bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Akt-Activated Endothelium Constitutes the Niche for Residual Disease and Resistance to Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Guerrouahen Bella S. , Pasquier Jennifer , Kaoud Nadine Abu , Maleki Mahtab , Beauchamp Marie-Claude , Yasmeen Amber , Ghiabi Pegah , Lis Raphael , Vidal Fabien , Saleh Ahmed , Gotlieb Walter H. , Rafii Shahin , Rafii Arash
Published: October 2014

Ovarian cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Despite optimal cytoreduction and adequate adjuvant therapies, initial tumor response is often followed by relapse suggesting the existence of a tumor niche. Targeted therapies have been evaluated in ovarian cancer to overcome resistant disease. Among them, antiangiogenic therapies inhibit new blood vessel growth, induce endothelial cell apoptosis, and block the incorporation of hematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells into new blood vessels. Despite in vitro and in vivo successes, antivascular therapy with bevacizumab targeting VEGF-A has limited efficacy in ovarian cancer. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying clinical resistance to anti-VEGF therapies are not yet well understood. Among them, tumor and stromal heterogeneity might determine the treatment outcomes. The present study investigates whether abnormalities in the tumor endothelium may contribute to treatment resistance to bevacizumab and promote a residual microscopic disease. Here, we showed that ovarian cancer cells activate Akt phosphorylation in endothelial cells inducing resistance to bevacizumab leading to an autocrine loop based on FGF2 secretion. Altogether, our results point out the role of an activated endothelium in the resistance to bevacizumab and in the constitution of a niche for a residual disease. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(12); 3123–36. ©2014 AACR.
miR-185 Suppresses Tumor Proliferation by Directly Targeting E2F6 and DNMT1 and Indirectly Upregulating BRCA1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Tang Hailin , Liu Peng , Yang Lu , Xie Xinhua , Ye Feng , Wu Minqing , Liu Xiaoping , Chen Bo , Zhang Lijuan , Xie Xiaoming
Published: October 2014

Breast cancer is a major public health problem all over the world, and the current treatment strategies are not potent enough for some patients, especially those with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNA) play vital roles in the development of TNBC. In this study, we found that miR-185 was strongly downregulated in TNBC tissues and cell lines and that its expression levels were associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, overall survival, and relapse-free survival in TNBC. We also found that ectopic expression of miR-185 inhibited TNBC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. We further identified that miR-185 directly targeted DNMT1 and E2F6, which resulted in a marked increase in the expression of BRCA1 at the mRNA and protein levels in TNBC. Our data suggest that miR-185 functions as a tumor suppressor in TNBC development. It is a promising prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for TNBC. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(12); 3185–97. ©2014 AACR.
Radioprotection of the Brain White Matter by Mn(III) N-Butoxyethylpyridylporphyrin–Based Superoxide Dismutase Mimic MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+
Authors: Weitzel Douglas H. , Tovmasyan Artak , Ashcraft Kathleen A. , Rajic Zrinka , Weitner Tin , Liu Chunlei , Li Wei , Buckley Anne F. , Prasad Mark R. , Young Kenneth H. , Rodriguiz Ramona M. , Wetsel William C. , Peters Katherine B. , Spasojevic Ivan , Herndon James E. , Batinic-Haberle Ines , Dewhirst Mark W.
Published: October 2014

Cranial irradiation is a standard therapy for primary and metastatic brain tumors. A major drawback of radiotherapy (RT), however, is long-term cognitive loss that affects quality of life. Radiation-induced oxidative stress in normal brain tissue is thought to contribute to cognitive decline. We evaluated the effectiveness of a novel mimic of superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD), MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+(Mn(III) meso-tetrakis(N-n-butoxyethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin), to provide long-term neuroprotection following 8 Gy of whole brain irradiation. Long-term RT damage can only be assessed by brain imaging and neurocognitive studies. C57BL/6J mice were treated with MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+ before and after RT and evaluated three months later. At this time point, drug concentration in the brain was 25 nmol/L. Mice treated with MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+/RT exhibited MRI evidence for myelin preservation in the corpus callosum compared with saline/RT treatment. Corpus callosum histology demonstrated a significant loss of axons in the saline/RT group that was rescued in the MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+/RT group. In addition, the saline/RT groups exhibited deficits in motor proficiency as assessed by the rotorod test and running wheel tests. These deficits were ameliorated in groups treated with MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+/RT. Our data demonstrate that MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+ is neuroprotective for oxidative stress damage caused by radiation exposure. In addition, glioblastoma cells were not protected by MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+ combination with radiation in vitro. Likewise, the combination of MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+ with radiation inhibited tumor growth more than RT alone in flank tumors. In summary, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+ has dual activity as a neuroprotector and a tumor radiosensitizer. Thus, it is an attractive candidate for adjuvant therapy with RT in future studies with patients with brain cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(1); 70–79. ©2014 AACR.
Fibrin clot properties and haemostatic function in men and women with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Jörneskog Gun , Ågren Anna , Lins Per-Eric , Wallén Håkan , Antovic Aleksandra , Tehrani Sara
Published: October 2014

The increased risk of vascular complications in type 1 diabetes may in part be explained by changes in haemostatic function. In the present study, we investigated the fibrin clot properties in patients with type 1 diabetes in relation to sex and microvascular complications. The study included 236 patients (107 women) aged between 20–70 years and without any history of cardiovascular disease. Fibrin clot properties, assessed by determination of the permeability coefficient (Ks) and turbidimetric clotting and lysis assays, did not differ between men and women. Compared with men, women had worse glycaemic control as well as higher levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and peak thrombin generation in vitro, indicating increased thrombin generation both in vivo and in vitro. Subgroup analyses of patients younger than 30 years revealed less permeable fibrin clots and prolonged lysis time in females compared with age-matched men. Patients with microvascular complications had higher fibrinogen concentrations and denser and less permeable fibrin clots. Thus, we conclude that in vitro fibrin clot properties in patients with type 1 diabetes without cardiovascular disease are not different between the sexes, but associate with prevalence of microvascular complications. Tighter fibrin clot formation in younger women, as suggested by our results, may affect their future cardiovascular risk and should be investigated in a larger population.
Atrial fibrillation associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Wang Chun-Cheng , Lin Cheng-Li , Wang Guei-Jane , Chang Chiz-Tzung , Sung Fung-Chang , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: October 2014

Whether atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains controversial. From Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000), we identified 11,458 patients newly diagnosed with AF. The comparison group comprised 45,637 patients without AF. Both cohorts were followed up to measure the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Univariable and multivariable competing-risks regression model and Kaplan-Meier analyses with the use of Aelon-Johansen estimator were used to measure the differences of cumulative incidences of DVT and PE, respectively. The overall incidence rates (per 1,000 person-years) of DVT and PE between the AF group and non-AF groups were 2.69 vs 1.12 (crude hazard ratio [HR] = 1.92; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-2.39), 1.55 vs 0.46 (crude HR = 2.68; 95 % CI = 1.97-3.64), respectively. The baseline demographics indicated that the members of the AF group demonstrated a significantly older age and higher proportions of comorbidities than non-AF group. After adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities, the risks of DVT and PE remained significantly elevated in the AF group compared with the non-AF group (adjusted HR = 1.74; 95 %CI = 1.36-2.24, adjusted HR = 2.18; 95 %CI = 1.51-3.15, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier curve with the use of Aelon-Johansen estimator indicated that the cumulative incidences of DVT and PE were both more significantly elevated in the AF group than in the non-AF group after a long-term follow-up period (p<0.01). In conclusion, the presence of AF is associated with increased risk of VTE after a long-term follow-up period.
Necessity, Contingency and the Freedom of God
Authors: Helm Paul
Published: October 2014

In this paper I attempt to argue that Antonie Vos’ claims respecting the relations between Calvin and Reformed Orthodoxy regarding the doctrine of God are exaggerated, with no convincing support. I argue, from the writings of Calvin, that he is not a necessitarian, but holds that God wills freely, choosing between alternatives in one eternal act. Furthermore, I have argued, on conceptual grounds, that in any case the doctrine of synchronic contingency applied to the life a timelessly eternal God does not deliver an intelligible account of divine freedom.
Paul Helm on Medieval Scholasticism
Authors: Vos Antonie
Published: October 2014

Berkouwer and Pinnock embraced deterministic Calvinism when they were young theologians. However, later on they started to revolt against the ‘Calvinism’ of their youth and Dort. Paul Helm never joined or affirmed this uprising. It is not that I revolt against Dort, but I defend that Reformed scholasticism, including Dort, was never a kind of theological necessitarianism—this in contrast with John Calvin’s theology. Instead, classic Reformed scholasticism offers us a theology of contingency and individuality, of goodness and will, and of freedom and grace. Rediscovering this comforting historical reality is a gift and a joy. Helm argues that he cannot embrace this viewpoint. However, this present contribution demonstrates that he misinterprets the core structure and the medieval foundation of classic Reformed theology and philosophy. It is the latter that form the basis of Reformed systematic theology and the necessity-contingency, the synchrony-diachrony, as the necessity of the consequence-consequent and the secundum compositionem/divisionem distinctions show.
The rare subgroup C1 of Marphysa (Polychaeta, Eunicidae): re-description of species and first records in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: KATSIARAS NIKOLAOS , SIMBOURA NOMIKI , KOUTSOUBAS DROSOS
Published: October 2014

Marphysa is one of the largest genera in the family Eunicidae, containing 76 valid species. However, among them there are only five species that share the diagnostic characters of having only composite falcigers in inferior setae and branchiae confined in the anterior body. These species are relatively rare and less described while in their original descriptions their differentiation is mainly based on features believed to be age-specific today. In this study, the type-materials of M. adenensis, M. purcellana and M. gemmata have been re-examined and re-described with illustrations. For M. adenensis, new material from the Mediterranean Sea was also examined, where this group has not been recorded up to date. The above species were compared to each other and new differential characters are being highlighted. A revised key for the Marphysa species found in the Mediterranean is also provided.
A new Orussus species from South Korea, and a key to the East Asian Orussidae (Hymenoptera)
Authors: CHOI JIN-KYUNG , WEI MEICAI , VILHELMSEN LARS , LEE JONG-WOOK
Published: October 2014

Orussus melanosoma Lee & Wei, sp. nov. from South Korea is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species basally in Orussus, together with other species from the Far East. A key to species of Orussidae from the eastern Palaearctic is provided.
An annotated checklist of the aquatic Polyphaga (Coleoptera) of Egypt I. Family Hydraenidae
Authors: SALAH MOHAMED , CUETO JUAN ANTONIO RÉGIL , VALLADARES LUIS F.
Published: October 2014

Data from previous literature were used to compile a checklist of the Egyptian fauna of Hydraenidae (Coleoptera). The checklist includes data on the type localities, type specimens, descriptors, distributions and previous literature for 15 valid species belonging to 3 genera (Hydraena, Limnebius and Ochthebius). Ochthebius was represented by 13 species, while Hydraena and Limnebius were represented only by a single species for each of them. The present study provides a summary that can serve as the basis for future progress in the knowledge of the Egyptian Hydraenidae.
Separating the Mechanisms of Transient Responses to Stratospheric Ozone Depletion–Like Cooling in an Idealized Atmospheric Model
Authors: Yang Huang , Sun Lantao , Chen Gang
Published: October 2014

Previous studies have suggested that Southern Hemisphere (SH) summertime trends in the atmospheric circulation in the second half of the twentieth century are mainly driven by stratospheric ozone depletion in spring. Here, the authors show that the pattern and timing of observed trends, characterized by downward propagation of signals, can be approximately captured in an idealized atmospheric global circulation model (AGCM) by imposing ozone depletion–like radiative cooling.

It is further shown that the synoptic eddies dominantly contribute to the transient tropospheric response to polar stratospheric cooling. The authors examine three possible mechanisms on the downward influence of polar stratospheric cooling. The polar stratospheric cooling affects tropospheric synoptic eddies via (i) the direct influences on the lower-stratospheric synoptic eddies, (ii) the planetary wave–induced residual circulation, and (iii) the planetary eddy–synoptic eddy nonlinear interaction. It is argued that the planetary wave–induced residual circulation is not the dominant mechanism and that the planetary eddies and further nonlinear interaction with synoptic eddies are more likely the key to the downward influence of the ozone depletion–like cooling.
Evaluation of Historical and Future Cool Season Precipitation over the Eastern United States and Western Atlantic Storm Track Using CMIP5 Models
Authors: Lombardo Kelly , Colle Brian A. , Zhang Zhenhai
Published: October 2014

This study analyzed the contribution of cyclones to projected changes in cool season (1 November–31 March) precipitation over the eastern United States and western North Atlantic Ocean. First, global climate model simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) were compared to Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) and Climate Prediction Center (CPC) precipitation analyses for the period 1979–2004. The CMIP5 ensemble mean realistically reproduced the historical distribution of regional precipitation with no discernable effect because of model spatial resolution. Subsequently, the projected changes in precipitation on cyclone and noncyclone days under the representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario were quantified. While precipitation on both types of days was projected to increase, the increase on noncyclone days (23%) was greater than the increase on cyclone days (12%). The increase in precipitation on cyclone days occurred despite a decrease in the number of cyclone days. This increase can be attributed primarily to a shift toward more frequent extreme precipitation events coupled with a decline in light precipitation events.
Turbulent Heat Fluxes above a Suburban Reservoir: A Case Study from Germany
Authors: Goldbach Anja , Kuttler Wilhelm
Published: October 2014

With the objective of quantifying turbulent sensible QH and latent QE heat fluxes above a suburban reservoir, a micrometeorological turbulence measurement campaign using the eddy covariance technique was carried out between June and November 2012 on the Baldeneysee, an artificial lake (2.64 km2 area with up to 4-m depth) located in Germany. The study was conducted at this site because there is little information on this type of lake and the findings are important for the local water management system. Sensible heat fluxes show a mean diurnal course with maximum positive values during the early morning hours (maximum = +31.3 W m−2) and negative values in the afternoon (minimum = −12.3 W m−2). During daytime, average QH/Q* ratios (where Q* is the radiation balance) are, in general, smaller than 0.20. Sensible heat fluxes are especially affected by the product of wind speed and water–air temperature difference, as well as the magnitude of global radiation. In contrast, mean hourly values of QE are, on average, positive over the whole day, with an absolute spread between +175.1 and −0.8 W m−2. During daytime in summer, 74% of the radiation balance is transferred via QE. The measurement values show that during two summer days, 3.72 and 2.84 mm day−1 of water could be evaporated, whereas during two measurement days in autumn, evaporation rates of only 1.36 and 0.94 mm day−1 were registered. The magnitude of QE is mainly affected by four main parameters: the product of wind speed and vapor pressure deficit, followed by the magnitude of global radiation and water temperature.
Physician Attitude, Awareness, and Knowledge Regarding Guidelines for Transcranial Doppler Screening in Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Reeves Sarah L. , Fullerton Heather J. , Dombkowski Kevin J. , Boulton Matthew L. , Braun Thomas M. , Lisabeth Lynda D.
Published: October 2014

Objective. We explored factors that may influence physician adherence to transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening guidelines among children with sickle cell disease. Methods. Pediatric hematologists, neurologists, and primary care physicians (n = 706) responded to a mailed survey in May 2012 exploring factors hypothesized to influence physician adherence to TCD screening guidelines: physician (internal) barriers and physician-perceived external barriers. Responses were compared by specialty using chi-square tests. Results. Among 276 physicians (44%), 141 currently treated children with sickle cell disease; 72% recommend screening. Most primary care physicians (66%) did not feel well informed regarding TCD guidelines, in contrast to neurologists (25%) and hematologists (6%, P < .0001). Proportion of correct answers on knowledge questions was low (13%-35%). Distance to a vascular laboratory and low patient adherence were external barriers to receipt of TCD screening. Conclusions. Additional research regarding physicians’ lack of self-efficacy and knowledge of recommendations could help clarify their role in recommendation of TCD screening.
Interventions to Improve Asthma Management of the School-Age Child
Authors: Friend Mary , Morrison Amber
Published: October 2014

Improvement of medication adherence in the school-age child can lead to improvement in quality of life, decreased morbidity, and a potential decreased risk of deferred academic, social, and emotional development. The objective of this article is to review barriers to asthma medication adherence and identify evidence-based techniques that improve medication management of the asthmatic child 5 to 12 years of age. A literature review was performed and articles were obtained through database searches within Medline, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and PubMed. Research indicates that barriers to the adherence of medication regimens required for asthmatic children include poor understanding of the medication regimen, substandard education on symptom recognition and environmental triggers, rejection of the diagnosis, and a lack of support or understanding within the community. Researched techniques aimed to improve medication management in 5- to 12-year-olds include: computer-based education; workshops for parents, teachers, and children; incorporation of asthma education into classroom lessons; use of case managers; the introduction of a nurse practitioner in the school to provide care, including medication prescriptions for the asthmatic child; and assessment and evaluation of environmental and emotional triggers in the home and school. Collaboration of current data may help lead to a successful interventional model that can improve asthma management in this population.
Economic Concert, Collaboration and Prospective of Trade between India and Brazil
Authors: Wani Nassir Ul Haq , Dhami Jasdeep Kaur
Published: October 2014

To throw light on the possibilities and limits of meaningful coalitions among emerging countries, this article focuses on Indo-Brazil trade relations. The article evaluates the structure of comparative advantage for India and Brazil and the change in the economic scenario over a 17-year period from 1995 to 2011. The article attempted to evaluate India–Brazil trade using revealed comparative advantage (RCA) and revealed import dependence (RID) analysis in exports and imports in different type of goods categorized on the basis of their production. The analysis shows broad similarities in the structure of comparative advantage for India and Brazil. Both India and Brazil enjoy comparative advantage for labour and resource intensive sectors in the global market. India enjoys comparative advantage in the exports of labour-intensive items such as textiles and scale-intensive items such as chemicals and iron and steel while Brazil enjoys advantage in manufacturing goods such as instruments, sanitary fittings and capital intensive products. Regarding trade intensity, there is a growing trend, as the export intensity index (EII) values for 10-year time period 1995–2004 present an average value of 0.58, the index value which is lower than 1, which means a lower intensity of export trade of India with its partner; however, from 2005 onwards there has been a growth with respect to the export intensity values which were above 1. The highest import intensity index (III) was registered in year 2009 which was 9.095. The III values registered from 1995 to 2011 were greater than 1, showing a great intensity of India’s import trade with Brazil.
Antibacterial Dental Composites with Chlorhexidine and Mesoporous Silica
Authors: Zhang J.F. , Wu R. , Fan Y. , Liao S. , Wang Y. , Wen Z.T. , Xu X.
Published: October 2014

One of the leading causes for the failure of dental composite restorations is secondary caries. Effectively inhibiting cariogenic biofilms and reducing secondary caries could extend the service life of composite restorations. Dental composites releasing antibacterial agents such as chlorhexidine (CHX) have shown biofilm-inhibitory efficacy, but they usually have poor physical and mechanical properties. Herein, we present a study of a new method to encapsulate and release CHX from dental composite using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). SBA-15 MSNs were synthesized according to a reported procedure. CHX (62.9 wt%) was encapsulated into dried MSN from 0.3 M CHX ethanol solution. The dental composites containing 0% (control), 3%, 5%, and 6.3% CHX or the same amounts of CHX entrapped in MSN (denoted as CHX@MSN) were fabricated with methacrylate monomers and silanized glass fillers (CHX or CHX@MSN + glass filler particle = 70 wt%). The monomer mixture consisted of bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (BisGMA), hexanediol dimethacrylate (HDDMA), ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (EBPADMA), and urethane dimethacrylates (UEDMA) at a weight ratio of 40:30:20:10. The composites were tested for CHX release and recharge, flexural strength and modulus (at 24 hr and 1 mo), surface roughness, in vitro wear, and antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei (in both planktonic growth and biofilm formation). The results showed that the composites with CHX@MSN largely retained mechanical properties and smooth surfaces and showed controlled release of CHX over a long time. In contrast, the composites with directly mixed CHX showed reduced mechanical properties, rough surfaces, and burst release of CHX in a short time. The composites with CHX either directly mixed or in MSN showed strong inhibition to S. mutans and L. casei. This research has demonstrated the successful application of MSNs as a novel nanotechnology in dental materials to inhibit oral biofilm without sacrificing materials’ mechanical properties and surface integrity.
Hemorheology in experimental research: is it necessary to consider blood fluidity differences in the laboratory rat?
Authors: Windberger Ursula , Spurny Karl , Graf Alexandra , Thomae Hansjörg
Published: October 2014

This study was designed to identify whether blood fluidity differs between commercially available laboratory rat strains. The hemorheological profiles of seven clinically healthy wild-type rat strains were analyzed to determine whether any diversity in blood fluidity might affect the outcome of cardiovascular studies. Study 1: 65 healthy adult rats (Lewis, Long–Evans, Hairless, Wistar and Fisher; mixed gender and comparable ages) were compared. In order to determine the greatest possible difference, the two strains with the greatest hematocrit (HCT) differences were selected for more detailed evaluation. Red blood cell (RBC) deformability (maximum elongation index, shear stress for half-maximal deformation of RBC; both P < 0.0001), and the effect of plasma protein concentration upon plasma viscosity ( P < 0.0001) were different between Lewis and Long–Evans strains. Whole blood viscosity – although different at native HCT ( P < 0.004) – was unaltered following HCT standardization of samples. Differences in RBC aggregation were statistically significant but these were small and may not be clinically relevant. Study 2: these 65 animals were compared with 21 animals (10–16 weeks old; both sexes) from mutant strains (Dahl SS/JrHsdMcwiCrl, n = 10; ZDF-Leprfa/Crl, n = 11). In both mutant strains, plasma and whole blood viscosity were increased compared with commonly used strains at native and standardized HCT ( P < 0.001). Unusually high RBC aggregation values were seen in the ZDF rat strain ( P < 0.001). It was concluded that the variability in blood fluidity among clinically healthy adult laboratory rat strains was both statistically and clinically significant. A hemorheological profile should be added to a routine phenotyping process, since both variables can significantly influence study outcomes.
Using Dynamic Factors to Predict Recidivism Among Women
Authors: Greiner Leigh E. , Law Moira A. , Brown Shelley L.
Published: October 2014

Using a sample of 497 Canadian women released into the community from federal prisons, this study examined the extent to which seven dynamic risk factors prospectively assessed at 6-month intervals (four waves) change over time and predict recidivism. Results obtained from a series of within-subject ANOVAs indicate that with the exception of substance abuse, all dynamic risk factors (i.e., employment, marital/family, community functioning, personal/emotional, criminal associates, and criminal attitudes) decreased among those offenders who did not recidivate. In addition, results obtained from a series of Cox regression survival analyses with time-dependent covariates also indicate that proximal assessments of dynamic risk predict recidivism more strongly than more distal assessments of dynamic risk. Employment and associates were the strongest dynamic predictors of recidivism, whereas the remaining factors were weak-to-moderate predictors of recidivism. This study lends support to the utility of repeatedly assessing dynamic risk factors among female offender populations.
Feeding and Bleeding
Authors: Fisher Jill A.
Published: October 2014

Phase I clinical trials are the first stage of testing new pharmaceuticals in humans. The majority of these studies are conducted under controlled, inpatient conditions using healthy volunteers who are paid for their participation. This article draws on an ethnographic study of six phase I clinics in the United States, including 268 semistructured interviews with research staff and healthy volunteers. In it, I argue that an institutional banalization of risk structures the perceptions of research staff and healthy volunteers participating in the studies. For research staff, there are three mechanisms by which risk becomes banal: a perceived homogeneity of studies, Fordist work regimes, and data-centric discourse. For healthy volunteers, repeat study participation contributes to the institutional banalization of risk both through the process of desensitization to risk and the formation of trust in the clinics. I argue that the institutional banalization of risk also renders invisible ethical concerns about exploitation of underprivileged groups in pharmaceutical research.
Deciding on preventive war
Authors: Chatterjee Deen
Published: October 2014

In this article I present a critique of the moral permissibility of preventive war. Preventive intervention is a murky issue in the just-war thinking, so just-war doctrine does not provide moral clarity in this debate. By invoking the concept of a just peace, I discuss prevention from a non-interventionist perspective and show how it can be an effective measure for national security and humanitarian policies. I draw on Amartya Sen’s idea of justice to reconstruct a justice-based, non-interventionist platform where, instead of enabling the act of warfare, as is the case if we start from a just-war approach, we are encouraged to devise an option that would make the case for preventive war redundant. I claim that it is high time that we shift our discourse from finding security in resorting to a just war to building security via a just peace.
Lock-in Strategies in International Negotiations: The Deconstruction of Bargaining Power
Authors: Panke Diana
Published: October 2014

There are hardly any instances of international negotiations, in which states do not at least partially recur to bargaining strategies. This article argues that bargaining power is ultimately a social construction, depending on perceptions about the plausibility of the realisation of a threat. Effective bargaining rests on the credibility of the threats made (e.g. no-vote, veto). Thus, even weak states can sometimes manipulate the threat-potential of seemingly more powerful actors and, thereby, punch above their weight in international negotiations. To trigger a loss of bargaining power, these states need to apply lock-in strategies that create linkages between the issue on the international negotiation agenda and other international or sub-level norms or policy commitments. Once such linkages are made, international-level bargaining threats of formerly powerful actors lose credibility as carrying them out would bring about severe reputation damages. This article distinguishes between different lock-in strategies and draws on three case studies (UNGA resolutions on African descend, on Myanmar, and on the Latin American Nuclear-Weapons-Free-Zone) to provide an empirical plausibility probe on the scope conditions under which the lock-in strategies are effective in reducing the power of seemingly strong actors in international negotiations.
Technical potential of electricity production from municipal solid waste disposed in the biggest cities in Brazil: Landfill gas, biogas and thermal treatment
Authors: de Souza Samuel NM , Horttanainen Mika , Antonelli Jhonatas , Klaus Otávia , Lindino Cleber A , Nogueira Carlos EC
Published: October 2014

This article presents an analysis of possibilities for electrical energy production by using municipal solid waste disposed in the biggest Brazilian cities. Currently, the municipal solid waste in Brazil is collected and disposed of at landfills, but there are also other technologies, which in addition to dealing with the garbage can also provide benefits in terms of energy provision. The following scenarios were studied in this work: electricity production from landfill gas (reference scenario); incineration of all municipal solid waste; anaerobic digestion of organic waste and incineration of refuse-derived fuel fractions after being separated in separation plants. According to this study, the biggest cities in Brazil generate about 18.9 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per year (2011), of which 51.5% is biogenic matter. The overall domestic consumption of electricity is 480,120 GWh y−1 in Brazil and the municipal solid waste incineration in the 16 largest cities in the country could replace 1.8% of it using incinerators. The city of São Paulo could produce 637 GWh y−1 with landfill gas, 2368 GWh y−1 with incineration of municipal solid waste and 1177 GWh y−1 with incineration of refuse-derived fuel. The latter two scenarios could replace 27% and 13.5% of the residential electrical energy consumption in the city. This shows that thermal treatment might be a viable option of waste-to-energy in Brazil.
Studies on pyrolysis and gasification of automobile shredder residue in China
Authors: Ni Feijian , Chen Ming
Published: October 2014

With increasing automobile ownerships in China, the number of end-of-life vehicles has also rapidly increased. However, the automobile shredder residue generated during the dismantling of end-of-life vehicles in China is not treated properly and has caused great resource waste and environmental problems. In this work, automobile shredder residue from a domestic end-of-life vehicles dismantling company was comprehensively studied through element analysis, combustion heat experiment, proximate analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The feasibility of using pyrolysis combined with gasification to treat and recycle automobile shredder residue was investigated. The produced gas, oil, and residue yield was measured and the correlation between their yield and the experimental temperature and ratio of air to automobile shredder residue feed was studied. It is found that when ratio of air and experimental temperature are 1.5 mol kg−1 and 900 °C, respectively, the heat energy of the gas produced per kilogram treated automobile shredder residue reaches a maximum value of 11.28 MJ. The characteristics of pyrolysis oil and solid residue were studied. The solid residue takes up 4.65%~5.57% of the original end-of-life vehicles weight. This greatly helps to reach the target of a 95% recycling rate.
Caring for the Critically Ill Obese Patient
Authors: Winfield Robert D.
Published: October 2014

Obesity remains a challenging public health problem. The anatomic and physiologic complexities of obese patients make their healthcare challenging under routine circumstances, but in the setting of critical illness, these challenges are magnified. This review explores some of the unique difficulties that critical care providers face when caring for the obese patient and highlights areas in which future research is needed to provide optimal care.
Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Klein Michael , Wang Andrew
Published: October 2014

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a noncontagious infection of the endocardium and heart valves. The epidemiology of IE has shifted recently with an increase in health care-associated IE. Infective endocarditis requiring intensive care unit stay is increasing, and nosocomial IE is frequently responsible. Diagnosis of IE requires multiple clinical data points encompassing history and physical examination, microbiology, and cardiac imaging as no one test is sufficiently sensitive or specific. The modified Duke criteria algorithm is the standard of care in the clinical diagnosis of IE. Complications from IE are common, particularly so in the critical care setting, and include congestive heart failure, embolism, septic shock, invasive infection, prosthetic valve dehiscence, heart block, and mycotic aneurysm. A multidisciplinary care team of infectious disease, cardiology, and cardiac surgery physicians is recommended to reduce complications. Intravenous antibiotics are first-line therapy with cardiac surgery being reserved for certain complications of IE and/or for clinical situations in which there is a high risk of complications. Timing of surgery for IE remains controversial and depends on a variety of clinical factors.
The Times They Are a-Changin’
Authors: Amodeo Sean , Mainland Brian J. , Herrmann Nathan , Shulman Kenneth I.
Published: October 2014

Identification of individuals who will eventually develop dementia is critical for early intervention, treatment, and care planning. The clock drawing test (CDT) is a widely used cognitive screening tool that has been well accepted among clinicians and patients for its ease of use and short administration time. This review explores the value of the CDT for predicting the later development of dementia in cognitively intact older adults and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Additionally, we reviewed studies that examined the ability of the CDT to monitor declines in cognitive functioning over time. A PubMed literature search for articles that included a longitudinal analysis of the CDT was conducted. The search included articles published up to June 2013 and manual cross-referencing of bibliographies. Relevant studies were categorized, summarized, and critiqued. The consensus from the studies reviewed suggests that the CDT is a useful measure of cognitive decline over time. Conceptual clock drawing errors (eg, misrepresentation of time) detected this decline most effectively. In addition, the CDT appears to differentiate at baseline between cognitively intact older adults who will develop dementia up to 2 years postbaseline. Finally, the CDT has been found to differentiate between patients with MCI who will progress to dementia up to 6 years postbaseline. The CDT appears useful for the longitudinal assessment of cognitive impairment and together with other validated measures may be helpful for predicting conversion to dementia. Cost-effective and practical ways of predicting risk of dementia will become increasingly critical as we develop disease-modifying treatments.
Croce, Philosophy and Intellectuals: Three Aspects of Gramsci’s Theory of Hegemony
Authors: Olsaretti Alessandro
Published: October 2014

There has been a recent revival of interest in Gramsci’s theory of hegemony. Within this revival, some scholars have focused upon the question of the sources of Gramsci’s theory, particularly with reference to linguistic sources; others have focused upon applications of Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, particularly in conjunction with the question of the subaltern. This article seeks to contribute to this revival by nuancing three aspects of Gramsci’s theory of hegemony. Firstly, Croce’s presumed influence over the latter is rejected in favor of a commonality of concerns with a whole generation of Italian intellectuals, not just Croce. Secondly, it is emphasized that philosophy played an important role in Gramsci’s theory of hegemony in that it provided the all-important critiques of common sense and false consciousness. Lastly, it is argued that the intellectuals’ need for a new hegemony was not just organic but included traditional intellectuals in complex new formations.
The welfare effects of minority-protective judicial review
Authors: Fox Justin , Stephenson Matthew C
Published: October 2014

Constitutional theorists usually assume that minority-protective judicial review leads to outcomes more favorable to the protected minority and less favorable to the majority. Our analysis highlights an indirect effect of judicial review that complicates this conventional wisdom. Without judicial review, pro-majority and pro-minority leaders adopt different policies. Because judicial review limits the degree to which pro-majority leaders can adopt anti-minority policies, it becomes easier for pro-minority leaders to ‘mimic’ pro-majority leaders by adopting the most anti-minority policy that the judiciary would uphold. Furthermore, if judicial invalidation of anti-minority policies is probabilistic rather than certain, pro-majority leaders may propose even more extreme anti-minority policies in order to deter pro-minority leaders from mimicking. These effects can sometimes nullify, or even reverse, the assumed relationship between minority-protective judicial review and pro-minority outcomes. When such reversal occurs, majoritarian democrats should favor minority-protective judicial review, while those concerned with protecting unpopular minorities should oppose it.
Static pointing error analysis of electro-optical detection systems
Authors: Tang Qijian , Wang Xiangjun , Yang Qingping
Published: October 2014

Electro-optical detection systems have been widely utilized in many applications. The pointing accuracy is often seriously affected by static geometric errors. This article analyses the contributions of integrant geometric error sources by means of quaternions, and a parametric model is hence established. As to nonlinear errors, this article further proposes a semi-parametric model that is based on least squares collocation method. Test results demonstrate that both models can improve the pointing accuracy effectively, with latter offering better performance. The estimation variances in azimuth and elevation validation test have been reduced to 0.0014(°)2 and 0.0009 (°)2 from 0.0258(°)2 and 0.0017(°)2, respectively.
ASTM F1717 standard for the preclinical evaluation of posterior spinal fixators: Can we improve it?
Authors: La Barbera Luigi , Galbusera Fabio , Villa Tomaso , Costa Francesco , Wilke Hans-Joachim
Published: October 2014

Preclinical evaluation of spinal implants is a necessary step to ensure their reliability and safety before implantation. The American Society for Testing and Materials reapproved F1717 standard for the assessment of mechanical properties of posterior spinal fixators, which simulates a vertebrectomy model and recommends mimicking vertebral bodies using polyethylene blocks. This set-up should represent the clinical use, but available data in the literature are few. Anatomical parameters depending on the spinal level were compared to published data or measurements on biplanar stereoradiography on 13 patients. Other mechanical variables, describing implant design were considered, and all parameters were investigated using a numerical parametric finite element model. Stress values were calculated by considering either the combination of the average values for each parameter or their worst-case combination depending on the spinal level. The standard set-up represents quite well the anatomy of an instrumented average thoracolumbar segment. The stress on the pedicular screw is significantly influenced by the lever arm of the applied load, the unsupported screw length, the position of the centre of rotation of the functional spine unit and the pedicular inclination with respect to the sagittal plane. The worst-case combination of parameters demonstrates that devices implanted below T5 could potentially undergo higher stresses than those described in the standard suggestions (maximum increase of 22.2% at L1). We propose to revise F1717 in order to describe the anatomical worst case condition we found at L1 level: this will guarantee higher safety of the implant for a wider population of patients.
Vichy, un passé qui ne passe pas ?
Authors: Bragança Manuel
Published: October 2014

Résumé

La Seconde Guerre mondiale demeure très présente dans les mémoires des Français qui seraient plongés dans une « phase obsessionnelle » depuis le début des années 1970 selon l’historien Henry Rousso. Notre étude se propose de vérifier dans quelle mesure cela reste vrai de nos jours. Elle entend le faire non pas en se basant sur ses occurrences dans la presse ou dans les médias – ce qui, paradoxalement, pourrait ne faire ressortir que ce qui est du domaine de l’épidermique – mais indirectement, à travers les romans et, plus précisément, les best-sellers qui sont, selon de nombreux critiques, des miroirs privilégiés de l’inconscient collectif ou de l’imaginaire d’une époque que, en retour, ils contribuent à façonner. Nous distinguerons quatre phases depuis 1945. Or, les best-sellers contemporains, ceux de la quatrième et dernière phase, présentent nombre de caractéristiques communes qui suggèrent que ce passé difficile est bel et bien en train de passer.
Mondialisation and the immanent critical potential of food: Luc Moullet’s Genèse d’un repas (1978)
Authors: Cruickshank Ruth
Published: October 2014

Mobilising the immanent critical potential of food as well as of Derrida’s deconstruction of mondialisation with its interruption of totalising understandings of globalisation, this article re-examines Luc Moullet’s 1978 documentary Genèse d’un repas which follows how tuna from Senegal, eggs from Amiens and Ecuadorian bananas reach French plates. Eurocentric Marxist and post-Marxist analyses of these economic flows are bought at once into focus and into question. The analysis uncovers imbricated histories of European exploitation (the slave trade, colonialism, la Françafrique). Commercial (Banania) and literary intertexts (Senghor and Fanon) evoked by misleading branding reveal a world of European racism still in process. Although self-reflexive, Moullet’s filmmaking is also open to critical interruption. Nonetheless, the film emerges as an immanent critique of the specificities of historical and evolving power relations of both filmmaking and the historical, cultural and economic processes of the Eurocentric food industry, interrupting the universalising dynamics of globalisation.
Walking with Hegel in Marseilles: Robert Guédiguian and Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro
Authors: Ungar Steven
Published: October 2014

Robert Guédiguian’s Les Neiges de Kilimandjaro (2011) draws on Marius et Jeannette (1997) and La Ville est tranquille (2000), features he likewise filmed on location in his native Marseilles. As a series or set, the three films constitute a loose version of the Hegelian dialectic of thesis, antithesis and synthesis that is evident in Guédiguian’s cinematic treatment of Marseilles’ evolving topography and demographics. The conclusion of Les Neiges de Kilimandjaro suggests a possible means of updating a commitment to social change based in overcoming class difference at a moment when this has yielded to a more brutal distinction between the rich and the poor.
From book to e-book: A digital revolution in French cultural studies?
Authors: Duché Véronique , Bourgeois Bertrand
Published: October 2014

The rise of the digital revolution does not only relate to science and business, but also to literature and the arts. Therefore it is a topic worth considering for French cultural studies. This article aims to show how profoundly e-technology has changed the way French readers interact with books and all forms of textual production – reading, consuming, learning, selecting, sharing, etc. – despite the institutional resistance of a so-called ‘French conservative’ approach towards books and culture. As a matter of fact, more and more artists and writers are using e-technology. We will demonstrate, via two case studies of livres d’artiste by Serge Bouchardon and Nicolas Frespech, how these e-books can be seen as perfect cultural studies ‘objects’, since they combine different media and exemplify some of the striking shifts in the French cultural field.