bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainability as Adaptability
Authors: Reeves Martin , Haanaes Knut , Love Claire , Levin Simon 
Published: July 2012

Most corporations now view sustainability as a key requirement for competitive advantage, but few claim to have achieved it. One of the key obstacles separating intention from execution is that the sustainability frameworks employed by companies tend to be insufficiently clear, precise, or comprehensive to guide decision making. One of the most pressing challenges for corporate leaders today is, of course, to sustain the economic viability of the core businesses. But given the implicit “beyond business” focus of most sustainability efforts, corporate executives would be better served by a more integrated, holistic framework—one that enables them to make tradeoffs among the economic, social, and ecological aspects of business.This article introduces such a framework—one that redefines sustainability as the ability of companies to adapt to change in three different spheres of operation—ecological, social, and economic—with a near‐term as well as a longer‐term planning horizon. Without such adaptation, business models become obsolete for reasons that can range from economic failure, to competitive inferiority, to social or ecological limits.This ability to adapt can be measured and valued by using the BCG Adaptive Advantage Index, a composite measure of corporate performance during market downturns. The BCG analysis also shows that although the most adaptive companies tend to report lower profits and have lower values during periods of relative stability, such companies perform consistently better over full cycles.Creating social and ecological value alone doesn't automatically confer economic rewards, but—with the right business model and capabilities—it can. The authors explore some of the business model archetypes that successfully achieve this “co‐optimization.”
Public Pensions and U.S. Infrastructure Investment: The Perfect Partnership?
Authors: Offutt J. Perry , Runde James , Selinger Stacie D. 
Published: July 2012

Public pension funds have been passive investors in U.S. infrastructure projects for years, serving primarily as limited partners in designated infrastructure funds. However, the continued maturation of U.S. public‐private partnerships, combined with pension funds' need for yield to match future liabilities, has prompted the funds to take a more active role in infrastructure investment. In recent years, many pension funds have built internal teams to make direct (as opposed to indirect and for the most part passive) investments in infrastructure projects.Governments in particular should pay close attention to the emergence of pension funds as direct infrastructure investors. With OECD pension assets totaling $10.6 trillion at the end of 2010, the world's pension funds offer governments a strong value proposition. Given the fixed nature of their pension liabilities, pension funds emphasize yield and long‐term appreciation, and are likely to accept rate of returns in the neighborhood of CPI + 5%. Infrastructure investments, which generate highly stable cashflow and enjoy high barriers to entry, are ideally suited to meet these criteria.Also of particular significance to governments, pension funds have two bottom lines. First is expected yield and returns; second is their desire to invest in projects that meet a mission of social responsibility. Pension investors prefer, when possible, to invest in projects that promote government objectives such as reduced congestion and clean air. Taking account of pension funds' double mission can help governments capture opportunities to develop infrastructure through meaningful partnerships with like‐minded investors.
Efficient low‐dose CT artifact mitigation using an artifact‐matched prior scan
Authors: Xu Wei , Mueller Klaus 
Published: July 2012

Purpose:Low‐dose CT has attracted increasing attention due to growing concerns about radiation exposure in medical scans. However, the frugal use of x‐ray radiation inevitably reduces the quality of the CT images, introducing artifacts such as noise and streaks which make the reconstructed images difficult to read in clinical routine. For follow‐up CT exams a prior scan is often available. It typically contains the same anatomical structures, just somewhat deformed and not aligned. This work describes a two‐step technique that utilizes this prior scan to achieve high‐quality low‐dose CT imaging, overcoming difficulties arising from noise artifacts and misalignment. We specifically focus on reducing the dose by lowering the number of projections. This gives rise to severe streak artifacts which possibly lower the readability of CT images to a larger extent than the fine‐grained noise that results from lowering the mA or kV settings.Methods:A common approach is to apply image filtering to reduce the noise artifacts. These techniques typically utilize pixel neighborhoods in the degraded image to estimate the true value of a pixel at the center of this neighborhood. However, this can lead to poor results when the image is severely contaminated under very low low‐dose situations. We propose a method that utilizes the nondegraded, clean prior to determine higher quality pixel statistics to form the pixel estimates, supported by the matching scheme of the non‐local means filter. To make this matching reliable, a good registration of prior and low‐dose image is required. For this, we employ a state‐of‐the‐art registration method, called SIFT‐flow, which can tolerate the high amount of streak noise. But even for properly registered images, using an artifact free prior for the matching yields inferior results. We hence describe a scheme that first constructs a tandem‐prior with streak artifacts resembling those in the low‐dose image, and then employs this image for the matching, but uses the corresponding high‐quality prior to determine the pixel estimates.Results:Two experimental studies are carried out, using a head phantom and a human lung with projections gathered via simulation. We assess the quality of the processed reconstruction with various metrics: mathematical and perceptual. We find that the quality that can be obtained with the artifact‐matched prior‐based scheme significantly exceeds that of all competing schemes. Even though the general prior‐based approach is able to eliminate the streak artifacts, only the artifact‐matched scheme can restore small detail and feature sharpness.Conclusions:The reduced‐projection low‐dose image reconstruction algorithm we present outperforms traditional image restoration algorithms when a prior scan is available. Our method is quite efficient and as such it is well suited for fast‐paced clinical applications such as image‐assisted interventions, orthopedic alignment scans, and follow‐ups.
Feasibility and potential effectiveness of a non-pharmacological multidisciplinary care programme for persons with generalised osteoarthritis: a randomised, multiple-baseline single-case study
Authors: Hoogeboom Thomas J , Kwakkenbos Linda , Rietveld Leonie , den Broeder Alfons A , de Bie Rob A , van den Ende Cornelia H M 
Published: July 2012

ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a 12-week, non-pharmacological multidisciplinary intervention in patients with generalised osteoarthritis (GOA).DesignA randomised, concurrent, multiple-baseline single-case design. During the baseline period, the intervention period and the postintervention period, all participants completed several health outcomes twice a week on Visual Analogue Scales.SettingRheumatology outpatient department of a specialised hospital in the Netherlands.Participants1 man and four women (aged 51–76 years) diagnosed with GOA.Primary outcome measuresTo assess feasibility, the authors assessed the number of dropouts and adverse events, adherence rates and patients' satisfaction.Secondary outcome measuresTo assess the potential effectiveness, the authors assessed pain and self-efficacy using visual data inspection and randomisation tests.ResultsThe intervention was feasible in terms of adverse events (none) and adherence rate but not in terms of participants' satisfaction with the intervention. Visual inspection of the data and randomisation testing demonstrated no effects on pain (p=0.93) or self-efficacy (p=0.85).ConclusionsThe results of the present study indicate that the proposed intervention for patients with GOA was insufficiently feasible and effective. The data obtained through this multiple-baseline study have highlighted several areas in which the therapy programme can be optimised.
The organising vision for telehealth and telecare: discourse analysis
Authors: Greenhalgh Trisha , Procter Rob , Wherton Joe , Sugarhood Paul , Shaw Sara 
Published: July 2012

ObjectiveTo (1) map how different stakeholders understand telehealth and telecare technologies and (2) explore the implications for development and implementation of telehealth and telecare services.DesignDiscourse analysis.Sample68 publications representing diverse perspectives (academic, policy, service, commercial and lay) on telehealth and telecare plus field notes from 10 knowledge-sharing events.MethodFollowing a familiarisation phase (browsing and informal interviews), we studied a systematic sample of texts in detail. Through repeated close reading, we identified assumptions, metaphors, storylines, scenarios, practices and rhetorical positions. We added successive findings to an emerging picture of the whole.Main findingsTelehealth and telecare technologies featured prominently in texts on chronic illness and ageing. There was no coherent organising vision. Rather, four conflicting discourses were evident and engaged only minimally with one another's arguments. Modernist discourse presented a futuristic utopian vision in which assistive technologies, implemented at scale, would enable society to meet its moral obligations to older people by creating a safe ‘smart’ home environment where help was always at hand, while generating efficiency savings. Humanist discourse emphasised the uniqueness and moral worth of the individual and tailoring to personal and family context; it considered that technologies were only sometimes fit for purpose and could create as well as solve problems. Political economy discourse envisaged a techno-economic complex of powerful vested interests driving commodification of healthcare and diversion of public funds into private business. Change management discourse recognised the complicatedness of large-scale technology programmes and emphasised good project management and organisational processes.ConclusionIntroduction of telehealth and telecare is hampered because different stakeholders hold different assumptions, values and world views, ‘talk past’ each other and compete for recognition and resources. If investments in these technologies are to bear fruit, more effective inter-stakeholder dialogue must occur to establish an organising vision that better accommodates competing discourses.
An HIV/STI prevention intervention for internally displaced women in Leogane, Haiti: study protocol for an N-of-1 pilot study
Authors: Logie Carmen H , Daniel CarolAnn , Newman Peter A , Loutfy Mona R 
Published: July 2012

IntroductionHaiti has the highest HIV infection rate in the Western hemisphere, with approximately one in 50 people infected. The January 2010 earthquake led to the collapse of Haiti's social, economic and health infrastructure, exacerbating social and structural HIV risk factors. Internally displaced (ID) women are particularly at high risk for HIV infection due to breakdown of community networks, increased poverty and sexual violence. The authors present the rationale and study protocol for pilot-testing FASY (Famn an Aksyon Pou Santé Yo) (Women Taking Action For Their Health), a psychoeducational HIV/STI prevention intervention with ID women in Haiti.Methods and analysisThis is a single-centre pragmatic N-of-1 pilot study. The target population is ID women in Leogane, Haiti. The authors aim to recruit 200 participants using purposive peer-driven recruitment methods. ID women will be trained as community health workers to deliver the FASY intervention in Kreyol. Participants will conduct a pretest that involves an individual HIV/STI educational video-based component followed by a 6-week group programme of 2 h women's health meetings. The primary outcome is HIV knowledge; our prespecified index of clinically significant change is an effect size of 0.30. Secondary outcomes include: sexually transmitted infections knowledge, condom use, social support, resilient coping, depression and relationship control. Multivariate analysis of variance will be used to compare pretest and post-test differences across variables to assess if the intervention influenced primary or secondary outcomes. Significant multivariate analysis of variance will be followed up with both univariate tests and discriminant function analyses to understand significant effects.Ethics and disseminationResearch Ethics Board approval (2011-0033-E) was attained from the Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Trial results will be published according to the CONSORT statement, modified for the N-of-1 pilot study design, regardless of the outcomes.Trial registration numberThis study is registered athttp://clinicaltrials.gov, registration numberNCT01492829.
Detection of Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions in colon tissues by multi-photon microscopy: novel marker of antioxidant status of colon neoplasm
Authors: Kim Eun Sun , Lim Chang Su , Chun Hoon Jai , Keum Bora , Seo Yeon Seok , Kim Yong Sik , Jeen Yoon Tae , Lee Hong Sik , Um Soon Ho , Kim Chang Duck , Ryu Ho Sang , Cho Bong Rae 
Published: July 2012

AimsEstablishing probe-based analysis is important for developing multi-photon microscopy (MPM) to make an early diagnosis of colon neoplasm and assess its antioxidant status. Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions are trace elements which roll as cofactors of antioxidant, superoxide dismutase. However, there have been no reports on the features of MPM image using probe of Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions. Our main objective in this study was application of newly developed multi-photon probe (MP) probe on Cu(I) and Zn(II) ions as a tool to assess antioxidative status of colon neoplasm.MethodsThis study was a pilot study. Colon cancer cell lines (ACT116 and HT-29), NIH3T3 cells and tissues of normal colon mucosa and colon neoplasm obtained during colonoscopic biopsy from 17 patients were stained with MP probes for Cu(I) and Zn(II) (ACu1 and AZn1). Cu(I)/Zn(II) levels in the cells and tissues were determined by detecting MP-excited fluorescence by MPM.ResultsMPM images of cells stained with MP probes revealed that Cu(I) was more abundant in ACT116 and HT-29 cells than in NIH3T3 cells, while Zn(II) was more abundant in NIH3T3 cells than in ACT116 and HT-29 cells. Normal tissues had a defined texture, whereas adenoma/adenocarcinoma tissues were amorphous. The level of Cu(I) increased and that of Zn(II) decreased with the transition from normal to adenoma to adenocarcinoma tissue.ConclusionMPM can be used to determine the relative Cu(I)/Zn(II) levels in cells and colon tissues by using ACu1 and AZn1 as MPM probes. These finding are new research tools for gastroenterologists to assess antioxidant status of colon neoplasm.
Republished: Which questions of two commonly used multidimensional palliative care patient reported outcome measures are most useful? Results from the European and African PRISMA survey
Authors: Higginson Irene J , Simon Steffen T , Benalia Hamid , Downing Julia , Daveson Barbara A , Harding Richard , Bausewein Claudia 
Published: July 2012

Abstract

Aim
To evaluate the views of clinicians and researchers on their use of outcome measures and which questions are most important in palliative and end-of-life care.

Methods
Online survey of professionals working in clinical care, clinical audit and research in palliative care across Europe and Africa identified through national and international associations and databases. Questions focused on measures used, reasons and which questions were important in two commonly used multidimensional measures, the Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS) and the Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS).

Results
The overall completion rate was 59% (392/663). Three outcome measures were commonly used by over one in four respondents for clinical practice and over one in 10 for research: the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), followed by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the POS. Measures were used twice as often in clinical practice as in research. The main uses were similar: assessing patients' symptoms/needs (88% and 85% of POS and STAS users, respectively), monitoring changes (62%, 58%), evaluating care (61%, 48%) and assessing family needs (59%, 60%). Respondents rated the most important questions as pain, symptoms, emotional and family aspects. There were no differences in the choice of the most important questions between doctors and nurses or between researchers and clinicians.

Conclusions
In palliative care, outcome measures often used in clinical practice are also often used in research. Questions relating to pain, symptoms, emotional needs and family concerns are consistently considered the most useful and important in palliative patient reported outcome measures (PROMs).
Improving outpatient services: the Southampton IBD virtual clinic
Authors: Hunter Jo , Claridge Andrew , James Shirley , Chan David , Stacey Bernard , Stroud Mike , Patel Praful , Fine David , Cummings J R Fraser 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
The follow-up of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is challenging due to the relapsing remitting nature of the diseases, the wide spectrum of severity and complexity as well as the need for monitoring of long-term complications and drug treatments. Conventional outpatient follow-up lacks flexibility for patients and there are competing pressures for clinic time. Alternative follow-up pathways include telephone clinics, self-management programmes or discharging patients. The IBD virtual clinic (VC) is a further option. Patients with an established diagnosis for &gt;2 years, who have been stable for &gt;1 year, do not have primary sclerosing cholangitis and who give their consent, are entered into the VC system. Two months before their annual follow-up is due patients are sent blood test forms and a simple questionnaire with an information sheet. If they meet any of the criteria on the questionnaire, they are asked to contact the IBD specialist nursing team to discuss their situation. The blood test results and the patient's database entry are reviewed to ensure that they are not due surveillance investigations. The patients and their GPs then receive a letter informing them of their management plan. We currently follow-up 20% of the Southampton IBD cohort using the VC. The VC system is an innovative, efficient and patient-responsive method for following up mild to moderate IBD. It is well liked by patients but is dependent on a well-maintained database with good integration of IT systems and requires both clerical and IBD nurse specialist support.
Truncated DNMT3B Isoform DNMT3B7 Suppresses Growth, Induces Differentiation, and Alters DNA Methylation in Human Neuroblastoma
Authors: Ostler Kelly R. , Yang Qiwei , Looney Timothy J. , Zhang Li , Vasanthakumar Aparna , Tian Yufeng , Kocherginsky Masha , Raimondi Stacey L. , DeMaio Jessica G. , Salwen Helen R. , Gu Song , Chlenski Alexandre , Naranjo Arlene , Gill Amy , Peddinti Radhika , Lahn Bruce T. , Cohn Susan L. , Godley Lucy A. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Epigenetic changes in pediatric neuroblastoma may contribute to the aggressive pathophysiology of this disease, but little is known about the basis for such changes. In this study, we examined a role for the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B, in particular, the truncated isoform DNMT3B7, which is generated frequently in cancer. To investigate if aberrant DNMT3B transcripts alter DNA methylation, gene expression, and phenotypic character in neuroblastoma, we measured DNMT3B expression in primary tumors. Higher levels of DNMT3B7 were detected in differentiated ganglioneuroblastomas compared to undifferentiated neuroblastomas, suggesting that expression of DNMT3B7 may induce a less aggressive clinical phenotype. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of enforced DNMT3B7 expression in neuroblastoma cells, finding a significant inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro and angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo. DNMT3B7-positive cells had higher levels of total genomic methylation and a dramatic decrease in expression of the FOS and JUN family members that comprise AP1 transcription factors. Consistent with an established antagonistic relationship between AP1 expression and retinoic acid receptor activity, increased differentiation was seen in the DNMT3B7-expressing neuroblastoma cells following treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) compared to controls. Our results indicate that DNMT3B7 modifies the epigenome in neuroblastoma cells to induce changes in gene expression, inhibit tumor growth, and increase sensitivity to ATRA. Cancer Res; 72(18); 4714–23. ©2012 AACR.
NLRR1 Enhances EGF-Mediated MYCN Induction in Neuroblastoma and Accelerates Tumor Growth In Vivo
Authors: Hossain Shamim , Takatori Atsushi , Nakamura Yohko , Suenaga Yusuke , Kamijo Takehiko , Nakagawara Akira 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Neuronal leucine-rich repeat protein-1 (NLRR1), a type-1 transmembrane protein highly expressed in unfavorable neuroblastoma, is a target gene of MYCN that is predominately expressed in primary neuroblastomas with MYCN amplification. However, the precise biological role of NLRR1 in cell proliferation and tumor progression remains unknown. To investigate its functional importance, we examined the role of NLRR1 in EGF and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1)–mediated cell viability. We found that NLRR1 positively regulated cell proliferation through activation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase mediated by EGF and IGF-1. Interestingly, EGF stimulation induced endogenous MYCN expression through Sp1 recruitment to the MYCN promoter region, which was accelerated in NLRR1-expressing cells. The Sp1-binding site was identified on the promoter region for MYCN induction, and phosphorylation of Sp1 was important for EGF-mediated MYCN regulation. In vivo studies confirmed the proliferation-promoting activity of NLRR1 and established an association between NLRR1 expression and poor prognosis in neuroblastoma. Together, our findings indicate that NLRR1 plays an important role in the development of neuroblastoma and therefore may represent an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Cancer Res; 72(17); 4587–96. ©2012 AACR.