bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Visual Attention Using Eye Tracking Sensors in Intelligent Cognitive Therapies Based on Serious Games
Authors: Frutos-Pascual Maite , Garcia-Zapirain Begonya
Published: May 2015

This study examines the use of eye tracking sensors as a means to identify children’s behavior in attention-enhancement therapies. For this purpose, a set of data collected from 32 children with different attention skills is analyzed during their interaction with a set of puzzle games. The authors of this study hypothesize that participants with better performance may have quantifiably different eye-movement patterns from users with poorer results. The use of eye trackers outside the research community may help to extend their potential with available intelligent therapies, bringing state-of-the-art technologies to users. The use of gaze data constitutes a new information source in intelligent therapies that may help to build new approaches that are fully-customized to final users’ needs. This may be achieved by implementing machine learning algorithms for classification. The initial study of the dataset has proven a 0.88 (±0.11) classification accuracy with a random forest classifier, using cross-validation and hierarchical tree-based feature selection. Further approaches need to be examined in order to establish more detailed attention behaviors and patterns among children with and without attention problems.
Temperature-Compensated Force/Pressure Sensor Based on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Epoxy Composites
Authors: Dinh Nghia , Kanoun Olfa
Published: May 2015

In this study, we propose a multi-walled carbon nanotube epoxy composite sensor for force and pressure sensing in the range of 50 N–2 kN. A manufacturing procedure, including material preparation and deposition techniques, is proposed. The electrode dimensions and the layer thickness were optimized by the finite element method. Temperature compensation is realized by four nanocomposites elements, where only two elements are exposed to the measurand. In order to investigate the influence of the filler contents, samples with different compositions were prepared and investigated. Additionally, the specimens are characterized by cyclical and stepped force/pressure loads or at defined temperatures. The results show that the choice of the filler content should meet a compromise between sensitivity, temperature influence and noise behavior. At constant temperature, a force of at least 50N can be resolved. The measurement error due to the temperature influence is 150N in a temperature range of –20°C–50°C.
Harmonic Maps and Biharmonic Maps
Authors: Urakawa Hajime
Published: May 2015

This is a survey on harmonic maps and biharmonic maps into (1) Riemannian manifolds of non-positive curvature, (2) compact Lie groups or (3) compact symmetric spaces, based mainly on my recent works on these topics.
Probing multivalency in ligand–receptor-mediated adhesion of soft, biomimetic interfaces
Authors: Schmidt Stephan , Wang Hanqing , Pussak Daniel , Mosca Simone , Hartmann Laura
Published: May 2015

Many biological functions at cell level are mediated by the glycocalyx, a dense carbohydrate-presenting layer. In this layer specific interactions between carbohydrate ligands and protein receptors are formed to control cell–cell recognition, cell adhesion and related processes. The aim of this work is to shed light on the principles of complex formation between surface anchored carbohydrates and receptor surfaces by measuring the specific adhesion between surface bound mannose on a concanavalin A (ConA) layer via poly(ethylene glycol)-(PEG)-based soft colloidal probes (SCPs). Special emphasis is on the dependence of multivalent presentation and density of carbohydrate units on specific adhesion. Consequently, we first present a synthetic strategy that allows for controlled density variation of functional groups on the PEG scaffold using unsaturated carboxylic acids (crotonic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid) as grafting units for mannose conjugation. We showed by a range of analytic techniques (ATR–FTIR, Raman microscopy, zeta potential and titration) that this synthetic strategy allows for straightforward variation in grafting density and grafting length enabling the controlled presentation of mannose units on the PEG network. Finally we determined the specific adhesion of PEG-network-conjugated mannose units on ConA surfaces as a function of density and grafting type. Remarkably, the results indicated the absence of a molecular-level enhancement of mannose/ConA interaction due to chelate- or subsite-binding. The results seem to support the fact that weak carbohydrate interactions at mechanically flexible interfaces hardly undergo multivalent binding but are simply mediated by the high number of ligand–receptor interactions.
Glycodendrimers: tools to explore multivalent galectin-1 interactions
Authors: Cousin Jonathan M , Cloninger Mary J
Published: May 2015

Four generations of lactose-functionalized polyamidoamine (PAMAM) were employed to further the understanding of multivalent galectin-1 mediated interactions. Dynamic light scattering and fluorescence microscopy were used to study the multivalent interaction of galectin-1 with the glycodendrimers in solution, and glycodendrimers were observed to organize galectin-1 into nanoparticles. In the presence of a large excess of galectin-1, glycodendrimers nucleated galectin-1 into nanoparticles that were remarkably homologous in size (400–500 nm). To understand augmentation of oncologic cellular aggregation by galectin-1, glycodendrimers were used in cell-based assays with human prostate carcinoma cells (DU145). The results revealed that glycodendrimers provided competitive binding sites for galectin-1, which diverted galectin-1 from its typical function in cellular aggregation of DU145 cells.
Psychologie sociale du travail : rencontres entre recherche et intervention
Authors: Oliveira Fábio de , Esteves Egeu Gómez , Marcia Hespanhol Bernardo , Leny Sato
Published: May 2015

L’objectif de cet article est de présenter la perspective de la psychologie sociale du travail (PST) et les rapports qu’elle établit entre recherche et intervention. La PST, de notre point de vue, est issue des réponses aux problèmes sociaux et économiques auxquels font face les travailleurs. Dans le cas du Brésil, elle se développe à partir d’une psychologie sociale critique et prend particulièrement corps dans deux domaines : la santé du travailleur et l’économie solidaire. Du fait qu’elle s’insère dans des débats publics et aborde des problèmes socialement importants, s’établit un rapport dynamique et imprévisible entre recherche et intervention, en PST, directement dans le champ où les demandes sociales surviennent.
Vicissitudes et défis d’un travail de recherche-intervention
Authors: Cleci Maraschin , Nithiana Farias
Published: May 2015

À partir de deux recherches, utilisant des ateliers comme dispositifs d’intervention, cet article vise la problématisation de certains des principaux défis soulevés par l’expérience sur le terrain. Pour analyser les tensions éventuelles et les contributions de la recherche-intervention, les auteurs examinent les impasses survenues à trois moments distincts de la recherche : les négociations entre les partenaires au début d’une recherche-intervention, les processus de finalisation des actions prévues et les écrits issus de cette expérience. L’objectif est d’articuler ces sujets avec la réflexion sur la pratique éthique d’un faire partagé et la circulation des connaissances produites. Le versant créatif de cette perspective porte sur la reprise et la mise en œuvre de modèles théorico-méthodologiques conçus dans d’autres contextes pour produire de nouvelles pratiques de connaissances dans des actions situées.
« Qui veut apprendre, ne sait pas » et, avec cela, donne le premier rôle à sa propre histoire. L’apprentissage du langage écrit et ses difficultés dans les ateliers de lecture et d’écriture
Authors: Jane Correa
Published: May 2015

L’article examine les significations construites par les enfants autour de l’apprentissage de la lecture et de l’écriture au moyen de récits des représentations d’expériences d’échec, éprouvées par les enfants, dans leur apprentissage. La discussion porte sur les motivations et sur les affects relatifs aux difficultés d’apprentissage et de leurs implications pour le développement sociocognitif de l’enfant. L’article expose également les paramètres nécessaires à la réalisation d’un programme de travail psychopédagogique pour les enfants ayant des difficultés d’apprentissage avec la lecture et avec l’écriture.
La dimension subie
Authors: Laplantine François , Moreau Yoann
Published: May 2015

RÉSUMÉ Une catastrophe ne peut être appréhendée comme un fait social parce qu’elle défait le social. Elle est le surgissement d’un « dehors » (Blanchot), d’une « extériorité » (Levinas), qui résiste à la logique positive de l’explication et nous incite à réfléchir non plus sur l’agir mais sur le subir. L’expérience toujours singulière d’une catastrophe génère du décept, c’est‑à-dire du renoncement à l’abstraction et à la généralisation du concept. Mais si une catastrophe ne peut être dite totalement, du moins peut-elle être remémorée et rescénarisée. En particulier par la recherche de formes artistiques allant dans le sens de la raréfaction.
Au cœur du soleil ardent : la catastrophe selon les Aborigènes
Authors: Glowczewski Barbara
Published: May 2015

RÉSUMÉ Depuis la colonisation de l’Australie, les Aborigènes tentent de résister à une catastrophe sans cesse renouvelée. Créateurs de diverses stratégies de survie, ils sont confrontés à la perte de leurs modes d’existence du fait des politiques gouvernementales et d’une destruction de la terre qui menace toute l’humanité. En écho à l’écosophie guattarienne et à l’appel aux Terriens de Latour, les Yolngu, Djugan et autres peuples autochtones du monde incitent à penser notre avenir commun selon d’autres vitesses que la course au soleil de l’anthropocène.
Compter et raconter les catastrophes
Authors: Revet Sandrine
Published: May 2015

RÉSUMÉ Depuis les années 1980, l’institutionnalisation progressive d’un gouvernement mondial des catastrophes s’appuie sur un ensemble de chiffres compilés dans des bases de données. L’article s’intéresse à deux d’entre elles : EM-DAT, produite par le CRED, et Desinventar, produite par La Red. Chacune élabore à sa façon et à l’aide de traductions un récit des catastrophes, et une sorte de dialogue s’établit entre elles, qui nous parle des différentes dimensions du monde « catastrophé ».
Un retour de la catastrophe sur la scène scientifique ?
Authors: Clavandier Gaëlle
Published: May 2015

RÉSUMÉ Depuis une quinzaine d’années, dans un paysage scientifique marqué par le risque, les travaux de recherche sur les catastrophes se multiplient. Ils défendent principalement deux approches : l’une, empirique, vise à décrire et documenter les situations de catastrophe ; l’autre, plus théorique, envisage la catastrophe comme un analyseur des sociétés contemporaines. Malgré tout, l’éparpillement des productions comme la spécificité de l’objet catastrophe font débat. Peut-on produire un discours scientifique sur les catastrophes ? La catastrophe est-elle un nouveau paradigme venant concurrencer celui du risque ? Si oui, cela impliquerait-il de changer de modèle de société ? Ces questions, certes légitimes, se situent à un tel niveau d’abstraction qu’elles écartent la plupart du temps la question du terrain, faisant passer au second plan le caractère heuristique de cette démarche.
Viols en temps de guerre, psychiatrie et temporalités enchevêtrées. Expériences de femmes violées par les soldats de l’Armée Rouge entre la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et le début de la période de paix (République démocratique allemande, 1958-1968)
Authors: Le Bonhomme Fanny
Published: May 2015

Entre la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et le début de la période de paix, près de deux millions de femmes allemandes sont violées par les soldats de l’Armée Rouge. Au sein de la zone d’occupation soviétique puis de la RDA, la chape de silence qui s’abat sur les victimes se fait particulièrement forte du fait du nouveau contexte politique. Cependant, lors des entretiens thérapeutiques menés dans le cadre de séjour en psychiatrie ou en psychothérapie, certaines de ces femmes évoquent ce sujet sensible et douloureux, dix à vingt ans après les faits. À partir d’un corpus de dossiers psychiatriques et psychothérapeutiques, qui gardent la trace de cette prise de parole, il s’agit de se pencher sur les expériences de ces femmes, qui s’inscrivent dans des contextes multiples et des temporalités non linéaires, ainsi que sur le regard qui est posé sur elle.
Une mission syrienne. Témoignage
Authors: Leduc Caroline
Published: May 2015

Quelle valeur donner aux dispositifs de prise en charge psychologique qui interviennent dans le temps même de la guerre, alors que les civils auxquels ils s’adressent continuent à en subir les effets délétères ? Que peut-on en attendre, au-delà de l’affichage politique vertueux qui initie souvent de telles interventions ? On tâchera d’en faire l’épreuve au travers de la présentation d’une mission au sein d’un hôpital militaire français situé dans le camp de réfugiés syriens de Za’atari, au Nord de la Jordanie. Les modalités atypiques de cette opération humanitaire ont conduit à construire un dispositif expérimental, défini à partir de ses limites : fonction non médicale du psychologue, temporalité spécifique, différence des cultures et des langues. Des vignettes cliniques permettront d’articuler les enjeux et les visées du dispositif aux effets qu’il a produit.
Découpage colonial et nation-building en Syrie mandataire : regards français sur les suites de l’accord Sykes-Picot (1916-1938)
Authors: Saul Samir
Published: May 2015

L’accord Sykes-Picot est souvent évoqué dans le contexte de la guerre qui se déroule en Syrie depuis 2011. Multiconfessionnel, le pays est menacé d’un éclatement qui remettrait en question les frontières tracées par l’accord Sykes-Picot. Quant au projet américain d’un « Grand Moyen Orient », il redécouperait la région sur des bases confessionnelles. L’irruption d’éléments djihadistes au nord de l’Irak au lendemain de la rédaction du présent article souligne la réalité des défis posés aux États de la région. La Syrie mandataire est une entité multiconfessionnelle et multiethnique qui évolue vers la formation nationale. Mais elle est gouvernée selon des critères confessionnels et ethniques. L’article se penche sur la dynamique contradictoire de la politique française qui se traduit par l’inclusion formelle d’autant d’habitants que possible dans l’État syrien, mais aussi par sa segmentation sur des bases communautaires et confessionnelles. Plutôt qu’à l’action officielle de la France, il s’intéresse au regard porté par la presse française sur cette corrélation problématique.
Refaire l’Armée française (1943-1945) : L’outil militaire, l’instrument politique, le contrôle opérationnel
Authors: Lecoq Tristan
Published: May 2015

Refaire l’Armée en 1943, c’est refonder un outil militaire . Libérer la France et marcher sur le Rhin, c’est se servir de l’Armée comme d’ un instrument politique , pour intégré que celui-ci soit dans une coalition. La question d’ un contrôle opérationnel des troupes françaises par le commandement allié est au confluent de ces deux versants d’une même complexité politique et militaire : c’est celle de la dépendance, de l’interdépendance, de l’indépendance de l’Armée française au combat, entre 1943 et 1945.
¿Qué puede aportar el trabajo social en el siglo XXI? Perspectivas desde USA y España
Authors: Gilbert Neil , López Peláez Antonio , Segado Sánchez-Cabezudo Sagrario
Published: May 2015

En este artículo, analizamos los principales retos que afrontan nuestras sociedades, y el papel que puede jugar el Trabajo Social como disciplina científica y como profesión de ayuda, prestando especial atención a la situación de España y de los Estados Unidos de América.
Trabajo Social en escuelas en los Estados Unidos: la evidencia actual y direcciones futuras
Authors: Stone Susan
Published: May 2015

Este artículo examina los factores históricos e institucionales que perfilan al personal docente, las tendencias en las programaciones y las prácticas que se desarrollan en la actualidad en el ámbito del trabajo social en la escuela en los Estados Unidos de América. Un aspecto clave derivado de este examen es que la profesión parece estar en una encrucijada. Se sugiere como alternativa a esta situación, centrar la atención y los objetivos fundamentales de intervención en las escuelas como organizaciones, y en las relaciones que se generan entre las escuelas y la comunidad.
¿Son los Servicios Sociales igualmente accesibles para todos los ciudadanos? La juventud y el Estado de Bienestar español
Authors: López Peláez Antonio , Segado Sánchez-Cabezudo Sagrario
Published: May 2015

Los jóvenes son un objetivo central de las políticas sociales. En el caso español, hay que tener muy en cuenta el contexto europeo, ya que nuestras normas y programas nacionales incorporan las principales orientaciones que ofrecen las políticas de la Unión Europea para los jóvenes. A nivel europeo, la participación de los jóvenes en el diseño y la gestión de este tipo de políticas a través de los servicios sociales se considera una prioridad. Sin embargo, el gasto social en los jóvenes europeos es limitado, y más aún en los países del sur de Europa. En este trabajo se analizan los datos disponibles sobre las actividades de los servicios sociales dirigidos a los jóvenes españoles. Nuestros resultados muestran la disminución de la importancia de jóvenes en las políticas sociales, en un contexto donde la familia se ha convertido en el principal proveedor de recursos.
El sistema español de atención a la dependencia en el contexto europeo
Authors: De la Fuente Robles Yolanda , Sotomayor Morales Eva
Published: May 2015

Europa presenta en la actualidad unas previsiones demográficas preocupantes, incrementando exponencialmente el número de las personas en situación de dependencia y su demanda de cobertura social, sanitaria y residencial. En este contexto europeo, creemos oportuno destacar el modelo de atención español, señalando sus particularidades. Para ello, en primer lugar, hemos realizado una revisión de los análisis que profundizan en las divergencias de la atención a la dependencia en los países europeos, como la forma de residencia de este sector poblacional o la capacidad de las redes sociales de cubrir sus necesidades de atención. En segundo lugar, procedemos a exponer las pretensiones del marco legislativo español, así como sus fortalezas y limitaciones. Las conclusiones apuntan a que el modelo universal implantado en España pudiera ser un referente en el contexto europeo, aunque ello dependerá de sus modelos sociales de convivencia y el contexto previo en que se desenvuelva la dependencia.
Trabajo Social con los mayores en los Estados Unidos
Authors: Scharlach Andrew E.
Published: May 2015

Este artículo examina los servicios de asistencia a los mayores en los Estados Unidos. Estos servicios se prestan y se financian por medio de un sistema de atención que incluye al gobierno, al sector del voluntariado y al mercado privado. A causa de las necesidades básicas no satisfechas, de los sistemas mal coordinados y de las disparidades sociales y económicas entre los adultos mayores en los Estados Unidos, los servicios de asistencia social desempeñan un papel importante en la superación de las dificultades para alcanzar el funcionamiento óptimo y el bienestar emocional en la edad avanzada. La insuficiencia de trabajadores sociales con una adecuada formación y competentes en envejecimiento reduce la capacidad del Trabajo Social para satisfacer las necesidades de un número creciente de población mayor. El artículo analiza y discute los avances recientes en la formación de los trabajadores sociales en los Estados Unidos, avances que tienden a aumentar el número de trabajadores sociales competentes en envejecimiento e incluyen iniciativas para el desarrollo del curriculum relativo al envejecimiento, la capacitación, el desarrollo organizativo y la escolarización.
Conectar a los desconectados: Trabajo Social y análisis de redes sociales. Una aproximación metodológica para identificar líderes informales en red
Authors: Del Fresno García Miguel
Published: May 2015

La Teoría y Análisis de Redes Sociales (SNA) ofrece un conjunto de métodos de análisis de las interacciones sociales de los seres humanos, que permiten de forma específica investigar las estructuras relacionales y la representación de éstas como redes. SNA proporciona tanto acceso a nuevo conocimiento como la representación de las estructuras relacionales y como éstas pueden ser consecuencia de la acción individual y colectiva. A pesar de que tanto el SNA como el Trabajo Social tienen su foco en las relaciones y el comportamiento, de lo que ambas pueden beneficiarse, es significativa la falta de intersección entre ambas disciplinas. En respuesta a este déficit, el SNA puede ser aplicado al Trabajo Social desde los siguientes enfoques: a) la identificación de individuos claves a la hora de promover la difusión de cambios de comportamiento en redes; b) la segmentación e identificación de grupos, cliques y comunidades; c) el cambio de comportamientos a través de los miembros de la red y no del trabajador social como agente de cambio central; y d) que la intervención orientada al cambio de comportamientos puede ser bidireccional: individuos-red y red-individuos. El SNA aporta al Trabajo Social la base estructural-relacional para trabajar con individuos, grupos, familias o comunidades basados en patrones de interacción social, traduciendo los conceptos de las Ciencias Sociales y del Trabajo Social al servicio del diagnóstico y la intervención en red.
Tecnología digital e intervenciones para la salud mental: oportunidades y barreras
Authors: Aguilera Adrian
Published: May 2015

El crecimiento del Internet, los teléfonos móviles, las redes sociales y otras tecnologías digitales ha cambiado nuestro mundo de muchas maneras. Ha proporcionado a las personas con la información que antes sólo estaba disponible para un grupo selecto, por ejemplo a partir de octubre de 2012. Un ejemplo del alcance de la tecnología son los datos que dicen que hay más de 6 millones de teléfonos en todo el mundo (BBC, 2012). La disponibilidad de los datos en tiempo real a presentado la esperanza de intervenir de manera más eficiente y manejar los problemas de salud los recursos humanos limitados. También tiene un impacto en el cambio de los roles de los proveedores y los pacientes y en aspectos legales y éticos, incluyendo la privacidad en las interacciones de salud digital. Este artículo discutirá unas razones por cual la tecnología digital ha recibido atención recientemente en el área de salud mental, presentará algunas aplicaciones de la tecnología para mejorar la salud mental hasta la fecha, explorará algunas barreras para la diseminación en la práctica clínica, y presentará algunas oportunidades futuras de las tecnologías digitales.
A Semi-Automated System for Recognizing Prior Knowledge
Authors: Moré Joaquim , Conesa Jordi , Baneres David , Junyent Montserrat
Published: May 2015

Adaptive e-learning systems are able to automatically generate personalized learning paths from the students’ profile. Generally, the student profile is updated with information about knowledge the student has acquired, courses the student has passed and previous work experience. Unfortunately, dealing with courses that students passed in other learning environments is very difficult, error prone and requires a lot of manual intervention. In addition, the recognition of external courses is a process that all institutions, on-site and online learning organization, must perform during the access of new students, since it can be greatly useful not only for personalization but also for recognizing the courses the students attended. In this paper, we propose an intelligent system that analyzes the academic record of students in textual format to identify what subjects the students studied in the past and therefore are potentially recognizable. In addition, the proposed system is able to enrich the information the institution has about the students’ background, facilitating the identification of personalized learning paths.
Theory of Behavioral Finance
Authors: Prosad Jaya M. , Kapoor Sujata , Sengupta Jhumur
Published: May 2015

This chapter explores the evolution of modern behavioral finance theories from the traditional framework. It focuses on three main issues. First, it analyzes the importance of standard finance theories and the situations where they become insufficient i.e. market anomalies. Second, it signifies the role of behavioral finance in narrowing down the gaps between traditional finance theories and actual market conditions. This involves the substitution of standard finance theories with more realistic behavioral theories like the prospect theory (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979). In the end, it provides a synthesis of academic events that substantiate the presence of behavioral biases, their underlying psychology and their impact on financial markets. This chapter also highlights the implications of behavior biases on financial practitioners like market experts, portfolio managers and individual investors. The chapter concludes with providing the limitations and future scope of research in behavioral finance.
An Analysis of the Studies in Turkey into Consumer Behavior During Periods of Economic Crisis
Authors: Aksoy Aybala Demirci
Published: May 2015

The fact that those countries going through tough times like economic crises can predict the change consumers experience so that they could take the necessary precautions brings them competitive advantage and helps them provide solutions accordingly. With this in mind, the present qualitative study paints a picture of a general overview of consumer behaviors in times of crises. The studies in Turkey into consumer behavior during periods of economic crises have shown that buying behavior of consumers change, that consumers resort to cheap good and services, and that they limit their spending on food the least. The Turkish consumers have started to cut back on their spending and postpone their needs in times of economic crisis. It could be stated that Turkish consumers now avoid hasty decisions when buying.
The Relationship between Financial Planning for Retirement and Some Socio-Economic Variables
Authors: Yildirim Filiz , Akpolat Nuray
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this study, planned as a quantitative research, is to determine the relationship between planning retirement financially in middle-age period and some socio-economic variables. This study is conducted through 287 participants, who live in Nevsehir, Turkey, aged 40-59, and were reached via the help of some key individuals. As the result of the study, statistically no significant difference has been found between the responses of women and men about planning the retirement financially. However, it has been verified that men's financial plans for retirement were higher in rates than that of women. On the other hand, it was also found that although neither women nor men feel ready for the retirement, it has been determined that for men the factor of being an owner of a house and for women the factor of saving up increases the financial planning for the retirement.
The Effects of Situational and Dispositional Factors on the Change in Financial Risk Tolerance
Authors: Ruiz-Menjivar Jorge , Heo Wookjae , Grable John E.
Published: May 2015

Utilizing the lens of Heider's (1958) attribution theory and Grable and Joo's (2004) conceptual framework, this chapter studies the effect of situational and dispositional attributions on changes in financial risk tolerance. Situational factors are assessed through changes in household situation and changes in macroeconomic factors. For dispositional factors, changes upon sensation seeking attitudes are explored. The data employed in this research come from the 1993, 1994, and 2006 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (N = 5,449). Results from structural equation modeling indicate that changes in internal attributions have a significant and positive effect (coefficient = 0.12, p <0.01) on the change in risk tolerance, as is true for changes in external attributions where a significant effect is seen (coefficient = 0.30, p <0.01). Thus, the findings from this study support the conceptual framework premised on Heider's attribution theory and Grable and Joo's (2004) conceptual model.
Investor Sentiment and Stock Returns
Authors: Kandır Serkan Yılmaz , Akel Veli , Çetin Murat
Published: May 2015

In this chapter, the authors investigate the relationship between investor sentiment and stock returns in an out of sample market, namely Borsa Istanbul. The authors use the Consumer Confidence Index as an investor sentiment proxy, while utilizing BIST Second National Index as a measure of small capitalized stock returns. The sample period spans from January 2004 to May 2014. By using monthly data, the authors employ cointegration test and error–correction based Granger causality models. The authors' findings suggest that there is a long-term relationship between investor sentiment and stock returns in Borsa Istanbul. Moreover, a unidirectional causal relationship from investor sentiment to stock returns is also found.
Emotional Intelligence Skills, Leadership, and Conflict in Effective Decision Making Process
Authors: Hacioğlu Burcu , Hacıoğlu Ümit , Dinçer Hasan , Yarbağ Pelin Şahin , Tuğsal Türker
Published: May 2015

There are plenty of researches about EI which have focused on EI and strategic decision making, management capabilities, transformational leadership, managerial traits, personality dimensions. This chapter is putting forth the relationship between EI and managing conflict by theoretical research. In the chapter the authors firstly reiterated the theoretical studies, state the necessity of having high level of EI for accomplishing the decision making process and discuss the relationship between EI, managers and managing conflict. To conclude, the authors state that managers having high EI can understand and evaluate the conflicts among employees and encourage their followers in struggling; with comparison to the ones having low EI.
Financial Implications of Relationship Marketing in Airline Business
Authors: Dinçer Hasan , Hacıoğlu Ümit , Özdemir Aydın
Published: May 2015

Relationship marketing promises a change from vendor, product and price centered marketing concept to a new people, long-term relationships and value centered marketing concept for airline companies in search of a messiah who will rescue them from bleeding to death because of monopolized supply market, duplicated services, financial crises, heavy pressure of competition and low profit margins. In this chapter, definitions and short background of relationship marketing are revised by focusing on components of the concept and relations with customer loyalty, customer value and basic notions. A glance at the airline industry takes place with a focus on relationship marketing and airline business on the basis of implication aspects such as frequent flyer programs, global distribution systems and internet. Specifically, domains of relationship marketing concept on the airline business are analyzed in detail specific to cost and profitability balance.
Immune Tolerance Induction with Multiepitope Peptide Derived from Citrullinated Autoantigens Attenuates Arthritis Manifestations in Adjuvant Arthritis Rats
Authors: Gertel Smadar , Serre Guy , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Amital Howard
Published: May 2015

Citrullinated peptides are major targets of disease-specific autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, citrullinated peptides are used as biomarkers for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis by measuring anti-citrullinated protein Ab (ACPA) titers in patients’ sera. The accumulation of citrullinated proteins at synovial inflammation sites suggests that they are possible targets for tolerance induction. The objective of the present study was to determine whether citrullinated peptides could induce tolerance in an experimental arthritis model in rats. In view of the multiplicity of target citrullinated autoantigens described for ACPA, we generated a multiepitope citrullinated peptide (Cit-ME), derived from major prevalent citrullinated autoantigens (citrullinated filaggrin, fibrinogen, vimentin, and collagen type II), and studied its effects on arthritic rats. Adjuvant-induced arthritis was induced in Lewis rats. Beginning at day 7 after disease induction, the rats received eight s.c. injections of Cit-ME on alternate days. Differences in clinical status and modulation of T cell populations were analyzed. In adjuvant-induced arthritis rats treated with Cit-ME, disease severity was significantly reduced compared with that of untreated rats. Moreover, amelioration of disease manifestations was related to an increased regulatory T cell subset and an elevated apoptosis rate of T cells associated with reduced Th17 cells. Thus, the use of citrullinated peptides–based immunotherapy may be a promising approach for tolerance induction in experimental arthritis and perhaps even in susceptible individuals that are ACPA-seropositive in human arthritis.
IRF-1 Promotes Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Hepatocyte IL-15/IL-15Rα Production
Authors: Yokota Shinichiro , Yoshida Osamu , Dou Lei , Spadaro Anthony V. , Isse Kumiko , Ross Mark A. , Stolz Donna B. , Kimura Shoko , Du Qiang , Demetris Anthony J. , Thomson Angus W. , Geller David A.
Published: May 2015

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury following liver transplantation (LTx) is an important problem that significantly impacts clinical outcomes. IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a nuclear transcription factor that plays a critical role in liver injury. Our objective was to determine the immunomodulatory role of IRF-1 during I/R injury following allogeneic LTx. IRF-1 was induced in liver grafts immediately after reperfusion in both human and mouse LTx. IRF-1 contributed significantly to I/R injury because IRF-1–knockout (KO) grafts displayed much less damage as assessed by serum alanine aminotransferase and histology. In vitro, IRF-1 regulated both constitutive and induced expression of IL-15, as well as IL-15Rα mRNA expression in murine hepatocytes and liver dendritic cells. Specific knockdown of IRF-1 in human primary hepatocytes gave similar results. In addition, we identified hepatocytes as the major producer of soluble IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes in the liver. IRF-1–KO livers had significantly reduced NK, NKT, and CD8+ T cell numbers, whereas rIL-15/IL-15Rα restored these immune cells, augmented cytotoxic effector molecules, promoted systemic inflammatory responses, and exacerbated liver injury in IRF-1–KO graft recipients. These results indicate that IRF-1 promotes LTx I/R injury via hepatocyte IL-15/IL-15Rα production and suggest that targeting IRF-1 and IL-15/IL-15Rα may be effective in reducing I/R injury associated with LTx.
CXCL14 Displays Antimicrobial Activity against Respiratory Tract Bacteria and Contributes to Clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniae Pulmonary Infection
Authors: Dai Chen , Basilico Paola , Cremona Tiziana Patrizia , Collins Paul , Moser Bernhard , Benarafa Charaf , Wolf Marlene
Published: May 2015

CXCL14 is a chemokine with an atypical, yet highly conserved, primary structure characterized by a short N terminus and high sequence identity between human and mouse. Although it induces chemotaxis of monocytic cells at high concentrations, its physiological role in leukocyte trafficking remains elusive. In contrast, several studies have demonstrated that CXCL14 is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide that is expressed abundantly and constitutively in epithelial tissues. In this study, we further explored the antimicrobial properties of CXCL14 against respiratory pathogens in vitro and in vivo. We found that CXCL14 potently killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in a dose-dependent manner in part through membrane depolarization and rupture. By performing structure-activity studies, we found that the activity against Gram-negative bacteria was largely associated with the N-terminal peptide CXCL141–13. Interestingly, the central part of the molecule representing the β-sheet also maintained ∼62% killing activity and was sufficient to induce chemotaxis of THP-1 cells. The C-terminal α-helix of CXCL14 had neither antimicrobial nor chemotactic effect. To investigate a physiological function for CXCL14 in innate immunity in vivo, we infected CXCL14-deficient mice with lung pathogens and we found that CXCL14 contributed to enhanced clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniae, but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our comprehensive studies reflect the complex bactericidal mechanisms of CXCL14, and we propose that different structural features are relevant for the killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Taken together, our studies show that evolutionary-conserved features of CXCL14 are important for constitutive antimicrobial defenses against pneumonia.
Candida albicansStimulates IL-23 Release by Human Dendritic Cells and Downstream IL-17 Secretion by Vδ1 T Cells
Authors: Maher Christina O. , Dunne Katie , Comerford Ross , O’Dea Siobhán , Loy Aisling , Woo James , Rogers Thomas R. , Mulcahy Fiona , Dunne Pádraic J. , Doherty Derek G.
Published: May 2015

γδ T cells expressing the Vδ1 TCR are expanded in patients with HIV infection. We show in this article that circulating Vδ1 T cell numbers are particularly high in patients with HIV and candidiasis, and that these cells expand and produce IL-17 in response to Candida albicans in vitro. Although C. albicans could directly stimulate IL-17 production by a subset of Vδ1 T cells, fungus-treated dendritic cells (DCs) were required to expand C. albicans–responsive Vδ1 T cells to generate sufficient numbers of cells to release IL-17 at levels detectable by ELISA. C. albicans induced the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-23 by DCs, but addition of these cytokines or supernatants of C. albicans–treated DCs to Vδ1 T cells was not sufficient to induce proliferation. We found that direct contact with DCs was required for Vδ1 T cell proliferation, whereas IL-23R–blocking studies showed that IL-23 was required for optimal C. albicans–induced IL-17 production. Because IL-17 affords protection against both HIV and C. albicans, and because Vδ1 T cells are not depleted by HIV, these cells are likely to be an important source of IL-17 in HIV-infected patients with candidiasis, in whom CD4+ Th17 responses are impaired. These data show that C. albicans stimulates proliferation and IL-17 production by Vδ1 T cells by a mechanism that involves IL-23 release by DCs.
Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper: A Critical Factor in Macrophage Endotoxin Tolerance
Authors: Hoppstädter Jessica , Kessler Sonja M. , Bruscoli Stefano , Huwer Hanno , Riccardi Carlo , Kiemer Alexandra K.
Published: May 2015

Induction of glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) by glucocorticoids plays a key role in their anti-inflammatory action. In activated macrophages, GILZ levels are downregulated via tristetraprolin-mediated GILZ mRNA destabilization. To assess the functional significance of GILZ downregulation, we generated myeloid-specific GILZ knockout (KO) mice. GILZ-deficient macrophages displayed a higher responsiveness toward LPS, as indicated by increased TNF-α and IL-1β expression. This effect was due to an activation of ERK, which was significantly amplified in GILZ KO cells. The LPS-induced activation of macrophages is attenuated upon pretreatment of macrophages with low-dose LPS, an effect termed endotoxin tolerance. In LPS-tolerant macrophages, GILZ mRNA was stabilized, whereas ERK activation was strongly decreased. In contrast, GILZ KO macrophages exhibited a strongly reduced desensitization. To explore the contribution of GILZ expression in macrophages to endotoxin tolerance in vivo, we treated GILZ KO mice with repeated i.p. injections of low-dose LPS followed by treatment with high-dose LPS. LPS pretreatment resulted in reduced proinflammatory mediator expression upon high-dose LPS treatment in serum and tissues. In contrast, cytokine induction was preserved in tolerized GILZ KO animals. In summary, our data suggest that GILZ is a key regulator of macrophage functions.
GIMAP GTPase Family Genes: Potential Modifiers in Autoimmune Diabetes, Asthma, and Allergy
Authors: Heinonen Mirkka T. , Laine Antti-Pekka , Söderhäll Cilla , Gruzieva Olena , Rautio Sini , Melén Erik , Pershagen Göran , Lähdesmäki Harri J. , Knip Mikael , Ilonen Jorma , Henttinen Tiina A. , Kere Juha , Lahesmaa Riitta ,   The Finnish Pediatric Diabetes Registry, Knip Mikael , Groop Per-Henrik , Ilonen Jorma , Lappi Anneli , Otonkoski Timo , Saha Marja-Terrtu , Simell Olli , Talvitie Timo , Vaarala Outi , Veijola Riitta , Aito Henrikka , Bondestam Jonas , Dahllund Thomas , Granvik Johanna , Haapalehto-Ikonen Maarit , Hämäläinen Anu-Maaria , Huopio Hanna , Johansson Christian , Kinnala Anne , Korhonen Jussi , Korpela Paavo , Korteniemi Maarit , Lautala Pentti , Lindström Kaija , Miettinen Päivi , Mustila Taina , Nuuja Anja , Nykänen Päivi , Ojanperä Jussi , Putto-Laurila Anne , Saha Marja-Terttu , Sankila Juhani , Suomi Anne-Maarit , Tenhola Sirpa , Varimo Pentti , Veijola Riitta , Virransalo Ritva , Vuolukka Pentti , Ylitalo Samuli
Published: May 2015

GTPase of the immunity-associated protein (GIMAP) family members are differentially regulated during human Th cell differentiation and have been previously connected to immune-mediated disorders in animal studies. GIMAP4 is believed to contribute to the Th cell subtype–driven immunological balance via its role in T cell survival. GIMAP5 has a key role in BB-DR rat and NOD mouse lymphopenia. To elucidate GIMAP4 and GIMAP5 function and role in human immunity, we conducted a study combining genetic association in different immunological diseases and complementing functional analyses. Single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging the GIMAP haplotype variation were genotyped in Finnish type 1 diabetes (T1D) families and in a prospective Swedish asthma and allergic sensitization birth cohort. Initially, GIMAP5 rs6965571 was associated with risk for asthma and allergic sensitization (odds ratio [OR] 3.74, p = 0.00072, and OR 2.70, p = 0.0063, respectively) and protection from T1D (OR 0.64, p = 0.0058); GIMAP4 rs13222905 was associated with asthma (OR 1.28, p = 0.035) and allergic sensitization (OR 1.27, p = 0.0068). However, after false discovery rate correction for multiple testing, only the associations of GIMAP4 with allergic sensitization and GIMAP5 with asthma remained significant. In addition, transcription factor binding sites surrounding the associated loci were predicted. A gene–gene interaction in the T1D data were observed between the IL2RA rs2104286 and GIMAP4 rs9640279 (OR 1.52, p = 0.0064) and indicated between INS rs689 and GIMAP5 rs2286899. The follow-up functional analyses revealed lower IL-2RA expression upon GIMAP4 knockdown and an effect of GIMAP5 rs2286899 genotype on protein expression. Thus, the potential role of GIMAP4 and GIMAP5 as modifiers of immune-mediated diseases cannot be discarded.
Computational andin vitroInvestigation of miRNA-Gene Regulations in Retinoblastoma Pathogenesis: miRNA Mimics Strategy
Authors: Venkatesan Nalini , Deepa Perinkulam Ravi , Khetan Vikas , Krishnakumar Subramanian
Published: May 2015

Purpose

Retinoblastoma (RB), a primary pediatric intraocular tumor, arises from primitive retinal layers. Several novel molecular strategies are being developed for the clinical management of RB. miRNAs are known to regulate cancer-relevant biological processes. Here, the role of selected miRNAs, namely, miR-532-5p and miR-486-3p, has been analyzed for potential therapeutic targeting in RB.

Methods

A comprehensive bioinformatic analysis was performed to predict the posttranscriptional regulators (miRNAs) of the select panel of genes [Group 1: oncogenes (HMGA2, MYCN, SYK, FASN); Group 2: cancer stem cell markers (TACSTD, ABCG2, CD133, CD44, CD24) and Group 3: cell cycle regulatory proteins (p53, MDM2)] using Microcosm, DIANALAB, miRBase v 18, and REFSEQ database, and RNA hybrid. The expressions of five miRNAs, namely, miR-146b-5p, miR-532-5p, miR-142-5p, miR-328, and miR-486-3p, were analyzed by qRT-PCR on primary RB tumor samples (n = 30; including 17 invasive RB tumors and 13 noninvasive RB tumors). Detailed complementary alignment between 5’ seed sequence of differentially expressed miRNAs and the sequence of target genes was determined. Based on minimum energy level and piCTAR scores, the gene targets were selected. Functional roles of these miRNA clusters were studied by using mimics in cultured RB (Y79, Weri Rb-1) cells in vitro. The gene targets (SYK and FASN) of the studied miRNAs were confirmed by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Cell proliferation and apoptotic studies were performed.

Results

Nearly 1948 miRNAs were identified in the in silico analysis, From this list, only 9 upregulated miRNAs (miR-146b-5p, miR-305, miR-663b, miR-299, miR-532-5p, miR-892b, miR-501, miR-142-5p, and miR-513b) and 10 downregulated miRNAs (miR-1254, miR-328, miR-133a, miR-1287, miR-1299, miR-375, miR-486-3p, miR-720, miR-98, and miR-122*) were found to be common with the RB serum miRNA profile. Downregulation of five miRNAs (miR-146b-5p, miR-532-5p, miR-142-5p, miR-328, and miR-486-3p) was confirmed experimentally. Predicted common oncogene targets (SYK and FASN) of miR-486-3p and miR-532-5p were evaluated for their mRNA and protein expression in these miRNA mimic-treated RB cells. Experimental overexpression of these miRNAs mediated apoptotic cell death without significantly altering the cell cycle in RB cells.

Conclusion

Key miRNAs in RB pathogenesis were identified by an in silico approach. Downregulation of miR-486-3p and miR-532-5p in primary retinoblastoma tissues implicates their role in tumorigenesis. Prognostic and therapeutic potential of these miRNA was established by the miRNA mimic strategy.
PathoQC: Computationally Efficient Read Preprocessing and Quality Control for High-Throughput Sequencing Data Sets
Authors: Hong Changjin , Manimaran Solaiappan , Johnson William Evan
Published: May 2015

Quality control and read preprocessing are critical steps in the analysis of data sets generated from high-throughput genomic screens. In the most extreme cases, improper preprocessing can negatively affect downstream analyses and may lead to incorrect biological conclusions. Here, we present PathoQC, a streamlined toolkit that seamlessly combines the benefits of several popular quality control software approaches for preprocessing next-generation sequencing data. PathoQC provides a variety of quality control options appropriate for most high-throughput sequencing applications. PathoQC is primarily developed as a module in the PathoScope software suite for metagenomic analysis. However, PathoQC is also available as an open-source Python module that can run as a stand-alone application or can be easily integrated into any bioinformatics workflow. PathoQC achieves high performance by supporting parallel computation and is an effective tool that removes technical sequencing artifacts and facilitates robust downstream analysis. The PathoQC software package is available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/PathoScope/ .