bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Social Settings on Risky Sexual Behavior
Authors: Hittner James B. , Owens Emmalee C. , Swickert Rhonda J.
Published: February 2016

This study investigated the relevance of social settings as predictors of risky sexual behavior. In a young adult sample ( n = 324, M age = 20.2 years), we examined the association between frequency of attendance at five different settings and frequency of engaging in four risky sexual behaviors (i.e., unprotected intercourse when not drunk or high, unprotected intercourse when drunk or high, casual sex when not drunk or high, casual sex when drunk or high). Predictive associations were examined using negative binomial regression, and all analyses controlled for frequency of recent alcohol use and age at first use of alcohol. Greater attendance at fraternity/sorority parties predicted more frequent intercourse for females in the not drunk or high and drunk or high contexts, and more frequent casual sex for males in the not drunk or high context. Greater attendance at large private parties predicted more frequent intercourse for females in the not drunk or high context. Greater attendance at bars without dance floors predicted more frequent intercourse for males in the drunk or high context. These findings highlight the importance of socializing habits in understanding risky sexual behavior.
Workplace Bullying
Authors: Akella Devi
Published: February 2016

Previous research on workplace bullying has narrowed its subjective boundaries by drawing heavily from psychological and social-psychological perspectives. However, workplace bullying can also be understood as an endemic feature of capitalist employment relationship. Labor process theory with its core characteristics of power, control, and exploitation of labor can effectively open and allow further exploration of workplace bullying issues. This article aims to make a contribution by examining workplace bullying from the historical and political contexts of society to conceptualize it as a control tool to sustain the capitalist exploitative regime with empirical support from an ethnographic case study within the health care sector.
College Men and Women and Their Intent to Receive Genital Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
Authors: Richards Keith
Published: February 2016

The study set out to investigate what influences the intentions of college students to get vaccinated against genital human papillomavirus (HPV). College men and women were surveyed to understand their intentions. Regression was used and supported that the constructs of the health belief model (HBM) as well as gender, norms, and information seeking contributed to predicting intent to receive the HPV vaccine, R2 = .61, F(6, 159) = 39.41, p < .001. Benefits and barriers were the most influential variable, and men were more likely to intend to receive the vaccine. The findings should be applied to future campaigns aimed at increasing preventive health behaviors, especially vaccinations among college students.
Emotional Responses to Multisensory Environmental Stimuli
Authors: Schreuder Eliane , van Erp Jan , Toet Alexander , Kallen Victor L.
Published: February 2016

How we perceive our environment affects the way we feel and behave. The impressions of our ambient environment are influenced by its entire spectrum of physical characteristics (e.g., luminosity, sound, scents, temperature) in a dynamic and interactive way. The ability to manipulate the sensory aspects of an environment such that people feel comfortable or exhibit a desired behavior is gaining interest and social relevance. Although much is known about the sensory effects of individual environmental characteristics, their combined effects are not a priori evident due to a wide range of non-linear interactions in the processing of sensory cues. As a result, it is currently not known how different environmental characteristics should be combined to effectively induce desired emotional and behavioral effects. To gain more insight into this matter, we performed a literature review on the emotional effects of multisensory stimulation. Although we found some interesting mechanisms, the outcome also reveals that empirical evidence is still scarce and haphazard. To stimulate further discussion and research, we propose a conceptual framework that describes how environmental interventions are likely to affect human emotional responses. This framework leads to some critical research questions that suggest opportunities for further investigation.
Cumulative Socioeconomic Adversity, Developmental Pathways, and Mental Health Risks During the Early Life Course
Authors: Wickrama Kandauda A. S. , O’Neal Catherine Walker , Lee Tae Kyoung
Published: February 2016

The current study examines two developmental risk pathways (an academic/economic pathway and a delinquency/interpersonal pathway) linking cumulative socioeconomic adversity to subsequent depressive symptoms and the interplay between these pathways and depressive symptoms using path analysis with a sample of 14,563 respondents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health over a 13-year period. Minority youth comprised 49% of this nationally representative sample, including 21% Blacks, 16% Hispanics, 6% Asians, 2% Native Americans, and 4% multiracial youth. Cumulative socioeconomic adversity appears to initiate an adverse life course process involving depressive symptoms, academic/economic difficulties, and delinquency/interpersonal incompetency. It appears that mediating life experiences partially explain the persistent influence of socioeconomic adversity and the continuity of depressive symptoms over the early life course. A deeper understanding of this dynamic process provides insight into the prevention of emotional problems in these early life stages.
Long-term treatment follow-up of children with sickle cell disease monitored with abnormal transcranial Doppler velocities
Authors: Bernaudin Françoise , Verlhac Suzanne , Arnaud Cécile , Kamdem Annie , Hau Isabelle , Leveillé Emmanuella , Vasile Manuela , Kasbi Florence , Madhi Fouad , Fourmaux Christine , Biscardi Sandra , Gluckman Eliane , Socié Gérard , Dalle Jean-Hugues , Epaud Ralph , Pondarré Corinne
Published: February 2016

Key Points

Children with normalized TCD on transfusions were safely switched to hydroxyurea treatment, but trimestrial Doppler follow-up is required. Allogeneic transplant allowed the safe stop of transfusions in all patients, even in those with abnormal velocities before transplant.
Emerging roles for hemostatic dysfunction in malaria pathogenesis
Authors: O’Sullivan Jamie M. , Preston Roger J. S. , O’Regan Niamh , O’Donnell James S.
Published: February 2016

Severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a leading cause of mortality, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where it accounts for up to 1 million deaths per annum. In spite of the significant mortality and morbidity associated with cerebral malaria (CM), the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of severe malaria remain surprisingly poorly understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that sequestration of P falciparum–infected erythrocytes within the microvasculature of the brain plays a key role in the development of CM. In addition, there is convincing evidence that both endothelial cell activation and platelets play critical roles in the modulating the pathogenesis of severe P falciparum malaria. In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies that have identified novel roles through which hemostatic dysfunction may directly influence malaria pathogenesis. In particular, we focus on emerging data suggesting that von Willebrand factor, coagulation cascade activation, and dysfunction of the protein C pathway may be of specific importance in this context. These collective insights underscore a growing appreciation of the important, but poorly understood, role of hemostatic dysfunction in malaria progression and, importantly, illuminate potential approaches for novel therapeutic strategies. Given that the mortality rate associated with CM remains on the order of 20% despite the availability of effective antimalarial therapy, development of adjunctive therapies that can attenuate CM progression clearly represents a major unmet need. These emerging data are thus not only of basic scientific interest, but also of direct clinical significance.
Impact of data resolution on three-dimensional structure inference methods
Authors: Park Jincheol , Lin Shili
Published: February 2016

Background

Assays that are capable of detecting genome-wide chromatin interactions have produced massive amount of data and led to great understanding of the chromosomal three-dimensional (3D) structure. As technology becomes more sophisticated, higher-and-higher resolution data are being produced, going from the initial 1 Megabases (Mb) resolution to the current 10 Kilobases (Kb) or even 1 Kb resolution. The availability of genome-wide interaction data necessitates development of analytical methods to recover the underlying 3D spatial chromatin structure, but challenges abound. Most of the methods were proposed for analyzing data at low resolution (1 Mb). Their behaviors are thus unknown for higher resolution data. For such data, one of the key features is the high proportion of “0” contact counts among all available data, in other words, the excess of zeros.

Results

To address the issue of excess of zeros, in this paper, we propose a truncated Random effect EXpression (tREX) method that can handle data at various resolutions. We then assess the performance of tREX and a number of leading existing methods for recovering the underlying chromatin 3D structure. This was accomplished by creating in-silico data to mimic multiple levels of resolution and submit the methods to a “stress test”. Finally, we applied tREX and the comparison methods to a Hi-C dataset for which FISH measurements are available to evaluate estimation accuracy.

Conclusion

The proposed tREX method achieves consistently good performance in all 30 simulated settings considered. It is not only robust to resolution level and underlying parameters, but also insensitive to model misspecification. This conclusion is based on observations made in terms of 3D structure estimation accuracy and preservation of topologically associated domains. Application of the methods to the human lymphoblastoid cell line data on chromosomes 14 and 22 further substantiates the superior performance of tREX: the constructed 3D structure from tREX is consistent with the FISH measurements, and the corresponding distances predicted by tREX have higher correlation with the FISH measurements than any of the comparison methods.

Software

An open-source R-package is available at http://www.stat.osu.edu/~statgen/Software/tRex.
Web-TCGA: an online platform for integrated analysis of molecular cancer data sets
Authors: Deng Mario , Brägelmann Johannes , Schultze Joachim L. , Perner Sven
Published: February 2016

Background

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a pool of molecular data sets publicly accessible and freely available to cancer researchers anywhere around the world. However, wide spread use is limited since an advanced knowledge of statistics and statistical software is required.

Results

In order to improve accessibility we created Web-TCGA, a web based, freely accessible online tool, which can also be run in a private instance, for integrated analysis of molecular cancer data sets provided by TCGA. In contrast to already available tools, Web-TCGA utilizes different methods for analysis and visualization of TCGA data, allowing users to generate global molecular profiles across different cancer entities simultaneously. In addition to global molecular profiles, Web-TCGA offers highly detailed gene and tumor entity centric analysis by providing interactive tables and views.

Conclusions

As a supplement to other already available tools, such as cBioPortal (Sci Signal 6:pl1, 2013, Cancer Discov 2:401–4, 2012), Web-TCGA is offering an analysis service, which does not require any installation or configuration, for molecular data sets available at the TCGA. Individual processing requests (queries) are generated by the user for mutation, methylation, expression and copy number variation (CNV) analyses. The user can focus analyses on results from single genes and cancer entities or perform a global analysis (multiple cancer entities and genes simultaneously).
Design, structure prediction and molecular dynamics simulation of a fusion construct containing malaria pre-erythrocytic vaccine candidate, PfCelTOS, and human interleukin 2 as adjuvant
Authors: Shamriz Shabnam , Ofoghi Hamideh
Published: February 2016

Background

Malaria infection is still widespread in some parts of the world and threatens the lives of millions of people every year. Vaccines, especially oral vaccines are considered to be effective in reducing the burden of malaria morbidity and mortality. By using recombinant technology, suitable oral hosts could serve as antigen delivering vehicles in developing oral vaccines. This study was aimed towards designing and computational analysis of a fusion protein consisting of Plasmodium falciparum cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PfCelTOS) fused to human interleukin-2 (IL-2) and M cell-specific peptide ligand (Co1), as a step toward developing a vaccine candidate.

Results

To our best knowledge, the three dimensional (3D) structure of CelTOS is not reported in protein database. Therefore, we carried out computational modeling and simulation in the hope of understanding the properties and structure of PfCelTOS. Then we fused IL-2 to PfCelTOS by a flexible linker and did in silico analysis to confirm the proper folding of each domain in the designed fusion protein. In the last step, Co1 ligand was added to the confirmed fusion structure using a rigid linker and computational analysis was performed to evaluate the final fusion construct. One structure out of five predicted by I-TASSER for PfCelTOS and fusion constructs was selected based on the highest value for C-score. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis indicated that predicted structures are stable during the simulation. Ramchandran Plot analysis of PfCelTOS and fusion constructs before and after MD simulation also represented that most residues were fallen in favorable regions.

Conclusion

In silico study showed that Co1-(AEEEK)3- IL-2-(GGGGS)3-PfCelTOS construct has a constant structure and the selected linkers are effectively able to separate the domains. Therefore, data reported in this paper represents the first step toward developing of an oral vaccine candidate against malaria infection.
Gene set analysis using sufficient dimension reduction
Authors: Hsueh Huey-Miin , Tsai Chen-An
Published: February 2016

Background

Gene set analysis (GSA) aims to evaluate the association between the expression of biological pathways, or a priori defined gene sets, and a particular phenotype. Numerous GSA methods have been proposed to assess the enrichment of sets of genes. However, most methods are developed with respect to a specific alternative scenario, such as a differential mean pattern or a differential coexpression. Moreover, a very limited number of methods can handle either binary, categorical, or continuous phenotypes. In this paper, we develop two novel GSA tests, called SDRs, based on the sufficient dimension reduction technique, which aims to capture sufficient information about the relationship between genes and the phenotype. The advantages of our proposed methods are that they allow for categorical and continuous phenotypes, and they are also able to identify a variety of enriched gene sets.

Results

Through simulation studies, we compared the type I error and power of SDRs with existing GSA methods for binary, triple, and continuous phenotypes. We found that SDR methods adequately control the type I error rate at the pre-specified nominal level, and they have a satisfactory power to detect gene sets with differential coexpression and to test non-linear associations between gene sets and a continuous phenotype. In addition, the SDR methods were compared with seven widely-used GSA methods using two real microarray datasets for illustration.

Conclusions

We concluded that the SDR methods outperform the others because of their flexibility with regard to handling different kinds of phenotypes and their power to detect a wide range of alternative scenarios. Our real data analysis highlights the differences between GSA methods for detecting enriched gene sets.
Exosomes secreted by human urine-derived stem cells could prevent kidney complications from type I diabetes in rats
Authors: Jiang Zhen-zhen , Liu Yu-mei , Niu Xin , Yin Jian-yong , Hu Bin , Guo Shang-chun , Fan Ying , Wang Yang , Wang Nian-song
Published: February 2016

Background

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most serious complications in patients with diabetes. At present, there are no satisfactory treatments available for diabetic nephropathy. Stem cells are currently the main candidates for the development of new treatments for diabetic nephropathy, as they may exert their therapeutic effects mainly through paracrine mechanisms. Exosomes derived from stem cells have been reported to play an important role in kidney injury. In this article, we try to investigate whether exosomes retrieved from urine stem cells could itself prevent diabetic nephropathy at an early stage in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

Exosomes from conditioned medium of urine-derived stem cells (USCs-Exo) were isolated using ultrafiltration-combined purification methods. USCs-Exo were then verified by morphology, size, and specific biomarkers using transmission electron microscopy, tunable resistive pulse sensing analysis, and western blotting. After establishment of the streptozotocin-induced Sprague–Dawley rat model, the effects of USCs-Exo on kidney injury and angiogenesis were observed via weekly tail intravenous injection of USCs-Exo or control until 12 weeks. In vitro, podocytes cultured in high-glucose medium were treated with USCs-Exo to test the protective effect of USCs-Exo on podocytic apoptosis. Meanwhile, the potential factors in promoting vascular regeneration in USCs-Exo and urine-derived stem cell conditioned medium were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Urine-derived stem cells were cultured and were verified by positive markers for CD29, CD73, CD90 and CD44 antigens, and negative markers for CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR. USCs-Exo were approximately 50–100 nm spherical vesicles, and the specific markers included CD9, CD63 and CD81. Intravenous injections of USCs-Exo could potentially reduce the urine volume and urinary microalbumin excretion, prevent podocyte and tubular epithelial cell apoptosis, suppress the caspase-3 overexpression and increase glomerular endothelial cell proliferation in diabetic rats. In addition, USCs-Exo could reduce podocytic apoptosis induced by high glucose in vitro. USCs-Exo contained the potential factors, including growth factor, transforming growth factor-β1, angiogenin and bone morphogenetic protein-7, which may be related with vascular regeneration and cell survival.

Conclusion

USCs-Exo may have the potential to prevent kidney injury from diabetes by inhibiting podocyte apoptosis and promoting vascular regeneration and cell survival.
Governance and pharmacovigilance in Brazil: a scoping review
Authors: Moscou Kathy , Kohler Jillian C. , MaGahan Anita
Published: February 2016

Background

This scoping review investigates the relationship between governance, pharmacovigilance, and Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA) in Brazil, which has authority over Brazil's national pharmaceutical policy, drug registration and coordination of the national pharmacovigilance system. The purpose is to investigate opportunities for effective pharmacovigilance.

Methods

Sixty-three terms pertaining to pharmacovigilance in Brazil and ANVISA, global institutions, pharmaceutical industry, and civil society were searched in thirteen relevant databases on November 17-18, 2013. Using a pharmacogovernance framework we analyzed ANVISA's pharmacogovernance: the manner in which governing structures, policy instruments, and institutional authority are managed to promote societal interests for patient safety due to medication use. The integration of transnational policy ideas for regulatory governance into pharmacogovernance in Brazil was also investigated.

Results

Brazil's policy, laws, and regulations support ANVISA's authority to ensure access to safe medicines and health products however ANVISA's broad mandate and gaps in pharmacogovernance account for regional disparities in monitoring and assessing drug safety. Gaps in pharmacogovernance include: equity and inclusiveness; stakeholder coordination; effectiveness and efficiency; responsiveness; and intelligence and information.

Conclusions

Pharmacogovernance that addresses 1) regional resource disparities, 2) federal and state lack of coordination of pharmacovigilance regulations, 3) asymmetric representation in the pharmaceutical regulatory agenda and which 4) disaggregates regulatory authority over health and commercial sectors would strengthen pharmacovigilance in Brazil.
Light enhanced bone regeneration in an athymic nude mouse implanted with mesenchymal stem cells embedded in PLGA microspheres
Authors: Park Ji Sun , Park Keun-Hong
Published: February 2016

Background

Biodegradable microspheres fabricated from poly (Lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) have attracted considerable attention in the bone tissue regeneration field. In this study, rabbit mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) adherent to PLGA microspheres were implanted into athymic nude mice and irradiated with 647 nm red light to promote bone formation. It was found that irradiating rMSCs with high levels of red light (647 nm) from an LED (light-emitting diode) increased levels of bone specific markers in rMSCs embedded on PLGA microspheres.

Result

These increased expressions were observed by RT-PCR, real time-QPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and von Kossa and Alizarin red S staining. Microsphere matrices coated with rMSCs were injected into athymic nude mice and irradiated with red light for 60 seconds showed significantly greater bone-specific phenotypes after 4 weeks in vivo.

Conclusion

The devised PLGA microsphere matrix containing rMSCs and irradiation with red light at 647 nm process shows promise as a means of coating implantable biomedical devices to improve their biocompatibilities and in vivo performances.
Seismic imaging using microearthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing
Authors: Block Lisa V. , Cheng C. H. , Fehler Michael C. , Phillips W. Scott
Published: February 2016

Seismic imaging using microearthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing produces a three-dimensional (3-D), S-wave velocity model of the fractured zone, improves the calculated locations of the microearthquakes, and may lead to better estimates of fractureplane orientations, fracture density, and water flow paths. Such information is important for predicting the amount of heat energy that may be extracted from geothermal reservoir.

A fractured zone was created at the Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock Reservoir in north-central New Mexico within otherwise impermeable basement rock by injecting [Formula: see text] of water into a borehole under high pressure at a depth of 3.5 km. Induced microearthquakes were observed using four borehole seismometers. The P-wave and S-wave arrival times have been inverted to find the 3-D velocity structures and the microearthquake locations and origin times. The inversion was implemented using the separation of parameters technique, and constraints were incorporated to require smooth velocity structures and to restrict the velocities within the fractured region to be less than or equal to the velocities of the unfractured basement rock. The rms amval time residuals decrease by 11–15 percent during the joint hypocenter-velocity inversion. The average change in the microearthquake locations is 20–27 m, depending on the smoothing parameter used. Tests with synthetic data imply that the absolute locations may improve by as much as 35 percent, while the relative locations may improve by 40 percent. The general S-wave velocity patterns are reliable, but the absolute velocity values are not uniquely determined. However, studies of inversions using various degrees of smoothing suggest that the S-wave velocities decrease by at least 13 percent in the most intensely fractured regions of the reservoir. The P-wave velocities are poorly constrained because the P-wave traveltime perturbations caused by the fluid-filled fractures are small compared to the amval time noise level. The significant difference in the relative signal-to-noise levels of the P-wave and S-wave arrival time data, coupled with the limited ray coverage, can produce a bias in the computed [Formula: see text] ratios, and corresponding systematic rotation of the microearthquake cluster. These adverse effects were greatly reduced by applying a [Formula: see text] lower bound based on the [Formula: see text] ratio of the unfractured basement rock.
Angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates disuse skeletal muscle atrophy via the Mas receptor
Authors: Morales María Gabriela , Abrigo Johanna , Acuña María José , Santos Robson A. , Bader Michael , Brandan Enrique , Simon Felipe , Olguin Hugo , Cabrera Daniel , Cabello-Verrugio Claudio
Published: February 2016

Immobilization is a form of disuse characterized by a loss of strength and muscle mass. Among the main features are decreased IGF-1/Akt signalling and increased ubiquitin-proteasome pathway signalling, which induce greater myosin heavy chain degradation. Activation of the classical renin-angiotensin system (RAS) causes deleterious effects in skeletal muscle, including muscle wasting. In contrast, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a peptide of the non-classical RAS, produces beneficial effects in skeletal muscle. However, the role of Ang-(1-7) in skeletal muscle disuse atrophy and independent of classical RAS activation has not been evaluated. Therefore, we assessed the functions of Ang-(1-7) and the Mas receptor in disuse muscle atrophy in vivo using unilateral cast immobilization of the hind limb in male, 12-week-old wild-type (WT) and Mas knockout (Mas KO) mice for 1 and 14 days. Additionally, we evaluated the participation of IGF-1/IGFR-1/Akt signalling and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway expression on the effects of Ang-(1-7) immobilization-induced muscle atrophy. Our results found that Ang-(1-7) prevented decreased muscle strength and reduced myofibre diameter, myosin heavy chain levels, and the induction of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expressions, all of which normally occur during immobilization. Analyses indicated that Ang-(1-7) increases IGF-1/IGFR-1/Akt pathway signalling through IGFR-1 and Akt phosphorylation, and the concomitant activation of two downstream targets of Akt, p70S6K and FoxO3. These anti-atrophic effects of Ang-(1-7) were not observed in Mas KO mice, indicating crucial participation of the Mas receptor. This report is the first to propose anti-atrophic effects of Ang-(1-7) via the Mas receptor and the participation of the IGF-1/IGFR-1/Akt/p70S6K/FoxO3 mechanism in disuse skeletal muscle atrophy.
Political economy of Japan’s decades long economic stagnation
Authors: Siddiqui Kalim
Published: February 2016

It is hard to imagine that after Japan’s miracle post-war growth it would go on to suffer more than two decades of stagnation. Although there have been some short-lived periods of recovery, such as in 1995-96, the average growth rate over the period of 1991-2014 was a mere 1%. Despite historically low interest rates and a series of fiscal stimuli, the growth has not revived. Despite the long economic stagnation, Japan still retains its strength in many areas. Its human and physical capital formations are among the highest in the world. The volume it spends on research and development is equally impressive. It still has world-leading firms and modern technologies. The methodology to be followed here is derived from the aims of the study and comparisons of international statistics provide the main means of addressing the research questions and the objectives of this paper. The study concludes that the neoliberal ‘market-centred’ policies have brought inequality, stagnation, and fiscal crisis to the state. Therefore, a radical critical political economy is required to analyse the situation more objectively, one which would mean increased levels of welfare and people-led measures.
The role of the level of development, geographical factors, and culture for the efficacy of economic freedom
Authors: Zielenkiewicz Małgorzata
Published: February 2016

There are many studies focused on the role of economic freedom in creating conditions supportive for economic growth. Most of the recommendations in this area are based on the observations of the highly developed countries. But is it reasonable to generalize these findings to other countries, independently from their conditions? Contemporarily, the number of the research conducted for the countries outside the world's forefront is growing. Results are varied – some elements of economic freedom seem to be effective unconditionally, some of them bring different results. The aim of the paper is to examine the role of such factors as a stage of economic development, geographical location, and culture in the context of the efficacy of economic freedom. The study was conducted with usage of regression models for panel data and based on the indicators connected with economic freedom and economic growth.
Real structure of the non-profit institutions’ funding resources: market or government?
Authors: Hyanek Vladimir , Prouzova Zuzana
Published: February 2016

According to the theory, there are reasons to assume that non-profit institutions (NPI) behave specifically, in the way that is significantly different from the behaviour typical for both for-profit and public service providers. Paper investigates NPIs´ reactions to the distinctive changes of the economic environment in the 2008–2013 when Czech NPIs were relatively strongly affected by the crisis, although this affection probably haven’t been as heavy as in some other European countries. Non-profit institutions (NPI) are characterized by their multi-source funding when payments from end-consumers are relatively low. The most reliable data sources are Annual National Accounts and the Satellite Account of NPIs, presenting macroeconomic data. In this article, we focus on structure of NPI funding resources changes in tough times of economic crisis. The paper derives from the preliminary results of our extensive research project focused on the impact of public financing on the structure of resources and production of non-profit institutions. This project utilizes a quantitative representative questionnaire survey of non-profit institutions. In this article we focus on a specific area of public social services only. The proposed paper seeks to prove that existing data sources do not capture the real/complex structure of NPI funding resources and will identify the shortcomings of the macroeconomic data and their scope.
Progressive structures
Authors: Lee Maureen , Alcock Kati
Published: February 2016

In the third of a series of articles on effective leadership and management practice, Maureen Lee and Kati Alcock reflect on the challenge of ensuring the successful career progression of future leaders.
No to more childcare
Authors: Moss Peter
Published: February 2016

To truly have a world-class early childhood system, one that is at the same time universal, affordable, integrated, well-staffed and innovative, then you must base it on education, but in its broadest sense.
Take a risk with Froebel
Authors: Norman Amanda
Published: February 2016

Dr Amanda Norman discusses how early years practitioners can support children's emotions rather than manage their behaviour, using a Frobelian approach that is based on listening and empathy.
See how they grow
Authors: Jerman Fiona
Published: February 2016

Early years teacher Fiona Jerman explains that real satisfaction at the end of her day comes from knowing that every child has had a happy, fulfilling experience.
Rapunzel updates her image and gains appeal
Authors: Hewson Claire
Published: February 2016

A modern telling of Rapunzel, which gives the story's heroine a feisty twist, will entertain KS1 pupils and encourage their speaking, listening and concentration.
Foreign language books can be a great resource
Authors: Francis-Pester Dawn
Published: February 2016

Dawn Francis-Pester offers tips on buying and reading books in the language being studied and suggests fun ways to use them to meet MFL curriculum objectives.
Biderivations and linear commuting maps on simple generalized Witt algebras over a field
Authors: Chen Zhengxin
Published: February 2016

Let $\mathfrak{W}$ be a simple generalizedWitt algebras over a field of characteristic zero. In this paper, weprove that each anti-symmetric biderivation of $\mathfrak{W}$ isinner. As an application of biderivations, we show that a linear map$\psi$ on $\mathfrak{W}$ is commuting if and only if $\psi$ is ascalar multiplication map on $\mathfrak{W}$. The commutingautomorphisms and derivations of $\mathfrak{W}$ are determined.
Fracture clinic redesign reduces the cost of outpatient orthopaedic trauma care
Authors: Jenkins P. J. , Morton A. , Anderson G. , Van Der Meer R. B. , Rymaszewski L. A.
Published: February 2016

Objectives

“Virtual fracture clinics” have been reported as a safe and effective alternative to the traditional fracture clinic. Robust protocols are used to identify cases that do not require further review, with the remainder triaged to the most appropriate subspecialist at the optimum time for review. The objective of this study was to perform a “top-down” analysis of the cost effectiveness of this virtual fracture clinic pathway.

Methods

National Health Service financial returns relating to our institution were examined for the time period 2009 to 2014 which spanned the service redesign.

Results

The total staffing costs rose by 4% over the time period (from £1 744 933 to £1 811 301) compared with a national increase of 16%. The total outpatient department rate of attendance fell by 15% compared with a national fall of 5%. Had our local costs increased in line with the national average, an excess expenditure of £212 705 would have been required for staffing costs.

Conclusions

The virtual fracture clinic system was associated with less overall use of staff resources in comparison to national cost data. Adoption of this system nationally may have the potential to achieve significant cost savings. Cite this article: P. J. Jenkins. Fracture clinic redesign reduces the cost of outpatient orthopaedic trauma care. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:33–36. doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.52.2000506
Identification of thermophysical characteristics of materials using heating probe
Authors: Nasr Abdelaziz , S. Al-Ghamdi Abdulmajeed , S. Alsoufi Mohammad
Published: February 2016

This paper investigates the numerical analysis to determine the thermo-physical characteristics of materials. This method is based on a heating probe kept at a constant temperature and maintained in contact with a cylindrical sample. The heat power dissipated in the sample is measured by the probe. The results address to identify simultaneously the thermal conductivity, the volumetric heat capacity and the heat transfer coefficient using the inverse problem.
Neutrophils in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Laval Julie , Ralhan Anjali , Hartl Dominik
Published: February 2016

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic infection and inflammation. Among inflammatory cells, neutrophils represent the major cell population accumulating in the airways of CF patients. While neutrophils provide the first defensive cellular shield against bacterial and fungal pathogens, in chronic disease conditions such as CF these short-lived immune cells release their toxic granule contents that cause tissue remodeling and irreversible structural damage to the host. A variety of human and murine studies have analyzed neutrophils and their products in the context of CF, yet their precise functional role and therapeutic potential remain controversial and incompletely understood. Here, we summarize the current evidence in this field to shed light on the complex and multi-faceted role of neutrophils in CF lung disease.
An examination of language and nonverbal abilities in twins with Apert syndrome
Authors: Stavroussi Panayiota , Vlachos Filippos , Pisina Aspasia
Published: February 2016

Apert syndrome is a rare genetic syndrome that is usually associated with intellectual disability. There is still limited knowledge about the syndrome’s cognitive-linguistic characteristics.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the language and nonverbal abilities of two children (twins) with Apert syndrome aged 8.6 years, and to examine whether their scores on the language and nonverbal measurements fall within the average range. The Λ-α-Τ-ω, a psychometric instrument that measures language competence, the Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability and the Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices were used for assessment purposes.

According to the results, both children failed to give correct responses on the subtests measuring the phonological aspect of language. Moreover, the performances of both children on the nonverbal abilities measures tended to be below average.

The need for additional studies to identify the cognitive-linguistic strengths and weaknesses related to the specific syndrome is underlined. Research-based knowledge on the behavioral phenotype and the phenotypic, in general, characteristics of this syndrome could lead to better intervention planning.
The crystal structure of catena-poly[(μ2-1,1′-benzene-1,4-diylbis(1H-benzimidazole-κ
2
N:N′)silver(I)] nitrate, C20H14N5AgO3
Authors: Xu Guo-Wang , Tao Hong-Hong , Wang Zhong-Long
Published: February 2016

C20H14N5O3Ag, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 17.501 Å, b = 9.896 Å, c = 12.768 Å, β = 124.84°, V = 1814.8 Å3, Z = 4, R
gt
(F) = 0.0484, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.1042, T = 293 K.
Crystal structure of (Z)-1-(((3-acetyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)amino)methylene)naphthalen-2(1H)-one, C19H15NO3
Authors: Li Gang , Zhou Wei-Min , Zhu Li-Chun , Wang Li
Published: February 2016

C19H15NO3, monoclinic, P21/n, a = 9.1811(4) Å, b = 16.0396(6) Å, c = 10.1330(5) Å, β = 98.640(5)° V = 1475.27(11) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt
(F) = 0.0539, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.1373, T = 294.29(10) K.
Crystal structure of (1,10-phenanthroline-κ2
N,N′)bis(thiocyanato-κN)platinum(II), C14H8N4PtS2
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: February 2016

C14H8N4PtS2, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 7.3318(7) Å, b = 15.1300(15) Å, c = 12.5924(13) Å, β = 90.379(2)°, V = 1396.8(2) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt
(F) = 0.0349, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.0668, T = 183(2) K.
Charge and Compositional Effects on the 2D–3D Transition in Octameric AgAu Clusters
Authors: Heard Christopher , Shayeghi Armin , Schäfer Rolf , Johnston Roy
Published: February 2016

The unbiased density functional-based Birmingham Cluster Genetic Algorithm is employed to
locate the global minima of all neutral and mono-ionic silver-gold octamer
clusters. Structural, energetic and electronic trends are determined across the series, in
order to clarify the role of composition and charge on the position of the 2D–3D transition
in ultrasmall coinage metal systems. Our calculations indicate a preference for three
dimensional structures at high silver concentrations, which varies significantly with
charge. The minimum in composition dependent mixing energies is independent of the charge,
however, with a preference for the maximally mixed clusters, Ag4Au4

ν
for
all charge states ν. The sensitivity of isomeric preference to ν is found to be
greater for electron-rich and electron-deficient clusters, implying a complexity of
unambiguous determination of cluster motifs in related experiments. Vertical ionization
potentials and detachment energies are calculated to probe electronic behaviour, providing
numerical predictions for future spectroscopic studies.
Basketball Players' Dynamic Performance Across Competition Levels
Authors: Bullock Garrett S. , Arnold Todd W. , Plisky Phillip J. , Butler Robert J.
Published: February 2016

Bullock, GS, Arnold, TW, Plisky, PJ, and Butler, RJ. Basketball players' dynamic performance across competition levels.J Strength Cond Res32(12): 3537–3542, 2018—Dynamic balance is an integral component in screening lower extremity injury risk. Previous research has identified the need to create sport- and competition level–specific dynamic balance injury cut points. The purpose of this study was to determine if dynamic balance differences exist, using the Lower Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-LQ), across varying competition levels (middle school, high school, college, and professional), in basketball players. Subjects were participating at the middle school (MS;n= 88), high school (HS;n= 105), college (COL;n= 46), and professional levels (PRO;n= 41). Statistical analysis was completed with a series of analysis of variance tests. Tukey post hoc tests were used to identify specific group-to-group differences if statistical significance (p≤ 0.05) was observed. Effect size indices (ESI) were also calculated to provide an estimate of the clinical relevance. In the anterior reach, HS basketball players performed statistically better than the MS and COL (p< 0.01, ESI = 0.58) athletes, and all these groups performed better than the PRO basketball players (p< 0.01, ESI = 1.72). For the posteromedial, posterolateral reach directions and the composite score, the HS, COL, and PRO basketball players were not significantly different from each other; however, the HS group did reach further than the MS group (p< 0.01–0.02, ESI = 0.40–0.55). The PRO basketball players exhibited a lower asymmetrical total score compared with MS, HS, and COL players (p< 0.01–0.02, ESI = 0.52–0.68). Different competition levels displayed varying dynamic balance strategies. Creating basketball competition levels normative values for dynamic balance could help define injury risk cut points.
À Daniel Fabre
Authors: Ferreira Maria Letícia Mazzucchi
Published: February 2016

Homenagem póstuma À Daniel Fabre.
Gentō
Authors: Washitani Hana
Published: February 2016

Japanese gentō (originally a translation of the English term “magic lantern”) is a still-image projection system that enlarges images on a transparent slide or film and projects them onto a large screen. Most studies argue that the magic lantern, stereopticon, or gentō thrived from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries and that their use declined in the early twentieth century with the arrival of the motion picture. This article examines the revival and redevelopment of gentō in mid-twentieth-century Japan, focusing on its use in 1950s social movements (including labor, social welfare, and political protest movements) and exploring how independent gentō works represented the landscapes, histories, and everyday lives threatened by the presence of U.S. military forces in Japan. It also examines the representation of female gender and sexuality in these gentō works, looking at the ways they depict women as both symbols of a victimized and humiliated homeland and as threats to the order of paternalistic family and society in Japan.
Practicing Public History
Authors: Salazar-Porzio Margaret
Published: February 2016

A selection of everyday objects can illuminate the intersections of diverse communities, as this discussion of public history demonstrates. The outreach of historical interpretation to the wider public can arouse a democratic empathy and create an ethical framework for solving public problems.
Duke Ellington’s Jump for Joy and the Fight for Equality in Wartime Los Angeles
Authors: Cawthra Benjamin
Published: February 2016

Duke Ellington and his orchestra premiered an all-black musical revue, Jump for Joy, in Los Angeles in 1941 that addressed racial inequality while celebrating the possibility of a more democratic future. The musical was a cultural expression of the activist work of black Angelenos during the war years and highlighted African American demands for fair dealing. The article also demonstrates how unrecorded music can serve as a significant historical artifact.
Supra-physiological dose of testosterone induces pathological cardiac hypertrophy
Authors: Pirompol Prapawadee , Teekabut Vassana , Weerachatyanukul Wattana , Bupha-Intr Tepmanas , Wattanapermpool Jonggonnee
Published: February 2016

Testosterone and androgenic anabolic steroids have been misused for enhancement of physical performance despite many reports on cardiac sudden death. Although physiological level of testosterone provided many regulatory benefits to human health, including the cardiovascular function, supra-physiological levels of the hormone induce hypertrophy of the heart with unclear contractile activation. In this study, dose- and time-dependent effects of high-testosterone treatment on cardiac structure and function were evaluated. Adult male rats were divided into four groups of testosterone treatment for 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg BW for 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Increases in both percentage heart:body weight ratio and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area in representing hypertrophy of the heart were significantly shown in all testosterone-treated groups to the same degree. In 4-week-treated rats, physiological cardiac hypertrophy was apparent with an upregulation of α-MHC without any change in myofilament contractile activation. In contrast, pathological cardiac hypertrophy was observed in 8- and 12-week testosterone-treated groups, as indicated by suppression of myofilament activation and myocardial collagen deposition without transition of MHC isoforms. Only in 12-week testosterone-treated group, eccentric cardiac hypertrophy was demonstrated with unaltered myocardial stiffness, but significant reductions in the phosphorylation signals of ERK1/2 and mTOR. Results of our study suggest that the outcome of testosterone-induced cardiac hypertrophy is not dose dependent but is rather relied on the factor of exposure to duration in inducing maladaptive responses of the heart.
Waning Tdap Effectiveness in Adolescents
Authors: Klein Nicola P. , Bartlett Joan , Fireman Bruce , Baxter Roger
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Because the effectiveness of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine wanes substantially after the fifth dose at ages 4 to 6 years, there is a growing cohort of adolescents who rely on tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) for protection against pertussis. Yet despite high Tdap vaccine coverage among adolescents, California experienced large pertussis outbreaks in 2010 and 2014. We investigated Tdap vaccine effectiveness (VE) and waning within Kaiser Permanente Northern California among adolescents exclusively vaccinated with DTaP vaccines.

METHODS:

We modeled pertussis risk in relation to Tdap vaccination status among adolescents beginning on their 10th birthday. We estimated the hazard ratio (HR) for each subsequent year after Tdap compared with unvaccinated adolescents by using Cox regression, adjusting for calendar time, age, gender, race, and facility. We calculated VE as 1 − HR. We also treated time since Tdap vaccination as a continuous variable and estimated the change in the HR per 1-year increase since vaccination.

RESULTS:

On the basis of 1207 pertussis cases, Tdap VE during the first year after vaccination was 68.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59.7% to 75.9%), decreasing to 8.9% (95% CI –30.6% to 36.4%) by ≥4 years after vaccination. Adolescents who were more remote from Tdap were significantly more likely to test positive for pertussis than were those vaccinated more recently (HR per year 1.35, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.50).

CONCLUSIONS:

Routine Tdap did not prevent pertussis outbreaks. Among adolescents who have only received DTaP vaccines in childhood, Tdap provided moderate protection against pertussis during the first year and then waned rapidly so that litle protection remained 2-3 years after vaccination..