bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FcRn Expression on Placenta and Fetal Jejunum during Early, Mid-, and Late Gestation in Minipigs
Authors: Jacobsen Björn , Hill Marilyn , Reynaud Lucie , Hey Adam , Barrow Paul
Published: October 2015

Developmental toxicity testing of therapeutic antibodies is most often conducted in nonhuman primates owing to lack of cross-reactivity in other species. Minipigs may show cross-reactivity for some humanized antibodies but have not been used for developmental toxicity testing due to an assumed lack of embryo-fetal exposure. Unlike in humans, maternal IgGs do not cross the porcine placenta to reach the fetus. Some humanized IgGs, however, have a higher affinity for the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and are more likely than endogenous antibodies to cross the placenta of animals. The major site of prenatal IgG transfer is the placenta, though FcRn in fetal intestine could also uptake maternal IgGs from swallowed amniotic fluid. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in this experiment, FcRn was found in minipig placenta and fetal intestine during early, mid-, and late gestation. To date, however, fetal exposure to maternally administered IgGs has never been demonstrated in the minipig.
Meganucleases Revolutionize the Production of Genetically Engineered Pigs for the Study of Human Diseases
Authors: Redel Bethany K. , Prather Randall S.
Published: October 2015

Animal models of human diseases are critically necessary for developing an in-depth knowledge of disease development and progression. In addition, animal models are vital to the development of potential treatments or even cures for human diseases. Pigs are exceptional models as their size, physiology, and genetics are closer to that of humans than rodents. In this review, we discuss the use of pigs in human translational research and the evolving technology that has increased the efficiency of genetically engineering pigs. With the emergence of the clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein 9 system technology, the cost and time it takes to genetically engineer pigs has markedly decreased. We will also discuss the use of another meganuclease, the transcription activator–like effector nucleases , to produce pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency by developing targeted modifications of the recombination activating gene 2 ( RAG2). RAG2 mutant pigs may become excellent animals to facilitate the development of xenotransplantation, regenerative medicine, and tumor biology. The use of pig biomedical models is vital for furthering the knowledge of, and for treating human, diseases.
Accounting for globalization: evaluating the potential effectiveness of country-by-country reporting
Authors: Wójcik Dariusz
Published: October 2015

The new European Union Accounting and Capital Requirements directives and the US Dodd-Frank Act include provisions on country-by-country reporting, which significantly improve the availability of geographical information on corporate activities. They are, however, a far cry from the idea of full country-by-country reporting, which involves the publication of simplified financial statements by companies for each country in which they operate. This paper outlines the trajectory of the political struggle for countryby- country reporting, and presents an exploratory analysis of potential effectiveness of different versions of country-by-country reporting in terms of policy objectives, the nature of information, as well as the behavior of users and disclosers. It argues that although partial country-by-country reporting offers benefits for the fight against corruption and the assessment of corporate reputational risks by investors and other stakeholders, full country-by-country reporting could offer a greater value to investors and other users, and make a change in disclosers' behavior more likely.
Public entrepreneurship and the politics of regeneration in multi-level governance
Authors: Catney Philip , Henneberry John M
Published: October 2015

The paper uses a case study of urban regeneration policy in Sheffield, UK, to explore local public entrepreneurship in a system of multi-level governance. Recent analyses of public entrepreneurs have directed attention to the macro-political structural and institutional conditions that enable and constrain these actors, and to their individual characteristics and attributes. The stress has been on the national level and on individual action at the expense of the agency of local networks of entrepreneurs. In order to address this lacuna, we consider how local policy entrepreneurs work across governance levels and develop ideas, institutional structures and support in pursuit of their goals, using Kingdon's notion of policy streams as a vehicle for our analysis. We highlight the contingent and path-dependent nature of such entrepreneurship. In particular, we identify the temporal sequencing of agenda shifts and entrepreneurial actions as a crucial aspect of the policy process.
The other end of the spectrum: municipal climate change mitigation planning in the politically conservative Dallas–Fort Worth region
Authors: Foss Ann W , Howard Jeff
Published: October 2015

Among the growing number of studies describing and evaluating municipal-scale programs to mitigate global climate change, relatively little attention has been given to municipalities that are not leading such efforts or to municipalities in politically conservative regions. Our research examines climate-relevant municipal planning in a structured sample of communities across the largely conservative Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. Using data from planning documents and staff interviews, we evaluate the prevalence and vigor of numerous mitigation-relevant activities. We characterize the target municipalities according to a new typology addressing the maturation of local climate action. We find that in this politically conservative region communities are clustered toward the laggard end of the typology—away from the advanced end—and for the first time in the climate planning literature we identify several faltering emergent communities, whose nascent climate protection initiatives appear to have stalled.
National reading tests in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden: A comparison of construct definitions, cognitive targets, and response formats
Authors: Tengberg Michael
Published: October 2015

Reading comprehension tests are often assumed to measure the same, or at least similar, constructs. Yet, reading is not a single but a multidimensional form of processing, which means that variations in terms of reading material and item design may emphasize one aspect of the construct at the cost of another. The educational systems in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden share a number of traits, and in the recent decade, the development of national test instruments, especially for reading, has been highly influenced by international surveys of student achievement. In this study, national tests of L1 reading comprehension in secondary school in the three Scandinavian countries are compared in order to reveal the present range of diversity/commonality within the three test domains. The analysis employs both qualitative and quantitative aspects of data, including frameworks, text samples, task samples, and scoring guidelines from 2011 to 2014. Findings indicate that the three tests differ substantially from each other, not only in terms of the intentional and operative constructs of reading to be measured, but also in terms of testing methods and stability over time. Implications for the future development of reading comprehension assessment are discussed.
Breast parenchymal signal enhancement ratio at preoperative magnetic resonance imaging: association with early recurrence in triple-negative breast cancer patients
Authors: Park Vivian Youngjean , Kim Eun-Kyung , Kim Min Jung , Yoon Jung Hyun , Moon Hee Jung
Published: October 2015

Background

The signal enhancement ratio (SER) of surrounding non-tumor parenchyma at breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be helpful in breast cancer patients, but has not been investigated in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Purpose

To investigate the association between background parenchymal SER around the tumor on preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with recurrence-free survival in patients with TNBC.

Material and Methods

Between April 2012 and May 2013, 71 TNBC patients who underwent preoperative MRI were included. SER values were calculated from regions of interest placed in the breast parenchyma around the tumor. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine associations between MRI variables, clinical-pathologic variables, and recurrence-free survival.

Results

Recurrence occurred in 8.5% (6/71) of patients. At univariate analysis, a higher SER around the tumor, larger tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, receipt of total mastectomy, and not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with worse recurrence-free survival. At multivariate analysis of preoperative variables, a higher SER around the tumor was independently associated with worse recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 7.072, P = 0.003 for SER1; HR = 6.268, P = 0.006 for SER2; HR = 3.004, P = 0.039 for SER3).

Conclusion

Higher SER around the tumor at preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is an independent predictor for recurrence in TNBC patients.
Unraveling the Determinants of Fear of Crime Among Men and Women in Istanbul: Examining the Impact of Perceived Risk and Fear of Sexual Assault
Authors: Özaşçılar Mine , Ziyalar Neylan
Published: October 2015

Studies have examined university students’ fear of crime focusing on the relationship between the fear of sexual assault and fear of other crimes, termed the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis; however, no study to date has examined the shadow thesis in a Turkish context. Drawing on the shadow thesis, using a sample of 723 university students in Istanbul, this study focuses on the effect of fear of sexual assault and perceived risk of crime to general fear of crime among university students in Istanbul. Also, the predictors of fear of crime are explored to examine the relationship between lifestyle characteristics, constrained behaviors, and fear. The findings of the study supported the shadow thesis, indicating that fear of sexual assault shaped the nonsexual crimes, especially crimes involving face-to-face confrontations between the victim and offender. Furthermore, lifestyle characteristics are correlated with the men’s fear of nonsexual crimes, particularly fear of robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary home.
Evolution of Management of Intracranial Aneurysms in Children
Authors: Beez Thomas , Steiger Hans-Jakob , Hänggi Daniel
Published: October 2015

Pediatric intracranial aneurysms are rare. Management of their more common adult counterparts was profoundly influenced by recent high-quality clinical studies. The aim of this review was to aggregate the modern pediatric data published in the wake of these studies and to analyze their impact on management of aneurysms in children. A systematic PubMed search identified 135 publications published between 2000 and 2015, accounting for 573 children and 656 aneurysms. Descriptive statistical analyses revealed differences between children and adults concerning demographics and aneurysm characteristics. A significant proportion of patients were treated endovascularly, suggesting endovascular treatment has been established in the therapeutic armamentarium for pediatric aneurysms. However, these data highlight the unique nature of pediatric aneurysms, and neither this review nor generalization from adult data can replace high-quality clinical research. Multicenter registries and controlled trials are required to establish the natural history and evidence-based treatment of pediatric aneurysms.
Revision of Breastfeeding Guidelines in the Setting of Maternal Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Wachman Elisha M. , Saia Kelley , Humphreys Robin , Minear Susan , Combs Ginny , Philipp Barbara L.
Published: October 2015

Breastfeeding is recommended for women with opioid use disorder who are treated with methadone or buprenorphine. Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) secondary to in-utero opioid exposure have unique challenges related to breastfeeding but also have significant benefits including improved NAS symptoms with a decreased need for pharmacotherapy. Poor understanding of substance use disorder and treatment, lack of evidence-based recommendations, and vague guidelines from national academies create controversy about breastfeeding eligibility for these women. Defining breastfeeding guidelines is often difficult, particularly in large institutions with multiple providers caring for the mother–infant dyad. Based on the available evidence and review of our institutional data, we revised our breastfeeding guidelines for mothers with opioid use disorder. The aims of our new guidelines are (a) to safely promote breastfeeding in all mothers with opioid use disorder who are in recovery, (b) to improve NAS outcomes through use of breastfeeding as a key nonpharmacologic treatment modality, and (c) to improve staff communication and consistency on the subject of breastfeeding in this patient population.
Comparison study on green coupling agents from different type of plants oil for agrowaste-based thermoplastic composites
Authors: Chun Koay Seong , Husseinsyah Salmah
Published: October 2015

In the present work, a different green coupling agent (GCA) was developed from virgin coconut oil (GCA-C). The GCA-C were a kind of glycidyl fatty acid ester which are reactive to natural filler. A comparison between GCA made from palm oil (GCA-P) and coconut oil (GCA-C) was studied. The results indicated the tensile strength and tensile modulus of composites increased with increasing the GCA content, and the 3 wt% of GCA content was the optimum content to achieve maximum improvement. Meanwhile, the increased GCA content slightly reduced the elongation at break of composites, but the elongation at break increased at 5 wt% of GCA content. The GCA-C had better performance in improving interfacial adhesion compared to GCA-P due to different fatty acid content. The micrographs of scanning electron microscope evidenced that the modified cocoa pod husk (CPH) with 3 wt% GCA had better filler–matrix adhesion with polypropylene matrix.
Effects of low poly(vinyl alcohol) content on properties of biodegradable blowing films based on two modified starches
Authors: Wang Wentao , Zhang Hui , Dai Yangyong , Hou Hanxue , Dong Haizhou
Published: October 2015

Biodegradable films from hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (HPDSP)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cationic starch/PVA blends were obtained by extrusion blowing at ratios of 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, and 80:20. The morphology, X-ray patterns, transparency, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films were measured and compared. Scanning electron microscopic micrographs of the films showed continuous matrix texture as well as better compatibility between modified starches and PVA. X-Ray diffraction indicated the formation of ordered crystalline structures in the films during extrusion blowing. The addition of PVA to modified starches significantly increased their tensile strength (TS, 3.92 MPa) while decreasing their water vapor permeability (WVP, 3.23 × 10−10 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1). The starch/PVA composite films did not show phase separation.
‘The naughty person’: Exploring dynamic aspects of identity and children’s discourses before and during the Libyan Uprising
Authors: Barley Ruth , Merchant Guy
Published: October 2015

This article draws on data from an ethnography exploring young children’s interactions in a multi-ethnic school in an urban area in the North of England. It focuses on the ways in which children explore and negotiate their identities against the shifting backdrop of local and global discourses about religion, race, gender and political change. In particular, we explore how children of the Libyan diaspora take up the semiotic resources available to them in their daily negotiations about identity. We show how through their spoken interactions, drawings and writings the children perform identities dialogically, with each other and with adult professionals, talking about salient issues of religious, cultural and national heritage before and during the Libyan Uprising in 2011. Using McFarlane’s concept of ‘translocal assemblages’, we show how discourses and media narratives that circulate among diasporic communities provide a set of resources that children use to make sense of themselves in local contexts.
Theoretical and experimental investigation of shaping process of circular metal tubes into triangular columns by the elastoforming method
Authors: Niknejad Abbas , Amirhosseini Seyed Ghaem , Setoudeh Nader
Published: October 2015

In this article, a new manufacturing method is introduced to shape circular tubes into columns with triangular cross-section by the elastoforming process. Also, a theoretical analysis is performed to derive a theoretical formula for predicting total dissipated energy that is required for the forming process. For this purpose, V-shape dies with different angles are designed and some aluminum and brazen tubes with different characteristics are prepared. The circular tubes in the empty and filled conditions are compressed between a rigid V-shape die and a flat punch, and during the plastic deformation under the lateral loading, the tubes are shaped into the triangular sections. Considering different tube lengths, outer diameters and wall thicknesses, the specimens are categorized. Also, some of the samples are filled by cylindrical polyethylene Teflon with different thicknesses to investigate the effects of Teflon-filler on the shaping process of the triangular columns. The experiments show that using the cylindrical Teflon-filler, deformation mode of the triangular tubes improves, significantly. In addition, experimental observations of the deformation modes illustrate that there is an optimum value for wall thickness of cylindrical Teflon-filler and the tubes with the optimum Teflon-filler forms close to desirable triangular shape. The results show that by increasing tube wall thickness, probability of crack initiation and fracture reduces. Furthermore, comparison of estimations by the presented theory and the corresponding experimental measurements show an acceptable agreement, in both of empty and filled conditions.
An experimental investigation on the dissimilar joining of AA6061 and 1Cr18Ni9Ti by refill friction stir spot welding and its mechanical properties
Authors: Qiao Fengbin , Cheng Kai , Wang Lianfeng , Guo Lijie
Published: October 2015

This article presents an industrial feasible approach to robustly joining dissimilar materials of AA6061-T6 and 1Cr18Ni9Ti using refill friction stir spot welding processes and the associated joints assessment. The microstructure and shear strength property tests are taken on the dissimilar joints of 2-mm-thick plates. The results indicate that the microstructure change of the joints can be categorized in stir zone, heat-affected zone, thermomechanically affected zone and base material. The 1Cr18Ni9Ti material is squeezed toward the 6061-T6 material and forms the hook tissue, which enhances the mechanical properties of the refill friction stir spot welding–enabled joints of two dissimilar materials. The shear strength of the joints increases at first and then decreases with increase in the tool rotational speed, the indentation depth, the axial force and welding time. When the welding process is carried out at the tool rotational speed of 1800 r/min, indentation depth of 2.3 mm, the axial force of 15.65 kN and the welding time in 7.5 s, the maximum shear strength of the joints can be achieved as being able to take the loading of 8650 N as experimentally tested.
A wavelet approach to predict surface roughness in ball-end milling
Authors: Tangjitsitcharoen Somkiat , Thesniyom Prae , Ratanakuakangwan Suthas
Published: October 2015

This research proposed an advance in the prediction of the in-process surface roughness during the ball-end milling process by utilizing the wavelet transform to monitor and decompose the dynamic cutting forces. The chatter detection system has been adopted from the previous research of the author to avoid the chatter first, and hence, the dynamic cutting force ratio is introduced to predict the in-process surface roughness during the normal cutting by taking the ratio of the decomposed dynamic cutting force in X axis to that in Z axis. The Daubechies wavelet transform is employed in this research to analyze the in-process surface roughness. The experimentally obtained results showed that the surface roughness frequency occurred at the same level of the decomposed dynamic cutting forces although the cutting conditions are changed. It is understood that the in-process surface roughness can be predicted effectively under various cutting conditions referring to the proposed monitoring system.
A novel method of increasing ceramic shell permeability and optimizing casting shrinkage and tensile strength of the investment cast parts
Authors: Pattnaik Sarojrani , Jha Pradeep K , Karunakar D Benny
Published: October 2015

This study explores about enhancing the permeability of the ceramic shells used in the investment casting process using cheaply available sawdust particles. An increase in shell’s permeability augments the cooling rate of the casting which enhances its mechanical properties. It was found that the inclusion of sawdust particles into the ceramic slurries exhibited positive impact on the shell’s permeability. It is a well-known fact that electromagnetic stirring process increases the mechanical properties of the castings, but its effect on casting shrinkage has never been realized. Thus, this study further throws light on the impact of electromagnetic stirring in reducing the shrinkage and improving the tensile strength of the casting. In a nutshell, it was found that the final product quality of the investment cast part improved by the combinational treatments adopted in this research work.
Single-point incremental forming of sheet metals: Experimental study and numerical simulation
Authors: Benedetti Matteo , Fontanari Vigilio , Monelli Bernardo , Tassan Marco
Published: October 2015

In this article, the single-point incremental forming of sheet metals made of micro-alloyed steel and Al alloy is investigated by combining the results of numerical simulation and experimental characterization, performed during the process, as well as on the final product. A finite element model was developed to perform the process simulation, based on an explicit dynamic time integration scheme. The finite element outcomes were validated by comparison with experimental results. In particular, forming forces during the process, as well as the final shape and strain distribution on the finished component, were measured. The obtained results showed the capability of the finite element modelling to predict the material deformation process. This can be considered as a starting point for the reliable definition of the single-point incremental forming process parameters, thus avoiding expensive trial-and-error approaches, based on extensive experimental campaigns, with beneficial effects on production time.
Effect of operating parameters on plate bending by laser line heating
Authors: Das Biplab , Biswas Pankaj
Published: October 2015

Laser line heating is a plate bending technique. It is produced due to the heating effect of a laser beam when irradiated over a suitable heating path. In this work, the effect on angular deformation under different operating parameters, such as energy (in terms of laser power), scanning speed and number of passes along with the thickness of the substrate material, was studied under straight line scanning schemes. In this experiment, CO2 laser has been used and the substrate material used is the mild steel sheet. The effect of each operating parameter was taken into account to find the optimum process parameter. The design of experiment has been applied with the help of Taguchi method, and the results were obtained and analysed with the help of analysis of variance and Taguchi analysis (signal-to-noise ratio), for the determination of the optimized values of the operating parameters with their effect towards angular deformation in the process. A regression analysis also has also been performed to obtain a suitable co-relationship between bending angle and other operating parameters.
Dark modernism: Champroux’s nocturnal vision of Brussels
Authors: Hommelen Ruth
Published: October 2015

In 1935 the photo journalist and cameraman Georges Champroux (1899–1983) assembled 19 black-and-white photographs in a portfolio entitled Bruxelles la nuit, which in many regards recalls Brassaï’s famous Paris de nuit. Whereas most night photography of the period celebrates electrical light, speed and metropolitan life, Champroux’s portfolio expresses a different urban narrative. The Brussels he shows is tranquil, intimate, dark and full of mystery. This paper argues that Champroux’s and Brassaï’s photographs were not only a reaction against the radical changes the city underwent at the time, but were also symptoms of the emerging tendency towards a more humane modernism.
The screen student-prostitute, a twenty-first-century discourse: Mes chères études (2010), Elles (2011), Jeune et jolie (2013)
Authors: Wallenbrock Nicole Beth
Published: October 2015

This article traces the student-prostitute from its 2008 inception in the popular press, and follows its emergence on screen in three recent fiction films. Through close readings and historical contextualisation, I dissect the iconic figure: while the first French student-prostitute film Mes chères études exposes the economic desperation of students and the efficiency of the part-time work with a Marxist gloss, the films that follow, Elles and Jeune et jolie, diminish the students’ financial need. Conversely and increasingly we find students desiring sex with their clients perhaps more than money. As the films depict young, educated, French-speaking, future professionals who subtly approach clients via text messages and emails, we also find a nostalgic, nationalistic portrait that defends the age-old profession. In fact Sarkozy claimed in a 2002 Senate address that prostitution was once ‘traditional’, and largely French, while now 80 per cent of prostitutes are immigrants from Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. The films also incorporate the demands of the growing sex-worker movement; the students work autonomously and by choice; and the violence they endure (which the films depict with diminishing frequency) does not cause any obvious psychological or physical harm.
Communicable Diseases: Graphic Medicine and the Extreme
Authors: Nayar Pramod K.
Published: October 2015

This article examines a new mode of communicating illness: graphic medicine or auto/pathography, biographies and autobiographies about the experience of illness (one’s own or that of another), written in comics form. In auto/pathography, the extreme condition of chronic pain or illness intrudes into the everyday, and the representation of this extreme is the subject of the article. The article demonstrates how the extreme is constituted by multiple temporalities, new protocols of engagement with everyday objects, the eversion of interiority, even as the narrative is cast as a sentimental one. Finally, it also unpacks the attempts by the sick to retain or assert a measure of agency in the face of illness.
Consumer Tweets about Brands: A Content Analysis of Sentiment Tweets about Goods and Services
Authors: Hornikx Jos , Hendriks Berna
Published: October 2015

Social media allow consumers to easily share positive or negative information about a brand with other consumers, for instance, through Twitter. Such Twitter use is a source of information that may affect the brand reputation. Therefore, it is important to gain more understanding of how Twitter is employed to evaluate brands and to communicate these evaluations with others. Previous research on Twitter use has shown that tweets about brands are more likely to be positive than negative. The present study integrates an agenda-setting perspective with studies on word of mouth and services marketing, which have suggested that this finding may be different for services than for goods. A quantitative content analysis of 1,920 Dutch tweets for 24 different brands was performed. The analysis showed that services received significantly more negative sentiment tweets than products. Implications of these results for monitoring consumers are discussed.
The Effects of Candidate’s Ethnic Source Cue and Party Affiliation on Hispanic Voters’ Homophily Perceptions and Voting Intent
Authors: Yang Kenneth C.C. , Erives Ricardo Alejandro , Kang Yowei
Published: October 2015

Because of the rapid demographic shifts in the United States (US), it is vital to examine how voters of different ethnic backgrounds perceive the ethnic source cue of a candidate in political advertising and how such perceptions influence voting behaviour. We used a post-test-only experiment to investigate the effects of candidate’s ethnic source cue and party affiliation on voters’ homophily perceptions and voting intent. A total of 335 college students from a large southwestern university in the US were recruited to take part in a post-test-only experiment. Results from multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) found that candidate’s ethnic source cue and party affiliation have significant main effects on voters’ homophily perceptions and voting intent. The moderating effects of voters’ own ethnicity, party identification and gender were also found to have statistically significant effects on voters’ homophily perceptions and voting intent. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Effectiveness of Celebrity Endorsement Advertisements: The Role of Customer Imitation Behaviour
Authors: Awasthi Ashwini K. , Choraria Sapna
Published: October 2015

This study explores the mediating role of customer imitation behaviour in the relationship between customer buying behaviour and determinants of effective celebrity endorsement advertisements. Along with major celebrity characteristics, the study has incorporated personal characteristics and characteristics of customers’ social environment as antecedents to imitation. The article shows that attractiveness and credibility of the celebrity affect the attitude towards advertisements through the mediating role of imitation behaviour, implying that celebrity advertisements can be created in ways that stimulate customer imitation. The article further demonstrates that celebrities for endorsements can be selected according to personal characteristics of the target audience. Finally, the study reinforces the role of attitude towards celebrity advertisement in shaping the purchase intentions of customers.
Functional Imaging Changes in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adult ADHD
Authors: Salavert José , Ramos-Quiroga Josep A. , Moreno-Alcázar Ana , Caseras Xavier , Palomar Gloria , Radua Joaquim , Bosch Rosa , Salvador Raymond , McKenna Peter J. , Casas Miquel , Pomarol-Clotet Edith
Published: October 2015

Objective: Functional imaging studies have found reduced frontal activity, mainly in dorso/ventro-lateral regions and reduced task-related de-activation of the default mode network in childhood ADHD. Adult studies are fewer and inconclusive. We aimed to investigate the potential neural bases of executive function in ADHD adults, examining brain activity during N-back task performance, and to explore the potential corrective effects of long-term methylphenidate treatment. Method: We recruited a large adult ADHD-combined sample and a matched control group and obtained functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) images during task. ADHD participants were subdivided in a group under long-term treatment with methylphenidate (washed out for the scan) and a treatment-naive group. Results: ADHD participants showed deficient de-activation of the medial prefrontal cortex during 2-back task, implying default mode network dysfunction. We found no relationship between blunted de-activation and treatment history. Conclusion: As de-activation failure in the medial frontal cortex is linked to lapses of attention, findings suggest a potential link to ADHD symptomatology.
Alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis: Long term follow-up in a multi-centre cohort
Authors: Willis MD , Harding KE , Pickersgill TP , Wardle M , Pearson OR , Scolding NJ , Smee J , Robertson NP
Published: October 2015

Background:

Alemtuzumab has recently been approved for treatment of relapsing MS, but concerns remain about its use since long-term studies of adverse events remain limited. Furthermore, a clear understanding of its application and durability of effect in clinical practice has yet to evolve.

Objectives:

To investigate long-term efficacy and safety outcomes in a multicentre cohort of patients treated with alemtuzumab.

Methods:

Patients treated from 2000 and followed-up at three regional centres were identified. Baseline and prospective data were obtained and validated by clinical record review.

Results:

One hundred patients were identified with a mean follow-up of 6.1 years (range 1–13). Forty patients were retreated with at least one further treatment cycle. Annualized relapse rates fell from 2.1 to 0.2 ( p<0.0001) post-treatment and were sustained for up to eight years of follow-up. Mean change in EDSS score was +0.14. Forty-seven patients developed secondary autoimmunity.

Conclusion:

Observed reduction in relapse rates reflected those reported in clinical trials, but we were unable to corroborate previous observations of disability reversal. 40% of patients required additional treatment cycles. Autoimmune adverse events were common, occurring at a higher rate than previously reported, but were largely predictable, and could be managed effectively within a rigorous monitoring regime.
Unpacking the politics of great power responsibility: Nationalist and Maoist China in international order-building
Authors: Loke Beverley
Published: October 2015

Despite its prominence in the discourse of international politics, the concept of ‘great power responsibility’ remains largely unmapped in International Relations. Existing accounts tend to focus their analysis at a structural level and do not pay adequate attention to agency and processes of deliberation, negotiation and contestation. Drawing on constructivist insights to extend existing English School scholarship, this article unpacks great power responsibility as a socially constructed and negotiated concept. It develops a typology to further investigate the politics of great power responsibility and focuses specifically on four categories: the location, object, nature and rationale of responsibility (respectively, responsibility by whom, to whom, for what and why). This conceptual framework is applied to China at two important international order-building junctures: institutional construction during World War II and institutional accommodation in the Cold War. In doing so, the article illuminates China’s historical agency and uncovers the processes of both conflict and concordance that have shaped Chinese engagements with the question of great power responsibility.
Activity-based market segmentation of rural well-being tourists
Authors: Pesonen Juho Antti , Tuohino Anja
Published: October 2015

Providing well-being and wellness services are growing trends in tourism. Well-being tourism has considerable potential as well with respect to tourism in rural areas. The objective of this article is to study well-being tourists as a heterogeneous market segment via activity-based segmentation in rural areas. Their online information search behaviour is compared to that of other market segments to ensure that the various segments can be targeted online and to elaborate upon the information search behaviour of various activity segments. Using cluster analysis, three different rural tourist segments can be identified in Finland based on their well-being activities. The results show the possibilities for activity-based segmentation in understanding the preferences for well-being services. The study demonstrates that the various rural well-being activity segments differ from each other based on socio-demographics and in how they use the Internet to search for information, book their holidays and write online reviews. All of these differences have managerial implications when it comes to developing rural well-being products, and they also demonstrate the possibilities for activity segmentation in rural well-being tourism.
Does information about others’ behavior undermine cooperation in social dilemmas?
Authors: Parks Craig D. , Xu Xiaojing , Van Lange Paul A. M.
Published: October 2015

This project addresses how and why behavior in a resource dilemma differs when one only knows the choices of others versus only knows the state of the resource. Study 1 suggested that resource information is more valuable than social information, in that if the resource can be monitored, whether or not others’ choices can also be monitored has no impact on behavior. However, if the state of the resource is not known, the ability to know what others are doing is critical for cooperation. This seems to be because resource information encourages planning and long-term thinking, and social information encourages comparative thinking. Study 2 replicated the behavior pattern, revealed—surprisingly—that warnings that a resource is critically low undermine (rather than promote) cooperation, and that such responses depend on the availability of social and environmental information. Discussion focuses on how incomplete information about a resource might be addressed.
Improving National Trauma Data Bank® coding data reliability for traumatic injury using a prospective systems approach
Authors: Ewing Michael , Funk Geoffrey A , Warren Ann Marie , Rapier Nakia , Reynolds Megan , Bennett Monica , Mastropieri Cyndi , Foreman Michael L
Published: October 2015

Trauma centers manage an active Trauma Registry from which research, quality improvement, and epidemiologic information are extracted to ensure optimal care of the trauma patient. We evaluated coding procedures using the Relational Trauma Scoring System™ to determine the relative accuracy of the Relational Trauma Scoring System for coding diagnoses in comparison to the standard retrospective chart-based format. Charts from 150 patients admitted to a level I trauma service were abstracted using standard methods. These charts were then randomized and abstracted by trauma nurse clinicians with coding software aide. For charts scored pre-training, percent correct for the trauma nurse clinicians ranged from 52 to 64 percent, while the registrars scored 51 percent correct. After training, percentage correct for the trauma nurse clinicians increased to a range of 80–86 percent. Our research has demonstrated implementable changes that can significantly increase the accuracy of data from trauma centers.
Understanding the process of intercultural negotiations through liminality
Authors: Mahadevan Jasmin
Published: October 2015

By introducing anthropological ritual theory, particularly the concept of liminality, this article contributes to a process-oriented view on intercultural negotiations and highlights the importance of bicultural or marginal individuals for their success. These individuals are understood as experts of the intercultural transition (ICT), which needs to be made for a successful negotiation process. Focusing on a specific Sino-German context, this study provides an example for how high bicultural identity integration (BII) facilitates the success of intercultural negotiations. The contribution of this study lies in contextualizing large theoretical concepts such as biculturality, cultural otherness, and marginality and in applying ritual theory to intercultural negotiations and the cultural ‘in-between’. It highlights the role and importance of liminal actors with a high BII for their success. These findings suggest that cross-cultural management research and practice should pay particular attention to marginal or bicultural individuals. Culture should be studied at its margins and as a process that evolves in specific intercultural micro-contexts.
Lysyl oxidase mediates hypoxia-induced radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells
Authors: Gong Chongwen , Gu Runxia , Jin Honglin , Sun Yao , Li Zhenyu , Chen Jing , Wu Gang
Published: October 2015

Hypoxia-induced radioresistance has been well known as the main obstacle in cancer radiotherapy. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) was previously demonstrated to play an important role in hypoxia-induced biological behaviors, such as metastasis and angiogenesis, through hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which is an important contributing factor to radioresistance in tumor cells. However, how LOX plays a role in hypoxia-induced radioresistance has yet to be determined. Here, we found that LOX expression was in accordance with HIF-1α expression, and LOX expression at the mRNA and protein level, and enzymatic activity were remarkably upregulated in the hypoxic A549 cells, compared with normoxic A549 cells. Inhibition of LOX resulted in the reduction of the ability to repair double-stranded breaks (DSBs), promotion of apoptosis, relief of G2/M cycle arrest, and eventually reduction of hypoxia-induced radioresistance in the hypoxic A549 cells. This suggests that LOX may play an important role in hypoxia-induced radioresistance. Together, our results might suggest a novel potential therapeutic target in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Influence of doxazosin on biosynthesis of S100A6 and atrial natriuretic factor peptides in the heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Kasacka Irena , Piotrowska Żaneta , Filipek Anna , Majewski Mariusz
Published: October 2015

Hypertension frequently results in severe complications in cardiovascular system and histopathological changes in the heart. To better understand the cellular processes and signaling pathways responsible for the proper functioning of the heart, we decided to check whether doxazosin affects the density of structures containing S100A6 and atrial natriuretic factor in the heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The aim of this study is to find differences in the density of the structures containing S100A6 and atrial natriuretic factor in the heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with doxazosin compared to untreated animals. Fragments of heart were collected from five spontaneously hypertensive rats and five spontaneously hypertensive rats receiving doxazosin for six weeks (dose 0.1 mg per 1 kg of body weight). On the paraffin sections S100A6 and atrial natriuretic factor peptides were localized in the heart using immunohistochemistry. Positive immunohistochemical reaction for S100A6 was observed in atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes and in the coronary vasculature. In the heart of hypertensive rats treated with doxazosin the S100A6 immunoreactivity was significantly lower compared to untreated animals. Immunodetection of atrial natriuretic factor in the heart of rats confirmed presence of peptide in atrial myocardium. Delicate atrial natriuretic factor-immunoreactivity was observed also in few ventricular cardiomyocytes. The atrial natriuretic factor-immunosignal was significantly weaker in hearts of hypertensive rats receiving doxazosin compared to spontaneously hypertensive rats untreated. Since we found that doxazosin reduces the levels of S100A6 and atrial natriuretic factor peptides in the heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats, it can be assumed that cardiovascular disorders that occur in hypertension may be associated with disturbances of cellular processes and signaling pathways.
Multisite Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis Using Vein Graft for Uterine Cancer-Related Lymphedema After Pelvic Lymphadenectomy
Authors: Yamamoto Takumi , Yoshimatsu Hidehiko , Yamamoto Nana , Yokoyama Ai , Numahata Takao , Koshima Isao
Published: October 2015

Background:

Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is becoming a treatment option for lymphedema. It is challenging to perform LVA when a lymphatic vessel is too far from a vein to anastomose directly.

Methods:

We applied vein grafting for simultaneous multisite LVA (SM-LVA), when there was a considerable distance between a lymphatic vessel and a vein. Five patients with lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) who underwent SM-LVA were included in this study. Feasibility and treatment effect of the method were evaluated.

Results:

Simultaneous multisite LVA resulted in 35 anastomoses. Vein grafting was performed in 5 of 35 anastomoses with 100% technical success. All LVAs showed good intraoperative anastomosis patency. At 6 months postoperatively, LEL index was significantly lower than preoperative LEL index (251.0 ± 33.0 vs 271.0 ± 38.5, P < .001).

Conclusion:

In SM-LVA surgery, a vein can be harvested from another surgical field without additional invasiveness and is useful for bridging a lymphatic vessel and a distant vein.
The Role of Humor in the Relationship Between Transactional Leadership Behavior, Perceived Supervisor Support, and Citizenship Behavior
Authors: Tremblay Michel , Gibson Megan
Published: October 2015

This study, building on uncertainty management theory, examines the role of humor use by the supervisor and team members in the relationship between leader behaviors, perceived supervisor support, and citizenship behavior. Data were collected from a sample of 284 employees working in nine small organizations. The results show that weak contingent reward leaders are viewed as more supportive when they use constructive and self-defeating humor styles extensively as opposed to aggressive humor, whereas skillful contingent reward leaders are perceived as less supportive when they use constructive and self-defeating humor extensively, and more supportive when they favor an aggressive humor style. Laissez-faire leaders are viewed as less supportive when they use aggressive humor extensively. The results provide only partial support for the buffer effect of constructive humor and the undermining influence of aggressive humor style. Finally, whereas offensive coworker humor is negatively related to organizational citizenship behavior, the results do not provide significant evidence that coworker humor moderates the influence of perceived supervisor support on organizational citizenship behavior. We conclude by discussing the theoretical contributions and practical implications of our findings.
Nonlinearity in MCF7 Cell Survival Following Exposure to Modulated 6 MV Radiation Fields
Authors: Lacoste-Collin Laetitia , Castiella Marion , Franceries Xavier , Cassol Emmanuelle , Vieillevigne Laure , Pereda Veronica , Bardies Manuel , Courtade-Saïdi Monique
Published: October 2015

The study of cell survival following exposure to nonuniform radiation fields is taking on particular interest because of the increasing evidence of a nonlinear relationship at low doses. We conducted in vitro experiments using the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. A 2.4 × 2.4 cm2 square area of a T25 flask was irradiated by a Varian Novalis accelerator delivering 6 MV photons. Cell survival inside the irradiation field, in the dose gradient zone and in the peripheral zone, was determined using a clonogenic assay for different radiation doses at the isocenter. Increased cell survival was observed inside the irradiation area for doses of 2, 10, and 20 Gy when nonirradiated cells were present at the periphery, while the cells at the periphery showed decreased survival compared to controls. Increased survival was also observed at the edge of the dose gradient zone for cells receiving 0.02 to 0.01 Gy when compared with cells at the periphery of the same flask, whatever the isocenter dose. These data are the first to report cell survival in the dose gradient zone. Radiotherapists must be aware of this nonlinearity in dose response.