bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Inotropic Peptide βARKct Improves βAR Responsiveness in Normal and Failing Cardiomyocytes Through G
βγ
-Mediated L-Type Calcium Current Disinhibition
Authors: Völkers Mirko , Weidenhammer Christian , Herzog Nicole , Qiu Gang , Spaich Kristin , von Wegner Frederic , Peppel Karsten , Müller Oliver J. , Schinkel Stefanie , Rabinowitz Joseph E. , Hippe Hans-Jörg , Brinks Henriette , Katus Hugo A. , Koch Walter J. , Eckhart Andrea D. , Friedrich Oliver , Most Patrick
Published: November 2010

Rationale:

The G
βγ
-sequestering peptide β-adrenergic receptor kinase (βARK)ct derived from the G-protein–coupled receptor kinase (GRK)2 carboxyl terminus has emerged as a promising target for gene-based heart failure therapy. Enhanced downstream cAMP signaling has been proposed as the underlying mechanism for increased β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) responsiveness. However, molecular targets mediating improved cardiac contractile performance by βARKct and its impact on G
βγ
-mediated signaling have yet to be fully elucidated.

Objective:

We sought to identify G
βγ
-regulated targets and signaling mechanisms conveying βARKct-mediated enhanced βAR responsiveness in normal (NC) and failing (FC) adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Methods and Results:

Assessing viral-based βARKct gene delivery with electrophysiological techniques, analysis of contractile performance, subcellular Ca
2+
handling, and site-specific protein phosphorylation, we demonstrate that βARKct enhances the cardiac L-type Ca
2+
channel (LCC) current (
I
Ca
) both in NCs and FCs on βAR stimulation. Mechanistically, βARKct augments
I
Ca
by preventing enhanced inhibitory interaction between the α1-LCC subunit (Cav1.2α) and liberated G
βγ
subunits downstream of activated βARs. Despite improved βAR contractile responsiveness, βARKct neither increased nor restored cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and calmodulin-dependent kinase II signaling including unchanged protein kinase (PK)Cε, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, Akt, ERK5, and p38 activation both in NCs and FCs. Accordingly, although βARKct significantly increases
I
Ca
and Ca
2+
transients, being susceptible to suppression by recombinant G
βγ
protein and use-dependent LCC blocker, βARKct-expressing cardiomyocytes exhibit equal basal and βAR-stimulated sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
load, spontaneous diastolic Ca
2+
leakage, and survival rates and were less susceptible to field-stimulated Ca
2+
waves compared with controls.

Conclusion:

Our study identifies a G
βγ
-dependent signaling pathway attenuating cardiomyocyte
I
Ca
on βAR as molecular target for the G
βγ
-sequestering peptide βARKct. Targeted interruption of this inhibitory signaling pathway by βARKct confers improved βAR contractile responsiveness through increased
I
Ca
without enhancing regular or restoring abnormal cAMP-signaling. βARKct-mediated improvement of
I
Ca
rendered cardiomyocytes neither susceptible to βAR-induced damage nor arrhythmogenic sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
leakage.
Outcome by Stroke Etiology in Patients Receiving Thrombolytic Treatment
Authors: Mustanoja Satu , Meretoja Atte , Putaala Jukka , Viitanen Varpu , Curtze Sami , Atula Sari , Artto Ville , Häppölä Olli , Kaste Markku ,   for the Helsinki Stroke Thrombolysis Registry Group
Published: November 2010

Background and Purpose—

Treating ischemic stroke with thrombolytic therapy is effective and safe, but limited data exist on its efficacy and safety in different etiologic subtypes.

Methods—

Patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis between 1995 and 2008 at our hospital were classified according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria based on diagnostic evaluation. Clinical outcome of the stroke subtypes by 3-month modified Rankin Scale was compared by multivariate logistic regression. A good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale ≤2. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was defined according to both National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study criteria.

Results—

Of the 957 eligible patients, 41% (389) had cardioembolisms, 23% (217) large-artery atherosclerosis, and 11% (101) small-vessel disease (SVD). A good outcome was more common in SVD than in the other subtypes. Patients with SVD were more often male (64% versus 54%), had a lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, lower mortality rate, and experienced no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Patients with SVD had a prior stroke more often (20% versus 11%), whereas hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and transient ischemic attacks were equally distributed in all subtypes. Patients with SVD had a better outcome even after adjusting for baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and glucose level, age, and hyperdense artery sign (OR, 1.81; 1.01 to 3.23). In the adjusted multivariate model, other etiologic groups showed no significant correlation to good outcome.

Conclusions—

Patients with SVD were spared from bleeding complications and had the best outcome even after adjustment for confounding factors.
Is Investigating for Carotid Artery Disease Warranted in Non-Cortical Lacunar Infarction?
Authors: Rajapakse Anoja , Rajapakse Senaka , Sharma Jagdish C.
Published: November 2010

Carotid intervention in severe carotid stenosis after an anterior circulation ischemic event reduces the risk of further infarcts if the surgery is performed soon after the incident event. At present, there is no recommendation to differentiate among subtypes of anterior circulation infarcts or transient ischemic events. However, evidence is mounting that demonstrates a difference in pathophysiology of lacunar and nonlacunar (large artery) infarcts. The natural history of lacunar strokes is different from large artery infarcts for recurrence and mortality. Stroke is a heterogenous disease and consideration needs to be directed to manage different stroke subtypes differently. Lacunar infarcts mostly do not arise from large artery atheromatous disease or by cardioembolic phenomena, and there is a negative predictive value for severe carotid stenosis in lacunar strokes. Thus, current evidence suggests that lacunar strokes may not warrant investigation for carotid stenosis.
A Mouse Model of Hemorrhagic Transformation by Delayed Tissue Plasminogen Activator Administration After In Situ Thromboembolic Stroke
Authors: García-Yébenes Isaac , Sobrado Mónica , Zarruk Juan G. , Castellanos Mar , Pérez de la Ossa Natalia , Dávalos Antoni , Serena Joaquín , Lizasoain Ignacio , Moro María A.
Published: November 2010

Background and Purpose—

Thrombolytic treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) improves outcome of patients with stroke who can be treated within 3 hours of symptom onset. However, delayed treatment with tPA leads to increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation and can result in enhanced brain injury. The purpose of this study is to validate a reproducible mouse model of hemorrhagic transformation associated with delayed administration of tPA.

Methods—

Mice were anesthetized and thrombin was injected into the middle cerebral artery to induce the formation of a clot as described by Orset et al. To induce reperfusion, tPA (10 mg/kg) was intravenously administered 20 minutes or 3 hours after thrombin injection.

Results—

Thrombin produced a clot in 83.1% of the animals, which caused focal ischemia determined 24 hours after the injection. Different degrees of bleeding were found in the middle cerebral artery occlusion group, including hemorrhagic infarction type 1 (HI-1) in 46.2%, hemorrhagic infarction type 2 (HI-2) in 30.8% and parenchymal hemorrhage type 1 in 23.0%. Administration of tPA 20 minutes after the occlusion produced an effective reperfusion in 62.5% of the animals and reduced both infarct volume and appearance of severe hemorrhage (10% nonhemorrhage, 80% HI-1 and 10% HI-2). However, administration of tPA 3 hours after the occlusion led to effective reperfusion in 47.1% of the animals, did not reduce infarct volume, caused hemorrhagic transformation (25% HI-1, 37.5% HI-2, and 37.5% parenchymal hemorrhage type 1), and increased hemorrhage and brain swelling.

Conclusions—

We have set up a reproducible mouse model of hemorrhagic transformation associated with delayed administration of tPA similar to that observed in humans.
Navigating “Deuteronomistic History” as Cultural Memory
Authors: Forget Gaétane-Diane
Published: November 2010

Scribal tradents have been the custodians of identity. Through memory and meaning an identity was born and within their work the reader finds the pillars of mnemonic socialization. The so-called Deuteronomistic History, as a cultural memory, is a form of crafting and protecting an identity.
Involuntary admission in Greece: A prospective national study of police involvement and client characteristics affecting emergency assessment
Authors: Douzenis Athanassios , Michopoulos Ioannis , Economou Marina , Rizos Emmanouil , Christodoulou Christos , Lykouras Lefteris
Published: November 2010

Background and aim: Mental health legislation varies considerably from one country to the other. This study aims to describe the characteristics of the individuals who are brought in by the police for psychiatric assessment and the police involvement in this procedure in Greece.

Method: Prospective study of the incident books of the police departments throughout Greece concerning involuntary psychiatric admissions. These books were completed by the police officers who brought the individuals for involuntary psychiatric examination.

Results: In total, 2,038 involuntary assessments were evaluated and examined in relationship to the demographic characteristics of the examined individuals. The main findings are as follows. Males were more often assessed (69%) at a younger age than females ( p < 0.001). The majority of the assessments led to involuntary admission (87.5%). Immigrant status did not lead to increased involuntary commitment. The chance for involuntary admission was greater for younger Greek nationals offering resistance. An unexpected finding is that police officers were unnecessarily present in almost half of the mental health assessments (49.4%).

Conclusion: The psychiatrists in Greece who perform mental health assessments under the Greek Mental Health Law admit the majority of individuals. They also accept the presence of a police officer during the assessment more often than expected. This issue needs immediate addressing by means of better training and support of psychiatrists.
Filler-matrix interaction in solid-state foaming of composite foams
Authors: Mazzola Luca , Bemporad Edoardo , Squeo Erica Anna , Trovalusci Federica , Tagliaferri Vincenzo
Published: November 2010

Solid-state foaming is a relatively new process for producing closed-cell thermoset foams starting from powders. In this study, the possibility of introducing nanoclay into epoxy foams by solid-state foaming was investigated. The nanoclay was found to affect the foaming efficiency and the foam density; even if large nanoclay aggregates are present in the foams, for a small range of filler content (2.5—3 wt%), the mechanical properties are positively influenced, as shown by specific compressive toughness which attains a maximum value. Electron microscope observations provided important information on the dependence of the cell size on the filler percentage, and the presence of a critical size (about 5 μm) of nanoclay aggregates, below which they are coherent with the matrix.
Be careful what you wish for: War aims and the construction of postwar political orders
Authors: Cronin Bruce
Published: November 2010

Most theories that seek to explain the relationship between major war and the creation of new political orders posit a direct link between the interests of the winning states and the type of order that emerges. We tend to assume that since most wars are fought for specific purposes and a defined goal, the aftermath of the conflict will reflect the interests and preferences of the winning parties. This article challenges this approach, arguing that the necessity of securing public support and winning allies forces states to make public commitments for a postwar reconstruction that they might otherwise avoid. During the course of the war, states unintentionally limit their options for the postwar reconstruction by publicly articulating a set of ‘war aims’ that are designed to rally public support and win over potential allies. Since war aims are as much statements of propaganda as of policy they often do not reflect the state interest per se. However, once articulated, they become the official policy of the coalition, and political leaders are forced to implement their principles as the foundation for the new order.
Trade and asymmetric alliances
Authors: Fordham Benjamin O
Published: November 2010

Alliances are usually understood as a way for states to aggregate military capabilities in the face of a common threat. From this perspective, the willingness of relatively powerful states to form alliances with much weaker partners is puzzling. The weaker ally often adds little to the stronger state’s security and may increase its chance of military entanglement. This article presents evidence that international trade helps explain these alliances. States that have the power to do so have incentives to protect their trading relationships against interference from either third states or internal conflict. Alliances are one means of providing this protection. This argument differs from most other research on trade and alliances, which reverses the causal arrow and suggests instead that alliances increase trade. Empirical analysis indicates that trade increases the probability of alliance formation in major power—minor power dyads and decreases the chance that alliances will dissolve. These results are robust to a variety of changes in the specification of the model and the data used for estimation. They also do not stem from any influence of alliance relationships on trade. An analysis of the effect of alliance formation on change in the level of bilateral trade turns up no evidence that the formation of an alliance increases commerce.
The economic effects of violent conflict: Evidence from asset market reactions
Authors: Guidolin Massimo , La Ferrara Eliana
Published: November 2010

This article studies the effects of conflict onset on asset markets applying the event study methodology. The authors consider a sample of 101 internal and inter-state conflicts during the period 1974—2004 and find that a sizeable fraction of them has had a significant impact on stock market indices, exchange rates, oil and commodity prices. This fraction is inconsistent with pure chance, that is, with the selected probability of type-I errors in our tests of statistical significance. The results suggest that, on average, national stock markets are more likely to display positive than negative reactions to conflict onset. When the authors distinguish between internal and inter-state conflicts, they find that the fraction of significant results is higher for international conflicts. When the authors classify events according to the region where they occur, they find that Asia and the Middle East are the regions where conflicts tend to have the strongest effects. Finally, the article reports evidence that abnormal returns would have accrued to investors systematically exploiting conflict onset to implement conflict-driven strategies. Results are robust to selecting a subset of high-intensity conflicts and to expanding the time window over which conflict events are defined. The findings of the article confirm the economic importance of the effects of conflicts on asset markets.
The geometry of security: Modeling interstate alliances as evolving networks
Authors: Camber Warren T.
Published: November 2010

In this article, it is argued that interstate alliances function as public costly signals of state intentions to cooperate militarily, and as such, they should be expected to influence state expectations within dyads, between dyads, and across time. Accurate statistical modeling of interstate military alliances thus requires that researchers escape the assumption of independent units of observation, which is built into most of the statistical tools currently used by international relations scholars, as such models can be expected to produce unbiased parameter estimates in this domain only if the decisions to create and dissolve interstate alliances are formulated in isolated dyadic bubbles. The use of stochastic actor-oriented models, combined with Markov simulations of network evolution, is shown to be a productive alternative method of modeling interstate alliances, which allows the researcher to avoid the assumption of dyadic independence by incorporating theory-driven assumptions about patterns of extra-dyadic interdependence directly into the functional form of the statistical model. The results demonstrate that triadic patterns of amity and enmity exercise powerful influence over the selection of alliance partners and the evolution of the global alliance network. The results also show that failure to incorporate patterns of extra-dyadic interdependence into our statistical models of interstate alliance decisions is likely to result in biased parameter estimates.
Discovering Optimal Tourist Market Mixes
Authors: Chen Ming-Hsiang , Jang SooCheong (Shawn) , Peng Yu-Jun
Published: November 2010

Tourism demand often fluctuates as a result of unexpected events, such as natural disasters, epidemics, and changes in economic conditions. This study applied the portfolio theory model to Japan’s inbound tourist markets and proposed optimal market shares by nationality. By comparing the growth rate (arrivals’ mean growth rate) and risk (uncertainty in growth rate of arrivals) associated with each departure country, we were able to suggest the optimal regional market shares of various portfolios for particular goals. This study sheds light on diversification in tourism markets and offers tourism authorities in Japan explicit guidelines for the long-term development of the country’s tourism industry. For example, to reach the highest reward ratio, tourism authorities should reallocate resources from the Taiwanese and American markets to the United Kingdom–Germany–France and Hong Kong markets. Japan’s tourism authorities can use the results of this research to review their long-term tourism policies.
The Value of Audit and Feedback Reports in Improving Nutrition Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Sinuff Tasnim , Cahill Naomi E. , Dhaliwal Rupinder , Wang Miao , Day Andrew G. , Heyland Daren K.
Published: November 2010

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether auditing practice and providing feedback in the form of benchmarked site reports is an effective strategy to improve adherence to nutrition guidelines. Methods: The authors conducted a multicenter observational study in Canadian intensive care units (ICUs). In January 2007, an audit of daily nutrition information was collected (type and amount of nutrition received and strategies to improve nutrition delivery). Each ICU was e‐mailed individualized benchmarked performance reports documenting their performance compared with the Canadian Critical Care Nutrition guidelines and in relation to the other ICUs. Nutrition practice was reaudited in May 2008 to evaluate changes in practice. Results: Twenty‐six ICUs in Canada participated, with 473 and 486 patients accrued in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The authors observed a significant increase in enteral nutrition (EN) adequacy (from 45.1% to 51.9% for calories, and from 44.8% to 51.5% for protein) and an increase in the percentage of patients receiving EN without parenteral nutrition (from 71.9% to 81.3%). They also observed trends toward improvements in the percentage of patients who had EN started within 48 hours (from 60.3% to 66.8%). There were no significant differences in the use of motility agents or small bowel feeding in patients who had high gastric residual volumes. Conclusion: Audit and feedback reports are associated with improvement in some nutrition practices in many ICUs; however, the magnitude of these effects is quite modest. More research is needed to determine the optimal methods of using audit and feedback to improve quality of nutrition care.
Quest for Excellence
Authors: Tappenden Kelly A.
Published: November 2010

The occasion of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 33rd Presidential Address was used to glean wisdom and inspiration from the ileum. Not only is this intestinal segment so central to the chief organ involved in specialized nutrition support, but it is a complex, yet elegant system that: (1) is interdisciplinary with actions coordinated to achieve a common goal; (2) looks to the future by mentoring the next generation of leaders; (3) constantly seeks evidence of its effectiveness and accordingly adjusts its practice; and (4) strategically forges synergistic partnerships with other habitants within its environment. As relevant within many other realms, it remains true that much can be learned from looking within.
The use of the EEG in measuring therapeutic drug action: focus on depression and antidepressants
Authors: Alhaj Hamid , Wisniewski Grzegorz , McAllister-Williams R Hamish
Published: November 2010

A major issue in proof of concept studies and early clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents is that the active drugs can often have a relatively small additional effect compared with placebo. This is especially the case in psychiatry when we usually have no direct method of measuring the pathology underlying the disorder being studied but, rather, have to rely on the subjective assessment of psychiatric symptoms. The use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) offers two potential major means of addressing this problem. First it is able to provide direct data relating to neural activity that may be abnormal in certain disorders. As such there are opportunities for utilizing the EEG in a variety of ways as an objective outcome measure. Second there is growing evidence that in certain circumstances the EEG can be used to predict which patients are likely to respond to treatment, thus potentially increasing the power of studies by decreasing non-response rates and increasing mean changes in outcome measure. Both of these uses of the EEG are illustrated in reference to the study of mood disorders and in particular depression and its treatment with antidepressants.
Nurse Aides’ Reports of Resident Abuse in Nursing Homes
Authors: Castle Nicholas
Published: November 2010

Verbal, physical, psychological, caregiving, medication, material, and sexual abuse perpetrated by staff are examined. Information came from nurse aides included in the Pennsylvania nurse aide registry. A total of 4,451 nurse aides returned a 46-item questionnaire (response rate = 64%). A 3-month frame of reference was used, and the questionnaire asked about abuse in the prior nursing home of employment. Nurse aide responses to the verbal abuse and psychological abuse items were higher than for the other categories of abuse examined. For example, 36% of nurse aides observed argumentative behavior with residents and 28% observed intimidation. Lower figures were reported for physical abuse (6% observed pushing, grabbing, or pinching), caregiving abuse (10% observed staff to threaten to stop taking care of a resident), medication abuse (19% observed inappropriate delays in medication administration), material exploitation (10% observed taking assets), and sexual abuse (1% observed unwelcome discussion of sexual activity). These findings clearly show that some types of resident abuse by staff are reported to be a common occurrence by nurse aides. This likely influences the health outcomes, quality of life, quality of care, and the safety of residents.
Getting in Under the Radar
Authors: Howland Maryhope , Simpson Jeffry A.
Published: November 2010

There are many ways in which the provision of social support can be ineffective. Recent research suggests that the benefits of support may be maximized when it is provided invisibly. What remains unknown, however, is whether invisible support reflects the skillful behavior of support providers or recipients’ blissful unawareness, as well as how invisible support is delivered during spontaneous social interactions. We hypothesized that both providers’ skillful behavior and recipients’ unawareness are necessary for invisible support to be effective, and we sought to document what effective invisible support looks like. Eighty-five couples engaged in a videotaped support interaction in the lab. Support recipients whose partners provided more invisible practical and emotional support (coded by observers) but who reported receiving less support experienced the largest preinteraction-to-postinteraction declines in negative emotions. In the case of practical invisible support, the combination of more support and less awareness of that support also predicted increases in self-efficacy. These results indicate that invisible support is a dyadic phenomenon.
Task Usefulness Affects Perception of Rivalrous Images
Authors: Chopin Adrien , Mamassian Pascal
Published: November 2010

In bistable perception, several interpretations of the same physical stimulus are perceived in alternation. If one interpretation appears to help the observer to be successful in an auxiliary task, will that interpretation be seen more often than the other? We addressed this question using rivalrous stimuli. One of the elicited percepts presented an advantage for a separate visual search task that was run in close temporal proximity to the rivalry task. We found that the percept that was useful for the search task became dominant over the alternate percept. Observers were not aware of the manipulation that made one percept more useful, which suggests that usefulness was learned implicitly. The learning influenced only the first percept of each rivalrous presentation, but the bias persisted even when the useful percept was no longer useful. The long-lasting aspect of the effect distinguishes it from other documented attentional effects on bistable perception. Therefore, using implicit learning, we demonstrated that task usefulness can durably change the appearance of a stimulus.
Listening to Your Heart
Authors: Dunn Barnaby D. , Galton Hannah C. , Morgan Ruth , Evans Davy , Oliver Clare , Meyer Marcel , Cusack Rhodri , Lawrence Andrew D. , Dalgleish Tim
Published: November 2010

Theories proposing that how one thinks and feels is influenced by feedback from the body remain controversial. A central but untested prediction of many of these proposals is that how well individuals can perceive subtle bodily changes (interoception) determines the strength of the relationship between bodily reactions and cognitive-affective processing. In Study 1, we demonstrated that the more accurately participants could track their heartbeat, the stronger the observed link between their heart rate reactions and their subjective arousal (but not valence) ratings of emotional images. In Study 2, we found that increasing interoception ability either helped or hindered adaptive intuitive decision making, depending on whether the anticipatory bodily signals generated favored advantageous or disadvantageous choices. These findings identify both the generation and the perception of bodily responses as pivotal sources of variability in emotion experience and intuition, and offer strong supporting evidence for bodily feedback theories, suggesting that cognitive-affective processing does in significant part relate to “following the heart.”
Why Barack Obama Is Black
Authors: Halberstadt Jamin , Sherman Steven J. , Sherman Jeffrey W.
Published: November 2010

We propose that hypodescent—the assignment of mixed-race individuals to a minority group—is an emergent feature of basic cognitive processes of learning and categorization. According to attention theory, minority groups are learned by attending to the features that distinguish them from previously learned majority groups. Selective attention creates a strong association between minority groups and their distinctive features, producing a tendency to see individuals who possess a mixture of majority- and minority-group traits as minority-group members. Two experiments on face categorization, using both naturally occurring and manipulated minority groups, support this view, suggesting that hypodescent need not be the product of racist or political motivations, but can be sufficiently explained by an individual’s learning history.
Kin Affiliation Across the Ovulatory Cycle
Authors: Lieberman Debra , Pillsworth Elizabeth G. , Haselton Martie G.
Published: November 2010

A commonplace observation in humans is that close genetic relatives tend to avoid one another as sexual partners. Despite the growing psychological research on how antierotic attitudes develop toward relatives, few studies have focused on actual behavior. One prediction, stemming from parental investment theory, is that women should be more vigilant of reproduction-compromising behaviors, such as inbreeding, during times of peak fertility than during times of low fertility. Indeed, females of other species avoid interactions with male kin when fertile—but the corollary behavior in humans has yet to be explored. Here we fill this gap. Using duration and frequency of cell-phone calls, an objective behavioral measure that reflects motivations to interact socially, we show that women selectively avoid interactions with their fathers during peak fertility. Avoidance specifically targeted fathers, which rules out alternative explanations. These data suggest that psychological mechanisms underlying mating psychology regulate sexual avoidance behaviors, and in women they fluctuate according to fertility status.
Promoting De-Escalation of Commitment
Authors: Molden Daniel C. , Hui Chin Ming
Published: November 2010

People frequently escalate their commitment to failing endeavors. Explanations for such behavior typically involve loss aversion, failure to recognize other alternatives, and concerns with justifying prior actions; all of these factors produce recommitment to previous decisions with the goal of erasing losses and vindicating these decisions. Solutions to escalation of commitment have therefore focused on external oversight and divided responsibility during decision making to attenuate loss aversion, blindness to alternatives, and justification biases. However, these solutions require substantial resources and have additional adverse effects. The present studies tested an alternative method for de-escalating commitment: activating broad motivations for growth and advancement ( promotion). This approach should reduce concerns with loss and increase perceptions of alternatives, thereby attenuating justification motives. In two studies featuring hypothetical financial decisions, activating promotion motivations reduced recommitment to poorly performing investments as compared with both not activating any additional motivations and activating motivations for safety and security ( prevention).
Tough and Tender
Authors: Slepian Michael L. , Weisbuch Max , Rule Nicholas O. , Ambady Nalini
Published: November 2010

Emerging evidence has shown that human thought can be embodied within physical sensations and actions. Indeed, abstract concepts such as morality, time, and interpersonal warmth can be based on metaphors that are grounded in bodily experiences (e.g., physical temperature can signal interpersonal warmth). We hypothesized that social-category knowledge is similarly embodied, and we tested this hypothesis by examining a sensory metaphor related to categorical judgments of gender. We chose the dimension of “toughness” (ranging from tough to tender), which is often used to characterize differences between males and females. Across two studies, the proprioceptive experience of toughness (vs. tenderness) was manipulated as participants categorized sex-ambiguous faces as male or female. Two different manipulations of proprioceptive toughness predictably biased the categorization of faces toward “male.” These findings suggest that social-category knowledge is at least partially embodied.
Truth of Freedom
Authors: Agera C.R.
Published: November 2010

The title may be understood in three ways. Firstly, the truth under study is the truth about freedom. We speak of the truth of something, in as much as we presume that there are many misconceptions about that something, and it stands in need of clarification. Thus, the many misconceptions about freedom will have to be divested, if freedom is to be rightly grasped. Secondly, in the sense that there is a truth in the core of freedom, indeed, truth is the essence of freedom. If truth is to be rightly grasped, its core has to be penetrated. Thirdly, there is a deeper relation between truth and freedom. Freedom cannot be understood, much less rightly practised, if we do not comprehend the necessary relation that freedom bears to truth. This essay purports to study all three senses, not quite generally, but with special reference to Ratzinger, the German theologian-cum-phenomenologist of religion, who also happens to be the current pope Benedict XVI of the Catholic Christianity. The study proceeds in three stages. First of all, I will give the statement of the problem. Secondly, I will briefly dwell on the modern Western history of freedom. Thirdly, I will study the interface between freedom and truth, highlighting the nature of human freedom, the relation between freedom and responsibility, and the relation between freedom and the truth of human existence itself. The essay is more interpretive than evaluative, with an eye to be as close to the insightful thoughts of Ratzinger as possible.
Structural Acoustic Reduction via Piezoelectric Actuation and Adaptive Eigenvector Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Wu T.Y. , Chung Y.L.
Published: November 2010

The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing the adaptive eigenvector optimization algorithm to find the optimal combination of left and right eigenvectors for active structural acoustic reduction. As depicted in the previous studies, the structural acoustic radiation depends on the structural vibration behavior, which is strongly related to the mode shape distributions (represented by the right eigenvectors of system) as well as the ability of disturbance rejection (represented by the left eigenvectors of system). In this research, a novel adaptive optimization algorithm is developed to determine the optimal combination of left and right eigenvectors of the structural system for active structural acoustic control. The sound suppression performance index (SSPI) is defined by combining the orthogonality index of left eigenvectors and the modal radiation index of right eigenvectors. Through the proposed adaptive eigenvector optimization algorithm, both the left and right eigenvectors of the structural system are adjusted such that the SSPI quantity decreases, hence the optimal combination of the corresponding left and right eigenvectors of the closed-loop system can be found for reducing the structural acoustic radiation. The optimal combination of left-right eigenvectors is then synthesized to determine the feedback gain matrix of the closed-loop system. The result of the active acoustic control shows that the proposed method can significantly suppress the sound pressure radiated from the vibrating structure.
Exit, Voice, and Electoral Turnover
Authors: Salucci Lapo , Bickers Kenneth
Published: November 2010

Much of the contemporary literature on metropolitan politics revolves around the mobility of local residents and the implications this has both for policies of local governments and for the racial composition of local populations. In this article, the authors hypothesize that resort to exit is a function of the extent to which local residents lack effective access to institutionalized forms of voice, in particular availability of opportunities for replacing elected officials viewed as unresponsive to local needs and concerns. The authors test this argument with information from a 2002 survey of residents of four of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, along with census data about their neighborhoods and data on electoral turnover in their municipal governments. The authors find evidence that intentions to leave a city are indeed conditional both on dissatisfaction with key collective goods and services (in particular local public schools and neighborhoods) and lack of effective opportunities for the replacement of locally elected public officials. The authors find evidence of racially driven motivations for exit, but the direction is inconsistent and the magnitude of the racial effect is smaller than that deriving from dissatisfaction with services where electoral turnover is low.
Proposed Lease Accounting Changes
Authors: Singh Amrik
Published: November 2010

Regulators have proposed changes to the existing lease accounting rules that will require the capitalization of all operating leases as assets and liabilities. This study investigated the impact of operating lease capitalization on the financial statements and 11 financial ratios in restaurant and retail firms from 2006 to 2008. Significant absolute and relative differences were found across and within the two industries. All 11 financial ratios related to interest coverage, leverage, and profitability will change significantly and dramatically for both industry sectors. The findings indicate that retail firms will be affected to a greater extent than restaurant firms. Within the restaurant industry, small restaurant firms will face significantly higher debt-related ratios than medium or large restaurant firms. Reconciling previous research, this study found firm size to be an important factor in explaining operating lease usage with small firms likely to use more operating leases than large firms. Restaurant and retail firms should evaluate the impact of the proposed standard on debt agreements and executive compensation contracts and plan for operating under the new rules.
More than Just Biological Sex Differences
Authors: Ramkissoon Haywantee , Nunkoo Robin
Published: November 2010

The influence of gender on travelers’ information search behavior continues to attract the attention of researchers. However, most scholars have studied gender differences from a biological perspective, treating gender as a unitary theoretical concept. This article challenges such an approach and argues for a more differentiated perspective to the study of gender differences in information search behavior. It approaches gender differences from a psychological perspective and proposes that the travelers’ gender identity (masculinity and femininity) is a determinant of their search behavior. The gender schema theory and the selectivity theory inform the model of the study. Five hypotheses are developed and are tested using responses collected from 568 tourists. Results from the structural equation modeling analysis indicate support for all hypotheses, confirming that gender identity is a good determinant of travelers’ search behavior. Travelers displaying high femininity traits were found to engage in more internal as well as external information search. Respondents with high masculinity traits relied less on both internal and external search for information. The theoretical and managerial implications, as well as the limitations of the study are discussed. The study also provides some directions for future research.
Vegetarian Diets and Diabetes
Authors: Marsh Kate , Brand-Miller Jennie
Published: November 2010

A large body of evidence suggests that vegetarian and plant-based diets provide exceptional health benefits, including a reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer, and increased longevity. Vegetarian diets are typically lower in fat, particularly saturated fat, and higher in dietary fiber. They are also likely to include more whole grains, legumes, nuts, and soy protein, which together provide micro-nutrients and protective factors at higher levels than most Western diets. In observational studies, a vegetarian or vegan diet is associated with reduced risk of development of type 2 diabetes and lower risk of complications in those with existing diabetes. Although it is often difficult to separate vegetarianism from other healthy lifestyle behaviors, this eating pattern and the absence of red meat and processed meat products may provide particular benefits in the management of diabetes and prediabetes. This article critically reviews the scientific evidence for the role of vegetarian diets in the prevention and management of diabetes.
CP-690,550, a therapeutic agent, inhibits cytokine-mediated Jak3 activation and proliferation of T cells from patients with ATL and HAM/TSP
Authors: Ju Wei , Zhang Meili , Jiang Jian-kang , Thomas Craig J. , Oh Unsong , Bryant Bonita R. , Chen Jing , Sato Noriko , Tagaya Yutaka , Morris John C. , Janik John E. , Jacobson Steven , Waldmann Thomas A.
Published: November 2010

The retrovirus, human T-cell–lymphotrophic virus-1 (HTLV-I) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and the neurological disorder HTLV-I–associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The HTLV-I–encoded protein tax constitutively activates interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-9, and IL-15 autocrine/paracrine systems that in turn activate the Jak3 (Janus kinase 3)/STAT5 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 5) pathway, suggesting a therapeutic strategy that involves targeting Jak3. We evaluated the action of the Jak3 inhibitor CP-690,550 on cytokine dependent ex vivo proliferation that is characteristic of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from select patients with smoldering or chronic subtypes of ATL, or from those with HAM/TSP whose PBMCs are associated with autocrine/paracrine pathways that involve the production of IL-2, IL-9, IL-15, and their receptors. CP-690,550 at 50nM inhibited the 6-day ex vivo spontaneous proliferation of PBMCs from ATL and HAM/TSP patients by 67.1% and 86.4%, respectively. Furthermore, CP-690,550 inhibited STAT5 phosphorylation in isolated ATL T cells ex vivo. Finally, in an in vivo test of biological activity, CP-690,550 treatment of mice with a CD8 T-cell IL-15–transgenic leukemia that manifests an autocrine IL-15/IL-15Rα pathway prolonged the survival duration of these tumor-bearing mice. These studies support further evaluation of the Jak3 inhibitor CP-690,550 in the treatment of select patients with HTLV-I–associated ATL and HAM/TSP.
Size-assortative mating and sexual size dimorphism are predictable from simple mechanics of mate-grasping behavior
Authors: Han Chang S , Jablonski Piotr G , Kim Beobkyun , Park Frank C
Published: November 2010

Background

A major challenge in evolutionary biology is to understand the typically complex interactions between diverse counter-balancing factors of Darwinian selection for size assortative mating and sexual size dimorphism. It appears that rarely a simple mechanism could provide a major explanation of these phenomena. Mechanics of behaviors can predict animal morphology, such like adaptations to locomotion in animals from various of taxa, but its potential to predict size-assortative mating and its evolutionary consequences has been less explored. Mate-grasping by males, using specialized adaptive morphologies of their forelegs, midlegs or even antennae wrapped around female body at specific locations, is a general mating strategy of many animals, but the contribution of the mechanics of this wide-spread behavior to the evolution of mating behavior and sexual size dimorphism has been largely ignored.

Results

Here, we explore the consequences of a simple, and previously ignored, fact that in a grasping posture the position of the male's grasping appendages relative to the female's body is often a function of body size difference between the sexes. Using an approach taken from robot mechanics we model coercive grasping of females by water strider Gerris gracilicornis males during mating initiation struggles. We determine that the male optimal size (relative to the female size), which gives the males the highest grasping force, properly predicts the experimentally measured highest mating success. Through field sampling and simulation modeling of a natural population we determine that the simple mechanical model, which ignores most of the other hypothetical counter-balancing selection pressures on body size, is sufficient to account for size-assortative mating pattern as well as species-specific sexual dimorphism in body size of G. gracilicornis.

Conclusion

The results indicate how a simple and previously overlooked physical mechanism common in many taxa is sufficient to account for, or importantly contribute to, size-assortative mating and its consequences for the evolution of sexual size dimorphism.
Evolution of the Kdo2-lipid A biosynthesis in bacteria
Authors: Opiyo Stephen O , Pardy Rosevelt L , Moriyama Hideaki , Moriyama Etsuko N
Published: November 2010

Background

Lipid A is the highly immunoreactive endotoxic center of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). It anchors the LPS into the outer membrane of most Gram-negative bacteria. Lipid A can be recognized by animal cells, triggers defense-related responses, and causes Gram-negative sepsis. The biosynthesis of Kdo2-lipid A, the LPS substructure, involves with nine enzymatic steps.

Results

In order to elucidate the evolutionary pathway of Kdo2-lipid A biosynthesis, we examined the distribution of genes encoding the nine enzymes across bacteria. We found that not all Gram-negative bacteria have all nine enzymes. Some Gram-negative bacteria have no genes encoding these enzymes and others have genes only for the first four enzymes (LpxA, LpxC, LpxD, and LpxB). Among the nine enzymes, five appeared to have arisen from three independent gene duplication events. Two of such events happened within the Proteobacteria lineage, followed by functional specialization of the duplicated genes and pathway optimization in these bacteria.

Conclusions

The nine-enzyme pathway, which was established based on the studies mainly in Escherichia coli K12, appears to be the most derived and optimized form. It is found only in E. coli and related Proteobacteria. Simpler and probably less efficient pathways are found in other bacterial groups, with Kdo2-lipid A variants as the likely end products. The Kdo2-lipid A biosynthetic pathway exemplifies extremely plastic evolution of bacterial genomes, especially those of Proteobacteria, and how these mainly pathogenic bacteria have adapted to their environment.