bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The genealogical analysis of the HKSAR’s civic education policy
Authors: Chung Fun Steven Hung 
Published: April 2015

Purpose– Civic education in Hong Kong is quite confusing nowadays. To understand the policy, it should be placed into the reality of its historical context. In addition, to read through the documentary presentation of policy, the policy’s proposal and its initiation should be understood with an understanding of contextual progress and historical change following the handover of sovereignty to China. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach– The genealogical knowledge of policy history is applied for the purpose of understanding civic education. The concepts of genealogy put forward present an anti-essentialist position and are opposed to focusing on a singular or dominant ideology.Findings– As the government-dominated power, any knowledge of civic education was bound to be nationally identified and patriotic for the purposes of strengthening nation-state awareness. Another approach of moral education was adopted that emphasized traditional Chinese cultures and values in order to cultivate a recognition of a harmonious society in students.Originality/value– The paper helps to analyse the government-dominated process of knowledge formation in a value setting.
Coexistence of pemphigus foliaceus and acquired hemophilia A: A case report
Authors: Filipczak Aleksandra , Michalska‐Jakubus Małgorzata , Górska‐Kosicka Magdalena , Woźniak Katarzyna , Kowalewski Cezary , Krupski Witold , Pietrzak Aldona , Wallner Grzegorz , Mosiewicz Jerzy , Lotti Torello , Krasowska Dorota 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an autoimmune bullous dermatosis with anti‐desmoglein‐1 autoantibodies. Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare coagulation disorder with a high mortality rate, caused by anti‐factor VIII immunoglobulin G antibodies leading to spontaneous severe hemorrhages into skin, muscles or soft tissues. This coagulopathy may be associated with malignancies, drug reactions and autoimmune disorders including bullous dermatoses. Herein, we demonstrate a first report of AHA in the course of pemphigus foliaceus. A 55‐year‐old woman presenting with extensive, erosive, crusted, scaly skin lesions was diagnosed with PF based on histopathological and immunofluorescent examination, confirmed by the presence of anti‐desmoglein‐1 antibodies on enzyme‐linked immunoassay. She developed extensive internal hemorrhages and prolonged external bleeding after laparotomy. Based on coagulation tests, AHA was diagnosed. Simultaneous remission of pemphigus and coagulopathy occurred with immunosuppressants and recombinant activated factor VII.
Geomechanical property estimation of unconventional reservoirs using seismic data and rock physics
Authors: Glinsky Michael E. , Cortis Andrea , Chen Jinsong , Sassen Doug , Rael Howard 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTAn extension of a previously developed rock physics model is made that quantifies the relationship between the ductile fraction of a brittle/ductile binary mixture and the isotropic seismic reflection response. By making a weak scattering (Born) approximation and plane wave (eikonal) approximation, with a subsequent ordering according to the angles of incidence, singular value decomposition analyses are performed to understand the stack weightings, number of stacks, and the type of stacks that will optimally estimate two fundamental rock physics parameters – the ductile fraction and the compaction and/or diagenesis. It is concluded that the full PP stack, i.e., sum of all PP offset traces, and the “full” PS stack, i.e., linear weighted sum of PS offset traces, are the two optimal stacks needed to estimate the two rock physics parameters. They dominate over both the second‐order amplitude variation offset “gradient” stack, which is a quadratically weighted sum of PP offset traces that is effectively the far offset traces minus the near offset traces, and the higher order fourth order PP stack (even at large angles of incidence). Using this result and model‐based Bayesian inversion, the seismic detectability of the ductile fraction (shown by others to be the important rock property for the geomechanical response of unconventional reservoir fracking) is demonstrated on a model characteristic of the Marcellus shale play.
Role of Peptide YY in blood vessel function and atherosclerosis in a rabbit model
Authors: Smith Renee M , Klein Rudi , Kruzliak Peter , Zulli Anthony 
Published: April 2015

SummaryCardiovascular disease remains a burden for Westernized countries. Peptide YY (PYY) raises blood pressure, yet its role has not yet been determined in diseased arteries. This study aimed at identifying PYY and eNOS in diseased blood vessels and to determine which blood vessels respond to PYY. New Zealand White rabbits were fed an atherogenic diet (n = 6, 0.5% cholesterol + 1% methionine + 5% peanut oil) and control animals fed a normal diet (n = 6) for 4 weeks. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the localization of PYY and eNOS in the aorta. The aorta, carotid, renal, iliac, inferior mesenteric, and renal interlobular arteries were removed, mounted in organ baths, and subjected to doses of PYY (10−9–10−7 mol/L) and then acetylcholine (10−6 mol/L). Immunohistochemistry of the aorta shows PYY staining in plaque macrophages, smooth muscle cells and endothelium, and these cells co‐expressed eNOS. PYY caused a minor vasoconstrictive response in all blood vessels studied but was blunted in arteries from control animals. Acetylcholine caused relaxation of PYY constricted blood vessels. This data clearly shows that PYY is present in atherosclerotic plaque and is a minor constrictor of the vasculature tree. Further studies aimed at understanding the role of PYY in cardiovascular disease are warranted.
Can oral vitamin D prevent the cardiovascular diseases among migrants in Australia? Provider perspective using Markov modelling
Authors: Ruwanpathirana Thilanga , Owen Alice , Renzaho Andre MN , Zomer Ella , Gambhir Manoj , Reid Christopher M 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe study was designed to model the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of oral Vitamin D supplementation as a primary prevention strategy for cardiovascular disease among a migrant population in Australia. It was carried out in the Community Health Service, Kensington, Melbourne. Best‐case scenario analysis using a Markov model was employed to look at the health care providers’ perspective. Adult migrants who were vitamin D deficient and free from cardiovascular disease visiting the medical centre at least once during the period from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012 were included in the study. The blood pressure‐lowering effect of vitamin D was taken from a published meta‐analysis and applied in the Framingham 10 year cardiovascular risk algorithm (with and without oral vitamin D supplements) to generate the probabilities of cardiovascular events. A Markov decision model was used to estimate the provider costs associated with the events and treatments. Uncertainties were derived by Monte Carlo simulation. Vitamin D oral supplementation (1000 IU/day) for 10 years could potentially prevent 31 (interquartile range (IQR) 26 to 37) non‐fatal and 11 (IQR 10 to 15) fatal cardiovascular events in a migrant population of 10 000 assuming 100% compliance. The provider perspective incremental cost effectiveness per year of life saved was AU$3,992 (IQR 583 to 8558). This study suggests subsidised supplementation of oral vitamin D may be a cost effective intervention to reduce non‐fatal and fatal cardiovascular outcomes in high‐risk migrant populations.
Loss of heterozygosity at the human leukocyte antigen locus in thymic epithelial tumors
Authors: Chen Yuan , Wang Guojin , Zhang Peng , Liu Yimei , Yao Yuanyuan , Wang Hai , Wang Yuanguo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundTo study the relationship between loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus and the pathogenicity and clinicopathological features of thymic epithelial tumors (TET).MethodsTumor and adjacent normal tissues were isolated from 36 TET patients. Five microsatellite loci (D6S1666, D6S265, D6S273, DS6276, and D6S291) within the HLA locus were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequencing was used to measure the frequency of microsatellite LOH.ResultsLOH was identified in at least one locus in 83.6% of TET patients. LOH frequency at D6S1666, D6S265, D6S273, D6S276, and D6S291 was 44.4%, 16.7%, 30.5%, 38.9%, and 36.1% respectively. There was no significant association between LOH frequency in TET with tumor severity, or in the presence or absence of myasthenia gravis.ConclusionsD6S1666, D6S265, D6S273, DS6S276, and D6S29 are sensitive loci for studying microsatellite LOH in TET. LOH within the HLA complex is implicated in the occurrence and development of TET, with the HLA‐DQA1 gene likely involved. However, an understanding of the relationship between LOH and the clinicopathological features of TET requires a larger sample size than that of the present study.
Trapped Cash and the Profitability of Foreign Acquisitions
Authors: Edwards Alexander , Kravet Todd , Wilson Ryan 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCurrent U.S. reporting and tax laws create an incentive for some U.S. firms to avoid the repatriation of foreign earnings, as the U.S. government charges additional corporate taxes on these transfers. Prior research suggests that the combined effect of these incentives leads some U.S. multinational corporations to hold a significant amount of cash overseas. In this study, we investigate the effect of cash trapped overseas on U.S. multinational corporations' foreign acquisitions. Consistent with expectations, we observe firms with high levels of trapped cash make less profitable acquisitions of foreign target firms using cash consideration (lower announcement window returns, lower buy and hold returns, decreased ROA). The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (AJCA) reduced this effect by allowing firms to repatriate foreign earnings held as cash abroad at a much lower tax cost. Our study has implications for current proposals to change the tax laws related to foreign earnings.
Efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy in the first trimester of pregnancy: a case of severe manic catatonia
Authors: Pinna Martina , Manchia Mirko , Pillai Gianluca , Salis Piergiorgio , Minnai Gian Paolo 
Published: April 2015

ObjectivesElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an appropriate, albeit often neglected, option for managing severe or life‐threatening psychiatric symptoms during pregnancy. We report on the rapid effectiveness and safety of ECT during the first trimester of pregnancy in a 28‐year‐old woman with severe catatonia.MethodsCatatonic symptoms were assessed using the Catatonia Rating Scale (CRS). The patient was treated with unilateral ECT using left anterior right temporal (LART) placement. Seizure quality and duration were monitored by a two‐lead electroencephalograph (EEG) and by one‐lead electromyography (EMG). During each ECT session, the fetal heart rate was monitored with electrocardiogram (ECG).ResultsAfter the second ECT treatment (day 13 of hospitalization), we observed remission of the catatonic symptoms, as shown by the drop in the CRS score from 22 to 0. No cognitive abnormalities were reported and no gynecological complications were detected (e.g. vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, or uterine contraction). The patient delivered at term a healthy male neonate who presented normal growth as well as normal psychomotor development.ConclusionsThis case highlights the effectiveness of ECT in treating severe catatonic mania during the first 3 months of pregnancy. In addition, ECT proved to be a safe therapeutic option, since neither mother nor infant experienced any adverse event. We suggest that ECT might be considered as a valid and safe option in the therapeutic decision‐making process when catatonic symptoms manifest during pregnancy.
Outcomes in splenic marginal zone lymphoma: analysis of 107 patients treated in British Columbia
Authors: Xing Katharine H. , Kahlon Amrit , Skinnider Brian F. , Connors Joseph M. , Gascoyne Randy D. , Sehn Laurie H. , Savage Kerry J. , Slack Graham W. , Shenkier Tamara N. , Klasa Richard , Gerrie Alina S. , Villa Diego 
Published: April 2015

SummarySplenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) accounts for less than 2% of all non‐Hodgkin lymphomas. We identified 107 cases diagnosed with SMZL between 1985 and 2012 from the British Columbia Cancer Agency Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Lymphoma Pathology Databases. Patient characteristics were: median age 67 years (range 30–88), male 40%, stage IV 98%, splenomegaly 93%, bone marrow involvement 96%, peripheral blood involvement 87%. As initial treatment, 52 underwent splenectomy (10 with chemotherapy), 38 chemotherapy alone (21 chemoimmunotherapy containing rituximab, 1 rituximab alone), two antivirals for hepatitis C, and 15 were only observed. The 10‐year overall survival for first‐line splenectomy versus chemotherapy was 61% and 42%, respectively [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0·48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·26–0·88, P = 0·017]. The 10‐year failure‐free survival (FFS) after first‐line splenectomy vs chemotherapy was 39% and 14%, respectively (HR 0·48, 95% CI 0·28–0·80, P = 0·004). Among the 38 patients who received first‐line chemotherapy, FFS was similar between those receiving rituximab (n = 22) and those who did not (n = 16) (HR 0·64, 95% CI 0·31–1·34, P = 0·238). Fifteen patients transformed to aggressive lymphoma with median time to transformation of 3·5 years (range 6 months to 12 years) and the 10‐year transformation rate was 18%. In conclusion, splenectomy remains a reasonable treatment for patients with SMZL.
Tree Species Richness Strengthens Relationships between Ants and the Functional Composition of Spider Assemblages in a Highly Diverse Forest
Authors: Schuldt Andreas , Staab Michael 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn species‐rich ecosystems, such as subtropical and tropical forests, higher trophic level interactions are key mediators of ecosystem functioning. Plant species loss may alter these interactions, but the effects of plant diversity might be modified by intraguild interactions, particularly among predators. We analyzed the relationships between spiders and ants, two dominant predatory arthropod taxa, on tree saplings across a gradient from medium to high woody plant species richness in a subtropical forest in Southeast China. Neither ant nor spider total biomass was significantly related to plant species richness. By contrast, the biomass distribution of web‐building and hunting spiders changed and spider family richness increased in the presence of ants, resulting in more web builder‐dominated assemblages. However, these relationships depended on the plant communities, and were stronger in plots with higher plant species richness. Our results indicate that in addition to potential effects of ants on hunting spiders in particular, ants could indirectly influence intraguild interactions within spider assemblages. The observed shifts in the spider assemblages with increasing ant presence and plant species richness may have functional consequences, as web‐building and hunting spiders have distinct prey spectra. The relationships among ants, spiders, and plant species richness might contribute to explaining the non‐significant relationship between the overall effects of predators and plant diversity previously observed in the same forest plots. Our findings thus give insight into the complexity of biotic interactions in such species‐rich ecosystems.
Density‐dependent Survival in Seedlings Differs among Woody Life‐forms in Tropical Wet Forests of a Caribbean Island
Authors: DeWalt Saara J. , Taylor Benton N. , Ickes Kalan 
Published: April 2015

AbstractNegative density dependence contributes to seedling dynamics in forested ecosystems, but the relative importance of this factor for different woody plant life‐forms is not well‐understood. We used 1 yr of seedling survivorship data for woody seedlings in 17 different plots of lower to mid‐montane rain forests on the island of Dominica to examine how seedling height, abiotic factors, and biotic factors such as negative density dependence are related to seedling survival of five different life‐forms (canopy, midstory, and understory trees; shrubs; and lianas). Across 64 species, taller seedlings in seedling plots with higher canopy openness, greater seedling density, lower relative abundance of conspecific seedlings, and lower relative abundance of conspecific adults generally had a greater probability of surviving. Height was the strongest predictor of seedling survival for all life‐forms except lianas. Greater seedling density was positively related to survival for canopy and midstory trees but negatively related to survival for the other life‐forms. For trees, the relative abundance of conspecific seedling and adult neighbors had weak and strong negative effects on survival respectively. Neither shrub nor liana seedling survival was affected by the relative abundance of conspecific neighbors. Thus, negative density dependence is confirmed as an important structuring mechanism for tree seedling communities but does not seem to be important for lianas and shrubs in Dominican rain forests. These results represent the first direct assessment of controls on seedling survival of all woody life‐forms – an important step in understanding the dynamics and structure of the entire woody plant community.
Age‐related Crown Thinning in Tropical Forest Trees
Authors: Quinn Eadaoin M. , Thomas Sean C. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractGap dynamics theory proposes that treefall gaps provide high light levels needed for regeneration in the understory, and by increasing heterogeneity in the light environment allow light‐demanding tree species to persist in the community. Recent studies have demonstrated age‐related declines in leaf area index of individual temperate trees, highlighting a mechanism for gradual changes in the forest canopy that may also be an important, but less obvious, driver of forest dynamics. We assessed the prevalence of age‐related crown thinning among 12 tropical canopy tree species sampled in lowland forests in Panama and Puerto Rico (total N = 881). Canopy gap fraction of individual canopy tree crowns was positively related to stem diameter at 1.3 m (diameter at breast height) in a pooled analysis, with 10 of 12 species showing a positive trend. Considered individually, a positive correlation between stem diameter and canopy gap fraction was statistically significant in 4 of 12 species, all of which were large‐statured canopy to emergent species: Beilschmiedia pendula, Ceiba pentandra, Jacaranda copaia, and Prioria copaifera. Pooled analyses also showed a negative relationship between liana abundance and canopy gap fraction, suggesting that lianas could be partially obscuring age‐related crown thinning. We conclude that age‐related crown thinning occurs in tropical forests, and could thus influence patterns of tree regeneration and tropical forest community dynamics.
Emerging Sensitivity to Socially Complex Expressions: A Unique Role for Adolescence?
Authors: Garcia Natalie V. , Scherf K. Suzanne 
Published: April 2015

AbstractComplex facial expressions provide signals about emotions that are related to nuanced social behavior (e.g., shame, desire) and inner thoughts (e.g., pensive). In this article, we review the empirical evidence evaluating whether the ability to recognize these complex expressions changes during adolescence, given the increasing evidence of heightened sensitivity to social signals during this time. We propose considerations for interpreting findings from this work and shaping research. Finally, we offer a new hypothesis about the influences of age and pubertal maturation on the development of processing complex facial expressions during adolescence, and propose that puberty influences the emergence of sensitivity to particular kinds of complex expressions, namely social sexual expressions. This hypothesis is embedded in a broader theory about how age‐appropriate social developmental tasks, like forming loyal peer friendships and exploring romantic and sexual relationships in adolescence, influence face‐processing behavior.
Sulcus subarachnoid hemorrhage is a common stroke subtype in patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Sakaguchi M. , Kitagawa K. , Okazaki S. , Yoshioka D. , Sakata Y. , Mochizuki H. , Sawa Y. , Yoshimine T. 
Published: April 2015

Background and purposeStroke is one of the major complications observed in patients with an implanted left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The purpose of this study was to clarify the types and characteristics of acute stroke in patients after LVAD implantation by using brain computed tomography (CT) findings.MethodsBetween 2005 and 2012, 110 consecutive patients who underwent LVAD implantation were reviewed. The most commonly used device was the pulsatile extracorporeal LVAD. Amongst them, 49 patients suffered from acute stroke at least once with a total of 115 stroke events. The clinical categories, lesion sites, laboratory data and CT findings of each acute stroke event were analyzed.ResultsCerebral infarction (35 patients, 72 events), cerebral hemorrhage (25 patients, 31 events) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (23 patients, 33 events) were identified. A mean of 2.3 stroke events occurred per person. Of the 72 infarction events, multiple infarctions were observed in 29 events. Of the cerebral hemorrhage events (n = 31), almost all were subcortical lesions (n = 27) and none were observed in the basal ganglia. Of the 23 patients with SAH events (n = 33), SAH localized within a single sulcus, sulcus SAH, was observed in 25 events.ConclusionsComputed tomography findings of acute stroke after implantation of an LVAD are characteristically multifocal cortical lesions, regardless of brain infarction and hemorrhage. Unexpectedly, sulcus SAH was a common stroke subtype in patients with implanted LVADs. Sulcus SAH should be carefully examined in patients after LVAD implantation, when they complain of non‐specific neurological complaints.
Oncometabolites: tailoring our genes
Authors: Nowicki Stefan , Gottlieb Eyal 
Published: April 2015

Increased glucose metabolism in cancer cells is a phenomenon that has been known for over 90 years, allowing maximal cell growth through faster ATP production and redistribution of carbons towards nucleotide, protein and fatty acid synthesis. Recently, metabolites that can promote tumorigeneis by altering the epigenome have been identified. These ‘oncometabolites’ include the tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites succinate and fumarate, whose levels are elevated in rare tumours with succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate hydratase mutations, respectively. 2‐Hydroxyglutarate is another oncometabolite; it is produced de novo as a result of the mutation of isocitrate dehydrogenase, and is commonly found in gliomas and acute myeloid leukaemia. Interestingly, the structural similarity of these oncometabolites to their precursor metabolite, α‐ketoglutarate, explains the tumorigenic potential of these metabolites, by competitive inhibition of a superfamily of enzymes called the α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenases. These enzymes utilize α‐ketoglutarate as a cosubstrate, and are involved in fatty acid metabolism, oxygen sensing, collagen biosynthesis, and modulation of the epigenome. They include enzymes that are involved in regulating gene expression via DNA and histone tail demethylation. In this review, we will focus on the link between metabolism and epigenetics, and how we may target oncometabolite‐induced tumorigenesis in the future.