bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A wavelet transform and substructure algorithm for tracking the abrupt stiffness degradation of shear structure
Authors: Wang Chao , Ai Demi , Ren Wei-Xin
Published: October 2018

Time-varying parameter identification is an important research topic for structural health monitoring, performance evaluation, damage diagnosis, and maintenance. Practical civil engineering structures usually contain multiple degrees of freedom; however, damage often locally occurs. In this study, a discrete wavelet transform and substructure algorithm is presented for tracking the abrupt stiffness degradation of shear structures. A substructure model is built by the extraction of the local structure which may contain damaged region. Time-varying stiffness and damping are expanded into multi-scales using discrete wavelet analysis. An optimization method based on Akaike information criterion is introduced to select the decomposition scale. The expanded scale coefficients are evaluated using least square method, then the original time-varying stiffness or damping parameter is identified by reconstructing from the scale coefficients. To validate the proposed method, a numerical example of seven-story shear structure with time-varying stiffness and damping is proposed. Experiment for a three-story shear-type structure with abrupt stiffness degradation is also tested in the laboratory. Both numerical and experimental results indicate that the proposed method can effectively identify the abrupt degradation of stiffness parameter with a satisfactory accuracy.
Exploring the affordances of smart toys and connected play in practice
Authors: Berriman Liam , Mascheroni Giovanna
Published: October 2018

What does children’s play look like in the smart toy era? What conceptual frameworks help make sense of the changing practices of children’s connected play worlds? Responding to these questions, this article re-frames discussions about children’s smart toy play within wider theoretical debates about the affordances of new digital materialities. To understand recent transformations of children’s play practices, we propose it is necessary to think of toys as increasingly media-like in their affordances and as connected to wider digital material ecosystems. To demonstrate the potential of this conceptual approach, we explore illustrative examples of two popular smart ‘care toys’. Our analysis identifies three examples of affordances that smart care toys share with other forms of mobile and robotic media: liveliness, affective stickiness and portability. We argue that locating discussions of smart toys within wider conceptual debates about digital materialities can provide new insights into the changing landscape of children’s play.
Assessing health professionals’ communication through role-play: An interactional analysis of simulated versus actual general practice consultations
Authors: Atkins Sarah
Published: October 2018

Simulations, in which healthcare professionals are observed in dialogue with role-played patients, are widely used for assessing professional skills. Medical education research suggests simulations should be as authentic as possible, but there remains a lack of linguistic research into how far such settings authentically reproduce talk. This article presents an analysis of a corpus of general practice simulations in the United Kingdom, comparing this to a dataset of real-life general practitioner (GP) consultations. Combining corpus linguistic and conversation analytic methodologies, key interactional features of the simulations are identified, particularly those associated with successful/unsuccessful performance in terms of the examiner’s grading. The corpus analysis identifies various forms of the phrase ‘tell me more about’ to occur significantly more frequently in the simulations compared to real GP consultations, typically in the opening sequences and most frequently in successful cases. It falls to a conversation analysis of the data, examining this phrase within the interactional context of these opening sequences, to better understand the actions it performs. Successful candidates in the simulations are found to perform a consistent sequential pattern, often incorporating this phrase. Although simulated, these interactions have real professional consequences for those being assessed. Linguistic findings about what constitutes successful interaction or differences to real-life practice therefore have important implications for professional education and assessment.
His-Leu, an angiotensin I-derived peptide, does not affect haemodynamics in rats
Authors: Drapała Adrian , Bielińska Klaudia , Konopelski Piotr , Pączek Leszek , Ufnal Marcin
Published: October 2018

Introduction:

The dipeptide histidine-leucine (His-Leu) is formed in the process of converting angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Several studies show that short peptides containing His-Leu may produce significant haemodynamic effects; however, to the best of our knowledge, data on haemodynamic effects of His-Leu are not available in medical databases.

Materials and methods:

We evaluated acute haemodynamic effects of intravenous administration of either 0.9% NaCl (vehicle) or His-Leu at a dose of 3–15 mg/kg body weight in anaesthetized 15–16-week-old, male, normotensive Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats. Chronic effects of treatment with either the vehicle or His-Leu at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight given subcutaneously daily were determined during continuous telemetry recordings in freely moving rats.

Results:

In anaesthetized rats both the vehicle and His-Leu produced a mild and transient increase in blood pressure and no change in plasma renin activity. There was no significant difference in haemodynamics between the rats infused with the vehicle and the rats infused with His-Leu. In chronic studies, seven-day treatment with vehicle and with His-Leu did not affect arterial blood pressure in freely moving rats.

Conclusion:

His-Leu does not produce either acute or chronic changes in arterial blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive rats.
The importance of bearing stiffness and load when estimating the size of a defect in a rolling element bearing
Authors: Larizza Francesco , Moazen-Ahmadi Alireza , Howard Carl Q , Grainger Steven
Published: October 2018

The change in the static stiffness of a bearing assembly is an important discriminator when determining the size of a defect in a rolling element bearing. In this article, the force–displacement relationships for defective bearings under various static radial loadings at various cage angular positions are analytically estimated and experimentally measured and analyzed. The study shows that the applied load has a significant effect on the static stiffness variations in defective rolling element bearings. The experimental measurements of the effect of the defect size on the varying stiffness of the bearing assembly, which has not been shown previously, provides valuable knowledge for developing methods to distinguish between defective bearings with defects that are smaller or larger than one angular ball spacing. The methods and results presented here contribute to the wider experimental investigation of the effects of loadings on the varying static stiffness of defective bearings and its effects on the measured vibration signatures. A large data set was obtained and has been made publicly available.
I Am What Is a Photograph: Photofiction as Performative Autoethnography
Authors: Stephens Tim
Published: October 2018

This article is based on one fact about the author’s biography and one retold memory of the author’s mother. Each relates to the conception of the author. It takes the form of a performative autoethnography employing photofiction.1 The article specifically interrogates the grounded nature of subject identity in bodily experience, as matter, and chronology through speculative inquiry and the intersubjective relation, as themselves “photographic,” mediated through language. However, notions of subject and experience, photograph and academic language are pushed to an extreme position until highly reflexive and to a point beyond literary metafiction. The article thus elaborates and enacts photofiction as autoethnography, replacing “meta” thinking and representational thinking about events and memories, with the nonrepresentational, to write the real [self] as nondualistic: experiential data as nonphotography. The onto-epistemological position of the researcher, author, Subject, in relation to his or her own status is in fact a photofiction.
A Transdiagnostic Approach to the Treatment of Emetophobia: A Single Case Study
Authors: Dargis Monika , Burk Linnea
Published: October 2018

The fear of vomiting (i.e., Emetophobia) causes substantial distress for affected individuals, and is associated with hypervigilance to somatic sensations, panic attacks, and behavioral avoidance. Interventions for Emetophobia have traditionally relied heavily on exposure to vomit, vomiting, and vomit-related cues, providing some challenges in identifying appropriate graded exposures for Emetophobia due to medical and hygiene concerns. Recent efforts have been made to treat psychopathology transdiagnostically; however, very few efforts have been made to reduce Emetophobia symptoms in such a fashion, without the explicit use of vomit-related exposures. The current case study describes the cognitive-behavioral, transdiagnostic treatment approach utilized to treat a young woman with Emetophobia. We report significant symptom reduction at the end of therapy, as well as at a 7-month follow-up. The current study provides further evidence that emetophobia can be effectively resolved utilizing transdiagnostic strategies and without direct exposure to vomit or vomit-like stimuli.
Revisiting a Boy Named Jim
Authors: Bischoping Katherine
Published: October 2018

Using examples from qualitative health research and from my childhood experience of reading a poem about a boy devoured by a lion (Belloc, 1907), I expand on a framework for reflexivity developed in Bischoping and Gazso (2016). This framework is unique in first synthesizing works from multidisciplinary narrative analysis research in order to arrive at common criteria for a “good” story: reportability, liveability, coherence, and fidelity. Next, each of these criteria is used to generate questions that can prompt reflexivity among qualitative researchers, regardless of whether they use narrative data or other narrative analysis strategies. These questions pertain to a broad span of issues, including appropriation, censorship, and the power to represent, using discomfort to guide insight, addressing vicarious traumatization, accommodating diverse participant populations, decolonizing ontology, and incorporating power and the social into analyses overly focused on individual meaning-making. Finally, I reflect on the affinities between narrative – in its imaginatively constructed, expressive, and open-ended qualities – and the reflexive impulse.
CubeSat cloud detection based on JPEG2000 compression and deep learning
Authors: Zhang Zhaoxiang , Xu Guodong , Song Jianing
Published: October 2018

In order to enhance the efficiency of the image transmission system and the robustness of the optical imaging system of the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities satellite, a new framework of on-board cloud detection by utilizing a lightweight U-Net and JPEG compression strategy is described. In this method, a careful compression strategy is introduced and evaluated to acquire a balanced result between the efficiency and power consuming. A deep-learning network combined with lightweight U-Net and Mobilenet is trained and verified with a public Landsat-8 data set Spatial Procedures for Automated Removal of Cloud and Shadow. Experiment results indicate that by utilizing image-compression strategy and depthwise separable convolutions, the maximum memory cost and inference speed are dramatically reduced into 0.7133 Mb and 0.0378 s per million pixels while the overall accuracy achieves around 93.1%. A good possibility of the on-board cloud detection based on deep learning is explored by the proposed method.
Predictors of quality of life among older patients with cancer during treatment
Authors: Malak Malakeh Z , Tawalbeh Loai I , Abu Sharour Loai M
Published: October 2018

Background

Improving quality of life in older patients with cancer has become an important goal of healthcare providers.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of quality of life among older patients with cancer, aged 60 years and over during the treatment period.

Methods

A descriptive correlational study was conducted among 150 patients. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale, Herth Hope Index and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used.

Results

The results showed that the total quality-of-life mean score was 58.50 (SD = 7.44), indicating low overall quality of life. The social-family well-being subscale had the highest mean (20.50, SD = 3.79) among all subscales of quality of life, while the emotional well-being subscale had the lowest mean (8.06, SD = 4.23). Hope and educational level had statistically significant positive relationships with all subscales of quality of life. However, anxiety was associated negatively with physical, social-family and functional well-being subscales, but positively with the emotional well-being subscale. Anxiety, income, marital status, health insurance, duration of treatment, educational level, gender and hope were identified as predictors of quality-of-life subscales.

Conclusions

The results could help to develop specific programmes that may improve quality of life among older patients with cancer during treatment.
Global media flows: A qualitative review of research methods in audio-visual flow studies
Authors: Iordache Catalina , Van Audenhove Leo , Loisen Jan
Published: October 2018

Recent developments in the online distribution and consumption of audio-visual content have brought relevant changes to the transnational flow of content. Thus, the need for a theoretical and methodological rejuvenation of flows research has been signalled. The aim of the present study is to analyse the different flow studies throughout time, following a series of parameters such as research question, methodology and scale of study. This article is a systematic literature review of 30 flow studies on film and television programmes, published between 1974 and 2014. The methods used by the studies are brought into focus and discussed thoroughly, in light of the method of data collection, the type of data used and the method of data analysis. Main findings show an evolution towards more detailed research, to include more contextual factors, an increased use of secondary data, as well as more focused regional and comparative studies.
NEDA-3 status including cortical lesions in the comparative evaluation of natalizumab versus fingolimod efficacy in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Puthenparampil Marco , Cazzola Chiara , Zywicki Sofia , Federle Lisa , Stropparo Erica , Anglani Mariagiulia , Rinaldi Francesca , Perini Paola , Gallo Paolo
Published: October 2018

Background:

Cortical lesions (CLs) are typical of multiple sclerosis (MS) and have been recently incorporated in MS diagnostic criteria. Thus, the ‘no evidence of disease activity’ (NEDA) definition should now include CLs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NEDA3 + CL status in natalizumab- or fingolimod-treated relapsing remitting MS (RMS) patients.

Methods:

Natalizumab- or fingolimod-treated RMS patients were enrolled in a 2-year longitudinal study based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations performed respectively biannually and annually. CLs were detected by double inversion recovery. The NEDA3 + CL condition was evaluated at baseline (T0) and at the end of the first (T1) and second (T2) year.

Results:

Of the 137 RMS patients included in the study, 86 were propensity-matched. At T2, the annualized relapse rate was lower on natalizumab ( p = 0.021), but the effect on white matter lesions ( p = 0.29) and the proportion of NEDA-3 patients ( p = 0.14) were similar in the two treatment arms. At T2, 11.6% natalizumab- and 62.8% fingolimod-treated patients had new CLs ( p < 0.001) and a higher proportion of natalizumab-treated patients (55.8% versus 11.6%, p < 0.001) achieved the NEDA3 + CL status (hazard ratio 5.2, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The incorporation of CLs in the NEDA-3 definition highlighted the higher efficacy of natalizumab versus fingolimod in suppressing disease activity in RMS patients.
Glenoid component positioning and guidance techniques in anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Burns David M , Frank Tym , Whyne Cari M , Henry Patrick DG
Published: October 2018

Background

Positioning of the glenoid component is one of the most challenging steps in shoulder arthroplasty, and prosthesis longevity as well as functional outcomes is considered highly dependent on accurate positioning. This review considers the evidence supporting surgical navigation and patient-specific instruments for glenoid implant positioning in anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed for studies assessing glenoid implant positioning accuracy as measured by cross-sectional imaging on live subjects or cadaver models. Meta-analysis of controlled studies was performed to estimate the primary effects of navigation and patient-specific instruments on glenoid implant positioning error. Meta-analysis of absolute positioning outcomes was also performed for each group incorporating data from controlled and uncontrolled studies.

Results

Nine studies, four controlled and five uncontrolled, with 258 total subjects were included in the analysis. Meta-analysis of controlled studies supported that both navigation and patient-specific instruments had a moderate statistically significant effect on improving glenoid implant positioning outcomes. Meta-analysis of absolute positioning outcomes demonstrates glenoid implant positioning with standard instrumentation results in a high rate of malposition.

Discussion

Navigation and patient-specific instruments improve glenoid positioning outcomes. Whether the improvement in positioning outcomes achieved translate to better clinical outcomes is unknown.
Differing Views of Lodging Reality: Airdna, STR, and Airbnb
Authors: Agarwal Vinod , Koch James V. , McNab Robert M.
Published: October 2018

Airbnb is an Internet-based firm that connects potential short-term renters with hosts who own or control rental properties. Its rapidly expanding activities are tracked by Airdna, an independent firm that generates seemingly conventional performance metrics describing Airbnb. These metrics include occupancy rates, average daily rates, and revenue per available room. However, Airdna does not adhere to long-established STR definitions for these variables. Using data from Virginia Beach, Virginia, we demonstrate that Airdna’s performance metrics exhibit notable upward biases vis-á-vis STR’s metrics. Potential rental hosts, hoteliers, tax collectors, and investors are at risk if they act on the assumption that Airdna’s metrics are comparable with widely understood measures used by STR and tourism experts.
Review and Exploration of China Subtropical Climate Change Research Based on Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Meng Sun , Xiong Deping
Published: October 2018

Never before have we had so many different ways to investigate China subtropical climate change as it is gradually becoming significant to know the details about the relationship between climate change and China, specifically in subtropical areas. To learn the current situation and emerging trends of China subtropical climate change research, this article utilizes CiteSpace to provide a general picture about the research field by analyzing 926 publications between 1990 and 2017, which are retrieved from Web of Science. According to the results, some interesting findings are illustrated in this study: (a) The papers that investigate interdecadal change and data-model comparison made great theoretical contributions to China subtropical climate change research; (b) China, the United States, Australia, and Germany are the biggest contributors to China subtropical climate change research, and most of the productive institutions are from China; (c) the emerging trends of China subtropical climate change research are “soil moisture,” “net ecosystem exchange,” and “autotrophic respiration”; and (d) most of China subtropical climate change studies are related to atmospheric model intercomparison project model, CO2 fertilization, and pollen record. This article provides an overall analysis about China subtropical climate change research for researchers who are interested in this field to do further investigations.
Can the use of probiotics reduce the incidence of nosocomial Clostridium difficile infection in 60 years or older patients?
Authors: Jani Akash , Dall Lawrence
Published: October 2018

Background:

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common side effect of antibiotic use. The pathogenesis of AAD may be mediated by disruption of the host’s normal flora resulting in overgrowth of pathogens. One of these pathogens is Clostridium difficile. Probiotics may help reestablish the disrupted intestinal flora and help clear the pathogen and its toxins from the host. Although numerous studies have been conducted, results are variable due to study design, type of probiotic, differing dose of probiotic, and duration of treatment. Our study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of the probiotics Lactobacillus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii for the prevention of C. difficile associated diarrhea.

Methods:

Study data were collected from two community hospitals in Kansas City over a period of 5 months. All patients in the study were initiated on antibiotics and were then given probiotics. This study was controlled and not blinded.

Results:

In data from two community hospitals, 816 patients who were being treated with antibiotics prior to the investigation served as a control; 14 (1.72%) had C. difficile Infections. During the study using probiotic administration, 803 patients also being treated with antibiotics prior to the investigation were followed and in this population; five patients (0.62%) contracted a C. difficile infection.
Reference intervals for hematology test parameters from apparently healthy individuals in southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Bimerew Lealem Gedefaw , Demie Tesfaye , Eskinder Kaleab , Getachew Aklilu , Bekele Shiferaw , Cheneke Waqtola , Sahlemariam Zewdineh , Adisu Wondimagegn , Asres Yaregal , Yemane Tilahun , Tesfaye Girum , Tesfaw Getnet , Gudina Esayas Kebede , Mekonnen Zeleke
Published: October 2018

Background:

Clinical laboratory reference intervals are an important tool to identify abnormal laboratory test results. The generating of hematological parameters reference intervals for local population is very crucial to improve quality of health care, which otherwise may lead to unnecessary expenditure or denying care for the needy. There are no well-established reference intervals for hematological parameters in southwest Ethiopia.

Objective:

To generate hematological parameters reference intervals for apparently healthy individuals in southwest Ethiopia.

Methods:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 883 individuals from March to May 2017. Four milliliter of blood sample was collected and transported to Jimma University Medical Center Laboratory for hematological analysis and screening tests. A hematological parameters were measured by Sysmex XS-500i hematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation Kobe, Japan). The data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 statistical software. The non-parametric independent Kruskal–Wallis test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test (Mann–Whitney U test) were used to compare the parameters between age groups and genders. The 97.5 percentile and 2.5 percentile were the upper and lower reference limit for the population.

Results:

The reference interval of red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet count in children were 4.99 × 1012/L (4.26–5.99 × 1012/L), 7.04 × 109/L (4.00–11.67 × 109/L), and 324.00 × 109/L (188.00–463.50 × 109/L), respectively. The reference interval of red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet count in adults was 5.19 × 1012/L (4.08–6.33 × 1012/L), 6.35 × 109/L (3.28–11.22 × 109/L), and 282.00 × 109/L (172.50–415.25 × 109/L), respectively. The reference interval of red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet count in geriatrics were 5.02 × 1012/L (4.21–5.87 × 1012/L), 6.21 × 109/L (3.33–10.03 × 109/L), and 265.50 × 109/L (165.53–418.80 × 109/L), respectively. Most of the hematological parameters showed significant differences across all age groups.

Conclusion:

Most of the hematological parameters in this study showed differences from similar studies done in the country. This study provided population-specific hematological reference interval for southwest Ethiopians. Reference intervals should also be established in the other regions of the country.
Implementing the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines in the Girls Achieve Power Trial in South Africa
Authors: Kutywayo A. , Yah C. S. , Naidoo N. P. , Malotana M. , Dyani S. , Mullick S.
Published: October 2018

The Good Participatory Practice (GPP) guidelines provide a framework for stakeholder engagement within clinical trials, to ensure a study’s acceptability, feasibility, and improving the overall research quality; however, they have rarely been applied beyond this setting, and no literature exists on its application in adolescent research. A review of the 2011 GPP guidelines was undertaken to identify which 16 GPP topic areas could be applied and adapted for implementing an ecological asset building intervention, that is, the Girls Achieve Power (GAP Year) cluster randomized controlled trial for reducing school dropout and increasing reporting of gender-based violence in Gauteng and Western Cape province in South Africa. The 16 GPP topic areas were adapted and implemented to guide stakeholder engagement for GAP Year. We show the usability and adaptability of the GPP framework for guiding stakeholder engagement in non-clinical trials like GAP Year; however it requires adapting to respond to the unique needs of the beneficiaries.
In Search of Christian Theological Research Methodology
Authors: Holmes Colin , Lindsay David
Published: October 2018

The burgeoning methodological literature available for the guidance of researchers caters for a wide range of standpoints, but it ignores perhaps the commonest personal philosophies encountered in the nursing profession, those based on Christianity. Nursing’s historical and continuing relationship to Christian faith has been well-documented, and although this is reflected in literature stressing the importance of spiritual care, it has had no discernible impact on nurses’ formulations of research methodology. This article outlines the core features of Christian belief and draws out some of their methodological implications for nurse researchers, with a view to initiating a constructive debate from which Christian theological methodologies might be developed.
Investigating Multiple Intelligence-Based Instructions Approach on Performance Improvement of Indonesian Elementary Madrasah Teachers
Authors: Yaumi Muhammad , Sirate Sitti Fatimah Sangkala , Patak Andi Anto
Published: October 2018

This study was designed to promote teachers’ understanding of the learner-centered approach through training the multiple intelligences-based instructions, improve teachers’ performance in designing learner-oriented instruction, and improve teachers’ performance in implementing instruction. This study used proactive action research involving 126 teachers (informants) as trainees and instructional design members, came from 10 elementary Madrasah in Indonesia, 36 of them were mentored, and 192 students participated in a focus group discussion. There were 10 principals and two supervisors to be research collaborators. Teachers’ understanding and performance improvement through training multiple intelligence-based instructions, designing student-centered approach, and mentoring the implementation of student-centered learning indicated significant contribution. The teachers’ understanding of multiple intelligence-based instruction was the majority in the good category. The activity of designing the student-centered approach gave a good contribution to the capability of designing every single one of the multiple intelligences-based strategies. The mentoring system improved teachers’ performance greater than those of training and instructional design. Implementation of training, instructional design, and the mentoring system implies improving learning processes and outcomes. Strengthening the recruitment system of teachers and performance improvement, capacity building of educators to design models, approaches, strategies, methods, and learning activities, as well as establishing togetherness on all lines; government, principals, supervisors, community, and teachers as the primary element.
A “NEAT” Approach to Obesity Prevention in the Modern Work Environment
Authors: Malaeb Samar , Perez-Leighton Claudio Esteban , Noble Emily E. , Billington Charles
Published: October 2018

Increased prevalence of obesity may be due to an increase of being sedentary at work. Increasing non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) using walking workstations may increase total physical activity and promote a leaner physical body composition (or phenotype). The purpose of this study was to test whether walking slowly during work was sufficient to promote a leaner phenotype by increasing physical activity in sedentary desk workers without inducing compensation or a decrease in activity or energy expenditure during the nonworking hours. We conducted a prospective cohort study using a within-subjects crossover design. The design involved two phases each lasting 2 weeks: a treadmill exercise phase in which subjects used a walking workstation for 2.5 hours a day 5 days/week and a control phase in which subjects maintained their normal work activity. Twenty-five sedentary adults working at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. We measured body weight, body composition, food intake, 24-hour physical activity, and self-reported physical activity with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Treadmill exercise caused a leaner phenotype (lean mass gain and fat mass loss) and significantly increased their 24-hour physical activity. Walking workstation use had favorable effects on physical well-being and mental focus and did not adversely affect productivity. Light treadmill exercise during work can increase physical activity and result in a leaner body composition. This is a potentially useful intervention to increase NEAT in the modern sedentary work environment.
Isolationist versus Integrationist: An Indian Perspective on High-Performance Work Practices
Authors: Garg Naval
Published: October 2018

Integrationist favours the idea that human resource (HR) practices have synergic effect when implemented in a complementary and coherent manner. While an isolationist perspective favours that the HR practices have an independent effect on organizational performance. In the integrationist approach, HR practices are supposed to have complementary characteristics. When these complementary work practices are institutionalized in a consistent manner, they result in enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. On an altogether different paradigm, the isolationist approach states that individual Human Resource Management (HRM) practices have distinctive and autonomous properties. The present study is a sincere effort to answer the debate between isolationist and integrationist through exploration of ‘high-performance work practices’ (HPWPs) in the Indian financial sector. A model of HPWPs is developed with the help of explorative and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). As many as nine factors comprising of twenty-seven HPWPs are reported to be a part of the model of HPWPs. The study concludes that as the usage of HPWPs increases, job satisfaction, commitment and employee well-being also increases and thereby the article concludes in favour of the integrationist approach of HRM.
Internationalization of Higher Education in Kerala: A Performance Audit
Authors: Belousova Tatiana
Published: October 2018

The article aims at investigating the current scenario of internationalization of higher education (IoHE) in Kerala, particularly in the area of inbound student mobility. It analyses the issues of foreign students enrolled in different programmes across the state. The study includes the in-depth analysis of the current challenges faced by Kerala in the era of growing internationalization trends worldwide. Notably, these challenges encapsulate a larger picture of IoHE in India which makes this article relevant in a broader context. The conducted study enables further policy suggestions which may prove to be useful for the state authorities and lawmakers.
Gender Norms, Work-Family Policies, and Labor Force Participation among Immigrant and Native-born Women in Western Europe
Authors: Kesler Christel
Published: October 2018

Though women’s labor force participation has increased over recent decades, it remains lower than men’s in nearly every advanced democracy. Some groups of migrant and ethnic minority women have especially low rates of labor force participation, which is often attributed to cultures of origin that are less normatively supportive of women’s paid work outside the home. I argue in this paper that the gender norms women have been exposed to in their families and countries of origin interact with work-family policies to shape patterns of labor force participation. Cultural and familial norms about women’s employment outside the home are influential for women’s labor force participation in contexts of weak work-family policies. However, they cease to matter in determining women’s labor force participation in contexts of strong work-family policies.
Recommendations on telestroke in Europe
Authors: Hubert Gordian J , Santo Gustavo , Vanhooren Geert , Zvan Bojana , Tur Campos Silvia , Alasheev Andrey , Abilleira Sònia , Corea Francesco
Published: October 2018

Lack of stroke specialists determines that many European rural areas remain underserved. Use of telemedicine in stroke care has shown to be safe, increase use of evidence-based therapy and enable coverage of large areas of low population density. The aim of this article is to summarise the following recommendations of the Telestroke Committee of the European Stroke Organisation on the setup of telestroke networks in Europe: Hospitals participating in telestroke networks should be chosen according to criteria that include population density, transportation distance, geographic specifics and in-hospital infrastructure and professional resources. Three hospital categories are identified to be part of a hub-and-spoke network: (1) the Telemedicine Stroke Centre (an European Stroke Organisation stroke centre or equivalent with specific infrastructure and setup for network and telemedicine support), (2) the telemedicine-assisted stroke Unit (equivalent to an European Stroke Organisation stroke unit but without 24 h onsite stroke expertise) and (3) the telemedicine-assisted stroke ready hospital (only covering hyperacute treatment in the emergency department and transferring all patients for further treatment).
The von Willebrand factor Tyr2561 allele is a gain-of-function variant and a risk factor for early myocardial infarction
Authors: Schneppenheim Reinhard , Hellermann Natalie , Brehm Maria A. , Klemm Ulrike , Obser Tobias , Huck Volker , Schneider Stefan W. , Denis Cécile V. , Tischer Alexander , Auton Matthew , März Winfried , Xu Emma-Ruoqi , Wilmanns Matthias , Zotz Rainer B.
Published: October 2018

The frequent von Willebrand factor (VWF) variant p.Phe2561Tyr is located within the C4 domain, which also harbors the platelet GPIIb/IIIa-binding RGD sequence. To investigate its potential effect on hemostasis, we genotyped 865 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), 915 with myocardial infarction (MI), and 417 control patients (Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study) and performed functional studies of this variant. A univariate analysis of male and female carriers of the Tyr2561 allele aged 55 years or younger revealed an elevated risk for repeated MI (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-5.98). The odds ratio was even higher in females aged 55 years or younger, at a value of 5.93 (95% CI, 1.12-31.24). Cone and plate aggregometry showed that compared with Phe2561, Tyr2561 was associated with increased platelet aggregate size both in probands’ blood and with the recombinant variants. Microfluidic assays revealed that the critical shear rate for inducing aggregate formation was decreased to 50% by Tyr2561 compared with Phe2561. Differences in C-domain circular dichroism spectra resulting from Tyr2561 suggest an increased shear sensitivity of VWF as a result of altered association of the C domains that disrupts the normal dimer interface. In summary, our data emphasize the functional effect of the VWF C4 domain for VWF-mediated platelet aggregation in a shear-dependent manner and provide the first evidence that a functional variant of VWF plays a role in arterial thromboembolism.
Subclonal TP53 copy number is associated with prognosis in multiple myeloma
Authors: Shah Vallari , Johnson David C. , Sherborne Amy L. , Ellis Sidra , Aldridge Frances M. , Howard-Reeves Julie , Begum Farzana , Price Amy , Kendall Jack , Chiecchio Laura , Savola Suvi , Jenner Matthew W. , Drayson Mark T. , Owen Roger G. , Gregory Walter M. , Morgan Gareth J. , Davies Faith E. , Houlston Richard S. , Cook Gordon , Cairns David A. , Jackson Graham , Kaiser Martin F.
Published: October 2018

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a genetically heterogeneous cancer of bone marrow plasma cells with variable outcome. To assess the prognostic relevance of clonal heterogeneity of TP53 copy number, we profiled tumors from 1777 newly diagnosed Myeloma XI trial patients with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). Subclonal TP53 deletions were independently associated with shorter overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.8; P = .01). Clonal, but not subclonal, TP53 deletions were associated with clinical markers of advanced disease, specifically lower platelet counts (P < .001) and increased lactate dehydrogenase (P < .001), as well as a higher frequency of features indicative of genomic instability, del(13q) (P = .002) or del(1p) (P = .006). Biallelic TP53 loss-of-function by mutation and deletion was rare (2.4%) and associated with advanced disease. We present a framework for identifying subclonal TP53 deletions by MLPA, to improve patient stratification in MM and tailor therapy, enabling management strategies.
Impact of somatic and germline mutations on the outcome of systemic mastocytosis
Authors: Muñoz-González Javier I. , Jara-Acevedo María , Alvarez-Twose Iván , Merker Jason D. , Teodosio Cristina , Hou Yanli , Henriques Ana , Roskin Krishna M. , Sanchez-Muñoz Laura , Tsai Albert G. , Caldas Carolina , Matito Almudena , Sánchez-Gallego J. Ignacio , Mayado Andrea , Dasilva-Freire Noelia , Gotlib Jason R. , Escribano Luis , Orfao Alberto , García-Montero Andrés C.
Published: October 2018

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a highly heterogeneous disease with indolent and aggressive forms, with the mechanisms leading to malignant transformation still remaining to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the presence and frequency of genetic variants in 34 SM patients with multilineal KIT D816V mutations. Initial screening was performed by targeted sequencing of 410 genes in DNA extracted from purified bone marrow cells and hair from 12 patients with nonadvanced SM and 8 patients with advanced SM, followed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in 4 cases. Somatic mutations were further investigated in another 14 patients with advanced SM. Despite the fact that no common mutation other than KIT D816V was found in WGS analyses, targeted next-generation sequencing identified 67 nonsynonymous genetic variants involving 39 genes. Half of the mutations were somatic (mostly multilineal), whereas the other half were germline variants. The presence of ≥1 multilineal somatic mutation involving genes other than KIT D816V, ≥3 germline variants, and ≥1 multilineal mutation in the SRSF2, ASXL1, RUNX1, and/or EZH2 genes (S/A/R/E genes), in addition to skin lesions, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, low hemoglobin levels, and increased alkaline phosphatase and β2-microglobulin serum levels, were associated with a poorer patient outcome. However, the presence of ≥1 multilineal mutation, particularly involving S/A/R/E genes, was the only independent predictor for progression-free survival and overall survival in our cohort.
Defining the epigenetic status of blood cells using a cyanine-based fluorescent probe for PRMT1
Authors: Su Hairui , Sun Chiao-Wang , Liu Szu-Mam , He Xin , Hu Hao , Pawlik Kevin M. , Townes Tim M. , Han Xiaosi , Klug Christopher A. , Henary Maged , Chen Yabing , Li Ling , Zheng Y. George , Zhao Xinyang
Published: October 2018

Dynamic regulation of histone modification enzymes such as PRMT1 (protein arginine methyltransferase 1) determines the ordered epigenetic transitions in hematopoiesis. Sorting cells according to the expression levels of histone modification enzymes may further define subpopulations in hematopoietic lineages with unique differentiation potentials that are presently defined by surface markers. We discovered a vital near infrared dye, E84, that fluoresces brightly following binding to PRMT1 and excitation with a red laser. The staining intensity as measured by flow cytometry is correlated with the PRMT1 expression level. Importantly, E84 staining has no apparent negative effect on the proliferation of the labeled cells. Given that long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) produce low levels of PRMT1, we used E84 to sort LT-HSCs from mouse bone marrow. We found that SLAM (the signalling lymphocyte activation molecule family) marker–positive LT-HSCs were enriched in the E84low cell fraction. We then performed bone marrow transplantations with E84high or E84low Lin−Sca1+Kit+ (LSK) cells and showed that whole blood cell lineages were successfully reconstituted 16 weeks after transplanting 200 E84low LSK cells. Thus, E84 is a useful new tool to probe the role of PRMT1 in hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. Developing E84 and other small molecules to label histone modification enzymes provides a convenient approach without modifying gene loci to study the interaction between hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell epigenetic status and differentiation state.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of locally advanced breast carcinoma: the optimal time window of predicting the early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Yuan Li , Li Jian-Jun , Li Chang-Qing , Yan Cheng-Gong , Cheng Ze-Long , Wu Yuan-Kui , Hao Peng , Lin Bing-Quan , Xu Yi-Kai
Published: October 2018

Background

It is very difficult to predict the early response to NAC only on the basis of change in tumor size. ADC value derived from DWI promises to be a valuable parameter for evaluating the early response to treatment. This study aims to establish the optimal time window of predicting the early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for different subtypes of locally advanced breast carcinoma using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Methods

We conducted an institutional review board-approved prospective clinical study of 142 patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma. All patients underwent conventional MR and DW examinations prior to treatment and after first, second, third, fourth, sixth and eighth cycle of NAC. The response to NAC was classified into a pathologic complete response (pCR) and a non-pCR group. DWI parameters were compared between two groups, and the optimal time window for predicting tumor response was established for each chemotherapy regimen.

Results

For all the genomic subtypes, there were significant differences in baseline ADC value between pCR and non-pCR group (p < 0.05). The time point prior to treatment could be considered as the ideal time point regardless of genomic subtype. In the group that started with taxanes or anthracyclines, for Luminal A or Luminal B subtype, postT1 could be used as the ideal time point during chemotherapy; for Basal-like or HER2-enriched subtype, postT2 as the ideal time point during chemotherapy. In the group that started with taxanes and anthracyclines, for HER2-enriched, Luminal B or Basal-like subtype, postT1 could be used as the ideal time point during chemotherapy; for Luminal A subtype, postT2 as the ideal time point during chemotherapy.

Conclusions

The time point prior to treatment can be considered as the optimal time point regardless of genomic subtype. For each chemotherapy regimen, the optimal time point during chemotherapy varies across different genomic subtypes.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Brain Metastases: From Biology to Treatment
Authors: Berghoff Anna S. , Venur Vyshak A. , Preusser Matthias , Ahluwalia Manmeet S.
Published: October 2018

Cancer immunotherapy has been a subject of intense research over the last several years, leading to new approaches for modulation of the immune system to treat malignancies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti–CLTA-4 antibodies and anti–PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies) potentiate the host’s own antitumor immune response. These immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown impressive clinical efficacy in advanced melanoma, metastatic kidney cancer, and metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—all malignancies that frequently cause brain metastases. The immune response in the brain is highly regulated, challenging the treatment of brain metastases with immune-modulatory therapies. The immune microenvironment in brain metastases is active with a high density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in certain patients and, therefore, may serve as a potential treatment target. However, clinical data of the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in brain metastases compared with extracranial metastases are limited, as most clinical trials with these new agents excluded patients with active brain metastases. In this article, we review the current scientific evidence of brain metastases biology with specific emphasis on inflammatory tumor microenvironment and the evolving state of clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with brain metastases.
Compassionate Use: A Modest Proposal
Authors: Caplan Arthur L. , Bateman-House Alison , Waldstreicher Joanne
Published: October 2018

Editor’s Note: The following article is based on the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting Education Session “Expanded Access and the Right to Try: Navigating the Intersection of Drug Development and Patient Access to Investigational Agents.” The authors present the approach to compassionate use through use of an independent committee to vet and review requests for one pharmaceutical company.