bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Construction of a Historical Financial Database of the Italian Stock Market 1973--2011
Authors: Coletti Paolo , Murgia Maurizio
Published: October 2015

This article presents the technical aspects of designing and building a historical database of the Italian Stock Market. The database contains daily market data from 1973 to 2011 and is constructed by merging two main digital sources and several other hand-collected data sources. We analyzed and developed semiautomatic tools to deal with problems related to time-series matchings, quality of data, and numerical errors. We also developed a concatenation structure to allow the handling of company name changes, mergers, and spin-offs without artificially altering numerical series. At the same time, we maintained the transparency of the historical information on each individual company listed. Thanks to the overlapping of digital and hand-collected data, the completed database has a very high level of detail and accuracy. The dataset is particularly suited for any empirical research in financial economics and for more practically oriented numerical applications and forecasting simulations.
Endothelial cell activation by hemodynamic shear stress derived from arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis access
Authors: Franzoni Marco , Cattaneo Irene , Longaretti Lorena , Figliuzzi Marina , Ene-Iordache Bogdan , Remuzzi Andrea
Published: October 2015

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is the first cause of failure of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects on endothelial cells (ECs) of shear stress waveforms derived from AVF areas prone to develop IH. We used a cone-and-plate device to obtain real-time control of shear stress acting on EC cultures. We exposed human umbilical vein ECs for 48 h to different shear stimulations calculated in a side-to-end AVF model. Pulsatile unidirectional flow, representative of low-risk stenosis areas, induced alignment of ECs and actin fiber orientation with flow. Shear stress patterns of reciprocating flow, derived from high-risk stenosis areas, did not affect EC shape or cytoskeleton organization, which remained similar to static cultures. We also evaluated flow-induced EC expression of genes known to be involved in cytoskeletal remodeling and expression of cell adhesion molecules. Unidirectional flow induced a significant increase in Kruppel-like factor 2 mRNA expression, whereas it significantly reduced phospholipase D1, α4-integrin, and Ras p21 protein activator 1 mRNA expression. Reciprocating flow did not increase Kruppel-like factor 2 mRNA expression compared with static controls but significantly increased mRNA expression of phospholipase D1, α4-integrin, and Ras p21 protein activator 1. Reciprocating flow selectively increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and IL-8 production. Furthermore, culture medium conditioned by ECs exposed to reciprocating flows selectively increased smooth muscle cell proliferation compared with unidirectional flow. Our results indicate that protective vascular effects induced in ECs by unidirectional pulsatile flow are not induced by reciprocating shear forces, suggesting a mechanism by which oscillating flow conditions may induce the development of IH in AVF and vascular access dysfunction.
Cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunction following acute pulmonary exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter
Authors: Nichols Cody E. , Shepherd Danielle L. , Knuckles Travis L. , Thapa Dharendra , Stricker Janelle C. , Stapleton Phoebe A. , Minarchick Valerie C. , Erdely Aaron , Zeidler-Erdely Patti C. , Alway Stephen E. , Nurkiewicz Timothy R. , Hollander John M.
Published: October 2015

Throughout the United States, air pollution correlates with adverse health outcomes, and cardiovascular disease incidence is commonly increased following environmental exposure. In areas surrounding active mountaintop removal mines (MTM), a further increase in cardiovascular morbidity is observed and may be attributed in part to particulate matter (PM) released from the mine. The mitochondrion has been shown to be central in the etiology of many cardiovascular diseases, yet its roles in PM-related cardiovascular effects are not realized. In this study, we sought to elucidate the cardiac processes that are disrupted following exposure to mountaintop removal mining particulate matter (PMMTM). To address this question, we exposed male Sprague-Dawley rats to PMMTM, collected within one mile of an active MTM site, using intratracheal instillation. Twenty-four hours following exposure, we evaluated cardiac function, apoptotic indices, and mitochondrial function. PMMTMexposure elicited a significant decrease in ejection fraction and fractional shortening compared with controls. Investigation into the cellular impacts of PMMTMexposure identified a significant increase in mitochondrial-induced apoptotic signaling, as reflected by an increase in TUNEL-positive nuclei and increased caspase-3 and -9 activities. Finally, a significant increase in mitochondrial transition pore opening leading to decreased mitochondrial function was identified following exposure. In conclusion, our data suggest that pulmonary exposure to PMMTMincreases cardiac mitochondrial-associated apoptotic signaling and decreases mitochondrial function concomitant with decreased cardiac function. These results suggest that increased cardiovascular disease incidence in populations surrounding MTM mines may be associated with increased cardiac cell apoptotic signaling and decreased mitochondrial function.
IL1 Receptor Antagonist Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Growth by Abrogating NF-κB Activation
Authors: Zhuang Zhuonan , Ju Huai-Qiang , Aguilar Mitzi , Gocho Takashi , Li Hao , Iida Tomonori , Lee Harold , Fan Xiaoqiang , Zhou Haijun , Ling Jianhua , Li Zhongkui , Fu Jie , Wu Min , Li Min , Melisi Davide , Iwakura Yoichiro , Xu Kesen , Fleming Jason B. , Chiao Paul J.
Published: October 2015

Purpose: Constitutive NF-κB activation is identified in about 70% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases and is required for oncogenic KRAS-induced PDAC development in mouse models. We sought to determine whether targeting IL-1α pathway would inhibit NF-κB activity and thus suppress PDAC cell growth.

Experimental Design: We determined whether anakinra, a human IL-1 receptor (rhIL-1R) antagonist, inhibited NF-κB activation. Assays for cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were performed with rhIL-1R antagonist using the human PDAC cell lines AsPc1, Colo357, MiaPaCa-2, and HPNE/K-rasG12V/p16sh. In vivo NF-κB activation–dependent tumorigenesis was assayed using an orthotopic nude mouse model (n = 20, 5 per group) treated with a combination of gemcitabine and rhIL-1RA.

Results: rhIL-1R antagonist treatment led to a significant decrease in NF-κB activity. PDAC cells treated with rhIL-1R antagonist plus gemcitabine reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion as compared with single gemcitabine treatment. In nude mice, rhIL-1R antagonist plus gemcitabine significantly reduced the tumor burden (gemcitabine plus rhIL-1RA vs. control, P = 0.014).

Conclusions: We found that anakinra, an FDA-approved drug that inhibits IL-1 receptor (IL-1R), when given with or without gemcitabine, can reduce tumor growth by inhibiting IL1α-induced NF-κB activity; this result suggests that it is a useful therapeutic approach for PDAC. Clin Cancer Res; 22(6); 1432–44. ©2015 AACR.
Eya4 Induces Hypertrophy via Regulation of p27
kip1
Authors: Williams Tatjana , Hundertmark Moritz , Nordbeck Peter , Voll Sabine , Arias-Loza Paula Anahi , Oppelt Daniel , Mühlfelder Melanie , Schraut Susanna , Elsner Ines , Czolbe Martin , Seidlmayer Lea , Heinze Britta , Hahner Stefanie , Heinze Katrin , Schönberger Jost , Jakob Peter , Ritter Oliver
Published: October 2015

Background—

E193, a heterozygous truncating mutation in the human transcription cofactor Eyes absent 4 (Eya4), causes hearing impairment followed by dilative cardiomyopathy.

Methods and Results—

In this study, we first show Eya4 and E193 alter the expression of p27

kip1

in vitro, suggesting Eya4 is a negative regulator of p27. Next, we generated transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Eya4 or E193. Luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed Eya4 and E193 bind and regulate p27 expression in a contradictory manner. Activity and phosphorylation status of the downstream molecules casein kinase-2α and histone deacetylase 2 were significantly elevated in Eya4- but significantly reduced in E193-overexpressing animals compared with wild-type littermates. Magnetic resonance imaging and hemodynamic analysis indicate Eya4-overexpression results in an age-dependent development of hypertrophy already under baseline conditions with no obvious functional effects, whereas E193 animals develop onset of dilative cardiomyopathy as seen in human E193 patients. Both cardiac phenotypes were aggravated on pressure overload. Finally, we identified a new heterozygous truncating Eya4 mutation, E215, which leads to similar clinical features of disease and a stable myocardial expression of the mutant protein as seen with E193.

Conclusions—

Our results implicate Eya4/Six1 regulates normal cardiac function via p27/casein kinase-2α/histone deacetylase 2 and indicate that mutations within this transcriptional complex and signaling cascade lead to the development of cardiomyopathy.
Simultaneous Biatrial High-Density (510–512 Electrodes) Epicardial Mapping of Persistent and Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in Patients
Authors: Lee Seungyup , Sahadevan Jayakumar , Khrestian Celeen M. , Cakulev Ivan , Markowitz Alan , Waldo Albert L.
Published: October 2015

Background—

The mechanism(s) of persistent and long-standing persistent (LSP) atrial fibrillation (AF) is/are poorly understood. We performed high-density, simultaneous, biatrial, epicardial mapping of persistent and LSP AF in patients undergoing open heart surgery (1) to test the hypothesis that persistent and LSP AF are due to ≥1 drivers, either focal or reentrant, and (2) to characterize associated atrial activation.

Methods and Results—

Twelve patients with persistent and LSP AF (1 month to 9 years duration) were studied at open heart surgery. During AF, electrograms were recorded from both atria simultaneously for 1 to 5 minutes from 510 to 512 epicardial electrodes with ECG lead II. Thirty-two consecutive seconds of activation sequence maps were produced per patient. During AF, multiple foci (QS unipolar atrial electrograms) of different cycle lengths (mean, 175±18 ms) were present in both atria in 11 of 12 patients. Foci (2–4 per patient, duration 5–32 s) were either sustained or intermittent, were predominantly found in the lateral left atrial free wall, and likely acted as drivers. Random and nonrandom breakthrough activation sites (initial r or R in unipolar atrial electrograms) were also found. In 1 of 12 patients, only breakthrough sites were found. All wave fronts emanated from foci and breakthrough sites, and largely either collided or merged with each other at variable sites. Repetitive focal QS activation occasionally generated repetitive wannabe reentrant activation in 5 of 12 patients. No actual reentry was found.

Conclusions—

During persistent and LSP AF in 12 patients, wave fronts emanating from foci and breakthrough sites maintained AF. No reentry was demonstrated.
How (Il)liberal is the Liberal Theory of Law? Some Critical Remarks on Slaughter’s Approach
Authors: Kratochwil Friedrich
Published: October 2015

This article explores the limits of Anne-Marie Slaughter’s liberal theory of (international) law. Despite her admirable interdisciplinary work, Slaughter falls prey to proposing largely technical solutions based on best practices and buttressed by universal norms. She thereby
misses the purpose of law as a source of meaning, not to mention the historicity and content-independent authority of law that can be legitimized only politically. Despite all universality, a closer look reveals that the practices of the US are taken to be best practices which then make them
part of an imperial project. They are not a means of mediating between the inevitable cultural, political, and historical tensions that are part of our predicament.
Le sionisme chrétien évangélique aux États-Unis et le cas du CUFI
Authors: Batut-Lucas Katia
Published: October 2015

This article deals with Christian Evangelical Zionist pilgrimages, especially focusing on those from the group of John Hagee, pastor and founder of the Cornerstone Church, and from the lobbyist group Christians United for Israel. Pilgrims from this organization join gatherings which honor and defend Israel, causing the participant to progress from being a simple believer to being a pro-Israel activist. The methodology is based on field studies and interviews with this group.
In Search of “the Bedouin Adaptive Adult”
Authors: Mosco Noga , Atzaba-Poria Naama
Published: October 2015

The Bedouins of the Negev are a unique minority group living in southern Israel. They are known to be a formerly nomadic society characterized by tribal collectivism. The purpose of this study was to improve the understanding of the broad context in which parenting and child development take place in Bedouin society by exploring the images Bedouin parents have of the adults they wish their children to become (the adaptive adult). We explored the images of the adaptive adult as expressed by parents’ ratings of individualistic and collectivistic socialization goals (SGs), while also examining the eco-cultural factors that may be related to these images. Specifically, we examined the relations between SG preferences and parental acculturation attitude, parental education, and child gender. Participants included 65 Bedouin mothers and 30 Bedouin fathers. Parents completed the Acculturation Questionnaire and the Socialization Goals Rating Task. Results indicated that mothers who had higher education and those who had higher levels of contact and participation in Israeli Jewish culture preferred more individualistic SGs over collectivistic SGs for their children. Furthermore, acculturation level was a stronger predictor of maternal SGs than level of education. Contrary to mothers, fathers’ SG preferences were found to be related only to their level of education and not to their acculturation levels. Finally, both mothers and fathers preferred individualistic SGs for their sons and collectivistic SGs for their daughters. The links between SG preferences and the factors of parental acculturation, parental education, and child gender are discussed, and implications are proposed.
Epigenetic Modifications of Histones in Periodontal Disease
Authors: Martins M.D. , Jiao Y. , Larsson L. , Almeida L.O. , Garaicoa-Pazmino C. , Le J.M. , Squarize C.H. , Inohara N. , Giannobile W.V. , Castilho R.M.
Published: October 2015

Periodontitis is a chronic infectious disease driven by dysbiosis, an imbalance between commensal bacteria and the host organism. Periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults and occurs in about 50% of the US population. In addition to the clinical challenges associated with treating periodontitis, the progression and chronic nature of this disease seriously affect human health. Emerging evidence suggests that periodontitis is associated with mechanisms beyond bacteria-induced protein and tissue degradation. Here, we hypothesize that bacteria are able to induce epigenetic modifications in oral epithelial cells mediated by histone modifications. In this study, we found that dysbiosis in vivo led to epigenetic modifications, including acetylation of histones and downregulation of DNA methyltransferase 1. In addition, in vitro exposure of oral epithelial cells to lipopolysaccharides resulted in histone modifications, activation of transcriptional coactivators, such as p300/CBP, and accumulation of nuclear factor–κB (NF-κB). Given that oral epithelial cells are the first line of defense for the periodontium against bacteria, we also evaluated whether activation of pathogen recognition receptors induced histone modifications. We found that activation of the Toll-like receptors 1, 2, and 4 and the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 1 induced histone acetylation in oral epithelial cells. Our findings corroborate the emerging concept that epigenetic modifications play a role in the development of periodontitis.
Religious heterogeneity and suicide: A cross-national analysis
Authors: Moore Matthew D
Published: October 2015

Religion has received a large amount of scholarly attention for its role in promoting pro-social outcomes for a community. One of the areas in which religion may demonstrate a positive effect is suicide. The role that religion plays in reducing suicide within a community has long roots in sociology. Émile Durkheim suggested that religion would have a pro-social effect in decreasing suicide. Religion should reduce suicide by establishing values and norms that integrate individuals into society and regulate the behavior of the members of a society. However, the presence of many different religions could erode the social integration and regulation effects of religion. This would cause suicide to increase as individuals become confused as to what values and norms are to be followed. The current analysis uses the religious fractionalization index to examine the effect of religious heterogeneity on suicide. The findings demonstrate that increased religious heterogeneity increased suicide for a sample of countries.
Bayesian Adaptive Lasso for Ordinal Regression With Latent Variables
Authors: Feng Xiang-Nan , Wu Hao-Tian , Song Xin-Yuan
Published: October 2015

We consider an ordinal regression model with latent variables to investigate the effects of observable and latent explanatory variables on the ordinal responses of interest. Each latent variable is characterized by correlated observed variables through a confirmatory factor analysis model. We develop a Bayesian adaptive lasso procedure to conduct simultaneous estimation and variable selection. Nice features including empirical performance of the proposed methodology are demonstrated by simulation studies. The model is applied to a study on happiness and its potential determinants from the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.
The Double-Edged Sword of Genetic Accounts of Criminality
Authors: Cheung Benjamin Y. , Heine Steven J.
Published: October 2015

Much debate exists surrounding the applicability of genetic information in the courtroom, making the psychological processes underlying how people consider this information important to explore. This article addresses how people think about different kinds of causal explanations in legal decision-making contexts. Three studies involving a total of 600 Mechanical Turk and university participants found that genetic, versus environmental, explanations of criminal behavior lead people to view the applicability of various defense claims differently, perceive the perpetrator’s mental state differently, and draw different causal attributions. Moreover, mediation and path analyses highlight the double-edged nature of genetic attributions—they simultaneously reduce people’s perception of the perpetrator’s sense of control while increasing people’s tendencies to attribute the cause to internal factors and to expect the perpetrator to reoffend. These countervailing relations, in turn, predict sentencing in opposite directions, although no overall differences in sentencing or ultimate verdicts were found.
Biased Sex Ratios Influence Fundamental Aspects of Human Mating
Authors: Moss Justin H. , Maner Jon K.
Published: October 2015

The operational sex ratio—the ratio of men to women in a given population—affects a range of social processes. The current research demonstrates that biased sex ratios (greater numbers of one sex than the other) influence fundamental aspects of people’s mating strategy. When the sex ratio was favorable (one’s own sex was in the minority), both sexes adopted strong sex-typical sociosexual orientations (relatively restricted for women; relatively unrestricted for men). When the sex ratio was unfavorable (one’s own sex was in the majority), both sexes shifted toward the orientation typically favored by the other sex: Women became more unrestricted and men became more restricted (Experiment 1). When the sex ratio was unfavorable (relative to favorable), participants also displayed greater aggression toward a romantically desirable (but not undesirable) same-sex partner (Experiment 2). Exploratory analyses suggested that the sex ratio effect was present for unprovoked aggression but not provoked aggression (given the exploratory nature of that analysis, the aggression effect should be considered with some caution). Findings suggest that people’s mating strategies are adaptively calibrated to contingencies within the local mating ecology.
What sounds beautiful looks beautiful stereotype
Authors: Hughes Susan M. , Miller Noelle E.
Published: October 2015

This study experimentally tested whether individuals have a tendency to associate attractive voices with attractive faces and, alternately, unattractive voices with unattractive faces. Participants viewed pairings of facial photographs of attractive and unattractive individuals and had listened to attractive and unattractive voice samples and were asked to indicate which facial picture they thought was more likely to be the speaker of the voice heard. Results showed that there was an overall tendency to associate attractive voices with attractive faces and unattractive voices with unattractive faces, suggesting that a “what-sounds-beautiful-looks-beautiful” stereotype exists. Interestingly, there was an even stronger propensity to pair unattractive voices to unattractive faces than for the attractive voice–face matching.
Why people defend relationship ideology
Authors: Day Martin V.
Published: October 2015

Why do people defend the institution of marriage and related beliefs about committed romantic relationships? Why do they sometimes stereotype and discriminate against single people? In this article, I review research that provides some answers. I center on the role of a set of commonly held beliefs about romantic relationships—committed relationship ideology. In particular, I focus on how system and individual-level factors can help explain people’s motivated defense of these consequential beliefs.
Semantic urban modelling: Knowledge representation of urban space
Authors: Berta Mauro , Caneparo Luca , Montuori Alfonso , Rolfo Davide
Published: October 2015

The paper presents a methodology for describing in generative terms the structure of urban fabrics: the objective is to transfer conceptually the knowledge about the domain of urban space into a hierarchical and interrelated semantic structure with relevant concepts, elements and their mutual relationships, providing explicit and unambiguous definitions. The conceptual and operational instrument adopted for this purpose is the ontology, a method of knowledge representation and management coming from the Artificial Intelligence. This approach aims to create a customisable digital design tool, to support the designer in the early stages of urban design process, such as street pattern and massing definition, by generating in real time a number of design scenarios, starting from a large number of constraints and requests. This paper focuses on the knowledge formalisation aspects of the research that is the basis for the generative modelling of urban space.
Power in Democracy Promotion
Authors: Wolff Jonas
Published: October 2015

The international promotion of democracy is about power, but the scholarship on this issue offers little systematic attention to the role and relevance that power might have in this context. This article critically discusses the literature that does explicitly deal with power in democracy promotion and proposes a multidimensional perspective as a way to improve our understanding of the international politics of democracy promotion. First, the typology of power proposed by Barnett and Duvall is applied to systematically conceptualize the power dimension of democracy promotion. Second, the article revisits the two main attempts to theoretically grasp the role and relevance of power in democracy promotion that draw on the Realist concept of relative power and the neo-Gramscian theory of hegemony, respectively. In both cases, the article argues, a multidimensional concept of power is analytically useful, as it enables an understanding of the complex nature of democracy promotion that goes beyond interstate relations and includes the attempt to change the very constitution of the recipient or target country from within.
Identifying the Rehabilitative Potential of Electronically Monitored Release Preparation: A Randomized Controlled Study in Germany
Authors: Schwedler Andreas , Woessner Gunda
Published: October 2015

As one of many fields of application, electronic monitoring (EM) of offenders can be used—in conjunction with other measures—for release preparation. Using such measures, policymakers expect an alleviation of the negative effects of imprisonment and the promotion of positive rehabilitative effects by adding structure and social support. At the same time, policymakers are willing to maintain community safety through the close supervision provided by EM. The present study examines participants’ psychological and psychosocial changes during two measures of electronically monitored release preparation, namely, home detention and early work release. These findings are compared with a randomized group of participants who remained in custody. In sum, we found no distinctive positive effects of the tested measures. Because most participants already displayed functional psychological characteristics at pretest, there was only a small margin for improvement through electronically monitored release preparation. We conclude that if rehabilitation is sought by the use of such measures, it is important to select a target group that is actually in need of rehabilitative support and equally important to conduct further research on the rehabilitative potential of EM measures.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection With Arthroscopic Acromioplasty for Chronic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Authors: Carr Andrew J. , Murphy Richard , Dakin Stephanie G. , Rombach Ines , Wheway Kim , Watkins Bridget , Franklin Sarah L.
Published: October 2015

Background:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been proposed to augment tendon healing through improving tissue structure during the initial repair phase.

Purpose:

To investigate both the clinical and tissue effects of the coapplication of PRP injection with arthroscopic acromioplasty (AA) in patients with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

The study comprised 60 randomized patients diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinopathy (55% women) aged between 35 and 75 years. Patients were randomized to AA alone or in combination with an injection of autologous PRP into the subacromial bursa (AA + PRP). Efficacy of treatment was assessed by analysis of patient-reported outcomes up to 2 years after treatment (Oxford Shoulder Score [OSS]) and by analysis of tendon biopsy specimens taken 12 weeks after treatment.

Results:

There was no significant difference in the OSS between AA alone and AA + PRP at any time point in the study. From 12 weeks onward, there was a significant increase in the OSS for both groups compared with their baseline scores ( P < .001). Bonar scoring determined no significant change in tissue structure with the coapplication of PRP compared with surgery alone. The number of blood vessels and tendon cellularity were significantly decreased in tissue biopsy specimens taken from PRP-treated patients. The expression of p53-positive apoptotic cells increased after AA + PRP but decreased after AA alone.

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic acromioplasty significantly improves long-term clinical outcomes up to 2 years. The coapplication of PRP did not affect clinical outcomes. PRP significantly alters the tissue characteristics in tendons after surgery with reduced cellularity and vascularity and increased levels of apoptosis.

Clinical Relevance:

The coapplication of PRP did not improve clinical outcomes and may have potential deleterious effects on healing tendons.

Registry Number:

ISRCTN 10464365
La place du prix dans la socialisation de l’enfant-consommateur
Authors: Damay Coralie , Guichard Nathalie
Published: October 2015

Cet article s’intéresse à la place du prix dans le processus de socialisation du jeune consommateur. Il propose une synthèse des connaissances relatives aux capacités et processus liés au prix nécessaires à l’enfant pour participer aux échanges marchands. Le traitement des prix y est abordé sous différents angles : celui des compétences et des savoirs de l’enfant et celui de son utilisation en tant que consommateur – actuel et futur –, acheteur et prescripteur. Il considère également le rôle conjoint du prix et des autres variables du marketing mix dans l’expérience commerciale de l’enfant. Cette synthèse conduit à suggérer dix propositions de recherche.
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Outcomes in Children With Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy Admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Kaur Jasmine , Singhi Pratibha , Singhi Sunit , Malhi Prahbhjot , Saini Arushi Gahlot
Published: October 2015

The authors prospectively compared the neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes in 50 consecutive children with sepsis-associated encephalopathy admitted to intensive care unit with healthy controls. Children with sepsis-associated encephalopathy had significantly worse mean verbal IQ, full-scale IQ, General Development Score, and its physical, adaptive, social-emotional, cognitive, and communication subscales. Significant proportion of cases (52% vs 32% in controls) had low intelligence. Decline in school performance (44%), disobedience (28%), and stubbornness/irritable behavior (26%) were the most common behavior changes. Children with Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤10 and ≤8 had impairments in full-scale IQ even though overall Glasgow Coma Scale score did not show significant correlation with developmental outcomes. In conclusion, children with sepsis-associated encephalopathy have delayed neurodevelopment, low verbal IQ, decline in school performance and low intelligence at short-term follow-up. Irritability, shock and duration of sedation are associated with poor behavioral outcomes, especially scholastic performance.
From Toxic Sites to Parks as (Green) LULUs? New Challenges of Inequity, Privilege, Gentrification, and Exclusion for Urban Environmental Justice
Authors: Anguelovski Isabelle
Published: October 2015

As marginalized neighborhoods benefit from cleanup and environmental amenities often brought by municipal sustainability planning, recent trends of land revaluation, investments, and gentrification are posing a conundrum and paradox for environmental justice (EJ) activists. In this article, I examine the progression of the urban EJ agenda—from fighting contamination to mobilizing for environmental goods and resisting environmental gentrification—and analyze how the EJ scholarship has reflected upon the complexification of this agenda. I argue that locally unwanted land uses can be reconceptualized from contamination sources to new green amenities because of the displacement they seem to trigger or accelerate.
Synthesis and properties of cyano group–containing polyimides with high peel strength
Authors: Cao Xueying , Song Yang , Matsumoto Toshihiko , Liu Baijun
Published: October 2015

In order to investigate the effect of cyano groups (–CN) on the properties of the polymers, two series of polyimides (PIs) based on a –CN-containing diamine monomer and a diamine monomer without –CN group were synthesized and characterized, respectively. After studying the structure–property relationships of these polymers, it was found that some properties could be greatly improved with the incorporation of –CN groups. Firstly, the tensile test showed that the –CN-containing polymeric films had higher tensile strength and Young’s moduli. The tensile strength and the Young’s modulus of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic with –CN groups anhydride reached 154.1 MPa and 1.66 GPa, respectively. Secondly, thermogravimetric analysis results revealed that the –CN-containing polymers (CN-PI polymers) had good thermal stability and exhibited no decomposition below 470°C under nitrogen atmosphere. Thirdly, the dielectric constants of the CN-PI polymers were in the range of 3.67–3.84 at 10 MHz, which had an increase of 0.5 in comparison with the corresponding PIs without –CN groups. Fourthly, the CN-PI polymers had higher peel strength to copper foils. The peel strength of 4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride-containing –CN groups could reach 1.28 N mm−1, suggesting its strong interaction to copper matrix and the potential use in flexibility circuit board. Finally, all the films showed better optical transparency compared with DuPont’s Kapton® film.
Hybrid-loop servo control system of double toggle mechanical press for flexible forming process based on sliding mode control and neural network techniques
Authors: Liang Jintao , Zhao Shengdun , Zhao Yongqiang , Zhu Muzhi
Published: October 2015

A hybrid-loop servo control system based on sliding-mode control and neural network control is proposed in this article to realize flexible forming process on a double toggle mechanical press. First, kinematics and dynamic analysis of the drive system are conducted to derive the control objective behavior. Then, the structure of the hybrid-loop system is introduced; sliding-mode control is applied to compensate the punch position errors. In the inner loop of the servo motor, complementary sliding-mode control is used to track the motor rotation angle, and a radial basis function neural network estimator is applied to eliminate the considerable load disturbances in the stamping stage. Finally, experimental hardware is constructed and a compound blanking and drawing process is carried out to validate the proposed servo control system in practice. With different materials and drawing depth, high tracking accuracy and robustness are exhibited to realize favorable forming performance.
Aboriginal involvement in caring-for-country: an economic case study in primary preventative health
Authors: Campbell David
Published: October 2015

Objective:

Firstly, to demonstrate the involvement of Aboriginal people in caring-for-country as a case study of how appropriately targeted non-medical primary preventative health strategies can be a cost-effective approach to addressing chronic disease among Indigenous people. Secondly, to demonstrate the use of an analogous approach in addressing the global chronic disease pandemic.

Method:

A review of prior biomedical and economic research based on the involvement of Aboriginal people in caring-for-country is used to: (a) exemplifying the cost effectiveness of a non-medical preventative health intervention; and (b) the process by which such an approach might be applied across a broader context.

Results:

The presented results demonstrate one non-medical primary preventative health approach to addressing the health burden affecting Indigenous peoples.

Conclusions:

The suggested steps in optimising the cost effectiveness of such an approach demonstrate how it could be applied in addressing the global chronic disease pandemic.
Graduate-entry medical students: older and wiser but not less distressed
Authors: Casey Dion , Thomas Susan , Hocking Darren R , Kemp-Casey Anna
Published: October 2015

Objectives:

Australia has a growing number of graduate-entry medical courses. It is known that undergraduate medical students have high levels of psychological distress; however, little is known about graduate-entry medical students. We examined whether graduate-entry medical students had higher levels of psychological distress than the same-age general population.

Method:

Psychological distress was assessed in 122 graduate-entry medical students in an Australian graduate-entry medical school using the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. Mean scores and the proportion of students with scores in the highly distressed range were compared with non-clinical population norms. Scores were also compared across demographic characteristics.

Results:

Medical students reported higher mean depression, anxiety and stress scores than the general population and were more likely to score in the moderate to extremely high range for anxiety (45% vs. 13%; p<0.001) and stress (17% vs. 13%; p=0.003). Anxiety and stress were higher in students aged ≥30 years than in younger students.

Conclusions:

Despite their maturity, graduate-entry students experienced high psychological distress. Anxiety and stress were higher, not lower, with increasing age. Our results suggest that graduate-entry medical students warrant the same level of concern as their school-leaving counterparts. Further interventions to support these students during medical school are warranted.
Learning by Doing
Authors: Pain Paromita , Masullo Chen Gina , Campbell Christopher P.
Published: October 2015

In-depth qualitative interviews with participants of a high school journalism workshop reveal that immersing students in coverage of a historically important news event enhances learning of multimedia journalism. Study explores how using a team-based approach to coverage of the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, a key event in Mississippi’s civil rights history, bolsters students’ ability to learn to tell stories using text, photos, video, social media, radio, and blogs. Ramifications for multimedia education are proposed.
Video Games and the Right of Publicity
Authors: Bunker Matthew D. , Calvert Clay
Published: October 2015

The right of publicity—the right to control commercial uses of one’s identity—stands in an ambiguous relationship to First Amendment free speech interests. This article explores the origins of the publicity tort, including its recent expansion into domains formerly thought to be protected by the First Amendment. The article then analyzes two questionable rulings from federal appellate courts in 2013. Both cases held that the First Amendment did not protect a video game maker using the personae of college athletes. These rulings carry serious implications not only for video game creators but also for a variety of media entities.
When rationality fails: Making sense of the ‘slippery slope’ to corporate fraud
Authors: Campana Paolo
Published: October 2015

Management fraud is often explained through wealth-maximization paradigms. This article invokes a different approach, namely a behavioural one, and argues that fraud may happen as a consequence of failures in the decision-making process. Relying on extensive evidence in the case of Parmalat, it maintains that this fraud was not brought about by the desire of the CEO, chairman and founder to maximize his economic goals, but was rather a consequence of his failure to produce an objective description of reality. This was induced by a number of behavioural mechanisms such as self-deception, managerial hubris, emotions and the ‘endowment effect’. This article also contributes to a broader debate on the rationality of economic actors and its limits, and sheds light on the seeds of potential crises contained within genuine Schumpeterian entrepreneurs.
The acquisition of verbal paradigms in Dutch and Greek L2 children: Cross-linguistic differences and inflectional defaults
Authors: Blom Elma , Chondrogianni Vasiliki , Marinis Theodoros , Vasić Nada
Published: October 2015

Previous research with children learning a second language (L2) has reported errors with verb inflection and cross-linguistic variation in accuracy and error patterns. However, owing to the cross-linguistic complexity and diversity of different verbal paradigms, the cross-linguistic effects on the nature of default forms has not been directly addressed in L2 acquisition studies. In the present study, we compared accuracy and error patterns in verbal agreement inflections in L2 children acquiring Dutch and Greek, keeping the children’s L1 constant (Turkish). Results showed that inflectional defaults in Greek follow universal predictions regarding the morphological underspecification of paradigms. However, the same universal predictions do not apply to the same extent to Dutch. It is argued that phonological properties of inflected forms should be taken into account to explain cross-linguistic differences in the acquisition of inflection. By systematically comparing patterns in child L2 Dutch and Greek, this study shows how universal mechanisms and target language properties work in tandem in the acquisition of inflectional paradigms.
Effects of comprehensive intensive therapies on the change of intima-media thickness of carotid arteries in type 2 diabetic patients: A report of 4-year follow-up with a literature review
Authors: Cheng Li-Juan , Xu Zhe-Rong , Zhang Qin , Wang Zhao-Di , Wu Fang-Wei , Yang Wei-Xia
Published: October 2015

Background:

The aim was to evaluate the effect of comprehensive intensive therapy on the carotid and femoral arteries of intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after 4-year follow-up.

Methods:

In this prospective 4-year study, patients (N = 210) with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes received either comprehensive intensive therapy (n = 110) or conventional therapy (n = 100). Blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels were monitored every 3–6 months, and carotid and femoral arteries of intima-media thickness were monitored with ultrasonography. For the literature review, various databases were searched until 20 December 2014 for studies that evaluated effects of intensive multi-factorial therapies on comprehensive intensive therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Results:

The comprehensive intensive therapy group had a smaller rate of carotid intima-media thickness increase than the conventional therapy (control) group ( p < 0.05). The carotid intima-media thickness in comprehensive intensive therapy group remained stable while the adjusted rate of carotid intima-media thickness increase was 12.55% in the control group. The femoral intima-media thickness change was also smaller in comprehensive intensive therapy group but the difference over time did not reach significance.

Conclusion:

The carotid intima-media thickness remained stable in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who received comprehensive intensive therapy, suggesting that multi-factorial intensive therapies might have potential in reducing macro-vascular events in these patients.
Refinements to the MLB-NPB Posting System
Authors: Nagy Lindsey D. , Dale Donald J. , Gryc William E.
Published: October 2015

We theoretically and experimentally analyze recent changes in the posting system used by Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) organization and the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) organization to transfer the rights of NPB players from NPB teams to MLB teams. Under the old system—a sequential, first-price sealed-bid auction among MLB teams for player negotiation exclusivity rights—the NPB team enjoyed considerable surplus from lucrative posting fees. We predict that the revised system—an English auction with an entry fee—will transfer most of the NPB’s middleman benefits (posting fees) to the players through higher salaries. Additionally, we analyze a third, proposed but not adopted, mechanism—a weighted-average sealed-bid auction. Our experimental results confirm our theoretical predictions. Furthermore, under the new system, efficiency is greatest, MLB teams spend less on Japanese players, and the players’ salaries increase significantly.
The Effects of Stroke Type, Locus, and Extent on Long-Term Outcome of Gait Rehabilitation
Authors: Nadeau Stephen E. , Dobkin Bruce , Wu Samuel S. , Pei Qinglin , Duncan Pamela W. ,   for the LEAPS Investigative Team
Published: October 2015

Background. Paresis in stroke is largely a result of damage to descending corticospinal and corticobulbar pathways. Recovery of paresis predominantly reflects the impact on the neural consequences of this white matter lesion by reactive neuroplasticity (mechanisms involved in spontaneous recovery) and experience-dependent neuroplasticity, driven by therapy and daily experience. However, both theoretical considerations and empirical data suggest that type of stroke (large vessel distribution/lacunar infarction, hemorrhage), locus and extent of infarction (basal ganglia, right-hemisphere cerebral cortex), and the presence of leukoaraiosis or prior stroke might influence long-term recovery of walking ability. In this secondary analysis based on the 408 participants in the Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS) study database, we seek to address these possibilities. Methods. Lesion type, locus, and extent were characterized by the 2 neurologists in the LEAPS trial on the basis of clinical computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. A series of regression models was used to test our hypotheses regarding the effects of lesion type, locus, extent, and laterality on 2- to 12-month change in gait speed, controlling for baseline gait speed, age, and Berg Balance Scale score. Results. Gait speed change at 1 year was significantly reduced in participants with basal ganglia involvement and prior stroke. There was a trend toward reduction of gait speed change in participants with lacunar infarctions. The presence of right-hemisphere cortical involvement had no significant impact on outcome. Conclusions. Type, locus, and extent of lesion, and the loss of substrate for neuroplastic effect as a result of prior stroke may affect long-term outcome of rehabilitation of hemiparetic gait.
Optimizing the Intensity of Lifestyle Medicine Interventions: Similar Outcomes for Half the Sessions
Authors: Morton Darren P. , Kent Lillian , Rankin Paul , Mitchell Brett , Parker Karina , Gobble John , Diehl Hans
Published: October 2015

Lifestyle medicine interventions are typically intensive by design. This study explored the optimal “dosage” of a well-known lifestyle medicine intervention—the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP). A total of 2383 individuals (mean age = 61.0 ± 9.2 years; 34% males) participated in either an 8-session (N = 448) or 16-session (N = 1935) version of the CHIP intervention conducted over 4 weeks in community settings throughout North America. Both the 8- and 16-session groups experienced significant improvements in all the chronic disease risk factors measured. There was no difference between the changes experienced by the 8- and 16-session groups in lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, or systolic blood pressure. The 8-session group experienced a significantly greater reduction in body mass (0.3 percentage points or 0.8 lbs, P < .01), but the 16-session group recorded a significantly greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure (2.8 percentage points or 2.2 mm Hg, P < .01). There was no clear difference between the outcomes achieved in 4 weeks by the 8- and 16-session versions of the CHIP lifestyle medicine intervention. This study suggests that the short-term outcomes achieved by a 16-session CHIP intervention can be achieved in half the number of sessions, which has implications from a resourcing and cost-effectiveness perspective.