bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maximizing Desistance
Authors: Birgden Astrid
Published: October 2014

The law can be a systemically induced decision point for offenders and can act to help or hinder desistance. Desistance can be described as a change process that may be initiated by decisive momentum, supported by intervention, and maintained through re-entry, culminating in a citizen with full rights and responsibilities. Desistance within courts, corrections, and beyond is maximized by applying the law in a therapeutic manner. In common, desistance, therapeutic jurisprudence, and human rights support offender autonomy and well-being. The intersections between the three models have been explored to propose a normative framework that provides principles and offers strategies to address therapeutic legal rules, legal procedures, and the role of psycholegal actors and offenders in initiating, supporting, and maintaining desistance.
Youth unemployment discourses in Greece and Ireland before and during the economic crisis: Moving from divergence to ‘contingent convergence’
Authors: Papadopoulos Orestis
Published: October 2014

The article presents the debates on youth unemployment developed in Greece and Ireland by the social actors before and after the outbreak of the economic crisis. The article examines policies of actors (employers, unions, policy bodies) and analyses whether their responses fit within neoliberal, flexicurity or social Europe discourses. It looks at how youth unemployment debates are framed in two different national settings and whether institutional differences affect the convergence towards or divergence from the neoliberal discourse. The article establishes that discourses of Greek social actors are more conflictual than those in Ireland where the history of social partnership is still evident. There is also evidence of changes in policies and discourses pre- and post-crisis.
Sell-Offs and Firm Performance: A Matter of Experience?
Authors: Brauer Matthias , Mammen Jan , Luger Johannes
Published: October 2014

Drawing on organizational learning theory, this article examines the moderating influences of different forms of internal and external sell-off experience on the relationship between firm sell-off activity and subsequent firm accounting performance. The results from a longitudinal analysis of sell-off activity by 293 European companies over a 15-year period (1995-2009) are consistent with basic predictions from learning theory, suggesting a positive moderating influence of a firm’s general sell-off experience. Yet, by distinguishing between multiple forms of learning (i.e., experiential, superstitious, interfirm, and vicarious learning), we further argue and find that the composition of a firm’s general sell-off experience is of substantial importance. Specifically, we find that learning benefits result from the repeated sale of related assets, whereas high levels of experience heterogeneity negatively affect the relationship between firm sell-off activity and subsequent firm performance. Furthermore, external sell-off experience by advisors and by industry peers is found to positively influence the divestiture–firm performance linkage. Collectively, these findings contribute to organizational learning theory and extend prior research on divestiture performance.
“What’s Past Is Prologue”
Authors: Simsek Zeki , Fox Brian Curtis , Heavey Ciaran
Published: October 2014

Organizational researchers have long used imprinting as a theoretical lens for a historically embedded understanding of diverse, significant phenomena for explanatory, evaluative, and managerial purposes. The intuitive appeal of imprinting has facilitated its widespread diffusion throughout numerous disciplines and research fields, but the growing fragmentation of associated theory and evidence has blurred our understanding of the nature, sources, and mechanisms of imprinting as well as the context in which imprinting shapes the behavior and outcomes of distinct entities. To address these issues, we begin by developing a framework for generalizing theoretical constructs, statements, and relationships across levels of analysis, contexts, and disciplinary boundaries. Using the core themes of this framework, we next provide a systematic review of 119 imprinting studies allowing for more definitive statements about what we know, do not know, and should know about imprinting. Finally, by building on the review, together with the proposed framework, we chart a focused course for future inquiry and applications for organizational research on imprinting.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) in Graduate Medical Training
Authors: Boerebach Benjamin C. M. , Lombarts Kiki M. J. M. H. , Arah Onyebuchi A.
Published: October 2014

The System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities (SETQ) was developed as a formative system for the continuous evaluation and development of physicians’ teaching performance in graduate medical training. It has been seven years since the introduction and initial exploratory psychometric analysis of the SETQ questionnaires. This study investigates the validity and reliability of the SETQ questionnaires across hospitals and medical specialties using confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), reliability analysis, and generalizability analysis. The SETQ questionnaires were tested in a sample of 3,025 physicians and 2,848 trainees in 46 hospitals. The CFA revealed acceptable fit of the data to the previously identified five-factor model. The high internal consistency estimates suggest satisfactory reliability of the subscales. These results provide robust evidence for the validity and reliability of the SETQ questionnaires for evaluating physicians’ teaching performance.
Fuzzy logic-based approach to develop hybrid similarity measure for efficient information retrieval
Authors: Gupta Yogesh , Saini Ashish , Saxena AK
Published: October 2014

A similarity measure is used in information retrieval systems to retrieve and rank the relevant documents. In this paper, a new fuzzy-based approach to develop hybrid similarity measure is proposed and implemented. The proposed approach overcomes the limitations of extensively used similarity measures such as Cosine, Jaccard, Euclidean and Okapi-BM25 along with Genetic Algorithm-based hybrid similarity measures proposed by researchers. This approach uses fuzzy rules to infer the weights of different similarity measures. In this paper, the experiments are performed on CACM and CISI benchmark data collections. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated in terms of precision, recall and average precision and average recall of retrieved relevant documents. The results are compared with different similarity measures available in literature. The results show the marked improvement in performance of information retrieval systems using the proposed fuzzy logic-based hybrid similarity measure.
Comparing batch update with randomized update for identifying salient genes applied to cancer gene expression clustering
Authors: Chen Chien-Hsing
Published: October 2014

DNA microarrays usually screen a sufficiently large number of genes, including redundancies. In this paper, we study a neighbour-based method for gene assessment applied to the discovery of interesting clusters in an attempt to understand relations among cancer gene expression data. Using the gene assessment, an adaptive vector space is used for recording the genes’ saliences, where the element in this vector represents the weight of the corresponding gene. We thus compare a batch update strategy to a randomized update strategy to iteratively update vectors in the process of gene assessment. In tests on two benchmark cancer gene expression datasets, the experimental results indicate that our batch update strategy performs better than the randomized update strategy for gene assessment applied to the discovery of interesting clusters.
Ontology alignment based on instance using NSGA-II
Authors: Xue Xingsi , Wang Yuping
Published: October 2014

Nowadays, ontologies are widely used to solve data heterogeneity problems on the Semantic Web. However, simple use of these ontologies may raise the heterogeneity problem to a higher level. Addressing this problem requires identification of correspondences between the entities of various ontologies. Since the real semantics of a concept is often better defined by the actual instances assigned to it, instance, as an important element of ontology, contains a great quantity of knowledge that should be utilized to obtain the ontology alignment. To this end, in this paper, we propose a novel instance-based aligning approach using NSGA-II to determine the optimal instance correspondences and a similarity propagation algorithm that makes use of various semantic relations to propagate the similarity values to other entities of ontologies. The experiment of comparing our approach with the participants of OAEI 2012 has demonstrated that our method is an effective approach that can obtain the alignment with high precision value.
A novel feature selection method for text classification using association rules and clustering
Authors: Sheydaei Navid , Saraee Mohamad , Shahgholian Azar
Published: October 2014

Readability and accuracy are two important features of any good classifier. For reasons such as acceptable accuracy, rapid training and high interpretability, associative classifiers have recently been used in many categorization tasks. Although features could be very useful in text classification, both training time and the number of produced rules will increase significantly owing to the high dimensionality of text documents. In this paper an association classification algorithm for text classification is proposed that includes a feature selection phase to select important features and a clustering phase based on class labels to tackle this shortcoming. The experimental results from applying the proposed algorithm in comparison with the results of selected well-known classification algorithms show that our approach outperforms others both in efficiency and in performance.
LDA-AdaBoost.MH: Accelerated AdaBoost.MH based on latent Dirichlet allocation for text categorization
Authors: Al-Salemi Bassam , Ab Aziz Mohd. Juzaiddin , Noah Shahrul Azman
Published: October 2014

AdaBoost.MH is a boosting algorithm that is considered to be one of the most accurate algorithms for multilabel classification. It works by iteratively building a committee of weak hypotheses of decision stumps. To build the weak hypotheses, in each iteration, AdaBoost.MH obtains the whole extracted features and examines them one by one to check their ability to characterize the appropriate category. Using Bag-Of-Words for text representation dramatically increases the computational time of AdaBoost.MH learning, especially for large-scale datasets. In this paper we demonstrate how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of AdaBoost.MH using latent topics, rather than words. A well-known probabilistic topic modelling method, Latent Dirichlet Allocation, is used to estimate the latent topics in the corpus as features for AdaBoost.MH. To evaluate LDA-AdaBoost.MH, the following four datasets have been used: Reuters-21578-ModApte, WebKB, 20-Newsgroups and a collection of Arabic news. The experimental results confirmed that representing the texts as a small number of latent topics, rather than a large number of words, significantly decreased the computational time of AdaBoost.MH learning and improved its performance for text categorization.
On methods and tools of table detection, extraction and annotation in PDF documents
Authors: Khusro Shah , Latif Asima , Ullah Irfan
Published: October 2014

Table detection, extraction and annotation have been an important research problem for years. To handle this issue, different approaches have been designed for different types of documents. Among these PDF is a widely used format for preserving and presenting different types of documents. We investigate the state of the art in table detection, extraction and annotation in PDF documents. Because of varying table structural anatomy, the state of the art in table-related research enumerates a number of approaches that are critically and analytically investigated for identifying their strengths and limitations as well as for making recommendations for further improvement. An evaluation framework is contributed that compares different information extraction tools that may be used in table detection, extraction and annotation. We found very limited attention towards these aspects in books, especially books in PDF format. There is no searching solution that can find books having tables that are semantically related to a table in a given book.
The battle of ideas and discourses before democratic transition: Different democratic conceptions in authoritarian China
Authors: Lu Jie , Shi Tianjian
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we propose a theoretical framework to examine popular democratic conceptions in societies with limited experiences of democratic politics. Second, following this framework, we use new survey instruments to investigate the origins and consequences of popular democratic conceptions in mainland China, with particular emphasis on how the Chinese government indoctrinates its people with a guardianship discourse on democracy to disguise its authoritarian nature. Using national survey data, this paper demonstrates that the Chinese government has effectively taken advantage of its regulated education and media systems, as well as its lingering Confucian and Leninist traditions, to promote and indoctrinate its people with the guardianship discourse. A majority of Chinese citizens indeed understand democracy following this particular discourse and, thus, perceive the Chinese government as more or less a democracy.
Factors of party system nationalization
Authors: Golosov Grigorii V
Published: October 2014

This article uses a representative sample of elections held in 80 countries (1992–2012) for a statistical analysis of societal and institutional factors of party system nationalization. The analysis demonstrates that high degrees of political decentralization, such as in federations and devolved states, exert a strong negative effect on party system nationalization. However, in the long-term federalism can accommodate highly nationalized party systems. Another factor that strongly contributes to party system nationalization is a high quality of democracy. The degrees to which different varieties of electoral rules support party system nationalization are associated with a lack of incentives for cultivating the personal vote. Countries with large populations and societies divided along linguistic and/or religious lines tend to have party systems that are less nationalized, but these factors are not as important as institutional determinants. The impact of some of the factors is mitigated by party system fragmentation.
Computer Aided–Designed, 3‐Dimensionally Printed Porous Tissue Bioscaffolds for Craniofacial Soft Tissue Reconstruction
Authors: Zopf David A. , Mitsak Anna G. , Flanagan Colleen L. , Wheeler Matthew , Green Glenn E. , Hollister Scott J.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To determine the potential of an integrated, image‐based computer‐aided design (CAD) and 3‐dimensional (3D) printing approach to engineer scaffolds for head and neck cartilaginous reconstruction for auricular and nasal reconstruction.

Study Design

Proof of concept revealing novel methods for bioscaffold production with in vitro and in vivo animal data.

Setting

Multidisciplinary effort encompassing 2 academic institutions.

Subjects and Methods

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) computed tomography scans were segmented and utilized in image‐based CAD to create porous, anatomic structures. Bioresorbable polycaprolactone scaffolds with spherical and random porous architecture were produced using a laser‐based 3D printing process. Subcutaneous in vivo implantation of auricular and nasal scaffolds was performed in a porcine model. Auricular scaffolds were seeded with chondrogenic growth factors in a hyaluronic acid/collagen hydrogel and cultured in vitro over 2 months’ duration.

Results

Auricular and nasal constructs with several types of microporous architecture were rapidly manufactured with high fidelity to human patient anatomy. Subcutaneous in vivo implantation of auricular and nasal scaffolds resulted in an excellent appearance and complete soft tissue ingrowth. Histological analysis of in vitro scaffolds demonstrated native‐appearing cartilaginous growth that respected the boundaries of the scaffold.

Conclusion

Integrated, image‐based CAD and 3D printing processes generated patient‐specific nasal and auricular scaffolds that supported cartilage regeneration.
Cochrane Corner: Interventions to Improve Hearing Aid Use in Adult Auditory Rehabilitation
Authors: Burton Martin J. , Adams Meredith E. , Rosenfeld Richard M.
Published: October 2014

The “Cochrane Corner” is a section in the journal that highlights systematic reviews relevant to otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, with invited commentary to aid clinical decision making. This installment features the Cochrane review “Interventions to Improve Hearing Aid Use in Adult Auditory Rehabilitation,” which identified 32 randomized controlled trials and concluded that there is low‐quality evidence to support using self‐management support and complex interventions (support plus delivery system design) in adult auditory rehabilitation.
Reaching Rural Patients through Otolaryngology Visiting Consultant Clinics
Authors: Gruca Thomas S. , Nam Inwoo , Tracy Roger
Published: October 2014

Providing otolaryngology care to rural populations is a major challenge. In this study, we focus on rural outreach by the otolaryngology workforce in Iowa, a state with a high proportion of rural residents. Using data from 2013, we find that almost half (46%) of Iowa‐based otolaryngologists participate in outreach. Along with colleagues from adjoining states, Iowa otolaryngologists staffed more than 2100 in‐person clinic days in 76 mainly rural sites. This system of rural outreach has expanded access from 20 to 85 of the 99 counties in Iowa. These efforts improve access for more than 1 million residents out of a total population of 3 million. However, this improved level of access comes at a cost as visiting otolaryngologists drove an estimated 17,000 miles per month. This established approach to serving rural patients may be negatively impacted by changes under the Affordable Care Act.
Endotracheal tube as tracheal stent in vascular ring
Authors: Awasthy Neeraj , Arora Harmeet Singh , Radhakrishnan Sitaraman
Published: October 2014

Management of vascular ring is always a matter of great concern. There is limited literature on management of carbon dioxide retention in mechanically ventilated patients with vascular rings due to double aortic arch, while awaiting corrective cardiac surgery. A 29-day-old girl with complete duplicated double aortic arch, left descending aorta, and a left patent ductus arteriosus, had severe upper respiratory tract obstruction with carbon dioxide retention. She was managed successfully by endotracheal tube manipulation.
Automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS): reproducibility of mass localization, size measurement, and characterization on serial examinations
Authors: Chang Jung Min , Cha Joo Hee , Park Jeong Seon , Kim Seung Ja , Moon Woo Kyung
Published: October 2014

Background

Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) is gaining popularity for breast cancer detection and diagnosis with its high reproducibility. Consistent recognition of breast lesions on serial exams is critical, and high reproducibility for lesion characterization is expected with ABUS, but not well reported.

Purpose

To retrospectively evaluate the reproducibility of ABUS for mass localization, size measurement, and characterization.

Material and Methods

Bilateral whole breast US images were obtained twice using a commercially available ABUS within a mean interval of 1.3 days. In total, 24 patients were imaged before biopsy or surgery. There were 24 breast cancers and nine benign diagnoses. Two breast radiologists reviewed every paired three-dimensional dataset with regard to lesion visibility, reproducibility of documented location (clockface location, distance from nipple, and lesion depth), size of the lesions, and similarity for lesion characteristics. Lesion similarity was classified as being identical, similar, or different by consensus reading using the SomoVu workstation. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and the Bland-Altman method were used to determine the amount of agreement between assessments of lesion location and size.

Results

Among 33 breast lesions, 31 lesions were depicted in both serial examinations. ICCs for the displayed lesion location (clock face location, distance from nipple), and the individual size of detected lesions were 0.994, 0.926, and 0.980, indicating excellent reliability. However, the ICC for lesion depth from the skin was 0.342 showing low reliability. For lesion similarity, 16 cancers and five benign lesions were classified as being identical, and six cancers and two benign lesions were classified as being similar. Two benign lesions were assessed to have different lesion characteristics and final assessment categories.

Conclusion

The ABUS provided reproducible images for mass localization, size measurement, and characterization, which may be useful for follow-up studies.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Angiogenic Factors by Neoplastic Epithelial Cells Is Associated With Canine Prostatic Carcinogenesis
Authors: Palmieri C.
Published: October 2014

The dog is the only species, other than humans, in which spontaneous prostatic cancer occurs; therefore, dogs are a valuable model for the study of factors that regulate tumor progression. Angiogenesis is important in the development and spread of a variety of cancers, including prostate cancer. To better define the role of cancer epithelial cells in prostate cancer neovascularization, immunohistochemical staining for angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule–1 [PECAM-1], Tie-2, and fibroblast growth factor–2 [FGF-2]) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 10 normal prostates, 15 hyperplastic prostates, and 11 prostatic carcinomas from dogs. Normal and hyperplastic epithelial cells were negative for PECAM-1, VEGF, and Tie-2, while the same markers were expressed with a variable intensity of cytoplasmic staining by neoplastic cells. Mild to moderate FGF-2 staining was detected in all normal prostates with less than 10% of positive cells, mainly distributed in the basal layer. The percentage of FGF-2–positive hyperplastic cells was variable, with both basal and secretory cells exhibiting a perinuclear to diffuse cytoplasmic staining. The mean number of positive cells and the intensity of staining were higher in prostatic carcinomas than normal and hyperplastic prostates. Moreover, microvessel density analyzed on PECAM-1–stained slides was increased in prostate cancer compared with normal and hyperplastic prostates. Therefore, prostatic neoplastic cells are capable of simultaneous expression of various angiogenic factors and may increase tumor proliferation and angiogenesis in a paracrine and autocrine fashion.
Hypervitaminosis D and Metastatic Calcification in a Colony of Inbred Strain 13 Guinea Pigs, Cavia porcellus
Authors: Holcombe H. , Parry N. M. , Rick M. , Brown D. E. , Albers T. M. , Refsal K. R. , Morris J. , Kelly R. , Marko S. T.
Published: October 2014

A commercial diet fed to a colony of inbred strain 13 guinea pigs for approximately 6 weeks was subsequently recalled for excessive levels of vitamin D. Twenty-one of 62 animals exhibited clinical signs, including anorexia, lethargy, and poor body condition. Nine affected and 4 clinically normal animals were euthanized for further evaluation, including serum chemistry, urinalysis, and gross and/or histopathology. Macroscopic findings included white discoloration in multiple organs in 8 animals, and microscopic evaluation confirmed multiorgan mineralization in tissues from 7 animals. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were elevated in 10 animals. Serum inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase levels were increased in all exposed animals; however, total calcium and ionized calcium levels were not significantly higher in exposed animals than in control strain 13 guinea pigs from a different institution. The data support a diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D with metastatic calcification. Following the diet recall, the remaining guinea pigs increased their food intake and regained body condition. Diagnostic testing of 8 animals euthanized approximately 3 months after returning to a normal diet demonstrated that serum parathyroid hormone remained significantly lower, and ionized calcium and ionized magnesium were significantly higher, in recovered animals compared to controls and exposed animals. These results indicate that diagnostic tests other than serum calcium are necessary for a diagnosis of hypervitaminosis D in guinea pigs.
Diagnostic Exercise
Authors: Villano J. S. , Fann M. K. , Suckow C. E. , Cooper T. K.
Published: October 2014

Seven male Hartley guinea pigs, 3 to 18 months old, died or had to be euthanized because of nonspecific clinical signs unresponsive to supportive treatment. Gross necropsy and histopathology findings in all animals included severe soft tissue calcification affecting the myocardium, kidneys, and occasionally the liver.
Vascular biomarkers in migraine
Authors: Tietjen Gretchen E , Khubchandani Jagdish
Published: October 2014

Aim

Migraine has been associated with stroke as well as with several non-atherosclerotic vascular conditions leading to discussions about the potential role of endothelium in the etiopathogenesis of migraine and migraine-associated stroke. We present a systematic review of the literature on vascular biomarkers in migraine, including those suggesting endothelial activation and damage.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search from 1990 to 2013 using multiple research databases with the keywords “migraine,” “headache,” “vascular,” and “biomarkers.” We used selected inclusion and exclusion criteria to create a final pool of studies for this review.

Results

The literature search identified a total of 639 citations of which 129 were included in our review. The final pool of clinical- and population-based studies assessed the level of various biomarkers (e.g. inflammatory, prothrombotic, endothelial activation, endothelial repair) in migraineurs of varying ages, gender, and demographic characteristics. Although for each biomarker there is at least one study suggesting an association with migraine, in many cases the quality of evidence is poor and there are conflicting studies showing no relationship. The results were, therefore, in each case inconclusive.

Conclusion

This systematic review indicated that in migraine populations there are a number of positive vascular biomarker studies, including some involving novel biomarkers such as endothelial microparticles and endothelial precursor cells. These lend insight into possible pathophysiological mechanisms by which migraine may be associated with stroke. More high-quality studies are needed to establish whether a true association between promising vascular biomarkers and migraine exists.
Coculture with intraocular lens material-activated macrophages induces an inflammatory phenotype in lens epithelial cells
Authors: Pintwala Robert , Postnikoff Cameron , Molladavoodi Sara , Gorbet Maud
Published: October 2014

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, requiring surgical implantation of an intraocular lens. Despite evidence of leukocyte ingress into the postoperative lens, few studies have investigated the leukocyte response to intraocular lens materials. A novel coculture model was developed to examine macrophage activation by hydrophilic acrylic (poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)) and hydrophobic acrylic (polymethylmethacrylate) commercial intraocular lens. The human monocytic cell line THP-1 was differentiated into macrophages and cocultured with human lens epithelial cell line (HLE-B3) with or without an intraocular lens for one, two, four, or six days. Using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, expression of the macrophage activation marker CD54 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1) and production of reactive oxygen species via the fluorogenic probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate were examined in macrophages. α-Smooth muscle actin, a transdifferentiation marker, was characterized in lens epithelial cells. The poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) intraocular lens prevented adhesion but induced significant macrophage activation ( p < 0.03) versus control (no intraocular lens), while the polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens enabled adhesion and multinucleated fusion, but induced no significant activation. Coculture with either intraocular lens increased reactive oxygen species production in macrophages after one day ( p < 0.03) and increased expression of α-smooth muscle actin in HLE B-3 after six days, although only poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) induced a significant difference versus control ( p < 0.01). Our results imply that—contrary to prior uveal biocompatibility understanding—macrophage adherence is not necessary for a strong inflammatory response to an intraocular lens, with hydrophilic surfaces inducing higher activation than hydrophobic surfaces. These findings provide a new method of inquiry into uveal biocompatibility, specifically through the quantification of cell-surface markers of leukocyte activation.
Combining xanthan and chitosan membranes to multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells as bioactive dressings for dermo-epidermal wounds
Authors: Bellini Márcia Z , Caliari-Oliveira Carolina , Mizukami Amanda , Swiech Kamilla , Covas Dimas T , Donadi Eduardo A , Oliva-Neto Pedro , Moraes Ângela M
Published: October 2014

The association between tridimensional scaffolds to cells of interest has provided excellent perspectives for obtaining viable complex tissues in vitro, such as skin, resulting in impressive advances in the field of tissue engineering applied to regenerative therapies. The use of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells in the treatment of dermo-epidermal wounds is particularly promising due to several relevant properties of these cells, such as high capacity of proliferation in culture, potential of differentiation in multiple skin cell types, important paracrine and immunomodulatory effects, among others. Membranes of chitosan complexed with xanthan may be potentially useful as scaffolds for multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, given that they present suitable physico-chemical characteristics and have adequate tridimensional structure for the adhesion, growth, and maintenance of cell function. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess the applicability of bioactive dressings associating dense and porous chitosan-xanthan membranes to multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of skin wounds. The membranes showed to be non-mutagenic and allowed efficient adhesion and proliferation of the mesenchymal stromal cells in vitro. In vivo assays performed with mesenchymal stromal cells grown on the surface of the dense membranes showed acceleration of wound healing in Wistar rats, thus indicating that the use of this cell-scaffold association for tissue engineering purposes is feasible and attractive.
Fast in situ generated ɛ-polylysine-poly (ethylene glycol) hydrogels as tissue adhesives and hemostatic materials using an enzyme-catalyzed method
Authors: Wang Rui , Zhou Bo , Liu Wei , Feng Xiao-hai , Li Sha , Yu Dong-feng , Chang Jia-cong , Chi Bo , Xu Hong
Published: October 2014

In this study, novel bio-inspired in situ hydrogels as tissue adhesives and hemostatic materials were designed and prepared based on ɛ-polylysine-grafted poly(ethylene glycol) and tyramine via enzymatic cross-linking. The enzymatic cross-linked method enabled fast gelation within seconds, which facilitated its therapeutic applications. By changing the cross-linking conditions, the storage modulus of the hydrogels could be tunable and the mechanical strength influenced the tissue adhesiveness of the hydrogels. Besides, the hydrogels showed fine network structures with appropriate pore sizes, which were thought to be a contributing factor to the strong adhesiveness. Benefiting from the strong mechanical properties and fine network structures, the ɛ-polylysine-grafted poly(ethylene glycol) and tyramine hydrogels exhibited superior wound-healing and hemostatic ability compared to conventional and commercially available medical materials. Moreover, indirect cytotoxicity assessment indicated that the ɛ-polylysine-grafted poly(ethylene glycol) and tyramine hydrogels were nontoxic to the L929 cell. These results demonstrated that the enzymatic cross-linked in situ ɛ-polylysine hydrogels hold high potential for tissue sealants and hemostatic materials.
In vitro characterization of polyesters of aconitic acid, glycerol, and cinnamic acid for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Kanitkar Akanksha , Chen Cong , Smoak Mollie , Hogan Katie , Scherr Thomas , Aita Giovanna , Hayes Daniel
Published: October 2014

In this study, a novel class of polyesters of glycerol, aconitic acid, and cinnamic acid were synthesized along with their hydroxyapatite (HA) composites, and studied for their potential application in bone defect repair. An osteogenic study was conducted with human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) to determine the osteoinductive ability of aconitic acid–glycerol (AG) polyesters, AG:HA (80:20), aconitic acid–glycerol–cinnamic acid (AGC) polyesters, and AGC:HA (80:20) to serve as bone scaffolds. The results indicate that AGC scaffolds have the highest mechanical strength in comparison to AG, AG:HA (80:20), and AGC:HA (80:20) scaffolds due to its low porosity. It was determined by cytotoxicity and osteogenesis experiments that hASCs cultured for 21 days on AG:HA (80:20) scaffolds in stromal medium exhibited a greater number of live cells than control PCL:HA composites. Moreover, hASCs cultured on foamed AG:HA (80:20) scaffolds resulted in the highest levels of mineralization, increased alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) expression, and the greatest osteocalcin ( OCN) expression after 21 days. Overall, AG:HA (100:0 and 80:20) scaffolds had higher mechanical strength and cytocompatibility than the PCL:HA control. In vitro osteogenic study demonstrated that AG:HA (100:0 and 80:20) synthesized using sugarcane industry by-products hold potential as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.
Three different patterns of CD4 recovery in a cohort of Chinese HIV patients following antiretroviral therapy – a five-year observational study
Authors: Naftalin Claire M , Wong Ngai Sze , Chan Denise PC , Wong Ka Hing , Reidpath Daniel D , Lee Shui Shan
Published: October 2014

To explore the heterogeneity of CD4 responses following highly active antiretroviral therapy, the patterns of CD4 recovery of HIV-1-infected Chinese patients who have been on their first antiretroviral regimen for ≥5 years were analysed. The CD4 trajectories were traced, smoothed and differentiated into three defined profiles. Half (56.3%) were ‘satisfactory responders’, with CD4 gain of >100 cells/μL and a peak of >350 cells/μL, plateauing before the end of Year 5. Thirty-three (24.4%) were ‘continuing responders’ whose CD4 rise persisted at Year 4–5. The remaining 26 (19.3%) were ‘poor responders’. Presentation with AIDS before therapy was common not just among ‘poor’ but also paradoxically the ‘continuing’ responders. While a majority had responded well to antiretroviral therapy, older patients and those with AIDS diagnosis before initiation of therapy may never achieve a satisfactory level even with effective treatment. Categorization of HIV patients by their CD4 trajectory may support the prediction of immunological outcome over time, and ultimately inform treatment choices.
Glycaemic profile changes by highly active antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients
Authors: Duro M , Rebelo I , Barreira S , Sarmento-Castro R , Medeiros R , Almeida C
Published: October 2014

To study dysglycaemia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients we conducted a retrospective cohort study of the glucose profile in HIV-infected patients. The fasting blood glucose was analysed taking into consideration conventional risk factors as well as HIV infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). One hundred seventy-three cases were selected for this study. Five risk factors had significant effects ( p < 0.05) on glucose levels: age, body mass index (BMI), hepatitis C virus/hepatitis B virus (HCV/HBV) co-infection, viral load (VL), and CD4+ T-lymphocyte count. Fasting blood glucose levels increased with age (0.59 mg/dL/year), decreased with the VL (−4.1 × 10−6 mg/dL/number of viral RNA copies) and the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (−0.016 mg/dL/cell count). Furthermore, obese patients and those co-infected with HCV/HBV were more prone to develop dysglycaemia having, on average, 15.4 mg/dL and 13.8 mg/dL higher levels, respectively, of fasting blood glucose. Despite an increase of 1.0% and 8.4% in the glucose levels noticed among HIV patients treated with non-nucleotide inhibitors of reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors, respectively, HAART did not prove to be a significant predictor of fasting glucose levels as well as lipodystrophy and male gender. Age, BMI, HCV/HBV co-infection and HIV-related (VL and CD4+ T-lymphocyte count) factors seem to be the most influential on fasting blood glucose levels in HIV-infected individuals.
Maternal Buffering of Human Amygdala-Prefrontal Circuitry During Childhood but Not During Adolescence
Authors: Gee Dylan G. , Gabard-Durnam Laurel , Telzer Eva H. , Humphreys Kathryn L. , Goff Bonnie , Shapiro Mor , Flannery Jessica , Lumian Daniel S. , Fareri Dominic S. , Caldera Christina , Tottenham Nim
Published: October 2014

Mature amygdala-prefrontal circuitry regulates affect in adulthood but shows protracted development. In altricial and semialtricial species, caregivers provide potent affect regulation when mature neurocircuitry is absent. The present investigation examined a potential mechanism through which caregivers provide regulatory influences in childhood. Children, but not adolescents, showed evidence of maternal buffering, such that maternal stimuli suppressed amygdala reactivity. In the absence of maternal stimuli, children exhibited immature amygdala-prefrontal connectivity. However, in the presence of maternal stimuli, children’s connectivity was more mature, resembling adolescents’ connectivity. Children showed improved affect-related regulation in the presence of their mothers. Individual differences emerged, with greater maternal influence on amygdala-prefrontal circuitry associated with stronger mother-child relationships and maternal modulation of behavioral regulation. These findings suggest a neural mechanism through which caregivers modulate children’s regulatory behavior by inducing more mature connectivity and buffering against heightened reactivity. Maternal buffering in childhood, but not adolescence, suggests that childhood may be a sensitive period for amygdala-prefrontal development.
Cancer Care Decision Making in Multidisciplinary Meetings
Authors: Dew Kevin , Stubbe Maria , Signal Louise , Stairmand Jeannine , Dennett Elizabeth , Koea Jonathan , Simpson Andrew , Sarfati Diana , Cunningham Chris , Batten Lesley , Ellison-Loschmann Lis , Barton Josh , Holdaway Maureen
Published: October 2014

Little research has been undertaken on the actual decision-making processes in cancer care multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs). This article was based on a qualitative observational study of two regional cancer treatment centers in New Zealand. We audiorecorded 10 meetings in which 106 patient cases were discussed. Members of the meetings categorized cases in varying ways, drew on a range of sources of authority, expressed different value positions, and utilized a variety of strategies to justify their actions. An important dimension of authority was encountered authority—the authority a clinician has because of meeting the patient. The MDM chairperson can play an important role in making explicit the sources of authority being drawn on and the value positions of members to provide more clarity to the decision-making process. Attending to issues of process, authority, and values in MDMs has the potential to improve cancer care decision making and ultimately, health outcomes.
Use of Social Comparisons in Interviews About Young Adults’ Experiences of Chronic Illness
Authors: Heaton Janet
Published: October 2014

In this article I examine how young adults used social comparisons in research interviews about their experiences of chronic illness. The interviews were originally conducted not only to provide data for academic analysis but also to generate experiential accounts for publication online as part of an Internet-based health information resource for patients, professionals, and the public wanting to learn about people’s real-life experiences of illness in the United Kingdom. Through secondary analysis of these data, I show how the young adults used various social comparisons to represent themselves and their experiences to the target audience. Two new concepts—analogues and foils—are introduced to describe how the young adults likened themselves to, and contrasted themselves with, different reference groups in their accounts. Through these and related strategies, they created positive renditions of their experiences for the audience, helping to inform and support others in the process.
Seeing in Different Ways
Authors: Cristancho Sayra , Bidinosti Susan , Lingard Lorelei , Novick Richard , Ott Michael , Forbes Tom
Published: October 2014

In this article we explore the value of using visual data in a study on medical expert judgment to better understand medical experts’ conceptualizations of complex, challenging situations. We use examples from a larger study on medical expertise in which rich pictures and interviews were used. The three stories presented in this article belong to experts in the domain of surgery. The stories are used to show the ways in which rich pictures can capture and elucidate potentially hidden aspects of the influence of the context in surgical experts’ judgment during challenging operations. We suggest that incorporating visual representations such as rich pictures as research data can aid in understanding previously unarticulated constructions of medical expertise. We conclude that when the researcher strives for capturing complexity, visual methods have the potential to help medical experts deflect from their tendency to simplify descriptions of accounts and to meaningfully engage these individuals in the research process.
Learning How to Be a Research-Minded Teacher
Authors: Sindberg Laura K.
Published: October 2014

Increasing evidence, both in general education and music education, points to the significance of inquiry as a part of teacher preparation. The purpose of this case study was to investigate the ways in which an introductory research project would help preservice music educators understand good music teaching and to discover the extent to which such an experience might foster a continued interest in inquiry. Four upper-level instrumental music education students participated in this case study of their case study of an instrumental music teacher, conducted in the context of an instrumental methods course. The student researchers gathered and analyzed data, presented them to their peers, and submitted a written case study as their final project for the semester. The guiding question for this study was, “What does an inquiry-based case study project reveal about preservice music educators’ images and beliefs in relation to good music teaching?”
Pharmacokinetic Drug-Drug Interaction of Calcium Channel Blockers With Cyclosporine in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Children
Authors: Bernard Elodie , Goutelle Sylvain , Bertrand Yves , Bleyzac Nathalie
Published: October 2014

Background: Cyclosporine (CsA) is frequently responsible for hypertension in bone marrow transplant children. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are considered to be the best treatment for CsA-induced hypertension, but they may alter the exposure and the effect of CsA by inhibiting the CYP3A4 pathway of CsA metabolism or P-gp. However, the inhibitory effect on CYP3A4 may vary among CCBs. Methods: This study aimed to quantify the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction between CsA and nicardipine, amlodipine, and lacidipine. In all, 51 children who received CsA and CCB concomitantly were included. Results: Dose-normalized CsA trough blood concentrations significantly increased in patients treated with nicardipine and amlodipine, whereas they remained stable in patients treated with lacidipine. Conclusions: Because lacidipine appears to have no effect on CsA exposure, it may be the best option among CCBs for treating high blood pressure caused by CsA in children.
Comparative Persistence on β-Blockers Versus Calcium Channel Blockers for Ventricular Rate Control in Nonelderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Desai Vibha C. A. , Kelton Christina M. L. , Metzger Anne H. , Cavanaugh Teresa M. , Guo Jeff J. , Heaton Pamela C.
Published: October 2014

Background: For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), early treatment is essential to prevent serious complications such as stroke. Several randomized clinical trials have shown that rate-control may be as effective as rhythm-control medications, whereas the latter have serious side effects. Little evidence exists, however, about which class of rate-control medication—β-blockers (BBs) or calcium channel blockers (CCBs)—may be superior. Objective: The objective was to compare the long-term persistence on BBs versus CCBs in nonelderly adult patients with AF. Methods: A longitudinal retrospective cohort study for patients 40 to 60 years old with newly diagnosed AF (identified by ICD-9 code 427.31) was performed using data from Ohio Medicaid physician, institutional, and pharmacy claims from January 2006 through June 2011. A Cox proportional hazard regression, with time to change out of rate-control therapy as the dependent variable, was estimated to compare persistence on (proxy for effectiveness of) rate-control medication across drug classes. A propensity-score analysis was used to control for selection bias. Additional covariates included age, development of heart failure, and medication adherence. Results: Out of 1239 patients included in the cohort, 1016 received a BB; 223 received a CCB. Over time, patients on CCBs were significantly more likely to switch out of rate-control therapy (hazard ratio = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.14-3.09) than patients on BBs. Conclusions: Evidence suggests that nonelderly AF patients, when prescribed rate-control therapy, persist longer on BBs than CCBs. Because this is the first long-term study comparing the 2 drug classes in the nonelderly population, further research is suggested.