bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract A03: Novel polyisoprenylated small molecules as potential new therapies for triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Salako Olufisayo O. , Nkembo Augustine T. , Ntantie Elizabeth , Lamango Nazarius S.
Published: December 2017

Breast cancer patients whose tumors do not overexpress estrogen, progesterone or HER2 receptors do not benefit from the effective therapies targeting these receptors. Knowing what drives the tumors in the latter group of patients, known as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), is important for developing more effective and less toxic therapies directed at these drivers. We have developed a novel class of compounds, the polyisoprenylated cysteinyl amide inhibitors (PCAIs) that target the aberrant growth signaling by EGFR and/or constitutively active mutant K-Ras in a significant proportion of TNBC and other aggressive cancers such as of the pancreas, colon and lungs. The PCAIs induced apoptotic cell death with EC50 values ranging from 2.2 to 2.7 µM. The PCAIs induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 spheroids as well as inhibited the spheroid formation at 1 and 2 µM, respectively. The PCAIs, at 1 µM, inhibited over 80% colony formation in MDA-MB-231 cells. At 1 and 2 µM, MDA-MB-231 Transwell cell invasion was inhibited by 80 and 94%, respectively. The PCAIs blocked tube formation in cultured HUVEC cells at 0.2 to 0.5 µM and vessel formation in chick embryos at 0.12 µg/egg. The PCAIs can thus be used as targeted therapies to inhibit tumor growth, cell migration and angiogenesis in TNBC and other cancers with excessive growth factors receptor and mutant K-Ras signaling.

Citation Format: Olufisayo O. Salako, Augustine T. Nkembo, Elizabeth Ntantie, Nazarius S. Lamango. Novel polyisoprenylated small molecules as potential new therapies for triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr A03.
Abstract 21: Grading dysphagia as a toxicity of head and neck cancer: Differences in severity classification based on MBS DIGEST and clinical CTCAE grades
Authors: Goepfert Ryan P. , Lewin Jan S. , Barrow Martha P. , Warneke Carla L. , Fuller Clifton D. , Lai Stephen Y. , Weber Randal S. , Hutcheson Katherine A.
Published: December 2017

Background: Clinician-reported toxicity grading through Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) stages dysphagia based on symptoms, diet, and tube dependence. The new Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) tool offers a similarly scaled 5-point ordinal summary grade of pharyngeal swallowing as determined through results of a modified barium swallow (MBS) study. This study aims to inform clinicians on the similarities and differences between dysphagia severity according to clinical CTCAE and MBS-derived DIGEST grading.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 95 MBS studies was randomly selected from a prospectively-acquired MBS database among patients treated with organ preservation strategies for head and neck cancer. MBS DIGEST and clinical CTCAE dysphagia grades were compared.

Results: DIGEST and CTCAE dysphagia grades had “fair” agreement per weighted k of 0.358 (95% CI .231-.485). Using a threshold of DIGEST ≥3 as reference, CTCAE had an overall sensitivity of 0.50, specificity of 0.84, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.67 to identify severe MBS-detected dysphagia. At less than 6 months, sensitivity was 0.72, specificity was 0.76, and AUC was 0.75 while at greater than 6 months, sensitivity was 0.22, specificity was 0.90, and AUC was 0.56 for CTCAE to detect dysphagia as determined by DIGEST.

Conclusions: Classification of pharyngeal dysphagia on MBS using DIGEST augments our understanding of dysphagia severity according to the clinically derived CTCAE while maintaining the simplicity of an ordinal scale. DIGEST likely complements CTCAE toxicity grading through improved specificity for physiologic dysphagia in the acute-phase and improved sensitivity for dysphagia in the late-phase.

Citation Format: Ryan P. Goepfert, Jan S. Lewin, Martha P. Barrow, Carla L. Warneke, Clifton D. Fuller, Stephen Y. Lai, Randal S. Weber, Katherine A. Hutcheson. Grading dysphagia as a toxicity of head and neck cancer: Differences in severity classification based on MBS DIGEST and clinical CTCAE grades [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr 21.
Abstract 54: Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies potential therapeutic combination of EGFR and FGFR inhibitors in oral cancer
Authors: Ludwig Megan , Birkeland Andrew , Nimmagadda Sai , Foltin Sue , Kulkarni Aditi , Jiang Hui , Carey Thomas , Brenner J. Chad
Published: December 2017

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a disease with poor survival with few novel treatment options in development. While EGFR is commonly over-expressed, targeting EGFR has had limited success possibly because of compensatory pathways rescuing cell survival. Inhibiting compensatory pathways in combination with EGFR signaling may result in greater efficacy. To identify compensatory pathways, we used a Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 Knock-Out (GeCKO) library to identify genetic knockouts that sensitized OSCC cell lines to EGFR inhibition. This CRISPR library established a pool of knockouts targeting over 18,000 genes, and upon selection of the GeCKO pool we identified gene knockouts in the FGFR pathway increased sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib. We further profiled this combination with viability assays and found that 6/14 (43%) cell lines responded to the combination of EGFR and FGFR inhibition, suggesting that the FGFR pathway could be a common compensatory mechanism to loss of EGFR signaling. In complement, we again used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate a syngeneic EGFR knockout (KO) OSCC cell line. The parent OSCC cell line is responsive to the EGFR and FGFR dual inhibition, and the EGFR KO derivative retains sensitivity to FGFR-targeted monotherapies. We expect that this EGFR KO cell line will be a useful tool in further evaluating the compensatory mechanism of the FGFR pathway. In total, we describe the use of genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 library to discover the synergistic combination of EGFR and FGFR inhibition, with follow-up indicating that the FGFR pathway could be a common compensatory mechanism to EGFR inhibition. Targeting compensatory mechanisms in combination with EGFR-targeted therapy could be clinically beneficial, including the combination of EGFR and FGFR inhibition.

Citation Format: Megan Ludwig, Andrew Birkeland, Sai Nimmagadda, Sue Foltin, Aditi Kulkarni, Hui Jiang, Thomas Carey, J. Chad Brenner. Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies potential therapeutic combination of EGFR and FGFR inhibitors in oral cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr 54.
Abstract 59: Novel mechanisms-guided treatments for betel nuts-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Jo-Pai , Chang Jui-Ying , Hong Ruey-Long
Published: December 2017

Background: Betel nuts-related HNSCCs in Taiwan will cause (1) strong inflammation, invasion, and angiogenesis; (2) poor response to chemotherapy, radiation, and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors.

Methods: HNSCC cell lines (SCC4, SCC9, SCC15, SCC25, FaDu, KB, Cal27, SAS, and TW2.6, betel nuts-related) were used to evaluate (1) the in vitro drug sensitivity; (2) synergistic effects of different treatment combinations with MTT assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, and Western blotting; (3) invasion capacity by wound healing. TW2.6 had already been proved to possess defective p53, p16 loss, and increased Bcl2.

Results: TW2.6 was resistant to chemotherapies, radiation, and EGFR inhibition, but sensitive to PI3K/mTOR dual inhibition (BEZ235), CDK4/6 inhibitor (palbociclib), Bcl2 inhibitor (ABT-199), WEE1 inhibitor(AZD1775), FGFR inhibitor(BGJ398), ALK/IGF-1R inhibitor (ceritinib), and eribulin. Polo-like kinase inhibitor (volasertib) with radiation, resulting in G2/M arrest in flow-cytometry and increased cyclin B levels in Western blotting, caused TW2.6 apoptosis. Nintedanib and regorafenib (VEGFR/PDGFR/FGFR inhibitor) and foretinib (VEGFR/c-MET/Axl inhibitor) would suppress HUVEC, block invasion capacity of TW2.6, inhibit TW2.6 growth, and resensitize TW2.6 to docetaxel, afatinib, and volasertib. Western blotting showed (1) mesenchymal markers (Slug, Snail, Axl, Twist, Vimentin, Claudin-1), PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling (p-Akt and p70S6K), and BMI-1 dropped after nintedanib, regorafenib, and foretinib; (2) PDL1 drop after foretinib use. BYL719, ABT-199, and ceritinib also sensitize TW2,6 to docetaxel. Astragalus polysaccharides, minimally cytotoxic on TW2.6, could inhibit tumor migration, suppress epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and induce PDL1 drop. APS re-sensitizes TW2.6 to afatinib and volasertib. Olaparib (PARP inhibitor) also had poor effect on TW2.6, but volasertib, AZD1775, and foretinib could reverse olaparib resistance.

Conclusions: TW2.6 might reflect treatment refractoriness of betel nuts-related HNSCC in Taiwan. Several novel mechanisms-guided treatment combinations should be tried in the future.

Citation Format: Jo-Pai Chen, Jui-Ying Chang, Ruey-Long Hong. Novel mechanisms-guided treatments for betel nuts-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr 59.
Abstract 60: Characterization of papillary thyroid carcinoma primary cell culture derived cancer stem-like cells
Authors: Simental Alfred , Lee Steve , Filho Pedro A. De Andrade , Peterson Nathaniel R. , Mirshahidi Saied , Duerksen-Hughes Penelope , Yuan Xiangpeng
Published: December 2017

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent type of thyroid cancer. Although most PTC patients can be treated successfully and have an excellent prognosis, 10-20% of patients with stage I/II disease experience recurrence, developing invasive tumors and/or distant metastases. For these patients, a greater understanding of the mechanisms that govern PTC tumor initiation and progression would aid in developing effective therapeutic strategies to target the disease. It is becoming evident that thyroid tumors may follow the cancer stem cell model (CSC), where a population of cancer stem cells is responsible for tumor initiation and progression. Currently, the CSC biology of PTC is still poorly understood. In this study, we isolated sphere-growing cells from PTC specimen-derived primary cells using serum-free culture. In vivo transplantation analysis revealed that the sphere cells were capable of generating xenograft tumors that recapitulated the original tumor phenotypes. Analyzing the sphere cells for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) expression, a marker commonly used in CSC study, revealed that around half of the sphere cells did not express ALDH. When the sphere cells were sorted into ALDH- and ALDH+ subpopulations, both subpopulations demonstrated capabilities of re-initiating subspheres in vitro and generating serial xenograft tumors in vivo with the ALDH+ cells exhibiting a slightly higher efficiency of sphere-formation and cancer-initiation. Of major importance, the sphere cell population without sorting demonstrated the higher levels of cancer-initiating cell frequency, and quicker xenograft tumor progression than the subpopulations of ALDH- and ALDH+ cells. Furthermore, histologic investigation of xenograft tumors generated by the sphere population and the sphere-sorted subpopulations, respectively, revealed similar morphological features that recapitulated the characteristics of original human PTC from which the sphere cells were isolated. Our data established a vital role of ALDH- cancer stem-like cells and revealed a potential synergistic activity between ALDH- and ALDH+ cells in the tumor initiation and progression of PTC. Further exploring the biological property of ALDH- cancer stem-like cells may lead to development of novel therapeutic solutions to treating aggressive PTC.

Citation Format: Alfred Simental, Steve Lee, Pedro A. De Andrade Filho, Nathaniel R. Peterson, Saied Mirshahidi, Penelope Duerksen-Hughes, Xiangpeng Yuan. Characterization of papillary thyroid carcinoma primary cell culture derived cancer stem-like cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr 60.
Abstract IA15: Molecular navigation for cancer diagnosis and surgery: Imaging tumors and nerves
Authors: Nguyen Quyen T.
Published: December 2017

Although treatment algorithms vary, surgery is the primary treatment modality for most solid cancers. The fundamental goal of a curative oncologic surgery is complete cancer removal but equally important from the patient's point of view is function preservation and pain control. Currently, there is an increasing trend to adopt minimally invasive technologies such as endoscopic and robotic surgery in order to decrease patient morbidity. However, the ability for surgeons to distinguish between normal and diseased tissue by texture or consistency is significantly reduced with these techniques (due to lack of ability to physically touch the tissue) and is limited to visual inspection alone. Using white light reflectance which is the current standard mode of illumination in operating rooms, the visual difference between normal and cancerous tissue can be imperceptible. The inability of surgeons to visually distinguish between tumor and normal tissue leads to residual cancer cells left behind at the edges of resection, i.e. positive surgical margins and can be as high as 20-40% in breast cancer lumpectomy, 21% for radical prostatectomy, and 13% for HNSCC.

Molecular imaging with fluorescence provides enhanced visual definition between diseased and normal tissue and have been shown to decrease PSM in both animal models and patients. Molecular imaging with fluorescence can also provide enhanced visualization of important structures such as nerves to improve preservation and minimize inadvertent injury. Our laboratory has extensive experience in development of both nerve and tumor injectable markers for surgical visualization. In presentation we will discuss the development of nerve and tumor markers combinations to improve intraoperative visualization---aka color-coded surgery.

Citation Format: Quyen T. Nguyen. Molecular navigation for cancer diagnosis and surgery: Imaging tumors and nerves [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr IA15.
Abstract IA24: Biomarkers and checkpoint inhibition in HNSCC
Authors: Cohen Ezra E. W.
Published: December 2017

There has been tremendous progress made in development of checkpoint inhibitors in HNSCC with antibodies directed against the PD1/PDL1 axis leading the way. Recent data reveal that these agents are active in patients with refractory disease and improve survival compared with standard of care even in unselected patient populations. Nonetheless, the need for biomarkers to predict which patients benefit most from PD1/PDL1 blockade remains acute while interrogating tissue samples to define mechanisms of resistance is just beginning. To date, it appears that PDL1 expression has some utility to predict activity of PD1/PDL1 blockade. Moreover, gene expression signatures corresponding to an interferon-gamma antitumor response or quantifying mutational burden seem to provide survival predictability. Furthermore, immune signatures of gene expression have been correlated with survival in patients with locally advanced disease. These aspects of checkpoint blockade will be discussed in detail with a view towards where the field is moving in the near term and what to anticipate in the extended future.

Citation Format: Ezra E. W. Cohen. Biomarkers and checkpoint inhibition in HNSCC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; April 23-25, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2017;23(23_Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.
Efficacy and Tolerability of Leuprorelin Acetate (Eligard®) in Daily Practice in Germany: Pooled Data from 2 Prospective, Non-Interventional Studies with 3- or 6-Month Depot Formulations in Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ohlmann Carsten-Henning , Gross-Langenhoff Marco
Published: December 2017

Introduction: We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of 3- and 6-month leuprorelin acetate (LA) depot formulations (Eligard®, Astellas Pharma GmbH) in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated in routine clinical practice in Germany. Materials and Methods: Data was pooled from 2 prospective, open-label, non-interventional studies in which 1,906 patients were treated for 12 months with either the 3-month (n = 633) or 6-month (n = 1,273) LA formulation. Results: Median prostate-specific antigen levels in the pooled patient population declined from 12.0 ng/mL at baseline to 0.5 ng/mL after 12 months. Prostate-specific antigen reduction was achieved in treatment-naïve and pre-treated patients. Adverse events were documented in 8.8% of patients. Conclusions: These pooled data from routine clinical practice in Germany indicate that LA 3- and 6-month depot injections can effectively reduce prostate-specific antigen levels in a broad patient population with advanced prostate cancer.
Proteomic Analysis Reveals Grb2 as a Key Regulator of Periodic Mechanical Stress Transduction in Chondrocytes
Authors: Xu Shun , Li Zeng , Wang Zhen , Zhai Chenjun , Liang Wenwei , Zhu Chunhui , Fan Weimin
Published: December 2017

Background/Aims: Periodic mechanical stress could significantly promote chondrocyte proliferation and matrix synthesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the ability of chondrocyte detecting and responding to periodic mechanical stimuli have not been well delineated. Methods: Quantitative proteomic analysis was performed to construct the differently expressed proteome profiles of chondrocyte under pressure. Then a combination of Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, lentiviral vector and histological methods were used to confirm the proteomic results and investigate the mechanoseing mechanism. Results: Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (Grb2), a component of integrin adhesome, was found a 1.49-fold increase in dynamic stress group. This process was mediated through integrin β1, leading to increased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) respectively and then produce the corresponding biological effects. Conclusion: This was the first time to demonstrate Grb2 has such an important role in periodic mechanotransduction, and the proteomic data could facilitate the further investigation of chondrocytes mechanosensing.
Slavery and Asceticism in John of Ephesus’ Lives of the Eastern Saints
Authors: de Wet Chris
Published: December 2017

This article examines the phenomenon of slavery – both institutional (being enslaved to other human beings) and divine (being enslaved to God) – and its relationship to asceticism in John of Ephesus’ (507-589 CE) Lives of the Eastern Saints. The study first examines the nature of institutional slavery in Lives. It is shown that John is somewhat indifferent with regards to institutional slaves – they are either depicted as symbols of the wealth and decadence of the elite, or part of the ascetic households of the virtuous. In both cases, though, the slaves serve to illuminate the vice or virtue of the masters (wicked masters have scores of slaves serving them, while virtuous masters are so exceptional that even their slaves follow the ascetic lifestyle). Slavery is no impediment to the ascetic vocation – slaves have a part to play in John vision of asceticism as social outreach. John’s views on divine slavery are less conventional. In Lives, the ideal slave of God (ʿabdā d’Allāhā) is not one who busies him- or herself with self-centered acts of self-mortification, but rather one who supports and cares for those who suffer, the poor, and the marginalized. In this regard, labor and service to society become the prime virtues of John’s slave of God. By promoting this quasi-utilitarian stance on divine slavery, John also positions himself against earlier traditions such as those in Liber graduum that view worldly labor and service as unfitting to the life of Perfection.
Genesis as a Hidden Source of Manichaeism
Authors: Moiseeva Evgenia
Published: December 2017

There exists an entrenched notion, supported by both Christian and Manichaean texts, that Manicheans rejected the Old Testament as a product of Satan. However, scholars have noted the presence of loans from the Old Testament in Manichaean works. The Manichaean priest, Felix, in his dispute with St Augustine, documented in Augustine’s Contra Felicem Manicheum, cites Genesis 1:1-2 to demonstrate its agreement with Mani’s teachings. This and other examples show that the Manichaean attitude towards the Old Testament was more complicated than that of simple rejection. In this report, I review textual evidence from multiple Manichaean sources indicating that Jewish texts in general, and Genesis in particular, should be counted among the sources of Manichaeism. Furthermore, I address the question how this evidence could be reconciled with the long-standing view of the Manichaean rejection of the Old Testament.
The Dialogue Xenedemos, or Voices, by Theodore Prodromos
Authors: Spyridonova Lydia , Kurbanov Andrey , Goncharko Oksana Yu
Published: December 2017

This paper offers the first critical edition of the dialogue Xenedemos, or Voices, by Theodore Prodromos (c. 1100-1170), together with an English translation and commentary. This work is dedicated to an analysis of the definitions of the five voices from Porphyry’s Isagoge. The publication of this good-humored scholarly text will allow for a better understanding of the development of logic studies in the 12th century, and also gives further insight into the nature of the tendencies within Byzantine intellectual circles of that period.
Matter as a Universal: John Philoponus and Maximus the Confessor on the Eternity of the World
Authors: Shchukin Timur
Published: December 2017

In his Ambigua, St. Maximus the Confessor dedicated some chapters to refuting the conception of eternity of the world. That was a keystone notion for John Philoponus’ system, and Maximus partly repeats his proofs in its favor and partly rejects them. The authors converge in being convinced that spatial and temporal limitations, as well as staying in motion, are unalienable features of the creation distinguishing it from the Creator. Nevertheless, in interpreting the notion of the matter they go separately, for while John Philoponus denied the existence of the matter, Maximus Confessor needed the matter concept as a cosmological basis for Christological conclusions.
Nomenclatural notes on Marantaceae described by Édouard Morren
Authors: SAKA MARIANA NAOMI , MORAES PEDRO LUÍS RODRIGUES DE , LOMBARDI JULIO ANTONIO , DIAGRE-VANDERPELEN DENIS
Published: December 2017

The species of Marantaceae described by Édouard Morren are cultivated due to the ornamental value of their leaves. On account of the widely use of these names for horticultural purposes, the taxa proposed by Morren were reviewed. A total of ten lectotypes, seven epitypes and six neotypes are designated, as well as three lectotypes and two neotypes for species indicated as synonyms of Morren names. We also propose the combination of Calathea lietzei, C. kegljani and C. wiotiana in Goeppertia, the latter due to a previous invalid combination. A new name for the illegitimate C. pulchella is also indicated. Calathea mirabilis was described without an illustration or known material and therefore the application of this name is considered uncertain.
Predicting Airport Screening Officers’ Visual Search Competency With a Rapid Assessment
Authors: Mitroff Stephen R. , Ericson Justin M. , Sharpe Benjamin
Published: December 2017

Objective

The study’s objective was to assess a new personnel selection and assessment tool for aviation security screeners. A mobile app was modified to create a tool, and the question was whether it could predict professional screeners’ on-job performance.

Background

A variety of professions (airport security, radiology, the military, etc.) rely on visual search performance—being able to detect targets. Given the importance of such professions, it is necessary to maximize performance, and one means to do so is to select individuals who excel at visual search. A critical question is whether it is possible to predict search competency within a professional search environment.

Method

Professional searchers from the USA Transportation Security Administration (TSA) completed a rapid assessment on a tablet-based X-ray simulator (XRAY Screener, derived from the mobile technology app Airport Scanner; Kedlin Company). The assessment contained 72 trials that were simulated X-ray images of bags. Participants searched for prohibited items and tapped on them with their finger.

Results

Performance on the assessment significantly related to on-job performance measures for the TSA officers such that those who were better XRAY Screener performers were both more accurate and faster at the actual airport checkpoint.

Conclusion

XRAY Screener successfully predicted on-job performance for professional aviation security officers. While questions remain about the underlying cognitive mechanisms, this quick assessment was found to significantly predict on-job success for a task that relies on visual search performance.

Application

It may be possible to quickly assess an individual’s visual search competency, which could help organizations select new hires and assess their current workforce.
Internationalism in the Global South: The Evolution of a Concept
Authors: Moore Candice
Published: December 2017

In light of seemingly growing divergence between the so-called ‘West’ and the Rest regarding the maintenance of international order, this paper seeks to sort through the conceptual muddle of ‘internationalism’ that still characterises much discussion of foreign policy today, especially with reference to emerging states. The leading states of the Global South have sought to respond to the crisis of conceptualisation and implementation that has attended Western practice of internationalism since the end of the Cold War. This paper seeks to analyse the alternative they claim to propose.
Rare case of atypical parkinsonism: why family history is important
Authors: Malek Naveed , Jampana Ravi , Grosset Donald G
Published: December 2017

We discuss the clinical presentation and assessment of a middle aged previously fit and well man who presented with two episodes of syncope to the cardiologists followed by the development of a rapidly progressive parkinsonian syndrome a couple of years later, which was not responsive to standard dopaminergic replacement therapies. Magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain was normal and a DAT SPECT scan showed reduced dopamine uptake in the basal ganglia. On further enquiry, a family history of a similar presentation in his first cousin was elicited and that cousin had tested positive for a mutation in the PRNP gene. Subsequently, he also tested positive for A117V mutation in the PRNP gene, confirming familial Creutzfeld Jakob disease. Familial Creutzfeld Jakob disease presenting with parkinsonism is rare in clinical practice, but it is something that neurologists and geriatricians running movement disorder clinics should be aware of, as this is a rapidly progressive and uniformly fatal condition with inheritance risks to family members.
Examining the Impact of Alcohol and Other Drug Education Exposure on Student Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Merianos Ashley L. , Barry Adam E.
Published: December 2017

This investigation examined the association between alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention/education programs and drinking behaviors among students aged 12 to 17 years. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ( N = 17,736). AOD prevention/education was assessed in three school settings: special class, regular class, and outside regular class. Outcome variables included past year alcohol use and current heavy episodic drinking. Associations were assessed via one-way analyses of variance and multiple regression models. There was a significant effect of program exposure on alcohol use ( p<.001) and heavy episodic drinking ( p = .002). Regression results found AOD prevention/education exposure ( p = .004) was significant, indicating that exposure decreased past year use. No difference was found based on heavy episodic drinking. Increasing exposure to AOD prevention/education programs is warranted and encouraged.
Not All Skepticism Is Equal: Exploring the Ideological Antecedents of Science Acceptance and Rejection
Authors: Rutjens Bastiaan T. , Sutton Robbie M. , van der Lee Romy
Published: December 2017

Many topics that scientists investigate speak to people’s ideological worldviews. We report three studies—including an analysis of large-scale survey data—in which we systematically investigate the ideological antecedents of general faith in science and willingness to support science, as well as of science skepticism of climate change, vaccination, and genetic modification (GM). The main predictors are religiosity and political orientation, morality, and science understanding. Overall, science understanding is associated with vaccine and GM food acceptance, but not climate change acceptance. Importantly, different ideological predictors are related to the acceptance of different scientific findings. Political conservatism best predicts climate change skepticism. Religiosity, alongside moral purity concerns, best predicts vaccination skepticism. GM food skepticism is not fueled by religious or political ideology. Finally, religious conservatives consistently display a low faith in science and an unwillingness to support science. Thus, science acceptance and rejection have different ideological roots, depending on the topic of investigation.
Meeting Earnings Benchmarks via Real Activities Manipulation: Debt Market Effects
Authors: Hinkel Timothy P. , Hoffman Benjamin W.
Published: December 2017

We investigate the cost of debt effects for firms that manage earnings per share (EPS) through abnormal share repurchases. Although prior research finds a significant cost of debt decrease for firms that meet earnings benchmarks, our results suggest that firms using the abnormal share repurchase strategy realize no cost of debt decrease associated with meeting earnings benchmarks. We find some evidence of a smaller decrease in cost of debt associated with measures of abnormal decreases in cash flows but weak evidence for measures that are cash flow increasing. We also find that the effect of using abnormal stock repurchases to meet earnings benchmarks leads to smaller reductions in the cost of debt when compared with the cost reduction when earnings benchmarks are met through accruals management. This study extends prior literature regarding the effects on the cost of debt through alternative strategies to meet earnings benchmarks and will be of interest to managers as they consider the impact of their managerial decisions.
Tympanoplasty following Blast Injury
Authors: Keller Matthew , Sload Ryan , Wilson Justin , Greene Howard , Han Peggy , Wise Sean
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To assess outcomes following tympanoplasty for blast‐induced tympanic membrane perforations in a military population.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care medical centers.

Subjects and Methods

Military personnel (N = 254) undergoing tympanoplasty for blast‐related tympanic membrane perforations sustained between April 2005 and July 2014 were identified from the Expeditionary Medical Encounter Database. Descriptive statistics were obtained regarding demographics, primary and revision surgery success rates, hearing status pre‐ and postsurgery, and frequency of ossicular reconstruction. Rates of successful perforation closure were assessed against perforation size and character (central vs marginal) and time to surgery. Rates and types of complications were additionally explored.

Results

There were a total of 352 operations among 254 subjects, with an 82.1% rate of successful closure following primary surgery. For successful primary tympanoplasty, the mean improvement in pure tone average was 11.7 ± 12.1 dB. Ossiculoplasty was performed in 9.1% (32 of 352) of cases. There was no significant relationship between successful perforation closure and perforation size, perforation character, or time between injury and surgery. Cholesteatoma complicated 4.3% (15 of 352) of cases. A significant relationship was identified between risk of cholesteatoma development and increasing perforation size and marginal perforations.

Conclusion

Tympanoplasty success rates for blast‐induced tympanic membrane perforations are lower than for other common injury mechanisms. Due to appreciable rates of postoperative cholesteatoma development, close clinical surveillance is recommended.
Cerebral microcirculatory alterations and the no-reflow phenomenon in vivo after experimental pediatric cardiac arrest
Authors: Li Lingjue , Poloyac Samuel M , Watkins Simon C , St. Croix Claudette M , Alexander Henry , Gibson Gregory A , Loughran Patricia A , Kirisci Levent , Clark Robert SB , Kochanek Patrick M , Vazquez Alberto L , Manole Mioara D
Published: December 2017

Decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) after cardiac arrest (CA) contributes to secondary ischemic injury in infants and children. We previously reported cortical hypoperfusion with tissue hypoxia early in a pediatric rat model of asphyxial CA. In order to identify specific alterations as potential therapeutic targets to improve cortical hypoperfusion post-CA, we characterize the CBF alterations at the cortical microvascular level in vivo using multiphoton microscopy. We hypothesize that microvascular constriction and disturbances of capillary red blood cell (RBC) flow contribute to cortical hypoperfusion post-CA. After resuscitation from 9 min asphyxial CA, transient dilation of capillaries and venules at 5 min was followed by pial arteriolar constriction at 30 and 60 min (19.6 ± 1.3, 19.3 ± 1.2 µm at 30, 60 min vs. 22.0 ± 1.2 µm at baseline, p < 0.05). At the capillary level, microcirculatory disturbances were highly heterogeneous, with RBC stasis observed in 25.4% of capillaries at 30 min post-CA. Overall, the capillary plasma mean transit time was increased post-CA by 139.7 ± 51.5%, p < 0.05. In conclusion, pial arteriolar constriction, the no-reflow phenomenon and increased plasma transit time were observed post-CA. Our results detail the microvascular disturbances in a pediatric asphyxial CA model and provide a powerful platform for assessing specific vascular-targeted therapies.
Marketing Practices of Rural Micro and Small Businesses in Ghana
Authors: Blankson Charles , Cowan Kirsten , Darley William K.
Published: December 2017

Using social identity theory and social capital theory as a backdrop to understand the context of subsistence marketplaces, this study investigates how rural micro and small businesses engage in marketing practices and how poverty reduction policies affect micro and small business activities and growth. The results show that rural micro and small businesses weave morality and religiosity into their commercial activities and survive in a competitive subsistence marketplace by engaging with social networks, relationships with customers, and relationships with staff. The interdependence among these relationships contributes to the competitive positioning of the business and its intelligence gathering. Despite the existence of government programs to fund micro and small business startups, most owner-managers use social networks to initially fund and grow their businesses. The paper ends with implications and future research directions.
Probabilistic cooperative mobile robot area coverage and its application to autonomous seabed mapping
Authors: Paull Liam , Seto Mae , Leonard John J. , Li Howard
Published: December 2017

There are many applications that require mobile robots to autonomously cover an entire area with a sensor or end effector. The vast majority of the literature on this subject is focused on addressing path planning for area coverage under the assumption that the robot’s pose is known or that error is bounded. In this work, we remove this assumption and develop a completely probabilistic representation of coverage. We show that coverage is guaranteed as long as the robot pose estimates are consistent, a much milder assumption than zero or bounded error. After formally connecting robot sensor uncertainty with area coverage, we propose an adaptive sliding window filter pose estimator that provides a close approximation to the full maximum a posteriori estimate with a computation cost that is bounded over time. Subsequently, an adaptive planning strategy is presented that automatically exploits conditions of low vehicle uncertainty to more efficiently cover an area. We further extend this approach to the multi-robot case where robots can communicate through a (possibly faulty and low-bandwidth) channel and make relative measurements of one another. In this case, area coverage is achieved more quickly since the uncertainty over the robots’ trajectories is reduced. We apply the framework to the scenario of mapping an area of seabed with an autonomous underwater vehicle. Experimental results support the claim that our method achieves guaranteed complete coverage notwithstanding poor navigational sensors and that resulting path lengths required to cover the entire area are shortest using the proposed cooperative and adaptive approach.
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in Related Miniature Schnauzer Dogs
Authors: Yau Wilson , Mausbach Lisa , Littman Meryl P. , Cianciolo Rachel E. , Brown Cathy A.
Published: December 2017

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) recently has been recognized as a common cause of proteinuria in dogs in general, and in Miniature Schnauzer dogs in particular. This study describes the morphologic features present in the kidneys of 8 related proteinuric Miniature Schnauzer dogs. The FSGS, characterized by solidification of portions of the capillary tuft, affected 32% to 49% of examined glomeruli in these dogs. Synechiae, often accompanied by hyalinosis, were present in 13% to 54% of glomeruli and were more prevalent in older dogs. Seven of 8 dogs had arteriolar hyalinosis. Ultrastructurally, all dogs had evidence of a podocytopathy in the absence of electron-dense deposits, glomerular basement membrane splitting, or fibrils. All dogs had multifocal to extensive podocyte foot process effacement. Other podocyte changes included microvillous transformation, the presence of vacuoles or protein resorption droplets, cytoplasmic electron-dense aggregates, and occasional binucleation. Variable amounts of intraglomerular lipid were present in all dogs. All dogs were proteinuric, with measured values for the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio ranging from 1.2 to 6.5. Azotemia was mild to absent and dogs were euthanatized at 5.1 to 14 years of age, in all cases due to nonrenal diseases. The underlying cause of FSGS in these Miniature Schnauzer dogs has yet to be determined, but contributors likely include genetic podocytopathy, lipid abnormalities, and glomerular hypertension.
Severe Disseminated Necrotizing and Granulomatous Lymphadenitis and Encephalitis in a Dog Due to Sporotrichum pruinosum (Teleomorph: Phanerochaete chrysosporium)
Authors: Magstadt Drew R. , Fales-Williams Amanda J. , Palerme Jean-Sébastien , Flaherty Heather , Lindquist Tracy , Miles Kristina G.
Published: December 2017

A 9-year-old female mixed breed dog presented for an acute onset of anorexia, vomiting, and cough. Initial examination and diagnostics revealed a large multilobular cranial mediastinal mass with unidentified fungal organisms on cytology. The disease progressed in spite of therapy until the dog was euthanized 8 months later. Gross necropsy findings were a large multilobular intrathoracic mass, mild pleuritis, and generalized lymphadenopathy. Histologic evaluation showed granulomatous inflammation and necrosis with numerous 20- to 70-micron, periodic acid–Schiff- and Gomori methenamine silver-positive spherules effacing lymph node parenchyma, as well as severe inflammation within the midbrain. Endosporulation was a common finding, and large numbers of fungal hyphae were also present in affected areas. Ribosomal RNA gene sequencing found 100% identity to published sequences of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, the teleomorph form of Sporotrichum pruinosum. This is the first published report of disease caused by natural infection with this basidiomycete organism in animals.
Intelligence Assessment Instruments in Adult Prison Populations: A Systematic Review
Authors: van Esch A. Y. M. , Denzel A. D. , Scherder E. J. A. , Masthoff E. D. M.
Published: December 2017

Detection of intellectual disability (ID) in the penitentiary system is important for the following reasons: (a) to provide assistance to people with ID in understanding their legal rights and court proceedings; (b) to facilitate rehabilitation programs tailored to ID patients, which improves the enhancement of their quality of life and reduces their risk of reoffending; and (c) to provide a reliable estimate of the risk of offence recidivism. It requires a short assessment instrument that provides a reliable estimation of a person’s intellectual functioning at the earliest possible stage of this process. The aim of this systematic review is (a) to provide an overview of recent short assessment instruments that provide a full-scale IQ score in adult prison populations and (b) to achieve a quality measurement of the validation studies regarding these instruments to determine which tests are most feasible in this target population. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement is used to ensure reliability. The Satz-Mögel, an item-reduction short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, shows the highest correlation with the golden standard and is described to be most reliable. Nevertheless, when it comes to applicability in prison populations, the shorter and less verbal Quick Test can be preferred over others. Without affecting these conclusions, major limitations emerge from the present systematic review, which give rise to several important recommendations for further research.
Sino-Indian War of 1962
Authors: Chakravorty PK
Published: December 2017

More than half a century has elapsed since China and India fought a War in October–November 1962. The War saw the Chinese Army coming out with flying colours. India as a nation was shocked and had to strain every sinew to reorganise itself to win the ensuing wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. There are many questions as regards the causes of the War, the events which preceded the conflict and what actually happened that led to the debacle. The article addresses these issues comprehensively and analyses the War in detail. Overall it was a failure to assess the Chinese threat in correct perspective. The Indian government did not expect China to fight a War against India.

The obvious question to ask is what is the way ahead? The concluding portion of the article deals with the current situation and measures to be taken to deter China from undertaking a military adventure. There is a need to have a National Security Strategy as also leave no stone unturned to build our Comprehensive National Power. In this, our Armed Forces must be modernised to meet the Chinese forces. The Chinese Navy has of late gained strength and is making forays into the Indian Ocean. We should be prepared for this aspect and build our military diplomacy with the United States, Japan and Vietnam. Last of all to understand China, we must create nodes of excellence in our country.
Sensitivity of Sexual Victimization Estimates to Definitional and Measurement Decisions
Authors: Krebs Christopher , Lindquist Christine , Planty Michael , Langton Lynn , Berzofsky Marcus E. , Asefnia Nakisa , Griggs Ashley , Shook-Sa Bonnie , Enders Kimberly
Published: December 2017

Self-report surveys are subject to measurement error associated with variation in the methodology employed. The current analysis uses data from the Campus Climate Survey Validation Study (CCSVS) to examine the impact that measurement decisions have on estimates. The findings demonstrate that asking victims to provide detailed information in an effort to properly place incidents in time and classify incidents by type resulted in relatively minor decreases in estimate magnitude. Ultimately, asking respondents to provide or confirm additional incident-level information for proper classification resulted in more complete information with very little impact on estimates.
Predictors of Mortality in Nondemented Patients With Parkinson Disease: Motor Symptoms Versus Nonmotor Symptoms
Authors: Santos-García D. , Suárez-Castro E. , Ernandez J. , Expósito-Ruiz I. , Tuñas-Gesto C. , Aneiros-Díaz M. , de Deus-Fonticoba T. , López-Fernández M. , Núñez-Arias D.
Published: December 2017

Background and Objective:

The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for mortality in a community-based cohort of nondemented patients with Parkinson disease (PD) during prospective long-term follow-up, while also comparing the effect of motor complications to nonmotor symptoms (NMS) on risk of mortality.

Methods:

One hundred forty seven nondemented patients with PD (57.1% males; 70.9 ± 8.6 years old) were included in this 48 month follow-up, longitudinal, single, evaluation study. Motor and therapy-related complications were assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale/part-IV (UPDRS-IV). Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total score was used to assess NMS burden. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to identify independent predictors of mortality during follow-up.

Results:

Twenty-two patients of 146 (15.1%) died (1 case without information). Both UPDRS-IV and NMSS total scores were higher at baseline in patients with PD who died (3.5 ± 3.1 vs 2.4 ± 2.4, P = .049 and 96.9 ± 58.6 vs 61.9 ± 51.0, P = .004, respectively). Unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) associated with UPDRS-IV and NMSS total scores among those who died during follow-up were 1.171 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.012-1.357; P = .035) and 1.008 (95% CI: 1.002-1.013; P = .006), respectively. Independent predictors of mortality during follow-up after adjusting for other covariates were UPDRS-IV (HR: 1.224; 95% CI: 1.002-1.494; P = .047), age (HR: 1.231; 95% CI: 1104-1.374; P < .0001), and comorbidity (Charlson Index; HR: 1.429; 95% CI: 1.023-1.994; P = .036), but not NMSS total score (HR: 1.005; 95% CI: 0.996-1.014; P = .263).

Conclusions:

Both motor complications (UPDRS-IV) and NMS (NMSS) were associated with mortality at 4 years, being motor complications an independent predictor of it.