bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neural Modulation by Binocular Disparity Greatest in Human Dorsal Visual Stream
Authors: Minini Loredana , Parker Andrew J. , Bridge Holly
Published: May 2010

Although cortical activation to binocular disparity can be demonstrated throughout occipital and parietal cortices, the relative contributions to depth perception made by different human cortical areas have not been established. To investigate whether different regions are optimized for specific disparity ranges, we have measured the responses of occipital and parietal areas to different magnitudes of binocular disparity. Using stimuli consisting of sinusoidal depth modulations, we measured cortical activation when the stimuli were located at pedestal disparities of 0, 0.1, 0.35, and 0.7° from fixation. Across all areas, occipital and parietal, there was an increase in BOLD signal with increasing pedestal disparity, compared with a plane at zero disparity. However, the greatest modulation of response by the different pedestals was found in the dorsal visual areas and the parietal areas. These differences contrast with the response to the zero disparity plane, compared with fixation, which is greatest in the early visual areas, smaller in the ventral and dorsal visual areas, and absent in parietal areas. Using the simultaneously acquired psychophysical data we also measured a greater response to correct than to incorrect trials, an effect that increased with rising pedestal disparity and was greatest in dorsal visual and parietal areas. These results illustrate that the dorsal stream, along both its occipital and parietal branches, can reliably discriminate a large range of disparities.
Identification of Residues Important for the Activity ofHaloferax volcaniiAglD, a Component of the Archaeal N-Glycosylation Pathway
Authors: Kaminski Lina , Eichler Jerry
Published: May 2010

InHaloferax volcanii, AglD adds the final hexose to the N-linked pentasaccharide decorating the S-layer glycoprotein. Not knowing the natural substrate of the glycosyltransferase, together with the challenge of designing assays compatible with hypersalinity, has frustrated efforts at biochemical characterization of AglD activity. To circumvent these obstacles, an in vivo assay designed to identify amino acid residues important for AglD activity is described. In the assay, restoration of AglD function in anHfx. volcanii aglDdeletion strain transformed to express plasmid-encoded versions of AglD, generated through site-directed mutagenesis at positions encoding residues conserved in archaeal homologues of AglD, is reflected in the behavior of a readily detectable reporter of N-glycosylation. As such Asp110 and Asp112 were designated as elements of the DXD motif of AglD, a motif that interacts with metal cations associated with nucleotide-activated sugar donors, while Asp201 was predicted to be the catalytic base of the enzyme.
Multi‐Working Modes Product‐Color Planning Based on Evolutionary Algorithms and Swarm Intelligence
Authors: Ding Man , Sun Wei , Chen Hanning
Published: May 2010

In order to assist designer in color planning during product development, a novel synthesized evaluation method is presented to evaluate color‐combination schemes of multi‐working modes products (MMPs). The proposed evaluation method considers color‐combination images in different working modes as evaluating attributes, to which the corresponding weights are assigned for synthesized evaluation. Then a mathematical model is developed to search for optimal color‐combination schemes of MMP based on the proposed evaluation method and two powerful search techniques known as Evolution Algorithms (EAs) and Swarm Intelligence (SI). In the experiments, we present a comparative study for two EAs, namely, Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Difference Evolution (DE), and one SI algorithm, namely, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), on searching for color‐combination schemes of MMP problem. All of the algorithms are evaluated against a test scenario, namely, an Arm‐type aerial work platform, which has two working modes. The results show that the DE obtains the superior solution than the other two algorithms for color‐combination scheme searching problem in terms of optimization accuracy and computation robustness. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method is feasible and efficient.
Temporal Adaptive Changes in Contractility and Fatigability of Diaphragm Muscles from Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats
Authors: Brotto Marco , Brotto Leticia , Jin J.-P. , Nosek Thomas M. , Romani Andrea
Published: May 2010

Diabetes is characterized by ventilatory depression due to decreased diaphragm (DPH) function. This study investigated the changes in contractile properties of rat DPH muscles over a time interval encompassing from 4 days to 14 weeks after the onset of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, with and without insulin treatment for 2 weeks. Maximum tetanic force in intact DPH muscle strips and recovery from fatiguing stimulation were measured. An early (4-day) depression in contractile function in diabetic DPH was followed by gradual improvement in muscle function and fatigue recovery (8 weeks). DPH contractile function deteriorated again at 14 weeks, a process that was completely reversed by insulin treatment. Maximal contractile force and calcium sensitivity assessed in Triton-skinned DPH fibers showed a similar bimodal pattern and the same beneficial effect of insulin treatment. While an extensive analysis of the isoforms of the contractile and regulatory proteins was not conducted, Western blot analysis of tropomyosin suggests that the changes in diabetic DPH response depended, at least in part, on a switch in fiber type.
Cladribine and Fludarabine Nucleoside Change the Levels of CD Antigens on B-Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Authors: Cassano Carlos , Mactier Swetlana , Mulligan Stephen P. , Belov Larissa , Huang Pauline , Christopherson Richard I.
Published: May 2010

The purine analogs, fludarabine nucleoside (FdA), and cladribine (CdA) (1 μM, 24 hours), significantly changed the levels of some surface antigens on the human B-cell lines MEC2 and Raji. Changes in the surface proteins were identified using a Cluster of Differentiation (CD) antibody microarray that captures live cells and confirmed by flow cytometry. For Raji cells, CdA up-regulated CD10, CD54, CD80, and CD86, with repression of CD22, while FdA up-regulated CD20, CD54, CD80, CD86 and CD95. For MEC2 cells, CdA up-regulated CD11a, CD20, CD43, CD45, CD52, CD54, CD62L, CD80, CD86, and CD95, but FdA had no effect. Up-regulation of particular CD antigens induced on a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder by a purine analog could provide targets for therapeutic antibodies with synergistic cell killing.
Risk of Meningioma and Common Variation in Genes Related to Innate Immunity
Authors: Rajaraman Preetha , Brenner Alina V. , Neta Gila , Pfeiffer Ruth , Wang Sophia S. , Yeager Meredith , Thomas Gilles , Fine Howard A. , Linet Martha S. , Rothman Nathaniel , Chanock Stephen J. , Inskip Peter D.
Published: May 2010

Background: The etiology of meningioma, the second most common type of adult brain tumor in the United States, is largely unknown. Prior studies indicate that history of immune-related conditions may affect the risk of meningioma.

Methods: To identify genetic markers for meningioma in genes involved with innate immunity, we conducted an exploratory association study of 101 meningioma cases and 330 frequency-matched controls of European ancestry using subjects from a hospital-based study conducted by the National Cancer Institute. We genotyped 1,407 “tag” single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 148 genetic regions chosen on the basis of an r2 > 0.8 and minor allele frequency of >5% in Caucasians in HapMap1. Risk of meningioma was estimated by odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Seventeen SNPs distributed across 12 genetic regions (NFKB1 (3), FCER1G (3), CCR6 (2), VCAM1, CD14, TNFRSF18, RAC2, XDH, C1D, TLR1/TLR10/TLR6, NOS1, and DEFA5) were associated with the risk of meningioma with P < 0.01. Although individual SNP tests were not significant after controlling for multiple comparisons, gene region–based tests were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for TNFRSF18, NFKB1, FCER1G, CD14, C1D, CCR6, and VCAM1.

Conclusions and Impact: Our results indicate that common genetic polymorphisms in innate immunity genes may be associated with risk of meningioma. Given the small sample size, replication of these results in a larger study of meningioma is needed. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(5); 1356–61. ©2010 AACR.
Empirical Estimates of the Lead Time Distribution for Prostate Cancer Based on Two Independent Representative Cohorts of Men Not Subject to Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening
Authors: Savage Caroline J. , Lilja Hans , Cronin Angel M. , Ulmert David , Vickers Andrew J.
Published: May 2010

Background: Lead time, the estimated time by which screening advances the date of diagnosis, is used to calculate the risk of overdiagnosis. We sought to describe empirically the distribution of lead times between an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and subsequent prostate cancer diagnosis.

Methods: We linked the Swedish cancer registry to two independent cohorts: 60-year-olds sampled in 1981-1982 and 51- to 56-year-olds sampled in 1982-1985. We used univariate kernel density estimation to characterize the lead time distribution. Linear regression was used to model the lead time as a function of baseline PSA and logistic regression was used to test for an association between lead time and either stage or grade at diagnosis.

Results: Of 1,167 older men, 132 were diagnosed with prostate cancer, of which 57 had PSA ≥3 ng/mL at baseline; 495 of 4,260 younger men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, of which 116 had PSA ≥3 ng/mL at baseline. The median lead time was slightly longer in the younger men (12.8 versus 11.8 years). In both cohorts, wide variation in lead times followed an approximately normal distribution. Longer lead times were significantly associated with a lower risk of high-grade disease in older and younger men [odds ratio, 0.82 (P = 0.023) and 0.77 (P < 0.001)].

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that early changes in the natural history of the disease are associated with high-grade cancer at diagnosis.

Impact: The distinct differences between the observed distribution of lead times and those used in modeling studies illustrate the need to model overdiagnosis rates using empirical data. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(5); 1201–7. ©2010 AACR.
Air Pollution from Traffic and Risk for Lung Cancer in Three Danish Cohorts
Authors: Raaschou-Nielsen Ole , Bak Helle , Sørensen Mette , Jensen Steen Solvang , Ketzel Matthias , Hvidberg Martin , Schnohr Peter , Tjønneland Anne , Overvad Kim , Loft Steffen
Published: May 2010

Background: Air pollution is suspected to cause lung cancer. The purpose was to investigate whether the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at the residence, used as an indicator of air pollution from traffic, is associated with risk for lung cancer.

Methods: We identified 679 lung cancer cases in the Danish Cancer Registry from the members of three prospective cohorts and selected a comparison group of 3,481 persons from the same cohorts in a case-cohort design. Residential addresses from January 1, 1971, were traced in the Central Population Registry. The NOx concentration at each address was calculated by dispersion models, and the time-weighted average concentration for all addresses was calculated for each person. We used Cox models to estimate incidence rate ratios after adjustment for smoking (status, duration, and intensity), educational level, body mass index, and alcohol consumption.

Results: The incidence rate ratios for lung cancer were 1.30 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.07-1.57] and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.12-1.88) for NOx concentrations of 30 to 72 and >72 μg/m3, respectively, when compared with <30 μg/m3. This corresponds to a 37% (95% CI, 6-76%) increase in incidence rate ratio per 100 μg/m3 NOx. The results showed no significant heterogeneity in the incidence rate ratio for lung cancer between cohorts or between strata defined by gender, educational level, or smoking status.

Conclusion: The study showed a modest association between air pollution from traffic and the risk for lung cancer.

Impact: This study points at traffic as a source of carcinogenic air pollution and stresses the importance of strategies for reduction of population exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(5); 1284–91. ©2010 AACR.
“Oh Dear! How the Factory Girls Do Rig Up!”: Lowell's Self-Fashioning Workingwomen
Authors: Cook Sylvia Jenkins
Published: May 2010

The “mill girls” of Lowell relished their opportunities for reading, writing, and dressing in stylish clothes. In their magazine the Lowell Offering (1840–45), the workingwomen used their growing reputations for literariness and fashionability to scrutinize the differences between themselves and the ladylike models they were expected to emulate.
The Social Structures of the Economy, Pierre Bourdieu, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005
Authors: Dufour Frédérick Guillaume
Published: May 2010

This paper is divided into two sections. The first section presents a concise survey of the intellectual itinerary of the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu in the French intellectual field. Then, after a short presentation of Bourdieu’s The Social Structures of the Economy, I proceed to a broader discussion of his economic sociology. After a presentation of Bourdieu’s key conceptual contributions, I question some aspects of Bourdieusian sociology with regard to its ambition of historicising the ‘economic field’. I identify the limitations of this historicising project in the extension of the metaphor of the market to virtually all fields of human activities and in a concept of capital which fails to grasp a social relation specific to the historical development of capitalism.
Adam Smith in Beijing: A World-Systems Perspective
Authors: Chase-Dunn Christopher
Published: May 2010

Giovanni Arrighi’s last book is compared with Andre Gunder Frank’s Re-Orient. The implications of Arrighi’s study of the East/West-comparison for comprehending world-historical evolution and the political issues of the current conjuncture are considered.
The Legacy of China’s Wartime Reporting, 1937-1945: Can the Past Serve the Present?
Authors: Coble Parks M.
Published: May 2010

Japan’s invasion of China in the summer of 1937 dealt a devastating blow to Chinese journalism. Yet despite the hardships, China’s wartime reporters produced a legacy of vivid writing. In the face of a series of major defeats, the journalists attempted to shore up morale and stressed the heroic resistance of Chinese forces. They reported on Japanese atrocities such as the Rape of Nanjing, but not to such an extent that might erode morale. During the Maoist era, the legacy of this war reportage largely faded from a public memory which privileged the revolution. When a “new remembering” of the war emerged in the reform era, the heroic resistance narrative from war reportage dovetailed nicely with the new nationalism of today’s China. But this literature has been less helpful in developing the theme of Chinese victimhood, a key component of the new memory of the war. Finally, memoir literature, so common in most combatant nations, has been problematic in China. Those who remember their war experiences do so through the prism of later traumas, particularly the Cultural Revolution.
Motivated Shifting of Justice Standards
Authors: Miron Anca M. , Branscombe Nyla R. , Biernat Monica
Published: May 2010

Three studies test whether group members strategically shift the standard of judgment they use to decide whether a particular ingroup action was unjust. In Study 1, individuals who were highly identified with their ingroup set higher confirmatory injustice standards than low identifiers—they needed more evidence to conclude that their group acted unjustly. This led to reductions in judgments of harm and diminished collective guilt. In Study 2, group identification was experimentally manipulated and the results of Study 1 were replicated. In Study 3, stronger support is provided for the motivational nature of this process. Specifically, the motivation to shift the standard upward was decreased by providing group members with an opportunity to self-affirm at the group level. Participants who self-affirmed set lower confirmatory standards of injustice, rated the harm as more severe, and experienced greater collective guilt than, those not self-affirming. Implications of this quantitative standard shifting are discussed.
Multilevel Entrepreneurship Research: Opportunities for Studying Entrepreneurial Decision Making
Authors: Shepherd Dean A.
Published: May 2010

Entrepreneurship is a domain of research that can be investigated from different disciplines, functions, and contexts. As a result, there are ample opportunities for multilevel research. In this article, the author acknowledges a foundation of multilevel research on decision making in the entrepreneurial context and explores future research opportunities to build on it. This exploration is organized conceptually as a hierarchy of levels below and above that of the individual, and the author uses conjoint analysis as a methodological framework to keep these ideas anchored in what is empirically possible. Specifically, this article explores (a) multilevel research on decisions to explain how a sample of individuals makes a decision on an entrepreneurial task, (b) additional possibilities for cross-level research that explains variance in decision policies based on individual differences, and (c) research opportunities that bridge the levels of the decision, the individuals, and the contexts in which they are embedded. The hope is that this article stimulates multilevel research on entrepreneurial decision making and other multilevel and cross-level issues in the entrepreneurship domain.
Charity in a Technological Society: From Alms to Corporation
Authors: Foltz Franz , Foltz Frederick
Published: May 2010

Over the past 2,000 years, the concept of charity has moved from the personal care of the poor mandated by religious conviction to a multibillion dollar business. The culture of technological efficiency helped create this transformation. The authors explore the origins of charity and show how technology has drastically altered its form and function.
Social Bonds and Change During Incarceration
Authors: Rocque Michael , Bierie David M. , MacKenzie Doris L.
Published: May 2010

Research examining prisoner reentry has demonstrated negative impacts of incarceration on social bonds. However, this research is limited in two ways. First, it generally examines outcomes after release, paying less attention to processes occurring in prison. Second, this work tends to examine “incarceration” as a whole, regarding prisons as homogenous. This study uses data from an experiment in which offenders were randomly assigned to incarceration at one of two prisons polarized across a number of structural characteristics that research suggests affect social bonds (a traditional prison vs. a correctional boot camp). Groups were compared with respect to commitment, belief, attachment, and in terms of changes among their relationships during incarceration. The data showed that the boot camp improved prosocial beliefs, but few differences emerged in terms of commitment and attachment. Similarly, the data showed few differences in attachment regardless of the prosocial or antisocial orientation of the inmate’s friends or family.
Preparation of Novel Collagen Sponges Using an Ice Particulate Template
Authors: Ko Young-Gwang , Kawazoe Naoki , Tateishi Tetsuya , Guoping Chen
Published: May 2010

A new type of collagen sponge was prepared as a tissue engineering scaffold using ice particulates as a template. The sponge has a hierarchical structure of large open pores on the top surface and interconnected small pores in the inner bulk body. The shape, size, and density of the surface large pores were determined by the ice particulates that were used as the template while the interconnected small pores were determined by the freezing temperature. The open and interconnected porous structure of the new collagen sponge facilitated cell seeding, cell penetration, and distribution throughout the scaffold, and accelerated cell proliferation and regeneration of new tissue. These ice particulate templates could be used to create open and interconnected porous scaffold structures.
Acyclic N-Halamine Polymeric Biocidal Films
Authors: Xuehong Ren  , Changyun Zhu  , Lei Kou  , Worley S.D. , Kocer Hasan B. , Broughton R.M. , Huang T.S.
Published: May 2010

Low concentrations of acyclic amide monomers, methacrylamide (MAM) and acrylamide (AM), were copolymerized with vinyl acetate (VAc). No significant differences between the synthesized copolymers and poly(VAc) were seen by 1H-NMR, FTIR, and DSC analysis. Biocidal films, formed by coating the copolymers onto polyester transparency slides and polyester fabric swatches, were chlorinated by exposure to sodium hypochlorite solutions. Both S. aureus and E. coli O157: H7 were completely inactivated within 1 min on the transparency slides and polyester fabric swatches derived from poly(VAc-co-MAM). The chlorine on the films was stable under UVA irradiation and the surfaces were rechargeable upon chlorine loss.
Induced Hypothermia for Trauma: Current Research and Practice
Authors: Finkelstein Robert A. , Alam Hasan B.
Published: May 2010

Induction of hypothermia with the goal of providing therapeutic benefit has been accepted for use in the clinical setting of adult cardiac arrest and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). However, its potential as a treatment in trauma is not as well defined. This review discusses potential benefits and complications of induced hypothermia (IH) with emphasis on the current state of knowledge and practice in various types of trauma. There is excellent preclinical research showing that in cases of penetrating trauma with cardiac arrest, inducing hypothermia to 10°C using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) could possibly save those otherwise likely to die without causing neurologic sequelae. A human trial of this intervention is about to get underway. Preclinical studies suggest that inducing hypothermia may be useful to delay cardiac arrest in penetrating trauma victims who are hypotensive. There is potential for IH to be used in cases of blunt trauma, but it has not been well studied. In the case of traumatic brain injury (TBI), clinical trials have shown conflicting results, despite almost uniform efficacy seen in preclinical experiments. Major studies are analyzed and ways to standardize its use and optimize future clinical trials are discussed. More preclinical and clinical research is needed to better define whether there could be a role for IH in the case of spinal cord injuries.
Notch-1 and Notch-4 Receptors as Prognostic Markers in Breast Cancer
Authors: Yao Katharine , Rizzo Paola , Rajan Prabha , Albain Kathy , Rychlik Karen , Shah Sneha , Miele Lucio
Published: May 2010

Background: Studies looking at immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of Notch receptors in breast cancer and correlation with known prognostic factors are sparse. Methods: IHC staining for nuclear, cytoplasmic, and membrane Notch-1 (N1), Notch-4 (N4), and Jagged-1 (JAG1) was performed and correlated with known prognostic factors. Results: Of 48 breast cancers, 36 (67%) were invasive, mean age was 50 years (range 43-86 years), 37 (77%) were estrogen receptor (ERα) positive, and 13 (27%) node positive. There was significantly more marked N1 membranous staining in ERα-positive tumors ( P < .05). On univariate analysis, cytoplasmic N1 was significantly correlated with node status and tumor grade ( P < .05); both cytoplasmic and membranous N4 significantly correlated with Ki67 ( P < .05); and membranous JAG1 significantly correlated with Ki67 ( P < .05). On multivariate analysis, only cytoplasmic N1 significantly correlated with node status. Conclusion: IHC of Notch markers is feasible and correlates with known prognostic factors consistent with a biological role of Notch signaling in breast cancer progression.
Final Report of the Safety Assessment of Allantoin and Its Related Complexes
Authors: Becker Lillian C. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Andersen F. Alan
Published: May 2010

Allantoin is a heterocyclic organic compound. Allantoin ascorbate, allantoin biotin, allantoin galacturonic acid, allantoin glycyrrhetinic acid, allantoin panthenol, and allantoin polygalacturonic acid are complexes of allantoin. All of the ingredients in this review act as skin-conditioning agents. Allantoin was reported to be used in 1376 cosmetic products at concentrations up to 2%. There are data gaps regarding use and concentration of the remaining allantoin complexes. Ascorbic acid, biotin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and panthenol have been determined by the CIR Expert Panel to be safe. Galacturonic acid and polygalacturonic acid have not been reviewed by the CIR Expert Panel, and substantial data on these chemicals were not available. The safety test data in this safety assessment and in previous safety assessments were considered sufficient to support the safety of allantoin and the allantoin complexes in product categories and at concentrations reviewed in this safety assessment.
Specific Effect of 5-Fluorouracil on α-Fetoprotein Gene Expression During the In Vitro Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
Authors: Pamies David , Vicente-Salar Néstor , Sogorb Miguel A. , Roche Enrique , Reig Juan A.
Published: May 2010

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are considered an important alternative to develop in vitro screening methods for embryotoxicity. Mouse ES cells can be cultured as cell suspension aggregates termed “embryoid bodies” (EBs) in which cells start to differentiate. We have studied the expression of several genes in the presence of a wide range of concentrations of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). This well-established embryotoxic compound completely inhibited cell viability at 200 nmol/L in monolayer cultures. At lower concentrations, 5-FU led to decrease in the expression of the α-fetoprotein gene, a marker of the visceral endoderm, in the EBs. However, the expression of several mesodermal gene markers was not significantly affected at these concentrations. These results suggest a high sensitivity of the visceral endoderm differentiation to 5-FU. Therefore, the quantification of the α-fetoprotein gene after exposure to potential embryotoxicants should be considered an additional end point in future embryotoxicity assays in vitro with ES cells.
Dermal Penetration of Ethylene Glycol Through Human Skin In Vitro
Authors: Saghir Shakil A. , Bartels Michael J. , Snellings William M.
Published: May 2010

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro dermal absorption of ethylene glycol (EG) through dermatomed human abdominal skin (containing epidermis and dermis), obtained from cadavers within 24 hours of death and kept frozen until processed. Three formulations of EG (neat, 50%, and 10% aqueous solutions) were applied in triplicate to skin samples from 6 donors, and placed in Teflon Bronaugh flow-through diffusion cells. Barrier integrity of each sample was evaluated with 3H-H2O prior to applying EG and only data from samples passing the test were used. A physiological receptor fluid was pumped beneath the skin samples and collected in a fraction collector at predetermined time points through 24 hours. Possible volatilized EG was trapped in a charcoal basket located above each skin sample. Each skin sample was treated with an infinite dose of 500 µL of EG formulation/cm2. At the end of 24 hours, volatilized EG trapped in the headspace was collected, the unabsorbed dose was removed from the skin and the skin was rinsed, tape stripped, and solubilized along with a rinse of the flow-through cells, and total radioactivity was determined. Only a small fraction (≤1%) of the applied EG was absorbed in 24 hours, of which <0.7% penetrated through the skin and ~0.4% remained in the skin. Recovery (mass balance) of the applied EG was between 93% and 99%, which further validated the observed low dermal penetration of EG. The net penetration of the applied EG over 24 hours was concentration proportional, comprising 2.97 ± 0.78, 1.75 ± 0.62, and 0.23 ± 0.12 mg/cm2 of the neat, 50%, and 10% formulations, respectively. The steady-state flux of EG was established between 16 and 24 hours. The mean steady-state flux of EG through dermatomed skin was 217, 129, and 15 µg/cm2h for the neat, 50%, and 10% aqueous formulations, respectively, consistent with concentration-proportional penetration of EG. The steady-state permeation coefficient (Kp) for EG was low, between 1.5 × 10−4 and 2.6 × 10−4 cm/h. These findings demonstrate that EG dermal penetration is expected to be very low and to be slow, indicating very limited systemic or internal dose of EG due to dermal exposure.
Motivating Children and Adolescents to Sustain a Physically Active Lifestyle
Authors: Stuntz Cheryl P. , Weiss Maureen R.
Published: May 2010

Knowing that children’s and adolescents’ physical activity should be increased is not enough to enhance their activity frequency, intensity, and duration. Motivating youth to initiate, continue, and sustain physical activity enables them to embrace an active lifestyle that leads to a variety of health benefits. An understanding of the psychological and social predictors of physical activity behaviors is essential to contributing to active lifestyles. Adults in children’s lives can structure everyday environments in ways that enhance children’s motivation for physical activity. The pathways to enhancing physical activity motivation, activity behaviors, and positive health outcomes include 4 common elements or ingredients: feelings of competence, perceptions of choice or autonomy, supportive relationships, and enjoyment of activity participation. Simply providing information to youth about benefits, frequency, and duration of physical activity is not sufficient for enhancing physical activity behavior. Subtle changes in framing physical activities can have a dramatic influence on youths’ physical activity motivation and behaviors. Adults should encourage youth to participate in activities they find enjoyable, feel competent doing, have chosen to do, and that include positive social support—these conditions optimize their motivation for sustaining physical activity and thus the physical, social, and psychological health benefits afforded from such participation.
Bringing smoking cessation to diabetes clinics in Indonesia
Authors: Ng Nawi , Nichter Mark , Retna Siwi Padmawati  , Prabandari Yayi Suryo , Muramoto Myra , Nichter Mimi
Published: May 2010

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of delivering brief and disease-centred smoking cessation interventions to patients with diabetes mellitus in clinical settings.

Methods: We conducted a feasibility study involving two interactive smoking cessation interventions: doctor’s advice and visual representation of how tobacco affects diabetes (DA) and DA plus direct referral to a cessation clinic (CC). Follow-up was at 3 and 6 months post intervention. Primary outcome was 7-day-point prevalence abstinence. The study involved male patients recruited from two referral diabetes clinics in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia during January 2008 to May 2009. Of the 71 patients who smoked during the last month, 33 were randomized to the DA group and 38 to the CC group.

Results: At 6 months follow-up, DA and CC groups had abstinence rates of 30% and 37%, respectively. Of those continuing to smoke, most reported an attempt to quit or reduce smoking (70% in DA and 88% in CC groups). Patients in both groups had increased understanding of smoking-related harm and increased motivation to quit smoking.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of disease-centred doctors’ messages about smoking cessation for patients with diabetes, supported by the presence of a CC motivating clinicians to routinely give patients cessation messages.
Factor IX ectopically expressed in platelets can be stored in α-granules and corrects the phenotype of hemophilia B mice
Authors: Zhang Guowei , Shi Qizhen , Fahs Scot A. , Kuether Erin L. , Walsh Christopher E. , Montgomery Robert R.
Published: May 2010

We developed 2bF9 transgenic mice in a hemophilia B mouse model with the expression of human factor IX (FIX) under control of the platelet-specific integrin αIIb promoter, to determine whether ectopically expressing FIX in megakaryocytes can enable the storage of FIX in platelet α-granules and corrects the murine hemophilia B phenotype. FIX was detected in the platelets and plasma of 2bF9 transgenic mice by both antigen and activity assays. Approximately 90% of total FIX in blood was stored in platelets, most of which is releasable on activation of platelets. Immunostaining demonstrated that FIX was expressed in platelets and megakaryocytes and stored in α-granules. All 2bF9 transgenic mice survived tail clipping, suggesting that platelet-derived FIX normalizes hemostasis in the hemophilia B mouse model. This protection can be transferred by bone marrow transplantation or platelet transfusion. However, unlike our experience with platelet FVIII, the efficacy of platelet-derived FIX was limited in the presence of anti-FIX inhibitory antibodies. These results demonstrate that releasable FIX can be expressed and stored in platelet α-granules and that platelet-derived FIX can correct the bleeding phenotype in hemophilia B mice. Our studies suggest that targeting FIX expression to platelets could be a new gene therapy strategy for hemophilia B.
Rolling on E- or P-selectin induces the extended but not high-affinity conformation of LFA-1 in neutrophils
Authors: Kuwano Yoshihiro , Spelten Oliver , Zhang Hong , Ley Klaus , Zarbock Alexander
Published: May 2010

Human blood neutrophils rolling on E- or P-selectin reduced their rolling velocity when intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)–1 was available. Similar to mouse neutrophils, this was dependent on P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL1), αLβ2 integrin, the Src family tyrosine kinase FGR and spleen tyrosine kinase SYK. Blocking phospholipase C or p38 MAP kinase attenuated, but did not abolish the velocity reduction. To test expression of integrin activation epitopes, we adapted an immobilized reporter assay and developed a new homogeneous microfluidics-based reporter antibody binding assay. Rolling on E- or P-selectin induced the extension reporter epitopes KIM127 and NKI-L16, but not the high affinity reporter epitope monoclonal antibody (mAb) 24. This enabled rolling neutrophils to bind to immobilized extension reporter, but not activation reporter antibodies and allowed binding of soluble KIM127 during rolling. We conclude that human neutrophil rolling on E- or P-selectin induces the extended αLβ2 integrin conformation through signaling triggered by PSGL-1 engagement.
Copy number variation in the bovine genome
Authors: Fadista João , Thomsen Bo , Holm Lars-Erik , Bendixen Christian
Published: May 2010

Background

Copy number variations (CNVs), which represent a significant source of genetic diversity in mammals, have been shown to be associated with phenotypes of clinical relevance and to be causative of disease. Notwithstanding, little is known about the extent to which CNV contributes to genetic variation in cattle.

Results

We designed and used a set of NimbleGen CGH arrays that tile across the assayable portion of the cattle genome with approximately 6.3 million probes, at a median probe spacing of 301 bp. This study reports the highest resolution map of copy number variation in the cattle genome, with 304 CNV regions (CNVRs) being identified among the genomes of 20 bovine samples from 4 dairy and beef breeds. The CNVRs identified covered 0.68% (22 Mb) of the genome, and ranged in size from 1.7 to 2,031 kb (median size 16.7 kb). About 20% of the CNVs co-localized with segmental duplications, while 30% encompass genes, of which the majority is involved in environmental response. About 10% of the human orthologous of these genes are associated with human disease susceptibility and, hence, may have important phenotypic consequences.

Conclusions

Together, this analysis provides a useful resource for assessment of the impact of CNVs regarding variation in bovine health and production traits.
Neighborhood and physical activities of Portuguese adolescents
Authors: Loureiro Nuno , Matos Margarida G , Santos Maria M , Mota Jorge , Diniz José A
Published: May 2010

Background

This study examines associations between perceptions of neighbourhood environment and physical activity and sports within Portuguese adolescents.

Methods

The sample consisted of 4,877 individuals of both genders, with an average age of 14 years. The instrument used was the Health Behavior School-aged Children questionnaire.

Results

Perceptions of the neighbourhood being unsafe for children to play and having no place to spend leisure time were associated with lower levels of exercise among adolescents. The perceptions of the neighbourhood being unsafe for children to play (OR = 1.3, p < .005) and the fact of not having a place to spend leisure time (OR = 1.3, p < .005) p < .005) were associated with lower levels of exercise among adolescents. The perception of these variables is associated to a lower probability of exercising. The neighbourhood characteristics are more important to the practice of outdoor sports than of indoor sports.

Conclusion

The perceptions of the neighbourhood may influence adolescent's physical activity and sports, in different ways.
Serum selenium concentration is associated with metabolic factors in the elderly: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Yang Kuen-Cheh , Lee Long-Teng , Lee Yow-Shan , Huang Hui-Ying , Chen Ching-Yu , Huang Kuo-Chin
Published: May 2010

Background

Selenium is an essential micronutrient known for its antioxidant function. However, the association of serum selenium with lipid profiles and fasting glucose are inconsistent in populations with average intake of selenium. Furthermore, there were few studies conducted specifically for the elderly. This study examined the relationship of serum selenium concentration with serum lipids and fasting glucose in the Taiwanese elderly population.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 200 males and females aged 65-85 years (mean 71.5 ± 4.6 years) from Taipei, Taiwan. Serum selenium was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The association between serum selenium and metabolic factors was examined using a multivariate linear regression analysis after controlling several confounders.

Results

The mean serum selenium concentration was 1.14 μmol/L, without significant difference between sexes. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol increased significantly with serum selenium concentration (P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) after adjusting for age, gender, anthropometric indices, lifestyle factors, and cardio-vascular risk factors in several linear regression models. Furthermore, there was a significantly positive association between serum selenium and serum fasting glucose concentrations (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, and fasting serum glucose concentrations increased significantly with serum selenium concentration in the Taiwanese elderly. The underlying mechanism warrants further research.
Recent developments in high-resolution global altimetric gravity field modeling
Authors: Andersen Ole B. , Knudsen P. , Berry P. A. M. , Kenyon S. , Trimmer R.
Published: May 2010

In recent years, dedicated effort has been made to improve high-resolution global marine gravity fields. One new global field is the Danish National Space Center (DNSC) 1-minute grid called DNSC08GRA, released in 2008. DNSC08GRA was derived from double-retracked satellite altimetry, mainly from the ERS-1 geodetic mission data, augmented with new retracked GEOSAT data which have significantly enhanced the range and hence the gravity field accuracy.
Introduction to this special section: Uncertainty analysis
Authors: Lewis Jennifer
Published: May 2010

Successful oil and gas prospect evaluation and field development require accurate characterization of the subsurface. Of particular importance in evaluating risk is an accurate and physically based estimate of the uncertainty associated with this characterization. An understanding of the range of possible subsurface realizations drives business decisions that play a prominent role in factors that impact recovery, development scenarios, and ultimately project economics.
A COLUMN ON THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF GEOPHYSICS AND SCIENCE IN GENERAL
Authors: Liner Christopher L.
Published: May 2010

To Have and Have Notch. It is customary to remark that the Fourier transform (FT) decomposes a transient time signal (data) into independent harmonic components and, therefore, has exact frequency localization and no time localization. In other words, FT can precisely detect which frequencies reside in the data, but yields no information about the time position of signal features. Let's investigate this claim by considering the FT impulse response. Warning (for the faint of heart): math ahead.
Quality Observatories: using information to create a culture of measurement for improvement
Authors: Riley Samantha , Cheema Katherine
Published: May 2010

In June 2008 High Quality Care for All was published, a blueprint for the delivery of NHS services in the future with quality of care put firmly at the heart of the principles guiding the NHS. Measurement of quality was identified as a crucial aspect of achieving delivery, enabling clinical teams to focus on where they need to improve most, and monitor the effects of interventions and initiatives. To date, the South East Coast Quality Observatory has developed over 80 benchmarking tools, products and analyses which contribute to the goal of delivery high quality analysis in a way that can be understood and utilized effectively by all levels of staff in a variety of clinical and managerial settings to evidence and drive improvement and innovation across organizations and local health economies. Patient safety, as a fundamental aspect of high quality care, makes up a significant part of this output, focusing on key topic areas that can deliver the best, and safest, results for patients. The following sets out details of a selection of the patient safety areas that the Quality Observatory has focused on and describes the analysis undertaken and, crucially, the key outcomes linked to its publication and usage.
Insulin errors in hospital: time for a radical re-think on risk?
Authors: Sims Joanne , Richardson Tristan , Kerr David
Published: May 2010

Despite having been first used in 1922, insulin prescription errors for hospitalized patients remain common. Improper use of insulin for people hospitalized with diabetes can lead to serious adverse clinical outcomes, prolonged length of stay with important health economic consequences, and a poor patient experience of their hospital treatment. Although the problem of insulin prescription errors is widely appreciated, the approach to reducing the risk of these occurring is variable and subject to local influences and interpretation of current guidance. In addition, risk management in this area appears to be based upon the actual consequences of the error at an individual level rather than the error itself and the potential for harm in others. It may be of more benefit to recognize the potential for harm from insulin errors as a driver to delivering change within NHS service delivery for people with diabetes admitted to hospital.
Pitfalls in the treatment of hydrocephalus
Authors: Jayamohan Jayaratnam
Published: May 2010

This article aims to describe the causes and types of hydrocephalus, as well as explain why treatment options may vary from case to case. Potential complications of treatment are also discussed.
Fatal chemotherapy overdose during clinical trial
Authors: Bowman Mark
Published: May 2010

Patient overdosed with bleomycin on seven occasions. Family not notified until after patient embalmed. Liability initially disputed despite coroner's findings. Liability eventually admitted. Quantum still in dispute.
Monitoring of clopidogrel treatment by multiple electrode platelet aggregometry1,2
Authors: Behr Tobias , Behr Werner , von Scheidt Wolfgang
Published: May 2010

Low responsiveness to clopidogrel is an important cause of adverse events after coronary stenting. Multiple electrode platelet aggregometry (MEA) measured by the Multiplate® system seems to be suitable for monitoring clopidogrel treatment. We validated this method by analyzing hirudin blood samples from 150 healthy volunteers to establish reference ranges of the MEA tests, from 75 hematologic patients with anemia or thrombopenia to determine the dependence of MEA values on hematocrit (HCT) and platelet count, and from 1005 patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 600 mg clopidogrel loading dose to test the reproducibility of the results under clinical conditions. It was found that MEA results are not affected by the different methods of blood withdrawal and sample transport, if the blood is kept at rest for 30 min before measuring. Measuring must be performed within 3 h after blood withdrawal. It was found that MEA results are not valid in patients with HCT ≤0.30 L/L or platelets ≤100/nL. Because clopidogrel loading also causes a decrease of thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP) values, clopidogrel responsiveness, defined by ADP values under the lower reference level (men: 32 U, women: 46 U), can only reliably be classified if the TRAP value is >20 U and the TRAP/ADP ratio <3. Clopidogrel monitoring should be performed within 24 h after PCI, despite the risk of unclear results in ∼12%. In summary, by concentrating on preanalytical conditions and blood count, MEA is suitable to detect clopidogrel response. The TRAP test should be performed simultaneously to allow a valid assessment.
Das Deutsche und die dräuenden Apostrophe. Zur Verbreitung von ᾿s im Gegenwartsdeutschen
Authors: Scherer Carmen
Published: May 2010

Two main functions are attested for the apostrophe in German: the substitution of omitted letters (‘phonographic apostrophe’) as opposed to the indication of morpheme boundaries (‘morphographic apostrophe’). While the first type of use is in accordance with the orthographical norm, the second one is not. Based on a corpus study of a total of more than 350 million word forms, the distribution of the apostrophe in a specific graphemic environment, namely before
, will be investigated. It will be shown that 10–20% of all apostrophes are used in case of genitive or plural formation. Furthermore, a detailed context analysis will reveal an interdependency between the different types of apostrophe and text type.
Comparative Study of Freeze and Thaw Test Procedures on Molded Brick
Authors: Cyphers Rex A. , Rhett Whitlock A.
Published: May 2010

A testing program was conducted to compare the results of three different freeze/thaw test procedures on molded brick. The bricks were tested in accordance with ASTM C67-02a (performed continuously without weekend interruptions), Dutch Standard NEN 2872-89 (Nederlands Normalisatie-Instituut (Netherlands Standards Institute—NEN)), and a non-standardized test similar to tests performed by other researchers that included boiling the brick prior to freezing, referred to as the “Boil to Freeze” test. The effects of the tests were compared by assessing visual damage and measuring changes in ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements and 24 h cold water absorption values on each brick before and after freeze/thaw testing. In addition to the freeze/thaw tests, the bricks were also tested for basic physical properties including compressive strength and absorption. A statistical analysis was made of the test results to compare the effects (severity) of three different freeze/thaw tests.