bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequencing, chromosomal mapping, and functional characterization of bovine FLICE-Like Inhibitory Protein (FLIP)
Authors: Szperka M.E. , Connor E.E. , Paape M.J. , Williams J.L. , Bannerman D.D.
Published: November 2005

FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) has been shown in both humans and mice to inhibit apoptosis and NF-ĸB activation induced by pro-inflammatory mediators. The activation of NF-ĸB and the induction of apoptosis are critical events in the pathogenesis of a variety of disease states in cattle, including mastitis. Since FLIP is known to moderate these events in other species, we mapped the bovine FLIP gene, sequenced bovine FLIP cDNA, and characterized its expression in cultured primary bovine endothelial cells. Sequencing of bovine FLIP revealed approximately 83, 74, and 68% amino acid sequence identity to its porcine, human, and murine orthologs, respectively. Bovine FLIP was mapped to chromosome 2 by radiation hybrid mapping. Interestingly the region to which bovine FLIP maps contains a putative quantitative trait locus for functional herd life which is an indicator of a cow’s ability to survive involuntary culling due primarily to mastitis and infertility. In addition to sequencing and mapping, the function of bovine FLIP was studied. Over-expression of bovine FLIP protected against bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and TNF-α-induced apoptosis in bovine endothelial cells consistent with previous studies of human FLIP. In addition, elevated expression of bovine FLIP blocked LPS- and TNF-α-induced upregulation of NF-ĸB-dependent gene products as assayed by E-selectin expression. Only the full-length bovine FLIP protein could inhibit NF-ĸB activation induced by LPS, whereas the death effector domain region alone was able to inhibit TNF-α-induced NF-ĸB activation. Together, these data demonstrate the conservation of FLIP’s ability to inhibit apoptosis and to downregulate NF-ĸB activation across species.
Further insights into the ancestral murine karyotype: the contribution of the Otomys – Mus comparison using chromosome painting
Authors: Engelbrecht A. , Dobigny G. , Robinson T.J.
Published: November 2005

The African vlei rat, Otomys irroratus, comprises several distinct chromosomal races that may be grouped into two major cytogenetic clades. Recognition of these clades is underpinned by a complex chromosomal rearrangement involving three different autosomes in the unfused state. We have used unidirectional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of mouse chromosome-specific painting probes to molecularly define the components of this rearrangement as well as to establish the chromosomal homologies between the mouse and the vlei rat genomes. This has allowed for the detection of 41 autosomal segments of conserved synteny. Nine mouse chromosomes were conserved in toto (MMU3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19) with a further seven (MMU2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16) showing homology to two discrete regions in the vlei rat genome. Two mouse autosomes (MMU15, 17) correspond to three regions in O. irroratus with MMU1 being the most fragmented showing five sites of hybridization in this species. By mapping these data to published sequence-based phylogenies we are able to confirm most of the published putative ancestral murine chromosomal states. Our data further indicate that MMU15a+ MMU13b+MMU10b+MMU17b was present in the murine ancestral karyotype suggesting an ancestral 2n = 52 rather than the 2n = 54 previously postulated.
Molecular cytogenetic characterization and chromosomal distribution of the satellite DNA in the genome of Oxya hyla intricata (Orthoptera: Catantopidae)
Authors: Yoshimura A. , Nakata A. , Kuro-o M. , Obara Y. , Ando Y.
Published: November 2005

The genomic DNA of the grasshopper (Oxya hyla intricata) was subjected to electrophoresis after digestion with HaeIII, and the result showed two bands of highly repetitive DNA, approximately 200 and 400 bp in length. The 200-bp HaeIII-digested fragment was cloned and characterized by sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The results showed the presence of two distinct satellite DNA (stDNA) families: one consisting of a 169-bp repeated element having an A+T content of 60.9% and the other consisting of a 204-bp repeated element having an A+T content of 53.9%. No significant homology between the two stDNA families was observed. FISH showed that the chromosomal locations of these families are different from each other. The 169-bp element was located in the C-band-positive regions of the short arms of most of the chromosomes, whereas the 204-bp element was located in the centromeric regions of three chromosome pairs. These results imply that the origins of these two DNA families are different. The results of zoo-blot hybridization to the genomic DNA from four Oxya species, O. hyla intricata, O. japonica japonica, O. chinensis formosana, and O. yezoensis, suggest that the two stDNA families found in the present study are species-specific for O. hyla intricata.
Disruption of DMD and deletion of ACSL4 causing developmental delay, hypotonia, and multiple congenital anomalies
Authors: Bhat S.S. , Schmidt K.R. , Ladd S. , Kim K.C. , Schwartz C.E. , Simensen R.J. , DuPont B.R. , Stevenson R.E. , Srivastava A.K.
Published: November 2005

We have studied a male patient with significant developmental delay, growth failure, hypotonia, girdle weakness, microcephaly, and multiple congenital anomalies including atrial (ASD) and ventricular (VSD) septal defects. Detailed cytogenetic and molecular analyses revealed three de novo X chromosome aberrations and a karyotype 46,Y,der(X)inv(X) (p11.4q11.2)inv(X)(q11.2q21.32∼q22.2)del(X)(q22.3q22.3) was determined. The three X chromosome aberrations in the patient include: a pericentric inversion (inv 1) that disrupted the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene, dystrophin, at Xp11.4; an Xq11.2q21.32∼q22.2 paracentric inversion (inv 2) putatively affecting no genes; and an interstitial deletion at Xq22.3 that results in functional nullisomy of several known genes, including a gene previously associated with X-linked nonsyndromic mental retardation, acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4). These findings suggest that the disruption of DMD and the absence of ACSL4 in the patient are responsible for neuromuscular disease and cognitive impairment.
Complex mosaicism in sex reversed SRY+ male twins
Authors: DesGroseilliers M. , Fortin F. , Lemyre E. , Lemieux N.
Published: November 2005

Sex reversal is characterized by discordance between genetic and phenotypic sex. Most XX males result from an unequal interchange between X and Y chromosomes during paternal meiosis, therefore transferring SRY to the X chromosome, which explains the male development in the presence of an otherwise normal female karyotype. We present here the case of sex reversed SRY+ male twins with several cell lines. They consulted for infertility. The presence of SRY on an X chromosome was demonstrated by FISH. Their respective karyotypes were: 46,X,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)[249]/45,X [12]/45,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)[11]/47,XX,der(X)t(X;Y) (p22.3;p11.2)[1]/47,X,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)×2[1]/50, XX,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)×4[1]/46,XX[1] for the first twin (SH-1) and 46,X,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)[108]/45,X [3]/47,XX,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)[2]/45,der(X)t(X;Y) (p22.3;p11.2)[1]/47,X,der(X)t(X;Y)(p22.3;p11.2)×2[1] for the second twin (SH-2). There are three different types of XX males: 1) with normal genitalia, 2) with genital ambiguity, and 3) XX true hermaphrodites. The phenotype of the twins presented in this report is consistent with what is generally seen in XX SRY+ males: they have normal genitalia.
Longitudinal Variance of Fat Mass Deposition during Pregnancy Evaluated by Ultrasonography: The Ratio of Visceral Fat to Subcutaneous Fat in the Abdomen
Authors: Kinoshita Toshihiko , Itoh Motohiro
Published: November 2005

Background: Defining regional fat distribution is of importance because of regional variation in adipocyte metabolism. In order to investigate whether maternal body fat distribution changes during pregnancy we measured the abdominal maternal fat thickness. Methods: A longitudinal study of the thickness of the preperitoneal fat layer (P) and subcutaneous fat layer (S) in the abdomen was conducted; ultrasonography was used to obtain the measurements and the P/S ratio was calculated during each trimester as well as postpartum. Results: When compared with the first and second trimesters, a significant increase in both the P and P/S ratios was observed in the third trimester; thus, regional fat distribution changes during pregnancy. Conclusion: Intra-abdominal visceral fat accumulation increases during pregnancy.
Plasma Cell Membrane Glycoprotein-1 K121Q Polymorphism in Preeclampsia
Authors: Saarela Tanja , Hiltunen Mikko , Helisalmi Seppo , Heinonen Seppo , Laakso Markku
Published: November 2005

Background: Preeclampsia is a common hereditary disease with unclear aetiology and various genetic and environmental components. We wanted to determine whether genetic variability in the gene encoding plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 (PC-1) contributes to individual susceptibility to the development of preeclampsia. Methods: The case-control study involved 133 women with preeclampsia and 115 healthy controls. They were genotyped for the K121Q polymorphism in the PC-1 gene. χ2 analysis was used to assess genotype and allele frequency differences between preeclamptic and control women. Results: The frequency of the PC-1 gene 121K allele was found to be equal in the two groups, being 90.2% among women with preeclampsia and 90.4% among controls (p = 0.937; OR = 1.024; 95% CI = 0.564–1.861). Also the genotype distribution of the PC-1 K121Q polymorphism was similar (p = 0.516) in the preeclamptic and control groups. Conclusions: The K121Q polymorphism of the PC-1 gene is unlikely to be a major genetic factor predisposing to preeclampsia in Finnish women.
Effect of Hot-Smoked Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Diets on the Protein Levels of Liver Tissue in Rats
Authors: Ünlüsayın Mustafa , Kaleli Süleyman , Bilgin Şengül , İzci Levent , Günlü Ali
Published: November 2005

Aims: Free radicals may not only affect the denatured cell structure but also reduce protein levels. These mechanisms are critical and need to be clarified as a high priority. Because of the limited information on this subject, in this respect, the effects on protein levels of liver tissue in rats fed hot-smoked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were investigated. Methods:Four diets containing fresh and hot-smoked rainbow trout flesh and vitamins were prepared and commercial pellet food was purchased. Four groups of female Wistar rats were fed the diets for 28 days. The rats were killed by decapitation, and the hepatic tissue was removed. Total protein and detection of protein bands using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were evaluated. Results:The liver protein level in rats fed a hot-smoked rainbow trout flesh + vitamin diet was increased significantly compared with the other diet groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.009 and p < 0.011). 10 protein bands were visualized on rat gels. The molecular weights of protein bands detected were 200, 130, 70, 50, 42, 38, 26, 25, 24 and 14 kDa, respectively. The 25-kDa band of group V had a dense appearance. Also, the 14-kDa band appeared as very dense in groups V, B and K, but this band did not have a dense appearance in group D. Conclusion:Nourishment with smoked fish diets containing antioxidant substances reduced the harmful effects of free radicals and positive effects were observed on protein metabolism.
Adiponectin Acts as an Endogenous Antithrombotic Factor
Authors: Kato Hisashi , Kashiwagi Hirokazu , Shiraga Masamichi , Tadokoro Seiji , Kamae Tsuyoshi , Ujiie Hidetoshi , Honda Shigenori , Miyata Shigeki , Ijiri Yoshinobu , Yamamoto Junichiro , Maeda Norikazu , Funahashi Tohru , Kurata Yoshiyuki , Shimomura Iichiro , Tomiyama Yoshiaki , Kanakura Yuzuru
Published: November 2005

Objective—

Obesity is a common risk factor in insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases. Although hypoadiponectinemia is associated with obesity-related metabolic and vascular diseases, the role of adiponectin in thrombosis remains elusive.

Methods and Results—

We investigated platelet thrombus formation in adiponectin knockout (APN-KO) male mice (8 to 12 weeks old) fed on a normal diet. There was no significant difference in platelet counts or coagulation parameters between wild-type (WT) and APN-KO mice. However, APN-KO mice showed an accelerated thrombus formation on carotid arterial injury with a He-Ne laser (total thrombus volume: 13.36±4.25×10
7
arbitrary units for APN-KO and 6.74±2.87×10
7
arbitrary units for WT; n=10;
P
<0.01). Adenovirus-mediated supplementation of adiponectin attenuated the enhanced thrombus formation. In vitro thrombus formation on a type I collagen at a shear rate of 250 s
−1
, as well as platelet aggregation induced by low concentrations of agonists, was enhanced in APN-KO mice, and recombinant adiponectin inhibited the enhanced platelet aggregation. In WT mice, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of adiponectin additionally attenuated thrombus formation.

Conclusion—

Adiponectin deficiency leads to enhanced thrombus formation and platelet aggregation. The present study reveals a new role of adiponectin as an endogenous antithrombotic factor.
Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis Is Related to Reduced Regional Left Ventricular Function in Individuals Without History of Clinical Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Edvardsen Thor , Detrano Robert , Rosen Boaz D. , Carr J. Jeffrey , Liu Kiang , Lai Shenghan , Shea Steven , Pan Li , Bluemke David A. , Lima João A.C.
Published: November 2005

Objective—

We investigated whether regional coronary calcium score by computed tomography is related to regional left ventricular systolic function measured by MRI tagging in participants of the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results—

The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis is a prospective observational study of men and women without a history of previous heart disease from 4 ethnic groups. Calcium scores were measured separately for the left anterior descendent (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and right (RCA) coronary arteries. Left ventricular strain and strain rate were determined by tagged MRI in the corresponding vascular territories of the coronary vessels in 509 participants. Greater coronary calcification in the LAD, LCX, and right RCA coronary arteries were related to worse function in their respective perfusion. Anterior wall strain rate was −1.37±0.41 when LAD calcium was zero versus −1.17±0.24 1/s in the highest quartile of calcium score (
P
<0.001). Similar relationships were evident in the LCX and RCA regions. Participants with 1- and 2-vessel coronary artery calcium had better myocardial function in the remote area compared with the territory supplied by the diseased artery.

Conclusions—

High-local calcium score is related to regional dysfunction in the corresponding coronary territory among individuals without a history of previous heart disease. These results indicate a link between atherosclerosis and subclinical regional left ventricular dysfunction.
Interleukin 6 −174 G/C Promoter Polymorphism and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Sie Mark P.S. , Sayed-Tabatabaei Fakhredin A. , Oei Hok-Hay S. , Uitterlinden André G. , Pols Hubert A.P. , Hofman Albert , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Witteman Jacqueline C.M.
Published: November 2005

Objective—

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Interleukin (IL) 6 has many inflammatory functions, and the IL-6 −174 G/C promoter polymorphism appears to influence IL-6 levels. Findings of previous studies on the relation between this polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular diseases are inconsistent. We investigated this polymorphism in relation to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a population-based study and meta-analysis.

Methods and Results—

Participants (6434) of the Rotterdam Study were genotyped. Analyses on the relation between genotype and CHD were performed using Cox proportional hazards tests, and the association between genotype and plasma levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein was investigated. All of the analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and common cardiovascular risk factors. A meta-analysis was performed, using a random effects model. No association between genotype and risk of CHD was observed. The polymorphism was not associated with IL-6 levels, but the C-allele was associated with higher C-reactive protein levels (
P
<0.01). Our meta-analysis did not show a significant association between the genotype and risk of CHD.

Conclusions—

We conclude that the polymorphism is not a suitable genetic marker for increased risk of CHD in subjects ≥55 years of age.
TRPV4 Forms a Novel Ca
2+
Signaling Complex With Ryanodine Receptors and BK
Ca
Channels
Authors: Earley Scott , Heppner Thomas J. , Nelson Mark T. , Brayden Joseph E.
Published: November 2005

Vasodilatory factors produced by the endothelium are critical for the maintenance of normal blood pressure and flow. We hypothesized that endothelial signals are transduced to underlying vascular smooth muscle by vanilloid transient receptor potential (TRPV) channels. TRPV4 message was detected in RNA from cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. In patch-clamp experiments using freshly isolated cerebral myocytes, outwardly rectifying whole-cell currents with properties consistent with those of expressed TRPV4 channels were evoked by the TRPV4 agonist 4α-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD) (5 μmol/L) and the endothelium-derived arachidonic acid metabolite 11,12 epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12 EET) (300 nmol/L). Using high-speed laser-scanning confocal microscopy, we found that 11,12 EET increased the frequency of unitary Ca
2+
release events (Ca
2+
sparks) via ryanodine receptors located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. EET-induced Ca
2+
sparks activated nearby sarcolemmal large-conductance Ca
2+
-activated K
+
(BK
Ca
) channels, measured as an increase in the frequency of transient K
+
currents (referred to as “spontaneous transient outward currents” [STOCs]). 11,12 EET–induced increases in Ca
2+
spark and STOC frequency were inhibited by lowering external Ca
2+
from 2 mmol/L to 10 μmol/L but not by voltage-dependent Ca
2+
channel inhibitors, suggesting that these responses require extracellular Ca
2+
influx via channels other than voltage-dependent Ca
2+
channels. Antisense-mediated suppression of TRPV4 expression in intact cerebral arteries prevented 11,12 EET–induced smooth muscle hyperpolarization and vasodilation. Thus, we conclude that TRPV4 forms a novel Ca
2+
signaling complex with ryanodine receptors and BK
Ca
channels that elicits smooth muscle hyperpolarization and arterial dilation via Ca
2+
-induced Ca
2+
release in response to an endothelial-derived factor.
Increased Neointima Formation in Cysteine-Rich Protein 2–Deficient Mice in Response to Vascular Injury
Authors: Wei Jiao , Gorman Terri E. , Liu Xiaoli , Ith Bonna , Tseng Alan , Chen Zhiping , Simon Daniel I. , Layne Matthew D. , Yet Shaw-Fang
Published: November 2005

In response to arterial injury, medial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferate and migrate into the intima, contributing to the development of occlusive vascular disease. The LIM protein cysteine-rich protein (CRP) 2 associates with the actin cytoskeleton and may maintain the cytoarchitecture. CRP2 also interacts with transcription factors in the nucleus to mediate SMC gene expression. To test the hypothesis that CRP2 may be an important regulator of vascular development or function we generated
Csrp2
(gene symbol of the mouse CRP2 gene)-deficient (
Csrp2
−/−
) mice by targeted mutation.
Csrp2
−/−
mice did not have any gross vascular defects or altered expression levels of SM α-actin, SM22α, or calponin. Following femoral artery injury, CRP2 expression persisted in the vessel wall at 4 days and then decreased by 14 days. Intimal thickening was enhanced 3.4-fold in
Csrp2
−/−
compared with wild-type (WT) mice 14 days following injury. Cellular proliferation was similar between WT and
Csrp2
−/−
VSMC both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly,
Csrp2
−/−
VSMC migrated more rapidly in response to PDGF-BB and had increased Rac1 activation. Our data demonstrate that CRP2 is not required for vascular development. However, an absence of CRP2 enhanced VSMC migration and increased neointima formation following arterial injury.
Functional Recovery After Hemiplegia in Patients With Neglect
Authors: Gialanella Bernardo , Monguzzi Vittoria , Santoro Raffaele , Rocchi Silvana
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

The aim of this study was to verify whether the presence of anosognosia (A) affects the rehabilitative prognosis of hemiplegic subjects with neglect (N).

Methods—

This study was carried out on 30 patients with left hemiplegia: 15 patients had neglect (group N) and 15 had neglect and anosognosia (group N+A). Mean age was 68.2±6.3 in group N (9 men and 6 women) and 72.1±6.4 in group N+A (7 men and 8 women). The average interval from onset of stroke to admission for rehabilitation was 23 and 23.6 days, respectively, in group N and in group N+A. Patients were assessed through the Mesulam test, Bisiach test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fugl-Meyer scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Rankin scale.

Results—

Before rehabilitation, cognitive FIM scores of patients of group N were significantly higher than those of group N+A (
P
=0.001), whereas motor FIM scores and total FIM scores did not differ between the 2 groups. After rehabilitation, cognitive FIM scores (
P
=0.000) and even motor (
P
=0.009) and total FIM scores (
P
=0.000) were statistically higher in group N than in group N+A. Effectiveness (
P
=0.005) and efficiency (
P
=0.012) in the motor FIM scores of group N were significantly greater than those of group N+A. Disability was lower in group N (
P
=0.040).

Conclusions—

Our study shows that the presence of anosognosia worsens the rehabilitation prognosis in hemiplegic subjects who also have neglect.
Intracranial Aneurysms Treated With Endovascular Coils
Authors: Turner Carole L. , Higgins J. Nicholas P. , Gholkar Anil , Mendelow A. David , Molyneux Andrew J. , Kerr Richard S.C. , Chawda Sanjiv , Kirkpatrick Peter J.
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

Because neck recurrence after endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is not uncommon, surveillance to assess long-term stability of occlusion is clearly important. This study evaluated unenhanced and contrast-enhanced transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) in detecting refilling of IAs treated with detachable coils.

Methods—

Patients with coiled IAs were imaged before and after contrast enhancement. The results were compared with those of a surveillance digital subtraction angiogram (DSA). The operator was blinded to the results of the DSA. Aneurysms were classed as either occluded or with residual flow and quantified as minor, moderate, or extensive. There were 208 studies performed in 4 neurosurgical centers. Of those, 141 studies received ultrasonic contrast enhancement with Levovist, and 68 had an additional enhanced study with SonoVue.

Results—

We excluded 44 studies. Of the 164 unenhanced studies, TCCS correctly identified 52 of 67 cases defined as completely occluded by DSA (sensitivity 78%; specificity 77%), 13 of 50 aneurysms with minor refilling (sensitivity 26%; specificity 88%), 15 of 27 aneurysms with moderate refilling (sensitivity 56%; specificity 95%), and 9 of 20 aneurysms with extensive refilling (sensitivity 45%; specificity 100%). TCCS correctly identified an additional 10 aneurysms with minor refilling after Levovist enhancement and 3 with SonoVue. Both SonoVue and Levovist enhancement identified an additional 1 aneurysm with moderate refilling and 3 with extensive refilling.

Conclusions—

TCCS could be used to selectively monitor IAs, which would reduce the requirement for long-term invasive monitoring. The detection of neck refilling is improved with contrast enhancement.
Motor Strokes
Authors: Liepert Joachim , Restemeyer Cordula , Kucinski Thomas , Zittel Simone , Weiller Cornelius
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of lesion location on motor excitability and motor performance.

Methods—

We studied patients with pure motor strokes in 4 different brain areas: motor cortex lesions (n=7), striatocapsular lesions (n=13), lacunar lesions of the internal capsule (n=13), and paramedian pontine lesions (n=10). Motor performance tests included the 9-hole-peg test and grip strength recordings. Motor excitability was determined by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Motor thresholds, stimulus-response curves, silent periods, motor cortical inhibition, and facilitation were investigated.

Results—

The 4 groups were clinically similar but showed major differences in motor excitability. Only motor cortex lesions had a loss of intracortical inhibition in the affected hemisphere. In the internal capsule lesion group and the pontine lesion group, stimulus-response curves were depressed on the affected side. All of the subcortical lesions showed a prolongation of the silent period in the paretic side. Motor thresholds were predominantly elevated in the lesioned hemisphere of patients with internal capsule or pontine lesions. Motor performance was correlated with silent period duration in internal capsule lesions and with motor thresholds in internal capsule and pontine lesions.

Conclusions—

Motor cortex lesions exhibited deficient inhibitory properties. In contrast, subcortical lesions displayed an enhancement of inhibition. Internal capsule and pontine lesions affecting the corticospinal tract on different levels particularly impaired neuronal recruitment. Our results suggest that the lesion location determines a specific pattern of motor excitability changes.
Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Thresholds Do Not Predict the Response to Acute Stroke Thrombolysis
Authors: Loh Poh-Sien , Butcher Ken S. , Parsons Mark W. , MacGregor Lachlan , Desmond Patricia M. , Tress Brian M. , Davis Stephen M.
Published: November 2005

Background and Purpose—

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) thresholds for tissue infarction have been identified in acute stroke. IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is associated with tissue salvage. We hypothesized that tPA would lower the ADC threshold for infarction.

Methods—

ADC and mean transit time (MTT) maps were generated for 26 patients imaged within 6 hours of stroke onset (12 tPA and 14 conservatively managed controls). MTT maps and day-90 T2-weighted images were coregistered to ADC maps. Relative ADC (rADC) values were calculated for initial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions, infarct growth regions (final infarct volume−the acute DWI lesion volume), and hypoperfused salvaged regions (HS; MTT map abnormality−the final infarct volume). When relevant, the DWI lesion was subdivided into DWI reversal and DWI infarct regions.

Results—

Mean DWI lesion rADC was 0.79 in tPA and 0.74 in untreated patients (
P
=0.097). Mean rADC in HS and infarct growth regions were similar in tPA patients (0.950 and 0.946) and untreated patients (0.957,
P
=0.76; 0.970,
P
=0.08, respectively). The rADC in HS tissue was directly correlated with the time to treatment with tPA (
r
=0.685;
P
=0.029). DWI reversal was seen in 67% of tPA-treated patients and in 36% of those conservatively managed (Fisher exact test;
P
=0.238). In the 13 patients with DWI reversal, the mean rADC in these regions (0.81±0.07) was significantly higher than in the acute DWI region that infarcted (0.74±0.07;
P
=0.02), although no absolute thresholds could be identified.

Conclusions—

The peri-DWI lesion region contains tissue with intermediate ADC values. The fate of this tissue is variable and cannot be predicted based on the ADC alone. DWI expansion occurs in bioenergetically normal tissue, and this is attenuated by tPA in a time-dependent fashion.
Market Responses to Politics
Authors: Jensen Nathan M. , Schmith Scott
Published: November 2005

This article argues that stock market responses to political events provide information on how politics affect markets. Political events, such as the election of a politician that is expected to enact “market-friendly” policies, lead to increases in stock market returns. Conversely, political events that are expected to have a negative impact on the economy and specific firms lead to decreases in stock market returns. The 2002 Brazilian presidential election provides a critical case study for evaluating this hypothesis. The authors use movements in the Brazilian stock market as proxies for future expectations for the Brazilian economy. Using a number of time-series regressions, they estimate the impact of the four main Brazilian presidential candidates on the mean and variance of the Brazilian stock market. These findings provide important insights into the expected impact of the main presidential candidates on the Brazilian economy and more generally, the relationship between elections and economic performance.
Race and the Impact of Detention on Juvenile Justice Decision Making
Authors: Leiber Michael J. , Fox Kristan C.
Published: November 2005

In recent years, the growing number of minority youth disproportionately confined in secure detention facilities has led to a search for a better understanding of this occurrence. Explanations vary but tend to center on either differential offending or selection bias. The present study examines the extent both may explain decision making by specifically assessing the effect of race on detention and the degree that race and detention influence further court processing in one juvenile court jurisdiction in the state of Iowa. Multivariate analyses using juvenile court data (1980 through 2000) show that although legal factors account for some of the decision making and minority over representation, so too does race. Evidence is presented that, through detention, race has direct, interaction, and indirect effects that often work to the disadvantage of African American youth relative to White youth. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.
The Influence of Mandatory Arrest Policies, Police Organizational Characteristics, and Situational Variables on the Probability of Arrest in Domestic Violence Cases
Authors: Eitle David
Published: November 2005

Prior research into factors predicting arrest in domestic violence cases is limited in three regards: (a) no examination of whether mandatory arrest policies are associated with increased risk of arrest across multiple jurisdictions; (b) little consideration of whether police organizational characteristics influence arrest in such cases; and (c) little examination of whether mandatory arrest policies moderate the influence of extralegal characteristics on arrest risks. Using year 2000 data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System and the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, a nonlinear hierarchical modeling procedure was employed to evaluate the predictive utility of situational and organizational factors associated with arrest probability in domestic violence cases. The results suggest that, in domestic violence cases, mandatory arrest policies predict arrest and modestly reduce the significance of race as a predictor of arrest. The results are interpreted as supporting a constrained rational model of policing.
Knotted strands: Working lives of Indian women migrants in New Zealand
Authors: Pio Edwina
Published: November 2005

While the burgeoning field of ethnic identity has been fuelled by the changing demographics of nations, such scholarship has given more concentration to general life contexts with much quantitative research done in America and Europe, and more recently in Australia. In this context the Indian Diaspora and ethnic identity have been studied, but there is a dearth of research on ethnic identity and Indians in New Zealand. This article draws on evidence from qualitative interviews with ethnic minority Indian women in New Zealand to illustrate ethnic identity negotiation. Three strands of experience were explored: 1) entry into the world of work; 2) staying in the world of work; and 3) the impact of work experiences on ethnic identity. The evidence indicates the difficulties encountered in entering the workforce and in sustaining work, creating knotted strands in the lives of the women. It seems to take approximately two years to start integrating experiences and coming to terms with life in the new country as minority ethnic women. The implications of such knotted strands in ethnic identity are discussed and situated in the wider context of policy development and diversity management that encourages and creates relevant and timely work for ethnic minority migrants.
Shouldering the Soldiering
Authors: Vasquez Joseph Paul
Published: November 2005

As the American death toll in Iraq surpassed 1,900, some international research scholars may have been perplexed. Only a few years ago, foreign policy makers in Western democracies, including the United States, were described as being extremely sensitive to the risk of military combat casualties. Among the factors that influence the number of casualties that a democracy will experience in conflict, one variable that should not be ignored is its military manpower system. The author contends that democracies with conscript armies experience fewer combat casualties than democracies with volunteer or professional forces because the societal actors most closely affected by conscript casualties are more likely to have the political power and access with which to constrain policy makers. Using several selection models, the author finds that democracy and conscription contribute to fewer casualties than democracy and volunteer militaries, with democracy alone being responsible for casualty numbers that lie somewhere in between.
Long-Term Effects of Peace Workshops in Protracted Conflicts
Authors: Malhotra Deepak , Liyanage Sumanasiri
Published: November 2005

The current study evaluates the efficacy of an intensive four-day contact intervention (a peace workshop) organized in Sri Lanka and represents an initial step toward understanding the long-term impact of such interventions on attitudes and behaviors in the context of protracted ethnic conflict. Compared with two control groups, the participant group showed greater empathy toward members of the “other”ethnicity, even one year after participation in the peace workshops. Consistent with the attitudinal data on empathy, participants donated more money to help poor children of the “other” ethnicity than did nonparticipants. Implications are discussed.
The Measurement of Implicit Motives in Three Cultures
Authors: Hofer Jan , Chasiotis Athanasios , Friedlmeier Wolfgang , Busch Holger , Campos Domingo
Published: November 2005

This article examines methodological issues related to the measurement of implicit motives in culturally divergent samples. Implicit motives are seen as basic needs shared by all human beings. However, crosscultural comparisons are very restricted because many cross-cultural studies on implicit motives with non-Western cultures developed and discussed culture-inherent stimuli. The aim of the study here was to search for a culture-independent set of picture stimuli measuring two basic motives (affiliation and power motive) in three different cultures. Two pretests and one main study were carried out in Cameroon, Costa Rica, and Germany with student and nonstudent samples, respectively, and an extended methodological cross-cultural analysiswas conducted. Construct bias, method bias, and item bias that threaten the cross-cultural comparability of findings were addressed. In analyses, unbiased culture-independent sets of picture stimuli were identified that can be used for cross-cultural comparisons of these two implicit motives.
Race, Gender, Single-Mother Households, and Delinquency
Authors: Mack Kristin Y. , Leiber Michael J.
Published: November 2005

Using power-control theory as the theoretical framework, the present study examines the gender gap in delinquency for White and African American youth from single-mother households. The research is driven by the need to focus more attention on understanding how delinquency theories apply across different racial groups. Results from both bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate that, with few exceptions, there are significant gender gaps in delinquency for both White and African American youth. Therefore, it appears that gender, more than race, influences nonserious delinquency among youth from single-mother families. These findings suggest that further development of power-control theory may lie in rethinking the classification of single-mother households as inherently balanced, or egalitarian, in nature.
Parent-Youth Closeness and Youth's Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Liu Ruth X.
Published: November 2005

Data from a nationally representative sample of adolescents studied at two points in time are used to examine gender-specific influence of parent-youth closeness on youth's suicidal ideation and its variations by stages of adolescence and race or ethnicity. Logistic regression analyses yielded interesting findings: (a) Closeness with fathers exerts an important influence on girls, and this effect is observed regardless of stages of adolescence and race/ethnicity; (b) the influence of fathers on boys declines toward late adolescence, and fathers’ effect is more pronounced among Native and Asian American boys; (c) closeness with mothers is important for boys of early and late teens but not among midteens; and (d) relationship with mothers exerts little influence on girls with the exception that among Asian American girls, closeness with mothers does exercise a weak effect (i.e., more so than White girls). These results are discussed in light of their theoretical and policy implications.
Female Adolescents’ Delinquent Activity
Authors: Kerpelman Jennifer L. , Smith-Adcock Sondra
Published: November 2005

According to the reputation enhancement theory, social bonds influence adolescents’ delinquent activity indirectly through the reputations they select. Findings from the current study of a school-based sample of female adolescents indicate that bonds to parents affect reputation enhancement beliefs, which, in turn, predict delinquent activity. Furthermore, mother-daughter bonds appear to moderate the relation between reputation enhancement and delinquency, where under the condition of weak bonds to mother, the relation between reputation and delinquency is the strongest.
Modeling Seasonality in Tourism Forecasting
Authors: Kulendran Nada , Wong Kevin K. F.
Published: November 2005

Within the multiplicative seasonal ARIMA modeling context, there are two forecasting models, ARIMA14 and ARIMA1. ARIMA14 is used for modeling stochastic nonstationary seasonality and requires first and fourth differences to achieve stationarity. ARIMA1 considers the series only in first differences, and seasonality is modeled with a constant and three seasonal dummies. The selection of either model depends on the nature of seasonality. Conventional unit root tests determine the nature of seasonality and the order of integration and, therefore, the series’ choice of forecasting model. To determine whether the test correctly identifies the forecasting model for tourism demand, out-of-sample forecasting performance of ARIMA1 and ARIMA14 is compared with HEGY unit root model selection method. Comparing forecasting performance of both models with HEGY unit root model selection shows that the outcome of HEGY test procedure may not be useful in the selection of a univariate time-series model for quarterly tourism demand series.
Preference and Positioning Analyses of Overseas Destinations by Mainland Chinese Outbound Pleasure Tourists
Authors: Kim Samuel Seongseop , Guo Yingzhi , Agrusa Jerome
Published: November 2005

The objective of this study is to explore the competitiveness of overseas destination countries where potential Mainland Chinese outbound tourists consider making an overseas travel and the positioning of these destination countries. According to the analysis of importance of a destination’s attributes, Mainland Chinese respondents considered “safety” and “beautiful scenery” to be the most important attributes. On the basis of KYST (Kruskal, Young, Shepard, and Torgerson) analysis, Mainland Chinese respondents perceived that the country pairs of Singapore and Thailand, Japan and South Korea, and Egypt and Germany showed a similar image. Results of the alternating least-square scaling (ALSCAL) analysis provided information on the relationship of competing countries to destination attributes. The results demonstrate competitiveness of destination countries and suggest strategies for destination markets to attract more Mainland Chinese tourists.
Antecedents of Attachment to a Cultural Tourism Destination: The Case of Hakka and Non-Hakka Taiwanese Visitors to Pei-Pu, Taiwan
Authors: Hou Jing-Shoung , Lin Chung-Hsien , Morais Duarte B.
Published: November 2005

This article explores the antecedents of place attachment within the context of cultural tourism destinations. The proposed model is examined on two samples of cultural tourists with different cultural backgrounds. One sample consists of Hakka tourists, the same ethnic group as the hosts, and the other consists of tourists from a variety of non-Hakka ethnic backgrounds. The results indicate that both enduring involvement and destination attractiveness have a direct effect on place attachment, and that there is also an indirect effect of enduring involvement on place attachment mediated by destination attractiveness. Cross-group validation of the proposed model revealed that the structure fit both ethnic categories. A subsequent detailed examination, however, showed meaningful differences in the strengths of path coefficients between the two groups. These findings suggest that the meaning and formation of attachment may differ depending on the ethnic background of the tourists. Implications for theory and practice are provided.
Cohort Analysis of Online Travel Information Search Behavior: 1995-2000
Authors: Beldona Srikanth
Published: November 2005

The objective of this study was to distinguish changes in online travel information search behavior among generational (baby boomer and Generation X) cohorts between 1995 and 2000. Although significant increases in travel information search behavior were found across all cohorts between the two periods, the study also found that older baby boomer cohorts reported greater increases in the likelihood of travel information search behavior than Generation Xers at large. This empirically validates the notion that boomers adopted the Internet earlier than traditionally assumed. The study provides explanatory detail using a synthesis of literature across the areas of technology adoption theory, e-commerce, and sociology. The findings provide an evolutionary perspective of online travel information search behavior among and within generational cohorts. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Job Satisfaction of Physicians with Congruent Versus Incongruent Specialty Choice
Authors: Borges Nicole J. , Gibson Denise D. , Karnani Rajil M.
Published: November 2005

Choosing a specialty within the occupation of medicine is problematic given the number of available specialty choices. A need exists for the development and modification of inventories to be used to help students with selecting a medical specialty. Furthermore, ratings of job satisfaction, regardless of specialty, are mixed with some physicians regretting choosing medicine as a career. Despite its use in medical specialty counseling, research is lacking regarding the Medical Specialty Preference Inventory (MSPI). We examined the predictive validity of the MSPI and compared job satisfaction of physicians (N= 51) whose specialty was correctly (i.e., congruent) versus incorrectly (i.e., incongruent) predicted by the MSPI. The MSPI correctly predicted the specialty for 33%. Congruent physicians had higher job satisfaction than incongruent physicians. Results of this study may help individuals who provide medical specialty counseling or who are involved in designing tools and implementing programs to assist students with medical specialty decision making.
Comparison of Mail and Telephone in Assessing Patient Experiences in Receiving Care from Medical Group Practices
Authors: Hepner Kimberly A. , Brown Julie A. , Hays Ron D.
Published: November 2005

The medical group survey from the CAHPS® (formerly Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study) project, G-CAHPS, focuses on patient experiences in receiving care from their medical group practice. We compared mail and telephone responses to the GCAHPS survey in a sample of 880 patients fromfour physician groups. Patients were randomly assigned to mode. Analyses included comparison of response rates, missing data, internal consistency reliability of six multiitem scales, and mean scores. A total of 537 phone completes and 343 mail completes were obtained (54% response rate). There were no significant differences in internal consistency by mode. In addition, there was only one significant mode difference in item and composite means by mode of administration after adjusting for case-mix differences. This study indicates that mail and telephone modes of data collection for the G-CAHPS survey produce similar results.
Reliability and Validity of the DCP Among Hispanic Veterans
Authors: Cunningham Victoria , Mohler M. Jane , Wendel Christopher S. , Hoffman Richard M. , Murata Glen H. , Shah Jayendra H. , Duckworth William C.
Published: November 2005

The Diabetes Care Profile (DCP) was designed to measure psychosocial factors related to diabetes and its treatment. This study sought to determine the reliability and validity of the DCP in Hispanic veterans with Type 2 diabetes. Hispanic (n = 81) and non-Hispanic White (n = 238) patients were recruited at three southwestern VA hospitals. Scale reliabilities calculated by Cronbach's coefficient alpha revealed reliabilities ranging from .54 to .97 in Hispanics and .63 to .95 in non-Hispanic Whites. Only one scale, Monitoring Barriers, differed significantly between the two patient groups. Mean values on the DCP scales were consistent within and across ethnicities lending support for construct validity of the DCP in Hispanics. Convergent validity was also supported for DCP scales within the Hispanic patients as evidenced by correlations in expected directions with external measures.
Readability Level of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Notices of Privacy Practices Utilized by Academic Medical Centers
Authors: Walfish Steven , Watkins Keely M.
Published: November 2005

Recently enacted Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act legislation requires health care professionals to provide patients with a “Notice of Privacy Practices” (NPP) document as part of their informed consent process to participate in assessment and treatment. We were interested in the readability of these forms. We attempted to find a NPP from an academic medical center in each state plus the District of Columbia where documents were placed on the institution's Web site. Documents were obtained from 40 jurisdictions and were then analyzed utilizing two measures of readability. The majority (65%) of these documents were written beyond the 12thgrade reading level, and almost the entire sample (90%) fell in the difficult range of reading ease. Academic medical centers have an ethical obligation to improve the readability of these documents and should do so to improve clinical practice and reduce liability.