bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic responses to aortic depressor nerve stimulation in conscious l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats
Authors: Durand Marina de Toledo , Castania Jaci A. , Fazan Rubens , Salgado Maria Cristina Oliveira , Salgado Helio Cesar
Published: November 2010

The present study investigated whether baroreflex control of autonomic function is impaired when there is a deficiency in NO production and the role of adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms in mediating reflex responses. Electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve in conscious normotensive and nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats was applied before and after administration of methylatropine, atenolol, and prazosin alone or in combination. The hypotensive response to progressive electrical stimulation (5 to 90 Hz) was greater in hypertensive (−27 ± 2 to −64 ± 3 mmHg) than in normotensive rats (−17 ± 1 to −46 ± 2 mmHg), whereas the bradycardic response was similar in both groups (−34 ± 5 to −92 ± 9 and −21 ± 2 to −79 ± 7 beats/min, respectively). Methylatropine and atenolol showed no effect in the hypotensive response in either group. Methylatropine blunted the bradycardic response in both groups, whereas atenolol attenuated only in hypertensive rats. Prazosin blunted the hypotensive response in both normotensive (43%) and hypertensive rats (53%) but did not affect the bradycardic response in either group. Prazosin plus angiotensin II, used to restore basal arterial pressure, provided hemodynamic responses similar to those of prazosin alone. The triple pharmacological blockade abolished the bradycardic response in both groups but displayed similar residual hypotensive response in hypertensive (−13 ± 2 to −27 ± 2 mmHg) and normotensive rats (−10 ± 1 to −25 ± 3 mmHg). In conclusion, electrical stimulation produced a well-preserved baroreflex-mediated decrease in arterial pressure and heart rate in conscious l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Moreover, withdrawal of the sympathetic drive played a role in the reflex bradycardia only in hypertensive rats. The residual fall in pressure after the triple pharmacological blockade suggests the involvement of a vasodilatory mechanism unrelated to NO or deactivation of α1-adrenergic receptor.
Adenosine A2Areceptor activation attenuates tubuloglomerular feedback responses by stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase
Authors: Carlström Mattias , Wilcox Christopher S. , Welch William J.
Published: November 2010

Adenosine A2receptors have been suggested to modulate tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) responses by counteracting adenosine A1receptor-mediated vasoconstriction, but the mechanisms are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that A2Areceptor activation blunts TGF by release of nitric oxide in the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA). Maximal TGF responses were measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats as changes in proximal stop-flow pressure (ΔPSF) in response to increased perfusion of the loop of Henle (0 to 40 nl/min) with artificial tubular fluid (ATF). The maximal TGF response was studied after 5 min intratubular perfusion (10 nl/min) with ATF or ATF + A2Areceptor agonist (CGS-21680; 10−7mol/l). The interaction with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms was tested by perfusion with a nonselective NOS inhibitor [ Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME); 10−3mol/l] or a selective neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibitor [ Nω-propyl-l-arginine (l-NPA); 10−6mol/l] alone, and with the A2Aagonist. Blood pressure, urine flow, and PSFat 0 nl/min were similar among the groups. The maximal TGF response (ΔPSF) with ATF alone (12.3 ± 0.6 mmHg) was attenuated by selective A2Astimulation (9.5 ± 0.4 mmHg). l-NAME enhanced maximal TGF responses (18.9 ± 0.4 mmHg) significantly more than l-NPA (15.2 ± 0.7 mmHg). Stimulation of A2Areceptors did not influence maximal TGF response during nonselective NOS inhibition (19.0 ± 0.4) but attenuated responses during nNOS inhibition (10.3 ± 0.4 mmHg). In conclusion, adenosine A2Areceptor activation attenuated TGF responses by stimulation of endothelial NOS (eNOS), presumably in the afferent arteriole. Moreover, NO derived from both eNOS and nNOS in the JGA may blunt TGF responses.
Electrophysiological and Morphological Characterization of Propriospinal Interneurons in the Thoracic Spinal Cord
Authors: Saywell S. A. , Ford T. W. , Meehan C. F. , Todd A. J. , Kirkwood P. A.
Published: November 2010

Propriospinal interneurons in the thoracic spinal cord have vital roles not only in controlling respiratory and trunk muscles, but also in providing possible substrates for recovery from spinal cord injury. Intracellular recordings were made from such interneurons in anesthetized cats under neuromuscular blockade and with the respiratory drive stimulated by inhaled CO2. The majority of the interneurons were shown by antidromic activation to have axons descending for at least two to four segments, mostly contralateral to the soma. In all, 81% of the neurons showed postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) to stimulation of intercostal or dorsal ramus nerves of the same segment for low-threshold (≤5T) afferents. A monosynaptic component was present for the majority of the peripherally evoked excitatory PSPs. A central respiratory drive potential was present in most of the recordings, usually of small amplitude. Neurons depolarized in either inspiration or expiration, sometimes variably. The morphology of 17 of the interneurons and/or of their axons was studied following intracellular injection of Neurobiotin; 14 axons were descending, 6 with an additional ascending branch, and 3 were ascending (perhaps actually representing ascending tract cells); 15 axons were crossed, 2 ipsilateral, none bilateral. Collaterals were identified for 13 axons, showing exclusively unilateral projections. The collaterals were widely spaced and their terminations showed a variety of restricted locations in the ventral horn or intermediate area. Despite heterogeneity in detail, both physiological and morphological, which suggests heterogeneity of function, the projections mostly fitted a consistent general pattern: crossed axons, with locally weak, but widely distributed terminations.
Sclerosing Mesenteritis as a Cause of Abdominal Mass and Discomfort in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Ali Farzana Nawaz , Ishaque Sidra , Jamil Bushra , Nasir-Ud-Din  , Idris Muhammad
Published: November 2010

Sclerosing mesenteritis is a rare benign process that involves inflammation, fat necrosis, and fibrosis of the mesentery. The disease poses great diagnostic challenge due to its nonspecific clinical and diagnostic findings. We report the case of a 75-year-old man who presented with vague abdominal discomfort associated with an intra-abdominal mass. With suspicion of a bowel carcinoid tumor on computed tomography scans, the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. A diagnosis of sclerosing mesenteritis was made on histological examination. The patient's symptoms responded to a combination of immunosuppressive drugs, with no interval change in the size of the mass on radiological examination after fifteen months.
Troxipide in the Management of Gastritis: A Randomized Comparative Trial in General Practice
Authors: Dewan Bhupesh , Balasubramanian Aarthi
Published: November 2010

Background. A trial of empirical acid-suppressive therapy is the usual practice for most patients with symptoms of gastritis in primary care.Aim. To assess the relative efficacy of Troxipide and Ranitidine in patients with endoscopic gastritis over a four-week period.Methods. In all, 142 patients were randomized to Troxipide (100 mg tid) or Ranitidine (150 mg bid) for a period of four weeks. The severity of the signs of endoscopic gastritis at baseline and week 4 using a four-point scale and the subjective symptom severity at baseline and week 2 & week 4 using a Visual analog scale (VAS) were documented.Results. Troxipide was found to be superior to Ranitidine for both, the complete resolution and improvement of endoscopic gastritis. Higher proportion of patients showed complete healing of erosions (88.14%), oozing (96.77%), and edema (93.88%) with Troxipide as compared to Ranitidine (). Patients receiving Troxipide also showed a greater improvement in the VAS scores for abdominal pain, bloating, and heartburn (). Both the drugs were found to be well tolerated.Conclusion. In patients with endoscopic gastritis, Troxipide, with its superior rate of improvement, resolution of signs, and subjective clinical symptoms, can be considered as an alternative to the commonly used antisecretory agents.
Empiricism and Theorizing in Epidemiology and Social Network Analysis
Authors: Rothenberg Richard , Costenbader Elizabeth
Published: November 2010

The connection between theory and data is an iterative one. In principle, each is informed by the other: data provide the basis for theory that in turn generates the need for new information. This circularity is reflected in the notion of abduction, a concept that focuses on the space between induction (generating theory from data) and deduction (testing theory with data). Einstein, in the 1920s, placed scientific creativity in that space. In the field of social network analysis, some remarkable theory has been developed, accompanied by sophisticated tools to develop, extend, and test the theory. At the same time, important empirical data have been generated that provide insight into transmission dynamics. Unfortunately, the connection between them is often tenuous and the iterative loop is frayed. This circumstance may arise both from data deficiencies and from the ease with which data can be created by simulation. But for whatever reason, theory and empirical data often occupy different orbits. Fortunately, the relationship, while frayed, is not broken, to which several recent analyses merging theory and extant data will attest. Their further rapprochement in the field of social network analysis could provide the field with a more creative approach to experimentation and inference.
Pathogenicity of a Very Virulent Strain of Marek′s Disease Herpesvirus Cloned as Infectious Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes
Authors: Smith Lorraine P. , Petherbridge Lawrence J. , Baigent Susan J. , Simpson Jennifer , Nair Venugopal
Published: November 2010

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors containing the full‐length genomes of several herpesviruses have been used widely as tools to enable functional studies of viral genes. Marek′s disease viruses (MDVs) are highly oncogenic alphaherpesviruses that induce rapid‐onset T‐cell lymphomas in chickens. Oncogenic strains of MDV reconstituted from BAC clones have been used to examine the role of viral genes in inducing tumours. Past studies have demonstrated continuous increase in virulence of MDV strains. We have previously reported on the UK isolate C12/130 that showed increased virulence features including lymphoid organ atrophy and enhanced tropism for the central nervous system. Here we report the construction of the BAC clones (pC12/130) of this strain. Chickens were infected with viruses reconstituted from the pC12/130 clones along with the wild‐type virus for the comparison of the pathogenic properties. Our studies show that BAC‐derived viruses induced disease similar to the wild‐type virus, though there were differences in the levels of pathogenicity between individual viruses. Generation of BAC clones that differ in the potential to induce cytolytic disease provide the opportunity to identify the molecular determinants of increased virulence by direct sequence analysis as well as by using reverse genetics approaches on the infectious BAC clones.
Specific Mathematical Aspects of Dynamics Generated by Coherence Functions
Authors: Bakhoum Ezzat G. , Toma Cristian
Published: November 2010

This study presents specific aspects of dynamics generated by the coherence function (acting in an integral manner). It is considered that an oscillating system starting to work from initial nonzero conditions is commanded by the coherence function between the output of the system and an alternating function of a certain frequency. For different initial conditions, the evolution of the system is analyzed. The equivalence between integrodifferential equations and integral equations implying the same number of state variables is investigated; it is shown that integro‐differential equations of second order are far more restrictive regarding the initial conditions for the state variables. Then, the analysis is extended to equations of evolution where the coherence function is acting under the form of a multiple integral. It is shown that for the coherence function represented under the form of an nth integral, some specific aspects as multiscale behaviour suitable for modelling transitions in complex systems (e.g., quantum physics) could be noticed when n equals 4, 5, or 6.
Distinct Interactions Between c-Src and c-Met in Mediating Resistance to c-Src Inhibition in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Sen Banibrata , Peng Shaohua , Saigal Babita , Williams Michelle D. , Johnson Faye M.
Published: November 2010

Purpose: c-Src inhibition in cancer cells leads to an abrogation of invasion but a variable effect on apoptosis. The pathways downstream of c-Src promoting survival are not well characterized. Because cancer therapy that both decreases invasion and induces significant apoptosis would be ideal, we sought to characterize the mechanisms of resistance to c-Src inhibition.

Experimental Design: c-Src was inhibited in a panel of oral cancer cell lines and subsequent survival and signaling measured. The interactions between c-Src and c-Met were evaluated using immunoprecitation and an in vitro kinase assay. Cytotoxicity was measured and the Chou–Talalay combination index calculated. An orthotopic model of oral cancer was used to assess the effects of c-Met and c-Src inhibitors.

Results: Inhibition of c-Src resulted in c-Met inhibition in sensitive cells lines, but not in resistant cell lines. Isolated c-Met was a c-Src substrate in both sensitive and resistant cells, but there was no interaction of c-Src and c-Met in intact resistant cells. To examine the biological consequences of this mechanism, we demonstrated synergistic cytotoxicity, enhanced apoptosis, and decreased tumor size with the combination of c-Src and c-Met inhibitors.

Conclusions: Sustained c-Met activation can mediate resistance to c-Src inhibition. These data suggest that the differences between c-Met and c-Src signaling in sensitive and resistant cells are due to distinct factors promoting or inhibiting interactions, respectively, rather than to intrinsic structural changes in c-Src or c-Met. The synergistic cytotoxic effects of c-Src and c-Met inhibition may be important for the treatment of head and neck cancers. Clin Cancer Res; 17(3); 514–24. ©2010 AACR.
Effect of Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonists on TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22 Production from CD14+ Cells Induced by Antigenic Stimulation in vitro
Authors: Shoji Naruo , Asano Kazuhito , Furuta Atsuko , Hirano Kojiro , Suzaki Harumi
Published: November 2010

Background: Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) are accepted to be important molecules in the development and maintenance of allergic diseases. Although several types of histamine H1 receptor antagonist (antihistamine) have been developed and used for the treatment of allergic diseases, the influence of antihistamines on TARC and MDC production is not well understood. Objective: The present study was undertaken to examine the influence of antihistamines on TARC and MDC production from CD14+ cells after antigenic stimulation in vitro. Methods: CD14+ cells prepared from patients with pollinosis to Japanese cedar pollen were stimulated with specific allergen extracted from Japanese cedar pollen (Cry j 1) in the presence of azelastine (AZE), ketotifen (KET), fexofenadine (FEX) and oxatomide (OXA) for 6 days. TARC and MDC levels in culture supernatants were examined by ELISA. We also examined the influence of FEX on TARC and MDC mRNA expression, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and transcription factor activation in CD14+ cells after Cry j 1 stimulation. Results: FEX at 250 ng/ml, which is almost equal to therapeutic blood levels, caused a significant inhibition of TARC and MDC production.However, AZE, OXA and KET required higher concentrations than their therapeutic blood levels to suppress production of these factors. FEX at 250 ng/ml also suppressed NF-ĸB activation, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 and expression of mRNA for TARC and MDC. Conclusions: These results suggest that antihistamines, especially FEX, suppress CC chemokine production from CD14+ cells through interference with antigen-mediated signaling and result in favorable modification of allergic disease states or conditions.
Frequency of Epilepsies in Family Members of Patients with Different Epileptic Syndromes
Authors: Sozmen Vedat , Baybas Sevim , Dirican Ayten , Koksal Ayhan , Ozturk Musa
Published: November 2010

Aim: To determine the frequency of epilepsies in the family members of epileptic patients. Methods: The records of 4,851 patients with epilepsy were reviewed. The frequency and patterns of different epilepsies and epileptic syndromes in the patients, number of affected relatives and consanguinity were studied. Results: A total of 1,753 patients were excluded due to various reasons. Of the remaining patients, 296 (9.5% of 3,098) had first- or second-degree relatives affected with seizures. The incidence of family history in the localization-related cryptogenic epilepsies group was significantly higher than all other groups (246 patients). Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy was the most frequent epileptic syndrome (34 patients). Consanguinity was detected in 56 patients, and 33 (58.9%) of these subjects were in the localization-related cryptogenic epilepsies group. Of all subjects, 59 (19.9%) had more than 1 epileptic family member. The ratio of affected first- to second-degree relatives was 202/94. Conclusions: A considerable number of the relatives of epileptic patients have seizures. The risk of relatives being affected depends on their relationship with the proband. Genetic factors may play an almost equal role in the predisposition of relatives to epilepsy in families of probands with cryptogenic and idiopathic epileptic syndromes.
Formin Homology Domain–Containing Protein 1 Regulates Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype
Authors: Staus Dean P. , Blaker Alicia L. , Medlin Matt D. , Taylor Joan M. , Mack Christopher P.
Published: November 2010

Objective—

Our goal was to test whether formin homology protein 1 (FHOD1) plays a significant role in the regulation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation and, if so, whether Rho kinase (ROCK)–dependent phosphorylation in the diaphanous autoinhibitory domain is an important signaling mechanism that controls FHOD1 activity in SMC.

Methods and Results—

FHOD1 is highly expressed in aortic SMCs and in tissues with a significant SMC component. Exogenous expression of constitutively active FHOD1, but not wild-type, strongly activated SMC-specific gene expression in 10T1/2 cells. Treatment of SMC with the RhoA activator sphingosine-1-phosphate increased FHOD1 phosphorylation at Thr1141, and this effect was completely prevented by inhibition of ROCK with Y-27632. Phosphomimetic mutations to ROCK target residues enhanced FHOD1 activity, suggesting that phosphorylation interferes with FHOD1 autoinhibition. Importantly, knockdown of FHOD1 in SMC strongly inhibited sphingosine-1-phosphate–dependent increases in SMC differentiation marker gene expression and actin polymerization, suggesting that FHOD1 plays a major role in RhoA-dependent signaling in SMC.

Conclusion—

Our results indicate that FHOD1 is a critical regulator of SMC phenotype and is regulated by ROCK-dependent phosphorylation. Thus, additional studies on the role of FHOD1 during development and the progression of cardiovascular disease will be important.
Hemodynamic–Morphologic Discriminants for Intracranial Aneurysm Rupture
Authors: Xiang Jianping , Natarajan Sabareesh K. , Tremmel Markus , Ma Ding , Mocco J , Hopkins L. Nelson , Siddiqui Adnan H. , Levy Elad I. , Meng Hui
Published: November 2010

Background and Purpose—

The purpose of this study was to identify significant morphological and hemodynamic parameters that discriminate intracranial aneurysm rupture status using 3-dimensional angiography and computational fluid dynamics.

Methods—

One hundred nineteen intracranial aneurysms (38 ruptured, 81 unruptured) were analyzed from 3-dimensional angiographic images and computational fluid dynamics. Six morphological and 7 hemodynamic parameters were evaluated for significance with respect to rupture. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified area under the curve (AUC) and optimal thresholds separating ruptured from unruptured aneurysms for each parameter. Significant parameters were examined by multivariate logistic regression analysis in 3 predictive models—morphology only, hemodynamics only, and combined—to identify independent discriminants, and the AUC receiver operating characteristic of the predicted probability of rupture status was compared among these models.

Results—

Morphological parameters (size ratio, undulation index, ellipticity index, and nonsphericity index) and hemodynamic parameters (average wall shear stress [WSS], maximum intra-aneurysmal WSS, low WSS area, average oscillatory shear index, number of vortices, and relative resident time) achieved statistical significance (
P
<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated size ratio to be the only independently significant factor in the morphology model (AUC, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.91), whereas WSS and oscillatory shear index were the only independently significant variables in the hemodynamics model (AUC, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.93). The combined model retained all 3 variables, size ratio, WSS, and oscillatory shear index (AUC, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.96).

Conclusion—

All 3 models—morphological (based on size ratio), hemodynamic (based on WSS and oscillatory shear index), and combined—discriminate intracranial aneurysm rupture status with high AUC values. Hemodynamics is as important as morphology in discriminating aneurysm rupture status.
The Leading Article in No. 179 of the Kölnische Zeitung
Authors: Boer Roland
Published: November 2010

This article offers a critical exegesis of an early and neglected text by Marx called “The Leading Article in No. 179 of the Kölnische Zeitung” (from 1842). It is of interest since it offers one of Marx’s most sustained engagements with theology, especially in the context of the dominant theological mode of public debate in Germany at the time, a context which is outlined briefly. Here we find Marx responding to that debate and seeking to extract himself from its terms. Some of his formulations are problematic, such as the assumption that theology is purely other-worldly (leading him to argue for the separation of theology and philosophy in this light and for the separation of church and state). But others are full of promise, such as, (1) one of the first uses of his famous materialist inversion, here on the question of history and religion; (2) an introduction to the immensely fruitful idea of fetishism that would reverberate and mutate throughout his work until the well-known formulations in Capital; and (3) an argument to which this essay by Marx provides an initial glimmer, namely, that the secular state is the dialectical outcome of the Christian state and thereby no solution to the contradictions of the latter. Needless to say, the latter is extremely pertinent in today’s geopolitical climate.
Suicide Bombers or Martyrdom Operatives? Their Status among Muslim Thinkers, Jurists and Activists
Authors: Dadoo Y.
Published: November 2010

This article aims to expound the divergent shades of opinion on the phenomenon of suicide by employing the cardinal principles undergirding the philosophy of Islamic law. An overview of the attitudes to suicide amongst different societies and faith communities is given before focusing on this topic from a Muslim perspective which accommodates the setting provided by the higher intents of Islamic law, thus enabling us to assess those deeds substantially. It is noted that perspectives vary considerably and depend on the legal and ethical priorities of different individuals. In the process, the rich legacy of nuances adopted by scholars on either side leaves an impression of flexibility in their thinking. Consensus on this debate appears distant.
Comparison of two modes of delivery of first aid training including basic life support
Authors: Lippmann John , Livingston Patricia , Craike Melinda J
Published: November 2010

Aims: Flexible-learning first aid courses are increasingly common due to reduced classroom contact time. This study compared retention of first aid knowledge and basic life support (BLS) skills three months after a two-day, classroom-based first aid course (STD) to one utilizing on-line theory learning at home followed by one day of classroom training (FLEX).

Methods: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 256 participants with internet access and no first aid related training for at least five years were randomly allocated to a STD or FLEX course. Assessment was conducted immediately after training and again three months later. Each participant was allocated a theory and a BLS score, which were summed and averaged to create an equally-weighted ‘combined score’ of first aid knowledge and skills.

Results: There was no significant difference in theory scores between the STD and FLEX groups immediately after training and after three months. STD participants had significantly higher BLS scores immediately after training ( p = 0.001) and three months later ( p = 0.046). Males had significantly higher BLS scores after training ( p < 0.001), but not three months later ( p = 0.02). Participants older than 46 years had significantly lower BLS scores than younger participants ( p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in combined scores between the STD and FLEX groups or between genders, education or age groups either immediately after training or three months later.

Conclusion: After replacing one day of classroom-based training with on-line theory training, there was no significant difference in the first aid competencies of the study population, as measured by an equally-weighted combined score of basic life support and first aid theory.
Distressed fathers and their children: A review of the literature
Authors: LeFrançois Brenda A.
Published: November 2010

Background: Many men diagnosed with mental health problems are also fathers. This literature review addresses issues relating to both the fathering role taken on by men who have mental health problems as well as the impact of their mental health on their children.

Material: An integrative review of the literature was conducted from studies originating in four countries, resulting in an analysis of 31 journal articles.

Discussion and conclusions: Most of the quantitative literature focuses on the many risks and negative outcomes for children. However, qualitative studies suggest positive outcomes such as strong parent–child relationships, which demand further attention both in research and in practice.
The effect of warfare on the environment
Authors: Reuveny Rafael , Mihalache-O'Keef Andreea S , Quan Li
Published: November 2010

Does warfare affect the environment? This question has received some theoretical and empirical attention, but none of the extant studies has employed large-N statistical models. This article theorizes the possible effects of warfare on the environment and estimates large-N statistical models of these effects on CO2 emissions per capita, NOX emissions per capita, the rate of change in forested area, and a composite indicator of environmental stress reduction. The results indicate that warfare significantly affects the environment, but the signs and sizes of these effects depend on the environmental attribute (whether the fighting is at home or abroad) and development (whether the fighting country is developed or less developed). Warfare reduces CO2 emissions, but the effect is weaker in less developed countries (LDCs) than in developed countries (DCs). Warfare increases deforestation when fought at home and promotes forest growth when fought abroad, particularly in the LDCs. Warfare at home reduces NOX emissions for the LDCs and increases them for the DCs; warfare abroad increases NOX emissions for both the DCs and LDCs. Finally, warfare increases aggregated environmental stress, particularly for the LDCs when fought at home and for the DCs when fought abroad. The sizes of these effects are on par with or larger than the mandated or recommended policy goals stated by the US government for changes in CO 2 and NOX emissions, and by the World Bank (and by implication the DCs driving its policy) for the rate of deforestation, during the coming decade.
Transnational mergers and acquisitions: The impact of FDI on human rights, 1981—2006
Authors: Kim Dong-Hun , Trumbore Peter F
Published: November 2010

While globalization advocates have argued that market liberalization and economic integration will strengthen human rights by promoting economic development and facilitating the diffusion of rights-supportive norms and values, critics contend that the same processes threaten to undermine human rights through economic exploitation and the repressive actions of pro-growth governments. To contribute to this debate, the authors examine the relationship between one aspect of economic globalization, foreign direct investment, and human rights performance. But the authors go beyond existing studies of the human rights impact of foreign direct investment, which generally lump all forms of FDI into a single aggregate indicator, by focusing on one specific form of FDI, transnational mergers and acquisitions (M&As). This is a particularly important area to explore given the human rights literature’s emphasis on multinational corporations as both potential violators of human rights and catalysts for improvements in human rights performance. This study examines the impact of cross-border M&As, which have become an increasingly prominent form of foreign direct investment over the last 25 years, on human rights performance globally from 1981 through 2006. The results of the statistical analysis show that transnational mergers and acquisitions have a positive impact on human rights conditions across several indicators, including physical integrity rights, empowerment rights, workers’ rights, and women’s economic rights. This positive impact of cross-border M&As is particularly pronounced in developing countries.
Transitional justice in the world, 1970-2007: Insights from a new dataset
Authors: Olsen Tricia D , Payne Leigh A , Reiter Andrew G
Published: November 2010

This article presents a new dataset of transitional justice mechanisms utilized worldwide from 1970—2007. These data complement the growing body of quantitative and comparative analyses of transitional justice. This article summarizes three important contributions made by the dataset. First, it includes five transitional justice mechanisms (trials, truth commissions, amnesties, reparations, and lustration policies), allowing scholars to avoid many of the methodological errors committed by performing single-mechanism studies. Second, it provides an expanded sample, both temporally and geographically, to facilitate greater comparative and policy impact. Third, the dataset enables scholars to analyze transitional justice across a variety of political contexts, including democratic transitions and civil wars. These data illuminate a new set of general trends and patterns in the implementation of transitional justice worldwide. The findings show that countries adopt amnesties more often than other mechanisms. They predominantly grant them in the context of civil war and to opponents of the state, rather than state agents. Courts rarely prosecute those currently in power for human rights violations. In civil war settings, rebels, rather than state actors, face trials. In post-authoritarian settings, courts try former authoritarian actors, but do not address crimes committed by the opposition to authoritarian rule. The dataset also reveals regional patterns of mechanism usage. Trials, lustration policies, and reparations occur most often in Europe. Non-European countries more frequently adopt truth commissions and amnesties than do their European counterparts, with a particularly high number of amnesties granted in Latin America.
Trade does promote peace: New simultaneous estimates of the reciprocal effects of trade and conflict
Authors: Hegre Håvard , Oneal John R , Russett Bruce
Published: November 2010

Two studies question whether economic interdependence promotes peace, arguing that previous research has not adequately considered the endogeneity of trade. Using simultaneous equations to capture the reciprocal effects, they report that trade does not reduce conflict, though conflict reduces trade. These results are puzzling on logical grounds. Trade should make conflict less likely, ceteris paribus, if interstate violence adversely affects commerce; otherwise, national leaders are acting irrationally. In re-analyzing the authors’ data, this article shows that trade does promote peace once the gravity model is incorporated into the analysis of conflict. Both trade and conflict are influenced by nations’ sizes and the distance separating them, so these fundamental exogenous factors must be included in models of conflict as well as trade. One study errs in omitting distance when explaining militarized disputes. The other does not adequately control for the effect of size (or power). When these theoretically informed changes are made, the pacific benefit of trade again appears. In new simultaneous analyses, the article confirms that trade promotes peace and conflict contemporaneously reduces commerce, even with extensive controls for traders’ rational expectations of violence. Previous studies that address the endogeneity of trade by controlling for the years of peace — as virtually all have done since 1999 — have not overstated the benefit of interdependence. Commerce promotes peace because violence has substantial costs, whether these are paid prospectively or contemporaneously.
When democratization radicalizes: The Kurdish nationalist movement in Turkey
Authors: Tezcür Güneş Murat
Published: November 2010

This article addresses a historical puzzle: Why did the insurgent PKK (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan), which was militarily defeated, which renounced the goal of secession, and whose leader was under the custody of the Turkish state, remobilize its armed forces in a time when opportunities for the peaceful solution of the Kurdish question were unprecedented in Turkey? The PKK’s radicalization at a period of EU-induced democratization in Turkey counters the conventional argument that fostering democracy would reduce the problems of ethnic conflict. Explanations based on resource mobilization, political opportunity structures, and cognitive framing fail to provide a satisfactory answer. The article argues that democratization will not necessarily facilitate the end of violent conflict as long as it introduces competition that challenges the political hegemony of the insurgent organization over its ethnic constituency. Under the dynamics of competition, the survival of the organization necessitates radicalization rather than moderation. As long as the insurgent organization successfully recruits new militants, democratization is not a panacea to violent conflict. The findings indicate that research on the micro-level dynamics of insurgency recruitment will contribute to a better understanding of ethnic conflict management. Data come from multiple sources including ethnographic fieldwork, statistical analyses of quantitative data (i.e. spatial clustering and ecological inference), and systematic reading of original documents.
Further characterization of the predictive validity of the Brattleboro rat model for antipsychotic efficacy
Authors: Feifel D , Shilling PD , Melendez G
Published: November 2010

Our laboratory and others have reported that Brattleboro (BRAT) rats, a Long Evans (LE) strain with a single gene mutation, have inherent deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) homologous to those observed in schizophrenia patients and that these deficits are reversed by antipsychotic drugs (APDs). To further evaluate the potential predictive validity of BRAT rat PPI for APDs, we compared the effects of acute subcutaneous administration of the typical APD chlorpromazine to that of three psychotropic drugs without antipsychotic efficacy, the antidepressant imipramine, the anxiolytic diazepam and the anticonvulsant mood stabilizer valproic acid on male and female BRAT rat PPI. Male and female BRAT rats exhibited baseline (saline treatment) PPI that was not different from each other (21.1% and 21.3%, respectively) and low compared with those historically exhibited by LE rats (approximately 59%). Chlorpromazine facilitated PPI in male and female BRAT rats, whereas imipramine, diazepam, and valproic acid had no significant effect on PPI. These results suggest that PPI in the BRAT rat responds specifically to drugs with APD efficacy but not psychotropic drugs of different therapeutic families.
Combined neuropsychological and neurophysiological assessment of drug effects on groups and individuals
Authors: Gevins Alan , Ilan Aaron B , Jiang An , Sam-Vargas Lita , Baum Cliff , Chan Cynthia S
Published: November 2010

An initial standardized approach for combining neuropsychological and neurophysiological measures in order to assess the neurocognitive effects of drugs in groups and individuals is introduced. Its application is illustrated with sedatives, antiepileptic drugs, psychostimulants, antihistamines, and intoxicants. Task performance, electroencephalography, and evoked potential measures during computerized attention and memory testing that are most sensitive to drug effects are identified in a sample population and then applied to individuals. In six example exploratory studies, drug effects were detected with an average area under curve (AUC) of 0.97 ( p < 0.0001; 95% sensitivity, 96% specificity). In 10 example validation studies with other drugs and/or different subjects and populations, detection was strong in the eight studies with drugs and doses known to have significant neurocognitive effects (AUC 0.83, p < 0.0001; 82% sensitivity, 89% specificity), whereas no effect was detected in the two studies with drugs known to have faint neurocognitive effects (AUC 0.56, p > 0.10). Individual differences in response to different drugs with similar clinical uses, to varying doses of the same drug, and in pharmacodynamic response were then demonstrated. The significant ( p < 0.01) increase in sensitivity and specificity of combined neuropsychological and neurophysiological measures compared with the former alone suggests that fewer subjects may be needed to assess the neurocognitive effects of drugs in future studies. The findings suggest that the concept of combining neuropsychological testing with simultaneous measures of neurophysiological function is worth further exploration.
Effects of diazepam on BOLD activation during the processing of aversive faces
Authors: Del-Ben Cristina M , Ferreira Cesar AQ , Sanchez Tiago A , Alves-Neto Wolme C , Guapo Vinicius G , de Araujo Draulio B , Graeff Frederico G
Published: November 2010

This study aimed to measure, using fMRI, the effect of diazepam on the haemodynamic response to emotional faces. Twelve healthy male volunteers (mean age = 24.83 ± 3.16 years), were evaluated in a randomized, balanced-order, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Diazepam (10 mg) or placebo was given 1 h before the neuroimaging acquisition. In a blocked design covert face emotional task, subjects were presented with neutral (A) and aversive (B) (angry or fearful) faces. Participants were also submitted to an explicit emotional face recognition task, and subjective anxiety was evaluated throughout the procedures. Diazepam attenuated the activation of right amygdala and right orbitofrontal cortex and enhanced the activation of right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to fearful faces. In contrast, diazepam enhanced the activation of posterior left insula and attenuated the activation of bilateral ACC to angry faces. In the behavioural task, diazepam impaired the recognition of fear in female faces. Under the action of diazepam, volunteers were less anxious at the end of the experimental session. These results suggest that benzodiazepines can differentially modulate brain activation to aversive stimuli, depending on the stimulus features and indicate a role of amygdala and insula in the anxiolytic action of benzodiazepines.
Learn Locally, Think Globally
Authors: Perry Lynn K. , Samuelson Larissa K. , Malloy Lisa M. , Schiffer Ryan N.
Published: November 2010

Research suggests that variability of exemplars supports successful object categorization; however, the scope of variability’s support at the level of higher-order generalization remains unexplored. Using a longitudinal study, we examined the role of exemplar variability in first- and second-order generalization in the context of nominal-category learning at an early age. Sixteen 18-month-old children were taught 12 categories. Half of the children were taught with sets of highly similar exemplars; the other half were taught with sets of dissimilar, variable exemplars. Participants’ learning and generalization of trained labels and their development of more general word-learning biases were tested. All children were found to have learned labels for trained exemplars, but children trained with variable exemplars generalized to novel exemplars of these categories, developed a discriminating word-learning bias generalizing labels of novel solid objects by shape and labels of nonsolid objects by material, and accelerated in vocabulary acquisition. These findings demonstrate that object variability leads to better abstraction of individual and global category organization, which increases learning outside the laboratory.
Loosening the Link Between Childhood Poverty and Adolescent Smoking and Obesity
Authors: Evans Gary W. , Kutcher Rachel
Published: November 2010

Pervasive, lifelong inequalities in physical health begin in early childhood and are driven, in part, by social gradients in risk factors such as smoking and obesity. Yet not all low-income children have elevated physical-health risks as adults. The relation between income-to-needs ratio at age 9 and smoking prevalence and body fat (body mass index) at age 17 was examined in a sample of 196 rural adolescents. Income-to-needs ratio is the U.S. federal government’s defined index of household income as a proportion of the poverty line. This is the first study to show that links between childhood poverty and subsequent physical-health outcomes can be loosened. At-risk youth in communities with a relatively rich array of social capital did not smoke more or have greater excess body fat compared with their more affluent counterparts.
Individual Spirituality at Work and Its Relationship with Job Satisfaction, Propensity to Leave and Job Commitment
Authors: Chawla Vaibhav , Guda Sridhar
Published: November 2010

Spirituality is a hot topic of research in recent times in management arena. Though the organizational researchers have intensely started exploring this area, the studies related to selling organizations are few, and fewer are the studies related to selling organizations with individual (sales professional) as the unit of theory. The present study explores the relationship between ‘individual spirituality at work’ and sales professionals’ ‘job satisfaction’, ‘propensity to leave’ and ‘job commitment’. This work focuses on sales professionals across various industries. A cross-sectional survey method is adopted. Correlation analysis is done to reveal the hypothesized relationships. The results reveal that sales professionals’ spirituality at work is positively related to job satisfaction and job commitment, and negatively related to propensity to leave. The results provide the relevance of spirituality at work to salespeople. The selling organizations can also utilize the information and promote the individual expression of spirituality at work.
Preservation of Rhythmic Clocking in Cochlear Implant Users: A Study of Isochronous Versus Anisochronous Beat Detection
Authors: Kim Irene , Yang Eunice , Donnelly Patrick J. , Limb Charles J.
Published: November 2010

The capacity for internal rhythmic clocking involves a relationship between perceived auditory input and subsequent cognitive processing by which isochronous auditory stimuli induce a temporal beat expectancy in a listener. Although rhythm perception has previously been examined in cochlear implant (CI) users through various tasks based primarily on rhythm pattern identification, such tasks may not have been sufficiently nuanced to detect defects in internal rhythmic clocking, which requires temporal integration on a scale of milliseconds. The present study investigated the preservation of such rhythmic clocking in CI participants through a task requiring detection of isochronicity in the final beat of a four-beat series presented at different tempos. Our results show that CI users performed comparably to normal hearing (NH) participants in all isochronous rhythm detection tasks but that professionally trained musicians (MUS) significantly outperformed both NH and CI participants. These results suggest that CI users have intact rhythm perception even on a temporally demanding task that requires tight preservation of timing differences between a series of auditory events. Also, these results suggest that musical training might improve rhythmic clocking in CI users beyond normal hearing levels, which may be useful in light of the deficits in spectral processing commonly observed in CI users.
The Scope of the Glare Light Source of the Window with Non-uniform Luminance Distribution
Authors: Kim Wonwoo , Jeong Tai Kim
Published: November 2010

This paper presents a methodology to determine the area of the glare light source on the window with nonuniform luminance distribution. Experiments with observers were conducted in order to evaluate discomfort glare using a simulated window with a nonuniform luminance distribution. The simulated window is divided into three parts, each of which has a different luminance so that the window surface would have a non-uniform luminance distribution. Discomfort glare was evaluated in 21 different combinations of the luminance conditions. Hopkinson’s multiple-criterion was used for the evaluation; and 27 observers had volunteered for the test. The results of this study can be used to determine how much the luminance should be in the area around the window in order to reduce discomfort glare from the window. If the luminance around the window was less than 40% of the maximum luminance of the sky seen through the window, this would reduce discomfort glare. If the luminance around the window was higher than 40% of the maximum luminance of the sky seen through the window, the area around the window could be considered as a glare light source.