bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antineoplastic Effect of WIN 55,212-2, a Cannabinoid Agonist, in a Murine Xenograft Model of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Oh Jung Hwan , Lee Jong Yul , Baeg Myong Ki , Han Ki-Hwan , Choi Myung-Gyu , Park Jae Myung
Published: December 2013

Background: We have previously reported the antineoplastic effects of a cannabinoid agonist in gastric cancer cells. Our aim was to evaluate this in a murine xenograft model. Methods: Animal models were created after injecting AGS gastric cancer cells subcutaneously into the flank of male BALB/c-nude mice. A cannabinoid agonist, WIN 55,212-2 (7 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle was injected around the tumor subcutaneously every 24 h for 14 days. Tumors were explanted for analysis. Results: Tumor volume decreased by 30% in the WIN 55,212-2-treated group compared to the group treated with vehicle (p < 0.05). Apoptotic cells were found more commonly in the WIN 55,212-2 treatment group than in the control on immunohistochemistry. Compared to the control, WIN 55,212-2 treatment significantly increased caspase-3 cleavage and decreased MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 protein levels significantly (all p < 0.05). VEGF-A protein level was not different between the 2 groups. Conclusion: WIN 55,212-2 has antineoplastic effect on the gastric cancers in in vivo model.
Plasticity of the Worker Bumblebee Brain in Relation to Age and Rearing Environment
Authors: Jones Beryl M. , Leonard Anne S. , Papaj Daniel R. , Gronenberg Wulfila
Published: December 2013

The environment experienced during development can dramatically affect the brain, with possible implications for sensory processing, learning, and memory. Although the effects of single sensory modalities on brain development have been repeatedly explored, the additive or interactive effects of multiple modalities have been less thoroughly investigated. We asked how experience with multisensory stimuli affected brain development in the bumblebee Bombus impatiens. First, to establish the timeline of brain development during early adulthood, we estimated regional brain volumes across a range of ages. We discovered significant age-related volume changes in nearly every region of the brain. Next, to determine whether these changes were dependent upon certain environmental stimuli, we manipulated the visual and olfactory stimuli available to newly emerged bumblebee workers in a factorial manner. Newly emerged bumblebees were maintained in the presence or absence of supplemental visual and/or olfactory stimuli for 7 days, after which the volumes of several brain regions were estimated. We found that the volumes of the mushroom body lobes and calyces were larger in the absence of visual stimuli. Additionally, visual deprivation was associated with the expression of larger antennal lobes, the primary olfactory processing regions of the brain. In contrast, exposure to plant-derived olfactory stimuli did not have a significant effect on brain region volumes. This study is the first to explore the separate and interactive effects of visual and olfactory stimuli on bee brain development. Assessing the timing and sensitivity of brain development is a first step toward understanding how different rearing environments differentially affect regional brain volumes in this species. Our findings suggest that environmental factors experienced during the first week of adulthood can modify bumblebee brain development in many subtle ways.
Acceptable but Limited Efficacy of Capecitabine-Based Doublets in the First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study
Authors: Liao Yuqian , Fan Ying , Wan Yiye , Li Jun , Peng Lixiang
Published: December 2013

Background: This open-label, nonrandomized phase II clinical trial investigated the efficacy of capecitabine-based doublets in the first-line treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). Methods: Eligible mTNBC women with measurable diseases were recruited to receive either TX regimen (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 plus capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 b.i.d. on days 1-14 every 3 weeks) or NX regimen (vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 8 plus capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 b.i.d. on days 1-14 every 3 weeks) for up to 6 cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) and secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and clinical benefit rate (CBR). Results: Forty-five mTNBC patients, 27 in TX and 18 in NX were recruited. The total ORR was 20.0% and CBR was 40%. After a median follow-up of 28 months, PFS was 5.2 months (95% CI, 4.1-6.3 months) and OS was 18.2 months (95% CI, 8.7-27.7 months). The response rate was numerically but not statistically lower in the TX group than in the NX group (27.8 vs. 14.8%, p = 0.449). No difference was found in either PFS (4.9 vs. 5.2 months, p = 0.483) or OS (21.5 vs. 18.3 months, p = 0.964) between the two regimens. Conclusions: Although the OS seems to be reasonable, the efficacy of capecitabine-containing TX or NX regimen was limited in terms of response and PFS in mTNBC patients, suggesting capecitabine-based doublet may be acceptable but has limited potency in this subtype.
Partial Liver Resection because of Bile Duct Injury
Authors: Booij K.A.C. , Rutgers M.L.W. , de Reuver P.R. , van Gulik T.M. , Busch O.R.C. , Gouma D.J.
Published: December 2013

Aim: To analyze the outcome of partial liver resection (PHx) after bile duct injury (BDI) in patients after multimodality treatment. Methods: Between 1990 and 2012, 800 BDI patients were referred to our tertiary center. Patient characteristics and long-term outcomes were described. Results: PHx was performed in 11 patients (1.4%), mean age 48.3 years (range 29.3-83.5 years), mainly because of complex injury [Amsterdam classification type D (n = 10, 91%), Strasberg type E (n = 7, 64%) and Bismuth type IV (n = 8, 73%)]. In 7 patients (64%), concomitant vasculobiliary injury had occurred in the right hepatic artery (n = 3), proper hepatic artery (n = 1), portal vein (PV; n = 2) and the right hepatic artery and PV simultaneously (n = 1). Early PHx was performed in 2 patients and delayed resection in 9 patients after a median of 57.8 months (range 3.9-183.4 months). The in-hospital mortality was 18% (n = 2) and long-term mortality 9% (n = 1). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between early and late resection. Conclusions: Indications for PHx after BDI in patients referred to a tertiary center are relatively low (1.4%) and generally apply to vasculobiliary injury. The implications for treatment are important, so it is worthwhile to classify vascular injuries in the management of BDI.
Sex-Determining Mechanisms in Insects Based on Imprinting and Elimination of Chromosomes
Authors: Sánchez L.
Published: December 2013

As a rule, the sex of an individual is fixed at fertilization, and the chromosomal constitution of the zygote is a direct consequence of the chromosomal constitution of the gametes. However, there are cases in which the chromosomal differences determining sex are brought about by elimination or inactivation of chromosomes in the embryo. In Sciaridae insects, all zygotes start with the XXX constitution; the loss of either 1 or 2 X chromosomes determines whether the zygote becomes XX (female) or X0 (male). In Cecydomyiidae and Collembola insects, all zygotes start with the XXXX constitution. If the embryo does not eliminate any X chromosome, this remains XXXX and develops as female, whereas if 2 X chromosomes are eliminated, the embryo becomes XX0 and develops as a male. In the coccids (scale insects), the chromosomal differences between the sexes result from either the elimination or the heterochromatinization (inactivation) of half of the chromosomes giving rise to haploid males and diploid females. The chromosomes that are eliminated or inactivated are those inherited from the father. Therefore, in the formation of the sex-determining chromosomal signal in those insects, a marking (‘imprinting') process must occur in one of the parents, which determines that the chromosomes to be eliminated or inactivated are of paternal origin. In this article, the sex determination mechanism of these insects and the associated imprinting process are reviewed.
Seed-coat anatomy and microsculpturing of the genus Erysimum (Brassicaceae) in Northeast of Iran
Authors: Ghaempanah Somayeh , Ejtehadi Hamid , Vaezi Jamil , Farsi Mohammad
Published: December 2013

In order to examine the systematic application of seed-coat characters in Erysimum (Brassicaceae) distributed in Northeast of Iran (Khorassan provinces), the seeds of nine species (14 populations) were examined using the light microscope (LM) and the scanning electron microscope (SEM). According to results of the LM, diagnostic characters at the specific level are seed shape, wing width, epidermal cell-wall shape, and seed-surface sculpture. The SEM investigation at high magnifications reveals that seven types of seed-surface sculpture pattern are distinguishable, including 1) reticulate, the basic type; 2) ocellate; 3) papillate; 4) reticulate-papillate; 5) scalariform; 6) ribbed; and 7) reticulate-ocellate. The seed coat typically consists of four layers, including the epidermis layer, the subepidermis layer, the sclerotic (or palisade) layer, and the parenchymatous layer. Some of the layers may be absent in some species. Finally, an identification key to the investigated taxa is provided based on the seed-coat characters used in this research.
Land Surface Heterogeneity Signature in Tornado Climatology? An Illustrative Analysis over Indiana, 1950–2012*
Authors: Kellner Olivia , Niyogi Dev
Published: December 2013

Land surface heterogeneity affects mesoscale interactions, including the evolution of severe convection. However, its contribution to tornadogenesis is not well known. Indiana is selected as an example to present an assessment of documented tornadoes and land surface heterogeneity to better understand the spatial distribution of tornadoes. This assessment is developed using a GIS framework taking data from 1950 to 2012 and investigates the following topics: temporal analysis, effect of ENSO, antecedent rainfall linkages, population density, land use/land cover, and topography, placing them in the context of land surface heterogeneity.

Spatial analysis of tornado touchdown locations reveals several spatial relationships with regard to cities, population density, land-use classification, and topography. A total of 61% of F0–F5 tornadoes and 43% of F0–F5 tornadoes in Indiana have touched down within 1 km of urban land use and land area classified as forest, respectively, suggesting the possible role of land-use surface roughness on tornado occurrences. The correlation of tornado touchdown points to population density suggests a moderate to strong relationship. A temporal analysis of tornado days shows favored time of day, months, seasons, and active tornado years. Tornado days for 1950–2012 are compared to antecedent rainfall and ENSO phases, which both show no discernible relationship with the average number of annual tornado days. Analysis of tornado touchdowns and topography does not indicate any strong relationship between tornado touchdowns and elevation. Results suggest a possible signature of land surface heterogeneity—particularly that around urban and forested land cover—in tornado climatology.
Severe-Thunderstorm Reanalysis Environments and Collocated Radiosonde Observations
Authors: Gensini Victor A. , Mote Thomas L. , Brooks Harold E.
Published: December 2013

This research compares reanalysis-derived proxy soundings from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) with collocated observed radiosonde data across the central and eastern United States during the period 2000–11: 23 important parameters used for forecasting severe convection are examined. Kinematic variables such as 0–6-km bulk wind shear are best represented by this reanalysis, whereas thermodynamic variables such as convective available potential energy exhibit regional biases and are generally overestimated by the reanalysis. For thermodynamic parameters, parcel-ascent choice is an important consideration because of large differences in reanalysis low-level moisture fields versus observed ones. Results herein provide researchers with potential strengths and limitations of using NARR data for the purposes of depicting climatological information for hazardous convective weather and initializing model simulations. Similar studies should be considered for other reanalysis datasets.
The Role of Subtropical Irreversible PV Mixing in the Zonal Mean Circulation Response to Global Warming–Like Thermal Forcing
Authors: Lu Jian , Sun Lantao , Wu Yutian , Chen Gang
Published: December 2013

The atmospheric circulation response to the global warming–like tropical upper tropospheric heating is revisited using a dry atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) in light of new diagnostics based on the concept of finite-amplitude wave activity (FAWA) on equivalent latitude. For a given tropical heating profile, the linear Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) wave refraction analysis sometimes gives a very different and even opposite prediction of the eddy momentum flux response to that of the actual full model simulation, exposing the limitation of the traditional linear approach in understanding the full dynamics of the atmospheric response under global warming. The implementation of the FAWA diagnostics reveals that in response to the upper tropospheric heating, effective diffusivity—a measure of the mixing efficiency—increases and advances upward and poleward in the subtropics and the resultant enhancement and the poleward encroachment of eddy potential vorticity mixing leads to a poleward displaced potential vorticity (PV) gradient peak in the upper troposphere. The anomalous eddy PV flux, in balance with the PV dissipation, gives rise to a poleward shift in the eddy-driven jet and eddy-driven mean meridional circulation. Sensitivity experiments show that these irreversible dissipation processes in the upper troposphere are robust, regardless of the width of the tropical heating.
Assessing Changes in the Global Financial Architecture from an Emerging Market Perspective
Authors: Goyal Ashima
Published: December 2013

The article assesses changes in the global financial architecture and related global governance. Despite useful reforms lacunae remain. Analysis of financial regulations and measures to address global imbalances show serious weaknesses in addressing risks from shadow banking and large banks that are responsible for volatile capital flows to emerging markets (EMs). The underlying philosophy that intervention and controls distort markets and manipulate currencies weakens the toolbox available to EMs to deal with volatile capital flows. The use of quantitative easing and deficits are regarded as a valid response to domestic conditions in advanced economies, and their effect on commodity price inflation hitting EMs not acknowledged. Despite greater representation of EMs in the G-20 adjustment continues to be asymmetric. This harms global stability and recovery. Universal adoption of some basic minimal measures can close arbitrage gaps and resolve many problems.
ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and its Impact on India
Authors: Ratna Rajan Sudesh , Kallummal Murali
Published: December 2013

The ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has brought opportunities as well as challenges to the Indian industry since it came into force on 1 January 2010. There is no clear-cut estimates about the gains which will come to India especially in the sectors of agriculture, plantation and fisheries. However, some of the sectors which are labour intensive or unorganized will be facing bigger challenges.

 This article attempts to examine the impact of FTA where the tariff is either reduced or eliminated on some of the agricultural products like fisheries, tea and coffee, which have been projected as sensitive for India. The commitment of India and ASEAN under the FTA is analyzed along with the trade and tariff data. While doing so the article looks at some of the empirical evidence to examine the impact of India’s unilateral tariff liberalization in the Post-Uruguay Round by taking into consideration India’s imports, domestic production, etc. These results are then extrapolated to examine the impact of tariff liberalization on the domestic economy in view of India’s commitment in the ASEAN–India FTA.

 The study is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the history of India–ASEAN relationship and highlights the features of India–ASEAN FTA. The second part does a case study of fisheries, tea and coffee with regard to FTA and likely impact on India. The final part gives a broad conclusion of the study.

 The study first looks at the bilateral trade data and then highlights the salient features of India–ASEAN FTA. It then reviews some of the literary works that have been carried out in this regard. The study thereafter looks at the historical trends of production, prices, trade values and tariffs on identified items at a national level as well as the items in India’s tariff liberalization programme (TLP). In the next section, while identifying the position, it also examines the position of these items in ASEAN’s TLP so as to assess whether Indian producers will get equal opportunities for preferential market access there or not. A comparison of the unit value price of Indian producers as well ASEAN members has been made to look at their respective competitiveness not only in the international markets but in each others’ market as well. The study gives its finding at the end summarizing the threats and the opportunities for Indian producers.
Do simple warning signs enhance the use of stairs?
Authors: Aksay Ebubekir
Published: November 2013

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of stairways/moving stairways in shopping malls and examine the extent to which simple warning signs determined whether people took the stairs.

Design:

Large posters that could readily be seen by mall visitors were situated between the stairs and moving stairways in shopping malls.

Setting:

A total of 30,026 people who visited the shopping mall over an 11 week period were chosen consecutively for this study.

Method:

Thirty-three counting operations (2 h/day) were undertaken using two positive posters and one negative poster on different days of the week. In the process of counting, four groups were examined: children, adults aged <55 years, adults aged ≥55 years, and overweight individuals. General observations conducted during the first 2-week period, and the 5th, 8th, and 11th weeks served as control periods.

Results:

When posters were not shown, rates of stair use were lower among individuals in all age groups, but the ratio of stairway to moving stairway use tripled when positive-direction posters were displayed. Similarly, negative-direction posters decreased the ratio of stair to moving stairway use. Positive-direction posters were strongly associated with stairway use ( p = 0.001).

Conclusion:

This study showed that the use of stairs decreased when no poster was displayed, while positive posters increased stair use and negative posters decreased this behaviour. Individual preference, together with the comfort brought by moving stair technology, consciously or unconsciously causes individuals to avoid activities they can perform during the day.
Youth in Parliament and Youth Representation in Ghana
Authors: Van Gyampo Ransford Edward
Published: November 2013

Civil Society and many youth activists were elated when the youth, those aged between 21 and 40 years, were given prominence in Ghana’s parliament after the 2012 elections. Indeed, as many as 44 young people were elected during Ghana’s 2012 Parliamentary Elections. Prior to this, the number of young people in Ghana’s parliament was negligible. In view of the demographic advantage of the youth and their invaluable contributions to Ghana’s political history, there have been incessant calls for their representation and an eventual return to the days of the 1950s when politics was dominated by the youth. The outcome of the 2012 Parliamentary Elections was therefore hailed as unprecedented and described by many as a giant step towards youth representation in national decision making. However, a survey of all the young parliamentarians and some 4400 young people carefully selected through purposive sampling provides the basis for this paper’s thesis that the growth in the number of young people in Ghana’s parliament does not necessarily guarantee youth representation in national decision making; rather, it promotes tokenism, exclusivity and co-optation of the youth into decision-making structures of state. The study makes practical recommendations to create a relationship between youth in Ghana’s parliament and youth representation.
Do Only Fools Smile at Strangers? Cultural Differences in Social Perception of Intelligence of Smiling Individuals
Authors: Krys Kuba , Hansen Karolina , Xing Cai , Szarota Piotr , Yang Miao-miao
Published: November 2013

Studies on social perception reveal that on many dimensions, smiling individuals are perceived more positively in comparison with non-smiling individuals. The experiment carried out in seven countries (China, Germany, Iran, Norway, Poland, USA, and the Republic of South Africa) showed that in some cultures, smiling individuals may be perceived less favorably than non-smiling individuals. We compared ratings of intelligence made by participants viewing photos of smiling and non-smiling people. The results showed that smiling individuals were perceived as more intelligent in Germany and in China; smiling individuals were perceived as less intelligent than the (same) non-smiling individuals in Iran. We suggest that the obtained effects can be explained by the cultural diversity within the dimension of uncertainty avoidance described in the GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) project by House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, and Gupta.
Applying DEMATEL to Investigate the Relationship Between Factors Affecting Parole Boards’ Decision-Making in Taiwan
Authors: Tzeng Shuping
Published: November 2013

Parole rejection/approval of inmates is subject to the decision-making of the parole board members of each prison. Previous studies have found that many factors influence the decision of the parole board. This study introduces Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), which is commonly used in commercial and industrial fields, to further explore the subjective factors parole board members consider in parole decisions. This study surveyed 20 parole board members in Taiwan and the results show that the major factors affecting the decision-making of parole boards include crime characteristics and offender recidivism risk, with crime characteristics being the most important factor.
Relationship of Body Weight Parameters with the Incidence of Common Spontaneous Tumors in Tg.rasH2 Mice
Authors: Paranjpe Madhav G. , Denton Melissa D. , Vidmar Tom J. , Elbekai Reem H.
Published: November 2013

The mechanistic relationship between increased food consumption, increased body weights, and increased incidence of tumors has been well established in 2-year rodent models. Body weight parameters such as initial body weights, terminal body weights, food consumption, and the body weight gains in grams and percentages were analyzed to determine whether such relationship exists between these parameters with the incidence of common spontaneous tumors in Tg.rasH2 mice. None of these body weight parameters had any statistically significant relationship with the incidence of common spontaneous tumors in Tg.rasH2 males, namely lung tumors, splenic hemangiosarcomas, nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas, combined incidence of all hemangiosarcomas, and Harderian gland tumors. These parameters also did not have any statistically significant relationship with the incidence of lung and Harderian gland tumors in females. However, in females, increased initial body weights did have a statistically significant relationship with the nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas, and increased terminal body weights did have a statistically significant relationship with the incidence of splenic hemangiosarcomas, nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas, and the combined incidence of all hemangiosarcomas. In addition, increased body weight gains in grams and percentages had a statistically significant relationship with the combined incidence of all hemangiosarcomas in females, but not separately with splenic and nonsplenic hemangiosarcomas.
Examining the impact of L2 proficiency and keyboarding skills on scores on TOEFL-iBT writing tasks
Authors: Barkaoui Khaled
Published: November 2013

A major concern with computer-based (CB) tests of second-language (L2) writing is that performance on such tests may be influenced by test-taker keyboarding skills. Poor keyboarding skills may force test-takers to focus their attention and cognitive resources on motor activities (i.e., keyboarding) and, consequently, other processes and aspects of writing (e.g., planning, revising) might be left unattended to, which can lead to poor text quality and lower test scores. Such effects might be more pronounced for L2 test-takers. This study investigated the impact of keyboarding skills on test-takers’ scores in the context of the TOEFL-iBT Writing Section. Each of 97 test-takers, with different levels of English language proficiency (low vs. high) and keyboarding skills (low vs. high), responded to two TOEFL-iBT writing tasks (independent and integrated) on the computer. Test scores were statistically compared across tasks and test-taker groups. The findings indicated that overall English language proficiency and writing ability in English contributed substantially to variance in task scores, while keyboarding skill had a significant, but weak, effect on task scores. Additionally, keyboarding skills effects depended on task type. While these findings support the claim that performance on TOEFL-iBT writing tasks depends mainly on test-taker English language proficiency, they also raise important questions about the relationships between keyboarding skills, L2 writing ability, and performance on CB L2 writing tests, as well as factors affecting these relationships.
A telerehabilitation intervention for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors: Tabak Monique , Vollenbroek-Hutten Miriam MR , van der Valk Paul DLPM , van der Palen Job , Hermens Hermie J
Published: November 2013

Objective:

First, to investigate the effects of a telerehabilitation intervention on health status and activity level of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), compared to usual care. Second, to investigate how patients comply with the intervention and whether compliance is related to treatment outcomes.

Design:

a randomized controlled pilot trial

Subjects:

Thirty-four patients diagnosed with COPD.

Intervention:

The telerehabilitation application consists of an activity coach (3D-accelerometer with smartphone) for ambulant activity registration and real-time feedback, complemented by a web portal with a symptom diary for self-treatment of exacerbations. The intervention group used the application for 4 weeks. The control group received usual care.

Main measures:

Activity level measured by a pedometer (in steps/day), health status by the Clinical COPD Questionnaire at baseline and after intervention. Compliance was expressed as the time the activity coach was worn.

Results:

Fourteen intervention and 16 control patients completed the study. Activity level (steps/day) was not significantly affected by the intervention over time. There was a non-significant difference in improvement in health status between the intervention (−0.34±0.55) and control group (0.02±0.57, p=0.10). Health status significantly improved within the intervention group (p=0.05). The activity coach was used more than prescribed (108%) and compliance was related to the increase in activity level for the first two feedback weeks (r=0.62, p=0.03).

Conclusions:

This pilot study shows the potential of the telerehabilitation intervention: compliance with the activity coach was high, which directly related to an improvement in activity levels.
When do people with dementia die peacefully? An analysis of data collected prospectively in long-term care settings
Authors: De Roo Maaike L , van der Steen Jenny T , Galindo Garre Francisca , Van Den Noortgate Nele , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje D , Deliens Luc , Francke Anneke L ,   on behalf of EURO IMPACT, Lieve Van den Block , Koen Meeussen , Joachim Cohen , Koen Pardon , Anneke Francke , Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen , Roeline Pasman , Luc Deliens , Richard Harding , Higginson Irene J , Sarah Brearley , Sheila Payne , Stein Kaasa , Augusto Caraceni , Massimo Costantini , Guido Miccinesi , Sophie Pautex , Karen Linden
Published: November 2013

Background:

Little is known about dying peacefully with dementia in long-term care facilities. Dying peacefully may be influenced by characteristics of the palliative care provided and characteristics of the long-term care setting. If so, dying peacefully may serve as a quality indicator for palliative care in dementia.

Aim:

This study aims to describe whether residents with dementia in Dutch long-term care facilities die peacefully and to assess which characteristics of the resident, the palliative care provided and the facilities are associated with dying peacefully.

Design and Setting:

We analysed existing data from the Dutch End of Life in Dementia study, collected between January 2007 and July 2010 in 34 long-term care facilities in the Netherlands. We used descriptive statistics and Generalised Estimating Equation models.

Results:

The sample consisted of 233 residents with dementia. Family members indicated that the resident died peacefully in 56% of cases. This percentage ranged from 17% to 80% across facilities. Residents were more likely to die peacefully if they had an optimistic attitude, if family found that there were enough nurses available and if residents died in facilities with a moderate (versus no) perceived influence of religious affiliation on end-of-life decision-making policies.

Conclusions:

Only half of the residents with dementia in Dutch long-term care facilities die peacefully, as perceived by relatives. In addition to residents’ optimistic attitude, facility characteristics are associated with dying peacefully, which suggests that ‘the percentage of relatives who indicate that the patient died peacefully’ can function as a quality indicator.
Self-help: Seeking out perplexing images for ever improving topological mapping
Authors: Paul Rohan , Newman Paul
Published: November 2013

In this work, we present a novel approach that allows a robot to improve its own navigation performance through introspection and then targeted data retrieval. It is a step in the direction of life-long learning and adaptation and is motivated by the desire to build robots that have plastic competencies which are not baked in. They should react to and benefit from use. We consider a particular instantiation of this problem in the context of place recognition. Based on a topic-based probabilistic representation for images, we use a measure of perplexity to evaluate how well a working set of background images explain the robot’s online view of the world. Offline, the robot then searches an external resource to seek out additional background images that bolster its ability to localize in its environment when used next. In this way the robot adapts and improves performance through use. We demonstrate this approach using data collected from a mobile robot operating in outdoor workspaces.
Association of aortic wall thickness on contrast-enhanced chest CT with major cerebro-cardiac events
Authors: Tresoldi Silvia , Di Leo Giovanni , Zoffoli Elena , Munari Alice , Primolevo Alessandra , Cornalba Gianpaolo , Sardanelli Francesco
Published: November 2013

Background

There is a significant association between aortic atherosclerosis and previous major cardiovascular events. Particularly, thoracic aortic atherosclerosis is closely related to the degree of coronary and carotid artery disease. Thus, there is a rationale for screening the thoracic aorta in patients who undergo a chest computed tomography (CT) for any clinical question, in order to detect patients at increased risk of cerebro-cardiovascular (CCV) events.

Purpose

To estimate the association between either thoracic aortic wall thickness (AWT) or aortic total calcium score (ATCS) and CCV events.

Material and Methods

One hundred and forty-eight non-cardiac patients (78 men; 67±12 years) underwent chest contrast-enhanced multidetector CT (MDCT). The AWT was measured at the level of the left atrium (AWTref) and at the maximum AWT (AWTmax). Correlation with clinical CCV patients' history was estimated. The value of AWTmax and of a semi-quantitative ATCS as a marker for CCV events was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and multivariate regression analysis.

Results

Out of 148 patients, 59% reported sedentary lifestyle, 44% hypertension, 32% smoking, 23% hypercholesterolemia, 13% family history of cardiac disease, 12% diabetes, and 10% BMI ≥30 kg/m2; 9% reported myocardial infarction, 8% aortic aneurism, 8% myocardial revascularization, and 2% ischemic stroke. Twenty-six percent of patients had a medium-to-high ATCS. Both AWTmax and AWTref correlated with hypertension and age ( P < 0.002). At the ROC analysis, a 4.8 mm threshold was associated to a 90% specificity and an odds ratio of 6.3 (AUC = 0.735). Assuming as threshold the AWTmax median value (4.3 mm) of patients who suffered from at least one CCV event in their history, a negative predictive value of 90%, a RR of 3.6 and an OR of 6.3 were found. At the multivariate regression analysis, AWTmax was the only independent variable associated to the frequency of CCV events.

Conclusion

Patients with increased thoracic AWTmax on chest MDCT could be considered at risk for CCV disease.
Campaigning on Less Than a Shoe-String: An Ancient Egyptian Parallel to Abram's ‘Oath’ in Genesis 14.22–23
Authors: Morschauser Scott
Published: December 2013

This article compares Abram's unusual oath to the king of Sodom in Gen. 14.22–23 with material from ancient Egypt. There, similar language is found in soldiers’ pledging to refrain from seizing ‘even a single sandal or ball of thread’ while on campaign. The patriarch's assertion, that ‘he would not take a thread or sandal thong, or anything that belongs to’ the king of Sodom, is to be viewed in like manner. Despite the ruler's generous offer that Abram receive a lion's share of plunder after rescuing Lot, the patriarch affirms that he will follow to the letter, his original oath regarding the disposition of booty, which he had sworn when setting out on his razzia (‘raid’) against Elam. Abram's self-sacrifice marks him as a ‘faithful servant’—one who is loyal to his pledge to God in the face of great temptation, and at considerable personal cost to himself.
Ethnicity, Adoption, and Exodus: A Socio-Rhetorical Reading of Exodus 2.1–10
Authors: Ngwa Kenneth
Published: December 2013

The literary analysis of Exod. 2.1–10 offered in this article identifies a multi-layered narrative performance of identity formation around three foci: first, around ethnic formation shaped by an encounter between an exposed Hebrew child and an Egyptian rescuer who is viewed favorably by the storyteller (2.3–6); second, around ethnicity associated with nurturing that reunites the displaced child with members of his subgroup (2.7–9); finally, around ethnicity portrayed as malleable political identity by which the son of a Levite's daughter becomes the son of Pharaoh's daughter (2.2, 10). Read in light of three major theories on ethnicity (Situationalism, Primordialism, and Constructivism), the story reflects not only circumstantial ethics of individual actions, but also how larger socio-cultural and political shifts create and structure identity formation and meaning. Moses’ adoption (2.10) constitutes the culmination of a cluster of socio-economic, cultural, and political negotiations involving members of his Hebrew subgroup and a member of the house of Pharaoh.
New-technology clusters and public policy: Three perspectives
Authors: Casper Steven
Published: December 2013

Regional technology clusters are an important source of economic growth within the knowledge economy. The success of Silicon Valley in particular has shown that university discoveries can spill over into regional economies to drive the emergence and growth of major new industries. From a public policy standpoint, the goal of ‘creating more Silicon Valleys’ has emerged as a major goal of recent technology policy. Evidence suggests that regional clusters focused on high technology only rarely develop. How do regional technology clusters emerge, and what makes them sustainable? A large literature has emerged attempting to answer this question. This article surveys three major perspectives on technology clusters: (1) approaches focused on universities as the anchor of regional clusters; (2) theories focusing on the development of social networks within clusters; and (3) institutional explanations. Each of these three approaches focuses on factors that are unquestionably important in explaining why some regions develop successful clusters while others do not. Each approach also yields a clear policy perspective and has itself influenced public policy. At best, each approach can, however, yield only a partial explanation of cluster success, but in combination they do reveal how complementary the perspectives are. A holistic approach that combines insights from the three approaches yields a reasonably clear understanding of key factors that explain why some regions successfully develop technology clusters while others do not.
Religious Coping in Caregivers of Family Members With Dementia
Authors: Rathier Lucille A. , Davis Jennifer Duncan , Papandonatos George D. , Grover Christine , Tremont Geoffrey
Published: November 2013

The degree of depression experienced by caregivers of individuals with dementia was examined in relation to religious coping strategies, religious practice, and spirituality in the framework of the stress and coping model. Caregivers of 191 persons with dementia completed the Religious Coping Scale, self-report measures of religious practices and spirituality, burden, and depression. There was no evidence that any religious coping strategy or religious practice moderated the relationship between caregiving stress and depression. Certain types of religious coping strategies had a direct effect on depression. Higher levels of religious coping working with God were associated with decreased depression, whereas higher levels of religious coping working through God were associated with increased depression. Higher burden, lower overall caregiver health rating, and worse reactions to memory and behavior problems were associated with higher levels of depression. Frequency of prayer and the importance of spirituality were weakly associated with lower levels of depression.
Bioactive nanocomposite for chest-wall replacement: Cellular response in a murine model
Authors: Jungraithmayr Wolfgang , Laube Isabelle , Hild Nora , Stark Wendelin J , Mihic-Probst Daniela , Weder Walter , Buschmann Johanna
Published: November 2013

Chest-wall invading malignancies usually necessitate the resection of the respective part of the thoracic wall. Gore-Tex® is the material of choice that is traditionally used to repair thoracic defects. This material is well accepted by the recipient; however, though not rejected, it is an inert material and behaves like a ‘foreign body’ within the thoracic wall. By contrast, there are materials that have the potential to physiologically integrate into the host, and these materials are currently under in vitro and also in vivo investigation. These materials offer a gradual but complete biodegradation over time, and severe adverse inflammatory responses can be avoided. Here, we present a novel material that is a biodegradable nanocomposite based on poly-lactic- co-glycolic acid and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles in comparison to the traditionally employed Gore-Tex® being the standard for chest-wall replacement. On a mouse model of thoracic wall resection, that resembles the technique and localization applied in humans, poly-lactic- co-glycolic acid and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles and Gore-Tex® were implanted subcutaneously and additionally tested in a separate series as a chest-wall graft. After 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks cell infiltration into the respective materials, inflammatory reactions as well as neo-vascularization (endothelial cells) were determined in six different zones. While Gore-Tex® allowed for cell infiltration only at the outer surface, electrospun poly-lactic- co-glycolic acid and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles were completely penetrated by infiltrating cells. These cells were composed mainly by macrophages, with only 4% of giant cells and lymphocytes. Total macrophage count increased by time while the number of IL1-β–expressing macrophages decreased, indicating a protective state towards the graft. As such, poly-lactic- co-glycolic acid and amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles seem to develop ideal characteristics as a material for chest-wall replacement by (a) having the advantage of full biodegradation, (b) displaying stable chest-wall structures and (c) adapting a physiological and integrating graft compared to Gore-Tex®.
Static characteristics of a bellows-type flow regulator for the thrust control of a liquid rocket engine
Authors: Jung Taekyu
Published: November 2013

A novel bellows-type flow regulator was designed with the ability to maintain a steady thrust level and to adjust the thrust of a liquid rocket engine. The flow regulator showed good performance not only in maintaining the flow rate despite changes in the pressure difference across the flow regulator, but also in adjusting the flow rate in response to a changing shaft angle. A mathematical static model of the flow regulator was developed. A design criterion for ideal performance of the flow regulator was derived by theoretical analysis of the mathematical model. It was established that the main design parameters of the flow regulator affecting flow rate maintenance were the number and the width of ports in the 2nd throttle. The static characteristics predicted by the mathematical model show good agreement with experimental results, thus validating the mathematical model.
Periodic projectile linear theory for aerodynamically asymmetric projectiles
Authors: Dykes John , Costello Mark , Fresconi Frank , Cooper Gene
Published: November 2013

A new analytical tool is proposed to aid in the design and performance evaluation of advanced guided projectile concepts. A projectile linear theory applicable to aerodynamically asymmetric configurations is created, leading to a linear, periodic dynamic system. Utilizing concepts in Floquet theory, stability of asymmetric projectile configurations is explored. While stability of many asymmetric projectile configurations can be accurately predicted using averaged linear, constant coefficient system dynamics, there are some configurations where the use of linear periodic systems theory is required for accurate stability prediction. This fact is shown by comparing stability boundaries of an example projectile configuration using the conventional projectile linear theory model and the new periodic projectile linear theory model.
Education and social protection policies in OECD countries: Social stratification and policy intervention
Authors: Beblavý Miroslav , Thum Anna-Elisabeth , Veselkova Marcela
Published: December 2013

We examine the relationship between education and social protection policies across OECD countries and thereby contribute to the growing political and academic discussion on how social investment and social protection are interrelated. We focus on how government policy in two policy domains (education, social protection) affects social stratification. The paper is based on a principal methodological innovation, which lies in disaggregating the ways in which policy-makers influence stratification into two distinct dimensions: one is concerned with how much the state intervenes in the provision of education/social protection and how much it leaves to individual, family and market, and the second is concerned with the bias towards equality or stratification found in the state system itself. We find that countries can be grouped into a distinct number of education–social protection typologies, which differ from traditional clusterings and could indicate the need for multi-faceted pan-European education policies that take into account the longstanding differences in stratification as opposed to one-size-fits-all policy initiatives.
Migrant care work and care, migration and employment regimes: A fuzzy-set analysis
Authors: Da Roit Barbara , Weicht Bernhard
Published: December 2013

Migrant care work has emerged as an increasingly important solution to the challenges of growing eldercare needs in both the private and the public sphere. Migrant workers are employed in domestic services in Southern European and in some continental European countries, and they are a significant part of the work force in the formal care sector in many national contexts. The article provides an exploratory cross-country analysis of the phenomenon. After assessing the extent of migrant care work based on individually contracted workers in the domestic sector vs. organization-based care workers in nine European welfare states, it investigates which conditions sustain specific national patterns. Using fuzzy-set analysis the article demonstrates how the intersection of care, migration and employment regimes shapes different patterns of migrant care work.
What use is ‘social investment’?
Authors: Nolan Brian
Published: December 2013

The notion of ‘social investment’ has come to play a major part in debates about the role of social spending and the future of welfare states in Europe. This paper argues that social investment can be seen as a more or less detailed orientation or paradigm for social policies and spending or as a conceptual base and framework for analysis, and that it is also increasingly employed for political or rhetorical as well as academic purposes. It then sets out some serious issues and concerns in that regard, including whether social investment can credibly be presented as the paradigm most likely to underpin economic growth per se or indeed employment-friendly growth, whether the distinction between social ‘investment’ and other social spending is robust conceptually and the difficulties faced in seeking to make such a distinction empirically, and whether focusing on that distinction and on a narrowly economic rationale is the most useful way to frame the debate about the future of social spending.