bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival Outcomes and Tumor IMP3 Expression in Patients with Sarcomatoid Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Tantravahi Srinivas K. , Albertson Daniel , Agarwal Archana M. , Ravulapati Sowmya , Poole Austin , Patel Shiven B. , Hawatmeh Jamil S. , Straubhar Alli M. , Liu Ting , Stenehjem David D. , Agarwal Neeraj
Published: January 2015

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid histology (SmRCC) is associated with poor survival. No data is available from randomized trials on the efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors in SmRCC. We identified SmRCC patients from a single institutional database. To identify predictive and prognostic biomarkers, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was performed on the tumor samples for downstream targets of VEGF and mTOR pathways. Survival outcomes were stratified by IHC analysis, extent of sarcomatoid component, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), and Heng risk criteria. Twenty-seven patients with SmRCC were included. First line therapy included targeted therapy (n=19), immunotherapy (n=4), cytotoxic chemotherapy (n=1), and no treatment (n=3). Median OS was 8.2 months (95% CI 3.8–14.2 months). Median survival in months, based on MSKCC and Heng risk groups, was favorable 89.3 versus 84.5, intermediate 9.5 versus 12.7, and poor 3.9 versus 5.1. None of the IHC markers predicted outcomes of treatment with VEGF or mTOR inhibitors. Only tumor IMP3 expression was associated with inferior OS, although not statistically significant (IMP3 negative 14.2 versus IMP3 positive 4.9 months; HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.16–1.21;P=0.12). The study was limited by small sample size.
Measurement Data Fitting Based on Moving Least Squares Method
Authors: Zhang Huaiqing , Guo Chunxian , Su Xiangfeng , Zhu Chuanbao
Published: January 2015

In the electromagnetic field measurement data postprocessing, this paper introduced the moving least squares (MLS) approximation method. The MLS combines the concept of moving window and compact support weighting functions. It can be regarded as a combination of weighted least squares and segmented least square. The MLS not only can acquire higher precision even with low order basis functions, but also has good stability due to its local approximation scheme. An attractive property of MLS is its flexible adjustment ability. Therefore, the data fitting can be easily adjusted by tuning weighting function’s parameters. Numerical examples and measurement data processing reveal its superior performance in curves fitting and surface construction. So the MLS is a promising method for measurement data processing.
A Partitioning Based Algorithm to Fuzzy Tricluster
Authors: Liu Yongli , Yang Tengfei , Fu Lili
Published: January 2015

Fuzzy clustering allows an object to exist in multiple clusters and represents the affiliation of objects to clusters by memberships. It is extended to fuzzy coclustering by assigning both objects and features membership functions. In this paper we propose a new fuzzy triclustering (FTC) algorithm for automatic categorization of three-dimensional data collections. FTC specifies membership function for each dimension and is able to generate fuzzy clusters simultaneously on three dimensions. Thus FTC divides a three-dimensional cube into many little blocks which should be triclusters with strong coherent bonding among its members. The experimental studies onMovieLensdemonstrate the strength of FTC in terms of accuracy compared to some recent popular fuzzy clustering and coclustering approaches.
Synthesis and Pesticidal Activities of 5-(2-Cyclopropylaminopyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(thiophenyl)thiazole Derivatives
Authors: Choi Won-Sik , Nam Seok-Woo , Kim Il-Doo , Kim Seung-Han , Park Kun-Ho , Bae In-Kyung , Park Eun-Sil , Jeon Hwang-Ju , Lee Sung-Eun
Published: January 2015

Pesticidal activities of 4-[5-(2-cyclopropylaminopyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl)thiazol-2-yl]-1-methylpiperidine, designated as Comp I, have been determined against a mosquito larva,Culex pipiens pallens, and a phytopathogenic fungus,Phytophthora capsici. Comp I was used as the leading compound in this study. The compounds were synthesized by reacting them with two functional groups, 3-thiophenyl and 2-thiophenyl groups, instead of 4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl group in Comp I. Other functional groups such as 2-aminothiazole, 2-(1-methylpiperazin-4-yl)thiazole, and 2-(piperazin-4-yl)thiazole were also introduced instead of 2-methylpiperidin-4-yl-thiazole of Comp I. Compounds designated as XIII-6~XV-7 were newly synthesized and their structures were confirmed by1H- and13C-NMR spectroscopy. Mosquito larvicidal activities of all the synthesized compounds againstC. pipiens pallenswere examined and Comp I among them showed the strongest larvicidal activity as 0.513 mM of LC50value. The fungicidal activities of all the synthesized compounds againstP. capsiciwere examined using the whole plant method. Among the XIII-6~XV-7 chemicals, 5-(2-cyclopropylaminopyrimidin-4-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)thiazol-2-amine (VIII-6) showed the most potent antifungal activityin vivo. While the EC50value of the commercial fungicide dimethomorph was 4.26 μM, EC50of VIII-6 was 0.94 μM. Therefore, thiazole derivatives can be considered as viable candidates for the control of mosquito larvae and plant diseases.
Historical Use of Cultivars as Parents in Florida and Louisiana Sugarcane Breeding Programs
Authors: Todd James , Glaz Barry , Burner David , Kimbeng Collins
Published: January 2015

Sugarcane (Saccharum L. spp. hybrids) growers depend on breeding programs for new, high-yielding cultivars that have resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, so breeders continually seek out widely adapted, high yielding germplasm to be used as parents for their programs. Cultivars are sometimes used for this purpose, but their use may be minimized to prevent genetic diversity erosion. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of cultivars as parents in three USA (one in Florida and two in Louisiana) sugarcane breeding programs by quantifying the percentage of cultivars that had these parental groupings based on published registrations and crossing records. The percentage of cultivars with at least one commercial parent for each program was 81.8%, 77.5%, and 64.3% for the Houma (Ho), Louisiana, Canal Point (CP), Florida and Louisiana State University (LSU) programs, respectively, but cultivars were recently used as parents in only 11.8% (Ho), 16.39% (CP), and 34.3% (LSU) of crosses. The results indicate that the CP and Ho programs should consider increasing the use of cultivars as parents in their breeding programs to increase the probability of selecting potential commercial genotypes, but this should be balanced with high diversity crosses to avoid the loss of diversity.
Ultrasound-Guided Quadrilateral Space Block for the Diagnosis of Quadrilateral Syndrome
Authors: Chen Hamilton , Narvaez Vincent Reginald
Published: January 2015

Quadrilateral space syndrome (QSS) is a rare nerve entrapment disorder that occurs when the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA) become compressed in the quadrilateral space. QSS presents as vague posterolateral shoulder pain that is exacerbated upon the abduction and external rotation of the shoulder. Diagnosis of QSS is difficult because of the vague presentation of QSS. In addition, even though MRI and MR angiography can be used in QSS diagnosis, there is currently no “gold standard” diagnostic imaging studies for QSS. In this case report, we describe a novel ultrasound-guided technique for a diagnostic quadrilateral space block and present a case where the diagnostic block was used to diagnose QSS. We believe that a diagnostic block of the quadrilateral space is a useful adjunct in the evaluation of patients with suspected QSS, especially in cases where examination findings and other diagnostic modalities are indeterminate.
Dynamics of Moment Neuronal Networks with Intra- and Inter-Interactions
Authors: Xiang Xuyan , Wu Jianguo
Published: January 2015

A framework of moment neuronal networks with intra- and inter-interactions is presented. It is to show how the spontaneous activity is propagated across the homogeneous and heterogeneous network. The input-output firing relationship and the stability are first explored for a homogeneous network. For heterogeneous network without the constraint of the correlation coefficients between neurons, a more sophisticated dynamics is then explored. With random interactions, the network gets easily synchronized. However, desynchronization is produced by a lateral interaction such as Mexico hat function. It is the external intralayer input unit that offers a more sophisticated and unexpected dynamics over the predecessors. Hence, the work further opens up the possibility of carrying out a stochastic computation in neuronal networks.
Nonlinearities Distribution Homotopy Perturbation Method Applied to Solve Nonlinear Problems: Thomas-Fermi Equation as a Case Study
Authors: Filobello-Nino U. , Vazquez-Leal H. , Boubaker K. , Sarmiento-Reyes A. , Perez-Sesma A. , Diaz-Sanchez A. , Jimenez-Fernandez V. M. , Cervantes-Perez J. , Sanchez-Orea J. , Huerta-Chua J. , Morales-Mendoza L. J. , Gonzalez-Lee M. , Hernandez-Mejia C. , Gonzalez-Martinez F. J.
Published: January 2015

We propose an approximate solution of T-F equation, obtained by using the nonlinearities distribution homotopy perturbation method (NDHPM). Besides, we show a table of comparison, between this proposed approximate solution and a numerical of T-F, by establishing the accuracy of the results.
Noninvasive Physiologic Assessment of Coronary Stenoses Using Cardiac CT
Authors: Xu Lei , Sun Zhonghua , Fan Zhanming
Published: January 2015

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) has become an important noninvasive imaging modality in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). CCTA enables accurate evaluation of coronary artery stenosis. However, CCTA provides limited information on the physiological significance of stenotic lesions. A noninvasive “one-stop-shop” diagnostic test that can provide both anatomical significance and functional significance of stenotic lesions would be beneficial in the diagnosis and management of CAD. Recently, with the introduction of novel techniques, such as myocardial CT perfusion, CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT), and transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG), CCTA has emerged as a noninvasive method for the assessment of both anatomy of coronary lesions and its physiological consequences during a single study. This review provides an overview of the current status of new CT techniques for the physiologic assessments of CAD.
Efficacy of Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma for Tooth Bleaching
Authors: Nam Seoul Hee , Lee Hae June , Hong Jin Woo , Kim Gyoo Cheon
Published: January 2015

The conventional light source used for tooth bleaching has the potential to cause thermal damage, and the actual role of the light source is doubtful. In this study, we evaluated bleaching efficacy, temperature, and morphological safety after tooth bleaching with nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma. Tooth bleaching combined with plasma had improved efficacy in providing a higher level of brightness. The temperature of the pulp chamber was maintained around 37°C, indicating that the plasma does not cause any thermal damage. The morphological results of tooth bleaching with plasma did not affect mineral composition under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. On the basis of these results, the application of plasma and low concentration of 15% carbamide peroxide (CP) has a high capability for effective tooth bleaching. It can be documented that plasma is a safe energe source, which has no deleterious effects on the tooth surface.
Evolution of Volatile Flavour Compounds during Fermentation of African Oil Bean (Pentaclethra macrophyllaBenth) Seeds for “Ugba” Production
Authors: Nwokeleme C. O. , Ugwuanyi J. Obeta
Published: January 2015

Fermented African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophyllaBenth) seed is a successful and well studied seasoning and snack in parts of Western Africa. GC-MS analysis of fermenting seeds revealed a mixture of several volatile aroma compounds which changed with time and starter organism. During natural mixed culture process 36 volatile compounds including 12 hydrocarbons, 10 esters, 5 alcohols, 2 phenols, 2 ketones, and one each of furan, amine, acid, thiophene, and lactone were identified. WhenBacillus subtiliswas used in pure culture, 30 compounds comprising 10 hydrocarbons, 8 esters, 3 alcohols, 2 amines, 2 sulfur compounds, and one of each of acid, aldehyde, phenol, ketone, and furan were identified. Sample fermented withB. megateriumproduced 29 aroma compounds comprising 9 hydrocarbons, 10 esters, 2 nitrogenous compounds, 2 ketones, 3 alcohols, and one of each of lactone, aldehyde, furan, and amine. Methyl esters of various long chain fatty acids may be key aroma compounds, based on consistency and persistence. Qualitative or quantitative contribution of individual compounds may only be determined following flavour threshold analysis.
Seizure-Induced Oxidative Stress in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Puttachary Sreekanth , Sharma Shaunik , Stark Sara , Thippeswamy Thimmasettappa
Published: January 2015

An insult to the brain (such as the first seizure) causes excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). ROS and RNS produced during status epilepticus (SE) overwhelm the mitochondrial natural antioxidant defense mechanism. This leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and damage to the mitochondrial DNA. This in turn affects synthesis of various enzyme complexes that are involved in electron transport chain. Resultant effects that occur during epileptogenesis include lipid peroxidation, reactive gliosis, hippocampal neurodegeneration, reorganization of neural networks, and hypersynchronicity. These factors predispose the brain to spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), which ultimately establish into temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). This review discusses some of these issues. Though antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are beneficial to control/suppress seizures, their long term usage has been shown to increase ROS/RNS in animal models and human patients. In established TLE, ROS/RNS are shown to be harmful as they can increase the susceptibility to SRS. Further, in this paper, we review briefly the data from animal models and human TLE patients on the adverse effects of antiepileptic medications and the plausible ameliorating effects of antioxidants as an adjunct therapy.
Determinants of Vitamin D Levels in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome
Authors: Stagi Stefano , Lapi Elisabetta , Romano Silvia , Bargiacchi Sara , Brambilla Alice , Giglio Sabrina , Seminara Salvatore , de Martino Maurizio
Published: January 2015

Background. Poor studies have evaluated 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) levels in Down syndrome (DS).Objective. To assess in DS subjects serum 25(OH)D value, to identify risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, and to evaluate whether a normal 25(OH)D value can be restored with a 400 I.U. daily supplement of cholecalciferol in respect to controls.Methods. We have longitudinally evaluated 31 DS patients (aged 4.5–18.9 years old) and 99 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In these subjects, we analysed calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH)D concentrations, and calcium and 25(OH)D dietary intakes, and we quantified outdoor exposure. After 12.3 months (range 8.1–14.7 months) of 25(OH)D supplementation, we reevaluated these subjects.Results. DS subjects showed reduced 25(OH)D levels compared to controls (P<0.0001), in particular DS subjects with obesity (P<0.05) and autoimmune diseases history (P<0.005). PTH levels were significantly higher in DS subjects than controls (P<0.0001). After cholecalciferol supplementation, 25(OH)D levels were significantly ameliorated (P<0.05), even if reduced compared to controls (P<0.0001), in particular in DS subjects with obesity (P<0.05) and autoimmune diseases (P<0.001).Conclusions. Hypovitaminosis D is very frequent in DS subjects, in particular in presence of obesity and autoimmune diseases. In these subjects, there could be a need for higher cholecalciferol supplementation.
Targeting LUNX Inhibits Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Growth and Metastasis
Authors: Zheng Xiaohu , Cheng Min , Fu Binqing , Fan Xiaolei , Wang Qing , Yu Xiaoqing , Sun Rui , Tian Zhigang , Wei Haiming
Published: January 2015

There remains a great need for effective therapies for lung cancer, the majority of which are non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Here, we report the identification of a novel candidate therapeutic target, LUNX, as a molecule overexpressed in primary NSCLC and lymph node metastases that is associated with reduced postoperative survival. Functional studies demonstrated that LUNX overexpression promoted lung cancer cell migration and proliferation by interactions with the chaperone protein 14-3-3. Conversely, LUNX silencing disrupted primary tumor growth, local invasion, and metastatic colonization. The finding that LUNX was expressed on cell membranes prompted us to generate and characterize LUNX antibodies as a candidate therapeutic. Anti-LUNX could downregulate LUNX and reduce lung cancer cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Administered in vivo to mice bearing lung cancer xenografts, anti-LUNX could slow tumor growth and metastasis and improve mouse survival. Together, our work provides a preclinical proof of concept for LUNX as a novel candidate target for immunotherapy in lung cancer. Cancer Res; 75(6); 1080–90. ©2015 AACR.
Identification of Chimeric Antigen Receptors That Mediate Constitutive or Inducible Proliferation of T Cells
Authors: Frigault Matthew J. , Lee Jihyun , Basil Maria Ciocca , Carpenito Carmine , Motohashi Shinichiro , Scholler John , Kawalekar Omkar U. , Guedan Sonia , McGettigan Shannon E. , Posey Avery D. , Ang Sonny , Cooper Laurence J.N. , Platt Jesse M. , Johnson F. Brad , Paulos Chrystal M. , Zhao Yangbing , Kalos Michael , Milone Michael C. , June Carl H.
Published: January 2015

This study compared second-generation chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) encoding signaling domains composed of CD28, ICOS, and 4-1BB (TNFRSF9). Here, we report that certain CARs endow T cells with the ability to undergo long-term autonomous proliferation. Transduction of primary human T cells with lentiviral vectors encoding some of the CARs resulted in sustained proliferation for up to 3 months following a single stimulation through the T-cell receptor (TCR). Sustained numeric expansion was independent of cognate antigen and did not require the addition of exogenous cytokines or feeder cells after a single stimulation of the TCR and CD28. Results from gene array and functional assays linked sustained cytokine secretion and expression of T-bet (TBX21), EOMES, and GATA-3 to the effect. Sustained expression of the endogenous IL2 locus has not been reported in primary T cells. Sustained proliferation was dependent on CAR structure and high expression, the latter of which was necessary but not sufficient. The mechanism involves constitutive signaling through NF-κB, AKT, ERK, and NFAT. The propagated CAR T cells retained a diverse TCR repertoire, and cellular transformation was not observed. The CARs with a constitutive growth phenotype displayed inferior antitumor effects and engraftment in vivo. Therefore, the design of CARs that have a nonconstitutive growth phenotype may be a strategy to improve efficacy and engraftment of CAR T cells. The identification of CARs that confer constitutive or nonconstitutive growth patterns may explain observations that CAR T cells have differential survival patterns in clinical trials. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(4); 356–67. ©2015 AACR.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Open Spina Bifida in Emilia-Romagna
Authors: Ghi Tullio , Cocchi Guido , Conti Letizia , Pacella Giuseppina , Youssef Aly , Rizzo Nicola , Pilu Gianluigi
Published: January 2015

Objective: To report recent data on the epidemiology of pregnancies affected by open spina bifida in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Methods: All cases of open spina bifida diagnosed in the Emilia-Romagna region between 2001 and 2011 and reported to the IMER regional registry were included in the study group. The pregnancy outcome was retrospectively assessed. Results: In the study period out of 390,978 babies born in Emilia-Romagna 126 cases of open spina bifida were reported to the IMER registry, resulting in a global prevalence of 3.2 per 10,000 births. Prenatal diagnosis was achieved in the vast majority of these cases (105/126; 83.3%) and in a great proportion of those women (85/105; 80.9%) who opted for termination of pregnancy. Conclusions: In a wide region of northern Italy where ultrasound anomaly scan is routinely offered to the general population, the vast majority of cases of open spina bifida are diagnosed antenatally and terminated electively.
Penile Cancer Stage, Survival and Body Mass Index
Authors: Djajadiningrat Rosa S. , van Werkhoven Erik , Horenblas Simon
Published: January 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether a higher body mass index (BMI) in penile cancer patients is associated with more advanced penile cancer stage at the time of treatment and cancer survival. Methods: We evaluated 433 penile cancer patients treated between 2006 and 2012 at our institute and recorded American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, BMI, circumcision, smoking and age. A proportional odds model was used to assess a possible association between BMI and AJCC stage at diagnosis and controlled for circumcision, smoking and age. Five-year disease-specific survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with the log-rank test assessing equality of distributions. Results: 433 patients with a mean BMI of 26.8 kg/m2 were analyzed. No statistically significant association between BMI and AJCC stage was found (odds ratio 1.01 per 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI, 95% confidence interval 0.97-1.05, p = 0.63). Differences in disease-specific survival were not observed based on the different BMI classes. Conclusions: No association between BMI of penile cancer patients and their disease stage at the time of treatment was observed. Thus, BMI at penile cancer treatment does not affect prognosis.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Prenatal Ultrasound in Identifying Jejunal and Ileal Atresia
Authors: John Rebecca , D'Antonio Francesco , Khalil Asma , Bradley Sarah , Giuliani Stefano
Published: January 2015

Introduction: Small bowel atresia (SBA) is one of the most common causes of congenital intestinal obstruction. However, the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosing this condition has not been entirely ascertained. The aim of this study was to analyse the predictive accuracy of ultrasound in detecting SBA prenatally. Methodology: Retrospective study of all cases with prenatal suspicion or postnatal confirmed SBA seen in a tertiary fetal medicine and pediatric surgery units from 2007 to 2013. Cases with duodenal atresia were excluded from the study. The predictive accuracy of ultrasound and different ultrasound signs, alone and in combination, was calculated. Results: 65 fetuses with prenatal suspicion or postnatal confirmed SBA were enrolled. 58 cases had full data and were included in the analysis. Predictive accuracy of ultrasound in detecting the presence of SBA was poor, with a sensitivity of 50% (95% CI 26.0-74.0) and a specificity of 70.59% (95% CI 52.5-84.9). The presence of both bowel dilatation ≥17 mm and polyhydramnios after 32 weeks of gestation slightly increased sensitivity (66.67%, 95% CI 34.9-90.1) and specificity (80.00%, 95% CI 44.4-97.5). Conclusions: In case of suspicion of SBA before the 3rd trimester, an ultrasound after 32 weeks should be performed to confirm the presence of both polyhydramnios and bowel dilatation >17 mm.
Effect of Allogeneic Limbal Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Corneal Healing: Role of Administration Route
Authors: Acar Ugur , Pinarli Ferda Alpaslan , Acar Damla Erginturk , Beyazyildiz Emrullah , Sobaci Gungor , Ozgermen Basak Boztok , Sonmez Aynur Albayrak , Delibasi Tuncay
Published: January 2015

Aims: To investigate whether allogeneic limbal mesenchymal stem cell (LMSC) therapy affects corneal healing after a severe chemical burn and whether the route of administration of LMSCs differs in its therapeutic effect in this respect. Methods: A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats with clinically proven alkali injury were divided into four equal groups (n = 15) as follows: group 1: 2 × 105 cells/drop LMSCs, topically applied 6 times a day for 2 days; group 2: 2.4 × 106 cells in 0.5 ml LMSCs, subconjunctivally applied; group 3: 2.4 × 106 cells in 1 ml LMSCs, intraperitoneally applied, and group 4: no LMSC treatment. The groups were compared according to grades of corneal opacity (CO), corneal neovascularization (CNV) and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS). The migration of LMSCs into the cornea and the inflammatory characteristics of the groups were evaluated with BrdU (5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine bromodeoxyuridine) immunostaining and histopathologically in a 4-week follow-up. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the LMSC-treated and control groups in each week regarding mean CO scores and in the 3rd week regarding the mean CNV and CFS scores (p < 0.05). The statistical significance was due to the differences between the topical and the control group and between the subconjunctival and the control group. BrdU+ LMSCs were seen in the corneal epithelium of the all LMSC-administered rats, and fewer inflammatory changes were observed in these rats. Conclusion: Allogeneic LMSC treatment, especially topical and subconjunctival administration, seems to be helpful in affecting corneal healing after a severe corneal burn.
A New Approach to Assessing Affect and the Emotional Implications of Personal Genomic Testing for Common Disease Risk
Authors: O''Neill Suzanne C. , Tercyak Kenneth P. , Baytop Chanza , Hensley Alford Sharon , McBride Colleen M.
Published: January 2015

Aims: Personal genomic testing (PGT) for common disease risk is becoming increasingly frequent, but little is known about people's array of emotional reactions to learning their genomic risk profiles and the psychological harms/benefits of PGT. We conducted a study of post-PGT affect, including positive, neutral, and negative states that may arise after testing. Methods: A total of 228 healthy adults received PGT for common disease variants and completed a semistructured research interview within 2 weeks of disclosure. The study participants reported how the PGT results made them feel in their own words. Using an iterative coding process, the responses were organized into three broad affective categories: negative, neutral, and positive affect. Results: Neutral affect was the most prevalent response (53.9%), followed by positive affect (26.9%) and negative affect (19.2%). We found no differences by gender, race, or education. Conclusions: While <20% of participants reported negative affect in response to learning their genomic risk profile for common diseases, a majority experienced either neutral or positive emotions. These findings contribute to the growing evidence that PGT does not impose significant psychological harms. Moreover, they point to a need to better link theories and assessments in both emotional and cognitive processing to capitalize on PGT information for healthy behavior change.
Foxp3
+
Regulatory T Cells Play a Protective Role in Angiotensin II–Induced Aortic Aneurysm Formation in Mice
Authors: Yodoi Keiko , Yamashita Tomoya , Sasaki Naoto , Kasahara Kazuyuki , Emoto Takuo , Matsumoto Takuya , Kita Tomoyuki , Sasaki Yoshihiro , Mizoguchi Taiji , Sparwasser Tim , Hirata Ken-ichi
Published: January 2015

Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to play a protective role in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation, it remains unclear whether expansion of endogenous Foxp3
+
Tregs prevents AAA. In the current study, we determined the effects of endogenous Foxp3
+
Treg expansion or depletion in an experimental model of AAA. We continuously infused 12-week-old apolipoprotein E–deficient mice fed a high-cholesterol diet with angiotensin II (n=60) or normal saline (n=12) by implanting osmotic mini-pumps and evaluated AAA formation at 16 weeks. The angiotensin II–infused mice received interleukin-2/anti–interleukin-2 monoclonal antibody complex (interleukin-2 complex; n=31) or PBS (n=29). Eighty-one percent of angiotensin II–infused mice developed AAA, with 42% mortality possibly because of aneurysm rupture. Interleukin-2 complex treatment systemically increased the number of Foxp3
+
Tregs and significantly decreased the incidence (52%) and mortality (17%) of AAA. Immunohistochemical analysis showed reduced accumulation of macrophages and increased numbers of Foxp3
+
Tregs in aneurysmal tissues, suggesting that expansion of Tregs may suppress local inflammation in the vessel wall and provide protection against AAA formation. Furthermore, genetic depletion of Foxp3
+
Tregs led to a significant increase in the mortality of AAA, suggesting the protective role of Foxp3
+
Tregs against AAA. Our findings suggest that Foxp3
+
Tregs may play a protective role in AAA formation and that promotion of an endogenous regulatory immune response may be a potentially valuable therapeutic approach for preventing AAA.
Range-Based ICA Using a Nonsmooth Quasi-Newton Optimizer for Electroencephalographic Source Localization in Focal Epilepsy
Authors: Selvan S. Easter , George S. Thomas , Balakrishnan R.
Published: January 2015

Independent component analysis (ICA) aims at separating a multivariate signal into independent nongaussian signals by optimizing a contrast function with no knowledge on the mixing mechanism. Despite the availability of a constellation of contrast functions, a Hartley-entropy–based ICA contrast endowed with the discriminacy property makes it an appealing choice as it guarantees the absence of mixing local optima. Fueled by an outstanding source separation performance of this contrast function in practical instances, a succession of optimization techniques has recently been adopted to solve the ICA problem. Nevertheless, the nondifferentiability of the considered contrast restricts the choice of the optimizer to the class of derivative-free methods. On the contrary, this letter concerns a Riemannian quasi-Newton scheme involving an explicit expression for the gradient to optimize the contrast function that is differentiable almost everywhere. Furthermore, the inexact line search insisting on the weak Wolfe condition and a terminating criterion befitting the partly smooth function optimization have been generalized to manifold settings, leaving the previous results intact. The investigations with diversified images and the electroencephalographic (EEG) data acquired from 45 focal epileptic subjects demonstrate the efficacy of our approach in terms of computational savings and reliable EEG source localization, respectively. Additional experimental results are available in the online supplement.
Two-Trace Model for Spike-Timing-Dependent Synaptic
Plasticity
Authors: Echeveste Rodrigo , Gros Claudius
Published: January 2015

We present an effective model for timing-dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP) in terms of two interacting traces, corresponding to the fraction of activated NMDA receptors and the concentration in the dendritic spine of the postsynaptic neuron. This model intends to bridge the worlds of existing simplistic phenomenological rules and highly detailed models, thus constituting a practical tool for the study of the interplay of neural activity and synaptic plasticity in extended spiking neural networks. For isolated pairs of pre- and postsynaptic spikes, the standard pairwise STDP rule is reproduced, with appropriate parameters determining the respective weights and timescales for the causal and the anticausal contributions. The model contains otherwise only three free parameters, which can be adjusted to reproduce triplet nonlinearities in hippocampal culture and cortical slices. We also investigate the transition from time-dependent to rate-dependent plasticity occurring for both correlated and uncorrelated spike patterns.
The osce’s Platform for Co-operative Security
Authors: Sacchetti Sandra
Published: January 2015

The Platform for Co-operative Security was adopted as part of the 1999 Charter for European Security in order to strengthen cooperation between security organizations. Its full potential as an instrument for multilateral coherence, as envisaged by the text of the Charter, remains unexploited, however. This is due in part to the osce’s peripheral position in the European security architecture and in part to the competition for political influence and resources between international organizations. A more pragmatic approach towards the Platform could help surmount some of the complex political dynamics hampering its full implementation.
Returning Jihadist Foreign Fighters
Authors: Bakker Edwin , Paulussen Christoph , Entenmann Eva
Published: January 2015

Since the first reports detailing the presence of foreigner participating in the Syrian civil war in September 2011, the number of foreign fighters has increased exponentially. Especially European policymakers are worried about the potential threat posed by the presence of hundreds of European foreign fighters in Syria and the possibility that some of them could return to stage an attack. This article examines the challenges European policymakers face when addressing the foreign fighter phenomenon in general, and that of returnees in particular. The article first discusses the complexity of the (potential) threat posed by those that return from the fight in Syria. Next, it outlines the need for and challenge of providing an accurate threat assessment. The authors then present a number of recent ideas and proposals on how to deal with the phenomenon of foreign fighters in Europe. These proposals highlight the need for a mixed or comprehensive approach, which is sensible given the complexity as well as the multidimensional and international nature of the threat. However, it also poses an additional challenge to policymakers pertaining to the implementation of such an approach. This governance challenge is discussed by investigating the possible roles of various actors when dealing with returnees. Based on these findings, the concluding part presents a number of policy recommendations.
President Obama’s ‘Dirty Hands’
Authors: Lenze Sebastian , Bakker Edwin
Published: January 2015

Targeted killings in the fight against terrorism are controversially discussed from a political and legal angle. In this article we assess the moral dimension of the targeted killing of Islamist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in 2011. An analysis of the case concludes that the episode was based on a Dirty Hands judgement by President Obama. The ‘Problem of Dirty Hands’ entails that, for a political actor, sometimes it is right to do what is wrong. Established by Michael Walzer in 1973, the problem was applied to the policy of the targeted killing of terrorist associates by political philosopher Stephen de Wijze. It is believed to provide a viable agent-centric framework to assess intractable moral conflicts while neither allowing for ruthless amoralism nor ignoring the nature of the political office. The conditions outlined by de Wijze are holistically fulfilled and, thus, it is concluded that, from a Dirty Hands’ perspective, the targeted killing of al-Awlaki was a justified breach of important moral standards.
Reply to “Comments on ‘A Global Analysis of Sverdrup Balance Using Absolute Geostrophic Velocities from Argo’”
Authors: Gray Alison R. , Riser Stephen C.
Published: January 2015

This response addresses the three comments by A. Polonsky on “A Global Analysis of Sverdrup Balance Using Absolute Geostrophic Velocities from Argo.”
Set-Theoretic Comparative Methods
Authors: Paine Jack
Published: January 2015

Proponents of set-theoretic comparative methods (STCM) sharply differentiate their approach from quantitative analysis—unlike many researchers who focus on integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. This article engages these opposing views by demonstrating shared foundations between STCM and quantitative techniques. First, it shows how the quantitative practice of analyzing cases that exhibit variation on both the explanatory conditions and the outcome—for example, all four cells of a 2 × 2 table—guards against misleading conclusions about necessary/sufficient conditions. Hence, conventional statistical ideas about association are relevant for STCM. Second, STCM’s tools for analyzing causal complexity share important features with regression interaction terms. Third, scrutinizing these shared foundations suggests how stronger theoretical and empirical standards for causal inference with deterministic hypotheses can be established. Focusing on shared foundations and recognizing that STCM does not genuinely break new inferential ground facilitate new opportunities for strengthening comparative research tools, rather than unproductively overemphasizing differences from mainstream methods.
“Local” and “national” transformations: Cultural globalization, heterogeneity, and Malaysian literature in English
Authors: Gabriel Sharmani Patricia
Published: January 2015

Much of early critical attention on cultural globalization has centred around the emphasis on homogenization. In recent decades, however, postcolonial scholars have tended to focus on the idea of heterogenization, suggesting that this has perhaps been the major outcome of cultural globalization. For them, globalization has opened a space for the periphery to have a voice, with the authority of the centre subject to question from the margins. Offering an examination of Malaysian literature in English and drawing its main theoretical insights from postcolonial studies, this article argues that the Malaysian nation-state’s embrace of globalization, and of English as a prime agent in the globalizing process, has given rise to a context where it is creative writing in the former colonial language that has become the very medium that offers resistance to forms of cultural hegemony embedded in state-sanctioned conceptions of national identity.
The Influence of Sexual Music Videos on Adolescents’ Misogynistic Beliefs
Authors: van Oosten Johanna M. F. , Peter Jochen , Valkenburg Patti M.
Published: January 2015

Research on how sexual music videos affect beliefs related to sexual aggression is rare and has not differentiated between the effects of music videos by male and female artists. Moreover, little is known about the affective processes that underlie the effects of sexual music videos. Using data from a nationally representative three-wave panel survey among 1,204 Dutch adolescents, structural equation modeling showed that viewing sexual music videos by male artists increased the acceptance of female token resistance (i.e., the notion that women say “no” to sex when they actually mean “yes”) among adolescent girls, but not adolescent boys. Furthermore, viewing sexual music videos by male artists influenced girls’ acceptance of token resistance indirectly via affective engagement. The findings suggest that effects of sexual music videos on stereotypical sexual beliefs depend on the specific type of music video and viewers’ gender, and can be partly explained by viewers’ affective engagement.
Sharing, Trading, Stealing
Authors: Sutter Carolyn , Nishina Adrienne , Scherr Rachel E. , Zidenberg-Cherr Sheri , Ontai Lenna L.
Published: January 2015

Childhood obesity continues to be a major concern in the United States, warranting a comprehensive approach. However, the majority of research studies continue to neglect the influence of peers on dietary behaviors. The present descriptive study aimed to provide information about the ways peers directly shape dietary choices via food exchanges (i.e., sharing, trading, and stealing). Peer food exchanges were examined through daily observations in a sample of 76 fifth-graders. Peer food exchanges occurred among students, in particular, those who brought packed lunch engaged in more sharing exchanges. Obese students engaged in an increased amount of interactions in which they gained food from peers. Findings suggest that students are not always eating what their parents packed for them or the school lunch provides. Future intervention efforts should consider the role that peers play in shaping youth’s dietary behavior through a peer food market economy.
Explaining Why Early-Maturing Girls Are More Exposed to Sexual Harassment in Early Adolescence
Authors: Skoog Therése , Bayram Özdemir Sevgi
Published: January 2015

In this study, we tested two competing explanations of the previously established link between early female puberty and sexual harassment in early adolescence. The sample included 680 seventh-grade Swedish girls ( Mage = 13.40, SD = .53). Findings revealed that looking more sexually mature and being sexually active mediated the link between pubertal timing and sexual harassment. The magnitude of the indirect effect through sexually mature appearance was greater than that through engagement in sexual behaviors. Apparently, early-maturing girls are sexually harassed as a result of natural and normative sexual development, which happens earlier than for most of their peers. The findings have clear implications for prevention of sexual harassment in adolescence.
Hegelian recognition
Authors: Márkus György
Published: January 2015

If we think of recognition as the practical relation consciously enacted by concerned individual subjects as social actors, which allows them to fulfil their intersubjectively valid social roles, this by no means exhausts the significance that recognition is accorded by Hegel. In fact the problem of recognition is central to the understanding and evaluation of Hegel’s metaphysical system. Thus a close scrutiny of the presentation of self-consciousness in Phenomenology of Spirit and the interpretative difficulties it poses leads on to the question of the subject and Hegel’s distinction between finite, accidental individuals and the true subject in his system: the concept of Spirit, understood not as a separate entity but as a system of relations, objectified in the historical forms of the Absolute Spirit. But what is the price of Hegel’s metaphysics of subjectivity? Hegelian recognition signifies the recognition by individuals of recognition in its truth, that is, the self-recognition by finite individuals that they participate in Spirit as the true universal subject to the degree that they recognize their shared world of actions as the world of their own making. Modernity is therefore defined for Hegel as the recognition and realization of ‘conscious freedom’, whose telos lies in the actualization of universal reciprocal recognition that brings the unfreedom of history to an end. The idea of freedom and the thesis of the ‘end of history’ remain, however, the preserve of the thinking few. Hegelian recognition and with it Hegel’s whole metaphysical system founders on the rock of finitude, on the unfreedom of finite human beings.
Time to Guideline-Based Empiric Antibiotic Therapy in the Treatment of Pneumonia in a Community Hospital
Authors: Erwin Beth L. , Kyle Jeffrey A. , Allen Leland N.
Published: January 2015

Purpose:

The 2005 American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) guidelines for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) stress the importance of initiating prompt appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. This study’s purpose was to determine the percentage of patients with HAP, VAP, and HCAP who received guideline-based empiric antibiotic therapy and to determine the average time to receipt of an appropriate empiric regimen.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of adults with HAP, VAP, or HCAP was conducted at a community hospital in suburban Birmingham, Alabama. The hospital’s electronic medical record system utilized International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision ( ICD-9) codes to identify patients diagnosed with pneumonia. The percentage of patients who received guideline-based empiric antibiotic therapy was calculated. The mean time from suspected diagnosis of pneumonia to initial administration of the final antibiotic within the empiric regimen was calculated for patients who received guideline-based therapy.

Results:

Ninety-three patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall guideline adherence rate for empiric antibiotic therapy was 31.2%. The mean time to guideline-based therapy in hours:minutes was 7:47 for HAP and 28:16 for HCAP. For HAP and HCAP combined, the mean time to appropriate therapy was 21:55.

Conclusion:

Guideline adherence rates were lower and time to appropriate empiric therapy was greater for patients with HCAP compared to patients with HAP.
A review on job shop scheduling with setup times
Authors: Sharma Pankaj , Jain Ajai
Published: January 2015

Job shop scheduling problems with setup times arise in many practical situations such as aerospace industries, fabrication industries, printing industries and semiconductor manufacturing industries. This is the first article which provides a comprehensive review of the literature on job shop scheduling research involving setup times. The literature is classified into two broad categories, namely, job shop scheduling problems with non-batch (job) setup times and job shop scheduling problems with batch setup times. The two categories are subcategorized into problems with sequence-dependent setup times and sequence-independent setup times and review the exact, hybrid and heuristic solution methods used for each subcategory. Furthermore, it summarizes the existing research and identifies directions for future research.
Anorexia nervosa: A fresh perspective
Authors: Botha Derek
Published: January 2015

Anorexia nervosa is currently presented as a pathologised, psycho-medical feminine phenomenon through aetiological rationalisations and theories. Research results indicate that there have been no improvements in treatment outcomes for anorexia for over 50 years, except, possibly, with forms of family therapy for adolescents. This situation can be seen as critical and calls for alternative ways of understanding anorexia, and consequent different approaches to psychotherapy for persons in relationship with anorexia. This article critically explores these issues, and suggests that such circumstances offer opportunities for alternative post-structuralist approaches for informing different understandings of and working with anorexia in collaborative relational arrangements where the voices of persons in relationship with anorexia are honoured and heard.