–5 cm tumors, with the aim to offer SNB in a targeted, cost‐effective way.

Methods

Women with non‐metastatic breast cancers, measuring 3–5 cm were identified within the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) breast cancer registry. We compared CancerMath‐predicted probabilities of lymph node involvement between women with versus without lymph node metastases. The discriminative performance of CancerMath was tested using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

Out of 1,017 patients, 520 (51 %) had axillary involvement. Tumors of women with axillary involvement were more often estrogen‐receptor positive, progesterone‐receptor positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)‐2 positive. The mean CancerMath score was higher in women with axillary involvement than in those without (53.5 vs. 51.3, p = 0.001). In terms of discrimination, CancerMath performed poorly, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.553 (95 % confidence interval CI 0.518–0.588). Attempts to optimize the CancerMath model by adding ethnicity and HER2 to the model did not improve discriminatory performance.

Conclusion

For Malaysian women with tumors measuring 3–5 cm, CancerMath is unable to accurately predict lymph node involvement and is therefore not helpful in the identification of women at low risk of node‐positive disease who could benefit from SNB.
Human genetic disorders involving glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors and glycosphingolipids (GSL)
Authors: Ng Bobby G. , Freeze Hudson H.
Published: August 2014

Glycosylation – enabling genes are thought to comprise approximately 1–2 % of the human genome, thus, it is not surprising that more than 100 genetic disorders have been identified in this complex multi‐pathway cellular process. Recent advances in next generation sequencing technology (NGS) have led to the discovery of genetic causes of many new disorders and importantly highlighted the broad phenotypes that occur. Here we will focus on two glycosylation pathways that involve lipids; glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors and glycosphingolipids (GSL) with emphasis on the specific gene defects, their biochemical properties, and their expanding clinical spectra. These disorders involve the intersection of two pathways: lipids and carbohydrates. Studies of both pathways were founded on structural biochemistry. Those methods and their more refined and sensitive descendants can both identify the specific genes that cause the disorders and validate the importance of the specific mutations.
A Tour de Force in Understanding Intergroup Inequality: An Introduction to Stratification Economics
Authors: Darity William A. , Hamilton Darrick , Stewart James B.
Published: August 2014

This special edition of the Review of Black Political Economics provides a contribution to the growing, vital and intellectually rich field of stratification economics. Stratification economics is an emerging field in economics that seeks to expand the boundaries of the analysis of how economists analyze intergroup differences. It examines the competitive, and sometimes collaborative, interplay between members of social groups animated by their collective self-interest to attain or maintain relative group position in a social hierarchy. The collection of articles in this volume span both quantitative and qualitative approaches, geographical distances (Bangladesh, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, and the U.S.), types of intergroup disparity (class, race, ethnicity, tribe, gender, and phenotype), and outcomes associated with social stratification (property rights in identity, human capital, financial capital, consumer surplus, health, and labor market outcomes).
Transparencia en las organizaciones, una aproximación desde la perspectiva de los colaboradores
Authors: Arredondo Trapero Florina Guadalupe , De la Garza García Jorge , Vázquez Parra José Carlos
Published: August 2014

El objetivo de investigación es identificar las diferencias de percepción acerca de la transparencia organizacional desde la perspectiva del colaborador dependiendo del sector, del taman ̃o y de la cobertura a la que pertenece la empresa. Se realizan pruebas t en un colectivo de empresas en México para medir las diferencias significativas entre los diversos grupos de empresas, encontrando que la empresa del sector privado y con perfil exportador tiende a integrar de una forma más decidida las prácticas transparentes que los otros tipos de empresas o instituciones. Se propone que un colaborador ciudadano puede ser un elemento clave dentro de las organizaciones públicas y privadas para incrementar la transparencia organizacional.
Structure and function of cohesin's Scc3/SA regulatory subunit
Authors: Roig Maurici B. , Löwe Jan , Chan Kok-Lung , Beckouët Frédéric , Metson Jean , Nasmyth Kim
Published: August 2014

Sister chromatid cohesion involves entrapment of sister DNAs by a cohesin ring created through association of a kleisin subunit (Scc1) with ATPase heads of Smc1/Smc3 heterodimers. Cohesin's association with chromatin involves subunits recruited by Scc1: Wapl, Pds5, and Scc3/SA, in addition to Scc2/4 loading complex. Unlike Pds5, Wapl, and Scc2/4, Scc3s are encoded by all eukaryotic genomes. Here, a crystal structure of Scc3 reveals a hook‐shaped protein composed of tandem α helices. Its N‐terminal domain contains a conserved and essential surface (CES) present even in organisms lacking Pds5, Wapl, and Scc2/4, while its C‐terminal domain binds a section of the kleisin Scc1. Scc3 turns over in G2/M while maintaining cohesin's association with chromosomes and it promotes de‐acetylation of Smc3 upon Scc1 cleavage.
A commonly used Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease generates an aberrant species of amyloid‐β with an additional N‐terminal glutamine residue
Authors: Allan Kirsten , Perez Keyla A. , Barnham Kevin J. , Camakaris James , Burke Richard
Published: August 2014

Expression of human amyloid‐β (Aβ) in Drosophila is frequently used to investigate its toxicity in vivo. We expressed Aβ1–42 in the fly using a secretion signal derived from the Drosophila necrotic gene, as described in several previous publications. Surface‐enhanced laser desorption/ionization TOF MS analysis revealed that the Aβ produced contained an additional glutamine residue at the N‐terminus. AβQ+1–42 was found to have increased protein abundance and to cause more severe neurodegenerative effects than wild type Aβ1–42 as assessed by locomotor activity and lifespan assays. These data reveal that a commonly used model of Alzheimer's disease generates incorrect Aβ peptide.
United Nations Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5: Augmenting the role of health professional associations
Authors: Perron Liette , Vander Plaetse Bart , Taylor David
Published: August 2014

The present study aimed to assess changes in the organizational capacity of health professional associations (HPAs) before and after a structured capacity building intervention, which included strategic investment of resources at institutional and technical levels. Self‐assessments of organizational capacity were conducted by seven HPAs from low‐resource countries involved in the FIGO Leadership in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Impact and Change (LOGIC) Initiative in Maternal and Newborn Health. The self‐assessment tool comprised a questionnaire focusing on five core organizational dimensions, completed through a participatory and externally facilitated process. Differences were assessed using the two‐sided sign test. All seven HPAs made improvements, with gains in an overall index (P = 0.017) and in the specific dimensions of culture (P = 0.016), operational capacity (P = 0.016), performance (P = 0.03), and functions (P = 0.016). Increased capacity contributed to the ability of each HPA to enhance their credibility and assume leadership in national efforts to improve maternal and newborn health.
The p53/mouse double minute 2 homolog complex deregulation in merlin‐deficient tumours
Authors: Ammoun Sylwia , Schmid Marei Caroline , Zhou Lu , Hilton David A. , Barczyk Magdalena , Hanemann Clemens Oliver
Published: August 2014

Deficiency of the tumour suppressor merlin leads to the development of schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas occurring spontaneously or as a part of the hereditary disease Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Merlin loss is also found in a proportion of other cancers like mesothelioma, melanoma, breast cancer and glioblastoma. The tumour suppressor/transcription factor p53 regulates proliferation, survival and differentiation and its deficiency plays a role in the development of many tumours. 53 can be negatively regulated by FAK, PI3K/AKT and MDM2 and possibly positively regulated by merlin in different cell lines. In this study we investigated the role of p53 in merlin‐deficient tumours. Using our in vitro model of primary human schwannoma cells we have previously demonstrated that FAK is overexpressed/activated and localises into the nucleus of schwannoma cells increasing proliferation. AKT is strongly activated via platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) – and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1) – receptors increasing survival. Here we investigated p53 regulation and its role in proliferation and survival of human primary schwannoma cells using western blotting, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and proliferation, survival and transcription factor assays. In human primary schwannoma cells p53 was found to be downregulated while MDM2 was upregulated leading to increased cell proliferation and survival. p53 is regulated by merlin involving FAK, AKT and MDM2. Merlin reintroduction into schwannoma cells increased p53 levels and activity, and treatment with Nutlin‐3, a drug which increases p53 stability by disrupting the p53/MDM2 complex, decreased tumour growth and reduced cell survival. These findings are important to dissect the mechanisms responsible for the development of merlin‐deficient tumours and to identify new therapeutic targets. We suggest that Nutlin‐3, possibly in combination with FAK or PI3K inhibitors, can be employed as a novel treatment for schwannoma and other merlin‐deficient tumours.
FACTIVE VERBS AND PROTAGONIST PROJECTION
Authors: Buckwalter Wesley
Published: August 2014

Nearly all philosophers agree that only true things can be known. But does this principle reflect actual patterns of ordinary usage? Several examples in ordinary language seem to show that ‘know’ is literally used non-factively. By contrast, this paper reports five experiments utilizing explicit paraphrasing tasks, which suggest that these non-factive uses are actually not literal. Instead, they are better explained by a phenomenon known as protagonist projection. It is argued that armchair philosophical orthodoxy regarding the truth requirement for knowledge withstands current empirical scrutiny.
The Effects of Inflation on Life Office Practice
Authors: Linnell D. R.
Published: August 2014

1.1. The effects of inflation are gradual, and are difficult to separate from the effects of other influences. This paper looks briefly at some of the effects in the past, and then takes a look into the future.

1.2. In the last seventy years this country has experienced three periods of rapid inflation. The first two were connected with the two major Wars. During the Wars the Government took action in the form of price controls and subsidies to restrain the growth in prices. We are now experiencing another bout of inflation (and another bout of Government action).

1.3. The recent inflation has not been a purely British phenomenon. It has been shared by most of the world. I. S. Friedman (1973) points out that action by individual countries is unlikely to succeed in beating inflation. In the absence of any concerted action, he concludes that inflation is likely to be with us for the foreseeable future.
Transfer Value Payments Between Occupational Pension Schemes.
Authors: Pomery M. A. , Jones M. J.
Published: August 2014

It is now 20 years since a Joint Working Party of the Institute and Faculty, comprising Messrs Spratling, Bacon and Bromfield, presented a paper (J.I.A.83, Part III) on the results of its investigation into the actuarial and other problems arising in connexion with the transferability of pension rights.

That paper and the discussions on it at the Faculty and Institute were concerned mainly with the general principle involved in maintaining or ‘preserving’ the rights of individual members of occupational pension schemes who changed employment. This could be achieved either:

(i) through the scheme of the employer the member was leaving by providing what they called ‘cold storage benefits’ (and which we refer to in this paper as preserved benefits) or

(ii) through the scheme of the employer which he was joining by means of a transfer value payment to that scheme from the former scheme.
Concerning Hardy's Method of Performing a Makeham Graduation.
Authors: Taylor G. C. , Worcester P. A.
Published: August 2014

Some years ago G. F. Hardy proposed a method of performing a mortality graduation in accordance with Makeham's formula. This method is now well known to actuaries of the British tradition, having been absorbed into textbooks some time ago. A less known method of performing such a graduation was suggested by Cramér and Wold in 1935. The two methods differ in their approach to thenon-linearMakeham constantc. This paper briefly considers the choice between the two methods from a theoretical viewpoint. Theoretically, the choice seems to be fairly clearly in favour of the method of Cramér and Wold. This does, however, involve extra computation. For this reason, and because Hardy's method has become entrenched in British tradition, its efficiency has been tested by simulation. The results of this simulation are reported in the paper and throw serious doubt on whether, despite its computational saving, Hardy's method should be used.
The South African Life Assurance Market.
Authors: Bernstein M.
Published: August 2014

Two previous papers have been presented on the South African life assurance market but they have both dealt with the Actuary in South Africa. The first one was presented in 1957 by Messrs. Smit, Sherman, Williams and Roger and the second in 1974 by Mr P. W. Barke.

The historical and geographical information given in this paper expands on that given by Mr Barke but is reproduced here for completeness.
The First Year of Contracting-Out.
Authors: Johnson D. G.
Published: August 2014

The new Earnings-Related State Pension Scheme was introduced, under the terms of the Social Security Pensions Act, 1975, on 6th April, 1978. The arrangements represented the product of more than fifteen years' efforts to establish a meaningful earnings-related supplement to the flat-rate basic State pension. Various proposals had been mooted, the first of which was probably the Graduated Pension Scheme, introduced in 1961, which was followed by the Crossman and Joseph schemes. The latter two schemes fell foul of changes of government and it was not until 1975 that the joint efforts of Barbara Castle and the late Brian O'Malley reached fruition in the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.

The Earnings-Related State Pension Scheme embodied in the Social Security Pensions Act 1975 ultimately received the approval of all the major political parties. It provides an earnings-related pension over and above the flat-rate basic State pension for all employees except those who reach pensionable age (65 for men, 60 for women) in the fiscal year commencing 6th April 1978 or married women (or widows) who have opted to make National Insurance contributions at the reduced rate and, therefore, not participate for retirement benefits from the State Scheme.
Measurement of Pension Fund Investment Performance.
Authors: Hager D. P.
Published: August 2014

In the United States the theoretical and practical aspects of the measurement of investment performance have been well researched, and the investment managers and pension fund trustees are accustomed to having a battery of statistics available on the performance of a pension fund.

By contrast, in the United Kingdom, attention has only really been given to this subject in this decade. It has taken time for both investment managers and trustees to appreciate the need to measure performance and to move away from a solely qualitative assessment of the ability of investment managers to one involving a quantitative element.

There are just a few papers by U.K. authors on the investment performance of pension funds and the Institute has discussed the subject only once. This was in November 1976 when J. P. Holbrook presented a comprehensive paper covering both theoretical and practical aspects of performance measurement.
Modern Stockbroking.
Authors: Grimes T.
Published: August 2014

Most professional people have some idea of the job done by the Stock Exchange, but probably only those actually involved in the management of investments know the range of services which are provided by stockbrokers. The aim of this paper is to give a brief insight into these services, and to take a look at some aspects of stock exchange activities in more detail.

The first section of the paper covers the basic service of a stockbroker, that of buying or selling stock, or executing switches. This is followed by a brief description of settlement systems, and some of the other services that stockbrokers provide are then described. The final two sections cover more general questions about the operation of the Stock Exchange.
Implications of Modern Portfolio Theory for Life Assurance Companies.
Authors: Frost A. J.
Published: August 2014

The general literature on the topic of Modern Portfolio Theory (M.P.T.) is now quite copious but in order to make this paper more self sufficient than it might otherwise be I make no apologies for repeating what is available outside United Kingdom actuarial literature. There are not very many actuarial papers advocating the use of M.P.T. which might suggest that many actuaries practising the techniques of M.P.T. have not been convinced that their work is conclusive. Moore's paper (1) in 1972 laid the groundwork for discussion of the models of M.P.T. by the profession. In 1977 Holbrook (6) discussed in his more general paper on pension fund performance the relevance of risk and return by summarizing the work of Treynor, Sharpe and Fama. There have been two recent papers from north of the border. The 1980 paper by Pountain and Fitzgerald (12) is the earlier. Clarkson's paper (16) to the Faculty contains a particularly interesting section in which he compares his own model for managing an ordinary share portfolio with the methodology of M.P.T.
Group Life Insurance.
Authors: Lockyer J.
Published: August 2014

Group life insurance has attracted little formal discussion in British actuarial circles. Perhaps this is not so surprising. The technical problems posed by group life insurance seem relatively straightforward. Furthermore, there is little doubt that the evolution of present practice has been moulded more by pragmatism than strict theoretical development.

None the less, group life insurance is an important sector of our life insurance industry. Figures produced by the Life Offices' Association reveal that in 1980 approximately 7½ million people were covered under group insurance contracts for a total sum assured of the order £63 billion.

The development of the group insurance industry in this country has been closely associated with the expansion of private pension provision. Group life cover was seen as an inseparable, but very much secondary, adjunct to the more lucrative field of pensions business. However, over the last decade it has become more likely that a group life scheme will be tendered independently of any related pension business. Thus, the point has long been reached where the underwriting of group life business must be considered as a subject in its own right.
Do Actuaries need Standards?.
Authors: Davison Ian Hay
Published: August 2014

It is a great honour for an accountant to be invited to deliver the Students' Society 1984 Jubilee Lecture. When the Financial Times defined an actuary as “someone who found accountancy too exciting”, I realized that accountancy might be a suitable subject for this Jubilee Lecture.

I note that the Institute of Accountants and Actuaries in Glasgow played a pioneering role in the evolution of the accountancy profession in Scotland during the latter half of the last century.

So the paths of the actuarial and accountancy professions have met, and indeed crossed, on a number of issues, and we have a great deal in common, most of all perhaps a belief in the power of presenting an argument through numbers. Like you, we have members in practice and in commercial employment, we form professional opinions which we express in reports and we are concerned with problems of measurement; also we each have our own procedures, assumptions, jargon and rules, all of which are confusing to the uninitiated.
Outstanding Claims Reserves.
Authors: Lyons G. E.
Published: August 2014

The paper is based on a Report produced by a working party of the General Insurance Study Group for the General Insurance Seminar held at Bristol in November, 1983. The terms of reference of the working party were:

(i) To review and summarize the published papers on the valuation of outstanding claims.

(ii) To classify the methods described, and comment on the assumptions implied by each method.

(iii) To discuss the problem of estimating the degree of uncertainty associated with the valuation of outstanding claims, disregarding the uncertainty resulting from the effects of inflation and (insofar as this may be taken into account in the valuation) investment income.

The first part of the paper is concerned with terms of reference (i) and (ii), explaining how the paper could be used as part of the loss reserving process and describing the format and presentation of the summaries which are shown in three Appendices.
The Actuary In Damages Cases—Expert Witness or Court Astrologer?.
Authors: Owen R. , Shier P. S.
Published: August 2014

This paper takes its title from the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal inAuty and Others v National Coal Board (1984). Lord Justice Oliver stated that, “as a method of providing a reliable guide to individual behaviour patterns or to future economic and political events, the predictions of an actuary could be only a little more likely to be accurate (and would almost certainly be less entertaining) than those of an astrologer”.

The above statement was referred to by Stewart Lyon, immediate past President of the Institute of Actuaries, in his review of the Session 1983–84 at the Institute's Annual General Meeting in June 1984. Although the quoted passage had received all the publicity, he was more concerned with the judgment in the same case given by Lord Justice Waller who erroneously stated that the expectation of life was an average and assumed that everybody lived to that age and then died. Mr Lyon concluded his remarks on the subject by stating that the Appeal Court's handling of the Auty case raised the general question of whether the actuarial profession needs to adopt a more active approach to public relations.
Airway changes in obstructive sleep apnoea patients associated with a supine versus an upright position examined using cone beam computed tomography
Authors: Camacho M , Capasso R , Schendel S
Published: August 2014

Objective:

This study aimed to describe total volume and cross-sectional area measurement changes in obstructive sleep apnoea patients associated with a supine versus an upright position.

Method:

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent cone beam computed tomography in upright and supine positions was performed, and the images were analysed.

Results:

Five obstructive sleep apnoea patients (all male) underwent both upright and supine cone beam computed tomography imaging. Mean age was 35.0 ± 9.3 years, mean body mass index was 28.1 ± 2.7 kg/m2 and mean apnoea–hypopnoea index was 39.3 ± 23.0 per hour. The airway was smaller when patients were in a supine compared with an upright position, as reflected by decreases in the following airway measurements: total volume; posterior nasal spine, uvula tip, retrolingual and tongue base (not significant) cross-sectional areas; and site of the minimum cross-sectional area (of the overall airway). Total airway volume decreased by 32.6 per cent and cross-sectional area measurements decreased between 32.3 and 75.9 per cent when patients were in a supine position.

Conclusion:

In this case series, the airway of obstructive sleep apnoea patients was significantly smaller when patients were in a supine compared with an upright position.
Endoscopic approaches to benign sphenoid sinus lesions: development of an algorithm based on 13 years of experience
Authors: Elhamshary A S , Romeh H E , Abdel-Aziz M F , Ragab S M
Published: August 2014

Objective:

To develop an algorithm for selecting the optimal endoscopic approach for benign sphenoid lesions.

Methods:

Charts of 392 patients were reviewed and categorised according to disease nature and extent as follows: group 1 comprised isolated sphenoid sinus lesion cases, group 2 consisted of pansinus lesion cases and group 3 comprised lateral sphenoid recess lesion cases. Surgical approaches, difficulties and complications were noted.

Results:

A transnasal approach was employed in 40.8 per cent of cases (23.2 per cent were group 1 patients, 16.1 per cent were group 2 patients and 1.5 per cent were group 3 patients), a transethmoidal approach was utilised in 54.3 per cent of cases (group 2 patients) and a transpterygopalatine fossa approach was selected in 4.9 per cent of cases (group 3 patients). Surgical difficulties were encountered in 11.9, 10.8 and 0 per cent of patients in whom transnasal, transethmoidal or transpterygopalatine approaches were utilised, respectively.

Conclusion:

Radio-pathological categorisation provided a means of developing an algorithm for selecting the most appropriate endoscopic approach. Transnasal sphenoidotomy should be the first choice of approach whenever applicable. Lateral sphenoid recess non-inflammatory diseases should be managed through a transpterygopalatine fossa approach. Revision surgery does not play a key role in the algorithm.
Immunoglobulin G4 related disease isolated to the nasal cavity: a rare cause of nasal obstruction
Authors: Morris C , Ng T , Kevin P , Singh N
Published: August 2014

Background:

Immunoglobulin G4 related disease is a rare condition. Cases involving the sinonasal region are exceptionally uncommon. This paper describes a case of immunoglobulin G4 related disease isolated solely to the nasal cavity.

Methods:

Case report and literature review.

Results:

A 34-year-old man presented with painless, progressive bilateral nasal obstruction. Clinical examination and imaging findings demonstrated bilateral submucosal swelling of the anterior septum and right external nasal wall. Biopsy revealed immunoglobulin G4 related disease. The patient responded to oral corticosteroids initially, followed by long-term methotrexate.

Conclusion:

To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first report in the literature of immunoglobulin G4 related disease isolated solely to the nasal cavity.
Intentional change, intrinsic motivations, and goal generation
Authors: Manzotti Riccardo , Moderato Paolo
Published: August 2014

Wilson et al. draw our attention to the problem of a science of intentional change. We stress the connection between their approach and existing paradigms for learning and goal generation that have been developed in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and psychology. These paradigms outline the structural principles of a domain-general and teleologically open agent.
Suicidal protests: Self-immolation, hunger strikes, or suicide bombing
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2014

Following Lankford's persuasive argument that suicide bombers are indeed suicidal, the next question to ask is why individuals choose one form of suicidal protest over others. Why choose suicide bombing rather than a hunger strike or self-immolation? Some suggestions are provided.
Organizational structures and practices are better predictors of suicide terror threats than individual psychological dispositions
Authors: Qirko Hector
Published: August 2014

Terror organizations tend to rely on a limited number of practices to reinforce commitment to suicide on the part of recruits. Therefore, given the many difficulties associated with identifying individuals willing to become suicide terrorists, understanding the organizational contexts in which most suicide terrorism takes place is likely to be more useful than psychological profiling for predicting future attacks.