bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current management and future perspectives of metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Lee‐Ying Richard , Lester Renee , Heng Daniel YC 
Published: May 2014

AbstractOver the last number of years, the treatment of metastatic renal cell cancer has evolved tremendously with the advent of targeted therapy. Previously, immunotherapies, such as interferon alpha and interleukin‐2, were the only treatment options available for this chemoresistant malignancy. Currently, seven additional agents, including sunitinib, sorafenib, axitinib, pazopanib, bevacizumab, everolimus and temsirolimus, have been approved for use in metastatic renal cell cancer, with several more in development. The efficacy of these agents depends primarily on inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor and mammalian target of rapamycin pathways, and have drastically improved the outcomes of patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell cancer. This article reviews the major treatment advances that have occurred for metastatic renal cell cancer with the advent of targeted treatments, summarizes the evidence to support their use and addresses clinical issues that have arisen with them. To help guide clinicians in their decision‐making with these emerging therapeutic choices, the evidence for sequencing and combining these agents, and the need for biomarkers will be addressed. The role of surgical management options, such as cytoreductive nephrectomy and metastectomy, in the era of targeted treatment is also reviewed. Several novel treatments are also on the horizon, which might serve as future avenues for treatment advancement in metastatic renal cell cancer.
Alterations in the time course of expression of the Nox family in the brain in a rat experimental cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model: effects of melatonin
Authors: Li Haiying , Wang Yang , Feng Dongxia , Liu Yin , Xu Min , Gao Anju , Tian Fengxuan , Zhang Li , Cui Yonghua , Wang Zhong , Chen Gang 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIschemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which results in a poor prognosis for ischemic stroke patients. This study was designed to evaluate the time course of expression of the Nox family, a major source of ROS, and whether melatonin, a potent scavenger of ROS, influences these parameters in a rat model of cerebral I/R caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After 2‐hr occlusion, the filament was withdrawn to allow reperfusion. At 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hr after reperfusion, brain tissue samples were obtained for assays. Among the Nox family, the mRNA and protein levels of Nox2 and Nox4 were increased both in the ischemic hemisphere and contralateral counterpart in the experimental I/R rats at 0 hr after reperfusion, peaked at 3 hr, and then returned to the basal level at 24 hr. Double‐immunofluorescence staining further confirmed the expressions of Nox2 and Nox4 in three major types of brain cells, including neurons, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. In addition, melatonin (5 mg/kg) or its vehicle was injected intraperitoneally at 0.5 hr before MCAO. Compared with I/R + vehicle group, melatonin pretreatment diminished the increased expression of Nox2 and Nox4, reduced ROS levels, and inhibited cell apoptosis. Our findings suggested that the inhibition of Nox2 and Nox4 expressions by melatonin may essentially contribute to its antioxidant and anti‐apoptotic effects during brain I/R.
Tradition and Habitus in Tesol Teacher Education
Authors: Diaz Maggioli Gabriel 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis paper explores different perspectives in the education of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in light of recent developments in Sociocultural Learning Theory. It advocates for a view of learning as participation in socially mediated activities, which has the potential of helping the field overcome the pervasiveness of the habitus that characterizes it. This habitus can be understood as those collective, yet individualized and internalized structures that help us define, interpret, and judge our lived experience. The paper argues that two main traditions (one practical and one theoretical) have polarized the field and rendered it difficult to modify. However, the emergent adoption of a Sociocultural Perspective by many teacher educators can prove to be a plausible alternative to the status quo that may help resolve some of the conundrums the profession is experiencing.
Ethics and gender issues in palliative care in nursing homes: an Austrian participatory research project
Authors: Reitinger Elisabeth , Heimerl Katharina 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundThe development of palliative care in nursing homes in German‐speaking countries has gained in importance within the past 15–20 years. Ethical and gender issues are core aspects of a palliative care culture and should therefore be better understood.Aims and objectivesThe aim of this study was to highlight insights regarding ethical and gender issues, based on the experiences of professionals in nursing homes.DesignA 2‐year participatory action research study was performed in collaboration with three nursing homes in Austria.MethodsThe article focusses on 10 group discussions with interdisciplinary professional teams that were conducted to generate ethical narratives. Thematic and narrative analysis was undertaken both individually and within the interdisciplinary research team. Findings and interpretations were validated with practitioners and researchers.FindingsA total of 36 narratives were collected and summarised within eight themes concerning the theoretical journey of a nursing home resident with relatives from entry into the house until death. The most burdensome ethical dilemmas are not the ones around death and dying but rather those relating to small‐scale everyday work/life issues. Sharing experiences and feelings in ethical discussions provides relief. Emotions are important facilitators of insight into ethical dilemmas. Gender issues can be observed in care situations as well as in the organisational structure of nursing homes.ConclusionsOpportunities to share experiences and perspectives around ethical questions in interdisciplinary group discussions help professionals to better understand difficult issues and find appropriate ways of managing them.Implications for practiceThere is a need for communication structures such as facilitated ethical discussions that enable nursing home staff to reflect their everyday decisions. Expression of emotions should be encouraged in ethical decision‐making processes in nursing homes. Gender‐sensitive reflection supports the development of palliative care as organisational culture.
Congenital hyperinsulinism: Global and Japanese perspectives
Authors: Yorifuji Tohru , Masue Michiya , Nishibori Hironori 
Published: May 2014

AbstractOver the past 20 years, there has been remarkable progress in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). These advances have been supported by the understanding of the molecular mechanism and the development of diagnostic modalities to identify the focal form of ATP‐sensitive potassium channel CHI. Many patients with diazoxide‐unresponsive focal CHI have been cured by partial pancreatectomy without developing postsurgical diabetes mellitus. Important novel findings on the genetic basis of the other forms of CHI have also been obtained, and several novel medical treatments have been explored. However, the management of patients with CHI is still far from ideal. First, state‐of‐the‐art treatment is not widely available worldwide. Second, it appears that the management strategy needs to be adjusted according to the patient's ethnic group. Third, optimal management of patients with the diazoxide‐unresponsive, diffuse form of CHI is still insufficient and requires further improvement. In this review, we describe the current landscape of this disorder, discuss the racial disparity of CHI using Japanese patients as an example, and briefly note unanswered questions and unmet needs that should be addressed in the near future.
Phytophthora austrocedrae emerges as a serious threat to juniper (Juniperus communis) in Britain
Authors: Green S. , Elliot M. , Armstrong A. , Hendry S. J. 
Published: May 2014

From 2011 to 2013, Phytophthora austrocedrae was isolated from diseased Juniperus communis exhibiting dieback and mortality at eight geographically separate sites in Scotland and northern England. The pathogen was also confirmed present either by standard PCR of the ITS locus and sequencing or by real‐time PCR on J. communis with symptoms at a further 11 sites in northern Britain. Out of 167 J. communis sampled across the 19 sites, 154 had foliage dieback over all or part of the crown as a result of basal lesions, which extended up the stem. Thirteen sampled trees had aerial branch lesions or discrete stem lesions with no apparent connection to the base of the tree. At 13 sites, dieback was concentrated in areas of poor drainage and/or alongside streams and other watercourses. In artificial inoculation experiments, P. austrocedrae caused rapidly extending stem and root lesions on J. communis and was reisolated from these lesions. Lesions also developed on Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis but the pathogen was not reisolated. All P. austrocedrae isolates obtained from J. communis in Britain shared 100% identity across the ITS locus but were distinct at one sequence position from P. austrocedrae isolates collected in Argentina from diseased Austrocedrus chilensis. This study provides clear evidence that P. austrocedrae is a primary pathogen of J. communis and now presents a significant threat to this species in Britain. Pathways for the emergence of P. austrocedrae in Britain, and possible ways in which the pathogen may have spread within the country, are discussed.
Lung cryobiopsies: A paradigm shift in diagnostic bronchoscopy?
Authors: Poletti Venerino , Casoni Gian Luca , Gurioli Carlo , Ryu Jay H. , Tomassetti Sara 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIn 1963, the first bronchoscopic lung biopsy was performed. Less than 10 years later, the technique of transbronchial lung biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope was introduced into clinical practice, significantly reducing the rate of major complications and the rate of surgical lung biopsies in patients with diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. The diagnostic yield of transbronchial lung biopsy varies among various parenchymal lung diseases. In pulmonary sarcoidosis and lymphangitis carcinomatosa, a diagnosis can be obtained in up to 80% of patients. This method is considered inadequate, however, in identifying more complex histological patterns such as usual interstitial pneumonitis or nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis. Introduction of the ‘jumbo forceps’ and of a more ‘surgically oriented’ procedural setting (patients deeply sedated and intubated) allowed larger and more numerous lung specimens to be obtained without a significant increase of complications such as pneumothorax or bronchial bleeding. However, the possibility to obtain enough parenchymal tissue for a morphological diagnosis of complex patterns remained unmet. Recently, the use of cryoprobes has achieved a significant impact on this issue allowing to obtain large quantity of tissue. Recent studies document that with transbronchial cryobiopsies the diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonitis can be made confidently by pathologists with a good inter‐observer agreement. Pneumothorax is the main complication (reported in up to one fourth of cases in some series); bronchial bleeding is easily controlled using Fogarty balloon. Transbronchial cryobiopsy is a promising new technique that may become a valid alternative to surgical lung biopsy in the near feature.
Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in Hemodialysis Patients: Prevalence and Implications for Arteriovenous Hemodialysis Access Interventions
Authors: Saad Theodore F. , Ahmed Waqas , Davis Karen , Jurkovitz Claudine 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are frequently utilized in hemodialysis patients. CIED leads are typically implanted via the subclavian vein resulting in stenosis and venous hypertension. We studied 1235 chronic hemodialysis patients under the care of our nephrology practice. For each, we determined the presence of a CIED, indication for implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD), and type of hemodialysis access. Records were reviewed to identify all interventions performed on the access circuit and the central veins specifically. A CIED was present in 129 patients (10.5%), including ICDs in 75 (6.1%) and pacemakers in 54 (4.4%). The access circuit intervention rate was 1.48/access year (AY) and was similar when a CIED was ipsilateral (1.53/AY) or contralateral (1.44/AY) to arteriovenous access (p = 0.477). The rate of central venous interventions was greater in the ipsilateral (0.59/AY) versus contralateral group (0.28/AY), (p < 0.001). Fifty‐four of 59 patients with ipsilateral access and CIED required <2 interventions per AY, but six failed angioplasty and required access ligation. None had superior vena cava stenosis requiring intervention. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of CIEDs in our HD patients. Ipsilateral CIED and arteriovenous access results in higher central venous intervention rates compared with contralateral cases; overall access circuit intervention rates are similar.
Predictors of Article Impact in Suicidology: The Bereavement Literature, A Research Note
Authors: Andriessen Karl , Krysinska Karolina , Stack Steven 
Published: May 2014

Citation analysis has been neglected in suicidology. The present note applies a mixed‐methods approach to both test and suggest hypotheses for the variation in article impact in the bereavement literature. One hundred three articles from three core suicidology journals met the criteria for inclusion in the investigation. Citations to the articles were obtained from the Web of Science. Predictor variables included structural characteristics of the author (e.g., gender) and the article itself (e.g., years since publication). A multivariate regression analysis determined that, controlling for the other variables, the most important predictor of citations was the review article (β = .461), followed by year of publication (β = −.414), the multiauthored article (β = .302), publication in Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior (SLTB) (β = .161), and male gender (β = .156). The 12 most cited articles were published between 1979 and 2004 in SLTB. The majority of these papers was written by males, were U.S. authors, and had more than one author. Four of the most cited articles were reviews. The study concludes that structural characteristics of articles and authors explained 41% of the variance in citations. The qualitative analysis determined that review papers, and papers on characteristics of suicide bereavement and psychological autopsies have been most frequently cited. Replication studies are needed for other subfields of suicidology.
Blood product recalls in the United States
Authors: McCullough Jeffrey , Riley Erinn , Lindgren Bruce , Pulkrabek Shelly , Hall Ralph , Riley William 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundThe blood recall process is intended to remove from use products that may be harmful, but characteristics of recalls nationally have not been reported.Study Design and MethodsWe analyzed recalls of all blood products for 2010 and categorized the reason for the recall, the organizations producing the recalled products, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) district in which the blood was collected.ResultsDuring 2010, there were 2468 recalls involving 8278 blood products. None of the recalls was considered to have a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death (FDA Class I). The most common reasons for recalls were donation and donor qualification (73%) and finished product quality control (14%). The FDA class of recalls varied by recall reason, month of the year, FDA district, number of units of blood collected per FDA district, and number of units of blood collected by the blood center. The number of recalls per 100,000 units of blood and the reason for recall varied by FDA district and blood centers collecting smaller numbers of units had more recalls.ConclusionThe absence of Class I recalls suggests a high level of quality and safety in the US blood supply. Organizations that collected larger numbers of units of blood had fewer recalls and there may be some FDA influences since the number and reason for the recalls varied by FDA district.
Measuring trade‐offs that matter: assessing the impact of a new electronic cross‐match policy on the turnaround time and the cross‐match workload efficiency
Authors: Lin David M. , Goldfinger Dennis , Lu Qun , Wallace Bridget , Kosaka‐Nguyen Dawn , Wood Alisa , Porter Bethany , Bumerts Pamela , Jeffery Rebecca , Fang Amy , Stalcup Irene , Penaflorida Tracy , Ziman Alyssa 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundOur traditional cross‐match (XM) policy generated a significant number of XM units that were never issued. To minimize the unnecessary XM workload, we proposed a new policy where orders eligible for the electronic XM (EXM) are pended until orders to issue red blood cells (RBCs) are received. To address concerns that this new policy might unduly delay blood availability, we conducted a study to assess whether the new policy was noninferior to the traditional policy with regard to the turnaround time (TAT).Study Design and MethodsWe monitored the TAT and XM workload efficiency (XM‐to‐issue [C : I] ratio) for a total of 8 weeks split between the two policies' periods. The primary outcome was the proportion of RBC issue requests that was turned around in less than 12 minutes.ResultsFifty percent (1133 of 2265) of issue requests were turned around in 12 minutes or less under the traditional policy compared to 43.9% (975 of 2223) under the new policy (absolute difference of 6.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2%‐9.1%; p < 0.001). The adjusted overall median TAT was slower by 1 minute (13 min vs. 14 min, p < 0.001) but the adjusted C : I ratio was better (1.00 vs. 1.15; p < 0.001) under the new policy.ConclusionOur study showed that the impact of the new policy on the TAT was not inferior to the traditional policy. Since the median TAT of 14 minutes under the new policy met the published benchmarks, the trade‐off between delays in the TAT and efficiency gains in the XM workload remained acceptable for patient care.
Pricing mechanisms for a durable good monopolist
Authors: Berbeglia Gerardo , Sloan Peter , Vetta Adrian 
Published: May 2014

A durable good is a long-lasting good that can be consumed repeatedly over time. Theoretically less is known about durable goods than their more well-studied counterparts, perishable goods. However, on the practical side, durable goods abound and are very familiar to us. For example, many of the most important consumer items are (at least to some extent) durable, such as land, housing, cars, diamonds etc.
A duropolist is a monopolist in the market of a durable good { topically, duropolists include several well-known purveyors of digital goods. In this talk, we examine the strategic issues facing duropolists. Pricing a durable good is not as simple as it may appear. Specifically, whilst durable goods are more desirable to the consumer, it is questionable whether a duropolist has additional monopoly power beyond that of an equivalent monopolist for a perishable good. Indeed, quite the opposite may be true. In 1972, Richard Coase made the startling conjecture that, in fact, a duropolist has no monopoly power at all! The argument being that a duropolist is not, in essence, a monopolist: the firm does face stiff competition { not from other firms but, rather, from future incarnations of itself.
There have since been several proofs and disproofs of the conjecture for under assorted economic models and time horizons. We discuss this, and also real-world strategies that duropolists use to avoid the conundrum highlighted by Coase. Our main results are to quantify how well various price mechanisms perform. Specifically, we give tight bounds, for the finite time horizon case, on the relative profitabilities of these mechanisms in terms of the number of time periods and the total number of consumers. In doing so, we quantify the the extent to which a duropolist can generate higher profits than an equivalent monopolist for a perishable good.
Periodic Solutions for a Prescribed Mean Curvature Equation with Multiple Delays
Authors: Lu Shiping , Lu Ming 
Published: May 2014

We study the existence of periodic solutions for the one-dimensional prescribed mean curvature delay equation(d/dt)(x'(t)/1+x't2) +∑i=1naitgxt-τit=pt. By using Mawhin's continuation theorem, a new result is obtained. Furthermore, the nonexistence of periodic solution for the equation is investigated as well.
New substitute name for the genus Dayus Steiner &amp; Amaral, 1999 (Annelida: Polychaeta: Histriobdellidae)
Authors: ZHANG YU-TAO 
Published: May 2014

The annelid genus Dayus was established by Steiner and Amaral (1999) for a single species Stratiodrilus cirolanae Führ, 1971 from South Africa. Nevertheless the genus name Dayus is preoccupied and was initially introduced by Mahmood (1967) for a typhlocybine leafhopper genus with Dayus elongatus Mahmood, 1967 as the type species from Singapore (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Thus, the genus Dayus Steiner & Amaral, 1999 is a junior homonym of the genus Dayus Mahmood, 1967. According to Article 60 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999), I propose the new replacement name Steineridrilus nom. nov. for Dayus Steiner & Amaral, 1999. The resulting nomenclatural changes are summarized below.
Stratospheric Predictability: Basic Characteristics in JMA 1-Month Hindcast Experiments for 1979–2009
Authors: Taguchi Masakazu 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
This study investigates basic characteristics of stratospheric predictability in the Northern Hemisphere using 1-month hindcast (HC) experiment data from the Japan Meteorological Agency for 1979–2009. The author describes characteristics of forecast properties of spread, error (root-mean-square error), and anomaly correlation, contrasting the stratosphere and troposphere for different seasons and exploring the so-called spread–skill relationship for the winter stratosphere. The properties are defined for each HC set (ensemble forecasts initialized on the same day). The error and anomaly correlation are calculated with the ensemble mean as measures of forecast accuracy. The author also examines the role of stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs) in variations in forecast accuracy. Results show that, for lead times shorter than about 10–15 days, the accuracy of the HC data is higher on average and more variable in the stratosphere than in the troposphere, especially for the northern winter. This is reflected in larger averages and variability in the predictable time limit, or the characteristic time scale of useful predictions, for the winter stratosphere. The author also reveals that the spread–skill relationship for the northern winter stratosphere is characterized by the existence of notable outliers from their expected linear distribution; the outliers have markedly large errors for given spreads. Most outliers are contributed by HC sets initialized before observed major SSWs. Such HC data fail to reproduce the strength and/or shape of the stratospheric polar vortex, including both onset and recovery phases of SSWs. The HC data tend to yield a too-strong vortex and shorter-than-average predictable limit.