bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
English Word Stress in the Post-Nuclear Position
Authors: Huss Volker
Published: November 2009

Stress oppositions between words like import ≠ import are audible in the nucleus of intonation contours where they are distinguished by fundamental frequency. In the post-nuclear position the opposition is neutralized; the two stresses are identical in terms of fundamental frequency, but measurably different in terms of intensity and duration. Listeners’ reactions are not random, though: those syllables which fit into a regular sequence of stressed and unstressed syllables are interpreted as stressed and unstressed, respectively. Speech production is also influenced by sentence rhythm: syllables which correspond to the general rhythmic pattern have greater duration and intensity. But listeners do not perceive these modifications.
Pharyngeal Constrictions
Authors: Gauffin Jan , Sundberg Johan
Published: November 2009

From a fiberscope, the tip of which was swung from left to right in the pharynx, cinefilm frames were obtained which showed the cross-sectional shape of pharyngeal constrictions in back vowels. This information was combined with the information offered by X-ray pictures of the same subject phonating the same vowels on a different occasion. The results agree to a reasonable extent with previously published data obtained by different techniques, and support previous hypotheses regarding distance-to-area conversion in the pharyngeal region of the vocal tract.
El rehilamiento: Descripción (The ‘Rehilamiento’: Description)
Authors: Barbón Rodríguez J.A.
Published: November 2009

The work analyses the way in which the ‘rehilamiento’ presents itself. It presents itself as an acoustic stochastic field, superposed on an acoustic periodic field, as a consequence of two articulatory constrictions: the one at the oscillating vocal cords and the other at any place in the pharynx. The auditory perception of the ‘rehilamiento’ is simply one of voiced friction. The oscillograms presented confirm that in the language of Buenos Aires the realization of [ž] tends to conserve its voiced quality among men while losing it among women.
Perception of Prominence by Dutch Listeners
Authors: Gussenhoven C. , Blom J.G.
Published: November 2009

In order to assess the degree and nature of the dependence of the perception of prominence on the ways in which prominence-lending features are employed in the native language of the listener, a language-neutral test was developed to measure the relative contributions of fundamental frequency, intensity and duration to the perception of prominence. In this report, the test is described and the results of an experiment with Dutch listeners discussed. These results can serve as a basis for comparison with results obtained from listeners with different language backgrounds.
Zur Problematik der sogenannten Implosive (On the Problems of the So-Called Implosives)
Authors: Merlingen W.
Published: November 2009

After a short chronology of the investigation, the author discusses the nature of the implosives and the problems resulting from their complexity and ambiguity. One of the main problems is that of the production of voice; the most satisfactory solution is offered by the ‘active voice’ suggested by Husson. From certain phenomena it can be seen that the articulation is based upon the more or less modified movements of the second phase of the act of deglutition; wherein certain reflex-conditioned interdependencies play an important part. As a result, there is not merely one phonemic constituent to be called ‘implosion’, but two or three different ones, depending on the points of departure of articulation. ‘Implosion’ is one of the most ancient and archaic manners of articulation.
Eléments pour une phonétique linguistique plus adéquate (Elements of a More Adequate Linguistic Phonetics)
Authors: Marchal Alain , Tiffou Etienne
Published: November 2009

Contemporary phonology, with its emphasis on phonetic features, needs an adequate linguistic phonetics. In this paper, we examine criteria of scientific truth and their implications for a scientific investigation of the speech chain. Recent progress in fundamental research requires that the features postulated should not only be sufficient but also adequate. With adequacy in mind, we explore the phonology of the syllable from a slightly different point of view. It seems to us that the phonetic output needs to be examined in a more refined and adequate manner. This is particularly true at what we shall show to be an intermediate level of contextually determined concatenation of phonemes.
Temporal Aspects of Articulatory Movements for /s/-Stop Clusters
Authors: Borden Gloria J. , Gay Thomas
Published: November 2009

Cinefluorographic tracking of pellets on the tongue body, tongue tip, jaw, and lips of three subjects indicates that there are certain basic strategies used for initial /sp/, /st/ and /sk/ clusters. The data reveal an economy of effort in tongue movement, and support the concept of the tongue as a multiple articulator. In addition, the shorter fricative duration of /s/ before /p/ is seen to be a result of early lip closure relative to the occlusions for /st/ and /sk/, which are delayed due to tongue involvement with the /s/.
Lippenrundung bei schwedischen Vokalen (Liprounding in Swedish Vowels)
Authors: Traunmüller Hartmut
Published: November 2009

Is there a steady transition between unrounded, ‘outrounded’, and ‘inrounded’ Swedish vowels, or are these distinct categories? By which articulatory parameters can these distinctions be described? These questions, actualised through confusion data in speech reading, are answered by means of articulatory measurements of lip-opening, lip protrusion, and jaw-lowering in 4 subjects. It is found, i.a., that rounded and unrounded vowels form clearly separated categories, and that unrounded vowels, including /o/, are distinguished from outrounded ones by their smaller lip-opening and, if long, by increased lowering of the jaw.
Intrusive Stops in Nasal-Fricative Clusters: An Aerodynamic and Acoustic Investigation
Authors: Ali Latif , Daniloff Ray , Hammarberg Robert
Published: November 2009

An aerodynamic investigation of the occurrence of intrusive stop consonants occurring in nasal-fricative consonant clusters in English revealed that intrusive stops were cued perceptually by silent gaps often followed by burst releases preceding the fricative consonant. In articulatory-aerodynamic terms, intrusive stops appear to result from a prolonged oral occlusion of the nasal stop which is released with a vigorous burst release just prior to complete formation of the following fricative slit constriction.
Identification of Novel Phonetic Segments by Children, Adolescents and Adults
Authors: Bond Z.S. , Adamescu Linda
Published: November 2009

The ability of children, adolescents and adults to employ completely novel phonetic information was examined. Three groups of subjects were tested for their ability to identify minimal pairs contrasting voiced and implosive stops in syllable-initial position. Children’s performance on this task was significantly superior to both adolescent and adult performance.
Einfache Überlegungen an Systemen zur «automatischen Spracherkennung»
Authors: Ungeheuer G.
Published: November 2009

The relation between input and output signals in a recognition system is described extensionally, and with these means the fundamental problem of automatic speech recognition is formulated. On this basis, the second part of the paper deals with functional problems of signal classification.
Mandible Height and Syllable-Final Tenseness
Authors: Fujimura Osamu , Miller Joan E.
Published: November 2009

Mandible movements in the vowel-to-consonant transition manifest consistent differences between /t/ and /d/ in syllable final position. Both mandible position at its peak value near the articulatory release of the stop and velocity of its ascending movement in the transition are found to be apparently relevant to the tense/lax distinction, even though the reliability of these criteria for categorizing t/d data somewhat varies depending on the speaker. Some related characteristics of lingual movements and similar mandible characteristics for the k/g distinction are mentioned. The data were obtained by the computer-controlled X-ray microbeam system in cooperation with the University of Tokyo group.
Articulatory Measurement and Synthesis
Authors: Heike Georg
Published: November 2009

The relations between area functions of the vocal tract and the acoustic result are of phonetic interest only if they can be interpreted in articulatory terms. We show which problems may arise if two-dimensional configurations of the vocal tract are to be transformed into area functions, and which relations exist between articulatory variables, area functions, and formant frequencies in an articulatory model.
Final Voicing and Vowel Length in Welsh
Authors: Wells John C.
Published: November 2009

The great majority of Welsh word-final plosives are devoiced lenes (fully voiced before a following vowel or sonorant), with a long vowel preceding. There are also a certain number of words – nearly all borrowed – ending in a fortis plosive, voiceless in all circumstances, with a short vowel preceding. There are quite a few minimal pairs where a long vowel + lenis plosive is opposed to a short vowel + fortis plosive. Arguments for the primacy of voicing and of vowel length, respectively, are presented. A solution is put forward which specifies plosives with regard to voicing in the lexicon and which provides rules (a) doubling any voiceless plosive after a stressed vowel and (b) lengthening any stressed vowel in the context before up to one consonant. A number of exceptions are discussed. As a linguist, the author prefers a solution which requires the specifying of perhaps 60 or 80 exceptions as exceptional over one which would call for at least one extra feature specification for every word in the lexicon.
Complex Encoding in Word-Final Voiced and Voiceless Stops
Authors: Barry William J.
Published: November 2009

The multifunctionality of vowel and closure duration is investigated in two experiments using the word pair ‘bag’-’back’. In experiment I, categorization of synthetic stimuli at three simulated rates of speech supports the notion of the vowel/vowel + closure quotient as a tempo-independent cue to the final ‘voiced’- ‘voiceless’ opposition. In experiment II, manipulated natural stimuli are tested at two rates of speech, sentence-medially and finally. In final position, the results of experiment I are confirmed though durational and nondurational properties interact. Medially, a specific context effect is found.
Some Relationships between Speech Production and Perception
Authors: Bell-Berti Fredericka , Raphael Lawrence J. , Pisoni David B. , Sawusch James R.
Published: November 2009

EMG studies of the American English vowel pairs /i-ι/ and /e-ε”/ reveal two different production strategies: some speakers appear to differentiate the members of each pair primarily on the basis to tongue height; for others the basis of differentiation appears to be tongue tension. There was no obvious reflection of these differences in the speech waveforms or formant patterns of the two groups. To determine if these differences in production might correspond to differences in perception, two vowel identification tests were given to the EMG subjects. Subjects were asked to label the members of a seven-step vowel continuum, /i/ through /ι/. In one condition each item had an equal probability of occurrence. The other condition was an anchoring test; the first stimulus, /i/, was heard four times as often as any other stimulus. Compared with the equal-probability test labelling boundary, the boundary in the anchoring test was displaced toward the more frequently occurring stimulus. The magnitude of the shift of the labelling boundary was greater for subjects using a production strategy based on tongue height than for subjects using tongue tension to differentiate these vowels, suggesting that the stimuli represent adjacent categories in the speakers’ phonetic space for the former, but not for the latter, group.
Some Observations on Velar Movement in Plosives
Authors: Künzel Hermann J.
Published: November 2009

Using a photoelectric device, velar movement of 6 subjects is continuously registered in test words containing /p, t, k, b, d, g/. There are differences in both timing and degree of velar movement patterns as a function of voicing, place of articulation, vocalic context, and mode of release. There is extensive coarticulation in both directions. A hierarchical relationship for the realization of velar height targets for vowels and consonants is found, leading to the supposition that there are two different kinds of coarticulation on the neuromotor level.
Altered Plasma Fibrin Clot Properties Are Associated With In-Stent Thrombosis
Authors: Undas Anetta , Zalewski Jaroslaw , Krochin Marek , Siudak Zbigniew , Sadowski Marcin , Pregowski Jerzy , Dudek Dariusz , Janion Marianna , Witkowski Adam , Zmudka Krzysztof
Published: November 2009

Objectives—We sought to investigate whether patients with in-stent thrombosis (IST) display altered plasma fibrin clot properties.

Methods and Results—We studied 47 definite IST patients, including 15 with acute, 26 subacute and 6 late IST, and 48 controls matched for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, concomitant treatment and angiographic/stent parameters. Plasma clot permeability (Ks), which indicates a pore size, turbidity (lag phase, indicating the rate of fibrin clot formation, ΔAbsmax, maximum absorbance of a fibrin gel, reflecting the fiber thickness), lysis time (t50%) and maximum rate ofd-dimer release from clots (D-Drate) were determined 2 to 73 (median 14.7) months after IST. Patients with IST had 21% lower Ks, 14% higher ΔAbsmax, 11% lower D-Drate, 30% longer t50%(allP<0.0001) and 5% shorter lag phase compared to controls (P=0.042). There were no correlations between clot variables and the time of IST or that from IST to blood sampling. Multiple regression analysis showed that Ks(odds ratio=0.36 per 0.1 μm2,P<0.001), D-Drate(odds ratio=0.16 per 0.01 mg/L/min,P<0.001) and stent length (odds ratio=1.1 per 1 mm,P=0.043) were independent predictors of IST (R2=0.58,P<0.001).

Conclusions—IST patients tend to form dense fibrin clots resistant to lysis, and altered plasma fibrin clot features might contribute to the occurrence of IST.
Obesity Genotype Score and Cardiovascular Risk in Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: He Meian , Cornelis Marilyn C. , Franks Paul W. , Zhang Cuilin , Hu Frank B. , Qi Lu
Published: November 2009

Objective—

To investigate the associations between obesity-predisposing genetic variants, cardiovascular biomarkers, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women with preexisting type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods and Results—

We genotyped polymorphisms at nine established obesity loci in 1,395 women with diabetes from the Nurses’ Health Study: 449 women developed CVD, and 946 women did not develop CVD. A genetic risk score (GRS) was derived by summing risk alleles for each individual. Four polymorphisms (rs9939609 [
FTO
], rs11084753 [
KCTD15
], rs10838738 [
MTCH2
], and rs10938397 [
GNPDA2
]) showed nominally significant associations with CVD. The GRS combining all obesity loci was linearly related to CVD risk (
P
= 0.013 for trend). The odds ratio was 1.08 per risk allele (95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.15;
P
= 0.01) after adjustment for body mass index and other conventional risk factors. Women with the highest quartile of GRS had 53% (95% confidence interval, 6%–122%) increased CVD risk, compared with those in the lowest quartile of GRS (
P
= 0.024). In addition, a higher GRS was associated with lower adiponectin levels (
P
= 0.02). Further adjustment for body mass index and other covariates did not change the association (
P
= 0.006). A higher GRS was also correlated with lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (
P
= 0.01).

Conclusion—

Obesity-predisposing variants may jointly affect CVD risk among women with diabetes.
Loss of Endothelial Tie1 Receptor Impairs Lymphatic Vessel Development-Brief Report
Authors: D'Amico Gabriela , Korhonen Emilia Anne , Waltari Marika , Saharinen Pipsa , Laakkonen Pirjo , Alitalo Kari
Published: November 2009

Objective—

Studies of Tie1 gene-targeted embryos have demonstrated loss of blood vessel integrity, but the relevance of
Tie1
in lymphatic vasculature development is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the swelling observed in
Tie1
mutant embryos is associated with lymphatic vascular defects.

Methods and Results—

We could extend the survival of the
Tie1
-deficient embryos in the ICR background, which allowed us to study their lymphatic vessel development. At embryonic day (E) 14.5, the
Tie1
−/−
embryos had edema and hemorrhages and began to die. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that they have abnormal lymph sacs.
Tie1
−/−
mutants were swollen already at E12.5 without signs of hemorrhage. Their lymph sacs were abnormally patterned, suggesting that lymphatic malformations precede the blood vascular defects. We generated mice with a conditional Cre/
lox
P
Tie1
neo
locus and found that the homozygous
Tie1
neo/neo
hypomorphic embryos survived until E15.5 with lymphatic malformations resembling those seen in the
Tie1
−/−
mutants.

Conclusion—

Our data show that loss of Tie1 results in lymphatic vascular abnormalities that precede the blood vessel phenotype. These findings indicate that Tie1 is involved in lymphangiogenesis and suggest differential requirements for
Tie1
signaling in the two vascular compartments.
Natural Killer T Cells Are Involved in Adipose Tissues Inflammation and Glucose Intolerance in Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Ohmura Kazue , Ishimori Naoki , Ohmura Yoshinori , Tokuhara Satoshi , Nozawa Atsushi , Horii Shunpei , Andoh Yasuhiro , Fujii Satoshi , Iwabuchi Kazuya , Onoé Kazunori , Tsutsui Hiroyuki
Published: November 2009

Background—

Macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration in adipose tissue may contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity-mediated metabolic disorders. Natural killer T (NKT) cells, which integrate proinflammatory cytokines, have been demonstrated in the atherosclerotic lesions and in visceral adipose tissue.

Objective—

To determine whether NKT cells are involved in glucose intolerance and adipose tissue inflammation in diet-induced obese mice.

Methods and Results—

To determine whether NKT cells are involved in the development of glucose intolerance, male β
2
-microglobulin knockout (KO) mice lacking NKT cells and C57BL/6J (wild-type) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 13 weeks. Body weight and visceral obesity were comparable between wild-type and KO mice. However, macrophage infiltration was reduced in adipose tissue and glucose intolerance was significantly ameliorated in KO mice. To further confirm that NKT cells are involved in these abnormalities, α-galactosylceramide, 0.1 μg/g body weight, which specifically activates NKT cells, was administered after 13 weeks of HFD feeding. α-Galactosylceramide significantly exacerbated glucose intolerance and macrophage infiltration as well as cytokine gene expression in adipose tissue.

Conclusion—

NKT cells play a crucial role in the development of adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance in diet-induced obesity.
Cardioprotection by CaMKII-δB Is Mediated by Phosphorylation of Heat Shock Factor 1 and Subsequent Expression of Inducible Heat Shock Protein 70
Authors: Peng Wei , Zhang Yan , Zheng Ming , Cheng Heping , Zhu Weizhong , Cao Chun-Mei , Xiao Rui-Ping
Published: November 2009

Rationale
:

Ca
2+
/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK)II is a multifunctional kinase involved in vital cellular processes such as Ca
2+
handling and cell fate regulation. In mammalian heart, 2 primary CaMKII isoforms, δB and δC, localize in nuclear and cytosolic compartments, respectively. Although previous studies have established an essential role of CaMKII-δC in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, the functional role of the more abundant isoform, CaMKII-δB, remains elusive.

Objective
:

Here, we determined the potential role of CaMKII-δB in regulating cardiomyocyte viability and explored the underlying mechanism.

Methods and Results
:

In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, the expression of CaMKII-δB and CaMKII-δC was inversely regulated in response to H
2
O
2
-induced oxidative stress with a profound reduction of the former and an increase of the later. Similarly, in vivo ischemia/reperfusion (IR) led to an opposite regulation of these CaMKII isoforms in a rat myocardial IR model. Notably, overexpression of CaMKII-δB protected cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress-, hypoxia-, and angiotensin II-induced apoptosis, whereas overexpression of its cytosolic counterpart promoted apoptosis. Using cDNA microarray, real-time PCR and Western blotting, we demonstrated that overexpression of CaMKII-δB but not CaMKII-δC elevated expression of heat shock protein (HSP)70 family members, including inducible (i)HSP70 and its homolog (Hst70). Moreover, overexpression of CaMKII-δB led to phosphorylation and activation of heat shock factor (HSF)1, the primary transcription factor responsible for HSP70 gene regulation. Importantly, gene silencing of iHSP70, but not Hst70, abolished CaMKII-δB-mediated protective effect, indicating that only iHSP70 was required for CaMKII-δB elicited antiapoptotic signaling.

Conclusions
:

We conclude that cardiac CaMKII-δB and CaMKII-δC were inversely regulated in response to oxidative stress and IR injury, and that in contrast to CaMKII-δC, CaMKII-δB serves as a potent suppressor of cardiomyocyte apoptosis triggered by multiple death-inducing stimuli via phosphorylation of HSF1 and subsequent induction of iHSP70, marking both CaMKII-δ isoforms as promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.
Vasa Vasorum and Plaque Neovascularization on Contrast-Enhanced Carotid Ultrasound Imaging Correlates With Cardiovascular Disease and Past Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Staub Daniel , Patel Mita B. , Tibrewala Anjan , Ludden David , Johnson Mahala , Espinosa Paul , Coll Blai , Jaeger Kurt A. , Feinstein Steven B.
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose—

Histological data associate proliferation of adventitial vasa vasorum and intraplaque neovascularization with vulnerable plaques represented by symptomatic vascular disease. In this observational study, the presence of carotid intraplaque neovascularization and adventitial vasa vasorum were correlated with the presence and occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and events (CVE).

Methods—

The contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound examinations of 147 subjects (mean age 64±11 years, 61% male) were analyzed for the presence of intraluminal plaque, plaque neovascularization (Grade 1=absent; Grade 2=present), and degree of adventitial vasa vasorum (Grade 1=absent, Grade 2=present). These observations were correlated with preexisting cardiovascular risk factors, presence of CVD, and history of CVE (myocardial infarction and transient ischemic attack/stroke).

Results—

The presence of intraluminal carotid plaque was directly correlated to cardiovascular risk factors, CVD, and CVE (
P
<0.05). Adventitial vasa vasorum Grade 2 was associated with significant more subjects with CVD than vasa vasorum Grade 1 (73 versus 54%,
P
=0.029). Subjects with intraplaque neovascularization Grade 2 had significantly more often a history of CVE than subjects with intraplaque neovascularization Grade 1 (38 versus 20%,
P
=0.031). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that presence of plaque was significantly associated with CVD (odds ratio 4.7, 95% CI 1.6 to 13.8) and intraplaque neovascularization grade 2 with CVE (odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 12.6).

Conclusion—

The presence and degree of adventitial vasa vasorum and plaque neovascularization were directly associated with CVD and CVE in a retrospective study of 147 patients undergoing contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound.
Neuroprotection Against Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury by Inhibiting the Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor-1 Pathway
Authors: Gao Yanqin , Liang Weimin , Hu Xiaoming , Zhang Wenting , Stetler R. Anne , Vosler Peter , Cao Guodong , Chen Jun
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose—

Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial damage–mediated neuronal apoptosis is a major contributor to neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) brain injury. This study was performed to determine whether targeted inhibition of the apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) signaling pathway downstream of mitochondrial damage confers neuroprotection in rodent models of neonatal H-I.

Methods—

H-I was induced in 7-day-old (P7) transgenic mice overexpressing the specific Apaf-1–inhibitory protein AIP. Apaf-1 inhibition was also achieved in P7 rats by protein transduction–enhanced delivery of recombinant AIP. Pups were euthanized 6 to 24 hours after H-I for assessing caspase activation and mitochondrial release of cytochrome
c
and AIF, and 7 days after H-I for analyzing brain tissue damage. Sensorimotor functions were assessed in rats up to 4 weeks after H-I.

Results—

Transgenic overexpression of AIP protected against H-I brain injury, resulting in attenuated activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and attenuated brain tissue loss. In neonatal H-I rats, intraperitoneal injection of TAT-AIP, but not the control proteins TAT-GFP or AIP, decreased caspase activation and brain damage and improved neurological functions. Neuroprotection conferred by AIP was also associated with significantly reduced release of cytochrome
c
and AIF from mitochondria.

Conclusion—

The Apaf-1 signaling pathway, which transmits cell death signals after mitochondrial damage to effector caspases, may be a legitimate therapeutic target for the treatment of neonatal H-I brain injury.
Alcohol Consumption and Functional Outcome After Stroke in Men
Authors: Rist Pamela M. , Berger Klaus , Buring Julie E. , Kase Carlos S. , Gaziano J. Michael , Kurth Tobias
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose—

Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with reduced risk of total and ischemic stroke. However, data on the relationship between alcohol consumption and functional outcomes from stroke are sparse.

Methods—

Prospective cohort study among 21 860 men enrolled in the Physicians’ Health Study who provided information on alcohol consumption at baseline and had no prior history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Alcohol consumption was divided into 5 categories: <1 drink/wk, 1 drink/wk, 2 to 4 drinks/wk, 5 to 6 drinks/wk, and ≥1 drink/d. Possible functional outcomes included TIA, modified Rankin Scale (mRS)=0 to 1, mRS=2 to 3, and mRS=4 to 6. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between levels of alcohol consumption and functional outcomes from stroke.

Results—

During a mean of 21.6 years of follow-up, 766 TIAs and 1393 strokes (1157 ischemic, 222 hemorrhagic, and 14 unknown type) occurred. Men who consumed 1 drink/wk had lowest associated odds for any outcome. Compared with men who did not experience a TIA or stroke and who consumed <1 drink/wk, men who consumed 1 drink/wk had odds ratio (95% CI) for total stroke of 0.85 (0.60 to 1.21) for mRS=0 to 1, 0.84 (0.64 to 1.10) for mRS=2 to 3, and 0.60 (0.37 to 0.97) for mRS=4 to 6. The odds ratio for TIA was 0.95 (0.73 to 1.23). The pattern of association did not substantially differ for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Higher alcohol consumption showed no association with functional outcome after stroke.

Conclusions—

Our data do not show strong associations between alcohol consumption and functional outcome after stroke. Modest beneficial associations exist with low alcohol consumption.
Locomotor Training Improves Daily Stepping Activity and Gait Efficiency in Individuals Poststroke Who Have Reached a “Plateau” in Recovery
Authors: Moore Jennifer L. , Roth Elliot J. , Killian Clyde , Hornby T. George
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose—

Individuals with chronic stroke often demonstrate a “plateau,” or deceleration of motor recovery, which may lead to discharge from physical therapy (PT). However, numerous studies report improvements in motor function when individuals are provided intensive practice of motor tasks. We suggest that reduced task-specific walking practice during clinical PT contributes to limited gains in ambulatory function in those with a perceived plateau poststroke, and suggest that further gains can be realized if intensive stepping, or locomotor training (LT) is provided after discharge.

Methods—

Twenty subjects with chronic stroke completed a repeated baseline measures, randomized crossover trial in which walking performance was assessed during the last 4 weeks of clinical PT before discharge secondary to reaching a plateau, followed by 4 weeks of intensive LT and 4 weeks of no intervention. Outcome measures included clinical and physiological (metabolic) measures of walking overground and on a treadmill, and measures of daily stepping activity in the home and community, including during clinical PT and subsequent LT sessions.

Results—

Stepping practice was more than 4-fold higher during LT versus clinical PT sessions, with significant improvements in daily stepping and gait efficiency only after LT. Changes in daily stepping after clinical PT and intensive LT were correlated (
P
<0.001) with the amount of stepping practice received during these interventions.

Conclusions—

Intensive LT results in improved daily stepping in individuals poststroke who have been discharged from PT because of a perceived plateau in motor function. These improvements may be related to the amount and intensity of stepping practice.
Segment-Specific Associations of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness With Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Polak Joseph F. , Person Sharina D. , Wei Gina S. , Godreau Ayleen , Jacobs David R. , Harrington Anita , Sidney Stephen , O'Leary Daniel H.
Published: November 2009

Background and Purpose—

We propose to study possible differences in the associations between risk factors for cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction and stroke) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measurements made at 3 different levels of the carotid bifurcation.

Methods—

We conducted a cross-sectional study of a cohort of whites and blacks of both genders with a mean age of 45 years. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were determined in cohort members. Carotid IMT was measured from high-resolution B-mode ultrasound images at 3 levels: the common carotid artery, the carotid artery bulb (bulb), and the internal carotid artery. Associations with risk factors were evaluated by multivariate linear regression analyses.

Results—

Of 3258 who underwent carotid IMT measurements, common carotid artery, bulb, and internal carotid artery IMT were measured at all 3 separate levels in 3023 (92.7%). A large proportion of the variability of common carotid artery IMT was explained by cardiovascular risk factors (26.8%) but less so for the bulb (11.2%) and internal carotid artery (8.0%). Carotid IMT was consistently associated with age, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, and hypertension in all segments. Associations with fasting glucose and diastolic blood pressure were stronger for common carotid artery than for the other segments. Hypertension, diabetes, and current smoking had qualitatively stronger associations with bulb IMT and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with internal carotid artery IMT.

Conclusion—

In our cohort of relatively young white and black men and women, a greater proportion of the variability in common carotid IMT can be explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors than for the carotid artery bulb and internal carotid arteries.
A Generalized Urban Air Pollution Model and Its Application to the Study of SO2 Distributions in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area
Authors: Shir C. C. , Shieh L. J.
Published: November 2009

A generalized urban air pollution model, based on numerical integration of the concentration equation, is developed for the study of air pollutant distributions over an urban area. The model computes the temporal and three-dimensional spatial concentration distributions resulting from specified multiple point and area sources by using currently available meteorological and source inventory data. A new method based on experiments and a turbulence transport model is used to estimate the turbulent diffusivity and atmospheric stability. Special treatments of the finite-difference scheme to accommodate the large variations of concentrations are discussed. An effort has been made to avoid any subjective analysis scheme for the preparation of the input data.

The model was used to study SO2 distributions in the St. Louis metropolitan area during 25 consecutive days in February 1965. The computed results were evaluated with respect to observed data by using various statistic methods. The computed results agree favorably with experimental measurements for both long-term and short-term average concentrations. Computations also indicate the model's capabilities and flexibilities for dealing with the rapid variations of atmospheric conditions. The advantages and limitations of the model are also discussed.
Preparation of Polyrotaxane Fibers. Part II: Tensile Properties of Polyrotaxane Fibers Treated with Two Cross-linking Reagents
Authors: Katsuyama Naoya , Shimizu Koji , Sato Shunya , Araki Jun , Teramoto Akira , Abe Koji , Ito Kohzo
Published: November 2009

Polyrotaxane fibers prepared with wet spinning of polyrotaxane consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) and cyclodextrins were cross-linked with two different cross-linking reagents, i.e., divinyl sulfone (DVS) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), to improve the tensile properties of the fibers. By cross-linking with DVS, the values for the tenacity at break and the initial modulus were increased with cross-linking time, while the elongation at break was improved only moderately. On the other hand, drastic improvements in elongation at break were observed after EGDE cross-linking, up to 645% of its original length, although the tenacity at break and the initial modulus showed only slight improvements. After crosslinking, only minor changes in the degree of crystallinity of the fibers were observed by wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements.
Institutional Translation through Spectatorship: Collective Consumption and Editing of Symbolic Organizational Texts by Firms and their Audiences
Authors: Lamertz Kai , Heugens Pursey P. M. A. R.
Published: November 2009

We develop and corroborate the latent aspect of institutional theory that institutional spectators observe and reproduce inter-organizational symbolism. Prior research has explored whether institutional norms produce symbolic similarity across organizations, but assessments of whether such symbolic imagery is in fact monitored by institutional audiences are rare. Nonetheless, this process of institutional spectatorship represents an important foundation of various strands of institutional theorizing. Also, a better understanding of the ceremonial interactions between organizations and their spectators would help the field of institutional theory reconnect itself to its phenomenological origins. To advance our grasp of institutional spectatorship, we report a study of the Canadian beer brewing industry that shows how the symbolic self-presentations of breweries are reproduced by a central spectator: the news media. The results suggest that institutional spectatorship is an important dramaturgical process that influences the structuration and stratification of organizational fields.
Computers, Customer Service Operatives and Cyborgs: Intra-actions in Call Centres
Authors: Nyberg Daniel
Published: November 2009

Organizational practice theorists have convincingly argued that the social and material, subjects and objects, are inextricable and co-emerge as the outcomes of practices or networks. My article engages with the debate in this field by explaining how, within these assumptions, discrete categories or actors are brought into being. The ethnographic field-work from call centres initially shows how customer service operatives and computers are entangled and inseparable in carrying out the practice of customer service calls. The findings then show how meaningful boundaries around actors are established through temporal delineations, or cuts, within practices. My study thus exposes the multiplicity of how employees make sense of surrounding technology. This contributes to organization studies by explaining the dynamics and fluidity that underlie the categories and actors which are taken for granted in contemporary workplaces. This also contributes to our appreciation of a labour process beyond dualisms.
Dynamic Creation: Extending the Radical Austrian Approach to Entrepreneurship
Authors: Chiles Todd H. , Tuggle Christopher S. , McMullen Jeffery S. , Bierman Leonard , Greening Daniel W.
Published: November 2009

We develop a new perspective on entrepreneurship as a dynamic, complex, subjective process of creative organizing. Our approach, which we call ‘dynamic creation’, synthesizes core ideas from Austrian ‘radical subjectivism’ with complementary ideas from psychology (empathy), strategy and organization theory (modularity), and complexity theory (self-organization). We articulate conjectures at multiple levels about how such dynamic creative processes as empathizing, modularizing, and self-organizing help organize subjectively imagined novel ideas in entrepreneurs’ minds, heterogeneous resources in their firms, and disequilibrium markets in their environments. In our most provocative claim, we argue that entrepreneurs, by imagining divergent futures and (re)combining heterogeneous resources to create novel products, drive far-from-equilibrium market processes to create not market anarchy but market order. We conclude our exposition of each dynamic creative process by offering one possible direction for future research and articulating additional conjectures that help point the way. Throughout, we draw examples from CareerBuilder—a firm that has played a major role in creating and shaping the online model in the job search/recruiting industry—and its industry rivals (e.g. Monster, Yahoo’s HotJobs) to illustrate selected concepts and relationships in dynamic entrepreneurial creation.
The Assassination of Rafik Hariri: Foreign Policy Perspectives
Authors: Bosco Robert M.
Published: November 2009

The assassination of foreign leaders is rarely considered by scholars of international affairs. This article examines the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the debates around the international tribunal formed to investigate it. It argues that the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is an instance of how issues of foreign policy intersect with the perennial themes of international organization and law. It pays particular attention to how the international norm against political assassinations remains a contested issue in international politics.
Democracy’s Friend or Foe? The Effects of Recent IMF Conditional Lending in Latin America
Authors: Brown Chelsea
Published: November 2009

Structural adjustment is commonly prescribed as a condition for receiving loans from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, but the effects of structural adjustment and conditionality are controversial. While much research has been devoted to examining the economic effects of conditional lending, far fewer studies have looked at the political consequences. How do conditional lending agreements affect democracy? Does the number of required reforms or the type of reform play a role? Neoliberal theory suggests that improved economic conditions will result from structural adjustment, and over time this should lead to higher levels of democracy. Conversely, democratic practices may decline in the presence of conditionality as the government reduces civil liberties in an attempt to quell the social unrest that results from structural adjustment. Using a sample of Latin American countries from 1998 to 2003, this article analyzes the effects of both the number and type of required conditions on democracy and finds that while the presence of an IMF loan itself does not affect democracy, loan with a high number of required reforms have a deleterious effect on democratic practices. Further, these effects are conditional upon the type of reform required in the loan. This suggests that IMF efforts to consider the political consequences of reforms when negotiating loans have not been entirely successful and that the number and type of conditional requirements should be carefully considered before their inclusion in a loan agreement.
How the Military Competes for Expenditure in Brazilian Democracy: Arguments for an Outlier
Authors: Zaverucha Jorge , Da Cunha Rezende Flávio
Published: November 2009

Comparative analysts argue that democracies spend less on military policies than authoritarian states, a claim that was applied to Brazilian electoral democracy by Hunter (1997). In fact, Brazil behaves as an outlier and military spending has continued to increase since 1995. Our explanation for this behavior relies on the idea of internal political governability risks faced by Brazilian presidents.They are continually threatened by leftist groups that have fragile commitments to liberal democracies and they rely on the military to strategically protect them.
Can you hear me now? The experience of a deaf family member surrounding the death of loved ones
Authors: Kehl Karen A , Gartner Constance M
Published: November 2009

Introduction: Individuals who are Deaf face challenges both similar and unique from those faced by hearing individuals when a family member is dying. This study was guided by the question, ‘‘What are the challenges faced by a Deaf family member when a loved one is dying?’’

Methods: This qualitative study is guided by critical theory and an interpretive perspective. Robert, a college-educated older adult who has been Deaf from birth was interviewed in American Sign Language using a death history format.

Results: There are challenges for Deaf family members that affect communication with both the dying person and health care professionals. Patient-family communication issues included physical challenges and financial challenges. Lack of cultural competence concerning the Deaf community created challenges communicating with professionals. Decision-making was also a challenge.

Conclusions: These findings provide a framework for future research concerning the needs of Deaf individuals facing the end of life and provide guidance for clinicians.
The Social Study of Corporate Science: A Research Manifesto
Authors: Penders Bart , Verbakel John M. A. , Nelis Annemiek
Published: November 2009

Laboratory ethnographies have provided valuable insights in the workings of contemporary science and technology and about facts in the making. Nearly all these ethnographic studies have been conducted at nonprofit research institutes. In this article, the authors argue that it is time for science and technology studies (STS) ethnography to direct its gaze toward for-profit knowledge production sites. The authors do so, based on a long-standing recognition that nonprofit academic laboratories do not have a monopoly on knowledge construction. First, they historicize STS’ focus on public knowledge production, distinguishing between two roles for STS. Second, they argue that relationships between industry and society have changed, resulting in increasing corporate transparency. Third, they argue that this change enables STS ethnography to enter corporations and corporate laboratories. The authors conclude by proposing a research agenda for the social study of corporate science.
The Social and Material Culture of Hyperautomobility: “Hyperauto”
Authors: Freund Peter , Martin George
Published: November 2009

The automobile is a key artifact for understanding the relationship between technology and society. As it has developed into a mass-produced and mass-consumed commodity, it has played an increasing role in social life and its built environments. In its most exaggerated manifestation, in parts of the United States, the car is a singular transport mode for expansive urban regions. This social formation, often referred to as “urban sprawl,” has been cited for its environmental and energy impact. Here, the focus is on its social structural impact on motorists as well as on nonmotorists. The auto is a prime example of how material technologies have dynamic and reciprocal relationships with their social contexts. These relationships raise significant ethical issues with regard to the development and application of technology.
Learning From Fiction: Applications in Emerging Technologies
Authors: Gordon Ruthanna
Published: November 2009

Understanding the development of public opinion about emerging technologies, when the scope of that emergence is still speculative, poses particular challenges. Opinions and beliefs may be drawn from conflicting experts in multiple fields, media portrayals with varying biases, and fictional narratives that portray diverse possible futures. This article draws on research in cognitive and social psychology to discuss how fiction in particular may influence beliefs about emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology. Fiction can affect beliefs about the developments that are most likely, the relative weight of possible risks and benefits, and the desirability of potential technology-related outcomes. These beliefs, in turn, influence public support of regulation and funding, sometimes in ways that have little to do with the actual issues immediately at hand.
Evaluating Interactive Policy Making on Biotechnology: The Case of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Authors: Broerse Jacqueline E. W. , de Cock Buning Tjard , Roelofsen Anneloes , Bunders Joske F. G.
Published: November 2009

Public engagement is increasingly advocated and applied in the development and implementation of technological innovations. However, initiatives so far are rarely considered effective. There is a need for more methodological rigor and insight into conducive conditions. The authors developed an evaluative framework and assessed accordingly the effectiveness of a project of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in which the application of interactive policy making was piloted in medical biotechnology, among others, to increase the legitimacy and quality of the policy agenda. Relevant societal actors, including citizens, were actively involved in an open-exchange, action and reflection process, integrating relevant knowledge. Although the project was overall evaluated as effective, some difficulties were faced. These were mostly related to the novel roles public engagement requires of principal actors. The article concludes that more research is needed on the position of the executing team and on overcoming tensions existing between different governance modes.
Predictors of Continuation of Exclusive Breastfeeding for the First Six Months of Life
Authors: Bai Yeon , Middlestadt Susan E. , Peng C.-Y. Joanne , Fly Alyce D.
Published: November 2009

This study aimed to investigate the relative importance of the psychosocial factors underlying mother’s decision to continue exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months using the theory of planned behavior. A cohort of EBF-mothers (N = 78) completed a questionnaire assessing theoretical constructs at baseline and phone-interviewed at follow-up. Multiple regression analyses were performed to find important predictors of intention, overall and married vs unmarried. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control together explained 50.2% ( P < .01) of the variance in mothers’ intention to continue EBF for 6 months. Attitude and subjective norm were better predictors of the intention than perceived behavioral control. The role of subjective norm was greater in married than in unmarried women. A strong, positive correlation (γ = 0.67, P < .01) was found between intended and actual EBF duration. Intervention programs designed to positively influence mother’s attitude and social support may be effective in improving intention, thereby increasing EBF maintenance for 6 months. J Hum Lact. 26(1):26-34.