bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Switching from Generic to Brand Clopidogrel in Male Patients after ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Syvolap Vitaliy V. , Franskavichene Ludmila V. , Golukhova Elena Z. , Serebruany Victor L.
Published: September 2014

Objective: To detect residual platelet aggregation following the switch from generic (GC) to brand clopidogrel (BC) in male patients after ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: The study was designed as an open-label, prospective cohort trial. Thirty-three male STEMI patients were enrolled. All patients received dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin (100 mg/daily) and one of six GC at a daily dose of 75 mg. After 2 weeks, all patients were switched to BC. Adrenaline- and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was assessed twice: on day 14 (before the switch) and on day 21 (after 1 week of BC therapy). Results: Adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation did not differ among clopidogrel formulations. In contrast, residual 5 µM ADP-induced platelet aggregation after BC differs from GC by 14% (28.0 ± 2.5 vs. 23.9 ± 2.1%; p = 0.03). When 20 µM ADP was used as agonist, the difference was smaller (36.2 ± 2.9 vs. 34.6 ± 2.8%) but still significant (p = 0.04) favoring BC. Conclusions: After 2 weeks of therapy, switching from GC to BC was associated with a mild but significant reduction in ADP-induced platelet aggregation in male post-STEMI patients. The observed differences between GC and BC should be confirmed in a larger randomized study, but may represent a risk in underdeveloped countries, where GC therapy is mandatory for post-MI inpatients.
Sequence and Expression of Two cry8 Genes from Bacillus thuringiensis INTA Fr7-4, a Native Strain from Argentina
Authors: Navas Laura E. , Berretta Marcelo F. , Pérez Melisa P. , Amadio Ariel F. , Ortiz Elio M. , Sauka Diego H. , Benintende Graciela B. , Zandomeni Rubén O.
Published: September 2014

We found and characterized two cry8 genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis strain INTA Fr7-4 isolated in Argentina. These genes, cry8Kb3 and cry8Pa3, are located in a tandem array within a 13,200-bp DNA segment sequenced from a preparation of total DNA. They encode 1,169- and 1,176-amino-acid proteins, respectively. Both genes were cloned with their promoter sequences and the proteins were expressed separately in an acrystalliferous strain of B. thuringiensis leading to the formation of ovoid crystals in the recombinant strains. The toxicity against larvae of Anthonomus grandis Bh. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of a spore-crystal suspension from the recombinant strain containing cry8Pa3 was similar to that of the parent strain INTA Fr7-4.
Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Immediate Surgery versus a Wait-and-See Strategy for Sporadic Nonfunctioning T1 Pancreatic Endocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Cucchetti Alessandro , Ricci Claudio , Ercolani Giorgio , Campana Davide , Cescon Matteo , D''Ambra Marielda , Pinna Antonio Daniele , Minni Francesco , Casadei Riccardo
Published: September 2014

Background: Whether patients with small (<2 cm), sporadic nonfunctioning pancreatic endocrine tumors (NF-PETs) should directly undergo pancreatic surgery or should be followed longitudinally to detect growth and malignancy still has to be defined. Study Design: Based on the pertinent literature of the past decade, a Markov model was developed to investigate this issue. In the wait-and-see strategy arm, surgery was performed if the tumor attained a size ≥2 cm or surpassed 20% of the initial size. In a Monte Carlo probabilistic analysis, 100 hypothetical patients undergoing a wait-and-see strategy were compared to 100 patients directly undergoing surgery, with the aim of investigating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the two strategies. Results: During the postdiagnostic lifetime, 63 NF-PETs in the wait-and-see group showed significant growth and underwent surgery: 38 were stage I, 10 were stage II, 15 were stage III and none were stage IV. In the base-case scenario, the mean life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy were found to be superior after immediate surgery [26.1 years and 11.8 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)] than with the wait-and-see strategy (22.1 years and 8.3 QALYs) as the consequence of ageing during the wait-and-see follow-up which increased mortality due to surgery, when surgery was needed. The model was sensitive to starting age and length of follow-up; in particular, for patients >65 years of age, the two strategies provided similar results but the wait-and-see strategy was more cost-effective. Conclusions: The wait-and-see strategy for NF-PETs <2 cm represents a reasonable approach in patients over 65 years of age; otherwise, immediate surgery is preferable.
Integrating Real-Time Clinical Information to Provide Estimates of Net Clinical Benefit of Antithrombotic Therapy for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Eckman Mark H. , Wise Ruth E. , Speer Barbara , Sullivan Megan , Walker Nita , Lip Gregory Y.H. , Kissela Brett , Flaherty Matthew L. , Kleindorfer Dawn , Khan Faisal , Kues John , Baker Peter , Ireton Robert , Hoskins Dave , Harnett Brett M. , Aguilar Carlos , Leonard Anthony , Prakash Rajan , Arduser Lora , Costea Alexandru
Published: September 2014

Background—

Guidelines for anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation are based on stroke risk as calculated by either the CHADS
2
or the CHA
2
DS
2
VASc scores and do not integrate bleeding risk in an explicit, quantitative manner. Our objective was to quantify the net clinical benefit resulting from improved decision making about antithrombotic therapy.

Methods and Results—

This study is a retrospective cohort study of 1876 adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or flutter seen in primary care settings of an integrated healthcare delivery system between December 2012 and January 2014. Projections for quality-adjusted life expectancy reported as quality-adjusted life-years were calculated by a decision analytic model that integrates patient-specific risk factors for stroke and hemorrhage and examines strategies of no antithrombotic therapy, aspirin, or oral anticoagulation with warfarin. Net clinical benefit was defined by the gain or loss in quality-adjusted life expectancy between current treatment and treatment recommended by an Atrial Fibrillation Decision Support Tool. Current treatment was discordant from treatment recommended by the Atrial Fibrillation Decision Support Tool in 931 patients. A clinically significant gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy (defined as ≥0.1 quality-adjusted life-years) was projected in 832 patients. Subgroups were examined. For example, oral anticoagulant therapy was recommended for 188 who currently were receiving no antithrombotic therapy. For the entire cohort, a total of 736 quality-adjusted life-years could be gained were treatment changed to that recommended by the Atrial Fibrillation Decision Support Tool.

Conclusions—

Use of a decision support tool that integrates patient-specific stroke and bleeding risk could result in significant gains in quality-adjusted life expectancy for a primary care population of patients with atrial fibrillation.
Increased Frequency of De Novo Copy Number Variants in Congenital Heart Disease by Integrative Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Array and Exome Sequence Data
Authors: Glessner Joseph T. , Bick Alexander G. , Ito Kaoru , Homsy Jason G. , Rodriguez-Murillo Laura , Fromer Menachem , Mazaika Erica , Vardarajan Badri , Italia Michael , Leipzig Jeremy , DePalma Steven R. , Golhar Ryan , Sanders Stephan J. , Yamrom Boris , Ronemus Michael , Iossifov Ivan , Willsey A. Jeremy , State Matthew W. , Kaltman Jonathan R. , White Peter S. , Shen Yufeng , Warburton Dorothy , Brueckner Martina , Seidman Christine , Goldmuntz Elizabeth , Gelb Bruce D. , Lifton Richard , Seidman Jonathan , Hakonarson Hakon , Chung Wendy K.
Published: September 2014

Rationale
:

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the most common birth defects. Most cases are of unknown pathogenesis.

Objective
:

To determine the contribution of de novo copy number variants (CNVs) in the pathogenesis of sporadic CHD.

Methods and Results
:

We studied 538 CHD trios using genome-wide dense single nucleotide polymorphism arrays and whole exome sequencing. Results were experimentally validated using digital droplet polymerase chain reaction. We compared validated CNVs in CHD cases with CNVs in 1301 healthy control trios. The 2 complementary high-resolution technologies identified 63 validated de novo CNVs in 51 CHD cases. A significant increase in CNV burden was observed when comparing CHD trios with healthy trios, using either single nucleotide polymorphism array (
P
=7×10
−5
; odds ratio, 4.6) or whole exome sequencing data (
P
=6×10
−4
; odds ratio, 3.5) and remained after removing 16% of de novo CNV loci previously reported as pathogenic (
P
=0.02; odds ratio, 2.7). We observed recurrent de novo CNVs on 15q11.2 encompassing
CYFIP1, NIPA1
, and
NIPA2
and single de novo CNVs encompassing
DUSP1, JUN, JUP, MED15, MED9, PTPRE SREBF1, TOP2A
, and
ZEB2
, genes that interact with established CHD proteins
NKX2-5
and
GATA4
. Integrating de novo variants in whole exome sequencing and CNV data suggests that
ETS1
is the pathogenic gene altered by 11q24.2-q25 deletions in Jacobsen syndrome and that
CTBP2
is the pathogenic gene in 10q subtelomeric deletions.

Conclusions
:

We demonstrate a significantly increased frequency of rare de novo CNVs in CHD patients compared with healthy controls and suggest several novel genetic loci for CHD.
Long-Term Outcomes of Inoperable Patients With Aortic Stenosis Randomly Assigned to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement or Standard Therapy
Authors: Kapadia Samir R. , Tuzcu E. Murat , Makkar Raj R. , Svensson Lars G. , Agarwal Shikhar , Kodali Susheel , Fontana Gregory P. , Webb John G. , Mack Michael , Thourani Vinod H. , Babaliaros Vasilis C. , Herrmann Howard C. , Szeto Wilson , Pichard Augusto D. , Williams Mathew R. , Anderson William N. , Akin Jodi J. , Miller D. Craig , Smith Craig R. , Leon Martin B.
Published: September 2014

Background—

The long-term outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis remain unknown.

Methods and Results—

In the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) study, 358 patients were randomly assigned to TAVR or standard therapy. We report the 3-year outcomes on these patients, and the pooled outcomes for all randomly assigned inoperable patients (n=449) in PARTNER, as well, including the randomized portion of the continued access study (n=91). The 3-year mortality rate in the TAVR and standard therapy groups was 54.1% and 80.9%, respectively (
P
<0.001; hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.41–0.68;
P
<0.001). In survivors, there was significant improvement in New York Heart Association functional class sustained at 3 years. The cumulative incidence of strokes at 3-year follow-up was 15.7% in TAVR patients versus 5.5% in patients undergoing standard therapy (hazard ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–6.26;
P
=0.012); however, the composite of death or strokes was significantly lower after TAVR versus standard therapy (57.4% versus 80.9%,
P
<0.001;

hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.46–0.77;
P
<0.001). Echocardiography showed a sustained increase in aortic valve area and decrease in transvalvular gradient after TAVR. Analysis of the 449 pooled randomly assigned patients (TAVR, n=220; standard therapy, n=229) demonstrated significant improvement in all-cause mortality and functional status during early and 3-year follow-up. The results of the pooled cohort were similar to the results obtained from the pivotal PARTNER trial.

Conclusions—

TAVR resulted in better survival and functional status in inoperable patients with severe aortic stenosis with durable hemodynamic benefit on long-term follow-up. However, high residual mortality, even in successfully treated TAVR patients, highlights the need for more strategic patient selection.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00530894.
Clinical Profile and Influences on Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Acute Pericarditis
Authors: Kytö Ville , Sipilä Jussi , Rautava Päivi
Published: September 2014

Background—

The clinical profile with regard to sex and the influences on outcomes in patients who have been hospitalized for acute pericarditis is largely uncharacterized.

Methods and Results—

We studied all patients aged ≥16 years admitted to the hospital because of acute pericarditis (postpericardiotomy and myocardial infarction associated pericarditis were excluded). Data were collected from a Finnish national registry that included data on all cardiovascular admissions (670 409) during 9.5 years in 29 hospitals nationwide. During the study period, there were 1361 admissions for acute pericarditis. Pericarditis patients were more likely to be male (64.9% of patients) than female (35.1%), with an age-adjusted likelihood ratio of 1.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65–2.06;
P
<0.0001) for male sex. The standardized incidence rate of hospitalizations for acute pericarditis was 3.32 per 100 000 person-years. Men 16 to 65 years of age were at higher risk for pericarditis (relative risk, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.81–2.26;
P
<0.0001) than women in the general admitted population, with the highest risk difference among young adults. Acute pericarditis caused 0.20% (95% CI, 0.19%–0.22%) of all cardiovascular admissions. The proportion of pericarditis-caused admissions declined by an estimated 51% per 10-year increase in age. The in-hospital mortality rate for acute pericarditis was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.6%–1.8%). Mortality increased with age (hazard ratio, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.78–5.95 per 10-year increase in age;
P
=0.0001) and severe coinfection (pneumonia or septicemia; hazard ratio, 13.46; 95% CI, 2.26–80.01;
P
<0.005) but was not associated with sex in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions—

Patients hospitalized for acute pericarditis are more commonly male. Increasing age and severe coinfection are associated with greater in-hospital mortality in hospitalized acute pericarditis patients.
A new species of the genus Astragalus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) from Iran
Authors: Bagheri Ali , Rahiminejad Mohammad Reza , Maassoumi Ali Asghar
Published: September 2014

As a result of a recent expedition to the north-west of Iran, we describe here a newly dicovered species, Astragalus makuensis, belonging to sect. Hymenostegis. The new species is described and illustrated with a line drawing, and compared with its most closely related species A. hymenocystis and A. pereshkhoranicus. The new species is endemic to the western Azarbayejan province of Iran.
Revision of Caloapenesia (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), with description of sixteen new species
Authors: GOBBI FERNANDA T. , AZEVEDO CELSO O.
Published: September 2014

Caloapenesia Terayama is characterized by having the costal cell very long, the stigma of forewing absent, and the paramere deeply divided into two arms. Three species of this genus were known from Oriental Region. Sixteen new species from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam: C. ana sp. nov., C. arbeni sp. nov., C. diba sp. nov., C. edas sp. nov., C. heira sp. nov., C. inyara sp. nov., C. jailuna sp. nov., C. lani sp. nov., C. launeci sp. nov., C. leptata sp. nov., C. mugra sp. nov., C. nadaili sp. nov., C. paruwa sp. nov., C. rikawa sp. nov., C. sabeli sp. nov. and C. supra sp. nov. are described and illustrated. A character list for delimiting species and comments about generic male characters as a key to males are given.
Colombiathelphusa, a new genus of freshwater crab from Colombia, and the first location record of Eidocamptophallus chacei (Pretzmann, 1967) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Pseudothelphusidae)
Authors: CAMPOS MARTHA R. , MAGALHÃES CÉLIO
Published: September 2014

A new genus of pseudothelphusid crab, Colombiathelphusa gen. nov., is established to include Colombiathelphusa culmarcuata n. sp., from the Chocó Department, western Colombia. The new genus is characterized by the morphology of the male first gonopod, which has a prominent lateral process, a cephalic surface with two spine-like cephalic processes subdistally, and the outline of the apex strongly recurved, resembling a bow's arch. The new species is described and illustrated. The first location record of Eidocamptophallus chacei (Pretzmann, 1967), is made and its male first gonopod is redescribed and illustrated. Possible affinities of both taxa are discussed.
First record of the hermit crab genus Cestopagurus Bouvier, 1897 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae) from the South Pacific Ocean and description of a new species
Authors: KOMAI TOMOYUKI , TSUCHIDA SHINJI , CLARK MALCOLM R.
Published: September 2014

A fifth species of the pagurid genus Cestopagurus Bouvier, 1897, is described and illustrated on the basis of a single male specimen collected at a depth of 499 m from Hinepuia submarine volcano in the Kermadec Arc, New Zealand. The new species, C. hinepuia, appears similar to C. puniceus Komai & Takeda, 2005 known from waters off Japan, but the different armature of chelipeds distinguishes the new species. It is the first representative of the genus recorded from the South Pacific Ocean. A key for identification of species of the genus is presented.
Veraphis yoshitomii sp. n. (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae) from Japan
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: September 2014

A new species of Eutheiini, Veraphis yoshitomii sp. n. is described from Shikoku, Japan. Diagnostic characters are discussed and key structures, including the aedeagus, are illustrated. The new species belongs to the Veraphis japonicus species group, which includes five species distributed in mountains of Japan and five possibly closely related ones in the sub-Himalayan China. The distribution of Japanese Veraphis is summarized and discussed.
Removing grammar ambiguity of word forms by statistical methods
Authors: Karnaukh Ganna
Published: September 2014

Removing grammar ambiguity of word forms by statistical methodsResearch is devoted to the study of behaviour of linguistic processor at simultaneous application of software supporting functions (taking into account the characteristics of the writing word forms (capital / small letters), punctuation marks in trigrams and location of trigrams within a sentence). The article analyses qualitative quantitative characteristics of the results removing grammatical homonyms of word forms using statistical methods in compliance with requirements. The research is based on the texts of normative legal document.
Multi-level annotation of the specialized Corpus of Dialogs of Disabled Polish Speakers
Authors: Trzebińska Joanna , Bartoszewicz Jakub
Published: September 2014

Multi-level annotation of the specialized Corpus of Dialogs of Disabled Polish SpeakersWhile Polish language is relatively well represented in general purpose corpora such as National Polish Language Corpus still there are groups of speakers that are underrepresented in reference corpora. One of such sub-groups is the disabled people community. On the other hand there is a growing need for understanding how disability influences social and cognitive abilities, language in particular. In this paper, we present a specialized Corpus of Dialogs of Disabled Speakers. The process of compiling, transcription and annotation of pragmatic, semantic and morphosyntactic features will be described, as well as Corpus applications will be discussed.
Different aspects of neosematization on the example of the Polish and Bulgarian language
Authors: Satoła-Staśkowiak Joanna
Published: September 2014

Different aspects of neosematization on the example of the Polish and Bulgarian languageThe formation of neosemanticisms has its origin in the expressiveness of communication and is caused by the need for naming new objects and phenomena, language fashion or results from contemporary linguistic tendencies such as internationalization or colloquialization of a language.The phenomenon of neosemantization (extending the meaning of words or taking on a new meaning by a lexeme) is a very interesting process. In Polish-Bulgarian confrontative linguistics there is a lack of works describing the process of neosemantization for both languages. The text below is to introduce the reader to essential facts resulting from the initial confrontation of the Polish and Bulgarian language.
Lexical need as a two-way reality cognition tool
Authors: Kit Mark , Berg Elena
Published: September 2014

Lexical need as a two-way reality cognition toolIn this paper a concept of lexical need is introduced and its application in research of cognitive aspects of translation is discussed. Further discussion elaborates mechanisms of development of translator’s lexical space in the course of translation. Authors discuss the importance and special nature of low-frequency lexical units and difficulties encountered when studying their usage and suggest that the lexical need concept help these studies. Lexical need analysis can be also used to learn specifics of translator’s lexical space and then to take measures for selection of translators and improvement of their skills.
Using Pulmonary Function Data to Assess Outcomes in the Endoscopic Management of Subglottic Stenosis
Authors: Kraft Shannon M. , Sykes Kevin , Palmer Andrew , Schindler Joshua
Published: September 2014

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the authors’ experience with endoscopic management of idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS), and to identify pulmonary function test (PFT) values that can be used to quantify outcomes.

Methods:

Retrospective review.

Results:

Twenty-five patients with a new diagnosis of iSGS were seen between 2006 and 2012. Median age at surgery was 45.3 years (interquartile range [IQR], 38.5-67.0), and median body mass index was 28.7 kg/m2 (IQR, 23.5-32.1). Forty-five procedures were performed. Median preoperative stenosis was 56.8% (Cotton-Myer grade 2). The typical stenosis began 15 mm below the true vocal folds and was 12 mm long. Median follow-up was 21.4 months (IQR, 5.1-43.1). For patients receiving multiple dilations, median time between procedures was 23.7 months. Four PFT parameters demonstrated significant improvement after intervention: (1) PEF (absolute change = 2.54 L/s), (2) PIF (absolute change = 1.57 L/s), (3) FEV1/PEF (absolute change = 0.44), and (4) FIF50% (absolute change = 1.71 L/s). PIF was the only parameter affected by using a larger balloon ( P = .047).

Conclusion:

PEF, PIF, FEV1/PEF, and FIF50% improved significantly after endoscopic incision and dilation of iSGS, and this could potentially be used as a metric by which to evaluate outcomes in the endoscopic management of subglottic stenosis.
Challenges facing international social workers: English managers’ perceptions
Authors: Hanna Sue , Lyons Karen
Published: September 2014

International labour mobility is occurring in social work and isolated studies are beginning to research this topic. This article reports on one aspect of research into the experiences of ‘international social workers’ (ISWs) in London (UK), namely, the perceptions of the managers who supervise them, with regards to their preparedness, induction and support needs.
Scaffold-free Prevascularized Microtissue Spheroids for Pulp Regeneration
Authors: Dissanayaka W.L. , Zhu L. , Hargreaves K.M. , Jin L. , Zhang C.
Published: September 2014

Creating an optimal microenvironment that mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) of natural pulp and securing an adequate blood supply for the survival of cell transplants are major hurdles that need to be overcome in dental pulp regeneration. However, many currently available scaffolds fail to mimic essential functions of natural ECM. The present study investigated a novel approach involving the use of scaffold-free microtissue spheroids of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) prevascularized by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in pulp regeneration. In vitro-fabricated microtissue spheroids were inserted into the canal space of tooth-root slices and were implanted subcutaneously into immunodeficient mice. Histological examination revealed that, after four-week implantation, tooth-root slices containing microtissue spheroids resulted in well-vascularized and cellular pulp-like tissues, compared with empty tooth-root slices, which were filled with only subcutaneous fat tissue. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that the tissue found in the tooth-root slices was of human origin, as characterized by the expression of human mitochondria, and contained odontoblast-like cells organized along the dentin, as assessed by immunostaining for nestin and dentin sialoprotein (DSP). Vascular structures formed by HUVECs in vitro were successfully anastomosed with the host vasculature upon transplantation in vivo, as shown by immunostaining for human CD31. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that prevascularized, scaffold-free, microtissue spheroids can successfully regenerate vascular dental pulp-like tissue and also highlight the significance of the microtissue microenvironment as an optimal environment for successful pulp-regeneration strategies.
More Ambitious Educational Choices in Urban Areas
Authors: Boone Simon , Van Houtte Mieke
Published: September 2014

Urban–rural disparities in educational outcomes have so far primarily received attention in U.S.-based research. These studies show that pupils in rural areas are at a disadvantage compared with pupils in (sub)urban areas. This article aims to examine urban–nonurban differences in educational choice in a European context, namely Flanders (the northern part of Belgium). To do so, we make use of data gathered from 1,339 parents of pupils in a sample of 53 primary schools (24 urban, 29 nonurban). We find that pupils in urban areas make more ambitious choices and that this is partly explained by local labor market conditions.
From East to West
Authors: Christian Colton B. , Lee I-Ching , Hodges Sara D.
Published: September 2014

People often weight information about the self more heavily than information about other people when making social comparative judgments. One possible explanation for this egocentrism is that information about the self is more accessible than information about others. We examine this egocentrism in samples from the United States and Taiwan. Study 1 finds egocentrism in comparisons of the self with the average other person in both cultures. Study 2 measured reaction times, demonstrating that (a) information about the self is more accessible than information about the average other and (b) as the accessibility of self-information increases, so does the influence of that information. Study 3 replicates Study 2, using comparisons with a specific other person. Egocentrism occurred in both cultures, suggesting that heavier weighting of self-information occurs across the traditional East–West cultural divide.
“More Than Words”
Authors: Koudenburg Namkje , Gordijn Ernestine H. , Postmes Tom
Published: September 2014

Conversations are susceptible to many disturbances: A speaker’s hesitations, distractions, or, when communicating online, technical hiccups that may cause brief delays. Research among previously unacquainted individuals revealed that brief disruptions in conversational flow can have profound social consequences: Silences or delays in mediated communication threaten the need to belong and validate one’s ideas. The present research, however, shows that when occurring in close relationships, flow disruptions may be ironically beneficial. We hypothesized that when flow disruptions occur, partners fall back on their relationship beliefs to infer mutual agreement and the existence of a shared reality. When a relationship is perceived as secure, partners may believe that “no words are needed” to understand each other. Flow disruptions can thus paradoxically make shared cognitions accessible and foster feelings of social validation. Data from two experiments, using partners in different types of relationships, supported this hypothesis.
Low Expression of Nuclear Toll‐like Receptor 4 in Laryngeal Papillomas Transforming into Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ilmarinen Taru , Hagström Jaana , Haglund Caj , Auvinen Eeva , Leivo Ilmo , Pitkäranta Anne , Aaltonen Leena‐Maija
Published: September 2014

Objective

The malignant transformation rate of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), has varied significantly. Cells of the human immune system express toll‐like receptors (TLRs) that recognize particles from viruses and bacteria; TLRs are also present on tumor cells, and down‐regulation of TLRs has been shown during the progression of HPV‐associated neoplasia. The aim of this study was to determine the malignant transformation rate of laryngeal papillomas (LPs) and analyze the potential of TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 immunoexpression as indicators of the increased cancer risk.

Study Design

Retrospective case‐control study.

Setting

Department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Subjects and Methods

We reviewed all patients with RRP treated for LPs between 1975 and 2011. Data from the Finnish Cancer Registry confirmed the number of patients diagnosed with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Laryngeal tissue specimens from patients developing LSCC were subjected to TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 immunohistochemistry. Nine patients with RRP without malignant transformation and 19 patients with LSCC without a pre‐existing LP served as controls.

Results

Nine of 324 patients (2.8%) with RRP developed LSCC. The intensity of nuclear staining of TLR4 was significantly lower in LPs transforming into LSCC than in LPs without malignant transformation. The expression of cytoplasmic TLR4 in LSCC correlated with tumor grade and T stage. Cytoplasmic TLR9 expression was significantly lower in LPs than in LSCC.

Conclusion

The expression of TLR4 may serve as a predictive marker of malignant transformation in LPs. High immunoexpression of cytoplasmic TLR4 in LSCC was associated with a more aggressive disease.
A Universal Ethic for a Globalizing World: Accommodation, Rights and Human Values
Authors: Kim Uchang
Published: September 2014

The present moment in human history is marked by the ever-accelerating movement across the world of materials, peoples and information, creating various problems and, of course, opportunities as well – especially, the movement of the people, which makes multiculturalism a major issue. Differences between the immigrants and the receiving society create conflict. One solution would be found in the legal provision for the equality of rights for all the members of society, including cultural minorities, but if the legal solution alone is considered effective, there would be waste of resources accumulated in cultures as enabling agents of amenable human life. But multiple cultures in a single society easily become a source of conflict, as another culture encroaching upon one's own culture is often felt as a threatening challenge to one's identity, as identity is constructed in the subjective process of culture. It implies the master-and-slave struggle between two subjectivities. Cultural subjectivities, personal or collective, could be induced to constitute a complex system of federated subjectivities. Even such a system would not, however, completely eliminate tension and conflict. Intervention by an ethic universally conceived on the minimal basis would meet the urgent need to prevent escalation of conflict, but it would ultimately prepare a common ground for the development of a global culture incorporating multiple cultures as historically inherited resources for enrichment of human life. Ethical awareness is what reveals the otherness of the other and also the ontological ground of human life on earth; as ethics and epistemology coincide, a human reason would emerge as the ground of a new global culture, and the world would hopefully become a single Lebensraum for entire humanity.
Hate Crimes Hurt Some More Than Others
Authors: Iganski Paul , Lagou Spiridoula
Published: September 2014

An accumulation of research evidence indicates that hate crimes are more serious than similar but otherwise motivated crimes in respect of the greater post-victimization distress for victims. Such evidence has been used by advocates of hate crime laws to justify greater penalties for hate crime offenders. However, in focusing on the commonalities of the post-victimization impacts inflicted by hate crimes, the research evidence to date has obscured the diversity of reactions between victims. Consequently, this article expands the evidence by illuminating the variation in reported victim impacts. The analysis presented uses data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales on racially motivated crime and reveals that not all victims report being affected by hate crime, not all victims are affected the same way, and some victims of racially motivated crime report less of an emotional impact than some victims of equivalent but otherwise motivated crimes. It is reasoned that in any individual case of hate crime the motivating sentiments of the offender provide an unreliable indicator of the harms inflicted on the victim. Therefore, a blanket uplift in penalty in every case which rests on the offender’s motivations cannot be justified if the justification for sentence uplift is to give offenders their just deserts for the harms they inflict. Instead, the justification must rest on the culpability of the offender for the harms they may or may not actually inflict. Just as there is variation in victim impacts, there will be variation in offender culpability: Discretion and flexibility in sentencing is therefore necessary to ensure justice for offenders.
Handling characteristics of drivers under braking conditions considering the fluctuation in the steering-wheel torque
Authors: You Changxi , Yu Liangyao , Wang Zhizhong , Pan Ning , Zhong Jianjun , Song Jian
Published: September 2014

Driver modelling is very crucial to the design and validation of active safety systems of vehicles in their development phase. This study presents a new objective in modelling the driver that can be used in the development of advanced braking systems, such as the brake-by-wire system. The model considers the real interaction between the driver and the steering-wheel torque under special braking conditions. The crossover model is adopted in this paper to characterize the real handling actions of drivers recorded in field braking tests. Different handling characteristics can be represented by specifying different model parameters identified from the test data. This study details a method for identifying the parameters of the driver model and the analytical simulation results obtained and presents a comparative analysis of the handling characteristics of various drivers.
Effect of the heat exchanger in the waste heat recovery system on a gasoline engine performance
Authors: Choi Kyungwook , Kim Kibum , Lee Kihyung
Published: September 2014

In this paper, the effects of increasing the back pressure on the engine performance by using heat exchangers mounted in the exhaust line to recover waste heat from the engine exhaust are described. An experimental study was conducted with two different types of heat exchanger, namely shell-and-tube-type heat exchangers and fin-and tube-type heat exchangers. The heat exchanger increased the resistance of the engine exhaust through the exhaust line, and the engine back pressure increased to 16 kPa, which led to an increase in the brake specific fuel consumption by up to 3% depending on the operating conditions. The back pressure adversely affected the performance of the automotive engine combined with the Rankine cycle and thus caused the overall thermal efficiency of the system to deteriorate. Consequently, if the back-pressure effect was taken into account, the contribution of recovering heat from the engine exhaust to the improvement in the system efficiency was lower than expected.
A model-based rear-end collision avoidance algorithm for heavy commercial road vehicles
Authors: Rajaram Vignesh , Subramanian Shankar C
Published: September 2014

A rear-end collision is one of the most frequent accidents occurring on roadways. In this paper, a model-based longitudinal collision avoidance algorithm is developed for heavy commercial road vehicles to avoid rear-end collisions. This paper focuses on the inclusion of the dynamics of the pneumatic brake system in the collision avoidance algorithm. The developed algorithm also considers the dynamic behaviour of the heavy vehicle during braking such as the dynamic load transfer, the dynamic brake force distribution between the wheels and the maximum traction available at the tyre–road interface. The pressure transients in the brake chamber are modelled as a linear first-order dynamic system with a time delay. Commercially available vehicle dynamic simulation software, TruckSim, is used for simulating the developed control algorithm for realistic traffic scenarios with different loading and road conditions. The results obtained from the simulations are compared with the experimental results obtained from a hardware-in-the-loop system and the simulation results are found to be promising.
Benefical effects of lycopene against contrast medium-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis in rat kidney
Authors: Buyuklu M , Kandemir FM , Ozkaraca M , Set T , Bakirci EM , Topal E , Ileriturk M , Turkmen K
Published: September 2014

Currently, the number of imaging and interventional procedures that use contrast agents (CAs) is gradually increasing. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the most important CA-related complication. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in its pathophysiology. Lycopene (LPN) is a natural substance with strong antioxidant capacity. The present study aimed to investigate the potential preventive effects of LPN against CIN. In total, 28 male Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups with 7 rats in each group; the groups include normal control group, LPN only group at a dose of 4 mg/kg/day for 10 days, CIN group by administering 10 mg/kg furosemide IM + 10 mg/kg indomethacin IP + 10 ml/kg iomeprol IV following 24-h dehydration, and CIN + LPN group. There were statistically significant increase in urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde levels ( p < 0.001, for all) but a significant decrease in glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase levels ( p < 0.001, for all) in the CIN group compared with the control group. On histological examination, a significant increase of infiltrated inflammatory cells and necrotic degenerative changes were observed in the CIN group and the immunohistochemical examination revealed a significant increase in inflammation (inducible nitric oxide synthase), autophagy (LC3/B), and apoptosis (cleaved caspase 3) in the CIN group compared with the control group ( p < 0.05, for all). Significant improvements in these unfavorable parameters were observed with CIN + LPN group compared with the CIN only group. In conclusion, the favorable effects of LPN as an anti-inflammatory, antiautophagic, and antiapoptotic agent in an experimental model of CIN have been demonstrated.
You Cannot Choose Your Family
Authors: Wilson Patricia M. , Reston Jonathan D. , Bieraugel Rebecca , Da Silva Gane Maria , Wellsted David , Offredy Maxine , Farrington Ken
Published: September 2014

Living with end-stage renal disease is challenging and requires a great deal of self-management, but little is known about the experiences of patients and staff around the subject. We held six focus groups in three hemodialysis units, each unit hosting 1 staff and 1 patient focus group. A total of 15 staff members and 15 patients participated. We employed thematic analysis using a priori and emerging codes. Five key themes emerged: challenges, enablers, complex balancing acts, good patient/bad patient, and the hemodialysis unit as a family. We explored the family metaphor further through the work of Bourdieu, but concluded that relationships in the hemodialysis unit most closely fit the concept of sociological ambivalence. We present an explanatory framework around inherent tensions characterizing relationships within the hemodialysis unit and highlight implications for facilitating self-management and developing collaborative approaches to care.
“Paradigm Change” or No Real Change At All? A Critical Reading of the U.N. Principles for Responsible Management Education
Authors: Louw Jonathan
Published: September 2014

Proponents of the transformative potential of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) claim that their adoption could lead to a “paradigm change” in business schools, thus addressing many of the sustained critiques of the sector in recent years. However, this claim and the PRME themselves have to date not been subjected to systematic scrutiny from a Critical Management Education perspective. Applying a critical discourse analysis methodology, this article evaluates how business schools and management education are positioned in key PRME documentation and the Sharing Information on Progress reports of U.K. business school signatories to the PRME. A key finding is that the PRME discourse assumes and promotes a problematic understanding of management education that includes a positioning of business schools as servants of the corporate sector. The impact of this and other assumptions undermines any “paradigm change” claim. Conclusions identify potential discursive and organizational strategies to nurture a more critical, learning-centered PRME discourse.
Tasimelteon
Authors: Johnsa Jessica D. , Neville Michael W.
Published: September 2014

Objective: To examine the efficacy of tasimelteon for the treatment of non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder using evidence from controlled clinical trials. Data Sources: Citations in Google Scholar and PubMed from January 1, 2008, to May 31, 2014, were identified using tasimelteon as the search term. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Results were limited to human trials published in English. Trials that compared tasimelteon with placebo were included. Data Synthesis: A phase II trial (n = 39) evaluated the effects of tasimelteon versus placebo on improvements in sleep efficiency and the ability to shift circadian rhythms over 3 days. Significant shifts in circadian rhythm were only observed for 100-mg tasimelteon. A phase III trial (n = 412) evaluated the effects of tasimelteon versus placebo on assessment of latency to persistent sleep and wake after sleep onset; significant advantages were observed in tasimelteon recipients. The SET (Safety and Efficacy of Tasimelteon) trial (n = 84) enrolled blind men and women with Non-24. They received placebo or tasimelteon 20 mg daily. Tasimelteon recipients had significantly ( P = 0.0025) better entrainment and N24CRS scores. The RESET (Randomized Withdrawal Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Tasimelteon) trial (n = 20) enrolled entrained participants from the SET trial who received 20 mg of tasimelteon or placebo daily for 8 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate the maintenance of effect of tasimelteon to entrain circadian rhythms. Tasimelteon was associated with significantly ( P = 0.0055) greater entrainment than placebo. Conclusion: Tasimelteon improves sleep initiation and maintenance in patients with Non-24 who have a shift in endogenous circadian rhythms. However, the cost of this agent limits its use.
Visitor-directed helping styles, service quality ideals and tourism impact judgments among potential tourist/hospitality industry employees
Authors: Ross Glenn F.
Published: September 2014

Service quality issues are increasingly seen as of major importance in industries such as tourism and hospitality. This study has sought to examine visitor assistance styles among a group of school leavers in a major Australian tourism coimmunity. The study has identified two major response styles, and has highlighted a number of individual Service Quality ideals and also Social Impact Assessment measures which predict Visitor Assistance and Visitor Non-Assistance. The implications of these results for job-seekers, for tourism/hospitality industry employees and for tourism/hospitality industry management are explored.
Personality, motivation and service quality factors as predictors of hospitality industry employee career anchors
Authors: Ross Glenn F.
Published: September 2014

While 'career anchors' as fundamental employment orientations and preferences have now received widespread research attention in a variety of work contexts, relatively little has been achieved in the examination of this concept within the arena of hospitality industry employment. This study has identified major hospitality industry career anchors and has investigated these along with major human resource management dimensions such as personality, motivation, attitudes to service and employment interest. Two major career anchors have been identified: competence and security. Those hospitality industry employees who indicate 'competence' as a major career anchor were found to be associated with higher Service Quality Ideals and lower levels of the need for 'affiliation'. Those hospitality industry employees who revealed 'security' as a major career anchor were found to be associated with higher levels of management motivation, higher levels of interest in tourist/ hospitality and retail employment and a higher commitment to hospitality industry Service Quality Ideals. These employees also revealed a lower level of the need for autonomy. Implications of the fundings for hospitality industry employees as well as management within this industry are examined.
Are theme parks solid business propositions?
Authors: Nair Krishna
Published: September 2014

Before joining KPMG some five years ago, the writer had appraised the business plans of Alton Towers and Flamingoland in North Yorkshire for grants purposes and the prospective ventures at Corby Wonderworld and Battersea, thus gleaning expertise from the experience of a range of actual and proposed theme park ventures. What is important to establish at the outset is that it is very difficult to write about typical theme parks — the ones in the USA, Continental Europe and the UK can all demonstrate different characteristics — and this is what makes the job of the financial institutions, whether it is a bank or a venture capital house, so difficult when asked to finance new developments. The paper aims to explore these difficulties, to examine differences in approach and to look at the prospects for a variety of theme parks, in the USA, the UK and Continental Europe.
The Information Superhighway: Highway of broken promises?
Authors: Montgomery Jim
Published: September 2014

The Information Superhighway offers many promises, but will it be a broken promise such as those presented by technology years ago and were never met? Why can smartware not be developed to bring forth the elusive workers' paradise? What lies in store for the travel industry, and what can point-of-sale operations do to accomodate the emerging paradigm shift?
Role of involvement in the travel decision
Authors: Clements Christine J. , Josiam Bharath
Published: September 2014

As the tourism industry grows, the need to predict travel behaviours increases. This study analysed the travel decision of college students who vacationed during the spring break. The involvement construct, borrowed from consumer behaviour literature, was utilised to evaluate the role of involvement in travel decision making. Demographics and their rela tionship to level of involvement were also evaluated. The data supported the hypothesis that there was a significant relationship between the level of involvement and the decision to go on a spring break. A relationship between involvement and destination selection was also found.