bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of lung metastases on the clinical course of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a historical cohort study
Authors: Vree M , van Trommel N , Kenter G , Sweep F , ten Kate‐Booij M , Massuger L , Lok C 
Published: October 2015

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients with lung metastases have more adverse outcomes such as resistance to chemotherapy, recurrence or death of disease compared with patients without lung metastases.DesignHistorical observational cohort study.SettingThe Netherlands.PopulationWe identified 434 GTN patients (72 patients with lung metastases, 362 patients without metastases) between 1990 and 2012 registered in the Dutch national databases.MethodsBaseline characteristics, recurrence rates, Methotrexate (MTX) remission rates and deaths from disease were compared between patients with lung metastases (group I) and without lung metastases (group II) using the Fisher exact test or Mann–Whitney U‐test where applicable.Main outcome measuresMethotrexate resistance, recurrences and survival.ResultsMethotrexate resistance did not differ between group I and group II (62.9 versus 72.7% P = 0.19). However, the observed recurrence rate was significantly increased in patients with lung metastases compared with patients without metastases (16.7 versus 2.2% P < 0.0001), also after correction for antecedent pregnancy and interval (from the end of the antecedent pregnancy until the start of treatment). Disease‐specific survival was 91.7% in the group with lung metastases and 100% in the patients without metastases (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsAlthough lung metastases are considered to be associated with a low risk of adverse outcomes, their presence appears to increase the risk for recurrence and death of disease. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the presence of lung metastases is an independent risk factor that needs adjustment in the FIGO scoring system and clinical classification system.Tweetable abstractIn gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) recurrence is more often observed in the case of lung metastases.
Medals and Chamber Pots for Faustina Bordoni: Celebrity and Material Culture in Early Eighteenth‐Century Italy
Authors: van der Linden Huub 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn 1723, following an opera production in Florence, two sets of medals were made there in honour of the singer Faustina Bordoni. Among the reactions to these medals in Bologna were satirical poetry and a set of ceramic chamber pots that carried depictions of the medals and a scathing Latin text. The article analyses these artefacts, the various descriptions and drawings of them and reports about them for what they can tell us about the intertwined issues of celebrity, the status of (female) singers, the circulation of information and the interaction between objects and words in early eighteenth‐century Italy.
Repertoire‐based individual acoustic monitoring of a migratory passerine bird with complex song as an efficient tool for tracking territorial dynamics and annual return rates
Authors: Petrusková Tereza , Pišvejcová Iveta , Kinštová Anna , Brinke Tomáš , Petrusek Adam 
Published: October 2015

SummaryIn field ecological and behavioural studies, it is often necessary to identify specific individuals. In birds, colour rings are frequently used to mark individuals; however, rings are often difficult to observe, especially in small species and dense habitats. Acoustic‐based monitoring detecting individuals by their characteristic vocalization is a potentially suitable alternative, but this approach is challenging in species with complex songs.On the example of the Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), a small migratory passerine often singing in flight or from perches obscured by foliage, we demonstrate that acoustic monitoring based on the syllable repertoire can be very efficient tool for individual recognition. During a 3‐year study, we obtained over 500 recordings from males from one study population (a number of them returning after winter). Males banded with colour rings were repeatedly recorded throughout the seasons, and syllable repertoires were determined from spectrograms for each recording.The repertoire of each unambiguously identified male was distinct and stable within as well as between seasons; and males with similar syllable repertoires differed in syntax. Based on the congruence between identification based solely on spectrogram assessment, and that based on observation of colour rings, we inferred that reliable identification of singing males (including non‐ringed ones) was possible in the studied population from assessing a repertoire and song syntax of <5‐min recording (containing 20–30 songs). The acoustic‐based data: (i) increased the overall estimated number of territorial males at the study locality (from 49 ringed to 61), and improved the estimates of the period of their presence; (ii) revealed dynamic within‐season changes in territory occupancy that would otherwise be missed; and (iii) allowed identification of returning birds (including non‐ringed ones and those actively avoiding approaching humans).Our results suggest that some commonly used methods may substantially underestimate return rates of migratory bird species. Individual acoustic monitoring should be applicable on various bird species with complex song and stable repertoires, and may be particularly useful for those living in dense habitat or sensitive to handling.
De novo transcriptome assembly and identification of genes associated with feed conversion ratio and breast muscle yield in domestic ducks
Authors: Zhu Feng , Yuan Jian‐Ming , Zhang Zhen‐He , Hao Jin‐Ping , Yang Yu‐ze , Hu Shen‐Qiang , Yang Fang‐Xi , Qu Lu‐Jiang , Hou Zhuo‐Cheng 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBreast muscle yield and feed conversion efficiency are the major breeding aims in duck breeding. Understanding the role of specific transcripts in the muscle and small intestine might lead to the elucidation of interrelated biological processes. In this study, we obtained jejunum and breast muscle samples from two strains of Peking ducks that were sorted by feed conversion ratio (FCR) and breast muscle percentage into two‐tailed populations. Ten RNA‐Seq libraries were developed from the pooled samples and sequenced using the Hiseq2000 platform. We created a reference duck transcript database using de novo assembly methods, which included 16 663 irredundant contigs with an N50 length of 1530 bp. This new duck reference cDNA dataset significantly improved the mapping rate for RNA‐Seq data, from 50% to 70%. Mapping and annotation were followed by Gene Ontology analysis, which showed that numerous genes were differentially expressed between the low and high FCR groups. The differentially expressed genes in the jejunum were enriched in biological processes related to immune response and immune response activation, whereas those in the breast muscle were significantly enriched in biological processes related to muscle cell differentiation and organ development. We identified new candidate genes, that is, PCK1, for improving the FCR and breast muscle yield of ducks and obtained much better reference duck transcripts. This study suggested that de novo assembly is essential when applying transcriptome analysis to a species with an incomplete genome.
FROM STATE TO MARKET REVISITED: A REASSESSMENT OF THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON THE EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC (AND PRIVATELY‐OWNED) ENTERPRISES
Authors: MÜHLENKAMP Holger 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTFor several decades public enterprises have been criticized for their poor economic performance. Many economists take it as ‘conventional wisdom’ that publicly owned enterprises are inefficient by their very nature. This seemed to be proved by what is probably the most cited survey worldwide, that written by Megginson and Netter (2001). They claim: ‘Research now supports the proposition that privately owned firms are more efficient and more profitable than otherwise‐comparable state‐owned firms’ (p. 380). We argue that profits are not a reasonable performance measure for public enterprises. However, our main focus is to present a much more comprehensive review of the empirical evidence, including more recent research than was provided by Megginson and Netter. The evidence indicates that these authors were biased in their selection of empirical studies and their conclusion as well. Firstly, the true picture is much more differentiated than Megginson and Netter suggest. Secondly, with regard to productivity and production cost, there is no support for the claim that private enterprises have better performance ceteris paribus than public enterprises.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES IN THE MARKET FOR CORPORATE CONTROL: RECENT WORLDWIDE EVIDENCE
Authors: CLÒ Stefano , DEL BO Chiara F. , FERRARIS Matteo , FLORIO Massimo , VANDONE Daniela , FIORIO Carlo 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes deals involving private and public enterprises, i.e. State‐Owned Enterprises (SOEs) worldwide since 2004. We consider four types of deals: privatizations of SOEs, public enterprises acquiring private ones (public‐private deals), private reorganizations (i.e private firms acquiring a private target) and public reorganizations. (i.e. both acquirer and target are SOEs). We study whether the pre‐deal performance and corporate characteristics of the acquirer and target companies vary across the four types of deals depending on ownership: public or private. Data are taken from Zephyr (Bureau Van Dijk), which provides information on completed deals worldwide and Orbis, a firm‐level dataset (also implemented by BvD). Some results of previous literature on M&As performed by private firms (‘the inefficiency management hypothesis’) are both confirmed and expanded. Acquirers involved in deals are both larger and better performing than their targets but some qualifications are in order with respect to ownership. The difference in size and performance between acquirers and targets is in fact more pronounced for public with respect to private acquirers. The evidence thus points to an active role of SOEs as acquirers, as they significantly out‐perform relative to their targets, including private ones, in terms of return on sales. Given these novel findings, further research is needed to examine the motivations behind the different types of deals considered and to verify the role of government ownership in the contemporary global economy.
CONDITIONS FOR THE EMERGENCE AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ‘EUROPEAN PUBLIC ENTERPRISES’
Authors: BAUBY Pierre , SIMILIE Mihaela M. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTDuring a first step of the process of European integration, from the Treaty of Rome of 1957 to the Single Act of 1986, the Economic European Community equipped itself with legal tools to build a ‘common market’ and common rules for the setting up of the free movement of goods. The extension of the Community competences – most often shared competences between the European Union and Member States – led to the implementation of direct intervention tools which, without having been defined as ‘public enterprises’ until now, seem to have, or could have, part or essential characteristics of such enterprises. Our focus is, in particular, on European joint undertakings, such as Galileo, created since the adoption of the Single Act on the basis of Article 187 TFEU (ex‐Article 171 TEC); the development of ‘European agencies’, particularly of ‘executive agencies’; European funding for infrastructure; the statute of the European company.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES AND PRODUCTION OF GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNALIZING PUBLIC MISSIONS IN RELATION TO CLIMATE ISSUES
Authors: BANCE Philippe 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTStarting from an analysis of radical uncertainty about the magnitude of global warming and the deployment of technological innovations, the paper explores the potential of a direct intervention by public enterprises as a complement to market systems applied to combating the greenhouse effect. It specifies in which sectors and under what conditions public enterprises could be the instruments for developing new technologies to prevent global warming by internalizeng missions in the public interest.
Genetic markers in CYP2C19 and CYP2B6 for prediction of cyclophosphamide's 4‐hydroxylation, efficacy and side effects in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Shu Wenying , Guan Su , Yang Xiuyan , Liang Liuqin , Li Jiali , Chen Zhuojia , Zhang Yu , Chen Lingyan , Wang Xueding , Huang Min 
Published: October 2015

AimsThe aim of the study was to investigate the combined impact of genetic polymorphisms in key pharmacokinetic genes on plasma concentrations and clinical outcomes of cyclophosphamide (CPA) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsOne hundred and eighty nine Chinese SLE patients treated with CPA induction therapy (200 mg, every other day) were recruited and adverse reactions were recorded. After 4 weeks induction therapy, 128 lupus nephritis (LN) patients continued to CPA maintenance therapy (200–600 mg week–1) for 6 months, and their clinical outcomes were recorded. Blood samples were collected for CYP2C19, CYP2B6, GST and PXR polymorphism analysis, as well as CPA and its active metabolite (4‐hydroxycyclophosphamide (4‐OH‐CPA)) plasma concentration determination.ResultsMultiple linear regression analysis revealed that CYP2B6 ‐750 T > C (P < 0.001), −2320 T > C (P < 0.001), 15582C > T (P = 0.017), CYP2C19*2 (P < 0.001) and PXR 66034 T > C (P = 0.028) accounted for 47% of the variation in 4‐OH‐CPA plasma concentration. Among these variants, CYP2B6 ‐750 T > C and CYP2C19*2 were selected as the combination genetic marker because these two SNPs contributed the most to the inter‐individual variability in 4‐OH‐CPA concentration, accounting for 23.6% and 21.5% of the variation, respectively. Extensive metabolizers (EMs) (CYP2B6 ‐750TT, CYP2C19*1*1) had significantly higher median 4‐OH‐CPA plasma concentrations (34.8, 11.0 and 6.6 ng ml‐1 for EMs, intermediate metabolizers (IMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs), P < 0.0001), higher risks of leukocytopenia (OR = 7.538, 95% CI 2.951, 19.256, P < 0.0001) and gastrointestinal toxicity (OR = 7.579, 95% CI 2.934, 19.578, P < 0.0001), as well as shorter median time to achieve complete remission (13.2, 18.3 and 23.3 weeks for EMs, IMs and PMs, respectively, P = 0.026) in LN patients than PMs (CYP2B6 ‐750CC, CYP2C19*2*2) and IMs.ConclusionsOur findings have indicated that genetic markers of drug metabolizing enzymes could predict the 4‐hydroxylation, adverse reactions and clinical efficacy of CPA. This is a necessary first step towards building clinical tools that will help assess clinical benefit and risk before undergoing CPA treatment in Chinese SLE patients.
The Ties that Undermine
Authors: Beverley John 
Published: October 2015

AbstractDo biological relations ground responsibilities between biological fathers and their offspring? Few think biological relations ground either necessary or sufficient conditions for responsibility. Nevertheless, many think biological relations ground responsibility at least partially. Various scenarios, such as cases concerning the responsibilities of sperm donors, have been used to argue in favor of biological relations as partially grounding responsibilities. In this article, I seek to undermine the temptation to explain sperm donor scenarios via biological relations by appealing to an overlooked feature of such scenarios. More specifically, I argue that sperm donor scenarios may be better explained by considering the unique abilities of agents involved. Appealing to unique ability does not eliminate the possibility of biological relations providing some explanation for perceived responsibilities on the part of biological fathers. However, since it is unclear exactly why biological relations are supposed to ground responsibility in the first place, and rather clear why unique ability grounds responsibility in those scenarios where it is exhibited, the burden of proof seems shifted to those advocating biological relations as grounds of responsibility to provide an explanation. Since this seems unlikely, I conclude it is best to avoid appealing to biological relations as providing grounds for responsibility.
Azeitero, Ulisses Mirandaet al ed (2014) E‐learning and education for sustainability. Peter Lang (New York & Bern) isbn 978‐3‐631‐62963‐1 290 pp £41 http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?event=cmp.ccc.seitenstruktur.detailseiten&seitentyp=produkt&pk=73204
Authors: Brescia William 
Published: October 2015

SummaryE‐learning and education for sustainability is a book that delivers on what it promises to present: principles, information technology tools, examples of good practice, and coverage of formal as well as of informal education for sustainability. The book is divided into chapters covering each of these areas quite well. If the content of this book is likely to be relevant to you, I recommend that you arrange to borrow a copy for a while.William Brescia
Bergmann, Jonathan & Sams, Aaron (2014) Flipped learning. ISTE (Washington & Eurospan, London) isbn 978‐1‐56484‐344‐9 227 pp £18.50 https://www.iste.org/resources/product?ID=3014
Authors: Martin Marie 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThis deceptively simple book aims to show how flipped learning optimises class time, by delivering direct instruction by video for students to use outside of class, freeing up teachers to individualise their learning in the classroom. It is essentially a “book of stories” for teachers shared by practising teachers who have enthusiastically embraced this model. I strongly recommend that you buy Flipped learning if it is in your area of interest.Marie Martin
Ehlers, Ulf‐Daniel (2013) Open learning cultures. Springer (Berlin) isbn 978‐3‐642‐38173‐7 257 pp £62.99 http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783642381737
Authors: Dettori Giuliana 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThis monograph, addressed to higher education teachers, concerns learning in a Web 2.0 world, together with new, open forms of assessment and quality development. I find interesting the rich chapters on quality and assessment but less convincing the initial analysis and classification of Web 2.0 learning environments and landscapes. If you are likely to find this book relevant to you, I advise that you will probably find only parts of interest or use.Giuliana Dettori
Farber, Matthew (2015) Gamify your classroom. Peter Lang (New York & Bern) isbn 978‐1‐4331‐2670‐3 263 pp £25 http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?event=cmp.ccc.seitenstruktur.detailseiten&seitentyp=produkt&pk=80594
Authors: Janes Diane P 
Published: October 2015

SummaryTeachers, researchers and instructional designers will find this book interesting as it explores game‐based learning in the classroom. Interviews with well‐known game designers, business experts and academics as well as the author's own relevant experience, let the reader into this world, with tips on how to add gaming to their classroom learning opportunities. If this book could be relevant in your work, you should arrange to borrow a copy for a while.Diane P Janes
Strom, Paris S & Strom, Robert D (2014) Adolescents in the internet age. IAP (Charlotte, NC & Eurospan, London) isbn 978‐1‐623‐96762‐8 444 pp $45.99 (boards $85.99, ebook $50) http://www.infoagepub.com/products/Adolescents‐In‐The‐Internet‐Age‐2nd‐Edition
Authors: Betts Lucy R. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThis text discusses contemporary research that relates to adolescents' technology use, and evaluates a range of recent literature. However, while the topic is likely to appeal to a wide audience, you should be mindful that the book is primarily targeted at the USA, and even in that context is best borrowed rather than bought.Lucy R Betts
Microglial activation and progressive brain changes in schizophrenia
Authors: Laskaris L E , Di Biase M A , Everall I , Chana G , Christopoulos A , Skafidas E , Cropley V L , Pantelis C 
Published: October 2015

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder that typically begins in adolescence and is characterized by perceptual abnormalities, delusions, cognitive and behavioural disturbances and functional impairments. While current treatments can be effective, they are often insufficient to alleviate the full range of symptoms. Schizophrenia is associated with structural brain abnormalities including grey and white matter volume loss and impaired connectivity. Recent findings suggest these abnormalities follow a neuroprogressive course in the earliest stages of the illness, which may be associated with episodes of acute relapse. Neuroinflammation has been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying these brain changes, with evidence of increased density and activation of microglia, immune cells resident in the brain, at various stages of the illness. We review evidence for microglial dysfunction in schizophrenia from both neuroimaging and neuropathological data, with a specific focus on studies examining microglial activation in relation to the pathology of grey and white matter. The studies available indicate that the link between microglial dysfunction and brain change in schizophrenia remains an intriguing hypothesis worthy of further examination. Future studies in schizophrenia should: (i) use multimodal imaging to clarify this association by mapping brain changes longitudinally across illness stages in relation to microglial activation; (ii) clarify the nature of microglial dysfunction with markers specific to activation states and phenotypes; (iii) examine the role of microglia and neurons with reference to their overlapping roles in neuroinflammatory pathways; and (iv) examine the impact of novel immunomodulatory treatments on brain structure in schizophrenia.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2016.173.issue-4
Growth of business services: A supply‐side hypothesis
Authors: Das Satya P. , Saha Anuradha 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper aims to explain why and how the service sector may grow faster than manufacturing. It develops a two‐sector, closed‐economy model, having a manufacturing sector and a service sector. Accumulation of human capital serves as the basis of growth. The analysis focuses on business services, while household services are also considered. It is argued that differences in returns to scale between the two sectors and employment frictions in manufacturing explain why the growth rate of the service sector may be higher. The model also features that within the service sector the business services sub‐sector may grow faster than household services.
Differences in the degree of unionization as a source of comparative advantage in open economies
Authors: Egger Hartmut , Meland Frode , Schmerer Hans‐Jörg 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper considers two integrated countries that differ only in their labour markets: one country hosts unions, whereas the other one pays competitive wages. These institutional differences are a source of comparative advantage, which crucially impact inter‐industry trade and welfare in the open economy. In this setting, deunionization exerts opposing welfare effects in the two economies. Increasing product market competition is beneficial for the unionized country and detrimental for its trading partner. Finally, we conduct an empirical analysis that provides strong support for the main hypotheses of our theoretical model.