bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Strains of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Kentucky Sequence Type 198 from Southeast Asia Harbor Salmonella Genomic Island 1-J Variants with a Novel Insertion Sequence
Authors: Le Hello Simon , Weill François-Xavier , Guibert Véronique , Praud Karine , Cloeckaert Axel , Doublet Benoît
Published: July 2012

Salmonella
genomic island 1 (SGI1) is a 43-kb integrative mobilizable element that harbors a great diversity of multidrug resistance gene clusters described in numerous
Salmonella enterica
serovars and also in
Proteus mirabilis
. The majority of SGI1 variants contain an In104-derivative complex class 1 integron inserted between resolvase gene
res
and open reading frame (ORF) S044 in SGI1. Recently, the international spread of ciprofloxacin-resistant
S. enterica
serovar Kentucky sequence type 198 (ST198) containing SGI1-K variants has been reported. A retrospective study was undertaken to characterize ST198
S
. Kentucky strains isolated before the spread of the epidemic ST198-SGI1-K population in Africa and the Middle East. Here, we characterized 12 ST198
S
. Kentucky strains isolated between 1969 and 1999, mainly from humans returning from Southeast Asia (
n
= 10 strains) or Israel (
n
= 1 strain) or from meat in Egypt (
n
= 1 strain). All these ST198
S
. Kentucky strains did not belong to the XbaI pulsotype X1 associated with the African epidemic clone but to pulsotype X2. SGI1-J subgroup variants containing different complex integrons with a partial transposition module and inserted within ORF S023 of SGI1 were detected in six strains. The SGI1-J4 variant containing a partially deleted class 1 integron and thus showing a narrow resistance phenotype to sulfonamides was identified in two epidemiologically unrelated strains from Indonesia. The four remaining strains harbored a novel SGI1-J variant, named SGI1-J6, which contained
aadA2
,
floR2
,
tetR
(G)-
tetA
(G), and
sul1
resistance genes within its complex integron. Moreover, in all these
S
. Kentucky isolates, a novel insertion sequence related to the IS
630
family and named IS
Sen5
was found inserted upstream of the SGI1 complex integron in ORF S023. Thus, two subpopulations of
S
. Kentucky ST198 independently and exclusively acquired the SGI1 during the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike the ST198-X1 African epidemic subpopulation, the ST198-X2 subpopulation mainly from Asia harbors variants of the SGI1-J subgroup that are encountered mainly in the Far East, as previously described for
S. enterica
serovars Emek and Virchow.
Mechanism of Action of the Arylomycin Antibiotics and Effects of Signal Peptidase I Inhibition
Authors: Smith Peter A. , Romesberg Floyd E.
Published: July 2012

Clinically approved antibiotics inhibit only a small number of conserved pathways that are essential for bacterial viability, and the physiological effects of inhibiting these pathways have been studied in great detail. Likewise, characterizing the effects of candidate antibiotics that function via novel mechanisms of action is critical for their development, which is of increasing importance due to the ever-growing problem of resistance. The arylomycins are a novel class of natural-product antibiotics that act via the inhibition of type I signal peptidase (SPase), which is an essential enzyme that functions as part of the general secretory pathway and is not the target of any clinically deployed antibiotic. Correspondingly, little is known about the effects of SPase inhibition or how bacteria may respond to mitigate the associated secretion stress. Using genetically sensitized
Escherichia coli
and
Staphylococcus aureus
as model organisms, we examine the activity of arylomycin as a function of its concentration, bacterial cell density, target expression levels, and bacterial growth phase. The results reveal that the activity of the arylomycins results from an insufficient flux of proteins through the secretion pathway and the resulting mislocalization of proteins. Interestingly, this has profoundly different effects on
E. coli
and
S. aureus
. Finally, we examine the activity of arylomycin in combination with distinct classes of antibiotics and demonstrate that SPase inhibition results in synergistic sensitivity when combined with an aminoglycoside.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Palivizumab, a Humanized Anti-Respiratory Syncytial Virus Monoclonal Antibody, in Adults and Children
Authors: Robbie Gabriel J. , Zhao Liang , Mondick John , Losonsky Genevieve , Roskos Lorin K.
Published: July 2012

Although it has been on the market for over a decade, confusion remains regarding the pharmacokinetics (PK) and optimal dosing of palivizumab, a humanized IgG1κ monoclonal antibody indicated for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease. The objectives of this analysis were to characterize the population PK of palivizumab in adults and children using nonlinear mixed-effect modeling, quantify the effects of individual covariates on variability in palivizumab disposition, and compare palivizumab exposures for various dosing scenarios. Palivizumab PK data from 22 clinical studies were used for model development. The model was developed using a two-stage approach: (i) a 2-compartment model with first-order absorption after intramuscular administration was fitted to adult data, and (ii) the same structural model was fitted to the sparse pediatric data using the NONMEM $PRIOR subroutine, with informative priors obtained from the adult analysis. Body weight and an age descriptor that combines gestational age and postnatal age (PAGE) using an asymptotic-exponential model best described palivizumab clearance in pediatric patients. Palivizumab clearance increased slightly from 10.2 ml/day to 11.9 ml/day as a function of PAGE ranging from 7 to 18 months. Covariate analysis indicated a 20% higher clearance in children with chronic lung disease and in children with antidrug antibody titer values of ≥80. These covariates did not substantially explain interindividual variability. In the label-indicated pediatric population, body weight was the primary demographic factor affecting palivizumab PK. Body weight-based dosing of 15 mg/kg yields similar palivizumab concentrations in children of different gestational and postnatal ages. Simulations demonstrated that there was little difference in palivizumab PK between healthy term and premature infants. Simulations also demonstrated that the 5 monthly palivizumab doses of 15 mg/kg, consistent with the label and studied in two randomized, clinical trials, provided greater and more prolonged palivizumab exposure than did an abbreviated dosing regimen of 3 monthly doses.
Risk Factors for Multidrug-Resistant Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in South Africa, a Setting with High HIV Prevalence, in the Prevaccine Era from 2003 to 2008
Authors: Crowther-Gibson Penny , Cohen Cheryl , Klugman Keith P. , de Gouveia Linda , von Gottberg Anne
Published: July 2012

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Streptococcus pneumoniae
complicates disease management. We aimed to determine risk factors associated with MDR invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in South Africa and evaluate the potential for vaccination to reduce disease burden. IPD data collected by laboratory-based surveillance from 2003 through 2008 were analyzed. Multidrug resistance was defined as nonsusceptibility to any three or more different antibiotic classes. Risk factors for multidrug resistance were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Of 20,100 cases of IPD identified, 3,708 (18%) had MDR isolates, with the proportion increasing from 16% (461/2,891) to 20% (648/3,326) (
P
< 0.001) over the study period. Serotypes included in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) accounted for 94% of MDR strains. Significant risk factors for MDR IPD included PCV13 (1,486/6,407; odds ratio [OR] of 6.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] of 5.0 to 7.9) and pediatric (3,382/9,980; OR of 12.8; 95% CI of 10.6 to 15.4) serotypes, age of <5 (802/3,110; OR of 2.0; 95% CI of 1.8 to 2.3) or ≥65 (39/239; OR of 1.5; 95% CI of 1.0 to 2.2) years versus age of 15 to 64 years, HIV infection (975/4,636; OR of 1.5; 95% CI of 1.2 to 1.8), previous antibiotic use (242/803; OR of 1.7; 95% CI of 1.4 to 2.1), previous hospital admissions (579/2,450; OR of 1.2; 95% CI of 1.03 to 1.4), urban location (883/4,375; OR of 2.0; 95% CI of 1.1 to 3.5), and tuberculosis treatment (246/1,021; OR of 1.2; 95% CI of 1.03 to 1.5). MDR IPD prevalence increased over the study period. The effect of many of the MDR risk factors could be reduced by more judicious use of antibiotics. Because PCV13 serotypes account for most MDR infections, pneumococcal vaccination may reduce the prevalence of multidrug resistance.
OmpL1 Is an Extracellular Matrix- and Plasminogen-Interacting Protein of Leptospira spp
Authors: Fernandes Luis G. V. , Vieira Monica L. , Kirchgatter Karin , Alves Ivy J. , de Morais Zenaide M. , Vasconcellos Silvio A. , Romero Eliete C. , Nascimento Ana L. T. O.
Published: July 2012

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis with multisystem involvement caused by pathogenic strains of the genus
Leptospira
. OmpL1 is an outer membrane protein of
Leptospira
spp. that is expressed during infection. In this work, we investigated novel features of this protein. We describe that OmpL1 is a novel leptospiral extracellular matrix (ECM)-binding protein and a plasminogen (PLG) receptor. The recombinant protein was expressed in
Escherichia coli
BL21(DE3) Star/pLysS as inclusion bodies, refolded, and purified by metal-chelating chromatography. The protein presented a typical β-strand secondary structure, as evaluated by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The recombinant protein reacted with antibodies in serum samples from convalescent leptospirosis patients with a high specificity compared to serum samples from individuals with unrelated diseases. These data strengthen the usefulness of OmpL1 as a diagnostic marker of leptospirosis. The characterization of the immunogenicity of recombinant OmpL1 in inoculated BALB/c mice showed that the protein has the capacity to elicit humoral and cellular immune responses, as denoted by high antibody titers and the proliferation of lymphocytes. We demonstrate that OmpL1 has the ability to mediate attachment to laminin and plasma fibronectin, with

K
D

(equilibrium dissociation constant) values of 2,099.93 ± 871.03 nM and 1,239.23 ± 506.85 nM, respectively. OmpL1 is also a PLG receptor, with a

K
D

of 368.63 ± 121.23 nM, capable of generating enzymatically active plasmin. This is the first report that shows and characterizes OmpL1 as an ECM-interacting and a PLG-binding protein of
Leptospira
spp. that may play a role in bacterial pathogenesis when expressed during infection.
Paying more than lip service to an oral lesion: a case of plasmablastic lymphoma
Authors: Moayedi Yasbanoo , Venos Erik Steven , Ghaffar Hasan , Gough Kevin A , Hicks Lisa K
Published: July 2012

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a variant of lymphoma originally described in the oral cavity of patients with advanced HIV. Our patient developed PBL despite well-controlled HIV and a CD4 count greater than 800 cells/µl. A drug interaction with an inhaled corticosteroid and ritonavir likely contributed to the development of this malignancy through increased immune suppression.
Unusual bilateral pneumothoraces due to zone I neck stab wound
Authors: Farsi Davood , Nouri Gholam Hossein , Mofidi Mani , Hafezimoghadam Peyman
Published: July 2012

Pneumothorax is a known complication of spontaneous or traumatic chest events. Trauma is the most common cause of pneumothorax all over the world. The majority of penetrating pneumothoraces are due to stab wound in Iran. The unilateral pneumothorax commonly is due to chest stab wound but it can be caused by neck stab wound, too. Ipsilateral pneumothorax is an uncommon complication of neck stab wound in zone I. We reported a rare case of bilateral pneumothoraces due to usual unilateral neck stab wound.
Targeting TRAIL Death Receptor 4 with Trivalent DR4 Atrimer Complexes
Authors: Allen Joshua E. , Ferrini Roger , Dicker David T. , Batzer Glenda , Chen Elise , Oltean Daniela I. , Lin Bing , Renshaw Mark W. , Kretz-Rommel Anke , El-Deiry Wafik S.
Published: July 2012

TRAIL is a trimeric protein that potently induces apoptosis in cancer cells by binding to the trimeric death receptors (DR4 or DR5). Death receptors are attractive therapeutic targets through both the recombinant TRAIL ligand as well as receptor agonist monoclonal antibodies. Although efficacy of the ligand is hampered by its short half-life, agonistic antibodies have a much longer half-life and have shown some clinical efficacy as antitumor agents. However, the efficacy of these antibodies may be limited by their bivalent nature that does not optimally mimic the trimeric ligand. To overcome limitations of currently used death receptor-targeting agents, we engineered trimeric proteins called Atrimer complexes that selectively bind DR4 and potently induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Atrimer complexes are based on human tetranectin, a trimeric plasma protein of approximately 60 kDa. Loop regions within the tetranectin C-type lectin domains (CTLD) were randomized to create a large phage display library that was used to select DR4-binding complexes. A panel of unique and potent agonist DR4 Atrimer complexes with subnanomolar affinity to DR4 and no detectable binding to DR5 or the decoy receptors was identified. Mechanism of action studies with a selected Atrimer complex, 1G2, showed that Atrimer complexes induce caspase-dependent and DR4-specific apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal human fibroblasts and, importantly, hepatocytes. This proof-of-principle study supports the use of alternative proteins engineered to overcome limitations of therapeutically desirable molecules such as TRAIL. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(10); 2087–95. ©2012 AACR.
Sca-1 Knockout Impairs Myocardial and Cardiac Progenitor Cell Function
Authors: Bailey Brandi , Fransioli Jenna , Gude Natalie A. , Alvarez Roberto , Zhan Xiaoxue , Gustafsson Åsa B. , Sussman Mark A.
Published: July 2012

Rationale:

Cardiac progenitor cells are important for maintenance of myocardial structure and function, but molecular mechanisms governing these progenitor cells remain obscure and require elucidation to enhance regenerative therapeutic approaches.

Objective:

To understand consequences of stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) deletion on functional properties of c-kit+ cardiac progenitor cells and myocardial performance using a Sca-1 knock-out/green fluorescent protein knock-in reporter mouse (ScaKI).

Methods and Results:

Genetic deletion of Sca-1 results in early-onset cardiac contractile deficiency as determined by echocardiography and hemodynamics as well as age-associated hypertrophy. Resident cardiac progenitor cells in ScaKI mice do not respond to pathological damage in vivo, consistent with observations of impaired growth and survival of ScaKI cardiac progenitor cells in vitro. The molecular basis of the defect in ScaKI cardiac progenitor cells is associated with increased canonical Wnt signaling pathway activation consistent with molecular characteristics of lineage commitment.

Conclusions:

Genetic deletion of Sca-1 causes primary cardiac defects in myocardial contractility and repair consistent with impairment of resident cardiac progenitor cell proliferative capacity associated with altered canonical Wnt signaling.
Mechanisms of Blunted Muscle Vasodilation During Peripheral Chemoreceptor Stimulation in Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Alves Maria Janieire de Nazaré Nunes , dos Santos Marcelo Rodrigues , Nobre Thais Simões , Martinez Daniel Godoy , Pereira Barretto Antonio Carlos , Brum Patricia Chakur , Rondon Maria Urbana P.B. , Middlekauff Holly R. , Negrão Carlos Eduardo
Published: July 2012

We described recently that systemic hypoxia provokes vasoconstriction in heart failure (HF) patients. We hypothesized that either the exaggerated muscle sympathetic nerve activity and/or endothelial dysfunction mediate the blunted vasodilatation during hypoxia in HF patients. Twenty-seven HF patients and 23 age-matched controls were studied. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity was assessed by microneurography and forearm blood flow (FBF) by venous occlusion plethysmography. Peripheral chemoreflex control was evaluated through the inhaling of a hypoxic gas mixture (10% O
2
and 90% N
2
). Basal muscle sympathetic nerve activity was greater and basal FBF was lower in HF patients versus controls. During hypoxia, muscle sympathetic nerve activity responses were greater in HF patients, and forearm vasodilatation in HF was blunted versus controls. Phentolamine increased FBF responses in both groups, but the increase was lower in HF patients. Phentolamine and
N
G
-monomethyl-
l
-arginine infusion did not change FBF responses in HF but markedly blunted the vasodilatation in controls. FBF responses to hypoxia in the presence of vitamin C were unchanged and remained lower in HF patients versus controls. In conclusion, muscle vasoconstriction in response to hypoxia in HF patients is attributed to exaggerated reflex sympathetic nerve activation and blunted endothelial function (NO activity). We were unable to identify a role for oxidative stress in these studies.
The Effect of Gestalt Laws of Perceptual Organization on the Comprehension of Three-Variable Bar and Line Graphs
Authors: Ali Nadia , Peebles David
Published: July 2012

Objective:

We report three experiments investigating the ability of undergraduate college students to comprehend 2 × 2 “interaction” graphs from two-way factorial research designs.

Background:

Factorial research designs are an invaluable research tool widely used in all branches of the natural and social sciences, and the teaching of such designs lies at the core of many college curricula. Such data can be represented in bar or line graph form. Previous studies have shown, however, that people interpret these two graphical forms differently.

Method:

In Experiment 1, participants were required to interpret interaction data in either bar or line graphs while thinking aloud. Verbal protocol analysis revealed that line graph users were significantly more likely to misinterpret the data or fail to interpret the graph altogether.

Results:

The patterns of errors line graph users made were interpreted as arising from the operation of Gestalt principles of perceptual organization, and this interpretation was used to develop two modified versions of the line graph, which were then tested in two further experiments. One of the modifications resulted in a significant improvement in performance.

Conclusion:

Results of the three experiments support the proposed explanation and demonstrate the effects (both positive and negative) of Gestalt principles of perceptual organization on graph comprehension.

Application:

We propose that our new design provides a more balanced representation of the data than the standard line graph for nonexpert users to comprehend the full range of relationships in two-way factorial research designs and may therefore be considered a more appropriate representation for use in educational and other nonexpert contexts.
Bridges and Barriers
Authors: McHugh Rebecca Munnell , Horner Christy Galletta , Colditz Jason B. , Wallace Tanner LeBaron
Published: July 2012

In urban secondary schools where underpreparation and dropping out are real world concerns, students understand that their relationships with teachers affect their learning. Using descriptive coding and thematic analysis of focus group data, we explore adolescents’ perceptions of the bridges that foster and the barriers that inhibit supportive relationships with teachers, and the boundary expectations that function as both. The characteristics of supportive student–teacher relationships identified by youth participants suggest a number of teacher practices capable of meeting adolescents’ developmental needs and, as such, are likely to positively influence adolescents’ developmental and academic trajectories.
Translating Policy to Practice
Authors: Dougherty Stahl Katherine A. , Keane Annette E. , Simic Ognjen
Published: July 2012

This mixed methods study explores the pilot implementation of a Response to Intervention framework in the first grade classrooms in three urban schools. Two schools in a fully implemented condition (FI) with a facilitator and a partially implemented condition (PI) without a facilitator were investigated using student achievement data, field notes, teacher questionnaires, and teacher focus groups. Repeated measures ANOVA indicate that student risk levels measured by DIBELS phonemic awareness and decoding tasks were reduced in both conditions but favored the FI condition. Qualitative evidence indicates that programmatic changes were implemented in one year, but more complex paradigmatic changes did not occur.
The role of procalcitonin and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting outcome after cardiac surgery
Authors: Kallel S , Jmel W , Jarraya A , Abdenadher M , Frikha I , Karouia A
Published: July 2012

Objective(s): Determine the thresholds of procalcitonin (PCT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-pro-BNP) associated with poor prognosis after heart surgery with CPB. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Academic Medical Center Habib Bourguiba. Participants: Adult patients consecutively operated for coronary or valve surgery with CPB, elective or semi-urgent. Interventions: Serum concentrations of PCT and Nt-pro-BNP were determined before and after CPB, in the fourth postoperative hour (H4) and every day during the first 4 days. Receiver-operating characteristic curves and cut-off values were used to assess the ability of these markers to predict length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay >3 days. Measurements and Main Results: Forty patients were included in the study. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) occurred in 35 (87.5%) patients. Seventeen of them (42.5%) showed severe SIRS. Significantly higher serum concentrations of Nt-pro-BNP and PCT were found in patients with severe SIRS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the threshold of PCT was 0.737 ng/mL and that of Nt-pro-BNP was 1235 pg/mL on day 1 could predict an ICU stay of more than 3 days. The association of Nt-pro-BNP to procalcitonin (p=0.009) better predicted the ICU stay than PCT alone (p=0.02) or Nt-pro-BNP alone (p=0.03). The best combination is Nt-pro-BNP + PCT + C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.007). Conclusions: PCT and Nt-pro-BNP on day 1 may be associated with severe SIRS and predict the length of stay. A biomarker approach combining PCT, CRP and BNP is superior to a traditional single marker for predicting ICU stay.
A comparison of German and American listeners’ extra musical associations with popular music genres
Authors: Kristen Susanne , Shevy Mark
Published: July 2012

This causal comparative study examined the consistency with which listeners from two cultures (Germany and the USA) associate extra musical concepts with four popular music genres (German folksy, country, punk, and hip-hop). The results showed that for internationally recognized genres (country, punk and hip-hop), the two countries made similar association patterns for all eight concepts measured (ethnicity, rural vs. urban culture, age, trustworthiness, expertise, attractiveness, friendliness, and political ideology). The study also revealed instances where the countries differed, such as hip-hop’s association with ethnicity and most of the German folksy associations. The results are discussed in light of models of musical meaning. Furthermore, an integration of societal-level and individual-level theories predicts these similarities and differences. The theories include massification, glocalization, and cognitive schemas.
A Qualitative Examination of Factors that Influence Birthing Options for African American Women
Authors: Farrish Jasmine , Robertson Ray Von
Published: July 2012

This article examines the factors that influenced the birthing decisions of a group of African American women from regions throughout the United States who selected to give birth at home. Using the Afrocentric and Africentric social science models developed by Asante and Akbar, respectively, 25 African American women were interviewed to discern why they chose to give birth at home and eschew traditional Western medical birthing practices. The women asserted that (1) a desire for control, (2) avoiding pharmacological pain relief, and (3) dissatisfaction with the medical aspects of intrapartum care were all central in their decision-making process. Finally, the participants also alluded to a desire to utilize indigenous African birthing methods and to reconnect with more indigenous African cultural practices.
Evaluation of the performance of a motion capture system for small displacement recording and a discussion for its application potential in bone deformation in vivo measurements
Authors: Yang Peng-Fei , Sanno Maximilian , Brüggemann Gert-Peter , Rittweger Jörn
Published: July 2012

The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of a motion capture system and discuss the application potential of the proposed system in in vivo bone-segment deformation measurements. In this study, the effects of the calibration procedure, camera distance and marker size on the accuracy and precision of the motion capture system have been investigated by comparing the captured movement of the markers with reference movement. The results indicated that the system resolution is at least 20 µm in a capture volume of 400 [Formula: see text] 300 [Formula: see text] 300 mm3, which mostly covers the range of motion of the tibia during the stance phase of one gait cycle. Within this volume, the system accuracy and precision decreased following the increase of camera distance along the optical axis of the cameras. With the best configuration, the absolute error and precision for the range of 20 µm displacement were 1.2–1.8 µm and 1.5–2.5 µm, respectively. Small markers (Ø3–8 mm) yielded better accuracy and repeatability than the larger marker (Ø10.5 mm). We conclude that the proposed system is capable of recording minor displacements in a relative large volume.
Heterogeneous modeling of medical image data using B-spline functions
Authors: Grove Olya , Rajab Khairan , Piegl Les A
Published: July 2012

Biomedical data visualization and modeling rely predominately on manual processing and utilization of voxel- and facet-based homogeneous models. Biological structures are naturally heterogeneous and it is important to incorporate properties, such as material composition, size and shape, into the modeling process. A method to approximate image density data with a continuous B-spline surface is presented. The proposed approach generates a density point cloud, based on medical image data to reproduce heterogeneity across the image, through point densities. The density point cloud is ordered and approximated with a set of B-spline curves. A B-spline surface is lofted through the cross-sectional B-spline curves preserving the heterogeneity of the point cloud dataset. Preliminary results indicate that the proposed methodology produces a mathematical representation capable of capturing and preserving density variations with high fidelity.
SLEDAI-2K Responder Index 50 captures 50% improvement in disease activity over 10 years
Authors: Touma Z , Gladman DD , Ibañez D , Urowitz MB
Published: July 2012

Objectives: To determine the frequency and the time to complete recovery identified by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and the time to partial recovery identified by the SLEDAI-2K Responder Index 50 (SRI-50) in three laboratory systems over 10 years. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the data available from the Toronto Lupus Clinic over the last 10 years. Patients with SLEDAI-2K renal, immunological and hematologic active descriptors were identified. The percentage of descriptors with partial and complete recovery was studied at one year and over the study period. Descriptive analysis and the Kaplan-Meier estimator were applied to study the time to partial and complete recovery. Results: Of the 795 patients, 94% had an active system at some point during the study period. Partial recovery was shown in 66% of patients by SRI-50 for at least one descriptor over the study period. None of these partial findings identified would have been captured using SLEDAI-2K alone. The time to partial recovery identified by SRI-50 was shorter than the time to complete recovery identified by SLEDAI-2K. Conclusion: The SRI-50 is a valid responder index derived form SLEDAI-2K and is very helpful in identifying clinically important improvement in active laboratory descriptors in an efficient time.
A New Vision for Mexico 2042: Achieving Prosperity for All
Authors: Loser Claudio , Fajgenbaum José
Published: July 2012

The basic objective of this article is to identify the priority issues that could influence Mexico’s long-term economic growth path, and to outline a balanced action program necessary to effectively address these issues. It includes reforms and actions that would simultaneously achieve much higher and more inclusive growth, and would thus restore the sense of pride and optimism among Mexicans that has been eroding in recent years. The issues discussed are of such importance that the legacy of the next presidency could be determined by the administration’s willingness and ability to implement the agenda outlined in this article.
Paediatric Intramuscular Injections for Developing World Settings
Authors: Walters Marie Clancy nee , Furyk Jeremy
Published: July 2012

This article examines the available evidence about intramuscular injection techniques to generate simple evidence-based or best practice guidelines for implementation in the developing world. Giving intramuscular injections is considered a core nursing skill, and millions are performed around the world every day. Intramuscular injections are more commonly used in resource-poor environments, but there is limited education of nurses on its proper administration. The findings in the literature conclude that the vastus lateralis muscle is the preferred site for intramuscular injections, particularly in resource-poor settings.
Assessing the Role of Culture in Korean Goose Mothers’ Lives
Authors: Cha Chiyoung , Kim Eunjung
Published: July 2012

Korean women who migrate to a foreign country with their children for the latter’s education while their husbands stay in Korea as breadwinners are referred to as “goose mothers.” The cultural beliefs that have contributed to the formation of this family form and the experiences of these women need to be explored within their cultural context. To understand this population, Confucianism as a cultural background and its influence on goose mothers’ value systems, family systems, and view of self were explored. Based on the learning, their potential health issues are described and implications for culturally competent care are suggested.
The Lived Experiences of Single Taiwanese Mothers Being Resilient After Divorce
Authors: Hong Rei-Mei , Welch Anthony
Published: July 2012

The lived experiences of being resilient as described by 13 single Taiwanese mothers after divorce was the focus of this study. A descriptive phenomenological approach to inquiry was the theoretical framework underpinning the study. Information was gathered through two in-depth face-to-face digitally recorded interviews with each participant. Each of the participants had suffered from depression. For the analysis of the participants’ transcripts of interview the authors used Colaizzi’s method. Four themes emerged from the analysis process: having faith in God, bending with the ebb and flow of daily life, finding strength in the support and friendship of others, and new found freedom and hope for the future. Findings of this study have the potential to enhance understanding of the mental health needs of single mothers and their children in the provision of holistic health care delivery.
The morphofunctional approach to emotion modelling in robotics
Authors: Herrera Pérez Carlos , Sánchez-Escribano María Guadalupe , Sanz Ricardo
Published: July 2012

In this conceptual paper, we discuss two areas of research in robotics, robotic models of emotion and morphofunctional machines, and we explore the scope for potential cross-fertilization between them. We shift the focus in robot models of emotion from information-theoretic aspects of appraisal to the interactive significance of bodily dispositions. Typical emotional phenomena such as arousal and action readiness can be interpreted as morphofunctional processes, and their functionality may be replicated in robotic systems with morphologies that can be modulated for real-time adaptation. We investigate the control requirements for such systems, and present a possible bio-inspired architecture, based on the division of control between neural and endocrine systems in humans and animals. We suggest that emotional episodes can be understood as emergent from the coordination of action control and action-readiness, respectively. This stress on morphology complements existing research on the information-theoretic aspects of emotion.
Wavelet-neuro-fuzzy control of hybrid building-active tuned mass damper system under seismic excitations
Authors: Mitchell Ryan , Kim Yeesock , El-Korchi Tahar , Cha Young-Jin
Published: July 2012

This paper proposes a wavelet-based fuzzy neuro control algorithm for the hazard mitigation of seismically excited buildings equipped with a hybrid control system. The wavelet-based fuzzy neuro controller is developed through the integration of discrete wavelet transform, artificial neural network, and a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller. The hybrid control system is an integrated model of an actuator, a tuned mass damper, and viscous liquid dampers: an active tuned mass damper (ATMD) is located on the top floor of the structure and viscous liquid dampers are located on each floor. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed wavelet-based adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (WANFIS) controller, an eight-story building employing passive viscous liquid dampers as well as an ATMD is investigated. A variety of earthquakes such as an artificial earthquake, the 1940 El-Centro, Kobe, Northridge, and Hachinohe earthquakes are used as disturbance signals. It is demonstrated that the WANFIS controller is effective in reducing the structural responses of the hybrid structure system subjected to a variety of disturbances.
From fatness to badness: The modern morality of obesity
Authors: Grønning Ingeborg , Scambler Graham , Tjora Aksel
Published: July 2012

Obesity (or being overweight) is now considered a by-product of membership of developed societies. Moreover, it is considered a growing ‘global’ health problem. This article reports on a small qualitative study of adults who fell into one or other of these categories in Norway in 2010, and who have been faced with decisions about lifestyle versus surgical remedies. This decision making is contextualized and the principal criteria examined. Embodiment, bodywork, self- and social identity, stigma, deviance and issues around the idea of personal responsibility and public health emerge as key themes. The concluding paragraphs commend incorporation of a macro- or social structural perspective to the conceptualization and investigation of obesity.
Effects of low-dose pioglitazone on glucose control, lipid profiles, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and natriuretic peptides in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Kurisu Satoshi , Iwasaki Toshitaka , Ishibashi Ken , Mitsuba Naoya , Dohi Yoshihiro , Nishioka Kenji , Kihara Yasuki
Published: July 2012

Background:

Pioglitazone ameliorates insulin resistance, but has an adverse effect of oedema that may result in subsequent heart failure, especially in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low-dose pioglitazone on glucose control, lipid profiles, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system and natriuretic peptides in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods and results:

We studied 22 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease and more than 40% of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients were treated with 15 mg of pioglitazone for 12 weeks, in addition to their other hypoglycaemic agents. Pioglitazone significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (155.2±52.9 mg/dl to 131.1±38.4 mg/dl, p<0.01) and haemoglobin A1C (7.13±0.44 to 6.69±0.47, p<0.001). It did not affect low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but significantly decreased triglyceride (115.6±28.8 mg/dl to 99.4±30.0 mg/dl, p<0.05) and atherogenic index of plasma (0.28±0.17 to 0.19±0.16, p<0.05). Pioglitazone did not affect plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, human atrial natriuretic peptide or N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide.

Conclusion:

Our data suggested that low-dose pioglitazone was a safe and useful agent at least in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease and preserved LVEF.
There Is a World Outside of Experimental Designs
Authors: Hart Sara A. , Taylor Jeanette , Schatschneider Christopher
Published: July 2012

This study introduces a co-twin control method commonly used in the medical literature but not often within educational research. This method allows for a comparison of twins discordant for an “exposure,” approximating alternative outcomes in the counterfactual model. Example analyses use data drawn from the Florida Twin Project on Reading to determine whether exposure to “teacher quality,” measured by growth in oral reading fluency (ORF) scores of classmates, causally affects ORF performance of twins in the subsequent years. The analysis highlights PROC MIXED in SAS, including a novel expansion to allow for the nested data. Results from 2,788 twins suggested that being in classrooms with lower teacher quality in first grade leads to lower ORF scores in second and third grade with little indication of possible genetic or environmental confounding.
The people behind the political headlines
Authors: van Dalen Arjen
Published: July 2012

Political journalism plays a central role in all democratic societies. But the way political journalists fulfil this role varies from country to country. To better understand the role of political journalists in different democracies, this article explores which features of political journalism are universal and which characteristics vary cross-nationally. Comprehensive surveys among political journalists in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain ( N = 425) show that political journalists are more often male and higher educated than the general population of journalists. Their political conviction is however less towards the left. Despite structural homogenization, the role conceptions and feelings of autonomy of political journalists vary between countries with different historical relations between media and political systems and different traditions of journalistic professionalization.
Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy: experience from a nationwide database in Germany
Authors: Hellwig Kerstin , Haghikia Aiden , Rockhoff Milena , Gold Ralf
Published: July 2012

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate exposure to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) during pregnancy in 335 pregnancies of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to further determine whether exclusive breastfeeding of MS mothers has any relevant influence on postpartum relapse rate.

Background:

Only limited data are available on whether DMT exposure during pregnancy affects relapse rate during pregnancy or after birth. Currently, findings on beneficial effect of exclusive breastfeeding on MS disease course are controversially discussed.

Methods:

We enrolled pregnant women with MS who contacted us directly or via their treating physicians to be included in our nationwide MS and pregnancy database.

Results:

We identified 78 pregnancies under interferon-beta (IFNβ) preparations, 41 under glatiramer acetate (GLAT), and 216 pregnancies without DMT exposure during pregnancy. As expected, annualized relapse rate (ARR) decreased continuously during pregnancy in nonexposed mothers ( p < 0.001) to then increase after birth. In IFNβ- or GLAT-exposed women this typical pattern was not as obvious. Congenital anomalies were within normal ranges in exposed pregnancies. In total, 170 women were identified who exclusively breastfed (EBF). Significantly reduced postpartum relapse rate during the first 3 months after birth were registered in the EBF group as compared with nonexclusively breastfeeding (NEBF) or nonbreastfeeding women (NBF) women with MS ( p < 0.0001). Relapse rate (RR) in the year before pregnancy had been similar throughout all groups. We did not observe any significant differences in RR of NEBF and NBF women.

Conclusion:

Exclusive breastfeeding showed some beneficial effects on postpartum relapse rate in our cohort. Our data support that IFNβ and GLAT do not seem to represent a major teratogenic risk in pregnancy.
Hospitality and Travel
Authors: Wilson Alan , Murphy Hilary , Fierro Jesus Cambra
Published: July 2012

This article examines the phenomenon of user-generated content and particularly the influence of nationality both on the motivation to post (or not) and on where and what type of content consumers share in the context of a recent trip. The method used was an online survey of 568 respondents located in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Spain. By design, a plurality of respondents was less than thirty years old. The preliminary results reveal differences in national attitudes and motivations for posting on different types of user-generated content site (i.e., social media sites, hotel- or destination-operated sites, commercial review sites, video or picture sharing sites). For example, respondents in Switzerland and the United Kingdom were more likely to post photos or travelogues on Facebook or another social media site to share with friends or relive the vacation experience. Respondents from Spain preferred to post on TripAdvisor or the travel purveyors’ websites, with the goal of making recommendations to other travelers. A chief implication for travel and hospitality managers is that in fact people from different countries have diverse reasons for posting, and the hospitality industry must take into account the differences in posting behaviors. This article was originally presented at QUIS 12, the international Quality in Service Conference.
Shorn Scalps and Perceptions of Male Dominance
Authors: Mannes Albert E.
Published: July 2012

Three studies contribute to the literature on dominance and nonverbal behavior (Ellyson & Dovidio, 1985) by examining how a man’s choice to shave his head influences person perception. In Study 1, men with shaved heads were rated as more dominant than similar men with full heads of hair. In Study 2, men whose hair was digitally removed were perceived as more dominant, taller, and stronger than their authentic selves. Study 3 extends these results with nonphotographic stimuli and demonstrates how men experiencing natural hair loss may improve their interpersonal standing by shaving. Theories of signaling, norm violation, and stereotypes are examined as explanations for the effect. Practical implications for men’s psychological, social, and economic outlooks are also discussed.
Bullseye!
Authors: Burgmer Pascal , Englich Birte
Published: July 2012

Power makes people think, feel, and behave in ways that help them to maintain and increase power. Thus far, the mechanisms underlying power’s beneficial effects on goal pursuit have been investigated predominantly on a cognitive level. The present research tested whether power influences goal pursuit in an even more fundamental way, namely by improving actual behavior on motor-based tasks. Furthermore, we suggest that this effect is produced by changes in perceptual goal representation. Consistent with our assumptions, Experiment 1 found that individuals primed with high-power outperformed control participants on a golf-putting task. In Experiment 2, individuals receiving a high-power prime outperformed individuals receiving a low-power prime on a dart-throwing task. Moreover, high-power primed participants represented the focal goal (a dart board) in greater goal-relevant detail, which mediated the effect of power on motor performance. Taken together, these findings suggest that power shapes performance in more fundamental ways than previously assumed.
“It Will Not Always Be This Way”
Authors: Zhang Airong , Jetten Jolanda , Iyer Aarti , Cui Lijuan
Published: July 2012

In the context of school segregation in China, the authors propose that disadvantaged group members’ self-esteem should improve when they consider the prospect of a better future for the group (i.e., awareness of cognitive alternatives to the lower status position). A pilot study established that country workers’ children who were educated with city children (i.e., in integrated schools) reported higher self-esteem than country workers’ children who were educated separately (i.e., in segregated schools). Study 1 showed that self-esteem among country workers’ children was predicted by awareness of cognitive alternatives, but not by contact with city children. Study 2 experimentally manipulated cognitive alternatives, showing that self-esteem was enhanced when awareness of cognitive alternatives was high rather than low. Contact with city children again did not predict self-esteem. Findings demonstrate the importance of perceiving that social change is possible.
How Do Relationship Maintenance Behaviors Affect Individual Well-Being?
Authors: Baker Levi R. , McNulty James K. , Overall Nickola C. , Lambert Nathaniel M. , Fincham Frank D.
Published: July 2012

How do relationship maintenance behaviors affect individual well-being? Given that people who invest time and effort toward achieving important goals see their outcomes as more reflective of their skills and abilities than do people who invest less time and effort, engaging in relationship maintenance behaviors may lead people to experience increased individual well-being when those behaviors appear to be successful but decreased well-being when they appear to be unsuccessful. A diary study of romantic relationships, a diary study of friendships, and a longitudinal study of newlyweds provided support for this prediction. In all three studies, relationship maintenance behaviors were negatively associated with depressive mood when followed by relatively high relationship quality, but positively associated with depressive mood when followed by relatively low relationship quality. Accordingly, relationship maintenance processes are not inherently beneficial or harmful; their intrapersonal implications depend on the context in which they occur.
Felt Understanding and Misunderstanding Affect the Perception of Pain, Slant, and Distance
Authors: Oishi Shigehiro , Schiller Jamie , Gross E. Blair
Published: July 2012

We conducted two studies to examine whether the psychological states of felt understanding and misunderstanding would affect people’s basic perceptions such as pain, geographical slant, and distance. As predicted, an experimentally induced sense of felt understanding relative to misunderstanding increased pain tolerance marginally and reduced the perceived distance to the target locations significantly. In Study 2, we not only replicated Study 1’s findings on pain tolerance and distance perception but also found that participants in the understanding condition perceived the same hill to be significantly less steep than those in the misunderstanding condition. Our studies demonstrated that the experimentally induced feeling of misunderstanding tends to have the aversive effect on the perception of pain, geographical slant, and distance, whereas the experimentally induced feeling of understanding tends to alleviate pain, reduce the geographical slant, and the perceived distance to a target location.