bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences with an In-Training Community Service Model in the Control of Zoonotic Sleeping Sickness in Uganda
Authors: Waiswa Charles , Kabasa John D.
Published: September 2010

By 2006, the acute and zoonotic Tripanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness in Uganda was spreading northward, leading to fear of a merger with the chronic Tripanosoma brucei gambiese type that affects people in the northwest of the country. Eliminating infection in cattle was urgent because they had been confirmed to be spreading the zoonotic type, and eliminating infection would reduce the animal reservoir and subsequently reduce transmission of sleeping sickness. In this article, we describe how the staff and students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, adjusted their approach to training veterinary students who could provide the urgently needed manpower to enable the community to halt the disease's spread. Because it was not usual for university staff and students to implement disease control activities, the government of Uganda had to delegate this responsibility to Makerere University. In turn, the university had to explore available opportunities in its training and outreach mandates. A model was developed that proved to be an effective hands-on training strategy while helping to control a disease that was threatening the health of people in a community that was just recovering from an armed rebellion. In total, 66 students and supervisors participated in the 10-week-long mass treatment activities in the target area and treated more than 190,000 out of 220,000 targeted (>86%) cattle with diminazene aceturate and deltamethrin. Also, the graduates' performance improved, as indicated by 43.5% of graduates securing employment within less than a month after completing the course.
Relationships Between Students' Approaches to Learning, Perceptions of the Teaching–Learning Environment, and Study Success: A Case Study of Third-Year Veterinary Students
Authors: Ruohoniemi Mirja , Parpala Anna , Lindblom-Ylänne Sari , Katajavuori Nina
Published: September 2010

The relationships among veterinary students' approaches to learning, perceptions of the teaching–learning environment, and study success were evaluated in a demanding, discipline-based curriculum. The aim was to elicit elements for improving student counseling. As part of a large multidisciplinary survey, 36 third-year students (74% response rate) answered a modified version of the Experiences of Teaching and Learning Questionnaire in 2006. In this study, the authors used students' responses to questions regarding examinations and the progress of studies. In addition, students were classified in the large survey into four clusters according to their approaches to studying. Study success was evaluated by exploring the number of study credits students had earned and their grade point averages. The differences in study success between the clusters were not statistically significant, but, in general, students applying a deep approach were most successful, whereas unorganized students applying a deep approach showed the largest variation in study progress. The most commonly mentioned factors for enhancing or impeding study progress were related to the curriculum and to the students' actions or experiences. Unorganized students applying a deep approach seemed to suffer the most from the workload and pressure of progressing in their studies according to a predetermined timetable. These students were also most unaware of the examinations' demands. The findings suggested that, in addition to curriculum development, there is a need to explicitly make students aware of their approaches to learning and to support the development of their study practices.
Culture, Work and Emotion
Authors: Ooi Can-Seng , Ek Richard
Published: September 2010

No abstract available.
Service Workers: Governmentality and Emotion Management
Authors: Yun Hing Ai
Published: September 2010

That all may be quiet on the shop floor could be a result of governmentality projects. But what lies beneath an appearance of professionalism? I undertook an empirical field study of workers in the service industry to examine contradictory and competing interests of employees and their employers and observed the dynamic constitution of subjectivity in situations of conflict. Based on a study of 56 service workers, this study first looks at the consensual orientation of workers towards their employment, then discusses a number of common demands required of workers in the service sector and investigates how workers deal with these management demands. My investigation of service workers disclose the internalised struggles experienced in their commitment to a prescribed, official image while attempting to maintain, at the same time, an integrous sense of self. By collecting stories of actual situations, I am able to show how patterns of emotion management, effectiveness of governmentality project, and agency work together to shape social behaviour in working life.
Branding on the Shop Floor
Authors: Gyim Óthy Szilvia , Rygaard Jonas Louise
Published: September 2010

Service branding is a particular form of emotional management, where employees are regarded as adaptable media, who can be trained to convey corporate values while interacting with customers. This paper examines the identity work of butchers during the brand revitalisation campaign of Kvickly, a Danish supermarket chain. During the implementation of the “Best Butcher in Town”-project, Kvickly’s shop floor becomes an engineered servicescape where the norms of good salesmanship must be performed. By documenting the disloyal behaviour of butchers, we demonstrate that the affective commitment towards corporate brand values is closely related with self-enactment opportunities of occupational communities. Total service-orientation threatens butchers’ perception of autonomy and may therefore result in the emergence of resistant subcultures.
Cacophony of Voices and Emotions: Dialogic of Buying and Selling art
Authors: Ooi Can-Seng
Published: September 2010

The importance of galleries as go-betweens for artists and art buyers is acknowledged in art world research. Using a Bakhtinian dialogic approach, this article examines social encounters of three artists, two art buyers and one gallery sales executive in Singapore. Specifically, it looks into the social interactional dynamics of artists and art buyers when they trade directly. Situational ambiguities and emotional ambivalence arise during such meetings from the different expectations and demands that are imposed, which have the effect of placing the parties involved in conflicting social contexts. For instance, when art connoisseurs and artists discuss aesthetics, monetary value is not of primary concern, nonetheless when they want to trade, commercial concerns become central; this can lead to discomfort between the parties. Similarly, art buyers may want to go behind the scenes to know more about the artist and the art practice; getting away from the glitter of the commercial gallery and into the modest art studio for an authentic experience may reveal too much for visitors; such experiences may break their illusion of the glamorous artist. This article looks at the microscopic interaction between artists and art buyers and shows how the ambiguities and ambivalence that can be generated by their encounters become constraining factors in encouraging artists and art buyers to trade directly, by-passing commercial art galleries and dealers.
Bed, Breakfast and Friendship: Intimacy and Distance in Small-Scale Hospitality Businesses
Authors: Andersson Cederholm Erika , Hultman Johan
Published: September 2010

Through an analysis of the narrative of a Bed and Breakfast (B & B) and art gallery owner, the emergence of intimacy as a commercial value in the hospitality industry is illustrated. This is a formation of economic value where economic rationality as a motive for commercial activity is rejected. Simultaneously though, a different set of market attitudes are performed by hospitality practitioners in the course of everyday interactions with customers, and a tension between emotional, spatial and temporal intimacy and distance is uncovered and discussed. It is concluded that commercial friendship is a more complex issue than what has been acknowledged so far in the hospitality literature. A continued discussion of intimacy in hospitality will therefore affect the cultural understanding of emotions, identity and lifestyle values on the one hand, and business strategy, value creation and markets on the other.
Digital Exhibitionism: The Age of Exposure
Authors: Munar Ana María
Published: September 2010

Web 2.0 has expanded the possibilities of digital creative production by individuals and enabled the digitalisation of private life experiences. This study analyses how social media contributes to the making of personal biographies and discusses the shift towards a culture of digital exposure. This study uses netnography and a constructive approach to examine online communities and social networks. The findings illustrate that these new technological platforms are mediating in the construction of late modern biographies, which are expanding the complexity of today’s socio-technical systems. The paper discusses the power of these technologies as agents of socio-cultural change and suggests that, besides providing individual realisation and mediated pleasure, these technologies encourage exhibitionistic and voyeuristic behaviour, elude reflexivity, and display authoritative tendencies and new possibilities for social control.
Complex patterns of hybridization between exotic and native North American poplar species
Authors: Meirmans Patrick G. , Lamothe Manuel , Gros‐Louis Marie‐Claude , Khasa Damase , Périnet Pierre , Bousquet Jean , Isabel Nathalie
Published: September 2010

• Premise of the study: Poplars and their hybrids are seen as important candidates for bioenergy initiatives. However, many concerns have been raised about large‐scale plantations of new poplar cultivars. The deployment of such plants with novel traits brings the risk of potential spread of novel genome regions (including exotic genes, transgenes, or other heritable modifications) into natural populations of related species. The possibility of introgression is especially high in poplars because reproductive barriers between species are weak. Knowledge of the frequency of hybridization between cultivated trees and natural populations is one important step in the risk‐assessment process.

• Methods: We studied the rate of spontaneous hybridization from two sexually mature poplar plantations into adjacent natural populations of Populus deltoides and P. balsamifera. The two plantations, both in eastern Canada, contain many different complex hybrid clones with components from exotic species, mostly P. nigra, P. trichocarpa, and P. maximowiczii. We analyzed 12 species‐specific single nucleotide polymorphisms from six different genes in 5373 offspring sampled from the natural populations.

• Results: Contributions from all three exotics were found in the offspring, confirming low reproductive barriers among poplar species in these sections. The frequency of hybrid offspring varied among pollen donors, recipient populations, and years.

• Conclusions: The remarkably high rate of hybridization that was found in the smallest natural population sampled suggests that small peripheral populations carry a higher risk of introgression. These results could be used as a starting point for developing regulatory guidelines for the introduction of plants with novel traits.
The Effects of Direct-to-Consumer-Advertising on Patients in a Northern Canadian Community: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: van den Engh Michelle , Bonertz Lori
Published: September 2010

Background:

Previous studies have investigated the effects of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medication in the United States and in a large Canadian centre close to the US border. This study examined how DTCA affects patients in a smaller, more remote Canadian community.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of patients ≥18 years was conducted in 8 primary care practices in Prince George, BC. Main outcome measures were past and present requests for advertised and non-advertised prescription medications.

Results:

Of 435 eligible patients, 217 (49.8%) agreed to be surveyed; 209 questionnaires were included in the final analysis. Patients with high exposure to DTCA were significantly more likely to be under the age of 50 ( p = 0.016). A total of 1.6% of patients with high DTCA exposure versus 0% with low exposure requested advertised medications during the study ( p = 0.26), and 4.8% versus 0%, respectively, had requested advertised medications in the past ( p = 0.052). The percentage of patients requesting any prescription medication, advertised or non-advertised, was 10.2% in the high DTCA exposure group, compared to 4.9% in the low exposure group. (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 0.69-6.93).

Discussion:

The rate of requests for advertised prescription medications in this northern Canadian community was lower than rates reported from larger, less-remote centres. However, exposure to DTCA remained surprisingly high, especially in younger patients. Results suggest that patients with higher self-reported exposure to DTCA may be more likely to request both advertised and non-advertised prescription medications.

Conclusions:

All health care professionals with a prescribing role should be aware of the potential impact of DTCA and ensure that patients are receiving objective, evidence-based information that will enable them to make fully informed decisions.
Opportunities for Medication-Related Support after Discharge from Hospital
Authors: Flanagan Priti S. , Pawluk Shane , Bains Sanjeev
Published: September 2010

Background:

Despite documentation of the need for and benefit of medication-related support for patients who have been discharged from hospital, such support is not consistently available. This gap in care represents an opportunity for community pharmacists.

Objective:

To detail the types of drug-related issues identified for patients after discharge from hospital.

Methods:

The study entailed review of medication assessments performed by a Medication Management Program pharmacist for patients discharged from a community hospital over a 1-year period, in order to identify the number and type of drug-related problems, the number of discrepancies and the medications most commonly implicated in these problems.

Results:

Records were reviewed for 110 patients discharged during the study period. For these patients, the pharmacist identified a total of 259 drug-related problems (median 2 per patient) and 135 medication discrepancies (median 1 per patient) shortly after discharge. The most commonly implicated medications were calcium-vitamin D supplements, acetylsalicylic acid, furosemide and ramipril.

Conclusion:

With information about the types of drug-related problems and discrepancies commonly identified for patients discharged from hospital, community pharmacists are ideally positioned to respond to this gap in care.
Pediatric Cancer: A Comprehensive Review. Part I: Biology, Epidemiology, Common Tumours, Principles of Treatment and Late Effects
Authors: MacDonald Tamara
Published: September 2010

The incidence rates of pediatric cancer, like adult cancer, are increasing, though to a lesser degree. Options for the treatment of childhood cancers are continually changing and improving and overall survival has increased dramatically over the last 60 years. This paper discusses the incidence and survival trends of childhood cancer. The biology and epidemiology of the most common cancers seen in children and the late effects of treatment for childhood cancer will also be discussed. A basic understanding of childhood cancer is important for both hospital and community pharmacists, since many young adults in North America are now survivors of childhood cancer and may experience long-term consequences of chemotherapy.
Perspectives and Experiences of Health Care Professionals and Patients with Diabetes regarding Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Canada
Authors: McIntosh Brendan , Gauthier Bernard , Lal Avtar , Singh Sumeet R. , Virani Adil
Published: September 2010

Objective:

To explore the current perspectives and experiences of Canadian health care professionals and patients with diabetes regarding self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).

Design:

Qualitative analysis of focus groups in Ottawa, Vancouver and Edmonton.

Methods:

Seventeen focus groups involving 59 health care professionals (19 pharmacists, 18 certified diabetes educators and 22 physicians) and 40 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were held, using separate moderator's guides. Thematic analysis was used to analyze responses.

Results:

Health care professionals reported recommending SMBG to most patients with diabetes, regardless of insulin use. They also reported periodically reviewing glucometer results, providing education on interpreting the results and proper use of SMBG devices. The majority of patients with diabetes indicated that they regularly monitored their blood glucose levels and recorded their results. Advantages of SMBG cited by health care professionals included a sense of control over diabetes, the ability to make lifestyle and treatment choices and increased patient confidence. Patients listed expense, discomfort and inconvenience as disadvantages to SMBG. Although patients discussed SMBG readings with their health care professionals, many reported that treating physicians were often uninterested in SMBG results. Physicians tended to refer to SMBG in the context of disease-specific benefits, while certified diabetes educators more often cited the psychological and educational benefits of SMBG. Compared with physicians, pharmacists focused more on the lifestyle and educational benefits of SMBG rather than on changes to medications.

Conclusion:

SMBG is commonly recommended by health care professionals and regularly performed by most patients with diabetes. Pharmacists and other health care professionals play an important role in educating patients on the appropriate use of SMBG and interpretation of results. To ensure optimal use, pharmacists and other health care providers should review the desired outcomes of SMBG with patients on a regular basis.
Pharmacy Student Attitudes to Patient Education: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Taylor Jeff , Smith Amy
Published: September 2010

Background:

A significant level of interest in patient-centredness, one of the components required for effective interaction with patients, is being shown in health communication circles. By adopting a patient-centred approach in the process of patient consultation, pharmacists strive to ensure safe and effective medicine use. The purpose of this study was to explore pharmacy student attitudes toward patient education and patient-centredness as they progressed through a 4-year program.

Methods:

One class year of pharmacy students at the University of Saskatchewan volunteered to complete a self-administered survey each year of their program to longitudinally assess their confidence in and difficulty with patient consultation, their level of patient empathy and their orientation toward patient-centredness.

Results:

Noticeable changes were seen in all constructs, especially from first to second year. Gender appeared to influence 2 of the constructs: patient-centredness and empathy.

Conclusion:

A combination of overall life experience, pharmacy undergraduate training and practice site experience likely contributed to the observed results. While attempting to quantify such constructs is of interest and may turn out to be a useful monitoring component, observation of student behaviour during objective structured clinical exams likely will continue to be the most valuable tool.
Canadian Variation by Province in Rheumatoid Arthritis Initiating Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy: Results from the Optimization of Adalimumab Trial
Authors: PEASE CHRISTOPHER , POPE JANET E. , THORNE CARTER , HARAOUI BOULOS PAUL , TRUONG DON , BOMBARDIER CLAIRE , WIDDIFIELD JESSICA , PSARADELLIS ELIOFOTISTI , SAMPALIS JOHN S. , BONNER ASHLEY
Published: September 2010

Objective.

We compared variations among Canadian provinces in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.

Methods.

Data were obtained from the Optimization of Humira trial (OH) and from the Ontario Biologics Research Initiative (OBRI). Baseline characteristics were compared between regions: Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), and other provinces (OTH). We compared Ontario OH to OBRI patients who were initiating anti-TNF therapy.

Results.

In 300 OH patients, mean age was 54.8 years (13.3). There were 151 (50.3%) ON patients, 57 from QC (19%), and 92 from OTH (30.7%). Regional differences were seen in the number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) ever taken (ON: 3.8 ± 1.4, QC: 3.1 ± 1.1, OTH: 3.3 ± 1.4; p < 0.001); swollen joint count (SJC; ON: 10.9 ± 5.9, QC: 9.0 ± 4.4, OTH: 11.3 ± 5.6; p = 0.033); tender joint count (TJC; ON: 12.2 ± 7.5, QC: 10.3 ± 5.7, OTH: 14.4 ± 7.6; p = 0.003); 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28; ON: 5.8 ± 1.2, QC: 5.6 ± 1.0, OTH: 6.0 ± 1.1; p = 0.076); and Health Assessment Questionnaire (ON: 1.4 ± 0.7, QC: 1.7 ± 0.7, OTH: 1.5 ± 0.7; p = 0.060). DMARD-ever use differed: methotrexate (ON: 94.7%, QC: 93%, OTH: 84.8%; p = 0.025); leflunomide (ON: 74.8%, QC: 21.1%, OTH: 51.1%; p < 0.001); sulfasalazine (ON: 51%, QC: 38.6%, OTH: 25%; p < 0.001); myochrysine (ON: 9.3%, QC: 0%, OTH: 15.2%; p = 0.008); and hydroxychloroquine (ON: 67.5%, QC: 86%, OTH: 66.3%; p = 0.018). In comparison to ON OH patients, 95 OBRI patients initiating first anti-TNF had lower SJC (p = 0.017), TJC (p = 0.008), and DAS28 (p = 0.05).

Conclusion.

In Quebec, where access to anti-TNF is less restrictive, patients had lower SJC and TJC. ON used more DMARD, especially leflunomide, as mandated by the provincial government. Both provincial funding criteria and prescribing habits may contribute to differences. Canadian rheumatologists may vary in treatment decisions, but patients generally have similar DAS28 when initiating anti-TNF therapy.
Interleukin 6 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Koreans
Authors: JEON JA-YOUNG , KIM HYOUN-AH , KIM SEUNG-HYUN , PARK HAE-SIM , SUH CHANG-HEE
Published: September 2010

Objective.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene polymorphisms are known to play a role in chronic inflammatory disorders. We searched for polymorphisms in theIL-6gene and described their pathogenic role in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods.

Genomic DNA was extracted from 151 patients with SLE and 151 controls, and about 1.4 kb-sizedIL-6genes located between promoter region and exon 2 region were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The promoter activity was analyzed by luciferase reporter assay in Hep3B cells and HeLa cells.

Results.

We identified 4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; −572 C > G, −278 A > C in the promoter, and 330 T > G, and 334 A > T in exon 2) and a −373 AnTntract polymorphism in theIL-6gene. The genotype frequency, −373 A10T11, −278 C, and 334 T allele were significantly associated with SLE (p < 0.001, p = 0.03 and p = 0.005, respectively). Patients with SLE carrying the −572 G allele had anti-dsDNA more frequently (p = 0.007). In addition, thrombocytopenia was significantly more common in patients carrying the −278 C allele (p = 0.006). In the haplotype analysis, patients with SLE had more frequently haplotype HT3 (CA10T11ATA, dominant model, p = 0.012) that was associated with arthritis, leukopenia, anti-dsDNA, and hypocomplementemia. Promoter reporter structures carrying the −278 C allele displayed significantly higher promoter activity than the −278 A allele in Hep3B cells (p < 0.001) and HeLa cells (p < 0.001).

Conclusion.

These data suggest thatIL-6gene polymorphisms are associated with disease susceptibility and phenotype of SLE. In addition, promoter polymorphisms may be involved in regulation ofIL-6expression.
High DNA Oxidative Damage in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: AVOUAC JEROME , BORDERIE DIDIER , EKINDJIAN OVANESSE GARABED , KAHAN ANDRE , ALLANORE YANNICK
Published: September 2010

Objective.

Several lines of evidence suggest that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is of major importance in the pathogenesis of SSc. Protein and lipid damage have previously been demonstrated, but scarce data are available on oxidative damage to DNA. In patients with SSc, we evaluated levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), the main validated biomarker of endogenous oxidative damage to DNA, compared to levels of F2-isoprostane, a product of free radical-mediated peroxidation of arachidonic acid.

Methods.

Urinary levels of 8-oxodG and 8-isoprostaglandin-F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) were determined by competitive ELISA method in consecutive SSc patients and controls matched for age and sex.

Results.

We included 80 unrelated SSc patients (72 women, mean age 56 ± 11 yrs) and 39 controls (33 women, mean age 64 ± 8 yrs). Urinary levels of 8-oxodG/creat and 8-iso-PGF2α/creat in SSc patients were found to be higher than in controls (6.5 ng/mg vs 3.7 ng/mg, p = 0.0001; and 11.4 ng/mg vs 4.2 ng/mg, p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, 8-oxodG levels were associated with the presence of pulmonary fibrosis on computerized tomography scan, decreased forced vital capacity, and decreased DLCO/alveolar volume. In patients with the diffuse cutaneous subset, a modified Rodnan skin score > 14 was independently associated with 8-oxodG levels. In SSc, 8-oxodG and 8-iso-PGF2α values were correlated (r = 0.32; p = 0.005).

Conclusion.

Our study confirmed marked oxidative stress in SSc. We also found increased values of 8-oxodG in SSc patients and a relevant association with a fibrotic phenotype. The predictive value of this marker and its potential influence on fibrotic disturbances remain to be determined.
Old Babylonian Documents in the Hearst Museum of Anthropology, Berkeley
Authors: Veldhuis Niek
Published: September 2010

Résumé Cette contribution présente 19 documents paléo-babyloniens du Hearst Museum of Anthropology de Berkeley provenant pour la plupart de Larsa. La première section présente huit lettres qui jettent une lumière nouvelle sur l’histoire de Maškan-šapir et de son gouverneur Sîn-muballiṭ, frère du roi. La section 2 inclut deux memoranda concernant les temples d’Ištar et de Nanaya de Larsa. La section 3, enfin, présente neuf lettres paléo-babyloniennes diverses provenant de Larsa et d’ailleurs.
Adad-nērārī III's Fifth Year in the Saba'a Stela. Historiographical Background
Authors: Hasegawa Shuichi
Published: September 2010

Résumé Cet article traite d’un point de vue historiographique de la « 5 e année » du règne d’Adad-nērārī III, telle qu’elle est mentionnée dans la stèle de Saba’a. Cette « 5 e année » est depuis longtemps sujette à débat. Les incohérences des données chronologiques fournies par les Chroniques Eponymales et la Liste Royale Assyrienne ont donné lieu à plusieurs solutions. La datation du règne de ce souverain donnée par Poebel, c.-à-d., 810-783 av. J.-C., fait de la « 5 e année » d’Adad-nērārī l’an 806 av. J.-C., l’année de la campagne « contre les Mannéens » selon les Chroniques Eponymales. Néanmoins, le pays des Mannéens, situé au délà du Zagros, se trouve dans la direction opposée à celle où la campagne aurait été conduite par Adad-nērārī dans sa « 5 e année », à savoir, « le pays de Hatti ». Les solutions proposées, telle que supposer une campagne de deux ans en 806-805 av. J.-C., ou une erreur dans la stèle de Saba’a ou dans les Chroniques Eponymales, ne permettent pas de considérer la possibilité d’une manipulation de nombres par le scribe. L’emploi d’un comput annuel à la babylonienne dans cette inscription, comput étranger aux inscriptions royales assyriennes, peut révéler l’intention du scribe de dissimuler l’inactivité du roi dans sa 1 ère année de règne, c.-à-d. 810 av. J.-C., la date « dans le pays » selon les Chroniques éponymales. Cette manipulation sert à présenter une image d’un roi assyrien idéal, qui a émergé pour la première fois durant le règne de Salmanazar III.
Cyrus and Susa
Authors: Waters Matt
Published: September 2010

Résumé La date de la conquête de Suse par Cyrus reste matière à conjecture. De nombreux commentateurs modernes datent cette conquête simultanément à la conquête de Babylone par Cyrus (539 av. J.-C.), sur la base du témoignage de son cylindre, lignes 30-32. Ce passage est sujet à des interprétations à la fois linguistiques et historiques. Quoi qu’il en soit, il n’offre aucune indication sur l’année de la conquête de Suse par Cyrus, si ce n’est qu’elle eut lieu avant la conquête de Babylone.
Neue Texte zum Kapitel Šumma multābiltu der Opferschau-Serie bārûtu
Authors: Heeßel Nils P.
Published: September 2010

Résumé Le dixième et dernier chapitre Šumma multābiltu de la série d’extispicine bārûtu contient un commentaire important sur les principes d’interprétation de l’extispicine ainsi qu’une collection de signes problématiques. En dépit des efforts pour reconstruire ce chapitre, il reste fragmentaire et nombreuses sont les tablettes perdues ou seulement partiellement connues. Les tablettes, fragments et joints publiés ici accroissent notre savoir sur cette importante série de textes.
Utiliser des instruments spécifiques pour caractériser une psychothérapie dans le cadre naturel de la pratique
Authors: Thurin Monique , Thurin Jean-Michel
Published: September 2010

Résumé Cet article décrit les instruments utilisés dans le protocole de recherche sur l’évaluation des psychothérapies dans le cadre du Réseau de Recherches Fondées sur les Pratiques Psychothérapiques 1 . Dans un premier temps, le cadre des psychothérapies engagées dans la recherche est défini. Les instruments sont présentés en spécifiant pourquoi chacun a été choisi, son cadre de construction par ses auteurs et ses modalités de passation. Les instruments présentés sont la Formulation de cas, l’Échelle santé-maladie (Clinician’s Judgments of Mental Health, Luborsky (1975)), les Échelles psychodynamiques de fonctionnement (Psychodynamic functioning scales, Hoglend et al. (2000)) et le Questionnaire de configuration du processus psychothérapique (Psychotherapy Process Q-set, Jones (2000)).
L'action du Premier ministre Chaban-Delmas pour rendre la France industrielle plus performante (1969-1972)
Authors: Bonin Hubert
Published: September 2010

Résumé L’occasion procurée par l’ouverture de nouvelles archives permet de reconstituer et de suivre avec précision le processus de prise de décision au sein du cabinet du Premier ministre Chaban Delmas en 1969-1972. L’on peut préciser les rapports de forces avec les autres pôles du pouvoir exécutif dans le domaine de l’économie. L’on peut discerner les jeux d’influence et d’expertise dans la définition, la compréhension et la mise en œuvre des grands projets concernant la modernisation et les restructurations de l’industrie française tant privée que publique. L’histoire politique et l’histoire économique convergent pour dessiner plus avant le fonctionnement de l’appareil économique d’État à l’apogée des Trente Glorieuses, mais alors que le pays est confronté aux défis de la compétitivité imposés par l’ouverture européenne et internationale.
Porous PLGA Microspheres Effectively Loaded with BSA Protein by Electrospraying Combined with Phase Separation in Liquid Nitrogen
Authors: Liu G. , Miao X. , Fan W. , Crawford Ross , Xiao Yin
Published: September 2010

Polymer microspheres loaded with bioactive particles, biomolecules, proteins, and/or growth factors play important roles in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and cell therapy. The conventional double emulsion method and a new method of electrospraying into liquid nitrogen were used to prepare bovine serum albumin (BAS)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) porous microspheres. The particle size, the surface morphology and the internal porous structure of the microspheres were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The loading efficiency, the encapsulation efficiency, and the release profile of the BSA-loaded PLGA microspheres were measured and studied. It was shown that the microspheres from double emulsion had smaller particle sizes (3-50 m), a less porous structure, a poor loading efficiency (5.2 %), and a poor encapsulation efficiency (43.5%). However, the microspheres from the electrospraying into liquid nitrogen had larger particle sizes (400-600 m), a highly porous structure, a high loading efficiency (12.2%), and a high encapsulation efficiency (93.8%). Thus the combination of electrospraying with freezing in liquid nitrogen and subsequent freeze drying represented a suitable way to produce polymer microspheres for effective loading and sustained release of proteins.
A Brief Review of the Modelling of the Time Dependent Mechanical Properties of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
Authors: Bawolin N.K. , Zhang W.J. , Chen Xiong Biao
Published: September 2010

The functionality of tissue scaffolds in vivo plays a critical role in the treatment process. Due to the time dependent nature of the mechanical properties of the constituent phases of the scaffold, a wide range of mechanical property histories may be observed during the treatment process, possibly influencing outcomes. The critical nature of the mechanical properties in load bearing applications indicates a need for the simultaneous modelling of both scaffold degradation and tissue regeneration with time, and the resulting effective properties of the tissue engineering construct. To this end, a review of the literature is conducted to identify the various existing approaches to modelling scaffold degradation, tissue behavior, and the dependency of the two processes on one another.
The Influence of Copolymer Compositions on the Physiochemical and Biological Properties of Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) Porous Scaffolds
Authors: Zhao L. , He C. , Cui Lei
Published: September 2010

To investigate the influence of initial copolymer compositions of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) on mechanical properties, degradation behavior and biological properties of the scaffolds, porous PLGA scaffolds with different initial copolymer compositions (lactide/glycolide (PLA/PGA) molar ratio: 50:50, 70:30 and 80:20) were prepared by solvent casting/particulate leaching method. Mechanical properties were measured by testing the tensile strength and degradation rate was detected by soaking the scaffolds in phosphate buffered solution at 37 °C for various time points. Human dermal fibroblasts were seeded on PLGA scaffolds with different copolymer compositions. The morphology, adhesion efficiency, proliferation rate, and total collagen contents of cells on the scaffolds were analyzed. The results showed that the ratio of PLA/PGA is one important factor which influences the degradation of scaffolds. The mechanical strength of PLGA scaffolds with the ratio of 70:30 and 80:20, was higher than that of PLGA scaffolds with the ratio of 50:50.. Compared to 70:30 and 80:20 PLGA scaffolds, 50:50 PLGA had a quicker degradation. The three PLGA scaffolds had no obvious difference for cell response and all of them had excellent cytocompatibility, indicated by their high efficiency for human dermal fibroblast adhesion, fast proliferation rate and stretched cell morphology. A large amount of extracellular matrix was secreted and after 7 days of culture, and cell nearly covered the entire surface of the scaffolds. Overall, our results indicate that the copolymer compositions of PLGA have important effect on degradation and mechanical strength, but have no obvious effect on the biological properties of the scaffolds.
The Application of Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing for Anatomical Modelling in Medicine
Authors: Singare S. , Ping W. , Guanghui X.
Published: September 2010

This paper reviews the applications of advanced technology such as CT, reverse engineering (RE), computer aided design (CAD) and rapid prototyping (RP) in medicine. We described: 1) the use of RP and medical imaging in surgical planning; 2) the design process for the production of customized medical implants by rapid prototyping; and 3) the fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering of human liver.
In order to examine the applicability and efficiency of the rapid prototyping technology, some case studies are presented, involving visualization and surgical planning; the design of custom implant for cranial reconstruction; and the use of RP in the production of tissue scaffold. From the results, it has been shown that RP can be applied with high level of accuracy in surgical planning, custom implant and tissue engineering.
Porous Alumina/Zirconia Composite Scaffold with Bioactive Glass 58S33C Coating
Authors: Liu J. , Dong Z. , Miao X.
Published: September 2010

Strong and tough, macroporous alumina/zirconia composites are superior to alumina scaffolds but still biologically inert to bone tissue, leading to poor tissue ingrowth and osteointegration. One way to solve this problem is applying a bioactive coating onto the pore walls of the macroporous composites. In this study, macroporous alumina/zirconia (20vol%) composites (scaffolds) were prepared by a vacuum infiltration method involving the use of strained (10%) compacts of the expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads (typically 1-2.8 mm in diameter). A bioactive glass (58S33C) coating (~ 20 μm) was applied on the pore walls of the macroporous composites by slurry dip coating and sintering at 1200 oC for 1 hour. A top or outer bioactive glass (58S33C) thin layer (< 10 μm) was further applied by sol dip coating and sintering at a low temperature (< 800 °C). The bioactive glass-coated macroporous alumina/zirconia composites had well interconnected pores, relatively large pore sizes (1-2 mm), medium porosities (60-66%), high compressive strengths (7.52 – 5.42 MPa), and high bioactivity (with an apatite layer formed within 24 hours in the simulated body fluid). The combination of the strong and ultrafine (if not nano-structured) macroporous scaffolds with the multiple or graded bioactive coatings represented a new generation of bone substitutes or permanent scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.
Differential Modulation of TLR3- and TLR4-Mediated Dendritic Cell Maturation and Function by Progesterone
Authors: Jones Leigh A. , Kreem Shrook , Shweash Muhannad , Paul Andrew , Alexander James , Roberts Craig W.
Published: September 2010

The role of progesterone in modulating dendritic cell (DC) function following stimulation of different TLRs is relatively unknown. We compared the ability of progesterone to modulate murine bone marrow-derived DC cytokine production (IL-6 and IL-12) and costimulatory molecule expression (CD40, CD80, and CD86) induced by either TLR3 or TLR4 ligation and determined whether activity was via the progesterone receptor (PR) or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) by comparative studies with the PR-specific agonist norgestrel and the GR agonist dexamethasone. Progesterone was found to downregulate, albeit with different sensitivities, both TLR3- and TLR4-induced IL-6 production entirely via the GR, but IL-12p40 production via either the GR or PR. Of particular significance was that progesterone was able to significantly inhibit TLR3- but not TLR4-induced CD40 expression in bone marrow-derived DCs. Stimulation of the PR (with progesterone and norgestrel) by pretreatment of DCs was found to sustain IFN regulatory factor-3 phosphorylation following TLR3 ligation, but not TLR4 ligation. Overall, these studies demonstrate that progesterone can differentially regulate the signaling pathways employed by TLR3 and TLR4 agonists to affect costimulatory molecule expression and cytokine production.
Combined Administration of a Mutant TGF-β1/Fc and Rapamycin Promotes Induction of Regulatory T Cells and Islet Allograft Tolerance
Authors: Zhang Wensheng , Zhang Dong , Shen Miaoda , Liu Yun , Tian Yan , Thomson Angus W. , Lee W. P. Andrew , Zheng Xin Xiao
Published: September 2010

The critical roles of TGF-β in the reciprocal differentiation of tolerance-promoting CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and proinflammatory Th17 effector cells affect alloimmune reactivity and transplant outcome. We reasoned that a strategy to harness TGF-β and block proinflammatory cytokines would inhibit the differentiation of Th17 cells and strengthen the cadre of Tregs to promote tolerance induction and long-term allograft survival. In this study, we report the development of a long-lasting autoactive human mutant TGF-β1/Fc fusion protein that acts in conjunction with rapamycin to inhibit T cell proliferation and induce the de novo generation of Foxp3+ Treg in the periphery, while at the same time inhibiting IL-6–mediated Th17 cell differentiation. Short-term combined treatment with TGF-β1/Fc and rapamycin achieved long-term pancreatic islet allograft survival and donor-specific tolerance in a mouse model. This effect was accompanied by expansion of Foxp3+ Tregs, enhanced alloantigen-specific Treg function, and modulation of transcript levels of Foxp3, IL-6, and IL-17. Our strategy of combined TGF-β1/Fc and rapamycin to target the IL-6–related Tregs and Th17 signaling pathways provides a promising approach for inducing transplant tolerance and its clinical application.
IL-17 Promotes Immune Privilege of Corneal Allografts
Authors: Cunnusamy Khrishen , Chen Peter W. , Niederkorn Jerry Y.
Published: September 2010

Corneal allograft rejection has been described as a Th1-mediated process involving IFN-γ production. However, it has been reported that corneal allograft rejection soars in IFN-γ−/− mice or mice treated with anti–IFN-γ mAb. Th17 is a recently described IL-17A–producing Th cell population that has been linked to renal and cardiac graft rejection, which was originally thought to be Th1-mediated. We tested the hypothesis that Th17 cells mediate corneal allograft rejection in an IL-17A–dependent fashion and unexpectedly found that depletion of IL-17A increased the incidence of rejection to 90%. We demonstrate that the exacerbated rejection following depletion of IL-17A did not result from a loss of cross-regulation of Th1 cells or exaggerated delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. Instead, inhibition of the Th1 or Th17 cell lineages promoted the emergence of a Th2 cell subset that independently mediated allograft rejection. These findings demonstrate that IL-17A is not required for corneal allograft rejection and may instead contribute to the immune privilege of corneal allografts.
ALLOGENEIC TRANSPLANTATION FOR CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
Authors: Laurenti Luca , Tarnani Michela , Chiusolo Patrizia , Sorà Federica , Sica Simona
Published: September 2010

Even if Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) often has an indolent behavior with good responsiveness to cytoreductive treatment, about 20% of the patients, so called "poor-risk" patients, show an aggressive course and die within a few years despite early intensive therapies. Criteria for poor-risk disease according to the European Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) CLL Transplant Consensus are: purine analogue refractoriness, early relapse after purine analogue combination therapy, CLL with p53 lesion requiring treatment.Allogeneic transplant has potential curative role in CLL, however burden with very  high transplant related mortality (TRM) rates of 38-50%:A major advance in reducing the short-term morbidity and mortality of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) has been the introduction of non-myeloablative or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens to allow engraftment of allogeneic stem cells. There is no doubt that the crucial therapeutic principle of allo-SCT in CLL is graft versus leukemia (GVL) activity.The major complications of allogeneic SCT in CLL are: chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) affecting quality of life, high graft rejection and infection rates rates correlated with preexisting immunosuppression. Disease relapse remains the major cause of failure after RIC allo-HCT in CLL patients.Sensitive minimal residual disease (MRD) quantification has strong prognostic impact after transplant.
Seigniorage
Authors: Buiter Willem H.
Published: September 2010

Governments through the ages have appropriated real resources through the monopoly of the ‘coinage’. In modern fiat money economies, the monopoly of the issue of legal tender is generally assigned to an agency of the state, the Central Bank, which may have varying degrees of operational and target independence from the government of the day.

In this paper I analyse four different but related concepts, each of which highlights some aspect of the way in which the state acquires command over real resources through its ability to issue fiat money. They are (1) seigniorage (the change in the monetary base), (2) Central Bank revenue (the interest bill saved by the authorities on the outstanding stock of base money liabilities), (3) the inflation tax (the reduction in the real value of the stock of base money due to inflation and (4) the operating profits of the central bank, or the taxes paid by the Central Bank to the Treasury.

To understand the relationship between these four concepts, an explicitly intertemporal approach is required, which focuses on the present discounted value of the current and future resource transfers between the private sector and the state. Furthermore, when the Central Bank is operationally independent, it is essential to decompose the familiar consolidated ‘government budget constraint’ and consolidated ‘government intertemporal budget constraint’ into the separate accounts and budget constraints of the Central Bank and the Treasury. Only by doing this can we appreciate the financial constraints on the Central Bank’s ability to pursue and achieve an inflation target, and the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Treasury and the Central Bank when faced with financial sector crises involving the need for long-term recapitalisation or when confronted with the need to mimick Milton Friedman’s helicopter drop of money in an economy faced with a liquidity trap.
Asymmetry and Spillover Effects in the North American Equity Markets
Authors: Canarella Giorgio , Sapra Sunil K. , Pollard Stephen K.
Published: September 2010

In this paper we examine the issue of asymmetry in the return and volatility spillover effects from the US equity market into the Canadian and Mexican equity markets. We model the conditional volatility of the returns in each of the three markets using the asymmetric power model of Ding, Granger and Engle (1993). The empirical findings indicate that the US market has a significant impact on the returns in the Canadian and Mexican markets. However, the findings for Canada vary considerably from those for Mexico. In particular, the empirical results indicate that volatility spillover effects, but not return spillover effects, exhibit an asymmetric behavior, with negative shocks from the US equity market impacting on the conditional volatility of the Canadian and Mexican equity markets more deeply than positive shocks. Moreover, while the impact of positive shocks from the US equity market is not much different between the two markets, this is not the case with negative shocks, which affect the volatility of the Mexican market more intensely than the volatility of the Canadian market.
Technology Shocks and Employment in Open Economies
Authors: Tervala Juha
Published: September 2010

A growing body of empirical evidence suggests that a positive technology shock leads to a temporary decline in employment. A two-country model is used to demonstrate that the open economy dimension can enhance the ability of sticky price models to account for the evidence. The reasoning is as follows. An improvement in technology appreciates the nominal exchange rate. Under producer-currency pricing, the exchange rate appreciation shifts global demand toward foreign goods away from domestic goods. This causes a temporary decline in domestic employment. If the expenditure-switching effect is sufficiently strong, a technology shock also has a negative effect on output in the short run.