bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sarcoidosis: a rheumatologist’s perspective
Authors: Kobak Senol
Published: June 2015

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown etiology, which may involve various tissues and organs and is characterized by a noncaseating granuloma reaction. While pathogenesis is not yet clear, cellular immune system activation and nonspecific inflammatory response occur secondarily to several genetic and environmental factors. T helper 1-cells and macrophage-derived pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate the inflammatory cascade and formation of granuloma occurs as a result of tissue permeability, cell influx, and local cell proliferation. The different prevalence, clinical results, and disease course observed in different races and ethnic groups, is an indicator of the heterogeneous nature of the disease. Sarcoidosis may mimic and/or may occur concomitantly with numerous primary rheumatic diseases. This disease most commonly presents with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary infiltrations, and skin and eye lesions. Locomotor system involvement is observed at a range of 15% and 25%. Two major joint involvements have been described: acute and chronic form. The most common form, the acute form, may be the first sign of sarcoidosis and present with arthralgia, arthritis, or periarthritis. Chronic sarcoid arthritis is usually associated with pulmonary parenchymal disease or other organ involvement and occurs rarely. While asymptomatic muscular involvement is reported between 25% and 75%, symptomatic muscular involvement is very rare. Symptomatic myopathy may present as three different types: chronic myopathy, palpable nodular myositis, or acute myositis. Even if rare, 2–5% of cases may exhibit osseous involvement and it is frequently associated with lupus pernio, chronic uveitis, and multisystemic disease. Sarcoidosis was reported together with different rheumatologic diseases. There are studies showing that sarcoidosis may mimic the clinical and laboratory findings of these disorders. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids are used for treating the symptoms of rheumatologic findings. In patients who are unresponsive to corticosteroids, immunosuppressive and anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha drugs may be used. In this review, the incidence of rheumatologic symptoms, the clinical findings, and the treatment of rheumatologic manifestations of sarcoidosis are discussed.
Evaluation of a Health Coaching Course for Providers and Staff in Veterans Health Affairs Medical Facilities
Authors: Collins David A. , Shamblen Stephen R. , Atwood Katharine A. , Rychener David L. , Scarbrough William H. , Abadi Melissa H. , Simmons Leigh Ann
Published: June 2015

Background:The purpose of this study was to determine whether a health coaching (HC) course for providers and staff in Veterans Health Affairs medical facilities resulted in increased attitudes toward, intentions to use, and actual use of HC. Methods: A Whole Health Coaching Course was developed and implemented in national sites in 2014. A pre-post intervention group only design was used to assess changes in HC outcomes, including use of HC skills. Results: There were large pre- to posttest increases in preparedness and self-efficacy that were sustained at follow-up. Initial small increases in attitudes toward patient-centered care and intentions to use HC skills were not sustained at follow-up. There was a medium-sized increase in actual use of HC skills between pre-test and follow-up. Conclusions: Findings suggest that participation in the HC course is an effective means for providers and staff to increase preparedness, self-efficacy, and actual use of health coaching skills.
Understanding GINA and How GINA Affects Nurses
Authors: Delk Kayla L.
Published: June 2015

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is a federal law that became fully effective in 2009 and is intended to prevent employers and health insurers from discriminating against individuals based on their genetic or family history. The article discusses the sections of GINA, what information constitutes genetic information, who enforces GINA, and scenarios in which GINA does not apply. Also discussed are the instances in which an employer may request genetic information from employees, including wellness or genetic monitoring programs. Finally, the article offers a look at how GINA affects nurses who are administering wellness or genetic monitoring programs on behalf of employers.
Ethnocracy, Israel and India
Authors: Sen Satadru
Published: June 2015

This articles examines majoritarianism, democracy and the status of minorities in Israel and India comparatively, using the concept of ethnocracy as an analytical frame. It argues that whereas the overt racialisation of ethnicity in Israel has produced an intractable problem, solutions may be found in India through the creative deployment of the history of modern Hindu identity, and even through the Israeli notion of binationality.
Higher Education in Human Rights within China—A Ten-year Review of the Peking University Model
Authors: Smith Rhona , Bai Guimei
Published: June 2015

Human rights education has been a cornerstone of the international human rights system for many years. Further impetus has been added with the UN Decade for human rights education (1995–2004) and now the ongoing World Programme for Human Rights Education. Realising human rights education will mean people everywhere understand their rights and freedoms and those in authority understand their duties to protect, respect and fulfil human rights responsibilities accepted by governments. Securing human rights education at the tertiary/higher/university level is a key component of this as university graduates often progress to higher level influential careers. This article examines the contribution made towards the goals of human rights education by the first master level human rights programme in China: the programme is offered at Peking University under the auspices of the Research Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in cooperation with the Swedish Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Empirical data from the initial ten years of the program has been analysed to determine the impact the programme had and has on the life and careers of graduates. The evidence suggests a real, albeit modest, contribution to human rights education within China and beyond, with human rights being omnipresent in societal interactions of graduates and even influencing some careers and work decisions. Greater influence can be anticipated as the graduates progress further in their chosen careers. It is argued that the Peking University model demonstrates the potential for relatively swift and effective cultural change: an evolving system of embedded human rights education which respects the conditions within the Chinese education system.
Legal Education in China: Globalizing with Chinese Characteristics
Authors: Baskir Cecily E.
Published: June 2015

After presenting a brief history of Chinese legal education, this article describes current law training programmes, innovative efforts to incorporate global perspectives into legal education, the birth of Chinese clinical legal education, and some of these challenges facing traditional law schools and the legal profession. It identifies efforts at reform, such as young experimental law schools with emphasis on comparative law and skills training and the state’s new plan to reform and improve higher legal education with greater emphasis on practical legal training, global law and training for rural legal workers. The article concludes by recommending a number of additional responses to the challenges facing legal education, including further reforms to fund quality skills training, expand global and comparative approaches across different types of legal education, institute new incentives for faculty and teaching innovations and reduce teaching workloads and class sizes.
Book Review: Integrated Clinical Legal Education. By Shuvro Prosun Sarker, Anirban Chakraborty & Shounak Chatterjee
Authors: Nanda Deban Satyadarshi
Published: June 2015

Integrated Clinical Legal Education. By Shuvro Prosun Sarker, Anirban Chakraborty & Shounak Chatterjee, Universal Law Publishing Co., New Delhi, 2014, 214 Pp., `210, ISBN 978-93-5035-441-1
Knowledge-based adaptable scheduler for SaaS providers in cloud computing
Authors: Motavaselalhagh Farzaneh , Safi Esfahani Faramarz , Arabnia Hamid Reza
Published: June 2015

Software as a Service (SaaS) in Cloud Computing offers reliable access to software applications for end users over the Internet without direct investment in infrastructure and software. SaaS providers utilize resources of internal datacenters or rent resources from a public Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider in order to serve their customers. Internal hosting can increase cost of administration and maintenance, whereas hiring from an IaaS provider can impact quality of service due to its variable performance. To surmount these challenges, we propose a knowledge-based admission control along with scheduling algorithms for SaaS providers to effectively utilize public Cloud resources in order to maximize profit by minimizing cost and improving customers’ satisfaction level. In the proposed model, the admission control is based on Service Level Agreement (SLA) and uses different strategies to decide upon accepting user requests for that minimal performance impact, avoiding SLA penalties that are giving higher profit. However, because the admission control can make decisions optimally, there is a need of machine learning methods to predict the strategies. In order to model prediction of sequence of strategies, a customized decision tree algorithm has been used. In addition, we conducted several experiments to analyze which solution in which scenario fit better to maximize SaaS provider’s profit. Results obtained through our simulation shows that our proposed algorithm provides significant improvement (up to 38.4 % cost saving) compared to the previous research works.
A randomised controlled trial of time-limited individual
placement and support: IPS-LITE trial
Authors: Burns Tom , Yeeles Ksenija , Langford Oliver , Montes Maria Vazquez , Burgess Jennifer , Anderson Catriona
Published: June 2015

Background

Individual placement and support (IPS) has been repeatedly demonstrated
to be the most effective form of mental health vocational rehabilitation.
Its no-discharge policy plus fixed caseloads, however, makes it expensive
to provide.

Aims

To test whether introducing a time limit for IPS would significantly
alter its clinical effectiveness and consequently its potential
cost-effectiveness.

Method

Referrals to an IPS service were randomly allocated to either standard
IPS or to time-limited IPS (IPS-LITE). IPS-LITE participants were
referred back to their mental health teams if still unemployed at 9
months or after 4 months employment support. The primary outcome at 18
months was working for 1 day. Secondary outcomes comprised other
vocational measures plus clinical and social functioning. The
differential rates of discharge were used to calculate a notional
increased capacity and to model potential rates and costs of
employment.

Results

A total of 123 patients were randomised and data were collected on 120
patients at 18 months. The two groups (IPS-LITE = 62 and IPS = 61) were
well matched at baseline. Rates of employment were equal at 18 months
(IPS-LITE = 24 (41%) and IPS = 27 (46%)) at which time 57 (97%) had been
discharged from the IPS-LITE service and 16 (28%) from IPS. Only 11
patients (4 IPS-LITE and 7 IPS) obtained their first employment after 9
months. There were no significant differences in any other outcomes.
IPS-LITE discharges generated a potential capacity increase of 46.5%
compared to 12.7% in IPS which would translate into 35.8 returns to work
in IPS-LITE compared to 30.6 in IPS over an 18-month period if the rates
remained constant.

Conclusions

IPS-LITE is equally effective to IPS and only minimal extra employment is
gained by persisting beyond 9 months. If released capacity is utilised
with similar outcomes, IPS-LITE results in an increase by 17% in numbers
gaining employment within 18 months compared to IPS and will increase
with prolonged follow-up. IPS-LITE may be more cost-effective and should
be actively considered as an alternative within public services.
A state of reversible compensated ventricular dysfunction precedes pathological remodelling in response to cardiomyocyte specific Angiotensin II type-1 receptor activity
Authors: Frentzou Georgia A. , Drinkhill Mark J. , Turner Neil A. , Ball Stephen G. , Ainscough Justin F.X.
Published: June 2015

Cardiac dysfunction is commonly associated with high blood pressure induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, in response to aberrant renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity. Ensuing pathological remodelling promotes cardiomyocyte death and cardiac fibroblast activation, leading to cardiac fibrosis. The initiating cellular mechanisms that underly this progressive disease are poorly understood. We previously reported a conditional mouse model in which a Human Angiotensin II type-I Receptor Transgene (HART) was expressed in differentiated cardiomyocytes after they had fully matured, but not during development. Twelve-month old HART mice exhibited ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with interstitial fibrosis following full receptor stimulation, without affecting blood pressure. Here we show that chronic HART activity in young adults causes ventricular dysfunction without hypertrophy, fibrosis or cardiomyocyte death. Dysfunction correlates with reduced expression of pro-hypertrophy markers and increased expression of pro-angiogenic markers, in the cardiomyocytes experiencing increased receptor load. This stimulates responsive changes in closely associated non-myocyte cells, including down-regulation of pro-angiogenic genes, a dampened inflammatory response, and up-regulation of Tgfβ. Importantly this state of compensated dysfunction is reversible. Furthermore, increased stimulation of the receptors on the cardiomyocytes causes a switch in the secondary response from the non-myocyte cells. Progressive cardiac remodelling is stimulated through hypertrophy and death of individual cardiomyocytes, with infiltration, proliferation and activation of fibroblast and inflammatory cells, leading to increased angiogenic and inflammatory signalling. Together these data demonstrate that a state of pre-hypertrophic compensated dysfunction can exist in patients before common markers of heart disease are detectable. The data also suggest that there is an initial response from the housekeeping cells of the heart, to signals emanating from distressed neighbouring cardiomyocytes, to suppress those changes most commonly associated with progressive heart disease. We suggest that the reversible nature of this state of compensated dysfunction presents an ideal window of opportunity for personalised therapeutic intervention.
Ethambutol induces impaired autophagic flux and apoptosis in the retina
Authors: Huang Shun-Ping , Chien Jia-Ying , Tsai Rong-Kung
Published: June 2015

Ethambutol (EMB), an effective first-line antituberculosis agent, can cause serious visual impairment or irreversible vision loss in a significant number of patients. However, the mechanism underlying this ocular cytotoxicity remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that there were statistically significant dose- and time-dependent increases in the number of cytoplasmic vacuoles and the level of cell death in EMB-treated RGC-5 cells. The protein kinase C (PKC) δ inhibitor rottlerin markedly reduced the EMB-induced activation of caspase-3 and the subsequent apoptosis of RGC-5 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of class III PI3K, Beclin-1, p62 and LC3-II were upregulated, and LC3 immunostaining results showed activation of the early phase and inhibition of the late stage of autophagy in retinas of the EMB-intraperitoneal (IP)-injected rat model. We further demonstrated that exposure to EMB induces autophagosome accumulation, which results from the impaired autophagic flux that is mediated by a PKCδ-dependent pathway; inhibits the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway; and leads to apoptotic death in retina neuronal cells. These results indicate that autophagy dysregulation in retinal neuronal cells may play a significant role in EMB-induced optic neuroretinopathy.
Scaffold attachment factor B2 (SAFB2) null mice reveal non-redundant functions compared to its paralog SAFB1
Authors: Jiang Shiming , Katz Tiffany A. , Garee Jason P. , DeMayo Francesco J. , Lee Adrian V. , Oesterreich Steffi
Published: June 2015

Scaffold Attachment Factors SAFB1 and SAFB2 are multifunctional proteins that share >70% sequence similarity. SAFB1 knockout (SAFB1−/−) mice display a high degree of lethality, severe growth retardation, and infertility in male mice. To assess the in vivo role of SAFB2, and to identify unique functions of the two paralogs, we generated SAFB2−/− mice. In stark contrast to SAFB1−/−, SAFB2−/− offspring were born at expected Mendelian ratios and did not show any obvious defects in growth or fertility. Generation of paralog-specific antibodies allowed extensive expression analysis of SAFB1 and SAFB2 in mouse tissues, showing high expression of both SAFB1 and SAFB2 in the immune system, and in hormonally controlled tissues, with especially high expression of SAFB2 in the male reproductive tract. Further analysis showed significantly increased testes weight in SAFB2−/− mice, which was associated with increased number of Sertoli cells. Our data suggest that this is at least in part caused by alterations in androgen receptor function and expression upon deletion of SAFB2. Thus, despite a high degree of sequence similarity, SAFB1−/− and SAFB2−/− mice do not totally phenocopy each other. SAFB2−/− mice are viable, and do not show any major defects, and our data suggest a role for SAFB2 in the differentiation and activity of Sertoli cells, which deserves further study.
Kinematics and aerodynamics of avian upstrokes during slow flight
Authors: Crandell Kristen E. , Tobalske Bret W.
Published: June 2015

Slow flight is extremely energetically costly per unit time, yet highly important for takeoff and survival. However, at slow speeds it is presently thought that most birds do not produce beneficial aerodynamic forces during the entire wingbeat: instead they fold or flex their wings during upstroke, prompting the long-standing prediction that the upstroke produces trivial forces. There is increasing evidence that the upstroke contributes to force production, but the aerodynamic and kinematic mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we examine the wingbeat cycle of two species: the diamond dove (Geopelia cuneata) and zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), that exhibit different upstroke styles, a wingtip-reversal and flexed-wing upstroke, respectively. We used a combination of particle image velocimetry and near-wake streamline measures alongside detailed 3D-kinematics. We show during the middle of the wingtip-reversal upstroke, the hand-wing has a high angular velocity (15.3±0.8 deg/ms) and translational speed (8.4±0.6 m/s). The flexed-wing upstroke, in contrast, has low wingtip speed during mid-upstroke. Instead, later in the stroke cycle, during the transition from upstroke to downstroke, it exhibits higher angular velocities (45.5±13.8 deg/ms) and translational speeds (11.0±1.9 m/s). Aerodynamically, the wingtip-reversal upstroke imparts momentum to the wake, with entrained air shed backward (visible as circulation of 14.4±0.09 m2/s). In contrast, the flexed-wing upstroke imparts minimal momentum. Clap and peel in the dove enhances the time course for circulation production on the wings, and provides new evidence of convergent evolution on time-varying aerodynamic mechanisms during flapping in insects and birds.
Food stress causes sex-specific maternal effects in mites
Authors: Walzer A. , Schausberger P.
Published: June 2015

Life history theory predicts that females should produce few large eggs under food stress and many small eggs at abundant food. We tested this prediction in three female-biased size dimorphic predatory mites feeding on herbivorous spider mite prey: Phytoseiulus persimilis, a specialized spider mite predator; Neoseiulus californicus, a generalist preferring spider mites; Amblyseius andersoni, a broad diet generalist. Irrespective of predator species and offspring sex, most females laid only one small egg under severe food stress. Irrespective of predator species, the number of female but not male eggs decreased with increasing maternal food stress. This sex-specific effect was likely due to the higher production costs of large female than small male eggs. The complexity of response to varying spider mite prey availabilities correlated with the predators' degree of adaptation to this prey. Most A. andersoni females did not oviposit under severe food stress, whereas N. californicus and P. persimilis did oviposit. Under moderate food stress, only P. persimilis increased its investment per offspring, at the expense of egg number, and produced few large female eggs. At abundant prey, P. persimilis decreased the female egg sizes at the expense of increased egg numbers resulting in a sex-specific egg size/number tradeoff. Maternal effects manifested only in N. californicus and P. persimilis. Small egg size correlated with the body size of daughters but not sons. Overall, our study provides a key example for sex-specific maternal effects, i.e. food stress during egg production more strongly affected the large than small offspring sex.
Indium Implantation onto Zeolite by Pulse Arc Plasma Process for the Development of Novel Catalysts
Authors: Yoshimura Satoru , Nishimoto Yoshihiro , Kiuchi Masato , Yasuda Makoto
Published: June 2015

Chemical substances that contain both indium (In) and silicon (Si) in close proximity catalyze certain organic chemical reactions. The implantation of In onto zeolite containing Si atoms was carried out by a pulse arc plasma process for the possible development of novel catalysts. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the In-implanted zeolite revealed that In was successfully implanted. In addition, the In-implanted zeolite was capable of catalyzing an organic chemical reaction (i.e., Friedel–Crafts alkylation).
Unimolecular Dissociation of Anions Derived from Maleic Acid (MaH2) in the Gas Phase: MaH− and MaMgCl−—Relationship to Grignard Chemistry and Reductive CO2 Fixation
Authors: Miller Glenn B.S. , Fäseke Vincent , Uggerud Einar
Published: June 2015

We have conducted collision-induced dissociation experiments on the hydrogen maleate anion (MaH−, m/z = 115) and the anionic maleate–MgCl complex (MaMgCl−, m/z = 173). In addition, we have computationally investigated the observed fragmentation reactions. We find that both anions readily undergo two consecutive decarboxylations resulting in product ions at m/z = 71 and m/z 27 for MaH−, and at m/z = 129 and m/z 85 for MaMgCl−. The first decarboxylation is more facile for MaMgCl− than for MaH−, while loss of CO2 from Ma(–CO2) H− is more facile than that for Ma(–CO2)MgCl−. We also find that MaH− loses water, and we propose a mechanism for this loss. No firstgeneration fragmentation product other than Ma(–CO2)MgCl− is seen for MaMgCl−. Based on the observed unimolecular chemistry, we discuss some of its implications on reductive CO2-fixation and Grignard chemistry.
Drug Detection and Quantification Directly from Tissue Using Novel Ionization Methods for Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Wang Beixi , Dearring Chenelle L. , Wager-Miller James , Mackie Ken , Trimpin Sarah
Published: June 2015

Solvent assisted ionization inlet (SAII) and matrix assisted ionization vacuum (MAIV) were used to quantify rapidly an antipsychotic drug, clozapine, directly from surfaces with minimal sample preparation. This simple surface analysis method based on SAII- and MAIV-mass spectrometry (MS) was developed to allow the detection of endogenous lipids, metabolites, and clozapine directly from sections of mouse brain tissue. A rapid surface assessment was achieved by SAII with the assistance of heat applied to the mass spectrometer inlet. MAIV provided an improved reproducibility without the need of a heated inlet. In addition, isotope dilution and standard addition were used without sample clean-up, and the results correlate well with liquid chromatography tandem MS using sample work-up. Using the simple surface methods, standard solutions containing clozapine and a deuterated internal standard (clozapine-d8) at different concentration ratios were used in the extraction and quantification of clozapine from brain tissue sections of a drug-treated mouse using different tissue thicknesses. The amount of clozapine extracted by these surface methods was independent of tissue thickness.
Structural Characterization of Arginine Vasopressin and Lysine Vasopressin by Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry and Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation
Authors: Bianco Giuliana , Battista Fabio G. , Buchicchio Alessandro , Amarena Concetta G. , Schmitt-Kopplin Philippe , Guerrieri Antonio
Published: June 2015

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and lysine vasopressin (LVP) were analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography mass spectrometry using Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS) electrospray ionization (ESI) in the positive ion mode. LVP and AVP exhibited the protonated adduct [M + H]+ as the predominant ion at m/z 1056.43965 and at m/z 1084.44561, respectively. Infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), using a CO2 laser source at a wavelength of 10.6 μm, was applied to protonated vasopressin molecules. The IRMPD mass spectra presented abundant mass fragments essential for a complete structural information. Several fragment ions, shared between two target molecules, are discussed in detail. Some previously unpublished fragments were identified unambiguously utilizing the high-resolution and accurate mass information provided by the FT-ICR mass spectrometer. The opening of the disulfide loop and the cleavage of the peptide bonds within the ring were observed even under low-energy fragmentation conditions. Coupling the high-performance FT-ICR mass spectrometer with IRMPD as a contemporary fragmentation technique proved to be very promising for the structural characterization of vasopressin.
Gas-Phase Tyrosine-to-cysteine Radical Migration in Model Systems
Authors: Lesslie Michael , Osburn Sandra , van Stipdonk Michael J , Ryzhov Victor
Published: June 2015

Radical migration, both intramolecular and intermolecular, from the tyrosine phenoxyl radical Tyr(O•) to the cysteine radical Cys(S•) in model peptide systems was observed in the gas phase. Ion–molecule reactions (IMRs) between the radical cation of homotyrosine and propyl thiol resulted in a fast hydrogen atom transfer. In addition, radical cations of the peptide LysTyrCys were formed via two different methods, affording regiospecific production of Tyr(O•) or Cys(S•) radicals. Collision-induced dissociation of these isomeric species displayed evidence of radical migration from the oxygen to sulfur, but not for the reverse process. This was supported by theoretical calculations, which showed the Cys(S•) radical slightly lower in energy than the Tyr(O•) isomer. IMRs of the LysTyrCys radical cation with allyl iodide further confirmed these findings. A mechanism for radical migration involving a proton shuttle by the C-terminal carboxylic group is proposed.
Unveiling the Intricacies of the Curved-Field Ion Mirror
Authors: Mächler Lars , Filippov Igor , Derrick Peter J.
Published: June 2015

In time-of-flight (ToF) mass spectrometry, non-linear ion mirrors, i.e. mirrors that produce a non-linear potential in which the ions fly, can focus ions exhibiting a very broad kinetic energy distribution. Besides the quadratic potential, the so-called curved field has been used in mirrors as a non-linear potential over the past 20 years. The curved field has, however, only been loosely defined. The focusing properties of the curved field appear to have never been mathematically investigated and explained. In this work, we put forward a rigid definition of the curved field and investigate the properties of it in terms of focusing and transmission. This rigid definition shows the curved field as a two-parameter function for a given mirror length and maximum potential, which can be optimized in terms of ToF distribution/resolution. Such an optimization was performed in one-dimension (1D) by solving the ToF integral equation numerically. The characteristics of optimized configurations arrived at through a comparison with mirrors with polynomial distance–potential relationships are assessed. These optimised solutions cannot be approximated in 1D by a common set of polynomial terms. There are optimised configurations affording ideal energy focussing, but on closer inspection, these potential distributions are found to be, in fact, quadratic potentials. There are other optimised solutions that afford good energy focussing in cases of there being significant field-free regions between the source/detector and the entrance to the mirror. Some of these configurations are approximated by a linear plus a quadratic term, others need higher-order terms to be approximated. To facilitate 3D investigation, the optimised solutions in 1D were used to set the initial voltages on electrodes in a rotationally symmetric mirror, which was modelled with the computer package SIMION 8.0. The SIMION ion-flight simulations revealed that the other optimised solutions with higher-order terms have the disadvantage of lowering the transmittance. That is to say, in 3D the configurations of the curved field, which give good resolution and transmittance with field-free regions between source/detector and mirror, can all be approximated by a potential consisting of a linear plus a quadratic term.
Reactive Matrices for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Primary Amines
Authors: Zaikin Vladimir G. , Borisov Roman S. , Polovkov Nikolai Yu. , Slyundina Mariya S.
Published: June 2015

Some aromatic carbonyl compounds [2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (2,4-DHBA), 2,5-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP), 2,3,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde and 2,4-dinitrobenzaldehyde] were examined as potential reactive matrices for the analysis of mono-, di-, and polyamines by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS). Although all the above compounds readily and quantitatively react with primary amines to form Schiff bases (the completeness of the reactions was proved by gas chromatography MS of derivatized aliphatic amines), only DHBA and DHAP provide efficient desorption/ionization under MALDI conditions. This means that two these aromatic carbonyl compounds can simultaneously exhibit properties of both derivatization agents and efficient matrices for MALDI-MS analysis. The use of such reactive matrices eliminates the need to perform additional derivatization experiments. With the aid of DHBA and DHAP, it was confirmed that each individual oligomer of polypropylene glycols and co-polyethylene/propylene glycols contained two terminal amino groups. To calculate the number of NH2 groups, mass increments of the introduced groups and a difference in the masses of cations attached to the initial and derivatized amines were used. The suggested approach, involving the application of the same reactive matrices, was applied to the determination of a number of NH2 groups in individual oligomers of branched polyethyleneimines (PEIs) by MALDI-MS. In this case, DHAP appeared to be the best reactive matrix. The dependence of the number of NH2 groups on the quantity of monomeric units and branching of each individual PEI oligomer is shown.
Review of the Characteristics and Prospects of near Infrared Spectroscopy for Rapid Drug-Screening Systems in China
Authors: Hu Changqin , Feng Yanchun , Yin Lihui
Published: June 2015

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technology as a powerful tool to combat counterfeit drugs has been accepted as a consensus by the international community. It has been about 10 years since we proposed establishing an NIR rapid drug-screening system in China. Since 2003, such screening systems in China have been gradually constructed, while their vital functions are being effectively fulfilled and improved. In this article, the developmental process for NIR rapid screening system has been systematically reviewed, and the primary technical characteristics and innovation are also discussed, yielding an insight into the prospects of this technology.
Partnership Management, Supply Chain Collaboration, and Firm Innovation Performance: An Empirical Examination
Authors: Hui Zhang , He-Cheng Wang , Min-Fei Zhou
Published: June 2015

Facing uncertain environments, firms have strived to achieve competitive advantage by partnership management and supply chain collaboration. The objective of the research is to uncover the nature of partnership management and explore its impact on supply chain collaboration and firm innovation performance. The research divides partnership management into three stages: partnership selection, partnership establishment, and partnership sustention. The research constructs the influence mechanism of partnership management on supply chain collaboration and innovation performance. By questionnaire of 133 manufacturing enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta of China, and using SPSS statistical analysis, the empirical results show that partnership selection, partnership establishment, and partnership sustention have significantly positive influence on supply chain collaboration and innovation performance; supply chain collaboration has a complete mediating effect between partnership election, partnership establishment, and innovation performance; and supply chain collaboration has a partial mediating effect between partnership sustention and innovation performance. The research reveals the construct mechanism of firms’ improving innovation performance through partnership management.
The Impact of the ObamaCare Excise Tax on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Early Empirical Findings
Authors: Singh Max Diamond , Russ Jochen , Terzidis Orestis
Published: June 2015

This study addresses aspects of governmental influence on innovation by analyzing the impact of the ObamaCare excise tax on the medical device industry. We initially give an overview of common approaches to measuring innovativeness and entrepreneurship, empirically assess whether existing metrics are suitable for investigating the innovation performance of the U.S. medical device industry, and define a new measure (firm innovation activity) for entrepreneurship. Then we perform a quantitative analysis to explore the impact of the tax. We analyze more than 60,000 product clearances from 1996 to 2013, using the FDA database. We find a significant relationship between product counts and revenues for one segment. Contrary to the present criticism of the excise tax, we find hardly any noteworthy response in either firm innovation activity or number of products launched in the year after the tax was introduced. The 2013 reduction of new product submissions is well within the limits of typical annual fluctuations observed in previous years. This provides a first indication that the excise tax act did not have a strong impact on innovative activities through the present.
The structure of the SOLE element of oskar mRNA
Authors: Simon Bernd , Masiewicz Pawel , Ephrussi Anne , Carlomagno Teresa
Published: June 2015

mRNA localization by active transport is a regulated process that requires association of mRNPs with protein motors for transport along either the microtubule or the actin cytoskeleton. oskar mRNA localization at the posterior pole of the Drosophila oocyte requires a specific mRNA sequence, termed the SOLE, which comprises nucleotides of both exon 1 and exon 2 and is assembled upon splicing. The SOLE folds into a stem–loop structure. Both SOLE RNA and the exon junction complex (EJC) are required for oskar mRNA transport along the microtubules by kinesin. The SOLE RNA likely constitutes a recognition element for a yet unknown protein, which either belongs to the EJC or functions as a bridge between the EJC and the mRNA. Here, we determine the solution structure of the SOLE RNA by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. We show that the SOLE forms a continuous helical structure, including a few noncanonical base pairs, capped by a pentanucleotide loop. The helix displays a widened major groove, which could accommodate a protein partner. In addition, the apical helical segment undergoes complex dynamics, with potential functional significance.
Case Report: Neuropathic pain in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain
Authors: Wheeler Daniel W. , Lee Michael C.H. , Harrison E. Katherine , Menon David K. , Woods C. Geoffrey
Published: June 2015

We report a unique case of a woman with Channelopathy-associated Insensitivity to Pain (CIP) Syndrome, who developed features of neuropathic pain after sustaining pelvic fractures and an epidural hematoma that impinged on the right fifth lumbar (L5) nerve root. Her pelvic injuries were sustained during painless labor, which culminated in a Cesarean section. She had been diagnosed with CIP as child, which was later confirmed when she was found to have null mutations of the SCN9A gene that encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7. She now complains of troubling continuous buzzing in both legs and a vice-like squeezing in the pelvis on walking. Quantitative sensory testing showed that sensory thresholds to mechanical stimulation of the dorsum of both feet had increased more than 10-fold on both sides compared with tests performed before her pregnancy. These findings fulfill the diagnostic criteria for neuropathic pain. Notably, she mostly only experiences the negative symptoms (such as numbness and tingling, but also electric shocks), and she has not reported sharp or burning sensations, although the value of verbal descriptors is somewhat limited in a person who has never felt pain before. However, her case strongly suggests that at least some of the symptoms of neuropathic pain can persist despite the absence of the Nav1.7 channel. Pain is a subjective experience and this case sheds light on the transmission of neuropathic pain in humans that cannot be learned from knockout mice.
Social Capital and Contract Duration in Buyer-Supplier Networks for Information Technology Outsourcing
Authors: Ravindran Kiron , Susarla Anjana , Mani Deepa , Gurbaxani Vijay
Published: June 2015

This paper presents new evidence on the role of embeddedness in predicting contract duration in the context of information technology outsourcing. Contract duration is a strategic decision that aligns interests of clients and vendors, providing the benefits of business continuity to clients and incentives to undertake relationship specific investments for vendors. Considering the salience of this phenomenon, there has been limited empirical scrutiny of how contract duration is awarded. We posit that clients and vendors obtain two benefits from being embedded in an interorganizational network. First, the learning and experience accumulated from being embedded in a client-vendor network could mitigate the challenges in managing longer term contracts. Second, the network serves as a reputation system that can stratify vendors according to their trustworthiness and reliability, which is important in longer term arrangements. In particular, we attempt to make a substantive contribution to the literature by theorizing about embeddedness at four distinct levels: structural embeddedness at the node level, relational embeddedness at the dyad level, contractual embeddedness at the level of a neighborhood of contracts, and finally, positional embeddedness at the level of the entire network. We analyze a data set of 22,039 outsourcing contracts implemented between 1989 and 2008. We find that contract duration is indeed associated with structural and positional embeddedness of participant firms, with the relational embeddedness of the buyer-seller dyad, and with the duration of other contracts to which it is connected through common firms. Given the nature of our data, identification using traditional ordinary least squares based approaches is difficult given the unobserved errors clustered along two nonnested dimensions and the autocorrelation in a firm’s decision (here the contract) with those of contracts in its reference group. We use a multiway cluster robust estimation and a network auto-regressive estimation to address these issues. Implications for literature and practice are discussed.
The Road to Early Success: Impact of System Use in the Swift Response Phase
Authors: Tong Yu , Tan Sharon Swee-Lin , Teo Hock-Hai
Published: June 2015

When an enterprise system is introduced, system users often experience a performance dip as they struggle with the unfamiliar system. Appropriately managing this phase, which we term as the swift response phase (SRP), is vital given its prominent impact on the eventual success of the system. Yet, there is a glaring lack of studies that examine the SRP. Drawing on sensemaking theory and early postadoptive literature, this study seeks to propose a theory-driven model to understand how different support structures facilitate different forms of use-related activities to induce a positive performance in the SRP. The model was tested through a two-stage survey involving 329 nurses. The results demonstrated the discriminating alignment between information system (IS) use-related activity and support structures in enhancing system users’ work performance in the SRP. Specifically, suitability of impersonal support moderated the effects of standardized system use and individual adaption on performance, whereas availability of personal support only moderated the effect of nonstandardized system use on performance. For moderating role of personal support, IS specialists support had a lower influence than peer-champion support and peer-user support. This study contributes to the extant literature by (1) conceptualizing the turbulent SRP, (2) applying sensemaking theory to the initial postadoptive stage, (3) adding to the theoretical debate on the value of system use, and (4) unveiling the distinct roles of support structures under different types of use activities. Practical suggestions are provided for organizational management and policy makers to deal with the complexities in the SRP.
Cable News Wars on the Internet: Competition and User-Generated Content
Authors: Sabnis Gaurav , Grewal Rajdeep
Published: June 2015

Academics and practitioners alike recognize that user-generated content (UGC), such as blog posts, help not only predict but also boost performance (e.g., sales). However, the role of competition in the UGC domain is not well understood. Building on extant research pertaining to the UGC-performance relationship, the authors document empirical evidence for a relationship between competitor UGC and focal firm performance. Data from a 30-week period describe the viewership of competing cable news shows on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC during the 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. time slots. They find evidence of a statistically significant relationship between competitor UGC and viewership and of heterogeneity in the direction of these competitive relationships, positive in some time slots and negative in others. The predictive power of UGC for viewership is enhanced by 3% to 5% simply by incorporating competitors’ UGC, in addition to a show’s own UGC. Thus, the study, as well as formulation of UGC-related marketing strategies, should incorporate competitive relationships.
Research Note—Migration of Service to the Internet: Evidence from a Federal Natural Experiment
Authors: Hui Kai-Lung , Png I. P. L.
Published: June 2015

Previous research into consumer choice of service channels studied the impact of online access as an addition to conventional service. Here, we study the impact of a compulsory migration to an online channel. We exploit a natural experiment in the implementation of a new federal government service to identify the causal effect of access channel on consumer choice. The government served western states through the Internet and telephone at all times. However, for the first 10 days, the government served the East through the Internet only. Comparing consumer responses in the East (only Internet service available) and West (both Internet and telephone service available), we find robust evidence that some consumers preferred telephone access. The unavailability of telephone service in the first 10 days resulted in a 4.3% loss of consumers who were otherwise interested in the service.
The ketogenic diet in drug-resistant epilepsies
Authors: Southern Liam , Fitzsimmons Georgiana , Cross Helen
Published: June 2015

The ketogenic diet (KD) is an established treatment that has been used in the management of drug-resistant epilepsies for a number of years. Research highlights that the dietary treatment has been effective for children with drug-resistant epilepsy; also, more recent studies have shown an anticonvulsant response when treating children with refractory status epilepticus. Within this paper, a number of aspects of the ketogenic diet have been reviewed, such as content and timing. This includes what patient cohorts should be considered for the ketogenic diet, how the assessment process is conducted and when is best for the diet to be considered. Further clinical guidance is discussed, such as side effects of the diet and ongoing care and monitoring, including the role of the nurse.
The Ostomy Life Study: the everyday challenges faced by people living with a stoma in a snapshot
Authors: Claessens Ineke , Probert Rosalind , Tielemans Chantal , Steen Anne , Nilsson Caroline , Andersen Birgitte Dissing , Størling Zenia M
Published: June 2015

The aim of the Ostomy Life Study was to get a better understanding of the challenges that people living with a stoma face in their everyday livee. With more than 4000 participants from 11 countries, the study provides a wealth of information covering all age groups, stoma types, stoma products and a variety of cultures. The result shows that the majority of ostomates have issues related to leakage and ballooning which, among other things, have a negative effect on sleep, or lead to unplanned appliance changes for approximately 40% of the respondents. Two-piece users are concerned specifically about coupling failure and the associated consequences. The results can be used to provide guidance in everyday stoma care and in development of new products.
The development of nurse-led bowel dysfunction clinics in Saudi Arabia: against all odds
Authors: Hibbert Denise , Rafferty Louise
Published: June 2015

Around the world, nurse-led clinics are commonly introduced within health-care settings to reduce waiting times, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce health-care costs. The importance of improving or maintaining a high standard of patient-centred care must not be forgotten. The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia has yet to call on nurses to provide nurse-led clinics to meet national health-care requirements. Furthermore, advanced nursing practice is yet to be defined, legislated or regulated. Despite this, patient needs are driving the advancement of nursing practice, including the development of nurse-led clinics. This article will describe the development of a nurse-led bowel dysfunction clinic in a tertiary referral centre in Saudi Arabia and will discuss the benefits.
Alcohol and why we should care for the public's health
Authors: Clayton Michelle , Rolland Mike , Bosanquet Joanne
Published: June 2015

It is a national priority to ensure that the population is as healthy as possible. Drinking alcohol is an accepted norm within society; however, increased alcohol consumption has many negative impacts. Nurses and midwives can help to identify those individuals with risk factors for alcohol misuse through increased awareness of impinging factors and alcohol screening. This article will introduce some tools for alcohol screening and some initiatives taking place in the UK.