The Prisoner Who Cried Wolf, and Then Swallowed a Sprinkler Head

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old man presented from jail reporting foreign body ingestion of a sprinkler head. While initial radiography did not reveal the foreign body, subsequent imaging with computed tomography demonstrated the sprinkler head. When confronted with this discrepancy the patient admitted to having the sprinkler head in his possession and choosing to swallow it after his initial radiography.Discussion: This case demonstrates the importance of maintaining a high threshold for real illness in situations where there is suspected malingering, a situation not infrequently encountered in the emergency department

The Role of Anthropology in Retailing: An Autoethnographic Case Study

As demonstrated by examples from my family business, the techniques of anthropology have a significant role in retailing. The research methods of anthropology facilitate qualitative observations, formal or informal interviews, and dialogues. Accordingly, the “life story approach” can be particularly useful. Many of these techniques can be usefully applied by lay people with minimal formal training in the field. In this article, by using life story and autoethnographic approaches, I share several personal stories with the readers of how anthropology was used in the different businesses in which my family and I were involved. Those who share the same practical business experiences as I, may learn how daily business operations can be studied, developed and managed. As a business owner, I recognize the importance of anthropological methods which benefit the business community through practical applicatio

Deletion of Forkhead Box M1 Transcription Factor from Respiratory Epithelial Cells Inhibits Pulmonary Tumorigenesis

The Forkhead Box m1 (Foxm1) protein is induced in a majority of human non-small cell lung cancers and its expression is associated with poor prognosis. However, specific requirements for the Foxm1 in each cell type of the cancer lesion remain unknown. The present study provides the first genetic evidence that the Foxm1 expression in respiratory epithelial cells is essential for lung tumorigenesis. Using transgenic mice, we demonstrated that conditional deletion of Foxm1 from lung epithelial cells (epFoxm1−/− mice) prior to tumor initiation caused a striking reduction in the number and size of lung tumors, induced by either urethane or 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA)/butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Decreased lung tumorigenesis in epFoxm1−/− mice was associated with diminished proliferation of tumor cells and reduced expression of Topoisomerase-2α (TOPO-2α), a critical regulator of tumor cell proliferation. Depletion of Foxm1 mRNA in cultured lung adenocarcinoma cells significantly decreased TOPO-2α mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, Foxm1 directly bound to and induced transcription of the mouse TOPO-2α promoter region, indicating that TOPO-2α is a direct target of Foxm1 in lung tumor cells. Finally, we demonstrated that a conditional deletion of Foxm1 in pre-existing lung tumors dramatically reduced tumor growth in the lung. Expression of Foxm1 in respiratory epithelial cells is critical for lung cancer formation and TOPO-2α expression in vivo, suggesting that Foxm1 is a promising target for anti-tumor therapy

A follow-up study for left ventricular mass on chromosome 12p11 identifies potential candidate genes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Left ventricular mass (LVM) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previously we found evidence for linkage to chromosome 12p11 in Dominican families, with a significant increase in a subset of families with high average waist circumference (WC). In the present study, we use association analysis to further study the genetic effect on LVM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Association analysis with LVM was done in the one LOD critical region of the linkage peak in an independent sample of 897 Caribbean Hispanics. Genotype data were available on 7085 SNPs from 23 to 53 MB on chromosome 12p11. Adjustment was made for vascular risk factors and population substructure using an additive genetic model. Subset analysis by WC was performed to test for a difference in genetic effects between the high and low WC subsets.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the overall analysis, the most significant association was found to rs10743465, downstream of the <it>SOX5 </it>gene (p = 1.27E-05). Also, 19 additional SNPs had nominal p < 0.001. In the subset analysis, the most significant difference in genetic effect between those with high and low WC occurred with rs1157480 (p = 1.37E-04 for the difference in β coefficients), located upstream of <it>TMTC1</it>. Twelve additional SNPs in or near 6 genes had p < 0.001.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The current study supports previously identified evidence by linkage for a genetic effect on LVM on chromosome 12p11 using association analysis in population-based Caribbean Hispanic cohort. <it>SOX5 </it>may play an important role in the regulation of LVM. An interaction of <it>TMTC1 </it>with abdominal obesity may contribute to phenotypic variation of LVM.</p

Protection Motivation Theory and Contingent Valuation: Perceived Realism, Threat and WTP Estimates for Biodiversity Protection

We report on a discrete-choice CV study conducted in Germany to value the WTP for biodiversity protection in less developed countries. To systematically investigate survey realism and subjective threat assessment from the loss of biodiversity described in the scenario the study includes questions to uncover the constructs of Protection Motivation Theory, which is introduced to the CV literature. The patterns of responses to such questions are analysed using an Expectation-Maximization algorithm to derive class membership probabilities. These are found to match the predictions of Protection Motivation Theory and systematically improve the logistic analysis of the WTP responses

The Prisoner Who Cried Wolf, and Then Swallowed a Sprinkler Head

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old man presented from jail reporting foreign body ingestion of a sprinkler head. While initial radiography did not reveal the foreign body, subsequent imaging with computed tomography demonstrated the sprinkler head. When confronted with this discrepancy the patient admitted to having the sprinkler head in his possession and choosing to swallow it after his initial radiography.Discussion: This case demonstrates the importance of maintaining a high threshold for real illness in situations where there is suspected malingering, a situation not infrequently encountered in the emergency department

EFFICIENCY CRITERIA AND RISK AVERSION: AN EMPIRICAL EVALUATION

A conceptual link among mean-variance (EV), stochastic dominance (SD), and mean-risk (ET), and Gini mean difference (EG) is established for determining risk efficient decision sets. The theoretical relations among the various efficiency criteria are then empirically demonstrated with a soybean and wheat double-crop simulation model. Empirical results associated with extended Gini mean difference (EEG) and extended mean-absolute Gini (EET) for risk analysis are encouraging

A CASE STUDY OF TIMELINESS IN THE SELECTION OF RISK-EFFICIENT MACHINERY COMPLEMENTS

The importance of timeliness is investigated in the selection of machinery complements for double-crop wheat and soybean production in the southeastern coastal plain. An intertemporal stochastic simulation model was developed to generate probability distributions that were evaluated with stochastic dominance analysis. This research investigated the importance of intertemporal production linkages and adequate soil moisture on machinery selection. Failure to include these dimensions can result in erroneous machinery choices

A CASE STUDY OF TIMELINESS IN THE SELECTION OF RISK-EFFICIENT MACHINERY COMPLEMENTS

The importance of timeliness is investigated in the selection of machinery complements for double-crop wheat and soybean production in the southeastern coastal plain. An intertemporal stochastic simulation model was developed to generate probability distributions that were evaluated with stochastic dominance analysis. This research investigated the importance of intertemporal production linkages and adequate soil moisture on machinery selection. Failure to include these dimensions can result in erroneous machinery choices.Farm Management,