bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of mTOR Inhibition in Augmenting Radiation Induced Autophagy
Authors: Jaboin Jerry. J. , Shinohara Eric T. , Moretti Luigi , Yang Eddy S. , Kaminski Joseph M. , Lu Bo
Published: October 2014

Radiation affects both tumor and normal tissues, limiting the total delivered radiation dose. Therefore, novel ways to exploit molecular targets and improve the therapeutic ratio are continually being investigated. Autophagy plays an important role in cancer cell death decisions, particularly in solid tumors. This is counterbalanced by its function in cellular energy preservation. Recent studies have attempted to exploit autophagy in order to improve therapeutic ratio. However, direct inhibition of autophagy has been demonstrated to promote cancer cell death or survival dependent on cell type and condition. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) also regulates autophagy, as well as cell survival and proliferation pathways. Therefore, inhibition at this level of signaling would represent an excellent therapeutic target as it would limit cell growth, decrease cell proliferation, and boost autophagocytosis. Current investigations of mTOR inhibitors in combination with radiation appear to potentiate radiation's ability to induce autophagy. Further studies are necessary to fully elucidate which tumors have the most robust induction of autophagy in response to mTOR inhibition and radiation.
Primary Malignant Mesothelioma of the Abdominal Wall: Complete Response with Radiotherapy Alone
Authors: Videtic Gregory M. M.
Published: October 2014

A 72-year-old female was found to have a large primary mesothelioma of the right flank musculature. She was not felt to be surgically resectable and was treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy alone to a total dose 70 Gy. She had a complete response with no evidence of local progression when two years after treatment imaging revealed lung metastases, confirmed on biopsy. The present case suggests that radiotherapy alone can provide sustained local control of mesothelioma.
A Prediction Study on Radiation-induced Second Malignancies for IMRT Treatment Delivery
Authors: Stathakis Sotirios , Roland Teboh , Papanikolaou Niko , Li Jinseng , Ma Charlie
Published: October 2014

Low-level peripheral organ dose and its effect on second malignancies for patients undergoing radiation therapy have been reported in the literature. However, a comprehensive database outlining the treatment modalities, the tumor location, and a quantification of the overall relative risk of second malignancies is rather limited. In this work, we quantify the relative risks or percent likelihood of second malignancies for patients undergoing IMRT and conventional radiotherapy for four different tumor sites: breast, head and neck, lung, and prostate. We utilize Monte Carlo methods based on actual patient plans to compute the whole body effective dose equivalent for each plan and then deduce the percent likelihood of the occurrence of second malignancy. Based on an evaluation of over 30 actual patient plans and Monte Carlo simulations using 6, 10, and 18MV photon beam energies, we observed that the IMRT patients treated for head and neck cancer showed a 40% increase in risk for developing a second malignancy compared to those treated with conventional radiotherapy. The increase in risk for prostrate patients was 30% while the IMRT lung patients gave the highest relative risk almost tripling that observed in their conventionally treated counterparts. There was negligible difference in risk between breast patients undergoing IMRT treatment versus conventional therapy. The overall relative risk of radiation induced malignancy observed was below 6% in all treatment plans considered.
Target Volume Delineation for Preoperative Radiotherapy of Rectal Cancer: Inter-Observer Variability and Potential Impact of FDG-PET/CT Imaging
Authors: Krengli Marco , Cannillo Barbara , Turri Lucia , Bagnasacco Paolo , Berretta Laura , Ferrara Teresa , Galliano Mario , Gribaudo Sergio , Melano Antonella , Munoz Fernando , Sciacero Piera , Tseroni Vassiliki , Bassi Maria Chiara , Brambilla Marco , Inglese Eugenio
Published: October 2014

To analyze the inter-observer variability and the potential impact of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging for target volume delineation in preoperative radiotherapy of rectal cancer. Gross tumor volume (GTV) and clinical target volume (CTV) in 2 cases of rectal cancer were contoured by 10 radiation oncologists, 5 on CT and 5 on PET/CT images. Resulting volumes were analyzed by coefficient of variation (CV) and concordance index (CI). Mean GTV was 120 cc±20.4 cc in case A and 119 cc ± 35.7 cc in case B. Mean CTV was 723 cc ± 147.5 cc in case A and 739 cc ± 195.6 cc in case B. CV was lower and CI was similar or higher across the observers contouring GTV on PET/CT. CTV variability was less influenced by the use of PET/CT. PET/CT may allow reducing inter-observer variability in GTV delineation.
Clinical Results of a Pilot Study on Stereovision-Guided Stereotactic Radiotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy
Authors: Li Shidong , Kleinberg Lawrence R. , Rigamonti Daniele , Wharam Moody D. , Rashid Abdul , Jackson Juan , Djajaputra David , He Shenjen , Creasey Tunisia , DeWeese Theodore L.
Published: October 2014

Real-time stereovision-guidance has been introduced for efficient and convenient fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSR) and image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This first pilot study is to clinically evaluate its accuracy and precision as well as impact on treatment doses. Sixty-one FSR patients wearing stereotactic masks (SMs) and nine IMRT patients wearing flexible masks (FMs), were accrued. Daily target reposition was initially based-on biplane-radiographs and then adjusted in six degrees of freedom under real-time stereovision guidance. Mean and standard deviation of the head displacements measured the accuracy and precision. Head positions during beam-on times were measured with real-time stereovisions and used for determination of delivered doses. Accuracy ± precision in direction with the largest errors shows improvement from 0.4 ± 2.3 mm to 0.0 ± 1.0 mm in the inferior-to-superior direction for patients wearing SM or from 0.8 ± 4.3 mm to 0.4 ± 1.7 mm in the posterior-to-anterior direction for patients wearing FM. The image-guidance increases target volume coverage by >30% for small lesions. Over half of head position errors could be removed from the stereovision-guidance. Importantly, the technique allows us to check head position during beam-on time and makes it possible for having frameless head refixation without tight masks.
Survey of Organizational Research Climates in Three Research Intensive, Doctoral Granting Universities
Authors: Wells James A. , Thrush Carol R. , Martinson Brian C. , May Terry A. , Stickler Michelle , Callahan Eileen C. , Klomparens Karen L.
Published: October 2014

The Survey of Organizational Research Climate (SOuRCe) is a new instrument that assesses dimensions of research integrity climate, including ethical leadership, socialization and communication processes, and policies, procedures, structures, and processes to address risks to research integrity. We present a descriptive analysis to characterize differences on the SOuRCe scales across departments, fields of study, and status categories (faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students) for 11,455 respondents from three research-intensive universities. Among the seven SOuRCe scales, variance explained by status and fields of study ranged from 7.6% (Advisor–Advisee Relations) to 16.2% (Integrity Norms). Department accounted for greater than 50% of the variance explained for each of the SOuRCe scales, ranging from 52.6% (Regulatory Quality) to 80.3% (Integrity Inhibitors). It is feasible to implement this instrument in large university settings across a broad range of fields, department types, and individual roles within academic units. Published baseline results provide initial data for institutions using the SOuRCe who wish to compare their own research integrity climates.
Modified anterograde pedicle advancement flap in fingertip injury
Authors: Lee S. H. , Jang J. H. , Kim J. I. , Cheon S. J.
Published: October 2014

Soft tissue reconstruction is needed to maintain the maximum length of the fingers in fingertip injury. The purpose of this study was to present an anterograde pedicle advancement flap technique, for the treatment of fingertip injuries, which involved a modification to the anterograde advancement flap by the dissection of the digital nerve and artery with a pedicle to advance the flap. This technique was used in 12 fingers in patients who had undergone soft tissue reconstruction of fingertip injuries between January 2012 and October 2013. The sizes of the flaps ranged from 8 × 7 mm to 14 × 10 mm. The mean length of advancement was 9.7 mm (range 7–13). The mean value of the static two-point discrimination test of the healed flaps was 5.1 mm (range 4–6) and the flaps survived in all the 12 cases. The modified anterograde pedicle advancement flap provides a reliable coverage of sensate soft tissue without bone shortening in fingertip injuries.

Level II
Sepsis lethality via exacerbated tissue infiltration and TLR-induced cytokine production by neutrophils is integrin α3β1-dependent
Authors: Lerman Yelena V. , Lim Kihong , Hyun Young-Min , Falkner Kathleen L. , Yang Hongmei , Pietropaoli Anthony P. , Sonnenberg Arnoud , Sarangi Pranita P. , Kim Minsoo
Published: October 2014

Key Points

Integrin α3β1 (VLA-3; CD49c/CD29) is significantly upregulated on neutrophils from human septic patients and mouse models of sepsis. α3β1high granulocytes displayed hyperinflammatory phenotypes and inhibition of α3β1 improved survival in septic mice.
American Society of Clinical Oncology Position Statement on Obesity and Cancer
Authors: Ligibel Jennifer A. , Alfano Catherine M. , Courneya Kerry S. , Demark-Wahnefried Wendy , Burger Robert A. , Chlebowski Rowan T. , Fabian Carol J. , Gucalp Ayca , Hershman Dawn L. , Hudson Melissa M. , Jones Lee W. , Kakarala Madhuri , Ness Kirsten K. , Merrill Janette K. , Wollins Dana S. , Hudis Clifford A.
Published: October 2014

Rates of obesity have increased significantly over the last three decades in the United States and globally. In addition to contributing to heart disease and diabetes, obesity is a major unrecognized risk factor for cancer. Obesity is associated with worsened prognosis after cancer diagnosis and also negatively affects the delivery of systemic therapy, contributes to morbidity of cancer treatment, and may raise the risk of second malignancies and comorbidities. Research shows that the time after a cancer diagnosis can serve as a teachable moment to motivate individuals to adopt risk-reducing behaviors. For this reason, the oncology care team—the providers with whom a patient has the closest relationships in the critical period after a cancer diagnosis—is in a unique position to help patients lose weight and make other healthy lifestyle changes. The American Society of Clinical Oncology is committed to reducing the impact of obesity on cancer and has established a multipronged initiative to accomplish this goal by 1) increasing education and awareness of the evidence linking obesity and cancer; 2) providing tools and resources to help oncology providers address obesity with their patients; 3) building and fostering a robust research agenda to better understand the pathophysiology of energy balance alterations, evaluate the impact of behavior change on cancer outcomes, and determine the best methods to help cancer survivors make effective and useful changes in lifestyle behaviors; and 4) advocating for policy and systems change to address societal factors contributing to obesity and improve access to weight management services for patients with cancer.
Leptin Therapy Alters Appetite and Neural Responses to Food Stimuli in Brain Areas of Leptin-Sensitive Subjects Without Altering Brain Structure
Authors: Farr Olivia M. , Fiorenza Christina , Papageorgiou Panagiotis , Brinkoetter Mary , Ziemke Florencia , Koo Bang-Bon , Rojas Rafael , Mantzoros Christos S.
Published: October 2014

Context:

Leptin is a key regulator of energy intake and expenditure. Individuals with congenital leptin deficiency demonstrate structural and functional brain changes when given leptin. However, whether acquired leptin deficiency may operate similarly is unclear.

Objective:

We set out to determine whether the brains of individuals with acquired leptin deficiency may react to leptin in a similar manner.

Design:

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after short- and long-term metreleptin treatment in three leptin-sensitive patients with acquired hypoleptinemia. Nine healthy women were scanned as normoleptinemic controls.

Setting:

The setting was an academic medical center.

Patients or Other Participants:

The participants were 3 hypoleptinemic women and nine normoleptinemic, matched women.

Interventions:

We used metreleptin, recombinant leptin, therapy for 24 weeks in hypoleptinemic women only.

Main Outcome Measure:

We measured neural changes in response to viewing food as compared to nonfood images. We hypothesized that metreleptin treatment would increase brain activity in areas related to cognitive control and inhibition and would decrease brain activity in areas related to reward processing, as compared to the normoleptinemic counterparts.

Results:

Unlike patients with congenital leptin deficiency, hypoleptinemic patients demonstrated no structural brain differences from healthy controls and/or structural changes in response to treatment. Short-term metreleptin treatment in leptin-sensitive hypoleptinemic subjects enhances areas involved in detecting the salience and rewarding value of food during fasting, whereas long-term treatment decreases attention to food and the rewarding value of food after feeding. Furthermore, hypothalamic activity is modulated by metreleptin treatment, and leptin decreases functional connectivity of the hypothalamus to key feeding-related areas in these hypoleptinemic subjects.

Conclusions:

Leptin replacement in acutely hypoleptinemic women did not alter brain structure but did alter functional cortical activity to food cues in key feeding and reward-related areas.
Genome-wide identification of signaling center enhancers in the developing limb
Authors: VanderMeer Julia E. , Smith Robin P. , Jones Stacy L. , Ahituv Nadav
Published: October 2014

The limb is widely used as a model developmental system and changes to gene expression patterns in its signaling centers, notably the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) and the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), are known to cause limb malformations and evolutionary differences in limb morphology. Although several genes that define these limb signaling centers have been described, the identification of regulatory elements that are active within these centers has been limited. By dissecting mouse E11.5 limbs that fluorescently mark the ZPA or AER, followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and low-cell H3K27ac ChIP-seq, we identified thousands of specific signaling-center enhancers. Our ChIP-seq datasets show strong correlation with ZPA- and AER-expressed genes, previously characterized functional ZPA and AER enhancers and enrichment for relevant biological terms related to limb development and malformation for the neighboring genes. Using transgenic assays, we show that several of these sequences function as ZPA and AER enhancers. Our results identify novel ZPA and AER enhancers that could be important regulators of genes involved in the establishment of these specialized regions and the patterning of tetrapod limbs.
Identification of molecular heterogeneity in SNX27-retromer-mediated endosome-to-plasma membrane recycling
Authors: McGough Ian J. , Steinberg Florian , Gallon Matthew , Yatsu Ayaka , Ohbayashi Norihiko , Heesom Kate J. , Fukuda Mitsunori , Cullen Peter J.
Published: October 2014

Retromer is a protein assembly that orchestrates sorting of transmembrane cargo proteins into endosome-to-Golgi and endosome-to-plasma membrane transport pathways. Here, we have employed quantitative proteomics to define the interactome of human VPS35, the core retromer component. This has identified a number of new interacting proteins, including ankyrin-repeat domain 50 (ANKRD50), seriologically-defined colon cancer antigen 3 (SDCCAG3) and VPS9-ankyrin-repeat protein (VARP). Depletion of these proteins resulted in trafficking defects of retromer-dependent cargo, but differential and cargo specific effects suggested a surprising degree of functional heterogeneity in retromer-mediated endosome-to-plasma membrane sorting. Extending this, suppression of the retromer-associated WASH complex did not uniformly affect retromer cargo, thereby confirming cargo specific functions for retromer interacting proteins. Further analysis of the retromer-VARP interaction identified a role for retromer in endosome-to-melanosome transport. Suppression of VPS35 led to miss trafficking of the melanogenic enzymes, tyrosinase and tryrosine-related protein 1 (Tyrp1), establishing that retromer acts in concert with VARP in this trafficking pathway. Overall these data reveal hidden complexities in retromer-mediated sorting and open up new directions in our molecular understanding of this essential sorting complex.
A high throughput siRNA screen identifies genes that regulate mannose 6-phosphate receptor trafficking
Authors: Anitei Mihaela , Chenna Ramu , Czupalla Cornelia , Esner Milan , Christ Sara , Lenhard Steffi , Korn Kerstin , Meyenhofer Felix , Bickle Marc , Zerial Marino , Hoflack Bernard
Published: October 2014

The delivery of newly synthesized soluble lysosomal hydrolases to the endosomal system is essential for lysosome function and cell homeostasis. This process relies on the proper trafficking of the mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs) between the trans-Golgi network, endosomes and the plasma membrane. Many transmembrane proteins regulating diverse biological processes ranging from virus production to the development of multi-cellular organisms also use these pathways. To explore how cell signaling modulates MPR trafficking, we used high throughput RNA interference to target the human kinome and phosphatome. Using high content image analysis, we identified 127 kinases and phosphatases belonging to different signaling networks that regulate MPR trafficking and/or the dynamic states of the subcellular compartments encountered by the MPRs. Our analysis maps the MPR trafficking pathways based on enzymes regulating phosphatidylinositol phosphate metabolism. Furthermore, it reveals how cell signaling controls the biogenesis of post-Golgi, tubular carriers destined to the endosomal system through a SRC-dependent pathway regulating ARF1 and RAC1 signaling and myosin II activity.
Shaving increases daily energy expenditures in free living root voles
Authors: Szafrańska Paulina A. , Zub Karol , Wieczorek Monika , Książek Aneta , Speakman John R. , Konarzewski Marek
Published: October 2014

Experimental manipulation of energy expenditure has long been recognized as an effective means for identifying causative effects and avoiding confounded interpretations arising from spurious correlations. This approach has been successfully applied mainly in studies on birds, particularly on reproducing adults, while manipulations in mammals have proved more problematic. Here we tested the hypothesis that shaving off 50% of the dorsal pelage should effectively increase energy expenditure in the wild root voles (Microtus oeconomus) in their natural environment. We measured daily energy expenditures (DEE), using doubly labelled water (DLW), in shaved and unshaved voles at the beginning of winter. The difference in DEE (corrected for body mass and year effects) between experimental and control group fluctuated from 11.5% to 17.3%. Probability of recapture over the 3-days DEE assay was strongly dependent on body mass but did not differ between shaved and unshaved animals, however the prevalence of larger (heavier) shaved individuals was observed. Shaved animals lost more weight between the release and recapture. Shaving therefore appears an effective method of increasing costs of total daily energy expenditures in wild endotherms in their natural environment.
Musculoskeletal modelling deconstructs the paradoxical effects of elastic ankle exoskeletons on plantar-flexor mechanics & energetics during hopping
Authors: Farris Dominic James , Hicks Jennifer Lee , Delp Scott L. , Sawicki Gregory S.
Published: October 2014

Experiments have shown that elastic ankle exoskeletons can be used to reduce ankle joint and plantar-flexor muscle loading when hopping in place and, in turn, reduce metabolic energy consumption. However, recent experimental work has shown that such exoskeletons cause less favourable soleus (SO) muscle-tendon mechanics than is observed during normal hopping which might limit the capacity of the exoskeleton to reduce energy consumption. To directly link plantar-flexor mechanics and energy consumption when hopping in exoskeletons, we used a musculoskeletal model of the human leg and a model of muscle energetics in simulations of muscle-tendon dynamics during hopping with and without elastic ankle exoskeletons. Simulations were driven by experimental electromyograms, joint kinematics and exoskeleton torque taken from previously published data. The data were from seven males who hopped at 2.5 Hz with and without elastic ankle exoskeletons. The energetics model showed that total rate of metabolic energy consumption by ankle muscles was not significantly reduced by an ankle exoskeleton. This was despite large reductions in plantar-flexor force production (40-50%). The lack of larger metabolic reductions with exoskeletons was attributed to increases in plantar-flexor muscle fiber velocities and a shift to less favourable muscle fiber lengths during active force production. This limited the capacity for plantar-flexors to reduce activation and energy consumption when hopping with exoskeleton assistance.
Nitrogen fixation in the mucus of Red Sea corals
Authors: Grover Renaud , Ferrier-Pagès Christine , Maguer Jean-François , Ezzat Leïla , Fine Maoz
Published: October 2014

Scleractinian corals are essential constituents of the tropical reefs ecological diversity. They live in close association with diazotrophs (dinitrogen (N2)-fixing microbes), which can fix high rates of N2. Whether corals benefit from this extrinsic nitrogen source is still under debate. Up to now, N2 fixation rates were indirectly estimated using the acetylene reduction assay, which does not permit assessing the amount of nitrogen incorporated into the different compartments of the coral holobiont. In the present study, the 15N2 technique was applied for the first time on three Red Sea coral species. Significant 15N enrichment was measured in particles released by corals to the surrounding seawater. N2 fixation rates were species specific and as high as 1.6 - 22 ng N d-1 L-1. However, no significant enrichment was measured in the symbiotic dinoflagellates or the coral host tissues, suggesting that corals do not benefit from diazotrophic N2 fixation.
Tribo-, Thermo-, and Vapochromic Behavior of Hydrazone–Pt(II) Complexes Induced by Protonation–Deprotonation in the Solid State, and Their Luminescence Properties in Solution
Authors: Yamashita Yurika , Tateishi Tomoya , Sawaguchi Kana , Kobayashi Atsushi , Kato Masako , Nakajima Kiyohiko
Published: October 2014

Pt(II) complexes containing tridentate hydrazone ligands were prepared. Reversible protonation and deprotonation of the hydrazone complexes occurred in solution and in the solid state. On grinding and heating the yellow-colored crystals of the protonated complex [PtCl(HL)]Cl, the deprotonated red-colored product, [PtCl(L)], was produced, and HCl vapor was released. The deprotonated complex reverted to the yellow-colored protonated complex on exposure of the red-colored crystals to HCl vapor. Both [PtCl(HL)]Cl and [PtCl(L)] exhibited different luminescence colors in acetonitrile solution.
Financial Networks and Contagion
Authors: Elliott Matthew , Golub Benjamin , Jackson Matthew O.
Published: October 2014

We study cascades of failures in a network of interdependent financial organizations: how discontinuous changes in asset values (e.g., defaults and shutdowns) trigger further failures, and how this depends on network structure. Integration (greater dependence on counterparties) and diversification (more counterparties per organization) have different, nonmonotonic effects on the extent of cascades. Diversification connects the network initially, permitting cascades to travel; but as it increases further, organizations are better insured against one another's failures. Integration also faces trade-offs: increased dependence on other organizations versus less sensitivity to own investments. Finally, we illustrate the model with data on European debt cross-holdings. (JEL D85, F15, F34, F36, F65, G15, G32, G33, G38)
Breaking a Guinness World Record on Hand Sanitizing Relay, initiating a call for vital research in overcoming campaign fatigue for hand hygiene
Authors: Seto Wing Hong , Li Kwok-Hung , Cheung Christina Woon Yee , Ching Patricia Tai Yin , Cowling Benjamin J.
Published: October 2014

Hand hygiene has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing hospital acquired infections for many years. However it is difficult to maintain and enhance compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. In Hong Kong, we previously reported a strategy to counter campaign fatigue from 50%-55% in 2009-11 to 83% in 2012. Here we report a creative activity that we used to sustain and enhance hand hygiene compliance. In May 2014 we broke the first Guinness World Record for a Hand Sanitizing Relay. A total of 277 participants performed hand hygiene before two official and approved witnesses. Following this team-directed strategy, an increase in hand hygiene compliance was identified in two clinical areas with previously poor compliance. The longer term impact of this strategy remains to be determined. More broadly, further research is urgently needed on meeting the challenge of campaign fatigue, and maintaining and enhancing compliance with hand hygiene guidelines.
Individual Reactions of External Respiration on Courses of the General Extreme Cryogenic Action in Individuals with Different Sensitivity Nociceptors
Authors: Медалиева  , Medalieva Rimma
Published: October 2014

A prospective cohort study open parallel 99 people organized stratified sample of the population in order to study the features of responses of external respiration relatively healthy individuals with the general course of cryogenic air exercises held in different modes, depending on the pain sensitivity of skin receptors. Minimum volumes subsamples defined by the nomogram. Statistical processing of the material held in the calculations the median values ​​in the first and last quartiles of the distribution and assessment of differences using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. It is for the first time shown that various ability of an individual to a pain expression during a cryosession is criterion of an assessment of the general functional condition of an organism and the differentiated individual strategy of adaptation to factors of the environment, dependent on an influence mode. The subjects exhibiting sensitivity to pain and its equivalents by the end of the procedure the total cooling initially have higher levels of static and dynamic parameters of spirometry parameters. Proved that using cryogenic training mode first procedures daily face capable of expressing the cutaneous pain sensitivity, show negative, but not clinically significant dynamics of the external breathing resistance in the form of increase of bronchial conductivity, which is not beyond the permissible "norm" reaction. However upon termination of a course of the cryogenic influences which are carried out in a mode of 2 sessions every other day, improvement of a functional condition of system of external breath is revealed differentiated, dependent on a condition of painful sensitivity. Among persons with an expression of pain increased both static, and dynamic volumes of spirometry, however in the group of persons, not shown pain, a condition of bronchial conductivity didn´t change, levels of vital capacity of lungs and reserve volume of an exhalation only increased.
Effect of Intravenous Laser Irradiation of Blood on the Dynamics of Glycosaminoglycans in the Serum of Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Бурдули  , Burduli N. , Бурдули  , Burduli N.
Published: October 2014

The purpose of this work is to study the content of glycosaminoglycans in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their dynamics in complex therapy of intravenous laser irradiation of blood. Materials and methods: 102 patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis were examined. Diagnosis was made according to the criteria ACR/EULAR (American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism 2010г.). All patients were divided into two groups: basic and control. In the control group, patients received only traditional drug therapy. The main group consisted of patients who received conventional medical therapy in addition, the course of intravenous laser therapy. Results. Before treatment the level of glycosaminoglycans was significantly higher than the norm and made up in the main group 0,718±0,069 g/l (p<0,01), in the control group level amounted to 1,048±has 0.168 g/l (p<0,01). After treatment only in the main group level of glycosaminoglycans decreased significantly to values ​​of the norm, making 0,410±0,032 g / l (p<0,001). The control group didn’t decrease in glycosaminoglycans reached standards (0,799±0,138 g / l) and was not statistically significant (p>0,05). Conclusions: The use of intravenous laser irradiation of blood in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the combined treatment with conventional drug therapy allows to normalize the level of glycosaminoglycans in the serum.
Phytolaserophoresis as Integrative Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Internal Organs Diseases
Authors: Касаева  , Kasaeva E. , Купеев  , Kupeev R. , Купеев  , Kupeev V.
Published: October 2014

This article describes the development history and basic principles of a modern therapy method - phytolaserophoresis. It provides complex treating impact on chronic diseases, taking into account additional pathogenic disorders of nerve and endocrine regulation. Data analysis of patients with various internal chronic pathologies, revealed the primary role of osteochondrosis and other degenerative disc diseases in maintaining chronic pathological processes. Osteochondrosis doesn’t an isolated problem of the musculoskeletal system, it leads to hypoxia of the brain, the excitement of sub-cortical centers of self-regulation and, as a consequence, in violation of the nervous and endocrine regulation. Treatment by means of phytolaserophoresis method implies soft methods of therapeutic effects on central and peripheral factors to chronic disease. After normalization of the regulatory functions of the body, against the background of recovery of homeostasis and microcirculation in organs, the targeted therapeutic effect at the site of the problem becomes more efficient and can achieve a significant improvement and long-term remission. Advantages of the technique are its non-invasive, absence side effects, available technical and material resources and the possibility of applying the method in medical establishments of any capacity.
Action Mechanisms of Various Lasers and the Differentiated Indications to their Application (Review)
Authors: Шептий  , Sheptiy O. , Круглова  , Kruglova L. , Котенко  , Kotenko K. , Корчажкина  , Korchazhkina N. , Яменсков  , Yamenskov V.
Published: October 2014

To date, the methods of laser irradiation applied to the skin is much more frequent than in any other tissues, due to an exceptional variety and prevalence of skin diseases and a variety of cosmetic defects, as well as the relative simplicity of the procedures, which is associated with a surface location of objects requiring lecheniya.Lazernoe rejuvenation can be attributed to the most efficient and versatile methods of struggle with involutional changes in the skin. Target chromophores for laser radiation are almost all the chemical structures of the skin - the water, hemoglobin, melanin, collagen. The selectivity of the laser action allows you to choose individual scheme correction of involutional disorders of the skin in any type of aging skin. Wide demand for laser treatments, their high efficiency dictate the need to synthesize the available current data on the benefits and features of the application, as well as to the tactics of patients that can benefit greatly assist the individual laser medicine in the choice of the most efficient technology with the correct ratio of efficacy and safety.

In this review article provides current data on the method of laser skin resurfacing using a CO2 laser with a description of the phase of patient management. Describes in detail the predicted side effects, adverse events, and methods for their prevention and correction.
Design Innovativeness and Product Sales' Evolution
Authors: Rubera Gaia
Published: October 2014

In the last decade, design innovation has gained increasing prominence in the marketplace, with a growing number of firms innovating not only through technology but also through novel product forms (i.e., design). However, while the effect of technological innovation on product sales is a heavily studied topic, a defining theory of how design innovation influences product sales is still missing. This paper provides demand- and supply-side theories to formulate a set of coherent hypotheses about the effect of design innovativeness, i.e., the degree of novelty in a product’s design, on sales' evolution over time. The hypotheses are tested in two different samples. In the first, car models introduced in the United States from 1978 to 2006 (for a total of 2,757 model-year data) are analyzed. In the second, motorcycle models introduced in the United States from 1980 to 2008 (for a total of 2,847 model-year observations) are analyzed. I find that design innovativeness diminishes initial sales' status but increases sales' growth rates. Furthermore, design and technological innovativeness have a negative interaction effect on sales' initial status, but a positive effect on sales' growth rates. Finally, brand strength and brand advertising expenditures worsen the negative effect of design innovativeness on initial sales' status, but boost its positive effect on sales' growth rates.
Asset Pricing in a Monetary Economy with Heterogeneous Beliefs
Authors: Croitoru Benjamin , Lu Lei
Published: October 2014

In this paper, we shed new light on the role of monetary policy in asset pricing by examining the case in which investors have heterogeneous expectations about future monetary policy. This case is realistic because central banks are typically less than perfectly open about their intentions. Accordingly, surveys of economists reveal that they frequently disagree in their expectations. Under heterogeneity in beliefs, investors place speculative bets against each other on the evolution of the money supply, and as a result the sharing of wealth in the economy evolves stochastically. Employing a continuous-time equilibrium model, we show that these fluctuations majorly affect the prices of all assets, as well as inflation. Our model could help explain some empirical puzzles. In particular, we find that the volatility of bond yields and stock market volatility could be significantly increased by the heterogeneity in beliefs, a conclusion supported by our empirical analyses.

This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, finance.
Fair Wages and Effort Provision: Combining Evidence from a Choice Experiment and a Field Experiment
Authors: Cohn Alain , Fehr Ernst , Goette Lorenz
Published: October 2014

The presence of workers who reciprocate higher wages with greater effort can have important consequences for firms and labor markets. Knowledge about the extent and determinants of reciprocal effort choices is, however, incomplete. We investigate the role of fairness perceptions and social preferences in a field experiment in which workers were hired for a one-time job. We show that workers who perceive being underpaid at the base wage increase their performance if the hourly wage increases, whereas those who feel adequately paid or overpaid at the base wage do not change their performance. Moreover, we find that only the workers who display reciprocity in a choice experiment show reciprocal effort responses in the field. The workers who lack reciprocity in the choice experiment do not respond to the wage increase, even if they feel underpaid at the base wage. Our findings suggest that fairness perceptions and social preferences are key in workers' performance response to wage increases. In our study, the wage increase affects effort mainly through the removal of perceived unfairness, i.e., the elimination of negative reciprocity toward the firm, rather than positive reciprocity. These results are the first direct evidence of the fair-wage effort hypothesis in the field and also help interpret previous contradictory findings in the literature.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1970 .

This paper was accepted by Uri Gneezy, behavioral economics.
The User Costs of Air Travel Delay Variability
Authors: Koster Paul , Pels Eric , Verhoef Erik
Published: October 2014

We derive the expected user costs of U.S. domestic air travel delay variability taking into account scheduling behavior of travelers. Travelers do not only consider mean arrival delays but also face scheduling costs because they arrive too early or too late at their destination. The model allows travelers to anticipate arrival delay variability by choosing an earlier flight. We show that the expected user costs of U.S. air traffic delays are almost doubled if expected schedule delay of travelers is accounted for, whereas the benefits of improvements in mean delay are underestimated by 16% if arrival delay variability is ignored.
A Nazi hero in Greek cinema: History and parapraxis in Kostas Manousakis’s Prodosia
Authors: Thanouli Eleftheria
Published: October 2014

Kostas Manousakis’s Prodosia / Betrayal (1964) is one of the few films dedicated to the period of German occupation in Greece, offering a rare portrayal of the German soldier and touching upon the persecution of Jews in Europe. This essay relates this historical representation to the extensive and long-standing debates about the representation of the Holocaust in cinema and deploys Thomas Elsaesser’s concept of ‘parapraxis’ to identify a series of key thematic and stylistic motifs. The film, read through the prism of parapraxis, presents a portrait of history with complex temporalities, inviting us to rethink the course of history through the current perspective and work on our historical imaginary in new meaningful ways.
Brother Anna (1963): A Jewish woman is a very queer woman
Authors: Kroustallis Vassilis
Published: October 2014

O Adelfos Anna / Brother Anna (Grigoriou, 1963) is a Greek film about Anna, a Jewish girl who cross-dresses as a monk in a Christian monastery in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The film’s negotiation of gender and religious identities is peculiarly subdued: unlike other cross-dressing films (such as Sylvia Scarlett or Yentl), both Anna’s disguise and her subsequent identity disclosure do not lead to paradoxical situations that can invite queer interpretations, and her Jewishness recedes into the background. Yet, the fact that Anna resides in an oppressive environment, which stipulates female sexuality as profane and punishes its manifestations, marks her own, queer trajectory of identity disclosure: being initially saddled with a non-gendered identity that helps her avoid female oppression, Anna experiments with religious, Christian pathos to sanctify her own sexuality. At the same time, she unknowingly but actively explores the negative stereotype of a Jewish temptress to seduce her male object of desire to Christian morality. Even though Anna will finally embrace a conventional heterosexual bonding, both her non-normative, religious expression of sexuality and her overturning of the negative connotations that female Jewishness entails leads to her acknowledgement of female sexuality as something inherently positive, which does not require validation from a conventional, Greek Orthodox marriage scheme.
Dark epistemology: An assessment of philosophical trends in the black metal music of Mayhem
Authors: McWilliams Jesse
Published: October 2014

This article attempts to characterize a negative form of postmodernism as expressed in examples of black metal. Black metal is discussed in reference to a collection of examples from the music and comments of individuals of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. Through an integration of ideas advanced in postmodern philosophy and theory, this article attempts to describe a realization of epistemological darkness that is demonstrated within black metal, and this discussion concludes by considering the limitations of essentialism in relation to the art and its themes.
Different telecentre models in ICT for development and their impact on organizational sustainability
Authors: Windsor Sampath S. , Royal Carol
Published: October 2014

Within seven years, e-Sri Lanka programme funded by the World Bank as a South Asian first has established a network of 765 Nenasala telecentres as grass-root non-profit or for-profit enterprises. As e-Sri Lanka’s main interface, Nenasalas aim to deliver Information Communication Technology (ICT) services to the community through ICT for Development (ICT4D) endeavours. However, these diverse telecentre models point to dissimilar sustainability records. Yet, no external/academic evaluation has been undertaken to examine the impact on Nenasala sustainability stemming from variations in models. The authors conducted a comprehensive analysis of archival material of Sri Lankan Nenasala telecentre initiative and uncovered number of telecentre models that accentuate profitable knowledge work through home-grown Social Responsibility (SR) collaborations to develop underprivileged communities.
Genetic and non-genetic determinants of aggression in combat sports
Authors: Gronek Piotr , Wieliński Dariusz , Gronek Joanna
Published: October 2014

Human aggression/impulsivity-related traits are
influenced by complex genetic and non-genetic factors.
The aggression/anxiety relationship is controlled by
highly conserved brain regions including the amygdala,
hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray of the midbrain,
which is responsible for neural circuits triggering defensive,
aggressive, or avoidant behavioral models. The social
behavior network consists of the medial amygdala, medial
hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray, and it positively
modulates reactive aggression. An important role in the
incidence of aggressive behavior is played by secreted
factors such as testosterone, glucocorticoids, pheromones,
as well as by expression of genes such as neuroligin-2,
monoamine oxidase A, serotonin transporters, etc.
The authors deliberate whether aggression in sport is
advantageous (or even indispensable), or to what extent
it can hamper attainment of sport success. Methods
of reducing and inhibiting expression of aggression in
athletes are indicated.
Role of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to predict conversion to dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a clinical cohort study
Authors: Tondelli Manuela , Bedin Roberta , Chiari Annalisa , Molinari Maria Angela , Bonifacio Guendalina , Lelli Nicoletta , Trenti Tommaso , Nichelli Paolo
Published: October 2014

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels assessment of Aβ

A group of 71 MCI patients underwent neurological assessment, extended neuropsychological evaluation, routine blood tests, ApoE determination, and lumbar puncture to dose t-tau, p-tau

Baseline Aβ

Our results confirm the key role of CSF biomarkers in predicting patient conversion from MCI to dementia. The study suggests that CSF biomarkers may also be reliable in a real world clinical setting.
The tumor necrosis factor-α –238G/A and IL-6 –572G/C gene polymorphisms and the risk of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis of 25 studies including 9493 cases and 13,971 controls
Authors: Liaquat Afrose , Shauket Uzma , Ahmad Wasim , Javed Qamar
Published: October 2014

Inflammation plays an imperative role in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The role of cytokines in the development and progression of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is still uncertain. The current study was conducted to evaluate the association of tumor necrosis factor-α (

IDCM cases (n=250) and healthy controls (n=300) were genotyped using PCR-RFLP.

The variant genotypes of both the loci showed significant differences between patients and controls (p<0.05). However, –238G/A polymorphism did not show association with the disease in the presence of covariates. We also conducted a meta-analysis of both the loci with regards to CVD in accordance with the Prisma checklist. No significant relation of the

Our findings support an association between the
Preanalytical errors: a preliminary approach to the point of view of primary health care givers
Authors: Gómez-Salgado Juan , Romero Adolfo , Caparrós Isabel S. , Barba M. Carmen , Reina Margarita , Ruiz-Frutos Carlos
Published: October 2014

The presence of errors in the preanalytical phase is a widely studied topic. However, information regarding the perspective of those professionals involved is rather scant.

Two focus groups of professionals from Primary Care involved in the preanalytical phase (general practitioners [GP], community nurses [CN], and other auxiliary health workers, including administrative personnel [AHW]) were convened. A qualitative analysis with a phenomenological approach was performed by using the structure of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis as a guide, and results were categorized by grouping the resultant dimensions according to this structure.

Overall, 12 professionals (3 GP, 6 CN, and 3 AHW) were distributed in two groups. Age and gender distribution were similar between groups. The most commented strengths were organizational capability and teamwork. The main weakness was the workload increase (compared to the short time spent on sample collection). Opportunities were related to workload optimization through on-line analytical requests. Threats were related to the long time elapsed between sample drawing at Primary Care and delivery to the Central Laboratory.

The phenomenological approach allows revealing those aspects that cannot be entirely elucidated by objective data measurement. Attitudes considered as positive can be exploited by the institution, whereas those considered as negative alert us to possible future problems. Primary Care professionals offered a different point of view to laboratory staff, but both recognized high workload as the main threat and on-line analytical request as the best opportunity. These perspectives may help to improve detection and decrease the number of errors.