bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sesanate – a pilot project to explore a therapeutic cyber community
Authors: Moore Maria 
Published: November 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to describe a pilot experiment to establish a web site to enable people undergoing therapy, or having similar problems, to communicate with one another – in effect, the cyber equivalent of a therapeutic community.

Design/methodology/approach
– Software for a dating web site was adapted as a low cost means of driving the site. It provided for chatrooms, group discussions on topics of mutual interest, notice boards on which questions, responses, articles and poems could be posted and blogs. A volunteer Steering Group worked on the project launch and thereafter manned the site and monitored the project. User feedback indicated that a cyber community could meet the psychological needs of the participants and provide useful support, particularly between visits to a therapist. A surprising outcome was the feeling of community developed by written exchanges, i.e. blogs and forum notice boards. Direct on-line contact generated anxiety in some people, but most found it beneficial.

Findings
– The paper confirms that such a site would be a useful supplement to other therapeutic services available, and would not be expensive to establish or run, but needed the backing of the NHS or a large medical charity to ensure that the number of users would be at a viable level in the long term.

Originality/value
– As far as the author is aware the paper reports the first ever study of the potential use of a cyber therapeutic community.
Upregulation of PGC‐1α expression by Alzheimer's disease‐associated pathway: presenilin 1/amyloid precursor protein (APP)/intracellular domain of APP
Authors: Robinson Ari , Grösgen Sven , Mett Janine , Zimmer Valerie C. , Haupenthal Viola J. , Hundsdörfer Benjamin , P. Stahlmann Christoph , Slobodskoy Yulia , Müller Ulrike C. , Hartmann Tobias , Stein Reuven , Grimm Marcus O. W. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryCleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β‐ and γ‐secretase generates amyloid‐β (Aβ) and APP intracellular domain (AICD) peptides. Presenilin (PS) 1 or 2 is the catalytic component of the γ‐secretase complex. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an established phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the causes and role of PS1, APP, and APP's cleavage products in this process are largely unknown. We studied the effect of these AD‐associated molecules on mitochondrial features. Using cells deficient in PSs expression, expressing human wild‐type PS1, or PS1 familial AD (FAD) mutants, we found that PS1 affects mitochondrial energy metabolism (ATP levels and oxygen consumption) and expression of mitochondrial proteins. These effects were associated with enhanced expression of the mitochondrial master transcriptional coactivator PGC‐1α and its target genes. Importantly, PS1‐FAD mutations decreased PS1's ability to enhance PGC‐1α mRNA levels. Analyzing the effect of APP and its γ‐secretase‐derived cleavage products Aβ and AICD on PGC‐1α expression showed that APP and AICD increase PGC‐1α expression. Accordingly, PGC‐1α mRNA levels in cells deficient in APP/APLP2 or expressing APP lacking its last 15 amino acids were lower than in control cells, and treatment with AICD, but not with Aβ, enhanced PGC‐1α mRNA levels in these and PSs‐deficient cells. In addition, knockdown of the AICD‐binding partner Fe65 reduced PGC‐1α mRNA levels. Importantly, APP/AICD increases PGC‐1α expression also in the mice brain. Our results therefore suggest that APP processing regulates mitochondrial function and that impairments in the newly discovered PS1/APP/AICD/PGC‐1α pathway may lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
On becoming a civic‐minded instructional designer: An ethnographic study of an instructional design experience
Authors: Yusop Farrah Dina , Correia Ana‐Paula 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis ethnographic study took place in a graduate course at a large research university in the Midwestern United States. It presents an in‐depth examination of the experiences and challenges of a group of four students learning to be Instructional Design and Technology professionals who are concerned with the well‐being of all members of a society, and wish to utilize their knowledge and skills to help solve social problems and improve people's lives. Building on the results of previous research, findings indicate that the course, designed using the Civic‐Minded Instructional Designers (CMID) framework, succeeded in enhancing students' civic‐minded agency, the group's purposeful and reflective acts that aim at addressing the educational needs of community members. The course was designed to mimic a small, multiteam Instructional Design and Technology consulting company offering professional‐level services free of charge. Community partners consisted of four real‐world clients to whom students addressed an instructional issue. Data were collected from observations, focus groups, individual interviews with students and community partners, and analyses of course artifacts and students' reflections. Students were found to diligently address community members' needs, give voice to their community partners, address sustainability of their projects, be sensitive to their community partners' perspectives and acknowledge their community partners as design partners. Challenges encountered include reconfiguring students' roles and building trustful relationships with their community partners. This study contributes a deeper understanding of the roles of instructional design professionals within larger social contexts. Lessons learned can inform the implementation of the CMID framework in other educational programs.
Membership, participation and knowledge building in virtual communities for informal learning
Authors: Chunngam Bunthida , Chanchalor Sumalee , Murphy Elizabeth 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis paper reports on a study involving the design of a virtual community for informal learning about Thai herbs. The community relied on social networking tools and a database of expert knowledge as well as community coordinators. One group of coordinators (Community A) concentrated efforts in recruitment of members on those individuals most likely to be interested in Thai herbs. The second group of coordinators (Community B) recruited from among friends, family and acquaintances. Analysis and t‐tests of measurement of membership, participation and knowledge building revealed higher rates for Community A. Results pertaining to the design of the virtual community, which showed that members mostly used the database, provide evidence to support the hypothesis that members' access to expert knowledge positively influences participation and knowledge building in a virtual community for informal learning. Results of the comparison of Community A versus Community B provide evidence to support the hypothesis that interest in the subject of the community positively influences membership, participation and knowledge building in a virtual community for informal learning.
Back to the Future? US Labour in the New Gilded Age
Authors: Milkman Ruth 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis article argues that the twenty‐first century US labour movement has increasingly come to resemble its counterpart in the Gilded Age 100 years ago. Starting in the 1970s, deindustrialization and deregulation have gradually undermined the New Deal labour relations system, and have led to the proliferation of precarious labour. The labour movement then began to experiment with alternative labour organizing strategies and increasingly sought out political alliances with other progressive movements, reproducing practices that were widespread among US unions prior to the New Deal era. Although many of these experiments have succeeded on a small scale, they face intransigent opposition from employers and anti‐union organizations, and whether they can be expanded enough to generate a new labour movement upsurge remains to be seen.
Receptor activity‐modifying protein‐dependent effects of mutations in the calcitonin receptor‐like receptor: implications for adrenomedullin and calcitonin gene‐related peptide pharmacology
Authors: Watkins H A , Walker C S , Ly K N , Bailey R J , Barwell J , Poyner D R , Hay D L 
Published: November 2013

Background and PurposeReceptor activity‐modifying proteins (RAMPs) define the pharmacology of the calcitonin receptor‐like receptor (CLR). The interactions of the different RAMPs with this class B GPCR yield high‐affinity calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) or adrenomedullin (AM) receptors. However, the mechanism for this is unclear.Experimental ApproachGuided by receptor models, we mutated residues in the N‐terminal helix of CLR, RAMP2 and RAMP3 hypothesized to be involved in peptide interactions. These were assayed for cAMP production with AM, AM2 and CGRP together with their cell surface expression. Binding studies were also conducted for selected mutants.Key ResultsAn important domain for peptide interactions on CLR from I32 to I52 was defined. Although I41 was universally important for binding and receptor function, the role of other residues depended on both ligand and RAMP. Peptide binding to CLR/RAMP3 involved a more restricted range of residues than that to CLR/RAMP1 or CLR/RAMP2. E101 of RAMP2 had a major role in AM interactions, and F111/W84 of RAMP2/3 was important with each peptide.Conclusions and ImplicationsRAMP‐dependent effects of CLR mutations suggest that the different RAMPs control accessibility of peptides to binding residues situated on the CLR N‐terminus. RAMP3 appears to alter the role of specific residues at the CLR‐RAMP interface compared with RAMP1 and RAMP2.
The role of epithelial mesenchymal transition and resistance to neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Bhangu A. , Wood G. , Brown G. , Darzi A. , Tekkis P. , Goldin R. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimNonresponse to neoadjuvant therapy is a significant challenge for clinicians managing solid cancers. This study aimed to determine whether epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) was associated with nonresponse to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.MethodRepresentative tissue specimens from the tumour‐invasive front of consecutive patients undergoing resection of rectal cancer from 2009 to 2011 were used. Patients with marked regression to neoadjuvant therapy were classified as responders and the remainder were classified as nonresponders. Markers of EMT included reduced immunohistochemical expression of membranous E‐cadherin, increased nuclear beta‐catenin expression and tumour budding. In‐situ hybridization was used to assess the expression of microRNA‐200c (mir200c), an upstream master‐regulator of EMT.ResultsOf 103 patients undergoing resection of rectal cancer, 69 received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; 65% of these were nonresponders. Reduced expression of mir200c was significantly associated with a higher T grade. Reduced membranous E‐cadherin, increased nuclear beta‐catenin and tumour budding individually predicted the presence of extramural vascular invasion. Reduced E‐cadherin, nucleic beta‐catenin, reduced expression of mir200c and tumour budding were all significantly associated with nonresponse to neoadjuvant therapy (all P < 0.001). Reduced E‐cadherin and expression of mir200c were both associated with reduced cancer‐specific survival (log‐rank P‐values 0.036 and 0.009, respectively).ConclusionTargeted biomarkers of EMT were associated with nonresponse to neoadjuvant therapy and reduced survival in advanced rectal cancer. EMT may provide a practical clinical biomarker and a novel therapeutic target to improve the proportion of patients who respond to neoadjuvant therapy.
Efficacy and safety of vildagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with dual combination of metformin and sulphonylurea
Authors: Lukashevich V. , Del Prato S. , Araga M. , Kothny W. 
Published: November 2013

AimThe broadly used combination of metformin and sulphonylurea (SU) often fails to bring patients to glycaemic goal. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of vildagliptin as add‐on therapy to metformin plus glimepiride combination in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had inadequate glycaemic control.MethodsA multicentre, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study randomized patients to receive treatment with vildagliptin 50 mg bid (n = 158) or placebo (n = 160) for 24 weeks.ResultsAfter 24 weeks, the adjusted mean change in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was −1.01% with vildagliptin (baseline 8.75%) and −0.25% with placebo (baseline 8.80%), with a between‐treatment difference of −0.76% (p < 0.001). Significantly more patients on vildagliptin achieved the HbA1c target <7% (28.3% vs. 5.6%; p < 0.001). The difference in fasting plasma glucose reduction between vildagliptin and placebo was −1.13 mmol/l (p < 0.001). In subgroup of patients with baseline HbA1c ≤8%, vildagliptin reduced HbA1c by 0.74% from baseline 7.82% (between‐treatment difference: –0.97%; p < 0.001) with significantly more patients achieving the HbA1c target <7% (38.6% vs. 13.9%; p = 0.014). Vildagliptin was well tolerated with low incidence of hypoglycaemia, slightly higher than with placebo (5.1% vs. 1.9%) and no clinically relevant weight gain.ConclusionsVildagliptin significantly improved glycaemic control in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin plus glimepiride combination. The addition of vildagliptin was well tolerated with low risk of hypoglycaemia and weight gain. This makes vildagliptin an attractive treatment option for patients failing on metformin plus SU particularly in patients with baseline HbA1c ≤8%.
Gender‐specific effects of oral hypoglycaemic agents on cancer risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Sun G. E. C. , Wells B. J. , Yip K. , Zimmerman R. , Raghavan D. , Kattan M. W. , Kashyap S. R. 
Published: November 2013

AimsTo analyse the association between cancer incidence and oral diabetes therapy (biguanide, sulphonylurea, thiazolidinedione and meglitinide) in men and women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsA retrospective analysis of the electronic health record‐based Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Registry (25 613 patients) was cross‐indexed with the histology‐based tumour registry (48 051 cancer occurrences) over an 8‐year period (1998–2006). Multiple imputations were used to account for missing data. Cox regression with propensity scores was used to model time for the development of incident cancer in each of the imputed datasets and the results were pooled.ResultsDuring 51 994 person follow‐up years, 892 incident cancer cases were identified; prostate (14.5%) and breast (11.7%) malignancies were most frequent. In women, thiazolidinedione use was associated with a 32% decreased cancer risk compared with sulphonylurea use [hazard ratio (HR) 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.97, in the adjusted analysis]. Comparison of insulin secretagogues (sulphonylurea and meglitinide) versus insulin sensitizers (biguanide and thiazolidinedione) demonstrated a 21% decreased cancer risk in insulin sensitizers [HR 0.79 (95% CI 0.64–0.98) in the adjusted analysis]. Oral diabetes therapy showed no significant difference in men. Adjustments were made for age, body mass index (BMI), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes oral monotherapy, race, gender, haemoglobin A1c, statin use, income, insulin use, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), new diabetes status, prior cancer, prior cerebrovascular accident (stroke or transient ischaemic event), systolic/diastolic blood pressure, tobacco use (ever/never) and the propensity score for receiving a biguanide.ConclusionsOral insulin sensitizers, particularly thiazolidinedione, are associated with decreased malignancy risk in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Biodegradation of 1080: Testing soils in south‐eastern Australia for sodium fluoroacetate‐degrading micro‐organisms
Authors: Gentle Matthew , Cother Eric 
Published: November 2013

SummarySodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a vertebrate poison commonly used for the control of vertebrate pests in Australia. Long‐term environmental persistence of 1080 from baiting operations has likely nontarget species and environmental impacts and is a matter of public concern. Defluorinating micro‐organisms have been detected in soils of Western and central Australia, and Queensland, but not in south‐eastern Australia. The presence or absence of defluorinating micro‐organisms in soils from south‐eastern Australia will assist in determining whether long‐term environmental persistence of 1080 is or is not occurring. Soils from the Central West Slopes and Plains and Central Tablelands of New South Wales were sampled to investigate the presence and capability of 1080 defluorinating soil micro‐organisms. Thirty‐one species of micro‐organisms were isolated from soils from each site after 10 days incubation in a 20 mM 1080 solution. Of these, 13 isolates showed measurable defluorinating ability when grown in a 1080 and sterile soil suspension. Two species, the bacteria Micromonospora, and the actinomycete Streptosporangium, have not been previously reported for their defluorinating ability. These results indicate that defluorinating micro‐organisms are present in soils in south‐eastern Australia, which adds weight to other studies that found that 1080 is subject to microbiological degradative processes following removal from the bait substrate. Soil micro‐organism defluorination, in combination with physical breakdown and uptake by plants, indicates that fluoroacetate in soils and natural water ways is unlikely to persist. This has implications for the better informed use of 1080 in pest animal management programmes in south‐eastern Australia.
Dynamic changes in thalamic microstructure of migraine without aura patients: a diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Coppola G. , Tinelli E. , Lepre C. , Iacovelli E. , Di Lorenzo C. , Di Lorenzo G. , Serrao M. , Pauri F. , Fiermonte G. , Bianco F. , Pierelli F. 
Published: November 2013

Background and purposeThe thalamus seems to be profoundly involved in the cyclical recurrence of migraine clinical and neurophysiological features. Here possible structural changes in the thalamus of migraineurs were searched for by means of diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This MRI technique provides quantitative data on water molecule motion as a marker of tissue microstructure.MethodsTwenty‐four untreated migraine without aura (MO) patients underwent DT‐MRI scans (3‐T Siemens Gyroscan) during (n = 10) and between attacks (n = 14) and were compared with a group of 15 healthy volunteers (HVs). Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were examined.ResultsDuring the interictal phase MO patients had a significantly higher FA and slightly lower MD values in bilateral thalami compared with HVs. During attacks, all MRI quantitative measurements in migraineurs were similar to those found in HVs. Right thalamic FA was positively correlated with the number of days since the last migraine attack in pooled patient data (r = 0.626, P = 0.003).ConclusionsThese higher thalamic FA values noted during the interictal period which normalized during an attack are probably related to plastic peri‐ictal modifications in regional branching and crossing of fibres. Whether these changes could be considered as the anatomical counterpart of the cyclical functional fluctuations previously observed in the neurophysiology of migraine remains to be determined.
Antipredatory Response and Food Intake in Wood Mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) under Simulated Predation Risk by Resident and Novel Carnivorous Predators
Authors: Navarro‐Castilla Álvaro , Barja Isabel 
Published: November 2013

AbstractChemical signals left by predators are a potential source of information about the risk of predation, and small mammals are known to take them into account when making decisions. We investigated whether wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) are more likely to avoid the faeces of resident predators (red foxVulpes vulpesand common genetGenetta genetta) vs. a novel predator (European pine martenMartes martes). Odour recognition would increase perceived predation risk and reduce food intake by individual mice. Wood mice response to predators was analysed by live‐trapping using two untreated controls (baited/non‐baited) and traps experimentally manipulated with three predator treatments (faeces of red fox, common genet or pine marten). Traps were baited with 4 g of toasted corn, and food intake by wood mice was determined as the amount of bait remaining in each trap. We found that traps treated with faeces of resident predators were the most avoided, and the number of captures in traps treated with pine marten faeces was similar to the control‐baited traps. The variation found in food intake was explained by the interaction between the types of treatment and breeding condition. Food intake was similar in control‐baited traps and in traps with faeces of pine marten, but when predation risk by resident predators (red fox and common genet) was simulated, breeders reduced food intake significantly as compared to non‐breeders. These results indicate that predator recognition and feeding behaviour under predation risk depend on individual factors and the balance of costs‐benefits in each particular predation risk situation at a given place and time.
Maxillary odontogenic myxoma in young horses: Six cases (2003–2011)
Authors: Fjordbakk C. T. , Pekárková M. , Dolvik N. I. , Teige J. 
Published: November 2013

SummarySix young horses presented with a rapidly expanding maxillary mass with concurrent nasal discharge. All horses had a nonpainful firm unilateral facial swelling centred over the maxillary sinuses, accompanied by mucopurulent nasal discharge. Diagnostic imaging revealed an infiltrative nasomaxillary mass with cheek tooth involvement, diagnosed as odontogenic myxoma. The tooth involvement included missing, malformed and/or displaced dental precursors or unerupted teeth. Due to the rapid expansion and extent of the masses, and the poor prognosis reported for surgical excision, euthanasia was recommended and performed in all cases. Macroscopically, a soft oedematous tissue with a grey to green colour was seen in the regions of missing, malformed or displaced dental precursors or unerupted teeth. Histologically, this tissue consisted of spindle shaped cells surrounded by an abundant homogenous pale stroma, rich in acid mucopolysaccharides. Immunohistochemistry was positive for actin and the mesenchymal marker vimentin. The cheek tooth involvement identified in the described cases resembled what is previously reported in odontogenic myxoma in children and young adults. Even in man, maxillary odontogenic myxoma represents a therapeutic challenge due to the invasiveness of the lesions and radical surgical excision is recommended. Treatment is further complicated by sinonasal involvement. Surgery was not attempted in the cases presented here due to the extent of the lesions and the risk of recurrence. Clinicians should be aware of this rare condition when presented with young horses with sinonasal neoplasia.