bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precautions for Safe Use of Internet Banking: Scale Development and Validation
Authors: George Ajimon
Published: May 2017

With the advancement of information technology (IT), almost all banks in India have now adopted electronic means of banking, popularly known as self service banking technology (SSBT), and have empowered their customers to perform transactions via automated teller machines (ATMs), Internet banking (IB), mobile banking, credit cards and debit cards. Although the popularity of IB has increased among banking customers owing to the convenience it provides, there are several risks associated with its use since it relies heavily on the open access Internet network, which increases the chances of online fraud and phishing. The specific objectives of the present study are (a) to develop and validate a scale for measuring the precautions taken by customers for the safe use of IB and (b) to examine the adequacy or otherwise of the precautions taken by IB users in Kerala, India. Through exploratory factor analysis, 16 items of precautions for the safe use of IB were reduced to six dimensions and were validated through confirmatory factor analysis. The findings have managerial implications for banks, as they will help them take necessary steps to safeguard their customers against the risks associated with the use of IB. It is essential that IB service providers educate their customers regarding the required precautions for mitigating the risks. The most important theoretical contribution of the study is the development and validation of a scale for measuring the precautions for safe use of IB.
Emotional Intelligence: Influencing Smoking Behavior in Young Adults
Authors: Sharma Deeksha , Gulati Rachita , Misra Indiwar
Published: May 2017

The present study examines the influence of emotional intelligence on smoking behavior (SB) patterns among 219 young adults belonging to the age group of 19–27 years pursuing management studies in India. The study is conducted with an aim to understand the relevance and importance of emotions in human behavior. The primary data collected are analyzed by binomial and multinomial logistic regression analyses. The study suggests that emotional intelligence has a significant impact on SB considering sex and age as moderators. It has been observed among the sample that males have higher tendency to smoke than females, and that age has no impact on the SB pattern. For the study, the reference category taken is non-smokers.
Pursuing Humanistic Medicine in a Technological Age
Authors: Bertman Stephen
Published: May 2017

The humanistic practice of medicine requires that the practitioner have sufficient time and appropriate focus. Both elements, however, are under assault by the high-speed, distraction-filled environment within which primary care is delivered today. Despite or perhaps because of modern medicine’s technological advances, the potentially healing bond between doctor and patient is being frayed and the quality of care consequently degraded.
Empathy in the Clinician–Patient Relationship
Authors: Finset Arnstein , Ørnes Knut
Published: May 2017

The clinician-patient relationship is asymmetric in the sense that clinicians and patients have different roles in the medical consultation. Yet, there are qualities of reciprocity and mutuality in many clinician-patient encounters, and we suggest that such reciprocity may be related to the phenomenon of empathy. Empathy is often defined as the capacity to place oneself in another’s position, but empathy may also be understood as a sequence of reciprocal turns-of talk, starting with the patient’s expression of emotion, followed by the perception, vicarious experience, and empathic response by the clinician. These patterns of reciprocity may also include the patient’s experience of and response to the clinician’s emotions. Researchers in different fields of research have studied how informal human interaction often is characterized by mutuality of lexical alignment and reciprocal adjustments, vocal synchrony, as well as synchrony of movements and psychophysiological processes. A number of studies have linked these measures of reciprocity and synchrony in clinical encounters to the subjective experience of empathy.
GLI3 repressor determines Hedgehog pathway activation and is required for response to SMO antagonist glasdegib in AML
Authors: Chaudhry Parvesh , Singh Mohan , Triche Timothy J. , Guzman Monica , Merchant Akil A.
Published: May 2017

Key Points

GLI3R inhibits Hh signaling and is required for response to SMO antagonist in AML. GLI3 is silenced in AML, and decitabine restores GLI3 expression and leads to modulation of Hh signaling.
Current understanding of bleeding with ibrutinib use: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Caron François , Leong Darryl P. , Hillis Christopher , Fraser Graeme , Siegal Deborah
Published: May 2017

Ibrutinib therapy was associated with an increased risk of bleeding in previous trials. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of published trials including patients treated with ibrutinib, the relative risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) of overall bleeding was significantly higher in ibrutinib recipients (2.72 [1.62-6.58]), but major bleeding did not show a significant difference (1.66 [0.96-2.85]). The incidences (95% CI) of major bleeding and any bleeding were 3.0 (2.3-3.7) and 20.8 (19.1-22.1) per 100 patient-years, respectively. This analysis is limited by reporting bias from variable ascertainment of bleeding and lack of allocation concealment in some studies and differing exposures between groups, leading to potential overestimation of event rates in the ibrutinib group.
Proliferation through activation: hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in hematologic malignancy
Authors: Vick Eric J. , Patel Kruti , Prouet Philippe , Martin Mike G.
Published: May 2017

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of cytokine-driven immune activation. Cardinal features include fever, hemophagocytosis, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphocytic infiltration, and hypercytokinemia that result in multisystem organ dysfunction and failure. Familial HLH is genetically driven, whereas secondary HLH (SHL) is caused by drugs, autoimmune disease, infection, or cancer. SHL is associated with worse outcomes, with a median overall survival typically of less than 1 year. This reflects difficulty in both diagnostic accuracy and in establishing reliable treatments, especially in cases of malignancy-induced SHL, which have significantly worse outcomes. Malignancy-induced HLH is seen almost exclusively with hematologic malignancies, constituting 97% of cases in the literature over the past 2 years. In these situations, the native immune response driven by CD8 T cells produces an overabundance of T helper 1 cytokines, notably interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6, which establish a positive feedback loop of inflammation, enhancing replication of hematologic malignancies while leaving the host immune system in disarray. In this paper, we present 2 case studies of secondary HLH driven by HM, followed by a review of the literature discussing the cytokines driving HLH, diagnostic criteria, and current treatments used or undergoing investigation.
Anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity: biomarkers and “Omics” technology in the era of patient specific care
Authors: Moazeni Shayan , Cadeiras Martin , Yang Eric H. , Deng Mario C. , Nguyen Kim‐Lien
Published: May 2017

Anthracyclines are highly effective against a variety of malignancies. However, their dose‐dependent cardiotoxic effects can potentially limit their use. In the past decade, serum biomarkers have been used to diagnose, monitor, predict, and prognosticate disease. Biomarkers such as cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptides have some predictive value, but still lack reliability in this patient population. Novel biomarkers such as galectin‐3, soluble ST‐2 proteins, myeloperoxidase, and fibrocytes are being explored as potential biomarkers to reliably predict the onset of cardiotoxicity. Leveraging multiomics technology to map highly sensitive biomarkers in an integrated approach through pattern deconvolution may better define those at highest risk of developing cardiotoxicity and further the goal of precision medicine. In this work, we aim to provide a brief overview of traditional serum biomarkers, summarize current investigations on novel circulating biomarkers, and discuss a systems‐based approach to anthracycline‐induced cardiotoxicity through “omics” technology.
A fast image simulation algorithm for scanning transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Ophus Colin
Published: May 2017

Image simulation for scanning transmission electron microscopy at atomic resolution for samples with realistic dimensions can require very large computation times using existing simulation algorithms. We present a new algorithm named PRISM that combines features of the two most commonly used algorithms, namely the Bloch wave and multislice methods. PRISM uses a Fourier interpolation factor f that has typical values of 4–20 for atomic resolution simulations. We show that in many cases PRISM can provide a speedup that scales with f4 compared to multislice simulations, with a negligible loss of accuracy. We demonstrate the usefulness of this method with large-scale scanning transmission electron microscopy image simulations of a crystalline nanoparticle on an amorphous carbon substrate.
Tai Chi Chih Compared With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Insomnia in Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Partially Blinded, Noninferiority Trial
Authors: Irwin Michael R. , Olmstead Richard , Carrillo Carmen , Sadeghi Nina , Nicassio Perry , Ganz Patricia A. , Bower Julienne E.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and Tai Chi Chih (TCC), a movement meditation, improve insomnia symptoms. Here, we evaluated whether TCC is noninferior to CBT-I for the treatment of insomnia in survivors of breast cancer.

Patients and Methods

This was a randomized, partially blinded, noninferiority trial that involved survivors of breast cancer with insomnia who were recruited from the Los Angeles community from April 2008 to July 2012. After a 2-month phase-in period with repeated baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to 3 months of CBT-I or TCC and evaluated at months 2, 3 (post-treatment), 6, and 15 (follow-up). Primary outcome was insomnia treatment response—that is, marked clinical improvement of symptoms by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index—at 15 months. Secondary outcomes were clinician-assessed remission of insomnia; sleep quality; total sleep time, sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, and awake after sleep onset, derived from sleep diaries; polysomnography; and symptoms of fatigue, sleepiness, and depression.

Results

Of 145 participants who were screened, 90 were randomly assigned (CBT-I: n = 45; TCC: n = 45). The proportion of participants who showed insomnia treatment response at 15 months was 43.7% and 46.7% in CBT-I and TCC, respectively. Tests of noninferiority showed that TCC was noninferior to CBT-I at 15 months ( P = .02) and at months 3 ( P = .02) and 6 ( P < .01). For secondary outcomes, insomnia remission was 46.2% and 37.9% in CBT-I and TCC, respectively. CBT-I and TCC groups showed robust improvements in sleep quality, sleep diary measures, and related symptoms (all P < .01), but not polysomnography, with similar improvements in both groups.

Conclusion

CBT-I and TCC produce clinically meaningful improvements in insomnia. TCC, a mindful movement meditation, was found to be statistically noninferior to CBT-I, the gold standard for behavioral treatment of insomnia.
AKT Inhibition in Solid Tumors With AKT1 Mutations
Authors: Hyman David M. , Smyth Lillian M. , Donoghue Mark T.A. , Westin Shannon N. , Bedard Philippe L. , Dean Emma J. , Bando Hideaki , El-Khoueiry Anthony B. , Pérez-Fidalgo José A. , Mita Alain , Schellens Jan H.M. , Chang Matthew T. , Reichel Jonathan B. , Bouvier Nancy , Selcuklu S. Duygu , Soumerai Tara E. , Torrisi Jean , Erinjeri Joseph P. , Ambrose Helen , Barrett J. Carl , Dougherty Brian , Foxley Andrew , Lindemann Justin P.O. , McEwen Robert , Pass Martin , Schiavon Gaia , Berger Michael F. , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Solit David B. , Banerji Udai , Baselga José , Taylor Barry S.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

AKT1 E17K mutations are oncogenic and occur in many cancers at a low prevalence. We performed a multihistology basket study of AZD5363, an ATP-competitive pan-AKT kinase inhibitor, to determine the preliminary activity of AKT inhibition in AKT-mutant cancers.

Patients and Methods

Fifty-eight patients with advanced solid tumors were treated. The primary end point was safety; secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Tumor biopsies and plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) were collected in the majority of patients to identify predictive biomarkers of response.

Results

In patients with AKT1 E17K–mutant tumors (n = 52) and a median of five lines of prior therapy, the median PFS was 5.5 months (95% CI, 2.9 to 6.9 months), 6.6 months (95% CI, 1.5 to 8.3 months), and 4.2 months (95% CI, 2.1 to 12.8 months) in patients with estrogen receptor–positive breast, gynecologic, and other solid tumors, respectively. In an exploratory biomarker analysis, imbalance of the AKT1 E17K–mutant allele, most frequently caused by copy-neutral loss-of-heterozygosity targeting the wild-type allele, was associated with longer PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.41; P = .04), as was the presence of coincident PI3K pathway hotspot mutations (HR, 0.21; P = .045). Persistent declines in AKT1 E17K in cfDNA were associated with improved PFS (HR, 0.18; P = .004) and response ( P = .025). Responses were not restricted to patients with detectable AKT1 E17K in pretreatment cfDNA. The most common grade ≥ 3 adverse events were hyperglycemia (24%), diarrhea (17%), and rash (15.5%).

Conclusion

This study provides the first clinical data that AKT1 E17K is a therapeutic target in human cancer. The genomic context of the AKT1 E17K mutation further conditioned response to AZD5363.
Practical Approach to Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Gadi Vijayakrishna K. , Davidson Nancy E.
Published: May 2017

Triple negative is a term applied to breast cancers that do not meaningfully express the estrogen or progesterone hormone receptors or overexpress the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase. At present, the only proven method for systemic management of triple-negative breast cancer for both early-stage and metastatic settings is cytotoxic chemotherapy. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of management strategies that are best supported by available data. We also review recent advances most likely to affect treatment of triple-negative breast cancer in the coming years with particular emphasis on targeted agents, biologics, and immunotherapy.
Factors Influencing Quality of Pain Management in a Physician Staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Service
Authors: Oberholzer Nicole , Kaserer Alexander , Albrecht Roland , Seifert Burkhardt , Tissi Mario , Spahn Donat R. , Maurer Konrad , Stein Philipp
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND:

Pain is frequently encountered in the prehospital setting and needs to be treated quickly and sufficiently. However, incidences of insufficient analgesia after prehospital treatment by emergency medical services are reported to be as high as 43%. The purpose of this analysis was to identify modifiable factors in a specific emergency patient cohort that influence the pain suffered by patients when admitted to the hospital.

METHODS:

For that purpose, this retrospective observational study included all patients with significant pain treated by a Swiss physician-staffed helicopter emergency service between April and October 2011 with the following characteristics to limit selection bias: Age > 15 years, numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain documented at the scene and at hospital admission, NRS > 3 at the scene, initial Glasgow coma scale > 12, and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics score < VI. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate patient and mission characteristics of helicopter emergency service associated with insufficient pain management.

RESULTS:

A total of 778 patients were included in the analysis. Insufficient pain management (NRS > 3 at hospital admission) was identified in 298 patients (38%). Factors associated with insufficient pain management were higher National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics scores, high NRS at the scene, nontrauma patients, no analgesic administration, and treatment by a female physician. In 16% (128 patients), despite ongoing pain, no analgesics were administered. Factors associated with this untreated persisting pain were short time at the scene (below 10 minutes), secondary missions of helicopter emergency service, moderate pain at the scene, and nontrauma patients. Sufficient management of severe pain is significantly better if ketamine is combined with an opioid (65%), compared to a ketamine or opioid monotherapy (46%, P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS:

In the studied specific Swiss cohort, nontrauma patients, patients on secondary missions, patients treated only for a short time at the scene before transport, patients who receive no analgesic, and treatment by a female physician may be risk factors for insufficient pain management. Patients suffering pain at the scene (NRS > 3) should receive an analgesic whenever possible. Patients with severe pain at the scene (NRS ≥ 8) may benefit from the combination of ketamine with an opioid. The finding about sex differences concerning analgesic administration is intriguing and possibly worthy of further study.
Current Status of Cardiovascular Anesthesia in China
Authors: Lu Jiakai , Wang Weipeng , Cheng Weiping , Chen Lei , Huang Jeffrey , Ethridge Chris A. , Huang Jiapeng
Published: May 2017

High quality and safe cardiac anesthesia is a prerequisite for success in cardiac care. Cardiac surgery has developed rapidly over recent years in China. Because of language barriers, the current status of cardiac anesthesia in China is not well known to Western countries. To assess practice patterns, volume, workforce, and training requirements of Chinese cardiovascular anesthesiologists, we surveyed 92 major cardiovascular centers in China regarding their anesthesia practice, monitoring techniques, resources, staffing, and work hours. We aim to provide a review of the history, new developments, and a current cross section of cardiac anesthesia practice patterns in China. The goal is to allow Western readers to understand the unique achievements and challenges in Chinese cardiovascular anesthesiology, thus promoting further communications with Chinese cardiovascular anesthesiologists.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: the basics, the gray zone, and the target
Authors: Kelgiorgi Dionysia , Dervenis Christos
Published: May 2017

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) manifest with a range of symptoms and pose a therapeutic challenge. A team approach, in which many specialists come together, is necessary in the quest for the best patient-tailored treatment. Disciplines such as oncology, surgery, basic science, endocrinology, radiology, and nuclear medicine need to work side by side, equally contributing to patient care and to advancing our better understanding of this fascinating disease.
TIDDIT, an efficient and comprehensive structural variant caller for massive parallel sequencing data
Authors: Eisfeldt Jesper , Vezzi Francesco , Olason Pall , Nilsson Daniel , Lindstrand Anna
Published: May 2017

Reliable detection of large structural variation ( > 1000 bp) is important in both rare and common genetic disorders. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is a technology that may be used to identify a large proportion of the genomic structural variants (SVs) in an individual in a single experiment. Even though SV callers have been extensively used in research to detect mutations, the potential usage of SV callers within routine clinical diagnostics is hindered by high computational costs, usage of non-standard output format, and limited support for the various sequencing platforms and libraries. Another well known, but not well-addressed problem is the large number of benign variants and reference errors present in the human genome that further complicates analysis. Here we present TIDDIT, a time efficient variant caller, that uses discordant read pairs as well as the depth of coverage and split reads to detect and classify a large spectrum of SVs. As part of the software suite, TIDDIT also includes a database functionality that enables filtering for rare variants and reduces the number of false positive calls and background noise. Benchmarked against five state-of-the-art SV callers, TIDDIT performs at an equal/superior level while using only 2 CPU hours per sample. Thanks to its speed, sensitivity, flexibility and ability to easily detect variants on a wide range of WGS library types, TIDDIT solves many of the problems that are currently hindering the utilization of WGS for SV calling in clinical settings.
Service Technology: Definition and Characteristics Based on a Patent Database
Authors: Geum Youngjung , Kim Moon-Soo , Lee Sungjoo
Published: May 2017

With the rise of service innovation, service is no longer considered peripheral to the business environment, and is increasingly being seen as a core offering to customers. Technology has played a central role in the rise of service innovation, but previous studies on service technology have discussed mostly qualitative approaches. For this reason, the concept of “a service technology” has not been properly defined based on the large amount of empirical evidence. To address this limitation, we define and characterize service technologies using patents to come up with a consensus and adopt a five-step process that embraces three viewpoints on the notion of service technology: the industry, patent, and technology perspectives. First, service industries are defined based on their International Standard Industrial Classification system categories, as prepared by the United Nations Statistics Division. Second, relevant service patents are extracted from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database for each service industry. Third, the International Patent Classification classes are obtained from these collected patents to investigate the technologies employed in service industries. Fourth, service technologies are defined and classified into six categories based on this patent classification analysis. Finally, the technological concentration and generality characteristics of each technology are analyzed.
Why Can Some Service Employees Provide Service of a Consistently High Quality While Others Cannot?
Authors: Lee I-Chen , Rachel Lu Jui-fen , Fu Ching-Wen , Teng Ching-I
Published: May 2017

Variation in service quality results in service failure and subsequent customer defection, and thus knowing how to manage such variation is critical for service managers. However, little is known about why, and at which workplaces, some service employees can provide service of a consistently high quality but others cannot. This study addresses this issue using the perspective of signal detection theory. Multiple-source and matched data from 160 nurses and 480 patients were used for the analysis. We found that job tenure was negatively related to variation in all dimensions of service quality. Moreover, control over practice interacts with job tenure and expertise to impact service variation and the average level of all dimensions of service quality. These factors interactively determine whether service employees can provide a consistently high quality of service. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical study addressing this issue by examining viable employee and workplace characteristics. The findings provide a means for service managers to ensure a consistently high level of service quality.
Liver transplantation: need, indications, patient selection and pre-transplant care
Authors: Halliday Neil , Westbrook Rachel H
Published: May 2017

Chronic or acute liver failure and primary liver cancers can be effectively managed with liver transplantation. The range of indications for liver transplantation is increasing but there is a mismatch between the numbers of available donations and current needs. Specific criteria for listing patients exist but, at minimum, the predicted mortality without transplantation must exceed that with transplantation, coupled with a 50% predicted 5-year survival following liver transplantation. The risk posed by liver disease must be weighed against the risk of liver transplantation, considering the patient's comorbidities, age, nutritional status and behavioural factors in a complex assessment process. This article reviews current UK practice in the selection and care of patients being assessed for liver transplantation.
The role of microRNA-449 in Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Shah Ajay
Published: May 2017

In 2010, an estimated 173 800 cases of cancer were diagnosed in Canada and 76 200 of these cases were expected to be fatal. Current treatment options are often very invasive, harmful, and ineffective. The purpose of this experiment was to mitigate tumour growth by manipulation of micro-RNA (mRNA) levels. mRNAs are small proteins, and levels of specific mRNAs are deregulated in cancer cells. In this experiment, levels of micro-RNA 449, which is deregulated in breast cancer cell lines, were returned to their baseline levels. Numerous tests were then conducted to test the viability of the resulting cells. Replicable experiments showed that the strength, motility and invasiveness of the breast cancer cells was greatly diminished after mRNA-449 levels returned to baseline levels. Furthermore, research indicated that 4 potential genes (CRIP2, XBP1, TAF4B, and SFXN2) can be manipulated in future experiments to further diminish the viability of the breast cancer tumours. En 2015, 25220 cas estimés de cancer du sein ont été diagnostiqués au Canada et 5060 de ces cas étaient prévus d’être fatales. Les options de traitement courantes sont souvent très envahissantes, nuisibles et inefficaces. L’objet de cette expérience était d’atténuer la croissance de la tumeur en manipulant les niveaux d’ARN-Micro. ARNm sont de petites molécules qui codent pour des protéines et en cellules de cancer, les niveaux de certains ARNms sont dérégulés. Les niveaux d’ARN-micro 449, qui sont dérégulés dans les lignées cellulaires de cancer du sein, ont été retournées à leurs niveaux de base dans cette expérience. La viabilité des cellules ainsi obtenues a été analysé par plusieurs tests. Les expériences reproductibles ont indiqué que la force, la mobilité et le caractère invasif des cellules de cancer du sein ont été diminués après que les niveaux d’ARN-micro 449 sont retournés à leurs niveaux de base. En outre, l’étude a révélé que quatre gènes potentiels (CRIP2, XBP1, TAF4B, et SFXN2) pourraient être manipulés à l’avenir pour réduire davantage la viabilité des tumeurs du cancer du sein.
Language revitalisation and social transformation: evaluating the language policy frameworks of sub-state governments in Wales and Scotland
Authors: Lewis Huw , Royles Elin
Published: May 2017

Efforts by European sub-state governments to revitalise minority languages are increasingly common. This article investigates whether these revitalisation efforts have considered the implications of contemporary social change, by utilising content analysis methods to analyse policy documents in two cases, Wales and Scotland. In concluding that engagement with social change is limited, the article highlights the challenge faced by language revitalisation policy in ensuring awareness of the nature of globalisation and associated social change. More broadly, it demonstrates that language policy can be conceived and analysed as public policy, and highlights opportunities for further research in this area by policy scholars.
Exploring board perspectives on non-profit executive turnover
Authors: Stewart Amanda
Published: May 2017

This article explores what non-profit executive turnover looks like from the perspective of who is responsible for managing these turnover events – the voluntary board of directors. Boards operate with prescribed responsibilities but varying capacities to fulfil their duties. Non-profit professional literature has offered instruction for boards managing executive turnover events, but there has been little empirical study investigating how boards actually fulfil this critical responsibility. Using surveys and interviews, the research study on which this article is based engaged the boards of non-profits operating in the United States that had recently experienced executive turnover. The findings are instructive about the actual functioning of boards and offer new insights about how and why board management of executive transitions may stray from the prescribed ideal. The findings highlight the importance of board capacity and the implications of board–executive relations for the board’s management of executive turnover.
Political Federalism and Innovation: Are de jure Labor Regulations Absolute?
Authors: Ghosh Saibal
Published: May 2017

The importance of labour regulation in influencing innovative activity has attracted significant attention in the literature. What has not been adequately explored is the role played by different categories of such laws. In this context, employing state-level data for India during 1992–2010, we investigate how political federalism interacts with labour laws to influence innovative activity. Our findings suggest that although certain labour laws foster innovation, its complementarities with political federalism end up dampening innovation. These results call into question the widely held view of the innovation-enhancing effects of labour laws and suggest that the hitherto unaddressed political channel might have an important role to play in this regard.
A full-process chain assessment for nanoimprint technology on 200-mm industrial platform
Authors: Teyssedre Hubert , Landis Stefan , Thanner Christine , Laure Maria , Khan Jonas , Bos Sandra , Eibelhuber Martin , Chouiki Mustapha , May Michael , Brianceau Pierre , Pollet Olivier , Hazart Jerome , Laviron Cyrille , Pain Laurent , Wimplinger Markus
Published: May 2017

To evaluate the maturity of the wafer-scale NanoImprint lithography (NIL) process, laboratory of electronic and communication technology (LETI) and EV Group (EVG) launched the Imprint Nanopatterning Solution Platform for Industrial Assessment program (INSPIRE), which aims at building a nanoimprint solution platform for industrial assessment and provide a unique open ecosystem for the standardization of the nanoimprint process. This program enabled to gather EVG know-how for the tool manufacturing and its long expertise in bonding activities, and the established methods and advanced microelectronic environment. Presented as an upstream phase, metrology and defectivity were performed on dedicated assessment designs to address critical dimension uniformity (CDU) at wafer scale for a large number of imprints, defectivity on imprints and masters, and alignment capabilities of the nanoimprint HERCULES® platform of EVG. We demonstrate that the critical points are the anti-sticking layer for the defectivity, the CD shrinkage for the CDU, and the stiffness of the soft stamp for the overlay uniformity. Thus, we bring to light the actual capabilities of the HERCULES® platform, and open the discussions on the opportunities for this technology with the possible improvements for the process.
Interaction in qualitative questionnaires: From self-report to intersubjective achievement
Authors: Wernicke Meike , Talmy Steven
Published: May 2017

Survey questionnaires are among the most widely-used research methods in applied linguistics, adopted for everything from large-scale quantitative studies measuring social-psychological variables to qualitative studies that solicit participant views on a range of different topics. Despite the variety of purposes that survey questionnaires are used for, the most common approaches to analysis of the data they yield involve content analysis using descriptive or inferential statistics and/or enumeration of emergent themes. The study reported in this article conceives of questionnaire data in notably different terms: as occasioned (conditionally-relevant responses sequentially-projected by a question), recipient-designed (devised for the research context and researcher), and thus, as thoroughly interactional phenomena (Drew 2006; Sacks 1992). The study examines the identity construction of French as a second language (FSL) teachers on a professional development sojourn in France, drawing on a data-set in part comprised of participants’ open-ended responses to a 48-item questionnaire concerning whether their “confidence as French language teachers” increased as a result of their involvement in the sojourn. However, rather than conceiving of participants’ answers as revelations of changes in their interior states, the study draws on insights from conversation analysis and membership categorization analysis to examine how “confidence” was recruited as a discursive resource to “do being” a particular kind of L2 French teacher. We demonstrate how the presence and problematics of a (French) native-speaker archetype for the FSL teachers was in part formulated through close analytic attention to both the sequential and categorial features of researcher/respondent interactions occasioned by one open-ended response item in the questionnaire. This alternative approach to analyzing questionnaire data offers important insights about L2 teacher identity. It also addresses more fundamental questions concerning the discursive and interactional basis of ostensibly non-interactional research methods like survey questionnaires. Additionally, the insistence on an explicit methodological framing of the research process promotes greater theoretical and methodological consistency, and of particular importance, a significantly expanded conception of and accounting for researcher reflexivity.
Does microfinance reduce poverty? Some international evidence
Authors: Zhang Quanda
Published: May 2017

In this paper, the hypothesis that microfinance is an effective tool for reducing poverty at the macro level is tested using a unique cross-country panel data set from 106 countries for the period 1998–2013. Taking into account the potential problem of sample selection bias and endogeneity, this paper shows that microfinance has a negative effect on poverty. The results are robust to the choice of microfinance measures and poverty indicators. They suggest that in developing and emerging countries, the establishment of more MFIs should be encouraged, and more funds should be directed from development agencies and governments into MFIs, to reduce poverty.
Neck circumference is similarly predicting for impairment of glucose tolerance as classic anthropometric parameters among healthy and obese children and adolescents
Authors: Junge Jennifer , Engel Christoph , Vogel Mandy , Naumann Stephanie , Löffler Markus , Thiery Joachim , Kratzsch Jürgen , Kiess Wieland , Körner Antje
Published: May 2017

Background:

The objective of the study was to investigate the association of neck circumference (NC) to parameters of glucose homeostasis compared to classical anthropometric parameters of lean and obese children.

Methods:

Three dimensional (3D)-body scanning quantified anthropometric (height, weight, NC, hip/waist circumference, BMI) and metabolic parameters (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], insulin, HbA

Results:

NC was positively correlated with all metabolic parameters, except for FPG. For HbA

Conclusions:

We suggest that NC is comparable or additive to established anthropometric parameters but might not be superior to them. However NC is simple to measure, reproducible and may be considered in clinical practice as an additional measurement tool.
Microwave assisted synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea
Authors: Zhang Lujun , Zhang Zhaofu , Wu Congyi , Qian Qingli , Ma Jun , Jiang Long , Han Buxing
Published: May 2017

The transformation of glycerol into value-added chemicals is an interesting topic in Green Chemistry. The glycerolysis of urea into glycerol carbonate is an important route of glycerol transformation. In this work, the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea was performed under microwave irradiation and solvent free conditions. The catalytic properties of ZnSO4, ZnCl2, CuSO4 and MgSO4 were tested and ZnSO4 showed the best performance. The effects of catalyst amount, temperature, reaction time, microwave power, molar ratio of urea to glycerol on the reaction were studied using ZnSO4 as the catalyst. It was demonstrated that microwave irradiation could promote the reaction effectively, and the yield of desired product glycerol carbonate could reach 93.7%.
Experimental methods for the determination of stress changes at
electrified solid-liquid interfaces
Authors: Láng Gyözö G. , Kovács Noémi , Vesztergom Soma , Ujvári Mária , Zalka Dóra , Szekeres Krisztina
Published: May 2017

In the present study some of the methods developed for the
experimental determination of (interfacial or film) stress changes in
electrochemical systems containing solid-liquid interfaces are briefly
reviewed, as well as the kind and quality of information that can be
obtained using these methods are discussed. The “bending beam”
(“bending cantilever”, “laser beam deflection”, “wafer
curvature”) method and related techniques, the piezoelectric method,
the extensometer method, and the method based on the measurement of
contact angle are discussed in detail. Special attention has been paid
to problems related to the use of optical methods for position
sensing.
Isostructural crystal hydrates of rare-earth metal oxalates at high pressure: from strain anisotropy to dehydration
Authors: Zakharov Boris A. , Gribov Pavel A. , Matvienko Alexander A. , Boldyreva Elena V.
Published: May 2017

The crystal structures of a series of isostructural rare-earth metal oxalates, (REE)2(C2O4)3·10H2O (REE=Sm, Y) and a 1:1 YSm(C2O4)3·10H2O solid solution, have been studied in situ by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. The structures were followed from ambient pressure to 6 GPa in a DAC with paraffin as the hydrostatic fluid. Bulk compressibilities, anisotropic lattice strain on hydrostatic compression and the corresponding changes in the atomic coordinates were followed. Discontinuities/sharp changes in the slopes of the pressure dependences of volume and selected cell parameters have been observed for yttrium-containing salts at ~3.5 GPa. This may be related to the re-distribution of water molecules within the crystal structure. Y2(C2O4)3·10H2O undergoes a partial dehydration at 1 GPa, forming monoclinic Y2(C2O4)3·6H2O as single-crystalline inclusions in the original phase.
Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of an azido-bridged Mn(II) complex [C3H5NH3][Mn(N3)3]
Authors: Qian Kun , Xu Yiyong , Wang Zengtao , Yang Jie
Published: May 2017

A new compound [C3H5NH3][Mn(N3)3] has been synthesized, in which the Mn2+ ions are connected by the end-to-end azide anions to form the 3D architecture, while the C3H5NH3
+ cations reside in the cavities of the Mn2+–N3
− network, forming rich N−H···N hydrogen bonds with the terminal N atoms of the azide anions. The complex has been characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and magnetic measurements. Magnetic susceptibility data indicate antiferromagnetic interaction among the MnII ions.
A Method of Decision Analysis Quantifying the Effects of Age and Comorbidities on the Probability of Deriving Significant Benefit from Medical Treatments
Authors: Fitzgerald Stephen P. , Bean Nigel G. , Ruberu Ravi P.
Published: May 2017

Background

The external validity, or generalizability, of trials and guidelines has been considered poor in the context of multiple morbidity. How multiple morbidity might affect the magnitude of benefit of a given treatment, and thereby external validity, has had little study.

Objective

To provide a method of decision analysis to quantify the effects of age and comorbidity on the probability of deriving a given magnitude of treatment benefit.

Design

We developed a method to calculate probabilistically the effect of all of a patient's comorbidities on their underlying utility, or well-being, at a future time point. From this, we derived a distribution of possible magnitudes of treatment benefit at that future time point. We then expressed this distribution as the probability of deriving at least a given magnitude of treatment benefit. To demonstrate the applicability of this method of decision analysis, we applied it to the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in a geriatric population of 50 individuals. We highlighted the results of four of these individuals.

Results

This method of analysis provided individualized quantifications of the effect of age and comorbidity on the probability of treatment benefit. The average probability of deriving a benefit, of at least 50% of the magnitude of benefit available to an individual without comorbidity, was only 0.8%.

Conclusion

The effects of age and comorbidity on the probability of deriving significant treatment benefits can be quantified for any individual. Even without consideration of other factors affecting external validity, these effects may be sufficient to guide decision-making.
Combining doxorubicin-nanobubbles and shockwaves for anaplastic thyroid cancer treatment: preclinical study in a xenograft mouse model
Authors: Marano Francesca , Frairia Roberto , Rinella Letizia , Argenziano Monica , Bussolati Benedetta , Grange Cristina , Mastrocola Raffaella , Castellano Isabella , Berta Laura , Cavalli Roberta , Catalano Maria Graziella
Published: May 2017

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is one of the most lethal diseases, and a curative therapy does not exist. Doxorubicin, the only drug approved for anaplastic thyroid cancer treatment, has a very low response rate and causes numerous side effects among which cardiotoxicity is the most prominent. Thus, doxorubicin delivery to the tumor site could be an import goal aimed to improve the drug efficacy and to reduce its systemic side effects. We recently reported that, in human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines, combining doxorubicin-loaded nanobubbles with extracorporeal shock waves, acoustic waves used in lithotripsy and orthopedics without side effects, increased the intracellular drug content and in vitro cytotoxicity. In the present study, we tested the efficacy of this treatment on a human anaplastic thyroid cancer xenograft mouse model. After 21 days, the combined treatment determined the greatest drug accumulation in tumors with consequent reduction of tumor volume and weight, and an extension of the tumor doubling time. Mechanistically, the treatment induced tumor apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. Finally, although doxorubicin caused the increase of fibrosis markers and oxidative stress in animal hearts, loading doxorubicin into nanobubbles avoided these effects preventing heart damage. The improvement of doxorubicin anti-tumor effects together with the prevention of heart damage suggests that the combination of doxorubicin-loaded nanobubbles with extracorporeal shock waves might be a promising drug delivery system for anaplastic thyroid cancer treatment.
A ressignificação da figura do especulador-investidor e as práticas de educação financeira
Authors: Leite Elaine Da Silveira
Published: May 2017

Este artigo apresenta uma leitura de autores da socioeconomia que explicam como práticas econômicas condenadas em certas épocas foram ressignificadas e ganharam legitimidade social. Partindo da figura do especulador ganancioso, chegase à atual imagem do investidor “racional”, que proclama as benesses do mundo das finanças e fortalece os programas e projetos de educação financeira. Deste modo, buscamos fornecer subsídios para elucidar o campo de formação de investidores e da educação financeira, que se constitui como um trunfo social compartilhado pelos diversos agentes e grupos produtores do mundo das finanças no Brasil.
POLİTİK VERGİ ÇEVRİMLERİ: TÜRKİYE’DE VERGİ GELİRLERİ VE VERGİ YÜKÜ ÜZERİNDE POLİTİK ETKİLER (1945-2014)
Authors: DEMİR İbrahim , BERKSOY Turgay
Published: May 2017

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de genel seçimlerin vergileme üzerindeki etkilerini analiz etmektedir. Vergi değişkenlerindeki değişimlerin açıklanmasında, siyasal karar alma mekanizmasının işleyişini, bu mekanizmada rol alan aktörlerin davranışlarını ve kurumsal yapının bu mekanizmanın hem işleyişi hem de sonuçları üzerindeki etkilerini ihmal eden yaklaşımlar yetersiz kalmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışmanın temel hipotezi politikacıların yeniden-seçilme güdüsüyle vergilemeyi manipüle edebileceğidir. Çalışmada, politikacının seçim kazanma ihtimalini maksimize edecek vergileme modellenmekte, kurumsal faktörler de analize dahil ederek ekonomik-mali olguların açıklanmasına yardımcı olacak varsayımlar geliştirilmektedir. 1945-2014 yıllarını kapsayan ampirik analizde vektör hata düzeltme yöntemi (VEC) kullanılmış ve seçim yılları ile vergi gelirleri arasında anlamlı bir ilişki tespit edilememiştir. Bunun en önemli nedenlerinden biri, çalışma döneminin büyük çoğunluğunda gözlemlenen siyasal istikrarsızlık olabilir. Çalışma dönemine rastlayan yıllarda 18 seçim yapılmış olmasına rağmen 46 hükümet değişikliği gerçekleşmiştir. Bu nedenle, iktidardaki politikacılar vergileme değişkenlerini etkileyebilecek güç ve sürekliliği elde edememiş olabilirler.
Un modelo educativo crítico con enfoque de competencias
Authors:   Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Unigarro Gutiérrez Manuel Antonio
Published: May 2017

Este texto presenta un modelo educativo que articula los postulados de la Pedagogía crítica con los de un enfoque de competencias. Se recogen los planteamientos de Edmundo Husserl acerca del concepto del Mundo de la vida y la manera como la Teoría crítica formulada por Jürgen Habermas los retoma para estructurar una propuesta epistemológica que se convierte en la piedra angular de la Pedagogía crítica. También se muestra la concepción de la educación como acción comunicativa y su énfasis en el diálogo entre quienes enseñan y quienes aprenden. Se propone una manera de abordar las competencias como el enfoque que debe asumir hoy la acción educativa y la manera de diseñar planes de estudios a partir de ellas. Luego, se aborda el problema de la evaluación presentando la rúbrica como herramienta fundamental, elaborada a partir de los niveles de la taxonomía SOLO. El último apartado se dedica a una reflexión sobre el profesor y su ser, condición sin la cual no es posible el modelo propuesto.
Taidelähtöiset menetelmät työyhteisön kehittämisessä. Projektitoiminta uudenlaisen työn peilinä
Authors: Rantala Pälvi , Heimonen Kirsi , Rönkä Anu-Liisa
Published: May 2017

The aim of this paper is to analyze and identify the possibilities of art-based action in a project organization. The writers of the article use the project they were involved in as an example; in that long-term project the focus was on the question of art-based methods and their influence in working life. The research showed that art-oriented activities can make different organizational cultures more visible and open to further discussion and working life development. The conflicts, that origin from the diverging concepts toward work, art, collaboration, and management, were dealt through art. As an analytical method, for example an expressive evaluation model has been used. Through that model it was found that artistic action can help to reach the so called interpretative layer, which is hard to reach only with traditional development methods. In future the organizational structures become lose and experts gather together through common interests in projects, and to perceive the interpretative layer in the working community helps to open up the otherness of the colleague, and also to one’s own preconceptions.