bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistence of Genetic Damage in Lymphocytes from Former Uranium Miners
Authors: Zölzer F. , Hon Z. , Freitinger Skalická Z. , Havránková R. , Navrátil L. , Rosina J. , Škopek J.
Published: May 2012

Lymphocytes from former uranium miners who finished work underground one or more decades ago were analysed with respect to possibly persisting genetic damage induced by their radiation exposure. A modified micronucleus-centromere test was used which determined the frequency of micronucleus-containing binucleate cells after cytochalasin B treatment and the percentage of centromere-free micronuclei, assessed with the help of immunofluorescence labeling of centromere protein B. Whereas the overall frequency of micronucleus-containing cells was not significantly elevated above the level found in a control group, former miners showed a greater percentage of centromere-free micronuclei, i.e. micronuclei containing only acentric fragments. Our results are in excellent agreement with those of an earlier uranium miner study and lend support to the assumption that genetic damage from alpha radiation can persist for many years after exposure, possibly due to genomic instability. The frequency of micronucleus-containing cells, but not the percentage of centromere-free micronuclei, significantly increased with time since last exposure in the mines. This can be attributed, at least in part, to the fact that miners who have finished working underground longer ago tend to be older, and there is an increase of the frequency of micronucleus-containing cells with age.
Expression of a Natural Antisense Transcript of Cg-Foxl2 during the Gonadic Differentiation of the Oyster Crassostrea gigas: First Demonstration in the Gonads of a Lophotrochozoa Species
Authors: Santerre C. , Sourdaine P. , Martinez A.-S.
Published: May 2012

In the oyster Crassostrea gigas, a successive hermaphrodite, Cg-Foxl2, an ortholog of Foxl2, is suspected to be involved in vitellogenesis or female sex determination. The existence of a natural antisense transcript (NAT) of this factor has been suspected in gonads but needs to be confirmed to better understand the early events of the gonadic differentiation. The occurrence of this NAT was studied by orientation-specific RT-PCR. The NAT and its mRNA expressions were investigated during the development and in adults by real-time PCR and in situ hybridization. The presence of stable in vivo RNA-RNA duplexes was also explored by RNase protection-based approach. This work is the first evidence of characterization of a NAT in the gonads of mollusks and Lophotrochozoa. This NAT named Cg-Foxl2os is supposed to be polyadenylated and forms RNA-RNA duplexes with its mRNA. Cg-Foxl2os is significantly more expressed than Cg-Foxl2 in 2-month-old spats and in mature males. It is co-localized with the mRNA in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The results of this study demonstrate the existence of a NAT of Cg-Foxl2 in the gonads of C. gigas. It may regulate its mRNA expression through formation of cytoplasmic RNA-RNA duplexes during the oyster gonadic differentiation.
Roles of Adapalene in the Treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor
Authors: Shi Tian-Wei , Ren Xiao-Kun , Yu Hong-Xing , Tang Yong-Bo
Published: May 2012

Background: Ketoconazole is a typical treatment available for pityriasis versicolor; tretinoin cream is effective, too. Adapalene gel is a tretinoin derivative and has a lower incidence of irritation compared with other topical retinoid products. However, there are no reports on adapalene gel for the treatment of pityriasis versicolor. Objective: To study the effect of adapalene gel comparing the treatment with adapalene gel and 2% ketoconazole cream in pityriasis versicolor. Methods: Eighty patients suffering from pityriasis versicolor were randomly divided into two groups; one group were treated with 2% ketoconazole cream topically twice daily for 2 weeks, adapalene gel was used for the other group in a similar fashion. Results: There were no significant differences in efficacy between the two groups. No major side effects were noted in any of the groups either. Conclusion: Adapalene was the favorable option in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor. The probable therapeutic mechanism of adapalene is also discussed.
DAP5 Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis of Renal Tubular Cells
Authors: Gao Jian-jun , Cai Guang-yan , Ning Yi-chun , Liu Lin , Yang Ju-rong , Dong Dan , Fu Bo , Lu Yang , Cui Shao-yuan , Chen Xiang-mei
Published: May 2012

Background: Nephrotoxicity of cisplatin limits its clinical application. Cisplatin-induced acute renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms of cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Here, the role and regulation of death-associated protein 5 (DAP5) in cisplatin-induced tubular cell apoptosis were investigated. Methods: After upregulation of DAP5 expression by plasmid transfection and downregulation of DAP5 expression by small interfering RNA in human kidney tubular epithelial cell line (HKC) cells, the degree of cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometric analysis. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was detected by Western blot analysis. The relationship between the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and DAP5 was also evaluated. Results: During cisplatin-induced apoptosis in HKC cells, DAP5 underwent proteolytic fragmentation, yielding an 86-kDa species, DAP5/p86. Overexpression of DAP5/p97 and DAP5/p86 increased the translation of Bcl-2 and reduced the extent of cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Knockdown of DAP5 expression using small interfering RNA decreased the translation of Bcl-2 and increased the degree of apoptosis. Neither manipulation affected the expression of Bax. DAP5 expression was positively regulated by the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusion: Collectively, the results from the present study revealed a new role for DAP5 in cisplatin-induced apoptosis: DAP5/p97 and DAP5/p86 enhanced the translation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway may positively regulate the expression of DAP5.
Biofunctional Properties of Caseinophosphopeptides in the Oral Cavity
Authors: Nongonierma A.B. , FitzGerald R.J.
Published: May 2012

Caseinophosphopeptides (CPPs), bioactive peptides released from caseins, have the ability to enhance bivalent mineral solubility. This is relevant to numerous biological functions in the oral cavity (promotion of tooth enamel remineralisation, prevention of demineralisation and buffering of plaque pH). Therefore, CPPs may play a positive role as prophylactic agents for caries, enamel erosion and regression of white spot lesions. Most in vitro and in situ studies demonstrate strong evidence for the bioactivity of CPPs in the oral cavity. Nevertheless, relatively little is known concerning their use as adjuvants for oral health and more particularly regarding their long-term effects on oral health.
Practice Patterns in Evaluation of Living Kidney Donors in United Network for Organ Sharing-Approved Kidney Transplant Centers
Authors: Brar Amarpali , Jindal Rahul M. , Abbott Kevin C. , Hurst Frank P. , Salifu Moro O.
Published: May 2012

Introduction: The current pattern of evaluation for living kidney donors was investigated. Methods: We designed a 37-question electronic survey to collect information about living kidney donor evaluation. Of the 181 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)-approved centers, 72 responded. Survey responses were coded and downloaded into SPSS. Data was expressed as means and standard deviations or the percentage of centers with specific responses. Results: 66% of the centers used a cut-off of <80 ml/min for exclusion of living kidney donors. 24-hour urine measuring creatinine clearance (CrCl) was the most common screening method for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment in potential living donors. 56% of the centers excluded donors with blood pressure (BP) >140/90, whereas 22.7 and 7.1% excluded patients with pre-hypertension with a cut-off BP of 130/85 and 120/80, respectively. 66% of the centers used 24-hour urine creatinine to assess for proteinuria. 20% of the centers accepted living kidney donors with microalbuminuria and 84% accepted patients with a history of nephrolithiasis. 24% of the centers reported use of formal cognitive testing of potential living donors. Discussion: There were significant variations in exclusion criteria based on GFR, history of kidney stones, body mass index, BP and donors with urinary abnormalities. The definitions for hematuria and proteinuria were variable. There is a need for uniformity in selection and for a living donor registry. We also recommend raising the cut-off for estimated GFR to 90 ml/min to account for 10–15% overestimation when CrCl is used.
Streptococcus gordonii FSS2 Challisin affects fibrin clot formation by digestion of the αC region and cleavage of the N-terminal region of the Bβ chains of fibrinogen
Authors: Farahani Ramin M. , Simonian Mary R. , Hunter Luke , Hunter Neil , Harty Derek W. S.
Published: May 2012

Bacteria within endocarditis vegetations are encased in fibrin matrix that is resistant to resolution. We have previously shown that FSS2 Challisin, a serine protease from Streptococcus gordonii, is able to hydrolyse the Aα and Bβ chains of fibrinogen and has potent angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity. The alteration in the structure of fibrin formed from FSS2 Challisin-degraded fibrinogen may therefore contribute to the resistant fibrin matrix. To this end, we have investigated the specific interactions of FSS2 Challisin with fibrinogen. FSS2 Challisin extensively degrades the αC region of fibrinogen Aα chains, hydrolysing both the αC-domain and αC-connnector. Additionally, the N-terminal region of the Bβ chains is cleaved twice, at Leu19 and Ser28, removing the B fibrinopeptides and ‘B’ knobs. Substrate analysis indicates FSS2 Challisin has specific requirement for proline two residues before the cleavage point and a neutral or basic un-branched amino acid preceding the cleavage point. Fibrin formation by thrombin was modified and the initiation of fibrinolysis extended, in FSS2 Challisin-treated plasma clots. Digestion of fibrinogen by FSS2 Challisin prior to thrombin action increased fiber density and fiber branch point density. The velocity of fibrinolysis was significantly slower for fibrin formed from FSS2 Challisin-treated fibrinogen but was faster when data was normalised for the increased fibrin density. Thromboelastography of whole blood treated with FSS2 Challisin indicated reduced clot coagulation time and increased shear resistance. Combined ACE and fibrinogenase activities of FSS2 Challisin suggest a pro-coagulant effect of this virulence factor which is conserved in the viridans streptococci.
Lagrangian Observations of Inner-Shelf Motions in Southern California: Can Surface Waves Decelerate Shoreward-Moving Drifters Just outside the Surf Zone?
Authors: Ohlmann J. Carter , Fewings Melanie R. , Melton Christopher
Published: May 2012

This study explores Eulerian and Lagrangian circulation during weak winds at two inner-shelf locations off the Southern California coast where the shoreline, shelf, wind, and wave characteristics differ from those in previous studies. In agreement with recent observational studies, wave-driven Eulerian offshore flow just outside the surf zone, referred to as undertow, is a substantial component of the net cross-shore circulation during periods of weak winds. Drifter observations show onshore surface flow, likely due to light onshore winds, and a consistent decrease in onshore velocity of roughly 4 cm s−1 within a few hundred meters of the surf zone. Undertow is examined as a possible explanation for the observed Lagrangian decelerations. Model results suggest that, even when waves are small, undertow can decrease the velocity of shoreward-moving drifters by >2 cm s−1, roughly half the observed deceleration. The coastal boundary condition also has the potential to contribute to the observed decelerations. Subtracting predicted Stokes drift velocities from the Lagrangian drifter observations improves the agreement between the drifter observations and coincident Eulerian ADCP observations.
Recent Developments in Selected Education Indicators and their Relation to Europe 2020 Targets
Authors: Barslund Mikkel
Published: May 2012

This study looks at the recent development (1998–2009) in the number of years of schooling that a 6-year old can expect to attend until their 30th birthday for the EU-27 countries. All countries have seen an increase in the number of expected years of schooling, which is driven mainly by increased tertiary enrolment rates. At the same time the education gap vis-à-vis the US has been closed. The dispersion of expected length of education among EU countries has also decreased. Thus, by this measure, education among countries has become more equal. In spite of this progress, some countries will find it difficult to meet their national targets for tertiary educational attainments for 30–34 year-olds in 2020. This is largely because the tertiary education participation rates of young males have been falling behind those of females in many countries. Focussing on the tertiary educational attainments of 30–34 year-olds leaves governments with little time to pursue policies with substantial impact. It would be preferable to supplement the educational attainment target for 30–34 year-olds with an enrolment target for 20–24 year-olds.
Modeling and design of a Session Initiation Protocol overload control algorithm
Authors: Hong Yang , Huang Changcheng , Yan James
Published: May 2012

Recent collapses of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) servers indicate that the built-in SIP overload control mechanism cannot mitigate overload effectively. In this paper, we propose a new SIP overload control algorithm by introducing a novel analytical approach to model the dynamic behavior of a SIP network where each server has a finite buffer. Three key breakthroughs of our modeling approach are the formulations of the message loss process, message retransmission process, and the complex departure process through detailed analysis. Our modeling results indicate that retransmissions triggered by the queuing delay are redundant, thus we propose a feedback control mechanism that regulates the retransmission message rate to mitigate the overload. We then demonstrate how to extend our analytical approach to the modeling of our overload control solution. Simulation based on this analytical model runs much faster than event-driven simulation, which needs to track thousands of retransmission timers for outstanding messages and may crash a simulator due to limited computation resources. Performance evaluation demonstrates that: (1) without the control algorithm applied, the overload at a downstream server may propagate to its upstream servers and cause widespread network failure; (2) in the case of short-term overload, our feedback control solution can mitigate the overload effectively without rejecting calls intentionally or reducing network utilization, thus avoiding the disadvantages of existing overload control solutions. In addition, compared with the pushback solution, our retransmission-based solution achieves a better trade-off between the speed to cancel the overload and the call rejection rate when an overload lasts a short period.
Motivated Reasoning in Political Information Processing
Authors: Richey Mason
Published: May 2012

In this article, I discuss what motivated reasoning research tells us about the prospects for deliberative democracy. In section I, I introduce the results of several political psychology studies examining the problematic affective and cognitive processing of political information by individuals in nondeliberative, experimental environments. This is useful because these studies are often neglected in political philosophy literature. Section II has three stages. First, I sketch how the study results from section I question the practical viability of deliberative democracy. Second, I briefly present the results of three empirical studies of political deliberation that can be interpreted to counter the findings of the studies in section I. Third, I show why this is a misinterpretation and that the study results from section I mean that it is implausible that sites of political deliberation would naturally emerge from the wide public sphere and coalesce into institutionalized forms of the practice such that deliberative democracy can satisfy its raison d’être. Finally, in section III, I conclude that viable conceptions of deliberative democracy should be limited to narrower aims.
Ernest Gellner’s Use of the Social Sciences in Philosophy
Authors: Schubert Stefan
Published: May 2012

It is well known that Ernest Gellner made substantial use of his knowledge of the social sciences in philosophy. Here I discuss how he used it on the basis of a few examples taken from Gellner’s philosophical output. It is argued that he made a number of highly original “translations”, or re-interpretations, of philosophical theories and problems using his knowledge of the social sciences. While this method is endorsed, it is also argued that some of Gellner’s translations crossed the line between the original and the idiosyncratic.
Bringing Ourselves to Grief
Authors: McIvor David W.
Published: May 2012

Within political theory there has been a recent surge of interest in the themes of loss, grief, and mourning. In this paper I address questions about the politics of mourning through a critical engagement of the work of Judith Butler. I argue that Butler’s work remains tethered to an account of melancholic subjectivity derived from her early reading of Freud. These investments in melancholia compromise Butler’s recent ethico-political interventions by obscuring the ambivalence of political engagements and the possibilities of achieving and sustaining non-dogmatic identities. To overcome this impasse I argue for an alternative framing of mourning by turning to the psychoanalytic theory of Melanie Klein. An account of mourning that leans upon Klein’s work cashes in on the ethical and political promises that are immanent yet unrealized in Butler’s recent work while providing a new orientation for mourning in, and for, democratic politics.
Methodological Limitations May Prevent the Observation of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Bioassays of Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Authors: Strauss Harlee S. , Heiger-Bernays Wendy
Published: May 2012

Epidemiological studies increasingly indicate that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contribute to the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). In rodent bioassays, PCBs have long been demonstrated to be liver carcinogens, and excess tumors in the thyroid, lung, and other organs have been observed in more recent studies. Leukemias and lymphomas now classified as NHL were observed in one bioassay in which a concurrent infection was also reported. Clinical and epidemiological studies show immunosuppression and inflammation are strong risk factors for NHL, and both epidemiology and toxicology studies show that PCBs are immunosuppressive and cause inflammation. We reviewed published carcinogenesis bioassays conducted using commercial PCB products, individual congeners, and congener mixtures, with a focus on bioassay protocols and immune-related observations. Based on a mode-of-action framework for PCBs, we suggest that an immune challenge in conjunction with PCB exposure may be necessary for the observation of NHL. We conclude that the lack of concordance between human epidemiology and animal bioassays with respect to NHL may simply be the result of the bioassay methodology used, and not a difference in underlying biology. The lack of concordance should not be construed as evidence that PCBs do not contribute to the risk of NHL.
Assessment of Circulating Hormones in Regulatory Toxicity Studies II. Male Reproductive Hormones
Authors: Chapin Robert E. , Creasy Dianne M.
Published: May 2012

When test article–related testicular toxicity or Leydig cell tumors are identified in nonclinical studies, the measurement of circulating hormones such as luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, inhibin, testosterone, or prolactin is often considered in order to aid mechanistic investigations or to identify potential biomarkers in man. Although some hormone levels are relatively constant, others are subject to wide variability owing to pulsatility of secretion, diurnal rhythms, and stress. To avoid being misled, it is important that this variation is factored into any study design that includes hormone measurements. Since all these possibilities start from the pathologist’s reading of the tissue sections, we begin with a review of the morphologic changes that are tied to underlying alterations in hormones. We then provide the reader with basic information and representative hormone data, including coefficients of variation, for the major male reproductive hormones in the three main nonclinical species (rats, dogs, and cynomolgus monkeys). Power and probability tables for rats and dogs allow estimates of the number of animals or samples needed to provide a given likelihood of detecting a hormonal change of a given size. More importantly, we highlight the variability of this process and the real value in readers developing this information at their own site.
Satratoxin-G from the Black Mold Stachybotrys chartarum Induces Rhinitis and Apoptosis of Olfactory Sensory Neurons in the Nasal Airways of Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Carey Stephan A. , Plopper Charles G. , Hyde Dallas M. , Islam Zahidul , Pestka James J. , Harkema Jack R.
Published: May 2012

Satratoxin-G (SG) is a trichothecene mycotoxin of Stachybotrys chartarum, the black mold suggested to contribute etiologically to illnesses associated with water-damaged buildings. We have reported that intranasal exposure to SG evokes apoptosis of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and acute inflammation in the nose and brain of laboratory mice. To further assess the potential human risk of nasal airway injury and neurotoxicity, we developed a model of SG exposure in monkeys, whose nasal airways more closely resemble those of humans. Adult, male rhesus macaques received a single intranasal instillation of 20 µg SG (high dose, n = 3), or 5 µg SG daily for four days (repeated low dose, n = 3) in one nasal passage, and saline vehicle in the contralateral nasal passage. Nasal tissues were examined using light and electron microscopy and morphometric analysis. SG induced acute rhinitis, atrophy of the olfactory epithelium (OE), and apoptosis of OSNs in both groups. High-dose and repeated low-dose SG elicited a 13% and 66% reduction in OSN volume density, and a 14-fold and 24-fold increase in apoptotic cells of the OE, respectively. This model provides new insight into the potential risk of nasal airway injury and neurotoxicity caused by exposure to water-damaged buildings.
Morphometric Examination for Development of Reproductive Organs in Male Cynomolgus Monkeys
Authors: Haruyama Emiko , Ayukawa Yuki , Kamura Koshiro , Mizutamari Megumi , Ooshima Yojiro , Tanimoto Akihide
Published: May 2012

We previously reported on a histological classification of cynomolgus monkey testis into six grades (1, immature; 2, prepuberty; 3, onset of puberty; 4, puberty; 5, early adult; 6, adult) based on spermatogenesis development. In this investigation, the accessory reproductive organs from the same animals underwent histomorphometric examination, in addition to being examined histologically and weighed, to evaluate relationships between these parameters and the six grades. Seminiferous tubule diameter increased corresponding to the testicular maturity grade and was notably increased at grade 6. Beginning from grade 3, increases in the areas of the ductus epididymis were noted, and reserved sperm was visible in the lumen. In the prostate, the glandular lumen area per unit area showed an increase beginning from grade 3 but no clear differences between grades 4 and 6; advanced development of epithelial height was observed at grade 6. In the seminal vesicle, development of the epithelial cell layer was markedly increased at grade 6. It was concluded that development of the male accessory reproductive organs began after reserved sperm was observed in the lumen of the ductus epididymis (grade 3) and that these organs were developed notably when the testis reached sexual maturity (grade 6).
The Failure of the French Tripartite Experiment in May 1947
Authors: Tran Tuong-Vi
Published: May 2012

Why was the French Communist Party (PCF) evicted in May 1947, only two years after it was asked to join the Socialists (SFIO) and the Christian Democrats (MRP) in a tripartite government? According to Pierre Grosser, the chief cause of the eviction was the pressure exerted by the United States on MRP and SFIO leaders, who distanced themselves from their Communist counterparts. While rejecting the thesis of an American-led conspiracy, Irwin Wall also underlines the role of MRP and SFIO politicians, whom he believed nourished strong anti-Communist feelings. The assumption is therefore that of a passive role for the PCF, the aspirations of which were limited to the seizure of power through democratic means. In contrast, this article argues that the Communists had a strategic interest in their own expulsion. Given what they perceived as a French alignment with the Western bloc at the Moscow Conference in April 1947, they began to weigh the advantages of a temporary eviction from government. They concluded that this would allow them to regain the support of the discontented working class and force the MRP and the SFIO to finally concede some of their demands. The hope was to stage their retour en force to the government at a later point. Their abstention in a vote on military appropriations for Indochina on 19 March 1947 brought them close to expulsion. However, it was not until their defiance of government wage policy that Paul Ramadier finally evicted them on 5 May 1947. In retrospect, contrary to the PCF’s original plan, its ‘temporary’ return to the opposition was to last more than 30 years.
The Economic Thought of A. Genovesi in the Late Spanish Enlightenment: R. De Salas’s Critical Analysis
Authors: Astigarraga Jesús
Published: May 2012

Ramón de Salas, a teacher of law at the University of Salamanca in Spain, wrote his Apuntaciones al Genovesi in the second half of the 1780s. It was an exhaustive analysis of the economic and political thought contained in Genovesi’s Lezioni di commercio (1765–1767). Although never published, the work enjoyed enormous success due to its length, the unquestionable intellectual stature of its author (Salas was destined to play a leading role in Spanish liberalism) and the value added by Salas’s ‘comments’: his Apuntaciones amounted to a detailed critique of the economic thought contained in Genovesi’s Lezioni. This article examines Salas’s economic thought and his critical engagement with the work of Genovesi.
The sustainable employment policy agenda: What role for employers?
Authors: McCollum David
Published: May 2012

This article focuses on the sustainable employment policy agenda and the role that employers can play in promoting more sustainable transitions from welfare into work. Moving into work has conventionally been regarded as a remedy to labour market exclusion. However, these transitions often do not lead to sustained employment, with many people persistently cycling between work and welfare. Some contemporary measures are now attempting to place a greater emphasis on not just getting people into jobs but also sustaining them in them. Simultaneously there has been a shift towards getting employers ‘on board’ in the design and delivery of welfare programmes. This analysis uses interview data from employers and service providers in Glasgow and Dundee to investigate these issues. The key line of argument developed is that employer participation in the provision of welfare services can create a ‘win-win-win’ situation for jobseekers, employers and service providers. However, significant barriers exist to effective partnership working.
Perineal Choristoma and Atresia Ani in 2 Female Holstein Friesian Calves
Authors: Binanti D. , Prati I. , Locatelli V. , Pravettoni D. , Sironi G. , Riccaboni P.
Published: May 2012

Atresia ani, a congenital anomaly of the anus, can be associated with other types of malformation. Two female Holstein Friesian calves had imperforate anus, rectovaginal fistula, and perineal choristomas. In one case, the choristoma was composed of mature adipose and fibrous tissue with nephrogenic rests. In the other calf, the choristoma consisted of fragments of trabecular bone coated by cartilage and containing marrow, mixed with mature adipose and fibrous tissue, striated muscle fibers, nerves, and vessels. This combination of malformations resembles the association of anorectal malformations and perineal masses in children.
The ‘Impossible’ Group: an Experience of Long-term Group Analytic Psychotherapy for Autistic People
Authors: Ávila Lazslo Antonio , de Macedo Carina Rugai Moreira
Published: May 2012

This work describes an attempt to challenge the prototypical isolation of autistic individuals with the psychotherapeutic group. The challenge is to group people who avoid people, either because of constitutional deficits or due to a life-long history of deficient approaches to their specific patterns of interaction. Here an account of a successful intervention of group analytic psychotherapy will allow a better evaluation of the potential of the group as a therapeutic means of helping severely disabled individuals to live better lives.
Use of a chitosan–cadmium polymer as a redox hybridization indicator for CaMV35S promoter gene detection
Authors: Wang Qingxiang , Ni Jiancong , Gao Feng , Zhang Bin , Li Shunxing , Jiao Kui
Published: May 2012

A water-soluble chitosan-coordinated cadmium polymer was synthesized, and its recognition of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA was investigated. The electrochemical analysis in the homogeneous solutions revealed that the chitosan-coordinated cadmium polymer association with a single stranded DNA was 48 times greater than with double-stranded DNA due to the different interaction with the two kinds of DNA. The surface-based electrochemically absorbed chitosan-coordinated cadmium polymer molecules were easily removed from the double-stranded DNA-modified electrode via rinsing but could not be removed from a single-stranded DNA-modified electrode. Based on this fact, the polymer was utilized as a redox indicator for DNA hybridization detection, as the polymer was able to recognize complementary, noncomplementary, and base-mismatched sequences with a low background interference. The target DNA sequence was quantified from 5.0 × 10-9 to 5.0 × 10-7 M with a detection limit of 4.2 × 10-9 M. The polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA from the real sample of a kind of transgenically modified soybeans was also detected satisfactorily.
Preparation and characterizations of in situ shell cross-linked 4-arm-poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) micelles via enzyme-mediated reaction for controlled drug delivery
Authors: Kim Bae Y , Park Kyung M , Joung Yoon K , Park Ki D
Published: May 2012

The shell cross-linked micelles composed of tyramine-conjugated 4-arm poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) was developed as a carrier for controlled drug delivery. The shell cross-linked tyramine-conjugated 4-arm poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) micelles were prepared by an enzyme-mediated reaction using horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. The physicochemical properties, size distribution, morphologies, and thermal properties of the shell cross-linked tyramine-conjugated 4-arm poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) micelles were characterized to confirm the micelle formation and controllable properties dependent on the concentration of the catalysts. The in vitro cytocompatibility of the micelles was investigated using NIH3T3 fibroblast cells, and the shell cross-linked tyramine-conjugated 4-arm poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) micelles showed low cytotoxicity. The in vitro hydrophobic drug release behavior from the shell cross-linked tyramine-conjugated 4-arm poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) micelles was controllable with a sustained release behavior. Therefore, the shell cross-linked tyramine-conjugated 4-arm poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) micelles via enzyme-mediated reaction have potential as nanocarriers for controlled drug delivery.
Microstructure, degradation and in vitro MG63 cells interactions of a new poly(ε-caprolactone), zein, and hydroxyapatite composite for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Salerno Aurelio , Zeppetelli Stefania , Oliviero Maria , Battista Edmondo , Di Maio Ernesto , Iannace Salvatore , Netti Paolo A
Published: May 2012

Novel biodegradable biomaterials were investigated for potential application in bone tissue engineering. The biomaterials were prepared by blending poly(ε-caprolactone) and thermoplastic zein, a corn protein, with or without the incorporation of hydroxyapatite particles. The biomaterials were characterized in vitro to assess the degradation in phosphate buffer saline for 56 days by monitoring weight change, morphology, wettability, and tensile properties. The interaction between the biomaterials and MG63 was evaluated by proliferation, morphological characterization, and osteogenic differentiation assays up to 28 days in in vitro cultures. The incorporation of thermoplastic zein within poly(ε-caprolactone) enhanced the hydrophilicity and degradability, while minor effects were observed after the inclusion of the hydroxyapatite particles. Compared to the neat poly(ε-caprolactone), the multiphase poly(ε-caprolactone)/thermoplastic zein–hydroxyapatite composite improved the osteogenic differentiation of MG63 cells and is being considered a candidate material for bone tissue engineering applications.
The Effect of Two Different Domperidone Doses on Maternal Milk Production
Authors: Knoppert David C. , Page Andrea , Warren Joanne , Seabrook Jamie A. , Carr Michelle , Angelini Michelle , Killick Diane , daSilva Orlando P.
Published: May 2012

Background:

The benefits of breast milk to the newborn infant are well established. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life for healthy, term infants. Mothers of premature newborns, however, may have difficulty providing an adequate supply of breast milk. Domperidone is officially used as a prokinetic agent. However, it is used widely around the world as a galactogogue. Despite its widespread use as a galactogogue, only a small number of investigators have studied domperidone for this indication.

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to determine an optimal dosage of domperidone as a galactogogue.

Methods:

Eligible subjects were randomized to receive domperidone 10 mg 3 times daily or domperidone 20 mg 3 times daily for 4 weeks. At week 5, the frequency was decreased to twice daily in both groups, and finally once daily for week 6.

Results:

Over the entire first 4-week period, there was a significant increase in daily milk volumes within each group ( P < .01). The between-group difference over this period, although not statistically significant, was clinically significant. Additionally, there was no significant within- or between-group difference during weeks 5 and 6.

Conclusion:

A dose of domperidone of 20 mg, 3 times daily instead of 10 mg, 3 times daily was associated with a clinical, but not statistically significant, increase in milk production.
Effect of particle size of fly ash cenospheres on the properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene-filled composites
Authors: Kulkarni MB , Bambole VA , Mahanwar PA
Published: May 2012

Fly ash cenospheres are inexpensive, readily available from coal burning or heavy oil combustion, not an eco-friendly material. If ways can be found to use this, it will serve the twin purposes of facilitating applications for the ash bearing materials and at the same time reduce pollution. One way to achieve this task is to make ash-bearing composites having polymer matrices. The performance of filled polymers is generally determined on the basis of the interface attraction of filler and polymers. Fillers of widely varying particle size and surface characteristics are responsive to the interfacial interactions with the polymers. The present study deals with the effect of particle size (150 mesh, 100 mesh, and 300 mesh) variations in fly ash cenospheres, as a filler with different concentrations (0–40 wt%), on various properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the composite material were evaluated, and the microstructure was investigated through scanning electron microscopy. The smaller particle size showed better properties in comparison with larger particle size. As increasing filler loading, the saturation level is influenced by the agglomeration of filler particles in the polymer matrix. Thus, the performance of polymer filled with fly ash cenosphere composites is the function of the particle size, the dispersion, and the interfacial interaction between the filler particles and the polymer matrix.
Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Schizophrenic Patients Receiving Second-Generation Antipsychotic Agents—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kagal Urmila A. , Torgal Shashikant S. , Patil Nanasaheb M. , Malleshappa Anil
Published: May 2012

Objective: The present study was taken up to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in schizophrenic patients receiving second-generation antipsychotic agents and to determine the most sensitive and specific clinical parameters used for screening of metabolic syndrome in these patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was taken up in a tertiary care hospital. Eighty patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and receiving a single second-generation antipsychotic for 3 months or more were enrolled in the study after obtaining written informed consent. Patients were screened for metabolic syndrome using American Heart Association and National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA NHLBI)-modified National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. Results: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found to be 35%. The clinical parameter with highest sensitivity for screening of metabolic syndrome is low-serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with a sensitivity of 89.28%. Elevated fasting blood glucose and increased waist circumference were found to have highest and equal specificity of 90.38%. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenic patients receiving second-generation antipsychotic agents. Increasing awareness of this fact among psychiatrists will help to prevent, detect, and treat this condition that is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality.
Sándor Ferenczi and the problem of telepathy
Authors: Gyimesi Júlia
Published: May 2012

Sándor Ferenczi, the great representative of the Budapest School of Psychoanalysis, had a lifelong interest in psychical phenomena. Although his ideas on the psychoanalytical understanding of spiritualistic phenomena and telepathy were not developed theories, they had a strong influence on some representatives of psychoanalysis, and thus underlay the psychoanalytic interpretation of telepathy. Ferenczi’s ideas on telepathy were interwoven with his most important technical and theoretical innovations. Thus Ferenczi’s thoughts on telepathy say a lot about his psychoanalytical thinking and attitudes, and illuminate the significance of his greatest innovations in the context of psychical research.
Hallucination or materialization? The animism versus spiritism debate in late-19th-century Germany
Authors: Wolffram Heather
Published: May 2012

This article considers a long-neglected episode in the disciplinary evolution of the border sciences in Germany: the so-called animism versus spiritism debate. While historians have long acknowledged the significance of this dispute, which introduced a range of new hypotheses and nomenclature to the field, there has been little detailed analysis of it. Looking closely at the arguments of the main combatants, this article attempts to highlight not just the complex multi-frontal conflicts that took place during the late 19th century between academic psychologists, spiritists and psychical researchers over the parameters and proper objects of the nascent field of psychology, but also the epistemological and methodological battles between spiritists and psychical researchers over the nature of both psychology and the unconscious. It is concluded that researchers such as Hartmann and Aksakow in their pursuit of a new scientific psychology based on the phenomena of the unconscious were just as representative of contemporary psychology as were Wundt and his colleagues.
Linseed vinyl ester fatty amide toughened unsaturated polyester-bismaleimide composites
Authors: Mandhakini Mohandas , Devaraju Subramani , Venkatesan MuthuKumarasamy R. , Alagar Muthukaruppan
Published: May 2012

Bio-based neat unsaturated polyester (UPE) containing linseed vinyl ester fatty amide (LVEFA) modified with N, N′-bismaleimido-4,4′-diphenyl methane (BMI) composite were prepared with dicumyl peroxide as initiator. Up to 20% of the UPE was replaced by LVEFA to prepare biobased UPE. The combination of UPE and LVEFA resulted in an excellent new biobased thermoset polymer with high toughness at the expense of thermal properties. The loss of thermal properties by the addition of LVEFA to the UPE was compensated through (BMI) reinforcement. Biocomposite were made using BMI (5, 10, 15 wt.%) as thermal modifier, and blends of unsaturated polyester (UPE) and linseed vinyl ester fatty amide as the polymer matrix. The mechanical, thermal, hardness and dielectric properties of the biocomposite increased as a result of the incorporation of BMI. The fractured surface of the composites was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to understand the morphology.
Psychological Research and the Prostate-Cancer Screening Controversy
Authors: Arkes Hal R. , Gaissmaier Wolfgang
Published: May 2012

In October of 2011, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a draft report in which they recommended against using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to screen for prostate cancer. We attempt to show that four factors documented by psychological research can help explain the furor that followed the release of the task force’s report. These factors are the persuasive power of anecdotal (as opposed to statistical) evidence, the influence of personal experience, the improper evaluation of data, and the influence of low base rates on the efficacy of screening tests. We suggest that augmenting statistics with facts boxes or pictographs might help such committees communicate more effectively with the public and with the U.S. Congress.
Discursive constructions of infant feeding: The dilemma of mothers’ ‘guilt’
Authors: Williams Kate , Kurz Tim , Summers Mark , Crabb Shona
Published: May 2012

Recent feminist and sociological scholarship has problematised the underlying medical assumptions in the established literature on infant feeding by attending to the social and discursive construction of breastfeeding practice. Such work has suggested that the pervasive cultural discourse around breastfeeding as the ‘morally correct’ choice has implications for actual decisions and practices as well as subjective judgements and feelings, particularly those of guilt and inadequacy. The present study employs a discursive approach to analyse the ways in which childcare materials published since 2000 construct the issue of infant feeding. In particular, we focus upon the ways in which these materials attend to the possible implications of pro-breastfeeding discourses for mothers’ subjective experience of guilt. We highlight a focus within the materials on not ‘ feeling’ guilty, as opposed to affirmations that formula feeding mothers are not guilty. The complex and potentially problematic nature of such public health messages in terms of gendered subjectivities is considered.
SLICC/ACR damage index independently associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Shang Q , Yip GWK , Tam LS , Zhang Q , Sanderson JE , Lam YY , Li CM , Wang T , Li EKM , Yu CM
Published: May 2012

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been reported in both active and inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease. However, the relationship between the long-term inflammatory burden reflected by the SLICC/ACR damage index and LV diastolic function has not been studied. Eighty-two SLE patients and 82 controls matched for age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate underwent echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). LV diastolic function was estimated by the myocardial early diastolic velocity (E′) at the lateral annulus. There were 51 patients (62.2%) with nephritis, 23 patients (28.0%) with hypertension, 21 patients (25.6%) with vasculitis, 16 patients (19.5%) with pulmonary hypertension, 4 patients (4.9%) with cerebrovascular disease and 2 patients (2.4%) with diabetes mellitus. Sixty-two patients (75.6%) were taking prednisone and 35 patients (42.7%) used a immunosuppressant. Forty-five patients (54.8%) had active disease and suffered from disease-related end-organ damage. Patients with SLICC/ACR damage index ≥1 had more evidence of LV diastolic dysfunction with lower lateral annulus E′ (9.6 ± 3.4 vs 12.9 ± 3.5 cm/s, p < 0.001) than those without. In addition, the proportion of patients with abnormal LV myocardial relaxation (defined as lateral E′ < 10.0 cm/s) (51.1% vs 16.2%, χ2 = 10.8, p = 0.001) were significantly higher. Multivariate analysis showed that the SLICC/ACR damage index ≥1 was independently associated with LV diastolic dysfunction (OR = 3.80, 95%CI: 1.21–11.95, p = 0.023) after adjusting for hypertension, disease duration and medical therapy. This may suggest that the overall inflammatory burden in SLE, as reflected by SLICC/ACR damage index, is associated with the development of diastolic dysfunction in SLE patients.
The Coaching Cycle
Authors: Taylor Anna-Sofia Alklind , Backlund Per , Niklasson Lars
Published: May 2012

Military organizations have a long history of using simulations, role-play, and games for training. This also encompasses good practices concerning how instructors utilize games and gaming behavior. Unfortunately, the work of instructors is rarely described explicitly in research relating to serious gaming. Decision makers also tend to have overconfidence in the pedagogical power of games and simulations, particularly where the instructor is taken out of the gaming loop. The authors propose a framework, the coaching cycle, that focuses on the roles of instructors. The roles include instructors acting as game players. The fact that the instructors take a more active part in all training activities will further improve learning. The coaching cycle integrates theories of experiential learning (where action precedes theory) and deliberate practice (where the trainee’s skill is constantly challenged by a coach). Incorporating a coaching-by-gaming perspective complicates, but also strengthens, the player-centered design approach to game development in that we need to take into account two different types of players: trainees and instructor. Furthermore, the authors argue that the coaching cycle allows for a shift of focus to a more thorough debriefing, because it implies that learning of theoretical material before simulation/game playing is kept to a minimum. This shift will increase the transfer of knowledge.