bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuclear factor kappa B and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha modulation of transcription of the mouse testis‐ and pre‐implantation development‐specific Rnf33/Trim60 gene
Authors: Choo Kong‐Bung , Hsu Min‐Chuan , Tsai Yao‐Hui , Lin Wan‐Yi , Huang Chiu‐Jung
Published: December 2010

We have previously reported a mouse Rnf33/Trim60 gene that is temporally expressed in the pre‐implantation embryo. The Rnf33 structural gene is composed of a short noncoding exon 1 and an intronless coding exon 2. In the present work, Rnf33 was shown to be expressed in the mouse testis and in the testicular cell lines TM3 and TM4. To elucidate Rnf33 transcriptional modulation, a 2.5‐kb Rnf33 sequence, inclusive of the upstream regulatory region, exon 1 and the associated intronic sequence, was dissected in transient transfection and luciferase assays. An initiator and an atypical TATA‐box were shown to act as the core promoter elements of the gene. Deletion and mutagenesis of the 2.5‐kb sequence in luciferase constructs further demonstrated that an intronic and palindromic kappa B (κB) sequence was an important cis element targeted by the nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) subunits p65/RELA and p50/NFκB1, and also through modulation by tumor necrosis factor α. Transcriptional up‐regulation of Rnf33 by NF‐κB and tumor necrosis factor‐α was directly demonstrated in TM3 and TM4 cells by real‐time PCR quantification of the Rnf33 mRNA levels. Small interfering RNA knockdown of p65 and p50 confirmed Rnf33 down‐regulation by p65/p50. Spermatogenesis is regulated by a wide range of stimuli, including NF‐κB, which, in turn, is regulated by other signals. Hence, demonstration of NF‐κB‐regulated Rnf33 expression in testicular cells, particularly in Sertoli cells, implicates functional involvement of the putative RNF33 protein in spermatogenesis through association of the RNF33 protein with the microtubule via interaction with kinesin motor proteins, as previously demonstrated [Huang et al., submitted].
Delirium in older adults attending adult day care and family caregiver distress
Authors: Bull Margaret J.
Published: December 2010

bull m.j. (2010) Delirium in older adults attending adult day care and family caregiver distress. International Journal of Older People Nursing6, 85–92 doi: 10.1111/j.1748‐3743.2010.00260.x

Background.  Delirium is a critical, costly, frequently reversible problem in older adults. Findings of previous studies indicate that delirium occurs in up to 65% of hospitalised older adults and up to 80% of terminally ill patients. Few studies address the frequency of delirium in community dwelling older adults and the extent to which delirium symptoms create distress for their family caregivers.

Aims.  To determine the frequency of delirium in older people attending two adult day centers (ADC) in the United States and identify the extent to which delirium symptoms were associated with family caregivers’ mental health symptoms, and ways of coping with the older adults’ care.

Method.  A descriptive, cross‐sectional design was used. Thirty older adults and their family caregivers were randomly selected from the rosters of the ADC.

Results.  Only 6.7% of the older adults had a positive screen for delirium. The majority of family caregivers (96.6%) stated that they had no knowledge of delirium prior to participating in this study.

Implications for practice.  Both older adults and their family caregivers need education about delirium symptoms and risks.
Use of moderate sedation for a patient with Down syndrome, intellectual disability, and Eisenmenger syndrome: a case report
Authors: Kunimatsu Teruhito , Greenan Setsue , Yamashita Anzu , Yamamoto Toshiharu , Ikeda Masakazu
Published: December 2010

For patients who have Eisenmenger syndrome (ES), perioperative risks are high even for noncardiac surgery, such as dental extractions.

We report on the case history of a 38‐year‐old male patient with Down syndrome (DS), intellectual disability (ID), and ES. The patient was scheduled for extraction of the right maxillary second molar tooth. His physical health was poor. Following oxygenation, midazolam was administered intravenously very slowly until the optimum sedative level was obtained, with a total dosage of 3.5 mg. There were no marked changes in vital signs during the perioperative period, and the patient was discharged the same day.

This case suggests that moderate or conscious sedation using midazolam for dental treatment of a patient with DS, ID, and ES was well tolerated. Several critical points are presented in this review.
Salivary factors and dental plaque levels in relation to the general health of elderly residents in a long‐term care facility: a pilot study
Authors: Brukienė Vilma , Aleksejūnienė Jolanta , Gairionytė Agnė
Published: December 2010

The goal of this study was to examine salivary factors and formation of dental plaque in elderly subjects who were institutionalized and to relate these factors to general health and medication use.

This cross‐sectional study consisted of 50 elderly individuals who were institutionalized and 25 healthy young volunteers who served as a reference group. For each subject, salivary flow rates, salivary pH, and buffering capacity were assessed. Baseline Plaque Index and Plaque Formation Rate Index were used as a measure of oral hygiene. Information on each patient's general health and medication use was acquired from the institution.

An evaluation of the results of this study suggests that salivary protective qualities and dental plaque levels in the elderly subjects who were institutionalized were worse than in healthy young individuals. An association between the general health of the elderly and salivary flow rate was found.
Treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder—SCDA members’ attitudes and behavior
Authors: Weil Taryn N. , Bagramian Robert A. , Inglehart Marita Rohr
Published: December 2010

The goal of this study was to explore (a) the attitudes and behavior of members of the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA) who self‐identified as treating patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and (b) the relationship between their professional attitudes and behaviors concerning these patients.

Data were collected from 75 SCDA members who responded to an anonymous web‐based survey on the SCDA website. The majority of respondents liked to treat children and adults with ASD (57%/56.9%). They treated approximately nine patients with ASD in an average week. The more they liked to treat children with ASD, the more patients with ASD they treated (r = .313; p = .018), and the more accommodations to overcome problems with communication, social interactions and aversion to change they made (r = .404; p < .001).

Providers’ attitudes concerning patients with ASD were quite positive and correlated with professional behavior concerning these patients. Future research should explore whether improving attitudes towards providing care for special needs patients could increase professional behavior and thus contribute to reducing the access to care problems these patients face.
Dental utilization by adult Medicaid enrollees who have indicators of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
Authors: Chalmers Jane M. , Kuthy Raymond A. , Momany Elizabeth T. , Chi Donald L. , Bacon Robert A. , Lindgren Scott D. , Askelson Natoshia M. , Damiano Peter C.
Published: December 2010

The purpose of this study was to determine dental utilization and type of dental services for Medicaid‐enrolled adults who had been identified as having intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Using Iowa claims data, the authors identified adults who met any of five IDD criteria for inclusion during calendar year 2005. Service utilization rates, including use of preventive dental, routine restorative, and complex restorative services, were determined.

Approximately 60% of adults with IDD had at least one dental visit in 2005. Among adults with at least one dental visit, 83% received a preventive service, 31% a routine restorative service, and 16% a complex dental service. Those age 65 and older had fewer preventive dental services than other age groups. In Iowa, dental utilization for adults 22–64 years of age with IDD was reasonably high (64%) in 2005, but individuals over age 65 had lower utilization (45%).
Bone subtraction CT angiography for the detection of intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Ramasundara S , Mitchell PJ , Dowling RJ
Published: December 2010

Introduction: The aim of the study was to retrospectively analyse the accuracy of CT angiography (CTA) of the Circle of Willis and a prototype bone subtraction CT angiogram (BSCTA) compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the detection of intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: A total of 36 patients with suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage who had CTA scans that had matching DSA studies between November 2005 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed by two experienced neurointerventionalist. Three‐dimensional volume‐rendered (3D VR) CTA and BSCTA were reviewed, followed by review of the source data in multi‐planar reformats (MPRs). The results were then assessed for sensitivity and specificity compared with the gold standard DSA. Time taken to review the studies, visibility of the ophthalmic, posterior communicating arteries, superior cerebella artery, posterior cerebral artery on the 3D VR BSCTA and CTA were analysed. BSCTA was assessed for residual bone and artificial stenosis. Further, the aneurysms were analysed for suitability of endovascular treatment versus surgical treatment based on CTA and BSCTA with MPR and 3D VR.

Results: CTA 3D VR sensitivity and specificity was 94 and 80%, respectively. CTA MPR sensitivity and specificity was 100% and 90%, respectively. When both CTA 3D VR and MPR images were combined the sensitivity and specificity was 100 and 90%, respectively. BSCTA 3D VR sensitivity and specificity was 91 and 90%, respectively, and the MPR sensitivity and specificity was 97 and 90%, respectively. When both BSCTA 3D VR and MPR images were combined the sensitivity was 97% with a specificity of 90% Overall, an 84% correlation was found between both CTA and BSCTA when compared with DSA for assessing for suitability of endovascular treatment versus surgical treatment. A statistically significant difference was shown between the time taken to review the CTA and BSCTA (P < 0.001 confidence interval 3.1–3.9 min).

Conclusion: In this study there was no significant difference between the diagnostic ability of BSCTA compared with CTA. Importantly, both CTA and BSCTA had high sensitivities and specificities compared to DSA.
Clinical outcomes following endovascular treatment of the malfunctioning autologous dialysis fistula
Authors: Tapping CR , Mallinson PI , Scott PM , Robinson GJ , Lakshminarayan R , Ettles DF
Published: December 2010

Background: There is limited long‐term prospective data on the use of endovascular techniques and the use of thrombolysis in malfunctioning autologous haemodialysis fistulas.

Purpose: Prospective assessment of clinical outcomes following angioplasty with or without low‐dose thrombolysis was undertaken in patients who presented with malfunctioning autologous haemodialysis fistulas.

Methods: Consecutive patients referred to our department over a 6‐month period were included. Twenty‐five patients underwent percutaneous intervention by angioplasty alone (n = 14), angioplasty and stent (n = 2), thrombolysis alone (n = 2), angioplasty, thrombolysis and stent (n = 2) and angioplasty and thrombolysis (n = 5). Patients underwent clinical follow‐up and were reviewed at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months to determine fistula status. Thirty‐day mortality in the group was two patients. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann–Whitney, chi‐squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to compare primary and secondary patency rates.

Results: Technical success and initial clinical success rates were 88% and 76%, respectively. Primary and secondary clinical success rates at 6 months were 68% and 72%, at 12 months were 68% and 72%, at 18 months were 60% and 68% and at 24 months were 52% and 68%, respectively. There were no major complications following interventional procedures. There were four minor complications. After an initially successful procedure, five patients required subsequent intervention during the follow‐up period. The overall fistula event rate was very low (five per 600 patient months or 0.0996 per access year) with a fistula loss rate of 0.14 per access year.

Conclusions: Our results confirm that excellent clinical results can be achieved by percutaneous endovascular treatment in malfunctioning autologous fistulas, justifying their continued use as first‐line management.
Clinician's guide to prostate IMRT plan assessment and optimisation
Authors: Martin JM , Frantzis J , Eade T , Chung P
Published: December 2010

Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) offers dosimetric benefit for irregularly shaped treatment volumes compared to three‐dimensional conformal approaches. Some groups advocate IMRT as the standard of care for prostate radiotherapy. For clinicians, assessment of an IMRT plan can introduce new opportunities and challenges. Although a standard IMRT plan may be deemed acceptable by meeting pre‐set dose constraints, further optimisation may yield a superior treatment plan by further reducing dose to critical structures or improving target volume homogeneity. The aim of this article is to present aspects of IMRT planning relevant to clinicians to aid in plan critiquing.
Experimental Surgical Therapies for Huntington's Disease
Authors: Demeestere Jelle , Vandenberghe Wim
Published: December 2010

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal movement, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbance. HD is caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in theHTTgene and a corresponding neurotoxic polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein. There is currently no therapy to modify the progressive course of the disease, and symptomatic treatment options are limited. In this review we describe a diverse set of emerging experimental therapeutic strategies for HD: deep brain stimulation; delivery of neurotrophic factors; cell transplantation;HTTgene silencing using RNA interference or antisense oligonucleotides; and delivery of intrabodies. The common feature of these experimental therapies is that they all require a neurosurgical intervention, either for implantation of an electrode or for brain delivery of molecules, viruses or cells that do not cross the blood–brain barrier upon oral or intravenous administration. We summarize available data on the rationale, safety, efficacy, and intrinsic limitations of each of these approaches, focusing mainly on studies in HD patients and genetic animal models of HD. Although each of these strategies holds significant promise, their efficacy remains to be proven in HD patients.
The Upside of APP at Synapses
Authors: Hoe Hyang‐Sook , Lee Hey‐Kyoung , Pak Daniel T. S.
Published: December 2010

The memory dysfunctions that characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD) are strongly correlated with synapse loss. The amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its cleavage product Aβ play central roles in synapse and memory loss, and thus are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Numerous in vitro and transgenic AD mouse model studies have shown that overexpression of APP leads to Aβ accumulation, which causes decreased synaptic activity and dendritic spine density. However, the normal synaptic function of APP itself is not fully understood. Several recent studies have found that full‐length APP promotes synaptic activity, synapse formation, and dendritic spine formation. These findings cast APP as a potential key player in learning and memory. It is of interest that the synaptic functions of full‐length APP are opposite to the effects associated with pathological Aβ accumulation. In this review, we will summarize the normal functions of APP at synapses and spines along with other known functions of APP, including its role in cell motility, neuronal migration, and neurite outgrowth. These studies shed light on the physiological actions of APP, independent of Aβ effects, and thus lead to a better understanding of the synaptic dysfunctions associated with AD.
Description of Study Population and Analysis of Factors Influencing Adherence in the Observational Italian Study “Evaluation of Pharmacotherapy Adherence in Bipolar Disorder” (EPHAR)
Authors: Barraco Alessandra , Rossi Andrea , Nicolò Giuseppe ,   for the EPHAR Study Group
Published: December 2010

Background: In patients with bipolar disorder, medication is effective in preventing relapses. Unfortunately, adherence to treatment in bipolar disorder, as in other chronic or recurrent conditions, is not optimal. Estimates of nonadherence to prescribed treatment range from 30% to 60% in epidemiological studies, and are at around 30% in clinical trials. Adherence to treatment is a potent predictor of effectiveness, both in clinical trials and cohort studies, therefore is a very relevant area of investigation. This study will try to show a picture of the real life care where adherence is influenced by a wide range of variables. Methods: Prospective, observational, multicenter study in 650 adult patients with bipolar disorder, who had to initiate or change their treatment regimen, observed for 1 year. Adherence was measured by the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). Additional variables: Symptom severity, Montgomery‐Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Clinical Global Impression–Bipolar Disorder (CGI‐BD), the Drug Attitude Inventory score (DAI‐30), and quality of life (EuroQoL 5 Dimensions). The variables were recorded every 3 months for the next year. Results: Most subjects were out‐patients (77.1%), female (58.8%), aged 31–50 years (50.1%) and overweight (41.8%) or obese (28.7%); 67.4% had type I bipolar disorder and 66.8% had depressive or mixed symptoms. Adherence was 39.9% at baseline (and increased up to 67.0% at completion. The main predictors of nonadherence were alcohol consumption, severe bipolar symptoms, young age at time of first treatment, negative attitude towards treatment. Conclusions: The patient population of this observational trial was representative of the patients changing their therapy for bipolar disorder seen in clinical practice in Italy. Lack of adherence to pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder is a serious issue, which is more likely to arise in alcohol users and patients with severe symptoms, negative attitude towards medication and/or initiation of treatment early in life. The findings could lead to a more adequate approach of adherence in patients with bipolar disorders.
Comparison of Countercurrent Flow Limitation Experiments Performed in Two Different Models of the Hot Leg of a Pressurized Water Reactor With Rectangular Cross Section
Authors: Vallée Christophe , Seidel Tobias , Lucas Dirk , Tomiyama Akio , Murase Michio
Published: December 2010

In order to investigate the two-phase flow behavior during countercurrent flow limitation in the hot leg of a pressurized water reactor, two test models were built: one at the Kobe University and the other at the TOPFLOW test facility of Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD). Both test facilities are devoted to optical measurement techniques; therefore, a flat hot leg test section design was chosen. Countercurrent flow limitation (CCFL) experiments were performed, simulating the reflux condenser cooling mode appearing in some accident scenarios. The fluids used were air and water, both at room temperature. The pressure conditions were varied from atmospheric at Kobe to 3.0 bars absolute at TOPFLOW. According to the presented review of literature, very few data are available on flooding in channels with a rectangular cross section, and no experiments were performed in the past in such flat models of a hot leg. Commonly, the macroscopic effects of CCFL are represented in a flooding diagram, where the gas flow rate is plotted versus the discharge water flow rate, using the nondimensional superficial velocity (also known as Wallis parameter) as coordinates. However, the classical definition of the Wallis parameter contains the pipe diameter as characteristic length. In order to be able to perform comparisons with pipe experiments and to extrapolate to the power plant scale, the appropriate characteristic length should be determined. A detailed comparison of the test facilities operated at the Kobe University and at FZD is presented. With respect to the CCFL behavior, it is shown that the essential parts of the two hot leg test sections are very similar. This geometrical analogy allows us to perform meaningful comparisons. However, clear differences in the dimensions of the cross section (H×W=150×10 mm2 in Kobe, 250×50 mm2 at FZD) make it possible to point out the right characteristic length for hot leg models with rectangular cross sections. The hydraulic diameter, the channel height, and the Laplace critical wavelength (leading to the Kutateladze number) were tested. A comparison of our own results with similar experimental data and empirical correlations for pipes available in literature shows that the channel height is the characteristic length to be used in the Wallis parameter for channels with rectangular cross sections. However, some limitations were noticed for narrow channels, where CCFL is reached at lower gas fluxes, as already observed in small scale hot legs with pipe cross sections.
Investigations and Countermeasures for Deactivation of Hydrogen Recombination Catalyst at Hamaoka Units 4 and 5
Authors: Kawasaki Toru , Aizawa Motohiro , Iizuka Hidehiro , Yamada Koji , Kujimoto Mitsuo
Published: December 2010

The hydrogen concentration in the outlets of off-gas recombiners increased at Hamaoka Units 4 and 5, and their reactors could not continue the startup operations. Therefore, we investigated why the recombination reactions were deactivated and we selected appropriate countermeasures for both plants. Two types of deactivation mechanisms were found from our investigations. The first cause was the decrease in the active surface area of alumina as support material due to dehydrative condensation. The other cause was the catalyst being poisoned by organic silicon compounds. Organic silicon was introduced from the organosilicon sealant used at the junctions of low-pressure turbines. We also found that a boehmite rich catalyst was deactivated more easily by organic silicon than gamma alumina because boehmite had numerous hydroxyl groups. Finally, we estimated that the deactivation of hydrogen recombination catalysts was caused by two combined factors; these were the characteristics of boehmite as the ingredient of catalysts support and the organic silicon poisoning the catalyst surface. As countermeasures, the boehmite was changed into more stable gamma alumina by adding heat treatment in a hydrogen atmosphere at 500°C for 1 h, and the source of organic silicon, organosilicon sealant, was removed. The improved catalysts were applied at Hamaoka Units 4 and 5. Moreover, the linseed oil that used to be used at the plants was applied again as sealant in the low-pressure turbine casing instead of organosilicon sealant. As a result of the application of these countermeasures, the reactors could be started without increasing the hydrogen concentration at these plants.
TERM EQUATION SATISFIABILITY OVER FINITE ALGEBRAS
Authors: GORAZD TOMASZ A. , KRZACZKOWSKI JACEK
Published: December 2010

We study the computational complexity of the satisfiability problem of an equation between terms over a finite algebra (TERM-SAT). We describe many classes of algebras where the complexity of TERM-SAT is determined by the clone of term operations. We classify the complexity for algebras generating maximal clones. Using this classification we describe many of algebras where TERM-SAT is NP-complete. We classify the situation for clones which are generated by an order or a permutation relation. We introduce the concept of semiaffine algebras and show polynomial-time algorithms which solve the satisfiability problem for them.
GENERAL STRATEGY SUPPORT IN SOFT E-BUSINESS PROCESS NEGOTIATION
Authors: SHAIKH SHAZIB E. , MEHANDJIEV NIKOLAY
Published: December 2010

If the purpose of a commercial negotiation is composition of business-to-business e-commerce processes (e-business processes), do any unique decision-support demands arise when using an electronic negotiation (e-negotiation) system? What is the answer when human-driven e-business process negotiation (eBPN), specifically, becomes a necessity? Workflow research already specifies certain tools that allow collaborative design of workflow models by multiple parties. But this paper goes beyond this to describe how peculiar decision-support demands also arise for the negotiation of the other, more "general", terms of such an eBPN contract. It also shows how existing e-negotiation tools lack holistic support for the interplay between "workflow-specific" and "general" strategy. Given this critical gap, this paper presents the "general" strategy-support (GSS) segment of our wider project: "Soft E-business Process Negotiation Approach" (SEPNA). Novel use of multi-criteria decision-making methods in the workflow composition domain and holistic support of the general strategy-support requirements combine as two of its key distinctions vis-à-vis alternative approaches. It specifies re-usable design prescriptions to address this gap, formalized primarily as an object model. Technical feasibility and contribution significance are shown by executing a set of previously unsupported eBPN scenarios on a prototype implementation of these prescriptions.
NODAL SOLUTIONS TO QUASILINEAR ELLIPTIC EQUATIONS ON COMPACT RIEMANNIAN MANIFOLDS
Authors: BENALILI MOHAMMED
Published: December 2010

We show the existence of nodal solutions to perturbed quasilinear elliptic equations with critical Sobolev exponent on compact Riemannian manifolds. A nonexistence result is also given.
ON AN EIGENVALUE PROBLEM INVOLVING THE HARDY POTENTIAL
Authors: CHABROWSKI J. , PERAL I. , RUF B.
Published: December 2010

In this note we consider the eigenvalue problem for the Laplacian with the Neumann and Robin boundary conditions involving the Hardy potential. We prove the existence of eigenfunctions of the second eigenvalue for the Neumann problem and of the principal eigenvalue for the Robin problem in "high" dimensions.
CONTINUITY AND CONTINUOUS DIFFERENTIABILITY OF HALF-EIGENVALUES IN POTENTIALS
Authors: LI WEI , YAN PING
Published: December 2010

We will study the dependence of λ(a, b), half-eigenvalues of the one-dimensional p-Laplacian, on potentials [Formula: see text], 1 ≤ γ ≤ ∞, where [Formula: see text]. Two results are obtained. One is the continuity of half-eigenvalues in [Formula: see text], where wγis the weak topology in [Formula: see text] space. The other is the continuous differentiability of half-eigenvalues in [Formula: see text], where ‖ ⋅ ‖γis the Lγnorm of [Formula: see text]. These results will be used to study extremal problems of half-eigenvalues in future work.
INFINITELY MANY POSITIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER–POISSON SYSTEM
Authors: LI GONGBAO , PENG SHUANGJIE , YAN SHUSEN
Published: December 2010

We consider the following nonlinear Schrödinger–Poisson system in ℝ3[Formula: see text] where K(r) and Q(r) are bounded and positive functions, 1 < p < 5. Assume that K(r) and Q(r) have the following expansions (as r → +∞): [Formula: see text] where a > 0, b ∈ ℝ, m > 1/2, n > 1, θ > 0, κ > 0, and Q0> 0 are some constants. We prove that (0.1) has infinitely many non-radial positive solutions if b < 0, or if b ≥ 0 and 2m < n.
GROUPOID FROBENIUS ALGEBRAS
Authors: PHAM DAVID N.
Published: December 2010

In this note, we extend the idea of G-Frobenius algebras (G-FAs) for G a finite group to the case where G is replaced by a finite groupoid. These new structures, which we call groupoid Frobenius algebras, have twists that are entirely analogous to the universal G-FA twists by Z2(G, k×). The usefulness of these new structures comes from recognizing that there is a large collection of G-FAs that can be regarded as non-trivial groupoid Frobenius algebras. As a consequence of this, the twists associated to groupoid Frobenius algebras can be brought to bear on the problem of twisting G-FAs. In particular, we show that for any integer n ≥ 2, there exists a class of G-FAs with twists by Zn(G, k×).
MOSER–TRUDINGER INEQUALITY ON CONFORMAL DISCS
Authors: MANCINI G. , SANDEEP K.
Published: December 2010

We prove that a sharp Moser–Trudinger inequality holds true on a conformal disc if and only if the metric is bounded from above by the Poincaré metric. We also derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of a sharp Moser–Trudinger inequality on a simply connected domain in ℝ2.
The Hidden Role of Women in Monitoring Nineteenth-Century African Weather: Instrumental Observations in Equatorial Guinea
Authors: Gallego M. Cruz , Domínguez-Castro Fernando , Vaquero José M. , García-Herrera Ricardo
Published: December 2010

Some of the first systematic meteorological observations in Africa were made by two women in Equatorial Guinea in 1875. Sisters Isabel and Juliana Urquiola, together with Manuel Iradier, Isabel's husband, built a meteorological observatory on Little Elobey Island (0°59′46″N, 9°32′14″E), off the tiny nation's western coast. From 1 June to 31 December 1875, the sisters took subdaily readings (6, 12, 15, and 18 h past midnight local time) of humidity, temperature, precipitation, and wind direction and speed. To evaluate the quality of these historical observations, the authors have compared them with equivalent modern meteorological data from Cocobeach (the modern meteorological station nearest to Little Elobey). The monthly-mean distributions of maximum and minimum temperature are similar to those of Cocobeach, but minimum temperatures are 2.4°C higher than Cocobeach values. Despite this difference, the observations of the Urquiola sisters were found to be far better and more consistent than other observations of the time. Sadly, the duo never enjoyed an appropriate acknowledgment of their detailed weather measurements, some taken eight times per day, which were some of the first measurements in Equatorial Guinea. Their unappreciated task unfortunately also had a high cost on their health for the rest of their lives, made all the worse for Isabel Urquiola with the loss of a baby.
Characterizing Climate-Change Impacts on the 1.5-yr Flood Flow in Selected Basins across the United States: A Probabilistic Approach
Authors: Walker John F. , Hay Lauren E. , Markstrom Steven L. , Dettinger Michael D.
Published: December 2010

The U.S. Geological Survey Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) model was applied to basins in 14 different hydroclimatic regions to determine the sensitivity and variability of the freshwater resources of the United States in the face of current climate-change projections. Rather than attempting to choose a most likely scenario from the results of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an ensemble of climate simulations from five models under three emissions scenarios each was used to drive the basin models.

Climate-change scenarios were generated for PRMS by modifying historical precipitation and temperature inputs; mean monthly climate change was derived by calculating changes in mean climates from current to various future decades in the ensemble of climate projections. Empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) were fitted to the PRMS model output driven by the ensemble of climate projections and provided a basis for randomly (but representatively) generating realizations of hydrologic response to future climates. For each realization, the 1.5-yr flood was calculated to represent a flow important for sediment transport and channel geomorphology. The empirical probability density function (pdf) of the 1.5-yr flood was estimated using the results across the realizations for each basin. Of the 14 basins studied, 9 showed clear temporal shifts in the pdfs of the 1.5-yr flood projected into the twenty-first century. In the western United States, where the annual peak discharges are heavily influenced by snowmelt, three basins show at least a 10% increase in the 1.5-yr flood in the twenty-first century; the remaining two basins demonstrate increases in the 1.5-yr flood, but the temporal shifts in the pdfs and the percent changes are not as distinct. Four basins in the eastern Rockies/central United States show at least a 10% decrease in the 1.5-yr flood; the remaining two basins demonstrate decreases in the 1.5-yr flood, but the temporal shifts in the pdfs and the percent changes are not as distinct. Two basins in the eastern United States show at least a 10% decrease in the 1.5-yr flood; the remaining basin shows little or no change in the 1.5-yr flood.
The Partitioning of Poleward Heat Transport between the Atmosphere and Ocean
Authors: Czaja Arnaud , Marshall John
Published: December 2010

Observations of the poleward heat transport of the earth (H) suggest that the atmosphere is the primary transporting agent poleward of 30°, that oceanic (HO) and atmospheric (HA) contributions are comparable in the tropical belt, and that ocean transport dominates in the deep Tropics.

To study the partition we express the ratio HA/HO aswhere Ψ (with subscripts A and O denoting atmosphere and ocean, respectively) is the meridional mass transport within θ layers (moist potential temperature for the atmosphere, potential temperature for the ocean), and CΔθ (C being the specific heat) is the change in energy across the circulation defined by Ψ.

It is argued here that the observed partitioning of heat transport between the atmosphere and ocean is a robust feature of the earth's climate and reflects two limits: (i) dominance of atmospheric mass transport in mid-to-high latitudes (ΨA ≫ ΨO with CAΔθA ∼ COΔθO and hence HA/HO ≫ 1) and (ii) dominance of oceanic energy contrast in the Tropics (COΔθO ≫ CAΔθA with ΨA ∼ ΨO and hence HA/HO ≪ 1).

Motivated by simple dynamical arguments, these ideas are illustrated through diagnosis of atmospheric reanalyses, long simulations of an ocean model, and a coupled atmosphere–ocean model of intermediate complexity.
To Call or Not to Call? Political Parties and Referendums on the EU’s Constitutional Treaty
Authors: Dür Andreas , Mateo Gemma
Published: December 2010

Why did some political parties in the EU member states support and others oppose a facultative referendum on the Constitutional Treaty? The authors argue that electoral competition played a major role in determining how parties positioned themselves with respect to the desirability of a referendum. Parties that expected electoral gains supported and those that expected electoral losses opposed a referendum. The hypotheses that the authors derive from this argument draw attention to variables such as public support for the treaty, the closeness of the next elections, party size, and public demand for a referendum. An original data set that comprises the positions of 176 parties on whether to submit the Constitutional Treaty to a referendum allows the authors to examine these hypotheses empirically. Using a multilevel logistic regression model, they find support for their argument, even when controlling for party ideology and institutional constraints.
Atmospheric Permeability and Perceived Enclosure
Authors: Stamps Arthur E.
Published: December 2010

This article reports 10 findings from five experiments, with 124 participants and 96 environments, on how atmospheric permeability mediates perceived enclosure. Enclosure is important because it influences safety, and safety may be dependent on atmospheric permeability. Atmospheric permeability was expressed as clear air or fog. Overall, fog made places seem more open. Numerical guidance is provided to assist future work in this line of inquiry.
Investigating Emerging Biomedical Practices: Zones of Awkward Engagement on Different Scales
Authors: Kontopodis Michalis , Niewöhner Jörg , Beck Stefan
Published: December 2010

This special issue of Science, Technology, & Human Values critically explores a new stage in which the life sciences and biomedical practices have entered. This new stage is marked by postgenomic developments and an increased interest of life sciences in the everyday lives of people outside laboratories and clinical settings. Furthermore, particular attention is given to many chronic and degenerative disorders such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or developmental disorders. These developments coincide—or have become entangled—with a new set of interests that an anthropologically inclined science and technology studies (STS) is bringing to the analyses of biomedical practices. An increased interest is observed in the anthropologically inclined STS in studying phenomena on different scales and in exploring fields that are not readily dominated by technoscientific rationality in practice. The introduction to the special issue examines briefly these developments and situates them in a broader genealogy of different movements that have taken place in the anthropologically inclined subfield of STS since the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Symbolism in Marketing Systems
Authors: Kadirov Djavlonbek , Varey Richard J.
Published: December 2010

The article explores the different aspects of the symbolism of marketing systems. The authors argue that marketing systems maintain distinctive symbolic structures in addition to their functional/operational structures; the environment is an inherent part of the system rather than being outside the system; and symbolic unfolding, that is, the process through which emerging systems address the symbolic controversies of existing systems, underlies the formation of new marketing subsystems. Two implications for macromarketing research are drawn (1) improving the standards of living via making product assortments (that are also symbolic) available to consumers in fact is an unending quest of addressing acute societal problems and contradictions and (2) the design of marketing systems is likely to fail if the symbolic character of a system under development is not taken into account.
Comparing Recidivism Rates of Treatment Responders/Nonresponders in a Sample of 413 Child Molesters Who Had Completed Community-Based Sex Offender Treatment in the United Kingdom
Authors: Beech Anthony R. , Mandeville-Norden Rebecca , Goodwill Alasdair
Published: December 2010

Analysis of psychometric data from a sample of 413 child molesters who had completed a U.K. probation-based sex offender treatment program was carried out to assess (a) the effectiveness of therapy in the short term and (b) the longer term implications of treatment in relation to sexual recidivism. It was found that 12% (51 offenders) of the sample had recidivated within 2 to 4 years. Of these recidivists, 86% (44 offenders) had been reconvicted for a sexually related offense. One hundred thirty-five offenders (33%) demonstrated a treated profile (i.e., demonstrated no offense-specific problems and few, or no, socioaffective problems at the posttreatment stage). This group was compared with a sample of offenders deemed as not responding to treatment, matched by their levels of pretreatment risk/need. It was found that a significantly smaller proportion ( n = 12, 9%) of treatment responders had recidivated, compared to the treatment nonresponders ( n = 20, 15%), indicating a 40% reduction in recidivism in those who had responded to treatment (effect size = .18). Matching length of treatment to the offenders’ level of pretreatment risk/need (i.e., higher risk/treatment-need offenders typically undertook longer treatment) reduced the rate of recidivism among this group to the level of recidivism observed among the lower risk/need offenders.
No-Show at a Forensic Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic
Authors: Feitsma W.Nathalie , Popping Roel , Jansen Daniëlle E. M. C.
Published: December 2010

Nonattendance for and late cancellations of scheduled appointments, that is no-show, is a well-known phenomenon in psychiatric outpatient clinics. Research on the topic of no-show for initial and consecutive appointments in the field of forensic psychiatry is scarce. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence and causes of no-show and to explore reasons for nonattendance. The study was carried out in an outpatient clinic in northern Netherlands. Telephone interviews were administered to 27 no-show clients, 84 follow-up no-show clients, and 41 attendees of 18 years and older. A no-show rate of 24.9% and a follow-up no-show rate of 9.8% was found. The majority of appointments missed were in the beginning phase of clinic contact. No-show clients were younger than their attending counterparts and more often dropped out from clinic contact. Also, less family social support was experienced by nonattendees. Reasons for nonattendance were having forgotten about appointment and work commitments.
Analysis of the Stages of Change Model of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Readiness Among Prisoners
Authors: D’Sylva Felicia , Graffam Joe , Hardcastle Lesley , Shinkfield Alison J.
Published: December 2010

A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was applied to data for 237 male participants ( M = 31.93 years, SD = 7.64) in a prison-based substance abuse treatment program to study the integrity of the Stages of Change model of treatment readiness. Using the Stages of Change Questionnaire (STOCQ), participants were assigned to Contemplation (102), Action (118), or Maintenance (17) groups. A CART analysis then examined differences in the overall group profiles on the basis of scores on the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking, the Situational Confidence Questionnaire, and the Carlson Psychological Survey. The assumption of discrete stages of change was not supported. Alternative models are suggested: one based on states of change and one on personality characteristics. A focus on equal attention to both cognitive and behavioral aspects of substance abuse treatment readiness is suggested.
The Effects of Self-Control, Gang Membership, and Parental Attachment/Identification on Police Contacts Among Latino and African American Youths
Authors: Flexon Jamie L. , Greenleaf Richard G. , Lurigio Arthur J.
Published: December 2010

This study assessed the correlates of self-control and police contact in a sample of Chicago public high school students. The investigation examined the effects of parental attachment/identification, family structure, and peer association on self-control and the effects of parental attachment/identification, family structure, peer association, and self-control on police contact. Differences between African American and Latino youth on the predictors of the two dependent measures were tested in separate regression models. Weak parental attachment/identification and gang affiliation (peer association) predicted low self-control among all students. Among African American youth, only weak maternal attachment/identification predicted low self-control; both weak maternal attachment/identification and gang affiliation predicted low self-control among Latino youth. Gang affiliation predicted police stops (delinquency) among African Americans but not among Latinos. However, both African American and Latino students with lower self-control were more likely to be stopped by the police than those with higher self-control.
A Social Theory of Internet Uses Based on Consumption Scale and Linkage Needs
Authors: López-Sintas Jordi , Filimon Nela , García-Álvarez Maria Ercilia
Published: December 2010

The authors analyze the understudied relationship between social class and Internet-in-practice in the Spanish social space in order to develop a social theory of Internet use based on the concepts of scale of consumption, technological, social, and information linkage needs of individuals, and Bourdieu’s suggested homology between the social and consumption spaces. The authors test their theory with interdependence methods of analysis, which are suitable methodological instrument for relating Internet uses to social structure through the concepts of scale and linkage needs. The authors’ theory suggests that, since Internet uses are socially structured, the first-level digital divide may be reduced but will not disappear, and Internet uses will continue to differ (second-level digital divide). The theory not only explains Spaniards’ Internet use and more recent empirical findings but also proposes answers to critical contemporary social questions regarding the use of digital technologies and the digital inequality debate.
Review Article: Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology
Authors: Rezk Youssef , Timmins Patrick F. , Smith Howard S.
Published: December 2010

Patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies have a multitude of symptoms; pain, nausea, and vomiting, constipation, anorexia, diarrhea, dyspnea, as well as symptoms resulting from intestinal obstruction, hypercalcemia, ascites, and/or ureteral obstruction. Pain is best addressed through a multimodal approach. The optimum palliative management of end-stage malignant intestinal obstruction remains controversial, with no clear guidelines governing the choice of surgical versus medical management. Patient selection for palliative surgery, therefore, should be highly individualized because only carefully selected candidates may derive real benefit from such surgeries. There remains a real need for more emphasis on palliative care education in training programs.
Role of Palliative Tracheobronchial Stenting in Hospice Patients
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Debabrata , Induru Raghava R.
Published: December 2010

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality and morbidity. Patients with advanced lung cancer have distressful symptoms like dyspnea. It has severe negative impact on the quality of life. Airway stenting has become widespread for palliation of airway stenosis in patients with metastatic airways disease. Although it provides improvement in symptoms, actual survival benefit is limited with severe potential complications. Appropriate patient selection in terms of site of tumor, type of stent placement is needed to achieve maximum benefit for patients. Here we will discuss 2 patients with advanced lung cancer who received bronchial stent for intractable dyspnea. Although there was dramatic improvement in symptoms and quality of life, both died shortly. Was there any benefit of stenting remained unanswered.
An anisotropic model for the electrical resistivity of two-phase geologic materials
Authors: Ellis Michelle H. , Sinha Martin C. , Minshull Tim A. , Sothcott Jeremy , Best Angus I.
Published: December 2010

Electrical and electromagnetic surveys of the seafloor provide valuable information about the macro and microscopic properties of subseafloor sediments. Sediment resistivity is highly variable and governed by a wide range of properties including pore-fluid salinity, pore-fluid saturation, porosity, pore geometry, and temperature. A new anisotropic, two-phase, effective medium model describes the electrical resistivity of porous rocks and sediments. The only input parameters required are the resistivities of the solid and fluid components, their volume fractions and grain shape. The approach makes use of the increase in path length taken by an electrical current through an idealized granular medium comprising of aligned ellipsoidal grains. The model permits both solid and fluid phases to have a finite conductivity (useful for dealing with surface charge conduction effects associated with clay minerals) and gives results independent of grain size (hence, valid for a wide range of sediment types). Furthermore, the model can be used to investigate the effects of grain aspect ratio and alignment on electrical resistivity anisotropy. Good agreement was found between the model predictions and laboratory measurements of resistivity and porosity on artificial sediments with known physical properties.