bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Prospective Cohort Study of Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack to Identify High-Risk Clinical Characteristics
Authors: Perry Jeffrey J. , Sharma Mukul , Sivilotti Marco L.A. , Sutherland Jane , Worster Andrew , Émond Marcel , Stotts Grant , Jin Albert Y. , Oczkowski Wieslaw J. , Sahlas Demetrios J. , Murray Heather E. , MacKey Ariane , Verreault Steve , Wells George A. , Stiell Ian G.
Published: November 2013

Background and Purpose—

The occurrence of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) increases an individual’s risk for subsequent stroke. The objectives of this study were to determine clinical features of patients with TIA associated with impending (≤7 days) stroke and to develop a clinical prediction score for impending stroke.

Methods—

We conducted a prospective cohort study at 8 Canadian emergency departments for 5 years. We enrolled patients with a new TIA. Our outcome was subsequent stroke within 7 days of TIA diagnosis.

Results—

We prospectively enrolled 3906 patients, of which 86 (2.2%) experienced a stroke within 7 days. Clinical features strongly correlated with having an impending stroke included first-ever TIA, language disturbance, longer duration, weakness, gait disturbance, elevated blood pressure, atrial fibrillation on ECG, infarction on computed tomography, and elevated blood glucose. Variables less associated with having an impending stroke included vertigo, lightheadedness, and visual loss. From this cohort, we derived the Canadian TIA Score which identifies the risk of subsequent stroke ≤7 days and consists of 13 variables. This model has good discrimination with a c-statistic of 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.73–0.82).

Conclusions—

Patients with TIA with their first TIA, language disturbance, duration of symptoms ≥10 minutes, gait disturbance, atrial fibrillation, infarction on computed tomography, elevated platelets or glucose, unilateral weakness, history of carotid stenosis, and elevated diastolic blood pressure are at higher risk for an impending stroke. Patients with vertigo and no high-risk features are at low risk. The Canadian TIA Score quantifies the impending stroke risk following TIA.
Mating strategies, parental investment and mutual ornamentation in Iberian Rock Sparrows (Petronia petronia)
Authors: García-Navas Vicente , García del Rincón Amanda , Ferrer Esperanza S. , Fathi Hicham
Published: November 2013

Relatively few bird species show complex social mating systems whose preponderance in a population is likely to affect the patterns of parental care observed there. In turn, parental investment is likely to be related to the expression of certain ornaments, which may reveal information on the bearer’s individual quality. Here we address both issues in a species characterised by several forms of parental care (both biparental and uniparental care) and in which both sexes possess a yellow breast patch, the rock sparrow (Petronia petronia). In our population, males contributed more to the care of the young in comparison with other populations. Social monogamy was the most frequent mating pattern and the percentage of cases of female (or male) brood desertion was lower with respect to that reported in previous studies, suggesting a flexible behaviour of this species to deal with different social environments. Birds did not pair assortatively with respect to the size of the yellow breast patch and we found no significant relationship between this trait and the frequency with which parents provisioned their chicks. However, we observed a positive relationship between male yellow patch size and nestling tarsus length, which suggests that more ornamented males are better parents. Males, but not females, differentially allocated parental investment in response to female ornamentation, although the benefits that males may gain from choosing more attractive females remain unidentified. Our results on paternal care investment along with previous studies on this species, reinforcing the view that the rock sparrow constitutes a good model to study sexual conflict over parental care under different social environments.
A sperm competition model for the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus)
Authors: Smith Carl , Reichard Martin
Published: November 2013

Sperm competition occurs when the spermatozoa of one male coincide with those of another to fertilise the same eggs. In some taxa males perform multiple ejaculations, which may function in sperm competition or in maintaining a baseline density of spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract to ensure fertilisation, a process that has been termed ‘topping up’. We investigated multiple ejaculations in the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus), a freshwater fish that oviposits in freshwater mussels. We quantified spermatozoa in the mussel mantle cavity following ejaculation, and measured sperm motility parameters of males adopting different mating tactics. Following ejaculation spermatozoa density in the mussel increased linearly, peaked after 30 s, and then declined exponentially. Spermatozoa motility parameters did not differ between male mating tactics. We parameterised a model of sperm competition forR. amarus, which accurately predicted male fertilisation probability. We discuss these results in the context of multiple ejaculations and male mating tactics.
Female and male adult brush mice (Peromyscus boylii) use ultrasonic vocalizations in the wild
Authors: Petric R. , Kalcounis-Rueppell M.C.
Published: November 2013

We examined the individual context of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) produced by free-living wild male and female adult brush mice (Peromyscus boylii). We tested the hypothesis that USV production is dependent on behavioral context, and is important during both adult male and female interactions. Our methods included a 12-channel microphone array, radio-telemetry and thermal imaging that allowed us to determine: (1) who produced USVs, (2) characteristics of USVs, (3) type of USVs, (4) behavioral context of USVs and (5) the identity of the second mouse if an individual was not alone when a USV was produced. Females vocalized as much as males and produced the same types of USVs as males. There were no differences between spectral characteristics of male and female USVs. Females and males vocalized in the presence of one another. Importantly, when females were together they vocalized more than expected based on the proportion of time they spent together. Our results suggest that, in addition to facilitating courtship and mating, USVs are general territorial calls for neighbors because females vocalized in the presence of their neighbors. Despite a large literature on laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) USVs, studies are heavily biased towards males. Our results on brush mice, a species with a similar breeding system to the lab mouse and other rodents, suggest that female–female communication is an important and underappreciated component of the evolution and maintenance of mouse USVs.
Old Men’s Truth: The ‘Poverty Generation’ of Neighborhood Men Talk about Life in Jerusalem’s Old City
Authors: Becker Johannes
Published: November 2013

In this article, I consider local conditions in Palestine through a focus on generational issues and neighborhood relations. I exemplify this by joint experiences and self presentations of (male) lower-class residents of an Old City neighborhood in Jerusalem who experienced childhood and youth during the Jordanian rule of the city between 1948 and 1967. I argue that these ‘old men’ form a generational connection, a ‘generation unit’ in the sense of Karl Mannheim, which is determined by their similar age, but also by the same spatial connection and social class. Their pre-1967 experiences of poverty, cultural conservatism and a positive perception of neighborly community are in their presentation sharply contrasted to post-1967 experiences of an economic boom, rising social security, materialism and individualism. Both periods are constantly compared to the recent period in the Old City, a period which is perceived as experiencing a downward spiral due to a loss in communality, lack of education and the tightening of Israel’s occupation policy. Palestinians of this age and class have often been sidelined in research. This raises questions about the periodization of generations along political events and about the roles assigned to questions of domination and resistance.
Langmuir Turbulence in Swell
Authors: McWilliams James C. , Huckle Edward , Liang Junhong , Sullivan Peter P.
Published: November 2013

The problem is posed and solved for the oceanic surface boundary layer in the presence of wind stress, stable density stratification, equilibrium wind-waves, and remotely generated swell-waves. The addition of swell causes an amplification of the Lagrangian-mean current and rotation toward the swell-wave direction, a fattening of the Ekman velocity spiral and associated vertical Reynolds stress profile, an amplification of the inertial current response, an enhancement of turbulent variance and buoyancy entrainment rate from the pycnocline, and—for very large swell—an upscaling of the coherent Langmuir circulation patterns. Implications are discussed for the parameterization of Langmuir turbulence influences on the mean current profile and the material entrainment rate in oceanic circulation models. In particular, even though the turbulent kinetic energy monotonically increases with wave amplitude inversely expressed by the turbulent Langmuir number La, the Lagrangian shear eddy viscosity profile κL(z) is a nonmonotonic function of La, first increasing with increasing wave amplitude up to approximately the wind-wave equilibrium level, then decreasing with additional swell-wave amplitude. In contrast, the pycnocline entrainment rate is a monotonic function ~La−2.
Engulfed in the abyss: The emergence of abusive supervision as an escalating process of supervisor–subordinate interaction
Authors: Klaussner Stefan
Published: November 2013

I present a dyadic process model to explain the emergence of abusive supervision as an escalating process of supervisor–subordinate interaction. Based on a social exchange framework, the model draws on organizational justice and previous abusive supervision research, as well as insights from behavioral ethics literature. I argue that the emergence of abusive supervision originates from initial subordinate perceptions of supervisor injustice. When reconciliation does not occur, subordinate perceptions of supervisor injustice and supervisor perceptions of inadequate subordinate (response) behavior may accumulate and thereby increasingly reinforce one another in an escalating spiral. It is proposed that perceptions of power asymmetry inhibit reconciliation attempts (e.g. remedial voice) systematically. Eventually, the tipping point of intentional supervisor hostility is reached and crossed. I offer research propositions and discuss implications for future abusive supervision research.
Data on interventions during periods of political instability
Authors: Regan Patrick M , Meachum M Scott
Published: November 2013

Interventions into civil conflicts have been the focus of considerable research in recent years, but one of the limitations to many studies has been the emphasis on interventions once a conflict begins. While important, we know that states and other actors often take action prior to the onset of a civil war in hopes of diffusing – or exacerbating – a potentially volatile situation. To date, however, no one has been able to study these pre-conflict interventions because appropriate data did not exist. In this article we introduce a new dataset that fits this specific need. Our data identifies states that are at risk of civil war and codes instances of third-party military, economic, and diplomatic interventions. Based on forecasting models that derive risk scores for all states from 1957 to 2007, we are able to identify those states that are most at risk and provide detailed information about interventions that occur in those states. We include a brief empirical example that applies our new data on interventions to test for their effects on the likelihood of civil war or stability. Consistent with prior arguments regarding interventions during civil wars, we show that military interventions increase the risk of civil war onset, while economic and diplomatic interventions forestall that particular outcome. The limited example highlights just one of the potential uses for our new data. With it at hand, researchers will now have the ability to answer many of the vexing problems surrounding the processes that may or may not lead to civil war.
Dynamic measurement of fabric wrinkle recovery angle by video sequence processing
Authors: Wang Lei , Liu Jianli , Pan Ruru , Gao Weidong
Published: November 2013

Wrinkle recovery is a dynamic process in which a folded fabric specimen continues to be unfolded by itself, and is often evaluated by angle changes between two folded fabric wings. Inspired by the advantages of video sequence in dynamic measurement, we developed a video capturing and processing system for dynamic measurements of fabric wrinkle recovery angle. In the experiment stage, a wrinkled specimen is first compressed by a pneumatic presser for a certain duration, and then videoed using a charge-couple device camera during its entire recovery process. Each image frame in the video sequence is processed to detect the free wing of the wrinkled specimen. To calculate the recovery angle accurately, image-processing algorithms, such as binarization, thinning operation and Hough transform, are implemented subsequently. Finally, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test is carried out to evaluate the difference between the data measured using the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) 66-2008 method and this proposed method. Experimental results indicate that the data calculated by our proposed method are consistent with those ones measured by the AATCC 66-2008 method. Compared with the existing fabric wrinkle recovery measurement devices, such as the SDL-M003 wrinkle recovery tester, the developed measurement system has made three important contributions: (1) it automates the entire testing procedure so that human interference is eliminated; (2) it records the complete change of the wrinkle angle so that the recovery property can be analyzed dynamically; and (3) it uses video sequence analysis to calculate recovery angles so that the measurement is more accurate and efficient.
The effects of storage gases on the durability of ammonia plasma effects with respect to wound fluid absorption and the biostatic activity of viscose non-wovens
Authors: Peršin Zdenka , Kleinschek Karin Stana , Mozetič Miran
Published: November 2013

Non-woven viscose samples were treated for 5 min with non-equilibrium ammonia plasma. Plasma-induced properties often gradually change with time, thereby limiting the durability of surfaces for industrial application. The modified samples were stored for 10 and 30 days under air and argon, i.e. possible gases for maintaining plasma-gained absorption kinetics and biostatic activity. XPS results for the aged samples showed practically the same composition as for the freshly-treated samples, regardless of storage gases. Any aging of the plasma-induced hydrophilicity was not evident as the absorbency rate, capacity, and contact angles remained almost unchanged within one month, independent of the storage gases used. Biostatic activity endured almost unaltered over 10 days, whereas it decreased during 30 days, being more pronounced within argon than air. The results from absorption kinetics for both the saline solution and the synthetic exudate, as well as from microbiological analyses, revealed that the plasma-induced modifications of the non-woven material remained fairly unaltered for at least one month when stored within air, thus making this technique attractive for wound dressing applications.
Immigrant underemployment across US metropolitan areas: From a spatial perspective
Authors: Wang Qingfang , Lysenko Tetiana
Published: November 2013

A significant number of immigrants fail to realise their full potential in the US labour markets, as evidenced by those working in occupations requiring skill levels far below their own level of education. While previous studies have studied immigrant underemployment with a focus on individual labour force characteristics, the spatial dimensions of immigrant underemployment have been largely overlooked. Using microdata from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey and a multilevel research design, this study examines the interaction of metropolitan labour market characteristics with individual labour force’s underemployment experiences, and explores how these interaction effects differ between the foreign-born and the native-born. Results suggest that the probability of individual labour force’s underemployment within any metropolitan area is highly contingent on metropolitan labour market characteristics including ethnic diversity, the proportion of its foreign-born population, the economic structure, and the level of educational attainment of the labour force, in addition to individual characteristics.
Under the counter, underground or unethical medicines? An African perspective
Authors: Alfa-Wali Maryam , Mohammed Idris , Yusuph Haruna
Published: November 2013

Discussions about global health issues related to drugs usually concentrate on affordability and availability, with limited consideration of other precipitating factors associated with distribution inequalities and efficacy in low-income countries. Inappropriate prescribing has a significant public health impact ranging from ineffective treatment of disease, drug resistance and potential harm to patients. We report on the problems associated with unsuitable prescribing of medication in an African setting.
One of Us or One of My Friends: How Social Identity and Tie Strength Shape the Creative Generativity of Boundary-Spanning Ties
Authors: Dokko Gina , Kane Aimée A. , Tortoriello Marco
Published: November 2013

Social ties to colleagues on other work teams can spur creative ideas and workplace innovation by exposing an individual to diverse knowledge. However, for external knowledge to be recombined into innovation, the knowledge must first be recognized as potentially valuable. Going beyond traditional structural explanations, we predict that the use of diverse knowledge to generate creative ideas and solutions will depend in part on employees’ psychological attachment to the organizational groups to which they belong, i.e., their social identity, and the strength of their social ties. We test our hypotheses in an R&D division of a global high-technology firm, finding that social identity influences the creative generativity of boundary-spanning ties. Specifically, stronger team identity renders interactions with colleagues on other work teams less generative of creative ideas, while identification with an overarching, superordinate group (e.g., a division) enhances creative generativity. We also hypothesize and find that tie strength attenuates the negative effect of team identity.
Conceptualizations of the audience in political talk show production
Authors: Bruun Hanne
Published: November 2013

This article presents and discusses the changing conceptualizations of the audience at work in the production culture of political talk shows in PSM (public service media) in Denmark. Based on findings from a case study of the Danish political talk show Debatten [The Debate], this article suggests that an audience-as-social-segments model seems to be emerging in the PSM organization DR. The model is used to manage the medium–viewer relationship in the portfolio of channels. The article argues that this audience-in-production model has two implications. First, it changes the staging of the implied receiver in the programmes. Second, it may be changing the relationship between the managerial level and the creative producers in the PSM organization, and it entails a nexus between genre, subject area and target groups. Finally, the article discusses the innovative potential and future challenges for PSM employing the audience-as-social-segments model.
Anti-terrorism policies and the risk of provoking
Authors: Dietrich Franz
Published: November 2013

Tough anti-terrorism policies are often defended by focusing on a fixed minority of dangerous people who prefer violent outcomes, and arguing that toughness reduces the risk of terrorism from this group. This reasoning implicitly assumes that tough policies do not increase the group of ‘potential terrorists’, i.e. of people with violent preferences. Preferences and their level of violence are treated as stable, exogenously fixed features. To avoid this unrealistic assumption, I formulate a model in which policies can ‘brutalise’ or ‘appease’ someone’s personality, i.e. his preferences. This follows the endogenous preferences approach, popular elsewhere in political science and economics. I formally decompose the effect of toughness into a (desirable) deterrence effect and an (undesirable) provocation effect. Whether toughness is overall efficient depends on which effect overweighs. I show that neglecting provocation typically leads to toughness exaggeration. This suggests that some tough anti-terrorism policies observable in the present and past can be explained by a neglect of provocation.
Curvature-constrained trajectory generation for waypoint following for miniature air vehicle
Authors: Hota Sikha , Ghose Debasish
Published: November 2013

This paper addresses trajectory generation problem of a fixed-wing miniature air vehicle, constrained by bounded turn rate, to follow a given sequence of waypoints. An extremal path, named as γ-trajectory, that transitions between two consecutive waypoint segments (obtained by joining two waypoints in sequence) in a time-optimal fashion is obtained. This algorithm is also used to track the maximum portion of waypoint segments with the desired shortest distance between the trajectory and the associated waypoint. Subsequently, the proposed trajectory is compared with the existing transition trajectory in the literature to show better performance in several aspects. Another optimal path, named as loop trajectory, is developed for the purpose of tracking the waypoints as well as the entire waypoint segments. This paper also proposes algorithms to generate trajectories in the presence of steady wind to meet the same objective as that of no-wind case. Due to low computational burden and simplicity in the design procedure, these trajectory generation approaches are implementable in real time for miniature air vehicles.
Clients’ Initiatives and Caregivers’ Responses in the Organizational Dynamics of Care Delivery
Authors: Kajamaa Anu , Hilli Angelique
Published: November 2013

Our aim with this article is to develop a typology for the analysis of client–caregiver encounters in health care. We first observed client–caregiver interactions in the homes of home care clients and during the care processes of surgical patients. We then conducted a data-driven analysis to identify the clients’ initiatives and the degree of engagement in the responses they received. The clients shaped their care by commenting on, questioning, ensuring, and enriching their care. The responses from the caregivers consisted of neutral acceptance, disregard, and shared expansive development of the clients’ initiatives. The typology developed from these will be a tool to widen our understanding of the complex interactions in care delivery and of the different conceptualizations of care that actors hold. In future studies this typology will help in the analysis of the organizational dynamics of health care delivery.
Electoral Turnout and State Redistribution
Authors: Mahler Vincent A. , Jesuit David K. , Paradowski Piotr R.
Published: November 2013

This study explores the relationship between electoral participation and income redistribution by way of social transfers, using data from the European Social Survey, the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, and the Luxembourg Income Study. It extends previous research by measuring the income skew of turnout rather than using average turnout as a proxy for its income bias. We find that, controlling for a number of other variables, the income skew of turnout is negatively related to transfer redistribution and that electoral participation by those in poverty is positively associated with redistribution in their favor.
Transportation Capital in the United States
Authors: Chen Zhenhua , Haynes Kingsley E.
Published: November 2013

This study introduces a new general equilibrium approach to evaluate economic impact of public transportation capital stock in the United States. By treating public transportation capital as separated factor accounts, the model enables us to assess the economic impact of public transportation stock for four modes: road, air, transit, and water transportation. The study provides a direct and easy way for policy maker and transportation planning practitioner to compare social and economic benefits of different modes of public transportation. Findings reveal that road stock has the highest contribution to the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and levels of social welfare; public transit and other ground passenger transportation have the least impact on the U.S. economy among the four modes.
A case of neuromyelitis optica harboring both anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies and a pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutation for Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy
Authors: Shiraishi Wataru , Hayashi Shintaro , Kamada Takashi , Isobe Noriko , Yamasaki Ryo , Murai Hiroyuki , Ohyagi Yasumasa , Kira Jun-ichi
Published: November 2013

We report the first case of definite neuromyelitis optica (NMO) with a pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation for Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) (G11778A point mutation). A 36-year-old Japanese woman had experienced recurrent neurological symptoms originating from involvements of the optic nerves and spinal cord. She finally lost her bilateral vision, and spastic paraparesis and sensory disturbances below the T6 level remained despite intensive immunotherapies. Brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed T2-high-intensity lesions in the optic nerves and thoracic spinal cord, but no lesions in the brain. A blood examination revealed positivity for both anti-aquaproin-4 antibodies and an LHON mtDNA mutation.
Prevalence of alcohol and other drugs and the concentrations in blood of drivers killed in road traffic crashes in Sweden
Authors: Ahlner Johan , Holmgren Anita , Jones Alan Wayne
Published: November 2013

Background: Drunk or drug-impaired drivers represent a major public health and societal problem worldwide. Because over 95% of drivers killed on the roads in Sweden are autopsied, reliable information is available about the use of alcohol and/or other drug before the crash. Methods: This retrospective 4-year study (2008–2011) used a forensic toxicology database (TOXBASE) to evaluate the concentrations of alcohol and other drugs in blood samples from drivers killed in road-traffic crashes. Results: The mean age of all victims ( N = 895) was 48 ± 20 years, and the majority were male (86%). In 504 drivers (56%), the results of toxicological analysis were negative and these victims were older; mean age (± SD) 47 ± 20 years, than alcohol positive cases (35 ± 14 years) and illicit drug users (34 ± 15 years). In 21% of fatalities, blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) was above the statutory limit for driving (0.2 g/L), although the median BAC was appreciably higher (1.72 g/L). Illicit drugs (mainly amphetamine and cannabis) were identified in ~7% of victims, either alone (2.5%), together with alcohol (1.8%) or a prescription drug (2%). The psychoactive prescription drugs identified were mainly benzodiazepines, z-hypnotics and tramadol, which were found in the blood of 7.6% of crash victims. Conclusions: The high median BAC in fatally-injured drivers speaks strongly towards alcohol-induced impairment as being responsible for the crash. Compared with alcohol, the prevalence of illicit and psychoactive prescription drugs was fairly low despite a dramatic increase in the number of drug-impaired drivers arrested by the police after a zero-tolerance law was introduced in 1999.
Maternal childhood abuse predicts externalizing behaviour in toddlers: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Myhre Mia C , Dyb Grete A , Wentzel-Larsen Tore , Grøgaard Jens B , Thoresen Siri
Published: November 2013

Aims: To investigate the impact of maternal childhood abuse on toddlers’ behaviour and assess the potential mediation of maternal mental distress for this pathway. Methods: This study was based on the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The study sample consisted of 25,452 children and their mothers. Maternal childhood abuse was investigated as a potential predictor for child externalizing behaviour at 36 months of age. Maternal mental distress at child age 18 months was assessed as a potential mediator. Hierarchical linear regressions were used for analyses. Results: Childhood emotional abuse alone was reported by 8.3% of the mothers and physical and/or sexual abuse by 8.9%. Mothers with childhood abuse experiences were younger, less educated, more at risk for adult abuse and mental distress, and fewer were married or lived with a partner compared with women not reporting childhood abuse. Children of mothers with childhood abuse experiences showed significantly more externalizing behaviour even after adjusting for maternal age, education, single motherhood, gender and adult abuse experiences. When maternal mental health was entered into the model, the associations remained statistically significant, but were substantially attenuated. Conclusions: Maternal childhood abuse consistently predicted increased externalizing behaviour in the offspring, and this study suggests that childhood abuse impacts subsequent generations. Multiple pathways are possible, but this study identified increased maternal mental distress as a possible pathway between maternal childhood abuse and increased externalizing behaviour in the offspring.
Time pressure among parents in the Nordic countries: A population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Gunnarsdottir Hrafnhildur , Petzold Max , Povlsen Lene
Published: November 2013

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of time pressure experienced by parents in the Nordic countries and examine potential gender disparities as well as associations to parents’ family and/or living conditions. Methods: 5949 parents of children aged 2–17 years from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, participating in the 2011 version of the NordChild study, reported their experience of time pressure when keeping up with duties of everyday life. A postal questionnaire addressed to the most active caretaker of the child, was used for data gathering and logistic regression analysis applied. Results: The mother was regarded as the primary caregiver in 83.9% of the cases. Of the mothers, 14.2% reported that they experienced time pressure “most often”, 54.7 % reported “sometimes” and 31.1 % reported they did “not” experience time pressure at all. Time pressure was experienced by 22.2 % of mothers in Sweden, 18.4% in Finland, 13.7% in Norway and 3.9% in Denmark, and could be associated to lack of support, high educational level, financial stress, young child age and working overtime. Conclusions: The mother is regarded as the child’s primary caregiver among the vast majority of families in spite of living in societies with gender-equal family policies. The results indicate that time pressure is embedded in everyday life of mainly highly-educated mothers and those experiencing financial stress and/or lack of social support. No conclusion could be made about time pressure from the “normbreaking” fathers participating in the study, but associations were found to financial stress and lack of support.
Higher education and psychological distress: A 27-year prospective cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Brännlund Annica , Hammarström Anne
Published: November 2013

Aims: Research identifies a positive link between education and a reduction of psychological distress, but few studies have analysed the long-term impact of education on psychological distress. This study followed the same cohort for 27 years, investigating the association between education and adult psychological distress. Further, it discuss whether the link can be understood through the mediating mechanisms of social and labour-market resources, furthermore, if the mechanisms operate differently for men and women. Method: A 27-year prospective cohort study was performed at ages 16, 18, 21, 30 and 43. The cohort consisted of all students ( n = 1083, of which 1001 are included in this study) in their final year of compulsory school in Sweden. Data were collected through comprehensive questionnaires (response rate 96.4%), and analysed with OLS regression, with psychological distress at age 21, 30 and 43 as dependent variable. Baseline psychological distress, measures of social and labour-market resources, and possible educational selection factors were used as independent variables. To compare the overall magnitude of educational differences, a kappa index was calculated. Results: A positive relation between higher education and less psychological distress was found. When becoming older this relation weakens and a link between social and labour-market resources and psychological distress is observed, indicating that education in a long-term perspective operates through the suggested mechanisms. Additionally, the mechanisms work somewhat differently for men than for women: labour-market resources were significant for men and social resources were important for women. Conclusions: Main findings: higher education is positively linked to less psychological distress, and the link can somewhat be understood through the mechanisms of social and labour-market resources.
Perspectives of creators and performers on the digital era
Authors: Poort Joost , Akker Ilan , Rutten Paul , Weda Jarst
Published: November 2013

In this contribution, a nearly comprehensive survey among creators and performers in media, arts and entertainment in the Netherlands is presented. It concerns the implications of digital reproduction and distribution for the creative professions as perceived by those working in it. Based on regressions and cluster analysis of the survey data, an analysis is provided of income developments and perceived threats and opportunities of digitisation, as well as an exploration of the underlying socio-economic and professional factors. Many creators and performers perceive digitisation primarily as a threat. Although age is a relevant explanatory factor for the opinions regarding digitisation, the notion of a generation gap is shown to be an oversimplification. Other relevant dimensions include income development, education level and the way digitisation has affected respondents’ discipline.
Draining an Anatolian desert: overcoming water, wetlands, and malaria in early republican Ankara
Authors: Evered Kyle T.
Published: November 2013

Past scholarship on the origins of Turkey’s forward capital has contributed both to insightful critical analysis of modernity, nationalism, and urbanization in the republic but also to a tradition of work that is too often quite narrow in conceptualization and shallow in historical depth. In this article, I address the promise and the shortcomings of this tradition by incorporating both views of nature and novel primary documents from the city’s early republican pasts. Focusing on problems within 1920s Ankara as depicted in both foreign and nationalist narratives, on the one hand, and perspectives from public health and other state officials, on the other hand, I engage with water as a key problem not only in its scarcity but also in its excess. This research shows that not only planning but also the attainment of public health objectives (as framed in terms of place and nature) were established unambiguously as preconditions to the project of urban – and hence national – development. Additionally, as a study on the early republican capital that utilizes unique sources, this article identifies and analyzes alternative voices, thus expanding our views of the place and period in ways that elucidate the complex dynamics of both place-making and political ecology in this still contested context.
Treatment Patterns in Alpha-Blocker Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Schoenfeld Michael J. , Shortridge Emily F. , Gelwicks Steven C. , Cui Zhanglin , Wong David G.
Published: November 2013

This study examined treatment patterns and patient characteristics of men initiating alpha adrenergic blocker therapy (alpha-blocker) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The 2009 Thomson Reuters MarketScan® Database was used to identify the newly initiated alpha-blocker: men ≥40 years old with continuous medical and pharmacy coverage for 12 months before and after alpha-blocker initiation, with no alpha-blocker or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in the previous year, and with ≥1 BPH diagnosis within 1 month before and 6 months after alpha-blocker initiation. This study analyzed patient demographics, clinical characteristics, adherence (percentage of men achieving medication possession ratio [MPR] ≥ 0.8), restarting the same alpha-blocker after discontinuation, switching to another BPH medication, and type of alpha-blocker (alpha 1 type selective or alpha 1 subtype selective agents). T tests and chi-square tests compared differences at the .05 significance level. A total of 13,474 men met the study criteria (mean age of 63.1 years). Two thirds of the men discontinued alpha-blocker in the 12-month period, among which restarts or switches were statistically different (p = .036) but numerically similar across cohorts. Adherence for alpha 1 type selective agents versus alpha 1 subtype selective agents at 6 months was 43.3% versus 38.1% (p < .01); at 12 months, 34.4% versus 30.5% (p < .01). Alpha-blocker discontinuation rates were high, which confirms low medication adherence reported among medications for several other chronic conditions; therefore, it is necessary to understand the reasons for alpha-blocker discontinuation.
Recovery From Comorbidity
Authors: Carter Mathew , Fisher Colleen , Isaac Mohan
Published: November 2013

Comorbidity among mood, anxiety, and alcohol disorders is common and burdensome, affecting individuals, families, and public health. A systematic and integrative review of the literature across disciplines and research methodologies was performed. Supradisciplinary approaches were applied to the review and the ensuing critical appraisal. Definitions, measurement, and estimation are controversial and inconstant. Recovery from comorbidity cannot be easily extricated from a sociocultural milieu. Methodological challenges in quantitative and qualitative research and across disciplines are many and are discussed. The evidence supporting current treatments is sparse and short-term, and modalities operating in isolation typically fail. People easily fall into the cracks between mental health and addiction services. Clinicians feel untrained and consumers bear the brunt of this: Judgmental and moralistic interactions persist and comorbidity is unrecognized in high-risk populations. Competing historical paradigms of mental illness and addiction present a barrier to progress and reductionism is an impediment to care and an obstacle to the integration and interpretation of research. What matters to consumers is challenging to quantify but worth considering: Finding employment, safe housing, and meaning are crucial to recovery. Complex social networks and peer support in recovery are important but poorly understood. The focus on modalities of limited evidence or generalizability persists in literature and practice. We need to consider different combinations of comorbidity, transitions as opposed to dichotomies of use or illness, and explore the long-term view and emic perspectives.
Nonanticoagulant heparin prevents histone-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and improves survival in sepsis
Authors: Wildhagen Karin C. A. A. , García de Frutos Pablo , Reutelingsperger Chris P. , Schrijver Roy , Aresté Cristina , Ortega-Gómez Almudena , Deckers Niko M. , Hemker H. Coenraad , Soehnlein Oliver , Nicolaes Gerry A. F.
Published: November 2013

Key Points

Nonanticoagulant heparin is shown to bind histones and provide cytoprotection in mouse models of sterile inflammation and sepsis.
A new model for segmentation of gray-scale and color images
Authors: Zhang Dazhi , Sun Jiebao , Guo Zhichang , Zhai Yanli
Published: November 2013

In this paper, we propose a new model for segmentation of both gray-scale and color images. This model is inspired by the GAC model, the region-scalable fitting model, the weighted bounded variation model and the active contour model based on the Mumford-Shah model. Compared with other active contour models, our new model cannot only make full use of advantages of both edge-based and region-based models, but also maintain more accurate overall message of segmented objects. Moreover, we establish the existence of the global minimum of the new energy functional and analyze the property of it. Finally, numerical results show the effectiveness of our proposed model.
Lack of exon 10 in the murine tau gene results in mild sensorimotor defects with aging
Authors: Gumucio Astrid , Lannfelt Lars , Nilsson Lars NG
Published: November 2013

Background

Complex species-specific, developmental- and tissue-dependent mechanisms regulate alternative splicing of tau, thereby diversifying tau protein synthesis. The functional role of alternative splicing of tau e.g. exon 10 has never been examined in vivo, although genetic studies suggest that it is important to neurodegenerative disease.

Results

Gene-targeting was used to delete exon 10 in murine tau on both alleles (E10−/−) to study its functional role. Moreover, mice devoid of exon 10 (E10+/−) on one allele were generated to investigate the effects of 1:1 balanced expression of 4R-/3R-tau protein, since equal amounts of 4R-/3R-tau protein are synthesized in human brain. Middle-aged E10−/− mice displayed sensorimotor disturbances in the rotarod when compared to age-matched E10+/− and wild-type mice, and their muscular grip strength was less than that of E10+/− mice. The performance of E10+/− mice and wild-type mice (E10+/+) was similar in sensorimotor tests. Cognitive abilities or anxiety-like behaviours did not depend on exon 10 in tau, and neither pathological inclusions nor gene-dependent morphological abnormalities were found.

Conclusion

Ablation of exon 10 in the murine tau gene alters alternative splicing and tau protein synthesis which results in mild sensorimotor phenotypes with aging. Presumably related microtubule-stabilizing genes rescue other functions.
Bidirectional promoters in seed development and related hormone/stress responses
Authors: Kourmpetli Sofia , Lee Kate , Hemsley Rachel , Rossignol Pascale , Papageorgiou Thaleia , Drea Sinéad
Published: November 2013

Background

Bidirectional promoters are common in genomes but under-studied experimentally, particularly in plants. We describe a targeted identification and selection of a subset of putative bidirectional promoters to identify genes involved in seed development and to investigate possible coordinated responses of gene pairs to conditions important in seed maturation such as desiccation and ABA-regulation.

Results

We combined a search for 100–600 bp intergenic regions in the Arabidopsis genome with a cis-element based selection for those containing multiple copies of the G-box motif, CACGTG. One of the putative bidirectional promoters identified also contained a CE3 coupling element 5 bp downstream of one G-box and is identical to that characterized previously in the HVA1 promoter of barley. CE3 elements are significantly under-represented and under-studied in Arabidopsis. We further characterized the pair of genes associated with this promoter and uncovered roles for two small, previously uncharacterized, plant-specific proteins in Arabidopsis seed development and stress responses.

Conclusions

Using bioinformatics we identified putative bidirectional promoters involved in seed development and analysed expression patterns for a pair of plant-specific genes in various tissues and in response to hormones/stress. We also present preliminary functional analysis of these genes that is suggestive of roles in seed development.
Metabolism of plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein parameters are related to a higher degree of insulin sensitivity in high HDL-C healthy normal weight subjects
Authors: Leança Camila C , Nunes Valéria S , Panzoldo Natália B , Zago Vanessa S , Parra Eliane S , Cazita Patrícia M , Jauhiainen Matti , Passarelli Marisa , Nakandakare Edna R , de Faria Eliana C , Quintão Eder CR
Published: November 2013

Background

We have searched if plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration interferes simultaneously with whole-body cholesterol metabolism and insulin sensitivity in normal weight healthy adult subjects.

Methods

We have measured the activities of several plasma components that are critically influenced by insulin and that control lipoprotein metabolism in subjects with low and high HDL-C concentrations. These parameters included cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT), post-heparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), pre-beta-1HDL, and plasma sterol markers of cholesterol synthesis and intestinal absorption.

Results

In the high-HDL-C group, we found lower plasma concentrations of triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, insulin, HOMA-IR index, activities of LCAT and HL compared with the low HDL-C group; additionally, we found higher activity of LPL and pre-beta-1HDL concentration in the high-HDL-C group. There were no differences in the plasma CETP and PLTP activities.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that in healthy hyperalphalipoproteinemia subjects, several parameters that control the metabolism of plasma cholesterol and lipoproteins are related to a higher degree of insulin sensitivity.