bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consequences of subacute intratracheal exposure of rats to cadmium oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Papp András , Oszlánczi Gábor , Horváth Edina , Paulik Edit , Kozma Gábor , Sápi András , Kónya Zoltán , Szabó Andrea
Published: January 2012

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal used in various industrial applications, thereby causing exposure to Cd-containing fumes. The submicron-sized particles in the fumes represent an extra risk due to their high mobility within the organism and high surface area. Toxicity of Cd on the liver, kidney and bones is well known, but there are less data on its neurotoxicity. Here, male Wistar rats were treated for 3 and 6 weeks by intratracheal instillation of cadmium oxide nanosuspension. The body weight gain in treated rats was significantly decreased, and in the rats treated with high dose (0.4 mg/kg Cd daily), there was a significant increase in the weight of lungs and thymus. In this group, the spectrum of spontaneous cortical electrical activity was shifted to higher frequencies, the latency of sensory-evoked potentials was lengthened, and the frequency following ability of the somatosensory evoked potential was impaired—even without detectable Cd deposition in the brain. The data support the role of the nano-sized Cd in the causation of nervous system damage and show the possibility of modeling human neurotoxic damage in rats.
Returning to Our Roots
Authors: Stebleton Michael J. , Eggerth Donald E.
Published: January 2012

This introductory article to the special issue on immigrants and work provides a historical context of the career development profession. Beginning with Parsons and the early reformers of the 1900s, the authors contend that the field was founded on principles of social justice and multiculturalism with an aim toward societal change. Just as helping professionals assisted the new immigrants of the previous century, there is a need and opportunity to be of service to the immigrants of the 21st century. Unique career-related issues for immigrant clients are discussed. An overview of the six pieces in this volume is briefly described along with common themes.
Sociological theory and Jungian psychology
Authors: Walker Gavin
Published: January 2012

In this article I seek to relate the psychology of Carl Jung to sociological theory, specifically Weber. I first present an outline of Jungian psychology. I then seek to relate this as psychology to Weber’s interpretivism. I point to basic methodological compatibilities within a Kantian frame, from which emerge central concerns with the factors limiting rationality. These generate the conceptual frameworks for parallel enquiries into the development and fate of rationality in cultural history. Religion is a major theme here: contrasts of eastern and western religion; the rise of prophetic religion and the disenchantment of modernity. Weber’s categories ‘ascetic’ and ‘mystic’ seem applicable to his own and Jung’s approaches and indeed temperaments, while a shared ironic view of rationality leads to similar visions of the disenchanted modern world. I conclude that Jung is sociologically coherent, but in an entirely different sense from Freud: rather than a constellation of family, socialization, ideology, social continuity, there is an analysis of cultural history against a background of adult normal psychology. I conclude that sociology should acknowledge Jung, but not in terms of over-arching theory. Rather Jungian insights might be used to orient new enquiries, and for reflexive analysis of sociology’s methodological debates.
Whatever happened to the ‘European’ in European social psychology? A study of the ambitions in founding the European Association of Experimental Social Psychology
Authors: Schruijer Sandra G. L.
Published: January 2012

This article studies the ambitions involved in founding the European Association of Experimental Social Psychology (EAESP) in the context of a differentiation between social psychology practised in Europe on the one hand and the United States on the other. To this end 8 key actors have been interviewed: 4 members of the very first Executive Committee (or Planning Committee as it was called then) as well as 4 key players of a second generation. Also the EAESP’s archives have been consulted. Moreover, data regarding the developments of EAESP’s membership and EAESP’s house journal, the European Journal of Social Psychology ( EJSP), were used to assess to what extent the ambitions in developing a European social psychology have been realized. The conclusion is that, despite various successes, it remains questionable whether the founders’ aims have been fulfilled.
Numerical simulation of flow around a body of revolution with an appendage controlled by electromagnetic force
Authors: Liu Huixing , Zhou Benmou , Liu Zongkai , Ji Yanliang
Published: January 2012

The flow around a body of revolution with an appendage controlled by electromagnetic force is calculated by a finite volume method in order to assess the influence of the appendage on the flow and the control effect of the electromagnetic force. The Reynolds number ( Re) base on the hull length is 1.0 × 107. An electromagnetic actuator is flush-mounted on the surface of the appendage to generate streamwise eletromagnetic force (Lorentz force) for flow control. The flow around the body at straight course and 6° yaw controlled by Lorentz force is simulated and discussed. The results indicate that the elliptical appendage introduces a complex wake structure and force fluctuation. The wake of the appendage has less influence on the boundary layer of the body at 6° yaw than at straight course. When the Reynolds number is as high as 1.0 × 107, the flow field and dynamic characteristic of the body approximate to the Euler solution. The Lorentz force may suppress the near-wall separation from the appendage effectively and reduce the drag and vibration, especially in the straight course case.
Composite controller design for an airbreathing hypersonic vehicle
Authors: Li Shihua , Sun Haibin , Sun Changyin
Published: January 2012

In this paper, a tracking control problem for the longitudinal model of an airbreathing hypersonic vehicle subject to external disturbances is investigated. Based on the characteristics of the longitudinal model, the model is divided into two subsystems, including an altitude subsystem and a velocity subsystem. A novel ideal is that, for each subsystem, some nonlinear coupling terms are considered to be parts of lumped disturbances, which are estimated by a nonlinear disturbance observer, and a corresponding feedforward design is then implemented to compensate the lumped disturbances. Meanwhile, by using a finite time control technique, a continuous finite time control law is introduced in the feedback control design. Then, a composite control scheme is obtained, which consists of a feedback control law based on the finite time control technique and a feedforward compensator based on the nonlinear disturbance observer technique. This scheme can guarantee stable tracking of the reference trajectories of velocity and altitude. Finally, simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the control performance of the proposed method in terms of both tracking and disturbance rejection are considerably better than the traditional method.
Natural levees and human settlement in the Song Hong (Red River) delta, northern Vietnam
Authors: Funabiki Ayako , Saito Yoshiki , Phai Vu Van , Nguyen Hieu , Haruyama Shigeko
Published: January 2012

The Song Hong (Red River) delta, northern Vietnam, is characterized by huge natural levees in an area of the delta plain known as the West Floodplain where fluvial sedimentation predominates. The natural levees along the Day River, a major distributary of the Song Hong, are comparable in size with those of the main course of the Song Hong. The Day River levees are 3–8 km wide and rise 2–5 m above the adjacent backswamps and have played an important role in human settlements since the late Metal age. We discussed the relationships among the natural levees of the Day River, delta progradation and the distribution of archaeological sites on the delta plain. During the early Holocene, the accumulation of sediment discharged by the Song Hong enhanced both aggradation of the floodplain and river mouth progradation within the drowned valley of the Song Hong. Radiocarbon dates from cores, trench exposures, and archaeological sites record a dramatic slowing of aggradation when sea level stabilized during 6–4 cal. kyr BP (the Holocene sea-level highstand). As sea level fell to the present level during 4–0 cal. kyr BP, the river mouth prograded rapidly toward the Gulf of Bac Bo (Gulf of Tonkin) and the river channels extended seaward. In the West Floodplain, lateral accretion overtook vertical accretion to generate the present longitudinal profiles of the Song Hong and Day rivers. During this period, human settlements spread across the backswamp and Holocene terrace area, lagging around 2 kyr behind the shoreline migration.
Expression and significance of leukocyte membrane cofactor protein transcript in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Biswas B , Kumar U , Das N
Published: January 2012

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) is a complement regulatory protein ubiquitously expressed on most nucleated cells. Since MCP protects autologous cells from complement-mediated injury, it is suggested to have a protective role against the self-tissue damage in inflammatory conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the relevance of MCP in human SLE is not well explored. To assess the significance of MCP in SLE, we studied expression of leukocyte MCP transcript in 60 healthy individuals (controls) and 60 patients with SLE and correlated that with the levels of circulating immune complex (CIC), C3, C3d and SLEDAI scores. The levels of leukocyte MCP transcript were significantly higher ( p < 0.001) in patients with SLE than the controls. Furthermore, MCP transcript levels exhibited significant positive correlations with SLEDAI scores and CIC level and a negative correlation with C3d level in patients. Twelve patients were followed-up until remission. The levels of MCP transcripts decreased significantly during remission as compared with the state of active disease. These findings suggest that in SLE, the expression of leukocyte MCP at the mRNA level is closely related to disease activity. A protective role of MCP in response to increased disease burden may be speculated. The follow-up study suggested MCP as a potential disease marker.
Simpson’s paradox – aggregating and partitioning populations in health disparities of lung cancer patients
Authors: Fu P , Panneerselvam A , Clifford B , Dowlati A , Ma PC , Zeng G , Halmos B , Leidner RS
Published: January 2012

It is well known that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous group of diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated genetic variation among different ethnic groups in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in NSCLC. Research by our group and others has recently shown a lower frequency of EGFR mutations in African Americans with NSCLC, as compared to their White counterparts. In this study, we use our original study data of EGFR pathway genetics in African American NSCLC as an example to illustrate that univariate analyses based on aggregation versus partition of data leads to contradictory results, in order to emphasize the importance of controlling statistical confounding. We further investigate analytic approaches in logistic regression for data with separation, as is the case in our example data set, and apply appropriate methods to identify predictors of EGFR mutation. Our simulation shows that with separated or nearly separated data, penalized maximum likelihood (PML) produces estimates with smallest bias and approximately maintains the nominal value with statistical power equal to or better than that from maximum likelihood and exact conditional likelihood methods. Application of the PML method in our example data set shows that race and EGFR-FISH are independently significant predictors of EGFR mutation.
Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Physiological Stress Among Adult, Male Potato Cultivators of West Bengal, India
Authors: Das Banibrata , Gangopadhyay Somnath
Published: January 2012

A total of 70 male potato cultivators were selected randomly from the villages of West Bengal, India, to evaluate musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), thermal stress, and physiological stress and were compared with 70 controls from the urban sector of West Bengal. Modified Nordic questionnaire studies and a posture analysis were performed in for the male potato cultivators by the Rapid Entire Body Assessment method. Most of the participants suffered discomfort at different parts of the body, especially in the lower back, knee, ankle, and feet regions. Potato cultivators suffered maximum discomfort during spading, planting seeds, weeding, picking crops, and sprinkling water. Therefore, it can be concluded that prolonged work activity, high repetitiveness, and remaining constantly in an awkward posture for a prolonged period of time may lead to MSDs. This study also revealed that a significant physiological load is exerted on the potato cultivators, as shown by increased heart rates.
The Spanish SF-36 in Peru
Authors: Salazar Fernando Raul , Bernabé Eduardo
Published: January 2012

This study assessed the psychometric properties of the SF-36 questionnaire in a sample of 4344 Peruvian people aged 15 to 64 years. Internal consistency reliability was estimated using Cronbach’s α coefficient, construct validity by known-groups comparison defined with respect to key sociodemographic characteristics, and factor structure by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) at item level. Cronbach’s α coefficient for the full questionnaire was 0.82 and ranged between 0.66 and 0.92 by scales. The 8 scales discriminated well between sexes, age, and socioeconomic groups. CFA showed that a model with 8 first-order factors and 2 second-order factors (namely, physical and mental health) was a feasible representation of the SF-36 factor structure and had better fit to data than alternative factor structures. The SF-36 showed appropriate psychometric properties regarding internal consistency, construct validity, and factor structure when tested in Peru. Future studies should focus on testing other psychometric properties of the SF-36, such as convergent and discriminant validity, test-retest reliability, and sensitivity to change.
QFT loop shaping with fractional order complex pole-based terms
Authors: Cervera Joaquín , Baños Alfonso
Published: January 2012

In this work we propose a new family of fractional order structures, composed of so-called Fractional order Complex pole-based Terms (FCTs), to be used for Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) loop shaping. The choice of this kind of structure is discussed, and its ability to approach the optimal solution (close-to-optimality) is shown by comparing the results obtained by FCT-based structures to other fractional structures introduced previously in the literature. The ability of FCT-based structures to solve QFT problems is shown by solving a benchmark robust control problem.
A Constellation of Concerns
Authors: Anderson Keith A. , Dabelko-Schoeny Holly I. , Tarrant Sarah D.
Published: January 2012

While adult day services (ADS) continues to grow within the home and community-based services sector, questions remain as to the challenges that the industry faces and anticipates facing in the future. In this study, a national sample of ADS centers ( N = 557) responded to open-ended questions regarding current and future challenges. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed that funding was a central concern around which a complex and interconnected constellation of challenges revolved, such as adequate staffing, marketing their services, physical space, and complicated care needs.Given the challenging economic times, these findings suggest that the continued evolution of the ADS industry depends largely on the implementation of changes in policy and funding mechanisms.
Medical Waste Management (MWM) in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Syed Emdadul H. , Mutahara Mahmuda , Rahman Mosiur
Published: January 2012

This study reviews the current situation of medical waste management (MWM) and practices in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and examines possible solutions for further study. We collected existing information through an Internet survey using the keywords “Medical Waste Management,” “Health Hazards,” and “Bangladesh.” Medical wastes that are disposed in open places in the city are hazardous and toxics. Moreover, waste management and practices were found to be quite unsafe. Poor people collect the waste and sell it for recycling. Almost 85.0% of sharp injuries are caused between their usage and subsequent disposal. More than 20.0% of those who handle them encounter “stick” injuries. Another study showed that people use an average of 3.4 injections per year, in which 39.3% were administered with reused equipment for low level of management. There is no initiative for present MWM system by government or INGOs, and no concrete regulation has been established yet. Few researchers and INGOs have done little. Women and children are more vulnerable because they handle the waste with bare hands; exposing them to contamination with HIV or hepatitis B and other diseases. Therefore, it is essential to follow sound medical waste management system and take actions for this public health problem.
Alcohol
Authors: Alpert Patricia T.
Published: January 2012

In the case of alcohol consumption a little is better than too much. Drinking in moderation had health benefits while drinking in access can be life threatening. Here we explore the impact alcohol has on health according to the research literature.
Public Policy and the Future of Social Work in Long-Term Home Health Care
Authors: Mason Michael , Gammonley Denise
Published: January 2012

The history of long-term home health care (HHC) for aging persons in the United States is one of alternating successes and of dashed hopes for persons wishing to remain in their own homes during their last years. Personal issues and public policy issues are woven into a maze of challenges faced by individuals and families wrestling with the difficult choice of elder health care options. Some of the elements of choosing home health care options are presented, and a suggestion of fundamental reform that puts Medicare and Medicaid on the table is suggested as a means to develop a new framework for social work services in home health care.
Open-access community child health clinics
Authors: Kearney Lauren , Fulbrook Paul
Published: January 2012

In Australia, Community Child Health Services (CCHS) is the primary health care service which seeks to strengthen and support families, prevent illness and manage risks. Several nursing models of care exist within CCHS, and limited research has investigated which is the best way to provide child health surveillance and parenting support during the early years. This study qualitatively explored the everyday lived experience of parents and child health nurses involved with an open-access (appointment-free, parent-led) group child health surveillance clinic. Findings showed that participants considered the open-access clinic provided a helpful and supportive way of delivering child health surveillance and parental support to families with infants aged 0–18months, without identified risk factors. The perspectives of multiple parents, nurses and other health workers found it effective, flexible and parent-directed, which may be in contrast to some traditional individual appointment child health surveillance methods.
Struggling to do what is right for the child
Authors: Carnevale Franco A , Farrell Catherine , Cremer Robin , Canoui Pierre , Séguret Sylvie , Gaudreault Josée , de Bérail Brune , Lacroix Jacques , Leclerc Francis , Hubert Philippe
Published: January 2012

This study examined (a) how physicians and nurses in France and Quebec make decisions about life-sustaining therapies (LSTs) for critically ill children and (b) corresponding ethical challenges. A focus groups design was used. A total of 21 physicians and 24 nurses participated (plus 9 physicians and 13 nurses from a prior secondary analysis). Principal differences related to roles: French participants regarded physicians as responsible for LST decisions, whereas Quebec participants recognized parents as formal decision-makers. Physicians stated they welcomed nurses’ input but found they often did not participate, while nurses said they wanted to contribute but felt excluded. The LST limitations were based on conditions resulting in long-term consequences, irreversibility, continued deterioration, inability to engage in relationships and loss of autonomy. Ethical challenges related to: the fear of making errors in the face of uncertainty; struggling with patient/family consequences of one’s actions; questioning the parental role and dealing with relational difficulties between physicians and nurses.
Evaluation of therapy services with the Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC-20):
Authors: Arnadottir Unnur , Egilson Snaefridur Thora
Published: January 2012

The aim of this population-based study was to examine how parents of Icelandic children with physical disability view the services of physical, occupational, and speech therapists and how family centered those services are. A secondary aim was to compare the differences of parental perceptions of therapy services based on age, residence, and disabilities. Parents of 88 (46%) children aged 2–18 answered the Measure of Processes of Care–20 (MPOC-20), and six parents participated in a focus group interview. Descriptive data were used to explore central tendency and variability, and comparisons were made using analysis of variance. Overall, the parents found the therapy services respectful, supportive, and coordinated; they felt enabled in their parent role and worked mostly in partnership with the professionals. Nevertheless, parents perceived they received insufficient information from therapists. Parents reported a wish for more cooperation, teamwork, and a key worker. Findings indicate that the MPOC is reliable and easy to use within the Icelandic context.
Parental beliefs about behaviour problems of their asthmatic children and interventions to support parenting
Authors: Morawska Alina , Gregory Caroline , Burgess Scott
Published: January 2012

The aim of this study was to explore parents’ attributions for their children’s behaviour and their beliefs about treatment efficacy, and to investigate the specific topics and strategies parents believe would be most beneficial in a parenting intervention. A survey of 165 parents and qualitative interviews with 13 parents were conducted, assessing child behaviour, parental attributions and intervention characteristics. The findings indicated that parents were confident in their ability to manage the challenges of asthma, and in general, believed that five key asthma treatment recommendations were at least moderately helpful in managing their child’s asthma. Many parents believed that asthma medications were related to behavioural difficulties including hyperactivity, disruptiveness, and disobedience. Nearly half of the parents were concerned about how to best manage their child’s asthma, and a number of themes were identified as important intervention elements. The implications of these findings for intervention development are discussed.
Children’s regard for nurses and nursing: A mosaic of children’s views on community nursing
Authors: Randall Duncan
Published: January 2012

In the past decade there has been both an increase in the number of children who receive nursing care in their communities rather than in hospitals, and an increasing willingness to listen to children. This qualitative study used Clark’s Mosaic approach to elicit children’s views of community children’s nursing. Twenty-one children took part in total, with seven children making up a core group who participated in a number of activities for over a year. A non-core group of 14 children were observed receiving care from six community children’s nurses. The children had diverse medical conditions, were aged from 11 months to 17 years old and came from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Some children expressed a positive regard for nurses and nursing. Some children a negative regard, others were ambiguous. From these data it is proposed that there is a continuum of regard for nurses. How children regarded nurses did not seem to be related to the nurse’s actions, but to the child’s understanding of their illness and their involvement in care. Further study is required to clarify the concept and should focus on what effect children’s regard for nurses and nursing has on health outcomes.
Nephron-specific expression of components of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system in the mouse kidney
Authors: Reinhold Stephan W , Krüger Bernd , Barner Caroline , Zoicas Flavius , Kammerl Martin C , Hoffmann Ute , Bergler Tobias , Banas Bernhard , Krämer Bernhard K
Published: January 2012

Introduction: The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an integral role in the regulation of blood pressure, electrolyte and fluid homeostasis in mammals. The capability of the different nephron segments to form components of the RAAS is only partially known. This study therefore aimed to characterize the nephron-specific expression of RAAS components within the mouse kidney.

Materials and methods: Defined nephron segments of adult C57B/16 mice were microdissected after collagenase digestion. The gene expression of renin, angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II receptors 1a (AT1a), 1b (AT1b), and 2 (AT2) was assessed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: Renin mRNA was present in glomeruli, in proximal tubules, in distal convoluted tubules (DCT) and cortical collecting ducts (CCD). AGT mRNA was found in proximal tubules, descending thin limb of Henle’s loop (dTL) and in the medullary part of the thick ascending limb (mTAL). ACE mRNA was not detectable in microdissected mouse nephron segments. AT1a, AT1b and AT2 mRNA was detected in glomeruli and proximal convoluted tubules.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrate a nephron-specific distribution of RAAS components. All components of the local RAAS – except ACE – are present in proximal convoluted tubules, emphasizing their involvement in sodium and water handling.
Contributions of an artistic educational program for older people with early dementia: An exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Ullán Ana M. , Belver Manuel H. , Badía Marta , Moreno Carmen , Garrido Eugenio , Gómez-Isla José , Gonzalez-Ingelmo Elena , Delgado Juan , Serrano Isabel , Herrero Carmen , Manzanera Paloma , Tejedor Laura
Published: January 2012

Objective:

To describe a contemporary artistic educational program based on photographic cyanotype techniques and to present the results of the program carried out with older people with early dementia. We determined whether these people could participate in the program, their viewpoint about it, and what this program could contribute to their experience.

Method:

Twenty-one people diagnosed with mild or moderate dementia participated in a series of artistic education workshops. While conducting the workshops, participant observation was carried out, and the participants’ engagement was assessed. Upon completing the series, five focus groups were held with the participants with dementia, and another focus group with their professional caretakers.

Results:

We observed the participants’ high level of commitment to the activity and their interest in learning new things. We also observed the participants’ satisfaction during the creative process and with their results. The artistic activities not only reinforced the feelings of capacity of the participants with early dementia but also transmitted a positive image of them.

Conclusions:

Dementia was not an obstacle to participation in the program, which was an opportunity for creativity, learning, enjoyment, and communication for people with dementia. In the authors’ opinion, facilitating access to art and artistic education to people with early dementia can contribute to enforcing their rights and to improving the care system.
The role of work in recovery from bipolar disorders
Authors: Borg Marit , Veseth Marius , Binder Per-Einar , Topor Alain
Published: January 2012

Being in recovery from bipolar disorder involves work-related concerns. The specific aims of this study are to: 1) understand the role of work in recovery from bipolar disorders, and 2) understand how people with such disorders deal with work-related challenges. These topics are examined from the stance of the recovery process, in which work-related activities were explored. Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with persons who had experienced recovery from bipolar disorder. Analysis was performed through thematic and phenomenological analysis, with hermeneutic phenomenology and reflexive methodology as a framework. The findings are presented through the following themes: 1) many types of work – finding meaning and a focus; 2) helpful roles and contexts – to be much more than a person with an illness; 3) making work possible – the role of supportive relationships and supportive medications, and 4) the costs of working too much – finding a meaningful and healthy balance.
Photography in social work research: Using visual image to humanize findings
Authors: Russell Amy Catherine , Diaz Natalie D.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this article is to present the use of photography as a supplement to a classic grounded theory research study with lesbian women regarding their experience of identity, culture, and oppression. Photography was integrated into the grounded theory methodology to visually express the theoretical codes that emerged from the grounded theory of liberated identity. Photographs are presented with coded substages and participant in vivo codes, including explanations of the visual representation in the photographs. The findings, the basic social process substage photographs, were guided by the participants to best convey visual meaning of their experience. The photographic images reveal how the use of photography, in concert with Glaserian grounded theory, exemplified experience, humanity, and meaning in this specific research study, and thus the complementary visual image can edify the significance in the humanness and affectivity of research participants.
Neighborhood relation diagrams for local comparison of carbon footprints in urban planning
Authors: Engel Daniel , Petsch Sebastian , Hagen Hans , Guhathakurta Subhrajit
Published: January 2012

The dreaded effects of climate change have led to a new research focus in many applications. In urban planning, the visualization of carbon footprints has become one of the most sought after aspects. Urban planning data of carbon footprints contains spatial (location) and abstract (statistical indicators) information. Although many techniques for the visualization of such partially spatial data have been successfully applied in the area of geovisualization, the core focus has been on a global depiction of non-spatial information. However, conducting local comparisons, as in the case of comparing neighborhood districts and households, is of particular importance in investigative tasks. Additionally, representing different carbon footprint indicators (multiple non-spatial parameters) and unstructured parameter values (resulting in scaling issues) in a static representation provides an interesting challenge for visualization. This paper describes a novel and generic solution to the above-mentioned issues: a neighborhood relation diagram for the local comparison of non-spatial information in partial spatial data. The technique is based on the geometric computation of Voronoi diagrams according to a weighted neighborhood metric. The shape of spatial regions (e.g. city districts) within this diagram is characterized by a directed and constrained deformation according to the non-spatial (i.e. carbon footprint) relations to neighboring regions. The effectiveness of our method is highlighted in a preliminary study of carbon footprint patterns in downtown Phoenix (Arizona, USA). In this study, neighborhood relation diagrams enable city planners to detect local effects on carbon emissions and their relation to planning projects.
Major League Baseball’s First Year Player Draft
Authors: Garmon Christopher
Published: January 2012

Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Draft is a natural laboratory for the study of bargaining: There are no bonus restrictions, draft picks cannot be traded, and there are no commitment issues (i.e., players “declaring” for the draft). This article tests the implications of bargaining theory using data from the 2003-2010 MLB drafts. In 2007, new draft rules were introduced, but not uniformly across the draft, making it possible to estimate the effect of each change. Although the rule changes were designed to lower bonuses, they had the opposite effect. The rule changes led to $178 million in extra compensation to drafted players.
Investigation on structure and thermal properties of electrospun cellulose diacetate nanofibers
Authors: Qin Xiaohong , Wang Hui , Wu Shaohua
Published: January 2012

This study systematically compared and analyzed the structural differences, mainly involved internal group and crystal structure, between electrospun cellulose diacetate nanofibers produced from different solvent system and raw material cellulose diacetate by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimeter. Due to dissolution and electrospinning process, the internal crystal structure of cellulose diacetate nanofibers significantly reduced. Furthermore, the microstructural changes of different cellulose diacetate nanofiber mats, which were fabricated by selecting acetone and acetone/N,N-dimethylacetamide as solvents and tuning process parameters, were investigated. It was found that the solution concentration, spinning voltage, and receiver distance had little effect on the fiber’s internal structure. In addition, the differences in thermal performance were analyzed between the nanofibers obtained from different solvents and the raw material cellulose diacetate by means of differential scanning calorimeters. The study shows that the electrospun nanofibers had quite different thermal properties compared with the original material cellulose diacetate. The crystallinity of the two different nanofibers decreases and the crystallization is not perfect, internal crystalline region in the two kinds of nanofibers reduces, and the thermal stability of the two kinds of nanofibers decreases compared with the raw material cellulose diacetate.
Effect of chitosan coating on the characteristics of silk-braided sutures
Authors: Viju S , Thilagavathi G
Published: January 2012

In the present work, chitosan was applied on to the braided silk sutures at three different concentrations and the effects of chitosan coating on the characteristics of braided silk suture were explored. The frictional characteristics of BSS were studied by determining the dynamic coefficient of friction at various normal loads and sliding speeds. At higher normal loads and sliding speeds, both the chitosan coated and uncoated braided silk suture showed lower value of dynamic coefficient of friction. Furthermore, for all the tested normal loads and sliding speeds the chitosan coated braided silk suture showed lower value of dynamic coefficient of friction than the untreated BSS. Instron tensile tester was used to measure the tenacity and knot strength. The result showed that the tenacity and knot strength of braided silk suture increases with the increase in chitosan concentration. The scanning electron microscopy reveals the uniform deposition of chitosan on to the surface of the braided silk suture. The antimicrobial activity of chitosan coated braided silk suture against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated using agar diffusion method (SN 195920) and shake flask method (AATCC 100). The braided silk suture treated with higher chitosan concentration exhibits excellent antimicrobial activity against both the bacteria.
Reduced Upper Limb Sensation Impairs Mental Chronometry for Motor Imagery After Stroke
Authors: Liepert Joachim , Greiner Johanna , Nedelko Violetta , Dettmers Christian
Published: January 2012

Background. Motor imagery (MI) is increasingly recognized as a treatment option after stroke, but not all stroke patients are able to perform MI. Objective. To examine if severe somatosensory deficits would affect MI ability. Methods. The Box and Block Test (BBT) was used to evaluate mental chronometry as 1 component of MI. Two groups of stroke patients and an age-matched healthy control group (CG) were studied. Patient group 1 (n = 10, PG1) had a severe somatosensory impairment on the affected side and PG2 (n = 10) had pure motor strokes. All subjects first performed the BBT in a mental and in a real version. The time needed to move 15 blocks from 1 side of the box to the other was measured. To compare the groups independently of their performance level, a (real performance − MI)/(real performance) ratio was calculated. Corticospinal excitability was measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation at rest and while the subjects performed an imagined pinch grip. Results. The CG performed the BBT faster than both patient groups, and PG1 was slower than PG2. MI ability was impaired in PG1 but only for the affected hand. Transcranial magnetic stimulation data showed an abnormally low MI-induced corticospinal excitability increase for the affected hand in PG1, but not in PG2. Conclusions. Severe somatosensory deficits impaired mental chronometry. A controlled study is necessary to clarify if these patients benefit at all from MI as an additional treatment.
Functional Plasticity Induced by Mirror Training
Authors: Hamzei Farsin , Läppchen Claus Henning , Glauche Volkmar , Mader Irina , Rijntjes Michel , Weiller Cornelius
Published: January 2012

Background. Mirror therapy (MT) is a promising therapeutic approach in stroke patients with severe hand paresis. Objective. The ipsilateral (contralesional) primary sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the mirror neuron system have been suggested to play decisive roles in the MT network. The present study investigated its underlying neural plasticity. Methods. Two groups of healthy participants (n = 13 in each group) performed standardized fine motor tasks moving pegs and marbles (20 min/d for 4 days) with their right hand with either a mirror (mirror training group, MG) or a nonreflective board (control training group, CG) positioned orthogonally in front of them. The number of items moved by each hand was tested after each training session. Functional MRI (fMRI) was acquired before and after the training procedure to investigate the mirror training (MTr)-specific network by the analysis of the factors Time and Group. Results. The hand performance test of the trained right hand did not differ between the 2 groups. The untrained left hand improved significantly more in the MG compared with the CG. fMRI analysis of action observation and imitation of grasping tasks demonstrated MTr-specific activation changes within the right dorsal and left ventral premotor cortex as well as in the left SMC (SMCleft). Analysis of functional and effective connectivity showed a MTr-specific increase of functional coupling between each premotor region and the left supplementary motor area, which in turn showed an increased functional interaction with the ipsilateral SMCleft. Conclusions. MTr remodels the motor system by functionally connecting hand movement to the ipsilateral SMC. On a system level, it leads to interference of the neural circuit related to motor programming and observation of the trained hand with the illusionary movement of the untrained hand.
E-safety education: Young people, surveillance and responsibility
Authors: Barnard-Wills David
Published: January 2012

This article presents the findings of an analysis of ‘e-safety’ education material currently made available to UK schools, and currently being delivered to children and young people between the ages of five and 18. E-safety refers to the way that young people are taught about risks online, how they can protect themselves, and to whom they should report worrying activity. The article is grounded in a political understanding of education as a political strategy, and one that is conducted by multiple actors, including policing agencies. The article therefore relates e-safety education to a broader politics of surveillance, crime prevention and governmental rationalities and techniques. Formal education does not determine, but likely influences the perceptions of young people towards the digitally mediated environment – including roles of authority, appropriate behavioural norms and risk perception (currently dominated by the threat of child sexual abuse). The most commonly used and disseminated e-safety education material is that produced by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. This article examines the role of a policing agency in delivering education, one that also functions as an agent of digitally mediated surveillance in its law enforcement functions. Education is an explicit strategy of political actors involved in the politics of digitally mediated surveillance.
Potent in vitro and in vivo activity of an Fc-engineered humanized anti-HM1.24 antibody against multiple myeloma via augmented effector function
Authors: Tai Yu-Tzu , Horton Holly M. , Kong Sun-Young , Pong Erik , Chen Hsing , Cemerski Saso , Bernett Matthew J. , Nguyen Duc-Hanh T. , Karki Sher , Chu Seung Y. , Lazar Greg A. , Munshi Nikhil C. , Desjarlais John R. , Anderson Kenneth C. , Muchhal Umesh S.
Published: January 2012

HM1.24, an immunologic target for multiple myeloma (MM) cells, has not been effectively targeted with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study, we investigated in vitro and in vivo anti-MM activities of XmAb5592, a humanized anti-HM1.24 mAb with Fc-domain engineered to significantly enhance FcγR binding and associated immune effector functions. XmAb5592 increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) several fold relative to the anti-HM1.24 IgG1 analog against both MM cell lines and primary patient myeloma cells. XmAb5592 also augmented antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) by macrophages. Natural killer (NK) cells became more activated by XmAb5592 than the IgG1 analog, evidenced by increased cell surface expression of granzyme B–dependent CD107a and MM cell lysis, even in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. XmAb5592 potently inhibited tumor growth in mice bearing human MM xenografts via FcγR-dependent mechanisms, and was significantly more effective than the IgG1 analog. Lenalidomide synergistically enhanced in vitro ADCC against MM cells and in vivo tumor inhibition induced by XmAb5592. A single dose of 20 mg/kg XmAb5592 effectively depleted both blood and bone marrow plasma cells in cynomolgus monkeys. These results support clinical development of XmAb5592, both as a monotherapy and in combination with lenalidomide, to improve patient outcome of MM.
Prolonged activity of a recombinant factor VIII-Fc fusion protein in hemophilia A mice and dogs
Authors: Dumont Jennifer A. , Liu Tongyao , Low Susan C. , Zhang Xin , Kamphaus George , Sakorafas Paul , Fraley Cara , Drager Douglas , Reidy Thomas , McCue Justin , Franck Helen W. G. , Merricks Elizabeth P. , Nichols Timothy C. , Bitonti Alan J. , Pierce Glenn F. , Jiang Haiyan
Published: January 2012

Despite proven benefits, prophylactic treatment for hemophilia A is hampered by the short half-life of factor VIII. A recombinant factor VIII-Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) was constructed to determine the potential for reduced frequency of dosing. rFVIIIFc has an ∼ 2-fold longer half-life than rFVIII in hemophilia A (HemA) mice and dogs. The extension of rFVIIIFc half-life requires interaction of Fc with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). In FcRn knockout mice, the extension of rFVIIIFc half-life is abrogated, and is restored in human FcRn transgenic mice. The Fc fusion has no impact on FVIII-specific activity. rFVIIIFc has comparable acute efficacy as rFVIII in treating tail clip injury in HemA mice, and fully corrects whole blood clotting time (WBCT) in HemA dogs immediately after dosing. Furthermore, consistent with prolonged half-life, rFVIIIFc shows 2-fold longer prophylactic efficacy in protecting HemA mice from tail vein transection bleeding induced 24-48 hours after dosing. In HemA dogs, rFVIIIFc also sustains partial correction of WBCT 1.5- to 2-fold longer than rFVIII. rFVIIIFc was well tolerated in both species. Thus, the rescue of FVIII by Fc fusion to provide prolonged protection presents a novel pathway for FVIII catabolism, and warrants further investigation.
A prevalent C3 mutation in aHUS patients causes a direct C3 convertase gain of function
Authors: Roumenina Lubka T. , Frimat Marie , Miller Elizabeth C. , Provot Francois , Dragon-Durey Marie-Agnes , Bordereau Pauline , Bigot Sylvain , Hue Christophe , Satchell Simon C. , Mathieson Peter W. , Mousson Christiane , Noel Christian , Sautes-Fridman Catherine , Halbwachs-Mecarelli Lise , Atkinson John P. , Lionet Arnaud , Fremeaux-Bacchi Veronique
Published: January 2012

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare renal thrombotic microangiopathy commonly associated with rare genetic variants in complement system genes, unique to each patient/family. Here, we report 14 sporadic aHUS patients carrying the same mutation, R139W, in the complement C3 gene. The clinical presentation was with a rapid progression to end-stage renal disease (6 of 14) and an unusually high frequency of cardiac (8 of 14) and/or neurologic (5 of 14) events. Although resting glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) remained unaffected by R139W-C3 sera, the incubation of those sera with GEnC preactivated with pro-inflammatory stimuli led to increased C3 deposition, C5a release, and procoagulant tissue-factor expression. This functional consequence of R139W-C3 resulted from the formation of a hyperactive C3 convertase. Mutant C3 showed an increased affinity for factor B and a reduced binding to membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46), but a normal regulation by factor H (FH). In addition, the frequency of at-risk FH and MCP haplotypes was significantly higher in the R139W-aHUS patients, compared with normal donors or to healthy carriers. These genetic background differences could explain the R139W-aHUS incomplete penetrance. These results demonstrate that this C3 mutation, especially when associated with an at-risk FH and/or MCP haplotypes, becomes pathogenic following an inflammatory endothelium-damaging event.
How I treat heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Authors: Cuker Adam , Cines Douglas B.
Published: January 2012

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a prothrombotic adverse drug effect induced by platelet-activating antibodies against multimolecular complexes of platelet factor 4 and heparin. Diagnosis rests on a clinical assessment of disease probability and laboratory testing. Management involves immediate discontinuation of heparin and initiation of an alternative anticoagulant. Because of the frequency of thrombocytopenia among heparinized patients, the limited specificity of widely available immunoassays, the limited availability of more specific functional assays, and clinicians' fears of missing a case of true disease, overtesting, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment have become common. As a result, a substantial number of thrombocytopenic patients are unnecessarily exposed to costly alternative anticoagulants and their attendant risk of bleeding. In this review, we describe not only our approach to the evaluation and management of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, but also the measures we use to minimize misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment of patients without the disease. In addition, we propose areas of investigation for improvement of the diagnosis and management of this potentially fatal disorder.