bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poststroke Fatigue: Who Is at Risk for an Increase in Fatigue?
Authors: van Eijsden Hanna Maria , van de Port Ingrid Gerrie Lambert , Visser-Meily Johanna Maria August , Kwakkel Gert
Published: October 2011

Background. Several studies have examined determinants related to post-stroke fatigue. However, it is unclear which determinants can predict an increase in poststroke fatigue over time.Aim. This prospective cohort study aimed to identify determinants which predict an increase in post-stroke fatigue.Methods. A total of 250 patients with stroke were examined at inpatient rehabilitation discharge (T0) and 24 weeks later (T1). Fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). An increase in post-stroke fatigue was defined as an increase in the FSS score beyond the 95% limits of the standard error of measurement of the FSS (i.e., 1.41 points) between T0 and T1. Candidate determinants included personal factors, stroke characteristics, physical, cognitive, and emotional functions, and activities and participation and were assessed at T0. Factors predicting an increase in fatigue were identified using forward multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results. The only independent predictor of an increase in post-stroke fatigue was FSS (OR 0.50; 0.38–0.64,P<0.001). The model including FSS at baseline correctly predicted 7.9% of the patients who showed increased fatigue at T1.Conclusion. The prognostic model to predict an increase in fatigue after stroke has limited predictive value, but baseline fatigue is the most important independent predictor. Overall, fatigue levels remained stable over time.
Biomolecular Triconjugates Formed between Gold, Protamine, and Nucleic Acid: Comparative Characterization on the Nanoscale
Authors: DeLong Robert K. , Cillessen Lisa , Reynolds Chris , Wanekaya Adam , Severs Tiffany , Ghosh Kartik , Fisher Michael , Barber Stephanie , Black John , Schaeffer Ashley , Flores Kristin J.
Published: October 2011

DNA and RNA micro- and nanoparticles are increasingly being used for gene and siRNA drug delivery and a variety of other applications in bionanotechnology. On the nanoscale, these entities represent unique challenges from a physicochemical characterization perspective. Here, nucleic acid conjugates with protamine and gold nanoparticles (GNP) were characterized comparatively in the nanorange of concentration by UV/Vis NanoDrop spectroscopy, fluorimetry, and gel electrophoresis. Given the intense interest in splice-site switching oligomers (SSOs), we utilized a human tumor cell culture system (HeLa pLuc-705), in which SSO-directed splicing repair upregulates luciferase expression, in order to investigate bioactivity of the bionanoconjugates. Process parameters important for bioactivity were investigated, and the bimolecular nanoconjugates were confirmed by shifts in the dynamic laser light scatter (DLLS), UV/Vis spectrum, gel electrophoresis, or sedimentation pattern. The data presented herein may be useful in the future development of pharmaceutical and biotechnology formulations, processes, and analyses concerning protein, DNA, or RNA bionanoconjugates.
Prospects for TIM3-Targeted Antitumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Ngiow Shin Foong , Teng Michele W.L. , Smyth Mark J.
Published: October 2011

New insights into the control of T-cell activation and proliferation have led to the identification of checkpoint proteins that either up- or downmodulate T-cell reactivity. Monoclonal antibody immunotherapies that are reactive with cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 or programmed death receptor 1 have shown promising therapeutic outcomes in mice and humans with established cancer, highlighting the fact that cancer immunotherapy using T-cell checkpoint inhibitors is one of the most promising new therapeutic approaches. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM3) is one of many similar inhibitory molecules that are gaining attention as targets, but it remains relatively poorly studied in oncology. This review discusses our recent probing of the mechanism of action of anti-TIM3 antibody against established spontaneous and experimental tumors in mice, in the context of the exciting possibility of rationally combining agents that promote tumor-specific T-cell activation, proliferation, effector function, and survival. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6567–71. ©2011 AACR.
New Strategies for Treatment of ALK-Rearranged Non–Small Cell Lung Cancers
Authors: Sasaki Takaaki , Jänne Pasi A.
Published: October 2011

The identification of oncogenic alterations in subsets of patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is transforming clinical care. Genomic rearrangements in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are detected in 3% to 7% of patients with NSCLC. The ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib has demonstrated clinical efficacy in ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients and was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Crizotinib is currently under additional phase III clinical development as both initial and second-line therapy for advanced ALK-rearranged NSCLC. However, new challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of this subset of NSCLC have emerged, including the need to determine the most effective means of diagnosing ALK-rearranged NSCLC and the emergence of acquired drug resistance to crizotinib. In this review, we discuss current strategies for treatment and diagnosis, as well as the current knowledge about mechanisms of acquired resistance to crizotinib. Finally, we discuss the strategies that are underway to clinically overcome acquired drug resistance. Clin Cancer Res; 17(23); 7213–8. ©2011 AACR.
The Emergence of lncRNAs in Cancer Biology
Authors: Prensner John R. , Chinnaiyan Arul M.
Published: October 2011

The discovery of numerous noncoding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts in species from yeast to mammals has dramatically altered our understanding of cell biology, especially the biology of diseases such as cancer. In humans, the identification of abundant long ncRNA (lncRNA) >200 bp has catalyzed their characterization as critical components of cancer biology. Recently, roles for lncRNAs as drivers of tumor suppressive and oncogenic functions have appeared in prevalent cancer types, such as breast and prostate cancer. In this review, we highlight the emerging impact of ncRNAs in cancer research, with a particular focus on the mechanisms and functions of lncRNAs.

Significance: lncRNAs represent the leading edge of cancer research. Their identity, function, and dysregulation in cancer are only beginning to be understood, and recent data suggest that they may serve as master drivers of carcinogenesis. Increased research on these RNAs will lead to a greater understanding of cancer cell function and may lead to novel clinical applications in oncology. Cancer Discovery; 1(5): 391–407. ©2011 AACR.
Adding Up the Evidence: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Noordzij Marlies , Zoccali Carmine , Dekker Friedo W. , Jager Kitty J.
Published: October 2011

A systematic review aims to synthesize all available individual studies on a certain topic and uses explicit and reproducible methods for searching the literature, while a meta-analysis is a mathematical synthesis of the results of these individual studies. Because of the explosion of information in the scientific literature, these study designs can be useful tools to summarize the knowledge on a particular subject. In addition, combining individual studies in a meta-analysis increases statistical power, resulting in more precise effect estimates. Even though all parts of the specific methodology of systematic reviews include steps to minimize bias, both investigators and readers should be aware of potential biases like poor study quality and heterogeneity between studies. This paper explains how systematic reviews and meta-analyses should be performed and how to critically appraise them, based on an example from the nephrology literature.
Differences in Brain Natriuretic Peptide Value between Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Shibazaki Kensaku , Kimura Kazumi , Iguchi Yasuyuki , Aoki Junya , Sakai Kenichiro , Kobayashi Kazuto
Published: October 2011

Purpose: The present study investigated clinical characteristics including plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) among transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We prospectively enrolled 227 consecutive patients with AF within 24 h of onset of TIA or stroke, and plasma BNP was measured on admission. Patients were divided into 2 groups: TIA and stroke groups. The factors associated with TIA were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: 21 patients (9.3%) were diagnosed with TIA, and 206 patients (90.7%) with stroke. The plasma BNP level of the TIA group was significantly lower than that of the stroke group [median (interquartile range) 86.5 (72.7–189.0) pg/ml vs. 269.0 (146.0–432.0) pg/ml, p = 0.0002]. The optimal cutoff level, sensitivity, and specificity of BNP levels to distinguish the TIA group from the stroke group were 120 pg/ml, 79.1 and 66.7%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that pre-admission warfarin use (OR 3.7; 95% CI 1.178–11.570, p = 0.0250), glucose of ≤120 mg/dl (OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.629–16.238, p = 0.0052) and a plasma BNP of ≤120 pg/ml (OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.967–18.931, p = 0.0017) were independently associated with TIA. Conclusions: In AF patients, the BNP value on admission is lower in those with TIA than in those with stroke. Thus, cardiac function may be associated with neurological severity at the onset of TIA and stroke.
History of Discovery
Authors: Bowen-Pope Daniel F. , Raines Elaine W.
Published: October 2011

A growth-promoting activity released from activated platelets, the platelet-derived growth factor, was discovered and characterized while the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the lesions of atherosclerosis were being investigated. This review provides a personal account of the different challenges we faced 3 decades ago in this undertaking and describes how our path was influenced by our focus on a disease process and by the evolving general understanding of the molecular effectors of cell proliferation.
Micromanaging Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation and Phenotypic Modulation
Authors: Davis-Dusenbery Brandi N. , Wu Connie , Hata Akiko
Published: October 2011

The phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is dynamically regulated in response to various stimuli. In a cellular process known as phenotype switching, VSMCs alternate between a contractile and synthetic phenotype state. Deregulation of phenotype switching is associated with vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, and pulmonary hypertension. An important role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in VSMC development and phenotype switching has recently been uncovered. Individual miRNAs are involved in promoting both contractile and synthetic VSMC phenotype. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of miRNA function in the regulation of VSMC phenotype regulation.
MicroRNA Modulation of Cholesterol Homeostasis
Authors: Fernández-Hernando Carlos , Moore Kathryn J.
Published: October 2011

Although the roles of the sterol response element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) and SREBP2 transcription factors in regulating fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and uptake have been known for some time, it was recently discovered that 2 related microRNAs (miRs),
miR-33a
and
miR-33b
, are embedded in these genes. Studies indicate that
miR-33a
and
miR-33b
act with their host genes,
Srebp2
and
Srebp1
, respectively, to reciprocally regulate cholesterol homeostasis and fatty acid metabolism in a negative feedback loop. miR-33 has been shown to posttranscriptionally repress key genes involved in cellular cholesterol export and high-density lipoprotein metabolism (
Abca1
,
Abcg1
,
Npc1
), fatty acid oxidation (
Crot
,
Cpt1a
,
Hadhb
,
Ampk
), and glucose metabolism (
Sirt6
,
Irs2
). Delivery of inhibitors of miR-33 in vitro and in vivo relieves repression of these genes, resulting in upregulation of the associated metabolic pathways. In mouse models, miR-33 antagonism has proven to be an effective strategy for increasing plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fatty acid oxidation and protecting from atherosclerosis. These exciting findings have opened up promising new avenues for the development of therapeutics to treat dyslipidemia and other metabolic disorders.
Association of Variation at the
ABO
Locus With Circulating Levels of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Soluble P-selectin, and Soluble E-selectin
Authors: Kiechl Stefan , Paré Guillaume , Barbalic Maja , Qi Lu , Dupuis Josée , Dehghan Abbas , Bis Joshua C. , Laxton Ross C. , Xiao Qingzhong , Bonora Enzo , Willeit Johann , Xu Qingbo , Witteman Jacqueline C.M. , Chasman Daniel , Tracy Russell P. , Ballantyne Christie M. , Ridker Paul M. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Ye Shu
Published: October 2011

Background—

Circulating levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble P-selectin, and soluble E-selectin have been associated with variation at the
ABO
locus. To evaluate these associations and the effect sizes, we performed a meta-analysis with new and previous reported data for polymorphism rs579459.

Methods and Results—

Compared with major allele homozygotes, heterozygotes and minor allele homozygotes had 4.6% (95% CI, 3.4%–5.8%,
P
=7.3×10
−14
) and 7.2% (95% CI, 4.7%–9.7%,
P
=1.5×10
−8
), respectively, lower soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels (n=33 671). An allele dose-dependent association also was observed for soluble P-selectin (n=4921) with heterozygotes and minor allele homozygotes having 11.5% (95% CI, 7.2%–15.8%,
P
=1.7×10
−7
) and 18.6% (95% CI, 9.1%–28.1%,
P
=1.2×10
−4
), respectively, lower levels than in major allele homozygotes. A larger effect size, again consistent with an additive genetic model, was seen for soluble E-selectin (n=2860) whose level was 25.6% (95% CI, 19.0%–32.2%,
P
=2.1×10
−14
) lower in heterozygotes and 43.3% (95% CI, 36.9%–49.3%,
P
=4.3×10
−42
) lower in minor allele homozygotes than in major allele homozygotes.

Conclusions—

The data support the association of variation at the
ABO
locus with soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble P-selectin, and soluble E-selectin levels.
A Gene Expression Signature That Classifies Human Atherosclerotic Plaque by Relative Inflammation Status
Authors: Puig Oscar , Yuan Jeffrey , Stepaniants Sergey , Zieba Renata , Zycband Emanuel , Morris Mark , Coulter Silvija , Yu Xiang , Menke John , Woods John , Chen Fabian , Ramey Dena R. , He Xuanmin , O'Neill Edward A. , Hailman Eric , Johns Douglas G. , Hubbard Brian K. , Yee Lum Pek , Wright Samuel D. , DeSouza Mary M. , Plump Andrew , Reiser Vladimír
Published: October 2011

Background—

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease requiring improvements in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic treatments. Both improvements will be facilitated by greater exploration of the biology of atherosclerotic plaque. To this end, we carried out large-scale gene expression analysis of human atherosclerotic lesions.

Methods and Results—

Whole genome expression analysis of 101 plaques from patients with peripheral artery disease identified a robust gene signature (1514 genes) that is dominated by processes related to Toll-like receptor signaling, T-cell activation, cholesterol efflux, oxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine production, vasoconstriction, and lysosomal activity. Further analysis of gene expression in microdissected carotid plaque samples revealed that this signature is differentially expressed in macrophage-rich and smooth muscle cell–containing regions. A quantitative PCR gene expression panel and inflammatory composite score were developed on the basis of the atherosclerotic plaque gene signature. When applied to serial sections of carotid plaque, the inflammatory composite score was observed to correlate with histological and morphological features related to plaque vulnerability.

Conclusions—

The robust mRNA expression signature identified in the present report is associated with pathological features of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and may be useful as a source of biomarkers and targets of novel antiatherosclerotic therapies.
Depression and Rehospitalization Following Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Reese Rebecca L. , Freedland Kenneth E. , Steinmeyer Brian C. , Rich Michael W. , Rackley Justin W. , Carney Robert M.
Published: October 2011

Background—

Elevated scores on depression symptom questionnaires predict rehospitalization after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Whether the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition
, depressive disorders predict rehospitalization after AMI is unknown.

Methods and Results—

Participants (n=766) in an Enhancing Recovery and Coronary Heart Disease ancillary study were classified by diagnostic interview as having no depression, minor depression, or major depression after AMI. Cardiac rehospitalizations were tracked for up to 42 months. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the effect of depressive disorder on time to first cardiac rehospitalization, controlling for mortality risk factors. Logistic regression was used to compare the accuracy with which rehospitalization could be predicted by depression diagnosis or by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Secondary analyses examined the effects of depression on the cumulative number of all-cause rehospitalizations, length of stay, and emergency department visits. Compared with patients without depression, patients with either minor or major depression were hospitalized sooner (minor depression adjusted hazard ratio, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.59–3.08;
P
<0.001; major depression adjusted hazard ratio, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.84–3.53;
P
<0.001), had more hospitalizations (minor,
P
<0.001; major,
P
<0.001) and emergency department visits (minor,
P
=0.003; major,
P
<0.001), and spent more days in the hospital (minor,
P
<0.001; major,
P
<0.001). The interview and questionnaire methods of assessing depression did not significantly differ in their overall accuracy of predicting rehospitalization.

Conclusions—

Depressive disorders increase the risk of rehospitalization after AMI. Future work should focus on developing multivariable models to predict risk of rehospitalization after AMI, and depression should be included in these.
African Easterly Wave Dynamics in a Mesoscale Numerical Model: The Upscale Role of Convection
Authors: Berry Gareth J. , Thorncroft Chris D.
Published: October 2011

To examine the dynamical role of convection in African easterly wave (AEW) life cycles the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate the evolution of a single AEW from September 2004. The model simulations are validated against corresponding numerical weather prediction analyses and the mean fields closely resemble composite structures from previous studies. A potential vorticity (PV) thinking approach is used to highlight the interactions between dynamics and convection.

Organized deep convection embedded within the AEW has a large contribution to the synoptic-scale mean PV and energetics of the AEW. The PV tendency is maximized in the lower troposphere, consistent with the vertical gradient in diabatic heating rates in the areas of convection. By examining terms in the Lorenz energy cycle, it is shown that diabatic heating associated with convection is as important as adiabatic energy conversion in producing eddy available potential energy of the synoptic AEW, implying that AEWs are best described as hybrid adiabatic and diabatic structures. The net effect of convection is succinctly described using a simulation whereby the parameterizations associated with convection are switched off at the midpoint of the model run. This perturbation experiment shows that, although the AEW continues to propagate westward with a similar phase speed, the net PV value continually weakens with time. This result proves that convection is vital for the maintenance of the AEW as it propagates across West Africa and suggests that without active convection the synoptic AEW cannot persist for an extended length of time.
The Mechanical Impact of the Tibetan Plateau on the Seasonal Evolution of the South Asian Monsoon
Authors: Park Hyo-Seok , Chiang John C. H. , Bordoni Simona
Published: October 2011

The impact of the Tibetan Plateau on the South Asian monsoon is examined using a hierarchy of atmospheric general circulation models. During the premonsoon season and monsoon onset (April–June), when westerly winds over the Southern Tibetan Plateau are still strong, the Tibetan Plateau triggers early monsoon rainfall downstream, particularly over the Bay of Bengal and South China. The downstream moist convection is accompanied by strong monsoonal low-level winds. In experiments where the Tibetan Plateau is removed, monsoon onset occurs about a month later, but the monsoon circulation becomes progressively stronger and reaches comparable strength during the mature phase. During the mature and decaying phase of monsoon (July–September), when westerly winds over the Southern Tibetan Plateau almost disappear, monsoon circulation strength is not much affected by the presence of the Tibetan Plateau.

A dry dynamical core with east–west-oriented narrow mountains in the subtropics consistently simulates downstream convergence with background zonal westerlies over the mountain. In a moist atmosphere, the mechanically driven downstream convergence is expected to be associated with significant moisture convergence. The authors speculate that the mechanically driven downstream convergence in the presence of the Tibetan Plateau is responsible for zonally asymmetric monsoon onset, particularly over the Bay of Bengal and South China.
Use of Ground Clutter to Monitor Polarimetric Radar Calibration
Authors: Borowska L. , Zrnic D.
Published: October 2011

It is suggested that urban ground clutter can have a role in monitoring calibration of reflectivity factor ZH and differential reflectivity ZDR on polarimetric radars. The median and average values of these variables are considered. Analysis of data from 1 month of cold season in Germany (X-band radar) and 3.5 hot days in Oklahoma (S-band radar) is presented. In the presence of up to moderate rain or snow a reflectivity threshold suffices for separating significant clutter from precipitation observed with an X-band radar. The same threshold was suitable on observations with an S-band radar in Oklahoma because heavy precipitation was not present. The tests suggest the scheme is worthy considering for operational monitoring of ZH as its median values at both locations were within the quantization interval of 0.5 dB. Environmental factors that can influence reflectivities from clutter are examined. The effects on ZDR can be significant. These are quantified in the data and possible uses for calibration and monitoring radar status are indicated.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of nutrition and food safety information in school science textbooks of India
Authors: Subba Rao GM , Vijayapushapm T , Venkaiah K , Pavarala V
Published: October 2011

Objective:

To assess quantity and quality of nutrition and food safety information in science textbooks prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), India for grades I through X.

Design:

Content analysis.

Methods:

A coding scheme was developed for quantitative and qualitative analyses. Two investigators independently coded the data and inter-coder reliability was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa. The inferences were then reviewed by an expert group.

Results:

There was high agreement (Kappa = 0.89) between coders. Nutrition topics got > 10% pages in textbooks of grades I to VII, while they were omitted in subsequent grades. Food safety got a mere 1% of page allocation only in grades I to III books. Over 25% of biology illustrations related to nutrition in grades I, II and IV but not in others. Nutrition topics in textbooks beyond grade IV were repetitive and inconsistent. Some illustrations depicted uncommon foods and had urban bias.

Conclusions:

Nutrition and food safety content in science textbooks is low. Important topics such as nutritional needs during adolescence, obesity, unhealthy foods and food labelling are not covered. These findings provide direction for strengthening textbook content to promote nutrition education in schools.
If it’s red, it’s not Vap: How competition among words may benefit early word learning
Authors: Yoshida Hanako , Hanania Rima
Published: October 2011

One of the most prominent issues in early cognitive and linguistic development concerns how children figure out meanings of words from hearing them in context, since in many contexts there are multiple words and multiple potential referents for those words. Recent findings concerning on-line sentence comprehension suggest that, within the conversational context, potential referents compete for mappings to words. Three experiments examined whether such competitive processes may play a role in young children’s learning of novel adjectives in an artificial word learning task. According to a competitive process view, although young children often mismap adjectives to whole objects rather than the properties of objects, explicitly mentioned familiar words should strongly map to referents consistent with those words and thereby decrease the likelihood of novel words being mismapped to these referents. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the role of the mere mention of familiar words and the role of word order in two year olds’ ability to map a novel adjective to a property. Experiment 3 examined these processes in three year olds. The results indicate that lexical competition plays a particularly strong role in helping two year olds map a novel object to a property, whereas syntactic information about form class may also be informative to older children. The results suggest how fundamental processes of lexical competition in on-line word comprehension may give young learners a way to leverage known words in learning new words.
Building out a measurement model to incorporate complexities of testing in the language domain
Authors: Wilson Mark , Moore Stephen
Published: October 2011

This paper provides a summary of a novel and integrated way to think about the item response models (most often used in measurement applications in social science areas such as psychology, education, and especially testing of various kinds) from the viewpoint of the statistical theory of generalized linear and nonlinear mixed models. In addition, this new approach emphasizes how item response models can be coordinated and broadened to emphasize their explanatory uses beyond their standard descriptive uses. The basic explanatory principle is that item responses can be modeled as a function of qualities and features of various measurement contexts. These qualities and features can be: (a) characteristics of (i) items, (ii) persons, and (iii) combinations of items and persons; (b) observed or latent (of either items or persons); and (c) continuous or categorical. These ideas are exemplified in the context of a reading comprehension test. The paper starts with an introduction to the framework and then provides: (a) a description of the data that will be used to illustrate the new framework; (b) a discussion of data structure; (c) a brief description of the statistical approach we used; (d) a discussion of how the framework helps one to conceptualize existing item response models, linking the formal features of the models to substantive issues in the assessment of reading comprehension, as well as incorporating an example that goes beyond the usual range of item response models; and (e) a brief summary of further expansion.
Crediting Treatments for Good Outcomes That Would Have Happened Anyway
Authors: Vogt F. , Mason D. , Marteau T. M.
Published: October 2011

Background. In some patient populations, many would experience good outcomes even if untreated (described as a small baseline risk). It appears that treatments for populations with small baseline risks are perceived as more effective than those for populations with large baseline risks: in essence, treatments are credited for good outcomes that would have happened anyway. Previous research failed to control for differences in treatment effects. Objective. To evaluate if the baseline risk of developing an acute condition influences the perceived effectiveness of preventive treatments besides the genuine treatment effect. Methods. In study 1 ( n = 1100) and study 2 ( n = 336), general population samples were shown information that systematically differed in size of treatment effect (absolute and relative risk reduction) and the size of the baseline risk of developing a condition. In study 3, medical students ( n = 110) were shown treatments that systematically differed in the size of the baseline risk of developing a condition and the type of condition to be prevented (i.e., migraines, heart disease, and pancreatic cancer). Measures included the perceived effectiveness of treatments, intentions to use these treatments, and numeracy. Results. The baseline risk of developing an acute condition influenced the perceived effectiveness of treatments (study 1: F1,1043 = 66.17, P < 0.001; study 2: F1,329 = 16.574, P < 0.001; study 3: F1,98 =14.31, P < 0.001) and, in turn, intention to use the treatment (study 1: F1,1045 = 7.12, P = 0.008). It caused treatments to be judged as unduly ineffective when the baseline risk was large and vice versa. The influence was independent of treatment effect and was not moderated by numeracy. Conclusions. Treatments for populations with a small baseline risk of developing the condition are perceived as more effective than those for populations with a large baseline risk.
Italian Sociologists’ Approach to Qualitative Interviews
Authors: Pretto Albertina
Published: October 2011

L’approche des sociologues italiens des entretiens qualitatifs : Dans le cadre de la recherche sociale, il n’est pas rare de se trouver face à la lecture d’entretiens transcrits ou à l’écoute d’entretiens enregistrés qui présentent des modalités de conduite extrêmement diverses les unes des autres et qui semblent aller à l’encontre de ce qui est conseillé ou indiqué dans la majeure partie des ouvrages concernant la conduite d’entretiens qualitatifs. Afin de comprendre les raisons de ces différents styles de conduite, nous avons réalisé une enquête auprès de sociologues italiens qui déclarent effectuer leurs recherches à travers des entretiens qualitatifs. Ce travail a pour but principal d’examiner les comportements d’un groupe de chercheurs et d’interviewers envers les interviewés dans le cadre de la recherche qualitative.
Pre-election polling and sequential elections
Authors: Hummel Patrick
Published: October 2011

I consider a model in which the winner of a primary election faces a third candidate in a general election immediately thereafter. Prior to the primary election, there is a pre-election poll on how voters would vote in a hypothetical general election between one of the candidates in the primary election and the third candidate. I illustrate that voters have an incentive to misrepresent their voting intentions in the pre-election poll in order to influence voter beliefs about candidate electability in the general election and possibly cause voters to vote differently in the primary election.
Causal or spurious? The relationship of knowledge and attitudes to trust in science and technology
Authors: Roberts Mary Roduta , Reid Grace , Schroeder Meadow , Norris Stephen P.
Published: October 2011

Survey data on 1217 adults living in Alberta, Canada were collected by Ipsos Reid Public Affairs and made available to us for analysis. The survey questioned participants on issues related to science including their perceived knowledge of science, attitudes toward science, and trust in science and technology. We developed a structural equation model to account for the causal relations implied by the correlations among the variables in the data set. Results show that trust in generalized science and technology is a large determiner of trust in specific technologies, but that trust in specific technologies is not a determinant of overall trust in science and technology. We also found that attitudes towards science have an effect on trust in generalized science and technology whereas perceived knowledge does not. Education and gender contribute to attitudes supporting an increased personal attachment to science, which was the strongest predictor of trust in our model.
Beyond Iconic Simulation
Authors: Dormans Joris
Published: October 2011

Realism remains a prominent topic in game design and industry research; yet, a strong academic case can be made that games are anything, but realistic. This article frames realism in games in semiotic terms as iconic simulation and argues that games can gain expressiveness when they move beyond the current focus on iconic simulation. In parallel to natural language, indexical and symbolic simulation are investigated. It is argued that indexical and symbolic simulation reduce the number of parts of simulation without affecting its structural complexity and emergent behavior too much. This leads to a perspective on games that pays more attention to the expressive power of relatively simple game mechanics. This perspective helps designers to maximize the effectiveness of game mechanics in communicating general knowledge embedded within the game system.
Laparoscopic-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation is Safe for the Treatment of Enhancing Renal Masses Among Patients Prescribed Antithrombotic Agents
Authors: Gorin Michael A. , Gahan Jeffery , Antebi Elie , Carey Robert I. , Bird Vincent G.
Published: October 2011

Patients undergoing laparoscopic-guided radiofrequency ablation (LRFA) for the treatment of a renal mass are commonly prescribed antithrombotic agents for the management of comorbid medical diseases. We retrospectively evaluated the safety of LRFA in this group. From October 2005 to June 2010, 109 patients underwent LRFA. Antithrombotic therapy was prescribed to 52 of these patients. Agents were managed the week of surgery per current practice guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians. Intraoperatively, patients prescribed at least one antithrombotic agent lost a median of 10 mL of blood, while patients not on an antithrombotic agent also lost 10 mL of blood (P = .828). Both groups had a similar rate of procedure-related complications (intraoperative, P = 1.00; postoperative, P = .673). No patient required a blood transfusion or experienced a postoperative thromboembolic event. In conclusion, when current practice guidelines are followed, LRFA is safe among patients prescribed antithrombotic agents.
Measurement of Shear-Activated Platelet Aggregate Formation in Non-Anticoagulated Blood: Utility in Detection of Clopidogrel–Aspirin-Induced Platelet Dysfunction
Authors: Johnson Gerhard J. , Sharda Anish V. , Rao Gundu H. R. , Ereth Mark H. , Laxson David D. , Owen Whyte G.
Published: October 2011

We studied the ability of a new instrument, the PlaCor PRT that measures shear-induced platelet aggregation in fingerstick, non-anticoagulated blood without added agonists, to detect platelet dysfunction ex vivo. Platelet reactivity time (PRT) and whole blood aggregation (WBA) were measured in 160 healthy volunteers, before and after aspirin and in 170 participants with established vascular disease or risk factors thereof treated with aspirin ± clopidogrel. Pretreatment PRT and WBA were significantly correlated (collagen r = −.63; arachidonate r = −.65; P < .0001). Following aspirin, the mean PRT increased from 82 to 142 seconds ( P < .0001), and in participants treated with clopidogrel–aspirin, the mean PRT (286 seconds, n = 65) was significantly longer than with aspirin alone (166 seconds, n = 105; P < .001). Only 13% of PRTs of participants treated with clopidogrel and aspirin were within the normal range. We conclude that the PlaCor PRT is a simple, rapid, point-of-care instrument that compares favorably with published descriptions of other platelet function instruments.
The discrete Hilbert transform and its application to the analysis of reverberant decay of modal vibrations in enclosures
Authors: Meissner M
Published: October 2011

The Hilbert transform is an important tool for a signal analysis, and it has been widely used in many areas of science and technology. An application of this method to an analysis of reverberant decay of modal vibrations in enclosures enables a detection of a pressure envelope resulting in a more accurate prediction of a reverberation time. It is shown that the discrete Hilbert transform is not accurate in an envelope detection even for the moderately damped harmonic signals, and a generated error strongly depends on the ratio of a modal damping coefficient to a mode frequency. This inexactness is due to the fact that for exponentially decaying harmonic signals the Bedrosian identity is not satisfied. In order to increase the accuracy of the envelope prediction, appropriate modifications of discrete signals corresponding to different kinds of modes are proposed. This method is successfully tested in the multi-mode case using discrete signals simulating a reverberant response of two coupled rooms.
Application of high-resolution spectral analysis for identifying faults in induction motors by means of sound
Authors: Garcia-Perez Arturo , Romero-Troncoso Rene J , Cabal-Yepez Eduardo , Osornio-Rios Roque A , Lucio-Martinez Jose A
Published: October 2011

Induction motors are critical components for most industries. Induction motor failures may yield an unexpected interruption at the industry plant. Several conventional vibration and current analysis techniques exist by which certain faults in rotating machinery can be identified. Ever since the first motor was built, plant personnel have listened to the noises emanating from machines; with enough experience, a listener may make a fairly accurate estimate of the condition of a machine. Although there are several works that deal with vibration and current analysis for monitoring and detection of faults in induction motors, the analysis of sound signals has not been sufficiently explored as an alternative non-invasive monitoring technique. The contribution of this investigation is the development of a condition monitoring strategy than can make a reliable assessment of the presence of specific fault condition in an induction motor with a single fault present through the analysis of a sound signal. The proposed methodology is based on the multiple-signal classification algorithm for high-resolution spectral analysis. Results show that the proposed methodology of sound analysis could improve standard techniques for induction motor fault detection, enhancing detectability.
Public Capital Maintenance, Decentralization, and US Productivity Growth
Authors: Kalyvitis Sarantis , Vella Eugenia
Published: October 2011

Data published by the US Congressional Budget Office show that over the last fifty years expenditures for infrastructure’s operations and maintenance (O&M) have roughly equalled those for new capital. We use this data set to investigate the productive impact of public infrastructure spending, taking into account its composition for each government level. We find that a rise (fall) in infrastructure expenditures by states and localities (the federal government) would enhance future productivity growth and that the rise in state and local spending should mainly come from additional O&M outlays in the transport sector.
Embryotoxicity of Lead (II) Acetate and Aroclor 1254 Using a New End Point of the Embryonic Stem Cell Test
Authors: Baek Dae Hyun , Park Sung Hee , Park Jae Hyun , Choi Youngju , Park Ki Dae , Kang Jin Wook , Choi Kyoung Suk , Kim Hyung Soo
Published: October 2011

We developed a new end point of the mouse stem cell test (EST) for developmental neurotoxicity. We tested 2 developmental neurotoxicants, namely, lead (II) acetate and Aroclor 1254, using this EST. Our results showed that lead (II) acetate is nonembryotoxic, and Aroclor 1254 is weakly embryotoxic. To identify a new end point for developmental neurotoxicity, we used the default method of neuronal differentiation for D3 mouse embryonic stem cells with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and ascorbic acid. Flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to quantify the inhibition of neuronal differentiation. Our results showed that both lead (II) acetate and Aroclor 1254 reduced the percentage of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2)-positive cells and the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of MAP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that these methods can be used to develop an additional end point of the EST for developmental neurotoxicity using default differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.
Digital labor is the new killer app
Authors: Fish Adam , Srinivasan Ramesh
Published: October 2011

Research on digital labor tends to fall into idealized, oppositional binaries that are judgmental rather than based on detailed analyses of the actual system or site. Our goal in this article is to provide a view on digital labor that is grounded less in speculation but in narratives from the producers of the platforms and content of the digital economy. To provide original perspectives on digital work we emphasize the agency of the producers and freelancers working at the global outsourcing firm Samasource and the cable television network Current TV. Our analyses of these two cases reveal important questions regarding 1) the values and organizational culture of firm founders and executives and 2) the mobility of freelance workers within the networks of digital labor. In conclusion we interrogate how wealth is distributed within the network. Across these questions, we introduce a research agenda that considers to bridge the ethical challenges of labor exploitation as well as the promises of social entrepreneurship in the digital economy.
The influence of anxiety and quality of interaction on collaborative test performance
Authors: Pandey Carol , Kapitanoff Susan
Published: October 2011

This research investigated the relationships among test performance, anxiety, and the quality of interaction during collaborative testing of college students. It also explored which students are most likely to benefit from collaborative testing. It was randomly determined whether a student would take each of six examinations alone or with a partner. Collaborative testing resulted in higher scores than individual testing for a significant number of students, conferring an advantage of 3.83%. Test performance was positively correlated with quality of interaction. Students with higher levels of test anxiety were most likely to benefit from collaborative testing and to experience the greatest test anxiety reduction.
Social network structure and the achievement of consensus
Authors: Zollman Kevin JS.
Published: October 2011

It is widely believed that bringing parties with differing opinions together to discuss their differences will help both in securing consensus and also in ensuring that this consensus closely approximates the truth. This paper investigates this presumption using two mathematical and computer simulation models. Ultimately, these models show that increased contact can be useful in securing both consensus and truth, but it is not always beneficial in this way. This suggests one should not, without qualification, support policies which increase interpersonal contact if one seeks to improve the epistemic performance of groups.
Yoshimi Shunya Interviewed by Kukhee Choo, Tulane University
Authors: Choo Kukhee
Published: October 2011

Tracing its origins to the study of print and later film, Yoshimi Shunya says Japanese media studies has emerged from several traditions, influenced by a history of modernization, occupation, and empire. In this interview, he traces the development of media studies in Japan and his thoughts on the state of the field today. The state of Japanese media studies is relevant to understanding the mediation of the tsunami and recent events in Japan.
Overexpression of LEF1 predicts unfavorable outcome in adult patients with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Kühnl Andrea , Gökbuget Nicola , Kaiser Martin , Schlee Cornelia , Stroux Andrea , Burmeister Thomas , Mochmann Liliana H. , Hoelzer Dieter , Hofmann Wolf-Karsten , Thiel Eckhard , Baldus Claudia D.
Published: October 2011

Aberrant activation of the Wnt pathway plays a pathogenetic role in various tumors and has been associated with adverse outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). LEF1, a key mediator of Wnt signaling, has been linked to leukemic transformation, and recurrent mutations of LEF1 have been identified in pediatric T-ALL. Here we evaluated the prognostic significance of LEF1 expression in B-precursor ALL patients. LEF1 expression was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in 282 adult B-precursor ALL patients treated on 06/99 and 07/03 GMALL trials. Patients were grouped into quartiles (Q1-Q4) according to LEF1 expression levels (LEF1 high, Q4; n = 71; LEF1 low, Q1-Q3; n = 211). Patients with high LEF1 expression had a significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) compared with low LEF1 expressers (5-year RFS: LEF1 high, 27%; LEF1 low, 47%; P = .05). Importantly, high LEF1 expression was also associated with inferior RFS in standard-risk patients and was independently predictive for RFS (P = .02) in multivariate analyses for this subgroup. Thus, high LEF1 expression identifies B-precursor ALL patients with inferior RFS, supporting a pathogenetic role of Wnt signaling in ALL. Standard-risk patients with high LEF1 expression might benefit from early treatment modifications and new molecular therapies, including agents targeting the Wnt pathway.