bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HIV and viral hepatitis coinfections: advances and challenges
Authors: Lacombe Karine , Rockstroh Juergen
Published: April 2012

With a prevalence affecting over 30% of HIV infected patients, coinfection with hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) virus remains one of the most frequent comorbidities in this population, with a significant impact in terms of morbidity and mortality associated with liver disease. Recent findings in the physiopathology of HIV in the liver have confirmed that it may contribute, along with hepatotoxicity of antiretrovirals and the burden of metabolic diseases, to a more rapid progression of liver fibrosis, especially when there is underlying chronic hepatitis coinfection. Both fields of research and clinical appraisal of HBV and HCV coinfection are rapidly evolving and prompt a change in the former paradigms of clinical care and management of chronic hepatic coinfection in the context of HIV. The advent of anti-HCV direct antiviral agents has indeed completely shaken up the treatment guidelines for HCV, and the tricky management of these new agents with antiretrovirals means referring patients to specialised centres. In HBV coinfection, therapeutic options have not changed recently but new challenges have emerged regarding the management of low replicating HBV-DNA in optimally treated patients and long term exposure to antivirals. Finally, the global increase in life expectancy in HIV infected patients has been accompanied in coinfected patients by a higher risk of emergence of end stage liver diseases for which access to orthotopic liver transplantation and innovative procedures such as targeted hepatocellular carcinoma therapies should be facilitated.
THE ENTREPRENEUR-INVESTOR CHARISMATIC RELATIONSHIP: A DRAMATURGICAL APPROACH
Authors: YUSUF JUITA-ELENA (WIE)
Published: April 2012

This paper presents a dramaturgical approach to understanding the entrepreneur-investor charismatic relationship in the context of the entrepreneur's business plan presentation to outside investors. This approach highlights how entrepreneurs can behave in the presence of investors and how impression management tools can be utilized to develop a successful business plan presentation. Business plan presentations by winners of the 2008 Moot Corp Competition are used to illustrate the charismatic relationship and the impression management techniques that can be used by entrepreneurs in their efforts to project charisma.
POLYNOMIAL INVARIANTS OF PSEUDO-ANOSOV MAPS
Authors: BIRMAN JOAN , BRINKMANN PETER , KAWAMURO KEIKO
Published: April 2012

We investigate the structure of the characteristic polynomial det (xI - T) of a transition matrix T that is associated to a train track representative of a pseudo-Anosov map [F] acting on a surface. As a result we obtain three new polynomial invariants of [F], one of them being the product of the other two, and all three being divisors of det (xI - T). The degrees of the new polynomials are invariants of [F] and we give simple formulas for computing them by a counting argument from an invariant train-track. We give examples of genus 2 pseudo-Anosov maps having the same dilatation, and use our invariants to distinguish them.
GROUPS, GRAPHS, AND THE HANNA NEUMANN CONJECTURE
Authors: MINEYEV IGOR
Published: April 2012

Submultiplicativity, an analytic property generalizing the Strengthened Hanna Neumann Conjecture (SHNC) to complexes was proved in [2] assuming the deep-fall property. This in particular implied SHNC. The purpose of this note is to write the proof of the original SHNC and purely in terms of groups and graphs. We also give explicit examples showing that the upper bound in SHNC is sharp.
EULER INTEGRATION OF GAUSSIAN RANDOM FIELDS AND PERSISTENT HOMOLOGY
Authors: BOBROWSKI OMER , BORMAN MATTHEW STROM
Published: April 2012

In this paper we extend the notion of the Euler characteristic to persistent homology and give the relationship between the Euler integral of a function and the Euler characteristic of the function's persistent homology. We then proceed to compute the expected Euler integral of a Gaussian random field using the Gaussian kinematic formula and obtain a simple closed form expression. This results in the first explicitly computable mean of a quantitative descriptor for the persistent homology of a Gaussian random field.
Central command contributes to increased blood flow in the noncontracting muscle at the start of one-legged dynamic exercise in humans
Authors: Ishii Kei , Liang Nan , Oue Anna , Hirasawa Ai , Sato Kohei , Sadamoto Tomoko , Matsukawa Kanji
Published: April 2012

Whether neurogenic vasodilatation contributes to exercise hyperemia is still controversial. Blood flow to noncontracting muscle, however, is chiefly regulated by a neural mechanism. Although vasodilatation in the nonexercising limb was shown at the onset of exercise, it was unclear whether central command or muscle mechanoreflex is responsible for the vasodilatation. To clarify this, using voluntary one-legged cycling with the right leg in humans, we measured the relative changes in concentrations of oxygenated-hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) of the noncontracting vastus lateralis (VL) muscle with near-infrared spectroscopy as an index of tissue blood flow and femoral blood flow to the nonexercising leg. Oxy-Hb in the noncontracting VL and femoral blood flow increased ( P < 0.05) at the start period of voluntary one-legged cycling without accompanying a rise in arterial blood pressure. In contrast, no increases in Oxy-Hb and femoral blood flow were detected at the start period of passive one-legged cycling, suggesting that muscle mechanoreflex cannot explain the initial vasodilatation of the noncontracting muscle during voluntary one-legged cycling. Motor imagery of the voluntary one-legged cycling increased Oxy-Hb of not only the right but also the left VL. Furthermore, an increase in Oxy-Hb of the contracting VL, which was observed at the start period of voluntary one-legged cycling, had the same time course and magnitude as the increase in Oxy-Hb of the noncontracting muscle. Thus it is concluded that the centrally induced vasodilator signal is equally transmitted to the bilateral VL muscles, not only during imagery of exercise but also at the start period of voluntary exercise in humans.
Effect of incremental exercise on airway and systemic inflammation in patients with COPD
Authors: Davidson Warren J. , Verity Wendy S. , Traves Suzanne L. , Leigh Richard , Ford Gordon T. , Eves Neil D.
Published: April 2012

Airway and systemic inflammation are features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and there is growing interest in clarifying the inflammatory processes. Strenuous exercise induces an intensified systemic inflammatory response in patients with COPD, but no study has investigated the airway inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses to exercise. Twenty steroid-naïve, ex-smokers with diagnosed COPD (forced expired volume in 1 s = 66 ± 12%) underwent baseline collection of venous blood and induced sputum followed by an incremental exercise test to symptom limitation 48 h later. Additional venous blood samples were collected following exercise at 0, 2, and 24 h, while induced sputum was collected 2 and 24 h after exercise. Sputum and blood samples were analyzed for differential cell count, CD4+and CD8+T lymphocytes (serum only), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (serum only). There was an increase in the number of sputum eosinophils (cells/gram, P = 0.012) and a reduction in sputum IL-6 ( P = 0.01) 24 h postexercise. Sputum IL-8 and CCL5 were also persistently decreased after exercise ( P = 0.0098 and P = 0.0012, respectively), but sputum IL-10 did not change. There was a decrease in serum eosinophils 2 h after exercise ( P = 0.0014) and a reduction in serum CCL5 immediately following and 2 h postexercise ( P < 0.0001). Both serum eosinophils and CCL5 returned to baseline levels within 24 h. An acute bout of exercise resulted in a significant increase in the number of sputum eosinophils, which may be mediated by serum CCL5. However, there was also a reduction in sputum proinflammatory cytokines, suggesting some anti-inflammatory effect of exercise in the lungs of steroid-naïve patients with COPD.
Downregulation of Endothelial MicroRNA-200b Supports Cutaneous Wound Angiogenesis By Desilencing GATA Binding Protein 2 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2
Authors: Chan Yuk Cheung , Roy Sashwati , Khanna Savita , Sen Chandan K.
Published: April 2012

Objective—

MicroRNAs (miRs) regulate angiogenesis by posttranscriptional silencing of target genes. The significance of angiostatic miR-200b in switching on skin wound angiogenesis was tested.

Methods and Results—

Wounding caused imminent and transient downregulation of miR-200b in dermal wound-edge endothelial cells. Derailing this injury response by lentiviral delivery of miR-200b in vivo impaired wound angiogenesis. Computational prediction, target reporter luciferase assay, and Western blot analysis provided first evidence that miR-200b targets globin transcription factor binding protein 2 (GATA2) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Overexpression of GATA2 or VEGFR2 in endothelial cells rescued the angiostatic effect of miR-200b in vitro. Downregulation of miR-200b derepressed GATA2 and VEGFR2 expression to switch on wound angiogenesis, which was disrupted in diabetic wounds. Treatment of endothelial cells with tumor necrosis factor-α, a proinflammatory cytokine abundant in diabetic wounds, induced miR-200b expression, silenced GATA2 and VEGFR2, and suppressed angiogenesis. These outcomes were attenuated using anti-miR-200b strategy. Neutralization of tumor necrosis factor-α in the diabetic wounds improved wound angiogenesis and closure, which was accompanied by downregulation of miR-200b expression and desilencing of GATA2 and VEGFR2.

Conclusion—

Injury-induced repression of miR-200b turned on wound angiogenesis. In mice with diabetes mellitus,excessive tumor necrosis factor-α induced miR-200b blunting proangiogenic functions of GATA2 and VEGFR2.
Evidence Supporting a Key Role of Lp-PLA2-Generated Lysophosphatidylcholine in Human Atherosclerotic Plaque Inflammation
Authors: Gonçalves Isabel , Edsfeldt Andreas , Ko Na Young , Grufman Helena , Berg Katarina , Björkbacka Harry , Nitulescu Mihaela , Persson Ana , Nilsson Marie , Prehn Cornelia , Adamski Jerzy , Nilsson Jan
Published: April 2012

Objectives—

To determine whether the level of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) generated by lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is associated with severity of inflammation in human atherosclerotic plaques. Elevated plasma Lp-PLA2 is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Lp-PLA2 inhibition reduces atherosclerosis. Lp-PLA2 hydrolyzes low-density lipoprotein–oxidized phospholipids generating lysoPCs. According to in vitro studies, lysoPCs are proinflammatory but the association between their generation and plaque inflammation remains unknown.

Methods and Results—

Inflammatory activity in carotid plaques (162 patients) was determined immunohistochemically and by analyzing cytokines in homogenates (multiplex immunoassay). LysoPCs were quantified using mass spectrometry and Lp-PLA2 and the lysoPC metabolite lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) by ELISA. There was a strong correlation among lysoPC 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, LPA, and Lp-PLA2 in plaques. LysoPC 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, LPA, and Lp-PLA2 correlated with interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted, and tumor necrosis factor-α in plaques. High lysoPC and Lp-PLA2 correlated with increased plaque macrophages and lipids and with low content of smooth muscle cells, whereas LPA only correlated with plaque macrophages. Lp-PLA2, lysoPC 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1, but not LPA were higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic plaques.

Conclusions—

The associations among Lp-PLA2, lysoPCs, LPA, and proinflammatory cytokines in human plaques suggest that lysoPCs play a key role in plaque inflammation and vulnerability. Our findings support Lp-PLA2 inhibition as a possible strategy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Dietary Sodium and Risk of Stroke in the Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: Gardener Hannah , Rundek Tatjana , Wright Clinton B. , Elkind Mitchell S.V. , Sacco Ralph L.
Published: April 2012

Background and Purpose—

The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to ≤1500 mg/day for ideal cardiovascular health. Although sodium intake has been linked to vascular disease by direct relationship with hypertension, few studies have supported an association with stroke risk.

Methods—

Participants were from the Northern Manhattan Study (mean age 69± 10 years, 64% women, 21% white, 53% Hispanic, 24% black), a population-based cohort study of stroke incidence. Sodium intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and evaluated continuously and categorically: ≤1500 mg/day (12%), 1501 to 2300 mg/day (24%), 2301 to 3999 mg/day (43%), and ≥4000 mg/day (21%). Over a mean follow-up of 10 years, we examined the association between sodium consumption and 235 strokes using Cox models adjusting for sociodemographics, diet, behavioral/lifestyle, and vascular risk factors.

Results—

Of 2657 participants with dietary data, the mean sodium intake was 3031±1470 mg/day (median, 2787; interquartile range, 1966–3815 mg/day). Participants who consumed ≥4000 mg/day sodium had an increased risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.27–5.28) versus those who consumed ≤1500 mg/day with a 17% increased risk of stroke for each 500-mg/day increase (95% CI, 1.07–1.27).

Conclusions—

High sodium intake was prevalent and associated with an increased risk of stroke independent of vascular risk factors. The new American Heart Association dietary sodium goals will help reduce stroke risk.
Moving Beyond a Single Perfusion Threshold to Define Penumbra
Authors: Nagakane Yoshinari , Christensen Soren , Ogata Toshiyasu , Churilov Leonid , Ma Henry , Parsons Mark W. , Desmond Patricia M. , Levi Christopher R. , Butcher Kenneth S. , Davis Stephen M. , Donnan Geoffrey A.
Published: April 2012

Background and Purpose—

The mismatch lesion volumes defined by perfusion-weighted imaging exceeding diffusion-weighted imaging have been used as a marker of ischemic penumbral tissue. Defining the perfusion lesion by thresholding has shown promise as a practical tool; several positron emission tomography studies have indicated a more probabilistic relationship between perfusion and infarction. Here, we used a randomized controlled trial dataset of tissue-type plasminogen activator 3 to 6 hours after stroke to: (1) quantify the relationship between severity of hypoperfusion (measured by Tmax) and risk of infarction; (2) exploit this relationship to present a novel definition of mismatch based on infarct probabilities rather than dichotomies; and (3) examine the treatment response in the subgroup of patients with mismatch by the new definition.

Methods—

Patients from the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET) were included. Baseline perfusion-weighted imaging and 90-day T2-weighted imaging were coregistered. Perfusion-weighted imaging lesion volumes were divided into 10 Tmax delay strata, and infarct risk was defined as the fraction of the tissue at a given Tmax strata that progressed to infarction by day 90.

Results—

Sixty-two patients were studied. Infarct risk was an increasing function of Tmax for all subgroups, including the whole cohort. The probabilistic approach outperformed all Tmax thresholds, with exception of the Tmax ≥10 threshold, for which it was only favored by a trend.

Conclusions—

Infarct risk and treatment effect increased with severity of perfusion abnormalities. This suggests that a severity-weighted mismatch definition may define penumbral tissue more accurately.
Japan, the United States, and the Philosophical Bases of Immigration Policy
Authors: Skrentny John D. , Gell-Redman Micah , Lee Jack Jin Gary
Published: April 2012

Immigration policy can be understood as variably conforming to three different philosophies: economic utilitarianism, which is geared toward maximizing wealth; rights liberalism, where policy creates legal protections of human dignity, including that of citizens and migrants alike; and communitarianism, where the preservation of the host state’s national culture is paramount. The extent to which these philosophies guides policy depends on the policy in question and also on the state making the policy. Although both the United States and Japan face demographic and economic challenges in the future and make economic utilitarian policy for skilled immigrants, the United States’ tendency toward free-market economic utilitarianism has prepared it for these challenges more so than Japan, where policies more in line with communitarian principles and an economic utilitarianism focused on the costs of low-skilled immigrants have created greater demographic challenges in the future.
Relationship Between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Risk Factors in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Maksimovic Milos , Vlajinac Hristina , Radak Djordje , Marinkovic Jelena , Jorga Jagoda
Published: April 2012

We investigated whether patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with various serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) differ in the frequency of atherosclerotic risk factors. Among 388 patients, hsCRP levels were (1) low, <1 mg/L, in 41 (10.6%) participants; (2) medium, from 1 to 3 mg/L, in 152 (39.2%) participants, and (3) high, >3 mg/L, in 195 (50.2%) individuals. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, in comparison with patients with hsCRP level ≤3.0 mg/L, those with higher hsCRP levels had more frequently a severe form of PAD (gangrene, P ranged from .045 to <.001; ankle–brachial index ≤.40, P = .059) and had more frequently some of atherosclerotic risk factors (metabolic syndrome, P = .007; hypertension, P = .013; abdominal obesity, P = .007; high levels of uric acid, P = .022; high level of fibrinogen, P < .001; and depression, P = .015).
The Future of Our Organizations
Authors: Yakushko Oksana , Wang Sherry C. , Warrior Anitra M.
Published: April 2012

This response focuses on the significance of ethnic minority psychology organizations and other related membership structures to early career psychologists (ECPs) and counseling psychology students. We discuss not only reasons for why students and ECPs may not be joining professional organizations, but also strategies for recruiting, supporting, and mentoring them through organizations which are focused on diversity.
Automated optimal design methodology of elevator systems using rules and graphical methods (the HARint plane)
Authors: Al-Sharif Lutfi , Alqumsan Ahmad M Abu , Aal Osama F Abdel
Published: April 2012

The design of an elevator system heavily relies on the calculation of the round-trip time under up-peak (incoming) traffic conditions. The round-trip time can either be calculated analytically or by the use of Monte Carlo simulation. However, the calculation of the round-trip time is only part of the design methodology. This paper does not discuss the round-trip time calculation methodology as this has been addressed in detail elsewhere. This paper presents a step-by-step automated design methodology which gives the optimum number of elevators in very specific, constrained arrival situations. A range of situations can be considered and a judgement can be made as to what is the best cost–performance tradeoff. It uses the round trip value calculated by the use of other tools to automatically arrive at an optimal elevator design for a building. It employs rules and graphical methods. The methodology starts from the user requirements in the form of three parameters: the target interval; the expected passenger arrival rate (AR%) which is the passenger arrival in the busiest 5 min expressed as a percentage of the building population; and the total building population. Using these requirements, the expected number of passengers boarding an elevator car is calculated. Then, the round-trip time is calculated (using other tools) and the optimum number of elevators is calculated. Further iterations are carried out to refine the actual number of passengers boarding the elevator and the actual achieved target. The optimal car capacity is then calculated based on the final expected passengers boarding the car. The HARint plane is presented as a graphical tool that allows the designer to visualise the solution. Three different rated speeds are suggested and used in order to explore the possibility of reducing the number of elevator cars. Moreover, the average passenger travel time is used to indicate the need for zoning of buildings.

Practical application: This paper has an important application in allowing the designer to arrive at the optimum design for the elevator system using a clearly defined methodology. This ensures that the number of elevators, their speed and their capacity are optimised, thus ensuring that the cost of the elevator system and the space it occupies within the building are minimised. The method also employs a graphical method (the HARint) in order to allow the designer to visualise the optimality and the feasibility of the different design options.
Work Organizational Outcomes of the Use of Temporary Agency Workers
Authors: Håkansson Kristina , Isidorsson Tommy
Published: April 2012

This article examines work organizational dynamics in workplaces using temporary agency workers. Previous research has principally either emphasized one effect, the division into core and periphery, or criticized this effect. This article contributes to a more nuanced analysis of how the work organization of user firms is affected by the use of temporary agency workers. Crucial factors influencing the outcome include: how agency workers are integrated into the work organization; the skills required for the work performed by agency workers; the duration of assignments; the induction time; and the access to competence development. Based on ten Swedish cases, our analysis shows that the use of temporary agency workers has three different outcomes: (1) The Core and Periphery outcome is in line with previous research on ‘the flexible firm’ whereby temporary agency workers are assigned simple work tasks and user firm employees perform advanced work tasks; (2) the All Core outcome entails using agency workers for the same advanced work tasks as user firm employees. Contradicting the theory of ‘the flexible firm’, our study shows that temporary agency workers contribute to functional flexibility; (3) the third outcome, All Periphery, occurs when the work organization is adapted to the use of low-skilled agency workers who are easily introduced into the workplace and easily terminated. However, adapting the work organization to the use of temporary agency workers also influences user firm employees, leading to deskilling and a deteriorated work organization for all workers at that workplace.
Cosmopolitan musicianship under construction: Digital musicians illuminating emerging values in music education
Authors: Partti Heidi
Published: April 2012

This instrumental case study aims to explore meanings and values in digital musical culture, and to reflect on them in relation to wider conceptualizations of musicianship in the field of music education. The study employs a narrative-biographical approach in analyzing the music-related life stories of a group of practitioners at a London-based music college, whose music-making practices utilize mainly or only digital technologies (they are hence referred to as ‘digital musicians’). The results suggest that those values emphasizing aspects of musical versatility and flexibility, as well as mobility between various musical communities of practice, are specifically connected with digital musicianship. In this study, the values relate to ‘musical cosmopolitanism’, and are believed to furnish possibilities for application to pedagogical/educational practices as well as providing a way forward for 21st century professional musicians.
The five improvisation ‘brains’: A pedagogical model for jazz improvisation at high school and the undergraduate level
Authors: Monk Augusto
Published: April 2012

The learning of jazz improvisation is often treated as the incorporation of stylistic vocabulary and development of technical dexterity. Although this methodology is effective, considering other aspects of jazz improvisation can make the learning process a more holistic and less technical endeavour. My experience teaching improvisation has led me to formulate a method based on the cognitive process of improvisation conceptualized as a multi-dimensional model consisting of five improvisational cognitive skills: performance of material; creation of material; continuation of ideas; structural awareness of the improvised material; and temporal awareness of the improvised events. This model indicates that, during improvised performance, the player shifts the focus from one cognitive skill to another; this ability to establish links between skills is what I define as improvisational intelligence. The proposed method develops this linking ability through exercises complementary to the more common methods of jazz improvisation. In this article I present the multi-dimensional model for improvisational cognition drawing from the existing literature. After breaking down the five cognitive aspects of the model and explaining how they work together, I provide exercises for each cognitive aspect in isolation and in conjunction. This method can be taught to high school and undergraduate jazz students and, with some modifications, to non-jazz musicians seeking to develop improvisation skills.
Central venous saturation is not an alternative to mixed venous saturation during cardiopulmonary bypass in coronary artery surgery patients
Authors: Soussi MS , Jebali MA , Le Manach Y , Nasri M , Zouari B , Chenik S , Ferjani M
Published: April 2012

Background:

To evaluate the correlation and agreement between central venous saturation (ScvO2) and mixed venous saturation (SvO2) during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods:

Twenty-two consecutive patients scheduled for coronary artery surgery were prospectively included. Paired measurements of ScvO2 and SvO2 were performed 5 minutes after aortic cross-clamping, after each cardioplegia dose and after de-clamping of the aortic cross-clamp. ScvO2 and SvO2 were measured, respectively, by a fibreoptic catheter in the superior vena cava and on blood samples from the venous return line of the extracorporeal circuit, using a blood gas analyser

Results:

Ninety-five paired measurements of venous saturation were obtained. Correlation between the measurements was associated with an r = 0.55. The mean bias was 2.2 [Limits of agreement: –13.6%, +18%]. Changes in oxygen saturation over time showed an r = 0.4 and a mean bias of 0.2 [Limits of agreement: –17.9%, +18.3%]. Multivariate analysis identified the oxygen consumption index as the only factor explaining this variability.

Conclusions:

Although mean biases between the measurements were low, limits of agreement were too large to provide a clinically acceptable estimation of SvO2 by ScvO2 in these conditions. Variations in regional oxygen consumption seem to be the main factor worsening the relationship.
Postural control in elderly women with osteoporosis: comparison of balance, strengthening and stretching exercises. A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Burke Thomaz Nogueira , França Fábio Jorge Renovato , Meneses Sarah Rúbia Ferreira de , Pereira Rosa Maria Rodrigues , Marques Amélia Pasqual
Published: April 2012

Objective:

To compare the efficacy of balance training associated with muscle strengthening or stretching, relative to no intervention, in the postural control of elderly women with osteoporosis.

Design:

A randomized, controlled trial.

Subjects and interventions:

Sample consisted of 50 women aged 65 years or older, with osteoporosis, randomized into one of three groups: strengthening group ( n = 17) performed balance training with muscle strengthening; stretching group ( n = 17) performed balance training with stretching; and control group ( n = 16), no activities. Interventions lasted eight weeks, twice a week, 60 minutes a day.

Main measures:

Postural control was evaluated by the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (CTSIBm) and Limits of Stability Test. Strength was assessed by dynamometry and the shortening of the hamstrings by goniometry.

Results:

Relative to controls, participants in the strengthening group displayed significantly increased dorsiflexion strength and knee flexion strength, as well as centre of pressure velocity, directional control, and oscillation velocity (CTSIBm test). The stretching group had significantly improvements in hamstring length, knee flexion strength, centre of pressure velocity, and amplitude of movements. Relative to the stretching group, the strengthening group yielded better knee extension strength and directional control.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that both interventions are effective in improving postural control when compared to the control group, and the strengthening group was superior to the stretching group in knee extension strength and in directional control.
Persuasion-Bargaining and Institutions in an Organized Anarchy
Authors: Newmann William W.
Published: April 2012

A key debate in the study of the American presidency concerns the determinants of presidential decisions. Traditionally, decisions were seen as the result of persuasion-bargaining. President-centered factors, such as the preferences of the man who occupies the office and the relationships between his senior advisors determined presidential decisions. Recently, the field has made a transition to institution-based models, in which each president and his advisers are rational actors responding to the political and legal forces that frame the office. This essay suggests a research agenda that incorporates both approaches. The Garbage Can model of decision is used to illustrate how the foreign policy process is an organized anarchy; decision making is the intersection of four streams–choice opportunities, problems, solutions, and participants. The model helps identify both institutional and persuasion-bargaining variables and highlights their interactions as streams are connected to produce policy. Clinton administration decisions on trade with China in 1993-1994 are the focus. Overall, a useful metaphor for decision making is to see it as a game. Institutional forces establish the rules, define most of the players in the game and their relative power within the game; how the rules are used, manipulated, interpreted, or compromised depends on the idiosyncratic beliefs and political skills of the players involved. In this case, differing perceptions of China held within different institutions competed through a legal and political framework, but the ultimate outcome depended on the decision making and deal making skills of the key officials, including the president.
The synergistic effect of benzo[a]pyrene and lead on learning and memory of mice
Authors: Youbin Qi , Chengzhi Chen , Yan Tang , Xuejun Jiang , Chongying Qiu , Bin Peng , Baijie Tu
Published: April 2012

In the present study, the single and combined neurotoxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene ([BaP] 0.0, 0.5, and 5.0 mg/kg body weight; intragastric administration) and lead acetate (0.0, 5.4, and 54.0 mg/L; by drinking water) were examined on KunMing mice. In the Morris water maze, results showed that BaP and lead induced synergistic effects on the escape latency and the time spent in the target quadrant but also showed an additive effect on the number of times animal crossing the original platform. Also, BaP and lead induced a synergistic effect on DNA damage in the single-cell gel electrophoresis. However, BaP plus lead showed additive effects on the levels of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione. These results suggested that the combination of BaP and lead can lead to a synergistic effect on spatial learning and memory impairments, and the mechanisms of the synergistic effects on behavioral deficits may be due to the oxidative stress injury.
Antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic activities of ethanolic extract of Zygophyllum album in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice
Authors: Ghoul Jamel El , Boughattas Naceur A , Ben-Attia Mossadok
Published: April 2012

Zygophyllum album has been mentioned in Tunisian system of folk medicine to be of value in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The present study was designed to investigate the possible antihyperglycemic effects of ethanolic extracts of the whole plant of Z. album on blood glucose, plasma insulin, serum lipids and hepatic glycogen and metabolism enzymes of carbohydrate in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Administration of the ethanolic extract from plant (100 and 300 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days resulted in significant reduction in plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density liprotein, hepatic glucokinase and glycogen in STZ diabetic mice. In addition to that, significant increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein, hepatic phosphofructokinase and glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase was observed in STZ diabetic mice. After administration of the ethanolic extract, the increased level of plasma insulin is not significant in diabetic mice. In conclusion, the present results showed that the ethanolic extract of Z. album possesses significant antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic effects in experimental model of diabetes mellitus.
The investigation of irrigation with wastewater on trees (Populus deltoids L.)
Authors: Hashemi Seyed Armin
Published: April 2012

The urban green space and environment should be considered to be among the most fundamental elements of the sustainability of natural and human life in the new citizenship. To investigate the effect of irrigation on northern Mashad municipal effluent treatment plant effluent on the chemical properties of soil and accumulation of nutrient in poplar trees, a study was carried out using a random–systematic pattern. To investigate soil as well as accumulation of nutrients and cadmium in leaves, samples of soil (0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm) and leaves were taken from each plot in four replications. The measurements carried out in the laboratory showed that the cadmium of the samples of leaf and soil in the compound irrigated with waste water was significantly more than the compound irrigated with well water. The results of the present research suggest that urban waste water can be used as a source of irrigation whereas muck can be employed in forestation and irrigation with precise and particular supervision and control.
Comparing Online and Face-to-Face Presentation of Course Content in an Introductory Special Education Course
Authors: Thompson James R. , Klass Patricia H. , Fulk Barbara M.
Published: April 2012

Instructional content was presented differently in two introductory special education course sections. In a face-to-face (f2f) section, the instructor met with students on regularly scheduled days and times and presented content in person. In the other section, content was presented using enhanced podcasts, consisting of the instructor narrating while PowerPoint slides and other visuals were shown in flash movies that students could download from the Internet at days and times of their choosing. All other aspects of these two class sections were the same. Although data associated with student achievement and student satisfaction were slightly more favorable for the f2f section, the discrepancies may have been related to demographic differences in the student populations of the two sections. Measures of student engagement were slightly higher for the online section. Implications of findings are discussed in relation to teaching and learning in courses with large enrollments that are focused primarily on developing knowledge-based competencies.
Denying Darwin: Views on science in the rejection of evolution by Dutch Protestants
Authors: Hildering Peter , Consoli Luca , van den Born Riyan
Published: April 2012

Evolution has met with considerable religious opposition for 150 years and is still controversial among various religious groups. This article tries to understand the evolution controversy by reframing it as a phenomenon of public understanding of science. Three paradigms were used as hypotheses for the rejection of evolution by Dutch Protestant Christians: knowledge deficit, attitude deficit and trust deficit. Ten Dutch Protestants rejecting evolution were interviewed about their views concerning evolution and science. It was found that the main reason for rejecting evolution was an a priori decision to trust the Bible more than science. Any views on science and evolution were based on this decision, so all three hypotheses, which suggest an a posteriori decision, were found to be not sufficient to explain the rejection of evolution, even though both a knowledge deficit and a trust deficit were found for some participants. However, all respondents felt that their a priori decision was supported by scientific facts. All respondents stated that evolution does not meet the criteria for good science and is therefore as unscientific as the belief in creation. Excluding evolution from science allows the respondents to retain their positive attitudes towards science.
Relationship Between Duration of Type 2 Diabetes and Self-Reported Participation in Diabetes Education in Korea
Authors: Hwang Jongnam , Johnson Jeffrey A.
Published: April 2012

The increasing prevalence of diabetes is a pressing issue in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between duration of diabetes and self-reported participation in diabetes education among diabetic patients in Korea. This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005. A total of 1405 respondents older than 19 years and having diabetes were included in the analyses. The relationship between these variables was assessed using logistic regression after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. The authors observed that duration of diabetes was associated with having never attended diabetes education programs (odds ratio = 0.95; 95% confidence interval = 0.93-0.96; P < .001), with the greatest risk of not attending seen in recently diagnosed patients. In addition, having lower educational attainment and living in non–Metro Seoul regions were independent factors for never attending diabetes education programs among diabetic patients in Korea. This finding suggests the need for developing effective education programs to encourage diabetic patients, particularly recently diagnosed patients, to participate. Such programs could help deliver appropriate information for diabetes management to all diabetic patients in Korea.
Validation of the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESSA) in Vietnam
Authors: Truc Thai Thanh , Loan Kim Xuan , Nguyen Nguyen Do , Dixon Jason , Sun Jiandong , Dunne Michael Patrick
Published: April 2012

Introduction. To date, there has been little systematic, quantitative research on the links between academic pressure and mental health among adolescents in Asia, and none in Vietnam. In part, this is because of a lack of appropriate tools to measure this complex phenomenon. This study was to validate the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESSA), developed and tested in China, with the aim of fostering further research in Asia. Methods. A total of 1283 students were recruited in 3 secondary schools and 3 high schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Anonymous, self-report questionnaires included the ESSA and previously validated measures of mental health. Results. Among the 1226 questionnaires available, 54% of respondents were female. The mean age was 15.3 years. Students reported substantial study burden. The ESSA had good internal consistency, and factorial validity and concurrent validity were established. Conclusion. The ESSA is a suitable measure for school-based mental health research in Asia.
Risk of HIV Infection Among Men Having Sex With Men in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Deuba Keshab , Karki Deepak Kumar , Shrestha Rachana , Aryal Umesh Raj , Bhatta Laxmi , Rai Krishna Kumar
Published: April 2012

Despite extensive distribution of free condoms and lubricants to prevent HIV transmission among men having sex with men (MSM) in Nepal, the prevalence of HIV and risky sexual behaviors remain high. The influence of individual-level, social-capital, and social-structural factors on HIV risk has been insufficiently explored in MSM. The authors assessed association of these factors with HIV risk among 150 MSM enrolled using snowball sampling in the Kathmandu Valley. HIV risk was calculated on the basis of number and type of sexual partners and condom use during anal sex. Multivariate analysis showed a high risk of HIV infection was significantly associated with being involved in sex work, having no knowledge of male sexually transmitted infection (STI) symptoms, and having a history of STI symptoms. HIV prevention could be made more effective by targeting MSM who are involved in sex work and by improving their knowledge of male STI symptoms and early diagnosis and treatment.
Factors Associated With Poor Hospital Mortality Rates After the National Health Insurance Program
Authors: Chang Li
Published: April 2012

The study examined whether hospital mortality rates have improved since National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan and what factors affect the hospital mortality rates. The related hospital data were collected from databases belonging to the NHI Annual Statistics Information. In addition, panel data analysis and stepwise regression are used to indicate the determinants of hospital mortality rates from 1995 to 2008. The evidence shows that mortality rates have not improved since the NHI; competition, the elderly, family income, the poor, the number of clinical departments, length of stay, new technology, public hospitals and family medical expenses—all affect mortality rates. Moreover, longer length of stay, increase in the number of elderly and low-income families, and inequality of resource allocation have led to high mortality rates. Policy makers first have to realize what drives them to change and then set the benchmarks for their improvement.
Multifactorial Analysis of Factors Affecting Recurrence of Stroke in Japan
Authors: Omori Toyonori , Kawagoe Masahiro , Moriyama Michiko , Yasuda Takeshi , Ito Yasuhiro , Hyakuta Takeshi , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki , Matsumoto Masayasu
Published: April 2012

Data on factors affecting stroke recurrence are relatively limited. The authors examined potential factors affecting stroke recurrence, retrospectively. The study participants were 1087 patients who were admitted to stroke centers suffering from first-ever ischemic stroke and returned questionnaires with usable information after discharge. The authors analyzed the association between clinical parameters of the patients and their prognosis. Recurrence rate of during an average of 2 years after discharge was 21.3%, and there were differences among stroke subtypes. It was found that the disability level of the patients after discharge correlated well with the level at discharge ( rs = 0.66). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the data shows that modified Rankin Scale score, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, gender, age, and family history had statistically significant impacts on stroke recurrence, and the impact was different depending on subtypes. These findings suggest that aggressive and persistent health education for poststroke patients and management of risk factors are essential to reduce stroke recurrence.
A bio-inspired approach for online trajectory generation of industrial robots
Authors: Farzaneh Yadollah , Akbarzadeh Alireza
Published: April 2012

This paper presents a bio-inspired approach for generating online rhythmic point-to-point motions commonly used by industrial robots. Rhythmic motions in biological systems are produced with neural circuits called central pattern generators (CPGs). A modified form of CPG network is designed and used to generate the rhythmic motion. A pick and place task is considered an industrial application of the proposed approach. Several pick and place applications are considered. It is demonstrated that with CPGs, online changes of rhythmic trajectories are successfully generated. The proposed approach is novel, enables online trajectory generation, improves machine life and yields excellent coordinated natural motion for the robotic systems.
What affects candidate selection processes? A cross-national examination
Authors: Shomer Yael
Published: April 2012

Intra-party candidate selection processes are one of the prime mechanisms through which parties organize. This article seeks to examine empirically what factors account for variation in candidate selection processes. After identifying the key assertions developed in the literature, I use a unique cross-national dataset with data on the selection procedures of 512 parties in 46 countries to examine whether a party’s ideology, size, regime type, territorial organization and region affect the way parties select their legislative candidates. I pay special attention to the hypothesized relationships between electoral systems and selection processes, since the literature was indecisive and since research on the effects of institutions on legislators’ behaviour often amalgamated elections and selections. Underlying this amalgamation is an assumption that electoral systems determine candidate selection processes. I use my data to shed light on these relationships and provide a cautionary tale about amalgamating elections and selections.
Remarks on the acquisition of Basque–Spanish bilingualism
Authors: Meisel Jürgen M.
Published: April 2012

This commentary on the preceding six articles focuses on three issues concerning simultaneous and successive acquisition in early childhood which are addressed directly or indirectly in the contributions under discussion. The first issue concerns crosslinguistic interaction. It is argued that the evidence presented here speaks in favour of autonomous grammatical development in simultaneous bilingualism. Crosslinguistic interaction seems to happen only when grammatical knowledge is activated, i.e. in language use. The second problem area discussed here concerns the respective roles of input, universal mechanisms, and age of onset of acquisition as factors determining the course of acquisition. The claim is that these and other variables all contribute to an explanation of developmental sequences in monolingual and bilingual first language acquisition but that quantitative properties of the input do not override universal principles in the domain of grammar. The third point consists in emphasizing the role of second language speakers as role models for bilingual children. This provides an explanation of contact-induced change in core areas of grammar where, otherwise, empirical evidence does not support the claim of crosslinguistic interaction in bilingual children acquiring two languages simultaneously. It also constitutes a plausible scenario accounting for diachronic grammatical change.
The initiation and progression of late-life romantic relationships
Authors: Malta Sue , Farquharson Karen
Published: April 2012

This research explores the initiation and progression of new late-life romantic relationships among older Australians (60 years plus). Our research found that older adult romantic relationships were meaningful, important and sexually intimate. However, few led to cohabitation or marriage, with these older adults preferring to date or to maintain separate households (living-apart-together, LAT). In line with Giddens’ ideal of ‘pure’ relationships, our research indicates that older adults are looking for egalitarian relationships based on emotional and sexual equality, albeit not necessarily based on cohabitation or monogamy.