bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognitive-Neural Effects of Brush Writing of Chinese Characters: Cortical Excitation of Theta Rhythm
Authors: Xu Min , Kao Henry S. R. , Zhang Manlin , Lam Stewart P. W. , Wang Wei
Published: February 2013

Chinese calligraphy has been scientifically investigated within the contexts and principles of psychology, cognitive science, and the cognitive neuroscience. On the basis of vast amount of research in the last 30 years, we have developed a cybernetic theory of handwriting and calligraphy to account for the intricate interactions of several psychological dimensions involved in the dynamic act of graphic production. Central to this system of writing are the role of sensory, bio-, cognitive, and neurofeedback mechanisms for the initiation, guidance, and regulation of the writing motions vis-a-vis visual-geometric variations of Chinese characters. This experiment provided the first evidence of cortical excitation in EEG theta wave as a neural hub that integrates information coming from changes in the practitioner’s body, emotions, and cognition. In addition, it has also confirmed neurofeedback as an essential component of the cybernetic theory of handwriting and calligraphy.
CDCP1 Regulates the Function of MT1-MMP and Invadopodia-Mediated Invasion of Cancer Cells
Authors: Miyazawa Yuri , Uekita Takamasa , Ito Yuumi , Seiki Motoharu , Yamaguchi Hideki , Sakai Ryuichi
Published: February 2013

Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1 (CUB) domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is a transmembrane protein that regulates anchorage-independent growth and cancer cell migration and invasion. Expression of CDCP1 is detected in a number of cancer cell lines and tissues and is closely correlated with poor prognosis. Invadopodia are actin-based protrusions on the surface of invasive cancer cells that promote the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) via localized proteolysis, which is mainly mediated by membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). MT1-MMP is accumulated at invadopodia by targeted delivery via membrane trafficking. The present study shows that CDCP1 is required for ECM degradation by invadopodia in human breast cancer and melanoma cells. CDCP1 localized to caveolin-1–containing vesicular structures and lipid rafts and was detected in close proximity to invadopodia. Further biochemical analysis revealed that substantial amounts of CDCP1 existed in the Triton X-100 insoluble lipid raft fraction. CDCP1 was coimmunoprecipitated with MT1-MMP and colocalized with MT1-MMP at the vesicular structures. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of the CDCP1 expression markedly inhibited MT1-MMP–dependent ECM degradation and Matrigel invasion and reduced the accumulation of MT1-MMP at invadopodia, as shown by immunofluorescence analysis. These results indicate that CDCP1 is an essential regulator of the trafficking and function of MT1-MMP- and invadopodia-mediated invasion of cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res; 11(6); 628–37. ©2013 AACR.
Impact of Hyperthermia on Inflammation-Related Perinatal Brain Injury
Authors: Seri L. , Rossiter J.P. , MacNair L. , Flavin M.P.
Published: February 2013

In a rat model of perinatal inflammation and hypoxia, we investigated the impact of hyperthermia on the deleterious events which are commonly associated with chorioamnionitis. Late-pregnancy gestational day 20 rats received a single injection of either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Escherichia coli endotoxin or saline. The offspring were born 24-36 h later at full term. The pups underwent hypoxia on the first postnatal day (PND1) immediately after which they were maintained at a planned target temperature for 2 h, before being returned to the dams. The pups were sacrificed on PND5 and the brain tissue was examined. Results showed that LPS alone or in combination with hypoxia was well tolerated. The additional stress of moderate hyperthermia (39°C for 2 h) on PND1 resulted in (a) a significant increase in brain reactive nitrogen species (RNS), (b) a significant increase in caspase-3 activity, (c) a significant increase in c-jun, bax and bcl-2 gene expression and (d) a significant increase in apoptotic cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Hyperthermia was also associated with reduced growth over the ensuing 4 days in a small number of pups. In this model of perinatal inflammation, we demonstrated that brief hyperthermia when superimposed on a perinatal inflammation stimulus and hypoxia led to brain injury while either inflammation alone, or combined inflammatory stimulus and hypoxia did not cause significant damage.
Unilateral Favre-Racouchot Disease: Evidence for the Etiological Role of Chronic Solar Damage
Authors: Vogel Sandra , Mühlstädt Michael , Molin Sonja , Ruzicka Thomas , Schneider Joseph , Herzinger Thomas
Published: February 2013

Favre-Racouchot disease commonly presents as comedones, cysts and elastosis in the periocular region of older men. Its etiology has been linked to several exogenous factors. Here we present 2 patients with strictly unilateral manifestation of the disease and a corresponding history of predominantly one-sided chronic occupational sun exposure and smoking, making the case for the causative role of these two factors.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Promising Therapy for the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Cárdenes Nayra , Cáceres Eder , Romagnoli Militza , Rojas Mauricio
Published: February 2013

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a pulmonary syndrome with growing prevalence and high mortality and morbidity that increase with age. There is no current therapy able to restore pulmonary function in ARDS patients. Preclinical models of ARDS have demonstrated that intratracheal or systemic administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) protects the lung against injury. The mechanisms responsible for the protective effects are multiple, including the secretion of multiple paracrine factors capable of modulating the immune response and restoring epithelial and endothelial integrity. Recent studies have demonstrated that MSCs can also control oxidative stress, transfer functional mitochondria to the damaged cells, and control bacterial infection by secretion of antibacterial peptides. These characteristics make MSCs promising candidates for ARDS therapy.
Management of Ventricular Tachycardia in the Setting of a Dedicated Unit for the Treatment of Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias
Authors: Bella Paolo Della , Baratto Francesca , Tsiachris Dimitris , Trevisi Nicola , Vergara Pasquale , Bisceglia Caterina , Petracca Francesco , Carbucicchio Corrado , Benussi Stefano , Maisano Francesco , Alfieri Ottavio , Pappalardo Federico , Zangrillo Alberto , Maccabelli Giuseppe
Published: February 2013

Background—

We investigated the impact of catheter ablation on ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrence and survival in a large number of patients with structural heart disease treated in the setting of a dedicated multiskilled unit.

Methods and Results—

Since January 2007, we have implemented a multidisciplinary model, aiming for a comprehensive management of VT patients. Programmed ventricular stimulation was used to assess acute outcome. Primary end points were VT recurrence and the occurrence of cardiac and sudden cardiac death. Overall, 528 patients were treated by ablation (634 procedures; 1–4 procedures per patient). Among 482 tested with programmed ventricular stimulation after the last procedure, a class A result (noninducibility of any VT) was obtained in 371 patients (77%), class B (inducibility of nondocumented VT) in 12.4%, and class C (inducibility of index VT) in 10.6%. After a median follow-up time of 26 months, VT recurred in 164 (34.1%) of 472 patients. VT recurrence was documented in 28.6% of patients with a class A result versus 39.6% of patients with class B and 66.7% with class C result (log-rank
P
<0.001). The incidence of cardiac mortality was lower in class A patients than in those with class B and class C (8.4% versus 18.5% versus 22%, respectively; log-rank
P
=0.002). On the basis of multivariate analysis, postprocedural inducibility of index VT was independently associated both with VT recurrence (hazard ratio, 4.030;
P
<0.001) and with cardiac mortality (hazard ratio, 2.099;
P
=0.04).

Conclusions—

Within a dedicated VT unit, catheter ablation prevents long-term VT recurrences, which may favorably affect survival in a large number of patients who have VT.
Renin Inhibition Reverses Renal Disease in Transgenic Mice by Shifting the Balance Between Profibrotic and Antifibrotic Agents
Authors: Kavvadas Panagiotis , Weis Lise , Abed Ahmed B. , Feldman David L. , Dussaule Jean-Claude , Chatziantoniou Christos
Published: February 2013

Aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, is a novel antihypertensive drug. To study whether aliskiren can reverse chronic kidney disease, we administered it to renin transgenic mice, a strain characterized by elevated blood pressure and a slow decline of renal function, mimicking well the progression of hypertensive chronic kidney disease. Ten-month-old transgenic mice were treated either with aliskiren or placebo for 28 days. Age-matched wild-type mice treated or not with aliskiren were considered as normotensive controls. Aliskiren reduced blood pressure to wild-type levels from as early as day 14. Proteinuria and cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were also normalized. Renal interstitial fibrosis and inflammation were significantly ameliorated in aliskiren-treated mice (shown by the decrease of proinflammatory and profibrotic markers), and the phenotypes of tubular epithelial cells and podocytes were restored as evidenced by the reappearance of cellular proteins characteristic of normal phenotype of these cells. Profibrotic p38 and Erk mitogen-activated protein kinases were highly activated in placebo-treated transgenic animals. Aliskiren treatment cancelled this activation. This nephroprotection was not attributed to the antihypertensive activity of aliskiren, because blood pressure normalization after treatment with hydralazine failed to induce the regression of renal fibrosis. Direct inhibition of renin can restore renal function and structure in aged hypertensive animals with existing proteinuria. This finding suggests that, in addition to antihypertensive action, aliskiren can be also used to treat chronic kidney disease.
Optogenetic Stimulation of C1 and Retrotrapezoid Nucleus Neurons Causes Sleep State–Dependent Cardiorespiratory Stimulation and Arousal in Rats
Authors: Abbott Stephen B.G. , Coates Melissa B. , Stornetta Ruth L. , Guyenet Patrice G.
Published: February 2013

C1 catecholaminergic neurons and neurons of the retrotrapezoid nucleus are integrative nodes within the brain stem network regulating cardiorespiratory reflexes elicited by hypoxia and hypercapnia, stimuli that also produce arousal from sleep. In the present study, Channelrhodopsin-2 was selectively introduced into these neurons with a lentiviral vector to determine whether their selective activation also produces arousal in sleeping rats. Sleep stages were identified from electroencephalographic and neck muscle electromyographic recordings. Breathing was measured using unrestrained whole body plethysmography and blood pressure by telemetry. During nonrapid eye movement sleep, unilateral photostimulation of the C1 region caused arousal in 83.0±14.7% of trials and immediate and intense cardiorespiratory activation. Arousal during photostimulation was also observed during rapid eye movement sleep (41.9±5.6% of trials), but less reliably than during nonrapid eye movement sleep. The cardiorespiratory responses elicited by photostimulation were dramatically smaller during rapid eye movement sleep than nonrapid eye movement sleep or wakefulness. Systemic α1-adrenoreceptor blockade reduced the cardiorespiratory effects of photostimulation but had no effect on the arousal caused by photostimulation during nonrapid eye movement sleep. Postmortem histology showed that neurons expressing Channelrhodopsin 2–mCherry were predominantly catecholaminergic (81%). These results show that selective activation of C1 and retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons produces state-dependent arousal and cardiorespiratory stimulation. These neurons, which are powerfully activated by chemoreceptor stimulation, may contribute to the sleep disruption associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
Two new species of cascudinhos of the genus Otothyropsis (Siluriformes: Hypoptopomatinae) from the rio Paraná basin, Brazil
Authors: CALEGARI BÁRBARA B. , A. PABLO LEHMANN , REIS ROBERTO E
Published: February 2013

Otothyropsis polyodon, sp. n., and O. biamnicus, sp. n., two new species of loricariid catfishes are described from the rio Paraná basin. Otothyropsis biamnicus and O. polyodon differ from two other Otothyropsis by having a longer caudal peduncle, middle series of lateral plates complete and with higher number of plates, and the anterior margin of the mesethmoid not covered by median rostral plate ventrally. The new species differ from each other in that O. polyodon have a longer pectoral-fin spine and a greater number of premaxillary and dentary teeth. Otothyropsis polyodon was collected in the rio Verde, tributary to the upper rio Paraná basin, and O. biamnicus is found in both the rio Iguaçu and rio Tibagi basins. A key for the species of Otothyropsis is presented and their relationships and geographical distributions are discussed.
New species of the genus Colobostema Enderlein (Diptera: Scatopsidae) from Mexico
Authors: HUERTA HERON
Published: February 2013

Five new species of the genus Colobostema Enderlein, 1926 from Mexico are described and illustrated: C. emilianoi (Chiapas), C. marielae (San Luis Potosi), C. valentinae (Jalisco), C. lupitae (Oaxaca) and C. marlettae (Yucatan). A key to the males of Neotropical species of Colobostema is provided. The male genitalia structures (especially the vestiture of parameres and the shape of tergite 9) indicates that all these new species form a group of closely related taxa, associated to the species of the Nearctic and Neotropical region.
Association Between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Coronary Artery Disease Complexity in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Ağaç Mustafa Tarık , Korkmaz Levent , Çavuşoğlu Gökhan , Karadeniz Ayşe Gül , Ağaç Süret , Bektas Hüseyin , Erkan Hakan , Varol Mustafa Oguz , Vatan Mehmet Bulent , Acar Zeydin , Menteşe Ümit , Çelik Şükrü
Published: February 2013

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We assessed the association between NAFLD and SYNTAX Score (SS) in patients with ACS. Eighty consecutive patients with ACS were enrolled. Patients were evaluated using ultrasound to detect NAFLD and hepatosteatosis stage. The prevalence of NAFLD was 81.2%; median SS was 15. The SS was significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (18 ± 8 vs. 11 ± 5, P = .001). Univariate analysis showed that the stage of NAFLD correlated with SS ( r = .6, P < .001). In multivariate binary logistic analysis, increased age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.00-1.10) and presence of NAFLD (OR, 13.20; 95% CI, 2.52-69.15) were independent factors associated with supramedian SS. In conclusion, among patients with ACS, those with NAFLD have more complex CAD as assessed by SS.
Corporate Dystopia
Authors: Alzola Miguel
Published: February 2013

This article is concerned with the moral permissibility of corporate political activities under the existing legal framework in the United States. The author unpacks and examines the standard case for and against the involvement of business in lobbying and electoral activities. And the author provides six objections against the standard arguments and proposes that the wrongness of corporate political activities does not have much to do with its potential social consequences but rather with nonconsequentialist considerations. The author’s ultimate aim is to make sense of the intuition that corporate political spending is morally objectionable. The author argues that his case against corporate political spending fares better than the standard case. What is wrong with the current system of regulation of corporate lobbying and campaign finance is that it is inconsistent with the principles of political equality and consent. By taking advantage of this unfair regulatory framework, business firms are making a contribution to undermine the basis of a robust democratic regime at both the societal and the corporate level.
Effects of a worksite weight-control programme in obese male workers: A randomized controlled crossover trial
Authors: Iriyama Yae , Murayama Nobuko
Published: February 2013

Objective:

We conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial to evaluate the effects of a new worksite weight-control programme designed for men with or at risk of obesity using a combination of nutrition education and nutrition environmental interventions.

Subjects and methods:

Male workers with or at risk of obesity were recruited for this study at five worksites in Niigata City, Japan, of whom 57 were analysed (intervention group, n = 28, mean age 45.5 years; control group, n = 29, 46.0 years). The intervention group received a six-month programme consisting of nutrition education and the provision of healthy cafeteria meals along with nutritional information, which was thereafter repeated in the control group in a crossover design. At six months and one year after programme entry, primary outcome measures including body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood biochemistry were evaluated.

Results:

At the one-year follow-up, the intervention group had significantly greater reductions in BW, BMI, and alanine aminotransferase than the control group ( p = 0.017, p = 0.017, and p = 0.860, respectively).

Conclusion:

The effects of the six-month weight-control programme incorporating nutrition education and nutrition environmental interventions were maintained to the one-year follow-up, resulting in significant differences in relevant parameters between intervention and control groups.
Do the duration and frequency of physical education predict academic achievement, self-concept, social skills, food consumption, and body mass index?
Authors: Simms Kathryn , Bock Sara , Hackett Lewis
Published: February 2013

Objective:

Prior research on the efficacy of physical education has been conducted in a piecemeal fashion. More specifically, studies typically test a single benefit hypothesized to be associated with physical education (e.g. body mass index [BMI]) while excluding others (e.g. social skills) and not controlling for important confounds (e.g. diet). Such research designs have precluded a comprehensive evaluation of physical education, and may also help explain mixed findings reported in the literature. The purpose of this study, then, was to re-evaluate the efficacy of participation in physical education through a more robust model that considers BMI, academic achievement, self-concept, and social skills while controlling for poor diet and out-of-school activities (i.e. television viewing, sleep, and general activity levels).

Design, Setting, and Method:

Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted on data derived from a sample of 10,210 fifth graders in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study.

Results:

Nationwide, 68% of fifth graders participated in physical education one or two days per week. Physical education was positively associated with academic achievement (effect size = .10), and negatively associated with both low self-concept (effect size = .06) and less healthy food choices (i.e. sugar-sweetened beverages, potatoes, and fast food; effect size = .11). However, participation in physical education was not associated with BMI or teacher-reported social skills.

Conclusion:

 Even at the low ‘dosages’ reported, physical education is associated with improved mental health, dietary choices, and academic achievement.
Wasted potential: The role of higher education institutions in supporting safe, sensible and social drinking among students
Authors: Orme Judy , Coghill Nikki
Published: February 2013

Setting:

The United Kingdom (UK) government has acknowledged that there is a problem with excess alcohol consumption, in particular amongst young people. Higher education is an important health promotion setting in which to explore not only how sensible drinking patterns can be facilitated and embedded in students’ current lifestyles but also how students, as future citizens, can inform policies which, in turn, will impact on future populations.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore and disseminate current practice relating to the promotion of sensible drinking amongst students attending higher education institutions (HEIs) in the south west of England. Along with the identification of examples of current practice, the study aimed to identify current issues and concerns relating to alcohol consumption amongst students.

Method:

Survey data from HEIs across the south west of England were gathered using questionnaires to key respondents in each institution. To further investigate what information on sensible drinking is available for students, an electronic search was made of each of the HEI’s websites for relevant materials, initiatives and policies.

Results:

The HEIs involved in this study used a wide range of approaches and initiatives related to sensible drinking amongst their students. All of these contribute towards encouraging a culture of safer and more sensible drinking-related behaviour amongst students, and towards an emerging body of good practice.

Conclusion:

With the backdrop of the government’s alcohol strategy, and the evidence linking excessive alcohol consumption to less productive student learning, recommendations are made to enhance this work in a more coordinated and sustainable way.
Cost analysis of chronic disease self-management programmes being delivered in South Florida
Authors: Page Timothy F , Palmer Richard C
Published: February 2013

Background:

Chronic disease accounts for the majority of healthcare costs. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) has been shown to be effective in reducing the burden of chronic disease.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to measure the cost of delivering the Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) in order to determine whether it has the potential to produce a net cost saving among elderly residents of South Florida.

Methods:

Cost data were collected from four agencies participating in the delivery of CDSMP workshops in South Florida. Information on healthcare cost savings were obtained from the literature and updated to current dollars. Questionnaires were emailed to programme coordinators from agencies participating in the delivery of CDSMP workshops. Questionnaires were returned via email. Costs were computed from the perspective of the participating agencies.

Results:

Costs for implementation per programme participant were US$204. These average costs are below the US$1,381 healthcare cost reductions documented in the literature during the first year following programme participation.

Conclusion:

Results suggest the potential effectiveness of CDSMP in reducing healthcare costs among elderly residents of South Florida. This has implications for the further dissemination and sustainability of evidence-based programmes for seniors. An evaluation of outcomes among the South Florida population is needed.
Breast self-examination beliefs and practices, ethnicity, and health literacy: Implications for health education to reduce disparities
Authors: Armin Julie , Torres Cristina Huebner , Vivian James , Vergara Cunegundo , Shaw Susan J
Published: February 2013

Objective:

This study aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively examine breast cancer screening practices, including breast self-examination (BSE), and health literacy among patients with chronic disease.

Design:

A prospective, multi-method study conducted with a targeted purposive sample of 297 patients with diabetes and/or hypertension from four ethnic groups (Latino, Vietnamese, African American, White-American) at an urban community health center.

Setting:

A federally qualified health center in Western Massachusetts.

Methods:

In our four-year study, 297 participants completed cancer knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and screening utilization scales and measures of health literacy. In addition to survey data collection, we conducted in-depth interviews, focus groups, home visits, and chronic disease diaries ( n = 71).

Results:

In focus groups, African American, Vietnamese and Latina participants offered interviewers an unprompted demonstration of BSE, reported regular BSE use at particular times of the month, and shared positive feelings about the screening method. In a sample where approximately 93% of women have had a mammogram, many also had performed BSE (85.2%). Women with adequate health literacy were more likely than those with inadequate health literacy to rely on it. Despite being positively inclined toward BSE, Vietnamese women, who had the lowest health literacy scores in our sample, were less likely to perform BSE regularly.

Conclusions:

BSE seemed to be an appealing self-care practice for many women in our study, but we conclude that proper BSE practices may not be reinforced equally across ethnic groups and among patients with low health literacy.
‘What do these words mean?’: A qualitative approach to explore oral health literacy in Vietnamese immigrant mothers in Australia
Authors: Arora Amit , Nguyen Deon , Do Quang Vinh , Nguyen Bao , Hilton Glen , Do Loc Giang , Bhole Sameer
Published: February 2013

Objective:

This study, nested within a large cohort study, sought to explore how well Vietnamese mothers with pre-school children understood the dental health education material commonly available in New South Wales, Australia.

Design:

Qualitative research.

Setting:

Home-based interviews.

Method:

Vietnamese-speaking mothers ( n = 24) with young children were provided with two dental leaflets which gave advice on health behaviours in English and Vietnamese for comparison. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic coding.

Results:

Mothers generally reported that the English leaflets were difficult to read due to their lower levels of English literacy skills. Although the mothers preferred leaflets in their native language, they noted that it did not completely reflect the Vietnamese culture. Mothers recommended pictorial presentations for immigrants to improve understanding.

Conclusions:

The consistency of our findings suggest that health education leaflets should be provided to parents in their first language with use of illustrations to improve understanding, and that producers of health education leaflets should consider cultural differences in translation.
World-system position and democracy, 1972–2008
Authors: Clark Rob
Published: February 2013

Global levels of democracy are higher than ever before, and democratic principles are now institutionalized as a world cultural norm. Nevertheless, a number of countries continue to feature governing systems that restrict political rights. Against this backdrop, I revisit traditional claims by world-system theory regarding the impact of the core/periphery hierarchy on national political systems. In doing so, I draw attention to the uneven character of democratic growth across world-system zones. Using an updated trichotomous measure of world-system position, and drawing from Freedom House and Polity IV ratings of democracy, I construct an annual time-series dataset producing a maximum of 5445 observations across 161 countries during the 1972–2008 period. Employing a series of random-effects tobit models with year-by-covariate interaction terms, I compare democratic growth among nations in the core, semiperiphery, and periphery. The results indicate significant gaps in democracy between core and non-core nations that are not dissipating over time, and that are perhaps growing slightly larger. In a series of robustness checks, I find that using an alternative measure of world-system position, an alternative measure of democracy, and an alternative estimation strategy produce similar results. In sum, despite the global spread of democracy, world-system boundaries remain fundamental in hindering cross-national convergence.
Thinking globally about inequality and stratification: Wages across the world, 1982–2009
Authors: Korzeniewicz Roberto Patricio , Albrecht Scott
Published: February 2013

There are many contending paradigms in the study of inequality and stratification, with little dialogue across empirical, methodological and theoretical divides. To bridge some of these gaps, this article presents and analyzes a new dataset on urban wages across the world. The data provide compelling evidence that national residence has been a significant and stable force shaping wage distribution. But the data also indicate that some occupations (e.g. tradable-good producers in low-wage regions) have experienced significant upward mobility. These processes highlight the need to critically reassess how the categories of ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ are mobilized to justify global inequality.
Determinants of early retirement preferences in Europe: The role of grandparenthood
Authors: Hochman Oshrat , Lewin-Epstein Noah
Published: February 2013

Various family characteristics are acknowledged as important determinants of retirement preferences. Yet, the relevance of the third family generation – the grandchildren – has been largely overlooked. In this article we bring the association between grandparenthood and retirement preferences to the fore. We expect to find such a relationship for two main reasons: first, rising participation rates in the labor market, especially among mothers, increases the need for childcare which, in some countries, is only partially provided by the state. Second, for many people grandparenthood marks the transition to a new phase in the life-course, implying new role-identities. We thus expect grandparenthood to decrease anxieties associated with retirement and with the potential loss of one’s role-identity as a working person. We test the association between grandparenthood and retirement preferences using data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The findings confirm that grandparenthood increases an individual’s chances of looking forward to retiring early, thus supporting the claim that individuals’ lives are linked to the lives of their family members. Contrary to expectations, the association of grandparenthood with retirement preferences is particularly strong in countries that provide extensive childcare support.
Involvement in Transition Planning Meetings Among High School Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Griffin Megan M. , Taylor Julie Lounds , Urbano Richard C. , Hodapp Robert M.
Published: February 2013

Although students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are least likely to attend and participate in transition planning meetings, little is known about factors related to their involvement. Using a national data set, we conducted regressions to identify predictors of the involvement of 320 youth with ASD. Attendance positively related to higher expressive language skills, greater time spent in general education, and more frequent discussions about postschool plans at home. Attendance negatively related to greater parent involvement at school. Active participation was shown by students who had higher self-advocacy skills, spent more time in general education, and more often discussed postschool plans at home. Active participants were also more likely to be younger and Caucasian. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Racial and Ethnic Cultural Factors in the Process of Acceptance of Mental Illness
Authors: Mizock Lauren , Russinova Zlatka
Published: February 2013

Acceptance of mental illness is essential to promoting recovery and is uniquely impacted by issues of culture, race, and ethnicity. Qualitative case narrative methodology was used to identify themes related to the cultural facilitators and barriers in the acceptance process. Five participant narratives are presented to assist practitioners in applying these findings to rehabilitation counseling. Selected case narratives represent participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to illustrate cultural facilitators and barriers in the acceptance process. Implications are suggested for culturally responsive counseling and research pertaining to the process of acceptance of mental illness.
Quantifying the Tacit: The Imitation Game and Social Fluency
Authors: Collins Harry , Evans Robert
Published: February 2013

This article describes a new research method called the Imitation Game. The method is based on the idea of ‘interactional expertise’, which distinguishes discursive performance from practical expertise and can be used to investigate the relationship between groups that diverge culturally or experientially. We explain the theory that underpins the method and report results from a number of empirical trials. These include ‘proof of concept’ research with the colour blind, the blind and those with perfect pitch, as well as Imitation Games on more conventional sociological topics such as the social relationships between men and women, homosexuals and heterosexuals, and active Christians and secular students. These studies demonstrate the potential of the method and its distinctive features. We conclude by suggesting that the Imitation Game could complement existing techniques by providing a new way to compare social relationships across social and temporal distances in both a qualitative and a quantitative way.
Are Couples with Young Children More Likely to Split Up When the Mother is the Main or an Equal Earner?
Authors: Kanji Shireen , Schober Pia
Published: February 2013

This study examines how a mother being the main or an equal earner impacts the relationship stability of heterosexual couple parents, using the UK’s Millennium Cohort Survey. Various theories alternatively predict that such couples experience a higher or lower risk of divorce than male-breadwinner couples. Alternatively the characteristics of these couples may predispose them to relatively higher or lower relationship stability than male-breadwinner couples. Using piecewise constant exponential event history models, we test these propositions between key stages in a child’s life: baby, toddler, school entry and age seven. In some periods, a mother being the main or an equal earner is associated with a lower risk of relationship breakdown than for male-breadwinner couples, and more so within cohabiting than married couples. However, there is a strong tendency for couples to shift over time from mothers being main or equal earners to a male-breadwinner arrangement.
Contradictions at Work: A Critical Review
Authors: McGovern Patrick
Published: February 2013

Despite significant achievements in empirical research, considerable unease exists about the lack of conceptual and theoretical debate within the sociology of work. One potentially significant problem is the uncritical use of concepts that have their origins in Marxism and purport to explain the essential features of the employment relationship. Using evidence from a systematic review of four highly ranked British journals I chart the growing influence of the concept of contradiction, notably within the labour process perspective where it has become a key concept, especially in relation to the problem of labour control.

In spite of its popularity, I argue that the concept contains two sets of flaws. The first set, which relate to its utility as a concept, include problems of logic, differentiation and operationalization. The second set relate to the substantive use of the concept, especially its dependence on supporting assumptions, and its expectation of social change. The article concludes by calling for a moratorium on further usage.
The Natural Rate of Unemployment Hypothesis and the Evolution of Regional Disparities in Spanish Unemployment
Authors: Bande Roberto , Karanassou Marika
Published: February 2013

On both theoretical and empirical grounds, this paper demonstrates that the natural rate of unemployment (NRU) cannot explain the evolution of regional unemployment disparities in Spain. The analytical framework of the chain reaction theory (CRT) of unemployment argues that an interactive labour market system, rather than a single-equation model, is better equipped to accommodate unemployment dynamics and that unemployment does not gravitate towards its NRU due to the interplay of frictions and growth. Two groups of high and low unemployment regions are identified with substantial disparities that remain stable in their composition through time. Evaluating the natural rates for each group of regions, it is confirmed that regional unemployment disparities cannot be attributed to disparities in the NRUs. Thus, instead of focusing on the determinants of the NRU, an appraisal of the contributions of the exogenous variables to the unemployment trajectory should take hold in policy-making.
Challenges and Success of Recruiting and Retention for a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Prevention Program for Adults of Mexican Descent
Authors: Vincent Deborah , McEwen Marylyn M. , Hepworth Joseph T. , Stump Craig S.
Published: February 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe methods used to recruit and retain high-risk, Spanish-speaking adults of Mexican origin in a randomized clinical trial that adapts Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) content into a community-based, culturally tailored intervention.

Methods

Multiple passive and active recruitment strategies were analyzed for effectiveness in reaching the recruitment goal. Of 91 potential participants assessed for eligibility, 58 participated in the study, with 38 in the intervention and 20 in the attention control group. The American Diabetes Association Risk Assessment Questionnaire, body mass index, and casual capillary blood glucose measures were used to determine eligibility.

Results

The recruitment goal of 50 individuals was met. Healthy living diabetes prevention presentations conducted at churches were the most successful recruiting strategy. The retention goal of 20 individuals was met for the intervention group. Weekly reminder calls were made by the promotora to each intervention participant, and homework assignments were successful in facilitating participant engagement.

Conclusions

A community advisory board made significant and crucial contributions to the recruitment strategies and refinement of the intervention. Results support the feasibility of adapting the DPP into a community-based intervention for reaching adults of Mexican origin at high risk for developing diabetes.
Moral emotion attributions and personality traits as long-term predictors of antisocial conduct in early adulthood
Authors: Krettenauer Tobias , Asendorpf Jens B. , Nunner-Winkler Gertrud
Published: February 2013

The study investigated long-term relations between moral emotion attributions in childhood and adolescence and antisocial conduct in early adulthood while taking into account potentially confounding personality factors. Specifically, onset of prediction, unique and indirect effects of moral emotion attributions were examined. In a longitudinal study of 143 children (67 females), measures of moral emotion attributions, conscientiousness and agreeableness were obtained at the ages of 4–7, 11–12, 18 and 23 years. Antisocial conduct was assessed at the age of 23 years. Moral emotion attributions predicted antisocial behavior not before late adolescence. This effect was independent of conscientiousness and agreeableness. Moreover, moral emotion attributions indirectly contributed to the prediction of antisocial conduct by predicting change in conscientiousness. Overall, findings suggest that the emotions adolescents anticipate in the context of (im)moral actions contribute to development of antisocial conduct independently of personality traits.
Face-scanning behavior to silently-talking faces in 12-month-old infants: The impact of pre-exposed auditory speech
Authors: Kubicek Claudia , de Boisferon Anne Hillairet , Dupierrix Eve , Lœvenbruck Hélène , Gervain Judit , Schwarzer Gudrun
Published: February 2013

The present eye-tracking study aimed to investigate the impact of auditory speech information on 12-month-olds’ gaze behavior to silently-talking faces. We examined German infants’ face-scanning behavior to side-by-side presentation of a bilingual speaker’s face silently speaking German utterances on one side and French on the other side, before and after auditory familiarization with one of the two languages. The results showed that 12-month-old infants showed no general visual preference for either of the visual speeches, neither before nor after auditory input. But, infants who heard native speech decreased their looking time to the mouth area and focused longer on the eyes compared to their scanning behavior without auditory language input, whereas infants who heard non-native speech increased their visual attention on the mouth region and focused less on the eyes. Thus, it can be assumed that 12-month-olds quickly identified their native language based on auditory speech and guided their visual attention more to the eye region than infants who have listened to non-native speech.
Systematic review of atomoxetine data in childhood and adolescent attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder 2009–2011: Focus on clinical efficacy and safety
Authors: Bushe Chris J , Savill Nicola C
Published: February 2013

Background:

Clinicians obtain critical prescribing knowledge from clinical papers and review articles. This is the first published systematic review of clinical atomoxetine data covering 2009–2011.

Objective:

We aim to update clinicians on current clinical atomoxetine data with specific reference to time of onset of efficacy and maximal efficacy. These data may allow critical analysis of comparative efficacy between atomoxetine and stimulant medications.

Methods:

A formal systematic review of atomoxetine data from January 2009–June 2011 was conducted. The search term used was “atomoxetine” in the English language. The search yielded 747 citations from which 106 are clinical data. This paper includes clinical efficacy and safety data and excludes quality-of-life and review papers.

Results:

Atomoxetine has an onset of action within 4 weeks (possibly within 1 week in subsequent responders) but requires at least 12 weeks for full response to be demonstrated. Treatment-naïve cohorts (6–12 weeks) report effect sizes of 0.6–1.3. Using minimum 6-week clinical trial criteria, atomoxetine may demonstrate similar efficacy to methylphenidate comparing reduction in core ADHD symptoms in meta-analysis, although the diversity of the data makes interpretation complex. From epidemiological databases, cardiovascular and suicide-related events were similar to those seen in patients taking methylphenidate.

Conclusions:

Incremental response time to atomoxetine should be considered in the design of future comparative efficacy trials.
On the mechanics of natural compliance in frictional contacts and its effect on grasp stiffness and stability
Authors: Shapiro Amir , Rimon Elon , Ohev-Zion Alon
Published: February 2013

This paper considers the effect of natural material compliance on the stiffness and stability of frictional multi-contact grasps and fixtures. The contact preload profile is a key parameter in the nonlinear compliance laws governing such contacts. The paper introduces the Hertz–Walton contact compliance model which is valid for linear contact loading profiles. The model is specified in a lumped parameter form suitable for on-line grasping applications, and is entirely determined by the contact friction and by the material and geometric properties of the contacting bodies. The model predicts an asymmetric stiffening of the tangential reaction force as the normal load at the contact increases. As a result, the composite stiffness matrix of multi-contact grasps governed by natural compliance effects is asymmetric, indicating that these contact arrangements are not governed by any potential energy function. Based on the compliant grasp dynamics, the paper derives rules indicating which contact point locations and what preload profiles guarantee grasp and fixture stability. The paper also describes preliminary experiments supporting the contact model predictions.
Synergy-based hand pose sensing: Reconstruction enhancement
Authors: Bianchi Matteo , Salaris Paolo , Bicchi Antonio
Published: February 2013

Many applications in human–machine interfaces, information visualization, rehabilitation and entertainment require hand pose reconstruction systems that are both accurate and economic. Unfortunately, economically and ergonomically viable sensing gloves provide limited precision due to the imperfect and incomplete correspondence of sensing models with the anatomical degrees of freedom of the human hand, and because of measurement noise. This paper examines the problem of optimally estimating the posture of a human hand using non-ideal sensing gloves. The main idea is to maximize their performance by exploiting knowledge of how humans most frequently use their hands. To increase the accuracy of pose reconstruction without modifying the glove hardware — hence basically at no extra cost — we propose the collection, organization, and exploitation of information on the probabilistic distribution of human hand poses in common tasks. We discuss how a database of such a priori information can be built, represented in a hierarchy of correlation patterns or postural synergies, and fused with glove data in a consistent way, so as to provide good hand pose reconstruction in spite of insufficient and inaccurate sensing data. Simulations and experiments on a low-cost glove are reported which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
Fourier collision detection
Authors: Lysenko Mikola
Published: February 2013

We investigate a new approach to narrowphase collision detection for rigid objects based on a Fourier series expansion. This new collision test scales with respect to accuracy (in the Hausdorff sense), which we show rigorously in the case of translational motions. Because our new form of the collision test is also a smooth inequality, it can be used as a holonomic unilateral constraint in many applications, such as path planning, rigid body dynamics, nesting or tool placement, replacing the need for more ad-hoc normal/contact-based constraint solvers. Moreover, we also show how this constraint can be directly differentiated via Fourier multipliers with only a constant factor overhead, which leads to a simple method for constructing a Jacobian for both normal forces and rotational torques.
Altered pain perception in children with chronic tension-type headache: Is this a sign of central sensitisation?
Authors: Soee Ann-Britt L , Thomsen Lise L , Kreiner Svend , Tornoe Birte , Skov Liselotte
Published: February 2013

Aim

The aim of this article is to investigate if children (7–17 years) with frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) or chronic TTH (CTTH) have an altered pain perception compared to healthy controls.

Methods

We applied a pressure of five increasing intensities to m. trapezius and m. temporalis with a Somedic Algometer II. Visual analogue scale-score was rated and area under the curve (AUC) calculated. An average AUC in each person was used as an outcome variable in further univariate multiple linear regression analysis because factor analysis showed that AUC represents only one dimension underlying both muscles.

Results

Participants included 22 children with FETTH, 36 children with CTTH and 57 controls. The CTTH group had a significantly higher AUC compared to the control group ( p < 0.001). The FETTH group represented an intermediate state. AUC did not change with increasing age, headache years, headache intensity, headache frequency or sex.

Conclusion

Children with CTTH show significantly increased pain sensitivity in a range of pressures compared to the FETTH group and the controls. Since AUC in m. trapezius and m. temporalis represents only one general latent tenderness, it might indicate that the altered pain perception is mainly due to central sensitisation.