bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melatonin attenuates the vestibulosympathetic but not vestibulocollic reflexes in humans: selective impairment of the utricles
Authors: Cook Jonathan S. , Ray Chester A.
Published: September 2010

Melatonin has been reported to decrease nerve activity of medial vestibular nuclei in the rat and is associated with attenuated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) responses to baroreceptor unloading in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine if melatonin alters the vestibulosympathetic reflex (VSR) and vestibulocollic reflex (VCR) in humans. In study 1, MSNA, arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were measured in 12 healthy subjects (28 ± 1 yr; 6 men, 6 women) during head-down rotation (HDR) before and 45 min after ingestion of either melatonin (3 mg) or placebo (sucrose). Subjects returned at least 2 days later at the same time of day to repeat the trial after ingesting the opposite treatment (melatonin or placebo). Melatonin significantly attenuated MSNA responses during HDR compared with placebo (burst frequency Δ 4 ± 1 vs. Δ 7 ± 1 bursts/min, and total MSNA Δ 51 ± 20 and Δ 96 ± 15%, respectively; P < 0.02). In study 2, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) were measured in 10 healthy subjects (26 ± 1 yr; 4 men and 6 women) before and after ingestion of 3 mg melatonin. Melatonin did not alter the timing of the p13 and n23 peaks (pre-melatonin 13.2 ± 0.4 and 21.3 ± 0.6 ms vs. post-melatonin 13.5 ± 0.4 and 21.4 ± 0.7 ms, respectively) or the p13-n23 interpeak amplitudes [pre-melatonin 22.5 ± 4.6 arbitrary units (au) and post-melatonin 22.7 ± 4.6 au]. In summary, melatonin attenuates the VSR and supports the concept that melatonin negatively affects orthostatic tolerance. However, melatonin does not alter the VCR in humans suggesting melatonin's effect on the VSR appears to be mediated by the utricles.
HISS, not insulin, causes vasodilation in response to administered insulin
Authors: Ming Zhi , Lautt W. Wayne
Published: September 2010

Meal-induced sensitization to the dynamic actions of insulin results from the peripheral actions of a hormone released by the liver (hepatic insulin sensitizing substance or HISS). Absence of meal-induced insulin sensitization results in the pathologies associated with cardiometabolic risk. Using three protocols that have previously demonstrated HISS metabolic action, we tested the hypothesis that HISS accounts for the vasodilation that has been associated with insulin. The dynamic metabolic actions of insulin and HISS were determined using a euglycemic clamp in response to a bolus of 100 mU/kg insulin in pentobarbital-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Hindlimb blood flow was measured with an ultrasound flow probe on the aorta above the bifurcation of the iliac arteries. Fed rats showed tightly coupled metabolic and vascular responses, which were completed by 35 min after insulin administration. Blocking HISS release, with the use of atropine or hepatic surgical denervation, eliminated the HISS-dependent metabolic and vascular responses to insulin administration. Physiological suppression of HISS release occurs with fasting. In 24-h fasted rats, HISS metabolic and vascular actions were absent, and atropine had no effect on either action. Fed rats with liver denervation did not release HISS, but intraportal venous infusion of acetylcholine, to mimic the permissive parasympathetic nerve signal, restored the ability of insulin to cause HISS release and restored both the metabolic and vascular actions. These studies report vascular actions of HISS for the first time and demonstrate that HISS, not insulin action, results in the peripheral vasodilation generally attributed to insulin.
Transversal stiffness of fibers and desmin content in leg muscles of rats under gravitational unloading of various durations
Authors: Ogneva I. V.
Published: September 2010

The aim of this research was the analysis of structural changes in various parts of the sarcolemma and contractile apparatus of muscle fibers by measuring their transversal stiffness by atomic force microscopy under gravitational unloading. Soleus, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles of Wistar rats were the objects of the study. Gravitational unloading was carried out by antiorthostatic suspension of hindlimbs for 1, 3, 7, and 12 days. It was shown that the transversal stiffness of different parts of the contractile apparatus of soleus muscle fibers decreases during gravitational unloading in the relaxed, calcium-activated, and rigor states, the fibers of the medial gastrocnemius show no changes, whereas the transversal stiffness of tibialis anterior muscle increases. Thus the transversal stiffness of the sarcolemma in the relaxed state is reduced in all muscles, which may be due to the direct action of gravity as an external mechanical factor that can influence the tension on a membrane. The change of sarcolemma stiffness in activated fibers, which is due probably to the transfer of tension from the contractile apparatus, correlates with the dynamics of changes in the content of desmin.
Evaluation of a 30-Gene Paclitaxel, Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, and Cyclophosphamide Chemotherapy Response Predictor in a Multicenter Randomized Trial in Breast Cancer
Authors: Tabchy Adel , Valero Vicente , Vidaurre Tatiana , Lluch Ana , Gomez Henry , Martin Miguel , Qi Yuan , Barajas-Figueroa Luis Javier , Souchon Eduardo , Coutant Charles , Doimi Franco D. , Ibrahim Nuhad K. , Gong Yun , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Hess Kenneth R. , Symmans W. Fraser , Pusztai Lajos
Published: September 2010

Purpose: We examined in a prospective, randomized, international clinical trial the performance of a previously defined 30-gene predictor (DLDA-30) of pathologic complete response (pCR) to preoperative weekly paclitaxel and fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (T/FAC) chemotherapy, and assessed if DLDA-30 also predicts increased sensitivity to FAC-only chemotherapy. We compared the pCR rates after T/FAC versus FACx6 preoperative chemotherapy. We also did an exploratory analysis to identify novel candidate genes that differentially predict response in the two treatment arms.

Experimental Design: Two hundred and seventy-three patients were randomly assigned to receive either weekly paclitaxel × 12 followed by FAC × 4 (T/FAC, n = 138), or FAC × 6 (n = 135) neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All patients underwent a pretreatment fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the tumor for gene expression profiling and treatment response prediction.

Results: The pCR rates were 19% and 9% in the T/FAC and FAC arms, respectively (P < 0.05). In the T/FAC arm, the positive predictive value (PPV) of the genomic predictor was 38% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 21-56%], the negative predictive value was 88% (95% CI, 77-95%), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.711. In the FAC arm, the PPV was 9% (95% CI, 1-29%) and the AUC was 0.584. This suggests that the genomic predictor may have regimen specificity. Its performance was similar to a clinical variable–based predictor nomogram.

Conclusions: Gene expression profiling for prospective response prediction was feasible in this international trial. The 30-gene predictor can identify patients with greater than average sensitivity to T/FAC chemotherapy. However, it captured molecular equivalents of clinical phenotype. Next-generation predictive markers will need to be developed separately for different molecular subsets of breast cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 16(21); 5351–61. ©2010 AACR.
I-387, a Novel Antimitotic Indole, Displays a Potent In vitro and In vivo Antitumor Activity with Less Neurotoxicity
Authors: Ahn Sunjoo , Duke Charles B. , Barrett Christina M. , Hwang Dong Jin , Li Chien-Ming , Miller Duane D. , Dalton James T.
Published: September 2010

(3-(1H-indol-2-yl)phenyl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone (I-387) is a novel synthetic compound that inhibits tubulin action and exhibits potent antitumor activity in various preclinical models. I-387 inhibited the in vitro growth of several human cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 15 to 39 nmol/L. Nanomolar concentrations of the compound induced apoptosis and caused phosphorylation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. I-387 induced a strong and concentration-dependent G2-M arrest in PC-3 cells by constitutive activation of Cdc2/cyclin B1 complex and destabilized polymerization of purified tubulin in vitro by binding to the colchicine-binding site. In vivo, I-387 treatment effectively inhibited tumor growth in mice bearing PC-3 tumor xenografts. In vitro studies of nerve growth factor–dependent neurite outgrowth in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and in vivo studies of mouse behavior showed that I-387 was less neurotoxic than vinblastine and vincristine, tubulin destabilizers with known neurotoxicity. Interestingly, multidrug-resistant cell lines that overexpressed P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance–associated proteins, and breast cancer resistance protein were rendered resistant to docetaxel, vinblastine, SN-38, and doxorubicin, but not to I-387. I-387 dosed at 10 mg/kg was equally effective with 76% tumor growth inhibition in xenograft models using MES-SA uterine sarcoma cells and MES-SA/DX5 cells overexpressing P-gp. In contrast, docetaxel and vinblastine were not effective in MES-SA/DX5 xenograft models. The potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of I-387 suggests that it may represent a new antimitotic agent for management of various malignancies, particularly for patients with drug-resistant cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(11); 2859–68. ©2010 AACR.
Apolipoprotein CIII Induces Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 and Interleukin 6 Expression Via Toll-Like Receptor 2 Pathway in Mouse Adipocytes: Retracted
Authors: Abe Yasuko , Kawakami Akio , Osaka Mizuko , Uematsu Satoshi , Akira Shizuo , Shimokado Kentaro , Sacks Frank M. , Yoshida Masayuki
Published: September 2010

Objective—

To examine the direct effect of apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) on adipokine expressions that are involved in obesity, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome.

Methods and Results—

ApoCIII in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins is elevated in patients with obesity, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome. Its level is also associated with proinflammatory adipokines. Fully differentiated mouse 3T3L1 adipocytes were incubated with apoCIII. ApoCIII activated nuclear factor ?B of 3T3L1 adipocytes and induced the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1 and interleukin (IL) 6. ApoCIII also activated extracellular signal–regulated kinase and p38. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-1 inhibitor PD98059, but not p38 inhibitor SB203580, inhibited apoCIII-induced upregulation of MCP-1 and IL-6. Previously, it was shown that apoCIII activates proinflammatory signals through toll-like receptor (TLR) 2. TLR2-blocking antibody abolished activation of nuclear factor ?B and extracellular signal–regulated kinase induced by apoCIII and inhibited apoCIII-induced upregulation of MCP-1 and IL-6. ApoCIII also reduced adiponectin expression of 3T3L1 adipocytes, which was recovered by TLR2-blocking antibody. ApoCIII induced the expression of MCP-1 and IL-6 in TLR2-overexpressed human embryonic kidney 293 cells but not wild-type human embryonic kidney 293 cells without TLR2. ApoCIII induced the expression of MCP-1 and IL-6 and decreased adiponectin expression in white adipose tissue of wild-type mice but not of TLR2-deficient mice in vivo.

Conclusion—

ApoCIII may activate extracellular signal–regulated kinase and nuclear factor kB through TLR2 and induce proinflammatory adipokine expression in vitro and in vivo. Thus, apoCIII links dyslipidemia to inflammation in adipocytes, which, in turn, may contribute to atherosclerosis.
α-Lipoic Acid Prevents Neointimal Hyperplasia Via Induction of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/Nur77-Mediated Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Accelerates Postinjury Reendothelialization
Authors: Kim Han-Jong , Kim Joon-Young , Lee Sun Joo , Kim Hye-Jin , Oh Chang Joo , Choi Young-Keun , Lee Hyo-Jeong , Do Ji-Yeon , Kim Sun-Yee , Kwon Taeg-Kyu , Choi Hueng-Sik , Lee Mi-Ock , Park In-Sun , Park Keun-Gyu , Lee Ki-Up , Lee In-Kyu
Published: September 2010

Objective—

To explore whether α-lipoic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring antioxidant, inhibits neointimal hyperplasia by inducing apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells and to examine its potential effects on reendothelialization and platelet aggregation.

Methods and Results—

Restenosis and late stent thrombosis, caused by neointimal hyperplasia and delayed reendothelialization, are significant clinical problems of balloon angioplasty and drug-eluting stents. ALA treatment strongly induced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells and enhanced the expression and cytoplasmic localization of Nur77, which triggers intrinsic apoptotic events. Small interfering RNA–mediated downregulation of Nur77 diminished this proapoptotic effect of ALA. Moreover, ALA increased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, and inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase completely blocked ALA-induced vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and Nur77 induction and cytoplasmic localization. In balloon-injured rat carotid arteries, ALA enhanced Nur77 expression and increased TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells in the neointima, leading to inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia. This preventive effect of ALA was significantly reduced by infection of an adenovirus encoding Nur77 small hairpin (sh)RNA. Furthermore, ALA reduced basal apoptosis of human aortic endothelial cells and accelerated reendothelialization after balloon injury. ALA also suppressed arachidonic acid–induced platelet aggregation.

Conclusion—

ALA could be a promising therapeutic agent to prevent restenosis and late stent thrombosis after angioplasty and drug-eluting stent implantation.
Variability in Timing of Spontaneous Calcium Release in the Intact Rat Heart Is Determined by the Time Course of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Load
Authors: Wasserstrom J. Andrew , Shiferaw Yohannes , Chen Wei , Ramakrishna Satvik , Patel Heetabh , Kelly James E. , O'Toole Matthew J. , Pappas Amanda , Chirayil Nimi , Bassi Nikhil , Akintilo Lisa , Wu Megan , Arora Rishi , Aistrup Gary L.
Published: September 2010

Background:

Abnormalities in intracellular calcium (Ca) cycling during Ca overload can cause triggered activity because spontaneous calcium release (SCR) activates sufficient Ca-sensitive inward currents to induce delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs). However, little is known about the mechanisms relating SCR and triggered activity on the tissue scale.

Methods and Results:

Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to measure the spatiotemporal properties of SCR within large myocyte populations in intact rat heart. Computer simulations were used to predict how these properties of SCR determine DAD magnitude. We measured the average and standard deviation of the latency distribution of SCR within a large population of myocytes in intact tissue. We found that as external [Ca] is increased, and with faster pacing rates, the average and SD of the latency distribution decreases substantially. This result demonstrates that the timing of SCR occurs with less variability as the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca load is increased, causing more sites to release Ca within each cell. We then applied a mathematical model of subcellular Ca cycling to show that a decrease in SCR variability leads to a higher DAD amplitude and is dictated by the rate of SR Ca refilling following an action potential.

Conclusions:

Our results demonstrate that the variability of the timing of SCR in a population of cells in tissue decreases with SR load and is dictated by the time course of the SR Ca content.
Graphic Reanalysis of the Two NINDS-tPA Trials Confirms Substantial Treatment Benefit
Authors: Saver Jeffrey L. , Gornbein Jeffrey , Starkman Sidney
Published: September 2010

Background and Purpose—

Multiple statistical analyses of the 2 NINDS-tPA trials have confirmed study findings of benefit of fibrinolytic therapy. A recent graphic analysis departed from best practices in the visual display of quantitative information by failing to take into account the skewed functional importance of NIH Stroke Scale raw scores and by scaling change axes at up to 20 times the range achievable by individual patients.

Methods—

Using the publicly available datasets of the 2 NINDS-tPA trials, we generated a variety of figures appropriate to the characteristics of acute stroke trial data.

Results—

A diverse array of figures all visually delineated substantial benefits of fibrinolytic therapy, including: bar charts of normalized gain and loss; stacked bar, bar, and matrix plots of clinically relevant ordinal ranks; a time series stacked line plot of continuous scale disability weights; and line plot, bubble chart, and person icon array graphs of joint outcome table analysis. The achievable change figure showed substantially greater improvement among tPA than placebo patients, median 66.7% (interquartile range, 0 to 92.0) versus 50.0% (interquartile range, −7.1 to 80.0),
P
=0.003.

Conclusions—

On average, under 3 hour patients treated with tPA recovered two-thirds while placebo patients improved only half of the way toward fully normal. Graphical analyses of the 2 NINDS-tPA trials, when performed according to best practices, is a useful means of conveying details about patient response to therapy not fully delineated by summary statistics, and confirms a valuable treatment benefit of under 3 hour fibrinolytic therapy in acute stroke.
Childhood Posterior Circulation Arterial Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Mackay Mark T. , Prabhu Sanjay P. , Coleman Lee
Published: September 2010

Background and Purpose—

Limited data exist on childhood posterior circulation arterial ischemic stroke (PCAIS). We describe clinical and radiological features of childhood PCAIS to determine whether there are differences in infarct topography, vascular abnormalities, risk factors, and stroke subtypes when compared to adults.

Methods—

Children with radiologically confirmed PCAIS were prospectively identified from August 2002 to February 2008. Infarcts were divided into proximal, middle, and distal posterior circulation segments utilizing an adult topographical classification system. Vascular abnormalities were described in terms of location, severity, and evolution over time. A pediatric modification of the TOAST classification system was used to define stroke subtypes.

Results—

Twenty seven (37%) of 73 children recruited to our registry had 34 radiologically confirmed PCAIS events. Infarct location was distal (25), middle (2), proximal (1), and multiple segments (6). Fourteen events were associated with single infarcts and 20 were associated with multiple infarcts. Magnetic resonance angiography was abnormal in 16 of 25 children with PCAIS at presentation with stenosis (8) or occlusion (8). Vascular lesions progressed (5), transiently worsened before stabilizing (2), remained stable or improved (8), or normalized (1) over 12 months. Stroke subtypes included nonprogressive steno-occlusive cerebral arteriopathy (9), cardioembolic (4), dissection (3), Moyamoya syndrome (3), other determined (4), probable (1), and undetermined etiology (3). Fifty-two percent of children had recurrent posterior (6) or anterior (8) strokes.

Conclusions—

Nonprogressive arteriopathies are the most common cause of childhood PCAIS, usually affecting distal segments. Atherosclerosis-related risk factors do not play an important role in stroke causation. PCAIS is frequently associated with recurrent events.
Is Thrombolysis Safe in the Elderly?
Authors: Alshekhlee Amer , Mohammadi Afshin , Mehta Sonal , Edgell Randall C. , Vora Nirav , Feen Eli , Kale Sushant , Shakir Zaid A. , Cruz-Flores Salvador
Published: September 2010

Background and Purpose—

Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in the elderly population is seldom administered.

Methods—

In this study, we evaluated the risks of thrombolysis, including the mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) rates in this population. A cohort of patients was identified from the National Inpatient Sample database for the years 2000–2006. Age was categorized in 2 groups, including those between 18 and 80 years and those >80 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess covariates associated with hospital mortality and ICH. A total of 524 997 patients were admitted for acute ischemic stroke; 143 093 (27.2%) were >80 years. A total of 7950 patients were treated with thrombolysis, of which 1659 (20.9%) were >80 years. Elderly patients received less frequent thrombolysis compared with the younger population (1.05% versus 1.72%).

Results—

In the whole cohort, the mortality rate was higher in the older population (12.80% versus 8.99%). For those treated with thrombolysis, the mortality rate and risk of ICH were higher among those >80 years (16.9% versus 11.5%; odds ratio: 1.56 [95% CI: 1.35 to 1.82] and 5.73% versus 4.40%; odds ratio: 1.31 [95% CI: 1.03 to 1.67], respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of ICH (odds ratio: 2.24 [95% CI: 1.89 to 2.65]) was associated with higher mortality rates but not the use of thrombolysis (odds ratio: 1.14 [95% CI: 0.98 to 1.33]).

Conclusions—

Despite the higher mortality rate in the older population, the use of thrombolysis does not predict death; however, the use of thrombolysis was associated with high risk of ICH.
Mexican Americans With Atrial Fibrillation Have More Recurrent Strokes Than Do Non-Hispanic Whites
Authors: Simpson Jennifer R. , Zahuranec Darin B. , Lisabeth Lynda D. , Sánchez Brisa N. , Skolarus Lesli E. , Mendizabal Jorge E. , Smith Melinda A. , Garcia Nelda M. , Morgenstern Lewis B.
Published: September 2010

Background and Purpose—

Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of stroke with a known preventive treatment. We compared poststroke recurrence and survival in Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) with atrial fibrillation in a population-based study.

Methods—

Using surveillance methods from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project, cases of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack with atrial fibrillation were prospectively identified from January 2000 to June 2008. Recurrent stroke and all-cause mortality were compared by ethnicity with survival analysis methods.

Results—

A total of 236 patients were available (88 MAs, 148 NHWs). MAs were younger than NHWs, with no ethnic differences in severity of the first stroke or proportion discharged on warfarin. MAs had a higher risk of stroke recurrence than did NHWs (Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival free of stroke recurrence risk at 28 days and 1 year were 0.99 and 0.85 in MAs and 0.98 and 0.96 in NHWs, respectively;
P
=0.01, log-rank test), which persisted despite adjustment for age and sex (hazard ratio=2.46; 95% CI, 1.19–5.11). Severity of the recurrent stroke was higher in MAs than in NHWs (
P
=0.02). There was no ethnic difference in survival after stroke in unadjusted analysis or after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors (hazard ratio=1.03; 95% CI, 0.63–1.67).

Conclusions—

MAs with atrial fibrillation have a higher stroke recurrence risk and more severe recurrences than do NHWs but no difference in all-cause mortality. Aggressive stroke prevention measures focused on MAs are warranted.
Low Rates of Acute Recanalization With Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Bhatia Rohit , Hill Michael D. , Shobha Nandavar , Menon Bijoy , Bal Simerpreet , Kochar Puneet , Watson Tim , Goyal Mayank , Demchuk Andrew M.
Published: September 2010

Background and Purpose—

Acute rates of recanalization after intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in proximal vessel occlusion have been estimated sparingly, typically using transcranial Doppler (TCD). We aimed to study acute recanalization rates of IV rt-PA in CT angiogram-proven proximal (internal carotid artery [ICA], M1 middle cerebral artery [MCA], M2-MCA, and basilar artery) occlusions and their effects on outcome.

Materials and Methods—

The CT angiogram database of the Calgary stroke program was reviewed for the period 2002 to 2009. All patients with proximal vessel occlusions receiving IV rt-PA who were assessed for recanalization by TCD or angiogram (for acute endovascular treatment) were included for analysis. Rates of acute recanalization as observed on TCD/first run of angiogram and postendovascular therapy recanalization rates were noted. Modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 at 3 months was used as a good outcome.

Results—

Among 1341 patients in the CT angiogram database, 388 patients with proximal occlusion were identified. Of these, 216 patients had received IV rt-PA; 127 patients underwent further imaging to assess recanalization. Among the patients undergoing TCD (n=46) and cerebral angiogram (n=103), only 27 (21.25%) patients had acute recanalization. By occlusion subtype, the rates of recanalization were: distal ICA (with or without ICA neck occlusion or stenotic disease) 1 of 24 (4.4%); M1-MCA (with or without ICA neck occlusion or stenotic disease) 21 of 65 (32.3%); M2-MCA 4 of 13 (30.8%); and basilar artery 1 of 25 (4%). Onset to rt-PA time was comparable in patients with and without recanalization. Recanalization (
P
<0.0001; risk ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–4.6) was the strongest predictor of outcome (adjusted for age and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score).

Conclusions—

A low rate of acute recanalization was observed with IV rt-PA in proximal vessel occlusions identified by baseline CT angiogram. Recanalization was the strongest predictor of good outcome.
G.C. Berkouwer’s Principle of Correlation: An Attempt to Comprehend
Authors: van Keulen van Keulen
Published: September 2010

The term correlation is a central idea in the work of the Dutch theologian Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer (1903-1996). Berkouwer has often been criticised for his use of this term. On the basis of three examples (the correlation between faith and justification, between faith and election and between promise and expectation) Berkouwer’s intentions are determined. It will turn out that he used the term in another way than Paul Tillich made use of it. Berkouwer’s principle of correlation incorporates elements of great value. The problem with it is terminologically in nature. Berkouwer has been alerted to this problem by his dutch collegue Arnold A. van Ruler. To comprehend Berkouwer’s principle of correlation it must be understood as theonomous correlation.
Dominant Anomaly Patterns in the Near-Surface Baroclinicity and Accompanying Anomalies in the Atmosphere and Oceans. Part II: North Pacific Basin
Authors: Nakamura Mototaka , Yamane Shozo
Published: September 2010

Variability in the monthly-mean flow and storm track in the North Pacific basin is examined with a focus on the near-surface baroclinicity. Dominant patterns of anomalous near-surface baroclinicity found from empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analyses generally show mixed patterns of shift and changes in the strength of near-surface baroclinicity. Composited anomalies in the monthly-mean wind at various pressure levels based on the signals in the EOFs show accompanying anomalies in the mean flow up to 50 hPa in the winter and up to 100 hPa in other seasons. Anomalous eddy fields accompanying the anomalous near-surface baroclinicity patterns exhibit, broadly speaking, structures anticipated from simple linear theories of baroclinic instability, and suggest a tendency for anomalous wave fluxes to accelerate–decelerate the surface westerly accordingly. However, the relationship between anomalous eddy fields and anomalous near-surface baroclinicity in the midwinter is not consistent with the simple linear baroclinic instability theories. Composited anomalous sea surface temperature (SST) accompanying anomalous near-surface baroclinicity often exhibits moderate values and large spatial scales in the basin, rather than large values concentrated near the oceanic fronts. In the midsummer and in some cases in cold months, however, large SST anomalies are found around the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extensions. Accompanying anomalies in the net surface heat flux, SST in the preceding and following months, and meridional eddy heat flux in the lower troposphere suggest active roles played by the ocean in generating the concomitant anomalous large-scale atmospheric state in some of these cases.
Identity-Based Motivation: Implications for Intervention
Authors: Oyserman Daphna , Destin Mesmin
Published: September 2010

Children want to succeed academically and attend college but their actual attainment often lags behind; some groups (e.g., boys, low-income children) are particularly likely to experience this gap. Social structural factors matter, influencing this gap in part by affecting children’s perceptions of what is possible for them and people like them in the future. Interventions that focus on this macro—micro interface can boost children’s attainment. We articulate the processes underlying these effects using an integrative culturally sensitive framework entitled identity-based motivation (IBM). The IBM model assumes that identities are dynamically constructed in context. People interpret situations and difficulties in ways that are congruent with currently active identities and prefer identity-congruent to identity-incongruent actions. When action feels identity congruent, experienced difficulty highlights that the behavior is important and meaningful. When action feels identity incongruent, the same difficulty suggests that the behavior is pointless and “not for people like me.”
Modeling Outcomes With Floor or Ceiling Effects: An Introduction to the Tobit Model
Authors: McBee Matthew
Published: September 2010

In gifted education research, it is common for outcome variables to exhibit strong floor or ceiling effects due to insufficient range of measurement of many instruments when used with gifted populations. Common statistical methods (e.g., analysis of variance, linear regression) produce biased estimates when such effects are present. In practice, it is frequent for researchers to ignore ceiling effects and proceed with traditional analysis. However, the problems caused by ceiling effects are not without possible solutions. This Methodological Brief describes a variation of multiple regression, called the Tobit model, which is capable of correct inference when floor or ceiling effects are present. A brief simulation study illustrates the performance of the Tobit model with a dataset exhibiting a ceiling effect.
Tiled Composite Laminates
Authors: Baucom J.N. , Thomas J.P. , Pogue W.R. , Siddiq Qidwai M.A.
Published: September 2010

This article describes our efforts to develop a meso-scale in-plane tiling technique for fiber-reinforced composite laminates. Such a technique expands the design space of the laminate, and the ability to tailor local laminate properties may provide a means, for example, to mitigate stress concentrations that arise in places such as along free edges of the laminate. Preliminary fabrication of tiled laminates produced material with an elastic modulus that is nearly equal to that of continuously reinforced laminates; however, the strength of these first specimens was significantly reduced. Finite element analyses were then performed to characterize the effects of features unique to tiled composite laminates, such as the existence of resin-rich tile-to-tile interfaces, and to explore the effects of relative arrangement of tiles through the thickness of the laminate. This led to a novel composite joint geometry as well as recommendations to minimize strength reduction. Strength retention of laminates fabricated using the new design guidelines was experimentally found to exceed 92% in comparison with the traditional analogs. Finally, we discuss the potential application of composite tiling for the suppression of free-edge delamination.
Characteristics of Electrolysis In-process Dressing Grinding of Al/SiCp Composite Materials
Authors: Shanawaz A.M. , Sundaram S. , Pillai U.T.S. , Babu Aurtherson P.
Published: September 2010

A study on grinding of 2124 Al/SiCp (15% SiCp) metal matrix composite material with conventional and ELID grindings uses various current duty ratio. Normal forces and tangential forces are monitored. Surface roughness and Vickers hardness numbers are measured. When the results are compared ELID grinding shows less grinding forces due to the breakage of the insulating layer formed on the grinding wheel. A smoother surface can be obtained using a high current duty ratio. Vickers hardness number is reduced when ELID grinding is done with high current duty ratio. The results of this investigation are presented in this article.
Cultural Variations in Children’s Mirror Self-Recognition
Authors: Broesch Tanya , Callaghan Tara , Henrich Joseph , Murphy Christine , Rochat Philippe
Published: September 2010

Western children first show signs of mirror self-recognition (MSR) from 18 to 24 months of age, the benchmark index of emerging self-concept. Such signs include self-oriented behaviors while looking at the mirror to touch or remove a mark surreptitiously placed on the child’s face. The authors attempted to replicate this finding across cultures using a simplified version of the classic “mark test.” In Experiment 1, Kenyan children ( N = 82, 18 to 72 months old) display a pronounced absence of spontaneous self-oriented behaviors toward the mark. In Experiment 2, the authors tested children in Fiji, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Peru ( N = 133, 36 to 55 months old), as well as children from urban United States and rural Canada. As expected from existing reports, a majority of the Canadian and American children demonstrate spontaneous self-oriented behaviors toward the mark. However, markedly fewer children from the non-Western rural sites demonstrate such behaviors. These results suggest that there are profound cross-cultural differences in the meaning of the MSR test, questioning the validity of the mark test as a universal index of self-concept in children’s development.
Self-Evaluations, Psychological Well-Being, and Cultural Context: The Changing Greek Society
Authors: Pouliasi Katerina , Verkuyten Maykel
Published: September 2010

In the context of Greece, the authors examined psychological correlates of individualization. In Study 1, the Greek context was compared to the Netherlands, and Study 2 focused on Greece and examined individual differences in self-descriptions. In Study 1, a distinction between Greek “neo-collectivist” and “collectivist” participants could be made. For both subsamples, the collective self played a key role in psychological well-being. In addition, for the “neo-collectivist” participants, it was the combination of high personal and high collective self-evaluation that predicted psychological well-being. The second study examined individualism in Greek society at the level of self-descriptions. The results were in agreement with the first study. Only for participants relatively high on individualism was higher personal self-evaluation related to higher collective self-evaluation and to global self-esteem. Taken together, the findings indicate that individualization in the Greek context increases personal self-evaluation but without changing the positive evaluation of the collective self and its central role in well-being.
Cultural Values Predict Coping Using Culture as an Individual Difference Variable in Multicultural Samples
Authors: Bardi Anat , Guerra Valeschka M.
Published: September 2010

Three studies establish the relations between cultural values and coping using multicultural samples of international students. Study 1 established the cross-cultural measurement invariance of subscales of the Cope inventory Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989) used in the article. The cultural value dimensions of embeddedness versus autonomy and hierarchy versus egalitarianism predicted how international students from 28 (Study 2) and 38 (Study 3) countries coped with adapting to living in a new country. Cultural values predicted coping by religion, and this relation was only partly mediated by personally valuing tradition, cultural norms, and perceived difficulty of adapting. Cultural values predicted emotion-focused/avoidant coping beyond neuroticism and seeking social support beyond extraversion. Mediators to the relations between cultural values and these coping strategies were also found. The results demonstrate the power of cultural values to predict coping and bring to the forefront the use of multicultural samples as an important method in cross-cultural research.
Climato-Economic Origins of Variation in Ingroup Favoritism
Authors: Van de Vliert Evert
Published: September 2010

Reflecting coping with threats to survival, national cultures differ in baseline levels of ingroup favoritism. These national baselines are mapped and explained in terms of inhabitants’ cultural adaptations to climate-based demands and wealth-based resources. A 73-nation study of compatriotism—the social branch of patriotism—a 116-nation study of nepotism, and a 57-nation study of familism support the demands-resources explanation. Compatriotism, nepotism, and familism are strongest in lower-income countries with demanding cold or hot climates, moderate in countries with temperate climates irrespective of income per head, and weakest in higher-income countries with demanding cold or hot climates. Thus, cultural echos of climatic survival hold up across three distinct group conditions of genetic survival. Integration of the three measures provides a cross-disciplinary applicable index of baselines of cultural ingroup favoritism in 178 countries around the globe.
Effects of Life Stress, Social Support, and Cultural Norms on Parenting Styles Among Mainland Chinese, European Canadian, and Chinese Canadian Immigrant Mothers
Authors: Su Chang , Hynie Michaela
Published: September 2010

The effects of life stress, social support, cultural beliefs, and social norms on parenting styles were examined for mainland Chinese (MC), Chinese Canadian (CC) and European Canadian (EC) mothers of 2- to 6-year-old children. Authoritarian parenting increased with stress and traditional parenting beliefs and decreased with social support. EC mothers used less authoritarian parenting than either CC or MC mothers. This cultural difference was fully mediated by stress. For authoritative parenting, there was a country of residence effect, which was not mediated; MCs were less authoritative than either CCs or ECs. All mothers were more authoritative when less stressed, when they had lower traditional childrearing beliefs, and when they were more individualist. The results suggest the importance of the immediate social environment in influencing these cultural differences.
Culture’s Consequences on Coping
Authors: Kuo Ben C. H.
Published: September 2010

While the influence of culture on coping has been implicated conceptually in the stress-coping literature for sometime, empirical research on cross-cultural coping has gained momentum only recently. The past two decades witnessed a significant growth in the research and the knowledge base of culture and coping, as well as an increased call by scholars for more culturally and contextually informed stress-coping paradigms. In view of this critical development, the present article intends to systematically review and take stock of the theoretical and empirical knowledge that has emerged from the cumulative cultural coping research. Specifically, this corpus of literature was summarized and analyzed in terms of (a) theoretical propositions, (b) empirical studies on cross-cultural coping variations, (c) cultural dimensions of coping, and (d) implications for future research. The results evidenced culture’s consequences on coping with respect to the identification of conceptual pathways through which culture affects stresscoping; cultural differences and specificities in coping patterns across national, ethnic, and racial groups; and the differential effects of acculturation, self-construals, and individualism-collectivism on coping. Conceptual and methodological recommendations are offered for future research.
A Cross-Cultural Study of Observed Conflicts Between Young Children
Authors: Martínez-Lozano Virginia , Sánchez-Medina José A. , Goudena Paul P.
Published: September 2010

Young children (5 to 6 years old) from an individualistic (the Netherlands) culture and a collectivistic (South of Spain: Andalusia) culture were videotaped during leisure time on their school playground. Based on the perspective of individualism-collectivism (IND-COL), cultural differences were expected with respect to observed conflict behaviors. Conflict episodes were analyzed with respect to conflict issues, strategies, and outcomes. In Andalusia, an unexpected high number of conflicts were observed, about three times higher than in the Netherlands. As expected, Andalusian children turned out to be more concerned with control of play and behavior and Dutch children more with control of objects and space. With respect to strategy use, Andalusian children used negotiation more often than Dutch children. The latter included more often nonverbal and directive ingredients in their strategies. Dutch children ended their conflicts by means of social or physical rupture much more often than Andalusian children. The latter preferred to continue the interaction, even if this required submission to others’ wishes. Results are discussed from the perspective of IND-COL, with particular emphasis on four characteristics of studies of peer conflicts: definition of conflict, method of data collection, age of participants, and social setting of the participants.
Consequences of Interpersonal Rejection
Authors: Garris Christopher P. , Ohbuchi Ken-ichi , Oikawa Hiroshi , Harris Monica J.
Published: September 2010

A cross-cultural experimental study was conducted to investigate cultural differences in the consequences of interpersonal rejection, specifically focusing on the effect of rejection on affect, human needs, aggression, and prosocial behavior. One hundred and thirty-two American and 55 Japanese undergraduates were led to believe that they were either rejected or accepted by other participants. As predicted, significant differences emerged regarding affect and human needs, with both Japanese participants and rejected participants reporting less positive affect, more depressive affect, less belonging, less meaningful existence, and less self-esteem than American participants and accepted participants, respectively. Additional analyses revealed culture-based partial mediations of affect differences and that Japanese participants reported more rejection sensitivity and a greater history of past rejection than American participants. The results have important implications for the way in which rejection is experienced across cultures.
Whence Differences in Value Priorities?
Authors: Fischer Ronald , Schwartz Shalom
Published: September 2010

To what extent do value priorities vary across countries and to what extent do individuals within countries share values? We address these questions using three sets of data that each measure values differently: the Schwartz Value Survey for student and teacher samples in 67 countries ( N = 41,968), the Portrait Values Questionnaire for representative samples from 19 European countries ( N = 42,359), and the World Value Survey for representative samples from 62 countries ( N = 84,887). Analyses reveal more consensus than disagreement on value priorities across countries, refuting strong claims that culture determines values. Values associated with autonomy, relatedness, and competence show a universal pattern of high importance and high consensus. Only conformity values show patterns suggesting they are good candidates for measuring culture as shared meaning systems. We rule out reference-group and response style effects as alternative explanations for the results and discuss their implications for value theory, cross-cultural research, and value-based intergroup conflict.
The Minotaur of the Behaviorist Maze
Authors: Tindall Robert
Published: September 2010

This article is an autobiographical account of the author’s childhood struggle to survive in Stanford’s Learning House, a behaviorist program in the 1970s designed to help delinquents change. “The Minotaur of the Behaviorist Maze” offers an insider’s perspective on the consequences of treating a child as a stimulus–response organism in need of modification rather than as a human being in search of restoration of his or her innate wholeness.
Short-term Exposure to One Dialect Affects Processing of Another
Authors: Hay Jen , Drager Katie , Warren Paul
Published: September 2010

It is well established that speakers accommodate in speech production. Recent work has shown a similar effect in perception—speech perception is affected by a listener’s beliefs about the speaker. In this paper, we explore the consequences of such perceptual accommodation for experiments in speech perception and lexical access. Our interest is whether perceptual accommodation to one speaker—the experimenter who meets participants, for example— might have carry-over effects on participants’ behavior in subsequent tasks that do not directly involve the experimenter’s voice. We explore this possibility by exposing groups of participants to different varieties of English before they participate in experiments involving speech perception and/or lexical access. Our results reveal that the nature of this prior exposure considerably influences participants’ behavior in the tasks.

This suggests that the phonetic detail of encountered speech is stored in the lexicon, together with information about the speaker’s regional origin. Subparts of phonetically detailed lexical distributions can then be effectively ‘primed’ by exposure to speakers or lexical items associated with particular dialects. We argue for an exemplar model of lexical representation with both word-level and phoneme-level representations. The consequences of cross-dialectal priming vary, depending on whether tasks involve primarily word-level or phoneme-level access.
A general method used to conduct a harmonic analysis on carrier-based pulse width modulation inverters
Authors: Leedy Aleck W , Nelms R Mark
Published: September 2010

A method used to determine the harmonic components of the output waveform of a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter is presented. The method calculates the Fourier coefficients of individual positive and negative pulses of the output PWM waveform and adds them together using the principle of superposition to calculate the Fourier coefficients of the entire PWM output signal. This method allows direct calculation of harmonic magnitudes and angles without having to use linear approximations, look-up tables, or Bessel functions. The method presented is a general method that can easily be extended to various types of multilevel inverters and PWM schemes.
A Type of Parental Involvement With an Isomorphic Effect on Urban Children’s Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Social Studies Achievement at Kindergarten Entry
Authors: Stylianides Andreas J. , Stylianides Gabriel J.
Published: September 2010

Research showed that children’s school-entry academic skills are strong predictors of their later achievement, thereby highlighting the importance of children’s achievement at kindergarten entry. This article defines a particular type of parental involvement in children’s education and uses a representative sample of American urban kindergarteners to examine its effect on urban children’s mathematics, reading, science, and social studies achievement at kindergarten entry. The findings in this article are isomorphic in the different subject areas and show that children with more access to this particular type of parental involvement tend to have higher academic achievement than their peers.