bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adhesion rings surround invadopodia and promote maturation
Authors: Branch Kevin M. , Hoshino Daisuke , Weaver Alissa M. 
Published: June 2012

Summary
Invasion and metastasis are aggressive cancer phenotypes that are highly related to the ability of cancer cells to degrade extracellular matrix (ECM). At the cellular level, specialized actin-rich structures called invadopodia mediate focal matrix degradation by serving as exocytic sites for ECM-degrading proteinases. Adhesion signaling is likely to be a critical regulatory input to invadopodia, but the mechanism and location of such adhesion signaling events are poorly understood. Here, we report that adhesion rings surround invadopodia shortly after formation and correlate strongly with invadopodium activity on a cell-by-cell basis. By contrast, there was little correlation of focal adhesion number or size with cellular invadopodium activity. Prevention of adhesion ring formation by inhibition of RGD-binding integrins or knockdown (KD) of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) reduced the number of ECM-degrading invadopodia and reduced recruitment of IQGAP to invadopodium actin puncta. Furthermore, live cell imaging revealed that the rate of extracellular MT1-MMP accumulation at invadopodia was greatly reduced in both integrin-inhibited and ILK-KD cells. Conversely, KD of MT1-MMP reduced invadopodium activity and dynamics but not the number of adhesion-ringed invadopodia. These results suggest a model in which adhesion rings are recruited to invadopodia shortly after formation and promote invadopodium maturation by enhancing proteinase secretion. Since adhesion rings are a defining characteristic of podosomes, similar structures formed by normal cells, our data also suggest further similarities between invadopodia and podosomes.
Supply Chain Performance Under Market Valuation: An Operational Approach to Restore Efficiency
Authors: Lai Guoming , Xiao Wenqiang , Yang Jun 
Published: June 2012

Based on a supply chain framework, we study the stocking decision of a downstream buyer who receives private demand information and has the incentive to influence her capital market valuation. We first characterize a market equilibrium under a general, single buyback contract. We show that the buyer's stocking decision can be distorted in equilibrium. Such a downstream stocking distortion hurts the buyer firm's own performance, and it also influences the performances of the supplier and the supply chain. We further reveal scenarios where full supply chain efficiency cannot be reached under any single buyback contract. Then, focusing on contract design, we characterize conditions under which a menu of buyback contracts can prevent downstream stocking distortion and restore full efficiency in the supply chain. Our study demonstrates that in a supply chain context, a firm's incentive to undertake real economic activities to influence capital market valuation can potentially be resolved through operational means.This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
Large-Scale Service Marketplaces: The Role of the Moderating Firm
Authors: Allon Gad , Bassamboo Achal , Çil Eren B. 
Published: June 2012

Recently, large-scale, Web-based service marketplaces, where many small service providers compete among themselves in catering to customers with diverse needs, have emerged. Customers who frequent these marketplaces seek quick resolutions and thus are usually willing to trade prices with waiting times. The main goal of this paper is to discuss the role of the moderating firm in facilitating information gathering, operational efficiency, and communication among agents in service marketplaces. Surprisingly, we show that operational efficiency may be detrimental to the overall efficiency of the marketplace. Furthermore, we establish that to reap the “expected” gains of operational efficiency, the moderating firm may need to complement the operational efficiency by enabling communication among its agents. The study emphasizes the scale of such marketplaces and the impact it has on the outcomes. This paper was accepted by Yossi Aviv, operations management.
The Visible Hand? Demand Effects of Recommendation Networks in Electronic Markets
Authors: Oestreicher-Singer Gal , Sundararajan Arun 
Published: June 2012

Online commercial interactions have increased dramatically over the last decade, leading to the emergence of networks that link the electronic commerce landing pages of related products to one another. Our paper conjectures that the explicit visibility of such “product networks”can alter demand spillovers across their constituent items. We test this conjecture empirically using data about the copurchase networks and demand levels associated with more than 250,000 interconnected books offered on Amazon.com over the period of one year while controlling for alternative explanations of demand correlation using a variety of approaches. Our findings suggest that on average the explicit visibility of a copurchase relationship can lead to up to an average threefold amplification of the influence that complementary products have on each others' demand levels. We also find that newer and more popular products “use” the attention they garner from their network position more efficiently and that diversity in the sources of spillover further amplifies the demand effects of the recommendation network. Our paper presents new evidence quantifying the role of network position in electronic markets and highlights the power of basing (virtual) shelf position on consumer preferences that are explicitly revealed through shared purchasing patterns. This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Aspirational Preferences and Their Representation by Risk Measures
Authors: Brown David B. , Giorgi Enrico De , Sim Melvyn 
Published: June 2012

We consider choice over uncertain, monetary payoffs and study a general class of preferences. These preferences favor diversification, except perhaps on a subset of sufficiently disliked acts over which concentration is instead preferred. This structure encompasses a number of known models (e.g., expected utility and several variants under a concave utility function). We show that such preferences share a representation in terms of a family of measures of risk and targets. Specifically, the choice function is equivalent to selection of a maximum index level such that the risk of beating the target at that level is acceptable. This representation may help to uncover new models of choice. One that we explore in detail is the special case when the targets are bounded. This case corresponds to a type of satisficing and has descriptive relevance. Moreover, the model is amenable to large-scale optimization. This paper was accepted by Teck Ho, decision analysis.
Pathwise Optimization for Optimal Stopping Problems
Authors: Desai Vijay V. , Farias Vivek F. , Moallemi Ciamac C. 
Published: June 2012

We introduce the pathwise optimization (PO) method, a new convex optimization procedure to produce upper and lower bounds on the optimal value (the “price”) of a high-dimensional optimal stopping problem. The PO method builds on a dual characterization of optimal stopping problems as optimization problems over the space of martingales, which we dub the martingale duality approach. We demonstrate via numerical experiments that the PO method produces upper bounds of a quality comparable with state-of-the-art approaches, but in a fraction of the time required for those approaches. As a by-product, it yields lower bounds (and suboptimal exercise policies) that are substantially superior to those produced by state-of-the-art methods. The PO method thus constitutes a practical and desirable approach to high-dimensional pricing problems. Furthermore, we develop an approximation theory relevant to martingale duality approaches in general and the PO method in particular. Our analysis provides a guarantee on the quality of upper bounds resulting from these approaches and identifies three key determinants of their performance: the quality of an input value function approximation, the square root of the effective time horizon of the problem, and a certain spectral measure of “predictability” of the underlying Markov chain. As a corollary to this analysis we develop approximation guarantees specific to the PO method. Finally, we view the PO method and several approximate dynamic programming methods for high-dimensional pricing problems through a common lens and in doing so show that the PO method dominates those alternatives. This paper was accepted by Wei Xiong, stochastic models and simulation.
La Theorie de la Chiasmatypie
Authors: Koszul Romain , Zickler Denise 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
First published in 1909 in La Cellule, F. A. Janssens’s “The chiasmatype theory. A new interpretation of the maturation divisions” proved controversial and was for several decades resisted by many geneticists and cytologists. In this month’s Perspectives, Koszul et al. revisit Janssens's findings and the surrounding controversies.
Here, translated for the first time in English, GENETICS republishes the original Janssens’s article. The article is presented as closely as possible to the original publication’s format and style.2 GENETICS wishes to thank Romain Koszul and Denise Zickler for their labors in presenting the scientific community with this new translation.
Clinical and Economic Burden of Emergency Department Presentations for Neutropenia Following Outpatient Chemotherapy for Cancer in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Livingston Patricia M. , Craike Melinda , Slavin Monica 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Identify fever and neutropenia in a cancer patient as a medical emergency requiring prompt assessment and antibiotic therapy.Explain the use of risk assessment scores to determine the risk of complications of fever and neutropenia at presentation.
CME This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.com

Objective.
To examine the clinical characteristics and financial charges associated with treating adult cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient clinics who presented to the emergency department (ED) with neutropenia.

Design and Setting.
A retrospective audit was conducted across two health services involving ED episodes and subsequent hospital admissions of patients who received chemotherapy through day oncology from January 1 to December 31, 2007 and presented to the ED with neutropenia. ED data were collected from the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset and charges were collected from Health Information Services. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to describe the patient and clinical characteristics and financial outcomes, and to explore associations between these factors.

Results.
In total, 200 neutropenic episodes in 159 outpatients were seen in the ED over the survey period. The mean patient age was 56.6 years (standard deviation, 13.2 years) and 47.2% were male. Overall, 70.0% of ED episodes were triaged as Australasian Triage Scale 2 (emergency). The median ED wait time was 10 minutes and the median ED length of stay was 6.8 hours. The median charge for each ED episode was $764.08 Australian dollars. The total combined ED and inpatient charge per episode was in the range of $144.27–$174,732.68, with a median charge of $5,640.87.

Conclusions.
This study provides important insights into the clinical and economic burden of neutropenia from both the ED and inpatient perspectives. Alternative treatment models, such as outpatient treatment, early discharge programs or prophylactic interventions to reduce the clinical and economic burden of neutropenia on our health system, must be explored.
Efficacy, Safety, and Biomarkers of Single-Agent Bevacizumab Therapy in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Boige Valérie , Malka David , Bourredjem Abderrahmane , Dromain Clarisse , Baey Charlotte , Jacques Nathalie , Pignon Jean-Pierre , Vimond Nadege , Bouvet-Forteau Nathalie , De Baere Thierry , Ducreux Michel , Farace Françoise 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Objective.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascularized tumor in which neoangiogenesis contributes to growth and metastasis. We assessed the safety, efficacy, and potential biomarkers of activity of bevacizumab in patients with advanced HCC.

Methods.
In this phase II trial, eligible patients received bevacizumab, 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. The disease-control rate at 16 weeks (16W-DCR) was the primary endpoint. Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and plasma cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) were measured at baseline and throughout treatment.

Results.
The 16W-DCR was 42% (95% confidence interval, 27%–57%). Six of the 43 patients who received bevacizumab achieved a partial response (objective response rate [ORR], 14%). Grade 3–4 asthenia, hemorrhage, and aminotransferase elevation occurred in five (12%), three (7%), and three (7%) patients, respectively. During treatment, placental growth factor markedly increased, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A dramatically decreased (p &lt; .0001); soluble VEGF receptor-2 (p &lt; .0001) and CECs (p = .03) transiently increased on day 3. High and increased CEC counts at day 15 were associated with the ORR (p = .04) and the 16W-DCR (p = .02), respectively. Lower interleukin (IL)-8 levels at baseline (p = .01) and throughout treatment (p ≤ .04) were associated with the 16W-DCR. High baseline IL-8 and IL-6 levels predicted shorter progression-free and overall survival times (p ≤ .04).

Conclusion.
Bevacizumab is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced HCC. The clinical value of CECs, IL-6, and IL-8 warrants further investigation.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections in Patients with Cancer Treated with Vancomycin: 9-Year Experience at a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Mahajan Sminil N. , Shah Jharna N. , Hachem Ray , Tverdek Frank , Adachi Javier A. , Mulanovich Victor , Rolston Kenneth V. , Raad Issam I. , Chemaly Roy F. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs) can cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. However, data on outcomes of patients treated with vancomycin are lacking.

Methods.
We identified 223 patients with cancer who developed MRSA BSIs between January 2001 and June 2009 and were treated with vancomycin. Treatment failure was defined as death within 60 days of infection, persistent bacteremia ≥5 days, fever ≥4 days, recurrence or relapse, and secondary MRSA infection.

Results.
The treatment failure rate was 52% (116 of 223 patients). These patients were more likely to have been hospitalized, been treated with steroids within the previous 3 months, developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, required mechanical ventilation, required intensive care unit care, and community-onset infections (all p &lt; .05). Risk factors for MRSA-associated mortality (27 of 223 patients; 12%) included hematologic malignancy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, community-onset infection, secondary BSI, MRSA with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥2.0 μg/mL, mechanical ventilation, and a late switch to an alternative therapy (≥4 days after treatment failure; all p &lt; .05). On multivariate analysis, mechanical ventilation and recent hospitalization were identified as independent predictors of vancomycin failure, and community-onset infection, secondary BSIs, and MIC ≥2 μg/mL were identified as significant predictors of MRSA-associated mortality.

Conclusions.
We found a high treatment failure rate for vancomycin in patients with cancer and MRSA BSIs, as well as a higher mortality. A vancomycin MIC ≥2 μg/mL was an independent predictor of MRSA-associated mortality. An early switch to an alternative therapy at the earliest sign of failure may improve outcome.
Fertility Preservation in Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer in the U.K.: A Questionnaire Study
Authors: King Judy W. , Davies Melanie C. , Roche Nicola , Abraham Jacinta M. , Jones Alison L. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Objective.
Fertility preservation is an important survivorship issue for women treated for breast cancer. The aim of this work was to examine the referral practices of health care professionals who treat women with breast cancer in the United Kingdom, and to investigate their understanding and knowledge of the fertility preservation options available.

Method.
An invitation to participate in a confidential, online questionnaire was e-mailed to surgeons, oncologists, and clinical nurse specialists who manage patients with breast cancer in the United Kingdom.

Results.
n = 306 respondents. Factors which influenced whether fertility preservation options were discussed with a patient included the following: patient's age (78%), final tumor/nodes/metastasis status (37.9%); concern that fertility preservation would delay chemotherapy (37.3%); whether the patient had children (33.5%) or a partner (24.7%); estrogen receptor expression (22.6%), lack of knowledge regarding the available options (20.9%); and concern that fertility preservation would compromise the success of cancer treatment (19.8%). Twenty-seven percent did not know whether fertility preservation was available for their patients on the National Health Service. Nearly half (49.4%) of respondents said that gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists were used for fertility preservation outside the setting of a clinical trial. Knowledge regarding the available options varied according to different members of the multidisciplinary team, with consultant oncologists better informed than consultant surgeons or clinical nurse specialists (p &lt; .05).

Conclusions.
Many health care professionals have incomplete knowledge regarding the local arrangements for fertility preservation for patients with breast cancer. This may result in patients receiving inadequate or conflicting information regarding fertility preservation.
Lymphocele and Ovarian Cancer: Risk Factors and Impact on Survival
Authors: Gauthier Tristan , Uzan Catherine , Lefeuvre Delphine , Kane Aminata , Canlorbe Geoffroy , Deschamps Fredéric , Lhomme Catherine , Pautier Patricia , Morice Philippe , Gouy Sébastien 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Identify risk factors for lymphoceles after cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer.Describe the impact of lymphocleles on outcomes in women with ovarian cancer.
CME This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.com

Introduction.
We describe the incidence, impact on survival, and the risk factors for symptomatic lymphoceles in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods.
This retrospective study includes patients with ovarian cancer who had complete cytoreductive surgery and para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy performed in our institute from 2005 to 2011. Patients were classified into two groups: patients with symptomatic lymphoceles and a control group.

Results.
During the study period, 194 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer underwent cytoreductive surgery and a lymphadenectomy without macroscopic residual disease. Fifty-four patients had symptomatic lymphoceles (28%). In the multivariate analysis, only supraradical surgery was significantly and independently associated with the risk of symptomatic lymphoceles occurring postoperatively. Median follow-up was 24.8 months (range, 1–74 months). Survival rates were not significantly different between the symptomatic lymphocele group and the control group. Two-year disease-free survival rates were 54% for the lymphocele group and 48% for the control group. Two-year overall survival rates were 90% for the lymphocele group and 88% for the control group.

Conclusions.
Symptomatic lymphoceles occur frequently after cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer. Supraradical surgery is an independent risk factor. The occurrence of symptomatic lymphoceles does not decrease survival. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to reduce the risk of lymphoceles in such patients.
Unemployment and Mortality: A Comparative Study of Germany and the United States
Authors: McLeod Christopher B. , Lavis John N. , MacNab Ying C. , Hertzman Clyde 
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We examined the relationship between unemployment and mortality in Germany, a coordinated market economy, and the United States, a liberal market economy. Methods. We followed 2 working-age cohorts from the German Socio-economic Panel and the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics from 1984 to 2005. We defined unemployment as unemployed at the time of survey. We used discrete-time survival analysis, adjusting for potential confounders. Results. There was an unemployment–mortality association among Americans (relative risk [RR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7, 3.4), but not among Germans (RR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.0, 2.0). In education-stratified models, there was an association among minimum-skilled (RR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.4, 4.7) and medium-skilled (RR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.5, 3.8) Americans, but not among minimum- and medium-skilled Germans. There was no association among high-skilled Americans, but an association among high-skilled Germans (RR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.3, 7.0), although this was limited to those educated in East Germany. Minimum- and medium-skilled unemployed Americans had the highest absolute risks of dying. Conclusions. The higher risk of dying for minimum- and medium-skilled unemployed Americans, not found among Germans, suggests that the unemployment–mortality relationship may be mediated by the institutional and economic environment.
Elevated Risk of Posttraumatic Stress in Sexual Minority Youths: Mediation by Childhood Abuse and Gender Nonconformity
Authors: Roberts Andrea L. , Rosario Margaret , Corliss Heather L. , Koenen Karestan C. , Austin S. Bryn 
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We examined whether lifetime risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was elevated in sexual minority versus heterosexual youths, whether childhood abuse accounted for disparities in PTSD, and whether childhood gender nonconformity explained sexual-orientation disparities in abuse and subsequent PTSD.Methods. We used data from a population-based study (n = 9369, mean age = 22.7 years) to estimate risk ratios for PTSD. We calculated the percentage of PTSD disparities by sexual orientation accounted for by childhood abuse and gender nonconformity, and the percentage of abuse disparities by sexual orientation accounted for by gender nonconformity.Results. Sexual minorities had between 1.6 and 3.9 times greater risk of probable PTSD than heterosexuals. Child abuse victimization disparities accounted for one third to one half of PTSD disparities by sexual orientation. Higher prevalence of gender nonconformity before age 11 years partly accounted for higher prevalence of abuse exposure before age 11 years and PTSD by early adulthood in sexual minorities (range = 5.2%–33.2%).Conclusions. Clinicians, teachers, and others who work with youths should consider abuse prevention and treatment measures for gender-nonconforming children and sexual minority youths.