bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing comprehensive offender behaviour in a realistic agent-based model of burglary
Authors: Malleson Nick , See Linda , Evans Andy , Heppenstall Alison
Published: October 2010

Explaining and modelling crime patterns is an exercise that has taxed policy-makers, criminologists, social reformers and the police ever since the first crime patterns were recorded. Crime is a particularly difficult phenomenon to model because of its inherent complexity; crime patterns are built up from a multitude of human-human and human-environment micro-interactions that ultimately lead to individual crime events. Commonly used modelling techniques, such as regression, struggle to fully account for the dynamics of the crime system. They work at aggregate scales thereby disregarding important individual-level variation and also struggle to account for the effects of different types of human behaviour. Furthermore, important concepts from environmental criminology – such as individual offender awareness spaces or heterogeneity in offender decision-making – cannot be included directly when working at a resolution above that of the individual.

This research addresses the drawbacks associated with traditional mathematical crime models by building an agent-based simulation with a unique offender behavioural model. Through use of the PECS framework for modelling human behaviour, agents are endowed with needs and motives that drive their behaviour and ultimately lead to the commission of crime. As the model uses real-world environmental data, it can be used to make predictions in existing cities. The paper demonstrates that use of this framework, in combination with an agent-based model, can replicate patterns and trends that are supported by the current theoretical understanding of offending behaviour.
Responding to the Second Ghetto: Chicago’s Joe Smith and Sin Corner
Authors: Pacyga Dominic A.
Published: October 2010

World War Two and its aftermath transformed Chicago’s African American community. The Great Migration entered a second and more intense phase as black migrants flooded into Northern cities. This massive relocation of Southern blacks resulted in the expansion and reformulation of Chicago’s ghettoes on both the West and South Sides of the city. The question of a response to this Second Ghetto from African Americans themselves presents itself. White politicians, cultural elites and businessmen still controlled the city and could impose their will on its neighborhoods simply redrawing ghetto boundaries to reflect the new realities of the postwar era. The strange case of Joe Smith and Sin Corner sheds some light on black agency in the 1950s. The African American middle class had resources it commanded to try and protect itself from racial injustice. These resources, however, were based on class privileges not enjoyed by most in the African American community.
A Quantitative Assessment of Lareau’s Qualitative Conclusions About Class, Race, and Parenting
Authors: Cheadle Jacob E. , Amato Paul R.
Published: October 2010

The authors used the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999, to test ideas from Lareau’s qualitative study of social class differences in parenting. Consistent with Lareau, a confirmatory factor analysis supported the general concerted cultivation construct—a parenting strategy that subsumes parents’ school engagement, children’s participation in extracurricular activities, and the amount of educational materials in the home. The authors also found that socioeconomic status (SES) was the major correlate of parents’ use of concerted cultivation. Contrary to Lareau, however, the authors found that racial/ethnic differences in concerted cultivation are moderately strong, even with SES controlled. Finally, this study identified a variety of other family characteristics that are related to concerted cultivation, net of SES. The findings suggest the utility of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to understand the intergenerational transmission of social status.
Natural Patterns of Change in Poststroke Depressive Symptoms and Function
Authors: Hadidi Niloufar , Lindquist Ruth , Treat-Jacobson Diane , Savik Kay
Published: October 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluate patterns of change in depressive symptoms and function in ischemic stroke patients 0 to 3 months poststroke. Twenty-three newly diagnosed ischemic stroke patients were enrolled in a study with nonrandomized prospective longitudinal design to assess function and depressive symptoms on admission, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months poststroke in a tertiary care acute rehabilitation center in the Midwest. Participants’ mean age was (69 ± 11.9), Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE ≥ 23), and NIH Stroke Scale ( M = 2.8, SD =±2.3), and thus cognitively intact. Results suggest that the dominant pattern emerging for function (Functional Independence Measure) and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) showed significant improvement relative to baseline at 2 weeks poststroke and reached a plateau thereafter. The results may suggest that as stroke survivors gain independence in accomplishing activities of daily living, their moods improve as well.
Heart and Soul Physical Activity Program for African American Women
Authors: Peterson Jane A. , Cheng An-Lin
Published: October 2010

African American women are less physically active than White women and have a higher prevalence of inactivity-related diseases. Increased physical activity is known to reduce the risks for many chronic diseases. Positive health behavior changes have resulted from health promotion interventions conducted in African American churches. Eighteen midlife African American women participated in the Heart and Soul Physical Activity Program (HSPAP), a church-based physical activity intervention conceptualized in appraisal, belonging, tangible, and self-esteem domains of social support. Feasibility of the HSPAP was tested by determining changes in time and intensity of physical activity and social support for physical activity from baseline to 6 weeks. Data analyses were conducted utilizing paired t tests. Significant increases in time spent in physical activity from a mean of 412 min/week at baseline to 552 min/week at 6 weeks were noted. Participants reported increases in social support for physical activity in the 6-week study.
Using visual strategies to support verbal comprehension in an adolescent with Down syndrome
Authors: Lecas Jean-François , Mazaud Anne-Marie , Reibel Esther , Rey Arnaud
Published: October 2010

It has been frequently reported that children with Down syndrome have deficits in verbal short-term memory while having relatively good performance in visual short-term memory tasks. Such verbal deficits have a detrimental effect on various high-level cognitive processes, most notably language comprehension. In this study, we report the case of an adolescent with Down syndrome whose verbal short-term memory and comprehension capacities are impaired. Noting that his visual memory remained relatively well preserved, we developed a remediation strategy based on his visual abilities to support his verbal memory deficit. This remediation led to significant improvements in verbal short-term memories of story and thematic units as well as in overall story comprehension. These results are consistent with recent findings suggesting that deficits in verbal short-term memory can be compensated by efficient visual memory abilities.
‘Life-making or risk taking’? Co-preneurship and family business start-ups
Authors: Fletcher Denise
Published: October 2010

When discussing couples involved in small businesses, many commentaries portray romanticized ‘in love-in business’ accounts. Little is known, however, about the ways in which venture creation is constructed between co-habiting couples. Neither is it reported, except for negative conceptions of ‘lifestyle’ businesses, how co-habiting couples negotiate their life-making aspirations with risk-taking activities associated with business venturing. In this article, fieldwork material is drawn from 26 co-preneurial situations to develop a typology of co-preneurship using ownership and management structural dimensions. This typology is illustrated with different types of lifestyle businesses to demonstrate the economic assessments and ‘market work’ that give rise to family entrepreneurship. This focus is important for taking account of the increasing numbers of couples who combine their skills and labour with a spouse or co-habiting partner in order to develop (or re-position an existing) business venture.
Multicentric Castleman’s disease representing effusion at initial clinical presentation: clinicopathological study of seven cases
Authors: Kojima M , Nakamura N , Tsukamoto N , Yokohama A , Itoh H , Kobayashi S , Kashimura M , Masawa N , Nakamura S
Published: October 2010

We present here seven cases of idiopathic multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD) showing effusion at the initial clinical presentation. This series includes a high proportion of middle-aged and elderly females (5/7). Various autoantibodies were detected in six cases. Anemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) was detected in four cases, leukocytosis (WBC > 10 × 109/l) in three and thrombycytopenia (<100 × 109/l) in five. Positivity for C-reactive protein or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate was recorded in all seven cases. Elevated serum IgG level (>2000 mg/dl) was recorded in only three cases. Elevated serum interleukin-6 level was recorded in all four cases examined. At the onset of disease, four cases were associated with idiopathic thrombocytic purpura. During the course of disease, one case each was diagnosed as systemic sclerosis + Sjögren’s syndrome (SJS) and SJS. Histologically, five lesions exhibited a mixed type of Castleman’s disease, and one case each exhibited a hyaline-vascular type and plasma cell type. The non-neoplastic nature of the B-lymphocytes was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction. There were no human herpes type-8 virus-positive cells in any of the seven lesions. Good responsiveness to glucocorticoid therapy has been seen in all six cases treated. From a therapeutic perspective, it is important to discriminate this subtype of MCD.
Pediatric Oncology Nurse and Grief Education
Authors: Conte Teresa M.
Published: October 2010

There has been an increased interest in the grief experiences of nurses. Unacknowledged, unaddressed compound grief can have devastating consequences on professional nurses and the patients and families under their care. A telephone survey was conducted using the current Children’s Oncology Group institutions in the United States to ascertain what education and support is available to pediatric oncology nurses regarding professional grief. Three questions were asked of the person contacted at the participating institutions regarding grief education during orientation, grief education beyond orientation, and support mechanisms for staff experiencing professional grief. Out of the 176 eligible Children’s Oncology Group institutions that were invited to participate in the survey, 78 institutions participated. The analysis of the results concluded that support for pediatric oncology nurses is often informal and sporadic and that education regarding professional grief is often nonexistent or very limited in its content.
Using Teacher Narratives in the Dissemination of Research-Based Practices
Authors: Smith Garnett J. , Richards-Tutor Catherine , Cook Bryan G.
Published: October 2010

Scientifically based research has been promoted in recent policies and legislation. However, the gap between research and practice in special education has prevented many students with disabilities from receiving the research-based instructional practices they require to achieve their potential. Reports of research-based practices may be incomplete without including data, theory, and narrative accounts. Prominently featuring teachers’ accounts of how they effectively use research-based practices may help to facilitate their acceptance and application among practitioners. This introduction concludes with brief overviews of the four articles in this special issue of Intervention in School and Clinic, which provide narratives regarding the use of four research-based practices (i.e., classwide peer tutoring, mnemonics, functional behavior assessment, and curriculum-based measurement), as well as information regarding the research and theoretical basis for each practice.
Putting Algebra Progress Monitoring Into Practice: Insights From the Field
Authors: Foegen Anne , Morrison Candee
Published: October 2010

Algebra progress monitoring is a research-based practice that extends a long history of research in curriculum-based measurement (CBM). This article describes the theoretical foundations and research evidence for algebra progress monitoring, along with critical features of the practice. A detailed description of one practitioner’s implementation of algebra progress monitoring in her classes and her school district offers many insights regarding how this assessment strategy is useful and was translated into typical school practice.
Classwide Peer Tutoring: Practice, Theory, Research, and Personal Narrative
Authors: Maheady Larry , Gard Jaime
Published: October 2010

Contemporary teachers need instructional practices that are (a) powerful enough to meet the needs of a rapidly diversifying student population, (b) feasible to implement on a classwide basis, and (c) socially acceptable to them and their pupils. Classwide peer tutoring (CWPT) is one such instructional practice. In addition to describing CWPT, its research base, and supporting theoretical perspectives, this article describes a project in which a classroom teacher in a remedial education program worked collaboratively with an educational researcher to examine the impact of CWPT on her pupils’ math computational fluency as monitored on district-adopted, curriculum-based assessments. Results indicated that all pupils, including those with disabilities, made substantial learning gains and improved their academic-related behavior in class. The teacher reported that CWPT was relatively easy to implement and that her students loved playing the tutoring game in math.
System Issues: Challenges to Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Intervention
Authors: D'Avolio Deborah A.
Published: October 2010

This ethnographic study examines the experiences of health care providers (HCPs) and advocates implementing intimate partner violence (IPV) screening and interventions in their health care organizations. Numerous policies and protocols have been developed to improve the response of HCPs to survivors of IPV. Typically studies have focused on HCPs with little attention to the role of organizations in providing care. The findings from this study highlight that even with IPV programs in place the organizational environment can contribute to suboptimal outcomes. Identified challenges included time constraints, organizational expectations for increased productivity, and dwindling organizational support and services for IPV. With the continuing debate regarding universal screening, this study illuminates the need for clinicians to have a supportive clinical environment and resources for IPV screening and intervention.
Boundaries and Dual Relationships
Authors: Sawyer Steven , Prescott David
Published: October 2010

Ethical standards are core components of practice standards and codes of conduct for mental health practitioners. Practice standards and ethics related to boundaries are generally based on historical review, study of mental health services, and the impact of boundary crossing or boundary violations on clients receiving services. This article explores some common standards of ethical practice related to boundaries and dual or multiple relationships between mental health professionals and clients. The underlying conceptual basis for these standards and examples of questions encountered in clinical practice with sexual offenders are explored.
Beyond Hardcore Gambling
Authors: Wong IpKin Anthony , Rosenbaum Mark S.
Published: October 2010

Casinos are important travel attractions, but they are often overshadowed by hardcore gambling behaviors. Although gambling has been found as a key tourism driver, it is unclear how casinos, as hospitality service providers, are able to fulfill other travel needs. This article highlights an emerging but under studied phenomenon in tourism and hospitality research: casino tourism. Based on empirical data collected in the world gaming capital, Macau, the results reveal that tourists’ casino excursions are primarily motivated by five factors: entertainment and novelty seeking, leisure activity, escape from pressure, casino sightseeing, and socialization. The findings suggest that although gambling is part of the casino experience tourists seek, mainland Chinese tourists are looking for assorted travel and leisure experiences. These experiences can further be classified into two segments: entertainment-for-socialization seekers and sightseeing-for-relaxation seekers. Demographic differences in addition to two- and three-way interactions of the motivational factors are also discussed.
The carriage of tradition: Knowledge and its past in network contexts
Authors: Hibbert Paul , Huxham Chris
Published: October 2010

In this article we address a key tension in the literature. That is, whether the knowledge status of a tradition is largely preserved passively, under tradition’s own authority, or alternatively preserved through deliberate, individual interpretive acts.Through empirical research in three network contexts, we show that both authority and interpretation have a role in the preservation of traditionalized knowledge and that three distinct modes of carriage (or preservation) can be observed. These modes involve different intent orientations (purposive or passive intentions about the use of traditionalized knowledge) and enactment styles, which may be either assertive (deliberately persuasive) or assumptive (‘rightness’ is assumed, not argued). From these theoretical extensions, implications for tradition theory, as well as knowledge, learning and understanding for managers involved in networks, are developed.
Dissemination of management into politics: Michael Porter and the political uses of management consulting
Authors: Kantola Anu , Seeck Hannele
Published: October 2010

The article contributes to the literature on management dissemination by looking at how management fashions are diffused into and circulated in politics. The ideas of management have been increasingly disseminated into the realm of politics during recent decades. To illustrate how this takes place, this article examines the spread of Michael Porter’s ideas on national politics. Porter’s work is considered a management fashion that has been skilfully packaged; a new form of the 20th-century tradition of state-led social engineering which takes the form of management fashion-style packaging. For this he is seen as a global guru in national politics, and this development is regarded as a new form of consultocracy in the realm of democracies. In consultocracy, the ideas of management consulting are often adopted into politics as a common justifying rationality of power for the political elites. Thus we call for further research on the underlying dynamics of the power involved as management fashions are disseminated into the realm of politics.
Is it all about teamwork? Understanding processes in team-based knowledge work
Authors: Erhardt Niclas
Published: October 2010

There is a general assumption in the team literature that more teamwork is always better, especially when knowledge integration is key. Yet, teamwork is not always required in knowledge work. By adopting a case-based approach using a total of 88 interviews from four project teams operating in different companies in Sweden and the USA, three knowledge processes are explored as to how they are leveraged in team-based knowledge work (TBKW). A framework of four types of TBKW is delineated: standardized, modular, integrative and collaborative, which are distinguished by the structure of the problem (ill- vs well-structured) faced by the team and knowledge composition (heterogeneous vs homogenous) within the team. Theoretical and practical implications are addressed and future research directions are discussed.
Plasma pentosidine: a potential biomarker in the management of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Sternberg Zohara , Hennies Cassandra , Sternberg Daniel , Bistulfi Gaia L , Kazim Latif , Benedict Ralph HB , Chadha Kailash , Leung Christopher , Weinstock-Guttman Bianca , Munschauer Frederick
Published: October 2010

Background: The chronic inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) may lead to the upregulation of pentosidine.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study compares plasma pentosidine levels among healthy controls (HCs) and patients with MS at different disease stages. The study also determines pentosidine's usefulness as a biomarker of MS disease activity and/or severity via its correlation with a number of indicators of MS disease.

Methods: Pentosidine levels were analyzed in 98 MS patients and 43 HCs using reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Results: Plasma pentosidine levels were significantly higher in MS patients when compared with HCs ( p = 0.02). Patients on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) had lower plasma pentosidine levels when compared with DMT-naïve patients ( p =  0.01). Pentosidine plasma levels correlated with indicators of MS disease severity, including Extended Disability Status Scale ( p = 0.03), MS Severity Scale ( p = 0.01), and MS Functional Composite ( p = 0.03). No correlation between pentosidine levels and age, rate of clinical relapse, and disease duration was observed.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that pentosidine could be a novel, inflammatory biomarker in MS clinical practice. Longitudinal studies are warranted to determine any causal relationship between changes in plasma pentosidine levels and MS disease pathology. These studies may pave the way for use of advanced glycation end product (AGE) inhibitors and AGE-breaking agents as new therapeutic modalities in MS.
Prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid analysis at the time of a first demyelinating event
Authors: Gout Olivier , Bouchareine Annie , Moulignier Antoine , Deschamps Romain , Papeix Caroline , Gorochov Guy , Héran Françoise , Bastuji-Garin Sylvie
Published: October 2010

Background and Objective: This study aimed to assess the value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings for predicting conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS).

Methods: From a database of 447 patients with a first demyelinating event, the records of 208 patients less than 51 years old who had baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CSF examinations and a follow-up of at least 1 year were included. A multivariable Cox model was used to assess the short-term risk of CDMS according to baseline CSF findings after adjustment for prognostic factors (including brain MRI) and to provide a simple classification for predicting CDMS.

Results: During a median follow-up of 3.5 years, 141 (67.8%) patients converted to CDMS. In multivariate analysis, younger age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.44 [95% CI 1.02–2.01]), spatial dissemination on brain MRI (HR: 2.07 [95% CI 1.47–2.91]) and more than 4 WBC/mm3 in CSF (HR: 1.44 [95% CI 1.03–2.02]) were independently associated with CDMS. The Cox score obtained from these three predictors enabled patients to be divided into three groups with significant increased risks of CDMS at 1, 2 and 3 years; groups were classified as high-risk (64.7%, 77.4%, 96.1%), intermediate-risk (33.3%, 51.5%, 61.5%), and low-risk (11.1%, 18.3%, 40.3%).

Conclusions: Age at onset, spatial dissemination on brain MRI and CSF white blood cell count are independently associated with short-term conversion to CDMS. The three proposed risk group classifications could be a useful tool to select patients for early therapeutic intervention.
Acute ischemic stroke treatment: State of the art
Authors: Patel Rajan AG , White Christopher J
Published: October 2010

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and serious disability in the United States. Treatment of the acute ischemic stroke patient requires a multidisciplinary approach involving first-responders, emergency department personnel, neurologists, advanced imaging experts and endovascular specialists with neurosurgical support. Contemporary stroke treatment is a rapidly advancing field. New developments in pharmacologic and endovascular stroke therapy require thoughtful trial design and expeditious trial implementation to assess clinical outcomes. This manuscript reviews the state of the art in acute stroke therapy.
Critical limb ischemia: Does long-term patency matter?
Authors: Jaffery Zehra , Grant Arthur G , White Christopher J
Published: October 2010

In critical limb ischemia (CLI), an underlying principle of treatment is that it takes more oxygenated blood to heal a wound than to maintain tissue integrity. Urgent restoration of perfusion to the ischemic territory, not long-term patency of the target vessel, is the primary treatment goal. However, in patients with CLI treated by surgical bypass, loss of graft patency is associated with poor outcomes. We decided to address the conventional wisdom that restenosis is not a major concern in CLI as long as tissue healing occurs in patients undergoing endovascular revascularization. We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients treated for CLI with infra-popliteal percutaneous revascularization from 2007 to 2009. Those with prior ipsilateral percutaneous revascularization for CLI formed the study population. Among 29 CLI patients treated for infra-popliteal revascularization, six patients had a history of prior successful ipsilateral revascularization for CLI. All six patients were free of rest pain and ulcers at the 60-day follow-up. The median time interval between the two percutaneous revascularization procedures was 21 months (quartile ranges: 25th = 4.5 months, 75th = 36 months). Five of the six patients had restenosis of a previous lesion, while the sixth patient had a de novo lesion causing recurrent CLI. In conclusion, we found that one in five patients receiving infra-popliteal angioplasty for CLI has had a similar percutaneous revascularization procedure in the past. Among these patients most cases were for restenosis rather than de novo lesions. Further research is needed to determine whether the incidence of recurrent CLI is due to de novo lesions or restenosis. Close clinical follow-up of these patients and maintaining long-term patency with endovascular techniques will likely reduce CLI recurrence.
Reliability and Validity of a New Building Environmental Quality Questionnaire
Authors: Chan Anson K. C. , Macfarlane Duncan J. , Cerin Ester , Wong Kelvin S. K. , Ng Chris H. F. , Ho Daniel C. W.
Published: October 2010

This study aimed to develop and then test the reliability and validity of a new self-report questionnaire method called the building environmental quality questionnaire (BEQQ) designed to assess the perceived environmental quality in residential apartments in Hong Kong. A total of 108 (46 men and 62 women) Chinese-speaking residents, between 16 and 81 years of age, took part and completed the questionnaire study. The subjects were recruited from 12 different buildings of three distinct quality ratings (low, medium and high) assigned by the building assessment tool called the building health and hygiene index (BHHI). The study was evaluated to determine reliability and this was assessed involving 20 of the participants (18% of the total sample size). The BEQQ was found to have good test-retest reliability, with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values typically around 0.70. The validity testing, also using ICCs, generated moderate to high values for all BEQQ sub-categories (the mean value was around 0.80), indicating a good consistency among residents living within the same building. Finally, the summary BEQQ scores were significantly correlated (—0.68) with the BHHI ratings as the criterion standard. It is concluded that this eight-dimension instrument would provide a short and efficient questionnaire method to obtain self-reported information to determine the perceived residential building quality. The method was shown to yield adequate reliability and has been validated for use in empirical research.
Beyond words: An enquiry into children’s home visual communication practices
Authors: Yamada-Rice Dylan
Published: October 2010

This research focuses on young children’s experiences of the visual mode embedded in new multimodal literacy practices. An enquiry was undertaken into the role of visual and digital images in a group of 11 four-year-olds’ out-of-school lives. The children photographed their use of a range of primarily visual-based media at home, to produce a book of images and text that was used as the basis for child interviews and discussion on the topic. The data was further supported by questionnaire results from 28 parents on their four-year-olds’ access and frequency of use of range of primarily visual-based media. The project found a multilingual and ethnically diverse group of children, in an international school in Tokyo, to be using a wide range of media, including cameras, television, DVD, drawing, websites, picture books and comics. These findings enlighten understanding of young children’s use and engagement with the visual mode as one part of wider multimodal literacy practices.
Realism, liberal moralism and a political theory of modus vivendi
Authors: Horton John
Published: October 2010

This article sets out some of the key features of a realist critique of liberal moralism, identifying descriptive inadequacy and normative irrelevance as the two fundamental lines of criticism. It then sketches an outline of a political theory of modus vivendi as an alternative, realist approach to political theory. On this account a modus vivendi should be understood as any political settlement that involves the preservation of peace and security and is generally acceptable to those who are party to it. In conclusion, some problems with this conception of modus vivendi and with a realist political theory more generally are discussed. In particular, the question is raised of whether a realist political theory should be understood as an alternative to liberal moralism or only a better way of doing basically the same kind of thing.
The Patient Lock Model©: A Continuum of Care
Authors: Matthews Jennifer H. , Coe Thomas Ray , Bruflat Carola , Burnett Stephanie , Howard Patricia , Peterson Cheryl
Published: October 2010

Nursing as a profession has the responsibility to society to protect and promote the health of individuals and communities. The intent of this conceptual model is to center the patient in his or her environment while allowing qualified, expert health professionals to provide timely, effective, cost-efficient care within their levels of competence and expertise. Significant shortages of registered nurses and other health professionals delay timely provision of quality care and affect the effectiveness of care. Care management issues are due to the complexity of individual patient’s health care needs, limited access to providers, inability to afford treatment, and delay in seeking care. These challenges to the system slow efficiency in the provision of care across all settings. In presenting this conceptual model, there will be a review of nursing and the internal and external forces that affect the profession. This is an initial development phase of the model: The Patient Lock Model.
Infusion of HLA-mismatched peripheral blood stem cells improves the outcome of chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients
Authors: Guo Mei , Hu Kai-Xun , Yu Chang-Lin , Sun Qi-Yun , Qiao Jian-Hui , Wang Dan-Hong , Liu Guang-Xian , Sun Wan-Jun , Wei Li , Sun Xue-Dong , Huang Ya-Jing , Qiao Jun-Xiao , Dong Zheng , Ai Hui-Sheng
Published: October 2010

Treatment outcome of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients remains unsatisfactory. It has been shown that the infusion of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor–mobilized donor peripheral blood stem cells (G-PBSCs) can enhance graft-versus-leukemia effects and speed hematopoietic recovery. Fifty-eight AML patients aged 60-88 years were randomly assigned to receive induction chemotherapy with cytarabine and mitoxantrone (control group; n = 28) or it plus human leukocyte antigen–mismatched G-PBSCs (G-PBSC group; n = 30). Patients who achieved complete remission received another 2 cycles of postremission therapy with intermediate-dose cytarabine or it plus G-PBSCs. The complete remission rate was significantly higher in the G-PBSC group than in the control group (80.0% vs 42.8%; P = .006). The median recovery times of neutrophils and platelets were 11 days and 14.5 days, respectively, in the G-PBSC group and 16 days and 20 days, respectively, in the control group after chemotherapy. The 2-year probability of disease-free survival was significantly higher in the G-PBSC group than in the control group (38.9% vs 10.0%; P = .01). No graft-versus-host disease was observed in any patient. Persistent donor microchimerism was successfully detected in all of the 4 female patients. These results indicate that G-PBSCs in combination with conventional chemotherapy may provide a promising treatment method for AML in elderly patients.
The platelet P2Y12 receptor for adenosine diphosphate: congenital and drug-induced defects
Authors: Cattaneo Marco
Published: October 2010

P2Y12, the Gi-coupled platelet receptor for adenosine diphosphate (ADP), plays a central role in platelet function. Patients with congenital P2Y12 defects display a mild to moderate bleeding diathesis, characterized by mucocutaneous bleedings and excessive post-surgical and post-traumatic blood loss. Defects of P2Y12 should be suspected when ADP, even at high concentrations (≥ 10μM), is unable to induce full, irreversible platelet aggregation. Tests that evaluate the degree of inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by ADP should be used to confirm the diagnosis. Drugs that inhibit P2Y12 are potent antithrombotic drugs, attesting the central role played by P2Y12 in platelet thrombus formation. Clopidogrel, the most widely used drug that inhibits P2Y12, is effective both in monotherapy and in combination with acetylsalicylic acid. The most important drawback of clopidogrel is its inability to inhibit adequately P2Y12-dependent platelet function in approximately one-third of patients who are therefore not protected from major cardiovascular events. New drugs, such as prasugrel and ticagrelor, which effectively inhibit P2Y12 in the majority of patients, proved to be more efficacious than clopdidogrel in preventing major cardiovascular events. Although they increase the incidence of major bleedings, the net clinical benefit is in favor of the new P2Y12 inhibitors.
Development and validation of a flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) gene expression oligo microarray
Authors: Fenart Stéphane , Ndong Yves-Placide Assoumou , Duarte Jorge , Rivière Nathalie , Wilmer Jeroen , van Wuytswinkel Olivier , Lucau Anca , Cariou Emmanuelle , Neutelings Godfrey , Gutierrez Laurent , Chabbert Brigitte , Guillot Xavier , Tavernier Reynald , Hawkins Simon , Thomasset Brigitte
Published: October 2010

Background

Flax (Linum usitatissimumL.) has been cultivated for around 9,000 years and is therefore one of the oldest cultivated species. Today, flax is still grown for its oil (oil-flax or linseed cultivars) and its cellulose-rich fibres (fibre-flax cultivars) used for high-value linen garments and composite materials. Despite the wide industrial use of flax-derived products, and our actual understanding of the regulation of both wood fibre production and oil biosynthesis more information must be acquired in both domains. Recent advances in genomics are now providing opportunities to improve our fundamental knowledge of these complex processes. In this paper we report the development and validation of a high-density oligo microarray platform dedicated to gene expression analyses in flax.

Results

Nine different RNA samples obtained from flax inner- and outer-stems, seeds, leaves and roots were used to generate a collection of 1,066,481 ESTs by massive parallel pyrosequencing. Sequences were assembled into 59,626 unigenes and 48,021 sequences were selected for oligo design and high-density microarray (Nimblegen 385K) fabrication with eight, non-overlapping 25-mers oligos per unigene. 18 independent experiments were used to evaluate the hybridization quality, precision, specificity and accuracy and all results confirmed the high technical quality of our microarray platform. Cross-validation of microarray data was carried out using quantitative qRT-PCR. Nine target genes were selected on the basis of microarray results and reflected the whole range of fold change (both up-regulated and down-regulated genes in different samples). A statistically significant positive correlation was obtained comparing expression levels for each target gene across all biological replicates both in qRT-PCR and microarray results. Further experiments illustrated the capacity of our arrays to detect differential gene expression in a variety of flax tissues as well as between two contrasted flax varieties.

Conclusion

All results suggest that our high-density flax oligo-microarray platform can be used as a very sensitive tool for analyzing gene expression in a large variety of tissues as well as in different cultivars. Moreover, this highly reliable platform can also be used for the quantification of mRNA transcriptional profiling in different flax tissues.
Specific tyrosine phosphorylation sites on cortactin regulate Nck1-dependent actin polymerization in invadopodia
Authors: Oser Matthew , Mader Christopher C. , Gil-Henn Hava , Magalhaes Marco , Bravo-Cordero Jose Javier , Koleske Anthony J. , Condeelis John
Published: October 2010

Invadopodia are matrix-degrading membrane protrusions in invasive carcinoma cells enriched in proteins that regulate actin polymerization. The on–off regulatory switch that initiates actin polymerization in invadopodia requires phosphorylation of tyrosine residues 421, 466, and 482 on cortactin. However, it is unknown which of these cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation sites control actin polymerization. We investigated the contribution of individual tyrosine phosphorylation sites (421, 466, and 482) on cortactin to the regulation of actin polymerization in invadopodia. We provide evidence that the phosphorylation of tyrosines 421 and 466, but not 482, is required for the generation of free actin barbed ends in invadopodia. In addition, these same phosphotyrosines are important for Nck1 recruitment to invadopodia via its SH2 domain, for the direct binding of Nck1 to cortactin in vitro, and for the FRET interaction between Nck1 and cortactin in invadopodia. Furthermore, matrix proteolysis-dependent tumor cell invasion is dramatically inhibited in cells expressing a mutation in phosphotyrosine 421 or 466. Together, these results identify phosphorylation of tyrosines 421 and 466 on cortactin as the crucial residues that regulate Nck1-dependent actin polymerization in invadopodia and tumor cell invasion, and suggest that specifically blocking either tyrosine 421 or 466 phosphorylation might be effective at inhibiting tumor cell invasion in vivo.
The invariant chain transports TNF family member CD70 to MHC class II compartments in dendritic cells
Authors: Zwart Wilbert , Peperzak Victor , de Vries Evert , Keller Anna M. , van der Horst Gerda , Veraar Elise A. M. , Geumann Ulf , Janssen Hans , Janssen Lennert , Naik Shalin H. , Neefjes Jacques , Borst Jannie
Published: October 2010

CD70 is a TNF-related transmembrane molecule expressed by mature dendritic cells (DCs), which present antigens to T cells via major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In DCs, CD70 localizes with MHC class II molecules in late endosomal vesicles, known as MHC class II compartments (MIICs). MIICs are transported to the immune synapse when a DC contacts an antigen-specific CD4+ T cell. Consequently, MHC class II and CD70 are simultaneously exposed to the T cell. Thereby, T-cell activation via the antigen receptor and CD70-mediated co-stimulation are synchronized, apparently to optimize the proliferative response. We report here that the invariant chain (Ii), a chaperone known to transport MHC class II to MIICs, performs a similar function for CD70. CD70 was found to travel by default to the plasma membrane, whereas Ii coexpression directed it to late endosomes and/or lysosomes. In cells containing the MHC class II presentation pathway, CD70 localized to MIICs. This localization relied on Ii, since transport of CD70 from the Golgi to MIICs was impeded in Ii-deficient DCs. Biophysical and biochemical studies revealed that CD70 and Ii participate in an MHC-class-II-independent complex. Thus, Ii supports transport of both MHC class II and CD70 to MIICs and thereby coordinates their delivery to CD4+ T cells.
BLOS1, a putative BLOC-1 subunit, interacts with SNX1 and modulates root growth in Arabidopsis
Authors: Cui Yanyan , Li Xugang , Chen Qingguo , He Xin , Yang Qing , Zhang Aili , Yu Xin , Chen Hao , Liu Naiyou , Xie Qi , Yang Weicai , Zuo Jianru , Palme Klaus , Li Wei
Published: October 2010

Internalization and sorting of macromolecules are inherent properties of all eukaryotic cells that are achieved by vesicle trafficking. However, this process is relatively less understood in plants. An eight-subunit protein complex, BLOC-1, which is involved in endosomal transport from the endosomes to the lysosomes, has been identified in both human and mice. In this study, two homologous subunits of this complex, BLOS1 (or AtGCN5L1) and BLOS2, have been characterized in Arabidopsis. Both BLOS1 and BLOS2 interacted with SNX1 on the sorting endosomes. Inducible RNAi lines with reduced levels of BLOS1 had longer primary roots and more lateral roots. Consistently, PIN1 and PIN2 were increased in BLOS1 RNAi lines, implicating an impaired transport from the endosomes to the vacuoles. These results suggest that a putative BLOC-1 complex in Arabidopsis might mediate the vacuolar degradative transport through direct interaction with SNX1 to regulate the homeostasis of PIN1 and PIN2, which is important for plant growth and development.
A New Sr(II) Ion-Imprinted Polymer Grafted onto Potassium Titanate Whiskers: Synthesis and Adsorption Performance for the Selective Separation of Strontium Ions
Authors: Liu Yan , Gao Jie , Zhang Zulei , Dai Jiangdong , Xie Jimin , Yan Yongsheng
Published: October 2010

Surface ion-imprinting technology was applied to prepare a new Sr(II) ion-imprinted polymer [Sr(II)-IP] by grafting chitosan-Sr(II) onto potassium titanate whiskers. The imprinting mechanism of the prepared polymer was examined, using infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of pH and contact time were examined, together with the adsorption capacity and selectivity of the imprinted polymer. The adsorption isotherms could be fitted by the Langmuir model, with the dimensionless separation factor RL indicated favourable adsorption. In addition, the kinetic data were fitted more closely by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model rather than the pseudo-first-order model. The values of the Gibbs' free energy (ΔG0), standard entropy (ΔS0) and standard enthalpy (ΔH0) calculated from the adsorption data suggested that the adsorption of Sr(II) onto Sr(II)-IP was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The relative selectivity coefficients of Sr(II)-IP for Sr(II)/Cs(I) at different initial concentrations were 95.8, 320 and 1428.6, respectively, which were far greater than that of the non-imprinted polymer (NIP).
Fuel Cell-Related Reaction Activities of Nanoporous Metallic Platinum
Authors: Itoh Tsutomu , Onoe Toshinari , Asai Michihiro , Ohba Tomonori , Kaneko Katsumi , Kanoh Hirofumi
Published: October 2010

The nanoporous structure and catalytic activities of a new nanoporous metallic platinum (NMP) were studied. The SEM image and N2 adsorption isotherm of NMP indicated that NMP is highly microporous and mesoporous compared with Pt black (PB). The gas-phase reactivity of NMP for the water-formation reaction at 247 K showed that NMP has a catalytic activity that is 1.6-times higher than that of PB after 60 min and a reaction rate constant that is three-times larger than that of PB. On the other hand, NMP dispersed on a glassy carbon plate (GC) with Nafion® 117 showed an electrochemical reactivity towards methanol electro-oxidation that was lower than that of PB on the same GC electrode. However, the poisoning resistance of NMP on the GC electrode was higher than that of PB under the same conditions.
Removal of Toxic Cr(VI) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Nano-Hydroxyapatite-Based Chitin and Chitosan Hybrid Composites
Authors: Kousalya G.N. , Gandhi M. Rajiv , Meenakshi S.
Published: October 2010

In the present investigation, bio-inorganic composites composed of nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) with chitin and chitosan have been prepared and used for the removal of chromium(VI) ions from aqueous solution. Such composites exhibited a higher Cr(VI) ion sorption capacity than the individual components. The sorption capacities of n-HAp, n-HAp/chitin (n-HApC) composite and n-HAp/chitosan (n-HApCs) composite were found to be 2720, 2845 and 3450 mg/kg, respectively. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to optimize various equilibrating conditions such as the contact time, pH and co-ions. The sorbents were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, BET and EDXA analysis. The sorption process could be fitted by both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. Standard thermodynamic parameters such as the Gibbs' free energy change, ΔG0, the standard enthalpy change, ΔH0, and the standard entropy change, ΔS0, were calculated in order to obtain an understanding of the nature of the sorption process. The kinetics of the reaction could be fitted by the pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. The mechanism for Cr(VI) ion sorption onto the composites was established.
A Perspective of the Pore Architecture of Nanoporous Materials by Vapour Adsorption of Aromatics and Olefins
Authors: Puranik R. Vijayalakshmi , Kumar Prakash , Chandrashekara B.M. , Reddy C. Ravindra , Bhat Y.S. , Jaiprakash B.S.
Published: October 2010

Three nanoporous adsorbent materials, viz. beta zeolite, porous clay hetero-structure (PCH) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium cation-intercalated montmorillonite (Mont-2), having different pore architectures were used in the investigation. The adsorption of benzene, C1–C4 alkyl-substituted benzenes, C6–C9 straight-chain alkenes and isomeric hexenes was studied using a McBain–Bakr gravimetric balance. Interesting observations were made with respect to the adsorption uptake of the different probe molecules for exploring the pore architecture. Beta zeolite is a large pore zeolite (7.5 Å) which allows three-dimensional access to molecules, whereas PCH is known to have large pores allowing two-dimensional access for molecular entry. Irrespective of the number of attached –CH2 side-chain groups attached, the rate of diffusion of the molecules inside the beta zeolite pore channels was less constrained. However, in the case of Mont-2, where the pores were blocked by the surfactant molecules, adsorption was apparently due to the diffusion of molecules through the interlayer packed with a bilayer of surfactant molecules. The packing density of the adsorbate molecules in the channels of the adsorbent was determined by the space-filling characteristics of the molecules which, in turn, depended on various factors such as the effective molecular volume, steric factors, the positioning of the double bonds, and the attractive and repulsive forces.