bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Muscle-Specific F-Box Only Proteins Facilitate BK Channel β
1
Subunit Downregulation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells of Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Dai-min , He Tongrong , Katusic Zvonimir S. , Lee Hon-Chi , Lu Tong
Published: October 2010

Rationale:

Activity of the large conductance Ca
2+
-activated K
+
(BK) channels is profoundly modulated by its β
1
subunit (BK-β
1
). However, BK-β
1
expression is downregulated in diabetic vessels. The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) is a major mechanism of intracellular protein degradation. Whether UPS participates in BK-β
1
downregulation in diabetic vessels is unknown.

Objective:

We hypothesize that UPS facilitates vascular BK-β
1
degradation in diabetes.

Methods and Results:

Using patch clamp and molecular biological approaches, we found that BK-β
1
–mediated channel activation and BK-β
1
protein expression were reduced in aortas of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in human coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) cultured in high glucose. This was accompanied by upregulation of F-box only protein (FBXO)-9 and FBXO-32 (atrogin-1), the key components of the Skp1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) type ubiquitin ligase complex. BK-β
1
expression was suppressed by the FBXO activator doxorubicin but enhanced by FBXO-9 small interfering RNA or by the proteasome inhibitor MG-132. Cotransfection of atrogin-1 in HEK293 cells significantly reduced Flag-hSlo-β
1
expression by 2.16-fold, compared with expression of Flag-hSlo-β
1
V146A (a mutant without the PDZ-binding motif). After cotransfection with atrogin-1, the ubiquitination of Flag-hSlo-β
1
was increased by 1.91-fold, compared with that of hSlo-β
1
V146A, whereas cotransfection with atrogin-1ΔF (a nonfunctional mutant without the F-box motif) had no effect. Moreover, inhibition of Akt signaling attenuated the phosphorylation of forkhead box O transcription factor (FOXO)-3a and enhanced atrogin-1 expression, which in turn suppressed BK-β
1
protein levels in human CASMCs.

Conclusions:

Downregulation of vascular BK-β
1
expression in diabetes and in high-glucose culture conditions was associated with FOXO-3a/FBXO-dependent increase in BK-β
1
degradation.
Lenticulostriate Arterial Lumina Are Normal in Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy
Authors: Liem Michael K. , van der Grond Jeroen , Versluis Maarten J. , Haan Joost , Webb Andrew G. , Ferrari Michel D. , van Buchem Mark A. , Lesnik Oberstein Saskia A.J.
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary small vessel disease. Although postmortem studies have demonstrated mural thickening in leptomeningeal arteries and lenticulostriate perforating arteries, it is unclear whether this also leads to luminal narrowing. High-field MRI scanners enable in vivo imaging of the lumen of the lenticulostriate arteries. The aim of this study is to examine the luminal diameters of lenticulostriate arteries in living patients with CADASIL and to investigate whether luminal narrowing is correlated with the number of lacunar infarcts in the basal ganglia.

Methods—

Twenty-two NOTCH3 mutation carriers and 11 healthy control subjects were examined using high-resolution 3-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography imaging on a 7-T MRI scanner. Scans were analyzed for the presence of focal stenotic segments. The total number, length, and total cross-sectional area of lenticulostriate arteries were measured and compared between mutation carriers and control subjects. These measurements were correlated with age, disease duration, and number of lacunar infarcts in the basal ganglia.

Results—

No stenotic segments were observed. No differences between mutation carriers and control subjects were found in total number of end branches (mutation carriers: mean, 14.6; control subjects: mean, 12.8), length of the lenticulostriate system, or total cross-sectional area of lenticulostriate artery lumina. Measurements of lenticulostriate artery lumina were not associated with lacunar infarct load in the basal ganglia area or with basal ganglia hyperintensities.

Conclusions—

Three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiographic on 7 T showed no differences in luminal diameters of lenticulostriate arteries between patients with CADASIL and control subjects.
Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is Associated With a Stable Atherosclerotic Plaque Phenotype and Is Involved in Plaque Stabilization After Stroke
Authors: Leeuwis Jan Willem , Nguyen Tri Q. , Theunissen Maarten G.J. , Peeters Wouter , Goldschmeding Roel , Pasterkamp Gerard , Vink Aryan
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Carotid plaques remodel toward a more stable phenotype after stroke, but not after TIA. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is involved in extracellular matrix production and is expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. We studied the role of CTGF in plaque remodeling after stroke and TIA.

Methods—

Atherosclerotic plaques from carotid endarterectomy of asymptomatic patients (n=16) and patients who experienced stroke (n=15) or TIA (n=33) were analyzed for CTGF levels, markers of plaque stability (collagen, smooth muscle cells, macrophage content, and lipid core), and levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10.

Results—

CTGF levels were higher in stroke patients compared to TIA patients. Plaques with a high level of CTGF revealed more collagen and smooth muscle cell content, whereas macrophage content and lipid core size were not different. The amount of CTGF was negatively associated with MMP-8 and MMP-9 activity and showed a positive correlation with the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10.

Conclusions—

CTGF levels are associated with a more stable plaque phenotype. CTGF is increased in plaques after stroke compared to TIA, suggesting a role for CTGF in plaque stabilization after stroke.
Enhanced Detection of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation by Early and Prolonged Continuous Holter Monitoring in Patients With Cerebral Ischemia Presenting in Sinus Rhythm
Authors: Stahrenberg Raoul , Weber-Krüger Mark , Seegers Joachim , Edelmann Frank , Lahno Rosine , Haase Beatrice , Mende Meinhard , Wohlfahrt Janin , Kermer Pawel , Vollmann Dirk , Hasenfuß Gerd , Gröschel Klaus , Wachter Rolf
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is difficult but highly relevant in patients presenting with cerebral ischemia yet free from atrial fibrillation on admission. Early initiation and prolongation of continuous Holter monitoring may improve diagnostic yield compared with the standard of care including a 24-hour Holter recording.

Methods—

In the observational Find-AF trial (ISRCTN 46104198), consecutive patients presenting with symptoms of cerebral ischemia were included. Patients free from atrial fibrillation at presentation received 7-day Holter monitoring.

Results—

Two hundred eighty-one patients were prospectively included. Forty-four (15.7%) had atrial fibrillation documented by routine electrocardiogram on admission. All remaining patients received Holter monitors at a median of 5.5 hours after presentation. In those 224 patients who received Holter monitors but had no previously known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, the detection rate with early and prolonged (7 days) Holter monitoring (12.5%) was significantly higher than for any 24-hour (mean of 7 intervals: 4.8%,
P
=0.015) or any 48-hour monitoring interval (mean of 6 intervals: 6.4%,
P
=0.023). Of those 28 patients with new atrial fibrillation on Holter monitoring, 15 (6.7%) had been discharged without therapeutic anticoagulation after routine clinical care (ie, with data from 24-hour Holter monitoring only). Detection rates were 43.8% or 6.3% for short supraventricular runs of ≥10 beats or prolonged episodes (>5 hours) of atrial fibrillation, respectively. Diagnostic yield appeared to be only slightly and not significantly increased during the first 3 days after the index event.

Conclusions—

Prolongation of Holter monitoring in patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemic events increases the rate of detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation up to Day 7, leading to a relevant change in therapy in a substantial number of patients. Early initiation of monitoring does not appear to be crucial. Hence, prolonged Holter monitoring (≥7 days) should be considered for all patients with unexplained cerebral ischemia.
Psychosocial Problems, Quality of Life, and Functional Independence Among Indian Stroke Survivors
Authors: Raju Rinu Susan , Sarma Prabhakaran S. , Pandian Jeyaraj D.
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Data regarding psychosocial problems and quality of life (QoL) among stroke survivors from developing countries are scarce. The purpose of this study is to examine QoL, anxiety, depression, and functional independence of stroke survivors and the relationship of these variables with stroke characteristics.

Methods—

This was a prospective hospital-based study. Patients were interviewed after ≥1 month post stroke. World Health Organization QoL-BREF was used to assess QoL. Anxiety and depression measures were recorded using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and functional independence was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure. Demography, stroke severity (measured by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale), and stroke outcome (measured by the modified Rankin scale) were also documented. Univariate and multivariate analysis were completed using SPSS Statistics version 17.0 (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, Ill).

Results—

One hundred sixty-two patients participated (men=113, 69.8%); mean age was 54.3±12.9 years (range, 21–88 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 18.3 ±24.9 months (range, 1–180 months), and the mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 2.1±2.1 (range, 0–10). Presence of anxiety (odds ratio [OR] 0.20, CI 0.80–0.51,
P
=0.001), depression (OR 0.22, CI 0.10 to 0.47,
P
<0.0001), and functional dependence in Functional Independence Measure (OR 3.56, CI 1.70 to 7.42,
P
=0.001) were predictors of impaired QoL in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Anxiety was seen in 39 patients (24%), and 60 patients (37%) had depression. Poor outcome predicted depression in logistic regression model (OR 4.40, CI 1.80 to 10.76,
P
=0.001). Functionally dependent patients were more likely to be older (OR 0.94, CI 0.92 to 0.97,
P
=0.001) and had severe stroke (OR 0.69, CI 0.53 to 0.88,
P
=0.004).

Conclusion—

Presence of anxiety, depression, and functional dependence were associated with impaired QoL. There was low prevalence of anxiety and depression. Older age and stroke severity resulted in increased functional dependence.
Cerebral Oxygenation in Preterm Infants With Germinal Matrix–Intraventricular Hemorrhages
Authors: Verhagen Elise A. , ter Horst Hendrik J. , Keating Paul , Martijn Albert , Van Braeckel Koenraad N.J.A. , Bos Arend F.
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Preterm infants are at risk of developing germinal matrix hemorrhages–intraventricular hemorrhages (GMH-IVH). Disturbances in cerebral perfusion are associated with GMH-IVH. Regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (r
c
SO
2
), measured with near-infrared spectroscopy, and fractional tissue oxygen extraction (FTOE) were calculated to obtain an indication of cerebral perfusion. Our objective was to determine whether r
c
SO
2
and FTOE were associated with GMH-IVH in preterm infants.

Methods—

This case–control study included 17 preterm infants with Grade I to III GMH-IVH or periventricular hemorrhagic infarction (median gestational age, 29.4 weeks; range, 25.4 to 31.9 weeks; birth weight, 1260 g; range, 850 to 1840 g). Seventeen preterm infants without GMH-IVH, matched for gestational age and birth weight, served as control subjects (gestational age, 29.9 weeks; range, 26.0 to 31.6 weeks; birth weight, 1310 g; range, 730 to 1975 g). R
c
SO
2
and transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation were measured during 2 hours on Days 1 to 5, 8, and 15 after birth. FTOE was calculated as FTOE=(transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation−r
c
SO
2
)/transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation.

Results—

Multilevel analyses showed that r
c
SO
2
was lower and FTOE higher in infants with GMH-IVH on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 15. The largest difference occurred on Day 5 with r
c
SO
2
median 64% in infants with GMH-IVH versus 77% in control subjects and FTOE median 0.30 versus 0.17. R
c
SO
2
and FTOE were not affected by the grade of GMH-IVH.

Conclusions—

Preterm infants with GMH-IVH had lower r
c
SO
2
and higher FTOE during the first 2 weeks after birth irrespective of the grade of GMH-IVH. This suggests that cerebral perfusion is decreased persistently for 2 weeks in infants with GMH-IVH, even in the presence of mild hemorrhages.
Patient-Level and Hospital-Level Determinants of the Quality of Acute Stroke Care
Authors: Reeves Mathew J. , Gargano Julia , Maier Kimberly S. , Broderick Joseph P. , Frankel Michael , LaBresh Kenneth A. , Moomaw Charles J. , Schwamm Lee
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Quality of care may be influenced by patient and hospital factors. Our goal was to use multilevel modeling to identify patient-level and hospital-level determinants of the quality of acute stroke care in a stroke registry.

Methods—

During 2001 to 2002, data were collected for 4897 ischemic stroke and TIA admissions at 96 hospitals from 4 prototypes of the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry. Duration of data collection varied between prototypes (range, 2–6 months). Compliance with 8 performance measures (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator treatment, antithrombotics <24 hours, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, lipid testing, dysphagia screening, discharge antithrombotics, discharge anticoagulants, smoking cessation) was summarized in a composite opportunity score defined as the proportion of all needed care given. Multilevel linear regression analyses with hospital specified as a random effect were conducted.

Results—

The average hospital composite score was 0.627. Hospitals accounted for a significant amount of variability (intraclass correlation=0.18). Bed size was the only significant hospital-level variable; the mean composite score was 11% lower in small hospitals (≤145 beds) compared with large hospitals (≥500 beds). Significant patient-level variables included age, race, ambulatory status documentation, and neurologist involvement. However, these factors explained <2.0% of the variability in care at the patient level.

Conclusions—

Multilevel modeling of registry data can help identify the relative importance of hospital-level and patient-level factors. Hospital-level factors accounted for 18% of total variation in the quality of care. Although the majority of variability in care occurred at the patient level, the model was able to explain only a small proportion.
Impaired Leg Vasodilatory Function After Stroke
Authors: Ivey Frederick M. , Hafer-Macko Charlene E. , Ryan Alice S. , Macko Richard F.
Published: October 2010

Background and Purpose—

Resting and reactive hyperemic leg blood flows are significantly reduced in the paretic compared with the nonparetic limb after disabling stroke. Our objective was to compare the effects of regular treadmill exercise (TM) with an active control regimen of supervised stretching (CONTROL) on peripheral hemodynamic function.

Methods—

This intervention study used a randomized, controlled design, in which participants were randomized with stratification according to age and baseline walking capacity to ensure approximate balance between the 2 groups. Fifty-three chronic, ischemic stroke participants (29 TM and 24 CONTROL) with mild to moderate hemiparetic gait completed bilateral measurements of lower leg resting and reactive hyperemic blood flow using venous occlusion strain gauge plethysmography before and after the 6-month intervention period. Participants also underwent testing to track changes in peak aerobic fitness across time.

Results—

Resting and reactive hyperemic blood flows were significantly reduced in the paretic compared with the nonparetic limb at baseline before any intervention (−28% and −34%, respectively,
P
<0.01). TM increased both resting and reactive hyperemic blood flow in the paretic limb by 25% compared with decreases in CONTROL (
P
<0.001, between groups). Similarly, nonparetic leg blood flow was significantly improved with TM compared with controls (
P
<0.001). Peak aerobic fitness improved by 18% in TM and decreased by 4% in CONTROL (
P
<0.01, between groups), and there was a significant relationship between blood flow change and peak fitness change for the group as a whole (
r
=.30,
P
<0.05).

Conclusion—

Peripheral hemodynamic function improves with regular aerobic exercise training after disabling stroke.
Network Alterations Supporting Word Retrieval in Patients with Medial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Protzner Andrea B. , McAndrews Mary Pat
Published: October 2010

Although the hippocampus is not considered a key structure in semantic memory, patients with medial-temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) have deficits in semantic access on some word retrieval tasks. We hypothesized that these deficits reflect the negative impact of focal epilepsy on remote cerebral structures. Thus, we expected that the networks that support word retrieval tasks would be altered in left mTLE patients. We measured brain activity with fMRI while participants (13 controls, 13 left mTLE, and 13 right mTLE) performed a verb generation task. We examined functional connectivity during this task in relation to language performance on an off-line clinical test of lexical access (Boston Naming Test, BNT). Using task–seed–behavior partial least squares, we identified a canonical language network that was more active during verb generation than the baseline condition, but this network did not correlate with variability in BNT performance in either controls or patients. Instead, additional networks were identified for each group, with more anterior temporal and prefrontal regions recruited for controls and more posterior temporal regions for both left and right mTLE patients. Our findings go beyond the literature emphasizing differences in laterality of language processes in mTLE patients and, critically, highlight how network changes can be used to account for performance variation among patients on clinically relevant measures. This strategy of correlating network changes and off-line behavior may provide a powerful tool for predicting a postoperative decline in language performance.
Model-Based Decoding, Information Estimation, and Change-Point Detection Techniques for Multineuron Spike Trains
Authors: Pillow Jonathan W. , Ahmadian Yashar , Paninski Liam
Published: October 2010

One of the central problems in systems neuroscience is to understand how neural spike trains convey sensory information. Decoding methods, which provide an explicit means for reading out the information contained in neural spike responses, offer a powerful set of tools for studying the neural coding problem. Here we develop several decoding methods based on point-process neural encoding models, or forward models that predict spike responses to stimuli. These models have concave log-likelihood functions, which allow efficient maximum-likelihood model fitting and stimulus decoding. We present several applications of the encoding model framework to the problem of decoding stimulus information from population spike responses: (1) a tractable algorithm for computing the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of the stimulus, the most probable stimulus to have generated an observed single- or multiple-neuron spike train response, given some prior distribution over the stimulus; (2) a gaussian approximation to the posterior stimulus distribution that can be used to quantify the fidelity with which various stimulus features are encoded; (3) an efficient method for estimating the mutual information between the stimulus and the spike trains emitted by a neural population; and (4) a framework for the detection of change-point times (the time at which the stimulus undergoes a change in mean or variance) by marginalizing over the posterior stimulus distribution. We provide several examples illustrating the performance of these estimators with simulated and real neural data.
A Graphical Model Framework for Decoding in the Visual ERP-Based BCI Speller
Authors: Martens S. M. M. , Mooij J. M. , Hill N. J. , Farquhar J. , Schölkopf B.
Published: October 2010

We present a graphical model framework for decoding in the visual ERP-based speller system. The proposed framework allows researchers to build generative models from which the decoding rules are obtained in a straightforward manner. We suggest two models for generating brain signals conditioned on the stimulus events. Both models incorporate letter frequency information but assume different dependencies between brain signals and stimulus events. For both models, we derive decoding rules and perform a discriminative training. We show on real visual speller data how decoding performance improves by incorporating letter frequency information and using a more realistic graphical model for the dependencies between the brain signals and the stimulus events. Furthermore, we discuss how the standard approach to decoding can be seen as a special case of the graphical model framework. The letter also gives more insight into the discriminative approach for decoding in the visual speller system.
A Flexible Framework for Wide‐Spectrum VR Development
Authors: Tecchia Franco
Published: October 2010

This paper presents results and experiences coming from 10 years of development and use of XVR, a flexible, general-purpose framework for virtual reality (VR) development. The resulting architecture, that comes under the form of a self-sufficient integrated development environment (IDE) organized around a dedicated scripting language and a virtual machine, is able to accommodate a wide range of applications needs, ranging from simple Web3D applications to motion-based simulators or complex cluster-based immersive visualization systems. Within the framework a common, archetypical structure is used for any application, showing how inhomogeneous needs and technologies can be effectively covered by using a single, rather simple, system organization. We also show how the framework flexibility allows for innovative development techniques such as multiple frameworks coexisting within a single, tightly integrated, VR application.
Virtual Thrower Versus Real Goalkeeper: The Influence of Different Visual Conditions on Performance
Authors: Vignais Nicolas , Kulpa Richard , Craig Cathy , Bideau Benoit
Published: October 2010

In order to use virtual reality as a sport analysis tool, we need to be sure that an immersed athlete reacts realistically in a virtual environment. This has been validated for a real handball goalkeeper facing a virtual thrower. However, we currently ignore which visual variables induce a realistic motor behavior of the immersed handball goalkeeper. In this study, we used virtual reality to dissociate the visual information related to the movements of the player from the visual information related to the trajectory of the ball. Thus, the aim is to evaluate the relative influence of these different visual information sources on the goalkeeper's motor behavior. We tested 10 handball goalkeepers who had to predict the final position of the virtual ball in the goal when facing the following: only the throwing action of the attacking player (TA condition), only the resulting ball trajectory (BA condition), and both the throwing action of the attacking player and the resulting ball trajectory (TB condition). Here we show that performance was better in the BA and TB conditions, but contrary to expectations, performance was substantially worse in the TA condition. A significant effect of ball landing zone does, however, suggest that the relative importance between visual information from the player and the ball depends on the targeted zone in the goal. In some cases, body-based cues embedded in the throwing actions may have a minor influence on the ball trajectory and vice versa. Kinematics analysis was then combined with these results to determine why such differences occur depending on the ball landing zone and consequently how it can clarify the role of different sources of visual information on the motor behavior of an athlete immersed in a virtual environment.
What Was Communism?
Authors: Rutland Peter
Published: October 2010

Communism dominated the political history of the 20th century. Yet it remains an enigmatic force: how could a philosophy of universal liberation turn so quickly into an engine of oppression? How was it possible for a rag-tag movement of street protests and café conspirators to seize command of the Russian state, turn it into a military superpower, and spread revolution to other lands? Communism exemplified the pernicious role of ideology in modern mass society. Both the sudden rise of communism in the early 1900s, and its equally abrupt collapse in the 1980s, caught observers by surprise and confounded academic conventions. The three books under review here, written by distinguished British specialists on Soviet history, successfully convey the international sweep and complexity of the Communist phenomenon. While the focus is on the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, the authors also cover the spread of Communism to China, Africa and elsewhere, and its blunting in Western Europe. The impact of Communist thinking on the arts is also explored, especially by David Priestland. But the debate over the driving forces behind communism's initial success and ultimate failure will continue for years to come.
Mapping History: Using Technology to Showcase Medieval Family Interconnectivity
Authors: Raffensperger Christian , Birnbaum David
Published: October 2010

At present the most common reference for Rusian genealogy is a nearly hundred-year-old article by N. de Baumgarten. The Rusian Genealogical Database provides a much needed update to this classic study, utilizing primary sources from throughout Europe, together with modern interpretations of those sources, to create a comprehensive reference tool. In addition to its utility as a reference, the Database can also serve as a resource for further research on the relationships among Riurikid family members, as well as their marriages, children, and even places of rule. This genealogy has been made more accessible through the use of extensible markup language (XML) technologies, which provide much of the power of traditional relational databases in a way that is well suited to representing both textual and tabular data. The combination of modern historical methodology with modern technology has created a tool that is easy to use, even when discussing the complex genealogy of the Riurikid family.
What is Prosveshchenie? Nikolai Novikov's Historical Dictionary of Russian Writers Revisited
Authors: Leckey Colum
Published: October 2010

Scholars have long regarded Nikolai Novikov's Historical Dictionary of Russian Writers as an essential source for eighteenth-century Russia's literary and intellectual life. Beyond providing valuable information on hundreds of authors, the Dictionary also clarifies the meaning of enlightenment (prosveshchenie) for Novikov and his generation. This article examines the Dictionary's application and understanding of prosveshchenie in the broad context of Russian intellectual history. For Novikov, prosveshchenie bore little similarity to the skeptical and critical spirit of the European Enlightenment. Instead, it represented an unusual combination of religious piety, erudition, and commitment to the spread of learning—the same ideals Novikov would promote as a Freemason and pass on to the nineteenth-century intelligentsia.
Meditations on Form and Meaning in Gogol's “On Present-Day Architecture”
Authors: Keyes William
Published: October 2010

In the 175 years since Gogol published his Arabesques, there have been numerous attempts to unravel the meaning of the essays. This attempt to understand Gogol's 1831 essay “On Present-Day Architecture” tests a variety of old and new architectural theories against his seemingly impenetrable illogic. The essay also considers his use of synecdoche in his fictional and non-fictional works. The essay is, in the end, a meditation on Gogol's methods of construction and his pursuit of balance in a chaotic world.
Dynamical Role of Mode Water Ventilation in Decadal Variability in the Central Subtropical Gyre of the North Pacific*
Authors: Xie Shang-Ping , Xu Lixiao , Liu Qinyu , Kobashi Fumiaki
Published: October 2010

Decadal variability in the interior subtropical North Pacific is examined in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory coupled model (CM2.1). Superimposed on a broad, classical subtropical gyre is a narrow jet called the subtropical countercurrent (STCC) that flows northeastward against the northeast trade winds. Consistent with observations, the STCC is anchored by mode water characterized by its low potential vorticity (PV). Mode water forms in the deep winter mixed layer of the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE) east of Japan and flows southward riding on the subtropical gyre and preserving its low-PV characteristic. As a thick layer of uniform properties, the mode water forces the upper pycnocline to shoal, and the associated eastward shear results in the surface-intensified STCC.

On decadal time scales in the central subtropical gyre (15°–35°N, 170°E–130°W), the dominant mode of sea surface height variability is characterized by the strengthening and weakening of the STCC because of variations in mode water ventilation. The changes in mode water can be further traced upstream to variability in the mixed layer depth and subduction rate in the KOE region. Both the mean and anomalies of STCC induce significant sea surface temperature anomalies via thermal advection. Clear atmospheric response is seen in wind curls, with patterns suggestive of positive coupled feedback.

In oceanic and coupled models, northeast-slanted bands often appear in anomalies of temperature and circulation at and beneath the surface. The results of this study show that such slanted bands are characteristic of changes in mode water ventilation. Indeed, this natural mode of STCC variability is excited by global warming, resulting in banded structures in sea surface warming.
Factors Controlling Multiple Tropical Cyclone Events in the Western North Pacific*
Authors: Gao Jianyun , Li Tim
Published: October 2010

The statistical feature of occurrence of multiple tropical cyclone (MTC) events in the western North Pacific (WNP) is examined during summer (June–September) for the period of 1979–2006. The number of MTC events ranged from one to eight per year, experiencing a marked interannual variation. The spatial distance between the TCs associated with MTC events is mostly less than 3000 km, which accounts for 73% of total samples. The longest active phase of an MTC event lasts for nine days, and about 80% of the MTC events last for five days or less. A composite analysis of active and inactive MTC phases reveals that positive low-level (negative upper-level) vorticity anomalies and enhanced convection and midtropospheric relative humidity are the favorable large-scale conditions for MTC genesis. About 77% of the MTC events occurred in the region where either the atmospheric intraseasonal (25–70 day) oscillation (ISO) or biweekly (10–20 day) oscillation (BWO) is in a wet phase. The overall occurrence of the MTC events is greatly regulated by the combined large-scale impact of BWO, ISO, and the lower-frequency (90 days or longer) oscillation. On the interannual time scale, the MTC frequency is closely related to the seasonal mean anomalies of 850-hPa vorticity, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), and 500-hPa humidity fields. The combined ISO and BWO activity is greatly strengthened (weakened) in the WNP region during the MTC active (inactive) years.
Some Experimental Lessons on Digital Filtering in the ALADIN-France 3DVAR Based on Near-Ground Examination
Authors: Fischer Claude , Auger Ludovic
Published: October 2010

This paper deals with the characteristics and effects of digital filter initialization, as implemented in the operational three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) system of the Aire Limitée Adaptation Dynamique Développement International (ALADIN)-France regional weather forecast model.

First, a series of findings on the properties of the initialization of the model are discussed. Examples of initial spinup linked with inertia–gravity wave occurrence are shown, and the major sources for their generation are listed. These experimental results are compared with past and present experiences concerning the use and need for digital filter initialization. Furthermore, the impacts of switching to an incremental formulation of the filter in data assimilation mode are demonstrated. Second, the effects of the filter formulation on the results of an observation impact study are illustrated. The latter consists of implementing screen-level, 10-m horizontal wind information into the ALADIN 3DVAR analysis. There can, indeed, be some delicate interference between observation impact evaluation and the effects of filtering, at least on short-term forecasts.

The paper is concluded with some general considerations on the experimental evaluation of spinup and the link between the assimilation system design and model state filtering.
Statistical–Dynamical Predictions of Seasonal North Atlantic Hurricane Activity
Authors: Vecchi Gabriel A. , Zhao Ming , Wang Hui , Villarini Gabriele , Rosati Anthony , Kumar Arun , Held Isaac M. , Gudgel Richard
Published: October 2010

Skillfully predicting North Atlantic hurricane activity months in advance is of potential societal significance and a useful test of our understanding of the factors controlling hurricane activity. In this paper, a statistical–dynamical hurricane forecasting system, based on a statistical hurricane model, with explicit uncertainty estimates, and built from a suite of high-resolution global atmospheric dynamical model integrations spanning a broad range of climate states is described. The statistical model uses two climate predictors: the sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical North Atlantic and SST averaged over the global tropics. The choice of predictors is motivated by physical considerations, as well as the results of high-resolution hurricane modeling and statistical modeling of the observed record. The statistical hurricane model is applied to a suite of initialized dynamical global climate model forecasts of SST to predict North Atlantic hurricane frequency, which peaks during the August–October season, from different starting dates. Retrospective forecasts of the 1982–2009 period indicate that skillful predictions can be made from as early as November of the previous year; that is, skillful forecasts for the coming North Atlantic hurricane season could be made as the current one is closing. Based on forecasts initialized between November 2009 and March 2010, the model system predicts that the upcoming 2010 North Atlantic hurricane season will likely be more active than the 1982–2009 climatology, with the forecasts initialized in March 2010 predicting an expected hurricane count of eight and a 50% probability of counts between six (the 1966–2009 median) and nine.
Autonomy and Control in Dyads: Effects on Interaction Quality and Joint Creative Performance
Authors: Weinstein Netta , Hodgins Holley S. , Ryan Richard M.
Published: October 2010

Two studies examined interaction quality and joint performance on two creative tasks in unacquainted dyads primed for autonomy or control orientations. It was hypothesized that autonomy-primed dyads would interact more constructively, experience more positive mood, and engage the task more readily, and as a result these dyads would perform better. To test this, Study 1 primed orientation and explored verbal creative performance on the Remote Associates Task (RAT). In Study 2, dyads were primed with autonomy and control orientation and videotaped during two joint creative tasks, one verbal (RAT) and one nonverbal (charades). Videotapes were coded for behavioral indicators of closeness and task engagement. Results showed that autonomy-primed dyads felt closer, were more emotionally and cognitively attuned, provided empathy and encouragement to partners, and performed more effectively. The effects of primed autonomy on creative performance were mediated by interpersonal quality, mood, and joint engagement.
What Is Esoteric Healing?
Authors: Settersten Lori
Published: October 2010

Esoteric Healing is a type of energy healing that originated from the teachings of Djwhal Khul and Alice Bailey first published in the early 1950s. Esoteric Healing instructors and practitioners are located in more than 19 countries throughout the world. Nurses and nurse practitioners as well as other health professionals (e.g., psychologists and physicians) have integrated Esoteric Healing into their current practice and/or have a separate practice in Esoteric Healing. According to Dochterman and Bulechek, the nursing diagnosis “energy field, disturbed” is defined as a “disruption in the flow of energy surrounding a person’s being.” Esoteric Healing is proposed to assist a person in balancing her or his flow of energy. In this article, Esoteric Healing is defined, and the components of the energy field according to the teachings of Esoteric Healing are differentiated. The basic Esoteric Healing treatment procedure, treatment protocols, and indications for when Esoteric Healing may be an appropriate healing modality option are described. Finally, research on Esoteric Healing is addressed.
Computerized Cognitive Training in Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: Hardy Kristina K. , Willard Victoria W. , Bonner Melanie J.
Published: October 2010

The objective of the current study was to pilot a computerized cognitive training program, Captain’s Log, in a small sample of survivors of childhood cancer. A total of 9 survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors with attention and working memory deficits were enrolled in a home-based 12-week cognitive training program. Survivors returned for follow-up assessments postintervention and 3 months later. The intervention was associated with good feasibility and acceptability. Participants exhibited significant increases in working memory and decreases in parent-rated attention problems following the intervention. Findings indicate that home-based, computerized cognitive intervention is a promising intervention for survivors with cognitive late effects; however, further study is warranted with a larger sample.
Examining Preservice Music Teachers’ Perceptions of Initial Peer- and Field- Teaching Experiences
Authors: Powell Sean R.
Published: October 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine phenomenologically a peer-teaching and a field-teaching experience as perceived by six participants. The research questions guiding this study were (a) How was an initial peer-teaching experience in a laboratory setting perceived by the participants? (b) How was an initial field-teaching experience perceived by the participants? (c) How did the participants’ perceptions of each experience compare? Findings suggested that the preservice teachers valued the peer-teaching experience for the opportunity it afforded them to concentrate on the technical aspects of teaching, and the main drawback of peer-teaching was the lack of authentic context. The field-teaching experience was valued by the participants for the opportunity it afforded them to be immersed in an authentic context. The most difficult challenges of the field-teaching experience for the participants were the lack of ability to predict the achievement level of the public school students, the misinterpretation of the their verbal instructions by the public school students, and the lack of ability to assess the impact of their teaching. Additionally, the observation process was valuable to the participants to the extent that it provided context.
Predicting Failure Loads of Impact Damaged Honeycomb Sandwich Panels - A Refined Model
Authors: Horrigan D.P.W. , Staal R.A.
Published: October 2010

Previous works [1] used nonlinear finite element models to investigate the effects of barely visible impact damage (BVID) in sandwich structures. Through a comprehensive numerical study it was found that sandwich honeycomb panels with BVID fail due to wrinkling or core crushing at significantly lower loads than undamaged panels. The critical load is controlled by the depth and size of damage, both of which control the foundation support and the resistance to wrinkles forming. In this article a simplified, closed-form analytical model is developed to predict critical stresses through a complete range of damage sizes and depths. This model extends previous work [1] by finding an expression for the critical wrinkling wavelength in a closed-form solution. A further expression is developed to account for rotational support at the edge of the damage site, as the wrinkle approaches the critical wrinkling wavelength. This article concludes by comparing numerical and analytical models against experimental values. Very good agreement is seen in all cases.
Technology and literacy in early childhood educational settings: A review of research
Authors: Burnett Cathy
Published: October 2010

This literature review provides an overview of research into technology and literacy for children aged 0—8 in educational settings from 2003—2009. The article begins by exploring the different assumptions about the role of digital texts that underpin the studies considered, identifying three loose categories of studies which position technology as: deliverer of literacy; site for interaction around texts; and medium for meaning-making. Following this, aspects of actor-network theory (Latour, 2005) are used to consider other ways that technology and children may be ‘acting upon’ literacy in educational settings through recontexualizing meanings from other domains. The article concludes by arguing that there is a need for more extensive exploratory research in this field, which considers how digital practices within educational settings relate to other dimensions of children’s literacy learning, in order to better understand how new technologies are and could be contributing to children’s literacy within educational settings. It suggests that actor-network theory may offer a way of conceptualizing young children’s engagement with digital texts in new ways.
The millennium generation: Teacher-researchers exploring new forms of literacy
Authors: Hill Susan
Published: October 2010

This article describes a collaborative teacher-researcher project exploring how 4—8-year-old children understood and worked with new forms of literacy at home and at school. Twenty-five teacher-researchers investigated young children’s home based multimodal funds of knowledge and then planned school or preschool curriculum based on these findings. The project revealed that children, independent of geographic location, had access to and could use information technologies far in advance of teachers’ expectations and had access to equipment beyond that available in many of the schools and preschools. In response to children’s use of and engagement with new literacies the teacher-researchers developed a framework known as the Multiliteracies Map. This framework was used in a state-wide early years professional learning programme to support curriculum planning for new forms of literacy. The teacher-researchers became the facilitators of the professional learning programme that took place in local districts and regions. A case study of one teacher-researcher shows how this literacy framework was used to plan and assess children’s learning with new forms of literacy.
Bracketing in Qualitative Research
Authors: Tufford Lea , Newman Peter
Published: October 2010

Bracketing is a method used in qualitative research to mitigate the potentially deleterious effects of preconceptions that may taint the research process. However, the processes through which bracketing takes place are poorly understood, in part as a result of a shift away from its phenomenological origins. The current article examines the historical and philosophical roots of bracketing, and analyzes the tensions that have arisen since the inception of bracketing in terms of its definition, who brackets, methods of bracketing, and its timing in the research process. We propose a conceptual framework to advance dialogue around bracketing and to enhance its implementation.
Realism in political theory
Authors: Galston William A
Published: October 2010

In recent decades, a ‘realist’ alternative to ideal theories of politics has slowly taken shape. Bringing together philosophers, political theorists, and political scientists, this countermovement seeks to reframe inquiry into politics and political norms. Among the hallmarks of this endeavor are a moral psychology that includes the passions and emotions; a robust conception of political possibility and rejection of utopian thinking; the belief that political conflict — of values as well as interests — is both fundamental and ineradicable; a focus on institutions as the arenas within which conflict is mediated and contained; and a conception of politics as a sphere of activity that is distinct, autonomous, and subject to norms that cannot be derived from individual morality. For political realists, a ‘well-ordered society’ is rarely attainable; a modus vivendi without agreement on first principles is often the only practical possibility. Not only will ‘full compliance’ never be achieved, but also it is an assumption that yields misleading accounts of political norms. While realists offer a number of compelling criticisms of ideal theory, there are some lacunae in their stance. It is not yet clear whether realism constitutes a coherent affirmative alternative to idealism. Nor have realists clarified the extent of conflict that is consistent with political order as such. And because both sides accept ‘ought implies can’ as a constraint on the validity of political norms, much of the debate between realists and idealists revolves around deep empirical disagreements that are yet to be clarified.
Dirty hands and clean gloves: Liberal ideals and real politics
Authors: Bellamy Richard
Published: October 2010

Can liberal ideals clean up dirty politicians or politics? This article doubts they can. It disputes that a ‘clean’ liberal person might inhabit the dirty clothes of the real politician, or that a clean depoliticized liberal constitution can constrain real-world dirty politics. Nevertheless, the need for a democratic prince to wear clean liberal gloves offers a necessary and effective political restraint. It also means that citizens share the hypocrisy and dirt of those who serve them — for we legitimize the dirtiness of politics by requiring politicians to seem cleaner than we know they ever can be in reality.