bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Fatigue in Late-Midlife
Authors: Fieo Robert A. , Mortensen Erik Lykke , Lund Rikke , Avlund Kirsten
Published: July 2014

Previous methods examining the Multiple Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20) fatigue questionnaire have been limited to classical test theory, for example, factor analytic approaches. We employed modern test theory to further strengthen the construct validity of the MFI-20 fatigue in a sample of healthy late-midlife subjects. Five subdimensions of perceived fatigue were examined in n = 7,233 subjects: general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, reduced motivation, and mental fatigue. Fatigue burden was compared across age groups (aged 48-52 vs. 57-63) and gender. Mokken item response theory was used to investigate dimensionality, monotonicity, and invariant item ordering (IIO). In both age groups, as well as by gender, the Motivation domain presented with weak scalability, suggesting that caution be exercised when interpreting sum scores. For all groupings, the strongest scaling properties were observed in the General Fatigue domain. However, the General Fatigue domain did not meet the property of IIO. Two domains (for all groupings) did meet the minimum criteria for the property of IIO: Physical Fatigue and Activity. Introducing model parameters for items served to enhance the interpretive power of the MFI-20, allowing for the identification of the most optimal scales. Poorly performing items were more easily identified, and person ability was assessed more accurately.
A phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety of oral LR-103 (1α,24(S)Dihydroxyvitamin D2) in patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Wisinski Kari B , Ledesma Wendy M , Kolesar Jill , Wilding George , Liu Glenn , Douglas Jeffrey , Traynor Anne M , Albertini Mark , Mulkerin Daniel , Bailey Howard H
Published: July 2014

Background

The objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety of LR-103, a Vitamin D analogue, in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

In Step A, patients received oral LR-103 once daily in 14-day cycles with intra-patient dose escalation per accelerated dose escalation design. Dose limiting toxicity for Step A was defined as ≥grade 2 hypercalcemia and/or >grade 2 other toxicities. Starting dose was 5 µg/day. Step B used a 3+3 design starting at Step A maximum tolerated dose with 28-day cycles. Dose limiting toxicity was defined as ≥grade 3 hypercalcemia or any grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic toxicity, except hypercalciuria.

Results

Twenty-one patients were enrolled; eight were treated in Step A. At dose level 3 (15 µg/day), two patients had dose limiting toxicity. One had grade 4 hyperuricemia. The other had grade 4 GGT plus grade 3 alkaline phosphatase, fatigue and urinary tract infection (UTI). Dose level 2 (10 µg/day) was the maximum tolerated dose for Step A and was starting dose for Step B. The dose was escalated to dose level 5 (30 µg/day) with a patient experiencing grade 3 dose limiting toxicity of hypercalcemia. The study was discontinued before reaching the maximum tolerated dose due to sponsor decision. Modest increases in serum osteocalcin and calcium and decrease in parathyroid hormone were noted. Best response was stable disease; four patients were on therapy for six months or longer.

Conclusion

Step A dose limiting toxicities limited accelerated dose escalation. The maximum tolerated dose of LR-103 was not reached prior to study termination and this agent is no longer being developed.
Pyoderma gangrenosum due to lenalidomide use for multiple myeloma
Authors: Dasanu Constantin A , Bockorny Bruno , Alexandrescu Doru T
Published: July 2014

Pyoderma gangrenosum has been described in association with multiple myeloma and usually affects patients with active/untreated disease. This dermatologic condition was shown to resolve after successful anti-myeloma therapy. We report herein occurrence of pyoderma gangrenosum involving bilateral knees in a patient with multiple myeloma responding to lenalidomide therapy. Previous papers claimed usefulness of thalidomide and its newer derivatives for the therapy of this neutrophilic dermatosis. Occurrence of pyoderma gangrenosum in a myeloma patient responding to lenalidomide would argue against its effectiveness in treating this skin condition. Moreover, the clinical setting suggested that lenalidomide either induced or contributed to the occurrence of pyoderma gangrenosum in our patient. If our hypothesis is correct, we expect more reports of pyoderma gangrenosum with the use of this class of pharmaceuticals.
Post-storage cell wall metabolism in two sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars displaying different postharvest performance
Authors: Belge Burcu , Comabella Eva , Graell Jordi , Lara Isabel
Published: July 2014

The biochemical processes underlying firmness loss of sweet cherry ( Prunus avium L.) fruit are poorly understood. Studies on cell wall metabolism of sweet cherry have been generally undertaken during on-tree development or at harvest maturity, while published reports on postharvest changes are scarce and fragmentary. In this work, cell wall modifications after storage at 0 ℃ were studied in two cherry cultivars (‘Celeste’ and ‘Somerset’) displaying different postharvest potential. Firmness was largely determined by the yields of the Na2CO3- and KOH-soluble fractions, enriched in covalently-bound pectins and in matrix glycans, respectively, and correlated well with ascorbic acid contents. The yields of these two cell wall fractions were correlated inversely with pectinmethylesterase and endo-1,4-β-d-glucanase activities, indicating a relevant role of these two enzymes in postharvest firmness changes in sweet cherry. The amount of solubilised cell wall materials was closely associated to the contents of dehydroascorbic acid, suggesting the possible involvement of oxidative mechanisms in cell wall disassembly. These data may help understanding the evolution of fruit quality during the marketing period, and give hints for the design of suitable management strategies to preserve key attributes.
Preparatory Behavior for Condom Use Among Heterosexual Young Men
Authors: Carvalho Telma , Alvarez Maria-João , Barz Milena , Schwarzer Ralf
Published: July 2014

Objective. Motivation is not sufficient to actually use condoms, as self-regulatory processes are needed to translate motivation into action. Buying condoms and carrying them constitute preparatory behaviors that may serve as proximal predictors of action. Whether or not such preparatory behaviors operate as mediators between intention and action within a broader behavior change framework has been examined. Method. A sample of 150 heterosexual men between ages 18 and 25 years responded at three points in time to a computer-based survey that assessed behavior as well as social-cognitive antecedents. A structural equation model was specified that included preparatory behaviors and self-efficacy as mediators at Time 2. Results. Preparatory behaviors were the most proximal predictors of condom use, and they were, themselves, predicted by self-efficacy and intention. The latter was partly determined by positive emotional outcome expectancies. Conclusion. To bridge the intention-behavior gap, preparatory behaviors play a mediating role, and they represent a side of planning that constitutes the most proximal predictor of condom use.
Effects of Sublethal Exposure to a Glyphosate-Based Herbicide Formulation on Metabolic Activities of Different Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Enzymes in Rats
Authors: Larsen Karen , Najle Roberto , Lifschitz Adrián , Maté María L. , Lanusse Carlos , Virkel Guillermo L.
Published: July 2014

The activities of different xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in liver subcellular fractions from Wistar rats exposed to a glyphosate (GLP)-based herbicide (Roundup full II) were evaluated in this work. Exposure to the herbicide triggered protective mechanisms against oxidative stress (increased glutathione peroxidase activity and total glutathione levels). Liver microsomes from both male and female rats exposed to the herbicide had lower (45%-54%, P < 0.01) hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) levels compared to their respective control animals. In female rats, the hepatic 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (a general CYP-dependent enzyme activity) was 57% higher ( P < 0.05) in herbicide-exposed compared to control animals. Conversely, this enzyme activity was 58% lower ( P < 0.05) in male rats receiving the herbicide. Lower ( P < 0.05) 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethlyase (EROD, CYP1A1/2 dependent) and oleandomycin triacetate (TAO) N-demethylase (CYP3A dependent) enzyme activities were observed in liver microsomes from exposed male rats. Conversely, in females receiving the herbicide, EROD increased (123%-168%, P < 0.05), whereas TAO N-demethylase did not change. A higher (158%-179%, P < 0.01) benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylase (a CYP2B-dependent enzyme activity) activity was only observed in herbicide-exposed female rats. In herbicide-exposed rats, the hepatic S-oxidation of methimazole (flavin monooxygenase dependent) was 49% to 62% lower ( P < 0.001), whereas the carbonyl reduction of menadione (a cytosolic carbonyl reductase-dependent activity) was higher ( P < 0.05). Exposure to the herbicide had no effects on enzymatic activities dependent on carboxylesterases, glutathione transferases, and uridinediphospho-glucuronosyltransferases. This research demonstrated certain biochemical modifications after exposure to a GLP-based herbicide. Such modifications may affect the metabolic fate of different endobiotic and xenobiotic substances. The pharmacotoxicological significance of these findings remains to be clarified.
Extra-nodal subcutaneous Hodgkin’s-like lymphoma and subsequent regression in a cat
Authors: Newton Jamie A , de Vicente Felipe , Haugland Sean P , Scase Timothy J , Helm Jenny
Published: July 2014

Hodgkin’s-like lymphoma is a slow growing neoplasm, usually affecting the lymph nodes of the head and neck, which has been sporadically described in veterinary patients. This report describes the clinical and histopathological features in a 9-year-old male neutered Siamese cat that presented with a 6 week history of mid-dorsocranial swelling. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive staining for CD79a, paired box protein and B lymphocyte antigen-36, with variable, weak-to-moderate cytoplasmic staining for human leukocyte antigen-DR and CD18, and negative staining for antimacrophage antibody. The diagnosis based on incisional biopsy was Hodgkin’s-like lymphoma; however, no evidence of neoplasia was found following wide surgical excision. This case report demonstrates two unreported items of note: the novel extranodal site of Hodgkin’s-like lymphoma in a cat and tumour regression following initial biopsy. It is hypothesised that the surgical trauma of biopsying the lesion or the introduction of foreign material may have caused the regression of the neoplastic cells through induction of an anti-tumour immune or inflammatory response.
Changes over time in the quality of life, prolonged grief and family strain of family caregivers of patients in vegetative state: A pilot study
Authors: Bastianelli Alessia , Gius Erminio , Cipolletta Sabrina
Published: July 2014

This study explored changes over time and in the internal standards of the quality of life, prolonged grief and family strain of informal caregivers of patients in vegetative state. Data obtained from 52 caregivers showed high levels of prolonged grief and family strain, and low quality of life. A decrease of caregivers’ quality of life and an increase of family strain were found by adopting a response shift procedure. Only prolonged grief did not change during time. Clinical intervention with the caregivers of vegetative state patients should be differentiated on the basis of the duration of the caring experience.
Impact of age at onset for children with renal failure on education and employment transitions
Authors: Lewis Helen , Arber Sara
Published: July 2014

Previous medical research has shown that children with end-stage renal failure experience delay or underachievement of key markers of transition to adulthood. This article analyses 35 qualitative interviews with end-stage renal failure patients, aged 20–30 years, first diagnosed at 0–19 years of age, to explore how far delayed or underachievement in education and employment is related to their age at onset of end-stage renal failure. This study shows how unpredictable failures of renal replacement therapies, comorbidities and/or side effects of treatment in the early life course often coincided with critical moments for education and employment. Entering school, college, work-related training or employment, and disclosing health status or educational underachievement to an employer, were particularly critical, and those who were ill before puberty became progressively more disadvantaged in terms of successful transition into full-time employment, compared with those first diagnosed after puberty.
A game plan: Gamification design principles in mHealth applications for chronic disease management
Authors: Miller Aaron S , Cafazzo Joseph A , Seto Emily
Published: July 2014

Effective chronic disease management is essential to improve positive health outcomes, and incentive strategies are useful in promoting self-care with longevity. Gamification, applied with mHealth (mobile health) applications, has the potential to better facilitate patient self-management. This review article addresses a knowledge gap around the effective use of gamification design principles, or mechanics, in developing mHealth applications. Badges, leaderboards, points and levels, challenges and quests, social engagement loops, and onboarding are mechanics that comprise gamification. These mechanics are defined and explained from a design and development perspective. Health and fitness applications with gamification mechanics include: bant which uses points, levels, and social engagement, mySugr which uses challenges and quests, RunKeeper which uses leaderboards as well as social engagement loops and onboarding, Fitocracy which uses badges, and Mango Health, which uses points and levels. Specific design considerations are explored, an example of the efficacy of a gamified mHealth implementation in facilitating improved self-management is provided, limitations to this work are discussed, a link between the principles of gaming and gamification in health and wellness technologies is provided, and suggestions for future work are made. We conclude that gamification could be leveraged in developing applications with the potential to better facilitate self-management in persons with chronic conditions.
Corporate management of visibility and the fantasy of the post-political: Social media and surveillance
Authors: Uldam Julie
Published: July 2014

This article sheds light on a challenge to the emancipatory potential of social media for social movements that has so far largely been overlooked: corporations’ monitoring of individuals. In this way, it goes beyond the ways in which corporations draw on ‘big data’ from online sources and instead explores how they (1) monitor and (2) discuss strategies for responding to the activities of individual activists, specifically in social media. Theoretically, it draws on Thompson’s concept of mediated visibility, Mouffe’s concept of the (post)political and Carpentier’s notion of the fantasy of the post-political. Empirically, it focuses on the oil industry and the climate justice movement in the United Kingdom. Here, it draws on files from British Petroleum (BP) and Shell on specific individuals obtained through Subject Access Requests under the Data Protection Act as well as press responses from the two oil companies.
A semiotic analysis of consumer-generated antibranding
Authors: Kucuk S. Umit
Published: July 2014

This study is a semiotic analysis of consumer-generated antibranding efforts and reveals tacit semiotic rules used by digital antibranders. A broad theoretical discussion about the semiotic characteristics of branding and antibranding is provided and “digital antibranding semiotics” is defined. The semiotics of consumer digital antibranding efforts are investigated in two studies examining a sample of antibranding images targeted at valuable corporate brands. The first study reveals that antibranders use drama and humor to demonize, criminalize, dehumanize, and “Hitlerize” the targeted brands, creating strong antibrand voices and positioning themselves against corporate greed and wrongdoing. The second study found that consumers successfully decode antibranding semiotic representations and classify them in terms of message clarity, fact finding, and “hostility versus entertainment values.” These findings reveal that both antibranding images with dark humor and clear messages and an aggressive and intriguing message have the potential to influence consumers.
Impact of lighting design on brand image for fashion retail stores
Authors: Schielke T , Leudesdorff M
Published: July 2014

This paper analyses the influence of fashion retail store lighting on the brand classification and brand personality. Four different interiors with four specific light scenes were combined to form 16 different scenes. The fashion retail stores include stereotypes for low budget, colour, black box and minimalism, and lighting scenes with general lighting, vertical illumination, accent lighting and projection. The results revealed that the lighting had an impact on the brand classification with regard to the factors of social status and value orientation and on the brand personality with regard to the factors of temperament, competence, attractiveness and naturalness. The economic analysis of price perception in relation to investment or operating costs does not show significant correlations.
The Use of Negative Pressure in Critical Necrotizing Fasciitis Treatment
Authors: Ge Kui , Xu Bing , Wu Jia-Jun , Wu Minjie , Lu Shuliang , Xie Ting
Published: July 2014

Surgery complemented by antibiotics forms the backbone of the successful management of necrotizing fasciitis. But it will be very difficult to clear away extensive necrotizing tissue thoroughly in critically ill patients when their vital signs are unstable. The authors report the case of a 33-year-old woman who had extensive necrotizing fasciitis of the right lower limb with septic shock. The patient was severely anemic and malnutrition and had been given conservative debridement at bedside, that is, only detached necrotizing tissues was taken away while some other necrotizing tissue still remained, so that the skin tissue within the same area could be saved as much as possible. After debridement, negative pressure was applied at 125 mm Hg. Broad-spectrum antibiotics and effective supplementation were also complemented, thus controlling the septic shock. All necrotizing tissues were detached, and the sparing vital skin on necrotizing fascia was preserved successfully after negative pressure treatment. The patient was finally saved. In conclusion, negative pressure treatment may help diminish toxin absorbance, detach gangrene tissue, and preserve sparing vital tissue. This case suggests the value of combined use of negative pressure therapy and conservative debridement in critically ill patients with extensive necrotizing fasciitis.
The increasing incidence of thromboembolic events among hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Kuy SreyRam , Dua Anahita , Chappidi Rohit , Seabrook Gary , Brown Kellie R , Lewis Brian , Rossi Peter J , Lee Cheong J
Published: July 2014

Background

We performed a national population-based study examining the incidence of both venous and arterial thromboembolic events in patients hospitalized with inflammatory bowel disease over the past decade.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database was performed. Patients hospitalized with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis were identified using ICD-9 codes. The incidence of clinically relevant venous thromboembolic events and arterial thromboembolic events including myocardial infarction, visceral ischemia, cerebrovascular accidents, and peripheral arterial events was examined.

Results

During the study period, 461,415 hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease patients were identified. Among these patients, 28,820 had a diagnosis of a thromboembolic event (overall prevalence of 6%). The incidence of thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease rose from 5.65% in 2000 to 7.17% by 2009. There were 18,270 (3.96%) patients who had an arterial thrombotic event, the most common being myocardial infarction (50%), followed by visceral ischemia (25%), and cerebrovascular incidents (22%). There were 11,083 (2.4%) patients identified to have had a venous thrombotic event, with the most common manifestation being deep vein thrombosis (77%), pulmonary embolism (32%), and portal vein thrombosis (3.9%).

Conclusion

An increasing incidence of thromboembolic event in patients with inflammatory bowel disease was observed over the past decade. Interestingly, there were more arterial thrombotic events in comparison to venous thrombotic events.
Perspectives on North and South: The 2012 financial crisis in Spain seen through two major British newspapers
Authors: Breeze Ruth
Published: July 2014

The world financial crisis of 2008 reached a head in the Eurozone in 2012, when major problems became apparent affecting several countries in Southern Europe. During this time, the British press focused particularly on Spain, watching the potentially volatile political situation with interest, and documenting the negotiations between Spanish and European leaders. This article considers how this situation was reported in two British newspapers, The Guardian and The Independent, applying corpus linguistics techniques to identify salient aspects of the crisis and to detect patterns in language use that had an ideological dimension. The 2012 crisis emerges mainly as a political issue, and the reporting focuses on solutions rather than causes or effects. However, even though these two publications are not noted for Euroscepticism, they both show a strong tendency to group South European countries together within a negative frame, collectivizing them and establishing a dichotomy with Northern Europe.
Exploring the attitudinal variations in the Chinese English-language press on the 2013 air pollution incident
Authors: Chen Yumin
Published: July 2014

This study uses appraisal theory to investigate the media attitudinal variations in the context of the recent 2013 air pollution incident in China. Drawing upon the appraisal systems of attitude and engagement, this article examines how the reportage has changed over time in terms of the type and source of attitude. Through a comparative analysis of the news reports and editorials in the latest and back issues of the official English-language newspaper China Daily, this article identifies two major attitudinal shifts: 1) from an absence of inscribed attitude representing air quality as something natural to negative judgement of social sanction judging foreign embassies’ monitoring; 2) from judgement to three interwoven strands of appreciation, with the air quality, Western experience and prospective opportunities evaluated by both Chinese and international communities. When reporting and commenting on environmental issues of global concern, the national media voice may seek to achieve attitudinal consensus with the international community while adhering to the official discourse.
Fact Checking the Campaign
Authors: Coddington Mark , Molyneux Logan , Lawrence Regina G.
Published: July 2014

In a multichannel era of fragmented and contested political communication, both misinformation and fact checking have taken on new significance. The rise of Twitter as a key venue for political journalists would seem to support their fact-checking activities. Through a content analysis of political journalists’ Twitter discourse surrounding the 2012 presidential debates, this study examines the degree to which fact-checking techniques were used on Twitter and the ways in which journalists on Twitter adhered to the practices of either “professional” or “scientific” objectivity—the mode that underlies the fact-checking enterprise—or disregarded objectivity altogether. A typology of tweets indicates that fact checking played a notable but secondary role in journalists’ Twitter discourse. Professional objectivity, especially simple stenography, dominated reporting practices on Twitter, and opinion and commentary were also prevalent. We determine that Twitter is indeed conducive to some elements of fact checking. But taken as a whole, our data suggest that journalists and commentators posted opinionated tweets about the candidates’ claims more often than they fact checked those claims.
Big Data from the bottom up
Authors: Couldry Nick , Powell Alison
Published: July 2014

This short article argues that an adequate response to the implications for governance raised by ‘Big Data’ requires much more attention to agency and reflexivity than theories of ‘algorithmic power’ have so far allowed. It develops this through two contrasting examples: the sociological study of social actors used of analytics to meet their own social ends (for example, by community organisations) and the study of actors’ attempts to build an economy of information more open to civic intervention than the existing one (for example, in the environmental sphere). The article concludes with a consideration of the broader norms that might contextualise these empirical studies, and proposes that they can be understood in terms of the notion of voice, although the practical implementation of voice as a norm means that voice must sometimes be considered via the notion of transparency.
Data and life on the street
Authors: Taylor Alex S , Lindley Siân , Regan Tim , Sweeney David
Published: July 2014

What does the abundance of data and proliferation of data-making methods mean for the ordinary person, the person on the street? And, what could they come to mean? In this paper, we present an overview of a year-long project to examine just such questions and complicate, in some ways, what it is to ask them. The project is a collective exercise in which we – a mixture of social scientists, designers and makers – and those living and working on one street in Cambridge (UK), Tenison Road, are working to think through how data might be materialised and come to matter. The project aims to better understand the specificities and contingencies that arise when data is produced and used in place. Mid-way through the project, we use this commentary to give some background to the work and detail one or two of the troubles we have encountered in putting locally relevant data to work. We also touch on a methodological standpoint we are working our way into and through, one that we hope complicates the separations between subject and object in data-making and opens up possibilities for a generative refiguring of the manifold relations.
Characterization of acute myeloid leukemia based on levels of global hydroxymethylation
Authors: Kroeze Leonie I. , Aslanyan Mariam G. , van Rooij Arno , Koorenhof-Scheele Theresia N. , Massop Marion , Carell Thomas , Boezeman Jan B. , Marie Jean-Pierre , Halkes Constantijn J. M. , de Witte Theo , Huls Gerwin , Suciu Stefan , Wevers Ron A. , van der Reijden Bert A. , Jansen Joop H.
Published: July 2014

Key Points

5hmC levels vary considerably in patients with AML. High levels of 5hmC independently correlate with inferior overall survival in AML.
Plasmacytomagenesis in Eμ-v-abl transgenic mice is accelerated when apoptosis is restrained
Authors: Vandenberg Cassandra J. , Waring Paul , Strasser Andreas , Cory Suzanne
Published: July 2014

Key Points

Loss of Bim accelerated the development and increased the incidence of plasmacytomas in Eμ-v-abl transgenic mice. As in multiple myeloma, elevated expression of myc and cyclin D genes was common and p53 deregulation was rare.
Updated cost-of-care estimates for commercially insured patients with multiple sclerosis: retrospective observational analysis of medical and pharmacy claims data
Authors: Carroll Cathryn A , Fairman Kathleen A , Lage Maureen J
Published: July 2014

Background

For patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), previous research identified key disease sequelae as important cost drivers and suggested that among users of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in 2004, DMDs represented 73% of the total cost of care. More recent studies were limited to incident disease/treatment and/or excluded DMDs from cost estimates. To support contemporary pharmacoeconomic analyses, the present study was conducted to provide updated information about MS-related costs and cost drivers including DMDs.

Methods

For each of 2 years, 2006 and 2011, commercially insured, continuously eligible patients with ≥ 1 medical claim diagnosis of MS were sampled. MS-related charges were based on medical claims with MS diagnosis plus medical/pharmacy claims for DMDs. 2006 charges were adjusted to 2011 $ using the medical care component of the consumer price index (CPI). Subgroups of patients using DMDs (interferon [IFN] beta-1a intramuscular or subcutaneous, IFN beta-1b, glatiramer, natalizumab) in 2011 were identified. By-group differences were tested with bivariate statistics.

Results

Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 15,902 sample patients in 2011 was 47.6 (11.8) years, 76% female. Mean [SD] MS charges ($26,520 [$38,478] overall) were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for patients with common disease sequelae: malaise/fatigue (n = 2,235; $39,948 [$48,435]), paresthesia (n = 1,566; $33,648 [$45,273]), depression (n = 1,255; $42,831 [$51,693]), and abnormality of gait (n = 1,196; $48,361 [$55,472]). From 2006 to 2011, CPI-adjusted MS charges increased by 60%. Among patients treated with a single DMD in 2011, inpatient care was 6% of charges (range = 4%-8%; P = 0.155); outpatient care was 19% (range = 14%-20% except for natalizumab [29%]; P < 0.001); and DMDs were 75% (range = 67%-81%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Common MS sequelae remain important cost drivers. Although MS treatment costs are increasing, the proportion of MS charges due to DMDs in 2011 is similar to that reported in 2004.
Immigration status and property crime: an application of estimators for underreported outcomes
Authors: Papadopoulos Georgios
Published: July 2014

This paper studies the individual-level relationship between immigration and property crime in England and Wales using crime self-reports from the Crime and Justice Survey. Models that account for underreporting are used, since this is a major concern in crime self-reports. The results indicate that the reported crime is substantially underreported, but if anything, immigrants are less likely to underreport than natives. More importantly, controlling for underreporting and basic demographics, the estimates across all model specifications, although imprecise, indicate that immigration status and property crime are negatively associated. We finally find that the estimated relationship between immigration status and property crime differs across regions and ethnic groups.

JEL Codes

K42, J15, J22, C25, C51
Intramyocardial transplantation of cardiac mesenchymal stem cells reduces myocarditis in a model of chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy
Authors: Silva Daniela Nascimento , de Freitas Souza Bruno Solano , Azevedo Carine Machado , Vasconcelos Juliana Fraga , Carvalho Rejane Hughes , Soares Milena Botelho Pereira , dos Santos Ricardo Ribeiro
Published: July 2014

Introduction

New therapeutic options are necessary for patients with chronic Chagas disease, a leading cause of heart failure in Latin American countries. Stem cell therapy focused on improving cardiac function is a promising approach for treating heart disease. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of cardiac mesenchymal stem cells (CMSCs) in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease.

Methods

CMSCs were isolated from green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic C57BL/6 mouse hearts and tested for adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic, endothelial, and cardiogenic differentiation potentials evaluated by histochemical and immunofluorescence techniques. A lymphoproliferation assay was performed to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of CMSCs. To investigate the therapeutic potential of CMSCs, C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were treated with 106 CMSCs or saline (control) by echocardiography-guided injection into the left ventricle wall. All animals were submitted to cardiac histopathological and immunofluorescence analysis in heart sections from chagasic mice. Analysis by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed in the heart to evaluate the expression of cytokines involved in the inflammatory response.

Results

CMSCs demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation potentials. Moreover, these cells expressed endothelial cell and cardiomyocyte features upon defined stimulation culture conditions and displayed immunosuppressive activity in vitro. After intramyocardial injection, GFP+ CMSCs were observed in heart sections of chagasic mice one week later; however, no observed GFP+ cells co-expressed troponin T or connexin-43. Histopathological analysis revealed that CMSC-treated mice had a significantly decreased number of inflammatory cells, but no reduction in fibrotic area, two months after treatment. Analysis by qRT-PCR demonstrated that cell therapy significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and increased transforming growth factor-beta in heart samples.

Conclusions

We conclude that the CMSCs exert a protective effect in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy primarily through immunomodulation.
This Issue of GEOPHYSICS
Authors: Schuster Gerard T.
Published: July 2014

In this article, the Editor of Geophysics provides an overview of all technical articles in this issue of the journal.
Magnetic resonance imaging analysis of water flow in the mantle cavity of live Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Seo Eriko , Ohishi Kazue , Maruyama Tadashi , Imaizumi-Ohashi Yoshie , Murakami Masataka , Seo Yoshiteru
Published: July 2014

Water flow inside the shell of Mytilus galloprovincialis was measured by phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In seawater without algal cells at 23°C, water approached the mussel from the posterior-ventral side, and entered through the inhalant aperture at a velocity of 40–20 mm s−1. The flow rate in the lower mantle cavity decreased to 10–20 mm s−1, the water flowed in the anterior–dorsal direction and approached the demibranches at a velocity of 5–10 mm s−1. After passing through the lamellae to the upper mantle cavity, the water stretched the interlamellar cavity, turned to the posterior–dorsal direction and accumulated in the epibranchial cavity. The water flows came together at the ventral side of the posterior adductor muscle. The velocity increased more to than 50 mm s−1 in the exhalant siphon, and exhaled out in the posterior–dorsal direction. The anterior–posterior direction of the flow was imaged every 1.92 s by the inflow effect of T1-weighted MRI. The flow seemed to be constant, and no cyclic motion of the mantles or the gills was detected. Spontaneous closure of the shells caused a quick drop of the flow in the mantle cavity. In the opening process of the shells, water flow in the interlamellar cavities increased before the opening, followed by an increase of flows in the exhalant siphon and inhalant aperture with minimum delay, reaching a plateau within 1 min of the shells opening. This provides direct evidence that the lateral cilia drive water in the mussel M. galloprovincialis.
Rainbow trout provide the first experimental evidence for adherence to a distinct Strouhal number during animal oscillatory propulsion
Authors: Nudds Robert L. , John Emma L. , Keen Adam N. , Shiels Holly A.
Published: July 2014

The relationship between tail (or wing) beat frequency (ftail), amplitude (A) and forward velocity (U) in animals using oscillatory propulsion, when moving at a constant cruising speed, converges upon an optimum range of the Strouhal number (St=ftail·A/U). Previous work, based on observational data and supported by theory, shows St falling within the broad optimum range (0.2<St<0.4) and considers this adequate to indicate its importance in governing wing or tail kinematics. This study presents the first evidence using an experimental manipulation that supports the importance of maintaining kinematics at a single optimum (or preferred) St. The tail beat kinematics of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were disturbed by increasing water temperature (Twater) from 11±1 to 20±1°C. Elevated Twater increased ftail and decreased A, whilst St at any given U was conserved. St increased with U, driven by concomitant increases in A, whilst ftail was unaffected by U. An increase in Twater also increased basal metabolic costs, but did not affect the incremental increase in metabolic cost with increasing U. Predicted future changes to Twater of lakes and rivers (5–10°C over the next 100 years) may not present major locomotory problems to salmonids.
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Authors: Haggag Kareem , Paci Giovanni
Published: July 2014

We examine the role of defaults in high-frequency, small-scale choices using unique data on over 13 million New York City taxi rides. Using a regression discontinuity design, we show that default tip suggestions have a large impact on tip amounts. These results are supported by a secondary analysis that uses the quasi-random assignment of customers to different cars to examine default effects on a wider range of fares. Finally, we highlight a potential cost of setting defaults too high, as a higher proportion of customers opt to leave no credit card tip when presented with the higher suggested amounts. (JEL D12, L92)
Wells, Water, and Welfare: The Impact of Access to Groundwater on Rural Poverty and Conflict
Authors: Sekhri Sheetal
Published: July 2014

This paper evaluates the impact of access to groundwater on poverty using data from rural India. The estimation exploits the fact that the technology required to access groundwater changes exogenously due to constraints imposed by laws of physics at a depth of eight meters. I find that rural poverty in areas where depth from surface is below the cutoff is 9 to10 percent higher. Using survey data for a subsample of villages, I also show that disputes over irrigation water increase by 25 percent around the cutoff. Historical endowments of groundwater facilitate adoption of yield enhancing technologies over the long-run. (JEL D74, I32, O13, O15, O18, Q15, Q16)
The Conservation of Traditional Chinese Architectural Heritage—3D Modeling and Metadata Representation
Authors: Ya-Ning Yen , Kuo-Hua Wung , Hui-Yu Huang
Published: July 2014

Using digital technology in conservation of cultural heritage has become a worldwide trend. Many useful tools have been applied to different stages of conservation for cultural heritage. However, limited number of researches is done in digitizing traditional Chinese architectural heritage. The study had two main purposes. One was the application of metadata representation, the other being the comparison of 3D modeling effectives to metadata representation between Revit and SketchUp. Literature review and case study were applied to this research. The study took the caisson ceiling of the Taipei Confucius Temple, octagonal with 333 elements in 8 types, as a case study for digitization practice. The results showed, firstly, that cultural heritage databases should be unique in value while many elements were similar in appearance; also, 3D simulations helped general understanding of architectural heritage, but software such as Revit and SketchUp, at this stage, could only be used to model basic visual representation, and was ineffective in documenting additional critical data of individually unique elements. Secondly, when establishing conservation lifecycle information for application in management systems, a full and detailed presentation of the metadata should also be implemented; the existing applications of BIM in managing conservation lifecycles were still insufficient. Results of the research recommended SketchUp as a tool for present modeling needs, and BIM for sharing data among users, but the implementation of metadata representation was of the utmost importance.
4D Reconstruction of Tangible Cultural Heritage Objects from Web-Retrieved Images
Authors: Kyriakaki Georgia , Doulamis Anastasios , Doulamis Nikolaos , Ioannides Marinos , Makantasis Konstantinos , Protopapadakis Eftichios , Hadjiprocopis Andreas , Wenzel Konrad , Fritsch Dieter , Klein Michael , Weinlinger Guenther
Published: July 2014

The number of digital images that are available online today has reached unprecedented levels. Recent statistics showed that by the end of 2013 there were over 250 billion photographs stored in just one of the major social media sites, with a daily average upload of 300 million photos. These photos, apart from documenting personal lives, often relate to experiences in well-known places of cultural interest, throughout several periods of time. Thus from the viewpoint of Cultural Heritage professionals, they constitute valuable and freely available digital cultural content. Advances in the fields of Photogrammetry and Computer Vision have led to significant breakthroughs such as the Structure from Motion algorithm which creates 3D models of objects using their 2D photographs. The existence of powerful and affordable computational machinery enables the reconstruction not only of single structures such as artefacts, but also of entire cities. This paper presents an overview of our methodology for producing cost-effective 4D – i.e. in space and time – models of Cultural Heritage structures such as monuments and artefacts from 2D data (pictures, video) and semantic information, freely available ‘in the wild’, i.e. in Internet repositories and social media. State-of-the-art methods from Computer Vision, Photogrammetry, 3D Reconstruction and Semantic representation are incorporated in an innovative workflow with the main goal to enable historians, architects, archaeologists, urban planners and other cultural heritage professionals to reconstruct cost-effective views of historical structures out of the billions of free images floating around the web and subsequently interact with those reconstructions.
setsApp: Set operations for Cytoscape Nodes and Edges
Authors: Morris John H. , Wu Allan , Doncheva Nadezhda T. , Albrecht Mario , Ferrin Thomas E
Published: July 2014

setsApp (http://apps.cytoscape.org/apps/setsapp) is a relatively simple Cytoscape 3 app for users to handle groups of nodes and/or edges. It supports several important biological workflows and enables various set operations. setsApp provides basic tools to create sets of nodes or edges, import or export sets, and perform standard set operations (union, difference, intersection) on those sets. The sets functionality is also exposed to users and app developers in the form of a set of commands that can be used for scripting purposes or integrated in other Cytoscape apps.
BridgeDb app: unifying identifier mapping services for Cytoscape
Authors: Gao Jianjiong , Zhang Chao , van Iersel Martijn , Zhang Li , Xu Dong , Schultz Nikolaus , R. Pico Alexander
Published: July 2014

The BridgeDb app for Cytoscape allows users to map and annotate identifiers of genes, proteins and metabolites in the context of biological networks. The app greatly simplifies the identifier mapping process in Cytoscape by providing a unified interface to different mapping resources and services. The app also provides a programming interface via Cytoscape Commands that can be utilized for identifier mapping by other Cytoscape apps. In this article we provide a technical guide to the BridgeDb app for mapping identifiers in Cytoscape.
Porting and using PanGIA for Cytoscape 3: challenges and solutions
Authors: Welker David , Demchak Barry
Published: July 2014

Much of the biologically significant functionality in Cytoscape is contained within third-party add-ons, called plugins in Cytoscape 2 and apps in Cytoscape 3. In the transition from Cytoscape 2 to Cystoscape 3, some of the underlying assumptions upon which plugins relied changed, requiring a significant porting effort for plugins to work as Cytoscape 3 apps. PanGIA is a Cytoscape add-on (http://apps.cytoscape.org/apps/pangia) designed to analyze and visualize genetic interaction data in light of physical interaction data. In order to convert the PanGIA plugin to an app, various challenges, including those related to a transformed data model, concurrency, and randomization had to be overcome. In the process, the ability to control randomization was added to the GUI, a feature which was not only integral to the porting process, but which also ensures more easily reproducible scientific analysis for PanGIA users. Most authors of Cytoscape 2 plugins will face similar challenges porting their software to work with Cytoscape 3, and this paper gives details of how the PanGIA port addressed them.
Development and use of the Cytoscape app GFD-Net for measuring semantic dissimilarity of gene networks
Authors: Diaz-Montana Juan J. , Diaz-Diaz Norberto
Published: July 2014

Gene networks are one of the main computational models used to study the interaction between different elements during biological processes being widely used to represent gene–gene, or protein–protein interaction complexes. We present GFD-Net, a Cytoscape app for visualizing and analyzing the functional dissimilarity of gene networks.
Corporate Transparency and the Impact of Investor Sentiment on Stock Prices
Authors: Firth Michael , Wang Kailong (Philip) , Wong Sonia ML
Published: July 2014

Using China's stock market as the testing venue, this study examines how corporate transparency helps explain the sensitivity of stock prices to general investor sentiment. We find that firms with low corporate transparency, measured by a battery of proxies including state ownership, the prevalence of related party transactions, accrual-based earnings management, audit opinions, and the quality of audit firms, are more affected by investor sentiment than are firms with high corporate transparency. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of corporate transparency in mitigating the effects of investor sentiment on stock prices.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1911 .

This paper was accepted by Brad Barber, finance.
Effective management in male urinary incontinence
Authors: Fawcett Julie
Published: July 2014

Effective assessment is key to the effective management of male urinary incontinence. Identification of the specific type of incontinence being experienced by the patient will inform the treatment plan, and the holistic needs of the patient need to be considered before making a decision in this regard. This article describes the different types of male lower urinary tract symptoms and gives recommendations for managing and treating each specific type. It will also consider potential issues surrounding treatment of male urinary incontinence, such as communication issues from the perspective of the health-care professional and the patient themselves, before giving containment strategies and methods.