bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cultural Barriers to Activist Networking: Habitus (In)action in Three European Transnational Encounters
Authors: Flesher Fominaya Cristina 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTransnational coordination is a key aspiration of activists seeking to mobilize globally, yet the literature pays insufficient attention to the impact of cultural differences on transnational networking. In this article I draw on ethnographic data from three European autonomous social movement encounters in the Global Justice Movement (2002–2004) to demonstrate the impact of culture clashes between activists on transnational networking. I use the concept of habitus to explore how routinized, taken for granted, symbolic systems of meaning that individuals from shared locations have in common shape their interactions in transnational encounters. This conception of culture is underutilized in social movement analysis yet offers important insights into internal movement dynamics. I argue that despite the autonomous commitment to radical openness and plurality, a lack of attention to the empirical reality of place‐based activist subcultures and habitus actually works against the “cosmopolitanism” that many activists and scholars aspire to.
Patient satisfaction between remifentanil patient‐controlled analgesia and epidural analgesia for labor pain
Authors: Frauenfelder Sascha , van Rijn Rita , Radder Celine M. , de Vries Myrtille C. , Dijksman Lea M. , Godfried Marc B. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to compare patient satisfaction between remifentanil patient‐controlled analgesia (RPCA) and epidural analgesia (EA) for labor pain.Material and methodsThis prospective cohort study was carried out on primiparous women requesting analgesia for labor at a Teaching Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Women self‐selected the analgesia of choice (RPCA n = 166 and EA n = 124) and were asked to complete the Woman's Views of Birth Labour Satisfaction Questionnaire (WOMBSLQ), within 24 h (T0), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T6) after birth. The WOMBSLQ comprises 11 subscales, including pain during labor and general satisfaction. The main outcome measure was general satisfaction.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the subscale of general satisfaction with labor and delivery (maximum of 14 points) between both groups at all three time points [median score at T0 for RPCA was 12 vs. 13 for the EA group (p = 0.95); at T3: 12 vs. 12, respectively (p = 0.41); and at T6: 12 vs. 12, respectively (p = 0.69)]. Women in the EA group had significantly better pain relief (maximum of 21 points) at all three time points [median score at T0 for RPCA was 14 vs. 18 for the EA group (p < 0.001); at T3: 13 vs. 17, respectively (p = 0.002); and at T6: 13 vs. 17, respectively (p = 0.003)].ConclusionBoth self‐selected groups did not differ in general satisfaction with labor and delivery at all three time points after birth despite a significantly higher experienced pain in the RPCA group.
Towards normalized birthweight in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Nilsson Charlotta , Ursing Dag , Strevens Helena , Landin‐Olsson Mona 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe objective was to describe pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in comparison with general population in Sweden.Material and methodsA population‐based retrospective study using University hospital records and Swedish Medical Birth Register was carried out on pregnant women with well‐monitored GDM (n = 870) and pregnancies in the Swedish Medical Birth Register (n = 1 553 420). Data from GDM pregnancies was compared to pregnancies in the whole of Sweden during 1995–2010. The main outcome measures were age, first bodyweight in and weight gain during pregnancy, birthweight, gestational length, percentage of cesarean deliveries.ResultsFirst maternal bodyweight during the GDM pregnancy was higher than in the general population, 72.4 ± 17.4 kg (n = 837) vs. 67.3 ± 12.6 kg (n = 1 383 000; p < 0.0001). Women with GDM gained less weight during pregnancy 9.9 ± 5.8 kg (n = 703) compared to the general population, 13.2 ± 5.7 kg (n = 482 860; p < 0.0001). Mean birthweight in GDM pregnancies was 3564 ± 500 g (n = 743) compared to 3580 ± 483 g for the general population (n = 1 316 364; p = ns). Gestational length was slightly shorter, 39.4 weeks in the GDM pregnancies (n = 683) vs. 39.5 weeks (n = 1 319 876; p = 0.02) in the general population and the percentage of cesarean deliveries higher in the GDM pregnancies at 18.4% (n = 712) vs. 13.3% (n = 1 322 242; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThough many studies have shown an increased risk of macrosomia in GDM pregnancies, remaining even after ambitious management programs, we show no difference in birthweight. This may be due to a combination of intense efforts to achieve good metabolic control during pregnancy and shorter pregnancy duration. Preventing unduly large babies is crucial to minimize adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Angiotensin‐(1–7) administration benefits cardiac, renal and progenitor cell function in db/db mice
Authors: Papinska A M , Mordwinkin N M , Meeks C J , Jadhav S S , Rodgers K E 
Published: June 2015

Background and PurposeDiabetic patients are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, in part due to inflammation and oxidative stress. These two pathological mechanisms also affect other organs and cells including the kidneys and progenitor cells. Angiotensin‐(1–7) [Ang‐(1–7)] has previously been shown to counterbalance pathological effects of angiotensin II, including inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of short‐term (2 weeks) Ang‐(1–7) treatment on cardiovascular and renal function in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes (db/db).Experimental ApproachEight‐ to nine‐week‐old db/db mice were administered either vehicle, Ang‐(1–7) alone, or Ang‐(1–7) combined with an inhibitor (losartan, PD123319, A‐779, L‐NAME or icatibant) daily for 14 days.Key ResultsAn improvement in physiological heart function was observed in Ang‐(1–7)‐treated mice. Ang‐(1–7) also reduced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration of the heart tissue and increased blood vessel number. These changes were blocked by antagonists of the MAS1, AT2 and bradykinin receptors and inhibition of NO formation. Treatment with Ang‐(1–7) reduced glomerular damage and oxidative stress in kidney tissue. Bone marrow and circulating endothelial progenitors, as well as bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, were increased in mice treated with Ang‐(1–7).Conclusions and ImplicationsShort‐term Ang‐(1–7) treatment of young db/db mice improved heart function and reduced kidney damage. Treatment also improved bone marrow and circulating levels of endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells. All of this may contribute to improved cardiovascular and renal function.
Negotiating barriers, navigating the maze: First Nation peoples' experience of medical relocation
Authors: Lavoie Josée G. , Kaufert Joseph , Browne Annette J. , Mah Sharon , O'Neil John D. , Sinclair Stephanie , BlueSky Kathleen 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis study documents the policy framework that shapes First Nations' experience of relocating to access medical care. We analyzed policy documents and government websites, interviewed individuals who have experienced relocation, family members, healthcare providers, health administrators, and conducted two focus groups with government representatives. Federal and provincial program managers interpret policies, make decisions on eligibility, to extend or deny coverage. Decisions are shaped by shrinking budgets, fragmented program coverage, and jurisdictional confusion. Provider advocacy can help, but also perpetuate perceptions of arbitrariness and distrust. National policy renewal is required to redress this issue.
Learning Orthographic Structure With Sequential Generative Neural Networks
Authors: Testolin Alberto , Stoianov Ivilin , Sperduti Alessandro , Zorzi Marco 
Published: June 2015

AbstractLearning the structure of event sequences is a ubiquitous problem in cognition and particularly in language. One possible solution is to learn a probabilistic generative model of sequences that allows making predictions about upcoming events. Though appealing from a neurobiological standpoint, this approach is typically not pursued in connectionist modeling. Here, we investigated a sequential version of the restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a stochastic recurrent neural network that extracts high‐order structure from sensory data through unsupervised generative learning and can encode contextual information in the form of internal, distributed representations. We assessed whether this type of network can extract the orthographic structure of English monosyllables by learning a generative model of the letter sequences forming a word training corpus. We show that the network learned an accurate probabilistic model of English graphotactics, which can be used to make predictions about the letter following a given context as well as to autonomously generate high‐quality pseudowords. The model was compared to an extended version of simple recurrent networks, augmented with a stochastic process that allows autonomous generation of sequences, and to non‐connectionist probabilistic models (n‐grams and hidden Markov models). We conclude that sequential RBMs and stochastic simple recurrent networks are promising candidates for modeling cognition in the temporal domain.
Safety and feasibility of chronic transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation for treatment of central sleep apnea in heart failure patients
Authors: Zhang Xilong , Ding Ning , Ni Buqing , Yang Bing , Wang Hong , Zhang Shi‐Jiang 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionCentral sleep apnea (CSA) is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor quality of life and prognosis. Early acute studies using transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) to treat CSA in HF have shown a significantly reduction of CSA and improvement of key polysomnographic parameters. In this study, we evaluated the safety of and efficiency chronic transvenous PNS with an implanted neurostimulator in HF patients with CSA.MethodsThis study was a prospective, nonrandomized evaluation of unilateral transvenous PNS in eight HF patients with CSA. The stimulation lead, which connected to a proprietary neurostimulator, was positioned in either the left pericardiophrenic or right brachiocephalic vein. Monitoring during implantation and 6‐monthly follow‐ups were performed.ResultsSix of the implanted eight patients completed the study (one was lost to follow‐up; one died from pneumonia). Neither side effects nor adverse events related to stimulation occurred. During the 6‐monthly follow‐ups, one patient had a lead dislodgement in the first month and the lead was subsequently repositioned. No additional lead dislodgements occurred. There were no significant changes in sleep habits, appetite, bleeding or infections. Compared with the parameters before stimulator implantation, there were significant improvement in apnea‐hypopnea index, central apnea index, left ventricular ejection fraction and 6‐min walk distance (all P < 0.01).ConclusionsUse of chronic transvenous PNS appears to be safe and feasible in HF patients with CSA. Large multicenter studies are needed to confirm safety and efficacy in this population.
Diagnostic utility of endobronchial ultrasound with a guide sheath under the computed tomography workstation (ziostation) for small peripheral pulmonary lesions
Authors: Matsumoto Yuji , Izumo Takehiro , Sasada Shinji , Tsuchida Takaaki , Ohe Yuichiro 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsThe application of radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (R‐EBUS) and virtual bronchoscopic navigation has improved the diagnostic outcome of bronchoscopy for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Nonetheless, while existing navigation systems are very useful for selecting the bronchus containing the target lesion, the associated introductory costs are high. Therefore, we focused on virtual bronchoscopy (VB) using the workstation, ziostation that was already available in many countries as an adjunct modality.MethodsConsecutive patients who underwent bronchoscopy with R‐EBUS for PPLs (major diameter ≤30 mm) were enrolled. From late June 2013 to November 2013, 121 patients were examined with ziostation, and from September 2012 to early June 2013, 113 patients were examined without ziostation. We compared the diagnostic yield, EBUS detection rate and procedure time between two groups to evaluate the utility of the VB.ResultsThe ziostation group had significantly higher diagnostic yield than the non‐ziostation group (77.7% vs 64.6%, P = 0.030). Following the multivariate analysis, use of ziostation was a significant factor affecting the diagnostic yield. Meanwhile, EBUS detection rate was significantly higher in the ziostation group (94.2% vs 75.2%, P < 0.001). And, procedure time was significantly shorter in the ziostation group (mean ± standard deviation: 24.0 ± 7.4 min vs 26.9 ± 7.9 min, P = 0.005).ConclusionVB offered by the workstation was a valuable tool that facilitated more accurate and rapid bronchoscopy procedure for diagnosis of PPLs.
Fatal invasive aspergillosis: a rare co‐infection with an unexpected image presentation in a patient with dengue shock syndrome
Authors: Wang Hui‐Ching , Chang Ko , Lu Po‐Liang , Tsai Kun‐Bow , Chen Huang‐Chi 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionPulmonary infiltration and pleural effusion caused by permeability syndrome are the hallmark of pulmonary manifestation of dengue cases.Objective and MethodsWe report a 95‐year‐old chronic obstructive pulmonary disease case having dengue shock syndrome. Chest X‐ray examination revealed diffuse lung infiltration. However, bilateral pneumotoceles were unexpectedly found in computed tomography (CT) images. Dengue virus type 2 infection was confirmed by virus culture, serology and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. Profound shock with bilateral lung infiltration developed rapidly in 2 days with supportive care and empirical ampicillin/ sulbactam. Bronchoscopy revealed a whitish plaque over bilateral upper bronchi. Biopsy via bronchoscopy revealed moulds with vascular invasion. Culture of bronchial alveolar lavage yielded Aspergillus flavus. The patient died despite amphotericin B treatment, which was started since finding the whitish plaque with bronchoscopy examination.Results and ConclusionBesides to considering capillary leakage syndrome, our case report and literature review alert clinicians that CT and bronchoscopy may help to identify the true pathogen though all cases with concurrent dengue and Aspergillus infections had fatal outcomes.
Partial pleural covering for intractable pneumothorax in patients with Birt‐Hogg‐Dubé Syndrome
Authors: Okada Akira , Hirono Tatsuhiko , Watanabe Takehiro , Hasegawa Go , Tanaka Reiko , Furuya Mitsuko 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsBirt‐Hogg‐Dubé syndrome (BHD) is an inherited disorder associated with a germline mutation of the folliculin (FLCN) gene. Most patients with BHD have multiple pulmonary cysts, and are at high risk of repeated pneumothorax. Although an increasing number of patients are diagnosed with BHD by genetic testing, therapeutic approaches for intractable pneumothorax have not yet been described.MethodsWe treated three patients who had repeated episodes of pneumothorax. All had multiple pulmonary cysts in the lower lobes, and two had a family history of pneumothorax. Video‐assisted thoracic surgery was used to perform wedge resections and partial pleural covering of the cystic lesions. The partial pleural covering technique used sheets of polyglycolic acid felt or regenerative oxidized cellulose mesh. The resected tissues underwent histopathological evaluation, and peripheral blood leukocytes were tested for FLCN mutations.ResultsThe operative times were less than 2 h, and there were no complications. The resected cysts had histopathological features characteristic of BHD lung. All patients were found to have FLCN germline mutations; thus their repeated pneumothoraces were a manifestation of BHD. None of the patients developed respiratory problems after undergoing the partial pleural covering procedure, and they have all been well without pneumothorax for 30 months or more.ConclusionsPartial pleural covering combined with resection of protruding cysts should be a safe and effective therapeutic approach for BHD patients with intractable pneumothorax. Further investigation is needed to establish a detailed protocol for treatment of pneumothorax that results in minimal functional impairment.
IL‐17A and IL‐17F single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with lung cancer in Chinese population
Authors: He Yanchao , Du Yong , Wei Sun , Shi Jindong , Mei Zhoufang , Qian Ling , Chen Zhiwei , Jie Zhijun 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsGenetic predisposition and environmental factors impact the development of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL‐17A and IL‐17F genes with lung cancer risk in Chinese Han population.MethodsA total of 678 subjects were enrolled, including 320 lung cancer patients and 358 healthy controls. Six SNPs of IL‐17A (rs2275913, rs3748067 and rs3819025) and IL‐17F (rs763780, rs1266828 and rs12203582) were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligase detection reaction (LDR).ResultsThe distribution of IL‐17A alleles and A and AA genotype for rs2275913 had a significant association with lung cancer risk (OR: 1.26, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.56 and OR: 2.08, 95% confidence interval = 1.311–3.31, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, people carrying homozygous variants of rs2275913 and rs12203582 were more likely to develop lung cancer both in adenocarcinoma (OR: 2.33, 95% confidence interval = 1.34–4.05; OR: 1.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.04–3.25) and advanced (OR: 2.35, 95% confidence interval = 1.46–3.80; OR: 1.74, 95% confidence interval = 1.06–2.87) groups. Although no interaction was found between variants of rs2275913 and rs12203582 and tobacco smoking (P > 0.05), smokers carrying homozygous variants of rs2275913 and rs12203582 are at high risk of lung cancer, while no relationship were found among non‐smokers. No significant associations between rs3748067, rs3819025, rs763780 and rs1266828 polymorphisms and lung cancer risk were observed.ConclusionsPolymorphisms of both IL‐17A and IL‐17F may increase lung cancer risk in Chinese population, and are associated differently with subtypes of clinical‐pathologic features and tobacco smoking history of lung cancer patients. SNPs of IL‐17A and IL‐17F predict lung cancer risk.
Precision Genomic Medicine in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Chang Eugene H. , Zabner Joseph 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe successful application of precision genomic medicine requires an understanding of how a person's genome can influence his or her disease phenotype and how medical therapies can provide personalized therapy to one's genotype. In this review, we highlight advances in precision genomic medicine in cystic fibrosis (CF), a classic autosomal recessive genetic disorder. We discuss genotype–phenotype correlations in CF, genetic and environmental modifiers of disease, and pharmacogenetic therapies that target specific genetic mutations thereby addressing the primary defect of cystic fibrosis.
Developing Common Metrics for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs): Lessons Learned
Authors: Rubio Doris M. , Blank Arthur E. , Dozier Ann , Hites Lisle , Gilliam Victoria A. , Hunt Joe , Rainwater Julie , Trochim William M. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap for Medical Research initiative, funded by the NIH Common Fund and offered through the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, developed more than 60 unique models for achieving the NIH goal of accelerating discoveries toward better public health. The variety of these models enabled participating academic centers to experiment with different approaches to fit their research environment. A central challenge related to the diversity of approaches is the ability to determine the success and contribution of each model. This paper describes the effort by the Evaluation Key Function Committee to develop and test a methodology for identifying a set of common metrics to assess the efficiency of clinical research processes and for pilot testing these processes for collecting and analyzing metrics. The project involved more than one‐fourth of all CTSAs and resulted in useful information regarding the challenges in developing common metrics, the complexity and costs of acquiring data for the metrics, and limitations on the utility of the metrics in assessing clinical research performance. The results of this process led to the identification of lessons learned and recommendations for development and use of common metrics to evaluate the CTSA effort.
Wilhelm Röpke and Richard C. Koo On Secondary Deflations and Balance Sheet Recessions
Authors: Olsen Andreas Hardhaug 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe concept of a ‘secondary deflation’ was developed in the 1930s by the German economist Wilhelm Röpke, who saw it as something different from a normal depression. While a primary deflation is a necessary reaction to the inflation from a boom period, a secondary deflation is independent and economically purposeless. Röpke argued that secondary depressions occurred in the US, Germany, France and Switzerland during the 1930s, but was vague on what made them follow primary depressions. Recently, the Taiwanese–American economist Richard C. Koo has claimed to have discovered the ‘Holy Grail of macroeconomics’, that is, what made the Great Depression so deep and long. During the Great Depression, the bursting of the asset price bubble resulted in private sectors having more debt than assets; as they shifted from maximising profits to minimising debt, the consequent debt deflation shrank the economy. According to Koo, Western economies today are suffering from a similar ‘balance sheet recession’. Strengthened by the notion of a balance sheet recession, Röpke's long‐lost insights might advance our understanding of the business cycle in general and the present crisis in the US and the Eurozone in particular.
Interpreting Voluntary Exchange: Markets, Speech Acts And Communicative Action
Authors: Dawson Graham 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis paper uses speech act theory to present a libertarian reinterpretation of the Habermasian concept of communicative action. Voluntary exchange in competitive markets is interpreted as a speech act and a form of communicative action that respects autonomy and obstructs power. Where exchange occurs in monopolistic markets, it is defective in being a form of (a) strategic action aimed directly at rival suppliers rather than buyers and (b) economic coercion. Voluntary exchange is not an isolated act but the outcome of a complex bargaining process, which may lead to negotiated exit, without the possibility of which economic relations are coercive.
Educational Development in South Sudan: Conscious Design or Spontaneous Order?
Authors: Longfield David 
Published: June 2015

AbstractEducational development is key to the future prosperity of South Sudan. Officially the situation appears bleak with up to 50 per cent of primary‐aged children out of school, high reported dropout rates and poor attainment. Those involved in the development of education, government departments, international agencies, individuals and communities are each following one of two different approaches as they seek to extend the reach of education. The article suggests that these different approaches arise because those involved hold to either a conscious‐design or a spontaneous‐order model for educational development. The article looks at the recent development of schools in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, in the light of these two theories and finds, despite the rhetoric of the official reports, that most growth is organic and that most recent educational development is emerging spontaneously.