bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of ICD‐9‐CM Codes by Hospital Characteristics and Stroke Severity: Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program
Authors: Chang Tiffany E. , Lichtman Judith H. , Goldstein Larry B. , George Mary G.
Published: June 2016

Background

Epidemiological and health services research often use International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (
ICD
‐9‐
CM
) codes to identify patients with clinical conditions in administrative databases. We determined whether there are systematic variations between stroke patient clinical diagnoses and
ICD
‐9‐
CM
codes, stratified by hospital characteristics and stroke severity.

Methods and Results

We used the records of patients discharged from hospitals participating in the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program in 2013. Within this stroke‐enriched cohort, we compared agreement between the attending physician's clinical diagnosis and principal
ICD
‐9‐
CM
code and determined whether disagreements varied by hospital characteristics (presence of a stroke unit, stroke team, number of hospital beds, and hospital location). For patients with a documented National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, we assessed whether diagnostic agreement varied by stroke severity. Agreement was generally high (>89%); differences between the physician diagnosis and
ICD
‐9‐
CM
codes were primarily attributed to discordance between ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (
TIA)
, and subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage. Agreement was higher for patients in metropolitan hospitals with stroke units, stroke teams, and >200 beds (all
P
<0.001). Agreement was lowest (60.3%) for rural hospitals with ≤200 beds and without stroke units or teams. Agreement was also lower for milder (94.9%) versus more‐severe (96.4%) ischemic strokes (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

We identified disagreements in stroke/
TIA
coding by hospital characteristics and stroke severity, particularly for milder ischemic strokes. Such systematic variations in
ICD
‐9‐
CM
coding practices can affect stroke case identification in epidemiological studies and may have implications for hospital‐level quality metrics.
Infarct Size Following Treatment With Second‐ Versus Third‐Generation P2Y
12
Antagonists in Patients With Multivessel Coronary Disease at ST‐Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the CvLPRIT Study
Authors: Khan Jamal N. , Greenwood John P. , Nazir Sheraz A. , Lai Florence Y. , Dalby Miles , Curzen Nick , Hetherington Simon , Kelly Damian J. , Blackman Daniel , Peebles Charles , Wong Joyce , Flather Marcus , Swanton Howard , Gershlick Anthony H. , McCann Gerry P.
Published: June 2016

Background

Third‐generation P2Y
12
antagonists (prasugrel and ticagrelor) are recommended in guidelines on ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction. Mechanisms translating their more potent antiplatelet activity into improved clinical outcomes versus the second‐generation P2Y
12
antagonist clopidogrel are unclear. The aim of this post hoc analysis of the Complete Versus Lesion‐Only PRImary PCI Trial‐CMR (CvLPRIT‐CMR) substudy was to assess whether prasugrel and ticagrelor were associated with reduced infarct size compared with clopidogrel in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and Results

Cv
LPRIT
‐
CMR
was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open‐label, blinded end point trial in 203 ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with multivessel disease undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with either infarct‐related artery–only or complete revascularization. P2Y
12
inhibitors were administered according to local guidelines. The primary end point of infarct size on cardiovascular magnetic resonance was not significantly different between the randomized groups. P2Y
12
antagonist administration was not randomized. Patients receiving clopidogrel (n=70) compared with those treated with either prasugrel or ticagrelor (n=133) were older (67.8±12 versus 61.5±10 years,
P
<0.001), more frequently had hypertension (49% versus 29%,
P
=0.007), and tended to have longer symptom‐to‐revascularization time (234 versus 177 minutes,
P
=0.05). Infarct size (median 16.1% [quartiles 1–3, 10.5–27.7%] versus 12.1% [quartiles 1–3, 4.8–20.7%] of left ventricular mass,
P
=0.013) and microvascular obstruction incidence (65.7% versus 48.9%,
P
=0.022) were significantly greater in patients receiving clopidogrel. Infarct size remained significantly different after adjustment for important covariates using both generalized linear models (
P
=0.048) and propensity score matching (
P
=0.025).

Conclusions

In this analysis of Cv
LPRIT
‐
CMR
, third‐generation P2Y
12
antagonists were associated with smaller infarct size and lower microvascular obstruction incidence versus the second‐generation P2Y
12
antagonist clopidogrel for ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN70913605
.
Notes on Husserl’s Idealismus in the Logische Untersuchungen (Via Lotze’s Interpretation of Plato)
Authors: De Santis Daniele
Published: June 2016

In the following paper we will seek to understand what Edmund Husserl, in his second Logical Investigation, refers to as “idealism”, against the backdrop of Rudolf Hermann Lotze’s interpretation of Plato’s doctrine of Ideas in the third book of his Logic. This will raise not only the question of Husserl’s indebtedness to Lotze with respect to the Ideenhlehre in terms of Geltung, but first and foremost that of the “Platonism” of the idealism defended in his first masterpiece.
On Breaking Up Time, or, Perennialism as Philosophy of History
Authors: Gilbert Bennett
Published: June 2016

Current and recent philosophy of history contemplates a deep change in fundamental notions of the presence of the past. This is called breaking up time. The chief value for this change is enhancing the moral reach of historical research and writing. However, the materialist view of reality that most historians hold cannot support this approach. The origin of the notion in the thought of Walter Benjamin is suggested. I propose a neo-idealist approach called perennialism, centered on recurrent moral dilemmas and choices. This suggests a view of the relations of moral thought and ontology placed in the diachronic context that historians study.
The Many Scripts of the Chinese Scriptworld, the Epic of King Gesar, and World Literature
Authors: Thornber Karen L.
Published: June 2016

The idea of an East Asian cultural “bloc” united in no small part by the Chinese script has long been widely held; through the end of the Qing dynasty Chinese characters served as the scripta franca for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese intellectuals. Yet writing in East Asia has almost always involved more than Chinese characters and their offshoots. The purpose of this article is twofold. First is to introduce readers of world literature unfamiliar with East Asia to the wide variety of the region’s languages and scripts. The second objective is to demonstrate that when we associate writing in China only with Chinese characters, as often has been the case, we overlook some of the region’s, and the world’s, most significant works of world literature. These include the twelfth-century Epic of King Gesar, a living epic which at twenty-five times the size of the Iliad is the world’s longest.
Eating Murasaki Shikibu
Authors: Chozick Matthew
Published: June 2016

The fifth-century transmission of China’s sophisticated writing system to Japan prompted a cascade of textual and literary developments on the archipelago. Retrofit to support Japanese phonetics and syntax, a hybrid script and literature evolved; from this negotiation of texts emerged Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji in eleventh century Kyoto. While Genji is celebrated today as Japan’s enduring national classic, it fell out of print for much of two centuries preceding its first translation into Victorian era English. This paper examines how interregional exchanges of translations and scripts have amplified the critical and popular success of Genji. It will be argued that English translations of Genji helped to provide a stylistic and typographic model for reintroducing the text to modern Japanese readers as a mass-market novel. In theorizing about such matters, the Japanese concept of reverse-importation will be introduced and intercultural transferences are contextualized within Oswald de Andrade’s notion of cultural cannibalism.
Typification of three accepted names in Limonium (Plumbaginaceae)

Authors: VALLARIELLO ROBERTA , IAMONICO DUILIO , GUACCHIO EMANUELE DEL
Published: June 2016

The names Statice cumana (currently Limonium cumanum), S. inarimensis (≡ L. inarimensis), and S. remotispicula (≡ L. remotispiculum) are lectotypified on specimens preserved at NAP and FI. These species are endemic to the south Tyrrhenian coasts (SW Italy), two of them (L. cumanum, and L. inarimensis) being narrow endemic to Campania region. A nomenclatural change (Limonium cumanum var. glabrescens, comb. nov.) is also proposed.
A new species of Sloanea (Elaeocarpaceae) subgenus Quadrisepala from Ecuadorian Amazonia
Authors: ANDINO JUAN ERNESTO GUEVARA , FERNÁNDEZ-FERNÁNDEZ DIANA , PALACIOS WALTER A.
Published: June 2016

Sloanea multinervis, a new species collected in the terra firme forests of the Ecuadorean Amazon, is described and illustrated, and its morphological similarities with other species of Sloanea are discussed.
A new combination in the genus Thymus and clarification on the type material of Th. thracicus (Lamiaceae)
Authors: BARTOLUCCI FABRIZIO , MRÁZ PATRIK
Published: June 2016

As part of the ongoing studies on the nomenclature and taxonomy of the genus Thymus Linnaeus (1753: 590) in the Mediterranen area (Bartolucci 2010, Bartolucci et al. 2013, Federici et al. 2013, Bartolucci & Domina 2014, 2015, Bartolucci & Peruzzi 2014, Bartolucci & Scharfetter 2015, Bartolucci & Walter 2015), a contribution concerning a new nomenclatural combination and remarks on the type material of Th. thracicus Velenovský (1892: 16) is here presented.
Natural history of the mistletoe-feeding Thereus lomalarga (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Eumaeini) in Colombia
Authors: HEREDIA MARÍA DOLORES , ROBBINS ROBERT K.
Published: June 2016

The natural history and morphology of the immature stages of the butterfly Thereus lomalarga Robbins, Heredia & Busby are described and illustrated. The food plant is Oryctanthus alveolatus (H.B.K.) Kuijt (Loranthaceae). Chaetotaxy of the first instar is described and compared with that of three locally studied Thereus species. Larvae have four instars, and the dorsal nectary organ becomes functional in the third instar. They are facultatively tended by ants belonging to seven genera that are attracted to O. alveolatus by floral disc nectaries, honeydew producing Hemiptera, and secretory wounds produced by Hemiptera on the fleshy inflorescence rachis. The average period from egg to eclosion under lab conditions was 35.68 days. Females emerged before males. Adults of both sexes feed on nectar from the flowers of the food plant and on hemipteran secretions; adults were not observed feeding on other flowers. Campopleginae and Chalcidinae were the most important parasitoids.
A new species of the genus Terebellides (Polychaeta, Trichobranchidae) from the Iranian coast
Authors: PARAPAR JULIO , MOREIRA JUAN , GIL JOÃO , MARTIN DANIEL
Published: June 2016

Based on specimens collected during several sampling programmes along the Iranian coast, Persian Gulf, a new species of the genus Terebellides (Polychaeta, Trichobranchidae) is herein described as Terebellides persiae spec. nov. The new species is primarily characterised by the presence of a large dorsal thoracic hump in larger specimens and ciliated papillae on the branchial lamellae. The new species is compared with other taxa belonging to Terebellides described or reported with any of both characters. SEM and micro-CT have been used to study T. persiae spec. nov. and provide several new details on external characters and internal organs, respectively. A key for the identification of the species of Terebellides with dorsal hump is provided.
Notes on the Metrocoris lituratus group (Heteroptera: Gerridae: Metrocoris) with descriptions of four new species in Sichuan Basin from China
Authors: YE ZHEN , CHEN PING-PING , BU WEN-JUN
Published: June 2016

This paper provides the descriptions of four new species from eastern and southern regions of the Sichuan Basin in China: Metrocoris astictus sp. nov. and M. falciformis sp. nov. from Sichuan Province, M. guizhouensis sp. nov. and M. zhengi sp. nov. from Guizhou Province. M. sichuanensis Chen & Nieser, 1993 is currently transferred from the M. stali group to the M. lituratus group. A junior synonym M. bui Chen & Zettel, 1999 is proposed. Photographs of the male and female dorsal habitus and male genitalic structures are provided, accompanied by line drawings of male forelegs, endosomal structures and a distributional map of the newly described species. Finally, a key to the males of the species assigned to M. lituratus group is also provided to assist in identification.
New species Victoriopisa bruneiensis and Apocorophium acutum (Chevreux, 1908) from Brunei (Crustacea: Peracarida: Amphipoda)
Authors: HOSSAIN M. BELAL , HUGHES L.E.
Published: June 2016

One new and one invasive species of amphipod are described from the subtidal waters of Brunei. The new species Victoriopisa bruneiensis (Melitidae) and the invasive species Apocorophium acutum (Chevereux, 1908) (Corophiidae) were collected from the Sungai Brunei Estuary. Victoriopisa bruneiensis sp. nov. is one of only four Victoriopisa where the eyes are present. An updated key to twelve world species of Victoriopisa is provided. Apocorophium acutum occurs in high density algal matts on pylons/rocks. This is the sixth species of Apocorophium described for the genus.
A review of the genus Dryinus Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Dryinidae) from Iran, with description of a new species
Authors: DERAFSHAN HOSSEIN ALI , RAKHSHANI EHSAN , OLMI MASSIMO
Published: June 2016

Three species of the genus Dryinus Latreille, 1804 from Iran are reviewed and keyed. Dryinus tamaricicola sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Dryinus tarraconensis Marshall, 1868 is newly recorded from Iran. Key to the Palaearctic species of Dryinus group 3 are modified.
Polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl alcohol/ polyvinyl pyrrolidone biomedical foams crosslinked by gamma irradiation
Authors: Sabourian Parinaz , Frounchi Masoud , Dadbin Susan
Published: June 2016

Foams for biomedical applications were made from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol / polyvinyl pyrrolidone blend and their nanocomposites with nanoclay by clean processes. Air was entrapped into the aqueous polymer solutions during vigorous mixing and then the solutions were freeze-dried. The foams structure was stabilized by crosslinking via gamma irradiation without using any harmful chemicals. The hydrophilic biocompatible foams possessed interconnected open cell structure with remarkable capacity to absorb and retain water. The foams in wet state were soft and flexible. Desirable pore structure and higher water absorption was obtained at a solution concentration of 5 wt% for both polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl alcohol / polyvinyl pyrrolidone foams and also for the nanocomposite foams. The polyvinyl alcohol / polyvinyl pyrrolidone foams at a composition of 80/20 had a uniform porous structure. Addition of 20 wt% polyvinyl pyrrolidone increased the size and interconnectivity of the cell structure and rendered more flexible foams than the neat polyvinyl alcohol. Also the nanoclay, in the nanocomposite foams, elevated pore population through generation of more air bubbles during aqueous polymer solution mixing.
Prediction of Agreement and Phonetic Overlap Shape Sublexical Identification
Authors: Martin Andrea E. , Monahan Philip J. , Samuel Arthur G.
Published: June 2016

The mapping between the physical speech signal and our internal representations is rarely straightforward. When faced with uncertainty, higher-order information is used to parse the signal and because of this, the lexicon and some aspects of sentential context have been shown to modulate the identification of ambiguous phonetic segments. Here, using a phoneme identification task (i.e., participants judged whether they heard [o] or [a] at the end of an adjective in a noun–adjective sequence), we asked whether grammatical gender cues influence phonetic identification and if this influence is shaped by the phonetic properties of the agreeing elements. In three experiments, we show that phrase-level gender agreement in Spanish affects the identification of ambiguous adjective-final vowels. Moreover, this effect is strongest when the phonetic characteristics of the element triggering agreement and the phonetic form of the agreeing element are identical. Our data are consistent with models wherein listeners generate specific predictions based on the interplay of underlying morphosyntactic knowledge and surface phonetic cues.
Parental Example as a Motivation for Turnout among Youths
Authors: Kudrnáč Aleš , Lyons Pat
Published: June 2016

Fowler proposed a social learning model of voter turnout, and Bhatti and Hansen demonstrate that voter turnout among young (first-time) voters is highest among those living at home with their parents. Combining these theoretical and empirical results to a study of youth turnout, this article tests the hypothesis that the strongest determinant of attitudes towards turnout is parents’ record of voting. The data used to test this hypothesis are a representative survey of Czech high school students aged 17–19 years, fielded in 2012. This study finds that the attitudes of youths who reside with their parents to turnout are strongly determined by their parents’ example. Motivation also matters for voting, but the parental example is the most important determinant of turnout attitudes as a social learning model of turnout suggests.
Fifty Years since the Coleman Report
Authors: Downey Douglas B. , Condron Dennis J.
Published: June 2016

In the half century since the 1966 Coleman Report, scholars have yet to develop a consensus regarding the relationship between schools and inequality. The Coleman Report suggested that schools play little role in generating achievement gaps, but social scientists have identified many ways in which schools provide better learning environments to advantaged children compared to disadvantaged children. As a result, a critical perspective that views schools as engines of inequality dominates contemporary sociology of education. However, an important body of empirical research challenges this critical view. To reconcile the field’s main ideas with this new evidence, we propose a refraction framework, a perspective on schools and inequality guided by the assumption that schools may shape inequalities along different dimensions in different ways. From this more balanced perspective, schools might indeed reproduce or exacerbate some inequalities, but they also might compensate for others—socioeconomic disparities in cognitive skills in particular. We conclude by discussing how the mostly critical perspective on schools and inequality is costly to the field of sociology of education.
Educational Authority in the ‘‘Open Door’’ Marketplace
Authors: Deterding Nicole M. , Pedulla David S.
Published: June 2016

In recent years, private for-profit education has been the fastest growing segment of the U.S. postsecondary system. Traditional hiring models suggest that employers clearly and efficiently evaluate college credentials, but this changing institutional landscape raises an important question: How do employers assess credentials from emerging institutions? Building on theories of educational authority, we hypothesize that employers respond to an associate’s degree itself over the institution from which it came. Using data from a field experiment that sent applications to administrative job openings in three major labor markets, we found that employers responded similarly to applicants listing a degree from a fictional college and applicants listing a local for-profit or nonprofit institution. There is some evidence that educational authority is incomplete, but employers who prefer degree-holders do not appear to actively evaluate institutional quality. We conclude by discussing implications of our work for research on school to labor market links within the changing higher education marketplace.
Ignoring Complexity
Authors: Dan-Cohen Talia
Published: June 2016

This paper links two domains of recent interest in science and technology studies, complexity and ignorance, in the context of knowledge practices observed among synthetic biologists. Synthetic biologists are recruiting concepts and methods from computer science and electrical engineering in order to design and construct novel organisms in the lab. Their field has taken shape amidst revised assessments of life’s complexity in the aftermath of the Human Genome Project. While this complexity is commonly taken to be an immanent property of biological systems, this article presents an epistemological view of complexity according to which complexity relates to a specific scientific theory or model and refers to that which exceeds the theory or model’s explanatory power. This epistemological view allows us to narrate a particular story about the changing relationship between biology and synthetic biology in the last decade and accounts for early knowledge practices in synthetic biology that “ignored” biology. This article further argues that while the failure of ignorance to produce clear-cut results for synthetic biologists has led practitioners back to biology, the entanglements between different pragmatic orientations and ways of knowing trouble the implications of this return for assessments of the complexity of biological systems.
What is the impact of the economic crisis on democracy? Evidence from Europe
Authors: Morlino Leonardo , Quaranta Mario
Published: June 2016

There are already a number of good accounts of the impact of the recent 2008–2014 economic crisis on European democracies. However, no systematic assessments of how it has affected specific aspects of democracy have so far been carried out. We explore its impact on European democracies in several areas by adopting the ‘quality of democracy’ framework. Our analysis shows that the measures we employ capture the variation in quality during this ‘troubled’ period. The empirical analysis suggests that a shrinking of private and public resources due to an economic downturn prompts three reactions: (a) a general deterioration of the rule of law; (b) citizens become more sensitive about what governments deliver; and (c) detachment from the institutional channels of representation along with a choice to protest.
Novel Aloe Vera fiber reinforced biodegradable composites—Development and characterization
Authors: Chaitanya Saurabh , Singh Inderdeep
Published: June 2016

In the current research enterprise, behavior of novel bio-composites incorporating Aloe Vera fibers in biopolymer matrix (polylactic acid) has been experimentally examined in comparison to Sisal fiber reinforced bio-composites. These bio-composites were melt blended using single screw extruder prior to injection molding. The effect of fiber weight fraction (10–20–30%) and fiber surface modification on mechanical behavior of developed bio-composites was investigated. Alkaline treatment using sodium hydroxide concentration of 5% was used for fiber surface modification. Both alkali treated and raw fibers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope. Thermal stability of the fibers improved after alkaline treatment. The mechanical characteristics of developed bio-composites exhibited an improvement with increasing fiber concentration. Alkaline treatment of fibers further improved the tensile, flexural and compressive properties of developed bio-composites, while their impact properties declined compared to raw fiber reinforced bio-composites. Moreover, from the results, it is evident that the characteristics of Aloe Vera fiber reinforced bio-composites are comparable to Sisal fiber reinforced bio-composites and the developed bio-composites have the potential to be used in various automotive, furniture and architectural applications.
When Is It Appropriate to Use Glutamine in Critical Illness?
Authors: Mundi Manpreet S. , Shah Meera , Hurt Ryan T.
Published: June 2016

Glutamine is a nonessential amino acid, which under trauma or critical illness can become essential. A number of historic small single‐center randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated positive treatment effects on clinical outcomes with glutamine supplementation. Meta‐analyses based on these trials demonstrated a significant reduction in hospital mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and hospital LOS with intravenous (IV) glutamine. Similar results were not noted in 2 large multicenter RCTs (REDOXS and MetaPlus) assessing the efficacy of glutamine supplementation in ventilated ICU patients. The REDOXS trial of 40 ICUs randomized 1223 ventilated ICU patients to glutamine (IV and enteral), antioxidants, both glutamine and antioxidants, or placebo. The main conclusions were a trend toward increased 28‐day mortality and significant increased hospital and 6‐month mortality in those who received glutamine. The MetaPlus trial of 14 ICUs, which randomized 301 ventilated ICU patients to glutamine‐enriched enteral vs an isocaloric diet, noted increased 6‐month mortality in the glutamine‐supplemented group. Newer RCTs have focused on specific populations and have demonstrated benefits in burn and elective surgery patients with glutamine supplementation. Whether larger studies will confirm these findings is yet to be determined. Recent American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition guidelines recommend that IV and enteral glutamine should not be used in the critical care setting based on the moderate quality of evidence available. We agree with these recommendations and would encourage larger multicenter studies to evaluate the risks and benefits of glutamine in burn and elective surgery patients.
So-called Accumulation by Dispossession
Authors: Bin Daniel
Published: June 2016

Over the last two decades, the notion of primitive accumulation has been reemerging within studies of historical capitalism. Nonetheless, most research on contemporary dispossessions has related them to capitalist accumulation proper without sufficient theoretical care, in a way that virtually collapses the concepts of dispossession and accumulation into one another. The purpose of this paper is to suggest some theoretical distinctions to better understand how contemporary dispossessions and their variations, forms and mechanisms relate, contribute, or even do not contribute, to capitalist accumulation proper. To do so, I discuss the concept of classical primitive accumulation and its alleged continuity until today. I then propose the concept of redistributive dispossession which, unlike primitive accumulation, does not create any condition for the expansion of capital. Such conditions are created through the processes I discuss under the label of expanding dispossession, which I split into expanding capitalizing dispossession and expanding commodifying dispossession.
Autoantibodies to domain 1 of beta 2 glycoprotein I determined using a novel chemiluminescence immunoassay demonstrate association with thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Mahler M , Albesa R , Zohoury N , Bertolaccini M L , Ateka-Barrutia O , Rodriguez-Garcia J L , Norman G L , Khamashta M
Published: June 2016

Introduction

Antibodies to the domain 1 of beta 2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI–D1) have been suggested as a risk marker for thrombosis in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the clinical utility of a novel chemiluminescence assay for the detection of anti-β2GPI–D1 antibodies.

Patients and methods

Sera collected from patients with primary or secondary APS ( n = 106; 72 with and 34 without history of thrombosis) and controls ( n = 272) were tested for anti-β2GPI–D1 IgG by chemiluminescence assay (QUANTA Flash) and by two anti-β2GPI IgG assays (QUANTA Lite and QUANTA Flash β2GPI IgG).

Results

Anti-β2GPI–D1 IgG titers were significantly higher in patients with thrombosis ( P = 0.0032) than those without. At the cut-off of 20 units, which yielded a 99.5% specificity, 24 of 72 (34.9%) patients with thrombosis and four of 34 (11.8%) without thrombosis were anti-β2GPI–D1 IgG positive (odds ratio, OR = 4.0). By further optimizing the cut-off specifically for correlation with thrombosis, 20.8% of the patients with thrombosis and 2.9% of the patients without thrombosis were positive (OR = 8.7). The ORs were significantly lower for antibodies to the full-length β2GPI by either the chemiluminescence assay or ELISA. Using the anti-β2GPI chemiluminescence assay, the OR was 2.3 (recommended cut-off of 20 CU) or 4.1 (optimal cut-off 164.6 CU). Using the anti-β2GPI ELISA, the OR was 2.7 (recommended cut-off of 20 units) or 3.7 (optimal cut-off 7.6 units).

Conclusion

These data indicate that anti-β2GPI–D1 IgG are present more frequently and in higher titers in APS patients with thrombotic complications than in those without.The novel β2GPI–D1 chemiluminescence assay appears to be superior to full-length β2GPI assays for the risk assessment of thrombotic events in APS patients.
Sweet but dangerous – the role of immunoglobulin G glycosylation in autoimmunity and inflammation
Authors: Biermann M H C , Griffante G , Podolska M J , Boeltz S , Stürmer J , Muñoz L E , Bilyy R , Herrmann M
Published: June 2016

Glycosylation is well-known to modulate the functional capabilities of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated cellular and humoral responses. Indeed, highly sialylated and desialylated IgG is endowed with anti- and pro-inflammatory activities, respectively, whereas fully deglycosylated IgG is a rather lame duck, with no effector function besides toxin neutralization. Recently, several studies revealed the impact of different glycosylation patterns on the Fc part and Fab fragment of IgG in several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we provide a synoptic update summarizing the most important aspects of antibody glycosylation, and the current progress in this field. We also discuss the therapeutic options generated by the modification of the glycosylation of IgG in a potential treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases.
Clinical and serological associations of autoantibodies to the Ku70/Ku80 heterodimer determined by a novel chemiluminescent immunoassay
Authors: Mahler M , Swart A , Wu J , Szmyrka-Kaczmarek M , Senécal J-L , Troyanov Y , Hanly J G , Fritzler M J
Published: June 2016

Background

Autoantibodies targeting Ku, an abundant nuclear protein with DNA helicase activity, have been reported in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Little is known about the clinical associations of anti-Ku antibodies, especially when novel diagnostic technologies are used. The objective of the present study was to analyse the prevalence of anti-Ku antibodies in different medical conditions using a novel chemiluminescent immunoassay.

Patients and methods

Serum samples from adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n=305), systemic sclerosis (SSc, n=70) and autoimmune myositis patients (AIM, n=109) were the primary focus of the study. Results were compared with disease controls (rheumatoid arthritis, RA, n=30; infectious diseases, n=17) and healthy individuals ( n=167). In addition, samples submitted for routine autoantibody testing from patients referred to a rheumatology clinic ( n=1078) were studied. All samples were tested for anti-Ku antibodies by QUANTA Flash Ku chemiluminescent immunoassay (research use only, Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, USA) using full length recombinant human Ku. SLE patient samples were also tested for other autoantibodies. Clinical data of anti-Ku antibody positive patients (high titres) were obtained by retrospective chart review.

Results and findings

In the disease cohorts, 30/305 (9.8%) SLE, 3/70 (4.3%) systemic sclerosis and 4/109 (3.7%) autoimmune myositis (AIM) patients were positive, respectively. The four positive AIM patients had an overlap myositis syndrome that included two patients with SLE. The three systemic sclerosis (SSc) positive samples had diagnoses of SSc/SLE overlap, diffuse cutaneous SSc, and early edematous phase SSc. In the control cohorts, 2/170 (1.2%) healthy individuals (all low titre), 0/30 (0.0%) (RA) and 0/17 (0.0%) infectious disease patients were positive. The area under the curve values were: 0.75 for SLE vs. controls, 0.68 for SSc vs. controls and 0.37 for AIM vs. controls. In the rheumatology clinic referral cohort, 12/1078 (1.1%) were positive for anti-Ku antibodies, nine showing low and three high titres. The diagnoses of the three high positive anti-Ku positive patients were: probable SLE, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and ANA positive RA.

Conclusion

Anti-Ku antibodies detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay are most prevalent in SLE. When found in AIM and SSc, they were associated with overlap syndrome and early SSc.
Reactive oxygen homeostasis – the balance for preventing autoimmunity
Authors: Kienhöfer D , Boeltz S , Hoffmann M H
Published: June 2016

Being mainly known for their role in the antimicrobial defense and collateral damage they cause in tissues as agents of oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species were considered “the bad guys” for decades. However, in the last years it was shown that the absence of reactive oxygen species can lead to the development of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Animal models of lupus, arthritis and psoriasis revealed reactive oxygen species-deficiency as a potent driver of pathogenesis. On the contrary, in chronic stages oxidative stress can still contribute to progression of inflammation. It seems that a neatly adjusted redox balance is necessary to sustain an immune state that both prevents the development of overt autoimmunity and attenuates chronic stages of disease.
B-cell subsets, signaling and their roles in secretion of autoantibodies
Authors: Iwata S , Tanaka Y
Published: June 2016

B cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the percentages of plasmablasts and IgD−CD27− double-negative memory B cells in peripheral blood are significantly increased, while IgD+CD27+ IgM memory B cells are significantly decreased compared to healthy donors. The phenotypic change is significantly associated with disease activity and concentration of autoantibodies. Treatment of B-cell depletion using rituximab results in the reconstitution of peripheral B cells in SLE patients with subsequent improvement in disease activity. Numerous studies have described abnormalities in B-cell receptor (BCR)-mediated signaling in B cells of SLE patients. Since differences in BCR signaling are considered to dictate the survival or death of naïve and memory B cells, aberrant BCR signal can lead to abnormality of B-cell subsets in SLE patients. Although Syk and Btk function as key molecules in BCR signaling, their pathological role in SLE remains unclear. We found that Syk and Btk do not only transduce activation signal through BCR, but also mediate crosstalk between BCR and Toll-like receptor (TLR) as well as BCR and JAK-STAT pathways in human B cells in vitro. In addition, pronounced Syk and Btk phosphorylation was observed in B cells of patients with active SLE compared to those of healthy individuals. The results suggest the involvement of Syk and Btk activation in abnormalities of BCR-mediated signaling and B-cell phenotypes during the pathological process of SLE and that Syk, Btk and JAK are potential therapeutic targets in SLE.
Organ involvement other than lupus nephritis in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Huggins J L , Holland M J , Brunner H I
Published: June 2016

In this review we critically analyze pulmonary, gastrointestinal and cardiac manifestations of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Clinical manifestations of these organ systems may be the initial manifestation of cSLE; frequently occur with very active cSLE; and are potential life-threatening manifestations often presenting to the emergency department and requiring admission to the intensive care unit. Early recognition and treatment of the pulmonary, gastrointestinal and cardiac manifestations of cSLE will result in improved prognosis and better outcomes.
Anti-C1q in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Stojan G , Petri M
Published: June 2016

C1q is the first component of the classical complement pathway. Both clinically validated in-house ELISA assays as well as commercial ELISA kits are used for detection of anti-C1q antibodies. Anti-C1q autoantibodies can be detected in a wide range of autoimmune diseases and are highly sensitive for hypocomplementemic uticarial vasculitis. In SLE, anti-C1q are strongly associated with proliferative lupus nephritis, and their absence carries a negative predictive value for development of lupus nephritis of close to 100%. Anti-C1q in combination with anti-dsDNA and low complement has the strongest serological association with renal involvement. The anti-C1q titers correlate with global disease activity scores in patients with renal involvement, and higher titers seem to precede renal flares. After the successful treatment of a renal flare, anti-C1q has the tendency to decrease or even become undetectable. The main obstacle to the inclusion of anti-C1q in the classification criteria and clinical management of SLE is the lack of standardized laboratory assays.
Individual Heterogeneity, Human Resources and Management Policy
Authors: Maruyama Magoroh
Published: June 2016

Heterogeneity of individual cognitive types exists in any culture beneath the surface of stereotypically ritualized behavior. These individual types exist across cultural boundaries and are therefore transcultural, contrary to the widely held assumption that individual types must be subcultural variations. This has profound implications in human resources utilization and training. One of the cognitive types is indispensable for futurogenic management which goes beyond proactive management and generates unprecedented and unforeseen changes. An overlooked problem in understanding between different cognitive types is dimension reduction, which produces illusion of perfect understanding by reducing the cognitive dimensions of the communication sender into the dimensions of the communication receiver. This problem has not been considered because of the theorists' unawareness of heterogeneity of cognitive dimensions.
The Co-Existence of Strategy and Innovation: Legitimizing New Forms of Organizing Processes
Authors: Hernes Tor
Published: June 2016

Companies increasingly need to excel both in efficiency and innovation. This means that they have to be proficient both at following strategies and cultivating innovation-led change. Whereas the former implies cultivating what they are good at and embedding it in stable structures, the latter implies exploring new opportunities. However, these two logics subscribe to two distinctly different discourses in organizations. A problem arises when the discourse of strategy and structure gets the upper hand over the discourse of innovation. This somewhat uneven battle is a question of legitimacy: Strategy and structure are part and parcel of rationalist models. Innovation, on the other hand is more often than not seen as nearsighted and intuition based. Hence, organizations will tend more towards structure and strategy than towards innovation, as pointed out by, for example, Bartlett and Ghoshal (1998). Such a tendency is potentially harmful to contemporary organizations in the sense that their potential for innovation is hampered. The idea of ‘strategic intent’ (Hamel and Prahalad 1994) as opposed to traditional models of strategy goes some way towards resolving the dilemma, because it specifies that strategies should be broad and provide ‘stretch’ rather than be controlling and inhibitive. Still, recent literature on strategy tends to prescribe from best practice, and it works from examples of very large corporations. They do not address dilemmas of ‘normal’ companies who cannot as readily accommodate competing logics of innovation and strategy. I argue in this paper that a key element is that of ‘discourse’, which serves to legitimise the one or the other logic. Therefore, for innovation led change to occupy its due space in organizations, it needs to be given legitimacy. Legitimacy comes through structure, and therefore innovation needs its own structures inside organizations.
Essai: Real Time/Real Space Research: Connecting Action and Reflection in Organization Studies
Authors: Calori Roland
Published: June 2016

This essai discusses real-time/real-space research in which the time-space of the researcher and the time-space of the researched overlap, and in which action and reflection are intimately connected through fusion or cooperation. The paper first presents the principles of a pragmatic epistemology, and then briefly reviews real-time/real-space research strategies, particularly co-authorship, by reflective practitioners and pragmatic researchers who get involved together in theory building.
Inevitability of Innovation in India
Authors: Breja Abhishek , Mathew Monu Kurien
Published: June 2016

This write-up extends a point of view on what drives innovation and assesses India's current potential for innovation. It presents our views on the factors in India's culture, economy and competitive markets that influence innovation. Our research on innovation and analysis of India's socio-economic fabric suggests that though there are several factors that may be blocking innovation in India, there are also sound fundamental characteristics of Indian society, economic conditions and its current position in the global value chain that can potentially make India an innovation powerhouse. In today's rapidly changing world, opportunities can quickly fade away. India, we believe, is currently presented with a unique opportunity to build its innovation cpacity. The write-up also proposes a mix of short and long-term initiatives that need to be taken by all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the country can capitalise on this opportunity and join the league of the most innovative countries.
Transforming India Post: Crossing the Crossroads
Authors: Janakiraman M.
Published: June 2016

“India Post has the potential and the resilience to effect a turn around. In the next five years, India Post should work in a technology driven and commercially competitive environment, accompanied by a paradigm shift in the mindset, to be consumer conscious and render quality service.” -

Shri. Dayanidhi Maran, Honorable Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Government of India.
Offshore Outsourcing of Business Processes: Understanding IPR Implications
Authors: Goyal Preeti , Sahay Arun
Published: June 2016

Business process outsourcing is a multi billion-dollar industry today. Intellectual property becomes important in such arrangements; as such projects may require resources and information to be shared between the client and the service provider. Underlying the availability and application of these resources such as personnel, hardware and software are intellectual property issues, more specifically patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets. These intellectual properties have the potential of providing firms with sustained competitive advantage which, in turn, affect the firm performance of the business.

Given the importance of IPR implications and the growing BPO industry, the paper attempts to develop a framework for understanding IPR implications for offshore outsourcing of business processes. The framework can be used by both the client and service provider for development and sharing of IPRs to their mutual advantage.
Business Schools in India: Paradoxes, Challenges, Opportunities
Authors: Kannan Vijay R.
Published: June 2016

With high rates of economic growth and increasing levels of salaries in the corporate sector, demand for business education is extremely high and students from technical background are trying to enter the top business schools through a tough admission test. Two distortions have been created in the process. First, career choice is dictated by the lure of high salaries after getting a MBA degree irrespective of the background. Second, the attractiveness of education, particularly the research programmes in the universities have become something of low priority because of potential salary differences compared to the compensation package a fresh MBA from top business schools can command. These aspects have been explained in the present paper.
An Assessment of Internal Market Orientation in Jammu and Kashmir Bank Through Internal Customers Perspective
Authors: Kaur Gurjeet , Sharma R. D. , Seli Nitasha
Published: June 2016

The study aims at measuring the level of Internal Market Orientation (IMO) through internal customers' perspective particularly with regard to its three behavioural components viz., intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination and responsiveness. Inadequate research inputs to examine the extent of IMO particularly with respect to banking sector have encouraged the efforts of undertaking the present initiative. The study is primarily based on first hand information gathered from 611 internal customers of one of the best Indian private sector banks viz., Jammu and Kashmir Bank Pvt Ltd (J&K). The findings of the study indicate all three components of IMO viz., intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination and responsiveness, having a significant impact on increasing the level of IMO vis-à-vis the basic ingredients of IMO playing a significant role in determining overall internal customers' satisfaction.
CRM Best Practices: A Case Study of a European Bank
Authors: Das Kallol
Published: June 2016

The present case study deals with deployment of CRM best practices, in the context of Indian retail banking, specific to a European bank. The practices of the European bank have been examined using a set of 29 best practices; culled from CRM literature. The case study reveals how well the different practices have been deployed in the selected bank.
Regional Science City, Lucknow
Authors: Aithal Rajesh K.
Published: June 2016

The footfalls at the Regional Science City, Lucknow had been stagnant for the last few years. The centre's main focus till now had been predominantly on school children. But to get the targeted growth in number of visitors, they had to start focusing on attracting general visitors. The case revolves around the challenges faced by the management in increasing the number of visitors to the centre. Questions on the best possible means of local promotions to attract more visitors to the facility are raised.

The case tries to sensitise the discussants to the issues and problems faced by a not-for-profit organization. The case also raises the larger questions of application of marketing concepts to non-profits and educational context.