bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of ultraviolet B radiation on activator protein 1 constituent proteins and modulation by dietary energy restriction in SKH‐1 mouse skin
Authors: Hopper Brian D. , Przybyszewski Joseph , Chen Haw‐Wen , Hammer Kimberly D.P. , Birt Diane F.
Published: March 2009

The study examined the timing of modulation of activator protein 1(AP‐1):DNA binding and production of AP‐1 constituent proteins by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and effect of dietary energy restriction [DER, 40% calorie reduction from fat and carbohydrate compared to control ad libitum (AL) diet] in SKH‐1 mouse epidermis. AP‐1:DNA binding by electromobility shift assay (EMSA) was increased in a biphasic manner after treatment with a tumor‐promoting suberythemal dose (750 mJ/cm2) of UVB light (311–313 nm) with peaks at 3 and 18 h postirradiation. DER overall reduced AP‐1:DNA binding in mock‐treated and UVB‐treated skin at 3 and 18 h after UVB treatment. The timing of modulation of production of AP‐1 constituent proteins by Western blot analysis was examined at 0 h (mock treatment), 3, 9, 18, and 24 h. We found that c‐jun (9 h), jun‐B (9 and 18 h), phosphorylated c‐jun (3 h), and fra‐1 (18 h) protein levels were increased after UVB treatment compared to mock controls. In a follow‐up diet experiment, animals were placed on DER or AL diet for 10–12 wk and treated with UVB as before. DER was found to completely block the UVB‐induced increase in phosphorylated c‐jun protein levels and decrease in fra‐2 protein levels at 18 h. In addition, DER enhanced UVB‐induced increase in jun B levels and lowered basal levels of c‐fos seen 18 h after UVB. These data suggest that DER may be able to assist in the prevention of UVB‐induced skin carcinogenesis by modulating AP‐1:DNA binding and AP‐1 constituent protein levels. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular effects of soy phytoalexin glyceollins in human prostate cancer cells LNCaP
Authors: Payton‐Stewart Florastina , Schoene Norberta W. , Kim Young S. , Burow Matthew E. , Cleveland Thomas E. , Boue Stephen M. , Wang Thomas T. Y.
Published: March 2009

Glyceollins are soy‐derived phytoalexins that have been proposed to be candidate cancer preventive compounds. The effect of the glyceollins on prostate cancer is unknown. The present study examined the molecular effects of soy phytoalexin, glyceollins, on human prostate cancer cell LNCaP to further elucidate its potential effects on prostate cancer prevention. We found that the glyceollins inhibited LNCaP cell growth similar to that of the soy isoflavone genistein. The growth inhibitory effects of the glyceollins appeared to be due to an inhibition of G1/S progression and correlated with an up‐regulation of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1 A and B mRNA and protein levels. By contrast, genistein only up‐regulates cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1A. In addition, glyceollin treatments led to down‐regulated mRNA levels for androgen responsive genes. In contrast to genistein, this effect of glyceollins on androgen responsive genes appeared to be mediated through modulation of an estrogen‐ but not androgen‐mediated pathway. Hence, the glyceollins exerted multiple effects on LNCaP cells that may be considered cancer preventive and the mechanisms of action appeared to be different from other soy‐derived phytochemicals. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An exponentially fitted method for solving Burgers' equation
Authors: Öziş Turgut , Erdoğkan Utku
Published: March 2009

In this paper, an exponentially fitted method is used to numerically solve the one‐dimensional Burgers' equation. The performance of the method is tested on the model involving moderately large Reynolds numbers. The obtained numerical results show that the method is efficient, stable and reliable for solving Burgers' equation accurately even involving high Reynolds numbers for which the exact solution fails. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermodynamically consistent time‐stepping algorithms for non‐linear thermomechanical systems
Authors: Romero Ignacio
Published: March 2009

We present the basic theory for developing novel monolithic and staggered time‐stepping algorithms for general non‐linear, coupled, thermomechanical problems. The proposed methods are thermodynamically consistent in the sense that their solutions rigorously comply with the two laws of thermodynamics: for isolated systems they preserve the total energy and the entropy never decreases. Furthermore, if the governing equations of the problem have symmetries, the proposed integrators preserve them too. The formulation of such methods is based on two ideas: expressing the evolution equation in the so‐called General Equations for Non‐Equilibrium Reversible Irreversible Coupling format and enforcing from their inception certain directionality and degeneracy conditions on the discrete vector fields. The new methods can be considered as an extension of the energy–momentum integration algorithms to coupled thermomechanical problems, to which they reduce in the purely Hamiltonian case. In the article, the new ideas are applied to a simple coupled problem: a double thermoelastic pendulum with symmetry. Numerical simulations verify the qualitative features of the proposed methods and illustrate their excellent numerical stability, which stems precisely from their ability to preserve the structure of the evolution equations they discretize. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrical properties of isolated poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires prepared by template synthesis
Authors: Long Y. Z. , Duvail J. L. , Chen Z. J. , Jin A. Z. , Gu C. Z.
Published: March 2009

Electrical conductivity, current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, and low‐temperature magnetoresistance of template‐synthesized poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanowires are reported. The room‐temperature conductivity of the semiconducting nanowire with a diameter of 82 nm is about 80 S/cm. It is found that with lowering temperature, the I–V curves show a transition from linear to nonlinear around 50 K and a clear Coulomb‐gap‐like structure appears on the differential conductance (dI/dV) curves possibly due to enhanced electron–electron interaction. The resistance below 70 K is dependent on the applied bias voltage used in the resistance measurements due to the nonlinear I–V characteristics. The magnetoresistance below 10 K is positive and increases with lowering temperature due to the wavefunction shrinkage effect on hopping conduction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maximally safe resection followed by hypofractionated re‐irradiation for locally recurrent ependymoma in children
Authors: Liu Arthur K. , Foreman Nicholas K. , Gaspar Laurie E. , Trinidad Elizabeth , Handler Michael H.
Published: March 2009

Background

Treatment failure in children with ependymoma is relatively common, with the majority of events consisting of local failure. Salvage therapy for these children historically had poor results, with repeated local recurrences. To improve these outcomes, we began to offer hypofractionated re‐irradiation after resection at first local recurrence. To minimize the duration of therapy, we chose a hypofractionated regimen that has been shown to be well tolerated in adult patients.

Procedure

We performed a review of the experience at the Children's Hospital in Denver and at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Colorado Denver from 1995 to 2008 with hypofractionated re‐irradiation after maximally safe resection in children with locally recurrent ependymoma.

Results

Six children with locally recurrent ependymoma were seen in that time period. After maximally safe resection, all six received hypofractionated radiation therapy of 24–30 Gy delivered in three fractions. With a median follow‐up of 28 months from the time of re‐irradiation, all six children are alive with no evidence of disease. Three children had evidence of radiation necrosis, either clinically or based on imaging, but none required significant intervention.

Conclusions

Hypofractionated re‐irradiation after resection for locally recurrent ependymoma is well tolerated. This approach also appears to provide good local control. Additional follow‐up is required to determine the efficacy and potential late effects of hypofractionated re‐irradiation in this patient population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:804–807. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitation of small molecules using high‐resolution accurate mass spectrometers – a different approach for analysis of biological samples
Authors: Zhang Nanyan Rena , Yu Sean , Tiller Philip , Yeh Suzie , Mahan Elizabeth , Emary William Bart
Published: March 2009

The quantitative capabilities of a linear ion trap high‐resolution mass spectrometer (LTQ‐Orbitrap™) were investigated using full scan mode bracketing the m/z range of the ions of interest and utilizing a mass resolution (mass/FWHM) of 15000. Extracted ion chromatograms using a mass window of ±5–10 mmu centering on the theoretical m/z of each analyte were generated and used for quantitation. The quantitative performance of the LTQ‐Orbitrap™ was compared with that of a triple quadrupole (API 4000) operating using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) detection. Comparable assay precision, accuracy, linearity and sensitivity were observed for both approaches. The concentrations of actual study samples from 15 Merck drug candidates reported by the two methods were statistically equivalent. Unlike SRM being a tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS)‐based detection method, a high resolution mass spectrometer operated in full scan does not need MS/MS optimization. This approach not only provides quantitative results for compounds of interest, but also will afford data on other analytes present in the sample. An example of the identification of a major circulating metabolite for a preclinical development study is demonstrated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting the natural flow regime: models for assessing hydrological alteration in streams
Authors: Carlisle Daren M. , Falcone James , Wolock David M. , Meador Michael R. , Norris Richard H.
Published: March 2009

Understanding the extent to which natural streamflow characteristics have been altered is an important consideration for ecological assessments of streams. Assessing hydrologic condition requires that we quantify the attributes of the flow regime that would be expected in the absence of anthropogenic modifications. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether selected streamflow characteristics could be predicted at regional and national scales using geospatial data. Long‐term, gaged river basins distributed throughout the contiguous US that had streamflow characteristics representing least disturbed or near pristine conditions were identified. Thirteen metrics of the magnitude, frequency, duration, timing and rate of change of streamflow were calculated using a 20–50 year period of record for each site. We used random forests (RF), a robust statistical modelling approach, to develop models that predicted the value for each streamflow metric using natural watershed characteristics. We compared the performance (i.e. bias and precision) of national‐ and regional‐scale predictive models to that of models based on landscape classifications, including major river basins, ecoregions and hydrologic landscape regions (HLR). For all hydrologic metrics, landscape stratification models produced estimates that were less biased and more precise than a null model that accounted for no natural variability. Predictive models at the national and regional scale performed equally well, and substantially improved predictions of all hydrologic metrics relative to landscape stratification models. Prediction error rates ranged from 15 to 40%, but were ≤25% for most metrics. We selected three gaged, non‐reference sites to illustrate how predictive models could be used to assess hydrologic condition. These examples show how the models accurately estimate pre‐disturbance conditions and are sensitive to changes in streamflow variability associated with long‐term land‐use change. We also demonstrate how the models can be applied to predict expected natural flow characteristics at ungaged sites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complex Microstructured 3D Surfaces Using Chitosan Biopolymer
Authors: Fernandez Javier G. , Mills Christopher A. , Samitier Josep
Published: March 2009

A technique for producing micrometer‐scale structures over large, nonplanar chitosan surfaces is described. The technique makes use of the rheological characteristics (deformability) of the chitosan to create freestanding, three‐dimensional scaffolds with controlled shapes, incorporating defined microtopography. The results of an investigation into the technical limits of molding different combinations of shapes and microtopographies are presented, highlighting the versatility of the technique when used irrespectively with inorganic or delicate organic moulds. The final, replicated scaffolds presented here are patterned with arrays of one‐micrometer‐tall microstructures over large areas. Structural integrity is characterized by the measurement of structural degradation. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured on a tubular scaffold show that early cell growth is conditioned by the microtopography and indicate possible uses for the structures in biomedical applications. For those applications requiring improved chemical and mechanical resistance, the structures can be replicated in poly(dimethyl siloxane).
Systematic Surface Engineering of Magnetic Nanoworms for In vivo Tumor Targeting
Authors: Park Ji‐Ho , von Maltzahn Geoffrey , Zhang Lianglin , Derfus Austin M. , Simberg Dmitri , Harris Todd J. , Ruoslahti Erkki , Bhatia Sangeeta N. , Sailor Michael J.
Published: March 2009

In the design of nanoparticles that can target disease tissue in vivo, parameters such as targeting ligand density, type of target receptor, and nanoparticle shape can play an important role in determining the extent of accumulation. Herein, a systematic study of these parameters for the targeting of mouse xenograft tumors is performed using superparamagnetic iron oxide as a model nanoparticle system. The type of targeting peptide (recognizing cell surface versus extracellular matrix), the surface coverage of the peptide, its attachment chemistry, and the shape of the nanomaterial [elongated (nanoworm, NW) versus spherical (nanosphere, NS)] are varied. Nanoparticle circulation times and in vivo tumor‐targeting efficiencies are quantified in two xenograft models of human tumors (MDA‐MB‐435 human carcinoma and HT1080 human fibrosarcoma). It is found that the in vivo tumor‐targeting ability of the NW is superior to that of the NS, that the smaller, neutral CREKA targeting group is more effective than the larger, positively charged F3 molecule, that a maximum in tumor‐targeting efficiency and blood half‐life is observed with ≈60 CREKA peptides per NW for either the HT1080 or the MDA‐MB‐435 tumor types, and that incorporation of a 5‐kDa polyethylene glycol linker improves targeting to both tumor types relative to a short linker. It is concluded that the blood half‐life of a targeting molecule–nanomaterial ensemble is a key consideration when selecting the appropriate ligand and nanoparticle chemistry for tumor targeting.
Zur Frage der Ermüdungsfestigkeit von Kopfbolzendübeln
Authors: Hanswille Gerhard , Porsch Markus
Published: March 2009

Das derzeitig in den nationalen und europäischen Regelwerken verankerte Bemessungskonzept zum Nachweis von Kopfbolzendübeln in ermüdungsbeanspruchten Verbundkonstruktionen basiert auf der Annahme, dass die Schubtragfähigkeit hoch zyklisch belasteter Kopfbolzendübel bis zum Zeitpunkt ihres rechnerischen Ermüdungsversagens nahezu vollständig erhalten bleibt und bei Einhaltung der Bemessungsregeln der Einfluss aus einer möglichen Vorschädigung auf das Verhalten unter Gebrauchslasten vernachlässigt werden darf. Diese Annahme spiegelt nicht das tatsächliche Verhalten ermüdungsbeanspruchter Kopfbolzendübel wider. Es wird über die Ergebnisse des Projektes C8 des Sonderforschungsbereiches SFB 398 der DFG berichtet. Auf der Grundlage umfangreicher experimenteller Untersuchungen werden Schädigungsmodelle zur Beurteilung des Einflusses hochzyklischer Vorbelastungen auf das lokale Tragverhalten von Kopfbolzendübeln entwickelt. Basierend auf diesen Ergebnissen werden die Auswirkungen der lokalen Schädigung an Kopfbolzendübeln auf das globale Tragverhalten ermüdungsbeanspruchter Verbundkonstruktionen untersucht.
Perturbation Selection and Local Influence Analysis for Nonlinear Structural Equation Model
Authors: Chen Fei , Zhu Hong-Tu , Lee Sik-Yum
Published: March 2009

Local influence analysis is an important statistical method for studying the sensitivity of a proposed model to model inputs. One of its important issues is related to the appropriate choice of a perturbation vector. In this paper, we develop a general method to select an appropriate perturbation vector and a second-order local influence measure to address this issue in the context of latent variable models. An application to nonlinear structural equation models is considered. Six perturbation schemes are investigated, including three schemes under which simultaneous perturbations are made on components of latent vectors to assess the influence of these components and pinpoint the influential ones. The proposed procedure is illustrated by artificial examples and a simulation study as well as a real example.
Pain as a stressor: Effects of prior nociceptive stimulation on escape responding of rats to thermal stimulation
Authors: Vierck Charles J. , Green Megan , Yezierski Robert P.
Published: March 2009

In our previous studies, psychological stress was shown to enhance operant escape responding of male and female rats. The stressors that produced hyperalgesia were physical restraint and social defeat. Nociceptive input also elicits stress reactions, generating the prediction that pain would facilitate pain under certain circumstances. For example, the usual method of evaluating stress in laboratory animals is to test for effects after termination of the stressor. Accordingly, operant escape performance of male and female rats was evaluated during two successive trials involving nociceptive thermal stimulation. The intent was to determine whether nociceptive sensitivity differed on first trials and during pain‐induced stress on second trials. Compared to a first trial of 44.5 °C stimulation, escape responding increased during a second trial of 44.5 °C stimulation (preceded by an escape trial of 10 °C). Similarly, escape from cold (10 °C) was enhanced when preceded by escapable 44.5 °C stimulation. Thus, prior nociceptive stimulation enhanced escape from aversive thermal stimulation. Facilitation of pain by a preceding pain experience is consistent with stress‐induced hyperalgesia and contrasts with other models of pain inhibition by concurrent nociceptive stimulation.
Effect of ε subunit on the rotation of thermophilic Bacillus F1‐ATPase
Authors: Tsumuraya Masato , Furuike Shou , Adachi Kengo , Kinosita Kazuhiko , Yoshida Masasuke
Published: March 2009

F1‐ATPase is an ATP‐driven motor in which γε rotates in the α3β3‐cylinder. It is attenuated by MgADP inhibition and by the ε subunit in an inhibitory form. The non‐inhibitory form of ε subunit of thermophilic Bacillus PS3 F1‐ATPase is stabilized by ATP‐binding with micromolar K
d at 25 °C. Here, we show that at [ATP] > 2 μM, ε does not affect rotation of PS3 F1‐ATPase but, at 200 nM ATP, ε prolongs the pause of rotation caused by MgADP inhibition while the frequency of the pause is unchanged. It appears that ε undergoes reversible transition to the inhibitory form at [ATP] below K
d.
The MerE protein encoded by transposon Tn21 is a broad mercury transporter in Escherichia coli
Authors: Kiyono Masako , Sone Yuka , Nakamura Ryosuke , Pan-Hou Hidemitsu , Sakabe Kou
Published: March 2009

In order to clarify the physiological role of the merE gene of transposon Tn21, a pE4 plasmid that contained the merR gene of plasmid pMR26 from Pseudomonas strain K‐62, and the merE gene of Tn21 from the Shigella flexneri plasmid NR1 (R100) was constructed. Bacteria with plasmid pE4 (merR‐o/p‐merE) were more hypersensitive to CH3Hg(I) and Hg(II), and took up significantly more CH3Hg(I) and Hg(II), than the isogenic strain. The MerE protein encoded by pE4 was localized in the membrane cell fraction, but not in the soluble fraction. Based on these experimental results, we suggest for the first time that the merE gene is a broad mercury transporter mediating the transport of both CH3Hg(I) and Hg(II) across the bacterial membrane.
Identification and characterization of Runx2 phosphorylation sites involved in matrix metalloproteinase‐13 promoter activation
Authors: Selvamurugan Nagarajan , Shimizu Emi , Lee Minnkyong , Liu Tong , Li Hong , Partridge Nicola C.
Published: March 2009

Matrix metalloproteinase‐13 (MMP‐13) plays a critical role in parathyroid hormone (PTH)‐induced bone resorption. PTH acts via protein kinase A (PKA) to phosphorylate and stimulate the transactivation of Runx2 for MMP‐13 promoter activation. We show here that PTH stimulated Runx2 phosphorylation in rat osteoblastic cells. Runx2 was phosphorylated on serine 28 and threonine 340 after 8‐bromo cyclic adenosine mono phosphate (8‐Br‐cAMP) treatment. We further demonstrate that in the presence of 8‐Br‐cAMP, the wild‐type Runx2 construct stimulated MMP‐13 promoter activity, while the Runx2 construct having mutations at three phosphorylation sites (S28, S347 and T340) was unable to stimulate MMP‐13 promoter activity. Thus, we have identified the Runx2 phosphorylation sites necessary for PKA stimulated MMP‐13 promoter activation and this event may be critical for bone remodeling.
Staying Home to Give Birth: Why Women in the United States Choose Home Birth
Authors: Boucher Debora , Bennett Catherine , McFarlin Barbara , Freeze Rixa
Published: March 2009

Approximately 1% of American women give birth at home and face substantial obstacles when they make this choice. This study describes the reasons that women in the United States choose home birth. A qualitative descriptive secondary analysis was conducted in a previously collected dataset obtained via an online survey. The sample consisted of 160 women who were US residents and planned a home birth at least once. Content analysis was used to study the responses from women to one essay question: “Why did you choose home birth?” Women who participated in the study were mostly married (91%) and white (87%). The majority (62%) had a college education. Our analysis revealed 508 separate statements about why these women chose home birth. Responses were coded and categorized into 26 common themes. The most common reasons given for wanting to birth at home were: 1) safety (n = 38); 2) avoidance of unnecessary medical interventions common in hospital births (n = 38); 3) previous negative hospital experience (n = 37); 4) more control (n = 35); and 5) comfortable, familiar environment (n = 30). Another dominant theme was women's trust in the birth process (n = 25). Women equated medical intervention with reduced safety and trusted their bodies'inherent ability to give birth without interference.
The three worlds of European civil society—What role for civil society for what kind of Europe?
Authors: Kohler-Koch Beate
Published: March 2009

The article argues that it is difficult to agree on the political role and the democratic credentials of civil society in the EU not just because the concept of civil society is ambiguous but also because civil society is linked to different images of the nature of the European polity. An analytical model is developed that categorises three distinct conceptions of the Union and spells out the different roles civil society may take in each of them to render the EU more democratic. The empirical analysis exposes the implicit conceptions which inspired the Commission to involve civil society in EU governance and investigates how these conceptions changed with the formalisation of EU–society relations. The article concludes that no coherent normative theoretical concept gained ground and, consequently, civil society is assigned contradictory roles which do not add up but depreciate the democratic state of the Union.
Speaking the gendered body: The performative construction of commercial femininities and masculinities via body-part vocabulary
Authors: MOTSCHENBACHER HEIKO
Published: March 2009

This study illustrates how body-part vocabulary can contribute to linguistic gender construction. As a starting point, gendering mechanisms pertinent to body-part terms are delineated. On a theoretical plane, the study is indebted to poststructuralism and the notion of performativity in identity construction. Gender performativity via body-part vocabulary is explored by quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing material from a corpus of 2,000 advertisements from the two magazines,CosmopolitanandMen’s Health, yielding evidence on how two specific commercial versions of femininity and masculinity are discursively constructed. The findings are highly stereotypical and therefore bear witness to body-part lexemes as traces of dominant gender discourses whose gender indexicality can be strategically exploited. The concluding discussion advances a theorization of linguistic identity construction in line with performativity, which departs from more traditional variationist approaches that see identity as a pre-discursive fact. (Language and gender, body, advertising discourse, body-part vocabulary, poststructuralism, performativity)
Streptococcus agalactiaepulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns cross capsular types
Authors: PILLAI P. , SRINIVASAN U. , ZHANG L. , BORCHARDT S. M. , DEBUSSCHER J. , MARRS C. F. , FOXMAN B.
Published: March 2009

Streptococcus agalactiaeis a genetically diverse organism; when typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multiple types appear within a single serotype. We tested whetherS. agalactiaePFGE types correspond to a specific serotype within individuals, and different individuals from the same geographic area. A total of 872S. agalactiaeisolates from 152 healthy individuals were classified by PFGE and capsular serotype. Serotype V was the most homogeneous (Simpson's diversity index 0·54); and types III, II and Ib were mostly heterogeneous (Simpson's diversity index ⩾0·90). Within an individual, isolates with the same PFGE patterns had identical capsular types, but across individuals the same PFGE types sometimes occurred in different serotypes. Capsular type alone is insufficient to define epidemiological relatedness. Although PFGE types appear to be a valid surrogate for capsular typing of isolates from the same individual, it is not a valid surrogate for serotype in isolates from different individuals.
Effectiveness of short-term, enhanced, infection control support in improving compliance with infection control guidelines and practice in nursing homes: a cluster randomized trial
Authors: GOPAL RAO G. , JEANES A. , RUSSELL H. , WILSON D. , ATERE-ROBERTS E. , O'SULLIVAN D. , DONALDSON N.
Published: March 2009

In this prospective cluster randomized controlled trial we evaluated the impact of short-term provision of enhanced infection control support on infection control practice in nursing homes in South London. Twelve nursing homes were recruited, six each in intervention (300 residents) and control (265 residents) groups. Baseline observations of hand hygiene facilities, environmental cleanliness and safe disposal of clinical waste showed poor compliance in both groups. Post-intervention observations showed improvement in both groups. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the compliance for hand hygiene facilities (P=0·69); environmental cleanliness (P=0·43) and safe disposal of clinical waste (P=0·96). In both groups, greatest improvement was in compliance with safe disposal of clinical waste and the least improvement was in hand hygiene facilities. Since infection control practice improved in intervention and control groups, we could not demonstrate that provision of short-term, enhanced, infection control support in nursing homes had a significant impact in infection control practice.
Promoting emotional competence in school-aged children: The effects of the PATHS curriculum
Authors: Greenberg Mark T. , Kusche Carol A. , Cook Elizabeth T. , Quamma Julie P.
Published: March 2009

This study examined the effectiveness of the PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) curriculum the emotional development of school-aged children. PATHS, a school-based preventive intervention model was designed to improve children's ability to discuss and understand emotions and emotion concepts. The intervention field trial included 30 classrooms in a randomized design and involved the assessment of 286 children from grades 2 and 3. Approximately 30% of the children were in self-contained special needs classrooms, with the remainder in regular education. Teachers were trained in the intervention model and provided PATHS lessons during most of the one school year. Results indicated that the intervention was effective for both low- and high-risk (special needs) children in improving their range of vocabulary and fluency in discussing emotional experiences, their efficacy beliefs regarding the management of emotions, and their developmental understanding of some aspects of emotions. In some instances, greater improvement was shown in children with higher teacher ratings of psychopathology. Discussion focused on the nature of change school-based prevention trials.
Apprehending attitudes and actions: Separable abilities in early development?
Authors: Hobson R. Peter
Published: March 2009

In this article, I explore whether there might be two separable components to person-perception and interpersonal engagement in infancy: the ability to apprehend other people's attitudes on the one hand, and the ability to perceive actions on the other. In support of this approach, I summarize some evidence from recent study of autistic adolescents' judgments of attitudes and actions manifest in moving point-light displays of people. I highlight the far-reaching cognitive as well associal-developmental implications of early interpersonal-affective engagement. I conclude by speculating that certain abnormalities that would stem from autistic individuals' impaired ability to perceive and engage with people's attitudes may be somewhat mitigated by their relative ability to perceive the actions of others.
An integrative approach to the study of social competence in adolescence
Authors: Lenhart Lisa A. , Rabiner David L.
Published: March 2009

Few studies have examined social competence in adolescents utilizing multiple sources of data, or have examined the role of the internal representation of others in terms of social problem-solving skills and social competence. The purpose of this study was to examine how constructs within social-cognitive (i.e., the problem-solving skill involving perspective integration) and object relations theory (i.e., internal representation of others) are related to adolescents' social adjustment assessed via self-report, teacher ratings, and behavioral observations. Results indicated that adolescents (N= 56) with more advanced problem-solving skills reported fewer behavioral/emotional problems, were rated as less aggressive by teachers, and were rated as more competent in behavioral interactions. Furthermore, adolescents' problem-solving skills appeared to mediate the relationship between the representation of others and behavioral ratings of competence. These results suggest that a broader understanding of social competence in adolescence can be attained by including information on the internal representation of others, which is consistent with the approach that involves integrating concepts from different theoretical viewpoints (i.e., social cognitive and object relations).
The role of child maltreatment in early deviations in cognitive and affective processing abilities and later peer relationship problems
Authors: Rogosch Fred A. , Cicchetti Dante , Aber J. Lawrence
Published: March 2009

Despite considerable research demonstrating the adverse consequences of child maltreatment, including a heightened risk for adaptational failures and psychopathology, longitudinal evaluations of processes contributing to negative outcomes have been limited. Problems in peer relations constitute a critical developmental risk for future maladaptation among maltreated children, transferring relationship disturbance from the family to new interpersonal contexts. The linkages of a history of child maltreatment to early deviations in cognitive/affective processes, which subsequently lead to difficulties in peer relations were examined. Specifically, in a sample of 46 maltreated and 43 nonmaltreated low-income children, laboratory assessments of affect understanding and cognitive control functioning were conducted, followed by later peer and teacher assessments of peer relations in the school setting. Maltreated children were shown to evidence early deviations in their understanding of negative affect as well as immaturity in their cognitive controls. Maltreated children also were shown to have lower social effectiveness and higher levels of undercontrolled and aggressive behavior in the school setting. Physically abused children were found to be more rejected by their peers. Cognitive control functioning partially mediated the effect of maltreatment on later social effectiveness. Negative affect understanding mediated both the relation of maltreatment on later dysregulated behavior in the peer setting and the effect of physical abuse on later rejection by peers. The results are discussed in terms of their support for organizational/transactional theory and the implications they have for prevention and intervention.
The impact of friends' deviant behavior on early onset of delinquency: Longitudinal data from 6 to 13 years of age
Authors: Tremblay Richard E. , Mâsse Louise C. , Vitaro Frank , Dobkin Patricia L.
Published: March 2009

Sociological theories suggest that association with deviant friends is a necessary step on the path to early onset of delinquent behavior, while personality theories imply that deviant behavior will be stable from childhood to adulthood. These two rival hypotheses were tested with boys (N= 758) recruited from 53 schools in low socioeconomic areas of Montreal. Disruptive behavior in kindergarten was assessed by teachers; aggression and likability at ages 10, 11, and 12 years were rated by classroom peers; delinquent behaviors at ages 11, 12, and 13 years were reported by subjects. Best friend dyads were created by having boys independently identify each other as one of four best friends. Three independent samples were created to replicate findings at different ages (10–11 years, 11–12 years, and 12–13 years). Results of LISREL analyses from the three samples indicated that the main path toward early onset of both overt and covert delinquency was from kindergarten disruptive behavior to aggression between ages 10 to 12 years, and to delinquency from ages 11 to 13 years. Best friends' behavioral characteristics were associated with the subjects' own behavioral characteristics between ages of 10 and 12 years, but did not explain the level of self-reported delinquency the following year, when the subjects' own behavioral characteristics had been taken into account. Because friends tend to share the same behavioral characteristics, they are more likely to foster continuity in behavior than change. We suggest that the influence of significant peers other than best friends be investigated and that a categorical approach be used to try to identify subgroups of boys who may be highly responsive to peers' influence.
The Waterloo Longitudinal Project: Predicting internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescence
Authors: Rubin Kenneth H. , Chen Xinyin , McDougall Patricia , Bowker Anne , McKinnon Joanne
Published: March 2009

We examined childhood social withdrawal and aggression as predictive of adolescent maladaption, comparing and contrasting social and emotional outcomes associated with aggression and social withdrawal. We also focused on childhood social competence as a predictor of adolescent adaptation. The sample comprised 60 children for whom a complete data set was available at both ages 7 and 14 years. The predictors were aggregated measures of social withdrawal, aggression, and social competence derived from three sources—behavioral observations, peer assessments, and teacher ratings. The outcomes focused primarily on markers of internalizing and externalizing problems. The results indicated that childhood social withdrawal uniquely and significantly contributed to the prediction of adolescent loneliness, felt insecurity, and negative self-regard. Aggression predicted adolescent delinquent activity; social competence predicted felt security in the peer group and substance use in adolescence.
Peer ecology of male adolescent drug use
Authors: Dishion Thomas J. , Capaldi Deborah , Spracklen Kathleen M. , Li Fuzhong
Published: March 2009

This report represents the perspective that adolescent substance use is best understood as an adaptation to an ecology defined jointly by families and peers. Hypotheses were tested on a sample of 206 boys in the Oregon Youth Study. The analyses proceeded in four steps. First, it was found that the transition from middle to high school was a period of rapid growth in smoking for boys with a prior history of low sociometric status. Second, a structural equation model was tested showing that deviant peer association in early adolescence mediated the relation between peer and family experiences in middle childhood and later substance use. Third, an observational study of the boys with their best friends revealed that active support for rule breaking and substance use was associated with immediate escalation in substance use during the transition to high school. Finally, it was found that ineffective parental monitoring practices were highly associated with the boy's involvement in a deviant peer network. In fact, a high degree of similarity was found between boys and their best friends for substance use when parental monitoring was low. These analyses show that substance use in adolescence is embedded within the proximal peer environment, which in turn, emerges and is amplified within a context of low adult involvement and monitoring.
The experience-dependent maturation of a regulatory system in the orbital prefrontal cortex and the origin of developmental psychopathology
Authors: Schore Allan N.
Published: March 2009

The maturation of corticolimbic systems that neurobiologically mediate essential affective and social regulatory functions is experience dependent. During the first and second years of life, the infant's affective experiences, especially those embedded in the relationship with the primary caregiver, elicit patterns of psychobiological alterations that influence the activity of subcortically produced trophic bioamines, peptides, and steroids that regulate the critical period growth and organization of the developing neocortex. Interactive attachment experiences of psychobiological attunemcnt, stressful misattunement, and stress-regulating repair and reattunement that maximize positive and minimize negative affect are imprinted into the orbitofrontal cortex — the hierarchical apex of the limbic system that is expanded in the early developing right hemisphere. During the critical period of maturation of thissystem, prolonged episodes of intense and unregulated interactive stress are manifest in disorganizing experiences of heightened negative affect and altered levels of stress hormones, and this chaotic biochemical alteration of the internal environment triggers an extensive apoptotic panellation of corticolimbic circuitries. In this manner less than optimal affect-regulating experiences with the primary caregiver are imprinted into the circuits of this frontolimbic system that is instrumental to attachment functions, thereby producing orbitofrontal organizations that neurobiologically express different patterns of insecure attachments. Such pathomorphogenetic outcomes result in structurally defective systems that, under stress, inefficiently regulate subcortical mechanisms that mediate the physiological processes that underlie emotion. The functional impairments of the cortical-subcortical circuitries of this prefrontal system are implicated in an enduring vulnerability to and the pathophysiology of various later forming psychiatric disorders.
The relations of regulation and emotionality to problem behavior in elementary school children
Authors: Eisenberg Nancy , Fabes Richard A. , Guthrie Ivanna K. , Murphy Bridget C. , Maszk Pat , Holmgren Robin , Suh Karen
Published: March 2009

The relations of regulation and emotionality to elementary school children's problem behavior was examined. Parents and teachers reported on children's problem behavior. One parent and teachers rated children on various measures of regulation (including resiliency) and emotionality; children's baseline heart rate and facial reactivity were assessed; and physiological and facial distress and gaze aversion while viewing a distress film sequence were measured. In general, low regulation, negative emotionality, and general and positive emotional intensity predicted problem behaviors. Teachers' reports of negative emotionality and regulation interacted in their relation to problem behaviors, with regulation apparently buffering the effects of moderate and high negative emotionality. Baseline heart rate and facial distress were related to low levels of problem behavior, and gaze aversion during the distress film segment was associated with low levels of problem behavior.
Development and neurotransmitter-environmental interactions
Authors: Rogeness Graham A. , McClure Erin B.
Published: March 2009

Norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5HT) are three of the more than thirty neurotransmitters (NTs) in the brain. Axons from a relatively small number of cell bodies located in the midbrain and brainstem branch out to connect with virtually all areas of the brain. Via these connections, these three NTs participate in the regulation of several behavioral systems that help modulate the interaction of the individual with his/her environment. Because the NT systems continue to develop after birth, interactions between the individual and his/her environment after birth may affect the development of these systems and have long-term effects on the individual's behavior. Animal studies indicate that early experience affects behavior and biogenic amine systems in the adult. For instance, one study showed that maternal deprivation, which is analogous to human neglect, affects the NE system in monkeys and may have a long-lasting effect on its development and function. In a previous study, similar relationships between early neglect and the NE system in humans were examined. Our results show that emotionally disturbed children with a history of neglect have lower dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH) activity, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of NE, than do children with no history of neglect. Additionally, the children with a history of neglect have lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, both of which are functions mediated by the NE system, than the other children studied. These results support findings in animal studies that neglect affects the development of the NE system in a long-lasting, if not permanent way.
Changes in attachment during the third year: Consequences and predictions
Authors: Fagot Beverly I. , Pears Katherine C.
Published: March 2009

Crittenden has proposed a system for classifying attachment during the preschool years. Ninety-six boys and girls were tested in the Strange Situation at 18 months and 30 months of age. Eighteen-month-olds were coded using the Ainsworth coding system, and the 30-month-olds were coded using Crittenden's preschool attachment coding system. When children changed classification categories, it was not random movement but was in accordance with Crittenden's predictions of reorganization of the child's capacities. Mothers and children were also observed in the home at 18 and 30 months of age, and children were observed in playgroups from 18 to 30 months of age. The children were rated by their teachers on problem behaviors and peer relations and given achievement tests at age 7 years. Parenting of the children and child behaviors at 30 months differed by attachment classification and predicted both children's performance on achievement tests and teacher reports of children's behavior at 7 years. The findings are discussed in terms of reorganization of working models of attachment on the basis of changing child competencies.
Characterological and behavioral self-blame in children: Assessment and development considerations
Authors: Cole David A. , Peeke Lachlan G. , Ingold Chris
Published: March 2009

A new instrument, the Why It Happened questionnaire, was developed for assessing characterological and behavior self-blame in two samples of third- through ninth-grade children (Sample 1: n = 121; sample 2: n = 322). Children's responses were very consistent within specific classes of negative events but only moderately consistent across time. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of open-ended and self-rating responses, respectively, revealed that children's self-blame attributions were only moderately consistent across different classes of negative events, and that children's tendency to make characterological and behavioral attributions were unrelated for academic events and moderately correlated for social events. Multiple regression revealed that characterological self-blame about academic and social events were not significantly related to self-reported depression until ninth grade. Implications for cognitive diathesis-stress models of depression for children are discussed.
Poor readers in adulthood: Psychosocial functioning
Authors: Maughan Barbara , Hagell Ann
Published: March 2009

Samples of poor and normal readers were followed into early adulthood to assess the implications of childhood reading difficulties for the transition to adulthood, and for early adult psychosocial functioning. Some group differences were found in patterns of early adult transitions, and, for women only, on wider measures of early adult functioning. Global self-esteem in adulthood did not differ between the childhood reading groups, and there were few marked variations in vulnerability to later psychiatric disorder. The findings are discussed in regard to differing developmental pathways for problems in adult functioning, ant the possible role of contextual changes in enabling more positive functioning for many childhood poor readers.
Antisocial development: A holistic approach
Authors: Stattin Håkan , Magnusson David
Published: March 2009

In this study, we examine issues related to the development of antisocial behavior, using data from three ongoing Swedish longitudinal projects. A correlational strategy is contrasted with a configurational approach. The correlational analyses reveal quite high temporal rank-order stabilities of behavioral problems, for both sexes, and also long-term statistical connections between childhood problems and adolescent and adult adjustment problems. However, these associations are of a modest size. This is to be expected in view of the operation of processes of a more temporary nature and of the timing of adjustment problems. It is argued here that a configurational approach, simultaneously taking into consideration relevant aspects of the individuals' risk panorama, offers a perspective on developmental pathways that is not provided by common multivariate approaches. Results from this more person-centered approach show the strong impact of adolescent multirisk patterns on future criminality and on drug and alcohol abuse. Findings also reveal that individual personal resources in adolescence may quite strongly reduce the risk of developing future criminality and drug and alcohol abuse for multiproblem individuals.