bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pycnogenol® Effects on Skin Elasticity and Hydration Coincide with Increased Gene Expressions of Collagen Type I and Hyaluronic Acid Synthase in Women
Authors: Marini A. , Grether-Beck S. , Jaenicke T. , Weber M. , Burki C. , Formann P. , Brenden H. , Schönlau F. , Krutmann J.
Published: January 2012

Introduction and Objectives: In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the use of nutritional supplements to benefit human skin. Molecular evidence substantiating such effects, however, is scarce. In the present study we investigated whether nutritional supplementation of women with the standardized pine bark extract Pycnogenol® will improve their cosmetic appearance and relate these effects to expression of corresponding molecular markers of their skin. Materials and Methods: For this purpose 20 healthy postmenopausal women were supplemented with Pycnogenol for 12 weeks. Before, during and after supplementation, their skin condition was assessed (i) by employing non-invasive, biophysical methods including corneometry, cutometry, visioscan and ultrasound analyses and (ii) by taking biopsies and subsequent PCR for gene expression analyses related to extracellular matrix homeostasis. Results: Pycnogenol supplementation was well tolerated in all volunteers. Pycnogenol significantly improved hydration and elasticity of skin. These effects were most pronounced in women presenting with dry skin conditions prior to the start of supplementation. The skin-physiological improvement was accompanied by a significant increase in the mRNA expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1 (HAS-1), an enzyme critically involved in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, and a noticeable increase in gene expression involved in collagen de novo synthesis. Conclusions: This study provides skin-physiological and for the first time molecular evidence that Pycnogenol supplementation benefits human skin by increasing skin hydration and skin elasticity. These effects are most likely due to an increased synthesis of extracellular matrix molecules such as hyaluronic acid and possibly collagen. Pycnogenol supplementation may thus be useful to counteract the clinical signs of skin aging.
Relationship between Speech Rate Perceived and Produced by the Listener
Authors: Schwab Sandra
Published: January 2012

The present research examines the impact of listeners’ own rate of speech production on their perception of speech rate. We recorded 28 native French speakers reading a passage at normal, fast and slow rates. The same speakers then assessed the rate of production of these samples by all speakers and at all rates (normal, fast and slow), using a magnitude estimation task. We show that there is an inverse relationship between listeners’ own rate of production and their judgment of rate, so that listeners with slower rates tend to overestimate sample rates relative to faster speakers. This effect of listeners’ own rate was present in the magnitude estimation results at slow and normal rates, but not at fast rates. Furthermore, listeners with a slow rate are more sensitive to rate differences within a given rate category (normal, fast and slow). The listener’s own rate should therefore be considered as a critical factor in speech rate perception.
Long Pentraxin 3/Tumor Necrosis Factor-Stimulated Gene-6 Interaction
Authors: Leali Daria , Inforzato Antonio , Ronca Roberto , Bianchi Roberta , Belleri Mirella , Coltrini Daniela , Di Salle Emanuela , Sironi Marina , Norata Giuseppe Danilo , Bottazzi Barbara , Garlanda Cecilia , Day Anthony J. , Presta Marco
Published: January 2012

Objective—

Angiogenesis is regulated by the balance between pro- and antiangiogenic factors and by extracellular matrix protein interactions. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a major proangiogenic inducer inhibited by the interaction with the soluble pattern recognition receptor long pentraxin 3 (PTX3). PTX3 is locally coexpressed with its ligand tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6), a secreted glycoprotein that cooperates with PTX3 in extracellular matrix assembly. Here, we characterized the effect of TSG-6 on PTX3/FGF2 interaction and FGF2-mediated angiogenesis.

Methods and Results—

Solid phase binding and surface plasmon resonance assays show that TSG-6 and FGF2 bind the PTX3 N-terminal domain with similar affinity. Accordingly, TSG-6 prevents FGF2/PTX3 interaction and suppresses the inhibition exerted by PTX3 on heparan sulfate proteoglycan/FGF2/FGF receptor complex formation and on FGF2-dependent angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Also, endogenous PTX3 exerts an inhibitory effect on vascularization induced by FGF2 in a murine subcutaneous Matrigel plug assay, the inhibition being abolished in
Ptx3
-null mice or by TSG-6 treatment in wild-type animals.

Conclusion—

TSG-6 reverts the inhibitory effects exerted by PTX3 on FGF2-mediated angiogenesis through competition of FGF2/PTX3 interaction. This may provide a novel mechanism to control angiogenesis in those pathological settings characterized by the coexpression of TSG-6 and PTX3, in which the relative levels of these proteins may fine-tune the angiogenic activity of FGF2.
p90RSK Targets the ERK5-CHIP Ubiquitin E3 Ligase Activity in Diabetic Hearts and Promotes Cardiac Apoptosis and Dysfunction
Authors: Le Nhat-Tu , Takei Yuichiro , Shishido Tetsuro , Woo Chang-Hoon , Chang Eugene , Heo Kyung-Sun , Lee Hakjoo , Lu Yan , Morrell Craig , Oikawa Masayoshi , McClain Carolyn , Wang Xin , Tournier Cathy , Molina Carlos A. , Taunton Jack , Yan Chen , Fujiwara Keigi , Patterson Cam , Yang Jay , Abe Jun-ichi
Published: January 2012

Rationale:

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is one of the key events in the development and progression of heart failure, and a crucial role for ICER (inducible cAMP early repressor) in this process has been previously reported. ERK5 is known to inhibit cardiac apoptosis after myocardial infarction (MI), especially in hyperglycemic states, via association with CHIP ubiquitin (Ub) ligase and subsequent upregulation of CHIP ligase activity, which induces ICER ubiquitination and subsequent protein degradation. The regulatory mechanism governing ERK5/CHIP interaction is unknown.

Objective:

We previously demonstrated increased p90RSK activation in the diabetic heart. As a logical extension of this work, we now investigate whether p90RSK activation inhibits ERK5-mediated CHIP activation, and subsequently increases ICER levels and apoptosis.

Methods and Results:

p90RSK activation inhibits ERK5/CHIP association and CHIP Ub ligase activity. p90RSK and CHIP share a common binding site in the ERK5 C-terminal domain (aa571–807). Overexpression of either p90RSK or an ERK5 fragment (aa571–807) inhibits ERK5/CHIP association, suggesting that p90RSK and CHIP competes for ERK5 binding and that p90RSK activation is critical for inhibiting ERK5/CHIP interaction. We also identified ERK5-S496 as being directly phosphorylated by p90RSK and demonstrated that an ERK5-S496A mutant significantly impairs Angiotensin II–mediated inhibition of CHIP activity and subsequent increase in ICER levels. In vivo, either cardiac-specific depletion of ERK5 or overexpression of p90RSK inhibits CHIP activity and accelerates cardiac apoptosis after MI—a phenomenon fully reversible by activating ERK5.

Conclusions:

These data suggest a role for p90RSK in inhibiting CHIP activity and promoting cardiac apoptosis through binding to and phosphorylation of ERK5-S496.
C/EBP Homologous Protein-10 (CHOP-10) Limits Postnatal Neovascularization Through Control of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Expression
Authors: Loinard Céline , Zouggari Yasmine , Rueda Patricia , Ramkhelawon Bhama , Cochain Clément , Vilar José , Récalde Alice , Richart Adéle , Charue Dominique , Duriez Micheline , Mori Masataka , Arenzana-Seisdedos Fernando , Lévy Bernard I. , Heymes Christophe , Silvestre Jean-Sébastien
Published: January 2012

Background—

C/EBP homologous protein-10 (CHOP-10) is a novel developmentally regulated nuclear protein that emerges as a critical transcriptional integrator among pathways regulating differentiation, proliferation, and survival. In the present study, we analyzed the role of CHOP-10 in postnatal neovascularization.

Methods and Results—

Ischemia was induced by right femoral artery ligation in wild-type and CHOP-10
−/−
mice. In capillary structure of skeletal muscle, CHOP-10 mRNA and protein levels were upregulated by ischemia and diabetes mellitus. Angiographic score, capillary density, and foot perfusion were increased in CHOP-10
−/−
mice compared with wild-type mice. This effect was associated with a reduction in apoptosis and an upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels in ischemic legs of CHOP-10
−/−
mice compared with wild-type mice. In agreement with these results, eNOS mRNA and protein levels were significantly upregulated in CHOP-10 short interfering RNA–transfected human endothelial cells, whereas overexpression of CHOP-10 inhibited basal transcriptional activation of the eNOS promoter. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we also showed that CHOP-10 was bound to the eNOS promoter. Interestingly, enhanced postischemic neovascularization in CHOP-10
−/−
mice was fully blunted in CHOP-10/eNOS double-knockout animals. Finally, we showed that induction of diabetes mellitus is associated with a marked upregulation of CHOP-10 that substantially inhibited postischemic neovascularization.

Conclusions—

This study identifies CHOP-10 as an important transcription factor modulating vessel formation and maturation.
Risk of Recurrent Stroke in Patients With Silent Brain Infarction in the Prevention Regimen for Effectively Avoiding Second Strokes (PRoFESS) Imaging Substudy
Authors: Weber Ralph , Weimar Christian , Wanke Isabel , Möller-Hartmann Claudia , Gizewski Elke R. , Blatchford Jon , Hermansson Karin , Demchuk Andrew M. , Forsting Michael , Sacco Ralph L. , Saver Jeffrey L. , Warach Steven , Diener Hans Christoph , Diehl Anke ,   for the PRoFESS Imaging Substudy Group
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

Silent brain infarctions are associated with an increased risk of stroke in healthy individuals. Risk of recurrent stroke in patients with both symptomatic and silent brain infarction (SBI) has only been investigated in patients with cardioembolic stroke in the European Atrial Fibrillation Trial. We assessed whether patients with recent noncardioembolic stroke and SBI detected on MRI are at increased risk for recurrent stroke, other cardiovascular events, and mortality.

Methods—

The prevalence of SBI detected on MRI was assessed in 1014 patients enrolled in the imaging substudy of the Prevention Regimen for Effectively Avoiding Second Strokes (PRoFESS) trial. The primary outcome was first recurrence of stroke in patients with both symptomatic stroke and SBI in comparison with age- and sex-matched patients with stroke without SBI. Secondary outcomes were a combined vascular end point, other vascular events, and mortality. The 2 groups were compared using conditional logistic regression.

Results—

Silent brain infarction was detected in 207 (20.4%) of the 1014 patients. Twenty-seven (13.0%) patients with SBI and 19 (9.2%) without SBI had a recurrent stroke (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.79–2.56;
P
=0.24) during a mean follow-up of 2.5 years. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference for all secondary outcome parameters between patients with SBI and matched patients without SBI.

Conclusions—

The presence of SBI in patients with recent mild noncardioembolic ischemic stroke could not be shown to be an independent risk factor for recurrent stroke, other vascular events, or a higher mortality rate.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00153062.
Abnormal Glucose Regulation in Patients With Acute Stroke Across China
Authors: Jia Qian , Zheng Huaguang , Zhao Xingquan , Wang Chunxue , Liu Gaifen , Wang Yilong , Liu Liping , Li Hao , Zhong Liyong , Wang Yongjun
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

The prevalence of diabetes is high among patients with ischemic stroke. However, the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation and clinical characteristics among patients with stroke in the Chinese population is uncertain. We investigated the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in Chinese patients after stroke onset in a nationwide cohort study and investigated abnormal glucose regulation in patients with acute stroke across China (ACROSS-China).

Methods—

The ACROSS-China study consecutively recruited patients hospitalized for acute stroke in 2008 to 2009 and investigated the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes among the patients on day 14 after stroke onset. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in the diagnosis of abnormal glucose regulation.

Results—

The prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation was 68.7% among all the patients with stroke. Diabetes was identified in 42.3% of all the patients (45.8% for patients with ischemic stroke, 31.2% for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, and 26.4% for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, respectively). Prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance) was identified in 26.4% of all the patients with stroke. The prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance was the highest in the patients with atherothrombotic infarction (73.4%).

Conclusions—

The prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation was high in Chinese patients with acute stroke, especially in patients with atherothrombotic infarction. Oral glucose tolerance test identified a large percentage of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance after stroke onset.
Residual Flow After Cerebral Aneurysm Coil Occlusion
Authors: Lavoie Pascale , Gariépy Jean-Luc , Milot Geneviève , Jodoin Steve , Bédard Fernand , Trottier Francois , Verreault René
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

The purpose of this study was to estimate the performance measures of MR angiography (MRA) in the diagnosis of aneurysm residual flow after coil occlusion.

Methods—

Patients having at least 1 cerebral aneurysm treated with coil occlusion were prospectively and consecutively enrolled. Time of flight and contrast-enhanced MRA were performed the same day of the DSA follow-up. The degree of aneurysm occlusion and dimensions of the residual flow were evaluated by independent readers at MRA and digital subtraction angiogram. MRA performance measures were estimated in a cross-sectional analysis and repeated in subgroups of aneurysm sizes and locations. MRA predictive values for recurrence were also estimated using a longitudinal design.

Results—

We obtained 167 aneurysm evaluations for each imaging modality. Class 3 residual flow was seen on digital subtraction angiogram follow-up in 27%. The sensitivity and specificity of MRA was 88% (95% CI, 80–94) and 79% (95% CI, 67–88), respectively. The positive predictive value for a Class 3 recurrence was 67% (95% CI, 51–80) and the negative predictive value was 93% (95% CI, 86–97). Time-of-flight MRA underestimated the length of the residual flow (
P
=0.039), whereas contrast-enhanced MRA overestimated its width (
P
<0.0001). MRA sensitivity for a Class 3 residual flow was lower for aneurysms <6 mm (
P
=0.01).

Conclusions—

MRA has sufficient accuracy for screening of aneurysm residual flow after coil occlusion. Due to its lower negative predictive value, recurrent aneurysms should be confirmed with digital subtraction angiogram before planning a retreatment. Routine use of MRA to follow small aneurysms should wait better estimation of its performance in this particular subgroup.
Delirium in Acute Stroke
Authors: Shi Qiyun , Presutti Roseanna , Selchen Daniel , Saposnik Gustavo
Published: January 2012

Background and Purpose—

Delirium is common in the early stage after hospitalization for an acute stroke. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the outcomes of acute stroke patients with delirium.

Methods—

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library databases, and PsychInfo for relevant articles published in English up to September 2011. We included observational studies for review. Two reviewers independently assessed studies to determine eligibility, validity, and quality. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality and secondary outcomes were mortality at 12 months, institutionalization, and length of hospital stay.

Results—

Among 78 eligible studies, 10 studies (n=2004 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Stroke patients with delirium had higher inpatient mortality (OR, 4.71; 95% CI, 1.85–11.96) and mortality at 12 months (OR, 4.91; 95% CI, 3.18–7.6) compared to nondelirious patients. Patients with delirium also tended to stay longer in hospital compared to those who did not have delirium (mean difference, 9.39 days; 95% CI, 6.67–12.11) and were more likely to be discharged to a nursing homes or other institutions (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 2.21–5.21).

Conclusions—

Stroke patients with development of delirium have unfavorable outcomes, particularly higher mortality, longer hospitalizations, and a greater degree of dependence after discharge. Early recognition and prevention of delirium may improve outcomes in stroke patients.
A Comparison of Three Prolonged Periods of Heavy Rainfall over the Hawaiian Islands
Authors: Jayawardena I. M. Shiromani , Chen Yi-Leng , Nash Andrew J. , Kodama Kevin
Published: January 2012

The anomalous circulation patterns during an unusually prolonged stormy-weather period in Hawaii from 19 February to 2 April 2006 are analyzed and are compared with those of two previously known prolonged heavy-rainfall periods (March 1951 and February 1979). The circulation patterns for these three periods are characterized by 1) a negative Pacific–North American (PNA) pattern in the midlatitudes with a blocking high southwest of the Aleutian Islands, 2) retraction and splitting of the zonal jet into a polar jet north of 50°N and a persistent subtropical jet to the south over the central Pacific Ocean, 3) an anomalous low west of the Hawaiian Islands embedded in the subtropical jet, and 4) a weaker-than-normal Hadley circulation in the mid-Pacific. The moisture advected from low latitudes by the southerly wind component east of the persistent anomalous low, combined with upward motion, provides the large-scale setting for the unusually prolonged unsettled weather across the Hawaiian Islands. For all three cases, the prolonged stormy weather started after the onset of large-scale blocking and a negative PNA pattern over the North Pacific and the occurrence of a persistent anomalous low embedded in the subtropical jet west of the Hawaiian Islands. Furthermore, the persistent low was located at the optimal position to bring moisture from the central equatorial Pacific to Hawaii. The stormy weather ceased after the midlatitude blocking pattern weakened and the anomalous low in the subtropics decayed and/or shifted westward. There are no apparent common precursors in the 2-week period prior to the prolonged stormy weather among these three cases, however.
Interannual Variability of Indian Summer Monsoon arising from Interactions between Seasonal Mean and Intraseasonal Oscillations
Authors: Suhas E. , Neena J. M. , Goswami B. N.
Published: January 2012

A significant fraction of interannual variability (IAV) of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) is known to be governed by “internal” dynamics arising from interactions between high-frequency fluctuations and the annual cycle. While several studies indicate that monsoon intraseasonal oscillations (MISOs) are at the heart of such internal IAV of the monsoon, the exact mechanism through which MISOs influence the seasonal mean monsoon IAV has remained elusive so far. Here it is proposed that exchange of kinetic energy (KE) between the seasonal mean and MISOs provides a conceptual framework for understanding the role of intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) in causing IAV and interdecadal variability (IDV) of the ISM. The rate of KE exchange between seasonal mean and ISOs is calculated in frequency domain for each Northern Hemispheric summer season over the ISM domain, using 44 yr of the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) data. The seasonal mean KE and the rate of KE exchange between seasonal mean and ISO shows a significant relationship at both the 850- and 200-hPa pressure levels. Since the rate of KE exchange between seasonal mean and ISO is found to be independent of known external forcing, the variability in seasonal mean KE arising from this exchange process can be considered as an internal component explaining about 20% of IAV and about 50% of IDV. Contrary to the many modeling studies attributing the weakening of tropical circulation to the stabilization of the atmosphere by global warming, this paper provides an alternative view that internal dynamics arising from scale interactions might be playing a significant role in determining the decreasing strength of the monsoon circulation.
Meteorological Causes of the Secular Variations in Observed Extreme Precipitation Events for the Conterminous United States
Authors: Kunkel Kenneth E. , Easterling David R. , Kristovich David A. R. , Gleason Byron , Stoecker Leslie , Smith Rebecca
Published: January 2012

Daily extreme precipitation events, exceeding a threshold for a 1-in-5-yr occurrence, were identified from a network of 935 Cooperative Observer stations for the period of 1908–2009. Each event was assigned a meteorological cause, categorized as extratropical cyclone near a front (FRT), extratropical cyclone near center of low (ETC), tropical cyclone (TC), mesoscale convective system (MCS), air mass (isolated) convection (AMC), North American monsoon (NAM), and upslope flow (USF). The percentage of events ascribed to each cause were 54% for FRT, 24% for ETC, 13% for TC, 5% for MCS, 3% for NAM, 1% for AMC, and 0.1% for USF. On a national scale, there are upward trends in events associated with fronts and tropical cyclones, but no trends for other meteorological causes. On a regional scale, statistically significant upward trends in the frontal category are found in five of the nine regions. For ETCs, there are statistically significant upward trends in the Northeast and east north central. For the NAM category, the trend in the West is upward. The central region has seen an upward trend in events caused by TCs.
A Bias in the Midtropospheric Channel Warm Target Factor on the NOAA-9 Microwave Sounding Unit
Authors: Po-Chedley Stephen , Fu Qiang
Published: January 2012

The University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH), Remote Sensing Systems (RSS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have constructed long-term temperature records for deep atmospheric layers using satellite Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) and Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) observations. However, these groups disagree on the magnitude of global temperature trends since 1979, including the trend for the midtropospheric layer (TMT). This study evaluates the selection of the MSU TMT warm target factor for the NOAA-9 satellite using five homogenized radiosonde products as references. The analysis reveals that the UAH TMT product has a positive bias of 0.051 ± 0.031 in the warm target factor that artificially reduces the global TMT trend by 0.042 K decade−1 for 1979–2009. Accounting for this bias increases the global UAH TMT trend from 0.038 to 0.080 K decade−1, effectively eliminating the trend difference between UAH and RSS and decreasing the trend difference between UAH and NOAA by 47%. This warm target factor bias directly affects the UAH lower tropospheric (TLT) product and tropospheric temperature trends derived from a combination of TMT and lower stratospheric (TLS) channels.
Anti-Heat Shock Protein 27 Titers and Oxidative Stress Levels are Elevated in Patients With Valvular Heart Disease
Authors: Rahsepar Amir Ali , Mirzaee Asadollah , Moodi Fatemeh , Moohebati Mohsen , Tavallaie Shima , Eshraghi Ali , Alavi Maryam-Sadat , Zarrabi Laya , Pourghadamyari Hossein , Paydar Roghayeh , Khojasteh Roshanak , Mousavi Somayeh , Kia Nadia , Amini Maral , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid , Ferns Gordon A. A.
Published: January 2012

We studied the immune responses to heat shock protein (Hsp)-27 and pro-oxidant–antioxidant balance (PAB) values in patients with valvular heart disease, but free of angiographically evident coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients who were candidates for valvuloplasty surgery and 30 healthy matched controls were recruited. The anti-Hsp-27 antibody titers were 0.35 ± 0.04 absorbency units (AU) in the valvuloplasty group, being significantly higher than for the controls (0.11 ± 0.02 AU; P < .05). The PAB values were significantly higher in cases (134.67 ± 13.69 Hamidi-Koliakos(HK) unit) when compared with controls (49.78 ± 6.75 HK unit; P < .05). In cases, the ejection fraction was inversely correlated with anti-Hsp-27 antibody ( P < .05) but was not significantly related to PAB values ( P > .05). Based on the echocardiographic findings, the patients had no evident heart failure, but the high levels of anti-Hsp-27 and PAB values in patients with valvular heart disease may indicate that these variables can be used as markers of heart failure. However, a longitudinal study is required to confirm this hypothesis.
Natural Resources, Territorial Right, and Global Distributive Justice
Authors: Moore Margaret
Published: January 2012

The current statist order assumes that states have a right to make rules involving the transfer and/or extraction of natural resources within the territory. Cosmopolitan theories of global justice have questioned whether the state is justified in its control over natural resources, typically by pointing out that having resources is a matter of good luck, and this unfairness should be addressed. This paper argues that self-determination does generate a right over resources, which others should not interfere with. It does not entail, however, that there is no obligation on rich countries to redistribute to poor countries. Indeed, in some rare instances, it might be necessary for a particular political community to use its resources, but the presumption is that the collectively self-determining group (the political community) should have the right to decide that.
School Variation in Students’ Experiences of High School Relationship and Marriage Education Courses
Authors: Halpern-Meekin Sarah
Published: January 2012

Previous research on high school relationship and marriage education (RME) has shown small but positive course effects. However, these studies have pooled results across schools, without exploring differences in outcomes by school. This article examines variations in students’ RME course experiences by school, captured in interviews. It compares these against the average change in students’ relationship skills from pre- to postexposure at each school, measured in surveys. Results show that at schools where students show quantitative gains in relationship skills during the course, qualitative differences are also visible—students discuss learning a wide variety of course lessons, relevant to both adolescent and adult relationships. At schools where students do not show quantitative gains in relationship skills, they describe learning a limited number of lessons. Findings confirm the importance of exploring variation in course effects across schools and demonstrate that successful courses affect students in a variety of respects simultaneously.
Men’s Perceptions of Women’s Rights and Changing Gender Relations in South Africa
Authors: Dworkin Shari L. , Colvin Christopher , Hatcher Abbey , Peacock Dean
Published: January 2012

Emerging out of increased attention to gender equality within violence and HIV prevention efforts in South African society has been an intensified focus on masculinities. Garnering a deeper understanding of how men respond to shifting gender relations and rights on the ground is of urgent importance, particularly since social constructions of gender are implicated in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As social scientists collaborating on a rights-based HIV and antiviolence program, we sought to understand masculinities, rights, and gender norms across six high HIV/AIDS seroprevalence provinces in South Africa. Drawing on focus group research, we explore the ways that men who are engaged in HIV and antiviolence programming can often be simultaneously resistant to and embracing of changes in masculinities, women’s rights, and gender relations. We use our findings on men’s responses to changing gender relations to make suggestions for how to better engage men in HIV and antiviolence programs.
Extensive Mothering
Authors: Christopher Karen
Published: January 2012

Social scientists have provided rich descriptions of the ascendant cultural ideologies surrounding motherhood and paid work. In this article, I use in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of 40 employed mothers to explore how they navigate the “intensive mother” and “ideal worker” ideologies and construct their own accounts of good mothering. Married mothers in this sample construct scripts of “extensive mothering,” in which they delegate substantial amounts of the day-to-day child care to others, and reframe good mothering as being “in charge” of and ultimately responsible for their children’s well-being. Single mothers describe extensive mothering in different ways, and their narratives suggest less accountability to the “intensive mothering” model. Mothers in this sample also justify employment in novel ways: They emphasize the benefits of employment for themselves—not only their children—and they reject the long work hours imposed by an ideal worker model. The article ends with the implications of extensive mothering for the motherhood and employment literatures and for gender equality.
Looking Back, Moving Ahead
Authors: Collins Patricia Hill
Published: January 2012

Patricia Hill Collins reflects upon her past, present, and future scholarship.
Efficacy and suicidal risk for antidepressants in paediatric and adolescent patients
Authors: Julious Steven A
Published: January 2012

A number of meta-analyses have been undertaken to assess both the safety and efficacy of antidepressants in paediatric and adolescent patients. This article updates the analyses with additionally reported trials. The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether antidepressant treatments are associated with an increased risk of suicide-related outcomes in paediatric and adolescent patients. Also, in the same population, to assess whether antidepressant treatments are beneficial in terms of efficacy. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of antidepressant treatments compared with placebo in paediatric and adolescent patients was undertaken of 6039 individuals participating in 35 randomised controlled trials. For suicide-related outcomes suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviour or ideation were examined. These data presented the additional problem of the events of interest being rare. An analysis was described in this article to account for the rare events that also included studies which had no events on either treatment arm. There were trends to indicate that active treatments increased the risk of these events in absolute terms. For efficacy, the results indicated that antidepressant treatments did have a statistically significant effects compared to placebo but the effect was less for the trials in depression. The results are in the main consistent with previous meta-analyses on a smaller number of trials. There was evidence of an increased risk in suicide-related outcomes on antidepressant treatments, while antidepressant treatments were also shown to be efficacious.
Multiple comparisons with a control for a latent variable model with ordered categorical responses
Authors: Lu Tong-Yu , Poon Wai-Yin , Cheung Siu Hung
Published: January 2012

Ordered categorical data are frequently encountered in clinical studies. A popular method for comparing the efficacy of treatments is to use logistic regression with the proportional odds assumption. The test statistic is based on the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test. However, the proportional odds assumption may not be appropriate. In such cases, the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis is much inflated even though the treatments have the same mean efficacy. An alternative approach that does not rely on the proportional odds assumption is to conceptualize the responses as manifestations of some underlying continuous variables. However, statistical procedures were developed only for the comparison of two treatments. In this article, we derive testing procedures that compare several treatments to a control, utilizing a latent normal distribution with the latent variable model. The proposed procedure is useful because multiple comparisons with a control is very frequently an objective of a clinical study. Data from clinical trials are used to illustrate the proposed procedures.
Determinants of Bank Performance in a Developing Economy
Authors: Sufian Fadzlan , Noor Mohamad Noor Mohamad Akbar
Published: January 2012

The article seeks to examine the internal and external factors that influenced the performance of banks operating in the Indian banking sector during the period 2000–08. The empirical findings from this study suggest that credit risk, network embeddedness, operating expenses, liquidity and size have statistically significant impact on the profitability of Indian banks. However, the impact is not uniform across banks of different nations of origin. During the period under study, the empirical findings do not lend support for the ‘limited form’ of global advantage hypothesis. Likewise, the liability of unfamiliarness hypothesis is also rejected, since we do not find significant advantage accruing to foreign banks from other Asian countries.
Impact on Stock Price by the Inclusion to and Exclusion from CNX Nifty Index
Authors: Selvam M. , Indhumathi G. , Lydia J.
Published: January 2012

Changes in an index are a regular phenomenon and they take place due to the inclusion and exclusion of stocks from the index. The inclusion or exclusion of stocks creates great impact on the value of the firm. However, these changes are simply a short-lived event with no permanent valuation effect. The present research study analyzed the impact of the inclusion into and exclusion of certain stocks from National Stock Exchange (NSE) S&P CNX Nifty index with Indian perspective. The study provides evidence on whether the announcements of Nifty index maintenance committee have any information content. This will also demonstrate the efficiency of Indian stock market with particular reference to NSE. The study revealed that on an average, no permanent effects were observed on stock prices. It is also found from the study that the NSE reacted unfavourably to the inclusion and exclusion of stocks and it is impossible to earn any excess returns where the particular stocks are included or excluded from the index.
Pricing Efficiency of Nifty BeES in Bullish and Bearish Markets
Authors: Shanmugham R. , Zabiulla
Published: January 2012

This article examines the pricing efficiency of Nifty BeES in bullish and bearish market conditions using high frequency data for a period of seven years. It seeks to address three questions. First, does the portfolio manager of Nifty BeES follow its benchmark replication strategy across different market conditions? Second, whether the portfolio manager minimizes the portfolio return volatility relative to the benchmark volatility. Third, whether the magnitude of premiums/discounts varies in bullish and bearish market conditions. Our findings suggest a significant difference in alpha-generation abilities of fund manager between the two market conditions. Tracking error was found to be relatively high in bearish conditions. The average premium is higher in bearish markets characterized with highest volatility. On the other hand, the average discount is higher in bullish markets characterized with least volatility. The price divergence disappears within three days and the market price and the fund’s net asset value (NAV) get aligned due to arbitrage mechanism.
Customer Relationship for Electronic Payment Products
Authors: Bapat Dhananjay
Published: January 2012

The article attempts to find the key attributes of electronic payment and its use by consumers. It considers various issues and concerns relating to electronic payments by reviewing research across various countries. Many newer payment products are offered by banks to take advantage of lower costs associated with the newer payments. While offering electronic payments to customers, it is important for banks to understand whether newer payment products are being used by the customers. In this study, the author examines the awareness level, usage of generic products and usage of specific products offered by banks for various electronic payment products. The author uses primary banks as a measure for customer relationships, and assesses the relationship between primary bank and various variables. It is observed that age, asset class—two wheeler and asset class—four wheeler, debit cards and Internet banking exhibit association with primary bank. Relationship is also established between a primary bank and relationship tenure of more than 10 years. Among communication sources of electronic payment products, word-of-mouth publicity is found to be an important factor.
Plotting the Contours of the Modern Nation
Authors: Bhog Dipta , Bharadwaj Purwa , Mullick Disha
Published: January 2012

This article draws on a feminist study of school textbooks in four states (West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat) as well as books produced at the national level. Despite the volume of work produced by feminists over the last two decades in different disciplinary domains, the content of school textbooks, especially in the context of India, does not reflect shifts in understanding of various issues. Using this as a premise, and drawing on the work of scholar-activists of the women’s movement and feminist geographers in the area of development, poverty, women’s work and gender and space, this article analyses the ways in which geography textbooks, in particular, plot the contours of the modern nation. The discourse of development, for instance, emerges as a safe realm in which the nation confronts numerous issues and/or groups of concern in the contemporary context—women, tribals, population control, big dams, etc.—while leaving the idea of the nation secure and unchallenged.
Literacy and Reading
Authors: Geetha V.
Published: January 2012

Picture books for children presume the prior existence of a set of reading practices and conventions, as well as institutions that promote reading. In the Indian context, however, picture books have to do double duty to meet other needs as well, like enhancing literacy for one, and also satisfying the social and cultural needs of children who are first-generation learners. This article examines the issues at stake for publishers and educators interested in furthering reading and in producing books that render the act of reading by children socially and culturally meaningful.
Oral Repeated-Dose Toxicity Studies of Coenzyme Q10 in Beagle Dogs
Authors: Yerramilli-Rao Padmaja , Beal M. Flint , Watanabe Dai , Kieburtz Karl , Blieck Elisabeth A. de , Kitano Mitsuaki , Hosoe Kazunori , Funahashi Iwao , Cudkowicz Merit E.
Published: January 2012

To support phase III testing of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in humans, we conducted pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies in beagle dogs. Following single gavage administration of CoQ10 at 600, 1200, 1800, or 2400 mg/kg per d no obvious dose response was observed in maximum concentration ( Cmax) or area under the curve (AUC) versus time curve at the 3 highest dosages. In a repeated-dose study of CoQ10 at 600, 1200, 1800, or 2400 mg/kg per d for 4 weeks, CoQ10 reached steady state in plasma by 2 weeks at all dosages. Both Cmax and AUC increased with increasing dosage of CoQ10. The highest plasma levels were recorded at 1800 mg/kg per d. In a 39-week chronic toxicity study of CoQ10 at 1200 and 1800 mg/kg per d or placebo, CoQ10 reached steady state in plasma by 13 weeks. Behaviors, blood chemistries, and detailed histopathology were normal. No deaths occurred. These results support the use of a 2400 mg/d dosage of CoQ10 in human clinical trials.
Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Di-22:6-Bis(monoacylglycerol)Phosphate and Other Urinary Phospholipids for Drug-Induced Phospholipidosis or Tissue Injury in the Rat
Authors: Thompson Karol L. , Haskins Kylie , Rosenzweig Barry A. , Stewart Sharron , Zhang Jun , Peters David , Knapton Alan , Rouse Rodney , Mans Daniel , Colatsky Thomas
Published: January 2012

Cationic amphiphilic drugs and aminoglycoside antibiotics can induce phospholipidosis (PLD), an abnormal accumulation of phospholipids in lysosome-derived vesicles, in preclinical studies. The incidence of PLD in patients and its clinical relevance are difficult to assess without noninvasive biomarkers. Di-docosahexaenoyl bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate (di-22:6-BMP) is a phospholipid that is enriched in lysosomal membranes and a proposed urinary biomarker of drug-induced PLD. The specificity of di-22:6-BMP for PLD was compared to other phospholipid species that can increase in urine with nephrotoxicity. Using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, 12 phospholipids were assayed in the urine of rats treated with drugs that induced PLD or caused renal or skeletal muscle injury. In receiver operating curve analyses, urinary di-22:6-BMP was a significantly better predictor of PLD and the least predictive of tissue injury of the phospholipids assayed. The data provide evidence supporting the use of di-22:6-BMP as a urinary biomarker of PLD in rats.
Evaluating complex and unfolding interventions in real time
Authors: Ling Tom
Published: January 2012

This article discusses an approach to managing the evaluation of complex interventions. Complex interventions pose significant challenges to the role and conduct of evaluations. In particular, they combine with reflexive learning and change to produce significant uncertainties making it hard to describe in advance what the intervention will do or what the outcomes might be. These uncertainties vary in nature and addressing these uncertainties leads to different evaluation approaches. That such evaluations often take place in ‘real time’ and have a strong formative dimension adds to the challenge. This article proposes a way of approaching this problem by incorporating the concepts of uncertainty and complexity into a Theory of Change-based approach.
The political economy of joint-donor evaluations
Authors: Andersen Ole Winckler , Broegaard Eva
Published: January 2012

Part of the justification for joint-donor evaluations is that they allow the conduct of relevant evaluations with a broader scope than single-donor evaluations and at the same time reduce transaction costs. Many joint-donor evaluations, however, run into management and coordination problems, have unforeseen high transaction costs for the donors and result in general conclusions and recommendations. The purpose of this article is to contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence how donor-evaluation units engage in joint evaluations and to identify mechanisms that can make them more effective. It represents a first step towards analysing joint evaluations using a political-economy perspective based on assumptions about the interests and incentives of donor management, evaluations units and evaluators. The article argues that the broader scope of many joint-donor evaluations and their relatively high transaction costs are closely related to and originate from differences in donor interests and incentive structures, and an insufficient focus on methodological challenges. The article concludes with a number of tentative operational suggestions based on the analyses.
Evaluating NGO-capacity development interventions: Enhancing frameworks, fitting the (Belgian) context
Authors: Huyse Huib , Molenaers Nadia , Phlix Geert , Bossuyt Jean , Fonteneau Bénédicte
Published: January 2012

Capacity development support of Southern partners has become a cornerstone of the work of many Northern development NGOs. While there is a growing consensus in the aid sector about the importance of capacity development (CD), the support base among the general public and policy makers for these kinds of activities is weak. This is linked with the observed difficulties of demonstrating the relevance and effects of CD efforts. In 2008, the Belgian Special Evaluation Office commissioned a large-scale evaluation focusing on CD support within NGO partnerships, including 31 partnerships of 21 Belgian NGOs in six countries. Important methodological challenges emerged, related to (1) the large diversity in actors, projects, themes and contexts that had to be assessed, (2) the dynamic nature and non-linearity of CD processes, (3) and the implicit character of NGO practice in this area. This article argues that the eclectic use of different frameworks – including more recently developed ones related to the nature of CD, support for CD, and organizational change – supports the production of comprehensive evaluation results.
Purposes and criteria in network governance evaluation: How far does standard evaluation vocabulary takes us?
Authors: Hertting Nils , Vedung Evert
Published: January 2012

Evaluation and network governance are both among the top-10 trendy concepts in public policy. But how are they related? In the present article, we ask how public sector interventions guided by a network governance doctrine are to be evaluated. If evaluation means systematic judgment of organization, content, administration, outputs and effects in public policy, then evaluators need concepts and analytical tools to assess these features and communicate their analyses. In the literature, interest in network modes of governance often goes together with a call for a renewed vocabulary for evaluation and policy analysis. In the article, we do not take this to be a fact. Instead we turn it into a question: How relevant and productive are established concepts and tools of evaluation theory for evaluating network governance? More specifically, we address the issues of purposes and merit criteria in evaluation of interventions fashioned according to the network governance doctrine. Though it takes some elaboration, our overall conclusion is that at least some standard evaluation concepts and approaches are still productive in delineating, analysing and prescribing how network governance can be evaluated. There are crucial accountability issues to raise, the goal-achievement criterion is not irrelevant and the meaning of stakeholder evaluation is elucidated when confronted with the ideas of the network governance doctrine.
Unfinished Conquest: Residual Sovereignty and the Legal Foundations of the British Empire in India
Authors: Sen Sudipta
Published: January 2012

In this commentary I propose that European empires of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were largely unable to produce a consistent and self-contained theory of legal sovereignty. Considering the British imperial expansion in India as an illustrative case, I argue that military exploits and territorial gains were validated through the implicit idea of residual sovereignty and notion of unfinished conquest. Treaties signed with subjugated native powers under the aegis of the English East India Company later diplomatic negotiations of the British Raj with Indian princely states had no clear constitutional precedent or long-term outcome, leaving largely unresolved certain fundamental legal questions relating to conquest, sovereignty and imperial subjecthood.
Photography, Privacy and the Public
Authors: Miles Melissa
Published: January 2012

There has been a recent shift in perceptions of photography and privacy in Australia. The view that our privacy is under threat has created an atmosphere of paranoia and fueled demands for law reform in relation to photography in public space. As photographers and privacy advocates battle each other by opposing the right to privacy with the right to free expression, there seems little chance of finding a workable solution. This article will consider this issue more deeply by analyzing the links between photography, privacy and the public, and assessing the cultural and political implications of this new climate.