bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatalism, Optimism, Spirituality, Depressive Symptoms, and Stroke Outcome
Authors: Morgenstern Lewis B. , Sánchez Brisa N. , Skolarus Lesli E. , Garcia Nelda , Risser Jan M.H. , Wing Jeffrey J. , Smith Melinda A. , Zahuranec Darin B. , Lisabeth Lynda D.
Published: September 2011

Background and Purpose—

We sought to describe the association of spirituality, optimism, fatalism, and depressive symptoms with initial stroke severity, stroke recurrence, and poststroke mortality.

Methods—

Stroke cases from June 2004 to December 2008 were ascertained in Nueces County, TX. Patients without aphasia were queried on their recall of depressive symptoms, fatalism, optimism, and nonorganizational spirituality before stroke using validated scales. The association between scales and stroke outcomes was studied using multiple linear regression with log-transformed National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Cox proportional hazards regression for recurrence and mortality.

Results—

Six hundred sixty-nine patients participated; 48.7% were women. In fully adjusted models, an increase in fatalism from the first to third quartile was associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.06–1.88) and marginally associated with risk of recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.97–1.88), but not stroke severity. Similarly, an increase in depressive symptoms was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02–1.72), marginally associated with stroke recurrence (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.93–1.62), and with a 9.0% increase in stroke severity (95% CI, 0.01–18.0). Depressive symptoms altered the fatalism–mortality association such that the association of fatalism and mortality was more pronounced for patients reporting no depressive symptoms. Neither spirituality nor optimism conferred a significant effect on stroke severity, recurrence, or mortality.

Conclusions—

Among patients who have already had a stroke, self-described prestroke depressive symptoms and fatalism, but not optimism or spirituality, are associated with increased risk of stroke recurrence and mortality. Unconventional risk factors may explain some of the variability in stroke outcomes observed in populations and may be novel targets for intervention.
Neuroprotection by Interleukin-6 Is Mediated by Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 and Antioxidative Signaling in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Jung Joo Eun , Kim Gab Seok , Chan Pak H.
Published: September 2011

Background and Purpose—

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect in brain ischemic injury. However, its molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective role of the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) by IL-6 in the reactive oxygen species defense system after transient focal cerebral ischemia (tFCI).

Methods—

IL-6 was injected in mice before and after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Coimmunoprecipitation assays were performed for analysis of an IL-6R association after tFCI. Primary mouse cerebral cortical neurons were transfected with small interfering RNA probes targeted to IL-6Rα or gp130 and were used for chromatin-immunoprecipitation assay, luciferase promoter assay, and cell viability assay. Reduction in infarct volumes by IL-6 was measured after tFCI.

Results—

IL-6R was disrupted through a disassembly between IL-6Rα and gp130 associated by protein oxidation after reperfusion after tFCI. This suppressed phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and finally induced neuronal cell death through a decrease in manganese–superoxide dismutase. However, IL-6 injections prevented disruption of IL-6R against reperfusion after tFCI, consequently restoring activity of STAT3 through recovery of the binding of STAT3 to gp130. Moreover, IL-6 injections restored the transcriptional activity of the manganese–superoxide dismutase promoter through recovery of the recruitment of STAT3 to the manganese–superoxide dismutase promoter and reduced infarct volume after tFCI.

Conclusions—

This study demonstrates that IL-6 has a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemic injury through IL-6R-mediated STAT3 activation and manganese–superoxide dismutase expression.
Plasma-Type Gelsolin Is Decreased in Human Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Chou Sherry H.-Y. , Lee Po-Shun , Konigsberg Rachael G. , Gallacci Dana , Chiou Terry , Arai Ken , Simmons Suzanne , Bauer David , Feske Steven K. , Lo Eng H. , Ning MingMing
Published: September 2011

Background and Purpose—

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) pathophysiology involves neurovascular proteolysis and inflammation. How these 2 phenomena are related remains unclear. We hypothesize that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) mediate the depletion of anti-inflammatory plasma-type gelsolin (pGSN).

Methods—

We enrolled 42 consecutive SAH subjects and sampled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood on post-SAH Days 2 to 3, 4 to 5, 6 to 7, and 10 to 14. Control subjects were 20 consecutive non-SAH hydrocephalus patients with lumbar drains. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and zymography were used to quantify pGSN and MMP-9.

Results—

In CSF, pGSN was lower in SAH compared with control subjects on post-SAH Days 2 to 3 (
P
=0.0007), 4 to 5 (
P
=0.041), and 10 to 14 (
P
=0.007). In blood, pGSN decreased over time (
P
=0.001) and was lower in SAH compared with control subjects on post-SAH Days 4 to 5 (
P
=0.037), 6 to 7 (
P
=0.006), and 10 to 14 (
P
=0.006). Western blots demonstrated that SAH CSF had novel bands at 52 and 46 kDa, representing cleaved pGSN fragments. Gelatin zymography showed that CSF MMP-9 was elevated in SAH compared with control subjects. Higher CSF MMP-9 correlated with lower CSF pGSN on post-SAH Day 7
(r
=−0.38;
P
=0.05).

Conclusions—

SAH is associated with decreased CSF and blood pGSN and elevated CSF MMP-9. Novel cleaved pGSN fragments are present in CSF of SAH subjects, consistent with pGSN cleavage by MMPs. Because pGSN is known to inhibit inflammatory mediators, these findings suggest that MMPs may reduce pGSN and exacerbate inflammation after SAH. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms underlying MMP–pGSN signaling in SAH.
Affirmative Cue Words in Task-Oriented Dialogue
Authors: Gravano Agustín , Hirschberg Julia , Beňuš Štefan
Published: September 2011

We present a series of studies of affirmative cue words—a family of cue words such as “okay” or “alright” that speakers use frequently in conversation. These words pose a challenge for spoken dialogue systems because of their ambiguity: They may be used for agreeing with what the interlocutor has said, indicating continued attention, or for cueing the start of a new topic, among other meanings. We describe differences in the acoustic/prosodic realization of such functions in a corpus of spontaneous, task-oriented dialogues in Standard American English. These results are important both for interpretation and for production in spoken language applications. We also assess the predictive power of computational methods for the automatic disambiguation of these words. We find that contextual information and final intonation figure as the most salient cues to automatic disambiguation.
A Context-Theoretic Framework for Compositionality in Distributional Semantics
Authors: Clarke Daoud
Published: September 2011

Formalizing “meaning as context” mathematically leads to a new, algebraic theory of meaning, in which composition is bilinear and associative. These properties are shared by other methods that have been proposed in the literature, including the tensor product, vector addition, point-wise multiplication, and matrix multiplication.

Entailment can be represented by a vector lattice ordering, inspired by a strengthened form of the distributional hypothesis, and a degree of entailment is defined in the form of a conditional probability. Approaches to the task of recognizing textual entailment, including the use of subsequence matching, lexical entailment probability, and latent Dirichlet allocation, can be described within our framework.
Generating Numerical Approximations
Authors: Power Richard , Williams Sandra
Published: September 2011

We describe a computational model for planning phrases like “more than a quarter” and “25.9 per cent” which describe proportions at different levels of precision. The model lays out the key choices in planning a numerical description, using formal definitions of mathematical form (e.g., the distinction between fractions and percentages) and roundness adapted from earlier studies. The task is modeled as a constraint satisfaction problem, with solutions subsequently ranked by preferences (e.g., for roundness). Detailed constraints are based on a corpus of numerical expressions collected in the NumGen project, 1 1  NumGen: Generating intelligent descriptions of numerical quantities for people with different levels of numeracy ( http://mcs.open.ac.uk/sw6629/numgen ). NumGen was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council under Grant Ref. RES-000-22-2760. and evaluated through empirical studies in which subjects were asked to produce (or complete) numerical expressions in specified contexts.
Exposure—Clinical Response Analysis of Paricalcitol in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (Stage 5) on Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Noertersheuser Peter A. , Pradhan Rajendra S. , Klein Cheri E. , Williams Laura A. , Palaparthy Rameshraja , Garimella Tushar S. , Lichtenberger Olaf , Awni Walid M.
Published: September 2011

Paricalcitol injection and capsules are approved for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Exposure‐response analyses were performed to describe paricalcitol pharmacokinetics and the relationship to clinical responses (intact parathyroid hormone [iPTH], serum calcium, and phosphorus) following administration of paricalcitol capsules or injection to patients with chronic kidney disease (stage 5). Paricalcitol pharmacokinetics were similar following intravenous and oral administration with mean oral clearance of 1.75 L/h and bioavailability of 75.1%. Exposure—clinical response was best described by an indirect effects model where serum iPTH, calcium, and phosphorus production rates were directly affected by paricalcitol. Significant covariates in the response model included screening iPTH, calcium, and phosphorus on their corresponding synthesis rates; age on iPTH EC50; and bone—specific alkaline phosphatase on calcium EC50 (CRIT). This exposure‐response model was used in extensive clinical trial simulations to assess alternative dose regimens for CKD stage 5 patients.
Infantile Pompe Disease: Clinical and Genetic Characteristics With an Experience of Enzyme Replacement Therapy
Authors: Cho Anna , Kim Su Jin , Lim Byung Chan , Hwang Hee , Park June Dong , Kim Gi Beom , Jin Dong-Kyu , Lee Jeehun , Ki Chang Seok , Kim Ki Joong , Hwang Yong Seung , Chae Jong-Hee
Published: September 2011

Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by lysosomal acid α-glucosidase deficiency. Infantile-onset Pompe disease presents with cardiomyopathy and hypotonia, leading to premature death. This article describes 7 infantile Pompe disease cases and provides their molecular bases and clinical outcomes after enzyme replacement therapy for the first time in Korea. Molecular genetic analyses revealed the presence of 9 different mutations, including 5 novel mutations (c.2171C>A, c.2774C>T, c.1582_3de12, c.1261_1263Tms, and c.1322_1326+9de114). The most common mutation in these 7 patients was c.1316T>A (28%). Four patients received intravenous recombinant human acid α-glucosidase therapy for 2 years, on average, without significant side effects during the treatment course. They all exhibited increased muscle power, with considerable improvement in cardiac function. Pompe disease is heterogeneous regarding both clinical features and molecular characteristics. Early identification of Pompe disease is very important, considering that enzyme replacement therapy is a safe and effective treatment for early-onset patients.
Factor VIII alters tubular organization and functional properties of von Willebrand factor stored in Weibel-Palade bodies
Authors: Bouwens Eveline A. M. , Mourik Marjon J. , van den Biggelaar Maartje , Eikenboom Jeroen C. J. , Voorberg Jan , Valentijn Karine M. , Mertens Koen
Published: September 2011

In endothelial cells, von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers are packaged into tubules that direct biogenesis of elongated Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs). WPB release results in unfurling of VWF tubules and assembly into strings that serve to recruit platelets. By confocal microscopy, we have previously observed a rounded morphology of WPBs in blood outgrowth endothelial cells transduced to express factor VIII (FVIII). Using correlative light-electron microscopy and tomography, we now demonstrate that FVIII-containing WPBs have disorganized, short VWF tubules. Whereas normal FVIII and FVIII Y1680F interfered with formation of ultra-large VWF multimers, release of the WPBs resulted in VWF strings of equal length as those from nontransduced blood outgrowth endothelial cells. After release, both WPB-derived FVIII and FVIII Y1680F remained bound to VWF strings, which however had largely lost their ability to recruit platelets. Strings from nontransduced cells, however, were capable of simultaneously recruiting exogenous FVIII and platelets. These findings suggest that the interaction of FVIII with VWF during WPB formation is independent of Y1680, is maintained after WPB release in FVIII-covered VWF strings, and impairs recruitment of platelets. Apparently, intra-cellular and extracellular assembly of FVIII-VWF complex involves distinct mechanisms, which differ with regard to their implications for platelet binding to released VWF strings.
Anti–Escherichia coli asparaginase antibody levels determine the activity of second-line treatment with pegylated E coli asparaginase: a retrospective analysis within the ALL-BFM trials
Authors: Willer Andrea , Gerß Joachim , König Thorsten , Franke Dieter , Kühnel Hans-Jürgen , Henze Günter , von Stackelberg Arendt , Möricke Anja , Schrappe Martin , Boos Joachim , Lanvers-Kaminsky Claudia
Published: September 2011

Hypersensitivity reactions limit the use of the antileukemic enzyme asparaginase (ASE). We evaluated Ab levels against Escherichia coli ASE and ASE activity in 1221 serum samples from 329 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had received ASE treatment according to the ALL-BFM 2000 or the ALL-REZ BFM 2002 protocol for primary or relapsed disease. ASE activity during first-line treatment with native E coli ASE and second-line treatment with pegylated E coli ASE was inversely related to anti–E coli ASE Ab levels (P < .0001; Spearman rank order correlation). An effect on ASE activity during second-line treatment with pegylated E coli ASE was, however, only observed when anti–E coli ASE Ab levels were high (> 200 AU/mL). In the presence of moderate or intermediate Ab levels (6.25-200 AU/mL) the switch from native to pegylated E coli ASE resulted in a significant increase of ASE activity above the threshold of 100 U/L (P < .05). Erwinia chrysanthemi ASE activity was not correlated with anti–E coli ASE Ab levels. Erwinia ASE was found to be the best ASE alternative if Ab levels against E coli ASE exceed 200 AU/mL. This retrospective analysis is the first to describe the relationship between the level of anti–E coli ASE Abs and serum activity of pegylated E coli ASE used second-line after native E coli ASE. These studies are registered at http://clinicaltrials.org as NTC00430118 and NCT00114348.
Prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in Nauru
Authors: Khambalia Amina , Phongsavan Philayrath , Smith Ben J , Keke Kieren , Dan Li , Fitzhardinge Andrew , Bauman Adrian E
Published: September 2011

Background

No comprehensive assessment of diabetes prevalence in Nauru has been conducted since an extreme prevalence was documented more than two decades ago. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.

Methods

A nationwide survey in 2004 of people aged 15- 64 years (n = 1592). Fasting plasma glucose levels were used to defined diabetes (≥7.0 mmol/l or 126 mg/dl) and prediabetes (6.1-6.9 mmol/l or 110-125 mg/dl).

Results

The sex-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 13.0% (95% CI: 10.6, 15.4) in men, 14.4% (11.9, 16.9) in women, and 13.7% (12.0, 15.4) combined. The sex-standardized prevalence of prediabetes was 6.4% (4.6, 8.2) for men, 5.5% (3.9, 7.2) for women, and 6.0% (4.8, 7.3) combined. The prevalence of diabetes for individuals 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years was 4.5%, 7.6%, 24.1%, 32.9%, and 42.7%, respectively. The prevalence of prediabetes for the same age categories was 4.2%, 8.8%, 5.9%, 6.6%, 7.1%, respectively. Multivariable, multinomial logit modeling found risk factors for prediabetes were high cholesterol levels (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.66, 2.47) and elevated waist circumference (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.08), and for diabetes were age in years (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.07), cholesterol levels (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.58, 2.14) and waist circumference (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.07).

Conclusions

Diabetes remains a major public health problem in Nauru, affecting one out of every ten people. While the prevalence of diabetes has declined, its burden has persisted among the old but also extended towards the younger age groups.
Primary care provider perceptions of intake transition records and shared care with outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs
Authors: Yee Jonathan , Unsworth Karen , Suskin Neville , Reid Robert D , Jamnik Veronica , Grace Sherry L
Published: September 2011

Background

While it is recommended that records are kept between primary care providers (PCPs) and specialists during patient transitions from hospital to community care, this communication is not currently standardized. We aimed to assess the transmission of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program intake transition records to PCPs and to explore PCPs' needs in communication with CR programs and for intake transition record content.

Method

144 PCPs of consenting enrollees from 8 regional and urban Ontario CR programs participated in this cross-sectional study. Intake transition records were tracked from the CR program to the PCP's office. Sixty-six PCPs participated in structured telephone interviews.

Results

Sixty-eight (47.6%) PCPs received a CR intake transition record. Fifty-eight (87.9%) PCPs desired intake transition records, with most wanting it transmitted via fax (n = 52, 78.8%). On a 5-point Likert scale, PCPs strongly agreed that the CR transition record met their needs for providing patient care (4.32 ± 0.61), with 48 (76.2%) reporting that it improved their management of patients' cardiac risk. PCPs rated the following elements as most important to include in an intake transition record: clinical status (4.67 ± 0.64), exercise test results (4.61 ± 0.52), and the proposed patient care plan (4.59 ± 0.71).

Conclusions

Less than half of intake transition records are reaching PCPs, revealing a large gap in continuity of patient care. PCP responses should be used to develop an evidence-based intake transition record, and procedures should be implemented to ensure high-quality transitional care.
Fusion with extracellular domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen 4 leads to enhancement of immunogenicity of Hantaan virus DNA vaccines in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Liu Feng , Liang Mifang , Cao Shouchun , Liu Qinzhi , Zhang Quanfu , Li Chuan , Zhang Shuo , Wang Shiwen , Li Dexin
Published: September 2011

Background

Hantaan virus (HTNV) is the causative agent of the most severe form of a rodent-borne disease known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). A safe and effective HTNV vaccine is needed. Vaccination with DNA constructs expressing fused antigen with bioactive factors, has shown promising improvement of immunogenicity for viral agents in animal models, but the effect of fusion strategy on HTNV DNA vaccine has not been investigated.

Results

DNA plasmids encoding the HTNV nucleocapsid protein (N) and glycoprotein (Gn and Gc) in fusion to the extracellular domain of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen 4 (eCTLA-4) targeting to antigen presenting cells (APCs) were constructed. Intramuscular immunization of mice with plasmids expressing eCTLA-4-HTNV-N/GP fusion proteins leads to a significant enhancement of the specific antibody response as well as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response in C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, this effect could be further augmented when co-administered with CpG motifs.

Conclusions

Modification of viral antigen in fusion to bioactive factor will be promising to confer efficient antigen presentation and improve the potency of DNA vaccine in mice.
Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of the kidney: A case report
Authors: Bai Xiaoyan , Li Xiao , Wan Liyan , Wang Guobao , Jia Nan , Geng Jian
Published: September 2011

We report a 41-year-old Chinese woman with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma diagnosed by percutaneous renal biopsy. The patient was admitted to Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China with complaints of high spiking fever for a month and bilateral lower limb fatigue with difficulty ambulating for the past 5 months.

She had renal dysfunction with a total urinary protein of 5.61 g/dL (56.1 g/L), serum albumin of 2.89 g/dL (28.9 g/L), urea nitrogen of 2.24 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L), and serum creatinine of 0.54 mg/dL (48 μmol/L). Bone marrow biopsy revealed myeloproliferative disorder without abnormal myeloid or lymphocytic proliferation. Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) showed marked bilateral swelling and enlargement of the renal parenchyma with splenic enlargement and involvement of multiple vertebrae. Percutaneous renal biopsy showed island-like accumulations of medium to large lymphoid cells in many areas of the interstitium, with round vesicular nuclei containing distinct basophilic nucleoli. Immunohistochemical analysis together with other supportive investigation confirmed the diagnosis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. Ten days later, she was started on chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, leurocristime and prednisone) for a week. Palliative radiotherapy DT 40Gy/20F with other supportive treatment was provided for metastatic foci in the medullary cavity of the sternum, T1-T7. The patient regained muscle strength in both lower limbs and was able to walk again after three weeks. The patient was discharged after hepatic and renal function and proteinuria values had returned to normal. Follow-up data shows the patient to be alive nine months after discharge.

Virtual Slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/4694676865681066.
Verbal Disputes
Authors: Chalmers David J.
Published: September 2011

The philosophical interest of verbal disputes is twofold. First, they play a key role in philosophical method. Many philosophical disagreements are at least partly verbal, and almost every philosophical dispute has been diagnosed as verbal at some point. Here we can see the diagnosis of verbal disputes as a tool for philosophical progress. Second, they are interesting as a subject matter for first-order philosophy. Reflection on the existence and nature of verbal disputes can reveal something about the nature of concepts, language, and meaning. In this article I first characterize verbal disputes, spell out a method for isolating and resolving them, and draw out conclusions for philosophical methodology. I then use the framework to draw out consequences in first-order philosophy. In particular, I argue that the analysis of verbal disputes can be used to support the existence of a distinctive sort of primitive concept and that it can be used to reconstruct a version of an analytic/synthetic distinction, where both are characterized in dialectical terms alone.
Distributional properties of solutions of dVt = Vt-dUt + dLt with Lévy noise
Authors: Behme Anita Diana
Published: September 2011

For a given bivariate Lévy process (Ut, Lt)t≥0, distributional properties of the stationary solutions of the stochastic differential equation dVt = Vt-dUt + dLt are analysed. In particular, the expectation and autocorrelation function are obtained in terms of the process (U, L) and in several cases of interest the tail behavior is described. In the case where U has jumps of size −1, necessary and sufficient conditions for the law of the solutions to be (absolutely) continuous are given.
Russo's Formula, Uniqueness of the Infinite Cluster, and Continuous Differentiability of Free Energy for Continuum Percolation
Authors: Jiang Jianping , Zhang Sanguo , Guo Tiande
Published: September 2011

A new formula for continuum percolation on the Euclidean space Rd (d ≥ 2), which is analogous to Russo's formula for bond or site percolation, is proved. Using this formula, we prove the equivalence between uniqueness of the infinite cluster and continuous differentiability of the mean number of clusters per Poisson point (or free energy). This yields a new proof for uniqueness of the infinite cluster since the continuous differentiability of free energy has been proved by Bezuidenhout, Grimmett and Löffler (1998); a consequence of this new proof gives the continuity of connectivity functions.
A Consistent Markov Partition Process Generated from the Paintbox Process
Authors: Crane Harry
Published: September 2011

We study a family of Markov processes on P(k), the space of partitions of the natural numbers with at most k blocks. The process can be constructed from a Poisson point process on R+ x ∏i=1kP(k) with intensity dt ⊗ ϱν(k), where ϱν is the distribution of the paintbox based on the probability measure ν on Pm, the set of ranked-mass partitions of 1, and ϱν(k) is the product measure on ∏i=1kP(k). We show that these processes possess a unique stationary measure, and we discuss a particular set of reversible processes for which transition probabilities can be written down explicitly.
Micropulses and Different Types of Brownian Motion
Authors: Marouby Matthieu
Published: September 2011

In this paper we study sums of micropulses that generate different kinds of processes. Fractional Brownian motion and bifractional Brownian motion are obtained as limit processes. Moreover, we not only prove the convergence of finite-dimensional laws but also, in some cases, convergence in distribution in the space of right-continuous functions with left limits. Finally, we obtain generalizations with multidimensional indices.
A Note on a Paper by Wong and Heyde
Authors: Mijatović Aleksandar , Urusov Mikhail
Published: September 2011

In this note we re-examine the analysis of the paper ‘On the martingale property of stochastic exponentials’ by Wong and Heyde (2004). Some counterexamples are presented and alternative formulations are discussed.
9,10-Bis(bipyridyl, pyridylphenyl, phenylpyridyl, and biphenyl)anthracenes Combining High Electron Transport and Injection, Efficiency and Stability in Fluorescent Organic Light-emitting Devices
Authors: Oh Jae-Jin , Pu Yong-Jin , Sasabe Hisahiro , Nakayama Ken-ichi , Kido Junji
Published: September 2011

A series of anthracene derivatives, 9,10-bis(bipyridyl, pyridylphenyl, phenylpyridyl, and biphenyl)anthracenes, were synthesized. They exhibited properties of small electron injection barrier from cathode in electron-only devices, high electron mobility from time-of-flight measurement, and high efficiency and stability of OLEDs.
One-pot Simultaneous Synthesis of Au–Pt Core–Shell Nanoparticles Protected by a Nafion® Ionomer in an Aqueous Solution
Authors: Toshima Naoki , Naohara Hideo , Yoshimoto Takahiro , Okamoto Yasuaki
Published: September 2011

We successfully synthesized Au–Pt bimetallic core–shell nanoparticles by simultaneous reduction covered with a perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer (PFSA) in an aqueous solution. The core–shell structure was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry line analysis. Electrocatalytic activity of the Au–Pt nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction was higher than those of PFSA-covered Pt nanoparticles and a conventional carbon-supported Pt catalyst.
Dielectric Properties of Water Chains Incorporated in Porous Coordination Polymer Crystal [Cu(C6H4NO2)2]
Authors: Zhou Biao , Imai Yuji , Kobayashi Akiko , Wang Zheming , Kobayashi Hayao
Published: September 2011

The dielectric constant (ε) of “water chains” incorporated in the channel of porous coordination polymer crystal [Cu(C6H4NO2)2] was small at low temperatures (ε ≈ 10) but became as large as 250 at 370 K. These dielectric behaviors were consistent with the results of molecular dynamics simulation and indicated that a melting of hydrogen-bonded water chains occurred above 300 K.
A Facile Continuous Production of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Powders
Authors: Zhang Laiping , Gu Yunle , Ge Chunxiao , Chang Jisheng
Published: September 2011

An intermediate-frequency furnace was used for continuous production of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) by heating a mixture of C3N6H6 and H3BO3 in a flowing nitrogen gas at 1800–1950 °C. The products were examined by XRD, Raman, FTIR, and SEM. The results indicate the as-synthesized products are h-BN flakes with a purity of 98.73 wt %. A possible reaction mechanism is discussed.
Chemoselective Polycondensation of 2-Amino-4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine with Aromatic Diamines
Authors: Shibasaki Yuji , Koizumi Takanori , Nishimura Naoya , Oishi Yoshiyuki
Published: September 2011

Chemoselective polycondensation of 2-amino-4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine (ADCT) was investigated with various aromatic diamines such as 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA), 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene (BAFL), 4,4′-(hexafluoropropane-2,2-diyl)dianiline (BisAF), and bis(4-aminophenyl)sulfone (SODA) in the presence of potassium carbonate as a base. High-molecular weight perfectly linear polyguanamines (Mn ≈ 46000) were successfully obtained for the polycondensation of ADCT with BisAF, while the polycondensation of ADCT with BAFL afforded branched polyguanamines with a degree of branching of from 0.02 to 0.17.
3CH2 + O2: Kinetics and Product Channel Branching Ratios
Authors: Blitz Mark A. , Kappler Claudia , Pilling Michael J. , Seakins Paul W.
Published: September 2011

The kinetics of and the yield of OH in the reaction 3CH2 + O2 has been studied at room temperature using pulsed laser photolysis of ketene at 351 nm with detection of OH by LIF. The kinetics were determined from a biexponential analysis of the growth and decay of the OH signal. The rate coefficients obtained from the profiles for OH(v=0,1) are (2.39 ± 0.26) and (2.33 ± 0.28) × 1012 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 respectively. The rate coefficient for 3CH2 + NO was also measured from the growth of the OH(v=1) signal, giving k
3 = (4.52 ± 0.48) × 1011 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The ratio of the yields of OH in the two reactions 3CH2+O2 and 3CH 2+NO was determined from analysis of back to back OH profiles with O2 and NO as co-reactant; the ratio obtained, at 300 K, was 2.96 ± 0.14. This result was combined with other experimental product yields on these two reactions to obtain a consistent set channel yields for 3CH2+O2 and 3CH2+NO at ∼300 K.
Biology Experiences in the Summer: Keeping the Faucet Flowing for All Students
Authors: Rozelle Jeffrey J. , MacKenzie Ann Haley
Published: September 2011

In a time when electronic devices dominate students' free time, students often stop learning in the summer and instead focus on sedentary indoor activities, like video games and television programs. Sociologists have documented that, for some students, summers result in little learning and contribute to an achievement gap. To help combat "summer learning loss," teachers should implement a summer biology project to provide students with hands-on, inquiry experiences promoting science learning. Assigning long-term activities to be completed during the summer months compels students to explore the outdoors, the learning-loss flow is slowed, and students are better prepared for the start of the next school term.
Making Court the Last Resort: A New Focus for Supporting Families in Crisis
Authors: Mogulescu Sara , Caro Gaspar
Published: September 2011

This article was originally published by the Vera Institute of Justice in December 2008. Until recently, youth who may be chronically disobedient but not committing crime were frequently referred to juvenile court and subject to the same punitive interventions as youth charged with criminal activity. To better help youth and their families, many status offender systems are implementing immediate, family-focused alternatives to court intervention, first referring at-risk young people and their families to social service programs in their communities and using the juvenile justice system as a last resort. The new paradigm is guided by the belief that given help and support, families have the potential to resolve issues without the courts. This paper highlights successful reforms based on this new paradigm in Connecticut, Florida, and New York.
Vera and the Prison Rape Elimination Act
Authors: Graham Tara , Hastings Allison
Published: September 2011

In 2003, Congress unanimously passed the landmark Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). The legislation established a zero-tolerance standard for sexual abuse in U.S. correctional facilities. Implicitly, PREA recognized that sending individuals to facilities where sexual abuse is tolerated is equal to the imposition of a greater—and unintended—punishment. PREA also called for the creation of a national commission to study the causes and consequences of sexual abuse in confinement and to issue national standards for preventing, detecting, responding to, and monitoring such abuse. The Commissioners believe that standard compliance will result in achieving PREA's original goal: the protection of incarcerated individuals from sexual abuse.
Prisons Within Prisons: The Use of Segregation in the United States
Authors: Browne Angela , Cambier Alissa , Agha Suzanne
Published: September 2011

Since the 1980s, departments of corrections have sharply increased the use of segregation as a discipline and management tool. In effect, segregation is a secondary sentence imposed by the correctional facility—one that follows long after and usually is unrelated to the conviction for which the person is incarcerated. The consequences of holding an individual in these conditions over time may include new or exacerbated mental health disturbances, assaultive and other antisocial behaviors, and chronic and acute health disorders. In fact, studies show that prisoners who are released from segregation directly to the community reoffend at higher rates than general-population prisoners. Policy changes that will reduce the use and long-term impact of segregation will benefit not only the staff and prisoners in these units but also ultimately the well-being of facilities, systems, and the community.
Rapid Increases in Overweight and Obesity Among South African Adolescents: Comparison of Data From the South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey in 2002 and 2008
Authors: Reddy Sasiragha P. , Resnicow Ken , James Shamagonam , Funani Itumeleng N. , Kambaran Nilen S. , Omardien Riyadh G. , Masuka Pardon , Sewpaul Ronel , Vaughan Roger D. , Mbewu Anthony
Published: September 2011

Objectives. To aid future policy and intervention initiatives, we studied the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among participants in the South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey in 2002 and 2008.

Methods. The survey collected data from nationally representative cross-sectional samples of students in grades 8 through 11 (n = 9491 in 2002 and 9442 in 2008) by questionnaire and measurement of height and weight. We stratified data on overweight and obesity rates by age, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity.

Results. Among male adolescents, overweight rates increased from 6.3% in 2002 to 11.0% in 2008 (P < .01); among female adolescents, overweight rates increased from 24.3% in 2002 to 29.0% in 2008 (P < .01). Obesity rates more than doubled among male adolescents from 1.6% in 2002 to 3.3% in 2008 (P < .01) and rose from 5.0% to 7.5% among female adolescents (P < .01). We observed a dose–response relationship in overweight and obesity rates across socioeconomic categories. Rates of overweight and obesity were significantly higher among urban youths than among rural youths (P < .01).

Conclusions. South Africa is experiencing a chronic disease risk transition. Further research is needed to better understand and effectively address this rapid change.
Social Network Concordance in Food Choice Among Spouses, Friends, and Siblings
Authors: Pachucki Mark A. , Jacques Paul F. , Christakis Nicholas A.
Published: September 2011

Objectives. We investigated whether eating behaviors were concordant among diverse sets of social ties.

Methods. We analyzed the socioeconomic and demographic distribution of eating among 3418 members of the Framingham Heart Study observed from 1991 to 2001. We used a data-classification procedure to simplify choices into 7 nonoverlapping patterns that we matched with information on social network ties. We used correlation analysis to examine eating associations among 4 types of peers (spouses, friends, brothers, and sisters). Longitudinal multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate evidence for peer influences on eating.

Results. Of all peer types, spouses showed the strongest concordances in eating patterns over time after adjustment for social contextual factors. Across all peers, the eating pattern most likely to be shared by socially connected individuals was “alcohol and snacks.” Models estimating one's current eating pattern on the basis of a peer's prior eating provided supportive evidence of a social influence process.

Conclusions. Certain eating patterns appeared to be socially transmissible across different kinds of relationships. These findings represent an important step in specifying the relevant social environment in the study of health behaviors to include eating.
On the meaning of logical completeness
Authors: Basaldella Michele , Terui Kazushige
Published: September 2011

Goedel's completeness theorem is concerned with provability, while Girard's
theorem in ludics (as well as full completeness theorems in game semantics) are
concerned with proofs. Our purpose is to look for a connection between these
two disciplines. Following a previous work [3], we consider an extension of the
original ludics with contraction and universal nondeterminism, which play dual
roles, in order to capture a polarized fragment of linear logic and thus a
constructive variant of classical propositional logic. We then prove a
completeness theorem for proofs in this extended setting: for any behaviour
(formula) A and any design (proof attempt) P, either P is a proof of A or there
is a model M of the orthogonal of A which defeats P. Compared with proofs of
full completeness in game semantics, ours exhibits a striking similarity with
proofs of Goedel's completeness, in that it explicitly constructs a
countermodel essentially using Koenig's lemma, proceeds by induction on
formulas, and implies an analogue of Loewenheim-Skolem theorem.
Equality Saturation: A New Approach to Optimization
Authors: Tate Ross , Stepp Michael , Tatlock Zachary , Lerner Sorin
Published: September 2011

Optimizations in a traditional compiler are applied sequentially, with each
optimization destructively modifying the program to produce a transformed
program that is then passed to the next optimization. We present a new approach
for structuring the optimization phase of a compiler. In our approach,
optimizations take the form of equality analyses that add equality information
to a common intermediate representation. The optimizer works by repeatedly
applying these analyses to infer equivalences between program fragments, thus
saturating the intermediate representation with equalities. Once saturated, the
intermediate representation encodes multiple optimized versions of the input
program. At this point, a profitability heuristic picks the final optimized
program from the various programs represented in the saturated representation.
Our proposed way of structuring optimizers has a variety of benefits over
previous approaches: our approach obviates the need to worry about optimization
ordering, enables the use of a global optimization heuristic that selects among
fully optimized programs, and can be used to perform translation validation,
even on compilers other than our own. We present our approach, formalize it,
and describe our choice of intermediate representation. We also present
experimental results showing that our approach is practical in terms of time
and space overhead, is effective at discovering intricate optimization
opportunities, and is effective at performing translation validation for a
realistic optimizer.
Ludics with repetitions (Exponentials, Interactive types and Completeness)
Authors: Faggian Claudia , Basaldella Michele
Published: September 2011

Ludics is peculiar in the panorama of game semantics: we first have the
definition of interaction-composition and then we have semantical types, as a
set of strategies which "behave well" and react in the same way to a set of
tests. The semantical types which are interpretations of logical formulas enjoy
a fundamental property, called internal completeness, which characterizes
ludics and sets it apart also from realizability. Internal completeness entails
standard full completeness as a consequence. A growing body of work start to
explore the potential of this specific interactive approach. However, ludics
has some limitations, which are consequence of the fact that in the original
formulation, strategies are abstractions of MALL proofs. On one side, no
repetitions are allowed. On the other side, the proofs tend to rely on the very
specific properties of the MALL proof-like strategies, making it difficult to
transfer the approach to semantical types into different settings. In this
paper, we provide an extension of ludics which allows repetitions and show that
one can still have interactive types and internal completeness. From this, we
obtain full completeness w.r.t. a polarized version of MELL. In our extension,
we use less properties than in the original formulation, which we believe is of
independent interest. We hope this may open the way to applications of ludics
approach to larger domains and different settings.
Noncomputable functions in the Blum-Shub-Smale model
Authors: Calvert Wesley , Kramer Ken , Miller Russell
Published: September 2011

Working in the Blum-Shub-Smale model of computation on the real numbers, we
answer several questions of Meer and Ziegler. First, we show that, for each
natural number d, an oracle for the set of algebraic real numbers of degree at
most d is insufficient to allow an oracle BSS-machine to decide membership in
the set of algebraic numbers of degree d + 1. We add a number of further
results on relative computability of these sets and their unions. Then we show
that the halting problem for BSS-computation is not decidable below any
countable oracle set, and give a more specific condition, related to the
cardinalities of the sets, necessary for relative BSS-computability. Most of
our results involve the technique of using as input a tuple of real numbers
which is algebraically independent over both the parameters and the oracle of
the machine.
When Law Fails: A Theory of Self-Enforcing Anti-Corruption Legislation in Africa
Authors: Ocheje Paul D.
Published: September 2011

The resort to legal measures to combat corruption in Africa is almost universal. But the effectiveness of law in controlling criminal or anti-social behavior is not a given; rather it is contingent. This article argues that, given the peculiarities of the African society, legal measures that aim to control corruption, to become effective, must first become self-enforcing, based on democratic incentives for attitudinal change among the populace.
The Pathology of Judicialization: Politics, Corruption and the Courts in Nigeria
Authors: Ugochukwu Basil
Published: September 2011

Judicialization of politics, the practice whereby judicial power is expanded well beyond adjudication in purely orthodox terms to embrace the core of politics and governmental policy is becoming a global phenomenon. In this paper, I argue that despite its growing popularity and acceptability, the process of political judicialization should be contextually detailed. Using Nigeria as an example, I assert that, although there might be justification for judicial intervention in the countries of Africa, the prevalence of corruption in the judiciaries makes such intervention a double-edged sword, deserving adroit handling. I also argue that the judicialization of politics on the continent is fuel for corruption. As such, removing political questions from the courts, difficult as this might be, could be an important anti-corruption strategy.
Desperate or Deviant? Causes of Criminal Behavior among TANF Recipients
Authors: Monte Lindsay M. , Lewis Dan A.
Published: September 2011

As state welfare rolls declined significantly throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium, female criminality was on the rise. Under these circumstances, we examine the links between gender, welfare receipt, financial hardship and crime. We ask, did the 1996 welfare reform legislation affect the criminal behavior of current and former recipients? Does going off welfare increase the likelihood of committing an offense, as many critics of the reform argued that it would? Or is there more crime among women who remain on the rolls, as the culture of dependency argument suggests? Using the Illinois Families Study (IFS), a longitudinal study of individuals who were receiving welfare in Illinois in 1998, we explore trends in arrest by welfare receipt and employment. We find that financial hardship, in both the forms of unemployment and non‐receipt of welfare, is significantly associated with an increased hazard of criminal behavior.
Cash Transfers and Economic Growth: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Transfer Recipients and Business Owners in Malawi
Authors: Miller Candace M.
Published: September 2011

Social protection policies that simultaneously reduce poverty and stimulate economic growth and development will be transformational for direct recipients and disadvantaged communities. This study assessed whether the Malawi Cash Transfer stimulates economic growth in the communities where it is operational. Data collection was conducted in Mchinji Malawi from 2007‐2009. This study is based on data from two sources including 1) a randomized community control trial designed to measure the impact of the cash transfer and 2) qualitative interviews with business owners. Over the course of one year, the cash transfer intervention group had increased demand for and increased expenditures on foods, basic necessities, livestock, healthcare, and schooling supplies versus the comparison group whose expenditures remained low throughout the study. Additionally, cash transfer households invested in productive assets and farming equipment, which led to greater agricultural production, consumption and sales. The majority of business‐owner respondents confirmed that transfer recipients are frequent customers and reported that sales to transfer recipients were an important part of their business. Respondents reported that the transfer strengthened local markets by providing a steady source of customers and cash, with reliable sales even during the rainy season. Business owners grew their businesses, earned additional profits and some made investments in infrastructure and capital. This study yields insights into the mechanisms by which cash transfers impact economic growth and contributes to the discourse on social protection strategies. Once the cash transfer scheme is operational throughout Malawi, it appears as though there will be important impacts for recipients, non‐recipients and local businesses. Findings from this study may be applicable throughout resource‐poor countries in Africa. Still, continued follow up and larger studies are needed to determine the consistency and scale of impacts on economic growth and development.