bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adhere, Degrade, and Move: The Three-Step Model of Invasion
Authors: Liotta Lance A.
Published: June 2016

Experimental work during the period 1975–1986 revealed the crucial importance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and culminated in the three-step hypothesis of invasion. The first step is tumor cell attachment to the ECM. The second step is proteolytic degradation of the ECM, led by advancing protruding actin-rich pseudopods. The third step is migration of the tumor cell body through the remodeled matrix. This mechanistic scheme is widely accepted and continues to generate insights related to the large number of molecules, inside and outside invading cells, which all play a role in each of the three steps. Understanding the interaction of the tumor cells with the ECM has never been more clinically important. The ECM is not just a passive mechanical scaffold. Instead, the ECM is an active participant in neoplastic and physiologic invasion, and acts as an information highway, an immune sanctuary, and a storage depot supporting tumor growth and drug resistance. Cancer Res; 76(11); 3115–7. ©2016 AACR.

See related article by Liotta, Cancer Res 1986;46:1–7.

Visit the Cancer Research 75th Anniversary timeline.
Nonclinical Evaluations of Small-Molecule Oncology Drugs: Integration into Clinical Dose Optimization and Toxicity Management
Authors: Dambach Donna M. , Simpson Natalie E. , Jones Thomas W. , Brennan Richard J. , Pazdur Richard , Palmby Todd R.
Published: June 2016

Multidisciplinary approaches that incorporate nonclinical pharmacologic and toxicologic characterization of small-molecule oncology drugs into clinical development programs may facilitate improved benefit–risk profiles and clinical toxicity management in patients. The performance of the current nonclinical safety-testing scheme was discussed, highlighting current strengths and areas for improvement. While current nonclinical testing appears to predict the clinical outcome where the prevalence of specific adverse effects are high, nonclinical testing becomes less reliable for predicting clinical adverse effects that occur infrequently, as with some kinase inhibitors. Although adverse effects associated with kinase inhibitors can often be predicted on the basis of target biology, drugs can be promiscuous and inhibit targets with poorly defined function and associated risks. Improvements in adverse effect databases and better characterization of the biologic activities of drug targets may enable better use of computational modeling approaches in predicting adverse effects with kinase inhibitors. Assessing safety of a lead candidate in parallel with other drug properties enables incorporation of a molecule's best features during chemical design, eliminates the worst molecules early, and permits timely investigation/characterization of toxicity mechanisms for identified liabilities. A safety lead optimization and candidate identification strategy that reduces intrinsic toxicity and metabolic risk and enhances selectivity can deliver selective kinase inhibitors that demonstrate on-target adverse effects identified nonclinically. Integrating clinical and nonclinical data during drug development can facilitate better identification and management of oncology drugs. Follow-up nonclinical studies may be used to better understand the risks in a given patient population and minimize or manage these risks more appropriately. Clin Cancer Res; 22(11); 2618–22. ©2016 AACR.

See all articles in this CCR Focus section, “New Approaches for Optimizing Dosing of Anticancer Agents.”
Tales of Antigen Evasion from CAR Therapy
Authors: Sadelain Michel
Published: June 2016

Both T cells bearing chimeric antigen receptors and tumor-specific antibodies can successfully target some malignancies, but antigen escape can lead to relapse. Two articles in this issue of Cancer Immunology Research explore what effective countermeasures may prevent it. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(6); 473–473. ©2016 AACR.

See articles by Zah et al., p. 498, and Rufener et al., p. 509.
TWIST1 Integrates Endothelial Responses to Flow in Vascular Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Mahmoud Marwa M. , Kim Hyejeong Rosemary , Xing Rouyu , Hsiao Sarah , Mammoto Akiko , Chen Jing , Serbanovic-Canic Jovana , Feng Shuang , Bowden Neil P. , Maguire Richard , Ariaans Markus , Francis Sheila E. , Weinberg Peter D. , van der Heiden Kim , Jones Elizabeth A. , Chico Timothy J.A. , Ridger Victoria , Evans Paul C.
Published: June 2016

Rationale:

Blood flow–induced shear stress controls endothelial cell (EC) physiology during atherosclerosis via transcriptional mechanisms that are incompletely understood. The mechanosensitive transcription factor TWIST is expressed during embryogenesis, but its role in EC responses to shear stress and focal atherosclerosis is unknown.

Objective:

To investigate whether TWIST regulates endothelial responses to shear stress during vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis and compare TWIST function in vascular development and disease.

Methods and Results:

The expression and function of TWIST1 was studied in EC in both developing vasculature and during the initiation of atherosclerosis. In zebrafish,
twist
was expressed in early embryonic vasculature where it promoted angiogenesis by inducing EC proliferation and migration. In adult porcine and murine arteries, TWIST1 was expressed preferentially at low shear stress regions as evidenced by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and en face staining. Moreover, studies of experimental murine carotid arteries and cultured EC revealed that TWIST1 was induced by low shear stress via a GATA4-dependent transcriptional mechanism. Gene silencing in cultured EC and EC-specific genetic deletion in mice demonstrated that TWIST1 promoted atherosclerosis by inducing inflammation and enhancing EC proliferation associated with vascular leakiness.

Conclusions:

TWIST expression promotes developmental angiogenesis by inducing EC proliferation and migration. In addition to its role in development, TWIST is expressed preferentially at low shear stress regions of adult arteries where it promotes atherosclerosis by inducing EC proliferation and inflammation. Thus, pleiotropic functions of TWIST control vascular disease and development.
Impact of Center Experience on Patient Radiation Exposure During Transradial Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Intervention: A Patient‐Level, International, Collaborative, Multi‐Center Analysis
Authors: Simard Trevor , Hibbert Benjamin , Natarajan Madhu K. , Mercuri Mathew , Hetherington Simon L. , Wright Robert , Delewi Ronak , Piek Jan J. , Lehmann Ralf , Ruzsa Zoltán , Lange Helmut W. , Geijer Håkan , Sandborg Michael , Kansal Vinay , Bernick Jordan , Di Santo Pietro , Pourdjabbar Ali , Ramirez F. Daniel , Chow Benjamin J. W. , Chong Aun Yeong , Labinaz Marino , Le May Michel R. , O'Brien Edward R. , Wells George A. , So Derek
Published: June 2016

Background

The adoption of the transradial (
TR
) approach over the traditional transfemoral (
TF
) approach has been hampered by concerns of increased radiation exposure—a subject of considerable debate within the field. We performed a patient‐level, multi‐center analysis to definitively address the impact of
TR
access on radiation exposure.

Methods and Results

Overall, 10 centers were included from 6 countries—Canada (2 centers), United Kingdom (2), Germany (2), Sweden (2), Hungary (1), and The Netherlands (1). We compared the radiation exposure of
TR
versus
TF
access using measured dose‐area product (
DAP
). To account for local variations in equipment and exposure, standardized
TR
:
TF DAP
ratios were constructed per center with procedures separated by coronary angiography (
CA
) and percutaneous coronary intervention (
PCI
). Among 57 326 procedures, we demonstrated increased radiation exposure with the
TR
versus
TF
approach, particularly in the
CA
cohort across all centers (weighted‐average ratios:
CA
, 1.15;
PCI
, 1.05). However, this was mitigated by increasing
TR
experience in the
PCI
cohort across all centers (
r
=−0.8;
P
=0.005). Over time, as a center transitioned to increasing
TR
experience (
r
=0.9;
P
=0.001), a concomitant decrease in radiation exposure occurred (
r
=−0.8;
P
=0.006). Ultimately, when a center's balance of
TR
to
TF
procedures approaches 50%, the resultant radiation exposure was equivalent.

Conclusions

The
TR
approach is associated with a modest increase in patient radiation exposure. However, this increase is eliminated when the
TR
and
TF
approaches are used with equal frequency—a guiding principle for centers adopting the
TR
approach.
On the Notion of Sense in Phenomenology: Noematic Sense and Ideal Meaning
Authors: Pradelle Dominique
Published: June 2016

According to a very specific and widespread line of interpretation, the mode of working of intentionality (hence the notions themselves of noema and noematic sense) could be understood by analogy with the linguistic paradigm set forth by Gottlob Frege in his famous essay “Über Sinn und Bedeutung.” The goal of the present paper is to dismiss such an interpretation by also analyzing the manner in which Husserl relates, and thereby traces back, the constitution of the logical sphere to the so-called pre-categorial.
Numerical Identity and the Constitution of Transcendence in Transcendental Phenomenology
Authors: Hopkins Burt C.
Published: June 2016

I investigate the phenomenological significance of Husserl’s appeal to the “numerical identity” of irreality as it appears in recollected manifolds of lived-experience in his mature account of the transcendental constitution of transcendence and find it wanting. I show that what is at stake for Husserl in this appeal is the descriptive mark that exhibits the distinction between a unit of meaning as it is constituted in psychologically determined lived-experience and as it is constituted in lived-experience that is determined transcendentally. In other words, I show that numerical identity functions for Husserl as the criterion that signals transcendental psychologism has been overcome. I then present the argument that it has not been overcome in Husserl’s investigations, because the collective unity characteristic of numerical unity is presupposed by those investigations rather than made evidentially manifest and articulated.
Positionality and Consciousness in Husserl’s Ideas I
Authors: Staiti Andrea
Published: June 2016

In this paper I argue that in Husserl’sIdeas I(1913) there is a seeming contradiction between the characterization of pure consciousness as theresidueof the performance of the phenomenological reduction and the claim that in the natural attitude consciousness is taken to be an entity is the world. This creates a puzzle regarding the positional status of consciousness in the natural attitude. After reviewing some possible options to solve this puzzle in the existing literature, I claim that the positional status of conscious experiences in the natural attitude is best characterized asunsettled. The act thatsettlesthe positional status of conscious experiences (i.e. our manifoldErlebnisse) is reflection. In reflection, experiences are posited as beings, either in a psychological or in a phenomenological key. I conclude by arguing that the problem of positing is of paramount importance to understand correctly Husserl’s claim that phenomenology isvoraussetzungslos.
From Obscure Beginnings to State ‘Resurrection’: Ideas and Practices of the Ustaša Organization
Authors: Miljan Goran
Published: June 2016

In the contemporary literature on the Ustaša organization and its terror regime, the organization is often seen and described as a vague and peripheral case study. Neither the establishment of the Ustaša state, nor the very purpose for which the organization was established, can be understood without taking into consideration the context of its formation, organizational and ideological structure as well as the influences its members were exposed to during their formative period. Therefore the article focuses on the development of its organizational and ideological aspects. The aim is to analyze the basic features and aspects of the Ustaša organization which show that by the mid-1930s, and perhaps even earlier, the Ustaša organization fully evolved into a fascist organization.
Script as a Factor in Translation
Authors: Wakabayashi Judy
Published: June 2016

Translators usually pay little or no heed to the script embodying the meaning of a text, yet at times the script itself makes a significant contribution to a text’s meaning, aesthetics or ideology, for instance. In such cases translators need to consider the writer’s orthographical choices, as well as if and how these can or should be reflected in the target text. This presents particular challenges when the two languages use different scripts. With its four scripts, Japanese offers an emblematic instance of the role of script in writing and translation. Focusing on this striking case can raise awareness of instances where script plays a role even in alphabetic languages, although to a lesser degree, and it also suggests some techniques that can be used for handling script issues in translation.
A New Species of Eriosema (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae) from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, with a Secretory Structure Novel to the Genus
Authors: CÂNDIDO ELISA SILVA , VARGAS WANDERLEIA DE , VATANPARAST MOHAMMAD , MANSANO VIDAL DE FREITAS , MACHADO SILVIA RODRIGUES , FORTUNA-PEREZ ANA PAULA
Published: June 2016

Eriosema grearii, a new species for the genus (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae, Cajaninae), is described and illustrated. Similar to E. heterophyllum, it differs from it morphologically by the free (vs. joined) stipules, lax flowers distributed along the inflorescence axis (vs. congested and concentrated at its apex), inflorescences not opposite to the leaves (vs. opposite), and leaflets with secretory cells at the base of trichomes (vs. absence of secretory cells at the base of trichomes). A survey of the leaflet secretory structures revealed that E. grearii has distinct secretory structures, referred here as secretory-base trichomes, and reported for the first time for the Phaseoleae tribe. An identification key for the Eriosema species in Mato Grosso do Sul, where the new species occurs, is provided.
A new species of Desmodium (Leguminosae; tribe Desmodieae) from Thailand and Laos with two new distribution records and lectotypifications for Thailand
Authors: SAISORN WITSANU , BALSL HENRIK , CHANTARANOTHAI PRANOM
Published: June 2016

A new species of Desmodium (Leguminosae), D. brevipedicellatum W.Saisorn, Chantar. & Balslev from Thailand and Laos is described and illustrated. Two taxa, D. concinnum DC. and D. laxiflorum DC. subsp. lacei (Schindl.) H.Ohashi, are reported as new for Thailand. Lectotypes of D. amoenum Wall. ex Benth. and D. penduliflorum Wall. ex Benth. are designated.
An appraisal of Typilobus Stoliczka, 1871 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Leucosioidea), with description of a new family and genus
Authors: ARTAL Pedro , HYŽNÝ MATÚŠ
Published: June 2016

Since its description, Typilobus Stoliczka, 1871, has become something like a catch-all taxon to accommodate fossil leucosioid crabs with uncertain affinities. As many as 17 species have been assigned to Typilobus, recorded from the Eocene to Miocene strata of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The re-examination of the type species, Typilobus granulosus Stoliczka, 1871, from the Miocene of Pakistan, has shown inconsistency in its description and published figures leading to the need of a revision of all species assigned to Typilobus. Typilobus boscoi Vía Boada, 1959, from the Middle Eocene of Spain, is revised and assigned to Folguerolesia n. gen. Characters present on ventral portions of male and female specimens differ from all known representatives of Leucosioidea, although the general morphology supports inclusion in this superfamily. A new family, Folguerolesiidae n. fam. is thus erected to accommodate Folguerolesia boscoi comb. nov., leading to recognition of three families of leucosioid crabs, including Iphiculidae and Leucosiidae.
Two new species and a key to nine species of the genus Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 from China (Acrididae, Acridoidea, Orthoptera)
Authors: SHI JIAN-PING , LIU ZHI-WEI , LI BAO-PING
Published: June 2016

Two new species of the genus Mongolotettix Rehn, 1928 from China, i.e. Mongolotettix wulingyuanensis sp. nov. and Mongolotettix. shaanxiensis sp. nov. are described herein. M. wulingyuanensis sp. nov. is similar to M. angustiseptus Wan, Ren & Zhang, 1998, but differs from the latter by body larger, length of body ♂ 25.6 mm, ♀ 39.1mm; tegmina of male without a white stripe on the fore margin at base; subgenital plate of male conical, sides concave, apex acute; both outer sides of epiphallus without acute projection in the middle. M. shaanxiensis sp. nov. is similar to M. anomopterus (Caudell, 1921), but differs from the latter by tegmina of male longer, reaching the end of epiproct, without a white stripe on the fore margin at base, tegmina of female longer, reaching the middle of 2nd abdominal tergum, width of epiphallus larger than height, upper ovipositor valve slender, length 3.8 times its maximum width. A key to all nine known species of the genus from China is given. Type specimens are deposited in the Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China.
The prevalence, age distribution and comorbidity of personality disorders in Australian women
Authors: Quirk Shae E , Berk Michael , Pasco Julie A , Brennan-Olsen Sharon L , Chanen Andrew M , Koivumaa-Honkanen Heli , Burke Lisa M , Jackson Henry J , Hulbert Carol , A Olsson Craig , Moran Paul , Stuart Amanda L , Williams Lana J
Published: June 2016

Objective:

We aimed to describe the prevalence and age distribution of personality disorders and their comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders in an age-stratified sample of Australian women aged ⩾25 years.

Methods:

Individual personality disorders (paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, histrionic, narcissistic, borderline, antisocial, avoidant, dependent, obsessive-compulsive), lifetime mood, anxiety, eating and substance misuse disorders were diagnosed utilising validated semi-structured clinical interviews (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders, Research Version, Non-patient Edition and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders). The prevalence of personality disorders and Clusters were determined from the study population ( n = 768), and standardised to the Australian population using the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics census data. Prevalence by age and the association with mood, anxiety, eating and substance misuse disorders was also examined.

Results:

The overall prevalence of personality disorders in women was 21.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.7, 24.9). Cluster C personality disorders (17.5%, 95% CI: 16.0, 18.9) were more common than Cluster A (5.3%, 95% CI: 3.5, 7.0) and Cluster B personality disorders (3.2%, 95% CI: 1.8, 4.6). Of the individual personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive (10.3%, 95% CI: 8.0, 12.6), avoidant (9.3%, 95% CI: 7.1, 11.5), paranoid (3.9%, 95% CI: 3.1, 4.7) and borderline (2.7%, 95% CI: 1.4, 4.0) were among the most prevalent. The prevalence of other personality disorders was low (⩽1.7%). Being younger (25–34 years) was predictive of having any personality disorder (odds ratio: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.18, 4.74), as was being middle-aged (odds ratio: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.23, 4.72). Among the strongest predictors of having any personality disorder was having a lifetime history of psychiatric disorders (odds ratio: 4.29, 95% CI: 2.90, 6.33). Mood and anxiety disorders were the most common comorbid lifetime psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions:

Approximately one in five women was identified with a personality disorder, emphasising that personality disorders are relatively common in the population. A more thorough understanding of the distribution of personality disorders and psychiatric comorbidity in the general population is crucial to assist allocation of health care resources to individuals living with these disorders.
An experimental study on vibration isolation performance of weft-knitted spacer fabrics
Authors: Chen Fuxing , Liu Yanping , Hu Hong
Published: June 2016

This paper presents an experimental study on the vibration isolation performance of weft-knitted spacer fabrics under forced harmonic excitation. The weft-knitted spacer fabrics with two different thicknesses were first designed by varying the linking distance of the spacer monofilament and fabricated using an electronic flat knitting machine. Then, their vibration isolation performance was tested under forced vibration condition via sinusoidal sweeps from low to high frequencies. The typical acceleration transmissibility curve and effects of fabric thickness, load mass and excitation level were discussed in detail. The results obtained show that the thicker spacer fabric has a lower resonance frequency than the thinner fabric due to lower stiffness, and thus can isolate the vibration at a lower frequency level. The results also show that changing the load mass and excitation level changes the loading conditions of the fabric structure, and thus also changes fabric stiffness and vibration isolation performance due to nonlinear behavior of spacer fabrics. It is expected that this study could provide some useful information to promote the application of weft-knitted spacer fabrics for vibration isolation.
Are individuals with high levels of public service motivation satisfied in MPA degree programs?
Authors: Bright Leonard
Published: June 2016

Many scholars have suggested that public service motivation (PSM) is a defining characteristic of public and non-profit employees. However, interest and motivation alone are not the sole determinates of success in any organization. Employees must also possess the knowledge and skills that will help them accomplish the difficult tasks that arise in their chosen occupation. This study explored the relationship that PSM has to student satisfaction in MPA programs, taking into consideration program climate and number of years of government experience. The findings confirmed that while PSM is related to student satisfaction, this relationship was completely mediated by program climate. The implications of the study are discussed, in particular in terms of the contributions that an environment of support and PSM make on the attitudes of students in MPA programs.
Motivating cosmopolitan helping: Thick cosmopolitanism, responsibility for harm, and collective guilt
Authors: Faulkner Nicholas
Published: June 2016

Political theorists and philosophers have recently directed their attention to understanding how individuals may become motivated to act as ethical cosmopolitans. A prominent theory – termed “thick cosmopolitanism” – argues that the realization one’s ingroup is responsible for causing harm to people in distant nations will increase cosmopolitan helping behavior. Additionally, thick cosmopolitanism suggests that guilt may explain this effect. This article presents the first experimental tests of these claims, and is the first research to use experiments to investigate cosmopolitan helping. Results demonstrate a substantial, but previously unrecognized, limitation to thick cosmopolitanism. Specifically, reminders of ingroup responsibility for causing harm not only increased individuals’ acceptance of responsibility and collective guilt, which indirectly enhanced cosmopolitan helping (Studies 1 and 2), but simultaneously increased dehumanization of the harmed outgroup, which indirectly diminished helping (Study 2). These conflicting processes resulted in no overall increase in cosmopolitan helping, contrary to the predictions of thick cosmopolitanism.
Correlates of Patient Activation and Acute Care Utilization Among Multimorbid Patients
Authors: Schmaderer Myra S. , Zimmerman Lani , Hertzog Melody , Pozehl Bunny , Paulman Audrey
Published: June 2016

Patient activation and self-management have been associated with improved patient outcomes, including decreased re-hospitalization; however, little research has identified factors that predict patient activation in the multimorbid hospitalized patient. This descriptive correlational study included 200 patients with three or more chronic diseases discharged to home post-hospitalization. Standard multiple regression was used to identify correlates of patient activation. Multimorbid patients with lower activation scores had more acute care utilization (re-hospitalization and emergency department visits) 30 days post-discharge than patients with higher activation scores. Predictors of patient activation were health literacy ( p = .013), satisfaction with social role ( p = .014), and involvement in chronic illness care ( p = .001). Care transition programs focusing on health literacy, role satisfaction, and promoting patient-centered care may improve patient outcomes for multimorbid patients.
Verbal versus nonverbal primacy
Authors: Grebelsky-Lichtman Tsfira
Published: June 2016

Verbal versus nonverbal primacy is a central assertion in interpersonal communication. This study developed an analytical and theoretical framework to assess which of these two channels gains preference, during an exploration of children’s response to their parents’ incongruent communication. Incongruence is conceptualized as a discrepancy or contradiction between verbal/nonverbal communication. Parent–child interactions ( n = 160) in structured joint game sequences were filmed in their homes and analyzed using a mixed multivariant design. The study expanded the theory by analyzing a wide range of social and situational contexts. The findings delineated the contexts for nonverbal primacy, verbal primacy, and reciprocal incongruence. The presented framework advanced composite theoretical accounts into a set of conclusions for verbal versus nonverbal primacy.
The Intracellular Effect of Relaxin on Female Anterior Cruciate Ligament Cells
Authors: Konopka Jaclyn A. , DeBaun Malcolm R. , Chang Wenteh , Dragoo Jason L.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Female collegiate athletes with serum relaxin concentrations above 6.0 pg/mL have been shown to have more than 4 times increased risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. However, the intracellular effect of relaxin on ACL cells has not been elucidated.

Hypotheses:

The hypotheses were that relaxin binding to receptors on female ACL cells will result in (1) an increase in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and decrease in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) gene expression, (2) a decrease in collagen and alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression, (3) inhibition of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)–induced fibrosis, and (4) an increase in cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) production and that these changes will not be observed in male ACL cells.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Ligament cells from ACL tissue were isolated from 7 male and 7 female human donors and expanded in vitro. The cells were incubated with escalating concentrations of relaxin-2, as well as with TGFβ1 or 17β-estradiol in certain groups. Cells were then lysed and analyzed for MMP1 (collagenase-1), MMP3 (stromelysin-1), MMP13 (collagenase-3), TIMP1, type I collagen, type III collagen, and/or αSMA mRNA expression using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Intracellular cAMP levels were assessed via an enzyme-linked immunoassay.

Results:

ACL cells primed with estrogen and treated with 10 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL relaxin illustrated increased MMP1 expression ( P = .012 and .006, respectively) and MMP3 expression ( P = .005 and .001, respectively). Treatment with 100 ng/mL relaxin decreased αSMA expression ( P = .001). When ACL tissue isolated from female donors with a history of oral contraceptive use was excluded from the analysis, 100 ng/mL of relaxin decreased type I collagen ( P = .005) and type III collagen ( P = .028) expression in cells primed with estrogen. Relaxin exhibited no significant effect on male-derived ACL cells.

Conclusion:

Relaxin-2 significantly upregulated intracellular processes in human female ACL cells, but no effect was observed in male cells. Relaxin increased MMP (MMP1 and MMP3) and decreased αSMA and type I and III collagen expression, which may act to alter the structural integrity of the ACL tissue over time.

Clinical Relevance:

Female athletes with higher circulating relaxin levels may be more susceptible to ACL injury.
Closed-form solution for a rectangular stepped fin involving all variable thermal parameters and nonlinear boundary conditions
Authors: Singh Kuljeet , Das Ranjan , Singla Rohit K
Published: June 2016

In this paper, the implementation of the Adomian decomposition method is demonstrated to solve a nonlinear heat transfer problem for a stepped fin involving all temperature-dependent means of heat transfer and nonlinear boundary conditions. Unlike conventional insulated tip assumption, to make the present problem more practical, the fin tip is assumed to disperse heat by convection and radiation. Thermal parameters such as the thermal conductivity, the surface heat transfer coefficient and the surface emissivity are considered to be temperature-dependent. Adomian polynomials are first obtained and then a set of Adomian decomposition method results is validated with pertinent results of the differential transformation method reported in the literature. Effects of different thermo-physical parameters on the temperature distribution and the efficiency have been exemplified. The study reveals that for a given set of conditions, the stepped fin may perform better than the straight fin.
International multi-center evaluation of a novel chemiluminescence assay for the detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies
Authors: Bentow C , Lakos G , Martis P , Wahl E , Garcia M , Viñas O , Espinosa G , Cervera R , Sjöwall C , Carmona-Fernandes D , Santos M J , Hanly J G , Mahler M
Published: June 2016

Objective: Anti-double stranded desoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) antibodies are considered fairly specific for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their quantification is useful for the clinical management of SLE patients. We assessed the diagnostic performance of the QUANTA Flash dsDNA chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) in comparison to an ELISA, using patients from five participating countries. The main focus was to evaluate the correlation between anti-dsDNA antibody results from the CIA and global SLE disease activity, as measured by the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Patients and methods: A total of 1431 samples (SLE, n = 843; disease controls, n = 588) from five countries (Canada, USA, Portugal, Sweden and Spain) were tested with QUANTA Flash dsDNA (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA). Data obtained with the QUANTA Lite dsDNA SC ELISA (Inova Diagnostics) were available for samples from three sites (Canada, USA and Sweden, n = 566). The SLEDAI-2K scores were available for 805 SLE patients and a cut-off of > 4 was used to define active disease. Results: QUANTA Flash dsDNA had a sensitivity of 54.3% for the diagnosis of SLE, combined with 89.8% specificity. Anti-dsDNA antibody levels were significantly higher ( p < 0.0001) in active SLE (SLEDAI-2K > 4; n = 232; median value 83.0 IU/mL) versus the inactive patients ( n = 573; median value 22.3 IU/mL), and the SLEDAI-2K scoring correlated with their dsDNA antibody levels (Spearman’s rho = 0.44, p < 0.0001). Similar but less pronounced findings were also found for the ELISA, in relation to disease activity. Conclusions: The QUANTA Flash dsDNA assay showed good clinical performance in a large international multi-center study. Additionally, the strong correlation between anti-dsDNA antibody results and SLEDAI-2K scores supported the potential utility of QUANTA Flash dsDNA for monitoring disease activity.
Development and multi-center evaluation of a novel immunoadsorption method for anti-DFS70 antibodies
Authors: Bentow C , Rosenblum R , Correia P , Karayev E , Karayev D , Williams D , Kulczycka J , Fritzler M J , Mahler M
Published: June 2016

Objective

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) represent a hallmark in the diagnosis of ANA-associated rheumatic diseases (AARD). However, anti-DFS70 antibodies are present in a higher portion of the healthy individuals (HI) than in patients with AARD. Consequently, we developed a novel, highly specific indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) method that blocks anti-DFS70 antibodies from binding to HEp-2 cells and to evaluate the method in a multi-center study.

Methods

A total of 18 samples from systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE, n = 7) and HI ( n = 11) were used for the initial development of the immunoadsorption method. For the multi-center evaluation, samples with a dense fine speckled (DFS) pattern ( n = 99) were collected at three different sites based on their established IIF screening procedure at the respective laboratories. Additionally, four characterized samples with established clinically relevant IIF patterns (centromere, nucleolar, speckled, homogeneous) were blended in five different ratios (10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%) with a sample positive for anti-DFS70 antibodies, which by itself showed a dense fine speckled (DFS) IIF pattern. All samples were tested by IIF with NOVA Lite HEp-2 ANA and NOVA Lite HEp-2 Select on the NOVA View® instrument, and also tested by QUANTA Flash DFS70 chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) for confirmation of anti-DFS70 antibodies (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA).

Results

For the development of the immunoadsorption method, only 1/7 ANA-positive samples from SLE patients, but 8/10 ANA-positive samples from healthy individuals turned negative using the immunoadsorption. Subsequently, 73/99 (73.7%) of the DFS pattern samples were positive by CIA for anti-DFS70 antibodies showing a strong quantitative Spearman’s correlation (rho = 0.57 (95% CI, 0.39–0.71, p < 0.0001)) between light intensity units (LIU) measured by NOVA View and CIA. Intensities measured with NOVA Lite HEp-2 and NOVA Lite HEp-2 Select demonstrated significantly lower intensity values after inhibition with DFS70 antigen ( p < 0.0001). When samples were processed to mimic samples with mixed patterns (DFS + clinically relevant pattern), the new immunoadsorption method demonstrated that all clinically relevant patterns remained unchanged whereas the LIUs from NOVA View analysis significantly decreased after inhibition ( p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The data showed that the NOVA Lite HEp-2 Select kit effectively inhibits anti-DFS70 antibody binding to its cellular target antigen.
Clinical significance and new detection system of autoantibodies in myositis with interstitial lung disease
Authors: Nakashima R , Hosono Y , Mimori T
Published: June 2016

Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 ( MDA5) antibodies are closely associated with interstitial lung disease in polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Anti-ARS-positive patients develop common clinical characteristics termed anti-synthetase syndrome and share a common clinical course, in which they respond well to initial treatment with glucocorticoids but in which disease tends to recur when glucocorticoids are tapered. Anti- MDA5 antibody is associated with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease and poor prognosis, particularly in Asia. Therefore, intensive immunosuppressive therapy is required for anti- MDA5-positive patients from the early phase of the disease. New enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to detect anti-ARS and anti- MDA5 antibodies have recently been established and are suggested to be efficient and useful. These assays are expected to be widely applied in daily practice.
Porter's (1980) Generic Strategies, Contextual Factors and Performance: An Empirical Examination of Their Relationship
Authors: Sharma Bishnu
Published: June 2016

This research investigates the pattern of adoption of Porter's (1980) generic strategies in the Australian Manufacturing Industry by contextual factors such as industry category, type of goods produced, product life cycle stage, finn size, market type, and business unit's growth trend relative to industry. The findings suggest that there is a statistically significant relationship between the choice of generic strategy and finn size, product life cycle stage, and business unit's growth trend relative to industry. The research extends further to investigate the relationship between generic strategies and various measures of business performance. Contrary to what Porter suggests, Australian manufacturing businesses are found to have a preference for combined strategies such as cost leadership and differentiation or focused differentiation. This suggests that Australian manufacturing businesses are now pursuing customers and market-oriented strategy as suggested by Hilmer (1991) than a single strategy of cost control or differentiation. An analysis of performance by generic strategy adoption, however, suggests that companies that adopt a single strategy outperform those which adopt combined strategies on a number of performance measures, providing support to Porter's contentions.
Own Brands in the Retail Sector: UK⁄US Perspective
Authors: Awadi Ahmed-Al-
Published: June 2016

One major change in recent years in retail management has been the development of the retailers' names as a brand rather than as a simple name over the store. We have reached a point where names of some major retailers are better known to consumers than any of the largest manufacture brand names. These brands tend to receive a higher proportion of management attention within the retail organization. Not only is the retailer typically more involved in product development or specification; the own brand also tends to receive special emphasis in all the major areas of focus, including space allocation. These retailer brands are not limited to just one type of good. They cover nearly the entire spectrum covering durable, semi-durable, and non-durable goods. This paper deals with the emergence, importance, development, positioning and rationale behind own brand development, existing market for own brand products, consumer segmentation, and the major own brand retailers in UK and US grocery supermarkets, where they have the highest market share and a very high profit. Therefore, in order to understand the importance of the topic it is also important to view these brands from perspectives of the manufacturers, the retailers, as well as the consumers.

The paper concludes with some useful points relating to management of own brands.
Designing an Optimal Warranty Scheme and Strategy
Authors: Purwar P.C.
Published: June 2016

This study has been conducted with a view to provide an insight on the importance of different features in a warranty scheme of domestic appliances. It also investigates the possible effects of different income levels on the utility that a consumer derives from different features of a warranty scheme for domestic appliances. The warranty features were chosen on the basis of a thorough screening of warranty schemes of different companies as well as an in-depth interview of owners.

The study has been conducted in three phases. The first phase consists of literature survey. It helped in defining the concept of warranty, the role it plays in consumer buying behaviour, terms and conditions usually provided by domestic appliance companies, and the effect the warranty schemes have on consumer's perception of financial risk. The second phase consists of selecting products and warranty features; conducting pilot study with few company executives and consumers; applying conjoint analysis technique (keeping in mind the multi-attribute nature of warranty scheme), designing orthogonal plan-cards; determining the sample size; and finally collecting the data. The last phase of the study deals with analyzing the data through conjoint analysis subroutine of Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS), and then using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to draw inferences.

The strategic implications of survey findings are discussed next. The objective of the company should be to try recovering the minimum cost during the warranty period. It should also develop a quick response policy and mechanism(s) for redressal of complaints.

The study also gives some directions for further research. This study should have been conducted on a much wider scale, but due to time and money constraints, the survey has been confined to only three domestic appliances- Television, Washing Machine and Refrigerator and, in Lucknow. To be able to arrive at more generalized findings, the study could cover other product categories (e.g., Blender, Microwave Oven, Music Systems, etc.) including consumer surveys in few other cities as well.
Building Brand Relationships Through Value for Money- An Indian Perspective
Authors: Mann B.S. , Singh Raghbir
Published: June 2016

Consumers tend to develop a relationship with the brands by offering their trust and loyalty. Equity of a brand can also be defined in terms of this relationship. The feelings evoked by brands can be studied at the cognitive level as a function of brand attributes and value for money, at the affective level in terms of brand affect and brand trust and further at the cognitive level, as behavioural intention leading to action loyalty. In the Indian context, value for money is an important construct determining the relationship of the consumer with the brand. The study outlines an empirical model of brand relationships that provides diagnostic data to support the management of brand relationships in the fast-moving consumer products category-toiletries.
Managing Health Care Service Quality in a Primary Health Care Centre
Authors: Chahal Hardeep , Sharma R.D.
Published: June 2016

This work is the extension of the earlier research work (Sharma and Chahal, 2003 and Sharma and Chahal, 1999) done on consumer satisfaction in public health system. There is a need to identify and implement effective and exploratory strategies that can overcome the attributes responsible for the tarnished image of rural primary health care centres. The purpose of the study is two-fold. First, the paper measures the level of service quality of a rural primary health centre through a tested, selfdeveloped, five-point Likert scale from patients' judgment and has highlighted the problem faced by the patients. The responses have been integrated into important factors on the basis of responses by applying factor analysis after verifying the validity and reliability of the instrument. Second, suitable strategies for enhancing patients' satisfaction and service quality for the policy makers and health care units have been formulated using the exploratory empirical data. The strategic implications, limitations and future research focus needed are also discussed.
Citizen-Led Participatory E-Governance Initiatives: An Architectural Perspective
Authors: Mishra Harekrishna , Hiremath B.N.
Published: June 2016

There are many successful information and communication technology (ICT ) initiatives in India, oriented towards rural development, with a focus to address specific issues of rural citizen. National e-Governance plan (NeGP) recognizes the potential of ICT interventions and plans for suitably selecting important and successful ICT initiatives, with an objective to include them as missionmode projects for scaling up. Another objective of NeGP is to provide a portfolio of services to the citizens through common services centres (CSC) integrated with e-government backbone to not only set up a good e-governance system, but also to establish a support structure. NeGI plan outlaY is Rs. 12000 crores with the mandate to complete the mission in next three years covering 100,000 CSCs and involving 600,000 villages. This provides an opportunity to look into the strategic issues in rural e-govemance.

E- governance initiatives are mostly mooted by government administration, non-governmental organization (NGOs), cooperative as well as private sectors. Like any ICT project, e-governace projects call for “usability and user-centred design”, since the ultimate beneficiary is the “user”. The similarity between users in “rural development initiative” and that of a “business process initiative” is that the uesr ultimiltely ends up using the technology, and it is imperative that technology needs to be accepted. But the real task is to create a “demand-driven , citizen-led ICT initiative for the rural sector” , Mostly, pilot projects are based on sheer innovating frameworks, either through a development agency or through bureaucratic set-ups to support governance issues. Many frameworks are incubated with active support from government and funding agencies. While innovation is essential for any model to be accepted, it is important that projects need to move out of “incubators” and translate its success through transformation from “supply-driven” concepts to “demand driven” and sustainable process improvement imperatives. Scaling up of ICT initiatives is also another issue that requires support from users. However, in the Indian context, ICT acceptance and its uability in rural area are not easy. NeGP critically recognises these issues while embarking on such an enterprise level action through CSCs. E-governance architectures are also being conceptualised. In this paper, we discuss a possible process view related to e-governance architecture ,with due emphasis on citizens' participation and their contribution to the architecture, leading to sustainable information systm plan ning and implementation strategies. We also narrate a case which supports this view of e-governance architecture for scale-up.
Prosperity of Companies and Countries -Is Social Capital the Missing Resource?
Authors: Rastogi P.N.
Published: June 2016

Social capital is a non-price resource of high value for creation of wealth by enterprises. It constitutes an imperative precondition for the development and exploitation of human and knowledge resources toward their sustained profitable growth. This paper outlines briefly the nature, importance, value-orientations, wealth-creation role and developmental requirements of social capital. It highlights the role and relationship of social capital with human capital and knowledge management, in the form of a dense, dynamic nexus. The latter underlies an organization's meta-level or holistic capacity to meet challenges and exploit opportunities in its continual quest for wealth creation. The relevance of social capital for prosperity of nations stems from the fact that countries function and achieve their goals only through their organizations and people. The prowess and potential of social capital are finally seen to be bound up with the fulfilment of man's deep spiritual hunger for purpose and meaning in work and life.
Sociotechnical Analysis of Firm Level Managerial Jobs: A Comparative Study in Indian Organizations
Authors: Ghosh Koustab , Sahney Sangeeta
Published: June 2016

The theory of sociotechnical system has been considered as an effective tool for designing and re - designing jobs in organizations since long. Striking a balance between the technical and social subsystems of a job remains the major challenge till today. The design of jobs at executive level through sociotechnical system requires the appropriate analysis of relevant technical and social subsystem constructs ⁄ factors in the organization. The present study was conducted in various types of industrial organizations located in India (public and private sector, manufacturing and service sector) to make a comparative analysis among them. The paper helps to extract the extent to which the technical and social subsystem factors do exist in the executive level jobs in Indian organizations in line with the framework of sociotechncal design of jobs.