bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Passage of CD18-and CD18+Bovine Neutrophils into Pulmonary Alveoli during AcutePasteurella haemolyticaPneumonia
Authors: Ackermann M. R. , Kehrli M. E. , Brogden K. A.
Published: January 2010

CD18 is a subunit for three β2integrin molecules (Mac-1, p150, 95, LFA-1), which are expressed on the plasma membrane of neutrophils. These molecules mediate passage of neutrophils into sites of infection. In children and animals that lack CD18 expression, neutrophil infiltration is impaired in most tissues. However, in lung, CD18-neutrophils have been identified in the airway spaces during spontaneous episodes of pneumonia. To determine whether CD18 is vital for passage through the pulmonary alveolar wall, lung lobes of cattle with neutrophils that were deficient in CD18 expression (CD18-) and cattle with normal CD18 expression (CD18+) were inoculated with Pasteurella haemolytica by fiberoptic bronchoscopy; control lobes were inoculated with pyrogen-free saline (PFS). Neutrophil passage into alveolar lumina at 4 and 6 hours postinoculation was measured by computerized image analysis. Blood levels of neutrophils for CD18- cattle ranged from 12- to 26-fold higher than for CD18+ cattle prior to inoculation, and counts in both groups rose slightly postinoculation. In P. haemolytica-inoculated lobes, total numbers of neutrophils in alveolar lumina of the two groups were similar. An increase in the number of neutrophils in the alveolar wall was fourfold greater in CD18- cattle than in CD18+ cattle. In PFS-inoculatad lobes, the number of neutrophils in the alveolar wall was sixfold higher in CD18 cattle than in CD18+ cattle. This work shows that by 4 and 6 hours, CD18 neutrophils enter the alveolar lumen at a rate similar to that in CD18+ cattle. Higher numbers of CD18- neutrophils are present in the alveolar wall of control (PFS) and bacteria-inoculated lobes. Thus, the CD18- cells are increased in the walls of alveoli and numbers of neutrophils that enter the alveolar lumen are similar in CD18+ and CD18- cattle.
The Relationship between Hepatic Copper Content and Morphologic Changes in the Liver of West Highland White Terriers
Authors: Thornburg L. P. , Rottinghaus G. , Dennis G. , Crawford S.
Published: January 2010

Liver tissue from 17 West Highland White Terriers (WHWTs) with cirrhosis, subacute bridging necrosis, hepatitis, or massive necrosis were examined for the presence, composition, and distribution of inflammatory foci. Copper analysis was performed on the specimens, The foci of inflammation and necrosis composed a significant part of the lesion in 15 of the samples. The foci were of two types. One, characteristic of idiopathic chronic active hepatitis, consisted of one or two apoptotic hepatocytes attended by lymphocytes and plasma cells. These foci were found primarily in the vicinity of the portal tracts, not associated with centrolobular copper-laden hepatocytes. The other type of focus was characteristic of copper toxicosis. These foci were larger and composed of debris-filled macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and scattered neutrophils, and on occasion apoptotic hepatocytes were found at the periphery. These foci were always found around the central vein among the copper-laden hepatocytes. Such foci were found only in dogs with copper concentration > 2,000 parts/million on a dry weight basis. These morphologic studies show that clinical liver disease in WHWTs is caused by more than one etiologic agent. Among 17 WHWTs with clinical liver disease, two had copper toxicosis, five had idiopathic chronic active hepatitis, and 10 had hepatic disease of undetermined type.
Regulation of P-Selectin Expression by Inflammatory Mediators in Canine Jugular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Doré M. , Sirois J.
Published: January 2010

Canine endothelial cells express the adhesion molecule P-selectin to mediate the initial attachment of leukocytes to the vessel wall. Although it is known that agents like histamine and thrombin stimulate the surface expression of P-selectin, the effect of inflammatory mediators and cytokines such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), tumor necrosis factor- ≈ (TNF- ≈), and interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) on canine P-selectin expression has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the regulation of P-selectin messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein by these cytokines in canine endothelial cells isolated from jugular veins. Analyses of cytoplasmic RNA by Northern blotting showed that stimulation of cultured endothelial cells with either LPS (100 ng/ml) or recombinant human TNF- ≈ (30 U/ml) for 3 or 6 hours significantly increased (P < 0.05) steady-state levels of mRNA for P-selectin (3.8- ± 1.0-and 3.0- ± 0.4-fold increase for LPS at 3 and 6 hours, respectively, and 2.5- ± 0.8- and 2.7- ± 0.9-fold increase for TNF- ≈ at 3 and 6 hours, respectively). P-selectin mRNA had decreased by 48 hours to levels found in unstimulated cells. In contrast, human IL-1 β had no effect on P-selectin mRNA. Increased levels of mRNA with LPS stimulation were associated with the synthesis of new protein, as demonstrated by the positive staining in LPS-stimulated cells using immunocytochemistry with a monoclonal antibody against canine P-selectin (MD3). These results reveal that important inflammatory mediators and cytokines such as LPS and TNF- ≈ induce the synthesis of new P-selectin and suggest that this process could represent a means of sustaining local leukocyte recruitment for several hours during an acute inflammatory reaction.
Intestinal Plasmacytosis in Rabbits: A Histologic and Ultrastructural Study
Authors: Li X. , Fox J. G. , Erdman S. E. , Lipman N. S.
Published: January 2010

A retrospective study revealed intestinal plasmacytosis in 53 of 102 rabbits used in various experimental studies and as controls. The breeds affected included New Zealand white ( n = 46), Dutch-belted ( n = 6), and Watanabe ( n = 1) rabbits. Sex predisposition was not found in any breed. The mean (± SD) ages were 3.1 ± 1.4 years for New Zealand white rabbits, 1.3 ± 1.1 for Dutch-belted rabbits, and 2 years for the Watanabe rabbit. The severity increased with animal age. The incidence was higher ( P < 0.05) in rabbits used in antibody production and cholesterol studies. The lesions were characterized by multifocal to diffuse infiltration of well-differentiated plasma cells in the intestinal mucosa. Electron microscopic examination revealed typical plasma cell morphology of the infiltrating cells. Small intestine and cecum were the major sites affected. In severe cases, colon, rectum, trachea, esophagus, mesenteric lymph node, and spleen were also involved.
Spontaneous Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Saimiri boliviensis
Authors: Borda J. T. , Ruiz J. C. , Sánchez-Negrette M.
Published: January 2010

Hepatocellular carcinomas are rare in nonhuman primates. In this study we found the first naturally occurring hepatocellular carcinoma in a Squirrel Monkey ( Saimiri boliviensis) of at least 24 years of age. In the necropsy, the liver was cirrhotic and contained multiple tumorous nodules, which varied in diameter from 3 to 15 mm. The lungs also contained small neoplastic masses. In the histological study, samples of liver, lungs, and other organs were taken and fixed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, cut at 5 μm, and colored with hematoxylin and eosin. The histological study of the liver permitted the detection of multiple masses of neoplastic liver cells in a closely packed trabecular configuration surrounded by a well-developed capillary basement membrane. Cirrhotic changes also were observed in the liver. The histological study of the lung confirmed the metastasis of the hepatocellular carcinoma. Metastasis was not found in other organs.
Multiple Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in the Small Intestine of a Horse
Authors: Kirchhof N. , Scheidemann W. , Baumgärtner W.
Published: January 2010

Multiple neurofibromas, schwannomas, and hyperplastic enteric plexuses were observed in the distal jejunum and ileum of a 6-year-old pinto gelding. The animal was presented because of an acute episode of colic. Three meters of distal small intestine, partially incarcerated in the epiploic foramen, were surgically removed. Numerous tumor nodules up to 10 mm in diameter were found adjacent to a Meckel's diverticulum, predominantly located in the subserosa of a hypertrophic segment. Histologically, tumors were well demarcated and composed of interlacing fascicles formed by spindloid cells. Adjacent enteric plexuses were hyperplastic. Immunohistochemically, all tumors were positive for vimentin and S-100. Desmin immunoreactivity was only observed in larger tumors (>500 μm). Glial fibrillary acid protein was demonstrated nearly exclusively in smaller ones. Immunostaining for neurofilament was restricted to entrapped ganglion cells. Based on conventional light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical evaluation, the lesion was diagnosed as multiple benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors in the small intestine.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Two Horses
Authors: Ramos-Vara J. A. , Ortiz-Santiago B. , Segalès J. , Dunstan R. W.
Published: January 2010

This report contains the clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings in two cases of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis. Nodular, sometimes crusty or ulcerated lesions were confined to the pinna and adjacent neck in both animals. The dermal inflammatory infiltrate was lymphohistiocytic in horse No. 1 and pyogranulomatous with formation of tuberculoid granulomas in horse No. 2. Numerous Leishmania organisms were found within macrophages in both animals. There was moderate to intense and specific reaction by immunoperoxidase using a polyclonal antiserum against Leishmania in both horses. Leishmania amastigotes were also revealed by electron microscopy. This is the first report of equine cutaneous leishmaniasis recognized in North America and Puerto Rico. Leishmaniasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous nodular diseases in the horse.
Lifespan and Lesions in Genetically Heterogeneous (Four-way Cross) Mice: A New Model for Aging Research
Authors: Chrisp C. E. , Turke P. , Luciano A. , Swalwell S. , Peterson J. , Miller R. A.
Published: January 2010

Genetically heterogeneous animal models provide many advantages for research on aging but have been used infrequently. We present here lifespan and lesion data from a study of mice bred as a cross between (AKR/J x DBA/2J)F1 females and (C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F1 males. In such a four-way cross population, each mouse is genetically unique, but replicate populations of essentially similar genetic structure can be generated quickly, at low cost, and of arbitrary size from commercially available, genetically stable hybrid parents. We employed a protocol in which mice judged to be severely ill were euthanatized to obtain tissue in optimal condition for necropsy, and we were able to infer a likely cause of illness in 42 of 44 animals. Malignant lymphoma, including al least four histopathologically distinct subtypes, was the most common cause and was also a frequent incidental finding in mice dying of other causes. Neoplastic disease, benign or malignant, was the sole or a contributing cause of illness in 90% of the mice for which a cause could plausibly be assigned. A wide range of lethal and nonlethal degenerative lesions was also noted. The coefficient of variation for lifespan in these genetically heterogeneous mice was 26%, similar to that seen in analyses of recombinant inbred mouse lines. Baseline lifespan and pathology data on four-way cross mice is a useful prelude to the exploitation of this rodent model in tests of genetic and mechanistic hypotheses about aging.
Serial Syngeneic Transplantation of Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia in F344 Rats
Authors: Stromberg P. C. , Grants I. S. , Kociba G. J. , Krakowka G. S. , Mezza L. E.
Published: January 2010

A spontaneous large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia was serially transplanted in 92 male F344 rats kept under standard laboratory conditions. Serial transplantation into groups of four rats each resulted in a rapid reduction in the latent period of the disease. After 23 serial transplantations, F344 rats in groups that were injected intraperitoneally with 107 cells died between 12 and 16 days after transplantation. At necropsy, “transplanted” rats had enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen. Neoplastic cells were detected in the spleen on day 3 and in peripheral blood on day 6. Extreme leukocytosis with leukemia was present on day 9. Severe hemolytic anemia coincided with a sharp increase in osmotic fragility on day 12. Splenic lymphoid depletion was observed histologically and confirmed by differential cell counts of isolated spleen cells. Analysis for surface markers of splenic lymphocytes by monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry indicated that cells with T helper/inducer phenotypes were disproportionately decreased, while the number of T suppressor cells did not significantly change. The T helper/T suppressor lymphocyte ratio (normal = 2.09 ±0.35) was decreased on day 9 (0.76 ± 0.10) and day 12 (0.25 ± 0.04). Hemolytic anemia was not related to a decrease in the number of T suppressor cells. The passaged leukemia cell model should provide investigators with an easily maintained neoplasm of short latency with which to study pathogenesis of leukemia-related disorders.
Immunocytochemical Demonstration of Proopiomelanocortin-derived Peptides in Pituitary Adenomas of the Pars Intermedia in Horses
Authors: Heinrichs M. , Baumgärtner W. , Capen C. C.
Published: January 2010

Adenomas of the pars intermedia from 19 horses and normal pituitary glands from seven horses were evaluated histologically and immunocytochemically for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), α-mela-nocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), β-endorphin (β-END), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), prolactin, neuron specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The 26 horses ranged in age from 7 to 31 years. Histologically, all adenomas had a uniform pattern characterized by cords of large columnar cells forming palisades and pseudoacini separated by a delicate fibrovascular stroma. Immunostaining of adenomas derived from the pars intermedia was similar to that of non-neoplastic equine pars intermedia. An immunocytochemical evaluation revealed a diffuse, strong cytoplasmic reaction for POMC, a moderate to strong reaction for α-MSH and β-END, a weak reaction for ACTH, and negative immunostaining for prolactin, GFAP, and neuron specific enolase in the adenomas. The unique clinicopathologic syndrome that develops in horses with pituitary adenomas appears to be the result of an over-production of POMC-derived peptides in addition to space-occupying effects resulting in dysfunction of the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis.
The Clinicopathologic, Light, and Scanning Electron Microscopic Features of Eperythrozoonosis in Four Naturally Infected Llamas
Authors: Reagan W. J. , Garry F. , Thrall M. A. , Colgan S. , Hutchison J. , Weiser M. G.
Published: January 2010

The hematologic, biochemical, and light and scanning electron microscopic features of eperythrozoonosis in four llamas are described. One female and three male yearling llamas were presented for evaluation of chronic weight loss. Three of four llamas had historical evidence of chronic inflammatory conditions. On examination, multiple clinical problems were apparent, including poorly to non-regenerative anemia, inflammatory disease, and hypoproteinemia. Coccoid- and ring-shaped basophilic organisms were present on the erythrocytes of all the llamas. On scanning electron microscopy, individual, pairs, and clusters of coccoid-shaped organisms were present on the erythrocytes. The organisms measured 0.4 to 0.6 micron in diameter and caused no marked deformation of the erythrocyte membrane. A rare organism could be found that produced a slight indentation into the erythrocyte membrane. The light and scanning electron microscopic morphologic features suggested that the organism was an Eperythrozoon. Serial evaluation of serum iron concentrations of the llamas showed a decrease serum iron in all animals, with a concurrent decrease in the total iron binding capacity and percent transferrin saturation in two of the llamas. Common abnormalities seen on serum electrophoresis included a decrease in albumin and beta serum fraction in all llamas and a decrease in the gamma globulin fraction of two individuals.
Fordyce's Granules of the Incisor and Molar Gingiva in F344 Rats
Authors: Yoshitomi K. , Brown H. R. , Eustis S.
Published: January 2010

Fordyce's granules were observed in the gingiva of the upper incisor and molar teeth in F344 rats. The data were based on 734 males and 722 females that were used as control and treated animals in 26-week, 65-week, and 2-year studies by the National Toxicology Program. The incidence of Fordyce's granules was markedly different when comparing sex, age, and site of the lesion. Fordyce's granules were very common in the midsagittal gingiva of the upper incisor in males and increased in incidence with age (34.2, 50, and 56.3% in 26-week, 65-week, and 2-year studies, respectively). The granules of the incisor gingiva were rare in females (0, 0, and 2.8% in 26-week, 65-week, and 2-year studies, respectively). Fordyce's granules of the molar gingiva were very rare in both sexes and were found only in 9/734 (1.2%) males and in 3/722 (0.4%) females. Only three unilateral granules of the molar were grossly recognized as focal swelling of the gingiva or a white nodule with a huge cyst in the third upper molar. Histologically, Fordyce's granules were arranged as a collection of sebaceous glands unassociated with hair follicles. In addition, the granules of the molar gingiva were associated with cystically dilated ducts filled with sebum. Ultrastructurally, the sebaceous cells were characterized by varying numbers of cytoplasmic lipid droplets and occasional desmosome and hemidesmosome formation. Fordyce's granules previously reported in rats of other strains were also reviewed and compared with those in F344 rats in regard to incidence, location, and age.
Rescaling environmental governance, rethinking the state: A three-dimensional review
Authors: Reed Maureen G. , Bruyneel Shannon
Published: January 2010

In light of significant interest by scholars in environmental geography and in studies of social-ecological systems in the multiscalar, multistakeholder aspects of environmental decision-making, we focus this review on multilevel systems of environmental governance in which multiple actors exercise different levels of power, authority, and action to determine ‘who gets what’ and ‘who gets to decide’. We describe literature documenting how new geographies of governance have emerged as state functions have been dispersed upwards, downwards, and outwards to non-state actors. We consider ‘What is the role of the state in this reconfiguration of scale and environmental governance?’ We focus on how scale and spatiality is being reconceptualized and how borders are reformed materially and socially through new governance practices, and consider the implications for advancing geographic theory and sound public policy.
Fluvial geomorphology
Authors: Stott Tim
Published: January 2010

This progress report on the discipline of fluvial geomorphology reviews 147 papers published in 21 key journals during the calendar years of 2006 and 2007. Papers are grouped by themes to cover 10 subject areas. The themes were chosen by classifying all geomorphological articles published in a single leading journal for the same period, of which (44%) were within the subject area of fluvial geomorphology. Themes (in order of number contributing to the total) were: ‘River management, restoration and effects of vegetation on fluvial systems’; ‘Soil erosion and control’; ‘Fluvial hydraulics’; ‘Fluvial sediment transport’; ‘Gully and hillslope sediment transfer’; ‘Modelling the fluvial environment’; ‘River regulation, channel change and human influences’; ‘Advances in methodology in fluvial geomorphology’; ‘Bank erosion in fluvial systems’; and ‘Holocene fluvial chronology’.
Insulin resistance induced by high-fructose diet potentiates carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity
Authors: Pooranaperundevi M. , Sumiyabanu MS , Viswanathan P. , Sundarapandiyan R. , Anuradha CV
Published: January 2010

Insulin resistance (IR) is recognized as a contributory factor for a variety of liver diseases. The present study investigates the susceptibility of liver to the toxic actions of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in a rat model of IR, induced by feeding a high-fructose diet (60 g/100 g) for 30 days. A sub-lethal dose of CCl4 (2 mL/kg intraperitoneally [i.p.], in corn oil) was administered and the outcome of hepatotoxicity was assessed at 0 hour and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours after CCl4 administration. After 30 days of fructose feeding, the rats showed IR, decline in liver antioxidant status and rise in lipid peroxidation. Liver dysfunction in fructose-fed rats was evident from a rise in transaminases, total bilirubin and a decrease in albumin/globulin ratio in plasma and decreases in nitrite, arginase and increase in protein carbonyl and nitrosothiol content in liver. Increased staining for 3-nitro tyrosine (3-NT) antibody was observed in fructose-fed rat liver as compared to control. CCl4 (2 mL/kg) caused 100% mortality in fructose-fed rats within 48 hours, while no death of animals occurred in control. CCl 4 caused liver damage in both control and fructose-fed rats. Time-based studies showed that progressive liver injury occurred only in fructose-fed rats from 0, 6, 12, 24 hours, with a peak at 36 hours. In control diet—fed rats, the extent of damage was maximum at 24 hours, which declined at 36 hours. Thus, the toxic effects of CCl4 are potentiated due to compromised liver function in the setting of IR.
Evaluation of teratogenic potential of cyfluthrin, a synthetic pyrethroid in Swiss albino mice
Authors: Syed Farah , Soni Inderpal , John PJ , Bhatnagar Pradeep
Published: January 2010

A toxicity study was planned to assess the teratogenic potential of cyfluthrin that is widely used as a household insecticide to control mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches. Pregnant Swiss albino mice of one group were orally administered two doses of the pesticide (16 mg/kg and 32 mg/kg body weight) daily during the organogenetic phase (days 5—14) of gestation. The second group received the same two doses daily during the maturation phase (days 14—18) of gestation. The animals receiving the higher dose exhibited burrowing behaviour, which is a characteristic symptom of pyrethroid poisoning. The autopsies were performed on the 18th day of gestation and routine teratological observations were made. No external malformations occurred in any of the fetus. The higher dose significantly reduced the number of live fetuses, litter size and increased the resorption of embryos when administered during organogenesis, while exposure to the pesticide during the maturation phase did not significantly affect the reproductive parameters. During both the phases, the higher dose reduced the maternal weight gain and the average weight of the fetuses. The fetal anomalies observed were reduced ossification of skull bones, widened cranial sutures, short or absent ribs, hydrocephaly of the ventricles, microphthalmia, anophthalmia, pulmonary edema and subcutaneous edema.
Who Participates? Accounting for Longitudinal Retention in the MIDUS National Study of Health and Well-Being
Authors: Radler Barry T. , Ryff Carol D.
Published: January 2010

Objectives: This article uses data from MIDUS (Midlife in the United States), a national study of Americans ( N = 7,108), to investigate factors that predict longitudinal retention. With its extensive age range (25-75 at Time 1) and long-term design (9- to 10-year survey interval), MIDUS is useful for investigating common sociodemographic and health predictors of continuing participation. Method: The authors conducted logistic regression analyses of baseline sociodemographic and health variables predicting retention. Select interaction terms examined the interplay between targeted variables. Results: Consistent with prior research, higher retention rates were found among Whites, females, and married individuals as well as those with better health and more education. Interaction analyses further clarified that (a) health status better predicted retention among older compared to younger respondents and among women compared to men, (b) marital status better predicted retention among Whites compared to non-Whites and among women compared to men, and (c) economic status better predicted retention among those with poorer functional health status. Discussion: The authors’ analyses clarify that longitudinal retention varied depending on respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics and their health status. The unique contribution of this article is that factors predicting nonparticipation can be offset by, or compensated for, other factors.
Group and Dyadic Communication in Trust Games
Authors: Lev-On Azi , Chavez Alex , Bicchieri Cristina
Published: January 2010

We study the behavioral consequences of interpersonal communication prior to experimental Trust games. We manipulated the richness of the communication medium and the size of the communicating group. Communication richness failed to produce significant differences in first-mover investments, but the size of the communicating group did: The amounts sent were significantly higher in the dyadic communication conditions than in the group communication and no-communication conditions. We also found that first-movers’ expectations of secondmovers’ reciprocation strongly predicted their levels of investment.
The Relationship Between the Supreme Court and Parliament in Light of the Theory of Moves: the Case of Israel
Authors: Meydani Assaf , Mizrahi Shlomo
Published: January 2010

The relationship between the Supreme Court and the legislature has been studied from various angles. This paper develops a dynamic model using the Theory of Moves. The model is then applied to a path-dependence analysis of the relations between the Supreme Court and the parliament in Israel between 1970 and 2007. While at the beginning of this period the Supreme Court limited the ability of citizens to appeal in matters concerning decisions of the parliament and the government, by the end of the period it had expanded this ability significantly, thus implementing an informal policy of procedural judicial activism. More specifically, the empirical analysis traces three turning points in the path-dependence analysis, which can also be explained and understood as temporary equilibria in the dynamic interaction ultimately leading to a stable equilibrium.
Mutual Aid
Authors: Caparrós Alejandro , Péreau Jean-Christophe , Tazdaït Tarik
Published: January 2010

This paper studies the concept of ‘mutual aid’ developed by Kropotkin, which implies cooperation as a strategic choice. We study this concept in a sequential prisoner’s dilemma in a non-cooperative framework and in an indirect evolution framework (with complete and incomplete information). We systematically compare this game with one that models Kant’s moral. In the non-cooperative framework both moral concepts yield different equilibria according to the parameters. In the indirect evolution framework with complete information Kropotkin’s moral concept leads to generalized cooperation, while Kant’s rules lead towards general defection. In the indirect evolution framework with incomplete information both moral approaches favor selfishness. However, if some agents have an imperfect detection technology cooperative behavior will not disappear in Kropotkin’s case, while it will vanish with Kant’s morality.
Intercultural Simulation Games: A Review (of the United States and Beyond)
Authors: Fowler Sandra M. , Pusch Margaret D.
Published: January 2010

Intercultural simulations are instructional activities that engage and challenge participants with experiences integral to encounters between people of more than one cultural group. Simulations designed specifically to support intercultural encounters have been in use since the 1970s. This article examines the conceptual bases for intercultural simulation games, their history, contexts in which they are being or have been used, their efficacy, and the current situation for intercultural simulation games. The article concludes with a look at future directions, which will rely on technological advances and the creative work of promising young interculturalists.
The Philosophy and Epistemology of Simulation: A Review
Authors: Grüne-Yanoff Till , Weirich Paul
Published: January 2010

The philosophical literature on simulations has increased dramatically during the past 40 years. Many of its main topics are epistemological. For example, philosophers consider how the results of simulations help explain natural phenomena. This essay’s review treats mainly simulations in the social sciences. It considers the nature of simulations, the varieties of simulation, and uses of simulations for representation, prediction, explanation, and policy decisions. Being oriented toward philosophy of science, it compares simulations to models and experiments and considers whether simulations raise new methodological issues.The essay concludes that several features of simulations set them apart from models and experiments and make them novel scientific tools, whose powers and limits are not yet well understood.
Toward Endemic Deployment of Educational Simulation Games: A Review of Progress and Future Recommendations
Authors: Moizer Jonathan , Lean Jonathan
Published: January 2010

This article presents a conceptual analysis of simulation game adoption and use across university faculty. The metaphor of epidemiology is used to characterize the diffusion of simulation games for teaching and learning. A simple stock-flow diagram is presented to illustrate this dynamic. Future scenarios for simulation game adoption are presented, based on alternative diffusion behaviors. University strategies for increasing simulation game use are explored. It is concluded that while creating endemic use of simulation games by faculty is unlikely, we can employ measures that will significantly expand the stock of faculty acting as simulation game instructors.
Review Article: Granulomatous Diseases and Granulomas of the Appendix
Authors: AbdullGaffar Badr
Published: January 2010

Granulomatous appendicitis is a rare phenomenon. Idiopathic (primary) granulomatous appendicitis is very rare. It is a diagnosis by exclusion. There are many etiologies, both infectious and noninfectious, for secondary granulomatous appendicitis. Isolated appendiceal Crohn’s disease (CD) is no longer an accepted explanation of idiopathic granulomatous appendicitis, but rather, it is thought to be part of more generalized gastrointestinal CD. Yersinia infection and CD constitute the main etiology of granulomatous appendicitis in the West. Infectious causes, mainly tuberculosis and parasitic infestations, are the main culprits in tropical and subtropical countries. This variation is probably a result of differences in the geographical distribution of these diseases. Recently, interval appendectomy has been suggested as an important cause of granulomatous appendicitis. The importance of interval appendectomy may vary according to the local practice of this procedure in each region. Other unusual causes may include sarcoidosis and foreign body reaction, mainly as a result of vegetable matter from feces. A review study of 3381 appendectomy specimens over a 4-year period showed only 13 cases (0.38%) of granulomatous appendicitis. Infectious and noninfectious causes were responsible for 62% and 38% of granulomatous appendicitis, respectively. Parasites alone were responsible for 38.5% of the cases. Interval appendectomy and CD each contributed 15% and 8%, respectively, of the total etiology. Granulomatous appendicitis was more common in young adult males.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: From Neurophysiology to Pharmacology, Molecular Biology and Genomics
Authors: Cheeran B. , Koch G. , Stagg C.J. , Baig F. , Teo J.
Published: January 2010

Noninvasive plasticity paradigms, both physiologically induced and artificially induced, have come into their own in the study of the effects of genetic variation on human cortical plasticity. These techniques have the singular advantage that they enable one to study the effects of genetic variation in its natural and most relevant context, that of the awake intact human cortex, in both health and disease. This review aims to introduce the currently available artificially induced plasticity paradigms, their putative mechanisms—both in the traditional language of the systems neurophysiologist and in the evolving (and perhaps more relevant for the purposes of stimulation genomics) reinterpretation in terms of molecular neurochemistry, and highlights recent studies employing these techniques by way of examples of applications.
New Approaches to Visual Rehabilitation for Cortical Blindness: Outcomes and Putative Mechanisms
Authors: Das Anasuya , Huxlin Krystel R.
Published: January 2010

Cortical blindness is a chronic loss of vision following damage to the primary visual cortex (V1) or its postchiasmal afferents. Such damage is followed by a brief period of spontaneous plasticity that rarely lasts beyond 6 months. Following this initial phase, the visual deficit is thought to be stable, intractable, and permanent. Cortically blind subjects demonstrate spontaneous oculomotor adaptations to their deficits that can be further improved by saccadic localization training. However, saccadic training does not improve visual sensitivity in the blind field. In contrast, recent studies by a number of independent groups suggest that localized, repetitive perceptual training can improve visual sensitivity in the blind field, although mechanisms underlying the observed recovery remain unclear. This review discusses the current literature on rehabilitative strategies used for cortical blindness with emphasis on the use of perceptual training methods. The putative mechanisms that underlie the resulting, training-induced visual improvements are then outlined, along with the special challenges posed to their elucidation by the great variability in the extent and sometimes nature of the V1 damage sustained in different individuals.
A Multigroup Structural Equation Approach: A Demonstration by Testing Variation of Firm Profitability Across EU Samples
Authors: Bou Juan Carlos , Satorra Albert
Published: January 2010

We extend standard methodology for multigroup mean and covariance structure (MACS) analysis to the case where assessment of across-group variation of model parameters is the focus of the study and the data deviate from standard assumptions. The proposed methods are applied to analyze an accounting profitability database covering more than 100,000 firms in the 15 European Union (EU) countries in the period 1999 to 2003. A multivariate model with permanent and dynamic latent components of profitability is used to assess across-country variation of firm level profitability and persistence. We show that there are substantial differences among these countries, despite the partial integration of their economies. Estimation of supplementary parameters are proposed as a way to characterize persistence in each country, as well as across-group variation of model parameters. This methodology is more widely applicable in international organizational research.
Modeling Customer Reactions to Sales Attempts: If Cross-Selling Backfires
Authors: Güneş Evrim D. , Akşin O. Zeynep , Örmeci E. Lerzan , Özden S. Hazal
Published: January 2010

Cross-selling attempts, based on estimated purchase probabilities, are not guaranteed to succeed and such failed attempts may annoy customers. There is a general belief that cross-selling may backfire if not implemented cautiously, however, there is not a good understanding of the nature and impact of this negative reaction or appropriate policies to counter-balance it. This article focuses on this issue and develops a modeling framework that makes use of a Markov decision model to account for negative customer reactions to failed sales attempts and the effect of past contacts in managing cross-selling initiatives. Three models are analyzed, where purchase probabilities are affected from customer maturity, the number of failed attempts since the last purchase, or both. The analysis shows that customer reactions to cross-sell attempts make the purchase probabilities endogenous to the firm’s cross-selling decisions; hence, the optimal cross-selling policy becomes a function of customer state. The results highlight the role that the cost of excessive cross-selling (direct as well as in the form of customer reactions) plays in optimal policies. Cross-sell data from a retail bank illustrate in what context the modeling framework can be applied and underline the importance of customizing cross-sell policies to individual customers.
The personal meaning of romantic relationships for young people with psychosis
Authors: Redmond Cara , Larkin Michael , Harrop Chris
Published: January 2010

Romantic relationships are of particular importance to young people, and play a key role in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Psychosis typically develops during late adolescence or early adulthood, a crucial period for gaining romantic experience. The significance of these relationships for young people with psychosis has never been explored. Eight participants were interviewed about their experiences and perceptions of romantic relationships using a semi-structured interview. The research was conducted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five overarching themes emerged, suggesting that participants experienced conflict regarding romantic relationships, as they considered such relationships incompatible with psychosis, whilst they also associated them with normality and recovery. Relationships were perceived to be “risky”, and participants were concerned with strategies for reducing these risks. Respondents typically perceived themselves to have a relative lack of experience and resources, making it more difficult for them to engage in romantic relationships. As romantic relationships are associated with a range of personal and social benefits, young people who have experienced psychosis may benefit from services supporting them in negotiating stigma and facilitating their involvement in romantic relationships.
Affected Arm Use and Cortical Change in Stroke Patients Exhibiting Minimal Hand Movement
Authors: Page Stephen J. , Harnish Stacy M. , Lamy Martine , Eliassen James C. , Szaflarski Jerzy P.
Published: January 2010

Background and Purpose . Conventional electrical stimulation modalities are limited by their lack of opportunities for motor learning and, consequently, their impact on function. Other rehabilitative regimens necessitate affected hand and wrist movement for patients to be included, making them implausible for most patients. In light of these challenges, the current study examined the efficacy of a repetitive task-specific training (RTP) regimen using an electrical stimulation neuroprosthesis in stroke patients exhibiting no affected wrist or hand movement. Method. Eight chronic stroke patients (mean = 46.5 months) with moderately affected arm motor deficits participated in 30-minute therapy sessions occurring every weekday for 8 weeks. During the sessions, they wore the neuroprosthesis to enable performance of valued activities identified largely by the patients. To ensure transfer to their real-world environments, most sessions were home based, with the patients coming to the clinic for “tune-up” sessions (eg, adjusting the stimulation parameters, exercises, and/or fit of the device) twice every other week (a total of 8 clinical visits). Outcomes were evaluated using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the upper extremity section of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FM), the amount of use scale of the Motor Activity Log (MAL), and high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Results. Before the intervention, patients exhibited stable motor deficits. After the intervention, they exhibited ARAT and FM score increases (+2.85 and +2.2, respectively). Postintervention fMRI revealed significant increases in cortical activation, possibly brought about by markedly increased affected arm use patterns on the MAL (+0.97). Conclusions. An affected arm RTP program incorporating NEURSTIM appears to increase affected arm use and elicit neural changes in more impaired patients. These factors may conspire to produce motor changes, although motor changes are smaller in this population than with less impaired patients. The program may act as a “bridge” to other promising regimens.
The impact of climate change on health in India
Authors: Rao Mala
Published: January 2010

Food security, fresh water and clean air are all being threatened by climatic change in India, says Dr Mala Rao, Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health in Hyderabad
Sustainable hospitals? An Australian perspective
Authors: McGain Forbes
Published: January 2010

Dr Forbes McGain, Anaesthetist and Intensive Care Physician in Victoria, Australia, shows that hospitals need not be the gas guzzlers of the health world
Ecological public health and climate change policy
Authors: Morris George P
Published: January 2010

The fact that health and disease are products of a complex interaction of factors has long been recognized in public health circles. More recently, the term ‘ecological public health’ has been used to characterize an era underpinned by the paradigm that, when it comes to health and well-being, ‘everything matters’. The challenge for policy makers is one of navigating this complexity to deliver better health and greater equality in health. Recent work in Scotland has been concerned to develop a strategic approach to environment and health. This seeks to embrace complexity within that agenda and recognize a more subtle relationship between health and place but remain practical and relevant to a more traditional hazard-focused environmental health approach. The Good Places, Better Health initiative is underpinned by a new problem-framing approach using a conceptual model developed for that purpose. This requires consideration of a wider social, behavioural etc, context. The approach is also used to configure the core systems of the strategy which gather relevant intelligence, subject it to a process of evaluation and direct its outputs to a broad policy constituency extending beyond health and environment. This paper highlights that an approach, conceived and developed to deliver better health and greater equality in health through action on physical environment, also speaks to a wider public health agenda. Specifically it offers a way to help bridge a gap between paradigm and policy in public health. The author considers that with development, a systems-based approach with close attention to problem-framing/situational modelling may prove useful in orchestrating what is a necessarily complex policy response to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The sum of the parts: Can we really reduce carbon emissions through individual behaviour change?
Authors: Reynolds Lucy
Published: January 2010

Individuals are increasingly being urged to ‘do their bit’ in the fight against climate change, with governments and pro-environmentalists insisting that the collective impact of small behaviour changes will result in a meaningful reduction in global carbon emissions. The following paper considers this debate, as well as offering personal contributions from two leading environmentalists: Dr Doug McKenzie-Mohr, environmental psychologist and author of Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Community-Based Social Marketing; and Dr Tom Crompton, change strategist for WWF and co-author of Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity, who argues for the role of intrinsic value systems in achieving sustainable behaviour change. As well as considering the responsibility of the individual in mitigating climate change, the paper introduces the discipline of social marketing as an effective tool for facilitating individual behaviour change, drawing on evidence from the field to recommend the key characteristics of effective behaviour change programmes.
Climate change — the greatest public health threat of our time: Seeing the wood, not just the trees
Authors: McFarlane Gary J
Published: January 2010

If asked to describe the key public health challenges of our time many practitioners might well cite issues such as health inequalities, obesity, smoking and poverty. However, with the greatest of respect to those agendas, they are not, in my view, the greatest priority at present. If we cannot learn to live within sustainable limits and damage beyond repair the essential life support systems that we depend on, they will fail catastrophically with horrific consequences for humanity. All credible, reliable scientific evidence suggests that without profound and significant change that is exactly where we are headed. However, there is time, albeit short, to avoid the very worst consequences of runaway climate change. But to do so requires collective and urgent action now! Public health practitioners have potentially so much to offer towards this effort. We have many of the skills and experience so critically needed to advocate for change — both political and behavioural; we have the ability to design creative, effective, and dynamic interventions to assist and facilitate communities and individuals make the journey; and equally importantly we have huge opportunities to do so. However to do so effectively means that we need to look at the problem through a different lens and make climate change a top public health priority. We need to see beyond many of the institutional and cultural barriers that exist, albeit not through deliberate design, within our organisations which can cause us to be focused on very specific agendas and see the whole wood, rather than individual trees within it. Climate change is not just an “environmental” problem and a priority therefore specifically for that sector. It is already costing lives and is life threatening on a scale that far surpasses current public health concerns and priorities. Equally critically, tackling climate change would and will significantly contribute towards addressing health inequalities. To use two well worn public health cliché’s, climate change is everyone’s business. And it must be a case of prevention because there will be, in this instance, no cure!