bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emotional Responses to Rejection of Gestures of Intergroup Reconciliation
Authors: Harth Nicole Syringa , Hornsey Matthew J. , Barlow Fiona Kate
Published: March 2011

Four experiments examine the emotional and attitudinal consequences of victim group rejection of a gesture of reconciliation from a transgressor group. Participants were reminded about an ingroup transgression and were told that their ingroup provided an apology (Studies 1 and 4) or an offer of repair (Studies 2 and 3). The authors varied whether the victim group rejected or accepted these gestures. As predicted, rejection resulted in greater anger and lower levels of satisfaction directed toward the victim group. Victim group response had little systematic effect on anxiety or shame, however. Appraisals of the response as illegitimate mediated the effects of victim group response (Studies 3 and 4). Furthermore, Study 4 showed that the emotional backlash toward victim groups who reject an offer of reconciliation leads to heightened racism and reduced intentions to financially compensate victim groups. Implications for how groups reconcile in the face of historical transgressions are discussed.
Between Need and Desire
Authors: van der Velden Maja , Mörtberg Christina
Published: March 2011

Script analysis is often used in research that focuses on gender and technology design. It is applied as a method to describe problematic inscriptions of gender in technology and as a tool for advancing more acceptable inscriptions of gender in technology. These analyses are based on the assumption that we can design technologies that do justice to gender. One critique on script analysis is that it does not engage with the emergent effects of design. The authors explore this critique with the help of two vignettes taken from their design research. In this article they ask: How to design for gender if gender and design are emergent? The authors present two design strategies, degendering design and undesigning design and propose a new approach to doing justice to gender in design. This perspective foregrounds ethics in the design process, in particular the accountability of technology designers.
Between Three Worlds
Authors: Elias Nelly , Lemish Dafna
Published: March 2011

This study investigated various roles played by host, homeland, and global media in the lives of immigrant families from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS, former USSR) to Israel and Germany, as well as the place of different media in family conflicts, consolidation, and parenting strategies. The study was based on focus group interviews with 60 families of Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel and Germany and 73 semistructured, in-depth interviews with immigrant youngsters. The findings of this study demonstrate that the mass media fulfill diverse roles for immigrant families, assisting them face two main relocation challenges: integration “inward” (i.e., cultural transmission and family consolidation) and “outward” integration into their new surroundings.
Strengthening Families Program (10-14)
Authors: Riesch Susan K. , Brown Roger L. , Anderson Lori S. , Wang Kevin , Canty-Mitchell Janie , Johnson Deborah L.
Published: March 2011

This study examined whether parent–youth dyads participating in the Strengthening Families Program 10-14 (SFP 10-14) would demonstrate greater postprogram family cohesion, communication, involvement, and supervision and if youth would report less alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs involvement in contrast to a comparison group. From 16 randomly selected schools, we recruited 167 parent–youth dyads: 86 from intervention and 81 from comparison schools. The intention-to-treat analysis found one significant change in family environment. Considering dose, it was found that among dyads receiving a full dose, all the outcomes were in the expected direction and effect sizes were moderate. Among dyads receiving a partial dose, 10 of 18 outcomes were in the direction opposite that expected. Youth participation in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs was very low and did not differ postprogram. Although the expected outcomes were not realized, findings descriptive of dosage effects make a valuable contribution to the field. Study of factors that distinguish intervention completers from noncompleters is recommended.
A dyadic approach to the study of romantic attachment, dyadic empathy, and psychological partner aggression
Authors: Péloquin Katherine , Lafontaine Marie-France , Brassard Audrey
Published: March 2011

This study examined the intrapersonal, dyadic, and mediational relationships underlying romantic attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships), dyadic empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index for Couples), and psychological partner aggression (Revised Conflict Tactics Scales) in 193 community-based couples. In women, attachment insecurity predicted lower dyadic empathy and greater psychological aggression. In men, attachment insecurity predicted lower perspective taking, higher empathic concern, and greater psychological aggression. Partner effects were found for men, with their attachment predicting their female partner’s dyadic empathy and psychological aggression. In women, low perspective taking mediated the relationship between: (1) their anxiety over abandonment and their psychological aggression; and (2) their avoidance of intimacy and their psychological aggression. Findings are consistent with the attachment theory and clinical implications are discussed.
A pilot study on the effect of Basic Body Awareness Therapy in patients with eating disorders: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Catalan-Matamoros Daniel , Helvik-Skjaerven Liv , Labajos-Manzanares M Teresa , Martínez-de-Salazar-Arboleas Alma , Sánchez-Guerrero Eduardo
Published: March 2011

Objective: To analyse the feasibility of Basic Body Awareness Therapy in people with eating disorders.

Design: A randomized controlled trial; the assessors were not blinded to the group allocation.

Setting: The eating disorders department within a hospital setting.

Subjects: Twenty-eight outpatients with eating disorders for less than five years.

Intervention: All patients received standard outpatient treatment. The intervention group (n = 14) also received Basic Body Awareness Therapy for seven weeks.

Main measures: Eating Disorder Inventory, Eating Attitude Test, Body Attitude Test and Quality of Life Scale SF-36.

Results: Analysing the differences between both groups, significant differences were found in Eating Disorder Inventory (mean difference: 26.3; P = 0.015) and in its subscales ‘drive to thinness’ (P = 0.003), ‘body dissatisfaction’ (P = 0.025) and ‘ineffectiveness’ (P = 0.014). Also in Body Attitude Test (mean difference: 33.0; P = 0.012), Eating Attitude Test-40 (mean difference: 17.7; P = 0.039) and SF-36 in the section ‘mental health’ (mean difference: 13.0; P = 0.002).

Conclusions: This study has shown some effectiveness of Basic Body Awareness Therapy in improving some symptoms in outpatients with eating disorders. Further studies should include larger samples, double-blinded and placebo methodologies, and should focus on questions such as which eating disorder diagnoses benefit most from physical therapy.
Effects of progressive muscle relaxation on state anxiety and subjective well-being in people with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vancampfort Davy , De Hert Marc , Knapen Jan , Maurissen Katrien , Raepsaet Julie , Deckx Seppe , Remans Sander , Probst Michel
Published: March 2011

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a single progressive muscle relaxation session compared with a control condition on state anxiety, psychological stress, fatigue and subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: An acute inpatient care unit of an University Psychiatric Centre.

Subjects: Sixty-four out of 88 eligible patients with schizophrenia.

Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to either a single progressive muscle relaxation session during 25 minutes or a resting control condition with the opportunity to read for an equal amount of time.

Main outcome measures: Before and after the single interventions the State anxiety inventory and the Subjective exercise experiences scale were completed. Effect sizes were calculated.

Results: Only within progressive muscle relaxation, participants (n=27) showed decreased state anxiety, psychological stress and fatigue and increased subjective well-being. Between-group differences in post scores were found for state anxiety, subjective well-being and psychological stress, but not for fatigue. The effect size favouring progressive muscle relaxation was 1.26 for subjective well-being and −1.25 and −1.02 for respectively state anxiety and psychological stress.

Conclusions: Progressive muscle relaxation is highly effective in reducing acute feelings of stress and anxiety in patients with schizophrenia. A reduction in stress and state anxiety is associated with an increase in subjective well-being.
Comparison of the responsiveness of the Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation and the Barthel Index
Authors: Eichhorn-Kissel Juliane , Dassen Theo , Lohrmann Christa
Published: March 2011

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the responsiveness of the Care Dependency Scale for Rehabilitation (CDS-R) and the Barthel Index in rehabilitation.

Design: A longitudinal study was performed over six months (2007–8) where patients were assessed using the scales after admission and before discharge.

Setting and subjects: A convenience sample of 1,542 patients was recruited in an Austrian rehabilitation centre.

Measures: The CDS-R and the Barthel Index.

Data analysis: Responsiveness was determined by descriptive analysis, significance tests and calculation of effect sizes.

Results: For the 1,542 patients, the calculation according to Kazis yielded values of 0.10 for both instruments. For the group of patients who showed clinically relevant changes, values of 0.50 were obtained for the CDS-R and 1.06 for the Barthel Index. For the group 1,542 patients, the calculation according to Liang yielded values of 0.42 for the CDS-R and 0.34 for the Barthel Index. For the group of patients who showed clinically relevant changes, values of 1.47 were obtained for the CDS-R and 1.92 for the Barthel Index.

Conclusion: The Barthel Index seems to be slightly more responsive than the CDS-R, and both instruments seem to be appropriate for the assessment of patients’ changes over time. Nevertheless, the exact level of responsiveness could not be clearly identified for both instruments. To confirm the level of responsiveness, further research is recommended.
‘A bridge to the hospice’: The impact of a Community Volunteer Programme in Uganda
Authors: Jack Barbara A , Kirton J , Birakurataki J , Merriman A
Published: March 2011

In Africa, the need for palliative care provision is escalating with an increasing number of people living with HIV/AIDS, coupled with rising cancer and AIDS-related cancer diagnoses. In Uganda there is a shortage of doctors, particularly in rural areas. To address this Hospice Africa Uganda developed a Community Volunteer Programme to train volunteers to help by providing support to patients in their own homes. The aim of this qualitative study was to evaluate the impact of the Community Volunteer Programme. Sixty-four interviews, with patients (21), community volunteer workers (CVWs) (32), and the hospice clinical teams (11) were conducted, using semi-structured digitally recorded individual, group and focus group interviews, at the Hospice Africa Uganda sites. The results reported the value of the Community Volunteer Programme, including the impact on patients and families, and how the CVWs acted as a ‘bridge to the hospice’ in identifying patients. Developing financial challenges that are emerging which could potentially impact on the programme were reported. The Community Volunteer Programme appears to be having a positive impact on patients, families and the hospice team, and is a model worthy of consideration by other developing countries to allow the expansion of palliative care.
Teens Reflect on Their Sources of Contraceptive Information
Authors: Jones Rachel K. , Biddlecom Ann E. , Hebert Luciana , Mellor Ruth
Published: March 2011

Based on semistructured interviews with a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 58 U.S. high school students, this study examines teens’ exposure to contraceptive information from a range of sources and the extent to which they trust this information. Teens report exposure to contraceptive information from many individuals and places, most commonly school, family, and friends. Few teens rely on the Internet for contraceptive information, and most are wary of this source. The authors identify two themes that characterized teens’ discussions: wariness about hormonal methods, and the compatibility of contraception and abstinence messages. The findings suggest ways that schools, a common and trusted source of sexual health information for teens, could better improve students’ access to accurate contraceptive information.
Toxicology Today
Authors: Lam Simon W. , Engebretsen Kristin M. , Bauer Seth R.
Published: March 2011

Clinicians are frequently confronted with toxicological emergencies and challenged with the task of correctly identifying the possible agents involved and providing appropriate treatments. In this review article, we describe the epidemiology of overdoses, provide a practical approach to the recognition and diagnosis of classic toxidromes, and discuss the initial management strategies that should be considered in all overdoses. In addition, we evaluate some of the most common agents involved in poisonings and present their respective treatments. Recognition of toxidromes with knowledge of indications for antidotes and their limitations for treating overdoses is crucial for the acute care of poisoned patients.
On the Influence of Transducer Internal Loss in Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting with SSHI Interface
Authors: Liang J.R. , Liao W.H.
Published: March 2011

In piezoelectric energy harvesting, the harvesting efficiency can be greatly improved with the switching interface called synchronized switch harvesting on inductor. However, we found from experiments that, the voltage across the piezoelectric element reverses a little bit after every inversion. This reversion, although small compared to the inversion, weakens the inversion effect produced by the switching inductive shortcut, and therefore decreases the voltage magnitude as well as the harvesting efficiency a lot. This phenomenon can also be found from the experimental waveforms in the previous studies; but it has never been pointed out. In these studies, the analytical results, which used the measured effective inversion factor in calculation, agreed with experiments; yet, the origin of the reversion after every switching action, as well as the quantitative relation between the ideal and effective inversion factors are of interest. In this article, the phenomenon on voltage reversion after every inversion is first described. Based on the experimental results, it is analyzed that this reversion is caused by the transducer internal loss. A revised model considering the influence of the internal energy loss is introduced. With this model, not only the reason, which causes the reversion after every inversion, can be explained; but also the quantitative relation between the ideal and effective inversion factors can be obtained. Experiments are also conducted to validate the revised model.
A Dialectical Perspective on Informed Consent to Treatment: An Examination of Radiologists’ Dilemmas and Negotiations
Authors: Olufowote James Olumide
Published: March 2011

Informed consent to treatment (ICT), designed to honor patient autonomy, has been an important subject of inquiry in many disciplines. To foreground the dynamic and dilemmatic tendencies of ICT practice implied by previous inquiries, I advanced relational dialectics theory into the realm of physicians’ experiences with ICT. On performing a dialectical analysis of transcripts from focus group discussions with radiologists, I found them experiencing four primary tensions: (a) between simple and complex ICT; (b) between radiologist and patient control; (c) between standardized and idiosyncratic practice (involving struggles between documentation and conversational process, and between vague and detailed language use); and (d) between withholding and disclosing alternatives. Moreover, I drew on concepts from relational dialectics theory to capture the various ways radiologists negotiate these dialectics. I conclude with practical applications for physician and patient training and interprofessional coordination.
Virtual Team Performance in a Highly Competitive Environment
Authors: Algesheimer René , Dholakia Utpal M. , Gurău Călin
Published: March 2011

In this article, we empirically validate a version of the input-mediator-output-input (IMOI) model (Ilgen, Hollenbeck, Johnson, & Jundt, 2005), adapting it to investigate virtual team performance in a highly competitive environment. Our hypotheses are tested using structural equation modeling across time periods with data obtained from 606 professional online gaming teams belonging to the European Electronic Sports League. The findings validate the hypothesized IMOI model, and demonstrate the effects of anticipated emotions on shared motivation of team members. The results contribute to theory and have significant implications for the management of geographically distributed work groups.
Transformational Leadership and Performance Across Criteria and Levels: A Meta-Analytic Review of 25 Years of Research
Authors: Gang Wang  , Oh In-Sue , Courtright Stephen H. , Colbert Amy E.
Published: March 2011

Although transformational leadership has been studied extensively, the magnitude of the relationship between transformational leadership and follower performance across criterion types and levels of analysis remains unclear. Based on 117 independent samples over 113 primary studies, the current meta-analytic study showed that transformational leadership was positively related to individual-level follower performance across criterion types, with a stronger relationship for contextual performance than for task performance across most study settings. In addition, transformational leadership was positively related to performance at the team and organization levels. Moreover, both meta-analytic regression and relative importance analyses consistently showed that transformational leadership had an augmentation effect over transactional leadership (contingent reward) in predicting individual-level contextual performance and team-level performance. Contrary to our expectation, however, no augmentation effect of transformational leadership over contingent reward was found in predicting individual-level task performance. Instead, contingent reward explained incremental variance in individual-level task performance beyond that explained by transformational leadership.
Generation Y Consumers
Authors: Harrington Robert J. , Ottenbacher Michael C. , Staggs Ann , Powell F. Allen
Published: March 2011

Using a descriptive approach to identify critical attributes affecting positive and negative dining experiences, this study examined the impact of these attributes for Generation Y consumers. The findings not only support relationships in earlier studies using survey methodology but also identify important differences in drivers of positive and negative dining experiences for Generation Y consumers. Many of the same attributes were shown as frequent drivers of positive and negative experiences but varied in impact and order of importance. The top five attributes described as drivers of positive experiences were quality of food/drink, quality of service, friendliness of staff, atmosphere of restaurant, and speed of service. The top five attributes described as drivers of negative experiences were quality of service, speed of service, quality of food/drink, friendliness of staff, and cleanliness. Additional tests provide evidence of differences in the importance of these and other attributes across three segments: quick-service restaurant, casual dining, and fine dining.
Party organization and concurrent multi-level local campaigning
Authors: Clark Alistair
Published: March 2011

Parties often have to campaign for two or more levels of office at the same time. However, declining levels of organization means that the demands of concurrent elections can potentially increase the demands on volunteer party organizations considerably. These demands are multiplied by the concurrent use of different electoral systems which provide party organizations with different incentives. The article examines how party organizations deal with such circumstances through a study of constituency party organizations in the 2007 Scottish parliamentary and local government elections. Parties were forced to campaign concurrently at three levels – local council, Scottish Parliament constituency and regional list – under two different electoral systems, STV (single-transferable vote) and MMP (mixed-member proportional). I argue that: there may be economies of scale for party organizations in fighting concurrent elections; while there may be evidence of vote-maximization activity at each level, local organizations are likely to give priority to their efforts towards higher level institutions and those on which their efforts potentially have a direct effort; and that the degree of local campaign effort is mediated by the extent of party organization and previous success in the area concerned.
‘Visible gestures’: On urban landscape perspectives in planning
Authors: Lindholm Gunilla
Published: March 2011

In spite of the frequent use of landscape representations in planning, ‘the urban landscape’ is rarely the focus in discussions within planning practice or planning theory, be it in terms of representations or as a socio-material framework for planning actions. Instead it appears to be taken for granted and in this way affects planning theory and practice, leaving planning activities (professional as well as participatory) as rather haphazard events, hard to contextualize and to foresee any consequences of. Taking the landscape for granted excludes the possibility of discussing the differences between understanding the changing urban landscape from representations and understanding it in relation to experienced realities. This text argues for increased interdisciplinary elaborations on the meaning and content of urban landscape, by linking it to discourses in planning theory, urban theory and landscape theory.
Pre-school quality and educational outcomes at age 11: Low quality has little benefit
Authors: Sylva Kathy , Melhuish Edward , Sammons Pam , Siraj-Blatchford Iram , Taggart Brenda
Published: March 2011

This article reports the effects of pre-school quality on children’s cognitive and behavioural outcomes at age 11 using a large-scale longitudinal study of 3000+ children in England (EPPE/EPPSE). The ECERS-R and a curricular extension to it (ECERS-E) were used to assess the quality of provision in 141 pre-school settings attended by the children. The quality measures were derived from observations throughout the day of interactions and resources related to Literacy, Numeracy and Science learning, as well as observational/ interview data related to how each centre catered to diverse needs of children. Multi-level modelling was used to investigate the effects of pre-school quality on children’s academic and social-behavioural outcomes at age 11. Pre-school quality significantly predicted most outcomes, after taking account of key child and family factors. More importantly, children who attended low quality pre-schools had cognitive and behavioural scores that were not significantly different from those of children with no pre-school experience.The methods and findings of this large-scale study are considered in terms of the strengths and limitations of ‘educational effectiveness’ designs. It is suggested that mixed methods designs can address many of the limitations.
Is Life Nasty, Brutish, and Short? Philosophies of Life and Well-Being
Authors: Norton Michael I. , Anik Lalin , Aknin Lara B. , Dunn Elizabeth W.
Published: March 2011

Three studies examine the extent to which laypeople endorse Hobbes's (1651/1960) view of life as “nasty, brutish, and short” and explore the relationships between this philosophy and well-being. Participants answered two binary choice questions: Is life short or long? And, is life easy or hard? Across a series of studies, the majority of participants indicated that they believed that life is short and hard, while the opposite philosophy, that life is long and easy, was least popular. In addition, these philosophies were correlated with participants' views of their lives: the short-hard philosophy was associated with lower levels of well-being (Studies 1 through 3), civic engagement (Study 2), and optimism about the future (Study 3), compared to the long-easy philosophy.
Comprehensive characterisation of pulmonary and serum surfactant protein D in COPD
Authors: Winkler Carla , Atochina-Vasserman Elena N , Holz Olaf , Beers Michael F , Erpenbeck Veit J , Krug Norbert , Roepcke Stefan , Lauer Gereon , Elmlinger Martin , Hohlfeld Jens M
Published: March 2011

Background

Pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D) is considered as a candidate biomarker for the functional integrity of the lung and for disease progression, which can be detected in serum. The origin of SP-D in serum and how serum concentrations are related to pulmonary concentrations under inflammatory conditions is still unclear.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study comprising non-smokers (n = 10), young - (n = 10), elderly smokers (n = 20), and smokers with COPD (n = 20) we simultaneously analysed pulmonary and serum SP-D levels with regard to pulmonary function, exercise, repeatability and its quaternary structure by native gel electrophoresis. Statistical comparisons were conducted by ANOVA and post-hoc testing for multiple comparisons; repeatability was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis.

Results

In COPD, median (IQR) pulmonary SP-D levels were lower (129(68) ng/ml) compared to smokers (young: 299(190), elderly: 296(158) ng/ml; p < 0.01) and non-smokers (967(708) ng/ml; p < 0.001). The opposite was observed in serum, with higher concentrations in COPD (140(89) ng/ml) as compared to non-smokers (76(47) ng/ml; p < 0.01). SP-D levels were reproducible and correlated with the degree of airway obstruction in all smokers. In addition, smoking lead to disruption of the quaternary structure.

Conclusions

Pulmonary and serum SP-D levels are stable markers influenced by smoking and related to airflow obstruction and disease state. Smaller subunits of pulmonary SP-D and the rapid increase of serum SP-D levels in COPD due to exercise support the translocation hypothesis and its use as a COPD biomarker.

Trial registration

no interventional trial
Moult cycle specific differential gene expression profiling of the crab Portunus pelagicus
Authors: Kuballa Anna V , Holton Timothy A , Paterson Brian , Elizur Abigail
Published: March 2011

Background

Crustacean moulting is a complex process involving many regulatory pathways. A holistic approach to examine differential gene expression profiles of transcripts relevant to the moulting process, across all moult cycle stages, was used in this study. Custom cDNA microarrays were constructed forPortunus pelagicus. The printed arrays contained 5000 transcripts derived from both the whole organism, and from individual organs such as the brain, eyestalk, mandibular organ and Y-organ from all moult cycle stages.

Results

A total of 556 clones were sequenced from the cDNA libraries used to construct the arrays. These cDNAs represented 175 singletons and 62 contigs, resulting in 237 unique putative genes. The gene sequences were classified into the following biological functions: cuticular proteins associated with arthropod exoskeletons, farnesoic acidO-methyltransferase (FaMeT), proteins belonging to the hemocyanin gene family, lectins, proteins relevant to lipid metabolism, mitochondrial proteins, muscle related proteins, phenoloxidase activators and ribosomal proteins. Moult cycle-related differential expression patterns were observed for many transcripts. Of particular interest were those relating to the formation and hardening of the exoskeleton, and genes associated with cell respiration and energy metabolism.

Conclusions

The expression data presented here provide a chronological depiction of the molecular events associated with the biological changes that occur during the crustacean moult cycle. Tracing the temporal expression patterns of a large variety of transcripts involved in the moult cycle ofP. pelagicuscan provide a greater understanding of gene function, interaction, and regulation of both known and new genes with respect to the moulting process.
Healthcare-associated pneumonia among hospitalized patients in a Korean tertiary hospital
Authors: Jung Ji Ye , Park Moo Suk , Kim Young Sam , Park Byung Hoon , Kim Se Kyu , Chang Joon , Kang Young Ae
Published: March 2011

Background

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) has more similarities to nosocomial pneumonia than to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, there have only been a few epidemiological studies of HCAP in South Korea. We aimed to determine the differences between HCAP and CAP in terms of clinical features, pathogens, and outcomes, and to clarify approaches for initial antibiotic management.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, observational study of 527 patients with HCAP or CAP who were hospitalized at Severance Hospital in South Korea between January and December 2008.

Results

Of these patients, 231 (43.8%) had HCAP, and 296 (56.2%) had CAP. Potentially drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria were more frequently isolated in HCAP than CAP (12.6% vs. 4.7%; P = 0.001), especially in the low-risk group of the PSI classes (41.2% vs. 13.9%; P = 0.027). In-hospital mortality was higher for HCAP than CAP patients (28.1% vs. 10.8%, P < 0.001), especially in the low-risk group of PSI classes (16.4% vs. 3.1%; P = 0.001). Moreover, tube feeding and prior hospitalization with antibiotic treatment within 90 days of pneumonia onset were significant risk factors for PDR pathogens, with odds ratios of 14.94 (95% CI 4.62-48.31; P < 0.001) and 2.68 (95% CI 1.32-5.46; P = 0.007), respectively.

Conclusions

For HCAP patients with different backgrounds, various pathogens and antibiotic resistance of should be considered, and careful selection of patients requiring broad-spectrum antibiotics is important when physicians start initial antibiotic treatments.
Development of expression vectors based on pepino mosaic virus
Authors: Sempere Raquel N , Gómez Pedro , Truniger Verónica , Aranda Miguel A
Published: March 2011

Background

Plant viruses are useful expression vectors because they can mount systemic infections allowing large amounts of recombinant protein to be produced rapidly in differentiated plant tissues. Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) (genusPotexvirus, familyFlexiviridae), a widespread plant virus, is a promising candidate expression vector for plants because of its high level of accumulation in its hosts and the absence of severe infection symptoms. We report here the construction of a stable and efficient expression vector for plants based on PepMV.

Results

Agroinfectious clones were produced from two different PepMV genotypes (European and Chilean), and these were able to initiate typical PepMV infections. We explored several strategies for vector development including coat protein (CP) replacement, duplication of the CP subgenomic promoter (SGP) and the creation of a fusion protein using the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 2A catalytic peptide. We found that CP replacement vectors were unable to move systemically and that vectors with duplicated SGPs (even heterologous SGPs) suffered from significant transgene instability. The fusion protein incorporating the FMDV 2A catalytic peptide gave by far the best results, maintaining stability through serial passages and allowing the accumulation of GFP to 0.2-0.4 g per kg of leaf tissue. The possible use of PepMV as a virus-induced gene silencing vector to study gene function was also demonstrated. Protocols for the use of this vector are described.

Conclusions

A stable PepMV vector was generated by expressing the transgene as a CP fusion using the sequence encoding the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 2A catalytic peptide to separate them. We have generated a novel tool for the expression of recombinant proteins in plants and for the functional analysis of virus and plant genes. Our experiments have also highlighted virus requirements for replication in single cells as well as intercellular and long-distance movement.
En bloc Extended Total Thymectomy and Extrapleural Pneumonectomy in Masaoka stage IVA Thymomas
Authors: Yang Hee Chul , Yoon Yoo Sang , Kim Hong Kwan , Choi Yong Soo , Kim Kwhanmien , Shim Young Mog , Han Jungho , Kim Jhingook
Published: March 2011

Background

Surgical excision is the primary treatment for a thymoma. However, for advanced thymoma that extends to within the thoracic cavity and for recurrent cases with pleural dissemination (Masaoka stage IVA), the appropriate treatment is controversial. We evaluated the safety of surgery and outcomes of seven patients that underwent an en bloc extended total thymectomy and extrapleural pneumonectomy for stage IVA thymomas.

Methods

From 1994 to 2009, five patients initially diagnosed with pleural dissemination and two patients with recurrent tumors in the pleura and lungs after a total thymectomy, were identified. Seven patients had an extrapleural pneumonectomy performed. For the first operation, five patients underwent additional en bloc extended total thymectomy.

Results

Two recurrent cases were identified 55.2 and 12.3 months after first operation. Two patients had WHO type B1-B2 tumors, two had B2, two had B2-B3, and one had a B3 tumor. The mean hospital stay was 15.3 days (range: 7-29). There was no operative mortality. Four patients had neoadjuvant chemotherapy and five were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. The median survival was 30.6 months and the Kaplan-Meier 2-year survival was 100% (95% confidence interval: 24.6-36.6 months). One patient, who did not receive induction chemotherapy, had distant metastases after surgery.

Conclusions

En bloc extended total thymectomy and extrapleural pneumonectomy can be safely performed on selected patients with stage IVA thymomas and is expected to achieve complete local control. Although the treatment strategy has yet to be standardized, complete resection with appropriate systemic therapy may improve survival in otherwise fatal disease.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in sepsis with acute renal dysfunction (ARD)
Authors: Patschan Susann A , Patschan Daniel , Temme Johanna , Korsten Peter , Wessels Johannes T , Koziolek Michael , Henze Elvira , Müller Gerhard A
Published: March 2011

Introduction

Sepsis is characterized by systemic microvascular dysfunction. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critically involved in maintaining vascular homeostasis under both physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of the present study was to analyze the endothelial progenitor cell system in patients suffering from sepsis with acute renal dysfunction.

Methods

Patients with newly diagnosed sepsis were recruited from the ICU in a nonrandomized prospective manner. Blood samples were obtained within the first 12 hours after the diagnosis of sepsis. For quantifying endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), CD133+/Flk-1+ cells were enumerated by cytometric analysis. Analysis of EPC proliferation was performed by a colony-forming units (CFU) assay. Blood concentrations of proangiogenic mediators were measured by ELISA. Acute renal dysfunction was diagnosed according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Depending on the overall mean creatinine concentration during the stay at the ICU, patients were either assigned to a 'normal creatinine group' or to a 'high creatinine group'. Survival rates, frequency of dialysis, the simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) II scores, and different laboratory parameters were collected/used for further clinical characterization

Results

Circulating EPCs were significantly higher in all sepsis patients included in the study as opposed to healthy controls. Patients within the 'high creatinine group' showed an even more pronounced EPC increase. In contrast, EPC proliferation was severely affected in sepsis. Neither total circulating EPCs nor EPC proliferation differed between patients requiring dialysis and patients without renal replacement therapy. Cell numbers and cell proliferation also did not differ between surviving patients and patients with sepsis-related death. Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1), and Angiopoietin-2 were higher in sepsis than in healthy controls. Sepsis patients within the 'high creatinine group' showed significantly higher mean serum levels of uric acid.

Conclusions

Sepsis significantly affects the endothelial progenitor cell system, as reflected by increased EPC numbers, increased concentrations of proangiogenic mediators, and reduced proliferative capacity of the cells. This occurs independently from the frequency of dialysis and from patient survival. Increased serum levels of uric acid are possibly responsible for stronger EPC mobilization in sepsis patients with higher average creatinine levels.
hzAnalyzer: detection, quantification, and visualization of contiguous homozygosity in high-density genotyping datasets
Authors: Johnson Todd A , Niimura Yoshihito , Tanaka Hiroshi , Nakamura Yusuke , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko
Published: March 2011

The analysis of contiguous homozygosity (runs of homozygous loci) in human genotyping datasets is critical in the search for causal disease variants in monogenic disorders, studies of population history and the identification of targets of natural selection. Here, we report methods for extracting homozygous segments from high-density genotyping datasets, quantifying their local genomic structure, identifying outstanding regions within the genome and visualizing results for comparative analysis between population samples.
CD4+CD25+CD127dimFoxp3+ T cells are cytotoxic for human neurons
Authors: Haile Yohannes , Pasychniyk Dion , Turner Diane , Bleackley R Chris , Giuliani Fabrizio
Published: March 2011

MS lesions are characterized by destruction of myelin and significant neuronal and axonal loss. Preliminary studies with the use of Tregs in the mouse model of MS have been extremely encouraging. However, recent studies with human cells have shown the presence of different subpopulations of T cells within the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cell phenotype, some of which do not have regulatory functions. These findings suggest a potential difference between mouse and human in the regulatory phenotype. Here, we show that human activated CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells are neurotoxic in vitro. These cells expressed high levels of the cytotoxic molecule GrB and had no suppressive effect. On the contrary, they produced IFN-γ and low IL-17, suggesting a shift toward a TH1 phenotype. Thus, our data confirm the presence of a nonregulatory cytotoxic subpopulation within the human CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells and suggest further studies on the human regulatory phenotype prior to any potential therapeutic application.
Estimation of changes in saturation and pressure from 4D seismic AVO and time-shift analysis
Authors: Trani Mario , Arts Rob , Leeuwenburgh Olwijn , Brouwer Jan
Published: March 2011

A reliable estimate of reservoir pressure and fluid saturation changes from time-lapse seismic data is difficult to obtain. Existing methods generally suffer from leakage between the estimated parameters. We propose a new method using different combinations of time-lapse seismic attributes based on four equations: two expressing changes in prestack AVO attributes (zero-offset and gradient reflectivities), and two expressing poststack time-shifts of compressional and shear waves as functions of production-induced changes in fluid properties. The effect of using different approximations of these equations was tested on a realistic, synthetic reservoir, where seismic data have been simulated during the 30-year lifetime of a water-flooded oil reservoir. Results found the importance of the porosity in the inversion with a clear attenuation of the porosity imprint on the final estimates in case the porosity field or the vertically averaged porosity field is known a priori. The use of a first-order approximation of the gradient reflectivity equation leads to severely biased estimates of changes in saturation and leakage between the two different parameters. Both the bias and the leakage can be reduced, if not eliminated, by including higher-order terms in the description of the gradient, or by replacing the gradient equation with P- and/or S-wave time-shift data. The final estimates are relatively robust to random noise, as they present fairly high accuracy in the presence of white noise with a standard deviation of 15%. The introduction of systematic noise decreases the inversion accuracy more severely.
Association of Cancer With Geriatric Syndromes in Older Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Mohile Supriya G. , Fan Lin , Reeve Erin , Jean-Pierre Pascal , Mustian Karen , Peppone Luke , Janelsins Michelle , Morrow Gary , Hall William , Dale William
Published: March 2011

Purpose

To identify whether a history of cancer is associated with specific geriatric syndromes in older patients.

Patients and Methods

Using the 2003 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, we analyzed a national sample of 12,480 community-based elders. Differences in prevalence of geriatric syndromes between those with and without cancer were estimated. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate whether cancer was independently associated with geriatric syndromes.

Results

Two thousand three hundred forty-nine (18%) reported a history of cancer. Among those with cancer, 60.3% reported one or more geriatric syndromes as compared with 53.2% of those without cancer (P < .001). Those with cancer overall had a statistically significantly higher prevalence of hearing trouble, urinary incontinence, falls, depression, and osteoporosis than those without cancer. Adjusting for possible confounders, those with a history of cancer were more likely to experience depression (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.30; P = .023), falls (adjusted OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.32; P = .010), osteoporosis (adjusted OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.38; P = .004), hearing trouble (adjusted OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.52; P = .005), and urinary incontinence (adjusted OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.69; P < .001). Analysis of specific cancer subtypes showed that lung cancer was associated with vision, hearing, and eating trouble; prostate cancer was associated with incontinence and falls; cervical/uterine cancer was associated with falls and osteoporosis; and colon cancer was associated with depression and osteoporosis.

Conclusion

Elderly patients with cancer experience a higher prevalence of geriatric syndromes than those without cancer. Prospective studies that establish the causal relationships between cancer and geriatric syndromes are necessary.
Effects of Early Exercise on the Development of Lymphedema in Patients With Breast Cancer Treated With Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
Authors: Cavanaugh Kristen M.
Published: March 2011

Changing current recommendations to instruct patients to begin progressive exercise after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection seems to be safe.
Performance Appraisal: A Tool for Practice Improvement
Authors: Gesme Dean H. , Wiseman Marian
Published: March 2011

Yours may be among the many oncology practices without an appropriate performance review system in place. Lack of an effective evaluation system increases the risk of inefficiency, poor office morale, and high turnover rates.
Mixing properties for STIT tessellations
Authors: Lachièze-Rey R.
Published: March 2011

The so-called STIT tessellations form a class of homogeneous (spatially stationary) tessellations in Rd which are stable under the nesting/iteration operation. In this paper we establish the mixing property for these tessellations and give the decay rate of P(A ∩ M = ∅, ThB ∩ M = ∅) / P(A ∩ Y = ∅)P(B ∩ Y = ∅) − 1, where A and B are both compact connected sets, h is a vector of Rd, Th is the corresponding translation operator, and M is a STIT tessellation.
Information: price and impact on general welfare and optimal investment. an anticipative stochastic differential game model
Authors: Ewald Christian-Oliver , Xiao Yajun
Published: March 2011

Within an anticipative stochastic calculus framework, we study a market game with asymmetric information and feedback effects. We derive necessary and sufficient criteria for the existence of Nash equilibria and study how general welfare is affected by the level of information. In particular, we show that, under certain conditions in a competitive environment, an increased level of information may in fact lower the level of general welfare, leading to the so-called Hirshleifer effect (see Hirshleifer (1971)). Finally, we determine equilibrium prices for particular pieces of information, by extending our market game with a pre-stage, in which information is traded.
Optimal paths on the space-time SINR random graph
Authors: Baccelli François , Błaszczyszyn Bartłomiej , Haji-Mirsadeghi Mir-Omid
Published: March 2011

We analyze a class of signal-to-interference-and-noise-ratio (SINR) random graphs. These random graphs arise in the modeling packet transmissions in wireless networks. In contrast to previous studies on SINR graphs, we consider both a space and a time dimension. The spatial aspect originates from the random locations of the network nodes in the Euclidean plane. The time aspect stems from the random transmission policy followed by each network node and from the time variations of the wireless channel characteristics. The combination of these random space and time aspects leads to fluctuations of the SINR experienced by the wireless channels, which in turn determine the progression of packets in space and time in such a network. In this paper we study optimal paths in such wireless networks in terms of first passage percolation on this random graph. We establish both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ results on the associated time constant. The latter determines the asymptotics of the minimum delay required by a packet to progress from a source node to a destination node when the Euclidean distance between the two tends to ∞. The main negative result states that this time constant is infinite on the random graph associated with a Poisson point process under natural assumptions on the wireless channels. The main positive result states that, when adding a periodic node infrastructure of arbitrarily small intensity to the Poisson point process, the time constant is positive and finite.
A weakly 1-stable distribution for the number of random records and cuttings in split trees
Authors: Holmgren Cecilia
Published: March 2011

In this paper we study the number of random records in an arbitrary split tree (or, equivalently, the number of random cuttings required to eliminate the tree). We show that a classical limit theorem for the convergence of sums of triangular arrays to infinitely divisible distributions can be used to determine the distribution of this number. After normalization the distributions are shown to be asymptotically weakly 1-stable. This work is a generalization of our earlier results for the random binary search tree in Holmgren (2010), which is one specific case of split trees. Other important examples of split trees includem-ary search trees, quad trees, medians of (2k+ 1)-trees, simplex trees, tries, and digital search trees.