bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of interventions to improve recall of medical advice in healthcare consultations
Authors: Watson Philip Wb , Mckinstry Brian
Published: June 2009

Background

In order for patients to adhere to healthcare advice, it is essential that they are able to recall this following a consultation. Although psychological research exists which highlights techniques and factors postulated to influence recall, only a limited body of work has been conducted to evaluate their effectiveness in a clinical context.

Aim

To carry out a systematic review of intervention trials designed to enhance recall of medical information.

Methods

We searched Medline (1950-April 2007); Embase (1980-April 2007); Cinahl (1982-April 2007); PsychINFO (1969-2007); and the Cochrane Library Collection. Secondary searches were made through reference to relevant journals and reference lists from relevant papers/review papers.

Results

From 69 papers provisionally identified, 34 papers met the inclusion criteria. Nine recall interventions had been evaluated (audio recordings, written materials, adjunct questions, prompt sheets, visual aids, cognitive strategies, rehearsal, communication styles and personalized teaching). Despite the experimental and theoretical evidence which could have informed cognitive interventions to enhance recall of healthcare advice, most studies primarily focused on the use of written and/or audio-recorded medical instructions. Although the majority of studies supported these approaches insofar as they enhanced recall, the findings were equivocal.

Conclusion

While written and tape-recorded instructions appear to improve recall in most situations, a dearth of interventions incorporating psychological theory was readily apparent. Further research is required in clinical settings to determine if cognitive interventions based on a more over-arching psychological model of recall are effective.
Getting There: Exploring the Role of Expectations and Preproduction Delays in Processes of Organizational Founding
Authors: Lomi Alessandro , Larsen Erik R. , Wezel Filippo Carlo
Published: June 2009

Because of preproduction delays, environmental conditions at founding cannot explain organization-building decisions taken earlier. As a consequence, environmental conditions at founding cannot explain organizational founding. Future levels of resource availability may be estimated, but not directly observed by potential entrepreneurs at the time at which they decide to enter preproduction. In this paper, we take these considerations as our starting point to build a dynamic feedback model of organization founding. According to the model, organizational founding is driven by expectations that entrepreneurs form about future levels of resources and, only indirectly, by current levels of population density. We explore the behavior of the model under a variety of experimental conditions. We show that the qualitative behavior of the model is consistent with studies that have linked the duration of preproduction stage with fluctuations in density during population maturity. Our simulation analyses sustains three main conclusions. First, historical trajectories of organizational populations that are consistent with empirical observations may be produced by mechanisms that are not directly dependent on density. Second, alternative hypotheses about how expectations are formed produce qualitatively different historical trajectories of density. Third, fluctuations in numbers of organizations are linked to specific aspects of individual organization-building decisions.
Perspective—Cognitive Reactions to Rare Events: Perceptions, Uncertainty, and Learning
Authors: Starbuck William H.
Published: June 2009

Research provides some observations about learning from events that appear to be rare or quite unusual. All learning has uncertain consequences, but learning from rare events is especially problematic. Learners see many idiosyncrasies and exogenous interference, tendencies that suppress learning on an organizational scale. Rare events also rouse uncertainty and bring on reactions to uncertainty such as wishful thinking, reliance on prior beliefs, biased probabilities, a search for more data, cautious action, and playing to audiences. The most important contingencies affecting these reactions are the content and strength of prior beliefs: people are unlikely to learn if they think they have nothing to learn. Although learning from rare events is statistically unusual, and effective learning from rare events is rare, both individuals and organizations can benefit significantly from active efforts to learn from rare events.
The mobile hermit and the city: Considering links between places, objects, and identities in social psychological research on homelessness
Authors: Hodgetts Darrin J. , Stolte Ottilie , Chamberlain Kerry , Radley Alan , Groot Shiloh , Nikora Linda Waimarie
Published: June 2009

This article explores aspects of a homeless man's everyday life and his use of material objects to maintain a sense of place in the city. We are interested in the complex functions of walking, listening and reading as social practices central to how this man forges a life as a mobile hermit across physical and imagined locales. This highlights connections between physical place, use of material objects, imagination, and sense of self. Our analysis illustrates the value of paying attention to geographical locations and objects in social psychological research on homelessness.
Causative morphemes as non-valency increasing devices
Authors: Kittilä Seppo
Published: June 2009

Causativization is typically understood as a morphologically signaled process which introduces an agent to the valency of verbs, thus yielding constructions with n+1 arguments. This clearly constitutes the core of causatives, and many languages across the globe have means of expressing this function. In addition, causative morphemes may attach to verbs without affecting the valency of verbs and/or the number of arguments in clauses in any way. These are examined in this paper. Three types of non-prototypical uses of causative morphemes will be distinguished, based on whether causativization has consequences for the number of participants in the denoted event, the degree of agency associated with the instigator, or the transitivity of the denoted event in general. These three types are labeled covert causativization, agentivization and transitivization. In addition to providing a systematic overview of non-prototypical uses of causative morphemes, the rationale behind the attested types and their relation to the causative prototype will also be discussed. The goal of the present study is to show that causativization involves more than the mere introduction of an agent. In so doing, it aims to broaden our perspective on causativization.
Men, women, and birds. An embryonic system of noun classification in Ancient Greek
Authors: Sansò Andrea
Published: June 2009

In Ancient Greek, two terms meaning ‘man’ (anēr and anthrōpos) combine with common nouns referring to human occupations, ethnic groups, and ranks in a generic-specific construction (e.g. anēr hiereus ‘priest’ [lit. ‘man priest’]; anēr Spartiatēs ‘Spartan’ [lit. ‘man Spartan’]). This construction is used to refer to male human referents in a clearly identifiable set of discourse contexts, including (i) numeral expressions, (ii) non-assertive contexts, and (iii) presentative sentences in which a character is introduced at the beginning of a more or less lengthy story about him. In all these contexts, the function of the two terms may be thought of as similar to the function of the indefinite article, i.e. the construction always introduces indefinite referents, which may be both specific (anēr hiereus = ‘a [certain] priest’) and non-specific (anēr hiereus = ‘a priest, any priest’). The pairing of a generic and a specific noun resembles the well-known pattern by which generic superordinate terms such as ‘man’, ‘woman’, ‘animal’, ‘vegetable’, ‘bird’, ‘tree’, etc. grammaticalize into noun classifiers, accompanying more specific nouns with a more restricted meaning. Besides classifying discourse referents, the main function of noun classifiers is determination/reference, i.e. they generally play a determinerlike role, marking the discourse status of their referents. Based on the available typological evidence on noun classifiers, in this paper I will argue for an interpretation of the construction anēr/anthrōpos + common noun as an incipient with an identifiable set of discourse situations, in which a free-form lexeme with superordinate semantics is combined with a more specific noun. Classifier constructions are considered to be the first stage in the grammaticalization path leading from generic superordinate nouns to noun classifiers. Similar uses of other superordinate terms such as gynē ‘woman’ and ornis ‘bird’ are also discussed. These uses are suggestive of a rudimentary system of nominal classification in Ancient Greek. In the conclusions, I will provide some speculative thoughts on why this system has not eventually developed into a full system of noun classifiers.
The clausal complementation of deontic-evaluative adjectives in extraposition constructions: a synchronic-diachronic approach
Authors: Van linden An , Davidse Kristin
Published: June 2009

This article develops a functional synchronic-diachronic description of the clausal complementation of deontic-evaluative adjectives in extraposition constructions (ECs). It does so on the basis of qualitative and quantitative corpus-based analyses of the importance adjectives important, essential, crucial and the appropriateness adjectives appropriate, proper, and fitting. All six adjectives can currently take either mandative complements expressing desired action (coded by to-infinitives or that-clauses) or propositional complements describing arguable claims (typically coded by that-clauses). In reference grammars these have tended to receive incomplete coverage without elucidation of the constructional polysemies involved. We argue that a better understanding of the present system can be arrived at by investigating the diachronic developments by which it was fashioned. The ECs with these adjectives started off as mandative constructions and this continues to be their current unmarked use. They also developed patterns with propositional complements, but in this area the importance and appropriateness adjectives followed different diachronic paths, leading to distinct pragmatico-semantic readings of the pattern with single proposition in Present-day English.
Entwicklung nanomechanischer Messverfahren auf der Grundlage von MEMSDevelopment of Nanomechanical Measurement Methods on the Basis of MEMS
Authors: Li Zhi , Gao Sai , Herrmann Konrad , Wolff Helmut
Published: June 2009

In jüngster Zeit haben mikroelektromechanische Systeme (MEMS) immer mehr Anwendungen in der Messtechnik in Form von Sensoren und Aktoren gefunden. Hier wird über die Entwicklung und Erprobung nanomechanischer Messverfahren und Messsysteme auf der Grundlage von MEMS berichtet. Im Mittelpunkt stehen ein Nanokraftaktor, ein Nanoindentor, ein System für den Nanozugversuch und ein Rastersondenmikroskop, die alle in Form von MEMS ausgeführt sind. In dem Artikel werden das Prinzip dieser Messsysteme, das Design, die Herstellung und die Montage der MEMS sowie erste Ergebnisse der Erprobung und erreichte Leistungsparameter beschrieben.
The Semantics of άοιδός and Related Compounds: Towards a Historical Poetics of Solo Performance in Archaic Greece
Authors: Maslov Boris
Published: June 2009

The article shows that in the Archaic period the Greeks did not possess a term equivalent to Classical ποιητής “poet-composer.” The principal meaning of the word άοιδός, often claimed to correspond to ποιητής and modern English poet, was “tuneful” (adj.) or “singer” (subst.). The secondary meaning “poet working in the hexameter medium” is limited to the post-Iliadic hexameter corpus. It is furthermore possible to show that the simplex άοιδός was backderived from a compound. More specifically, following Hermann Koller, I propose that the secondary meaning, being an epic innovation, developed from the compound *θεσπιαοιδός “singer of things divine,” whereas the primary meaning “singer” may go back to έπαοιδός, which later acquired the specialized meaning “singer of incantations.”
Cicero, Domestic Politics, and the First Action of the Verrines
Authors: Vasaly Ann
Published: June 2009

In the First Action of the Verrines Cicero highlights the issue of judicial corruption, which appears to be leading to the passage of legislation ending the senatorial monopoly on composition of the juries in the quaestio de repetundis. The work might theoretically, therefore, furnish an important study of how Cicero publicly positioned himself on a key political issue at a crucial point in his career. Historians, however, often dismiss the political impact of the work, arguing that jury reform was essentially a fait accompli before the trial began. Rhetoricians likewise tend to understate its political importance, both because of its status as a substitute for a longer and fully elaborated oration and because of a pronounced tendency in recent scholarship to subordinate political comment in the judicial speeches to the immediate practical goals of legal advocacy. Cicero's prosecution of Verres, however, involved an unprecedented move in the orator's career. Through the trial he injected himself forcefully, and for the first time, into a contemporary political debate and thereby created for himself a new space from which to operate within the political landscape.
Literary Prizes and Literary Criticism in Antiquity
Authors: Wright Matthew
Published: June 2009

This article explores the role of Athenian literary prizes in the development of ancient literary criticism. It examines the views of a range of critics (including Plato, Aristotle, Longinus, historians, biographers, lexicographers, commentators, and the self-critical poets of Old Comedy), and identifies several recurrent themes. The discussion reveals that ideas about what was good or bad in literature were not directly affected by the award of prizes; in fact the ancient critics display what is called an “anti-prize” mentality. The article argues that this “anti-prize” mentality is not, as is often thought, a product of intellectual developments in the fourth century BC. It is suggested that the devaluation of prizes is actually a contemporary, integral feature of prize-awarding culture in general. This article draws on recent approaches from cultural sociology to offer some conclusions about the way in which prizes function in popular and critical discourse.
Molecular Genetic Analysis of Suppressor 2 of zeste Identifies Key Functional Domains
Authors: Emmons Richard B , Genetti Heather , Filandrinos Stephen , Lokere Jillian , Wu Chao-ting
Published: June 2009

The Su(z)2 complex contains Posterior sex combs (Psc) and Suppressor 2 of zeste [Su(z)2], two paralogous genes that likely arose by gene duplication. Psc encodes a Polycomb group protein that functions as a central component of the PRC1 complex, which maintains transcriptional repression of a wide array of genes. Although much is known about Psc, very little is known about Su(z)2, the analysis of which has been hampered by a dearth of alleles. We have generated new alleles of Su(z)2 and analyzed them at the genetic and molecular levels. Some of these alleles display negative complementation in that they cause lethality when heterozygous with the gain-of-function Su(z)21 allele but are hemizygous and, in some cases, homozygous viable. Interestingly, alleles of this class identify protein domains within Su(z)2 that are highly conserved in Psc and the mammalian Bmi-1 and Mel-18 proteins. We also find several domains of intrinsic disorder in the C-terminal regions of both Psc and Su(z)2 and suggest that these domains may contribute to the essential functions of both proteins.
Age Structure, Changing Demography and Effective Population Size in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Palstra Friso P , O'Connell Michael F , Ruzzante Daniel E
Published: June 2009

Effective population size (Ne) is a central evolutionary concept, but its genetic estimation can be significantly complicated by age structure. Here we investigate Ne in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations that have undergone changes in demography and population dynamics, applying four different genetic estimators. For this purpose we use genetic data (14 microsatellite markers) from archived scale samples collected between 1951 and 2004. Through life table simulations we assess the genetic consequences of life history variation on Ne. Although variation in reproductive contribution by mature parr affects age structure, we find that its effect on Ne estimation may be relatively minor. A comparison of estimator models suggests that even low iteroparity may upwardly bias Ne estimates when ignored (semelparity assumed) and should thus empirically be accounted for. Our results indicate that Ne may have changed over time in relatively small populations, but otherwise remained stable. Our ability to detect changes in Ne in larger populations was, however, likely hindered by sampling limitations. An evaluation of Ne estimates in a demographic context suggests that life history diversity, density-dependent factors, and metapopulation dynamics may all affect the genetic stability of these populations.
High-Throughput Multiplex Sequencing to Discover Copy Number Variants in Drosophila
Authors: Daines Bryce , Wang Hui , Li Yumei , Han Yi , Gibbs Richard , Chen Rui
Published: June 2009

Copy number variation (CNV) contributes in phenotypically relevant ways to the genetic variability of many organisms. Cost-effective genomewide methods for identifying copy number variation are necessary to elucidate the contribution that these structural variants make to the genomes of model organisms. We have developed a novel approach for the identification of copy number variation by next generation sequencing. As a proof of concept our method has been applied to map the deletions of three Drosophila deficiency strains. We demonstrate that low sequence coverage is sufficient for identifying and mapping large deletions at kilobase resolution, suggesting that data generated from high-throughput sequencing experiments are sufficient for simultaneously analyzing many strains. Genomic DNA from two Drosophila deficiency stocks was barcoded and sequenced in multiplex, and the breakpoints associated with each deletion were successfully identified. The approach we describe is immediately applicable to the systematic exploration of copy number variation in model organisms and humans.
Centrosomin: A Complex Mix of Long and Short Isoforms Is Required for Centrosome Function During Early Development in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Eisman Robert C , Phelps Melissa A S , Kaufman Thomas C
Published: June 2009

Centrosomin (Cnn) is a required core component in mitotic centrosomes during syncytial development and the presence of Cnn at centrosomes has become synonymous with fully functional centrosomes in Drosophila melanogaster. Previous studies of Cnn have attributed this embryonic function to a single isoform or splice variant. In this study, we present new evidence that significantly increases the complexity of cnn. Rather than a single isoform, Cnn function can be attributed to two unique classes of proteins that comprise a total of at least 10 encoded protein isoforms. We present the initial characterization of a new class of Cnn short isoforms required for centrosome function during gametogenesis and embryogenesis. We also introduce new evidence for a complex mix of Cnn isoforms present during early embryogenesis. Finally, we reexamine cnn mutations, in light of the short isoforms, and find previously overlooked differences attributable to allele-specific mutant phenotypes. This study addresses several questions surrounding Cnn function at the centrosome during embryogenesis and shows that cnn function cannot be ascribed to a single protein.
Using RNA Interference to Identify Specific Modifiers of a Temperature-Sensitive, Embryonic-Lethal Mutation in the Caenorhabditis elegans Ubiquitin-Like Nedd8 Protein Modification Pathway E1-Activating Gene rfl-1
Authors: Dorfman Marc , Gomes José-Eduardo , O'Rourke Sean , Bowerman Bruce
Published: June 2009

The essential Caenorhabditis elegans gene rfl-1 encodes one subunit of a heterodimeric E1-activating enzyme in the Nedd8 ubiquitin-like protein conjugation pathway. This pathway modifies the Cullin scaffolds of E3 ubiquitin ligases with a single Nedd8 moiety to promote ligase function. To identify genes that influence neddylation, we used a synthetic screen to identify genes that, when depleted with RNAi, enhance or suppress the embryonic lethality caused by or198ts, a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutation in rfl-1. We identified reproducible suppressor and enhancer genes and employed a systematic specificity analysis for each modifier using four unrelated ts embryonic lethal mutants. Results of this analysis highlight the importance of specificity controls in identifying genetic interactions relevant to a particular biological process because 8/14 enhancers and 7/21 suppressors modified lethality in other mutants. Depletion of the strongest specific suppressors rescued the early embryonic cell division defects in rfl-1(or198ts) mutants. RNAi knockdown of some specific suppressors partially restored Cullin neddylation in rfl-1(or198ts) mutants, consistent with their gene products normally opposing neddylation, and GFP fusions to several suppressors were detected in the cytoplasm or the nucleus, similar in pattern to Nedd8 conjugation pathway components in early embryonic cells. In contrast, depletion of the two strongest specific enhancers did not affect the early embryonic cell division defects observed in rfl-1(or198ts) mutants, suggesting that they may act at later times in other essential processes. Many of the specific modifiers are conserved in other organisms, and most are nonessential. Thus, when controlled properly for specificity, modifier screens using conditionally lethal C. elegans mutants can identify roles for nonessential but conserved genes in essential processes.
Measuring the Rates of Spontaneous Mutation From Deep and Large-Scale Polymorphism Data
Authors: Messer Philipp W
Published: June 2009

The rates and patterns of spontaneous mutation are fundamental parameters of molecular evolution. Current methodology either tries to measure such rates and patterns directly in mutation-accumulation experiments or tries to infer them indirectly from levels of divergence or polymorphism. While experimental approaches are constrained by the low rate at which new mutations occur, indirect approaches suffer from their underlying assumption that mutations are effectively neutral. Here I present a maximum-likelihood approach to estimate mutation rates from large-scale polymorphism data. It is demonstrated that the method is not sensitive to demography and the distribution of selection coefficients among mutations when applied to mutations at sufficiently low population frequencies. With the many large-scale sequencing projects currently underway, for instance, the 1000 genomes project in humans, plenty of the required low-frequency polymorphism data will shortly become available. My method will allow for an accurate and unbiased inference of mutation rates and patterns from such data sets at high spatial resolution. I discuss how the assessment of several long-standing problems of evolutionary biology would benefit from the availability of accurate mutation rate estimates.
Lanreotide promotes apoptosis and is not radioprotective in GH3 cells
Authors: Ning Shoucheng , Knox Susan J , Harsh Griffith R , Culler Michael D , Katznelson Laurence
Published: June 2009

Somatostatin analogs are a mainstay of medical therapy in patients with GH producing human pituitary tumors, and it has been suggested that somatostatin analogs may be radioprotective. We utilized GH secreting rat GH3 cells to investigate whether a somatostatin analog may limit the effects of radiation on proliferation and apoptosis in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo. Treatment with lanreotide alone at doses of either 100 or 1000 nM for 48 h reduced clonogenic survival by 5–10%. Radiation alone produced a dose-dependent survival curve with a SF2 of 48–55%, and lanreotide had no effect on this curve. The addition of lanreotide resulted in a 23% increase in the proportion of apoptotic sub-G1 cells following irradiation (P<0.01). In a mouse GH3 tumor xenograft model, lanreotide 10 mg/kg moderately inhibited the growth of GH3 tumors, with a 4× tumor growth delay (TGD) time that ranged from 4.5 to 8.3 days. Fractionated local tumor radiation alone significantly inhibited tumor growth and produced a TGD of 35.1±5.7 days for 250 cGy fractions. The combination of lanreotide, either antecedent to or concurrent, with radiation of 250, 200 or 150 cGy/fraction for 5 days inhibited tumor growth and produced the TGD times that were similar to radiation alone (P>0.05). Pretreatment with lanreotide had the most significant radiosensitizing effect. These studies demonstrate that the somatostatin analog lanreotide is not radioprotective in GH3 cells, and further studies are necessary to determine the impact of lanreotide on apoptosis.
Aqueous and dietary copper uptake and elimination in Daphnia magna determined by the 67CU radiotracer
Authors: Zhao Chun-Mei , Fan Wen-Hong , Wang Wen-Xiong
Published: June 2009

Among the many toxic metals, the biokinetics of copper (Cu) in the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna have not been studied due to the lack of an ideal radiotracer. In the present study, a gamma radiotracer, 67Cu (half-life = 61.9 h), was used to study the uptake of copper from the dissolved and dietary phase and efflux in D. magna, an important toxicity testing species. The influx rate of Cu from the dissolved phase increased with dissolved Cu concentration, with a calculated uptake rate constant of 0.055 L/g/h. The assimilation efficiency (AE) of Cu decreased significantly (from 92 to 16%) as the available food concentration increased, and the AE differed among the food types. As low as 1% of Cu AE was found in daphnids fed high concentrations (1.54 mg/L) of the green algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The AE decreased linearly as the ingestion rate of the daphnids increased. The efflux rate constant was 0.20/d at high food concentrations. Excretion accounted for 82 to 94% of total Cu loss from the animals, although Cu also was transferred maternally from female adults to their offspring. Under conditions of high food concentrations, approximately 6.5% of the mother's Cu was transferred to the offspring over 7 d. It was concluded that Cu accumulation is dominated by uptake from dietary sources, and there is a substantial need to understand the dietary toxicity of Cu to daphnids. The present study has implications for the choice of food particles in conducting the Cu toxicity testing in cladocerans.
The model completion of the theory of modules over finitely generated commutative algebras
Authors: Kamensky Moshe
Published: June 2009

We find the model completion of the theory modules over , where is a finitely generated commutative algebra over a field K. This is done in a context where the field K and the module are represented by sorts in the theory, so that constructible sets associated with a module can be interpreted in this language. The language is expanded by additional sorts for the Grassmanians of all powers of Kn, which are necessary to achieve quantifier elimination.

The result turns out to be that the model completion is the theory of a certain class of “big” injective modules. In particular, it is shown that the class of injective modules is itself elementary. We also obtain an explicit description of the types in this theory.
The self-iterability of L[E]
Authors: Schindler Ralf , Steel John
Published: June 2009

Let L[E] be an iterable tame extender model. We analyze to which extent L[E] knows fragments of its own iteration strategy. Specifically, we prove that inside L[E], for every cardinal κ which is not a limit of Woodin cardinals there is some cutpoint t < κ such that Jκ[E] is iterable above t with respect to iteration trees of length less than κ.

As an application we show L[E] to be a model of the following two cardinals versions of the diamond principle. If λ > κ > ω1 are cardinals, then holds true, and if in addition λ is regular, then holds true.
Equivalence of consequence relations: an order-theoretic and categorical perspective
Authors: Galatos Nikolaos , Tsinakis Constantine
Published: June 2009

Equivalences and translations between consequence relations abound in logic. The notion of equivalence can be denned syntactically, in terms of translations of formulas, and order-theoretically, in terms of the associated lattices of theories. W. Blok and D. Pigozzi proved in [4] that the two definitions coincide in the case of an algebraizable sentential deductive system. A refined treatment of this equivalence was provided by W. Blok and B. Jónsson in [3]. Other authors have extended this result to the cases ofκ-deductive systems and of consequence relations on associative, commutative, multiple conclusion sequents. Our main result subsumes all existing results in the literature and reveals their common character. The proofs are of order-theoretic and categorical nature.
Saturation and Σ2-transfer for ERNA
Authors: Impens Chris , Sanders Sam
Published: June 2009

Elementary Recursive Nonstandard Analysis, in short ERNA, is a constructive system of nonstandard analysis with a PRA consistency proof, proposed around 1995 by Patrick Suppes and Richard Sommer. It is built on a previous system by Rolando Chuaqui and Patrick Suppes, which was recently reconsidered by Michal Rössler and Emil Jeřábek. A Π1-transfer principle has already been added to ERNA and the consistency of the resulting theory proved in PRA. Here, we equip ERNA with Σ2-transfer and a saturation principle, while keeping the consistency proof inside PRA. We show that the extended theory allows for generalized transfer, a basic tool of nonstandard analysis, and interprets several strong theories, like BΣ2 and IΣ2.
A geometric zero-one law
Authors: Gilman Robert H. , Gurevich Yuri , Miasnikov Alexei
Published: June 2009

Each relational structure X has an associated Gaifman graph, which endows X with the properties of a graph. If x is an element of X, let Bn(x) be the ball of radius n around x. Suppose that X is infinite, connected and of bounded degree. A first-order sentence ϕ in the language of X is almost surely true (resp. a.s. false) for finite substructures of X if for every x ∈ X, the fraction of substructures of Bn(x) satisfying ϕ approaches 1 (resp. 0) as n approaches infinity. Suppose further that, for every finite substructure, X has a disjoint isomorphic substructure. Then every ϕ is a.s. true or a.s. false for finite substructures of X. This is one form of the geometric zero-one law. We formulate it also in a form that does not mention the ambient infinite structure. In addition, we investigate various questions related to the geometric zero-one law.
Efficacy of a Continuous GLP-1 Infusion Compared With a Structured Insulin Infusion Protocol to Reach Normoglycemia in Nonfasted Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Clinical Pilot Trial
Authors: Sourij Harald , Schmölzer Isabella , Kettler-Schmut Eva , Eder Michaela , Pressl Helga , deCampo Antonella , Wascher Thomas C.
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVE

Continuously administered insulin is limited by the need for frequent blood glucose measurements, dose adjustments, and risk of hypoglycemia. Regimens based on glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) could represent a less complicated treatment alternative. This alternative might be advantageous in hyperglycemic patients hospitalized for acute critical illnesses, who benefit from near normoglycemic control.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In a prospective open randomized crossover trial, we investigated eight clinically stable type 2 diabetic patients during intravenous insulin or GLP-1 regimens to normalize blood glucose after a standardized breakfast.

RESULTS

The time to reach a plasma glucose below 115 mg/dl was significantly shorter during GLP-1 administration (252 ± 51 vs. 321 ± 43 min, P < 0.01). Maximum glycemia (312 ± 51 vs. 254 ± 48 mg/dl, P < 0.01) and glycemia after 2 h (271 ± 51 vs. 168 ± 48 mg/dl, P = 0.012) and after 4 h (155 ± 51 vs. 116 ± 27 mg/dl, P = 0.02) were significantly lower during GLP-1 administration.

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1 infusion is superior to an established insulin infusion regimen with regard to effectiveness and practicability.
A Study of Dapagliflozin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Receiving High Doses of Insulin Plus Insulin Sensitizers
Authors: Wilding John P.H. , Norwood Paul , T'joen Caroline , Bastien Arnaud , List James F. , Fiedorek Fred T.
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether dapagliflozin, which selectively inhibits renal glucose reabsorption, lowers hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes that is poorly controlled with high insulin doses plus oral antidiabetic agents (OADs).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, three-arm parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 26-center trial (U.S. and Canada). Based on data from an insulin dose-adjustment setting cohort (n = 4), patients in the treatment cohort (n = 71) were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to placebo, 10 mg dapagliflozin, or 20 mg dapagliflozin, plus OAD(s) and 50% of their daily insulin dose. The primary outcome was change from baseline in A1C at week 12 (dapagliflozin vs. placebo, last observation carried forward [LOCF]).

RESULTS

At week 12 (LOCF), the 10- and 20-mg dapagliflozin groups demonstrated −0.70 and −0.78% mean differences in A1C change from baseline versus placebo. In both dapagliflozin groups, 65.2% of patients achieved a decrease from baseline in A1C ≥0.5% versus 15.8% in the placebo group. Mean changes from baseline in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were +17.8, +2.4, and −9.6 mg/dl (placebo, 10 mg dapagliflozin, and 20 mg dapagliflozin, respectively). Postprandial glucose (PPG) reductions with dapagliflozin also showed dose dependence. Mean changes in total body weight were −1.9, −4.5, and −4.3 kg (placebo, 10 mg dapagliflozin, and 20 mg dapagliflozin). Overall, adverse events were balanced across all groups, although more genital infections occurred in the 20-mg dapagliflozin group than in the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients receiving high insulin doses plus insulin sensitizers who had their baseline insulin reduced by 50%, dapagliflozin decreased A1C, produced better FPG and PPG levels, and lowered weight more than placebo.
Correction Techniques Preferred by Students During the Process of Learning a Foreign Language
Authors: Bargiel-Matusiewicz Kamilla , Bargiel-Firlit Aleksandra
Published: June 2009

Correction Techniques Preferred by Students During the Process of Learning a Foreign Language

Mistakes can be seen as an integral and natural part of learning. This is true of the development of a child's first language as well as of second language learning by children and adults. Learning never proceeds without making errors. They appear naturally in linguistic development. The main aim of the research is to find out if and how the learners appreciate error correction. Besides, its goal is to provide qualitative data concerning learners' opinions, as well as bring some comments on errors in their own experience. The research results clearly indicate that students generally believe that making errors is one of the things they do while learning a foreign language. They agree that they can learn a lot from their mistakes. Almost 40% of the research subjects think that error correction is absolutely necessary, and a half of them see correction as very helpful. They value correction as a means of improvement. Most learners are not afraid of errors and treat them as something natural. However, almost half of the research subjects associate making a mistake with the feeling of guilt. They use an avoidance technique in order not to be laughed at when they make a mistake. Thus, errors should not be approached with hostility. It is better to view errors as the sign of a learner's progress rather than a sign of lack of knowledge.
Library Publishing as a New Model of Scholarly Communication
Authors: XIA JINGFENG
Published: June 2009

This article briefly compares the history, current practices, and trends of library publishing and institutional repositories, but focuses on journal publishing by academic libraries. By introducing some foreign university publishing models, it recommends an institutional concentration, rather than a subject orientation, of library journals and suggests a diversification of the library publishing.
Bisegmental cervical interbody fusion using hydroxyapatite implants: surgical results and long-term observation in 70 cases
Authors: Kim Phyo , Wakai Susumu , Matsuo Seigo , Moriyama Takashi , Kirino Takaaki
Published: June 2009

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is the main constituent of bone mineral, and synthetic HA serves as a biocompatible and bioactive material. It permits bone growth on its surface and forms a union with the adjacent bone.

Object.The authors have developed implants made of porous HA, which they have used in more than 90 cases in the past 6 years to achieve cervical interbody fusion. The implants were designed to provide maximum durability, biomechanical stability, and alignment preservation and to be technically easy to use. The authors summarize their experience and results with the use of these implants.

Methods.The results of postoperative follow-up observation of 12 months or longer (mean 37.1 ± 2.4 months) are available in 70 patients with underlying disease including: spondylosis, disc extrusion, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), hypertrophy of the PLL, and trauma. The patients' ages at the time of surgery ranged from 22 to 83 years (mean 50.6 ± 1.3 years).

Flexion—extension radiographs and tomograms, obtained 6 and 12 months after surgery and every year thereafter, were used to demonstrate solid fusion in all cases. Dislocation of the implant occurred in three patients who were treated during the early portion of the series. At 6 to 12 months after surgery, encasement of the implant and formation of union were observed. Normal lordosis, if present prior to surgery, was maintained postsurgery. No neurological deterioration related to the site of fusion occurred during the period of observation.

Conclusions.The authors conclude that satisfactory interbody fusion can be achieved by using HA implants, provided their design is appropriate and adequate surgical techniques are used.
Induction chemotherapy followed by reduced-volume radiation therapy for newly diagnosed central nervous system germinoma
Authors: Sawamura Yutaka , Shirato Hiroki , Ikeda Jun , Tada Mitsuhiro , Ishii Nobuaki , Kato Tsutomu , Abe Hiroshi , Fujieda Kenji
Published: June 2009

Object. Although curative, radiation, which is conventionally administered for germinomas, causes significant neurological sequelae. This study aimed at reducing the volume and dose of radiation to a localized level of 24 Gy by pretreating the patient with chemotherapy.

Methods. Seventeen patients were divided into two risk groups based on serological findings and the extent of tumor. They were treated with chemotherapy prior to receiving localized radiation therapy. Six patients with solitary pure germinomas were treated with three or four cycles of cisplatin and etoposide (EP regimen) followed by 24-Gy local radiation therapy. Eleven patients with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)—secreting, multifocal, or disseminated germinomas received four to five cycles of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and etoposide (ICE regimen) followed by 24-Gy local radiation therapy. Craniospinal ports were used only in three cases of germinomas with dissemination.

Gross-total resection was performed in three patients. Fourteen patients were able to be evaluated for their responses to chemotherapy. All patients achieved a complete response within three cycles. At a median follow-up duration of 24 months, 16 patients (94%) were alive without recurrence. One patient with an HCG-secreting germinoma experienced recurrence 38 months after surgery. That patient underwent successful salvage therapy using the same protocol. Thus, all 17 patients became free of disease with a 70 to 100% Karnofsky Performance Scale status. Toxicities associated with this study's chemotherapy regimen were mostly transient. No patient showed neurological or endocrinological deterioration during the follow-up period.

Conclusions. The EP and ICE regimens were highly effective in treating the central nervous system germinomas and permitted dose and volume reduction of the radiotherapy. Localized 24-Gy irradiation was sufficient for disease control.
Infusion of intrathecal baclofen for generalized dystonia in cerebral palsy
Authors: Albright A. Leland , Barry Margaret J. , Painter Michael J. , Shultz Barbara
Published: June 2009

Generalized dystonia occurs in 15 to 25% of persons with cerebral palsy (CP) and responds poorly to medical and surgical treatments.

Object. After the authors observed a woman whose dystonic CP was dramatically improved by continuous infusion of intrathecal baclofen, they designed this pilot study to evaluate the effect of this treatment on a group of patients with dystonic CP.

Methods. The authors assessed the short-term response to intrathecal baclofen infusion in 12 patients with dystonic CP. An intrathecal catheter was inserted percutaneously and connected to an external microinfusion pump. The infusion began at a rate of 100 µg/day and was increased by 50 µg every 12 hours until the dystonia abated, adverse effects occurred, or the dose reached 900 mg/day with no improvement. Two observers, one blinded and one not blinded to the patient's treatment status, viewed videotapes made before and after the infusions and graded the dystonia in eight body regions, using a 5-point scale. Overall and regional scores were compared by using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Conclusions. Dystonia diminished in 10 of 12 patients whose average daily dose of intrathecal baclofen was 575 µg. Overall dystonia scores and scores for the extremities, trunk, and cervical regions were significantly better after infusion (p = 0.003). The two observers' scores were not significantly different. Programmable infusion pumps were subsequently implanted in eight patients for long-term therapy and improvement was sustained in six (p < 0.05). Intrathecal baclofen infusion is a promising treatment option for generalized dystonia associated with CP. The effects of intrathecal baclofen infusion on dystonia can be evaluated by using short-term continuous infusions.
Endoscopic craniectomy for early surgical correction of sagittal craniosynostosis
Authors: Jimenez David F. , Barone Constance M.
Published: June 2009

Object.The authors sought to minimize scalp incisions, blood loss, and operative time by using endoscopically assisted strip craniectomies and barrel-stave osteotomies to treat infants with sagittal suture synostosis.

Methods.Four patients, aged 2, 4, 9, and 12 weeks, who presented with scaphocephaly underwent endoscopic midline craniectomies through small midline scalp incisions. The mean operative time for the procedure was 1.68 hours (range 1.15–2.8 hours); the mean blood loss was 54.2 ml (range 12–150 ml). Three patients did not require blood transfusions and were discharged within 24 hours. Postoperatively, all patients were fitted with custom cranial molding helmets. Follow-up evaluation ranged between 8 and 15 months. All patients had successful correction of their scaphocephaly with no mortalities, morbidities, or complications.

Conclusions.The use of endoscopic techniques for early correction of sagittal synostosis is safe; decreases blood loss, operative time, and hospitalization costs; and provides excellent early surgical results.
Laser-assisted neuroendoscopy using a neodymium—yttrium aluminum garnet or diode contact laser with pretreated fiber tips
Authors: Vandertop William P. , Verdaasdonk Rudolf M. , van Swol Christiaan F. P.
Published: June 2009

Object. Although lasers have proved to be valuable in neuroendoscopy, surgeons are still not comfortable using high-energy laser endoscopic probes in proximity to vital structures such as the basilar artery in third ventriculostomy. The authors have developed a special laser catheter for use in neuroendoscopy; the object of this paper is to present their experimental and clinical experiences using the catheter.

Methods. This laser catheter is fitted with an atraumatic ball-shaped fiber tip that is pretreated with a layer of carbon particles. These carbon particles absorb approximately 90% of the energy emitted, which is very effectively converted into heat. As the heat is generated in this very thin layer of carbon coating, the temperature at the surface of the ball-shaped tip reaches ablative temperatures instantly at powers of only a few watts per second, which has enabled the authors to limit drastically the amount of laser light used and the length of exposure needed, thereby increasing safety even around critical structures.

Conclusions. The authors present experimental data and their clinical experience using these pretreated fiber tips with a neodymium—yttrium aluminum garnet contact laser or a diode contact laser in 49 patients (22 males and 27 females) and a variety of procedures: third ventriculocisternostomy (33 patients), cyst fenestration (nine patients), colloid cyst resection (six patients), and fenestration of the septum pellucidum (one patient). There was no instance of mortality or increased morbidity. To date, the procedure success rate is 100% and the overall outcome success rate is 86%. The authors conclude that pretreated atraumatic ball-shaped fiber tips now make laser application safe and effective in a variety of neuroendoscopic procedures. Because of their low power range (only several watts), compact diode lasers will be the energy source of first choice.
Transfection of C6 glioma cells with the bax gene and increased sensitivity to treatment with cytosine arabinoside
Authors: Vogelbaum Michael A. , Tong Jianxin X. , Higashikubo Ryuji , Gutmann David H. , Rich Keith M.
Published: June 2009

Object. Genes known to be involved in the regulation of apoptosis include members of the bcl-2 gene family, such as inhibitors of apoptosis (bcl-2 and bcl-xl) and promoters of apoptosis (bax). The authors investigated a potential approach for the treatment of malignant gliomas by using a gene transfection technique to manipulate the level of an intracellular protein involved in the control of apoptosis.

Methods. The authors transfected the murine bax gene, which had been cloned into a mammalian expression vector, into the C6 rat glioma cell line. Overexpression of the bax gene resulted in a decreased growth rate (average doubling time of 32.96 hours compared with 22.49 hours for untransfected C6, and 23.11 hours for clones transfected with pcDNA3 only), which may be caused, in part, by an increased rate of spontaneous apoptosis (0.77 ± 0.15% compared with 0.42 ± 0.08% for the vector-only transfected C6 cell line; p = 0.038, two-tailed Student's t-test). Treatment with 1 µM cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) resulted in significantly more cells undergoing apoptosis in the cell line overexpressing bax than in the vector-only control cell line (23.57 ± 2.6% compared with 5.3 ± 0.7% terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase—mediated biotinylated—deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling technique—positive cells; p = 0.007). Furthermore, measurements of growth curves obtained immediately after treatment with 0.5 µM ara-C demonstrated a prolonged growth arrest of at least 6 days in the cell line overexpressing bax.

Conclusions. These results can be used collectively to argue that overexpression of bax results in increased sensitivity of C6 cells to ara-C and that increasing bax expression may be a useful strategy, in general, for increasing the sensitivity of gliomas to antineoplastic treatments.