bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Survival after Resection of Lung Metastases from Hepatocellular Cancer: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: Chelimeda Sneha , Bejarano Teresa , Lowe Robert , Soliman Mahmoud , Zhao Qing , Hartshorn Kevan L.
Published: September 2016

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is increasing dramatically in incidence in Europe and the United States due mainly to the hepatitis C epidemic and, to a lesser extent, increased body mass index of the population. In the fairly recent past, HCC was largely considered as untreatable due to detection mainly at late stages and lack of effective drugs for treatment. Several advances have led to changes in the prognosis of HCC. Screening of high-risk populations has allowed for earlier detection in some studies. If found at an early stage, liver transplantation not only cures the usual underlying cirrhosis but has cure rates for HCC in the range of 60% in recent series. Larger lesions can sometimes be cured by partial hepatic resection assuming the remaining liver is not too damaged to sustain liver functions after surgery. Vaccination for hepatitis B has led to reduction in the incidence of HCC. Significant improvements in antiviral treatments for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C may be having an impact on the incidence of HCC as well. It is still generally held that a finding of metastases precludes cure of HCC. We here report the case of a patient who presented with a large HCC in the context of occult hepatitis C infection. The primary tumor was resected. Over a year later, he developed a lung metastasis that was resected as well. He has not shown recurrence for 6 years since the metastasectomy. We review the recent literature on resection of lung metastases from HCC.
Improved Necker Cube Drawing-Based Assessment Battery for Constructional Apraxia: The Mie Constructional Apraxia Scale (MCAS)
Authors: Satoh Masayuki , Mori Chika , Matsuda Kana , Ueda Yukito , Tabei Ken-ichi , Kida Hirotaka , Tomimoto Hidekazu
Published: September 2016

Background/Aims: Constructional apraxia (CA) is usually diagnosed by having patients draw figures; however, the reported assessments only evaluate the drawn figure. We designed a new assessment battery for CA (the Mie Constructional Apraxia Scale, MCAS) which includes both the shape and drawing process, and investigated its utility against other assessment methods. Methods: We designed the MCAS, and evaluated inter- and intrarater reliability. We also investigated the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values in dementia patients, and compared MCAS assessment with other reported batteries in the same subjects. Results: Moderate interrater reliability was shown for speech therapists with limited experience. Moderate to substantial intrarater reliability was shown several weeks after initial assessment. When cutoff scores and times were set at 2/3 points and 39/40 s, sensitivity and specificity were 77.1 and 70.4%, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 80.0 and 66.7%, respectively. Dementia patients had significantly worse scores and times for Necker cube drawing than an elderly control group on the MCAS, and on other assessments. Conclusions: We conclude that the MCAS, which includes both the assessment of the drawn Necker cube shape and the drawing process, is useful for detecting even mild CA.
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor in the Bladder: A Case Report
Authors: Kondo Takuya , Kawahara Takashi , Chiba Sawako , Ohtaka Mari , Kumano Yohei , Saitoh Yoko , Mochizuki Taku , Hattori Yusuke , Teranishi Jun-ichi , Miyoshi Yasuhide , Yumura Yasushi , Yao Masahiro , Inayama Yoshiaki , Uemura Hiroji
Published: September 2016

A 36-year-old male was referred to our department for further examination of asymptomatic gross hematuria emanating from a bladder tumor. Cystoscopy revealed a broad-based tumor 40 mm in diameter. Urinary cytology was negative. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging suggested a muscle invasive tumor. Transurethral resection was performed, and the pathological findings revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. We herein report a rare case of bladder inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.
Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy for Surface Measurement of Liver Pathology
Authors: Nilsson Jan H. , Reistad Nina , Brange Hannes , Öberg Carl-Fredrik , Sturesson Christian
Published: September 2016

Background: Liver parenchymal injuries such as steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome can lead to increased morbidity and liver failure after liver resection. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is an optical measuring method that is fast, convenient, and established. DRS has previously been used on the liver with an invasive technique consisting of a needle that is inserted into the parenchyma. We developed a DRS system with a hand-held probe that is applied to the liver surface. In this study, we investigated the impact of the liver capsule on DRS measurements and whether liver surface measurements are representative of the whole liver. We also wanted to confirm that we could discriminate between tumor and liver parenchyma by DRS. Materials and Methods: The instrumentation setup consisted of a light source, a fiber-optic contact probe, and two spectrometers connected to a computer. Patients scheduled for liver resection due to hepatic malignancy were included, and DRS measurements were performed on the excised liver part with and without the liver capsule and alongside a newly cut surface. To estimate the scattering parameters and tissue chromophore volume fractions, including blood, bile, and fat, the measured diffuse reflectance spectra were applied to an analytical model. Results: In total, 960 DRS spectra from the excised liver tissue of 18 patients were analyzed. All factors analyzed regarding tumor versus liver tissue were significantly different. When measuring through the capsule, the blood volume fraction was found to be 8.4 ± 3.5%, the lipid volume fraction was 9.9 ± 4.7%, and the bile volume fraction was 8.2 ± 4.6%. No differences could be found between surface measurements and cross-sectional measurements. In measurements with/without the liver capsule, the differences in volume fraction were 1.63% (0.75-2.77), -0.54% (-2.97 to 0.32), and -0.15% (-1.06 to 1.24) for blood, lipid, and bile, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that it is possible to manage DRS measurements through the liver capsule and that surface DRS measurements are representative of the whole liver. The results are consistent with data published earlier on the combination of liver chromophores. The results encourage us to proceed with in vivo measurements for further quantification of the liver's composition and assessment of parenchymal damage such as steatosis and fibrosis grade.
Genome-wide association reveals that common genetic variation in the kallikrein-kinin system is associated with serum L-arginine levels
Authors: Jernerén Fredrik , Lehne Benjamin C. , Chen Ming-Huei , Luben Robert N. , Johnston Carole , Elshorbagy Amany , Eppinga Ruben N. , Scott William R. , Adeyeye Elizabeth , Scott James , Böger Rainer H. , Khaw Kay-Tee , van der Harst Pim , Wareham Nicholas J. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Zhang Weihua , Chambers John C. , Refsum Helga , Kooner Jaspal S.
Published: September 2016

L-arginine is the essential precursor of nitric oxide, and is involved in multiple key physiological processes, including vascular and immune function. The genetic regulation of blood L-arginine levels is largely unknown. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic factors determining serum L-arginine levels, amongst 901 Europeans and 1,394 Indian Asians. We show that common genetic variations at the KLKB1 and F12 loci are strongly associated with serum L-arginine levels. The G allele of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs71640036 (T/G) in KLKB1 is associated with lower serum L-arginine concentrations (10 µmol/l per allele copy, p=1×10−24), while allele T of rs2545801 (T/C) near the F12 gene is associated with lower serum L-arginine levels (7 µmol/l per allele copy, p=7×10−12). Together these two loci explain 7% of the total variance in serum L-arginine concentrations. The associations at both loci were replicated in independent cohorts with plasma L-arginine measurements (p<0.004). The two sentinel SNPs are in nearly complete LD with the nonsynonymous SNP rs3733402 at KLKB1 and the 5’-UTR SNP rs1801020 at F12, respectively. SNPs at both loci are associated with blood pressure. Our findings provide new insight into the genetic regulation of L-arginine and its potential relationship with cardiovascular risk.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Biophysical tools to assess the interaction of PF4 with polyanions
Authors: Delcea Mihaela , Greinacher Andreas
Published: September 2016

The antigen in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is expressed on platelet factor 4 (PF4) when PF4 complexes with polyanions. In recent years, biophysical tools (e. g. circular dichroism spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, x-ray crystallography, electron microscopy) have gained an important role to complement immunological and functional assays for better understanding the interaction of heparin with PF4. This allowed identification of those features that make PF4 immunogenic (e. g. a certain conformational change induced by the polyanion, a threshold energy of the complexes, the existence of multimeric complexes, a certain number of bonds formed by PF4 with the polyanion) and to characterize the morphology and thermal stability of complexes formed by the protein with polyanions. These findings and methods can now be applied to test new drugs for their potential to induce the HIT-like adverse drug effect by preclinical in vitro testing. The methods and techniques applied to characterize the antigen in HIT may also be helpful to better understand the mechanisms underlying other antibody-mediated disorders in thrombosis and hemostasis (e. g. acquired hemophilia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms making the endogenous protein PF4 immunogenic may help to understand the mechanisms underlying other autoimmune disorders.
Bleeding complications and mortality in warfarin-treated VTE patients, dependence of INR variability and iTTR
Authors: Renlund Henrik , Svensson Peter J. , Själander Anders , Sandén Per
Published: September 2016

High quality of warfarin treatment is important to prevent recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) without bleeding complications. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of individual time in therapeutic range (iTTR) and International Normalised Ratio (INR) variability on bleeding risk and mortality in a large cohort of well-managed patients with warfarin due to VTE. A cohort of 16612 patients corresponding to 19502 treatment periods with warfarin due to VTE between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2011 was retrieved from the Swedish national quality register AuriculA and matched with the Swedish National Patient Register for bleeding complications and background characteristics and the Cause of death register for occurrence and date of death. The rate of bleeding was 1.79 (confidence interval (CI) 95 % 1.66–1.93) per 100 treatment years among all patients. Those with poor warfarin treatment quality had a higher rate of clinically relevant bleeding, both when measured as iTTR below 70 %, 2.91 (CI 95 % 2.61–3.21) or as INR variability over the mean value 0.85, 2.61 (CI 95 % 2.36–2.86). Among those with both high INR variability and low iTTR the risk of clinically relevant bleeding was clearly increased hazard ratio (HR) 3.47 (CI 95 % 2.89–4.17). A similar result was found for all-cause mortality with a HR of 3.67 (CI 95 % 3.02–4.47). Both a low iTTR and a high INR variability increase the risk of bleeding complications or mortality. When combining the two treatment quality indicators patients at particular high risk of bleeding or death can be identified.
A randomised trial on platelet function-guided de-escalation of antiplatelet treatment in ACS patients undergoing PCI
Authors: Jacobshagen Claudius , Gross Lisa , Trenk Dietmar , Geisler Tobias , Orban Martin , Gori Tommaso , Hadamitzky Martin , Merkely Béla , Kiss Róbert , Komócsi András , Dézsi Csaba A. , Thalmeier Andreas , Löw Anja , Holdt Lesca , Teupser Daniel , Ince Hüseyin , Felix Stephan B. , Parma Radoslaw , Malek Lukasz , Horstkotte Jan , Baylacher Monika , Schwinger Robert , Rieber Johannes , Mudra Harald , Hausleiter Jörg , Huber Kurt , Neumann Franz-Josef , Koltowski Lukasz , Huczek Zenon , Mehilli Julinda , Massberg Steffen , Sibbing Dirk , Aradi Dániel ,   on behalf of the TROPICAL-ACS Investigators
Published: September 2016

Outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been significantly improved with the use of potent P2Y12 receptor inhibitors like prasugrel. While most of the ischaemic risk reduction for prasugrel versus clopidogrel was demonstrated in the early treatment period, the risk of bleeding became particularly prominent during the chronic course of therapy. It may therefore be a valid approach to substitute prasugrel for clopidogrel in the early phase of chronic antiplatelet treatment after PCI. In the Testing Responsiveness To Platelet Inhibition On Chronic Antiplatelet Treatment For Acute Coronary Syndromes (TROPICAL-ACS) trial, we aim to compare standard prasugrel therapy with a de-escalating antiplatelet treatment approach guided by platelet function testing (PFT). The study is an investigator-initiated European multicentre, randomised clinical trial in biomarker-positive ACS patients after successful PCI. Two thousand six hundred patients will be randomised prior to hospital discharge in a 1:1 fashion to either receive standard prasugrel therapy (control group) or de-escalating therapy (one-week prasugrel followed by one-week clopidogrel and PFT-guided maintenance therapy from day 14 after hospital discharge, monitoring group). Patients of the monitoring group with high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HPR) based on Multiplate analyzer testing (HPR: ≥ 46U per consensus definition) will be switched back to prasugrel, whereas those without HPR (<46 U) will continue clopidogrel treatment. The overall study treatment duration will be one year in both groups. The primary endpoint of the study is net clinical benefit (combined incidence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke and bleeding ≥ grade 2 according to BARC criteria) one-year after randomisation. TROPICAL-ACS is the first large-scale, randomised controlled trial assessing the clinical value of a PFT-guided de-escalation of antiplatelet treatment in biomarker positive ACS patients undergoing PCI.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01959451
The Responsibility to Protect after Libya & Syria
Authors: Welsh Jennifer M.
Published: September 2016

Despite the commitment made by all heads of state attending the 2005 World Summit to uphold the principle of the responsibility to protect (R2P), atrocity crimes continue to be committed by states and nonstate actors. This essay argues that assessments of R2P's effectiveness too often overlook the political nature of the principle – with the strengths and weaknesses that this status entails – and apply rigid standards of success that both underestimate its contribution to building capacity to prevent and respond to atrocity crimes and overemphasize the role of military intervention. It also suggests that R2P is best understood as a “duty of conduct” to identify when atrocity crimes are being committed and to deliberate on the best form of collective response. The cases of Libya and Syria have nonetheless raised fundamental questions about the prospect of catalyzing international efforts to protect populations, particularly when there is disagreement over the costs and benefits of a coercive response.
New Technology for Peace & Protection: Expanding the r2p Toolbox
Authors: Axworthy Lloyd , Dorn A. Walter
Published: September 2016

New technological advances in areas such as digital information, algorithmic forensic data analysis, autonomous surveillance vehicles, advanced robotics, and multispectral sensors (sometimes all working together) can help avert war, introduce more effective peacekeeping and peacemaking initiatives, lessen the impact of conflict on innocent people, and help rebuild war-torn states. When international humanitarian action becomes urgent, by way of knowledge gained through such technologies, then those same peace applications can be used to reduce harmful forms of intervention and to ensure that enforcers are abiding by international law and UN guidance. An ethical failure occurs when such technologies exist to save lives, reduce risks, and secure peace, but are not employed.
The Path to Last Resort: The Role of Early Warning & Early Action
Authors: Leaning Jennifer
Published: September 2016

For just war doctrine to apply, the last resort requirement to exhaust all measures short-of-war must be fulfilled. Because of research and policy developments in the last fifteen years, the international community is now equipped with a richer understanding of how wars and atrocities evolve through time, improved precision about trigger points and risk factors that may accelerate that evolution, growing consensus on what prevention and mitigation steps to look for in that process, and new technologies for ascertaining these steps in order to intervene when mitigating action might deflect the escalation. It is thus argued that the responsibility of the international community to intervene in a timely and appropriate fashion has become increasingly clear and inescapable. It is further argued that the alert engagement of civil society in crafting this body of research and policy places a heavy public burden on government leaders to demonstrate that indeed all measures short-of-war have been exhausted. We now have at our collective disposal many more measures to deploy and many more witnesses to raise the alarm. Accordingly, the threshold for declaring that last resort has been reached has now become much higher.
Distribution and losses of Tylenchulus semipenetrans in citrus orchards on reclaimed land in Egypt
Authors: Abd-Elgawad Mahfouz M.M. , Koura Faika F.H. , Montasser Sayed A. , Hammam Mostafa M.A.
Published: September 2016

Four citrus orchards in Egypt were used in 2011 to study spread and losses of Tylenchulus semipenetrans based on a preliminary report of their infection in 2008. Soil and root samples indicated aggregated distribution and increase of nematode populations. The relationship between nematode number and lemon yield was described. When yield data of the mature groves were combined, we could construct other equations. The gain thresholds were 6.083 and 4.014 metric tons of lemon feddan−1 (= 4200 m−2) and the economic thresholds were 1810 and 141 second-stage juveniles (150 cm3 soil)−1 for cadusafos and oxamyl, respectively, based on the combined costs of nematode sampling and control to provide an actual estimate of a budget conscious choice. The use of healthy material is compulsory for tackling this problem in Egypt as a case in point. It entails setting up a citrus certification programme. Other phytosanitary measures to protect citriculture interests in Egypt are discussed.
The Breakdown of International Negotiations: Social Conflicts, Audience Costs, and Reputation in Two-Level Games
Authors: Janusch Holger
Published: September 2016

This article examines whether the two-level game can theoretically explain negotiation breakdowns without referring to uncertainty alone. For this purpose, social conflicts are integrated in the two-level game. In this light, the classical hypothesis that smaller win-sets increase the risk of a negotiation breakdown can no longer be maintained. Instead, conflict intensity – and thereby the risk of breakdown – correlates with the intersection of the win-sets in the form of an inverted U-curve. It follows that negotiations are most likely to break down when the intersection of the win-sets is perceived as medium-sized, because the bargaining space and thereby the potential of conflict intensity is largest/highest. Furthermore, the insertion of social conflicts into the equation runs counter to the hypothesis that issue linkages facilitate international cooperation. On the contrary, issue linkages increase the risk that goal conflicts, in particular, intensify each other by spreading from one issue to another.
Private Peace Entrepreneurs in Conflict Resolution Processes
Authors: Lehrs Lior
Published: September 2016

Private peace entrepreneurs (ppes) are private citizens with no official authority who initiate diplomatic correspondence with official representatives from the opposing side during a conflict in order to promote conflict resolution. This article outlines a theoretical framework for analyzing this phenomenon, drawing on a wide range of case studies. It defines the phenomenon and analyzes the power resources and factors that help theppeinfluence official processes. The article shows that althoughppes lack official authority and legal status, they have alternative, unofficial resources that help them influence the diplomatic sphere, and some have even played critical roles in conflict resolution efforts. The analysis distinguishes among different means of influence – through official decision makers, public opinion, the rival side, or a third side. The article offers insights about the individual private citizen as an actor in peace diplomacy and describes important historical figures who were excluded from history textbooks.
Hutsul Art or “Hutsul Art”?
Authors: Dabrowski Patrice M.
Published: September 2016

This article is concerned with the fate of the Hutsul kilim and, by extension, Polish-Ukrainian relations in the interwar period. This was a period when the Hutsul highlanders of the Eastern Carpathians (today citizens of modern Ukraine), the traditional weavers of these geometrically-patterned woolen rugs, found themselves within the newly established Second Polish Republic. Most commercial weaving was in Jewish hands at this time, and this production was far inferior to that done by Hutsuls themselves, primarily for their own domestic use. The decline of the Hutsul kilim was arrested by a Ukrainian émigré from Soviet Russia, whose “Hutsul Art” collective reinvigorated the form. This development brought the Hutsul kilim to the attention of those who would wish to appropriate it, or at a minimum consider it part and parcel of interwar Poland’s artistic production. The article demonstrates that, while Ukrainians were keen on integrating the Hutsul kilim into the Ukrainian kilim tradition, Poles preferred to keep the Hutsul kilim distinct, thus allowing it to be seen as part of the heritage of the multiethnic interwar Polish state.
Five new records and an annotated checklist of the leeches (Annelida: Hirudinida) of Iran
Authors: DARABI-DARESTANI KAVEH , SARI ALIREZA , SARAFRAZI ALIMORAD
Published: September 2016

The present checklist contains 22 species belonging to 14 genera of six families of leeches known to date from Iran. Five species including Dina punctata punctata Johannson, 1927, Erpobdella monostriata (Lindenfeld & Pietruszynski, 1890), E. vilnensis (Liskiewicz, 1925), Trocheta haskonis Grosser, 2000 and Glossiphonia concolor (Apathty, 1888) are new records for the country.
The first Turcolana Argano & Pesce, 1980 (Isopoda: Cirolanidae) from the Greek mainland
Authors: PREVORČNIK SIMONA , KONEC MARJETA , SKET BORIS
Published: September 2016

Turcolana Argano & Pesce, 1980 is the isopod genus occurring in freshwater and brackish groundwater environments around the eastern Mediterranean. In this study, a revised diagnosis of the genus, an updated map of species distribution and a key to species are presented. The first cave dwelling species is described from the Melissotrypa Cave in central Greece, a highly troglomorphic Turcolana lepturoides sp. nov. Its principal distinguishing characters are elongated appendages: styliform uropods (twice as long as pleotelson), antennae (half as long as body) and pereopods (e.g. pereopod 7 45% as long as body). Mitochondrial DNA sequences (16S rRNA, 12S rRNA) of the new species are provided.
Bottom Boundary Potential Vorticity Injection from an Oscillating Flow: A PV Pump
Authors: Ruan Xiaozhou , Thompson Andrew F.
Published: September 2016

Oceanic boundary currents over the continental slope exhibit variability with a range of time scales. Numerical studies of steady, along-slope currents over a sloping bathymetry have shown that cross-slope Ekman transport can advect buoyancy surfaces in a bottom boundary layer (BBL) so as to produce vertically sheared geostrophic flows that bring the total flow to rest: a process known as buoyancy shutdown of Ekman transport or Ekman arrest. This study considers the generation and evolution of near-bottom flows due to a barotropic, oscillating, and laterally sheared flow over a slope. The sensitivity of the boundary circulation to changes in oscillation frequency ω, background flow amplitude, bottom slope, and background stratification is explored. When ω/f ≪ 1, where f is the Coriolis frequency, oscillations allow the system to escape from the steady buoyancy shutdown scenario. The BBL is responsible for generating a secondary overturning circulation that produces vertical velocities that, combined with the potential vorticity (PV) anomalies of the imposed barotropic flow, give rise to a time-mean, rectified, vertical eddy PV flux into the ocean interior: a “PV pump.” In these idealized simulations, the PV anomalies in the BBL make a secondary contribution to the time-averaged PV flux. Numerical results show the domain-averaged eddy PV flux increases nonlinearly with ω with a peak near the inertial frequency, followed by a sharp decay for ω/f > 1. Different physical mechanisms are discussed that could give rise to the temporal variability of boundary currents.
Leading the Band or Just Playing the Tune? Reassessing the Agenda-Setting Powers of the European Commission
Authors: Kreppel Amie , Oztas Buket
Published: September 2016

Setting the political agenda is a critical and usually powerful aspect of policy making. However, the ability to set the agenda, without any significant decision-making powers, can undermine this influence, leaving a technical agenda setter without substantive political influence. This research examines the difference between technical and political agenda setting through an analysis of the policy impact of the Commission of the European Union (EU). Using two newly developed databases on Commission policy priorities and all adopted EU legislation, as well as the Decision Making in the European Union (DEU II) dataset, we investigate the ability of the Commission to shape EU legislative outcomes to reflect its policy preferences between 2000 and 2011. Our analyses highlight the comparative weakness of the Commission’s policy influence, despite its formal monopoly of legislative initiation. In this way, we argue for a need to carefully differentiate between technical and political agenda setters when evaluating the policy influence of different political actors.
The Distributional Effect of Events on Rural and Urban Households in China
Authors: Cao Zheng , Li ShiNa , Song Haiyan , Shen Shujie
Published: September 2016

International tourism is considered an effective means of economic development. However, the effects of tourism are not evenly distributed between rural and urban households in China. In the wake of significant socioeconomic events, the uneven distribution of the economic effects has huge welfare implications for Chinese households. This study is the first attempt to evaluate the distributional effect of two large, recent, sequential events on China’s rural and urban households. It adopts an innovative approach that combines an econometric model and a two-household computable general equilibrium model. The results show that in terms of welfare, urban households were more adversely affected by the events than rural households. To mitigate the loss of welfare, measures should be taken to continually promote China as a destination and attract tourists after such events occur. Meanwhile, training and education should be made more accessible to rural households to increase their job opportunities.
A survey exploring self‐reported indoor and outdoor footwear habits, foot problems and fall status in people with stroke and Parkinson's
Authors: Bowen Catherine , Ashburn Ann , Cole Mark , Donovan‐Hall Margaret , Burnett Malcolm , Robison Judy , Mamode Louis , Pickering Ruth , Bader Dan , Kunkel Dorit
Published: September 2016

Background

Ill‐fitting shoes have been implicated as a risk factor for falls but research to date has focused on people with arthritis, diabetes and the general older population; little is known about people with neurological conditions. This survey for people with stroke and Parkinson's explored people's choice of indoor and outdoor footwear, foot problems and fall history.

Methods

Following ethical approval, 1000 anonymous postal questionnaires were distributed to health professionals, leads of Parkinson's UK groups and stroke clubs in the wider Southampton area, UK. These collaborators handed out survey packs to people with a confirmed diagnosis of stroke or Parkinson's.

Results

Three hundred and sixty three completed surveys were returned (218 from people with Parkinson's and 145 from people with stroke). Most respondents wore slippers indoors and walking shoes outdoors and considered comfort and fit the most important factors when buying footwear. Foot problems were reported by 43 % (95 % confidence intervals 36 to 52 %; stroke) and 53 % (95 % confidence interval 46 to 59 %; Parkinson's) of respondents; over 50 % had never accessed foot care support. Fifty percent of all respondents reported falls. In comparison to non‐fallers, a greater proportion of fallers reported foot problems (57 %), with greater proportions reporting problems impacting on balance and influencing choice of footwear (p < 0.01) in comparison to non‐fallers in each case. Forty‐seven percent of fallers with foot problems had not accessed foot care support.

Conclusions

Many people with stroke and Parkinson's wear slippers indoors. A high percentage of these individuals reported both foot problems and falls impacting on footwear habits and choice of footwear; however many did not receive foot care support. These findings highlight that further exploration of footwear and foot problems in these populations is warranted to provide evidence based advice on safe and appropriate footwear to support rehabilitation and fall prevention.
Skill composition of immigration flows and the measurement of education-occupation mismatch
Authors: Poot Jacques , Stillman Steven
Published: September 2016

Recent papers have found that often immigrants are overqualified relative to native-born workers when comparing an individual’s education to the ‘average’ education in their occupation. We show that these results are sensitive to differences in the education distribution between immigrants and the native born. Using data for New Zealand, which has an immigration policy that favours skilled immigrants, we find that this approach leads one to conclude that immigrants are, on average, overqualified for their occupation. However, once we account for the fact that immigrants are on average more skilled than natives, we find that immigrants are, in fact, less overeducated than natives.

JEL classification: F22, J21, J61
A review of M. A. K. Halliday, Aspects of Language and Learning
Authors: Yu Hui
Published: September 2016

This volume was published as one of the “M.A.K. Halliday Library Functional Linguistics” Series. It is based on a series of lectures given by Professor Halliday at the National University of Singapore in 1986. The theme of these lectures is to construct a linguistically informed theory of education, providing a linguistic interpretation of how people learn. The lectures as a whole provide an essential framework of Halliday’s ideas on language, knowledge and education.
Increased ROS production in non-polarized mammary epithelial cells induces monocyte infiltration in 3D culture
Authors: Li Linzhang , Chen Jie , Xiong Gaofeng , St. Clair Daret K. , Xu Wei , Xu Ren
Published: September 2016

Loss of epithelial cell polarity promotes cell invasion and cancer dissemination. Therefore, identification of factors that disrupt polarized acinar formation is critical. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) drive cancer progression and promote inflammation. Here, we show that the non-polarized breast cancer cell line, T4-2, generates significantly higher ROS levels than polarized S1 and T4R cells in 3D (three dimensional) culture, accompanied by induction of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway and cytokine expression. Minimizing ROS in T4-2 cells with antioxidants reestablished basal polarity and inhibited cell proliferation. Introducing constitutively activated RAC1 disrupted cell polarity and increased ROS levels, indicating that RAC1 is a critical regulator that links cell polarity and ROS generation. We also linked monocyte infiltration with disruption of polarized acinar structure using a 3D co-culture system. Gain- and loss-of function experiments demonstrated that increased ROS in non-polarized cells is necessary and sufficient to enhance monocyte recruitment. ROS also induced cytokine expression and NF-κB activity. These results suggest that increased ROS production in mammary epithelial cell leads to disruption of cell polarity and promotes monocyte infiltration.
PRL-3 disrupts epithelial architecture by altering the post-mitotic midbody position
Authors: Luján Pablo , Varsano Giulia , Rubio Teresa , Hennrich Marco L. , Sachsenheimer Timo , Gálvez-Santisteban Manuel , Martín-Belmonte Fernando , Gavin Anne-Claude , Brügger Britta , Köhn Maja
Published: September 2016

Disruption of epithelial architecture is a fundamental event during epithelial tumorigenesis. We show that the expression of the cancer-promoting phosphatase PRL-3 (PTP4A3), which is overexpressed in several epithelial cancers, in polarized epithelial MDCK and Caco2 cells leads to invasion and the formation of multiple ectopic, fully polarized lumens in cysts. Both processes disrupt epithelial architecture and are hallmarks of cancer. The pathological relevance of these findings is supported by the knockdown of endogenous PRL-3 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells grown in three-dimensional branched structures, showing the rescue from multiple-lumen- to single-lumen-containing branch ends. Mechanistically, it has been previously shown that ectopic lumens can arise from midbodies that have been mislocalized through the loss of mitotic spindle orientation or through the loss of asymmetric abscission. Here, we show that PRL-3 triggers ectopic lumen formation through midbody mispositioning without altering the spindle orientation or asymmetric abscission, instead, PRL-3 accelerates cytokinesis, suggesting that this process is an alternative new mechanism for ectopic lumen formation in MDCK cysts. The disruption of epithelial architecture by PRL-3 revealed here is a newly recognized mechanism for PRL-3-promoted cancer progression.
Effects of intermittent hypoxia on oxidative stress and protein degradation in molluscan mitochondria
Authors: Ivanina Anna V. , Sokolova Inna M.
Published: September 2016

Oxygen fluctuations represent a common stressor in estuarine and intertidal environments and can compromise the mitochondrial integrity and function in marine organisms. We assessed the role of mitochondrial protection mechanisms (ATP-dependent and ATP-independent mitochondrial proteases, and antioxidants) in tolerance to intermittent hypoxia or anoxia in three species of marine bivalves: the hypoxia tolerant hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) and oysters (Crassostrea virginica), and a hypoxia-sensitive subtidal scallop (Argopecten irradians). In clams and oysters, mitochondrial tolerance to hypoxia (18 h at 5% O2), anoxia (18 h at 0.1% O2) and subsequent reoxygenation was associated with the ability to maintain the steady-state activity of ATP-dependent and ATP-independent mitochondrial proteases and an anticipatory upregulation of the total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) under the low oxygen conditions. No accumulation of end-products of lipid or protein peroxidation was found during intermittent hypoxia or anoxia in clams and oysters (except for an increase in protein carbonyl concentration after hypoxia-reoxygenation in oysters). In contrast, hypoxia/anoxia and reoxygenation strongly suppressed activity of the ATP-dependent mitochondrial proteases in hypoxia-sensitive scallops. This suppression was associated with accumulation of oxidatively damaged mitochondrial proteins (including carbonylated proteins and proteins conjugated with a lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde) despite high TAOC levels in scallop mitochondria. These findings highlight a key role of mitochondrial proteases in protection against hypoxia-reoxygenation stress and adaptations to frequent oxygen fluctuations in intertidal mollusks.
Impact of congress tourism on the international tourism image of a state
Authors: Красовская Наталья , Krasovskaya Natalya
Published: September 2016

The article substantiates the necessity for creation of tourism image of a state. It is an integral component of the overall international image. It has been established that the tourism image is closely related with geopolitical, climatic, socio-economic and other components. Tourism image helps to support and develop the historical and cultural potential of the territory and contributes to the strengthening of partnership among countries. It is proved that business, cultural and scientific relations among countries take a special place in the tourism image system. They have complex impact on the national economy development and its integration into the world market, thereby creating a special kind of tourism - business (congress) tourism. The author reveals the factors forming tourism image of a state and gives its generalized assessment on the basis of a comparative analysis of the main economic indicators of tourism development of the most demanded tourist destinations. The author carried out economic and mathematical modeling by constructing correlation and regression equation based on the information about 20 countries of the world. It gives possibility to assess the degree of influence of the number of tourists visiting one or another tourism area, investments in the tourism development and the sum of international communicational events on the level of direct income from tourism. It has been established that the greatest impact on the formation of a profitable part of the tourism industry have capital investments in the tourist infrastructure and the number of held communicational events that directly or indirectly create the concept of host country. The author argues that the activity relating with international events includes the economic, infrastructural, psychological, and service aspects, which together form a tourism image of a state.
Implementation of cultural and educational activity in tourism
Authors: Лебедева Ольга , Lebedeva Olga , Лебедев Константин , Lebedev Konstantin , Луканова Наталия , Lukanova Nataliya
Published: September 2016

It has been established that tourism in our country largely became a type of commercial activity, opportunities to visit other countries have been opened, up-market tourism has been developed, and new forms of leisure entertainment have emerged. System analysis of domestic and foreign scientific literature has shown that the cultural and educational potential of tourism is realized not enough in Russia. Development of appropriate structural and functional model of the implementation of cultural and educational tourism potential is possible through the integration of a number of theoretical and applied experience in the neighboring areas, namely in the history and theory of cultural and entertainment activities and organization of tourism activity. The assumption about the feasibility of functional integration of the two certain systems (cultural and educational, and commercial) is made in the article. This assumption actualizes the problem of determining the specifics of this integration, argues its theoretical basis and identifies functional mechanisms of serviceology. Within the framework of pilot study verification of the structural-functional model of tourism development in three aspects was carried out. The first and second aspects, organizational-managerial, and functional, are connected with decision through the entertainment programs, advertising and PR activities, and cultural and educational events. The third aspect, organizational and educational, consists in integration of cognitive-educational, entertainment and recreational leisure functions.
Using your Power for Good: Anti-Bullying Week 2016
Authors: Seager-Smith Lauren
Published: September 2016

This year's Anti-Bullying Week will be encouraging pupils to realise the power they often hold and to ensure they use it for good. Lauren Seager-Smith explains
Adolescent depression aetiology: A systematic review
Authors: Littler Nadine
Published: September 2016

Background:

Depression in adolescents is a key public health issue for children and young people, therefore in order to tackle this, we must first explore the aetiology of depression by examining the biological, environmental, sociological and psychological risk pathways.

Methods:

A review of the literature was undertaken between the years 2010-2015 to identify key themes and areas of development.

Results:

The exposure to a range of environmental and sociological factors, in addition to pre-existing biological and cognitive vulnerabilities may considerably increase the risk of adolescents developing depression. Furthermore evidence suggests distinctive male and female brain developmental trajectories during adolescence, thus highlighting the need for further research within this field, in order to educate young people, parents/carers and professionals and to promote the early identification of depression.
Who am I? Supporting students experiencing a crisis of identity
Authors: Thornton Stephanie
Published: September 2016

Stephanie Thornton looks at the construction of identities in young people and provides some advice on helping those who may experience a crisis.
The value of health visitors in reducing alcohol harm
Authors: Lacey Jo
Published: September 2016

Health visitor and iHV Fellow Jo Lacey holds a key interest in reducing alcohol harm and the delivery of brief interventions in health visiting. Jo is a trained iHV Infant Mental Health (IMH) Champion
Developing a training film on perinatal mental health: Beyond Baby Blue
Authors: Jayson Barbara
Published: September 2016

Mental health problems during the perinatal period of pregnancy and the first 12 months after birth are often under-reported, under-diagnosed and under-treated ( Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), 2016 ). Health visitors have a key role in supporting women who have feelings of anxiety or low mood after childbirth and knowing how to refer mothers to acute and community settings. This article describes the making of a training film, involving a collaborative process between health professionals and organisations, to raise awareness of perinatal mental health for practitioners. The project won the Journal of Health Visiting 2016 Innovation in Health Visiting Practice award and the Contribution to Mental Health and Attachment award.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of universal health visitor-led child health clinics
Authors: Webb Joanne , Meyrick Jane
Published: September 2016

This paper presents the findings of a systematic review undertaken to assess how effectively health visitor-led child health clinics (‘baby clinics’) contribute to the promotion of preschool child health and the reduction of health inequalities. Despite the widespread presence of baby clinics across the UK, there is little published research about the service model, its purpose or effectiveness. The initial search produced 559 articles, after removing duplicates, 175 abstracts were assessed against the inclusion criteria and 24 qualitative studies were identified as relevant to the review. No studies were excluded based on quality issues; however, the quality of studies was variable. Thematic analysis was used to organise and interpret the data. Although the review presents a synthesis of research over the last 30 years, there is a lack of evaluative research about the structure, process and outcomes of baby clinics, which makes it impossible to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of the service offer. Findings suggest research on the value and purpose of baby clinics is now needed and while good evaluation studies with clear outcome measures are sought, it is clear that the theoretical processes through which positive outcomes are promoted need to be established first.
Childhood obesity strategy: Is it enough?
Authors: Oldman Crystal
Published: September 2016

Crystal Oldman considers the release of the government's childhood obesity strategy and whether it goes far enough to address the problem.
Total reconstruction of giant congenital circumferential nevi of the upper limb using a large pedicle expanded flank flap: A brief report
Authors: Ding J-P , Chen B , Fang L , Wang L-Z
Published: September 2016

Tissue expansion is an invaluable reconstructive strategy after surgical excision of a congenital naevus. However, reducing the number of operations is very important for patients with a giant congenital naevus. We used a large pedicle expanded flank flap to successfully treat a giant circumferential naevus that extended from the left upper arm to the wrist, which also provided excellent contour and colour match. We consider this an effective and convenient method to treat a circumferential naevus covering almost the entire upper limb of the paediatric patient.
Digitally mediated keyboard learning: Speed of mastery, level of retention and student perspectives
Authors: Cremata Radio , Powell Bryan
Published: September 2016

In this study, four different media were investigated regarding learning to play keyboard instruments on beginning level musical selections. Among these were Synthesia, eMedia, YouTube piano tutorials and standard Paper Notation. A sample of 564 beginning keyboard instrument students in grades 6–12 was measured on timed learning tasks to determine speed to mastery, level of retention and perspectives. Results indicated that Synthesia was more effective than the other three learning approaches at enabling students to quickly master beginning level songs and retain that information on a post-test seven days later. These data are potentially transformative in providing open access, efficient, relevant, personalized and effective music education experiences to greater numbers of students who might be marginalized.
Revitalizing music teacher preparation with selected ‘Essential Conditions’
Authors: Gilbert Danni
Published: September 2016

The widespread adoption of technology makes it necessary to extend technological resources to the classroom to best prepare students for long-term success. While technology can improve many facets of learning and teaching, music educators have generally been hesitant to incorporate technology to its full potential. Partnerships with professional organizations, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), can help music educators best reach students and achieve cultural relevancy in the digital age. Restructuring music education to integrate what ISTE calls ‘Essential Conditions’ of learning with technology, such as student-centred learning, equitable access and engaged communities, begins with undergraduate music education preparation. The purpose of this article is to identify the necessity of a synergism between music education and selected ISTE ‘Essential Conditions’ for technology-based learning, describe implications these selected conditions have on the current state of American undergraduate music education programmes, and provide recommendations for music teacher education.