bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
White British researchers and internationally educated research participants: Insights from reflective practices on issues of language and culture in nursing contexts
Authors: Allan Helen T , Westwood Sue
Published: December 2015

This paper explores how reflective practices enabled researchers to achieve a more complex analysis of qualitative data generated from focus groups. Drawing on our experiences as two white British researchers, conducting a study with internationally educated nurses from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, we consider how our analysis led us to a more nuanced understanding of the data than might have occurred without reflectivity. We identified our respective standpoints, confronted our feared biases, particularly in relation to social stereotyping and prejudice, and located ourselves as co-producers of the data. This enabled us to consider how we might be representing, holding and paralleling, systemic patterns of discrimination, leading to several new insights. Reflective practice is often referred to in theory, less often in application. We hope that sharing our reflective process will benefit other researchers navigating the complex waters of identifying themselves in their research.
Psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale
Authors: Rejeh Nahid , Heravi-Karimooi Majideh , Montazeri Ali , Taheri Kharame Zahra , Vaismoradi Mojtaba , Jordan Sue
Published: December 2015

Assessment of quality of life is an important measure of the impact of disease and effectiveness of treatment. The Myocardial Infarction Dimensional Assessment Scale (MIDAS) is a disease-specific questionnaire developed for the evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients following myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of MIDAS. The translated MIDAS was checked for validity and reliability with 350 patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction within the last 90 days. Participants were recruited from five inpatient wards and two outpatient departments at four university hospitals in Tehran between June 2013 and March 2014. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a six-factor solution for the questionnaire: ‘physical activity’, ‘insecurity’, ‘emotional reaction’, ‘dependency’, ‘diet’, and ‘concerns over medication and side effects’. Together, these accounted for 81.63% of variance observed. Cronbach’s alpha of the subscales ranged from 0.88 to 0.98, and test–retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .81 to .97, indicating that the instrument was reliable. The Farsi version of the MIDAS was reliable and valid for Iranian patients with myocardial infarction. The MIDAS can be used to measure health outcomes in different clinical settings and research centres, and by nurses for measuring health-related quality of life and determining the effects of medical and nursing interventions on patients’ quality of life.
Osteoporosis in men: findings from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS)
Authors: Cawthon Peggy M. , Shahnazari Mohammad , Orwoll Eric S. , Lane Nancy E.
Published: December 2015

The lifespan of men is increasing and this is associated with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis in men. Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fracture. Fractures are associated with increased disability and mortality, and public health problems. We review here the study of osteoporosis in men as obtained from a longitudinal cohort of community-based older men, the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS).
Qualities of Inpatient Hospital Rooms
Authors: Devlin Ann Sloan , Andrade Cláudia Campos , Carvalho Diana
Published: December 2015

Objectives:

The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate what design features of hospital rooms are valued by inpatients.

Background:

Little research has explored how patients evaluate the physical environment of their hospital rooms. Most responses are captured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, which includes only two questions about the physical environment.

Method:

Two hundred thirty-six orthopedic patients (78 in the United States and 158 in Portugal) listed three features of their hospital room that influenced their level of satisfaction with their hospital stay, indicating whether the feature was positive or negative.

Results:

The comments were more positive (71.4%) than negative (28.6%). Using the framework of supportive design from Ulrich, over half the comments (64.31%) could be categorized in one of the three dimensions: 33.2% (positive distraction), 22.4% (perceived control), and 6.0% (social support). This total includes Internet (2.7%), which could be categorized as either social support or positive distraction. Comments called “other aspects” focused on overall environmental appraisals, cleanliness, and functionality and maintenance.

Conclusions:

The majority of comments could be accommodated by Ulrich’s theory, but it is noteworthy that other aspects emerge from patients’ comments and affect their experience. Cross-cultural differences pointed to the greater role of light and sun for Portuguese patients and health status whiteboard for U.S. patients. Qualitative research can add significantly to our understanding of the healthcare experience and may inform design decisions.
The NIH Stroke Scale Has Limited Utility in Accurate Daily Monitoring of Neurologic Status
Authors: Marsh Elisabeth B. , Lawrence Erin , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Llinas Rafael H.
Published: December 2015

Background and Purpose:

The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is rapid and reproducible, a seemingly attractive metric for the documentation of clinical progress in patients presenting with ischemic stroke. Many institutions have adopted it into daily clinical practice. Unfortunately, the scale may not adequately capture all forms of functional change. We evaluate its utility as a measure of recovery in patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) for ischemic stroke.

Methods:

We prospectively evaluated the difference in the rate of improvement based on NIHSS (a ≥4 point change based on previous trials) versus physician-documented subjective and objective measures in 41 patients’ status post IV tPA treatment. The NIHSS 24 hours posttreatment, on discharge, and at follow-up were compared to NIHSS on admission using tests of proportions and McNemar tests of paired data. Secondary analyses were performed defining significant improvement as NIHSS changes of 1 to 3 points.

Results:

The mean NIHSS improved from 9 to 6, 24 hours post-tPA. Of the 41 patients, 29 improved by physician documentation, although only 11 of the 29 met the NIHSS criteria ( P < .001; McNemar P < .001). On discharge, 20 of the 41 patients met the NIHSS criteria; however, the proportion “better” by physician documentation (71%) remained significantly higher ( P = .04; McNemar P = .004). The mean postdischarge follow-up NIHSS was 2. Twenty of the 21 patients improved by documentation versus 16 of the 21 by NIHSS ( P = .08, McNemar P = .125). Using NIHSS changes of 1 to 3 increased sensitivity for detecting improvement but remained lower than physician documentation.

Conclusion:

The NIHSS has many advantages; however, it may miss functional changes when used in place of a comprehensive neurological examination to measure improvement poststroke.
Development of a Fresh Osteochondral Allograft Program Outside North America
Authors: Tírico Luís Eduardo Passarelli , Demange Marco Kawamura , Santos Luiz Augusto Ubirajara , de Rezende Márcia Uchoa , Helito Camilo Partezani , Gobbi Riccardo Gomes , Pécora José Ricardo , Croci Alberto Tesconi , Bugbee William Dick
Published: December 2015

Objective

To standardize and to develop a fresh osteochondral allograft protocol of procurement, processing and surgical utilization in Brazil. This study describes the steps recommended to make fresh osteochondral allografts a viable treatment option in a country without previous fresh allograft availability.

Design

The process involves regulatory process modification, developing and establishing procurement, and processing and surgical protocols.

Results

Legislation: Fresh osteochondral allografts were not feasible in Brazil until 2009 because the law prohibited preservation of fresh grafts at tissue banks. We approved an amendment that made it legal to preserve fresh grafts for 30 days from 2°C to 6°C in tissue banks. Procurement: We changed the protocol of procurement to decrease tissue contamination. All tissues were procured in an operating room. Processing: Processing of the grafts took place within 12 hours of tissue recovery. A serum-free culture media with antibiotics was developed to store the grafts. Surgeries: We have performed 8 fresh osteochondral allografts on 8 knees obtaining grafts from 5 donors. Mean preoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 31.99 ± 13.4, improving to 81.26 ± 14.7 at an average of 24 months’ follow-up. Preoperative Knee Injury and Oseoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) score was 46.8 ± 20.9 and rose to 85.24 ± 13.9 after 24 months. Mean preoperative Merle D’Aubigne-Postel score was 8.75 ± 2.25 rising to 16.1 ± 2.59 at 24 months’ follow-up.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first report of fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation in South America. We believe that this experience may be of value for physicians in countries that are trying to establish an osteochondral allograft transplant program.
Analysis for Prognostic Factors from a Database for the Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid (Euflexxa) Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Altman Roy D. , Farrokhyar Forough , Fierlinger Anke , Niazi Faizan , Rosen Jeffrey
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) injections are a treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA), although current literature provides mixed results with regard to their efficacy. We will review a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and subsequent extension trial in order to identify factors that are associated with outcomes in patients with knee OA who received IA-HA.

Methods

We used data recorded by the FLEXX trial and extension trial for secondary analysis of potential prognostic factors. Linear regression was used to examine the predictors of outcomes at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits.

Results

Sixty percent of all patients presented with a Kellgren Lawrence (K-L) grade 3. Patients with high baseline outcome scores and a K-L grade 3 demonstrated less response than individuals within an earlier stage of knee OA, although results for both K-L grade 2 and K-L grade 3 patients still showed benefit. Those with more severe radiographic change K-L grade 3 often had a better response with the second series of IA-HA injections. Significantly greater positive response in all outcomes was demonstrated for the patient subgroup classified as K-L grade 2, when compared with K-L grade 3 patients.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that IA-HA for knee OA was of greater benefit in those with less severe radiographic changes. However, those with more severe radiographic change often had a better response with the second course of IA-HA. Similar analyses are required in order to determine if these results are unique to Euflexxa, or if these results are consistent with other available IA-HA agents.
Use of doripenem and risk of seizure and renal impairment in US hospitalized patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chavers Scott , Magee Glenn , Baumer Dorothy , Pai Helen
Published: December 2015

Objectives:

A large retrospective database study was conducted to assess the incidence rate of treatment-emergent renal impairment/failure, seizure, and hemolytic anemia in doripenem and imipenem intravenous (IV)-exposed patients treated for complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) and complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI) in US hospitals.

Methods:

Using the Premier Perspective™ Database (PPD), which maintains hospital discharge records for over 309 million patients, the incidence rate of treatment-emergent renal impairment/failure, seizure, and hemolytic anemia in the doripenem-treated compared with imipenem IV-treated population was examined.

Results:

The unadjusted doripenem rate ratio (RR) for renal impairment/failure relative to imipenem IV was 1.13 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.21; p < 0.0001]. The unadjusted doripenem rate ratio for seizure relative to imipenem IV was 0.74 (95% CI 0.52–1.05; p = 0.07). In the comparative safety analysis, adjusted incidence rates of renal impairment/failure between doripenem-exposed patients and a propensity score-matched comparator cohort of imipenem IV-exposed patients showed no statistically significant difference in cUTI [RR = 1.02; 95% CI 0.93–1.12; p = 0.71] or cIAI (RR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.00–1.36; p = 0.05). Likewise, there was no statistically significant difference in adjusted incidence rates for seizures in doripenem-treated versus matched imipenem-treated patients for cUTI (RR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.41–1.14; p = 0.15) or cIAI (RR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.15–1.41; p = 0.17). No hemolytic anemia events were observed in this study.

Conclusions:

In this large retrospective cohort study of US hospitalized patients, no statistically significant differences in the adjusted relative rates of renal impairment/failure and seizure were observed between doripenem and a propensity score-matched comparator cohort of imipenem IV patients in the treatment of cUTI and cIAI.
Women of low socioeconomic status living with diabetes: Becoming adept at handling a disease
Authors: Boonsatean Wimonrut , Dychawy Rosner Irena , Carlsson Anna , Östman Margareta
Published: December 2015

Objective:

The objective of this study was to explore how Thai women of low socioeconomic status handle their type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

A qualitative interpretative method was used to study 19 women with type 2 diabetes in a suburban community in Thailand. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and were analysed using inductive and constructive processes.

Results:

Participants’ lives underwent many changes between their initial diagnoses and later stages when they became adept at handling diabetes. Two themes emerged, which involved (1) the transition to handling diabetes and (2) the influences of the social environment. The first theme encompassed confronting the disease, reaching a turning point in the process of adaptation and developing expertise in handling diabetes. The second theme involved threats of loss of status and empowerment by families. These findings showed that becoming adept at handling diabetes required significant changes in women’s behaviours and required taking advantage of influences from the social environment.

Conclusion:

The process of developing expertise in handling diabetes was influenced by both inner and outer factors that required adjustment to learn to live with diabetes. Furthermore, the reductions found in women’s social statuses when they become patients in the healthcare system might pose a barrier to women of low socioeconomic status becoming adept at handling diabetes. However, the experiences of empowerment received from the women’s families acted as a powerful strategy to strengthen their handling of the disease. To develop accessible and sensitive health care for this population, it is important to pay attention to these findings.
Data and agency
Authors: Kennedy Helen , Poell Thomas , van Dijck Jose
Published: December 2015

This introduction to the special issue on data and agency argues that datafication should not only be understood as the process of collecting and analysing data about Internet users, but also as feeding such data back to users, enabling them to orient themselves in the world. It is important that debates about data power recognise that data is also generated, collected and analysed by alternative actors, enhancing rather than undermining the agency of the public. Developing this argument, we first make clear why and how the question of agency should be central to our engagement with data. Subsequently, we discuss how this question has been operationalized in the five contributions to this special issue, which empirically open up the study of alternative forms of datafication. Building on these contributions, we conclude that as data acquire new power, it is vital to explore the space for citizen agency in relation to data structures and to examine the practices of data work, as well as the people involved in these practices.
Intramastoid solitary neurofibroma mimicking middle ear carcinoma
Authors: Shi Zhenshan , Zhuang Qian , Cao Dairong
Published: December 2015

We report an extremely rare case of intramastoid neurofibroma. A mass with destruction of the mastoid bone of a 51-year-old woman was examined with computed tomography. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an ill-defined soft tissue mass with the opacification of mastoid air cells that had a mass effect in the same area. The patient underwent left subtotal temporal bone resection, and histological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the lesion to be a neurofibroma. Given that similar imaging features of neurofibroma have been reported previously elsewhere in the head/neck and extremities, we suggest that it may be possible to include this tumor in the preoperative differential diagnosis.
Complementary and Alternative Medicines
Authors: Ghaedi Fateme , Dehghan Mahlagha , Salari Masoumeh , Sheikhrabori Akbar
Published: December 2015

Prevalence of complementary and alternative medicines is increasing specially in patients with chronic diseases. Therefore, based on the high prevalence of chronic disorders, the present study aimed to determine complementary and alternative medicine usage frequency and its determinant factors. This was a cross-sectional study. Five hundred clients participated in the study by using convenience sampling. A 2-part questionnaire (including demographic form and researcher-created questionnaire) was used for studying the prevalence of using complementary and alternative medicine methods, and users’ satisfaction. Findings showed that 75.4% of people used at least one complementary and alternative medicine method. Most of users consumed medicinal plants (69.4%). The most common reason of using a complementary and alternative medicine method was common cold (32.9%). The highest satisfaction belonged to massage (2.94 ± 0.74). The usage of complementary and alternative medicine was 3.22 times higher in people with academic educations when compared with illiterate people. Concerning the high usage of complementary and alternative medicine, it is necessary to train specialists in this field in order to offer such treatments in a safe manner. Also, outcomes of application of complementary and alternative medicine methods should be studied.
Style of Play and Rate of Concussions in the National Football League
Authors: Teramoto Masaru , Petron David J. , Cross Chad L. , Willick Stuart E.
Published: December 2015

Background:

The majority of studies on concussion in the National Football League (NFL) focus on testing, evaluation, and outcomes. Meanwhile, there is a paucity of research on how a team’s style of play influences the risk of concussion.

Hypothesis:

Style of play, such as offensive and defensive strategies, is associated with the rate of concussions in the NFL.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

The current study retrospectively analyzed data from the 2012 to 2014 NFL regular seasons. Reported numbers of concussions were stratified by each team and each position and were compared based on style of play, including offensive scheme (West Coast offense, Air Coryell offense, or other offensive schemes) and defensive alignment (3-4 or 4-3), attempts statistics, per-drive statistics, and offensive and defensive productions, along with strength of schedule (SoS) and team quality measured by simple rating system (SRS). Data analyses included descriptive statistics, 1-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and regression analysis.

Results:

There were 437 documented concussions during the 2012 to 2014 NFL regular seasons, with a mean 4.6 concussions per season per team. In general, players most involved in pass plays reported more concussions. The number of concussions sustained by offensive players was significantly higher among the teams adopting the West Coast offense (mean, 3.0) than among those utilizing the Air Coryell offense (mean, 1.6; P = .006) or those with non–West Coast offenses combined (mean, 1.9; P = .004). The multiple regression analysis revealed that the West Coast offense or not, SoS, and SRS explained 25.3% of the variance in the number of concussions by offensive players. After accounting for SRS, the West Coast offense was found to be a significant predictor of the number of concussions ( P = .007), while there was a tendency for SoS to be inversely associated with the number of concussions ( P = .105). None of the variables for attempts statistics, per-drive statistics, and offensive production were significantly associated with the number of concussions in the regression analysis.

Conclusion:

In the NFL, players most involved in pass plays appear to be at increased risk for concussions. The West Coast offense may be associated with a greater risk of concussion. Furthermore, teams with easier schedules may have more players sustaining concussions.
Strengthening Sociological Research through Public Records Requests
Authors: Greenberg Pierce
Published: December 2015

Sociologists rarely attempt to obtain public records through freedom of information requests (FOIR), despite the numerous ways such requests can contribute to social research. FOIR refers to the process of procuring data from the government through public records laws and requests. The limited sociological literature on FOIR largely portrays it as a critical-activist tool that requires an uncertain and time-consuming process. But these conceptions vastly limit the scope and usefulness of FOIR as a data collection method. This article provides a recent review of sociological literature that highlights four primary uses of FOIR: (1) to carry out archival research on government action, (2) as a supplementary data source in case studies, (3) to evaluate and complement existing data sources, and (4) to examine the organizational characteristics of public agencies. However, few of these studies provide details of the FOIR process. Therefore, I describe a successful application of FOIR to familiarize researchers with the process of brokering for access to data. These examples provide concrete illustrations of how FOIR can contribute to sociological research and may encourage academics to consider FOIR a valuable data collection method.
“Sharing is Caring”: Online Self-disclosure, Offline Social Support, and Social Network Site Usage in the UAE
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed Azza Abdel-Azim
Published: December 2015

The Arab information about themselves through social networking sites and offline social support affect the pattern of online self-disclosure. The impact of the social network site (SNS), size of a user’s pool of friends, the intensity of SNS usage, and attitudes toward online self-disclosure are examined through applied qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. A total of 313 Arab residents of the United Arab Emirates living in Dubai and Abu Dhabi formed the sample of a survey. Constructed in-depth interviews were conducted with 69 Arab residents in the UAE. The findings indicated a positive significant correlation between online self-disclosures and the diversity of SNS audience, while intensity of SNS usage did not correlate to online self-disclosure. The more respondents had emotional and informational offline support, the more they were likely to be “honest” in their online self-disclosure. Females are higher in social companionship, emotional, and informational forms of offline social support than males, while the latter are more likely to disclose personal information online than females. Males practice “parental authority” with females to protect them from possible dangers of online self-disclosure. In-depth interviews showed that SNS users carefully govern the amount of information they post on SNSs and to whom they make it available.
Choosing the Right Strategy: Why the Palestinians Were More Successful in the First Intifada than in the Second?
Authors: Frisch Hillel
Published: December 2015

Choosing a strategy that polarizes the rival’s political center is often critical in determining the relative success of the weaker side in asymmetric conflict. This proposition is tested on two rounds of protracted confrontations between Palestinians and Israel in 1987 and 2000. In the first intifada, the Palestinians limited terrorism primarily to the West Bank and Gaza, polarized the Israeli political center and secured substantial political gains. In the second, the Palestinians employed much more violent means and focused it within Israel. This indiscriminate strategy (which included suicide bombings) united the Israeli public against the Palestinians, justified the Israeli onslaught on the Palestinian Authority, and divided the Palestinians themselves at considerable political, human, and economic cost.

The comparison between Palestinian strategy and its consequences in two long rounds of conflict with the Israeli state suggests an important theoretical and empirical finding; it is not so much the strategy employed by the stronger side that determines outcomes as Ivan Arreguin-Toft suggests but the strategy employed by the weaker actor in conflict. Employing a strategy that polarizes the political center of the opponent and weakens its resolve is critical to the insurgent’s ability to succeed against its stronger opponent. In the first intifada, the Palestinians were able to polarize the foe’s political center. In the second intifada, the Palestinians failed to do the same at substantial human, material, and political costs, including a civil war in 2007 and the Hamas’ takeover of Gaza.
Thrombopoietin receptor activation by myeloproliferative neoplasm associated calreticulin mutants
Authors: Chachoua Ilyas , Pecquet Christian , El-Khoury Mira , Nivarthi Harini , Albu Roxana-Irina , Marty Caroline , Gryshkova Vitalina , Defour Jean-Philippe , Vertenoeil Gaëlle , Ngo Anna , Koay Ann , Raslova Hana , Courtoy Pierre J. , Choong Meng Ling , Plo Isabelle , Vainchenker William , Kralovics Robert , Constantinescu Stefan N.
Published: December 2015

Key Points

Calreticulin mutants responsible for myeloproliferative neoplasms specifically activate the thrombopoietin receptor and in turn JAK2. Activation of the thrombopoietin receptor requires the glycan binding site and a novel C-terminal tail of the mutant calreticulin.
Reversal of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio in early versus late death from septic shock
Authors: Riché Florence , Gayat Etienne , Barthélémy Romain , Le Dorze Matthieu , Matéo Joaquim , Payen Didier
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Septic shock is one of the most frequent causes of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with a poor prognosis. Early and late death in septic shock should be distinguished because they may involve different underlying mechanisms. In various conditions, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte count ratio (NLCR) has been described as an easily measurable parameter to express injury severity. In the present study, we investigated whether the timing of death was related to a particular NLCR.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, single-center, observational study that included consecutive septic shock patients. Severity scores, early (before day 5) or late (on or after day 5 of septic shock onset) ICU mortality, and daily leukocyte counts were collected during the ICU stay. We assessed the association between leukocyte counts at admission and their evolution during the first 5 days with early or late death. The association between patient characteristics (including cell counts) and prognosis was estimated using Cox proportional cause-specific hazards models.

Results

The study included 130 patients who were diagnosed with abdominal (n = 99) or extra-abdominal (n = 31) septic shock. The median (interquartile range) NLCR was 12.5 (6.5–21.2) in survivors and 6.2 (3.7–12.6) in nonsurvivors (p = 0.001). The NLCR at admission was significantly lower in patients who died before day 5 than in survivors (5 [3.5–11.6] versus 12.5 [6.5–21.2], respectively; p = 0.01). From day 1 to day 5, an increased NLCR related to an increase in neutrophil count and a decrease in lymphocyte count was associated with late death (+34.8 % [−8.2 to 305.4] versus −20 % [−57.4 to 45.9]; p = 0.003). Those results were present in patients with abdominal origin sepsis as well as in those with extra-abdominal sepsis, who were analyzed separately.

Conclusions

In the present study, a reversed NLCR evolution was observed according to the timing of death. Septic shock patients at risk of early death had a low NLCR at admission, although late death was associated with an increased NLCR during the first 5 days.
Ephrin-A2 and ephrin-A5 guide contralateral targeting but not topographic mapping of ventral cochlear nucleus axons
Authors: Abdul-latif Mariam L. , Salazar Jesus A. Ayala , Marshak Sonya , Dinh Minhan L. , Cramer Karina S.
Published: December 2015

Background

In the auditory brainstem, ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) axons project to the contralateral, but not ipsilateral, medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB), terminating in the calyx of Held. Dorsal VCN neurons, representing high frequencies, synapse with medial MNTB neurons, while low frequency-coding ventral VCN neurons synapse with lateral MNTB neurons, reflecting tonotopic organization. The mechanisms that ensure strictly contralateral targeting and topographic ordering are incompletely understood. Here we examined the roles of ephrin-A signaling in both types of targeting.

Results

Ephrin-A2 and ephrin-A5 are expressed in VCN cells during late embryonic and early postnatal development. At these ages ephrin-A2 is expressed in axons surrounding MNTB and ephrin-A5 is expressed in MNTB principal neurons. Ephrin-A2/A5 double knockout mice displayed axon targeting errors in which VCN axons project to MNTB on both sides of the brainstem, where they terminate in calyceal endings. Ephrin-A2 and ephrin-A5 single knockout mice showed a similar phenotype. In contrast to effects on contralateral targeting, ephrin-A2/A5 double knockout mice showed no defects in formation of tonotopically ordered projections from VCN to MNTB.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that distinct mechanisms regulate targeting of VCN axons to the contralateral MNTB and targeting to appropriate tonotopic locations. Ephrin-A signaling plays a similar role to ephrin-B signaling in the VCN-MNTB pathway, where both classes normally prevent formation of calyceal projections to ipsilateral MNTB. These classes may rely in part on common signaling pathways.
About periodicity of impulsive evolution equations through fixed point theory
Authors: Liang Jin , Xiao Ti-Jun , Yang He
Published: December 2015

By processing the problem through fixed point theory and propagator theory, we investigate the periodicity of solutions to a class of impulsive evolution equations in Hilbert spaces and establish some existence theorems for periodic solutions. Moreover, the asymptotic stability of periodic solutions is obtained under suitable conditions. As one will see, the concept of an impulsive propagator is introduced for the first time in the paper.
Energy efficiency in big data complex systems: a comprehensive survey of modern energy saving techniques
Authors: Majeed Abdul , Shah Munam Ali
Published: December 2015

The growing need of computation and processing has led to the generation of data centers. These data centers are usually comprised of hundreds of thousands of servers and other components. This complicated arrangement of the systems lead to the adoption of complex systems. Complex systems prevail in our society as combination of lots of entities, e.g., immune system, human brain and ecosystems. The adoption and interaction of the entities is possible through nonlinear interactions. The interaction between the components of the complex system is carried out in distributed fashion. Big data which is comprised of thousands of machines is also considered to be a form of complex adaptive systems which makes use of large entities, components and nonlinear interactions with each other. The development of such a complex systems raises certain challenges. Apart from management, energy is the most concerned one which is the core discussion of this research. This paper, surveys the state of the art on modern tools, techniques, architectures and algorithms which has been proposed and deployed to achieve energy efficiency in big data over the period of 2007–2015. We group existing approaches aimed at achieving energy efficiency in the complex paradigm of big data. In this categorization, we aim to provide an easy and concise view of the underlined model adapted by each approach in the context of big data.
Reg3g overexpression promotes β cell regeneration and induces immune tolerance in nonobese-diabetic mouse model
Authors: Xia Fei , Cao Hui , Du Jiao , Liu Xiulan , Liu Yang , Xiang Ming
Published: December 2015

The regenerating islet-derived gene was first isolated in regenerated pancreas tissues, greatly contributing to β cell regeneration. It is an anti-inflammatory in response to cellular stress. This encouraged us to investigate the exact role of a novel member of Reg family, regenerating islet-derived gene γ, in type 1 diabetes of nonobese-diabetic mice. For this, Reg3g gene was overexpressed in pancreatic islets, and conferred beneficial effects on β cell regeneration through activating the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/nuclear factor κB signaling pathway. Lentiviral vector-encoding regenerating islet-derived gene γ treatment also decreased lymphocyte infiltrates of the intra-islet and peri-islet by inducing both differentiation of regulatory T cell and immature dendritic cells of tolerogenic properties, which attenuated autoimmunity. This treatment further contributed to rebalanced levels of type 1/2 helper T cell cytokines and elevated α1-antitrypsin levels in the serum. These results were not observed in phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice or in lentivirus-control mice. We have shown, for the first time, to our knowledge, that regenerating islet-derived gene γ promotes β cell regeneration and preserves β cells from autoimmunity damage by increasing regulatory T cell differentiation and inducing tolerated dendritic cells. This regenerating islet-derived gene γ infusion could probably be developed into an optimal gene therapy for the prevention and reversal of type 1 diabetes.
Association of SLCO2B1 Genotypes With Time to Progression and Overall Survival in Patients Receiving Androgen-Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Harshman Lauren C. , Xie Wanling , Nakabayashi Mari , Qu Fangfang , Pomerantz Mark M. , Lee Gwo-Shu Mary , Kantoff Philip W.
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To validate the association of three previously demonstrated SLCO2B1 germline variants with time to progression (TTP) in patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and to evaluate if the SLCO2B1 genetic variants impacted overall survival (OS) for prostate cancer (PC).

Patients and Methods

Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), exonic SNP rs12422149 and intronic SNPs rs1789693 and rs1077858, were genotyped in an independent validation cohort of 616 patients with PC who were treated with ADT at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1996 to 2013. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression adjusting for known prognostic factors estimated the association of these genetic variants with TTP and OS in patients receiving ADT. The expression of SLCO2B1 was examined in prostatectomy samples, and the impact of SLCO2B1 expression level on DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) uptake was evaluated in cell lines.

Results

The association between exonic SNP rs12422149 and TTP in patients treated with ADT was confirmed in univariable (P = .019) and multivariable analyses (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.72 for GG v AA/AG; P = .049). Because OS had not been previously evaluated, we examined the association in the combined initial and validation cohorts (N = 1,094). The intronic SNP rs1077858 was associated with OS in both univariable (P = .009; Bonferroni’s method adjusted P = .027) and multivariable analyses (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.71 for GG v AA/AG; P = .012). SLCO2B1 expression in normal prostate tissue and in 22RV1 cells carrying the major allele of SNP rs1077858 was significantly lower than in cells carrying the risk allele. We show in vitro that SLCO2B1 expression levels correlated with DHEAS uptake by PC cells.

Conclusion

The association of SNP rs1077858 with OS may be a result of differential SLCO2B1 expression and the consequent increased uptake of DHEAS and subsequent resistance to ADT, which, in turn, may contribute to decreased OS.
Conditional Deletion of Bmal1 in Ovarian Theca Cells Disrupts Ovulation in Female Mice
Authors: Mereness Amanda L. , Murphy Zachary C. , Forrestel Andrew C. , Butler Susan , Ko CheMyong , Richards JoAnne S. , Sellix Michael T.
Published: December 2015

Rhythmic events in female reproductive physiology, including ovulation, are tightly controlled by the circadian timing system. The molecular clock, a feedback loop oscillator of clock gene transcription factors, dictates rhythms of gene expression in the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian axis. Circadian disruption due to environmental factors (eg, shift work) or genetic manipulation of the clock has negative impacts on fertility. Although the central pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus classically regulates the timing of ovulation, we have shown that this rhythm also depends on phasic sensitivity to LH. We hypothesized that this rhythm relies on clock function in a specific cellular compartment of the ovarian follicle. To test this hypothesis we generated mice with deletion of the Bmal1 locus in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) (Granulosa Cell Bmal1 KO; GCKO) or theca cells (TCs) (Theca Cell Bmal1 KO; TCKO). Reproductive cycles, preovulatory LH secretion, ovarian morphology and behavior were not grossly altered in GCKO or TCKO mice. We detected phasic sensitivity to LH in wild-type littermate control (LC) and GCKO mice but not TCKO mice. This decline in sensitivity to LH is coincident with impaired fertility and altered patterns of LH receptor (Lhcgr) mRNA abundance in the ovary of TCKO mice. These data suggest that the TC is a pacemaker that contributes to the timing and amplitude of ovulation by modulating phasic sensitivity to LH. The TC clock may play a critical role in circadian disruption-mediated reproductive pathology and could be a target for chronobiotic management of infertility due to environmental circadian disruption and/or hormone-dependent reprogramming in women.
Comprehensive Profiling of GPCR Expression in Ghrelin-Producing Cells
Authors: Koyama Hiroyuki , Iwakura Hiroshi , Dote Katsuko , Bando Mika , Hosoda Hiroshi , Ariyasu Hiroyuki , Kusakabe Toru , Son Choel , Hosoda Kiminori , Akamizu Takashi , Kangawa Kenji , Nakao Kazuwa
Published: December 2015

To determine the comprehensive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) expression profile in ghrelin-producing cells and to elucidate the role of GPCR-mediated signaling in the regulation of ghrelin secretion, we determined GPCR expression profiles by RNA sequencing in the ghrelin-producing cell line MGN3-1 and analyzed the effects of ligands for highly expressed receptors on intracellular signaling and ghrelin secretion. Expression of selected GPCRs was confirmed in fluorescence-activated cell-sorted fluorescently tagged ghrelin-producing cells from ghrelin-promoter CreERT2/Rosa-CAG-LSL-ZsGreen1 mice. Expression levels of GPCRs previously suggested to regulate ghrelin secretion including adrenergic-β1 receptor, GPR81, oxytocin receptor, GPR120, and somatostatin receptor 2 were high in MGN3-1 cells. Consistent with previous reports, isoproterenol and oxytocin stimulated the Gs and Gq pathways, respectively, whereas lactate, palmitate, and somatostatin stimulated the Gi pathway, confirming the reliability of current assays. Among other highly expressed GPCRs, prostaglandin E receptor 4 agonist prostaglandin E2 significantly stimulated the Gs pathway and ghrelin secretion. Muscarine, the canonical agonist of cholinergic receptor muscarinic 4, stimulated both the Gq and Gi pathways. Although muscarine treatment alone did not affect ghrelin secretion, it did suppress forskolin-induced ghrelin secretion, suggesting that the cholinergic pathway may play a role in counterbalancing the stimulation of ghrelin by Gs (eg, by adrenaline). In addition, GPR142 ligand tryptophan stimulated ghrelin secretion. In conclusion, we determined the comprehensive expression profile of GPCRs in ghrelin-producing cells and identified two novel ghrelin regulators, prostaglandin E2 and tryptophan. These results will lead to a greater understanding of the physiology of ghrelin and facilitate the development of ghrelin-modulating drugs.
Progressive Era Origins of the Regulatory State and the Economist as Expert
Authors: Leonard Thomas C.
Published: December 2015

During the long Progressive Era (1885–1918) progressive reformers transformed American government, American higher education, and American economics, all in the name of regulating a transformed economy. Economic progress, they argued successfully, required the creation of a powerful regulatory state, guided by expert economic advisers, whose scientific training and credentials were supplied by the nascent research universities. Progressive economists called this new model of economic governance social control. Social control was less a coherent agenda of substantive goals than it was a technocratic theory and practice of how best to obtain them—a progressive method of economic governance. Though American economics cast its vocational lot with the regulatory state, left and right progressive economists offered different visions of the state's role in economic life—managerial and market capitalism, respectively—which arose from differing conceptions of how a modern, industrialized economy functioned, and which evolved with the shifting vocational opportunities presented by recurring crisis. Different visions of the state's role in economic life, in turn, implied different conceptions of what economic experts do.
Public Goods, Market Failure, and Voluntary Exchange
Authors: Johnson Marianne
Published: December 2015

The core of public economics traditionally addresses two situations of market failure: externalities and public goods. While externalities fit neatly into neoclassical economics, public goods proved substantially more difficult to pin down. An interesting thread in the story of public goods relates to the application of voluntary exchange theory—the idea that the revenue-expenditure process should be determined by the same fundamental laws and procedures that govern market prices in the private aspects of the economy. Driven by the changing political landscape of Europe and greater demand for responsive government, voluntary exchange theory emerged in the 1880s as a competitor to models that represented government as a monolithic decision maker. That voluntary exchange has faded out of the public finance literature belies the role it served launching the public goods debate of the 1950s. In this article, voluntary exchange is used as a vehicle to examine positions taken on the market failure engendered by public goods. What we see is that the discussion was less about the mechanics of voluntary exchange theory or solutions to public goods problems than it was about beliefs regarding the economic role of government and how to delineate the appropriate boundaries of public economics inquiry. This in turn was stimulated by the larger background context of the period, particularly the nexus of free markets and democracy.
Neuropilin-1 balances β8 integrin-activated TGFβ signaling to control sprouting angiogenesis in the brain
Authors: Hirota Shinya , Clements Thomas P. , Tang Leung K. , Morales John E. , Lee Hye Shin , Oh S. Paul , Rivera Gonzalo M. , Wagner Daniel S. , McCarty Joseph H.
Published: December 2015

Angiogenesis in the developing central nervous system (CNS) is regulated by neuroepithelial cells, although the genes and pathways that couple these cells to blood vessels remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we have used biochemical, cell biological and molecular genetic approaches to demonstrate that β8 integrin and Neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) cooperatively promote CNS angiogenesis by mediating adhesion and signaling events between neuroepithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells. β8 integrin in the neuroepithelium promotes the activation of extracellular matrix (ECM)-bound latent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) ligands and stimulates TGFβ receptor signaling in endothelial cells. Nrp1 in endothelial cells suppresses TGFβ activation and signaling by forming intercellular protein complexes with β8 integrin. Cell type-specific ablation of β8 integrin, Nrp1, or canonical TGFβ receptors results in pathological angiogenesis due to defective neuroepithelial cell-endothelial cell adhesion and imbalances in canonical TGFβ signaling. Collectively, these data identify a paracrine signaling pathway that links the neuroepithelium to blood vessels and precisely balances TGFβ signaling during cerebral angiogenesis.
Expanding the power of recombinase-based labeling to uncover cellular diversity
Authors: Plummer Nicholas W. , Evsyukova Irina Y. , Robertson Sabrina D. , de Marchena Jacqueline , Tucker Charles J. , Jensen Patricia
Published: December 2015

Investigating the developmental, structural, and functional complexity of mammalian tissues and organs depends on identifying and gaining experimental access to diverse cell populations. Here, we describe a set of recombinase responsive fluorescent indicator alleles in mice that significantly extends our ability to uncover cellular diversity by exploiting the intrinsic genetic signatures that uniquely define cell types. Using a recombinase-based intersectional strategy, these new alleles uniquely permit non-invasive labeling of cells defined by the overlap of up to three distinct gene expression domains. In response to different combinations of Cre, Flp and Dre recombinases, they express eGFP and/or tdTomato to allow the visualization of full cellular morphology. Here, we demonstrate the value of these features through a proof-of-principle analysis of the central noradrenergic system. We label previously inaccessible subpopulations of noradrenergic neurons to reveal details of their three dimensional architecture and axon projection profiles. These new indicator alleles will provide experimental access to cell populations at unprecedented resolution, facilitating analysis of their developmental origin and anatomical, molecular, and physiological properties.
Analysis of Illicit Drugs by Direct Ablation of Solid Samples
Authors: Bermúdez Celina , Cabezas Carlos , Mata Santiago , Berdakin Matias , Tejedor Jesús M. , Alonso José L.
Published: December 2015

Analysis of illicit drugs arises as an important field of work given the high social impacts presented by drugs in the modern society. Direct laser ablation of solid compounds allows their analysis without sampling or preparation procedures. For that purpose, an experimental set-up that combines laser ablation with time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been constructed very recently to perform studies on the mass spectra of such drugs as 3,4-methylenedioxy- N-methylamphetamine, commonly known as MDMA or ecstasy. Analysis of the observed fragmentation pattern in mass spectra may elucidate the ablation-induced photofragmentation phenomena produced, which differ from those previously observed with conventional ionization methods.