bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Index correlation: implications for asset allocation
Authors: Michel Allen , Oded Jacob , Shaked Israel
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The cornerstone of Modern Portfolio Theory with implications for many aspects of corporate finance is that reduced correlation among assets and reduced standard deviation are key elements in portfolio risk reduction. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the conditional correlation and standard deviation of a broad set of indices with the S
&
P 500 conditioned on market performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors examined volatility and correlation for a set of indices for a 19-year period based on weekly data from July 2, 1993 to June 30, 2012. These included the NASDAQ, MSCI EAFE, Russell 1000, Russell 2000, Russell 3000, Russell 1000 Growth, Russell 1000 Value, Gold, MSCI EM and Dow Jones UBS Commodity. The data for the Wilshire US REIT, Barclays Multiverse, Multiverse 1-3, Multiverse 3-5 and Multiverse 10+ became available starting July 2, 2002. For these indices the authors used weekly data from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2012. For the iBarclays TIPS, the authors used weekly data from the time of availability, namely, for the period December 12, 2003 through June 29, 2012.

Findings

– The findings demonstrate that both the conditional correlations and standard deviations vary as a function of market performance. Moreover, the authors obtain a U-shape distribution of correlations conditioned on market performance for equity indices, such as NASDAQ, as well as for the Wilshire REIT. Namely, correlations tend to be high when market returns are at low or high extremes. For more typical market performance, correlations tend to be low. A modified U-shape is found for bond indices and the Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index. Interestingly, the correlation between gold and the S
&
P 500 is unrelated to the return on the S
&
P.

Originality/value

– While it has been observed that asset classes move together, this paper is the first to systematically analyze the nature of these asset class correlations.
“The lost decade”: an MPT perspective
Authors: Loviscek Anthony
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test the efficacy of an application of modern portfolio theory (MPT) from 2000 through 2009, a period during which the annual rate of return on the S
&
P 500 is negative. The financial media have called this period “the lost decade” for investors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using monthly data, the author uses a series of annual out-of-sample tests to compare the risk-reward performances of MPT portfolios against those of the S
&
P 500.

Findings

– The author finds that the MPT portfolios outperformed the S
&
P 500. During the “lost decade”. They generated a cumulative return of over 77 percent compared to a cumulative return of −9.1 percent on the S
&
P 500. Moreover, the MPT portfolio β’s are low, ranging from 0.45 to 1.01, suggesting above-average risk-reward performances.

Research limitations/implications

– The MPT portfolios are relatively small, and might not be well diversified. That said, they comprise a core set of securities that could help investors achieve a risk-reward performance that exceeds that of the S
&
P 500.

Practical implications

– The results suggest that investors should not overlook the potential of MPT, despite its theoretical and practical limitations, to provide above-average returns at below-average risks.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to show the efficacy of MPT during a period in which it was criticized at having failed investors when they needed it most.
Channels of cash savings: international evidence
Authors: Seifert Bruce , Gonenc Halit
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine cash savings from six potential sources of cash: net equity issues, net debt issues, internally generated cash flows, asset sales, changes in short-term debt, and changes in net working capital.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use both fixed effects and dynamic panel-data estimations to examine cash savings by using a sample of firms from 72 countries for the period 1991-2010.

Findings

– The authors observe that net equity issue is the largest source of new funds while cash savings rates are highest for asset sales, changes in net working capital, and net equity issues. Constrained firms have higher total savings rates than unconstrained companies. The authors also find that savings rates are positively related to whether firms perform R
&
D, multinational status, and protection for creditors and investors.

Originality/value

– The results suggest that firms usually use multiple channels when they increase their savings as opposed to relying only on one channel.
Momentum phenomenon in the Chinese Class A and B share markets
Authors: Choudhry Taufiq , Wu Yuan
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the momentum phenomenon in two market segments of the Chinese stock market – the Class A share market and Class B share market over time period spanning from January 1996 to December 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors largely follow Jegadeesh and Titman (1993) paper; the authors decompose the momentum returns following the procedure first proposed by Jegadeesh and Titman (1995). In addition, a liquidity factor (Pastor and Stambaugh, 2003) and a share ownership factor (Wang and Xu, 2004) are incorporated in the procedure to gauge the contribution of liquidity and the dynamics of share ownership towards the momentum returns, respectively in the two segments of the Chinese stock market.

Findings

– The authors find compelling evidence showing distinctively different momentum phenomena exist in the two market segments of the Chinese stock market. Specifically, the momentum phenomenon is more pronounced in the Chinese Class A share market compared to those found in the Chinese Class B share market. Through decomposing the momentum returns, the authors find evidence showing the dismal momentum returns observed in the Class B share market can be attributed to markedly weakened contributions of the liquidity factor and the share ownership factor.

Research limitations/implications

– Relatively short sample time horizon compared to the most of major financial markets such as USA and UK. The number of B shares has been rather limited.

Practical implications

– Subsequent to the opening of the Chinese Class B share market to domestic investors in 2001 and the opening of the Chinese Class A share market to qualified foreign institutional investors (QFII) in 2003, the empirical evidence found in this study provides a crucial reference point for domestic and foreign portfolio strategists in guiding them to form suitable portfolio strategies concerning investments in a nascent financial market such as the Chinese stock market, fraught with volatility and speculative trading behaviour.

Social implications

– It offers a comprehensive view of the momentum phenomenon in the Chinese Class A and B share markets over the sample period from January 1996 to December 2010. Second, the reasons behind the dichotomy of the momentum returns found in the two market segments were investigated through decomposing the momentum returns based on Jegdeesh and Titman’s (1995) method while incorporating three new explanatory factors – the liquidity factor, share ownership factor and the under reaction towards firm-specific news factor.

Originality/value

– A couple of extant papers have visited the topic before. yet this paper offers more comprehensive view on the existence of momentum premium in both Chinese Class A and B share markets and investigates the driving forces behind the subdued momentum returns observed in the B share market.
Severe invasive streptococcal infection by Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis
Authors: Watanabe Shinya , Takemoto Norihiko , Ogura Kohei , Miyoshi‐Akiyama Tohru
Published: November 2015

Streptococcus pyogenes, a group A Streptococcus (GAS), has been recognized as the causative pathogen in patients with severe invasive streptococcal infection with or without necrotizing fasciitis. In recent epidemiological studies, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) has been isolated from severe invasive streptococcal infection. Complete genome sequence showed that SDSE is the closest bacterial species to GAS, with approximately 70% of genome coverage. SDSE, however, lacks several key virulence factors present in GAS, such as SPE‐B, the hyaluronan synthesis operon and active superantigen against human immune cells. A key event in the ability of GAS to cause severe invasive streptococcal infection was shown to be the acquisition of novel genetic traits such as phages. Strikingly, however, during severe invasive infection, GAS destroys its own covRS two‐component system, which negatively regulates many virulence factor genes, resulting in a hyper‐virulent phenotype. In contrast, this phenomenon has not been observed in SDSE. The present review describes the epidemiology of severe invasive streptococcal infection and the detailed pathogenic mechanisms of GAS and SDSE, emphasizing findings from their genome sequences and analyses of gene expression.
Analysis of single root tip microbiomes suggests that distinctive bacterial communities are selected by Pinus sylvestris roots colonized by different ectomycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Marupakula Srisailam , Mahmood Shahid , Finlay Roger D.
Published: November 2015

Symbiotic ectomycorrhizal tree roots represent an important niche for interaction with bacteria since the fungi colonizing them have a large surface area and receive a direct supply of photosynthetically derived carbon. We examined individual root tips of Pinus sylvestris at defined time points between 5 days and 24 weeks, identified the dominant fungi colonizing each root tip using Sanger sequencing and the bacterial communities colonizing individual root tips by 454 pyrosequencing. Bacterial colonization was extremely dynamic with statistically significant variation in time and increasing species richness until week 16 (3477 operational taxonomic units). Bacterial community structure of roots colonized by Russula sp. 6 GJ‐2013b, Piloderma spp., Meliniomyces variabilis and Paxillus involutus differed significantly at weeks 8 and 16 but diversity declined and significant differences were no longer apparent at week 24. The most common genera were Burkholderia, Sphingopyxsis, Dyella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Actinospica, Aquaspirillum, Acidobacter Gp1, Sphingomonas, Terriglobus, Enhydrobacter, Herbaspirillum and Bradyrhizobium. Many genera had high initial abundance at week 8, declining with time but Dyella and Terriglobus increased in abundance at later time points. In roots colonized by Piloderma spp. several other bacterial genera, such as Actinospica, Bradyrhizobium, Acidobacter Gp1 and Rhizomicrobium appeared to increase in abundance at later sampling points.
The different ecological niches of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Gonzales‐Siles Lucia , Sjöling Åsa
Published: November 2015

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a water and food‐borne pathogen that infects the small intestine of the human gut and causes diarrhoea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli adheres to the epithelium by means of colonization factors and secretes two enterotoxins, the heat labile toxin and/or the heat stable toxin that both deregulate ion channels and cause secretory diarrhoea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli as all E. coli, is a versatile organism able to survive and grow in different environments. During transmission and infection, ETEC is exposed to various environmental cues that have an impact on survivability and virulence. The ability to cope with exposure to different stressful habitats is probably shaping the pool of virulent ETEC strains that cause both endemic and epidemic infections. This review will focus on the ecology of ETEC in its different habitats and interactions with other organisms as well as abiotic factors.
Christianity and Secularisation in the West and the Middle East: A Theological Stance
Authors: Avakian Sylvie
Published: November 2015

In this article I argue that Christianity is essentially secular. Hence, secularisation not only has a theological connotation concerning Christian faith but also it is the highest and most perfect realisation of Christian religion, since it signifies the cross that is in the centre of Christian faith. As Christians take upon themselves secularisation as an existential choice, namely the powerlessness of God and of the human being, they simultaneously take the worldly‐human existence as “here” and “now” upon themselves. I will argue that this is the culmination of Reformation. Further, I want to demonstrate that secular Christianity, in the sense given in this article, remains a challenge for both Western and Eastern worlds.

In order to accomplish this I will reflect in the first part of this article — from a theological point of view — upon some sociological interpretations or theories concerning mainly secularisation in Western Europe and also the contemporary socio‐political scene in the Middle East. In the second part of the article I will present several Western and Eastern theological positions that defend secularisation, and through their contributions I will construct my own theological stance for secular Christianity.
European Human Rights Law and the Normalisation of the ‘Closed Material Procedure’: Limit or Source?
Authors: Nanopoulos Eva
Published: November 2015

Once a legal abnormality that was criticised on human rights grounds, the closed material procedure (CMP) has now become the main mechanism for dealing with allegedly sensitive security information in theUK. This article considers the role ofEuropean human rights law in that process. It argues that theCMPcan be conceptualised as the product of human rights law, which has developed so as to legalise and normalise its use, and that this process is symptomatic of a deeper inter‐relationship between human rights law and the preservation of states' security interests, which renders the former inherently unsuitable for dealing with security phenomena.
The Rise of Statutory Wills and the Limits of Best Interests Decision‐Making in Inheritance
Authors: Harding Rosie
Published: November 2015

This article addresses ‘statutory wills’ executed under theMentalCapacityAct 2005 (MCA) for persons with impaired mental capacity. The article provides an overview of the historical development of statutory wills, before exploring their rising contemporary significance. It considers the shift from the previous ‘hypothetical substituted judgment’ test to the contemporary ‘best interests’ orientation of theMCA. The article assesses the problems that the best interests approach raises in this area, and its (in)compatibility with the right to equal recognition before the law under theUN Convention on theRights ofPersons withDisabilities, arguing that the pervasive reach of best interests in contemporary mental capacity law requires reconsideration. The paper concludes by suggesting that a more limited framing of the power to execute statutory wills is required in order to appropriately balance the rights of individuals with disabilities with practical considerations around the distribution of assets on death.
The Insurance Act 2015: Rebalancing the Interests of Insurer and Assured
Authors: Merkin Rob , Gürses Özlem
Published: November 2015

The Insurance Act 2015 is the first piece of legislation since the eighteenth century to seek to lay down new principles governing the formation and operation of insurance contracts. Exactly 250 years after Lord Mansfield articulated the routinely‐cited principle of utmost good faith in insurance law in Carter v Boehm (1766) 2 Burr 1905, that principle has been recast, with important implications for both the pre‐ and post‐contractual duties of the parties. The Insurance Act has also imposed important restrictions on the enforcement of policy terms by insurers, and clarifies the law affecting fraudulent claims. The Marine Insurance Act 1906, a codifying measure, looks increasingly outmoded.
Intimations of Unconstitutionality: The Supremacy of International Law and Judgment 238/2014 of the Italian Constitutional Court
Authors: Lando Massimo
Published: November 2015

Judgment 238/2014 of the Italian Constitutional Court reopens the debate on the extent of the immunity enjoyed by states for violations of jus cogens. The decision, which questions the authority of the ICJ's 2012 judgment in Germany v Italy, could certainly have effects on the formation of customary international law. In addition, it revives the discussion on the relationship between national and international law and on the supremacy of the latter over the former, especially if read in light of the previous Medellín and Kadi I decisions. Judgment 238/2014 is an opportunity to reappraise the role played by international law in domestic courts, particularly in cases where international law conflicts with core domestic constitutional values.
Shall we tell the Minister? Scale matters in public policy: place is a geographic institution
Authors: Gale Robert
Published: November 2015

I present an argument with a number of interlocking aims. The main aims are to show that geographic scale matters in policy making and that place is a geographic institution with policy relevance. Management experience working inside the public sector has taught me that geography, compared with law and economics, lacks policy effective operational definitions to enhance a geographer's communication abilities in policy circles. To counter this difficulty, I make the case that geographers in the social and environmental social sciences need a scalar, reflexive, and apolitical policy‐oriented praxis to make geography more policy relevant. Drawing on a foundational geographic insight, I show how policy analysis and policy making are affected when what seems evident at one geographic scale may be absent or not evident at another. In addition, I make the argument that policy can give rise to ‘place effects’ which give the place actor/agency status and strategic intent. Place can therefore be considered as a geographic institution. Scalar analysis and deliberative place‐based reasoning about policies of scale (scalar policies) could be applied systematically and strategically within the public sector and by academic geographers for the public sector. Reflexive analysis about geographic scale and place in policy deliberations could enhance a role for geography as a policy‐relevant discipline.
Physicochemical and Thermal Properties of Extruded Instant Functional Rice Porridge Powder as Affected by the Addition of Soybean or Mung Bean
Authors: Mayachiew Pornpimon , Charunuch Chulaluck , Devahastin Sakamon
Published: November 2015

Legumes contain protein, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds, which provide various health benefits. In this study, soybean or mung bean was mixed in rice flour to produce by extrusion instant functional legume‐rice porridge powder. The effects of the type and percentage (10%, 20%, or 30%, w/w) of legumes on the expansion ratio of the extrudates were first evaluated. Amino acid composition, color, and selected physicochemical (bulk density, water absorption index, and water solubility index), thermal (onset temperature, peak temperature, and transition enthalpy), and pasting (peak viscosity, trough viscosity, and final viscosity) properties of the powder were determined. The crystalline structure and formation of amylose–lipid complexes and the total phenolics content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the powder were also measured. Soybean‐blended porridge powder exhibited higher TPC, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, amino acid, and fat contents than the mung bean–blended porridge powder. Incorporating either legume affected the product properties by decreasing the lightness and bulk density, while increasing the greenness and yellowness and the peak temperature and transition enthalpy. Expansion capacity of the extrudates increased with percentage of mung bean in the mixture but decreased as the percentage of soybean increased. Amylose–lipid complexes formation was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis results. Addition of soybean or mung bean resulted in significant pasting property changes of the porridge powder.
Concentration of Umami Compounds in Pork Meat and Cooking Juice with Different Cooking Times and Temperatures
Authors: Rotola‐Pukkila Minna K. , Pihlajaviita Seija T. , Kaimainen Mika T. , Hopia Anu I.
Published: November 2015

This study examined the concentrations of umami compounds in pork loins cooked at 3 different temperatures and 3 different lengths of cooking times. The pork loins were cooked with the sous vide technique. The free amino acids (FAAs), glutamic acid and aspartic acid; the 5′‐nucleotides, inosine‐5′‐monophosphate (IMP) and adenosine‐5′‐monophosphate (AMP); and corresponding nucleoside inosine of the cooked meat and its released juice were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Under the experimental conditions used, the cooking temperature played a more important role than the cooking time in the concentration of the analyzed compounds. The amino acid concentrations in the meat did not remain constant under these experimental conditions. The most notable effect observed was that of the cooking temperature and the higher amino acid concentrations in the released juice of meat cooked at 80 °C compared with 60 and 70 °C. This is most likely due to the heat induced hydrolysis of proteins and peptides releasing water soluble FAAs from the meat into the cooking juice. In this experiment, the cooking time and temperature had no influence on the IMP concentrations observed. However, the AMP concentrations increased with the increasing temperature and time. This suggests that the choice of time and temperature in sous vide cooking affects the nucleotide concentration of pork meat. The Sous vide technique proved to be a good technique to preserve the cooking juice and the results presented here show that cooking juice is rich in umami compounds, which can be used to provide a savory or brothy taste.
Safety and efficacy of single‐agent docetaxel (Taxotere) administered weekly in non‐small cell lung carcinoma patients in Korea: An observational study
Authors: Lim Sun Min , Park Byeong Bae , Park Keun‐Chil , Kim Hoon‐Kyo , Lee Jong Seok , Bae Sung Hwa , Lee Seung‐Sei , Kang Jin‐Hyoung , Park Se‐Hoon , Lee Gyeong‐Won , Lee Hyo‐Rac , Seo Jae Hong , Kim Yong Tae , Yang Sung Hyun , Kim Joo‐Hang
Published: November 2015

Background

To investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of weekly docetaxel treatment in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Korea.

Methods

This prospective observational study included Korean advanced NSCLC patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status <2 who received weekly monotherapy of docetaxel at a dose determined by the physician. Efficacy measurements included tumor response rate, overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival, and one‐year survival rate. Safety was analyzed through recorded incidences of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), deaths, and other related safety parameters, along with their toxicity grades.

Results: 

Of 274 patients analyzed, one patient achieved a complete response and 42 partial responses; thus, the overall response rate was 15.7%. The OS rate at baseline and at one‐year follow‐up was 38.3% and 33.8%, respectively. AEs were reported in 229 (83.6%) patients. The most frequently reported hematologic AE of grade ≥3 was a decrease in neutrophils, with 6.6% of the patients developing neutropenia. In non‐hematologic AEs of grade ≥3, the most common were infection with unknown absolute neutrophil count and death not associated with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (4.7% each). The most common SAE reported was death, not associated with CTCAE (7.3%).

Conclusions

In Korean patients, the weekly regimen of docetaxel monotherapy was safe and efficacious against advanced NSCLC.
Pupillary response to direct and consensual chromatic light stimuli
Authors: Traustason Sindri , Brondsted Adam Elias , Sander Birgit , Lund‐Andersen Henrik
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To assess whether the direct and consensual postillumination (ipRGC‐driven) pupil light responses to chromatic light stimuli are equal in healthy subjects.

Methods

Pupil responses in healthy volunteers were recorded using a prototype binocular chromatic pupillometer (IdeaMedical, Copenhagen), which is capable of both direct and consensual pupillometry measurements. The device uses a pair of dual monochromatic narrow bandwidth LED light sources, red (660 nm) and blue (470 nm). Pupil light responses were recorded with infrared video cameras and analysed using custom‐made circuitry and software. Subjects were randomized to receive light stimuli at either the right or left eye after 5 min of dark adaptation. Pupil light responses were recorded in both eyes for 10 seconds before illumination, during illumination and 50 seconds after illumination with red and blue light. Three variables were defined for the recorded pupil responses: the maximal constriction amplitude (CAmax), the pupil response during illumination and postillumination pupil response (PIPR).

Results

No difference was found in the pupil response to blue light. With red light, the pupil response during illumination was slightly larger during consensual illumination compared to direct illumination (0.54 and 0.52, respectively, p = 0.027, paired Wilcoxon's test, n = 12), while no differences were found for CAmax or the PIPR.

Conclusions

No difference was found between direct and consensual pupil response to either red or blue light in the postillumination period. Direct and consensual responses can readily be compared when examining the postillumination pupil response to blue light as estimation of photosensitive retinal ganglion cell activation.
Evaluation of corneal biomechanical properties using an ocular response analyser to examine aphakic and pseudophakic patients after congenital cataract surgery
Authors: Simsek Tulay , Soba Dilek Ozçelik , Tırhış Mehmet Hakan , Yılmazbaş Pelin , Öztürk Faruk
Published: November 2015

Purpose

We evaluated corneal biomechanical properties in aphakic and pseudophakic patients after congenital cataract surgery and compared the data with those of age‐matched normal subjects.

Methods

We included 43 eyes of 43 aphakic or pseudophakic patients treated via congenital cataract surgery. As controls, 42 healthy age‐ and sex‐matched subjects were enrolled. After a complete ophthalmic examination, central corneal thickness (CCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were determined. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal‐compensated IOP (IOPcc) and Goldmann‐correlated IOP (IOPg) were recorded using an ocular response analyser.

Results

In the study group, 18 eyes were aphakic and 25 eyes pseudophakic. We found a significant difference in CCT between the aphakic, pseudophakic and control groups (p < 0.001). No significant among‐group differences were detected in CH or CRF (p > 0.05). We found significant differences in IOPcc, IOPg and IOP measured with Goldmann applanation tonometry (IOPGAT) between the study and control groups (p < 0.001). In contrast, we found no significant differences within the two study groups in terms of these three IOP values (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Although CCT increased after congenital cataract surgery, corneal biomechanical parameters, including CH and the CRF, were not affected by such surgery. Determination of the IOPcc did not provide any additional information on true IOP, which was independent of CCT in both aphakic and pseudophakic patients after congenital cataract surgery.
The association and prognostic relevance of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A and inflammation in tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Seppälä Miia , Tervo Sanni , Pohjola Konsta , Laranne Jussi , Huhtala Heini , Toppila‐Salmi Sanna , Paavonen Timo
Published: November 2015

Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) prevents proteolytic degradation of a universal transcription factor, c‐Myc. Strong CIP2A expression associates with poor prognosis in early‐stage tongue cancer and in other cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate CIP2A and mucosal inflammation in tongue hyperplasia, in tongue cancer, and in its metastasis. Retrospective tongue and lymph node specimens (n = 105) were stained immunohistochemically with polyclonal antibody anti‐CIP2A. CIP2A staining intensity and inflammation were assessed semi‐quantitatively with light microscopy. CIP2A was similarly detected in tongue cancer and tongue hyperplasia, whereas local inflammation was stronger in cancer (p = 0.000). CIP2A expression was increased in metastasized cancer compared to non‐metastasized (p = 0.019). Markers for poorer survival were tumor size of ≥20 mm, presence of metastasis and nodal CIP2A (p = 0.031, p = 0.000, p = 0.042). Cancer patients aged ≥60 with increased inflammation predicted poor survival (p = 0.037). CIP2A and inflammation might play a role in progression of tongue cancer.
Does infertility history affect the emotional adjustment of couples undergoing assisted reproduction? the mediating role of the importance of parenthood
Authors: Moura‐Ramos Mariana , Gameiro Sofia , Canavarro Maria Cristina , Soares Isabel , Almeida‐Santos Teresa
Published: November 2015

Objectives

The emotional adjustment of couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments has been widely studied; however, it remains unclear whether infertility history contributes to couples' adjustment. This study examined the impact of infertility history (duration of infertility and number of previousARTtreatment cycles) on the emotional adjustment of couples undergoing anARTcycle and the mediating effect of importance of parenthood on that association.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 70 infertile couples (70 women and 70 men) completed self‐report questionnaires assessing emotional adjustment and infertility stress during the hormonal stimulation phase of anARTcycle. Path models accounting for the dyadic nature of the data examined the direct and indirect effects (by affecting representations about parenthood and childlessness) of infertility history on emotional adjustment.

Results

The number of previous cycles affected men's, but not women's, emotional adjustment by affecting the representations on the importance of parenthood and of childlessness. Duration of infertility had the opposite effect, as couples with longer infertility reported heightened importance of parenthood, which negatively affected their emotional adjustment.

Conclusions

Infertility history was associated with emotional adjustment in men and women, although these associations were complex. The results suggest that progression through treatment is harder for those men and women who attribute higher importance to being parents, which is aggravated by longer infertility.

Statement of contribution

What is already known about the subject?

Infertility is an unexpected and stressful life event

Assisted reproductive treatments (ART) are emotionally demanding

What does this study add?

The influence of infertility history on adjustment is mediated by the importance of parenthood

Men and women are affected by their past history of infertility differently
Sufficiency and Necessity Assumptions in Causal Structure Induction
Authors: Mayrhofer Ralf , Waldmann Michael R.
Published: November 2015

Research on human causal induction has shown that people have general prior assumptions about causal strength and about how causes interact with the background. We propose that these prior assumptions about the parameters of causal systems do not only manifest themselves in estimations of causal strength or the selection of causes but also when deciding between alternative causal structures. In three experiments, we requested subjects to choose which of two observable variables was the cause and which the effect. We found strong evidence that learners have interindividually variable but intraindividually stable priors about causal parameters that express a preference for causal determinism (sufficiency or necessity; Experiment 1). These priors predict which structure subjects preferentially select. The priors can be manipulated experimentally (Experiment 2) and appear to be domain‐general (Experiment 3). Heuristic strategies of structure induction are suggested that can be viewed as simplified implementations of the priors.
Cognitive Metaphor Theory and the Metaphysics of Immediacy
Authors: Madsen Mathias W.
Published: November 2015

One of the core tenets of cognitive metaphor theory is the claim that metaphors ground abstract knowledge in concrete, first‐hand experience. In this paper, I argue that this grounding hypothesis contains some problematic conceptual ambiguities and, under many reasonable interpretations, empirical difficulties. I present evidence that there are foundational obstacles to defining a coherent and cognitively valid concept of “metaphor” and “concrete meaning,” and some general problems with singling out certain domains of experience as more immediate than others. I conclude from these considerations that whatever the facts are about the comprehension of individual metaphors, the available evidence is incompatible with the notion of an underlying conceptual structure organized according to the immediacy of experience.
microRNA‐762 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion by targeting IRF7 expression
Authors: Li Yongping , Huang Ruixue , Wang Ling , Hao Junsheng , Zhang Qiong , Ling Rui , Yun Jun
Published: November 2015

Objectives

miRNAs play crucial roles in human tumourigenesis. This study was performed to measure expression and function of miR‐762 in breast cancer.

Materials and methods

Expression of miR‐762 in breast tissues and cell lines (SK‐BR‐3, DA‐MB‐435s, MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231, HBL‐100) was measured by using real‐time RT‐PCR. We restored expression of miR‐762 in MCF‐7 cells to measure its functional roles. Luciferase assays were performed to reveal the target gene of miR‐762.

Results

Expression of miR‐762 was high in both breast cancer cell lines and specimens, and its overexpression increased breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) is a direct target of miR‐762 and overexpression of miR‐762 reduced expression of IRF7. Moreover, IRF7 was repressed, its levels inversely correlated to miR‐762 expression. IRF7 rescued miR‐762‐induced cell invasion and proliferation.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that miR‐762 tumour effect was achieved by targeting IRF7 in human breast cancer specimens.
Connectivity of the global network of protected areas
Authors: Santini Luca , Saura Santiago , Rondinini Carlo
Published: November 2015

Aim

Millennia of human activity have drastically shaped the Earth's surface confining wildlife in ever more rare and sparse habitat fragments. Within the strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, Aichi Target 11 aims at the expansion of the current protected area (PA) system and the maintenance and improvement of its connectivity. This study aims at providing the first overview of the functionality of the PA networks across the six continents at different dispersal distances relevant for terrestrial mammals.

Location

Global.

Methods

We used a graph theory approach to assess the connectivity of PA networks of different continents across a wide range of dispersal distances. We assessed the connectivity of country‐level PA networks, the connectivity of continental PA networks and the contribution of country‐level PA networks to continental connectivity.

Results

National and continental networks are characterized by very different spatial arrangements that translate into different levels of connectivity, ranging from networks where the reachable area is mostly determined by structural connectivity within PAs (e.g. Africa) to networks where connectivity mostly depends on animal dispersal among PAs (e.g. Europe). PA size correlates positively with connectivity for all species, followed by PA number; dispersal contributes less and positively interacts with number of PAs.

Main conclusions

Continental networks perform worse than national networks. Transboundary connectivity is often weak and should be improved, especially for countries that are important in promoting continental connectivity. Increasing PA coverage and size is a good strategy to improve multispecies connectivity.
What is the best therapeutic strategy for colonoscopy of colorectal neoplasia? Future perspectives from the East
Authors: Shinozaki Satoshi , Hayashi Yoshikazu , Lefor Alan Kawarai , Yamamoto Hironori
Published: November 2015

Development and improvement of endoscopic techniques and devices have changed the treatment of colorectal tumors over the last decade. For the treatment of diminutive polyps, the cold snare technique of the West is becoming a promising treatment in the East because of its short procedure time and low rate of delayed bleeding by eliminating the delayed effect of electrocautery. Rather than using piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection or surgical resection for the treatment of large superficial tumors, the technique of the East of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) achieves a high success rate of en bloc R0 resection, enabling detailed pathological evaluation with less invasive treatment. This procedure should also be useful in the West where large colorectal tumors are more frequent than in the East. Regarding outcomes, however, in the literature, the definition of ‘curative resection’ remains somewhat inconsistent and long‐term outcomes of patients with deep submucosal and/or lymphovascular invasion in the en bloc specimen have not yet been determined. Large prospective, as well as retrospective, studies of these patients are warranted. When colorectal ESD is difficult because of size or location, the pocket‐creation method and/or double‐balloon‐assisted technique may be useful. In the East, high‐quality magnified chromoendoscopy is widely available, and endoscopists try to identify focal submucosal invasion. In the West, a systematic evaluation of surveillance for the prevention of colorectal cancer has been done and is highly refined. The East and West have much to learn from each other.
The Role of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Pristera Nicole , Musarra Ray , Schilz Robert , Hoit Brian D
Published: November 2015

The evaluation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requires a multimodality approach that combines invasive and noninvasive imaging studies to ensure accurate diagnosis and classification. Given the complexity of the hemodynamic relationships between the left heart, pulmonary circulation, and right heart, the diagnosis of PAH is often a challenging task. Right heart catheterization is the gold standard for diagnosis, providing the hemodynamic information that defines the disease. Nonetheless, echocardiography continues to be a valuable tool in the approach to the patient with suspected PAH. Echocardiographic assessment generates a wealth of information about the response of the right heart to elevated pulmonary pressures and provides essential diagnostic and prognostic data to the clinician. Numerous measurements can be used to identify alterations in right heart morphology, pressure, and function; although each variable in isolation may have little utility, meaningful information is revealed when multiple parameters are considered together. In this article, we will review the echocardiographic measurements employed in assessment of the right heart and seek to clarify the role of echocardiography in the diagnostic workup of PAH.
Effects of metabolic syndrome on masseter muscle of male Wistar rats
Authors: Tükel H. Can , Alptekin Özlem , Turan Belma , Delilbaşı Ertan
Published: November 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the metabolic indicators of masticatory muscles in an animal model. A total of 16 male Wistar rats were used. To induce MetS, 10 rats were fed with standard rat chow and 32% sucrose solution ad libitum for 16 wk. Six rats fed with standard rat chow and water ad libitum formed the control group. All rats were killed at week 16, and the right superficial masseter muscles were harvested. Metabolic indicators of masticatory muscle metabolism, including antioxidant enzyme activities, ion transport ATPase activities, and the levels of macro and trace elements, were determined in the muscles. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities were significantly decreased by 32%, 26%, 33%, and 16%, respectively, in the MetS group. Na+/K+‐ATPase activity was significantly decreased in the MetS group by 54% compared with the control group. The levels of chromium and selenium were significantly decreased, and the level of copper was increased, in the MetS group compared with the control group. These results show that significant alterations occurred in antioxidant defense mechanisms, ion transport mechanisms, and trace element levels of masseter muscles in MetS.
Translation and psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF‐4C+)
Authors: Wide Boman Ulla , Armfield Jason M. , Carlsson Sven G. , Lundgren Jesper
Published: November 2015

Dental anxiety (DA) is a common condition, with significant medical, psychological, and social consequences. High‐quality psychometric tools for the assessment of dental anxiety are necessary for clinical and research purposes. The aim of this study was to adapt the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF‐4C+) to the Swedish language and to explore the psychometric properties of the translated version. The study included a clinical sample (n= 414; 17–91 yr of age) and a non‐clinical sample (n= 51; 19–47 yr of age). The scales used were theIDAF‐4C+, the Single‐Question Assessment of Dental Anxiety (SQDA), the Dental Fear Survey (DFS), and the Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLOC). The SwedishIDAFanxiety module showed a clear, one‐dimensional structure, good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95), and adequate validity, as evidenced by strong correlations with the otherDAmeasures (SQDAandDFS) and weak correlations with theIHLOC. In addition, theIDAFphobia module and theIDAFstimulus module were strongly correlated with the otherDAmeasures. To conclude, the study shows promising findings for the reliability and validity of the Swedish translation of theIDAF‐4C+, as a useful measure of dental anxiety in research and clinical practice.
Surgical treatment for refractory epileptic spasms: The Detroit series
Authors: Chugani Harry T. , Ilyas Mohammed , Kumar Ajay , Juhász Csaba , Kupsky William J. , Sood Sandeep , Asano Eishi
Published: November 2015

Objective

We reviewed our experience of surgery for epileptic spasms (ES) with or without history of infantile spasms.

Methods

Data were reviewed from 65 (33 male) patients with ES who underwent surgery between 1993 and 2014; palliative cases were excluded.

Results

Mean age at surgery was 5.1 (range 0.2–19) years, with mean postsurgical follow‐up of 45.3 (6–120) months. Mean number of anticonvulsants used preoperatively was 4.2 (2–8), which decreased to 1.2 (0–4) postoperatively (p < 0.0001). Total hemispherectomy was the most commonly performed surgery (n = 20), followed by subtotal hemispherectomy (n = 17), multilobar resection (n = 13), lobectomy (n = 7), tuberectomy (n = 6), and lobectomy + tuberectomy (n = 2), with International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) class I outcome in 20, 10, 7, 6, 3, and 0 patients, respectively (total 46/65 (71%); 22 off medication). Shorter duration of epilepsy (p = 0.022) and presence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion (p = 0.026) were independently associated with class I outcome. Of 34 patients operated <3 years after seizure onset, 30 (88%) achieved class I outcome. Thirty‐seven (79%) of 47 patients with lesional MRI had class‐I outcome, whereas 9 (50%) of 18 with normal MRI had class I outcome. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan was abnormal in almost all patients [61 (97%) of 63 with lateralizing/localizing findings in 56 (92%) of 61 patients, thus helping in surgical decision making and guiding subdural grid placements, particularly in patients with nonlesional MRI. Fifteen patients had postoperative complications, mostly minor.

Significance

Curative epilepsy surgery in ES patients, with or without history of infantile spasms, is best accomplished at an early age and in those patients with lesional abnormalities on MRI with electroencephalography (EEG) concordance. Good outcomes can be achieved even when there is no MRI lesion but positive PET localization.
Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor is expressed in projection neurons of the mouse olfactory bulb
Authors: Ohba Koji , Takeda Kazuhisa , Yamamoto Hiroaki , Shibahara Shigeki
Published: November 2015

Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (Mitf) is a key regulator for differentiation of the neural crest‐derived melanocytes. Mitf consists of multiple isoforms, including melanocyte‐specific Mitf‐M and widely expressed Mitf‐A and Mitf‐H. Mitf mRNAs are also expressed in the brain, although the identity of Mitf‐expressing cells remains unknown. We therefore aimed to identify Mitf‐expressing cells in the brain. By the immunohistochemical analysis, we detected Mitf‐expressing cells only in the olfactory bulb of the C57BL/6 mouse. The Mitf‐expressing cells were then identified as projection neurons, mitral cells and tufted cells, both of which receive the signal from the olfactory neurons and transmit the information to the olfactory cortex. Real‐time RT‐PCR analysis showed the expression level of Mitf‐M mRNA was comparable to the expression levels of Mitf‐A and Mitf‐H mRNAs in the olfactory bulb. We then analyzed Mitf‐expressing neurons in the olfactory bulb of the homozygous black‐eyed white (Mitfmi‐bw) mouse that is characterized by the lack of melanocytes. Mitf was expressed in mitral cells and tufted cells in the olfactory bulb of the Mitfmi‐bw mouse, thereby excluding the contribution of melanocytes to the detected expression of Mitf‐M. In conclusion, Mitf, including Mitf‐M, is expressed in mitral cells and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb.