bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Childhood Exposure to Drug Users and Religion on Drug Use in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Authors: Jang Sung Joon , Johnson Byron R.
Published: January 2011

Previous research finds drug-using peers and religiosity to be key predictors of drug use among youth, but the effects of childhood exposure to drug users and religion on later drug use have been understudied. The authors hypothesize a child’s exposure to parental drug use and religious upbringing have a causal influence on drug use in youth primarily through drug-using peer association and religiosity during adolescence and young adulthood. To test this hypothesis, the authors analyze nationally representative three-wave panel data spanning ages 6 to 22. Results from estimating a structural equation model provide empirical support for the hypothesis, as the causal influence was found to be indirect via the proximate predictors of drug use among youths; that is, childhood risk and protective factors were positively associated with their adolescent and young adulthood counterparts, which in turn had a causal effect on drug use by youth.
Ethiopian Emerging Adult Immigrants in Israel
Authors: Walsh Sophie D. , Tuval-Mashiach Rivka
Published: January 2011

Experiences of discrimination and racism and individual coping strategies were examined among 22 emerging adult Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. In-depth interviews explored the way they perceive, understand, respond to, and cope with experiences of discrimination. Qualitative analysis identified an initial contrast between those interviewees who refuted the existence of personal and/or general experiences of racism and those who felt it acutely. Further analysis identified two strategies among those who refuted the existence of racism: a racism-free group who repudiated racism in general and a proactive strategy in which the young person felt that their own individual behavior prevented racism. Two strategies were identified among those who described frequent, painful racist experiences: (a) fighting back, involving confronting or talking back to the perpetrator, and (b) avoidance, choosing not to react openly to the situation. The article describes the different strategies together with the experience embodied in each of them in relation to integration in Israel and feelings of belonging to Israeli society. The results cast a spot light on the experience of discrimination and the ways of coping with it and suggest that active coping mechanisms are connected to a more positive internal feeling and to stronger feelings of belonging and integration, in particular when the strategy is based on an awareness of discrimination (as opposed to ignoring it).
Good News for the Future? Young People, Internet Use, and Political Participation
Authors: Bakker Tom P. , de Vreese Claes H.
Published: January 2011

The role of traditional media and the Internet in relation to young people’s political participation has attracted a great deal of scholarly attention. Starting from a notion of differential media use and an encompassing notion of political participation, this article tests the relationships between media use (newspaper, television, and Internet) and offline and online forms of political participation. Findings from a national survey ( n = 2,409, age 16 to 24) reveal that a variety of Internet uses are positively related with different forms of political participation, whereas the relationship between most uses of traditional media and participation are weak, albeit positive. The study rejects the predictive power of duration of media use but finds support for the type of media use. Positive relationships between online communication and noninformational uses of the Internet vis-à-vis participation are found. The research demonstrates how a wider and more contemporary conception of political participation, together with more detailed measures of media use, can help to gain better insight in the roles media can play in affecting participatory behavior among the Internet generation.
Hegemony and the U.S. Working Class
Authors: Castillo Fernández Dídimo
Published: January 2011

The labor movement in the United States entered into crisis in the mid-1970s as the economy moved from a manufacturing to a service base. The decline of the manufacturing sector has led to a significant reduction in union participation and living standards from their peak in the 1960s to their current low point. The current economic crisis may produce changes in union structures. The future of the U.S. labor movement depends on its capacity to recruit new members, particularly among the women, young people, and ethnic groups that have recently entered the labor market.
Police Brutality in Brazil
Authors: Costa Arthur Trindade Maranhão
Published: January 2011

Police brutality is part of Latin American social history, not merely a consequence of the “authoritarian legacy” of military regimes. Violent police practices persist because of the weakness of institutional mechanisms for controlling police activity. This can be seen by analyzing some of the police control mechanisms present in Rio de Janeiro, including legislation, standards of conduct, policing strategies, mechanisms of internal and external control, and the judiciary. The efficacy of these control mechanisms is tied to the pattern of relationship that exists between the state (and police) and society. The introduction of new control mechanisms or the improvement of existing ones would mean a recalibration of this relationship.
The Metamorphosis of Black Movement Activists into Black Organic Intellectuals
Authors: dos Santos Sales Augusto
Published: January 2011

Examination of the profiles and trajectories of 15 current or past leaders of the Brazilian Association of Black Researchers points to the emergence in Brazil of a new category of intellectuals who may be called “black organic intellectuals”—academics with the marks of black ancestry (such as dark skin) who have been directly or indirectly influenced by the black social movements and therefore do not resign themselves to racial prejudice and discrimination and racial inequalities. The active academic ethos that guides their professional behavior as university professors leads them to study these inequalities and to promote policies aimed at racial equality and the elimination of racism from Brazilian society.
The Big, the Rich, and the Powerful: Physical, Financial, and Social Dimensions of Dominance in Mating and Attraction
Authors: Bryan Angela D. , Webster Gregory D. , Mahaffey Amanda L.
Published: January 2011

Dominance is a key feature on which romantic partners are evaluated, yet there is no clear consensus on its definition. In Study 1 ( N = 305), the authors developed scales to measure three putatively distinct dimensions of dominance: social, financial, and physical. In Study 2 ( N = 308), the authors used their scales in a mate-selection paradigm and found that women perceived physical dominance to be related to both attractiveness and social dominance. For both sexes, attractiveness predicted desirability for a one-night stand, whereas attractiveness and agreeableness were predictors of desirability for a serious relationship. In Study 3 ( N = 124), the authors surveyed romantic partners in monogamous relationships and found that although aspects of a partner’s dominance—financial for women and social for men—played a bivariate role in relationship satisfaction, agreeableness was the strongest predictor of current and future relationship satisfaction and the only significant predictor of relationship dissolution.
A Concise Equation That Captures the Essential Elements of One-Way Sensitivity Analyses in Health Economic Models
Authors: Nuijten Mark J. C. , Van Gelder Pieter H. A. J. M.
Published: January 2011

Objective: Sensitivity analyses are often performed on only a limited number of variables without justification of the choice of variables and range of each variable. External parties such as health authorities are increasingly requiring submission of the actual model, often in order to test the robustness of the outcomes of the model by performing additional sensitivity analyses. The objective of this work was to develop an alternative method to capture the critical issues of a sensitivity analysis in a health economic model, especially regarding the selection of variables and determining the range for each variable. Apart from external parties such as health authorities, journal readers who want to perform their own sensitivity analysis but do not have access to the model may find this useful. Methods and Results: Statistical methods based on Markov chain modeling and regression analysis, using the framework of the Taylor series expansion around a point, are used to derive an equation for 1-way sensitivity analyses. In particular, equations for costs and effects are being developed, from which the cost-effectiveness ratio is built. The article shows the feasibility of such equations for the execution of 1-way sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: An equation that can be derived in the manner described in this article provides a substantial amount of information. The inclusion of such an equation in a report may increase transparency of the reporting of outcomes of health economic models.
Maṭhas and Medieval Religious Movements in Tamil Nadu
Authors: Karashima N. , Subbarayalu Y. , Shanmugam P.
Published: January 2011

Maṭha (monastery) appears in Tamil inscriptions from the early ninth century and appears with increasing frequency from the eleventh century. This increase seems to have been brought about by an influx of Śaiva ascetics from North India. At the same time, maṭhas were closely related to the bhakti movement in South India during the Pallava and Pandyan period and played an important role during the Chola and Later Pandyan period in localising and Tamilising the Brahmanical orthodoxy brought by these North Indian ascetics. This process is well attested by changes in the activities of Gōḷaki-maṭha originating in the North and the establishment of Śaivasiddhānta philosophy in the Tamil country in the thirteenth century. This transformation was caused by the participation of non-Brāhmaṇas, including people of the lower social strata such as cultivators, merchants and artisans, in maṭha activities, which explain the great increase in maṭha inscriptions in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The examination of maṭha inscriptions in this study elucidates the important role played by maṭhas in developing and spreading new religious ideas among common people and reveals the connections between new religious ideas and the social changes that took place from twelfth to fourteenth centuries in Tamil Nadu.
Factors Influencing Intention to Move into Senior Housing
Authors: Huang Hui-Chun
Published: January 2011

The demand for senior housing in Taiwan is increasing with aging populations and rising life expectancies. However, the unique characteristics of the aging population provide challenges to the senior housing industry. This study proposes a model based on a modified theory of planned behavior to investigate the factors underlying older adults’ intention to move into senior housing in Taiwan. A structural equation analysis showed that the model provided good predictive power. The underlying beliefs leading to the formation of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were also examined to provide a more comprehensive framework for studying the formation of seniors’ intention. Implications and recommendations to help the senior housing industry develop appropriate strategies and encourage seniors to move into senior housing are also provided.
Gender and Job Chains in Local Economic Development
Authors: Felsenstein Daniel , Persky Joseph
Published: January 2011

Over the past decade, the welfare evaluation of local economic development activities has become increasingly sophisticated. Projected or realized gains have been broken down by wage levels, household income levels, and race. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the distribution of gains by gender. In parallel, the gender literature has recognized the distribution of economic development activity by income group but not by vacancies. The authors present an evaluation approach—the job chains model—that combines the two. Occupations with a high proportion of women are identified and isolated at each wage level. The authors estimate the proportion of job chain vacancies induced by new “female” jobs and their welfare impacts. Findings suggest that women are underrepresented in welfare gains associated with both male and female high-wage jobs. The applicability of the authors’ approach for evaluating alternative industrial targets is demonstrated.
The Influence of Targeted Economic Development Tax Incentives on County Economic Growth: Evidence From Michigan’s MEGA Credits
Authors: Hicks Michael J. , LaFaive Michael
Published: January 2011

This article estimates the county-level impact of the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Credit targeted tax incentives to firms from 1995 through 2002. The authors employ a fixed effects instrumental variable model with spatial and time autocorrelation function tested on aggregate income, employment, the unemployment rate, and sectoral activity in manufacturing, wholesale, and construction. The authors find no impacts of the MEGA credit program on county-level aggregate employment, unemployment rates, wages, or incomes. Furthermore, there is no impact of manufacturing or warehousing credits on employment or wages in these sectors. The authors do find that MEGA credits produce a transient impact on construction employment (a drop in construction wages is statistically but not economically significant). The construction impact of MEGA is an estimated $123,000 investment per construction job. Generally, 75% of these jobs last for 1 year, with the remaining 25% lasting only into the second year.
Coupled climate–carbon simulations indicate minor global effects of wars and epidemics on atmospheric CO2 between ad 800 and 1850
Authors: Pongratz Julia , Caldeira Ken , Reick Christian H. , Claussen Martin
Published: January 2011

Historic events such as wars and epidemics have been suggested as explanation for decreases in atmospheric CO2 reconstructed from ice cores because of their potential to take up carbon in forests regrowing on abandoned agricultural land. Here, we use a coupled climate–carbon cycle model to assess the carbon and climate effects of the Mongol invasion (~1200 to ~1380), the Black Death (~1347 to ~1400), the conquest of the Americas (~1519 to ~1700), and the fall of the Ming Dynasty (~1600 to ~1650). We calculate their impact on atmospheric CO2 including the response of the global land and ocean carbon pools. It has been hypothesized that these events have contributed to significant increases in land carbon stocks. However, we find that slow regrowth and delayed emissions from past land cover change allow for small increases of the land biosphere carbon storage only during long-lasting events. The effect of these small increases in land biosphere storage on global CO2 is reduced by the response of the global carbon pools and largely offset by concurrent emissions from the rest of the world. None of these events would therefore have affected the atmospheric CO2 concentration by more than 1 ppm. Only the Mongol invasion could have lowered global CO2, but by an amount too small to be resolved by ice cores.
Audience Response to Gender Role Portrayals in Indian Advertisements
Authors: Dwivedy Ashish Kumar , Patnaik Priyadarshi , Suar Damodar
Published: January 2011

The study examines audiences’ reactions to Indian print advertisements portraying male and female models in traditional, neutral and non-traditional roles on dimensions of attractiveness, meaningfulness and vitality. The audience comprised of 100 male and 100 female students. They evaluated five categories of role portrayals—traditional male, traditional female, neutral, non-traditional male and non-traditional female portrayals—with each category represented by 10 advertisements. Results reveal that irrespective of gender of respondents neutral portrayals are perceived as most attractive, meaningful and vital. While male respondents rate traditional portrayals as most attractive, meaningful and vital, female respondents favour neutral portrayals on the above dimensions. Non-traditional male role portrayals are perceived as least attractive, meaningful and vital by both men and women. Findings support that the transition from traditional gender role attitudes has been more prominent in case of female than in case of male respondents. Differential responses to male and female role portrayals are also observed.
Post-LTTE Sri Lanka
Authors: de Silva K.M.
Published: January 2011

Over the last 30 years or more, Sri Lanka has been one of the principal trouble spots of South and South East Asia, with successive governments of Sri Lanka confronting a powerful challenge from the separatist and terrorist LTTE. In mid-May 2009 the Sri Lankan armed forces inflicted a decisive defeat on the LTTE. Sri Lanka now faces the daunting challenge of absorbing the territories once controlled by the LTTE and fashioning a reconciliation between the Sinhalese majority and the alienated Tamil minority. There is in addition the need to organise the reconstruction of the north and east of the island, some of the least developed areas of Sri Lanka, lacking in natural resources and unable to provide its population with the standard of living the younger generation aspires to. The opportunities they desire are available in the Sinhalese areas of the country. Given the emotions involved in the tensions and hostilities of recent times, reconciliation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, whose cause the LTTE claimed to represent, has to be negotiated on a long-term basis through carefully planned policies and imaginative gestures. A generous investment of resources on economic growth is one aspect of this but an essential one considering the neglect of these areas by the LTTE and the damage inflicted on housing and infrastructure in the course of the conflict.
Fatigue Life Estimation Considering Damaging and Strengthening of Low amplitude Loads under Different Load Sequences Using Fuzzy Sets Approach
Authors: Zhu Shun-Peng , Huang Hong-Zhong , Wang Zhong-Lai
Published: January 2011

In this study, based on the Miner rule, a new linear damage accumulation rule is proposed to consider the strengthening and damaging of low amplitude loads with different sequences using fuzzy sets theory. This model improves the application of the traditional Miner rule, by considering not only the damaging and strengthening of low amplitude loads, but also the load sequence effects. To apply the proposed model, the law of selecting membership functions for different load spectra is found, and different membership functions are investigated to show the important influence on estimating fatigue life. Applicability of the method is validated by comparing with the experimental data. It is also found that the predicted fatigue life by the proposed method is more accurate and reliable than that by the traditional ones.
Reconsidering Interests: The Next Big Idea in Career Counseling Theory Research and Practice
Authors: Chope Robert C.
Published: January 2011

A population of people that are living longer and working longer invite a reconsideration of interests and interest measurement as individuals make substantial changes in their vocational and avocational pursuits later in life. The relationship of interests to vocational hope and childhood exposure to work is also discussed.
Global Hollywood, Narrative Transparency, and Chinese Media Poachers: Narrating Cross-Cultural Negotiations of Friends in South China
Authors: See Kam Tan
Published: January 2011

This paper offers a case study of the cross-cultural consumption of Friends (1994-2004, USA) in South China. It focused on media poachers, or people who use the sitcom in unauthorised or nonlegal ways, and strove for an interdisciplinary and internationalist understanding of global Hollywood. It deployed the qualitative method of in-depth and focus group interviews, both face-to-face and online, and critically surveyed media reception theories, from the effects tradition to the active reader paradigm. Scott Olsen’s theory of narrative transparency (1999) grounded the study’s theoretical premise; central to which is Olsen’s notion of ‘mythotypes’— that which render foreign media texts transparent for indigenous decoding and recoding and which in correspondingly throwing affective hooks at foreign audiences, kept them engaged. The case study revealed that the affective impact was neither uniform nor even: varying degrees of transparency and opacity indeed existed. This finding challenged Olsen’s assertion that affects were universal and therefore escaped culturally coded constraints.
Alcohol Product Placements and the Third-Person Effect
Authors: Shin Dong-Hee , Kim Jun Kyo
Published: January 2011

The third-person effect framework assumes that people attribute different effects to mediated messages on themselves as opposed to others. It assumes further that they perceive that persuasive media messages have greater effects on others than on themselves. This study investigated perceptions of the possible effects of alcohol product placement in youth-oriented films on different target groups, thereby extending current third-person effects research to an area of advertising other than the traditional forms. Specifically, this study examined (1) whether and to what degree the third-person effect functions in the special case of alcohol product placement in youth-oriented movies; (2) the influence of selected demographic, perceptual, and attitudinal variables on consumer perceptions of third-person alcohol product placement effects; and (3) the relationship between perceived third-person effects and support for alcohol product placement regulation in youth movies. The authors found a significant disparity between the perceived effect of alcohol product placement in youth movies on oneself and others and offer empirical support for the theoretical link between third-person perception and a procensorship attitude.
Structure and Property of Electrospun PAN Nanofibers by Different Pre-oxidated Heating Rates
Authors: Qin Xiao-Hong
Published: January 2011

Electrospinning is a relatively simple method to produce submicron fibers from solutions of different polymers and polymer blends. In this study, PAN (polyacrylonitrile) fibers web was fabricated by electrospinning, and then was pre-oxidated. Effects of pre-oxidated heating rate on the structure and property of pre-oxidation web were discussed in this article. Thermal gravimetric (TG) curves were used to compare the thermal stability of PAN pre-oxidated samples under different pre-oxidated heating rates. TG curves showed that the integral procedural decomposition temperature was the highest when the pre-oxidated heating rate was 5°C/minute, that is, the thermal stability of pre-oxidated nanofibrou web was the best under this condition. Moreover, results showed that with pre-oxidated heating rate increasing, the rate of mass loss gradually increased by moisture content analysis. Effect of the heating rate on central degree of the pre-oxidated web was not obvious by differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and the cyclization and dehydrogenation formed the final structure of the aromatic by infrared spectroscopy analysis. Especially, carbon nanofibers could be obtained from the pre-oxidated nanofibers at pre-oxidated heating rate 5°C/minute with smooth surface and small fiber dispersion as well as solid and no empty fiber structure of the section.
Hybrid Fabrics for Structural Composites
Authors: Indu Shekar R. , Kotresh T.M. , Krishna Prasad A.S. , Damodhara Rao P.M. , Ananthakrishnan T. , Satheesh Kumar M.N. , Siddaramaiah
Published: January 2011

This article gives an insight into the design considerations that have been considered to design a technical hybrid fabric structure for Radome application. An attempt has been made to study empirical relationship between various structural parameters that have a major influence on the final composite properties. The hybrid fabric structures woven out of E-glass (warp) and PEEK (weft) and E-glass (warp) and polyester (weft) have been designed based on mathematical approach and expressed in terms of geometrical parameters in order to have a complete geometric specification of the fabric. An effort has also been made to understand in a comprehensive manner the interrelationships between geometrical properties of yarns and fabrics and their influence on processing of composites and their performance. The study shows that impregnation of resin within the fiber network is primarily responsible for intimate fiber—fiber contact that contributes for the final properties in the composite and provides a good interface area in the composite. The effect of short processing cycle is also attempted keeping in view the techno-economic aspects and it is found that long process cycle with stand in time at major transition temperatures gives useful properties compared to short process cycle. Glass—polyester-based composites are also prepared and studied to have relative performance of glass—PEEK composites.
White Concern About Black Favoritism in a Biracial Presidential Election
Authors: Young Min Baek  , Landau Jocelyn
Published: January 2011

Party affiliation has been identified as the most powerful factor explaining citizens’ political attitudes and voting decisions. However, history provides several examples of Black Democratic candidates who failed to garner votes from White Democrats during biracial elections. Focusing on perceived concern about Black favoritism and political ambivalence, this study investigates why White citizens’ party affiliation loses its influence on candidate evaluation and vote choice in biracial political contests. Relying on the 2008 National Presidential Election between Barack Obama and John McCain as an analytic case study, this research provides evidence that White citizens’ concern about Black favoritism in biracial political contests is a consequential factor in (a) reducing favorability toward a Black political candidate among White Democrats and Independents, (b) creating political ambivalence toward the presidential candidate among White Democrats, and thereby (c) increasing the probability of cross-party voting and nonvoting among White Democrats.
Developing a Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox to Promote Health Behavior Change
Authors: Lenz Thomas L.
Published: January 2011

Health behavior change is one of the most challenging aspects of a lifestyle medicine (LM) program. A “one size fits all” approach does not generally lead to long-term adherence and success in an LM program. Developing a set of LM tools that works with the practice setting of the provider and that is diverse enough to be adaptable to all patients may lead to a more successful LM practice. The purpose of having an LM toolbox is to improve health behavior change by increasing motivation, increasing self-awareness, decreasing implementation barriers, improving education, and tracking progress. This presents several LM tools that can be used in an LM program to improve health behavior change adherence.
Chronic orchialgia: evaluation and discussion of treatment options
Authors: Levine Laurence
Published: January 2011

Virtually all practicing urologists will encounter patients with a complaint of chronic testicular pain. This can be a frustrating process for both patient and physician, as there is no clearly established effective treatment regimen, nor is there a recognized and accepted standard protocol for evaluation. Many of these patients will see multiple physicians during the course of their evaluation, further increasing their frustration and potentially straining the physician/patient relationship. The etiology of testicular pain is varied and is frequently idiopathic. Easily recognized and reversible causes include spermatocele, tumor, infection, varicocele, and torsion. Chronic orchialgia has been defined as at least 3 months of chronic or intermittent pain. Although the diagnosis of chronic orchialgia is frequently given to these patients, it should be recognized that fairly frequently the patient will not have just testicular pain, but may have pain involving the epididymis, vas deferens, or adjacent paratesticular structures. Therefore a more appropriate term would be chronic scrotal content pain. This article reviews the current understanding of chronic scrotal content pain, reviewing the etiology, evaluation, and then a systematic review of the published literature on treatment. It should be recognized that the majority of the published literature are cohort studies with limited numbers of patients, rarely placebo-controlled, and without a uniform standard evaluation. Microdenervation of the spermatic cord is emerging as a reasonable and effective outpatient surgical technique to resolve chronic scrotal content pain, and successful results appear to be predicted by a temporary but complete response to a spermatic cord block.
The revolution of myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Bejanyan Nelli , Sekeres Mikkael A.
Published: January 2011

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal disorders of the hematopoietic system with resultant cytopenias and shortened survival. Better recognition of MDS and an aging population, some of whom have been treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for other cancers, is largely responsible for the growing incidence of this malignancy, which is divided into lower- and higher-risk subtypes. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents are the first-line treatment options for patients with lower-risk MDS and symptomatic anemia or for those requiring transfusion support. Lenalidomide has been successfully used for patients with the del(5q) chromosomal abnormality who are also transfusion dependent. Hypomethylating agents, such as azacitidine and decitabine, are indicated for patients with higher-risk disease, with azacitidine demonstrating a survival advantage. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative therapeutic approach available to less than 5% of patients with MDS. Combination therapies and newer single agents targeting the important cellular pathways are being explored for treatment of MDS with promising results.
Neutron diffraction measurements of residual stresses in friction stir welding: A review
Authors: Woo W , Feng Z , Wang X‐l , David S A
Published: January 2011

Significant amounts of residual stresses are often generated during welding and result in critical degradation of the structural integrity and performance of components. Neutron diffraction has become a well established technique for the determination of residual stresses in welds because of the unique deep penetration, three‐dimensional mapping capability, and volume averaged bulk measurements characteristic of the scattering neutron beam. Friction stir welding has gained prominence in recent years. The authors reviewed a number of neutron diffraction measurements of residual stresses in friction stir welds and highlighted examples addressing how the microstructures and residual stresses are correlated with each other. An example of in situ neutron diffraction measurement result shows the evolution of the residual stresses during welding.
Optical observation of real materials using laser scanning confocal microscopy Part 1 – techniques and observed examples of microstructural changes
Authors: Komizo Y , Terasaki H
Published: January 2011

Owing to the good thermal response of an infrared image furnace, the thermal cycle of welds (weld metal or heat affected zone) can be reproduced, while a laser scanning confocal microscope has a suitable light source and optical geometry for observing metal irradiated at high temperatures. The combination of an infrared image furnace and a laser scanning confocal microscope provides a useful tool for determining the microstructural changes in metals at the micrometre scale during the thermal cycle of welding. The technique of using such a combined system is called high temperature laser scanning confocal microscopy. Both macro‐ and microviews expand the understanding of the microstructural formation of welds and are useful in developing microstructure control methods. This is the first part of a report on the application of laser scanning confocal microscopy to observe microstructural changes for various types of steel samples and thermal cycles. The micro‐ or macroviews of different microstructural formations are presented, including the solidification cell, austenite from δ‐ferrite, pearlite, martensite, Widmanstätten ferrite and bainite.
Microstructural characterisation and mechanical properties of friction stir welded joints of aluminium alloy to copper
Authors: Liu H J , Shen J J , Zhou L , Zhao Y Q , Liu C , Kuang L Y
Published: January 2011

Good appearance and defect free friction stir welded joints of aluminium alloy to copper were obtained in a narrow range of welding conditions. The weld nugget (WN) consisted mainly of Cu(Al) solid solution, Al and several intermetallic compounds (IMCs), including CuAl2, CuAl, Cu9Al4 and Cu3Al although the maximum peak temperature measured in the weld was 422°C. Intercalation was a typical structure distributed widely in the WN and consisted of many parallel alternate lamellae. At the WN/Cu interface, the intercalations were characterised by flat or bended feature and composed of CuAl+Cu9Al4, Al+CuAl2+Cu(Al) and Cu(Al) laminae. The formation mechanisms for these intercalation structures and IMCs were attributed to the intense stirring action of the tool pin and the short circuit diffusion caused by extreme deformation respectively. The fracture surface exhibited some IMCs, including Cu9Al4 and CuAl2, which should be responsible for the limited tensile strength. The hardness profiles were consistent with the variation in the structures within the WN, and lower tool rotation rate resulted in higher peak hardness.
Development of a novel multiplex DNA microarray for Fusarium graminearum and analysis of azole fungicide responses
Authors: Becher Rayko , Weihmann Fabian , Deising Holger B , Wirsel Stefan GR
Published: January 2011

Background

The toxigenic fungal plant pathogenFusarium graminearumcompromises wheat production worldwide. Azole fungicides play a prominent role in controlling this pathogen. Sequencing of its genome stimulated the development of high-throughput technologies to study mechanisms of coping with fungicide stress and adaptation to fungicides at a previously unprecedented precision. DNA-microarrays have been used to analyze genome-wide gene expression patterns and uncovered complex transcriptional responses. A recently developed one-color multiplex array format allowed flexible, effective, and parallel examinations of eight RNA samples.

Results

We took advantage of the 8 × 15 k Agilent format to design, evaluate, and apply a novel microarray covering the wholeF. graminearumgenome to analyze transcriptional responses to azole fungicide treatment. Comparative statistical analysis of expression profiles uncovered 1058 genes that were significantly differentially expressed after azole-treatment. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis for 31 selected genes indicated high conformity to results from the microarray hybridization. Among the 596 genes with significantly increased transcript levels, analyses using GeneOntology and FunCat annotations detected the ergosterol-biosynthesis pathway genes as the category most significantly responding, confirming the mode-of-action of azole fungicides.Cyp51A, which is one of the threeF. graminearumparalogs ofCyp51encoding the target of azoles, was the most consistently differentially expressed gene of the entire study. A molecular phylogeny analyzing the relationships of the three CYP51 proteins in the context of 38 fungal genomes belonging to the Pezizomycotina indicated that CYP51C (FGSG_11024) groups with a new clade of CYP51 proteins. The transcriptional profiles for genes encoding ABC transporters and transcription factors suggested several involved in mechanisms alleviating the impact of the fungicide. Comparative analyses with published microarray experiments obtained from two different nutritional stress conditions identified subsets of genes responding to different types of stress. Some of the genes that responded only to tebuconazole treatment appeared to be unique to theF. graminearumgenome.

Conclusions

The novelF. graminearum8 × 15 k microarray is a reliable and efficient high-throughput tool for genome-wide expression profiling experiments in fungicide research, and beyond, as shown by our data obtained for azole responses. The array data contribute to understanding mechanisms of fungicide resistance and allow identifying fungicide targets.
Evaluation of signal transduction pathways after transient cutaneous adenoviral gene delivery
Authors: Steinstraesser Lars , Sorkin Michael , Jacobsen Frank , Al-Benna Sammy , Kesting Marco Rainer , Niederbichler Andreas David , Otte Jan-Michel , Hirsch Tobias , Stupka Jadwiga , Steinau Hans-Ulrich , Schulte Matthias
Published: January 2011

Background

Adenoviral vectors have provided effective methods for in vivo gene delivery in therapeutic applications. However, these vectors can induce immune responses that may severely affect the ability of vector re-application. There is limited information about the mechanisms and signal transduction pathways involved in adenoviral recognition. For optimization of cutaneous gene therapy it is necessary to investigate molecular mechanisms of virus recognition in epidermal cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the signal transduction of the innate immunity after adenoviral DNA internalization in keratinocytes.

Methods

In vitro, keratinocytes were transfected with DNA, in the presence and absence of inhibitors for signalling molecules. In vivo, immunocompetent and athymic mice (n = 3 per group) were twice transduced with an Ad-vector.

Results

The results show an acute induction of type-I-interferon after in vitro transfection. Inhibition of PI3K, p38 MAPK, JNK and NFkappaB resulted in a decreased expression of type-I-interferon. In contrast to immunocompetent mice, athymic mice demonstrated a constant transgene expression and reduced inflammatory response in vivo.

Conclusion

The results suggest an induction of the innate immunity triggered by cytoplasm localised DNA which is mediated by PI3K-, p38 MAPK-, JNK-, NFkappaB-, JAK/STAT- and ERK1/2-dependent pathways. A stable transgene expression and a reduced inflammatory response in immunodeficient mice have been observed. These results provide potential for an effective adenoviral gene delivery into immunosupressed skin.
Patterns and regulation of ribosomal RNA transcription in Borrelia burgdorferi
Authors: Bugrysheva Julia V , Godfrey Henry P , Schwartz Ira , Cabello Felipe C
Published: January 2011

Background

Borrelia burgdorferi contains one 16S and two tandem sets of 23S-5S ribosomal (r) RNA genes whose patterns of transcription and regulation are unknown but are likely to be critical for survival and persistence in its hosts.

Results

RT-PCR of B. burgdorferi N40 and B31 revealed three rRNA region transcripts: 16S rRNA-alanine transfer RNA (tRNAAla); tRNAIle; and both sets of 23S-5S rRNA. At 34°C, there were no differences in growth rate or in accumulation of total protein, DNA and RNA in B31 cultured in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK)-H whether rabbit serum was present or not. At 23°C, B31 grew more slowly in serum-containing BSK-H than at 34°C. DNA per cell was higher in cells in exponential as compared to stationary phase at either temperature; protein per cell was similar at both temperatures in both phases. Similar amounts of rRNA were produced in exponential phase at both temperatures, and rRNA was down-regulated in stationary phase at either temperature. Interestingly, a rel

Bbu
deletion mutant unable to generate (p)ppGpp did not down-regulate rRNA at transition to stationary phase in serum-containing BSK-H at 34°C, similar to the relaxed phenotype of E. coli relA mutants.

Conclusions

We conclude that rRNA transcription in B. burgdorferi is complex and regulated both by growth phase and by the stringent response but not by temperature-modulated growth rate.
Cerebral aneurysm exclusion by CT angiography based on subarachnoid hemorrhage pattern: a retrospective study
Authors: Kelliny Marc , Maeder Philippe , Binaghi Stefano , Levivier Marc , Regli Luca , Meuli Reto
Published: January 2011

Background

To identify patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage for whom CT angiography alone can exclude ruptured aneurysms.

Methods

An observational retrospective review was carried out of all consecutive patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage who underwent both CT angiography and catheter angiography to exclude an aneurysm. CT angiography negative cases (no aneurysm) were classified according to their CT hemorrhage pattern as "aneurismal", "perimesencephalic" or as "no-hemorrhage."

Results

Two hundred and forty-one patients were included. A CT angiography aneurysm detection sensitivity and specificity of 96.4% and 96.0% were observed. All 35 cases of perimesencephalic or no-hemorrhage out of 78 CT angiography negatives also had negative angiography findings.

Conclusions

CT angiography is self-reliant to exclude ruptured aneurysms when either a perimesencephalic hemorrhage or no-hemorrhage pattern is identified on the CT within a week of symptom onset.
Knowns and unknowns on burden of disease due to chemicals: a systematic review
Authors: Prüss-Ustün Annette , Vickers Carolyn , Haefliger Pascal , Bertollini Roberto
Published: January 2011

Background

Continuous exposure to many chemicals, including through air, water, food, or other media and products results in health impacts which have been well assessed, however little is known about the total disease burden related to chemicals. This is important to know for overall policy actions and priorities. In this article the known burden related to selected chemicals or their mixtures, main data gaps, and the link to public health policy are reviewed.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature for global burden of disease estimates from chemicals was conducted. Global disease due to chemicals was estimated using standard methodology of the Global Burden of Disease.

Results

In total, 4.9 million deaths (8.3% of total) and 86 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (5.7% of total) were attributable to environmental exposure and management of selected chemicals in 2004. The largest contributors include indoor smoke from solid fuel use, outdoor air pollution and second-hand smoke, with 2.0, 1.2 and 0.6 million deaths annually. These are followed by occupational particulates, chemicals involved in acute poisonings, and pesticides involved in self-poisonings, with 375,000, 240,000 and 186,000 annual deaths, respectively.

Conclusions

The known burden due to chemicals is considerable. This information supports decision-making in programmes having a role to play in reducing human exposure to toxic chemicals. These figures present only a number of chemicals for which data are available, therefore, they are more likely an underestimate of the actual burden. Chemicals with known health effects, such as dioxins, cadmium, mercury or chronic exposure to pesticides could not be included in this article due to incomplete data and information. Effective public health interventions are known to manage chemicals and limit their public health impacts and should be implemented at national and international levels.
A novel neuron-enriched protein SDIM1 is down regulated in Alzheimer's brains and attenuates cell death induced by DNAJB4 over-expression in neuro-progenitor cells
Authors: Lei Joy X , Cassone Cristina G , Luebbert Christian , Liu Qing Yan
Published: January 2011

Background

Molecular changes in multiple biological processes contribute to the development of chronic neurodegeneration such as late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). To discover how these changes are reflected at the level of gene expression, we used a subtractive transcription-based amplification of mRNA procedure to identify novel genes that have altered expression levels in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Among the genes altered in expression level in AD brains was a transcript encoding a novel protein, SDIM1, that contains 146 amino acids, including a typical signal peptide and two transmembrane domains. Here we examined its biochemical properties and putative roles in neuroprotection/neurodegeneration.

Results

QRT-PCR analysis of additional AD and control post-mortem human brains showed that the SDIM1 transcript was indeed significantly down regulated in all AD brains. SDIM1 is more abundant in NT2 neurons than astrocytes and present throughout the cytoplasm and neural processes, but not in the nuclei. In NT2 neurons, it is highly responsive to stress conditions mimicking insults that may cause neurodegeneration in AD brains. For example, SDIM1 was significantly down regulated 2 h after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), though had recovered 16 h later, and also appeared significantly up regulated compared to untreated NT2 neurons. Overexpression of SDIM1 in neuro-progenitor cells improved cells' ability to survive after injurious insults and its downregulation accelerated cell death induced by OGD. Yeast two-hybrid screening and co-immunoprecipitation approaches revealed, both in vitro and in vivo, an interaction between SDIM1 and DNAJB4, a heat shock protein hsp40 homolog, recently known as an enhancer of apoptosis that also interacts with the mu opioid receptor in human brain. Overexpression of DNAJB4 alone significantly reduced cell viability and SDIM1 co-overexpression was capable of attenuating the cell death caused DNAJB4, suggesting that the binding of SDIM1 to DNAJB4 might sequester DNAJB4, thus increasing cell viability.

Conclusion

Taken together, we have identified a small membrane protein, which is down regulated in AD brains and neuronal cells exposed to injurious insults. Its ability to promote survival and its interaction with DNAJB4 suggest that it may play a very specific role in brain cell survival and/or receptor trafficking.