bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
T Regulatory Lymphocytes Prevent Angiotensin II–Induced Hypertension and Vascular Injury
Authors: Barhoumi Tlili , Kasal Daniel A. , Li Melissa W. , Shbat Layla , Laurant Pascal , Neves Mario F. , Paradis Pierre , Schiffrin Ernesto L.
Published: January 2011

Angiotensin (Ang) II induces hypertension by mechanisms mediated in part by adaptive immunity and T effector lymphocytes. T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) suppress T effector lymphocytes. We questioned whether Treg adoptive transfer would blunt Ang II–induced hypertension and vascular injury. Ten- to 12-week–old male C57BL/6 mice were injected IV with 3×10
5
Treg (CD4
+
CD25
+
) or T effector (CD4
+
CD25
−
) cells, 3 times at 2-week intervals, and then infused or not with Ang II (1 μg/kg per minute, SC) for 14 days. Ang II increased systolic blood pressure by 43 mm Hg (
P
<0.05), NADPH oxidase activity 1.5-fold in aorta and 1.8-fold in the heart (
P
<0.05), impaired acetylcholine vasodilatory responses by 70% compared with control (
P
<0.05), and increased vascular stiffness (
P
<0.001), mesenteric artery vascular cell adhesion molecule expression (2-fold;
P
<0.05), and aortic macrophage and T-cell infiltration (
P
<0.001). All of the above were prevented by Treg but not T effector adoptive transfer. Ang II caused a 43% decrease in Foxp3
+
cells in the renal cortex, whereas Treg adoptive transfer increased Foxp3
+
cells 2-fold compared with control. Thus, Tregs suppress Ang II–mediated vascular injury in part through anti-inflammatory actions. Immune mechanisms modulate Ang II–induced blood pressure elevation, vascular oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction.
Impact of Aging on Conduit Artery Retrograde and Oscillatory Shear at Rest and During Exercise
Authors: Padilla Jaume , Simmons Grant H. , Fadel Paul J. , Laughlin M. Harold , Joyner Michael J. , Casey Darren P.
Published: January 2011

Aging has been recently associated with increased retrograde and oscillatory shear in peripheral conduit arteries, a hemodynamic environment that favors a proatherogenic endothelial cell phenotype. We evaluated whether nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in resistance vessels contributes to age-related differences in shear rate patterns in upstream conduit arteries at rest and during rhythmic muscle contraction. Younger (n=11, age 26±2 years) and older (n=11, age 61±2 years) healthy subjects received intra-arterial saline (control) and the NO synthase inhibitor
N
G
-Monomethyl-
l
-arginine. Brachial artery diameter and velocities were measured via Doppler ultrasound at rest and during a 5-minute bout of rhythmic forearm exercise. At rest, older subjects exhibited greater brachial artery retrograde and oscillatory shear (−13.2±3.0 s
−1
and 0.11±.0.02 arbitrary units, respectively) compared with young subjects (−4.8±2.3 s
−1
and 0.04±0.02 arbitrary units, respectively; both
P
<0.05). NO synthase inhibition in the forearm circulation of young, but not of older, subjects increased retrograde and oscillatory shear (both
P
<0.05), such that differences between young and old at rest were abolished (both
P
>0.05). From rest to steady-state exercise, older subjects decreased retrograde and oscillatory shear (both
P
<0.05) to the extent that no exercise-related differences were found between groups (both
P
>0.05). Inhibition of NO synthase in the forearm circulation did not affect retrograde and oscillatory shear during exercise in either group (all
P
>0.05). These data demonstrate for the first time that reduced NO bioavailability in the resistance vessels contributes, in part, to age-related discrepancies in resting shear patterns, thus identifying a potential mechanism for increased risk of atherosclerotic disease in conduit arteries.
Angiotensinergic Signaling in the Brain Mediates Metabolic Effects of Deoxycorticosterone (DOCA)-Salt in C57 Mice
Authors: Grobe Justin L. , Buehrer Beth A. , Hilzendeger Aline M. , Liu Xuebo , Davis Deborah R. , Xu Di , Sigmund Curt D.
Published: January 2011

Low-renin hypertension accounts for ≈25% of essential hypertensive patients. It is modeled in animals by chronic delivery of deoxycorticosterone acetate and excess dietary sodium (the DOCA-salt model). Previous studies have demonstrated that DOCA-salt hypertension is mediated through activation of the brain renin-angiotensin system. Here, we demonstrate robust metabolic phenotypes of DOCA-salt treatment. Male C57BL/6J mice (6 to 8 weeks old) received a subcutaneous pellet of DOCA (50 mg for 21 days) and were offered a 0.15 mol/L NaCl drink solution in addition to regular chow and tap water. Treatment resulted in mild hypertension, a blunting of weight gain, gross polydipsia, polyuria, and sodium intake, alterations in urinary sodium and potassium turnover, and serum sodium retention. Most strikingly, DOCA-salt mice exhibited no difference in food intake but did exhibited a large elevation in basal metabolic rate. Normalization of blood pressure by hydralazine (500 mg/L in drink solutions) attenuated the hydromineral phenotypes and renal renin suppression effects of DOCA-salt but had no effect on the elevated metabolic rate. In contrast, intracerebroventricular infusion of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist losartan (5 μg/h) attenuated the elevation in metabolic rate with DOCA-salt treatment. Together, these data illustrate the necessity of angiotensinergic signaling within the brain, independent of blood pressure alterations, in the metabolic consequences of DOCA-salt treatment.
Functional Connectivity and Coactivation of the Nucleus Accumbens: A Combined Functional Connectivity and Structure-Based Meta-analysis
Authors: Cauda Franco , Cavanna Andrea E. , D'agata Federico , Sacco Katiuscia , Duca Sergio , Geminiani Giuliano C.
Published: January 2011

This article investigates the functional connectivity patterns of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in 18 healthy participants using a resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) protocol. Also, a meta-analytic connectivity modeling (MACM) was used to characterize patterns of functional coactivations involving NAcc: The results of a structure-based meta-analyses of 57 fMRI and PET studies were submitted to activation likelihood estimation analysis to estimate consistent activation patterns across the different imaging studies. The results of the combined rsFC and MACM analyses show that spontaneous activity in NAcc predicts activity in regions implicated in reward circuitries, including orbitomedial prefrontal cortex, globus pallidus, thalamus, midbrain, amygdala, and insula. This confirms the key role of NAcc in the mesocorticolimbic system, which integrates inputs from limbic and cortical regions. We also detected activity in brain regions having few or no direct anatomical connections with NAcc, such as sensorimotor cortex, cerebellum, medial and posterior parietal cortex, and medial/inferior temporal cortex, supporting the view that not all functional connections can be explained by anatomical connections but can also result from connections mediated by third areas. Our rsFC findings are in line with the results of the structure-based meta-analysis: MACM maps are superimposable with NAcc rsFC results, and the reward paradigm class is the one that most frequently generates activation in NAcc. Our results overlap considerably with recently proposed schemata of the main neuron systems in the limbic forebrain and in the anterior part of the limbic midbrain in rodents and nonhuman primates.
Tonal Expectations Influence Early Pitch Processing
Authors: Marmel Frédéric , Perrin Fabien , Tillmann Barbara
Published: January 2011

The present study investigated the ERP correlates of the influence of tonal expectations on pitch processing. Participants performed a pitch discrimination task between penultimate and final tones of melodies. These last two tones were a repetition of the same musical note, but penultimate tones were always in tune whereas final tones were slightly out of tune in half of the trials. The pitch discrimination task allowed us to investigate the influence of tonal expectations in attentive listening and, for penultimate tones, without being confounded by decisional processes (occurring on final tones). Tonal expectations were manipulated by a tone change in the first half of the melodies that changed their tonality, hence changing the tonal expectedness of penultimate and final tones without modifying them acoustically. Manipulating tonal expectations with minimal acoustic changes allowed us to focus on the cognitive expectations based on listeners' knowledge of tonal structures. For penultimate tones, tonal expectations modulated processing within the first 100 msec after onset resulting in an Nb/P1 complex that differed in amplitude between tonally related and less related conditions. For final tones, out-of-tune tones elicited an N2/P3 complex and, on in-tune tones only, tonal manipulation elicited an ERAN/RATN-like negativity overlapping with the N2. Our results suggest that cognitive tonal expectations can influence pitch perception at several steps of processing, starting with early attentional selection of pitch.
Cooperative and Opposing Effects of Strategic and Involuntary Attention
Authors: Mazza Veronica , Dallabona Monica , Chelazzi Leonardo , Turatto Massimo
Published: January 2011

To assess whether working memory contents can effectively bias visual selection even when they do not represent the current target in the attention task, we recorded the ERP activity from participants performing both a memory task and, in the retention period, a visual search task. In this task, a distracter matching the memory content could be presented on the same side (congruent trials) or on the opposite side (incongruent trials) relative to the target location (Experiment 1 and Experiment 2). On some trials, only the matching distracter (but no target) was presented (catch trials, Experiment 2). Results showed that the N2pc component was modulated by the presence and location of a matching distracter. We interpret these results as evidence that the involuntary control exerted by the irrelevant memory contents coexists with the strategic mechanism related to the search target, influencing attention selection with roughly equal power. In Experiment 3, we found that the modulation of the N2pc is not strictly related to the active maintenance of the memory-target features but can also be elicited by repetition priming. Overall, these findings suggest that, together with the physical properties of the stimuli presented in the visual field, irrelevant memory contents represent a powerful class of factors that lead to involuntary attentional control.
Viral Etiology of Acute Febrile Respiratory Illnesses in Hospitalized Children Younger Than 24 Months
Authors: Suryadevara Manika , Cummings Erin , Bonville Cynthia A. , Bartholoma Nadine , Riddell Scott , Kiska Deanna , Rosenberg Helene F. , Domachowske Joseph B.
Published: January 2011

Background: Respiratory infections are a leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations. This study investigated whether virus—virus or virus— Bordetella co-infections are more frequent or more severe than previously recognized. Methods: This is a 3-year prospective study of children younger than 24 months hospitalized with a febrile respiratory illness. Viral pathogens were detected using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunoassays, and/or viral cultures from nasopharyngeal samples. Bordetella infections were detected by PCR. Results: A total of 201 patients were enrolled. Respiratory viruses were detected in 187 (93%) patients, with 52 (28%) multipathogen infections. The most common viruses detected were respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus/enterovirus. There were no differences in illness severity when comparing patients infected with one pathogen and those with multipathogen infection. Conclusion: Virus co-infection in young children hospitalized with an acute febrile respiratory infection is common but does not appear to be associated with illness severity.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Shift Toward Resilience?
Authors: Modesto-Lowe Vania , Yelunina Larisa , Hanjan Kawal
Published: January 2011

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present a concern across clinical, academic, and social domains. However, a subset of these children does fairly well symptomatically and functionally. This article employs a resilience framework to organize the research on factors that promote favorable outcomes in ADHD. A PubMed search was conducted using key words: resilience and ADHD. Of particular interest were articles focusing on modifiable protective factors, such as parenting and pharmacotherapy. There is consensus that genetics strongly contributes to the etiology of ADHD. Parental, peer, and environmental factors may interact with genes to moderate the developmental expression of ADHD. Pharmacotherapy research reveals that medications exert positive effects of modest magnitude in academic achievement, social functioning and quality of life. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether treatment can modify developmental outcomes. Efforts to strengthen family support along with access to health and educational resources may also optimize outcomes.
Focused Assessment of Patients With Asthma in the Emergency Department
Authors: Kanis Jessica , Lovell Jami , Bowman Michael , Titus Mary Olivia
Published: January 2011

Asthma remains a common cause for presentation to the emergency department. Multiple clinical asthma scores (CAS) have been developed to assess the severity of an asthma exacerbation. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine if adoption of a CAS and asthma guidelines identifies patients with more severe asthma and to identify factors that predict the need for hospital admission. The results identified the admission rates in the pre- and post-CAS groups to be similar. Within the post-CAS group, patients requiring admission received more aggressive therapy and were frequently hypoxic on initial presentation. In conclusion, CAS aids in identifying severe asthma exacerbations. Lack of response to aggressive therapy or hypoxia on initial presentation should prompt the emergency department physician to arrange for admission.
Sentencing Juveniles to Life in Prison
Authors: Singer Simon I.
Published: January 2011

In Roper v. Simmons, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the sentencing of juveniles to death violated the constitutional amendment against cruel and unusual punishment. Similarly, the Court most recently decided that life without parole for nonhomicide offenses is also unconstitutional ( Graham v. Florida, 2010). Part of the reason for the Court’s decisions is the lack of consensus as to the appropriateness of punishing juveniles as if they were adults. To examine the extent to which there is consensus as to the capital penalties for capital crimes, this article examines a population of young juveniles who were initially charged with murder, and then subsequently convicted in criminal court and sentenced to life in prison. As is the case with adults, not all juveniles were convicted in criminal court for their initial charge of murder. But unlike for adults, a proportion of eligible juveniles were adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court or received youthful offender in criminal court, resulting in a less severe sentence than a maximum of life in prison. The author suggests that this reduced set of sanctions, which a segment of juveniles receive, is substantive justice and the reproduction of juvenile justice. He found significant differences in the reproduction of juvenile justice by place and prior offense.
The Street Level Built Environment and Physical Activity and Walking
Authors: Boarnet Marlon G. , Forsyth Ann , Day Kristen , Oakes J. Michael
Published: January 2011

The Irvine Minnesota Inventory (IMI) was designed to measure environmental features that may be associated with physical activity and particularly walking. This study assesses how well the IMI predicts physical activity and walking behavior and develops shortened, validated audit tools. A version of the IMI was used in the Twin Cities Walking Study, a research project measuring how density, street pattern, mixed use, pedestrian infrastructure, and a variety of social and economic factors affect walking. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the predictive value of the IMI. We find that while this inventory provides reliable measurement of urban design features, only some of these features present associations with increased or decreased walking. This article presents two versions of shortened scales—a prudent scale, requiring association with two separate measures of a physical activity or walking behavior, and a moderate scale, requiring association with one measure of physical activity or walking. The shortened scales provide built environment audit instruments that have been tested both for inter-rater reliability and for associations with physical activity and walking. The results are also useful in showing which built environment variables are more reliably associated with walking for travel—characteristics of the sidewalk infrastructure, street crossings and traffic speeds, and land use are more strongly associated with walking for travel, while factors that measure aesthetics are typically less strongly associated with walking for travel.
An In Situ Study of the Habits of Users That Affect Office Chair Design and Testing
Authors: Benden Mark E. , Fink Rainer , Congleton Jerome
Published: January 2011

Objective: The purpose of this study was to perform an in situ assessment of office seating habits that influence chair testing and design.

Background: Many chair testing parameters were derived decades ago when the average weight of people within the United States was dramatically lower and the office work tasks less computer based.

Method: For the study, 51 participants were randomly selected from Brazos Valley, Texas, businesses to participate in 8-hr assessments of office seating habits. Overall results were compared with current chair testing and design assumptions. Data were collected through written survey and through data logging of seat and back contact pressure and duration with the use of the X-SENSOR™ pressure mapping device and software. Additionally, 1 day per participant of caster roll distance was recorded with the use of a caster mounted digital encoder. Participants were grouped by body mass index (BMI) and weight (BMI <35 and weight <102 kg or BMI >35 and weight >102 kg).

Results: It was determined that a significant difference did exist between the groups in mean seat time per shift ( p < .001), back cycles per shift ( p < .002), seat cycles per shift ( p < .01), and caster distance rolled per shift ( p < .001).

Conclusion: Several key parameters and assumptions of current chair test methods and design specifications may no longer be valid for the upper quartile of weight range of the current U.S. population.

Application: The data collected in this study will enable engineers to determine whether revision of design standards for testing office seating for both normal weight and extremely obese workers is indicated.
Direct and Indirect Messages African American Women Receive From Their Familial Networks About Intimate Relationships and Sex: The Intersecting Influence of Race, Gender, and Class
Authors: Grange Christina M. , Brubaker Sarah Jane , Corneille Maya A.
Published: January 2011

This qualitative study examined the sexual socialization experienced by emerging adult, African American women, ages 18 to 26 years, who received services at a sexually transmitted infection clinic. Data obtained from in-depth interviews revealed that women received information about sex and relationships from three primary sources: women of the previous generation, who emphasized relationship quality, contraception and the consequences of sex; partner qualities, and role responsibilities; same-generation women, whose messages addressed relationship quality and the consequences of sex and male family members, who emphasized men’s treatment of women and sexual issues. Women described both direct and indirect (observed) messages, as well as differences and similarities in messages. The analysis focused on the content of these messages, and the influence of race, class, gender, and age in the socialization experience.
Married to the Minister: The Status of the Clergy Spouse as Part of a Two-Person Single Career
Authors: Murphy-Geiss Gail E.
Published: January 2011

Clergy spouses have long been considered unpaid partners in two-person single careers, but a number of social forces may have begun to challenge that, including the ordination of women and increasingly accepted alternatives to traditional family forms. This study surveyed more than 3,000 United Methodist clergy spouses to assess the status of that role, focusing especially on gender, age, and region of the United States. It was determined that gender has the strongest effect, as male spouses are significantly more likely to be nontraditional than their female counterparts. To a lesser degree, younger spouses and those not from the South are also more likely to act in nontraditional ways. Higher income and higher education were also found to be correlated with nontraditional behaviors. Although the large majority of respondents continue to replicate the traditional clergy spouse model, changes seem to be underway, led primarily by the male spouses of clergy women.
Family Structure and the Intergenerational Transmission of Gender Ideology
Authors: Carlson Daniel L. , Knoester Chris
Published: January 2011

Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, this study explores how single-parent, stepparent, and two-parent biological family structures may affect the transmission of gender ideology from parents to their adult children. Results indicate that biological parents’ ideologies are strong predictors of their children’s ideologies. Stepparents’ ideologies are predictive of their stepchildren’s only when they have high-quality relationships. Parent—child gender heterogeneity, performance of traditional parenting roles, and relationship quality are related to high similarity scores. The authors find evidence of converging ideologies between mothers and sons and diverging ideologies for fathers and daughters—especially in stepfamilies. Finally, their results suggest that high-quality relations with a stepparent enhance transmission between same-sex biological parent—child dyads but high-quality relations with a spouse in two-parent biological families produce a competing role-model dynamic.
The Effects of Children’s Criminality on Mothers of Offenders
Authors: Sturges Judith E. , Hanrahan Kathleen J.
Published: January 2011

This exploratory study sought to understand the effects of criminality on mothers of offenders. Semistructured in-depth interviews were used to gather data from 27 mothers. Respondents reported that their children’s criminality leads to a series of complications and stressors in mothers’ lives, including physical, psychological, relational, social, and economic effects. Mothers also reported on offenders’ relationships with their fathers and the stigma of criminality. The destructive impact of a child’s criminality, and the need for support for offenders’ families, particularly their mothers, is evident. Peer support, social service networking, and improved criminal justice response are suggested as means to assist mothers.
The effects of acute tryptophan depletion on neuropsychological function, mood and movement in the healthy elderly
Authors: Mace Janet L , Porter Richard J , Dalrymple-Alford John C , Wesnes Keith A , Anderson Tim J
Published: January 2011

Few studies have investigated the function of the serotonin (5-HT) system in the elderly. Previous studies have shown effects of reducing serotonin function, by acute tryptophan depletion (ATD), on neuropsychological function in healthy subjects but this technique has not previously been employed over a wide age range in the elderly. This study compared the effects of ATD on mood, cognitive function and motor function in two groups of healthy volunteers, one group aged 50–69 and the other aged 70–89. The effects of ATD were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover, randomized design. The effects of ATD were not significantly different between age groups, suggesting that there is relatively little functional change across these age ranges. Compared with studies in much younger age groups there was, however, more evidence of an adverse effect of ATD on psychomotor function and working memory. There was no effect of ATD on mood despite inclusion of subjects with a family history of depression.
The A2a adenosine receptor modulates the reinforcement efficacy and neurotoxicity of MDMA
Authors: Ruiz-Medina Jessica , Ledent Catherine , Carretón Olga , Valverde Olga
Published: January 2011

Adenosine is an endogenous purine nucleoside that plays a neuromodulatory role in the central nervous system. A2a adenosine receptors have been involved in reward-related processes, inflammatory phenomena and neurotoxicity reactions. In the present study, we investigated the role of A2a adenosine receptors on the acute pharmacological effects, reinforcement and neuroinflammation induced by MDMA administration. First, the acute effects of MDMA on body temperature, locomotor activity and anxiety-like responses were measured in A2a knockout mice and wild-type littermates. Second, MDMA reinforcing properties were evaluated using the intravenous self-administration paradigm. Finally, we assessed striatal astrogliosis and microgliosis as markers of MDMA neurotoxicity. Our results showed that acute MDMA produced a biphasic effect on body temperature and increased locomotor activity and anxiogenic-like responses in both genotypes. However, MDMA reinforcing properties were dramatically affected by the lack of A2a adenosine receptors. Thus, wild-type mice maintained MDMA self-administration under a fixed ratio 1 reinforcement schedule, whereas the operant response appeared completely abolished in A2a knockout mice. In addition, the MDMA neurotoxic regime produced an enhanced inflammatory response in striatum of wild-type mice, revealed by a significant increase in glial expression, whereas such activation was attenuated in mutant mice. This is the first report indicating that A2a adenosine receptors play a key role in reinforcement and neuroinflammation induced by the widely used psychostimulant.
Dissociation of antidepressant-like activity of escitalopram and nortriptyline on behaviour and hippocampal BDNF expression in female rats
Authors: Hansson Anita C , Rimondini Roberto , Heilig Markus , Mathé Aleksander A , Sommer Wolfgang H
Published: January 2011

A major hypothesis of depression postulates that a dysregulation of the neurotrophin systems is directly involved in the pathophysiology of depression, and that restoration of such deficits may underlie the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant treatment. One key finding supporting this hypothesis is upregulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus after antidepressant treatment. Here, we further test the hypothesis of BDNF involvement in antidepressant action in a genetic rat model of depression after chronic oral treatment with escitalopram, nortriptyline or placebo. Active treatments had significant behavioural antidepressant-like actions in female rats of the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) and non-selected Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, while Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats were unaffected. Escitalopram, but not nortriptyline, markedly reduced BDNF mRNA levels in the dentate gyrus of FSL rats. The BDNF downregulation was common to the four major promoters of the gene. Treatments did not affect BDNF expression in FRL or SD strains. We conclude that the antidepressant effects of escitalopram and nortriptyline, two common drugs with different pharmacological profiles, appear to be unrelated to the regulation of hippocampal BDNF expression in female rats. These results indicate that the tropic hypothesis of depression has limitations and emphasize the need for validated disease models of depression to assess potential treatment targets.
Targets and Witnesses
Authors: Lichty Lauren F. , Campbell Rebecca
Published: January 2011

School-based peer-to-peer sexual harassment (SH) emerged as an issue of concern in the early 1990s. As a developing field, this literature has several notable gaps. The current study extends previous research by, (a) exploring the understudied experiences of middle school students, (b) assessing students’ experiences witnessing SH, and (c) evaluating how SH is related to students’ emotional well-being and academic outcomes. Survey findings indicate that the vast majority of middle school students are both SH targets and witnesses. SH experiences were negatively associated with psychological well-being and academic performance. Psychological distress mediated the relationship between direct SH and academic outcomes; however, no significant relationship was found between witnessing SH and psychological or academic outcomes. Students’ incident reports offered insight into the context of SH. Most perpetrators are male, victims are both male and female, and SH occurs in public spaces with few adult witnesses. Implications for research, practice, and interventions are discussed.
The Stanford LittleDog: A learning and rapid replanning approach to quadruped locomotion
Authors: Zico Kolter J. , Ng Andrew Y
Published: January 2011

Legged robots have the potential to navigate a wide variety of terrain that is inaccessible to wheeled vehicles. In this paper we consider the planning and control tasks of navigating a quadruped robot over challenging terrain, including terrain that it has not seen until run-time. We present a software architecture that makes use of both static and dynamic gaits, as well as specialized dynamic maneuvers, to accomplish this task. Throughout the paper we highlight two themes that have been central to our approach: (1) the prevalent use of learning algorithms, and (2) a focus on rapid recovery and replanning techniques; we present several novel methods and algorithms that we developed for the quadruped and that illustrate these two themes. We evaluate the performance of these different methods, and also present and discuss the performance of our system on the official Learning Locomotion tests.
Comprehensive summary of the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition’s experience with LittleDog
Authors: Neuhaus Peter D , Pratt Jerry E , Johnson Matthew J
Published: January 2011

We discuss the main issues and challenges with quadrupedal locomotion over rough terrain in the context of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Learning Locomotion program. We present our controller for the LittleDog platform, which allows for continuous transition between a static crawl gait and a dynamic trot gait depending on the roughness of the terrain. We provide detailed descriptions for some of our key algorithm components, such as a fast footstep planner for rough terrain, a body pose finder for a given support polygon, and a new type of parameterized gait. We present the results of our algorithm, which proved successful in the program, crossing all 10 terrain boards on the final test at an average speed of 11.2 cm/s. We conclude with a discussion on the applicability of this work for platforms other than LittleDog and in environments other than the Learning Locomotion designed tests.
Online probabilistic topological mapping
Authors: Ranganathan Ananth , Dellaert Frank
Published: January 2011

We present a novel algorithm for topological mapping, which is the problem of finding the graph structure of an environment from a sequence of measurements. Our algorithm, called Online Probabilistic Topological Mapping (OPTM), systematically addresses the problem by constructing the posterior on the space of all possible topologies given measurements. With each successive measurement, the posterior is updated incrementally using a Rao—Blackwellized particle filter. We present efficient sampling mechanisms using data-driven proposals and prior distributions on topologies that further enable OPTM’s operation in an online manner. OPTM can incorporate various sensors seamlessly, as is demonstrated by our use of appearance, laser, and odometry measurements. OPTM is the first topological mapping algorithm that is theoretically accurate, systematic, sensor independent, and online, and thus advances the state of the art significantly. We evaluate the algorithm on a robot in diverse environments.
Classification and Grading of Canine Mammary Tumors
Authors: Goldschmidt M. , Peña L. , Rasotto R. , Zappulli V.
Published: January 2011

Mammary neoplasms are the most common neoplasm in female dogs. Two histologic classification systems for canine mammary tumors and dysplasias have been published: the first in 1974 and a modification in 1999. This article provides a brief overview of the two histologic classification systems. Since the publication of the second system, several new histologic subtypes of canine mammary neoplasms have been described. These have been incorporated into the proposed new classification system. This article also compares the grading systems for canine mammary carcinomas and their use for prognosis, along with the histologic classification.
Self-Concept Development of Students With Disabilities
Authors: Wei Xin , Marder Camille
Published: January 2011

Developmental trajectories of two self-concept constructs (self-confidence and importance beliefs) in three domains (academic, social, and self-image) were estimated in a nationally representative sample of approximately 3,500 students with disabilities ages 8 to 17 representing 11 federal disability categories. Students’ self-confidence in the three domains declined in elementary school but rebounded in secondary school, whereas their importance beliefs showed linear declines over time. The authors found significant mean differences in self-concept but similarities in the shape of trajectories across disability categories, gender, and race. Students with emotional disturbances or autism had significantly lower self-confidence in the social and self-image domains and lower academic importance beliefs than students with learning disabilities. Girls had significantly higher self-confidence and importance beliefs than boys. Compared to their white peers, Black students had significantly higher self-confidence in all domains, whereas Hispanic students had significantly lower levels of importance beliefs in the social and self-image domains.
Comment On: Decrease in Frequency of Liquid Stool in Enterally Fed Critically Ill Patients Given the Multispecies Probiotic VSL#3: A Pilot Trial Frohmader TJ, Chaboyer WP, Robertson IK, Gowardman J
Authors: Mullin Gerard E.
Published: January 2011

Background: Diarrhea has adverse consequences for critically ill patients, health care staff, and health care costs. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the multispecies probiotic VSL#3 in reducing the mean number of episodes of liquid stool in enterally fed critically ill patients. Methods: A single‐center, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled pilot study was done in a 6‐bed intensive care unit in a 330‐bed public hospital in Australia. A total of 45 adults (20 intervention, 25 control) who required enteral nutrition for more than 72 hours were given VSL#3 or a placebo twice daily. The frequency (mean number of episodes per patient per day) and weight (grams per day) were determined for both liquid stool and liquid and loose (unformed) stool. Results: The 2 groups of patients had no demographic or clinical differences. Patients received enteral nutrition for a mean of 8.5 days (SD, 5.4) and were studied for a mean of 11.9 days (SD, 5.6). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a significant reduction in the frequency of liquid stools (incidence rate ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.27 to 0.93; P = .03). Smaller but still significant differences also occurred between the groups in both the frequency of episodes and the weight of liquid and loose (unformed) stool. Conclusion: VSL#3 was effective in reducing the frequency of liquid stool in critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition. Probiotics possibly can minimize diarrhea in critically ill tube‐fed patients, but more controlled clinical trials are needed. (Am J Crit Care. 2010;19(1):e1‐e11.)
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrojejunostomy Tube Feeding in Children
Authors: El‐Matary Wael
Published: January 2011

Managing infants and children with difficult feeding problems, such as intractable vomiting and dysmotility, can be challenging. Maintaining sufficient enteral feeding is the ultimate goal. However, the options for establishing this goal may be limited. One option is gastrojejunostomy tube feeding, a technique developed in 1984. This review discusses indications and limitations of gastrojejunostomy tube feeding in children. It also discusses alternative options for gastrojejunostomy tube feeding in view of the available evidence.
Subjective Global Assessment in Patients With Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Miyata Shigeru , Tanaka Mikio , Ihaku Daizo
Published: January 2011

Background. Malnutrition is observed frequently in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Subjective global assessment (SGA) is a subjective method of measuring nutrition status. Few studies have investigated the prognostic role of SGA in patients with pulmonary TB. Methods. The authors evaluated 39 patients with pulmonary TB. The SGA classification technique was performed; patients were classified as well nourished (A), moderately malnourished (B), or severely malnourished (C). Results. The mean patient age was 67.7 ± 19.0 years, and the majority of patients were male (64.1%). Twelve patients (30.1%) were categorized as SGA class A, 14 patients (35.9%) as class B, and 13 patients (33.3%) as class C. The SGA‐A group had a median survival of 438 days (95% confidence interval, 366–509), the median survival of the SGA‐B group was 344 days (251–436), and the median survival of the SGA‐C group was 118 days (37–198); these survival rates were significantly different (P < .001). Conclusion. SGA appears to be a useful tool for nutrition assessment of patients with pulmonary TB. In addition, SGA may be a prognostic indicator of survival in patients with pulmonary TB.
Olive Oil‐Based Fat Emulsion Versus Soy Oil‐Based Fat Emulsion in Abdominal Oncologic Surgery
Authors: Onar Pelin , Yildiz Baris Dogu , Yildiz Emine Akal , Besler Tanju , Abbasoglu Osman
Published: January 2011

In parenteral nutrition (PN), essential fatty acids are provided by soy oil‐based fat emulsions, which may exert adverse effects on the immune system and lipid peroxidation. Olive oil ‐based fat emulsions have been said to prevent these undesired effects. This study compares effects of olive oil ‐ and soy oil ‐based fat emulsions in 22 patients who underwent abdominal surgery for cancer. The first group (n = 10) received soy oil ‐based fat emulsion; the second group (n = 10) received olive oil ‐based fat emulsion. Body temperature, body mass index, (BMI) and biochemical variables were measured on days 0 and 7. There were no differences between the groups with regard to BMI or temperature. On day 7, the first group (compared with day 0) had significant increases in plasma alkaline phosphatase (81.70 ± 16.03 vs 117.60 ± 11.1), γ‐glutamyl transferase (39.90 ± 15.40 vs 137.70 ± 24.09), and mean body temperature (36.72°C ± 0.14°C vs 37.20°C ± 0.17°C) (P < .01). Second group had increases in alkaline phosphatase (85.80 ± 13.46 vs 147.20 ± 34.17), γ‐glutamyl transferase (48.40 ± 12.86 vs 129.40 ± 42.03), total protein (5.14 ± 0.19 vs 6.06 ± 0.49), and albumin (2.62 ± 0.14 vs 3.00 ± 0.18) (P < .05). Changes in thiobutyric acid levels were not statistically significant in either group. In postoperative cancer patients, olive oil‐based fat emulsion had similar effects on BMI, body temperature, biochemical values, and thiobutyric acid levels as soy oil‐based fat emulsions.
Early‐Onset Copper Deficiency Following Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: O'Donnell Kelly B. , Simmons Mary
Published: January 2011

Weight loss surgery can provide many health benefits to those suffering from morbid obesity. The surgery, however, is not without potential complications. This clinical observation describes a patient who experienced gait disturbances, lower extremity weakness, and neuropathy which led to a diagnosis of copper deficiency less than 2 years following a Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. Neurological symptoms were improved within 2 months of copper supplementation. The need to monitor patients for less common micronutrient deficiencies such as copper following Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass is reinforced by this case.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Use of Specialized Nutrients in Pediatric Patients and Infants
Authors: Hamilton Leslie A. , Trobaugh Kimberly A.
Published: January 2011

With a high rate of mortality, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has limited treatments options. Immune‐enhanced formulas, containing eicosapentaenoic acid, borage oil, and antioxidants, have shown to be beneficial in adults patients with ARDS, decreasing mortality, length of mechanical ventilation, and new organ dysfunction. There is promising research in pediatric patients with improvement in oxygenation status found, but further trials are needed to realize these benefits in pediatric and infant populations.
Optimal Caloric Intake for Critically Ill Patients: First, Do No Harm
Authors: Dickerson Roland N.
Published: January 2011

Despite considerable efforts to define energy requirements for critically ill patients, no single method has been found to be precise and unbiased for all patients. As a result, clinicians have used various methods that may overestimate energy requirements for some patients. Provision of target caloric intake without regard to the complications of overfeeding, such as hyperglycemia, hypercapnia, or gastric feeding intolerance, could result in overall detrimental clinical outcome. Inadequate nutrition support is also associated with adverse clinical outcomes that necessitate optimization of delivery and tolerance of the nutrition regimen. A pivotal paper by Krishnan and colleagues published in 2003 brought these issues to the forefront of clinical practice. Key papers that support or refute the practice of “permissive underfeeding” are reviewed. Further research is necessary to determine the minimum amount of nutrition required to achieve a therapeutic benefit as well as to ascertain at what amount of additional nutrition intake offers no further improvement in clinical outcome
High-Tech Immigrant Entrepreneurship in the United States
Authors: Hart David M. , Acs Zoltan J.
Published: January 2011

This article reports the results of a national survey that estimates the rate of immigrant entrepreneurship in a representative sample of high-impact firms in high-technology industries in the United States. The authors report key descriptive statistics about the companies and their founders. About 16% of the companies in the sample, for instance, number at least one immigrant entrepreneur among their founding teams, while about 77% of the immigrant entrepreneurs are U.S. citizens. Three multivariate analyses are carried out that compare high-impact, high-tech firms that count at least one immigrant in their founding teams with those that were founded by native-born entrepreneurs. It is found that the two groups of firms are similar with respect to economic and technological performance. Immigrant-founded firms are more likely to report that they have a strategic relationship with a foreign firm. The authors conclude by briefly considering the potential implications of their findings for immigration and economic development policy.
The Influence of Youth Assets on the Career Decision Self-Efficacy in Unattached Jamaican Youth
Authors: Hayes DeMarquis , Huey Erron L. , Hull Darrell M. , Saxon Terrill F.
Published: January 2011

The present study expands the career decision self-efficacy (CDSE) literature by focusing on a sample of unattached Jamaican youth to determine if youth assets (protective factors like family communication and peer role models) were predictive of increased CDSE. Unattached youth are defined as those that do not have a job or are not currently enrolled in any educational or other training program. Participants consisted of 921 unattached Jamaican youth (557 females) ranging from 16 to 25 years of age. Participants completed the Career Decision Self-Efficacy-Short Form Scale and the Youth Asset Survey. Results from multiple regression analyses revealed that female youth reported higher CDSE scores than their male counterparts. Results also indicated that youth who reported making more responsible choices, having higher future aspirations, and having more peer and nonparental adult role models had higher CDSE scores. Implications for practice are discussed relative to the culture of Jamaica and unattached youth.
Using Guided Reflection to Reduce Test Anxiety in Nursing Students
Authors: Beggs Caitlin , Shields Deborah , Janiszewski Goodin Heather
Published: January 2011

Test anxiety is a phenomenon that can affect as many as 40% of students. Many nursing students are under great stress from long hours of study, a rigorous curriculum, and balancing work and family life. These stressors can lead to anxiety in many areas of the student’s life, most notably in situations where he or she is being evaluated. This article will aim to discuss how the use of guided reflection can help the student actualize his or her feelings about test anxiety by using Johns’s Model for Structured Reflection. By using cues from the model and structure provided by a guide, the student will partake in a journey to gain insight about oneself and discover ways to decrease test anxiety that can be incorporated into the student’s holistic self-care plan.
Exploring the Concept of Manliness in Relation to the Phenomenon of Crying
Authors: Carlson Kelly , Hall Joanne M.
Published: January 2011

The concept of manliness related to the phenomenon of crying can be better understood by tracing the roots of the language of manliness through history. A Bourdieusian theoretical approach is used, incorporating the analytics of habitus, bodily hexis, and symbolic violence. This less-studied phenomenon of crying is investigated from a holistic, biopsychosocial framework. Manliness is a social construct that has remained surprisingly consistent throughout history. The importance of this concept to physical, psychological, and social health and well-being is addressed from a holistic nursing perspective. This is a timely issue for men’s mental health, for example, that of returning combat veterans experiencing loss, grief, and posttraumatic stress. This exploration provides insight for nursing by analyzing the concept of manliness, which stems largely from militaristic roots, and might present obstacles to emotional release.