bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Industrial Relations Climate and Union Commitment: An Evaluation of Workplace‐Level Effects
Authors: SNAPE ED , REDMAN TOM
Published: January 2012

This paper examines the relationship between industrial relations (IR) climate and union commitment. Using a multi‐workplace sample from North East England, aggregation analysis provided support for treating IR climate as a workplace‐level variable, and workplace IR climate was negatively associated with union commitment. However, IR climate moderated none of the relationships between individual‐level antecedents and union commitment.
Who Do Firms Lay Off and Why?
Authors: DENCKER JOHN C.
Published: January 2012

I develop and test a structural–historical account of corporate reductions in force (RIF) to assess whether this widespread process was redistributive or efficient. I argue that changes in the context of restructuring in recent decades, coupled with substantial changes in organizational compensation systems, lead to temporal variation in the likelihood of “broken‐contract” RIF, in which firms terminate highly paid managers, and “trimming the fat” RIF, in which firms terminate low‐performing managers. Analyses of personnel records from a Fortune 500 manufacturing firm indicate that low performance leads to increased risk of separation in each of the two RIF undertaken by the firm, with the effect becoming stronger over time in part because of changes in the firm’s performance management system. By contrast, high wages were a more important factor explaining departure during the firm’s RIF in the 1980s—when competitive pressures to default on bonded contracts were strong—than during its RIF in the 1990s.
Discretion in Context: A Moderated Mediation Model of the Relationship between Discretion and Turnover Intentions
Authors: AVGAR ARIEL C. , PANDEY NITI , KWON KIWOOK
Published: January 2012

This paper examines the relationship between employee discretion and turnover intentions. We test the proposition that this relationship is mediated by employee stress and moderated by employee perceptions of staffing adequacy. We maintain that in assessing the potential effects of increased employee discretion, scholars must also examine the mechanisms through which these benefits are delivered, and the context in which it is provided. In an effort to study discretion in context, we develop and test a “moderated mediation” model in the healthcare setting. Our findings support the hypotheses that employee stress mediates the relationship between discretion and turnover intentions. In addition, employee perceptions of staffing adequacy are shown to moderate the relationship between employee discretion and stress.
Why a New Journal?
Authors: ROSS ARTHUR M.
Published: January 2012

Speaking both personally and officially, I am delighted to salute the appearance of this first issue of Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society.

Since my service as the first Director of the Institute of Industrial Relations at Berkeley, I have retained a close personal attachment to the Institute and a sense of pride in its growing record of accomplishment. And because I am a student in the industrial relations field, I can speak with some personal conviction of the great need for this type of publication.

As President of the University of California, I am pleased to see this new venture undertaken by the Institute of Industrial Relations, one of the University’s many important research and service organizations. The publication of new knowledge, insight, and scholarly speculation is an essential part of the advancement of learning. The free marketplace of ideas cannot operate effectively without the avenues of communication provided by the scholarly journals which serve every field of research. I am sure that Industrial Relations will prove a stimulating vehicle for the exchange and development of ideas about a highly significant segment of modern industrial society.
The vincamine derivative vindeburnol provides benefit in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis: effects on the Locus coeruleus
Authors: Polak Paul E. , Kalinin Sergey , Braun David , Sharp Anthony , Lin Shao X. , Feinstein Douglas L.
Published: January 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 121, 206–216.

The endogenous neurotransmitter noradrenaline (NA) plays several roles in maintaining brain homeostasis, including exerting anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. The primary source of NA in the CNS are tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive neurons located in the Locus coeruleus (LC) which send projections throughout the brain and spinal cord. We recently demonstrated that dysregulation of the LC:Noradrenergic system occurs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as well as in MS patients, associated with damage occurring to LC neurons. Vindeburnol, a structural analog of the cerebral vasodilator vincamine, was previously reported to increase TH expression and activity in LC neurons. Female C57BL/6 mice were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35‐55 peptide, and treated with vindeburnol at the first appearance of clinical signs. Clinical signs continued to increase for about 1 week, at which point mice in the vehicle group continued to worsen while vindeburnol‐treated mice showed improvement. Pro‐inflammatory cytokine production from splenic T cells was not reduced by vindeburnol suggesting primarily central actions of treatment. In the cerebellum, vindeburnol decreased astrocyte activation and reduced the number of demyelinated regions. Vindeburnol reduced astrocyte activation in the LC, reduced TH+ neuronal hypertrophy, increased expression of several genes involved in LC survival and maturation, and increased NA levels in the spinal cord. These results suggest that treatments with drugs such as vindeburnol which target LC survival or function could be of benefit in MS patients.
How to solve the problem of spontaneous bacterial clearance when testing new antibiotic treatment: results on experimental pneumonia due to a derepressed cephalosporinase‐producing Enterobacter cloacae
Authors: Jacolot Anne , Judel Claire , Louchahi Kamel , Tod Michel , Marchand Sandrine , Petitjean Olivier , Mimoz Olivier
Published: January 2012

Because the magnitude of spontaneous bacterial clearance can be similar or even higher than treatment effect, depending upon experimental model and bacterial strain used, this work investigated the value of rendering rats immunosuppressed to facilitate bacterial implantation and reduce spontaneous bacterial clearance. In a first step, rats received a single intravenous cyclophosphamide dose 4 days before infection. Three different doses were tested: 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg. After modeling with NONMEM V, the cyclophosphamide dose required to maintain white blood cell count <1.0 × 103/μL from day 4 to day 5 was 30 mg/kg. In a second step, influence of immunosuppression on lung bacterial titers was characterized. Rats were given one of the three intravenous cyclophosphamide doses (0, 10, 30 mg/kg), and after 4 days, they were infected by tracheal injection of 8.9 ± 0.1 log10 cfu Enterobacter cloacae before being sacrificed at different times. Bacteria in homogenized lungs were quantitatively cultured on Drigalski agar. Bacterial lung count was closely influenced by the grade of induced leukopenia. A single intravenous 30 mg/kg cyclophosphamide dose 4 days before infection suppressed the spontaneous clearance of E. cloacae for at least 30 h without significantly increasing animal mortality; this result seems to be linked to a white blood cell count maintained lower than 1.0 × 103/μL for all the time. This modified animal model could be contributive in the evaluation of antibacterial agents, especially to simulate the behavior of intensive care unit immunocompromised patients.
Proprietary Costs and the Disclosure of Information About Customers
Authors: ELLIS JESSE A. , FEE C. EDWARD , THOMAS SHAWN E.
Published: January 2012

In deciding how much information about their firms’ customers to disclose, managers face a trade off between the benefits of reducing information asymmetry with capital market participants and the costs of aiding competitors by revealing proprietary information. This paper investigates the determinants of managers’ choices to disclose information about their firms’ customers using a comprehensive data set of customer‐information disclosures over the period 1976–2006. We find robust evidence in support of the hypothesis that proprietary costs are an important factor in firms’ disclosure choices regarding information about large customers.
Transparency, Liquidity, and Valuation: International Evidence on When Transparency Matters Most
Authors: LANG MARK , LINS KARL V. , MAFFETT MARK
Published: January 2012

We examine the relation between firm‐level transparency, stock market liquidity, and valuation across countries, focusing on whether the relation varies with a firm's characteristics and economic environment. We document lower transaction costs and greater liquidity (as measured by lower bid‐ask spreads and fewer zero‐return days) for firms with greater transparency (as measured by less evidence of earnings management, better accounting standards, higher quality auditors, more analyst following, and more accurate analyst forecasts). The relation between transparency and liquidity is more pronounced in periods of high volatility, when investor protection, disclosure requirements, and media penetration are poor, and when ownership is more concentrated, suggesting that firm‐level transparency matters more when overall investor uncertainty is greater. Increased liquidity is associated with lower implied cost of capital and with higher valuation as measured by Tobin's Q. Finally, a mediation analysis suggests that liquidity is a significant channel through which transparency affects firm valuation and equity cost of capital.
Pediatric Headache: Update on Recent Research
Authors: Hershey Andrew D.
Published: January 2012

Primary headache are one of the most common health complaints in children and adolescents, yet there remain significant gaps in our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of these conditions. Recently, there have been several areas of research that have assisted with filling this gap in our knowledge. These areas include a better understanding of the disease characteristics including additional associated symptoms and the refinement of the description of related conditions and comorbidities; continued examination of the epidemiology of primary headaches; the progression of migraine across these developmental ages; the molecular and physiological changes; and the potential role for vitamins and cofactor deficiencies in the pathophysiology. These studies continue to add to our fund of knowledge on the basis of migraine and tension‐type headache as primary neurological conditions and their impact on the developing brain.
Effects of Intervention Using a Community‐Based Walking Program for Prevention of Mental Decline: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Maki Yohko , Ura Chiaki , Yamaguchi Tomoharu , Murai Tatsuhiko , Isahai Mikie , Kaiho Ayumi , Yamagami Tetsuya , Tanaka Satoshi , Miyamae Fumiko , Sugiyama Mika , Awata Shuichi , Takahashi Ryutaro , Yamaguchi Haruyasu
Published: January 2012

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of a municipality‐led walking program under the Japanese public Long‐Term Care Insurance Act to prevent mental decline.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting

The city of Takasaki.

Participants

One hundred fifty community members aged 72.0 ± 4.0 were randomly divided into intervention (n = 75) and control (n = 75) groups.

Intervention

A walking program was conducted once a week for 90 minutes for 3 months. The program encouraged participants to walk on a regular basis and to increase their steps per day gradually. The intervention was conducted in small groups of approximately six, so combined benefits of exercise and social interaction were expected.

Measurements

Cognitive function was evaluated focusing on nine tests in five domains: memory, executive function, word fluency, visuospatial abilities, and sustained attention. Quality of life (QOL), depressive state, functional capacity, range of activities, and social network were assessed using questionnaires, and motor function was evaluated.

Results

Significant differences between the intervention and control groups were shown in word fluency related to frontal lobe function (F(1, 128) = 6.833, P = .01), QOL (F(1,128) = 9.751, P = .002), functional capacity including social interaction (F(1,128) = 13.055, P < .001), and motor function (Timed Up and Go Test: F(1,127) = 10.117, P = .002). No significant differences were observed in other cognitive tests.

Conclusion

Walking programs may provide benefits in some aspects of cognition, QOL, and functional capacity including social interaction in elderly community members. This study could serve as the basis for implementation of a community‐based intervention to prevent mental decline.
Word Meaning as a Palimpsest: A Defense of Sociocultural Theory1
Authors: SONG SEONMI , KELLOGG DAVID
Published: January 2012

Vygotsky's work on the acquisition of foreign language words has been criticized for lacking a formal view of language as a system and for taking little interest in questions such as the route and rate of language acquisition. We argue that word meanings really do not constitute a formal system, either in the way they develop, or in the way they are deployed. They may, of course, be taught that way, but we present evidence from a partial replication of Slimani (1992) that they are not, in fact, acquired that way. Instead, foreign language word meanings appear to be palimpsests of different layers of meaning: iconic, indexical, and, ultimately, symbolic and signifying. It seems likely that because of the role of volition in uptake, no fixed route or rate in vocabulary acquisition will ever be found. Sociocultural theory, however, offers a historical understanding of the roots and ranges of foreign language word meanings that is, we argue, more valuable in the end.
Identity and Activism in Heritage Language Education
Authors: LEEMAN JENNIFER , RABIN LISA , ROMÁN–MENDOZA ESPERANZA
Published: January 2012

In contrast with the field of second language acquisition (SLA), where until recently sociocultural concerns were largely unaddressed (Block, 2007), identity has always been at the core of heritage language (HL) education. The present article highlights this often overlooked history and presents action research centering on a Spanish critical service‐learning program stressing identity and social activism in HL education. The article begins with an examination of the constructs of identity, agency, and advocacy in Spanish HL education and critical pedagogy. Stressing that critical pedagogy seeks not only to promote agency but also to contribute to social justice outside of the classroom, we provide an overview of our critical service‐learning program melding university HL education with community language activism. The program builds upon HL speakers’ classroom‐based learning of critical language awareness by providing community‐based opportunities to enact and strengthen identities as language experts and to contribute to positive social change. Next, we present and analyze qualitative data gathered in order to investigate the emergence of expert and activist identities among program participants who worked to counteract school‐based subordination of Spanish by running an after‐school Spanish class for HL speakers at a local elementary school.
Decoding Ability in French as a Foreign Language and Language Learning Motivation
Authors: ERLER LYNN , MACARO ERNESTO
Published: January 2012

This study examined the relationships between decoding ability (the ability to relate graphemes to phonemes) in French as a foreign language, self‐reported use of such decoding, and dimensions of motivation, specifically self‐efficacy and attribution, among young‐beginner learners in England. It investigated whether these factors were related to a desire to continue studying the language beyond the compulsory learning age of 14. Previous research has found low levels of motivation for learning the language after only a few years of instruction and a number of authors have called for research to discover why this should be. With a large stratified sample of participants aged 11–14, decoding ability was elicited via written rhyme and word segmentation tests. Self‐efficacy, attribution, perceptions of learning French and use of decoding were elicited via self‐reported statements. Findings suggest that, after 3 years of studying French, students were unable to decode accurately even though they claimed to use decoding regularly in a range of language learning tasks. At all stages of learning, students’ ability to decode, together with their belief that they could do it, appeared to contribute to the likelihood of their continuing with French study. They attributed inability to decode not to the teacher or teaching method but to the “strangeness” of French. Given the potential generalizability of these results, important implications for teaching and for curriculum review are drawn.
Negotiating Power and Access to Second Language Resources: A Study on Short‐Term Chinese MBA Students in America
Authors: SHI XINGSONG
Published: January 2012

By looking into a group of 13 Chinese master's in business administration students’ study abroad experience in the United States, this study contends that being situated in the second language (L2) communicative context does not guarantee international students complete access to language and cultural resources in the host society. Due to limited communicative skills and cultural competence in the target language and culture, L2 learners are at a disadvantage to negotiate symbolic power in the host country, which may mediate their opportunities to gain learning resources and academic recognition. How the students negotiate in the academic contexts to balance and counterbalance unequal power relationships strongly influences their access to already limited host culture language resources. The study addresses the issues in communicative difficulties encountered by the international students, and proposes recommendations on what can be done to facilitate the students’ academic and sociocultural adjustment.
Pragmatic Development as a Dynamic, Complex Process: General Patterns and Case Histories
Authors: TAGUCHI NAOKO
Published: January 2012

This longitudinal study asks 2 questions. The first one is: What patterns of pragmatic development can we observe among different pragmatic functions and attributes in a second language (L2)? The second question is: In what ways do individual differences and learning context affect the course of pragmatic development? Forty‐eight Japanese college students studying English in an immersion setting in Japan participated in the study. They completed a pragmatic speaking task (k= 12) that measured their ability to produce 2 speech acts, requests and opinions, in 2 situation types: low‐imposition and high‐imposition. The task was administered 3 times over 1 academic year. Gains in the appropriateness of the speech acts and fluency of production were analyzed. In addition, a subset of the participants was interviewed to seek the relationship between pragmatic gains and types of sociocultural experiences available on campus. Results revealed that appropriateness showed a profound increase for the low‐imposition speech acts, but the production of high‐imposition speech acts was slow developing. There was a large increase in speech rate at the initial stage for both situation types, but it showed stagnation at the later stage. Qualitative data revealed an interesting portrayal of the learners’ history of participation and socialization related to pragmatic development.
An Economic Toolkit for Identifying the Cost of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems: Detailed Methodology of the EMS Cost Analysis Project (EMSCAP)
Authors: Brooke Lerner E. , Garrison Herbert G. , Nichol Graham , Maio Ronald F. , Lookman Hunaid A. , Sheahan William D. , Franz Timothy R. , Austad James D. , Ginster Aaron M. , Spaite Daniel W.
Published: January 2012

Calculating the cost of an emergency medical services (EMS) system using a standardized method is important for determining the value of EMS. This article describes the development of a methodology for calculating the cost of an EMS system to its community. This includes a tool for calculating the cost of EMS (the “cost workbook”) and detailed directions for determining cost (the “cost guide”). The 12‐step process that was developed is consistent with current theories of health economics, applicable to prehospital care, flexible enough to be used in varying sizes and types of EMS systems, and comprehensive enough to provide meaningful conclusions. It was developed by an expert panel (the EMS Cost Analysis Project [EMSCAP] investigator team) in an iterative process that included pilot testing the process in three diverse communities. The iterative process allowed ongoing modification of the toolkit during the development phase, based upon direct, practical, ongoing interaction with the EMS systems that were using the toolkit. The resulting methodology estimates EMS system costs within a user‐defined community, allowing either the number of patients treated or the estimated number of lives saved by EMS to be assessed in light of the cost of those efforts. Much controversy exists about the cost of EMS and whether the resources spent for this purpose are justified. However, the existence of a validated toolkit that provides a standardized process will allow meaningful assessments and comparisons to be made and will supply objective information to inform EMS and community officials who are tasked with determining the utilization of scarce societal resources.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:1–7 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Point‐of‐care Focused Cardiac Ultrasound for the Assessment of Thoracic Aortic Dimensions, Dilation, and Aneurysmal Disease
Authors: Andrew Taylor R. , Oliva Isabel , Van Tonder Reinier , Elefteriades John , Dziura James , Moore Christopher L.
Published: January 2012

Objectives:  Thoracic aortic aneurysm and thoracic aortic dissection are related and potentially deadly diseases that present with nonspecific symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) may detect thoracic aortic pathology and is being increasingly performed by the emergency physician at the bedside; however, the accuracy of point‐of‐care (POC) focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) for thoracic aortic aneurysm and thoracic aortic dissection has not been studied. The objective of this pilot study was to explore the agreement, sensitivity, and specificity of FOCUS for thoracic aortic dimensions, dilation, and aneurysm compared with CT angiography (CTA) as the reference standard.

Methods:  This study was a retrospective pilot analysis of image and chart data on consecutive patients presenting to an urban, academic emergency department (ED) between January 2008 and June 2010, who had both a FOCUS and a CTA for suspicion of thoracic aorta pathology. Thoracic aorta dimensions were measured from recordings by three ultrasound‐trained emergency physicians blinded to any initial FOCUS and CTA results. CTA measurements were obtained by a radiologist blinded to the FOCUS results. Using cutoffs of 40 and 45 mm, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of FOCUS for aortic dilation and aneurysm with the largest measurement on CT as the reference standard. Bland‐Altman plots with 95% limits of agreement were used to demonstrate agreement for aortic measurements, kappa statistics to assess the degree of agreement between tests for aortic dilation, and intraclass correlation for interobserver and intraobserver variability.

Results:  Ninety‐two patients underwent both FOCUS and CTA during the study period. Ten FOCUS studies had inadequate visualization for all measurements areas. Eighty‐two patients were included in the final analysis. Mean (±SD) age was 58.1 (±16.6) years and 58.5% were male. Sensitivity, specificity, and the observed kappa value (95% confidence interval [CI]) between FOCUS and CTA for the presence of aortic dilation at the 40‐mm cutoff were 0.77 (95% CI = 0.58 to 0.98), 0.95 (95% CI = 0.84 to 0.99), and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.58 to 0.90), respectively. The mean difference (95% limits of agreement) for the Bland‐Altman plots was 0.6 mm (−5.3 to 6.5) for the sinuses of Valsalva, 4 mm (−2.7 to 10.7) for the sinotubular junction, 1.5 mm (−5.8 to 8.8) for the ascending aorta, and 2.2 mm (−5.9 to 10.3) for the descending aorta.

Conclusions:  In this retrospective pilot study, FOCUS demonstrated good agreement with CTA measurements of maximal thoracic aortic diameter. FOCUS appears to be specific for aortic dilation and aneurysm when compared to CTA, but requires further prospective study.

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2012; 19:1–4 © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Melatonin‐induced autophagy protects against human prion protein‐mediated neurotoxicity
Authors: Jeong Jae‐Kyo , Moon Myung‐Hee , Lee You‐Jin , Seol Jae‐Won , Park Sang‐Youel
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Melatonin has neuroprotective effects in the models of neurodegenerative disease including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Several studies have shown that melatonin prevents neurodegeneration by regulation of mitochondrial function. However, the protective action of melatonin has not been reported in prion disease. We investigated the influence of melatonin on prion‐mediated neurotoxicity. Melatonin rescued neuronal cells from PrP(106–126)‐induced neurotoxicity by prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, the protective effect of melatonin against mitochondrial dysfunction was related with autophagy activation. Melatonin‐treated cells were dose‐dependently increased in LC3‐II, an autophagy marker. Melatonin‐induced autophagy prevented a PrP(106–126)‐induced reduction in mitochondrial potential and translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and cytochrome c release. On the other hand, downregulation of autophagy protein 5 with Atg5 siRNA or the autophagy blocker 3‐methyladenine prevented the melatonin‐mediated neuroprotective effects. This is the first report demonstrating that treatment with melatonin appears to protect against prion‐mediated neurotoxicity and that the neuroprotection is induced by melatonin‐mediated autophagy signals. The results of this study suggest that regulation of melatonin is a therapeutic strategy for prion peptide‐induced apoptosis.
Melatonin suppresses proinflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated CRL1999 cells via targeting MAPK, NF‐κB, c/EBPβ, and p300 signaling
Authors: Shi Dingbo , Xiao Xiangsheng , Wang Jingshu , Liu Liqun , Chen Wangbing , Fu Lingyi , Xie Fangyun , Huang Wenlin , Deng Wuguo
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Melatonin is an indoleamine secreted by the pineal gland as well as a plant‐derived product that exerts potential anti‐inflammatory properties, but the mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of melatonin in regulation of proinflammatory mediators and identified the underlying mechanisms in human vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell line CRL1999 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that treatment with melatonin significantly inhibited the production and expression of TNF‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β, cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), inducible nitric oxide synthase, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, we also found that the suppression of proinflammatory mediators by melatonin was mediated through inhibition of MAPK, NF‐κB, c/EBPβ, and p300 signaling in LPS‐stimulated CRL1999 cells. Treatment with melatonin markedly inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, IκB‐α, and c/EBPβ, blocked binding of NF‐κB and c/EBPβ to promoters, and suppressed p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity and p300 HAT‐mediated NF‐κB acetylation. Transfection with an ERK‐, IκB‐, or c/EBPβ‐specific siRNA or pretreatment with an ERK‐, p38 MAPK‐, or p300‐selective inhibitor considerably abrogated the melatonin‐mediated inhibition of proinflammatory mediators. Conversely, exogenous overexpression of a constitutively active p300, but not its HAT mutant, effectively reversed the melatonin‐mediated inhibitions. Collectively, these results indicate that melatonin suppresses proinflammatory mediators by simultaneously targeting the multiple signaling such as ERK/p38 MAPK, c/EBPβ, NF‐κB, and p300, in LPS‐stimulated VSM cell line CRL1999, and suggest that melatonin is a potential candidate compound for the treatment of proinflammatory disorders.
Apicoplast Targeting of a Toxoplasma gondii Transmembrane Protein Requires a Cytosolic Tyrosine‐Based Motif
Authors: DeRocher Amy E. , Karnataki Anuradha , Vaney Pashmi , Parsons Marilyn
Published: January 2012

Toxoplasma gondii, like most apicomplexan parasites, possesses an essential relict chloroplast, the apicoplast. Several apicoplast membrane proteins lack the bipartite targeting sequences of luminal proteins. Vesicles bearing these membrane proteins are detected during apicoplast enlargement, but the means of cargo selection remains obscure. We used a combination of deletion mutagenesis, point mutations and protein chimeras to identify a short motif prior to the first transmembrane domain of the T. gondii apicoplast phosphate transporter 1 (APT1) that is necessary for apicoplast trafficking. Tyrosine 16 was essential for proper localization; any substitution resulted in misdirection of APT1 to the Golgi body. Glycine 17 was also important, with significant Golgi body accumulation in the alanine mutant. Separation of at least eight amino acids from the transmembrane domain was required for full motif function. Similarly placed YG motifs are present in apicomplexan APT1 orthologs and the corresponding N‐terminal domain from Plasmodium vivax was able to route T. gondii APT1 to the apicoplast. Differential permeabilization showed that both the N‐ and C‐termini of APT1 are exposed to the cytosol. We propose that this YG motif facilitates APT1 trafficking via interactions that occur on the cytosolic face of nascent vesicles destined for the apicoplast.
Comparison of mandibular bone mineral density in osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal elderly edentulous subjects measured by the dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry technique
Authors: Buyukkaplan Ulviye Sebnem , Guldag Musa Ustun , Yildiz Mustafa , Gumus Burcin Askim
Published: January 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00625.x

Comparison of mandibular bone mineral density in osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal elderly edentulous subjects measured by the dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry technique

Objective:  The aim of this study was to compare the mandibular body bone mineral density according to bone mineral density status of spine and femur measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) technique in elderly edentulous individuals.

Background:  One of the factors that affect the survival rate of implants is bone mineral density (BMD) of the jaws.

Materials and methods:  Fifty edentulous elderly patients’ (27 women and 23 men) spine, femur and the mandibular body BMDs were measured using DXA technique. BMD scans of the AP lumbar spine (L2–L3) and femur were classified using World Health Organisation criteria for bone mass.

Results:  There was a statistically significant difference between the normal femur group’s–osteoporosis group’s mandibular body BMD (p = 0.001) and femoral osteopaenia group’s–osteoporosis group’s mandibular body BMD (p < 0.001). The femoral osteoporosis group’s mandibular body BMDs were lower than those of both the normal femoral and the femoral osteopaenia group subjects’.

Conclusion:  Classification of edentulous mandibles according to low and high bone mineral densities is a problem in implant dentistry. The results of this study demonstrated that femoral bone mineral density status may be used to provide preliminary information about the bone mineral density of the mandibular body region in elderly edentulous subjects.
Physiological measurements of tissue health; implications for clinical practice
Authors: Kim Jennifer H , Wang Xiaofeng , Ho Chester H , Bogie Kath M
Published: January 2012

Pressure mapping alone insufficiently describes tissue health. Comprehensive, quantitative non invasive assessment is crucial. Interface pressures (IPs) and transcutaneous blood gas levels [transcutaneous tissue oxygen (TcPO2)] were simultaneously assessed over both ischia and the sacrum to investigate the hypotheses: (i) tissue oxygenation decreases with sustained applied pressure; (ii) tissue oxygen and IP are inversely correlated in loaded soft tissues; (iii) multisite assessments are unnecessary because healthy individuals are symmetrical. Measurements were taken at 5‐minute intervals for 20 minutes in both sitting and supine lying for a cohort of 20 able‐bodied adults. There were no statistically significant changes over time for either variable in 96% of timepoint comparisons. Specifically, no significant differences were seen between 10 and 20 minutes in either position. These findings imply that a 10‐minute assessment can reliably indicate tissue health and that tissue may adapt to applied load over time. No statistically significant correlations between TcPO2 and IP were observed. However, the left and right ischia were significantly different for both variables in supine lying (P < 0·001) and for sitting IP (P < 0·010). Thus, even in this healthy cohort, postural symmetry was not observed and should not be assumed for other populations with restricted mobility. If a multisite technique cannot be used, repeated tissue health assessments must use the same anatomic location.
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS
Authors: Johnston Denise
Published: January 2012

“Services for Children of Incarcerated Parents” provides an overview of the history, design and outcomes of human service programs provided for children of prisoners in the United States. The article examines services based in correctional settings and services sited in the community, using examples from the core programs and projects conducted by the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents from 1990 through 2010. An analysis of the utility of specific services to children and families, and the effectiveness of those services in improving child outcomes is provided.
ASSESSING DANGER: WHAT JUDGES NEED TO KNOW
Authors: Nichols‐Hadeed Corey , Cerulli Catherine , Kaukeinen Kimberly , Rhodes Karin V. , Campbell Jacquelyn
Published: January 2012

Every day, judges are faced with decisions regarding intimate partner violence (IPV) victims' requests for protection orders, custody arrangements, and visitation schedules. To make informed decisions, judges must understand victims' risk for future violence. This mixed method study explores the extent to which protection order petitions (n = 169) communicate victims' current danger and future risk of violence. Methods included interviews coupled with an archival review of court petitions. Findings suggest judges are inadequately prepared to render decisions to improve victim safety in the absence of standardized risk assessments. The Danger Assessment provides an evidence‐based solution to routinize intake interviews with victims petitioning the court.

Key Points for the Family Court Community:

Court personnel should ask petitioners specific questions regarding risk factors when drafting protection orders.

The Danger Assessment is an evidenced based tool that could be used to standardize intake interviews with individuals petitioning the court for protection orders.

Information regarding risk factors will help judges issue more informed protection orders and increase petitioner safety.
MIS‐MATCHED: TAKING A STATE APPROACH TO ENFORCING THE GROWING INTERNATIONAL MATCHMAKING INDUSTRY
Authors: Tran Trinh
Published: January 2012

Each year, hundreds of U.S. men and foreign women find their future spouses through international matchmaking agencies. Foreign women are attracted to the opportunity for a life in America and men are offered money‐back guarantees to find the perfect wife. An alarming number of these unions however, have resulted in the abuse, exploitation and even death of foreign women at the hands of their U.S. citizen husbands. While the federal International Marriage Broker Regulation Act requires disclosure of a male client's criminal background history prior to communicating with a potential foreign bride, the Act does not impose any requirements for disclosure of information about the international marriage brokers themselves. Thus the peddlers behind the rapidly growing industry are largely unaccounted for, with no one really knowing who they are or where they are operating. This Note proposes that states fill the enforcement gap by adopting a statute requiring international marriage brokers to register and become certified to do business with state residents. This legislation will result in collecting much needed data on international marriage brokers, create more transparency in the international matchmaking industry and prevent potential violence and abuse of foreign women.
Influence of HLA alleles in response to treatment with pegylated interferon‐alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Marangon A. V. , Moliterno R. A. , Sell A. M. , de Moraes C. F. V. , Grotto R. M. T. , Pardini M. C. , De Pauli D. S. , Visentainer J. E. L. , Silva G. F.
Published: January 2012

The objective of this study was to analyse the possible role of HLA polymorphism of chronically infected hepatitis C virus patients in the response outcome to treatment with pegylated interferon‐alpha plus ribavirin. To that end, 144 Brazilian patients infected only with genotype 1 of the virus were treated with pegylated interferon‐alpha at 1.5 μg kg−1 in conjunction with ribavirin (1000 mg if patient weight was <75 kg and 1250 mg if >75 kg) for 48 weeks. The patients did not have concomitant HBV or HIV infections or liver disease, did not undergo previous antiviral treatment, and were followed up for 24 weeks after the end of treatment to assure they presented a sustained virological response. Patients were classified according to response to treatment in responsive (SVR), nonresponsive (NRS) and relapsers (REL). HLA class I and class II typing were carried out through PCR‐SSO using Luminex technology. A statistically higher frequency of DRB1*11 patients was observed in the SVR group (39.6% vs. 14.3%P = 0.0012; Pc = 0.0156; OR = 3.94; 95% CI = 1.8–8.8). HLA‐DQB1*03 patients were also more frequent in the SVR group, but the P value lost significance after Bonferroni correction (62.3% vs. 41.7%P = 0.024; Pc = 0.14, OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.14–4.60). HLA class II antigens can positively influence the response to treatment with pegylated interferon‐alpha and ribavirin.
Transforming growth factor‐β1 polymorphisms and the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Arrieta‐Bolaños E. , Alejandro Madrigal J. , Shaw B. E.
Published: January 2012

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a medical procedure used to treat malignant and nonmalignant haematological diseases, congenital immunodeficiency syndromes, solid tumours and metabolic diseases. Despite its usefulness, several major complications, such as graft‐versus‐host disease, can negatively affect patients treated with HSCT. Apart from clinical factors well known to affect the outcome of HSCT, patient and donor genetics have been shown to play an important role in the susceptibility to post‐transplant complications. Histocompatibility as determined by the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) system has been a major genetic determinant of the success of HSCT. Non‐HLA immunogenetics are increasingly recognized to play a part in the events related to transplantation. Cytokine genes, and their receptors, bear a considerable amount of polymorphism. One of the genes that may play an important role on the outcome of allogeneic HSCT is TGFB1, which encodes transforming growth factor, βeta 1 (TGF‐β1). TGF‐β1 is a pleiotropic cytokine, which plays a central role in the development, homeostasis and responses of the immune system. Several functional polymorphisms in TGFB1 have been identified, and these are known to cause alterations in cytokine secretion in several settings. The present review will focus on the current knowledge surrounding the effect of polymorphisms within TGFB1 on the outcome of HSCT.
Simple Chloride Sensors for Continuous Groundwater Monitoring
Authors: Thorn Paul , Mortensen John
Published: January 2012

The development of chloride sensors which can be used for continuous, on‐line monitoring of groundwater could be very valuable in the management of our coastal water resources. However, sensor stability, drift, and durability all need to be addressed in order for the sensors to be used in continuous application. This study looks at the development of a simple, inexpensive chloride electrode, and evaluates its performance under continuous use, both in the laboratory and in a field test in a monitoring well. The results from the study showed a consistent response to changing chloride concentrations over longer periods. The signal was seen to be stable, with regular drift in both laboratory and field test. In the field application, the sensor signal was corrected for drift, and errors were observed to be under 7% of that of conductivity measurements. The study also found that the chloride sensor remained responsive even at low chloride concentrations, where the conductivity electrode was no longer responding to changing chloride levels. With the results, it is believed that the simple chloride sensor could be used for continuous monitoring of groundwater quality.
Preparticipation screening and prevention of sudden cardiac death in athletes: Implications for primary care
Authors: Morse Emily , Funk Marjorie
Published: January 2012

Purposes: The purposes of this article are to explore the mechanism of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes and examine how preparticipation screenings help identify precipitating cardiac abnormalities. Electrocardiogram (ECG) testing has been implicated to play an important role in detecting subtle abnormalities that may cause SCD, but the routine implementation of this diagnostic tool remains a debate among experts.

Data sources: This report was compiled by reviewing the scientific literature on SCD in athletes, preparticipation exams, and current screening guidelines using CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PubMed search engines.

Conclusions: Although the American Heart Association guidelines do not include ECG testing for preparticipation screenings, the implementation of routine ECG testing for preparticipation sports physicals is effective in preventing SCD in athletes.

Implications for practice: Primary care providers should be aware of current guidelines for screening patients for heart diseases that predispose them to SCD and their legal obligations to be sure these athletes are safe. The implementation of ECG testing will assist in the decision whether to disqualify an athlete from participation as a result of preexisting cardiac conditions, and ultimately preventing the untimely death of a young athlete.
The roles of self‐efficacy and pretest counseling in type 2 herpes simplex virus screening in asymptomatic adults
Authors: Freeman Matthew , Zychowicz Michael , Feldman Gary , Gordon Shelley
Published: January 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the role of counseling for patients undergoing screening for type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV‐2). Using pre‐ and post‐screening questionnaires, we evaluated correlations between demographic factors, measures of self‐efficacy and follow‐through with the screening test, and willingness to take antiviral medication and share results with sexual partners.

Data sources: Subjects (N= 115) were recruited as part of usual care at a private, urban family practice. A total of 111 subjects completed pre‐screening questionnaires, and 38 completed post‐screening questionnaires.

Conclusions: The overwhelming majority of participants were (a) willing to undergo screening; (b) take suppressive antiviral medication if necessary; (c) share their results with sexual partners; and (d) consider safer sexual practices as a consequence of screening. Older patients were less willing to consider daily antiviral medication. Men who have sex with men (MSM) had lower perceived susceptibility to HSV‐2 but were more likely to undergo and report screening.

Implications for practice: Future research should include predictive models for determining the most appropriate patients to screen for HSV‐2 and best practices for those who test positive. Shared decision making between patients and advanced practice nurses regarding the risks and benefits of screening for HSV‐2 should be a component visits that include sexually transmitted disease screening. Particular attention should be paid to those at higher risk for contracting the virus, including patients with HIV and MSM.
T cells modulate glycans on CD43 and CD45 during development and activation, signal regulation, and survival
Authors: Clark Mary C. , Baum Linda G.
Published: January 2012

Glycosylation affects many essential T cell processes and is intrinsically controlled throughout the lifetime of a T cell. CD43 and CD45 are the two most abundant glycoproteins on the T cell surface and are decorated with O‐ and N‐glycans. Global T cell glycosylation and specific glycosylation of CD43 and CD45 are modulated during thymocyte development and T cell activation; T cells control the type and abundance of glycans decorating CD43 and CD45 by regulating expression of glycosyltransferases and glycosidases. Additionally, T cells regulate glycosylation of CD45 by expressing alternatively spliced isoforms of CD45 that have different glycan attachment sites. The glycophenotype of CD43 and CD45 on T cells influences how T cells interact with the extracellular environment, including how T cells interact with endogenous lectins. This review focuses on changes in glycosylation of CD43 and CD45 occurring throughout T cell development and activation and the role that glycosylation plays in regulating T cell processes, such as migration, T cell receptor signaling, and apoptosis.
Sulfated glycans control lymphocyte homing
Authors: Kawashima Hiroto , Fukuda Minoru
Published: January 2012

Lymphocyte homing to the secondary lymphoid organs is pivotal for proper immune responses. Studies using sulfotransferase‐deficient mice showed that 6‐sulfo sialyl Lewis X (6‐sulfo sLex), a major ligand for L‐selectin that is expressed on the high endothelial venules (HEVs), plays critical roles in lymphocyte homing to the peripheral lymph nodes. More recent studies revealed that 6‐sulfo sLex is essential for the homing of CD4+CD25− conventional T cells to the nasal‐associated lymphoid tissues (NALT) and is involved in nasal allergy. Further studies revealed that the homing of the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells to the NALT is dependent not only on the L‐selectin‐sulfated glycan interaction but also on P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 and CD44. These findings suggest that different carbohydrate‐dependent homing mechanisms are utilized for different lymphocyte subsets. Recent studies indicated that the L‐selectin–sulfated glycan interaction is also important for lymphocyte homing in chronic inflammation. In this review, the functions of the sulfated glycans in lymphocyte homing in physiological and pathological conditions are discussed.