bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel germline SDHD mutation in a patient with recurrent familial carotid body tumor and concomitant pheochromocytoma
Authors: Kim Eun Sook , Kim Su Yeon , Mo Eun Young , Jang Dong Kyu , Moon Sung Dae , Han Je Ho 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTBackgroundRecent advances in genetics revealed that 25% to 30% of head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs) are inherited tumors associated with germline mutation, mainly in the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) gene.MethodsDNA was isolated from whole blood and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were sequenced with an ABI3730 × 1 Genetic Analyzer.ResultsA 30‐year‐old Korean woman underwent resection of a carotid PGL. Fourteen years later, she was readmitted for a cervical mass. 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET)/CT revealed a hot spot in the adrenal gland, besides the carotid mass. Surgical pathology confirmed recurrence of the carotid PGL and a concomitant pheochromocytoma. Genetic analysis revealed SDHD c.119del T (p.I40TfsX46) mutation. One daughter has been identified as a carrier.ConclusionWe found a novel SDHD mutation from a Korean family that shows similar clinical features to those in other SDHD mutations, mostly from Western countries. Further studies are needed to determine whether similar genotype‐phenotype correlations exist in the Asian patients with familial PGLs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: E131–E135, 2014
Assessing the Functional Mechanical Properties of Bioengineered Organs With Emphasis on the Lung
Authors: Suki Béla 
Published: March 2014

AbstractRecently, an exciting new approach has emerged in regenerative medicine pushing the forefront of tissue engineering to create bioartificial organs. The basic idea is to create biological scaffolds made of extracellular matrix (ECM) that preserves the three‐dimensional architecture of an entire organ. These scaffolds are then used as templates for functional tissue and organ reconstruction after re‐seeding the structure with stem cells or appropriately differentiated cells. In order to make sure that these bioartificial organs will be able to function in the mechanical environment of the native tissue, it is imperative to fully characterize their mechanical properties and match them with those of the normal native organs. This mini‐review briefly summarizes modern measurement techniques of mechanical function characterized mostly by the material or volumetric stiffness. Micro‐scale and macro‐scale techniques such as atomic force microscopy and the tissue strip stress–strain approach are discussed with emphasis on those that combine mechanical measurements with structural visualization. Proper micro‐scale stiffness helps attachment and differentiation of cells in the bioartificial organ whereas macro‐scale functionality is provided by the overall mechanical properties of the construct. Several approaches including failure mechanics are also described, which specifically probe the contributions of the main ECM components including collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans to organ level ECM function. Advantages, drawbacks, and possible pitfalls as well as interpretation of the data are given throughout. Finally, specific techniques to assess the functionality of the ECM of bioartificial lungs are separately discussed. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1134–1140, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Particle‐induced osteolysis is not accompanied by systemic remodeling but is reflected by systemic bone biomarkers
Authors: Ross R.D. , Virdi A.S. , Liu S. , Sena K. , Sumner D.R. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTParticle‐induced osteolysis is caused by an imbalance in bone resorption and formation, often leading to loss of implant fixation. Bone remodeling biomarkers may be useful for identification of osteolysis and studying pathogenesis, but interpretation of biomarker data could be confounded if local osteolysis engenders systemic bone remodeling. Our goal was to determine if remote bone remodeling contributes to biomarker levels. Serum concentrations of eight biomarkers and bone remodeling rates at local (femur), contiguous (tibia), and remote (humerus and lumbar vertebra) sites were evaluated in a rat model of particle‐induced osteolysis. Serum CTX‐1, cathepsin K, PINP, and OPG were elevated and osteocalcin was suppressed in the osteolytic group, but RANKL, TRAP 5b, and sclerostin were not affected at the termination of the study at 12 weeks. The one marker tested longitudinally (CTX‐1) was elevated by 3 weeks. We found increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation locally, subtle differences in contiguous sites, but no differences remotely at 12 weeks. Thus, the skeletal response to local particle challenge was not systemic, implying that the observed differences in serum biomarker levels reflect differences in local remodeling. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:967–973, 2014.
Three‐dimensional pulmonary perfusion MRI with radial ultrashort echo time and spatial–temporal constrained reconstruction
Authors: Bauman Grzegorz , Johnson Kevin M. , Bell Laura C. , Velikina Julia V. , Samsonov Alexey A. , Nagle Scott K. , Fain Sean B. 
Published: March 2014

PurposeTo assess the feasibility of spatial–temporal constrained reconstruction for accelerated regional lung perfusion using highly undersampled dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) three‐dimensional (3D) radial MRI with ultrashort echo time (UTE).MethodsA combined strategy was used to accelerate DCE MRI for 3D pulmonary perfusion with whole lung coverage. A highly undersampled 3D radial UTE MRI acquisition was combined with an iterative constrained reconstruction exploiting principal component analysis and wavelet soft‐thresholding for dimensionality reduction in space and time. The performance of the method was evaluated using a 3D fractal‐based DCE digital lung phantom. Simulated perfusion maps and contrast enhancement curves were compared with ground truth using the structural similarity index (SSIM) to determine robust threshold and regularization levels. Feasibility studies were then performed in a canine and a human subject with 3D radial UTE (TE = 0.08 ms) acquisition to assess feasibility of mapping regional 3D perfusion.ResultsThe method was able to accurately recover perfusion maps in the phantom with a nominal isotropic spatial resolution of 1.5 mm (SSIM of 0.949). The canine and human subject studies demonstrated feasibility for providing artifact‐free perfusion maps in a simple 3D breath‐held acquisition.ConclusionThe proposed method is promising for fast and flexible 3D pulmonary perfusion imaging. Magn Reson Med 73:555–564, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tubers from patients with tuberous sclerosis complex are characterized by changes in microtubule biology throughROCK2signalling
Authors: Ferrer Isidre , Mohan Pooja , Chen Helen , Castellsague Joan , Gómez‐Baldó Laia , Carmona Marga , García Nadia , Aguilar Helena , Jiang Jihong , Skowron Margaretha , Nellist Mark , Ampuero Israel , Russi Antonio , Lázaro Conxi , Maxwell Christopher A , Pujana Miguel Angel 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMost patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) develop cortical tubers that cause severe neurological disabilities. It has been suggested that defects in neuronal differentiation and/or migration underlie the appearance of tubers. However, the precise molecular alterations remain largely unknown. Here, by combining cytological and immunohistochemical analyses of tubers from nineTSCpatients (four of them diagnosed withTSC2germline mutations), we show that alteration of microtubule biology throughROCK2signalling contributes toTSCneuropathology. All tubers showed a larger number of binucleated neurons than expected relative to control cortex. An excess of normal and altered cytokinetic figures was also commonly observed. Analysis of centrosomal markers suggested increased microtubule nucleation capacity, which was supported by the analysis of an expression dataset from cortical tubers and control cortex, and subsequently linked to under‐expression of Rho‐associated coiled‐coil containing kinase 2 (ROCK2). Thus, augmented microtubule nucleation capacity was observed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and human fibroblasts deficient in theTsc2/TSC2gene product, tuberin. Consistent withROCK2under‐expression, microtubule acetylation was found to be increased with tuberin deficiency; this alteration was abrogated by rapamycin treatment and mimicked byHDAC6inhibition. Together, the results of this study support the hypothesis that loss ofTSC2expression can alter microtubule organization and dynamics, which, in turn, deregulate cell division and potentially impair neuronal differentiation. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Preparation and development of block copolypeptide vesicles and hydrogels for biological and medical applications
Authors: Deming Timothy J. 
Published: March 2014

There have been many recent advances in the controlled polymerization of α‐amino acid‐N‐carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomers into well‐defined block copolypeptides. Transition metal initiating systems allow block copolypeptide synthesis with excellent control over number and lengths of block segments, chain length distribution, and chain‐end functionality. Using this and other methods, block copolypeptides of controlled dimensions have been prepared and their self‐assembly into organized structures studied by many research groups. The ability of well‐defined block copolypeptides to assemble into supramolecular copolypeptide vesicles and hydrogels has led to the development of these materials for use in biological and medical applications. These assemblies have been found to possess unique properties that are derived from the amino acid building blocks and ordered conformations of the polypeptide segments. Recent work on the incorporation of active and stimulus‐responsive functionality in these materials has tremendously increased their potential for use in biological and medical studies.This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement
Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Peptide-Based Structures
Personalizing oncology treatments by predicting drug efficacy, side‐effects, and improved therapy: mathematics, statistics, and their integration
Authors: Agur Zvia , Elishmereni Moran , Kheifetz Yuri 
Published: March 2014

Despite its great promise, personalized oncology still faces many hurdles, and it is increasingly clear that targeted drugs and molecular biomarkers alone yield only modest clinical benefit. One reason is the complex relationships between biomarkers and the patient's response to drugs, obscuring the true weight of the biomarkers in the overall patient's response. This complexity can be disentangled by computational models that integrate the effects of personal biomarkers into a simulator of drug–patient dynamic interactions, for predicting the clinical outcomes. Several computational tools have been developed for personalized oncology, notably evidence‐based tools for simulating pharmacokinetics, Bayesian‐estimated tools for predicting survival, etc. We describe representative statistical and mathematical tools, and discuss their merits, shortcomings and preliminary clinical validation attesting to their potential. Yet, the individualization power of mathematical models alone, or statistical models alone, is limited. More accurate and versatile personalization tools can be constructed by a new application of the statistical/mathematical nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NLMEM) approach, which until recently has been used only in drug development. Using these advanced tools, clinical data from patient populations can be integrated with mechanistic models of disease and physiology, for generating personal mathematical models. Upon a more substantial validation in the clinic, this approach will hopefully be applied in personalized clinical trials, P‐trials, hence aiding the establishment of personalized medicine within the main stream of clinical oncology.This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational Methods
Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models
Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine
Thin Capitalization Rules and Entrepreneural Capital Structure Decisions
Authors: Maßbaum Alexandra , Sureth Caren 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTax planners often choose debt over equity financing. As this has led to increased corporate debt financing, many countries have introduced thin capitalization rules to secure their tax revenues. In a general capital structure model we analyze if thin capitalization rules affect dividend and financing decisions, and whether they can partially explain why corporations receive both debt and equity capital. We model the Belgian, German and Italian rules as examples. We find that the so-called Miller equilibrium and definite financing effects depend significantly on the underlying tax system. Further, our results are useful for the treasury to decide what thin capitalization type to implement.
A Simple Accounting-Based Valuation Model for the Debt Tax Shield
Authors: Scholze Andreas 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper describes a simple way to integrate the debt tax shield into an accounting-based valuation model. The market value of equity is determined by forecasting residual operating income, which is calculated by charging operating income for the operating assets at a required return that accounts for the tax benefit that comes from borrowing to raise cash for the operations. The model assumes that the firm maintains a deterministic financial leverage ratio, which tends to converge quickly to typical steady-state levels over time. From a practical point of view, this characteristic is of particular help, because it allows a continuing value calculation at the end of a short forecast period.
Centralization versus Delegation in an Experimental Capital Budgeting Setting
Authors: Arnold Markus C. , Gillenkirch Robert M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn an experiment, we model two stylized facts about capital budgeting practice, budgetary slack creation and delegation of decision-making authority. In our setting, under centralization, headquarters announces a budget, the division manager gives a cost report, and headquarters decides on the project. Under delegation, headquarters allocates a budget to the manager, and the manager is authorized to make the investment decision. We argue that the ability of headquarters to commit to a budget moderates the effect of delegation, and we find evidence in favor of our argument as there is an interaction effect of delegation and commitment to budgets. The effects of delegation are particularly strong when budgets are non-binding as delegation serves as a substitute for commitment in this case. This leads to smaller expenditures and to a higher headquarters’ payoff under delegation than under centralization. In contrast, when headquarters can commit to the budget, the descriptive data are consistent with our conjectures about the effects of honesty preferences, but the effects are too small to be significant.
Endangering of Businesses by the German Inheritance Tax? — An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Houben Henriette , Maiterth Ralf 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis contribution addresses the substantial tax privilege for businesses introduced by the German Inheritance Tax Act 2009. Advocates of the vast or even entire tax exemption for businesses stress the potential damage of the inheritance tax on businesses, as those often lack liquidity to meet tax liability. This submission tackles this issue empirically based on data of the German Inheritance Tax Statistics and the SOEP. The results indicate that former German inheritance tax law has not endangered transferred businesses. Hence, there is no need for the tremendous tax privilege for businesses in current German inheritance tax law. An alternative flat inheritance tax without tax privileges, which meets revenue neutrality per tax class according to current tax law, provokes in some cases relative high tax loads which might trouble businesses.
Capital Market Implications of Corporate Disclosure: German Evidence
Authors: Grüning Michael 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper investigates the relationship between annual report disclosure, market liquidity, and capital cost for firms registered on the Deutsche Börse. Disclosure is comprehensively measured using the innovative Artificial Intelligence Measurement of Disclosure (AIMD). Results show that annual report disclosure enhances market liquidity by changing investors’ expectations and inducing portfolio adjustments. Trading frictions are negatively associated with disclosure. The study provides evidence for a capital-cost-reduction effect of disclosure based on the analysis of investors’ return requirements and market values. Altogether, no evidence is found that the information processing at the German capital market is structurally different from other markets.
Tax-optimal step-up and imperfect loss offset
Authors: Diller Markus 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn the field of mergers and acquisitions, German and international tax law allow for several opportunities to step up a firm’s assets, i.e., to revaluate the assets at fair market values. When a step-up is performed the taxpayer recognizes a taxable gain, but also obtains tax benefits in the form of higher future depreciation allowances associated with stepping up the tax base of the assets. This tax-planning problem is well known in taxation literature and can also be applied to firm valuation in the presence of taxation. However, the known models usually assume a perfect loss offset. If this assumption is abandoned, the depreciation allowances may lose value as they become tax effective at a later point in time, or even never if there are not enough cash flows to be offset against. This aspect is especially relevant if future cash flows are assumed to be uncertain. This paper shows that a step-up may be disadvantageous or a firm overvalued if these aspects are not integrated into the basic calculus. Compared to the standard approach, assets should be stepped up only in a few cases and — under specific conditions — ata later point in time. Firm values may be considerably lower under imperfect loss offset.
Faking or Convincing: Why Do Some Advertising Campaigns Win Creativity Awards?
Authors: Kübler Raoul V. , Proppe Dennis 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSince the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed in 2002, it has become commonplace in the advertising industry to use creativity-award-show prizes instead of gross income figures to attract new customers. Therefore, achieving a top creativity ranking and winning creativity awards have become high priorities in the advertising industry. Agencies and marketers have always wondered what elements in the advertising creation process would lead to the winning of creativity awards. Although this debate has been dominated by pure speculation about the success of different routines, approaches and strategies in winning creativity awards, for the first time our study delivers an empirical insight into the key drivers of creativity award success. We investigate what strategies and which elements of an advertising campaign are truly likely to lead to winning the maximum number of creativity awards. Using a sample of 108 campaigns, we identify factors that influence campaign success at international advertising award shows. We identify innovativeness and the integration of multiple channels as the key drivers of creativity award success. In contrast to industry beliefs, meaningful or personally connecting approaches do not seem to generate a significant benefit in terms of winning creativity awards. Finally, our data suggest that the use of so-called “fake campaigns” to win more creativity awards does not prove to be effective.
How Individual Scholars Can Reduce the Rigor-Relevance Gap in Management Research
Authors: Wolf Joachim , Rosenberg Timo 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper discusses a number of avenues management scholars could follow to reduce the existing gap between scientific rigor and practical relevance without relativizing the importance of the first goal dimension. Such changes are necessary because many management studies do not fully exploit the possibilities to increase their practical relevance while maintaining scientific rigor. We argue that this rigor-relevance gap is not only the consequence of the currently prevailing institutional context in the scientific system, but that individual scholars can reduce the gap between rigorous and practically relevant research by modifying their research work. Thus, most of our suggestions refer to individual scholars’ research activities and relate to specific steps in the (empirical) research process. Our discussion does not imply that all management studies should be practically oriented; basic research will remain a very important part of management research. However, we believe that not enough management research studies are significantly influenced by practical relevance.
An Integrated Inventory-Transportation System with Periodic Pick-Ups and Leveled Replenishment
Authors: Volling Thomas , Grunewald Martin , Spengler Thomas S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn this paper we develop a combined inventory-transportation system. The general idea is to integrate a simple replenishment policy with a routing component to derive operationally consistent standard routes as a basis for milk run design. The most interesting feature of the approach is that we combine stochastic vehicle routing with a replenishment policy which makes use of inventory to level the variability propagated into transportation operations. To evaluate the approach, we compare its performance with stochastic vehicle routing as well as sequential vehicle routing and replenishment planning. With respect to these approaches, substantial gains are achieved.
Purchasing Organization and Design: A Literature Review
Authors: Glock Christoph H. , Hochrein Simon 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper presents the results of a comprehensive literature review of the organization of purchasing covering the period from 1967 to 2009. The review provides a structured overview of prior research topics and findings and identifies gaps in the existing literature that may be addressed in future research. The intention of the review is to a) synthesize prior research, b) provide researchers with a structural framework on which future research on the organization of purchasing may be oriented, and c) suggest promising areas for future research.
Letters to the Editor
Authors: Sarli Leopoldo , Costi Renato , Kayaalp Cuneyt , Bostanoglu Akin , Atalay Fuat , Akoglu Musa , Gollackner Bernd , Rockenschaub Susanne , Steininger Rudolf , Langle Friedrich , Auer Herbert 
Published: March 2014

Abstract.A new therapy complementary to transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in which anticancer agents are percutaneously injected into the tumor under ultrasound guidance (percutaneous injection chemotherapy combined with TAE; TAE‐PICT) has been developed and found to be effective. A total of 68 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules in 50 patients were treated with TAE‐PICT, and the complications were evaluated. Among those with solitary HCC nodules 5 cm in diameter, 17 were treated with TAE‐PICT and 24 with only TAE in a prospective comparative study. No major complications were seen, and the anticancer drugs could still be found in the tumor 3 months after injection. A significantly higher cumulative survival rate (p = 0.03961) and significantly higher cumulative recurrence‐free survival rate (p = 0.00647) were achieved in patients treated with TAE‐PICT than in those treated with TAE alone.