bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impulse Control and Related Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Weintraub Daniel , Nirenberg Melissa J.
Published: October 2012

Impulse control disorders (ICDs), such as compulsive gambling, buying, sexual behavior, and eating, are a serious and increasingly recognized complication of dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Other impulsive-compulsive behaviors have been linked to dopaminergic medications; these include punding (stereotyped, repetitive, purposeless behaviors) and dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS; compulsive medication overuse). ICDs have been most closely related to the use of dopamine agonists (DAs), particularly at higher dosages; in contrast, DDS is primarily associated with shorter-acting, higher-potency dopaminergic medications, such as apomorphine and levodopa. Risk factors for ICDs may include male sex; younger age; younger age at PD onset; a pre-PD history of ICD(s); personal or family history of substance abuse; bipolar disorder; gambling problems; and impulsive personality traits. The primary treatment of ICDs in PD is discontinuation of DA therapy. Not all patients can tolerate this, however, due to worsening motor symptoms and/or DA withdrawal syndrome (a severe, stereotyped drug withdrawal syndrome similar to that of other psychostimulants). While psychiatric medications are frequently used to treat ICDs in the general population, there is no empirical evidence to suggest that they are effective in PD. Given the paucity of treatment options and potentially serious consequences of ICDs in PD, it is critical for patients to be monitored closely for their development. As empirically validated treatments for ICDs emerge, it will also be important to examine their efficacy and tolerability in individuals with comorbid PD.
Sinus Pericranii: A Scalp Mass in a 6-Month-Old Boy
Authors: Kanavaki Aikaterini , Dhouib Amira , Zand Tristan , Anooshiravani Mehrak , Hanquinet Sylviane
Published: October 2012

‘Sinus pericranii’ is an abnormal communication between the extracranial veins and the dural venous sinuses (usually the superior sagittal and the transverse sinuses). It is a rare childhood abnormality. We report a case of a 6-month-old boy presenting with a scalp swelling in the left parietal region. Ultrasound with color Doppler and MRI showed a dilated epicranial vein that communicated with the superior sagittal sinus. This anomalous venous connection is known as sinus pericranii. We describe the imaging findings, associated abnormalities and management of this rare vascular abnormality.
Obtaining Accurate p Values from a Dense SNP Linkage Scan
Authors: Stewart William C.L. , Subaran Ryan L.
Published: October 2012

A major concern of resequencing studies is that the pathogenicity of most mutations is difficult to predict. To address this concern, linkage (i.e. co-segregation) analysis is often used to exclude neutral mutations and to better predict pathogenicity among the candidate mutations that remain. However, when linkage disequilibrium (LD) is present in the population but ignored in the analysis, unlinked regions with high LD can inflate the type 1 error and thousands of neutral mutations may be mistakenly included in a follow-up resequencing study, which could dramatically reduce the power to identify causal variants. To illustrate the need for concern, we simulated data on a sparsely spaced panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (average spacing 1.27 cM) using an LD pattern estimated from real data. In our simulations, we find that the type 1 error of the maximum LOD can be as high as 14%. Therefore, to control the type 1 error of linkage tests we created Haplodrop – a fast and flexible simulation program that generates the haplotypes of founders with LD and then ‘drops’ these haplotypes with recombination to all non-founders in the pedigree. Haplodrop can be used to control the type 1 error of any linkage test, agrees well with existing software, accommodates arbitrary pedigree structures, and scales easily to the whole genome. Moreover, by correctly excluding mutations that lie in unlinked regions with high LD, Haplodrop should aid significantly in reducing the multiple testing burden of follow-up resequencing studies.
Dimensions of Socioeconomic Status and Clinical Outcome After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Jakobsen Lars , Niemann Troels , Thorsgaard Niels , Thuesen Leif , Lassen Jens F. , Jensen Lisette O. , Thayssen Per , Ravkilde Jan , Tilsted Hans H. , Mehnert Frank , Johnsen Søren P.
Published: October 2012

Background—

The association between low socioeconomic status (SES) and high mortality from coronary heart disease is well-known. However, the role of SES in relation to the clinical outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention remains poorly understood.

Methods and Results—

We studied 7385 patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Participants were divided into high-SES and low-SES groups according to income, education, and employment status. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) at maximum follow-up (mean, 3.7 years). Low-SES patients had more adverse baseline risk profiles than high-SES patients. The cumulative risk of major adverse cardiac events after maximum follow-up was higher among low-income patients and unemployed patients compared with their counterparts (income: hazard ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.47–1.92; employment status: hazard ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.46–2.10). After adjustment for patient characteristics, these differences were substantially attenuated (income: hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.93–1.33; employment status: hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.03–1.56). Further adjustment for admission findings, procedure-related data, and medical treatment during follow-up did not significantly affect the associations. With education as the SES indicator, no between-group differences were observed in the risk of the composite end point.

Conclusions—

Even in a tax-financed healthcare system, low-SES patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention face a worse prognosis than high-SES patients. The poor outcome seems to be largely explained by differences in baseline patient characteristics. Employment status and income (but not education level) were associated with clinical outcomes.
Carina Shift Versus Plaque Shift for Aggravation of Side Branch Ostial Stenosis in Bifurcation Lesions
Authors: Xu Jianqiang , Hahn Joo-Yong , Song Young Bin , Choi Seung-Hyuk , Choi Jin-Ho , Lu Chengzhi , Lee Sang Hoon , Hong Kyung Pyo , Park Jeong Euy , Gwon Hyeon-Cheol
Published: October 2012

Background—

Although carina shift and plaque shift are suggested as mechanisms of side branch ostial (SBo) compromise after main vessel (MV) stenting in bifurcation lesions, there are few direct evidence. Our purpose was to confirm the mechanism of SBo compromise after MV stent implantation.

Methods and Results—

Intravascular ultrasound images of both MV and SB before procedure and immediately after MV stenting were evaluated in 44 bifurcation lesions. Three 5 mm segments of interest were volumetrically analyzed: the proximal MV, distal MV, and SBo. SBo compromise was defined as a lumen volume decrease, carina shift as a vessel volume decrease, and plaque shift as a plaque volume increase in the SBo segment after MV stenting. The vessel volume increased, and the plaque volume decreased significantly in the proximal MV and distal MV. In contrast, in the SBo, the vessel volume decreased (53.0±17.5 mm
3
versus 50.4±16.2 mm
3
;
P
<0.001), with the accompanying small increase in plaque volume (23.0±9.8 mm
3
versus 23.4±9.8 mm
3
;
P
<0.001). The SBo compromise was significantly correlated with the carina shift (r=0.941;
P
<0.001), but not with the plaque shift (r=−0.019,
P
=0.90). Distal MV lumen volume increase was significantly correlated with SBo compromise (r=0.555;
P
<0.001) and carina shift (r=0.557;
P
<0.001), but not plaque shift (r=−0.228;
P
=0.14).

Conclusions—

Our study indicates that carina shift, not plaque shift, is the major mechanism of SBo compromise after MV stent implantation, and the carina shift is primarily influenced by distal MV lumen expansion.
Endogenous and Natural Complement Inhibitor Attenuates Myocardial Injury and Arterial Thrombogenesis
Authors: Pavlov Vasile I. , Skjoedt Mikkel-Ole , Siow Tan Ying , Rosbjerg Anne , Garred Peter , Stahl Gregory L.
Published: October 2012

Background—

Coagulation disorders and reperfusion of ischemic myocardium are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Lectin pathway initiation complexes are composed of multimolecular carbohydrate recognition subcomponents and 3 lectin pathway–specific serine proteases. We have recently shown that the lectin pathway–specific carbohydrate recognition subcomponent mannose-binding lectin plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of thrombosis and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Thus, we hypothesized that the endogenous mannose-binding lectin (MBL)/ficolin-associated protein-1 (MAP-1) that inhibits complement activation in vitro also could be an in vivo regulator by attenuating myocardial schema/reperfusion injury and thrombogenesis when used at pharmacological doses in wild-type mice.

Methods and Results—

In 2 mouse models, MAP-1 preserves cardiac function, decreases infarct size, decreases C3 deposition, inhibits MBL deposition, and prevents thrombogenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MAP-1 displaces MBL/ficolin-associated serine protease (MASP)-1, MASP-2, and MASP-3 from the MBL complex.

Conclusions—

Our results suggest that the natural, endogenous inhibitor MAP-1 effectively inhibits lectin pathway activation in vivo. MAP-1 at pharmacological doses represents a novel therapeutic approach for human diseases involving the lectin pathway and its associated MASPs.
Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Functional Impairment 3 Months After Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Grube Maike Miriam , Koennecke Hans-Christian , Walter Georg , Thümmler Jane , Meisel Andreas , Wellwood Ian , Heuschmann Peter Ulrich
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose—

We aimed to analyze the association between patient socioeconomic status and functional impairment 3 months after ischemic stroke and to identify factors that influence this association.

Methods—

Data were obtained from the Berlin Stroke Register, a network of 14 stroke units in Berlin. Ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted to 1 of the hospitals in the Berlin Stroke Register between June 2010 and September 2011, were followedup 3 months after the index event by postal or telephone interview. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between highest education as marker of socioeconomic status and functional impairment after stroke defined by Barthel Index categories. We adjusted for age, sex, prestroke dependency, stroke severity, functional deficit after stroke onset, and comorbidities as possible confounding factors.

Results—

A total of 1688 ischemic stroke patients who were alive at 3 months and completed the questionnaire were included in the analysis; 40% of the patients were female and 50% of the patients were 70 years or older. Age, prestroke dependency, stroke severity, and the absence of comorbidities were significantly associated with good functional outcome at 3 months. In multivariable analysis, a higher probability of good outcome was observed in patients with college or university degree (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.39–3.42) compared with patients with no completed education.

Conclusion—

Patients with lower education have considerably lower rates of good functional outcome after stroke that cannot be fully explained by variations in the patients’ clinical and demographic characteristics.
State Differences in the Reporting of ‘Unspecified Stroke’ on Death Certificates
Authors: Cheng Tain-Junn , Chang Chia-Yu , Lin Ching-Yih , Ke Der-Shin , Lu Tsung-Hsueh , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose—

Little is known about the comparability of stroke subtype mortality across states. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study to examine state differences in the reporting of “unspecified stroke” on death certificates in the United States.

Methods—

The number of deaths from different subtypes of stroke in each state for the years 2007 to 2009 were obtained from the CDC WONDER online databases. We calculated the percentage of stroke deaths classified as unspecified stroke (
International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10]
code I64) among all stroke deaths (
ICD-10
codes I60–I69) for each state.

Results—

Of 398 942 people who died from stoke in the United States between 2007 and 2009, in 209 933 (53%) cases, the medical certifier did not specify whether the stroke was hemorrhage or infarction on the death certificate. There were 44 states in which the percentage of unspecified stroke among all strokes was ≥50 and 20 states in which the percentage was ≥55%. The percentage was lowest in the District of Columbia (46%) and highest in Oklahoma (64%). The state variation in the proportion of unspecified stroke decreased with age of the deceased. The state percentage of unspecified stroke correlated most with the state percentage of cerebral infarction and other and sequelae of cerebrovascular disease.

Conclusions—

Owing to the high percentage and state variation in the reporting of unspecified stroke on death certificates, the comparability of stroke subtype mortality is threatened. Querying of medical certifiers for more specific information for better coding is needed.
High Rate of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Stroke Recurrence in Cryptogenic Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Stroke Patients
Authors: Bal Simerpreet , Patel Shiel K. , Almekhlafi Mohammed , Modi Jayesh , Demchuk Andrew M. , Coutts Shelagh B.
Published: October 2012

Background and Purpose—

Cryptogenic stroke is common in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke. It is likely that the imaging recurrence risk is higher than the clinical recurrence rate. We sought to determine the rate of clinical and radiographic stroke recurrence in a population of cryptogenic TIA and minor stroke.

Methods—

Patients with TIA/minor stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤3) were prospectively enrolled and imaged within 24 hours of symptom onset as part of 2 cohorts. Patients were assessed at 3 months to document any clinical recurrence and underwent repeat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at either 30 or 90 days. Stroke mechanism was categorized as cryptogenic after standard etiologic work-up was completed and was negative. Follow-up MRI was assessed for any new lesions in comparison with baseline imaging.

Results—

Three hundred thirty-three of 693 (48%) patients had cryptogenic stroke. Of these cryptogenic patients, 207 (62%) had follow-up imaging. At 30-day MRI follow-up, 6.6% (5/76) had new lesions (3 in a remote arterial territory). At 90-day MRI follow-up, 14.5% (19/131) had new lesions (9 in a remote arterial territory). Clinical recurrent stroke was seen in 1.2% (4/333) of patients within 90 days.

Conclusions—

Cryptogenic etiology is common in a TIA/minor stroke population. This population shows a high rate of silent radiographic recurrence, suggesting active disease. Use of MRI as a surrogate marker of disease activity is 1 potential way of assessing efficacy of new treatments in this population with reduced sample size.
Predictor Screening, Calibration, and Observational Constraints in Climate Model Ensembles: An Illustration Using Climate Sensitivity
Authors: Masson David , Knutti Reto
Published: October 2012

Climate projections have been remarkably difficult to constrain by comparing the simulated climatological state from different models with observations, in particular for small ensembles with structurally different models. In this study, the relationship between climate sensitivity and different measures of the present-day climatology is investigated. First, it is shown that 1) a variable proposed earlier that is based on interannual variation of seasonal temperature and 2) the seasonal cycle amplitude are unable to constrain the range of climate sensitivity beyond what was initially covered by the ensemble. Second, it is illustrated how model calibration helps to reveal potentially useful relationships but might also complicate the interpretation of multimodel results. As a consequence, when ensembles are small, when models are neither independently developed nor structurally identical, when observations are likely to have been used in the model development and evaluation process, and when the interpretation of the relationships across models in terms of well-understood physical processes is not obvious, care should be taken when using relationships across models to constrain model projections. This study demonstrates the pitfalls that might occur if emergent statistical relationships are prematurely interpreted as an effective constraint on projected global or regional climate change.
Representation of Soil Moisture Feedbacks during Drought in NASA Unified WRF (NU-WRF)
Authors: Zaitchik Benjamin F. , Santanello Joseph A. , Kumar Sujay V. , Peters-Lidard Christa D.
Published: October 2012

Positive soil moisture–precipitation feedbacks can intensify heat and prolong drought under conditions of precipitation deficit. Adequate representation of these processes in regional climate models is, therefore, important for extended weather forecasts, seasonal drought analysis, and downscaled climate change projections. This paper presents the first application of the NASA Unified Weather Research and Forecasting Model (NU-WRF) to simulation of seasonal drought. Simulations of the 2006 southern Great Plains drought performed with and without soil moisture memory indicate that local soil moisture feedbacks had the potential to concentrate precipitation in wet areas relative to dry areas in summer drought months. Introduction of a simple dynamic surface albedo scheme that models albedo as a function of soil moisture intensified the simulated feedback pattern at local scale—dry, brighter areas received even less precipitation while wet, whereas darker areas received more—but did not significantly change the total amount of precipitation simulated across the drought-affected region. This soil-moisture-mediated albedo land–atmosphere coupling pathway is structurally excluded from standard versions of WRF.
Estimates of the 10-m Neutral Sea Surface Drag Coefficient from Aircraft Eddy-Covariance Measurements
Authors: Vickers Dean , Mahrt Larry , Andreas Edgar L
Published: October 2012

The 10-m neutral drag coefficient (CDN10) over the sea is calculated using a large observational dataset consisting of 5800 estimates of the mean flow and the fluxes from aircraft eddy-covariance measurements. The dataset includes observations from 11 different experiments with four different research aircraft. One of the goals is to investigate how sensitive CDN10 is to the analysis method. As such, CDN10 derived from six unique processing schemes that involve different methods for averaging the surface stress and the wind speed are compared. Especially in weak winds, the resulting CDN10 values depend on the choice of processing.

Four distinct regimes of CDN10 are identified: weak winds where calculating CDN10 is not well posed, moderate winds (4 to 10 m s−1) where CDN10 is a constant, strong winds (10 to 20 m s−1) where CDN10 increases linearly with increasing wind speed, and very strong winds (20 to 24 m s−1) where CDN10 steadily decreases with increasing wind speed. However, as this last regime is based on data from a single experiment, additional data are needed to confirm this apparent decrease in CDN10 for winds exceeding 20 m s−1.
Calibration and Quality Assurance of an Airborne Turbulence Probe in an Aeronautical Wind Tunnel
Authors: Dobosy Ronald , Dumas Edward J. , Senn David L. , Baker Bruce , Sayres David S. , Witinski Mark F. , Healy Claire , Munster Jason , Anderson James G.
Published: October 2012

The Best Aircraft Turbulence (BAT) probe is used by multiple research groups worldwide. To promote an accurate interpretation of the data obtained from the probe’s unusual nine-port design, a detailed understanding of the BAT probe’s function along with a characterization and minimization of its systematic anomalies is necessary. This paper describes recent tests to enhance understanding of the probe’s behavior. The tests completed in the Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) built on earlier findings at Purdue University. Overall the true-vertical wind relative to the probe was found to have a systematic anomaly of about 10%–15%, an acceptable value borne out by considerable field experience and further reducible by modeling and removing. However, significant departure from theoretical behavior was found, making detailed generalization to other BAT probes still inadvisable. Based on these discoveries, recommendations are made for further experiments to explain the anomalous behavior, reduce the systematic anomaly, and generalize the characterizations.
A Multimoment Constrained Finite-Volume Model for Nonhydrostatic Atmospheric Dynamics
Authors: Li Xingliang , Chen Chungang , Shen Xueshun , Xiao Feng
Published: October 2012

The two-dimensional nonhydrostatic compressible dynamical core for the atmosphere has been developed by using a new nodal-type high-order conservative method, the so-called multimoment constrained finite-volume (MCV) method. Different from the conventional finite-volume method, the predicted variables (unknowns) in an MCV scheme are the values at the solution points distributed within each mesh cell. The time evolution equations to update the unknown point values are derived from a set of constraint conditions based on the multimoment concept, where the constraint on the volume-integrated average (VIA) for each mesh cell is cast into a flux form and thus guarantees rigorously the numerical conservation. Two important features make the MCV method particularly attractive as an accurate and practical numerical framework for atmospheric and oceanic modeling. 1) The predicted variables are the nodal values at the solution points that can be flexibly located within a mesh cell (equidistant solution points are used in the present model). It is computationally efficient and provides great convenience in dealing with complex geometry and source terms. 2) High-order and physically consistent formulations can be built by choosing proper constraints in view of not only numerical accuracy and efficiency but also underlying physics. In this paper the authors present a dynamical core that uses the third- and the fourth-order MCV schemes. They have verified the numerical outputs of both schemes by widely used standard benchmark tests and obtained competitive results. The present numerical core provides a promising and practical framework for further development of nonhydrostatic compressible atmospheric models.
From Concerned Shopper to Dutiful Citizen
Authors: Gotlieb Melissa R. , Wells Chris
Published: October 2012

Young citizens are increasingly seeking fulfillment in expressive modes of political participation, and scholars have begun to examine the implications of this trend for engagement in formal politics. While some argue that expressive practices are “crowding out” participation in more conventional civic activities, others more optimistically contend that they have expanded the political repertoires of young citizens, affording them with more opportunities to be engaged. The authors add clarity to this debate by specifying the conditions under which engagement in one particular form of expressive politics, political consumerism, is associated with conventional participation. An analysis of survey data shows that identification with other political consumers significantly enhances the relationship between political consumerism and traditional political engagement, particularly among younger generations of Americans. The authors argue that engaging in political consumerism alongside others provides an important opportunity for young citizens to develop the civic competencies necessary for engagement in the formal political sphere.
Consuming Ourselves to Dearth
Authors: Friedland Lewis A. , Rojas Hernando , Bode Leticia
Published: October 2012

This article proposes an agenda for research on the relation of structural inequality to the study of politics and consumption in the field of communication. The authors review evidence for increasing inequality in the United States and argue that (1) consumption choices and desires are strongly constrained by structural location; (2) political beliefs and attitudes are shaped by location in the income or class structure; and (3) consumption as a form of political self-expression or civic identity, for example, boycotting or “buycotting,” is also constrained by economic structural location. Given these propositions, it becomes critical to analytically situate notions of personalization of politics within the context of increasing economic inequality.
Interlaminar fracture toughness characteristics of hybrid laminates with nonwoven carbon tissue under severe temperature conditions
Authors: Lee Seung-Hwan , Jeong Jong-Seol , Lee Yong-Sung , Cheong Seong Kyun
Published: October 2012

To investigate the Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness characteristics of hybrid laminates with nonwoven carbon tissue under severe temperature conditions, double cantilever beam and end notched flexure tests were conducted. The hybrid laminates were made by interleaving the NWCT-prepreg between the CFRP-prepreg layers. The mean GIC values of the hybrid specimens at +60℃ and +80℃ were about 19% and 92% higher than those of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer specimens at +60℃ and +80℃, respectively. The mean GIC values of the hybrid specimens increased due to the carbon short-fibers bridging and breakage by softening of epoxy resin in the nonwoven carbon tissue layer (NWCT) as the temperature rises. The mean GIIC values of the hybrid specimens at −60℃ to +80℃ were about 171% to 189% higher than those of the CFRP specimens at −60℃ to +80℃, respectively. When the decreasing rate (the mean GIIC value of the CFRP specimen at +80℃ was about 18% lower than that of the CFRP specimen at room temperature.) of the mean GIIC values of the CFRP specimens at +80℃ was compared, the decreasing rate (the mean GIIC value of the hybrid specimen at +80℃ was about 9% lower than that of the hybrid specimen at room temperature.) of the mean GIIC values of the hybrid specimens at +80℃ slowed down significantly due to the carbon short-fibers bridging, carbon short-fibers breakage and hackles. Consequently, the mean GIIC values of the hybrid specimens in the range of −60℃ to +80℃ have no significant influence on softening of epoxy resin.
Intervention With Problem Officers
Authors: Worden Robert E. , Kim Moonsun , Harris Christopher J. , Pratte Mary Anne , Dorn Shelagh E. , Hyland Shelley S.
Published: October 2012

Police executives have increasingly assumed—or they have been compelled to accept—responsibility for managing the risk of misconduct by their officers through the implementation of early intervention (EI) systems, even though social science has provided very little evidence on their effectiveness, or on their unintended effects. We examine the effects of one police agency’s EI system intervention, the Officer–Civilian Interaction (OCI) School, on indicators of risk-related outcomes—personnel complaints, citizen complaints, use of force, and secondary arrests—and on productivity—arrests, and proactive arrests—for 118 graduates and 118 matched controls. We found that the changes in risk-related outcomes were very similar for both treatment and control groups, and that OCI trainees made fewer proactive arrests and fewer arrests overall than the controls after the training. The implications for managing the risk of misconduct are discussed.
Teacher Responses to Classroom Incivility
Authors: Boysen Guy A.
Published: October 2012

Incivility occurs frequently in college classrooms. However, recommendations to teachers for handling student incivility are based on anecdotal evidence. To address this gap in knowledge, students ( N = 150) in the current study evaluated the effectiveness of several teacher responses to classroom incivility. Incidents of incivility, described in vignettes, varied in disorderliness and harmfulness. Students perceived ignoring incivility as the only ineffective response. Direct confrontation of uncivil students in class or outside of class received the highest overall ratings of effectiveness, and students tended to see immediate responses to disorderly behaviors as more effective than delayed responses. These results suggest that students perceive teachers as having a responsibility to manage classroom incivility, especially when it disrupts classroom order.
Interteaching and the Testing Effect
Authors: Saville Bryan K. , Pope Derek , Lovaas Peter , Williams Jacob
Published: October 2012

A growing body of research has shown that taking tests can result in enhanced learning, a phenomenon known as the testing effect. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the addition of postdiscussion quizzes to interteaching, a new behavior-analytic teaching method, produced a similar effect. Students in two sections of an undergraduate psychology of learning course participated in interteaching sessions and took postdiscussion quizzes prior to some of their exams. The authors found that students who took the quizzes had exam scores that were not significantly different from the exam scores of students who did not take the quizzes. These results provide additional evidence that including postdiscussion quizzes in interteaching may not produce a testing effect. This may be because interteaching already contains components that enhance student learning.
Developing libraries in Lesotho
Authors: Lehnhard Joey N.
Published: October 2012

This paper describes the local literacy environment in Lesotho and plots the efforts to create effective and sustainable school and community libraries through professional development both in literacy education and librarianship. A library effectiveness survey was distributed to the 170 1,000-book school and community libraries started since 2008 by communities in partnership with United States Peace Corps and the African Library Project. These targeted sites remain some of the only libraries in the country. In response to this survey, a team of 13 Peace Corps Lesotho volunteers, Basotho teachers, librarians, principals, and district resource teachers came together to create and lead a workshop series to guide local library leaders. Piloted in September 2010 and revised with feedback, this workshop series was intended to aid the creation of 32 new libraries in 2011 by focusing on topics most relevant to the developing culture of reading in Lesotho.
Toward a Methodology of Encounters
Authors: McCoy Kate
Published: October 2012

I consider how poststructural orientations to thinking about epistemology and ontology have been enriched by feminist materialist readings of quantum physics. In light of these developments, I suggest that greater complexity might involve opening up qualitative research to a methodology of encounters, an array of interruptive, aleatory practices, attending to encounters that are both accidental and on purpose. I show how this approach has informed my work, intervening in habitual analytics involving scholarly critique and inspiring new ways of dealing with and expanding what might be thought of as data in qualitative research. Refusing the repositivation of qualitative research, I believe that what is at stake is more than just the knowledge we make, it’s the worlds we would like to make, the kinds of people we want to be, the kind of work we want to do in the world.
Risk and Protective Factors for Recidivism Among Juveniles Who Have Offended Sexually
Authors: Spice Andrew , Viljoen Jodi L. , Latzman Natasha E. , Scalora Mario J. , Ullman Daniel
Published: October 2012

Literature on risk factors for recidivism among juveniles who have sexually offended (JSOs) is limited. In addition, there have been no studies published concerning protective factors among this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of risk and protective factors to sexual and nonsexual recidivism among a sample of 193 male JSOs (mean age = 15.26). Youths were followed for an average of 7.24 years following discharge from a residential sex offender treatment program. The risk factor o pportunities to reoffend, as coded based on the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism, was associated with sexual recidivism. Several risk factors (e.g., prior offending; peer delinquency) were associated with nonsexual recidivism. No protective factors examined were associated with sexual recidivism, although strong attachments and bonds as measured by the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth was negatively related to nonsexual recidivism. These findings indicate that risk factors for nonsexual recidivism may be consistent across both general adolescent offender populations and JSOs, but that there may be distinct protective factors that apply to sexual recidivism among JSOs. Results also indicate important needs for further research on risk factors, protective factors, and risk management strategies for JSOs.
Spiritually Based Intervention to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Among African Americans
Authors: Holt Cheryl L. , Litaker Mark S. , Scarinci Isabel C. , Debnam Katrina J. , McDavid Chastity , McNeal Sandre F. , Eloubeidi Mohamad A. , Crowther Martha , Bolland John , Martin Michelle Y.
Published: October 2012

Colorectal cancer screening has clear benefits in terms of mortality reduction; however, it is still underutilized and especially among medically underserved populations, including African Americans, who also suffer a disproportionate colorectal cancer burden. This study consisted of a theory-driven (health belief model) spiritually based intervention aimed at increasing screening among African Americans through a community health advisor-led educational series in 16 churches. Using a randomized design, churches were assigned to receive either the spiritually based intervention or a nonspiritual comparison, which was the same in every way except that it did not contain spiritual/religious content and themes. Trained and certified peer community health advisors in each church led a series of two group educational sessions on colorectal cancer and screening. Study enrollees completed a baseline, 1-month, and 12-month follow-up survey at their churches. The interventions had significant pre–post impact on awareness of all four screening modalities, and self-report receipt of fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. There were no significant study group differences in study outcomes, with the exception of fecal occult blood test utilization, whereas those in the nonspiritual intervention reported significantly greater pre–post change. Both of these community-engaged, theory-driven, culturally relevant approaches to increasing colorectal cancer awareness and screening appeared to have an impact on study outcomes. Although adding spiritual/religious themes to the intervention was appealing to the audience, it may not result in increased intervention efficacy.
Issues and problems in the organization of children’s sport
Authors: Skirstad Berit , Waddington Ivan , Säfvenbom Reidar
Published: October 2012

The focus of this article is on the organization of children’s sport in Norway. More specifically, the paper sets out to examine (i) the changing pattern of relationships, and in particular the changing balance of conflict and cooperation, between the several organizations with responsibility for children’s sport, and (ii) how sport for children is regulated in order to protect children against the dangers associated with competitive pressures, overspecialization and burnout. These questions are answered by tracing the key policy changes and initiatives in relation to children’s sport. With reference to the organization of children’s sport, the ideological struggles between schools and sport organizations over the nature and objectives of sport and physical activity are traced from the 1950s through to recent attempts to promote an Active Sports policy, which represent possible partnerships between several governmental ministries (culture, health and education), schools, and sport clubs. With reference to protecting children against competitive pressures and early overspecialization, the article traces the development from the first advisory guidelines for children’s sporting participation through to mandatory regulations and finally to the recognition of children’s rights in sport.
What Do Leaders Think? Reflections on the Implementation of Higher Education Reforms in Armenia
Authors: Karakhanyan Susanna Yuri , van Veen Klaas , Bergen Theo C M
Published: October 2012

Leader perceptions of higher education reforms in Armenia are examined in order to gain an insight into how they view the reforms, their role in the reforms and the roles of others. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six Armenian higher education leaders and analysed in terms of the following five aspects relevant to leadership: policy transfer and diffusion; change knowledge; emotional intelligence; leadership approach; and causal attribution. The leaders spoke positively about the reform efforts but blamed teachers, government, students and society for the failure of the reform efforts in Armenia. The conclusion is that, irrelevant of whether the change is top-down or bottom-up, it is destined to fail if the change knowledge of the actual implementers is not taken into consideration, an active dialogue does not occur with the actual implementers of the changes and the implements of change are thus not involved in the reform process.
Sports Health Benefits of Vitamin D
Authors: Shuler Franklin D. , Wingate Matthew K. , Moore G. Hunter , Giangarra Charles
Published: October 2012

Context:

Vitamin D is a potent secosteroid hormone that provides many skeletal and extraskeletal health benefits. Musculoskeletal injury prevention and recovery are potentially affected by sufficient circulating levels of the storage form of vitamin D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, or 25(OH)D. Vitamin D deficiency can exist among young, active, and healthy people, which may put them at increased risk for injury and prolonged recovery.

Evidence Aquisition:

PubMed was searched using vitamin D and skeletal muscle, vitamin D and athletic performance, and vitamin D review articles. Studies from the 1930s to 2012 were used for the review.

Results:

There is strong correlation between vitamin D sufficiency and optimal muscle function. Increasing levels of vitamin D reduce inflammation, pain, and myopathy while increasing muscle protein synthesis, ATP concentration, strength, jump height, jump velocity, jump power, exercise capacity, and physical performance. 25(OH)D levels above 40 ng/mL are required for fracture prevention, including stress fractures. Optimal musculoskeletal benefits occur at 25(OH)D levels above the current definition of sufficiency (> 30 ng/mL) with no reported sports health benefits above 50 ng/mL.

Conclusions:

Vitamin D deficiency is common in athletes. For athletes presenting with stress fractures, musculoskeletal pain, and frequent illness, one should have a heightened awareness of the additional likely diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency. Correction of this deficiency is completed by standardized and supervised oral supplementation protocols producing significant musculoskeletal sports health benefits.
Imagining a Better Memory
Authors: Grilli Matthew D. , Glisky Elizabeth L.
Published: October 2012

Recent research has demonstrated that self-referential strategies can be applied to improve memory in memory-impaired populations. However, little is known regarding the mnemonic mechanisms and relative effectiveness of self-referential strategies in memory-impaired individuals. This study investigated the benefit of a new self-referential strategy known as self-imagination, traditional self-referential strategies, and non-self-referential strategies on free recall in memory-impaired patients with acquired brain injury and in healthy control respondents. The data revealed an advantage of self-imagining in free recall relative to all other strategies in patients and control respondents. Findings also demonstrated that, in the patients only, a self-referential strategy that relied on semantic information in self-knowledge was more effective than a self-referential strategy that relied on autobiographical episodic information. This study provides new evidence to support the clinical utility of self-imagining as a memory strategy and has implications for the future development and implementation of self-referential strategies in memory rehabilitation.
Has MRD monitoring superseded other prognostic factors in adult ALL?
Authors: Brüggemann Monika , Raff Thorsten , Kneba Michael
Published: October 2012

Significant improvements have been made in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during the past 2 decades, and measurement of submicroscopic (minimal) levels of residual disease (MRD) is increasingly used to monitor treatment efficacy. For a better comparability of MRD data, there are ongoing efforts to standardize MRD quantification using real-time quantitative PCR of clonal immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements, real-time quantitative-based detection of fusion gene transcripts or breakpoints, and multiparameter flow cytometric immunophenotyping. Several studies have demonstrated that MRD assessment in childhood and adult ALL significantly correlates with clinical outcome. MRD detection is particularly useful for evaluation of treatment response, but also for early assessment of an impending relapse. Therefore, MRD has gained a prominent position in many ALL treatment studies as a tool for tailoring therapy with growing evidence that MRD supersedes most conventional stratification criteria at least for Ph-negative ALL. Most study protocols on adult ALL follow a 2-step approach with a first classic pretherapeutic and a second MRD-based risk stratification. Here we discuss whether and how MRD is ready to be used as main decisive marker and whether pretherapeutic factors and MRD are really competing or complementary tools to individualize treatment.
Lipoteichoic acid induces surfactant protein-A biosynthesis in human alveolar type II epithelial cells through activating the MEK1/2-ERK1/2-NF-κB pathway
Authors: Liu Feng-Lin , Chuang Chi-Yuan , Tai Yu-Ting , Tang Hsiu-Lien , Chen Tyng-Guey , Chen Ta-Liang , Chen Ruei-Ming
Published: October 2012

Background

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a gram-positive bacterial outer membrane component, can cause septic shock. Our previous studies showed that the gram-negative endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), could induce surfactant protein-A (SP-A) production in human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells.

Objectives

In this study, we further evaluated the effect of LTA on SP-A biosynthesis and its possible signal-transducing mechanisms.

Methods

A549 cells were exposed to LTA. Levels of SP-A, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and mitogen-activated/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK)1 were determined.

Results

Exposure of A549 cells to 10, 30, and 50 μg/ml LTA for 24 h did not affect cell viability. Meanwhile, when exposed to 30 μg/ml LTA for 1, 6, and 24 h, the biosynthesis of SP-A mRNA and protein in A549 cells significantly increased. As to the mechanism, LTA enhanced cytosolic and nuclear NF-κB levels in time-dependent manners. Pretreatment with BAY 11–7082, an inhibitor of NF-κB activation, significantly inhibited LTA-induced SP-A mRNA expression. Sequentially, LTA time-dependently augmented phosphorylation of ERK1/2. In addition, levels of phosphorylated MEK1 were augmented following treatment with LTA.

Conclusions

Therefore, this study showed that LTA can increase SP-A synthesis in human alveolar type II epithelial cells through sequentially activating the MEK1-ERK1/2-NF-κB-dependent pathway.
VarioML framework for comprehensive variation data representation and exchange
Authors: Byrne Myles , Fokkema Ivo FAC , Lancaster Owen , Adamusiak Tomasz , Ahonen-Bishopp Anni , Atlan David , Béroud Christophe , Cornell Michael , Dalgleish Raymond , Devereau Andrew , Patrinos George P , Swertz Morris A , Taschner Peter EM , Thorisson Gudmundur A , Vihinen Mauno , Brookes Anthony J , Muilu Juha
Published: October 2012

Background

Sharing of data about variation and the associated phenotypes is a critical need, yet variant information can be arbitrarily complex, making a single standard vocabulary elusive and re-formatting difficult. Complex standards have proven too time-consuming to implement.

Results

The GEN2PHEN project addressed these difficulties by developing a comprehensive data model for capturing biomedical observations, Observ-OM, and building the VarioML format around it. VarioML pairs a simplified open specification for describing variants, with a toolkit for adapting the specification into one's own research workflow. Straightforward variant data can be captured, federated, and exchanged with no overhead; more complex data can be described, without loss of compatibility. The open specification enables push-button submission to gene variant databases (LSDBs) e.g., the Leiden Open Variation Database, using the Cafe Variome data publishing service, while VarioML bidirectionally transforms data between XML and web-application code formats, opening up new possibilities for open source web applications building on shared data. A Java implementation toolkit makes VarioML easily integrated into biomedical applications. VarioML is designed primarily for LSDB data submission and transfer scenarios, but can also be used as a standard variation data format for JSON and XML document databases and user interface components.

Conclusions

VarioML is a set of tools and practices improving the availability, quality, and comprehensibility of human variation information. It enables researchers, diagnostic laboratories, and clinics to share that information with ease, clarity, and without ambiguity.