bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Syncope paradox in the outcome of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism: short‐term and midterm outcome
Authors: Seyyedi Seyyed‐reza , Jenab Yaser , Tokaldany Masoumeh Lotfi , Shirani Shapoor , Sadeghian Saeed , Jalali Arash
Published: July 2014

Background and Aim

We compare the early and midterm outcomes of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in patients with and without syncope in our single‐center registry.

Method

Between December 2006 and May 2013, 351 consecutive patients (mean age = 60.21 ± 16.91 years, 55.3% male) with confirmed acute symptomatic PTE were divided in with and without syncope groups. Groups were compared in terms of the effect of syncope on 30‐day mortality and adverse events, and mortality in a median follow‐up time of 16.9 months.

Results

From 351 patients, 39 (11.1%) had syncope and 312 (88.9%) did not. Syncope group had less frequently chest pain (30.8% vs 51.4%; P value = 0.015). Also, the rates of 30‐day adverse events and mortality were 12.8% and 5.1% for the group with syncope, and 14.4% and 10.3% for the group without syncope, respectively, with no significant difference. At follow up, 65 patients died and mortality was 18.5% for 351 patients (5.1% in the group with syncope and 20.2% for the other group). After adjustment for confounding factors, the effect of syncope on 30‐day adverse events and mortality remained non‐significant and on the midterm mortality was significant, showing that the presence of syncope was associated with lower midterm mortality (P value = 0.038).

Conclusion

Among PTE patients in our registry, 11.1% presented with syncope. Relationship between syncope and 30‐day adverse events and mortality remained non‐significant after adjustments for other factors. However, in midterm follow up, patients with syncope were significantly at decreased risk of mortality compared to those without syncope.
Early non‐invasive ventilation treatment for respiratory failure due to severe community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Nicolini Antonello , Ferraioli Gianluca , Ferrari‐Bravo Maura , Barlascini Cornelius , Santo Mario , Ferrera Lorenzo
Published: July 2014

Background and Aims

Severe community‐acquired pneumonia (sCAP) have been as defined pneumonia requiring admission to the intensive care unit or carrying a high risk of death. Currently, the treatment of sCAP consists of antibiotic therapy and ventilator support. The use of invasive ventilation causes several complications as does admission to ICU. For this reason, non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) has been used for acute respiratory failure to avoid endotracheal intubation. However, few studies have currently assessed the usefulness of NIV in sCAP.

Methods

We prospectively assessed 127 patients with sCAP and severe acute respiratory failure [oxygen arterial pressure/oxygen inspiratory fraction ratio (PaO2/FiO2) <250]. We defined successful NIV as avoidance of intubation and the achievement of PaO2/FiO2 >250 with spontaneous breathing. We assessed predictors of NIV failure and hospital mortality using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

NIV failed in 32 patients (25.1%). Higher chest X‐ray score at admission, chest X‐ray worsening, and a lower PaO2/FiO2 and higher alveolar‐arteriolar gradient (A‐aDO2) after 1 h of NIV all independently predicted NIV failure. Higher lactate dehydrogenase and confusion, elevated blood urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure plus age ≥65 years at admission, higher A‐aDO2, respiratory rate and lower PaO2/FiO2 after 1 h of NIV and intubation rate were directly related to hospital mortality.

Conclusions

Successful treatment is strongly related to less severe illness as well as to a good initial and sustained response to medical therapy and NIV treatment. Constant monitoring of these patients is mandatory.
Diagnostic value of suPAR in differentiating noncardiac pleural effusions from cardiac pleural effusions
Authors: Ozsu Savas , Oztuna Funda , Mentese Ahmet , Abul Yasin , Ozlu Tevfik
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a newly discovered inflammatory biomarker. suPAR has not been previously studied in differentiating noncardiac pleural effusion (PF) from cardiac PF. The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic value of suPAR in PF.

Methods

The concentration of PF‐suPAR was measured by a commercialized enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in a prospective cohort of 74 patients with PF, 18 patients with PF due to cardiac failure (CF) and 56 patients with noncardiac PF. The area under the curve quantified the overall diagnostic accuracy of the tests.

Results

The median pleural fluid suPAR level was found as 23 (5.4–102.8) ng/mL. The median PF‐suPAR level in CF was significantly lower than that of noncardiac effusions [11.8 (5.4–28.9) ng/mL vs 26.7 (8.2–102.8) ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.001]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.878 (95% confidence interval: 0795–0.962, P < 0.001) for noncardiac pleural fluid suPAR. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of PF‐suPAR for noncardiac effusions at the cutoff level of ≥17.6 n/mL was 88%, 83% and 94%, respectively. The suPAR level in PF was found to correlate with all of the biochemical parameters of PF.

Conclusions

suPAR is a potential new marker for the discrimination between cardiac and noncardiac PF.
Clinical equivalence of budesonide dry powder inhaler and pressurized metered dose inhaler
Authors: Srichana Teerapol , Juthong Siwasak , Thawithong Ekawat , Supaiboonpipat Supot , Soorapan Suchada
Published: July 2014

Introduction

A delivery device is the most important factor that determines the local/systemic bioavailability of inhaled corticosteroids. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are the most commonly used delivery devices for localized drug delivery to the airways.

Objective

This study was to compare the clinical equivalence of budesonide delivered by the Pulmicort TurbuhalerTM (DPI) and the AeronideTM inhaler (pMDI).

Materials and Methods

The two inhalers were compared for their pharmaceutical equivalence and clinical equivalence. The in vitro test included the uniformity of the delivered dose and determination of the aerodynamic particle size of budesonide. The in vivo test was carried out in 36 patients with mild to moderate asthma. This was a randomized, single‐blinded study conducted for a period of 3 months. This included assessment of the spirometric parameters [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF25–75)], the severity of asthma symptoms, adverse events, frequency of short‐acting inhaled bronchodilator usage and measurement of urinary cortisol levels.

Results

The aerodynamic particle size was slightly different between the two inhalers (2.3 ± 0.2 µm for Pulmicort TurbuhalerTM and 2.2 ± 0.2 µm for AeronideTM inhaler). Both inhalers passed the uniformity of delivered dose (95.4% and 97.4%) specified in the British Pharmacopoeia. There was no statistically significant difference observed between the two inhalers in terms of the spirometric parameters, symptom‐free days, frequency of bronchodilator usage and the level of urinary cortisol.

Conclusion

In addition to pharmaceutical equivalence, no clinical difference observed between the two budesonide inhalers.
Effects of interval and continuous exercise training on autonomic cardiac function in COPD patients
Authors: Rodríguez Diego A. , Arbillaga Ane , Barberan‐Garcia Anael , Ramirez‐Sarmiento Alba , Torralba Yolanda , Vilaró Jordi , Gimeno‐Santos Elena , Gea Joaquim , Orozco‐Levi Mauricio , Roca Josep , Marco Ester
Published: July 2014

Background and Aim

Both interval (IT) and continuous (CT) exercise training results in an improvement of aerobic capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, their effects on cardiac autonomic function remains unclear. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a supervised CT vs IT on autonomic cardiac function in COPD patients.

Methods

COPD patients were divided into two different groups according to training modality (IT or CT). Autonomic cardiac dysfunction (ACD) was defined as a heart rate recovery lower than 12 bpm heart rate after the first minute of maximal exercise (HRR1) and an abnormal chronotropic response (CR) to exercise (<80%).

Results

A total of 29 patients {mean [standard deviation (SD)] age: 68 (8) years, %FEV1: 42 (13) predicted} were trained (15 subjects in the CT group, 14 subjects in the IT group). After training, both groups increased peak oxygen consumption [mean difference ΔVO2 peak: 156 mL/min (P = 0.04) on IT; and 210 mL/min (P = 0.01) on CT], HRR1 [IT, from 10.4 (5) to 13.8 (5) bpm (P = 0.04); and CT, from 14.3 (5) to 17.7 (5) bpm (P = 0.04)] and CR [IT, from 57% (22) to 81% (9) (P = 0.001); and CT, from 48% (28) to 73% (17) (P = 0.001)]. Sixteen patients showed ACD. Among these patients, HRR1 (P = 0.01 for IT and P = 0.04 for CT) and CR (P = 0.001 for IT and P = 0.002 for CT) were enhanced after training.

Conclusions

Both IT and CT exercise training improve heart rate recovery and CR in COPD patients. These benefits could help to individualize exercise training.
From a Language to a Theory of Resistance: Critical Pedagogy, the Limits of “Framing,” and Social Change
Authors: Tarlau Rebecca
Published: July 2014

In this article, Rebecca Tarlau attempts to build a more robust theory of the relationship between education and social change by drawing on the conceptual tools offered in the critical pedagogy and social movement literatures. Tarlau argues that while critical pedagogy has been largely disconnected from its roots in political organizing, social movement literature has shifted away from a theory of educational processes within movement building. Specifically, she suggests that the currently dominant “framing perspective” in the social movement literature is incredibly limited in its ability to analyze the pedagogical aspects of organizing. Conversely, while scholars of critical pedagogy are extremely convincing when critiquing U.S. schooling, the field is weaker when theorizing about how teachers using critical pedagogy can link to larger movements for social transformation. Critical pedagogues need more organizational thinking and social movement scholars need a more pedagogical focus. Tarlau suggests three conceptual frameworks for moving forward in this direction: the notion of social movements as pedagogical spaces, the role of informal educational projects in facilitating the emergence and strength of social movements, and the role of public schools as terrains of contestation that hold the possibility of linking to larger struggles for social justice.
Philosophical Reflections on Editing
Authors: Burbules Nicholas C.
Published: July 2014

In this essay Nicholas C. Burbules reviews his experiences and the lessons he learned as editor of Educational Theory for more than twenty years, and he explores some of the normative choices that are inevitably made by any editor in carrying out his or her role. Burbules examines the relationship of a journal to its intellectual field; the review process; communications and interactions with authors; the process of editing and revising manuscripts; questions of representativeness in a theoretically pluralistic field; the business of journal publishing; and the dilemmas that confront an editor in terms of his or her own position and identity within a field. In all of these reflections, he examines the ethical and political background of the choices made, and how these in turn reveal deeper assumptions about the nature and purpose of academic publishing. The result is to “lift up the curtain” and reveal how one philosophically reflective and self‐questioning editor handled his responsibilities.
Autonomy and the Ethical Status of Comprehensive Education
Authors: Bailey Adam D.
Published: July 2014

On grounds of autonomy, is comprehensive education — an approach to education that attempts to facilitate the acceptance of certain beliefs and ways of life as being correct, and refuses to sympathetically expose students to contrary beliefs and ways of life — ethically suspect? Recently, Bryan R. Warnick has argued that it is. In this essay, Adam D. Bailey critically evaluates Warnick's argument, and contends that it is unsuccessful. In particular, he argues that Warnick's argument from necessity does not succeed. Bailey then addresses a potential response to his critique of Warnick's argument — that of developing an argument from facilitation rather than necessity — and argues that, contrary to the argument from necessity, the argument from facilitation does provide support for the claim that comprehensive education is ethically suspect. However, Bailey attempts to show that even granting the facilitation argument, it is plausible to hold that, on grounds of autonomy, comprehensive education need not be seen as ethically suspect.
Improving flood forecasts for better flood preparedness in the UK (and beyond)
Authors: Stephens Elisabeth , Cloke Hannah
Published: July 2014

This winter (2013/14) coastal storms and an unprecedented amount of rainfall led to significant and widespread flooding across the southern UK. Despite much criticism and blame surrounding the flood events, the Flood Forecasting Centre, a recent development in national‐level flood forecasting capabilities for the government and emergency response communities, has received considerable praise. Here we consider how scientific developments and organisational change have led to improvements in the forecasting and flood preparedness seen in this winter's flooding. Although such improvements are admirable, there are many technical and communication challenges that remain for probabilistic flood forecasts to achieve their full potential.
Prevalence of and risk factors for actinic cheilitis in Brazilian fishermen and women
Authors: de Oliveira Ribeiro Artur , da Silva Luiz Carlos Ferreira , Martins‐Filho Paulo Ricardo Saquete
Published: July 2014

Objectives

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for actinic cheilitis (AC) in Brazilian fishermen and women.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was carried out in a representative sample (n = 210) of fishermen and women. Data related to age, skin color, cumulative and daily exposure to solar radiation, smoking, sun protection measures, and the presence of AC were collected. A Poisson regression model was created to estimate the prevalence ratio of variables.

Results

The prevalence of AC was 11.4% (95% confidence interval 7.8–16.4%). The disease was more prevalent in fishermen and women with fair skin and in those aged >50 years, those with cumulative exposure to solar radiation of >30 years, those with daily exposure of >4 hours, and those who did not use sunscreen.

Conclusions

Brazilian fishermen and women constitute a population at risk for lip cancer. Public health programs that encourage the use of sunscreens and a lower daily exposure to solar radiation should be established.
Narrative review of health‐related quality of life and its predictors among patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Muhammad Imran , He Hong‐Gu , Kowitlawakul Yanika , Wang Wenru
Published: July 2014

This paper summarizes the empirical evidence concerning health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and attempts to identify its significant predictors. A systematic search of the literature from 2002 to 2012 was conducted using seven electronic databases (CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Medline, Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science) using the search terms ‘HRQoL’. ‘CHD’, ‘social support’, ‘depression’, ‘anxiety’, ‘psychosocial factors’, ‘sociodemographic factors’, ‘clinical factors’ and ‘predictors’. A total of 1052 studies were retrieved, of which 24 articles were included in this review. Previous studies have consistently demonstrated the negative impact of CHD on HRQoL, citing three major types of predictive factors: sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial factors. Studies have also highlighted the advantageous use of HRQoL as a gauge for treatment satisfaction and efficacy. There are, however, few studies that collectively investigate the relationship among concepts such as HRQoL, anxiety and depression, social support, and sociodemographic and clinical factors in relation to CHD. This review highlights the need to conduct further study on HRQoL of patients with CHD in the Asian context. Such research will promote patient‐centric care and improved patient satisfaction through incorporation of the concept of HRQoL into clinical practice.
Cell biology of diabetic nephropathy: Roles of endothelial cells, tubulointerstitial cells and podocytes
Authors: Maezawa Yoshiro , Takemoto Minoru , Yokote Koutaro
Published: July 2014

Diabetic nephropathy is the major cause of end‐stage renal failure throughout the world in both developed and developing countries. Diabetes affects all cell types of the kidney, including endothelial cells, tubulointerstitial cells, podocytes and mesangial cells. During the past decade, the importance of podocyte injury in the formation and progression of diabetic nephropathy has been established and emphasized. However, recent findings provide additional perspectives on pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Glomerular endothelial damage is already present in the normoalbuminuric stage of the disease when podocyte injury starts. Genetic targeting of mice that cause endothelial injury leads to accelerated diabetic nephropathy. Tubulointerstitial damage, previously considered to be a secondary effect of glomerular protein leakage, was shown to have a primary significance in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Emerging evidence suggests that the glomerular filtration barrier and tubulointerstitial compartment is a composite, dynamic entity where any injury of one cell type spreads to other cell types, and leads to the dysfunction of the whole apparatus. Accumulation of novel knowledge would provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, and might lead to a development of a new therapeutic strategy for the disease.
Contract breach as a trigger for adjustment to the psychological contract during the first year of employment
Authors: Payne Stephanie C. , Culbertson Satoris S. , Lopez Yvette P. , Boswell Wendy R. , Barger Eric J.
Published: July 2014

This research investigated how much and in what direction newcomer psychological contracts changed during the first year of employment and the extent to which change was a function of a psychological contract breach. These issues were investigated using a sample of 88 organizational newcomers with diverse job duties/titles, prior experience, and age levels. Newcomers were surveyed at three points in time during the first year of employment, including employee perceptions of both employee and employer obligations. Consistent with equity theory, results revealed employees perceived more balanced than imbalanced employment relationships upon organizational entry as well as after 1 year of employment. A failure of the employer to fulfil commitments was associated with perceived imbalance in the employment relationship and a significant decrease in perceived employer obligations, suggesting breach is perceived as a trigger for an adjustment to the psychological contract rather than a signal of an injustice. Implications of these findings for research and theory on psychological contracts and breach in the employment relationship are discussed.

Practitioner points

Newcomers' and employees with 1 year of organizational tenure are more likely to report a balance than an imbalance between employer and employee obligations, reflecting the mutuality of perceived obligations in employment relationships.

When employees perceive their employer has failed to fulfil obligations, employees are likely to alter their subsequent perceptions of employer obligations downwardly.

Based on the way employees adjusted their perceptions of obligations following a breach in their psychological contract, this study provides evidence for newcomers to perceive a breach as a trigger to adjust perceptions concerning employer obligations.
The Association Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement in Texas State House Legislative Districts: An Ecologic Study
Authors: Janak Jud C. , Gabriel Kelley P. , Oluyomi Abiodun O. , Peréz Adriana , Kohl Harold W. , Kelder Steven H.
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND

The association of physical fitness with cognitive function in children and adolescents is unclear. The purpose of this ecological study was to describe the association between academic achievement, body mass index (BMI), and cardiovascular fitness (CVF) in a large sample of elementary, middle, and high school students in Texas.

METHODS

FITNESSGRAM® results for 2,550,144 students were matched with standardized composite academic test (TAKS) results from 2008 to 2009. Analyses were conducted on the percent of students meeting TAKS standards by BMI and CVF quintiles. Analyses of variance with Tukey adjustment examined differences between the most favorable 5th quintile (referent) and all other quintiles.

RESULTS

The prevalence of students meeting the TAKS standard was significantly higher in the highest fitness category for BMI and CVF compared to all other categories, regardless of sex or grade category (p < .05). Linear modeling suggested a 5% increase in the prevalence of students meeting healthy BMI and CVF standards would result in a 2.25% and 0.65% increase in the prevalence of students meeting the TAKS standard (both p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest a healthy BMI and CVF are associated with higher academic achievement, and the need for additional research examining the role of potential confounders and/or effect modifiers longitudinally.
The Role of School‐Based Health Centers in Increasing Universal and Targeted Delivery of Primary and Preventive Care Among Adolescents
Authors: Parasuraman Sarika R. , Shi Leiyu
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND

School‐based health centers (SBHC) can provide equitable and comprehensive care for adolescents; yet, few studies have described how patterns of health service utilization differ among groups. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in utilization and perceptions of SBHC care among adolescents.

METHODS

This study sample included 414 adolescent respondents to the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities User Survey. Three outcome measures represented utilization of care, while 4 represented perceptions of care. Multivariate logistic regressions modeled the effects of user characteristics on outcome measures.

RESULTS

There were few notable and significant differences in either utilization or perceptions of care, based on sociodemographic or health status characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

SBHCs can eliminate differences in utilization based on sociodemographic characteristics. However, null findings show that they fall short in delivering comprehensive care to high‐risk adolescents, and may not be capitalizing on opportunities to offer targeted services. Results showing positive perceptions of care suggest that adolescents would be amenable to additional counseling or education services offered at SBHCs. To foster positive health outcomes among adolescents, SBHC administrators should regularly evaluate their scope of services and support quality improvement efforts.
The Limits of Discretion: Challenges and Dilemmas of Prosecutorial Discretion in Immigration Enforcement
Authors: Zatz Marjorie S. , Rodriguez Nancy
Published: July 2014

The history of US immigration policy and practice reflects a series of attempts to address complex political demands and organizational tensions. Yet this complexity has rendered comprehensive immigration reform elusive in recent decades. When legislative action appears impossible, what other avenues are available to confront these challenges? During the first term of the Obama administration, prosecutorial discretion emerged as a key mechanism. This article draws on archival data and interviews with immigration attorneys, advocates, analysts, and policy makers to understand better how prosecutorial discretion is used in immigration policy and practice today, why it came to have such a central role, recent challenges to its use, and what these tensions suggests for sociolegal scholarship on immigration.
Signatures of diversifying selection at EST‐SSR loci and association with climate in natural Eucalyptus populations
Authors: Bradbury Donna , Smithson Ann , Krauss Siegfried L.
Published: July 2014

Understanding the environmental parameters that drive adaptation among populations is important in predicting how species may respond to global climatic changes and how gene pools might be managed to conserve adaptive genetic diversity. Here, we used Bayesian FST outlier tests and allele–climate association analyses to reveal two Eucalyptus EST‐SSR loci as strong candidates for diversifying selection in natural populations of a southwestern Australian forest tree, Eucalyptus gomphocephala (Myrtaceae). The Eucalyptus homolog of a CONSTANS‐like gene was an FST outlier, and allelic variation showed significant latitudinal clinal associations with annual and winter solar radiation, potential evaporation, summer precipitation and aridity. A second FST outlier locus, homologous to quinone oxidoreductase, was significantly associated with measures of temperature range, high summer temperature and summer solar radiation, with important implications for predicting the effect of temperature on natural populations in the context of climate change. We complemented these data with investigations into neutral population genetic structure and diversity throughout the species range. This study provides an investigation into selection signatures at gene‐homologous EST‐SSRs in natural Eucalyptus populations, and contributes to our understanding of the relationship between climate and adaptive genetic variation, informing the conservation of both putatively neutral and adaptive components of genetic diversity.
Pliocene intraspecific divergence and Plio‐Pleistocene range expansions within Picea likiangensis (Lijiang spruce), a dominant forest tree of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
Authors: Li Long , Abbott Richard J. , Liu Bingbing , Sun Yongshuai , Li Lili , Zou Jiabin , Wang Xi , Miehe Georg , Liu Jianquan
Published: July 2014

A knowledge of intraspecific divergence and range dynamics of dominant forest trees in response to past geological and climate change is of major importance to an understanding of their recent evolution and demography. Such knowledge is informative of how forests were affected by environmental factors in the past and may provide pointers to their response to future environmental change. However, genetic signatures of such historical events are often weak at individual loci due to large effective population sizes and long generation times of forest trees. This problem can be overcome by analysing genetic variation across multiple loci. We used this approach to examine intraspecific divergence and past range dynamics in the conifer Picea likiangensis, a dominant tree of forests occurring in eastern and southern areas of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). We sequenced 13 nuclear loci, two mitochondrial DNA regions and three plastid (chloroplast) DNA regions in 177 individuals sampled from 22 natural populations of this species, and tested the hypothesis that its evolutionary history was markedly affected by Pliocene QTP uplifts and Quaternary climatic oscillations. Consistent with the taxonomic delimitation of the three morphologically divergent varieties examined, all individuals clustered into three genetic groups with intervariety admixture detected in regions of geographical overlap. Divergence between varieties was estimated to have occurred within the Pliocene and ecological niche modelling based on 20 ecological variables suggested that niche differentiation was high. Furthermore, modelling of population‐genetic data indicated that two of the varieties (var. rubescens and var. linzhiensis) expanded their population sizes after the largest Quaternary glaciation in the QTP, while expansion of the third variety (var. likiangensis) began prior to this, probably following the Pliocene QTP uplift. These findings point to the importance of geological and climatic changes during the Pliocene and Pleistocene as causes of intraspecific diversification and range shifts of dominant tree species in the QTP biodiversity hot spot region.
Monetary Union Viability: A Criterion Proposal
Authors: Alonso Alberto , Guzmán Vanesa
Published: July 2014

We propose a model that represents the dynamic behaviour of a monetary union comprising two countries whose natural interest rates are initially unequal. This initial disparity and the subsequent application of a common monetary policy generate different national inflation rates and lead to losses of competitiveness, foreign deficits, and the indebtedness of one country with respect to the other. We propose as a viability criterion for the modelled monetary union a combination of non‐explosive foreign debt and the ability of the central bank to neutralize the contracting effects of taking on additional debt to avoid falling into a liquidity trap.
Observation of In vivo Morphologic Changes after Carbon Dioxide Ablative Fractional Laser in a Mouse Model Using Noninvasive Imaging Modalities and Comparison with Histologic Examination
Authors: Yoo Kwang Ho , Kwon Tae Rin , Kim So Young , Song Yi Seop , Cheon Young Sook , Kim Yu Mi , Yeo In Kwon , Ko Eun Jung , Li Kapsok , Kim Myeung Nam , Kim Beom Joon
Published: July 2014

Ablative fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers have been widely used for several types of cosmetic dermatosis. A number of previous studies have evaluated this technique in animals or human beings by observing morphologic changes using an invasive modality such as skin biopsy. In this study, we assessed in vivo skin changes after CO2 ablative fractional laser treatment in a mouse model using noninvasive imaging modalities (Folliscope® and Visioscan 98®), and each results was compared with data from histologic examination. An ablative fractional CO2 laser was applied with different pulse energy between 7 to 35 mJ/microspot. As results of above methods, we also confirmed that the CO2 ablative fractional laser generated injuries with increasing width and depth with increasing pulse energy. Although numerous papers have described application of this laser in vivo skin specimens, our study evaluated the feasibility of using relative noninvasive imaging modalities for assessing the outcome of laser ablation. Based on our data, we suggest that these technologies may be useful alternative modalities for assessing laser ablation that are easier to perform and less invasive than skin biopsy.
Study of the Photodegradation Kinetics and Pathways of Hexaflumuron in Liquid Media
Authors: Lu Chengying , Yin Xing , Liu Xiaofeng , Wang Minghua
Published: July 2014

Hexaflumuron, one of the benzoylphenylurea insect growth regulators, can be leached into surface water and thus having a potential impact on aquatic organisms. In this study, the photodegradation processes of hexaflumuron under high‐pressure mercury lamp irradiation were assessed. The photodegradation kinetics were studied, as were the effects of pH, different light sources, organic solvents and environmental substances, including nitrate ions (NO3−), nitrite ions (NO2−), ferrous ions (Fe2+), ferric ions (Fe3+), humic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Three photodegradation products in methanol were identified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). In general, the degradation of hexaflumuron followed first‐order kinetics. In the four media studied, the photodegradation rate order was n‐hexane > methanol > ultrapure water > acetone. Faster degradation was observed under high‐pressure mercury lamp irradiation than under xenon lamp irradiation. The pH had a considerable effect, with the most rapid degradation occurring at pH 5.0. The photodegradation rate of hexaflumuron was promoted in the presence of NO3−, NO2−, Fe2+, humic acid, SDS and H2O2, but inhibited by Fe3+. Moreover, the presumed photodegradation pathway was proposed to be the cleavage of the urea linkage.
The Injury and Cumulative Effects on Human Skin by UV Exposure from Artificial Fluorescence Emission
Authors: Tian Yan , Liu Wei , Niu TianHui , Dai CaiHong , Li Xiaoxin , Cui Caijuan , Zhao Xinyan , E Yaping , Lu Hui
Published: July 2014

The injury and cumulative effects of UV emission from fluorescence lamp were studied. UV intensity from fluorescence lamp was measured, and human skin samples (hips, 10 volunteers) were exposed to low‐dose UV irradiation (three times per week for 13 consecutive weeks). Three groups were examined: control group without UV radiation; low‐dose group with a cumulative dose of 50 J cm−2 which was equivalent to irradiation of the face during indoor work for 1.5 years; and high‐dose group with 1000 J cm−2 cumulative dose equivalent to irradiation of the face during outdoor activities for 1 year. Specific indicators were measured before and after UVA irradiation. The findings showed that extending the low‐dose UVA exposure decreased the skin moisture content and increased the transepidermal water loss as well as induced skin color changes (decreased L* value, increased M index). Furthermore, irradiated skin showed an increased thickness of cuticle and epidermis, skin edema, light color and unclear staining collagen fibers in the dermis, and elastic fiber fragmentation. In addition, MMP‐1, p53 and SIRT1 expression was also increased. Long‐term exposure of low‐dose UVA radiation enhanced skin photoaging. The safety of the fluorescent lamp needs our attention.
Knowledge Sharing in a Third‐Party‐Governed Health and Human Services Network
Authors: Huang Kun
Published: July 2014

The rapid growth of knowledge in disease diagnosis and treatment requires health service provider organizations to continuously learn and update their practices. However, little is known about knowledge sharing in service implementation networks governed by a network administrative organization (NAO). The author suggests that strong ties enhance knowledge sharing and that there is a contingent effect of third‐party ties. Two provider agencies’ common ties with the NAO may undermine knowledge sharing because of resource competition. In contrast, a dyad's common ties with a peer agency may boost knowledge sharing as a result of social cohesion. Finally, the author posits that third‐party ties moderate the relationship between strong ties and knowledge sharing. These hypotheses are examined in a mental health network. Quantitative network analysis confirms the strong tie and third‐party tie hypotheses and provides partial support for the moderating effect of third‐party ties. The implications for public management, including the implementation of HealthCare.gov, are discussed.
The Impact of Access to Water on Child Health in Senegal
Authors: Novak Lindsey
Published: July 2014

This paper addresses the impact of access to water on child health in Senegal by using multinomial propensity score matching to estimate the impact of five water sources on the incidence of diarrhea in children. This information will facilitate a more informed cost‐benefit analysis when implementing water projects. Much research categorizes water sources into a binary variable: “improved” or “unimproved”. According to the findings of this paper, this is an erroneous restriction, as I find heterogeneous impacts of water sources on child health. In fact, water sources that are generally believed to be superior are not significantly different, and some are significantly less effective in decreasing incidence of diarrhea.
Foreign Aid in the Aftermath of Large Natural Disasters
Authors: Becerra Oscar , Cavallo Eduardo , Noy Ilan
Published: July 2014

This paper examines Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the aftermath of large natural disasters between 1970 and 2008. Using an event‐study approach, the paper finds that while the median increase in ODA is 18% compared with pre‐disaster flows, the typical surge is small in relation to the size of the affected economies. Moreover, aid surges typically cover only 3% of the total estimated economic damages caused by the disasters. The main determinants of post‐disaster aid surges are found to be the intensity of the event itself and the recipient country's characteristics such as the level of development, country size and the stock of foreign reserves. The paper does not find evidence that political considerations or strategic behavior on the part of donors determine the size of post‐disaster aid surges.
The Missing Link: China's Contracted Engineering Projects in Africa
Authors: Cheung Yin‐Wong , de Haan Jakob , Qian XingWang , Yu Shu
Published: July 2014

This paper examines the driving forces of China's contracted engineering projects in Africa. Using data on contracted engineering projects in 52 African countries over the period 1991–2010, three groups of hypotheses are tested: (1) economic motives; (2) political ties between China and Africa; and (3) host country characteristics. We find that countries get more projects if they have large market potential and are political allies of China. Our results also suggest that Forums on China–Africa Cooperation promote projects in Africa. In contrast, host country characteristics are hardly related to the amount of engineering projects received.
The First and Second Stage Pass‐through of Exchange Rates: A Developing Country Perspective
Authors: Aziz M. Nusrate , Horsewood Nick , Sen Somnath
Published: July 2014

This paper investigates the validity of the conventional wisdom that, unlike in developed countries, exchange rate pass‐through (ERPT) should be ‘complete’ for developing economies. To test this hypothesis, we construct new variables as well as original data sets, which are not readily available in the literature, and employ an alternative error correction model technique for a typical small open developing economy—Bangladesh. The transmission of exchange rate movements to import prices is found to be ‘complete’; however, the ‘second stage pass‐through’ is ‘partial’ both in the short and long run. The response of traded goods prices to exchange rate shocks is found to be significant and larger in the long run compared with the short run. Trade liberalization is also a significant phenomenon for ERPT. The analysis has wider applicability to other small open economies.
Productivity, Structural Change and LatinAmerican Development
Authors: Saravia Antonio , Machicado Carlos Gustavo , Rioja Felix
Published: July 2014

We calibrate a simple neoclassical growth model adapted to illustrate a process of structural transformation or industrialization to a group of nineSouthAmerican countries. The paper shows that low levels of agricultural productivity can substantially delay the process of industrialization, which, together with low levels of non‐agricultural productivity observed in recent decades, satisfactorily explains the significant differences in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita levels among the countries in our sample. The results suggest thatArgentina underwent the process of industrialization first followed byUruguay,Chile,Brazil,Colombia,Ecuador,Peru,Paraguay andBolivia. The model predicts that the ranking of these countries in terms ofGDPper capita would follow this order until convergence occurs. The empirical evidence confirms the prediction of the model with the exceptions ofUruguay andChile which caught up withArgentina in terms ofGDPper capita levels in the late 1980s.
Validation of statistical imputation of allele‐level multilocus phased genotypes from ambiguous HLA assignments
Authors: Madbouly A. , Gragert L. , Freeman J. , Leahy N. , Gourraud P.‐A. , Hollenbach J. A. , Kamoun M. , Fernandez‐Vina M. , Maiers M.
Published: July 2014

Genetic matching for loci in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region between a donor and a patient in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is critical to outcome; however, methods for HLA genotyping of donors in unrelated stem cell registries often yield results with allelic and phase ambiguity and/or do not query all clinically relevant loci. We present and evaluate a statistical method for in silico imputation of HLA alleles and haplotypes in large ambiguous population data from the Be The Match® Registry. Our method builds on haplotype frequencies estimated from registry populations and exploits patterns of linkage disequilibrium (LD) across HLA haplotypes to infer high resolution HLA assignments. We performed validation on simulated and real population data from the Registry with non‐trivial ambiguity content. While real population datasets caused some predictions to deviate from expectation, validations still showed high percent recall for imputed results with average recall >76% when imputing HLA alleles from registry data. We simulated ambiguity generated by several HLA genotyping methods to evaluate the imputation performance on several levels of typing resolution. On average, imputation percent recall of allele‐level HLA haplotypes was >95% for allele‐level typing, >92% for intermediate resolution typing and >58% for serology (low‐resolution) typing. Thus, allele‐level HLA assignments can be imputed through the application of a set of statistical and population genetics inferences and with knowledge of haplotype frequencies and self‐identified race and ethnicities.
A Role for Exocyst in Maturation and Bactericidal Function of Staphylococci‐Containing Endothelial Cell Phagosomes
Authors: Rauch Liane , Hennings Kirsten , Aepfelbacher Martin
Published: July 2014

Bacteria that invade human endothelial cells can be efficiently eliminated in phagolysosomes. We investigated the role of vesicle tethering exocyst complex in maturation and function of endothelial cell phagosomes harbouring staphylococci or latex beads. Exocyst complex proteins (Sec5, ‐8, ‐10, Exo70) together with recycling endosome marker Rab11 were detected in vesicles that dynamically interacted and seemingly fused with endothelial cell phagosomes. Knockdown of exocyst proteins Sec8 and Exo70 inhibited the accumulation of Rab11‐positive vesicles at the phagosomes. Furthermore, knockdown of exocyst proteins and Rab11 greatly reduced acidification of phagosomes and significantly diminished the elimination of invaded staphylococci in endothelial cells. The inhibitory effect of Exo70 knockdown on bacterial elimination could be rescued by constitutively active Rab11‐Q70L. Our data suggest that exocyst complex controls the interaction of recycling endocytic vesicles with phagosomes and this process is involved in maturation and functioning of the phagosomes in endothelial cells.
Long‐term changes in weed occurrence, yield and use of herbicides in maize in south‐western Germany, with implications for the determination of economic thresholds
Authors: Keller M , Böhringer N , Möhring J , Rueda‐Ayala V , Gutjahr C , Gerhards R
Published: July 2014

In 393 field experiments in Baden‐Württemberg region in south‐western Germany, herbicide efficacy, yield loss and crop tolerance of maize (Zea mays) were investigated between 1981 and 2011. The collected data served to determine changes in weed frequencies, in herbicide use, yield loss functions and economic thresholds (ETs). Over 60 weed species were reported. Chenopodium album and Galium aparine were the most frequent broad‐leaved weeds, the former becoming more frequent over time. Species of the genera Lamium, Polygonum, Veronica and Matricaria occurred in about every fifth trial. Alopecurus myosuroides and Echinochloa crus‐galli were the most frequent grass weeds; the former declining in frequency by 1.1% per year, the latter increasing by 1.5%. Results suggest a weed population shift towards thermophilic species. aceto‐lactate‐synthase and 4‐HPPD‐inhibitor herbicides became important in the 1990s. Pendimethalin and bromoxynil have been integral components of weed control since the 1980s. ETs, the point at which weed control operations provide economic returns over input costs, ranged between 3.7% and 5.8% relative weed coverage. Without weed control, no yield increase was found over 24 years. Yield increased by 0.2 t ha−1 year−1, if weeds were controlled chemically. Despite intensive use of effective herbicides in maize, problematic weed species abundance and yield losses due to weed competition have increased in Baden‐Württemberg over a period of 30 years.
Where it comes from and where it is heading: a concise history of Japanese contemporary art
Authors: Nanjo Fumio
Published: July 2014

Where it comes from and where it is heading: a concise history of Japanese contemporary art
Pictures from an Exhibition
Authors: Smith Keren
Published: July 2014

Pictures from an Exhibition
Inside Mediarena: contemporary art from Japan in context
Authors: Burke Gregory
Published: July 2014

Inside Mediarena: contemporary art from Japan in context
Contact Zones: Edge in ‘Portable Cities’ and ‘FragMental Storm
Authors: Swalwell Melanie
Published: July 2014

Contact Zones: Edge in ‘Portable Cities’ and ‘FragMental Storm
The Rise and Fall of ‘Naked Man’
Authors: Lloyd Miike
Published: July 2014

The Rise and Fall of ‘Naked Man’
The Social Construction of ‘Tax Fairness’
Authors: Broome Andre
Published: July 2014

The Social Construction of ‘Tax Fairness’
A novel adaptive discrete cosine transform‐domain filter for gap‐inpainting of high resolution PET scanners
Authors: Shih Cheng‐Ting , Wu Jay , Lin Hsin‐Hon , Chang Shu‐Jun , Chuang Keh‐Shih
Published: July 2014

Purpose:

Several positron emission tomography (PET) scanners with special detector block arrangements have been developed in recent years to improve the resolution of PET images. However, the discontinuous detector blocks cause gaps in the sinogram. This study proposes an adaptive discrete cosine transform‐based (aDCT) filter for gap‐inpainting.

Methods:

The gap‐corrupted sinogram was morphologically closed and subsequently converted to the DCT domain. A certain number of the largest coefficients in the DCT spectrum were identified to determine the low‐frequency preservation region. The weighting factors for the remaining coefficients were determined by an exponential weighting function. The aDCT filter was constructed and applied to two digital phantoms and a simulated phantom introduced with various levels of noise.

Results:

For the Shepp‐Logan head phantom, the aDCT filter filled the gaps effectively. For the Jaszczak phantom, no secondary artifacts were induced after aDCT filtering. The percent mean square error and mean structure similarity of the aDCT filter were superior to those of the DCT2 filter at all noise levels. For the simulated striatal dopamine innervation study, the aDCT filter recovered the shape of the striatum and restored the striatum to reference activity ratios to the ideal value.

Conclusions:

The proposed aDCT filter can recover the missing gap data in the sinogram and improve the image quality and quantitative accuracy of PET images.