bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Publishing descriptions of non-public clinical datasets: guidance for researchers, repositories, editors and funding organisations
Authors: Hrynaszkiewicz Iain , Khodiyar Varsha , Hufton Andrew L , Sansone Susanna-Assunta
Published: July 2015

Sharing of experimental clinical research data usually happens between individuals or research groups rather than via public repositories, in part due to the need to protect research participant privacy. This approach to data sharing makes it difficult to connect journal articles with their underlying datasets and is often insufficient for ensuring access to data in the long term. Voluntary data sharing services such as the Yale Open Data Access (YODA) and Clinical Study Data Request (CSDR) projects have increased accessibility to clinical datasets for secondary uses while protecting patient privacy and the legitimacy of secondary analyses but these resources are generally disconnected from journal articles – where researchers typically search for reliable information to inform future research. New scholarly journal and article types dedicated to increasing accessibility of research data have emerged in recent years and, in general, journals are developing stronger links with data repositories. There is a need for increased collaboration between journals, data repositories, researchers, funders, and voluntary data sharing services to increase the visibility and reliability of clinical research. We propose changes to the format and peer-review process for journal articles to more robustly link them to data that are only available on request. We also propose additional features for data repositories to better accommodate non-public clinical datasets, including Data Use Agreements (DUAs).
Clustering of mRNA-Seq data for detection of alternative splicing patterns
Authors: Johnson Marla , Purdom Elizabeth
Published: July 2015

Current sequencing of mRNA can provide estimates of the levels of individual isoforms within the cell, where isoforms are the different distinct mRNA products or proteins created by a gene. It remains to adapt many standard statistical methods commonly used for analyzing gene expression levels to take advantage of this additional information. One novel question is whether we can find groupings or clusters of samples that are distinguished not by their gene expression but by their isoform usage. Such clusters in tumors, for example, could be the result of shared disruption to the splicing system that creates the different isoforms. We propose a novel approach to clustering mRNA-Seq data that identifies clusters of samples with common isoform usage. We show via simulation that our methods are more sensitive to finding clusters of similar alternative splicing patterns than standard clustering techniques applied directly to the estimates of isoform levels. We further demonstrate that clustering on isoform usage is more accurate than clustering directly on isoform levels by examining real data that contains a technical artifact that resulted in different batches having different isoform usage patterns. Clustering, mRNA-Seq, Alternative splicing
Lectin-Magnetic Beads for Plasma Membrane Isolation
Authors: Lee Yu-Chen , Liu Hsuan-Chen , Chuang Carol , Lin Sue-Hwa
Published: July 2015

Plasma membrane proteins mainly function to transmit external signals into the cell. Many plasma membrane receptor tyrosine kinases (e.g., HER2 and EGFR) are known to mediate oncogenic progression, making them prime targets for cancer therapy. Recently, it has become important to identify plasma membrane proteins that are differentially expressed in normal versus cancer cells, in drug-sensitive versus drug-resistant cells, or among tumor cells that metastasize to different organ sites because these differentially expressed membrane proteins may lead to the identification of therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers. In addition, there is an increased interest in identifying cell-surface proteins that could serve as markers for stem cells, progenitor cells, or cells of different lineages. Traditionally, membrane isolation requires multiple centrifugation steps to isolate different organelles based on their density. With the advent of affinity matrix technology, it is possible to separate organelles based on their molecular differences. A defining characteristic of the plasma membrane is that plasma membrane proteins are more extensively glycosylated than are intracellular membrane proteins. As a result, affinity chromatography employing lectin, a carbohydrate-binding protein, is commonly used to isolate plasma membrane proteins. We have extended this concept for plasma membrane isolation by using concanavalin A (ConA), a lectin with mannose specificity. Here we describe a protocol that uses immobilized ConA bound to magnetic beads to isolate plasma membranes from homogenized cell lysates. The captured plasma membrane proteins are then solubilized from the ConA-magnetic beads by detergents in the presence of a competing sugar, methyl α-mannopyranoside.
Reconstitution of Mice with Modified Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Hemann Michael
Published: July 2015

Stem cell transplantation is well established in humans for the treatment of hematopoietic disease, including hematopoietic malignancies. Similar direct transplant procedures can readily be performed in mice; these procedures can be paired with retroviral infection to introduce exogenous genes or to silence endogenous genes in a subset of cells in the murine hematopoietic system. The resulting mice are chimeric for cells bearing a specific alteration. This approach has the advantage of examining tumorigenesis on a largely wild-type background (if only a subset of cells are infected), a situation that more accurately parallels the human situation. Additionally, tumor development occurs within the appropriate native microenvironment. Here, we describe the isolation and retroviral infection of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), as well as the reconstitution and monitoring of tumor formation in lethally irradiated recipient mice. This protocol requires a source of long-term HSCs; these can include either stimulated adult bone marrow or fetal liver—the site of primitive hematopoiesis.
Whole-Exome Enrichment with the Roche NimbleGen SeqCap EZ Exome Library SR Platform
Authors: Chen Rui , Im Hogune , Snyder Michael
Published: July 2015

Multiple platforms are available for whole-exome enrichment and sequencing (WES). This protocol is based on the Roche NimbleGen SeqCap EZ Exome Library SR platform, which enriches for ∼44 Mb of the human exonic regions. The SeqCap system uses 55- to 105-base DNA probes to capture known coding DNA sequences (CDS) from the NCBI Consensus CDS Database, RefSeq, and Sanger miRBase. The protocol can be performed at the benchside without the need for automation, and the resulting library can be used for targeted next-generation sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer.
Analyzing the Response of RNAi-Treated Drosophila Cells to Death Stimuli by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Denton Donna , Kumar Sharad
Published: July 2015

A useful complement to animal studies is the use of Drosophila cell lines to analyze cell-death responses. There are numerous Drosophila cell lines available, such as S2 cells, which possess the advantages of being semi-adherent, fast growing, relatively robust, and useful for transfection and knockdown studies, whereas other lines, such as mbn2, are more suitable for analyzing hormone-induced cell death and gene expression. Drosophila cell lines are very amenable to knockdown studies as the cells take up double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from the medium, initiating gene silencing and resulting in a high level of gene knockdown. This means that the cell lines are useful for investigating the response to death stimuli, following gene knockdown, by examining the expression of cell-death genes. This protocol describes the synthesis of dsRNA for treatment of Drosophila cells and the subsequent analysis of cell-death gene expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
Fluorescent Calcium Indicator Protein Expression in the Brain Using Tetracycline-Responsive Transgenic Mice
Authors: Heindorf Matthias , Hasan Mazahir T.
Published: July 2015

To achieve robust long-term fluorescent calcium indicator protein (FCIP) expression in mammalian neurons in vivo, classical mouse transgenesis by pronuclear DNA injection using tetracycline (Tet)-controlled genetic switches can be deployed. This protocol describes methods for regulated expression of FCIP using Tet-responsive transgenic mice. The Tet-inducible system requires three components for inducible and reversible control of gene expression: (1) a potent transcriptional activator protein, either Tet transactivator (tTA) or reverse tTA (rtTA); (2) a minimal Tet-promoter (Ptet) or a bidirectional Tet-promoter (Ptetbi) to express one or more responder genes; and (3) Tet or one of its derivatives such as doxycycline (Dox) as an inducer. To ensure a high level of FCIP expression in neurons, transgenic founder mice are screened using an ear fibroblast culture method to identify those that are responsive to Dox treatment before use in experiments. The protocol describes the use of Dox to regulate gene expression and provides a short description of in vivo recording of luciferase activity.
Measuring Chromatin Structure in Budding Yeast
Authors: Belton Jon-Matthew , Dekker Job
Published: July 2015

Chromosome conformation capture (3C) has revolutionized the ways in which the conformation of chromatin and its relationship to other molecular functions can be studied. 3C-based techniques are used to determine the spatial arrangement of chromosomes in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. In particular, they can be applied to the study of chromosome folding and organization in model organisms with small genomes and for which powerful genetic tools exist, such as budding yeast. Studies in yeast allow the mechanisms that establish or maintain chromatin structure to be analyzed at very high resolution with relatively low cost, and further our understanding of these fundamental processes in higher eukaryotes as well. Here we provide an overview of chromatin structure and introduce methods for performing 3C, with a focus on studies in budding yeast. Variations of the basic 3C approach (e.g., 3C-PCR, 5C, and Hi-C) can be used according to the scope and goals of a given experiment.
Development of a leagile transformation methodology for product development
Authors: Lemieux Andree-Anne , Lamouri Samir , Pellerin Robert , Tamayo Simon
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a leagile transformation model for product development that guides manufacturers in the construction of a road map and the management of its deployment in line with both lean and agile improvement objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

– An intervention qualitative and transformative research approach was adopted in order to develop required knowledge to theorise professional practice made from rigorous observations of facts. The research project took place over a period of two and a half years, in partnership with an international firm that develops and produces a wide range of luxury products.

Findings

– The application of the methodology proved that a lean transformation does not have to be generated only by the field needs but it can follow a mixed approach where a top-down transformation management linked with strategic objectives is deployed without compromising implication and needs from people on the field. The right balance can be found between the strategic aspect of transformation and the incremental aspect on the field of lean paradigms.

Research limitations/implications

– For complete validation and widespread scientific application, the model should be tested in other sectors and industries.

Practical implications

– The application case of the leagile model in several divisions of a luxury organisation proved that the proposed approach can be used as a guide for manufacturer in the construction of an improvement road map and in the management of its deployment. The application cases enabled a number of positive results to be generated and measured on quantitative indicators such as service ratio for new products for which, one of the divisions saw an increase of 30 per cent. The approach created a positive revolution among development team members by its potential in terms of communication, steering, benchmarking and knowledge system.

Originality/value

– The model supports the identification and prioritisation of improvement initiatives by focusing on the levers for improvement that meet the needs and objectives of transformation, as well as the organisation’s maturity level.
Analysing the diffusion of a mobile service supporting the e-grocery supply chain
Authors: Cagliano Anna Corinna , De Marco Alberto , Rafele Carlo , Bragagnini Andrea , Gobbato Luca
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a systemic methodology to assess the potential of and facilitate policies for the diffusion of a smartphone based service enabling supply chain (SC) operations in the e-grocery sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– A System Dynamics (SD) model combining the Bass paradigm for innovation diffusion and an inventory management framework is developed. Semi-structured interviews are conducted to understand the industry business processes; a simple SD model is designed to capture the most important variables together with the relationships among them; a detailed SD model is calibrated and simulation outcomes are analysed.

Findings

– The efficiency and reliability of the service drive its diffusion among producers and consumers, who in turn persuade retailers to adopt. The assessment methodology can be part of feasibility studies and marketing investigations in order to understand the impact of e-commerce tools on SC processes.

Research limitations/implications

– This contribution stresses the need to analyse how mobile information technologies may benefit all the business processes of the e-grocery SC, and not just one single process or stakeholder.

Practical implications

– The approach offers a roadmap to identify the factors influencing the diffusion of mobile e-grocery services as well as the associated impacts on SC processes.

Originality/value

– The work contributes to overcoming the lack of approaches studying the diffusion of e-grocery by taking into account all the relevant aspects and stakeholders involved and not only the consumer perspective.
Performance measurement due to IT adoption
Authors: Behera Ajay , Nayak Narayan , Das Harish
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis on the relationship between information technology (IT) adoption and its usage and firm performance (banking and software firm) in India. Firm performance was measured with the help of three important variables: efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Each one of the above has been described with a set of pretested questionnaires. Banks in India, in particular are geared for comprehensive banking solutions with extensive branch networks. Result from statistical analysis was validated with that achieved from ANN modeling.

Design/methodology/approach

– Survey instrument was pilot tested. The pilot survey was administered to 20 randomly selected Indian service firms, whose Standard Industrial Classification codes were 6,021 (nationalized commercial Banks) and 7,371 (software firms). A 50 percent response rate was received. Internal reliability using Cronbach’s α was carried out for the entire set of responses from the pilot study. In addition, qualitative follow up from respondents was done. Unreliable items were deleted and modifications wherever necessary were made.

Findings

– The research finds two important results with respect to IT adoption and firm performance. The first result is that service firms who implemented IT tools and techniques early achieved more turnover thereby greater market share from innovation/adoption (world-first and, to some extent India-first). These firms are able to better commercialize their service even if their most important innovations/adoptions supported by vendor’s to some extent. The second result is that service firms, which introduce new services, even if the service is already on the national or international front, derived more commercial sales from innovation, thus achieving more firm performance. Therefore, late followers (firm-first) would have higher sales from innovation by introducing services with high original content.

Originality/value

– Performance is measured due to IT adoption.
Financial competitiveness analysis in the Hungarian dairy industry
Authors: Tálas Dorisz , Rózsa Andrea
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse time-series change of the competitiveness of leading companies of the sector based on their financial position regarding the period of financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, high level of revenue concentration was proved; consequently, strong competitive situation among few competitors was realised. Corporations having three common features (high amount of equity, high revenue and diversified product structure) were included in the sample. As the methodological background financial parameters were assigned to the definition of corporate competitiveness, and then comparative and comprehensive financial analysis of competitors was accomplished. Using relevant studies, liquidity based on balance sheets and cash flow statements, working capital processes, conventional and cash-flow based profitability were analysed.

Findings

– It was proved that sample companies continuously improved the efficiency of working capital management indicated by the decrease of the average cash conversion cycle from 45 to 23 days. It was realised that there is a Hungarian-owned firm having outstanding financial performance; consequently, it has significant position among competitors. This company has further opportunity to increase its market share and competitiveness in the future. Finally, important characteristics of the sector were identified concerning the low level of technological improvements (the average ratio was below 3 per cent of the revenue), and unfavourable profitability processes.

Originality/value

– In this paper, a separate analytic framework is established in view of the application of financial indicators to analyse competitiveness. This kind of analysis was not executed before in this sector.
Conceptualization of a holistic brand image measure for fashion-related brands
Authors: Cho Eunjoo , Fiore Ann Marie
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the holistic nature of brand image for fashion-related products and to complete the initial stage of scale development, determining content validity, for a new brand image measure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The conceptualization of brand image was based on a review of academic and industry literature and analysis of qualitative data from 11 in-depth interviews. To help assess content validity, four trained judges assessed the face validity of the initial 140 items generated; 137 scale items were retained.

Findings

– Analysis of the interview data revealed that cognitive (mystery), emotional (intimacy) and sensory (sensuality) dimensions were important for brand image of fashion-related products. The results aligned with major themes proposed in the literature, but one additional theme (self-congruity) was uncovered. These findings support content validity of the brand image scale items.

Research limitations/implications

– The interviews were limited to female consumers in the Midwestern USA. The present study expands the existing brand image concept by identifying its multi-dimensional nature including sensory associations. Theoretically, an expanded brand image measure increases its explanatory power in empirical studies. In terms of practical implications, fostering cognitive, emotional and sensory dimensions is essential for creating an effective fashion-related brand image, which can enhance brand equity.

Originality/value

– Past brand image scales have emphasized cognitive and emotional dimensions. The new scale items represent a more holistic measure of brand image, as they include a comprehensive sensory dimension. It will be the first brand image scale geared toward fashion-related brands.
The impact of product innovation attributes on brand equity
Authors: Nørskov Sladjana , Chrysochou Polymeros , Milenkova Marina
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the impact of product innovation attributes (complexity, relative advantage, compatibility, trialability and observability) on brand equity, and whether these attributes exert a different effect on low- versus high-equity brands. The moderating role of consumer innovativeness in this relationship is investigated further.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on survey data from users of two brands of digital audio players of different brand equity levels.

Findings

– Overall, it was found that innovation attributes have an effect on brand equity, and this effect differs between low- and high-equity brands, with a low-equity brand being benefited more than a high-equity brand from perceptions towards a product’s innovation attributes. Additionally, it was found that the impact of complexity and relative advantage on brand equity increases when consumer innovativeness increases in the case of a high-equity brand. However, no significant difference was found between low- and high-equity brands regarding the proposed moderating effect of innovativeness.

Research limitations/implications

– The study only examines two brands belonging to one particular industry, which limits the findings’ generalizability. Thus, the use of more test brands from different industries should be the goal for future research.

Practical implications

– Managers should consider the firm’s current brand equity level and its competitive position to maximize the effect of product innovation attributes.

Originality/value

– The study makes an original contribution to the research on the relationship between product innovation and brand equity and provides theoretical and managerial implications in the field of innovation and brand management.
Promoting biodiversity: do consumers prefer feelings, facts, advice or appeals?
Authors: Schaffner Dorothea , Demarmels Sascha , Juettner Uta
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore consumers’ responses to emotional and normative communication in comparison with traditional informational campaigns promoting pro-environmental behavior in the context of biodiversity. By adopting the approach of likeability of the communication, the paper identifies which type of communication strategy is liked by consumers’ and which dimensions define likeability in the context of biodiversity. The goal is to improve the effectiveness of communication messages delivered by social marketers or public policy makers through a better understanding of consumers’ responses to different communication strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

– To investigate which communications strategies are perceived as likeable in the context of promoting biodiversity and to explore the dimensions that underlie likeability of the communication a qualitative study was conducted. First, the information design with the different communication strategies has been developed. Second, focused interviews with 25 individuals have been conducted.

Findings

– Results indicate that communication strategies using positive emotions led to most favorable responses. Further, findings suggest that informational strategies seem to result in positive attitudes when they tap on procedural knowledge. Favorable judgments are linked with communication strategies that create awareness or which are relevant and informative.

Research limitations/implications

– Further empirical research is suggested exploring consumers’ responses to communication strategies that combine emotions and facts.

Practical implications

– Based on the findings of this study, social marketers and public policy makers are recommended to use a combination of communication strategies that evoke positive emotions and provide consumers with the facts necessary to take action.

Originality/value

– The paper allows for an integrated view and contributes to an increased understanding of responses to communication strategies and provides valuable practical implications for social marketers and public policy makers.
Perceived health and taste ambivalence in food consumption
Authors: Luomala Harri , Jokitalo Maijastiina , Karhu Hannu , Hietaranta-Luoma Hanna-Leena , Hopia Anu , Hietamäki Sanna
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to explore how certain consumer characteristics (dieting status, health motives and food values) together with products carrying ambivalent health and taste cues (light foods, convenience foods, “functional candies”) shape whether and why health and taste attributes are perceived as inclusive (“healthy is tasty” and “unhealthy is untasty”) or exclusive (“healthy is untasty” and “unhealthy is tasty”).

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative methodology not yet applied in examining consumers’ healthiness and tastiness perceptions of food was employed. It included gathering three separate data sets through both personal and group interviews (N = 40).

Findings

– Consumers’ dieting status, health motives and food values shape the perception of inclusivity and exclusivity of health and taste of light, convenience and candy products. Second, there are multiple sources for these perceptions including product type, ingredients, level of processing and marketing cues. These factors interact to produce a unique consumer understanding of the relationship between health and taste for each single food product.

Practical implications

– To ensure optimal consumer response, food companies and health educators need to understand how different target groups form their inclusive/exclusive perceptions of health and taste for various foods.

Originality/value

– The majority of pre-existing food consumption research supports imply that a good taste and a high degree of healthiness are incompatible with each other. The findings challenge this view. It appears that it is the “unhealthy is untasty” and “healthy is tasty” perceptions that predominate in certain consumer groups. A novel conceptual framework for understanding the ambivalence of health and taste perceptions in food consumption is offered.
Revisiting the concept of a competitive “cash advantage”
Authors: Calandro, Jr. Joseph
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to profile how ample cash holdings can serve as a competitive advantage by first mitigating the risk of becoming a forced seller during times of distress, and then positioning a firm to take strategic advantage of forced selling and other forms of distress-generated opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author reviews the changing role of cash over time in corporate strategy, and how inadequate cash has caused or contributed to corporate failures.

Findings

– The findings of this paper, which are supported by historical and contemporary examples, are that ample cash reserves can be a powerful source of comparative advantage.

Practical implications

– This article supports earlier work published in Strategy
&
Leadership that shows how Graham-and-Dodd-based analysis is a viable avenue of academic research and a viable method with which to assess and formulate corporate strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, share buy-backs, risk management and, in this case, the strategic uses of cash.

Originality/value

– This paper offers leaders and financial executives a practical explanation of how ample cash holdings can serve as a competitive advantage.
The individual enterprise: all for one and one for all
Authors: Balboni Fred , Berman Saul J. , Korsten Peter J.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This article explains how, by combining the power of analytics with the ubiquity of mobile, organizations have the opportunity to provide employees with “mobility” solutions that will enable them to work more effectively than ever before, a new Individual Enterprise model.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article shows how organizations that design their business and information systems with this Individual Enterprise model in mind can evolve their business models, or even create totally new ones, and thus realize the full transformational benefits of mobility.

Findings

– Together mobile and analytics will redefine how companies deliver value to customers.

Practical implications

– Dynamically configurable platforms and apps will allocate organizational expertise precisely where and when needed, enabling employees to make faster, better-informed decisions.

Social implications

– By creating an Individual Enterprise, organizations will be able to discover, define and refine new and emerging customer wants and needs, and create truly unique, exciting customer experiences.

Originality/value

– By transforming in an Individual Enterprise a company evolves from managing employees to optimizing ecosystems; from assigning “a person for the process” to creating “a process for a person.”
Customer-focused IT: a process of continuous value innovation
Authors: Narayanan V. K.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– Transition to a digital economy and the pervasiveness of IT in a firm’s operations together has brought the IT function in corporations to the threshold of a needed transformation: from an orientation that prizes technical excellence to one that achieves continuous innovation by finding new opportunities to provide value to customers.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author believes that companies need to adopt customer-focused IT, this requires a shift in organizational culture, from considering technical excellence as an end in itself, to respecting customers as the centrally important stakeholder of an organization.

Findings

– In many companies, rethinking the IT function to focus it on providing value to the customer presents an opportunity to empower frontline employees, to make innovations in the company value chain and to maintain and to enhance competitive advantage.

Practical implications

– Changing to a customer focus requires dedicated continuous innovation to enlist the full resources of the IT function – architecture, algorithms, big data and connectivity – to satisfy customer needs, solve customer problems and produce new customer value.

Originality/value

– The author argues convincingly that IT organizations will become focused on delivering value that matches evolving customer needs if, and only if, CIOs insist upon concentrating the resources of the organization on this goal Indeed, CIOs should consider themselves chief marketing officers, focusing on the customer and promoting the customer-focus competencies of their organizations.
Customer preeminence: the lodestar for continuous innovation in the business ecosystem
Authors: Denning Stephen
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The author analyzes why the transformation of customers from passive consumers to their new role as, in effect, the determining partners in corporate strategy has produced the need for a fundamental rethinking of how a corporation must be led and managed.”

Design/methodology/approach

– The author links the modern day preeminence of the customer to the rise of globalization, the failures of hierarchical management, the omnipresence of the Internet, Agile methodology, continuous focused innovation and the advent of the ecosystem platform.

Findings

– The author sees the emergence of the customer as the lodestar for guiding corporate value-chain decisions as a transformational feature of the 21st Century business landscape.”

Practical implications

– By having an ecosystem platform, rather than an individual or coach seeing to the needs of the customer, Apple is able to achieve massive scale, with hundreds of thousands of developers devising every conceivable App to meet the infinitely variable needs of hundreds of millions of customers.”

Originality/value

– The author’s insight is that this shift from vertical to horizontal management is a truly new core idea. It’s not just a new process or methodology, but a different ideology – a different way of viewing and acting in the world. And management will likely never be the same.
Human T‐lymphotropic virus type I proviral loads in patients with adult T‐cell leukemia–lymphoma: Comparison between cutaneous type and other subtypes
Authors: Yonekura Kentaro , Utsunomiya Atae , Seto Masao , Takatsuka Yoshifusa , Takeuchi Shogo , Tokunaga Masahito , Kubota Ayumu , Takeda Koichiro , Kanzaki Tamotsu , Uchida Youhei , Kawai Kazuhiro , Kanekura Takuro
Published: July 2015

Adult T‐cell leukemia–lymphoma (ATL), characterized by various clinicopathological features, is divided into four clinical subtypes, namely, acute, lymphoma, chronic and smoldering types, and the treatment strategy differs according to the clinical subtype. The designation cutaneous type ATL has been proposed to describe a peculiar subgroup of smoldering type ATL in which the skin is predominantly affected. However, diagnostic criteria and prognostic factors for cutaneous type ATL remain to be determined. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study to obtain a precise method for subtype classification and to clearly define cutaneous type ATL. A total of 87 ATL patients (acute, n = 31; lymphoma, n = 6; chronic, n = 24; smoldering, n = 26) were enrolled. The human T‐lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐1) proviral load in peripheral blood and the serum soluble interleukin‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) level were evaluated with respect to the clinical features of the different types of ATL. The HTLV‐1 proviral load was significantly increased in the acute and chronic type and the serum sIL‐2R level was increased in the acute and lymphoma type. The HTLV‐1 proviral load was significantly lower in cutaneous than other smoldering types of ATL without skin lesions. The clinical findings of cutaneous type ATL were also different from other subtypes. These results indicate that, in combination, determination of the HTLV‐1 proviral load and the serum sIL‐2R level is useful for distinguishing among the different types of ATL, and strongly suggest that cutaneous type ATL is a distinct clinical entity.
CARD14 Glu138 mutation in familial pityriasis rubra pilaris does not warrant differentiation from familial psoriasis
Authors: Inoue Nana , Dainichi Teruki , Fujisawa Akihiro , Nakano Hajime , Sawamura Daisuke , Kabashima Kenji
Published: July 2015

Some familial cases of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) have the CARD14 gene mutations that are also detected in familial psoriasis vulgaris. However, genotype–phenotype correlation in these two entities is poorly understood. Here, we report a case of PRP with a new mutation in CARD14. Genomic analysis of a 40‐year‐old female patient with sporadic PRP type V identified a heterozygous dominant c.412G>A mutation (p.Glu138Lys) in CARD14. Two types of CARD14 mutations causing Glu138 substitutions have been reported in cases of familial PRP and pustular psoriasis. All three types, including the present case, are predicted to cause similar loss of the negative charges at this site. This suggests that the difference in molecular charge and the resulting change in molecular interaction around the N‐terminal end of the coiled‐coil region of CARD14 molecule do not determine the phenotypic differences between psoriasis and PRP.
Clinical evaluation of 30 patients with localized nasal rosacea
Authors: Lee Woo Jin , Lee Ye Jin , Won Chong Hyun , Chang Sung Eun , Choi Jee Ho , Lee Mi Woo
Published: July 2015

The clinical features of localized nasal rosacea have not been described in detail. This study was designed to analyze the subtypes and severity of localized nasal rosacea. Our present study included 30 patients with localized nasal rosacea. The erythematotelangiectatic subtype (13/30, 43.3%) was the most common type, followed by the phymatous subtype (9/30, 30%). The duration of rosacea was shorter and the severity of localized nasal rosacea was lower in the erythematotelangiectatic subtype cases compared with the patients with mixed or phymatous subtypes. Almost all of the papulopustular eruptions or phymatous lesions were associated with erythematotelangiectatic lesions. These findings suggest that the erythematotelangiectatic subtype may be considered the initial phase of localized nasal rosacea.
Mapping Defamation Defences
Authors: Descheemaeker Eric
Published: July 2015

The general neglect of tort defences is most significant in defamation actions. This paper attempts to reduce to a few guiding principles the numerous, and apparently unrelated, doctrines recognised as defences by the law of defamation. Defining the cause of action as an injury to the claimant's reputation, it argues that they fall into three classes: (i) defences which exclude unlawfulness because the injury was inflicted in pursuance of a right or liberty of the defendant; (ii) defences which exclude blameworthiness because the defendant was not at fault for causing the injury; (iii) defences which relieve the defendant of liability despite the injury being both non iure and negligent: this group, not being underpinned by recognised principles, deserves particular scrutiny. The rule of repetition should be qualified by recognition of a defence of ‘warranted republication’; the remainder should be abolished, being an anachronistic hangover from the old requirement of malice.
Fibromyalgia incidence among patients with hepatitis B infection
Authors: Yazmalar Levent , Deveci Özcan , Batmaz İbrahim , İpek Davut , Çelepkolu Tahsin , Alpaycı Mahmut , Hattapoğlu Erkam , Akdeniz Dicle , Sarıyıldız Mustafa A.
Published: July 2015

Aim

The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the incidence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and identify FMS‐related clinical symptoms in hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients.

Methods

One hundred and eighteen HBV surface antigen (HbsAg)‐positive patients (40 with chronic active hepatitis B, 40 hepatitis B carriers and 38, all of whom had been antiretroviral‐treated for at least 3 months) were included in this study. In addition, 60 age‐ and gender‐matched HbsAg‐negative healthy controls were included in the study.

Results

There was no significant difference in age, gender or body mass index (BMI) between the two groups (P > 0.05). Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in HBV patients relative to the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of FMS, widespread body pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, morning stiffness, arthralgia was significantly greater among HBV patients relative to the control group. Additionally, the mean tender point counts and the visual analog scale values were significantly higher among the HBV patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results of the present study demonstrate that FMS incidence is greater among HBV patients relative to control subjects. However, there were no differences in FMS incidence among the subgroups of HBV diagnoses.
Central serous chorioretinopathy: what we have learnt so far
Authors: Wong Kah Hie , Lau Kin Pong , Chhablani Jay , Tao Yong , Li Qing , Wong Ian Y.
Published: July 2015

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a common retinal cause of visual loss. The mainstays of management are observation, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser procedures. Over the past decade, there has been rapid development in the existing and novel imaging techniques, functional testing and management of CSCR. However, there is no convincing treatment designed for CSCR yet. In recent years, the advances in PDT, with various adjustments in fluence and verteporfin dosage, and the comparisons between different types of PDT for acute and chronic CSCR in recent studies have provided greater insights into the role of PDT in treating CSCR. Novel laser procedures, such as the diode micropulse laser, have shown comparable efficacy to conventional lasers without laser‐induced damage. Antivascular endothelial growth factor, which was originally developed for treating cancers, has emerged to be a potentially effective treatment for CSCR. The potential role of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in treating CSCR has provided greater understanding of the pathogenesis. Based on the relevant studies, mainly from the past decade, we discuss updates to the management of CSCR according to the risk factor modifications, pharmacological interventions, PDT and laser procedures and concluded that PDT is the current best option for CSCR.
Potentiation of Glibenclamide Hypoglycaemia in Mice by MK‐467, a Peripherally Acting Alpha2‐Adrenoceptor Antagonist
Authors: Ruohonen Suvi T. , Ranta‐Panula Ville , Bastman Sanna , Chrusciel Paulina , Scheinin Mika , Streng Tomi
Published: July 2015

Pharmacological antagonism and genetic depletion of pancreatic α2A‐adrenoceptors increase insulin secretion in mice and enhance the insulinotropic action of glibenclamide, a representative of the sulphonylurea class of insulin secretagogues used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes. Antagonism of α2‐adrenoceptors in the central nervous system (CNS) causes tachycardia and hypertension, making generalized α2‐adrenoceptor blockade unfavourable for clinical use despite its potential to decrease blood glucose levels. The purpose of this study was to test the acute effects of the peripherally acting α2‐adrenoceptor antagonist MK‐467 alone and in combination with glibenclamide in non‐diabetic C57BL/6N mice. Cardiovascular safety was assessed in freely moving mice with radiotelemetry. Dose‐dependent decreases in blood glucose and increases in plasma insulin concentrations were seen with the combination of MK‐467 and glibenclamide; the combinations were much more potent than glibenclamide or MK‐467 alone. Furthermore, MK‐467 had no effect on mean arterial pressure or heart rate in freely moving mice and did not prevent the centrally mediated hypotensive effect of the α2‐adrenoceptor agonist medetomidine. Thus, peripheral blockade of α2‐adrenoceptors does not evoke the same cardiovascular adverse effects as antagonism of CNS α2‐adrenoceptors. The current results indicate that the combined use of small doses of a peripherally acting α2‐adrenoceptor antagonist with a sulphonylurea drug could provide a novel option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, especially in patients with increased tonic α2‐adrenoceptor‐mediated inhibition of insulin secretion.
An exposure‐weighted score test for genetic associations integrating environmental risk factors
Authors: Han Summer S. , Rosenberg Philip S. , Ghosh Arpita , Landi Maria Teresa , Caporaso Neil E. , Chatterjee Nilanjan
Published: July 2015

Current methods for detecting genetic associations lack full consideration of the background effects of environmental exposures. Recently proposed methods to account for environmental exposures have focused on logistic regressions with gene–environment interactions. In this report, we developed a test for genetic association, encompassing a broad range of risk models, including linear, logistic and probit, for specifying joint effects of genetic and environmental exposures. We obtained the test statistics by maximizing over a class of score tests, each of which involves modified standard tests of genetic association through a weight function. This weight function reflects the potential heterogeneity of the genetic effects by levels of environmental exposures under a particular model. Simulation studies demonstrate the robust power of these methods for detecting genetic associations under a wide range of scenarios. Applications of these methods are further illustrated using data from genome‐wide association studies of type 2 diabetes with body mass index and of lung cancer risk with smoking.
Double-Observer Line Transect Surveys with Markov-Modulated Poisson Process Models for Animal Availability
Authors: Borchers D. L. , Langrock R.
Published: July 2015

We develop maximum likelihood methods for line transect surveys in which animals go undetected at distance zero, either because they are stochastically unavailable while within view or because they are missed when they are available. These incorporate a Markov-modulated Poisson process model for animal availability, allowing more clustered availability events than is possible with Poisson availability models. They include a mark-recapture component arising from the independent-observer survey, leading to more accurate estimation of detection probability given availability. We develop models for situations in which (a) multiple detections of the same individual are possible and (b) some or all of the availability process parameters are estimated from the line transect survey itself, rather than from independent data. We investigate estimator performance by simulation, and compare the multiple-detection estimators with estimators that use only initial detections of individuals, and with a single-observer estimator. Simultaneous estimation of detection function parameters and availability model parameters is shown to be feasible from the line transect survey alone with multiple detections and double-observer data but not with single-observer data. Recording multiple detections of individuals improves estimator precision substantially when estimating the availability model parameters from survey data, and we recommend that these data be gathered. We apply the methods to estimate detection probability from a double-observer survey of North Atlantic minke whales, and find that double-observer data greatly improve estimator precision here too.
The transatlantic productivity gap: Is R&D the main culprit?
Authors: Ortega‐Argilés Raquel , Piva Mariacristina , Vivarelli Marco
Published: July 2015

The literature has pointed to different causes to explain the productivity gap between the EU and the US in the last decades. This paper tests the hypothesis that the lower European productivity performance in comparison with the US can be explained not only by a lower level of corporate R&D investment but also by a lower capacity to translate R&D investment into productivity gains. The proposed microeconometric estimates are based on a unique longitudinal database covering the period 1990–2008 and comprising 1,809 US and EU companies for a total of 16,079 observations. Consistent with previous literature, we find robust evidence of a significant impact of R&D on productivity; however, using different estimation techniques, the R&D coefficients for the US firms always turn out to be significantly higher. To see to what extent these transatlantic differences in the R&D/productivity relationship may be related to the different sectoral structures in the US and the EU, we differentiated the analysis by sectors. The result is that bothin manufacturing, services and high‐tech manufacturing sectors US firms are more able to translate their R&D investments into productivity increases.