bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Small Molecule That Overcomes HdmX-Mediated Suppression of p53
Authors: Karan Goutam , Wang Huaiyu , Chakrabarti Amit , Karan Sukanya , Liu Zhigang , Xia Zhiqiang , Gundluru Mahesh , Moreton Stephen , Saunthararajah Yogen , Jackson Mark W. , Agarwal Mukesh K. , Wald David N.
Published: February 2016

Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor by mutation or overexpression of negative regulators occurs frequently in cancer. As p53 plays a key role in regulating proliferation or apoptosis in response to DNA-damaging chemotherapies, strategies aimed at reactivating p53 are increasingly being sought. Strategies to reactivate wild-type p53 include the use of small molecules capable of releasing wild-type p53 from key, cellular negative regulators, such as Hdm2 and HdmX. Derivatives of the Hdm2 antagonist Nutlin-3 are in clinical trials. However, Nutlin-3 specifically disrupts Hdm2-p53, leaving tumors harboring high levels of HdmX resistant to Nutlin-3 treatment. Here, we identify CTX1, a novel small molecule that overcomes HdmX-mediated p53 repression. CTX1 binds directly to HdmX to prevent p53–HdmX complex formation, resulting in the rapid induction of p53 in a DNA damage–independent manner. Treatment of a panel of cancer cells with CTX1 induced apoptosis or suppressed proliferation and, importantly, CTX1 demonstrates promising activity as a single agent in a mouse model of circulating primary human leukemia. CTX1 is a small molecule HdmX inhibitor that demonstrates promise as a cancer therapeutic candidate. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(4); 574–82. ©2016 AACR.
STAT1 and NF-κB Inhibitors Diminish Basal Interferon-Stimulated Gene Expression and Improve the Productive Infection of Oncolytic HSV in MPNST Cells
Authors: Jackson Joshua D. , Markert James M. , Li Li , Carroll Steven L. , Cassady Kevin A.
Published: February 2016

Interferon-stimulated genes (ISG) encode diverse proteins that mediate intrinsic antiviral resistance in infected cells. Here it was hypothesized that malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells resist the productive infection of oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) through activation of the JAK/STAT1 pathway and resultant upregulation of ISGs. Multiple human and mouse MPNST cells were used to explore the relationship between STAT1 activation and the productive infection of Δγ134.5 oHSVs. STAT1 activation in response to oHSV infection was found to associate with diminished Δγ134.5 oHSVs replication and spread. Multiday pretreatment, but not cotreatment, with a JAK inhibitor significantly improved viral titer and spread. ISG expression was found to be elevated prior to infection and downregulated when treated with the inhibitor, suggesting that the JAK/STAT1 pathway is active prior to infection. Conversely, upregulation of ISG expression in normally permissive cells significantly decreased oHSV productivity. Finally, a possible link between NF-κB pathway activation and ISG expression was established through the expression of inhibitor of kB (IκB) which decreased basal STAT1 transcription and ISG expression. These results demonstrate that basal ISG expression prior to infection contributes to the resistance of Δγ134.5 oHSVs in MPNST cells.

Implications: Although cancer-associated ISG expression has been previously reported to impart resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, these data show that basal ISG expression also contributes to oncolytic HSV resistance. Mol Cancer Res; 14(5); 482–92. ©2016 AACR.
Chemotherapy Modulates Intestinal Immune Gene Expression Including Surfactant Protein-D and Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1 in Piglets
Authors: Rathe Mathias , Thomassen Mads , Shen René L. , Pontoppidan Peter E.L. , Husby Steffen , Müller Klaus , Kruse Torben A. , Sangild Per T.
Published: February 2016

Background: Information about chemotherapy-induced intestinal gene expression may provide insight into the mechanisms underlying gut toxicity and help identify biomarkers and targets for intervention. Methods: We analyzed jejunal tissue from piglets subjected to two different, clinically relevant chemotherapy regimens: (1) busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (BUCY) and (2) doxorubicin (DOX). Results: Gene expression analysis identified 1,328 differentially expressed genes in the BUCY piglets and 594 in the DOX piglets, compared to controls. Similar changes in expression were found for 137 genes across the BUCY and DOX piglets. Selected genes of potential biological significance with a similar change in expression across the treatments were controlled by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Key innate defense molecules, including surfactant protein-D and deleted in malignant brain tumors 1, were among the upregulated genes for both treatments. Conclusion: In the developing intestine, chemotherapy increases the expression of genes related to innate immune functions involved in surveillance, protection, and homeostasis of mucosal surfaces.
Brain Microvasculature Involvement in ANCA Positive Vasculitis
Authors: González-Suárez Inés , Arpa Javier , Ríos-Blanco Juan José
Published: February 2016

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction is associated with arterial stiffness, a factor that is increasingly recognised as an important determinant of cardiovascular risk. High-flow organs such as the brain and kidneys are particularly sensitive to excessive pressure and flow pulsatility. High, local blood flow is associated with low microvascular impedance, which facilitates the penetration of excessive pulsatile energy into the microvascular bed leading to tissue damage. Systemic endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness have been demonstrated in peripheral vessels in associated vasculitis (AAV). Although, the brain involvement is not infrequent in AAV, it has not been evaluated previously. Our aim is to evaluate the involvement of the brain microvasculature in AAV. Methods: Twenty-three patients with inactive AAV were studied. Brain blood flow was assessed by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and single-photon positron emission tomography (SPECT), structural brain involvement by brain MRI and cognitive scores by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Results: Lower mean flow velocity (MFV) was associated to altered SPECT perfusion, higher white matter changes (WMC), lower MoCA scores and younger age (p < 0.05). Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI) was related to hypertension, diabetes, lower scores on MoCA, increased vasculitis damage index (VDI) and perfusion impairment in SPECT (p < 0.05). These data were reproduced for all intracranial arteries. Up to 88.9% of patients had WMC on MRI. A higher lesion load was associated with age, decreased MoCA and fewer MFV with higher PI. The multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the greater the lesion loads, greater the bifrontal atrophy, MCA-PI and lower MoCA scores. Up to 60.9% of patients presented a decreased MoCA score (p = 0.012). It appeared to be related to VDI (p = 0.04), WMC (p = 0.004) and altered SPECT (p = 0.05). Conclusions: The alterations in brain perfusion SPECT, the presence of white matter lesions on MRI, as well as increased PI and RI with lower MFV of the cerebral vessels in TCD suggest the presence of microangiopathy in asymptomatic AAV that could lead to cognitive impairment.
The Prevalence of Vitreomacular Interface Pathology in a Spanish Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Flores-Moreno Ignacio , Arias-Barquet Luis , Vidal-Martí María , Muñoz-Blanco Alex , Rubio-Caso Marcos J. , Ruiz-Moreno José Maria , Duker Jay S. , Caminal Josep M.
Published: February 2016

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of vitreomacular interface (VMI) pathology, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: VMI status was classified into macular posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), focal vitreomacular adhesion (VMA; ≤1,500 μm), broad VMA (>1,500 μm), focal vitreomacular traction (VMT; ≤1,500 μm), broad VMT (>1,500 μm), full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) with the presence of VMT, and FTMH without the presence of VMT. Results: A total of 1,976 eyes were included. A nonpathologic VMI was observed in 1,875 eyes (94.8%), including 1,050 (53.1%) with PVD, 120 (6.1%) with focal VMA and 705 (35.6%) with broad VMA. A pathologic state of the VMI was diagnosed in 101 eyes (5.1%). Thirty-three eyes (1.7%) were classified as focal VMT, 29 (1.4%) as broad VMT, 39 (1.9%) as FTMH, resulting in 6 small, 12 medium and 21 large FTMHs, six eyes had VMT associated to FTMH. Conclusions: Even in a tertiary care, retinal referral practice, VMI pathology is a relatively rare condition. There was a higher prevalence in a tertiary hospital study compared to population-based studies.
Revision of the shore-fly genus Peltopsilopa Hendel (Diptera: Ephydridae)
Authors: SAVARIS MARCOANDRE , MARINONI LUCIANE , MATHIS WAYNE N.
Published: February 2016

The Neotropical shore-fly genus Peltopsilopa Hendel is revised and now includes three species: P. acuta n.sp.; P. anisotomoides (Karsch), new combination; and P. schwarzi Cresson. A fourth species name, P. aspistes Hendel, is recognized as a junior synonym of P. anisotomoides (Karsch). We confirm that Peltopsilopa is closely related to Cressonomyia Arnaud and that the genus is in the tribe Psilopini, subfamily Discomyzinae. We provide a revised generic diagnosis and key to South American genera of Psilopini to facilitate identification of Peltopsilopa. The included species descriptions are extensively documented with illustrations, photographs, and distribution map.
Observed Tropical Cyclone Size Revisited
Authors: Chavas Daniel R. , Lin Ning , Dong Wenhao , Lin Yanluan
Published: February 2016

This work revisits the statistics of observed tropical cyclone outer size in the context of recent advances in our theoretical understanding of the storm wind field. The authors create a new dataset of the radius of 12 m s−1 winds based on a recently updated version of the QuikSCAT ocean wind vector database and apply an improved analytical outer wind model to estimate the outer radius of vanishing wind. The dataset is then applied to analyze the statistical distributions of the two size metrics as well as their dependence on environmental parameters, with a specific focus on testing recently identified parameters possessing credible theoretical relationships with tropical cyclone size. The ratio of the potential intensity to the Coriolis parameter is found to perform poorly in explaining variation of size, with the possible exception of its upper bound, the latter of which is in line with existing theory. The rotating radiative–convective equilibrium scaling of Khairoutdinov and Emanuel is also found to perform poorly. Meanwhile, mean storm size is found to increase systematically with the relative sea surface temperature, in quantitative agreement with the results of a recent study of storm size based on precipitation area. Implications of these results are discussed in the context of existing tropical climate theory. Finally, an empirical dependence of the central pressure deficit on outer size is found in line with past work.
Surface-based brain morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging in schizoaffective disorder
Authors: Landin-Romero Ramón , Canales-Rodríguez Erick J , Kumfor Fiona , Moreno-Alcázar Ana , Madre Mercè , Maristany Teresa , Pomarol-Clotet Edith , Amann Benedikt L
Published: February 2016

Background:

The profile of grey matter abnormalities and related white-matter pathology in schizoaffective disorder has only been studied to a limited extent. The aim of this study was to identify grey- and white-matter abnormalities in patients with schizoaffective disorder using complementary structural imaging techniques.

Methods:

Forty-five patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fourth Edition criteria and Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizoaffective disorder and 45 matched healthy controls underwent structural-T1 and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to enable surface-based brain morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging analyses. Analyses were conducted to determine group differences in cortical volume, cortical thickness and surface area, as well as in fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity.

Results:

At a threshold of p = 0.05 corrected, all measures revealed significant differences between patients and controls at the group level. Spatial overlap of abnormalities was observed across the various structural neuroimaging measures. In grey matter, patients with schizoaffective disorder showed abnormalities in the frontal and temporal lobes, striatum, fusiform, cuneus, precuneus, lingual and limbic regions. White-matter abnormalities were identified in tracts connecting these areas, including the corpus callosum, superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi, anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate fasciculus and cingulum bundle.

Conclusion:

The spatial overlap of abnormalities across the different imaging techniques suggests widespread and consistent brain pathology in schizoaffective disorder. The abnormalities were mainly detected in areas that have commonly been reported to be abnormal in schizophrenia, and to some extent in bipolar disorder, which may explain the clinical and aetiological overlap in these disorders.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Authors: Wang Yu-Wei , Hogge Ingrid , Sahai Nupur
Published: February 2016

Mallinckrodt et al. developed the measure Everyday Multicultural Competencies and combined its items with those in the Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy to form a new scale to assess college multicultural programming. Mallinckrodt, Miles, and Recabarren used this scale as an example to provide recommendations for using focus groups and item response theory (IRT) in instrument development. In this commentary, we focus on two areas of major concerns: (a) paradigmatic and methodological issues pertaining to the use of mixed methods research design, focus groups, and IRT in developing psychological instruments aiming to assess multicultural constructs and (b) the importance of attending to the multidimensionality and context of these constructs. We believe it is important for future researchers to provide a thorough accounting of these paradigmatic and methodological issues in their studies and a clear explication of the target construct in scale development research.
Global Health Governance and Global Power
Authors: Gill Stephen , Benatar Solomon
Published: February 2016

The Lancet–University of Oslo Commission Report on Global Governance for Health provides an insightful analysis of the global health inequalities that result from transnational activities consequent on what the authors call contemporary “global social norms.” Our critique is that the analysis and suggested reforms to prevailing institutions and practices are confined within the perspective of the dominant—although unsustainable and inequitable—market-oriented, neoliberal development model of global capitalism. Consequently, the report both elides critical discussion of many key forms of material and political power under conditions of neoliberal development and governance that shape the nature and priorities of the global governance for health, and fails to point to the extent of changes required to sustainably improve global health. We propose that an alternative concept of progress—one grounded in history, political economy, and ecologically responsible health ethics—is sorely needed to better address challenges of global health governance in the new millennium. This might be premised on global solidarity and the “development of sustainability.” We argue that the prevailing market civilization model that lies at the heart of global capitalism is being, and will further need to be, contested to avoid contradictions and dislocations associated with the commodification and privatization of health.
‘A Great Reformatory’: Social Planning and Strategic Resettlement in Late Colonial Kenya and Algeria, 1952–63
Authors: Feichtinger Moritz
Published: February 2016

In the midst of their bitterly fought wars against anti-colonial guerrilla movements in Kenya and Algeria, British and French colonial authorities launched huge rural development programs. These plans were grounded on the effects of an extremely violent military practice: forced relocation of huge parts of the rural populations into strategic villages. Up to 2.5 million Algerians and 1.2 million Kenyans were affected by strategic resettlement, resulting in humanitarian crisis in both cases. The plans for socio-economic development and the military strategy of forced resettlement cannot be analysed separately. The implementation of socio-economic reforms in such a short time-span and to such an extent required the instruments of power of military force and the disciplinary spatial structure of the strategic villages. Mass relocations of civilians and its effects on the other hand were repeatedly justified with reference to the overall plans for socio-economic development and modernization.
New directions in clergy psychological profiling
Authors: Francis Leslie J.
Published: February 2016

The Church Growth Research Programme reported a significant link between the psychological type profile of the senior cleric and patterns of church growth and decline. The present article examines the implications of this finding from the perspectives of personality psychology, Christian theology and church practice.
When Small Bandages Fail: The Field-Level Repair of Severe and Protracted Institutional Breaches
Authors: Herepath Andrea , Kitchener Martin
Published: February 2016

We present the first elaboration of the field-level institutional repair work enacted by government inquiry reports into severe and protracted breaches of the institution of medicine in the English National Health Service. Our examination of the interplay between the rhetorical argumentation strategies communicated, the modes and types of institutional work conveyed, and the institutional pillars targeted for repair enhances understanding of field-level institutional repair work in three ways. First, our analysis of forensic and deliberative rhetoric reveals how these communicate aligned ethos, logos, and pathos appeals in a tactical buttressing manner that simultaneously harnesses maintenance, adapted creative and disruptive modes of institutional work. Ensuing repair work is primarily directed to the regulatory and normative pillars of the breached institution, though their consequential effects seek to realign the cultural-cognitive pillar. Second, adapted creative and disruptive modes interact to generate elaborative and/or eliminative institutional work. This fosters a dynamic form of institutional maintenance, wherein the breached institution evolves in order to endure within the changing terrain of the field. Finally, our elaboration of field-level institutional repair work offers insight into the relative plasticity of the institution of medicine, and contributes to understanding of the dark side of institutional work.
Implementation of a Pediatric Posttonsillectomy Pain Protocol in a Large Group Practice
Authors: Luk Lauren J. , Mosen David , MacArthur Carol J. , Grosz Anna H.
Published: February 2016

Objective

In response to the increased risk of respiratory failure and death after tonsillectomy related to codeine use, Kaiser Permanente Northwest restricted use of opioids in patients <7 years old via electronic health record (EHR). However, opioids could be prescribed at physician discretion by overriding the EHR. This study aims to examine protocol compliance in a large group practice using EHR order sets and complication rates as compared with historical data.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Ambulatory care within a health maintenance organization.

Subjects and Methods

Procedural codes were used to identify children <7 years old who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy approximately 1.5 years before and after implementation of EHR protocol (n = 437). Primary outcome was opioid pain prescriptions received by patients. Secondary outcomes were emergency or urgent care utilization, postoperative bleeding, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, death, and reasons for prescribing opioid pain medication after EHR protocol implementation. Chi‐square analysis and Fischer’s exact testing were used to compare differences in event rates.

Results

Implementation of an age‐based narcotic protocol significantly decreased physician narcotic prescribing from 82.2% to 15.4% (P <. 0001). The most common reason for narcotic prescription after the intervention was the report of inadequate pain control by phone call (35%). There was no significant difference in rate of emergency or urgent care utilization between pre‐ and postimplementation groups (4% vs 6%, P =. 29).

Conclusions

Implementation of an age‐based narcotic restriction for posttonsillectomy patients using an EHR order set is an effective and safe way to influence physician prescription practices.
Radiologic Evidence of Cochlear Implant Bone Bed Formation Following the Subperiosteal Temporal Pocket Technique
Authors: Turanoglu Artunc Kaan , Yigit Ozgur , Acioglu Engin , Okbay Ahmet Mufit
Published: February 2016

Objective

To compare the thicknesses of bone beneath the internal receiver stimulator (IRS) with the symmetric contralateral unimplanted side in postoperative temporal high‐resolution computed tomography (CT) and/or cranial CT of the patients for whom cochlear implants were secured by the subperiosteal temporal pocket technique.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital, cochlear implant referral center.

Subjects

Cochlear‐implanted pediatric patients with postoperative temporal high‐resolution CT and/or cranial CT were reviewed. The study group included 10 patients with Clarion devices (Advanced Bionics, Valencia, California).

Methods

Thicknesses of bone were recorded independently by 2 radiologists in the standardized coordinates of proximal, middle, and distal segments of both the IRS bed and the contralateral unimplanted side in each patient. Bone thickness differences in the proximal, middle, and distal segments of IRS were investigated. Any correlation between bone thickness differences and patient age at implantation or duration of implantation was also investigated.

Results

Mean values of bone thicknesses obtained from the IRS side and contralateral unimplanted side were, respectively, as follows: 2.40 ± 0.80 mm and 4.17 ± 1.10 mm in the proximal segment (P =. 0001); 1.48 ± 0.33 mm and 3.02 ± 0.85 mm in the middle segment (P =. 0001); and 2.13 ± 0.41 mm and 3.40 ± 0.61 mm in the distal segment (P =. 006). Significant positive correlation was found between patient age at implantation and decrement values in the distal segments (r = 0.681, P =. 03).

Conclusion

The subperiosteally secured IRS eventually creates its own well on the skull vault. This new radiologic evidence shows that device migration risk decreases over time, and it supports the findings of other clinical series showing device stability using the subperiosteal pocket technique.
Occupational therapy and emergency departments: A critical review of the literature
Authors: James Kirstin , Jones Derek , Kempenaar Larissa , Preston Jenny , Kerr Susan
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Occupational therapy is emerging as a profession within the context of emergency care, specifically within emergency departments. Emerging professional practice should be underpinned by an evidence base supported by research. As such, this critical review examines, analyses and summarises published and unpublished research concerning occupational therapy in Emergency Departments in order to support emerging practice.

Method

Research evidence was sought from database platforms, the Internet and grey sources by searching using key words and search terms. Critical analysis of each piece of evidence was undertaken and the analyses were synthesised into a critical review of the literature.

Results

Twenty-three potentially relevant papers were found, 16 met the criteria for further inclusion and seven were critically analysed. The quality of the papers varied and often lacked sufficient methodological detail for robust review. Although not all study sample sizes were small, variable methodological quality means findings can only be taken into professional practice with caution.

Conclusion

Based on current evidence, there can only be a limited understanding of occupational therapy, including practice models and efficacy, within emergency departments at this time. There is a need for large-scale, well-designed research studies of occupational therapy within emergency departments.
Integrated digital image correlation applied to elastoplastic identification in a biaxial experiment
Authors: Bertin Morgan , Hild François , Roux Stéphane , Mathieu Florent , Leclerc Hugo , Aimedieu Patrick
Published: February 2016

The identification of the parameters of several constitutive laws is performed with the integrated digital image correlation (IDIC) technique in a biaxial experiment for a cruciform specimen made of stainless steel. The sought material parameters are assessed with the contribution of both reaction forces (from load sensors) and displacement fields (measured via digital image correlation). For each constitutive law a global residual quantifying the model error is assessed.
The Place of Peers in Peer-Mediated Interventions for Students With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Schaefer John M. , Cannella-Malone Helen I. , Carter Erik W.
Published: February 2016

Although peer-mediated interventions are an evidence-based approach for improving social and learning outcomes for students with intellectual disability (ID), their impact on participating peers has received limited attention. Knowing whether and how peers are affected could influence the extent to which these interventions are more widely adopted in schools. The purpose of this review was to (a) summarize extant research on the behaviors of peers without disabilities and their perception of interacting with students with ID, (b) identify common behaviors measured for peers, and (c) evaluate the effects of peer-mediated interventions on peers. Toward that effort, we reviewed 53 studies. Results indicate that interventions have successfully increased peers’ interactions with their classmates with ID and suggest some positive outcome for peers; however, consistent methodological gaps limit further analysis. We offer recommendations for strengthening future research involving peers within interventions for students with ID.
Immigration and Economic Crisis: An Analysis of the Impact in Spain, 2007–2013
Authors: Carrasco Carpio Concepción
Published: February 2016

This article illustrates the phenomenon of migration as a key for analyzing neoliberal as well as Keynesian logic. The European socio-economic frame of integration is defined as a four-fold complex consisting of an employment regime (types of labor markets), forms of consumption, a system of social protection, and a type of socio-political integration. It is shown that the articulation of these four levels produces virtuoso or perverse cycles of social integration. Using official data, it can be seen that the Spanish labor market has suffered structural changes since the post-2007 economic crisis, including alteration in work activities, occupations and the unemployment level of the labor force; deterioration for specific groups such as young people and immigrants; and increased risk of poverty. With the deepening of the crisis, immigrants have found themselves trapped in Spain’s network of unemployment, temporary employment, lack of stable employment prospects, irregular economics, increased risk of poverty, and a perverse cycle of exclusion that calls into question not only the effectiveness of European neoliberal policies but the entire European social model.
Experimental investigation into the effect of steel sleeper vertical stiffeners on railway track lateral resistance
Authors: Zakeri Jabbar-Ali , Talebi Roshan
Published: February 2016

Continuously welded rails are a common remedy to prevent rail defects, including railhead batter, rail cracking or breakage, and lateral displacement of track, among others. However, at curves with a radius of less than 400 m, rail welding is practically impossible due to the lack of track lateral resistance. Therefore, finding a new method to increase the track lateral resistance is necessary to facilitate rail welding, especially on tracks with steel sleepers. This study proposes a new method of increasing the lateral resistance of a ballasted track with steel sleepers by using web stiffeners. The effect of such stiffeners is investigated through a comparison with tracks having regular steel sleepers. The single tie (sleeper) push test is used in this research. The results of the experimental investigations show that the lateral resistance increases by 24, 140, and 203 percent, respectively, with the use of one, two, and three web stiffeners under the steel sleeper compared with a steel sleeper without stiffeners. Thus, the use of two stiffeners is concluded to provide enough lateral resistance in the case of older tracks. Therefore, the welding of rails at tight curves becomes conceivable.
Music-evoked autobiographical memories, emotion regulation, time perspective, and mental health
Authors: Blais-Rochette Camille , Miranda Dave
Published: February 2016

The intriguing phenomenon by which songs trigger the recall of self-defining moments in one’s past is called music-evoked autobiographical memories (MEAMs). This study examines if various types of MEAMs can partially mediate the impact that emotion regulation (reappraisal and suppression) and time perspective (past positive and past negative) can have on mental health (internalizing symptoms and happiness) in youth. To this end, we developed the Music Evoked Memory Orientation Scale (MEMOS), which was specifically designed to assess the phenomenological characteristics of MEAMs. The sample consisted of 397 undergraduate students (Mage = 19.17 years; 80.6% female) that attended a Canadian university. Results revealed that the MEMOS had adequate psychometric qualities in terms of factorial validity, internal consistency, convergent validity, and incremental validity. Most notably, analyses indicated that social sharing of MEAMs mediated the relationships between emotion regulation (reappraisal and suppression) and happiness. However, aspects of MEAMs (self-identification, social sharing, and coherence) did not mediate any relationship between emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms. Also, of particular interest, social sharing of and coherence in MEAMs mediated the relationships between past positive and mental health. However, aspects of MEAMs (self-identification, social sharing, and coherence) did not mediate relationships between past negative and mental health. Interestingly, mediated effects from MEAMs held despite controlling for personality traits (Extraversion and Emotional Stability). In sum, future studies need to examine why only some MEAMs, particularly the social sharing of MEAMs, matter at the intersection of emotion regulation, time perspective, and mental health in youth.
Public views on the role of government in funding and delivering health services
Authors: Vilhjalmsson Runar
Published: February 2016

Aims: Public surveys in socialized health systems indicate strong support for the role of government in health care, although different views can be detected. The study considers the public’s views on public versus private funding and delivery of health services. Methods: The study is based on a representative national sample of 1532 Icelandic adults, aged 18 and older, who participated in a national public issues survey. Respondents were asked about government spending on health care and whether the government or private parties should deliver health services. Results: The great majority of respondents thought that the government should spend more on health care, and should be the primary provider of care. Lower age, female gender, countryside residence, and expected high use of health care were related to greater support for governmental funding. Furthermore, countryside residence, less education, lower income, not being a governmental health worker, expected high health care use, and left-wing political ideology were all related to greater support for governmental delivery of health care. Conclusions: Despite sociodemographic variations, the study finds strong overall support for the role of government in funding and delivering health care. Previous perspectives and hypotheses of welfare state endorsement received mixed support, suggesting that further theoretical and empirical work is needed to better account for public views on the role of government in health care.
Single-cell transcriptome sequencing: recent advances and remaining challenges
Authors: Liu Serena , Trapnell Cole
Published: February 2016

Single-cell RNA-sequencing methods are now robust and economically practical and are becoming a powerful tool for high-throughput, high-resolution transcriptomic analysis of cell states and dynamics. Single-cell approaches circumvent the averaging artifacts associated with traditional bulk population data, yielding new insights into the cellular diversity underlying superficially homogeneous populations. Thus far, single-cell RNA-sequencing has already shown great effectiveness in unraveling complex cell populations, reconstructing developmental trajectories, and modeling transcriptional dynamics. Ongoing technical improvements to single-cell RNA-sequencing throughput and sensitivity, the development of more sophisticated analytical frameworks for single-cell data, and an increasing array of complementary single-cell assays all promise to expand the usefulness and potential applications of single-cell transcriptomic profiling.
Minimizing Matrix Effects for the Accurate Quantification of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Metabolites in Dried Blood Spots by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Kvaskoff David , Heath Alicia K , Simila Henry A , Ko Pauline , English Dallas R , Eyles Darryl W
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND

The noncalcemic actions of vitamin D in multiple organs are now widely recognized. Vitamin D status has been linked with a wide variety of conditions, which has led to an increasing demand for vitamin D screening. In particular, there is intense interest in the impact of vitamin D on a variety of developmental conditions. The most readily accessible pediatric samples are dried blood spots, and health organizations are increasingly archiving such samples for later assessment of the antecedents of disease.

METHODS

In 2009, we developed a method to quantify the major circulatory form of vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, in archived dried blood spots. Over the last 6 years, we have made substantial alterations to the published method to enhance throughput, sensitivity, and assay robustness.

RESULTS

With the alterations, the assay was 3 times faster than the previously published assay and had a >10-fold increase in signal strength. Intraassay imprecision decreased from 13.4% to 6.9%, and there was a 5-fold reduction in interfering phospholipids. In actual use over 2 years, the assay showed an interassay imprecision of 11.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

This assay has performed reliably over the past 6 years. The practical changes we have made should allow clinical chemists to successfully adapt this method.
‘They Don’t Want Foreigners’: Zimbabwean migration and the rise of xenophobia in Botswana
Authors: Campbell Eugene , Crush Jonathan
Published: February 2016

Xenophobia is becoming an increasingly common response to migration within the Global South, often taking the form of collective violence against migrants and refugees. It has also permeated central and local state structures leading to systemic discrimination, denial of basic rights and constant harassment of migrants and refugees. For a decade or more, South Africa has been plagued by xenophobic violence directed at Zimbabweans living in the country. Botswana is another major destination for Zimbabwean migrants but has not experienced violent attacks motivated by xenophobia. This does not mean that Zimbabweans are welcome in that country. On the contrary, xenophobic attitudes are highly prevalent amongst the citizenry and within government and manifested in a range of negative stereotypes. This article documents the rise of xenophobia in Botswana and provides empirical evidence from research with Zimbabwean migrants in Gaborone and Francistown of how xenophobia is actually experienced by its targets. In order to explain the existence of xenophobia in Botswana, usually considered one of Africa’s most stable, economically prosperous and stable countries, the article draws on the literature on new nationalisms in Africa.
Still Glowing Strong: Review 2 (Australia)
Authors: Delofski Maree
Published: February 2016

Still Glowing Strong is an elegant and poetic documentary about a dreamer. Harald Brobakkan has an obsessive desire to create an everlasting battery. From the outset, the minimalist music and Leganger’s beautifully written narration set up the tone of the documentary – gentle, respectful, restrained, occasionally melancholic yet never maudlin. Program maker Sindre Leganger very successfully conveys Harald’s story together with rich observations about the universe, science and its treatment of ‘outsiders’, life - and the nature of a very long relationship.
Effect of Uterine Inflammatory Status as well as Calcium and Magnesium Concentrations on the Uterine Involution Process in Dairy Cows
Authors: Brodzki Piotr , Brodzki Adam , Kurek Łukasz , Szpetnar Maria , Bochniarz Mariola
Published: February 2016

The aim of the study was a comparative analysis of uterine horn diameter, calcium and magnesium concentrations in blood serum and uterine washings in cows both with and without endometritis. The study was performed on 28 cows at 5, 22 and 42 DP (day post partum), of which 14 cows had been diagnosed with endometritis and the other 14 had no endometritis. The animals were selected based on clinical symptoms and cytological examination. Uterine horn diameter was determined in both examined groups of cows using an ultrasonographic device. The level of calcium and magnesium in the blood serum and uterine washings, and protein in uterine washings was determined using a BS-160 Mindray analyzer. Uterus diameter was similar in both examined groups of cows only at 5 DP, and on subsequent days of examination this parameter was higher in the endometritis group compared to the control (P<0.001). Calcium levels in the blood serum of cows with endometritis were lower than in cows without endometritis, both at 22 DP (P<0.001) and at 42 DP (P=0.004). The levels of calcium, magnesium and total proteins in uterine washings were higher in cows with endometritis compared to the group without endometritis, both at 22 and at 42 DPP (P<0.001). The results of this study confirm that the process of uterine involution is slower in cows with endometritis compared to cows without endometritis, and the myometrium of inflamed uterus does not utilize sufficient amounts of calcium and magnesium, which means that the concentrations of these elements in uterine fluid are higher than in cows without endometritis.
Making a Mark—Time Changing Politics from Estonia: An Alternative Idea for the British, Bulgarian and Estonian EU Presidency
Authors: Fischer Dirk-Hinnerk
Published: February 2016

Estonia is famous among politicians for its e-Governance policies. One core ingredient for this progress is the abolishment of outdated technologies and standards as this kind of legacy policy slows down the innovation process. This short paper adapts the Estonian approach towards legacy policy and proposes a political symbol initiated by the EU Presidency Trio of the United Kingdom, Bulgaria and Estonia. The entire topic was inspired by the motivation of the Estonian government to use the presidency to make a mark for Estonia. The twice-yearly occurring process of introducing and disabling the summertime, is not only annoying but has also almost exclusively negative impacts. Meanwhile, the summertime itself comes with many aspects of questionable impact and even opposing empirical results, but it also has some generally agreed upon positive influences. This paper takes side against the process of changing times, but does not take position for one of the possible solutions. This short article shall only inform and show the possibilities in regard to the summer time, the EU presidency and the political symbolism of celebrating the centenary of the First World War.
Non-trivial solutions for nonlocal elliptic problems of Kirchhoff-type
Authors: Afrouzi Ghasem A. , Hadjian Armin
Published: February 2016

Existence results of positive solutions for a nonlocal elliptic
problem of Kirchhoff-type are established. The approach is based on
variational methods.
Still Different After All These Years Extensive and Intensive Margins of Exports in East and West German Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors: Wagner Joachim
Published: February 2016

This paper uses a new tailor-made data set to investigate the differences in extensive and intensive margins of exports in manufacturing firms from East Germany and West Germany. It documents that these margins do still differ in 2010, 20 years after the re-unification of Germany. West German firms outperform East German firms at all four margins of exports – they have a larger propensity to export, export a larger share of total sales, export more goods and export to a larger number of countries. All these differences are large from an economic point of view. A decomposition analysis shows that in 2010 between 59 percent and 78 percent of the difference in margins can be explained by differences in firm characteristics.
Remarks on discrete and semi-discrete transparent boundary conditions for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation on the half-axis
Authors: Zlotnik Alexander , Zlotnik Ilya
Published: February 2016

We consider the generalized time-dependent Schrödinger equation on the half-axis and a broad family of finite-difference schemes with the discrete transparent boundary conditions (TBCs) to solve it. We first rewrite the discrete TBCs in a simplified form explicit in space step h. Next, for a selected scheme of the family, we discover that the discrete convolution in time in the discrete TBC does not depend on h and, moreover, it coincides with the corresponding convolution in the semi-discrete TBC rewritten similarly. Both moments allow us to prove the bound for the difference between the kernels of the discrete convolutions in the discrete and semi-discrete TBCs that is the first result of such kind. Numerical experiments on replacing the discrete TBC convolutions by the semi-discrete one exhibit truly small absolute errors though not relative ones in general. The suitable discretization in space of the semi-discrete TBC for the higher-order Numerov scheme is also discussed.
Analysis of Prognosis of Lowland River Bed Erosion Based on Geotechnical Parameters
Authors: Smaga Agnieszka
Published: February 2016

The river erosion is a complex process, the dynamics of which is very difficult to predict. Its intensity largely depends on hydraulic conditions of the river channel. However, it is also thought that natural resistance of the subsoil has a great influence on the scale of the erosion process. Predicting the effects of this process is extremely important in the case of constructing a piling structure (for example, artificial reservoirs). The partition of the river channel causes significant lowering of the river channel bed downstream the dam which threatens the stability of hydro technical and engineering (bridges) buildings. To stop this unwanted phenomenon, stabilizing thresholds are built. However, random location of thresholds significantly reduces their effectiveness. Therefore, taking under consideration natural geotechnical conditions of the subsoil appears to be extremely important.

In the light of the current development of in-situ tests in geotechnics, an attempt to use results from these tests to predict the bed erosion rate was made. The analysis includes results from CPTU and DPL tests, which were carried out in the Warta River valley downstream the Jeziorsko reservoir. In the paper, the general diagrams for the procedure of obtaining and processing the data are shown. As a result, the author presents two multidimensional bed erosion rate models built based on hydraulic data and results from CPTU or DPL tests. These models allow taking more effective actions, leading to the neutralization of the effects of the intensive bed erosion process.
Phasic Dopamine Transmission Reflects Initiation Vigor and Exerted Effort in an Action- and Region-Specific Manner
Authors: Ko Daijin , Wanat Matthew J.
Published: February 2016

Initiating a reward-seeking behavior involves deciding on an action, how fast to initiate the action (initiation vigor), as well as how much effort to exert. These processes are thought to involve the mesolimbic dopamine system. Dopamine levels in the ventral striatum rise before initiating a reliably reinforced behavior. However, it is unknown whether dopamine is similarly involved with unreinforced actions (inactive lever presses, premature food port entries, insufficient number of active lever presses). Furthermore, does the dopamine response when initiating an action reflect specific aspects of motivated behavior, such as initiation vigor and exerted effort? Here, we analyzed voltammetry recordings of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core and shell in rats working for food under a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule. We examined dopamine levels when rats initiated distinct actions (active lever presses, inactive lever presses, food port entries) that were temporally separated from cue- and reward-evoked dopamine release. Active lever pressing bouts were preceded by elevated dopamine release in the NAcc shell, as well as in the NAcc core, although only when rats exhibited high initiation vigor. Dopamine levels were transiently reduced in the NAcc core following an unreinforced food port entry and were unchanged throughout the NAcc when initiating inactive lever presses. The effort exerted and vigor to initiate a bout of active lever presses were signaled by dopamine transmission in the NAcc core, but not in the NAcc shell. These results demonstrate that the dopamine response when initiating a behavior is both region- and action-specific.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTExogenous activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system facilitates motivated behavior. However, a direct relationship has not been established between endogenous phasic dopamine transmission and measures of motivation, such as the vigor to initiate an action and the effort exerted in a bout of activity. The present work demonstrates that the dopamine response when initiating an action depends both upon where dopamine is released and what action is performed. Furthermore, dopamine reflects measures of motivated behavior selectively within the nucleus accumbens core.