bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of hydrogen on the tensile strength of aged Ni–Ti superelastic alloy
Authors: Gamaoun Fehmi , Ltaief Montassarbellah , Bouraoui Tarak , Ben Zineb Tarak
Published: October 2011

Because of its good corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, superelastic Ni–Ti wire alloys have been successfully used in orthodontic clinics. However, delayed fracture in the oral cavity has been observed. The susceptibility of a Ni–Ti shape-memory alloy toward hydrogen embrittlement has been examined with respect to the current densities and aging in air at room temperature. Orthodontic wires have been cathodically hydrogen charged using a different current density of 5, 10, and 20 A/m2 from 2 to 24 h in 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution at room temperature. The critical stress for the martensite transformation under a monotonous tensile test has been 20–90 MPa higher than that without hydrogen charging. In addition, embrittlement takes place in the austenite–martensite transformation plateau. For a short period of charging, the Ni–Ti alloy conserves its superelastic behavior. However, after 24 h of aging in air at room temperature, fracture at the austenite–martensite transformation plateau takes place earlier.
Characterization of Step Response Time and Bandwidth of Electrorheological Fluids
Authors: Gurka Martin , Petričević Raino , Schneider Steffen , Ulrich Stephan
Published: October 2011

The dynamic behavior of the commercially used electrorheological fluid RheOil3.0 is measured under well-defined conditions. Measurements were carried out in shear mode as well as in flow mode using flow channels that provide similar flow conditions to many electrorheological applications. The response times of the change in flow behavior upon a changed electric field are measured. Measurements were carried out in time domain (single step response) as well as in frequency domain (sinusoidal frequency sweep). In most flow conditions, the observed dynamic behavior is characterized by two leading response times of which the fast one is in the millisecond range. Under stable flow or constant shear rate conditions, ionic conductivity is found to be a limiting factor for a quick step response.
Case Studies on Using Strengths and Interests to Address the Needs of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Lanou Aaron , Hough Lauren , Powell Elizabeth
Published: October 2011

Students on the autism spectrum present with difficulties in a variety of areas, including social understanding, emotional regulation, academics, and behavior. Professionals working in the field of autism must identify and address these areas of need given each individual child’s specific cognitive profiles. In this article the authors highlight not only the importance of addressing these areas of difficulty but also the significance and power of recognizing and incorporating each child’s unique strengths, interests, and talents to accomplish this. The authors present strategies created for individual students with autism spectrum disorders in upper elementary classes that capitalized on the students’ authentic interests and strengths as a way of meeting their school-based challenges. Through these passions, the authors were able to tap into students’ own motivation and true abilities, laying the foundation for success.
Educational Barriers of Rural Youth
Authors: Irvin Matthew J. , Byun Soo-yong , Meece Judith L. , Farmer Thomas W. , Hutchins Bryan C.
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of several individual and contextual difference factors to the perceived educational barriers of rural youth. Data were from a broader national investigation of students’ postsecondary aspirations and preparation in rural high schools across the United States. The sample involved more than 7,000 rural youth in 73 high schools across 34 states. Results indicated that some individual (e.g., African American race/ethnicity) and contextual (e.g., parent education) difference factors were predictive while others were not. Extensions to, similarities, and variations with previous research are discussed. Implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
The Career Futures Inventory–Revised
Authors: Rottinghaus Patrick J. , Buelow Kristine L. , Matyja Anna , Schneider Madalyn R.
Published: October 2011

This study reports the development and initial validation of the Career Futures Inventory–Revised (CFI-R) in two large samples of university students. The 28-item CFI-R assesses aspects of career adaptability, including positive career planning attitudes, general outcome expectations, and components of Parsons’ tripartite model and Bandura’s personal agency. Results revealed five internally consistent subscales: career agency, occupational awareness, support, work–life balance, and negative career outlook. Changes from the original CFI include a measure of career agency, including content addressing self-awareness, control, and self-efficacy for managing career transitions; and measures of relational components. Convergent and discriminant validity of the CFI-R subscales were examined related to measures of career decision status, difficulties, and self-efficacy, as well as dispositional optimism and coping styles. The CFI-R can aid in the understanding of current attitudes toward a variety of career transitions and enhance the effectiveness of career counseling by addressing clients’ concerns in a changing occupational world.
The Contribution of the Counselor–Client Working Alliance to Career Exploration
Authors: Elad-Strenger Julia , Littman-Ovadia Hadassah
Published: October 2011

This longitudinal study examines the effects of Israeli counselors’ and clients’ ratings of their working alliance on clients’ career exploration (CE), using a sample of 94 three-session career counseling processes. Results reveal that both clients’ and counselors’ working alliance ratings increased over time; yet, clients’ ratings remained constantly above counselors’ ratings. Results also suggest that clients’ working alliance ratings are a better predictor of clients’ CE than counselors’ ratings. Implications for career counseling are discussed.
When Promotoras and Technology Meet
Authors: Arvey Sarah R. , Fernandez Maria E. , LaRue Denise M. , Bartholomew L. Kay
Published: October 2011

Computer-based multimedia technologies can be used to tailor health messages, but promotoras (Spanish-speaking community health workers) rarely use these tools. Promotoras delivered health messages about colorectal cancer screening to medically underserved Latinos in South Texas using two small media formats: a “low-tech” format (flipchart and video) and a “high-tech” format consisting of a tailored, interactive computer program delivered on a tablet computer. Using qualitative methods, the authors observed promotora training and intervention delivery and conducted interviews with five promotoras to compare and contrast program implementation of both formats. The authors discuss the ways each format aided or challenged promotoras’ intervention delivery. Findings reveal that some aspects of both formats enhanced intervention delivery by tapping into Latino health communication preferences and facilitating interpersonal communication, whereas other aspects hindered intervention delivery. This study contributes to our understanding of how community health workers use low- and high-tech small media formats when delivering health messages to Latinos.
The Association of Perceived Provider–Patient Communication and Relationship Quality With Colorectal Cancer Screening
Authors: Underhill Meghan L. , Kiviniemi Marc T.
Published: October 2011

Background. Two-thirds of adults aged 50 years and older are adherent to recommendations for colorectal cancer screening. Provider–patient communication and characteristics of the patient–provider relationship may relate to screening behavior. Methods. The association of provider communication quality, relationship, and colorectal cancer screening was examined within data from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey. Results. Perceived provider communication and relationship quality were associated with both adherence to colonoscopy and with ever having been screened. Predictive margins analyses indicated that increasing perceptions from lowest to highest levels of communication and relationship quality would be associated with increases in screening rates approaching 16 percentage points. Conclusion. Improving provider–patient communication and relationship quality could potentially improve colorectal cancer screening behaviors among adults aged 50 years and older. Future research and clinical practice should focus on understanding the role of these factors in screening behavior and enhance the provider–patient interaction.
Is There a Connection Between Reciprocity and Tax Competition?
Authors: Rork Jonathan C. , Wagner Gary A.
Published: October 2011

One challenge states face in designing income tax systems is deciding how to treat nonresident earners. Numerous states have entered into reciprocity agreements with other states that exclude nonresidents’ income from the tax base. These agreements provide a unique opportunity to explore the nature of state tax competition. The authors demonstrate that not only do reciprocity agreements allow states to have higher income tax rates than do nonreciprocity states but also that the states with reciprocity agreements exhibit increased levels of competition over other taxes.
Managing prospect affiliation and rapport in real-life sales encounters
Authors: Clark Colin , Drew Paul , Pinch Trevor
Published: October 2011

A B S T R A C T Detailed examination of audio recordings of business-to-business `field-sales' encounters are used to report one way in which salespeople elicit verbal expressions of affiliation from their prospective customers — by reciprocating second assessments which affiliate with, trade off and build on prospects' own assessments. This article outlines the prototypical features of these junctures of assessment-affiliation and describes how salespeople can mobilize such assessments to build extended sequences of `rapport' that take the form of adjacent and mutual expressions of substantive verbal affiliation. Consideration is also given to explicating both the interactional basis of these sequences as well as the socially obligating influence such affiliation and rapport can have on sales outcomes.
Nitric oxide and angiotensin II regulate cardiovascular homeostasis and the arterial baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious lambs
Authors: Wehlage Stephanie J , Smith Francine G
Published: October 2011

To investigate the potential role of angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptors (AT1Rs) as well as endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO) in regulating cardiovascular homeostasis during ontogeny, experiments were carried out in conscious lambs aged approximately 1 week ( N = 9) and 6 weeks ( N = 11). The arterial baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) was assessed before and after intravenous (IV) infusion of the selective AT1R antagonist, ZD 7155, before and after IV administration of the L-arginine analogue, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). In both groups, after ZD 7155 alone, mean arterial pressure decreased then increased after L-NAME. At 1 but not 6 weeks, HR decreased after ZD 7155 as well as after L-NAME. At 1 but not 6 weeks, there was a decrease in the HR range after ZD 7155 and after ZD 7155 + L-NAME, as compared to control. There was also a decrease in minimum HR after ZD 7155 + L-NAME at 1 week. These data provide new evidence that, together, Ang II and NO regulate cardiovascular homeostasis as well as the arterial baroreflex of HR early in life which may help to explain the activation of these two systems early in life.
Long-term effects of group therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment and their significant others: A 6- to 8-month follow-up study
Authors: Banningh Liesbeth W.A. Joosten-Weyn , Roelofs Sondra C.F. , Vernooij-Dassen Myrra J.F.J. , Prins Judith B. , Rikkert Marcel G.M. Olde , Kessels Roy P.C.
Published: October 2011

The present study examines the long-term effects of a 10-session cognitive behavioural group therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their significant others 6 to 8 months after completion of the intervention. Forty-seven MCI patients and 47 significant others participated in the follow-up assessment. Results of the RAND-36, Illness Cognition Questionnaire, IQCODE, GDS-15 and Sense of Competence Questionnaire at follow-up were compared with the post-intervention assessment. Our findings showed that the increased level of acceptance in the MCI patients was maintained at follow-up, with an increased insight into their cognitive decline compared with post-intervention assessment ( p < 0.001). In both the patients and the significant others, helplessness and wellbeing were worse at follow up ( p < 0.05), but sense of competence increased in the significant others ( p < 0.05). These results indicate a need for extension of the support after completion of the program, for example by providing regular booster sessions.
Support groups for caregivers of Alzheimer patients: A historical review
Authors: Hornillos Carlos , Crespo María
Published: October 2011

Support groups (SG) for family caregivers are an intervention frequently used by associations and institutions. But their extensive use does not correspond to the current scientific interest in them. The aim of this paper is to make a historical review of the use and study of SGs for family caregivers of Alzheimer patients, describing their main features and variations, with special emphasis on data about their efficacy. In this analysis, three stages were differentiated: an initial stage (late 1970s – 1985) with studies based on subjective impressions and questionnaires showing high satisfaction among caregivers; a second stage (1985–1995) with more rigorous methodology, which led to doubts about SGs’ efficacy; and a third stage (1995 – present) in which qualitative methodology focused on group process has led to renewed interest. At the end some proposals regarding the future of research on caregiver SGs are discussed.
‘The problem with Leonard’: A critical constructionist view of need-driven dementia-compromised behaviours
Authors: Koehn Sharon D. , Kozak Jean-Francois , Drance Elisabeth
Published: October 2011

This critical constructionist case study of ‘Leonard,’ a man with frontotemporal dementia living on a special care unit predominantly populated by people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, explores how healthy others’ perceptions of the prevailing physical and psychosocial environment were influenced by Leonard’s behaviour which, in turn, was influenced by people’s perceptions of him as a ‘problem’. Data were obtained through participant observations, individual interviews with staff and residents, and focus groups with family members and nursing staff. Leonard’s ‘needs-driven dementia-compromised’ behaviours are not recognized as such by many of the healthy others with whom he co-creates his psychosocial environment; rather he is constructed as deviant, which undermines his selfhood as well as his quality of life. Education of staff and family members as well as broad organizational change is needed to address the issues underlying the problems for which Leonard is blamed but instead arise largely from the environment within which Leonard is situated.
Education on physical restraint reduction in dementia care: A review of the literature
Authors: De Bellis A. , Mosel K. , Curren D. , Prendergast J. , Harrington A. , Muir-Cochrane E.
Published: October 2011

Dementia is a priority area for all countries as populations age and dementia prevalence increases. The use of physical restraint is a possible clinical practice for persons with dementia across settings when behaviours indicate a perceived need. Indeed, this may be the first choice in practice, occurring in part because of lack of education, safety concerns, perceived costs and staffing issues. This article reviews the literature on the issues surrounding, and use of, physical restraint for people with dementia, highlighting the rationales for use and the benefits and barriers to physical restraint. Recommendations include the importance of education and policy to reduce or eliminate physical restraint of persons with dementia to overcome identified barriers at the individual, cultural and organizational levels. An educational programme from the literature review is proposed specific to the reduction or elimination of physical restraint.
Willingness to Participate in Research during Pregnancy
Authors: Gatny Heather H. , Axinn William G.
Published: October 2011

This article examines the willingness of pregnant women to participate in research on health. The authors investigate attitudes toward multiple methods of data collection, including survey and biomarker data collection. Complete interviews were obtained from a sample of 90 pregnant women in a matched control–comparison study of patients receiving prenatal care in private practice and clinic settings. Women experiencing prenatal care at a clinic reported less willingness to participate in research than women experiencing prenatal care at a private practice. Women who deemed “contributing to science,” “learning about pregnancy health,” and “helping future patients” as important motivations for participating in research were more likely to express willingness to participate in a study. African American women reported less willingness to answer questions in a survey than white women. The results suggest that motivational factors should be integrated into the design of a study of pregnant women to encourage participation.
‘Getting back to normal’: the added value of an art-based programme in promoting ‘recovery’ for common but chronic mental health problems
Authors: Makin Sally , Gask Linda
Published: October 2011

Objectives. The aim of this project was to explore the added value of participation in an Arts on Prescription (AoP) programme to aid the process of recovery in people with common but chronic mental health problems that have already undergone a psychological ‘talking’-based therapy. Methods. The study utilized qualitative in-depth interviews with 15 clients with persistent anxiety and depression who had attended an ‘AoP’ service and had previously received psychological therapy. Results and discussion. Attending AoP aided the process of recovery, which was perceived by participants as ‘returning to normality’ through enjoying life again, returning to previous activities, setting goals and stopping dwelling on the past. Most were positive about the benefits they had previously gained from talking therapies. However, these alone were not perceived as having been sufficient to achieve recovery. The AoP offered some specific opportunities in this regard, mediated by the therapeutic and effect of absorption in an activity, the specific creative potential of art, and the social aspects of attending the programme. Conclusions. For some people who experience persistent or relapsing common mental health problems, participation in an arts-based programme provides ‘added value’ in aiding recovery in ways not facilitated by talking therapies alone.
Unobserved, re-defined, unknown or removed failure modes in competing risks
Authors: Coolen-Maturi T , Coolen F P A
Published: October 2011

Recently the nonparametric predictive approach to inference for competing risks was introduced by Maturi et al. (2010, J. Risk Reliab. 224, 11–26). In this paper further results for such inferences are presented, with focus on four important and closely related aspects. First, the effect of defined failure modes which thus far have not yet caused failures is studied. Second, the effect of re-defining (groups of) failure modes is considered, followed by a discussion of possible unknown, so undefined, failure modes. Finally, the effect of removal of failure modes is illustrated.
Optimizing road milling and resurfacing actions
Authors: Zouch M , Yeung T G , Castanier B
Published: October 2011

A condition-based maintenance optimization approach is developed for the road-cracking problem in order to derive optimal maintenance policies that minimize a total discounted maintenance cost. The approach is based on a Markov decision process that takes into account multiple actions with varying effects on future road performance. Maintaining the road consists of adding a new asphalt layer; however, as resurfacing actions are constrained by a maximum total road thickness, the maintenance decision is not only how thick a layer to apply, but also how much old road to remove. Each combination of these actions leads to different maintenance costs and different future degradation behaviours. The road state is modelled by a dependent bivariate deterioration variable (the longitudinal cracking percentage and the deterioration growth rate), for taking these different changes in the cracking patterns into account. Moreover, the sensitivity to cracking for existing roads can be reduced with the addition of new layers, and thus actions that can lead to states better than good-as-new have to be considered. A numerical analysis is provided to illustrate the benefits of the introduction of the deterioration speed in the decision framework, as well as the belief that initially building a road to its maximum thickness is not optimal. The trade-offs in the design decisions and the exploitation/maintenance costs are also explored.
Reliability-based placement of phasor measurement units in power systems
Authors: Khiabani V , Yadav O P , Kavesseri R
Published: October 2011

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are key elements in wide area measurement system (WAMS)-based operations of power systems. Most existing algorithms consider the problem of optimal PMU placement, where the main objective is to ensure observability. In this paper, we consider a placement problem to ensure observability while achieving a desired level of reliability of observability. A placement model is developed considering the reliability of an individual PMU ( p), to achieve a specified level of system-wide reliability ( R). The problem is formulated as a two-stage optimization model. In the first stage, an integer linear programming (ILP) model is solved to obtain optimal placement solutions that satisfy the reliability and observability constraints. The second stage identifies the solution that maximizes system reliability. The model is solved for the IEEE 14, 30, 57, and 118 bus test systems, and a large-scale 2383 bus system. Assuming a PMU reliability of 0.9, the results show that, on average, placement of PMUs at 60 per cent of the buses in the network lead to a system reliability of 0.99.
Hand and wrist research productivity in journals with high impact factors: a 20 year analysis
Authors: Ahn C. S. , Li R. J. , Ahn B. S. , Kuo P. , Bryant J. , Day C. S.
Published: October 2011

Bibliometric analyses, which study trends in research productivity, have not previously been applied to hand and wrist research. This study analyses temporal and geographic trends in hand and wrist research from 1988 to 2007. Original research articles were collected from seven English language journals selected on the basis of impact factor. Research production and quality (level of evidence) were determined by country and global region. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate trends. No significant increase in research volume was observed, but journal impact factors have risen significantly since 1988. Western Europe contributed significantly more high-quality (Level I and II) studies than the United States. Research contributions show a geographical distribution concentrated in the US and Western Europe, but considerable changes in this distribution have occurred. From 1988 to 2007, there was a relative increase in research production from Europe, Latin America and Asia, and a relative decline from the US.
Benign extraosseous cartilage tumours of the hand and wrist
Authors: Christoforou D. , Strauss E. J. , Abramovici L. , Posner M. A.
Published: October 2011

Benign extraosseous cartilage tumours of the hand and wrist comprise soft tissue chondromas, synovial chondromatosis and tenosynovial chrondromatosis. These tumours can significantly affect patients as they are often painful, functionally limiting and cosmetically displeasing. Although each tumour is generally considered to be a distinct entity, they share radiological and histopathological similarities. Occasionally, all three tumours may be seen in the same patient. This is an important consideration because of the risk of recurrence that may not necessarily occur at the same anatomical site but instead extend to different sites, such as a tendon sheath and/or joint.
Trigger finger and tendinosis
Authors: Lundin A.-C. , Eliasson P. , Aspenberg P.
Published: October 2011

The pathogenesis of trigger finger has generally been ascribed to primary changes in the pulley. Histological examination of the affected tendons has rarely been done. We studied biopsies from tendons of trigger fingers from 29 patients and compared these to biopsies from six intact tendons. We used a modified Movin score, which describes the tendinosis of the Achilles tendon. Trigger finger tendons had a high score (14.2; SD, 2.2) consistent with tendinosis, while the controls were almost normal (2.5; SD, 1.9). This suggests that the tendon is also affected, and that trigger finger is a form of tendinosis.
A randomised controlled trial of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after open carpal tunnel release
Authors: Theopold C. , Potter S. , Dempsey M. , O’Shaughnessy M.
Published: October 2011

We compared the aesthetic outcome of scars after closure of open carpal tunnel incisions with either absorbable 4-0 Vicryl Rapide or non-absorbable 4-0 Novafil. Patients were recruited in a randomized controlled trial and scars were scored at 6 weeks using a modified Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. Scores demonstrated differences only for pain, vascularity and cross-hatching between both groups, though none of these were statistically significant. The dissolving and falling out of Vicryl Rapide was significantly more comfortable than removal of 4-0 Novafil sutures, assessed on a numerical analogue scale. There was no difference in infection rate between both study groups, supporting overall the use of Vicryl Rapide for the closure of palmar hand incisions, in light of the convenience and cost savings associated with absorbable sutures.
The effect of core suture flexor tendon repair techniques on gliding resistance during static cycle motion and load to failure: a human cadaver study
Authors: Moriya T. , Larson M. C. , Zhao C. , An K.-N. , Amadio P. C.
Published: October 2011

The purpose of this study was to describe a modification of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MMGH) tendon repair and to compare it with three other suture techniques. Twenty human flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons were randomly assigned to the modified Pennington (MP) suture and the MMGH suture. These were compared to the modified Kessler (MK) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) sutures, using data from a previous study. All tendons were repaired with a similar epitendinous stitch and core sutures of 4-0 FiberWire. There was no significant difference in the normalized gliding resistance within the two-strand or four-strand core repair groups. The MP suture had significantly higher 2 mm gap force and ultimate load to failure than the MK suture. The MMGH suture had significantly higher 2 mm gap force and maximum failure ultimate load than the MGH suture. All repairs failed by knot unravelling.
Saving Lives audits: do they improve infection prevention and control practice?
Authors: Slyne H , Phillips C , Parkes J
Published: October 2011

Aretrospective audit evaluation was conducted to determine whether the introduction of two clinical skills trainers for four months in a district general hospital improved compliance with infection prevention and control practices. Saving Lives (Department of Health, 2010) peripheral venous cannula and urinary catheter high impact intervention audit data were analysed for six months before, four months during and six months after the clinical skills training was implemented for six control wards and seven intervention wards. Findings showed that although the control wards did not improve compliance significantly over the study period, the intervention wards improved compliance with the high impact intervention care bundles studied and that this practice was sustained for six months after the clinical skills training. The findings suggest that education is required to improve clinical skills surrounding cannulation and catheterisation, which can then be sustained by Saving Lives audits to reduce the risk of infection to patients.
Bipolar depression: clinically missed, pharmacologically mismanaged
Authors: Lloyd Lisa C. , Giaroli Giovanni , Taylor David , Tracy Derek K.
Published: October 2011

Bipolar affective disorders are common and frequently debilitating mental illnesses. Diagnostic criteria mean they are defined by the presence of pathological mood elevation, but research shows greater disease burden is inflicted by depressive phases (bipolar depression) both in terms of duration and impact of symptoms. Despite this there is consistent evidence for the underdiagnosis of bipolar depression and its misdiagnosis as a unipolar disorder, with significant subsequent impact on medication management. There is currently less robust evidence for the appropriate pharmacological approach in such individuals than in unipolar depression, and fewer guidelines for clinicians. Despite this there is clear and growing evidence that ‘treatment as usual’ of depressive symptomatology is ineffective at best, harmful at worst, and that there is little role for the use of antidepressants. Both mood stabilizers and antipsychotics demonstrate efficacy, and whilst there are emerging data on intraclass differences, more research is needed, particularly concerning bipolar II disorder. Present treatment strategies are limited by insufficient large randomized control trials, an inadequate understanding of the neuropathology of bipolar illnesses and a lack of tailored medications. Better clinical training, understanding and recognition of this common condition are essential.
Sheet temperature in thermoforming
Authors: Michaud Ryan A , Giacomin A Jeffrey
Published: October 2011

In thermoforming, flat plastic sheets are transformed into complex shapes by first softening by radiant heat transfer, and then by shaping. During the softening step, the sheet first bows while still solid, then sags while soft. In this article, we derive the heat flux distributions over both faces of a bowing or sagging sheet, along with the corresponding temperature profiles through and across the bowing or sagging sheet. These predictions can help plastics engineers to present a sheet of uniform temperature to a thermoforming mold. A worked example is included to show how to use the results.
Mice with ribosomal protein S19 deficiency develop bone marrow failure and symptoms like patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia
Authors: Jaako Pekka , Flygare Johan , Olsson Karin , Quere Ronan , Ehinger Mats , Henson Adrianna , Ellis Steven , Schambach Axel , Baum Christopher , Richter Johan , Larsson Jonas , Bryder David , Karlsson Stefan
Published: October 2011

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a congenital erythroid hypoplasia caused by a functional haploinsufficiency of genes encoding for ribosomal proteins. Among these genes, ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) is mutated most frequently. Generation of animal models for diseases like DBA is challenging because the phenotype is highly dependent on the level of RPS19 down-regulation. We report the generation of mouse models for RPS19-deficient DBA using transgenic RNA interference that allows an inducible and graded down-regulation of Rps19. Rps19-deficient mice develop a macrocytic anemia together with leukocytopenia and variable platelet count that with time leads to the exhaustion of hematopoietic stem cells and bone marrow failure. Both RPS19 gene transfer and the loss of p53 rescue the DBA phenotype implying the potential of the models for testing novel therapies. This study demonstrates the feasibility of transgenic RNA interference to generate mouse models for human diseases caused by haploinsufficient expression of a gene.
Association of genetic variants in chromosome 17q21 and adult-onset asthma in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Qiu Rongfang , Zhao Hailing , Wang Aihua , Gong Yaoqin , Liu Qiji
Published: October 2011

Background

Genome-wide association studies of asthma have identified a novel region containing ORMDL3 at chromosome 17q21 that is strongly associated with childhood-onset asthma and significantly linked to ORMDL3 transcript abundance. These results have been successfully replicated in childhood-onset asthma cohorts in several ethnic groups. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of polymorphisms in ORMDL3, GSDMB, ZPBP2 and IKZF3 and adult-onset asthma in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

We genotyped 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at chromosome 17q21 in 1,366 Han Chinese people comprising 710 patients with adult-onset asthma and 656 healthy controls. We compared the 2 groups in terms of allele and haplotype frequencies. Transcript levels were measured in leukocytes from 61 asthma patients by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

We found the 5 SNPs significantly associated with asthma (P<0.05), of which 2, rs11557467 and rs9303277, were strongly associated (P<0.001). Subjects carrying the G allele of rs11557467 or the C allele of rs9303277 showed increased risk of asthma (odds ratio [OR] 1.27, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.51, P = 0.006, and OR 1.27, 1.07-1.49, P = 0.005, respectively), even after adjusting for age and sex. The risk of asthma was lower for carriers of the haplotype CTGTT (OR 0.81, 0.67-0.97, P = 0.02). The risk allele for each SNP was associated with increased expression of ORMDL3 and GSDMB in leukocytes (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

Our replication study suggests that variants in 17q21 are significantly associated with risk of adult-onset asthma and gene expression in a Chinese Han population.
Detailed discussion on evidence for the further prevention of traffic fatalities in Japan: a comparison of trends in three countries
Authors: Inoue Ken , Fukunaga Tatsushige , Okazaki Yuji , Fujita Yoshitsugu
Published: October 2011

The total number of traffic fatalities has decreased in recent years. To further reduce the number of traffic fatalities, details regarding traffic fatalities and various aspects of traffic accidents must be studied. Therefore, this research examined the number of traffic fatalities by age group and the number of traffic fatalities by situation in Japan from 2003 to 2007, and the percentage of traffic fatalities by age group and the percentage of traffic fatalities by situation during the same period were calculated. In addition, aspects of traffic accidents in Japan were compared with those in Germany and France, and additional measures to counter traffic accidents that need to be taken in Japan in order to further reduce the number of traffic fatalities were studied. Results indicated that in each year of the period studied the highest percentage of traffic fatalities involved the 25–64 age group in Germany and France and the 65-or-over age group in recent years in Japan. In addition, additional measures to counter traffic accidents involving the elderly are needed in Japan, Germany and France. The percentage of traffic fatalities by situation indicated that attention should be paid to ‘fatalities of pedestrians’ in Japan and to ‘fatalities of motor vehicle occupants’ in all the three countries studied. In particular, measures to counter traffic accidents leading to ‘fatalities of pedestrians’ must be studied further in Japan. With the above findings in mind, bodies involved in implementing measures to counter traffic accidents must formulate specific measures.
Active versus Passive Choice: Evidence from a Public Health Care Redesign
Authors: Walsh Michael , Fitzgerald M. Paula , Gurley-Calvez Tami , Pellillo Adam
Published: October 2011

This research examines how people choose among different public health insurance plans and assesses the factors that influence their choice. The authors explore two types of choice: active choice, in which consumers explicitly choose a plan, and passive/no choice, in which consumers take no action in choosing their plan. Using administrative and survey data for a sample of Medicaid recipients from a state that recently redesigned its Medicaid program, the authors identify what drives consumers’ choices using constructs loosely framed by classic motivation, opportunity, and ability models. The results show that when consumers engage in active decision making, there are few barriers to selecting a wellness-based health plan with greater prescription coverage. In addition, the findings suggest that it is important for informed people, such as health care professionals, to be involved in plan choice. Unexpectedly, Medicaid recipients who rely on word-of-mouth communication tend to avoid active choice.
Antecedents and Consequences of Risky Credit Behavior among College Students: Application and Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Xiao Jing Jian , Tang Chuanyi , Serido Joyce , Shim Soyeon
Published: October 2011

The Credit Card Act of 2009 reflects increased public policy concern about the risky credit behaviors of young adults. This act promotes increased responsibility of parents and implies that young adults must acquire financial knowledge and practice responsible financial behaviors. This study addresses this public issue by investigating the psychological processes underlying young adults’ risky credit card behaviors and the role of parents and financial knowledge in the financial behavior of young adults. A conceptual model based on an extension of the theory of planned behavior is proposed. The authors collected data from a sample of first-year students at a major public university. The results show that both parental norm and parental socioeconomic status are important factors that influence students’ risky credit behaviors. Furthermore, subjective financial knowledge does more to prevent risky credit behaviors than objective financial knowledge. Finally, behavioral intention is the most important factor in preventing risky credit behaviors and credit card debt accumulation. The authors draw on their findings to provide public policy implications.
A Child's Right to Play: The Social Construction of Civic Virtues in Toy Libraries
Authors: Ozanne Lucie K. , Ozanne Julie L.
Published: October 2011

In general, communities throughout the world hold that children have a fundamental right to play. Public policies and laws have long aimed to promote play by providing a range of financial and material resources. Toy libraries are an important resource that can provide children with vital developmental tools for play by allowing families to borrow toys in a process similar to public book libraries. An empirical study of a contemporary group of toy libraries explores how families use toy libraries to construct different social meanings. The toy library is an important way that parents can mediate their children's relationship with the marketplace. Moreover, different conceptualizations of citizenship are modeled within this institution based on the sharing of collective goods.
Grammatical profiles and the interaction of the lexicon with aspect, tense, and mood in Russian
Authors: Janda Laura A. , Lyashevskaya Olga
Published: October 2011

We propose the “grammatical profile” as a means of probing the aspectual behavior of verbs. A grammatical profile is the relative frequency distribution of the inflected forms of a word in a corpus. The grammatical profiles of Russian verbs provide data on two crucial issues: a) the overall relationship between perfective and imperfective verbs and b) the identification of verbs that characterize various intersections of aspect, tense and mood (TAM) with lexical classes. There is a long-standing debate over whether Russian aspectual “pairs” are formed only via suffixation (the Isacenko hypothesis) or whether they are formed via both suffixation and prefixation (the traditional view). We test the Isacenko hypothesis using data on the corpus frequency of inflected forms of verbs. We find that the behavior of perfective and imperfective verbs is the same regardless of whether the aspectual relationship is marked by prefixes or suffixes; our finding thus supports the traditional view.

Introspective descriptions of Russian aspect have often connected the use of particular inflectional forms with certain uses of aspect; for example, the use of imperative forms with the imperfective aspect to produce expressions that are very polite. Grammatical profiles make it possible to identify verbs that behave as outliers, presenting unusually large proportions of usage in parts of the paradigm. This analysis both gives substance to and extends previous introspective descriptions by identifying the verbs most involved in certain TAM-category interactions. On a methodological level, this study contributes to current discussions on the use of inflected forms vs. lemmas in corpus studies. Newman (Aiming low in linguistics: Low-level generalizations in corpus-based research: National Chiao Tung University, 2008) finds valuable information at the level of the inflectional form, and Gries (forthcoming) argues that inflectional forms do not necessarily provide a better basis for analysis than lemmas. We agree with them that the appropriate level of granularity is determined by both the language and the linguistic phenomenon under analysis.
Clinical Impact of RT-PCR for Pediatric Acute Respiratory Infections: A Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Wishaupt Jérôme O. , Russcher Anne , Smeets Leo C. , Versteegh Florens G. A. , Hartwig Nico G.
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing is a quick sensitive method for detecting respiratory pathogens. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of RT-PCR assays and measured the effect of rapid reporting on patient care.

METHODS:

In a controlled clinical trial, nasal wash specimens were obtained from patients <12 years of age with suspected acute respiratory infections. In addition to the standard hospital protocol, RT-PCR assays for 17 pathogens were performed. The RT-PCR results were communicated to the clinicians within 12 to 36 hours in the intervention group and after 4 weeks in the control group.

RESULTS:

A total of 583 patients were included (mean age: 8.1 months [range: 0–107.5 months]): 298 in the intervention group and 285 in the control group. Eighty-two percent of nasal wash specimens tested positive for ≥1 pathogen. Respiratory syncytial virus was the most frequently encountered (55%) pathogen. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to hospital admissions (intervention group: 223 admissions; control group: 211 admissions; P = .825), length of hospital stay (mean ± SD: 3.68 ± 2.68 days [intervention group] and 3.96 ± 2.67 days [control group]; P = .178), or duration of antibiotic use (mean ± SD: 6.52 ± 2.15 days [intervention group] and 6.97 ± 2.86 days [control group]; P = .490), when antibiotic treatment had been initiated.

CONCLUSIONS:

RT-PCR testing has a high yield of viral diagnoses, but rapid communication does not lead to decreases in hospital admissions, shorter hospital stays, or less antibiotic use for children with acute respiratory infections.
Childhood Urinary Tract Infections as a Cause of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Salo Jarmo , Ikäheimo Risto , Tapiainen Terhi , Uhari Matti
Published: October 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in childhood are considered a risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but this association is poorly verified. We wanted to determine the etiologic fraction of UTIs in childhood as a cause of CKD.

METHODS:

A systematic literature search on the association between childhood UTIs and CKD was conducted, and data for patients with CKD in the area of 1 tertiary care hospital were reviewed.

RESULTS:

In our literature search, we found no patients among the 1576 reviewed cases for whom childhood UTIs were the main cause of subsequent CKD. However, there were 3 patients with childhood UTIs for whom the results of kidney imaging studies were not reported. Of the 366 patients with CKD who were monitored in the Oulu University Hospital, 308 had a specific noninfectious cause of CKD. Of the remaining 58 patients, 13 had a history of UTIs in childhood. In their first imaging studies, all of those 13 patients demonstrated kidney tissue abnormalities, which could have been observed through ultrasonography. Recurrent UTIs in childhood were possibly the cause of CKD in 1 case; therefore, the etiologic fraction of recurrent childhood UTIs as a main cause of CKD was, at most, 0.3%.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the absence of structural kidney abnormalities evident in imaging studies after the first childhood UTI, the etiologic fraction of recurrent childhood UTIs as a main cause of CKD seems to be small. A child with normal kidneys is not at significant risk of developing CKD because of UTIs.
Nasal carriage of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in children attending day-care centers
Authors: Sedighi Iraj , Moez Hoda , Alikhani Mohammad
Published: October 2011

Nasal colonization with community acquired methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus(CA-MRSA) is being increasingly reported, especially in places where people are in close contact and in reduced hygiene, such as day-care centers. In this study we investigated the frequency of MRSA colonization and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in 1–6 years old children of day-care centers in Hamadan, West of Iran.Five hundred nasal swabs were collected from children of 27 day-care centers that had no risk factors for colonization byS. aureus. The specimens were cultured for isolation ofS. aureusby standard methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. For evaluation of the frequency of erythromycin induced clindamycin resistance, disk approximation test (D-test) was applied.Totally, 148 (29.6%) children were colonized byS. aureus. Out of 260 male, 94 (36.2%) and of 240 female, 54 (22.5%) cases were nasal carriers ofS. aureus(Pvalue = 0.001). Six (4.1%) of the 148S. aureusisolated from children were MRSA strains. None of MRSA and methicillin susceptibleS. aureus(MSSA) was resistant to vancomycin and clindamycin. Three of the 6 strains of MRSA and 7 (4.9%) of the 142 MSSA strains were resistant to erythromycin, and D-test was positive in all of them.We conclude that the rate of colonization byS. aureusis high in children attending day-care centers but colonization with MRSA is not common in our areas. Clindamycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol could be used in mild to moderataly severe diseases caused by CA-MRSA. However, if the CA-MRSA isolates are erythromycin resistant, D-test should be carried out for detection of inducible clindamycin resistance.