bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis of the technical performance of an imaging procedure: Guidelines and statistical methodology
Authors: Huang Erich P , Wang Xiao-Feng , Choudhury Kingshuk Roy , McShane Lisa M , Gönen Mithat , Ye Jingjing , Buckler Andrew J , Kinahan Paul E , Reeves Anthony P , Jackson Edward F , Guimaraes Alexander R , Zahlmann Gudrun ,   Meta-Analysis Working Group
Published: May 2014

Medical imaging serves many roles in patient care and the drug approval process, including assessing treatment response and guiding treatment decisions. These roles often involve a quantitative imaging biomarker, an objectively measured characteristic of the underlying anatomic structure or biochemical process derived from medical images. Before a quantitative imaging biomarker is accepted for use in such roles, the imaging procedure to acquire it must undergo evaluation of its technical performance, which entails assessment of performance metrics such as repeatability and reproducibility of the quantitative imaging biomarker. Ideally, this evaluation will involve quantitative summaries of results from multiple studies to overcome limitations due to the typically small sample sizes of technical performance studies and/or to include a broader range of clinical settings and patient populations. This paper is a review of meta-analysis procedures for such an evaluation, including identification of suitable studies, statistical methodology to evaluate and summarize the performance metrics, and complete and transparent reporting of the results. This review addresses challenges typical of meta-analyses of technical performance, particularly small study sizes, which often causes violations of assumptions underlying standard meta-analysis techniques. Alternative approaches to address these difficulties are also presented; simulation studies indicate that they outperform standard techniques when some studies are small. The meta-analysis procedures presented are also applied to actual [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) test–retest repeatability data for illustrative purposes.
Book Review: Pattanaik, Smruti S. (ed.), 2012. Four Decades of India Bangladesh Relations: Historical Imperatives and Future Direction
Authors: Pandey Punam
Published: May 2014

Pattanaik, Smruti S. (ed.), Four Decades of India Bangladesh Relations: Historical Imperatives and Future Direction (New Delhi: IDSA, 2012). Pp. 292.
Book Review: Pant, Harsh V. (ed.), 2012. The Rise of China: Implications for India
Authors: Kumar Sumit
Published: May 2014

Pant, Harsh V. (ed.), The Rise of China: Implications for India (New Delhi: Cambridge University Press India, 2012). Pp. 270, Price ₹ 795.
Book Review: Shambaugh, David, 2013. China Goes Global: The Partial Power
Authors: Singh Gunjan
Published: May 2014

Shambaugh, David, China Goes Global: The Partial Power (USA: Oxford University Press, 2013). Pp. 432. Price $29.95. ISBN-13: 978-0199860142.
Suicide risk categorisation of psychiatric inpatients: what it might mean and why it is of no use
Authors: Large Matthew M , Ryan Christopher J
Published: May 2014

Objective:

Existing suicide risk assessment policies and guidelines do not specify whether the risk to be assessed is absolute, relative to other patients or relative to the same patient at an earlier time.

Methods:

We utilised the results of a recent study of inpatient suicide to explore the implications of each of the above types of risk.

Results:

No interpretation of the current requirements for suicide risk categorisation of psychiatric inpatients can lead to information that might usefully guide clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

Policies and guidelines requiring suicide risk categorisation of inpatients should be withdrawn. The College should delete the mandatory entrustable professional activity requiring risk assessment.
Harmonically exited nonlinear vibration of heated functionally graded plates integrated with piezoelectric composite actuator
Authors: MS Aravinda Kumar , Panda Satyajit , Chakraborty D
Published: May 2014

A nonlinear frequency response analysis of a smart functionally graded plate operating under a heated substrate plate surface is presented. The analysis is mainly for investigating the effect of temperature on the harmonically exited nonlinear vibration characteristics of smart functionally graded plates and also on the corresponding control authority of piezoelectric fiber–reinforced composite actuator bonded to the substrate plate surface. A negative velocity feedback control strategy is utilized so as to achieve smart damping. The temperature-dependent material properties of the ceramic metal–based functionally graded plate are graded in the thickness direction. Based on the von Karman nonlinear strain–displacement relations and assuming periodic motion, a nonlinear dynamic incremental finite element model of the overall smart functionally graded plate is developed. An arc-length extrapolation technique with a new strategy for determining the arc length is used for numerical solutions. The analysis reveals significant effects of temperature and metal volume fraction in substrate on the structural dynamic behavior of the overall plate. The analysis also reveals the effects of temperature, metal volume fraction in substrate, fiber volume fraction in piezoelectric fiber–reinforced composite, and fiber orientation in piezoelectric fiber–reinforced composite on the smart damping. For using the piezoelectric fiber–reinforced composite actuator in the form of a patch, its optimal location and size are numerically determined.
Ethics, “Vulnerability,” and Feminist Participatory Action Research With a Disability Community
Authors: Gustafson Diana L. , Brunger Fern
Published: May 2014

We consider the work of research ethics boards and funding models for research that at times are incompatible with the relationship building required for feminist participatory action research with a disability community. We explore the barriers that emerged for university- and community-based partners as they asserted individual and collective identities, and negotiated boundaries, access, and power relations in the process of designing and conducting research. This critical reflection contributes to our understanding of the structures of academic research funding, ethics approval, and how problematic conceptualizations of vulnerability embedded in the Tri-Council Policy Statement and research ethics board practices impact on relationship building and the research process. Recommendations for change will be helpful to researchers studying disability, those using participatory action research, and individuals serving on ethics review boards.
Presidential Defense
Authors: Godwin Erik K. , Ilderton Nathan A.
Published: May 2014

Theories of presidential success find that political disunity reduces the President’s effectiveness by restricting his authority to generate new policies. We maintain that focusing solely on policy change neglects the influence exerted by the President when he defends his policy agenda by preventing unfavorable changes to the status quo. We develop a new theory of presidential success that predicts that certain political environments raise the resource costs to the President of policy change. During these times, the President shifts political resources to defending the status quo. We empirically test our predictions in both legislative and regulatory lawmaking, and find strong support for our theory.
Why Behavior Matches Ecology
Authors: Barber Nigel
Published: May 2014

Adaptive variation refers to the lock-and-key type relationship between an organism and its ecological niche. This includes a patterned relationship between human behavior and societal variation. As societies become more complex, for example, our capacity to process a great deal of information quickly increases (the Flynn effect). Such adaptive processes illuminate societal variation because there is a reliable pattern in comparative research whereby behavioral differences are predicted by ecological and demographic differences. This pattern cannot be explained in terms of genetic adaptation but reflects changes mostly occurring in the lifetime of the individual. It involves an evolved capacity of humans (and other species) to adapt their behavior developmentally to local challenges. The resulting phenotypes are ecologically predictable (or “adaptive”) but may not maximize reproduction (e.g., low fertility in modern urban cities). This innovative theoretical approach is scientifically valid and heuristically useful based on comparisons across species and between societies.
Public Reporting of Provider Performance at a Crossroads in the United States
Authors: Hussey Peter S. , Luft Harold S. , McNamara Peggy
Published: May 2014

Twenty-seven years after the first public release by the U.S. government of data on the quality of hospital care, public reporting for consumers has expanded substantially. Despite the growth in public reporting activities, there is limited evidence of their use by consumers in ways that significantly affect health care delivery. Support for public reporting continues, in part, because of the face value of transparency. The limited impact of reporting efforts is plausibly due to flaws in the content, design, and implementation of existing public reports rather than inherent limitations of reporting. Substantial work is still needed for public reports to achieve their potential for engaging and informing consumers. We present a vision statement and 10 recommendations to achieve this potential.
Aortic Surgery and Deep-Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest
Authors: Reed Heather , Berg Kent B. , Janelle Gregory M.
Published: May 2014

Aortic arch surgery has become increasingly complex, and novel surgical approaches have been utilized. Efforts aimed at improving neurological outcomes in this patient population have been numerous, with varying degrees of success. This article summarizes the anesthetic considerations for procedures on the aortic arch, including evidence-based outcomes with respect to temperature management, perfusion strategies, hemodynamic goals, adjunct agents, and neuromonitoring.
A 2014 Update on Coagulation Management for Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Thiele Robert H. , Raphael Jacob
Published: May 2014

Coagulopathy after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is a serious complication that may result in massive bleeding requiring transfusion of significant amounts of blood products, plasma, and platelets. In addition to increased patient morbidity and mortality it is associated with longer hospital stay and increased resource utilization. The current review discusses aspects in cardiopulmonary bypass–induced coagulopathy with emphasis on point-of-care testing and individualized “goal-directed” therapy in patients who develop excessive bleeding after cardiac surgery.
Cytokine Gene Associations With Self-Report Ratings of Morning and Evening Fatigue in Oncology Patients and Their Family Caregivers
Authors: Dhruva Anand , Aouizerat Bradley E. , Cooper Bruce , Paul Steven M. , Dodd Marylin , West Claudia , Wara William , Lee Kathryn , Dunn Laura B. , Langford Dale J. , Merriman John D. , Baggott Christina , Cataldo Janine , Ritchie Christine , Kober Kord M. , Leutwyler Heather , Miaskowski Christine
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate for differences in variations in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes between participants who were classified as having low and high levels of morning and evening fatigue and to evaluate for differences in phenotypic characteristics between these two groups. In a sample of 167 oncology outpatients with breast, prostate, lung, or brain cancer and 85 of their family caregivers, growth mixture modeling was used to identify latent classes of individuals based on ratings of morning and evening fatigue obtained prior to, during, and for 4 months following completion of radiation therapy. Differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes in 15 cytokine genes were evaluated between the latent classes. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the effect of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics on morning and evening fatigue class membership. Associations were found between morning fatigue and number of comorbidities as well as variations in tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNFA) rs1800629 and rs3093662. Evening fatigue was associated with caring for children at home and variations in interleukin 4 ( IL4) rs2243248 and TNFA rs2229094. Younger age and lower performance status were associated with both morning and evening fatigue. These findings suggest that inflammatory mediators are associated with the development of morning and evening fatigue. However, because different phenotypic characteristics and genomic markers are associated with diurnal variations in fatigue, morning and evening fatigue may be distinct but related symptoms.
Using means-end chain theory to explore travel motivation
Authors: Jiang Shan , Scott Noel , Ding Peiyi
Published: May 2014

This study examines the travel motivation of Chinese outbound tourists at the levels of attribute, consequence and values based on means-end chain (MEC) theory and its associated laddering technique. In-depth interviews with respondents were analysed to identify six key MECs. The two major travel motivation chains are (1) respondents visit destinations that are ‘famous’ or have a ‘good environment’ because they value ‘the beauty of nature’ and ‘pleasure’ and (2) respondents want to visit ‘different’ destinations, because they value experiences and knowledge. These results illustrate the use of MEC theory in understanding travel markets and demonstrate the use of motivation chains as the basis for segmenting the Chinese market. The research findings contribute to the travel motivation literature by identifying directed, hierarchically organized motivation structures with interconnected levels of attributes, consequences and values. Further marketing and product development implications are provided to help attract this emerging market.
Sociology Is a Martial Art
Authors: Paradis Elise
Published: May 2014

Loïc Wacquant’s article ‘ Homines in Extremis’ outlines five propositions about habitus that support a broader and richer use of Bourdieu’s famous concept. His article was a response to a new edited volume by Sanchez and Spencer under the title Fighting Scholars. In this article, I support Wacquant’s argument, but suggest that he undersells habitus as a topic of and tool for inquiry. I point to previous conversations about habitus and suggest that we may learn more about social phenomena by engaging the relational aspects of habitus and the social aspects of the incorporation of habitus.
Effect of tirasemtiv, a selective activator of the fast skeletal muscle troponin complex, in patients with peripheral artery disease
Authors: Bauer Timothy A , Wolff Andrew A , Hirsch Alan T , Meng Lisa L , Rogers Kevin , Malik Fady I , Hiatt William R
Published: May 2014

Tirasemtiv (CK-2017357), a novel small-molecule activator of the fast skeletal muscle troponin complex, slows the rate of calcium release from troponin, thus sensitizing fast skeletal muscle fibers to calcium. In preclinical studies, tirasemtiv increased muscle force and delayed the onset and reduced the extent of muscle fatigue during hypoxia in vitro and muscle ischemia in situ. This study evaluated the effect of single doses of tirasemtiv on measures of skeletal muscle function and fatigability in patients with stable calf claudication due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). Sixty-one patients with an ankle–brachial index ≤0.90 in the leg with claudication received single double-blind doses of tirasemtiv 375 mg and 750 mg and matching placebo in random order about 1 week apart. After 33 patients were treated, the 750 mg dose was decreased to 500 mg due to adverse events and these dose groups were combined for analysis. On each study day, bilateral heel-raise testing was performed before and at 3 and 6 hours after dosing; a 6-minute walk test was performed at 4 hours after dosing. Claudicating calf muscle performance was increased at the highest dose and plasma concentration of tirasemtiv; however, the 6-minute walk distance decreased with both the dose and plasma concentration of tirasemtiv, possibly due to dose-related adverse events, particularly dizziness, that could impede walking ability. In conclusion, the mechanism of fast skeletal muscle troponin activation improved muscle function but not 6-minute walking distance in patients with claudication due to PAD. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01131013
The Role of Expenditure Components in Nepal’s Import from India
Authors: Budha Birendra Bahadur
Published: May 2014

This article investigates the role of the final expenditure components in determining Nepal’s imports from India using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach based on the annual data for the period 1975–2011. The results of bounds testing procedure show that there exists the cointegration between Nepal’s imports from India and its determinants: personal consumption expenditure, government consumption expenditure, investment, exports and relative prices. Among the expenditure components, personal consumption expenditure is a major determinant of import demand from India, with its significant positive impact. The government expenditure is found to have no significant impact on Nepal’s imports from India. Gross domestic investment and exports have negative impact on Nepal’s import demand from India, whereas the relative prices have positive impact, indicating lack of substitutes for Indian imports. Trade liberalization also has positive impact on Nepal’s import from India.
The Social Protection Floor and the ‘New’ social investment policies in Japan and South Korea
Authors: Peng Ito
Published: May 2014

Japan and South Korea have always taken what may be called a social investment approach to their social and economic development policies. They were able to achieve a high level of economic growth, in part, because of their targeted social spending that supported and protected the productive sectors of the society. Since the 1990s, however, there has been a marked shift in the targets of social investment, from predominantly skilled, male, industrial core workers to more peripheral, marginalized, and vulnerable population groups, such as women, children, and the elderly. Moreover, this new policy focus is now increasingly put forward from the perspective of inclusive welfare and the discourse of social inclusion, thus breaking from the earlier productivist thinking. Indeed, recent social investment policy debates in the two countries are often framed in terms of intergenerational equity, social and economic sustainability, and economic democracy. What are these ‘new social investments’, and why the shifts? This article looks at the new social investment policies in Japan and South Korea to understand factors behind the changes, and assess how ‘new’ are these new social investments.
Globo, the Brazilian Military Dictatorship and the 1970 FIFA Football World Cup
Authors: de Melo Victor Andrade , Drumond Mauricio
Published: May 2014

TV Globo is the leading television channel in Brazil and is among the biggest television networks in the world. Globo is internationally renowned for its soap operas, but football has also been an important part of its popularity. Domestically, Globo is also known for its ambiguous relationships with the military dictatorships of the 1960s and 1970s, a context highlighted by the controversial telecast of the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. More than four decades later, Brazilians have not forgotten this context, or the controversies raised by the relationship between Globo and the government. This article aims to discuss this subject, trying to better understand the relations between football, television, and political systems.
Promoting Resilience in Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence Through a Developmentally Informed Intervention
Authors: Howell Kathryn H. , Miller Laura E. , Barnes Sarah E. , Graham-Bermann Sandra A.
Published: May 2014

A significant proportion of children exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are preschool-aged, yet few interventions exist for this population. Those interventions that do exist focus primarily on reducing psychopathology, without addressing the range of potential outcomes, including resilient functioning. This case study considers the treatment of Alexis, a 6-year-old, African American girl who was referred for services following exposure to IPV. At her initial intake, she not only showed evidence of posttraumatic stress but also exhibited characteristics of resilient functioning. Over the course of a 10-session group intervention, Alexis’s resilient functioning improved, according to both therapist and maternal report. At follow-up, her posttraumatic stress symptoms were below the clinical range, indicating improvement in psychopathology paralleling her increases in resilient functioning. This case lends support for the use of group interventions with young children exposed to violence and also emphasizes the importance of assessing multiple domains of functioning, including resilient behaviors.
A CD30(−) Transformed Mycosis Fungoides Case Responding Very Well to Systemic Bexarotene and Methotrexate
Authors: Zindanci Ilkin , Kavala Mukaddes , Turkoğlu Zafer , Can Burce , Ozturk Erman , Zemheri Ebru , Akbulak Ozge , Mansuroglu Cem , Topaloğlu Demir Filiz
Published: May 2014

The course of mycosis fungoides (MF) is indolent except when transformation to a large T-cell lymphoma occurs. The diagnosis of transformed MF relies on the presence of more than 25% of large cells on biopsy of an MF lesion. Treatment of transformed MF is a major challenge as these patients have poor outcome. Here, we report a 61-year-old man presenting with tumoral ulcer on the plantar area of the foot who was diagnosed cutaneous CD30(−) large cell transformed MF and treated with systemic methotraxate and bexarotene therapy.
Wound Care Study and Translation Application
Authors: Fu Xiaobing
Published: May 2014

Trauma, tissue repair, and regeneration are frontier research areas in China and a team led by Professor Xiaobing Fu has become an important unit in this field in China. Over the past years, this team has played a key role in wound prevention, management, and some regulation making at the state level. The works on functions of growth factor and the action of these functions in regulating wound healing, stem cell biology, and its application for sweat gland regeneration, education, or training and prevention for chronic skin wounds are outstanding.
GADD45 proteins: roles in cellular senescence and tumor development
Authors: Zhang Li , Yang Zhaojuan , Liu Yongzhong
Published: May 2014

The growth arrest and DNA damage 45 (GADD45) family genes regulate DNA repair, cell cycle, cell survival, apoptosis, senescence, and DNA demethylation in the cells under various stress stimuli, such as oxidative stress, UV radiation, and oncogenic stress. Recent studies have provided important insights regarding how different oncogenic stresses activate GADD45 signaling pathway and lead to disparate influences on tumor initiation. In this review, we discuss the deregulation and cellular function of GADD45 proteins in the context of cancer development. We also highlight recent advances in exploring the tumor suppressive function of GADD45 proteins-triggered cellular senescence.
Endostar, a novel human recombinant endostatin, attenuates liver fibrosis in CCl4-induced mice
Authors: Chen Jing , Liu Dian-Gang , Yang Guang , Kong Ling-Jian , Du Ya-Ju , Wang Hang-Yu , Li Feng-Dong , Pei Feng-Hua , Song Ji-Tao , Fan Yu-Jing , Liu Ai-Yun , Wang Xin-Hong , Li Bao-Xin
Published: May 2014

Decreasing hepatic fibrosis remains one of the major therapeutic challenges in hepatology. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of Endostar on both CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice and a hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line. Two main models were studied: (i) a liver fibrosis model was induced in BALB/c mice using CCl4 by intraperitoneal injection for six weeks. Six animal groups were studied: group 1: normal animals; group 2: CCl4-induced liver fibrosis; group 3: CCl4 + Endostar 20 mg/kg/d, six weeks; group 4: CCl4 + Endostar 10 mg/kg/d, six weeks; group 5: CCl4 + Endostar 20 mg/kg/d, four weeks; group 6: CCl4 + Endostar 10 mg/kg/d, four weeks corresponded to different Endostar doses and duration of administration. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by histopathological staining and liver hydroxyproline content. Expressions of collagen type I, α-smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA), TGF-β1 and VEGFR were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). (ii) A liver cell model. HSC-T6 cells were cultured with or without Endostar for 12 h or 24 h. Expressions of collagen type I, α-SMA, and TGF-β1 were measured by real-time PCR. Collagen I and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) contents in cell supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As compared to the group without Endostar, liver fibrosis scores and hydroxyproline content were decreased in both Endostar groups ( P < 0.05). Moreover, Endostar inhibited the hepatic expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, Collagen-1, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 mRNA ( P < 0.05). In the HSC-T6 cell line model, Endostar profoundly inhibited the expression of α-SMA, Collagen-1, and TGF-β1 mRNA. Expressions of Collagen-1 and TGF-β1 protein were decreased in the Endostar group as compared to the normal controls in the supernatant of HSC-T6 cells ( P < 0.05). Endostar decreased both liver fibrosis in CCl4-induced mice and collagen synthesis in HSCs in vitro. Therefore, this recombinant human endostatin is a promising compound for counteracting liver fibrosis.
In vitro enzyme-mimic activity and in vivo therapeutic potential of HSJ-0017, a novel Mn porphyrin-based antioxidant enzyme mimic
Authors: Li Bao-qiu , Dong Xin , Li Na , Gao Ji-you , Yuan Qiang , Fang Shi-hong , Gong Xian-chang , Wang Shu-juan , Wang Feng-shan
Published: May 2014

Manganese (III) 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis [3-(2-(2-methoxy)-ethoxy) ethoxy] phenyl porphyrin chloride, designated HSJ-0017, is a novel antioxidant enzyme mimic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the enzyme-mimic activity and the therapeutic potential of HSJ-0017 in free radical-related diseases. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimic activity was measured by the nitroblue tetrazolium chloride monohydrate reduction assay. Catalase (CAT) mimic activity was measured based on the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The antitumor, radioprotective and chemoprotective effects of HSJ-0017 were evaluated in H22 or S180 tumor-bearing Kunming mice. The anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects were, respectively, evaluated in histamine-induced edema model and CCl4-induced hepatic damage model in Wistar rats. HSJ-0017 over a concentration range of 0.001–10 µmol/L significantly inhibited the generation of superoxide anion. Significant hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity was observed when the concentration of HSJ-0017 was higher than 0.01 µmol/L. HSJ-0017 at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg exhibited significant antitumor effect on S180 tumor xenografts, whereas no significant antitumor effect was observed in H22 tumor xenografts. HSJ-0017 at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg enhanced the antitumor effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and reduced their toxicity. However, HSJ-0017 counteracted the antitumor effects of radiotherapy when administered simultaneously with radiotherapy. HSJ-0017 showed significant anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. Our results demonstrate that HSJ-0017 exhibits antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, radioprotective, chemoprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. It is a potent dual SOD/CAT mimic.
Genistein supplementation increases bone turnover but does not prevent alcohol-induced bone loss in male mice
Authors: Yang Carrie S , Mercer Kelly E , Alund Alexander W , Suva Larry J , Badger Thomas M , Ronis Martin JJ
Published: May 2014

Chronic alcohol consumption results in bone loss through increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation. These effects can be reversed by estradiol (E2) supplementation. Soy diets are suggested to have protective effects on bone loss in men and women, as a result of the presence of soy protein-associated phytoestrogens such as genistein (GEN). In this study, male mice were pair-fed (PF), a control diet, an ethanol (EtOH) diet, or EtOH diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg of GEN for 8 weeks to test if GEN protects against bone loss associated with chronic drinking. Interestingly, alcohol consumption reduced cortical area and thickness and trabecular bone volume in both EtOH and EtOH/GEN groups when compared to the corresponding PF and PF/GEN controls, P < 0.05. However, in the trabecular bone compartment, we observed a significant increase in overall trabecular bone density in the PF/GEN group compared to the PF controls. Bone loss in the EtOH-treated mice was associated with the inhibition of osteoblastogenesis as indicated by decreased alkaline phosphatase staining in ex vivo bone marrow cultures, P < 0.05. GEN supplementation improved osteoblastogenesis in the EtOH/GEN cultures compared to the EtOH group, P < 0.05. Vertebral expression of bone-formation markers, osteocalcin, and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) was also significantly up-regulated in the PF/GEN and EtOH/GEN groups compared to the PF and EtOH-treated groups. GEN supplementation also increased the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) in the PF/GEN, an increase that persisted in the EtOH/GEN-treated animals ( P < 0.05), and increased basal hydrogen peroxide production and RANKL mRNA expression in primary bone marrow cultures in vitro, P < 0.05. These findings suggest that GEN supplementation increases the overall bone remodeling and, in the context of chronic alcohol consumption, does not protect against the oxidative stress-associated EtOH-mediated bone resorption.
Acute radiation enteritis caused by dose-dependent radiation exposure in dogs: Experimental research
Authors: Xu Wenda , Chen Jiang , Xu Liu , Li Hongyu , Guo Xiaozhong
Published: May 2014

Accidental or intended radiation exposure in mass casualty settings presents a serious and on-going threat. The development of mitigating and treating agents requires appropriate animal models. Unfortunately, the majority of research on radiation enteritis in animals has lacked specific assessments and targeted therapy. Our study showed beagle dogs, treated by intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for abdominal irradiation, were administered single X-ray doses of 8–30 Gy. The degree of intestinal tract injury for all of the animals after radiation exposure was evaluated with regard to clinical syndrome, endoscopic findings, histological features, and intestinal function. The range of single doses (8 Gy, 10–14 Gy, and 16–30 Gy) represented the degree of injury (mild, moderate, and severe, respectively). Acute radiation enteritis included clinical syndrome with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, hemafecia, and weight loss; typical endoscopic findings included edema, bleeding, mucosal abrasions, and ulcers; and intestinal biopsy results revealed mucosal necrosis, erosion, and loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhage, and congestion. Changes in serum diamine oxides (DAOs) and d-xylose represented intestinal barrier function and absorption function, respectively, and correlated with the extent of damage ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively). We successfully developed a dog model of acute radiation enteritis, thus obtaining a relatively objective evaluation of intestinal tract injury based on clinical performance and laboratory examination. The method of assessment of the degree of intestinal tract injury after abdominal irradiation could be beneficial in the development of novel and effective therapeutic strategies for acute radiation enteritis.
Evaluation of antibody–chemokine fusion proteins for tumor-targeting applications
Authors: Hess Christian , Neri Dario
Published: May 2014

There is an increasing biotechnological interest in the ‘arming’ of therapeutic antibodies with bioactive payloads. While many antibody–cytokine fusion proteins have been extensively investigated in preclinical and clinical studies, there are only few reports related to antibody–chemokine fusion proteins (‘immunochemokines’). Here, we describe the cloning, expression, and characterization of 10 immunochemokines based on the monoclonal antibody F8, specific to the alternatively spliced extra domain A (EDA) of fibronectin, a marker of angiogenesis. Among the 10 murine chemokines tested in our study, only CCL19, CCL20, CCL21, and CXCL10 could be expressed and isolated at acceptable purity levels as F8-based fusion proteins. The immunochemokines retained the binding characteristics of the parental antibody, but could not be characterized by gel-filtration analysis, an analytical limitation which had previously been observed in our laboratory for the unconjugated chemokines. When radioiodinated preparations of CCL19-F8, CCL20-F8, CCL21-F8, and CXCL10-F8 were tested in quantitative biodistribution studies in tumor-bearing mice, the four fusion proteins failed to preferentially accumulate at the tumor site, while the unconjugated parental antibody displayed a tumor:blood ratio >20:1, 24 h after intravenous (i.v.) administration. The tumor-targeting ability of CCL19-F8 could be rescued only in part by preadministration of unlabeled CCL19-F8, indicating that a chemokine trapping mechanism may hinder pharmacodelivery strategies. While this article highlights expression, analytical, and biodistribution challenges associated with the antibody-based in vivo delivery of chemokines at sites of disease, it provides the first comprehensive report in this field and may facilitate future studies with immunochemokines.
A novel application of the Intent to Attend assessment to reduce bias due to missing data in a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Rabideau Dustin J , Nierenberg Andrew A , Sylvia Louisa G , Friedman Edward S , Bowden Charles L , Thase Michael E , Ketter Terence A , Ostacher Michael J , Reilly-Harrington Noreen , Iosifescu Dan V , Calabrese Joseph R , Leon Andrew C , Schoenfeld David A
Published: May 2014

Background

Missing data are unavoidable in most randomized controlled clinical trials, especially when measurements are taken repeatedly. If strong assumptions about the missing data are not accurate, crude statistical analyses are biased and can lead to false inferences. Furthermore, if we fail to measure all predictors of missing data, we may not be able to model the missing data process sufficiently. In longitudinal randomized trials, measuring a patient’s intent to attend future study visits may help to address both of these problems. Leon et al. developed and included the Intent to Attend assessment in the Lithium Treatment – Moderate dose Use Study (LiTMUS), aiming to remove bias due to missing data from the primary study hypothesis.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of the Intent to Attend assessment with regard to its use in a sensitivity analysis of missing data.

Methods

We fit marginal models to assess whether a patient’s self-rated intent predicted actual study adherence. We applied inverse probability of attrition weighting (IPAW) coupled with patient intent to assess whether there existed treatment group differences in response over time. We compared the IPAW results to those obtained using other methods.

Results

Patient-rated intent predicted missed study visits, even when adjusting for other predictors of missing data. On average, the hazard of retention increased by 19% for every one-point increase in intent. We also found that more severe mania, male gender, and a previously missed visit predicted subsequent absence. Although we found no difference in response between the randomized treatment groups, IPAW increased the estimated group difference over time.

Limitations

LiTMUS was designed to limit missed study visits, which may have attenuated the effects of adjusting for missing data. Additionally, IPAW can be less efficient and less powerful than maximum likelihood or Bayesian estimators, given that the parametric model is well specified.

Conclusions

In LiTMUS, the Intent to Attend assessment predicted missed study visits. This item was incorporated into our IPAW models and helped reduce bias due to informative missing data. This analysis should both encourage and facilitate future use of the Intent to Attend assessment along with IPAW to address missing data in a randomized trial.
The utility of Bayesian predictive probabilities for interim monitoring of clinical trials
Authors: Saville Benjamin R , Connor Jason T , Ayers Gregory D , Alvarez JoAnn
Published: May 2014

Background

Bayesian predictive probabilities can be used for interim monitoring of clinical trials to estimate the probability of observing a statistically significant treatment effect if the trial were to continue to its predefined maximum sample size.

Purpose

We explore settings in which Bayesian predictive probabilities are advantageous for interim monitoring compared to Bayesian posterior probabilities, p-values, conditional power, or group sequential methods.

Results

For interim analyses that address prediction hypotheses, such as futility monitoring and efficacy monitoring with lagged outcomes, only predictive probabilities properly account for the amount of data remaining to be observed in a clinical trial and have the flexibility to incorporate additional information via auxiliary variables.

Limitations

Computational burdens limit the feasibility of predictive probabilities in many clinical trial settings. The specification of prior distributions brings additional challenges for regulatory approval.

Conclusions

The use of Bayesian predictive probabilities enables the choice of logical interim stopping rules that closely align with the clinical decision-making process.
Consumer Responses to Service Failure
Authors: Weber Karin , Hsu Cathy H.C. , Sparks Beverley A.
Published: May 2014

This research draws on acculturation theory to identify potential differences in Chinese Americans’ reaction to a service failure based on their acculturation level, in this case, among those who have lived in the United States for at least five years. Rather than compare consumer differences in Western cultures versus Asian cultures, this study examined the responses of 451 Chinese American participants to a service failure based on three acculturation modes, namely, integration, assimilation, and separation. The test included two different hotel brand types (Asian and Western) and service staff with two different ethnicities (Chinese and American). Respondents’ acculturation status influenced their reaction to the service failure, as measured by their ratings for face, satisfaction, and repeat purchase intentions at both property and chain levels, and the three acculturation groups’ ratings generally interacted with the employee’s ethnicity. Brand type, on the other hand, had no effect at all. Of particular note is the continued importance of face for Chinese Americans who follow a separation strategy, as compared with its diminished influence for those who are integrating or assimilating with the main culture. This article is based on a paper presented at the 2013 Quality in Service Conference (QUIS 13) in Karlstad, Sweden.
Poliomyelitis
Authors: Mehndiratta Man Mohan , Mehndiratta Prachi , Pande Renuka
Published: May 2014

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the Picornaviridae family. It finds a mention even in ancient Egyptian paintings and carvings. The clinical features are varied ranging from mild cases of respiratory illness, gastroenteritis, and malaise to severe forms of paralysis. These have been categorized into inapparent infection without symptoms, mild illness (abortive poliomyelitis), aseptic meningitis (nonparalytic poliomyelitis), and paralytic poliomyelitis. This disease has been associated with crippling deformities affecting thousands of lives throughout the world. Only due to the perseverance and determination of great scientists in 1900s, the genomic structure of the virus and its pathogenesis could be elucidated. Contribution of Salk and Sabin in the form of vaccines—oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the inactivated polio vaccine—heralded a scientific revolution. In 1994, the World Health Organization (WHO) Region of The Americas was certified polio free followed by the WHO Western Pacific Region in 2000 and the WHO European Region in June 2002 of the 3 types of wild poliovirus (types 1, 2, and 3). In 2013, only 3 countries remained polio endemic—Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Global eradication of polio is imperative else the threat of an outbreak will hover forever. Today, all the governments of the world in collaboration with WHO stand unified in their fight against poliomyelitis and the task when achieved will pave the way for eliminating other infections in future.
NASN Connecting With Nurses Every Day
Authors: Mazyck Donna , Conley Sharon , Cellucci Margaret
Published: May 2014

NASN, with a newly adopted strategic plan, is energized, committed, and positioned to be the connecting point for all things concerning school health. The July issue of the NASN School Nurse is utilized to provide an update to our membership on the health of our organization and the past year’s major initiatives. The 2014-2017 strategic plan has five areas of emphasis: membership, advocacy, financial stability, research, and governance. The purpose of this article is to discuss NASN’s member resources and connections and how they can be utilized to strengthen and mold school nursing practice.
In vitro osteoinductive potential of porous monetite for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Idowu Bernadine , Cama Giuseppe , Deb Sanjukta , Di Silvio Lucy
Published: May 2014

Tissue engineering–based bone grafts are emerging as a viable alternative treatment modality to repair and regenerate tissues damaged as a result of disease or injury. The choice of the biomaterial component is a critical determinant of the success of the graft or scaffold; essentially, it must induce and allow native tissue integration, and most importantly mimic the hierarchical structure of the native bone. Calcium phosphate bioceramics are widely used in orthopaedics and dentistry applications due to their similarity to bone mineral and their ability to induce a favourable biological response. One such material is monetite, which is biocompatible, osteoconductive and has the ability to be resorbed under physiological conditions. The osteoinductive properties of monetite in vivo are known; however, little is known of the direct effect on osteoinduction of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the potential of monetite to induce and sustain human mesenchymal stem cells towards osteogenic differentiation. Human mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on the monetite scaffold in the absence of differentiating factors for up to 28 days. The gene expression profile of bone-specific markers in cells on monetite scaffold was compared to the control material hydroxyapatite. At day 14, we observed a marked increase in alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and osteonectin expressions. This study provides evidence of a suitable material that has potential properties to be used as a tissue engineering scaffold.
Calcium phosphate thin films enhance the response of human mesenchymal stem cells to nanostructured titanium surfaces
Authors: McCafferty Mura M , Burke George A , Meenan Brian J
Published: May 2014

The development of biomaterial surfaces possessing the topographical cues that can promote mesenchymal stem cell recruitment and, in particular, those capable of subsequently directing osteogenic differentiation is of increasing importance for the advancement of tissue engineering. While it is accepted that it is the interaction with specific nanoscale topography that induces mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, the potential for an attendant bioactive chemistry working in tandem with such nanoscale features to enhance this effect has not been considered to any great extent. This article presents a study of mesenchymal stem cell response to conformal bioactive calcium phosphate thin films sputter deposited onto a polycrystalline titanium nanostructured surface with proven capability to directly induce osteogenic differentiation in human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells. The sputter deposited surfaces supported high levels of human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cell adherence and proliferation, as determined by DNA quantification. Furthermore, they were also found to be capable of directly promoting significant levels of osteogenic differentiation. Specifically, alkaline phosphatase activity, gene expression and immunocytochemical localisation of key osteogenic markers revealed that the nanostructured titanium surfaces and the bioactive calcium phosphate coatings could direct the differentiation towards an osteogenic lineage. Moreover, the addition of the calcium phosphate chemistry to the topographical profile of the titanium was found to induce increased human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cell differentiation compared to that observed for either the titanium or calcium phosphate coating without an underlying nanostructure. Hence, the results presented here highlight that a clear benefit can be achieved from a surface engineering strategy that combines a defined surface topography with an attendant, conformal bioactive chemistry to enhance the direct osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells.
Flying under the radar: A study of public attitudes towards unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Kreps Sarah
Published: May 2014

Unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, have become a central feature of American foreign policy, with over 400 strikes in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen in the last decade. Despite criticisms that have arisen about ethics and legality of this policy, polls have registered high levels of public support for drone strikes. This article shows that the standard formulation of poll questions takes as a given the government’s controversial claims about combatant status and source of legal authorization. I conduct a survey experiment that evaluates how varying the terms of the debate –in particular whether the strikes are compatible with international humanitarian law (IHL) and have legal authorization – affects public support for the drone policy. Treatments that incorporated contested assumptions about IHL meaningfully decreased public support while the public was less moved by questions about domestic or international legal authorization.
Public and private beliefs of political leaders: Saddam Hussein in front of a crowd and behind closed doors
Authors: Dyson Stephen Benedict , Raleigh Alexandra L.
Published: May 2014

We ask if the public speech of political leaders is diagnostic of their private beliefs, and investigate through content analysis of the rhetoric of Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq. We collected Saddam’s public speeches and interviews on international affairs from 1977–2000, producing a data set of 330,000 words. From transcripts of Saddam speaking in private, we garnered a comparison corpus of 58,000 words. These text-sets were processed to locate markers of conflict, control and complexity. We find that Saddam’s hostile, conflict-oriented worldview and his perception of himself as a significant political actor was consistent across public and private domains. The major difference between these spheres was his more complex private view of international affairs compared to his more definitive public stance. Our evidence supports the notion that private beliefs can be inferred from the public speech of political leaders.