bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex Entrepreneurs in the New China
Authors: Kong Travis S.K.
Published: August 2012

Based on ethnographic research on the male sex industry in China since 2004, sociologist Travis S.K. Kong examines how male rural migrants become male sex workers (or “money boys”) and explains how to make sense of their lives within the context of China’s quest for urbanization, modernization, and globalization. Money boys have found opportunities opened up in new spaces by the development of the market economy, the burgeoning of the sex industry, and the emergence of the gay community in reform China; however, they are struggling in these new spaces of social exclusion, legal constraints, and cultural domination.
Opera Thugs and Passionate Fandom
Authors: Benzecry Claudio E.
Published: August 2012

Using life stories and observing opera fans in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Claudio E. Benzecry shows how passion for a cultural object develops, gets refined and sustained over time and the consequences this has for personal identity. In addition, Benzecry argues that his observations at the opera house serves as a template to understand other forms of fandom, cultural consumption and passionate behavior more generally.
Breakthrough Books: Race and Racism
Authors: Flores Zaire Dinzey , Hartmann Douglas , Moore Mignon , Shiao Jiannbin , Winant Howard
Published: August 2012

A “list” of what five sociologists consider breakthrough books about race and racism.
Marine, Maritime, or Submerged Prehistory? Contextualizing the Prehistoric Underwater Archaeologies of Inland, Coastal, and Offshore Environments
Authors: Benjamin Jonathan , Hale Alex
Published: August 2012

Studies in submerged prehistoric archaeology have gained momentum in recent years with particular focus on the inundated landscapes of the European continental shelf. Although this renewed interest lies primarily in modern coasts and seas, there are a variety of differences between the submerged prehistoric archaeologies of inland and marine environments, ranging from questions of scientific research to heritage management to practical field methods. Some of these differences are the result of location, function, and period. Despite this, there exist similarities that, if ignored, risk increased marginalization of the archaeology of submerged landscapes from the greater field of prehistoric archaeology. A holistic evaluation of prehistoric archaeological landscapes must include inland waters and coastal zones and their relationships. Aquatic environments, viewed both as individual locations as well as continuous and connecting waterways, are introduced for their differences and similarities, and simplified examples of material and legislation are introduced in order to contextualize submarine sites and practices within the greater fields of prehistory and underwater archaeology.
Amber Sources and Trade in the Prehistory of the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Murillo-Barroso Mercedes , Martinón-Torres Marcos
Published: August 2012

The use of amber is documented in the Iberian peninsula since the Palaeolithic. The procurement and trade of this fossil resin has often been considered in discussions of long-distance trade and the emergence of social complexity, but so far no comprehensive view of the Iberian evidence has been produced to allow a more overarching interpretive model. This paper presents the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization of archaeological amber from three Iberian prehistoric sites: a necklace recovered from the megalithic site of Palacio III (Almadén de la Plata, Sevilla), a pommel from PP4 Montelirio (Valencina de la Concepción, Sevilla), and a necklace from the Muricecs de Cellers cave (Llimiana, Pallars Jussà, Lleida). Based on these new data and a review of the literature, we present an overview that outlines fluctuations in the use of amber since the Upper Palaeolithic and demonstrates long-distance amber exchange connecting Iberia with northern Europe and the Mediterranean region since the Chalcolithic period at least. We discuss changes in the origins and cultural use of amber and their implications for the consolidation of trade networks.
Local ASIC3 modulates pain and disease progression in a rat model of osteoarthritis
Authors: Izumi Masashi , Ikeuchi Masahiko , Ji Qinghui , Tani Toshikazu
Published: August 2012

Background

Recent data have suggested a relationship between acute arthritic pain and acid sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) on primary afferent fibers innervating joints. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of ASIC3 in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA) which is considered a degenerative rather than an inflammatory disease.

Methods

We induced OA via intra-articular mono-iodoacetate (MIA) injection, and evaluated pain-related behaviors including weight bearing measured with an incapacitance tester and paw withdrawal threshold in a von Frey hair test, histology of affected knee joint, and immunohistochemistry of knee joint afferents. We also assessed the effect of ASIC3 selective peptide blocker (APETx2) on pain behavior, disease progression, and ASIC3 expression in knee joint afferents.

Results

OA rats showed not only weight-bearing pain but also mechanical hyperalgesia outside the knee joint (secondary hyperalgesia). ASIC3 expression in knee joint afferents was significantly upregulated approximately twofold at Day 14. Continuous intra-articular injections of APETx2 inhibited weight distribution asymmetry and secondary hyperalgesia by attenuating ASIC3 upregulation in knee joint afferents. Histology of ipsilateral knee joint showed APETx2 worked chondroprotectively if administered in the early, but not late phase.

Conclusions

Local ASIC3 immunoreactive nerve is strongly associated with weight-bearing pain and secondary hyperalgesia in MIA-induced OA model. APETx2 inhibited ASIC3 upregulation in knee joint afferents regardless of the time-point of administration. Furthermore, early administration of APETx2 prevented cartilage damage. APETx2 is a novel, promising drug for OA by relieving pain and inhibiting disease progression.
Construction of a high-density genetic map for grape using next generation restriction-site associated DNA sequencing
Authors: Wang Nian , Fang Linchuan , Xin Haiping , Wang Lijun , Li Shaohua
Published: August 2012

Background

Genetic mapping and QTL detection are powerful methodologies in plant improvement and breeding. Construction of a high-density and high-quality genetic map would be of great benefit in the production of superior grapes to meet human demand. High throughput and low cost of the recently developed next generation sequencing (NGS) technology have resulted in its wide application in genome research. Sequencing restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) might be an efficient strategy to simplify genotyping. Combining NGS with RAD has proven to be powerful for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker development.

Results

An F1 population of 100 individual plants was developed. In-silico digestion-site prediction was used to select an appropriate restriction enzyme for construction of a RAD sequencing library. Next generation RAD sequencing was applied to genotype the F1 population and its parents. Applying a cluster strategy for SNP modulation, a total of 1,814 high-quality SNP markers were developed: 1,121 of these were mapped to the female genetic map, 759 to the male map, and 1,646 to the integrated map. A comparison of the genetic maps to the published Vitis vinifera genome revealed both conservation and variations.

Conclusions

The applicability of next generation RAD sequencing for genotyping a grape F1 population was demonstrated, leading to the successful development of a genetic map with high density and quality using our designed SNP markers. Detailed analysis revealed that this newly developed genetic map can be used for a variety of genome investigations, such as QTL detection, sequence assembly and genome comparison.
Unique expression, processing regulation, and regulatory network of peach (Prunus persica) miRNAs
Authors: Zhu Hong , Xia Rui , Zhao Bingyu , An Yong-qiang , Dardick Chris D , Callahan Ann M , Liu Zongrang
Published: August 2012

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as important gene regulators in plants. MiRNAs and their targets have been extensively studied inArabidopsisand rice. However, relatively little is known about the characterization of miRNAs and their target genes in peach (Prunus persica), which is a complex crop with unique developmental programs.

Results

We performed small RNA deep sequencing and identified 47 peach-specific and 47 known miRNAs or families with distinct expression patterns. Together, the identified miRNAs targeted 80 genes, many of which have not been reported previously. Like the model plant systems, peach has two of the three conservedtrans-acting siRNA biogenesis pathways with similar mechanistic features and target specificity. Unique to peach, three of the miRNAs collectively target 49MYBs, 19 of which are known to regulate phenylpropanoid metabolism, a key pathway associated with stone hardening and fruit color development, highlighting a critical role of miRNAs in the regulation of peach fruit development and ripening. We also found that the majority of the miRNAs were differentially regulated in different tissues, in part due to differential processing of miRNA precursors. Up to 16% of the peach-specific miRNAs were differentially processed from their precursors in a tissue specific fashion, which has been rarely observed in plant cells. The miRNA precursor processing activity appeared not to be coupled with its transcriptional activity but rather acted independently in peach.

Conclusions

Collectively, the data characterizes the unique expression pattern and processing regulation of peach miRNAs and demonstrates the presence of a complex, multi-level miRNA regulatory network capable of targeting a wide variety of biological functions, including phenylpropanoid pathways which play a multifaceted spatial-temporal role in peach fruit development.
Medical students’ perceptions and attitudes about family practice: a qualitative research synthesis
Authors: Selva Olid Anna , Zurro Amando Martín , Villa Josep Jiménez , Hijar Antonio Monreal , Tuduri Xavier Mundet , Puime Ángel Otero , Dalmau Gemma Mas , Coello Pablo Alonso‐ ,   for the Universidad y Medicina de Familia Research Group (UNIMEDFAM)
Published: August 2012

Background

During the last decade medical students from most Western countries have shown little interest in family practice. Understanding the factors that influence medical students to choose family medicine is crucial.

Objective

To systematically review and synthesize published evidence about medical students’ attitudes and perceptions towards family practice.

Methods

A qualitative systematic review. The literature search was undertaken in July 2010 in PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Social Science Citation Index (SSCI), and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Two authors independently selected the studies for their inclusion and assessed their quality. The selected studies were thoroughly read. Key themes and categories were identified. A matrix was created for allowing the comparison of each theme across studies.

Results

Ten studies were finally included. Seven broad themes were identified across them: 1) Scope and context of practice was a broad theme comprising linked sub-themes: perception of a varied specialty, broad practice, holistic perspective and flexibility that allows having a family; 2) Lower interest or intellectually less challenging: treating common disease, repetitive, quasi administrative job; 3) Influence of role models, either positive and negative, and society: negative comments from other professionals, peers and family; 4) Lower prestige; 5) Poor remuneration; 6) Medical school influences, being important both the length and quality of the exposure; 7) Post graduate training, where the shorter duration and the lower intensity were perceived as positive aspects. After identifying these seven key themes, were also looked into patterns in the distribution of these themes among studies.

Conclusions

Our qualitative review provides a comprehensive picture of medical students’ attitudes towards family practice in the available literature. In general, although some students find family medicine appealing, it is regarded as a career of low interest and prestige. More research is needed on the influence of role models, medical school and post graduate training.
Predictive value of advanced glycation end products for the development of post-infarction heart failure: a preliminary report
Authors: Raposeiras-Roubín Sergio , Rodiño-Janeiro Bruno K , Paradela-Dobarro Beatriz , Grigorian-Shamagian Lilian , García-Acuña José M , Aguiar-Souto Pablo , Jacquet-Hervet Michel , Reino-Maceiras María V , Álvarez Ezequiel , González-Juanatey José R
Published: August 2012

Background

Since post-infarction heart failure (HF) determines a great morbidity and mortality, and given the physiopathology implications of advanced glycation end products (AGE) in the genesis of myocardial dysfunction, it was intended to analyze the prognostic value of these molecules in order to predict post-infarction HF development.

Methods

A prospective clinical study in patients after first acute coronary syndrome was conducted. The follow-up period was consisted in 1 year. In 194 patients consecutively admitted in the coronary unit for myocardial infarct fluorescent AGE levels were measured. The association between glycaemic parameters and the development of post-infarction HF were analyzed in those patients. Finally, we identified the variables with independent predictor value by performing a multivariate analysis of Hazard ratio for Cox regression.

Results

Eleven out of 194 patients (5.6%) developed HF during follow-up (median: 1.0 years [0.8 - 1.5 years]). Even though basal glucose, fructosamine and glycated haemoglobin were significant predictive factors in the univariate analysis, after being adjusted by confounding variables and AGE they lost their statistical signification. Only AGE (Hazard Ratio 1.016, IC 95%: 1.006-1.026; p<0,001), together with NT-proBNP and the infarct extension were predictors for post-infarction HF development, where AGE levels over the median value 5-fold increased the risk of HF development during follow-up.

Conclusions

AGE are an independent marker of post-infarction HF development risk.
Comparison of histopathology to gene expression profiling for the diagnosis of metastatic cancer
Authors: Kulkarni Anand , Pillai Raji , Ezekiel Ashley M , Henner W David , Handorf Charles R
Published: August 2012

Background

Determining the primary site of metastatic cancer with confidence can be challenging. Pathologists commonly use a battery of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains to determine the primary site. Gene expression profiling (GEP) has found increasing use, particularly in the most difficult cases. In this pilot study, a direct comparison between GEP and IHC-guided methods was performed.

Methods

Ten archived formalin-fixed paraffin embedded metastatic tumor samples for which the primary site had been clinically determined were selected. Five pathologists who were blinded to the diagnosis were asked to determine the primary site using IHC and other stains selected from a panel of 84 stains. Each pathologist was provided patient sex, biopsy site and gross sample description only. Slides were digitized using ScanScope®XT at 0.25 μm/pixel. Each evaluating pathologist was allowed to provide a diagnosis in three stages: initial (after reviewing the H&E image), intermediate (after reviewing images from the first batch of stains) and final diagnosis (after the second batch of stains if requested). GEP was performed using the only FDA-cleared test for this intended use, the Pathwork Tissue of Origin Test. No sample information was provided for GEP testing except for patient sex. Results were reported as the tumor tissue type with the highest similarity score.

Results

In this feasibility study, GEP determined the correct primary site in 9 of the 10 cases (90%), compared to the IHC-guided method which determined the correct primary site for 32 of 50 case evaluations (average 64%, range 50% to 80%). The five pathologists directing the IHC-guided method ordered an average of 8.8 stains per case (range 1 to 18). GEP required an average of 3 slides per case (range 1 to 4).

Conclusions

Results of the pilot study suggest that GEP provides correct primary site identification in a higher percentage of metastatic cases than IHC-guided methods, and uses less tissue. A larger comparative effectiveness study using this study design is needed to confirm the results.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here:http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1749854104745508
Osteosarcoma following single fraction radiation prophylaxis for heterotopic ossification
Authors: Farris Michael K , Chowdhry Varun K , Lemke Sheila , Kilpatrick Mary , Lacombe Michael
Published: August 2012

Radiotherapy for prophylaxis of heterotopic ossification (HO) is commonly used in high risk patients following orthopedic surgery. While treatment is effective and can prevent morbidity associated with HO, with any dose of radiation there is a concern of a radiation induced malignancy. Here we a report a case of radiation induced osteosarcoma which developed 11 years after a single fraction of 700 cGy. We performed dosimetric analysis by superimposing the patient’s original treatment field on a CT scan performed after the diagnosis. The radiotherapy dose for this patient is lower than classically reported for radiation induced sarcomas. We identified greatest bony destruction that was thought to be the epicenter of the tumor, and this was specially contoured on the diagnostic CT scan. This volume appears to be located at the edge of the radiotherapy field. Fifty percent of the treated volume received 240 cGy, the mean dose was 333 cGy. There was a variation across the treatment volume, between 21.8 cGy and 717 cGy. While a rare complication, we stress the importance of informing regarding the risk of a radiation induced malignancy following HO prophylaxis.
A molecular signature in blood identifies early Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Molochnikov Leonid , Rabey Jose M , Dobronevsky Evgenya , Bonuccelli Ubaldo , Ceravolo Roberto , Frosini Daniela , Grünblatt Edna , Riederer Peter , Jacob Christian , Aharon-Peretz Judith , Bashenko Yulia , Youdim Moussa BH , Mandel Silvia A
Published: August 2012

Background

The search for biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is crucial to identify the disease early and monitor the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapies. We aim to assess whether a gene signature could be detected in blood from early/mild PD patients that could support the diagnosis of early PD, focusing on genes found particularly altered in the substantia nigra of sporadic PD.

Results

The transcriptional expression of seven selected genes was examined in blood samples from 62 early stage PD patients and 64 healthy age-matched controls. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis identified five genes as optimal predictors of PD: p19 S-phase kinase-associated protein 1A (odds ratio [OR] 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60–0.90), huntingtin interacting protein-2 (OR 1.32; CI 1.08–1.61), aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1 subfamily A1 (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.75–0.99), 19 S proteasomal protein PSMC4 (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.60–0.89) and heat shock 70-kDa protein 8 (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14–1.70). At a 0.5 cut-off the gene panel yielded a sensitivity and specificity in detecting PD of 90.3 and 89.1 respectively and the area under the receiving operating curve (ROC AUC) was 0.96.

The performance of the five-gene classifier on the de novo PD individuals alone composing the early PD cohort (n = 38), resulted in a similar ROC with an AUC of 0.95, indicating the stability of the model and also, that patient medication had no significant effect on the predictive probability (PP) of the classifier for PD risk. The predictive ability of the model was validated in an independent cohort of 30 patients at advanced stage of PD, classifying correctly all cases as PD (100% sensitivity). Notably, the nominal average value of the PP for PD (0.95 (SD = 0.09)) in this cohort was higher than that of the early PD group (0.83 (SD = 0.22)), suggesting a potential for the model to assess disease severity. Lastly, the gene panel fully discriminated between PD and Alzheimer’s disease (n = 29).

Conclusions

The findings provide evidence on the ability of a five-gene panel to diagnose early/mild PD, with a possible diagnostic value for detection of asymptomatic PD before overt expression of the disorder.
Metabolic remodeling agents show beneficial effects in the dystrophin- deficient mdx mouse model
Authors: Jahnke Vanessa E , Van Der Meulen Jack H , Johnston Helen K , Ghimbovschi Svetlana , Partridge Terrence , Hoffman Eric P , Nagaraju Kanneboyina
Published: August 2012

Background

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease involving a severe muscle wasting that is characterized by cycles of muscle degeneration/regeneration and culminates in early death in affected boys. Mitochondria are presumed to be involved in the regulation of myoblast proliferation/differentiation; enhancing mitochondrial activity with exercise mimetics (AMPK and PPAR-delta agonists) increases muscle function and inhibits muscle wasting in healthy mice. We therefore asked whether metabolic remodeling agents that increase mitochondrial activity would improve muscle function in mdx mice.

Methods

Twelve-week-old mdx mice were treated with two different metabolic remodeling agents (GW501516 and AICAR), separately or in combination, for 4 weeks. Extensive systematic behavioral, functional, histological, biochemical, and molecular tests were conducted to assess the drug(s)' effects.

Results

We found a gain in body and muscle weight in all treated mice. Histologic examination showed a decrease in muscle inflammation and in the number of fibers with central nuclei and an increase in fibers with peripheral nuclei, with significantly fewer activated satellite cells and regenerating fibers. Together with an inhibition of FoXO1 signaling, these results indicated that the treatments reduced ongoing muscle damage.

Conclusions

The three treatments produced significant improvements in disease phenotype, including an increase in overall behavioral activity and significant gains in forelimb and hind limb strength. Our findings suggest that triggering mitochondrial activity with exercise mimetics improves muscle function in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice.
Hyperinsulinemia may have a protective role in the early stages of atherosclerosis in rabbit model of hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Javanmard Shaghayegh Haghjooy , Nematbakhsh Mehdi , Feghhi Azam , Dana Nasim
Published: August 2012

Background

Hypercholesterolemia causes inflammation and insulin resistance in the vasculature. Previous data suggest that vascular endothelium is a physiological target of insulin. Dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis are disorders with endothelial dysfunction that are associated with an increased production of superoxide anion, and early deficit of nitric oxide (NO) production. We examined alteration of plasma levels of insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and total NO metabolites (NOx), as well as fatty streak formation in the rabbit model of hypercholesterolemia.

Methods

White male rabbits were fed either a high-cholesterol diet (HC; 1% cholesterol, n = 6) or control diet (c, n = 6) for one month. The serum levels of Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, NOx, insulin and CRP were measured before and after study. By the end of study, rabbits' aorta was explored for fatty streak formation.

Results

The cholesterol-rich diet induced a significant increase in total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL as well as fatty streak lesions in HC group while there were no significant changes of these parameters in control group (p <0.05). There was significant difference in plasma levels of CRP, insulin and total NO metabolite between two groups of experiment. Negative significant correlation of CRP and insulin also was observed in HC rabbits (r = −0.99, p <0.05).

Conclusion

Parallel NOx and insulin increment and negative correlation of CRP and insulin in HC rabbits may be suggestive a protective role of hyperinsulinemia in early atherosclerosis.
Impact of surveillance of hospital-acquired infections on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Bénet Thomas , Allaouchiche Bernard , Argaud Laurent , Vanhems Philippe
Published: August 2012

Introduction

The preventive impact of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) surveillance is difficult to assess. Our objective was to investigate the effect of HAI surveillance disruption on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) incidence.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study with an intervention group and a control group was conducted between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2010 in two intensive care units (ICUs) of a university hospital that participated in a national HAI surveillance network. Surveillance was interrupted during the year 2007 in unit A (intervention group) and was continuous in unit B (control group). Period 1 (pre-test period) comprised patients hospitalized during 2004 to 2006, and period 2 (post-test period) involved patients hospitalized during 2008 to 2010. Patients hospitalized ≥48 hours and intubated during their stay were included. Multivariate Poisson regression was fitted to ascertain the influence of surveillance disruption.

Results

A total of 2,771 patients, accounting for 19,848 intubation-days at risk, were studied; 307 had VAP. The VAP attack rate increased in unit A from 7.8% during period 1 to 17.1% during period 2 (P <0.001); in unit B, it was 7.2% and 11.2% for the two periods respectively (P = 0.17). Adjusted VAP incidence rose in unit A after surveillance disruption (incidence rate ratio = 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 4.47, P = 0.036), independently of VAP trend; no change was observed in unit B. All-cause mortality and length of stay increased (P = 0.028 and P = 0.038, respectively) in unit A between periods 1 and 2. In unit B, no change in mortality was observed (P = 0.22), while length of stay decreased between periods 1 and 2 (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

VAP incidence, length of stay and all-cause mortality rose after HAI surveillance disruption in ICU, which suggests a specific effect of HAI surveillance on VAP prevention and reinforces the role of data feedback and counselling as a mechanism to facilitate performance improvement.
Prevention of Delayed Nausea: A University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program Study of Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Authors: Roscoe Joseph A. , Heckler Charles E. , Morrow Gary R. , Mohile Supriya G. , Dakhil Shaker R. , Wade James L. , Kuebler J. Philip
Published: August 2012

Purpose

We conducted a double-blind randomized clinical trial of the following four regimens for controlling delayed nausea (DN): group 1: palonosetron + dexamethasone on day 1 with prochlorperazine on days 2 and 3; group 2: granisetron + dexamethasone on day 1 with prochlorperazine on days 2 and 3; group 3: aprepitant + palonosetron + dexamethasone on day 1 with aprepitant + dexamethasone on days 2 and 3; and group 4: palonosetron + dexamethasone on day 1 with prochlorperazine + dexamethasone on days 2 and 3.

Patients and Methods

Chemotherapy-naive patients received doxorubicin, epirubicin, cisplatin, carboplatin, or oxaliplatin. The primary end point was average nausea assessed four times daily on days 2 and 3. Primary analyses were whether nausea control would be improved by using palonosetron versus granisetron on day 1 (group 1 v group 2); by adding dexamethasone on days 2 and 3 (group 1 v group 4); and by using aprepitant versus prochlorperazine (group 3 v group 4). Statistical significance was set at P = .017.

Results

Two hundred thirty-four, 234, 241, and 235 evaluable patients were accrued to groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Adjusted mean differences for the three planned analyses were as follows: palonosetron versus granisetron: −0.01 (95% CI, −0.23 to 0.20; P = .72); adding dexamethasone on days 2 and 3: 0.20 (95% CI, −0.02 to 0.41; P = .01); and using aprepitant versus prochlorperazine: −0.03 (95% CI, −0.24 to 0.19; P = .56).

Conclusion

The addition of dexamethasone on days 2 and 3 reduced DN. Palonosetron and granisetron have similar effects on DN. The beneficial effect of adding aprepitant for control of DN was the same as adding prochlorperazine.
Interleukin-21 Has Activity in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma: A Phase II Study
Authors: Petrella Teresa M. , Tozer Richard , Belanger Karl , Savage Kerry J. , Wong Ralph , Smylie Michael , Kamel-Reid Suzanne , Tron Victor , Chen Bingshu E. , Hunder Naomi N. , Hagerman Linda , Walsh Wendy , Eisenhauer Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

We report a multicenter phase II study of patients with metastatic melanoma (MM), evaluating the efficacy, toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS), immunogenicity, and biomarker profile of interleukin-21 (IL-21).

Patients and Methods

Patients with no prior systemic therapy and with limited-disease MM were treated with IL-21 by using three different dosing regimens. Cohort 1 received 50 μg/kg per day by outpatient intravenous bolus injection for 5 days of each week during weeks 1, 3, and 5 of an 8-week cycle. Cohort 2 received 30 μg/kg per day on the same schedule, and cohort 3 received 50 μg/kg per day for 5 days of each week during weeks 1 and 3 of a 6-week cycle.

Results

Forty patients were enrolled: three in cohort 1, 30 in cohort 2, and seven in cohort 3. Two patients in cohort 1 and four in cohort 3 had dose-limiting toxicities; all other patients were treated with a dose of 30 μg/kg per day. Common adverse events were fatigue, rash, diarrhea, nausea, and myalgia. Overall response rate (ORR) was 22.5%, with nine confirmed partial responses (median response duration, 5.3 months); 16 had stable disease (median response duration, 5.3 months). ORR did not appear to depended on IL-21 receptor expression or BRAF mutation status. The median PFS was 4.3 months and median overall survival (OS) was 12.4 months (95% CI, 10.09 to 17.81 months).

Conclusion

The ORR to IL-21 is 22.5% for first-line MM and warrants further investigation. The favorable PFS and OS suggest that this is an active agent in comparison to both historical NCIC Clinical Trials Group data and data from meta-analysis of Cooperative Group phase II trials.
Intertemporal CAPM with Conditioning Variables
Authors: Maio Paulo
Published: August 2012

This paper derives and tests an intertemporal capital asset pricing model (ICAPM) based on a conditional version of the Campbell–Vuolteenaho two-beta ICAPM (bad beta, good beta (BBGB)). The novel factor is a scaled cash-flow factor that results from the interaction between cash-flow news and a lagged state variable (market dividend yield or consumer price index inflation). The cross-sectional tests over 10 portfolios sorted on size, 10 portfolios sorted on book-to-market, and 10 portfolios sorted on momentum show that the scaled ICAPM explains relatively well the dispersion in excess returns on the 30 portfolios. The results for an alternative set of equity portfolios (25 portfolios sorted on size and momentum) show that the scaled ICAPM prices particularly well the momentum portfolios. Moreover, the scaled ICAPM compares favorably with alternative asset pricing models in pricing both sets of equity portfolios. The scaled factor is decisive to account for the dispersion in average excess returns between past winner and past loser stocks. More specifically, past winners are riskier than past losers in times of high price of risk. Therefore, a time-varying cash-flow beta/price of risk provides a rational explanation for momentum.

This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, finance.
GUB Covers and Power-Indexed Formulations for Wireless Network Design
Authors: D'Andreagiovanni Fabio , Mannino Carlo , Sassano Antonio
Published: August 2012

We propose a pure 0-1 formulation for the wireless network design problem, i.e., the problem of configuring a set of transmitters to provide service coverage to a set of receivers. In contrast with classical mixed-integer formulations, where power emissions are represented by continuous variables, we consider only a finite set of power values. This has two major advantages: it better fits the usual practice and eliminates the sources of numerical problems that heavily affect continuous models. A crucial ingredient of our approach is an effective basic formulation for the single knapsack problem representing the coverage condition of a receiver. This formulation is based on the generalized upper bound (GUB) cover inequalities introduced by Wolsey [Wolsey L (1990) Valid inequalities for 0-1 knapsacks and mips with generalised upper bound constraints. Discrete Appl. Math. 29(2–3):251–261]; and its core is an extension of the exact formulation of the GUB knapsack polytope with two GUB constraints. This special case corresponds to the very common practical situation where only one major interferer is present. We assess the effectiveness of our formulation by comprehensive computational results over realistic instances of two typical technologies, namely, WiMAX and DVB-T.

This paper was accepted by Dimitris Bertsimas, optimization.
The Advertising Mix for a Search Good
Authors: Anderson Simon P. , Renault Régis
Published: August 2012

We extend the persuasion game to bring it squarely into the economics of advertising. We model advertising as exciting consumer interest into learning more about the product, and determine a firm's equilibrium choice of advertising content over quality information, price information, and horizontal match information. Equilibrium is unique whenever advertising is necessary. The outcome is a separating equilibrium with quality unravelling. Lower-quality firms need to provide more information. For a given quality level, as a function of consumer visit costs, first quality information is disclosed, then price information and then horizontal product information are added to the advertising mix. Some suggestive evidence is provided from airline ads in newspapers.

This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
Beyond the “Like” Button: The Impact of Mere Virtual Presence on Brand Evaluations and Purchase Intentions in Social Media Settings
Authors: Naylor Rebecca Walker , Lamberton Cait Poynor , West Patricia M.
Published: August 2012

By 2011, approximately 83% of Fortune 500 companies were using some form of social media to connect with consumers. Furthermore, surveys suggest that consumers are increasingly relying on social media to learn about unfamiliar brands. However, best practices regarding the use of social media to bolster brand evaluations in such situations remain undefined. This research focuses on one practice in this domain: the decision to hide or reveal the demographic characteristics of a brand's online supporters. The results from four studies indicate that even when the presence of these supporters is only passively experienced and virtual (a situation the authors term “mere virtual presence”), their demographic characteristics can influence a target consumer's brand evaluations and purchase intentions. The findings suggest a framework for brand managers to use when deciding whether to reveal the identities of their online supporters or to retain ambiguity according to (1) the composition of existing supporters relative to targeted new supporters and (2) whether the brand is likely to be evaluated singly or in combination with competing brands.
The Double-Edged Sword of Foreign Brand Names for Companies from Emerging Countries
Authors: Melnyk Valentyna , Klein Kristina , Völckner Franziska
Published: August 2012

Foreign branding—or using brand names that evoke foreign associations through, for example, spelling a brand name in a foreign language—is a popular means in both developed and emerging countries of suggesting a specific country of origin (COO) in the hope that it will evoke certain product qualities. As a result, consumers increasingly encounter products with brand names that imply a COO that differs from the actual COO (where the product is manufactured). In four experiments, the authors find support for the hypothesis that incongruence between the actual COO and implied COO decreases purchase likelihood asymmetrically. Incongruence backfires in hedonic categories but has hardly any effect in utilitarian categories. Furthermore, incongruence decreases purchase likelihood more if the actual COO is an emerging rather than developed country. The authors address the psychological process underlying the asymmetric effect of incongruence by showing that consumers apply different information-processing strategies to hedonic versus utilitarian products. These results have important implications for (foreign) branding decisions.
When Guilt Begets Pleasure: The Positive Effect of a Negative Emotion
Authors: Goldsmith Kelly , Cho Eunice Kim , Dhar Ravi
Published: August 2012

Understanding how emotions can affect pleasure has important implications both for people and for firms’ communication strategies. Prior research has shown that experienced pleasure often assimilates to the valence of one's active emotions, such that negative emotions decrease pleasure. In contrast, the authors demonstrate that the activation of guilt, a negative emotion, enhances the pleasure experienced from hedonic consumption. The authors show that this effect occurs because of a cognitive association between guilt and pleasure, such that activating guilt can automatically activate cognitions related to pleasure. Furthermore, the authors show that this pattern of results is unique to guilt and cannot be explained by a contrast effect that generalizes to other negative emotions. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for marketing and consumption behavior.
Model-Based Segmentation Featuring Simultaneous Segment-Level Variable Selection
Authors: Kim Sunghoon , Fong Duncan K.H. , Desarbo Wayne S.
Published: August 2012

The authors propose a new Bayesian latent structure regression model with variable selection to solve various commonly encountered marketing problems related to market segmentation and heterogeneity. The proposed procedure simultaneously performs segmentation and regression analysis within the derived segments, in addition to determining the optimal subset of independent variables per derived segment. The authors present comparative analyses contrasting the performance of the proposed methodology against standard latent class regression and traditional Bayesian finite mixture regression. They demonstrate that their proposed Bayesian model compares favorably with these traditional benchmark models. They then present an actual commercial customer satisfaction study performed for an electric utility company in the southeastern United States, in which they examine the heterogeneous drivers of perceived quality. Finally, they discuss limitations of the research and provide several directions for further research.
Willingness to Pay for Cause-Related Marketing: The Impact of Donation Amount and Moderating Effects
Authors: Koschate-Fischer Nicole , Stefan Isabel V. , Hoyer Wayne D.
Published: August 2012

Companies increasingly employ cause-related marketing to enhance customer goodwill and improve their image. However, because these efforts have major implications for pricing strategy and firm profitability, understanding the relationship between the company's donation amount and customers’ willingness to pay is important. In particular, little is known about the moderating effects that influence this relationship or their underlying mechanisms. Study 1 confirms that two types of customer predispositions moderate the link between donation amount and willingness to pay: donation-related and cause-related predispositions. Three additional studies focus on the negative moderating effect of company–cause fit and provide insights into the underlying moderation process. Specifically, the motives customers attribute to the company mediate the moderating impact of fit on the donation amount–WTP link (Study 2), which occurs particularly in cases of utilitarian (Study 3) and privately consumed products (Study 4).
New Drug Diffusion when Forward-Looking Physicians Learn from Patient Feedback and Detailing
Authors: Chintagunta Pradeep K. , Goettler Ronald L. , Kim Minki
Published: August 2012

The authors study physicians’ prescription choices when uncertainty about drug efficacy is resolved through two channels: firms’ marketing activities (e.g., detailing) and patients’ experiences with the drugs. They first provide empirical evidence that suggests that the well-understood information incentive for physicians to experiment with new drugs is reduced when physicians anticipate future detailing. Therefore, increased detailing activity triggers opposing forces: Adoption is hastened as physicians become informed (assuming prior knowledge is initially low) and slows as they reduce experimentation and instead obtain information from detailing at no cost. The authors then estimate a dynamic Bayesian learning model that embodies these trade-offs using physician-level data on prescription choices and detailing received in the months surrounding the introduction of two erectile dysfunction drugs, Levitra and Cialis. Detailing elasticities are lower when physicians anticipate changes in detailing activity than when such changes are unexpected. Accordingly, the authors conclude that to maximize the effect of detailing, firms should avoid announcing increases in detailing activities.
Policy and Research Related to Consumer Rebates: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Pechmann Cornelia , Silk Tim
Published: August 2012

The authors present the first comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of consumer rebates that includes federal regulations, state laws, and academic research. They discuss four topics that have been the foci of consumer concerns and policy reform: rebate advertising, rebate redemption disclosures, rebate redemption processes, and rebate payment processes. With respect to each of these four topics, the authors identify federal guidelines for rebates by reviewing the 18 Federal Trade Commision rebate-related complaints and the 18 associated consent decrees. Furthermore, they discuss 15 rebate laws from 11 U.S. states, 7 of which were enacted since 2007. In addition, they review academic research related to rebates from diverse literatures including marketing, consumer behavior, psychology, and economics and identify research gaps. This information should help policy makers evaluate rebate policies to assess whether the policies are evidence based, and it should help academics identify unanswered research questions that are important to policy makers.
Evidence on the Effects of Mandatory Disclaimers in Advertising
Authors: Green Kesten C. , Armstrong J. Scott
Published: August 2012

The authors find no evidence that consumers benefit from government-mandated disclaimers in advertising. Experiments and common experience show that admonishments to change or avoid behaviors often have effects opposite to those intended. The authors examine 18 experimental studies that provide evidence relevant to mandatory disclaimers. Mandated messages increased confusion for consumers and were ineffective or harmful in the 15 studies that examined perceptions, attitudes, or decisions. The authors conduct an experiment on the effects of a government-mandated disclaimer for a Florida court case, showing two advertisements for dentists offering implant dentistry to 317 participants. Only one advertiser had implant dentistry credentials. Participants exposed to the disclaimer recommended the advertiser who lacked credentials more often, and women and less-educated participants were particularly prone to this error. In addition, participants drew false and damaging inferences about the credentialed dentist.
Residence Time Distribution Determination of a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor using Computational Fluid Dynamics and its Application on the Mathematical Modeling of Styrene Polymerization
Authors: Gamba Ignacio L. , Marquez Damian Santiago , Estenoz Diana A. , Nigro Norberto , Storti Mario A. , Knoeppel David
Published: August 2012

The continuous operation of a stirred tank reactor for styrene polymerization was modeled. The proposed approach consists of an iterative procedure between two modules that considers the fluid-dynamics and kinetics respectively. The kinetic module considers a complex kinetic mechanism and is used to predict the time evolution of global variables, such as conversion and species concentrations, physicochemical properties and molecular structure characteristics of the final product. In order to obtain a 3D representation of the flow field, the simulation of the hydrodynamics of the reactor was carried out with the aid of a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package. Because CFD is capable to predict the complete velocity distribution in a tank, it provided a good alternative to carry out residence time distribution (RTD) studies. It was found that the stimulus-response tracer method is reasonably accurate to obtain a complete RTD compared to the particle tracking method. The obtained RTD results showed a good agreement when validated with experimental data and literature information.From the estimates of the kinetic module and the RTD predictions, a statistical calculus allows the determination of the average properties at the reactor outlet. The convergence of the iterative procedure was tested and reasonable predictions were achieved for an industrial reactor.
Synthesis and Characterization of Different γ-Al2O3 Nanocatalysts for Methanol Dehydration to Dimethyl Ether
Authors: Hosseini Seyyed Ya'ghoob , Khosravi Nikou Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2012

A simple co-precipitation method was utilized to synthesize γ-Al2O3 catalysts using aluminum nitrate nonahydrate as the source of aluminum cations for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME). Different precipitating agents comprising ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonia solutions were used for preparation of the samples. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, NH3-TPD and N2 adsorption-desorption techniques. The sample prepared by ammonia solution had the highest acidity among the synthesized catalysts. Also, N2 adsorption-desorption results showed suitable textural properties for all of the synthesized samples. Vapor phase dehydration of methanol to DME was performed in the fixed bed micro reactor over the synthesized catalysts and commercial one for comparison purposes. The effects of different characteristics of catalysts such as surface area, acidity, sintering factor and temperature as an operating parameter on performance of catalysts were investigated. The catalyst prepared by ammonia solution showed best catalytic activity due to the suitable textural properties and high amount of acidic sites. Also, the results showed that only high acid strength can’t result high yield of DME for a solid acid catalyst.